Neil-M09's Reviews

Dunkirk (2017)

7/10

I think its time for the Academy to give an Oscar to Nolan.

23 July 2017

I'll start with a general look, due to this movie show us a realistic view on a war, starts with a plus. The script was normal, being based on historical facts, it is not the classic Nolan movie with plot- twists, however, he knew how to keep the thrill and suspense of the scenes. Good cinematography and decent performances, considering a young cast where Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy obviously excelled, make this a very good film.

Now, Hans Zimmer's music always gives you goosebumps, we add the sound and film's editing, it makes the film an almost certain option to Oscar nominations, even sound mixing could be included. But the highlight was the direction of Nolan, in previous films had a cast of very popular actors, but this time made the most of some newcomers, even a teen idol, to take the biggest advantage and match the rest.

So far this year, Dunkirk has been the best, so it is a highly recommended option, not only for Nolan fans, but also for the cinephiles in general.

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Wonder Woman (2017)

7/10

Is not the masterpiece many claimed to be, but at least can entertain in various scenes

8 June 2017

So far this film is one of the most acceptable of DC. But there is something that seemed to little worked, the visual effects, at times like the scene of the Amazons fighting against the soldiers, was quite bad.

The Germans as bad guys was too cliché, I can barely think someone was surprised by this. Just like using the Lasso of Truth to trust a spy. While I don't consider it good to compare, it was inevitable to remember similarities with Captain America: The First Avenger.

But I won't deny The goosebumps i felt while Wonder Woman fought, while 'Is She With You?' was played (composed by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL). So, in overall, was fun, but not for watch over and over.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

6/10

The same formula as its prequels

28 May 2017

As for the script nothing new to say: Introduction, Jack Sparrow makes his great entrance, the British army chase him, more persecutions, comic moments, final fight. Very similar to its 4 predecessors.

The performances have been good but no surprises, the only strong point was the improvement in special effects. This saga with each new movie seems to lose emotion, only entertains for a while, but they still do not exceed the first 2 and I think they will not be able to do it.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

7/10

Entertaining, with revelations and amazing visual effects

3 May 2017

Like many Sci-Fi movies, they are entertaining, they have good fights and flashy characters. This sequel has all this.

This time the plot, unlike the first film, has a little more drama, with family problems in fact, from sisters' relationship from Gamora and Nebula, Star- Lord meeting his father and the emphasis of the father-child relationship that Yondu kept with Star-Lord when his mother die. Oriented in a simple way, good against evil, with much more comedy than the prequel.

Now what stands out are two things, the mixes nostalgia with old songs in a futuristic environment and the visual effects, making colorful places of the galaxy, space traveling, bubbles and beautiful fireworks are just a part of it. So, maybe not a masterpiece, but really entertaining and solid Sci-Fi movie, isn't the best of Marvel in my opinion, yet among the top.

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Power Rangers (2017)

6/10

Not bad as I thought it would be, the only problem is the script

31 March 2017

In all technical aspects, from sound to CGI, they were not bad, acceptable performances considering the young cast, the only thing that lowers the film's quality is the structure of the script. The fact that a movie has action in all the scenes does not make it good, on the contrary, it makes it monotonous, so it should have more dramatic scenes to make the thrilling ones more exciting.

To conclude, as part of the '90's generation that looked at the original version, isn't a bad movie, has entertaining moments and is good option to relax.

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Beauty and the Beast (I) (2017)

5/10

The best thing about the movie are the costumes and listening Ewan McGregor sing again, after 16 years

19 March 2017

These 2 things besides Emma Thompson are the only good things. The rest of the movie is, if I remember well, identical to the animated version, but with less charm.

The performance of Emma Watson is a bit bad, at the level of those performances in children's birthday. Luke Evans as Gaston is lousy, has no other adjective and the way Josh Gad as LeFou play a gay character is too cliché.

The rest is CGI and bad funny scenes. Conclusion...go to see it, only if you are invited and someone pay your ticket.

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Kong: Skull Island (2017)

6/10

An entertaining and thrilling movie in several scenes, and a promising ending

10 March 2017

It isn't like the classic version of King Kong, it is only focused on action, there is no city, much less the Empire State, only an unexplored island. Captain James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) is hired as a guide for the expedition, as well as Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackaon) and his platoon, photographer Mason Weaver (Brie Larson) and other members to join the expedition. A few minutes from being in air territory, the helicopters are shot down by King Kong and the survival of the characters begins. In the course of history will be revealed the true intentions of certain members of the expedition causing more setbacks. Despite this they find another ally, Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly), a pilot lost for years who survived within the tribe of the island.

Considering that the cast contains an acclaimed British actor, an Oscar winner actress and two actors nominated to the same, I must say that in terms of performance was just acceptable but not beyond that. The script has as pro, to be divided in several events due to the separation of the expedition but not beyond this, the rest will be to escape of the island and to survive the beasts inside the same.

As a recommendation, wait for the credits, where it is shown that this movie is just the prelude to a bigger project.

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John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

8/10

This is the way to make a good movie sequel

22 February 2017

Warning: Spoilers

In the first film, remembering, John Wick seeks revenge on the son of his former boss after he will kill his dog and steal his car, facing the Russian mafia in between. The movie begins in the search of the car where the first one ends.

After this, it is visited by an Italian crime lord that allowed John to retire and marry Helen, as part of a contract symbolized by a 'blood oath' medallion, seeking to John's service as a payback, but he refuses and the crime lord destroy the house. After a conversation with the owner of the Continental hotel reminds him that if he doesn't accepts he would be breaking the rules of The underworld society. Then John accepts.

