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davemcdo
Reviews
Cellphone (2024)
Astonishingly bad given this day and age.
It amazes me that some movies get past script approval, Cellphone sadly is another such example.
It's not as if this story hasn't been told many times before, it has, and in many better ways but this boring, repetitive and unfortunately poorly acted waste of time needs avoiding at all costs.
I can't be bothered with explaining the story because it's so puerile it's not worth the effort.
My only hope is that my review might stop one unfortunately cinema goer or indeed anyone from wasting their time and money on this insult to cinema, don't even be tempted, I have wasted my time and money for you and you're most welcome, just trust me.
Remember when you were choosing which movie to go and watch and it was between Cellphone and "A N other" movie - choose the other one, wish I had.
Shiar-e 143 (2014)
Astonishingly powerful
I went to see this movie as part of an Iranian Film Festival and had zero idea about its subject matter.
What an astonishingly powerful piece of cinema, superbly acted by all and directed with dignity and compassion by the supremely talented Narges Abyar.
Words cannot praise enough the performance of Merila Zare'i. I haven't seen any of her previous work but this surely was her tour de force, her portray of Oflat was magnificent, I can only imagine the depths of her soul she had to reach into to give such a heart wrenching portrayal.
Without decrying any Hollywood award winner they should all watch this performance and bow in their admiration.
The rest of the cast are also excellent with particular praise for Mehran Ahmadi as Sayyed Ali who brilliantly shows the anguish that mostly had to be hidden from public view by cultural norms.
This is not an easy movie to watch but especially with the current Middle East/Sudanese/Yemen conflicts it highlights the agony of loss to families and ultimately the abject pointless waste of life by wars instigated by zealots, dictators and warlords.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Sensational
Not since leaving the cinema after watching Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers have I been blown away by a sequel.
This movie just takes "Dune: Part One" and sends it into orbit, everyone connected with this movie deserves a round of applause for making this masterpiece, yes it's a masterpiece.
The storyline is engrossing, the themes are engaging, the acting is sublime, and the director, bravo, Denis Villeneuve, bravo.
Brilliant gross scary villains, fantastic lead portrayals and epic breathtaking sets, the 2 hour 45 minutes just passed without notice.
Unfortunately as when I left LOTR: TTT I felt uplifted by the stupendous movie I'd just watched but sad that I'll have to wait so long for "Dune: Part Three".
Madame Web (2024)
At least it's not...
"The Marvels".
It's not great but not anywhere near as bad as "The Marvels" which was probably the worst movie I've seen.
The acting by both Johnson and Sweeney is a bit dodgy, the story is nothing new and the finale is boring and predictable in a Marvel setting up a sequel way.
I went to see it because of all the terrible reviews and my "want to walk out" benchmark was "The Marvels" and thankfully it's a lot better than than that, not a great recommendation but it's at least watchable.
However it's sad when you leave a movie thinking why bother making it, it added nothing new to the Marvel Universe, it's all been done before and much better, and it's wasting resources that could be spent on making a proper interesting movie.
Fool Me Once (2024)
Can't believe it has an average rating of 7
This series was like a comedy send up of a real, well written and well acted thriller.
It seriously is farcical, some of the acting borders on amateurish, the overly melodramatic extremely annoying music just adds to this mess of a production.
Only actors who survive this debacle with some credit are Adeel Akhtar and Dino Fetscher whom in another well written series would be an entertaining pairing. Oh also the kid who plays Keegan's daughter, I mean you can't blame a 4 year old for being roped into tat.
Guess I blame the Director, I mean they must have signed this rubbish off.
8 episodes, jeezus, it actually is not possible that this series has a rating of 7, not a chance.
The Marvels (2023)
Apart from ludicrous plot, banal dialogue & awful acting the trailers were good.
I have only ever walked out of a movie once in my lengthy adulthood of cinema going but this drivel had me considering it and sadly very early on in the screening.
The only thing that kept me in my seat was the fascination of how awful the movie was and the curiosity could it continue to be consistently bad.
It was.
Now I'll give some acknowledgment, I hadn't seen the tv series spin off, but actually seeing the character of Ms. Marvel I am glad I was spared that ordeal.
The movie is a just a mess, mundane plot, sterile characters and some really dodgy acting by all, it really was just a pick up the cheque but I guess if the script is drivel what can they do.
One good joke, cat reference background song.
My advice, give it a miss, however if you are going make sure you've seen Ms. Marvel, if not then don't waste your time and money.
Giri/Haji (2019)
Must see series.
Extremely enjoyable, beautifully acted by all. The stylised filming and contrast of cultures all add to make this brilliant, compulsive series a must see. One scene in the final episode is sensational. Magnificent.
The Crown (2016)
A Tour De Force
If you love watching great acting, great dialogue and top notch production then this series is a must see.
Claire Foy is mesmerising as Elizabeth, if Foy continues on this trajectory she is on course to become one of her generations greatest actors.
I cannot fault anyone's performance in this series, not one and my only complaint is that it's finished and I'm left wanting more.
Bravo to Netflix for making this epic and it deserves to capture every award it's possible to win.