Daily Archives: December 25, 2015

Dec 25 2015

Movie Reviews 101 Midnight Horror – A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

logoDirector: Jee-woon Kim

Writer: Jee-woon Kim (Screenplay)

Starring: Kap-su Kim, Jung-ah Yum, Su-Jeong Lim, Geun-young Moon

Plot: A family is haunted by the tragedies of deaths within the family.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Suspense Filled Horror

Story: A Tale of Two Sisters starts with Soo-mi Bae in a hospital with a doctor trying to convince her to tell her story. We flashback to when sisters Soo-mi Bae (Lim) and Soo-yeon Bae (Moon) move to the country home owned by their father Moo-hyeon Bae (Kim) and their new stepmother Eun-joo Heo (Yum).

The two sisters don’t like their new stepmother and to make matters worse the two discover that they are being haunted by a spirit, but is the spirit guiding them to uncover a truth or does it have another motive?

A Tale of Two Sisters really makes you wonder what is going on because once the big reveal happens you are left wondering what just happened. Everything is very well created with the suspense building up through the early part of the film and returning to the high level by the end of the film. This story does need a re-watch because you will want to check out everything that is finally reveal.

Actor Review

Kap-su Kim: Moo-hyeon Bae is the father of the family who does seem to end up becoming pretty much a background character to the three female characters. I feel this character falls to the background too much to get a high enough rating.

Jung-ah Yum: Eun-joo Heo is the stepmother of the family who doesn’t seem to like the two girls, she has a past that is hidden but once it gets discovered we see hat she is capable off. I think she makes for a very good menacing performance throughout while looking very normal to her husband.

Su-Jeong Lim: Soo-mi Bae is the eldest of the sisters who always protects her younger sister from the new stepmother, she learns more about the stepmother’s past but has past that ends up helping with the final reveal. This is a good performance showing the fear and the caring side being used throughout.

Geun-young Moon: Soo-Yeon Bae is the younger sister who always looks at her big sister for protection, constantly following her around the house, we learn about why she is being haunted and needing help as the film unfolds. This is good performance that ends up have a big secret.

Support Cast: A Tale of Two Sisters really doesn’t have much of a supporting cast but the very few we have all do what they need to do.

Director Review: Jee-woon Kim – Jee-woon gives us a very good horror that will keep you guessing until the very end where you will be left wonder what did happen.

Horror: A Tale of Two Sisters has real horror moments when they happen that will shock you.

Mystery: A Tale of Two Sisters creates a mystery about what is happening and what is the secret behind the stepmother.

Thriller: A Tale of Two Sisters keeps you guessing to what will happen by the end of the film.

Settings: A Tale of Two Sisters keeps all the action of the film in an isolated country house which adds to the horror because the girls have no where to go or no one to see.
Special Effects: A Tale of Two Sisters uses the effects for the haunting which are the only need for them.

Suggestion: A Tale of Two Sisters is one for the horror fans to try which is don’t go and watch remake first. (Horror Fans Try)

Best Part: Girl at the end of the bed nightmare.

Worst Part: You will need to double check the twist.

Scariest Scene: Girl at the end of the bed.

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes

Tagline: Every family has its dark secrets.

Overall: Horror film that is filled with suspense filled scares but a final twist that makes you wonder what really happened.

Scorecard Ratingscard

Dec 25 2015

Cornetto Trilogy Christmas Weekend – Shaun of the Dead (2004)

shaun of deadDirector: Edgar Wright

Writer: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright (Screenplay)

Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Nicola Cunningham, Bill Nighy, Peter Serafinowicz

 

Plot: A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.


 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Just Not For Me

 

Story: Shaun of the Dead starts with Shaun (Pegg) whose girlfriend Liz (Ashfield) wants him to become more involved in the relationship but his flatmate Ed (Frost) is holding him back in a happy routine. Shaun works a dead end job and with the news of something happening around the Southern end of England.

When Liz breaks up with Shaun, Ed takes him out on a bender down the Winchester. The next morning zombies have taken over London and Shaun must work with Ed to save his nearest and dearest and take them down the Winchester until it all blows over.

Shaun of the Dead tackles a genre I personally love, the zombie movie with an added level of comedy which I don’t think comes off enough. I feel the jokes are very forced and take away any real feel of peril. On the zombie side of the story things all work well because we have seen it all before where the group look for somewhere to be safe, the additional side I did like was having it be everyday people who come off clueless to the idea of what is happening. I know this is most people’s favourite horror comedy but it just doesn’t work for me.

