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TST Film Review Thread
- Thread starter D4n
- Start date
Andrew
TS Contributor
josht said:
Well, you can thank good old Widnes for that.
Machete Kills
I didn't really know what to expect from this but it was quite entertaining because of how hilariously bad it was. I couldn't decide if it was meant to be this way or not. The film did have some really funny moments and it was made better by the fact that there were 8 people in the cinema (myself and 7 people I went with).
4/10
Jonathan
TS Member
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Pulp Fiction
So, I finally got around to seeing Pulp Fiction the other week, and this was my reaction.
It's a good film, don't get me wrong, but the whole non-linear narrative thing really confused me on the first viewing. I'll definitely be watching it again to try and make some sense of it all, and so I can actually give it a rating!
The History Boys
I was first introduced to this on a school trip to see the play in September 2007. I can't remember much of the play itself, but it was enjoyable, although a bizarre thing to take a bunch of about ten teenagers between 14 and 16 to see. I then saw the film, and it made so much more sense. I found the DVD in work for £3 earlier, and therefore bought it to watch it again. Brilliant film. Alan Bennett's original play, reworked for the screen, is just great. It's a difficult film to review in just a few words, but it's one you should watch a few times to try and understand what it's about. 9/10
So, I finally got around to seeing Pulp Fiction the other week, and this was my reaction.
It's a good film, don't get me wrong, but the whole non-linear narrative thing really confused me on the first viewing. I'll definitely be watching it again to try and make some sense of it all, and so I can actually give it a rating!
The History Boys
I was first introduced to this on a school trip to see the play in September 2007. I can't remember much of the play itself, but it was enjoyable, although a bizarre thing to take a bunch of about ten teenagers between 14 and 16 to see. I then saw the film, and it made so much more sense. I found the DVD in work for £3 earlier, and therefore bought it to watch it again. Brilliant film. Alan Bennett's original play, reworked for the screen, is just great. It's a difficult film to review in just a few words, but it's one you should watch a few times to try and understand what it's about. 9/10
Tarin Maria
TS Member
Eyes Without A Face
I finally got around to watching this, and I was not disappointed. As a black and white film, released in 1959, there were definitely limitations with make up and special effects. And when a film is about a doctor removing girls' faces and transplanting them onto his daughter's (whose was destroyed in a car crash) special effects and make up are important. However, what they couldn't do, they got around very easily, and it made very little difference to the overall film. It was beautifully shot, with clever uses of focusing (or, more appropriately, not focusing). The acting was superb, with the best performances coming from the father and daughter. It was an odd film, very unsettling, but it made an hour and a half seem like twenty minutes. The score only added to the suspense and disturbing nature.
A seriously beautiful film. Though a pain to get hold of with English subs.
9/10
I finally got around to watching this, and I was not disappointed. As a black and white film, released in 1959, there were definitely limitations with make up and special effects. And when a film is about a doctor removing girls' faces and transplanting them onto his daughter's (whose was destroyed in a car crash) special effects and make up are important. However, what they couldn't do, they got around very easily, and it made very little difference to the overall film. It was beautifully shot, with clever uses of focusing (or, more appropriately, not focusing). The acting was superb, with the best performances coming from the father and daughter. It was an odd film, very unsettling, but it made an hour and a half seem like twenty minutes. The score only added to the suspense and disturbing nature.
A seriously beautiful film. Though a pain to get hold of with English subs.
9/10
Martin
TS Member
Cannibal Holocaust
The film so gruesome and realistic the director was arrested on suspicion of murdering the cast. The original modern found footage film. Absolutely horrific, but utterly enthralling and a great criticism of our so called 'civilisation'. Although to be honest some of the acting left me unconvinced. 9/10
Salo: Or, 120 Days Of Sodom
Another film that makes A Serbian Film look like Shrek, two hours of unrelenting sexual perversion. Grim. So grim. Somehow though, it doesn't feel forced or gratuitous. Maybe because I share the director's strong anti-fascist stance, and aren't at all surprised at the thought of a fascist politician having a sodomising for young boys doesn't really surprise me, especially in these days of Operation Yewtree. Any way, really worth a watch if you can stomach it. 9/10
The film so gruesome and realistic the director was arrested on suspicion of murdering the cast. The original modern found footage film. Absolutely horrific, but utterly enthralling and a great criticism of our so called 'civilisation'. Although to be honest some of the acting left me unconvinced. 9/10
Salo: Or, 120 Days Of Sodom
Another film that makes A Serbian Film look like Shrek, two hours of unrelenting sexual perversion. Grim. So grim. Somehow though, it doesn't feel forced or gratuitous. Maybe because I share the director's strong anti-fascist stance, and aren't at all surprised at the thought of a fascist politician having a sodomising for young boys doesn't really surprise me, especially in these days of Operation Yewtree. Any way, really worth a watch if you can stomach it. 9/10
Tarin Maria
TS Member
Blaze said:
We're gonna disagree on this, I thought Salo was an utterly dire waste of my time. None of it made my stomach turn, the prosthetics were so fake, I didn't believe any of it. I'd watch A Serbian Film with its far more hidden messages over this any day. I'd recommend AntiChrist if you're looking for something artistic that'll make you cringe.
