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Fallout (2024)
Prime has it's GoT
I've never played the games so I went into Fallout with zero expectations. It blew my mind like a nuke. The production quality, scripting and casting is excellent. The satire is hilarious, and horrifying at the same time, as it presents a possible vision of a post apocalyptic future. Are we on a path to world war 3 and the end of civilisation?
The retro sci-fi feel is cool. The characters are very engaging and I found myself caring about them. Like GoT bad things happen to them. The action is often brutal and graphic.
Fallout is a show which people I know and work with are talking about, like when GoT was a social phenomena. A lot of people don't subscribe to Prime but the attraction of this show is so strong many will start.
It will make stars out of some of the actors. Annabel O'Hagan for example who plays tragic supporting character Stephanie has a presence and a smile which is magnetic and heart melting.
The Boys is great but with Fallout, Prime video finally has a show which can draw an audience like GoT.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Interesting biopic with outstanding acting which is an hour too long
Cillian Murphy gives an incredible performance as Oppenheimer. He vividly portrays the genius, internal conflicts and complexities of the man. The fact he looks so similar to him too, makes Murphy a stand out to win an Oscar and other acting awards. Technically the film is also well produced. The music and editing are effectively used to add tension and suspense to a film which could have been dull throughout with all the scientific project & political talking. Florence Pugh also brings some edge and spice. This movie should have wrapped up after the US wins WW2, with the guilt and fear of creating and using a weapon which wiped out hundreds of thousands of lives in an instant, amid the jubilation. That would have been a great conclusion. Instead the movie continues for another hour with over lapping black and white bureaucratic inquiry talkfests. It's hard to keep track of the scientists involved who only appeared briefly previously. So it gets confusing too. It loses momentum and gets boring & irritating. Maybe I have ADD. In summary it's a movie which is well worth watching, but you might want to skip the last hour. It's more than 3 hours long so you'll still get a 2 hour movie.
Run Hide Fight (2020)
Flawed but entertaining high school shooting thriller
The critics savaged this movie more than most. Reading the reviews they seem offended by the existence of a school shooting action movie, and its perceived right wing undertones. I felt it showed both sides on some topics eg. Pro & anti gun. Maybe I'm just insensitive to US school shootings & politics.
Anyway don't be swayed by the negative critical reviews, unless you also think a school shooting action movie is a fundamentally offensive concept. This movie does have issues, the set up is a little clunky and it goes over the top particularly in the final act. However overall its an exciting and engaging ride. There are talented young actors in the 2 lead roles. The pacing is fast and the action scenes are brutally effective. When I watched the boring, art house movie Elephant I thought it was a missed opportunity. So if like me you've always thought an action thriller about a school shooting could be interesting, you should Search Play Watch.
The Killer (2023)
Slow burning, cerebral, stylish suspenseful surprise
If you only like fast paced movies with non stop action, explosions and ham fisted exposition you should take a hard pass on this. But if you like quality. If you've ever enjoyed a Fincher flick or a Fassbender performance, this is made for you. Both are at the top of their game. It's smart, moody & immersive. It's tense and engrossing. It takes you into the life & the head of a nihilistic assassin. I think the killer character might be a metaphor for what it takes to succeed in our world. The action when it comes has impact & gravitas. I didn't know what to expect before I watched it and that didn't change after I hit play. This is the best movie I've seen in like a year. A killer surprise.
Lift (2024)
Hart failure
Kevin Hart, who is also a producer on this film attempts to play a smooth, leading man rather than a comical character. This experiment fizzles & fails painfully. He and everything else in this movie is flat, devoid of energy and interest. The attempts at humour including running jokes just don't land. The performances of the whole cast are listless and lacking charisma. Worthington, normally an aggressive presence is pale, old & tired, D'Onofrio tries to inject some personality but the accent & everything is just ridiculous. The dialogue feels rushed, of an amateur, awkward quality, which might be why the actors struggle here. The story is a weak collection of over the top heist cliches. It takes so long before we finally get some insipid CGI action. It's bland, lifeless, boring, and ultimately flat as a pancake, tack or whatever simile you prefer.
Fresh Meat (2011)
Fresh indeed
This is a hilarious, gritty, yet sometimes over the top sitcom about young people who have left home to go to university and are living in a share house. It has 4 season like the 3-4 years it takes to complete a degree. But it's more than just a show about college students. It's really the ultimate coming of age series, about transitioning from adolescence to adult life. It's often confronting and crude, dealing with topics such as sex, drugs and so on. It doesn't hold back, so it's not for people who are easily offended. Like all great comedies it has an ensemble cast of different characters who bounce off each other ala Seinfeld. Vod is charismatic, crazy & confident like a Kramer for example. I recently rewatched Fresh Meat & found it was even better than I remembered. There's so much going on & so many laughs every episode. There's heart & substance aplenty too. Apart from the occasional reference this show hasn't aged at all and is as fresh and relevant as ever. A meaty, must see comedy, to sink your teeth into.
