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About me

I work as a teacher and in my spare time run the film themed (pretty obvious if you look at the name) Film Pigeons podcast. We're on the web at the film pigeon's blog

Occupation: Teacher

Married

Lists

P Movies to Watch (61 items)
Movie list by madstalk

Last updated 9 years, 9 months ago

O Movies to Watch (28 items)
Movie list by madstalk

Last updated 10 years, 3 months ago

N Films to Watch (31 items)
Movie list by madstalk

Last updated 10 years, 8 months ago

M movies to watch (65 items)
Movie list by madstalk

Last updated 11 years, 8 months ago

L Movies to Watch (39 items)
Movie list by madstalk

Last updated 11 years, 9 months ago

Recent reviews

All reviews - Movies (48) - TV Shows (2) - DVDs (4) - Games (31)

Haven review

Posted : 3 years, 9 months ago on 22 March 2021 05:09 (A review of Haven)

Cool style, cool concept neat story with very likeable characters. The game consists of a lot of gliding from place to place collecting different items to help you survive in the alien world you are stranded upon. My only real negative is that the navigation can get difficult to track over time as more and more islands open up.

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Soul (2020) review

Posted : 3 years, 10 months ago on 27 January 2021 05:47 (A review of Soul (2020))

As a teacher and a Pixar found I had high expectations for Soul. While it does have some moments and some interesting artistic design choices it doesn't land in the upper pantheon of Pixar films. Great animation, some interesting ideas about the afterlife that never fully come to fruition. My biggest negative is that any of the emotional impact that could have been gained from some of the weightier themes like sacrifice or giving yourself to a greater good are completely negated by a total cop out of an ending.

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The Iron Mask review

Posted : 3 years, 10 months ago on 27 January 2021 05:42 (A review of The Iron Mask)

Utterly unwatchable. Perhaps an undubbed version of it might be tolerable but even the mid 90s kitsch and intrigue of having Arnold and Jackie Chan in the same "film" does nothing for it.

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Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs review

Posted : 4 years ago on 6 December 2020 10:58 (A review of Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs)

Digging through the dregs of Redbox offerings when I stumbled upon this film. Out of the recent second tier animated films (Scoob!, Trolls, Addams Family etc.) this is one that actually has some interesting things happening in it. The story doesn't seem to have much to do with the horribly morbid "The Red Shoes" fairy tale, but is rather a basic re-imagining of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. A princess finds a pair of red shoes that transform her appearance. The titular dwarves are cursed for their vanity. Princess and dwarves cross paths and we follow their attempts to save a kingdom.

Some ok humor and mixed messaging about accepting yourself make for a relatively entertaining film. Don't go into it looking for an animation classic and you will find something to enjoy.

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Desperate review

Posted : 4 years, 3 months ago on 7 September 2020 05:06 (A review of Desperate)

A noir that kind of meanders along following that classic code era trope where our unlikely hero must commit conveniently forgivable crimes (for example "stealing" a car he paid for) to keep the plot moving forward.

Desperate was largely forgettable until the ending sequence that feels like a masterclass of shadowy noir closeups and suspense.

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Non-Stop review

Posted : 10 years, 4 months ago on 7 August 2014 07:19 (A review of Non-Stop)

This is high concept film done wrong. The premise - Liam Neeson playing detective AND kicking terrorist ass within the confined, claustrophobic setting of a plane sounds promising enough.

Sadly, the movie is deeply stupid. The plot is ramshackle, Neeson is flat and wooden - both arguably predictable results. The biggest sin of Non-Stop is that it fails to make use of its setting,which was the one selling point differentiating Non-Stop from all the other Neeson action flicks. However, the fact that they're on a plane really only contributes to one set piece during the climax of the movie. Everything else is piecemeal and could easily take place in literally any setting.

In short, if you're looking for a unique action-thriller look elsewhere. If you are simply looking for what equates to Unknown 2 then you might be happy.

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Night Train to Munich review

Posted : 10 years, 4 months ago on 7 August 2014 06:50 (A review of Night Train to Munich)

If you come into Night Train to Munich expecting a visionary masterpiece on par with director Carol Reed's better known The Third Man you will likely be disappointed.

Night Train to Munich is, however, a classic wartime romp. It is a thriller that masterfully weaves an impending World War II into a well written script heavy on the cat and mouse chase between British agent Gus Bennett (Rex Harrison) and the Nazis as they seek to secure advanced armor plating technology invented by the father of convenient love interest Anna Bomasch (Margerte Lockwood).

The film really shines when the characters board the titular night train and the chance of survival for Bennett and Bomasch decreases as the stakes become greater. The interplay between the major characters takes on a palpable tension, specifically in what is probably the most dramatic eating of tea and biscuits ever.

The only drawbacks here might be a slightly icky "love story" where the agency of the female lead is in question and some rather dated set pieces that lack the gravitas of Reed's train scenes.

