Paranormal Activity 3

Directed by: Henry Joost , Ariel Schulman

Genre: Horror, Mystery & Suspense

Runtime: 84 Minutes

Hard as it is to believe this is the best of the series, now a horror trilogy! This is definitely an improvement from the previous film throwing in more suspense, more thrills and many more scares.  Although using the same formula of the series, I guarantee that your audience will be lively if there are many in it and will enhance the experience of the film. Perhaps here, third time is the charm as we dive in to a low-budget mokumentary prequel that has a lot of the film’s title going on.

Read full
http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/10/paranormal-activity-3-horror-marathon.html

Entre Nos 4/4

There have not been many films out there that actually try to capture the struggles of illegal immigrants in the USA. Good thing that netflix exists because I found an incredible drama that perfectly portrays it called Entre Nos (Between us).

Horrible Bosses

It's been a month since I've seen a movie at the theatre, but after finishing my exams and given that there's nothing out this week had me interested (I live in Australia and the movie Drive is out on October 22nd) so I went to see this movie for the sakes of laughing throughout its core... and I did.

He sounds like Seth Rogen, talks like Seth Rogen, and cracks jokes like Seth Rogen.....

Paul was an interesting comedy from the team of Superbad and I expected something a little much better but there are some good things to find in Paul.

Quick Rentals - The Big Lebowski, City of God, American History X

The Big Lebowski (1998) 

I've seen Jesus so many times, but I didn't know he smelt like pot

Having a cast reunion of a certain movie is rare because often two or more actors from the same movie will be in another movie twice, three times or more. But recently the cast of The Big Lebowski did that and it urged me to see that movie given that it was a celebrity favourite (Seth Rogen had shared his admiration for this movie in an interview) and a cult favourite.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

    **** out of ****

     “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is a classic tale of violence, greed, and deception; told through the eyes of director-co-writer Sergio Leone and through the performances of Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. What a spectacular film it is. It wasn’t well-received, particularly at its time, but it has since gone on to be regarded as a classic. Now, thanks to the film, Spaghetti Westerns are respected yet again; and that is how things shall stay for some time now. But as far as those films go, I’d have to say that this is the best I’ve seen. It’s a grand, sweeping epic built around spectacle, characters, story; all the key ingredients you need for a movie as long, visually stunning, and historically important as this one.

 Full review here.

M (1931) Review

Directed by: Fritz Lang

Genre: Art House, Mystery & Suspense

Runtime: 110 Minutes

The thing that makes “M” so great is the official film noir quality it has and its thrilling plot. “Fritz Lang” was one of Germany’s best directors and was an immensely important one too. “M” is certainly one of his best as is “Metropolis”. Featuring a young Peter Lorre, who was surprisingly distinguished in his role in the film, the story is drenched in great suspense. This is one of Lang’s final films made in Germany as he emigrated in 1933 (I assume because of the Nazis) and “M” remains one of his most important films. This is one of Lang’s greatest works and is everything you could ask for in film noir.

http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/m-1931.html

COWBOYS & ALIENS (2011)

Director: Jon Favreau

Running time: 118 mins (approx)

Certification (UK): 12A

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller

UK Release date: 17^th August 2011

Watched at the cinema Saturday 20^th August 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I must admit I was intrigued by this one when I first heard about it almost a year ago. In recent weeks I have seen the trailer several times and this has only intensified my interest. Despite a few poor reviews from across the pond I was still determined to make my own mind up (as I do with most things) and so when it came up at my local cinema I was there. While it’s neither the greatest Western ever made, nor the greatest Sci-Fi film ever made, I still found it very entertaining, exciting and just about everything you’d want to fill a damp Saturday afternoon. I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

Full Review Here

Film Review: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975)

Director: Milos Forman

Running time: 133 mins (approx)

Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Drama

USA Release date: 19^th November 1975

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 20^th August 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Based on a novel by Ken Kesey, and later a play by Dale Wasserman, this film won 5 Oscars including; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. So it looks like it’s a ‘must see’, which, to a large extent, it is. I did find, though, that as a translation of a novel/stage play to the big screen it did suffer from being just a little too, well, theatrical (for want of a better word). I don’t want to detract from some truly excellent performances, but, as a whole, I did come away very slightly disappointed. As usual, my thoughts after this brief summary.

Full Review Here

OFFICE SPACE (1999)

Writer/Director: Mike Judge

Running time: 89 mins (approx)

Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/Crime

UK Release date: 19^th April 1999

Watched on Sky+ Friday 19^th August 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This film came up in a conversation about Jennifer Aniston, and a claim that she never made a good comedy. Well, this one was recommended to me and, I can concede that, by today’s standards, this is a good comedy. However, Jennifer Aniston does not play one of the leading roles in it. Her performance is good, but I’ll argue that she isn’t the star… although her name does come up second in the cast list. But I digress, it’s a film about office life, and how one individual, with the help of his friends, deals with it. Here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Full Review Here

Love the 80’s and maybe that’s why I took it easy on the film.

