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Stan & Ollie (2018)
It deserves every bit of praise. A joy to watch.
Like many reviewers here, I too grew up watching my share of Stan and Ollie films. They were a pleasure to watch over and over again. They still are. In a mad world were everything id fast paced, people still take time out to sit and watch them. That is a tribute to their skills and the great relationship they had as partners. Sure, as you will see by this film, they had their differences but at the end of the day, they were made for each other and one could not work without the other - and each knew it. They set a high standard for comedy routines and few have subsequent matched it or for so long.
Credit is due in this film not just to Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly - who each play their parts to absolute perfection - but the wives of the Stan and Ollie in the 2018 movie. All others in smaller roles, are equally a class act. We have in this film a joyful assembly of wonderful talent. A joy to watch.
My children someday will watch this film I hope, and see that at times in the past and possibly their future, despite any small differences, people can love one another and share their lives together in the roller-coaster of life. I hope my children will get as much pleasure out of the remaining existing Stan and Ollie films - as well as this film chronicling their final years - and also get smiles, laughter and possible a tear.
LIfe is hard for many. Stan and Ollie got many through it. Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly in this film also do their great part in honoring the legends they represent. In closing, this film deserves every bit of praise it gains.
Thank you Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly - and thank you Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It's been my pleasure to see great people at the height of their skills and equally great in friendship, through it all. I consider myself blessed to have seen this film and the noble telling story in their latter years, of two original great men.
On Chesil Beach (2017)
Woeful film. Painful to watch. What a waste of talent!
I love Saoirse Ronan as an actress. I go out of my way to view all her attempts to act. This film sadly was a poor showcase for acting talents she genuinely has in buckets.
A big problem was that the script was terrible. Absolutely terrible.
The editing was atrocious. Watching (or trying to) some scenes was just painful. I said the main scenes involving their attempt to have sex was a masterclass on how to make something that is crux to the film, into something that it was bloody painful to get through as a viewer. Those far too much chopped up scenes nearly had be turning off the film more than once.
The only reason I kept going to view the rest of the film, honestly, was in hope of Saoirse Ronan resurrecting the film out of the rotten way it was put together.
I have not read the book - but it's very easy to say it must be far, far, better than this version that's made it to cinema screens.
I didn't see any characters on screen that I liked. I just saw a bunch of stodgy characters that should have been much better portrayed. It's all a damn shame. Each of the actors involved in this film have separately produced great work in many other films. This film was not their finest work. Again, damn shame.
It was an horrid film put together. The directer/editors/writers need to back to class to remind themselves how to do a more decent job. This film cannot be a showcase for many technically involved.
I give it two stars for the wrapping up of the story at the end and for the efforts of the actors involved. They were seriously badly let down by others who gave them crap material to work with and then put it together just as bad.
A crying shame. It could have been so much better.
The Greatest Showman (2017)
It is what it supposed to be about - entertainment.
I have seen a number or reviews that argument over technical points, themes, subplots and pace - besides insulting the music also for extra measure. That's their opinion and they are entitled to give it. Here's mine...
First of all, everyone individually and collectively are great. They all play their parts well. Sub-plots of race, discrimination, family by blood or friendship in the face of adversity and more, are all brought to the screen without laying it on too thick.
In the end, the film centers (like a circus ring) around P.T. Barnum. His aim was to bring entertainment to the masses and also make them switch off from other things if only for a while and also make people smile. In short, entertain them indeed. This is what the film does. It sets out to entertain people about a man that sought to entertain.
Stuff the critics and begrudgers that just don't get this as they try to bit by picky bit, pick the film technical apart. The irony of all ironies - I saw one review that criticised the film because part of it was fictionalised. Did the critics not kop that Barnum originally did this in order to entertain? Clearly that went over the critics heads too! They are so busy looking at the individual parts that they don't see the the whole as a total sum and how the film is also meant to be viewed. It's their loss. For the rest of the world that has 'got it', they have enjoyed the film. Me too.
I started to watch it as there was nothing else to view (I am being honest) and the next thing I know, the film was over. Ten minutes in, the film had me. I loved the music, the showmanship of all - and every part of the film in every aspect. You know you have liked something when you seriously don't notice time passing by. You were simply too busy having fun to notice - as I was having. I liked the soundtrack, the acting, the pace, the sub-plots, etc - the lot.
