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IronCretin

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Star Trek Into Darkness - 3 / 5

Similar to the first film: good but not great. Lens flare is less in-your-face as in the first one but still very much present. Benedict Cumberbatch’s voice is Made of Awesome! but his appearance doesn’t really fit the badassness of his character.
Still, fun film, a few laughs, and plenty things blowing up, so it’s a good summer blockbuster.


And the same goes for:

Man of Steel - 2.5 / 5

They did some great things with the Superman character (not having Clark Kent be an absolute dork, for instance), and I love Cavill in the role. Like Superman Returns, the soundtrack misses the epicness of John Williams’ original, but having Hans Zimmer at least makes it in the vein of the Inception soundtrack. And the quieter piano pieces (like in the trailer) are superb.
Too bad that Michael Shannon is relegated to constant over-the-top shouting. Terence Stamp’s stoic aristocratic approach to General Zod was a less imposing character, but all the more intimidating.
A lot of this film is destruction porn, though, with overly blatant uses of product placement (Nikon, Ihop, Sears anyone?). And if there’s anything they should’ve taken from The Matrix Revolutions, it’s that two invincible characters holding a 5-minute punchfest is simply boring. Here we have not one but several 15-minute punchfests. Not good.
And they should’ve kept the fate of Jonathan Kent closer to that of the 1978 movie (where despite all his powers, Superman couldn’t save him). The approach here is… well, a little off, imo.
Yet it’s still an entertaining film (and at least this time Lois Lane knows how to spell simple words).

I had rewatched the 1978 Superman movie a few months ago, which is why I’m so into comparison mode.

     

The truth can’t hurt you, it’s just like the dark: it scares you witless but in time you see things clear and stark. - Elvis Costello
Maybe this time I can be strong, but since I know who I am, I’m probably wrong. Maybe this time I can go far, but thinking about where I’ve been ain’t helping me start. - Michael Kiwanuka

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Funny, I quite enjoyed man of steel. It’s a reboot, so I’m not too concerned with essential changes to the plot or story line, as this is needed to cut off references to the past.
I also do miss the epic orginal score of 1978, but I fully understand the creative decision not to use it, how tempting it may be….as it will be hard to come up with something equally powerful. (and with powerful I don’t necessarily mean the general loudness of Zimmer scores, they are indeed powerful….but often very forgettable)

Cavill was pretty good, though he is no Christopher Reeve (but who on earth is?).
My biggest gripe was in fact Lois Lane. I found Amy Adams lacking in the part, especially the cocky, arrogant aspect of the character. Maybe she is forever linked to movies such as Enchanted or Leap Year….Also she is 10 years the senior of Cavill and though it does not show that much, they also need to consider that they’re making a sequel and a few years down the road the differences may become more visible.

     
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Wow, I really have to start following this thread for TimovieMan’s recommendations, it seems our tastes are quite similar, he might be a bit harsher on some occasions but I can still agree, I just don’t deduct as much points as he does.

Django - 4 (4)
The Man from Earth - 4 (4.5)
Hansel and Gretel -  2.5 (2.5)
Iron Man 3 - 3 (2)
Star Trek Into Darkness - 3.5 (3)

I thought the first Star Trek was actually quite excellent 4/5. We just watched it before the sequel and it felt much stronger. The new Trek was a good scifi adventure but that’s it. I love Benedict Cumberbatch though and the movie did finally give me the push to finally watch TOS (didn’t start yet since I haven’t finished my B5-Crusade streak yet), all the newer series I have already seen.

Iron Man 3 wasn’t crap but very mediocre. Entertaining mediocre but still mediocre.

Hansel and Gretel was at some points so bad that we laughed out loud. Then again there was some nice points in it too. They could’ve really made much better movie with the lore but I guess we already have Once Upon a Time and Alice in Wonderland remakes etc. (Though Burton’s Alice and the new Oz were not as excellent as I would have wanted.)

We’ll see Man of Steel tonight. I am quite an avid superhero fan so I check these out even though I know they’re not 5 star flicks.

From other Timovieman’s reviews I have planned to watch but haven’t yet seen Warm Bodies and Oblivion.
Ronal the Barbaren was new to me, have to watch it now. My fiance especially loves all those really really stupid comedies. I prefer mixed genres like Doctor Who (drama and scifi in the same package) and even in full comedy I go for the Brittish stuff (Spaced, Peep Show and Black Books). From actual movies I really like Zoolander even though it is super stupid and Galaxy Quest is just brilliant.

     

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Recently Played: Red Embrace: Hollywood, Dorfromantik, Heirs & Graces, AI: The Somnium Files, PRICE, Frostpunk, The Shapeshifting Detective (CPT), Disco Elysium, Dream Daddy, Four Last Things, Jenny LeClue - Detectivu, The Signifier

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millenia - 29 June 2013 05:14 AM

Galaxy Quest is just brilliant.

Oh yeah! Thumbs Up

Best Star Trek parody EVER!

