The original Jumanji is one of my favourite films. Amongst all the nightmares it gave me, it reminds me of my childhood, and was one of the most played videos, alongside The Witches, at my out of school club. Loved it. In fact I loved it so much that I got the DVD a few years ago whilst I was at uni, so we could watch it as a uni family. I'm sure most people my age would agree it is a seminal piece of cinema. When I saw there was a sequel, I was ecstatic. We were lucky enough to catch Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle on it's opening evening, and it was an absolute treat.
Jumanji is a jungle board game, updated in the new film, where it becomes, what seems to me, a Sega Mega Drive/N64 hybrid game. 4 high schoolers end up in detention, and unbeknownst to them, end up inside Jumanji. In order to escape the game, they must save Jumanji, and return a gem to the top of a giant jaguar statue.
I really enjoyed the references to gaming, for example, with the story telling characters that are not helpful at all. It bought back my frustration of trying to complete Zelda. I liked how each character's qualities and weaknesses all played into the film, and I thought it was really clever. There was also good development of characters, and the relationships between the characters. A fundamental part of Jumanji is the teamwork required to complete the game, which I felt was really pertinent in the storytelling.
I enjoyed the references back to the original film, I thought it was a lovely touch, especially following the death of Robin Williams in 2014. Just seeing the 'Jumanji house' bought back so many childhood memories.
I also enjoyed the fact Nick Jonas was in it. Very random.
The Rock was great, Kevin Hart was great, Karen Gillan was great, Jack Black was great. They clearly had a ball making the film, and it was so much fun to watch. It's not the most intellectual film, but it was really interesting to watch, and there were some really funny parts at all. Again, a lot of the best bits were shown in the trailer, but the film did have much more to give. It's a really easy watch, but the story has purpose and keeps you interested, as well as giving a message to the audience as well. I saw a few kids in the cinema, and thought it must be nice for both parents and children to be enjoying the film together. I think it was very good marketing to pitch the films over 20 years apart.
Overall, if Jumanji is as much a part of your childhood as it was to me, you will love this film regardless. If it wasn't, but you enjoyed the first film, or if you were intrigued by the trailer, definitley give it a go. It's a great little film to watch between Christmas and New Year, and I know Cineworld are also showing it in 4DX (That's the one with the wind and rain and snow and fog and smells etc). If you are reading this and know me in person, the Cineworld in Didsbury have just opened their 4DX screen this week. You're welcome. 8/10. Loved it.
Showing posts with label movie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie. Show all posts
Sunday, 24 December 2017
49. Daddy's Home 2
In 2015, we saw Daddy's Home in between Christmas and New Year. There's always that weird bit in between those two days, where some people are at work, some people aren't. You feel strange because just as you've stopped feeling christmassy you are ready for New Year and there is more prep to do, and more excitement to be had. That's if you celebrate either of them, of course, but I love New Year so much. It's when you can spend an evening with your friends, we don't tend to go out as it's so expensive, but we play games and dance until we fall over or are sick. Anyway.
So when we saw Daddy's Home in 2015, it was a filler activity, and actually it was better than anticipated. It's definitely got that laddy humour, and it's definitely silly and daft, but it gave that light relief and is a bit of a feel good film. As much as I prefer tongue in cheek, or political, or 'clever' humour, there is no doubt in my mind that Will Ferrell is an absolute genius. Anchorman is one of my favourite films ever.
So back to our sequel. The adverts and trailers I'd seen reminded me of how much I enjoyed the first film, and I was looking forward to seeing the next chapter. Again, I knew what I was getting myself into, it was going to be silly and light hearted. This time, the story follows Brad (Ferrell) and Dusty's (Mark Wahlberg) Christmas, as their fathers join them. Brad is the stepfather to Dusty's children, but following the original film, the sort their differences and manage to share the care for the children without argument. Brad's father is overbearingly kind and loving, but there is something else going on behind this, and Dusty's dad is cold and cool, not understanding of the 'co-dad' arrangement between Dusty and Brad. Following the arrangement of a Christmas holiday for the entire family, the plot is littered with ridiculous disasters that happen as the fathers work out their differences.
Now whereas with The Disaster Artist I left saying 'that was fantastic', I left Daddy's Home 2 with 'that was ridiculous'. The plot was weak, the whole premise was almost exactly the same as the previous film, and there was nothing overly exciting about it. I did laugh throughout the film, but I can't tell you any of the jokes now. There was nothing memorable. It seemed like a film for a film's sake. All of the most humorous parts were previewed in the trailers. There was nothing new. I have to be honest and say that this is one of the poorer films I have seen this year.
