Film The Redcafe Movie review thread

Sound Of My Voice
Two documentary filmmakers attempt to infiltrate a cult who are worshipping a woman who claims to be from the future. Very well made independent film had loads of suspense and a decent story with a very intriguing pay off. The acting was good and overall definitely a sleeper hit worth watching 8/10
 
Kazi said:
Feels like original Star Wars trilogy fans set a lower standard for VII than everyone else.
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Lower standard? What standard? Why would you even watch it if you aren't a fan of the original trilogy as everyone who doesn't live under a rick knows it was designed to repeat what the original trilogy did so well and incidentally keeping fans happy. This is a film made specifically for Star Wars fans because the last three upset them so much. It modernised while retaining much that fans loved about the original trilogy. It is hard to see how they could have improved the film.

Other than making a completely different unrelated Sci Fi film.
 
Prophet_of_Doom said:
But it's because I've watched the other films that I am rating The Force Awakens quite low (having watched the Star Wars trilogy, I don't mean I watched Three Colours White and Three Colours Blue and as a consequence am rating TFA down). I genuinely think that if I hadn't seen the original three Star Wars movies I'd rate TFA much higher.
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Wait what? That makes no sense as you wouldn't know WTF was going on half the time if you hadn't seen the original trilogy.
 
Wibble said:
Lower standard? What standard? Why would you even watch it if you aren't a fan of the original trilogy as everyone who doesn't live under a rick knows it was designed to repeat what the original trilogy did so well and incidentally keeping fans happy. This is a film made specifically for Star Wars fans because the last three upset them so much. It modernised while retaining much that fans loved about the original trilogy. It is hard to see how they could have improved the film.

Other than making a completely different unrelated Sci Fi film.
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Honestly thought it'd be better than all of the six films that precedes it. Instead, they seem to repeat the same flaws Lucas' films had.
 
Once Were Warriors (1994)

This was a hell of a gritty movie but I liked it. Huge fan of gritty 90s crime/dramas. Some subpar acting here and there but overall touching movie with powerful scenes.
 
VorZakone said:
Once Were Warriors (1994)

This was a hell of a gritty movie but I liked it. Huge fan of gritty 90s crime/dramas. Some subpar acting here and there but overall touching movie with powerful scenes.
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I think the acting added rather than detracted from the impact as it made it even more real.
 
Wibble said:
Lower standard? What standard? Why would you even watch it if you aren't a fan of the original trilogy as everyone who doesn't live under a rick knows it was designed to repeat what the original trilogy did so well and incidentally keeping fans happy. This is a film made specifically for Star Wars fans because the last three upset them so much. It modernised while retaining much that fans loved about the original trilogy. It is hard to see how they could have improved the film.

Other than making a completely different unrelated Sci Fi film.
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Would you hold Jurassic World to the same standard? Everyone likes some mainlined nostalgia, and that was a similarly schlocky rehash aimed at me and my generation of impressionable kids, but I don't give it a free pass from criticism, or attack those out of my age bracket for not appreciating it on purely nostalgically whimsical terms? Terminator Genysis was aimed at fans of the original 2 who didn't like the 3rd and 4th. Does that get a 10/10 on relative homage alone?

By that logic every sequel is critic proof. Except Star Wars isn't every sequel. It's a huge multi-billion dollar franchise reboot. Of a series originally aimed at adolescents and kids. Funded by Disney. The idea it could justify its budget, let alone it's juggernaut of hype, entirely by appealing to the Middle aged disco kids who loved the original is as delusional as thinking a Cabbage Patch movie could be the big academy hope of 2016.

If Hollywood has really spent billions on the remake of a camp space soap opera about magic wizards and space nazis just to give the over 40s an opium den-esque escape from the tedium of their mid-life crisis, then you can add it to the banking and housing debacles as one of the most wasteful, self indulgent burdens left to us future generations by our blinkered and selfish elders.

May God have mercy on your souls.




