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billyfriar97
Reviews
The Dark Knight (2008)
One of the greatest crime films ever made.
This is not a superhero film, this is a crime film which happens to have Batman in it. One of the best opening scenes in cinema history gives us the perfect introduction to the Joker, and from then on the brilliant story unfolds beautifully. The use of practical effects in this film makes it feel so realistic. There is no crappy CGI like in Justice League or BvS which serves to take you out of the worlds in which the films are based. The whole cast is is superb, with Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker completely unforgettable. I'll be stunned if any superhero film ever tops this masterpiece.
Inception (2010)
One of the greatest films ever made
Christopher Nolan is the type of director, and this is the type of film, that should be celebrated. Inception is one of the most original films of the last 20 years. The all-star cast is brilliant, led by an astonishing DiCaprio, with Tom Hardy also particularly brilliant. The action scenes are superb, the cinematography and special effects are incredible, and the sheer ambition and scale of what is put on screen is truly phenominal. This is a true achievement from Christopher Nolan.
Fantastic Four (2015)
Laughably bad
This movie made the the 2005 version and its sequel look like Inception! I have rarely seen such appalling acting, terrible writing and poor storytelling all wrapped into one movie. Miles Teller, promising in Whiplash, was painful to watch and yet he still managed to be one of the better performers in this poor excuse for a movie.
We essentially see an origins story for 1 hour 25 minutes and then a 5 minute 'fight' at the end. Dr Doom was portrayed pretty terribly, not helped by the fact that we didn't see him until the movie had just 14 minutes to go. Compared to its two predecessors, which were charming, entertaining and humorous (albeit not perfect), this movie falls way, way short of every mark.
Don't see it!
Hush (2016)
Good idea, poor execution.
This movie attempted to put a spin on the 'home invasion' movie type by making the protagonist both deaf and mute. Unfortunately, this idea was not executed well as the movie was filled with genre clichés and holes. Firstly, there was no explanation of why the intruder wanted to kill which made the story feel incomplete. Secondly, the intruder reveals himself far too early and simply put he really just isn't that intimidating. Thirdly, both intruder and victim make stupid decisions which really undermines the tension and suspense of the movie. It started off pretty strongly but the tension evaporated pretty quickly and ultimately it was disappointing.
A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)
Disappointing.
An enjoyable watch but ultimately it falls way short of the mark. My hopes were high for this series but unfortunately I was left pretty disappointed. The acting is pretty stale and there just isn't a big enough sense of mystery or despair to really capture your attention as a watcher. Neil Patrick Harris' portrayal of Count Olaf isn't exactly bad but it doesn't capture all of the elements of Olaf's character. Violet is portrayed quite well but the actor who plays Klaus is pretty dry and it just doesn't feel right. Its great to finally have a TV series of these books but the sets are too bright and colourful to create the sense of sadness that was rife in the books. Overall, not a bad attempt but it does feel like a bit of a let down.