wilderblue2005 Reviews

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)

Actually made me laugh out loud ... a rather thing in movies these days

[9/10 · 13 February 2017]

A great little movie, that doesn't achieve the heights that it could have, but ... there is enough here as a silly, non-serious zombie flick that actually has some great laugh out loud moments that most films simply cannot achieve.

Well put together, a few generic story lines ... but weaved together with joy and enthusiasm ... this must have been a hoot to make, with a good cast and some great moments ... zombie cats anyone?

Get some friends, some booze and kick back for some unexpected giggles ... and some penis grabbing, booby loving, teen style zombie bashing goodness.

Snowden (2016)

Potent and powerful ... and real.

[10/10 · 18 January 2017]

Once in a while there is a film that shows some courage to tell events of a true story ... Oliver Stone, is a director who continues to highlight the injustice of the American government and the lengths it goes to. Snowden is a hero and will be remembered as such, when those who tried to tarnish him for speaking the truth, will have their legacy crumble.

The man is a hero.

I recently watched "American Sniper" and was blown away by the 'patriotism' bullshit propaganda that was almost on par with the the nazi propaganda scenes from Tarantino's "Inglorious Bastards".

This however, is relevant, important to us all ... and above all ... continues to happen, without our permission or knowledge.

I urge people to watch the film.

Stake Land (2010)

Surprisingly great

[9/10 · 7 November 2011]

Vampire movies, like zombie movies have pretty much been done to death with few original concepts and a pretty generalised storyline of surviving the apocalypse, whichever form it takes.

Stake-land I was expecting to be a funny, Zombieland styled romp, making light of the situation and what I got was a gripping film that just throws credible situations (Self policed towns, bordered towns with militia) and incredible situations (regious nuts dropping vampires from helicopters into peaceful townships, being able to read the stars and so, find your car) ... yet the movie moves along in such a way as you always wonder what next, as the group of survivors head north for "New Eden".

There is a few moments in the film where things are a little silly with the script writing (The Christian woman tiring out in the corn field whilst the heavily pregnant woman makes it, when the super bad-ass vamp killer and side kick is with them and they are fighting a mere 2 vamps and so they leave her to fall behind).

But all is not that bad, hence the 9 score ... As I watched I was constantly thinking "what next" as the story hurtled along wonderfully, exposing the good and the bad of life in this nightmarish world.

Splinter (I) (2008)

Dark Gem

[7/10 · 7 July 2011]

My horror binge continues and scouring the recommendations of other IMDb-er's I found this. The story is pretty loose and fantastical, guy n girl pick up hitch hikers, who are on the run from the cops and in stopping at a service station are attacked by a mutated corpse who can infect them ... and then its all survival, and screaming and chasing. It sounds lamer than it is. I was pleasantly surprised, the effects were good, bar a few and I really liked the twisted flicker approach of seeing but not seeing the creature, which some others may find annoying, but I thought added a bit more tension to viewing, in not really knowing what the creature looked like as it cracks and snaps bones all over the place =] There are some instances where you'll wonder if these people are thinking logically (the arm incident and later the fire) but still, I think this is a great little movie and I'd recommend it.

Virus (1999)

mixed bag

[5/10 · 6 July 2011]

With a fairly decent cast, but a pretty poor story and script. This basically becomes a bit "Terminator at sea", blended with the "squid" from Matrix by the end.

After the first quarter I was considering switching off cos it looked like it was going to sink like the ship is destined to do; but I kept with it, the special fx improved greatly, the plot didn't.

Its not a great movie, its pretty terrible in places with some cliché lines, bad acting and horrible inconsistencies (being on a boat in a typhoon and everyone runs about as normal) but hey its only a movie, its just a shame it didn't fulfil its potential, except in cheese.

Dread (2009)

Dark and twisted

[7/10 · 4 July 2011]

Not your average horror movie. I was happily surprised by this piece having seen its mixed reviews on here, but I am on a horror binge at the moment and well, this was better than most. So you can read the plot at the top so there is no need to go over it again, but what you'll find here is a great little movie that slowly turns the screws, rather than jumps in gore galore. After the first half hour or so you'll probably be wondering where its all going, as these "kids" do their "school project" and there is virtually no recognition of them being in school/college etc, but this is just the vehicle for Quaid's experiment in Dread, with a nice twisted ending. The effects are decent, acting is done really well, the story is pretty tight and pretty original too ... which for a horror movie is a major plus. I'd definitely give this a watch if you are after something with a bit more substance than the run of the mill "horror" tripe that comes out.

