The original Insidious made a lot of people mad. Not because it was a bad movie but because of the cliffhanger ending. So a sequel was greenlit. And it isn't bad at all. It explores more ideas that were never really touched on in the first film. The problem is that we see things that we have already seen.
Robert Rodriguez capped off his El Mariachi trilogy with Once Upon a Time in Mexico. It features a large ensemble cast including Antonio Banderas, Johnny Depp, and even singer Enrique Iglesias. What we are left with is a funny action packed film that will always be entertaining.
10 Cloverfield Lane would not have been a very successful film without "Cloverfield" in the title. It is a interesting premise and a great cast. But let's face it, not many people were expecting the film that we received. John Goodman's chilling performance added to the claustrophobic feel that the film had. Tension builds as the film goes on and once you think that it's gone, it spikes up. This isn't a monster movie like its predecessor. This is a monster movie dealing with the monsters inside of every day people.
Speaking with numerous friends of mine, I have come to the conclusion that this film is split down the middle. Half of the people I spoke with liked it, while the other half hated it. With this Now You See Me, you should rent it before you buy it so you can make a better decision as opposed to blind buying it and regretting it. I liked the film and all of its twists and turns along with its cast. So if you hate movies with twists, don't bother.
It's an idea that has been shown on film before. It seems fairly simple but it seems like Hollywood can't get it right. In the film, three women find out that their boyfriend/husband is cheating. So they take revenge. Sounds simple enough. The problem is just that instead of taking a smart approach, the film is full of stupid jokes. The characters are almost all unlikable. Cameron Diaz seems like she doesn't even want to be there. Leslie Mann is basically playing Debbie from Knocked Up. And Kate Upton is Kate Upton. Taylor Kinney as Mann's brother is the only redeeming quality in the movie but sadly it isn't enough to save it.
Knock Knock isn't the type of film that you'd expect Eli Roth to make. It isn't bad at all. But it isn't very good either. It just...is. Roth's intentions are pure. The cast is great. The script is so-so. You'll probably find yourself infuriated throughout the film but that's the point. The problem is that it drags on and feels kind of long even though it's a fairly short film.
At first glance you may think "Another Nicholas Sparks film?" And yes it is another one. But it isn't that bad. It is cheesy like the other films based on his books, but the actors bring the characters to life in a way that you can't help but keep watching.
This isn't like any other Michael Bay film. Sure it's got action and explosions. But it has something else that his other films don't. Heart. As the film progresses, you become attached to these characters and come to care about them. It's a good war film. It isn't Saving Private Ryan, but to be fair, what film nowadays is?
Not many people nowadays would appreciate this film. I didn't at first but after another watch I did. It's a slow burn but it's a great film nonetheless.