Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster (2004) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster (2004) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster is a brutally honest look at a legendary music art on the brink of destruction.  From arguments, to triumph, from destruction to success the film is no holds barred and all the better for it.  Appealing bests to fans, this still has a much wider appeal. A must for anyone setting up their own band!

Best Bit: Honesty. And buckets of it

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Lemmy, Iron Maiden: Flight 666

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock opens  fast food chicken shop. Yup the guy who ate nothing but McDonalds for a month goes after the fast food industry again to dispute their claims that it is now healthier, more natural and organic. Holy Chicken may lack the humour and originality of the original Super Size Me but it doesn’t lack any of the bite as Spurlock goes after everything from the marketing to distribution to Big Chicken, breaking down just how flawed and fake the industry really is.  In short Super Size Me 2 is super entertaining but we’ve seen this before which ultimately takes away a degree of the films bite.

Best Bit: The grand opening

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Super Size Me, McLibel, Food Inc

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

American Factory (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

American Factory (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
A compelling documentary that looks at the reopening of an old General Motors factory by a Chinese billionaire and the inevitable culture class that follows.  What’s most scary here is how quickly the two different worlds fail to gel and the openness and honesty in which the documentary dig’s deep into this.  Whilst Netflix original narrative films often fail to deliver, its documentaries are some of the best out there and once again they hit big with the Oscar nominated American Factory.  Stream it now on Netflix.

Best Bit: Lazy Americans

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Icarus, 13th, Fyre

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Restrepo (2010) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

Restrepo (2010) – A Revisited Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Restrepo is a powerful and unique look at the front line of the US’s war against terror in Afghanistan.  A brutal and at time heart breaking look at war and conflict, at loss and what we do to get us through the day.  It’s at times hard to watch – soldiers, children, insurgents lying dead at the hands of each other but it’s also a must see.

Best Bit: The personal look

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Kajaki, Korengal, Dirty Wars

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
 Gabe Turner & Benjamin Turner’s documentary about the birth of Motown in Detroit in the late 50’s is affectionate look at the creation of some of the most memorable and enduring music of the 20th Century. The film is focused on creators Berry Gordy & Smokey Robinson, whose passing years seems not top have dented their considerable chemistry & charm.  In fact the film very much hangs off this deep connection and history, which is also the reason why it’s just so compelling.  Add in some spine tingling archive footage and interviews with a string of Motown legends and you have a fascinating, interesting and attention grabbing documentary which transcends any existing knowledge or love of Motown and it’s music. 

Best Bit: Seeing Smokey Robinson & Berry Gordy’s chemistry

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Twenty Feet from Stardom, Amy, Searching for Sugar Man

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse (1991) – A Quick Capsule Review

Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse (1991) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse is a fascinating look behind the scenes of the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s groundbreaking Apocalypse Now, with footage shot by his wife Eleanor. It’s tells the story of a production plagued by extraordinary script, shooting, budget, and casting problems–nearly destroying the life and career of the director and a few of the cast.  It’s essential viewing for anyone with more than just a passing interest in film and the art of filmmaking.

Best Bit: Brando

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Lost In LaMancha, Full Tilt Boogie, American Movie

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

The Game Changers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Game Changers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Game Changers takes a deep dive into plant based lifestyles (Vegan but without using the term), specifically around the impact on high level athletes, from running to MMA and pretty much everything in between.  For the most part it’s super compelling stuff. So much so you walk away seriously considering the lifestyle choices you’ve made.  That said it’s a very one sided view and balance should be sought. Produced by Jackie Chan (no really) and even featuring the Governator himself, it’s a must watch and for once manages to be (mostly) unpreachy in it’s delivery.

Best Bit: Arnie!

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: What the Health, Fyre, Supersize Me

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

The Great Hack (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Great Hack (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Eye opening, scary, complex and fascinating… The Great Hack dives deep into the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal with a sharp eye and unflinching dedication to its subject.  As the realisation of how deep and insidious this whole thing was dawns, you cant help but feel dirty and betrayed.  It packed a huge gut punch for sure.   In short it’s pretty terrifying as it details the exploitation of personal data on the internet by those you trusted to keep it safe.  You’ll never want to use facebook again!

Best Bit: Not best but knowing you can never trust any company again ever

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists, Citizenfour

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Henchman: The Al Leong Story (2019)- A Quick Capsule Review

Henchman: The Al Leong Story (2019)- A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
If you grew up watching action films in the 80’s & 90’s, whether you knew it or not you grew up watching Al Leong – the legendary henchman/stunt performer/action man with his distinctive Fu Manchu moustache and balding hair.  From Big Trouble In Little China to Die Hard, Lethal Weapon to Rapid Fire, Leong fought (and was killed by) them all.  This documentary tells his story, his rise to legendary status and the sad twists and turns that saw him sidelined from the early 2000’s.  It’s a hugely affectionate film, made by and featuring some heavyweight talent who all wax lyrical about the king of the henchmen.  From triumph to sadness, the film is an amazing tribute to a real unsung hero of action cinema.

Best Bit: The affection for Leong

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Big Trouble In Little China, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Rapid Fire

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
From the director of 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene comes an equally impressive deep dive into Ridley Scott’s original Alien film.  From Dan O’Bannon’s creation and inspirations through to a look at the creation of one of cinema’s most iconic scenes.  It’s an impressive feat for sure but it is missing some key interviews – notable director Scott (whose mostly shown in archive footage) and star Weaver who is missing completely. That said the film is still pretty interesting both for fans of the films and filmmakers alike, but it does lack the laser focus that 78/52 brought.

Best Bit: Chest burster

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene, Alien, Alien: Covenant  

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media: