Terence Stamp is the butler "Ramsley" at the gothic pile that is the home to "Gracey" (Nathaniel Parker). It's to this creepy mansion that estate agent "Evers" (Eddie Murphy) is summoned and eyeing a decent commission, he takes his wife "Sara" (Marsha Thomason) for a dinner that soon exposes them both to some spooky goings-on. It seems that "Mrs Gracey" met with a rather untimely death and "Mrs Evers" seems to be lined up to take her place - like it or not! Stamp gets what plaudits this deserves largely for seemingly having a bright light shone in his eyes for most his scenes. Otherwise, it's a pretty lacklustre vehicle for a very mediocre star who has long since lost his lustre, supported by some folks who largely bring very little extra to a party that suffers from quite a paucity of, well, haunting... To add a bit of weight to the storyline, the writers have included a sort of familial neglect angle to the characterisation with "Evers" too focused on a successful career and not so attentive on his wife and two rather annoying children. It does all come to an head eventually, with a bit of help from the ethereal "Madame Leota" (Jennifer Tilly) and whilst it's entirely forgettable on just about every front, the visuals are quite fun and "Ramsley" is possibly the best butler since Tim Curry. It's easy enough to have on the television in the background, but that's about the height of it.

Good watch, could watch again, and can recommend.
Eddie Murphy is almost always a good watch, even under his horrible Disney contract.
The sheer amount of production value in the movie to make the mansion look as good as it does, plus all the ghost effects, is daunting. The story is good, and the way they go about investigating the mystery is good in the traditional sense: a good cycle of drip fed information, search and discovery.
The premise of the haunting itself isn't that interesting, but it is somewhat compelling that it has a "Beauty and the Beast" vibe to it, and Terence Stamp does "creepy old guy" very well.
The kids are fun, and the movie has a certain amount of charm to it, but nothing about the movie really stands out as amazing.

One word: MASTERPIECE!

“A slow but watchable movie”
It all starts with a man who was having a good family due to an accident ends up in jail and the things he does to survive there. He ends up joining with a gang and does drug deals as well as kill people for the reputation of this gang. After many years he is sent on parole that’s when his gang leader gives him a deal to do and the police is behind him. So if he does the deal or not you have to find out by watching the movie I have not spoiled anything for you guys. The main hero I have seen him in game of thrones I have always known that he was a good actor and he continues that In this movie too and the walking dead guy he too does a classic acting. The movie has a slow start and it is slow in between I personally felt the movie was dragged in some places but as I said its watchable. The story line was OK so was the ending.
I would say just check it out guys.
Notable Acting
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau famous for his acting in the tv series Game of thrones and the movies Oblivion and Mama
Jon Bernthal famous for his acting in the tv series The walking dead and the movies like The wolf of wall street and Sicario
My Rating 7/10

Something you will have seen before, but still utterly gripping.
_Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._

Oh come on with the good reviews, even if she wasn't an evil slave trader, the film comes across as a melodramatic propaganda piece from start to finish...
... but then again, it was a melodramatic propaganda piece from start to finish...
... but that's not why it's one of the movies with a huge disparancy between critic and user reviews on the more reputable sights. It was intentionally polarizing. Rational people are ripping into it because they turned a power hungry monster responsible for the slave trade and a fair amount of ethnic cleansing into an anti-slavery hero. It was a monumental rewrite of history from start to finish, one so extreme you can't even give it the excuse of artistic license.
And it was intentional, there were a lot of other people that you could make a heroic movie about that fit the mold they were looking for to push meh message. But they chose this one because the point wasn't to praise the historical figure, the point was to praise the total rewrite of history.
And make no mistake, that is the reason for the positive reviews. They don't care that it's a cheap poorly written over-acted political propaganda flick, they are praising the fact that they blatantly and knowingly rewrote history, and then turned around and said "we don't care, it's rewritten now, we have changed reality and, guess what, all of our goose stepping followers don't care either."

Amazing movie!

