AMERICAN SNIPER [2014]

Director Clint Eastwood's second film of 2014, American Sniper, is easily the more commercially accessible of the two.
The biopic war drama is about NAVY Seal Chris Kyle who made a name for himself, before his death, as the deadliest sniper in American military history.  Eastwood tends to sway heavily to one side of the story and it will play a big part in how you actually feel about the film.  Fortunately Bradley Cooper's leading performance anchors the film into an area that's universally familiar, war hurts everybody.  With it's riveting direction, intense storytelling and complicated psyche, this is unmistakably an Eastwood film, that pushes with the patriotism just a bit too much.

3½ Punishers out of 5

The Silent Hill Collection

Psychologically and morally complex urban explorers who find their way into the titular town are inevitably ferried down one (or both) of two twisted paths. Those seeking truth and atonement occasionally sidestep becoming part of Alessa Gillespie or The Order’s machinations but a few are not so lucky.
The town’s incarnations have manifested themselves in the realms of film and comics in addition to the foundational games and iconic music composed by Akira Yamaoka (and Daniel Licht).

Films:
01. Silent Hill (2006)
02. Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)

03. Return to Silent Hill (2026)

Comic Miniseries on our sister site, Nut Ink:
01. Silent Hill — Past Life (2010)
02. Silent Hill Downpour — Anne’s Story (2014)

Video Games on our sister site, Nut Load:
00. Silent Hill Origins (2007)
01. Silent Hill (1999)
02. Silent Hill 2 (2001) + (ALT Vers.)
03. Silent Hill 3 (2003)
04. Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004)
05. Silent Hill Homecoming (2008)
06. Silent Hill Downpour (2012)
07: Silent Hill Shattered Memories (2009) (a reinvisioning of 01)
08. Soundless Mountain II (2008) (a worthy fan-made homage)

OSTs and Compilations of Licensed Songs on our sister site, Nut Suite:
01. Daniel Licht / Silent Hill Downpour (Original Soundtrack) (2012)
02. Various Artists / Silent Hill Downpour: Radio Songs (2012)

Films, TV, and Literature that have influenced the Silent Hill games:

01. Jacob's Ladder (1990) (appropriately vaunted Godfather of the series)

02. 1408 (2007)
03. Blue Velvet (1986)

04. Carrie (1976)

05. The Cell (2000)

06. Con Air (1997)

07. Kindergarten Cop (1990)

08. Lost Highway (1997)
09. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

10. Session 9 (2001)

11. The Shining (1980)
12. The Walking Dead (1936)

13. The Wicker Man (1973)
14. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

15. Twin Peaks: Season 1 (1990) / Season 2 (1990-91) / Fire Walk With Me (1992)

16. The Dune Collection
17. The Tempest (c.1610-11)

Nutted by NEG.

Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)

As someone who dislikes cities, NY isn't a place I’d ever want to visit. In Larry Cohen’s NY there's a giant, flying creature from myth and legend literally picking up amateur actors and dropping body parts in its wake.
There’s also an open-minded cop; a weaselly, opportunist crook; and an Aztec death cult member getting happy with a ritual-killing knife; all of whom somehow have relevance to the randomness. It’s idiotic but it’s easy to get swept up in the nonsense, meaning it’s the good kind of idiotic. Even when there's not much happening the ominous music keeps the tension ticking.
Michael Moriarty gives his all to a B-Movie that thankfully didn't end up lost and forgotten, which is a fate that many cheap monster movies suffer.

3 crunchy, bite-sized heads out of 5

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

A fast-talking, opinionated socialite (Hepburn) is soon to be married, but two tall, suited, skinny spanners (Stewart and Grant) put themselves on the visitors list, effectively clogging up the works with their smugness and charm.
TPS is a classic era romantic comedy based on a play by Phillip Barry. The three stars light up every scene each time they cross paths, testing the tolerances and attractions of each other, inadvertently or otherwise. It starts slow, but once it hits its stride it doesn't ever disappoint. The supporting cast deserve credit, too, from the eldest to the youngest they're all excellent.

5 names for a boat out of 5

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

A pussy-whipped Carey Grant humbles his way through life like a Clark Kent-esque palaeontologist (minus the costumed alter ego) until he meets a headstrong but scatterbrained female in the shape of Hepburn, with her 'baby' of the title not far behind. Hepburn's character displays the more welcome traits of the 'Hawksian woman' archetype and avoids the less likeable ones.
It's a screwball comedy that gets better with each viewing. The chemistry between the pair is believable, and it's fun to see neither of the two stars be too proud or pompous to make public asses of themselves.

4 entanglements out of 5

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

A group of friends past their prime and down on their luck attempt to rekindle memories of their youth at a ski resort they once frequented. One has to suspend disbelief when they discover their hot tub is a time machine. It's a blatant no-brains, have-a-blast type of comedy with plenty of raunchy humor and over-the-top performances. And despite a slow start, the film does a nice job of fitting in stories for each of the ensemble cast. Now in the 80s they act to change their pathetic destinies and find a way back to their own timeline. The only real eye sore is the absolutely terrible green screen effects.

3 one-armed Crispin Glovers out of 5

Suffocation (2005)

aka Zhixi

Suffering from visions of his dead wife, Shen Xiao (Ge You) consults a therapist. The film analyzes his guilt from infidelity and feelings of resentment. While many of the scenes are portrayed as truth, it's pretty obvious they're delusions within Shen's mind. Edited in a very non-linear path as a number of concise yet repetitive chapters, the uninteresting plot quickly degenerates. The minimal score and lack of humor leaves the events completely devoid of joy. Despite being marketed as horror, very little suspense is distilled from the few moments that endeavor to frighten. Apparently this was director Zhang Bingjian's attempt to serve both the artistic and commercial but he fails miserably on both ends.

