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paulclaassen
Having done a script writing course, I write scripts whenever time allows it.
My twin brother, Philip Cristian Claassen, is an accomplished actor and writer.
My film reviews are based on ENTERTAINMENT VALUE (for me) and not necessarily on how well or bad a film is made. Even badly made films can be thoroughly entertaining, while well-made films are not guaranteed to be entertaining...
I'm not a critic; I'm a film enthusiast.
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Reviews
The Offspring (1987)
Welcome to Oldfield.
The film starts with reporter Beth Chandler witnessing the execution of murderer Katherine White. She then visits Katherine's uncle, Julian White (Vincent Price) for a story. Julian blames Katherine's action on the town of Oldfield, and then tells her four stories.
The first story is about Stanley - a man with a low self-esteem looking after his sick sister. He has a crush on the beautiful Grace. When they finally go on a date and she gives him the cold shoulder, he strangles her. But the dead don't stay dead...
The second story is about con artist Jessie Hardwick, who is consumed by greed. When he is shot by gangsters and left for dead, he is rescued by Felder Evans, who lives alone in the woods and is about 200 years old. Jessie, being the unsavoury character that he is and ungrateful towards Felder, demands to know Felder's secret. But Felder doesn't take kindly to being threatened...
The third story is about Amarrillis, who loves carnival performer Steven, who eats glass. They plan to run away together, but the carnival owner is a voodoo witch who will do anything in her power to prevent her performers from leaving...
Finally, the fourth story is set during the Civil War. Three ruthless soldiers guilty of war crimes, are captured by a group of kids. And there's nothing innocent about these children...
I rather enjoyed this anthology film, and there's even a twist ending when Julian is done telling his stories. 'From a Whisper to a Scream' is also known as 'The Offspring'.
'Twas the Date Before Christmas (2024)
Christmas Traditions.
Dating isn't working out for Jessie (Amy Groening). In order to keep the Chamberlain Christmas traditions going, Jessie tells her mother she will be bringing a date - only she doesn't have one. She decides to place a post on a dating app requesting someone to accompany her to a Christmas party.
Bryan (Robert Buckley) is the CEO of a development company. His friends persuade him to find a date on a dating app, and he happens to reply to Jessie's post. Upon meeting, they make it clear it is not a date, and that he merely escorts her to her family's Christmas party.
The Chamberlain family traditionally plays various games - or Christmas Olympics as they refer to it, which involves performing various (fun) tasks. Things get complicated for Bryan when he learns Jessie's best friend, Shelly, is a tenant he must evict before the New Year.
Yes, yes, being a Hallmark movie it is predictable from beginning to end, but this is exactly what you'd expect from Hallmark and noting more than to awaken the Christmas spirit. It is nevertheless a fairly entertaining movie, and Robert Buckley is so handsome!
Christmas at Plumhill Manor (2024)
Predictable, yet delightful.
Margot Stone is a successful architect. When her Great Aunt - Lady Victoria - passes away, Margot is informed she is the sole beneficiary. The codicils stipulate she can either retain or sell the property (Plumhill Manor), but that she must stay seven nights on the property before making up her mind.
Believing it to be a joke at first, Margot's mother convinces her otherwise, and Margot accepts the offer. So, she heads off to England to stay at the manor. She meets Jackie, who is to be her liaison for the week, and I thought Caroline Colomei was just fabulous as Jackie.
She also meets the handsome Alfie, the groundkeeper's son, who off course - predictably - becomes the romance interest. Clues are left throughout the house for Margot to solve. She also learns her Aunt used to throw big Christmas parties at the manor for the townsfolk, and she decides to continue the tradition, since she will be at the Manor for Christmas.
Yeah-yeah, we can foresee the outcome a mile away, but this is a feel-good movie of note, and rather delightful, actually.
Smile 2 (2024)
Surpasses SMILE on every level!
'Smile' surprised me by being so much better than expected, and taking the familiar genre of possession into an entirely different direction. 'Smile 2' continues that trend and once again brings us a possession movie unlike anything I've seen before. 'Smile 2' surpasses its predecessor on every level.
First and foremost, I have to mention this: Naomi Scott delivers a TERRIFIC performance!! My gosh, she deserves awards for her portrayal of Skye Riley - the film's protagonist. She pulls off a very demanding role incredibly well!
One year ago, superstar Skye Riley was to embark on a world tour when she was involved in a car accident, which killed her boyfriend. Battling with back pain, Skye visits an old friend, Lewis, for pain killers. Unbeknownst to her, Lewis is infected with the Smile entity. When he kills himself in front of her, Skye inherits the curse.
Skye is planning a comeback tour, but things soon start going very wrong for her. Her history of substance abuse plays such a big part in the film and works so well with what she is going through, and how those around her perceive her. This is highly effective.
As the entity tightens its grip on Skye, the film becomes a hellish descent into madness. There are big jump scares when you least expect it, and there are also so many gross and gory moments. These truly are the stuff nightmares are made of. Naomi Scott absolutely sells the character to me - great casting choice!
'Smile 2' boasts fantastic editing, make-up, costumes, creepy effects, and a thumping good soundtrack, too. The film also gives us a glimpse of the pressures associated with being a superstar - something fans don't always realize.
This time I really hope the Academy Awards recognize the fantastic work on films like 'Smile 2', 'The Substance' and 'Terrifier 3'. Horrors have been snubbed long enough at the Oscars. 'Smile 2' deserves a nomination at least. 'Smile 2' is a stunning production from beginning to end.
The Sugarland Express (1974)
Action and excitement all the way.
Based on a true story, 'The Sugarland Express' revolves around Lou Jean (Goldie Hawn) and Clovis (William Atherton) going on a cross-country chase to prevent their son from going to a foster home.
With Lou Jean having been in prison and her husband Clovis still incarcerated, their son is about to be given to foster parents. She convinces Clovis to escape, and they hitch a ride with an elderly couple. When they are pulled over by state trooper Maxwell Slide (Michael Sacks), they steal the car. Pursued by Maxwell, Lou Jean crashes the car, upon which they take Maxwell's cop car, taking him hostage.
With a big police convoy following Lou Jean and Clovis, there's plenty of action and car chases. Although dealing with a serious matter, 'The Sugarland Express' is a lighthearted telling of actual events (but not entirely comedy). The action and shootouts are destined to keep you on the edge of your seat, while still having plenty of fun.
There were moments when I thought some of the characters made strange decisions, but in general this is a very entertaining film and well worth the watch. Goldie Hawn delivers a very good performance, and Steven Spielberg did an excellent job bringing the story to life, already cementing him as one of the greatest directors.
Waxwork (1988)
A Bit silly, but clever enough as a spoof.
A Mysterious wax museum transports visitors through portholes to alternate universes. Once killed, they become part of the displays.
A Group of teenagers are invited to a private show at the museum. When two of them disappear, Mark (Zach Galligan) contacts the authorities. Inspector Roberts investigates and becomes intrigued by the unusual horror displays.
The film almost feels like an anthology film, as each character has his own experiences in the museum. It also cleverly serve as a spoof of popular horror films, mocking werewolf, mummy, zombie, and vampire films, as well as 'Little Shop of Horrors', Antonio Banderas and Linda Hunt. David Warner stars as the mysterious Waxwork Man, David Lincoln.
At first I thought the film was really silly, but once a deeper meaning behind the museum was revealed, it turned out ok, I guess. I still wouldn't give it a repeat viewing in a hurry, though.
Them! (1954)
I love these old creature features.
Sergeant Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) and trooper Ed Blackburn find a young girl wandering in the desert, seemingly in shock. Nearby, a trailer is found completely wrecked, and shortly after, a store is found to have similar damage. And this is only just the beginning of their nightmare.
Scientists Dr. Harold Medford (Edmund Gwenn) and his daughter Dr. Patricia Medford (Joan Weldon) are called to assist when unfamiliar tracks are found at the scenes of destruction. And they soon make a horrible discovery: giant ants. Together with FBI agent Robert Graham (James Arness), they must devise a plan to destroy the nest. But their worst fears become a reality when the giant creatures make their way to the the storm drain system under Los Angeles.