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/the-woman-king-spoiler-free-review
"The Woman King shares an immensely captivating, culturally significant story about the Agojie, a unit of female warriors who fight to protect their own. Viola Davis shines, but Thuso Mbedu delivers one of the best feature film debut performances I've ever witnessed.
The anti-slavery, anti-racism and equal human rights messages are well conveyed, but the authentic, emotionally resonant character dynamics stand out due to a chemistry-filled cast. Action sequences hold high levels of brutality, accompanied by excellent choreography and an energetic score.
One of the best movies of the year... ignoring the butchered Portuguese."
Rating: A-

I liked The Woman King okay: the scenery and acting were fine and the music glorious, but why did I sometimes feel I was watching a different “King” movie by Disney? They danced as well as they fought; though to be fair, is it much different than the complex marches used by more modern armies? There was a bit too much violence for my taste, but perhaps it is needed for the target audience.
The story was stereotypical in places, though for this progressive white guy, it was refreshing not to see white faces shoehorned into the story to placate the (only) White Lives Matter crowd, who were out in force with negative reviews. Here is a tip: if a four-star review points out positives but throws in complaints about historical accuracy and not enough Caucasians for the movies’ setting— okay, maybe. But if a one-star review screams about the issue, welcome to the Keep Movies White World. Are they just as offended by the thousands of movies that ignored or appropriated stories and roles of people of color in all white movies though the decades? I think not.
So while this movie won’t make any of my lists of favorites, I am glad it was made available to women and girls and other less-thin skinned caucasians like me to enjoy.

**The Woman King is a powerful action epic with fantastic fight choreography, dynamic, strong performances, and a compelling story rooted in history.**
Viola Davis crushes brutal action heroine! The entire cast was powerful, vicious, strong, and exciting. The action explodes right out the gate and feels so raw, with the jujitsu, Kali, and Chinese Wushu all blending with the machete and spear fighting to feel like the sword version of John Wick's gun-fu. Viola Davis' steely strong portrayal of Nanisca delivers a mighty yet caring warrior general, creating the genuine and dynamic atmosphere of the film. The entire cast gave stellar performances, but the stand out was Lashana Lynch as Izogie. Lynch was as over-powering, unstoppable, and skilled as any warrior in the film while also serving as the heart, humor, and strength of her Agojie sisters. The film was a fantastic adventure epic but lagged a little in the middle as it focused solely on character development and exposition. Yes, I know I'm complaining about character development, but it was just solid discussion and characters without much to keep me engaged for that hour-long middle section. But that is nitpicking. The movie is fantastic! Watch it!

Viola Davis offers us a compelling and emotional performance as the general of the highly trained and deadly, all-woman, bodyguard of the King of Dahomey (John Boyega). Increasingly embroiled in the ambitions of the European slavers and, to a certain extent, complicit in that trade themselves, the Agojie must face encroaching and modernly armed soldiers of the Oyo empire. On a personal level, this great warrior clearly has demons of her own and as she is introduced to the headstrong and courageous "Nawi" (Thuso Mbedu) she sees more of herself than she anticipated. When serendipity now plays it's hand the hitherto unshakable mettle of "Nanisca" faces an whole new series of perilous and personal challenges. The cinematography is beautiful, as is the whole look of the film in general. The political and social elements of the narrative are there to be seen but any comments made about them are levelled gently and at both sides who indulge, permit, and/or profit by the activities that made many very wealthy. The action scenes, the ensemble dancing, the singing - all are excellently presented in a colourful and plausible fashion; illustrating the sophistication of this legendary African nation and the shameless brutality of those who would be the exploiters. Lashana Lynch contributes well too, as the personable and feisty "Izogie" as do Sheila Atim ("Amenza") and Sivuyile Ngesi as the nemesis general "Migan". Annoyingly, I could not quite place the "Santo" actor until I realised it was none-other than the star of the truly mediocre "After" films - Hero Fiennes Tiffin - and he adds very little. It really benefits from the big screen experience, if you can - and is well worth a watch.

