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Paul_A_C
Reviews
Desperate Housewives: Finishing the Hat (2012)
Closure for the true fans!
Well part of me wanted to give it a 10, but when you watch the final 10 minutes and you are blown away by the montage and sudden twist at the end, you can't help but feel you wanted just something more!
What a show this has been, I honestly think those that criticise it are not giving it a fair chance! Over the years we have had four brilliant female characters tackle the daily problems that we all experience in our love lives and work lives, but with a whole lot of drama thrown in! This is television - I want it to be over the top and unreal! I won't spoil the ending, but when you hear the final narration and what is to become of the characters in the future... you can't help but panic as the final minutes begin to close! You don't want to let go... and sadly letting go is a big part of the bittersweet ending.
In the very final moments you are reminded of the past 8 years (13 in the show). The final words spoken by Mary Alice sum up the series so perfectly that it delivers a satisfactory ending. I'm not spoiling anything here - the promos show that the finale focuses on a wedding and it does. They aired the last two episodes together, the first half concludes the season and sets up the final episode. I felt the final episode should have had another focus and been a double of its own - who remembers the season 2 double finale 'Remember?' That will always be my favourite season finale and I would have preferred a similar ending with more flashbacks. There has been a number of flashbacks in this season (with many continuity errors) it would have been great to make a two hour finale on its own with more time for each character! They filmed so close to airing the finale, within two weeks of the air date! This could have been to keep everything quiet? Who knows! It felt they didn't give the finale their all, unlike the season 1 and 2 finales, which captured the show's talent so wonderfully!
When watching the episode, I felt like this couldn't be the finale! 'Is this really over in a few minutes? How are they going to conclude everything!' This is natural, I guess, when watching the final episode of a show you love and have stuck with through its run! Even though I focused on the negatives this is still one of the most wonderful conclusions to a television series that I have ever see. There truly aren't many shows that would get, or even deserve the final moments that Desperate Housewives provides for its viewers, which is an incredibly powerful goodbye to a wonderful show... they'll never be another show like it!
Sex and the City (2008)
As good as the show!
So i don't mean to sound 'Big' or anything but i'm pretty good when it comes to movies, and today's cinema is frankly, well, appalling. As a fan of the show i was disappointed to hear bad things about the movie but after seeing it well, it must just be down to taste. Of course it won't be as good as the TV show stop comparing it to be. The movie is over two hours long but frankly there isn't a moment of disappointment.
The movie is hilarious, i found myself laughing with the rest of the audience and why not? It was funny, it was sad, and it was certainly satisfying. I don't think i'm jumping ahead by saying this is one of the greatest movies for 2008. The only letdown's were maybe the comic moments at times where it was seriously upsetting making it less effective for the sad tones.
This movie will have you laughing and waiting for it to come out on DVD and if you are not a fan of the show and disapprove of the film, then i guess you have no source for comparison.
Watch it, it's worth the ridiculous price the box office charges these days!
Home Alone (1990)
Christmas topper without a doubt!
John Hughes has really produced some great films throughout the 80's without a doubt, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink etc. But in 1990 he really cracked it in Home Alone. Home Alone the original is without a doubt a must watch film for all audiences.
As always Hughes creates a situation for the film that is a crowd pleaser, in this case an 8 year old left home alone at Christmas while his mother and family hope to get back home in time for Christmas, meanwhile young Kevin McAllister is left to defend his home against two idiotic robbers with a house full of surprises.
This film is certainly a Christmas film, but it's what Hughes puts into it that makes it an essential one, the story, structure, the laughs and the joyful Christmas feeling. This film will make you laugh and maybe even cry it has it all in this family pleasing Christmas topper!
The Hitcher (1986)
A different side to terror!
The Hitcher delivers a complete change to the terror of horror films. Personally I've studied films for a few years and when it comes to horrors I know all the codes and conventions and it's hard finding one that creates the "edge of your seat" feeling. The opening of the film is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying openings in the history of film. It has the "nail biting" " on the edge of your seat" killer suspense throughout.
The film opens with young actor C. Thomas Howell as the young innocent sympathetic Jim Halsey who on a journey to California, picks up what will turn out to be his worst nightmare. Hitch-hiker, John Ryder(Rutger Hauer)holds Jim up by knife threatening his life, after escaping the horrific situation that almost cost Jim his life, he encounters many more occurrences involving the hitch-hiker and as the road goes on Jim is framed for the murders taken out by Ryder, but as the crimes deepen so does Jims reputation as the whole county police follow him along with Ryder.
