My feed

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

The original Bourne trilogy still stands out as one of the most intelligent post-Cold War spy action thrillers and it mostly succeeded in being the last word in the genre. Its huge success and relevance also gave the Bond franchise a big wake-up call. So 9 years later, Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon decided it is opportune time to inject a dose of Bourne-adrenaline and his extreme ways into us. The only problem is that instead of innovation and reinvention, it serves up last night's cold pizza. It's more of the same plot points as before. This issue aside, the movie is still a pulsating ride. The pace is relentless and Matt Damon's Bourne still represents a driving force of reckoning. The spycraft and action set-pieces are good. However I have one major complaint - I absolutely abhor the jumpy hand-held shots. Overall it may harken you back to the days of the original trilogy but it never truly pushes the character to a new frontier.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

It's the most wonderful time of the year. To die!! Directors Grant Harvey, Steve Hoban and Brett Sullivan all lend their talents in an attempt to turn the happiest day of the year into a horrifying movie experience in A Christmas Horror Story. Best described as an anthology, this movie interweaves multiple stories with Christmas being the anchor theme. The stories are diverse and in no way repeating. Santa takes on a horde of zombie elves. A family goes Christmas tree hunting where their son gets possessed by a demon. A group of teenagers return to the scene of a grizzly crime to film a documentary where the evil still lurks. And a family is terrorized by Krampus, the anti-Santa Claus. William Shatner plays a radio DJ host that helps intertwine the stories and provides some spots of levity along the snowy roads to where the movie journeys. All of the 4 stories are interesting and provide plenty of blood for the gore hound. A surprisingly good movie!

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

The Belgian horror Cub is a slasher movie to the core. People go to the woods, they camp, a killer is in the woods, and people die. The formula almost never changes and it doesn't here at all. However, the main difference here is that most of the characters are kids from the lead to the killer. At the end of the day, it delivers some solid entertainment while continuing to spin the horror wheel. The directing is really good with crisp cinematography and good camera shots. The music has a very 80's synth style to it. The acting is good from the actors especially the lead boy. I did like that the cast is mostly made up of kids instead of teenagers which makes it stand out and bump the danger. The movie moves at a good pace and it delivers some good violence. Despite it concentrating on a set of characters we don't usually in slasher movies, the movie follows all the clichés of the subgenre. It doesn't separate itself from many other wood slashers so it still falls short of truly becoming something memorable. Overall, it is a fun movie to watch if you want a slasher movie that changes the formula a bit, but still retaining that old school flavour.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

This movie presents us with an interesting premise from the start. A young American woman takes a job as a nanny to an elderly couple's child in Britain. Only when she gets to their large, creepy mansion does she learn the "boy" is really a doll that the couple treats as if it is alive and their son. Much of what ensues after this is fairly predictable. We know the doll is going to end up doing creepy things, or at least we'll be led to believe this is the case. We also know there will be something more going on than what meets the eye. Lauren Cohan does a very good job, which is essential because she has to carry most of the movie. Many scenes are with her and the doll alone. Also, the setting and the doll itself do a great job of creating the mood. The movie does well at holding the viewer's attention; however, once we see the final "twist" we understand that it was really the only reasonable explanation - although it is really not all that reasonable. There are a few scenes where the dialog and impact fall a little flat. It's watchable enough, just don't expect a masterpiece.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

In this fascinating documentary about the secretive state of North Korea, director Álvaro Longoria takes us with him on tour of North Korea's capital Pyongyang. What I really enjoyed about this movie is its rawness - you get to see everything from Longoria's eyes and decide for yourself what is real and what is not. It felt like a very personal experience. The deception of the State and its effects on its people are nothing short of terrifying. How could they act so naturally if everything is staged? Could it be real? Are they really so brainwashed? Are these people suffering? Longoria presents many opposing arguments but there really is no telling the extent of North Korea's deception or on the flip side, the warping of information in Western media. I suspect Longoria himself does not know what to make of it. On one hand, the country looks nice and clean and BIG....but on the other, much of it also seems fake. Worth seeing but I am really not that sure what the message is or what most people will take from the documentary other than confusion.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated San Ferry Ann

