Redcon 1 – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
A film can fail but still be worth watching. For me that’s Redcon-1 – a film very much the less of the sum of its parts that ultimately is undone by its scope being far greater than its budget. It has a few nice moments but all the way through you see quite quickly that whilst it wants to be 28 Weeks Later meets The Raid, it’s more like a Devil’s Playground meets The Silencer (Look ’em up folks). There’s talent on display here – Strange is very good at the action scenes- but the film can’t pull off its set pieces and scares as, at every moment, it just feels like there wasn’t enough money to make the scenes big or spectacular enough. So Redcon-1 is worth streaming for the effort and vision alone but sadly in truth little else works.

Best Bit: It’s scope

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (for effort)

If You Liked this Try: The Raid, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil Hobden

Phil Hobden is the former Film Editor & Writer for renowned martial arts focused COMBAT MAGAZINE in the UK. He is also a filmmaker in his own right, having produced two cult Independent action films in LEFT FOR DEAD and TEN DEAD MEN. He was the host for the award nominated Filmsploitation podcast for 4 years, currently co-hosts Ross And Phil Talk Movies and is a writer/editor for his own blog Phil’s Quick Capsule Review…

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009) – A Quick Capsule Review (Revisited)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Okay bias alert. I rate Bill Hicks as possibly the best comedian of the last 30 years. Bill Hicks is a modern day poet and a controversial genius all rolled into one and this innovative, interesting, simply first rate documentary is a must see for fans, converts or believers that America has given very little to the world. It’s clever, deletes deep into who Hicks was and leaves you with a huge appreciation of a true comic legend.

Best Bit:Bill’s Early Performances

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Fahrenheit 9/11, Lost in La Mancha, Super Size Me

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Rated: Marvel Cinematic Universe (up to Ant Man & The Wasp)

by Phil Hobden A Blog

RATED looks at EVERY Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film and gives a QuickReview as well as putting them in order of BEST to Iron Man 2.! Updated as and when a new Marvel (Studios) film is released…

(Note scores reflect my original IMDB ratings)

Best: Captain America Winter Solider

A cold war thriller with Robert Redford and a mini Avengers team up. Add in the always awesome Frank Grillo and a genuinely interesting script and you have Marvel’s strongest cinematic outing.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

2. Guardians Of The Galaxy

Massively far out of Marvel’s usual comfort zone, Guardian’s introduced spaceships, talking racoons and a giant tree person. Cracking script, expert action and a heap of fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

3. Iron Man 3

The Iron Man film that broke a lot of Marvel fans, Shane Black took the playbook and ripped it up. Twists, turns and a cute central relationships made this a different take on the norm and was all the better for it.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

4. Thor: Ragnarok

Well this was a bundle of fun. The previous Thor films have been okay but Ragnarok delivered a brilliant romp which dragged in The Hulk, a handful of memorable new characters (Korg!) and some great set pieces to end up being one of Marvel’s best films yet.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

5. Marvel’s The Avengers

All the groundwork paid off as Marvel delivered it’s first ever super hero team up. The Hulk was back (and done right this time), Hawkeye and Black Widow joined the team and director Joss Whedon delivered the goods.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

6. Spider-Man Homecoming

Funny, charming, with Marvels best villain and best Spiderman (yup sorry Andrew Garfield) Homecoming is a joy of a film that is by far the closest to what the comic book Peter Parker is.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

7. Avengers: Infinity War

Shocking, well paced and with one of Marvel’s greatest screen villains Avengers Infinity War ALMOST delivered on it’s considerable promise. Almost.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

8. Iron Man

The Film that started it all… Iron Man was a rock n roll action movie with an unlikely lead, an even more unlikely director and enough balls out moments to wow.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

9. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Loud, silly and funny as heck, Vol. 2 isn’t quite the tight film that it’s 2014 original is but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Add in an amazing cast (including Stallone, Hasselhoff and Russell) and you have another winner from Marvel…

★★★★★★★★★★

——

10. Ant-Man

Ant-Man is a heist movie. With Ants. And fights on toy trains. It’s crazy but it’s also full of charm, humour and fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

11. Black Panther

Black Panther takes a different approach to the usual Marvel film, yet falls into a lot of the same traps of relying a bit too much on visual effects at times. That said it’s one of Marvel’s most intimate stories and whilst not perfect is a really strong entry into the increasingly bigger MCU.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

12. Ant-Man & The Wasp

Ant-Man & The Wasp is GREAT fun. It’s also totally forgettable and delivers what is possibly Marvel’s weakest villain to date. Not bad by any stretch just off pace of the original.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

13. Doctor Strange

Off the big screen Doctor Strange looses a little but this visually stunning film shows that marvel are still interested in pushing the envelope as far as you can in mainstream blockbusters.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

14. Captain America: The First Avenger

Solid, fun and well done, whilst it has little rewatch appeal Captain America again took a different approach and gave us a couple of Marvel’s most enduring characters.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

