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paulclaassen
Having done a script writing course, I write scripts whenever time allows it.
My twin brother, Philip Cristian Claassen, is an accomplished actor and writer.
My film reviews are based on ENTERTAINMENT VALUE (for me) and not necessarily on how well or bad a film is made. Even badly made films can be thoroughly entertaining, while well-made films are not guaranteed to be entertaining...
I'm not a critic; I'm a film enthusiast.
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Reviews
Black Moon Rising (1986)
Beauty and the Thief.
Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) is a former thief who has been hired by the FBI to steal a disc containing evidence to be used in a trial against a corrupt corporation. When Quint is pursued by the men who wants the stolen disc back, he hides it in a futuristic hydrogen car called the Black Moon. The car is to be exhibited at a car show, so Quint makes his way to Los Angeles to retrieve the disc.
However, car thieves steal cars at the show, including the Black Moon. Car thief Nina (Linda Hamilton) works for a syndicate led by Ryland (Robert Vaughn). Quint follows Nina, and after meeting - and having sex - he asks her help in getting the disc back. The rest of the film sees them working together and having to overcome many obstacles along the way.
'Black Moon Rising' offers a good dose of action and suspense in true 80's style! This is actually a very good movie.
Saltburn (2023)
A Truly unique experience.
'Saltburn' is a truly unique film in many ways. First and foremost, this is an excellent character study. The premise reminded me somehow of 'Parasite', but you won't realize it straight away.
Oliver Quick (excellently portrayed by Barry Keoghan) is not very popular at the University of Oxford, and is being snubbed at by snobbish students. In contrast to Oliver, is the very popular Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Oliver has an infatuation with Felix, and gets the opportunity to get acquainted with him after helping him out of a predicament.
Oliver and Felix soon hang out together, and when Oliver tells Felix of his Father's death, Felix invites him to his home for the holidays. His home turns out to be a family estate - called Saltburn - and his parents are Sir James and Lady Elspeth. At first glance, Felix's family seems incredibly dysfunctional.
As we get to know Felix's family, Oliver turns out to be a very different character to what we expected. I found this a very interesting twist - not to mention the surprise ending! 'Saltburn' is a unique film I found very entertaining. There's drama, humour, and even a few very erotic moments.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
I guess it took just ONE DAY to write DAY ONE.
Shhhhh! Here we go again...
'A Quiet Place Part 2' gave us a peak at how the events in 'A Quiet Place' started. Now we go back to the very day it started, and the entire film takes place on this first day of the alien invasion.
This film focuses mainly on three characters: Sam (Lupita Nyong'o), Eric (Joseph Quinn), and Frodo - a cat. Sam has terminal cancer, so the film expects us to root for her on grounds of her illness. Eric is just a random character who follows Sam around (for whatever reason) when all hell breaks loose. He has very little back story and there's no reason for me to root for him, apart from the fact that he is trying to survive. As for Frodo, off course I'm going to root for a cat.
I wanted to see how everything started, but this film doesn't really give us all that much. The one minute everything is normal, then the aliens arrive, and then by some miracle people just knew to keep quiet. How?? The film doesn't give enough evidence for people to believe the aliens attack when they make a noise. We as the audience know this from the previous films, yes, but how did people know this on Day One?? And how the hell does the cat never make a sound? Not a purr, not a meow, nothing! This is the quietest cat I've ever seen!
This film has such a simple premise, I'm sure they managed to write the entire script in a one day. I mean, literally all that happens is Sam and Eric (and the cat) walking through the city. Every now and then there's a jump scare and aliens in pursuit of them when they accidentally make a noise. And Sam wants pizza. From the beginning of the movie she wants pizza. Throughout the entire film she wants pizza - despite the fact people are getting killed by aliens all around her! Yes, despite all the chaos and destruction, she still wants pizza! Can someone please get her a darn pizza!! Oh, thank you, Eric...
In the first films I rooted for the family. It was also so effective to have a deaf character in a world where you're not supposed to make a sound. I really cared about them. In this installment there was just one woman, and a random guy. I actually became bored. I really didn't care all that much about the characters, especially Eric.
If you're a fan of the first two films, rather give this one a skip. It honestly doesn't matter how it all started. At least the visuals were impressively realistic.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
Back for more.
Its interesting to see how many recent action movies are lead by ageing actors - no offense, and said with the greatest respect. I mean, action stars over the age of 50. Eddie Murphy was 62 when he made 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'. Think Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Liam Neeson, Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Harrison Ford...
