I'm behind, like way behind, on getting some reviews done. I have been fighting a cold for the last couple of months. Just when I think I get rid of it, I get it again. I get rid of one thing only for it to come back as something else. I haven't felt like doing much at all while fighting this cold and I can fall asleep easy at times once I'm home so it has been hard to watch a movie and/or write about it. A couple of weekends ago it was time to get a review in for my monthly thing with fellow bloggers Terry and Dawn. I didn't even get the movie watched until after last weekend once I started feeling better. It was Terry's turn to pick a movie for all of us to watch and he went with Apostle (2018), which I was planning on giving a watch sometime anyway.
Thomas (Dan Stevens) is tasked with getting his sister back after he learns that she has been kidnapped and is being held for a hefty ransom. Jennifer (Elen Rhys) is being held on an island that a religious community calls home. Founded by three brothers after going on the run and being shipwrecked on the island, they are having a hard time. Their crops are failing and their livestock isn't doing all that well either. Having found out that Jennifer's father is very wealthy, they hope to get a good amount of money for her and get the community back on its feet. Since Thomas was thought to have been dead, it should be easy for him to slip in and rescue his sister without paying the ransom. He gets on the island easy enough, but will he be able to find his sister and get back off the island?
Apostle was written and directed by Gareth Evans. After checking out the trailer for this movie, I was pretty interested in watching it. Terry wanted to know what we were interested in to watch, out of a choice of three films, and I almost suggested this one. It was his pick though so he ended up choosing this film without my input. The trailer gave the film a bit a weird vibe and it doesn't disappoint in that area at all. The plot sounds simple enough, but Evans manages to flesh out the plot and makes it a bit more than just a rescue story. I know some of mentioned that the story of Jennifer, the whole reason that Thomas is on this island, can feel lost at times with everything else that is going on. I didn't really ever think that Jennifer was the story though. I thought the story was more about Thomas and what was happening on the island. Jennifer is the reason that Thomas is there and he starts looking for her pretty much right away. While some viewers may have "forgotten" why Thomas was there, it was clear that Thomas never forgot. The people that live on the island believe in a Goddess. They have their own book and teachings about her and nothing else is allowed from outside. But it turns out that this Goddess could possibly be real. I liked that the plot was hard to get a handle on. Even now I'm not completely sure, though I have an idea, of what the ending to this movie means. I also liked that the plot didn't always go in the direction I thought it would. A good example of this, without giving too much away, is that Thomas gets hurt pretty badly, which I thought wouldn't happen. There was a subplot that ran through the movie that I enjoyed and didn't like at the same time. This involved two of younger adults, or maybe late teens, on the island fall in love with each other. It had nothing to do with the main plot, but at the same time, it was important. I thought it was important because it helped show what life was like on the island and some of the rules that they were all supposed to follow. What I didn't like is that they are supposed to have their own religion, yet it seems to be mixed with the one they have left behind. It is supposed to be forbidden for the two young lovers to be together, so they sneak around for the most part, yet it is never explained why it is forbidden. If the three leaders are actual brothers, blood and just not by name, then I can see why it is forbidden. The guy is the son of one of the brothers and the girl is the daughter of another. That was the downside of Apostle. I just felt some things could have been explained or at least better hinted at than they were. This just didn't apply to this subplot, but to other things that happened in the movie as well.
Dawn mentioned in her review that Thomas doesn't fit in very well on the island. I have to agree with that some. I understand he wants to find his sister and get them off the island, but he doesn't seem to plot this out very well. His first night on the island he sneaks off to try to find her after everyone is supposed to be in their homes. I just didn't get why he doesn't wait in order to get a feel of how things are on the island first. I figured it would be easier to look while everyone was around since he could just use the excuse that he is exploring his new home and getting to know everyone and locations on the island. I understood why he was in a hurry but I also think he could have gone about it in a better way.
The effects are really good. Things get somewhat gory at times and add some shocking moments as well. From a mangled hand, spears being driven through someone, and a head drilled into, things get rather gory. It was all done in a very good way, but there wasn't as much blood as I thought there would be with the gory effects. The acting was also very good. Even though Dan Stevens has this serious look on his face at all times, I still enjoyed his acting. Lucy Boynton gets the role of the female lead and also does a nice job with it. Her character actually seems a bit more rounded in some ways. I actually enjoyed every one that acted in this movie. There wasn't a single person that I thought did a bad job n their role really.
Apostle offered up some nice surprises and interesting story. The movie is actually set in the year 1905 and I felt they did a good job with making this movie a period piece. I just wish they had explained things a tad more. I don't like a film that holds my hand and explains everything. At the same time, throw enough hints in there to help explain things. Maybe a second viewing will clear things up for me. After all, sometimes you catch things you missed the first time around or understanding things is easier since you know how things play out now. Even though I was confused by some of it, I still loved Apostle. If you haven't given this movie a chance yet, I would highly suggest reconsidering and giving it a shot. It isn't for everyone of course, but if your views on movies are close to my own, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy this one as well. You can read Terry's and Dawn's reviews by clicking on the links.
