Movie review: Dead Set

Housemates in the Big Brother house are oblivious to the horde of fast-moving zombies that are wreaking havoc on the film studio grounds.

Jaime Winstone (Kelly), Andy Nyman (Patrick), Riz Ahmed (Riq), Warren Brown (Marky), Liz Brice (Alex), Beth Cordingly (Veronica), Adam Deacon (Space), Kevin Eldon (Joplin), Kathleen McDermott (Pippa).

The Big Brother housemates are nearing the end of the season when one of them is voted out of the house. Saying her farewell, she walks out of the house right as a zombie outbreak reaches the film studio grounds. What the series doesn't do is transition into the zombie apocalypse at all, it just is. From here the rest of the series is a fairly typical zombie flick as people struggle to survive.

Acting felt pretty rough in this one as apparently experience, and in some case skills, were lacking. Eldon was interesting and seemed to fit his role well. Nyman played a jerk perfectly. The remainder of the cast was okay at best.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were lacking somewhat in Dead Set. Camera work was shaky, fast moving, and elementary at best. Sets and backgrounds actually felt contrived, leaving the series without an authentic feel. Action scenes were okay but supported well by costuming and good gore. Dialogue was flat and accents were hard to follow. Sound was mediocre.

Overall you best be a serious zombie fan to watch Dead Set. Along with adding nothing to the genre, technically the series is a bit messy and acting is weak to say the least. That said, reviewers seem to either hate or love the series so if you do watch, I hope you enjoy Dead Set.

Believe it or not this one has some gore and violence! In addition you will find; sexual references, nudity, more gore, profanity, and more violence. Save this one for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 9.8.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Zombie films, British zombie films, Horror series, British TV series

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Owl Power

Following two barn owls chicks as they develop and mature, Owl Power explores the special abilities and adaptations that make them such good hunters and mysterious nighttime dwellers.

Paul Christie (Narrator), Lloyd Buck, Rose Buck, Luna the owl, Lily the owl.

Nature: Owl Power dives into the lives and physiology of owls to help explain their impressive hunting skills and nighttime lives. Following two barn owl chicks, Luna and Lily, from birth to maturity with their handlers and trainers, Lloyd and Rose Buck, we get a good look at how owls develop. Testing the owls against other birds such as pigeons and falcons explains a lot about how owls hunt. And taking a look at parts of the owls physiology is incredibly interesting as well as educational.

Camera work was very well done with some great pictures of owls both in nature and captivity, at rest and in action, including in flight. Use of natural scenery, infrared filming, and graphics was nicely done and easily explained some of the concepts being discussed. Dialogue was educational and easily understood. Sound is well done.

If you have an interest in owls, check this one out. The documentary explains most of the common mysteries around owls in a comfortable manner even younger viewers should enjoy.

Nothing here to limit audience age. A few scenes of owls catching mice, but nothing that should disturb younger viewers.

Released: 2014
Reviewed: 9.8.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Documentary, Family films, Nature & Science

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Man Up

Sometimes being in the wrong place at the right time is a good thing. And sometimes, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can help you find Mr. Right.

Lake Bell (Nancy), Simon Pegg (Jack), Ophelia Lovibond (Jessica), Sharon Horgan (Elaine), Paul Thornley (Adam), Rory Kinnear (Sean), Ken Stott (Bert), Harriet Walter (Fran), Olivia Williams (Hilary).

Man Up begins with some extensive character introductions and background laced with tiny bits of humor. As the story starts rolling things get a bit more interesting and the humor starts slowly increasing. With Nancy and Jack now interacting the story becomes a fairly high-energy and humorous romantic comedy. At the same time the story doesn't really add much to the genre nor are there many surprises up through the Happy Ever After ending.

This one caught my eye because of Pegg, and he didn't disappoint. Though a more PG role for Pegg, he delivered wonderfully and brought the comedy as always. Bell didn't look like a good match with Pegg at first, but she slipped into the role and pulled it off quite well. Lovibond, Horgan, and the remainder of the cast had much smaller roles which they all managed nicely.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good with nice natural looking sets that fit the film. Action scenes were mild but fitting. Dialogue was good and had nice depth, though in a couple of scenes accents were a challenge. Sound and soundtrack were enjoyable throughout.

As romantic comedies go Man Up doesn't break any new ground, but the film is funny and engaging without requiring much contemplation. The story flows well at a good pace and the 88 minute run-time is plenty. Fans of lighter-hearted romance films, or mild comedies, should enjoy this one.

With some foul language, including sexual references, this should be fine for older, mature teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 9.8.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Romantic comedy, Comedy, Romance, British films

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Road Trip

After cheating on his girlfriend and video taping the infidelity things can't seem to get much worse for Josh. Until one of his friends accidentally mails the tape to her. Setting out on a road-trip to intercept the tape, things can only get better for Josh now!

Breckin Meyer (Josh), Seann Scott (E.L.), Amy Smart (Beth), Paulo Costanzo (Rubin), DJ Qualls (Kyle), Tom Green (Barry), Rachel Blanchard (Tiffany), Anthony Rapp (Jacob), Fred Ward (Earl), Andy Dick (Motel Clerk).

Road Trip begins with some good character introductions and plot setup before things really begin rolling. When the plot shows up the film completes morphing into a crotch humor comedy as the four friends finally hit the road. The rest is a fairly easily anticipated adventure of bad choices, worse choices, accidents and general mayhem. With a slight twist the film finishes well.

