Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)

Genre

Comedy | Horror

Director

Matthias Hoene

Country

UK

Cast

Rasmus Hardiker, Harry Treadaway, Michelle Ryan, Alan Ford, Georgia King, Jack Doolan, Ashley Thomas, Tony Gardner, Tony Shelby, Georgina Hale, Dudley Sutton, Richard Briers, Honor Blackman, Elizabeth Webster

Storyline

A gang of bank robbers fight their way out of a zombie-infested London.

Opinion

I've learnt about the existence of this film only recently and the title caught my attention as soon as I saw it. Unfortuntately, other than a very catchy title, "Cockneys vs Zombies" doesn't have a lot to offer.

Even though it doesn't sound half bad - actually it pretty much sounds like "Shaun of the Dead" which is good because I loved it -, the storyline is quite boring and the two "acts", the bank robbery and the rescue mission, don't seem to work well together.

Another issue with the film is that it's hard to get attached and care for the characters. Whether the attacks were successful or a failure, I just didn't care.

Also it lacks those clever elements that made "Shaun of the Dead" such a great zombie comedy, probably because the filmmakers put more effort into the title than they did for the rest of the film.

However, the film is actually well (and fast) paced, it does have nice killings, zombies make their way into the film early on and some scenes are a great fun to watch - like the slow paced "fight" between old men and zombies, or the zombie hooligans. And the humour, strictly British, is decent.

Frankenweenie (2012)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Director

Tim Burton

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Charlie Tahan, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Landau, Winona Ryder, Frank Welker, Dee Bradley Baker, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell, James Hiroyuki, Tom Kenny, Christopher Lee

Storyline

Young Victor (Charlie Tahan) conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.

Opinion

I am a Tim Burton fan, I really am, but I fail to see why others claim this to be one of his best - if not the best - works. Actually I don't really see anything special about it. Why is that? Because "Frankenweenie" essentially is just an average Tim Burton movie that doesn't have that something to stand out from the others.

Even if you haven't seen Burton's 1984 short on which the film is based on, I'm positive the story will sound familiar to anyone because it is an adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic "Frankenstein", only having a boy resurrecting his dog instead of a scientist resurrecting a dead body. And it's a great way to go if you want to introduce a classic to kids. But then Disney stepped in, and ruined everything.

I am not saying Disney can't make good films, but I just don't think Disney and horror make a great pair. They are more family comedy oriented that horror oriented, and the story - especially the ending - suffered from that. Who is to be blamed? Tim Burton, of course. He should have never signed with Disney in the first place.

The film also suffers from the lack of character development, not to mention that it is supposed to be a comedy but there is little to laugh at as the humour is quite mild.

However, despite everything, I have to admit that the story is quite well paced and has some genuine suspense that keeps you watching the film. Some other positive notes are the use of black and white instead of colours, the stop-motion animation, obviously, and the voice cast who overall does a good job.

Lights Out (2016)

Genre

Horror

Director

David F. Sandberg

Country

USA

Cast

Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Maria Bello, Alexander DiPersia, Billy Burke, Alicia Vela-Bailey, Lotta Losten, Andi Osho, Amiah Miller, EMily Alyn Lind, Ava Cantrell

Storyline

When her little brother (Gabriel Bateman) experiences the same events that once tested her sanity, Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) works to unlock the truth behind the terror, which brings her face to face with an entity that has an attachment to their mother (Maria Bello).

Opinion

Even though I wasn't very intrigued by it, I kind of was looking forward to this film because it was described as one of the best horrors of recent years. I guess it's not my thing because there wasn't anything in "Lights Out" to make me consider it as such.

First of all I don't understand the reason to turn the director's original short film into a full length film, because, let's be honest, whether good or not, when a 3 minutes story is stretched to 1 hour and 20 minutes chances are it loses something, and this film definitely suffered from major losses.

In fact the creepy and unsettling story of the short has been transformed into a quite boring story that isn't very effective because it gives away too many details and furthermore it's filled with clichés of the genre, like people constantly wandering on their own. Haven't they learn anything for horrors?

