Interstellar (2014) – A Quick Capsule Review (Revisited)

Interstellar (2014) – A Quick Capsule Review (Revisited)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Man did the though of this film leave me cold.  A trailer that did little for me and hype that bordered on ridiculous. It felt like the 5 star reviews had already been written.  But a week or so away from the release, sitting down to watch the film I have to say- for the most part the hype was right. This is astounding filmmaking. It’s not perfect – the Nolan’s script is lacking once again with terrible on the nose dialogue and large chunks of plot dump, the ending is pure Spielberg at it’s worst and the film because of it ends up being longer than it needed to be.  HOWEVER this is a film that demands to be seen on the big screen (the biggest you can find actually) , has visual FX that create some of the most believable worlds ever seen on screen and has note perfect after note perfect performance.  Oh and the sound.  Just… wow. So overall whilst not the 5 star classic certain reviewers would have you believe, Nolan delivers probably the best 4 star movie ever and is back on form after the lacklustre Dark Knight Rises.

Best Bit: Matthew McConaughey delivers the goods once again.

Buy, Rent, Stream, Borrow: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Inception, The Dark Knight, Insomnia

 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Silence (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Silence (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Silence boldly goes exactly where A Quiet Place and Netflix’s own Bird Box goes before it.  Okay so that’s not strictly true but for sure the three films all feature very familiar ideas, beats and execution which leads to some very obvious comparisons.  Sadly for The Silence it’s probably the weakest of the three, in part to the rather pointless voice over the film is lumbered with and whilst it throws in a couple of surprises it’s pretty predictable from start to end.  Now it’s not terrible – in fact at times it’s pretty fun and it’s 90 minute run time is much appreciated.  BUT you can’t help but think this could have been so much more!

Best Bit: Dog. Crash. Car.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: A Quiet Place, Bird Box, Annihilation

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Empire Strikes Back is gritty, dark, challenging and bloody brilliant. Set after the events of A New Hope, it starts to put the pieces together that would form the core mythology at the heart of this franchise.  It’s a shame then that a LOT of those reveals have been ruined by the prequels.  Rewatching Empire the iconic ‘I Am Your Father’ moment becomes shrug rather than the fall of the chair moment it was before.  That said the film is still amazing (escape from Hoth, Cloud City, Fett and more) and even Lucas’ 90’s changes don’t ruin it too much. The Empire Strikes Back is, simply put, the best FILM of this series.

Best Bit: Hoth!

Worth A Rewatch: Yes

If You Liked this Try: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Return of The Jedi, Star Wars: A New Hope

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Rogue One stands up REALLY well.  Also watched in order (before A New Hope) it ties together the story really well!  For me it’s now officially the 4th best Star Wars film.  Action packed with great, memorable characters, ample surprises and a convincing, driving narrative, this Star Wars story delivers on the promise despite extensive reshoots and rewrites at the latter end of production.  The effects are everything you’d hope for and the battles at times breathtaking.  Okay so not everything works well (see a few certain effects that break the uncanny valley) BUT this is by far the best blockbuster of 2016.  A must see.

Best Bit: WAR!

Worth A Rewatch: Yes

If You Liked this Try: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: A New Hope

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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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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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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Bumblebee (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Bumblebee (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Bumblebee is not like any previous Transformers film. And that’s a REALLY good thing.  Okay that’s a touch harsh as I still rate the 2007 Transformers film but even then Bumblebee stands out as a far more character driven film, deserving of it’s Christmas release date rather than carry the expectation of a more action heavy summer blockbuster slot.  And that comes very much from the vision of Kubo And The Two Strings  director Travis Knight who gives Bumblebee a heart and soul, focusing more on relationships that action.  But when the action DOES break out the character models, CGI and staging mean that for teh first time you can actually see what’s happening.  Add in loads of knots back to the more traditional G1 designs and you get a film for newbies AND fans.   Yup it’s fair to say that Bumblebee is the first essential Transformers film since 2007.  Go watch.

Best Bit: Wrecking the house (or Cybertron)

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Cinema

If You Liked this Try: Transformers (2007), Transformers: The Movie (1986), Real Steel, Kubo And The Two Strings

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Podcast: Bumblebee (2018) – Phil’s InstaTake

Podcast: Bumblebee (2018) – Phil’s InstaTake

by RossAndPhil Ross and Phil Talk Movies The Podcasts

 

On this episode of the podcast Phil delivers his InstaTake on the latest in the Transformers Franchise – Bumblebee.  Is this 2007’s Transformers or (god forgot) another Age Of Extinction?

Hosted by Phil Hobden.

Films Discussed: Bumblebee, Transformers,  Transformers: The Last Knight,  Transformers Dark of the Moon, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, Transformers: Age Of Extinction

For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also check out @EvoFilmsUK online.

For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk , Twitter (@PhilQuickReview) and Instagram (RossAndPhilTalkMovies)

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

Spotify

 

 

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The Humanity Bureau (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Humanity Bureau (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Humanity Bureau arrived on Netflix before Cage experienced a cult hit with indie horror Mandy.   If not for that film, 2018 would be another low for the once interesting Cage with films like Humanity Bureau just reinforcing just how far he’s fallen over the past 10 years.  Okay thats a little harsh.  At least he makes an effort in these films (unlike Bruce Willis) but THB is FAR from a good film.  Low budget, weak direction and a well hashed story make this one to skip.

Best Bit: The ending is interesting

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Avoid

If You Liked this Try: Mandy, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Con Air

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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