crafty-agsine Reviews

Mothman (2010 TV Movie)

Actors Need to Pay Rent Too...

[22 October 2011]

Some movies, even made-for-TV movies, are better than you'd expect. This is not one of them.

The plot could work, if the writing was even decent. The actors really did seem to be doing the best job they could, given a horrible script. The setting and costumes were fine and believable (there are mountains and no-name hotels in West Virginia, and normal young adults will wear jeans and tank tops around town).

This is one of those movies that is the acting equivalent of flipping burgers or cleaning hotel rooms. It's honest work, and the actors did the best they could in the context, but it's a job you hope will be pushed off a resume by better work. Even the TV-movie-only actors deserve better resume content than this mess. Fortunately, some of the cast (such as Firefly's Jewel Staite) have had enough quality work for this thing to only be a place-holder in the long run...One of those jobs you pick up to pay the rent when work is slow, or for some extra cash. Otherwise, this is a horribly mediocre movie and is best for background noise during a weekend afternoon nap.

Ink (I) (2009)

A Fantastic Adventure

[9/10 · 10 September 2011]

Surrealism is a tricky genre; it's not quite science-fiction or fantasy, but definitely outside of reality. Ink is a great example of surrealism.

This is definitely not a movie to pop in in you just want to waste a few hours. I tend to categorize movies as "beer movies", that you'd watch with a few friends and a six-pack; these are the movies that entertain without much thought. In contrast, "coffee movies" don't just entertain you; these are the movies that, after watching, keep you thinking. In the following days, you find yourself putting the pieces together, realizing connections that weren't obvious, and wanting to watch the movie again.

This is a low-budget production that does not waste time and money on bad CGI or over-the-top makeup. The actors are not well-known, but are pretty good quality. And the story is a gem. How often have you had a dream -- or nightmare -- that affected you for days? Have you ever wondered what causes these dreams, beyond your brain processing events that have occurred or your immediate environment, and if something "bigger" has an influence?

Ink is an adventure. It's not within the current science-fiction or fantasy trends (there are no vampires, no big scary monsters, and minimal special effects). But, if you are looking for something a bit more interesting than the Transformers franchise or with better acting than the average made-for-Syfy weekend movie, give Ink a try.