Copycat is an interesting movie. The plot is about a serial killer who mimics famous American serial killers, which is a frighteningly believable scenario in real life. The main protagonist (Weaver) is a tormented psychiatrist, who suffers from agoraphobia as a result of a near-fatal attempt on her life by a serial killer. The intricate back story draws the viewer in almost immediately. The pacing of Copycat is just right, sometimes crawling (and thereby building anticipation), and sometimes moving at a frantic speed, when things actually happen. The characters of Weaver and Holly Hunter appear realistic, and makes me think that several investigators/forensic profilers were involved in the process of creating them. I recommend watching this movie to everyone who likes cerebral chillers.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Sons of Steel
(1988)
Cheesy, nonsensical, but can be funny at times
1 March 2015
To me, this is an essential "so bad it's good" movie. As per usual with such films, a friend dared me to watch Sons of Steel. After accepting the challenge, I gave it a watch. Wow.
The movie is a semi-musical sci-fi from Australia. The concept is interesting, and there is definitely some artistic value hidden in it. Trying to describe the plot is like playing cat's cradle while riding a bike sitting backwards, blindfolded. Most of the time it doesn't make any sense. What makes this movie good is the fun factor: the director obviously was having fun making the film. It's obvious that the jokes are cheesy, and are meant to be so. In my opinion, the cheese is the most appealing part of Sons of Steel. Some of the quotes stuck with me for over a decade, and I can sharply recall some of the weirdest scenes from the movie in a heartbeat.
I consider SoS an essential party movie, which you should watch with your friends amidst a constant mix of booing and laughing.
The movie is a semi-musical sci-fi from Australia. The concept is interesting, and there is definitely some artistic value hidden in it. Trying to describe the plot is like playing cat's cradle while riding a bike sitting backwards, blindfolded. Most of the time it doesn't make any sense. What makes this movie good is the fun factor: the director obviously was having fun making the film. It's obvious that the jokes are cheesy, and are meant to be so. In my opinion, the cheese is the most appealing part of Sons of Steel. Some of the quotes stuck with me for over a decade, and I can sharply recall some of the weirdest scenes from the movie in a heartbeat.
I consider SoS an essential party movie, which you should watch with your friends amidst a constant mix of booing and laughing.
Star Trek
(2009)
Fresh and different
25 February 2015
This review (at the current count) is the 1518th written by IMDb users, so I'm pretty sure everything was already said about this movie.
Personally, I think this film takes a different spin on the Trek universe. Having seen every ST movie and every TV series multiple times, the 2009 movie felt refreshing. A change of pace. Purists might nitpick and dissect it endlessly, saying it's not faithful/respectful to the previous incarnations.
Abrams' take is unique, as it modernizes the title. This time around, we're without Patrick Stewart or William Shatner, and that is actually good. You simply cannot take the same formula of extending an episode from the current Trek TV series into a feature length movie over and over again. For one thing, we currently lack said series.
In a way, Nemesis foreshadowed the change of tone to a more dark and unforgiving world, and even though it featured the TNG cast, it was already called the black sheep of the series.
This movie is distinct, carries the style of JJ Abrams (for better and for worse), while still paying homage on several levels to the old shows and feature films. It's fast paced, flashy and action packed. On the other hand, it lacks the careful buildup ST fans are used to.
Cinematography is also different, making use of modern (in my opinion, OK)CG techniques. The tones are high contrast, which is a mark of the digital age of movies. Both steadicam and shaky-cam shots are often used, you either like them, or you don't. To me, they felt alright.
Music is pretty good, atmospheric, and the main theme feels well suited to the film.
When I looked up reviews here, I got what I expected: either zeros, or tens. Movies like this are meant to split the crowd, and Trek has such a huge and devoted fan-base that this rift is totally justified.
If you're a skeptic/hater, give this movie a watch on it's 10th birthday, and see what you think of it then.
Personally, I think this film takes a different spin on the Trek universe. Having seen every ST movie and every TV series multiple times, the 2009 movie felt refreshing. A change of pace. Purists might nitpick and dissect it endlessly, saying it's not faithful/respectful to the previous incarnations.
Abrams' take is unique, as it modernizes the title. This time around, we're without Patrick Stewart or William Shatner, and that is actually good. You simply cannot take the same formula of extending an episode from the current Trek TV series into a feature length movie over and over again. For one thing, we currently lack said series.
In a way, Nemesis foreshadowed the change of tone to a more dark and unforgiving world, and even though it featured the TNG cast, it was already called the black sheep of the series.
This movie is distinct, carries the style of JJ Abrams (for better and for worse), while still paying homage on several levels to the old shows and feature films. It's fast paced, flashy and action packed. On the other hand, it lacks the careful buildup ST fans are used to.
Cinematography is also different, making use of modern (in my opinion, OK)CG techniques. The tones are high contrast, which is a mark of the digital age of movies. Both steadicam and shaky-cam shots are often used, you either like them, or you don't. To me, they felt alright.
Music is pretty good, atmospheric, and the main theme feels well suited to the film.
When I looked up reviews here, I got what I expected: either zeros, or tens. Movies like this are meant to split the crowd, and Trek has such a huge and devoted fan-base that this rift is totally justified.
If you're a skeptic/hater, give this movie a watch on it's 10th birthday, and see what you think of it then.
Shogun's Shadow
(1989)
One of the best 80s samurai action flicks
20 February 2015
I love this movie! This is a fast-paced action movie from 1989. Even though it can be considered a jidaigeki (Edo period drama), in many aspects (pacing, character development, gore) it reminds me of the Shaw brothers wuxia movies. What it lacks in depth and intricacy, Shogun's Shadow more than makes up in action sequences, above average camera-work and matching soundtrack. For samurai buffs, who like hardcore, slow-paced Edo-epics, this might be a bit cheesy, but for people (including myself) who love movies such as The Five Deadly Venoms or Invincible Shaolin, Shogun's Shadow will be an entertaining 1 hour 46 minutes with sword-slashing ronin, epic standoffs and some banging J-rock interludes.
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