I had been looking forward to this one since I saw the first trailer ages ago. It really showed some moments of awesome, and it had the potential of being 300-2. However, I was a little disappointed with the pacing (a bit too slow in my opinion) and I was surprised that I wasn't surprised about the ending (if that makes any sense?). Special detail was paid to the aesthetics, with interesting compositions and scene transitions, which is always glad to look at. It has one of the best speeches pre-war that I can remember (you could see that one from the trailer, although it's better on the film), and some scenes have been improved since the trailer (the break-rock-and-unclick-apart effect doesn't exist anymore, and it's now a much better scene). Anyway, it's worth a watch, but it's not the homecoming of the second resurrection of the Greek Gods. Oh, and definitely better than Clash of the Titans.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Means more than what it lets through
6 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This review is specifically a reply to besah's one, since he did a good job, but certainly needs a second watching.
The characters in this episode are, to say the least, strange. All of them give a little to add to the great whole. Morse explores his past, and to do so he requires a "visit" from the almost-to-be Ms Morse, which certainly is a visit from the past.
However, Morse lives in the present, and his new life (hello there, Lewis) brings new perspectives to old matters. As you will see in this episode, there is a great deal of your favourite Morse, but underlying, and more subtly, is a greater deal of your (if not yet favourite, then soon-to-be) Lewis.
Looking at the plot, is sort of realistic-ish, but as Maigret said, "wheter you pulled the trigger is irrelevant". I wasn't so much concerned about who had done it, but the reasons for doing so, and how would that affect Morse. Thankfully, Lewis was there caring for him. Morse would never know, but we did, thanks to this brilliant episode.
The characters in this episode are, to say the least, strange. All of them give a little to add to the great whole. Morse explores his past, and to do so he requires a "visit" from the almost-to-be Ms Morse, which certainly is a visit from the past.
However, Morse lives in the present, and his new life (hello there, Lewis) brings new perspectives to old matters. As you will see in this episode, there is a great deal of your favourite Morse, but underlying, and more subtly, is a greater deal of your (if not yet favourite, then soon-to-be) Lewis.
Looking at the plot, is sort of realistic-ish, but as Maigret said, "wheter you pulled the trigger is irrelevant". I wasn't so much concerned about who had done it, but the reasons for doing so, and how would that affect Morse. Thankfully, Lewis was there caring for him. Morse would never know, but we did, thanks to this brilliant episode.
Shoot on Sight
(2007)
Solid drama with good points
25 August 2008
I just came from the cinema from watching "Shoot on Sight".
I have to say that the tag line cached my attention since I first saw it, being interested in the movie itself, and what was it about. Being a Criminology student, it's not hard to find interesting how people react to racism, and how people sometimes overreact to it. Some good points are made on that respect (when Ali learns about the wife of the "racist" cop, for example).
Now, getting into the movie itself, it looks like a TV-drama. It's not a judgement, it's just an opinion that doesn't either make it good or bad. Some of the plot related elements look a bit forced, in order to make the characters more "popular" amongst the public, I guess. The pace is steady, and the movie doesn't refrain from giving some "shock moments", which I particularly love. This makes the whole thing a bit real. However, don't expect great shoot-outs, people jumping on the air whilst firing two guns, or people shooting to the air and shouting "AAAAH" (see Hot Fuzz). It has action, understand me, but in a more steady way.
However, the important thing about the movie (and basically what I went to see it for) is the plot, and what it deals with. Islamic terrorism is something quite present on British society, and even more present in London, and even talking about it might be seen by some as racism. As one of the characters say, not all Muslims are Islamic terrorists, but all the Islamic terrorists are Muslim. Again, not being racist, just realistic. The film manages to stay in a neutral position, and not failing in a pro-Islams/anti-Islams position (which I feared, to be honest). It is neither a terrorist manifesto, nor an auto-criminalisation of all Muslims. Stays well balanced in very unstable grounds.
I gave it a 8/10. Worth watching.
I have to say that the tag line cached my attention since I first saw it, being interested in the movie itself, and what was it about. Being a Criminology student, it's not hard to find interesting how people react to racism, and how people sometimes overreact to it. Some good points are made on that respect (when Ali learns about the wife of the "racist" cop, for example).
Now, getting into the movie itself, it looks like a TV-drama. It's not a judgement, it's just an opinion that doesn't either make it good or bad. Some of the plot related elements look a bit forced, in order to make the characters more "popular" amongst the public, I guess. The pace is steady, and the movie doesn't refrain from giving some "shock moments", which I particularly love. This makes the whole thing a bit real. However, don't expect great shoot-outs, people jumping on the air whilst firing two guns, or people shooting to the air and shouting "AAAAH" (see Hot Fuzz). It has action, understand me, but in a more steady way.
However, the important thing about the movie (and basically what I went to see it for) is the plot, and what it deals with. Islamic terrorism is something quite present on British society, and even more present in London, and even talking about it might be seen by some as racism. As one of the characters say, not all Muslims are Islamic terrorists, but all the Islamic terrorists are Muslim. Again, not being racist, just realistic. The film manages to stay in a neutral position, and not failing in a pro-Islams/anti-Islams position (which I feared, to be honest). It is neither a terrorist manifesto, nor an auto-criminalisation of all Muslims. Stays well balanced in very unstable grounds.
