AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
Essentially a typical buddy comedy/bromance movie filled with awkward moments and fart jokes... except that one of the friends is a talking corpse with magical powers. I don't think I laughed once but it did make me smile quite a few times. Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe both gave great performances but overall the movie is nothing special. The concept is so bizarre that I really wanted to like it, but it failed to deliver a satisfying conclusion and thus felt like it was all for nothing. I mostly enjoyed it but won't watch again. Though I can't stop listening to the awesome a-capella soundtrack which was definitely the highlight of the movie.
8 years, 3 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
An interesting mystery movie set in a Japanese girls school where some pupils start going missing and a curse is blamed for it all. If you've seen the Korean movie series Whispering Corridors, this is somewhat similar to those. This movie though is loosely based on a video game. The plot builds up very nicely from the start with a girl who locks herself away and students seem to be infatuated with her, then a photo shows up and a ghostly apparition of her shows up and then people start disappearing. Nothing groundbreaking, but you want to know what happens with a setup like that which has an hypnotic dreamlike atmosphere to it. You're not going to see anything new in this J-horror movie but if you want to waste 100 mins on a good mystery you can't go wrong with this one.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
This movie is set in South Africa at the cusp of Apartheid's collapse. However, such worldly concerns pale in comparison to the traumas and triumphs of the main character as he endures his first year of boarding school. It's a great comedy drama with Troye Sivan, who manages to pull the viewer in with a powerful, unaffected, guileless charm as Spud. He is joined by a wonderful turn from John Cleese as his literature teacher who gives him important lessons in life through books. It's one of those movies that makes you think back to when you were the same age as Spud. Overall, I thought it was a pleasantly entertaining movie.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
Never have I seen a movie that's made me so angry. This outstanding Korean movie is based on a true story which took place in 2005 in a school for deaf children. They were being sexually abused and beaten by some of the teachers which included the Principal. In the first half of the movie, the horrible abuses are unveiled one by one (be warned that some scenes are very distressing to watch). The second half is a courtroom drama in which the abusers go on trial. The movie is an emotional ride which tugs at your heartstrings. The performances of all in this movie is superb especially the child actors. I won't tell the eventual outcome of the courtroom trial but it will shock you. Thankfully after the movie came out, there was a massive outrage in South Korea and justice was finally served to those that thought they got away with their crimes. This is one of the best movies I've ever seen and that's saying something.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
Loved the first SPL movie so I thought I'd check out the sequel though the story has no connection to the original at all. If you can ignore the flimsy plot, you'll be treated to some of the best martial arts action since the original SPL. There are 4 actors in this movie that can really fight and their skills are well highlighted in several scenes. The choreograph and framing of the scenes was so well executed allowing the viewer to fully appreciate the skills of the fighters. There are a handful of memorable fight scenes in the movie but special mention has to be reserved for the final fight. It's quite a lengthy scene and is full of extremely satisfying action. Tony Jaa has been on a streak of underwhelming movies recently but he takes centre stage here and is back on form. The movie might take it's time in setting things up but the story does deliver during the second half. A worthy sequel to the first movie.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
This is a good murder mystery about a nutball killing prostitutes on the dates as those that Jack The Ripper did 100 years previously. James Spader does well in a double role as twins. One is murdered by the psycho whilst the other aided by a female doctor tries to track down his brother's killer. It was great to watch a movie with such a dense storyline that never forget what it was supposed to do-entertain. I was intrigued and fascinated with the story, performances and director Rowdy Herrington's ability to construct such a multi-layered plot and still find a way to pull it all together. Jack's Back isn't conventional in the least, it marches to its own drum, has class, and is well written, acted and directed. Check it out!