Yup, Axel Foley is back, and once again portrayed by Eddie Murphy - who first portrayed the character way back in 1984. This time around his daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige) is in trouble. She's a lawyer, who is representing Enrique, a man charged with murdering officer Copeland. Enrique insists he has been framed, and now Jane is threatened with her life to drop the case.
Our protagonist's main objective is to find an SD card that was removed from a camera in Copeland's car. They believe the information on the card will reveal who killed Copeland. Axel soon distrusts corrupt Captain Grant (Kevin Bacon). Helping them uncover the truth, is Jane's ex-boyfriend Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).
The soundtrack gives the film an 80's feel. With regards to the action, I couldn't help but think it was toned down due to Eddie Murphy's age - again, with all due respect! I understand they wanted Eddie Murphy for the role of Axel F, and let's be honest; it simply wouldn't be the same without him. He is such a likeable actor with that infectious laugh!! And ever since 'Shrek' I can't help but see Donkey when I hear Eddie Murphy...
Mystic River (2003)
A Good character study and interesting whodunit murder mystery.
When three kids - Jimmy, Sean, and Dave - write their names in wet cement, Dave is kidnapped by men who pretend to be the police. He is then sexually abused for days before he manages to escape.
Years later, Jimmy is a gangster and he has a beautiful 19-year old daughter, Katie. One night, Katie goes out with friends but doesn't return. Meanwhile, Dave, who saw Katie in a bar the night of her disappearance, returns home bloodied. He tells his wife a robber stabbed him, and he believes he might have killed the robber when he retaliated.
Sean - now a detective - investigates Katie's disappearance. When she is found murdered, evidence points to Dave - and Sean wants to avenge his daughter's death. Dave's wife is also becoming suspicious - and scared - of Dave. As the investigation continues, the film gives the audience quite a bit of information to digest, with a few twists along the way.
'Mystic River' is perfect as a character study. It is an emotionally charged film with superb performances by an A-list cast. Sean Penn in particular was excellent as Jimmy. My only criticism is that I found the film a too long, with too much information.
Los últimos días (2013)
Let's hope this never happens...
With Covid-19 we got an idea of what it could have been like if the disease were to get as bad as depicted in this film. 'The Last Days' is a post-apocalyptic film about a mysterious disease. In this case, the victims are afraid of open spaces, especially the outdoors. As a result, they don't leave their homes - or offices - for months.
In the beginning, the film jumps around between past and present. At first, we're not entirely sure what happened, but this is explained soon enough through back flashes.
The film's protagonist is Marc. In the bleak, dystopian world of the present, he is looking for his girlfriend Julia, who is pregnant. Marc's former boss, Enrique, is looking for his Dad, and together they embark on a journey to find their loved ones. With the world being turned into a dangerous place, they encounter many obstacles along the way.
'The Last Days' is a post-apocalyptic action thriller drama that hopefully will never happen...
Durante la tormenta (2018)
Pay very close attention to detail!
Yeah, we've seen this premise before where someone from the present connects with someone from the past, but none were as captivating as 'Mirage' (in my opinion).
The film starts in 1989, with a young boy, Nico Lasarte, going to his neigbour's house when he hears a commotion. When he sees Mrs Weiss dead on the floor and her husband Angel with a knife, he flees the scene and killed when being hit by a car.
In present time, Vera is married to David and they have a daughter named Gloria. They move into the house where Nico stayed 25 years ago. In a storeroom, they find Nico's video camera and TV. One night, Vera is awakened by the sound of the TV, and when she goes to look, she sees Nico through the TV - back in 1989 on the night of his accident. Being told of Nico's fate by his friend Aitor - who is now friends with Vera and David - she warns Nico not to go outside.
In the process, Vera alters the past, which changes the life she is living at the moment. Now, she doesn't have a daughter, and David is in a relationship with Ursula, and doesn't know Vera. Desperate to find answers and make sense of everything, she goes to the police, where Inspector Leyra tries to help her solve the mystery.
Every bit of detail and dialogue in the beginning of the movie is very important for the events later, so pay close attention. Saying too much will result in spoilers, so lets just say 'Mirage' takes the viewer on a roller coaster ride of twists and unexpected reveals.
Rendel: Cycle of Revenge (2024)
How could they mess it up THIS bad??
