RaveyDaveyGravy Reviews

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

I judged MbtS by its cover

[7/10 · 10 April 2022]

... and because of this I've only just seen it now some 5 or so years after release. I saw the posters and judged it to look dull and depressing, which to be honest, it could be - if you are in that frame of mind. However, let MbtS in, don't expect quick or easy answers, and there's lots to enjoy.

Affleck is so good, best I can remember him. There's so much more than a damaged man full of regret in his work here. I can understand his portrayal of Lee, a man who doesn't look for forgiveness and doesn't value his place in a world that he's (unwittingly) broken. Affleck deserves the recognition he received for this.

So yeah, I was wrong. It's a dark and often serious film, and the cool tones of the poster are in there, but it's also surprisingly funny, moving without spoon feeding and heartbreaking - not a bad achievement at all really! Perhaps the marketing department didn't like it as much as I did.

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Absolute rubbish. I really enjoyed it.

[6/10 · 13 December 2021]

Makes no sense. It's pacing is all over the shop. The acting is as poor as the script, especially Chris Pratt. It ignores the laws of physics, meaning people can change the direction of a fall at the last moment to land in a swimming pool (which would have drained to empty years before) and survive! It's mawkish. It's overly sentimental. It lacks any originality (Starship Troupers wants its IP back) and will be forgotten before the end of this review. I guessed the end at the start.

I could write a better film. We all could!

It's seriously pants on every level. It's clear as the gaps in the logic how it's been chopped, butchered and reassembled in the edit. Obviously the studio expected a new Live Die Repeat, which this really wants so desperately to be.

But.. haha! I had a great time.

It's gnarly, loud, violent and a lot of fun.

I'll never watch it again.

Invasion (2021–2024)

What's the rush?

[8/10 · 14 November 2021]

Yes it's slow. Yes it's taking it's time. GOOD! In the sea if identikit alien/zombie end of the world drama which all rush to find a hook and stand on a chair desperate for our attention, Invasion stops, takes a breath and CHOOSES to tell its stories through character building, plot and mystery. Lost skills? No, invasion is all the better for its patience.

You want pew pew aliens? Fine, go watch Independence Day again. Me, I'm loving getting into this broken world, and love how it's unfolding. This is smart TV, and I'm really enjoying the ride.

Beneath (I) (2013)

Snaws

[3/10 · 5 April 2021]

Bad, not in a good way.

If you're going to make a low budget shark/croc/piranha knock off you need talent. No talent? You need good actors. No talent and no good actors available? You need really inventive kills. None of the above = weekend hobby film making. Dumb, illogical, boring boring boring. And, why did they always paddle towards the furthest shore???

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Pretty good, but was it intended as a sequel?

[7/10 · 3 November 2019]

I grew up with The Shining as my favourite horror film, and still love it today. Can anything live up to that masterpiece? Well, no. But Dr Sleep is a good attempt.

However, I think you can almost spot the points in the narrative where this has been re-moulded into a Shining sequel. It feels to me that someone, somewhere, looked over Stephen Kings shoulder, and spotted the opportunity to change a character to Danny Torrance, and slide the Overlook Hotel in for maximum recognition. Hey presto, it's the Shining 2!

So, the bits that work best are the non Shiningy bits. When Danny IS Dr Sleep, helping people pass happily. When he's communicating through his blackboard. His friendships. Here the film is lovely, spookily, but lovely. Where it struggles is when it feels the need to be a Shining sequel.

Rebecca Ferguson is brill, even if her accent is all over the UK at times, and Ewan McGregor is better than he's been in years. Oh and in the age of de-aging CGI, the use of look-alikes took me out of the story.

Cracking film, lots of fun, beautifully shot, but for me should have been kept separate to truly shine.

The Wrong Mans (2013–2014)

genuinely funny, for once

[8/10 · 2 October 2013]

Most television or movie comedies are not funny. Fact. You may disagree but how many comedies actually give you the physical reaction of laughter?

Don't misunderstand me, a comedy can be good without actually provoking a laugh. 'Friends', for example was quite good, but laugh out loud funny? Not very often. Like I said, most simply arnt funny, they should be called nicities, or quitegoodities.

Any televisual or movie media should aim for the high watermark of provoking a physical reaction. Horror should make you wince, cower, look away, think. Action should raise your heart rate and get you on your feet. Drama should make you cry or talking. And comedy. Comedy should make you laugh out loud.

The Wrong Mans is the first new comedy for ages that has made me do this. Its genuinely funny. It has characters who I like and care about in absurd situations. It has 2 stand out central performances and has obviously been written by 2 people who know what they are doing and have been given free range to go and do it.

I think it's brilliant. Not 'Father Ted' brilliant, but still brilliant.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Un-thrilling thriller

[8/10 · 17 September 2012]

I was looking forward to this. It looked really quite good. Not read the books or even heard of them before I heard about the film.

I was really disappointed though. A good concept (OK its not original) is wrecked by plywood performances all round, and staggeringly boring set pieces that fail on most levels to excite or engage. The first act within the district is almost interesting yet frustratingly light on detail. Its a wafer light depiction of a future totalitarian society that simply never convinces. The costumes of the posh ones with power also detract from any authority. Im left shouting, "why don't you just all fight back and stop being lambs!"

Most annoyingly though is the romance between Katnip and the forgettable bloke from her district is flatter than a slice of Asda value bread. No spark, no heat, nothing. Was it supposed to be a romance of convenience? Because that how it felt.

I know some might think that this is a kids film, but for me 12 and over is both for kids and adults. Both they and me deserve better.

The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)

How to make an X Files movie boring

[4/10 · 22 November 2011]

I'm not a big X Files fan. I kind of got bored when the series kept repeating the same alien abduction story line. So when I got the chance to see this belated sequel I don't think I was expecting too much.

However, I was not expecting it to be both so poorly written and poorly made.

My main problem is just how staggeringly boring the whole plot is. Come on! Its about a deranged serial killer doing despicable things and a psychic with a mysterious link to the case. How can it be so snoresome? The pacing is uber slow throughout, it feels harshly edited in post production, the actors all look stunned and when the final reveal arrives its rushed?

Im left with gaping questions about what is going on. How did he get there? What is she doing? Did I fall asleep and miss great chunks? No I didn't, its simply that I was watching an incomprehensible film which is a half-arsed attempt to revive a once loved show. In the end it will probably be its final nail.

Chucking Mulder and Skully together as a couple was a big mistake. It didn't work, the actors together had no chemistry as a romantic couple. Strange, it looks like brother and sister having a smooch. Uncomfortable.

Lastly the usually brilliant Billy Connely is completely miss-cast and out of his depth.

If this is all the effort that could be mustered, why did you bother?