Another problem is Sandberg's direction. All he does is building some solid tension but only in one scene. Maybe, probably, a different director would have made something better, something capable to deliver genuine fear and scares. Which is totally not okay since he also directed and wrote the short.

Neither the acting is the film's strongest suit. The actors indeed are the stronger horror element in the film.

However, the film is a little bit scary - but just a tiny bit - and the credits go to the dark photography and the sound effects that provide some jump scares.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

Genre

Fantasy | Horror

Director

Stephen Hopkins

Country

USA

Cast

Robert Englund, Lisa Wilcox, Beatrice Boepple, Whit Hertford, Kelly Jo Minter, Danny Hassel, Erika Anderson, Nicholas Mele, Joe Seely, Valorie Armstrong, Burr DeBenning, Clarence Felder

Storyline

Hoping to be reborn into the real world, Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) strikes through the sleeping mind of the unborn child of Alice (Lisa Wilcox), a girl that has survived Krueger's nightmares.

Opinion

After several ups and downs it looks like the series has decided to stay down and "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child" is the proof of that. With nothing but nice special effects, the film is a really bad sequel and an insult to Wes Craven. Basically it's like a really bad dream.

Once again we have a story that follows the events of the previous film, but there's not a point in doing so because, as stupid as it gets, the plot involves Freddy using an unborn child to resurrect himself. In the process the film also tries to be an origin flick as it shows how Amanda Krueger conceived her sweet son.

In addition to having a lame, utterly ridiculous plot, "The Dream Child" manages to be extremely boring mainly because the kills are also boring, unoriginal, quite predictable and not even funny.

I know it's weird to say "funny" when talking about a horror film, but this film deserves it considering the turn the franchise seems to have taken since the previous entry. Instead of being creepy and frightening, Freddy Krueger is still making attempts at comedy, and still failing miserably. Oh, and he has learnt a new word - bitch - and he loves it so much he basically says it all film long.

The ultimate weakness of the film is the acting. While I wasn't expecting anything from the majority of the cast and they proved me right, I thought Robert Englund would have still done a good job as Freddy. Wrong, he gives a very weak performance, just like everybody else.

Thursday Movie Picks: Halloween Edition: Epidemic/Pandemic/Outbreak

Welcome to Thursday Movie Picks, a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves where each Thursday you have to pick three films to match the week's topic.

And this is the last Halloween week which actually makes me a little sad. I was really starting to enjoy the theme. Anyway, this is sicknesses week so I suggest you wear a mask, maybe it will prevent you from getting one of this viruses. 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

I bet you didn't see this one coming, after all it's a movie about scientists testing an intelligence enhancing drug on chimps. But eventually things don't go as planned, and a virus that threatens all humanity is spread. And it's up to James Franco to save the world, starting from San Francisco. This is easily one of the best entries in the franchise, and the CGI is spectacular.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

The most obvious pick when it comes to this kind of things. It follows Shaun, an average guy living an average life, on his mission to rescue his loved ones after a virus spread in London brings the dead back to life. This extraordinary demential film has everything: British humour at its best, hilarious gags, a fantastic soundtrack, zombies and a wonderful cast.

The Crazies (2010)

As toxin in the water begins to turn the residents of a small town in Iowa into violent psychopaths, the sheriff tries to make sense of a situation while fighting for survival. This is a creepy disaster flick that wants to be a horror and it actually works and despite the not so original story, it is engaging and enjoyable.

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Original Title

Ladri di biciclette

Genre

Drama

Director

Vittorio De Sica

Country

Italy

Cast

Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Elena Altieri, Gino Saltamerenda, Vittorio Antonucci, Giulio Chiari, Michele Sakara, Fausto Guerzoni, Carlo Jachino, Massimo Randisi, Ida Bracci Dorati, Peppino Spadaro, Mario Meniconi, Checco Rissone, Giulio Battiferri, Sergio Leone, Memmo Carotenuto

Storyline

In postwar Italy, Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) has been workless for two years when he is offered a job hanging up posters. But soon his bicycle is stolen and, along with his son (Enzo Staiola) walks the streets of Rome looking for the bicycle.

