sbweightman Reviews

Borderlands (2024)

Very tame and mis-cast, but enjoyable and passable entertainment.

[6/10 · 10 August 2024]

A very tame adaptation of the game series with some poor casting choices and special effects, but it was enjoyable and good enough entertainment. Pandora looks the part as the junkyard planet and there's a good roster of characters who sort of look and act the part, but they don't get much development and are much too tame in their personalities; the villains especially were poor. The plot was ok with good music and good pacing, even if some of the locations were a bit dull, and the humour, like the source material, was very hit and miss. The action was entertaining but nowhere near gory or violent enough and the CGI during the big action scenes was shockingly shoddy. The ending was fitting but could have been better.

The Birds (1963)

Strong acting, a memorable location and good pacing.

[9/10 · 29 July 2024]

A classic horror which starts off as a drama/romance featuring an obsessive woman and a possessive mother but as the birds begin to behave oddly, the tension slowly builds. This is later replaced by a growing suspense and dread which doesn't let up until the rather abrupt ending. The way they managed to create something disturbing from the mundane is very effective, especially when there's little you can do to stop it. Some of the special effects are (laughably) bad due to their age but others are still just as effective and the sound the birds make as they surround the house is truly terrifying.

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Entertaining, humorous and violent superhero action.

[8/10 · 29 July 2024]

Pretty much everything you could want, but also pretty much everything you would expect. There's plenty of surprise cameos, humorous and rude jokes and 4th wall breaking quips and some excessively violent and gory fight scenes which are long and entertaining, although with 2 invulnerable heroes there's never any thrills or suspense. The special effects and acting were good and the action set to music pieces were superb. The story and settings are inventive and the second lead character brings emotional heft when the plot needs it, but the villains struggle to really stand out and by parodying so much it feels unoriginal, copying rather than innovating at times.

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

ILLUMINATION could have shone brighter.

[6/10 · 25 July 2024]

A colourful animation filled with wacky escapades and family heart, but it lacked that spark that which makes a film great. The main story was ok but not particularly strong and it felt more like 'The Incredibles' than 'Despicable Me'. Still, there was plenty of minion antics and humourous scenes, although this did make the plot feel less cohesive, and the Mega-Minions were a nice addition, but they didn't really do much or feed into the main plot. Some good characters but also some poor ones who heavily relied on stereotypes for humour, and some jokes just fell flat.

Overall Score = 6 out of 10.

Kill (I) (2023)

Brutal, bloody and very violent Bollywood

[8/10 · 6 July 2024]

Brutal, bloody and very violent but also in a Bollywood style with constant background music and overly dramatic romance scenes in slow-motion - I kept expecting them to break into song and dance up to a certain plot point. After that point however, it shifts up a gear and becomes shocking, gory and a little perverse at how much punishment is being dealt out on both sides. The setting was used to very good effect and although simple, the plot was good and had some good points to make. It could have been a bit shorter and more consistent in its pacing, but highly entertaining and a little surprising, if unrealistic. Although all subtitled, the language was a mix of English and Hindi with them alternating language mid-conversation, which seemed a bit odd.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

An entertaining and fun action film which whilst set in its ways, makes the most of it.

[7/10 · 7 June 2024]

The story's nothing special with one-dimensional villains, damsels in distress and the attempts to tie it into previous films is pretty weak, but the Miami setting is wonderful and used very well with exotic nightclubs and an iconic culture. The frequent and frantic action pieces are exciting and intense with enough explosions, violence and good use of clever camera work, constantly jumping between different views of the scenes. The characters are funny with plenty of jokes and humour as they make fun of themselves and each other whilst accepting they have aged. A couple of good cameos and an ok run time, but the choppy editing is noticeable at times.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Another great trip down the Fury Road.

[8/10 · 24 May 2024]

Slow to get going and a lot more artistic than traditional in its presentation, but when it does get going, it becomes something spectacular. Miller's artistic vision and style is captivating and whilst the action scenes aren't as good or as frequent as in 'Fury Road', they are still very enjoyable and have this different surreal style to them, almost stop-motion at times. The story is a bit lacking, but has some good themes and both of the lead actors were great, although they did take a while to grow on me. The world-building and iconic characters stand out for their peculiarity and whilst long, I was entertained throughout.

Emily the Criminal (2022)

Engaging and thought-provoking.

[8/10 · 5 May 2024]

An interesting story about desperate people turning to victimless crime due to their financial strains and the American labor laws not really giving them much of a choice. The plot covers the ups and downs of their journey with the odd tense moment, escalating to a fitting and somewhat realistic finale. Strong acting and character development as it shows their relationship grow and you begin to sympathize with them and their humble ambitions. Whilst the attitude of "once a criminal, always a criminal" if given motive, means, opportunity and a morally grey compass is unfair, it's hard to ignore in some cases.

Boy Kills World (2023)

Very, very odd and excessively gory, I think it would have worked better as an animation.