I thought it was alright fwiw. A solid 7.
 
Mockney said:
Would you hold Jurassic World to the same standard?
Everyone likes some mainlined nostalgia, and that was a similarly schlocky rehash aimed at me and my generation of impressionable kids, but I don't give it a free .pass from criticism, or attack those out of my age bracket for not appreciating it on purely nostalgically whimsical terms?
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Yes I would and it was poor in comparison to earlier offerings - no tension. It added nothing to the Jurassic Park series. The original was great with ever decreasing returns and the latest offering was equally disappointing. Of course in this case you are just repeating the "man made monster escape and goes mad theme" whereas you have far more to work with with Star Wars. And if I hadn't enjoyed the first film I wouldn't have even bothered watching the latest one - what would have been the point?

Terminator Genysis was aimed at fans of the original 2 who didn't like the 3rd and 4th. Does that get a 10/10 on relative homage alone?
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While better it is still poor compared to the original 2 films so I'm judging in the same way I am for Star Wars. You can't really do much else given that the films are fundamentally linked.

By that logic every sequel is critic proof. Except Star Wars isn't every sequel. It's a huge multi-billion dollar franchise reboot. Of a series originally aimed at adolescents and kids. Funded by Disney. The idea it could justify its budget, let alone it's juggernaut of hype, entirely by appealing to the Middle aged disco kids who loved the original is as delusional as thinking a Cabbage Patch movie could be the big academy hope of 2016.

If Hollywood has really spent billions on the remake of a camp space soap opera about magic wizards and space nazis just to give the over 40s an opium den-esque escape from the tedium of their mid-life crisis, then you can add it to the banking and housing debacles as one of the most wasteful, self indulgent burdens left to us future generations by our blinkered and selfish elders.

May God have mercy on your souls.
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Except Star Wars has fans of all aged, not just old farts who saw the original as a kid, and the vast majority love the original movies. If you then deliver a film that ticks all the boxes required of an action/sci-fi film and keep fans of the originals happy while being so wonderfully entertaining is a 10/10 for me as I'm not comparing it to Godfather 2 or Apocalypse Now.
 
Even though you wouldn't have got most of the references or any of the relevance of the people involved in the ending? Personally I though it was the weakest of the three even having watched the first two and it would have been worse still without understanding how it all tied together.
 
The Martian

Could have been better. The movie lacks the drama and gravitas (which Sandra Bullock's Gravity had) and kinda takes everything as normal. They rarely touch upon the emotional pressures that Damon should have faced and made him look like a standard movie hero. Not realistic at all.

Rating: 6/10

Damon gets abandoned in Mars and I don't see no reaction or meltdown to it. He just cracks on as if it's normal.
Jeff Daniels realized Damon is alive and first thing he says is "he'll die of starvation", wtf?
And that disco music. Seriously they can't make a decent soundtrack for that movie? Kinda reduces a serious situation to a comic relief.
And that dust storms like the ones that lead to his abandonment never returns?
The climax where it's shown live on Times Square is so cinematic.

most importantly, Gravity. Mars is about 1/3rd of earth's gravity. Pretty sure you just can't walk and climb ladders like normal.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
The Martian

Could have been better. The movie lacks the drama and gravitas (which Sandra Bullock's Gravity had) and kinda takes everything as normal. They rarely touch upon the emotional pressures that Damon should have faced and made him look like a standard movie hero. Not realistic at all.

Rating: 6/10

Damon gets abandoned in Mars and I don't see no reaction or meltdown to it. He just cracks on as if it's normal.
Jeff Daniels realized Damon is alive and first thing he says is "he'll die of starvation", wtf?
And that disco music. Seriously they can't make a decent soundtrack for that movie? Kinda reduces a serious situation to a comic relief.
And that dust storms like the ones that lead to his abandonment never returns?
The climax where it's shown live on Times Square is so cinematic.

most importantly, Gravity. Mars is about 1/3rd of earth's gravity. Pretty sure you just can't walk and climb ladders like normal.
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I found his coolness and ability to get stuff done a breath of fresh air. Made the film more light hearted and charming. I feel you missed the point to be honest.

