Rebel In The Rye

Just to be clear, i have decided to post this review, even though i have heard about Kevin Spacey´s personal problems. I have been thinking about writing this review for quite some time, so i won´t change the posting of this review, even if i have read about his situation. I hope you understand i don´t take his side, this is just a movie review.


True based stories is something that always is interesting, especially if you read a book, based on true events. No matter if it is about historical events, political events, or any kind of story that actually happened, it is always good to know the truth. There are plenty of stories where we have seen the truth comes out, that have changed many people´s opinions and minds. Of course, you can spin the truth around, depending on who you are talking about. Just look at former Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner. He seemed to be the perfect man, who really cared about the people, more than anything else. Now we know the truth, and i guess social media revealed his true personality. His story is just an example, where a lot of secrets where revealed, and it seems that he have been hiding this for a very long time. I suggest you see the really well made documentary film Weiner, and i guarantee you that you will be fascinated in what happened with his scandals. There are plenty of interesting stories, made on real people, that have become really good films. One film that comes to my mind, is perhaps one of Russel Crowe´s best performances in A Beautiful Mind. The film is based on the life of Nobel prize winner John Nash, and i have to say director Ron Howard, managed to make a really powerful film on this historical personality. This is a film you must see, a drama film that have a lot to say, from a psychological perspective and that from a humane perspective. If i say the name Nicholas Hoult, i think most people will remember his classic child performance in About A Boy with Hugh Grant. He have made quite a lot of films since then, in very different categories. I came across the film title Rebel In The Rhye, where Nicholas Hoult plays legendary writer J.D. Salinger, that could be seen on VOD. Not knowing much more about it, i decided to check it out, to see if Nicholas Hoult have made a performance that would be remembered. I also noticed legendary actor Kevin Spacey is in this film, so that also made me curious to see him doing a dramatic role. With a good cast, and a story of a legendary writer that changed American culture, is Rebel In The Rye a nice surprise, or is this a film you will likely not remember at all ?

J.D. Salinger ( Nicholas Hoult ) is a student at Columbia University, trying to become a writer. His lecturer Whit Burnett ( Kevin Spacey ) can tell that J.D. is talented at writing, but try and make sure he understands how he needs to think, to get one of his stories published. J.D. continue working on his writing, as he seems to have an idea what he wants to publish. But everytime he send out his stories, no one seems to be interested. Until one of the stories get published, and J.D. is finally being recognized for his hard work. J.D. is called out for World War II, to serve his country. During this time, J.D. is working on his first novel. He is about to find out, that his debut novel The Catcher In The Rhye will change his life forever. But with fame, and publicity, will affect his personal life. Something he is not ready to handle.


Ever since i saw the first trailer of Rebel In The Rye, i could tell that this would be an interesting film about the writer J.D. Salinger. And after seeing the film, i have to say, this is worth your time. There is a very fascinating story behind this legendary writer, and this film manage to tell his story in a simple, but still interesting way. You find out more about him as a person, and what made him feel so much passion for writing stories. You also get to see his personal problems, and how he tried to conflict these problems. Lead actor Nicholas Hoult does a great performance as J.D. Salinger, maybe one of his better performances in recent years. One of the stronger performances in this film, is from legendary actor Kevin Spacey, as Whit Burnett. His character is clearly trying to help his student Salinger to feel inspired, to write as much as possible, even if he is turned down for publishing. The film also manage to capture the feeling of how hard it must be, to be a respected writer. The time period captured around the 1940´s, looks good, and the costume design also strikes well. Are there details that have been left out ? Probably, but i don´t mind. I still see this film to be interesting, and for me that is a good sign. Director Danny Strong have written screenplays for HBO films such as Recount and Game Change ( both really good films ). He have also written screenplay for TV series Empire. Rebel In The Rye is his directorial debut film, and i like his vision of this film. For his first feature film, i think he have done a good job. He clearly wanted to tell the story of J.D. Salinger, in a simple but effective way. Rebel In The Rye should be appreciated by people who loves historical films, especially for those who loves to read books, or write books. J.D. clearly made an impact with his work, and this film shows that he really wanted to make a difference. Rebel In The Rye is a historical drama film that may be simple, but the film does deliver a story worth knowing about. If you don´t know what to watch after New Year´s Eve, why not watch this film on VOD and perhaps learn something about history ? Keep up the good work Nicholas Hoult, maybe one day we will see you do a film that really will make a strong impact.

Rating: DDD

The Best Movie Of 2017

Greetings movie lovers worldwide!

The year of 2017 is coming to an end, and i have seen some really good films this year. Of course there were some really bad ones as well, but i had to choose one film that i really enjoyed for many reasons. 

And in my personal opinion, the best film i watched this year is....

Moonlight

Now this is a really powerful and emotional film. The story of a young man, who grows up with a drug addicted mother, and is also a bully victim, will affect you deeply. Director Barry Jenkins digs deep into your mind, when this film show you what a destructive world we live in. The acting in this film is really powerful, and the cinematography by James Laxton looks beautiful. 

So congratulations Moonlight, this is a must see film for everyone.

My last review of this year will be posted tonight, a review of the film Rebel In The Rye. So thank you all my readers for this year, love you all. And i will see you in 2018.

Cheers from Daniel

Kickboxer: Retaliation

When i talk about Martial Art films in general, i usually mention the films you should see, because they are classics. And it would be very easy just to mention all the classics with Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, but there is another time period of the past, when a man from Belgium did make his name heard worldwide. Jean-Claude Van Damme was the man on everyone´s lips, who can do the split like no one else, and his round kicks. His first big hit was of course Blood Sport, a Martial Arts film that had really effective fighting scenes, including legendary fighter Bolo Yeung. Van Damme became a Hollywood star, and moved on to a number of big films. But let´s look back on one of his classics, Kickboxer from 1989. I personally feel that this is one of those films, where Van Damme managed to mix drama, with some great fighting scenes. Kickboxer did make an impact, and the film is still today a cult film in all ages, especially withing Van Damme´s fan base. The film did get some sequels, but it was very easy to forget about them. Van Damme was not even in any of them, and without him you did not care. Instead of doing a worthy sequel, Van Damme moved on making his classics Universal Soldier, Hard Target and Timecop instead. After many straight to dvd releases from the early 2000 period, up until in recent years, Van Damme have kept of making action films. Of course with very different results, depending on what you like. I do feel that his latest Universal Soldier films was surprisingly good, so when i heard that they were going to make a completely new Kickboxer film, i was curious. Most of all i was curious to see if the new actor Alain Moussi would have what it takes to take on a new chapter of Kickboxer, without failing completely. The film was named Kickboxer: Vengeance, and it was not a complete waste of time. Jean-Claude Van Damme returned, this time as Alain Moussi´s trainer, and we got to see Dave Bautista in the fighting ring. But the story that tried to combine the cult classic film, did not have enough strong material to pull this off correctly. Instead, we were left with a sequel that at least tried to go in the right direction. I found out online, that Alain Moussi would return for another Kickboxer film again. I was not really excited about the news, because usually more sequels is a bad idea. But the trailer actually looked fun, with some special guests in the cast list. With some doubts still on my mind, i finally got a chance to see Kickboxer: Retaliation. Do we finally have a worthy sequel, or is this even worse than you would expect ?

One year after Kurt Sloan ( Alain Moussi ), have promised himself never to return to Thailand again. However, while gearing up for a MMA title shot, he finds himself arrested and forced to be thrown in prison in Thailand, for a murder. But he could be set free, if he agrees to fight against the beast known as Mongkut ( Hafbór Júliús Björnsson ), while being trained in prison by the dangerous Briggs ( Mike Tyson ). But the journey to the fight, is not as easy as it seems, and Kurt has to try and survive, no matter what happens.

When this film started on a train, with a Tango dance, i started to doubt if this really is a Kickboxer film. Who thought it would be a good idea to do a Tango dance in a Kickboxer film ? Perhaps they wanted to do something different than the classic Disco scene from the 1989 film ? Anyway, an unexpected way to start a film like this with Tango. I was hoping that this sequel would improve some of the details i did not enjoy about Kickboxer: Vengeance. Of course i knew that they will never make a film as good as the original film. But this sequel to Kickboxer: Vengeance does have some more fun moments than last time. The cast including Alain Moussi and Jean-Claude Van Damme ( who both return in this film, legendary Highlander actor Christopher Lambert, and former World Championship Boxer Mike Tyson is also included in the cast. A fun combination i have to say.  Especially seeing Mike Tyson fighting again, in Thailand. I never thought i would see that in a Kickboxer film. He even has a fight scene against Van Damme, that you have to see. Christopher Lambert does the typical performance we have seen him do in many B movies, and you can´t expect much more. But that´s ok. Just to see him in here is pretty fun. He also does a sword fight scene against Van Damme ( Highlander influences ? ) Alain Moussi does at least do some better fighting scenes than in the previous film, but he still have problems acting. But in a film like this, it is more about fighting than acting. Jean-Claude Van Damme bring us a performance that we welcome with open arms. He have a screen magic, and you can tell he still knows how to put up a show. The story is nothing you care about, but i have to say this film does feel like a nostalgic trip to VHS video violence of the 80´s and 90´s. This is a film made for the audience of that time period, for those who loved the fighting action films, that made no sense. Kickboxer: Retaliation does not feel like a real sequel to Kickboxer, to be honest ( except for the final fight, there are some Kickboxer influences there ). But it is a more fun sequel than last time, because there is much more fighting scenes included. Director Dimitri Logothetis was the producer of Kickboxer: Vengeance. Now he directs the next chapter, and i have to say i enjoy this sequel, even if it does not feel like Kickboxer. It is a fun tribute to the 80´s and 90´s, with plenty of hard hitting fighting scenes. Unscrew your brain cells, and just see this film for what this is, a fun time for the VHS nerds of the glorious video violence days. 

