SEMI-DOCUMENTARY GRUESOME INDIE

B-horrors rarely managed to create the adequate atmosphere and the sense of realism due to their restricted budget, but original story about the family of demented mass murders buried deep into the American south isn’t of those failed scripts.

Although limited when it came to special effects and casting, „Texas chainsaw massacre” manages to persuade the viewer that those kind of maniacs really exists somewhere and that innocent people can get really hurt stumbling upon their home, as did the teenagers in the movie story.

„Texas chainsaw massacre” is one of the scarier horror movies and one of the more realistic ones as well.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE – 6/10

FOTO: wheresthejump.com

HILARIOUS, NOT SCARY

There are horror stories that were never meant to be scary, just utterly ironical and funny and „An American werewolf in London” is one of those stories.

All the trademark werewolf script elements will be there, as well as some hilarious dialogues between the dead and the living. On the other hand, special effects and acting will just be horrible, so that kinda evens up the score.

„An American werewolf in London” was better to have been directed as a comedy than a horror movie.

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON – 3/10

FOTO: static.independent.co.uk

STILL GRUESOME

1980s saw the rapid expansion of b-movie production, especially when it came to horrors.

Clive Barker’s story about the escapee from hell and its effort to revive himself certainly comes as one of the more bloody ones, fueled by some revolutionary special effects and solid acting (Higgins).

The script will also be one of the more innovative ones, although the ending and the introduction to the entire franchise is something we already saw many times before.

„Hellraiser” is still a gruesome horror, even by today’s standards.

HELLRAISER – 7/10

FOTO: cdn-static.denofgeek.com

BIRTH OF THE ENTIRE GENRE

Most people believe that „Rocky” was the birth of a modern fighter movie and they are wrong. Walter Hill managed to film a better, more convincing and better acted movie couple of years before Stallone rose to the stars and picked up all the laureates, including the „oscars”.

A story about the silent and harsh, but fair stage fighter travelling across the American south was written for one man, Charlie Bronson. With reliable James Coburn as his sleazy agent, it was left to Hill to direct crude and realistic fighting scenes, while preserving the „lone hero” aura around Bronson.

With little or no music at all, „Hard times” will often resemble a documentary more than a featured film.

„Hard times” was the first major American fighter movie and one of the best ones as well.

HARD TIMES – 7/10

FOTO: thestalkingmoon.weebly.com

PLAIN GARBAGE

Movie stories with merging human and animal genome can never work, whether it is about a spider-man or the fly-man.

Merging the nonmergable won’t be made more convincing neither by the stellar crew (Goldblum, Davis) nor by the solid director (Cronenberg). Trashy special effects will only contribute to the overall tragicomedy of the entire flick.

„The Fly” is one of movies that was out of date at the very moment it emerged and still remains so.

THE FLY – 2/10

FOTO: static.rogerebert.com

CARPENTER’S JOURNEY INTO MAINSTREAM

John Carpenter was the king of b-movies, especially when it came to horrors. His illustrious work in the lower  productions managed at one point to elevate him to some serious budgets, such as the „Halloween” saga.

Classical story about the immortal murderer behind the mask will show off all the director’s talent, especially when it comes to combining angles and lenses. It will enthrone Jamie Lee Curtiss as the queen of movie screams and open the entire movie cult that will span from modern horror interpretations („Scream”) to comedy („Scary movie”). It will also end too abruptly, just teasing the viewer to continue to follow the franchise.

„Halloween” is one of the best directed movies made by John Carpenter and a solid horror as well.

HALLOWEEN – 6/10

FOTO: staticmass.net

OL’ SCHOOL SCARE

Wes Craven’s „Nightmare on Elm street” is certainly one of the most important horror franchises in recent movie history and it kicked off very well, bringing new and brutal action to the teenage population it was meant to scare.

Besides being the first flick in a flourishing saga, it also managed to establish one of the most iconic movie monsters, the man with daggers instead of his fingers, Freddie Krueger.

Besides from that, and the fact that it introduced young Johnny Depp to the mainstream public, „Nightmare on Elm street” is in the end a cliche horror story, with all its basic benchmarks and script developments.

„Nightmare on Elm street” was an important movie when it first showed up, but has lost some of its relevance during the course of time.

