[5.00/10] The ABCs of Death (2013)

The ABCs of Death (2013)

Brief review: Shown at a numerous festivals last year, but officially set to be released in 2013, "The ABCs of Death" is a horror anthology, that consists of 26 shorts, each helmed by a different director, each of whom assigned a letter of the alphabet. "Apocalypse" is over-the-top gory fun. "Bigfoot" ain't about Bigfoot, and doesn't work. "Cycle" is confusing, but cool and well-conceived. Stylishly-shot in slow-mo, "Dogfight" is a man vs. dog fight, you have never seen before. "Exterminate" is badly-acted, and plain dumb. "Fart" stinks... literally. "Gravity" is overly short, and way too simple. "Hyrdo-Electric Diffusion" is Nazi torture fun, it's as simple as that. "Ingrown" is well-shot, intense, and one of the best segments, along with "Dogfight". "Jidai-geki" is a joke. "Klutz" is animation about crap, but it ain't crap at all. "Libido" is nasty and sick, yet genius. "Miscarriage" is uninteresting and simply unnecessary. "Nuptials" is hilarious, while the following "Orgasm" is artistically-shot, yet ultimately boring. "Pressure" is well-made and lives up to its title. "Quack" tries hard to be original, but falls short instead. "Removed" is gore-fueled, and nicely-executed. The best thing about "Speed" is that it ends quickly. The animated "Toilet" is superbly-crafted, gory, and somewhat shocking. "Unearthed" is pointless piece of sh*t. "Vagitus" is refreshing, but looks cheap. "WTF" is WTF, indeed. "XXL" is sheer brilliance. "Youngbuck" is sick, bloody, and stupid, and the closing "Zetsumetsu" is just a crazy Asian softcore porn.

Overall summary: Conceptually-genius, yet overambitious, "The ABCs of Death" has some strong and memorable segments, as well as some terrible ones, hence the end result is a mixed bag of utter lunacy, twisted imagination, ludicrousness, lots of gore and very few scares.

[5.00/10] Bachelorette (2012)

Bachelorette (2012)

QuickRating: Neither funny enough to be a good comedy, nor dramatic enough to be considered a drama, this genre hybrid delivers in terms of acting, thanks to its talented and undeniably appealing female cast, particularly Kirsten Dunst and the always lively and amusing Rebel Wilson, but "Bachelorette"  fails to make a truly long-lasting impression, because of its witless script and unfocused , lazy narrative, plus, its sentimentally cheesy final act brings the movie down even more.

[5.00/10] Deadfall (2012)

Deadfall (2012)

QuickRating: It's nice to see Eric Bana playing the nice guy for a change (and he does it superbly), the rest of the well-picked cast do an excellent job too, and the snowy setting adds a chilling effect to the otherwise straightforward and not particularly interesting story, but Ruzowitzky's hit-and-miss "Deadfall" is way too moody, and way too slow-moving to be called exciting, and too lacking in gripping action to be called thrilling, therefore, it ends up being mediocre at best.

[5.00/10] Compliance (2012)

Compliance (2012)

QuickRating: Although based on a true story, "Compliance" is hardly believable, and sadly, in spite of the intriguingly gripping beginning, soon after that the film becomes more and more tiresome to watch. The performances may be great, and characters may be likable and very sympathetic, but they all make an unbelievably stupid decisions, that more often that not don't make any sense at all. At least on thing is for sure - "Compliance" is a thoroughly disturbing piece of indie cinema.

[5.00/10] Taken 2 (2012)

Taken 2 (2012)

QuickRating: It's far from terrible, and it's even tense, exciting and thrilling during the action scenes, but "Taken 2" still relies heavily on the success of its truly memorable predecessor, and in spite of Liam Neeson's charismatic performance, and some very interesting shooting locations, this disappointing sequel doesn't really add anything new, or different, or sadly, even remotely refreshing  to the original, hence, it feels overly familiar, and basically 'more of the same'. Bummer.

[5.00/10] Sparkle (2012)

Sparkle (2012)

QuickRating: The singing is, of course, phenomenal, and all the performances from Jordin Sparks, Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter, and last but not least, Whitney Houston, are  solid and beyond convincing, but "Sparkle" is formulaic, cliched, and predictable from beginning to the end, plus, compared to similar musicals such as "Dreamgirls", it's rather forgettable, despite Salim Akil's reasonably solid direction and the retro-ish visuals that capture perfectly the 60s Motown era.

