Momentum (2015) SSMR Movie Review

Momentum (2015)

Hitgirl with stolen diamonds runs from an English gangster in South Africa.

Fifty Shades Of Black vs Fifty Shades Of Grey

When the first 50 Shades of Grey book came out, most likely due to the influence of a funding-initiated media storm, it went socially viral.

Monk Comes Down The Mountain SSMR

A Monk Comes Down The Mountain 2015

Like a grounded Superhero-slash-Shaolin movie, but instead of grounded in reality, it is grounded in HK physics, Eastern drama tropes and homoerotic but non-gay bromances.

Immensely beautiful visuals and editing, almost a flawless work. The main apparent criticism is the wire work, which is combated against by the story utilising it as a characterisation instead of a disgrace to reality.

The acting is truly flawless, as is the direction and scripting. There are some meaningful pieces of wisdom and heart-warming moments. The soundtrack is so good that one only notices it when some well-used character-building effects are used.

Watch this, in any way that you can. It is classical HK Cinema but modern!

#-#-#-#-# 4.6/5

Garm Wars / Mantervention SSMR Movie Review

Diamond Ruff / Dragon Blade SSMR

Diamond Ruff (2015)

#Black empowerment life story/court drama with a Tyler Perry tone. Has an extended introduction that is totally tonally different to the rest of the film.

#Supremely enjoyable plotting and scripting, if unoriginal, although the editing does have 'baseline' moments of suspected sabotage or amateurish folly, with spots on its sweet sound score and, not to the detriment of beauty, a TV movie lack of cinematographic flair.

#A surprisingly strong and numerous cast, there are a few duds but they suit the film's
tone and are outweighed by the plentiful shows of pleasant competence on display for the majority of the running time. Michael Colyer's performance alone is worth the fee of viewing.

#This is a great 'twisty n' smiley' experience with some great messages, watch it ASAP, classical stuff.

 #-#-#-#- - 3.7/5

Dragon Blade (2015)

#Truly epic, made in China so they have little excuse for skimping, uber-western / war / martial arts film with some undeniably great cinematography.

#It seems that the low-fee Hollywood cast members recognised the weight of this production and took it seriously, not like with the elementally similar Outcast, providing near career-height performances all around.

#Kung-fu scenes with very few strings, Adrien Brody kicking serious ass. The story is far from original but is done grippingly outshining its great soundtrack.

#Its funny that Hollywood needs at least three times the budget of this film to make anything like it. Ends amazingly. Deserves to be on some Best Of 2015 lists.

#-#-#-#- - 4.0/5

Lau's Switch & Contract Killers Reviews SSMR

Switch (2013)

#Jarring editing and pacing that feels like 3 movies, each with a different director, intermixed but conflicting in both scenario and method.

#The south-east Asian cast are suitably over-dramatic, charming their way to redeeming their British companions embarrassing awfulness. Andy Lau is as charismatic as ever, miraculously melding together the mishmash of properties.

#Huge, colourful and artistic sets and settings. Awesome shots and production values but the absence of good juxtaposition nearly nullifies the beauty on show.

#The convoluted story is crippled by distinct lack of skill, authenticity and believability, leaving Switch feeling old fashioned (90's) but with modern production tools and techniques in use.

##Warning: this film features blonde Asians in roles of supremacy.

# - # -   -   -   -   1.6/5

Contract Killers (2014)

#Irresistable white guy goes round killing on contract trying not to get himself killed by a chinese badass. For those who play COD, think action web-series' are good and liked 2012's Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning.

#The swiftly paced story is gripping but predictable with interesting characters that could have been a little more fleshed out, the chinese badass antagonist is the star of the show. Complimentary soundtrack is rough but spirited.

#The acting direction of the Thor lead and his damsel is the worst thing about this film redeemed by amazing scenes of masterfully cut violence that have an imperfect but awesome sense of realness.

#Although often charmingly amateurish both in performance and staging, we are in the modern age of film making and this is not a bad movie for its b-action genre. Contract Killers was Cool with some seriously moments of brilliance, you may enjoy it.

#Steal in HQ or buy for cheap.

# - # - # - #   -   3.7/5

OLDBOY 2013 FILM REVIEW

Nurse 3D SSMR

Zulu & Snowpiercer Movie Review - SSMR

Zulu (2013)

#True detectives run around South Africa getting things off their chests.

#A truly hardcore show, with violence at a level of realistic brutality you're not usually allowed to see in the west. A gripping, tense and intriguing story that is easy to lose track of and may just bring you back for another round.

#Albeit grounded and somewhat mundane, the skilful and bright cinematography makes the film a joy to have on the screen making up for the excruciating soundtrack that is full flavoured but peaks way too high at the worst possible times.

#One to watch for free or purchase cheaply if you can find it.

# - # - #   -   - 3.1/5

Snowpeircer (2014)

#Metaphorical class struggle on a cold train speeding into the future.

#Edited flawlessly, the emotive visuals are spectacularly skillful. The action scenes leave a lot to be desired in terms of display but overflow with drama. This is a cleanly scored film that is hard to criticise.

#The story is gripping and well written, for its type, benefited by its simplicity with a twist ending that shouldn't really be one. The cast, spearheaded by the awesome Chris Evans, perform wonderfully minus Tilda Swinton who doesn't quite deliver a convincing and complete character, here the supporting cast truly supports.

#A galvanising and memorable experience, pay to watch once on a big screen.

