vitalymakievsky Reviews

Drugstore June (2024)

Very nice and refreshing movie.

[6/10 · 4 May 2024]

Good satire on the mental state of young Americans. And yes I'm talking about late Gen Y and early Gen Z (specifically you, lol).

This movie while also funny and entertaining with great acting. Is a great way to decompress and see that there are other people than you who think that the InstaTweetTickTock generation is socially awkward, self-absorbed, very frightened of everything, and have very little attention to anything other than the apps on their phones.

The satire in this movie is great, and very interesting, because our main protagonist has almost zero awareness that she is the subject of the satire...and I can see how some audience might not find it funny. Drugstore June heavily relies on irony and sarcasm to get it's comedic point across, and not much else.

I think my favorite shtick, is that June (protagonist) behaves often very cringy, but yet thinks everyone around her is "cringe."

Enjoy!

Civil War (2024)

If you read history books and follow wold affairs, I highly recommend this film!

[10/10 · 13 April 2024]

This move has every element of a great war movie. It's gritty, visceral, violence is sporadic and and intense. If you are into guns and military tactics this film also delivers, this is not a John Wick gun-fu film.

The cinematic style is also great. It's the sort that makes you feel like you are in the scene, without the "lost tape footage" shaky camera style. Feels a lot like the final fight scene in Heat, with the addition of some cool surreal shots.

I also love how the civil war is explained. It unveils through the eyes of a team of news reporters on the ground and not via various political heads talking tough, in their bunkers. So, there isn't a story of various political power grab agendas. Just war, and it's effect the on people caught-up in the middle of some power struggle.

As far as the plot it's rather simple like in Apocalypse Now. Where the characters are a vehicle for the audience of a tour of war. Except this time the characters are not high speed warriors but civilian news crew.

This movie is just sit on the edge of your seat have a beer and enjoy the show. There are much deeper more layered moments, but I understand that not everyone reads the same books so the points might be missed.

That's Sexploitation! (2013)

Surprisingly very informative and fun.

[7/10 · 12 March 2024]

When I put this film on, I was expecting it to be mildly entertained and I would just skip through a lot of the scenes.

It turned out to be great. Great history of Americana, presented in a very fun way, and in serious tone too.

The clips of the sex films throughout history were actually great. Lots of very relevant humor, and very odd as well. Really, placing your imagination into the past.

As far as just carnal, pleasure of watching this...I don't think there is much, but I was quite surprised as to some scenes how sexually appealing some of the women are, in the styles of the past.

Give this film a go...you can always, hit the stop button. Also, in full disclosure I am a general history buff, I felt very satisfied in that aspect as well!

The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen (2018)

Mostly for children. Could have been better researched.

[6/10 · 15 January 2024]

I would rate this PG at best. I expected this, but was hoping for some better historical imagery to keep me entertained. I'm a huge fan any history of exploration.

Unfortunately for me this series ties in a lot of early American politics and military battles told from a very child friendly perspective, which really doesn't interest me much as far as entertainment. I was hoping for more details regarding the explorers themselves.

I stopped watching after the second episode. Half of the episode derailed into some unrelated material to the fist part of the episode, really don't know why...there was so much to tell about Lewis and Clarks famous expedition.

Yes there are some historical inaccuracies especially when it comes to historical clothing, some firearms, bows, etc. But a lot of that is very expected. Overall, I wouldn't fret much at all. This is clearly an extremely low budget production. If this was a big Hollywood film, it would irk me fore sure...but just about every Hollywood historical drama is mostly fiction based on lose events. This series is definitely for more superior, in the respect of having a cohesive historical chronology.

There were a few major historical inaccuracies, and I'm really not sure why. Probably one of the reasons I lost interest, because I got sick of using google and wikipedia to double check on historical events. But as some of you history buffs out-there, I'm sure you know that there multiple perspectives, and outright lies when it comes to retelling of history.

I will conclude that this is still cool for children to watch, as long that they understand that they need to learn how to fact check. I hope this series will inspire children to really enjoy history as a story, and not just a series of dates and names to regurgitate on a test in school!

Unacknowledged (2017)

Just nothing new, and loaded with misinformation.

[3/10 · 7 January 2024]

I saw the high reviews and got interested. Was hoping for discussion of actual UFO evidence/sightings. But all I saw was just the usual.

