shady-42994 Reviews

Tabernacle 101 (2019)

Flatliner on budget

[1/10 · 28 March 2020]

Generally, there's nothing new in this movie. We already see it in Flatliner with only a little bit twist. This movie should be less than 99 minutes and it has some scene that is unnecessary.

So to the main question, is this movie any good? Well, yes and no. Yes to hardcore indie movie lover. Even for movie lover like me with more than 2000 movies under my belt, 99 minutes feels wayyy longer that it is.

I tried to like it but i can't. I've got no issue with cheap visual effect but the dialogues too cheesy in some scene, sometimes the scene feel rushed on critical part and prolonged on unnecessary part and worst of all the acting seems forced. This movie got 40% budget of Upgrade movie but in Upgrade, you can see where all the money goes but not in this.

Overall, 1 star for effort but i don't recommend this movie unless of course, you're hardcore indie movie lover.

The Night Clerk (2020)

Take it easy

[6/10 · 25 February 2020]

Before watching any movie, i'd always set lower expectation for the movie and it usually pays off. This movie is like that. You have to know what you're getting into and you must know what your expectation.

If you expect full blown mystery thriller like Primal Fear, prepare to be disappointed. But if you expect something to pass your free time with a short linear mystery thriller, this is the movie for you.

The plot is quite monotonous with the only twist was at the end but it is what i'm expecting by reading the synopsis. It's about an MC who have an asperger syndrom accused of murder. The focus is not whether he did it or not because i think it is pretty self explanatory during the scene. If you as many people expect this as the main focus of this movie, again, prepare to be disappointed. It is about how the MC want to prove that he's innocent without the help of police, how he trapped all who's involved or related to the murder that want to set him up but actually he know's all along and how he set them up again.

All in all, it's not really that bad.

Ad Astra (2019)

Know your expectation

[7/10 · 22 December 2019]

If you come to this user review section to see whether many recommend to watch this movie or not, then look no more. Just read my review and make your decision.

Is this movie good or bad? Well, since the reviews is quite balance between good and bad reviews, i'm confused too at first until i watched it myself. What can i say is, know your expectation.

If you're sci-fi fan and you expect to see movies like Interstellar or Gravity, then you're better avoid this at all cost. You'll be utterly disappointed. The sci-fi in this is just a backdrop and no more than that. No explanation whatsoever about anything sci-fi or some focus on something extraordinarily sci-fi happening in this.

But if you expect to see a drama about relationship of father and son and how far someone would do or go to find closure with beautiful scenery as background then this movie is worth to watch although they could make it shorter but it's not a big deal. This movie teaches you how to make the most of your surrounding and appreciate all the people around you while you're still alive.

In short, know your expectation. It will determine whether you'll like this movie or not.

Foxcatcher (2014)

A great movie ruined by wrong fact

[1/10 · 8 December 2019]

Is this movie bad? Not really. The pace is good. It build the suspense that I anticipated. The acting is as expected from these cast. There's enough wrestling by main characters that shows they know what they're doing. It successfully shows the thirst of approval by John du Pont from his mother.

Then, why such a low score? Promoting misconception and there's a lot. There's several that I can overlook like they don't show the timeline correctly, they don't show truthfully the hallucination experienced by John, they wrongfully shows how John was captured.

But what I can't stand is they have the guts to portrays Mark as having a gay relationship with John and he suffered from Mark's departure as in a couple after a breakup. Real Mark is literally against this that he brought this to the director's attention on Twitter.

So my advice to you, if you wanna watch this, don't google the fact after watching this movie. Just watch it as it is. Overall, 7/10 for the movie and 1/10 for misconception.

Hotel Artemis (2018)

It's not bad, It's average

[5/10 · 15 November 2019]

First off, i watched this movie with no expectation even though i see a lot of familiar faces in it, i still have an open minded from start until the end credit.

This movie is about some criminal in a hotel/hospital that help criminals, sort of like The Continental in John Wick. The only problem with it is, it's not a hotel or a hospital. From the outside, it was like 30 storey but the scene only take place in a very very very small place in only 1 level with what seems like just 4 or 5 rooms. And the criminals?not that many and you don't really care. You could put Spongebob in it and the movie will do just fine. That's why for a notorious place that shelter criminals, they only need 1 man to guard it and that man is a nurse at the same time.

The biggest problem with this movie is that there are a lot of scene and dialogue that doesn't seem to fit together,like out of nowhere the scene/dialogue is there and even if it was taken out, the movie will still be ok. And when i say a lot, i really mean a lot. Heck, even the ending dialogue feels rushed and forced.

