Reviews by BAMF

Initial Thought: I wanted to stay away from this one. I am usually rather interesting in zombie films. The issue with this is that Uwe Boll is presenting it. That doesn't show much promise. The plus side to it is that he isn't the one directing it. So I figured I would give it a try so you don't have to.

Characters/Acting: While Uwe Boll doesn't direct he does play a character in this film. He is the president of United States here. If that's not enough to bring this film down a couple notches before you watch I don't know what's wrong with you. The lead here looks like a meat head. The zombies look weird and some even look like Resident Evil ripoffs. There are a few scattered zombies that did actually look somewhat well made. The characters here would have been pretty badass if they didn't have any lines. Some characters make some pretty lame decisions. Sometimes when they do something it doesn't even make sense.

Story: A team of soldiers who are assembled to help end a zombie outbreak in a Romanian town via atomic bomb. Basically the usual plot you would get with most zombie films. If you are in a hurry don't take your time or stop for no reason. Of course if they did that then this would have been quite a bit shorter. The fight scenes are pretty cringe-worthy. The gore at times was pretty well done. There are a few plot holes throughout in addition to poor editing. I don't get why the faces were blurred out for some of the characters in one scene. Was it because they didn't want to be associated with this film and in particularly that scene? If that is the reason then there is no reason to do it in the first place. It seemed a bit unusual and dumb in my opinion. What the hell was with that ending!? Random badass type of character with no relation to story and a random new virus that spreads out of nowhere! I think they wanted to show a possible sequel. The funny thing is the second part seems to be set years before this one.

Directing/Writing: Marco Ristori and Luca Boni are a team. They haven't done many films as of yet. They are known for apparently awful films though. Three out of the four of them I know are zombie stories. It may not have been directed by Uwe Boll, but it very well could have been. The style, the acting (also that Non-Americans play Americans while using their accents), and the script all speak Uwe Boll.

Final Thought: Yikes that was pretty awful, but I wasn't expecting it to be good. It actually isn't the worst thing I've seen though. It's just a blatant ripoff of many good things mashed with some ridiculousness. It's chock full of cool looking characters, that talk like idiots, and make dumb decisions. Anyways I wouldn't recommend this for anyone really. Maybe the fans of super awful low budget horror films will get a kick out of it. No one else will.

Initial Thought: Time to watch the final Nicholas Sparks movie I haven't seen that is available. So far it's been a pretty decent series ranging from average to excellent. I wonder where this one will fall with such a huge well known cast.

Characters/Acting: This one has several actors that didn't even realize would be in one of these films. I mean Richard Gere and Diane Lane make sense, but this also has Pablo Schreiber, Scott Glenn, and James Franco. It's definitely a wide range of interesting talent. I felt there wasn't the correct kind of chemistry between our two main characters. Sure they are good actors, but as lovers they were rather disappointing.

Story: A doctor who is traveling to see his estranged son sparks with an unhappily married woman at a North Carolina inn. No wonder that's a bed and breakfast. That place is huge and pretty cool in fact. The only scene I found somewhat fun here was the hurricane. I didn't care at all about the romance. It honestly felt way more unrealistic than usual and really forced. The reveal near the end would have been good for any other film except this one. It felt so out of place and unnecessary. In all actuality the whole thing was pretty lame.

Directing/Writing: Well as usual this is obviously based off of one book from Nicholas Sparks. This guy is rather popular with getting his books adapted. I mean he has ten going on eleven next year. This time it takes two to tangle with his story. Ann Peacock has done two films I really liked though being Chronicles of Narnia and The Killing Room. John Romano wrote The Lincoln Lawyer which was a pretty good film. They both have other films that I have heard of but haven't seen yet. George C. Wolfe is the director here. I have seen one of his movies that I absolutely enjoyed called You're Not You. With the talent behind this I hope to not be disappointed.

