Reviews written by Benedict Ford

Reviewed by
Top 10 Reviewer
Overall 
 
7.0
Story 
 
5.0
Acting 
 
7.0
Visuals 
 
8.0
Soundtrack 
 
8.0

Disappointing in some areas

(Review of: The Core)

I believe that The Core has received undue negativity because of the improbability of the science behind it. However, it's not the science that is the driving force of the film. As viewers, we need to do the same thing we did with films like Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings: we need to suspend disbelief with regard to this quixotic undertaking . Once we successfully do that, we have a taut, engaging film with good performances, even if some of the dialogue is trite, and the interpersonal relationships rife with clichés, as well as the actual characters themselves. What causes the film to rise above the scientific anomalies, the dialogue, and the relationships is the solid acting and the exciting race to the center of the earth.

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Reviewed by
Top 10 Reviewer
Overall 
 
5.8
Story 
 
4.5
Acting 
 
6.0
Visuals 
 
6.0
Soundtrack 
 
6.5

Mediocre

(Review of: Knowing)

For the first hour, I actually really enjoyed the film. However, at about 65 minutes it started going drastically downhill to the point where it was stupid. The CGI wasn't the worst I've seen, but it wasn't great, the scripting was dire, and the cinematography was bog standard.

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Reviewed by
Top 10 Reviewer
Overall 
 
8.8
Story 
 
9.0
Acting 
 
9.0
Visuals 
 
9.0
Soundtrack 
 
8.0

Brilliant

(Review of: Primer)

I cannot explain or fully comprehend Primer, but I do consider it absolutely brilliant and will throw the word "masterpiece" out into the fray as well. This film is fantastically realized, particularly given the budget limitations, miniscule shooting crew, and overtaxed role taken on by first-time director, producer, actor, and editor Shane Carruth. The camera movement and photography is of a very high quality, the acting is completely serviceable, and the story itself is wonderfully complex and convoluted.

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Reviewed by
Top 10 Reviewer
Overall 
 
5.8
Story 
 
3.0
Acting 
 
5.0
Visuals 
 
8.0
Soundtrack 
 
7.0

Boring and stupid

(Review of: Battleship)

Very nice visuals but extremely boring and stupid. But what can we really expect from a film that was literally created from a board game? Not much and in that respect the films delivers. It's not to say that there wasn't some good moment and the effects overall were well done (except when it came to the actual aliens). The storyline was weak, leaving portions of the film either feeling ridiculous or just lacking much sense.

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Reviewed by
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Overall 
 
6.9
Story 
 
6.0
Acting 
 
6.5
Visuals 
 
7.0
Soundtrack 
 
8.0

Predictable

(Review of: Chronicle)

I wanted to like Chronicle more than I did, but in the end I found the whole thing to be just a little too predictable.It really could have been something special. It pulls off the rare feat of giving us teenage characters who look and behave like actual teenagers. It's an original story in a genre where they are in short supply. It's often witty and empathetic. But it is ultimately undone by its one-note screenplay and annoying stylistic choices.

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Reviewed by
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Overall 
 
6.4
Story 
 
5.5
Acting 
 
6.0
Visuals 
 
7.0
Soundtrack 
 
7.0

No fun

(Review of: Total Recall)

The remake of Total Recall is (like the original film) built on a really solid sci-fi premise, but (unlike the original) manages to have no fun whatsoever with it. It's like they were following the recipe, but forgot the fun. Where's the fun? There is no fun. I don't love the original, but it's a good time. This one is destined to be forgotten. It's a shame, really.

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Reviewed by
Top 10 Reviewer
Overall 
 
7.5
Story 
 
8.0
Acting 
 
7.5
Visuals 
 
8.0
Soundtrack 
 
6.5

Recommended

(Review of: Equilibrium)

Equilibrium is a recommended watch. Just don't go in expecting a bunch of action or a reinvention of the genre. It isn't without its flaws, but it isn't as terrible as a lot of critics make it out to be either.

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Reviewed by
Top 10 Reviewer
Overall 
 
7.8
Story 
 
7.0
Acting 
 
8.0
Visuals 
 
8.0
Soundtrack 
 
8.0

Not good as the hype

(Review of: Looper)

While Looper has a very strong first half, boasting an atmospheric and realistic future setting where hit-men in the present take care of the future, the film begins to fall apart once the Omen child screams the house down. Literally.

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