[JonE(vil)]

The Ipcress file. 1965.
6/10
Starring Micheal Caine as a spy tasked with finding a kidnapped scientist.
Slow drama that has a decent plot. Typical spy thriller of the time, steady with a level of intrigue, no action. Small cast makes it easy to follow.

[JonE(vil)]

Toni Erdmann. 2016. Germany.
8/10
(rewatch) A aging divorced father tries to re-connect with his corporate working daughter.
Feel good bitter sweet comedy, that has equal moments of humor and slight sadness. The comedy comes from the father and his odd but harmless jokes. Her job in a consulting firm that helps firms cut workers to increase profits, brings a tinge of reality when he gets involved. The film is over two and half hours, but has a steady plot as they both learn from each other, and rekindle a relationship.

[JonE(vil)]

Rock the casbah. 2012. Israel.
4/10.
A group of soldiers are stationed on after one of them dies from a washing machine being dropped on him.
Set in 1989 during a uprising. It shows life in Gaza and the how the soldiers interact with each other and the residents.
Nothing really noteworthy happens, it shows a military acting with impunity against civilians, similar to The battle of Algiers.
With the young lads of the population taunting them into a response, and the older generation just wanting nothing to do with them.

[JonE(vil)]

Dead mans letters. 1986. Russia.
6/10
A world in total ruins, inhabited by survivors living underground.
No plot to speak of, just a old man, carrying on in a way that keeps him sane, when he is surrounded by desolation. Along the way there is a narration of 'letter's' his writing, with no idea if they will ever be read. The film has a sepia tone over it, this works well to convey a rust look inside and out. When the film is outside, the destruction and pollution are everywhere. Amazing scenes. There is state that has control, but its a very minor thing. Surreal, but realistic, the pace is slow with a very arthouse feel.

[JonE(vil)]

The undertaker. 2023.
7/10
A undertaker is drawn into burying the bodies of murder victims for a local gangster.
Low budget with a engaging plot. It uses a small cast to tell a larger story, through a flashback and interactions between certain characters. A run time of 90 mins ensures a slow but sure rise in tension.

[JonE(vil)]

Kraven the hunter. 2024
3/10
Villain in the spider man series of comics.
Well filmed with the comic book look, but with a forgettable story, really questionable cgi fight scenes. It packs out the plot with a boring life drama, and thus fails to capture the attention.

[spikehog]

I actually thought this was quite good.

[JonE(vil)]

The fate of the furious. (#8) 2017.
4/10
A bloke goes rouge, change of heart.
Never seen a film is this series.
So what is number 8 like at as first viewing knowing what i do about the series?
Does the film work as stand alone action?
Based reading reviews and watching trailers, it went a group of 'car thieves' to their own part of some evil vilian of the day.
It was a strange to see all these faces be expected to know the interpersonal history. That stopped any character development. Some of them seemed superhuman in nature. The cgi worked in well with the framed for the screen stunts.
What kills it working as action film is the fact its locked into the number. Nothing really makes any sense.

[JonE(vil)]

Fast and the furious 9.
3/10
Glossy slick action series in which each film seems to get stranger.
Two of the 'family/team' members go into space, but not before one of them openly questions, in the film, why they can do the crazy stuff and not get hurt. The action is good but cartoon like, even more so the plot. Impossible to see as dramatic, just incredibly silly.


Jennifers body. 2009
5/10
Entertaining horror with doses of humour. Stereotypes make up the characters, for a slightly unpredictable plot.
Its strength lies in pratical effects on set, make up, and well filmed slasher type horror scenes.


The Goonies. 1985
8/10
All round entertaining comedy of following a treasure map. Good performances, editing, practical sets make for a all round classic adventure.

[JonE(vil)]

Green border. 2023.
7/10
Refugees crossing thru Belarus to Poland are shoved back and forth by border guards.
The film shows from various view points, those on the journey, those trying to stop them, and those trying to help. The main characters are well written, but the plot itself is more scarce. It creates tension as they are pushed back and forth, with things happening as they spend longer out in the open. But came across as more of a example of a reality very few people will ever have to deal with.