15. Captain America: Civil War

It’s not bad. It just didn’t gel with me as much as it did others. Don’t get me wrong there’s a lot to like and again it plays with the expected formula, but ultimately i’m just not that keen to go back to it.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

16. Thor: The Dark World

I liked The Dark world MUCH more than others. Okay so it’s flawed for sure but it’s crazy fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

17. Thor

Thor was a sold film, tasked with the near impossible job of making a god fit in a world of men. It does it well but not one you’ll rewatch much.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

18. Avengers Age Of Ultron

Marvel’s first disappointment, Age Of Ultron was all show and little else. Too big, too dumb and too long.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

19. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

It has charm and the casting works well but ultimately The Incredible Hulk (whilst FAR better than the Ang Lee version) just doesn’t have enough to recommend it.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

Worst : Iron Man 2

The idea was fine but sadly most of the film misses. Even Mickey Rourke (yes one of the oddest Marvel villains ever) can’t save this.

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Batman Ninja (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Well Batman Ninja takes the rule book and throws it right out the door. Take Batman and his considerable rogues gallery and plant them back into Feudal Japan, throw in a sprinkling of traditional Anime trappings, some Mechas and a whole bundle of crazy and you get what is one of the most fun Batman films ever made. And that’s the thing – Batman films often lack the fun of Marvel movies but Batman Ninja delivers bright colours, impressive visuals and some insane ideas from start to end. In short Batman Ninja is a must for fans.

Best Bit: Mecha-Fights

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman: The Killing Joke

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Gremlins (1984) – A Hall of Fame Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Hall of Fame Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Gremlins is a stone cold classic for sure but unlike a lot of beloved 80’s films it truly holds up today. Okay so the technology has moved on and its setting is about as 80’s as you can get BUT it’s themes, hi-jinx and boldness helps this film still feel pretty timeless. The thing that makes gremlins really work is underneath its cute exterior hides a brilliantly dark mean street. Fathers trapped down chimneys, deadly stair lifts and lethal snow plows… it’s everything a Christmas movie should be and more. And your kids WILL like it. Essential.

Best Bit: The Bar

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Small Soldiers, Critters

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Phil’s 2019 Preview & Look Back At 2018’s Predictions…

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

Phil’s Quick look at what’s wetting his whistle for the upcoming year in films…

2018 once again delivered some great films but mostly it was the Indie movies that did made it. 2019 has the promise to be even more mixed with a bundle of reboots and Disney remakes… so here’s the films I’m most looking forward to in 2019. And a few that I’d be happy to miss.

The Must See’s

Most Excited: Toy Story 4
This could be a major bust but Pixar and Toy Story have always been a match made in heaven. Can this sit alongside one of the best trilogies ever made? I get the feeling it just might.

2. Hobbs & Shaw
The Rock. And The Statham. In a Fast & Furious Spin Off. If anything about that sentence doesn’t make you go ‘I’m in’ then you are probably dead already…

3. Star Wars: Episode IX
So the ball’s back to JJ to land the end of the Skywalker(less) trilogy. Whether he can or not will depend on just how he takes the curve balls Johnson delivered and brings them in to make this trilogy feel complete.

4. Captain Marvel
Marvel’s first female led superhero film could be something really special and judging by the trailer this is a must watch.

5. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
This could see Tarantino return to the form he’s lacked since the early days. The story, the setting, the cast… are all first rate. But this will all come down to whether the Hollywood darling can control his worst impulses. Let’s hope.

Bubbling Under: Avengers Infinity War Part 2 (Marvel delivers big as Phase 4 ends), IT: Chapter Two (Part One was amazing), Wonder Woman 1984 (the original was mostly excellent), Frozen 2 (come on!), Glass (Split was great and this could be something else), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Monsters! Thousands of ’em), Spider-Man: Far From Home (Marvel + Spiderman = HIT), Joker (I could be wrong here but this looks pretty interesting) , Jumanji 2 (Welcome To The Jungle was great fun), The Irishman (Hopefully it will make it this year!)

The Must Nots

(Just a reminder of what T6 has to live up to!)

Stinker Of The Year: Terminator 6
It pains me to say it but the Terminator films have done nothing since T2. Yup Cameron is back (as producer) and yup it’s reboot territory again but I just don’t see a world where the 6th Terminator film can get anywhere near the form of its classic siblings.

Also Dreading: The Lion King 2019 (the trailer looks like the’ve done a Psycho ’98 here), Pet Sematary (this doesn’t have an IT feel about it), Dumbo 2019 (I’d love to see it work but Burton’s not delivered in a long time), Pokemon Detective Pikachu (yup not interested), What Men Want (Remake of sorts of What Women Want… say no more), Aladdin 2019 (I’m not anti-Disney but this is yet another film that isn’t needed), X-Men: Dark Phoenix (The last X-Men movie was a total dog), John Wick: Chapter 3 (Part 2 was a bore), Alita: Battle Angel (Looks pretty bad), Men in Black Spin Off (The world doesn’t need another MIB film)

Last Year…

So how did I do last year?