The Woman King is a touching film that balances the dramatic tone with high octane action delivering a compelling experience. With a powerhouse cast, there is plenty of fantastic performances throughout the entire film. Lashana Lynch was brilliant in this film, she presents herself with a hard exterior but is able to touch into her more emotional and caring self her relationship with Thuso Mbedu's character. Their chemistry was great and one of my favorite parts about the film.
The action in this film was really well done. The choreography was great, and the scope was vast. I loved how multiple shot led into each other. Although, part of me wish this had been rated R so that the fight scenes could have the blood and gore that this movie was wanting to deliver so desperately. I really feel like they had to cut even greater combat moves due to keeping the PG-13 rating. But even with that limited scope, that action delivers.
There are some pacing issues, with the middle section of the movie dragging on a little too much for my tastes. The ending ramps everything back up again and delivers a great resolution that concludes the film wonderfully.
**Score:** _74%_ |
**Verdict:** _Good_

Visually great and stylistically cool! Wish it was a bit less derivative, but the character dynamics and lightness really keep that from being too big of a detractor for me. I had fun!
Also: love the fact that the guy who says “Marmalade” in PADDINGTON 2 is named Professor Marmalade in this.

MORE SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/
"The Bad Guys is one of the lightest, most pleasant, genuinely positive viewings of the year. With a clear distinction between being "good" and "bad", stereotypes and preconceived notions are brilliantly addressed in a sweet redemption story that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel.
The voice cast is exceptional, elevating an admittedly formulaic narrative in a remarkably impactful manner. Despite being more geared towards children, the entertainment levels are high enough for any generation. The blend of 2D and 3D animation works flawlessly, offering an overall distinct look compared to what audiences are used to.
In the end, it's yet another recommendation for families."
Rating: B

It’s a shame that the story isn’t nearly as appealing as the animation in _The Bad Guys_. The film is smart and funny with slick animation. _The Bad Guys_ is a delightful heist that you crave to be a part of.
**Full review:** https://hubpages.com/entertainment/The-Bad-Guys-2022-Review-A-Visually-Stylish-Animated-Caper

I really enjoyed the movie. It's funny, the action scenes are very well done, the characters are charming, the dialogues are excellent and the animation style, in a mix of 2D and 3D, is the icing on the cake to complete an (almost) perfect animation.
'Almost' because the plot was pretty average. It's interesting and even brings a nice message, but I think it lacked a little more development, especially in making the movie more unpredictable. Halfway through the movie you already knew who the villain was and how the movie was going to end. They even added multiple 'twists' to make the story more unpredictable, but almost all of them were far-fetched and failed to surprise me.
Despite that, this movie was a breath of originality from Dreamworks after a decade of bland animations. I'll give it a solid 8.

The "Bad Guys" make the most secure location look like a candy store, and they tease the hapless police chief "Luggins" who seems incapable - despite having gazillions of officers - to catch them. Enter the new governor "Foxington" who basically ridicules them, declaims their achievement and provokes them into pulling the ultimate crime - the theft of the golden dolphin. What now ensues is an "Ocean's 5" style logistics exercise as the five of them carefully plan the theft. The trophy is to be presented to the icon of decency "Professor Marmalade" but is he quite who he seems? Is the governor? These films are a bit ten-a-penny, and this one isn't really very special. The dialogue is entertainingly quick-fire now and again (especially the snake and the piranha); "Weaps" - the extra nimble taratunla provides the gadgetry and the animation is efficient with plenty of action once the film gets moving. The ending, though, is daft and hurried and who knew there were so many millions of guinea pigs in the world!? I saw this on my own on a big screen, but I think this will do just as well on the television.

It seems to me that real programmers, for example, like the ones that created my favorite Utopia p2p application, look a little different and are engaged in completely different things. They do not seek to harm users, but rather try to help keep personal data safe.

**It's about the virtual terrorism and fighting back it in the same way.**
This is the story of the United States and China, that also involves some of the southeast Asian nations when the story takes us there. So this tale is about an explosion at a Chinese nuclear plant and followed by the investigation conducted by the US and Chinese collaboration, the cops hire a convicted hacker to fast up the process and to nab the culprit who was behind the power plant disaster. These people begin their hunting by tracking the clues to the different locations and where they finally land and how it all come end told in the rest of the film.
I felt it was a too much realistic presentation. Like a documentary film quality, but full suspense filled story that stretched to over two hours. So sometimes it was very boring, because slowing down in any big development. At a time, some of the important scenes accomplished so fast like most of the action sequences. It mainly revolved around hacking plot, but was not that intelligent, so can be understood by everyone.
Initially I disliked those circuit board graphics, which I thought was a good detail, but too much for a film like this and it never looked so convincing. The film was average, but I anticipated lot better than that. I liked the actors though. Whether it was Chris Hemsworth or the Chinese counterparts, all were decent according to what the tale required. The film is not for everybody, particularly if you don't like slow narration, you should not consider it to watch. But the film is not bad for once viewing.
_6/10_

I genuinely enjoyed this. I didn't see that coming.
'Hannah Montana: The Movie' kept me suitably entertained from start-to-finish, it is so much better than I would've predicted. I have never seen an episode of the television series either.
It features a surprisingly interesting and fairly meaningful story, sure the ending is extremely Disneyfied and nonsensical but they make it work. For what it is, it's a relatively engaging storyline. There are a few bits of neat cinematography, also. Music-wise it's alright, "The Climb" is a (good) song that I was already familiar with.
Miley Cyrus does a respectable job in the lead role(s). Billy Ray Cyrus, Margo Martindale, Vanessa Williams and Barry Bostwick all feature too, as does a young Natalia Dyer. I like the casting.
I had very low expectations coming into this, but it's a film that pleasantly surprised me. I'd say it's worthy of a watch.

Every time I'm about to give up on Netflix in frustration over horrible remakes and bad stand up specials, they come around a release a flick like this.
It has a low budget, but it has a low budget that is very well and very very well disguised in a way that can best be described as pro-talent. It looks good, it looks like the 30s.
It's also expertly acted and skillfully walks the line between funny and deadly serious as you get to watch the two old Texas Rangers walk through a world that has drastically changed.
In other words, it's an absolute pleasure to watch.

***Tracking down Bonnie & Clyde***
Based on the real story, two renowned retired Texas Rangers (Kevin Costner & Woody Harrelson) are commissioned to track down and execute Bonnie & Clyde in 1934 after other authorities have failed.
“The Highwaymen” (1983) is a great counterbalance to the 1967 movie with Beatty & Dunaway, which painted the thugs more sympathetically, as well as the excellent “Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story” (1992).
The filmmakers shoot for realism rather than the thrills of, say, James Bond or Batman. And by "realism" I don't mean exact historical accuracy; movies never are for many reasons. For instance, Frank Hamer never approached Bonnie & Clyde from the front of their vehicle. Hamer & co. just blew them to smithereens as soon as it was determined it was the rogue couple.
The picture is a reverent period piece about life in the Great Depression and the pursuit & execution of the infamous duo by a couple of aged, but experienced men. The film has the confidence to take its time, unlike say "Aquaman,” which anxiously jumped to a wild action scene just when a dramatic part was getting interesting. If "The Highwaymen" is sometimes slow & boring it's because the actual pursuit was also slow and often boring. This is not a flick for people with ADHD who demand an explosion every 5-7 minutes. It's for people who favor period pieces like "The Whole Wide World," "Cross Creek," "Of Mice and Men," “The Cider House Rules,” "The Green Mile" and "Water for Elephants."
The movie runs 2 hours, 12 minutes.
GRADE: B+/A-

Expectations: To see a period piece centered around the take down of Bonnie and Clyde and all the events that led up to it.
What happened: Exactly that. This movie isn't for everyone, but if you are hoping to see a good period piece with realistic action and events. You'll love this film.

The Man with the Golden Gun isn't generally considered to be a good film but I enjoy it despite its many flaws.

