Chamber Film Reviews: Movie Reviews to Annoy and Infuriate 2011 (Chamber Film Reviews, #1) (ePub)

This is a collection of film reviews. A sample:

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Great epic movie. Very moody and stylish. The near hour long flashback to their childhood was probably the best section. All of the sexual material was a bit iffy, especially concerning the Tuesday Weld character. The ending was a bit disappointing, which for a three hour forty minute movie is a real shame. The logic and motivation that leads to so many destroyed lives is hard for me to swallow. Why not walk away honestly, or just disappear instead of orchestrating this high risk situation? Also the specifics of the events concerning the garbage truck was a bit silly and beneath a film that has such a stylish surface and a bit of authentic emotional impact. Overall almost a masterpiece, let down only by a so-so ending. Although the pacing is deliberately slow, it's always compelling and never drags too much. Probably Leone's best film in my opinion.
9 out of 10


Captain America (2011)
The first half was average. It was strangely subdued and borderline plodding. Then from about the half way point (when Red Skull reveals his real face for the first time?) the film just became a boring, tiresome grind. I really struggled to continue with it as I was so un-gripped by the story. I ended up flicking through a magazine during the airplane climax. And then I quit the movie after Red Skull died as I couldn't stand anymore of it. I hated the second half. It bored me in ways that a one hundred million dollar action film shouldn't. Overall a turd of a movie.
2 out of 10


11:14 (2003 Hilary Swank film)
Perfectly decent and competently made cut up and paste timeline movie in five sections. Doesn't amount to much and I'm not sure there's much point to it beyond how clever it is at getting the parts to criss-cross with each other. The story itself is rather inconsequential and wouldn't be much cop if told straight. I enjoyed it and I'm glad I watched it. Better than average.
7 out of 10


Daredevil - Director's Cut (2004)
A decent enough film. Just a bit bland and plodding (I doubt the shorter cinema cut is any less plodding). The lead actor was okay so I don't see why he was so heavily criticised. Jon Favreau as the comic relief was the best thing in the film. I remember Colin Farrell dominating the movie with a wonderfully over the top performance, but this time he wasn't that big a presence. Perhaps in the longer cut his scenes are more wildly spaced which gives other characters a chance to make an impact. My big problem with the main fight on the rooftop was, how did all three characters know to meet up there to have this fight? I don't remember the cinema cut in enough detail to say what version is best.
6 out of 10