Dan's Movie Report

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears - Movie Review (C) 2020 Dan's Movie Report (Danny Templegod)

Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report and Action-Flix.com readers across my desk on Acorn TV comes 'Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears'. I had the opportunity to interview director Tony Tilse, for HBO's ''Grisse' a full on action series! http://dansmoviereport.blogspot.com/2019/01/director-tony-tilse-interview-grisse.html

For those of you unfamiliar with the original show, I suggest you watch the entire Miss Fischer series, or at least several episodes. Basically she is a clever detective, sometimes skirting outside and inside the law, she goes on some rather intriguing and humorous cases, with somewhat serious undertones.

Although most of the episodes run about 45 minutes, I always wanted to see what the team could create, in a long form. The latest effort, is a cool mix of Indiana Jones, Tombraider, all the while keeping the amazing charm of actress Essie Davis as the title character Phryne Fisher. In fact, nearly all of the original series cast has returned to some extent, a nice closure to the show, or will it be?

Writer and executive producer Deborah (Deb) Cox once again creates, the world in more detail with a larger budget, what is also cool and I did not even realize that part of this was crowd funded in Australia! A huge undertaking that supports thousands of film jobs in the country is needed especially now!

I refuse to spoil the plot of this because so many have not seen the original series, much less this movie. Actually I recommend watching most of if not all of the 34 episode original series, well at least sever of them to get an idea of the characters, doing this will make it a really amazing story. Essentially there is a small child in prison, and Miss Fisher needs to get her out and search for a mythical Emerald. Remember this is a mystery as well, a who done it. In the TV shows the murder happens in the beginning and Miss Fisher has to go back and solve it, minus, cell phones, and of course modern equipment. In the feature time is taken to set up the story before the murder takes place.

An amazing standout is newcomer Izabella Yena https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8962183/

she stars as the grown up woman. She really does a wonderful job of showing emotions and care throughout this film. Always wonderful to see fresh talent arise!

Special Kudos go to the stunt team in this film. Zoë Amanda Wilson works with Izabella's character to craft the action. Stunt Coordinating was done by two people Russell Frost and Othman Ilyassa. Both are super knowledgeable in a variety of action as the movie involves fighting, gun play, fencing, and falling as well.

The technical aspects of Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears are solid. The outside scenes and areas used in Australia are really nice, some minor quips about the CGI train perspective. Musically it is rather amazing as a 1920s style Jazz band was even used, plus the musical score really gave it the worldly feel. Another thing I really liked, is the lighting even in the dark scenes, we can see the characters and their actions. There is a scene that involves fire at night and I can see the faces, and emotions! Remember no spoilers!

I really liked this feature! Cannot find much fault of it at all, obviously it Is not a 100 million dollar Tombraider or 200 million dollar Summer blockbuster, overall it rates a very strong 8 out of 10, a must own!

For more info, the IMDB page has all of the credits. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9010738/

The official page on Facebook has the entire show and series covered! https://www.facebook.com/phrynefisher/

Support this project, buy it, buy merch etc...

It is available to watch now on Acorn TV or Pre-Order on DVD or Blu-Ray!

https://www.acornonline.com/XD5702.html

Ships May 13^th!

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Aaron Toney Unleashes A Quarintine Action Video! - (C) 2020 Dan's Movie Report Danny Templegod

Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report and Action-Flix.com readers recently an amazing video appeared on YouTube & Facebook! The amazing stunt coordinator Aaron Toney ('Altered Carbon', Season 2) and double of Black Panther... check him on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1987604/

has created an action packed, and clever video for these difficult times.

He collaborated with a crushingly talented team of stunt performers, 3 of whom I have interviewed, to put out this kick ass video! Check out Dan's Movie Report for detailed interviews with Amy Johnston, Lauren Mary Kim, and Tamiko Brownlee!

Movies are an escape from reality, stay safe this Easter! This video was all filmed in separate locations and seamlessly edited by Aaron! WOW! Perhaps a new content form emerging! Also watch for another great creator and coordinator Vlad Rimberg in this! Nice to see the two of them working on this!

I asked Aaron for a quote on the project and he said “I am just going to let it circulate for awhile. Can't wait to see everyone's version of this. So much fun.”

This is direct from Aaron's ZG YouTube page a must follow! His page is @

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh0GwBfl_OCu3mQmrMJg86g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcZ8OcNmYJE&

Who says you can’t do a fight while in isolation. Watch this ? The concept had been floating around my brain. My friend @penelopetalleur said we should do a fight. I said, your right. And here we are. Featuring friends and peers from around the world. :-)