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET – 4/10

FOTO: cdn.collider.com

CLASSIC TRASH

Walter Hill knew how to direct an action movie and an tense one as well.

Story about the group of National guardsmen stranded deep into the marshes of the American south will give us all the basic elements of a Vietnam war movie without having a real conflict in sight. Some great moments of prejudice and racism will also enrich the plot, however trashy it may be from the beginning to the very end.

As for the acting, all the b-movie stars from the ’70s and ’80s will be there, as well as the similar production.

„Southern comfort” is a solid piece of b-production action from some past decades.

SOUTHERN COMFORT – 5/10

FOTO: media2.fdncms.com

CLASSIC SPANISH CRIME TWISTER

Spanish cinema makers really like to intertwine stories, especially when it comes to crime related scripts. „Contratiempo's” director and writer, Oriol Paulo, uses that very vessel of overlapping to build itself into a really complex script.

In the center of this plot twister are two murders and potential scenarios of their conduction. Every single story aspect and script path will be covered, leading the viewer to a somewhat expected finale. Besides that very ending, all of those classic crime movie tricks will be there, bringing us back to the Golden era of the genre.

If you are into old school Poiroesque crime stories, you should definitely watch „Contratiempo”.

CONTRATIEMPO – 7/10

FOTO: art-s.nflximg.net

FARAWAY, SO CLOSE TO PERFECTION

Christopher Nolan is one of those movie people that has been close to the laureates from the very beginning of his stellar career, but somehow always failed to materialize his enormous talent.

One of the most inspiring wartime stories of all time, English evacuation of expeditionary forces from the coast of Dunkirk in 1940, was one of those scripts waiting for a diversely capable man behind the camera to take it to the stars.

And Nolan did it, creating one of the most tense war movies ever filmed, using everything he has to recreate the unique claustrophobic atmosphere through three overlapping stories (beach, air, water). He also didn’t abandon his trademark storylines intertwining masterfully leading them to the major problem of this movie.

Its ENDING.

If it weren’t for the bottom quarter of the script, we would be now talking about „Dunkirk” as the best directed war movie of this century. If it weren’t for the surreal heroism, pathetic patriotism and sudden lack of brutality, „Dunkirk” would’ve been known as a total triumph of Nolan’s supreme cinematography. Unfortunately, loss of the control over the script managed to severely diminish perfect sound, sound mixing, wide angle, handheld camera and realistic sea and sky battles, as well as some solid acting (Murphy, Whitehead, Rylance) and that is a real shame.

„Dunkirk” is one masterfully directed war story that will awe you in the first three quarters of its course.

DUNKIRK – 8/10

FOTO: moviegrapevine.com

KEANU’S BACK, FULL TIME

Keanu Reeves is one of the rare blockbuster actors that always knew his place when it came to role choosing. Always with his feet rooted into the ground, he chose to revive his career with ultra trashy male action „John Wick” three years ago and hit the jackpot.

In the second part of clearly a great franchise in the making there will be two distinctive parts of the storyline. First one will be forced out, slow and repelling, while the second one will represent one of the rare examples of perfect action genre.

And not to worry, there will be a third part ;)

„John Wick: Chapter 2” will reward you with some fine trash action, if you endure its first half.

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 – 6/10

FOTO: static.gamespot.com

INTRO FOR A VIDEO GAME

Mangas and computer games can rarely be a decent material for a movie script and „Ghost in the shell” isn’t one of them, although it tries really hard to give us an explanation of the half robots-half men in the distant future.

Scarlett Johansson is there to attract the viewers, and the CGI is decently used. However, the script is kinda slow, while offering little explanation in this hugely stretched intro into a whole franchise.

„Ghost in the shell” is the material for a computer game/manga fans and not many more.

GHOST IN THE SHELL – 3/10

FOTO: blackgirlnerds.com

COCKY AND PATHETIC

True stories can be a powerful material for movie scripts, but not always. Terrorist attack at the Boston marathon 2013 could’ve made a great movie, but Peter Berg's hasty adaptation starring Mark Wahlberg just isn’t a good story.

It is really emotionally shattering from time to time, but most of the celluloid is just eaten by tacky American patriotism and artificial hope boosting. On the positive side, there will be some really tense and well directed action sequences, but that’s it.