Final Thought: Despite the talent here I really couldn't get into this one. I couldn't believe in the romance. It was just way too simple. This is definitely the weakest of the Nicholas Sparks films. It's also just a pretty poorly done film in my opinion. I'd say to skip this one even if you are a Sparks fan.

Initial Thought: At first glance I honestly wasn't truly excited about it. I mean it sounded interesting, but it didn't have my full attention. Then I saw the trailer and it looked like a fun ride. With the trailer and many people telling me how great it was I decided it was time. Also when I was a baby my parents lived in Inglewood for about 18 months. So it really is interesting to see how life is portrayed there even if it's in a fictitious setting. My theater is playing it so I went and checked it out.

Characters/Acting: This has a mixture of relatively new and unknown actors, rappers, and a few veterans of Hollywood. It's quite a good selection too. Everyone really proves they have the skills that I'm sure will boost many of their careers. I thought every character was well portrayed. There were just so many colorful characters. I actually thought Diggy was a pretty attractive woman here. She may have been a butch lesbian, but I just wasn't confused like other characters on here. It might also be the fact that I have seen pictures of her dressed like a woman. Shameik Moore was excellent. I thought he really pulled off the nerd vibe. I actually knew quite a few people that were just like him when I was in high school. He is definitely a new favorite of mine whom I hope to see many times in the future. Zoe Kravitz kind of gave off of the vibe of Nia Long from Friday. I wonder if that was intentional. Anyways she is such a beautiful actress. I would have liked more of her here. I might have had a heart attack if Chanel Iman looked at me like she did to Malcolm. She is just so beautiful with the kind of body that I have to try to keep from staring at. She is a model who actually has some pretty good acting chops. Also the fact that she has never actually acted on film before this makes her even more admirable. Keith Stanfield is a pretty good young actor. I wish his part was bigger like it was in Short Term 12. He gets pretty outshined here since his part was very miniscule. Apparently the guy who played Stacey was actually Stacey from another film by Rick Famuyiwa. Tony Revolori was alright, but I thought he was the least interesting of the main trio. His character didn't add too much other than being a friend. Jaleel and Fidel were some rather intensely funny characters. The scenes involving them were just too funny. Kimberly Elise has gotten pretty under the radar after Diary of a Mad Black Woman. It was good to see that she was still around here. Blake Anderson was pretty funny. He brought up a few topics I have heard people mention about with the whole terminology issue. One thing I wasn't expecting was that Forest Whitaker was the narrator. Anyways everyone here really made this fun, funny, and just plain enjoyable.

Story: Three nerdy friends end up getting pulled into the drug business after a drug dealer's party gets crashed. The situations they get themselves in are pretty hilarious. There are a few moments of dark humor here and there, but it's for the most part harmless laughs. I mean at some points the humor is a bit gross out, but it's done in such a way that you can't help being amused and laughing. In all actuality it has a much deeper intelligence to it than just the laugh out loud comedic atmosphere. For that I really had respect for this story. Even though the song lyrics were a little corny I actually thought the band sounded nice. I even admit the song was catchy. I have several scenes in my head that I thought were either funny or just really well done. The ending was fantastic. It gives off a slightly ambiguous moment that makes you think you know what happened. Is it really what we think we know or is it something else. Either way it was pretty well done and definitely keeps you invested from beginning to end.

Directing/Writing: Rick Famuyiwa is one of those directors who sits under the radar. He doesn't even have many films. I did see Our Family Wedding. I thought that one was surprisingly pretty good for something I didn't even know about before watching. I have to say he one upped with this one. It's such a well written comedy that invites a much deeper intelligence than you expect. The dialogue is particularly witty. I hope to more from Famuyiwa in the future.

Final Thought: I absolutely loved this movie. The characters were well written and even better portrayed. It had a mixture of great comedy and intelligence to it. There is never a dull moment throughout. It really pulled me in from beginning to end. I haven't laughed this hard at a movie in awhile. If you haven't seen this I definitely recommend going. It's quite worth the watch.