This was an unfinished work by Ian Fleming.
So there was even more leeway than usual.
However, that matters little to a viewer.
This 007 film is very different than any others, because Bond doesn't battle a big organizaiton. He's battling basically one man, the man with the golden gun.
The "golden gun" of Christopher Lee is a specially made weapon, and Bond is told he is to be a victim of this assassin.
He later learns he wasn't intended to be the victim.
Meanwhile, he does venture into the Orient and gets into a fight with an entire karate school.
He runs away. Good man.
And he meets the red neck sheriff of a previous film, who provides great comic relief.
I said in the review of that prior film (Live and Let Die) that at the time, the red neck sheriff was a horribly trite cliche, but today it is a fresh bit of humor, and so this film has aged very well.
I don't think the scenery is quite as exotic or beautiful as in most Bond films, but it passes.
While this film pales in comparison with most 007 films from its era, it is still better than almost all of the 21sth century Bond movies. It just isn't as dull. There is a lot of action and adventure.

I write this with the understanding that I am not supposed to like it. It's one of the movies that, in serious Bond fandom, you aren't supposed to like.
And, that is because, yeah, the script sort of really sucks... and I'm not going to defend it. They could have done a far better job.
However, it's still a fun movie. It's Moore era silly Bond and one of the big reasons people don't like this is because the Moore Era silliness went a little bit too far didn't it? Think Pigeons.
But, I laughed. I laughed up until the end when it started trying to be an actual 007 movie again instead of a spoof of a 007 movie... and that's where it lost me.
It doesn't really deserve 10 stars, but I do 10 or 1 in a thumbs up watch it, or thumbs down don't watch it kind of vote with little in between. And it certainly doesn't deserve 1 star, because it is watchable and entertaining.
Just realize that the people that hate it in the 007 fandom have good reason to hate it... and the people that don't, well, it's still a fun and entertaining movie to watch and one that you probably shouldn't skip in the franchise.

Sometimes a film is more than just what you see on the screen. I will always recall this fondly as it was the first film I ever saw in a cinema that wasn't a cartoon - and I really enjoyed it. This time "007" receives a rather intriguing golden bullet through the post. After some detective work he concludes that he is a target of he eponymous character - "Scaramanger" (Christopher Lee) who charges $1m per hit. Why, though? Off to Hong Kong he goes, and soon his own dangers are intertwined with a perilous search for a "solex" - a revolutionary gadget that can convert solar energy into electricity. Of course the ending is never in doubt, but Guy Hamilton makes the most of an on-form Roger Moore with plenty of action. There is also enough light-heartedness - not least the canal urchin with his teak elephant and "bloody tourist" and some engaging - if very of their time - interventions from Clifton James returning in his role as the imbecilic sheriff "J.W. Pepper". We have two "Bond" girls - Britt Ekland as the light and fluffy "Goodnight" with Maud Adams ("Miss Anders") the unloved and unhappy girlfriend of the gunman who tries to help "Bond" stay alive, and of course there is the legend that is "Nick Nack" (Hervé Villechaize) who at three foot tall, provides much of the menace and a fair degree of the humour throughout. The scenarios give the photography a chance to shine - beautiful Thai locations, some kick boxing and a fun river boat chase before an suitably pyrotechnic denouement. One of my favourite Bond films - well paced and with a strong baddie. Under-rated, I think - well worth a watch.

