Frozen (2013) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

Frozen (2013) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
It’s been a while since I properly enjoyed a Disney movie, even a Pixar film.  So I was more than pleasantly surprised just how good Frozen was.  Catchy songs, great characters, amazing animation and best of all a heart and soul that even brought a tear to this old grump!  Oh and it managed to entertain my 3 year old daughter from start to finish and not a lot of films can say THAT.

Best Bit: Olaf’s song!

Rent, Borrow, Buy, Stream: Buy

If you liked this try: Toy Story 3,  Toy Story,  Up

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Good Boys (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Good Boys (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
An ‘R’ rated teen comedy, Good Boys has received a fair share of mixed reviews and I can kinda see why.  Yup it’s funny, yup its crude and yup at times it’s even pretty charming. But also it’s lowest common denominator humour and for sure in a post #metoo world it may not be the best timed release.  But in the same way that American Pie pushed boundaries in the 90’s Good Boys does here and oddly for the most part its gender politics are far more interesting than some may give it credit for.  Best bet here is don’t do a Kermode… watch it and make up your own mind.

Best Bit: An-al beads?

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Superbad, American Pie, Booksmart 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Go (1999) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Go (1999) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Doug Liman’s follow up to the cult Swingers is a fun ride with its sharp script and charming central performances (Holmes and Polly especially shine).  It’s glittery, flashy, and fast-paced – an entertaining, clever black comedy that owes more than a passing nod to Tarantino and his early films whilst putting enough of an original spin to stand out.   Well worth revisiting!

Best Bit: Dinner

Worth Revisiting? Yes

If You Liked this Try: Swingers, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Pulp Fiction 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Episode 1) (2019) – A Quick Capsule TV Review

Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Episode 1) (2019) – A Quick Capsule TV Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Star Wars: The Mandalorian is the first ever live action Star Wars TV series and, based on episode one, this is looking like a most worthy entry to the legendary film franchise.  Every bit a space western, this made for Disney+ picks up after the events of Return Of The Jedi and the fall of the Galactic Empire and focused on the titular Mandalorian, played by Narco’s Pedro Pascal in true Judge Dredd style… never taking his helmet off.  Episode 1 is a hoot – cool new space ships, classic franchise nods, an epic shoot out, Carl freakin’ Weathers and an ending that may play into the upcoming Rise of Skywalker.  A long way to go for sure but based on Episode 1 Star Wars: The Mandalorian could be pretty special.

Best Bit: The shoot out

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (via Disney+)

If You Liked this Try: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: Resistance 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Eighth Grade (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Eighth Grade (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Eighth Grade is a hard watch.  It’s uncomfortable, real and disarming.  It’s also pretty darn good.  In fact Eighth Grade probably nails Coming Of Age for the millennial generation better than any film has to date.  With a super honest and believable performance by Elsie Fisher at its heart it makes you feel every rejection, every let down and every emotion.  It will probably resinate just as much for parents seeing this from the outside.  So not an easy watch but one that is well worth it.

Best Bit: Graduation

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Booksmart, Stand By Me, Ladybird

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Death Wish (2018) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

Death Wish (2018) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
It goes without saying that this remake of Charles Bronson starring Death Wish is inferior in every-way to the original.  And that’s saying something because whilst the original has a raw charm it’s fair from perfect.  The issue here is the film – from it’s direction by Eli Roth, it’s script by Joe Carnahan, to its cast – it just feels flat.  Willis in fact looks bored for the most part and for a sub two hour film it takes forever to get going. It’s not bad but there are so many better films you can watch and so many better revenge films.

Best Bit: The gunshop payoff

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Taken, Death Wish (1974), Oldboy

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Wolf Of Wall Street (2014) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

The Wolf Of Wall Street (2014) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Wolf Of Wall Street is a perfect partner of Goodfellas and Casino – a trilogy about greed, crime and excess. And whilst it doesn’t quite hit the heights of those classic Scorsese films, Wolf is probably one of the best movies the director has made in over a decade.  But for as good as the direction and craft is, its the cast that sell this film.  Margot Robbie debuts and makes an immediate impression, DiCaprio delivers a career best performance and Johnna Hill steels almost every scene he’s in.  The film is uncomfortable watching, as horrible people do horrible things not always getting the comeuppance they deserve but rather than glamorising this, Scorsese manages to reflects the true life story of the thousand of Wolf’s on the hundred’s of Wall Streets around the world. One of the best movies of this decade and gets better with each repeated watch.

Best Bit: Ludes.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Goodfellas, The Big Short, Casino, Boiler Room 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Hall of Fame

 

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Stuber (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Stuber (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Stuber has a nice central idea – a temporally blinded cop being driven by an Uber driver called Stu whilst investigating a case – but be it the poor chemistry between the two leads or the pretty pedestrian script, the film fails to deliver.  Even the usually reliable Kumail Nanjiani seems to be phoning it in and Dave Bautista never seems that comfortable with the role.  It has a few nice moments and rustled up a couple or laughs but overall in a year packed with some pretty entertaining films, Stuber just doesn’t grab you. Shame.

Best Bit: The first fight

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Collateral, Let’s Be Cops, 48 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Immersive Wolf of Wall Street – A Quick Capsule Theatre Review

Immersive Wolf of Wall Street – A Quick Capsule Theatre Review

by Phil Hobden Local Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
So let’s be honest – is this the most polished, high budgeted, slick theatre show you can see in London? Hell no. But does it have a super enthusiastic cast, some cracking scenes and a whole load of FUN interaction and silliness? Yup. And for that I both commend and, ultimately, recommend this show. One tip – if you’ve never seen the film or like my oft partner in crime Ross think it’s one of the most disgusting and pointless things ever – steer clear for this is excess, OTT, in your face immersive Wolf as you’d expect and , I guess for me, hope. Yup it has issues – it’s a bit disjointed, not all the cast are firing to the same level and we certainly missed a few bits as we branched off into two separate groups. But considering some of the less than favourable reviews I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Best Bit: Our first chat with Danny, Jordon & Team in the club house

Attend, Avoid: Attend

If You Liked this Try: Secret Cinema, The Immersive Great Gatsby

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Jurassic Park (1993) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Jurassic Park (1993) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Jurassic Park was made almost 25 years ago and it still, for the most park, feels as fresh as if it was released yesterday.   Even the CGI, which was at the forefront all those years ago, still mostly holds up and the combination of practical and digital work means that the dinosaurs still feel real.  Its odd that Jurassic Park has never been topped by any of its sequels – in quality or FX – and Spielberg’s less is more approach (see Jaws) means that the money shots are really something to savour.  It’s also that for all the magic on screen Spielberg puts relatable humans at the film core.  It’s a stunning film and demands a rewatch.

Best Bit: T-Rex Attacks

Worth a Rewatch: Yes

If You Liked this Try: Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Jurassic World, Jaws

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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