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The Phoenix Project

Four scientists in a garage try to revive dead animals

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
08-03-2015
4.5

Experiment failed

This could and should have been a geeky mind bending gem like Primer. But it is achingly slow at times, the science is underpowered and the scientists behave unnatural. Especially that Carter guy, who single-handedly wrecks this movie with really painful, unwatchable and ridiculous overacting.
4.5

Lebanon

The endeavours of an Israeli tank crew in the lebanon war, filmed entirely from within the tank and it's visor views on the outside world

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
08-03-2015
7

Good, but let down by the 'crew'

The point of view of this movie is master stroke and works beautifully. But I found the scared, disjunct, insubordinate and unorganized crew - even before anything happens - unrealistic an unconvincing. I would have rather seen the tension come from war and claustrophobia, not amateurism.
7

Neighbors

Young couple with a baby has a fraternity move in next door. The war begins

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-03-2015
6

Watching people having fun wasn't much fun

The lead actors put in a lot of energy and effort into it, but cannot save this mediocre comedy with a shortage of good jokes. The endless fraternity partying and self-contempted mayhem was rather exhausting to me.
6

Horns

In the search to find the killer of his girl, a wrongfully accused man develops some handy devilish traits along the way

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-03-2015
7

Orginal and brave

This movie strikes some nice chords as it wanders into pleasant absurdity. Gradually, a more standard crime story takes over, which is less appealing by comparison. Still, extra points for originality and courage.
7

Chappie

Write-off police robot secretly gets a firmware upgrade, making him reboot as a child with a huge learning capacity. But he accidently falls in the hands of not so ideal parents to learn from..
average 6.5

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
23-03-2015
6

Nice robot, crappy story

Robotics and the consciousness debate are usually my cup of tea, but Chappie definitely failed to deliver in this regard...
6

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-03-2015
7

A bitter sweet 7

As much as I adore the hyperrealistic robot visual FX, techyness and idea of this movie, a robot acting like a child acting like a ridiculous Hollywood caricature of a 'gangster' was too awkward to look at. The governance and discipline within this Tetravaal company were also sand in my eyes.
7

The Machine

Scientist attempts to cure his daughter by hacking a government project for revitalising brainddead soldiers, but builts a new kind of robot in the progress. Sort of

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-03-2015
4

Too boring, too B

While it manages to squeeze out a couple of moody scenes, it is mostly a very slow, quite boring movie that keeps relying on the same tricks and scenes over and over again. I also thought the robot's behavior was how a five year old would portray one.
4

American Sniper

About the 'legend' sniper who killed over 160 people in Iraq missions

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-03-2015
7.5

Very good war movie, even moreso if you like Texan cowboydreams.

I wasn't too keen on the Texas-cowboy-American-hunt-with-your-son-patriot-there's-always-vacant-pretty-girl-just-sitting-at-the-bar elements. Not overly successful as a war commentary either. As a war movie though, is filmed with class, sincerity and restraint and hits hard.
7.5

Home

Colorful aliens take over earth, parking the humans in Australia. But one off them makes friends with a human....
average 6.2

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
24-07-2015
6

Just another animated movie

An occasional smile during this okay movie, which is based on a rather unclear storyline. The 3d version does not seem to add much to the overall experience...
6

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-04-2015
6.5

A warm and and kind movie, but stumbles over itself most of the time

The aliens lack the looks and cuteness to really shine, and the story is incredibly restless and rushed, especially the first half. Halfway through, when we finally get who is who and what's going on, we find a good and creative heart in this movie.
6.5

Exodus Gods and Kings

The story of Moses, who sets out to free his people from egyptian oppression, with a little help from divine intervention

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-04-2015
7

Good yet linear and flat

Well made, acted and tightly shot, it is let by a very slow middle section, a failure to evoke deeper emotions and a rather uninspired depiction of the plagues, as if they are checking them out on a list; Yeh ok so that's the frogs, what's next? How many more?
7

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexandes wishes that for once his family could experience the awful bad luck has usually has during the day

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-04-2015
6.5

A bit too constrained

I expected some more anarchy and mayhem with a title like that. Now it is a funny but rather tame and polite comedy with too few standout jokes and all kinds of morals and lessons to boot.
6.5

The Equalizer

Highly skilled, ultra meticulate (ex-cia?) must come to action once again when he infuriates Russian mobsters by caring for a hooker

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-04-2015
6.5

Old fashioned (in a bad way)

A movie that is trying too hard to be bad-ass, yet it is too long, delivers quite mediocre cat and mouse action and a dull take-them-out-one-by-one-in-a-warehouse finale reminiscent of 80's action movies.
6.5