I love these old monster movies. Long before CGI they brought giant creatures to life with clever photography and models. Back in the day, I'm sure this must have been quite frightening. The film also ends on a thought-provoking note.
Santa Tell Me (2024)
The Best gift is the one worth waiting for.
Olivia is a successful designer, and is about to host her first TV show for Style Network. Her producer hires Chris Davis, the producer of a TV show called Model Home, to oversee her project. Unhappy about this, she lashes out at her driver, only to find out this is Chris.
The idea for the show is to transform a home into a home Santa would like to live in. Chris chooses Olivia's childhood home, which has been abandoned for a while and was purchased by the studio. They have three weeks to turn this rundown home into a perfect holiday home. But boy, do these two get off on the wrong foot!
As a child, Olivia wrote a letter to Santa, and now she finds a letter - from Santa - telling her that she will find her soulmate by Christmas, and that his name is Nick. Only, she meets three guys named Nick: Nick A, Nick B, and Nick C.
Trying to figure out who her soulmate is, she goes on dates with all three of them. Yeah, this is Hallmark, so it is predictable from the beginning. But this is a really sweet movie, and it put a smile on my face! With likeable characters, a good script, and even a bit of fantasy, I was thoroughly entertained. This was fabulous, actually!
Soylent Green (1973)
Yawn...
I'm probably going to be unpopular by saying this, but I did not enjoy 'Soylent Green' one bit. With the film revolving mainly around food, there was nothing here I found interesting. On the contrary, I found the film boring.
It is the year 2022 and New York has a population of 40 million, of which around 20 million are unemployed. Poverty and food shortage is at the order of the day, and food companies provide consumers with red and yellow Soylent wafers. Soylent Green is then introduced - a miracle food made from plankton - or so they say...
Charlton Heston stars as Detective Thorn, who investigates the apparent assassination of wealthy businessman William Simonson of the Soylent Corporation. Thorn steals food from the rich, and takes it home for him and his friend, Sol (Edward G. Robinson) to enjoy. Sol remembers a time when he was able to eat well, but Thorn has been born into this new world and is not accustomed to 'luxury' foods.
I honestly didn't understand half of what was going on here, and in fact didn't really care. The premise was uninteresting and I cared very little for the characters - even Thorn, whose actions were questionable at times.
For a film set in the future (as it were at the time the film was made) it's not very imaginative. Looking back at 2022, the world was far more advanced than depicted in the film, but I suppose over-population and poverty justifies this (in the film).
'Soylent Green' is indeed a very strange movie. And I'm about to do spoilers, so stop reading if you still intend watching it. As it turns out, the soylent green wafers are not made from plankton, but instead it is made from humans. (In the movie, the dead are taken away in garbage trucks to a disposal site. However, this supposed disposal site is actually the Soylent Corporation, and they make soylent green from the dead!). The film's final moments see Thorn discovering the truth and trying to warn everyone, and these were the only few minutes containing some sort of action - or anything interesting happening... Yawn.
Duke (2012)
A Different kind of Hallmark movie; and I loved it.
Dog movies have a tendency to make me reach for the tissue box. No, not necessarily when they're sad, but because of the heartwarming feeling dogs generally generate. I'm a HUGE dog lover!
'A Dog named Duke' is inspired by a true story, and tells the story of Terry Pulaski (Steven Weber), a war veteran recovering from an injury. Terry's wife, Bethany (Kendall Cross) is a teacher, and when a dog one day simply walks into her class, she takes him home. Terry immediately takes a liking in Duke. When Terry receives word he can't return to Service because of his injury, he is devastated. The agony and memories of war causes tension between him and Bethany.
The film then jumps ahead ten years, and Terry is separated, homeless and living in a trailer - with Duke still by his side. However, when Duke suddenly gets sick and Terry doesn't have money for the Vet, Terry's life is shattered. He decides to leave Duke on the Vet's doorstep.
