Ghost Stories (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

Ghost Stories (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Ghost Stories is a pretty decent attempt at recreating the old school horror anthology that was pretty popular in the 1980’s.  Anchored around a myth busting TV presenter , it’s all pretty effective until you find out in the end that actually nothing is quite as it seems and the story folds in on itself.  Which is a shame because if it had stuck with its core premise there could have been a really interesting film here.  So overall it’s effective, even if it lacks a cohesive narrative and any real shocks.

Best Bit: The first story 

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: VHS, Creepshow, Twilight Zone: The Movie

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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T2: Trainspotting – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

T2: Trainspotting – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
T2 Trainspotting is a brilliant film. Not the film you expected. Or even wanted.  But brilliantly done.   It’s a film that, maybe for the first time ever on screen, captures what it’s like to be lost in life at a time where its hard to change who you are and when the dreams of life settle to the reality.  As a 40 year old who at times feels the failure to be what he wanted to be, whose settled in life on a path different to what he thought and sees a future so different from what he imagined, it was always going to be a story that would hit a nerve.  And it did.  For the first time in a long time I had to reflect about a film.  Sit quietly and take it all in.

It won’t be for everyone, not even for every fan of Boyle’s groundbreaking original and it certainly lacks the intensity, raw energy and exuberance that Trainspotting delivered.  But like the film,  I’m not 19 anymore either so my life has slowed down and it feels right the film should reflect that.  The fact that the film leaves you at the end feeling that you wanted more from it, feels oddly like it was actually the point.

So on it’s own merits then it’s a well told story , excellently directed,  superbly performed (especially Ewan Bremner’s Spud) about what it’s like to be closer to the end than the beginning and what it’s like to feel lost in your own mind. I liked it a lot.

Best Bit: The cubicle

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Trainspotting, Go, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Probably one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history, 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene takes a granular look both at the scene itself and the relationships, influences, creation and history that lead to it.  It’s a fascinating documentary that breaks down a sequence probably more than any film ever has done in movie history.  This also means that this isn’t for everyone of course – you need to be a fan of the craft or the film at least – but for those that are there’s some amazing trivia (not least that Raging Bull took the sequence shot for shot for a boxing scene) and analysis of a true master.  Amazing.

Best Bit: Influenced and rip offs montage

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Psycho (1960) , Psycho(1998), Raging Bull 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Endless (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Endless (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Endless is a head fuck of a movie.  Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends a lot on your expectations.  This isn’t an easy watch especially if you expect a film that delivers answers to all the questions it asks.  The Endless just isn’t that film.  But if you want a film that leaves you think and heading to R/TheEndless to debate theories then maybe give this a watch.  As for me – I enjoyed it but found it trying a little too hard to care by the end.

Best Bit: The cabin

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Spring, Life, Signs, Primer

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Better Watch Out (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

Better Watch Out (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Better Watch Out is a real treat.  Released last year, it’s already hit many people’s best Christmas films list and I can see why – it’s clever, witty and OTT.  It also throws more than a few curve balls in along the way which really elevates it beyond the usual run of the mill Christmas horror films.  Levi Miller delivers a stunning central performance as the kid in lust with his babysitter and for a film tied very much to one location, it always manages to be inventive and surprising.  Better Watch Out is a must for horror fans (and fans of subversive Christmas films)

Best Bit: Oh so THAT’s the film

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Krampas, Jack Frost, The Babysitter, Home Alone

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
If you’ve seen other of the previous Lego films, The Lego Ninjago Movie will feel very familiar. That’s not a bad thing – after all it’s a format that’s worked for the video game franchises for years.   Yup it’s funny, silly and totally forgettable.  It’s also fair to say that it’s not going to challenge anyone’s brains but the film does feel a little like the returns are slightly diminishing after each new instalment with a degree of predictability setting in.  BUT kids will love it and it certainly passed the time…

Best Bit: L-Loyd

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Thoroughbreds (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

Thoroughbreds (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Thoroughbreds has been reviewed as a combination of American Psycho and Heathers. It’s not. It’s far from that essential. But it’s still pretty good.  A dark thriller (it say’s comedy – it’s not) that delivers a strong character study of two rather disturbed young women. Set mostly in one location, the film does well with it’s strong cast who both deliver memorable performances and the film delivers a nice punch at the end and some very clever camerawork.  So your life wont be missing if you dont want Thoroughbreds but those who do will be reward with a neat little film.

Best Bit: The long take

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Heathers, American Psycho, The Last Super

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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LA 92 (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

LA 92 (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
LA 92 is hard hitting documentary that looks back at the 1992 LA riots, caused by the brutal beating of Rodney King and the acquittal of those responsible.  National Geographic pulls together archival footage from the riots, the trial and the subsequent fallout. It paints a disturbing and heartbreaking picture of a broken country where class and race were still deadly flash points.  An essential watch for anyone with an interest in modern history…

Best Bit: It stays with you or days

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try:Burn Motherf*cker Burn, O.J.: Made in America, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Spiderman: Homecoming (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

Spiderman: Homecoming (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
A year on Spiderman: Homecoming is still a top draw Marvel film.  Keaton’s Vulture, Holland’s Peter Parker, even the support from Favreau and Downey Jr enhance the film and it’s still great to see a teenage Spiderman (yes I’m looking at you Garfield).  There’s still pacing issues (second time around the film takes a while to get going) but it’s worth it for scenes like that in the car and the odd Ferris reference.

Best Bit: The car

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Spiderman, Spiderman 2, Ant-Man

 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

 

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