FixedYourEnding Reviews

Abigail (2024)

I'm just tired of these brainless gory teenage movies

[4/10 · 13 May 2024]

Common, you know the "twist" from just reading the movie description, don't even need to watch the trailer. Ok, so no twist, what's next? Let's do a cool vampire movie, when they immediately explode when exposed to the slightest sign of sunlight. Oh yes, they should also explode when a stake is put through their heart. Yes, what else? Oh yeah, wouldn't it be cool if they can turn to a vampire in 20 seconds after being bitten? Who wants to wait for a transformation like in the old movies, those were crap, right?

Oh, but most important - lets keep the characters act like they are 3 years-old and make the worst decisions at any possible time, even if they are supposed to be ex-cops or ex-military or whatever, they should really be scared of a little girl with some teeth on her, and when she is out cold lets not tie her up, instead lets put her in an elevator cage that a dog can break out of in 5 minutes.

And it just goes on and on like this for 90+ minutes, unclear what these morons are doing there and why they turn on each other so easily, and why do they all even have to stay there. It's like a really bad "Knifes Out" which was, by itself, super overrated.

I'm just tired of these stupid bloody teenage movies. It really isn't good, it's not funny and it's nothing but a total waste of time. I do not understand the high ratings these movies get on IMDB, It's not even about bad acting, Kevin Durand went on to participate in Kingdom of the apes and Melissa Barrera is decent, but the texts they are given here are sooo bad most of the time I felt embarrassed for the actors.

Bottom line, watchable if you have absolutely nothing better to do, and I mean *nothing* better. Exact score: 44 / 100.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

I rather eat sand

[3/10 · 29 April 2024]

Never read the books. I have no idea if this is a good adaptation or not. What I do know that my daughter asked to leaved the theater after 1 hr in, and I was secretly relieved. The movie simply wasn't enjoyable for me and it was not showing any signs of getting better.

Having managed to get through the first Dune installment, I expected more from the sequel. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a tedious, predictable narrative that follows the well-worn path of countless rebel-versus-conqueror stories. Regrettably, it lacks even a fraction of the brilliance found in similar idea masterpieces like Star Wars.

The use of a fictional language is charming initially, but it quickly wears thin. Unlike Star Wars, where snippets of an obscure tribal language add authenticity, here we're forced to endure the subtitles for 80% of the time. Yes, it's science fiction, but that doesn't excuse nonsensical plot points. For instance, the rebels manage to destroy a massive machine with a single shot. What weapon did they use? With this kind of weapon they surely do not have to risk themselves running on the sand. How did they acquire it? Why do they even care? And where did they find all that machinery and perfectly tailored clothing?

On a positive note, Cinemark was gracious. As members, we received credit for another movie. They handled our request for a refund without fuss. Apparently we were not the first to step out and ask our money back. Frankly, enduring another two hours of this disappointment was not something I wanted to endure.

As for the film's fan base, I'm puzzled. Are die-hard sci-fi enthusiasts who live and breathe the book the primary audience? Or perhaps it's the same crowd that protests in the streets, passionately defending their interpretation of rebellion. From a cinematic perspective, this movie is not good. The cinematography relies heavily on mediocre CGI, and the worm monsters remain hidden and poorly portrayed. Despite the presence of high-profile actors, their lines are disappointingly lackluster with several "oh please" moments.

I recognize that my opinion puts me in the minority. Still, I won't blindly follow the crowd and I most certainly will _not_ eat their spice. I recommend you don't go blindly into watching this even if asked so by a cute girl 💓

RoboCop (2014)

Not a remake. An outstanding refresh (10 year anniversay review)

[8/10 · 13 April 2024]

I watched this as part of the 10 year anniversary for this movie. Surprisingly it held the test of time very well. The CGI is done professionally and would not shame any 2023 film, unlike the original 1987 movie which obviously suffers from lack of CGI and the outdated stop-motion technology. The acting is great and Michael Keaton is top-notch as always. The other actors, while might win any Oscars for their roles, they are, again doing an above average job that surpasses, in my opinion, the acting quality of the 1987 movie.

Regarding the story, as you may already know it is loosely based on the original movie, however it is completely fresh and different, and in my opinion, better. In the original, Alex's family barely plays a role, but here the wife & kid are playing an important role and it is was a great and emotional improvement. The doctor (Gary Oldman) plays an important role too and helps to show the internal conflict of a person who is a decent human being but being pressured by money and politics.

