It's a combination of John Wick and Mad Max Fury Road wrapped up in one badass Finn. Excellent action movie.
Good way to start off 2025, killing a bunch of Nazis.

Sisu is an utterly ridiculous film.
If Aatami was a woman, at least one "reviewer" here would be wailing about how woke this movie is, because it's only acceptable escapism if it's a man surviving a tank assault, a flurry of bullets, mines, immolation, drowning, hanging, and a goddamn plane crash.
That being said, Sisu was indeed, quite an entertaining movie.

WWII action thriller about a lone man and ex-military that mines gold in Lapland, Finland during 1944 and the retreat of nazis forces. After encountering an abundant quantity of gold he encounters retreating units of nazis, a bigger one that encounters him, and a little one that messes with him and hell is set loose.
Jalmari Helander director and writer did a good job on this one, that is divided in chapters - similarities with Rambo III and John Wick aren't so coincide since the production crew worked in John Wick.
Wait for gory deaths, and very good choreographies on the sequences of fighting. The story is also original in it's way and reminds a lot Tarantino.
Jorma Tommila as Aatami the protagonist does a good job, better that Keanu btw. There are some goofs as the post WWII tank used by the germans but ok.
Good production and fun if you like revenge and violent movies, a 7,0 out of 10,0 / B for me.

This is gourmet action food. If you think Marvel heroes are great, they pale compared to this guy. Or, if you just like watching Nazis get the living shit beat out of them, (I know I do) this is the film to watch. Or maybe you just want to see raped women get empowered for revenge. Sisu has all that. And it's bloody.
I also love words that have no direct translation to English, like the Portuguese word soldade, or the German Schadenfreude. Now I've learned another, the Finnish word Sisu: A white-knuckled courage and unimaginable determination.

I did quite enjoy this, but you really do have to be prepared to leave your common sense at the door. It's all about a man "Aatami" (Jorma Tommila) who having had a brutal WWII already, has taken refuge in the remote Finnish wilderness where he is panning for - and finds - gold. Packing up, he sets off for civilisation but en route, encounters a dishevelled Nazi tank patrol under the command of "Bruno" (Aksel Hennie). Initially, they have little interest in the pilgrim, but some gunfire and explosions shortly after he passes them piques their interest and soon the most perilous of manhunts is engaged. The "Sisu" myth is based around a person who is not immortal, but who simply refuses to die - and "Aatami" certainly fits the bill. He flirts with knives, bullets, landmines and even the noose but death clearly doesn't want him just yet! Can he get his gold to the bank? It is gory, this film, but I found in quite a light-hearted way. Limbs blown hither and tither but somehow not in a menacing, or scary, fashion. Indeed, at times the action is actually mildly entertaining - especially when the women prisoners are given the opportunity for some good old-fashioned revenge. It's told with an hybrid Guy Ritchie or Sergio Leone style, episodically, and for the first hour works quite well. The tail end, though, falls away as the film - always of questionable plausibility - becomes just a little bit too "A-Team". There isn't much dialogue to comment on - no bad thing; and the action comes thick and fast in a production that is wonderfully illustrative of the bleakness of this environment (and of some with an human soul).

The movie is all action but without special computer effects (at least none that are over the top like almost all Hollywood movies in last decade). It's all killing and blood with some unrealistic scenes but still a lot better than Hollywood stuff of last decade. No woke stuff here. Definitely worth watching for hour and a half of entertainment without political or social propaganda.

Sisu is a Finnish film, not from Quentin Tarantino but certainly cut from the same variety of gruesome cloth. The film is visceral and over the top, celebrating slaughter, in a variety of horrifically novel, ways.
I personally found the whole affair gratuitous, to be honest. What dwelt at the back of my mind and I feel should be remembered, is war is not a joke or a carnival.
I grew up surrounded by people who lived and in some cases, served during WWII. The few tales they told were sad, often tragic and spoke of people trapped into a reality, not of their making or their wanting.
On the upside, Sisu is well paced, exposition driven and has lots of variety in its action. Acting is solid but exposition, is really this flicks, true driver. On a certain level too, this film, recalls spaghetti Westerns, with a WWII, make over.
In summary, if you like splatter style films, you'll probably like this, Just keep in mind, real people lived and died in WWII, on both sides. War is not a game, its not an entertainment.

