Movies & TV series

Top Movies – Goosebumps Review (Spoiler Free) – Movie Reviews Sites

Be Aware… You are in for a scare… Slappy, the Werewolf of Fever Swamp and the Snowman of Pasadena are all coming to life!

Genre: Comedy/Fantasy/Horror

Director: Rob Letterman

Cast: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush,
Ryan Lee, Jillian Bell & Amy Ryan.

Run Time: 103 min.

US Release: 16 October 2015

UK Release: 05 February 2016

German Release: 04 February 2016

My first review of 2016 is a movie that was released mid-October 2015, in the States. I am talking about the Goosebumpsfilm starring Jack Black, and although this movie is coming out in February in Germany I managed to watch it end of December on the big screen. Originally I planned this to be my last review of 2015, but thought it might be better to end the year with a bang and therefore decided to upload my The Peanuts Movie Review.

The Goosebumps book series used to be a huge part of my childhood, those short horror novels were what got me into reading and I had the whole original collection in German and the 2000 Series in English. They made my reading time in bed the most exciting part of the day! I also stood up early in the mornings during the weekends to watch the TV series and cherished each episode.

In all honesty, when I first heard of this production I was pretty sure that the film was going to be a complete failure, especially knowing who the director is. Letterman and Black’s last collaboration ended with the big screen comedy of Gulliver’s Travels and that was a horrible film. Goosebumps though was quite the surprise; previous reviewers gave it moderate and mildly positive reviews, praising the friendly charm of this horror-comedy.

The movie revolves around teenager Zach Cooper (Minnette), who moves out into the suburbs with his mother (Ryan). Their neighbours are non-other than famous child literature author R.L. Stine (Black) and his daughter Hannah (Rush), who live secluded from the outside world inside their semi-mansion. When Cooper enters the Stine’s house to visit Hannah he accidently opens one of the author’s books, which sets free one of the monsters of the novel. From here on out, Stine, Cooper, Hannah and their friend Champ (Lee) are chasing the monsters around town, trying to suck them back into the books.

What I liked about the plot of this film, is the fact the story was original and not taken from any of Stine’s books or the Goosebumps TV episodes. I also enjoyed the little inside jokes, such as how every book in the franchise is build up the same way, or comparing the author to horror master Stephen King.

The movie itself, like the books, was very fast paced with twists here and there. There are no slow parts and even though this might be a point of critique for other movies, it benefitted Goosebumps well because it reflected how the books were written. It was a humble and fun little monster film made for families and gave parents, as well as children, something to laugh about.

When it comes to acting, Jack Black is simply portraying himself. He was a little over the top at the beginning, but it did start dialling down once the story progressed. He also wasn’t anything how I imagined R.L. Stine to be, but served this movie well for what it was. On a side note, I just want to mention that the real R.L. Stine makes a small cameo appearance.

Dylan Minnette and Odeya Rush were the stars of this movie. Minnette already made a grand impression in Villeneuve’s crime-drama Prisoners and Rush did a good job as the sweet girl from next door. Both had a good chemistry on screen.

The cinematography in Goosebumps is good but nothing special. As I said before, this is a very energy filled and fast paced movie and it was also reflected in scenes, by partially adding quick cuts. The effects were all right for this type of movie (a mild and family friendly horror flick) and I was happy to see that they mixed-up Computer generated imagery with practical effects. Having said that, the CGI was definitely the movies weak point!

Music wise – for all of you fans of the TV show, the original soundtrack makes no appearance in this flick. Danny Elfman composed a new and original score for the Goosebumps movie that suits the film well.

Verdict: This movie was far better than I had expected. It had a couple of scares, a lot of humour and like the books it was very fast paced. Black was his usual self, but it was Minnette and Odeya Rush that stood out in this fun horror-comedy. The story was good and the effects, although being the weakest part, were acceptable. I would have liked it more if it would have been released around Halloween time, but it also worked as a fun, nostalgic movie experience. I will give Goosebumps a 7 out of 10.

So, that was my analysis of Goosebumps the movie, did you go and see it already? What did you think of it? Leave a comment below and hit the like (+1) button if you liked this review. As always thank you for reading.

Top Movies – 25 Anticipated Movies of 2016 – Movie Reviews Sites

If you thought that last year’s cinematic nirvana for nerds and geeks was the tip of the iceberg, you haven’t seen the film schedule of 2016 yet. My heart is pounding just thinking about all those sci-fi flicks, comic book & computer game based movies.

2016 is upon us and with that comes a whole array of new movies. Now this year is a very peculiar one, it comes with many film adaptations of comic book (nearly one or two each month) and also sees an increase in adaptations of video games (we all know most of them are s***, but I’m hoping for the best!) So without further delaying it, here are my 25 most anticipated movies of 2016:

Jan. – January of this year has three movies I am looking forward to see; The Revenant, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñaratu and starring Leo diCaprio and Tom Hardy is coming out on Jan, 06th. Creed, the seventh instalment in the Rocky franchise (of who I am not a particular Rocky fan off but only heard good things about), is released the 14.01.16. Last but not least; The Hateful 8, Tarantino’s eighth movie is a must see and released on Jan. 28th.

Feb. – Next in line is February, the month that starts the superhero craze of 2016 with FOX’s Deadpool being released on the 11.02. Who wouldn’t want to watch a movie about a boy with powers and his father’s fight to protect him against religious groups and the Government? Midnight Special is coming out Feb. 18th. Finally, the Coen Brothers’ new film Hail, Caesar! is the third flick I am looking forward that is coming out in theatres 18.02.16.

Mar. – The third month in 2016 has one movie I am looking forward to see on the big screen and that is Zack Snyder’s Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. As a side note I would like to mention that I am going to be cautious about this one, because after the spoiler heavy trailer I am not sure If I am going to enjoy this adaptation.

Apr. – Easter time is coming near and my first flick I want to see is Triple 9 (07.04) directed by John Hillcoat, and is a film about corrupt cops planning their biggest heist. The second movie I am looking forward to see is Favreau’s live action conversion of The Jungle Book; come on be honest you actually want to see Balu as a real bear!