You get as much pleasure out of killing as I do, so why don't you admit it?
The Man with the Golden Gun is directed by Guy Hamilton and adapted to screenplay by Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz from the Ian Fleming novel. It stars Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Herve Villechaize, Soon-Taik-Oh, Richard Loo and Clifton James. Music is scored by John Barry and cinematography by Ted Moore & Oswald Morris.
Bond 9 and 007 is distracted from his pursuit of the Solex Agitator when it appears he has been targeted for death by famous assassin Francisco Scaramanga.
This would be the last Bond movie to be produced by the partnership of Broccoli and Saltzman, the latter of which was the one to leave. Perhaps they fought about what direction Moore's Bond should be taking? Because The Man with the Golden Gun is not a fitting film for them to part on, their fall out most likely impacting on why this is a pretty unadventurous entry in the James Bond franchise. The film plays more as a slapstick comedy than an action adventure. The script is uninspired, with the characters of Mary Goodnight (Ekland) and Sheriff Pepper (James) reaching new lows for Bond allies, while some of the situations that arise are just bizarre and lazy. The latter statement of which applies big time to the weak finale.
However, even average Bond films have value somewhere in the mix. Here there's some grit in Moore's performance and Lee's Scaramanga is one of the series' most interesting villains. Maud Adams is given a good character to work from, her Andrea Anders is intriguing and very much a live wire in the plot, it's a good performance that would see Adams rewarded with the lead lady role in Octopussy (1983). Villechaize's Nick Nack, Scaramanga's right hand man/helper is a unique villain, though this is spoilt somewhat by a daft final confrontation with Bond. There's a brilliant car stunt performed by Bumps Willard, done in one take, it alone deserved to be in a better film.
Elsewhere. Barry is back on musical score duties, providing an Oriental tinted arrangement. Sadly Lulu's title theme song is instantly forgettable and lyrically feels like it was written in 5 minutes. Locations are sumptuous, with Macau, Hong Kong and Thailand put to great use by the team, and the gadgetry is kept to minimum which allows us to enjoy the one or two inventive modes of transport used within the piece. The box office was $98 million, a considerable take for sure but still some $63 million down on the previous Bond adventure. With critics and fans considering the film a let down, questions were again raised as to if Bond was loosing his appeal? With Saltzman, Hamilton and Mankiewicz bowing out of the franchise, would there be a turnaround in Bond's fortunes? Would Moore finally get a script and film to test him? 6.5/10

“The plane, the plane”
Agent 007 (Roger Moore) learns that he’s on the hit list of the world's most expensive assassin, Scaramanga (Christopher Lee). Traveling from Beirut to Macau, China, to Bangkok, Thailand, he aims to confront the assassin while recovering sensitive solar cell equipment. Hervé Villechaize is on hand as Scaramanga’s little assistant, Nick Nack.
“The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974) was Moore’s second outing as Bond. He did 7 films for the franchise in 13 years from 1973-1985. Moore’s stint is my favorite run in the series with all seven films being kinetic, amusing, scenic and just all-around entertaining. There’s not one clunker in the bunch and they were all profitable at the box office, but this one kinda got lost between the cracks of “Live and Let Die” (1973) and “The Spy who Loved Me” (1977).
Director Guy Hamilton made three prior Bond films, “Live and Let Die,” “Diamonds are Forever” (1971) and “Goldfinger” (1964), and wanted 007 to be more rough around the edges in this movie, like he is in Ian Fleming’s book. As such, Moore's acting seems more "tough” here than his other Bond entrees; for instance, the way he treats Andrea (Maud Adams) in the arm twisting scene. But Moore didn't like playing the character this way and toned it down for the rest of his installments.
There’s picturesque Asian globetrotting, with the Thailand islands being particularly scenic (standing in for “Red Chinese waters”). On the female front, there’s Agent Mary Goodnight played by Britt Ekland, who looks great in a floral bikini during the last reel. There’s also the aforementioned Adams as Andrea and a cameo by Chew Mee. Memorable moments include an entertaining martial arts academy sequence; the amusing return of redneck Sheriff JW Pepper (Clifton James), who’s vacationing in Bangkok with his wife; a great car-jumping stunt; and Scaramanga’s secret solar power plant operation.
The film runs 2 hours, 5 minutes and was shot in Thailand (Phang Nga Bay and Bangkok) and Hong Kong/ Macau, with additional work done in England.
GRADE: B

**Excellent Bond film.**
Superior Bond film with Christopher Lee as an assassin who sets his sights on Sir Roger Moore. Big mistake!
A fast moving entry from Guy Hamilton that has lovely locations, incredible stunts - (The car flip has yet to be bettered) sexy ladies, a great theme tune, the return of the hilarious Sheriff J W Pepper and of course the legendary Sir Roger Moore as James Bond.
If only the bland 2006 reboot were as entertaining.