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AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Peter Watson lives in a dingy London boarding house, plagued by guilt and slowly losing his mind. His anguished state was caused by a terrible accident that occurred while Watson was working as a scientist, an accident that resulted in the death of his fiancé's brother. Unable to escape his depression, Watson's condition worsens. After causing a disturbance one night, a fellow tenant calls the police on him, which further unbalances his already precarious mental state. An interesting "siege" movie from the late 50's. The story runs in "real time" and crucially the choice has been made to dispense with any musical soundtrack. The use of everyday sounds and noises becomes an important feature in the narrative and certainly ramps up the suspense. The other interesting aspect of the siege is that there are no hostages taken. Rather it's all about getting Watson to peaceably leave his room in a block of units and go quietly with authorities. Richard Attenborough gives a powerful performance as a lost soul. He is certainly not a lunatic. Though the supporting cast do well, they don't have a huge bearing on the main story, until arguably near the end where another resident becomes instrumental in drawing the siege to its conclusion. This movie is certainly worth a glance if you have a chance.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

A school bus of a local high school who have won the championship are on their way back home. To their misfortune, the Creeper is one the loose as he is on the final day of his 23 days eating cycle, so this ruthless hunter will do whatever is necessary to find food before his time runs out. But the Creeper has another problem, he is being hunted down by Jack Taggart, the father of one of his victims who is looking for revenge. While it lacks the originality of the first one, this movie has a more focused and consistent plot due to the fact that the Creeper is now an identifiable villain. Director Victor Salva's new tale of rural horror is now a full-fledged supernatural horror in the vein of Wes Craven's Elm Street where typical elements of Americana become sources of horror. Having most of the movie set inside of the school bus with the cast's fears and personalities clashing makes a good source for classic suspense and tension between characters. The young cast are OK and the overall performance is not as poor as one could expect. However, they are nothing spectacular and some seem to had been chosen based more on looks rather than talent. This movie has a lot of what's good about modern horror movies, but sadly, it carries also some of the worst. The fast packed action at times gets distracting and contrasts badly with Salva's honest attempts to create suspense and atmosphere. It is fair to point out that the movie lacks the scares of the first one. It's still good fun and entertaining, but if scares are what you are looking, better look elsewhere.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated You Were Never Really Here

 You Were Never Really Here 7/10

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

When a teenage girl goes missing, a jaded, brutal enforcer attempts a rescue mission. He uncovers corruption and abuse of power along his way. This can best be described as a 21st century Taxi Driver with the visual style of something like Drive. The biggest selling point here is undoubtedly Joaquin Phoenix, who, as always, gives an electrifying performance that will keep your eyes glued to the screen for its relatively short runtime of 95 minutes. It is a shame then, that the pace still drags. Not because there is little happening, but because its anti-government message about post-traumatic stress (strange dreamlike flashbacks imply that he is an ex-soldier with a bad childhood) is just nothing new at this point. Its strength lies in the intoxicating visual flair, and that stellar lead performance. Although it is at its core a very violent movie, we only get to see the aftermath of what takes place, which makes the set-pieces feel a little uninvolving. Two or three unique and brilliantly done scenes aside, this will mostly be a matter of personal taste. Fans of Phoenix should definitely give it a go.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan rated The Boys

 The Boys 7/10

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Four youths are accused of robbing and murdering a nightwatchman. With the prospect of the death penalty being given should the boys be found guilty, the defence lawyer attempts to convince the jury to come to a charitable verdict. While the witnesses' evidence seems to prove their guilt, when the accused give their version of the night's events, an entirely different picture emerges. A fantastic courtroom drama in which the viewer is shown the same events two different ways, first by the witnesses and then the defendants, so that we don't know whether we're seeing the truth or not. Both versions are similar but the subtle differences are enormous in terms of whether they're innocent or guilty. The viewer is inclined to believe the defendants, at first, that all there is against them is circumstantial evidence but it actually turns out to be a rather large red herring though. Kids carrying knives gives the movie a bit of relevance for today especially in London where knife crime has gone through the roof. There's a great cast in this movie which includes Roy Kinnear, Wilfrid Brambell, Richard Todd and Robert Morley. A fascinating movie from an era in which capital punishment was still being dished out in the UK.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

