Simple Quick Reviews: Scale of 1 to 10
135 Word or More Review
Randomly watched films that deserve a quick mention for being bad or good and a 1 through 10 rating.
Closer to 10 being good, and closer to one being a true poop shoot. These are the films I watch in between reviewing other films that I don't really feel like writing a huge review for.
This way I can just quick recap and mention the good and bad parts. I'm constantly watching movies so it would be a horrible ordeal for me personally if I wrote reviews on every film I watched. A lot of the films I watch aren't worthy even for a review, but this way I can scan all the films I watch and pick out certain films from the huge viewing Schedule.
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Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Olivia Cooke, Beau Knapp, Lin Shaye, Robert Longstreet, Laurence Fishburne
Plot: On a road trip, Nic and two friends are drawn to an isolated area by a computer genius. When everything suddenly goes dark, Nic regains consciousness - only to find himself in a waking nightmare.
My Rating: 7 out of 10
My 135 Word or more Review:
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Starring:
Plot:
My Rating: 6 out of 10
My 135 Word or more Review:
I think if you go into this one with a wonderful
imagination, then I feel it works. I think it's a magical adventure. A
wonderful popcorn flick. I think it has spectacular special-effects. It has
some magical imaginative moments that shine in perfect fairy tale reality.
Jolie was awesome in the part and I liked how they changed and twisted the
story and created something new and fresh to the old tale. I was entertained
and that's all I ask for. If you go into this wanting something thought provoking or award
worthy, then you will be majorly let down. Go into it like a child,
adventuring into the worlds of make believe.
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Starring: Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge, François Civil
Plot: When a team of explorers ventures into the catacombs that lie beneath the streets of Paris, they uncover the dark secret that lies within this city of the dead.
My Rating: 6 out of 10
My 135 or more Word Review:
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The Silenced (2015)
Annabelle (2014)
Jessabelle (2014)
I found myself enjoying this movie for some odd reason. I am
not a huge fan of found footage style of cinema and so going into this I really
didn’t have any high expectations on what I was about to see. I must say I
liked the story and the altered reality, the upside-down concept. There was a
nice creepy tone to the film. It’s simple, unoriginal, but still held my
attention, and I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. Really
liked the story on the philosopher’s stone, and the hidden archaeological finds
of history. A mix of horror with myth and legend, in a history setting, was very
entertaining in my viewpoint. Go into this wanting a simple horror and it
works. Fun, creepy and mythical based. Like the spooks and the darkness and the
closed in Coffin, buried alive reality. National Treasure meets The Blair
Witch.
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Starring:
Plot: The year is 1938. The Japanese occupation is
happening. Ju-ran a sick girl is transferred to a sanatorium for girls, kind of
like a boarding house. There she is supposed to recover from her illness. There
she goes about special treatment. Soon the mystery starts when young girls
start to vanish. To make things worse her body seems to be changing. Plus she
has visions of bleeding, hurt girls. Nightmares plague her. And the mystery
thickens.
My Rating: 6 out of 10
My 135 or more Word Review:
This is a dark tale. It has the atmosphere of a Gothic tale.
Mysterious. It plays out like most of these Korean/Japanese/ Chinese horror
films. Young girls. Seeing things. People disappearing. Creepy moments in the
dark. Scary Korean girls making fast movements. Solid performances. Great
acting through out. Love the thick mystery and the overall what the hell is
happening. Directed with a flawless expertise by Lee Hae-young. Starring Park
Bo-young, she does a fabulous job as Cha Ju-Ran. Equal parts horror, mixed with
equal parts mystery. I found this to be an interesting watch. Loved the mystery
behind it. Thought it was unique at times, and had moments to remember.
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Starring: Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, Alfre Woodard, Tony Amendola
Plot: A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists.
My Rating: 5 out of 10
My 135 or more Word Review:
Nowhere near the mastery of The Conjuring. This played out
like a simple direct to video B-grade horror picture. It wasn’t horrible yet it
wasn’t great. I enjoyed many moments in it. There were some creepy jump moments
but the film felt slow and very unoriginal and predictable. I liked the concept
of telling Annabelle’s story but for a demon doll portrayed as truly horrible I
was expecting a whole lot more. The acting is solid. The direction is okay, the
story is flawed. I really loved the tribute to the master Mario Bava with the
small child running at the door and when it gets close it’s an adult, hint the
reality of Bava’s same moment in 1977’s Schock. The movie is an okay watch if
you want a simple popcorn horror flick to blow time on. I was expecting a whole
lot more to Annabelle but was very disappointed. Solid performance by the
beautiful actress Annabelle Wallis. She was the defining moment in the picture
and held the viewer to the end. Also, always a treat seeing Alfre Woodard. The
movie is creepy fun at times. Some will enjoy more than others. I felt it was
an okay horror film that sadly will mean nothing in the long run.