May – End of Spring and start of summer, which means blockbuster time! First in line is Marvel’s third movie of the boy-scout wonder, Captain America: Civil War is to be released on May 5th. Shortly after we are getting Fox’s second Marvel adaptation of the year: X-Men Apocalypseon the 19.05. Finally by the end of the month we are rewarded with this year’s biggest fantasy flick and if done well, the first proper game-to-screen conversion with Warcraft.

Jun. – Since of late I have really become a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal and I am curious to see him in Jean-Marc Vallee’s new movie Demolition. The Conjuring 2, big fan of the first one; thought it was one of the best horror movies in years.

Jul. – On July 3rd one of the biggest anticipated sequels I have been waiting for years to see is finally arriving on the big screen, Independence Day: Resurgence. The BFG & Star Trek Beyond are further films I am looking to watch, although the later one I will be walking in with care since the trailer did not convince me.

Aug. – The second DC movie to come out this year and part of it’s connected movie universe, Suicide Squad (18.08) is a film I am anticipating since it was announced. Like Batman v Superman though, I will walk into the theatre to watch it with caution.

Sep. – Again, I am being careful with these sequels of successful films especially when it’s a Disney-Pixar one. Finding Dorythough, I will go and see because I was a huge fan of Finding Nemo… here is me hoping they don’t mock it up. I am a sucker for pandemic horror-thrillers and am therefore looking forward to see Patient Zero on the 15th of September.

Oct. – Gavin O’Connor’s (Warrior & Pride and Glory) drama The Accountant, starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons and Jon Bernthal is about a forensic accountant who uncovers books of illicit clients. October also sees the last Marvel film of the year, Doctor Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch.

Nov. – There is just one movie I really am looking forward to see in November and that is the second Jack Reacher flick. You can’t really do anything wrong with an action movie that stars Tom Cruise!

Dec. – Finally, by the end of the year there are just two more movies I am really looking forward to see. Number one in my December list is Rogue One the Star Wars Anthology film and I am really curious how that will turn out to be after the success of The Force Awakens. My last anticipated movie of 2016 is Assassin’s Creed, directed by Justin Kurzel and starring an array of big movie stars such as Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Brendan Gleeson.

Which movies do you anticipate the most? Thank you for reading my posts throughout the last year and I hope you’ll keep on following my reviews this year as well. I’ll review the Goosebumps movie tomorrow, which is coming out in Munich theatres next week, so keep your eyes open.

Top Movies – Top 10 of 2015 – Movie Reviews Sites

Round two in my end of year listings. 2015 did not consist of bad movies; it also successfully launched new and original ideas and triumphantly rebooted older film franchises.

It’s the last day of 2015 and following yesterday’s catalogue of my most hated movies of the year, today I am composing a list of my top ten most cherished films of 2015. As with last days post some of the films in the list I watched but did not have the time to review, so once again if you have been following my blog for this past year don’t worry if you see the name of a movie you did not read a review to.

Just like my previous list, I want to note that the following movies are ranked by how much I personally liked them and how much fun I had watching them in theatres. If I a movie you enjoyed is not on the list, or not as highly ranked I apologise; I am not out to offend anyone’s taste, I simply liked another movie more. Please be aware that this catalogue is my own personal biased list and therefore scores I gave films have no relevance here. I was also unable to add movies such as: The Hateful 8, The Revenant or Creed as they are being released in January next year here in Germany.

Before we start I would like to give honourable mentions to the following films: A Most Violent Year, ThePeanuts Movie & Kingsmen. They were great films, but I did not enjoy them enough to add them into my Top Ten.

So let’s start with my Top 10 of 2015:

10. Bridge of Spies – Steven Spielberg did it again! During the last couple of years his movies have been somewhat of a mixed bag, I disliked Munich, Indiana Jones 4 was a joke and although not bad, War Horse simply bored me. Together with Tom Hanks though he created one of this year’s most entertaining dramatic thrillers. Would I have had time to review this movie in detail, I would have given it an 8.5 out of 10

9. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation – Tom Cruise is a crazy maniac and thank god for that, otherwise we would have never gotten these amazing stunts from him. M:I-5 was everything I was hoping for and more! With insane action, cheesy lines and a beautiful woman able to kick some serious butt. This franchise manages to defy the laws of movie making, by simply getting better and better the further the series progresses. Here is my full review: M:I-Rogue Nation Review.

8. Victoria – This German masterpiece was filmed in one take and 80% of the script was improvised. Although a german movie about 75% of it was in English; granted English with German and Spanish accents, but still understandable. The emotions were raw and realistic and I loved every moment of this film. It was one of the best experimental movies I have seen this year and am very grateful to the person who recommended this to me! Here is the link for my complete review: Victoria Review.

7. Inside Out – This is Pixar’s best movie in years! It was a powerful and emotional rollercoaster ride, depicting the changes of a young child about to enter her pubescent years and the character changes that come with it. Joy and Sadness’ story brought me close to tears, while Fear, Anger and Disgust had me on the edge of my seat laughing. If you want to read my full review, here is the link: Inside Out Review.

6. Ant-Man – This was Marvel’s surprise blockbuster of the year, although the Daredevil and JessicaJones series’ have been miles better, Ant-Man managed to bring a small type hero to the big screen. After Wright’s departure as director and the rewriting of the script, I was worried that this film would turn out to be a disaster but I was very wrong! It was one of the best movies in the MCU, even beating Avengers AoU by miles! Here is my full review: Ant-Man Review.

5. The Martian – This is one of Ridley Scott’s best since years! The Martian had beautiful looking effects, great cinematography and a really surprising upbeat story. Matt Damon’s character was always filled with hope and saw the comedic aspect of the situation he found himself in. I was really pleased leaving the theatre and kept thinking about this movie all the way back home. If you want to read my full review, here is the link: The Martian Review.

4. Sicario – I was blown away by the sheer grittiness and realism brought to screen in this movie. Sicario is a dark and gruesome story that left me longing for a shower after I came out of the cinema. It did everything it intended to do and was perfectly executed with fantastic cinematographic shots and strong performances by Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro. The only character I did not like as much was that of lead actress Emily Blunt, other than that though it is close to perfect! Here is the link: Sicario Review.

