My feed

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

Based on the memoirs of British nurse Vera Brittain, this is the tale of tragic loss as young, idealistic men volunteer for the slaughter fields of France and Belgium during WW1 and of a young woman trying to find her way in the world. The movie boasts a fine cast with Swedish actress Alicia Vikander (of Tomb Raider fame) playing the leading role of Vera Brittain. She gives a very powerful performance. Kit Harington plays a doomed officer Roland who falls in love with Vera with Taron Egerton as Brittain's brother Edward. The movie as a whole is beautifully shot with stunning scenery shown. It may be too slow for some people but I enjoyed it.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 4 items to their collection

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1

 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 5/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

Based on a manga and anime, this movie started out well enough but got more silly as time wore on. It's about a transfer student named Koichi who has moved into a town called Morioh where there has been a spate of mysterious deaths. He meets JoJo after he is confronted by 2 thugs demanding money for him to pass down a street. JoJo looks like a yankii with his dark clothes and eccentric hair style but he has secret powers called Stands. There are other young people with Stands who want to use their power for evil. I've heard about this manga title for years but I wasn't that familiar with what it was all about. The first half of the movie is mostly about introducing the characters and relationships which it does reasonably well and setting up the conflict with other Stand users. The action scenes in which several characters use their Stands that look like avatars to beat the hell out of each other are good. For a Takashi Miike movie it's one of his tamer efforts to date and the story smacks of being predictable if I'm being honest. It piles on the melodrama for the climax between some of the characters which spoiled the movie for me. The location filming in the town of Sitges in Spain is great though and makes for a nice change from the landscapes of Japan. The CGI effects are decent and the cast don't do anything special to stand out. I'm sure fans of the manga/anime will enjoy this movie but it's not one I would watch again.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Foreboding

 Foreboding 5/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

Shape shifting aliens have quietly taken over some humans as a prelude to an invasion but before they do that they want to learn about human beings. They use a human as a 'guide' - a person they control to do their bidding. The guide selects victims that the aliens take a human concept from them such as fear, love etc. One unfortunate man is Tatsuo who has been selected as a guide by an alien who has taken over the body of Dr Makabe. Tatsuo's wife Etsuko senses that something odd is going on with her husband and finds out the truth. But can Etsuko who is immune to the aliens' power stop them before humanity is wiped out? If you're expecting an all action alien invasion story you've come to watch the wrong movie. Kiyoshi Kurosawa's movie is fairly interesting, has an uneven pace and is long on talky bits. The movie is based on a mini-series that aired in Japan. It definitely creates an unsettling atmosphere that something bad is about to happen at first but seems to abandon that half way through to have Tatsuo trying to break free from the aliens' power over him and a chase begins with him and his wife fleeing from Dr Makabe. This was probably the weakest aspect of the movie for me. The ending isn't that good either. The acting by the cast is just OK. I felt the movie missed a chance by not creating enough creepy moments to sustain viewers' interests and it goes on for way too long. In the end, I feel this movie was a wasted opportunity. Not one of Kurosawa's best work that's for sure.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan posted a image

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated A Quiet Place

 A Quiet Place 6/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

Debutant director John Krasinki creates a gripping and original horror suspense movie in which alien creatures have taken over the planet and hunt human beings using sound as they are blind. The storyline follows the Abbott family as they live their everyday lives on a farm in the country trying to make as little sound as they can. Any sound no matter how little attracts the creature to attack. Using little dialogue to create tension, this unique movie has won rave reviews from critics. It's clever how the director who also plays the leading male role uses visuals and sound to give you a story that at times leave you on the edge of your seat. It's Emily Blunt though that gives the standout performance and the most memorable moments in the movie. She's amazing. I can't say the movie is perfect as one explanation states that as long as there is a louder sound than the Abbotts, they are perfectly safe from the aliens. Surely they could use that to their advantage for most of the time but they don't. Just a small gripe though. All in all, it's a good exciting movie but it's not a must see.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated The Entertainer

