When Julia Roberts was at the peak of her career and commanded more box office than most male actors in Hollywood there was a certain expectation that went along with her films. Most were highly successful and there was little complaint from anyone despite the monotony. Erin Brockovich was released just about in the middle of this period sandwiched between crowd favourites … [Read more...]
Iron Man 3 (2013) review by That Film Guy
When the original Iron Man was released in 2008, it was the first Marvel film to have been produced and created by the comic book leviathan independently from other studios. It must seem unthinkable to fans now that it could have been anything but a success, but at the time it represented a big financial outlay on, if we're honest, one of the lesser comic book characters, with … [Read more...]
Promised Land (2012) review by The Filmologist
If you want a movie about hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, watch the documentary Gasland. If you want a drama about fracking, then you are fortunate Hollywood's oft self-righteous piety will turn any ˜special interest politics' into a film. Gus Van Sant's Promised Land, written by and starring Matt Damon and John Krasinski, is, for the most part, more than … [Read more...]
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) review by That Film Guy
Shane Black, who made a name for himself by writing Lethal Weapon put himself in the director's chair for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Loosely based on Brett Halliday's Bodies are Where You Find Them, it creates a wry, snarky pulp fiction noir-comedy-thriller set in modern day Los Angeles. … [Read more...]
The Sound of Music by The Lyric Players review by That Theatre Girl
The term amateur dramatics used to have a rather negative connotation in the UK. 'Am-drams' were often poorly put together stage shows housing maniacal directors and ever-inflating egos of less-than-successful 'actors.' However an increase in the popularity of theatre has led to the rise of the more professional side of this most creative of endeavours. … [Read more...]
Rocky V (1990) review by That Film Guy
Most franchises don't make it to a fifth installment for fear of outstaying their welcome and exhausting the goodwill of its fans. Sylvester Stallone saw no such problem with the incredibly successful Rocky Balboa character and happily churned out Rocky V. … [Read more...]
Congo (1995) review by That Film Geek
Based on a 1979 novel my Michael Crichton, Congo is to story of an expedition to the Virunga region of the Congo by a disparate group for differing reasons, all of which have a link to an ancient lost city and it's incredible diamond mines. Congo opens with an expedition to the Congo to find a specific type of diamonds to be used in a new communication satellite by high-tech … [Read more...]
Olympus Has Fallen (2013) review by That Film Toad
Beware of Spoilers below... Action thrillers of the 90's have largely escaped the room 101 of film-trocities we keep locked in the basement here at That Film Guy. Their vulgar ˜face-meets-fist' ways were excused by audiences who at the time lusted for ripped defiant types with a can-do attitude and an endless supply of bullets and one liners.... fair enough I guess. Happily, … [Read more...]
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) review by The Filmologist
From Original Series' episodes like A Private Little War and A Taste of Armageddon to The Next Generation's powerful two-part Chain of Command and nigh on the entirety of Deep Space Nine, Star Trek has always been strongly political. It should therefore come as little surprise that as the original crew bow out with their final voyage in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered … [Read more...]
Evil Dead (2013) review by That Film Guy
Five young people alone in a cabin. One finds an occult looking book and all Hell breaks loose. Literally. Sam Raimi's masterpiece of low-budget horror film-making, The Evil Dead, is one of the most popular and enduring cult films of all time. Raimi and former star Bruce Campbell produce, while Uruguayan Fede Alvarez takes over directing duties on the reboot, Evil Dead. Gone … [Read more...]