_Sisu_ is an hour and a half slaughter fest loaded with despicable characters that you will actually enjoy seeing being ripped to pieces.
It is a film that endorses its simplicity a bit too heavily, but is an otherwise immensely entertaining piece of popcorn entertainment that will satisfy action junkies.
**Full review:** https://boundingintocomics.com/2023/05/10/sisu-review-buying-the-golden-farm/

tick, tick…BOOM! is a cinematic triumph that captivated me from start to finish. The film tells an inspirational yet tragic story, with both of these elements being captured perfectly by the unique direction of Lin-Manuel Miranda. The backdrop of the AIDS epidemic serves as a poignant reminder of the era's struggles, which constantly brings the positive highs of the music into sharp relief, ultimately foreshadowing Jonathan Larson's conclusion.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's background in theater is evident in every frame of the film. The way the scenes are shot is unlike anything I've seen before in a movie, making tick, tick…BOOM! a true masterpiece. Add in Andrew Garfield's masterful performance, which is arguably his best yet. He embodies the character of Jonathan Larson flawlessly, with his quirky mannerisms and extravagant persona. What's more, Andrew Garfield’s voice is incredible, which I was pleasantly surprised to discover.
Alexandra Shipp gives an emotionally nuanced performance that plays off Garfield's portrayal very well, creating a believable on-screen chemistry that adds depth to the movie's narrative. In addition, Robin de Jesús's performance is fantastic, and Vanessa Hudgens delivers an outstanding vocal performance, though her role is somewhat limited. It was disappointing to see that she was barely in the movie, considering she was billed as one of the lead actresses.
Overall, tick, tick…BOOM! is a masterpiece that exceeded all my expectations. It's a biographical picture that stands out among the rest, cementing its place as one of my favorite movies of the genre to date.
Score: 90% 🏅
Verdict: Excellent

I recall reading back in 1996 about Jonathan Larson, the creator of the wonderful "Rent" (amongst others) and was intrigued to see just how Lin-Manuel Miranda might tackle this story. Though fairly well known in theatrical circles now, back in 1989/1990 Larson was a struggling songwriter. Juggling his relationships, his funding, an indifferent agent and quite a bit of a mental block, we are treated to a tour de force effort from Andrew Garfield as he portrays this visionary young man striving to complete this eponymous work. I think Garfield is super here. He can hold a note and he brings something of the charm, dedication and charisma of this young man to the screen with the aid of some fine original lyrics with collaborator Stephen Sondheim. Miranda keeps the pace moving along in a lively fashion, offering us quite an insight into the demons this man faced without allowing it to become melodramatic, or sentimental - and there are two strong supporting efforts from Vanessa Hudgens and Robin de Jesus. At times it does have a documentary style feel to it, the audience is a fly on the wall and - not always comfortably - that adds a poignancy to the presentation of this dedicated fellow. Anyone interested in musical theatre, or, indeed, the entire sphere of artistic and creative processes ought to watch one good actor's efforts to immerse us in the labours of love and pain of a good writer.

