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r_macrory
Reviews
Watchmen (2009)
Worst film you'll see this year, or decade?
This has to be the worst film I have seen in years. The special effects are astounding, but it is criminal that so much effort has been wasted on such a terrible terrible script. The acting verges on parody, you see a superhero's blue appendage for many of the scenes, and there are lines like "When you left me, I decided I couldn't be on earth any longer, so I went to Mars". It is utterly atrocious and I hope the people who made it learn that the general public demands some thought and quality control when it comes to story. Only go and see it if you get a kick out of bad bad movies. I'm sure the studio knows, so most of the above reviews are probably viral market plants so that they make something back on opening weekend before word gets out. This film is laughably bad. I saw it for free and I didn't walk out but many people did.
Hunger (2008)
Come on people!
Look, maybe I just don't get it but am I the only person who found this to be very poor film-making?The subject that the film deals with is so rich in conflict and yet it is essentially a film with no conflict, about the troubles in Northern Ireland! What leads Bobby Sands to go on a hunger strike? What is he in prison for? Why does nobody talk for the first twenty minutes of the film? I hate to be so harsh, but I see straight through this film. The filmmaker chose a 'heavy' subject that would be well received at independent film festivals. Having little experience with actors he chose to make it a stylized piece, where dialogue is sparse and the acting is forced, and opted for 17 minute shot to save money. He knew most people would think it was arty because it was so counter-intuitive. If you want to see a good film about Northern Ireland watch "In the Name of the Father". If you want to see Bobby Sands depicted as a motiveless marionette walking through a landscape that looks more like a scene from Alan Parker's "The Wall" than the maze prison, by all means enjoy this one. Spoiler alert: He dies in the end, but we knew that anyway, so why not engage us with an aspect of Sands' life that we may not have known? Also, here's a tip from In the Name of the Father: Make the main character sympathetic by showing his unfair victimization and then reveal his character flaws. DON'T show us how flawed he is and then try to redeem that with a hunger strike. The audience should sympathize with the main character. Sorry Mr. McQueen, that's just how movies work.
Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989)
A star in the making
Yes, this is not the best film ever made BUT pay attention to the town crier? I recently saw him in an art-house French film and he was spectacular. If this is indeed the director who discovered him, then he is to be applauded. Hope to see more of Armando MacRory in the future. If you get the chance pick up a copy of the film and you will see exactly what I mean. In a film that is clunky there is a strange depth to the character who brings the hero and heroine together, a tragic eloquence. It is not easy to steal the show from the many special effects, fight scenes and show some real acting in this kitchy epic but this actor manages. Thumbs up, and bravo. I hear the movie is available on DVD, so I shall head out to the shops and purchase it and I strongly recommend others do as well.