The story then revolves around the Vet - and Terry's daughter - trying to find Terry again. What follows is a heartwarming story destined to make you reach for the tissue box! This movie is about so much more than just a dog, and it's beautiful. I loved every character, and I especially enjoyed Steven Weber's emotional performance as Terry.
Perempuan tanah jahanam (2019)
This was a nice surprise!
Story goes, a wealthy heir married the most beautiful woman in a village called Harjosari. After several years failing to conceive, the man made a pact with the Devil so his wife could become pregnant. When she finally did, the child, Rahayu, was born without skin. Soon after, three young children from the village disappeared. When the villagers saw Rahayu for the first time several years later, she looked the picture of health. However, when her father went mad and killed himself, a family servant took the girl to the city. Ever since, the village was cursed, and every baby is born without skin, and then killed. The only way to lift the curse, is to skin the first girl who started the curse, and to make puppets out of her skin. This is Rahayu.
The film starts with a man trying to kill Maya, who works at a tollbooth. He seems like a psychopath at first, but when he calls her Rahayu and exclaims "We don't want what your family left behind", we realize there's more than meets the eye.
Maya and her best friend Dini decide to visit her parents' village, where an inheritance is apparently waiting for her. We soon learn Maya is indeed Rahayu, and realize her life is in danger. They meet up with a man named Ki Saptadi, who might have the answers they are looking for, but Ki Saptadi has other intentions...
There are many creepy moments in the film and I really enjoyed the mystery element. With well crafted suspense, good performances, and a big twist, 'Impetigore' is well worth a watch.
He Knows You're Alone (1980)
He know you're about to get married.
In the opening scene, a young woman is stabbed at a movie theatre. Detective Gamble is assigned to the case and it soon becomes clear he has a personal vendetta against the killer. It turns out his fiancé was murdered by the same killer.
Amy Jensen is about to get married. While her fiancé is away for a bachelor weekend, the killer, Ray Carlton, starts stalking her. 'He knows you're alone' is a slasher film filled with clichés. Despite fairly good performances, I somehow didn't find the film convincing enough. There were also far too many conveniences. There's hardly any suspense, and in general I found the film forgettable. There are far better - and more memorable - 80's slasher movies out there. Give this one a skip.
It was interesting to see Tom Hanks here in his very first role. Already in this small part, it was clear he was destined to become a star.
Caddo Lake (2024)
Very confusing, but it does eventually make sense.
Hell, this is a confusing film, I initially thought. It has something to do with a dam about to collapse, a girl looking for her father's death certificate, a man named Paris looking for his mother's medical records, and something mysterious about the lake. I had no idea how any of these were connected, or if they were at all.
If you, like me, think this is a weird film at first, stick with it. Believe me, everything is connected and makes sense in the end - well, sort of if you keep in mind this is fantasy, and not realistic.
Paris was with his mom when she had a seizure and drove the car off a bridge into a lake. When he notices something strange about the lake - and he himself start having seizures - he believes the seizure that killed his mother was brought on by the lake.
Ellie is a young girl, who is constantly fighting with her mom. When her 8-year old sister Anna disappears after taking the boat, the family are forced to work together to try and find Anna.
The film remains confusing until the third act. I honestly had a difficult time trying to understand the movie. By the time the film reaches its final act, all is revealed, and the film makes sense.
Paris and Ellie's stories take place in different time periods, and the film essentially becomes a time travel movie, although unintentionally. The characters are connected in a way I never expected, so it kinda was a nice twist reveal. Choose your audience wisely if you intend showing 'Caddo Lake' at a movie night; not everyone might be able to comprehend the events, or twist.
I really enjoyed Dylan O'Brien's sincere portrayal of Paris, and also thought Eliza Scanlen was excellent as Ellie.
The Nightingale (2018)
One of the best vengeance movies.
Clare (Aisling Franciosi), a convict servant girl, is raped by Lieutenant Hawkins (Sam Claflin), who 'owns' her. After a quarrel between Hawkins and Clare's husband Aidan, Clare is raped once more by Hawkins and one of his officers while Aidan is forced to watch. Aidan and their baby are then killed in front of Clare, and she is left for dead.
