recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
The Babadook (2014) Review

Many of today's horror movies are garbage and have many problems. But this movie works on so many different levels. It's about a troubled family who finds a book called "Mister Babadook". After reading it, weird things go on and the kid starts believing that the monster is real. It was expertly shot and each scene sends fear down your spine. What really stands out is how great the editing was. It made us fear the night sequences in the movie and it was so terrifying that I had to pause the movie a few times in the last half hour. The story is also really powerful as it displays the characters emotions real well and it does a nice job setting up what they're going through. This movie has everything that many other modern horror films don't have. The horror genre might be dying out but this movie shows us that it's not completely gone. This movie is definitely up there with horror classics like "The Shining" and "The Exorcist". Let's just hope that this brand of horror won't be dying out. Thank you to "Jennifer Kent" for this brilliant work of art and hopefully we'll see more from her.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
The Imitation Game (2014) Review

How fast have you been sold on someone's performance? Benedict Cumberbatch sold me in the first 5 minutes. He was truly amazing and he deserves to win Best Actor. He did a performance for all ages.

This is a movie based on a true story about a group of mathematician's trying to solve the Enigma code. The rest of the movie retells the incidents of how they solved the code and the events that happened in between.

You can argue that this movie is Oscar bait and technically you'd be right. But I found this movie to be very entertaining. It is suspenseful and exhilarating watching them try to crack the code. The mutual trust and friendship between the colleagues is uplifting. Also, the realization in their heroism is gut-wrenching.

Also, there are some very depressing and sad moments near the end. It gives more insight to this dark tale by featuring them. I was more engaged into the film when it showed them.

The constant cuts between time periods can be kind of heavy-handed but if you're able to get over it then you should like the movie.

Also, this movie isn't confusing in terms of math. You don't need to be a mathematician to understand the movie. It is very easy to follow so anyone can pick up on it.

I really liked this movie. It is both uplifting and disheartening at the same time. It has flaws but it kept me entertained throughout the whole experience.

Final Verdict: 8/10 Great
The Fly (1986) Review

This tragic and disturbing body horror film has strongly developed characters which make it a surprisingly affective horror film.

After a scientist attempts to teleport himself, a fly accidentally gets in with him and he begins to gruesomely transform into a man/fly hybrid.

This movie is all about tension. It leads up to the big reveal of the monster at the end. Also, it has greatly developed characters. The movie does a great job making us sympathize with Brundle and at the end, it contains a tragic ending which works so well because we can't help but feel sorry for Brundle after seeing what he's been through. It's pretty hard to watch but it's fitting.

The special effects look phenomenal and despite being almost 30 years old, they still look gruesome today. Few movie monsters are as disturbing to look at as this one. I once thought that The Thing (1982) had great effects for its time (which it does) but this movie clearly has put as much effort into making the effects as gruesome and realistic as possible.

But I didn't like how the movie started off slow. It took half an hour for Brundle to first get infected. I get that the movie was trying to set up the characters (and it succeeded in doing so) but the first half hour felt much slower then the rest of the film. It should have been cut down a bit. However, the other hour of the film which follows is well-done and it had great buildup and tension.

Despite a slow start, The Fly is a very well-done movie which has strongly developed characters. Its effects are disgusting and realistic and they still hold up today. Its ending is very tragic and it gets me every time. If you don't mind gore then I strongly recommend this film.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
Alien (1979) Review

Ridley Scott delivers a movie that combines horror and sci-fi in such a way making it into a terrific classic film. The movie centers around a group of people answering a distress signal from a planet only to have an alien make it onto the ship and they have to kill it before it kills them. As soon as the Alien makes it on their ship, the film provides a tense ride as the crew is offed one by one. The acting was fine on all parts and the cgi was pretty good for the time. This might get boring for some people but fans of sci-fi and horror will most likely enjoy the film. Director Ridley Scott did a great job setting up a plausible environment. It is pretty realistic and it didn't take the path that most horror movies nowadays take. The lighting and camera effects make the alien look like one of the most terrifying cgi monsters of the decade. This movie took the original alien movie formula that most movies of the 50's and 60's took and spiced it up adding new elements. It takes a simple plot and it turns it into a masterpiece. If you are a fan of sci-fi and horror then this movie is for you. It's one of the best horror films ever made.

