Armed Response

I've been waiting to see this movie for a long time as one of my favorite wrestlers, Seth Rollins, made his acting debut in this Wesley Snipes action thriller. I'll be honest, I didn't have high hopes, as most WWE stars have a rocky first film. Honwever, I have to give it up to the Architect, as he delivered a solid and believable performance in this. I enjoyed his work and I truly believe he will have a long and ripe acting career. So now that I've given praise where it was due, I have to talk about what didn't work... which was literally everything else in the film. Oh my gods.... this script was just atrocious. As in horridly bad across the board. The direction was just okay, and honestly the only actor besides Rollins to show up for work was Heche, who was the one other bright spot in this disaster of a film. Pretty much only watch this if you want to see Seth Rollins act, and you can believe that. /obshieldreference  2/5

Armed Response on Netflix

The Painting

This has got to be the most original film I've ever seen. Visually, it's really unlike anything else. I don't want to say too much, but the realization of the vision of this film is extraordinary. By the end I was truly stunned at how the visuals so perfectly tied the whole story together. The base of the story was also really cool and different from anything I've ever seen. The morals of the film, those I've seen before, but never done like this. I could watch this again right now, easily. One of the best films I've seen in recent memory. 5/5

The Painting on Netflix

Colossal

Sorry for the long absence, I have been dealing with some bad health issues. But let's get to this film, because I have some things to say. This is not a comedic film, which was what I was expecting. The trailers would have you believe it is, but it is in actuality very, very dark. It starts somewhat dark, gets darker, has a few witty moments, and then dives full-on into some pretty serious stuff. I feel like writer/director Nacho Vigalondo wanted to make something funny with a bit of darkness, which is a combination that works well. But, instead, he made a very dark and disturbing film with some bizarre moments of levity that were definitely out of place, and I found the occasional humor a bit unsettling. Having said all that, the actual meat of the story is quite good. It's daring, interesting, and it's brought to life with knock-out performances from Hathaway and Sudeikis. As the film barrels towards what becomes an inevitable and tragic end, I found myself wishing Vigalondo had just dived in and really dedicated himself to the darkness of this story, because it would have been amazing. Instead, I found myself both wowed and confused, so a mixed bag here for me. 3/5

Colossal on Netflix

Sleight

This wasn't the movie I was expecting from the ad campaign, which I always find a bit disconcerting, but it was a movie that I became more and more interested in as it developed. The acting was quite strong from a group of young actors with whom I was not familiar. I enjoyed the direction and pacing as well. I do feel like the script left a few things out I wish had been further developed, and the ending was just a big giant tease for an apparent sequel with no pay off for the film I had just been watching. Overall I thought this was a fun and fairly strong film. 3.5/5

Sleight on Netflix

Project Almanac

I really don't get the hate in Netflix reviews for this, as I really enjoyed it. It's tough to do a time travel film that makes sense, and I thought this film was smart and well thought out. Yes, even I rolled my eyes at the found-footage aspect of it, but it really was the only way the story could have been told. The acting was fairly decent as well. As a bonus, there were a few alternate endings and openings on the disc, which I always enjoy. I liked this a lot, I recommend it to time-travel movie fans. 4/5

Project Almanac on Netflix

The Space Between Us

This was an adorable movie, it really was. It's soft sci-fi that's actually a romantic drama at heart, and it was sweet and lovely. It did fall a bit flat with me, though, because I never felt the stakes were high enough. I should have felt more afraid for people's lives, I should have really believed that tragedy was afoot all the time, but I didn't. So, while I did really enjoy it, I felt it could have been far more impactful if it was slightly less charming and slightly more serious. Still, a cute film. 3.5/5

The Space Between Us on Netflix

Morgan

I wanted to like this more, especially with this cast, but I found everything that happened to be so predictable. This was very by-the-numbers, even the direction felt retread. The acting was indeed excellent, but this was just okay for me. 3/5

Morgan on Netflix

Life

Okay, I'm just going to address the very mixed reviews for this right away. I see both sides of the issue. Yes, the acting is very strong. The direction was engaging and excting, and I was incredibly intrigued by the life form. I was completely into the film from minute one. However, I see the point of the naysayers. This movie really was cliche after cliche after cliche. And, ultimately, given the parameters of the film, most of the choices made were idiotic and contradicted by the way the film draws to a close. Yes, I'm being really vague here to avoid spoilers, but I think readers will get my meaning regardless. I did have to give it an extra half star for the last two minutes of the film though, because WOW. That alone was worth the price of admission. I did like this. It was enjoyable and fun in every way it needed to be, but "Alien" it was not. 3.5/5

Life on Netflix

Train to Busan

HOLY SNOT THIS IS THE BEST ZOMBIE FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. Hell, it's the best action film I've ever seen, let alone the best zombie film. And how many zombie films have you seen that will make you cry from sheer tragic gutwreching emotion on multiple occasions? I swear, a film like this could only be made in Korea. Korean directors have a unique visual and visceral style that lent itself perfectly to this film. The direction was outstanding, and the script fleshed out and perfectly told. The acting was incredible, and so was the music. I can't say a single bad thing about this film. It's just amazing. OMG, rent this. 5/5