If you like a silly film, and you just want something easy to watch, then it does the job. But why not watch Shrek instead. The marvellous masterpiece that is Shrek. Daddy's Home 2 gets a 4/10 from me.
So when we saw Daddy's Home in 2015, it was a filler activity, and actually it was better than anticipated. It's definitely got that laddy humour, and it's definitely silly and daft, but it gave that light relief and is a bit of a feel good film. As much as I prefer tongue in cheek, or political, or 'clever' humour, there is no doubt in my mind that Will Ferrell is an absolute genius. Anchorman is one of my favourite films ever.
So back to our sequel. The adverts and trailers I'd seen reminded me of how much I enjoyed the first film, and I was looking forward to seeing the next chapter. Again, I knew what I was getting myself into, it was going to be silly and light hearted. This time, the story follows Brad (Ferrell) and Dusty's (Mark Wahlberg) Christmas, as their fathers join them. Brad is the stepfather to Dusty's children, but following the original film, the sort their differences and manage to share the care for the children without argument. Brad's father is overbearingly kind and loving, but there is something else going on behind this, and Dusty's dad is cold and cool, not understanding of the 'co-dad' arrangement between Dusty and Brad. Following the arrangement of a Christmas holiday for the entire family, the plot is littered with ridiculous disasters that happen as the fathers work out their differences.
Now whereas with The Disaster Artist I left saying 'that was fantastic', I left Daddy's Home 2 with 'that was ridiculous'. The plot was weak, the whole premise was almost exactly the same as the previous film, and there was nothing overly exciting about it. I did laugh throughout the film, but I can't tell you any of the jokes now. There was nothing memorable. It seemed like a film for a film's sake. All of the most humorous parts were previewed in the trailers. There was nothing new. I have to be honest and say that this is one of the poorer films I have seen this year.
If you like a silly film, and you just want something easy to watch, then it does the job. But why not watch Shrek instead. The marvellous masterpiece that is Shrek. Daddy's Home 2 gets a 4/10 from me.
Wednesday, 13 December 2017
48. Wonder
Another Tuesday afternoon film for me, Wonder follows the story of Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), a young boy with Treacher-Collins syndrome, as his parents (Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson) decide it is time for him to enrol in mainstream school, after being home schooled.
The film deals with issues around bullying and children being cruel, as well as parents being cruel, and people's reaction to when someone is 'different'. I enjoyed the films perspective on this, and I especially enjoyed the fact that the film had a focus on Auggie's sister Via (Izabela Vidovic). The film looked at the whole family dynamic of dealing with the change of moving to mainstream school, as well as other social factors that occur along side it.
The film had a solid moral message, looking at the way people treat each other. As the film progressed, a solid group of friends are formed around Auggie, as the children realise that sometimes being 'cool' or hanging around bullies, have consequences. The children realise that what they really wanted was friendship and kindness.
The film also illustrated the issue of thinking before you speak, as this got one of Auggie's closest friends into a lot of trouble, nearly losing their friendship.
The film is heartwarming and emotional, and is written and produced well to reflect this. It's written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, the writer and director of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (he also wrote the book), and is very similar in style. For me, the plot doesn't necessarily ever come to a head, but actually the emotional story is written very well.
This isn't the best film I've seen all year, but it was enjoyable. If you want something that's relatively easy to watch, and will leave you feeling a sense of justice and happiness, this may be a good choice. I found the film interesting to watch with it's different angles, and it really investigated how the whole family felt about the struggles of the transition to school, as well as the emotional heartache of watching a son/brother have countless major operations.
I do question why Jacob Tremblay was cast, as opposed to someone with a genetic condition themselves.
Overall, I think Wonder deserves a 7/10. Not the best film out at the moment, but certainly one worth a watch.
47. The Disaster Artist
We went in blind seeing this film; we've saved Daddy's Home 2 (a sure fire classic, or aboslute twaddle) for a Christmas special, and this was the only thing left we hadn't seen. I'd seen reviews that had said the film was meant to be great. It had 97% on Rotten Tomatoes when we booked, but as we all know, as time goes on, RT ratings tend to fall. All I knew was the film was meant to be good.
The film starts and tells us it is based on a real story. My first reaction was: is it actually though. Cynical as I am, turns out it actually is. The film tells the story of Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and Greg Sestero (Dave Franco). Tommy is an mysterious aspiring actor with a seemingly bottomless pit of money. He enlists Greg, another budding actor, as they move to Hollywood to chase their dreams.
