Monday, 27 March 2023

Why I Think Jackie Chan Is The Greatest Action Hero Of All Time

Jackie Chan, the Chinese martial artist and actor, is often referred to as the greatest action hero of all time. He has won the hearts of millions of fans across the world with his breathtaking stunts, incredible athleticism, and unique style of humor. There are several reasons why Jackie Chan has earned this title, which I will explore in detail in this essay.

Firstly, Jackie Chan's dedication to his craft and his commitment to improving himself as a performer is unmatched. He has spent years honing his skills in martial arts, gymnastics, and other physical disciplines to become the unparalleled action star he is today. He has also worked tirelessly to perfect his comedic timing and acting abilities, creating a unique blend of comedy and martial arts that is uniquely his own.

Secondly, Jackie Chan's stunts are legendary. He often performs his own stunts, which is a rarity in the film industry, and he has been injured several times while filming. However, he has never let that stop him from pushing the limits of what is possible in action movies. His stunts are not only awe-inspiring, but they also serve to convey a sense of danger and excitement that is often missing from other action films.

Thirdly, Jackie Chan's personality and charisma are also major factors in his appeal. He is known for his warmth, humor, and humility, and he has always been appreciative of his fans. He has also been an ambassador for Chinese culture, introducing millions of people around the world to the beauty and richness of Chinese art and history.

Finally, Jackie Chan's impact on the film industry cannot be overstated. He has starred in over 150 movies, and his influence can be seen in countless action films that followed in his wake. He has also been recognized with countless awards and accolades, including an Honorary Academy Award in 2016, which recognized his lifetime of achievement in the film industry.

In conclusion, Jackie Chan is the greatest action hero of all time for a number of reasons. His dedication to his craft, his incredible stunts, his charming personality, and his impact on the film industry all contribute to this title. He has inspired millions of fans around the world, and his legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.

Start your journey into Jackie Chan by watching his films! The really good ones start in the early 1980s - https://amzn.to/3TUMfmY

Sunday, 26 March 2023

REVIEW: Kill Her Goats (2023) - Starring Kane Hodder, Arielle Raycene and Ellie Gonsalves

Review by Jon Donnis
I grew up in the days of the 1980s slasher film, most of these types of films were pretty straightforward, scantily clad, ridiculously attractive women, getting picked off by a murderous killer one by one in inventive manners. That's it. And it was fun because these types of film never took themselves too seriously. Unfortunately, such films are rare in the 2020s, but out of nowhere comes Kill Her Goats, a strangely titled slasher that could have been made in the 1980s. Even better the murderous killer is played by Kane Hodder, yes THAT Kane Hodder, one of the biggest stars of the 80s, better known as portraying Jason Vorhees. Well now he has a big goat head instead of a hockey mask.


The film starts off with the murder of a couple of campers by "Goatface", he kills them using huge hedge trimmers, so plenty of blood and lots of bare skin.

We then get a reversal of time effect and an "earlier that day" note on screen. We get to meet Reese (Monica Sims) and Missy (Ellie Gonsalvever) who are gossiping about their friend Audra (Arielle Raycene) who has just come to town. Queue another "earlier that day".....


For the next 40 minutes, the film is basically attractive women on the beach and then in the Tupp House that the bloke killed in the opening scene had bought his daughter Audra. The house is cursed, and at the start of the film there is some storytelling about the history of the house going all the way back to the 17th century and the Tupp family.

Once we get towards the one-hour mark, things start to pick up again, as Goatface finally starts appearing again, and seemingly he also has the ability to invade people's nightmares?

Once Goatface is in the house, with his hedge trimmers which now have lit sparklers on for some reason, things start to get good again. Lots of near naked women running about and getting killed on proper 80s slasher style.


The Good
A slasher film truly in the style of the classics of the 1980s. Also worth mentioning is that there is no CGI in this film, all the effects are "Practical FX", so clever makeup basically. The women in the film are all stunning, and Kane Hodder truly is the king of the slasher film.

There are REAL goats in the film, that are super cute.

The bloopers at the end are hilarious!

The Bad
At about 90 minutes the film feels a little long. It could easily have a run time of 80 minutes, cut some of the bland stuff in the middle featuring the girls in the house and it would make no difference to the film.

Overall
I am a fan of the 80s style slasher. I am a fan of attractive blonde Playboy pin ups. I am a fan of jump scares. And this film has it all.

Ok the film is too long and there is little plot and a bit too much filler, but this is not a film to be taken seriously, it has plenty of light-hearted moments, as well as inventive kills.
For an independent film with 100% practical FX, I was impressed.