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Two stories of people trying to get by in the dark, violent and sweaty world of Sin City

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-04-2015
7

Beautifull but distant

Once again beautifully crafted and a marvel to look at. But once the effect wears off, you're left with 1-dimensional, quite unlikable characters whom it is hard to care for, in a world so exaggerated it is hard to believe in.
7

Along came Polly

After being brutally dumped on a honeymoon, a man gets a second change with an highschool (true) love

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-05-2015
7

Funny and witty

An above average funny movie with quite a few good laughs. It's all courtesy of Stiller's monumental talent for painfully cringe-worthy situations we can all relate too. The rest of the cast is not too shabby either.
7

John Wick

The Russian mafia kills the dog of the wrong ex-hitman

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-05-2015
7

Stylish violent action, if not a bit repetitive

A violent movie with a gloomy and sweaty atmosphere and bucket loads of style. After a while though, the endless shootouts, and the mobsters' tendency to run into the hitman's arms without shooting, got a bit tiresome.
7

Alien Outpost aka Outpost 37

Mockumentary of soldiers in some outpost fighting aliens

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-05-2015
4

Badly done scifi

A confusing, unexciting and poorly done movie with bland characters. It is slow, uninteresting and misfires with really phoney 'interviews' in between. The whole documentary approach can't save it.
4

Child of God

A senile outcast, forced to live in the woods, discovers a sinister way to ease his sexual cravings

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-05-2015
7

Disturbing. Good.

An uncomfortable, disturbing, taboo shattering movie that nevertheless remains gripping and within tolerance levels. It even manages to evoke some level of empathy for the outcast.
7

Tomorrowland aka Project T

A rebelious teenage girl is the chosen one to glimpse into a future world - and save it too

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-05-2015
7.5

Gorgeous but Disney

For younsters, this is a splendid and exciting space adventure with a great spirit. Grumpy old men like me need to deal additionally with the miles thick morals, and the over-smart main character and her indifference towards the amazing things she encounters.
7.5

The November Man

Retired CIA top wonderboy is asked for one more gig. He steps in because someone close to him is involved...

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-05-2015
7

Fine espionage

A decent, classic espionage action flick. It is a bit low on standout moments though, and the cockiness and skills of the main character can be too much at times.
7

Evil Dead (2013)

Kids go into the woods to rehab a friend Then they find a book and unwillingly release hell.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-06-2015
6.5

Slashing that still leaves you indifferent

As a cabin slasher it appeared solid and effective, yet I couldn't really get scared or excited by it. Characters too dull and silly, story too well known.
6.5

This is the End

Film actors at a party find themselves amidst judgement day... and saviour of the righteous only

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-06-2015
6

Mostly self absorbed

The idea of the actors playing more or less themselves in a bizarre situation like this is kind of nice. But for the most part, the look-at-how-funny-we-are is tiresome instead.
6

As Above So Below

Mockumentary about a historian and friends who go into tunnels below Paris to find an ancient stone. But there's things down there.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-06-2015
7

Reasonable

Mockumentaries en found-footage appearantly must feature teens. Always. The subplots and themes within the tunnels appear a bit rushed and underdeveloped. But there are still some good scares and effective claustrophobic scenes down there too!
7

Extracted

A machine provides a man access to the memories of a criminal, but he gets stuck in there too

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-06-2015
6.5

Great idea, somewhat dull

A swell idea that oozes potential. Execution however, is rather slow, simplistic and tame, so it does not quite reach the skies. Too bad. More ideas like this one though, please.
6.5

V/H/S: Viral

A bunch of unrelated horror fantasy stories, except that they all contain some amount of filming. Not necessarily on VHS though.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-07-2015
4

Messy

I'd like to think there is a deeper meaning behind the foul nastiness. But it felt like an unpleasant, loud and incoherent peak in some perverted minds' shock fantasies. 'Yeh so like there's skate dudes and then zombies come.' End of story. That parallel dimension thing was alright though.
4

Maze Runner

Not knowing why, a guy wakes up in between fellow victims - all surrounded by a giant maze with monsters in it

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-07-2015
6.5

Improves with age

Upon first viewing I was annoyed by unnecessary vague way everyone talks and the focus on their petty problems instead of the maze itself. And while these problems are real, upon second viewing the core adventure - with some mystery, action and horror - became more evident and enjoyable.
6.5

Terminator: Genisys

The original timeline seen from the future perspective - until things start to change....

