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zachymcsmacky
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Condenados a vivir (1972)
Cut-Throats Nine- A very peculiar film
I am going to start of by saying that yes- this film was indeed very gory- most especially the up-close disembowelment being the goriest scene in the film, in my opinion. And for 1972, I was highly impressed with the realism of the gore, and all of the other special effects for that matter. The gore is what this film advertised as it's main selling point, however when I saw this film I was quite pleasantly surprised by many of the other great features the film also contained.
I very much enjoyed the directing- from a shot perspective, the composition of scenes such as the flashback hanging scene looked really cool and sinister. And the unsettling reversed collapsing house in the hallucination sequence was, in my opinion, genius.
And not forgetting the story. It is quite a depressing and bleak story in which ultimately no one has what they want to happen. To me, most of the film seemed like nothing much was happening. So for the first part of the film, I was kind of looking for a story line as it got past the intro. That was until I realised that I was beginning to feel rather uneasy as the film progressed. It was slowly but surely building a dark tension that kept me watching with suspense. And I won't reveal it in detail, but I was impressed to an surprising amount with the twist in the end, which I did not expect at all. It did not only shock me, but also brought everything together that didn't make sense before in a nice and tidy way. From that perspective I loved it, but as I'm not a fan of bleak and depressing stories, it didn't enjoy me as much as it could have.
The acting is something I cannot fault either. Although it was an English dubbed version I watched, it did not distract me from the performances given.
But the main point I must say about this film is that it is very peculiar. It's a Spanish-made Western. But it's not just a Western- it's a Crime- Thriller- gore-fest that had a very Horror feel to it, thanks to the fabulously eerie directing of Marchent. Indeed a very strange selection of genres to put together, but it worked! Overall, I was quite surprised how it exceeded my expectations! Personally I am rating it 7.5/10- it's not a masterpiece, but it is definitely a very enjoyable film that that didn't bore me. The reason my star rating is 10/10 is because I feel it needs to be higher on the overall IMDb rating (yes I know that's not how I'm supposed to do it and that rating probably won't make any difference)!
Revolution (2012)
It's good- not perfect, but it doesn't deserve THIS much hate! -Edited- Actually I take that back!
OK. I've seen the first four episodes of this show, and although I understand what the harsh critics are saying, I have to disagree. This show is all right. So far, (to me) 'poorly executed' or 'soap opera-like' does not describe the show correctly. It's tense, action-packed and well shot with great sets, pretty good acting, and the story keeps on bringing up interesting twists.
However, the only problems I have with the show are flaws within the plot, and the fact that really stupid things keep happening, but I'll get to that later. But first, think back to the Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion recently- that was initially caused by- guess what- a power cut. If the world's power went out, hundreds of nuclear power plants all over the world would explode, leaving mass devastation. And secondly, people and the plot circumstances keep bringing up situations that are so annoying that they make me shout at the screen. I won't give spoilers, but the main thing I find annoying is the fact that people you don't want to see anything bad happen to just die randomly at stupid times, and the people you want to see die always get their own way and come off better than the good guys. But not in a way that makes you want to keep watching, mostly in a way that's really stupid.
Nevertheless, you only think of the plot flaws after watching an episode of the show. But whilst watching, the show allows you to suspend your disbelief, since it gets you to focus on what is going on in the show, instead of accidentally pointing out it's own plot flaws. And the annoying circumstances aren't as bad as they sound, and also surrounded by some bits that are actually enjoyable to see. This show is no 'LOST', but it's an OK substitute.
-Edit-
Reading this review a year or so later, I realised how stupid I must have sounded... OK, I've changed my mind! It does deserve all this hate! After trying to continue watching it, I am happy to say that I have given up. It just got too boring and tedious- even though the story 'progressed', the same stuff kept happening in each episode!
Which brings me onto the progressive story... 'Progressive' is the wrong word... Things happened, but to me, the ways they happened in seemed that they didn't really matter. I just wasn't invested. That's another reason it became boring and tedious.
Another reason I wasn't invested is because I didn't care about any of the characters anymore because of certain reasons. First of all, in the first few episodes, there was a bit of development (like back stories and what-not), but although I knew about them, I didn't feel like I knew, or wanted to know them. The acting wasn't terrible, but it didn't really help the lack of any of the much required fleshing-out characters. They were just flat entities that I didn't care about.
And that leads me onto something else! You know another reason I didn't care about the characters? Because (almost an extension onto the only negative point in the prior review here) stupid things happen! Like killing off the only developed main characters that anyone is invested in! Like all the time! Since they're all dropping like flies, I could not give a damn for all the other characters, no matter what perilous situations they faced. Talking about stupid things happening (yep, that's not the only stupid thing), apart from the things I mentioned in the last review, there are a couple more things I need to say.
The characters have all decided to follow the omnipotent course of events within Revolution, and have now too, like the things that occur outside of their control, have all become annoying and stupid! Bad people turn good, but still bad (not in a Benjamin Linus way, because they are annoying and stupid) and good people become bad, if not bad, just unlikeable either because they are also really stupid, or mean spirited, or plain annoying. I ended up liking nothing that happened in the show.
Oh and the Nanites! That idea is just stupid! Making the fat guy resurrect. Nothing to say about this apart from it was stupid. The scene (I assume) was supposed to be beautiful, shocking and have a spiritual feeling to it... They failed at doing that and did the only thing this show was good at doing- being stupid, and overall, really cheesy and corny! This is the chorniest (a combination of cheesy and corny that literally hurts whoever is watching) show I have ever seen.
