[JonE(vil)]

Furiosa. 2024.
Did not finish.
A 'prequel' to Fury road that shows the evolution of the character Furiosa.
Predictably drawn it, doesn't show anything new or exciting. With a runtime of two hours thirty minutes, it just limps along with a few action set pieces that, unlike F.R. seems to have alot of cgi to enhance it. Any new characters will inevitably be killed off. As they don't appear in... Fury road. Comparisons to F.R. are constant due to the fact that the style of it is identical.
Ideally, anyone watching this film wouldn't have seen Fury road and so would be kinda entertained before watching a classic 'action' film.

[JonE(vil)]

The battle of Algiers. 1966. Italy.
9/10
A resistance group known as the 'F.L.N.' carry out assassinations and bombings against the occupying french.
Filmed in a way that gives it a documentry style feel, it tells the story of resistance by the people of Algeria and there eventual status as a independant nation. There are a number of key dates throughout the film that highlight certain events and show the increasing determination, on both sides, to crush the other. Innocent people in the 'european quarter' are frequently targeted, so a more ruthless branch of the arm is brought in.
The film is even handed in its depiction of events and stands as a testament to the struggle of oppressed people in their own land.

[JonE(vil)]

In a violent nature. 2024.
​3/10
A stolen locket 'brings back' a '80s style slasher.
Filmed from the perspective of the 'killer' it follows him as he (seemingly) goes looking for the locket. Seems to take inspiration from the remake of Maniac but thats about it.
Looks like any Friday the 13th film from when Jason got his mask and went around killing in 'creative' ways. The long slow takes got boring rather fast and with no soundtrack or actual tension, backstory or real action. It clunked along to the typical 'final girl' end.

[JonE(vil)]

Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy. 2011.
9/10
There is a 'mole' in the service.
Based on a John La Carre novel, it follows George Smiley as he is tasked with uncovering a double agent that is one of the top brass of the secret service. A real slow cooker of a film, it has be observed carefully. There a number of flashbacks that detail things that are explained to Smiley which flow seamlessly are important. All this adds up in the end to a palatable sense of tension when the spy is revealed.

[JonE(vil)]

Beverly hills cop. Axel F.
Did not finish.
The forth entry in a series of films, that ended 30 years ago.
Sad bizzare tragedy of a film from the garbage pile that is Netflix that brings back some of the original actors. Times have changed, so this brings a whole new perspective to the plot. Eddie Murphy is solid as the lead, others maybe not so.
Things are referenced as 'call backs' that anyone who has seen the original with probably pick on. Decent action and humour, Murphy is still very funny. But all it succeeds in doing is make the viewer want to put on the original and watch a timeless classic.

[JonE(vil)]

Roundup: Punishment. South Korea 2024.
5/10
Number 4 in the 'monster cop' series.
Similar to the previous two films, has alot of good action scenes, humour with the lead saying the odd one liner that actually lands, and a pretty decent script. My memories of the first were it was a more complicated set up and reasonably serious. #2 started the goofball humour run. Three was a step up in action and drama. But this is now the forth film in the series and things are getting stale fast. There is some nice moments, really nasty bad guys, but its all been down before.

[JonE(vil)]

Simon of the desert. 1965. Dir. Luis Bunuel.
7/10.
Based on apparently true story of saint Simon, who while alive in Syria was atop a platform for over 30 years.
Not a interesting film with a particular message, Simon talks about strict religious adherence while Satan is at the bottom taking on various identities in a effort to lure him down. Reading a article about it after seeing it. Bunuel seems to have been poking fun at the christian faith, which would kind of explain the ending in which he and Satan are in a nightclub and he is bored, but can't leave.
Full 40 minute film.

[JonE(vil)]

Pat Garret and Billy the kid. 1973.
7/10
Ex outlaw Pat Garret is tasked by the Governor to kill his friend Billy the kid.
Directed by Sam Peckinpah, its a stylish western that has not a alot of action, good dialogue and a gritty feel that is linked with Sams films. Mainly follows the two main characters as they not so much, cat and mouse each other, but just slowly wind up to the ultimate show down. With a two hour run time, its a bit of a slow cooker with evenly timed out bursts of violence. The third act is where it begins to drag but is still a solid film.

[JonE(vil)]

I saw the devil. South Korea. 2010.
10/10
A serial killer murders a cops wife, the cop tracks, beats and torments him.
(Rewatch of this film.) Still holds up as a excellent horror thriller. Tense and brutal, with alot of very well thought out scenes that are filmed in such a way to keep the viewer hooked. The killer, played by Choi Min Sik is a stand out. Rarely do films have a character that just looks, acts, and radiates a palatable anger. The action scenes are kinda jerky, but the plot is the gold standard for a revenge film. With a run time of two hours twenty minutes the cop and the killer effectively become almost the same. With his revenge making him look just like what he wants to avenge.

[JonE(vil)]

Diamond dust. 2018. Egypt.
8/10
Crime drama infused with political history.
A chemist finds his father beaten to death and gets drawn in to a criminal underworld.
Smart drama that sets up the characters slowly, with a large flashback to mid 1950's political Egypt, the film then has a few plot threads that are separate but end weaving nicely together. With a alot of dialogue and a slow cooker pace, its a fine drama that benefits from no action set pieces.