amazedemon
Celluloid Junkie
Member Since: 18 Aug 2014
Location: UK
Bio: "It's not what a movie is about, it's how it is about it." - Roger Ebert
Feel free to message me if you want to start a discussion.
I'm also posting my mini-reviews on letterboxd now: https://letterboxd.com/amazedemon/
Feel free to message me if you want to start a discussion.
I'm also posting my mini-reviews on letterboxd now: https://letterboxd.com/amazedemon/
Recent Ratings
Check out amazedemon's...
Superman (2025) - Rated 21 Aug 2025
"James Gunn's Superman showcases the best & worst of Gunn. The action, colours, soundtrack & dialogue are all reminiscent of his Guardians of the Galaxy work; a bright mix of 70's aesthetic & 90's optimism. Gunn's twist on current affairs is both characteristic & frustratingly weak as it skirts an annoying line between him badly appropriating cultures & him making an unnuanced point. The cast is excellent (though I do miss Cavill) & the cameos might get annoying. A fun but shallow romp."
Rounders (1998) - Rated 20 Aug 2025
"I discovered Rounders after watching an interview in which Damon impersonated Malkovich. The plot is relatively simple but the film works thanks to strong characters that strike a nostalgic balance between believable people and entertaining caricatures. There's definitely a 90's aesthetic but also a surprising noir one mainly due to Damon's narration. Norton is slimy. Malkovich hams it right up. Yet the climax game is a gripping conclusion that barely reveals a poker hand."
Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) - Rated 18 Aug 2025
"Jurassic World: Rebirth was disappointing. My biggest problem with the film is the writing surrounding the characters, all of whom seem very flat. The Delgado's are insufferable with a nonsensical family dynamic and immersion-breaking plot armour. The medical cure angle is decent, even if the land-sea-sky gimmick feels video game-ish, while the mutant dinosaur angle goes nowhere. Spielberg & Koepp have fallen far from the awe of JP, following the lacklustre footsteps of pointless PG-13 kills."
Lilo & Stitch (2025) - Rated 09 Aug 2025
"It's been a long while since I watched the original Lilo & Stitch, so this remake didn't disappoint or upset me as it seems to have others. The main changes (from what I remember) seem to be the omission of Captain Gantu and a greater emphasis on Nani's character & life. This leaves the film without a strong villain (a growing trend in modern Disney) & affects the pacing between the action sequences, the slapstick & the sappy moments. The cast is good, expect for Galifianakis who feels miscast."
Friendship (2025) - Rated 24 Jul 2025
"Friendship is "a slow dry story of a man with various emotional and behavioural issues making poor life choices". In reality everyone in this film is a profoundly selfish person. The film is undeniably cringe humour, and it's done well by peppering in moments of hope before drastically spiralling things of the rails. I wasn't ever really sure where the film was going, and that's a good thing. Robinson is excellent as an unhinged man with anger issues yearning to fit in."
Black Bag (2025) - Rated 24 Jul 2025
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith for grownups. Black Bag has a solid cast who all deliver strong performances, and while the writing is smart and the film well-paced, there's just something missing. The characters are an eclectic mix of oddballs that each adhere to their specific set of quirks, resulting in every interaction feeling somewhat calculated. In essence it's a film about loyalty and love superseding duty, but it just feels too cold and sterile."
Mountainhead (2025) - Rated 20 Jul 2025
"Mountainhead is a slickly shot film but also one devoid of substance. Carell, Schwartzman, Smith & Youssef all put in decent performances but Armstrong's writing goes a step too far in making them irredeemably unlikable arse-wipes. That is part of the point of the film, but with no comeuppance nor cathartic release their 100 minutes of rambling is inane & ultimately meaningless in both our reality & that of the film. Cool concept, but unsatisfying execution."
The Old Guard 2 (2025) - Rated 19 Jul 2025
"I barely remember The Old Guard, but I remember it was noticeably better than this sequel. A new director & an added screenwriter have turned an okay concept into a tedious film that bears similarities to but begs the question, "what if The Eternals was truly shit". Neither the characters (who have less development than the dwarves in The Hobbit films) nor the performances (barring Ejiofor) are any good. Particularly Thurman who is atrocious. Worse still, this film ends on a cliffhanger. Humbug!"
Novocaine (2025) - Rated 19 Jul 2025
"Novocaine isn't great, but it is fun enough to be worth a watch. Quaid & Midthunder have decent chemistry and the romcom the film opens & closes with would have worked for the full runtime. However, a romcom this film is not; it's an action-comedy with enough body-gore that it would fit in well with Peter Jackson's early work. The action is alright, engaging enough to keep the film moving but not particularly memorable."
Deep Cover (2025) - Rated 18 Jul 2025
"A likeable & surprisingly stacked cast keep Deep Cover an enjoyable watch, but the film seems to continuously walk that tightrope of suspension of disbelief. There are some clever gags (like the detective duo) and plenty more silly ones, but the film doesn't really elevate itself to classic comedy levels. The action is middling as is the plot. The production team is is a mix between Jurassic World and British TV, and it shows in the film as an odd quality I can't quite describe. Fun & watchable."
