[5.75/10] Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Brief review: After Tarsem Singh's quirky take on Snow White earlier this year, first-time director Rupert Sanders brings us his darker version of the classic fairy tale. But while his "Snow White and the Huntsman" is bigger in budget and way more ambitious than "Mirror Mirror", it also has more flaws. After a rushed beginning, the uneven first hour of the movie continues to disappoint with clumsy storytelling, poor pacing and many incoherent, badly-edited scenes. Having said that, the movie somehow manages to redeem itself in its second half, becoming brisker, neater and way more entertaining. In terms of visuals, the movie is absolutely stunning to watch, but in a grim sort of way. The rich production design impresses with its imaginativeness and the color palette is appropriately murky. Shot on Kodak 65mm & 35mm anamorphic footage, "Snow White and the Huntsman" also has that authentic, old-fashioned feel about it, but that combined with the gloomy cinematography, makes it look a bit too fuzzy. The acting is hit-or-miss. Kristen Stewart's acting abilities have slightly improved, but it's quite obvious that she still can't overcome her awkwardness. Chris Hemsworth is perfectly-cast for the role, plus, he's strong enough as the Huntsman, without overshadowing the rest of the cast. The dwarfs often steal the show, but the real star of the movie is Charlize Theron, who fully inhabits her royally vicious character.

Overall summary: It boldly flaunts first class production values and darkly beautiful visuals, and the majority of the cast does a solid job, but "Snow White and the Huntsman" is let down by the lack of cohesive narrative, steady pacing and any truly memorable moments.

[5.75/10] Bel Ami (2012)

Bel Ami (2012)

Brief review: Hitting US theaters on June 8, "Bel Ami" is based on Guy de Maupassant's 1885 French novel of the same name, and directing duo Declan Donnellan / Nick Ormerod's first movie in 15 years. Even though it's sexy, provocative and erotically-charged, the movie fails to engage on an emotional as well as dramatic level, due to a lackluster execution and stagy script. The main problem with "Bel Ami" is that it feels quite forced. Everything works out way too easily for the main male character, and even the accidental happenings in the movie seem contrived. As a result of all that, the otherwise interesting story becomes less exciting and plausible as the movie progresses. Teen idol, Robert Pattinson, tries to redeem himself from his terrible roles in the cheesy "Twilight" franchise, and although there's a slight improvement in his acting abilities, he's still incapable of expressing any genuine emotions. Pattinson's so-so performance aside, the acting is excellent, especially from the alluring female cast involved. Uma Thurman does a great job as the wealthy and quietly powerful wife-turned-widow, Madeleine, Christina Ricci is captivating as the naughty and seductive Clotilde, and Kristin Scott Thomas gives a sensual performance as Virginie. Also, the film is beautifully-shot and fascinates with the authenticity of its exquisite set design, gorgeous costumes and truly ravishing cinematography.

Overall summary: Despite its sexy, fantastic female cast, sophisticated visuals and provocatively lusty nature, Donnellan & Ormerod's "Bel Ami" ends up being a moderately engaging mixed bag of a period drama, that is as beautiful on the outside, as it's emotionally empty within.

[5.75/10] Elevator (2011)

Elevator (2011)

QuickRating: Much like 2010's "Devil", "Elevator" mostly takes place in, well, an elevator, hence, those who can't stand such limited settings might get a little bit bored, but for more patient viewers, this surprisingly well-balanced and executed dialogue-driven thriller by Norwegian director Stig Svendsen has a lot more to offer - many thrills, lots of suspense and quite a few unexpected shocks, complemented by a solid amount of humor and some witty dialogues.

[5.75/10] Rosewood Lane (2011)

Rosewood Lane (2011)

QuickRating: Not nearly as scary and intense as director Victor Salva's 2001 creepfest "Jeepers Creepers", but still watchable and fairly thrilling, "Rosewood Lane" is the perfect example of how to make a decent and effective horror movie with a quite limited budget. The charismatic Rose McGowan does a solid job as the protagonist, and Ashton Moio gives an intimidating performance as the devilish villain.