The film has a major suspense throughout of not knowing where the story will take us next. There's elements of Horror/thriller/action/adventure, what more could you want from a movie. Certainly worth a look! Two thumbs up!
Footballers' Wives (2002)
The best we've got!
Sex, glamour, fame, top notch story lines yet so unreal but we can't help loving it. The show has it all. Footballers wives is by far England's most successful, addictive TV drama show. The show is evolved around the lives of several footballers and their wives changing characters and story lines throughout the series.
The show mainly revolves around the ultimate footballers wife Tanya Turner (Zoe Lucker) who has always given the show its ten out of ten entertainment; she's a heartless, greedy, money hungry, manipulative bitch but we love her. She's bribed her way through it all, bumped off rich men for their money, swapped babies at birth to save herself and much more that's kept us watching throughout. As the series have progressed they've lost touch as most series do; but it's always kept its shock making us desperate to know what happens next.
The Omen (2006)
Was it just for 6/6/06?
On going to see the release of the new Omen I knew that it would not compare close to the original as many others would. If you have seen the original and are a fan then this is basically just the same film with more jump out your seat moments some slightly changed death scenes and different actors for the modern generation.
When watching the film I could tell each line that was about to come but maybe in all the films main goal was just to release the omen one the 6/6/06. The shots of the twin towers collapsing, the tsunami wave did however give the film a more realistic approach of the birth of the Antichrist; and there were a few more "scares" placed in dealing with the breakdown of Julia Stiles' character (Katherine Thorne).
As far as the acting goes there isn't any exceptional performances from the cast compared to the original. Julia Stiles doesn't deliver any great performance as well as Liev Schreiber's. But I do have to hand some credit to Mia Farrow's performance as Mrs. Baylock the replacement nanny also an apostle of hell, despite the critics remarks; sure it was not as good in comparison to Billie Whitelaw's in the original but still added to the mood of the film to make it seem more chilling with her crazed rage into protecting Damien. Also Jerry Goldsmith's score in the original which won the film Oscar for best original music score gave the film it's Gothic and suspenseful mood.
The death scenes them selves were not less thrilling as the originals but no more either. You have to praise the original for it's time 1976 where as today in film they can do almost anything. They all imitate those of the original but don't have that "wow" affect that was gained from the original. The decapitation scene differed slightly but wasn't anything great as it is common these days where as back in 1976 it was one of the very first. A let down to the film was the remake of the famous tricycle scene of the original, even today with the modern technology it wasn't half as good as that of the originally you don't actually see her fall over where as you get a glimpse originally and as she falls the effect isn't of any brilliance of the original's. The angle shots as well which add effect to the 1976 were almost imitated in the new release.
Overall though the film really is just another horror remake to attract the modern audience of cinema and to over exaggerate the release date 6/6/06; in which felt as if the film was rushed to meet this deadline.
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Well ...
The Friday the 13th film series has become a legendary addition to horror cinema; Jason the famous Hockey masked killer. however he doesn't begin his killing spree until part 2 and only gets his hockey mask in part 3 which by then is just going downhill repeating the same story at the same camp every time just with a different name. In part 3 Jason is still on the loose to continue his camp counsellor killing spree even though this time it's just a bunch of over aged kids staying at a cabin.
In part 2 i assume it's taking part on Friday the 13th but by part 3 Jason is just on the loose and kills 2 victims at the beginning who see the events of part 2 on t.v. and then the victims who get killed later see them being placed in body bags; so it cannot be taking part on Friday the 13th. How ever I watch this film loads of times just like part 2 as they do have a strange power to make us watch them but after Jason obtains his mask it's too late the films have just become pure cheese so watching them makes it hard to believe they're such a historic film series.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
10/10 Brilliant
It's a shame to see that such a remarkable film can be judged in today's society just because of the age of the film. I saw the film as a teen and couldn't deny loving it. The film boasts with brilliance and terrific story and drama. Gone with the wind is by far the greatest film ever made and proved by many film lists and so on. The film takes place in the Civil war, the southerners and the Yankees. It shows the affect f the war and how it affected those who lived through it in particular, Scarlett, probably one of the greatest characters in film history. She goes from being a spoilt young woman to a forced to survive hero. She fights and slaves with those around her to keep hold of her plantation 'Tara' and will go to extreme lengths to keep hold of it after the affect of the war. The film is also a major love story mainly between Scarlett, the man she wants so badly, Ashley, and the man who falls for her, millionaire Rhett Butler. By the end of the film Scarlett realises she's been dreaming of something that she never really wanted, but after the many tragedies that occur is it too late for her to keep hold on what she's really been wanting? Gone with the wind is and will always be without a doubt, the greatest movie of all time even in years to come when the cinematic audience of the film aren't around, those who know films will know that it can never be beaten!