Final Verdict: 10/10 Masterpiece
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Review

This is a motivational story about a group of people in prison. It shows them going through many different conflicts. Most of the guards treat them badly and often abuse the inmates. The ugly realities of prison life are realized in the first half hour of the movie. There was strong acting on all parts. It was expertly shot too. It deserves all of the praise it has received. It's been near the top of IMDb's top 10 for years and it's showing no signs of slowing down. It's very moving and it has a lot of character development. It perfectly represents all the struggles that the characters go through. Also, the movie is highly brutal. Especially near the beginning. This isn't for anyone who doesn't like brutality but it's rather fitting in this movie. The way it combined brutality with a highly memorable story makes it something special. It touched me in a way that I cannot describe. Without any doubt, it's the best drama ever and one of the greatest movies of all time.

Final Verdict: 10/10 Masterpiece
Shutter Island (2010) - Review

While this is nowhere near the quality of Scorsese's best films, Shutter Island is still able to make good use of its source material to make a haunting mystery thriller.

2 detectives investigating a disappearance at a mental institution find that the island may be more than they imagined. They soon realize that there may not be a way off of the island and they might be killed if they continue to stay on it.

Firstly, this is nowhere near the quality of some of Scorsese's best films. However, it still manages to provide enough to keep the viewer interested. Although the pacing is slow for the most part, it never feels boring at all and the movie keeps you engaged throughout. This is an ultimately soul-crushing and thought provoking film which you will constantly maintain a certain amount of suspense which doesn't get lost anytime soon in it.

The acting is overall solid on all parts. Leonardo DiCaprio gives a great performance as always. It may not be one of his best performances but he is still able to play a convincing character. All the other actors give great performances as well but most of my attention was focused on DiCaprio as I felt that he was the only one I noticed and he was the only one who stood out to me.

Scorsese tries to make an unpredictable plot twist but after Teddy Daniels starts questioning things, it's clear what direction the movie is going in and I wasn't as blown away by the plot twist as I was with other movies with great plot twists. I felt that Scorsese gave too many hints to it and some of them were too obvious. This is why I feel that this is a weaker film compared to his other works.

I know that I've said this twice already but I'm going to say it one last time. This is a good movie but it is nothing compared to his other masterworks. The plot twist is hinted at too much and I wasn't completely blown away by it as I hoped I would be. However, this movie was able to keep my attention throughout and I would say that it's worth a watch. Just don't expect it to be anything special.

Final Verdict: 7/10 Good
Fearless (1993) Review

This is a fantastic character study which expertly details someone's transformation after they survive a horrific plane crash.

After a man survives a plane crash, he is hailed as a hero because he lead several other survivors to safety. This has a negative effect on his personality though and he then meets another survivor who lost her baby in the disaster.

The movie has great character development as we get to know more about Max and Carla. The movie makes us care for them and we get to experience their change throughout the film. This movie has the tendency to catch you off guard and it can surprise you're least expecting it.

Probably the most memorable scene is the plane crash scene. It is frighteningly realistic. It shows the force of the wind and Earth ripping apart the aircraft. It is a horrifying scene and a horrifying memory which changed the characters life forever. It is a scene that will stick with you long after viewing it.

This movie isn't perfect though. There are a few moments where the movie can be slow and a bit too long but other that, it's an underrated gem which will stick with you for a long time.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
Paths of Glory (1957) Review

This is one of the most powerful and moving anti-war films ever made.

When 3 soldiers refuse to continue with an impossible attack, their superior officer decides to make an example out of them.

This movie is thoroughly engaging from start to finish. No parts felt too slow and no parts felt too fast. 88 minutes is a short running time but it is just the right length for this movie.

Kubrick was a genius filmmaker and this movie succeeds because of its simple yet very effective story. Its story discusses a very important issue and that's what usually makes a memorable and entertaining film to watch.

The ending scene which shows a woman singing in a bar sparked such a human empathy in me that it made me cry. It's quite a sad scene which can make anyone cry.

The fact that this is based on true events only makes the story more poignant. The only anti-war film which comes close to topping this is "All Quiet on the Western Front". This is a must watch for all fans of Kubrick and the genre.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
The Rating System

Here's the rating system I go by to review movies. You don't have to use this in your reviews but I use this.

1/10: Movies where I can not think of anything which I like about them whatsoever. Faces of Death is the only film which I've ever given this rating to before. I try to watch good films more.

2/10 - 4/10: Movies that I dislike. Some of the films here may have a few things which I like, but not enough for me to give them an average rating. A 2/10 would barely have anything which I like about it. A 3/10 would have a couple things I like about it. A 4/10 would have a few things I like, but there are a little more things that I dislike about it so I don't feel like it deserves anything higher.

5/10 - 6/10: Movies I'm neutral for. I neither dislike nor like them. I don't have a strong opinion about them, and I probably won't revisit them again. 5/10 is for movies where I'm kind of leaning more towards a negative rating if I'd really have to pick between the 2. 6/10 is for films where I'm leaning more towards a positive rating if I'd really have to pick between the 2.