Not everything is perfect in this 2014 version. Some of the scenes are more than "unbelievable" and have over the top action. Also, the quick changes the doctor can make to Alex are almost laughable. Some of the decisions of the "mastremind" are questionable and just doesn't make top sense, but it can be forgiven due to this movie really is an action movie and not a serious statement about the future of politics.

The movie, although not a copy of the original, does carry some winks and homages to the original, if you pay close attention to the villains lines you will find it. The robots, although improved graphically are loyal to the original story and I was I pleased that they didn't go overboard with that. A trap that a lot of new Hollywood movies fall into.

To wrap it up, a word about the soundtrack. I really appreciated the soundtrack which is humoristic at times (tin man) and finishing with the The Clash "I fought the law" which, very similar to this movie, was a remake of a previous work but becomes a much better version of it and indeed holds it's freshness just as well in our time.

Exact score: 82 / 100. Go watch with your teenagers, you will not be disappointed.

Frida (2024)

Really well made and innovative documentary

[8/10 · 2 April 2024]

Creating this kind of documentary must have been difficult. The years we are talking about are 1907 - 1954 so although there are some original film from those years it is not enough to make a full-length movie, however the directors here choose to almost verbatim read off Frida's diary which is surprisingly reach and spans over many years. Also photos and archives of the actual art and people that are involved. The outcome is mesmerizing and although I'm not a big fan of these kind of documentaries it was interesting enough for a 90 minutes watch.

This is not a kind of a movie that would be a block-buster hit. It is not a person that everyone knows, her life, although very bohemian and flamboyant is still confined to art lovers. And it is a documentary, not showing any actors at all, only real people voices or voice-over. Having said that, I did watch Frida Kahlo movie from 2002 in which she is portrayed by Salma Hayek, and I think this documentary is actually better, in a sense that you are getting what really happened and not a mere Holywoodic mirror of it.

One criticism I do have for this movie is the animation of Kahlo's paintings, which from art perspective is unique and refreshing, but for me sometimes I couldn't tell what was a real painting and what was an artist or CGI alteration of it. I wish they would show the actual art as is, unaltered.

People who decide to watch this movie should be aware of the nudity imagery that this documentary contain, but if you are in learning mode, history and art, you'll find a beautifully made movie and a truly deep life lesson. This movie is absolutely a must for art students and people that have a thirst for knowledge.

Exact score: 77 / 100.

Road House (2024)

Good remake but not amazing, McGregor steals the show

[7/10 · 25 March 2024]

25 years after the Road House with Patrick Swayse was made, this remake is abound to give it a fresh start. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, the main protagonist and Conor McGregor as the bad-ass Knox. The story is fairly straight-forward, a bunch of tugs instructed by a rich and corrupt developer the remove the last stand between him and his development plans. Dalton is of-course the savior of the little people, their cowboy and the knight in shining armor. It is a fast-paced action full adventure with plenty of fists-fights on all levels, some of them more serious then others.

It is a well-made movie, CGI is good and all the actors dong a great job, but it is a bit soulless. The attempt to bring some softness and kindness to the story with the inclusion of Hannah Love Lanier is nice but it's not enough to give this movie and emotional twist. Also Daniela Melchior, as beautiful as she is, stays cold for most of the script.

Overall this is a good "turn off your brain" action movie. It's long and start to be repetitive at some point but it ends just before getting too boring. Really nothing wrong with it other than it will not leave a lasting impression on you other then remembering the image of the nearly-naked McGregor here and there.

The story of why Dalton left UFC is an interesting one and I wish it was more developed, again nothing wrong here, just feeling like the surface was scraped but not dug into.

Guide: R rated due to extreme violence, rough language, but no sex scenes. Exact score: 71 / 100.

Little Wing (2024)

Teenage drama that will touch your heart

[8/10 · 18 March 2024]

I didn't expect much from "Little Wing", the poster is unassuming and the topic of racing pigeons is not that exciting. However I was in for a nice surprise. Starting with a well-though story through great acting and ending on a very emotional note.

The story revolves around Kaitlyn (Brooklyn Prince), a teenager who has a complicated life with school, parents and friends, just a tad more than the usual stuff. She tries to help her mom save her house but doing it in all the wrong ways.

I think Brian Cox is the only other famous actor in this cast, however all the actors are doing a great job and the dialogues are realistic and sincere. I'm not sure how much is taken from the short story this is based on, but the direction, photography and writing is all well done here.