Opinion

What can I say about "Bicycle Thieves" that hasn't been said already? Okay, maybe I should approach this differently. What can I say about this film that does it justice? Well, let me see. It is a simple yet powerful film. It is a heartbreaking masterpiece of Italian neo-realism. It is simply one of the best films ever made. A film that every movie lover should watch.

In only 1 hour and a half, Vittorio De Sica does a lot of things. He shows how important yet hard it is to find a job in the immediate postwar, he shows a country, Italy in this case, in a moment of transition and he beautifully portrays the relationship between a father and his son, all while telling the simple story of a man fighting against society while pursuing justice.

De Sica also does make a great social commentary of a country that either isn't working or is working against you, and captures the Italian reality very well. Sadly nothing has changed ever since, it's the same reality we, Italians, face today, with unemployment through the roof and men deprived of their dignity.

De Sica masterfully directs every scene and with an emotionally detached camera shows the postwar Italy in a dramatic yet authentic way, without pointless pity. So "Bicycle Thieves" is not just the drama of a man, but the drama of a whole nation that despite everything still has hope for the future.

At last but not least there's the cast. I didn't say actors because De Sire chose real people, not actors, to portray the character in the film, providing the film with further realism. As I was saying, the cast does a wonderful job, from Lamberto Maggiorani in the role of the family man to, and especially, Enzo Staiola who plays Maggiorani's son with such genuinity.

Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000)

Genre

Comedy | Crime

Director

Thaddeus O'Sullivan

Country

Ireland

Cast

Kevin Spacey, Linda Fiorentino, Peter Mullan, Stephen Dillane, Helen Baxendale, David Hayman, Patrick Malahide, Gerard McSorley, David Kelly, Gary Lyndon, Paul Ronan, Colin Farrell, Vincent Regan, Tim Loane, Christoph Waltz, Enda Oates

Storyline

When not playing happy families with his two wives, Michael Lynch (Kevin Spacey) is busy plotting elaborate heists, while police chief Garda Noel Quigley (Stephen Dillane) is determined to convict Lynch.

Opinion

I stumbled across this film and watched it for two reasons: Kevin Spacey and Colin Farrell. Since I had no expectation, I was sure the film was not going to disappoint me, yet it somehow managed to let me down.

More like an ordinary mediocre film, "Ordinary Decent Criminal" is a quite poor attempt at a crime comedy flick as it is slightly funny and definitely more boring than it is interesting.

Apparently based on the exploits of Irish gangster Martin Cahill, already subject of John Boorman's "The General", the story is paper thin, and quite silly. And it doesn't make a lot of sense but I guess that's my fault because probably I wasn't paying enough attention to the plot details, which turned out to be the most important part of the film. In fact, the film relates way too much on the story development and forgets to do what a comedy is supposed to do, entertain.

There are a few laughs here and there, but most of the time you'll find yourself carefully listening to the dialogue so to prevent from falling asleep because instead of being engaging it is dreadfully boring.

And I know it's supposed to be all about the criminal, but I didn't like the director's choice to take the criminal's side. I mean, he almost portrays the cops as the bad guys.

At last there's the cast who cannot save the film. Kevin Spacey does a fine job as a likable criminal, but the problem is that the character is supposed to be Irish and Spacey's accent, well, it's not great, and sometimes it almost feels like he forgot he was supposed to have an accent. Peter Mullan and David Hayman are completely wasted as Spacey's henchmen, and Linda Fiorentino has nothing but a dull supporting character.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Original Title

Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht

Genre

Fantasy | Horror

Director

Werner Herzog

Country

Germany

Cast

Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Roland Topor, Walter Ladegast, Dan van Husen, Jan Groth, Carsten Bodinus, Martje Grohmann, Rijk de Gooyer, Clemens Scheitz, John Leddy, Tim Beekman

Storyline

Jonathan Harker (Bruno Ganz) is sent to Count Dracula's (Klaus Kinski) castle because the Count wants to buy a house where he lives, in Varna. But Dracula is a vampire and he brings with him death.