I've been looking forward to the sequel to 'Rendel' ever since it was announced. Sadly, I am so disappointed in 'Rendel: Cycle of Revenge' that I'd rather have waited longer.
My first big disappointment is the fact the film is in English (and not Finnish as the first one). I suppose they wanted a wider appeal. Pity. Why change a recipe? On the subject of 'wider appeal', they also added comic relief characters reminiscent of Hollywood movies, and they were incredibly annoying.
In this sequel, Rendel (once again portrayed by Kristofer Gummerus) continues his revenge against the VALA corporation. The main protagonist is VALA's new leader, Smiley. Actor Sean Cronin, who portrays Smiley, tried too hard to be the bad guy and unfortunately he did not succeed - partly maybe because of a bad script. I also blame the director - who happens to be the same director of 'Rendel' - for lack of vision on this film. Then again, apparently there were so many production issues that he probably is not entirely to blame for this mess.
From the story to the characters, crappy dialogue and general bad execution, there honestly was nothing here I enjoyed. Big criticism also go to the titular character, Rendel, who was far too passive in this film - and he never spoke a single word. In fact, the actor himself showed very little enthusiasm and at times came across as lazy - or maybe he just didn't want to do this sequel.
All these issues are evident in the end result. This is a poorly made film with a bad script. I think I'll conveniently (try to) forget I've seen this.
Dalkomhan insaeng (2005)
A Violent vengeance movie.
Sun-woo's boss, Mr Kang, has a new girlfriend; a young girl named Hee-soo. When Kang suspects Hee-soo of seeing a younger man, he asks Sun-woo to watch her for three days. If she is indeed seeing someone, Sun-woo must "finish them off".
And so Sun-woo meets Hee-soo, and watches her while they become better acquainted at the same time. This could easily have developed into a romance, but it ain't that kind of film. Sun-woo is a determined and cocky guy with an attitude. When it is confirmed that she is indeed seeing someone else, Sun-woo gives them a warning instead of following Kang's orders.
Kang hates being lied to, and when he finds out Sun-woo lied to him, he sends his henchmen to deal with him, while another crime boss, Baek, is also after him. Tortured and left for dead, Sun-woo vows to avenge the gangs.
Prepare yourself for a wild ride! All hell is about to break loose and a bloodbath and plenty of action follow while the bodies pile up. This is a violent film with good stunt and fight choreography, accompanied by a tranquil and beautiful film score (unusual for this genre). Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride!!
Two Scoops of Italy (2024)
Trust your taste buds!
'Two Scoops of Italy' is a romantic comedy. Being a Hallmark movie, it is predictable. But being familiar with Hallmark's predictability it came as no surprise, and I knew what to expect going into this movie. That's what Hallmark is about: family entertainment.
Danielle is a chef, and she desperately needs inspiration for a new menu to save her restaurant. When her sister suggests she goes to Italy, Danielle sees it as the perfect opportunity to clear her mind, and concentrate on a new menu - and be inspired by the tastes of Italy.
Meanwhile in Italy, Giancarlo - who works at his family restaurant - is tired of the restaurant's same-old gelato flavours, and is trying to create an exciting new flavour. His most demanding 'critic' is a young boy who prefers strawberry flavour, and Giancarlo is trying to win him over with new flavours.
Danielle and Giancarlo meet by chance, and she helps him with new flavours - so much so that she neglects working on her new menu. Yes-yes, we know from the very beginning they are bound to fall hopelessly in love, but this was what I was in the mood for at the time: a romantic comedy to put a smile on my face - and it did.
Ofelas (1987)
Adventure in freezing temperatures.
'Pathfinder' tells the story of Aigin, who witnesses his family being massacred by the Tshudes. He flees, but is pursued by the Tshudes.
Meanwhile in another village, Raste becomes the local hero when he kills a dreaded bear for food after wolves took their catch from traps. When Aigin reaches their village, he warns of the impending danger. Raste and a handful of men stay behind to fight the Tshudes, while the rest of the villagers move to the coast, where they should be safe.
But the relentless Tshudes - lead by an antagonist who never speaks - are determined to find Aigin, and the villagers. When they manage to capture Aigin, he leads them through treacherous country while devising a plan to outwit the Tshudes, and save the villagers. Good climax.
Way before CGI most films were shot on location (I miss that!!). 'Pathfinder' is a Sami film and was shot in Norway - apparently in temperatures of -47 °C (-53 °F)! The snow and beautiful landscapes allow for great cinematography!
