Thriller & Mystery > 2007 Thriller & Mystery > H

Where's The Remote

Advantages: None whatsoever, this is dire
Disadvantages: Very slow, tedious storyline, doesn't realise its potential

...you take that bet? Funny Games U.S is a remake of a 1997 film of the same name; the only difference being the original was a success, the 2008 version was not. The film is a scene for scene remake, of course the only difference being that the actors are different. So why bother making a remake? Remakes can sometimes be relatively successful based around the fact that they change small aspects of the plot whilst keeping the basic premise the same. ...
...I’ve never seen the original Funny Games released around 12 years ago and nor do I have any inclination to see it either after watching this dire remake. You can pretty much tell in the first 10 minutes of the film that it’s going to be abysmal, first you have the couple driving to the holiday home playing puerile car games before the music changes into this awful ‘slit your wrists’ death metal. The music did not suit the start of the movie at all ...

Great_reviewer07 25.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Funny Games

A decent action/thriller movie for time-pass.

Advantages: Paul Walker, engaging storyline, few surprising twists.
Disadvantages: weaker characterization of Bobby Z.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Death and Life of Bobby Z or simply Bobby Z is a crime/thriller genre movie released on 2007 .This movie directed by John Herzfeld, who is much renowned for directing some high-profile films such as 15 minutes and 2 days in Valley. Both of his earlier films have been praised for the attractive storyline and also good star cast. This movie was based on the novel written by Don Winslow in 1997 with same title. It was ...
...Paul Walker played the main character as Tim Kearney, a loser ex-marine and convict, is looking for a way to get out from the mess of his life. Paul Walker is a brilliant actor with lots of potentials. He rose to fame for his famous role as undercover L.A detective, Brian O’Connor in “Fast and Furious” movie series. He starred on the first two films and also coming back on the fourth sequel as well. Laurence Fishburne played the role of corny and ...

Gladiator007 10.03.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Death And Life Of Bobby Z (DVD)

Nasty, vicious thriller that fails to engage

Advantages: Good premise, lighting and acting
Disadvantages: Senseless violence, unlikeable final third

...manufactured situations and easy stereotypes. Funny Games thankfully bucks this trend with a thoroughly original twist on an age old plot device, that of the happily married couple whose house is taken over by unknown intruders. Unfortunately the film is let down by a downright sadistic and nasty final third that is completely irredeemable. Directed by Michael Heneke, Funny Games is a remake of the little known 1997 Austrian original, and is in ...
...In place of the actors from the original film we have Naomi Watts and Tim Roth. They play a happily married couple, who, with their son, have travelled to their country home for a vacation. They are both wealthy and clearly enjoying life, and encompass what we would call the traditional All American couple. After settling in to their temporary abode events take a seriously sinister turn when they are interrupted by a couple of young adolescents from ...

bigmike33 02.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Funny Games (DVD)

Action-packed with some witty dialogue but still flawed somehow

Advantages: Quite thrilling when it gathers pace, seemed an authentic depiction of London, some humour
Disadvantages: Something about Downey Jnrs depiction of Holmes didnt work somehow, not for all ages/the squeamish

...Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson start out by catching a serial killer who dabbles in the the supernatural, an evil man called Lord Blackwood who is sentenced to death, indeed Watson confirms he's dead after he's hung. Things take a distinctly sinister turn, however, when they discover than Blackwood has apparently risen from the dead and Holmes recalls what he told him before he was hung, which indicated that more ...
...actor (Robert Downey Jnr.) played Sherlock Holmes, while an English actor (Jude Law), played his right hand man, Dr. Watson. Now of course I knew that before I went to see the movie, infact I quite like Robert Downey Jnr. as an actor and I have enjoyed some of his other movies and the fact that he plays the main character was one of the main reasons I wanted to see it in the cinema but there was something about him playing this role that I just didn't ...

IzzyS 27.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Sherlock Holmes

What goes around comes around..

Advantages: Enigmatic
Disadvantages: Perhaps too long

...I wouldn’t say this was in that impact category but certainly a quality piece of film. The drama begins with the return of thirty-something award winning war photographer Paul Harris (Mathew McFadden) to the small rural town of Steimer where he grew up, his first visit for 17 years. The night bag over the shoulder arrival is for dad’s funeral, mum long returned to the Earth, Paul’s relationship with big brother Andrew (Colin May) still not good after ...
...As per normal in these movies Paul has awakened ghosts from his and others past on his return, none more so than a long lost relationship with Penny (Miranda Otto), the reason, we discover later, he skipped town. Deciding to stick around and sort out the family estate, his brother begrudging Paul’s promised third of the Will & Testament, the rest going to an unnamed charity, things take an unexpected turn in his closed world with the arrival of a ...

thedevilinme 22.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of In My Father's Den (DVD)