Category: Review

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Tiny Furniture (2010) Review

Ben

Indie doesn’t just mean Independent studio. It usually has other qualities and unfortunately, now clichés that go with it. It is usually a “personal film,” written and/or directed by its lead. It is also set in a world filled with characters that have weird quirks, which everyone but those within the film seem to notice. Add an “indie soundtrack” (again, personally picked by the lead) and animate the opening (and/or closing) credits and you have yourself an “independent” film. These are films that are supposed to juxtapose what is considered mainstream but its become a genre of film itself, falling … Continue reading Tiny Furniture (2010) Review

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The Omen (1976) Review

Ben

The Omen has become less of a horror movie and much more an iconic thriller. The first box you have to tick if you are going to make a horror film is “scare people” and unfortunately, The Omen doesn’t really do that. There are no jump out of your skin moments like this year’s Woman in Black or even tense, creepy moments where you are waiting for something bad to happen, like the Paranormal Activity series has become expert at. Instead, we get a film that tells a horror story. Its more like watching a ghost story unfold, a supernatural, … Continue reading The Omen (1976) Review

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Death Becomes Her (1992) Review

Ben

The really interesting, decent part of Death Becomes Her lasts about twenty minutes. I remember always thinking this film looked interesting because of the moment in the trailers that showed Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, beating each other to what would be death, but the both of them surviving. It showed Meryl Streep’s neck all bent out of shape and Goldie Hawn with a huge hole in the middle of her stomach after a shotgun attack. I was expecting a film where the bulk of the movie was these two woman attacking each other and the cool special effects that … Continue reading Death Becomes Her (1992) Review

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First Blood (1982) Review

Ben

Some films stand the test of time, regardless how long ago they were made. If we take the examples of both war films and action movies, then Platoon and Apocalypse Now are both still as watchable as they were when they were first made. The same can be said for Die Hard, a film still regarded as one of the best action films ever. I think your appreciation of a film will also depend on when you see it too. A lot of people see these action films when they are first released and they become the benchmark that others … Continue reading First Blood (1982) Review

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Cowboys and Aliens (2011) Review

Ben

This film would be a lot better if it was just called Cowboys. Before the aliens show up to cause all matter of destruction and chaos, the film follows Daniel Craig’s cowboy into a small, typical western town where he confronts a sheriff, tavern owners and most notably of all, Harrison Ford’s cowboy rancher. Daniel Craig plays the “man with no name” style cowboy really well. He has the mood, the hundred yard stare and the swagger required to walk into bars and taverns and exude a confidence and arrogance that makes people think twice about messing with him. The opening act, … Continue reading Cowboys and Aliens (2011) Review

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Super (2010) Review

Ben

I love superheroes and superhero films but if you had to make any argument against them, there are too many now. We are about to enter another cycle of The Avengers movies. That means each of the Avengers that got a first film are due a sequel (except Hulk) but also we have at least two new superhero film linked to the franchise, Ant Man and The Guardians of the Galaxy. Add that to the Justice League movie which has been announced, Man of Steel which we will see next year, a new X-Men and Wolverine movie, a new take … Continue reading Super (2010) Review

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Tangled (2010) Review

Ben

The best Disney film is Aladdin. It has the perfect Disney animated film formula. It’s a classic, well-known story brought up-to-date. It has brilliant songs with amazing scenes to go with them. It has a great hero, a strong female character and an amazing villain. Best of all, it slowly builds to a huge set-piece finale which tests the main character and makes it feel like he is overcoming the odds. Look back at the best Disney films; Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast. They all follow the same formula and although that would usually be something I would … Continue reading Tangled (2010) Review

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It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010) Review

Ben

Some films just have characters I want to keep watching. The perfect example of this is Zombieland. That film is brilliant and I found it funny and entertaining to such a degree that I wanted to see much more of it immediately after it ended. It was a show with a premise that could easily transfer into a series (even if that series is animated) because the environment is great, the story itself is rich with ideas but best of all, the characters are so watchable. They’re characters that I want to see struggle, achieve and banter with each other … Continue reading It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010) Review

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A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) Review

Ben

If you are going to remake an iconic film, you must have a legitimate reason to do so. Just because it already has a popular fan base can’t be enough of a reason. Neither is the fact that the film franchise has clearly been sequelled into oblivion. I’d say that is the reason to reboot a series. There is a difference. Its subtle but there is definitely some distinction between the two. A remake is retelling a story with slight changes. The main concept and narrative strand is the same but you may change elements, like developing a characters back-story or … Continue reading A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) Review

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Super 8 (2011) Review

Ben

I don’t think we get “true” family films anymore. The kind of film that tries to appeal to everyone in the family. A film that is like an event, all encompassing, exciting and completely devoid of any real target audience, other than as many people as possible. Pixar are the only people trying but even that doesn’t really qualify. There is a difference, as subtle as it may be, between making a film for children that adults can enjoy and actually making a film that the whole family can find enjoyable. A couple of jokes aimed at the adults isn’t enough. … Continue reading Super 8 (2011) Review