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/tick-tick-boom-spoiler-free-review
"tick, tick…BOOM! is one of my favorite movies of the year! Boasting memorable, addictive, first-rate music performed by astonishingly talented actors, Lin-Manuel Miranda delivers one of the best musical films of the century.
From the absolute standout, "30/90", to the highly satisfying payoff, "Louder than Words", the vast majority of songs serve a necessary purpose, moving the plot forward in an entertaining manner while also developing the compelling characters.
Andrew Garfield delivers one of the best performances of his career, demonstrating his impressive emotional range and artistic skills, both as an actor and a performer. Technically, no fault to point out whatsoever.
Do NOT miss this work of art!"
Rating: A

_Three Kings_ is not my usual sort of thing, I watched it on the suggestion of a complete stranger, and I don't know that I'll ever watch it again. But I **do** think that it's a good movie, so I'm going to pass that buck and say, that those of you who like me had never seen this nearly twenty year old movie, give it a chance.
_Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._

A very good movie, based on true events. It's good to see some real humanity still exist today.

Okay spoof movie that made me laugh quite a few times at least. Nothing great and like most of these if you haven't seen the movies its spoofing, doesn't work as well. I did like Chris Evans before he was famous who shows his comedic talents. Not as good as Scary Movie but far exceeds the other dreaded "Movie" movies, not a high bar I admit. **2.75/5**

This movie is so hilarious. It will be a lot more funny to you if you seen all the movies that this is making fun of. I can't remember all the movies off the top of my head, but I know it's Varsity Blues, American Beauty and Bring It On to name 3 at least.

I absolutely did not like _Not Another Teen Movie_, but even I have to give it props for how it absolutely disassembled everything in the genre up to the point of its creation, and absolutely set the tone for everything in the genre that came after it. That doesn't stop it from being crass in the worst possible way, or completely uncomfortable. Or completely unoriginal... although I guess you could argue that part is by necessity... Look, what I'm saying is, credit where credit's due. It's like, fuck _Transformers_, what a garbage bunch of films those are, but at the same time, it's hard to knock a billion dollar gross earning.
_Final rating:★★ - Definitely not for me, but I sort of get the appeal_.

Despite the cold and slightly predictable climax, Exam kept me hooked till before the last minute just because I missed a few details which watching it. The actors do an excellent job in keeping you occupied as their characters compete with each other for a coveted, posh, and mysterious job. But more than that it's pure fun to spend 90 minutes with your chums as you keep guessing what's actually up. **7 stars**.

Just finished watching this film without knowing anything about it beforehand. Its references to a pandemic somehow made it much more relevant to watch right now than it would have been back in the day when the film is released.
Somehow I expected a better, more clever ending to the film but it lacked that element. However, it was a good watch overall.
Would I watch it again? Probably not. Would I make my friends watch it? Yes.

A fun one-room mystery that keeps you entertained throughout. Read my full review here.
http://www.hweird1reviews.com/allreviews/exam-review

Exam is an entertaining movie about a stressful situation in a selection process. It could have been more interesting wouldn't it have been because it is deeply inspired in the original play El mètode Grönholm by Jordi Galceran and its following movie El método, by Marcelo Piñeyro, which are both much better.

Colossal is a unique and inventive film that blends sci-fi, drama, and dark comedy in a way that feels fresh but also somewhat uneven. The plot starts strong with an engaging setup, introducing its characters and premise smoothly. As the second act unfolds, the movie leans into a tone that sometimes feels more like a chaotic cartoon than a grounded narrative, making it a bit difficult to take seriously at times. The final act brings things back on track with a solid ending, though it feels like something is missing, a deeper exploration of its themes or a more refined execution could have elevated it further.
The directing by Nacho Vigalondo is ambitious, and you can tell he had a clear vision for mixing genres and subverting expectations. Cinematography is decent, with some well-framed shots, though nothing particularly stunning. The real strength of the film lies in its acting, especially Anne Hathaway, who carries the movie effortlessly and brings depth to her character. The supporting cast does a good job, but some character arcs feel underdeveloped, especially in the second act when things start to get a little wacky.
Script-wise, Colossal has an interesting concept, but the execution is where opinions will split. Some dialogue is sharp and engaging, while other moments feel underwritten or a bit too on-the-nose. The score and sound design are serviceable but not particularly memorable. It does its job without distracting, but it doesn’t stand out either. Overall, the movie is worth watching for its originality and Hathaway’s performance, but it leaves you wishing it had gone just a little further with its ideas.