[5.00/10] Grave Encounters 2 (2012)

Grave Encounters 2 (2012)

Brief review: After 2011's "Grave Encounters", The Vicious Brothers join forces with first-time director John Poliquin to deliver a sequel, that complements the original. Or does it? Sadly, Poliquin fails to take things to another level due to his and his writer's lack of creativity, as "Grave Encounters 2" rests entirely on the concept, plot and setting of first film, and therefore feels contrived and, ironically, uninspired. Furthermore, both the filmmakers and the obsessed protagonist try hard to constantly convince us, that the first film is actually a real footage, but that never seems to work. Since the action takes place in the exact same location as the original, it often feels like you're watching the same movie, but on the other hand, the eerily abandoned psychiatric hospital continues to be one of the most terrifying places ever put on film. The movie is filled with jump scares and sudden shocks, and though cheap, those are fairly effective. It also offers loads of ghastly (and ghostly) images that might give you nightmares, and even dares to rip-off the creature from "[REC]" to a certain extent. The director demonstrates different variety of camera techniques, such as shaky handy-cam, black-and-white hidden cameras, static security cameras, etc, and that versatility prevents the viewer from getting bored by the very limited POV shooting style. The acting is pretty forgettable, with Richard Harmon taking most of the screen time.

Overall summary: The setting is still creepy, and the scares work for the most part, but "Grave Encounters 2" feels too familiar and repetitive, and relies too much on the success of its predecessor, plus, it's further let down by its messy, boring and often nonsensical third act.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com 

[5.00/10] Bait (2012)

Bait (2012)

Brief review: Back in 2010, Aussie director Andrew Traucki blew us out of the water with his magnificently-crafted and realistically terrifying film "The Reef" - arguably the best shark flick since "Jaws". In 2012 another Aussie director bring us another film involving sharks, but he ultimately fails to leave the impression Traucki did. Even though his "Bait" sounds pretty intriguing on paper, it's the sub-par execution and undeveloped script that let it down. After an unimpressive and rather cliched opening sequence featuring, of course, a bloody shark attack, "Bait" changes its direction and suddenly becomes a heist movie, than quickly turns into a disaster film, and then gets back to its 'shark flick' roots. No, it doesn't suffer from an identity crisis - it's all intentional, and it's all for a reason. However, despite its clever first 15 minutes, the movie never manages to live up to its potential, and gets trapped just like its dull, underwritten characters, sub-parly played by a cast of known and unknown Australian actors. In terms of scariness, "Bait" barely 'bites'. The gore is there, but the suspense is nonexistent, the shocks are very few and far between, and though there are a couple of well-executed, nasty shark attacks, the rest of them are just plain lame. While the practical effects are spot-on, the CGI effects are beyond cheesy, but the director compensates with an atmospheric setting, that is wet, claustrophobic, and isolated.

Overall summary: Some super-lame CGI work aside, Rendall's "Bait" is a reasonably watchable, yet not necessarily thrilling shark flick with loads of cool gore, but lacking in fearful intensity, likable characters or any sort of outstanding originality, in spite of its imaginative premise.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com

[5.00/10] What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)

What to Expect When
You're Expecting (2012)

QuickRating: Don't expect a lot from "What to Expect". While the attractively charismatic ensemble cast, especially the female part of it, do the best they could with the given material, and there are some moderately amusing moments and a couple of touching ones, the multi-layered, yet messy plot never really comes together the way it should, turning the film into a joyless affair with pregnancy-related humor, that is mostly lame and inappropriate.

[5.00/10] Dictado a.k.a. Childish Games (2012)

Dictado a.k.a.
Childish Games (2012)

QuickRating: This Spanish horror thriller has an interesting, if rather familiar premise, plus, it definitely possesses the creep factor, and keeps you guessing until the very end, but on the other hand, "Childish Games" suffers badly from its low production values, Antonio Chavarrías's generic direction and the utter lack of any real scares that could have saved it from being a pretty mediocre horror fare.

[5.00/10] Wanderlust (2012)

Wanderlust (2012)

QuickRating: It's easy to watch and completely free-spirited just like the majority of its hippie characters, and both Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd are fantastic in their roles, but "Wanderlust" is less funny than it's supposed to be and even though its director boldly tries something new and different to refresh the genre, the end result is an original, yet rather disappointing comedy with weird mood and lots of unexpected and mostly unpleasant nudity.