Opinion

F. W. Murnau's "Nosferatu" was a fantastic film so I completely fail to see the reason to remake it. That being said, I have to admit that Werner Herzog did a quite good job and, even though it is not as good as the original, "Nosferatu the Vampyre" is a creepy and beautiful vampire film, and still one of the finest of this genre.

The main reason this film works is the story. Instead of taking Murnau's story that was slightly different from the original because he basically stole the story from Stoker, Herzog developed the original story more directly and introduce the characters as they were meant to be - Orlok becomes Dracula and the Hutters becomes the Harkers.

Of course that means the storyline is going to be more familiar than ever, and if you pair that with special effects you basically end up with the average vampire flick. Even boring if you allow me. But this film was directed by Werner Herzog which makes the film a lot more interesting. Why? Because instead of using special effects - everyone can do that - he relies on scenery, locations and photography to achieve a visual splendor.

In addition, the film also has an amazing cast. Just like Max Schreck, Klaus Kinski also does a wonderful job in the role of Dracula. He is hypnotizing and terrifying and I have to say that the music and makeup help with the creepiness. And the sexual tension between his character and Isabelle Adjani's Lucy really adds to the film. Bruno Ganzo also does a good job in the role of Jonathan Harker.

Step Up Revolution (2012)

Genre

Dance | Drama | Romance

Director

Scott Speer

Country

USA

Cast

Ryan Guzman, Kathryn McCormick, Misha Gabriel, Peter Gallagher, Stephen Boss, Tommy Dewey, Cleopatra Coleman, Megan Boone, Sean Rahill, Seyfo, Adam Sevani

Storyline

Emily (Kathryn McCormick), the daughter of a rich hotel owner (Peter Gallagher), befriends Sean (Ryan Guzman) and joins The Mob, a dance crew whose neighborhood is threatened by Emily's father's plans. 

Opinion

After the awful "Step Up 3D" here it is the fourth installment of this money-making franchise, and it's pretty much just another clichéd dance film.

The first problem with "Step Up Revolution" is the story. Don't let you fool by the title, there's no revolution here, it's just an ordinary dance film plot featuring a romance (and characters) that seems to scream "I want to be a remake of Dirty Dancing, not another pointless Step Up sequel". Actually, imagine "Dirty Dancing" only this time Baby and Johnny, I meant Emily and Sean, dance to save their neighbor. Crazy, right?

Other than that, the film has a lot more to offer, like new characters most of which, especially the main ones, are shallow and unbelievable. But that's great because it goes hand in hand with the dreadful dialogue that leave much to be desired.

Another weakness of the film is the acting. While they deliver the dancing quite well, the cast doesn't deliver anything in terms of acting. From facial expressions to vocals, they all are equally atrocious, even Peter Gallagher and especially Kathryn McCormick.

But like I've said in the past, it's a dance film so dance it's the most important element. And I'm happy to say that the film really redeems itself on that front. Some of the choreographies are intense and fun to watch and they fit the music which, by the way, is my favourite of the franchise.

And Moose shows up at the end, but I guess that happened only because the audience likes him.

ParaNorman (2012)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Horror

Directors

Chris Butler | Sam Fell

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jodelle Ferland, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, John Goodman, Tempestt Bledsoe, Alex Borstein

Storyline

In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a young boy who can speak to the dead, takes on ghosts, zombies and adults to save his town from a curse.

Opinion

After watching the great "Coraline" and "The Boxtrolls" I wasn't expecting anything less from this, and, even though I have to admit the trailers didn't capture my interest, Laika Studio did not disappoint. Second feature of the studios, "ParaNorman" is in fact another witty, beautifully animated and enjoyable zombie flick for kids. And adults too.

Written by co-director Chris Butler, the story isn't really that original, but it is the way it is developed and the funny characters that make the difference and how the Butler decided to handle it. The idea of mixing together comedy and horror is brilliant and results into a fun, deep story that goes beyond zombies and ghosts, but that still is a great way for kids to enjoy a zombie flick.