Thelma (2024)
Mission: Possible
Its not often we see a movie where the lead character is 93 years old; let alone the protagonist being 93! What makes it even more incredible, is the fact the lead actress, June Squibb, was 93 years of age when the film was made!
June Squibb stars as Thelma, an old lady who is just learning about computers thanks to her Grandson Danny, (Fred Hechinger). One day she gets a call from Danny saying he was in an accident and that he is in jail, and needs $10,000. Frantic, Thelma sends the money, only to find out soon after Danny never phoned her, and wasn't in an accident. She's been scammed.
Now, Thelma is trying to figure out who scammed her - and she wants her money back! Her old friend Ben reluctantly joins her on her quest, while her family is searching for her. While 'Thelma' might seem like just a delightful comedy, there's a few lessons here as well if you read between the lines. We also get a glimpse of what it must be like to get old. I really enjoyed the film's elderly cast.
Most of the events in the film are realistic, and although the conclusion might be too easy and not entirely realistic, it sure as hell is entertaining! June Squibb carries the film with ease, despite her age, and she makes a worthy - and funny - protagonist! She was fabulous!
Dune: Part Two (2024)
I'm so NOT a fan!!
The saga continues...and I can now officially say I am not a 'Dune' fan.
Yes, there certainly is much to admire about 'Dune: Part Two'. Let's see; the visuals are stunning, the costumes and make-up are fantastic, the cinematography is good, the set pieces are impressive. The scale of the entire production is of epic proportions...but the movie is insanely boring. We once again follow characters moving through the desert - and honestly, the film is about as interesting as...well, watching the desert! The pacing is incredibly slow, and on top of this there are way too many characters and back stories with too little exciting happening. I thought the first film was slow, but this one is moving along at HALF the pace!!
And speaking of characters; none of the characters were truly standout characters - no, not even Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet). I must say, for a protagonist he isn't a likeable character, and no, I don't think I really rooted for him. On the contrary, he annoyed me more often than not. In fact, MOST of the characters annoyed me. Take the visuals away, and what do you have? Still a compelling film? No.
'Dune: Part Two' can be seen as a religious film, and in case you're wondering it is not religious as in Christianity. This is about religion - 8,000 years from now. There has always been religions. They come and go and new religions are invented - just as Christianity was just over 2,000 years ago. The film sees the rise of another (religious) leader 8,000 years from now. This is Paul Atreides, or Usul as he is named. Some say he is a Messiah; some say he is a false prophet. They say nothing can be achieved without faith, and that they will make the non-believers believe. Any of this sound familiar?
Apart from the visuals, this "epic masterpiece" failed to impress me. It is a long and slow film, and no, I did not understand everything that was going on. Every scene dragged - or at least, it felt that way. An hour into the movie, it still felt like an introduction to a movie and I still had very little idea what it was actually all about. They kept talking about spice, but to me it was more about the rise of a (new) religious leader.
It also felt like the film incorporated ideas from about a dozen movies or so. And despite set more than 8,000 years into the future, the film still had medieval elements. I mean, these people have spacecraft and powerful weapons, but they fight with swords!!! Seriously!!?? Why are there hardly any gunfire during battle scenes? This is the future, right? Right? Oh, and that cliched hand to hand combat scene climax...yawn already, Hollywood!! And is that love story supposed to be a love story???
'Dune: Part Two' leaves the door wide open for Part Three - which I will NOT be watching...Ugh, I'm just not a fan!
The Final Terror (1983)
Deliverance meets The Burning.
When I read the synopsis - and the fact that I've never heard of this movie - I expected a mindless B-movie slasher. I couldn't have been more wrong, and was surprised by how good a movie this actually was.
A Group of young people go to Mill Creek for a rafting adventure. Unfortunately for them, they never get to enjoy the river before things start going wrong. Yeah, 'The Final Terror' has all the elements and characters for a cliched slasher movie. But it actually takes a while before the killing starts (after the opening, off course, which sets the mood), and it's not entirely a slasher like most of the other slashers from the same era.
The film spent time setting up the characters and allowed us to get to know them. When all hell breaks loose, 'The Final Terror' becomes a tale of survival, which I found really good, engaging, and believable. It gave me a sense of 'Deliverance' meets 'The Burning'.
My only criticism is the fact some of the night scenes were so dark that one could hardly make out what was going. As for the film in general, I rather enjoyed it.
