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fatal_coates
Reviews
Van Helsing: No 'I' in Team (2019)
One of the better episodes (ignore the millennial trolls)
Unsure if I have ever reviewed an episode of a show before, but all the unwarranted hate.. forced my hand.
Some people just can't hack a story that explores deeper than the initial plot. This episode on it's own, is better than half the Horror films you see in cinema. They could make an entire series off this one episode.
Seeing these events from the beginning once again.. from another group's perspective, is always VERY welcome.
Well done to the Defiance actress, Nicole Muñoz on holding her own.
Bravo writers. Bring on more .. Be different!
Van Helsing: Miles and Miles (2019)
One of the best episodes of not only the Season, but the Series.
Ignore the whiney people giving this one a low rating because the main character isn't in the last two episodes (what an absolute pathetic and immature reason)
This episode is the completion of one character's story arc in the series.. Well deserved and well executed. Will truly miss them but it's a very decent way for them to go out.
Oh, and it's disturbing AF.. (moreso than usual) but so very well done.
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
Rare that I ever, if at all rate a TV show 10 out of 10
It is a rate thing, if at all.. that I rate a TV show 10 out of 10.
But there ya go. It's happened.
Can not speak of this show highly enough.
Well written, great cast, emotional, powerful, engaging and not boring.
It's like, the best of 'Heroes', and what you'd expect X-Men to be, if made into a live action series.. (though, X-Men would not be as flawed, therefore I guess wouldn't end up as entertaining as this has turned out to be)
The only negative for me, is the cliffhanger ending.. but I can't deduct points on that.
I only wish I could jump ahead in time like Number Five, so I could start Season 2.
Prometheus (2012)
A wonder to behold and worth waiting every second...
Prometheus ~ 9.5 out of 10
Breathtaking....... all that I could have wanted and more!
Truly a brilliant masterpiece, as much as you'd expect from the original "Alien" director himself... Though, who better to seam his film together!! It's even on par or better than Avatar in 3D beauty.
Michael Fassbender is outstanding, and the original Dragon with the Tattoo actress Noomi Rapace a very respectable protagonist. Charlize Theron is stunning and Guy Pearce, well.. his acting was great, can't say he is looking much like himself in this one..
The pace is just right, and there are scenes that will shock you and actually it's the first film that has given me a fair bit of a fright since, perhaps the originals themselves when I was but a child.
It's total picturesque and gorgeous scenery, no doubt contributed to high production value and eye for detail incorporated with seamless CGI and 3D integration (which is quite rare these days). From it's opening to the final shots of the film.. Truly eye opening.
I loved it so much, I have issue with one part of it (where I shall minus the .5 from my total score) but that is to do with either how they will proceed, as it relates to the latter films.. if it is indeed meant to proceed along into their path at all..
I will be seeing this film again and again.. For the true Alien fan out there it will be greatly appreciated, and a definite viewing!!
p.s Those who work out the opening scene straight up.. Let me know.. I only surprising worked it out thinking about it after seeing the film.. Very enlightening and wonderfully done.. Answers a few questions too :)
Dark Shadows (2012)
Perfect, then it's all thrown away..
Dark Shadows 7 out of 10
This movie really had great potential.. The sad thing is, that they: Burton, Depp and Carter.. had it so close.. like, 70% perfect!!! But alas, after a great soundtrack (it's opening song a favourite of mine, and one I have planned for a film I've written of my own) and one of Depp's best performances in a long time.. Burton's art "should" have succeeded, but instead, fell suddenly flat..
Amongst the cast: Michelle Pfeiffer (another ex cast member of Burton's) looked amazing for her age (perhaps just good makeup of course) Helena Bonham Carter (that I've never been a fan of) played her part as well as expected knowing the inner workings of her hubby's mind.. Even Christopher Lee makes a brief appearance along with Alice who well, I'm not sure has changed in the past 50 years..
Tim Burton is a master of the Gothic scene. His architecture in time, place, setting and sculpture is without equal. From the early success of Edward Scissorhands to his latter great Sleepy Hollow. He once again brings this uncanny, quirky and foreboding ability to entice audiences into his escapism with Dark Shadows, and he so nearly pulls it off masterly once more, but unfortunately where the film goes, where it entices us to be, instead stops in it's tracks and starts to drag.. then with quick explanation or none at all comes to a close and leaves you behind with quite a dull feeling of.. what was that all about? is that it? So I guess now, it's over.