1½ cello cases out of 5

The Intruders (2015)

In this simple home invasion film, Rose (Miranda Cosgrove) on break from college moves into an old house with her workaholic father (Donal Logue). Common horror cliches commence with strange noises with no known cause, ominous dreams of the home's storied past and an unsolved mystery Rose is compelled to solve. While the pace is slow and the scares are tame, the production value is impressive for a straight-to-rent venture. Secrets behind the father and daughter and their current situation make the story a tad more compelling, but overall it's predictable and run-of-the-mill. With so many better options available from the home invasion sub-genre, this one will understandably go unnoticed.

2 extreme homebodies out of 5

New Eden (1994)

There’s very little to recommend about New Eden, but I ought to try because in spite of its blandness I've always kind of liked it.
Admittedly, the prison-planet setting wasn't a new concept in sci-f, nor the use of an off-worlder as a catalyst for self-imposed limitations to be highlighted, but at least the sparse, white sands of the desert work in favour of the low budget. And while the passiveness of Baldwin’s character exudes mostly blankness in place of quiet hopefulness, Lisa Bonet counteracts it. And finally, the music adds strangeness to even the most banal moment.
What's impossible to defend is the awful sensei/pupil training montage. It's shit no matter how you spin it.

1½ ways of living out of 5

Scars of Dracula (1970)

Scars does things a little differently. It has a priest that isn't a dick and it places at the beginning of the film what’s traditionally nearer the ending. The bulk of the rest is taken up by the more familiar hunt for a missing person; yes, the one that went to the castle despite being told not to.
One of the highlights is the semi-tragic character in the vampire’s employ played by a hairy Patrick Troughton. I suspect the Count’s recurrent need to have a weathered manservant at his beck and call and a busty lady in his parlour points to some deep-rooted psychological problems.
The villagers are equally troubled. Burn the STONE castle! Good idea, lads, that always worked in the past.

2½ shocking bats out of 5

Zatoichi in Desperation (1972)

Of the Zatoichi films I’ve watched so far, Desperation, the 24th in the series, was perhaps the least enjoyable. I’d like to be able to say otherwise because it’s directed by Shintarô Katsu himself, but too many shots had the image obscured by scenery and there were too many unnecessary close-ups, which made it hard to follow the action. If you have a full 2.35:1 frame then you should strive to make the best use of it at all times.
He did his best to emphasise the difficult decision making the character has to face up to, but his methodology rubbed me the wrong way. It’s also very bleak with little room for laughter.

2½ wayward winds out of 5

Blade on the Feather (1980)

BotF contains within it complexities and themes that Potter returned to often, but which I can’t mention because their unearthing is a part of the journey.
Donald Pleasence plays a reclusive author who's having a hard time existing in the not-quite-perfect seclusion he’s created for himself, accentuated by the invasive camera angles and sharp editing of time. Tom Conti's character is an intellectual who’s writing a thesis on the author, meaning getting close to him is of paramount importance. But there are secrets on all sides.

4 playing fields out of 5

Rain on the Roof (1980)

Some couples knowingly create opportunities for betrayal to flourish. Rain offers insight into some of the potential reasons behind that kind of self-destructive/cathartic activity. John (Malcolm Stoddard) and Janet (Cheryl Campbell) are one such couple. Into the mix walks an illiterate young guy named Billy (Ewan Stewart). Billy’s emotions become a casualty when placed between a semi-neurotic housewife and her accused husband.
Rain is my personal favourite of the three television plays made in 1980 that were written by Potter. (The others are Blade on the Feather (1980) and Cream in My Coffee (1980).) Both Stewart and Campbell play their parts flawlessly, fully deserving of maximum praise.

5 spaces between the words out of 5

Cream in My Coffee (1980)

If the traditional British ‘summer holiday’ ever really existed outside of postcards and creative nostalgia then by the year 1980 it was long into retirement. But the hotels endure and it’s to one of them that an ageing couple return, having spent time there in 1934. Past and present weave together to paint a bigger picture, and through extrapolation we can write the forty-six summers that fell in-between.
Potter's venomous wit lightens some scenes, but mostly it’s a serious study of the destructive nature of secrets, the ennui that often follows marriage and the promises that love makes to please itself.
Lionel Jeffries is good as the old man who wants to live in the here and now but can’t help referencing the past. Peggy Ashcroft is hand on heart amazing as the sympathetic wife who fears to ruffle feathers.

4 pennies dropped out of 5

The .hack//Collection

The .hack// stories can be layered and engaging multi-part adventures, or simplistic one-shots as plot-driven as a colouring book.  That’s one of the potential consequences of spreading something over many different mediums.  But if you’re a fan then you’re a fan and nothing anyone says will change your mind.  I know that first-hand.  Below are links to all that Nutshell and its sister sites have to offer about the World:

Films and Shorts:
01. .hack//GIFT (2003)
02. .hack//G.U. Returner (2007)
03. .hack//G.U. Trilogy (2008)
04. .hack//Beyond the World (2012)

TV Series and OVAs on our sister site, Nut Box.
01. .hack//Liminality (2003) (OVA)
02. .hack//Legend of the Twilight (2003) (TV Series)
03. .hack//Quantum (2012) (OVA)

See also:
01. .hack//Mangas on our sister site, Nut Ink.
02. .hack//Games on our sister site, Nut Load.