Stir of Echoes (1999)
Give it a chance!
Kevin Bacon delivers yet another great performance in the terrific thriller/horror movie Stir of Echoes. The film seems to have been slaughtered by it's comments and it's all down to todays modern horror genre. This film was really the only movie from the modern horror collection I found watchable; it beats your average 'oh somethings gonna jump out at us' scenes which are far too predictable these days. The jump scene where Tom (Bacon) sits on the sofa startled by the spirit lurking in his house, it gets me every time I watch the film. The plot is fairly basic but the elements to it make it one hell of a good movie! So don't slaughter it just because it's different!
American Wedding (2003)
Bad slice!
I had to say I was disappointed by by the film after hearing people completely over rating it. The film still makes us laugh as the previous two had also done but the film goes too far and over the top. Most parts of the film i kept saying to myself 'that would never happen.' The film is missing many of the old characters and one of the main four guys 'Oz'. Stifler who has always been the main source of American pie still brings comedy to the film but doesn't seem like the Stifler from the first two. The film lacks the original style of the film series, that's the main let down of the film but still it makes us laugh but if you want the best of American pie i suggest American Pie 2; by far the greatest of them all.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
What the hell!
This is undoubtedly one of the worst film in the Friday the 13th series. It lacks horror, story and qualities of any kind. The fact that the film was released makes me sick. The film drags on a ferry with a bundle of bad acting characters which are all slaughtered off in terrible ways. Then when they finally reach Manhattan which is towards the end may I add, the plot barley even involves Jason and is another half an hour dragging on to complete the film. The film becomes even more cheesy and is not scary what so ever and completely ruins the film when Jason is seen by half of Manhattan chasing the two helpless victims because nobody seems to be doing anything to help them. If you think it could only get better, well you're wrong, as Jason goes to Hell is just as bad!
Stand by Me (1986)
Essential teen movie!
When I first saw Stand by me I was 13 years old and straight away it became my favourite film of all time. The film is magnificent and really captures the true aspect of growing up. The plot is very basic, 4 boys, best friends, go on a journey to find the body of a kid their age; along the way we see them deal with their hardships of growing up and the problems they've encountered throughout their lives. Although there's not too much of a story, the acting from the four friends is absolutely spot on, especially River Phoenix's performance.
I recommend the film as a must see especially while growing up as it really is the ultimate "coming of age" movie experience. I could also compare the film to real life the way we deal with friends in our lives and so on so if you haven't yet seen it, do so!
The Exorcist (1973)
Scary after the first time!
I saw The Exorcist when I was about 9 years old and back then every body was watching the film and not finding it scary. The line i hear the most that makes me think 'oh god' is when somebody says "It wasn't jumpy". I have to admit i wasn't a fan straight away of the film as it didn't really do anything for me. I recently watched the film again with a more mature attitude towards it and can understand the effect of the film. The idea of what is happening is terrifying and the power of the film is incredible and although there are some cheesy bits in towards the end, most of the film is absolutely horrific. However i do wonder that in the cut version why the scene where Linda Blair crab walks down the stairs, was cut by William Friedkin and then keeps in the famous scene with the turning head and the crucifix!
Zombi 2 (1979)
Not all bad!
Recently bought the film in box of the banned. Can understand why it was banned but the film is not one of the greatest. The acting is terrible but still the special effects are amazing and the ending is ready just for another sequel. Although I had to laugh when i heard the radio host screaming "There in here".
The film kind of starts off like there was a story we've not quite gotten to know yet so that was kind of irritating but overall the films gruesome nature was spectacular.
STAND OUT MOMENT: Would have to be the hand breaking through the door pulling in a hopeless victim's eye into a sharp spike of wood, but really she couldn't be assed to move so it's her own fault. I have to wonder why there are characters that watch a zombie raise from the ground for like 5 minutes and don't run and end up getting killed. They don't make them like they did back then that's for sure.