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Post by paintedklown on Sept 13, 2014 4:14:50 GMT -5
Hello all, I, like most of you, love to watch movies. Lately, I have been watching a lot of them (Rentals & Netflix, not theatrical) and have discovered some gems and some disappointments. Some are new releases, others are older films I am just now getting around to, so there will be a nice mix in here, for those that want to read along. ALL of the films I review will either be available on DVD, BD, or Netflix. I will use a rating system of 0-4 stars with the breakdown as follows: 0 Stars - This movie was terrible and I cannot recommend it to anyone. Alternately, the movie was so boring that I just couldn't force myself to sit through all of it. 1 Star - A film that isn't very good at all and I did watch the entire thing, but overall I found it to be lacking in several ways. 2 Stars - This is an "ok" film. Not bad enough to really pan, but not necessarily good enough to easily recommend to all readers. 3 Stars - Now we're talking. This is a film that I really liked a lot and will recommend to anyone reading. 4 stars - This is a bit of a "sacred cow" rating. I reserve 4 star ratings for movies that I feel are truly lacking nothing in production, cast, acting, set design, sound design, plot, etc. I RARELY will give movies a full 4 stars. If I do, it's because I have personally watched them several times, and will gladly watch them several more. With that out of the way I will begin my reviews. Please feel free to chime in with your thoughts, even of they differ with mine.  |
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Post by paintedklown on Sept 13, 2014 4:37:52 GMT -5
Ok folks, I had a review written up for Locke, but accidentally hit the wrong key and lost it!!! I am too tired at the moment to re-type it, so I will get it done tomorrow. Please stay tuned... EDIT: If you all think this is a waste of my time, please say so and I won't take the time to post my reviews. If you're interested to know what I think, please say so, then I will be sure I am not typing these out for no one to read. Be honest, I won't get my feelings hurt. |
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Sept 13, 2014 7:06:19 GMT -5
I for one would definitely be interested in reading your reviews. If you have the time and the inclination, go for it! |
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Post by sct on Sept 13, 2014 7:59:45 GMT -5
Meh, why bother? Mad Norseman already writes the best damn movie reviews on the web. Please don't put him out of a job...<g>
SCT
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kse
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Post by kse on Sept 13, 2014 8:19:01 GMT -5
I'm definitely interested in your review of Locke. I watched it last week. I'll save my comments until after you share yours.
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Post by garbulky on Sept 13, 2014 8:27:32 GMT -5
I'd read em! I want to read doctor who reviews!
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Post by Canuck_fr on Sept 13, 2014 8:36:40 GMT -5
Definately....
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Post by paintedklown on Sept 13, 2014 13:13:28 GMT -5
Locke (2013) Director: Steven Knight  Locke was a movie whose execution, more than its premise or plot points, intrigued me to want to watch. If you have never heard about Locke, it is a movie that takes place entirely inside of a car and only features one actor on screen for its entire run time. Yes, you read that correctly, the entire movie takes place inside a car, and has no exterior shots at all. It’s just Tom Hardy on a hands free cell phone in a car. While I would hardly consider this “maverick” film making, I would definitely consider it “daring” in today’s world of hyper inflated CGI blockbusters. The question then boils down to whether or not this self-imposed limitation serves the film well, or hinders it from becoming a fully fleshed out piece of work. I felt that the answer to this question is yes and no. Let me explain… In my opinion, Tom Hardy is a grossly underrated actor. I l enjoy his performance in everything I see him in, and was delighted to see him given an opportunity to really show his acting chops, and prove to the world that he is more than just an action star. In Locke, Tom’s screen presence certainly does command your full attention, but is that merely because we have nothing else to look at? That is a question I am still mulling over, to be honest, and considered giving the movie another viewing before penning this review. But alas, I wanted to keep my opinion “unfiltered” and decided to move forward with my review. Tom’s performance in the film seems to be absolutely fine, but I honestly cannot say the same for all of the characters he spends time talking to on his phone. Maybe a bit too obvious to say here, but some of these performances did come off as “phoned in” especially the seemingly unaffected teenage son, and rather passive emotional response (to what she is being told) of Locke’s wife. This leads me to my quibbles with Locke. I like movies that resonate with me in an emotional way, and I felt like the almost stoic delivery of lines that should carry an emotional heft, left me at arm’s length, and gave me no central character to identify with. Are Brits better equipped to deal with these types of conversations, or are Locke and his family cold and emotionally reserved? The movie never really answers this question, and left me feeling our on screen protagonist was just a terrible human being. Not someone I would really want to get to know, or spend all of this time with. I have to assume it was it the director's intention to have his characters behave the way they did, but their behavior and reactions just didn't ring true to real life IMO. Locke seemed to be more emotionally invested in his job, than anything having to do with his family. The film never paints him as being an absent father or husband, so it leaves you to wonder just exactly what his motivations are. Why does he deliver news to his family in the way that he does? Is he a gutless fellow that cannot cope with what would happen? Is he running from his own emotion? It’s never explained, but I felt that perhaps the director was looking for something attention grabbing to get you to watch, and, with certain moments of dialogue, tries to give you a view of a man who is in a bit of a transformative point in his life. I wasn’t buying it. I kept waiting for something significant to happen, or for something to really resonate with me, and it never did. Having said that, I fully encourage film makers to be bold enough to make films like this, and create content that prompts us to think, rather than head to an ear specialist.   Overall I give Locke 2.5 stars. The .5 coming from the films cast and crew being willing to take a chance with this film, and for the fact that I do want to watch it again, merely to see if I can figure out the answers to some of the questions I had while watching. I liked the ideas behind Locke, but thought perhaps I would have enjoyed a enjoyed a different story more, perhaps one as intriguing as the films design choice, or one that uses the car as a character, as this particular story doesn't rely on the fact that that its set in a car, it just happens to take place in one. It could have been told in a conventional way with perhaps a bit more of an emotional impact. |
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Post by ÈlTwo on Sept 13, 2014 13:46:43 GMT -5
You'll need some cover art, some graphics, and to break the review down into sections to make it easier to read. How about this for cover art? And how about some graphical stars to spruce it up? |
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Post by Canuck_fr on Sept 13, 2014 14:26:58 GMT -5
Interesting first review. I was also attracted to the film for the same reason as you, but have yet to pull the trigger.