[5.75/10] Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Tinker Tailor
Soldier Spy (2011)

QuickRating: It's pretty to look at, thanks to the beautiful production design and atmospherically dim cinematography, and Gary Oldman along with the rest of the cast deliver outstanding performances, but "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" suffers badly from an unfocused narrative, incoherent plot structure and a lazy direction that turn it into a dull and lifeless espionage thriller, with little to no thrills at all.

[5.75/10] Hysteria (2011)

Hysteria (2011)

QuickRating: This British period comedy about the invention of the vibrator is well-acted, nicely-shot, somewhat original and has an incredibly likable and truly engaging cast, that includes the charming and talented Maggie Gyllenhaal, but sadly, "Hysteria" is not nearly as funny or witty as it sounds, nor is particularly memorable of brilliantly inventive. It really could have been sensational, but it ends up being mildly enjoyable and very average.

[5.75/10] Contraband (2012)

Contraband (2012)

Brief review: The little known fact about the first major action release of 2012 is that the movie is a remake of the 2009 Icelandic film "Reykjavik-Rotterdam", which the director, Kormákur, starred in. "Contraband" is a bit of a mixed bag, because while it suffers from a hackneyed premise, needlessly intricate, yet predictable plot and complete lack of originality, it's still constantly entertaining to watch, and filled with tense scenes, exciting action, dramatic twists and interesting characters. Baltasar Kormákur's direction reminds the one of Paul Greengrass, featuring tons of unsteady camera movements and fast, intentionally clumsy zooms. The hand-held shooting style and the harsh, grainy cinematography give a more realistic and gritty feel to the film, even if the visuals themselves are hardly eye-pleasing and probably a bit too moody for mass tastes. The cast is well-chosen, and the acting is pretty good for the most part. Mark Wahlberg is the center of attention here, and thankfully, he doesn't disappoint. The role of a former contrabandist suits him perfectly, and he does a solid job in portraying his character in a believable manner. The gorgeous Kate Beckinsale is convincing enough as his wife, but she barely has enough screen time to make an impression. Ben Foster also delivers as the two-faced best friend of Chris, but it's Giovanni Ribisi as Briggs that gives the most memorable performance of them all.

Overall summary: Despite its occasional predictability, dated premise and depressingly moody visual atmosphere, "Contraband" is still a decent and finely-crafted action thriller, that provides enough drama, twists and thrilling moments to satisfy the average moviegoer.

[5.75/10] The Devil's Rock (2011)

The Devil's Rock (2011)

QuickRating: Set during the WWII on a remote island, and in a very creepy bunker occupied by а vile-tempered Nazi soldiers, this low-budget horror film from New Zealand deals with demons and occultism in a very interesting and refreshing way. And while it doesn't shine with great imagination, much originality, or impressive special effects, "The Devil's Rock" is an effective, gory and devilishly fun hidden gem of a horror movie.

[5.75/10] The Caller (2011)

The Caller (2011)

Brief review: "The Caller" is a low-budget horror thriller that revolves around the recently divorced Mary Kee, who's tormented by a series of sinister phone calls from a mysterious woman. Plot-wise, the film works as much as it doesn't. It's filled with many twists and turns along the way, maybe too many, and although that keeps it dynamic and gripping, it might be too confusing for some viewers. Director Matthew Parkhill does a good job of creating tension and mysterious atmosphere that keeps you guessing what is going to happen next, however, his direction often feels a bit too ambitious and all-over-the-place, which makes the movie seem more complicated than it actually is. The lack of budget is obvious, as visually, "The Caller" doesn't look very polished, nor is very appealing. The settings are quite gloomy and incredibly effective though. Most of the action takes place in an old, small apartment in a lower-class Puerto Rico suburban area, that looks dark and extremely creepy, and will definitely give you the chills. Rachelle Lefevre gives a solid performance as the troubled divorcee Mary, who has to handle with both - her ex psycho husband and the odd things happening in her new home, and the supporting cast do their best with the given material.