I score Kill Her Goats a slasherific 8/10


Full Release coming at the end of April.

Saturday, 25 March 2023

REVIEW: The Siege (2023) - Starring Daniel Stisen, Yennis Cheung and Lauren Okadigbo

Review by Jon Donnis
Walker (Daniel Stisen), an international assassin, gets exposed during a mission and is sent to "Reassignment Center 42" to assume a new identity, something he has seemingly done many times before. I am guessing that his identity gets blown quiet often. While staying at the facility, a vicious assault team led by Keates (Samantha Schnitzler), raids the compound in search of a missing person, Juliet (Yennis Cheung) as well as her bodyguard/protector Elda (Lauren Okadigbo), as ordered by their boss. In order to make it through the night, after initially deciding he didn't want to get involved Walker reluctantly teams up with Elda, also a skilled hitwoman, and Juliet.


At about 85 minutes, this is the perfect run time for an action film. Despite this being a relatively low budget film, it is chock full of action scenes and stunts, I was pleasantly surprised, as all the scenes were well shot, and came across believable, even if everyone seemed to have an endless amount of bullets at times.


The film moves along at a decent pace, and although it is far from original, considering the budget, I thought they did a good job. There were no recognisable faces in the cast, which is a shame as it might make it harder to sell the film. Why do you think Bruce Willis gets shoe horned into small parts in so many films!

If this film does well, I could imagine they will knock out some sequels. The Walker character looks great, and is easy to get behind.


The Good
Perfect run time, non stop action, and some light hearted moments spread throughout the film which raised a smile out of this old cynic.

The Bad
The plot is lacking and there are no real back stories to some of the characters which made them hard to care about at times.

Overall
An 85-minute action film, that ticks most of the boxes for me. Is it a classic? No. Could it spawn some more low budget action films? Yes.

I score The Siege a very respectable 7.5/10

At Cinemas now and on digital at https://apple.co/40fAD0c and https://amzn.to/3K6dCqQ


Friday, 24 March 2023

TRAILER: Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves - Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head and Hugh Grant

This is a film I have been looking forward to for a while, an awesome cast, including the excellent Chris Pine, this is definitely one I will be checking out.

Ahead of the London premiere this evening at Cineworld, Leicester Square, watch the final trailer for DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOUR AMONG THIEVES!

IN UK & IRISH CINEMAS ON 31 MARCH, 2023

SYNOPSIS:
A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.  Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

Paramount Pictures Presents In Association with eOne, A Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley Film

Cast:
Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head and Hugh Grant

Directed by:
Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley

Thursday, 23 March 2023

COMPETITION: Enter for a chance to win BABYLON on 4K Ultra HD™



Available to Download & Keep now and on DVD, Blu-ray™ & 4K Ultra HD™ from 3rd April. - https://amzn.to/3ZavPYk

Writer/director Damien Chazelle’s glittering tale of Hollywood glamour and excess BABYLON is available to Download & Keep now and on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ SteelBook®, 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD, from the 3rd April from Paramount Home Entertainment. To celebrate, we’re giving you a chance to win a copy on 4K Ultra HD™!

Fans who buy the film on Digital*, 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ SteelBook®, 4K Ultra HD™ or Blu-ray™, will have access to over 40 minutes of behind-the-scenes interviews and deleted scenes to further illuminate how the cinematic tour-de-force was brought to life.

Bonus content is detailed below:
A Panoramic Canvas Called Babylon — The cast and crew discuss the inspiration and motivation behind the original story and development of this epic, 15 years in the making.
The Costumes of Babylon — Discover how costume design was fundamental to character development and the challenges that went into creating over 7,000 costumes for the film.
Scoring Babylon — Take a peek into Justin Hurwitz's musical process to understand the artistry behind composing an iconic score that further elevates the film.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes

Also available, BABYLON the original motion picture soundtrack is released by Mercury Classics Soundtrack & Score. Available digitally now and on CD & Vinyl on April 14th. https://amzn.to/42zIrLF

BABYLON follows an ambitious cast of characters -- The Silent Film Superstar (Brad Pitt), the Young Starlet (Margot Robbie), the Production Executive (Diego Calva), the Musical Sensation (Jovan Adepo) and the Alluring Powerhouse Performer (Li Jun Li) -- who are striving to stay on top of the raucous, 1920s Hollywood scene and maintain their relevance at a time when the industry is moving on to the next best thing.