Also, how did you find Cannibal Holocaust knowing they'd killed nine animals, eight in front of the camera? I'm wondering if I'll be able to deal with that whilst watching the film, its one of the reasons I haven't watched it yet.
Martin
TS Member
True, the fake genitals were hilariously bad.
As for Cannibal Holocaust, the animal scenes were massively uncomfortable. Particularly the muskrat and turtle. They're very graphic and unlike when the actors are 'killed' the cameras don't glitch so you get to see everything. Especially the turtle scene where they cut off its limbs, shell and inards. It's pretty difficult to watch, especially as they easily could have faked it without losing believability. Either kill no animals out of morality or kill the actors as well for the 'art'. By all accounts the director was a massive sadist so it wouldn't have surprised me if he had gone that far.
As for Cannibal Holocaust, the animal scenes were massively uncomfortable. Particularly the muskrat and turtle. They're very graphic and unlike when the actors are 'killed' the cameras don't glitch so you get to see everything. Especially the turtle scene where they cut off its limbs, shell and inards. It's pretty difficult to watch, especially as they easily could have faked it without losing believability. Either kill no animals out of morality or kill the actors as well for the 'art'. By all accounts the director was a massive sadist so it wouldn't have surprised me if he had gone that far.
Tarin Maria
TS Member
Gravity
This was an odd one, I was half expecting it to be really dull for the first forty five minutes. The action was almost immediate, and it dragged only slightly. However, this film, quite like World War Z, was more focused on the effects they could do, rather than story line or character development.
A beautiful film, but little in the way of character development
6.5/10
This was an odd one, I was half expecting it to be really dull for the first forty five minutes. The action was almost immediate, and it dragged only slightly. However, this film, quite like World War Z, was more focused on the effects they could do, rather than story line or character development.
A beautiful film, but little in the way of character development
6.5/10
Danza91
TS Member
This was me during Gravity. Might contain mild spoilers.
Great film.
I was hooked from the start to finish. The cinematography was incredible. The way it was shot was perfect, I was expecting shaky cam throughout but I'm so thankful it was shot to make you feel you were there. The plot is simple, but it worked because you knew no more than Bullock did. As a result, I felt completely immersed. There may not be tonnes of character development either, but it isn't necessary for a film like this, it's about being thrown into a situation and putting the audience in it, much like 127 Hours.
I'm very anti-3D, but I thought the 3D was well done. It was subtle and just added depth which is all it needed to do.
My only slight moan is the soundtrack, I think it would have been more powerful without it.
I'm very anti-3D, but I thought the 3D was well done. It was subtle and just added depth which is all it needed to do.
My only slight moan is the soundtrack, I think it would have been more powerful without it.
Great film.
Tarin Maria
TS Member
Melancholie der Engel
So, during my 'most disturbing films' research, I was told about this little art/splatter. A lot of the reviews were quite damning. But after hearing all the controversies, I had to build myself up to watching it. I finally got the courage, and found a copy with English subs (and, that would seem, is almost impossible if you buy the DVD, so just download it).
Okay, this film is not at all for the faint of heart. Its two and a half hours of torture, corprophilia, urolagnia, rape and animal cruelty. I mean real animal cruelty. However, the poetic language throughout, and beautiful camera work, made this film watchable. The film has a small message, but like many of these extreme films, you'd have to watch it a few times to truly understand (and I don't think I could watch it again... ever). The acting was pretty decent throughout, but the film was entirely too long, clocking just over two and a half hours, it occasionally got boring.
A shocking film, grueling; however, sometimes boring.
6/10
So, during my 'most disturbing films' research, I was told about this little art/splatter. A lot of the reviews were quite damning. But after hearing all the controversies, I had to build myself up to watching it. I finally got the courage, and found a copy with English subs (and, that would seem, is almost impossible if you buy the DVD, so just download it).
