Log: week 21 / 2025
One of the nicer V-cinema films I've seen. The quality of the presentation and the actors is mediocre at best, but if you like criminals fighting and shooting until there's little else left besides bloody, beaten-up bodies, then this film is for you. You just need to get through the somewhat tepid beginning. Score needs a little time to build up, the nice thing is that it doesn't really slow down again, and it keeps on piling on the madness. There are some pretty insane scenes in the final third, which saved the film for me. Don't expect anything too classy, but if you like genre pulp that's a bit extra, this one won't disappoint.Read all
Think Zatoichi, but in the modern Chinese streaming era. If that sounds like a cheap knock-off, you're not too far off. The thing is, Blind Murder is an exceptionally nice action film, so who am I to complain? If you like moody, fast-paced martial arts action spearheaded by a blind hero, this is prime entertainment. The action scenes are slick, helped by tight editing and moody cinematography. The performances are decent, the pacing is lightning fast, and the film clocks in well under 90 minutes. It does lose a bit of steam in the middle part, other than that, this was a perfectly fine action flick. Good fun.Read all
A decent but predictable romance with slight hints of Romeo & Juliet. Dunst and Hernandez are solid, and the chemistry between them is genuine enough, but I'm not quite sure why this film had such an impact on me when I first watched it. It's not bad, but I strain to find anything memorable the second time around. The cinematography is ever-so-slightly above average, the soundtrack is a bit too poppy for my taste, and the plot is basic. But the lead performances are nice, and the romance worked well enough. I was rooting for these kids, which is what a film like this is all about. But that's all there is to it.Read all
Expectations were minimal going into this one. It is, after all, the sixth entry in the series. But Lipovsky and Stein (of Freaks fame) turned it into a cheeky and entertaining horror film. One that is very much aware of its limitations, and doesn't mind stretching the suspension of disbelief if it means a few extra laughs. The kills are fun and original (also pretty gory), the plot is basic but interesting enough, and the performances are decent. This series is all about (not so) subtle foreshadowing, and that's where it shines. If you couldn't appreciate the earlier films, you can skip it without too much worry, but fans of the series won't be disappointed.Read all
A cute little French romance. Young and joyous characters, some funky editing, a slightly more edgy pop soundtrack, and a summery location make this a very agreeable film. I'll say that it has aged a bit, and it isn't quite as slick and snazzy as it used to be, but it's still an easy and entertaining watch. The performances are fun, the cinematography is playful, and even though there's a bit of drama to keep the plot going, it's all quite light and frivolous. Even when it touches upon some more serious themes. Not quite the experience I remembered it to be, but I'm looking forward to revisiting the sequel soon.Read all
Retirement homes are dreary places, and this film digs deep into that fear. Maybe it's not an outright horror film, and people expecting overt scares and/or gore will be disappointed. That said, this film freaked me out more than most other horror films have. It came really close to my personal hell. Rush and Lithgow are great, the setting is unsettling, and the many close-ups and weird camera angles add to the dread. There are enough freaky moments, even though nothing too excessive or supernatural happens. It's a more than solid horror film, even though I fear it will only appeal to a certain crowd.Read all
A decent enough biopic spearheaded by Eddie Murphy. The nice thing is that it isn't a classic rise and fall story. The film focuses mostly on the rise of Rudy Ray Moore, the man who received credit for starting the blaxploitation hype. This keeps the film light and entertaining, which is a nice change of pace for these types of films. Murphy is nice, and the secondary cast is equally solid. It's also a pretty fun subject, although I'm not too familiar with these films (yet). The setup remains relatively simple, and despite the lighter tone, it's still a rather basic biography flick. Compared to its direct peers though, this is one of the better ones to come out of Hollywood.Read all
The Romance of Three Kingdoms: Great Conquest
The first of three epic animated films. There's also a US recut that's about 20 minutes shorter, it's best to avoid that one at all costs. The film is an adaptation of a famous classic Chinese novel, which means the plot is quite elaborate and there are a ton of characters, so make sure you sit comfortably. The animation is solid, the build-up of the story is adequate, the characters are fun, and the scale of the film is impressive. It's easy to see why this has a cult following, but the 2+ hour runtime was a bit of a challenge. There are two more films to wade through, though I think it's best to spread them out a little. Still, if you like Chinese epics and anime, this is an easy recommendation.Read all