Acting was okay with Meyer delivering his usual for the time. Scott was in-type here and as always, fit the role nicely, though he seemed a bit subdued in this one. Smart, Costanzo, and Qualls all did well. Green was absolutely hysterical, with Ward and Dick right behind.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good with nice use of natural scenery. Mild action scenes and a nice explosion were enjoyable. Dialogue was campy, corny, and almost romantic at times. Sound and soundtrack were fitting and fun.

Overall Road Trip is a fun little Late Night Comedy that delivers a few laughs without requiring a lot of attention or taking itself more seriously than it should. Teens and genre fans should enjoy this one.

With nudity including in a sexual context, sexuality, crude humor, drug use, and adult situations, save this for older teens and above.

Released: 2000
Reviewed: 9.7.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Late Night Comedy, Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Adventure, Comedy Adventure

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie Review: Sliding Doors

What if your love life and career both hinged on your catching a train? This is the case for Helen, an attractive London woman, as both versions are shown to the audience as alternate realities.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Helen), John Hannah (James), John Lynch (Gerry), Jeanne Tripplehorn (Lydia), Nina Young (Claudia), Virginia McKenna (James' Mom), Kevin McNally (Paul), Terry English (Cabbie).

Sliding Doors begins with some mild character introduction and background before the plot begins to unfold. As the two alternate timelines begin to take shape the theme holds interest well and both stories develop nicely. Past the first half of the film however, things begin to feel a bit psychotic as the realities overlap and blend to some extend. Things are finally unwound a bit and the film finishes about as expected, but also on a bit of a flat note as the hanging philosophical question is pretty much swept aside.

Acting was pretty good in Sliding Doors with Paltrow delivering quite well as usual. Hannah was an interesting choice to play against Paltrow, and felt very much like a mismatch at first, but he pulled it off well and managed to fit nicely. Lynch was solid with reasonable delivery. Tripplehorn fit her role perfectly and was enjoyable as always, as was the remainder of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are good and appear to use natural sets and scenery most of the time. Action scenes are mild, often funny, and enjoyable. Dialogue is solid and fits the film well. Sound and soundtrack are good.

Overall Sliding Doors is an enjoyable Romantic Comedy with some nice laughs and a dose of moral dilemma. What it doesn't have is a well done ending, leaving us feel like there was a lot of buildup without satisfaction. Genre fans should enjoy this one.

With some sexuality, mild violence, and mild foul language this should be fine for mature teens and above.

Released: 1998
Reviewed: 9.7.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Romance, Comedy, British Movies, British Romance

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Charge

In 2009 the Isle of Man held the world's first zero-emissions gran prix. In 2010 the teams returned and raced again. Charge follows the teams as they design, build, and eventually compete against one another on one of the most grueling race tracks in the world.

Narrator: Ewan McGregor

History was made with the first zero-emissions motorcycle gran prix on the Isle of Man TT course in 2009. Charge follows the teams as they design, build, and eventually race their machines against one another. While the film does focus on the race itself, most of the time it is focused on how the teams prepared to compete, and learned from their mistakes. Returning in 2010, the sport is obviously growing quickly and electric motorcycles are proving to be worthy competitors on the street in the future.

One of the more interesting characters in the series was Cedric Lynch, a self-taught electric motor developer who apparently has a better grip on electric motors than most. Eccentric is a good description for Lynch, as is brilliant. Though every team had challenges of some kind, their struggles clearly showed what worked and what didn't, resulting in a nice leap in reliability between the first and second years.

Camera work was good, capturing prep work on the bikes as well as many good racing scenes. Backgrounds were natural and enjoyable. Dialogue was good though some heavier accents were difficult. Sound was solid.

If you have any interest in the future of electric vehicles be sure to check this one out. Though a bit light on technical details at times, most likely due to the preservation of intellectual property, the series does a nice job of exploring the rise of electric motorcycles and the challenges involved.

Nothing here to limit audience age.

Released: 2011
Reviewed: 9.4.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Documentary, Sports Documentary, Science & Nature

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Caught on Camera

In Great Britain there is a prolific number of CCTV cameras constantly being monitored by police and private individuals for trouble. Follow along as host Nick Wallis shows us how the cameras are used and some of the disturbing incidents caught on film.

Host: Nick Wallis

There are a ridiculous number of CCTV cameras in use in Great Britain by both police and private individuals. Caught on Camera takes a look at how police are using CCTV to not only solve crimes, but to help people by being proactive in many situations. While it is interesting to see how CCTV is being used, which is impressive in some cases, the series starts to feel repetitive after the first couple of seasons. Drunk people and brawlers get a bit tedious after the first couple of seasons.
Something for Americans to remember while watching is that Great Britain does not use the U.S. legal system. The laws, and how they are enforced, is not the same so while some actions may seem to violate individual rights they in fact may be well within the law in Great Britain.

Camera work here is focused on CCTV footage which in many cases is surprisingly good. The series also uses some body camera footage, and film from a police helicopter. Natural scenery is the only background used in the series, and there are no sets. Action and violence is not scripted but is instead real CCTV footage. Dialogue is fairly well done for a documentary. Sound is decent.

Caught on Camera appeals for a couple of reasons. First the series is a reality show, displaying how people act when they think nobody is watching. Second, the series paints a graphic picture of how privacy is being discarded in favor of security. Those with an interest in either subject may enjoy this one, though as mentioned the series does become somewhat repetitive after the second season.

With some graphic violence, this should actually be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 9.4.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: TV Shows, British TV, Crime TV, Reality TV, Documentary

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel