10 Recent Movie/Series Reviews

10/20/2016 12:00:00 PM

Movies are my life. I grew up watching movies with my dad that explains why I love watching movies. And if you've been following this blog for a while, you'll notice that I do some movie reviews about the recent movies that I've watched. Actually, I haven't done this again so I just wanna share with you my thoughts in the latest movies I have watched. (last movie review I posted was last year)

1. ARQ (2016) Plot: "Trapped in a lab and stuck in a time loop, a disoriented couple fends off masked raiders while harboring a new energy source that could save humanity" My Thoughts: Plot maybe a little weird at first but when I got to watched the first few minutes of the movie, I got hooked. The story seems to revolve in the same scene but different reactions of the main characters all throughout the story. The thrill of not knowing why the scene or story was the same made me think of what this movie is about. I love this movie because of the "twist", that was unpredictable.
2. The Flu (2013) Plot: "The worst epidemic ever seen is sweeping througy Bundang, the suburb of Seoul. After smuggling illegal immigrants into the country, Byung-woo dies from unknown virus. Soon after that, the same symptoms are plaguing scores of residents in Bundang. People are helpless against the airborne disease and the number infected increases quickly, spreading chaos. As the worst-case scenario precaution, the city of half a million people, just 19km from Seoul, is about to be sealed off. Meanwhile, infectious disease specialist In-hye and rescue worker Ji-goo go into closed city to find the blood serum of the index case, a crucial part of developing the vaccine."

My Thoughts: Because of the hype of Train to Busan film, I was able to discover this thriller film on the internet. Mostly say it was better than Train To Busan so I watched it. And also, a Filipino actor is one of the cast in this movie. (He's even speaking in Tagalog in this movie. Haha) Plot was common for me since I've already seen a lot of movies with the same plot. Story was okay but a bit predictable for me. There were lots of drama scene and not much action or tense in the movie. My friend who also watched this was able to like and enjoy the film and finds it very unlikely movie. I've already seen lots of movies like this so I really find the story predictable. It was an okay film for me.
3. Train to Busan (2016) Plot: "A man (Gong Yoo), his estranged daughter and other passengers become trapped on a train during a zombie outbreak in South Korea"

My Thoughts: I first watched the trailer of this film a few months ago and it was so good! Been waiting for this movie on Philippines cinemas since it came out in Korean cinemas and had positive feed backs. I planning to watch this one on the cinemas but didn't had the time. And I just watched this online :( Plot inside the train in a zombie apocalypse is very new to me that's why I got hooked. Effects were surprisingly superb and zombie actors were great. There were still lots of drama scenes (you know naman Korean films. Haha) but it was well compensated by lots of thrill and action scenes. I just wish I had watched it on the big scene to be able to appreciate the movie more. Overall, great zombie film!
4. The Shallows (2016) Plot: "Still reeling from the loss of her mother, medical student Nancy Adams (Blake Lively) travels to a secluded beach for some much needed solace. Despite the danger of surfing alone, Nancy decides to soak up the sun and hit the waves. Suddenly, a great white shark attacks, forcing het to swim to a giant rock for safety. Left injured and stranded 200 yards from shore, the frightened young woman must fight for her life as the deadly predator circles her in its feeding ground"

My Thoughts: Who would go out the sea alone in a secluded place and does not even have it's own lifeguard?! Haha Most of the time shark movies are very unrealistic just like this one. Plot was okay but how would a shark be in just one place, preying a girl for almost 24hours?! What kind of shark does that?!
5. Kimi no Na Wa (2016) Plot: "The story is set one month after a comet has fallen for the first time in a thousand years in Japan. Mitsuha, a high school girl living in the countryside, wants to live in the city because she is tired of life in the country. Then, there's Taki. He's a high school student living in Tokyo with his friends while working as a part-timer in an Italian restaurant. He also has a strong interest in fine arts involving architecture. One day, Mitsuha dreams of herself as a young man. On the other hand, Taki also has a dream where he is a femae student attending high school in the countryside. What's the sectet behind their dreams?"

My Thoughts: I've first encountered this film on my Facebook as it has lots of positive comments on the post. Curious as to why this movie is a hit, I found out that it is the #1 anime film now. Didn't watched the trailer but just read the plot and looked for the movie online. First, I noticed the graphics which were really great. Also, the OST was so good that I had to download it after watching the film. Haha And both main characters were very relate-able, I think. The plot is very much interesting to me and left me lots of questions at first. It's really a great masterpiece that everyone should watch. I wish this film was shown in PH cinemas because I think this movie is better when watched on the big screen. It's been a while since I last watched an anime film and I love this movie a lot!
6. Lights Out (2016) Plot: "When her little brother, Martin, experiences the same events that once tested her sanity, Rebecca works to unlock the truth behind the terror, which brings her face to face with an entity that has an attachment to their mother, Sophia"

My Thoughts: Movie was really scaaaary!!! But the storyline was a bit usual for me. Though I didn't saw the "twist" coming. The horror factor was great but I was a bit "bitin" during the end. I was like, "Was that really all?"
7. Southbound (2015) Plot: "Five interlocked tales of terror follow the fates of a group of weary travellers who confront their worst nightmares - darkest secrets - over one long night on a desolate stretch of desert highway."

My Thoughts: 5 weird horror-thriller that are somehow connected to each other.. but not. All stories are connected but never ending. Got it? It's a kind of movie you wanna watch when you can't find any horror film to watch already.
8. The Invitation (2015) Plot: "While attending a dinner party at his former house, a man starts to believe that his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister plans for their guests" My Thoughts: It's a thriller-mystery film that will keep you guessing what will happen next. I kinda know who's the villain and who looks like gonna live but still you'll never. The motive of the killers are kinda lame but there is this unpredictable twist that made me say, "Ahh okay.. it was a good film".
9. Hush (2016) Plot: "A deaf writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window" My Thoughts: Who would wanna live or even have a retreat at a secluded place in the woods and to think she (the main charac) is a deaf person?! I mean that's what you get right? Haha. The plot is very interesting at first. A deaf woman not knowing someone is already killing her friend outside her house without her noticing it because she's deaf. She lefts her phone, tries to open her door and no means of defending herself with a guy holding a knife. Few other guy characters came to the rescue but they were all killed. And the killer is still alive even though he was stabbed, injured and all. Why does all killer in the movies gets to lived all throughout the movie?! Whyyy?! Haha
10. Scare Campaign (2016) Plot: "Popular prank TV show, Scare Campaign, has been entertaining audiences for the last 5 years with its mix of old school scares and hidden camera fun. But as we enter a nee age of online TV the producers find themselves up against a new hard edged web series which makes their show look decidedly quaint. It's time to up the ante, but will the team go too far this time, and are they about to prank the wrong guy?" My Thoughts: Plot was surprisingly good though not so good when it comes to effects. It's all about pranks and a "twist" that you have to see for yourself :)
Series: 1. Fear The Walking Dead Season 2 (2015-present) Plot: "What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in The Walking Dead (2010)? This spin off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question." My Thoughts: The first season was good. The thrill and mystery was there. Making me want to watch the 2nd season. 2nd season was so boring. The story revolves on Mexican community and there were loooots of drama and talking involved. I can only remembered 1 episode I did enjoyed which was when they were encountered lots of zombies. Zombies are not much to be seen in this season, I dunno why. Not sure if they still have another season but hopefully they'll improve the storyline.
2. The Night Of (2016) Plot: "After night of partying with a female stranger, a man wakes up to find her stabbed to death and is charged with murder" My Thoughts: Plot is very interesting and makes you think a lot!! With the evidences and circumstances, this story make you wanna know more about every character in the story. The actors were really good especially the main character which evolves throughout the story. With only 8 episodes, this series is a bit hanging but satisfying.
Currently Watching:
1. The Exorcist (TV Series) Plot: "TV show based on William Blatty's 1971 novel about a priest who performs exorcisms on demonic spirits" My Thoughts: I've watched the film The Exorcist before and I find it very scaarry (watched it when I was in highschool). So far, I've already watched the first 2 episodes and it was good. The story revolves on 2 priests, one who turned away from exorcism and one who is called to do so. Effects are really good and scaaary! Haha I always look forward watching this series :)
2. Westworld (TV Series) Plot: "A series inspired by the 1973 film of the same title written by Michael Crichton about a futuristic theme park populated by artificial beings." My Thoughts: Just watched the first episode last week and it was surprisingly good. The plot is about androids who are called "Hosts" who are inside the futuristic theme park. The human visitors who are called "Newcomers" get to live the life they want or do what they wanna do. The amusement park follows a script for years but when one android slips, they must investigate why this has happened. Story seems interesting and can't wait to watch the next episode.
Whew. That was a lot. Haha Hope you enjoyed my recent movie reviews. How about you? What's the recent movie you watched or have you also watched the movie/series I've mentioned above? :) post signature