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Monday, November 28, 2016

[6.50/10] Elle (2016)

Elle (2016)

Quick Review: Plain in execution, yet clever in concept, Verhoeven's latest is as much a character study as it is a dark and twisted revenge thriller, and though its sluggish, at times painfully slow pacing may be a bit challenging for most viewers, the outcome is rather rewarding, mostly thanks to the movie's mesmerizing tone and Isabelle Huppert's amazing lead performance. "Elle" is also very sexually charged, and naughty by nature, which adds a bit of an edge to this enigmatic drama.

Friday, November 25, 2016

[8.00/10] Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Quick Review: Bold, adventurous, amusing, emotionally resonant, and nothing short of astonishing to look at, "Kubo and the Two Strings" is yet another diamond in LAIKA's crown that will stagger you big time with its richly detailed and truly breathtaking stop-motion 3D graphics, as well as move you with its lovable characters and heartfelt story that is as much emotional as it is gripping, having a dark side to itself. The fight scenes are outstanding as well.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

[4.25/10] Keanu (2016)

Keanu (2016)

Quick Review: Okay, so the cat is cute... maybe too cute, and some of the jokes work to a certain extend, bringing a few laughs along the way, but nothing else works well enough for "Keanu" to be able to stand out as memorably funny crime comedy, as from the ridiculous premise, and nonsensical plot to the poor action, and over-the-top acting, everything about this film is mediocre at best, and not even the decent chemistry between Key and Peele can save it from the failure that it is.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

[6.50/10] The Meddler (2016)

The Meddler (2016)

Quick Review: So, watching a fifty-something wealthy widow enjoying her care-free life may sound like a not that great experience on paper, but much like its protagonist, played just wonderfully by Sarandon, "The Meddler" is so full of charm, and has such a tender, lighthearted nature, you cannot help but fall for it, and though it's not necessarily hilarious, it has that refined sense of humor that will make you smile quite often. The feisty family dynamics give it a bit of a necessary edge.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

[5.75/10] Bridget Jones's Baby (2016)

Bridget Jones's Baby (2016)

Quick Review: Bridget herself is a charming, sweet, funny, and lovable protagonist, and Zellweger was born for that role, giving another amusing lead performance, but although this second sequel has its true moments of laughter, the whole thing appears thoroughly contrived, and lacking in originality, unfolding around a love triangle we've seen numerous times before, and better. Dempsey seems fresh, but Firth is uncomfortable and completely out of place.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

[7.50/10] Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them [3D] (2016)

Fantastic Beasts (2016)

Quick Review: Having a whimsical "Harry Potter"-esque feel written all over it, "Fantastic Beasts" might be better in its lighthearted parts than in its dark ones, but it never fails to put a spell on the audience with its wildly imaginative visuals, featuring one of the most delightfully creative creatures ever designed, and a top- notch CGI work, enhanced by some eye-popping 3D that combined turn it into a real feast for the eyes. Also, Redmayne fits just fantastically into the magical environment.

Friday, November 18, 2016

[8.25/10] Arrival (2016)

Arrival (2016)

Quick Review: Arguably the most intelligent alien-related sci-fier since "Contact", "Arrival" is a fine blend of style and substance. With its deeply provoking script built on suspense, perplexity and subtle shocks, as well as the elegant visuals, consisting of impressive shots, realistic CGIs, and eye-pleasing, dim color palette, this is a cerebral, and emotive piece of work that is all about the importance of communication, alien or not. Amy Adams is the one to watch here, as she is truly phenomenal.

Monday, November 14, 2016

[4.50/10] I.T. (2016)

I.T. (2016)

Quick Review: Sure, it hints at how fearfully manipulative contemporary technology really is nowadays, and Pierce Brosnan's powerful charisma drives the whole movie, and makes it watchable every time he appears on the screen, but then again "I.T." is so generic, and horribly formulaic with its ho-hum story about an IT specialist becoming obsessed with his boss's daughter that the whole thing gets too uninvolving too soon. The lack of thrills, and twists bring this thriller further down.

Friday, November 11, 2016

[6.25/10] Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

Quick Review: Far from terrifying, yet truly malevolent and thoroughly effective, "Ouija: Origin of Evil" is an unexpectedly immense improvement over its trite, and horribly-conceived predecessor succeeding not only as a polished genre blend of haunted house, period piece and possession flick, but also dramatically, thanks to the more thoughtful story, and the strong performances from its young stars. It's the ominous atmosphere, which Flagman creates that makes us forgive all the cliches.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

[8.75/10] Doctor Strange [3D] (2016)

Doctor Strange [3D] (2016)

Quick Review: Revolving around mythical powers, astral worlds, and mirror dimensions, Marvel's latest is tons of fun, even if its origin story is slightly by-the-numbers. But what it lacks in originality, the film definitely makes up for in terms of looks with its kaleidoscopic visuals, out-of-this- world CGIs, and stupendous action. Though at times it offers more than eyes can take, "Doctor Strange" is strangely fantastic, and yet another dazzling entry in MCU. Cumberbatch owns the title character!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

[6.25/10] Under the Shadow (2016)

Under the Shadow (2016)

Quick Review: Set in gritty 1980s Teheran during 'War of the Cities', this Iranian 'two way' horror has a realistically eerie atmosphere about itself, showcasing on one hand the terror of war, but also having a cool supernatural twist that enhances the intensity throughout the story. That being said, "Under the Shadow" is a proper slow burner that successfully builds suspense right until the final act, which is a let down in terms of both scares and impact. The acting is phenomenal, though.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

[5.50/10] Blair Witch (2016)

Blair Witch (2016)

Quick Review: A lot better than the dreadful "Book of Shadows", yet far from being as effective as the cult original was seventeen years ago, this 'official' sequel mostly consists of overly shaky hand-held camera work, quick zooms, loads of cheap scares, and flat characters running and screaming like insane through the dark woods, or in other words -- 'more of the same', however, in the final act, "Blair Witch" delivers some solid chills by giving us glimpses at the ghastly-looking witch.