 San Ferry Ann 6/10

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

Not seen on British TV since the early days of C4, this short movie which has no dialogue except music and sound effects is about a group of British holidaymakers who board a ferry to France, and predictably, chaos results. It perfectly captures the eccentric behaviour of the British abroad. It showed how we Brits looked at other nations at the time i.e the French are stereotypically depicted in berets, striped T-shirts and with a fondness for frog's legs and stinky cheese!! It's not a laugh out loud movie but there is plenty to make you smile. A load of familar faces to those that grew up with British comedy in the 60's/70's appear including Barbara Windsor, Wilfrid Brambell, Joan Sims amongst others. If you're a fan of Eric Sykes' silent movies like The Plank for example you'll enjoy this.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Star Trek Beyond

 Star Trek Beyond 8/10

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

The 3rd movie in the reboot Star Trek series finds the USS Enterprise crew encounter a new enemy in the furthest reaches of uncharted space that will push them and everything the Federation stands for to the test. The returning cast of Pine, Quinto, Urban, Saldana, Pegg and Cho are as great as ever. But, the role that felt really huge and important in contrast to the previous movies, was Anton Yelchin's final performance as Chekov. A truly brilliant actor, always taking the screen whenever alongside other cast members, giving us his very best in the trilogy. The franchise will not be the same without him. Justin Lin's direction marks a stark difference to what JJ Abrams did and to be honest thanks to Lin this is probably the best of the trilogy. One of the reasons I was more intrigued and excited for this instalment was having Simon Pegg as a writer. The screenplay is fun, dramatic and comedic. Well done to him. Another thing this movie delivers is a gentle tribute to the original cast of the Star Trek series, including Leonard Nimoy's well-known portrayal of Spock. Following the sad death of Nimoy, the writers had to work on a way of rounding off his story in the franchise, and they do this wonderfully. 50 Years of Star Trek is celebrated perfectly and I'm sure the fans will greatly appreciate it. Star Trek Beyond is fun, action-packed and visually stylish, surpassing the greatness of the previous two instalments. This is a treat for all movie-goers and Trek fans alike.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot 7/10

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

Based on a true story, this is about Kim Baker, a journalist who is floating through life. She agrees to take a job covering the war in Afghanistan. When she arrives it is nothing like she expected but little by little she finds something she never expected. Herself. This is just a great movie. This is not a straight comedy and Tina Fey really shows she can act. She is really the perfect choice for this role because she brings humour, heart and seriousness and really brings the real life character to life. This is a comedy, but it reminded me a lot of Good Morning Vietnam. Very serious issues dealt with in a more comedic way that really makes you understand and feel for what is going on. You can tell she is out of her element when she arrives, but by the time she settles in you really do see the change occur and it is a pleasure to watch. This is a fantastic movie and is a real turning point in Tina Fey's career. Great acting. Great story. Great movie.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl 6/10

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

Who needs yet another high school angsty melodrama? Who needs another cancer stricken teenager so soon after The Fault In Our Stars? Apparently the paying public. Brimming with smart-ass wit, whimsical kookiness and sincere poignancy, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl hits its mark. High schooler Greg, who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl, finds his outlook forever altered after befriending a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer. It might start out like some 80's John Hughes throwback but the director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon manages to take it down a different path. I can't say I'm a big fan of modern teenage dramadies but this one is good. The chemistry between the 3 leads are great and the dialogue is well-written with an air of crisp freshness. It starts off as a light hearted comedy, but slowly turns into a touching and soulful movie. Though this is not the greatest movie you will watch, it still is very hard not to like it when its over.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

The entire story is told from the viewpoint of a spoiled rich girl's google glass, in the vein of a "found footage" type format. Absolutely nothing to do with the story happens until about 47 minutes into the movie. From the cheesy fake accents from "Indiana" to the cringe worthy dialogue, there is seriously absolutely nothing redeemable about this movie. I stopped watching at one point because of how much I hated everything about this film and came back to it later to finish it. Save yourself the time and the headache, avoid this piece of crap movie at all costs.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

As a massive fan of the original Ghostbusters, I had a feeling that this new reboot wasn't going to be that good and I've been proven right. It's not awful. Neither is it excellent - taken as a whole its highs and lows resolve to a completely average movie. Where it all falls down is the script, the direction, editing, and the mixture of characters. The humour is much more in your face and less sarcastic than the original. The pacing is off, and the scenes do not mesh together smoothly. The cast is just OK. It also just isn't as funny, and doesn't capture the last chance nature of the original team getting by on a wing and a prayer. Neither does it feature a straight comedy lead - Harold Ramis was absolutely essential in providing a contrast for the original team. There are cameos by the original cast who play new characters. Overall, this didn't work for me at all and I wouldn't recommend it either. Stick with the classic original which is miles better.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Knock Knock