The movie is funny at parts, but in general it is a drama with very realistic situations, nothing extravagant, not real "bad guys" and "good guys" but that's where its charm comes from, we are all slightly good and slightly bad sometimes.

Overall this movies gets a two thumb up from me, if you like drama with some excitement in it, and a lot of heart, "Little Wing" might just be the thing for you. Exact score: 78 / 100.

The Woods Are Real (2024)

Christianity tale, Student-esq production

[4/10 · 14 March 2024]

Surprisingly, I managed to stay for the entire duration of this movie, so that's one thing that was going for it, however the production value is very low, looks like shot on an iphone without much direction and retakes. Even the cuts between the scenes is if done by a free editing software.

Surprisingly the acting is above average here, although the chemistry between the different actors is mediocre, as very common to this level of production quality, it does seem like the actors make an effort and care about their acting level and the characters they portray.

One major thing to remember coming in to see this movie is that this is a Christianity movie with ideas rotating around biblical and faith elements (such as the sacrifice of a son and others). If you are not familiar with the bible stories and expecting some hard-core horror movie you will be deeply disappointed. The value of this movie as action/horror is extremely low.

Overall I cannot really recommend this movie, all I can do is commend the actors and the director for producing a watchable movie for such low budget, but it is really a sub-par watch. Exact score: 4.4 / 10.

Damsel (2024)

Good, but not without flaws

[7/10 · 10 March 2024]

The story of "Damsel" is a fairy-tale like, mixed with some elements of a revenge movie. The film explores themes of self-reliance and courage as Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) embarks on a journey to save her people and herself after finding herself in a precarious situation after a rushed marriage proposal takes her to a distant land.

Overall not bad, as far as fantasy movies go, but for some reason it is not allowed nowadays to make movies in which everyone has the same skin color (even if its a remote made-up land) so we are forced into the regular inclusivity woke story, but whatever.

At points it was definitely felt like MBB was there just so that the production can put a big name on the actors list, her name is so big it makes Angela Bassett looks like a tier-C actor. But I was not crazy about either of these casts, they were 'ok' but didn't really carry and served more value for the production than the story.

Need to point out that the CGI in this movie is phenomenal, starting from the great sceneries all the way to the creatures and monsters. It is done well, and not overdone. It's too bad that the story is a shallow (no real character exportation) and narrow (mostly happens in one place) so this is no 'lord of the rings', not even by a long shot.

In essence, 'Damsel' is an entertaining fantasy movie that can be enjoyed by the entire family (beware, there are some bloody death scenes and scary scenes, so not suitable for small children). There is noting really new to be told here, but at least its beautiful and engaging. Exact score: 72 / 100.

Code 8: Part II (2024)

Who gave this a 10? I almost fell asleep

[5/10 · 1 March 2024]

The first installment of Code 8 was okay, I gave it a 6 out of 10. This one is better in the sense of CGI, camera and acting but boy, is the story flat. There is no real connection to the original in terms of story, just similar settings. Again, in this one it seems like everybody has superpowers although it supposed to be only 4% of the population, even the YMCA old Chinese lady has powers, and of-course the corrupted police chief has powers, wow, what a surprise! Give me a break.

Not only that Code 8 part II falls flat, not really exploring any of the characters or their past, it also becomes boring at some point, where I stopped caring about what happens and almost fell asleep. For me that's an immediate sign that this is not actually a good movie. Also kept bothering me why Tarak stole the whole bag of cash? If he is the good person they portray him to be, shouldn't he just take money for a book? Also why kill him? It's not like he uncovered a mystery he didn't know of, they could just hand him over to Garret, his boss.

IMO Code 8 part II is a complete time-waster. If you have 1.5 hours to kill this might be an ok choice, but I cannot really recommend this one, which is a shame because they had a good opportunity to build on top of the original movie and made it worse instead of improving on it. All 3 writers should be ashamed of themselves, in the future don't complain when you're job is replaced by AI.

Exact score: 51 / 100.

DogMan (2023)

A bizzare creation but very well-done

[7/10 · 28 February 2024]

Dogman tells a story of a unique and outlandish character from a kid growing up in broken home and how he survived his adulthood. Categorizing this movie as an action film and a name like 'Dogman' might lead you to expect a fast-paced or a superhero movie, but although there are some action bits in this movie, it mostly deals with social issues, crime and art.

If you are a dog lover you will like this film and you will see plenty of this friendly breed in it, however this film is not about dogs, it could have been about bats or robots (although the name Batman is already taken) with the same kind of success.