Also making a difference is the core message of the film. Even though it's not very original, and it's pretty much the same Laika have delivered in their other two pictures, between a funny moment and a little, appropriate scare, the film says that there is nothing wrong in being different and that we should embrace those who are different from us, not fear them.

Just like the other two films, the stop-motion animation of this film is simply amazing and its weird-looking characters and set design only adds originality to the film. Worth of a mention is also the incredible job the voice cast does in here as each of the actors provided their personalities to the characters and really brought them to life.

Elvis & Nixon (2016)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Liza Johnson

Country

USA

Cast

Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Alex Pettyfer, Colin Hanks, Evan Peters, Tate Donovan, Hanala Sagal, Johnny Knoxville, Sky Ferreira, Tracy Letts, Ahna O'Reilly, Ashley Benson, Poppy Delevingne, Dylan Penn, Joey Sagal, Geraldine Singer

Storyline

The untold true story behind the secret meeting between Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon) and President Richard Nixon (Kevin Spacey), from when Elvis showed up on the lawn of the White House to when he actually met the President.

Opinion

Being a huge fan of Kevin Spacey, I've been waiting to see this film for a long time, but the wait has not been fully repaid. In fact "Elvis & Nixon" unfortunately is an occasionally funny film that isn't much more than a time filler.

Whether it stayed true to history or not - and because of the moment's secrecy I doubt someone can tell that -, the story is actually interesting, kept me curious about the outcome of the meeting and engaged me since the very beginning, not to mention that the ending is not a disappointment.

However, at times, the film focuses on the wrong thing, character actually, Elvis's longtime friend Jerry Schilling. Since the film is called "Elvis & Nixon" and not "Elvis, Jerry & Nixon", I found it a complete waste of time to give so much screen time to this character, his ambitions and his sentimental life. It is supposed to be about Elvis wanting to become an undercover agent at large, not Jerry wanting to create his own business.

That being said, the film does have another major problem, the comedy. It pretty much fails on that front. Other than some goofy gags and some chuckle moments because of the absurdity of Elvis's request, there isn't much to laugh about.

But the cast does a really good job. Honestly I didn't like the cast of Michael Shannon as Elvis because he isn't handsome enough and he isn't charming enough for the role. But he really surprised me as he does an admirable job. Actually, he killed it. So who cares if he doesn't look like Elvis? Kevin Spacey also delivers a captivating performance as Nixon - and I really enjoyed seeing him play to opposite of Frank Underwood, even though I would have liked him to have more screen time. The rest of the cast also does fine.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

Genre

Horror

Director

Renny Harlin

Country

USA

Cast

Robert Englund, Lisa Wilcox, Danny Hassel, Brooke Theiss, Andras Jones, Tuesday Knight, Toy Newkirk, Rodney Eastman, Ken Sagoes, Nicholas Mele, Brooke Bundy

Storyline

Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) returns to terrorize the dreams of the remaining Dream Warriors, as well as those of a young woman (Lisa Wilcox) who may know the way to defeat him for good.

Opinion

A lot of franchises follow a pattern, they alternate good films to awful ones, and because the first film of this franchise was great, the second was rubbish and the third was good I should have seen this coming. Instead, I was expecting a good or at least decent entry. 

Unfortuntately "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" is anything but good or decent. Rather is it a pointless, non scary sequel that seems more like a silly comedy than a horror.

While in "Dream Warriors" it was a good idea to reprise where the first film left so to eclipse the disastrous "Freddy's Revenge", this time is wasn't a smart move, mainly because this film doesn't even have a plot. It's just Freddy, once again come back from the dead, killing one-dimensional characters.

One of the biggest flaws is probably the filmmakers' choice to give Freddy more screen time, transforming him from the dreaded man haunting young people he was to a stupid joker. In fact, bad jokes (and terrible killings) are all that Freddy is fed with.

Another things this film is lacking is a good cast. Definitely not as good as the previous ones - which included Patricia Arquette and Laurence Fishburne -, the actors are terrible. I was wondering why Arquette didn't reprise her role, then I saw the film and understood. 

Julia's Eyes (2010)

Original Title

Los ojos de Julia

Genre

Horror

Director

Guillem Morales

Country

Spain

Cast

Belén Rueda, Lluís Homar, Clara Segura, Julia Gutiérrez, Francesc Orella, Pablo Derqui, Joan Dalmau, Héctor Claramunt, Daniel Grao, Boris Ruiz, Victor Benjumea, Carlos Fabregas, Dani Codina, Oscar Foronda, Laura Barba

Storyline

After the death of her blind twin sister, Julia (Belén Rueda), who is also slowly losing her sight, starts investigating what the police says it's just a case of suicide.

Opinion

I really wanted to see this film when it came out but eventually didn't because of its supernatural elements. I wasn't a big fan of that at the time. Now things have changed, I've come to love Guillermo del Toro's work, and the least I could do was to check it out. And I have to say that "Julia's Eyes" really was a pleasant surprise. With flaws.

Even though it's not the first time that a horror flick uses blindness to fulfil its purpose, the story to this film is quite fascinating and original, and it does have some interesting plot twists in store. Unfortunately, it does also fall into some clichés of the genre, like the mysterious old man, or the chases through dark corridors.

With a sinister and mysterious atmosphere, Guillem Morales manages to deliver a lot of suspense and really keeps you on the edge of your seat, but, and this is a big one, there is a tremendous tension drop in the central part, and the story, even though it is rich in developments, doesn't seem to go anywhere. But then the final part comes in and it makes you almost forget about that middle section.

Some nice additions to the film are Oscar Faura's photography that really captures the atmosphere of the film, and Fernando Velazquez's musical score that adds plenty of suspense.

Not less important is the cast, especially Belén Rueda. I loved her performance in "The Sea Inside" and I was really curious to see how she would have done in horror and she does more than fine. Actually she is sensational in the role of the two sisters, especially in the second part of the film.

Thursday Movie Picks: Halloween Edition: Science Fiction Horror

Welcome to Thursday Movie Picks, a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves where each Thursday you have to pick three films to match the week's topic.

And here we go with another Halloween themed week, a pretty easy one because it blends science fiction and horror, probably my favorite kind of horror. After horror comedies. Or horror horrors. Anyway, without further ado, here's my three picks.

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

Set in a dystopian future where, once a year, every crime is legal aka you can kill your boss, or rob a bank and nobody can do nothing, this second film of the series follows a group of character whose stories eventually intertwine as they try to survive the purge. My favourite of the series, it has plot twists, delivers good thrills and Frank Grillo is a real badass.

Videodrome (1983)

A cable TV operator discovers a snuff broadcast, and fascinated by the sick and twisted program, he starts investigating to discover where the show comes from and who is behind it. Things will get nasty. This disturbing, twisted Cronenberg film is arguably one of the most revolutionary sci-fi films ever, probably because there's a lot of horrifying stuff going on.

Jason X (2003)

Set in space in the year 2455, a group of students accidentally bring back to life Jason Voorhees and the guy continues his killing spree on the spaceship. This is my least favourite of the three. Actually I hate it, it is an embarrassment both for the horror and sci-fi genre and it's so silly it should on the dictionary under "stupid". But I guess it's so bad it's good. 

Blue Velvet (1986)

Genre

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Director

David Lynch

Country

USA

Cast

Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Hope Lange, Dean Stockwell, George Dickerson, Priscilla Pointer, Frances Bay, Jack Harvey, Ken Stovitz, Brad Dourif, Jack Nance, J. Michael Hunter, Dick Green, Fred Pickler

Storyline

After finding a severed human ear in a field, a young man (Kyle MacLachlan) starts investigating and soon discovers a sinister underworld lying beneath his suburban home town.

Opinion

When watching a David Lynch film one thing is for sure, you never know what you are getting into other than something weird, and "Blue Velvet" makes no difference. It indeed is strange but it also is a utterly mesmerising and beautiful film.

There's nothing great about the story to the film, it is just a simple story about an amateur investigator that features strange character, six, drugs, violence and murders; it also has some gaps in logic and it is not even remotely plausible. And it's pretty much like an abstract painting, hard to figure out.

But what makes the difference, this is David Lynch's after all, is the way the story is told. Simply brilliant. Even though at some point the film is inexplicably dull, Lynch transforms a simple story into something interesting and entertaining and manages to deliver a detective story with elements that are genuinely suspenseful, scary and creepy.

Another strong aspect of the film is Lynch's sense of humour. A strange yet subtle sense of humour that isn't made of jokes but of absurdities. Also playing an important role is the dreaded and surrealistic atmosphere created. The music is incredible as well: it is haunting and hypnotic and really add to the story's weirdness.

The acting is superb as well. Kyle MacLachlan does a good job portraying the changes his character goes through, Isabella Rossellini is truly devastating in the role of a mysterious woman at the center of the story and Laura Dern brings some innocence that balances MacLachlan's character but the best is yet to come: Dennis Hopper. He is terrifying and hilarious at times in the role of Frank Booth, arguably one of the most evil yet fascinating villains ever written. He really makes for the perfect villain.

Nosferatu (1922)

Original Title

Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens

Genre

Fantasy | Horror

Director

F. W. Murnau

Country

Germany

Cast

Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, Greta Schröder, Alexander Granach, Georg H. Schnell, Ruth Landshoff, John Gottowt, Gustav Botz, Max Nemetz, Wolfgang Heinz, Heinrich Witte, Guido Herzfeld, Karl Etlinger, Hardy von Francois, Fanny Schreck

Storyline

A young, German real estate agent (Gustav von Wangenheim) is sent to Transylvania as the Count (Max Schreck) wants to purchase an house in Germany and soon realises the evil he is dealing with.

Opinion

Almost a century ago, before vampires were portrayed as the cool kids, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau brought to the screen Bram Stoker's legendary vampire, Dracula, for the very first time with "Nosferatu", a brilliant and quite disturbing masterpiece of silent cinema.

As mentioned above, the film is based on Stoker's novel, but, due to some copyright problems, the names of the characters and places were changed which is definitely not a big deal because the story remains the same, that story we all know by heart.

The story is well told, well, most of it is. Some parts look a little confusing because the titles don't really explain what is going on. Also I have to admit that at some point the story turns into something really weird that is nothing like "Dracula". 

Other than that, I have nothing to complain about. The sets, environments and photography are perfect and give the film a fantastic, unique and unforgettable atmosphere that is terrific and creepy, still nowadays. Some of the special effects are laughable, but they still deserve respect because this film was made before computers were even a thing.

And yes, this film is actually scary and Max Schreck has to be thanked for that. He plays the part of Count Orlok/Nosferatu to perfection, and with his long fingernails and gaunt appearance he delivers the best vampire performance ever, bringing such a presence to the role that cannot be equaled. 

I would have never imagined a silent film to still be this powerful nowadays, but I get why some people may find it too slow or boring. 

Step Up 3D (2010)

Genre

Drama | Dance | Romance

Director

Jon M. Chu

Country

USA

Cast

Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani, Sharni Vinson, Alyson Stoner, Kathy Najimy, Joe Slaughter, Keith Stallworth, Kendra Andrews, Stephen Boss, Jonathan Perez, Martin Lombard, Facundo Lombard, Oren Michaeli, Chadd Smith, Daniel Campos, Shirley Henriquez, Alberto Collado Aracena

Storyline

A tight-knit group of New York City street dancers find themselves pitted against the world's best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown.

Opinion

I remember this film making a pretty big deal about being in 3D when it came out. Frankly, I don't even get the point of making a 3D dance film. Maybe, since "Step Up 3D" is a really bad film, the purpose was to make it look nicer, but I wouldn't know because I've seen it twice in 2D. And my opinion hasn't changed, it only got worse.

The plot wasn't either the previous installments' strong suit, but at least the final products were quite pleasant. But this is a whole different story. The non-existent plot is filled with clichés of the genre, gigantic plot holes and as if that wasn't enough it doesn't make a lot of sense and most important it manages to be boring.