4 out of 5 I hope I never get punished like that
Thomas (Dan Stevens) is tasked with getting his sister back after he learns that she has been kidnapped and is being held for a hefty ransom. Jennifer (Elen Rhys) is being held on an island that a religious community calls home. Founded by three brothers after going on the run and being shipwrecked on the island, they are having a hard time. Their crops are failing and their livestock isn't doing all that well either. Having found out that Jennifer's father is very wealthy, they hope to get a good amount of money for her and get the community back on its feet. Since Thomas was thought to have been dead, it should be easy for him to slip in and rescue his sister without paying the ransom. He gets on the island easy enough, but will he be able to find his sister and get back off the island?
Apostle was written and directed by Gareth Evans. After checking out the trailer for this movie, I was pretty interested in watching it. Terry wanted to know what we were interested in to watch, out of a choice of three films, and I almost suggested this one. It was his pick though so he ended up choosing this film without my input. The trailer gave the film a bit a weird vibe and it doesn't disappoint in that area at all. The plot sounds simple enough, but Evans manages to flesh out the plot and makes it a bit more than just a rescue story. I know some of mentioned that the story of Jennifer, the whole reason that Thomas is on this island, can feel lost at times with everything else that is going on. I didn't really ever think that Jennifer was the story though. I thought the story was more about Thomas and what was happening on the island. Jennifer is the reason that Thomas is there and he starts looking for her pretty much right away. While some viewers may have "forgotten" why Thomas was there, it was clear that Thomas never forgot. The people that live on the island believe in a Goddess. They have their own book and teachings about her and nothing else is allowed from outside. But it turns out that this Goddess could possibly be real. I liked that the plot was hard to get a handle on. Even now I'm not completely sure, though I have an idea, of what the ending to this movie means. I also liked that the plot didn't always go in the direction I thought it would. A good example of this, without giving too much away, is that Thomas gets hurt pretty badly, which I thought wouldn't happen. There was a subplot that ran through the movie that I enjoyed and didn't like at the same time. This involved two of younger adults, or maybe late teens, on the island fall in love with each other. It had nothing to do with the main plot, but at the same time, it was important. I thought it was important because it helped show what life was like on the island and some of the rules that they were all supposed to follow. What I didn't like is that they are supposed to have their own religion, yet it seems to be mixed with the one they have left behind. It is supposed to be forbidden for the two young lovers to be together, so they sneak around for the most part, yet it is never explained why it is forbidden. If the three leaders are actual brothers, blood and just not by name, then I can see why it is forbidden. The guy is the son of one of the brothers and the girl is the daughter of another. That was the downside of Apostle. I just felt some things could have been explained or at least better hinted at than they were. This just didn't apply to this subplot, but to other things that happened in the movie as well.
Dawn mentioned in her review that Thomas doesn't fit in very well on the island. I have to agree with that some. I understand he wants to find his sister and get them off the island, but he doesn't seem to plot this out very well. His first night on the island he sneaks off to try to find her after everyone is supposed to be in their homes. I just didn't get why he doesn't wait in order to get a feel of how things are on the island first. I figured it would be easier to look while everyone was around since he could just use the excuse that he is exploring his new home and getting to know everyone and locations on the island. I understood why he was in a hurry but I also think he could have gone about it in a better way.
The effects are really good. Things get somewhat gory at times and add some shocking moments as well. From a mangled hand, spears being driven through someone, and a head drilled into, things get rather gory. It was all done in a very good way, but there wasn't as much blood as I thought there would be with the gory effects. The acting was also very good. Even though Dan Stevens has this serious look on his face at all times, I still enjoyed his acting. Lucy Boynton gets the role of the female lead and also does a nice job with it. Her character actually seems a bit more rounded in some ways. I actually enjoyed every one that acted in this movie. There wasn't a single person that I thought did a bad job n their role really.
Apostle offered up some nice surprises and interesting story. The movie is actually set in the year 1905 and I felt they did a good job with making this movie a period piece. I just wish they had explained things a tad more. I don't like a film that holds my hand and explains everything. At the same time, throw enough hints in there to help explain things. Maybe a second viewing will clear things up for me. After all, sometimes you catch things you missed the first time around or understanding things is easier since you know how things play out now. Even though I was confused by some of it, I still loved Apostle. If you haven't given this movie a chance yet, I would highly suggest reconsidering and giving it a shot. It isn't for everyone of course, but if your views on movies are close to my own, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy this one as well. You can read Terry's and Dawn's reviews by clicking on the links.
4 out of 5 I hope I never get punished like that