The film sets out to entertain the world about a man that set out to entertain. What more do critics want for gods sake! Stuff them and join the masses in watching this film for yourself. The many public reviews speak volumes as to how good or bad this show is. It may not be liked by a minority - fair enough - but judging by the masses that have taken time to comment the world over, the likes of this movie far, far out weigh the dislikes. Start watching however and discover how you feel about an entertaining film about entertainment. I suspect you might not regret it!
Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017)
A Reminder Of Innocent Times.
This film won't win any Oscars - and maybe that's a good thing in this era of commercialism. This was a film set out not to grab awards - it was like the very Winnie The Pooh book - it exists to take us to a place where times of innocent childhood joy exists just as much as sadness in the world.
Will Tilston, the young boy who played "Blue's" son in the film is simply charming and shines with every scene. In the film he reflects a childhood of innocent and play that we all can look back on also, to some degree - and then probably miss.
I was sad to see the young boy in the film grow older. Not because the older actor wasn't any good - he was - but the loss of the young boy, to be replaced by the older - was also like an eventual loss of innocence we don't ever want to leave us. I was delighted that he reappears at the end - only to feel my heart break a little as we watch him again walk away (with his dad) from us with his Pooh bear - maybe taking with them both, our once childhood innocence too.
One mid-film scene at a train station when we see through the fathers eyes, his forever young boy leaving for war, is very touching. It must have been heart-breaking for every parent everywhere in the world, at any time, to experience such things. With each generation, I suspect many hope in each, the next generation will not have to experience such things.
The film itself is paced just right - as it should be. Fast paced would not have suited this period piece at all. There is a limited number of characters so we get to know them a little better. Of course there is poetic license with the story. In certain circumstances there has to be given that we, the viewer, have only under two hours to grasp at a life-time of events. Despite this, watch the film for what it is - a trip back to days of joy while the outside world has to sadly stick its ugly head in, at times.
I have been a fan of Winnie The Pooh all my life. I now shall look at the drawings of the original creator also with refreshed and even more in-sighted pleasure. This film has brought that extra bonus.
Do watch this film. Appreciate the acting, appreciate the characters, appreciate the era that it was set in and at times, allow yourself to take a trip backwards to times of innocence that the film might stir in you.
Well done to all in it's making. The film won't win Oscars - but it's won my heart forever.
Good night Christopher Robin and good night Winnie The Pooh. Thank you for making the world a bit brighter especially during life's many tribulations.
Killing Gunther (2017)
Dire, stupid, desperate attemps to be funny.
The title says it all in summary.
The first hint that this is going to be a crap film comes within a minute of it starting. I had hopes still that it might get better and hung on till Arnold finally appeared - right at the very near end. What a disappointment!
What possessed those responsible to do this remake? What possessed Arnold to put his name to it? I like hit-man films but this was no killer movie. Actually, I take that back. There was something murdered... The script was murdered, the jokes were murdered, a great deal of what should have been good movie time, was murdered.
If there was a hit-man out to murder this movie, they succeeded. Pity the movie didn't!
Anti Matter (2016)
It might be good for some - but dear gawd it dragged.
It might be good for some - but dear gawd it dragged. That just about sums it up. The film has an interesting premise but even getting to the point of the film when you found out what the basic story was, took too long just to get there.
The acting was fine. Those involved clearly did their best. The writing at times was sadly appalling. It was simply dragged out far, far too much. Was this a very poor attempt to create some from of suspense within the film? If it was, it just left myself even more completely bored.
I genuinely would have liked to rate this higher but couldn't - and I am a avid sci-fi fan. Damn shame it went on ...and on ...and on... At one stage I actually started to nod off. Enough said!
Another World (2014)
Crap Film - Bumped Up By Possible Fake Reviewers
Again, like other films I have reviewed, I HAD to give this a 1 point review as numeric ZERO was sadly not available.
Crap acting, desperate script, poorly edited, guns, guns and more guns. After a while I gave up looking for a decent plot - which by the way, what little there was, turned out to be one possible thought up in ten minutes of cold sitting on a toilet somewhere. The whole thing looked like it was made with a camcorder.
Regarding main film content: "How do we fill in time for the film? O' let's shoot a few more zombie-like killers and come up with excuses to create yet another situation, just to be able to do just that too!"
How the hell did this film get a rating over six is beyond me. IMDb seriously needs to look again at how its ratings are done and how some could be helping to fake them.
The film was so bad, not just my opinion, there is no way in reality this film should rise above two at most. It was bad, bad, bad, bad...
