Batman Returns (1992) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Batman Returns (1992) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Batman Returns… well kinda.  More like Batman cameos.  I’d forgotten just how little Batman features in Tim Burton’s uber-gothic sequel to his 1989 hit… yup make no illusion – the director is far more focused on his super freaks than Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego. And it works. Danny DeVito & Michelle Pfeiffer slay it as the Penguin & Catwoman and Walken add’s a nice turn as the devious Max Shreck.  Between them they eat up the good lines and the screen time.  But oddly having batman in it less makes it far more impactful when he does appear.   Burton also delivers on the visuals with a much stagier Batman film that lays on the german expressionism and gothic charm. It’s stunning to look at.    Overall not only does this hold up well it still sits as the 2nd best live action Batman film to date.  Brilliant.

Best Bit:The villains

Worth A Rewatch: Yes

If You Liked this Try: Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman, The Dark Knight

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Batman (1989) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

Batman (1989) – A Rewatched Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The 1989 Batman isn’t a subtle movie.  From its in your face marketing to its gigantic sets to it’s outlandish Batmobile and over the top Nicholson/Joker – it’s in your face from the get go.  It’s also flawed, playing as loose with the Batman story as Batman Vs Superman did (yup this is a Batman who kills and uses guns).  But it’s also highly stylised, confidently directed and, for its day, ground breaking.  Yup Burton is more interested in Wayne than Batman and the Joker outshines an excellent Keaton but this, years on, remains an essential film.  Add in an amazing iconic score (and some banging Prince tracks) and you have one of the best tellings of the Batman story.  Well at least until Nolan came along.

Best Bit: Gotham

Worth A Rewatch: Yes

If You Liked this Try: Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman Returns, The Dark Knight

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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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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Phil’s Quick Review’s 100 Best Films… #50-26

Phil’s Quick Review’s 100 Best Films… #50-26

by Phil's Quick Review A Blog

Part three of our run down of Phil’s Quick Review’s 100 Best Films as chosen by a select team of hosts, podcasters, fans and writers from Ross And Phil Talk Movies, The Smoking Lamb Podcast, Filmsploitation and the Phil’s Quick Review Facebook group.

So here’s numbers 50-26…

 

 

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Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Mission:Impossible – Fallout (Mild Spoilers)

Podcast: Ross And Phil Talk… Mission:Impossible – Fallout (Mild Spoilers)

by RossAndPhil Ross and Phil Talk Movies The Podcasts

On this episode of the podcast we talk about the latest Tom Cruise stunt fest Mission: Impossible – Fallout or how hell do I correctly punctuate this title??? Warning – MILD spoilers.

Hosted by Award winning filmmaker Ross Boyask and blogger/writer/failed filmmaker Phil Hobden.

Films Discussed: Mission:Impossible – Fallout, Mission:Impossible, Mission:Impossible – Rogue Nation, Mission:Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Mission:Impossible 2, Mission:Impossible 3, Police Academy 6, Justice league, The Way Of The Gun, Jack Reacher, Taken 2, The Bourne Ultimatum, The mummy, The Dark Knight

#RossAndPhil #RossAndPhilTalkMovies #MoviePodcasts #Podcasts

For more on Phil Hobden check out www.philhobden.co.uk
For more on Ross Boyask search @RossBoyask on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook

   

 

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Phil’s Top 5… 21st Century’s most re-watchable films

Phil’s Top 5… 21st Century’s most re-watchable films

by Phil Hobden Other Cr*p Top 5

Each week Phil, from Phil’s Quick Capsule Review, takes a look at a different movie or TV related Top Five.  This time out:  21st Century’s most re-watchable films

 

Close but no cigar: Ocean’s 11, The Avengers, The Bourne Ultimatum, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dredd

 

5 – The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
Okay a LITTLE cheat here but these films really do make one long film.  And man for near 12 hours of film that are incredibly re-watchable.

