murada1967 Reviews

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Fight Club

[5/10 · 17 July 2023]

Fight, fight and another identical fight with lots of rolling around. Throw in multiple head shots and numerous stabbings and some nonsensical plot about a table (maybe from IKEA?). Not forgetting endless streams of goons, a fat German, a blind man, a man and his dog and a very bad (bad accent anyway) frenchman (who is the boss level) - all queuing up to have a go at poor old John. Quite a lot of the bad guys appear bullet proof. It looks good but all gets a bit tedious and more like a video game. The plot is a struggle but basically everone wants to kill John. A far cry from the original John Wick which is an action classic.

I Believe in Santa (2022)

Elf v Grinch

[7/10 · 15 December 2022]

I was surprised by the low ratings. I almost switched it off (it was at 3.9 when I first checked). Decent performances by all concerned and sweet story about a man who has never grown up. Not overly sentimental and quite funny in places. Has a hint of Elf mixed with a dash the Grinch. John Ducey does a passable impression of a more restrained Will Ferrell. He didn't quite carry it off but made an admirable effort. Not sure the budget was great as many of the background effects are c1970, especially many of the snow scenes.

If you want a movie to get you in the festive spirit then you can't go wrong with this. I can only assume The Grinch is responsible for all the low scores. Bah humbug.

The English (2022)

Long Road to revenge

[6/10 · 17 November 2022]

Often beautiful to look and painful to watch, this is at heart a simple tale of revenge. I enjoyed it but felt the whole thing could probably have been done in 3 episodes. Episodes 3-5 drag and meander into story arcs which are unclear (though all becomes clearer in the end). The cinematography is excellent though I think at times it is clear we are looking at the Spanish plains and not the American West. Acting is excellent all round though the storylines get a tad offbeat at times - many characters and introduced with great build up and then quickly dispatched without any real development. The end is excellent and really quite poignant. Good effort, though would have made a better movie with a more linear storyline.

The Rookie: Feds (2022–2023)

Rookie Error

[3/10 · 29 September 2022]

I love the original Rookie though in the past couple series it has veered too much into melodrama/soapy territory and has lost its way a tad.

The first thing about 'Feds' is that it poorly cast. I found the lead irritating in her guest spot on Rookie and wonder whose bright idea it was to give the character her own show.

There is no chemistry between any of the characters and the acting is mostly sub-standard. The pilot failed to engage in any way and I wasn't sure if it was trying to be a comedy or serious drama.

The show has cancellation written all over it. This was a great opportunity to develop the Rookie franchise but this is really an epic fail.

Quantum Leap (2022–2024)

Leaping Backwards

[5/10 · 21 September 2022]

One or two nice touches - the music (first episode) and references to Sam and Al cannot save a sub-par continuation of the Quantum Leap story. All the actors (without exception) lack any real charisma. The whole thing looks cheap (the interior 80s set car journey scenes were very poor - modern cars clearly in view for the whole journey). The story itself was melodramatic and lacked the warmth of the original.

There is so much this could have been but ends up disappointing and I probably won't be leaping into the show again. It has cancellation written all over it and will itself end up lost in time and quickly forgotten.

Marriage (2022)

Boring is an understatement.

[2/10 · 15 August 2022]

Two decent actors wasted in a show were literally nothing happens. The little dialogue the show contains is frighteningly bad . It is like a poorly improvised art house project. It amazes me how garbage like this gets commissioned and makes it onto prime time TV.

Ambulance (2022)

A long ride....

[6/10 · 8 May 2022]

A decent shoot out at the beginning is the highlight. This is followed by lots of shouting, a never ending car chase (how the cop in the back survived, we will never know) and multiple wise cracks...most of which fall very flat. Of course, many slow mo shots of complete destruction. Disappointing and boring by the end.

The Batman (2022)

Terminally Slow

[6/10 · 8 May 2022]

Quite atmospheric with some decent set pieces. However, if take you out the moody visuals, it is really just a standard serial killer yarn. Too slow and shot mostly in near darkness. Lots of mumbling too. A bit disappointing.

Life After Life (2022)

Period drama reincarnated............

[8/10 · 21 April 2022]

A refreshing change to the run of the mill period drama. Ground Hog Day mixed with Downton Abbey! Occasionally painful to watch (episode 2 was particularly harrowing) but also uplifting in parts. Certainly kept me gripped. It does drag in parts and the narration is occasionally distracting but overall excellent, including the acting and production values.

The Ipcress File (2022)

Big Miss

[4/10 · 8 March 2022]

Looks lovely in places but only made half first episode as put off by uniformly bad acting. Is it a parody, comedy...is doesn't know. It is a shame as it has clearly had some money pumped into it.