Luc Besson does a great job here of telling a story, which he usually does well. I don't know what made him come up with this story but it's not something you see every day. The acting here is superb and made me rate this movie higher than I would otherwise do.

Overall I think this movie is worth watching, as long as you come in with the right expectations. If you can enjoy some art, singing and also some uneasy violent scenes you will enjoy this one. Exact score: 71 / 100.

The Beekeeper (2024)

Totally irrational and over the top, and yet, I enjoyed it

[7/10 · 9 February 2024]

The Beekeeper is a typical Jason Statham action movie, with lots of fights, explosions, and cheesy one-liners. Statham plays a former assassin who goes on a revenge spree against a corrupt tech company that ruined the life of a friend. The plot is thin, the dialogue is bad, and the villains are cartoonish and forgettable, the movie is ridiculous, over-the-top and even offensive at times, but... I totally enjoyed it.

The revenge on the bad actors in this film (no pun intended) is really fun and rewarding, it is like all the people you wished you could do that to got the revenge in the way the deserve. Statham is doing his usual job in inflicting pain on everybody that stands in his way, the pacing in the movie is great and there is never a dull moment. Statham is the action, everything else is a 2nd fiddle in his symphony, including the supporting actors, are all there to be props in his quest.

And yes, don't try to make sense of the story while watching this, it will ruin the movie for you. This is a beer (or coke) and popcorn movie start to finish. The tech part in the movie, as well as all the government conspiracies, although based on real occurrences is completely blown out of proportion but still a lesson to be had. The bees knew what they were doing.

Grab a box of popcorn and enjoy this action flick! Exact score: 68 / 100.

Night Swim (2024)

Not up to par with other Blumhouse productions

[5/10 · 26 January 2024]

"Night Swim" is a supernatural horror film that tries to capitalize on the success of the 2014 short film of the same name by Bryce McGuire and Rod Blackhurst. However, the feature-length version, written and directed by McGuire, does not live up to the potential of its premise. The film follows a family who moves into a house with a haunted pool that demands a sacrifice in exchange for healing. Despite the involvement of horror veterans Jason Blum and James Wan as producers, the film suffers from a lack of scares, gore, and originality.

The film's main flaw is its inability to create a sense of dread or suspense around the pool, which is supposed to be the main source of horror. The pool is a bland and boring entity that does not have a clear motivation or identity. Is it a monster, a ghost, or the nature water itself? The film never answers this question, and instead relies on cheap and predictable jump-scares that failed to elicit any reaction from me even when watching it in complete darkness. It just not scary at all. The film shows very little blood, opting for black ooze and off-screen deaths that make the pool seem less threatening and more ridiculous. I understand the decision to make it PG-13 but there are different way to create suspense than a silly water monster.

To add insult to injury, the film's story is also weak and full of plot holes and clichés. The characters are one-dimensional and make illogical decisions that serve the convenience of the script. However, they do seem to survive what seems as endless time underwater. The film tries to explore themes of family, sacrifice, and healing, but does so in a superficial and unconvincing way. Also why call it "night swim" where event also happens in broad daylight and doesn't seem like night has anything to do with it?

The only redeeming qualities of the film are the performances and the cinematography. Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon do a decent job of portraying the troubled couple, Ray and Eve, who struggle with Ray's illness and the pool's influence. The child actors, Amélie Hoeferle and Gavin Warren, are also believable and sympathetic as the endangered kids, Izzy and Elliot. The film also has some visually appealing shots of the pool but it's just not enough to offset the amateuristic nature of the storytelling.

Overall, "Night Swim" is a disappointing horror film that wastes a promising concept and fails to deliver any scares or substance. The film is watchable, but not memorable or satisfying. Horror fans will be better off skipping this film and watching the original short film instead. Exact score: 48 / 100.

The Kitchen (I) (2023)

The Kitchen: A Dystopian Disaster That Fails to Cook Up Any Sci-Fi or Drama

[4/10 · 21 January 2024]

The Kitchen is a dystopian drama that follows the lives of Izi, a funeral home worker, and Benji, a young boy he mentors, as they struggle to survive in a bleak urban environment of some unexplained future. The movie attempts to create a futuristic setting, but fails to integrate it into the story or explore its implications. The movie also suffers from a lack of direction, character development, and dialogue, leaving the audience detached and dissatisfied. The only redeeming quality of the movie is the performance of Hope Ikpoku Jnr as Staples, a charismatic gang leader who steals every scene he is in. Overall, "The Kitchen" is a disappointing and boring movie that wastes its potential and its cast and it is another brick in the Netflix collection of trash.