Rating: DDD

Red Christmas

It is Christmas time worldwide, and people go insane, all over the place. So what is it that people want more than anything this Christmas ? It is tickets to David Hasselhoff Looking For Freedom Tour 2018, all over Germany. 

Really ?

Yes, because there is nothing more Christmas than a concert with The Hoff. Especially when the tour name is Looking For Freedom Tour. I have tickets, so of course i am pleased. You don´t need any other Christmas gifts than this, trust me on that. 

Christmas Eve is of course a very big holiday for all ages, and we gather with family, relatives, ex-wives, lovers, basically anything can happen. I really enjoy Christmas dinner, that´s where you get to find out all the secrets. Your Uncle turns out to enjoy visiting Transexual Clubs in Europe, and your Aunt is collecting stamps of Wayne Newton. All the Christmas movies that TV keep playing, and of course the new Hanson Christmas Album, the best Christmas album ever made ( if anyone says this is not true, they are lying ). Speaking of Christmas movies, there are so many films to choose between. I know that Gremlins and Die Hard are 2 classics that will always be appreciated. Of course the 1994 version of Miracle On 34th Street is also a film that is still loved by many people. I would like to mention one wonderful Christmas movie from 1984, called Silent Night, Deadly Night. A B horror movie that had a very special message, Santa Claus don´t like Christmas, he just wants to party. Directed by Charles E. Sellier Jr., this turned out to be a Christmas horror thriller that looked very different from most Christmas movies of the 80´s. It was very brutal, but made with a heart passion for B movies. If you have not seen it, check it out on  blu ray from Shout! Factory. Christmas horror in general is usually made in a very traditional way, unless some directors like to do something different. And i came across a film this Christmas weekend, called Red Christmas on dvd. Since i am an old school horror fan, i thought it would be nice for the holiday to see something different than Home Alone. Is this Christmas horror film surprisingly good, or is this almost as bad as Kirk Cameron´s Saving Christmas ?

Diane ( Dee Wallace ) is gathering her children in her home during the Christmas holidays. It is the time during the year she can see everyone, gathered as a family again. Everyone is not happy to see each other, but they try just to please mother Diane. Suddenly on Christmas Eve, the door bell rings, and an odd looking stranger asks if he can read a letter. No one knows who this man is, but they are about to find out that a secret have been hidden, for a very long time in this family.

I thought Red Christmas might have some black comedy in here. The truth is that this is a much more serious horror film. Also, a very bizarre Christmas story, that takes on the subject of Abortions and Down Syndrome, mixed together into the plot. The film starts of pretty simple, when the family gather to enjoy Christmas together, but as the film goes on, things do turn around to a completely different story. And this is one advantage with Red Christmas, you can´t predict everything that will happen, since there is a twist behind the family secret. Legendary actor Dee Wallace ( from such 80´s classics such as The Howling, Cujo and of course Critters ), is the lead actor, and i have to say she is the right choice. She have been in plenty of horror films over the years, and she knows how to develop characters in her own way. I really enjoy the performance of actor Gerard Odwyer ( known for his beloved performance in the short film Be My Brother ). His character Jerry in the film Red Christmas, is wonderful. I would like to say that he is actually one of the few characters that you can connect with. The other characters feels pretty ordinary, and they still manage to function. The horror theme of this film does work, even if we don´t get to see much gore. There are a few scenes where we get some Christmas surprises, that i thought worked out alright. For some reason, i felt that this film could have influences from the 1982 film Basket Case. Not that these films have much in common, but when you see the forgotten child, a freak who only wants to be with his mother, you get a sense that Basket Case could have influenced the director Craig Anderson. Speaking of director Craig Anderson ( director of TV comedy series How Not To Behave ), i think he have made a Christmas movie that stands out of the ordinary Christmas catalogue. You have seen something similar before, but still the mixture of elements in here feels like a good combination. Red Christmas is not a Christmas film that will be appreciated by everyone, because it is different. But for me that is a good sign, because there are far too many Christmas films that looks all the same. So give Red Christmas a chance, after Christmas dinner, you might actually enjoy this odd horror film.

Rating: DDD

Justice League

Since a lot of comic book fans worldwide, are enjoying the film adaptations of Marvel characters, we have seen examples where DC Comics have tried to make film adaptations of classic comic book characters. Batman have proved to delivered some really good films in the past, and Superman with Christopher Reeve ( talking about the first and the second film ) is still today Cinema magic. Then we have Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds, a film that most DC Comic fans don´t want to remember, and there is a good reason why you don´t want to remember this film. Well, if you want to have a good laugh, then i guess Green Lantern could work. Even though Green Lantern failed in so many ways, it was clear that DC Comic characters were still going to be made into feature films. One of the films that many DC Comic fans were excited about, was of course the film Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice. I was actually hoping that director Zack Snyder would deliver something tasteful with this film, since the cast did look good. It turned out to be a film that did not live up to the high expectations. The film should have been epic, and very enjoyable. But the final result was far from good. Ben Affleck as Batman was at leas surprisingly good, but Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor was beyond awful. Who ever came up with the idea to cast him as this legendary character, should have been fired. The only positive thing about Batman v Superman was that we were introduced to actor Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. She clearly seemed to be the right choice for this character. So, when we got a movie with Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, it turned out to be one of the best DC Comics film ever made. Wonder Woman managed to combine comedy and action in a very positive way. Gal Gadot proved that she knew exactly how to portrait this legendary comic book character. So after the rumors that Ben Affleck would return as Batman again, together with a cast of DC Comic superheroes including Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, in the new film Justice League, fans were both excited and skeptical. Perhaps because a lot of fans were disappointed with Batman v Superman, and did not have any high expectations on Justice League. I still decided to give Justice League a chance, to see if director Zack Snyder could deliver a solid superhero movie. Is the new film Justice League one of the highlights of this year, or is this as bad as Green Lantern ?

Thousands of years ago, Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons attemt to conquer the Earth through the combines energies of three Mother Boxes. The Mother Boxes are seperated and hidden in locations around the planet. Steppenwolf needs all three Motherboxes to complete his vision. In present day, the world is in mourning over Superman, whose death triggers the Mother Boxes to reactivate and Steppenwolf´s return to Earth in an effort to regain favor with his master Darkseid. Bruce Wayne " Batman " ( Ben Affleck ) and Diana Prince " Wonder Woman " ( Gal Gadot ), joins together to unite other metahumans to stop Steppenwolf. The team finally becomes complete with Aquaman ( Jason Momoa ), Flash ( Ezra Miller ) and Cyborg ( Ray Fisher ). United they are known as Justice League. 

Let me be honest and say, Justice League have some big problems. I like the idea of gathering many of the Iconic comic book characters into the same film, but this film does not have the right tone for the source material. This film tries to be funny, and in some scenes it becomes too obvious this is just a method used to fill in empty spots. And this is such a shame, because with so many classic characters all gathered, you could have had a great time. Ben Affleck´s comic timing does at least work in some scenes, and he is not so bad as Batman. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is the strength of this film. Her performance as Wonder Woman is what keeps the film Justice League a bit more enjoyable. But then we get to the character known as Flash, played by actor Ezra Miller. And he is really annoying, especially the comedy attempts. I don´t mind if you make joke about different situations, especially in the world of comic books. But the comedy material has to work, and in the case of Flash, it falls pretty bad. Maybe they thought that Flash would need to be the character who is supposed to be funny, it seems that way. Nice to see actor Jason Momoa as Aquaman. I am actually looking forward to see him do a film based on the character of Aquaman. I would say that Jason Momoa is a fresh breathe of air in here, while some problems become obvious later on in the film. Let´s mention one of these problems, the CGI effects of the evil Steppenwolf. The character is cool, no doubt about that. But the look of Steppenwolf does not come out very effective. The action scenes have some fun moments, but between all the dialogue we get a lot of slow moments. A film like this would have needed some really heavy action scenes. We do get a few, but not until the end of the film. I do think within these 2 hours, we could have had a lot more fun fights between these characters and the army of Steppenwolf. Director Zack Snyder did manage to bring back Superman to a good track with Man Of Steel, but he clearly seems to have problems making films with more than one superhero. Batman v Superman proved this point, and with Justice League we see this happening again. At least Aquaman and Wonder Woman was a good choice. Director Zack Snyder rely too much on making this film too simple, in the sense that you don´t really care about the characters. To make characters interesting is very important, especially in the world of comic books. Justice League will probably be enjoyed mostly of younger teens, who might enjoy the comedy references. I would have liked a more serious film, with heavier action scenes. Then we might have had a worthy Justice League, then what we have here.

Rating: DD

Are you ready for my final movie reviews of 2017 ?

Hey everyone !

Its your favourite Scandinavian movie critic Daniel here. 2017 is coming to an end and i got the last movie reviews on the way. And i still have not seen Fifty Shades Darker ( why would i watch this ? ). Im hoping to post 4 reviews before the new year starts. Since Christmas is around the corner, i might get some time to finish the last reviews. Until then, have fun, be naked when you feel like it, and always remember that Saving Christmas with Kirk Cameron is the worst movie of all time.

