Warning - this film is not Harry Potter. If you want Harry Potter, you'll be disappointed. I respect the view of those that don't like the film but I'm struggling to see why. Maybe they wanted Harry Potter? This is a far more mature, adult themed movie. It has character depth, tremendous acting and a great script. The balance of action and dialogue is perfect. Yes, it's still good v bad but that's OK. Jude Law is outstanding as the younger Dumbledore and we get some really interesting background to his family history, that was only hinted at in HP. There's a nod to Hogwarts which works nicely and we see some familiar faces start to appear. I really hope this is leading us all the way to Tom Riddle so that we back fill the whole journey. I left the cinema feeling joyous and uplifted. More please!!
Reviews
5 Reviews
The Witchfinder
(2022)
Terrible writing
15 April 2022
It astounds me how writing of such poor quality continues to be commissioned. The concept is more suitable to brief sketches in a comedy show and that's where it should have ended. The ideas are stretched so thin it is almost transparent. The actors try hard but have no chance of rescuing it. There must be writers with better ideas out there. It's lazy commissioning. Upstart Crow makes this look like amateur writing. You know it's not going to be great when they fall back on using the F word - alot. It feels like it was written by a couple of school boys who think swearing and being a bit silly is funny. Well it isn't. It will probably still get a second series. I won't be watching.
10th & Wolf
(2006)
Nearly a good film
3 April 2022
This feels like an attempt at an homage to Mafia films and it nearly makes it. I actually like the reluctant element given to Marsden's central character. The cast are strong with no real weak links. The story line is very formulaic but given the great Mafia movies of the past, most writers will struggle to be original. I've seen alot worse.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
(2017)
Arthouse nonsense
10 March 2022
Make people talk weird, include some weird sex, some strange music and a plot mechanism you can't explain. This movie is so bad it's laughable. You don't like any of the characters or sympathise with them. I wanted them all to die at the end. The end.
The Power of the Dog
(2021)
Truly awful film. Tedious and unoriginal.
30 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I once shared a coffee with the late, much admired theatre reviewer, Jack Tinker. He told me that no matter how bad a play was, he would always try to find something positive to say. So, in that vein, the cinematography in this film is very good - both atmospheric and on a grand scale. Sadly, that's it. I'm sure Campion set out to write an interesting story, based as it is on a novel; but the script is ponderous, repetitive; and not in a good way - often incomprehensible and utterly lacking in compelling aspects of human emotion. What we are served up is a collection of cliché-ridden characters who seem to hold secrets that are either predictable or lack any originality. I haven't read the book and I certainly won't now. The story is largely based around an 'absent character' - fair enough; but if you're using that mechanism, then you need to ensure the character is interesting or acts as a driving force/provocateur within the script. Campion achieves neither. This character is just a list of not very relevant or interesting anecdotes that add nothing to the overall story. That's if you believe there is a story here. As for characterisation; making actors stare meaningfully at each other might make them look good on screen but that's not how you draw out their subtleties. It's just tedious and boring. Nobody in real life communicates this way so why would you think it will work on film? So how would I sum up the storyline? A man is mean to a young man, who quietly plots his revenge. Whilst he does this, his Mum marries, is frightened by some banjo playing and turns to alcohol. Some native Americans appear for no reason whatsoever. We find out some hills look like a dog. I was going to add that we find out the horrible man went to university to study the classics but I'm not even sure I heard that right. It's irrelevant anyway. I don't blame the actors for this awful film. They can only do their best with the script they are given; and this is a stinker. Seriously, if this is the best today's script writers can manage for their huge fees, producers should reach out to me. I could produce something original, five times more compelling and for half the price. Enough about me. In conclusion then, great cinematography. Other than that, possibly one of the worst films I've ever endured, with a script so bad you'll realise that the only thing more boring than watching paint dry, is watching a cowboy make a rope.
Tell Your Friends