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richardgundersen
Reviews
Cosmos (2019)
The details make it
In a regular SciFi film there might be a 2 minute scene where they detect a signal from space and then the rest of the film is spent launching rockets into space, fighting aliens, watching planets explode etc etc. Cosmos is that 'two minute scene' made into a film (with a bit of drama/excitement at the end). I liked the characters and found the back story about the disgruntled employee fairly engaging. But I really loved how three guys in a car in a forest were essentially using every resource they could find to make sense of (and capture) data relating to the most profound discovery in history; first contact with an alien race. Sure there were a few moments that were made more dramatic than they would really be in real life but the story, actors, technical detail and acting were great. I thought this was great film.
Trudno byt bogom (2013)
Unique
It's a hard watch (split it over three evenings for me) but the fact that I'm googling this film so much after watching it means something. There's an awful lot to take in and I'm glad I made it to the end. Madness and genius. Such a well made film, I can't imagine how hard it must have been to film something like this.
Stowaway (2021)
Loved it
I thought this was really well done SciFi. A small cast of characters who were put in an impossible situation. I assumed (based on the title) that the 'threat' would be pretty predictable but I was happy that the movie went down a different route. Its not a psycho-in-space film, its much more interesting than that given what happens and the dilemmas the astronauts face. Its tragic without being depressing and I actually thought the ending was beautiful. I can understand why people would find it infuriating, but imagine being that character and how they were feeling. And that's what makes it, for me at least.
The War of the Worlds (2019)
Refreshing
Used to live in Woking where the story is set and always thought it was kind of cool that they have a statue of a Martian tripod in the town centre.
Anyway, I can't comment on the faithfulness to the book, but I doubt downtown LA (or wherever the Tom Cruise version was set) was entirely faithful either. But I did find it very refreshing see an alien invasion story set in this time period l, which I'm sure is more in tune with what HG Wells had in mind when he wrote his novel.
Special effects were fine, I didn't find it boring at all and I thought the actors did a decent job,and I'm glad I watched it.
Black Mirror: Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too (2019)
Good entertaining episode
I enjoy Black Mirror for the sheer variety of stories it offers. The common thread is how technology can be used and abused. I like the darker episodes as much as anyone else, but there's nothing wrong at all about including some lighter ones too, and this was one of those.
Nightflyers (2018)
Ready for Season 2
No lengthy analysis here, I just really enjoyed it. Good, dark Sci Fi horror. I did like the characters, enjoyed the weirdness and the freaky stuff going on, and am definitely ready for the second season.
It's more like a longer version of something like Event Horizon, but some of the editing/style reminded me of Sunshine (both great) . Anyway, I'd happily watch another couple of seasons of this to see where it goes
YellowBrickRoad (2010)
I liked it
Bit of a mix between Lost and The Shining, I really enjoyed this actually. In fact I love it when I find a really low scoring film on IMDb that I enjoy! Quite creepy, incredible sounds / score, especially the constant old style music that plays incessantly through the woods, driving the characters insane.
Quite light in gore (no bad thing) but the few scenes there are are fairly shocking, especially the one seen from a distance, which was pretty chilling.
If I had to choose between Saw, Scream (any) or this, I would choose this any day.
Oh yeah I mentioned the sound already but its really good. Very atmospheric.
Been googling for 'meaning behind the film' type stuff since the DVD stopped, and that in my opinion is what a decent horror should make you do.
The Box (2009)
Intelligent Sci Fi (at last)
Why all the negative reviews? Almost didn't bother watching it because of the scores, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well acted, quite creepy in places (which I wasn't expecting) although it's not a horror (at all), and most of all it makes you think. Some parts of it reminded me of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It doesn't follow a formula or explicitly explain the plot to you; if you don't understand it, watch it again because you're missing out on a great story - it's all in there if you listen hard enough. Above all, this is a great, intelligent sci-fi movie.
PS if you like Donnie Darko, Naked Lunch or Inland Empire, you'll like this one.