Christopher Troy @christophertroyofficial Shahaub Roudbari @shahaub Tamiko Brownlee @tamikobrownlee Brian Ho @brianho720 Andy Long Nguyen @andy_long_nguyen Justin Eaton @jeaton_ Philip Silvera @philipsilvera Vi-Dan Tran @vi_dan Penelope Talleur @penelopetalleur Caine Sinclair @trebleprodigy Keanu Lam @wildinvalhalla_ Dave Macomber @davemacomber Gui DaSilva @guixdasilva Julia Maggio @juliastunts Omar Zaki @omarzaki0 Vlad Rimburg @vladrimburg Jeremy Marinas @jermskillz David Charles Warren @91divad Caitlin Hutson @caitlinhutson Lauren Mary Kim @laurenmarykim Jay Kwon @jaykwon249 Jimmy Chhiu @jimmychhiu Amy Johnston @amyejohnston Hannah Scott @hannahscottstunt Mustafa Bulut @_mustafabulut Lateef Crowder @lateefcrowderdossantos Lloyd Pitts @lloydsfault Nilo Williams @nilo_stunts Anisha Gibbs @neeshnation Sam Looc @samlooc CC Ice @cc_ice_stunts Music by: The Prodigy - Voodoo People(remix) #quarantine #stunts #socialdistancing #fight #action #corona #covid19 #quartinelife #theprodigy #movement #global #actiondesign #staypositive #smile #onelove #disney #marvel #mcu #oneshot #edit #flow

Music in this video

Learn more

Song

Voodoo People (Pendulum Mix)

Artist

The Prodigy

Album

Voodoo People / Out Of Space

Licensed to YouTube by

Beggars (on behalf of XL Recordings); BMG Rights Management, União Brasileira de Compositores, CMRRA, LatinAutor, Abramus Digital, Broma 16, ASCAP, AMRA, UMPI, ARESA, LatinAutor - PeerMusic, The Royalty Network (Publishing), EMI Music Publishing, and 17 Music Rights Societies

Stay locked in to Dan's Movie Report and Action-Flix.com, 2020 will be an truculent, pugnacious, yet entertaining year for films!

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Snow Black (2020) Movie Review (C) 2020 Dan's Movie Report - Danny Templegod

Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report and Action-Flix.com readers, across my desk today came a new film from the mind of Producer/Writer/Director Robert D Parham called 'Snow Black' . The film will be unleashed soon on Maverick Entertainment. Robert allowed me to the first to review the film so this will be a very preliminary no spoiler review. I spoke with Robert and star Sarah V Buckner, and in the coming months they will both have in depth interviews about the film.

Synopsis: Sarah Camden, a special operations soldier with PTSD, returns home to bury her mother. She realizes that she has to rid her hometown of gangs, drugs and crooked politicians. Sarah calls in her special ops buddies to clean up the town.

Above actress Sarah Buckner as Sarah Camden, kicking some ass in a slinky top!

Essentially Snow Black is a film about a new, and very dangerous drug out on the streets that the police are unable to stop the transfer and sale of. Robert D Parham plays a police detective Thomas Kellar assigned to the case. Actually his story is not the focus, but comes in later. The main focus is Sarah V. Buckner's character Sarah Camden and her family. She is a sassy, tough and no nonsense lady. Robert told me he was looking for this type of woman to play her, rather than having someone pretend. Buckner did a great job playing the complex and damaged character, having to run the gamete of emotions throughout the film.

Sarah after losing her mom has to identify another family member lost to drugs and this sends her spiraling into a fit of rage. Her father Jerrod Camden played by Ron Van Clief sets a more somber and realistic tone attempting to dampen her rage.

Above: The Fox squad preparing for mayhem in a Meyham production!

The plot aside which is simple enough to understand, yet interesting enough to keep the viewer engaged ramps up the action with some fighting and gun play interspersed throughout the story. Veteran actress Gloria Hendry gets in on the fray as well. Also there is a somewhat bumbling but always violent 'The Fox Squad' that leave bodies and a mess behind, and get yelled at by their commander. Actress Vejouhn Olsen-Mariette looks tough, menacing, yet enticing!

Snow Black avoids the typical indie movie issues, as Robert does not use nudity in his films, also the team never diverts from the story by under or non developed side plots. Snow Black has much of the same feel as Paraham's earlier effort 'Jackson Bolt' in that regard, but the story is far different.

Veteran actress Gloria Hendry has a scene which is an homage to her role as Sydney in Black Belt Jones. Hendry also starred in the Bond film 'Live and Let Die' as Rosie. Hendry adds an air of panache and sparkle to every production she has worked on.

Above: Gloria Hendry in the action in Snow Black

All of the behind the scenes work, sets, lighting, editing are solid and looks like a far higher budget then it actually was. Time was taken to edit to a tight 84 minute film, though I am sure more was filmed. A major gripe of mine is when a film just runs too long and a lot of the time is spent wasted either by sticking with a scene too long or the transitional period is too slow, Snow Black does neither and flows.

My only gripe is minor and that involves some character spacing in certain shots. It seems like the confrontations were not as in your face as they could be, aside from the first scene that was. When one character during a fight wielding a four section staff confronts another who has a pair of wooden handled police fighting sticks it seems too staged. Some of the fighting is a bit slow, but obviously the training level varies from actor to actor, and being indie there was just not enough time to get everyone up to the same level.

