Movie Mania: Dracula Untold

Hey guys!
It’s time for another review. Today we’ll look into Dracula Untold, the 2014 take on the story of the Transylvanian prince. Let’s see how it turned out!

 

The Plot:
In short: Dracula Untold focuses not on the bloodsucking vampire but on the man Dracula was before. We find out how he finally became one of the most iconic creatures of horror literature and film…

 

The Rating:
I had pretty high hopes for this one as the trailer seemed very promising.
But, boy, this turned out to be so crappy. First of all, I don’t even know what it is supposed to be. It’s not really dark enough to be a horror film. Then it’s also too sentimental to work as action flick. And for a historical epic it’s too glamorized. Within the first couple of minutes you can already tell that the movie makers tried hard to create a hybrid of some sort but definitely failed the attempt.

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Movie Mania: The Last Witch Hunter

Hello folks!
Today is movie review time. This time I want to ramble a bit of the Vin Diesel flick The Last Witch Hunter. So let’s get started!

 

The Plot:
This dark fantasy action film chronicles the endeavors of an immortal with hunter, Kaulder, who has to stop a plague from wiping out New York City…

 

The Rating:
Oh boy, where do I begin. There are so many things wrong with this movie…
First of all, the cast choices. I don’t know who decided that Vin Diesel would be perfect for this role, but it was just about the worst decision ever. For this lead role you might want to choose somebody with a bit of charm and fun. Diesel’s somber look and complete lack of emotions certainly don’t improve this film.

Movie Mania: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Hey guys!
I’ve been re-watching some Disney classics lately. This time it was the Hunchback of Notre Dame, one of the darker productions. Let’s see whether it’s still good after so many years!

 

The Plot:
You all know the story. Quasimodo, the titular hunchback lives at the cathedral. He is an orphan, his mother was killed by Judge Frollo, an evil man with a hatred for gypsies.
Quasimodo is a shy yet kind guy, who is usually forbidden from leaving the cathedral. But for the festival of fools he dares to venture outside – and promptly falls for Esmeralda, right before the townsfolk shun him for his deformity…

 

The Rating:
I honestly didn’t remember much about his particular Disney production. But when I re-watched the film recently I surprised how dark the tone is. The film basically starts with Frollo killing Quasimodo’s mother and then planning on drowning the baby. That’s not exactly family friendly, right?
However, Disney did an amazing job with Victor Hugo’s story that had been even darker. They managed to create a version that is palpable, colorful, sometimes even funny but never distasteful. It’s tricky to keep the balance when dealing with the topics featured and simplifying and smoothing things for children. This could have gone downhill easily.

Movie Mania: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Hello my lovely readers!
Today I bring you one of the 70’s most iconic movies: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Haven’t seen it yet? Well, check out my review to find out why you should watch it asap 😉

 

The Plot:
Newly engaged Brad and Janet are in trouble. Their car broke down, they are in the middle of nowhere and it just started raining.
In search of a telephone they stumble upon a castle. They don’t just find a telephone but the weirdest collection of people they’ve ever seen – including the enchanting Dr. Frank N. Furter…

 

The Rating:
This is one of my all time favourite movies!
It’s loud, it’s shrill, it’s different from anything you’ve seen before. The number one reason for watching this flick is of course the music. The songs are famous and make for a great playlist even without the movie to accompany them. Especially the Time Warp is one of my go to dance-along tunes.

Movie Mania: Kingsman – The Secret Service

Hey guys!
It’s movie review time. Today I want to ramble a bit about Kingsman: The Secret Service a 2014 spy comedy!

 

The Plot:
The Kingsman is a secret service. Independent from government they protect the world.
Once upon a time Eggsy’s father was a member of this organisation and died during a mission. In times of need he calls on the help of one of his father’s former colleagues and is about to become a Kingsman himself…

 

The Rating:
I’ll make it short. Not everything in this movies makes sense. However, the whole thing is so perfectly stylish, you won’t even care. It’s fun and fast-paced, making it the right choice for a film night with friends.
There’s a good balance between comedy and serious scenes. The fight sequences are choreographed wonderfully and this is where the comic origin of this flick comes through. 

Movie Mania: I am Number Four

Hey Guys!
Today I’m doing a review on a movie I didn’t exactly like. I am Number Four is based on a book by Pittacus Lore (which I haven’t read yet) and hit cinemas in 2011. Let’s see where it went wrong!

 

The Plot:
John Smith, the main character, is an alien. He was born on Lorien but sent to earth together with a bunch of other kids when the Mogadorians invaded his home planet. John and his guardian have been on the run since then. Well, the aliens are busy little fellows and figured out where the last Loriens are hiding. However, they have to kill them in a particular order from one to nine, and John is number 4…

 

The Rating:
Up front: the only reason I finished this film is because I was stuck in a bus for six hours and there was nothing else to watch. I don’t even know where to begin with what I disliked about it (as it’s pretty much everything).
Well, first of all the cast. Most of the young actors and actresses look like they came directly from a fashion shooting or a runway – and seem to have exactly that much experience with acting. They all have no depth whatsoever, nor any expression to speak of. I couldn’t help but conjure a special place in hell for the person responsible for the casting.