Movie reviews in under a minute
Welcome to Superquickreviews – your one-stop shop for the latest movie reviews and, best of all, it’s quick, easy and even fun. No more trawling through paragraphs and paragraphs of waffle. Here we cut to the chase and let you know if it’s good, bad or indifferent.
You can do it a glance with our colour coding system (check out the definitions here) or click on the poster where you’ll be met with a paragraph synopsis followed by a few paragraphs of review. Straight to the point.
Feedback is welcome either through the comments below or via email: anthony [at] superquickreviews.com
Enjoy.
Get the Gringo
What’s it about?
A former army sniper with a shady past finds himself in the infamous El Pueblito prison (an environment where prisoners openly carried guns and traded drugs amongst other things). Standing out like a sore thumb he scrambles to survive not only the inmates but professionals on the outside chasing him as well.
What did we think?
A reasonably depressing movie featuring a mostly unlikable main character, Get The Gringo is difficult to get into. Early pacing means that not even the interesting historical accuracy of the prison keeps your attention for too long and you’re left to hold onto Mel Gibson’s strong performance with rapidly dwindling hope.
Thankfully the last act provides the fun action we’re looking for and almost makes up for the earlier discomfort. Gritty and worth the wait if your patience holds up.
The Woman in Black
What’s it about?
A young lawyer travels to a remote town, thus evoking the vengeful wrath of a dead woman scorned who has been terrorising the locals.
What did we think?
Liz says: A solid, broody, atmospheric ghost flick in which Daniel Radcliffe might not say much but he still delivers the goods. A few cliched thrills don’t detract because it’s a classic tale and one expects classic scares. And I jumped quite a few times. Just sayin’.
Men In Black III
What’s it about?
Agent J travels in time to MIB’s early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.
What did we think?
Apparently filming started before they completed the script.
It shows.
The Dictator
What’s it about?
The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. Or the story of a dictator who is stranded in the America – the country he hates – without his identity but all of his attitude.
What did we think?
Intermittent laugh-out-loud moments don’t disguise the fact that this is a hit-and-miss affair. Imagine Coming To America with outright vulgarity: it’s sort of funny but not always in a good way.
It’s essentially re-heated Sacha Baron Cohen so his fans will lap it up while the rest of us will be hoping for an actor re-boot for his next project.
Dark Shadows
What’s it about?
An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free after 200 years and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection. Hijinx ensue as he ‘adapts’ to the modern world of 1972.
What did we think?
Despite the wacky premise, this self-indulgent movie takes itself far too seriously. Some wicked performances but to be frank, you should watch the first 20 minutes, go out for a coffee/shop/lunch/whatever for 70 minutes and then come back for the final 20.
Maybe that way you’ll enjoy it.
2.5
What’s Popular
The Water Diviner
What’s it about?
A low level psychic (Russel Crowe) journeys from Australia to find the remains of his sons destroyed in the Great War. He finds the enchanted world of the former Ottoman Empire has been cut into pieces by the politics of men.
What did we think?
Dan says: I am not a fan of Rusty at all but the guy sure can act. The story that he pushes along is beautifully shot and a joy to behold. It paints the faceless enemy as exactly what they are, more of us. Proud, angry and frightened.
The film treats the delicate story of Gallipoli with a great deal of respect though the third act gets a little bit “Indiana Jonesy”. There are some CGI issues and Rusty’s “Batman voice” can be a tad grating but ultimately this is a measured and heart-warming film with something for everyone. (Except kids. It’s a bit gruesome in parts)
Exodus: Gods and Kings
What’s it about?
Egyptian prince Moses (Christian Bale) learns of his heritage with the enslaved Hebrews and leads them to rebel against his former brother, Pharoah Ramses II (Joel Edgerton).
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Ridley Scott, director of Gladiator, attempts to bring both scope and realism to a dull myth that mostly happens outside the characters’ control, and unfortunately doesn’t do enough to change that. There are amazing sets and CGI galore, most appreciated when the plagues of hornets and red river-water sweep through Egypt, but the central conflict of the two brothers is flat and uninteresting. Everyone besides Bale either hams it up (Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn as a mincing viceroy) or barely registers at all (Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver), making the film unsatisfying even at two-and-a-half hours.
