Category Archives: Violence

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Ghostbusters (2016) – Review

Review Ghostbusters

When a reboot or a remake of an old movie is announced, usually the first thing you hear is the cry of the internet. Not only the fanboys/girls, but everyone seems to have already formed their opinion about it (it’s going to suck) and with the new Ghostbusters things weren’t any different. That the initial reaction was negative is something which didn’t surprise me, but I haven’t made the effort to read what it was exactly. I’d rather spend my time on other things. And even though I more than enjoyed the original Ghostbusters the news of a remake didn’t really do much to me. Often remakes are unnecessary, but of course there are exceptions. Is the new Ghostbusters one of them? Continue reading →

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Goosebumps (2015) – Review

Review Goosebumps

“The book is better than the movie” is something I often read. And yes, of course it usually is, but that isn’t surprising. When you are reading a book it is you who makes the imagery to go along with it. Besides that a book can also provide a lot more information than a movie can. A writer can spend a whole paragraph describing the scent in the air or the temperature of a meal. A movie can only show the information through imagery and dialog. So comparing the two forms of media is really something you shouldn’t be doing. They are separate forms of entertainment with their own strengths and weaknesses. Goosebumps has been a long running series of horror books for a young audience written by R.L. Stine. What Goosebumps does however is not take one of them and turn it into a film, but simply decides to use them all. Does that idea work? Continue reading →

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Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) – Review

Independence Day Resurgence review

Before watching the new Independence Day I decided to revisit the original. I can’t remember whether or not I saw it in cinemas originally, but it must have been around twenty years ago when I last saw it. I could still remember how strange it was that someone was able to plug his laptop into an alien spacecraft and easily upload a virus. I remembered the main story, but had forgotten the details. But what a joy it was to revisit it again! It offers exactly what I have come to expect from disaster movies: a number of characters you know just enough about to care for them, impressive destruction and being able to solve impossible situations. It also used a lot of practical effects and miniatures making it all the more convincing. But what did I have to expect from a sequel? Continue reading →

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10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) – Review

10 cloverfield lane review

When growing up we are constantly being warned about the world around us. Through that we learn to watch out and also develop a sense of knowing whether or not a situation might be dangerous. Movies do the same in a way, even though that usually isn’t in realistic situations (because when was the last time you had to fight an alien that was present on your spaceship?). They will go to extremes in order to present the viewer something they have not experienced before and entertain them. As you watch more movies from a specific genre, you gain some knowledge which you’ll bring to the table when watching the next one. You use that “experience” in order to predict what will happen to the characters in the situation they find themselves in. Not only guessing what will happen, but also because a good movie will make you forget about yourself and gives you the feeling you are that character. Whether or not you want it your survival instinct kicks in and experience is important in that. And 10 Cloverfield Lane succeeds in playing with those instincts. Continue reading →

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Triple 9 (2016) – Review

Review Triple 9

Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Gal Gadot and Aaron Paul. That is quite a list of famous actors all starring in a movie which doesn’t feature any superheroes and isn’t an epic either. Triple 9 is a crime movie and I had high expectations with all these actors in it. Does director John Hillcoat (who was also responsible for The Proposition, The Road and Lawless) deliver a film which stands out within the genre? Continue reading →

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The Neon Demon (2016) – Review

Review The Neon Demon

One of the few genres I don’t watch much of is horror. I simply don’t enjoy being frightened voluntarily. Jump scares aren’t my thing and the only horror movies I’m willing to watch are horror comedy (Zombieland, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, The Final Girls) or a classic like The Shining. When I received an invitation to watch The Neon Demon my first reaction was: “forget it”.

That changed though when I saw who directed the film: Nicholas Winding Refn, who put himself on the map with Drive, which he followed up with Only God Forgives. The latter one didn’t receive glowing reviews, but I thought it was fantastic. His work is always visually stunning and is a director whose work you’ll recognise. Still, this was a horror movie, so I decided to watch a bit of the trailer. Continue reading →

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Warcraft (2016) – Review

Review Warcraft

My expectations going into Warcraft weren’t very high. The couple of photo’s I saw of the movie in advance didn’t resonate with me and as the movie is based on a game it meant chances were high that this was going to be bad. The genre of video game movies hasn’t really delivered on movies which manage to wow audiences. But despite that I still had a bit of hope because of its director, Duncan Jones. He was previously responsible fort he impressive Moon. Would he be able to deliver a quality film?

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Paradox (2016) – Review

Review Paradox

There are moments when I look at the reviews I’m writing and the scores I’ve been giving films, when I wonder if I’m generally too positive about the movies I watch. Should I be more critical or do I simply pick out the ones which are, on average, actually good? Paradox quickly gave me an answer to those questions. Continue reading →

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Turbo Kid (2015) – Review

Recensie Turbo Kid

There are times when we look back at the past and this also has been happening quite a lot in various movies the last year. Kung Fury was a fantastic example of this, but also the hilarious Computer Show used the style of the eighties to great effect. Turbo Kid continues this trend, with its Laserdisc opening, synthesizer music and budget feel. Is this “style over substance” or a movie you simply can’t miss? Continue reading →

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Moonwalkers (2015) – Review

Recensie Moonwalkers

Conspiracy theories are always very interesting. Often not even because they might be true, but actually because they show how creative people can be in coming up with an explanation for something. You don´t even have to look further than a documentary like Room 237 to find out that even one movie by Stanley Kubrick (in this case The Shining) can be the starting point for all kinds of interpretations, the one even stranger as the other. One of them was that The Shining contains hints which prove that Kubrick filmed the moon landing. This is the theory Moonwalkers takes as its starting point and is about the Americans wanting to hire Kubrick to shoot the moon landing in case the real mission fails. Is that strong enough to base a comedy on? Lees verder