 

4 – Harry Potter & The Philosophers Stone
The film that kicked it all off is still magical to this day.  From it’s charming cast to it’s often scary moments, this film set the tone for decades worth of films and merchandise that followed.

 

3 – Guardians of the Galaxy
By far Marvel’s most re-watchable film.  It’s funny, clever and charming whilst never forgetting what it is.

 

2 – Skyfall
Possible the best Bond film (at least on par with Goldfinger & License To Kill), Mendes does EVERYTHINg right here.

 

1 – The Dark Knight
Nolan’s second Batman film is quite simply the best film of the 20th century so far for me – a film that is so much more than just the excellent performance by Ledger.

 

 

 

 

 

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Phil’s Top 5… Comic Book Movie Villains

Phil’s Top 5… Comic Book Movie Villains

by Phil Hobden Other Cr*p Top 5

Each week Phil, from Phil’s Quick Capsule Review, takes a look at a different movie or TV related Top Five.  This time out: Comic Book Movie Villains

 

Close but no cigar: The Joker (Batman), Loki (Thor),Magneto (X-Men), The Joker (Batman: Mask of the Phantasm), The Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Lex Luthor (Superman)

 

5 – General Zod (Superman 2)
Zod had menace, power and proved to be more than a match for Reeves Superman.

 

4 – Erik Killmonger (Black Panther)
Tough as nails, driven and deadly Killmonger is yet another layered villain in the Marvel cinematic universe.

 

3 – Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War)
Thanos is a layered villain with menace.  But combined with a believable agenda and a measured performance by Brolin, Thanos is by far one of Marvel’s best.

 

2 – Catwoman (Batman Returns)
Sexy, mysterious, deadly and seductive Michelle Pfeiffer steals the show from both DeVito’s The Penguin and Keaton’s Batman.

 

1 – The Joker (The Dark Knight)
Simply the best. Menacing, cerebral, unpredictable – Heath Ledger’s Joker is without a doubt teh best Superhero Comic Book Movie Villain ever.

 

 

Avengers Week: The 25 Best… Superhero Films of All Time

Avengers Week: The 25 Best… Superhero Films of All Time

by Phil Hobden Best... Other Cr*p

In our continuing regular feature, Phil (of Phil’s Quick Capsule Review)  along with podcaster Josh Morris, Writer Mike Parkin, Grosse Point Geek’s Will Strong and Motion Picture Manic Jamie Robinson breakdown the 25 Best Films Of a particular genre… 

 

This time out: The Best Superhero Films of All Time

 

The close but no cigar Films: Batman Vs Superman, Thor Ragnarok, Mystery Men

 

 

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Avengers Week: Iron Man- A Quick Capsule Review

Avengers Week: Iron Man- A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

With Avengers: Infinity War opening this week, Phil’s Quick Capsule Review will be rerunning the reviews of some of our favourite Marvel Films! 

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The first blockbuster of the year was a balls out debut for Marvel Studios that set a high bar for the summers other superhero films. On second viewing the film has lost little and still remains one of the top five super heroes ever made.

Best Bit: Iron Man Vs Tank

Blu-Ray Notes: Amazing transfer, loud and detailed 5.1 HD audio and a massive selection of extras. Very Good!

If You Liked This Watch: The Dark Knight(9/10); Spiderman (8/10); Hulk (5/10)

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Phil’s Top 5… Movie Funko Pops!

Phil’s Top 5… Movie Funko Pops!

by Phil Hobden Other Cr*p Top 5

Each week Phil, from Phil’s Quick Capsule Review, takes a look at a different movie or TV related Top Five.  This time out: Movie Funko Pops!

 

Close but no cigar: Pinhead (Hellraiser), Jack Burton (Big Trouble In Little China), Ash (Evil Dead), Groot (Guardians Of The Galaxy), Eleven (Stranger Things), The Joker (The Dark Knight)

 

5 – Flash – Zootropolis 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 – Shark – Sharknado

 

 

 

 

 

 


3 – Sloth – The Goonies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 – Prince Vultan – Flash Gordon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 – Maui – Moana