Having lost everything she cares for, Clare goes on a path of vengeance when no-one believes her. With the help of an Aboriginal tracker, Billy (wonderfully portrayed by Baykali Ganambarr) she embarks on a journey to find Hawkins, Ruse and Jago - the three men responsible for her nightmare. Travelling across a dangerous wilderness and war-torn country, it proves to be no easy task, but Clare is determined.
Meanwhile, Hawkins, Ruse and Jago are heading towards the town of Launceston, where Hawkins has hopes of becoming a Captain. They ruthlessly kill and rape along the way, making the viewer hate them even more and hoping for them to meet their fate. And filled with so much hatred, Clare shows no mercy!
There's racism here as well, and although I usually avoid films with a racism plot - or sub-plot - I found it very effective in 'The Nightingale'. It was emotional, and I rooted for and sympathized with the Aboriginals all the way.
The performances are excellent, especially Aisling Franciosi and Baykali Ganambarr. The casting couldn't have been any more perfect. 'The Nightingale' is by far one of the best vengeance movies I've seen. This truly is a superb film.
Tails of Christmas (2024)
Dogs truly are the best therapy.
Whilst doing physiotherapy Caleb meets Amber, who owns an animal shelter. A Year later, Caleb is all better, and happens to drive past Amber's shelter. Being unemployed, he offers to volunteer for her Christmas adoption drive.
With his love for dogs, Caleb manages to make her drive a huge success, and in the process he falls in love with Amber, and an adorable dog named Rex. This dog is so precious that he might just inspire you to adopt a dog yourself!
From a romance perspective, it is just as predictable as a Hallmark movie. I mean, from the moment Caleb and Amber met it is inevitable they would fall in love. But hey, this is a movie with a simple premise, and a real feel-good movie! 'Tails of Christmas' is perfect for a family movie night - especially around Christmas!
The acting wasn't the greatest. Ash Tsai, who portrays Amber, sounded like she was simply saying her lines. She might not be the best actress, but at least her voice is nice and clear and I could hear every word. Eric Guilmette was much better in the role of Caleb, but then again, he is a far more experienced actor. And he's darn cute, too!
Hell High (1987)
I don't think I'm going to remember this.
In the opening scene, a little girl, Brooke Storm, unintentionally causes the death of a young couple. We then jump ahead 18 years, and Brooke is now a biology teacher. She still lives in the same house near the swamp where the young couple died.
Dickens, one of her students, is a real troublemaker. Along with three of his friends, Jon-Jon, Queenie and Smiler, they decide to play a prank on Brooke. Off course, things get out of hand and the prank goes horribly wrong.
Although labelled as a slasher, 'Hell High' is not a slasher in the true sense. It is more of a vengeance movie. For a slasher, the film is also oddly paced, and - apart from the young couple in the beginning - there are no deaths until the final act. The first two acts pretty much plays like a thriller. In fact, come to think of it, this isn't really a horror. Psychological horror, maybe, but if you watch 'Hell High' thinking it is a slasher in the vain of classic 80's slashers, you're mistaken.
Only time will tell whether I'm going to remember this film by its title. At first I thought students were going to be killed at High School, hence the reference to Hell High, but not a single killing occurs at the school...
Stopmotion (2023)
Unique? Yes, but I didn't like it...
Ella's mother suffers from arthritis, and unable to use her hands, Ella helps her mother complete her last stop motion film. When her mother suffers a stroke and is hospitalized, Ella feels compelled to finish the film.
When she meets a young girl in the same apartment building, the girl has her own ideas for a film. (The young girl doesn't have a name, and I therefore wonder whether this was an actual person, or just Ella's inner voice.) Ella abandons her original ideas and starts a new project with the young girl's ideas, but the girl never seems to be satisfied and continuously makes changes to the characters.
I couldn't understand why Ella would listen to the young girl, but if in fact this was Ella's own subconscious voice, it certainly would make a lot more sense. I found Ella to be a very weak and insecure character, and also not really likeable. In a way, she herself became nothing more than a puppet; just like her creations. Maybe this was the whole idea...?
