Son Of Dracula(1943)
Lon Chaney,Jr. is suitably suave as Count Alucard,the son of Count Dracula who comes to New Orleans at the invitation of the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner long before author Anne Rice had a similar idea.Chaney is superb and Louise Allbritton put in a good performance too.However,Robert Siodmak's film is mostly memorable for being the very first to show an onscreen human into bat transformation.
7/10
Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) In the 1960's in an Alpine town the concierge looks back on his adventures there from when he was a lobby boy and the concierge of that time. A beautifully filmed( including the amazing framing), witty, well acted treat and underneath the style the film has plenty of heart too. Ralph Fiennes gives maybe the performance of his career, up there with the different role in Schlinder's List, supported by the likes of F Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Eward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton(wearing amazing make up) & Tony Revolori. 7.5/10
Doctor Strange, The film pretty much follows the comic and animated film origins, Benedict Cumberbatch plays Doctor Steven Strange not only does he look the part but acts the part too show casing how good he is as a actor. The rest of the actors Chiwetel Eijofor, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong who in places steals the show with his humour, Rachel McAdams was good but felt she didn't have much to do. One grip was the villains they do there job but you won't remember and the all tho very clever with the execution was a little underwhelming. Cumberbatch excelled at portraying arrogance and humour.
The film did remind me Batman Begins in places you'll see what I mean you watch the film and in places the matrix and inception.
Watch out for the new Marvel intro/logo and the two after credit scenes the first features a cameo and set up for a particular film and second after credit is at the very end another possible set up. Personallly preferred the first after scene credit, all in all good film 9/10.
Doctor Strange:
The latest marvel cinematic universe (MCU) film and the 2nd film of Phase 3 of the MCU
Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent as Dr Steven Strange who has a touch of the Tony Stark about him. The rest of the cast play their part as well as they can with the best being Benedict Wong & Chitwel Ejofor. The special effects are incredible and at times it felt like the Cinema itself was moving and spinning around as if you were in the film yourself. if you have a IMAX cinema you can get to, then go and see it in IMAX 3D.
Some groundwork/setting up is done for upcoming phase 3 films both during the film and in the mid-credits scene which includes a nice very enjoyable cameo. There is another scene right at the end of the credits. Stan Lee has a nice fun cameo and as with previous MCU films, plenty of moments that will make you laugh.
Agree with Kal-El the villains led by Mads Mikklesen do their job but won't stick in the memory.
9/10
(25-10-2016 16:00 )Rammyrascal Wrote: [ -> ]Doctor Strange:
The latest marvel cinematic universe (MCU) film which gives Phase 4 a very good start
Isn't Captain America: Civil War the start of phase 3? That was the previous film in the MCU. Phase 4'll be a while off yet.
Thanks for those 2 reviews though Rammyrascal & *Kal-El* - I really wanna see this film.
Yeah so far up until Doctor Strange is Phase 3, four is way down the line not until after 2020 or further then that.
(25-10-2016 16:34 )*Kal-El* Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah so far up until Doctor Strange is Phase 3, four is way down the line not until after 2020 or further then that.
Ok thanks for this, thought for some reason Dr Strange was the start of phase 4, when infact its the 2nd film of Phase 3 after Cap America civil war.
Will correct my review of Dr Strange accordingly
Cradle 2 The Grave (2003) A team of friends pull a bank heist principally involving jewels but outside forces mean its not what it seems. In many ways a pretty generic action/ crime but enlivened by decent lead performances(Jet Li & DMX), the heist scene, a highly original death scene but especially the excellent soundtrack freaturing the likes of Eminem & DMX. Also starring Anthony Anderson, Kelly Hu,Tom Arnold,Mark Dacascos, Gabrielle Union, Drag-On & Paige Hurd. 5.5/10
Le Salaire De La Peur (1953)
Surviving The Game(1994)
More or less a remake of The Most Dangerous Game(1932)which was based on a short story from Richard Connell,this has been done many times before,Game Of Death(1945),Kill Or Be Killed(1950),Bloodlust(1960),To Kill A Clown(1973),Predator(1987),The Running Man(1987) and Hard Target(1993) to name a few.This time Ice-T is the individual chosen as quarry for a team of blood thirsty men who have paid $50 grand for the privilege of killing another human being.Led by Rutger Hauer,we have John C.McGinley,F,Murray Abraham,Gary Busey and Charles S.Dutton doing the stalking.However, its Ice-T as the ever resourceful Mason who steals the show with an understated performance that shows the promise that led to his extremely successful acting career.
Director Ernest Dickerson managed to mix the human drama with gut wrenching violence nicely and make a really enjoyable and quotable action film.
7.5/10