Overall summary: Despite its overly complicated plot and some execution weaknesses, "The Caller" is still a decent and fairly creepy little chiller, that delivers a couple good scares and enough twists to keep you entertained until the unexpected conclusion.

[5.75/10] Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011)

Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011)

Brief review: In 2007, Spanish horror phenomenon "[Rec]" blew us all away. A year later, a shot-by-shot US remake called "Quarantine" emerged, and it was surprisingly solid. Then, two years ago, "[Rec]" creators delivered a fantastic sequel, that went in a completely different direction than expected. In 2011, Sony finally bring us their "Quarantine" sequel, that for better or worse, has nothing to do with "[Rec] 2". On one hand, its original script differs it vastly from the Spanish version and makes it unique, but sadly on the other hand, "Quarantine 2: Terminal" is just 'more of the same', only that this time the zombie virus breaks out on a plain, instead in a building. "Q2" is far from terrifying, and yet it's tautly-paced, suspenseful, and has a few startling, jump-of-your-seat moments, especially during the attack scenes. Despite the film's limited budget, first-time director John Pogue does an adequate job behind the camera, yet still, "Q2" has 'straight to DVD' written all over it - the acting is atrocious, the cinematography is remarkably poor, the make-up and gore effects are obviously cheesy, plus, it's not shot in a POV style like its predecessors, hence, it's less effective. On a positive note, the terminal setting is grim, creepy and incredibly atmospheric.

Overall summary: Although it's cheaply-made and nowhere nearly as inventive as the original sequel, "[Rec] 2", "Quarantine 2" still stands on its own, thanks to its original concept, plus, its tense atmosphere and fair amount of gore should leave most horror fans satisfied.

[5.75/10] Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid:
Rodrick Rules (2011)

Brief review: Based on the popular book of the same name, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" is a sequel to last year's successful hit, and it's brought by "Flushed Away" director, David Bowers. The original film was one of 2010's most pleasant cinematic surprises, and, for better or worse, this sequel is pretty similar to its predecessor, except that it lacks the wit and the cleverness, and it's only half as refreshing. However, it maintains the good-natured spirit of the first film, plus, it's more family-oriented, which makes it appealing for adults as well. The engaging cast delivers the goods. Zachary Gordon is at the center of attention yet again, and he 'owns' his delightfully sincere character, Greg. Devon Bostick is way more likeable as the mean older brother than he was in the previous movie, and the super-cute Robert Capron gives an adorable performance as Greg's best buddy, Rowley. Even though David Bowers's direction is crisp and lively, he doesn't shine with great skills behind the camera, the way he shines as a director of animated features, so he'd better stick with CGI animations. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" hardly boasts any technical qualities, other than its vibrant, saturated cinematography and brisk editing.

Overall summary: While not nearly as funny and witty as the original, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" is a charming, fairly decent and nicely-acted sequel, that provides passable entertainment for its target audience of youngsters.

Numerous QuickRatings PART 8: Foreign Horror Movies

Captifs a.k.a. Caged (2010)

QuickRating: This French torture porn flick may be brutally realistic, extremely graphic, violently gory and nicely-acted, but it suffers from a cliched premise, unimaginative execution, and lack of actual thrills and chills, plus it often feels like a rip-off of another French gorefest, "Frontier(s)".

My Rating: 5.50/10



Zwart Water a.k.a. Two Eyes Staring (2010)

QuickRating: Moody, monotonous and unnecessarily overlong, yet gripping, enigmatic, incredibly atmospheric and beautifully shot, "Zwart Water" proves that Dutch horror film makers are also capable of delivering decent horror movies, despite their lack of experience in this area.

My Rating: 5.75/10



Die Tür a.k.a. The Door (2009)

QuickRating: More of a mystery thriller rather than a horror, "The Door" is a one-of-a-kind experience about parallel realities in life, that dazzles with its uniqueness and unpredictability, and drives a plot that delivers suspense and intrigue, but unfortunately, it falls apart in its final act and quickly loses its efficiency.