Just like the painstakingly slow process of making a stop motion film, this film also felt slow - and not always interesting either. For such a short film (93 minutes) it was way too slow paced. I also became annoyed with Ella.
'Stopmotion' is a slow descent into madness...(and I mean slow...). There were a few very creepy moments, and yes, this is a unique premise, but I didn't find it all that captivating. And why did Ella become so violent during the finale? Was she finally driven mad?
Ok, so this film is obviously art, and will not have a wide appeal. I'm not sure what the film's budget was, but it made less than $900,000 at the box office. Enough said.
The Third Man (1949)
Who was the Third Man?
Broke writer Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) is offered a job by a friend of his, Harry Lime (Orson Welles). However, on arrival he learns Harry was killed in a car crash. Soon becoming suspicious of the circumstances surrounding Harry's death, he decides to investigate.
Harry was knocked over by his own driver, and his own doctor - who happened to be passing by -attended to him. Three men carried him to the side of the road, but the third man never gave evidence at the inquest, and now Holly is trying to uncover the identity of the mysterious third man.
Holly meets Anna Schmidt (Alida Valli), who was Harry's lover, and together they attempt to unravel the mystery. Holly gets more involved than he ought to, and then finds his very life in danger. Meanwhile, Major Calloway (Trevor Howard) is also trying to solve the puzzle.
There's an unexpected twist just after the halfway mark, and I won't do spoilers here. I must admit, I did enjoy the film's first half more than the second, as I really liked the mystery element. 'The Third Man' nevertheless a captivating mystery thriller, with some good cinematography along the way.
The Duke (2020)
Hail Jim Broadbent!
Dorothy Bunton (Helen Mirren) is a housekeeper for a highly respected family. She do things by the book, and is strict in her own home when it comes to order. Her husband, Kempton (Jim Broadbent), on the other had, can't keep a job and likes to take chances.
When Kempton refuses to pay his TV license, he is jailed for thirteen days. Believing pensioners should not pay for a TV license, he goes on a 2-day trip to petition for free TV. When no-one listens to his plea, he steals a portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London, saying he will return it when pensioners are exempted from paying for a TV license. The film mainly revolves around his trial. But 'The Duke' is no courtroom drama. It is a hilarious depiction of a man fighting for what he believes in, petitioning on behalf of pensioners, and the events following the 'theft' of the painting.
Let's be honest, 'The Duke' would not have been so funny and enjoyable without the wonderful Jim Broadbent, who is just fabulous as Kempton. Based on a true story, this was a very entertaining movie, and there's even a twist...
Terrifier 3 (2024)
Definitely not for the faint of heart!
Let me start off with a warning: 'Terrifier 3' is NOT for the faint of heart, and ONLY if you can stomach extreme gore. As a horror fan I've certainly seen my share of horror movies, but 'Terrifier 3' is one of the goriest films I've ever seen.
Art the Clown is fast becoming one of cinema's most memorable and iconic villains, following in the footsteps of Freddie Krueger, Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. Just like these characters, Art the Clown is also immortal - some kind of demon. He shows absolutely no mercy and even kills young kids. This creature has no conscience whatsoever and is one of the most sadistic killers in film history.
The film starts with Art brutally killing a family, then cuts back to five years prior to pick up where 'Terrifier 2' ended, when Art was decapitated by Sienna. We swiftly go to the present again, and Sienna has been released from a psychiatric hospital. She goes to live with her Aunt Jess and husband Greg, and their daughter Gabbie.
Back from the dead, Art continues his killing spree in the most horrific ways possible! If you're squeamish, I guarantee you definitely won't be able to watch the kill scenes. However horrible they are, one has to give credit to the creators for their fantastic make-up and practical effects. If Oscars were given to practical effects, 'Terrifier 3' would deserve to win, or at least receive a nomination. It is insanely well done!
Sienna - still battling to get grips on reality - soon discovers Art is still on her trail, and her fight for survival starts all over again. Lauren LaVera returns as Sienna, and she is once again fantastic. The Sienna character grounds the film in a way and lends more realism to an otherwise wildly absurd movie. In fact, the acting from everyone in this movie - even the small parts - were so good.