3. Ex-Machina – We are down to the top three… This cerebral science-fiction film really had me in trance from the first moment Caleb met Nathan. The dialogue, the cinematography and Alicia Vikander as Ava, it was all incredibly well made. Ex-Machina was one of my favourite movies this year and I enjoyed every minute of it. If you want to read my full review of this spectacular sci-fi flick, here is the link: Ex-Machina Review.

2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – These last two were very hard for me to place, simply because I am a huge Star Wars fan and really enjoyed Episode 7. It was so much more than I was hoping, leaving me with a longing for more. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were fantastic and I was happy to see that J.J. managed to revive the Star Wars franchise, but there was a movie that I enjoyed a tiny little bit more as it did catch me completely off guard. Here is my full review: StarWars – The Force Awakens Review

1. Mad Max: Fury Road – This is it! I am an official fan of the Mad Max franchise. This was by far the movie I had most fun watching and rewatching on the big and small screen. Fuelled from beginning to end with a rush of adrenaline, this movie is a non-stop thrill ride through the dessert of a post-apocalyptic world. It has great practical effects and a fantastic cast! Here is my full review: Mad Max: Fury Road Review.

So guys and girls, this is it… 2015 is officially over and I do want to thank everyone who followed my Blog during this year. I will upload my list of my Top 25 Movies I am anticipating for 2016 on the January 2nd, 2016. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this list and I wish all of you a happy new year!

Top Movies – 10 Flops of 2015 – Movie Reviews Sites

2015 was a very peculiar year. It launched a lot of anticipated movies, some of which I was really looking forward to see, but not all of them were good. Some were even straight up crap!

We reached the end of the year and as many movie magazines and reviewers do, I decided to compose three lists during the next three days. Today I set up a register of ten movies that came out this year I was absolutely disappointed by. Some of the films in the list I watched but did not have the time to review, so if you have been following my blog for this past year don’t worry if you see a name of a movie you do not recognize from my reviews.

I also want to note that this list is ranked whether I personally disliked it more or less. If there is a movie in this list you did enjoy I apologise; I am not trying to offend anyone’s taste, I simply did not like the movie. Please be aware that this catalogue is my own personal biased list and therefore scores I have given movies have no relevance.

So let’s start with my 10 Flops of 2015:

10. Poltergeist – All these remakes and reboots of classic films and close to none manage to grasp the originals soul and message. Poltergeist was a perfect example of why you should not meddle with something that isn’t broken. The original horror shocker from 1982 was good enough, this rehash on the other hand was a complete disappointment and waste of time. I was hoping for a better outcome of this movie, especially since Sam Rockwell (one of the actors I truly respect) is in it, sadly this remake did not manage to capture the mystery and terror of Spielberg’s original. It consisted of a plump story and an over reliance on CGI squirrels. Here is the link to my complete review: Poltergeist Review.

9. Fantastic 4 – This is a movie I gave a mediocre score and one I did not find absolutely terrible but rather disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, Fantastic 4 is a bad movie and shows what happens when the studio and the director don’t get along. The product suffered and that is one of the reasons why it landed on my list. Another reason was that after all it’s hype and excitement Fantastic 4 simply left me with a hollow and empty feeling. It is time for FOX to drop the rights for the Fantastic Four and give them back to Marvel, as they clearly don’t understand the characters. Here is my complete review: Fantastic 4 Review.

8. Hitman: Agent 47 – The first Hitman movie was bad enough so why was it remade? God only knows, but apparently FOX though that if they take the same premise again, with the same writers and just a different lead actor it would make the movie better. Well it didn’t, in fact it made it worse and I am absolutely pissed off for wasting my money to go see this in theatres. Would I have had time to review this, I would have given it a 4 out of 10. This is one of the worst remakes I have seen in a long time.

7. Vacation – A continuation of the Griswold’s family-vacation chaos, but without the magic of the previous films. Vacation stars Ed Helms as a grown up Rusty Griswold who tries to bring his family back together by recreating his favourite childhood vacation for his own kids. Of course things get out of control, but nothing happening in this movie has some sort of comedic value. Ed Helms plays Ed Helms, his children are both unlikeable, leaving Christina Applegate to be the only actress to take serious. This movie took every disgusting poop joke and recreated it on screen, but left the humour at the roadside. Not funny, not entertaining and absolutely painful to watch, I’ll give it a 3.5 out of 10.

6. Seventh Son – I truly believe that the film industry is in need of some dire fantasy movies and early this year Germany was treated with the fantasy epos Seventh Son starring Jeff Bridges. This film though revealed itself to be a snore fest rather than an action filled fantasy blockbuster. It had no story, no purpose and one of the worst performances by Bridges’ seen in a long time. The computer generated characters and creatures looked bad and the main character is a weak and bickering idiot. The only actress that did impress me was Alicia Vikander. If you want to read more about Seventh Son click on the following link: SeventhSon Review.

5. Pan – This movie had nothing to do with the original tale by J.M. Barrie, nor did it accomplish to reach the ranks of Disney’s Peter Pan the 2003 live action adaption or Steven Spielberg’s Hook. This film was a mess and a poor attempt to give Peter an origin story, and included a Nirvana cover song, Hugh Jackman as a gay Blackbeard, a white Tiger Lily and an over-the-top Hook portrayal by Garrett Hedlund. The special effects were cheap and bad looking and the dialogue was garbage, leaving Levi Miller to be the only part in this film I enjoyed since he was really trying to give a good performance. If you want to read my full review, here is the link: Pan Review.

4. Pixels – Adam Sandler did it again! Take the subculture of gamers, give it an alien invasion, add the most unfunny comedian as your lead and you will get an insulting movie that spits in the face of the audience it was trying to reach. I don’t even know how Chris Columbus ended up directing this piece of s***. If you are willing to go through everything that is wrong with this film click on the link: Pixels Review.