Enter now for a chance to win.

Babylon is available to Download & Keep now and on DVD, Blu-ray™ & 4K Ultra HD™ from 3rd April.

Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3ZavPYk

Enter now for a chance to win.

What is the name of the character play by Brad Pitt in Babylon?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 10-04-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

REVIEW: Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) - Starring Craig David Dowsett, Chris Cordell and Nikolai Leon


Review by Jon Donnis
I heard about this film a while back and was intrigued. With the first Winnie the Pooh book having gone into public domain in the US on 1 January 2022, it means that the characters are no longer under strict ownership, so anyone can use them. So what better way to use such beloved children's characters than to have them as evil murderous monsters!


Years ago, a young Christopher Robin made friends with a group of anthropomorphic creatures in the Hundred Acre Wood, including Winnie-the-Pooh (Craig David Dowsett), Piglet (Chris Cordell), Eeyore, Rabbit, and Owl. When Christopher went to college, he stopped visiting, leaving his animal friends to fend for themselves. With winter approaching, and without Christopher's guidance, the animals were unable to find food and resorted to extreme measures, killing and eating Eeyore. This traumatic event caused the group to develop a deep hatred for humanity and Christopher for abandoning them. They made a pact to abandon their humanity and return to their feral instincts, vowing never to speak again.


Years later, Christopher (Nikolai Leon) and his girlfriend/wife (not sure which), Mary (Paula Coiz), return to the Hundred Acre Wood to reunite with his old friends, Christopher has told Mary about his childhood friends, but she just believes them to be imagined. However, they find the place in a desolate state. Despite Mary's warnings to leave, Christopher continues to investigate and is attacked by an adult sized Piglet, who strangles Mary to death with a chain. Pooh and Piglet then drag Christopher back into the woods.


Later, a group of university students, Maria (Maria Taylor), Jess (Natasha Rose Mills), Alice (Amber Doig-Thorne), Zoe (Danielle Ronald), and Lara (Natasha Tosini), rent a cabin in the Hundred Acre Wood at the suggestion of Maria's therapist. Tina, one of Maria's friends, gets lost on the way to the cabin and is chased by Pooh into an abandoned factory, where he kills her with a woodchipper. Meanwhile, Christopher is being held prisoner by Pooh in his treehouse, where he s brutally whipped with Eeyore's tail. Christopher sees Mary's corpse in the corner of the room, and Pooh showers him with her blood.


As you can tell this is not your classic Christopher Robin and Pooh tale. Made on a budget of just £100,000 and shot in just 10 days, this is an interesting little horror film.

This is a straight forward horror film, not a comedy. It reminded me in parts of the Friday the 13th films, in the way that you have young people being picked off by a seemingly unstoppable killer.

There is also some nice animation to tell some parts of the story, this is a nice touch that not only saves them a lot of money, but gives the film an extra creepy feel.


The Good
Pooh is the main killer in this film, and he gets to perform some imaginative kills, which is what you want. Despite the low budget, the filmmakers have done a good job with the set pieces, the visual effects and the general atmosphere of the film, it can be a bit dark at times, but that is understandable, as is an easy way to cover up some of the budgetary restraints.

Nikolai Leon is convincing as the adult Christopher Robin, and they left enough open at the end for a sequel.

I also think it is worth mentioning how refreshing it is to hear some regional accents in a film, I am not sure how ad libbed the film is, but some of the dialog came across as very real.

With a run time of about 82 minutes, it is the perfect length.

The Bad
As mentioned, the film is a little dark at times, and it is hard to see what is going on. It is pretty obvious that Piglet and Pooh are just men in suits with masks on, but there is an effort to make them look somewhat realistic, but with the budget being what it is, it is obviously hard to pull that off.

Overall
I thought this was a decent little horror film, and when you consider the subject matter, and the budget, I thought they did an excellent job, pulling off a good little horror film. I am actually quite interested in if they do a sequel and if so I hope they have a larger budget.

I enjoyed this film. I like a good horror, this is British with a British cast, and should be applauded for doing a good job.

I score Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey a solid 7.5/10

Out now in Cinemas.

Pre-order on Home Entertainment or watch on Prime at https://amzn.to/3mZbckz

COMPETITION: WIN BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM ON BLU-RAY™



BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD 

FROM 27th MARCH, AND ON DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FROM 28th MARCH

To celebrate its release, we're giving three lucky winners a copy of the latest DC Animated Movie, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham on Blu-Ray™!