Take Me Home Tonight is a collection of 80’s clichés and that is one my personnel guilty pleasures. Love the 80’s and maybe that’s why I took it easy on the film.

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (2010)

Director: Banksy

Running time: 87 mins (approx)

Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Documentary

UK Release date: 5^th March 2010

Watched on Sky+ Monday 15^th August 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This film by street artist Banksy tells the story of Thierry Guetta. As a young man Thierry would film anything, it was an obsession with him. He is a Frenchman who lives in L.A. and one day, on a visit to France, his cousin is making some street art. This fascinates Thierry and he begins to follow all kinds of street artists around L.A., Paris, anywhere he can find them, cataloguing their work and even helping out from time to time. And as he gets more and more into it, he becomes aware of an artist called Banksy, but Banksy is very elusive. Eventually they meet and Banksy lets Thierry film him at work, something those close to him are not too happy about. He is supposed to be making a documentary about street art, but, if the truth be known, he’s just filming… There is more to tell, but I don’t want to give too much away here.

Full Review Here

There is no reason to make nasty sex gags to make people laugh.

Hall Pass is the new directorial effort from The Farrelly Brothers, the same directors who brought us There’s Something About Mary. Hall Pass doesn’t really match up with that better film.

Sadly it just follows the same route towards mediocre PG-13 horror films.

The Rite tries to bring up the topic of exorcism is it real or just a hoax. The film tries to show that and at the same time talk about the faith of a man. Sadly it just follows the same route towards mediocre PG-13 horror films.

Atonement (2007)

Let yourself be sucked in by this storytelling achievement, even if it does break your heart because it sure did break mine. Love stories don't come this deep or engrossing, what this is here is something to treasure. A perfectly cast film that brings three characters to the screen that will live on forever. With a true passion for the material Joe Wright brings Ian McEwan's timeless novel to the big-screen, and now even people too lazy to read will be able to experience this journey through time, war, and love.

Full Review Here

Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)

If you have an open mind Hobo with a Shotgun can be an interesting experience, some unique people may even find its no-holds-barred attack on taste and society entertaining. Jason Eisener does a brilliant job at creating the authentic cheap-looking feel to this film, with Rutger Hauer's leading performance being more deep than this film would ever want to be. Ultimately it is the extreme violence that makes these types of films such common destinations for cult followings. There are multiple times that its distastefulness gets the upper hand, but violence that is some outgoing and knows how to have fun with itself is just so addicting. Daring, remorseless filmmaking that turns into, slightly organized, chaos.

Full Review Here

Lord Naseby's review of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (with deepest apologies to Edgar Allen Poe)

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious movie of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my dorm room door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my dorm room door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

THE LIVES OF OTHERS [DAS LEBEN DER ANDEREN] (2006)

Writer/Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Running time: 137 mins (approx)

Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama/Thriller

UK Release date: 13^th April 2007

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 14^th August 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember when this came out it got quite a lot of critical acclaim. Of course it never made it to a cinema near me and so when it came up in the TV listings it became a ‘must see’ for me. I’m really glad I saw it, it’s somewhat different to what I was expecting (in a good way). I know there are a few out there that are afraid of subtitles, so I should tell you that yes, it’s in German with subtitles. For me, this isn’t a problem, but with a long film (as this is), I find I sometimes have to take a break to rest the brain for a few minutes. I found it to be a really engaging drama that has some truly powerful scenes and some great performances. Here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Full Review Here

End of the Week Quickie Reviews 1#

This is something new I thought I'd do for films I have watched in the week, but have not written a full review. Seeing I watch a lot of films, I feel writing two reviews a day is crazy and I want to stay more unique with them. Therefore, to avoid commenting on the same things each time, and not to spend hours reviewing everyday, I will post this every Sunday with short reviews for films.

http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/end-of-week-quickie-reviews-1.html

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011)

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Running time: 105 mins (approx)

Certification (UK): 12A

Genre: Action/Drama/Sci-Fi

UK Release date: 11^th August 2011

Watched at the cinema Saturday 13^th August 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This must be some kind of record… It’s the third week in a row that my local cinema is showing something I want to see! It is a very rare thing, and something that should be savoured… long may it continue. But I digress, we’re here to talk about Apes. It is seldom these days that I find myself so totally engrossed in a film that time doesn’t matter. This was one of those very rare occasions. I got so involved in the story that people going in and out of the theatre (as they do) didn’t even bother me. I loved every minute of it and have no problem in recommending it to everyone. Here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Full Review Here