This is a stylish British murder mystery that starts with a woman being convicted and sentenced for the murder of her husband. She has seven days until sentence is carried out. Then arrives a cousin from colonial Uganda who is determined to find the real killer. He goes to the quaint little English village she lives in and starts snooping. There's the worried step-daughter who teams up with him to examine the various suspects. It seems everyone in town had a motive and chance to kill the mean old man. The story ends with the now clichéd gathering of all the suspects and the statement, "Someone in this room is the killer." No major stars in this little Brit thriller but everyone is quite good. It's great fun and has a surprise ending. Well worth seeing if you have a chance.

5 years, 8 months ago

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5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Michael O'Malley is an Irish Catholic boy who forms a close friendship with Rachel Mathias, a younger Jewish girl. At first, the two are ignorant of their religious differences until schoolmates raise the issue to Michael. The two friends decide to attend each other's religious services, and each enjoys learning about the other's faith. When they have an adventure on a raft, an accident causes Michael to realise how much he cherishes Rachel's friendship. A quite brilliant tale about childhood. The movie has a simple short story about a couple of kids that enjoy hanging out together. That may sound boring to some but it really isn't because we were all once kids so anyone can relate to at least one part of this movie. The innocence and heart warming feeling you get from watching their friendship grow is something to savour. The story is also about religious tolerance. The 2 kids have so much affection for each other, they think it's important to learn about each others' religion which is nice to see. It's pleasing to see a time when children were roaming around as they pleased, hitching rides from strangers and playing in abandoned houses. Times certainly have changed and not necessarily for the better. The child actors are fantastic and their acting looks natural. This should be standard viewing for kids at primary school. Watch, listen and learn and I'm sure the children who view this epic masterpiece of childhood innocence will come out thinking differently when it comes to religious tolerance.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Captain Henry St. James heads a ferryboat that regularly moves between Gibraltar and North Africa, and he has a different life in each location. In Gibraltar, he is married to Maud, a subdued and dedicated housewife. In Morocco, he has another wife, the tempestuous Nita, who enjoys the fast-paced nightlife. Henry enjoys this arrangement, with neither woman knowing of the other, until both women become dissatisfied with their one-sided lives. One of the more modest comic efforts by Alec Guinness done during his Ealing Studios period, it features a side of him that his fans have never seen. Dancing the bolero with Yvonne De Carlo in a North African nightclub, he displays such amazing footwork that it's hard to believe that he didn't have a stunt double. He didn't! This is a lovely little comedy that is fairly amusing with a nice script and good performances from the main actors. It isn't too surprising or hilarious but fans of Ealing comedies will enjoy it as a light bit of entertainment.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Two men and their families escape from East to West Germany in a colourful homemade hot-air balloon. This is a real surprise. Not exactly family entertainment from Disney Studios. There's some violence, lots of tense moments, and a great story which is based on fact. The theme of the movie is determination wins. Never losing sight of their objective, two East German families risk it all, in their daring balloon escape to freedom. The story is both harrowing and heartwarming. John Hurt is good as always. Ovrall, a thrilling story of courage which truly pays homage to all those who succeeded and failed the treacherous journey to West Berlin and freedom.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

