Mini Film Reviews Volume 20

Clue

Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up. A promising start with good idea as it is something different, fresh and new but the only thing is after that it becomes really silly and nonsense. It is so uneven and with twist after twist and the ending of this film is rubbish, with all of these flaws it made this film so disappointing.

Icarus

When Bryan sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller. On paper this could be amazing with genuinely tense moments with a really good topic but the only thing is, it beginning to lose some momentum and it is rather long for this subject. It is not compelling and it begin to be just safe, that made this one of the weakest documentaries.

The Red Turtle

A nameless man set adrift by a storm wakes up on a deserted island, which he discovers is rich in resources, then he encounters a red turtle, which changes his life. I’m normally a massive Studio Ghibli fan but this one is a major disappointing as the story is rather thin and it becomes too weird. It is one of those film that you can’t connect with and it not relatable with stunning cinematography, the pacing is everywhere and you will be left disappointed.

The Witches (2020)

A young, orphaned boy, who in the late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. As the boy and his grandmother encounters some witches at a seaside hotel. This has got potential with reasonably good acting but the thing is, it is too cartoony and it can be too seriously. It just too much CGI/SFX and the whole film in whole it just not match the brilliant original one, which this one just lacking that intensity.

Anne Frank: Parallel Stories

It is based on five women who did survive the Holocaust but shared her same fate of deportation, suffering and being denied their childhood and adolescence according to promotional materials. A fascinating documentary with a sensitive topic that is well made and the thing is, it too much back and fourth and it does losing some momentum and becoming unfocused and slight uneven at the same time, but it is moving and touching at the same time which made this watchable.

Weathering With You

A high school boy who has run away to Tokyo befriends a girl who appears to be able to manipulates the weather. It is one of those film that started out slightly disjointed at first with an overcomplicated story but about 45 minutes it becomes really good, it can be really excessive with the violence but despite all of that it has got a good story underneath it and wonderful cinematography, it certainly made this film poignancy and moving with a well-made film.

The Addams Family (2019)

Gomez and Morticia Addams move to a derelict asylum in New Jersey, surrounded by a marsh and hidden by a fog at the top of a mountain to raise a family. Well-made and good-looking animation film about what made you different and stand out, which I personally connect to and the vocal talent is really good with some funny moments. I personally think it not laugh out loud funny and slightly uneven and it not quite found the right balance for adult and kids.

Rising Phoenix

The history and current standing of the Paralympic Games, which has grown to become the world’s third largest sporting event. This documentary is so powerful with their stories and it is an eye opener, with sad and inspiring story about their growing up and their struggles to overcome their obstacle in their way, I personally connect with that aspect of it and the only thing is the sporting element lacking that intensity, despite that it is so powerful.