Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Happy Death Day 2U (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I was a massive fan of the original Happy Death Day – a smart idea, well executed that played it as much fore fun as it did for fears.  A quickly turned around sequel doesn’t always guarantee it will be able to replicate the success but, er, happily, I can report that Happy Death Day 2U is great fun.  A bit more sci-fi than horror focused, this Blumhouse produced sequel turns the crazy up to eleven and, through a very clever introduction, sets up its pace and tone which takes it closer to Primer levels than Friday 13th.  The cast are fun (again) , the direction solid and the film doesn’t hang around.  Well recommended.

Best Bit: The opening

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Primer, Get Out

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is the best of a bad bunch.  I know that’s kinda damning with faint praise but it’s true – the prequels just do not hold up.  Shonky effects are forgivable (just) but shonky acting, direction, script and story telling just isn’t.  In his desire to make a nice 6 film arc Lucas struggles to put all the pieces back together and rather than making things neat, leaves as many questions as he answers.  Yup it’s darker (killing kids… really?) but it’s also sillier with little cohesion between old and new trilogies.  So overall it’s still pretty weak it’s just not as bad as Attack of The Clones or Phantom Menace.  And I guess we can be a touch thankful for that at least… 

Best Bit: Nooooooo! (Joking – probably the opening attack)

Worth A Rewatch: Not overly 

If You Liked this Try: Star Wars: A New Hope, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story , Star Wars: the Clone Wars (TV)

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Phil’s Best & Worst 2019 Films… 1st Edition (18th March 2019)

Phil’s Best & Worst 2019 Films… 1st Edition (18th March 2019)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

So this is my semi-regularly updated of the BEST and WORST of the films from 2019 (2019 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 2019… So Far:

  1. Green Book
  2. Fighting With My Family
  3. Captain Marvel
  4. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden City
  5. Vice

Honourable Mentions: Happy Death Day 2U, Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, Fyre Fraud, Instant Family, Behind The Curve, IO, Reign Of The Supermen, The Kid Who Would Be King

 

WORST Films Of 2019… So Far

  1. Alita: Battle Angel
  2. Close

Dis-Honourable Mentions: 

 

 

The 2019 Sharknado Award for Films So Good (!) They Cant Be Rated:  

 

 


The 2019 Films I just couldn’t Finish…

 

Great Films Of 2018 That I saw In 2019:

The Domestics, After The Screaming Stops, They Shall Not Grow Old, Assassination Nation, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Free Solo, The Last Movie Star, Incredibles 2

 

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The Strangers: Prey At Night (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Strangers: Prey At Night (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Strangers: Prey At Night is a super efficient, super effective home invasion film that doesn’t waste any second of its super lean sub 90 minute run time and throws in plenty of surprises along the way.  It’s bloody, tense and overall a memorable sequel to a not that memorable original.  Available on Netflix UK.

Best Bit: Escape the trailer

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: The Strangers, Panic Room, You’re Next

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Juliet, Naked (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Juliet, Naked (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Juliet Naked is your pretty standard Nick Hornby film.  A dose of romance, some light relationship humour, a few intimacy gags and a sprinkling of music… it’s a greatest hits type story that you’ve seen a hundred times before.  Which means that the film relies heavily on the cast.  Thankfully then they deliver – with Rose Byrne wonderfully charming and Ethan Hawke charismatically flawed.  It wont stay with you long afterwards for sure but it’s well worth a watch.

Best Bit: xxxxxx

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: High Fidelity, This Is 40, Fever Pitch 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Ghostbusters (2016) – A Quick Capsule Review (Revisited)

Ghostbusters (2016) – A Quick Capsule Review (Revisited)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Okay so this isn’t the disaster the early marketing suggested it could be but it’s also FAR away from the 4 star reviews it’s been getting. I think, ultimately, I just don’t get Paul Feig films – The Heat, Bridesmaids and Spy especially did NOTHING for me and here, again, whilst the cast all do okay (standout being Kate McKinnon) you just can’t help but feel there’s nothing new here once the role reversal gimmick wears off. You are left with a reboot I didn’t really want, of a film that didn’t need it, and a director that goes out of his way to remind you just how good the original film really was.

Best Bit: Hemsworth

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: The Heat, Bridesmaids,  Spy

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Leave No Trace (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Leave No Trace (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Sometimes you watch a film and just ‘get’ why people rate it.  The heart, the performances, the direction is all top notch.  Yet… for some reason whilst you enjoy it, it does grab you in the same way and ultimately you are left feeling that it was just ‘good’. For me Leave No Trace is one of those films. It could be it’s pace or ultimately predictable ending, but that leap from good to ‘great’ just wasn’t there.  So for sure this is a recommendation as this film has had strong reviews across the board just be aware it may end up not being ‘your thing’.

Best Bit: Performances

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Winters Bone, You Were Never Really Here, Hunt For The Wilderpeople 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Michael Inside (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Michael Inside (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Michael Inside is a brutal look at the spiralling life of an impressionable eighteen-year-old Michael McCrea (an incredible performance by Dafhyd Flynn) whose future is changed dramatically when he is caught holding a bag of drugs for a friend.   A low budget Irish film, it currently holds a near perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and has received rave reviews.  And you can see why.  This is an impeccably acted, tightly directed story that takes the usual prison tropes and puts them aside for a well researched look at what life really is like inside for a young offender.   It’s hard, brutal and shocking and is a film that pulls few punches.  Yup it’s far from upbeat viewing but should be an essential watch for both young adults and their parents.

Best Bit: Consequences

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Scum, Made in Britain, Dog Pound

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
So three things stand out rewatching Attack of The Clones.  1. It’s actually paced pretty good.  For a two hour plus film I really didn’t want to rewatch it moves quite fast.  That’s where the positives end.  2.  It has one of the worst scripts I have ever seen on screen.  And I’ve seen (and worked on) some utter Bobbins.  3. Hayden Christensen is by far the worst actor in this film.  He truly stinks up every scene he goes near and has ZERO chemistry with Portman or McGregor.

Look Attack of the Clones was always the weakest of a bad bunch (the prequel trilogy).  But rewatching it I’m reminded just how bad the film is.  The CGI effects, acting, script, dire-logue, direction… all so amateur.  Also in the wider context of the Star Wars films it just makes no sense.  Example (of MANY): Skywalker/Vader met and in fact was related to the family Kenobi would later HIDE Skywalker’s son with.  Right next door to his old home. On his old planet.  Ugh.  Thankfully the film throws enough action at the screen that you don’t notice but man this is not a joy to watch again and has aged badly.

Best Bit: The Clones finally attack.

Worth A Rewatch: God no.

If You Liked this Try: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith, Star Wars: A New Hope, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Rock (1996) – A Hall of Fame Quick Capsule Review

The Rock (1996) – A Hall of Fame Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Hall of Fame Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Oddly I wasn’t a fan of The Rock when I first saw it. But twenty years later (yes really) I’m truly amazing just how much this film blew me away.  It’s by far the best Michael Bay film (with Bad Boys a close second) with a killer performance by both Connery and Cage and for sure it’s one of the best action films of the 90’s… which is some praise if you look at a decade full of great action films.  From the car chase to the initial arrival on Alcatraz, from the Indiana Jones styled mine cart escape to Cage’s OTT venting it’s just a joy.  The Rock is essential and a welcome addition to the Hall of Fame.

Best Bit: Car Chase

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Bad Boys, Armageddon, Transformers 

★★★★★★★★★★

Hall of Fame

 

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