I feel if they made the film how you wanted it, the film would've been yet another space movie.
 
Andy_Cole said:
I found his coolness and ability to get stuff done a breath of fresh air. Made the film more light hearted and charming. I feel you missed the point to be honest.

I feel if they made the film how you wanted it, the film would've been yet another space movie.
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A good movie won't suspend reality for entertainment. I mean anyone human will get flustered in that situation. He wakes up abandoned, his potato farm blows up and it all gets the same reaction (or lack of). I just felt it was fake. Never really connected with the movie.
 
Parallels

This was to be a Sci-Fi TV series that got condensed into a movie. I'll warn you that the movie doesn't have an actual ending and like Firefly you are left with wanting for more, but still what's there is definitely worth a watch imo.

It's got a terrific plot about a mysterious building that 'jumps' between alternate realities. It's about the adventures of a brother/sister duo and their friend who get trapped and try to get back to our reality. Very interesting premise, decent acting and I wish they had done that show.

Recommended!
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Parallels

This was to be a Sci-Fi TV series that got condensed into a movie. I'll warn you that the movie doesn't have an actual ending and like Firefly you are left with wanting for more, but still what's there is definitely worth a watch imo.

It's got a terrific plot about a mysterious building that 'jumps' between alternate realities. It's about the adventures of a brother/sister duo and their friend who get trapped and try to get back to our reality. Very interesting premise, decent acting and I wish they had done that show.

Recommended!
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Yeah i liked it as well, reminded me of Sliders, pity Netflix didn't pick it up.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
A good movie won't suspend reality for entertainment. I mean anyone human will get flustered in that situation. He wakes up abandoned, his potato farm blows up and it all gets the same reaction (or lack of). I just felt it was fake. Never really connected with the movie.
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Fair enough. I don't disagree that it felt fake. I just didn't mind it.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Parallels

This was to be a Sci-Fi TV series that got condensed into a movie. I'll warn you that the movie doesn't have an actual ending and like Firefly you are left with wanting for more, but still what's there is definitely worth a watch imo.

It's got a terrific plot about a mysterious building that 'jumps' between alternate realities. It's about the adventures of a brother/sister duo and their friend who get trapped and try to get back to our reality. Very interesting premise, decent acting and I wish they had done that show.

Recommended!
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What was your theory about the ending? and you @christy87

I knew there'd be more of that Asian girl because she had to ask about people's identity when she was walking with Ronan. But I still find it odd why the director thought it was worth including. Plus, the guy in the elevator saying "Don't trust him!" before the Dad kills him - I wonder what he means. It seems as if it's built for a Parallels 2, but probably won't happen.
 
Beasts of No Nation

Terrific movie. Incredibly harrowing at times, with an excellent performance from the lead child actor. Elba's fantastic too. Superb, commanding villainous performance. It kind of reminded me of City of God a lot at first, but then got a lot, lot darker. Thought the first hour was probably stronger than the second, which occasionally felt a bit meandering, but the conclusion was good, with a little bit of hopefulness which was probably needed considering how dark much of the movie was.

9/10
 
Wibble said:
Even though you wouldn't have got most of the references or any of the relevance of the people involved in the ending? Personally I though it was the weakest of the three even having watched the first two and it would have been worse still without understanding how it all tied together.
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Yeah the last scene was perplexing but up until then it didn't really matter. It was still a masterfully crafted film. You probably just didn't understand it.
 
I know Star Wars has a cult following and all that, but it's funny to see it get rated so highly when Mad Max and The Martian are two big commercial films released this year and far superior.
 
