The Lion King is not only one of Disney's best films, it's also one of the greatest animated features ever made. It's heart-breaking, warm, funny and exciting all at the same time.
It's the remake we never wanted and a movie doomed to never reach the status of the original. It's visually stunning, but apart from that it has no reason to exist.
No. Do not waste your time or money by watching this sad excuse of a movie. Nothing works here and it is not even remotely enjoyable for all of its faults. The 1994 film adaptation, while also terrible, is at least a whole lot more entertaining.
One of the iconic buddy films of the 20th century, Thelma & Louise is a visually stunning feminist feature with great characters and an addicting plot.
Moana is a wonderful feelgood film. It has a catchy soundtrack, a colorful world and likable characters. Moana and Maui make a great leading couple. The voice acting is, as always, superb and the animation is outrageously beautiful. I also like the unusual story and setting, giving this film an exotic and fresh feel.
The Prestige is a superbly directed historical mystery film sprinkled with a triangle drama and some fine old-school magic. I love the unconventional (and Nolan-esque) storytelling, which shifts back and forth between the past and the present. I love Christian bale, who makes one of his finest performances here (I can't decide if this is his best performance or the one in American Psycho). I love how they show you how some of the illusions are performed and the trick STILL feel like true magic. And no, I'm not forgetting the other actors. The performances are all wonderful. Hugh Jackman is never bad in anything he is in, and The Prestige is no exception. I also love the small part David Bowie plays in the movie - a shame we didn't get to see more of him on the silver screen before his passing. This is no action movie filled with magic trick, like the equally brilliant Now You See Me. No, The Prestige is a mystery film, and a great one at that. The thrills of this film are contained within the magic, the competition between two illusionist in love. The storytelling has a nice flow to it, and the movie feels compelling from the beginning to the end. And just when you think you've figured it all out, the Nolan brothers throw in a final twist and shake it all up again! It makes the entire film itself feel like one, massive magic trick.
So, this is it - THE UNDISPUTED SCI-FI CLASSIC! Well, that's really up to what you as the viewer prefer. Do you like scares and a creepy atmosphere? Go for Alien or Predator. Do you like high flying action and exhilarating chases? Then maybe Star Wars is better suited for you. Blade Runner is not a horror movie, nor is it particularly exciting (even if action was the genre Harrison Ford mostly worked in during the 80s). This is a creepy, dark and gritty science fiction tale set in a post-apocalyptic world not farm from Tim Burton's Gotham City. It has a slow, dreamy tone and its script focuses on long moments of contemplative silence. The incredible visual style still holds up today, and it's made even more iconic by Vangelis' electronic score. The movie has real depth but the story isn't hard to follow. It's more of an manifest really, a bit like another great slow sci-fi, Arrival. And because this i not a thriller or an action movie, it requires a specific mindset to really be enjoyed. And even if you haven't got that mindset you can't but marvel at Ford's minimalist, flat but utterly brilliant performance. This, ladies and gentlemen, is Ford's greatest performance yet. But its not a flawless movie, mind you. The story never really sets of properly and we barely even see the replicants Ford is chasing. A shame really, cause Rutger Hauer's replicant baddie is probably one of the greatest in all of cinema history. His acting can be compared with Arnie's, only creepier. Some of the quieter moments feel out of place in the story and barely bring anything else than more length to the story. The second act of the movie is the slowest, and weakest. After a promising start, impressively setting up the world and the story, the movie almost totally freezes before entering the memorably surreal third act. All of the above being said, Blade Runner is a remarkably memorable and original piece of cinema. It's gritty, violent and disturbing. It's surreal, slow and contemplative. Its few actions scenes are stylish, its performances are top notch. It's a type of moving art that they just don't make anymore.
A groggy thriller based on the classic novel; lacks real emotion, suspense and thrill. Wooden acting even from Freeman himself. The plot is ridden with illogicalities and plot holes. The score is too loud and annoying. At least they made Soneji properly creepy.
Losing all realism of the first movie, this third entry is a monster-fest with plastic monsters, stale direction and clumsy action scenes going way over the top. The story has little point and brings in nothing new. This film is so brief that it lacks real substance or emotion. Skip it!
The trouble with sequels is, they have a tough time living up to the standards set by their predecessors. Very few sequels manage to top the expectations of the audience, and Ant-Man and the Wasp definitely isn't one of them. While the first Ant-Man was a comedic romp with unique action sequences, this second film is ... well, mostly more of the same. It's still lighthearted and comedic, it still has creative action scenes and Paul Rudd is still your awkward petty thief gone superhero. He is a natural in the part as Scott Lang/Ant-man and the chemistry between him and his co-stars is great. The story itself flows well, even if it isn't anything particularly mind-blowing. The new characters work mostly fine, with the sole exception of (surprise!) the villains! Ghost is terribly underutilized in this film and really does nothing at all. Even the funnily misplaced FBI agent chasing Lang across NY feels like a bigger threat. Another interesting thing to point out is that even if this is a fast film it actually contains quite little superhero action and focuses more on the characters and their relationships. Sure, this film looks stunning (particularly in the quantum realm) and the acting works very well on all accounts but it just feels too much like a copy of the first film, which is a shame.