3. Sinister 2 – I loved the first Sinister, it was a truly suspenseful and terrifying piece of horror with great performances by Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance and especially child actress Clare Foley. Sinister 2 though had nothing of that! It had an uninteresting plot, very annoying child ghosts that force one of the twin siblings (and one of the main characters) to watch the snuff super 8 films for no reason. Summing it up, this horror flop left out everything that is good about the first one and simply took the super 8 gore movies and the characters of Deputy So & So as well and that of Bughuul. If I were to give this horror snooze a rating, I would give it a generous 3.5 out of 10 for the all right performance by lead actress Shannyn Sossamon.

2. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension – When is this going to end? I was not a particular fan of the first one and The Marked Ones was the one of the weakest of the series, with a ridiculous plot that tried to tie the shocker to the rest of the franchise. The Paranormal Activity franchise should have died after the ridiculous fourth film. I am tired of these found footage movies. Why was this even in 3-D? There was no reason for it, except to swindle the honest moviegoer out of some more money. The Ghost Dimension was a pile of crap and would have obtained a 3 out of 10 if I had reviewed it after watching it.

1. Fifty Shades of Grey – There is not a movie this year I hated more than this adaptation of a mediocre book. The book was bad and it did not need a movie, but dear lord did they manage to make it worse. I will give it praise for the lighting and colour palette used, other than that this movie deserves no praise at all. Bad acting, bad script, bad sex scenes! This film was a total failure. Want to read my full review? Click on the link: Fifty Shades Review

I will post my Top 10 list tomorrow, so keep an eye out. Do you agree with my list? What were your worst movie experiences of 2015? Leave a comment below and let me know. Thank you for reading and if you liked my list, go on and share it.

Top Movies – The Peanuts Movie (Spoiler Free Review) – Movie Reviews Sites

**Charlie Brown and his loyal friend Snoopy are back, in this original yet very classic film that represents the Peanutsjust as we knew and loved them.**

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy

Director: Steve Martino

Cast: Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Alexander Garfin, Mariel Sheets, Hadley Belle Miller, Venus Schultheis, Rebecca Bloom, Francesca Capaldi.

Run Time: 88 min.

US Release: 06 November 2015

UK Release: 21 December 2015

German Release: 24 December 2015

The Peanuts Movie was released in Germany on the 24th of December, nearly two months after the official US release. This is the first feature film in 35 years and at that a reboot of some sorts, that sends Charlie Brown on an adventure as he falls in-love with the little red-haired girl. This animation is a true tribute to the original comic strips of Charles Schulz, respecting his work.

To say the truth, I never was a particular fan of the Peanuts. I saw the cartoons on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but never was really looking forward to seeing them. It was simply a form of passing time until the Looney Toons or Bikers Mouse from Marscame on television, so I don’t have that deep sense of commitment to this franchise as my parents or other friends of mine do.

So when I walked into the theatre I was not sure what to expect, as I haven’t seen or read a Peanuts comic since I reached my teens. When the movie started rolling and the first characters appeared on screen, I felt like I was transported back in time sitting on my parent’s living room floor and watching cartoons in early in the morning. Anything I couldn’t remember before came back instantaneously.

The story in this animation revolves around (who-else?? – but) Charlie Brown, the main character of the Peanuts. As a new girl moves into town Charlie is immediately love-struck by her grace and embarks on a heroic quest to not only win her heart, but also to leave all his insecurities behind. While mean, Brown’s loyal dog Snoopy is heading into a fierce battle with arch-nemesis the Red Baron.

The Peanuts Movie not only transported me back into my childhood, but I was finally able to understand why my parents are such fans of this franchise. I finally understood all the subtle little messages for adults implemented in the stories and Charlie’s quest for love really hit me on an emotional level.

What I truly respected about Martino’s direction and Bryan and Craig Schulz’s writing, is the fact they did not try and change the formula or modernize the story. This is Peanuts as we know and love them (or at least as my parents loved them). I did take my mother to the screening, who is a huge fan of Snoopy and she left the cinema with a couple of tears in her eyes, praising the movie for how it handled its characters.

The characters did not change at all. Charlie Brown is still the clumsy yet lovable underdog he always was, Peppermint Petty still falls asleep in class and is best friends with bookworm Marcie and Lucy is still the loudmouthed and advice giving bratty girl, who took away the football from Charlie.

These characters are in no need to be modernized and it gives a perfect message to kids nowadays, letting them know that there is a whole world outside their virtual reality that is worth exploring with friends. This is what truly makes Peanuts special, as we see all the kids meeting outside and playing baseball or football while socialising.

The only character that made a change is that of the little red-haired girl, who usually was the unapproachable love interest of our young hero. In this movie though, she finally obtains a face and has a short, but heart-warming line.

The Peanuts Movie is no longer a hand drawn animation, but rather makes use of today’s 3-D computer animation mixed with the original hand-drawn facial expression and I was positively surprised because it looks fantastic. It is amazing how a couple of lines on a face can express joy, sorrow or anger.

Thankfully, Martino obtained the rights for archived music of previous Peanuts specials and Christoph Beck did a brilliant job at scoring the film. I still get goosebumps when thinking how the Peanuts theme song sprung out of the loudspeaker system in the cinema. Meghan Trainor’s “Better When I’m Dancin’” was another great song that meshed really well with the thematic of this animation.

Verdict: The Peanuts Movie is one of this year’s best animation films. It had the nostalgic benefactor, the writers and director did not try to fiddle with the formula and the characters are still as lovable as they were in my childhood. It also managed to open my eyes and heart to a franchise I never truly valued in my childhood. I will give this beautiful looking animation an 8.5 out of 10 and I recommend this to all who are fans of the original comic strips.

Did you go see The Peanuts Movie yet? If not I do urge you to go and see it in cinemas. If you did go and see it, I would be interested what your thoughts are, so leave a comment below. This will be my last review for 2015, I will post a list of my least favourite films and my favourite films of 2015 on the 30th and 31st, so look out for those lists. Thank you very much for reading and if you enjoyed this review, click the like button and share it with others.

Top Movies – Gremlins Review (Christmas Special) – Movie Reviews Sites

This is it, my final review of Christmas movies this year. While something came in between last week that hindered me from going to watch Krampus, I picked one of my favourite Christmas-horror flicks.

