The Core (2003)

5.5/10

Not the best apocalypse movie but not the worst either

Plot: The Earth's core has stopped spinning. Disasters are appearing all over the world: Birds acting crazy, powerful thunderstorms, 32 people die within seconds of each other when their pacemakers quit working. Dr. Josh Keyes and his crew of five (total members: 6) go down to the center of the Earth to set off a nuclear device to make the Earth's core start spinning again or Mankind will perish.

The Core isn't the best film about world disasters but it is fairly entertaining nevertheless. On one hand this film is full of action, explosions and a decent plot line. On the other hand, this same film is flawed, is predictable, riddled with cliches and doesn't have the best acting. When you balance the pros and cons, you are left with a brainless 135 minutes of overdramatic but entertaining film.

This film had potential to be so much better but failed to be much more then another forgettable action flick. The Core reminded me so much of the 1998  film Armageddon, where a group of drillers were sent to save the world, but sadly did not come to par with it. This movie lacked in the deep rooted character development, believable situation and better CGI.

The acting felt overdramatic and unreal, even with the amazing cast. The actors aren't completely at fault as the dialogue and interactions in between the characters are very underdeveloped. It felt as if someone in the editing room decided to cut out all the meaningful emotions and character depth leaving an empty fiery shell of people running around. Stanley Tucci and Bruce Greenwood kept the emotions going in the film with fairly good performances. I am a fan of both Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank but this film didn't do them much favour. DJ Qualls' character was my least favourite as it was way too dramatic, fake and forced.

I won't even go into the logic of how certain situations played out.

This film is for those who want to watch an exciting film without having to use their emotions/brain. Forgettable film

Paradise Road (1997)

8.5/10 [highly recommended]

An amazing and very moving film about different girls from different backgrounds forced together in unbearable circumstance. A test of will.

Paradise Road is a Fact-based recount of a group of women who are imprisoned on the island of Sumatra by the Japanese during World War II and used music as a relief to their misery.

Fantastic acting, that will grip you from moment one. Really shows that many of the war struggles in the POW camps and the endurance of women.

To End All Wars (2001)

6/10

A look at war through forgiveness

To End All Wars is a true story about four Allied POW's who endure harsh treatment from their Japanese captors during World War II while being forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle

This film explores how POW find their freedom through faith, belief and calm. Forgiving their captors and not exacting revenge.

To End All Wars is a very unique war films. Through the duration of the movie one does not feel anger or hatred but rather a feeling of pity towards the guards. Even watching the cruelty of the captors on the prisoners, the forgiveness of the prisoners overshadow any feelings of hate.   

The film didn't introduce the main character Ernest 'Ernie' Gordon as well as I had hoped. It was confusing in the first 20 minutes as to who the story centred around. The focus seems to jump from character to character and not really showing the relationship between people. I also had a hard time not seeing Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, which became distracting.

Some parts of the movie felt overdramatic and overdone (eg the ending where Campbell was beating up the guard). The exaggeration of events was unnecessary and did not help to emphasize the powerful message that underlines the film. It felt

Aside from some overdone scenes, this film is very well done, giving you a very different look at war.

Saints and Soldiers (2003)

8/10 [highly recommended]

Simple story with a lot of heart

Saints and Soldiers is a war drama that is based loosely around events taking place shortly after the Malmedy massacre during the Battle of the Bulge where several US soldiers and a downed British airman need to reach Allied lines to pass on some vital intelligence.

This film is very character driven and extremely underrated! It doesn't focus only on action packed gore filled scenes, but rather the personal battles each one of the soldiers goes through. Exploring themes of morale, faith, fear, friendship and purpose. Each character experiences some sort of change and personal battle as they fought to survive.

A very powerful film that carries a lot of content. Sit down. Give this film a chance.

The Raid Redemption (2011)

7/10 [recommended to selected  audience]

The Raid is filled with fantastic action, packed with endless martial arts fight scenes, heart pumping suspenseful moments and a whole lot of gore.

The Raid Redemption is an action packed Indonesian film that feels like a cross between Kill Bill, Jackie Chan film (without the humour), Die Hard and Ninja Assassin.The entire film is set inside a run down apartment building, where layout remains a mystery and every corner of the premise is filled with thugs. The movie follows members of the SWAT team as they attempt to take down the mobster and his arm of killers.

The storyline is fairly simple, with a bit of a twist towards the end, but nothing overly complicated. What is worth noting is the well choreographed fight scenes and captivating cinematography.

Recommended to those who love a brainless action packed film full of blood, fights and action. Even though the subtitles went off course and paused  during parts of the movie, it did not effect the experience of the film.

Parents (1989)

8/10

A morbidly creepy yet funny film that will make you think twice about eating meat again.

Parents is set in 1950's about a boy who began to question where his parents is getting their dinner meat from. A comedy/mystery/horror/drama, the entire story is told from the perspective of the little boy, Michael.

Acting is superb! Bryan Madorsky is very genuine in his portrayal of the confused/scared Michael who is unsure who to trust. Madorsky's only acting gig and he gave a fantastic performance. I wish I could have seen him in more films. The parents, played by Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt, are very believable and very creepy...I had the chills every time they smiled....

Parents is very deceiving as it uses sit-com music and a warm family appeal giving viewers a false sense of safety and just when your guards are down the film will plunge into the horrific scene. The realization that you are actually watching a scary movie comes so quickly that it is chilling.

The cinematography creates the horror and element of fear. The film focuses on using high and low angles to give the illusion of the petite-ness of Michael and the towering built of the grown ups. The film also uses a lot of spins and turns emphasizing the idea of confusion and loss that Michael feels. In the scene where Michael is tied to a chair, the entire room is turning but the camera remain fixed on the people-- this shot is quite entrancing. The film has many short cuts, blending dream and flashback sequences and reality together further creating a sense of confusion and fear.

The blending of scenes into scenes and scenes into a solid screen of red makes this film really scary. Red has been contrasted and saturated quite a bit in this movie, making it loom over all other colours. The scenes are not overly gore, but is able to gross you out nevertheless.

I highly recommend this film to horror/comedy/mystery lovers. It is not your typical slasher or ghost film. It uses the element of safety (your parents) to create the sense of fear.

The Deer Hunter (1978)

8/10 [recommended]

the horrors of war

The Deer Hunter is An in-depth examination of the way the Vietnam war affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in the USA.

The Deer Hunter takes us through the effects of war with three close knit friends, showing us that there is nothing glamourous or glorifying about war. This film has some scenes of blood and violence but the uneasiness this film creates does not come from any of these elements. The sheer fear and unease comes from a single bullet and a revolver. Without revealing too much, the element of the bullet and revolver help to emphasize the horrors that comes with war.

Absolutely brilliant casting with Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryll Streep, and Christopher Walken (all in their younger years).


This is not a easy relaxing film but one that is psychologically straining. Well shot and worth checking out.