Trevor Morris

Movies reviews

  • In the Mood for Love

    Watched on

    5

    Two neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.

    In the Mood for Love

    Review

    This is another movie by Hong Kong auteur director Kar Wai Wong that I struggled with. The cinematography in this critically acclaimed movie was stylish and inventively framed, but I found the editing was too choppy. I liked the hidden off-screen characters – who were, according to the synopsis, having extramarital activities – but found the story itself to be confusing and didn't match this. Like Chungking Express, it was beautiful and felt spiritual – with a theme of eventually losing relationships to the passing of time – but lacked a coherent story that I didn't find engaging.

  • Chungking Express

    Watched on

    6

    Two melancholy Hong Kong policemen fall in love: one with a mysterious female underworld figure, the other with a beautiful and ethereal waitress at a late-night restaurant he frequents.

    Chungking Express

    Review

    I really struggled with the first act and couldn't understand what the filmmaker was trying to set up. Who is this mysterious woman trafficking drugs? Are drugs the story? Will we get a backstory or follow her situation? The story then transitioned into one of forlorn love, expired pineapples and connecting with people. I enjoyed the delicatessen/police officer storyline, which captured feelings more than a definitive narrative. The movie is filled with some spectacularly grainy cinematography, vibrant colours and California Dreaming on repeat.

  • Strays

    Watched on

    7

    An abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner.

    Strays

    Review

    This is a crass movie that follows the tone and humour of South Park and Team America. That is to say, I found it absolutely hilarious in places. There are a lot of jokes – like flinging shit at a wall, some of sticks – and there are plenty of poo jokes to boot. The range of characters and breeds that defy stereotypes blend well throughout the story and are especially relatable as a dog owner.

  • T.I.M.

    Watched on

    6

    Prosthetics engineer Abi moves to the countryside to work on Integrate Robotic's latest product - a humanoid artificial intelligence called T.I.M. - Technologically. Integrated. Manservant.

    T.I.M.

    Review

    This is a bog-standard humanoid AI gone wrong story that I've seen before. There is some backstory which is alluded to throughout the movie that increases the tension of the relocation, privacy and interactions with the android. There were a lot of small touches set up throughout the first two acts that pay off towards the end, but they were rather obvious; that is not to say they were bad.

    The movie actually got a lot darker than I thought it would, though they are difficult to describe without major spoilers. Overall, this is an average sci-fi thriller, with interesting yet recycled ideas focusing on our reliance on and trust of computers to control our lives.

  • They Came Together

    Watched on

    7

    A small business owner is about to lose her shop to a major corporate development.

    They Came Together

    Review

    This is a hilarious parody of rom-com movies, specifically You’ve Got Mail. Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler are absolutely gold together and have many genuinely funny moments in this absurd comedy. There are so many one-liners that land, off-hand comments that elicit a laugh and scenes that take jokes to the extreme in a witty and ludicrous way.

    This is a fun, easy-to-watch, light-hearted comedy.