Lord_Borrington Reviews

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

There is something rotten in Hollywood.

[1/10 · 8 January 2019]

Unfortunately this is what I expect form big budget action blockbusters now. Lots of action and CGI. Plot, story, script, characters these seem to not matter in the slightest. The Hollywood marketing corporate machine has worked out how to make lots of money basically from special effects and CGI, not much else seems to be required. In this case just stick Star Wars on any generic thoroughly mediocre sci-fi drivel and the audience will hand over their money. As others have noticed the glowing so-called critic reviews seem highly suspect for such an awful film. I was actually hoping the bad guys would win and eliminate the nauseating scooby do Disney goodies and put an end to this shlock, alas it was not to be they survived. Actually I find it quite fascinating just how abysmal these films can get. The next one will have to work hard to be worse than this but I feel confident they can do it lol.

Watchmen (2009)

Who watches the watchmen...?

[8/10 · 6 September 2017]

Not just another disposable dumb super hero movie. This one is darker and actually has some themes to think about. The first time I watched it didn't like the ending, thought bit of a simplistic cliché. The villain and ending could have been more interesting and dynamic, but after more viewings it gets better and better. There is really a lot to think about in the themes the film touches on. What is the true nature of humanity? Are humans really violent at the core? Are we really a flawed intelligence? Absolutely fascinating. Could do without Dr Manhattan's wang in the film, doesn't really add anything and is a point of ridicule. Great story, great music, great characters, fantastic effects, expansive in scope, this movie is the comic book fully realized on screen. What sets it apart from other run of the mill comic book adaptations is the amazing deep story. Complete with alternative historical events it is a world rich with atmosphere and detail. Gritty and dark the world of Watchmen is a confronting critique of humanity and not all of it good. What is human nature and can it be changed, do we really want to know the answer...? There is a lot more beneath the surface of Watchmen, which some may easily miss... The blu ray extended edition is amazing...

Vertigo (1958)

Surreal masterpiece

[9/10 · 1 August 2017]

Not very popular with critics or audiences when it first came out, probably not what they were expecting form the master director. Certainly a very different movie not in the usual Hitchcock formula. The movie probably needs more than one viewing. I can understand why some people don't like it much, but if you can get into the mood and atmosphere it's a surreal masterpiece. The movie is really about creating a surreal dreamlike world to enter. Set in San Francisco in 1958 it is like nothing before or since. Unforgettable and mesmerizing it is full of great locations, strange characters and stories. We go on a strange uneasy journey with Jimmy Stewart where there is no return and end up somewhere between sanity and insanity. Everything about this movie goes together to create another world which you feel like you have entered, the music, the 1950s grainy film, the dull colours, the incredibly shot locations, the changing light. It is certainly a strange movie hard to put into a box. It is from another time. Amazing. Like a dream... A classic film from the golden age of Hollywood. A Hollywood which doesn't exist anymore. There is just something about this movie, which you can't put your finger on. It's full of secrets.

The Revenant (I) (2015)

Good but predictable

[7/10 · 27 November 2016]

So Leo finally won an Oscar. Most of his performance in this was a lot of grunting, screaming, groaning, more grunting. He kind of chews on a live fish a bit, that must've been the winning scene now that's commitment for a role. Tom Hardy is his usual annoying self, am I alone in not liking him much. Must be from that movie he did Charlie Bronson where he had his wang flopping around for half the movie, totally not needed at all. Revenant. Good movie I liked it, well shot, good locales, lots of violence always a plus. Shot with all natural light which is really interesting. Hmmm not very realistic. Ever heard of frostbite and hypothermia, getting wet in snow is very very bad especially out in the open, and with some bad wounds. Watching it half way through I realized Leo's character actually murders 2 frenchmen and steals a horse. It's a hanging time, he's a murderous criminal horse thief so I lost all sympathy for the character and wanted him to get what he deserved alas did not happen. Leo channels Rambo and Han Solo by jumping off a cliff into a tree and using a horse as a tauntaun, chuckle.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

Very silly movie almost a comedy.

[3/10 · 21 January 2016]

Very difficult to live up to the original trilogy but this was just a bad movie. Big explosions lots of CGI and not much else. The plot and script seemed to be just thrown to together with little thought. Very silly and makes little sense with many comical parts which are so silly it's funny for all the wrong reasons. JJ Abrams pulls out many tired old action movie clichés. Bad corny cheesy dialogue, bad jokes, mediocre acting, superficial characters, well I guess this is Hollywood today. Hate to say it but when the dust and hype settle another Phantom Menace. Michael Bay could not have thrown together a more idiotic silly incoherent plot and script, which has gaping holes and making any sense is not much of a consideration at all. This was like the PG rated Disney TV version.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Good but overrated.

[6/10 · 24 September 2014]

Having read the book I understand what the end is about. However if you only saw the movie and didn't read the book I'd have to say it would be very difficult to understand the ending which really makes very little sense in the movie. Good special effects for 1968 and many memorable lines like "Open the pod bay doors Hal." "I'm sorry Dave I can't do that." Some find the movie slow and tedious even boring and it can be in parts but my main gripe is the silly ending which if you only see the movie I don't know how you're supposed to understand it if you haven't read the book where it is actually explained what is going on. I think a lot of people who rave about the movie yet haven't read the book don't know what the end means at all. And in fact the ending of the movie is a bit silly and does a very poor job of trying to explain what is in the book by A.C. Clarke.

Green Lantern (2011)

One of the best comic book movies I've seen.

[8/10 · 16 October 2013]

Original, different, interesting and entertaining. The critics don't know what they're talking about. Other comic book super hero movies are full of predictable cliché and boring formula plot lines.

This movie Green Lantern is so different it is wholly original and like nothing I've ever seen before. I really enjoyed it and thought it is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Obviously every movie ever made some people will say worst movie ever or best movie ever.

The story spans the universe and is so much bigger and more interesting than so many other comic book based movies. It has original ideas and themes of fear and willpower used in a way I have never seen before.

One of the best super hero comic book movies I've seen. A really great fantastic movie. An incredible science fiction fantasy story on an epic scale.