The movie opens with a scene of a group of kids on motorbikes robbing a food truck and bringing it back to their community, known as the Kitchen. The movie never explains why the Kitchen is in such a state of poverty and oppression, or why the police are trying to evict its residents. The movie also never shows how the futuristic elements, such as high-tech messages on the mirror or holographic advertisements, affect the lives of the characters or the society. The movie seems to use these elements as mere props, without any meaningful connection to the plot or the themes, basically Sci-Fi sells so we should throw some of that in sort of feeling.

The movie then introduces us to Izi, who works at a funeral home and dreams of escaping the Kitchen and finding a better place to live. He meets Benji, a young boy who has lost his parents and is living on the streets. Izi takes Benji under his wing and tries to teach him how to survive in the harsh reality of the Kitchen. The movie tries to portray the bond between Izi and Benji, but fails to make us care about them or their struggles. The movie does not give us any insight into their personalities, backgrounds, or motivations. The movie also does not show us how they grow or change as a result of their experiences. Some other characters, such as "Lord Kitchen", a mysterious figure who broadcasts music and messages to the Kitchen, also fails to attach any explanation or add any value to the story.

The movie ends with a vague and unsatisfying conclusion, that leaves many questions unanswered and many conflicts unresolved. The movie does not explain what happens to the Kitchen, or to Izi and Benji, or to the other characters we met along the way. The movie does not offer any message or lesson, or any reason to watch it in the first place. It is a poorly executed and poorly written movie, that does not deliver on any of the promises it makes. It is not a sci-fi movie, nor a drama movie, nor a good movie. It is a waste of time and money, and a disappointment to anyone who expects more from cinema.

I doubt that anybody who is not a friend of the production will give this movie anything over a '5'. I am giving this a '4' as I was tempted to stop watching it several times throughout, and I'm sure you will too.

The Bricklayer (2023)

Writers laid a brick in this one

[5/10 · 8 January 2024]

The Bricklayer is a paint-by-numbers action film with nothing really new to offer, it is filled with clichés, movie tropes and dubasseries, illogical dialogues and mediocre acting. I mean Aaron Eckhart is ok and he looks the part, but with this kind of story and irrational events it just looks like a satire of itself, some of the actors seem like they are not fully invested in the movie, the most prominent example being Ilfenesh Hadera (Tye) but also Nina Dobrev (Kate), Ori Pfeffer (Sten) and other supporting actors are not doing their best work here.

Normally I manage to 'leave my brain' at home with these kind of movies, I can ignore the solid steel canisters that blow up with a single bullet hit, or somebody who is getting shot and gets up the next day etc, however when they got to the point when they have to perform a physical exchange of Bitcoin I felt that it crossed a line of stupidity.

What does bricklaying has to do with the story? Not much, I wish there was some hidden meaning or subtext there but if you are looking for some arcane knowledge here, you will be wildly dissapoined. In between aggressive fights, thousand of bullet shots, a ridiculous car-chase (not in a good way) there really is nothing to be learnt here, all wrapped up in a barely-holding itself story with some forced twists that are very predictable and also doesn't matter much. To sum up: Leave your brain at home and make sure your brain also leaves its brain at home just to be on the safe side.

My exact score: 53 / 100 due to decent filmography and fight scenes. It's possible that the story more sense as a book, as a movie it fails to amaze. Watchable but nothing more.

Eileen (2023)

Unique film that just doesn't provide enough at the end

[6/10 · 7 January 2024]

Another one of those new Film-noir creations. This one is based on a novel by Ottessa Moshfeg and utilizing two great actors as leads: Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie. Although I would not say their acting is perfect, it is definitely satisfying and a joy to watch, unfortunately the experience is hindered by other things, such as a slow-to-a-crawl pacing and an incomplete ending, along with some unreasonable actions by the main characters.

Now, we can all accept that people will do some extreme things for their beliefs, for their loved ones and for their dreams, however here I was not convinced that even a semi-intelligence person will end up with the situation our two characters ended up at.

But, I'm rushing ahead too fast. In Eileen nothing major happens for the first hour, the pacing is slow, possibly intentionally, however that can't replace the fact that most people would rather see the consequence of the ending vs slow-grinding through meddling events of a young girl with a boring job and a broken home. If you are going into this movie expect to live through that grind.