[5.00/10] Goon (2012)

Goon (2012)

QuickRating: More violent than funny and more nasty than harsh, "Goon" is a crude sports comedy that may have a big heart, but the sincerity of its human (not humane) characters and Sean William Scott's surprisingly engaging performance can't save this movie from being a so-so slapstick comedy with lots of blood, but very few laughs, made strictly for hockey fans, who will be the only one to fully enjoy the mess that's happening on screen.

[5.00/10] The Vow (2012)

The Vow (2012)

Brief review: Based on the true story of real-life couple Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, "The Vow" is director Michael Sucsy's very first theatrically released movie in his career. While the film's plot is inspired by one touching and truly heartfelt story, unlike this real story, the movie fails to make a big impact, because, strangely and ironically enough, it feels fabricated and improbable. The main reason for this paradoxicality lies in its banally-written script, filled with cliches, cheesy romance and trite dialogues, we've seen and heard million times before. Further more, "The Vow" is so obvious, you don't need to be Nostradamus to predict each next scene and pretty much every line. On a positive note, there are some moving moments that actually work, but those are very few and far between. The main cast is incredibly appealing, no doubt about that. Rachel McAdams is full of talent and possesses a true natural charisma, but sadly the weak script doesn't allow her to shine at all. Even the character she plays is not that likable. Channing Tatum's handsomeness works in his favor as usual, but his dramatic acting skills have yet to be developed. Fortunately, the chemistry between the two leads is strong enough, at least most of the time. Sam Neill and Jessica Lange's screen time is way too limited, the supporting cast is instantly forgettable, and Michael Sucsy's generic direction is nothing to write home about.

Overall summary: Aside from a couple of moving moments and Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum's good on-screen chemistry, "The Vow" is just another forgettable romantic dramedy, that suffers from its dated, hackneyed premise, flimsy script and complete predictability.

[5.00/10] American Reunion (2012)

American Reunion (2012)

Brief review: Back in 1999, the sexually-charged teen comedy, "American Pie", was a huge hit, and still remains as a classic. Well, sort of. It was followed by two hugely successful sequels in 2001 and 2003, and now in 2012 it's time for the "Reunion". Even though it has written nostalgia all over it, this forth sequels fails to meet expectations big time. The hardcore fans of the franchise won't mind the same old jokes, immature behavior and embarrassing situations, but for the rest of the audience, the "American Reunion" doesn't offer anything new, fresh, clever and even remotely original script-wise. Yes, there are a couple of hilarious scenes, and one or two laugh-out-loud moments, but overall there's no wit whatsoever. On the other hand, "American Reunion" kind of redeems itself near the end with an unexpectedly sweet, touching and heartwarming conclusion, that will put a smile on your face, plus, it features the long awaited 'sex revenge' of Stifler, that has something to do with one of the other characters' 'MILF' mom. Despite their age, the grown-up characters are still immature and horny, and haven't changed a bit. Jason Biggs still has that charming awkwardness about him, Chris Klein and Thomas Ian Nicholas are watchable at best, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari and Dania Ramirez are all likable as the girls, but Seann William Scott still plays the same annoying, silly jerk.

Overall summary: The last 20 minutes are surprisingly heartfelt, but apart from that, "American Reunion" is just a derivative, mildly funny installment, that would appeal only to the nostalgic fans of the franchise, who would be happy to have more of the same juvenile stuff.

[5.00/10] Johnny English Reborn (2011)

Johnny English Reborn (2011)

QuickRating: If you a fan of Rowan Atkinson you know what to expect from him, and he really does his best with the given material, but it's the ridiculous story and Parker's sub-par direction, that really bring this movie down. That said, "Johnny English Reborn" is still a mildly entertaining and occasionally funny spy comedy that delivers a couple of good laughs, and some exciting, yet implausible action sequences.

[5.00/10] The Road (2011)

The Road (2011)

One-sentence review: "The Road" has a sinister atmosphere, well-written and acted characters, as well as a couple of solid scares along the way, but towards the end it gets  too muddled, confusing, and unbelievably nonsensical.

[5.00/10] The Cat (2011)

The Cat (2011)

QuickRating: This potentially good cats-inspired Korean horror flick has a somewhat original concept, and it features a decent cast, some truly ominous images and a few graphically gory kills that fans of the genre would enjoy, however, after an intriguing first half, "The Cat" transforms into the typical Asian story, dealing with ghost kids and unsolved deaths, and it's all too familiar and hackneyed to be effective or very memorable.

