Gerald’s Game (2017) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

Gerald’s Game (2017) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Gerald’s Game is yet another 2017 Stephen King adaptation.  This one sits between the most excellent I.T and the less than excellent (but still not as bad as everyone says!) The Dark Tower. With some strong central performances, a tight story and a nippy run time it works well, even if the tones and story is a little bit familiar.   Another strong Netflix original…

Best Bit: Netflix Hits again

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: IT, The Stand, Fifty Shades Of Grey, Misery

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

The Babysitter (2018) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

The Babysitter (2018) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The latest Netflix original horror film delivers two surprises… the first that it’s actually really quite excellent and the second that it comes from the directorial “talent” that is McG.  Yes Charlies Angels McG.  I know right.  That aside, The Babysitter is funny, smart and gory.  Okay so it lacks almost any actual scares but with a quick run time, great script and spirited performances this is another must see from Netflix.

Best Bit: Toy Car, Stairs, glass

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Happy Death Day, Tucker And Dale Vs Evil, The Final Girls

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Mowgli (2019)- A Quick Capsule Review

Mowgli (2019)- A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Mowgli is the second version of The Jungle Book story to come out in just under a year.  Directed by Andy Serkis, it’s a straight to Netflix release and, as you would expect from the king of Motion capture, the film has a LOT of CGI.  It’s a shame they didn’t finish most of it. Look Mowgli isn’t bad and it’s more adult take on the source material is a refreshing take.  But it also has issues… not least where the budget seems to outstrip the vision.  Which is quite often.  It’s solid for sure but we’ve seen it all before and the story is very well told in two much better films.  So one for a Sunday afternoon when it’s wet…

Best Bit: The chase

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: The Jungle Book (2018), The Lion King (2019), The Legend of Tarzan

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

The Defiant Ones (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Defiant Ones (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I’ve been a huge fan of Dr Dre and his music for a long time.  Whether as an artist (The Chronic) or as a producer (see Eminem and MANY others) I’ve held him and his talent in high regard.  His partnership with Jimmy Iovine is at the heart of this HBO documentary which looks at their rise across the 80’s/90’s and eventually to the largest purchase of a company that Apple has ever made.  It’s fascinating stuff – from the those they have produced to the trials and tribulations, Rap wars and signings, falling outs and controversy that have happened along the way.  It’s essential viewing for anyone with even a passing interest into the history of modern music.

Best Bit: The whose who at Iovine’s wedding

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, Straight Outta Compton, Beats Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I first heard about Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers on the Joe Rogan podcast. Yup it sounded far fetched but he at least had the courage of his convictions.  The show was entertaining.  It made the documentary with checking out. Don’t. Amateur, childish and poorly made this is a budget student film put together with all the flair of a corpse documenting his own funeral.  By far one of the worst films I’ve switched off this year.

Best Bit: That I watched on Netflix. Didnt pay. Winner.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid

If You Liked this Try: Independence Day, Alien Autopsy, Invaders From Mars

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Point Blank (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Point Blank (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Another day, another poorly reviews and received Netflix ‘original’.  This time out is a remake of the 2010 French film of the same name starring Marvel’s own Frank Grillo and Anthony Mackie. And nope it doesn’t suck as much or as bad as the critics will have you think.  In fact it’s a pretty easy to watch, ultimately forgettable romp that ticks all the usual hardboiled crime film cliches almost as if it’s working from a tick list.  What makes the film work is the paring of Grillo and Mackie who both have buckets of charisma.  So it’s a decent way to pass an evening. Nothing more or less.

Best Bit: Always Frank Grillo

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: À Bout Portant, Payback, Man On fire

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Rim of The World (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Rim of The World (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
I was surprised that checking online after quite enjoying Rim of The World, the reviews had been pretty brutal.  In fact it’s probably one of Netflix’s worst rated films yet… which is odd as, whilst it’s not amazing, it more than passed the time and I wasn’t bored once.  McG’s film has a certain late 80’s charm to it… a kids own adventure film set against the back drop of an alien invasion.  The kinda film that was a staple of my childhood.  Okay so it’s probably got less budget than BMX Bandits and it feels at times like an Asylum film but it for sure doesn’t deserve the panning it’s had.  Watch it, on Netflix, and make up your own mind…

Best Bit: Capsule lands!

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: The Goonies, Space Camp, BMX Bandits 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

The Perfection (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Perfection (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Perfection arrives on the back of a run of less than well received Netflix originals.  Velvet Buzzsaw, Rim Of The World and many others have fallen short but critically and with the subscribers.  Whilst The Perfection may not be every one’s cup of tea, I actually enjoyed the hell out of this tightly constructed, nutty and often boundary pushing horror.  Taking hints from Argento and Cronenberg, The Perfection crafts a tight and well performed narrative that makes you believe the twists and turns that follow.  Original? No. Fun.  Certainly.

Best Bit: Bus

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: Susperia, Rabid, Revenge 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Shaft (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Shaft (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
So nearly 20 years after Samuel L Jackson took over the role of Shaft he’s back once again for a sequel/reboot that has more in common with 21 Jump Street and Starsky & Hutch in tone than it does the original shaft films.  Arriving in the UK direct to Netflix just weeks after its US release and with a bucket load of poor reviews, expectations were VERY low.  Which makes it a real surprise that the film was as good as it was.  Yup it won’t change the world and it certainly won’t win an awards but Jackson & Usher have great chemistry, the support cast are fine and the script knows what it has to do and when teh film finally reunites 3 generations of Shaft you cant help but smile. Yup the villains are mere cardboard cut outs, the story wafer thin and the plot you’ve seen before.  YET I laughed, I cheers and I dug it.  Well worth  watch.

Best Bit: Jackson was made for this quipping type role

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: 21 Jump Street, Shaft (2000), Starsky & Hutch

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media:

 

 

Outlaw King (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Outlaw King (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
It’s not often a single sequence can save a film from being a total bore but Outlaw King’s big battle just about manages to leave you with something memorable to walk away with in the latest Netflix original. That said it’s quite a long slog to get there.  Problem is we’ve seen all this before – Braveheart did it much better and all the TV shows and films that followed too. Also – let’s be honest… the acting here is iffy at best and whilst Pugh and Pine do their best, there’s some pretty stinky acting on display here.  So ultimately this is yet another Netflix original that fails to set world alight.

Best Bit: The final battle

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid

If You Liked this Try: Braveheart, Kingdom Of Heaven, Rob Roy

★★★★★★★★★★

 

Follow us on Social Media: