Admiral Dewey Landing at Gibraltar (1899)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A row boat brings Admiral Dewey into the dock at Gibraltar.
The image quality of his short is not good so it is hard to make out anything about the individuals featured. Made up of a single shot that does not move there is nothing much to say about the camera work. If it had survived at better quality this could have been quite interesting.
2/5
Mortal Kombat (2021)
Directed by Simon McQuoid this video game adaptation stars Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson. Earth stands on the edge of being invaded if its champions lose another Mortal Kombat tournament.
Lacking anything in the way of a real plot or characters that have arcs there is not a lot to the script of this film. The extensive fight sequences are just not good enough to carry the piece either. All in all this is a lazy effort that has little going for it.
2/5
The Garden Left Behind (2019)
Directed by Flavio Alves this film stars Carlie Guevara, Ed Asner and Michael Madsen. A young transwoman living as an illegal immigrant in New York struggles to find her place in the world.
Managing to be touching and person despite moments of real darkness this is a good watch on the subject of trans rights. The plot may not be ground breaking or surprising but it covers difficult issues with care. Well worth seeking out, especially for Carlie Guevara's performance.
4/5
Philadelphia Express, Jersey Central Railway (1897)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A train goes past the camera then another goes across the top of a bridge.
Simple but effective this single shot film is set up fairly nicely. There are other films of this era where there does not seem to have been much effort put into the framing but this one is a step up. One of the better films of the era.
3/5
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Directed by Michael Chaves this film inspired by real events stars Vera Farminga and Patrick Wilson. Our protagonists go up against a witch by means of demonic possession and murder.
Frankly I find making money of fraudsters and the satanic panic to be distasteful. The film it self would not be too bad if not for claiming to be true even if there is not a huge amount to it. All in all the whole thing leaves me with a bad taste in the mouth.
2/5
Survive the Night (2020)
Directed by Matt Eskandari this film stars Bruce Willis, Chad Michael Murray and Shea Buckner. Two criminals hold a doctor and his family hostage when they need treatment for a gunshot wound.
Some how this film manages to stretch about 30 minutes of plot into 80 minutes run time. There is nothing original or interesting here. Pretty much everyone involved is very obviously phoning this one in.
2/5
Land of Mine (2015)
Directed by Martin Zandvilet this film stars Roland Moller and Mikkel Folsgaard. Following the end of WW2 German soldiers in Denmark are forced to work clearing mines.
This is a film that makes you anxious for 90 minutes then leaves you depressed. While I really enjoyed the film it does take the easy route a little, there are no true believers on the German side having to face the new reality, only on the Danish side. Well made with some excellent shots of the Danish coast.
4/5
