Quick Review: Neither very scary, nor a guilty pleasure, "The Mummy" has a few flashy scenes throughout, but apart from that, and some solid CGI work that is too good for such a lame, insipid plot without any clever elements, this needless reboot is a contrived, shallow, and overly murky clutter with forced thrills that has no idea how to benefit from its two big name stars, and features a creature that is too hot in its human form to be fearsome, and too underused as a proper creepy mummy.
Friday, June 9, 2017
[5.00/10] The Mummy [3D] (2017)
The Mummy [3D] (2017)
Thursday, June 8, 2017
[6.50/10] The Exception (2017)
The Exception (2017)
Quick Review: Succeeding as both a spy thriller and forbidden romance between a German captain and a Dutch maid, this is a beautifully-shot piece with spot-on art direction that moves along at a slow, but steady pace, getting more gripping as the plot unfolds. "The Exception"s good intentions and warmhearted nature contrast drastically with its wartime setting, but that's exactly what sets it apart from most Nazi movies, plus, James and Courtney's hot chemistry charges the film sexually.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
[4.75/10] Free Fire (2017)
Free Fire (2017)
Quick Review: With a premise that implies mindless entertainment and effective gunfights a la Guy Ritchie, "Free Fire" lives up to its title, but sadly in a bad way -- let down by a script devoid of wit and imagination, taking place in a limited setting that gets boring too soon, and boasting with shootouts that are neither cool, nor thrilling, nor even fun to watch, this misfire of an action flick ends up being very sub-par in every aspect, apart from the good cast of UK and US actors involved in it.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
[5.75/10] Baywatch (2017)
Baywatch (2017)
Quick Review: Less cheesy than the TV show, but less enjoyable too, "Baywatch" offers much more than just watching fine-looking half-naked guys/girls running in slow-mo on the beach, adding some crime elements to its plot, and though in the end it all feels a bit far-fetched and over- the-top, the movie has just enough funny gags, crazy action, and likable characters to be watchable, in spite of the editing issues it suffers from, mostly thanks to the cool cast, and their eccentric chemistry.
Monday, June 5, 2017
[7.00/10] A Cure for Wellness (2017)
A Cure for Wellness (2017)
Quick Review: Providing just a few answers to the questions it raises in order to stimulate, but also playing as a metaphor for both overambition and overmedication in life, "A Cure for Wellness" is a bizarre journey of mysticism and paranoia that may be barely frightening, but it's heavy on suspense and atmosphere, thanks to Verbinski, who's aesthetic abilities turn this in one of the most striking-looking, dread-filled, uncanny horror films in recent memory that's visually and mentally hypnotizing.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
[5.50/10] War Machine (2017)
War Machine (2017)
Quick Review: Neither all that witty to be a proper satire, nor profound enough to be taken seriously as a fact-based war flick, "War Machine" struggles to find the perfect balance between important and comical as much as Pitt does to make up his mind whether he wants to portray a caricature, or an eccentric general. Yet, he still carries the movie along, being front and center, and bringing some sharpness of the very uneven story, at least till everything gets too serious towards the end.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
[9.00/10] Wonder Woman [3D] (2017)
Wonder Woman (2017)
Quick Review: Bold, kind-hearted, and witty, DC's first female-directed superhero flick screams 'girl power' in every frame, and is truly a wonder to behold -- neatly-plotted, polished in looks, crafted with tasteful sense of style by its creator, who executes the fight sequences in a stupendous manner, elevating them with swanky slow and fast motion effects, and led strongly by the utterly appealing Gal Gadot, "Wonder Woman" is a thrill ride of an origin story with heaps of action, humor, and soul.
[4.50/10] Dirty Dancing (2017)
Dirty Dancing (2017)
Quick Review: Not the worst movie ever made, but definitely one of the most redundant remakes, this ABC production ruins the '80s classic in a terrible way -- from the unimpressive dance routines, weak direction, poor editing, and inexpensive production design, the latter of which fails to capture the spirit of the era, to the awful choice of casting, with Breslin being physically unsuitable for the role, "Dirty Dancing gets it all wrong, apart from picking Scherzinger to show some great moves.
