Nasty Goes To The Movies

Jurassic Park (1993)

During a preview tour, a theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok.

Starring
Jeff Goldblum
Sam Neill

Directed by Steven Spielberg

I have just been to see this classic at the cinema all jazzed up with 3-D! This is the third time that I have seen it on the big screen in total and I have to say while these 3D conversions are not my thing at all (just a money making con) this film is one that to me screamed out for a 3D conversion and it didn't disappoint on that score.

Super, super movie that is almost as good as Crichton's novel. The landmark effects and blockbuster scenes haven't dated at all. This film does crazy effects but in a small and personal way. Having the kids involved in some of the most bum clenching moments was a stroke of genius as feeling a childs terror makes the scenes all the more creepy. You can really enter into movie and feel what the characters feel.

This film made stars of the leads involved but they gave masterful performances. Goldblum, Neill and Attenborough are all on top form to really sell the emotions of those characters. There is also time for said characters to have down time scenes where they repeatedly discuss the implications and morality of what is being done. Take notes modern moviemakers!

Incredible movie, shame it spawned such atrocious sequels (especially given that Crichton's Lost World novel is even better than the first).

This is a 5 star or 10/10 movie that if you haven't ever seen it then take the chance to see it on the big screen while this 3D release is out.

Reply #81. Aug 26 13, 9:42 AM

wwe84

Jurassic Park was a classic i give it a 10/10 as well but Jurassic Park 2 & 3 are a different story both horrible movies

Reply #82. Aug 26 13, 12:14 PM

Chavs

I have to concur. I re-watched it recently (original 2D version) and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Ticks all the right boxes. Steven Spielberg is the absolute master of Hollywood Blockbusting.

Reply #83. Aug 26 13, 6:16 PM

Professer

Smurfs 2 Sequel to the successful Smurfs was enjoyable gags were funny.

And as sequels go was entertaining, and yes Smurfs do have blue butts

Reply #84. Aug 27 13, 10:22 AM

nasty_liar

Elysium (2013)

Set in the year 2154, where the very wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth, a man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds.

Starring
Matt Damon

Directed by Neill Blomkamp who gave us District 9

I was rather hoping that this action flick might be the top sci-fi movie of the year but I think it just falls a little short.

There are elements that I really enjoyed, I thought the scene was set absolutely brilliantly. I was thoroughly interested in this strange world that was being revealed and explained to us during the first act. I thought it was well reasoned and created something that was genuinely interesting.

I thought that once the set up was complete and the story lurched into action, then we got a slightly rushed and possibly even confusing/confused sequence of events that lead to a great, if predictable, ending (I don't mind predictable if it's executed well, in fact I'd often prefer predictable if the unpredictable alternative makes no sense... anyone follow me? I'll try to explain with examples in a follow up post).

Overall, the visuals are nice and only dizzying camera work and editing used a couple of times so I'll forgive it (mainly to cover up non-existent fight choreography perhaps?). The performances are solid, though I never managed to forget that it was Matt Damon.

I also like that this was 15-rated here in UK, and I knew that that meant we would get a more adult approach to the story and we might see some violence. There is a particularly gory shot of Sharlto Copley's character after he suffers a grenade to the face.

Fairly good film, but perhaps could have been better. Worth seeing for all my fellow sci-fi fans.

Reply #85. Aug 28 13, 11:54 AM

nasty_liar

District 9 (2009)

An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.

Starring
Sharlto Copley

Watching Elysium inspired me to impulse buy District 9 when I saw it going cheap. Also directed by Neill Blomkamp, District 9 is actually the superior movie.

Again, fascinating premise. Totally different and thought provoking take on the 'aliens come to earth' story that has been done so many times. The way we are made to see life from the aliens point of view and also the way it tells the story of Wikus is excellent.

I loved the documentary style that is used early on in the film and to show life in this world and to give us all the necessary exposition. I loved the look of the aliens, totally convincing. I loved the look of the film too.

The final scene of this movie is special. Great movie.

Reply #86. Sep 15 13, 3:49 PM

nasty_liar

Upcoming:

Hitchcock
Oblivion
Psycho

Reply #87. Sep 15 13, 4:11 PM

nasty_liar

Hitchcock (2012)

A love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho in 1959.