[6/10 · 27 April 2024]

The setting is similar to the Hunger Games with its totalitarian state, televised culling, opulent ruling class and underdog revolutionaries but it's a bit tone deaf, swinging between quirky black humour and serious political issues. The plot has one too many surprises and pacing issues and it doesn't really develop its larger than life characters, although they do look quite iconic. The fight scenes were mostly good if completely unbelievable with plenty over the top violence - one in particular was very bizarre and entertaining - but something about them, and the production as a whole, looked and felt off.

Suzume (2022)

Thoroughly enjoyable and relatively moving.

[8/10 · 14 April 2024]

A quirky and heartfelt adventure full of fantastic animation and dramatic music. From the beautiful idyllic rural scenery to the hauntingly eerie ruins, the urban metropolis and cosmic landscapes, every scene is a visual treat. The story covers numerous themes such as modern fears, young love and moving on all with a strong human moral element, but is a bit scattershot in what it wants to say. The setting is quite formulaic for Japanese anime with a big-eyed orphan girl with a tragic past, a mysterious handsome stranger and a metaphorical threat of epic proportions, but also has its weird comical moments thanks to the non-human companion (or 2) and well-rounded supporting cast.

Civil War (I) (2024)

Tough, shocking and powerful.

[9/10 · 12 April 2024]

A story of 4 war journalists at different points of their careers as they cover a modern day American Civil War. It doesn't go into much detail of the war itself or what drives these people to seek out danger for a profession, but there's enough in the setting and context to show both the calm and the storm during a conflict. It also doesn't demonize or glamorize the profession or the war, just showing the events as they unfold and lets the audience make their own mind up. Powerful and shocking imagery, great acting performances and realistic urban battle scenes make for a tough but entertaining film, even if the ending was a bit over-sensationalised.

Monkey Man (2024)

Violent, intense and powerful.

[8/10 · 6 April 2024]

An intense and powerful revenge thriller steeped in Indian folklore and culture. The story has simple motivations and relatively standard characters but it was interesting to see the modern day political issues as well as the great disparity between the rich and the poor. Superb performance from Patel and directorially with iconic scenes and even a few lighter-hearted moments amongst the blood, pain and suffering. Although there's a lot of fast, brutal and very violent action scenes, none are without cause but with the volume of people, colours and close camera work, it invoked a strong sense of claustrophobia as well as not being able to see what was going on at times.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Lots of monster action and a good setting, but doesn't really shine.

[5/10 · 29 March 2024]

Pretty much what was expected with lots of Kaiju action and big, destructive fight scenes. The three plotlines each have their merits and tie together nicely, but it did slow the pace in the middle and the big showdown at the end felt a bit anticlimactic. Most of it was a bit silly, but it was entertaining and fun with good special effects, plenty of action and ample light-hearted moments. The human characters were annoying but bearable but the spectacle of the setting and human side of Kong made up for it. It's a great world they've created with Monarch and Hollow Earth, but there is only so much you can get out of the overall premise.

Furie (2019)

A traditional revenge thriller which stands out mainly due to its location and good acting.

[7/10 · 11 March 2024]

The slow-ish start sets the scene with beautiful rural Vietnam and humble country living before moving into the crowded, filthy and corrupt city. The martial arts fight scenes and chase scenes are good with ample dramatic music but they look sped up, as are other parts of the film. Good characterization of the tough yet emotionally vulnerable mother on her mission to save her daughter and whilst the other characters are barely present, they are memorable and serve their purpose. Its style doesn't really become apparent until the end and whilst it doesn't really do anything new, it does it well.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

An epic masterpiece

[9/10 · 2 March 2024]

A long story of epic proportions that gets better with every installment. It's a visual treat with superb special effects throughout, from the grandness of the beautiful desert to the harshness and contrast of the Harkonnen style. The plot covers religious fervor, mature romance and intergalactic conquest with a good balance and the cast of actors are great, truly bringing the story to life. The musical score intensifies every scene and whilst it could have been paced better, what with a slow-ish start and a seemingly compacted final act, I was entertained throughout.

Score for Dune Part Two = 9/10.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Slow burn and sinister but ends before it gets good.

[6/10 · 1 March 2024]

A slow burn film with a sinister story which builds up the stress and tension as the relationships between the characters become frayed. The fears of isolationism and not knowing what's going on in our technology oriented world are realistic even if the viewpoint is a bit too American. The acting's good if a bit awkward and the scenario it proposes is well thought out, but the story is minimal and just ends with no resolution. The visuals are memorable but weird just for the sake of it and there's a lot of dialogue but hardly any action - showing as well as telling would have made it more effective and interesting.

Nimona (2023)

Chaotically energetic and great fun.

[8/10 · 27 February 2024]

Nimona truly is the star of this movie - the embodiment of anarchy, chaotically funny, full of energy, fast paced jokes and exhilarating action. It's a shame therefore the rest of the characters are pushing an agenda, annoying, bland or cardboard cutouts. The mix of a medieval and futuristic setting is unnecessary and jarring - they should have just stuck with one style and embraced the anachronisms. The modern art style mixing 3D characters with 2D backdrops looks good, the music is fun and overall, it's great fun to watch, even if it is a bit over the top silly and slapstick at times.