Genre: Christmas/Comedy/Horror

Director: Joe Dante

Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton,
Dick Miller, Corey Feldman & Keye Luke.

Run Time: 106 min.

US Release: 08 June 1984

UK Release: 07 December 1984

German Release: 26 October 1984

Welcome back to my review special of favourite Christmas movies. I am sorry for this belated analysis, which I was supposed to uploaded last Sunday, but due to unforeseen circumstances I was forced to leave it until later and change the film I wanted to review. Originally I planned to write about Krampus, but since I was unable to go to catch a screening time, I will focus on one of my favourite Christmas horror-comedies: Gremlins!

Gremlins holds a special spot in my heart; not only was I immediately taken by the cute, little and furry character called Gizmo, but this was also the first “horror” movie I was allowed to watch at a young age. I remember being quite terrified after watching it the first time.

Apart from being a horror-satire,Gremlins also incorporates a lot of fairy-tale like and mystical elements in its story. The film was given mostly positive reviews by other film critics and is considered by many to be one of the best films of 1984. It also was criticised though for it’s violent nature.

— THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS—

The story of Gremlins revolves around Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) a teenager living at home with his parents, in the small town of Kingston Falls. The town is hit by economic depression and Billy needs to support his family, by working as a teller in a bank.

Rand Peltzer (Hoyt Axton), Billy’s father, is an unsuccessful inventor who just came back from a trip to New York with a special Christmas gift for his son, revealed to be a fury, big eyed, bipedal creature known as a mogwai. Rand explains to Billy that there are three rules he needs to uphold to keep the mogwai. (1) Keep the mogwai away from bright light. (2) Never get him wet. (3) Never feed him after midnight, no matter how much he begs.

Billy manages to follow those rules pretty well, until an accident gets Gizmo (the name Billy gave the mogwai) wet and reacts with Gizmo by produces five more mogwais. These five though are different to the original fury delight. They are treacherous, nasty and trick Billy into giving them food after midnight and with that the real danger starts.

This movie is special in many ways. For one, it is not the cuddly and warm winter fairy-tale most Christmas films are, but instead contrasts the typical small-town Christmas setting with some gruesome violence and very dark humour. This is a parody not only of the classic horror movie, but also mocks the model X-mas picture.

Gremlins might look at first like a horror B-movie, but underneath its “gore” and violence it has a lot more to offer. The story is filled with allegories of fairy tales and mythology. For instance the three rules that are never to be broken could be straight up of any Grimm story. Gizmo and the Gremlins themselves are mythological creatures, made up by WWII Royal Air Force pilots to explain inexplicable mechanical issues with their aircraft.

As for characters, Gremlins has just a few that are of interest or show a certain development throughout the film’s length. Two of these are Billy and Kate, who’s romantic relationship blossoms in the midst of the small town chaos created by the Gremlins. While Billy seemed to be an insecure and shy person by the beginning of this Christmas flick, he manages to step up and take charge against the Gremlins at the end.

Gizmo was my favourite character, not only because he is cute, kind and smart but because he was a very important part of this movie. Like Billy, he is shy and insecure when it comes to his character along the first two acts of the film. It is when he sees his new owner in trouble that he finds the strength to go against his former bullies.

As far as cinematography goes, Gremlins is a well-shot movie but nothing out of the ordinary. It did use a lot of frames that visually mocked other movies such as Indiana Jones, It’s a Wonderful Life and even Walt Disney’s Snow White. It also had a good blend of white shot’s and close-ups, the later which were specifically used for shock or gore scenes; such as the microwave site.

One of the most iconic parts of this movie is its unforgettable, funky and very upbeat theme song. It pretty much set the audience up for what to expect in this very unusual Christmas flick.

Verdict: Gremlins is a different but very enjoyable film, especially around the time of Christmas. It features one of the cutest creatures ever created in the world of cinema, parodies a lot horror and X-mas movie clichés and has a strong story with creepy little villains. I wouldn’t recommend watching this movie with small children, but it is a nice picture to enjoy with the family or as a Christmas date. Gremlins obtain an 8 out of 10.

So, this movie concludes my Christmas special. If you are interested in the other films I reviewed, here are the links: Home Alone, Bad Santa, and TheNightmare Before Christmas. Which of these films do you enjoy watching most during the holiday season? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Thank you for reading and I wish you all a merry Christmas!

Top Movies – Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Spoiler Free Review) – Movie Reviews Sites

The Force is strong with this movie; J.J. Abrams created one of the most visually stunning movies of all time. This is not just another Star Wars film, but a film that can stand on its own.

Genre: Action/Fantasy/Science-Fiction

Director: J.J. Abrams

Cast: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew,
Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Domhnall Gleeson & Mark Hamill.

Runtime: 135 min.

US Release: 17 December 2015

UK Release: 17 December 2015

German Release: 17 December 2015

This is it! The movie I was looking for the most this year is finally out and it is great! Star Wars: The Force Awakens is not just a good Star Wars movie, it is also a good cinematic piece of work and I am not just saying it because I am a fan of the franchise. This is one of the most beautiful looking movies hands-down and everybody working on it, be it the actors, writers, directors, extras or the creators of the costumes and puppets, are giving their very best.

I need to confess, even though I trusted J.J. to create a good Star Wars flick, I was still worried that it may rely more on paying tribute to the original trilogy than being its own film in the franchise. But after watching this movie it was like a heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders. After the credits rolled I couldn’t help notice that I had tears in my eyes and a longing for more, all fears were blown away and I can honestly say that this is one of my favourite Star Wars movies.

This sci-fi blockbuster revolved around the character of Rey, a scavenger of the planet of Jakku and she eventually runs into the little droid BB-8 and former stormtrooper Finn. Finn, who was born and raised to follow orders without questioning, left the First Order because he couldn’t shake the feeling that what he did was plain wrong. This starts their adventure that leads them to the Resistance and thus they meet Han Solo. This is all I am going to say about the plot.

This is not a perfect movie though, not that something like that exists, but it is as good of a Star Wars sequel to the originals as it can come. The flaws that I picked up while watching are just minor issues but, due to the majority of the film being really good, those nuisances did stand out.

This is a fast paced movie that jumps from one incident to the next, but it is done right and therefore benefits the plot, only halting for moments of emotional importance. Old and new characters were set-up extremely well and you really care about what will happen to them, because it is through these figures that the plot progresses.

The story in this sci-fi opera contains a lot of love for the material, understands the franchise and therefore has a soul. The plot advances by showing us what is happening rather than depending on explanatory dialogues and also contains great humour that spawns naturally from the characters and fits the events, so it does not feel forced.

So what where my issues with the Force Awakens? Well, for one I thought that although Kylo Ren is a remarkable enemy, I lacked to fully comprehend his motivation for joining the First Order and as thus the dark side, because his character wasn’t sufficiently developed. My second issue was that Starkiller base was nothing that felt truly menacing. Its purpose was to give the Republic a reason to engage the First Order head on.

Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were fantastic casting choices. Boyega oozed with energy and you could clearly notice how excited he was to be in this film, while Ridley was simply perfect! She stole every scene she was in and had the benefit that she was completely new to the business; this actress will have an amazing career in front of her. On a side note, I just wanted to include that the figure of Poe Dameron, played by Oscar Isaac, was the coolest in this movie.

It is due to that motivation and excitement that you care for the relationship of their respective characters of Rey and Finn. They had an amazing chemistry and I simply wanted to see more of them on screen! Another great relationship that gradually builds up in the movie is that of Rey and BB-8. The ball-shaped droid’s character was great, not too cute and with the right amount of attitude.

Harrison Ford was great! He once again incorporated the role of Han Solo and also had a great chemistry with the new cast. Most important though, you felt like the character had grown over the past 30 years as well as his relationship with his best friend and co-pilot Chewie. It was a treat to see both of them on screen, and they gave the movie quite a bit of humour with the ongoing banter between each other.

Finally, I would like to talk about the character of Leia. I was really worried how Carrie Fisher would portray her and how the chemistry between her and Ford would feel on screen. But my doubts were blown away once again. She was great and in the scenes she was with Solo there was still a strong connection and attraction between the two figures, but this time it also included a tragic and remorseful note.

Episode VII has jaw-dropping beautiful cinematography with long, wide shots. It also makes use of actual practical effects and real locations. The different designs for the alien races looked real, because nearly all were handwork made puppets and costumes. Sadly I also thought that due to the movie using practical effects in 90% of the scenes, the CGI figures sometimes looked out of place. They are still good-looking and gorgeous, and at times they seem fit into the scene.

Verdict: Episode VII is everything I hoped for and more. It ranks high on my list of favourite Star Wars films right after A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. It not only has beautiful effects and great camera work, but newcomers Daisy Ridley and John Boyega did a fantastic acting job. It’s great script; engaging story and fantastic dialogues are further proof of this film’s superiority and will therefore give it a 9.5 out of 10.

Did you see The Force Awakens yet? If you are a fan of the original trilogy and you did not go see this one in cinemas yet, I urge you to go and experience this great blockbuster as soon as possible. If you did go see it, let me know what you thought of it in the comment section below.

If you are interested, these following links are for my reviews of Episode I-VI: ThePhantom Menace Review, Attack of the Clones Review, The CloneWars Review, Revenge of the Sith Review, Rebels Review, A New Hope Review, The Empire Strikes Back Review, Return of the Jedi Review.

Top Movies – Star Wars Special: Return of the Jedi Review – Movie Reviews Sites

The Rebellion is closing on the Empire and Darth Sidious comes out of hiding to meet Luke Skywalker. Will the Rebellion succeed in finally defeating the Empire once and for all?

Genre: Action/Fantasy/Science-Fiction

Director: Richard Marquand

Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Billy Dee Williams,
Ian McDiarmid, James Earl Jones & David Prowse.

Runtime: 131 min.

US Release: 25 May 1983

UK Release: 02 June 1983

German Release: 09 December 1983

So here we go, the final review of my Star Wars Special before I write my post for the much-awaited The Force Awakens. Having analysed all but one, all that is left for me to write about is Episode VI: Return of Jedi and while it was not as good as the previous two from the original trilogy, it still had its impressive moments.

Like I stated previously before, A New Hope is my favourite of the trilogy with The Empire Strikes Backcoming at close second and Return of the Jedi at third place. Although it is not my favourite movie in the saga, I still have a blast every time I watch it! One of my favourite new characters included, were the alien race of the Ewoks; a Teddy Bear like primitive indigenous life form of the moon of Endor.

—Be Aware That This Review Contains Spoilers—

Following the capture of Han Solo by Boba Fett and the escape of Lando, Leia and Luke from Darth Vader in Cloud City, our heroes decide to free the carbonized frozen Solo and give the empire a final blow. Not everything goes according to plan, but with the help of a primitive indigenous tribe and the alliance of a former foe, Luke and the Rebellion manage to finally bring down the Empire and free the galaxy.

I enjoyed every minute of this story, even though it had some definite flaws. From the return to the planet of Tatooine, to the final battle on (and above) Endor, this sci-fi flick had tense situations and heart-warmingly moments. Especially the final scenes in which the viewer was unsure if the Rebellion would manage to beat the Empire once and for all.

One of my favourite segments was when Luke seemed to be swaying to the dark side of the force. This moment always got chills down my back, while sitting on the edge of my couch and holding my breath during the last 30 minutes of the film.

The only parts I disliked in Return of the Jedi, are the scenes in which the rebels take over the Empire’s base on Endor to shut down the force field around the second Death Star. Their tactics consisted of a game of “catch me if you can” with Han Solo and then playing Knock-Knock with the superiors inside the base. Those scenes where not exactly militia material and portrayed the Empire as being utterly stupid and useless.

Most of the dialogue in the movie was good, but turned really cheesy at times. My favourite conversation was between Yoda and Luke, which revealed an important part of the plot and gave us information considering Luke’s twin sibling Leia. On the other hand, one of the worst one-liners that I thought should have been better revised, was when the Emperor tells Vader that Luke would come to him, with Vader responding “He will come… to me?”