7/10 - 9/10: Movies I either liked or really liked. A 7/10 would be a movie which may have a few flaws, but there are enough things that it does right for me to consider it as something I like. I might revisit them a few times in a blue moon. A 8/10 would be a movie which I really liked. It may have a few flaws, but overall, I would find these movies to be pretty great. I'd be okay with revisiting them every now and then. A 9/10 would be a movie which I think is really great. Films with this rating usually only have one thing I disliked about them or a couple minor things I disliked about them.

10/10: Movies which I can find nothing that I dislike with them. Also, films that get this rating are super entertaining, and they keep me attached to the screen.
Paddington (2014) Review

Paddington can't be called the best family movie of 2015 since it was only January and we're barely into the year yet. However, we are definitely off to a great start. I thought this was just going to be a trashy ripoff of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua". Luckily, this film turned out to be better then it by a lot. Sure, the script is a little over sentimental at times but for the most part, it's pretty entertaining. The movie has Nicole Kidman as the villain who is a museum taxidermist. She wants Paddington's fur and she wants to mount it on her wall. She adds enough suspense to the film to help it get away from "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" which was too cute all the time. This movie has a few problems but the good far outweighs the bad and it delivers on its promise. It's a great example of how good family films should be and hopefully more family movies will learn off this one and maybe improve off of it. It's a great start to 2015.

Final Verdict: 8/10 Great
Dredd 3D (2012) - Review

File:Dredd 3D Movie Favorite Scene-0  Dredd is an exciting and fast-paced remake which finally gave the audience the faithful adaptation they deserved. It's not perfect, but it is a huge step up from Judge Dredd (1995).

The future America is a wasteland and a large group of people live in Mega City 1. The police force consists of "Judges" who have the power of a judge, jury, and executioner. Judge Dredd, the ultimate judge, works to take down a drug cartel only to find himself and a rookie he's with trapped inside one of the mega-blocks where they are forced to fight all f the other members of the Ma-Ma clan.

Judge Dredd (1995) was a horrible movie. It was very unfaithful and it made a very poor attempt to parody Dredd. However, Pete Travis decided to make a more faithful adaptation and he succeeded in doing so. Dredd does an amazing job capturing the violence and brutality of its source material.

Usually when a movie has extreme violence, you expect that it will be distractingly violent. However, I didn't feel that way about this movie at all. I never felt that the action sequences in the movie looked ridiculous or overly-fanciful and the movie did not overstay its welcome. With that being said, it's great that the movie was still able to remain very faithful without being distractingly violent at all.

However, this movie is style over substance. It doesn't have too much depth to the characters. However, it did have a little bit of depth to Cassandra Anderson. It showed that this was her last attempt to become a judge as she failed previously. Also, it shows Judge Dredd and her growing to like each other as the movie goes on. However, this still isn't too much character development and the movie is definitely more about its visual effects.

Also, I really enjoyed the slow motion effects. They are really well-done. I'm not going to spoil anything but the slow motion scene at the end is clearly the best one in the film. Because of the effects and music, it is both beautiful and unnerving at the same time. It is definitely one of the more memorable slow motion scenes out there. However, there are also a few other great slow motion scenes in the film which are great too.

In conclusion, this is a phenomenal movie. It proved to be the faithful adaptation that fans were hoping for. It is light on character development but it is definitely a must-see film for its great visuals. It is also not distractingly violent at all and it doesn't get carried away with itself. This is a must-see film for all the people who waited to see a faithful adaptation.

Final Verdict: 8/10 Great
The Prestige (2006) Review

This is a good movie as a whole but I feel that Nolan overdid it on the plot twists this time. In my opinion, Memento and Inception are much better films.

2 rival stage magicians attempt to outdo one another by performing their magic show and trying to cause as much damage as possible to the other one's career after a tragic accident.

The films score is just okay. It fits great with the movie but I didn't find it as listenable on its own. Its combination of notes and chords isn't anything new that we haven't seen before. I feel that its music is just sound effects which are choreographed well with the film.

Nolan is known for his elaborate, non-linear movie plots. Here, he relied on plot twist after plot twist before the final major plot twist at the end. Although this made for some good scenes, I feel that he overdid it way too much. After 1 plot twist happens, it confuses you for a bit. But before you're able to catch your breath, the movie hits you with another plot twist and it makes you more frustrated. The movie does it several times during the movie. I was eventually able to understand its plot but I didn't have as much fun trying to figure it out as I did with Nolan's other movies. Also, you have to suspend a lot of disbelief at the ending. I felt like it was done just for the sake of it in this case.