My Rating: 6.75/10

[5.75/10] Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (2011)

Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (2011)

Brief review: Set in ancient China, "Mr. and Mrs. Incredible" revolves around a couple, who are also retired superheroes, and their new life as ordinary people. Despite its utter goofiness and silliness, the film nevertheless remains enjoyable, due to its charismatic leads, Sandra Ng Kwan Yue and Louis Koo, who both deliver very engaging and rather quirky performances as the title characters. For better or worse, the director Vincent Kok focuses more on the relationship between the lead characters, rather than their skills and super-powers, which is kinda disappointing for those expecting crazy stunts and over-the-top action. The action scenes are very few and in between and mostly unspectacular. The fight choreography is unimaginative, rather flat and lacking in quality and technique, and the cartoonish "Kung Fu Hustle"-like special effects range from great to poor to ridiculous. However, "Mr. and Mrs. Incredible" is very appealing, visually. The highly acclaimed art director, Chung Man Yee, does a phenomenal job with the production design yet again. His style blends authenticity and lushness, and the end result is pure eye-candy. Ngor's vivid cinematography and the bright and colorful costumes add to the film's slick look.

Overall summary: Often bordering on silly and ridiculous, Vincent Kok's "Mr. and Mrs. Incredible" is, ironically, far from being incredible, yet nevertheless, it still manages to captivate the viewer with its quirkiness, likable characters, vibrant visuals and humorous script.

Numerous QuickRatings PART 5: 2010 Movies [3]

Primal (2010)

QuickRating: Although the Australian bush provides a beautiful backdrop for this oddly intriguing story, and the acting from the young Aussie cast is decent at best, the film itself is almost ruined by an incompetent execution, so-so directing and weak script, and though it succeeds in the gore department, "Primal" fails to deliver genuine scares.

My Rating: 5.00/10

Jackass 3D (2010)

QuickRating: Featuring the best slow-mo sequences since "Zombieland"'s opening scene, and numerous incredible stunts, as well as some gross and even scary ones, "Jackass 3D" is three times crazier than its predecessors, and just as funny and entertaining, even though it's hardly watchable at times. Just see it.. if you dare.

My Rating: 5.75/10

Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

QuickRating: Grim, yet somewhat uplifting, "Welcome to the Rileys", can't boast with excellent production values or skillful direction, but it offers and original and emotionally-gripping story, and it features Kristen Stewart's best performance to date, a great turn by James Gandolfini, and an absolutely amazing supporting performance from Melissa Leo.

My Rating: 6.50/10

Another Year (2010)

QuickRating: Thoughtful, poignant and astoundingly acted, if rather slow-moving and overly simplistic, "Another Year" may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it offers a realistic glimpse of everyday life with its ups and lows, and shows how you can easily create your own happiness, if you believe in yourself, and if you're dedicated to the people you love.

My Rating: 7.25/10

Numerous QuickRatings PART 4: 2010 Movies [2]

Blue Valentine (2010)

QuickRating: Although Derek Cianfrance's debut feature "Blue Valentine" is a bit too depressing, moody and melancholic at times, it's still an emotionally involving, subtly-crafted, outstandingly-performed, and also a very daring film, that unveils the the inconvenient truth about never-lasting love, exploring an unfortunate love-turned-hate relationship.

My Rating: 7.50/10


Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

QuickRating: As silly as it sounds, yet thoroughly hilarious, "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" could be considered as both a ridiculous mess, and an incredibly original horror comedy, injected with a huge dose of wit and humor, that shows how misunderstandings can lead to fatal consequences, in the funniest, goriest and bloodiest possible way.

My Rating: 6.25/10


Djinns (2010)

QuickRating: "Djinns"'s cast does an excellent job in their roles, its settings are incredibly atmospheric, it features some truly spooky images, and the grotesque violence doubles the horror, but sadly, the film never reaches its potential, and it's neither scary nor suspenseful enough to be considered a great horror movie, despite its flawless execution.

My Rating: 5.75/10


L'arnacoeur a.k.a.