To add insult to injury, the movie strays away from the novel at the most critical points, such as the ending, which makes you wonder why what it done if not to fix a potential problem with the novel pacing. Due to this I could not rank this movie anything higher than a '6'. It is not bad but lacks the finishing punch that would make sitting through all the slow progression worthwhile. I would recommend only if you have time to kill.

Exact score: 62 / 100. Guide: 'R' rated for sexual innuendos, alcohol abuse, gun use, show of blood.

Loop Track (2023)

Adventure/thrilller movie that lacks the budget to be great

[5/10 · 2 January 2024]

I was puzzled by the horror/comedy label of this movie until I got to the last 30 minutes. Despite being a low-budget production, the movie does a good job of introducing the characters and developing their backstories, but nothing horrific or funny happens in the first 90 minutes of this movie, which just show a group of quirky personalities randomly hiking on a loop trail in NZ. There is some humor in the contrast between the main character Ian (Thomas Sainsbury) and Nicky (Hayden J. Weal), but we wait to see how the tension grows as the movie moves along.

The majority of the film kept me engaged and interested throughout, which is a great achievement for this kind of low-budget production. The actors and the cinematographer do a decent job of keeping the audience invested and avoiding visual fatigue from seeing forest scenery for most of the time, mostly through interesting events and good level of dialogue. But then the movie fell apart right at the end.

I understand that there is some NZ cultural thing with the big black bird, maybe it is some folklore or private joke, but from a movie perspective, I think the writer/producer made the wrong choice here. First, the bird is not scary, its long beak is designed for eating fish and not for piercing through resilient large-bodied creatures. The beak going through heads and bodies of people is kind of ridiculous to the point where I started wondering if this whole thing was a private joke by the writers. Were they all sitting and laughing while filming this?

The second shortcoming of this movie is the character of Ian. Although the idea that he says "I am weak, just look at me" and shows he is the most out-of-shape and least successful in both professional life (failed business) and personal life (failed marriage) is a great setup for him to be the most stable and survivalist person at the end, his triumph is still anti-climactic. I would love to see his acting change from the begging to the end, leading to a fierce fighting scene rather then the poorly executed one we are presented with at the end.

Overall, "Loop Track" is a nice and watchable creation, but I still wish for a better monster and a better ending. I think this movie had the potential of getting two thumbs up from me if those two issues were fixed. But as it stands it falls short to hiking/disaster movies, try watching "The Ruins" of an example of a thriller done well. However I would like to see this production team next project, maybe taking my comments into account 🙏 Guide: Some blood and gore, sexual innuendos, no nudity. Ok for teens. Exact Score: 53 / 100.

Dream Scenario (2023)

Ever dreamt about being famous? watch this!

[7/10 · 25 December 2023]

Great little film. Nicolas Cage after being in some questionable productions, has finally gotten himself into a comprehensible film ' although bizarre at points, his performance is perfect portraying a middle-age lifeless character who basically missed his life calling and most likely will never get there.

His life is taking a turn after a random event pulls him into the life of fame, however as we will see this turn will have more negative events than positive ones.

This movie is not for everyone, as it doesn't fall into a preset category, it's not horror, not really comedy and not family drama, even though elements of all of these existing throughout the movie. I also liked the performance of the supporting actors such as Michael Cera, even if it's a small role.

I do recommend this movie, it is a film for those who appreciate originality and nuance, and who can enjoy Nicolas Cage in a dramatic role. I agree with the collective rank on IMDB. My Exact Score: 73 / 100.

The Family Plan (2023)

Mr & Mrs Smith meets Spy Kids

[6/10 · 19 December 2023]

A predictable, cliché movie that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Not a drop of blood is to be seen although plenty of shots are fired. Mark Wahlberg has always been a second rate action hero for me and he does not surprise that way or the other in this one. Michelle Monaghan as the supporting actor is doing a good job, but again nothing that will knock your socks off.

The kids also have an interesting story-line on their own and the movie deals with spy movie-esq plot along side a tale of family values and coming-of-age lessons. Just keep in mind this is a family movie aimed for teenagers, therefore not very serious and nothing you haven't seen before.

One thing that I found refreshing was the eSport angle. Without giving too much away, I enjoyed seeing that in a mainstream movie and thought it was handled with a good level of realism.