However, despite what I said, I do feel that this is a pretty good movie. It has great acting from Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, great cinematography and lighting, and most of the film up to the end is thoroughly entertaining. It's really only the ending which truly upset me. So in conclusion, this is a nice film and all but I've personally seen better movies from Nolan.

Final Verdict: 6/10 Okay
Moon (2009) Review

"Moon" is a compelling work of science fiction. It dives into the aspect of a psychological thriller and implements it well. It pays a tribute to classic science fiction movies by combining different elements to make one of the best movies of 2009. Sam Rockwell's great performance drives the movie even more. It starts off like a simple case of cabin fever. But astronaut Sam Bell spirals into madness due to bizarre things he experiences that make him question what's going on. As he discovers more about his surroundings, tension rises as his life becomes more critical. Throughout the whole movie, the viewer constantly thinks what else does the movie have in store for the characters? The movie is somewhat tense throughout. It has a great soundtrack that raises tension even more. The constant feeling of being alone creates a great and chilling atmosphere. It relies on its plot twists but in a different and unique way. Director Duncan Jones has made a great name for himself by this superb work of science fiction.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Review

The first act is about a group of people training to be in the marine corps. Their drill instructor Lt. Lockhart, is really hard on them and his insults are actually quite funny. The first act was centered around Pvt. Joker and his experiences. As the scene continues on, one of the volunteers named Pvt. Pyle, is shown to be overweight and is often picked on by Lt. Lockhart. You can't help but to feel sorry for Pvt. Pyle and throughout the first act, you're hoping that he'll be able to turn himself around so he can pass. The ending of the scene was highly tragic but fitting. The second act showed that Pvt. Joker finished boot camp and was now in the Vietnam War. It showed him fighting through enemies as they advanced in the war. I don't think the second act was as good as the first act because the second act didn't draw me back in as much. Still I wouldn't describe the second act as bad because it was still entertaining. The scene when they are pinned down by a sniper is very tense. None of the fighting sequences carried on for too long and seemed to be just the right length. This is a very good movie so make sure you watch it.

Final Verdict: 10/10 Masterpiece.
How Reliable is IMDb?

IMDb is a very popular site. People go to it every day to look up reviews, ratings, and to see if a new movie is going to be good or bad. In fact, I like using it too. But is IMDb really a reliable site?

I'd say no.

Really you don't know whose reviewing the movies. It can be a reliable person who has studied film extensively but you don't know that. It can just be an ignorant troll or fanboy. There are many trolls who will purposely give a movie on IMDb a 1 without even seeing it. Also, many fanboys will give movies which include an actor or director that they like a 10. A great example of this is Christopher Nolan. He has a lot of fanboys which can be annoying. Interstellar, Inception, and The Dark Knight are all in IMDb's top 30. All 3 of those movies are good but they are not some of the best movies ever made.

The Dark Knight is really cluttered with its plot. Nolan tries to accomplish too much. There are too many characters and the movie's plot goes in way too many directions.

Interstellar has issues with its pacing. The scores play loud and drown out all the background noise. The movie is really bland too. Also, the movie has endless exposition.

I like Inception. In fact it's one of my favorite movies. But it isn't even close to the 14th best movie ever made.

Also, IMDb has awards you can get for doing different things. 1 of them is that you have to rate all the movies in IMDb's top 250. Some people don't want to do that and they just instantly rate all the movies. It's very misleading and it's another reason why IMDb's ratings are useless.

But the most important reason is that it's full of people not interested in learning about the history of cinema. People whose movie knowledge barely expands any further then the past 10-15 years.

Also, IMDb's top 250 is useless too. AFI's top 100 list from 2007 is better. The people who decided that list was composed of 1,500 film artists, critics, and historians.

Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic are better sites. The user ratings are unreliable there too. But you can also read critic reviews which are much more reliable. Those people actually have experience with movies.

What is your opinion on this? I'm interested to hear your thoughts. Tell me what you think about IMDb.
Neutron stars

**Neutron stars** are stars in the universe where it is very dense and have a powerful attraction force. Neutron stars are one of the smallest stars in the universe. For instance, the Neutron star is as big as a large city but contains a mass comparable to the Sun itself. But what makes a Neutron star conceptual is its extreme nature. Unlike most stars where there is no solid surface, the Neutron star have a solid and dense surface. And from its name as a Neutron star, the star is made mostly of neutrons.