**A tale of two cities!**
Did not expect it. It was a unique film. I love such films, because I'm bored of the same old action, romance, horror, thrillers. But it had loads of flaws. It was hard to get rid of them. Even I thought without those flaws, there's no tale to tell. In the end, entertainment matter and this film provided that without logics. So put aside your adult brain and enjoy it like a kid.
I had not seen the teaser, trailer and never heard the storyline before trying it. I just went and sat, the initial parts were not that impressive. Because returning the hometown is a common cliché. Though once the story had taken a twist, the rest of the narration changed completely. Well, the story is about the two cities and each city split into a black comedy and a disastrous theme.
An unemployed and alcoholic young woman returns hometown after break up with her boyfriend. Befriends an old friend, and starts anew life. Until she discovers that on the other side of the world, a giant monster wrecking up a city. Once again, she discovers that she had something to do with that. Following it, how her response reshapes the entire episode was told with a twist at the end.
Anne Hathaway was simply good. But not to forget Jason Sudeikis' part too. Both of them controlled the narration. This is a film to have fun. Not to go after errs. A film with the giant monsters, but less graphics used. Very clever writing by the Spanish filmmaker known for some good titles. I think the film is a little underrated. Recommended for those who seek nothing but an entertainment.
**8/10**

Makes enough pseudo-sense that those who are turned off by absurdism will be able to handle it, but still bizarre enough to get those who are fans of it on board. There might be some odd choices made in characterisation, and it's a far from perfect film, but _Colossal_ works for me in a big way, and I want to see more original material make it like _Colossal_ did.
_Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._

Absolutely tremendous!
I haven't got much (edit: five paragraphs later...) to say about 'Layer Cake', but that's only because it's simply one of those movies that is undeniably outstanding, to the point it's plain and simple that it requires little explanation. I had heard this bandied about down the years as being arguably Daniel Craig's best, though that is all that I knew about it.
What a film! I knew it was one of my favourites because I got goosebumps as soon as the credits rolled as I processed it and that only happens for the movies I adore. Going back to Craig, that man is superb in this, definitely one of the best performances of his that I've seen - up there with 'Knives Out'. That's also saying something, given his other stellar stint as that spy geezer.
Michael Gambon is, though, the one I enjoyed most. I'm already a big fan of his, though here he is also a notch above; his voice is up is just so iconic. Away from Craig & Gambon, I lost track of all the known faces that appeared *insert Rick Dalton meme here*. Crazy to see Tom Hardy in this and that he's used the least of his whole crew! I also didn't even recognise Sally Hawkins, despite seeing her name in the opening credits!
Simply put: It's brilliantly entertaining! I loved every second, quite literally. It gave me exactly what I wanted from a British gangster flick, so many from this subgenre fail to correctly tow the line between the crime and comedic gangster elements so it can either be cringe or boring, or even both.
This, however, utterly nailed it for me. It also holds a pleasing score, you give me that, an entertaining plot and a fantastic cast then, I'm afraid, I am gonna love your movie. It does surpass (the great) 'Stardust' as my standout Matthew Vaughn flick.