Starring
Anthony Hopkins
Helen Mirren
Scarlett Johansson

Cute little movie about Alfred Hitchcock and his wife. Nice performances all round transform this into more than the sum of its parts.

Short run time means that everything is very neat and tidy. Scarlett Johansson is absolutely gorgeous as Janet Leigh! What more can you ask?

A couple of hours free? Worth a viewing but nothing special. It did, however, inspire me to watch Psycho...

Reply #88. Sep 16 13, 4:24 PM

Professer

Hitchcock is a fine bio movie great performances all round especialy Dame Helen as mrs hitch

Reply #89. Sep 17 13, 5:38 AM

nasty_liar

Psycho (1960)

A Phoenix secretary steals $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.

Starring
Anthony Perkins
Janet Leigh
Vera Miles

I have a number of classics on my DVD shelves that I picked up cheap but have sat there unwatched. This was one of them, until I watched the Hitchcock bio movie. I have promised myself to try to work my way through all the classics that I own.

This is a great movie, how I wish more modern films would dare to take the pacing of this as example and build tension through good dialogue, silent moments and an understated score rather than cheap tricks, crazy camera work and bombastic soundtracks.

Both Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins are superb and I suspect that if I hadn't known exactly what was going on then I would have been able to enjoy it to its fullest. It was great to see the iconic scene though, even though by modern standards that is the scene that translates the worst. It's not that I want to see the actual violence on screen. In fact I think that sometimes imagination provides one with a more personal idea of what is going on. But I do think that because of the time the film was made, this scene looks very weak. That's a minor complaint though and I know that it's a result of when the film was made and what they could get away with at the time.

Super film!

Reply #90. Sep 18 13, 3:57 AM

nasty_liar

Oblivion (2013)

A veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself.

Starring
Tom cruise
(As usual with most of his films nobody else gets a look in, although Morgan Freeman is in it).

Missed this one at the cinema but caught up with it over the weekend.

This movie falls into the trap that I said Elysium did last month. It sets up a fascinating world and premise to the viewer, draws you in so that you are very invested in what is going on.... and then tries to lose your interest by answering the question of what is going on and then delivering boring action sequences leading up to.a predictable conclusion. In fact I sat there predicting all of the twists that the second half of the film had to offer.

As soon as our hero figures out what is happening I lost complete interest, really disappointing. Tom cruise is watchable as always, the visuals are stunning (I don' think that was ever in doubt) and it has an interesting score.

Ultimately this film gets a failing grade from me, not enough plot and too much boring dialogue and action scenes that don't advance anything in the story. Also, cruise fails to develop the chemistry between himself and his costars, don't want the expand for fear of spoilers but it would have helped the movie greatly.

Wish I hadn't bothered with it.

Reply #91. Sep 18 13, 4:15 AM

nasty_liar

Rush (2013)

A re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.

Starring
Chris Hemsworth
Daniel Brühl

Directed by Ron Howard

I've been looking forward to seeing this all summer and it didn't disappoint at all. The Lauda/Hunt rivalry was before my time but I love Formula One and sports movies in general.

Great action throughout, apparently aided greatly by CGI but not that it gets really noticeable. The real hook is the compelling story of the two stars. Nice performances from both leads, particularly Brühl. Just great to see this world brought back to life. This movie works so well.

Inevitably I feel I have to compare it to the recent film about Ayrton Senna. What's remarkable in that comparison is the different way the two were made, this being filmed as a movie with actors and the other using actual footage to make it essentially a documentary. I'd have to say I enjoyed the Senna film slightly more, but this is still incredibly good.

Reply #92. Sep 19 13, 9:42 AM

nasty_liar

The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)

Four socially troubled 18-year-olds from the south of England go on holiday to Malia.

Based on the British tv series (that I've never watched).

Well, now for something different! My wife got me watching this on tv last night because she said that there was a very funny scene in it. I have to say that I got into it fairly quickly. Kind of like trashy but fun tv, which I presume is what the series is like.

So, this comedy had me chuckling often but rarely belly laughing. It isn't bad, maybe it helps to be a fan of the series. If I had to describe it then I would say it is the British version of American Pie. Only not as funny or good.

This is probably perfect for a group of good friends to watch but maybe one to avoid watching solo or with acquaintances that you might be embarrassed to laugh at cringeworthy and disgusting comedy with.