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 3 items to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
I think this sequel to Thermae Romae is actually better and funnier than the original. It's set in ancient Rome and featuring bath builder Lucius who finds himself in modern-day Japan from time to time, where he discovers new public bath designs and a young girl Mami who wants to draw manga and is very drawn to him. In this movie Lucius is ordered by Emperor Hadrianus to construct baths that will make the Roman Empire a more peaceful nation. There are a lot of laughs to be had mostly from Lucius' experiences in Japan which he then brings back to ancient Rome. Abe Hiroshi and Aya Ueto reprise their roles and slip back into character like they've never been away. It's not essential that you've seen the first movie to enjoy this one. Go and enjoy this goofy comedy which will bring a smile to your face.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
This is another in a long line of Jason Bourne-influenced spy thrillers from South Korea. It's a tale of a North Korean defector who finds himself pursued by both the bad guys and authorities in his quest for vengeance. It is a very well made movie and it's absolutely action packed. There are car chases, fights and shoot-outs galore here, all dealt with with maximum intensity and captured in loving detail by the director. The cast are also strong in their roles, and as with a lot of these movies, there's a strong emotional core which gives it heart as well as muscle. However, be warned: this is a movie that employs extreme shaky-cam throughout, so if you're not a fan of that particular style then this probably isn't the movie for you.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
This is the story of two high school students who will stop at nothing to see their manga is serialised in the popular Shonen Jump magazine but it's not easy. The movie shows the stress and strain of working in the manga industry with weekly deadlines taking it's toll on the two boys. Then there's the competitive aspect with various rivals also trying their best to get their work published. Bakuman has a fantastic cast of young acting talent with Takeru Satoh and Ryunosuke Kamiki as the two leads. Another big positive is the rhythm and pacing, which will keep the viewer glued to their screens throughout the entire runtime. The story keeps moving and it maintains interest. There's a nice dramatic impact to everything and the protagonists have very likable personas. There are also some very funny scenes along the way, which always helps to humanise the characters and make them even more relatable. The movie is wonderful and any fan of manga and Japan will love everything about it.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
Adam Jones is one of the best chefs in the world, but has an attitude that gets him fired from one of the most elite restaurants in the world. Now, looking to once again be on top he moves to London, but once again his attitude is the obstacle that stands in his way. For some reason I have always been a fan of watching people cook. Even though I am a little tired of Bradley Cooper being in every other movie made I was looking forward to watching this. I will admit that I did like this movie and was entertained by it, but Cooper played a version of Gordon Ramsey and was just a little too unlikable to root for. On the other hand, it was a really good character choice. Overall, it's a good movie and worth seeing but nothing amazing.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
Gene Wilder is in the wrong place at the wrong time, ending up accused of killing Kathleen Quinlan and on the run with his real wife Gilda Radner, going from New York to Boston to the Grand Canyon while being chased by Richard Widmark and his thugs for a convoluted old computer tape. It is a mess of a plot with familiar character players popping up in minute long cameos. It takes a while for this to get going. Unfortunately, there aren't really any major laughs (there are a couple of funny sequences), and far too many plot twists, none of which are thick enough to fill up the holes. Gene and Gilda deserved a lot better than this, especially in a movie directed by Sidney Poitier.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
Gems like these are truly hard to find and this Korean movie is superb. It's got some terrific acting and some of the best effects I have seen recently, but what elevates the movie to a special level is its theme and its execution. It is based on popular concepts, yet it will keep you guessing until the very end. It's a tale that will teach you, entertain you, and most definitely scare you. It's a thriller with plenty of muscle and heart. The Wailing takes you on a long and torturous trip through hell, where a father does whatever he has to do to help his town and ultimately, his daughter. It moves fast and doesn't hold back in showing what begins as the work if a maniac, serial killer, and turns into a mysterious murder mystery with supernatural overtones. It is long at 2 and half hours but is well worth watching. A true Korean horror classic.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 3 items to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
The 5th and probably the last in the Phantasm series has Reggie walking through the desert where he is trying to locate Mike as well as The Tall Man. Sadly this movie is just average compared to some of the other movies which I've really liked. It's just a series of strung together kills, running around, and dream like scenes with Reggie in a hospital talking to another stalwart of the series Mike. The ending was just so uninspiring. The movie answers no questions at all. The last scene sort of suggests a sequel could happen one day, but as Angus Scrimm is no longer here, it's unlikely to happen. Overall a disappointing end to the Phantasm series.
8 years, 4 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to From The Superb To The Crap - Movies Seen In 2016 list
BBC documentary maker Louis Theroux tries to make a movie about the Church of Scientology but is met with a wall of silence from it's members so he grabs a couple of ex-members of the church and actors to recreate some key events in the cult's history. Louis is constantly bombarded by the organisations bug-eyed loyalists, threatened by its long list of lawyers and he is unable to get close to its leader David Miscavige. Theroux travels all around Los Angeles learning about the recklessness of Scientology and what kind of place it really is. There are a few times when Theroux tries to investigate some of the key sites that are part of the organisation but he is told to leave the premises as he is trespassing and told to drive off a mile away from their road, even though the road in question is a public one. My Scientology Movie has very engaging and entertaining moments but you don't really learn anything new about the church that you probably didn't know already. Louis first big-screen doc is an entertaining affair peppered with surreal moments and wry wit; but unfortunately the people he really wanted to meet and talk to was way out of reach.
8 years, 4 months ago