My favourite character development in this movie is that of Luke Skywalker. The movie begins with him still having that strong sense of justice and morals, but he also gets a little bit cocky at times. We also see him use powers from the dark side of the force, as proven in the scene when he enters Jabba’s palace. He is clearly using force choke on the Gamorrean guards, something that always confused me because a simple force push would have sufficed to get them away from him.

Darth Vader also made a crucial character development in Return of the Jedi! He already softened up a little in Episode V but you really notice his internal struggle in this movie. He even admits to his son that he is aware that he took the wrong path, but is unable to go back. It takes the Emperor nearly killing Luke, for Vader to finally break free from his master’s leash and to redeem himself by killing the Emperor and finally bringing balance to the force.

Luke’s developing relationships with other characters was a core part of the movie. It is revealed that Leia is his twin sister and that she is as force sensitive as he is, explaining why she was able to hear him call out for her in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke’s relationship with his father is also a crucial one, as it is his strong believe in Anakin that gives Vader the push to return to the light side of the force.

Cinematography wise I found this movie to be as brilliant as the previous two, from the quite shots at Jabba’s palace, to the fighting sequence between Luke and Vader the camera work was always fantastic. A rather drawn out moment are the close ups on each protagonist, to building up tension during the scene in which Luke is about to be fed to the Sarlacc.

My favourite scenes though are the motorcycle chase scene in the jungle, the space fight between the rebellion and the empire, outside of the new Death Star, and the sword fight choreography between Luke and Darth Vader.

Verdict: Although Return of the Jedi was not as good as its predecessors; it still belongs to my favourite movies of all times and beats the hell out of any prequel! I loved every aspect of this movie, even though it does contain some cheesy lines and a weaker script compared to the previous films. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the performances and thought it gave the trilogy one of cinematic’s best endings. I therefore give Return of the Jedi a 9.5 out of 10.

What did you think of Episode VI? So, after finally finishing my Special my next review to appear tonight will be on The Force Awakens. As always thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed my reviews for the Star Wars movies and TV series.

Top Movies – Star Wars Special: The Empire Strikes Back Review – Movie Reviews Sites

**Following the triumphant attack by the rebels, who destroyed the Death Star, Darth Vader is now on the search for young Luke Skywalker. Welcome back to my Star Wars special…**

Genre: Action/Fantasy/Science-Fiction

Director: Irvin Kershner

Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Frank Oz,
Peter Mayhew, Billy Dee Williams & David Prowse.

Runtime: 124 min.

US Release: 20 June 1980

UK Release: 21 May 1980

German Release: 11 December 1980

Hello everybody, if you recently followed my blog you will know that I am currently reviewing all Star Warsmovies, leading up to The Force Awakens which I am going to see first thing on Friday. Having finished all reviews for the prequels and having already posted the first review for Episode IV: A New Hope, today I will be writing about my second favourite film of the franchise, The Empire Strikes Back!

As I already stated it yesterday, these films are part of my all time favourites and are listed in my review for my 50 favourite movies! Now I know some of you reading this will be asking yourself why it’s only my second favourite movie and not my favourite; its simple to answer, Episode IV has a higher nostalgia factor for me!

—Be Aware That This Review Contains Spoilers—

After the defeat by the hands of the rebels and the loss of the Death Star, the Empire is hunting down the rebellion and trying to bring it to and end. Vader, having learned the young pilot’s identity that destroyed the space station, is obsessed with finding him.

I loved every moment of this revenge piece! The story contained a couple of twists and revelations that left me thinking about it for weeks when I was a kid. The fact that the whole script needed to be revised by Lucas, Kasdan and Brackett did leave its mark though, as this sci-fi flick felt a little disjointed from the previous film. However, I thought that the new story elements fell right into place, even if they contradicted some of the previous elements.

I never thought that displaying Vader, as Luke’s father was an unrealistic or illogical move, I see this as it was explained in Return of the Jedi and shown in Revenge of the Sith. Old Ben Kenobi never lied to Luke, it simply is a matter of perspective and if you see it as I did you’d come to realise that the person Anakin used to be died by his own hatred, what was left of him was reborn as Darth Vader.

The only real problem I had with the plot was during Luke’s training with Yoda and the cuts towards Han solo and Leia hiding in the asteroid field from Vader’s fleet. There is no clear sense of time between these two incidents. The asteroid scene looks like it was resolved in a matter of hours, while the Jedi training seems to have been taken place over a longer period of time.

Something I truly appreciate aboutEpisode V is the dialogue; It has serious life-threatening moments with appropriate conversations, as well as more light-hearted discussions. The dialogues were always fitting to the scenes.

We were also introduced to a number of new characters, such as Jedi grand master Yoda who has clearly gone partially mad since his exile to Dagobah. He trains Luke in the way of the Force even though having clear concerns. We meet Billy Dee as Lando Calrissian, an old acquaintance of Han Solo and a very shady character at that who is the head of a smuggling operation that runs Cloud City. And although not a character, I was very fond of the Tauntauns, creatures indigenous to the ice planet of Hoth.

There are three characters that made major developments in this movie. Leia Organa turned from a damsel in distress to a real leader of the rebellion; it was a joy to see her give orders in the rebellion’s headquarters. She proved not only to be a resourceful lady, but also to have vast strategic knowledge. Luke also underwent some crucial changes, as he turned from the naive farmer boy who dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, to one of the most valued members of the rebellion.

Darth Vader also made some important character developments. First of all it is revealed that he is not leading the Galactic Empire, shown as he bows down to a hologram of the Emperor and calling him master, while discussing a disturbance in the force and Luke Skywalker. It also was a big revelation to see the man inside the armour, as until then the viewer was never sure of what or who Darth Vader was.

The biggest relationship I came to value in this sci-fi opera is that of Leia and Han Solo. Both are clearly attracted to each other, but she rebuffs him due to his rascal behaviour and he is clearly does not know how to handle his feelings. The love story reaches its peak when she accepts her feelings for him, during the tension filled scene in which Han is frozen in carbon, ready to be shipped by Boba Fett to Jabba the Hutt.