Cheers from Daniel - The Golden Boy 

Detroit

Racism have always been a problem worldwide. You would think that we would all get along, no matter what skin color you have. Unfortunately, racism still exists today. Many people have tried for many generations to make a change, to make people understand that we are all humans. No matter what country you are from, no matter what language you speak, we all live on the same planet to help each other. Racism have been a subject in many films over a very long time in Hollywood films. I could mention a lot of titles, but let´s focus on 2 films especially. The first film that comes to mind, is Alan Parker´s emotional and powerful drama film Mississippi Burning from 1988. A film everyone needs to see, where actors Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe are 2 FBI agents in the year of 1964, trying to investigate a murder case on young men. It becomes very clear that racism is a very big problem down in Mississippi with the Klu Klux Klan. Both actors Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe did really powerful perfomances, as the film really digs deep into all the hate from racists. Director Alan Parker clearly wanted to make the film as believable as possible, even if it can be very brutal and tragic. Another really powerful film, released in 1998, is the film American History X. The story of 2 brothers, who have become involved in a neo-Nazi movement, is a very tragic and destructive story, of how bad things can become, if you live with only hate in your heart. American History X may not have been a box office hit back in 1998, but have become a cult film on dvd, including on blu ray. Director Tony Kaye made this film so powerful, that i remember the first time i watched the film, i could not get it out of my mind. The acting from Edward Norton in this film is spectacular, and Edward Furlong does the best performance of his career so far. American History X is one of the best drama films of the 90´s, and a must see in every school. So teachers worldwide, please show this film to students. Director Kathryn Bigelow is one of the legendary directors of Hollywood, who have made many really good films. Some of you might remember her earlier work such as Point Break with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. Or how about the cult classic Strange Days with Juliette Lewis ? Since then she continued making powerful films, including one of my personal favourites called Zero Dark Thirty. Her latest film Detroit is based on true events, during the 1967 riots in Detroit. I had to read a little bit about this historical tragedy, to understand what really happened. When i read that director Kathryn Bigelow would direct a film based on this historical tragedy, i had to see the film. Is this latest film from Bigelow one of the best films of her career, or is Detroit a step in the wrong direction for her ?

On July 23rd, 1967, the Police stage a raid on an unlicensed club, while black veterans are celebrating their return. While suspects are being arrested, a mob forms and start attacking the police with rocks, vandalize stores and starts fires all over town. The situation is no longer in control, and police and military is called in to clean up the streets. Detroit is now a war zone, and no one is completely safe.

It has been a while since we have seen a very powerful film about racism. I would say that 12 Years A Slave was perhaps one of the few films that really affected me personally. Detroit is a disturbing story, of what happened during the year 1967 in Detroit. And i have to say, Detroit is a film that will make you react, and feel anger. When you see how bad this situation was, and how it was handled, you can´t help to think about what could have been done correctly. Did this really need to go that far ? Could the police have handled this situation in a better way ? Did the citizens of Detroit go too far with their protests ? There are a lot of things you think about, while you watch Detroit. It is very clear that the city was divided, as the riots grew larger and made chaos. From a political perspective, the film does capture the time period very well, and use a lot of the political issues that were important during this time. The acting in this film is really good, and we have some names we should mention. Actor Will Poulter as the Police Officer Philip Krauss is clearly a man who don´t care about crossing the line. He will make his voice heard, especially when black people are around. Will really digs deep into his character, and develop him into a mean racist personality. Actor John Boyega ( who most probably know from Star Wars ), also deliver a very solid performance as security guard Melvin. A very intelligent man, who knows how to handle the situation, when chaos have emerged around the streets of Detroit. The strongest scenes in the film, is inside a hotel, when police take innocent civilians to torture. Especially when the team is led by the brutal police officer Philip Krauss. Director Kathryn Bigelow have tried to portrait this historical tragedy, in a very honest way. She knows how to portrait the story from both sides, and you have to decide who you feel did right or wrong. I also feel that director Kathryn Bigelow knows how to make very powerful drama films, and Detroit will affect you. Detroit is a film that should be seen by all ages. Even if this happened many years ago, racism still exist. And we can never forget about history, no matter what happened or where it happened. Make sure to see Detroit on dvd or blu ray this Christmas, if you want a very strong film experience. This is one of the movie highlights of this year.

Rating: DDDD

Nightworld

Bulgaria, the country that some people think about Kebapche, that is supposed to be eaten with a cold beer, or a couple of beers ( just to make sure you feel good ). This is also the country where you can visit Devil´s Throat in Rhodopes, where Greek poet and prophet Orpheus is said to have descended to the underworld in search of Euridyze. I have always had plans to visit Bulgaria, since i love travelling, and i will visit at some point. I happen to know that Bulgarian beer is actually really good, have tried some different ones here in Sweden in Beer and Whiskey Conventions. Another thing we do know what Bulgaria is known for, is how many films that have been made here with big Hollywood names. How about Conan The Barbarian ( the 2011 remake ), London Has Fallen, The Expendables 2 and 3, or how about director Francis Ford Coppola´s version of Bram Stoker´s Dracula ? Bulgaria is clearly a very important country for big movie productions ( including smaller budget films as well ). As long as film studios are open to work in other countries, i think it is a good idea to make films in other countries, that could help the economy for a country with economical problems. And that is the fact, Bulgaria is not a very strong economical country, so i hope more movie studios will continue working here, making opportunities for Bulgarian companies. One movie that comes to my mind, made in Bulgaria, is the Jean-Claude Van Damme film known as Replicant from 2001. This is in my opinion, one of the better films that Van Damme have made, from an acting perspective. He actually did a very different film here, where he both play a serial killer and his cloned The Replicant. If you have not seen this film, i suggest you get the dvd. Very early in August, i started reading about a Bulgarian film coming to limited theatres and on VOD. A film called Nightworld, with legendary actor Robert Englund and actor Jason London. Since i have always been a huge fan of Robert Englund films, i was curious to see what this could be. The trailer looked interesting, so of course i had to take a look at Nightworld on VOD. Is this a surprisingly good B horror thriller movie, or is this a film you will forget for all eternity ?

Former LAPD officer Brett Anderson ( Jason London ) travels to Bulgaria, to the city of Sofia. He still have nightmares about his wife who killed herself, and he can´t handle the situation no more. This is why he tries to make a fresh start, looking for a new job. He goes to a job interview in Sofia, as a Security Guard at an old apartment building. He gets the job, and is guided by the company´s job interviewer Martin ( Gianni Capaldi ). Everything seems find, and very calm at first. Until Brett sees some strange things going on, on cameras behind a secret door. At first, it seems that the company does not really listen, but when more strange things occur Brett want some answers. As the truth is coming closer, Brett is about to understand what this appartment building have kept secret all these years.

From all the B movies i have seen this year, Nightworld clearly stands out for trying to do something different. And this is a very good idea, to try and make a film feel different in the B horror movie genre. You can recognize certain ideas in this film from other movies, but the good thing about Nightworld is that it steel feels different enough to make you feel interested. Some of the characters even feel interesting, and that is something you don´t feel very often in a low budget film. Remember the 2008 film Mirrors with Kiefer Sutherland ? Nightworld does have some similar ideas from that film, but still make it more original than Mirrors. Both of these film had security guards, checking for trespassers. One of the details i really enjoy about this film, is the mystery surrounding this old building, that the main character Brett works in. The mysterious big door, with the old carved in demonic figures, makes you curious to know more about the origins of the building. Actor Jason London ( from the 90´s iconic film Dazed And Confused ) is the lead actor in this film. He does deliver a pretty solid performance, as he tries to understand what is really going on in this old building. Legendary actor Robert Englund does what he always does, deliver a performance that only he can do. His character in this film called Jacob, may not have a lot of screen time. But the scenes he is in, does make a big impact on the film in general. His special way to deliver dialogue, is always something you feel good about. I also enjoy the performance of actor Gianni Capaldi, as one of the contact people for the company that Brett works for. His character Martin is sort of a British business guy, who does seem to take his job seriously. The story of the film may be simple, but it actually works. And once you get into what is really going on inside this strange building, you understand why everyone is being so quiet. Perhaps some details could have been improved about the ending, but i have to say, Nightworld is better than i expected. Chilean director Patricio Valladares have directed several films in different genres, where one of the film some of you may have heard of is Hidden In The Woods ( he also directed the American remake as well ). It is very clear that director Patricio Valladres have tried to give us a film that in some ways feels original. And for that i have to applaud his vision. If you are going to see one horror thriller film this Christmas, you should give Nightworld a chance on VOD. 

Rating: DDD

Nails

British horror films have come a long way since the early day of Hammer Films. I would guess that most of you have seen some of the classic Hammer Films productions, with legendary actor Christopher Lee. There are of course other films that this company made, that many horror fans still appreciate. But it has become very clear, that British horror films continued to deliver horror entertainment, into the modern day of cinemas and on dvd. One film that comes to my mind, is the werewolf horror film Dog Soldiers. A cult classic that still delivers, and one of the few really well made British werewolf films for many years Another good example of a really good British horror film, is the film known as The Descent. Released in the year 2005, it became a hit worldwide The story of a group of women, climbing inside an enormous cave, turned into a real frightening feast. One of the things i loved about this film, was the feeling of how disturbing the situation becomes, when these strange looking creatures attacks the girls. The location of brutality, mixed with really well made cinematography, made The Descent a horror film that looked very different from the British horror catalogue. Since the film was such a hit, and made many movie critics positive, we got ourselves a sequel in the year of 2009. It was not awful, but it was clear that they could never capture the same magic as the first film. The sequel failed really big at the box office as well, so it was clear that we would not see a third film. The actor Shauna Macdonald, who had the leading role in both The Descent films, continued working with films, and i especially enjoyed her performance in the British werewolf film Howl. A film many people may not have seen, but should check out. When i watched the YouTube channel known as Geek Legion Of Doom, to check out dvd reviews, i came across a review of a film called Nails. This film looked like fun, so of course i had to pick up a dvd copy. And i also noticed that actor Shauna Macdonald is included as well, so this looked promising.  Do we have a British horror film that should please the audience, or is this a film that never should have been made at all ?

Dana Milgrom ( Shauna Macdonald ) wakes up in a hospital bed. She was hit by a car, and is badly injured. She needs a machine to breathe, and her voice is not ok. To communicate she uses a computer speaking voice, to make sure everyone will understand her. Her husband Steve Milgrom ( Steve Wall ) and their teenage daughter Gemma Milgrom ( Leah McNamara ) visit her, to make sure she gets all the help she needs. But Dana is experiencing some strange events inside her room. Someone seems to be visiting her, a strange looking man. This man seems to be coming back, trying to tell her something. Dana digs into the past of the hospital, where she finds out that a man who worked here, Eric Nilsson ( Richard Foster-King ), killed himself in the same room that she is lying in. Dana digs deeper into the truth, not knowing what secrets she might unleash. 