Left Behind (2014)
Absolute crap.
I tried to watch this film to the end - I really did. I gave up after 58 minutes because (a) its was just religious hogwash (b) going nowhere fast and the script could have been written by a 16 year old. The first hint of what was to come was the slap in the face clue of the woman picking up a book about god at the airport. After that "god" was mentioned it seemed every five to ten minutes. Who wrote this drivel?
All the well known faces in this film including Lea Thompson should have known better. Seriously... What were they thinking getting mixed up with this religious nonsense? I've now come across a few of these religious films. This is the worst one yet. I gave this film a rating of one. I had to. Zero wasn't available. Save your time. Go watch something decent instead of this rubbish.
Did some religious group put money into this in order for it to be made? I suspect they had to. No one in their normal full right mind would finance the making of this stuff.
The Reconstruction of William Zero (2014)
I could only suffer so much.
I didn't make it through to the end of this film, I have to be honest. Why? ...Because dear gawd it was dragged out far too much to death. It was a genuine sheer effort from the very start just to keep going in watching it. There was decent actors in it - and they tried they best - but my gawd, did it drag on and on! It was painful.
The hope of a good story was there in the films description. There was glimpses of possible promise things was about to get better - but it never materialised. Such a shame. After over half way through I gave up the fight to find something to keep me interested while it dragged on. It was actually depressing watching it. Its atmosphere of the film in parts didn't help as it dragged on. If you are thinking of buying this on DVD or HD to watch it, don't!
Time Warrior (2012)
Was the casting director on drugs? There is some bad movies but this one takes the pee!
Wow, what can I say... this film is just bad! Bad, bad, bad...
Bad acting - REALLY bad acting, bad, terrible script and really badly thought out as a story.
Seriously, the acting in this was absolutely desperate. Whoever thought the young people and adults in this were good enough to gain a place on movie film, must have had pure rocks in their head. I genuinely couldn't (and still can't) believe that someone would actually hire people this bad at acting. They make Miley Cyrus look like an Oscar winner and that's saying something!
What drugs was the casting person(s) on when they hired this lot? I could normally single people out for bad acting in some films but I didn't have to bother here. They ALL were desperate. Admittedly some stood out far, far worse than others - including the main actor but they were all in the same class obviously when a teacher failed to teach then how to act in front of a camera and speak!
The script was just so badly wrote all the way through, it actually became funny. So convoluted, so much dragging the bottom of the barrel for over used phrases and pauses for dramatic effect. So predictable! It was just, just so desperately bad. No kidding!
The story itself could have been wrote on the back of a postcard - and I suspect it was! Pity when they finished, they didn't post it into the bin...
I tried watching it as I'm a good sci-fi fan but this whole farce was that bad that I found myself forwarding through parts of it - I just couldn't suffer many scenes, they were that crap and far too drawn out.
Unless your into inflicting serious mental pain upon yourself, avoid this one like the total plague. When available on DVD, all I can say is that at least you got an extra table coaster then for your hot drink or glass of beer to rest on. Other than that, use the DVD of this film for frisbee target practice toward the nearest rubbish container.
Just bad, bad, bad...
(P.S. I had to give the film a rating of "one" - sadly there was no "zero" available.)
LOL (2012)
Don't waste your breath, time or money!
When I see Cyrus name in a film title I'm prone to think "O' Gawd!" in knowing what might be to come. Sadly, by watching this movie - once again I was proved right.
First of all though its not Cyrus's fault (partly). The film is just dreary and trying. The usual mush and fodder for the brain-dead. Who writes this rubbish? Same old, same old regurgitated worn out, tired sentimental teen mush. Has movie writers (the cheaper ones obviously) just decided to throw out this crap and think "O well Cyrus is in it so people will want to view it!" - have they?
Go watch the original French version first - not this (once again) crappy version made by America as they rip yet another film off ...badly!
Cyrus might be able to act by the way - but as in this, she has once again yet to step up and do anything that could be called decent and memorable. Once again, she is going through the acting class manual and it shows. Frankly, this is night viewing maybe on the Disney channel but thats about the height of it.
This film might entertain a 15 year old for a while but thats it. The day Cyrus is away from crap like this and goes do a decent adult film (not necessarily meaning she has to remove her clothes) is not a day too soon. Junk like this is doing her no credit. Its run of the mill stuff but then so far, so is her acting. She needs to get serious and step her act up - literally!