There are a few type of Neutron stars in the universe. There are Magnetars and Pulsars. Magnetars have incredibly strong magnetic fields while Pulsars unleashes energy in from their pole and rotates at unfathomably high speeds. Some Neutron stars can also be both a Magnetar and a Pulsar and carry an immense amount of energy.
The Bridge (2006) - Review

Everyone seems to be really divided on this movie. I think that it was a great movie but it could've been much better.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a really popular suicide site. This documentary talks about the people who committed suicide and it shows interviews with the family's of those who killed themselves.

It was a very difficult decision to use actual footage of those who committed suicide but the director was brave enough to do it. The film also got controversy because Eric Steel lied on his permit to the Golden Gate Bridge. This was a very risky film to make because if word got out about it then more people could try to jump to have their deaths recorded. Also, it was shown that suicide rates on the Golden Gate Bridge did in fact increase since the film was released.

But all controversy aside, this was actually a good film. It contains an honest look at suicide and the director tried to pay as much respect as possible to the people who lost their lives. Eric Steel looked for the families of the people who lost their lives and he compassionately interviewed them for the film.

This movie also has several powerful scenes which can be hard to watch. But this movie's power doesn't really come from its content as much as it comes from the emotional piano score. It's real simple but it's very effective at getting emotions out of the audience. The most powerful scene is the opening in my opinion.

But while this is a good work of art, I don't feel that it is really great. After watching the interviews for about an hour, I didn't feel like I was growing substantially from the film. I know that it had a message and I got it but I really didn't feel much of an impact because of it. Also, it can be quite disheartening to know that when someone died on film, the cameramen likely felt satisfaction knowing that they got footage for their film.

However, the fact that they refused to tell the family's that they filmed the deaths of their loved ones can be excused because they were trying to do their best to make sure that word didn't come out that they were filming suicides. If it did then they could have caused more suicides as some people would want their deaths to be immortalized on film.

In conclusion, this is a pretty good film. It could've been better if they worked on the message of the film more but I still found it to be a powerful film which is an honest look at suicide. I also feel that because of its controversy, it has become somewhat overlooked and misunderstood. I for one liked this film. I'm not sure if I'd watch it again but I do feel that people should give it a second chance.

Final Verdict: 7/10 Good
Blade Runner (1982) Review

This is a slow moving sci-fi film but it has great themes. It's about a man in the police force who's hired to kill 4 murderous replicants. It's mostly slow-paced but its engaging climax and great production choices are what makes it such a masterpiece. Its themes require audience's to think rather than experience. The voice overs are unnecessary but later cuts are devoid of them. Ridley Scott has proved to be a visionary artist here by producing a bleak society where it's always dark and raining. Its climax serves as an iconic portrayal of "man vs. machine". Its climax is very moving and engaging and it's one of the more memorable scenes from the 80's. Then at the last shot, the movie pulls the rug out from under you. I liked the cinematography. It made the movie look bleak and it made the society look like it was dwindling. The acting was strong on all parts especially coming from Harrison Ford. Because of this movie's production choices, I can see why it's as famous as it is today. Unfortunately, it failed at the box office probably because it came out 2 weeks later than E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. But it has become a cult classic and today it's regarded as of the best sci-fi and neo-noir films.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
The Lion King (1994) Review

This is one of the most popular and important Disney animated movies of all time. It's dark, emotionally stirring, and hard to watch at times. It has a great story about revenge and although the plot isn't entirely original, the movie handles it so well that it didn't bother me. The intro is very memorable and it will forever be remembered as one of the best movie intros of all time. I'm not going to spoil anything but a particular characters death is handled so well that it made most people cry bitter tears regardless of their age. It's probably the most saddest scene for any animated film. Like most Disney animated films, it offered adult themes which makes it good and enjoyable for grown ups as well. With some Disney films my nostalgia wears off but with this film, it gets better every time I watch it. Its final act has more action then you'd expect to find in a Disney film. I did rather enjoy the ending scene. Also, it has one of if not the best movie soundtrack of all time too. It perfectly fit the mood and setting of the movie and it's pretty catchy. It's a must see for all animated movie fans,

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
Samsara (2011) - Review

A common quote I've heard several times before is "A picture is worth a thousand words". It depends on what picture you're looking at but if you're watching Samsara then its images will take a lifetime to read.

Filmed over a period of 5 years in 25 countries, Samsara transports us to disaster zones, enormous cities, and natural landmarks as we get to witness breathtaking imagery.

This movie is unlike any other film I have ever seen. It has no words, no plot, and no characters. Its only purpose is to present us with dozens upon dozens of overwhelmingly beautiful photographs featuring many wonders around the world. Just about every single shot is masterfully filmed. I could take almost every single photo from the movie, hang it on a poster on my wall, and admire it for years. This movie displays some of the most beautiful images I have ever seen before.