Reprisal (2018)
Willis has sadly become the worst actor of all time
Bruce Willis should have retired years ago. He was a great leading man in the past, but he is a tragic, laughable shadow of his former self. Was his dementia bad back when this film was made too? Or was he heavily sedated? His performance is completely flat, bored & disinterested. He mumbles, practically yawns through much of his delivery. It made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions. The low light is a scene with Grillo where he is discussing the robbery & looking at a map. HIs acting is the worst I've seen in a theatrical release. I'm serious. Watch this and probably any of the flood of 3 and 4 star movies he's been taking the pay cheque for in recent years and tell me an actor who is worse? I loved him in Diehard, Pulp Fiction, the 6th sense, 12 monkeys etc.. It really is shocking to see him now. You've been warned.
His acting distracts from the fact this movie boasts other aspects on par with worst film of all time contenders. Nonsensical story & script, silly casting, stupid action scenes and the list goes on. There are plenty of D-grade 70s movies that are produced better than this effort.
Some people say Cage is the worst actor around. But he can still emote and read lines with some enthusiasm. They obviously haven't seen Bruce in action lately.
The Northman (2022)
Interesting, visually striking but not enjoyable
The Northman was south of what I expected. The film makers were striving for gritty realism which they achieve. Unfortunately, this is at the expense of audience enjoyment. It was unrelentingly grim & humourless. The Norse rituals at the beginning were unpleasant to sit through. It did convey how their faith was as real to them as modern religions are in our modern world, which was interesting. Characters were hard to connect with. The fights weren't staged in an exciting way. There wasn't a sense of adventure. The imagery was evocative and Anya is intriguing as ever. The turn of events towards the end was unexpected. I like my historical epics to be more like Gladiator or Braveheart. This has a cold, harsh, uncompromising style like the Revenant. If a friend asked me whether they should watch it, I would say no man.
The Time Capsule (2022)
A Capsule You Should Take
This is a thoughtful, reflective film, well worth watching, particularly if you're not a young'un. It takes an interesting concept and with a modest budget develops it reasonably well. You can nit pick the science but it's the concept which is important. We all change and life gradually passes us by over the years and we don't notice a lot of it. This movie makes you consider what you may have lost and let go of, since the days when you were full of energy, hope & dreams. Perhaps there's something we should rediscover in ourselves from the time capsule of who we were back in the day. Maybe shake off a little of the heaviness of responsibility and live life a little more. Pop this capsule and take a trip back in time to the way you were.
Last Seen Alive (2022)
Surprisingly tense, gritty & entertaining low key action thriller
A straight forward, simple plot can be a positive thing. It's what makes Last Seen Alive relatable & engaging. A man's wife goes missing when they stop at a service station and we follow his increasingly desperate efforts to find her. I don't want to spoil it but what he finds is believable, unlike Taken and other films.
The acting and dialogue is grounded in realism. Rock solid and involving. The exchanges between Butlers character & his wife's parents, the police and others are gripping drama. The direction from the cinematography, editing & sound is effective and creates a suspenseful atmosphere.
I was expecting a lame, straight to streaming quality movie but I was pleasantly surprised. If you're in the mood for a lean, entertaining thriller see it.
Reacher (2022)
Much better than the Reacher movies
The Reacher movies and this TV series have the same titular character name but are very different.
Reacher is an interesting, engaging character in this series. He's like an autistic action hero. His mind gives him analytical powers but it stops him from connecting with people. Time is spent on developing the character. His childhood as an army 'brat' shipped around the globe is explored for example. Ritchson is totally convincing in the Reacher role.
The supporting characters are also pretty well fleshed out and likeable. There is plenty of dry humour and intelligence in the script. The action scenes are superbly executed. You can feel the hits. It's well produced using the small town locations to great effect.
If you want to watch an enjoyable, suspenseful action packed series with a twist, you should definitely reach for this series. Don't let those so-so movies put you off.
