nuotio
Criticker Zealot
Member Since: 18 May 2006
Location: Finland
Recent Ratings
Check out nuotio's...
Ride the Hot Wind (1973) - Rated 03 Jul 2025
"Not the typical biker flick I was expecting; bikes don't even make an appearance until halfway. It follows a soldier who, after being court-martialed, struggles to get into civilian life. Eventually, he joins a group of bikers, but troubles continue. It draws parallels between the brutality of bikers & police and the horrors of war. The scope is quite ambitious, but it also makes the film feel longer than it is and leaves other characters underdeveloped. Not a good film, but it has its merits."
LasseMajas detektivbyrå - Skorpionens gåta (2022) - Rated 02 Jul 2025
"This might be my favorite entry in the LasseMaja's detective bureau series. It occurred to me quickly that it's essentially a serial killer story film disguised as a family-friendly mystery -- or a Swedish giallo tailored for the whole family. The plot is quite straightforward, but the film contains some nice visuals and surprisingly suspenseful scenes. These elements make it a rare gateway film into thrillers/horror for younger viewers."
Pitch Perfect (2012) - Rated 01 Jul 2025
"I was surprised by how good this turned out to be. I was hesitant to watch it because the premise didn't appeal to me at all, but I'm glad to be proven wrong. The film is genuinely funny, following the patterns of 80's teen comedies with nods to e.g. Breakfast Club. But, it brings a fresh twist and its un-PC humor feels quite edgy for 2025. Kendrick is good in the lead role, and the entire cast is solid. Runtime could have been trimmed by ~10mins, but it also allows the film some breathing room."
Angels Hard as They Come (1971) - Rated 30 Jun 2025
"Co-written and produced by Jonathan Demme, this film clearly tries to rise above the average biker flick. It's grittier than most; has interesting characters and a unique ghost town setting. Sadly, it runs out of gas after our "good" trio is captured, and falls short in exploring the similarities and differences between bikers and hippies. Still, it provides the tropes that you'd expect from the genre and it was nice to see Scott Glen in the lead role and Gary Busey in a smaller part."
The Cycle Savages (1969) - Rated 17 Jun 2025
"A sleazy biker flick, although there's actually very little biker action in it. The film takes place in a city and it's set mostly in a couple of apartments, bar and the bikers HQ. The premise is quite ridiculous; the biker gang is afraid that Robinson's character's paintings could lead police to them and they set out to break his hands. The film has a misogynist and downbeat vibe, but it kept my attention; mainly thanks to Bruce Dern's performance as the leader of the gang."
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) - Rated 16 Jun 2025
"I'm baffled by the positive reception this is receiving. I haven't seen the animated original, but I've enjoyed films like Dragonslayer, Dragonheart, etc. This just rubbed me the wrong way from the start. The acting and the general look felt cheap and reminded me of Disney+ originals. The tone was overly comedic which hurt the film's more serious moments. It was fun to see Nick Frost on the big screen again and the film did improve as it progressed. Maybe I'll rewatch with adjusted expectations."
The Glory Stompers (1968) - Rated 12 Jun 2025
"Released between Wild Angels and Easy Rider, this is biker film is clearly below those highpoints, but still above average in the sub-genre. The cinematography is pretty good with some good locations. The plot is minimal, and the film drags occasionally. The biggest reason to watch this is Dennis Hopper, who is memorable as the leader of the "Black souls". Rest of the cast is rather forgettable. This movie serves as a nice time capsule and is worth watching for those interested in biker flicks."
Love and Death in the Garden of the Gods (1972) - Rated 11 Jun 2025
"This gets labeled as a giallo, but viewers expecting black gloved killers and high body count will be disappointed. It's clearly more ambitious and artistic than the usual Bava/Argento ripoffs, and more of a psychological drama/thriller told largely via flashbacks. The setting is a decaying mansion and its surroundings which give the film an interesting feel. Erica Blanc and Peter Lee Lawrence are good in their roles and the score and cinematography are solid. Could appeal to arthouse audiences."
Third Eye (1966) - Rated 11 Jun 2025
"A rather twisted Italian gothic horror which starts off like a generic genre entry, but turns pretty perverse during mid-point and shares similar themes with Freda's Horrible Dr. Hichcock. It's daring stuff for its era. No wonder notorious Joe D'amato made his own version (Buio Omega) years later. The ending is more conventional, but the film still remains interesting as a whole. It was also fun to see Franco Nero in an early role, although his acting occasionally goes over-the-top."
Lilo & Stitch (2025) - Rated 10 Jun 2025
"I feel that this trend of doing live-action remakes of animated films is utterly unnecessary, and the resources should be put into creating something new, but if they must be done, Lilo & Stitch '2025 is a prime example of how to do them right. It maintains the spirit of the original with well-chosen actors for the main roles. It's surprisingly emotional experience, although the ending goes a bit overboard. The CGI characters are not that special and the comedy is somewhat hit or miss."