 Knock Knock 5/10

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 5 items to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

Adam Bell is a lonely history professor with a boring repetitive routine in life. Each day after school, he goes home and gets visits from his girlfriend. One day, after watching a movie he's surprised to see an actor named Daniel Saint Clair that looks exactly like him. This leads Adam on a obsessive quest to seek out his doppelganger. This is not an easy movie to watch. It is very very quiet and unfolds very very slowly. There is a lot of strange imagery, particularly a recurring reference to spiders, which will make many a viewer scratch his head in bewilderment. However, I have to say it is interesting. You will want to know how Adam confronts his double. Jake Gyllenhaal again impresses with a sublime double performance as the professor Adam and the cocky actor Daniel. This is again one of those movies which most audiences will find weird and baffling. If you are patient enough to reach the end, you will either hate yourself for wasting 90 minutes of your life, or you will be intrigued enough to contemplate on the film's deeper messages. Will you be able to figure out what the conundrum of this movie is all about?

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

Having enjoyed the first Outpost movie and being a fan of Nazi zombie films in general, I thought this might be more of the same. However, this sequel appears to have been shot by a crew without much talent, because it's generally a mess, and a poorly-shot mess at that. The story begins promisingly as a young woman tracks down an old Nazi in Paraguay then it goes downhill. What it all boils down to is lots of shaky cam work as the characters run around, kill, and are killed by Nazi zombies. The villains are pretty weak here, indistinguishable from loads of other movies, and the characters are paper thin. Everything has been shot in the dark, and clumsily with it, which means the action is no better than something you'd see in the ultra low budget movies. What could have been a strong and terrifying supernatural-themed movie turns out to be badly shot, badly scripted, and completely forgettable to boot.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan rated Headhunters

 Headhunters 8/10

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

This has to be one of the most satisfying thrillers I've seen, and I was literally smiling at all the plot twists and the rich narrative, while the film ran. It's basically about a recruitment consultant who makes ends meet by stealing expensive works of art. He meets a guy who has an extremely rare piece of art and steals it, but this chap has ulterior motives and goes on his own little headhunt. The first half of this Norwegian movie is what you would expect from this type of thriller. We meet all the key characters and are treated to an excellent montage of how the paintings are stolen. Its simple stuff, but you need to take heed, because there are lots of intricate plot devices that are pivotal later on. Soon after, we find a man passed out, presumed dead in scar, the film goes bonkers, absolutely edge of the seat stuff, and with every red herring thrown our way, we have a brilliant and clever plot twist or new development. Aksel Hennie as the lead character Roger is excellent with Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau (best known as Jaime Lannister from Game of Thrones) providing a brilliant foil as the man who is tracking Roger down. Overall, Headhunters is one of the best thrillers I have seen in recent years. Don't pass an opportunity to watch it.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list

Channing Tatum plays Magic Mike, a male stripper who works on roofing projects during the day, while also working towards his own business regarding custom made furniture. Alex Pettyfer plays a new employee at the roofing project whom Mike takes into the club when he quits the day job. When one act is unable to perform, Pettyfer is thrust out to the cheers and delights of women desperate to tuck cash in his boxers. This can be repetitious with a romantic subplot that is all too predictable but the concept works and the ending allows two parties to pursue what they are truly after. Females will enjoy this movie more than males although it is a far cry from Striptease. Tatum once again proves a strong lead as he desires to retire what has made him wealthy so that he may achieve a more honourable career. Pettyfer plays a thief who lives with his sister and gets caught up on drugs with the notion that stripping will pay for it. Cody Horn as his sister is slighted with the cardboard romantic subplot. There is vague references to a job but that is merely a mention. Matthew McConaughey steals scenes as the club organiser who opens the show. Director Steven Soderbergh shows the nightlife of the male stripping world quite nicely. Which it is not all sleazy, most male strippers do it to entertain the customers and for a few male strippers, it is just an job after all. And whether or not you came to see the movie for the chiseled bodies, this tale might just leave you with a different outlook on what it would be like to live as a stripper.

7 years, 9 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

7 years, 9 months ago