Heartbreaker (2010)

QuickRating: The American rom-com filmmakers should learn some tricks from their French fellas, as "Heartbreaker" is so enjoyable, charming and fantastically-executed, it manages to deliver on many levels, despite its slightly cliched script, and it features a wonderfully-charismatic turn from Johnny Depp's beloved, the gorgeous Vanessa Paradis.

My Rating: 6.50/10

[5.75/10] Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (2010)

Tinker Bell and
the Great Fairy Rescue (2010)

Brief review: Brought by Disney Studios, "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" is the second straight-to-DVD sequel to their 2008 families' favorite "Tinker Bell", and although it would hardly rank as one of the best animated features of 2010, "The Great Fairy Rescue" is sweet, charming and touching tale of a true friendship between the adorable little fairy, Tinker Bell, and a little girl, obsessed with fairies, which grows stronger and stronger as the movie progresses. Furthermore, with its adventurous story and adolescent appeasing narrative, this feature is captivating enough to satisfy its young target audience, tough it suffers from an ultra-short running time of just 75 minutes. Animation-wise, "The Great Fairy Rescue" is just as appealing. While the animation is not as smooth and skillful as in Disney's theatrical animated features, the visuals are bright, crisp and nicely-executed, filled with wonderfully-colorful and eye-catching CGI scenery and beautifully-designed animated characters, that will transport you to the magical fantasy world of Tinker Bell. The voice acting by Whitman, Sheen, Chenoweth and Lucy Liu is spot-on, if not admirable.

Overall summary: While not one of Disney's most slickest features, "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" is lighthearted, decently-animated, and thoroughly enchanting experience for little children.

[5.75/10] Dream Home (2010)

Wai dor lei ah yut ho

a.k.a.

Dream Home (2010)

"Dream Home" follows a thirty-something Cheng Lai-Sheung, the daughter of a dying builder who sells home loans by phone during the day and works as a sales assistant in ladies’ fashion stores in the evenings, in the hope of one day being able to buy her dream home in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. But when she finally has enough money for the deposit the owners decide to raise the price, something delicate finally snaps in Cheng. Armed with only household DIY equipment and construction tools, and with ever more imaginative usage of them, she sets about ensuring that she acquires the property, come what may. "Dream Home" is a bizarre gore-fest about an 'ordinary' woman who tires to achieve her long time dream of having the perfect home at all costs. And saying 'at all costs', I mean she brutally murders everyone who (she reckons) stands on her way of fulfilling her dream. Killing innocent people just to get a good apartment is a rather silly and quite ridiculous motive, hence, the whole story feels a bit forced and hard-to-believe, despite the palpable satirical twist on it. Other than that, "Dream Home" is quite refreshing and well-crafted gruesome tale that offers brutal deaths, tons of gore, wicked sense of humor and some nice visuals. The most horrific thing about "Dream Home" is the fact that this movie is based on real events, which automatically means that Cheng Lai-Sheung is a nonfictional character. And she's truly disturbing! Josie Ho's innocent face successfully misleads the viewer, as you could never guess what a ruthless, cold-blooded monster her character is. She kills with ease and cut throats with no mercy, obsessed with her fix idea of getting her "dream home", and led by disbelief and hopelessness. Ho portrays this monstrous character very convincingly, and she certainly deserves a credit for that. The other actors also deliver decent performances, but at the end of the day, it's all about Josie Ho. Ho-Cheung Pang does an impressive job directing this twisted horror flick. His camera provides countless breathtaking shots of one of the most exotically beautiful cities in the entire world, Hong Kong - a megapolis that dazzles with its ultra-modern futuristic buildings and high-rise blocks, as well as its stunningly exquisite nature. He perfectly captures the essence of the city, as well as the shocking violence, and the brutality of the murders. The death scenes themeselves are incredibly well-staged, very explicit and extremely gruesome. In terms of gore and violence, "Dream Home" is an honest splatter, that will satisfy every horror geek. The so-called twist in the end, however, may leave you disappointed, as it's neither as smart nor as effective as it thinks it is. Nicely-crafted and well-acted, yet hardly believable and quite ridiculous, "Dream Home" is a slightly chilling satire, that I loved as much as I hated.