Okay, this film is not at all for the faint of heart. Its two and a half hours of torture, corprophilia, urolagnia, rape and animal cruelty. I mean real animal cruelty. However, the poetic language throughout, and beautiful camera work, made this film watchable. The film has a small message, but like many of these extreme films, you'd have to watch it a few times to truly understand (and I don't think I could watch it again... ever). The acting was pretty decent throughout, but the film was entirely too long, clocking just over two and a half hours, it occasionally got boring.
A shocking film, grueling; however, sometimes boring.
6/10
Also, some details of animal cruelty, they kill a cat, a worm, behead a dead rabbit, gut a pig and squash a few insects and lizards. These are all supposed to be real.
Jonathan
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Helix <3
Million Dollar Baby
I was first introduced to this film in RE in school (don't ask), and I didn't see it in full until a few weeks ago. I wasn't disappointed - it's really good. I can understand why it won those four Oscars, particularly Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald, the film's protagonist. The final third-ish of the film is unexpected on a first viewing, and the ending is rather tragic, but it all adds to the film. It gets a 9.5/10 from me.
Pan's Labyrinth
One of the best films I've ever seen. I studied this for my Spanish A Level in quite a bit of depth, and I loved it. I've sometimes found that when you study something in great detail, all the fun gets sucked out of it - I found this with poetry in GCSE English. Not with Pan's Labyrinth. If anything, it made me love it even more. 10/10 from me.
María Full of Grace
Another film I studied in Spanish. It tells of a Colombian girl who risks her life and that of her unborn baby by swallowing condoms filled with cocaine and flying to New York in order to gain money to help her rather selfish family. I've got it on Blu-Ray to watch again - but currently nothing to play it on, as I'm waiting for Game to send out my PS4. Anyway, I give it a 9/10
The Shawshank Redemption
Frequently quoted as one of the greatest films ever made, I was expecting great things from it. I wasn't disappointed. It's good, with a rating of 9/10 from me, but it's by no means my favourite. That honour belongs to the next film in this list.
The Green Mile
Brilliant. Truly brilliant. Emotionally harrowing in places, with some of the most disturbing scenes I've seen in film, and a true tearjerker when it comes to John Coffey's execution. I still have no idea how the late Michael Clarke Duncan didn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as John Coffey. He really stole the show, although the other roles were very well acted, too. 10/10
I was first introduced to this film in RE in school (don't ask), and I didn't see it in full until a few weeks ago. I wasn't disappointed - it's really good. I can understand why it won those four Oscars, particularly Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald, the film's protagonist. The final third-ish of the film is unexpected on a first viewing, and the ending is rather tragic, but it all adds to the film. It gets a 9.5/10 from me.
Pan's Labyrinth
One of the best films I've ever seen. I studied this for my Spanish A Level in quite a bit of depth, and I loved it. I've sometimes found that when you study something in great detail, all the fun gets sucked out of it - I found this with poetry in GCSE English. Not with Pan's Labyrinth. If anything, it made me love it even more. 10/10 from me.
María Full of Grace
Another film I studied in Spanish. It tells of a Colombian girl who risks her life and that of her unborn baby by swallowing condoms filled with cocaine and flying to New York in order to gain money to help her rather selfish family. I've got it on Blu-Ray to watch again - but currently nothing to play it on, as I'm waiting for Game to send out my PS4.
Anyway, I give it a 9/10The Shawshank Redemption
Frequently quoted as one of the greatest films ever made, I was expecting great things from it. I wasn't disappointed. It's good, with a rating of 9/10 from me, but it's by no means my favourite. That honour belongs to the next film in this list.
The Green Mile
Brilliant. Truly brilliant. Emotionally harrowing in places, with some of the most disturbing scenes I've seen in film, and a true tearjerker when it comes to John Coffey's execution. I still have no idea how the late Michael Clarke Duncan didn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as John Coffey. He really stole the show, although the other roles were very well acted, too. 10/10
DiogoJ42
TS Member
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- The Metropolitan Line
I think I may have just watched one of the greatest films ever made that you've never heard of. Benedict has introduced me to "Doomsday".
