Reviewed by Alicia Glass
Chasing the last days of a rising music star who, while trying to write his next big hit, dives headlong into his own downward spiral of drugs, expectations, and the crushing pressure of super-mega-stardom.
So, the lead character Cole is played by Colson Baker, known more popularly as Machine Gun Kelly, and is a fairly unnerving parallel of his own real life. Even the films title, Taurus, refers to MGK’s own zodiac sign.
We open with Cole wanting to work on a new song with accompanying female vocalist Lena (Naomi Wild), and though their interactions about his magic crystal with all his energy in it and his lack of direction or even interest is pretty apparent, Cole also seems satisfied? ish? with what she produces. From there we proceed into the strange fever dream that is Cole’s current existence – interminable meetings, product deals, collaborations with distributors, expectations for deadlines to be met, responsibilities to his daughter, strictures for his music and even life schedule, and on the twisted-flip side, clouds of welcome drugs, skeezy friends, expensive therapeutic call girls, creative binges and true art emerging like a light at the end of a tunnel. But really, all Cole sees is darkness.
The true hero of the desolation that is Cole’s life is, inevitably, his handler – Ilana (Maddie Hasson) acts as his shrink, walking reminder calendar, sober companion, emotional punching bag, motherly-slash-sisterly-care-giver, and anything else Cole could conceive a need for, and she does it all with willpower that is awesome to behold, given the major diva tendencies of her charge. Handlers of Hollywood folk – singers, actors, fashionistas and others – are more often than not loyal far past where their paychecks ended, offering up their own lives as a sacrifice to keep their charges’ lives from falling the hell apart. When the predestined breakdown between handler and charge happens onscreen, I for one was glad for Ilana’s finally, finally, giving Cole even a taste of the torment he inflicts on others – the scene is almost cathartic, and even Cole seems strangely relieved. Honesty in the performing artist world is a prize more valuable than diamonds, and far, far more rare.
So much of Cole’s life seems fake, plastic, hollow – the ridiculous mega-star house is in actuality just a superficial rental; the services of the obviously extravagant call girl Zia (Sara Silva) he invites over are much more drug mule and much less prostitute; Cole’s daughter Rose (Avery Tiiu Essex) calls him “Cole” too and though she lives in another part of the rental house, may as well be on the moon for all that she enters into Cole’s consciousness; even the blacklit scenes with Cole’s druggie pal Bub (Ruby Rose) are only philosophical on the surface, no depth at all. Assistant Ray (Scoot McNairy) practically has a foot-stomping tantrum himself while trying to fulfill all of Cole’s needs, which is effectively impossible, because what he really needs isn’t tangible.
The single bright spot in Cole’s life, in possibly the entire film, is the sadly short creative scene wherein Cole collaborates with some fellow singers (real-life rappers Lil Tjay and Lil Meech) and they have a freestyle sesh in the recording studio. We are served a fleeting glimpse of what Cole must have been like when he began – fresh, eager, talented and raw but blissfully alive and ready to take on the worlds’ injustices with his music. Cole’s moment of genuine artistry is interrupted by yet another fan with pleas, and we can practically see him deflate entirely into the shell armor he’s constructed around himself in order to survive stardom, a sad commentary on the music world and the way we treat our artists in general.
In the grand tradition of Oliver Stone’s psychedelic film The Doors, Taurus comes to a rather final if unsurprising ending, with Cole going far beyond the reach of fans, friends, and expectations, to whatever he finds on the other side. Let’s hope Machine Gun Kelly doesn’t decide to take the same route through stardom.
Filmed often in a haphazard and surreal way, likely to highlight Cole’s own unraveling, Taurus drags us on a mushroom highway journey laced with excellent music, most of which is from Colson’s own catalogue. Consume if you dare!
Director: Adhik Ravichandran
Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran
Genre: Action / Crime Drama
Rating: 4.5/5
“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.
“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.
While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.
The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.
“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.
In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!
When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting. And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!
Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home.
Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence.
Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.
The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!
However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene.
Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes.
My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues.
I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.
Presence is available to stream.
Three and a half stars.
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan
Overview
Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.
Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.
Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.
The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.
The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.
Rating: 9/10
Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.
Pros
- Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
- Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
- Rich mythological lore
- Epic fight choreography
Cons
- Sparse episode release
- Story pacing can be uneven at times
Final Verdict 9/10
If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.
Review of “Good Bad Ugly”
Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies
Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)
Dammu (2012) Movie Review: NTR Jr. Delivers a Thunderous Mass Action Performance
Devil May cry