If you don´t like hospitals, and you don´t like to see something creepy walking around hospital beds, then this is not the film for you. However, if you do enjoy this combination, then Nails should hit the right spot. This is a horror film, that does not need a big budget to work. The atmosphere surrounding the hospital, and the evil creature walking around, is a great way to start Sunday Tea Time. I would not say that Nails is very original in any way, from a horror film perspective. But the creature does look scary, and works really well with the story. The story itself is very simple, but that´s ok. You don´t need to make a complicated story, if you have a great character that this film relies on. The main character known as Dana, ( played by actor Shauna Macdonald ), is clearly a patient who has to try and fight her way back to ordinary day life. Shauna does a great job, acting in a hospital bed, using a computer voice. She is perhaps the strongest character of this film, since she is so vulnerable as a badly injured patient. We also get to find out the origins behind the story of Nails, who he was before he killed himself. There is also an explanation to why he is called Nails, and i have to say it turns out to be a pretty effective background. The special effects looks ok for the most part, except for a few details. The acting from the other actors are not really top class. But in the end, what we really care about is the main character Dana, and the creature known as Nails. Director Dennis Bartok, have worked as a writer on short films, including on the horror film Trapped Ashes. Nails is his directorial feature film debut, and i have to say he have done a good job. Nails may not be a horror classic in any way, but it is better than i expected. And when you have a straight to dvd release that actually works, you have to feel pleased. Since Christmas is around the corner, why not put on a kettle of water, prepare some tea and biscuits, and gather the family in front of the TV with Nails on dvd. One thing is clear, if i ever end up at a hospital, no creepy dude with nails is coming near me......

Rating: DDD

Event Horizon ( 20 Years Anniversary )

Let´s go back again 20 years in time to the year of 1997. For me personally, it was a shitty year, for personal reasons. But when it came to music and films, 1997 delivered both some really good albums, and some really good films. In fact, 1997 had some surprises, such as Gary Moore´s studio album Dark Days In Paradise. One of the best albums of his career, with everything from hard rock, blues, soul and beautiful pop songs. Stereophonics debut album Word Gets Around, turned out to be one of the best British rock pop albums of the year. This was also the year when Michael Hutchence released his last album with INXS, called Elegantly Wasted. Not their best work, but i think the album have grown over the years, to be much more appreciated now. This specific year had some really good films coming out. Just think about Con Air, L.A. Confidential, Jackie Brown, Donnie Brasco, Devil´s Advocate, and many more titles. When you have a year with titles like these ones, you know you can´t go wrong. Of course there were some really bad ones released in 1997 as well, but i have to say that from a movie perspective, 1997 was a special year. It was this year when director Paul W.S. Anderson released a science fiction film, that was a box office bomb at the time, but became a cult film in the future. I am of course talking about Event Horizon. A film that might not have been notized a lot when the film came out, but when the film went on VHS, it was clear that people started to appreciate this film. On dvd, it also found a new audience, and director Paul W.S. Anderson´s work on the film was now seen in a completely way. I remember seeing the film on dvd many years ago, since i never saw the film in cinemas. I might have seen it around the year 2002, so it is a long time ago. So, i decided to look at the film again, on a blu ray release, to see if i would appreciate the film, so many years between my last encounter with Event Horizon. The blu ray release also includes some really nice special features, so of course this got me curious as well. After 20 years, is Event Horizon a science fiction classic that a new generation should see, or would it be best if we all forget about this one and go for bigger classics ?

in 2047, a distress signal is received from the Event Horizon, a starship that disappeared during its maiden voyage to Proxima Centauri, 7 years ago. A rescue vessel named Lewis and Clark, with the team of Captain Miller ( Laurence Fishburne ), Dr. William Weir ( Sam Neil ), D.J. ( Jason Isaacs ), Smith ( Sean Pertwee ), Lieutenant Starck ( Joely Richardson ), and more passengers. is dispatched to go to Event Horizon and investigate the starship, to see if there are any survivors. As they enter the Starship, they discover that a massacre seems to have been taken place on board Event Horizon. With no clues of what happened, they are about to discover some secrets, that no one is ready for.

One thing that strikes me with Event Horizon, is that i can´t think of many films released at this time, that had the same style as this film. Sure, you can recognize certain details from other classic science fiction films, but at the same time this film seemed to have a style of it´s own. I have to say that i really appreciate the effort that director Paul W.S. Anderson have done, to make this film. The film does look a bit cheesy now 20 years later, in certain scenes. But i like the technical perspective of the space ship, the make up effects that look very different from other science fiction films around this time. The gory atmosphere is exactly what a film like this needs, and this is something you will find here in certain scenes. I also feel that lead actor Sam Neil is a good choice, as Dr. William Weir. His acting ability to do so many different characters, gives him a chance to do something different, than his pretty standard choice of genre films. Actor Laurence Fishburne is of course another great actor for a film like this. His character Captain Miller is the pretty standard boss type, who at least seems to care about the crew. The action scenes mixed with horror influences does work, except for a few details. I do think that it was a good choice, to go for a horror concept, considering the story is set on an abandoned Starship that seems to carry some secrets. Event Horizon may never be one of the great classics of the 90´s, but i feel that this is a film that still manage to deliver. The mixture of two different genres, with a good cast included, and a vision from a director who was on his way in Hollywood, shows that Event Horizon was a project that should have been seen by a larger audience. If you love films such as the Alien franchise, you might enjoy Event Horizon for trying something different within sci fi horror. Even if the CGI may not be top quality, and some of the dialogue may not be very good, i still see this film as a bit of a cult classic. Not one of the best films of director Paul W.S. Anderson, but considering he did this film after Mortal Kombat, you can tell he really wanted to do something much more complicated. Event Horizon may be 20 years old, but that does not affect the entertainment value of the film. I suggest you get the blu ray, and experience the film in the right way, with great picture and great sound. 

Rating: DDD

Geostorm

Hollywood is full of actors, who have the ability to choose very different genre films. Some actors are actually really good at choosing their characters, just look at Jake Gyllenhaal. He really knows how to try different ways, to make the character powerful. I personally think he have proved this, in such films as Enemy and of course in Nightcrawler. Do i have to mention how good he is in David Fincher´s fantastic thriller Zodiac with actor Robert Downey Jr. ? We have of course many actors to choose between, who clearly knows what they are doing, especially Jennifer Lawrence. Then we have those actors that do try to take on different genre films, but don´t have the acting ability to do so correctly. You might be thinking about actor Jennifer Aniston right now, but i am actually thinking about actor Gerard Butler. This is a man who really have taken some wild swings, when it comes to choosing movies. There have been a few good choices, such as 300, and of course one of my favourite films with Gerard, known as Law Abiding Citizen with actor Jamie Foxx. Actually, i still think the crime thriller Law Abiding Citizen is worth watching on Netflix, or renting. Over the years, it has become clear that Gerard Butler have tried to push the limits, doing a very awful performance in Movie 43, and delivered a very forgettable performance in Gods Of Egypt ( that at least is a film you can laugh with ). It seems that Gerard is still trying to take on whatever he can, and i noticed that he have several upcoming films on the way, so he might have a surprise waiting for us. Earlier this spring, i came across a trailer for Gerard´s new film called Geostorm. It seemed to be some kind of mix of Roland Emerich disaster film 2012, and have influences from disaster films such as Volcano. Well all know how these films usually are, you can pretty much figure out the plots pretty quickly. Even if i could tell by the trailer, that Geostorm does not look very original, i always try and check out disaster action films. The cast looks good, and how can you say no to actor Andy Garcia as The President Of United States ? Exactly, we all wanted to experience this. Is the new film Geostorm a disaster film that actually delivers solid action, or should it be buried underneath the volcanos of Island, for all eternity ?

Following a series of extreme natural disasters, an international coalition commissions " Dutch Boy ", a system of satellites designed to control climate on a global scale. After Dutch Boy neutralizes a massive typhoon before it can hit Shanghai, a Senate sub-committee reprimands chief architect Jake Lawson ( Gerard Butler ) for activating satellites without their approval, and replaces him with his brother Max Lawson ( Jim Sturgess ), who works under Secretary of State Leonard Dekkom ( Ed Harris ). 3 years have passed and Jake is living a quiet life with his daughter Hannah Lawson ( Talitha Eliana Bateman ). Until one day, when Jake´s brother Max shows up, he needs his brother to investigate the International Climate Space Station ( ICSS ), after some serious weather conditions have occurred in Afghanistan, where a United Relations field team comes across a frozen village. An engineer working for ICSS, stole data from the Afghanistan satellite, and Jake needs to locate the missing hard drive. With more serious weather changes on the way, more innocent people will be lost, unless Jake and his team can stop the superstorm.

When a film is so bad, that it actually becomes fun to watch, you know you are in for a good time ( especially the dialogue ). In fact, this film is supposed to be serious, taking on subjects like global warming. But you can´t take the film serious, because the message goes out completely wrong. The cast acts really bad, the CGI effects are not in world class, and the plot is as thin as P Diddy´s constant name changes. You could say that Geostorm is a film, that tries to be another version of all the natural disaster films you have seen. But it is very hard to see the point of the film, if this was really meant to be a serious film. The plot is very simple, and you don´t really need to think about what is going on. Everything is explained ( well, almost ), in a very predictable way. To see actors like Gerard Butler, Ed Harris and Andy Garcia in a film like Geostorm is one of the most odd film experiences for me personally this year. All 3 of them have made good films, so they should be able to make great characters feel interesting. But that is one problem with this film, you don´t really feel interested in the characters, so it basically comes to what the action scenes looks like. The CGI is not as good as you would expect, considering the film´s budget around 120 million dollars. Remember the CGI in Gods Of Egypt ? Well, you have some similar special effects here as well, but in space instead of in Egypt. The explosions, and the buildings falling apart will probably look awsome for a 15 year old, but for us who loves good looking disaster films such as San Andreas with Dwayne " The Rock " Johnson, we can´t be filled with happiness. So is there anything good about Geostorm at all ? I think the mixture of disaster action and the serious tone, becomes so funny in some scenes, that i can´t stop laughing. And this is a good sign, when you can laugh in a film, that is not meant to be a comedy. And for that i have to say, this is something that does not happen very often in this film genre. Director Dean Devlin is a legendary producer with many great classics in his days of Hollywood, such as Universal Soldier, Stargate and Independence Day. Geostorm is actually his full feature directorial debut as an director, and it is such as shame that he did not deliver more with this material. With a great cast, and a fun idea, Geostorm could have been a film for those who loves Roland Emmerich´s film 2012. Instead, it is a film most people will forget. China actually helped Geostorm by bringing in over 60 million dollars at the box office. That won´t help the film from the financial failure the film have done in America. But one thing is clear, if we do get a sequel, China clearly want to see more of Gerard Butler in space.

