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The Quiet One (2017)
Diamond in the rough...
With a £6k budget, this John Wick of Birmingham is surprisingly good.
The actors are never going to be red carpet darlings of Hollywood, but they give good performances that are believable.
The script is simple, but effective.
The story, alas is where it's weakest. I'm a product of these rough inner city envrionments where the local guys are known and the pubs are cliquey, New faces stand out, Old faces return, but the legends have ebbed with age and usually they have paid for their indiscretions with their youth.
That being said, with this script, Lenny, the Quiet One is remarkably engaging, the local bar maid is just like every bar girl we know, the local nutter is, the local nutter and the crime family is how you'd imagine them to be.
I mentioned earlier John Wick of Birmingham.... That's close to what this is, not with the pizazz or style, but a close up gritty, no frills, look at how the strong prey on the weak, how fragile life is without Kevlar 3 peice suits from Saville Row, and how fists, knives and intent are the backbone of this story.
I have to mention the Camerawork and the Sound. The former is quite good, the latter, alas, lets the film down.
Overall, I'd recommend this as a little film for. Saturday afternoon if the kids aren't around. You won't want a second watch, but it's better than some of the big budget tripe we are served for entertainment these days.
In terms of bang for the the buck, it's £6k budget, this is an astounding price of work, well acted and engaging. Really hope the cast and crew go onto better things and I'm going to keep an eye out for their future releases.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
My god what a movie
Back in its heyday, Hollywood would deliver a summer blockbuster that would have the effect of making your socks fly off, land across the other side of your room, your mum would tell you off, yet you wouldn't care because the following day you would be in school raving about it with your friends making those who missed it jealous.
Those days are long gone. Hollywood saw fit to focus more on targets, social justice and deconstruct or subvert your expectations, of the lore, the characters, in a backdrop of reduced demand due to Covid. Why go to the Cinema any more?
McQ, Tom Cruise and their partnership, that's why.
In this latest iteration of a well trodden path, one that exudes 'family' without actually saying it, Tom delivers again.
Yeah yeah, we've seen the bike off a cliff, something about AI (bet there's plenty more of that on the way) and some hot chicks.... That's not why I say 10/10.
I say 10/10, because the women are bad ass strong, feminine, independent, don't revolve their world around Mr Hunt, in fact, 1 turns up to help, 1 is trying to get away, 1 is trying to kill and the other is trying to just get rich and powerfull and the IMF are in the way. No male character is undermined devalued or deconstructed or subverted in the making of this film. Mr Hunt is Mr Hunt, although we do learn a little more about his background and why he cares about his team so much. I say 10/10 because, this is a rollercoaster, that takes 2:45 and feels like 90.
I say 10/10 because the story makes sense, the object one has to aquire to go from a to b isn't replaced by a task to do c and then d, with an object e. There's an evil villain yet, but there's a weakness and it's upto the IMF to aquire this, beset by fraud, theft, sleight of hand, violence, trickery.
I say 10/10, because when Spielberg said to Tom Cruise, that he saved Hollywood, he was right. Word of mouth on this film is going to give it legs, it's taken more in 1 weekend than other 'blockbusters' did in 10. I am going back to see it tomorrow. I will buy it on streaming. I will re watch all the other MI films, and may even go a third time. I was going to do this with Star Wars 7 thru 9.... Then I saw them.... I will do this with MI:7
I say 10/10.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
John Wick fans will not be dissappointed.
No spoilers - just see it if you loved the prior films.
My only criticism, is that there is no follow up on the final scene of #3 between McShane and Reeves, no dialogue, no explanation, no follow up. It's like it never happened.
You won't be dissappointed - just don't make the mistake of seeing the climactic scene on tik tok, as I did. That being said, I knew the ending, and loved it so much.
Beautiful scenes, a score to match, locations to die for, characters true to their roles. I didn't feel that was as much gratuitous gun violence as there was in #3, but guns are there and well used.
The stunt guys and the cast surely earnt their money.
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Took my daughter - she disliked it more than me
Haven't seen the original so I have no nostalgia bias to overcome.
Daughter however is a big fan of the original and insisted I take her, when she found out I hadn't seen it.
I was bored, after about an hour and I think I may have dozed off.
Daughter started with a big of huffing and puffing, then i could tell by her breathing she was upset. I asked if she was ok, she said they've ruined it. Genuinely upset and I could see her tear up.
Saw a few people walk out. Never seen that before in a Disney film before.
I gave it 1/10, because the singing was average and the songs poo, the story is what you'd expect from Disney these days, awfull. I don't know which were new or old songs, I suspect the nostalgia is driving the higher ratings.
I don't mind a remake, seven samurai, lion king, all forms.... But just don't who the audience is these days that enjoys these movies from Disney.
Jack Ryan (2018)
Not often i give 10/10
Look let's be honest.... I'm a huge Tom Clancy fan.
Season 1 was good
Season 2 was better
Season 3 was fricking awesome.
For those of you who love the books, this mash up and kaleidoscope of the books broadly covers:
The Sun of All Fears as the main thread
And i spotted THFRO in the naval points
The spy master aspects in RSR
Alas, no Cathy or Clark or Chavez.
But i have to say, the easter egg of TC snippets is perfect, makes you smile all the time seeing the new spin on the TSOAF, no hotline, but rather a dip into modern storytelling where JR is but one of the three strand approach that keeps us engaged and interested.
Amazon may not do Lord of the Rings well, and it's version of Without Remose was shockingly distant, but S3 of this little baby will definately be replayed again over the xmas period and as soon as S4 is announced.