Victoria, who was the protagonist in 'Terrifier' and ended up being horribly disfigured by Art, is back and has a much bigger part in 'Terrifier 3'. She, too, is now immortal and killing alongside Art. Victoria is a truly ugly character, while Art - although diabolical - is also kinda funny.
'Terrifier 3' is an exceptionally well made film, but I honestly never want to see it again. I'd still give the first two films repeat viewings, but not 'Terrifier 3'. With the tremendous success of the franchise, and 'Terrifier 3' in particular, it is no surprise that 'Terrifier 4' is in the works.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
Dated, but still a fun movie with good effects.
It's 1868 , and news of a sea monster destroying ships causes great fear among seamen. A Search party which includes Professor Pierre Aronnax (Paul Lukas) and his associate Conseil (Peter Lorre) goes in search of the monster. Joining them is Ned Land (Kirk Douglas), who is to either kill or capture the monster.
During an encounter with the monster, Prof. Aronnax and Conseil are thrown overboard. Drifting away from their ship, they drift towards an unusual looking submarine. Ned soon catches up with them and they decide to investigate the seemingly abandoned vessel.
Soon after, Aronnax, Conseil and Ned are captured by the submarine's crew. The submarine, called the Nautilus, is an advanced vessel belonging to Captain Nemo (James Mason), who believes everything Man requires can be found in the ocean.
It soon becomes clear the submarine was responsible for the destruction of many ships, and not a sea monster, but Captain Nemo justifies his actions. With many treasures on board found in the ocean, Ned intends stealing some of the artifacts, but events take an unexpected turn when their lives are in danger.
With very good visuals for its time, I can only imagine what this film must have looked like seven decades ago, as some of the effects are still amazing today. The film also features good performances by a seasoned cast. Oh, and the seal was too precious!! This is an exciting fantasy action adventure, complete with cannibals and a giant octopus.
Alien Country (2024)
This was so cool!!
At first I thought this was a mockbuster, but 'Alien Country' is not, and neither is it trying to be another 'Alien' wannabe. This is a very different alien movie and a lot of fun, actually.
Jimmy (K. C. Clyde) is a dirt car racer. One night he finds a mysterious suitcase inside a dirt car. When him and his 'girlfriend' Everly (Renny Grames) opens the case, they find an unusual crystal. As the crystal starts to glow, a porthole to another planet opens, and unknowingly creatures from this world enters our world.
As the creatures start killing people, Johnny and Everly team up with a friendly alien to stop the bad aliens, but someone else is also after the crystal...
Being only 96 minutes long, 'Alien Country' is fast-paced and exciting. It is mostly a comedy, so off course the killings are also in a very lighthearted manner. The film features cool photography, cinematography and visuals, and the editing was also very good.
With likeable characters, a dashing cop in the form of Officer Kirk (played by the hunky Trey Warner), and lots of action, adventure and planet hopping, this was a lot of fun. There's also an interesting back story regarding Jimmy's dad. I really enjoyed this.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Been there, done that, seen that...
I must be honest, after seeing the trailer to 'Alien: Romulus' I wasn't really interested in watching it. 'Been there, done that', I thought. I mean, with 'Alien: Romulus' being the seventh film in this long-running franchise, how fresh and original could it possibly be?
Cailee Spaeny stars as Rain in a very similar role to Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver. Her adopted 'brother' is an android called Andy. Rain is persuaded by her ex-boyfriend Tyler to join him and a small group of friends to break into a decommissioned ship to steal equipment. The only reason they want Rain to join them, is so Andy can accompany them in order to gain access to the ship.
The 'ship' turns out to be a space station, which will crash into the planetary rings within 36 hours, thus creating a countdown to elevate the suspense. The space station is divided into Romulus and Remus sections, so most of the film is set in Romulus, as the title indicates.
Off course, things soon go very wrong for the youngsters when the creatures appear. What follows, is more of the same alien mayhem we've seen before, and Rain rises to the occasion as protagonist - in pretty much the same manner Ripley did.
