EvilPhoEniX

This year's second visit to the cinema. Another modern war flick set in Afghanistan, where a 12-strong group of soldiers are tasked with taking down the Taliban with the help of an Afghan warlord. In terms of the cast, the film is packed: Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, and for a debut it has very solidly executed action scenes, with explosions like Michael Bay, plenty of rawness and the combination of horses with M4s against tanks has something going for it. I'm not as intense as 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, but still a decent affair that I enjoyed in the cinema. 75%

January event! A teen retro Bonnie and Clyde in a twisted British package. The main character is a 17 year old introverted psychopath with a desire to kill someone, and his girlfriend is a 17 year old nymphomaniac with a very harsh tongue. What a pairing. The series doesn't mince its words with black to sarcastic humour, there are a few twisted scenes, the pace is fast and the tension grows from episode to episode and the finale literally shocks. A great mini-series ride. I'm looking forward to the second season. 90%.

Pretty boring for my taste with an annoying look and terrible cinematography. No gore, at least Bella Thorne is hot and sometimes the film manages to mine tension, otherwise slightly below average. 45%

After the lackluster Oblivion, Joseph Kosinski redeemed his reputation with me and made the best film of his career. He chose a very sensitive and destructive subject that immediately grabbed my heart and pulled me to my seat. Josh Brolin is excellent and commands incredible respect, and Miles Teller is the best young-adult actor working today. Kosinski has made a very heartfelt drama with some excellent moments including training and bullying, family issues, the transition from junkie to hero, great strategy and behind-the-scenes work by the American firefighters, and an emotionally devastating finale that had me decently shredded. A perfect film that is well acted, shot, tense and with intelligent dialogue. First five star this year. Surprise 90%

Tragedy Girls is a noteworthy new release, riding the wave of Scream and today's Instagram phenomenon and their passionate obsession. The two main characters are willing to kill for followers and likes and unleash a decent high school horror story in their wake. It's admittedly a teen horror film, so anyone who doesn't like movies like this might as well go home, but I had fun. The gore is surprisingly good and I'm glad this isn't another PG-13 flick. the references to older horror films are also nice (Halloween, Final Destination, etc.) and the cast includes some very eye-pleasing ladies, even if they are all cows for the most part. Perhaps silly, but a nicely shot, brisk, occasionally funny and entertaining horror film that comes out slightly above average in the current drought. Had the finale been better, I would have gone for 4 stars. 65%

This is just so bland. I don't think George Clooney has ever makes a good movie. I found it very clunky, boring and long-winded. Matt Damon wasn't a good fit for the role, the plot didn't work for me, I didn't find anything funny, and there is a minor editing error in the finale, but it doesn't save the film. It made me suffer. 35%

Yeah, it's in a similar vein to the first one. Mila Kunis is very cute and Kathryn Hahn plays a female Stifler and I enjoy it. A few lines made me laugh and the Christmas atmosphere is nice. A fine comedy for one viewing even if more of a chick flick. 65%.

For the month of January, definitely the most interesting addition to the horror genre, but still nothing that I'll remember fondly. The protagonist and her friends find a game in the attic where they summon a demon called Midnight Man who supposedly uses your fear against you, but that's all talk unfortunately. The opening scene and the slaughter of the children is gritty and solid, but then unfortunately 40 minutes of "boredom" ensues as running around the house with candles doesn't do much for me. After that, however the film picks up quite nicely and there is no shortage of great gore, dark atmosphere and a very creepy Lin Shaye, who gave me chills in one scene. Robert Englund makes an appearance, but doesn't bring anything too important to the film. The acting is mediocre, the two main characters were amateurish in my opinion, saved by the beauty of the main character and Lin Shaye. Visually it was also a rather cheap affair, but it was surprising how good the make-up effects turned out. It's a thunderous 80's B-movie, but it's eager and inoffensive. 65%.

January is classically dead for horror movies and this new release, with Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair, doesn't impress much either. The idea is great, but very underutilized. All of a sudden the parents want to kill their children and an epidemic breaks out. Unfortunately the murders are out of frame, so once again a horror film without blood, which is a big thumbs down. The film also didn't have much humour and Cage overacted tragically, it's amazing how a once excellent actor has now fallen to an absolute acting low. Fortunately the film doesn't get significantly boring somehow and there is the occasional thrilling scene, but otherwise it’s pretty pointless for me. 55%

The French have been doing the comedies right lately. Again, an unusual original idea with the brilliant Christian Clavier, who lives a happy luxurious life with his beautiful wife, but their idyll is disrupted by a Roma family with a caravan who move into their garden. There are funny moments and above all it is fun to see the differences and traditions of the Roma. Good stuff. 75%.