 The Entertainer 7/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

Laurence Olivier stars as Archie Rice, an entertainer who has seen better days. Now playing to near empty halls in an unnamed Northern seaside town (I think it's either Blackpool or Morecambe), he carries on regardless thinking that the good times will come back but they never do. Archie is a relic of a bygone age but he's still a despicable man who's out to bag a young girl or use somebody for his own gains. This movie has been touted as being one of Olivier's best movies and whilst it is very good I wouldn't say it's a classic. His performance is definitely strong and makes the viewer see how pathetic of a man Archie Rice really is until the tax man comes a calling and Rice's world finally crumbles down. The supporting cast which includes Olivier's future wife Joan Plowright and Thora Hird are also good. It might be quite a depressing movie but it's still worth watching.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Swingers (1996)

 Swingers (1996) 6/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

A great comedy which follows the (mis)adventures of Mike, as he tries to get over the break up of his long term relationship by moving to Los Angeles to look for work as an actor. Helping him are his group of struggling actor friends including the ultra cool Trent. This movie has a lot of good moments from Trent's famous "you're so money and you don't even know it" line which has been parodied by a company in the UK for many years to a funny discussion about Martin Scorcese and Quentin Tarantino or Mike and the boys playing hockey on the Sega Genesis. At the time it was like a 20 something single man's guide on how to succeed in the dating world. It's entertaining from start to finish with terrific acting from the cast but I wouldn't say it's a classic movie as many are saying.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Beat Girl

 Beat Girl 6/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

Jennifer Linden is a wild teenager who plays by her own rules and hangs out with other misfits at a local club. When her father marries a young French woman, she isn't too happy about it. Jennifer discovers her new stepmother used to be a stripper in Paris and uses her knowledge to try and break her father's marriage. A great exploitation British movie about rebellion, beatniks, stripping and jive music. The highlight of the movie is no doubt the debut of Gillian Hills as Jennifer. She is sexy with genuine fire behind her eyes and an attitude to boot. A typical bad girl who hates her own father and stepmother! She drives the story's plot forward to a rather limp conclusion I thought. Alongside Hills there is Adam Faith as a teenage crooner, a small role for Oliver Reed and Christopher Lee as a sleazy strip joint owner who wants Jennifer to perform in his club. There are very daring scenes for a British movie at the time which I wasn't expecting. This movie is also notable for being John Barry's first soundtrack to a movie. His music would become more famous once he came onboard to do the James Bond movies. I liked this rebellious teen movie but the ending should have been better. Definitely worth a watch.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Mary and the Witch's Flower

 Mary and the Witch's Flower  7/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

The debut movie from Studio Ponoc - ex-employees from Studio Ghibli who banded together to form a new company. It has all the hallmarks from Ghibli like the fantasy storyline, crisp and sharp animation, strong characters and a great soundtrack. The story is a mixture of several Ghibli features as well such as Kiki's Delivery Service and Laputa for instance. There are touches of Harry Potter with the magical castle in the sky resembling Hogwarts and the soundtrack even sounding like the Potter one at times. The movie is exciting and has several good set pieces and characters you root for. It's not a perfect movie by any means as there are flaws such as why is Mary trying to be friends with Peter all of a sudden when he hasn't been nice to her. However, the movie does a really good job of hooking the viewer in with awe-inspiring spectacle and unique visuals. Overall, a delightful movie for all ages. I'm hoping that Studio Ponoc will come up with something a bit more original for their next movie and not rely on their former employer for inspiration.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

This is a low budget Japanese parody of the Power Rangers in which 5 young women with large breasts use the energy produced by them to become Sexy Rangers. They fight Queen Amorous of the Muscle Kingdom and her cronies who want the women's Pai Energy for their own nefarious use. This movie is just an excuse for the women to show off their bodies in bikinis and skimpy Ranger outfits. The fight choreography is pathetic and the special effects is poor but you're coming into watching this movie not because of that but to see the buxom girls in action. It's Z-grade stuff but it's still fairly entertaining in how well they've captured the spirit of the Super Sentai genre. The women themselves are cute and have their own 'charm' so to say!! Yes, it is silly and a little bit exploitative but you can still have some fun watching this movie.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan posted a image