# - # - # - # -   - 4.2/5

Monkey King SSMR - movie review

Konkey Ming (2013)

#Crystal monkey god gets in the way of a fight between a supreme dictatorship and a good evil demon tribe (I know).

#The masterfully paced yet nonsensical story is fantastically gripping with hugely developed characters and allegorical capability.

#All of the cast does well with their easy roles but Donnie surprises with his difficult one, presenting an amazing comic performance that seems to channel Jim Carey, Kevin Hart and an old lady suffering dementia.

#Although not uniformly competent in terms of technicality, everything is lavish. Its colourful, artistic and highly stylised aesthetic surpasses everything seen in the 300 films and delights with its variety. The bad stuff only serves to highlight the good.

#Memorable slice of family friendly fun, buy the Blu-ray.

# - # - # - # -   -  4.0 / 5

Raze Movie Review SSMR

SSMR stands for Short N Sweet Movie Review

Shame The Devil / Ganzfield Haunting SSMR

A Truly Great Creepy / Beautiful Short Film

Allison Schulnik's spirited claymation is a brilliant and fantastical piece of work. A rising display of devotion, artistry and intellect that discomfortingly scares as it pleases viewers with its beautiful grotesque.

Don Jon / Blue Iz Da Warmest Color SSMR

SEXY TIME  EDITION

SSMR: The Suspect / Concussion Movie Review

Kill 'Em All / After Earth Movie Review SSMR

Megan is Missing

Okay, so I've just seen Megan is Missing, what a disturbing film, you might want to see it... 

The way to tell if a film is truly disturbing is if you really really don’t want to watch it again, this is one of those films.

The 2011 found-footage style film follows 2 fourteen year old girls, happily enjoying their sexuality at parties, in bedrooms and on chatrooms, who get kidnapped and murdered by a calmly convincing and creepy psychopath.

The film is exceptionally produced and directed; making it easy to believe that the events are real. Only a small number of times was the acting unconvincing, removing you from the story’s reality. 

Nevertheless, this production is harrowing, immersing and unapologetic in its honesty, managing to present a real-life nightmare that everyone can relate to but entertains without need for discretion for the most part.

The ending is guaranteed to be unforgettable.. if you can watch it all..

Watch at your peril… 

BOOKMARK THE HOMEPAGE!!!

Java Heat / American Mary Movie Review SSMR

Java Heat (2013)
# Brilliant photography, tones and lighting; the film looks wonderful. Features some beautiful locations and surprisingly high production values for a movie of its budget but unfortunately some of the editing is mis-timed.
# Ario Bayu holds the film together with acting skill whilst hot-man Kellan Lutz is likable, putting on an immature yet respectable performance as a homoerotic marine. Mickey Rourke has an easy job.
# The films highly interesting story is well written, fairly complex and skillfully paced with a pleasing twist or two.
# A thrilling escapade through the colorful Chinese-Arab Java worth watching only for free.
 #-#-#-#- -  3.8/5

American Mary (2012)
# Hot chick, Katharine Isabelle, plays wooden as a psycho with funny stick legs deteriorating in morals as her doll-faced acquaintance Tristan Risk gets you accustomed to weird plastic visages and ugly body modifications.
# Completely worthless without a message or valuable look at the unusual subject matter; made to milk the body-mod community and not represent it.
# Some creepy imagery and scenes, competent cinematography and lighting. From their contributions, the Soska sisters are talentless.
# Weak as a horror, drama or art piece. With no story it is barely worth a single free viewing.
 #-#- - - -  2.1/5


ABC's of Death + Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters SSMR
Upside Down SSMR
Django Not Funny

ABC's of Death / Hansel & Gretel Film Review :: SSMR

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) 
#The cast is merely competent with Jeremy Renner coming off neatly but Gemma Arterton delivers too many lines with discomfort and quickly becomes annoying, the capable supporting cast props this film up from a slump.
#The CGI, looking like a student piece, is laughable and the costumes look cheap and unoriginal. Locations are also boring and uninspired.
#The story is an unsurprising, cliched 2+1 affair with a few lacklustre action-scenes that are unimaginative and simplistic and no big or impressive scenarios. The film looks like a B-movie despite its multi-million dollar budget.
#A completely worthless and forgettable distraction. Not worthy of even a free viewing. The producers have basically sold an idea to the hordes with the near irresistible promotion material.
#-#- - - - 1.7/5

ABC's of Death (2012)

#All of the acting from the long list of cast members is well shot, directed and convincing.
#Interesting throughout, shot in 25 varying styles, amazingly none of the segments outstay their welcome.
#The collection incorporates nearly all styles of horror and some of the short stories have a twist at the end.
#A brilliant and memorable compilation of sharp and original ideas with very few duds leaving a memorable lasting impression. One to purchase in high quality for numerous replays with friends and family.
#-#-#-#- - 3.8/5

Upside Down Film Review :: SSMR

Upside Down (2012)
# The premise is immediately absurd to anyone with a functioning brain, this realisation taints the films entire running time with a damp tint of irrelevance.
# Visually, the film is very interesting and well composed but with slightly lacking special effects. Its plot and each scenario is pleasantly fantastical and dreamy but the story is simple, cliched love fare.
# The cast is unimpressive with Jim Sturgess delivering an easy undemanding performance, being bearably over-dramatic and the kids, acting as the younger versions of the main characters, suitably annoying.
# An appreciable, enjoyable experience that is worth a high definition watch but not a full price purchase.
2.6 / 5