 

Actor Review

 

Simon Pegg: Shaun is a slacker working a dead end job and involved in a stale relationship with Liz, he lives with his best friend Ed who is holding him back. When he gets dumped he goes on a bender only to wake up in the middle of a zombie apocalypse where he must take charge and save his friends and family. Simon brings his style of comedy here which I am not a fan off but he does do well do make him look like an everyday man.

 shaun

Nick Frost: Ed is Shaun’s best friend who just sits around the flat playing video games, he is pretty much just a slob but he is there for Shaun whenever he needs help. He is always causing problem through the escape plan too. Nick does a good job playing the complete idiot through the film.

 ed

Kate Ashfield: Liz is the girlfriend of Shaun who wants him to grow up and gets to the stage where she dumps him, but when the zombie outbreak happens she ends up working with Shaun to survive. Kate does good job in this role coming off as the nagging girlfriend.

 

Lucy Davis: Dianne is the roommate of Liz who ends up joining them on the mission to try and survive. Her skills come in handy when it comes up against the zombies. Lucy does a good job in this role playing the strange member of the group.

 

Support Cast: Shaun of the Dead has your typical supporting cast for a zombie film with basic use that gives each one their moment.

 

Director Review: Edgar Wright – Edgar brings his style of film to us where it has become a favourite around the world and I understand why people love it but it’s not one of my favourite.

 

Comedy: Shaun of the Dead has laughs but I just don’t enjoy most of the jokes being used.

Horror: Shaun of the Dead doesn’t enter the world of horror enough with the attempted jokes.

Settings: Shaun of the Dead tries to make everything feel like it the zombie outbreak happened over night. This works for the film making everyone look like every day people.
Special Effects: Shaun of the Dead uses the special effects to create the zombie kills which all look very good.

Suggestion: Shaun of the Dead is one to try but I would expect most people have seen it already. (Try It)

 

Best Part: Can’t call them Zombies reference through the film.

Worst Part: Fart jokes.

 

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $13.5 Million

Budget: $4 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Minutes

Tagline: This September, aim for the head.

 

Overall: Solid Zombie Comedy that doesn’t do it for me.

Ratingcarrd

 

Dec 25 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

star warsDirector: J.J. Abrams

Writer: J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Arndt (Screenplay) George Lucas (Characters)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Max Von Sydow, Peter Mayhew

 

Plot: Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a rag-tag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: This is the Droid we were Looking For

 

Story: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens starts by giving us the information about the time between Return of the Jedi and now, 30 years have passed and Luke Skywalker (Hamill) has vanished while Princess Leia (Fisher) is trying to locate him to stop a new threat to the galaxy The First Order.

We meet brilliant fighter pilot Poe Dameron (Isaac) who is locating a map to Luke’s location which he entrusts to droid BB-8 before he gets captured. He gets rescued by Stormtrooper Finn (Boyega) who decides to go against the training he has received only to lose him after they crash land. Meanwhile we meet scavenger Rey (Ridley) who finds the BB-8 but also grabs the attention of the First Order lead by Kylo Ren (Driver).

Rey has to team up with Finn and the familiar faces of Han Solo (Ford) and Chewbacca (Mayhew) to take down the First Order and find Luke Skywalker before the galaxy is placed back into a dark era.

Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens brings us the story we were waiting for since the end of Return of the Jedi. We get to meet three leading characters that are fresh throughout but sadly I did feel the villain came off overly moany, not reaching the levels we had with Darth Vader. This has a great feel about it with the returning characters not taking over the story. My only disappointment with this is the slight loose ends about how everything came about being where it is when you thought everything was going to be peaceful after the end of Return of the Jedi.

