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Reviews
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Incredible Storytelling
I had always heard good things about this film but I didn't watch it for the first time until 2019. Of course I've seen many of Kathy Bates performances but this particular one is outstanding. Beyond the acting; Stephen King really hit the nail on the head with this thrilling story. It's got a great blend of humor/dark humor, drama and mystery. It's a very emotional tale through and through with some chilling moments. The story is told through a traditional non-linear-Stephen King-fashion, similar to some of his other great adaptions. I did not expect the narration either and it was very well used. The cinematography in this film is incredible- something I didn't think I would find with this movie. Lastly to tie things up, the musical score is superb! I cannot wait to watch this movie again.
(Also, young John C. Reilly)
10/10!!
The Twilight Zone (2019)
Rod Serling would be disappointed with CBS
Change the title of the show and this could be a hit. What I find to be the most common mistake, regarding the attempts to revive this anthology, is the lack of theatre. This is why I believe this show cannot be remade. Rod Sterling, the original creator of the series, would be appalled with the profanity and explicit behavior depicted on the show. Separate from the incredible actors and guests in the new episodes, the continuous jump cuts and poor cinematography take away certain characteristics from the storytelling.
While I believe Serling pushed his viewers to the boundaries of imagination while shedding light on taboo social topics, the new revival ironically backfires with the poor script writing and lack of creative language. "Suck my p****", a line in the first episode that instantly caught my attention as poorly written. On the other hand, Jordan Peele's depiction as The Narrator is incredible and his dialogue is told with much needed care.
In the original series, take note that many scenes feature incredible monologues and little need for scene-cutting. It is truly theatrical. Example, a popular episode starring William Shatner titled "Nick of Time", when two newlyweds are confined to a diner by a fortune-telling machine. This episode takes place almost entirely inside a diner with a simple 2-shot camera set up with a few insert shots.
Many of the original Twilight Zone episodes are produced in this manor. Respectively, Rod Serling and the producers did not have the biggest budget to film the original series. Also the lack of technology forced the use of practical effects in this era of film, which helped push the storytelling into dialogue-driven tales. This does not translate into the new series very well, thus letting down fans of the original series.
Lastly, there are no clouds and there is no rain at 30,000 ft. That is a fact.
The Predator (2018)
Great continuation of the series
I'm a huge fan of the original and Predator 2 and this movie takes the series (in what I feel) is a fresh direction. That is also what I loved about Predator 2, moving the action into the city and centering the script around different characters. We will probably never get Arnie in another Predator film but that is okay with me for now. I can understand why there is dislike in the community for this film. It kind of throws a lot of peril at you from the get go, unlike the original where there's is a huge build up of suspense before we really see any bloodshed.
Yes, the child with the Predator gear is a little outlandish, but makes for interesting situations at certain points of the film. The humor is dark and gritty, just the way I like it in Predator films. The action scenes are intense right off the bat and I give applause to the stunt coordinatation and live-action sequences that were pulled off throughout the movie. The crew was very detailed at keeping this story true to Predator's roots, as well as expanding on the mystasism surrounding the Predator. What the storytellers have done is add some modern touches, obviously because this movie takes place in 2018. It felt fresh. I look forward to seeing what follows this movie! Obviously not as good as the original, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
Seth McFarlane strikes gold
I don't understand the 1 star reviews.... Maybe people were expecting something more serious. I guarantee this movie will be a treasured classic in 20 years! Outstanding cast and excellent comedic preformance from all! I think I've watched A Million Ways to Die in the West three times and every time I find something else hilarious that I didn't catch the last time. I really enjoy the references, the cameos, and the overall outlandish death scenes... it's not exactly a spoof, it's not exactly satire, it's Seth McFarlane's own original comedy fest that makes this movie special. I'm really glad this script was green lit, I think it will take a while for people to really get this movie, but overall I give this movie an 8 stars for being a movie I love watching with friends and having a good laugh.
Halloween (2007)
If you love Michael Myers, this is your movie.
I hear a lot of negative reviews about this film... I can understand why die hard fans of the original wouldn't like this, but I love the vision behind this movie. It's not just about The Shape butchering babysitters in a small town on Halloween night. There's actually a backstory and character arcs. We get to see Michael's childhood, which of course is Zombie's imagining of that childhood, and it's fairly entertaining. You also see Dr. Loomis in his middle age when he starts working with Michael, and you get to see the effect it has on Loomis. Michael and Loomis almost had a bond, and it must have drove Loomis crazy to spend 20 years on a patient who wouldn't speak.
I like how the first half tells the story of young Michael and then we see him turn into the Shape.
Locations:
Around the second act, the movie was filmed in the same area as the original, even including shots of the original house and streets used in the original. So I'm not sure why people complain about the fact that this movie was made in California. So was the original.
Characters/acting
The second half of this movie does annoy me a little bit. Just little things like Scout's preformance... she was annoying and I never found myself rooting for her. Also, more and more graphic sex scenes around every corner. It's a little repetitive. Most of the characters honestly you just want to see get brutally murdered. But is that a bad thing? That's what I paid to see.
The Shape:
Tyler Mane is awesome as the Shape. He is a big scary dude so it makes sense how Michael is so strong and powerful. Some of the kills are just brutal. But in this Adaption Michael is still sneaky and agile. There is also a few hints in this movie that Michael in fact does hold supernatural abilities, which is interesting considering the original movies fail to go into any detail about his inhuman abilities. (Being shot multiple times, set on fire, etc.) At least this reimagining makes room for interesting theories that could even apply to previous Halloween films.
(Halloween 6 opens up the idea that's Michael is a part of a satanic cult)
Overall, if you like Michael Myers, watch this movie. You'll be rooting for him. He's almost like an anti-hero. The movie is set in 2 time periods and I think both periods are captured well, all while capturing a similar mood throughout. The acting is a bit cheesy at some points but Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Tyler Mane, Danielle Harris and Skyler Gisando give off some really good performances in this one. Thanks Rob Zombie for making this movie, I watch it every October!