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

Based on the manga and anime series, this movie is about people that cannot die that are called Ajin. They are able to 'reset' themselves if a limb is chopped off or if they've been seriously injured. The storyline is about an escaped Ajin called Kei Nagai who has been experimented on by government surgeons. He comes across another of his kind called Sato who feels that the government that wants to do harm to all Ajins should be destroyed. Sato builds a group of other Ajins with a mission to finish off the government but Nagai and the government army face off against them. I've watched the first season of the anime and enjoyed that. This movie is quite faithful to what I saw in the anime. In this fast paced movie, there is a hell of a lot of action and violence. The fights involving the "ghosts" that the Ajin can call up to help them were fantastic. Takeru Satoh is great as Nagai with Gô Ayano also really good as the antagonist Sato. The well written storyline is backed up by a high octane music soundtrack which complements the action sequences. It ends with the suggestion that a sequel is on the cards. All in all, a blistering action movie that makes for a refreshing change from the oversaturated Hollywood superhero scene.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Red Sparrow

 Red Sparrow 7/10

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

If you're expecting an action packed female spy movie along the lines of Atomic Blonde then you won't like this at all. It's more of a clever and well thought out political spy drama than anything else. The movie tells the story of a former female ballet dancer Dominika who is coerced into becoming a spy for her country by being taught in a school of the art of seduction and sex in order to extract information out of their target. They are called Sparrows. The movie takes it's time in establishing Dominika's story and at 140 mins it's long but I never felt disinterested by what was going on. The story is split into two: the first half goes through her training etc and the second is your usual spy double crossing shenanigans. I thought Jennifer Lawrence was excellent in the role of Dominika. Director Francis Lawrence who has worked with J-Law on numerous occasions does a great job in crafting this wonderful movie. It was entertaining and enjoyable.

6 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Maudie

 Maudie 5/10

6 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

This movie tells the story of a woman who has arthritis. Her family thinks she's a little bit odd but she makes a world for herself by becoming a respected and popular artist. It is hard to watch because I found Maud's life very depressing. She is physically, emotionally and financially abused by her husband. Yet she stayed remarkably resilient and positive. Sally Hawkins gives another wonderful performance as Maud alongside Ethan Hawke as her husband. Unfortunately the story is terribly slow paced and it hurts the movie. I found the first half tolerable enough but the second half was unbearable in how dull it was. This movie will have it's fans but I can't say I'll be one of them.

6 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Treasure Hunt

 Treasure Hunt 4/10

6 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

A below average comedy farce set in Ireland in which a once wealthy eccentric family now have to rent rooms out in their large mansion to tourists after the late owner spent all his money. There are rumours of some precious stones hidden somewhere in the grounds of the house but nobody has any idea where it could be? I was expecting this to be quite funny seeing that Jimmy Edwards headlines the movie but it turned out to be a damp squib. It's an adaptation of a stage comedy and it looks like that as well. The poor script likes to emphasise the kookiness of some of the family's members such as an aunt who thinks she's travelling the world once she steps inside of a carriage that's in the family's lounge! I don't think I laughed at all whilst watching it which sums it all really. A very forgettable movie.

6 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated The DUFF

 The DUFF 7/10

6 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Movies Watched In 2018 - To Infinity & Beyond! list

This may be your usual, typical and cliché teen flick in that the plot is more or less the same story of a not hot girl (called a Designated Ugly Fat Friend) who tries to change herself then loses her 2 best friends but finally discovers that this isn't who she is and ends up with the guy who she did not fancy in the first place. However, the real charm is within the main character of Bianca who is awkwardly funny and smart and played brilliantly by Mae Whitman. Even though there's nothing new you haven't seen before in this movie, don't let that put you off from watching it as it is a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it.

6 years, 9 months ago