jc_fleischman
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
13 years
Reviews
Chain Reaction (1996)
It's a another chase film
I'm a big Keanu Reeves fan but I won't be watching this film again in a hurry. This is one of those films where you ask why did they bother doing a Blu-ray release?
This is primarily a chase film and there are several cinematic scenes that would be worth it if they were only shot at a wider angle. The soundtrack is a horrible, bargain basement, cliché score with no tracks to invigorate the film.
What this film really lacks is a Tommy Lee Jones level character to do the chasing like in "The Fugitive" and "U.S. Marshals". Instead we are left with a mixture a baddies and cops with a 90's made-for-TV feel to them. This is somewhat surprising as director Andrew Davis helmed "The Fugitive"
This film is notable as being Rachel Weisz's breakthrough role but the film sadly lacks the talent, humour and charisma evident in her subsequent roles. Most notably of these is where she teams up with Keanu again for one of my all time favourite films: "Constantine".
The science fiction element of this film is negligible and will disappoint sci-fi fans. I would recommend rather watching "Johnny Mnemonic" or "The Matrix". However the concept of the story is very relevant. A new power source like Cold Fusion would be a major economic and political game changer.
The constant chase scenes distract from the underlying government conspiracy story, which could easily have been better fleshed out to give us a film more on the level of "Sneakers".
There is a good storyline to this film. Unfortunately the elements of the production let film down despite the presence of Keanu Reeves and Morgan Freeman.
This is primarily a chase film and there are several cinematic scenes that would be worth it if they were only shot at a wider angle. The soundtrack is a horrible, bargain basement, cliché score with no tracks to invigorate the film.
What this film really lacks is a Tommy Lee Jones level character to do the chasing like in "The Fugitive" and "U.S. Marshals". Instead we are left with a mixture a baddies and cops with a 90's made-for-TV feel to them. This is somewhat surprising as director Andrew Davis helmed "The Fugitive"
This film is notable as being Rachel Weisz's breakthrough role but the film sadly lacks the talent, humour and charisma evident in her subsequent roles. Most notably of these is where she teams up with Keanu again for one of my all time favourite films: "Constantine".
The science fiction element of this film is negligible and will disappoint sci-fi fans. I would recommend rather watching "Johnny Mnemonic" or "The Matrix". However the concept of the story is very relevant. A new power source like Cold Fusion would be a major economic and political game changer.
The constant chase scenes distract from the underlying government conspiracy story, which could easily have been better fleshed out to give us a film more on the level of "Sneakers".
There is a good storyline to this film. Unfortunately the elements of the production let film down despite the presence of Keanu Reeves and Morgan Freeman.
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012)
Disappointing
I'm a big Monty Python fan but I haven't yet read A Liar's Autobiography (Volume VI).
I was very disappointed with the film as it lacks any of the Monty Python charm. It feels more like a Spike Milligan book, but lacking that crucial, undefinable charm which draws you into a madman's world. It only made me wistful to watch some actual Monty Python. However there is somewhat of a spooky feel in that the film is narrated by Graham Chapman himself, who became an ex parrot in 1989.
The film is mostly animated using multiple styles of animation. Fans of Terry Gilliam animation will be disappointed to see a lack of this style though. There are a number of very crude jokes and references in this film, again lacking the charm to make them truly funny.
The film is somewhat reminiscent of the film Yellow Submarine (1968) and perhaps a sober state of mind is not recommended when watching this film. I highly recommend the Spike Milligan novels as well as any of the Monty Python films or shows.
I was very disappointed with the film as it lacks any of the Monty Python charm. It feels more like a Spike Milligan book, but lacking that crucial, undefinable charm which draws you into a madman's world. It only made me wistful to watch some actual Monty Python. However there is somewhat of a spooky feel in that the film is narrated by Graham Chapman himself, who became an ex parrot in 1989.
The film is mostly animated using multiple styles of animation. Fans of Terry Gilliam animation will be disappointed to see a lack of this style though. There are a number of very crude jokes and references in this film, again lacking the charm to make them truly funny.
The film is somewhat reminiscent of the film Yellow Submarine (1968) and perhaps a sober state of mind is not recommended when watching this film. I highly recommend the Spike Milligan novels as well as any of the Monty Python films or shows.
Brave (2012)
Charming but not all it could be
To start this review I'm going to say watch "Tangled" if you haven't already done so. That's what this film should have been.
I am a little biased as I lived in Scotland for a number of years and still can't understand how the Scots can embrace historically inaccurate "Braveheart" with the Scottish hero played by an Americanised Australian. That being said I'm sure that they'll embrace "Brave". This film hits nearly every Scottish stereotype... well the ones that are reasonably family friendly. The film does have a good dose of Scottish voice talent, even if many of them haven't been home in a while.
I'm happy to see The Big Yin (Billy Connolly) as part of the cast, but bitterly disappointed that they seem to have failed to adapt the character to Billy at all. The result being a somewhat lacklustre character that misses the mark.
The female heroine is a firm cliché now but this is still a heart warming film. Unfortunately the two really funny characters (the Raven and the Witch's Broom) have very short scenes. The triplets are also devilishly amusing but again don't have enough screen time. The soundtrack is very typical airy/new age/folk music and is very well performed, but to me it sounds more Irish than Scottish. I think the soundtrack could definitely have used some more modern punch to it (Britney or Christina style). And the soundtrack seems contradictory to the film's main themes of being a ground breaking heroine and teenage rebellion.
I watched the trailers in 3D but missed seeing the film in 3D. The 3D looked good, but I don't think that they made much effort to do a proper 2D version. It would appear that they've simply taken one field of the 3D rather than re-rendering it for 2D.
Overall it's good family fun, but I don't see anyone compulsively rewatching this film.
I am a little biased as I lived in Scotland for a number of years and still can't understand how the Scots can embrace historically inaccurate "Braveheart" with the Scottish hero played by an Americanised Australian. That being said I'm sure that they'll embrace "Brave". This film hits nearly every Scottish stereotype... well the ones that are reasonably family friendly. The film does have a good dose of Scottish voice talent, even if many of them haven't been home in a while.
I'm happy to see The Big Yin (Billy Connolly) as part of the cast, but bitterly disappointed that they seem to have failed to adapt the character to Billy at all. The result being a somewhat lacklustre character that misses the mark.
The female heroine is a firm cliché now but this is still a heart warming film. Unfortunately the two really funny characters (the Raven and the Witch's Broom) have very short scenes. The triplets are also devilishly amusing but again don't have enough screen time. The soundtrack is very typical airy/new age/folk music and is very well performed, but to me it sounds more Irish than Scottish. I think the soundtrack could definitely have used some more modern punch to it (Britney or Christina style). And the soundtrack seems contradictory to the film's main themes of being a ground breaking heroine and teenage rebellion.
I watched the trailers in 3D but missed seeing the film in 3D. The 3D looked good, but I don't think that they made much effort to do a proper 2D version. It would appear that they've simply taken one field of the 3D rather than re-rendering it for 2D.
Overall it's good family fun, but I don't see anyone compulsively rewatching this film.