Overall though, Night Train to Munich is an exciting addition to classic wartime dramas/thrillers.

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Mr. 3000 review

Posted : 11 years, 5 months ago on 4 July 2013 07:27 (A review of Mr. 3000)

A lackluster comedy that wastes the appeal of Bernie Mac by turning him into one of the most unappealing undeserving sports film characters I've ever seen. A good sports movie makes you root for the underdog - Mr. 3000 makes you hope that the underdog gets neutered. Though, judging by the completely lackluster romantic parts, that might have already happened. On the plus side, some of the extras on the DVD feature cameos from real major leaguers so, if you somehow don't have access to youtube, you can see a middle aged Ryne Sandberg talking about a fictional movie character.

0 comments, Reply to this entry

Larry Crowne review

Posted : 11 years, 6 months ago on 10 June 2013 06:52 (A review of Larry Crowne)

If you open up the big encyclopedia of film cliches and turn to the entry for "forgettable fluff piece" you'll see a picture of a grinning Tom Hanks riding a scooter on the set of Larry Crowne. Julia Roberts might have been pictured too but I forgot.

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Detropia review

Posted : 11 years, 8 months ago on 15 April 2013 02:57 (A review of Detropia)

Almost like a tone poem than a real film. A bit trippy, nicely shot ode to the end of an era in Detroit. This style does lead to a bit of a sloppy, disconnected study of the city that jumps around at seemingly random intervals.

It also features many interviews with the inhabitants of the city but fails to find any real standout personalities despite its desperate search for one. Fascinating but largely empty.

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madstalk added 4 items to their collection

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1 year, 1 month ago

madstalk rated Maggie Moore(s) (2023)

Maggie Moore(s) (2023) 7/10

1 year, 5 months ago

madstalk added 7 items to their collection

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1 year, 6 months ago

madstalk rated The Order of Myths

The Order of Myths 8/10

1 year, 11 months ago

madstalk rated Elvis (2022)

Elvis (2022) 7/10

2 years, 2 months ago

madstalk added 18 items to their collection

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7/10

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2 years, 6 months ago

madstalk added 2 items to their collection

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3 years, 4 months ago

madstalk rated SAS: Red Notice

SAS: Red Notice 5/10

3 years, 8 months ago

madstalk posted 2 images

3 years, 9 months ago

madstalk posted a review of Haven

“Cool style, cool concept neat story with very likeable characters. The game consists of a lot of gliding from place to place collecting different items to help you survive in the alien world you are stranded upon. My only real negative is that the navigation can get difficult to track over time as” read more

3 years, 9 months ago

madstalk added 2 items to their collection

owned

9/10

8/10

3 years, 9 months ago

madstalk rated Boss Level

Boss Level 8/10

3 years, 9 months ago

madstalk rated Let Him Go

Let Him Go 7/10

3 years, 9 months ago

madstalk added 2 items to their collection

have watched

4/10

8/10

3 years, 10 months ago

madstalk added 4 items to their collection

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wanted

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3 years, 10 months ago

madstalk posted a review of Soul (2020)

“As a teacher and a Pixar found I had high expectations for Soul. While it does have some moments and some interesting artistic design choices it doesn't land in the upper pantheon of Pixar films. Great animation, some interesting ideas about the afterlife that never fully come to fruition. My big” read more

3 years, 10 months ago

madstalk posted a review of The Iron Mask

“Utterly unwatchable. Perhaps an undubbed version of it might be tolerable but even the mid 90s kitsch and intrigue of having Arnold and Jackie Chan in the same "film" does nothing for it.” read more

3 years, 10 months ago

madstalk added 3 items to their collection

have watched

7/10

have watched

6/10

1/10

3 years, 10 months ago

madstalk posted a review of Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs

“Digging through the dregs of Redbox offerings when I stumbled upon this film. Out of the recent second tier animated films (Scoob!, Trolls, Addams Family etc.) this is one that actually has some interesting things happening in it. The story doesn't seem to have much to do with the horribly morbid ” read more

4 years ago

madstalk added 6 items to their collection

have watched

7/10

have watched

6/10

have watched

4/10

have watched

7/10

have watched

5/10

4 years ago

madstalk added 2 items to their collection

have watched

9/10

6/10

4 years ago

madstalk added 4 items to their collection

wanted

Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado

wanted

wanted

4 years ago

madstalk added 23 items to their collection

have watched

6/10

have watched

5/10

have watched

6/10

have watched

have watched

4 years ago

madstalk rated The Trial of the Chicago 7

The Trial of the Chicago 7 6/10

4 years, 1 month ago

madstalk posted a review of Desperate

“A noir that kind of meanders along following that classic code era trope where our unlikely hero must commit conveniently forgivable crimes (for example "stealing" a car he paid for) to keep the plot moving forward.

Desperate was largely forgettable until the ending sequence that feels l” read more