The Teacher (2022–2024)

Bradford via Hungary

[5/10 · 3 February 2022]

Not the worse thing I have ever seen. Bizarrely set in Bradford but filmed in Hungary. Acting is mediocre and I struggled to sympathise with Sheridan who has either a drink or a cigarette in her hand in nearly every scene and portrays the stereo typical party girl - given her antics, it should not have come as shock when she found herself in trouble. I work in a private school and this school was more like a low rent state school. The whole thing felt rushed and why Hungary...must have been cheap!!

Jolt (2021)

Low Voltage

[5/10 · 28 January 2022]

Poor acting and generally miscast characters mixed with a paper thin story and low rent locations meant I struggled to finish the movie. Some huge plot holes (e.g. She walks into a busy policy office and steals a load of evidence and no one even speaks to her!!)

It is redeemed by the occasional action set piece but overall poor effort. Kate looks super hot though!!

My Son (I) (2021)

Long winded road to nowhere

[3/10 · 22 January 2022]

The best thing about this movie was the scenery. The rest is to be avoided at all costs. The paper thin plot lacks any real suspense and no reveal or twist. Avoid unless you want to be bored to death.

The Tourist (2022–2024)

Yawn...

[3/10 · 6 January 2022]

A decent story devoured by poor acting. A wierd mixture of thriller and farce (the female police officer and her husband are poorly cast and irritating). Turned it off halfway through episode 2. Avoid.

Old (2021)

Old but not gold.

[6/10 · 29 December 2021]

Great story with a decent twist which looks good let down by C list acting and a hammy script. Strictly PG too it's approach to gore/horror which is always frustrating in an adult themed movie. Disappointing as it could have been so much better.

Last Train to Christmas (2021)

Back in time for Christmas

[6/10 · 20 December 2021]

Some wonderful acting and period details overshadowed by the multiple timelines which do, on occasion, become a bit confusing. I really enjoyed the first hour or so then felt the film lost its way with confusing jumps over a 50 year period. I thought the ending was ok though I can understand why many would find it frustrating.

Last Night in Soho (2021)

So so Soho

[6/10 · 29 November 2021]

Great music and visuals do not quite make up for 2nd rate acting and probably a twist too far. Really wanted to like this film and enjoyed the first half but found the very dark second half a bit disappointing.

Mammoth (2021– )

Interesting

[6/10 · 12 November 2021]

Arriving largely without fanfare, I caught this show on iPlayer. Interesting show which plays to a large extent as a drama with the 'back from the dead' storyline largely in the back ground. Indeed you see nothing of Mammoth's return from the dead but catch up with him a few months later. The 'fish out of water' plot has been done many times before and this show offers no real new twists. However, it does have heart and offers a few laughs along the way. Hopefully it will get a series.

The Forgotten Battle (2020)

Bridge too Far with a hint of Cross of Iron

[6/10 · 7 November 2021]

I was looking forward to watching this movie. It plays out like A Bridge Too Far coupled with Cross of Iron with Saving Private Ryan reflected in both the standout battle scenes (and one or two other scenes). A tad slow in places but well acted on the whole.

CSI: Vegas (2021–2024)

Appalling is an understatement

[3/10 · 7 October 2021]

Bad acting all around to the point of being distracting. Needs to be renamed CSI Lost Cause. My eyeballs are still hurting.. never again.

No Time to Die (2021)

Long goodbye...

[6/10 · 5 October 2021]

A long goodbye from Daniel C..quite literally. Half an hour too long and feels a bit padded and disjointed. Some great set pieces as always and quite a poignant ending.

Freaks (2018)

Stick with it...

[7/10 · 2 September 2021]

I almost switched this off after 10 minutes. Initially seemed to be some sort of muddled horror movie but ended up more a cross between Chronicle and Heroes. Decent storyline with solid performances and good effects. Recommended.

Hungry Ghosts (2020– )

Spooky Acting..

[5/10 · 31 August 2021]

Decent story which is a bit drawn out specifically let down by some sub standard acting. Mild scares and jumps in places. Not the worse thing I have ever seen but could have been a lot better.

Sweet Girl (2021)

Momoa with a twist

[7/10 · 21 August 2021]

There seems to be a lot of trolling of this movie in so far as people giving it a ridiculously low marks. I thought it a decent action flick, well acted with some well choreographed fight scenes. Pretty good, if not implausible, twist too.

Beckett (2021)

An acting masterclass....not!

[5/10 · 17 August 2021]

At the time of watching this was Netflix number 1 movie in the UK. Not sure why. Half decent story is ruined by all round shoddy acting and poor direction, not to mention the wierd 70s style incidental music. Whole thing has an improvised feel to it. 4 stars for the movie and an extra one for the scenery.