With a lack of success in acting circles, Tommy decides to write, direct and star in his own film 'The Room', writing a part for Greg as well. With his endless cash, Tommy is quite the maverick in the way he creates the film, buying equipment instead of hiring it, enlisting only the best of the best to help him produce the piece.
The Room actually became a cult classic film (see IMDb, 3.6/10, RT 26%), and lots of people in the cinema found the film hilarious, I assume there are lots of references to it. For someone who has never seen The Room, I still found the film really entertaining, and there were some excellent comedy moments. I do imagine that there is a certain type of humour the movie appeals to though, I don't think it is one for everyone.
I found the film quite emotionally interesting. There were parts of the film where I didn't know if Tommy had a motive, or was someone who just wanted to please, or if he had no motive at all. I found it quite interesting and the mystery behind his character is fascinating.
The film makes you want to know more, and after looking up some bits and bobs, I found that the film was not only based on the original, but also on a memoir written by Greg Sestero. I now really want to read the book! The story is so outlandish yet incredible, it makes you yearn for more. I really wasn't sure what we were expecting when booking the ticket, but the first thing I said as the credits started to roll was 'That was fantastic'.
As a little treat, at the end of the film there are some side-by-side shots of 'The Room' and The Disaster Artist’s interpretation. The comparisons are great, and shows the quality of acting from all parties, and also how terrible the original film was.
The film was fantastic, it was an unexpected treat, and I have to give it a 9/10. Probably would give it more but I think James Franco is a bit of a knob.
46. Paddington 2
Long time no see, today I'm blogging from the kitchen, halfway through making an absolute mess, halfway through making a bread and butter pudding. What a great pudding. For a christmassy twist, I've used panettone instead of bread. I've never made any type of bread and butter pudding before and I've made up the recipe so it could be an utter shambles. That's why I don't have a food blog.
Anyway, we're hear to talk about Paddington 2. I saw this last Tuesday, as although the film has been out for a while, there are still plenty of screenings, and there was one in the day at 2pm. I'm now a layabout student who has nothing to do Monday - Wednesday (she says this as she picks up extra shifts) so that just suited me fine.
For anyone who has seen the first film and loved it, this sequel is just as good. It's silly, funny and charming, and it has a decent plot line, as long as you are willing to let your imagination run away with you. There were parts of the film where I was trying to stifle laughter, as the only people in the cinema was me, and a mother and toddler combo, and I thought it would be a bit weird to have a 24 year old howling with laughter in the corner.
The plot follows Paddington as he tries to earn and save money to buy his Aunt Lucy a perfect 100th Birthday present. Paddington starts his own window cleaning business, but somehow ends up in a spot of bother, and gets sent to jail. Now he needs to get out, get justice, AND get Aunt Lucy a present.
The film is full of familiar faces, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Ben Miller, Hugh Grant, Peter Capaldi, Joanna Lumley, to name but a few. The film was co-written by Simon Farnaby, who also has a cameo. I really like Farnaby's work, and comedy. If you are a fan of the Boosh, or this years absolute classic 'Mindhorn', you might recognise him. He also starred in 2009's 'The Bunny and the Bull', a rare film I saw pre-2015. Another great surprise was the brief yet fantastic appearance of Richard Ayoade, a man who could just stand still and do nothing, and I'd still be crying with laughter. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the cast is great and the acting is brilliant. It looks like a lot of fun was had on the set.
I've just put the bread and butter pudding in the oven. Keep reading this and the next reviews for updates.
The whole production of the film is surreal is not realistic by any stretch of the imagination. Many of you will know I love a true to life film, or a documentary, or an interesting but realistic plot. However, I do like things that are fantastical in this sort of way. If you forget about reality and rhyme and reason, and let the film capture your imagination, you will love it. It's a shame the film won't be out on DVD for a while, because it's definitely a film perfect for watching with the family around Christmas, appealing to all ages (Probably the reason why it's out now isn't it)
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film, and have to give it a 9/10. It was brilliant.
Anyway, we're hear to talk about Paddington 2. I saw this last Tuesday, as although the film has been out for a while, there are still plenty of screenings, and there was one in the day at 2pm. I'm now a layabout student who has nothing to do Monday - Wednesday (she says this as she picks up extra shifts) so that just suited me fine.