     

The truth can’t hurt you, it’s just like the dark: it scares you witless but in time you see things clear and stark. - Elvis Costello
Maybe this time I can be strong, but since I know who I am, I’m probably wrong. Maybe this time I can go far, but thinking about where I’ve been ain’t helping me start. - Michael Kiwanuka

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millenia - 29 June 2013 05:14 AM

Ronal the Barbaren was new to me, have to watch it now. My fiance especially loves all those really really stupid comedies.

Then he is in for a treat. Because it´s really, really stupid.
It would also help if he’s about to hit puberty, or enjoys toilet humor in general.
I do, but wouldn’t give this more than 3/5.
If you take the fart and sex jokes away you are left with a very thin and predictable plot. No surprise, really, but it takes away any chance of suspense.

     
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Man of Steel was good, I’d give it a 3.5/5 with some tweaks it could have been really good (same as Prometheus, potential and some things very right but then too much… action I guess, for the lack of better word).

Cavill is good, super handsome too. The character was better than regular Superman but still close to the original (as far as I know, Superman never was my favourite comic hero so I’m not an expert here).

Zod reminded me of the psycho general in Avatar, in good and in bad. This character was better and more believable but yeah, less barbaric Zod could have been better - maybe.

I think Lois was quite fine, though a bit general. She certainly was curious and even somewhat sassy but I think we really would have needed more background on her.

I would have loved a miniseries about this, the story moved very fast and then again there was sooo much action towards the end. Most of it was pretty cool but I would have spent some more minutes developing the characters instead.

I think the start was very strong. I only now realised how much rebooted Kirk is like Superman. Father’s sacrifice, planet destroyed, outcast… And apparently having kids has affected me, every time there’s a birth in movies I start to tear up.

     

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Recently Played: Red Embrace: Hollywood, Dorfromantik, Heirs & Graces, AI: The Somnium Files, PRICE, Frostpunk, The Shapeshifting Detective (CPT), Disco Elysium, Dream Daddy, Four Last Things, Jenny LeClue - Detectivu, The Signifier

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I enjoyed Man of Steel probably 3 or 4/5

Today however I was getting the car MOT’d so I popped across to the cinema to see “Now you See Me”

4 magicians rob a bank as a magic trick in their big act and now have to stay one step ahead of the FBI agent Mark Ruffalo.

One big heist movie where nothing is what it seems, it’s all an illusion, who is tricking who etc.

At the end though the movie is like a magic trick it’s all smoke and mirrors and once you learn how it’s done it’s not quite as magical. Great first half ruined by a WTF ending.

2.5/5

     

An adventure game is nothing more than a good story set with engaging puzzles that fit seamlessly in with the story and the characters, and looks and sounds beautiful.
Roberta Williams

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Pacific Rim

I wouldn’t go into this movie expecting a great work of art or Del Toro’s greatest movie.

The trailer showed exactly what this film is. Giant monsters Vs Giant Robots. That doesn’t explain the hour in the middle where none of that happens and it trys to put a plot in.

On the other hand…my 12 year old me is shouting It’s Bloomin GIANT ROBOTS Vs GIANT MONSTERS THATS COOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL.

So not a work of art, but a shit load of fun. Turn off the brain and just revel in the stupidity of the plot, the sheer awesomness of the fights and the superb look and feel of the movie.

3.5/5

     

An adventure game is nothing more than a good story set with engaging puzzles that fit seamlessly in with the story and the characters, and looks and sounds beautiful.
Roberta Williams

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I’m going to see Pacific Rim next week. What you’re saying is pretty much what I expect out of it.

The concept makes me think “bad brainless popcorn movie”, but Del Toro directing makes me think “interesting brainless popcorn movie”.
I’m not expecting Pan’s Labyrinth. Not even Hellboy 2. But I am expecting two hours of entertainment… Tongue

     

The truth can’t hurt you, it’s just like the dark: it scares you witless but in time you see things clear and stark. - Elvis Costello
Maybe this time I can be strong, but since I know who I am, I’m probably wrong. Maybe this time I can go far, but thinking about where I’ve been ain’t helping me start. - Michael Kiwanuka

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Oh man. We are going to go to see it too but I just realised that we missed the summer ticket sale a few days ago. Will have to see how expensive those tickets are.

     

Currently Playing: Dragon Age Origins: Awakening
Recently Played: Red Embrace: Hollywood, Dorfromantik, Heirs & Graces, AI: The Somnium Files, PRICE, Frostpunk, The Shapeshifting Detective (CPT), Disco Elysium, Dream Daddy, Four Last Things, Jenny LeClue - Detectivu, The Signifier

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Pacific Rim - 3 / 5

Highly entertaining Godzilla vs. Megaman movie. It’s basically twenty minutes of cool, followed by forty minutes of “get on with it”, followed by an hour of pure fun. I got what I expected, little more but nothing less either.
Also: don’t rush out of the theater as soon as the credits start. You may miss an additional mid-credits scene. And Ron Perlman is awesome as usual. Cool