Carriers (2009)

if you're infected ... You're already dead

[7/10 · 4 July 2011]

I'd hafta agree with many of the comments here, this isn't horror, but it sure is good. The storyline is nothing too original; virtually everyone else is dead or infected and 4 friends get a rough ride trying to stay alive, keep to "the rules" so they can do so, and not dehumanise themselves too much in the process ... which of course, goes tits-up.

However, despite the odd moment of "ish" acting, the story moves along at a decent pace, moral questions are asked in the struggle to survive which becomes increasingly desperate as they meet others in similar situations.

The story, whilst not overly original is good, it makes you wonder "what would I do" and in such cases, what happens is what is likely to happen and as such adds weight to the film and how it captures you ...

Black Dynamite (2009)

Pure and simple genius

[10/10 · 4 May 2011]

I'd not heard too much about this movie before seeing it ... only that it was a relatively rare gem in the crap of movies out there.

Not only did this movie have me laughing out loud at how brilliant it was, but how cheesy, over the top, clichéd ... and then you get the kung fu shiz.

At the start you begin to wonder ... which path will this go down ... the acting is over the top, the cheesy 70's style makes you think this could be some vintage classic ... but no ... stick with it and you'll find yourself harrassing your friends until they watch this movie.

So ... to recap - If ever there was a movie you need to get your hands on for some crackin laughs, sexy ladies, brilliant lines and ass woopin', you turkeys gotta lay your hands on this momma.

Colin (2008)

original and inspiring for other film makers

[8/10 · 17 February 2011]

This is not the best zombie movie by a long shot, but it is highly original and shot on the supposed budget it was, it is a fascinating piece of film making. The story throws you in at the deep end and comes full circle to give you more insight into Colin's demise and is definitely the best thing about this movie.

We follow Colin's transformation and take in other pieces of his and the city's story as we go. The madness and the carnage all come together with lashings of blood and gore and little humorous pieces (leg snapping goodness and the spine removal) which make this simply a little gem. You follow Colin along, even feeling sympathy for his plight as his story fleshes out, but are kept wondering, what next? Not everything makes sense ... robbing a zombie for his shoes seems HIGHLY unlikely. Having a house party for zombies with you as the buffet food is not a sensible plan when the only weapons available are a concrete block, an umbrella and some saucepans ... such things distract from a decent sense of realism.

The camera work and lighting, as you will read, is not great, but hey, you work with what you have and you improvise, and much of this has worked out fine.

All in all, a great statement to other aspiring film makers that such things can be done on a miniscule budget

Buried (2010)

brilliant premise, delivered well

[8/10 · 24 January 2011]

What would you do, if you woke up in a box, buried in the ground?

You have a cell phone with some signal, sometimes. Some battery life. You have a lighter and glow sticks and a pencil.

You have no idea where you are, but that a kidnapper wants money for you. Who you gonna call? What you gonna do?

Considering the whole thing was shot "in the box" it was a gripping piece that really, was something different. Gripping, intense ... and required no expensive cgi, explosions and action sequences, but was better than the majority of cinema fodder being churned out.

I really enjoyed this movie ... it just goes to show what you can do with a good idea then let it run ...

Catfish (2010)

Taking something most of us have done a bit further

[7/10 · 5 January 2011]

I remember in the very late 90's discovering the world of Yahoo chatrooms ... talking this way and that way with total strangers, sometimes being myself, sometimes lying through my teeth. Creating new usernames as a female to talk to lesbians every once in a while seemed a fun thing to do as an 18yr old lad, never succeeding to convince any to talk dirty to me. HA! The things we do.

And that is where this movie comes in. Meeting people online ... checking out their profiles and thinking ... "yeah ... not bad", talking more online and getting to know them and developing feelings for this entity, god knows where on the planet, typing their words to you and maybe, just maybe feeling the same way.

And how much of it is true ... ?