I'm not a gangster, just a businessman. And my commodity happens to be cocaine.
With a considerable amount of cash saved from his, ahem, dealings. A London drug dealer is all set to retire abroad and start a new life. However his mob boss Jimmy Price has two jobs for him to do immediately...
Layer Cake is directed by Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn is more well known as Guy Ritchie's producer on his early British gangster genre forays. Suffice to say he had some insight into what made those films {Snatch et al} hugely popular with the watching British public. How pleasing it is then to say that Vaughn, by showing restraint and an unfussy approach, has crafted a film that's more than equal to the best of Britain gangster faves, and actually sets new parameters for toning a film. By focusing more on mood and atmosphere over bombastic scenarios, Vaughn, aided by a superlative Daniel Craig as the nameless dealer, lifts the film above its conventional plot arc. In what could have been a standard tale of a man doing one last job before going straight, we, along with Craig, find that all roads are blocked, it's as if there is some higher force at work here.
Layer Cake also scores high for its more easy on the eye filming of London, this is no destitute capital where tower blocks loom like monsters over the characters. This London is thriving, vim and vitality, the place to be, seediness is far from the ebullient crowd. Ben Davis' photography perfectly complimenting the engrossing score from Lisa Gerrard & Ilan Eshkeri, both of which serve to make London an extra character in the story. The film however is not perfect, at 105 minutes it's actually too short, something that only becomes apparent when all the plot strands come crashing together in a rushed last quarter. Yet in spite of that failing, the ending delivers a jolt to the system, to crown, what to me at least, is one of Britain's finest and tidiest gangster offerings. 9/10

Great watch, would watch again, and can recommend.
WARNING: Sad dog scene.
Julian Dennison ("Deadpool 2") and Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park") give an amazing performance as grumpy unlikeable pair of guys purposely lost in the wilderness.
For an "foster kid" trope, this movie really has it all. I don't appreciate it's attempt to mimic "Up!" and that did sour my opinion a bit. It starts, then waxes and wanes between drama and comedy.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, there is family love, romantic love, plenty of action, and more laughs.

Click here for a video version of this review: https://youtu.be/ZbeHUdtgPkA
New Zealand has a long history of quirky movies, and _Hunt for the Wilderpeople_ is a great addition to the fold. Written and directed by Taika Waititi, this 2016 film stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison. It was a big hit when it came out - off a $2.5M budget, it brought in $23.2M and entertained people all across the world.
So what’s it all about then? Here’s the description:
_Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive._
I love hearing a Kiwi accent on screen, and hearing this and the NZ style humour brought many a smile to my face while watching this. Sam Neill has been a long time favourite of mine, right back from the days of _Reilly, Ace of Spies_. He plays the gruff uncle very well, and really captures the essence of the NZ farmer and bush man.
Likewise, Dennison is hilarious, and for a young kid has excellent comedic timing, which leads to many laugh out loud moments, be they from verbal sparring, or more of a physical nature. He's great, and the chemistry between him and Neill is so good.
Of course, the theme of two people with clashing personalities being thrown together is nothing new, but what makes this stand out as a little different is the NZ twist. Kiwis have a weird sense of humour and Waititi, Neill, Dennison, and all the supporting characters bring this to the fore.
Its a good fun movie that with plenty of laughs, and will be sure to put a smile on your face.

_**The Louisiana bayou, an antebellum mansion, Hoodoo and Kate Hudson**_
A New Orleans hospice worker (Kate Hudson) takes a job at a dilapidated antebellum mansion in the bayou caring for a dying old man (John Hurt). His wife seems to be hiding something, however (Gena Rowlands). Peter Sarsgaard is on hand as the estate’s amiable lawyer.
"The Skeleton Key" (2005) is a Southern Gothic supernatural thriller set in the Louisiana bayou à la “Cat People” (1982) and “The Reaping” (2007). It’s not as good as the former, but arguably superior to the latter or at least on par. Most of the film is an eerie drama taking place in and around the old Southern mansion, but the pace picks up in the final act with a quality surprise climax. Neither my wife nor I were able to anticipate the revelation, but it makes sense and hails back to earlier obscure horror flicks which I can’t name because I don’t want to give it away.
Kate is a highlight with her cute face and the director doesn’t fail to capture her beauty in a tasteful way, but she needed to gain about 12 lbs as her thinness is un-alluring. Really, the only negatory is that the setting/cast is one-dimensional, which makes the movie tediously mundane, but this is offset by the creepy supernatural element.
The film runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot in Louisiana (Felicity Plantation, Vacherie; Bayou Gauche & New Orleans) with additional stage stuff done in Universal City, California.
GRADE: B/B-