There are no (or at least, very few) words to discribe it. "Post zombie apocalyse (without featuring the zombies themselves)" would be one way to say it. "Bloody awesome" would be another. It strikes the perfect balance between dark, kick-arse, funny, and gripping... And It's British! Several big name actors feature in supporting roles, including Malcom McDowell, Bob Hoskins, and the guy who played Baltar in BSG, while the lead actress is someone I hadn't seen before, but my god, she's good!
I don't think I can do it justice beyond that. Just... WATCH IT. Preferably in the early hours of the morning, after a few drinks.
I'm not one to rank films, but first impresions would definately put in my top ten, if I had one. Certainly better than the [personal opinion] over-rated 28 Days Later.
There are no (or at least, very few) words to discribe it. "Post zombie apocalyse (without featuring the zombies themselves)" would be one way to say it. "Bloody awesome" would be another. It strikes the perfect balance between dark, kick-arse, funny, and gripping... And It's British! Several big name actors feature in supporting roles, including Malcom McDowell, Bob Hoskins, and the guy who played Baltar in BSG, while the lead actress is someone I hadn't seen before, but my god, she's good!
I don't think I can do it justice beyond that. Just... WATCH IT. Preferably in the early hours of the morning, after a few drinks.
I'm not one to rank films, but first impresions would definately put in my top ten, if I had one. Certainly better than the [personal opinion] over-rated 28 Days Later.
Tarin Maria
TS Member
Paranormal Activity - The Marked Ones
First off, a brand we all know, and a series we love to hate. Unfortunately the director of the original film realised that, and decided to delay the fifth film to make some much needed improvements. Now I can no longer love to hate these films, as the fifth installment really does attempt, and fairly successfully, to take the story to another level. However, with all the films, it starts very slow, when it eventually picks up (halfway through the film) it really picks up. With big and often unpredictable scares, and attention to smaller details in the plot, it makes the changes this franchise needed for the third film.
*SPOILER ALERT*
I'd advise anyone planning on seeing this to re-watch all four films and then see it, so the film has an even bigger impact.
Jumpy and clever, back to the brilliance of the first.
7.5/10
First off, a brand we all know, and a series we love to hate. Unfortunately the director of the original film realised that, and decided to delay the fifth film to make some much needed improvements. Now I can no longer love to hate these films, as the fifth installment really does attempt, and fairly successfully, to take the story to another level. However, with all the films, it starts very slow, when it eventually picks up (halfway through the film) it really picks up. With big and often unpredictable scares, and attention to smaller details in the plot, it makes the changes this franchise needed for the third film.
*SPOILER ALERT*
The best part of this film is how it links into the first four, use of locations, characters, and even full scenes make this film fit in with the others, albeit the difference is incredible. Keep an eye out and watch for significant locations and characters, such as the daughter from film two and the grandma's house from film three.
I'd advise anyone planning on seeing this to re-watch all four films and then see it, so the film has an even bigger impact.
Jumpy and clever, back to the brilliance of the first.
7.5/10
Jonathan
TS Member
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The Great Gatsby
I finally got around to watching this after getting it on Blu-Ray for Christmas. I kept on meaning to watch it at the cinema, but I never got around to it. It was definitely worth the wait. The glitz and glamour was as good as I expected it to be, and Leonardo DiCaprio was the perfect choice for Jay Gatsby. I couldn't picture anybody else playing him. In general, the casting was pretty good. A slight oddity was using Nick Carraway's (Tobey Maguire) alcoholism and the sanatorium as a framing device for the film, but it helped to tie things together a bit. The novel left a question as to why Carraway (the voice of the novel) had written it, but Baz Luhrmann (the director) decided to have one of the psychiatrists at the sanatorium suggest to Carraway that he write down his experiences of Gatsby in order to try and explain it and to help him cope. It was a bit odd, but it worked, and I can understand how Carraway ended up there. He was disgusted with what he saw during that summer on Long Island, and presumably ended up sinking into a depression of some sort, and started using alcohol to cope, thus ending up in the sanatorium. Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) was one character I disliked, due to his misogyny and hypocrisy (he was having an affair with Myrtle Wilson [played by Isla Fisher], and couldn't handle the fact that his wife Daisy [played by Carey Mulligan], who is also Nick's cousin, was having an affair with Gatsby). I can definitely understand the former, as this was undoubtedly symptomatic of the 1920s in New York.
Some things had to be changed a bit from the novel, although with adaptations, this is to be expected. I'd recommend The Great Gatsby to you all, and I'd give it an 8/10.