This was an intriguing watch, playful and suspenseful and by the end, full of heart that is a far cry from the gripping thriller documentary style movie portrayed in the trailer (which I saw after at one reviewers request) but none the less, I enjoyed the movie for piecing together something many of us have done ... but just not to these extremes. Give it a go ... =]

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Something unusually great

[8/10 · 9 December 2010]

I came to this films with no preconceptions of it as a movie and I have to say I am glad. I guess I was expecting another Michael Cera movie about some dopey kid in love. And thats what it is ... but done in a unusually great way. For anyone under 25 brought up on gaming (I am 30 and not) this will be just brilliant. The style of the movie with its "end of level baddies", game-play set-up and visuals are a welcome and refreshing twist on what could have been a hum-drum movie. The music rocked, the comedy was fast, slick and laugh out loud ... I'd definitely recommend this to my friends looking for something that little bit special.

Frozen (I) (2010)

A simple dark plot

[9/10 · 9 December 2010]

What happens when you barter for a last run down a ski slope at the end of the night on the last day of the season ... getting stranded 30ft up in a blizzard with 2 friends, no way of getting down and wolves lurking in the mountain forests? Probably not.

The idea is simplistic, the acting is good, there will be more than a few occasions you will wince and hide your eyes, but thats good fare for such movies and this was a pleasant surprise at how good it was in delivering.

I'd heard of this film only recently and took a nose at it because, like "open water", the premise was simplistic enough and the outcomes in both urge you to root for the people involved and question yourself about what you would do in the situation. Enjoy.

The Fourth Kind (2009)

something original

[7/10 · 5 December 2010]

The 4th Kind is an intriguing movie that sets up the premise that it is based in fact, with "real" clips/footage to enhance it credibility ... and it works brilliantly. The story takes an "alien abduction" story and turns it into something deeper, darker, more psychological ... I have to say I was impressed. There are scenes to make you jump and scenes that make you question if actually this "is" real ... They leave you to make up your mind, but leave you with the possibilities and will possibly change your mind about how you look up at the stars ... especially if you live in a small isolated town.

Happy viewing!

Religulous (2008)

Religion ... made funny

[9/10 · 23 November 2010]

I gotta say I loved this. Its honest, its witty, its funny. It shows how much politics ("you don't need to pass an IQ test to be a senator") is influenced by religion, pokes fun at some of the stories of various faiths, sometimes in ways that go a step over the line, but he has questions that simply need to be answered and the answers he gets are not really all that convincing. Not all are "spokespeople" for their faiths, but as people acting with passion for their faiths ... their view points and answers are still valid views, but more often than not soooooooooo mixed up it just seems so funny.

Bill highlights this all playfully with his doubt, which really is more than doubt, its disbelief. Not all his facts are correct ... but then neither are those of the people he talks to ... and thats partly the point.

I hafta say the Americans come off even more nuts than usual, not uncommon... not sure I'll ever see "Koran Land" theme parks in the middle east.

The Last Horror Movie (2003)

Deserves so much more

[9/10 · 21 November 2010]

After researching serial killers and movies about them, its hard to find something unusual, original and brutal. This is a piece of work ... so it might work better if you HAD rented it, but ultimately you are left with something special. Kevin Howarth is brilliant, leading us down one false path after another ... building the tension, before giving us humorous respite. And death. The killings are realistic and at times vicious ... and all the time Max is taunting us - why do we want to watch? How much is a human life worth? Max is unflinching, unrepentant, unremorseful, he is doing something he enjoys ... are you? The ending, well ... I wondered how they would solve the problem of exposure and even that was done in a quaintly genius way. Hats off to the team behind it ... I am impressed.

Saw (2004)

Unique series starts so well ...

[8/10 · 21 November 2010]

Having porked my way through 6 of the saw movies in quick succession, I find myself remembering where it all began before it got a bit too clever for its own good. The movie is brilliantly conceived with twists and turns that blindside you. The games unravel throughout the series, but get progressively more "typical Hollywood" of easy captures of victims in hospitals and financial offices with security ... but no matter. The films will have you hiding behind your hands, struggling to watch ... yet you will ... the traps are ingeneous, sick and twisted, and there is lots of gore. Its messy and well ... you need that in this sort of movie.