oprotnes Reviews

The Thaw (2009)

Mediocre suspense, great realism and production

[7/10 · 29 September 2009]

Even though the movie as a whole isn't really awesomely smashing in any way, the first thing that really struck me is how well done and thought out it all is.

It features realistic portrayals of human behavior all the way through. From phobias, realistic explanations of how they came to the conclusions they did, to a person using a multimeter and electrical tape to actually fix something. Like a real person might. And they all have their agendas. Also gunshots don't sound like tanks, and they don't make 10" holes in people. There are no huge aliens, there's no gratuitous nudity and it doesn't take one chop with a cleaver to cut someones arm off. Another thing that surprised me is that bodies don't vanish, the same with tracks and bruises etc.

In most movies (*ahem* multi-million dollar productions) stuff like this, commonly called realism, is just glazed over. Your focus is shifted to the CGI and the huge explosions the MTV generation seems to love, like some magician distracting your attention so he can get away with tricking you (out of a good plot).

Anyone who likes realism and thrillers/horror will probably have a jolly fine time watching this one. There's a bit of bad acting on the part of a few characters (though all the main ones are excellent), and as I stated the movie isn't miraculously good in any way. It's still better than most, and it has some really redeeming qualities to it.

Alien Raiders (2008)

Not to be missed

[10/10 · 25 December 2008]

I watched this movie thinking it'd be another one of those lame sci-fi channel movies or something along those lines. Boy was I wrong. This movie is seriously GOOD. It has twists, turns and great acting.

None of those over-the-top Hollywood effects and mishmash, no unnecessary boy+girl gets out alive crap, no mercy really. It's bare bones sci-fi horror and imho it beats pretty much anything that has been made with a million dollar budget lately. It is in some ways reminiscent of the thing from '82. Small confined space, aliens etc.

The back story we get a taste of is intriguing and doesn't tell us too much, which again is a good thing. The less you know about "it" the more exciting every little tidbit is, and the more horrible it is. When did H.P Lovecraft ever tell us all the details? Never, which is what makes great horror. Even in the end you are left with lots of questions and I for one pray for a sequel that continues along the same lines without ever answering them all.

If you have a chance watch it. If you don't, find a way.

Bleeders (1997)

Excellent Saturday night entertainment.

[8/10 · 13 January 2005]

This is really an _adaptation_ as far as the lovecraft story is concerned, but in my opinion a rather good one. (at least if you've watched some of the other films 'based on' H.P Lovecraft stories.) It is loosely based on "The Lurking Fear" by H.P Lovecraft, and explores some cool and horrible ideas about inbreeding and other goodies.

The movie in itself features mostly good acting, and a really cool storyline. The effects aren't bad, and there's lots of blood and other goo. I truly recommend this to lovecraft fans, or just horror fans, out there. Don't go by the ratings on this one. Even if it won't scare you, some scenes are a bit on the creepy side (mostly just funny and/or cool).

Not a "HOLY CRAP THIS IS AN EXCELLENT MOVIE"-movie, but if you like B-flicks with monsters, blood and gore, this is one for you!

Earthsea (2004–2005)

This is based on... what?

[2/10 · 28 December 2004]

As I sat down to watch this anticipated (and somewhat dreaded) miniseries I had mixed expectations.

Firstly I was well aware that it would be nothing like LeGuins books. I was well-prepared that the original intention of the author was far removed from the movie production (which is really nothing new). On the other hand it could turn out to be a fun adaptation, even if the races were all mixed up and none of the characterizations really matched up.

I'm one of the people who love the LOTR screen adaptations. The discrepancies and differences between movies and books have never truly bothered me. In this case however I didn't recognize a THING from the books. It must be one of the most loosely based adaptations I've ever seen. Some names of places and characters are used, but the plot and all the rest isn't anything I'd recognize as earthsea unless the title stated it to be so.

Even this didn't have to spell certain doom, and I will confess that I actually enjoyed the first half of the series a bit. Five minutes into the second half though, I had U-turned. It was heading downward fast.

When the pathetic attempt an ending began I cried inside. Even if I'd never known what earthsea was, this is a disgrace. It's a disgrace to earthsea. It's a disgrace to the fantasy genre. It's a disgrace to humanity for goodness' sake..

2/10