Klovn Forever (2015)
Another sex-filled adventure, but not nearly as good as 'Klown'.
The same director and most of the original cast return for another (mis)adventure. 'Klown Forever' is a sequel to 'Klown'.
With 'Klown' ending in a fiasco for Frank and Casper, I'd have loved to see how they managed to set things right. 'Klown Forever' is set five years after the events of the first film. Frank and Mia are still together and the proud parents of Malthe and baby Fie. Things obviously didn't work out so well for Casper, who is separated from his wife. Or wait, maybe it worked out better for him; he is single and loving it!
Frank and Casper is about to publish a friendship book when Casper decides to move to the States, claiming their is nothing left for him in Denmark. For Frank, with fatherhood comes responsibility, and when his in-laws move in as well, he impulsively decides to visit Casper in the States.
Casper hasn't changed much and he still only has sex on his brain. So there's more sex and more nudity, and they once again have another sex-filled adventure (erm, not with each other!). 'Klown Forever' is ruder and cruder than 'Klown', and not as funny or realistic. It is still an enjoyable enough comedy on its own, but as a sequel it unfortunately is not as good. 'Klown' was by far superior to 'Klown Forever'.
Klovn: The Movie (2010)
Tour de P...!
Frank (Frank Hvam) is seen as a bit of a loser. He only finds out at a friend's wedding that his girlfriend is pregnant. She didn't tell him because he doesn't like kids around him. Now, to prove her wrong, he decides to take his 12-year old nephew Bo along on a canoe trip with his friend Casper (Casper Christensen).
Casper plans on going to a brothel on the trip, and calls it the Tour de Pu**y, so - needless to say - he is not overjoyed at the fact a kid is tagging along. He is a handsome stud who only has sex on his mind. Frank, however, convinces him Bo would not get in the way.
And so the three of them go on an unforgettable adventure - or should that be misadventure! What follows, is plenty of hilarious moments that include sex, nudity, and even a bit of man flirting!
If you intend watching this comedy at a movie night, keep in mind this is a sex comedy, and choose your audience wisely. There will be plenty of uncomfortable moments if you don't have the right audience. You definitely wouldn't want to watch it with your parents!! I loved every moment of this movie!
El cuerpo (2012)
Nothing happens by accident.
Mayka died from a heart attack soon after returning from a business trip. She was a successful and powerful business woman, who inherited a fortune and owned several businesses. She was married to Alex, who is having an affair with Carla.
Now, Mayka's body has mysteriously disappeared from the morgue. Alex is called to the morgue by Detective Jaime, who has a back story of his own. We learn Jaime lost his wife in a car accident several years ago. Haunted by the memories, he is short-tempered as he questions Alex.
Evidence leads Jaime to believe Alex had something to do with his wife's death - and possibly the disappearance of her body. But in this film nothing is at it seems...or is it? The film surprises the viewer with one reveal after the next, keeping you glued to the screen. 'The Body' reeled me in hook, line and sinker from the opening scene, and kept me captivated and guessing until the end.
Saying too much will result in spoilers and I don't generally do spoilers for mystery films. Pay very close attention to small details. In the words of one of the characters "nothing happens by accident". And just when you think you might have figured it out, there's a huge twist ending I never saw coming!
The Money Pit (1986)
Exaggerated and painfully annoying.
Walter (Tom Hanks) and his girlfriend Anna (Shelley Long) urgently needs to find a place to stay. Having stayed at Anna's ex-husband Max's place, they were caught off guard when he unexpectedly returned. Walter's estate agent friend Jack offers them a mansion at a fraction of the price.
At first glance the house is stunning and they jump at the opportunity to buy the house. But when an offer is too good to be true, there usually is a valid reason. Walter and Anna soon discover the house is literally falling apart.
Off course, everything here is exaggerated at an attempt of humour. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything here funny. The over-acting and the senselessness of the film became so annoying that I almost stopped halfway through. Maybe I should have.
The only character that was actually funny, was Max - wonderfully portrayed by Alexander Godunov. He was by far the best part about the movie - and the final twenty minutes or so, and when the credits rolled.
'The Money Pit' is one of the reasons why I generally avoid (American) comedies. Slapstick is not my idea of funny, and this film edged towards slapstick. I don't think I laughed even once. It was almost unbearable.
Den skyldige (2018)
Who's the victim?