Initial Thought: After watching the newest release of a Nicholas Sparks adaptation I decided to check out the one that started the trend. It has a pretty good cast so that's always a plus. Let's see what the first had to offer other than it's cast.

Characters/Acting: Not too many people here that I recognize. I do recognize some major people though like Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, Paul Newman, Robbie Coltrane, and a very young Hayden Panettiere. Paul Newman as Dodge is the best part about this. His character is just awesome and priceless. One of his best final performances. Everyone else did alright, but didn't grasp me like he did here.

Story: A woman discovers a tragic love letter in a bottle on a beach, and is determined to track down its author. Sounds like a very simple plot. Knowing the stories of Nicholas Sparks however it will be quite an web of events. The plot here kind of reminds me of a gender reversal version of The Lucky One. I wish she would have told him about the bottle, but hey then where would all the conflict be? For the majority of the film it's the typical romance formula. The last 30 minutes are when it gets really juicy. The ending really pulls your heartstrings.

Directing/Writing: The first movie adapted from Nicholas Sparks. The one that started the trend of his movies. The screenplay was written by Gerald Di Pego who was behind The Forgotten. I didn't really care for that one too much. I have never heard of Luis Mandoki before this film.

Final Thought: This was average until the last quarter kicked it into overdrive. I can see why this started the trend. It's a charming and heart-wrenching film. It isn't perfect by any means. Anyways I recommend seeing what started these adaptations if you have only seen the latter films.

Initial Thought: I'm not going to lie. I'm a guy who enjoys a good romance film. I can be a bit of a sucker when it comes to Nicholas Sparks adaptations. I have seen a majority of them except the first few that were produced. Anyways I couldn't miss this one of course.

Characters/Acting: This has a nice selection of younger stars with the likes of Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, and Oona Chaplin. Just them alone is enough for me to be interested. I really liked both couples. I was more so interested in Ira and Ruth though. I thought they had more passion and chemistry together.

Story: The lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man as he reflects back on a lost love while he's trapped in an automobile crash. Of course this deals with death and war as is the case with nearly everything Nicholas Sparks. That's his own cliche that probably won't go away. Albeit brief I do think the shower scene was a bit much for PG-13. Not that I'm particularly complaining. The story was very moving. Ira and Ruth's story in my opinion was better and more interesting. The love between them was powerful. It reminded me of my wife and I. Luke and Sophia's story was still pretty good, but it just didn't have the same impact for me. I thought the ending was adorable with a nice little twist for it.

Directing/Writing: I don't think I need to say that this is based off of a Nicholas Spark book. He is one of the most adapted authors that didn't make each part of a linear storyline. I have never seen any of Craig Bolotin's other films. George Tillman Jr. is quite an enjoyable director. His works include Notorious, Faster, and Men of Honor. He has yet to make a film I didn't enjoy. Once again he proves his talent as a director for me. He really knew how to capture the romances and the drama with just the right amount that it moves you. The script is just as excellent as the execution.

Final Thought: To my surprise I actually really enjoyed this one. It was beautifully emotional. Whenever I watch a romance it makes me think about my wife. It also makes me feel like I'm not the only one who struggles with difficulties of love. Anyways if you enjoy Nicholas Sparks then this is definitely a must see. Definitely in the top 3 films of his at least by my opinion.

Initial Thought: I found another Maisie Williams film to check out. I'm hoping this will be much more entertaining. It's also a comedy which isn't the typical place to see her.

Characters/Acting: Maisie Williams is what caught my interest. It also has James Nesbitt and Kerry Condon without make-up and special effects. The performances are quite good from everyone here. I don't think a single person hindered the movie. The characters were interesting and you could care for all of them.