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-07-2015
6

Full of letdowns.. just barely makes it to 'entertaining'

Kyle is now a miscasted dork. Sarah is now omnipotent and omniscient so all excitement is gone. The terminators scenes feel like a 'best of' rehash of earlier movies. It has an unrealistic and strange sterile look to it. The time travel has become a caricaturisation. Arnold was funny though.
6

Michiel de Ruyter

The life of Michiel de Ruyter, portrayed in 151 minutes
average 6.2

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-04-2016
6.5

Too presumptuous for it's own good

I can appreciate the detailed depiction of this era and it's sea battles, but this movie insists it is a 'real' pro movie with an overload of cliche movie tricks like slow-motion, too much pretentious music and lord knows how many sub-bass boom sounds - sometimes for no reason at all.
6.5

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
24-07-2015
6

A mixture of overly dramatic cheap cinematic tricks and shallow acting

Highlights of the movie are the battles at sea, which are rather convincing. Perhaps also somewhat interesting in terms of historical information about this legendary dutch admiral, or for people familiar with the locations this movie was filmed ( I recently visited Vlissingen myself).
6

A walk among the tombstones

Private detective searching for a bunch of sickos mutilating and killing the loved ones of drug dealers

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
24-07-2015
5

Another movie with Liam Neeson, definitely not one of his best

I am still wondering what the writers were thinking, as well as Liam Neeson reading the script. Watching a goldfish in a fish tank for 114 minutes must be more exciting than this...
5

What We Do in the Shadows

Mockumentary about group of vampires trying to get by in daily life

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-07-2015
7

Funny and unique

A sassy movie with a nice sense of humor a great atmosphere. Could have used some killer jokes though.
7

Inside Out

5 separate emotions in a girls' head are trying to keep it together when she and her parents move to a new city

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-07-2015
8

Unique, emotional, courageous and wonderful

One of the most unique, brave and original movies ever to come out of a major animation studio. A collage of symbolism en abstractions that is still child-friendly and a great experience. It made me cry as well, which I needed to hide from popcorn munching kiddies all around me in the theater.
8

Zodiac: Signs of the Apocalypse

Historian and son find a pattern in world disasters pointing to the end of the world, and set out to stop that from happening

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-08-2015
4

ehmmmmm.....Yup, it's a B-movie

For a while I thought it had a change of becoming at least a reasonable B-movie, but then it quickly sank into the usual mandatory B-movie swamp - like endless car driving and non-stop action music, no matter what's on the screen.
4

Unbroken

The strory of an athletic runner who crashlands during WWII and becomes POW in Japan.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-08-2015
7

Sligthly unemotional

An impressive story that is filmed tidily and with class, yet is a somewhat numb and flat experience, making it miss out on the impact it should have had.
7

Knowing

A time capsule dug up at school contains a paper with only numbers, which turn out to predict past disasters with remarkable accuracy... and future ones too.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
10-08-2015
7.5

It can be liked!

Apparently I am the only one who likes this movie. But heck: it's an exciting story, the performances are fine and it contains some terrifying and unrivaled footage of disasters. I even liked the ending too, it is pretty!
7.5

Nymphomaniac II

The nymph carries on to tell her live story to her new analytic friend

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
10-08-2015
7.5

Dark and unpleasant but somehow very relevant too

Darker than the previous one, (even) more difficult to digest too. But something about it feels relevant and it is quite an intense experience that keeps you gazing in awe.
7.5

Area 51

Armed with camera's , some teens attempt to sneak in area 51 and catch a glimps of what's in there

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-08-2015
6.5

Great idea doesn't quite deliver

A clever idea that could have yielded some scary footage. Unfortunately, the teens in question are bit bland and unsympathetic, their efforts for this stunt are a bit over the top, and once inside it's a bit too messy and rushed to deliver true scares. Should have been toned down a little.
6.5

Frequencies

Some relationships will be made impossible by nature if the persons' frequencies don't match. But one guy finds a way around that. - with potentially huge consequences

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-08-2015
7.5

A clever and wonderful concept, executed a bit childishly

Quite an amazing story cleverly put together with love and eye for detail. It's just that the persons involved are all too pretty, gayly chatting all the time... it's sort of lacks the notion that you should take it seriously or that these people are real.
7.5

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

The IMF team, suspended by the government, still carry on to take down a secret terror organisation

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-08-2015
7.5

Another solid episode

As always, these movies guarantee plenty of really solid slick and tense action. This one starts to lean towards a James Bond vibe, skimping on the outrageous impossible stunts. It's still fab, as long as you can take in the endless layers of "HAHA it was all part of some amazing plan!"
7.5

Triangle

Shipwrecked friends climb onto a passing ship, but it is hardly an improvement....