„Patriot’s day” is story about one of those true events that needs a greater historical distance before transcribing into a movie script.

PATRIOT’S DAY – 4/10

FOTO: static.digg.com

OH SCRIPT, WHERE ARE THOU?

It isn’t true that everything is bad in today’s high end Hollywood production. There are still some great men behind the camera, capable of filming a suspenseful and innovative scene/sequence/movie. Guy Ritchie is one of those naturally gifted directors, whose editing cut, camera and lens can still surprise us so deep into the 21^st century.

There are also some still decent actors, capable of carrying out their roles they were meant to, even if they were mediocre up until now (i.e. Jude Law).

CGI, production and soundtrack makers were never the issue.

So, what is the main problem with modern blockbuster coming from the other side of the Atlantic?

Script, script, script.

There aren’t any good ones left. If there were, story about King Arthur, his sword and the Knights of the Round table wouldn’t be so trashy and written for the population with special needs. Which is really a shame, because Guy Ritchie otherwise made a really decent action historical/SF spectacle that could’ve been capable of satisfying even a more demanding viewer.

„King Arthur: The legend of the sword” is a good movie with an awful script.

KING ARTHUR: THE LEGEND OF THE SWORD – 5/10

FOTO: cinemavine.com

UTTER DISASTER

There is no nice way to put it, so I'll just say it loud: Ridley Scott is ripe for euthanasia. A man who once defined genres and made legendary franchises that educated entire generations is now killing his masterpieces one by one. Just if „Prometheus” wasn't enough, he gave birth to another retarded script that surpassed even its mediocre predecessor.

There isn't one good thing about „Covenant”. Not a single one. Not even  one good action sequence, or just a decent CGI. No. Everything is just so missing the point, that you'll laugh instead of being scared, or just end up being utterly frustrated. Script is practically non-existent, with „plot” being so lame and tragi-comical that entire flick becomes a self-parody right from the opening „I am your father” scene.

If the script was made for the people with special demands, what can be said about the acting? Even the otherwise reliable Fassbender is just drowning in sea of pretentiousness. His scenes in a double role are meant to be the best ones in the movie, but they end being the worst ones. Neutron storm, scene with the pipes, taming the aliens with breathing in their non-existent mouths, self-kissing, vomiting facehugger's embryos... Just plain AWFUL. All of this wouldn't bother me if Scott just came out in the open and went honest that he made a high end budget trash. No, no, he was serious, dead serious and that can't be forgiven or forgotten.

„Covenant” isn't just a worse „Alien” movie. It's the worse American blockbuster in this decade and maybe even in this century.

ALIEN: COVENANT – 0/10

FOTO: fanbolt-fanbolt.netdna-ssl.com

BEATING AROUND THE BUSH

Brazilian movie makers are sort of an exception when it comes to the indie production outside America. Their trademark slow tempo and overall sense of sleepiness might reject some of the audience and „Aquarius” manages to do so with its elongated and not firm enough script about the fight of a single woman against the greedy developers that want to replace her building with a condominium and destroy her memories by doing so.

There will be some decent social and emotional moments along those 2 hours and 40 minutes, but just not enough of them, which is a shame, because Sonia Braga really dominates the screen with her interpretation of Clara.

„Aquarius” could have been a lot better if it was compressed and cleansed from the trademark Latin movie flaws.

AQUARIUS – 4/10

FOTO: static.rogerebert.com

ROMANIAN REALISM

Romania is going through its transition in a painful and slow manner and such manner tends to dictate the subjects for the movies coming from that southeastern European country.

„Graduation” starts as a beacon of light, guiding us through the brink of maturity of the young and talented girl backed up by capable and educated parents trying to salvage her life from the bleak Romanian countryside only to find themselves digging themselves deeper and deeper inside the corrupted system when she’s been attacked by the sexual perpetrator.

Overall sense of unease will dominate the big screen almost its entire course and it will almost drown the average viewer not used to reality of European drama. However, just as the light manages to fight its way through the clouds at the beginning, it will do the same towards the ending of this good drama.

„Graduation” is a movie for the people from Eastern Europe to understand, sympathize and value.

GRADUATION – 7/10

FOTO: icsfilm.org

THE NATION OF DRAMA

Iran is one harsh country and such harshness gives birth to some strong existential real life dramas.