Synopsis

Batman’s rational mind and unparalleled fighting skills are put to the ultimate test when an ancient force threatens his world and everyone he holds dear. Batman finds himself up against Lovecraftian supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham as he’s aided and confronted along the way by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including Green Arrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Two-Face, James Gordon and more… 

David Giuntoli (Grimm, A Million Little Things) reprises his Batman: Soul of the Dragon role as the voice of the Dark Knight in this all-new 1920s-based DC Elseworlds tale. Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Uncharted) makes her DC animated debut as Kai Li Cain. Elevating the action and drama are DC animation veterans Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Insatiable) as Oliver Queen, Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul) as Harvey Dent, John DiMaggio (Futurama, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire) as James Gordon, and David Dastmalchian (Dune, The Suicide Squad, Ant-Man) as Grendon. Sam Liu (The Death and Return of Superman) fills the dual role of producer and co-director of Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham, working closely with co-director Christopher Berkeley (Young Justice) and screenwriter Jase Ricci (Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse). Producers are Jim Krieg (Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) and Kimberly S. Moreau (Legion of Super-Heroes). Executive Producer is Michael Uslan. Sam Register is Executive Producer.

Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is set for release on Blu-ray™ and DVD on 27th March 2023 and on Digital Download on 28th March 2023.

Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3yR3r31

For your chance to win a copy of Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham on Blu-ray™, simply answer the following question:

    Which voice actor plays Batman in Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham? ­

    1. Christopher Gorham

    2. David Guintoli

    3. Patrick Fabian

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 03-04-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Monday, 20 March 2023

REVIEW: Dead Bride (2023) - Starring Jennifer Mischiati and Christoph HĂĽlsen

Review by Jon Donnis
Dead Bride is a new "spine-tingling supernatural horror" from Italian writer-director Francesco Picone.


Alyson (Jennifer Mischiati) inherits her childhood home after the suicide death of her estranged father, who had given her up for adoption at the age of 9. Alyson and her husband, Richard (Christoph HĂĽlsen), along with their infant child, want a fresh start, so they decide to move into the inherited house where she grew up. Now, why you would want a fresh start in your childhood home is a question for another day, but as soon as they move in, things start to go wrong. Alyson is haunted by memories of an unhappy childhood; she was abused by her mother, who had mental health issues and ended up in an asylum, which was the main cause of her being given up for adoption. So when Richard goes away on a work trip, strange things start to happen. Alyson decides to explore the old house and starts to see ghosts not long after she stops taking her medicine.


Eventually, a priest (Sean James Sutton) is called to the house to exorcise the demons. Despite Alyson being an atheist, she goes along with it. Before you know it, the child has been taken, and a psychic medium (Michael Segal) is called who reveals that the house is haunted by a pregnant bride who was murdered. This spirit has called upon a demon called Asmodeus (a prince of demons and hell) who has granted the wish of the murdered bride to return from the dead, and that is when all hell breaks loose.


This is a pretty straightforward supernatural horror film that ticks all the boxes: creepy music, jump scares, possessions, and so on. At bang on 80 minutes, it hits the magical runtime for a horror film.

Jennifer Mischiati puts in a strong performance as Alyson and is convincing in her role as a haunted woman with mommy issues.

The film is very atmospheric, the music is just about right, and it helps bring up the tension. The jump scares are well-timed and not overused, and the ending is decent if a bit predictable.


The Good
Very well filmed, everything looks great. A simple and straightforward plot that is easy to follow. Strong performance by Jennifer Mischiati. And some decent jump scares which seem rare in horror films these days.

The Bad
Dodgy dubbing of some of the characters does stick out a bit, but doesn't spoil the film.

Overall
Sometimes you just want a simple horror film, with ghosts, possessions and jump scares, and Dead Bride delivers on all three.

I enjoyed the film, a perfect run time, easy to watch.

I score Dead Bride a solid 8.5/10

On UK digital on 20 March 2023, courtesy of Trinity Creative.


COMPETITION: Win Women Of Twilight (Vintage Classics) Blu-ray


Women Of Twilight (Vintage Classics) on Blu-ray out on 27th March 2023

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis
A stunning new 4K restoration of the 1952 film directed by Gordon Parry. Vivianne is a young woman ostracised when her boyfriend is arrested for murder, and is forced to rent a room in a decrepit boarding house for unmarried mothers ran by "Nellie" Alistair, a ruthless woman with sinister motives, who takes pleasure exploiting her vulnerable tenants. 