Throwing big names around, taking quotes out of context, especially that of Carl Sagan, and making huge leaps of assumptions. Then juxtaposing photos that are unrelated to the content discussed...I don't think I can even finish watching this (watching now), lol.

I think I'm checking out, more than half way in and all I am seeing are association fallacies...just can't, I'm 100% sure this documentary will just drone on, and do the same over and over.

Disclosure: I have no issues with UFOs/UAPs. Had an interesting sighting myself, and it was corroborated exactly as I have seen it by another person in the same parking-lot.

The Human Centipede III (Final Sequence) (2015)

Not bad just too long.

[5/10 · 11 August 2023]

The movie is a bit winded and long, but this is what you audience demand, so soak-up your time and enjoy.

This film is ridiculous to an extreme, sure poor acting and other quality issues. But I think the acting of the lead was on point with the theme of the movie.

All the talk of poor production value is a bit overused. There is not a chance that a major production company would support such a move.

Just enjoy it for what it is. I tired skipping through certain scenes because it does get a bit dull, but then I realized I was missing goofy moments that makes this film watchable.

Again, if this movie was just 30 minutes shorter I think it would be a pleasant ride.

Zombies (2017)

Decent for a low budget film if you are a zombie genre fan.

[6/10 · 24 June 2023]

Yes the acting isn't very good the script could have been polished up, and I don't think the director is good at all, as a writer he is definitely better.

But it is a low budget film, and you have to understand how difficult to make a decent move on a low budget! Firstly, you are working under very limited time constrains...meaning less takes and do overs. Secondly, you can't afford decent actors who can do a good scene under 10 takes. Nor, you can afford various advisors. Just the camera, sound, and lighting cost a fortune...and limits your filming time.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie and I think it could have been significantly better if the director scaled the film back a bit. He tried to make it look big budget, but should have scaled it bit down a bit.

By the way, why in all these post-apocalyptic the characters just drop all the high quality weapons when the ammo runs out!!! It's just dumb. Hell, you can even easily manufacture your own ammo.

Daylight's End (2016)

Why do they always throw away the guns....?

[7/10 · 21 June 2023]

For the budget the film is good. Cool plot with a few big holes....but we have to forgive that again for the budget or length of shooting time.

Acting, seemed rushed again I assume that the actors didn't have enough takes or perhaps the director just sucked. Obviously the screenplay dialogue could have been a little bit less on the nose.

I had some issues with the lead. He seemed to try Clint Eastwood a lot. And what's up with throwing away your rifles and guns when they run out of ammo! This is the apocalypse!!! Bullets are way more available than guns and once you get used to your gun that's how you get much better at shooting it.

Movie is still good but the budget seems to be a major constrain for what it appears to accomplish. Too really enjoy this film you really have to come in mind as you are watching a stage play, and then it works great!

I Think We're Alone Now (2018)

Great film, good pacing.

[7/10 · 14 June 2023]

This film appropriate pacing for what it is supposed be. The apocalypse, with a man left alone after a major die-off. This is the type of stuff I have never seen before. And I watch a lot of post-apocalyptic movies.

This film hits the spot on what an actual apocalypse would look like given the amount of dead. But I understand why some people don't like it. We are a nation of addicts to our smartphones, where we watch a video on youtube and simultaneously watch a movie one TV.

And I'm part of this addiction as well I'm not above it, I can hardly read a book anymore.

I also suspect that people didn't get enough eye candy and would lose interest and miss out on all the subtleties this movie has to offer. There is lot tension that most views just missed out on.

My only criticism, is I wish the ending was a little longer. But the writer certainly shows enough to understand the situation, especially if you watch post-apocalyptic films.

This film just itches the scratch that a lot of production companies are afraid to enter in. Enjoy!

Ambulance (2022)

It's a big budget Hollywood movie...but still enjoyable.

[7/10 · 14 April 2022]

I think most of the capers enthusiasts, will find something new in this film. It has a very different plot line, where the film starts at a bank heist going wrong.

A lot of flack that this movie is getting is typical. This movie was created based on regular Hollywood tropes, it's rather predictable...but not always, and a lot if the guts of this interesting film has been taken out by Hollywood executives, marketing geniuses, and focus groups. At the sacrifice of a cohesive plot and logic...so, nothing if you like blockbusters at the cinema.

Overall, it's a very decent movie, with great performances, stunts, and a different take on a caper. Great movie, to zone out, grab a beer and just chill on the couch...or obviously at the theatre...with a beer.