'The Guilty' is a very unusual film in the sense that it relies heavily on the viewer's imagination, and Jakob Cedergren's performance. Why do I say this? Because nothing that happens is shown to the audience. We don't see any of the action; we just hear it over the phone.
Jakob Cedergren stars as police officer Asger Holm, who is temporarily assigned to taking calls for Emergency Services - like America's 911. Through general conversation we learn Asger has personal issues to deal with, and the reason why he was given 'desk duty' is also revealed throughout the film.
The film starts with Asger taking a call from a woman, Iben, who has been kidnapped and finds herself in the back of a van. The premise is initially similar to 'The Call' starring Halle Berry, with the operator trying to determine the victim's location in order to send help. Jakob Cedergren's performance is fantastic, and significantly helps the audience in following the story.
With the entire movie set in a room with only one character, who would have thought it could possible be this nail-biting and captivating? This is an entirely different level of suspense - and prepare yourself for a twist! This was incredible!
A Dog Year (2009)
A Man and his dog.
As it turns out, the guy in question is writer Jon Katz (Jeff Bridges), who is not only suffering from a midlife crisis, but also from writer's block.
Jon takes in a rescue dog offered to him by one of his readers. The dog is Devon, a young border collie with issues - and I mean serious issues. Jon has two gorgeous Labradors of his own, who are well trained and obedient. Devon is the opposite, and seems impossible to train.
Jon's wife has moved out to give them 'space'. We never see this character in the film and Jon only has telephone conversations with her. His daughter Emma comes to visit, but she too has a difficult time reconnecting with her father.
With Devon becoming a terror to the neighborhood, Jon decides to rent a farm in the country, where he hopes to train Devon, and find inspiration to write. What follows, is big character development for both man and dog.
As a big dog lover, I instantly connected with the movie, the characters, and off course the dog(s). This is an entertaining movie that never becomes silly, unbelievable or sentimental. It felt realistic and relatable, with a simple premise.
Pin (1988)
There's more to PIN than meets the eye.
I remember how disappointed I was in the movie when I watched it as a child. Back then I was a big fan of the slashers that dominated the 80's. With no guts or gore, I guess the movie was too tame for my liking back then.
Having watched it now as an adult I have very different opinions of the movie. I view it very differently now, and the film is more of a character study and psychological thriller than a horror movie. Regardless, even so I did find the antagonist too passive. The film's main focus is an anatomically correct dummy called Pin in a doctor's office, that may or may not be alive.
The Doctor in question is Dr Linden, who convinces his children, Leon and Ursula, that the dummy is in fact able to talk, but he does this via means of ventriloquism. When Leon and Ursula are all grown up, Ursula is convinced Leon is using ventriloquism to 'bring the dummy to life'. When Pin is brought to the Linden mansion and he moves around in a wheelchair, we notice Leon with a remote control. Therefore, we never truly discover whether Pin is alive, or Leon's doing.
I suppose one has to analyze this a bit further, with Leon being the actual antagonist, and not Pin. Leon is very protective of Ursula and comes across as a father figure instead of a brother. When Ursula meets a fine young man and starts going out with him, Leon actually becomes jealous that she is spending less time with him, causing him to dislike the boyfriend.
Later, it is revealed Leon has psychotic tendencies and might be schizophrenic. This makes me believe Pin was merely an imaginary friend to Leon, and that he never actually spoke. 'Pin' is one of the most stylish of the 80's horrors, with good performances, and a good script.
The Salvation (2014)
Good old-fashioned Western.
'The Salvation' is a vengeance movie about a man avenging the death of his family.
Mads Mikkelsen stars as Jon Jensen. Returning from war, he is reunited with his wife Marie and son Kresten after seven years. When they take a coach ride home with two outlaws, Paul and Lester, Jon's life is about to become a nightmare.
With his wife and son murdered in cold blood, Jon tracks down Paul and Lester and kills them. Now, Paul's powerful and ruthless brother Henry Delarue (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) wants to avenge his brother's death. Paul's mute wife, Madelaine (Eva Green) - who is always by Henry's side - also wants revenge for her husband's death.
With the Sheriff and the corrupt Mayor in the palm of Henry's hands, Henry has the town reeling in fear. Meanwhile, Jon is on a path of vengeance. If you're into gunfights, you won't be disappointed. There's plenty of action in this good old-fashioned Western. Mads Mikkelsen once again delivers a memorable performance. Jeffrey Dean Morgan also delivers a worthy performance as the evil antagonist. You're going to hate this character!