The music is also great too. But most of the time, you won't notice it because you'll be distracted on a great shot. However, the music is just noticeable and quiet enough to give you a good feeling and you'll find that it immerses you even more into the film even when you pay more attention to the shots. It works with the movie very well and it engaged me even more.

I really want to give this a 5/5 but there were a few sequences which bugged me. One of the scenes contained a group of female strippers dancing around in a circle. The other one contained a slaughter house and it showed us animals getting turned into food (don't worry, it's not too graphic). There were also a few other scenes which didn't interest me. Those scenes kind of took me out of the experience for a bit because I didn't feel that they looked as dazzling as many of the other scenes in the movie. Fortunately, there were only a few of those scenes in the entire film but it did annoy me a great deal when those sequences happened.

Despite the few weaker sequences, I for one extremely enjoyed the film. I can safely say that I've felt more engaged in this movie then almost every other film I've ever seen before (even some of my top 10 favorite movies of all time). If you're a fan of photography then this is definitely the biggest must-see film ever. I might check out Ron Fricke's other 2 films (Baraka and Chronos) sometime in the future to see if they can match up to this one.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
The Wrestler (2008) Review

This is a great film topped off by Mickey Rourke's outstanding performance. It's about a wrestler who is forced to stop his career because he might die of a heart attack. The film shows him struggling to find something else in life he likes doing. He then meets an exotic dancer who he falls in love with who is also ready to start a new life. His acting performance is definitely one of the more iconic ones of the last couple decades. The movie is about his struggle to move on with life and his new found girlfriend and his daughter both give him courage to move on and we can sympathize with him. The ending is ambiguous and it leaves room for discussion so the viewer can decide whether ending he prefers. I'm not going to spoil the ending but it makes us think if he made the right or wrong choice so I appreciate the choice the film made. I don't think younger audiences would be able to relate with Randy "The Ram" because it contains some deep concepts but older people would likely be able to relate with him and enjoy the movie more. If you like wresting and want to see a moving story about passion then this movie is for you.

Final Verdict: 8/10 Great
Requiem for a Dream (2000) Review

I found Requiem For a Dream to be much more scarier than most modern horror movies nowadays. It is probably one of the most horrifying horror movies created.

This movie details how 4 people have their lives ruined as a result of repeated drug use. The film shows how their actions affect their lives.

This is a movie where you can’t watch it a second time. It has nothing to do with its quality but the reason is because you don’t know if you can put yourself through another viewing of it. What makes this film so horrifying is that the events that are detailed can actually happen and they have happened before. The first 2/3 of this are bearable but near the end, it gets highly frightening as it shows how their actions effected them.

The acting is magnificent. All main characters give strong performances which allow us to get more immersed in certain parts of it. Ellyn Burnstyn and Jenniffer Connely did amazing performances and Marlon Waynes was a shocker in such a serious role. Sara (played by Ellyn Burnstyn) is the saddest character who we feel sorry for the most. She plays someone who gets addicted to diet pills her doctor prescribes. I felt sorry for the rest of the characters but I felt sorry for Sara much more.

This film must be watched by everyone. Not just for its frightening imagery but for its educational value. In school, we’ve been told “don’t do drugs” several times in but in order to know how truly frightening the consequences of drug use can be, you need to watch this film. It’s hard to watch but it will stick with you long after viewing it. This is by far the most powerful anti-drug film ever made.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Review

This is a somewhat predictable but lovely film which combines an honest look at poverty in India with one of the best love stories in recent years.

Jamal who wants to find his long lost love Latika, goes on a game show called "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". After he's suspected of cheating, he's interrogated and he starts to explain how he knew all the answers.

To say that this is expertly shot would be an understatement. It would be nearly impossible for another movie to win "Best Picture" over it. Every shot is amazing and not a single one seems worse than the last.

The clever structure of the film uses the backstory to explain how he knew each of the answers to show what life is like for much of India's population. Even some of the more disturbing things that go on are detailed very well in the movie.

The actors all did a great job. Especially the younger cast which is rather surprising considering that this is their first time acting for many of them. They acted well and I was sold in the first 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, the film's strength falters near the end. Blaming plot contrivances on "fate" seemed lazy and the happy ending felt a bit hollow to me. But besides this, this is still a powerful and moving film which will entertain you all throughout it.