This is the time of the year when I look back at my picks of the good, the bad and the ugly from 2018 and see how close I was (or as it often is the case, how far!)…

For best: I tipped Bohemian Rhapsody, Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity War, The Incredibles 2 & Black Panther as my most anticipated of 2018. And you know what all delivered one way or another. Which to be honest is a major first! Okay so Deadpool 2 and Infinity War would never be QUITE the films our mind’s had created.

As for the rest? Tomb Raider wasn’t great and neither was Ant Man & The Wasp. The Predator wasn’t great but it didn’t deserve the bashing it got, Mission Impossible 6 was epic (top 5) and The Happytime Murders again got a bashing that was (for the most part) pretty undeserved. The Purge: The First Purge ended up being the worst or the series so far and The Irishman never landed.

As for the Stinkers? Fifty Shades Freed ended up in second place behind Cloverfield Paradox, Solo – A Star Wars Story was okay (but little more), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom disappointed, Day of The Dead: Bloodline wasn’t amazing but passed the time, Ready Player One was actually really good, X-Men: Dark Phoenix & Scarface didn’t land, Oceans 8 was everything you knew it would be and a little less and Pacific Rim: Uprising was far better than I expected.

So here’s to 2018… see you again next year!

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Nativity 2 : Danger In the Manger – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Nativity 2 : Danger In the Manger is one to miss. Yup even if you liked the first outing (I was NOT a fan) there’s little to enjoy in this seriously bloated and unfunny sequel. In fact I offer up that with much tighter editing and a much shorter finale (god so much pointless singing) this film would have least had the fact it was short going for it but now, at just under two hours, it doesn’t even have that. My kid liked it but I feared even she was bored by the end. Watch one of the many better Christmas movies instead.

Best Bit: Tennant is the best thing here by far

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid

If You Liked this Try: Nativity, Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?, Nativity Rocks

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Krampus (2015) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Krampus is the dark horror comedy you need during the festive period. Yup for every family that’s ever argued or had in-laws over that, to be honest you just can’t stand, Krampus will take those moments and add a bucket load of weirdness to it. It’s hard to describe Krampus – it’s part Home Alone, part Gremlins. But whatever it is it’s a whole load of fun. OTT, crazy and pretty trippy – If you like your Christmas films with a dash of bite then this is for you.

Best Bit: The loft

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Better Watch Out, Gremlins, Rare Exports, Home Alone,

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Phil’s Best & Worst 2018 Films.. The Final Edition (31st December 2018)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

So this is my semi-regularly updated of the BEST and WORST of the films from 2018 (2018 Films), as well as the best films I missed from last year and, of course, the Phil’s Quick Capsule Review Sharknado Award.

All in my very humble opinion…

BEST Films Of 2018… So Far:

Coco
Mission Impossible: Fallout
I, Tonya
A Quiet Place
Mary Poppins Returns

Honourable Mentions: Mandy, My Generation, Lady Bird, Revenge, Mollys Game, Upgrade, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, You Were Never Really Here, Bumblebee, The Festival, Calibre, Avengers: Infinity War, Game Night, Black Panther, Ready Player One, Office Uprising, The Post, Bohemian Rhapsody

WORST Films Of 2018… So Far

The Cloverfield Paradox
Fifty Shaded Freed
Annihilation
A Wrinkle In Time
Mile 22

Dis-Honourable Mentions: Gotti, The Spy Who Dumped Me,Red Sparrow, The Commuter, The Humanity Bureau, Renegades, Peter Rabbit, Ocean’s 8, Death Wish, Hellraiser: Judgement, Day Of The Dead : Bloodline, Godzilla: Planet Of The Monsters Part 1, Extinction, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Patient Zero, Isle Of Dogs, Tremors: A Cold Day In Hell, All The Money In The World, The First Purge, The Ballard Of Buster Scruggs, Redcon-1

**The 2018 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:**

The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time

The 2018 Films I just couldn’t Finish…

Once Upon a Time in Venice

Great Films Of 2017 That I saw In 2018:

The Disaster Artist, The Babysitter, Mayhem, Icarus, The Greatest Showman, The Big Sick, LA 92, Better Watch Out

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk

Those We Lost… 2018 In Memoriam

by Phil Hobden Year In Review

In memoriam. 2018 continued deaths relentless march through the great and good of Hollywood. Here’s a selection of those who passed in 2018 whose deaths will be felt within them film library of Phil’s Quick Capsule Review…

(Apologies for any one we have missed out)

Nicolas Roeg

William Goldman

Stan Lee

John Mahoney

Burt Reynolds

Fenella Fielding

David Ogden Stiers

Emma Chambers

Frank Doubleday

James Karen

R Lee Ermey

Margot Kidder

Aretha Franklin

Connie Sawyer

Reg E. Cathey

Mickey Jones

Steven Bochco

Verne Troyer

Milos Forman

Leslie Grantham

Scott Wilson

Rest In Peace and may your considerable legacy’s live on.

Phil Hobden

http://www.philhobden.co.uk