House of Wax (2005) Review

 

House of Wax is not a film I would call good. However, in all honesty it was still a hell of a lot better than I was expecting. The good parts, while standing strong on their own, were oftentimes overshadowed by the bad. The scares were genuine but were often blocked out by its bad writing and mostly horrible acting.

The characters, while not deep, did possess a sense of humanity. How a character acted and responded to any particular situation was not so much set in stone but was fluid. Their actions and words responded to their character as they grew.

The writing, however, was just terrible and the acting didn’t help any either. Their characters, though, were still written in a way to convey their independent personalities. They weren’t just cookie cutters of each other. They were genuinely different and each brought something different to the film.

The scares were pretty good, too. You never really had a clue about what was going to happen next. There were times where I was literally shocked. Parts of this film, however, did feel a little lazy. There were a few opportunities where the cast had a chance to take out the antagonist but failed to do so. It’s like, in some instances, they didn’t even try.

Parts of this film were kinda predictable but that didn’t really take anything from it. The ending, while subtle in its execution, was legitimately terrifying and opened up the opportunity for a sequel.

While this film is by no means a masterpiece it is still worth a watch. Just don’t go into it expecting it to be the next big thing. Just go along for the ride.

7 out of 10

Princess Mononoke (1997) Review

 

Princess Mononoke is a film that stands above the average film in its genre. Telling an epic tale of Gods and Demons. What mankind will do to the earth out of greed and how they will fight anything that gets in their way. The characters were heartwarming and three dimensional. Full of heart and drive. Their personalities different than they initially appear. Each one grew and became better versions of themselves. Closer friends and bridging the gap between enemies. The musical score was fantastic but that is to be expected with a Studio Ghibli film. The writing was full of warmth and character. Everything seemed alive. From humans and animals to the Gods and Demons. Even the plants themselves brought life to this film. The movie, however, is a long one. And, in all honesty about half way through it I wanted it to end. However, having stuck to the ending all I can say is that I am so glad I stayed. The ending fit the story like a glove and brough much closure to the story. Yes the film is a long one but the wait is totally worth it.

9 Out of 10

War Horse (2011) Review

 

There are very few movies that I would call perfect but “War Horse” is one of them. It tells the story of a horse as he traveled from working in the field to being on the front lines. How the horse reacted to it and how he helped all those who came into contact with him.

The art direction fit the grandeur of the film. It had an epic story to tell and visually we were not disappointed. The writing, too, was phenomenal and the characters fit their actors very nicely. Their portrayal fitting like a glove.

The whole trip was an emotional ride full of ups and downs. Several scenes had me tearing up. Not just at the sad scenes but oftentimes the good ones, too. You found yourself cheering for Joey, the horse. You wanted him to succeed. You wanted him to be happy and that desire is what pushed me to finish the film.

This film is a Masterpiece. Very few movies even come close to this. This film is gonna pull at your heartstrings but you will be smiling the whole way through.

10 out of 10