Wibble said:
Lower standard? What standard? Why would you even watch it if you aren't a fan of the original trilogy as everyone who doesn't live under a rick knows it was designed to repeat what the original trilogy did so well and incidentally keeping fans happy. This is a film made specifically for Star Wars fans because the last three upset them so much. It modernised while retaining much that fans loved about the original trilogy. It is hard to see how they could have improved the film.

Other than making a completely different unrelated Sci Fi film.
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So it was only made for depressed Star Wars fans with extremely low expectations?

Films should be able to stand on their own two feet rather than trying to garner support from prequels, sequels and fan-desires.

As a film, it could have done a lot more. Like gone for a villain that wasn't such a pansy, or not spent 45 minutes with old fuddy duddy's turning everything into a caricature because "we've done this before" *wink*.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
So it was only made for depressed Star Wars fans with extremely low expectations?

Films should be able to stand on their own two feet rather than trying to garner support from prequels, sequels and fan-desires.

As a film, it could have done a lot more. Like gone for a villain that wasn't such a pansy, or not spent 45 minutes with old fuddy duddy's turning everything into a caricature because "we've done this before" *wink*.
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Of course it was for Star Wars fans. Who else would even be interested? And the use of the original characters was very well done and has now bridged the gap to the new series really well. It is a space opera so why would anyone expect otherwise? There are loads of other sci-fi films around if the original trilogy and this film aren't your cup of tea.
 
Wibble said:
Of course it was for Star Wars fans. Who else would even be interested? And the use of the original characters was very well done and has now bridged the gap to the new series really well. It is a space opera so why would anyone expect otherwise? There are loads of other sci-fi films around if the original trilogy and this film aren't your cup of tea.
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I would expect a well-rounded film with a well-written script every time I pay money to go the hall and watch something. And I found it lacking big-time in some areas it should have done better in irrespective of whether it was a prequel/sequel. It's an excuse IMO.

Anyway, I'm going to watch it again to form a full opinion on it but on first watch I found it lacking in some major areas which could have been easily avoided and the movie yet satisfied it's fan following.
 
Wibble said:
Didn't understand it?

Patronise much?
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That's such a dick argument.

He is essentially saying you are too dumb to appreciate a film. Which, even if true, would surely be a blight on the film itself if it alienates a whole section of viewers who don't understand it.
 
Gol123 said:
That's such a dick argument.

He is essentially saying you are too dumb to appreciate a film. Which, even if true, would surely be a blight on the film itself if it alienates a whole section of viewers who don't understand it.
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My first response was "feck off you patronising cnut" but I decided I probably shouldn't say that.
 
I find the praise of Mad Max baffling. Decent action sequences aside it had nothing to offer, one-dimensional cartoon characters, no real plot etc. Was a huge let down.
 
John_Jensen said:
I find the praise of Mad Max baffling. Decent action sequences aside it had nothing to offer, one-dimensional cartoon characters, no real plot etc. Was a huge let down.
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Mad Max is what it is and that is a visual spectacle. Sometimes, that's all you need. It's an experience when seen on the big screen and anyone that did see it on the big screen will probably agree that it looked absolutely gorgeous. Not sure how I would feel about it if I had seen it at home on a smaller screen though.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
The Martian

Could have been better. The movie lacks the drama and gravitas (which Sandra Bullock's Gravity had) and kinda takes everything as normal. They rarely touch upon the emotional pressures that Damon should have faced and made him look like a standard movie hero. Not realistic at all.

Rating: 6/10

Damon gets abandoned in Mars and I don't see no reaction or meltdown to it. He just cracks on as if it's normal.
Jeff Daniels realized Damon is alive and first thing he says is "he'll die of starvation", wtf?
And that disco music. Seriously they can't make a decent soundtrack for that movie? Kinda reduces a serious situation to a comic relief.
And that dust storms like the ones that lead to his abandonment never returns?
The climax where it's shown live on Times Square is so cinematic.

most importantly, Gravity. Mars is about 1/3rd of earth's gravity. Pretty sure you just can't walk and climb ladders like normal.
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7/10 for me.
 
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