Impulse (1984)

Great film for the right viewer!

[7/10 · 22 March 2022]

Firstly to enjoy this film, you have to have some basic knowledge, on how various, governmental agencies and the military industrial complex conduct themselves. Lots of real examples, that have been declassified under the FOIA, or just available but ignored by the big press.

Secondly, this film will not entertain people who love the super fast pacing of modern big budget films which rely to exploit your senses by ridiculous nonstop fight scenes, CGI cars that defy all laws of physics, etc. Impulse, doesn't have the slow pace of 70s westerns, but it is slow enough where you have to think carefully about what the characters are thinking and feeling.

I'm sure the horror junkies who especially love zombie films will enjoy Impulse...given that the viewer has the first or second parameters, listed above.

You, know who you are so either skip this for Fast and Furious 23, or enjoy this hidden gem.

Baby Driver (2017)

Warning, this is first a musical.

[5/10 · 20 March 2022]

I get the appeal and quality of this movie, but there are a lot of people who can't stand musicals.. I was coming in with great expectations to the theatre, but quickly realized i was dragged into some cutie-pie, romance musical.

One of the 1st films I almost walked out on, after watching it for only five minutes, including my girlfriend. But me being a sucker for heist films I stayed despite my girlfriends complaints. I figured it will get better, but no the film just got worse and worse, turning into a silly teen romance.

Can't give it less than five stars, because it was well executed, but I feel that I got trapped by false advertising. Lastly, the music was terrible corny pop elevator crap...cringe factor was a 10/10.

The Night Crew (2015)

Don't listen to the couch directors.

[6/10 · 3 September 2021]

This is a low budget movie, they have so much going against them. Limited takes, strict time constraints and a load of other logistical issues. Yet this film has some genuinely fantastic scenes, the acting is good.

There are some issues with the dialogue, but I sure the script wasn't rewritten over and over by a crew of writers.

In the end to sum it up, this film has a great twist that keeps you always guessing on what is going to happen next with some great horror elements, reminiscent of a John Carpenter film called Assault on Precinct 13.

Triple 9 (2016)

Good movie ignore the poor reviews.

[8/10 · 24 September 2019]

I think there is some sort of poor reviews group think happening here. The action sequences are fantastic, gritty and realistic. If you understand guns and basic combat tactics this film captures it very well.

I also think that characters were a lot of fun with interesting and witty dialogue.

Not all films have to be about character arcs. There is a lot more to a good film.

Unborn in the USA: Inside the War on Abortion (2007)

Boring, with a few interesting clips.

[3/10 · 1 March 2008]

Though this film has some interesting emotionally charged footage overall is boring. The people interviewed in the film have very little to say and often repeat themselves. Their only point is that they think the late-term abortions are gross to look at. Nevertheless, this film may be worth watching on instant viewing if you click through most of the repetitive material, for a few interesting clips.

There are a lot of talking heads that say the same thing. Furthermore, what they have to say is mostly telling you what to believe and think without much elaboration or any meaningful philosophical content.

Did I mention that this film repeats itself a lot?

High Tension (2003)

Utterly incomprehensible waste of film.

[2/10 · 23 June 2006]

The fact that this movie was even made, defies all logic. From the very start this movie is inferior and boring. All of the dialogue is pointless and does nothing to further the plot, nor it explains what type of people the characters really are. The logical holes are plenty and absolutely unforgiving. As the film progresses the holes are not closed but only widen, as more ridicules scenarios are introduced. The entire premise of this film is flawed, incomprehensible, and utterly insulting to the intellect of the audience. If this film has any redeemable content, it would be its glossy cinematography, decent acting, and realistic gore effects. Though, none of these redeeming factors are nearly enough to make this rental worthwhile. STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE!

The Lost Battalion (2001 TV Movie)

Made for TV stink all over this one!

[3/10 · 22 June 2006]

This movie has the made for TV stink all over it. Though, it started out with great intentions, featuring great looking sets and authentic props and costumes. The film quickly degenerated into horrible on the nose cheesy dialogue, and rushed TV sappy melodramatic acting. The characters were so sappy that at times I thought that they are about to degenerate into a bilious puddle of goo, and the action was so convoluted and poorly cut that it looked as it the soldiers were merely standing around and taking turns shooting at one another. The Germans were so unrealistically depicted that it was painful to watch. The only thing that the German officers talked about was how wonderful the Americans are. Please take my word for this. I am a huge fan of the war genre, and this movie is crap. Nevertheless, this DVD does have an excellent extra feature, covering letters from the WWI front lines, thus making this rental not a total waste of my time.

