In the history of film there are some reasonably well-regarded truths. The Godfather is one of the best films ever made, Michael Bay likes sexualising women and Ed Wood is one of the most notoriously bad directors of all time. There's even an excellent biopic called Ed Wood, directed by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp as the man himself which tracks the creation of his … [Read more...]
The Warriors (1979) review by That Art House Guy
New York in 1979 was very different to the New York of today. That much is clear from both the movie The Warriors, which was shot entirely on location in the city “ a gritty, unnerving, graffiti covered city “ from dusk till dawn. It's also clear from the furore that surrounded the film on its release. It was linked to outbreaks of violence and vandalism. Cinemas were released … [Read more...]
Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot (1977) review by That Film Geek
Following the release of the famous Patterson-Gimlin film, (footage of an alleged Bigfoot sighting in 1967) there was a wave of excitement about Bigfoot, resulting in many Bigfoot films such as The Legend of Boggy Creek and The Creature from Black Lake. Roger Patterson, the filmer of the famous footage, tried to finance a film called Bigfoot: Americas Abominable Snowman, about … [Read more...]
I Love You Phillip Morris (2009) review by That Film Student
Based on a remarkable true story, I Love you Phillip Morris details the countless escapes of Steven Russell a fraudster who is still currently serving his 140-year sentence in Texas. Initially a cop with a young family and a wife who adores him, we are taken aback (to say the least) when ten minutes in there is a rather explicit (shall we say) revelation, that Steven (Jim … [Read more...]
Mama (2013) review by That Film Guy
In Guillermo Del Toro, modern horror films have found a true master. When he's not making his own darkly comic, fantasy-laced horror he's producing a host of up-and-coming directors and writers to give them the exposure through use of his name. Some, like Don't Be Afraid of the Dark are a disappointment, others are startlingly effective, like The Orphanage. Mama, directed … [Read more...]
The Possession (2012) review by That Film Fanatic
Fans of the US show Supernatural might be thrilled to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan back in the realm of the, well, supernatural. And joining him is The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick who has traded in crime scenes for a more domestic environment. But is this TV super-team enough to make The Possession, another exorcism movie stand out from the bunch? … [Read more...]
Cloud Atlas (2012) review by That Film Guy
In general films released today follow a broad structure of three acts, with the setup, the obstacle and the resolution. There are some films however that bend and manipulate this structure and try and create something more fluid. Then there are films that are pure and utter madness. A chaos of ideas and themes that distinctly do not follow the classical structure. Based on the … [Read more...]
Rocky III (1982) review by That Film Guy
The character of Rocky developed from gritty 1970s exploitation underdog fighter to 1980s muscle-bound superman fighter between Rocky II and Rocky III. This coincided with the rise of the action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal. Sylvester Stallone himself looked almost unrecognisable from the second film to the third, as age and a lot … [Read more...]
Rocky II (1979) review by That Film Guy
Following the staggering success story that was Rocky came the inevitable sequel, Rocky II, this time not only written by and staring, but also directed by Sylvester Stallone. Chronologically it follows the titular boxer in the moments directly after his fight with Apollo Creed that formed the finale of the original film. … [Read more...]
A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) review by That Film Guy
It has been 25 years since John McClane burst onto our screens in the iconic Die Hard. Pit in an impossible situation in the Nakatomi Plaza his working man's hero managed to overcome an evil genius and save the day, but his greatest accomplishment was not to die. As the Die Hard series went on John McClane grew as a character, adding more depth and interest up until Die Hard … [Read more...]