There isn't really anything here we haven't seen before. Rain is the new Ripley (but Sigourney Weaver was much better), Navarro is a similar character to Private Vasquez from 'Aliens', Tyler is similar to Corporal Hicks from 'Aliens', just not as likeable or memorable, and I knew the android Rook looked awfully familiar (think Ash from 'Alien'). I guess Andy can be compared with Bishop from 'Aliens', and the scene with Kay being found alive was very similar to what happened to Newt in 'Aliens.
The visual and practical effects remained good throughout all the films in the franchise, and 'Alien: Romulus' is no exception. Despite all the similarities to the previous films, I did find it entertaining and thought it was the best in the franchise after 'Alien', 'Aliens', and 'Prometheus'... Hmmm, ok, let's rather just say it was better than 'Alien 3', 'Alien Resurrection' and 'Alien: Covenant'... Then again, 'Alien Resurrection' felt more original. Oh, hell, let's just say we've seen it all before. I think I'll stick with 'Alien' and 'Aliens' - the only EXCELLENT movies in the franchise.
The ending leaves the door wide open for (yet another) sequel, and no doubt Cailee Spaeny will reprise her role as Rain for a few more films before she, too, gets tired of it.
The Substance (2024)
The Point of no return.
Once famous actress Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) now hosts an aerobics show for a television network, but on her 50th birthday she is dismissed by her producer Harvey (Dennis Quaid), who wants a fresh new young face for the show.
Upset, Elizabeth is involved in a car crash on her way home. At the hospital, a young male nurse hands her a flash drive. Once home, she watches the contents, which is an advertisement for a substance that will produce a younger version of yourself. She orders it, but the substance comes with strict procedural instructions she must follow without exception.
A younger, new version of herself literally emerges from within, and there are now two versions of Elizabeth Sparkle. As the young version, she decides to audition as replacement for her show, and introduces herself as Sue. Harvey - not realizing who Sue truly is - immediately hires her.
Enjoying her newfound youth, firm body, and success, Sue neglects the instructions, and things start going horribly wrong for both versions. 'The Substance' is an extremely well made film with a great soundtrack, photography, editing, and sound effects. Not to mention the insane practical effects!! Not since 'The Thing' and 'The Fly' have I seen these incredible practical effects.
Unfortunately the film completely falls apart during the final ten minutes. What the hell were they thinking? I'm not going to do spoilers, and all I'm going to say is that the reaction from the audience (in the movie) was not realistic and actually completely stupid. Even the photography was shaky and completely out of focus. Just why? The film had the potential for a much better ending... Even so, this was still an incredible watch and a very unique premise.
Demi Moore delivered a fantastic performance as Elizabeth Sparkle, and Margaret Qualley is perfectly cast as Sue. Ten out of ten for the make-up effects team!! The film teaches us a powerful lesson to accept yourself, and accept the fact that we all age.
The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
One of the greatest films ever made!
Bagdad is the dream city of the Ancient East. Ahmed is a thief, who steals whatever he wants. When he breaks into the palace and sees the beautiful princess, he falls in love with her. Ahmed's associate Abu suggests they steal her.
Meanwhile , the Princess awaits three princes to vie for her hand in marriage. She has been foretold she will marry the first suitor to touch the rose-tree in her garden. Three princes, Prince of the Indies, Prince of the Mongols, and Prince of Persia soon arrives. As fate would have it - disguised as a Princely suitor - Ahmed is the first to touch the tree; although purely by accident.
But when it is discovered Ahmed is a fraud, the Princess vows to marry the suitor who finds her the rarest treasure. Her Father agrees, and the suitors go in search of a rare treasure. What follows, is an action-packed, exciting and magical adventure, filled with danger around every corner.
'The Thief of Bagdad' is one of the most expensive films of the silent era, and this is evident in every scene. The film boasts impressive sets and visuals for a film made a century ago. Some of these effects - like the magic rope and flying carpet - are still incredible even today. One can't help but marvel at what they've accomplished with this ambitious, spectacular production. It quite simply is one of the greatest movies ever made.
Douglas Fairbanks delivers a wonderful performance as Ahmed, and being shirtless for most of the movie with that great athletic body, he is a feast on the eyes!