Overall, average for it's genre.

Reply #93. Sep 26 13, 9:16 AM

nasty_liar

Behind the candelabra (2013)

Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson, is recounted.

Starring
Michael Douglas
Matt Damon

Reply #94. Sep 26 13, 9:26 AM

nasty_liar

Argh! Why can't you edit your own blog!

I didn't mean to post before I'd finished (obviously).

Ok, I don't really know anything much about Liberace so can only take this film on face value. Here is what I glean from face value.

Michael Douglas is phenomenal and he is an actor that I usually do not like! I would be surprised if he doesn't pick up some awards for this. Matt Damon is pretty good too. I didn't really feel the sexual attraction between the leads but they did a great job of portraying the emotional connection.

This is your typical bio movie in that it takes the viewer on a chronological ride through the years of Liberace and Thorsens relationship. It takes this ride in a little bit of a pedestrian manner for my liking and I feel this movie could have done with being about 20 minutes shorter.

Interesting film, nice exploration of a relationship but too slow and not enough connection with the characters for me.

Reply #95. Sep 26 13, 9:35 AM

nasty_liar

Prisoners (2013)

When Keller Dover's daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?

Starring
Hugh jackman
Jake Gyllenhaal

Too much work and other stuff to be getting to he cinema recently!

I managed it today though, this film was top of my list even though I could have watched about six films out at the moment.

It didn't disappoint, good movie. Good tension, good acting, reasonable story. I'm terrible at working out what's going on in these kind of movies but a friend said he thought it was a bit obvious. I'll give it that, maybe if there'd been more characters to wonder whether they were the guilty party then that could have been avoided. I don't think the whodunit aspect is quite the most important thing here though, more the take on how people might feel and what they might do if put in this situation.

Reply #96. Oct 25 13, 2:16 PM

nasty_liar

Ender's Game (2013)

The International Military seek out a leader who can save the human race from an alien attack. Ender Wiggin, a brilliant young mind, is recruited and trained to lead his fellow soldiers into a battle that will determine the future of Earth.

Starring
Asa Butterfield
Harrison Ford

I didn't expect much from this... But I got more than I expected.

Great performance from Asa Butterfield, who manages to create sympathy for his cold character. He also manages to deliver an incredible range of emotion without seeming forced or overacting it. He carries the considerable weight of this story.

Harrison Ford is largely forgettable in a role that should have become more sinister as the film wears on. The story itself weaves Enders personal story with the story of the war, with both stories coming to a climax nicely. I like the theme that this movie eventually explores but it comes to it too late and sweeps through it far too quickly for it to have much impact. Nice try though. Bizarre epilogue too.

Anyway, I say pretty good, mainly for Butterfield as Ender.

Reply #97. Nov 02 13, 5:49 PM

nasty_liar

Captain Phillips (2013)

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.

Starring
Tom Hanks

Nice tension throughout, convincing performances from the pirates and nicely paced and written story.

I like Tom Hanks as an Everyman, I think he performs very nicely in this film but I hated the scene with him at the end which I felt the director was forcing down my throat in an attempt to invoke an emotional reaction. Modern filmmaking 101, "we're gonna tell you how to feel and when", well NO, I reject that and hate it. We'd been through everything in the film with him, we didn't need that scene so shame on them.

Overall though, this was good. It has the highs and lows that every thriller needs coupled with the easy competence of Hanks in the lead. One more complaint before I go, STOP shaking the damned camera! I'm Sick of it!

Reply #98. Nov 02 13, 6:00 PM

nasty_liar

American Reunion (2012)

Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.

American Pie is a comedy film that I can watch over and over and still love it. Whilst this sequel does not match the original (much like the other sequels) it has the beauty of being something of a life commentary for someone my age. Made more relevant since I was the same age as them when the first film was out.

All the hallmark American Pie ingredients are here, some slapstick, some embarrassing, some gross out, some nudity and some Stifler.

I liked it, and at least it was a payday for some of these cast members that have not gone on to greater things.

Reply #99. Nov 02 13, 6:11 PM

wwe84

The worst film in the franchise, Nothing can top the original

Reply #100. Nov 02 13, 7:10 PM

489 replies. On page 5 of 25 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Legal / Conditions of Use