This is a great movie. It has great acting and it was expertly shot. The movie details violence well and it's handled greatly too. This is Danny Boyle's best movie since Sunshine and Trainspotting.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
American History X (1998) Review

This is probably one of the deepest films made in years. Edward Norton made an incredible lead performance that drives the movie well. This film can be hard to watch at times and it may not be for everyone with its intense action and violence but the overall message of the movie is well thought out and is quite moving. Even the most violent of people can change as seen by Derek when he becomes friends with a black man when he was in prison. Behind all the violence lies a great message that is pretty motivational. Its plot details how black and white people despise each other and often get in fights and even kill each other. The movie details how brothers Derek and Danny both try to turn themselves around from their harsh life. All of their friends are racist and both of them fear their friends turning on them if they try to leave their gang. The ending is tragic and it's hard to watch. It gets me every time but it's fitting. This is a really amazing film. It has a great story and a great message. All of this combines to make one of the best movies in the 90's. As long as you can get by the gore and action then this will likely be a film for you. This is a must see film for all fans of drama movies.

Final Verdict 9/10 Amazing.
List of Gloving Teams

UV - Unique Visuals

 Ayo? - Are you Ok?

PM - Puppet Masters

TM - Tutting Movement

UFL - Unidentified Flying Lights

MOB - Moving on Beat

RBG - Really Blown Glovers

LA - Legendary Artists

LOL - Lords of Light

PLL - Peace Love Lights

HAH - Happy and Hypnotized

NL - Northern Lights

LIT - Lost in Trails

DM - Digit Mafia

MeoW - Music evolves our World

ILL - ILL-UMINATISWAG

TNT - Team n Trance

HS - Hand Squad

JL - Jedi Lights

SS - Shape Shifters

GF - Glove Fiends

LJ - Light Jugglers

FML - Family

ID - iDigit

AAG - Amidst Ambit Glovers

ON1 - ON 1

@.@ - Nameless

Vivid - Vivid

CC - Concept Creators
Full Metal Jacket (1987) Review

The first act is about a group of people training to be in the marine corps. Their drill instructor Lt. Lockhart, is really hard on them and his insults are actually quite funny. The first act was centered around Pvt. Joker and his experiences. As the scene continues on, one of the volunteers named Pvt. Pyle, is shown to be overweight and is often picked on by Lt. Lockhart. You can't help but to feel sorry for Pvt. Pyle and throughout the first act, you're hoping that he'll be able to turn himself around so he can pass. The ending of the scene was highly tragic but fitting. The second act showed that Pvt. Joker finished boot camp and was now in the Vietnam War. It showed him fighting through enemies as they advanced in the war. I don't think the second act was as good as the first act because the second act didn't draw me back in as much. Still I wouldn't describe the second act as bad because it was still entertaining. The scene when they are pinned down by a sniper is very tense. None of the fighting sequences carried on for too long and seemed to be just the right length. This is a very good movie so make sure you watch it.

Final Verdict: 8/10 Great.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) Review

Although somewhat entertained throughout, I wasn't that impressed by this one. The acting was fine. The soundtrack may not be as good as fans make it out to be but it was still pretty catchy. Also the cgi looked pretty good. However, I felt like the movie was trying way too hard to be funny. Even though it's suppose to be this very funny movie, nobody was laughing at the theater I was in. The comedy was very forced and I felt that it wasn't really necessary half the time. At the beginning of the movie. I thought it was going to be a deep movie but after the first 20 minutes, my hope was gone. It ended up being a misguided action movie. The unmemorable super villain was another misstep. And that's another main flaw in the movie. Character development was minimal and I felt no emotional attachment to half of the main characters. I did enjoy most recent Marvel movies but this was just okay. It was a forgettable entry in the marvel series and it didn't do it for me.

Final Verdict: 6/10 Okay.
The Pianist (2002) - Review

A very engaging and fantastically shot WW2 film which is one of Polanski's best films in years.

This movie retells the events of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a famous Polish pianist as he attempts to survive during WW2 and narrowly escapes death multiple times.

This movie may not be as brutal as "Schindler's List" was but it still contains several dark scenes which can be hard to watch. It showed to us that surviving the Holocaust was based on luck and it was easy to get killed. If you were weaker and unable to work, you'd be in danger of getting shot. "The Pianist" captures this element very well and that was what I really liked about it.

This movie is pretty tense because his fate is uncertain throughout the movie. He often hides in Nazi infested areas and his allies have to try their hardest to hide him. Often when his cover is blown, he only narrowly escapes death. Also, one scene in the film (which I won't give away because of spoilers) is so tense that it is guaranteed to make everyone who is not familiar with the true story tense up unlike anything else.

Also, I really love the cinematography. It really captures the sense of barrenness very well. Some of its scenes are so jaw-dropping, it's surprising that any movie could be able to film them. This movie is definitely a visual treat unlike anything else.

