söndag 31 december 2017
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
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
måndag 25 december 2017
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
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
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
lördag 23 december 2017
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
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
måndag 18 december 2017
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
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
söndag 10 december 2017
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
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
lördag 9 december 2017
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
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
onsdag 6 december 2017
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
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
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