This movie has improved the choreographed fights, also improve the action scenes with more persecutions, shooting in mirrored and public places. I should also mention that they kept what I liked the most of the first movie, weapon reloading, unlike other action movies that seem to have the infinite ammo skill from the video games. So for those who liked the first film, I doubt they will be disappointed with this sequel and it is also highly recommended for fans of action and thriller films.

Final rating: 7.6 (8), also gives an exciting ending.

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Moonlight (I) (2016)

9/10

This is one of the best LGBT themed movies I saw.

9 February 2017

Warning: Spoilers

Sadly, LGBT cinema is pretty bad, mostly because almost all of these movies have clichés or depressive endings or sometimes even worse, the idea of 'stay in the closet for less suffering'...but this movie fill all my expectations of what I was looking in the genre.

The story is solid, focusing on three parts: childhood, adolescence and adulthood. In childhood the protagonist, Chiron, has to suffer the discrimination in a neighborhood where the drugs are usual, here meets Juan (Mahershala Ali) after hiding from bullies. Later in Juan's home, he and his girlfriend Teresa (Janelle Monáe), decide to dinner with the boy and after a bit of chatting they realizes that his mother (Naomie Harris) don't take care of her son, and also Chiron asks about sex orientation. Then in adolescence, Chiron continues dealing with thugs, but having a close friend with whom has his first experience. In his adulthood, Chiron (Trevante Rhodes) have to deal with his mother and for last he receives a call from his friend Kevin (André Holland). This sumarize doesn't has major spoiler.

The acting performances was really good, from the young actors, then from Rhodes and Holland, also Monáe. Harris' performance was good too but reminds me a bit of the Mo'Nique' performance in Precious...For last, the acclaimed performance of Ali, in my opinion is over- hyped by the critics, despite he gives a good performance, only appears in the first part, having two good scenes.

To ends this review, the movie is really good in acting performances, dramatic without being forced. Good in direction and editing, also for adapting the screenplay, deserving of their Oscar's nominations. So if you want LGBT movie with a different end and a touch of realism, this is a must see, but be warned, at moments the film goes slow, despite this, is one of the best of 2016 and a strong Oscar contendeer. I just hoping the Academy to be neutral.

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La La Land (2016)

7/10

If this movie wins 'Best actor in Leading role', rather than a tribute it's gonna be a mockery to Gene Kelly and old Hollywood.

22 January 2017

First of all, I like musical films, but this was supposed to be a tribute to the greatest musical performers in old Hollywood (Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, etc.). It was a lie, because it was a cliché love story of a young couple, Sebastian and Mia.

The script's structure isn't great neither, narrated by seasons. The characters, Mia (Emma Stone) an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) a man who wants to make Jazz popular again. The rest of the characters are just there, lost in the script, doesn't matter if they exist. And the end is like the supporting characters too, is like those quickly ending scenes where the movie doesn't feel complete.

Now I'll be honest, Emma does her best and gives an acceptable performance, but Ryan can barely sing and is worse when he dances, no coordination with Emma and graceless dance steps disguised by the sound department with tap sounds. The musical numbers are forgettable too, 'City of Stars' is good but no great and the old Hollywood tribute is just a Casablanca's window, Rebel Without a Cause, some posters and dance steps, good joke for publicize the movie.

Despite all these, the good things in the movie, the sound editing and mixing. The art direction gives this film different places with urban atmosphere, and the costume design and make-up/hairstyling department also contribute to make the story something that everyone can feel identified.

Maybe is for all this the success, but can't match on to classics like Singing in the Rain, An American in Paris, Sound of Music and more. For conclude, if you like musicals, you can enjoy the film, if you want to revive the old Hollywood charm, searchs other movie.

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Hands of Stone (2016)

7/10

Better than Metacritic says, very accurate to the IMDb score...

15 January 2017

For a biographical movie is good, mainly because, unlike to others in this genre, the actors speaks in the languages of the real people they portraits. But for a boxing movie, at times fails with the romantic drama scenes but mainly for the over egocentric personality of the main character, Roberto Durán. Also the script doesn't show the public enough matches. The highlights of the film, obviously, is Edgar Ramirez performance, but in my opinion, gives me a mixed perspective...in one hand, a confident and charismatic Durán, in the other hand, sadly, a man who blames his father for leaving his family and uses that as an excuse for his hate to U.S.A. is kinda annoying, also he thinks he's unstoppable even with his coach, Ray Arcel, played by Robert de Niro. Despite all this, the simple script is saved by some aspects. One is the costume design, because the movie occurs in many years, and the clothes tells us the time In which the characters live. The good technical aspects, like photography, sound mixing and editing, and film editing too, gives the film a better look. In overall, this movie is better enjoyed if you seek a mix between sports, drama and romance but not at its best.

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Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

3/10

If you don't like the Underworld saga, avoid it

10 December 2016

Kate Beckinsale as Selene, like the previous movies, is the best of the film. Theo James as David has an important role due to revelations of his past, the rest of the cast was OK, they give us a female antagonist blinded by ambition, vampires and lycans' confrontations as previous releases and the usual Selene vs. armies. The major problem with this movie was the linear script, doesn't surprises at all, the trailers show us the few highlights of the movie, leaving the public with Selene's flashbacks, betrayals and characters' discussions for their own ideals and perspectives. I tried to liked more, ignoring this flaw, but the direction was below the average too and considering the year, the CGI is bad, without much progress since the last film combined with acceptable soundtracks with sound mixing and editing as the only strong point, the movie is bad in almost every aspect. So, if you're an avid Underworld fan go to see it the contrary avoid it or wait until the movie appears on TV or Netflix.

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