I know what you are thinking, how can a dance film be boring, right? Ask the filmmakers, that apparently they were so caught up in the idea of making the first 3D dance film that they didn't even think about writing. In fact, other than the dreadful story, the script also features so horrible that is painful to hear dialogue - it can pretty much be summarized with "We have to win" and "We still can do it" - and characters there are the least interesting of the franchise. And not only.

And now the dancing. When it comes to a film like this one, there's nothing worse than average choreographies, and that's exactly what the film provides from start to finish. I usually feel excited when watching those scenes, but here I felt nothing. Besides boredom, of course.

In this hell, one character and actor steps out from the crowd, that being Adam G. Sevani in the role of Moose. I've already mentioned how much I like the character in "Step Up 2: The Streets", and in this film he is pretty much the only good thing. And he does start with a good opening dance scene.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Fantasy

Directors

Steve Box | Nick Park

Country

UK

Voice Cast

Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Peter Kay, Nicholas Smith, Dicken Ashworth, Edward Kelsey

Storyline

Wallace (Peter Sallis) and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.

Opinion

I've never seen the the television series this is based on, but I remember that I wanted to see the film very badly when it came out, pretty much because I was 11 and obsessed with bunnies. Now, 11 year later, I've finally watched it, and it blew me away!

"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is an amusing, creative and colourful animated flick that is entertaining from start to finish.

And it is well written as well. Even though it is simple - but easy for kids to follow - and not very original, the story is funny and engaging and also reserves some surprises along the way, turns that may seem bizarre, but that totally makes sense and seems normal in this world. And the subplots are interesting as well.

The film is also filled with British humour - if you love it, you'll love the film - that suits both kids and adults. Sure, there are some jokes that target more adults - like in the scenes between Wallace and Lady Tottingham - but overall everyone can laugh at it.

I've found the characters quite eccentric and memorable, not to mention how hilarious they are. But since I've never seen the series, I believe the filmmakers should have taken some time to properly introduce Wallace and Gromit for those not familiar with the series. In spite of that, it was still exciting to follow the two friends in their adventure.

The best and most striking aspect of this film is indeed the clay animation, that is what makes this film so unique. The meticulous attention to details, the beautifully expressive faces of characters that seem more human than those computer generated. It's really amazing what can be hand-crafted.

Bastille Day (2016)

Genre

Action | Thriller

Director

James Watkins

Country

UK | France | USA

Cast

Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon, Kelly Reilly José Garcia, Anatol Yusef, Eriq Ebouaney

Storyline

A young con artist (Richard Madden) and a former CIA agent (Idris Elba) embark on an anti-terrorist mission in France.

Opinion

Not really advertised - at least in my country -, I decided to watch this film because of its leads, Idris Elba and Richard Madden, and they were not a total disappointment. And "Bastille Day"? Well, it's another story. While it is a decent action thriller, it doesn't bring anything new to the genre. 

First up is the plot which couldn't have been more thin, predictable or implausible, stretching credulity to its limits. And it's quite annoying, because it starts off quite well and with a good concept, but then the twists that seems so well planned aren't that wow, and the whole thing is a bit of a disappointment.

The characters are another flaw. Just like the plot, they are thinly written, shallow, lack personality and the buddy feeling between the main characters, the CIA agent and the young delinquent, never really develops. "Central Intelligence" did a great job there. 

On the other side of the coin there's the action. The sequences are well done and the fast pace is perfect to make the experience a little bit more entertaining and exciting. But, in my opinion, there is too much unnecessary violence that make no sense at all.

As for the cast, the charismatic Idris Elba is simply awesome in the role of the CIA agent and shows people why he could/should be the next James Bond. Anyway, if they think he is too street, whatever that means, it's better if they cast someone else, Elba does need James Bond. Richard Madden, however, was a bit of a let down. I was really interested in seeing him outside of "Game of Thrones" but he never manages to shine. But probably I should blame the writers, not him.