Rating: DD

Jigsaw

Back in the early days of the 80´s, my grandmother Maj used to be the one who talked about horror movies. She would let me watch horror films, that i was not supposed to see. Thankfully, this was my beginning to a whole new world of horror films. She lived in a small town, where a smaller video store rented out some really fun cheesy horror films. So yes, my grandmother made me the horror geek i still am today. Ever since my youth, i have watched so many horror films, from the VHS generation, and developed through dvd´s, and in present day it is of course blu rays that please me most. I love brutal, gory, bloody horror films, maybe because i have always felt like one of the Mormons, i love walking around in fancy clothes, wearing extreme smiles. So let´s go back in time, to the year of 2004, and let´s talk about one specific film. Am i thinking about the film Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2? Uuhhm...no. This is in fact a film that should not exist. I would like to talk about a film called Saw. Directed by James Wan, we were delivered a horror film, that looked like nothing we have seen before. Saw proved that it was still possible to make intelligent horror films, and director James Wan showed everyone that he knew exactly what he was doing. The plot about 2 men, locked up in a room, where they have to play a deadly game, where only one can survive. It may not sound very original, but when you start to watch the film, you realise that there actually is an intelligent unexpected twist beneath all the secrets. Saw became a world wide hit in theatres, so of course the film studio had to make more sequels. Saw 2 and Saw 3 was actually not that bad, but when Saw 4 kicked in, you could tell they were running out of ideas. More sequels came along, and it seemed that it would never stop. Until in 2010, with the release of Saw 3D: The Final Chapter. I will admit that the character Jigsaw ( played by actor Toby Bell ), was one of the highlights of the Saw films. But it seemed like it was the right thing to do, to end the Saw film franchise. For a long time it semeed like we would not see another Saw film, until another sequel to the Saw films were announced. That film would be called Jigsaw. I was not really excited about this, but decided to see the film in cinemas anyway. Do we finally have a good sequel of the Saw franchise after so many years, or is this supposed to be flushed down the toilet with all the turds ?

Edgar Munsen ( Josiah Black ) is hunted down by police. He is wearing a triggered device, and warns that if he is shot, he will let several people be killed in a game. Police shoot him down, and the game begins. 5 people wake up in a special designed barn. As they begin to hear the voice of John Kramer ( Toby Belle ), they have to play a game. If they play by the rules, they will survive. Detectives Halloran ( Callum Keith Rennie ) and Keith Hunt ( Clé Bennett ) are on the hunt for a serial killer, where they have found clues from bodies, that Jigsaw might still be alive. This seems impossible, until they dig deeper into the truth. 5 people will loose their lives, unless one of them have what it takes to survive every game.

I kind of knew what i would expect going into the cinema for this film. We would get gory scenes, we would get to see Jigsaw play games again, and we get to see people scream. So there you go, this is most of the plot of this film. There are a few scenes, where they try to do something different compared to the precious Saw films, but it feels like this film was just made to please the big fans of the Saw franchise. To make this film interesting, you would have needed a much more intelligent plot, and not focus all on the brutal traps. What could have been an interesting chapter of the Saw franchise, feels pretty dull and uninspired. I do like seeing Toby Belle back in his role as Jigsaw, he still is the great key to these films, and his unique voice makes the character Jigsaw feel creepy. Nice to see actor Paul Braunstein as one of the kidnapped victims Ryan, in Jigsaw´s deadly games. He is actually a highlight in this film, as the cocky, loud Ryan, who don´t take shit from anyone. All the game scenes are not awful, i especially like one scene, where everyone will be hanged, unless someone is injected with acid. Directors Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig ( known as The Spierig Brothers ), have directed 2 good horror films in the past, the Australian zombie film Undead, and the vampire film Daybreakers. They are a good choice for directing a film as Jigsaw, but for some reason, it does not feel like they have made this film with passion for this film genre. And that is such a shame, because i can tell that they have some good ideas behind the script. As the film stands now, Jigsaw feels like another sequel to Saw, that does not bring anything fresh for the audience. It is not completely awful, but lacks of confidence. If you are a big fan of the Saw films, i know you will see this one anyway. The first Saw film will always be the best film of this franchise, no matter how many sequels they make. And i would not be surprised if Jigsaw 2 will come out. My advice, i think you should spend your money and buy the blu ray or dvd release of It Stains The Sands Red instead of watching Jigsaw in cinemas. A zombie film that actually deliver quality, who can say no to that ?

Rating: DD

Mother!

There are plenty of talented young actors, who continue to make amazing performances, no matter what genres they choose. Every film may not be good, but if the performance is good, you still want to watch. A selection of young actors, clearly have a passion about making quality films. I am especially thinking about one actor, who perhaps is known mostly from her character Katniss Everdeen, in the film series of The Hunger Games. I am of course talking about actor Jennifer Lawrence. This is a woman who knows how to act amazingly good. Just think about her performances in films such as Winter´s Bone, Silver Linings Playbook, Joy or how about American Hustle ? Of course she have also delivered in several other films, but she is clearly dedicated to delivering quality acting. I love the fact that she tries to go out of the comfort zone, just to challenge herself more. This gives her an opportunity to discover interesting stories, that may capture the audiences attention. Earlier this year i saw Jennifer Lawrence in the sci fi drama The Passengers. It was an interesting film, with a different take on science fiction. It was very clear that Jennifer was the most powerful character of this film, and without her, the film would probably not have worked. I will say that actors Chris Pratt and Michael Shannon both did a good job, even though they could not reach the same acting level as Jennifer. As i was reading about the 74th Venice Film Festival, i noticed that director Darren Aronofsky´s new film Mother! would be shown at the festival, with Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role. Since i am a big fan of director Darren Aronofsky´s films in the past, of course i was very curious to see what this film could be. The trailer for the film Mother! released in theatres, did not reveal anything. So it was a very smart move to do this, to make sure the audience will be more interested in seeing the film. With a very talented director, and a very good cast included, is Mother! one of the most powerful films of this year, or is this a film so bad you want to forget about it ?

Mother ( Jennifer Lawrence ) wakes up in a bed. She looks around for her husband Him ( Javier Bardem ), a writer who is working on his latest book. Mother is painting the walls off the house, as she have some strange sightings, where a heart is beating inside the wall. One day, Doctor ( Ed Harris ) knocks on the door, as Him let the Doctor in. Mother have no idea why her husband let a stranger in, but he clearly is not feeling well. Next day they get another visit from the doctor´s wife, Woman ( Michelle Pfeiffer ). Him let her stay in their house as well, as guests. Mother does not like this at all, and she can´t understand why these strangers are welcome to live there. More people begin to show up, and Mother is very upset. Why is so many people coming to their home, and why won´t they leave ?

Before i watched Mother!, i have heard very mixed reviews and opinions about this film. When you hear so many different opinions, it clearly shows that this is not a film for everyone. And this of course made me even more curious to see Mother! I can tell you this, if you don´t enjoy films that are odd, then Mother! is perhaps not your cup of tea. This is a film, that move in different directions, with some very unexpected turns. I would also say that this is a film you will probably hate, or love it. I found myself enjoying this film, and i will try to explain later. I would say that Mother! have influences from Roman Polanski´s classic film Rosemary´s Baby, without looking anything like that film. Since the film moves around different characters, you have to have patience to understand what the film is trying to say. There are religious messages throughout the film, without disrespecting religious people. I think the film does manage to tell a story, that looks very different from the ordinary Hollywood release. This is a very disturbing look, in human behavior, and how evil can affect us. This is also a film that tries to dig into relationships and personal issues. The first half of Mother! is where we are introduced to most of the characters of the film, and this is where things get interesting. The second half changes path completely, and i find myself wondering if this was a good idea. Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role is the strength of the film, her character is the most interesting personality, and you can understand why she is very confused. Actor Javier Bardem is not as strong on an acting level, not if you compare to his other films. I do enjoy seeing legendary actors Michelle Pfeiffer and Ed Harris here, as the odd married couple. Director Darren Aronofsky is very well known for his unique, and very intelligent films Requiem Of A Dream and Black Swan. He also did the very powerful drama film The Wrestler, where actor Mickey Rourke did the best acting performance of his career ( so far ). I do think director Darren Aronofsky have some interesting ideas with his film Mother!, and he does make a strong impact, at least until the second half begins, then the film start to loose control for a while. Mother! is a unique film, and there are something fascinating about the story surrounding the film. But it all becomes too odd, and perhaps too complicated, for me to really appreciate this film. With that said, i will say that i still enjoy Mother! for being a unique and artistic film. This is not of the films that director Darren Aronofsky will be remembered for, but i do think Mother! leaves an impact. I seriously doubt you will see anything like this, before the year ends. 