In many ways, Bohemian Rhapsody is nothing but a generic biopic. The first scene takes us right to the final moments of the film and sets the tone for the rest of the feature. It takes some artistic freedom and creative shortcuts in its storytelling for everyone's viewing pleasure. In other ways, this biographical extravaganza is much more than just your average biopic. It's the story of one of the greatest rock bands in our times and it has both killer performances and a killer soundtrack. Rami Malek has earned his Oscar, for sure! The story itself flows nicely, mostly because it goes into the actual Queen phase quite quickly without proper introduction of the central characters. Hardcore Queen fans are surely going to enjoy this movie from the go, but casual viewers will be drawn in by the time the movie shows the creation of Bohemian Rhapsody. The middle part of the movie slows thing down a bit, focuses on Freddie's eccentric side, and tones down the band itself. It's all a build up to the spectacular Live Aid-concert; the 20-minute long closing sequence of the film, carefully reconstructed based on the legendary performance given by Queen in the summer of 1985. Bohemian Rhapsody is at its peak when it shows the band working together creating some of the timeless rock classics. The rest of the film never really stands out, even if Malek and the rest of the cast manage to deliver some good dramatic moments. I would have wished to see more Queen, more music and simply a story with an actual end.
I'm going to admit it: I have never particularly liked Jesse Eisenberg or the way he acts every single one of his characters. The Social Network is obviously no exception to Eisenberg's acting style, but unlike most of his roles, he is actually perfectly suited to play Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. His performance, and that of his co-star Andrew Garfield, do much to make this film stand out. The other thing that helps is, of course, David Fincher's directing. The way the story has been pieced together by the script, the direction and the editing makes the film feel fast paced despite there not being a single action scene in it. There are even times when the movie moves at such speed it becomes a bit difficult to actually grasp things. Real tension is created by shifting the story between the hearing scenes of the present and the things leading up to the hearing in the past. It makes the movie feel almost like a thriller. Other than that, the source material gives little for Fincher to actually do. Overall, it's a very stylish and polished production with some nice foreshadowing and great dialogue. The music is mostly beautiful, sometimes annoying, and the film features great drama and tension.
Hollywood A-listers mixed with Sweden's finest in a dark, gritty and visually stunning thriller. A typical and predictable plot with a surprisingly minimalist Fassbender and a Ferguson that sticks out best. A slow-burner but never boring or generic. Still wastes its Hollywood potential.
A typical action-flick, losing the suspense from the original. Thin plot replaced by generic action scenes and Predator gimmicks. Terminator 2 inspired story and forgettable characters. Holbrook is no Arnie. Deliciously violent, not very funny. Unnecessary remake, but passes.
A stylish action comedy, featuring a stellar cast with hilarious leads by Gosling and Jackson. Gary Oldman steals the show as a Russian baddie. There's plenty of sharp action and violence but most jokes aren't funny at all. The story is simple and predictable, dragging out a bit too much.
This violent and gritty spy thriller features a wonderful Jennifer Lawrence with a faulty Russian accent. The chemistry between her and co-star Taron Edgerton is almost non-existent. After a promising beginning the films starts losing steam in the middle part before picking up speed again for the end. Even though the story makes a good attempt at being dark and inventive it gets nothing done before the final twist. I did expect more from director Francis Lawrence, now it feels just generic and bland.
This is a very generic, by-the-book thriller featuring all genre specific clichés and a Liam Neeson acting with very little actual emotion. The story is very straightforward, and most twists until the very end were easy to figure out beforehand. It has a high tempo though, and there are many good action scenes - as well as a couple of less well-made sequences, such as the first car chase. The script is filled with holes and things that don't make sense, but they don't ruin the experience for the most part. They've tried to make another Taken out of this movie, but it just doesn't look or feel the same.
What to say about Venom? It feels like a dated superhero film from the early 2000's. In many ways, this one is more of a drama than a regular, action filled superhero flick. Tom Hardy is great, as always, and Riz Ahmed makes for a great villain. The chemistry between Hardy and Michelle Williams is awkward at best and their relationship never really feels authentic. The script takes a lot of liberties and shortcuts with its source materiel, which makes it lose credibility. Additionally, it takes way too long to actually get going, with there being an unnecessary long build-up and all. Venom could have been another Deadpool, but that potential is totally wasted, unfortunately. That being said, the action scenes are fine and the dualism between Eddie and Venom is the greatest thing about this film. The sole Eddie Brock parts are not that good, but the sole Venom parts are great. And as mentioned above, Hardy is all-around great in the role. He manages to be very funny as well, which is another good thing about this movie. Otherwise it feels kind of meh and never really develops into the great thing it could have been.
