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angelamiatt
Reviews
After Earth (2013)
Not as bad as the haters make out
Having read the reviews I expected very little. Initially my worst fears were realised as Jayden's voice is rather annoying, but as it went on and I got over that, it wasn't a bad film. It certainly isn't the turkey everyone is making it out to be.
The effects were pretty good and while the storyline was formulaic and the ending expected, not every film has to have a twist ending and amaze and wow you.
At 1 hour 36 mins, it's also short, meaning it isn't full of long pointless dialogue and scene setting. It pretty much gets into the main part of the story, which is father and son crash landed, son trying to get a rescue beacon set off.
Ignore the haters - honestly it's OK.
Although I actually liked The Happening and reading the reviews on that, maybe I should be ignored! 😃
Vivarium (2019)
Unique premise
I am not sure why the low reviews, other than people expecting Hollywood action and effects maybe?
The idea behind this film was unique, so many films nowadays have the same plot but the fact this is different to all that have gone before it makes it worth watching!
It is a slow burner, I'll admit it, but that doesn't make it boring. On the contrary it's the slow burn that draws you in and gives you a sense of how despondent and trapped the parents are. The tediousness of the same scenery and the same slog day in and day out are impressed upon us and gives this film a sinister creepiness.
I also liked the ending, for once a film doesn't have a happy ending. The ending is totally in line with the rest of the film, bleak and hopeless.
I also think the acting was superb.
Staged (2020)
Genius!
I had just finished watching Good Omens and loving the dynamic between David Tennant and Michael (yes, Michael, not Martin!) Sheen, I thought I'd give this a go and I am so happy I did!
This is probably one of THE best comedy TV series in recent times and I binged all 3 seasons in 2 days!
Michael and David are good friends in real life and this shows as they are so natural together. I enjoyed watching their partners become more involved and integral as the seasons progressed and I love the fact both actors happily take the mickey out of each other and themselves.
I watched this post Covid in 2023 and it brought back many memories of working during those days in a sea of Zoom calls ("can you hear me?" "my internet is so slow" "why is my camera not on?")
Comic genius! Watch!
Godzilla (2014)
On the dull side
Like so many of these movies, most of it appears to be set at night or in very dark places. This means that you can hardly see anything half the time.
Maybe this is to help effects - if it's dark it looks more realistic? It fails and you are left disappointed.
If cost was a factor I would rather a few less monster scenes if they could be in daylight so I could see them. The later film Godzilla v Kong is so much better in this respect and definitely a better watch.
As other reviewers have said, sad to see Brian Cranston killed off so early on. He was definitely one of the better characters. The hero Ford Brady is a dull nobody throughout most of it.
Even Elizabeth Olsen couldn't save this and she is excellent as always!
i-Lived (2015)
Not sure why the low review
Like all low budget films, some of the acting is better than others but I felt the main character was very good.
The story was interesting and at times very dark. The ending was depressing so don't expect a feel good movie!
I did find the part near the end where we had a mix of reality and fantasy, meant to show you his unravelling mind, was a little confusing. But other than this, it was a great idea and well presented.
Like I say, I'm not sure why this received such low reviews. I have seen much much worse than this and if you like these clever low budget types of films then watch, you won't regret it.
The Lost Boys (1987)
Not just for teenagers
I was in my teens when I first saw this and adored it. At that age there were so many cute guys and the film could have been nothing but them sat in silence and I would have liked it.
30 years later and I watched this again and it still stands up. Don't get me wrong, the heartthrobs no longer interest me but the film, well it stands the test of time! It is well acted, I mean look at the cast! And it led to a lot of the Buffy the vampire slayer ideas.
It is funny and if you don't know the ending, it has a decent twist. Oh and I LOVE Nanook the dog - honestly he stole the show
If you like vampires then watch this!
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
I love MCU...
...But this film was awful.
The story was ridiculous in all ways.
Firstly, Hopes mother was in the quantum realm and never told her husband about the entire universe there, with all the species and lives and complex environments.
Secondly the ants happened to follow them into the quantum universe but "on a different stream" and therefore had eternities to develop and become super intelligent.
Thirdly - what the hell was MODOX about? Some second rate character who suddenly appeared in the quantum realm as a head?!
Finally, while CGI is great, it loses any excitement when it is the ENTIRE FILM! All I can think of while watching this is that the entire film was filmed in one room on a green screen ... NOTHING is real.
I watched this film over 3 weeks in batches of 10 minutes as I was bored. I am never bored of a film. I watch everything! But this film is boring!
Honestly - if you need an MCU hit, rewatch one of the Avengers films!
Headgame (2018)
Even drunk this was dull
There are certain types of films I watch after an evening out. Usually low budget, horror genre, not high rating. The sort of films where you know what you are getting and that's what you get - usually gruesome, not brilliantly acted, minimal storyline but the effect is fun/ engaging/ entertaining and fill 90 mins.
This film was none of that! It was dull, badly acted and even worse effects than if I'd tried with a pair of scissors and sticky back plastic.
It's rare I write a bad review - just because I didn't like something doesn't mean it's bad, but on this occasion - this is BAD.
AVOID! Sorry but it's bad.
The Imperfects (2022)
Watch!
Being a fan of Italia Ricci since Designated Survior, I decided to try this and I am very glad I did!
This was, in my view, brilliant!
It was clever, well thought out and yet didn't take itself too seriously. I also loved Rhys Nicholson's character although wonder if he is a marmite actor. You either love or hate him. I LOVED him.
Give this series a go - you'll have fun.
So as usual my review has ended and I have required characters left. Why is the required amount of characters so many?!
So I shall repeat - I love Italia Ricci and I love Rhys Nicholson.