Extras: 

Melanie Williams on Women of Twilight, From Stage to Screen: 

Interview with Marc David Jacobs, Stills gallery

Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3JPoOIe

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who directs Women Of Twilight?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 03-04-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist on Blu-ray


Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist on Blu-ray out on 27th March 2023

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis
Six months after millions of people disappeared in the Rapture, the world is just beginning to recover. So when a so-called expert claims that a second wave of vanishings is imminent, news anchor Cameron Buck sets out to disprove her theory.

On a parallel journey, Ray tries to convince his daughter that his wife's disappearance was, in fact, the rapture. In a world where Biblical truth is censored and vilified, he's desperate for answers. As their paths begin to converge. Buck soon realizes that the story is much bigger than he could have imagined. They are indeed living in the end times prophesied in the Bible and facing the rise to power of the evilest and most dangerous human being in history…The Antichrist.

Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3JUzoOk

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who directs Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 03-04-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Martin Limited Edition 4K UHD & Blu-ray


Martin Limited Edition 4K UHD & Blu-ray out on 27th March 2023

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on 4K UHD to give away.

Synopsis

From the horror maestro himself, George A. Romero comes the highly anticipated, long-awaited release of Martin Limited Edition Box Set. Second Sight present the film in a brand-new 4K scan, painstakingly restored from a 35mm dupe negative, supervised and approved by legendary director of photography Michael Gornick.

Unavailable for many years, this rarely seen, wickedly original vampire thriller with bite gets the release it deserves with an all-singing, all-dancing release from experts in the field, in three versions: Limited Edition UHD 4K/Blu-ray Box set and Standard Edition 4K UHD and Standard Edition Blu-ray –  all of which come packed full of fantastic special features.

Alongside side the newly restored film, the bonus features include audio commentaries galore from George A Romero, John Amplas, Tom Savini, Richard P Rubinstein, Michael Gornick and Donald Rubinstein, plus new commentaries by Travis Crawford and Kat Ellinger. There’s a new feature-length documentary Taste the Blood of Martin and a new interview with composer Donald Rubinstein plus a short film by Tony Buba and much, much more.

Martin Limited Edition 4KUHD/Blu-ray Box set is presented in a rigid slipcase with original classic artwork, complete with a 108-page book with new essays and the original soundtrack CD by Donald Rubinstein.

Martin – brilliantly played by John Amplas (Dawn of the Dead) in his feature film debut – is a troubled young man who believes he’s a vampire. When he moves away to a small Pennsylvania town to live with his elderly, religious cousin, Cuda (Lincoln Maazel – The Amusement Park), he falls for lonely housewife Abbie Santini (Elyane Nadeau). Desperate to curb his overwhelming craving for human blood and the brutal lengths he goes to sate his thirst… Martin endeavours to live a normal life. But the hostile Cuda becomes convinced that the young man is actually Nosferatu...

The film also stars Romero’s wife Christine Forrest (Dawn of the Dead, Creepshow) alongside Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, From Dusk Till Dawn) the special effects master, who worked alongside the director in the first of their many collaborations.

Sink your teeth into Martin, the wickedly gruesome, cleverly wry masterwork from the legendary filmmaker whose work never fails to astound in this highly anticipated, must-have collector’s edition.

Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/42o4DZa

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who directs Martin?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 03-04-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Sunday, 19 March 2023

REVIEW: Righteous Thieves (2023) - Starring Cam Gigandet, Jaina Lee Ortiz and Lisa Vidal

Review by Jon Donnis
I love me a good heist film, but recently ones that have been released have been rather lacking, so upon notice of a new heist film being released, I found myself being cautiously optimistic.


Annabel (played by Lisa Vidal) leads a covert group dedicated to retrieving priceless artworks, she gathers a team of unconventional art thieves to recover stolen Monet, Picasso, Degas, and Van Gogh pieces that were taken by Nazis during World War II and are now owned by neo-Nazi billionaire oligarch Otto Huizen (played by Brian Cousins). As the heist draws near, the team's loyalties are put to the test when they discover the true motivation behind Annabel's quest to find these lost treasures.


Now usually I would go into more detail about the story, but really folks the above is all you need to know. 


I am a big fan of Jaina Lee Ortiz who plays one of crew of thieves in this called Lucille, she is the hacker of the story. And sadly, she is probably the only interesting character in the whole film. You see, you need two main elements for a good heist film, the first one being "smarts", in other words the heist needs to be clever, there needs to be twists and turns, back up plans to the back-up plans, things that happen off camera which you only find out about later, sadly this film has none of that. There is simply no clever element to the "Righteous Thieves". The second thing a good heist film needs is interesting and likeable characters. And with the exception of the Lucille character, everyone else is just really generic. It is a tick box cast. And without these two elements the film ends up being rather un-engaging. Don't get me wrong, I like the set up, I like the story as a whole, it is just so poorly executed, with such a dull cast and dull writing, that you will end up either turning the film off, or getting distracted on your phone.


