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scottmcparker
Reviews
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
The Perfect Family Movie
This had ALL my family laughing and jumping out of our seats. It's honestly the most fun I've had at the cinema in years. I saw the original when it came out and loved it, I had the poster on my wall for years (wish I still had it!). I think the sequel might even be better. Our kids are 10 & 12, and yes there's a few well placed swear words and the gore is a little more than you'd think, but it absolutely hits the right note at every turn. The 'horror' is more Tex Avery than Texas Chainsaw and the constant visual gags both in the foreground and background make me what to see it again. I know this sort of movie doesn't get Oscar nominations, but Catherine O'Hara should get best supporting actress without a doubt, she is perfect. Winona Ryder has so grown into the role, she makes more sense now as the constantly haunted protagonist than she did in the original. Jenna Ortega is great, and fortunately, they avoided focusing too much on her, or any individual character for too long, it's a real ensemble piece. What about Keaton.... I mean Douglas... I mean Beetlejuice? He's as bonkers, loveable, hate-able, grotesquely cuddlesome and quick as ever, the marriage counselling scene is a winner! The effects retain all the charm of the original, but with a small amount of (necessary) modernisation to improve on Burtons visual nightmare world in what could be his best movie to date.
Sugar (2024)
I knew it wouldn't be just another detective show
Since episode 1 I've been intrigued by the mix of different styles and the wonky tone sitting within what on the surface appears to be a modern noir. What's with the mysterious bag of drugs Sugar carries around, why the utter lack of fear and the calmness throughout, the anti-violence and difficulty sleeping, there just seemed to be something else going on. What about the clandestine gathering of 'spies' and the feeling that there was something either supernatural or psychological at play. To think that it is a simple detective show would be to underestimate Colin Farrell and his willingness to take chances. I'm sure it's going to divide people, good. I for one am loving the combination of old school story with a plot twist unlike anything you may have seen before. It's great, it could go in so many directions from here, I'm hooked!
Poor Things (2023)
I'm struggling with how I feel about this film
No doubt it was the intention of the makers of the film to leave you feeling uncomfortable once watched. I am struggling to know how I feel about it. I laughed a lot, it looked amazing, the acting is top tier, but it made me wince many times and I am left with some very awkward feelings. The sex scenes are more graphic than I expected and I felt Emma Stone gave a little too much of herself physically at times, she is an incredible actress and obviously very comfortable with nudity and sex scenes, but I think it might have been better if they'd cut them down by at least 20% and focused more on her intellectual awakening which I felt was rushed. The main issue I struggle with is if you remove the production design and the fantasy world they are in, what you are left with is the story of a grown woman with a child's brain having casual sex with many partners. If it was a woman with a mental age of say 5 it would be shocking and difficult, but we're being made to accept that an actual child of maybe less than that being in control of an adult body and going on a sexual rampage. Is this not playing into the hands of wannabe peadophiles? Is it maybe not enough to simply say 'it's a movie' 'a story' 'a fantasy' in order to side step what is actually happening? I've been feeling uncomfortable since watching it, so I suppose it's job done, but I'd sort of wished I hadn't watched it too.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
The greatest spectacle since LOTR
Not since the LoTR trilogy first dropped has the cinema felt so alive. Dune part 2 is on a par with Dune part 1, neither is better than the other, both are magical to watch as a whole and I cannot wait until part 3. Austin Butler almost sheds his Elvis persona and gives a captivating performance. Timothee Chalamet is on his best form and gets better with everything he does. Christopher Walken can't help but be Christopher Walken, but hey why not! The screen is always full of energy and each frame is masterful. Denis is the greatest living director in my opinion and I need to see everything he's done, (nearly there).
Ahsoka (2023)
Wake up guys, we're nodding off!
It's like playing a 45rpm record on 33rpm. Every moment is needlessly drawn out and all the characters seem to be on some sort of tranquilliser. I wouldn't mind if the dialogue they delivered was actually good, unfortunately it's all a bit cheesy. I'm surprised Ashoka hasn't cut herself in two with her lightsabers due to the very convoluted way she uses them. And Why the fuss about finding this Ezra guy, he's a bit of a selfish so and so if you ask me who's caused no end of problems for everybody. Then there's the very bizarre creatures, hyper space travelling space wales and crab people with 1930s chimney sweep outfits. I'm only watching it because my kids kind of like it, but it's becoming painful to endure. I've only given it 3 stars because I like the droid who hangs out with Ashoka, he's kind of cool and has more life about him than anyone else.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Like Star Wars all over again!
This reminds me too much of the Star Wars sequels. It feels too slick, looks too corporate and lacks the vibrancy and energy of the originals. The production is astonishing but that's the only reason I gave it 5 out of 10. The actors appear stiff and lack any empathy, probably due to the weight of the responsibility and cost in their shoulders. The story is limp in comparison to LoTR, Tolkien would not approve. If GoT had never been made then we'd maybe all be more on board with this, but the dragons out of the bag now and this just feels too childish and corny for todays tastes. Shame, as I was looking forward to it.
The Gray Man (2022)
John Wick on steroids
Insane, OTT, corny at times. But sometimes that's exactly what you want from a movie. A superhero movie without the superpowers. Ryan Gosling is fantastic as the haunted action hero. Yes, it's ridiculous and clichéd, but it's also a lot of fun. If you like John Wick you'll like this.
GLOW (2017)
Difficult third album
The first two seasons were original, cool and funny and you really warmed to the characters. Two shows in and Season 3 just feels like any other soap opera and is almost difficult to watch, such a shame as a great cast and concept has been let down by poor writing and a lack of focus.