Overall = 8/10.

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

I haven't laughed so much in ages.

[10/10 · 26 January 2024]

Silly, goofy and slapstick throughout, the combination of martial arts and soccer makes for an entertaining premise and some very funny scenes. The overly melodramatic style mixed with offbeat humour gives it a comical tone and it's full of energy to boot. The over the top, bombastic CGI and some of the humour may be quite dated now, but it's still very funny and fun to watch the weird band of misfits defeat "team evil". Even the romance subplot manages to work, being sweet and sincere as well as making you laugh. The ending was good if a bit abrupt and its short run time means you're never bored and it doesn't outstay its welcome.

Lift (I) (2024)

instantly forgettable, middling entertainment at best.

[2/10 · 25 January 2024]

A pretty typical heist movie which has a slick and professional style and lots of international travel but is instantly forgettable due to its lack of substance. The theft is ambitious and somewhat entertaining with a couple of modern gimmicks to make it different but it's just too unrealistic to be believable and the gaping plot holes just make it worse. The team are your generic diverse group of moral thieves, the villains are clichéd stereotypes and the relationship scenes are dull and flat. No humour, drama or suspense, the first hour is slow and boring and the ending is silly and banal.

2/10.

The Beekeeper (2024)

A keeper

[8/10 · 12 January 2024]

A really enjoyable revenge action film full of fast paced action and corny bee-related dialogue. Although the character's backstory has been done many times before, the plot has some modern ideas and modern villains which are easy to hate and the strong moral message was quite refreshing. Good acting from a good cast of characters and whilst some of the henchmen are a bit silly, their larger than life presence adds some surprises into what is otherwise pretty standard fare. Good pacing, music and fight scenes keep it entertaining throughout, although the start is pretty slow and the ending rather abrupt.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

Not as good as the first one, but still worth watching.

[7/10 · 26 December 2023]

Not as good as the first one as the setting is a lot more fantastical and silly, but it still has the Aardman charm and style with goofy looking characters and inventive contraptions. The plot clearly shows its inspiration from classic films and whilst being a bit too long, it has lots of humour, jokes and wacky adventures to keep it entertaining. The different voice actors aren't as good and the modern pop song at the start felt out of place, but the animation is great (if less hand-made) and full of vibrant colours and it has those little touches which make it something special.

Overall score = 7/10.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Kaiju post-WWII

[8/10 · 20 December 2023]

A Japanese historical WWII drama which happens to feature a giant lizard. The plot plays out as expected but has a more traditional style, focusing on the characters as they struggle to deal with the aftermath of the war and a new threat of the giant monster. Cultural issues such as the virtues of honor and survivors guilt are well portrayed by the varied cast of characters, but it does make it a bit slow to get going and some scenes felt labored. Godzilla itself looks impressively menacing and the special effects and scale of destruction invokes shock and awe. Great use of music and an emotional ending, even if it was a bit too happy.

The Shift (II) (2023)

A dystopian take on religious sermon.

[6/10 · 19 December 2023]

A weird dystopian sci-fi story with a heavy focus on its religiously inspired plot. The story has substance and with strong acting performances and a somewhat realistic 'police state' setting it makes for compelling viewing, but it also overcomplicates itself by trying to fit in too much. The heavy emphasis on religious allegory, romance, drama and action scenes are all good, but I found it to be a bit boring. Some of the subtle special effects were good whereas others looked cheap, the overly loud music drowned out the atmosphere and the ending, whilst expected, felt a bit of a cop out.

6/10.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

A worthy prequel to the series.

[8/10 · 18 November 2023]

More of a political thriller than an action adventure, the story follows the creator of the new Hunger Games in three distinct parts. Good use of imagery and foreshadowing as it reuses the main themes from the original stories but with a fresh view. The story is good if a bit simplified and obvious at times, but it was enjoyable throughout due to the great acting from the main cast, the cracking country ballads and the use of contrast from the grand to the dilapidated in the scenery and settings. The Games themselves weren't as shocking or thrilling as they could have been, but were still entertaining to watch and the run-down nature of the arena fitted well within the post-war recovery setting.

Expend4bles (2023)

Watchable but pretty much terrible in almost every respect.

[2/10 · 22 September 2023]

No charm, cheese or humour, flat delivery of most of the lines, weak acting and a predictable and tired plot an 80's action B-movie would have rejected. Some of the action scenes were good but the shift from a team of Special Ops to a single operative made it feel stale and like every other action movie and didn't allow for any character development of the new team members or villains. The CGI was very bad and made all the big events look cartoony, the camaraderie between the stars was painful to watch and how they ended it all was unbelievably bad. Thankfully, it wasn't too long, but I really hope they don't make another one.