The Games Maker (2014) Movie Review

The Games Maker (2014) (IMDB)

The Games Maker movie poster

The Games Maker is about a boy, Ivan Drago, and his fascination with inventing games. Ivan invents games and enters them into a mail-in game invention contest, eventually winning the competition. This leads to a quest story that describing here would sound ridiculous, but involves his parents disappearing, a boarding school. It is very much a magical, adventure that deals with a city called Zyl, known as the “games capital” where Ivan’s estranged grandfather lives. We have a bad guy in the movie named Morodian who must be overcome. As someone who creates maze art and maze puzzles I relate to Ivan.

There is a labyrinth in the town (really a hedge maze), shown in a tv commercial of all things, and mentioned as being overgrown. We later find out that Morodian invented a game called The Labyrinth of Death, based off of an incident from his childhood. Ivan eventually enters the labyrinth (shown below) to try to find Morodian.

The Games Maker hedge maze screenshot

Overall the movie has the feel of a teen adventure book. Worth a watch if you like this type of movie, but there is a reason you have never heard of it.

I give it a 5.6/10

Atrocious (2010) Movie Review

Atrocious (2010) (IMDB)

Atrocious movie poster

This movie starts with a quote:

“La mente es un labrinto en el que cualquiera puede perderse” OR in English : “The mind is a labyrinth in which anyone can get lost”

A brother and sister host a web show about the paranormal and during a spring trip to the family’s summer home they take along their cameras to pass the time. So, yes, this horror movie is shot in the style of a found footage film, with shaky camerawork, low budget looks, and occasional dark screens with people running with a camera at night. The siblings delve into a legend about a girl who got lost wandering the woods in the area in 1940. Behind a locked gate at the property they explore a large maze that is very overgrown. I would call it a hedge maze but it seems to be more trees, bushes and natural grasses. The maze also includes a well and a domed gazebo structure. The film is short, running only 79 minutes, but a significant portion of this movie takes place in the maze. Overall the movie is ok. Found footage can get annoying when the night and shaky scenes are on.

I give it a 5.2/10

Casanova, Last Love (2019) Movie Review

Casanova, Last Love (2019) (IMDB)

Casanova Last Love movie poster

Casanova, you may have heard of him, arrives in London in exile. He learns about his new city while doing what he does best, entertaining the women of the city. But, suddenly a particular woman catches his eye, a much younger woman who he is infatuated with who a friend warns him about. She plays hard to get, something a man with his reputation is not used to. Oh, and she happens to be a prostitute, so the hard to get game seems out of place for her profession. The courting in the movie takes place in the city parks. During one outing to Hever Castle they visit the hedge maze (which looks well maintained and fun) ! As far as the movie it is a bit boring to be honest. I just didn’t care about the story or characters.

I give it a 5/10.

Jack and the Beanstalk (2009) Movie Review

Jack and the Beanstalk (2009) (IMDB)

Jack and the Beanstalk 2009 movie poster

This is the story you know with a bit of a modern twist. NO, not the version from 1912, 1913, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1931, 1933, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2014, 2018, or 2020, but the 2009 version that includes Chloë Grace Moretz, in one of her early roles. (i don’t have an hour to link all those versions, just trust me they exist) She isn’t the only recognizable face (and voice) you will see (hear) in the movie, but you can discover that on your own ! In this version of Jack’s quest up the beanstalk he meets a variety of fairy tale characters along the path of his quest. During the quest, while in a stone maze a pillow fight breaks out between a good ninja and 4 bad ones. The good ninja helps our characters get to the center of the maze where the guard is played by an iconic comedian ! The story plays out generally how you remember from there. Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum. The target audience for this is kids with not many things for an adult to enjoy. Overall the movie is fine, but not an award winner.

I give it a 5.2/10.