MovieMuse
T
he MovieMuse Reviews (MovieViews) database is a searchable collection of films that the team have watched, providing a comprehensive guide on what to watch and what to avoid. It provides a link to an in-depth review or a short opinion on the film and a rating, as well as a link to the film’s poster or DVD cover. For more recent entries we are also including a link to the film’s IMDb page and a trailer from YouTube.
You can search and sort the list by individual film names, genre, reviewer, score and other variables to inform you on whether a film is worth your time, or to inspire you for your next movie night.
We will also use the database to create periodic lists of the recommended films in all sorts of categories. These lists will be shared on the website and some will even come with a video.
| Poster | Movie | Year | Genre | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Wonder Park | 2019 | 1, 2 | A run-of-the-mill family animated movie with nice visuals and a couple of slightly creepy-looking characters that makes a half-hearted effort to address the serious theme of childhood anxiety, a subject that has already been handled far better by Pixar. | 5 |
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Let It Snow | 2019 | 4, 16 | It's basically Love Actually crossed with a typical teen party comedy, but reasonable acting and the lack of schmaltz that mars most Christmas movies help make this mildly enjoyable. | 5 |
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Keeping Up With the Joneses | 2016 | Action, 4 | Predictably plotted and at times gratuitous, but this spy comedy still has some funny moments and benefits from a cast that probably deserves better movies for the most part. | 6 |
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | 2019 | 1, 9, 17 | A satisfying if predictable end to the saga that hits the notes you’d expect from a Star Wars film and should please all but the most cynical of fans. Click to see our detailed review. | 8 |
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Trading Places | 1983 | 4 | The language in this 80s comedy classic is a bit un-PC nowadays but the story is still clever and both Aykroyd and Murphy are at their best, supported brilliantly by Denholm Elliot and Paul Gleason in particular. | 8 |
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El Camino Christmas | 2017 | 5, 7 | The seasonal setting has little bearing on this black comedy set amidst a gas station hold-up, and while the plot is somewhat preposterous, it does have a decent ensemble cast with Tim Allen's performance being the best of the bunch. | 6 |
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Goosebumps 2 | 2018 | 1, 11 | Story-wise this is instantly forgettable but the visual effects that bring a town's Halloween decorations to life are really imaginative, there are some good comedic moments and even a few genuine family-friendly jump scares. | 6 |
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Bend It Like Beckham | 2002 | 4, 7, 19 | A gentle feel-good tale of mild sexual and racial tensions when an Indian girl falls out with her family over football and romance. | 7 |
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The Lady Vanishes | 2013 | 13, 15, 20 | A rather lacklustre retelling of a story made famous in the 30s by Alfred Hitchcock. Everyone on a train has a secret, but I found it hard to care about any of them. | 5 |
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When Saturday Comes | 1996 | 7, 19 | Whilst not quite a football fan's Rocky, WSC has more drama than the average football film. Sean Bean is likeable as the unlikely pub teamer looking to get his chance in the big leagues, but Emily Lloyd's accent isn't! | 7 |
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Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw | 2019 | Action, 1 | Even for a Fast & Furious film the plot is ridiculous, the action sequences overblown. and the comedy forced. It can still be fun, but gets tired far too quickly for a 2 hour+ film. | 5 |
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Knives Out | 2019 | 5, 7, 13 | A contemporary take on a classic murder mystery with a stellar cast. Daniel Craig could well have found a new franchise post Bond in Benoit Blanc, but this case is just a little too pedestrian. | 7 |
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The Lighthouse | 2019 | 7, 11, 13 | Despite a typically great turn from Dafoe, The Lighthouse is a gratuitously gimmicky and over-stylised journey into the fragile human mind as Dafoe and Pattinson turn on each other in brutal style. | 6 |
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The Art of Self Defence | 2019 | 4, 5, 7 | This black comedy about underdogs fighting back never hits the heights that it teases, but its bleak and sometimes funny story is an interesting look at toxic masculinity. | 6 |
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Good Boys | 2019 | 4 | Billed as Superbad for the pre-teen generation it is not as gross or offensive as the trailer would have you believe. A fun, throwaway, coming of age comedy. | 6 |
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Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | 2, 8, 9 | Over 60 years old and still beautiful to watch. Some catchy songs and fabulous villain will keep this a favourite for years to come. | 7 |
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Tangled | 2010 | 2, 8, 9 | Tangled started the resurgence of the Disney princess and this reworked Rapunzel is a real gem. Mostly due to its great cast including a wonderful turn by Donna Murphy as the witch Gothel. | 8 |
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Frozen | 2013 | 2, 8, 9 | Another tale of girl power where the female lead doesn't need a prince to save her. A modern classic that is so much better now the hype around the songs has died down. | 8 |
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937 | 2, 8, 9 | Musical tastes were very different in the 1930s and that unfortunately makes it hard to watch Snow White for anything more than the Dwarves and the Hi Ho song. | 5 |
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The Princess and the Frog | 2009 | 2, 8, 9 | Tiana is a fine addition to the princess fold in a tale of following your dream and being true to your word. 1920s New Orleans is a great setting and the songs and characters stand up strong against most other Disney efforts. | 7 |
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Moana | 2016 | 2, 8, 9 | Despite some disappointingly western pop songs, the film is well cast and pays respect to the Polynesian setting. With plenty of laughs and adventure Moana is the best of the 'ethnic' Princess movies. | 7 |
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Beauty and the Beast | 1991 | 2, 8, 9 | After 2 failed attempts Disney got 3rd time lucky with this fantastic animated musical that pairs tradional looking 2D animation with full on 3D CG work culminating in the infamous ballroom scene. | 8 |
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Cinderella | 1950 | 2, 8, 9 | One of the best classic Disney Princess films. The stepmother may be a little sinister for some, but it is a well told, well known fairytale that will appeal to children of all ages.. | 7 |
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Aladdin | 1992 | 2, 8, 9 | A dark tale that will probably not hold up to well with modern kids beyond Robin Williams' wacky performance as the genie. | 6 |
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Gemini Man | 2019 | Action | When a jaded black ops Will Smith wants to retire, the government send a weaponised Fresh Prince to hunt him down. A gratuitously average film that fails to shine via effects, CGI, acting, script and score. | 5 |