thegreyrating Reviews

Alive (1993)

The Grey Rating: Alive

[8/10 · 2 January 2015]

The Grey Rating: Alive A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ A plane crash

+ A group of rugged men are stranded in a hostile environment

+ The pilots die and are eaten

+ A very cold setting

+ Themes dealing with the survival of the individual and the group

+ Exploration of the survival instinct and lengths a person will go to in order to survive

• Lack of wolves

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson

• This film is basically what The Grey would have been without wolves and Sir Liam Neeson.

The Holiday (2006)

The Grey Rating: The Holiday

[3/10 · 30 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: The Holiday A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Winter weather - Abundant overacting. Especially from Cameron Diaz.

• Really fake cold weather. Very low frostbite potential.

• Thematically boring.

• Inauthentic romance that doesn't examine painful love through bedroom flashbacks.

• Lack of wolves.

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson.

Troy (2004)

The Grey Rating: Troy

[2/10 · 22 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: Troy

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ This movie doesn't have any redeeming qualities.

+ Some "action" scenes?

• No wolves

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson

• Themes are rather under developed and don't deal necessarily with survival or the drive to live.

• Humid climates

I Am Legend (2007)

The Grey Rating: I Am Legend

[7/10 · 8 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: I Am Legend

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Thematically rich film delving into existentialism, survival of self, survival of the soul and the group

+ Ambiguous ending

+ Dangerous canines

+ Isolated setting that contrasts urban and wilderness nicely

+ Air vehicle crash

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson

• More poetry required

Batman Begins (2005)

The Grey Rating: Batman Begins

[7/10 · 8 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: Batman Begins A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Existentialism and the search for purpose/true identity

+ Sir Liam Neeson

+ Cold weather conditions for a bit

+ Sir Liam Neeson kicking ass in the snow and cold weather

• Not enough Sir Liam Neeson (considering)

• No plane crashes

• No quality poetry

• Unambiguous ending

• Lack of wolves (surprisingly)

• Lived up to limited expectations

Smokin' Aces (2006)

The Grey Rating: Smokin' Aces

[3/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: Smokin' Aces

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Joe Carnahan directs

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson

• Absence of wolves

• Lack of a coherent, effect storyline

• Lack of nuanced and sophisticated characters

• Full of stock characters that don't have any interest in introspection

Iron Will (1994)

The Grey Rating: Iron Will

[7/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: Iron Will A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Winter and cold conditions.

+ Hypothermia

+ Water in sub zero temperature

+ Survival in arctic conditions

+ Perseverance of the protagonist against overwhelming odds

+ Savage canines (not wolves exactly)

• Definitely overdone

• Predictable

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

The Grey Rating: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

[2/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Set on the West Coast, which is kind of near Alaska? I don't know. This is hard.

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson - Trivial and superficial themes - Overdone in every way - Incredibly fake wolves, or werewolves, whatever, that are also hairless man-children and presented in CGI

I was told I would enjoy this movie because there were wolves in it. Well, technically that is not correct. This movie is really horrible. There is nothing in it that redeems itself as a film except possibly the vaguely similar landscape and terrain.

Captain Phillips (2013)

The Grey Rating: Captain Phillips

[4/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: Captain Phillips

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Well developed themes of survival and the drive to live, including individual and group survival. + Creative use of broken glass as an improvised weapon + Predator and prey group dynamics + Isolated environment

• Lack of wolves - Lack of Sir Liam Neeson - Set entirely on a boat in the middle of the ocean - Unambiguous ending

At first this film got me quite excited because there was a predatory group preying on a hapless group of misfits, led by a strong leader in an isolated and lonely environment. However, it soon became rather depressing as the predatory group proved not at all as strong or versatile as one would have hoped. If this situation and storyline was attempted with The Grey the film would have ended with the US Army Arctic Response team parachuting down and sniping the wolf pack from mid air. Thankfully the writers of Captain Phillip were not contacted by The Grey's production team.

300 (2006)

The Grey Rating: 300

[7/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: 300

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+Themes of survival: group survival, individual survival, and survival in the face of an overwhelming enemy

+ Bad ass wolf in the snow

+ Brief scene of cold weather

+ Sentimental moments between man and wife

• Lack of Sir Liam Neeson

• Unambiguous ending

Taken (I) (2008)

The Grey Rating: Taken

[7/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: Taken

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Themes of survival, the killing instinct, drive to survive are explored + Sir Liam Neeson + Simple, well written and doesn't try to be something it is not. Owns its identity. + Action sequences that are not overwrought

• Lack of wolves - Warm climate - Lack of poetry - Set in Paris

This film has a lot of similarities with The Grey in terms of how it was produced and received by audiences. You could write off both The Grey and Taken as low budget action films without much substance, but then you would watch them and realise how much of a horrible person you are for judging a film based on its appearance. Remember, making judgements based on superficial externalities and stereotypes will lead to intense introspection and personal reflection when these judgements are shown to be wrong.

Interstellar (2014)

The Grey Rating: Interstellar

[7/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey Rating: Interstellar

A flexible rating system used to determine the quality of a movie based on a methodical comparison with the film masterpiece, The Grey.

+ Thematically similar to TG: focusing on personal and group survival, the survival instinct and existentialism

+ Based in a cold desolate setting such as the vacuum of space and the Ice Planet

+ Poetic recitation

+ Air vehicle crashes (multiple times)

• Lack of wolves and Sir Liam Neeson

• Non ambiguous ending

• Fails to accomplish what The Grey does with a budget 10x larger

The Grey (2011)

Best. Movie. Ever.

[10/10 · 5 December 2014]

The Grey is exceptional and all other films should be held accountable to this pinnacle of film excellence. It is unlikely any other film will ever compare to The Grey, and even less likely that a film will ever receive a rating of 10 Wolves out of 10 like The Grey has.

This film brilliantly weaves together complex themes such as individual survival in the physical, emotional and spiritual sense; group survival; man versus the elements; and the inexplicable drive to live at all cost.

In addition, the writing is sublime. The dialogue is never forced and subtlety reigns supreme. From the terse dialogue to the abrupt poetic interludes everything is balanced masterfully. This compliments the flawless acting, highlighted by Sir Liam Neeson.

It is not surprising that the film industry has increased the amount of repackaged material, sequels, prequels, and remakes since The Grey came out. There is no point in creating anything unique because nothing will ever compare to this masterpiece. In a way this makes me sad, but not really because I can just watch The Grey instead.

Once more into the fray, my friends. Once more into the fray.