Rating: DDD

Good Time

Let´s turn back the clock 9 years back in time. We are of course talking about the year of 2008. It was a year where many important events took place. This was the year when singer Amy Winehouse won her Grammy Award, this was also the year when Fidel Castro retired as the President Of Cuba. Let´s not forget that this was also the year when California legalized same-sex marriage. But let´s turn our heads for a moment on another moment of this year, that made headlines worldwide. This was the year that the first Twilight film was released in cinemas. Based on the book by author Stephenie Meyer. I saw the film, and i was not really impressed. A romantic vampire story, made for teenage audiences. My biggest issue with the film, is that i did not care about they characters, or the story. Of course we got more sequels on the way, and some of these sequels are really awful. Lead actors Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison could not make any of the films any good, no matter how they tried. When the Twilight films finally ended with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, i was really happy. No more Twilight films....at least for a while. Actors Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison went different ways, and tried making other films. Kristen Stewart proved herself, with roles such in the well made drama films such as Clouds Of Sils Maria, and perhaps her best performance in Still Alice. Robert Pattison did also try to find films outside his comfort zones. At first it did not seem to make any difference. Some of the films he made before the final Twilight films, were not any good, But, out of nowhere, i did not expect to see him in a film by legendary director David Cronenberg, known as the title Cosmopolis. This is actually a great film, and Robert Patison showed that he can act, only if he get the right character. He also did a good performance in the Australian film The Rover, with legendary actor Guy Pearce. Earlier this year, i was hearing very positive words about Robert Pattison´s performance in a film called Good Time. Especially when the film was nominated at the Cannes Film Festival. Is this the best film of Robert Patison´s career so far, or just as bad as his earlier work ?

Constantine " Connie " Nicklas ( Robert Pattison ) is a destructive criminal, who convince his mentally disabled brother Nick Nikas ( Ben Safdie ) , to help him with a bank robbery. Everything does not go as planned, and Nick is arrested. Connie manage to hide the money in a fast food restaurant, but he knows his brother can´t survive prison. To get Nick out, Connie needs more money. Some of the money he got from the robbery have been destroyed by paint, caused by dye pack. Connie asks his girlfriend Corey ( Jennifer Jason Leigh ) for help, using her mother´s credit card. This fails also, so Connie has to find another way to get the cash. He finds out his brother have been brutally beaten in prison, and taken to hospital. This is his chance to get his brother out, back on the streets. 

I had no big expectations going into the film Good Time. I thought that this would probably be another crime drama, we have seen so many times before. But i am so happy to say, i was wrong. In fact, this film is so good, i can barely believe that actor Robert Pattison could be this good, as he is in this film. It is like seeing him do a completely different transformation, as he is a completely different actor than before. As if he finally understood what acting is all about. This is a very violent, brutal, and really powerful drama film, that will leave a very emotional impact on you. The colors, the dialogue, the acting, everything falls into pieces in the right way with this film, and Good Time is probably one of the best drama films of this year. I can not say that the story is very original, but the film does manage to work because of very intelligent material. Directors Joshua Safdie and Ben Safdie have directed a couple of smaller films in the past, where perhaps the heroine drama Heaven Knows Best is their most known film. Good Time proves that they have really hit a really emotional journey, that you will not forget. The story of 2 brothers, where one of them is mentally handicapped, messing up their lives in a world of criminality, feels really heavy. And directors Joshua and Ben know how to make this story feel realistic, with a really brutal image. When you see Robert Pattison´s character Connie become frustrated, angry, sad, and can´t control his emotions, this is where we get to see the quality acting a film like this needs. The world is a shitty place to be, especially if you have no future, and all you know is to be a criminal. Legendary actor Jennifer Jason Leigh is also really good as Connie´s girlfriend Corey, a woman with no self esteem, and is stuck. Ben Safdie as mentally disabled brother Nick, is one of those characters that will affect you. To see him fall deeper, into problems he can´t handle or understand, is really sad. Just the idea to force a mentally disabled brother to do crimes, is really disturbing. Good Time is a film that got me completely stuck, because of the powerful performances and the brutal portraits of people with no hope. This is a film i will remember for a long time, and that does not happen very often. I don´t know why Robert Patison have not been nominated for more awards, i seriously doubt you have ever seen him as good, as he is in Good Time. If there is one drama film you should see this year, it is Good Time. 

Rating: DDDD

Before this year ends, we need to do a 20 years anniversary of Event Horizon

Greetings movie lovers worldwide!

I am working on some fresh movie reviews for this month, and there will be reviews in different categories. Unfortunately, i did see the new trailer for Fifty Shades Of Another Awful Sequel, and yes, it looks really bad....

But the good news is that i have new reviews on the way, and that has to be seen as awsome. By the way, before this year ends, why not celebrate another film since it has turned 20 years old ? I am thinking about Paul W.S. Anderson´s cult classic film Event Horizon from 1997. I am pretty sure most sci fi geeks have seen this film at some point. I have not seen Event Horizon for many years, so i decided that i should take a look on the Special Edition on blu ray, that included a lot of special features. I predict that the review will be posted by the end of November, since i am posting fresh movie reviews first. Take good care everyone, and see you soon with fresh movie reviews.

Cheers from Daniel - The Handsome Swedish Gentleman

Churchill

Over the years, when i have travelled across Europe, i always try to check out historical buildings, or historical monuments. I find it interesting to learn about more about the past, and there is especially one period of time i have always been curious to know more about, World War II. We all have heard stories from this period of history, and all the tragedy and suffering, so many people went through. Of course, Germany will always live with the shame of Adolf Hitler, the most evil man who have walked on this Earth. When i was in Berlin back in 2013, i went with my wife on a round trip, to see different locations in Berlin, when World War II events changed history. It was educational, but at the same time truly horrible, of how Germans treated the Jewish people, and murdered so many of them. It is very important that our younger generation learn about the past, because we can never forget of what happened during these years. Another trip i did was also to London, and i have been there more than once. A city filled with history, where you have much to learn. England have always had some really strong historical figures a long the way, and there are plenty of people we could mention. But let´s focus on one specific man, that most of you know as Winston Churchill. The British Prime Minister between the years of 1940 - 1945, became Prime Minister again during 1951 - 1955. For those of you who have read about Winston Churchill in history books, or seen documentaries on TV, you probably know that he really cared for England, and did a lot of hard work during war to guarantee that Germany would not win. I find his personality fascinating, and he seemed to be a man who knew how to handle complicated situations. We have to remember, back in those days, you needed a man who could make decisions. And Winston seemed to be a man who wanted to act correctly, even if he also felt that he made some mistakes. In the movie industry, there have been films made, based on the life on Winston Churchill. Some of you might have seen The Gathering Storm with legendary actor Albert Finney in the lead role as Winston Churchill. Or, perhaps you have seen a more recent film called Into The Storm with excellent actor Brendan Gleeson in the lead role ? Earlier this year, i was reading about a new film called Churchill, with legendary actor Brian Cox in the lead role. The film never came to cinemas across Sweden during summer, so i got a chance to watch the dvd instead. Is this a really well made historical drama film, or is this a film you probably will forget within a few seconds ?

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ( Brian Cox ) is exhausted by the years of all the wars he have been through. And he awaits the 1944 Normandy landings, which he believes will be a disaster. But if there is one thing he have learned over the years, is that you can never loose hope. With his team during crisis, Winston Churchill is about to see a next chapter in history, where nothing is impossible. But can he handle his personal life, or is his position taking over everything that he once used to have ?

When you see a film, based on a real historical person, you know it can be hard to portrait how the person was in real life. But i have to say, lead actor Brian Cox does a really good performance as Winston Churchill. I would dare to say that he is actually the most powerful character in this film. The scenes where Brian Cox let his temper out, shows that he have really tried to make his portrait of this legendary historical Icon. There is a lot of dialogue throughout the film, so don´t expect to see a lot of action. This is more supposed to be a biographical film, to show us how Winston Churchill was as a person, and how he managed to deal with his complicated life. The film tries to bring us closer to who Churchill was, and how he functioned as the British Prime Minister, and i have to say that the portrait works with the storyline. Australian director Jonathan Teplitzky, who directed the interesting drama film The Railway Man, seems to have taken on this film with passion for the ground material. You do get to see some different sides to Churchill, especially how he was in his personal life, and how he handled personal problems. The alcohol is of course one of the subjects, and the cigars. This is a combination that Churchill was known for, and this film needed to show his lifestyle to make it feel more realistic. Now to some negative points. Some of the dialogues scenes feels a bit drawn out, to fill in the storyline. It would have been more interesting to look deeper into Churchill´s personal demons, instead of hearing a lot of conversations among military forces. Some of the characters don´t really get a chance to deliver as many powerful scenes as Brian Cox do, so he basically carry this film on hiw own. There are a few good acting performances to mention, especially actor Miranda Richardson as Churchill´s wife Clementine. She does give a strong performance, and she also manage to show a strong female portrait that fits great with the film. Churchill is an interesting look into a man´s life, who had to do a lot of hard decisions in his life time. This film give us a taste of how it must have been, walking in his shoes. If you enjoy biographical films, based on true people, then i suggest you watch Churchill on dvd or blu ray. There is actually a new film coming out in November ( in USA ) called Darkest Hour with actor Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. Until it lands in cinemas, give Brian Cox a chance, and i am sure you will enjoy his version of this legendary historical Icon.

Rating: DDD

The Game ( 20 Years Anniversary )

There are some directors that have managed to do a lot of different genre films, and have proved themselves to be very professional. Some directors have the balls to actually try on so many different stories, you can tell that they are not afraid to take on a challenge. And one of the directors i am thinking about, is of course legendary director David Fincher. When you look back at the films he have made so far, you are amazed how many of the films deliver such high level of film quality. Some might say that his directorial debut Alien 3 is shit, i would say that it is at least ok. But he really stepped it up with the 1995 thriller Seven. This is without a doubt one of the best serial killer films in movie history, and the performances from Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow are all excellent. One of the things that made Seven such an amazing thriller, was the brutality portrayed with the murders. The details you see, was something very different from other serial killer films in the past. Director David Fincher digged much deeper on a psychological level, and made sure to make a very unusual thriller than before. Seven is a must see, especially on blu ray. Director David Fincher have directed a lot of great films over the years, and he clearly seems to be going for quality films. Just think about his films Panic Room, Fight Club, Zodiac ( this one is damn good, especially the extended version on blu ray ) and The Social Network. There are of course a number of films we could mention more than there, but let´s focus on one particular film from the year of 1997. This was the year when director David Fincher made his third film The Game, with legendary actor Michael Douglas. The film turned out to be a very intelligent thriller, and very different from anything released that year. I remember how much i enjoyed the film back then, and since 20 years have passed since the film was released this year, i thought i should see it again to see if the film still holds up today. After so many years, does The Game still manage to capture the audience, or have the film grown older with these years and feel less interesting ?