For anyone who has seen the first film and loved it, this sequel is just as good. It's silly, funny and charming, and it has a decent plot line, as long as you are willing to let your imagination run away with you. There were parts of the film where I was trying to stifle laughter, as the only people in the cinema was me, and a mother and toddler combo, and I thought it would be a bit weird to have a 24 year old howling with laughter in the corner.
The plot follows Paddington as he tries to earn and save money to buy his Aunt Lucy a perfect 100th Birthday present. Paddington starts his own window cleaning business, but somehow ends up in a spot of bother, and gets sent to jail. Now he needs to get out, get justice, AND get Aunt Lucy a present.
The film is full of familiar faces, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Ben Miller, Hugh Grant, Peter Capaldi, Joanna Lumley, to name but a few. The film was co-written by Simon Farnaby, who also has a cameo. I really like Farnaby's work, and comedy. If you are a fan of the Boosh, or this years absolute classic 'Mindhorn', you might recognise him. He also starred in 2009's 'The Bunny and the Bull', a rare film I saw pre-2015. Another great surprise was the brief yet fantastic appearance of Richard Ayoade, a man who could just stand still and do nothing, and I'd still be crying with laughter. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the cast is great and the acting is brilliant. It looks like a lot of fun was had on the set.
I've just put the bread and butter pudding in the oven. Keep reading this and the next reviews for updates.
The whole production of the film is surreal is not realistic by any stretch of the imagination. Many of you will know I love a true to life film, or a documentary, or an interesting but realistic plot. However, I do like things that are fantastical in this sort of way. If you forget about reality and rhyme and reason, and let the film capture your imagination, you will love it. It's a shame the film won't be out on DVD for a while, because it's definitely a film perfect for watching with the family around Christmas, appealing to all ages (Probably the reason why it's out now isn't it)
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film, and have to give it a 9/10. It was brilliant.
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
41. The Snowman
The Snowman I feel has had quite a lot of PR for this type of film, there were cardboard cut outs and giant posters all over the cinema, and I’d seen Michael Fassbender doing a lot of TV and radio promo. To my surprise, the film had not received great feedback, and once we’d booked the film, I checked Rotten Tomatoes and it had received a grand total of 22%. I read the blurb and thought that the film was really something that I would enjoy, so I was disappointed in the low percentage. To cheer myself up I looked up Johnny English and saw that it had received 20%. If this film is 2% better than Johnny English it will be all I have ever dreamed about.
Honestly.
Who thinks Johnny English is a 20% film. It’s a 110% film and everyone knows that.
The film introduces Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender); a successful detective with the police, with his speciality being murders. Unfortunately for him, for various reasons he is unable to take on murder cases, until the Snowman case comes along. He receives various letters with mysterious clues, as women keep going missing, and bodies keep being found. All the while, we are in beautiful Scandinavia, with beautiful shots of snowy scenes, with an effective dingy dirty grey filter, displaying the heartache of the murders, as well as Hole’s characters struggles.
It’s at this point that you may or may not know that I am obsessed with murder, true crime, crime fiction, mystery etc etc and this really is what I can watch for hours and hours. The film isn’t complex in it’s plot, and it’s relatively easy to follow. It’s definitely not revolutionary, and it won’t blow your mind. But still, it had my attention with the topic and plot line.
Unfortunately, the film is littered with plot holes, bits that don’t really make sense, and the big reveal of the murder theme at the end just didn’t make sense to me. It tried to address the reasons ‘why’ the murders occurred (every crime fanatic’s dream), but it just didn’t add up. It wasn’t difficult to work out who, and how the murderers had been carried out, and although there was a build up, it just didn’t quite deliver. The film is based on a book by Jo Nesbo, and I’m sure that the book would address these missing parts. But for a film that could have been great, it just didn’t quite get there. In that way, it reminded me of ‘Child 44’. An incredible book, but when I watched the film, ½ of it was missing! It just didn’t do the book justice. In a way I am disappointed as I think I would have really enjoyed the book, but I’ve ruined it for myself now!
I’m not saying for one minute that The Snowman is a 2/10 film. In fact I’d be quite generous and give it a 6.5/10, but it’s not a film that’s going to make you think, it’s not a film that makes you feel clever if you work out the murderer, and it is a film that left me wanting more. It’s an easy watch, it does what it says on the tin, and the cinematography is fantastic.
Honestly.
Who thinks Johnny English is a 20% film. It’s a 110% film and everyone knows that.
The film introduces Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender); a successful detective with the police, with his speciality being murders. Unfortunately for him, for various reasons he is unable to take on murder cases, until the Snowman case comes along. He receives various letters with mysterious clues, as women keep going missing, and bodies keep being found. All the while, we are in beautiful Scandinavia, with beautiful shots of snowy scenes, with an effective dingy dirty grey filter, displaying the heartache of the murders, as well as Hole’s characters struggles.