Story: An offbeat comedy about an estranged father who returns to his hometown after an absence of ten years in order to reconnect with his daughter and ex-wife but unwittingly finds himself responsible for almost destroying all their lives. It definitely didn't feel very comedic except for maybe a few brief moments through the entire runtime. It seems to take itself a bit serious with it's subject matter. We see how drugs and depression affect different people within a family. I thought the ending was pretty cute.

Directing/Writing: This is co-written by the Heery brothers. Niall is the sole director here though. This is Brendan's writing debut. The only other work was done by Niall Heery alone. It was called Small Engine Repair and starred Iain Glen. It seems this is his second collaboration with a Game of Thrones star.

Final Thought: I think this was meant to be a kind of dark comedy. Instead it mostly came off as a drama. It didn't really offer anything that someone could particularly find funny. That doesn't mean it's bad of course. In fact I thought that it was quite an interesting watch. I probably wouldn't watch it again though. For me it was a one time watch sort of film.

Initial Thought: This is another desert movie I had interest in. It looked crazy and fun at the same time. Then again looks can be deceiving.

Characters/Acting: The cast here is pretty good with the likes of veteran Michael Douglas and the relatively young Jeremy Irvine as the leads. I also like seeing Hanna Mangan Lawrence again after her role in Spartacus. It's not often we see Michael Douglas as a villain so it will be interesting to see how he pulls it off here. Well rich guys are definitely wicked, but this Madec guy takes it to a whole new level. No lie the acting here is quite good.

Story: It's a cat and mouse style hunting game in the desert. We also see that once again rich people are evil. For a story with not a lot going on I thought this was paced quite evenly. It feels a lot shorter than it is. The ending looked cool and all, but honestly it didn't really fit with the rest of the story.

Directing/Writing: This is based off of Robb White's Deathwatch. That isn't to be confused with the military horror movie with Jamie Bell though. He is also the guy who came up with the story for the Thirteen Ghosts remake that I loved! Unfortunately though he also came up with the Haunted Hill remake and sequel stories. Those weren't so good. Stephen Susco adapts the story as a screenplay. This guy isn't as well received with the first two mediocre American Grudge films. He also wrote Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D which was somewhat more enjoyable, but still a bit disappointing. Then we have Jean-Baptiste Léonetti taking the reigns as the director. He has only done one other movie of which I've never even heard of.

Final Thought: I thought it was average. It was a bit more watchable than Heatstroke. It could have been a lot better than it was. The ending kind of trashes the rest of the film. It really wasn't that necessary. Anyways from what I hear the ABC original Savages with Andy Griffith is better. This one is a one time watch at best.

Initial Thought: How did I not know this was already out? I have been wanting to see it ever since I saw the trailer. It's been awhile and I was wondering what was taking so long. Looks like I just wasn't paying attention surprisingly. Anyways time to finally check this one out.

Characters/Acting: Really the main focus for me is that Maisie Williams is in it. Ever since Game of Thrones she has been awesome. It also has Stephen Dorff and Peter Stormare. Both of whom I always find rather fun to watch. I honestly couldn't stand the girlfriend. Her acting was pretty mediocre. Maisie Williams was the typical rebellious teenager. She plays another girl who loses her father to a psychopath. She does in my opinion a decent job, but it really isn't a stand out performance like Arya Stark. Peter Stormare plays a decent villain as usual. The best character here was the hyena to be honest.

Story: On a family trip in the African desert a father's girlfriend must protect his daughter from a group of poachers. Hyenas are interesting creatures and they are quite emphasized on here. That's not just because of the father's interest. It seems to be a major deal with the filmmakers as well. That was a weird twist of an ending. Absolutely didn't see that coming. It doesn't necessarily make it a good twist though just a strange one.

Directing/Writing: Well to the astonishment of no one this is based off of a book by Hannah Nyala which looks to be her only credit. The director Evelyn Purcell also co-writes the script. She has done a few things of which I've never heard of. The same goes for co-writer Anne Brooksbank.