I soooo wanted it to be more, but with such strong character development and premise from the get go, you expected more of the same from start to finish, but instead it rushes what it should have developed, and throws what could have been to the winds..
The film may leave you with questions, but perhaps they are not even worth knowing the answer to, other than perhaps, why?
John Carter (2012)
John Carter (of Mars)
A great movie that's a little overlong but visually a sight to behold. Unfortunately it will need to ride on luck to get it's sequel.. as
A: there was poor promotional work by Disney's marketing team.. B: a title that not many people from "this" century can relate AND C: the fact that Disney spent 250 million making the film and it has so far, barely raked in 180 million.. That's a major loss!
The movie originates from the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel "A Princess of Mars" which is the first of many books in the series.
The novels are a source of inspiration for George Lucas and James Cameron in their childhood and you can see quite clearly where a lot of their work comes from in this feature. So after all this time, not so grand an imagination you have Georgie boy! ;)
I could not help, spotting so many familiar faces in the film and hear familiar voices (of the aliens) throughout. To start with...
John Carter ~ Taylor Kitsch (Gambit from Wolverine Origins) Lead female ~ Lynn Collins (Kayla from Wolverine Origins)
Carter's nemesis ~ Dominic West (Centurion, Hannibal Rising) Willem Dafoe & Ned from Ned & Stacey as Tribal aliens.. both of whom also play enemies of Spiderman in the older movies.
Mark Strong (very similar role to Lord Blackwood in Sherlock H.) Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle and star of Breaking Bad) James Purefoy (Resident Evil, Solomon Kane and A Knight's Tale)
and finally Daryl Sabara (most would know as the boy in Spy Kids)
The special effects are amazing but "DO NOT" see this movie in 3D. I'm not quite sure, but I think it's a post production job or it's just been made really poorly. A real let down. ONLY see it in 2D.
The story line is a lot to take in, and you may have trouble following it to begin with but if you ride the movie the entire way through.. it's well worth the ending which eventually sorts out where it's going, and hasn't all just been for nothing.
Unfortunately not many read my reviews and I doubt many will actually see this film, so it may end up a one off.. Which is quite sad when sh*t like the "Twilight" series can get another look in..
Go see it if you love Star Wars and Sci Fi in general and if want to see the weird and wonderful views of an Author who lived over a century ago, with no knowledge of our future. There are many scenes reminiscent of Attack of the Clones & Revenge of the Sith.
In final. The "Dog" character is worth seeing, just for "it" alone :)
The Hunger Games (2012)
The Hunger Games (a let down, even though knew it)
To start with, I can't really say this movie was disappointingly bad. Because I'd already read numerous reviews from friends who had told me how sh*t it was.
So instead, I went into this movie trying to see the good in it..
Sadly, there wasn't much.
The execution is just poor. Whoever directed this should not be put in charge of any sequels if they hope to engage any further.. Edit: oh, it's the Pleasantville guy, well that must be his once off! The acting also is not much better, some of it very forced!
This is.. a survival movie, based apparently on a book (part 1 of a trilogy) but at no stage did it really give a sense of urgency, or real fear for one's existence. There was no feel of attachment to any of the characters, including the main pair who made Anakin and Padme's wooden romantic engagement in Star Wars look positively the greatest of all time (please note sarcasm)
Some actors of T.H.G, read like a cast list from Marvel movies: Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique from X-Men: First Class) who by the way, acts almost identical in both movies as an outsider.. Liam Hemsworth (ok, not Marvel, but brother of THOR) ;) The two German scientists from Captain America: Stanley Tucci and Toby Jones (the latter, I don't think utters a single word!)
A redeeming face amongst the latter cast is Woody Harrelson. I actually sat up and started to take notice somewhat of what was going on, til I realised he wasn't going to get much more.. Another highlight is: Amandla Stenberg.. who plays Rue. Her only other appearance of note so far, being the young "Cataleya" in Columbiana. In both she doesn't have enough screen time!
The rest are pretty much, no names or TV actors. The guy who played the pervert son in American Beauty, the mother of the Cyclon in Battlestar: Caprica. Oh, Donald Sutherland is in this.. but he's such a by product of the film, that he's out of place, or out of touch with what is going on, muttering through his scenes as his wades through the greenery doing nothing much.. Equally, there's Elizabeth Banks who just looks and plays a ghastly personality.
The bloodshed truly feels PG, and the NYPD Blue (showing my age) camera work is so disconcerting.. Used to cover up (in latter Transformers it was lazy CGI) but in this film horrific killings, that were most of the time unseen, and barely heard. Apparently this film is banned in Vietnam due to the violent scenes (wtf?!)