I finally got around to watching this after getting it on Blu-Ray for Christmas. I kept on meaning to watch it at the cinema, but I never got around to it. It was definitely worth the wait. The glitz and glamour was as good as I expected it to be, and Leonardo DiCaprio was the perfect choice for Jay Gatsby. I couldn't picture anybody else playing him. In general, the casting was pretty good. A slight oddity was using Nick Carraway's (Tobey Maguire) alcoholism and the sanatorium as a framing device for the film, but it helped to tie things together a bit. The novel left a question as to why Carraway (the voice of the novel) had written it, but Baz Luhrmann (the director) decided to have one of the psychiatrists at the sanatorium suggest to Carraway that he write down his experiences of Gatsby in order to try and explain it and to help him cope. It was a bit odd, but it worked, and I can understand how Carraway ended up there. He was disgusted with what he saw during that summer on Long Island, and presumably ended up sinking into a depression of some sort, and started using alcohol to cope, thus ending up in the sanatorium. Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) was one character I disliked, due to his misogyny and hypocrisy (he was having an affair with Myrtle Wilson [played by Isla Fisher], and couldn't handle the fact that his wife Daisy [played by Carey Mulligan], who is also Nick's cousin, was having an affair with Gatsby). I can definitely understand the former, as this was undoubtedly symptomatic of the 1920s in New York.
Some things had to be changed a bit from the novel, although with adaptations, this is to be expected. I'd recommend The Great Gatsby to you all, and I'd give it an 8/10.
Jono
TS Member
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Gravity
Thought it was a very good film! Many of my friends said that it was boring and dragged on a bit, so i really wanted to see it so i had my own opinion on it, and it was great! The Visuals were excellent and i also loved the sense of realism it had throughout. 9/10
The Wolf Of Wall Street
This was a really long film. Like, really long, it dragged on quite a bit for me and I got quite bored. But it is absolutely hilarious and it's like a wild ride. Absolutely crazy. 6/10
Thought it was a very good film! Many of my friends said that it was boring and dragged on a bit, so i really wanted to see it so i had my own opinion on it, and it was great! The Visuals were excellent and i also loved the sense of realism it had throughout. 9/10
The Wolf Of Wall Street
This was a really long film. Like, really long, it dragged on quite a bit for me and I got quite bored. But it is absolutely hilarious and it's like a wild ride. Absolutely crazy. 6/10
Danza91
TS Member
A few quick summaries.
American Hustle
Entertaining, and well acted, I particularly enjoyed Christian Bale's performance but it just didn't 'wow' me and at times, the pacing was a bit off.
***
The Wolf of Wall Street
The energy from the cast in this makes the 3 hours fly by - it actually felt shorter than American Hustle. If DiCaprio doesn't win an Oscar for this I'm not sure what he has to do. Another terrific film from Scorsese. Might have to see this again.
****
Her
The screenplay is so so good, and Joaquin Phoenix puts in another terrific performance. If you watch this, watch it with a very open mind. Hope it gets some recognition as the screenplay really is great.
****
Battle Royale
After seeing people say the 'The Hunger Games' ripped off 'Battle Royale', I decided to watch the latter. Whilst there are some big and obvious similarities, THG has a lot more to it in terms of plot and is much more of a fantasy/sci-fi. That said, Battle Royale is very good for what it is and I enjoyed it.
***
This Is The End
It started well, but just loses its spark very quickly and I really didn't like Jay Baruchel in it. There were some laughs and some good cameos, but it all just felt too unscripted and messy.
**
American Hustle
Entertaining, and well acted, I particularly enjoyed Christian Bale's performance but it just didn't 'wow' me and at times, the pacing was a bit off.
***
The Wolf of Wall Street
The energy from the cast in this makes the 3 hours fly by - it actually felt shorter than American Hustle. If DiCaprio doesn't win an Oscar for this I'm not sure what he has to do. Another terrific film from Scorsese. Might have to see this again.
****
Her
The screenplay is so so good, and Joaquin Phoenix puts in another terrific performance. If you watch this, watch it with a very open mind. Hope it gets some recognition as the screenplay really is great.
****
Battle Royale
After seeing people say the 'The Hunger Games' ripped off 'Battle Royale', I decided to watch the latter. Whilst there are some big and obvious similarities, THG has a lot more to it in terms of plot and is much more of a fantasy/sci-fi. That said, Battle Royale is very good for what it is and I enjoyed it.
***
This Is The End
It started well, but just loses its spark very quickly and I really didn't like Jay Baruchel in it. There were some laughs and some good cameos, but it all just felt too unscripted and messy.
**