JK is perfect as Jack Ryan much improved from S1, and the story has enough twists away from the superb TC books to make this a binge season you won't want to look away from.
Enjoy. I certainly did.
Dune (2021)
Timothy Chalamet as Paul Attredies
When i first heard who they cast as Paul, i was a little concerned.... So i sought out other films by TC...
I have to say, his portrayal in the king was enough to convince me that he is an actor of some skill. In an age of diversity hires and male destruction, he is obviously not in the mould of Henry Cavill, but he has vulnerabilities and empathy, as well as being strong in his own mind.
As a result his portray of PA, is very in line with the Herbert source material, of a boy who becomes a messiah but ultimately is unable to control a jihad he inspires.
Overall Dune benefits from having a legitimate PA, but the ensemble is superb with actors who really shine in their roles, especially Gurney Halleck.
Dune 2 is eagerly awaited, but so far we have the first half of a masterpiece..
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
I just don't understand
How others vote this so highly.
I had to turn off after part of episode 1, it's pretty, but that's it. Galadriel isn't on screen, it's someone else called by the same name. There is no ethereal character on screen, the elves aren't elves, just people with pointy ears, more akin to Vulcans than Elves.
So i just don't understand, i've given 2/10 for visuals alone. That being said, it's a lot of CGi, so you can take it or leave it.
The question i really have is whether or not I continue with my prime membership, when i have form for blocking a streaming service when they got rid of a Gina Carano.... I don't know, i have time as i'm on the annual membership plan, but with news there is a s2 coming, this travesty of a theft from the Tolkien stable then i must reconsider my patience.
Without Remorse (2021)
This is not any relation to a Tom Clancy book of the same title.
John Clark, or Kelly as the character starts out is a Navy Seal.
Admiral Jim Greer's normally played by the superb James Earl Jones is not featured in this, but the characters niece is, who is John Clark's team leader.
Jamie Bell, plays Ritter, who we all know is a future corrupt CIA Director of Intelligence.... Maybe he will be good before his corruption in later books, but no, this story has him outed as a villain in the first spoken scenes.
Here ends any relation to the Tom Clancy storylines. And my interest in the story wavered further and further as the film progressed.
Add in a few action sequences, lots of meaningless jibber jabber to set up a plot line that has descended from retiring seal, to covert ops, although for which agency is strangely lacking. Maybe it's cia, but none of it fits any notion of a military or intelligence structure.
Acting: Jamie Bell lacks any depth, motivation and background. The actress playing Greer is to be avoided, basically, a wooden character with presence which isn't utilised at all, seems like a missed opportunity. Michael B Jordan, is limited to silent operative and angry husband and superman, but there is no depth.
Just weird.... Thats some of the actions and set peices, bits of floor that fall away, climbing into burning cars to interview suspects, arrests that don't make sense, threats and hostility for show., when Kelly is imprisoned for unknown reasons, no trial, with russian mobsters. The panache of Clancy is nowhere to be seen, what we see is corruption everywhere, action scenes which are just plain non sensical, such as Kelly vs 3 Prision Guards in full riot gear with helmets, shields and batons, you can guess it's never going to be a fair match, Kelly is of course an overwhelming opponent.
I honestly couldn't tell you what i detested more about this film.... The acting.... 2/10. The story 1/10. The identity politics, 0/10.
Overall, the key to Tom Clancy novels making it well to the screen, is to have some tenet of link back to the books, some have been very faithful, HFROctober, Patriot Games, etc. Some have been weak - SOAFears.... Some have been unfaithful, the recent amazon Jack Ryan shows, but were true to the moral of an Analyst working their way up.... This film, i can only conclude, had the title and character names of some well known Clancy characters, but none of the substance or integrity or story.... Add in an act of war by America on Russian, a Jet Plane crash in which everyone survives with no injuries.... It's just garbage and not fit for the film title and characters names.
I feel sorry for the careers that could well be ruined by this film. The only reason why i don't give this film 1/10, is that it's not a home movie, and it gets a 2/10 because to be fair on the cell sequence, the use of water and M B Jordan's physique is impressive.
If you decide to watch this..... Good luck.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Outstanding
Honestly has to be considered one of the greatest films ever created.
Stephen kings short story makes a big and small screen story of hope vs despair, of never giving up vs acceptance of ones fate.
The voice over of Freeman is perfectly narrated, whilst the soundtrack is just phenomenal. Sularia being. a particular highlight but the original tracks are wonderfull.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
The cgi is fantastic
Honestly, i've struggled through 7 episodes. I cant quite figure what's worse, the star trek badge being round by association with this series, or the honest fact that the story is so poor. I love star trek, i love great stories, i want to be entertained, space in all its vastness hold so many opportunities, but Roddenberry will be turning in his grave.
Warp speed Hippo onto a different, before this series boldly takes you where you don't want to go.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
Not woke - Just brilliant
In this age of perfectly diverse characters who are just good at everything, this is a story of an orphan with a talent for chess who achieves it all.
What makes it different from the woke rubbish some throw out, is the arc of the main characters life story. Albeit fictional, obe wishes it to be true and your heart beats with every move.
Yes, a child prodigy, but there are challenges, mainly herself, her addictions, her adopted family, haunted by her past and a reliance on whatever crutch possible, she hits rock bottom and then rebuilds her life, with help of a sister she didn't know she had, the father who loved her from afar, the lover that never was.
This is a must see.