„Life+1 day” is basically a filmed stage play, revolving around one family and its inner courtyard. Three brothers and two sisters will form the backbone of this thorough digging inside the Persian social system and norms, as well as the problems that each and every single family like this one has. True epicenter will be the Mohsan’s (phenomenal Navid Mohammadzadeh) drug addiction and young Somayeh’s arranged marriage to an Afghan.

There won’t be much action, but you won’t lack talking. And talking. And talking. Just like the old Hollywood, based on a strong backbone of every successful drama.

The SCRIPT.

And Saeed Roustayi’s script will make you think, laugh and cry, just so as the real life does. The real life, not imaginary and politically correct problems forced into the movie industry by wealthy producers. „Just” real life.

„Life+1day” is a great drama from a country that redefined drama genre outside Europe.

LIFE+1DAY – 8/10

FOTO: img.movietimes.com

DISCREET GENRE MASTER

Hirokazu Koreeda is the man of family drama. Period. Even when he doesn’t produce anything memorable, he still makes a really decent flick for the entire family.

Family is the word for Hirokazu and „After the storm” is no exception. Couple in the middle of the divorce, a child between them, a grandmother trying to patch the things and all that in the wake of another monsoon that ravages the Japanese islands for centuries.

There won’t be awesome memorable quotes or scenes, but the overall sense of warmth, human side of some difficult situations and choices and trademark solid acting of the cast selected will follow the overall strong creative control of the man who writes, directs and produces his films, Mr Hirokazu Koreeda.

„After the storm” is a solid family drama, as it is always when it comes from Hirokazu Koreeda.

AFTER THE STORM – 6/10

FOTO: cdn2.thr.com

PROUD TO BE TRASH

Story about the giant ape living on the deserted island that manages to destroy helicopters and prehistoric lizards with only two legs and a tail isn’t something that can be viewed as a serious movie, so you shouldn’t view the newest addition to the famous script as one of those flicks.

No, „Kong: Skull island” isn’t trying to be serious. It doesn’t give the elongated foreword of the Peter Jackson’s iteration and it doesn’t waste any time. Action is violent, amusing and constant. However, even its intensity and some fresh moments can not hide the basic, retarded premise of every King Kong film made so far.

Nice touch will be the homages to its predecessors and famous movies of the  past („Apocalypse now” before all other), but the ending will also see the movie makers sinking into even more deeper trash movies crossover than ever before.

„Kong: Skull island” is a decently amusing trash blockbuster without any ambition to present itself into something more than it really is.

KONG: SKULL ISLAND – 4/10

FOTO: filmfutter.com

BIG EXPECTATIONS FULFILLED

There is something so irresistible about Vin Diesel’s trashy, corny and above all, hyper macho saga about cars, „Fast and the furious”. Something that started as a low budget B-movie managed over the years to become one of the highest grossing movie franchises ever, gathering the cult of fanatical worshipers along that way. And if that wasn’t enough, it also succeeded in reverting the golden rule of cinema by producing the sequels that were of higher quality than the first couple of flicks.

Although Paul Walker sadly isn’t there anymore, Vin isn’t losing the momentum. On the contrary, the cast is just growing when it comes to quality, so we can now see some serious acting performed by Charlize Teron and Helen Mirren. Diesel himself is giving his acting maximum, which is not much viewed as a standalone feat, but is always nice to see. However, none of the aforementioned can’t change the fact that the show is being literally stolen by Jason Statham in one of the most memorable and hilarious sequences of the entire series, the one with the baby inside an airplane.

Star casting isn’t the only thing growing, since the production surpasses even its triumphant and spectacular predecessors. This time, we have a giant wrecking ball destroying the BMWs, cars on remote control falling from the buildings onto the Fifth avenue, as well as a whole Russian nuclear powered submarine chasing our crew beneath the ice of the Northern sea fyord.

Humor is there as well, followed by trademark freshest soundtrack and distant filming locations. New sequels are also there, lurking around the traditional gathering of the crew at the very end for the eighth time.

„The fate of the furious” is the latest addition to the largest and most popular male franchise on the market and an excellent one as well.

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS – 8/10

FOTO: trailers.apple.com