Serena
What’s it about?
Serena (Jennifer Lawrence) is a beautiful but damaged women living in Depression-era South Carolina, swept up in a whirlwind romance by logging company owner George (Bradley Cooper). She will go to any lengths to protect her new-found life and happiness.
What did we think?
Alice Barbery says: It’s worth the price of admission just to watch Jennifer’s performance as Serena. This is a sensual film managing to manoeuvre through a complex plot with engaging style. All sins are paid for in this story and while the characters are flawed they remain sympathetic. In the end there are always consequences for actions, and these ensure audience is satisfied with all outcomes. You’ll leave feeling haunted by such an intimately shared depth of love, grief, desperation and ambition.
Horrible Bosses 2
What’s is about?
Three male entrepreneurs (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis) are scammed out of their own start-up by a slick investor (Christoph Waltz), prompting an attempt to kidnap his hotheaded son (Chris Pine) and use the ransom to keep themselves afloat.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Terrible, but you’d expect nothing less from the film-maker behind such movies as That’s My Boy and We’re the Millers. When Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis aren’t yabbering at each other, it’s dispensing thuddingly dumb jokes that are sometimes just bold-faced sexism and racism. The caper sequences toward the end have some visual creativity, and the supporting actors (particularly Chris Pine) seem to be having fun, but it’s not nearly enough to make the movie worth seeing.
Editor's Choice
The Water Diviner
What’s it about?
A low level psychic (Russel Crowe) journeys from Australia to find the remains of his sons destroyed in the Great War. He finds the enchanted world of the former Ottoman Empire has been cut into pieces by the politics of men.
What did we think?
Dan says: I am not a fan of Rusty at all but the guy sure can act. The story that he pushes along is beautifully shot and a joy to behold. It paints the faceless enemy as exactly what they are, more of us. Proud, angry and frightened.
The film treats the delicate story of Gallipoli with a great deal of respect though the third act gets a little bit “Indiana Jonesy”. There are some CGI issues and Rusty’s “Batman voice” can be a tad grating but ultimately this is a measured and heart-warming film with something for everyone. (Except kids. It’s a bit gruesome in parts)
Exodus: Gods and Kings
What’s it about?
Egyptian prince Moses (Christian Bale) learns of his heritage with the enslaved Hebrews and leads them to rebel against his former brother, Pharoah Ramses II (Joel Edgerton).
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Ridley Scott, director of Gladiator, attempts to bring both scope and realism to a dull myth that mostly happens outside the characters’ control, and unfortunately doesn’t do enough to change that. There are amazing sets and CGI galore, most appreciated when the plagues of hornets and red river-water sweep through Egypt, but the central conflict of the two brothers is flat and uninteresting. Everyone besides Bale either hams it up (Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn as a mincing viceroy) or barely registers at all (Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver), making the film unsatisfying even at two-and-a-half hours.
Serena
What’s it about?
Serena (Jennifer Lawrence) is a beautiful but damaged women living in Depression-era South Carolina, swept up in a whirlwind romance by logging company owner George (Bradley Cooper). She will go to any lengths to protect her new-found life and happiness.
What did we think?
Alice Barbery says: It’s worth the price of admission just to watch Jennifer’s performance as Serena. This is a sensual film managing to manoeuvre through a complex plot with engaging style. All sins are paid for in this story and while the characters are flawed they remain sympathetic. In the end there are always consequences for actions, and these ensure audience is satisfied with all outcomes. You’ll leave feeling haunted by such an intimately shared depth of love, grief, desperation and ambition.
Horrible Bosses 2
What’s is about?
Three male entrepreneurs (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis) are scammed out of their own start-up by a slick investor (Christoph Waltz), prompting an attempt to kidnap his hotheaded son (Chris Pine) and use the ransom to keep themselves afloat.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Terrible, but you’d expect nothing less from the film-maker behind such movies as That’s My Boy and We’re the Millers. When Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis aren’t yabbering at each other, it’s dispensing thuddingly dumb jokes that are sometimes just bold-faced sexism and racism. The caper sequences toward the end have some visual creativity, and the supporting actors (particularly Chris Pine) seem to be having fun, but it’s not nearly enough to make the movie worth seeing.