I gave it a 8/10. Worth watching.
Voodoo refugees
23 October 2006
I know that the summary is not very impressive, but this chapter is. At the beginning of this chapter, a soldier working on a refugee camp crashes after watching some disturbing images of himself.
This would seem like a suicide of a paranoid soldier, or drug addiction, or something similar. But a voodoo-related symbol marked in the tree the soldier crashed on leads to thing into something else.
The refugee camp is being commanded by some international rights law-breaking militar, and the Haitians there are taking it's revenge.
Finally, Mulder and Scully are having to bypass some serious hazardous situations, including the fact that they'll have to fight agains the same symbol found in the tree.
This would seem like a suicide of a paranoid soldier, or drug addiction, or something similar. But a voodoo-related symbol marked in the tree the soldier crashed on leads to thing into something else.
The refugee camp is being commanded by some international rights law-breaking militar, and the Haitians there are taking it's revenge.
Finally, Mulder and Scully are having to bypass some serious hazardous situations, including the fact that they'll have to fight agains the same symbol found in the tree.
The Collector and the fear
19 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
A dead girl. A fetishist working in a tanatory (or a morgue). The fetishist gets fired.
This is the setup for Irresistible.
In this chapter we'll see an affected Scully. In fact, the interesting part of the chapter is not the plot itself, but the conclusion you can get once analyzed. At first glance, this can seem a Monster Of The Week chapter, where a shape-shifter needs to collect the hair and the nails of dead women to keep alive. But if you look closer, you'll find some interesting reflexions: First of all, you can see that Scully is affected by dead. She even needs help from a specialist. Secondly, you'll see that Mulder is not wild as it could seem. He has feelings, feelings about Scully. The same way Scully has about Mulder. From the dialog, you can find that the reason because Scully watches the fetishist shape-shifting is because of the fear. The fear in the common, as many great writers/directors said.
This is the setup for Irresistible.
In this chapter we'll see an affected Scully. In fact, the interesting part of the chapter is not the plot itself, but the conclusion you can get once analyzed. At first glance, this can seem a Monster Of The Week chapter, where a shape-shifter needs to collect the hair and the nails of dead women to keep alive. But if you look closer, you'll find some interesting reflexions: First of all, you can see that Scully is affected by dead. She even needs help from a specialist. Secondly, you'll see that Mulder is not wild as it could seem. He has feelings, feelings about Scully. The same way Scully has about Mulder. From the dialog, you can find that the reason because Scully watches the fetishist shape-shifting is because of the fear. The fear in the common, as many great writers/directors said.
Genetical Memory? Discuss
18 October 2006
A strange murder happens in Aubrey: A girl has bled because of the word "SISTER" written with a knife in the chest. Also, a Detective is pregnant, and founds a corpse of a dead FBI-agent, who disappeared 60 years ago.
This is the main setup of the chapter. In Aubrey, Mulder and Scully have to investigate the reason of the detective's finding. Apparently, there is no reason about the detective investigating and digging where the body was buried. This makes this chapter strange.
At the beginning, there is a lack of connection between the murderer and the agents investigating it. But some reflexive dialog between Mulder and Scully will give them the definitive clue to solve the case.
Great chapter due the originality of the plot, but maybe, the slow development of the plot itself and the (bit) disappointing ending will make you think that is not a good chapter. Think twice, review the dialogs, and you'll find a great chapter.
This is the main setup of the chapter. In Aubrey, Mulder and Scully have to investigate the reason of the detective's finding. Apparently, there is no reason about the detective investigating and digging where the body was buried. This makes this chapter strange.
At the beginning, there is a lack of connection between the murderer and the agents investigating it. But some reflexive dialog between Mulder and Scully will give them the definitive clue to solve the case.
Great chapter due the originality of the plot, but maybe, the slow development of the plot itself and the (bit) disappointing ending will make you think that is not a good chapter. Think twice, review the dialogs, and you'll find a great chapter.
Innovative and creepy episode
18 October 2006
This is a refreshing chapter from the series. Since "Shadows" (1x05), any "invisible" monster has appeared.
In this chapter, Mulder and Scully have to investigate a nurse's rape, apparently made by an invisible being. Their investigations will lead to some deeply-saved secrets, involving some of the residents, and workers, too.
Apart from the main tagline, we can see Scully fully recovered from Duane Barry's series. In fact, she is leading the investigation, while Mulder is more reticent to do so.
It has great moments, panic scenes, and scary plot. Also, the typical paper exchange makes this chapter really a "almost" must see. Not the best one, but sure a great, worth watching episode.
In this chapter, Mulder and Scully have to investigate a nurse's rape, apparently made by an invisible being. Their investigations will lead to some deeply-saved secrets, involving some of the residents, and workers, too.
Apart from the main tagline, we can see Scully fully recovered from Duane Barry's series. In fact, she is leading the investigation, while Mulder is more reticent to do so.
It has great moments, panic scenes, and scary plot. Also, the typical paper exchange makes this chapter really a "almost" must see. Not the best one, but sure a great, worth watching episode.
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