Adrien Body gave a great performance. In the beginning, he seems somewhat calm. As the movie continues on, however, his performance gets better as the tension gets higher. In my opinion, he gave the best performance in the movie. He stole the whole show. He is the actor we see most in this movie and he carries the movie expertly by himself.

In conclusion, this movie is by far a masterpiece. It contains everything I think is necessary is Holocaust films. It captures the brutality of the Holocaust very well, it has incredible cinematography, a consistent level of suspense, and it has a great lead acting performance. It fulfilled and went far beyond all of my expectations and it is a must-see film for these reasons.

Final Verdict: 10/10 Masterpiece
Warrior (2011) - Review

The sports genre isn't exactly the best genre around. There are some classics like Rocky and Raging Bull but most modern ones seem to have the same problems. They reuse the same clichés, they barely feel original at all, and most of them are predictable from the very start. But every now and then, a good sports movie comes out. Million Dollar Baby was an inspirational movie with a shocking and heartbreaking finale and 42 was well-acted, well-written, and pretty original in terms of clichés. Then there's Warrior.

After ex-marine Tommy Conlon returns home, his father trains him to enlist for SPARTA, the biggest wrestling event in martial arts history. But he finds out that he has to go up against his brother.

This movie contains a simple plot which may not seem too impressive but the way its emotional power moves you is how impressive it is. Both brothers are damaged in their own way and we witness how they cope with their problems throughout the movie. At the end, they finally confront and face off in an unforgettable climax which will blow you away.

This movie is made better by its terrific acting. Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy both give terrific performances. Their performances are emotionally powerful and they engage the viewer to the movie's plot. Hardy may be known for playing Bane but he plays his performance in this movie much better. It's a shame that this isn't the movie which got him famous.

As for the music, the score is really nothing special as it consists mostly of tunes we've already heard of but the soundtrack is the shining part to it. It contains a huge range of note and chords and it perfectly sets the mood for certain scenes. Some scenes like the ending wouldn't be as good without its soundtrack.

As much as I'd like to call this movie a masterpiece, there is only one thing I didn't like about it. I didn't really feel that the military aspect was necessary for 1 reason. It wasn't really necessary for a sports movie given what was going on in it. It felt kind of out of place and it could've been left out. It served kind of as a distraction from the main plot also.

So in conclusion, this is an amazing sports movie which shows that while the sports genre isn't as amazing as it once was, it's not completely long gone. This is an amazing movie. It could've been a masterpiece without the military aspect but it's still definitely worth a watch because of how well-written it is.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing
Se7en (1995) - Review

This is one of the most horrifying movies ever made. But it doesn't just consist of violence. It has amazing performances, tense scenes, and a nail-biting finale which you won't ever forget for a very long time.

2 detectives try to hunt down a psychopath as he kills people in grotesque ways based around the seven deadly sins.

This movie contains several memorable scenes which have the tendency to knock you off guard. Besides the ending, another amazing scene is when they investigate the sloth victim. The gore is amazing but we get the jumpscare of our lives in it. I'm not going to spoil it though because otherwise I'll ruin it. Many people will agree that the ending is the best part by far. It is tense and suspenseful and it is completely unpredictable. It is one of the most memorable movie endings by far.

Also, the acting is amazing also. In my opinion, Kevin Spacey and Brad Pitt both give one of their best performances yet. Morgan Freeman's also gives as amazing performance and it is rivaled only by his performance in The Shawshank Redemption.

The acting worked real well because this movie did a great job with its choice of casting. Fincher probably looked at previous works of Freeman, Pitt, and Spacey's roles and he knew that they would be perfect for these roles and his casting choices really paid off.

As much I want to give this movie a 10, there are a few scenes which I felt carried on a bit too long or were more slower-paced than the rest of the movie. There weren't too much that bothered me too an extensive degree though. However, I do think that this would've been a masterpiece if it weren't for those few scenes.

Nobody thought much of Fincher when he directed Alien 3 and he was originally dismissed as just another style over substance director. However, he looked at the mistakes that movie made and he showed moviegoers with this movie that he is a talented director. Since then, he has made several more amazing movies (especially Fight Club) and he is now one of the more appreciated directors working today.

In conclusion, Se7en is a near perfect movie. Sure, the pacing can be a bit slow at times but this is still an amazing crime drama and I think that this is one of the best crime movies ever made. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time and it contains one of the best finales to a movie ever. I understand why some people disliked this movie but none of the reasons affect my opinion of this movie and I think that it is a must-watch for everyone as long as you don't mind realistic violence and gore.

Final Verdict: 9/10 Amazing