As for the acting, you cant expect any better. All of the main character delivers. The action scene is well choreographed. The concept is unique but that's it. If you enjoyed Mortal Engine where the concept is unique but the plot is so-so, you'd enjoy this movie.

Overall, it's really not bad, it's just average.

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

No Country For Old Men

[7/10 · 5 November 2019]

When the first death happened, i almost spontaneously said to myself "this is like No Country For Old Men" and i was right. A lot of unexpected thing happened and it caught me by surprise especially the badass kid at the end.

If i were to choose whether this movie or NCFOLM, i would choose this. The reason is the pacing for this movie is just right, the film make you in between the line of care or don't care with the character, and what makes me choose this is definitely the unsuspected badass kid and a concluded ending. For those review who said what's the point of this movie should watch NCFOLM and you'd be thankful for this movie.

I know some would say that NCFOLM is gold, the best of the century, if you don't understand and don't like the ending than i should stick with Marvel movies etc but it's just not for me. If you're like me who like NCFOLM but don't like the pacing and the ending, then this will satisfy you.

55 Steps (2017)

Sometimes, friendship is better than wealth

[7/10 · 1 November 2019]

Reading the synopsis of this movie, my expectation walking into this movie is full blown court action like The Lincoln Lawyer or something like that. After the end credit rolled, I understand why it only got 6.9 rating on IMDB.

If you're in the mood of court action movie,then this movie will not satisfy your need. This movie focused on the relationship between a lawyer and her client, how a retarded person in public's eye can change the life of a white collar. That's where this movie shines. A simple gesture of appreciation and caring can change a person's life and this movie doesn't fail to show both points. Personally, the outcome i got from 55 Steps is to never judge anyone based on anything for such a simple person on the outside can have a great personality and mind on the inside.

The Big Short (2015)

A great look into how corrupt the world economy are

[8/10 · 28 October 2019]

This movie tells about an event which i don't even remember. In 2008, i'm only 16 and studied in a hostel school makes me much more alienated from outside world issue.

Thankfully this movie gives me great insight about what happened during the great recession and how far it impacted particularly in USA. Although there are many terms that would make laymen would pause for a while to grasp and fully understand it, that doesn't make it less good to watch. If you're a fan of based on true story movie, this should be on your watchlist. The story is good,the acting is good especially Steve Carell, the dialogue is good although it takes some time to understand it. If you like The Post, you'll absolutely love this movie.

A Street Cat Named Bob (2016)

A tear jerker for the one who understand

[9/10 · 28 October 2019]

I've been stumbled across this movie several times but all those time i ignored it as i'm not a fan of animal movie. After searching for something uplifting to watch for my movie night, i decided to give this a go. Oh boy what a tear jerker it is. I have experience of addiction myself although not of drugs,but addiction is an addiction and it is hard to get rid of it. Anyone who would do anything to get rid of it deserve my most respect and James Bowen is one of them. The struggle is real,the road to overcome the addiction is hard, your surrounding could kill your motivation and this movie successfully potrayed all that.

If you're in the mood for something to lift your spirit,this is the movie. The feeling is the same when i finished watching The Way Way Back. A nice cameo too by the real James Bowen. Such a feel good movie deserved to be watch on family movie night.

Kin (I) (2018)

A good way to start a franchise

[6/10 · 26 September 2019]

To be honest, this movie is just a repeated recipe that has been used by many movie before. It has drama, it has space gun, it has the usual unique main character. The visual effect is really not bad. What made this movie a good one is it is good at what it has supposed to do, which is to satisfy my need for a good sci-fi movie that is not based on superhero. The other thing that make this movie worth a watch is the ending which really a good way to start a franchise.

Overall, 6/10 from me.

Hunter Killer (2018)

Another very entertaining movie the critics trying to plunge

[8/10 · 25 September 2019]

Of course it doesn't deserve my 10/10 but i rate it that way to boost the rating. This movie is at least 7/10. The acting is great, the writing is great,the visual effect is great, the dialogue is not so cheesy like other action/bad ass movie and most of all, this movie doesn't pretend to be Oscar worthy. It serve its purpose which is to entertain.

If you like action/thriller/adrenaline rush kinda movie, don't let this movie slip past your to-watch list. This movie is a gem in a pile of Marvel/DC/Disney live action remake movie era.

Overall, easy 7.5/10 from me.