35 characters to go .. Almost there ... done!
The Giver (2014)
Great Book, good Film
I watched this film a couple of years ago and liked it, it wasn't the most amazing film ever but it was unique and enjoyable. The 8 rating I give is because the film introduced me to the book.
The book is a 10! There is so much more depth. The film, as you'd expect from Hollywood, has a dramatic final 20 minutes which deviates from the book. The book is slower paced, steady but full of detail and it's own drama.
My enjoyment in learning about this world in the book in so much more detail made me watch the film again and it meant I was able to enjoy the film in more depth too as I knew more than was shown in the 100 minute screen time.
Read the book then watch the film - they are both worth it!
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
A colourful mess
I love Harley Quinn and in suicide squad she was one of my favourite characters but this film struggled from start to finish.
It was a muddled, loud, chaotic mess.
Don't get me wrong, there are some genuinely funny scenes and Ewan McGregor as the bad guy is very reminiscent of Gary Oldman in Leon but it's slow going.
A lot of it feels forced and some of the acting is sub par. Honestly, if you want to see Harley Quinn, watch suicide squad!
Tiger House (2015)
A solid watch
I won't lie, I like British films so maybe I am biased. This was a good, well thought out, well acted for the most part film.
And it had Dougray Scott which is never a bad thing.
Pompeii (2014)
Ignore the nay sayer - spoilers!
If you want a good action film, with plenty of eye candy, romance and CGI galore then this is the film for you!
Spoiler alert!!
While everyone else died around them, I expected. Our heroic couple to survive. Ok, so it was a volcano erupting but even so, films don't kill off the main characters! A film where no one survives - dramatic!!
Free Guy (2021)
Ryan Reynolds - what's the fuss?
I think I'm the only person in the world who doesn't find Ryan Reynolds funny.
He seems to play the same deadpan character in every film. Sometimes it fits, deadpool, and at times like this it fails miserably.
I have a low tolerance on films, I will watch anything and find virtue but this... well this was dull.
Even taika waititi couldn't save this for me and I LOVE him!
Watch Boss Level with Mel Gibson instead. Far superior!
This Is Your Death (2017)
Watch!
About 30 minutes in I wondered where the film was going and how they would fill the next hour ... but then it ramped up
This was intense and the last 30 minutes really made an impression
Keep going .. I disagree with the reviews about bad acting, i thought the acting was very good and I would like to see these actors again. Seriously giancarlo Esposito is always brilliant! Watch!
Play or Die (2019)
So bad but not even funny. AVOID
I don't often write bad reviews - I usually think that not every one likes everything. But this .... This was awfully bad.
I tired watching it in and off over a week and gave up - forwarding to the end to get the "twist"
The acting from the male lead was so bad I honestly have no idea how he passed the audition. The others were not much better and at several points I wished the film had subtitles.
Avoid! Avoid! And just in case you aren't convinced ... AVOID!!!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, with Feeling (2001)
You know - you've got a willing slave
I have watched this episode too many times to count - it is an intense experience. The episode brings to the forefront so much of the series, literally all the unsaid issues are sung here.
A couple of the songs made me melt, spikes "love" song to buffy, Gile's song to buffy - were just a couple of highlights in an amazing episode.
It's 2021 now and I first watched this 20 years ago and still to this day it's the best episode of any TV show!
Not every one is pitch perfect but that's the point - it's not a musical in the sense of musicals. It's a TV show whereby actors are expected to sing most of the episode and sure some of the cast are musical by profession but not all of them were so bloody well done everyone!!
Awake (2021)
Ignore the haters
Don't get me wrong - there is a lot wrong with the movie. For instance why leave your young child asleep outside in an apocalyptic world while you are inside the library. Even in normal times this would be risky!
But ... the idea is good ( reminds me of "sleep over" by H. G Bells - excellent book and one you should read!)
Ignore the reviews and watch. There is a lot worse out there!
Time (2021)
Watch it!
This is British TV at its best. Gritty, well acted and bleak as hell! Don't watch this if you want a happy series with a flowery ending as you will be disappointed. But if you want to watch excellent acting and realistic portrayal of the harsh life in HM prisons then this is for you.
WandaVision (2021)
Genuinely unique and amazing
Persevere is all I can say! The first 3 episodes are genius but you don't realise this until episode 4 and after.
This was genuinely brilliant and entertaining and becomes better and better as it goes on. Although be warned the last episode is a tear jerker!
Give this a chance and it will reward you.
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Watch it!
I wasn't sure what to expect the first time and thought it would be scarier than it was. Don't get me wrong, that's a good thing, I don't really like scary scary films and was initially only interested as this had Chris hemsworth. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Chris was great as always (although don't like the short hair) but the film was great regardless! It is very much a Josh Weedon film so if you like Buffy and Angel (just with more gore/jump scenes) then this is for you!
En kongelig affære (2012)
Emotional
I don't know what to say - I watched because I loved Mads Mikkelsen but the entire film was an emotional roller coaster
I didn't know the history so was completely unprepared for the ending! I will now be googling danish history!! Amazing film and really worth a watch
Cube Zero (2004)
Better than 2!
The first Cube film was unique in its premise. The second one was just a strange sci-fi adventure and lacking. This one was enjoyable enough. I liked the differing viewpoints and the hero Wynn but I wasn't so keen on the reactivated "superhuman" soldier. That was a step too far
If you liked the last two then def watch this!
Bedazzled (2000)
Have a glass of wine and enjoy
There are definitely better films - but this one has Elizabeth Hurley (ok so she cannot act but she looks hot throughout) but If you've had a few wines and you want an easy view then this is it! Easy going and generally ok