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Post by Porscheguy on Sept 13, 2014 15:49:03 GMT -5
I generally read my own reviews about movies. I trust those more than others...
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Post by MaisterK on Sept 13, 2014 16:34:19 GMT -5
It's a beginning in everything. Go ahead, don't be discouraged. Trial and error, feedback, read the masters, broaden all the horizons, and write less than read and watch.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Sept 13, 2014 19:57:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the review PK. I had not heard of the movie and your review has me intrigued.
Mark
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Post by paintedklown on Sept 13, 2014 20:11:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the encouragement and kind words all. I am not professional film critic or writer, and in fact, have only written one other movie review in my life and that was for the Kino BD release of Fritz Lange's Metropolis. I was so impressed with that release and film I simply had to write up the review. I tried to find it, but alas, it is lost to the abyss of the internet somewhere... Please note that I decided to do this not for reasons of ego, but merely because I have always loved watching movies and think I give a fair review to the content from a "regular guy" point of view and none of the "I have to come across as a well heeled film critic" mentality that I believe follows SOME professional reviewers. I think some of them will simply NOT allow themselves to enjoy certain films simply because they are silly or a bit sloppy in their execution. I think that some silliness and sloppiness can add to the charm of a movie, if it works within the context of the source material. For example, I like some movies that I KNOW are terrible and that were panned almost universally, but I still found them highly enjoyable due to a particular performance or it simply made me laugh. Two great examples of this are From Paris With Love starring John Travolta, and Health Inspector starring Larry the cable guy. Good movies? Not at all. Did I enjoy both of them immensely? You 'betcha! |
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Post by garbulky on Sept 13, 2014 21:56:29 GMT -5
paintedklown: I think the strength of the forum is content. If we are all wondering whether or not to voice our thoughts, it would make for a poor forum right? I enjoyed your review, hope to see more soon! Pssst...Doctor who 
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Post by deltadube on Sept 13, 2014 22:02:56 GMT -5
mr klown I will read them ... ..
ive never rented a Netflix ... is there a difference in the audio and visual qualities vs blue ray??... my guess is blue ray is better.. so maybe all reviews should be based on blue ray unless not available !
thanks
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Post by paintedklown on Sept 13, 2014 22:12:21 GMT -5
mr klown I will read them ... .. ive never rented a Netflix ... is there a difference in the audio and visual qualities vs blue ray??... my guess is blue ray is better.. so maybe all reviews should be based on blue ray unless not available ! thanks I am not doing any sort of technical review of the quality of the release (PQ & AQ quality, encode quality, etc.) as that is a different type of review altogether, and one that I am not currently set up to do.  Thank you for reading though, I hope everyone enjoys reading my thoughts/opinions, even if they don't agree with them.  |
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Post by deltadube on Sept 13, 2014 22:30:40 GMT -5
mr klown I will read them ... .. ive never rented a Netflix ... is there a difference in the audio and visual qualities vs blue ray??... my guess is blue ray is better.. so maybe all reviews should be based on blue ray unless not available ! thanks I am not doing any sort of technical review of the quality of the release (PQ & AQ quality, encode quality, etc.) as that is a different type of review altogether, and one that I am not currently set up to do. Thank you for reading though, I hope everyone enjoys reading my thoughts/opinions, even if they don't agree with them. wow #4 talks about sound design.. dts hd master .. you get that on Netflix? I love it on blue ray.. vs dolby digital sound.. cheers |
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Post by garbulky on Sept 14, 2014 15:36:00 GMT -5
I am not doing any sort of technical review of the quality of the release (PQ & AQ quality, encode quality, etc.) as that is a different type of review altogether, and one that I am not currently set up to do. Thank you for reading though, I hope everyone enjoys reading my thoughts/opinions, even if they don't agree with them. wow #4 talks about sound design.. dts hd master .. you get that on Netflix? I love it on blue ray.. vs dolby digital sound.. cheers delta netflix's picture quality can't quite touch blu ray - and definitely not its audio. Hulu plus has slightly better picture quality. |
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Post by deltadube on Sept 14, 2014 15:39:14 GMT -5
wow #4 talks about sound design.. dts hd master .. you get that on Netflix? I love it on blue ray.. vs dolby digital sound.. cheers delta netflix's picture quality can't quite touch blu ray - and definitely not its audio. Hulu plus has slightly better picture quality. nice to know ... so i will keep going to the redbox !!! thanks |
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