How to rate this movie? It's nothing special, however it's enjoyable and can be watched by the entire family, if taken as such it is not a bad watch, however Mark and Michelle are not Brad & Angelina. I landed on 6/10 due to overall production value but I can see how different people can have different reaction to this.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

A sci-fi drama that will leave you pondering

[6/10 · 15 December 2023]

I watched "Leave the World Behind" in two parts, and I think it would have been better as a TV mini-series than a movie that lasts over two hours. Keep reading to see where I'm coming from.

The movie, based on a novel by Rumaan Alam, shows how different people cope with a global crisis while staying in a small town away from the big cities. The movie never explains what is going on and has many mysterious events that create a creepy atmosphere but doesn't really go anywhere.

The movie has good technical aspects, but I have some issues with it:

1. It is too long for a movie that has little action and mostly takes place in one location.

2. The actors are well-known (like Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Kevin Bacon) but their acting here is not very impressive. In particular, Ethan Hawke is doing a mediocre job throughout.

3. The ending - it is not an ending, it leaves many things unresolved and although leaving the audience with something to think about is good, but this is too little.

4. The soundtrack and its mixing are terrible, I cringed every time a song came on, some soundtracks are forgettable, this one is just bad.

I think making this into a 5-6 episode mini-series with 45 minutes each would have solved these problems. The movie already has different chapters with their own titles, like in the novel, as a series a lot of the movie shortcomings could have been forgiven, and there was an opportunity to build more depth to the characters and the story.

Overall, it is not a bad movie if you don't mind a slow-paced story with no clear conclusion. Guide: No blood, no nudity, no violence, some sexual innuendos, minor use of smoking and guns. My exact score: 59 / 100.

Fast Charlie (2023)

Pierce still Fierce

[7/10 · 11 December 2023]

Can Pierce Brosnan still put it off? Well, in short - yes. He managed to pull of a character that is seasoned, but not geriatric. His chemistry with the supporting actress Morena Baccarin is quite good, although writers had to work around the age difference they managed to pull it off quite successfully.

"Fast Charlie" is about an aging fixer, Charlie Swift, that did not even lose one beat of professionalism and has to deal with a rival gang that is trying to take over the "old gang" territory, complete with loyal and betraying characters alongside the unavoidable romance.

I also like the humor in this film, or rather I should say - sarcasm. I would not color this film as comedy, but it does take itself lightly in a few different spots, which is a nice touch. It makes it into a very enjoyable crime / action feature to pass an evening with, but a restart of James Bond series - it is not.

My biggest grime with this movie is near the end at the final showdown that was a bit anticlimactic and made little sense. My exact score: 68 / 100, Guide: Mild violence, several bloody scenes, no nudity, no cuss-words.

The Killer (2023)

Cold and unemotional

[6/10 · 26 November 2023]

Interesting creation, the soundtrack is almost completely songs by Morissey, however the only time you actually get to hear a good portion of a song is on the rolling credits, otherwise is a few seconds here and there going in and out of the headphones which was a bit annoying for me.

Regarding the story itself, other than the first scene, which shows the non-glorified life of a paid-to-hire assassin, the rest of the movie is chasing the tail of his own organization, as seen in other movies before that and I wasn't very impressed with this kind of story line.

Other than that nothing really wrong with the movie, acting is ok, filmography is good, and choreography is fine, but the lack of emotions and the kind of pointless vendetta did not make me fall in love with his movie. There is no big story or revelation, at the end of the day, it's just a plain action movie.

Overall is a good TV movie watch but not much more than that. It gets 1 thumbs up from me not without a good help from the soundtrack. Exact score: 59 / 100.

The Marsh King's Daughter (2023)

Nice thriller, would recommend

[7/10 · 25 November 2023]

If you are ok with a thriller with unique pacing you might enjoy this one. By unique pacing I mean that the director have you thinking one thing, mellow even relaxing you for a few minutes, and then BANG something totally strange happens. Then when you are getting used to the new situation, you are relaxed again, but then BAM, some new info that throws a totally different twist to the situation and that goes on almost in the entirety of the movie. I really liked that but I can see how people that might expect a formulaic Hollywood flick might find it odd.

My only criticism is that the ending is very predictable and there is no big thing to remember this ending by, I was also missing a good ending scene or maybe an epilogue. This is a non-spoil review so I can't reveal much more, watch and decide for yourself.

Nevertheless, The Marsh Kind's Daughter is an enjoyable watch, it is violent at times, but much less than the R rating might suggest, I would let a mature teenager watch it, but as a parent, make your own decision. The acting, which does not include any 'A-list' actors, is still solid, and the lead actor (Daisy Ridley) and some other familiar faces like Gil Birmingham (NCIS) are doing a great job in making the script believable.