'The Salvation' is an entertaining movie that had me rooting for the protagonist from start to finish.
Dogman (2023)
Dogs never lie.
It's been a while since a movie blew me away the way 'DogMan' did.
From the short synopsis, I didn't really know what to expect or what the movie was about. The reason I decided to watch 'DogMan' is because of my love for dogs, and because me, too, find salvation in dogs in a way. Why? Because dogs never lie!
This film has it all: drama, humour, action, music, and even men in drag! It's a comedy, a drama, a vengeance movie, a musical. It has substance and emotional depth, and can be just as funny as it is dramatic. And then there's that unforgettable performance by Caleb Landry Jones! Man, this guy can act! This movie is absolutely sensational.
The film starts with a man in drag driving a truck full of dogs being pulled over by the police. He seems incredibly calm considering the fact he looks a mess with torn and bloodied clothes. Taken into custody he is interrogated by psychiatrist Evelyn. And then he tells his incredible story.
Wow, I've never seen anything like this before, and can't even compare the movie to anything I've seen. Films like 'Black Swan' and 'Malignant' comes to mind, but only because these movies also blew me away - although for different reasons.
Caleb Landry Jones owns every scene he is in, and completely sold the character to me. He is absolutely fantastic! The dogs are also a treat, and also deserve award nominations. I LOVED this movie!!
Dreamcatcher (2003)
It's a NO for me.
Uhm, no. I don't know what it is about 'Dreamcatcher' but it failed to interest or excite me. I just couldn't get into it. Maybe the narration was to blame. Maybe the director was to blame. Whatever the reason, I can't put my finger on it.
The film has a stellar cast, good visuals, and yes, it even is atmospheric, but despite all these attributes I still didn't like the film. Well, not that I didn't like it; it just did nothing for my senses. It is one of those movies that made me go "oh, well, I've seen it but it wouldn't have made any difference if I haven't seen it."
The film follows four lifelong friends - Henry, Jonesy, Beaver and Pete - going on a hunting trip and staying at a cabin in the woods. One day, Jonesy finds a guy wandering in the woods, and takes him to their cabin. The man keeps burping and farting, saying it must have been something he ate. We soon discover he is a host to a parasite alien. The scene where Jonesy and Beaver discover the alien was really good.
Unfortunately, shortly thereafter the film just got more absurd. With all the silliness that followed, it started feeling like a (bad) spoof of alien movies. Honestly, I almost stopped watching around the halfway mark.
Then there's Col. Abraham Curtis (Morgan Freeman) who leads a military team that specializes in extra-terrestrials, but his whole back story and mission felt convoluted and confusing. At first he appeared to be a good guy, and then a bad guy, but his actions and motives were not clearly defined.
Speaking of which, I also didn't fully understand the Duddits character. Instead of clarifying some of the events, he added more confusion. Was he an alien? How did he come to have abilities, and be able to give abilities to the four friends? What - or who - was he really?
If you're into alien invasion movies, there are far better options out there. 'Dreamcatcher' is a 'no' for me.
Judging by the box office takings, I'm not the only one who didn't enjoy the movie all that much. It only managed to earn $75 million on a budget of nearly $70 million. In general, the film also received mixed to negative ratings from critics and audiences alike.
Juggernaut (1974)
Terror at sea.
I somehow don't think 'Juggernaut' will find an audience in this modern age. The younger generation will find this movie too slowly paced with too little action, regardless of an exciting premise. I believe 'Juggernaut' would do well with a modern remake.
An anonymous man known only as Juggernaut placed seven bombs aboard a cruise liner and demands a £500,000 ransom. Richard Harris stars as Fallon, who leads a team of experts to defuse the bombs. Realizing the slightest mistake could be disastrous, the film has enough tension to keep the audience engaged.
However, if you're watching 'Juggernaut' believing it to be an action-packed disaster movie, you might be disappointed. There isn't all that much action, and it certainly is no disaster movie. If you're looking for action aboard a cruise ship, then 'Under Siege' or 'Deep Rising' are far better options.
'Juggernaut' mainly revolves around Fallon and his team trying to defuse the bombs, while the ship's owner Nicholas Porter (Ian Holm) wants to pay the ransom. Meanwhile, Supt. John McCleod (Anthony Hopkins) leads an investigation to capture the bomber.
If you're looking for a thriller that relies on suspense above action, then 'Juggernaut' will suffice.