IF you want to see real survivor films. These are the ones to see: THE TOURNAMENT, PREDATORS (PREDATOR is on a whole other level) and the ultimate school Japanese thriller: BATTLE ROYALE.
Please just read the book, and perhaps wait til someone accidentally hires the movie (acquires it) and you're caught out watching it. Or let your youngin's watch it, as it really is, I guess made for them, and I can see why. Poor Jennifer Lawrence, actually RICH Jennifer.. This film was a BOX OFFICE smash??
p.s What the hell is Lenny Kravitz doing in a movie?
The Avengers (2012)
THE AVENGERS (9.5 out of 10)
As AWESOME as expected. An immense lineup/casting, decent story and visuals that put Transformers blur to shame. Iron Man does take a fair chunk of the limelight, as expected (It felt like this was his third film, before that has even been released) but the others do get their fair share and have great entrances.
Oh..the movie is very funny!! Iron man starts off initially, but Hulk sees to it, that he gets the last laugh.. and his latter scenes do dominate the tail end (Mark Ruffalo does a pretty decent job) Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye (seen briefly in Thor) makes Oliver's Green Arrow from DC, look pathetic. This movie along with his role in Mission Impossible 4 is definitely a precursor to his taking over the role as Bourne, and he's pumping up for that too.
Speaking of the muscles in the film. "Cap" appears to have lost weight?? Chris Evans must not be working out as much, but Thor seems to have taken over in the gym as he's even bigger. Hulk is obviously the biggest but thats what CGI does for you.. Oh, and Iron Man appears bulkier?? like his suit needs to compete??! Scarlett Johannsson's ass get's a cameo in this film, I wonder how she felt about the camera's angle in all the 3D glory in one scene..
Another new member to the cast, and good to see another Avenger's regular ~ Agent "Maria Hill" appears, played by a very fit looking Cobie Smulders (Robin from "How I met your mother" fame) She gets a fair chunk of the movie and action herself. Stellan Skarsgaard returns from Thor along with the villain most would have seen in the trailer, Loki. Potts & Coulson cameo.
The "one on one" battles of many of the heroes is a sight to behold and are really a delight to watch. You get to see them throw everything at each other as you see them match up their strengths and their weaknesses. Also watch for the Cap / Iron Man combo towards the end of the film, memories from the past! Loved the film. Will no doubt be seeing it again.. Check it out!
Battleship (2012)
Memories of Hawaii :)
Yeah yeah. Like most, when I first heard what the title of the film was and what it was based on, I'm like "You can't be serious" .. But then whilst vacationing in Hawaii back in 2010, Trevor and I actually had to delay our tour one day as they had to shoot some scenes on the USS Missouri.. and once the tour guide told us, that Liam Neeson and Rihanna were there, I found a little more belief and interest in the film (spesh since Liam was involved) The film is actually quite, funny. There are of course serious scenes but also a good amount of comic relief to allow a break now and then. John Carter stars (uh, Taylor Kitsch of J.C, Gambit from Wolverine) along with Eric Northman of True Blood fame (Alexander Skarsgård) also Rihanna (yes, she can act, although the hick tough accent was a lil put on) and Liam Neeson.
OK, so we all most likely guessed by now. Aliens appear in the water, during naval exercises.. and a little game of Battleship then ensues (who'd have guessed) There is also a side story occurring meanwhile on the Hawaiian island of Oahu (it was great to see the rolling green hills of Jurassic Park once again!) The aliens look a lot like Spartans from the HALO game series (perhaps left overs from the movie itself, which was axed... and became District 9) You will also find a little Acca Dacca (AC-DC) music pumping away in the feel good moments, along with a good glimpse of the Aussie flag approaching the end of the film! Not to spoil much, but the old crew (unsure if actual or not) from the Missouri.. DO steal the show at one point and was a delight to watch. Including the ship(s) in action! Overall, twas worthwhile.
Wrath of the Titans (2012)
Wrath if Worthy!
As good as the original..
The film though, is far from being a great!
It keeps a good pace with impressive scenes, like the Maze and waiting in the forest for the enemy.
Liam is as powerful as his character and performance as usual.
Voldemort is back to his sinister best..
Our Aussie (well, British born) plays the lead as he should..
My only complaint yet again is only "1" Titan appears like the first movie. They really need to drop the letter "s" in the films.
But still go see it.. I saw in 2D (don't 3D it!)