Overall recommended for an evening watch. Exact score: 72 / 100.

The Creator (2023)

Rubbish

[4/10 · 17 November 2023]

This is going to be an unpopular review, I know. Maybe I was in the wrong mood coming into this movie, but I turned it off after 25 minutes, couldn't stand it anymore. The whole premise of American white males are constant war-mongers and do not understand progress. If you are an African American you *might* be ok, it helps if you are hurt or imperfect in some other way, if you are a minority then you should be protected and saved, etc etc.

The story as a whole makes little sense and it is remains incoherent with empty dialogues and mediocre acting. Why bombs, why the war, it is not explained and when those questions are asked they reply is some sort of a joke, such as "they are here for our jobs". Also not explained why would someone remove his prosthetic arm before going to the pool but not his leg. Whatever.

The only redeemable quality for this movie is the production value and the almost next-gen gaming-like scenario and photography. I guess if you can ignore everything else, and just look at the imagery you might enjoy it. I personally needed a little more, or actually quite a lot more.

This is another polarizing creation. I fell on the "don't like it" side, two thumbs down for me. Looks like writers were on strike but CGI was on sale. Exact score: 44 / 100.

Expend4bles (2023)

Nonsensical, insulting cash-grabbing mess

[4/10 · 9 November 2023]

The Expend4bles is the fourth and hopefully the last installment of the action franchise that started as a homage to the 80s and 90s classics, but ended up as a parody of itself. The movie follows the Expendables, a team of mercenaries led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), as they face off against a new enemy, a ruthless assassin named Rahmat (Iko Uwais), who has a personal vendetta against one of their own, Lee Christmas (Jason Statham). Along the way, they are joined by a new recruit, Megan Fox, who plays a character so forgettable that I can't even remember her name. As you can imagine, I did't have high opinion of this movie.

I like a mindless straight-action movie as much as the next guy (or girl), however this one is a mess of bad writing, bad acting, bad directing, and bad CGI. The plot is full of clichés, inconsistencies, and illogical twists, such as the resurrection of a supposedly dead character from the previous film. The dialogue is cringe-worthy, filled with lame jokes, cheesy one-liners, and sexist remarks. The acting is wooden, especially from Megan Fox, who seems to be there for eye candy and eye candy alone. The direction is shaky, making it hard to follow the action scenes, which are mostly boring and repetitive. The CGI is atrocious, looking like something from a video game from the early 2000s. Even a simple green-screen effect in a car chase is painfully stitched together.

The only redeeming qualities of the movie are a few decent action sequences and stunts, and the performances of Jason Statham and Iko Uwais, who are the only ones who seem to care about their roles. Statham delivers his usual charisma and badassery, while Uwais showcases his impressive martial arts skills. Their final fight is the highlight of the movie, but I stopped caring about what happens way before that point.

To summarize: the Expend4bles is a huge disappointment for fans of the franchise and action movies in general. It is a waste of time, money, and talent. It is one of the worst action movies ever made, especially considering it cost 100M! To make.

Exact score: 43 / 100.

The Royal Hotel (2023)

Untapped potential

[6/10 · 26 October 2023]

The movie has some good aspects, such as the direction, acting and filming, but it suffers from a lack of an escalation of events that makes it a very anticlimactic feature. This will disappoint many viewers who expected a more thrilling movie. Moreover, the movie could have easily satisfied these viewers with a couple of strong ending scenes.

--- Please continue reading only of you are ok with spoilers --- The existing ending scene is antagonizing and not in-line with previous decisions made by the main characters. Really? Burn the place down? Why? Is that in some way a reasonable punishment for the abusive men (that didn't do much in terms of crimes btw) but punishing the bar owner who is, albeit being a reckless drunk, did not do anything wrong?

Here are some alternative ending that could elevate this movie to an 8 in my opinion: 1. Escalation of the Axe scene, Hanna becomes a fighter and fights for the life of herself and Liv, some death are inevitable 2. Hanna becomes more of her "The Ozark" character and goes on to manage the Royal Hotel in a much more organized and female-friendly environment 3. There is one decent man in the bunch (for example, Teeth) and he helps the girls save the place, showing that not all men are animals, even if they all fancy a good fight.

This is what I mean by untapped potential. This movie had the potential to be great, but I fear it will dissatisfy anybody that was expecting a thriller.

My exact score: 63 / 100.