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AKB48Fan added 3 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

One night in Tokyo, a self-confident young boxer and a prostitute get caught up in a drug-smuggling plot involving organised crime, corrupt cops and a female assassin. This fantastic movie goes back to Takashi Miike's brutal V-Cinema Yakuza movies between the mid 90's and the early years of the new millennium. Miike's fans will love it as it is so much fun. The characters are diversified, eccentric and unique enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen. The flashy locations are gorgeous to watch. The action scenes are intense and especially the lengthy fight sequences in a warehouse mix gore elements with black slapstick humour in a typically Japanese way. It's not perfect though as the opening quarter is a little bit dragging and slightly overstays its welcome. The story is somewhat predictable if you're familiar with other Yakuza movies. Still, First Love is an entertaining Yakuza movie that goes back to the genre's golden era in the mid 90's. It features action, drama, thriller elements and is explicitly brutal and darkly humorous. I loved it!

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

Colonel Kirby is posted to South Vietnam with two handpicked A-Teams of Special Forces troopers. His top secret mission is to kidnap a very important North Vietnamese field commander named General Pha Son Ti in North Vietnam. The capture of General Ti is seen as a bargaining chip to end the war on South Vietnam's terms, as well as disrupting the leadership of the Viet Cong. This movie was John Wayne's attempt to sell the Vietnam War to the American People. This was the subject of great criticism at the time. He wanted to make a patriotic statement of support for the Armed Forces at a time of rising opposition to the Vietnam War. The movie was bashed by many people but it did well at the US box office. I don't think it's a very good war movie to be honest. The movie is too long, the direction (John Wayne co-directed) is pedestrian, and the editing is lethargic. The action scenes are good though and are the highlights of the movie. John Wayne played his normal tough-on-the-outside-but very human-on-the- inside role, which he so often did in his Westerns. I might have liked it more if a good 45 mins or so had been cut to make it flow better but overall I can only say it's an average movie in the end.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

To investigate the murder of one of her fellow trustees of a fund which rehabilitates young criminals, Miss Marple goes aboard the sailing ship used to train the juveniles. The last in the series and probably the weakest out of the four Miss Marple comedy drama movies. It really felt as if the writers had run out of ideas as the plot creaks along and none of it makes much sense. Margaret Rutherford, as usual, has a great time and her sidekick Stringer Davis (her real-life husband) appears a little stronger in his role. Lionel Jeffries hams it up as the frustrated captain of the ship who views Miss Marple as his own personal albatross. A shame the series went out with a whimper. Essential viewing though for those that have watched the previous 3 movies.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

Three elderly spinsters become amateur detectives when someone poisons their beloved cat. The three determine the cat was poisoned by their mean old landlady and with an eye for an eye attitude, they determine to have their revenge. The three plan to murder the landlady, but fate has other ideas and takes a hand in matters. This is a slow burning murder mystery that keeps you guessing till the end. Perhaps the final reveal is a bit quick so you need to pay attention. As usual there are plenty of possible murder suspects to choose from, or perhaps it's even suicide. The movie is based on a play written by none other than Arnold Ridley (Private Godfrey from Dad's Army). The plot rattles along at a good pace and it never outstays it's welcome. Well worth watching if you like murder mysteries.

4 years, 1 month ago

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4 years, 1 month ago

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4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 12 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

Vicky takes her brother on a trip to the 1889 Paris Exhibition. Both of them stay in separate rooms in a hotel. Next day, she is stunned to find out that her brother has disappeared and that the hotel staff deny that they have ever seen him. This is a classic mystery thriller that's rarely seen but those that have seem to love it. Co-directed by future Hammer director Terence Fisher, the movie grows more and more sinister with each turn as the lovely Jean Simmons (just 21 years old at the time) desperately tries to convince someone that her brother did exist. The first half of the movie is the most atmospheric as Simmons' character Vicky is a stranger in a strange land, her fraught helplessness over her missing brother is enhanced by the language problems. This aspect impacts on the viewer by there not being any subtitles for the French speaking parts of the script which was a good move on the filmmakers. Once Vicky teams up with Dirk Bogarde's George the thriller suspense gives way to detective mystery, which is fine, and for sure the "reveal" that comes in the finale is credible, but it's a shame the movie didn't stay in "darker" mode. All in all, it's a classy little mystery, boosted by some prime British acting talent at the time. Definitely one to have a look.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

When William Egerton emerges from a lengthy period of amnesia, he finds himself in a hotel in Wales. A psychiatrist helps him to start piecing his life back together. This movie is supposed to be a comedy but there is no funny dialogue or even any funny scenes. There is just a lot of embarrassment which is supposed to be terribly amusing but with a weak script that is to be expected. The cast try and make do with what they can. I was just bored watching this and it dragged to it's inevitable conclusion. Some might like it for Rex Harrison's performance but for myself it was more or less a complete waste of time.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

