LOVE HURTS (2025)

Directed By: Jonathan Eusebio

Written By: Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard and Luke Passmore 

Cinematography: Bridger Nielson 

Editor: Elisabeth Ronaldsdottir 

Cast: Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose, Lio Tipton, Cam Gigandet, Marshawn Lynch, Rhys Darby, Mustafa Shakir, Daniel Wu, Sean Astin, Drew Scott 

A realtor is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. With his crime-lord brother also on his trail, he must confront his past and the history he never fully buried.

————————————————————————

this oddly feels like this could’ve been a sequel to the big hit only because again a gang of hitman, a love story and disposable action that is quite visual and admirable from a stunt and fight choreography standard but feels a bit much about nothing.

It feels like a lighter version of the film. NOBODY that packs a much lighter punch. as this is more of a jab.

As all the actors are likeable, you just wish that there was a stronger script because everything here feels like you’ve seen it 100 times before and it just feels so basic that even at under 90 minutes it feels a bit long like everyone is going through the motions The only thing that keeps you is lead actor Ke Huy Quan 

As he is so small and has such a gentle nature, but seeing him be a bad ass is quite watchable, but also seeing him struggle with the two sides of himself, the dangerous side and the good side is quite remarkable 

Everything else about the film though is a little bit tired or familiar even Marshawn Lynch usually is a scene stealer and most films while he’s good and humorous here it still feels like unremarkable in this film 

Same with Ariana Debose, a great actress and Oscar winning actress where you have to wonder why is she here? Was it just the paycheck because she is very enticing in this film and seems to be having fun but she feels better than the material or this film so that it feels like she’s slumming and you wanna see her and better you wanna see key and better You wanna see better than what they have.

you know when the film has multiple screen writers that it’s most likely gonna be a little bit confusing and it’s identity and probably water down. 

It feels like the film is afraid to ever slow down and its pace as every shot must be busy or they have the camera move like a 90s MTV style film with an electronic music soundtrack to keep the bass moving at times you wish it would slow down With its constant push you more and more away from the film and it’s believability

What’s worse is that I am an advocate for seeing for films being seen on the big screen as that seems to be what they when you’re making one. That’s what they’re made for but this film feels like it has blockbuster money, but the script seems more accustomed to a streaming platform and the big screen. 

At least you’re paying for the service and this is what they offer you rather than you going. Spending hard earned money on this and the quality is not that great even though maybe if you’re an action junkie, this might be up your alley, but in the end, even though it is an action film it also seems like it’s more comedic moments rather than the action at times , and it doesn’t seem to be able to have it.

It’s not a horrible film. It’s just a film that seems like it more just gets by instead of trying or attempting to be better and there’s nothing wrong with that being satisfied with who you are but let us know that in the audience beforehand instead of making it seem like you have promise .

Well at least  Ke Huy Quan has a cute moment of a reunion of THE GOONIES having played in the film as data . Here he isso close with his mentor and boss at the realty company played by Sean Astin, who played Mikey in THE GOONIES. As well as them both appearing in the film ENCINO MAN together

Grade: C

GUNS AKIMBO (2020)

gunsakimbo

Written & Directed By: Jason Lei Howden
Cinematography: Stefan Ciupek
Editor: Luke Haigh & Zaz Montana


Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Rhys Darby, Ned Dennehy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Milo Cawthorne, Mark Rowley, Colin Moy  


Miles is stuck in a dead-end job, still in love with his ex-girlfriend Nova. Unbeknownst to him, a gang called Skizm is running a deadly competition within his city in which complete strangers fight to the death for the entertainment of an online audience of millions. Miles soon finds himself caught up in the game and forced to fight in a battle to the death. Initially, Miles’ lifetime of running from his problems pays off as he manages to elude his first opponent but when Nova is kidnapped, he must finally stop running and overcome his fears to fight for the girl he loves.

Continue reading “GUNS AKIMBO (2020)”

WHAT WE DO IN SHADOWS (2015)

whatwe

Written & Directed By: Taika Waititi & Jemaine Clement
Cinematography By: Richard Bluck & D.J. Stipsen
Editor: Tom Eagles, Yana Gorskaya & Jonathan Woodford-Robinson 


Cast: Taika Waititi, Jonatham Brugh, Jemaine Clement, Rhys Darby, Cori Gonzalez-Maucer, Stuart Rutherford, Ben Fransham, Jackie Van Beek

Follow the lives of Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav – three flatmates who are just trying to get by and overcome life’s obstacles-like being immortal vampires who must feast on human blood. Hundreds of years old, the vampires are finding that beyond sunlight catastrophes, hitting the main artery, and not being able to get a sense of their wardrobe without a reflection-modern society has them struggling with the mundane like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.

Continue reading “WHAT WE DO IN SHADOWS (2015)”