Nicholas Van Orten ( Michael Douglas ) is a wealthy investment banker, living alone in a mansion. He is a hard worker and is very dedicated to his job. One day, Nicholas meets up with his younger brother Conrad van Orton ( Sean Penn ) at a restaurant. It turns out that Conrad have a birthday present for Nicholas, a gift card from the company CRS. At first, Nicholas is not sure if this is just a joke, but Conrad highly recommends that Nicholas give this a try. This is a game, where anything can happen. Nicholas decide to wait for a moment, before he decides to look this game up. Until one day, when he happen to be in the same building as CRS, and sign their papers. What Nicholas does not know, is that this is no ordinary game. This is a game that will change his life completely.

To go from the magnificant thriller Seven, to a completely different kind of thriller with The Game, is without a doubt a very difficult challenge. Even if The Game is not as good as Seven, i still consider The Game to be one of the better films from director David Fincher. Why ? Because this film does have an original plot, and some very interesting twists and turns along the way. You also get a really strong performance from actor Michael Douglas, who gives his character a strong personality. Perhaps that is also why i enjoy The Game so much, since it is not very often you get a main character, as you get in this film. Just when you get to know that this is supposed to be a game, things become very interesting. Are there any rules ? Are there any limits ? How do you know what path you should choose ? There are a number of questions you will ask yourself while watching this film, and this shows that there is a intelligent story here. You can´t really figure out anything from the beginning of the game, you have to guess what will happen next. Since the 90´s had some really good quality films, it is so nice to return to The Game now 20 years later, and discover that this film is just as good, as it was when i was 20 years old. We have to talk about the cast. Sean Penn is here for a few scenes, and of course you know he can deliver. I would have liked to see more of him, but the scenes he is included works. Actor James Rebhorn does a fine performance as the CRS informer Jim Feingold, and i also enjoy seeing legendary actor Pete Donat here as Samuel Sutherland. You will probably recognize some other actors as well during the film. but the most interesting thing about this film, is how professional director David Fincher have constructed this story. We have seen directors try and make films based on some kind of game, but maybe this film is perhaps one of the few that actually manage to pull that off on the right track. The Game is in my mind one of the better thrillers of the 90´s, and still deliver on a very high quality level, both from an acting perspective, and from a film making perspective. Michael Douglas proved himself again with this film, showing why he is one of the greatest Hollywood legends. Make sure to get the blu ray, and i promise you, The Game will get you hooked up, just like this film did 20 years ago. One thing is for sure, if anyone gives me a birthday card with a phone number, i will be running out the door.....

Rating: DDDD

Leatherface

There are some films that will last forever. In the horror movie universe, there are so many titles we could talk about. But let´s focus our minds on one specific film. A film that made people faint, puke in cinemas, and was also banned in some countries. I am of course talking about Tobe Hoober´s cult classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre from 1974. A very small film, made on a extremely low budget. But what made this film so special, was the way that director Tobe Hobber managed to tell a story, of a disturbing cannibal family, in a way we have never seen before. And the chainsaw, also made a completely different impact than before, in some of the most odd and sickening chainsaw scenes ever made. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is still today one of the few films, that keep making horror fans all ages bedazzled. No matter how many times you have seen this film, you can´t get bored watching it again. Then in 1986, a sequel made it´s way to cinemas. The sequel is very different from the original film, but i did enjoy it, because of the crazy characters. I also feel that director Tobe Hooper, managed to mix comedy with horror, in an intelligent way. You could sense that the influences from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was still there, though portrayed differently than the original film. As the third film came out in 1990, i did not even see it. I did not see the 1994 film Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation. Why ? Well, everyone was saying how terrible they were, so i thought i might as well skip them. Luckily, in 2003, German director Marcus Nispel, directed a remake of the original film, that turned out to be much better than what i would have expected. The brutality, and the evil savage tone of the film, was exactly what a remake needed. I still think that this is one of the better horror remakes since the millenuim. Of course a sequel was released called The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - The Beginning. Critics were not happy with this film, i thought it was alright, but not a worthy sequel to the remake. Things got even worse when Texas Chainsaw 3D was released in 2013, a film that was a direct sequel to the original film. It did not feel like a sequel, it felt more like a horror film, just made to make money at the box office. So here we are in 2017, and we have a prequel to the original film released, simply called Leatherface. Since i love the first film, is this prequel almost as good as the cult classic, or is this a disaster that should have been burned to ashes ?

At the Sawyer homestead, a birthday birthday is celebrated for little Jedidiah ( Boris Kabakchiev ). Mother Verna Sawyer ( Lili Taylor ) have a special surprise for Jedidiah, a chainsaw. They have a victim tied up in a chair, and it is time for Jedidiah to show the family, how you make the birthday celebration extra fun. Jedidiah is not ready to be a butcher, but Verna and Farnsworth ( Nathan Cooper ), are sure he will learn their tradition. Grandpa Sawyer ( Eduard Parsehyan ) finish off the victim. In 1955, couple Betty Hartman ( Todor Berov ) and Ted Hardesty ( Julian Kostov ) are heading down a highway, when they almost hit a child with Ted´s car. The young boy Jedidiah is dressed with a cow head, and runs into the fields. Betty is worried something is wrong, and follow him to a dilapidated barn. Here she falls into a trap, and is killed brutally by the orders of Farnsworth. Sheriff Hartman ( Stephen Dorff ) is called to the scene, where he finds out his daughter Betty have been brutally killed. He attack Farnsworth, promising him that he will be executed. Verna steps in to bring Jedidiah back to the family, but Sheriff Hartman inform that she will no longer take care of him. Jedidiah is taken to mental institution Gorman House Youth Reformery. 10 years later, Jedidiah, now known as Bud ( Sam Coleman ), is a very quiet young man. Recently-hired nurse Elizabeth White ( Vanessa Grasse ) forms a bond with patients Bud and Jackson ( Sam Strike ). Verna visit the mental institution, demanding to see Jedidiah. The director of the facility deny her to see Jedidiah, so Verna start a riot, causing the mentally disturbed patients to escape. Bud and Jackson follow the patients Ike ( James Bloor ) and Clarice ( Jessica Madsen ). Ike and Clarice begin a murder spree at a diner. Bud´s silence is about to fold out, as they will all discover, a really disturbing killer is about to explode.

Since this film is supposed to be a prequel to the original film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, we are supposed to know the story surrounding Leatherface. For those of you who have seen the previous films, do we really need a prequel like Leatherface ? Honestly, not really. But here is the good news, this is not an awful film. In fact, i do see something about this prequel. If you remember Rob Zombie´s remake of Halloween from 2007, we got to see how Michael Myers became a serial killer. In the prequel Leatherface, we find out more about how a very young child, becomes a human butcher. And i have to say, i do like the idea surrounding this film. It is not as effective as Rob Zombie´s Halloween, but the origin story does work, as long as we get to see some gory scenes. Some of the brutal killing scenes, match with the story. And we do get some nice treats along the way. Stephen Dorff as Texas Ranger Hal Hartman is really cool, as the small town Texas Ranger. You can tell he fits for this character. One of this film strongest performances is from actor Lili Taylor as Verna Sawyer. The way she portrait Verna, mother of Leatherface, shows you a disturbing look into a mother, who shows no empathy for victims. So how does this prequel match up to the original film ? Honestly, it is nowhere as good as the original film. But that does not mean that Leatherface is awful. Compared to Texas Chainsaw 3D, this prequel is both more well made, and have a much better story included. Also, the characters are also much more interesting. Directors Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, manage to capture some of the feeling of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, while they also step on a different territory. They could have easily just made it look like another sequel, but it is clear that they want us to know more about the legendary character. There are a few scenes, where dialogue takes too much space of the film, but once the gory scenes gets back on track, you instantly feel at home again. I do like the scenes where we get to see young people at a mental institution. It gives you a different perspective of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre story, of disturbed young killers. You also get a different view on the disturbed Sawyer family, even if some details could have been told deeper. Leatherface is a surprisingly good prequel to the original classic film. It may not win any new audiences, but for the fans if Texas Chainsaw Massacre films, i think you should see this one and make up your own mind. One thing is clear, next time we serve turkey at family dinner, i am bringing the chainsaw. Who knows, we might need some extra meat, in case we run out of turkey....

Rating: DDD

Jackals

There is a saying in Sweden that goes something like this:- Don´t expect to get inside the house, if you wear any pants. What does this mean ? Well, in Sweden we like to be polite, and don´t always need to be dressed. You could say that we have " nature view " on dress codes. So if you happen to be dancing down the lovely fields of Dalarna, don´t be surprised if a nude couple invite you for coffee. Dalmasar are known for their friendly hospitality, and their good taste of falukorv.