Percy Brand will do anything to keep his crooked past a secret from his son, Colin. So, abandoning the truth altogether, Percy tells Colin he has been doing missionary work around the globe. When an older, retired Percy is offered to pull off one last job with his mates, he winds up getting the law on his tail. Unwilling to reveal his actual job to Colin, Percy instead devises a plan to frame the judge that employs Colin for his own crime. This is a typical British comedy of the 1950's, full of the usual likeable, conniving characters in a tale of crime and punishment. Michael Redgrave is quite delightful as the scoundrel lead, forever in prison and yet somehow keeping the fact from his good-natured son. There's plenty of wit on display here in a script bought to life by the usual exemplary character actors with Robert Morley in particular shining as usual. A worthy comedy to check out.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

Harly Cordell is a former Special Forces agent turned investigator, who arrives on the scene of an apparent mob hit to help the local police but her true intention is hunting down Francis Lydell, her former commanding officer and lover who shot Harly in the head when she refused his offer to become part of the freelance assassination squad he was forming with the other members of their special forces unit. A below average actioner in which the only good thing about this movie is the stunning Stacie Randall in the lead role. She's hot, easy on the eye and handles martial arts scenes competently but it's obvious she's no Cynthia Rothrock. The script is badly written and so predictable. Some of the action scenes are decent but the climax between Harly and Lydell is incredibly poor. What's so funny is Harly is supposed to be a former Special Forces officer yet she manages to drop her gun quite often. Overall, it's a passable 90 min waste of time but with so many other good actioners made during this period, you wouldn't be missing anything by skipping this one.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan rated Jawbone (2017)

 Jawbone (2017) 6/10

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

A former boxing champion, long past his prime and now an alcoholic, returns to his childhood boxing club. Enlisting the aid of the only family he has left: the gym owner, the corner man and the promoter, he seeks to turn his life around and stand tall once more. Based on the lead actor's own life experiences, this is a told to death boxing story that is made with heart. The power-packed performance from all around the cast which includes Ray Winstone and Ian McShane is the driving force of the movie. This dark and gritty British drama has a final boxing match that has to be one of the most authentic representations of that sport in a movie. Even though the story is predictable the movie was able to keep me involved but still, there's nothing new in here either.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan rated No, My Darling Daughter

 No, My Darling Daughter 6/10

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

Tansy, the teenage daughter of Sir Matthew, a business tycoon, falls in love with Cornelius, an American boy. The problem begins when Tansy's romantic interest changes after she meets Thomas Barclay. A so-and-so comedy starring the beautiful Juliet Mills (Hayley's older sister). The plot is reminiscent of the kinds of things Walt Disney used to make at around this time. It's not a laugh fest as many think it is. At times it seems more like a tourist brochure for London as Tansy and Cornelius visit some of the most popular attractions in the city such as St Paul's Cathedral. I did find it a bit disturbing that a grown up man falls in love with a schoolgirl (something that would be frowned upon these days). Juliet Mills gives a good performance as Tansy though she does look much older than a teenager but she was 20 years old at the time of filming. All in all, it's an OK movie but there should have been more comedy than what was shown.

4 years, 1 month ago

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4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 3 items to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 3 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 3 items to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

A young boy witnesses a murder in some old ruins and tries to run away but the killer tracks him down and kills him. A Canadian reporter interested in the story tries to find the killer before the police does. Quite a decent low budget British b-movie. Although set in a relatively innocent post-war Britain in which kids could still get into cars with strange men, the underside of a supposedly law abiding society is laid bare with its matter of fact depiction of adultery and blackmail. Paul Carpenter plays the leading role of reporter Paul Banner whose attempts to find the killer are made complicated by the arrival of his ex-girlfriend. There are OK performances to be had from Diane Hart and Jill Adams who play the women in Banner's life. An enjoyable thriller that doesn't outstay it's welcome.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan posted a image

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

Tori and Kyle find a baby boy in a spaceship and adopt him as their own child, Brandon. However, after turning 12, Brandon learns that he has superpowers and begins to use them for sinister purposes. This is a 'what if Superman turned evil?' movie. It copies a lot from the Superman movies as well: Kansas location, red cape, red laser coming from the eyes, the boy gone bad can fly and super strength. It was an interesting story, but it felt like something was missing. It was like the movie was rushed. It had potential, but I wonder if the director knew what he wanted. It was very predictable and that's OK because I still wanted to see how it played out. The acting wasn't great, but certainly not the worst. It was entertaining enough and I was engaged from beginning to end but as long as you're not expecting a mindblower of a movie I'm sure you'll like it.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to A New Decade! A New Year! Movies Watched In 2020 list

While on a trip to collect funds for a charity, Miss Marple visits Mr. Enderby, a rich recluse, who dies by falling off the stairs. Miss Marple suspects foul play and starts investigating the case. Margaret Rutherford portrayed Agatha Christie's character Miss Marple in several movies but this is probably the best of them all according to many critics. The majority of anything you may have seen with Miss Marple as the main character has been a serious affair but this story is largely played out for laughs which didn't please Agatha Christie at all. The clues as to who the murderer is are all there for both Marple and the audience to decipher, but multiple red herrings are also thrown into the mix. Margaret Rutherford is in her element as the old, nosy and clever lady Miss Marple with Robert Morley ably supporting her. I found this to be a wonderful light hearted movie and I can't wait to see the further 3 sequels soon.

4 years, 1 month ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

4 years, 1 month ago