As far as cinematography goes; while some of the special effects are outdated it is still a treat to watch this movie. I loved the dark and dirty portrayal of Dagobah, Luke’s Jedi training and the panoramic shots of Cloud City. One of the most beautiful scenes in the movie is the panoramic shot of the planet Hoth, portraying its dangerous and hostile atmosphere.

The original trilogy’s musical score is one of my all time favourite film music! The empire’s Imperial March is a dark and threatening theme, fitting perfectly to the character of Darth Vader and Luke’s Theme is a very emotional score.

Verdict: The Empire Strikes Back is one of the most impressive films I have seen in my youth and still manages to draw a smile on my face and take me to a galaxy far, far away. The story is one of my all time favourites and the characters of the previous movie developed into more mature figures. The growing relationship between Han and Leia is one of cinematic best and the plot twist is a memorable and unpredicted disclosures. This science-fiction film is an incredible experience. The Empire Strikes Back obtains a 10 out of 10.

What was your favourite part in this sci-fi movie? Do you agree with my opinion? If you are interested in my other Star Wars reviews, here are the links:

Tomorrow I will be posting my final review of the original series, before I finally go see The Force Awakens. Thank you very much for reading, and if you enjoyed this review, please share it.

Top Movies – Star Wars Special: A New Hope Review – Movie Reviews Sites

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… The Galactic Empire is hunting down the remaining rebel force. While the evil Darth Vader captured Princess Leia a new hope arises.

Genre: Action/Fantasy/Science-Fiction

Director: George Lucas

Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness,
Peter Mayhew, Peter Cushing & David Prowse.

Runtime: 121 min.

US Release: 25 May 1977

UK Release: 27 December 1977

German Release: 09 February 1978

Welcome to part number 7 of my extended Star Wars review special, with the prequels now out of the way I can finally focus on the original trilogy. These are my favourite movies of the saga and one of the earliest films I remember watching as a young boy.

My first Star Wars experience was at the very young age of six years, when my uncle gave me the trilogy, in Spanish on VHS tape. My eyes were literally bombarded with all these new fantastic looking images as I witnessed the storyline coming to life. I remember some of the scenes even scared me half to death and coming to think of it, some of the events in Star Wars may have been a little too harsh for a six-year-old boy.

Nevertheless, it was these movies and Terminator 2 that sparked my immense interest in cinematography and movies in general. From there on onwards I woke up early to turn on the TV and tried going to bed as late as possible, so I would not miss one film on Television. So let’s start with my review for Episode IV: A New Hope or as we all know it: Star Wars!

—Be Aware That This Review Contains Spoilers—

Lucas had written and rewritten the plot several times to comfort studios and market his idea better, but the basics were always the same. The plot draws strong parallels to the Second World War & the era of the Roman Empire. What truly fascinated me though was the mere idea of including the mystical Jedi Knights and the ancient, but far more elegant form of sword fighting in a science-fiction movie. That was a brilliant move!

I loved how apart from a short introductory scrawl text floating out into space, the viewer is thrown directly into the plot of this film; a galactic civil war between a small group of rebels and the evil Empire shown in one simple scene. The viewer immediately grasps that this is far more than just a simple science-fiction flick, as the soundtrack is blasting in full strength and a dark atmosphere sweeps across the screen.

Star Wars also included a great form of comic relief, introducing the two droids R2D2 and C3-PO who are always bickering. It is these two astromechs who finally lead us to the hero of this saga, Luke Skywalker.

It is also during the scenes in Tatooine, with its never ending dunes and the stalking Jawas, that this space saga crosses paths with the fantasy genre. Obi-Wan finally introduces us to the mysticism of the force and the tales of the forgotten Jedi Knights. My favourite scene in the whole movie also takes place on Tatooine, which is when Luke and Obi-Wan enter the canteen and meet Han Solo.

Luke is a young and naive teenager who wants to leave his uncle’s farm to fly into space and join the rebellion. His wish gets granted, when he is thrown into his own adventure that costs him the life of his Uncle and Aunt and cuts all ties to his home planet of Tatooine.

His relationship to Obi-Wan becomes a special one, as he not only is the person who knew his father, but also trained and fought with Anakin side by side. But those facts are yet not mentioned. Luke sees in Old Ben a father figure and let’s Ben teach him in the way of the force.

Han Solo & Chewbacca are two of cinematic greatest characters, depicted brilliantly by Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew. A lovable scoundrel and his Wookie partner, Solo first takes the job to earn some much needed money that will help him pay his debts to Jabba the Hutt. His inner hero is revealed once he gets to know Princess Leia Organa, who he falls in love with.

George Lucas fashioned Darth Vader’s character after “The Lightning” from “The Fighting Devil Dogs” series and managed to inflict an immediate threatening presence in his introductory scene. He is the epitome of villainy and does not just follow his agenda strictly but is also a highly smart individual.

The cinematography in Star Wars was perfect, from start to end. Beginning with the incredible shot of Vader’s Star Destroyer following the tiny rebel ship; with just one scene Lucas made the viewer aware of the sheer scope of the Galactic Empire.

But it doesn’t stop there. Lucas made perfect use of beautiful panoramic shots to show us the desert planet of Tatooine with all of its miracles and dangers and the dogfight scenes between the X-wing fighters and the Tie-fighters were jaw dropping.

Finally, the musical score composed by John Williams was what completed this fantastic movie. Star Wars would not have been the same without the grand orchestral soundtrack, which gave Episode IVa soul.

Verdict: Star Wars is my favourite of the original trilogy. It may not be superior to The Empire Strikes Back for some, but for me it is the movie that blew me away as a child and jump-started the whole saga. While it is close to forty years since its first release, the effects still manage to impress me and the story is cinematic gold. Luke, Leia, Han and old Ben are characters I still cherish as an adult and who accompanied me through my childhood. I give Star Wars a full 10 out of 10.

So which original Star Wars movie is your favourite? Leave a comment below and let me know about the first time you watched this trilogy. My review for The Empire Strikes Back is going to be uploaded tomorrow, so keep a look out. Thank you very much for reading and if you enjoyed this review, like and share it.