Dead End Drive-In (1986)

Charming, engaging, and satirical.

[6/10 · 22 June 2006]

Yes this movie stinks with 80s pompous acting and tackiness, yet from another perspective it becomes an interesting time-capsule into the resent past, and for someone who did not experience the 80s I watched the film with an anthropological curiosity. Though this film suffers from logical loopholes. They are easy to overlook since the plot holes are there for the purpose to present a socially satirical world. Overall the acting was fine and the message interesting, though what really stood out in this movie to me are the great set designs and first class cinematography. Also the story is engaging and the characters charming in a comic way. I recommend this movie to the already fans of the genre and to those who are like movies that are offbeat and satirical.

Nightmare City (1980)

Not bad for Italian horror film.

[7/10 · 19 May 2006]

Not a movie for those of you who are not familiar with Italian style cinema. So if you are not and decide to rent this interesting flick here are some warnings. It seems that Italian directors routinely forgo logic for dramatic effect. This is of course a double-edged sword. On one side your suspension of disbelief can be ruined, but on the other side of the argument some of the tension builders because of this are absolutely superb. Another irritating aspect of Italian genre, are all the hysterical helpless women, who frankly get on my nerves. And a warning for female viewers, most of the early Italian films are overtly sexist. Which surprisingly make the movies more interesting, strictly from an anthropological and sociological point of view. Finely my biggest problem with Italian cinema is the relentless "on the nose dialogue," where actors say exactly what is on their mind for the sake of fluent story telling. And that simply makes the dialogue cheesy and unrealistic. Nevertheless, if this movie is viewed with these points held in the back of the mind. It has a lot of interesting subject matter and a great ending that redeems the long somewhat sagging second act.

Beyond Gravity (2000 Video)

Beautiful and Informative

[10/10 · 15 April 2006]

My opinion of this movie may be somewhat biased because I am an avid rock climber, but I think this movie is a great for those who are interested in finding out about what climbing is and have not actually done it themselves. I say this because, a lot of climbing movies out there are mostly sport types of videos that mostly can be enjoyed by people who understand what is that they are watching. I also think this is a great movie for those who already climb. For this movie has some of the most dramatic cinematography that has ever been done in a climbing movie genre. Mainly due to the fact that so many climbing movies are very low budget. Finally, although this movie doesn't cover everything that climbing is about, for the time span it does a wonderful job of showing what climbing is all about.

Slither (2006)

A refreshing turn from the monotonous humdrum of Hollywood.

[10/10 · 1 April 2006]

From watching the trailers it is easy to classify this film as a proverbial copycat of the highly replicated horror genre. Though, right from the onset of the film I realized that this movie is quite different from the usual Hollywood commercialized monotony. The cast is absolutely wonderful, and if you have ever been to small town America, you will know what I mean. The characters are colorful and believable. Furthermore, the story is compelling and original. Even the monster is different from what you might expect. Sure the concepts are similar, but I don't understand why that would take away anything from its originality. I mean nobody ever says that a love-story is unoriginal even though there are literally tens of thousands of variations of this genre. This movie is excellent and will be at the least appreciated by most movie goers, for what it accomplishes.

Swept Away (1974)

Communism vs. Capitalism

[8/10 · 13 June 2005]

What makes this film so interesting is that it involves you in it's conversations and hidden meanings. Though, the part that is the most shocking in this movie is how the poor sailor treats the rich woman. To me the movie showed the problems with communist and capitalist societies. Though I believe that it shows the dictatorial prone communism is even more dangerous than the deprived consumer obsessed capitalist society that can lead to the exploitation and the expansion of the underclass.

One interesting contrast is that the poor sailor looses his temper every time he is asked to do something, for which is payed. Than out of retaliation he simply enslaves the rich woman on the island, by using ancient yet affective method of violence. While the other view is that the capitalist woman treats the sailor with utmost disrespect, even though he is payed, to her he is nothing more than a figurative slave.

In the beginning of the film the rich woman comments that communism ultimately leads to totalitarian dictatorship and that is exactly what happens on the island. Some confusion comes in when she enjoy's being a slave, though I think that is a different offshoot of the argument that the director is trying to make.

There are many more such examples through the film, and I hope my insight is not too far off the mark and is somewhat helpful.