[5.00/10] Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Brief review: It's hard to believe that the creator of the fantastic "Iron Man" 1 & 2, Jon Favreau, has directed this disappointing mess of a movie, based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name. He tries to merge two completely different genres, sadly very unsuccessfully, and as a result, his latest blockbuster "Cowboys & Aliens" ends up being unimpressive, uneven, and pretty lackluster in terms of execution. Although the action sequences are remarkably well-shot and pretty striking, surprisingly, those are very few and far between, and that's not a good thing for a movie that pretends to be a sci-fi epic. The scenery is typically western, and mostly consists of a sterile wilderness that is quite boring to watch, but the saturated color scheme of the cinematography makes it a bit more appealing to the eye. The special effects are absolutely first-rate and pretty slick, but they can't compensate for the director's lack of inspiration and а clear vision about what he's really trying to achieve. Daniel Craig is solid as usual as the central character, and Harrison Ford, while a bit underused, does his best with the material he's given. Olivia Wilde, gives another average performance as Jake's love interest, and the supporting cast does a passable job.

Overall summary: As silly as its title suggests, "Cowboys & Aliens" boasts some top-notch special effects and great action scenes, but it's mostly a dull, disjointed and unspectacular sci-fi/western hybrid that fails to engage, despite its capable director and competent cast.

[5.00/10] The Warrior's Way (2010)

The Warrior's Way (2010)

Brief review: Although in itself "Warrior's Way" is an Eastern movie made for Western tastes, first-time Korean director Sngmoo Lee struggles to find the balance between those two cultures, and as a result, his martial arts/western/fantasy hybrid fails to deliver a satisfying story. Also, for a film called "Warrior's Way", the movie doesn't provide enough action to justify its title. With the exception of the fast-paced opening sequence and the action-heavy final act, "Warrior's Way" is more of a romantic movie rather than a true martial arts flick. The fights themselves are nicely-choreographed and the wire-work is passable, but the action scenes are either shot in slow-motion or too fast to follow. However, in terms of visuals the film succeeds vastly, despite some cheesy CGI work, as it has some truly spectacular settings, and a vivid, almost artsy cinematography that pleases the eye. Korean star Jang Dong-gun plays the lead character Yang, and although his martial arts skills are undoubtedly impressive, he turns in an unbelievably dull and uncharismatic performance. Kate Bosworth definitely has the looks, but her acting abilities are rather questionable. Unsurprisingly, the great Geoffrey Rush steals the show as the cool drunkard, Ron.

Overall summary: Aside from some truly gorgeous settings, colorful cinematography and a few thrillingly-choreographed and nicely-shot action sequences, "Warrior's Way" is a poorly-acted, joyless misfire, that barely lives up to its promising title. Nice try, Sngmoo Lee!

Numerous QuickRatings PART 5: 2010 Movies [3]

Primal (2010)

QuickRating: Although the Australian bush provides a beautiful backdrop for this oddly intriguing story, and the acting from the young Aussie cast is decent at best, the film itself is almost ruined by an incompetent execution, so-so directing and weak script, and though it succeeds in the gore department, "Primal" fails to deliver genuine scares.

My Rating: 5.00/10

Jackass 3D (2010)

QuickRating: Featuring the best slow-mo sequences since "Zombieland"'s opening scene, and numerous incredible stunts, as well as some gross and even scary ones, "Jackass 3D" is three times crazier than its predecessors, and just as funny and entertaining, even though it's hardly watchable at times. Just see it.. if you dare.

My Rating: 5.75/10

Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

QuickRating: Grim, yet somewhat uplifting, "Welcome to the Rileys", can't boast with excellent production values or skillful direction, but it offers and original and emotionally-gripping story, and it features Kristen Stewart's best performance to date, a great turn by James Gandolfini, and an absolutely amazing supporting performance from Melissa Leo.

My Rating: 6.50/10

Another Year (2010)

QuickRating: Thoughtful, poignant and astoundingly acted, if rather slow-moving and overly simplistic, "Another Year" may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it offers a realistic glimpse of everyday life with its ups and lows, and shows how you can easily create your own happiness, if you believe in yourself, and if you're dedicated to the people you love.

My Rating: 7.25/10