Friday, June 2, 2017
[6.25/10] Berlin Syndrome (2017)
Berlin Syndrome (2017)
Quick Review: Far more visceral than your average captive story, yet nothing you haven't watched before, "Berlin Syndrome" is a psychological thriller about obsession and sexual exploitation, which relies much more on its tone and atmosphere, than it does on throwing curveballs in order to get your attention, with the end result being a grim scenario, whose increasing suspense is sadly being ruined by the underwhelming finale. Palmer's spot-on performance adds value to the whole thing.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
[5.50/10] Lovesong (2017)
Lovesong (2017)
Quick Review: So Yong Kim brings this unusual love story between two long-time friends, and the credibility of it is off the scale, as they display their affection for one another in a very subdued and sensible way, and Keough and Malone work superbly in-sync, making this relationship feel as real as possible, but the overly simplistic take on this female version of "Moonlight", sluggish pacing, and moody direction make this one a bit hard to enjoy, in spite of its potential to be something special.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
[4.50/10] Claire in Motion (2017)
Claire in Motion (2017)
Quick Review: Though completely underwritten, the script does a good job at keeping things real and Betsy Brandt is as genuine as it can get in her role as the Maths teacher, who's struggling big time to overcome the sudden vanishing of her husband, but "Claire in Motion" offers nothing regarding all the mystery behind the 'missing person' premise, choosing to become an overly simplistic story with no real point of purpose, apart from showing the emotional state of its frail central character.
Monday, May 29, 2017
[6.00/10] Before I Fall (2017)
Before I Fall (2017)
Quick Review: Based on the 2010 novel of the same name, "Before I Fall" is far from the most engaging or creative stuck-in-a-time-loop flick ever created. Happily, though set in the same day over and over again, it doesn't feel too repetitive, thanks to its clever idea to make this day at least reasonably different each time, allowing its protagonist to make the best out of the loopy situation she's in. Speaking of her, Deutch delivers a tender lead performance, making the film fairly watchable.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
[4.75/10] Kidnap (2017)
Kidnap (2017)
Quick Review: Halle Bery is really unstoppable as the powerful mother, determined to bring her son back, in spite of all the struggles she is going through, but watching her chasing a car for nearly the entire running time gets pretty tiresome, even if the car chases themselves are intense, and technically well-shot, considering the movie's tiny budget. Worst of all, we never get to know the full motives for the kidnapping, and that, along with the utter predictability, makes it one very run-of-the-mill affair.
Saturday, May 27, 2017
[7.25/10] Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales [3D] (2017)
PotC: Dead Men Tell No Tales [3D] (2017)
Quick Review: It drags a bit in the middle, and most of the characters are outshined by Jack Sparrow, but making up for that with fresh humor, spooky villain, first-rate CGIs, flashy set pieces, and innovative directing choices, with the cool 'ghost sharks' scene, and the nifty finale being the highlights, "Dead Men Tell No Tales" is a harmless, wild, and adventurous caper of a sequel, which proves this fun franchise can still tell tales, and it is far from being dead.
Friday, May 26, 2017
[4.50/10] The Shack (2017)
The Shack (2017)
Quick Review: What starts off as a moderately gripping, if manipulative domestic drama about loss and grief takes a suddern turn after the first 40 minutes, becoming some sort of spiritual tale of faith that attempts to touch, uplift, and inspire, but playing it like one long church sermon, ends up being tiresome instead. Octavia Spencer does not take the role of God seroisuly, Worthington fails to carry the movie, and the CGI-heavy recreation of paradise ranges from gorgeous to cartoonish.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
[5.25/10] iBoy (2017)
iBoy (2017)
Quick Review: Both relevant and interesting, this Netflix original aims a new take on the superhero genre, and it suceeds to a certian extend, being pretty current in its approach, considering the obsession with hi- tech these days, having a relatable hero who's special powers control everything digital, and being visually passable for what it is, but "iBoy" falls victim of all the cliched involved in its script, dealing with romance, justice, and family drama, yet failing to balance them out well.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
[4.75/10] Table 19 (2017)
Table 19 (2017)
Quick Review: Considering all the comedic talent on screen, especially Anna Kendrik, who can do no wrong with her bubbly acting style, making this film watchable here and there, "Table 19" could have been tons of fun, indeed, but do to its uninspired script full of cliches and tired gags, it ends up being the worst table at the wedding party, playing as half rom- com, half overly talky we-are-losers sort of comedy, neither of which is amusing, or at least half as original as its premise suggests.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
[6.50/10] Gifted (2017)
Gifted (2017)
Quick Review: Too straightforward and by-the-numbers in its approach, Webb's latest is nothing we haven't seen before, and far from being as extraordinary as its clever heroine, who's charming looks and ingenious mind will instantly win you over, but happily "Gifted" turns out sincerely heartfelt, and often moving, without being way too manipulative or overly sentimental, thanks to the intelligent script, helped by the capable cast -- Evans delivers, and the little Grace is a true force of nature.
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