And finally, I change my mind- it did become very 'soap-opera like' and was 'poorly executed'. All that happened was a bit of arguing, some sadness, a bit of fighting, another person you didn't care about but were supposed to died or had something life-ruining happen to them, all with mediocre acting, directing and a score almost as forgettable as having dementia and playing a game of eye spy.
I now rate it 4/10, for progressively degrading by getting more annoying, stupid, and chorny, thus trying to make me brutalize my television. It's not repulsive, but it's just sooo stupid.
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010)
This is bad. That's it.
First of all, I'll start off with the positives. I like the constant use of 'ascending strings' to make certain scenes more 'scary'. I also like the funny and stupid Sheriff Stone. And finally, I am impressed with the close-to-perfect voice acting of the gang.
One more thing that I would have liked about this show if it was done correctly is the introduction of a story line over the entire series (like that involving Mr. E and the Afro lady). I like the idea. But unfortunately, I feel it could have been done far better. If it was not so corny, (not the Scooby-Doo corny, but the trying-to-be-serious-but-not-really-working corny) this should have been focused on more than the silly 'drama' and romance.
Now for the not so good aspects. Scooby is now a tertiary character- in the most recent episode I watched, Scooby only had probably about 5-10 minutes of screen time throughout the 22 minute show, and only 3 or 4 lines, which consisted mostly of one word. Also he is unfunny (and as mentioned by another reviewer) out of character.
Additionally, Scooby Doo is now a teen drama. Velma is a very annoying, embarrassingly erotic, seductive and dominating to Shaggy (and for the record is barely a nerd) and Shaggy is not so bad, but he still allows Velma to get intimate with him and pull him about, and forgets about Scooby because of his weird 'relationship'. Daphne constantly wants Fred (and whenever Fred does want her, she turns idiotically bi-polar and rejects him, also in my most recently watched episode, was wearing some kind of rubber or shiny spandex clothing, which made it so awkward I had to turn it off). Fred is partial to a bit of Daphne, but not in a serious relationship, so he is a bit less annoying, but is banally stupid, has a Jay Leno chin on hyphy-mud and a really unhealthy obsession with traps. This is what I hate about the show. From what I've watched, it's more about poorly constructed love triangles than actual mysteries (and I've watched quite a few episodes).
I am not a Scooby Doo fan per se- I just like cartoons and watch it from time to time. But this was just so bad I HAD to review it. So for those reasons, I rate this with 2 stars.
Twins of Evil (1971)
I Think This is More of a Comedy Than a Horror, But...
Starting off on a more serious note however, the sets are great, the directing is above average (but not amazing- some of it even adds to the comedic effect), the soundtrack actually exceed my expectations- one of my favourite Hammer Horror soundtracks of all time, and last but not least, the acting is also great- not the best you'll see, but a million times more believable than most of the acting you'll see nowadays. Now, for a Hammer film (or at least out of the ones that I've watched), this is probably the most violent and raunchy one I have seen. But this is also the funniest one I've seen too! First of all, Count Karnstein has an African servant who talked like a monkey (not meaning to be racist, but that was just silly). Also there is a totally unnecessary naked female vampire attack (which too, was very silly). And finally, all of the actions taken by Gustav's religious sect are hilariously zany and random, and very silly. This is a very silly film, and there is so much more silliness than what I have mentioned! For die hard Hammer Horror fans, this is a seriously stunning film, however for the people who don't even like Hammer Horror, watch it! In my own opinion, this is not a horror masterpiece, but a very well made, very funny comedy/"horror". Watch this if you are up for a good laugh!
By the way, to be more specific about the violence, because the parent's guide is looking a bit bare, there are very bloody chest stakings, decapitations, a burned eye socket and bloody hatchet throwings to the head and back. There isn't too much violence, but the severity of it is probably at the same level as a film like Sleepy Hollow. So if you're expecting a camp, child friendly Hammer Horror, BE WARNED!
Skyfall (2012)
Best Daniel Craig Bond Movie- He has finally gained my respect for his portrayal of Bond
OK, I going to start off by saying... WHAT THE HECK? All I can see here is a multitude of bad reviews, for a really respectable and pretty damn cool movie. Yeah, I'll admit there are a few (by that I mean more than a few) plot holes and pointless things happening, as have been pointed out by many silly nit picky critics on these pages- but don't let spoil the film for you! Instead of seeing a plot hole and analysing the film for two-and-a-half hours, just sit back, watch it, AND ENJOY IT. I have to admit, I too am usually a film-analyser too, but in my opinion, the greatness of the film clearly outweighs the slight plot inaccuracies- just ignore them! Now secondly, compare it to Daniel Craig's other "Bond" movies. Casino Royale- I'll admit, there is a fair amount of action, the story was all right, however half the movie was taken up by the lengthy, "action-packed" poker playing sequence, and Daniel Craig being whipped in the balls. That was the only Bond film I ever fell asleep in. And that is not a lie. Then Quantum of Solace- it's just crazy... There's a load of random fights, then a crazy guy who is trying to steal water then gets chopped in the foot with a fire axe... Somehow, I preferred it to Casino Royale, but yeah, still not great. But now, Skyfall is now going back to proper Bond- it balances the right amount of full-throttle action, with seriousness and humorous cheesiness. And also, Bond actually says more than five lines in this film... In conclusion, it's got non-stop action, giant lizards, Chinese mobsters, gadgets (I admit not the best ones, but that's more than we can say for the last two films), bimbos randomly being shot, false teeth, meltey faces, impossible stunts, badass old men with sawn-off shot guns, traps AND the Aston Martin DB5..! WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? I will say this one isn't my all time favourite Bond, but I have to admit, it has to be one of the greats!