The Good
It is always great to see Jaina Lee Ortiz on your screens, she is an excellent actress, currently most well-known for appearing in Station 19. She deserves better than this.

The general set up to the heist is decent, I like the plot, there is a good film to be made from that.

The Bad
Dull, uninspiring and unlikeable characters. No twists and turns, nothing clever about the thieves. Just an average film.

Overall
I found myself really disappointed with this film, at 88 minutes it is almost got the perfect run time, yet it felt so much longer.

A good plot idea, spoiled by a low budget and terrible writing.

I sadly score Righteous Thieves a 3/10. 

Out on Apple TV - https://apple.co/40kwzLK

NEWS: 'Colonials' the action-packed Sci-Fi opus gets UK debut 17 April 2023

Get ready for some epic space action with Colonials. the spectacular Sci-Fi opus from directors Andrew Balek (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) and Joe Bland (Ellipse). Can colonists from Mars save the galaxy from human extinction in this action-packed, interstellar feature? The film gets its UK premiere on 17 April 2023 courtesy of Reel 2 Reel Films.

A space explorer travelling from Mars, Silas (Greg Kriek – Black Mirror, Maze Runner: The Death Cure), embarks on a reconnaissance mission to Earth. which lies in ruin, to figure out what happened to the 'humans of old'.

But before he can reach his destination, his squad is intercepted by the Exiles, a dangerously advanced and perilously evil Moon-based civilisation, who destroys their ship.

Separated from his squadron, Silas crash-lands alone on Earth. But, having lost his memory in the accident, he must figure out who he is and his purpose on Earth before the Exiles find and destroy him...

What ensues is a high-octane fight for humanity set in an awe-inspiring dystopian future. With striking musical compositions, electrifying visuals, exhilarating battles and a rip-roaring plot that will have audiences on the edge of their seats – this atmospheric actioner promises thrills aplenty.

Join the Colonials, for an interplanetary adventure like no other.

Saturday, 18 March 2023

REVIEW: Supercell (2023) - Starring Skeet Ulrich, Anne Heche, Daniel Diemer, Jordan Kristine SeamĂłn and Alec Baldwin.

Review by Jon Donnis
I wanted to check out Supercell mainly because it was one of the last films that Anne Heche starred in before her untimely death. And despite the fact the god awful Alec Baldwin also stars, I thought I would check it out regardless.

West Texas and we start by watching a young boy's father during a dangerous storm chase in West Texas, of course for this film to mean anything, the father has to die. He does indeed die when he gets caught up in a tornado.


We then jump 10 years into the future and Anne Heche's plays Dr. Quinn Brody, the widow of the aforementioned killed father. Her son William Brody (Daniel Diemer) is now grown up and wants to be like his dad. And his ultimate dream is to chase and witness a great storm, as well as to better understand the motivations of his father.

Unfortunately Alec Baldwin is also in this film, luckily he doesn't appear in the first 30 minutes, but he is in the rest, he plays a stuck up owner of a tour company, his name is Zane Rogers. He is in the business of storm chasing for the money.


Eventually a load of people chase a storm, its gets bad, and to be honest I lost interest in this film long ago.

It is truly one of the dullest films I have ever watched in my life. Only the last 15 minutes or so have any kind of interesting storm action. Twister, this is not.
Alec Baldwin is as vile on screen as he is in real life, at least he never killed anyone making this film.

The characters are all uninteresting, the story is ok, but the low budget means that everything is crappy CGI and green screen.

Everything is predictable, the dialog could have been written by a first year student at high school.


The Good
Alec Baldwins character gets killed, so you can kind of enjoy that, although he does get a nice moment to scream just as the tornado takes him away.

The general story idea is half decent.

The Bad
The writing, the acting, the directing, the visual effects, and the film is WAY too long at about 95 minutes. This film should be no longer than 75-80 minutes, and even that would still be a slog to watch.

Overall
The worst film of 2023 by far. I score Supercell a 2/10

Avoid. Do not waste a moment of your time on this trash.

If however you have kidnapped a terrorist and want to torture him, you can get the film at Apple TV - https://apple.co/3YWkI5w