ldickinson-1 Reviews

Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

Comic Book and Twilight Zone meet

[8/10 · 13 April 2021]

A brilliant and imaginative blend of archetypal comic book right down to the reddish-hued Roll Call of characters, touched with sci-fi reminiscent of the Twilight Zone. Pulse-pounding background tracks set the tone and then meander though the desperate, isolation, confusion, concern when the eyes see what can't be believed, fear when they see what can be believed, determination against the impossible, and all choreographed with staccato down to the note, to coincide with the action. An unbelievable piece of art. Casting and scripting created believable characters who raised tension while not detracting from the story and kept the attention centered on Flight Officer Maude Garrett played by Chloë Grace Moretz. Long, sans-dialogue sequences of Maude required an actress who could tell a story with nothing but facial expression and body language-Chloë Grace is one of the best in Hollywood. Exceptional close-up camera work caught every tick of Chloë's features and caught the detail of her confined work environment to heighten the isolation and her surreal predicament. As an aside, I've watched several on-screen actresses who are skilled in the presentation of martial arts, contortion, grappling and wrestling gymnastics-Chloë Grace among them-but, no other woman in the business can put up her dukes and throw a punch with the physicality and believability of Chloë Grace.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

Maleficent and the Mistresses of Evil

[8/10 · 6 December 2019]

Wow! The story line picks up five years after the first Maleficent ends and builds around Queen Aurora and Prince Philip deciding to take their relationship to a new level. What I didn't understand at first was why the long narrative during the opening credits to explain why everyone still fears Maleficent. The very first scene with hardly any spoken dialogue made it very clear why humans mistrust the fair folk of the Moors and why same fair folk propose crushing all humans. But wait, that silhouetted horned winged-creature who I at first took to be Maleficent, isn't Maleficent! At least unless she's taken to wearing baggy shorts. Watch closely. Ah, now the narrative makes sense and ties into a speech Queen Ingrith makes to Queen Aurora towards the end of the movie. Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, and Michelle Pfeiffer were just brilliant. Maleficent is at the dead center of all the most interesting and hilarious conversation between these four. The interaction between her and Aurora either has you laughing or unable to stop the tears. I can't imagine a better Aurora than Elle Fanning. Harris Dickinson as Prince Philip is slowly growing on me, but he never seems to portray that inability to stop smiling when in the presence of Aurora that was done so well by Brenton Thwaites in the first movie. I suspect this has more to do with the writing and direction than Dickinson's acting ability but if that is the case, the writers missed something that was very sweet about the relationship between Aurora and Philip. And finally, Michelle Pfeiffer as Ingrith. I hate to give another spoiler, but this movie should have been called not Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, but instead Maleficent and the Mistress of Evil. Though you could easily add Jenn Murry as Gerda and call it Maleficent and the Mistresses of Evil. You'll want to spit on them every time you see them. Special props to Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, and Ed Skrein as Borra. These three have whole scenes in which they say not a word, but you know exactly what they are saying and feeling just from their expressions, body language, and their eyes-especially the eyes. And get ready for a few new characters and creatures introduced to the plot that are just begging for further back story, none more so than Pinto, a small hedgehog-like Denison of the Moors who is obviously one of Aurora's best friends and fiercely loyal allies. She is seen throughout much of the movie and yet one wishes there were more interaction between Pinto and Aurora. They seem to just keep missing each other. On an artistic note, it is difficult to see a movie now days in a format other than 2D digital. By working really hard, I was able to see Maleficent: Mistress of Evil three times in 3D and twice in Imax before those formats left the big screen forever. Why oh why don't they make Imax 3D anymore? That was the ultimate. The next hardest thing is to get the movie makers to release 3D movies in 3D blu-ray format for home viewing. And as far as I can tell, no one streams in 3D anymore. Fortunately, Amazon UK is taking preorders for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in 3D blu-ray format. Hopefully they get enough preorders that Disney will make a true 3D blu-ray release instead of just a 2D conversion to 3D. Why do movie companies do that anyway? Don't they know that any 3D TV can do that conversion with any show and any DVD? Don't they know that a conversion is nowhere near as nice as real 3D and that even neophyte viewers as young as five years old can tell the difference? Go see Maleficent. I hope there is another sequel and I hope there is more Pinto and more Aurora with maybe some major flashbacks. Come to think of it, there is five years' worth of Queen Aurora and Pinto stories that would make for a wonderful Disney plus TV series. Disney, is that your plan?

Vampire Academy (2014)

Great new twist in the vampire genera

[7/10 · 31 May 2014]

Loved this movie. It is a kind of 'Who's going to do it' written in the style of a 'Who dun it'. Lots of plot twists and turns and fun trying to figure out who's who. Complete with red herrings. Don't blink or you'll miss clues. Honestly, most of the writers who gave it bad reviews admitted that they didn't understand the plot. You don't need to read the books to follow because I've never read the books and I had a ball. Be warned you can't sit back in this movie; you have to stay alert if you want to get the full entertainment value. A great thrill ride getting to the end and 'oh my gosh'does this movie ever need a sequel.

I like the casting. Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry had good chemistry. For a movie made to be a little over the top all the acting stuck pretty much to the parameters of the film so no complaints in that department.

This movie was made to be fun and it delivered.

The Last Airbender (2010)

Loved this movie

[7/10 · 22 December 2011]

I just checked online to see when the sequel was coming out and was amazed at all the bad reviews. This movies has made over $300,000,000 so how bad could it possibly be? I'd never seen the TV series so went in hoping it was as good as the previews presented it. I thought the 3D was amazing, the acting was very good, and the plot absorbing—enough so that I went back and saw it a second time as did my wife who is very hard to get to watch anything twice, and I bought the blue-ray DVD.

Also note that all the pluses in this movie were accomplished while maintaining a PG rating, clean enough for my sister and niece who will not watch anything but G and PG movies. Really really hope they make a sequel before the actors get too old and they have to get new ones.

Nanny McPhee (2005)

Great Movie--Take your kids

[10/10 · 3 April 2006]

I would not put this movie in the category of blockbuster, but still, the first time I saw Nanny McPhee was in a packed theater with an audience that was really reacting to the movie. At the end, no one got up to leave, but just sat in their seats through the credits clapping, cheering, and shouting for an encore. I then took my grandkids to see it, and then even talked some of my adult and teenage kids into going. Again, the audience reaction was much the same, with the audience staying through the credits. I will admit that one of my sons refused to go saying he could not stand to look at someone that ugly for an hour and a half. However, I believe you will come to agree with the tag line, "You'll learn to love Nany McPhee warts and all."