• My Rating: 5.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 79% (6.0/10)
• IMDb: 6.6/10

[5.75/10] Alpha and Omega (2010)

Alpha and Omega (2010)

Crest Studios' latest animated adventure "Alpha and Omega" tells the story of two mismatched wolves, Kate and Humphrey, who embark on a cross-country quest to get back home and restore peace in their pack after being relocated thousands of miles away by well-meaning park rangers. With such an amazing flicks as "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Toy Story 3", 2010 has proven itself as quite a strong year for animation, and while "Alpha and Omega" doesn't fall in the same league as the above mentioned, it's a fun and decently-crafted animated flick that is actually pretty enjoyable to watch. The story isn't anything groundbreaking or very innovative, but it's adventurous, dynamic and never boring, and there are a few scenes that are so genuinely hilarious, that you just can't help but laugh out loud. Kate and Humphrey, the two main characters are likable and very sympathetic, and both, Justin Long and Hayden Panettierean, do an excellent job on bringing these charming wolves to life. The secondary characters are also interesting to watch - Garth provides most of the laughs, and Kate's little sister, Lilly, is simply adorable. Visually, "Alpha and Omega" is rather average. The CGI work looks a bit clumsy and not polished enough, but the use of color in the scenery is absolutely incredible - the color palette is bright, vivid and richly saturated, and it's a feast for the eye. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the 3D effects, since I watched this flick in an old-fashioned 2D. Overall, "Alpha and Omega" is joyous, fast-paced and engaging, yet ultimately forgettable and clumsily-animated flick, that comfortly falls into the 'average' category.

• My Rating: 5.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 14% (4.2/10)
• IMDb: 3.6/10

[5.75/10] The Daisy Chain (2008)

The Daisy Chain (2008)

Short review: "The Daisy Chain" is a low-budget, subtle yet effective Irish horror flick, that revolves around a grieving couple move to a remote Irish village in the wake of their baby daughter's death. They soon take in an orphaned autistic girl, only to become involved in a series of strange occurrences. While it's the typical "evil child' story we've seen hundreds times before and very skow-moving, "The Daisy Chain" somehow manages to engage the interest of the viewer, as it's smoothly-paced and consistently-intriguing. The whole mystery behind the main character Daisy and Daisy herself is certainly film's main strengths. Child actress Mhairi Anderson delivers a remarkably creepy performance as Daisy. She's hauntingly captivating and steals the show every time she's on screen. The very underrated great actress Samantha Morton gives an incredible performance as the caring, child-obsessed Martha, whose innate mother instincts are very strong. Steven Mackintosh also does a good job as Tomas Conroy, Martha's anxious husband. The Irish shore scenery is beautiful, but quite grim and depressing at the same time, as it offers bear meadows, dark skies, raugh ocean and ferocious wind - this dark and gloomy tone creates an often unpleasant atmosphere that fits perfectly the mood of the film. More creepy than scary, "The Daisy Chain" is decently-crafted little horror film that deliver the chills. Plus, Anderson is exceptional here!

• My Rating: 5.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• IMDb: 5.3/10

[5.75/10] Women in Trouble (2009)

Women in Trouble (2009)

Short review: The main characters are all female and the story follows their struggles to cope with the situations that life deal them. And аlthough "Women in Trouble" is obviously women-oriented, it can be enjoyed by the male audience as well. It's an amusing, sexy and provocative movie, with warm and often touching multiple stories, where numerous characters are directly and indirectly connected. The dramatic and comedic elements sometimes work, and sometimes don't. Nevertheless this film is an enjoyable ride. The cast is excellent - Carla Gugino, Marley Shelton, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Adrianne Palicki, Cameron Richardson are not only beautiful, but they also portray their characters well, bringing them to life on the screen and making them seem very believable. "Women in Trouble" makes you laugh much more than expected, but most importantly, it has a heart!

• My Rating: 5.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 29% (4.3/10)
• IMDb: 5.9/10