You would think, that if house people are this friendly, then people would love to go more often to the countryside. Well, not exactly, and i think one particular film may show us why. The horror film You´re Next, showed us what could happen, if you end up in the wrong house in the countryside. A horror film that actually was much better, than i expected. The film had some disturbing surprises, and the cool lead actor Sharni Winson, as the bad ass Erin, was exactly what this film needed. Director Adam Wingard ( who also directed the underrated film The Guest ) proved that you can actually make an intelligent horror film, on a limited budget. Unfortunately, You´re Next was not seen by a larger audience in cinemas, so the film got a bigger chance to be recognized on dvd and blu ray. Horror films that takes place in the countryside can either be a good combination, or a terrible one. I think one of the most effective horror films, that takes place in the countryside, is the British horror film Eden Lake. This is a must see film, where actors Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender really delivered solid acting performances, in a very psychological film, with some very sweaty situations. I suggest you pick up the UK blu ray release, and listen in to some nice special features as well. Religious cult horror films is also a genre that i have always appreciated. Perhaps one of the classics, has to be Wes Craven´s classic 80´s film The Serpent And The Rainbow. I also enjoy the 80´s classic The Believers with legendary actor Martin Sheen, a film that does not get mentioned very often. So what if you combine a religious cult theme, with the style of You´re Next, and mix it all together ? That is what you get in the new horror film Jackals, released through Scream Factory. I got a chance to watch the film on dvd, right before Halloween weekend arrives. Is this a film that should be watched this Halloween with the family, or should you avoid this one at all cost ?

Kathy Powell ( Deborah Kara Unger ) and Andrew Powell ( Johnathon Schaech ) have hired cult deprogrammer Jimmy Levine ( Stephen Dorff ), to help them get their son Justin Powell ( Ben Sullivan ) back into their ordinary day life. Justin is kidnapped and brought to his parents house. Justin´s girlfriend Samantha ( Chelsea Rickets ) is also there to try and help Justin back into family life, especially since they have a child together. Justin refuse any help. Instead, he warns the family, that unless he is released, unexpected consequences may appear. The religious cult have located where Justin is, and they will do anything to get him back.

One of the things i really appreciate with Jackals, is that this is a film, based on a really disturbing religious cult. That helps the theme of the film feel more interesting. You can clearly see that there are similar ideas from You´re Next thrown in here ( without copying the film scenes ), but that´s ok. The stories are completely different, so that is a good sign. Once the cult members begin to attack the house, we do get to have some fun. One of the strongest characters in Jackals, is without a doubt actor Ben Sullivan ( perhaps known most for his work on tv series The 100 ). He is the most effective character in this film, as the kidnapped cult member Justin. Once he get to start to show his angry personality, with no empathy at all, you can tell he have tried to make his character feel like a monster. I also enjoy the performance of Alyssa Julya Smith as the cult member Fox Girl. She does not speak, but her body language, and brutality, works really well with her character. Unfortunately, we do not get to see her that often, that is a shame. Legendary actor Deborah Kara Unger is also here. Maybe not her strongest performance, but i still think she does ok. Director Kevin Greutert have directed 2 of the Saw films in the past, and have worked as an editor on the earlier Saw films as well. He knows how to capture the sense of brutality on camera, and he also knows how to portrait disturbing human behavior. In the best scenes, i would say that Jackals is a horror film that manage to deliver popcorn entertainment. This is in no way an original film, but that´s ok. What Jackals tries to do instead, is to bring back some of the old school horror from the early 80´s. Are there any flaws with this film ? Yes, there is. Especially that we never get to find out more information about the religious cult. What do they believe in ? Why do they wear their special outfits ? The only thing we know is that they are out there to bring back their beloved cult member. I also feel that legendary B movie actor Stephen Dorff is in this film, far too little. His character Jimmy, who hunts down cult members, could have so much more to offer in a film like this. Jackals may not be nowhere as good as You´re Next is, but i still feel that i enjoy this film, since it is well made from a cinematography, and technical perspective. There is especially one scene you can´t miss, when Fox Girl does a dance to a sliced throat, a tasteful treat indeed. Jackals may not bring anything new to the table, but if you appreciate religious cult horror films, then i suggest you give this one a chance. Now excuse me, i better pick up the axe, looks like Jehova´s Witnesses are dancing around the front porch again. Those bastards never listen, maybe my axe might change their mind ?

Rating: DDD

Halloween is getting closer, and i got something for you.

Greetings everyone, its your favourite Uncle Daniel here, ready for Halloween.

Since horror films is a big part of Halloween, i have 2 new horror movie reviews coming up close to Halloween weekend. I wont reveal any titles yet, but don't worry, once they are posted, you have something to look forward too. If you are going to celebrate Halloween, remember this....the most frightning film ever made is Saving Christmas with Kirk Cameron. This film will make you so scared, you wont sleep for years.....

Until next time, thank you all my readers worldwide. 

Cheers from Daniel

Blade Runner 2049

Let´s travel back in time, to the year of 1992. The year when Ugly Kid Joe´s album Americas Least Wanted, was a big thing in my school. I was around 14 years old, and i remember the first time i got to experience the 80´s cult classic film Blade Runner. My paint teacher actually played this film in class, on VHS. We were not supposed to watch violence films in school, but obviously she wanted us to experience something unique. Since i was pretty young at that time, i may not have taken Blade Runner under my arms completely. But after watching the film again, a couple of years later, i knew that this science fiction film from 1982 was something special. Director Ridley Scott have made a film, that looked completely different from anything i have ever seen before. It was not only the cinematography that looked amazing, but the characters, and the storyboard was also something unique. Harrison Ford as Detective Deckard became one of the most Iconic police officers of the 80´s, and Rutger Hauer as the replicant Roy Batty, had some of the best dialogue scenes in a futuristic science fiction film ever. There is no doubt that Blade Runner is still today, one of the all time classics in the sci fi genre, and is still loved by all ages and nationalities. I think that one of the reasons, why this film still works so well, is because we can relate to many humanitarian issues in the film. I also feel that the film managed to portrait the future in a very mysterious way. Even if it is not very realistic, you could tell that director Ridley Scott wanted to make sure that the film would look original. You might think that Blade Runner was a big box office success, back in the 80´s. It actually did not do well in box office numbers, but became a cult hit on VHS instead. So when a Director´s Cut was released in cinemas, people got a chance to see the film again, with some smaller changes from the original release. I have the Final Cut edition, a 5 dvd release, that includes different versions of the film, including a lot of special features. After many years from the original film´s release, there have been speculations if a sequel was going to be made. It seemed that it would not happen for a while, not until i heard rumors in early 2017, that a sequel was on the way. Everytime you hear a classic film is getting a sequel, you always start to wonder if this is a good idea. But when a trailer was finally released, i could not help sitting down bedazzled. The film looked amazing, by the few scenes you got to see from the film. And the cast of Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, and Harrison Ford coming back as Deckard, seemed too good to be true. When this sequel finally landed in cinemas, i had to experience the film. Do we have a sequel better than the original cult film, or is this a sequel that never should have been allowed to be released ?

In the year 2049, bioengineered humans called replicants have been integrated into society, as servants and slaves. Officer " Joe " K ( Ryan Gosling ), a newer replicant model, created to obey. He works as a blade runner for LAPD, hunting down, and retire older replican models. In Officer Joe´s home, he lives with his holpgraphic girlfriend Joi ( Ana de Armas ), an artificial intelligence product of the Wallace Corporation. Officer Joe´s investigation on a growing replicant federation, leads him to a farm, where here retires rouge replicant Slapper Morton ( Dave Bautista ). Here he finds a buried box. Forensic analysis reveal that the box contains the remains of a female replicant who died as the result of complications from an caesarean section. Officer Joe did not think it was possible for replicants to be pregnant. He is ordered to destroy all the evidence related to the case by his superior, Lieutenant Joshi ( Robin Wright ), and retire the child. She fears that is this information comes out, this could start a war between humans and replicants. Joe is disturbed by the idea of destroying the evidence, so he decides to dig deeper into the truth, by visiting the headquarters of Wallace Corporation. He finds out from Wallace Corporation Founder Niander Wallace ( Jared Leto ), who identify the body ( the evidence Joe found ) as Rachel, an experimental replicant. He also finds out about the romance between Rachel and former veteran blade runner Rick Deckard ( Harrison Ford ). While the investigation keeps going, Joe is about to find out something about himself, that will change his life completely.

When i first heard that a sequel to Blade Runner, was going to be made. I was very skeptical, because some films should be left alone. Remember the sequel to Escape From New York, simply called Escape From L.A. ? Yes, it is so bad, i can´t really describe what that film was. However, after having seen Blade Runner 2049, i think i can honestly say that i don´t feel sad. In fact, i am very impressed about this sequel. It looks gorgeous, and the tone of the film fits really well with the classic cult film, with a much bigger budget of course. Also, the acting is really good as well. Ryan Gosling in the lead role, as Officer Joe, is a perfect choice for the character. We already know that Ryan Gosling is one of the best actors, so he knows exactly how to make his character feel interesting. Harrison Ford is also back as Rick Deckard, and i have to say, he does one of his best perfomances in many years, here in Blade Runner 2049. To see him on screen, so many years since the original film, is a pure delightful moment. Jared Leto as the odd Niander Wallace, match perfect with the story, and the characters. He also deliver a very solid performance. One of the most important details of this film, is how beautiful the cinematography is by Roger Deakins. He really knows how to capture the essence of the world of Blade Runner, and i think he found a way to also surprise us with some unexpected details ( i won´t reveal anything here ). Director Denis Villeneuve have directed a lot of really good films over recent years, including Prisoners, Sicario and Arrival. He continues to deliver once again, and i can honestly say that Blade Runner 2049 is his most ambitious work so far as an director. The details that he manage to capture on camera, with this amazing futuristic world, is simply outstanding. I might have to say that this is his best film so far, as an director. I can´t remember the last time i watched a science fiction film, that is so well made as Blade Runner 2049. Is it better than the original film ? This is a tricky question, because i love the original film. But i will say this, technically, and story wise, this sequel delivers on a whole different quality level than the first film. I have no doubt saying this, Blade Runner 2049 is one of the biggest highlights of this year in cinema, and everyone should go and see this film. You won´t see any film as gorgeous looking as this film, that also deliver really solid acting. I think i might actually see it in a cinema again, since this is such an amazing film. Blade Runner in 1982 changed the world, i hope Blade Runner 2049 will be able to do the same, this is a film you can´t avoid.

Rating: DDDD