There's a lot of things bothering me about this film: it feels in part like a messed-up play, in part like a hastily made documentary; it's all over the place story-wise and the main idea doesn't really stay interesting all the way to the end. That being said, it does feature an amazing cast in very fitting roles - I have to give particular nods to Steve Buscemi, comedy legend Michael Palin and Jason Isaacs. The comedy in this movie comes form the way how it essentially criticizes the Soviet Union by exaggerating things. It never goes too far though; there is a sense of realism present all the time. Some moments become very hilarious though, and all of the actors have great comedic timing. The story is paper thin but still manages to complicate things and, unfortunately, the steam runs out halfway through. After that you just sit there, waiting for it all to end.
Armageddon is one of those effects heavy disaster movies of the 90s, featuring a heavyweight cast and an overly dramatized story. What makes this film special when compared to other similar movies of the era is the somewhat awkward leading trio Willis-Affleck-Tyler, the soundtrack (featuring Aerosmith's timeless power ballad I don't wanna miss a thing), and the terribly aged CGI. And because this movie features space travel there is a lot of said CGI. I think I can safely say none of the actors rise over mediocrity. Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck aren't particularly famous for their acting skills, and Armageddon is no exception. The story is hardly believable either, but that is just true to Michael Bay's style of making films. It is exciting and huge at times though and there are plenty of dangerous situations - it just takes a good while to get to that point.
What begins as a promising survival flick turns quickly into a generic romance. There is no chemistry between the main stars and the whole thing feels like a poor man's Gravity. It's visually convincing, but lacks emotions, depth and realism. It drags out and gets repetitive very quickly.
This stripped down drama features a mundane, down-to-earth story and a wholly brilliant cast. The relatable plot is positive in spirit, but it never dares to leave the shallow waters. The slow beginning takes an interesting turn, but it suffers from the lack of true movie magic.
Nicely acted remake of a classic thriller, but the promising beginning turns into dragged out and predictable plot. The script suffers from major illogicalities and the pacing is off until the very end. An average attempt at a thriller mostly relying on cheap jump scares. Skip this!
Featuring a stale Brosnan and an uninspiring cast, "Survivor" is a messy and quiet cat & mouse game without any hooks. There's no real drive, no soul and no point point; despite its high tempo there's really no excitement. Featuring bland villains and action scenes that are cut short as well as gaping plot holes and a rubbish ending.
"Inkheart" is a lifeless adaptation of a magical children's book. It keeps all basic story elements and removes most of the padding but feels simple and bleak in the process. The acting is wooden with the exception of Mirren and Serkis.
"The Mummy" is the remake we really didn't need. A messy plot tries to cram too much material in while attempting to create a foundation of a film universe, generic action sequences spark no interest and sub-par acting ruins the rest.
"All I See Is You" is a cheap thriller with little to no actual content; it's hopelessly boring, not in the slightest exciting and mostly just annoyingly art-house.
The sixth film in the M:I franchise is, amazingly, one of the brightest action movies in a long time. Featuring a majestic plot, huge action sequences and a pace that makes your adrenaline pump, "Fallout" should not be skipped!
"La La Land" is a colorful, stylish and nostalgic musical for the modern era with beautiful musical sequences, top-notch performances and a sympathetic plot.
In what is arguably Hitchcock's finest film, creepy and unsettling "Psycho", audiences are greeted by timelessly brilliant performances, amazing visual direction and an unforgettable villain.
Featuring a simple yet effective story, sharp action and a realistic tone, "John Wick" is like Taken for adult audiences: gripping, entertaining and highly enjoyable.
"Wonder Woman" is a pleasant surprise in a doomed DCEU: an exciting adventure, a refreshingly different superhero film and an entertaining war movie led by an awesome Gal Gadot.
"Looper" is a surprisingly fresh, deliciously brutal and incredibly clever science fiction thriller requiring an alert audience to be fully appreciated and understood.
In one of the most original superhero movies ever made, James Mangold crafts a wonderfully dark, violent and deep tale, strengthened by Jackman's best performance as Wolverine.
With "The Shape of Water" del Toro proves that he still knows how to enchant audiences with his magical and gritty fairy tales for adults. This modern day Beauty and the Beast-story takes amazing performances and a playful script and couples it with real-world issues to create one of the most original movies in several years.
"Room" is an emotional drama about the bond between a mother and her child, strengthened by amazing performances from Larson and Tremblay and a script filled with warmth and suspense.
"The Roommate" is utterly ruined by a paper-thin plot stretched out out to the extreme; lazy writing in the suspense department and and idiotic protagonist with idiotic dialogue.
"When We First Met" is a Netflix comedy done wrong: it features an annoying protagonist, a tiresome script with barely any new ideas and childish jokes no one will find funny.
"The Circle" is an awkward drama, wasting both Watson's and Hanks' talents and presenting us with a pointless and broken script, sub-par acting and uneven pacing.
"Justice League" is everything a good superhero movie is not: broken character introductions, a lifeless script, terrible visuals, a confusing plot, joyless acting...
The PlayStation One-era graphics and hectic editing ruin this gazillionth remake of the classic legend. Terrible electronic music and an overly complicated plot don't help either.