The music is excellent, and fitting to the story. Look for the sound track on Sony soon!

The story, acting, action of Snow Black make for an entertaining watch, small quips aside, Snow Black rates a 7.5 out of 10 and worthy of a purchase when it becomes available later in 2020!

Please visit the official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/snowblackmovie/

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10156586/

Maverick Entertainment: https://www.maverickentertainment.cc/

Watch for more exclusives later in 2020 including interviews with Robert D Parham and Sarah V Buckner!

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Spider In The Web (2019) Movie Review (C) 2020 Dan's Movie Report Danny Templegod

above: Poster for 'Spider In The Web' from IMDB

Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report and Action-Flix.com readers. Back in August of 2019 a new film called 'Spider In The Web' was released. This under the radar yarn starring Ben Kingsley and Monica Bellucci is a slow build, with some intriguing twists.

Ben Kingsley plays an aging Israeli agent searching for proof that someone is secretly supplying Syria with chemical and biological weapons, He has to supply 'the smoking gun' actual photos and document related, not just hearsay evidence. Actually he is fighting on two fronts, one to clear his name from past transgressions.

Actors Ben Kingsley and Monica Bellucci share a moment in 'Spider In The Web'

Actress Monica Bellucci plays Dr. Angela Caroni, a rather mysterious figure who Kingsley character Adereth needs to get information regarding the proof. She is seemingly sympathetic to the environmental causes, and early on is brought into the fray on somewhat of a ruse, yet she seems a willing participant.

Young agent Daniel played by Itay Tiran is involved helping out Adereth, with the connection being his father and Adereth were friends prior to his death. Essentially the Daniel character serves as an attache, and protector, all the while trying to keep his hands and head clean.

All of the characters in 'Spider In The Web' are rather shadowy figures, outside the three, they are never fully developed, nor explained. Everyone is being monitored, either by wiretap of hidden camera. Dr Caroni's house is bugged in every room! The audience is made to feel like they are part of the story listening in and viewing in places they should not be. Kind of entertaining, a bit voyeuristic, a bit slow moving though, which leads me to my main gripe. The movie is interesting, full of plot twists, yet the movement between scenes and action is just so minimal, I found myself checking the time elapsed. Even with this fact, the sheer detailed dialogue needs to be followed to understand the complex story.

Monica and Ben Kingsley are seasoned pro actors and really have a chance to interact. Perhaps this personal interaction and the dynamic twists near the end make the film really satisfying to watch, trust me, unless someone told you, the ending is rather different, especially by Hollywood standards.

All of the technical stuff in the film is good, lighting, mood music, sets. Overall this is a decent film, all be it a tad slow, 'Spider In The Web' rates a 7 out of 10. The film is actually available now on VUDU to watch. https://www.vudu.com/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7942736/companycredits?ref_=tt_dt_co

IMDB

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Lost Souls: Mortal Kombat - (Short Fan Film) Movie Review (C) 2020 Dan's Movie Report Danny Templegod

All of the action on a poster, no fluff needed! 'Lost Souls' delivers!

Greeting valued Dan's Movie Report and Action-Flix readers. During this trying time, we have hard hitting films of all shapes and budgets unleashed. Thanks to Sachiko Ishida posting it, I was made aware of a Mortal Kombat fan short that posted in January. The Mortal Kombat fan film “Lost Souls' was produced, edited, and directed by Kevin Barile. Starring Chris Yong, Robert Steven Brown, Omari Valentine, Jenny Sahagun, Sachiko Ishida, Narayan Cabral, Ashley Becciani, Mario Rocha and Davis Chong.

Sachiko as Mileena, practicing social distancing with sai!

Sachiko plays Mileena and Ashley Becciani plays Sonya Blade. They have my two favorite sequences, but all are great. The reason I like the Mileena sequence is she is shown attacking toward the camera and then the camera moves to the side, Sachiko is fast and lithe adept at her action craft.

Ashley is ready to fight in Lost Souls, stay home and let Ashley handle business!

Ashley's scene as Sonya Blade is well lit, and shows some additional action with a broken bottle. Ashley has experience on the live action show of Kill Bill. Ashley is also on the front lines as a nurse now, that is the real action hero!

The 11 minute film is basically an extended fight clip in a bar, and introduces the characters and their signature moves in rapid succession. All are experienced actors and action people and the film flows with an accelerated yet not overly frantic pace. Director Kevin Barile, got the cast to tighten the movements and this creating a seamless transition. A particular praise to DP Andrei Litvinov. The way the fights were filmed made it exciting, and engaging. The musical score is just fascinating and retains the excitement for each character fight uniquely. When Jax uses his arm, a mechanical whirring sound comes right on cue, it is quite cool, proving the magic and musical wizardry from Brian Wherry. The musical score and timing it to the action is a huge accomplishment due to the number of character transitions and action machinations.

Overall this is a great example of what can be done with limited budget, creativity, and talented personnel. 'Lost Souls' rates a very strong 9 out of 10.