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Starring: Sarah Snook, Mark Webber, David Andrews, Amber Stevens, Joelle Carter,
Plot: Returning to her childhood home in Louisiana to recuperate from a horrific car accident, Jessabelle comes face to face with a long-tormented spirit that has been seeking her return -- and has no intention of letting her escape.
My Rating: 5 out of 20
My 135 or more Word Review:
Another voodoo horror film mixed with a haunting and past
actions and cover-ups of death. Nothing new to add to the horror. Solid acting
and performances by all. The film flowed with ease as the story unfolded and
worked for a simple Drive-in Horror film. Nothing spectacular. Not great but
not bad. It was a simple watch. I enjoyed the ending even though it was
predictable. Sarah Snook gives a solid performance. She owned her part and you
could sense her emotions as real throughout the movie. Loved the creepy Dead
Girl played by Amber Stevens. Her character was classic horror. The movie is a
simple fun popcorn film, to turn the lights off and the volume up, and simply
turn your brain off and let this be a Horror Drive-In entertainment.
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Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
Starring: John Wayne, John Agar, Adela Mara, Forrest Tucker,
Wally Cassell, James Brown, Richard Webb, Arthur Franz, Peter Coe,
Plot: This is basically what the title says. This is a drama
induced depiction of the battle during World War 2 of Iwo Jima. Now the film
builds the characters, a group brought together by John Wayne’s character. He
ready’s them for battle. The group is often at odds but in the end come
together to fight the ultimate fight.
My Rating: 6 out of 10
My 135 Word or more Review:
One of those classic war films starring the one and only
John Wayne. The movie has that classic stance of war propaganda of the time, even though this one stands out differently, because it is not the simplistic we
win style attitude. Main characters die. There is the aspect of getting to know
the characters before their ultimate demise or struggle. I feel this is a
classic World War 2 drama. It’s simplistic, over the top at times.
Mela-dramatic in moments. Same John Wayne character, tough guy and yet plays a
little drama in his persona. For World War 2 cinema lovers and John Wayne
affectionate, this is a must watch. A wonderful cast that all come together to
complete a well-developed story.
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Island in the Sky (1953)
Starring: John Wayne, Llyod Nolan, Walter Abel, James
Arness. Andy Devine, Allyn Joslyn, Jimmy Lydon
Plot: A transport plane must make a forced landing in the
middle of nowhere during the winter. They are lost, stranded. Captain Dooley
must maintain his crew, solve the problem and remain calm during the ordeal. No
real food, no real means to stay warm. They must work with each other to survive
and wait for rescue.
My Rating: 6 out of 10
My 135 or More Word Review:
Another one of those classic John Wayne films. What makes
this one stand out is the wonderful amazing cast of actors throughout this
film, not only John Wayne but the wonderful Gunsmoke James Arness himself and
the all-around goofy yet brilliant and amazing Andy Devine. The film is a mix
bag of drama and a slight bit of comedy. It’s what you would expect from a John
Wayne movie, the tough guy persona that must survive and save the day style
reality, that John Wayne films are accustomed to be. For classic film fans and
John Wayne lovers this is another one of those must-see films. Keep an eye out
for the wonderful Carl Switzer. The one and only Alfalfa from the Little Rascals
fame. His life is truly tragic. Died so young. 31 years old was a brutal
reality for this amazing actor. I grew up with the old reruns of the Our Gang
series. It’s amazing in his short 31 years he filmed and acted in 126
performances. As always Hollywood abandoned him and threw him out after using
his childlike wonder. The lack of money would lead to his ultimate murder. It’s
always wonderful to see him in these classic films.
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The Counterfeit Traitor (1962)
Starring: William Holden, Hugh Griffith, Lilli Palmer
Plot: Eric Erickson is blacklisted during WW2. He joins
together to assist the British Allies by force. They wish for him to infiltrate
the Nazi regiment.
My Rating: 8 out of 10
My 135 word or more Review:
This is a brilliant World War 2 film. Very deep and dark,
and very intense for its time. There is a lot of brutal actions taking place.
From vivid gunning down women. Bashing in a person’s head. Sensuality. There is
a great mix of dramatic appeal and thoughtful storyline. There is a great bit
of suspense that leads to a thrilling ordeal as you watch everything unfold.
It’s one of the better war movies dealing with Spies. William Holden is amazing
as your main lead. His style of performance is a true leading male actor.
Holden was one of the true greats of cinema. This is also directed by one the
greats, George Seaton who did so many wonders of cinema. I really enjoyed this
Spy war film. The acting was amazing. The dramatic appeal was touching and
thrilling at times. The plot was intense and left a lasting mark. Holden is a
master and a perfect brilliance that lingers and maintains the importance of
his characters in cinema still to this day, and the character of Eric Erickson
in The Counterfeit Traitor is a prime example of that talent. Highly recommend.
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