Final Thought: It wasn't a bad movie. It just didn't offer much. It was a bit slow and boring to be honest. I wish there was a bit more to the motives of the bad guys. I also would have liked a more well rounded story. It was a huge disappointment though from what I was hoping for. This is pretty much only for hardcore Maisie Williams fans and lovers of Hyenas. I doubt anyone else will like it.

Initial Thought: I have been meaning to watch this one for awhile. I just never had the chance until now. It looked rather interesting and different. Besides who wouldn't fantasize about being bitten by Saoirse Ronan or Gemma Arterton.

Characters/Acting: Really I only care about Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan here. There are a few other quite familiar faces though. Only the two main girls matter for me. The characters are all quite likable and expertly portrayed. All except of course Jonny Lee Miller's character who you learn to despise rather effortlessly.

Story: Two women take shelter in a resort and things begin to get out of control when their secret is shared. This isn't your typical bloodbath vampire story. Yeah it has a few pretty good death scenes, but it has a more human style story to it. You can see the situations as more relatable with this style. There is something so mesmerizing about the cinematography here. You simply can't disagree that this is a beautifully shot film. The story is pretty dark and definitely not for the younger crowd who are drawn to the run of the mill vampire flick. This one deals with heavy subjects in a very grown up style. In my opinion it could be compared to that of an Anne Rice novel. The blood waterfall scenes were pretty awesome to behold. I thought the ending was quite well done.

Directing/Writing: I have only seen The Brave One and Breakfast on Pluto by Neil Jordan. Those too were really good in my opinion so it should be interesting to see his take on vampires. I haven't seen anything by Moira Buffini, but I have heard of both of her films. Tamara Drewe also stars Gemma Arterton in the lead. Neil Jordan yet again doesn't disappoint with his flawless storytelling.

Final Thought: It's quite an original work of art. It's a bit slow for people looking for a bloody vampire movie. It's a much more compelling story than that. It's along the lines of Let The Right One In. If you want something different with your vampires that isn't repetitious cheese I definitely recommend this one.

Initial Thought: I have always been curious about this one. I think I remember seeing it in my parents' movie collection. I never got the chance to check it out though. If they did have it they got rid of it soon after. Anyways the time has come for the cat to get its satisfaction.

Characters/Acting: I adore Robin Tunney so that's a plus. We also have the up and down Chris O'Donnell, the fairly interesting Temuera Morrison, the great Bill Paxton, and Scott Glenn. There are quite a few more recognizable names here too to my astonishment. I like the characters as people, but as climbers they aren't too bright. I mean if you are on a snowy mountain you do not scream for any reason lest you want to be covered in avalanche snow.

Story: A climber goes to rescue his sister who is stuck on one of the largest mountains "K2". Oh wow special effects have definitely come a long way since this film. The bird flying in the beginning looked just awful. That makes this feel a bit dated already. I didn't expect it to start out so intense like it did. It really pulled me in quick. I mean the stuff that happens here is a bit off the wall crazy unrealistic, but it's a movie so whatever it doesn't bother me. I'm sure though rock climbers might get aggravated though. There are also a few things that just happen leaving you scratching your head. They tried to make a few things a bit more intense than they should have been. There is pretty much no way that helicopter blade could have done that. The ending was a bit cheesy.

Directing/Writing: Most of Martin Campbell's work is excellent with the likes of Casino Royale (2006), Goldeneye, and Edge of Darkness to name a few. He unfortunately helmed Green Lantern as well. The screenplay is based off of the story by Robert King whom I've never heard of. Terry Hayes on the other hand is responsible for the second and third parts to the Mad Max franchise. With that in mind I may enjoy this.

Final Thought: It wasn't bad. In fact despite not being factual it was a little bit fun. It's not the best thing ever though. It's a one time watch at most. I'm excited for Everest with Jake Gyllenhaal. That will possibly be much more riveting. If you like survival movies you might enjoy this.