Furious 6 - 2.5 / 5

Very similar to the previous two installments: more emphasis on action and less on cars. Still, it’s an entertaining piece of fluff. Just leave your brains at home. Otherwise you may notice that the movie’s grand finale takes place on the world’s longest airfield runway. That thing was approximately 200 miles long, I reckon. Grin
Features a sequel hook during the ending credits. Apparently, Jason Statham will be the bad guy in the 7th film. Now they only need Bruce Willis and Terry Crews for maximum bald action hero content. Tongue


World War Z - 2.5 / 5

Fast zombies are scary, and director Marc Forster knows how to build tension in key scenes. That said, the movie features far too little “survivor group dynamics” which is what I prefer to see (and what I find most interesting and have come to expect out of zombie films and series).
With the ultra-fast zombies (and near-instant “turning”), I can’t help but compare this to 28 Days Later despite it being very different. 28 Days Later had by far the better first hour (for example: the missus thought World War Z was “rather boring”), but World War Z has the better last half hour (although to be fair, I really hated the last 20 minutes of 28 Days Later) even though their premise is extremely far-fetched at that point.
Still, it’s not all bad, mainly because of the skilled director at the helm, and a pretty good soundtrack (which features Muse!).

     

The truth can’t hurt you, it’s just like the dark: it scares you witless but in time you see things clear and stark. - Elvis Costello
Maybe this time I can be strong, but since I know who I am, I’m probably wrong. Maybe this time I can go far, but thinking about where I’ve been ain’t helping me start. - Michael Kiwanuka

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TimovieMan - 23 July 2013 08:08 PM

World War Z - 2.5 / 5

Fast zombies are scary, and director Marc Forster knows how to build tension in key scenes. That said, the movie features far too little “survivor group dynamics” which is what I prefer to see (and what I find most interesting and have come to expect out of zombie films and series).
With the ultra-fast zombies (and near-instant “turning”), I can’t help but compare this to 28 Days Later despite it being very different. 28 Days Later had by far the better first hour (for example: the missus thought World War Z was “rather boring”), but World War Z has the better last half hour (although to be fair, I really hated the last 20 minutes of 28 Days Later) even though their premise is extremely far-fetched at that point.
Still, it’s not all bad, mainly because of the skilled director at the helm, and a pretty good soundtrack (which features Muse!).

yes….. the recent era of the vampire has come to an end and we’re moving firmly into zombie-time.  I’m certainly glad the vampire fad has ended because i was utterly sick to death of it and none of it was done well (if you compare it to the original interview with the vampire with brad pitt).  The zombie-time has been much better thanks to walking dead series and game.  But now we’re gonna get a flood of novels and other movies no doubt and my favorite card game Magic: The Gathering always seems to keep up with these fads…  I hate to think which monster will be next… i’m almost certain it will be werewolf….  Liked your world war Z review, very realistic rating, i would have given it the same, i also prefer the survivor dynamics which is the kind of thing which appeals to most ppl with it’s zombie-time.

     
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The Wolverine

Was actually better than I expected it to be after the disaster of the first stand alone. The Wolverine borrows from the 80’s Claremont/Miller arc where he goes to Japan. The movie comes across more like a Western or Samurai movie than a traditional superhero flick.

I enjoyed it.

3/5

Red 2

Another comic book movie, this time from DC. The old spys are back for another adventure and this time Anthony Hopkins is along for the ride. It’s actually quite funny at times, mainly due to John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. Fun and forgettable.

3/5

     

An adventure game is nothing more than a good story set with engaging puzzles that fit seamlessly in with the story and the characters, and looks and sounds beautiful.
Roberta Williams

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Iceman 2013 , Michael shannon acting was jawdropping,flawless execution.
Loved the artdirection and music.
True classic.
10/10

     
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Elysium - 2.5/5

Elysium has a LOT of potential. Its concept is basically made specifically to hold a very poignant social commentary about inequality, health care, security, immigration, etc.
But like so many big budget films with similar thought-provoking concepts - such as The Island and In Time and to a lesser extent even District 9 - the script tosses ALL the potential out the window by focussing on action sequences. Absolutely nothing even closely resembling social commentary is fleshed out which leaves us with “just an action movie”.
It’s a crying shame because this could have been so much more. Especially now that it’s very obvious that director Blomkamp is a prodigy at creating bleak sci-fi settings with good use of visual effects. He gets the “earth-spanning ghetto” and Elysium’s “Mass Effect Citadel”-like appearance just right. In action sequences however (especially man-on-man fights), he tends to overuse the shaky cam which makes everything a blur. Maybe he should step away from unnecessary fight scenes and actually create a pure sci-fi film instead. I know he has it in him…

Funny side note: I had less trouble understanding South-African Wikus Van der Merwe Sharlto Copley’s nursery rhyme in Afrikaans, than I had understanding his English. That’s one hell of an accent if you ask me… Tongue

     

The truth can’t hurt you, it’s just like the dark: it scares you witless but in time you see things clear and stark. - Elvis Costello
Maybe this time I can be strong, but since I know who I am, I’m probably wrong. Maybe this time I can go far, but thinking about where I’ve been ain’t helping me start. - Michael Kiwanuka

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