Watching films can be a sometimes unsurprising activity. With the majority of films you know where you stand. Something from Christopher Nolan is likely to be psychological and non-linear, something by Quentin Tarantino is likely to be dialogue-heavy with plenty of blood and swearing and something by Michael Bay is going to be loud, shot in golden sunshine and populated with … [Read more...]
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) review by That Film Dude
Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, whether you prefer the radio show or the novels, is one of the undoubted classics of modern science fiction, and pretty much every work of comic sci-fi made since owes something to it. The film was supposedly in development hell for 24 years before finally being made, sadly only seeing a release after Douglas Adams passed … [Read more...]
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) review by That Film Guy
A staggering masterpiece in science fiction art or a long, laborious and thoroughly pretentious borefest. Opinions on 2001: A Space Odyssey have been divided ever since it was released in 1968. Based on a novel by Arthur C. Clarke, which was written simultaneously with the screenplay, 2001: A Space Odyssey was directed by Stanley Kubrick and is broken down into four defined … [Read more...]
Back to the Future Part III (1990) review by That Film Guy
Completing the trilogy, Back to the Future Part III was filmed back-to-back with its predecessor Back to the Future Part II and shifts the action 70 years in the past in 1885. While intrinsically linked to the previous two films, Back to the Future Part III sits slightly apart because of the Western-themed atmosphere. Commercially it made $70m less than the middle film of the … [Read more...]
Back to the Future Part II (1989) review by That Film Guy
Following the commercial and critical success of Back to the Future, director Robert Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg began working on two sequels that would be filmed back-to-back. Back to the Future Part II which follows on directly from the original sees Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) back in 1985 when the Doc (Christopher Lloyd) returns from the future with a warning … [Read more...]
Back to the Future (1985) review by That Film Guy
It's hard to imagine a film world without Back to the Future, a film so delightfully playful, wistfully nostalgic and utterly enjoyable that it shaped the childhoods of an entire generation. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg, Back to the Future had a powerhouse production team who later became used to creating generation-defining films. It became a … [Read more...]
District 9 (2009) review by That Film Dude
Once in a while, something happens which gives you hope for the film industry. District 9 is one such something. It was originally supposed to be an adaptation of the Halo videogame series, but when that idea fortunately fell apart, it was reconstituted as a feature length take on director Neill Blomkamp's short film Alive in Joburg. The result was a relatively low budget, … [Read more...]
Review: Prometheus (2012)
The wait is finally over. Prometheus has landed. For months leading up to its launch Ridley Scott's first foray back into science fiction for three decades, Prometheus was teased and trailed with outstanding viral videos letting slip small pieces of information about the film that 'shared DNA' with his 1979 masterpiece Alien. While this is true to an extent, those expecting a … [Read more...]
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2008) review by That Film Guy
It's amazing how far franchises can fall. Horror film sequels are known for their diminishing returns, everything from Friday the 13th to A Nightmare on Elm Street have seen each sequel get worse and worse, but the record for the furthest fall has to be the Alien franchise. After Ridley Scott's masterpiece in creeping horror to James Cameron's all out actioner, their sequels … [Read more...]
Alien3 (1992) review by That Film Guy
1992 saw David Fincher's step into a project late, with an unfinished script and attempt to keep the Alien franchises' streak going with Alien3. Previously a rock music video director, Fincher has gone on to make some visually stunning films like Fight Club and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but he cut his feature film teeth on Alien3. Following on from Ridley Scott's science … [Read more...]