You (2018)
Oregon has grown up and S4 is a return to form for You
Fresh Meat is among my favourite comedies. Charlottle Ritchie who played 'Oregon' in that show reminded me of happy go lucky, impressionable friends I had a uni. In You season 4 it's confronting to see her being such a hard, cynical character now. This is what time can do to us, or perhaps it's just a testament to her acting. You season 4 is a dark, intriguing and exciting return to form. Brilliant change of direction & setting. The writing is excellent as usual. Makes me think I should read the books it is based on. Season 3 kind of lost me with Joe going on men's retreats and such. Overall one of the best shows on Netflix. You should watch it.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Ant Man: Trash-mania
The story of Ant-Man 3 is equal parts silliness & cliched tropes. There are also frequent broad jarring jokes which take you out of the movie. The root cause of the issues is it was written by Jeff Loveness, who's biggest credits are TV shows including Jimmy Kimmel live & Rick & Morty. NOT epic action adventure movies. Really glad I didn't pay good money to see it. There's no attempt to create a cohesive narrative with some internal logic which respects the characters or the audience. The good points are the visuals which are interesting & Jonathan Majors performance as Kang which was impressive, quite a feat considering the storm of irritating, silliness surrounding him. This movie is a ridiculous, predictable mess but if you've got trash-mania you might like it.
The Menu (2022)
For those who like dark chocolate
If you like your comedy served dark and rare with lashings of biting social satire and suspense then the Menu is made for you. The script, casting and overall production quality are excellent. It's prepared with the fiennest ingredients. There's a lot to chew on and it has a lingering finish. There are twists and it goes wild like berries towards the end giving in to excess like the world it parodies. But I had no problems swallowing it. Thanks to the atmosphere and build up. It really cleanses the pallet after consuming Marvel movies and other fast food. Be warned, it's gamey and not for those with weak stomachs. But if you enjoy your cinematic chocolate dark it's a delight.
Glass Onion (2022)
The mystery is why do critics love it
This movie is a weak who done it, dressed up with bright ham fisted quirkiness. It's not entertaining or engaging. The problems start at the top. Daniel Craig was a decent gritty Bond but a charismatic eccentric sleuth he is not. The Blanc character doesn't work. The dodgy Southern accent, his haggard appearance with flamboyant clothes etc.. none of it gels. I think Craig was just cast to attract an audience. I actually correctly guessed the murder early in the movie. Monae should stick to singing too. Her acting is flat. The ideas are silly but not fun. Twins? Come one. It's quite long and clunky. I can see why this didn't get a theatrical release. Average joes would have hated it at the cinema. Critics should have their knives out for this movie instead of giving a free pass to positive reviews.
Vacation (2015)
Crude but clever sequel to the National Lampoon Vacation movies
The script manages to intelligently build on & develop the child characters, gags and plots from the original National Lampoon movies of the 80s to deliver a consistently hilarious movie now set in our times. The rude jokes distract from the fact that a lot of skill, smarts & effort went into it. It remains true to the spirit of the beloved film series. Combine this with an great cast led by Ed Helms and you've got an excellent comedy, for those who aren't easily offended. Chevy Chase is back in a cameo as a now old Clark running a B&B. He says he loves hosting guests but is rude to them all the time. I once stayed at a B&B where the host yelled at me for not wearing shoes to the breakfast table. So I even found that little detail funny. It's disappointing that this film didn't do well at the box office because I would love some more sequels. It deserved to be a hit.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Awesome Avatar
The visuals of this film made me stare at the cinema screen in wonder & awe. Combine this with a strong, classic action adventure story and engaging characters & you've got the best blockbuster I've watched since Infinity War. I disagree with the opinion the plot is just a repeat of the first. It is a continuation & expansion of the first. It's the next stage in the war for Pandora. It has emotional weight. Tears welled in my eyes during some of the visceral, brilliantly constructed scenes where the family is fighting for survival. There are environmental and spiritual themes which give it substance. Immerse yourself in Avatar the way of water.
Utopia (2014)
The Office Australia
The Office US & UK are 2 of my all time favourite comedies. Utopia (otherwise known as Dreamland) might be the closest we get to an Australian version of the Office. It has the same engaging ensemble mockumentary style. As well as being a satire of office work it also sends up government bureaucracy & politics. The episodes involving HR in particular are excellent. After you watch a few though, the jokes, plots & characters can become repetitive. Most of the characters are perky, dopey, in component and focused on trivial things, like the food at meetings, with the exception of the long suffering managers, Tony & Nat. It's a shame the supporting characters aren't more varied & distinct. Big flashy politically motivated ideas are pushed on the NBA office by Jim & Rhonda, but never progress is the recurring story. A good but not great Australian version of the Office.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
What did you expect? The TV show matches the comic character
She-Hulk is a light, fluffy, fun character who breaks the 4th wall in the comics. She made funny comments to readers on multiple covers for example. If you hate the TV show for being light weight, silly etc... then you obviously don not know the comic book character. She is not a dark, gritty, deep, complex character. Go and watch Sandman if that is what you are after. The series is actually quite a faithful adaptation of her comics. I found it fun, light, well made entertainment. With all the irrationally low hate scores it is getting I decided help it out with a 10. Tatiana Maslany is great in the titular role. Believable and engaging. As someone who actually knows the comic book character I got what I expected and enjoyed. It. I would like a bit more action but apart from that, well done Marvel.