Train to Busan on Netflix

Kubo and the Two Strings

This animated film was just gorgeous. I don't think I've ever seen stop-motion done quite like this - it was insanely beautiful. I really loved the story, the pacing was excellent, the comedy was witty and yet dark enough to convey the tragedy of the story. My one gripe? Maybe this is being a little hard, but I didn't understand why we heard Theron, Fiennes, Mara, and McConaughey voicing Japanese characters. It just seemed like a awfully strange choice to me. The movie tried so hard to ground this in Japan and Japanese culture that I really didn't get why I wasn't hearing Japanese accents and voices. But, that aside, this is a wonderful film. I normally don't watch much animation, so this is high praise from me. 4.5/5

Kubo and the Two Strings on Netflix

Time Lapse

It's so rare when a sci-fi time-travel movie gets it right, and this film gets it SO SO SO right. The script is very tight, original, and detail-oriented. The direction was simple and yet extremely effective. One of the three leads was truly great, another on their way to great, and the last solid and good. This film kept me on my toes - I spent the film trying to guess what was next and delightfully failing every time. I greatly enjoyed this. 4/5

Time Lapse on Netflix

Hidden

A family of three has been hiding in and underground bunker for a great length of time, and now, circumstances force them to come out. That's all I'm going to tell you about this film, and all you need to know before you watch it. This little indie horror/thriller from the Duffer brothers who brought us "Stranger Things" has a tight plot, stellar acting, and great direction, especially given the restraints of the set. You've really got to see it to appreciate it - i highly recommend it for genre fans. 4/5

Hidden on Netflix

Officer Downe

Honestly, I don't mind campy cult films, but this was so out-of-this-world bad I only made it about thirty minutes in before I has to just turn it off. WAAAAAY too over the top for me. Just.... no. 1/5

Officer Downe on Netflix

Doctor Strange

While I have always been a Marvel girl, I was mostly an X-Man fan and never knew anything at all about Doctor Strange. Because of this, I have to say right at the start that I have no idea whatsoever if this film is true to the books, so I can't base any part of my review on that. What I can say is that this is a spectacular film with some of the best effects I've maybe ever seen. It's like an incredible update to things I remember from "Inception", only far better with the advances technology has made. The acting was mostly strong, and I was happy to see a superhero film coming in at only an hour and forty-five minutes. I really enjoyed this and am curious to see how this film and its characters will integrate with the rest of the Marvel Universe. 4/5

Doctor Strange on Netflix

Passengers

I'm struggling to find words here to express how angry I am at this movie. From a purely filmmaking standpoint, this is a good film. The acting is strong, the script fairly well written, the direction tight and cohesive. But the story. Oh, gods, this story. I'm stunned this script made it past studio executives and test audiences without someone screaming how utterly, terribly, horridly violating and rapine this story truly is. I really don't think I've ever seen a movie that more glorified rape culture, or forced us to sympathize with a criminal, disturbed male oppressor and require us to thus thoroughly shame his victim. Pratt's character violates Lawrence's in pretty much every way possible, and yet he is portrayed as the hero and she the clumsy, harpy, shrill woman who doesn't appreciate her partner's abuse. It's like watching a cut of "Room" where Brie Larson's character was portrayed as a nasty, sullen, uncaring witch who just doesn't appreciate how wonderful she has it in this garden shed made for her by the man who "loves" her so much. I feel sick after seeing this, I really do. I normally forgive far more than I really should when it comes to the glorification of rape culture, but I can't condone this. Not this. 2.5/5

Passengers on Netflix

No Men Beyond This Point

This mockumentary is so good and so funny and rings so scarily true that it's a little frightening. The acting and script were excellent. I don't want to say much about the plot as the world of this film is really interesting, but it kept me completely glued to my screen. I highly recommend this, especially if you love mockumentaries like I do. 4.5/5

No Men Beyond This Point on Netflix

Right at Your Door

This movie is FAR better than I expected. The script is excellent and the acting very solid. The twists of the plot are just so compelling, and I really didn't see where it was heading. I'm really impressed by this indie sci-fi post apocalyptic thriller - definitely give this one a chance! 4/5

Right at Your Door on Netflix

Dead End Drive-In

I think that much my dislike of this movie comes from viewing it now, in 2017, instead of when it was released in 1986. I imagine, were I to watch "The Warriors" now for the first time, I'd think it was about the most ridiculous film I'd ever seen. This film was very much like that, which I could forgive and even get behind. However, when the film became unabashedly racist in the last half, I really checked out of it. Again, this might have been normal for 1986 Australia, but, watching it now, I just can't do it. Not for me. 1.5/5

Dead End Drive-In on Netflix

Arrival

This film reminded very much of "Contact" with Jodie Foster, and that's a compliment. Like "Contact", "Arrival" is not a sci-fi action flick, but rather a serious contemplation of life, time, language, and what it means to be sentient. There is so much going on in the slow moments of this film, things that only come together at the end, which is important in and of itself. The acting is excellent - Adams did an outstanding job in her lead role. I wish the direction had been clearer at points - it's very muddy and difficult to make out details on occasion, which I found frustrating. I really enjoyed this, it's definitely worth a watch or three. 4.5/5

Arrival on Netflix

Criminal

Honestly, I have never in my life seen Kevin Costner act this well. I didn't even know he had this kind of performance in him. And, given that this movie lives or dies on how much we believe and feel for his character, I'm so glad he did the job he did. This action thriller has a "Flowers for Algernon" flavor to it, and it's really well executed. All the supporting actors were quite good, and the direction was tight and well paced. I am really surprised I liked this so much - hats off to Costner for this great performance. 4/5

Criminal on Netflix