After gunning down a member of the High Table - the shadowy international assassin's guild - legendary hit man John Wick finds himself stripped of the organization's protective services. Now stuck with a $14 million bounty on his head, Wick must fight his way through the streets of New York as he becomes the target of the world's most ruthless killers. The John Wick franchise like Fast and the Furious is one of those franchises you have to grade on the quality of the action rather than the quality of its story. Neither of the first two John Wick movies had a remarkable story, so the John Wick experience is really about enjoying Keanu Reeves doing what he does best in the most creative of ways - killing bad guys. Killing lots of them. If you thought John Wick killed a lot of people in the first two movies, then you're going to need a calculator for this gun-fu ode to Bruce Lee's Game of Death. Disengage your brain for 2 hours and just enjoy this movie for what it is - a non-stop action fest.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son, Tim, to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry's former Pokémon partner, wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth Detective Pikachu. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Pikachu, they join forces to unravel the tangled mystery. Pokémon is ingrained in 90's pop culture and it's popularity doesn't seem to be diminishing anytime soon. This movie is based on the video game of the same name. Whilst far from perfect, Detective Pikachu is a perfectly fine yet messy adventure. Ryan Reynolds keeps the film afloat with an enjoyable portrayal of the adorable Pikachu, just about salvaging the movie from a rather convoluted storyline with uninteresting characters and a ridiculous plot twist that fails to stick the landing towards the end of an anticlimactic finale. But the true stars of the movie are undoubtably the Pokémon themselves. They're brilliantly brought to life with some pretty impressive CGI, and for the most part, the Pokémon (mainly featuring the classic characters) are utilised quite well. Detective Pikachu is a fun if not pretty forgettable adventure, catered solely for die hard fans of Pokémon, and that's no bad thing at all.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Paul Kersey is back in New York with his new fashion-based designer fiancée Olivia Regent and along with her young daughter Chelsea. Kersey has put away his old habits, until Olivia's ex-husband mobster Tommy O'Shea uses her business to run an illegal money laundry scheme and tries to scare her from testifying against him in court. They go one step to far when they disfigure and then later on kill Olivia. This tips Kersey's world up side down and vengeance mode comes kicking back in. The final Death Wish movie is a surprisingly entertaining little crime action/thriller. Though frequently riddled with inept moments (the mobsters unload round after round into walls after their target has jumped out of sight) and plot holes (how is Kersey tracking the bad guys, and since when did he become an explosives expert?), the movie is the most well-developed of the series in terms of character, plot, and pacing. While the plot is essentially a repeat of the previous movies, it contains a confident gloss that lifts it out of exploitation and closer to a mainstream movie - it isn't entirely successful but rooting for Charles Bronson never gets old. A good and satisfying finale to the series.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

In 1636, King Injo and his retainers seek refuge in a mountain fortress as Qing dynasty forces from China invade Korea. The situation grows desperate as the king's advisers debate what course to take, while his people suffer and die in the fortress. This movie is based on Korean history in the 17th Century, when China ruled much of the peninsula which in turn was being menaced by the Qing, the forces of Genghis Khan's empire. The story is a little bit overlong and drags in some places but the great battle scenes and the beautiful cinematography more than make up for this shortfall. All in all, this movie points out the futility of war and, a bit unexpectedly, also that life in the end will prevail (just not for everyone).

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter to the USS Alabama, which may be the only ship able to stop a possible Armageddon. When Ramsey insists that the Alabama must act aggressively, Hunter, fearing they will start rather than stop a disaster, leads a potential mutiny to stop him. This is a compelling and exciting submarine movie. There isn't an easy bad guy although we're meant to empathize with Denzel Washington's character of Hunter. The pairing of Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington generates a lot of energy and a lot of acting power. They have a great back and forth during the climax. They are backed up by great supporting actors Matt Craven, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, and Rocky Carroll. Director Tony Scott delivers a solid thriller.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

A former wild child is almost ready to settle down after proposing to his girlfriend, but all of a sudden he must face his past when an old one-night stand arrives with a seven-year-old son she claims is his. This movie has a strong cast featuring the beautiful Anna Friel and the always gruff Philip Davis which all help to make the story work. Andrew Buchan is very likable and evokes real sympathy as the man left in a lose lose situation. Interspersed with some realistic and at times touching drama there are plenty of funny lines. It's one of the movies that gets the balance between drama and comedy spot on. An added bonus is a good soundtrack that fits the movie perfectly. I found this to be a believable and enjoyable movie with a good pay off.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

It's 1987 and Jenna Rink is having a hellish 13th birthday. Mocked by the local teen queens and their leader Lucy, with her only friend being Matt, the chubby boy next door, Jenna's had enough. If only she were 30, she'd be able to control her life. A whiff of magic dust later, and she fast forwards 17 years where she has a fabulous job editing her favourite magazine and a walk-in wardrobe. Jenna goes through the usual fish-out-of-water schtick, but finds that although she may have achieved her dreams, she's a bitch. Her best friend's now the adult Lucy, while the grown-up Matt doesn't want to talk to her. This movie's plot is not innovative and it's certainly corny, but this chick-flick take on Big and Freaky Friday is charming. Jennifer Garner is suitably wide-eyed and her delight in life is infectious – she's ably supported by Mark Ruffalo as skeptical photographer Matt. I also like that although Jenna struggles in an adult world, she's still able to perform her job, showcasing the talent that she already has as a child. Overall, 13 Going On 30 makes the most of a tired premise to deliver a feel-good movie.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Mike McDermott loses his money in a poker game against Russian gangster Teddy "KGB". Under pressure from his girlfriend, Jo, he promises to quit gambling. This lasts until his friend, Lester "Worm" Murphy, gets out of prison and needs to pay off an old debt. The pair come close to earning the money back but are caught cheating. Then Mike finds out the debt is owed to Teddy and makes one last-ditch effort to beat the Russian. This story is helped by a rich cast, led by the likable Matt Damon. The movie has a surprisingly low-key feel, with many scenes filmed in dim rooms punctuated with hushed dialogue. It's an entertaining movie, but it seems unlikely that the lead character Mike could go through what he goes through and maintain such a sunny disposition and steadfast sense of honour. The dialogue is rife with poker references and inside lingo. If the viewer has no understanding of the game of poker he/she will certainly be lost but it still doesn't take anything away from how good this movie is.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

A brutal mugging leaves Grey Trace paralyzed in the hospital and his beloved wife dead. A billionaire inventor soon offers Trace a cure - an artificial intelligence implant called STEM that will enhance his body. Now able to walk, Grey finds that he also has superhuman strength and agility - skills he uses to seek revenge against the thugs who destroyed his life. An incredible Australian movie all done on a budget of 5 million dollars. This movie is basically "Robocop" meets "Death Wish", with less satire than the former and more humour than the latter. It's an absolute blast. An unrelenting pace, fantastic fight choreography that doesn't skimp on the gleeful blood and gore, and it's a lot of fun and interesting to look at. Some of the one-liner dialogue as delivered by Logan Marshall-Green who plays the lead character feels a bit forced and the plot isn't exactly clever or unique, but it works perfectly. This is cheap genre filmmaking done right. Definitely a must-see for sci-fi/action fans.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 2 items to their collection

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

This tells the real-life story of three men whose brave act turned them into heroes during a high-speed railway ride. In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris. This movie is a biographical thriller that feels like it was not needed or there was not much of a source material to even adapt that event into a movie. It follows the three American friends Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler, and Alek Skarlatos after having different paths with their lives. Most of the movie is the backstory of the friends from childhood with the actual terrorist event on the train perhaps only taking 10 mins towards the end. For anyone looking for action or thrills and suspense will be left disappointed. As for the acting, a lot have said it isn't that good but then again the three real life heroes who star in the movie are not actors so you have to take that into consideration. It's disappointing that Clint Eastwood took the helm as director as I always love his movies but this one I'm afraid is a big miss.

5 years, 8 months ago

AKB48Fan added 1 item to Hit Or Miss? Good Or Bad? 2019 Movies Watched list

Apostasy is the low-budget feature debut of writer/director Daniel Kokotajlo and it tells the story of a breakdown in the relationship between a single mother and her eldest daughter when she falls pregnant. The family are devout members of Jehovah's Witness. The daughter leaves the religion with the younger daughter and the mother refusing to leave, committing themselves more and more to its practices, even as they come to question some of its dogma. This is an interesting movie. It shows a realistic portrayal of the insulated life of a Jehovah Witness and the control they live under. The pain of isolation from family and community when one no longer wishes to be known as one of them. This is the reality for the thousands of Witnesses who have left. It's quite an eye opener for somebody who is curious about the religion as most people only know them from the occasional annoyance when they come knocking on your door to spout their crap. It's a fairly slow paced movie, no dramatic music or particularly shocking scenes, Just an overall feeling of the emotional prison these women are in and how terrifying a test of faith can be. The cast are fantastic particularly Siobhan Finneran. A worthwhile watch.

5 years, 8 months ago