 

 

Actor Review

 

Daisy Ridley: Rey is a scavenger that lives on the remote planet that BB-8 is from, she is waiting for her family to return and can handle herself in a fight. She is also able to fix anything with minimal tools at her disposal.  She has a connection to the force which gives her the reason to finally leave and stay away from her home planet where she even catches the eye of Han Solo as a potential successor to his Millennium Falcon. Daisy gives us a brilliant performance that could be the best leading character from an original Star Wars story.rey

John Boyega: Finn is the former Stormtrooper who was plunked from his family before being turned into a mindless Stormtrooper. He seems to relapse from his training where he wants to do the right thing which includes helping Rey and Poe against the First Order. John is great in this role as a character we wouldn’t have ever thought about seeing before.finn

Adam Driver: Kylo Ren is the leader of the First Order, he has the power of the force but not the presences of Vadar. He throws tantrums whenever things don’t go his way as he is still battling his good side with his dark side. Adam does a good job in this role even if I wasn’t the biggest fan of the character’s action.kylo

Oscar Isaac: Poe Dameron is the brilliant pilot tasked with finding Luke Skywalker, he is loyal to Leia and the leader in the battle. Oscar gives a good supporting performance as a character we would like to learn more about.poe

Harrison Ford: Han Solo returns to reclaim his ship but once on board he gets to finish his own personal battle that he has found himself running from for years. Harrison gives us a good performance returning to the levels we would expect.han

Support Cast: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens has a good supporting cast that include returning faces and fresh that all feel like they are part of the Star Wars world.

Director Review: J.J. Abrams – J.J. brings us the sequel needed to bring us back to the Star Wars world we love.

 

Action: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens gives us good action from start to finish be it chases, combat or light saber battles.

Adventure: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens gives us a great space adventure from start to finish.

Sci-Fi: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens brings us back to the galaxy far, far away a place that people call home.

Settings: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens each settings makes us feel like we are just back to where we were when Return of the Jedi finishes.
Special Effects: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens has brilliant special effects from start to finish that never look out of place in the universe.

Suggestion: Star Wars Episode 7 The Force Awakens is one for the fans of the original saga to all enjoy. (Watch)

 

Best Part: Having the guts to do what Avengers doesn’t.

Worst Part: Villain sometimes comes off moany.

Action Scene Of The Film: Attacking the First Order.

Funniest Scene: BB-8 and Finn arguing while Rey fixes the Falcon.

 

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: Has plenty lined up for the future.

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: Star Wars A New Hope

 

Oscar Chances: Could get a few technical awards.

Budget: $200 Million

Runtime: 2 Hours 7 Minutes

Tagline: Coming to your galaxy this winter.

Trivia: This film takes place 30 years after the Return of the Jedi. The film itself is released 32 years and 7 months after the previous film.

 

Overall: The sequel we all wanted that will make all the fans happy

Ratingcard

Dec 25 2015

2015 Watched List Part 44

Over the past year I have seen an incredible amount of films and I have decided to share with you all which ones I have seen in what order. I am going to be doing these in groups of ten, where I will pick my favourite of the bunch and the worst of the bunch.

 

So without further ramblings here we go with 441 – 450:

 

1.      The Condemned 2 condemned This is the unnecessary sequel to an average film, while it works as a basic action film it will end up being the worst film of this selection.

2.      Beasts of No Nation beast This film will end up on my best of 2015, it follows a young boy in an unnamed African country as he gets bought into the world of child soldier fighting against the enemy.

3.      The Manchurian Candidate candudaye This is the original with Frank Sinatra as we follow a placed assassin in the government plan to help pick out the next president. I personally see this as one that has dated.

4.      Crimson Peakpeak A gothic romantic horror film that will be the only one you will see all year long. A stand out film that does fall slightly short in the end.

5.      Let us Preyprey A horror film that lets the victims pay for their own sins in their own way. Slightly disappointing by the final outcome.

6.      The I Inside inside Time travel like film that puts one man stuck between two time periods as he has to figure out what is going on. This does have good concept but sometimes falls slightly short.

7.      Dawn of the Dead 2004 dead The zombie remake that brings a classic that brings the modern era of zombies into the classic story to be one of the most pulse pounding action horror movies of all time.

8.      Bang Bang Baby bang bang This sci-fi musical will end up being the only film like this you will see this year. We follow a small town girl who wants to make it big in the singing industry when he idol comes to town but not everything is what is seems.

9.      Splice splic How far can science go? That is the question that this film offers as we follow two scientists who create a ‘perfect’ hybrid to help defeat terminal illnesses.

10.  The Tunnel tunnel A found footage film that shows two survivors being interviewed about what is happen as the investigated a story in the underground tunnels of Australia.  

 

The Best – Beasts of No Nationbeast

 

The Worst – The Condemned 2condemned