Bullet Train (2022)
Bullet Train is a fun ride
Filled with high impact fights & flashy style to burn this is an entertaining film for those who enjoy violent witty action movies. There also quiet moments of quirky insight sprinkled throughout. Think Tarantino's Kill BIll 1 with humour. Or even Guy Ritchie's Lock Stock. Brad Pitt is excellent in the lead role of a burnt out, philosophical assassin. All the performances are similarly charismatic & engaging. The interwoven plot line gets a bit out of control but who cares. The fusion of cultures from Japanime, Mexican, British & of course Americana in the soundtrack & visuals is funky & fresh. I recommend catching bullet train at the cinema.
Nope (2022)
Should you pay to watch it? See title
It's an interesting twist on UFO thrillers. The visual FX and sound editing create suspenseful atmosphere. I think there's also an intriguing theme about humans presenting dangerous, horrific things as tame entertainment and spectacle. Whether it be aliens, chimps or racism.
Unfortunately the pacing is slow and the narrative is muddled. I nearly fell asleep in the first half.
A minor characters subplot about chimps, while interesting and supporting the aforementioned theme, completely takes away from the main story.
The performances aren't good. Keke Palmers' Emerald is one of the more annoying characters I've seen in a movie in a long time & Kaaluya is wasted in the role of a farmer who doesn't talk much. Both of them mumble their lines. It's a odd, ultimately unsatisfying film.
Is Peele's filmography starting to follow a similar trajectory to M. Night Shyamalan's? Yep.
Eternals (2021)
The Eternals will return? Please noooo!
Marvel, please don't make another one of these turkeys. Just pretend this movie was never made. Or it happened in a multi-verse far away from the main one which is inhabited by characters I like such as the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Avengers & Spider-Man. Despite volcanos etc popping up no existing Marvel characters appear in this film so this makes sense.
Please don't pollute the MCU with its ridiculous messy mythology or over populate it with these boring, bland characters. The Eternals are like old, pompous, serious power rangers.
Most of the action in the film is the Eternals fighting the Deviants (not sexual), CGI video game like monsters, who randomly show up and are the reason for the eternals existence. Such lame antagonists. The rest of the movie is politics between the Eternals who apparently sit around dormant for 1000s of years between these Deviant attacks.
I'm amazed we got through this movie, although I did nod off at one point. When "The Eternals will return" text came up on screen at the end, everyone I was with groaned "No!" in unison. It was like a threat rather than something to get excited about. Marvel, if you have to, please leave it an eternity before making a sequel. Unless the sequel involves killing all the Eternals. P. S. The cameos at the end were annoying, not cool too.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Unwatchable for the Average Person
Don't watch this movie if you don't like extremely slow, pretentious, negative, wooden movies with woke themes. Its visuals are dark & dour and the characters are unlikeable and unrelatable. This is not an Unforgiven type Western. I tapped out of this after 30 minutes and later realized I have never made it through a Jane Campion joint. I think this might be her least watchable film yet.
Cowboy Bebop (2021)
Better than the anime series
This live action adaptation of the animated series Cowboy Bebop is fun, funny & funky. It's like Guardians of the Galaxy the series. It follows the adventures of a pair of space bounty hunters. I watched a few episodes of the original animated series back in the day, but it never grabbed me, but I'm hooked on this. I think people who love and revere the cartoon are the ones giving this low ratings. From what I remember this is actually visually, sound track and style wise pretty faithful to the anime. It is quite violent with swearing and adult content so I wouldn't recommend it for kids. For everyone else it's one of the most enjoyable binge worthy romps I've watched this year.
The New Mutants (2020)
Made for TV quality with a stand out performance by Taylor-Joy
The critics savaged this film so my expectations were very low, which is probably why I thought it was OK. It looked cheaply made but apparently cost $67 mil to produce. It is basically shot on one location and there is only 1 person supervising 5 dangerous super powered kids. No guards or nurses etc.. The lack of staff at the asylum was weird and unrealistic. Once again the cast should have been cheap. It has a predictable solid story. The horror angle didn't really work. Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana is far and away the best thing about this film. As someone whose read the New Mutants comics she nails the role. I didn't hate it but it felt like a missed opportunity.