The Shining is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made (and has always been a firm favourite of mine). In 2013, Steven King (author of the original) wrote a sequel, and this is that adaptation. A sequel to the Kubrick masterpiece but still a film of it’s own, it’s a love letter to the original with enough scares and twists to stand alone.
Aardman have been responsible for some of the funniest and most British films of recent years. There aren’t many production studios that can take a minor character from another franchise, make a spin-off TV series from it, and then two feature films from that, and STILL maintain originality and freshness. However, with 'Farmageddon', they have managed to still do justice to that little sheep from ‘A Close Shave’.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day has long been one of my favourite films. Its action, its emotion and its CGI are all stunning for its age, and upon countless re-watches it still holds up as one of the greatest films ever made. The team behind Terminator: Dark Fate clearly noticed that, and decided to try duplicating that film. What’s left is a fairly enjoyable action flick with none of the flair of the originals.
The press running up to the release of Joker has been plagued with two stories. One is critical acclaim from festivals and reviews alike, claiming it to be the greatest film of the year. The other story is the fear that the film actively promotes violence, anti-social behaviour, toxic masculinity and sympathises with the criminally … Continue reading A Dark, Daring and Disturbing Descent into Madness (Joker review)
In 2019’s answer to the endless popularity of Space Exploration films, ‘Ad Astra’ presents a poetic narrative that wouldn’t be out of place in ‘2001’. In Brad Pitt’s second film of the year, he voyages away from 1969 and into the near distant future to tell a story of hope, determination and fatherhood.
In the third instalment of Hollywood’s most unlikely trilogy, Angel Has Fallen see’s Gerard Butler on the run after being framed for an assassination attempt on the president. While re-tracking old ground and a lot of common story troupes, Angel Has Fallen manages to defy the odds and creates a pretty compelling, if a little … Continue reading Explosive Entertainment (Angel has Fallen review)
SO, just like that, my blog has hit the major milestone of 200 posts! To celebrate this, I thought I’d write about my 200 favourite films. Then, like any sane person, I immediately decided I’d divide that number by 10 and stick to my top 20 instead. This, as always, is an ever-changing list, but … Continue reading My Top 20 Films (Special 200th Blog Post!)
From the producers of Sausage Party (Alarm Bells, I hated Sausage Party) comes Good Boys, another film where swearing constitutes 50% of the 'jokes'. In a day-spanning plot that is as weak as that for Grown Ups 2, three young kids get up to all sorts of 'hilarious' adult activities, including selling sex toys and buying drugs. Sometimes passable, mostly uncomfortable, it isn't great.
In the latest 2019 film based on some famous songs by a specific artist, 'Blinded by the Light' puts the struggles of 1980’s racial tension against a Bruce Springsteen soundtrack. The result is as disorientating as you’d expect, and while it delivers a sweetly uplifting story, it suffers from too many clichés and a lack of clear intention.
Quentin Tarantino is known for being a controversial filmmaker, who often divides critics and audiences alike. A true auteur of film, his latest flick is a love letter to the last moments of the golden age of Hollywood. While his fetishised view of the period is a thoroughly entertaining snapshot, the story leaves much to be desired.