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-08-2015
7.5

An great story, executed slightly dull

Direction and performances are a bit uninspired, contrasting with a really nifty and clever story that keeps your attention all the way. Even my wife stayed awake for this one.
7.5

Afflicted

While documenting a Eurotrip, two friends also document one of them turning into a vampire

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
18-08-2015
7

More interesting than scary

A combination of natural acting and convincing effects create some effective WTF moments. Well done, but it wasn't really scary - mostly because they seem sort of ok with the transformation.
7

Ex Machina

Software developer wins a trip to a genius living in solitude, who created a new tier in artificial intelligence
average 8.0

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
17-09-2015
8

Not just another AI movie

Enjoyable approach towards the artificial intelligence debate, with some nice twists in the plot
8

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2015
8

Clever and good looking scifi

A very stylish, smart and engrossing scifi flick with some nice twists to boot.
8

The Starving Games

A parody of guess which movie

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2015
4

A turkey of the second kind

A rather dumb and unfunny fest of bad jokes, though some might still accidentally trigger a slight smile now and then. Not the worst of bad parodies.
4

Guardians of the Galaxy

Bound by circumstance, a group of creatures sets out to prevent danger in the universe.
average 7.2

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
15-01-2016
7

Over the top science fiction action movie (in a good way)

A bit too much of everything, but somehow just right because of that!
7

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-08-2015
7.5

Take some time to let it sink in, and start enjoying

Not familiar with this comic, I feared I'd never get into this unexplained stream of weirdness. But the humor, vivid space combat action and sympathetic characters grew on me and left me quite entertained indeed.
7.5

Starship Troopers

Friends sign in to combat terror from space. Both their skills and friendship are put to the test.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-08-2015
8

A brutal space fight that requires the right mindset

It all depends on whether you can appreciate the deeper meaning of incredibly cheesy barbie people have soap opera relationship quarrels - followed by dismembering fights with aliens.
8

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Obi finds out about the clone army, and lots of other stuff going on too.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-08-2015
7

Mixed up

While it contains several outstanding scenes and sound effects (seismic charge!) to make it worthwhile, it is let down big time by an overload of boring politics, cringe worthy attempts at drama and awkward slapstick.
7

The Raid

Police squad in Jakarta raids a tower inhabited by criminal scum. It turns bad really quickly.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-08-2015
8

Brutally refining

A really sweaty and hardcore fighting movie with a deep sense of pain and tired bones. It is unpleasant in a way, but it is also spectacular, amazingly well performed and choreographed and a genuine new benchmark for brawling movies - that had been going nowhere until this came along.
8

Unfriended

A single shot view of a computerscreen of a girl hanging out with friends on the web, when something dark from the past comes to haunt them

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
04-09-2015
7

A novel and well executed horror idea

A bold idea that works surprisingly well and provided a unique scary movie. For sheer originality I wanted to rate this higher, but for that it would have needed more than these unappealing teen characters and a slightly more refined plot.
7

Particle Fever

Documentary about of the events that led up to the confirmation of the Higgs bosson in the Large Hadron Collider

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-09-2015
7.5

Interesting look at an incredible machine

There is a slight overload of scientific superlatives on how important and revolutionary it all is. But with a device like that, and theories like that, and findings like that, I suppose they are right! Quite fascinating.
7.5

Extraterrestial

Adolescents camping in the woods find themselves amongst aliens

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-09-2015
6

Manages to be ok

It's the same old adolescents , going to the same old cabin in the woods with the same old aliens. But there's a couple of scenes, moments and even performances in here that keep this movie in the green.
6

Martyrs

A girl finds out, in person, the unspeakable, unimaginable cause that traumatized her friend
average 7.5

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-07-2023
8

A tough but rewarding watch

A painful and depressing movie for sure, but I like how the way various layers of the story unveil. And just when I started wondering if there would be any redemption to all the suffering, comes a reveal that magically makes the whole thing become coherent, satisfying and even... beautiful?
8

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
17-09-2015
7

Blood, horror, and torture: at least I warned you

Lots of blood, torture and some horror elements in a movie that you will probably still remember years from now, but whish you wouldn't.
7

Gun Woman

A crippled man turns a meth woman into an assassin to avenge his past. Now - where to hide to gun?

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
20-09-2015
7

A bizarre and painfull plan. But will it work?

A rather sad movie with a lot of blood, suffering and necrophilia that provides an uncomfortable watch. The gun woman, however, does manage to drag you into the story, and make you anxious to see whether it all works out as planned.
7

Project Almanac

Students built a timemachine

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-09-2015
6.5

Lacks inspirantion or a smart story

They have something going on at first, then all they do with the machine is go back in time to party and solve tedious adolescence problems. By the time tampering-with-time troubles finally start, I was kind of done with it.
6.5

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