After escaping from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Leena Klammer travels to America by impersonating Esther, the missing daughter of a wealthy family. But when her mask starts to slip, she is put against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost.
You’d think having a 26 yo reprise their role as a 12 yo would be doomed to failure but it actually works incredibly well. I was impressed.
Sadly, there is little else to recommend this. It’s barely even a thriller. Until a welcome pivot in the second act, you seriously wonder why Julia Stiles is here…
★★½
I rarely watch a movie and think it’s better the second time…
Apart from being preposterous… could it be better?
★★★★★
Mercifully improved by the third film, Cate Blanchett’s TERRIBLE accent continues to ruin the best parts of this. It is Russell Crowe in Robin Hood bad.
Also, this time round, I’m starting to give the villain a bit of side-eye on the “woke” scale. Black voice actor, dreadlocks, darker skin, bodily difference…
★★★★
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
Considering the complexity of what this film needs to achieve, I thought they had a really good stab at it.
Some of the meta stuff seemed a bit hammy and on the nose but I’m not sure that wasn’t intentional.
There were some excellent kills too. Top drawer stuff.
Not sure it really works as a whodunnit, though. Had it in the first act… but, again, I’m not sure if THAT wasn’t intentional too.
★★★★
Documentary style account of a nuclear holocaust and its effect on the working class city of Sheffield, England; and the eventual long run effects of nuclear war on civilization.
As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.
This is a fantastic film.
It deftly avoids the mistakes of the second by focusing on the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless and keeping everybody else to supporting roles.
The fact that some of the best scenes have no dialogue is an absolute tribute to the animators. Such superb work.
And it delivers a pretty much note perfect ending (or three) too.
★★★★★
During a space voyage, four scientists are altered by cosmic rays: Reed Richards gains the ability to stretch his body; Sue Storm can become invisible; Johnny Storm controls fire; and Ben Grimm is turned into a super-strong … thing. Together, these "Fantastic Four" must now thwart the evil plans of Dr. Doom and save the world from certain destruction.
I’ve always thought this was one of the better early live action Marvel films. It’s all very lite but still fun. My little ones (11/8) enjoyed it enough.
There was a jarring amount of cleavage and, unexplicably, some saucy nightwear on the dark streets of (an unnamed borough of) New York. Different times, eh?
★★★
A young woman inherits an old hotel in Louisiana where, following a series of supernatural "accidents", she learns that the building was built over one of the entrances to Hell.
Yes, the narrative nonsense might be an attempt at surrealism. Based on the ending that even seems probable. But even if that IS the case, it’s still not a good film.
It’s so jarringly bad in places it complete destroys any sense of dread or suspense that may have been building.
I do understand (I think) that the nonsensical plot turns are supposed to indicate the encroaching Hell-state but it’s badly communicated, both in the writing and in the visuals. I appreciate the intention, at least.
★★
My last review of this film simply said “Extremely forgettable”.
I watched it for the second time, the first with my children (8/11), and remembered almost nothing about it. So, I guess I nailed that…
This is a terrible film in so many ways. Probably the most egregious error is that, in a film about space wizards, it asks too much of you in the suspension of disbelief. “They built a colossal fleet of gigantic starships and no-one noticed?” And this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
I don’t think there is any doubt that Ben Solo’s story is the most interesting thing here. Rey’s story becomes ridiculous as it tries to reverse out of the cul-de-sac it went down in TLJ.
As we reach the end it become abundantly clear there was no overarching story for these final three films. Or, if there was, it was second guessed. The prequels are much derided for the quality of the film making but at least there was an actual story. As a result, I think this comfortably becomes the worse film of the nine.
★½
An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.
You know exactly what you’re getting. The comedy comes in waves, rather than a consistent level of hilarity. And, frankly, some of the troughs are kind of dull but the peaks make up for it.
★★★