It’s at this point that you may or may not know that I am obsessed with murder, true crime, crime fiction, mystery etc etc and this really is what I can watch for hours and hours. The film isn’t complex in it’s plot, and it’s relatively easy to follow. It’s definitely not revolutionary, and it won’t blow your mind. But still, it had my attention with the topic and plot line.
Unfortunately, the film is littered with plot holes, bits that don’t really make sense, and the big reveal of the murder theme at the end just didn’t make sense to me. It tried to address the reasons ‘why’ the murders occurred (every crime fanatic’s dream), but it just didn’t add up. It wasn’t difficult to work out who, and how the murderers had been carried out, and although there was a build up, it just didn’t quite deliver. The film is based on a book by Jo Nesbo, and I’m sure that the book would address these missing parts. But for a film that could have been great, it just didn’t quite get there. In that way, it reminded me of ‘Child 44’. An incredible book, but when I watched the film, ½ of it was missing! It just didn’t do the book justice. In a way I am disappointed as I think I would have really enjoyed the book, but I’ve ruined it for myself now!
I’m not saying for one minute that The Snowman is a 2/10 film. In fact I’d be quite generous and give it a 6.5/10, but it’s not a film that’s going to make you think, it’s not a film that makes you feel clever if you work out the murderer, and it is a film that left me wanting more. It’s an easy watch, it does what it says on the tin, and the cinematography is fantastic.
Wednesday, 18 October 2017
40. Blade Runner 2049
First of all, congratulations to me! Last year I saw 40 'new' films, and here we are, October, and I've hit that figure. This weeks film review comes from Costa Coffee, in Derby Train Station, where due to a uni open day, the bus got me here 30 minutes before my train is due. Where am I blogging from can become a new feature. Chances are it'll be either on train, near train, or in bed, but there we go.
I was super excited to see Blade Runner 2049. The reviews I'd seen had been great, and obviously Ryan Gosling is great, Harrison Ford is great, it was all set to be great. The film starts with a handy synopsis of the original film, which was clearly helpful as I've obviously not seen it. The premise of the film is that K (Ryan Gosling) is an artificial human programmed to follow orders, working for LAPD. His mission is to retire the older, less obedient models of himself.
The film follows K as he tries to retire the replicants, but also explores his emotion and feelings around being an artificial human. He lives with a hologram type female robot whom he is not able to love (because she's a hologram), which leads to quick an interesting/strange/bizarre subplot. He also struggles with memories, as an artificial human, he was never a child, but he still experiences flashbacks to his childhood. This is another theme throughout the film, looking at where these memories come from.
As expected, there is also lots of action in the film, coming to a head at the end with a really intense and quite exciting action scene. Throughout the film, the action kept me hooked and interested in where the plot was going.
Unfortunately for the film, it clocks in at a grand total 2hrs 45mins, and for me, as we know, I just don’t think this sort of the length is necessary for a film. Although I could keep my attention due to the exciting action parts, I think it’s hard to maintain the focus on the plot over such a long period of time. As mentioned before, there are many subplots, and these start to get confusing and tangled over time. There are parts where Jared Leto is the main character, but I’m still trying to work out who exactly he is, and with my understanding of the plot, I don’t think some of the parts are truly integral (not that Jared Leto was bad in the film, mind).
I also got about 2 hours into the film, wondering where Harrison Ford was. Again, he wasn’t bad in the film, but was he necessary? It felt like he was more of a cameo, and he could have been integrated more into the plot. That said, I haven’t seen the original so what do I know?
Overall, the film is enjoyable, and if you are a SciFi/Fantasy fan you will really enjoy it. For me, not the biggest fan of things that aren’t realistic, it isn’t my film of the year, but I still think it is worth a watch. I wouldn’t say it lived up to the hype, but I’ll give it a solid 7.5/10 for the effort. Someone needs to give the movie industry the heads up that films only need to be 1.5-2hrs long.
Wednesday, 20 September 2017
37. mother!
I feel like mother! has been quite well publicised and advertised, I've seen the trailer at the cinema, I've heard it being spoken about on the radio, and there even was an advert for it in a podcast I listen to, My Favorite Murder. Incidentally, if you are fascinated by true crime, you need to listen to My Favorite Murder, it's great! Anyway, from what I could see, I needed to watch this film. Psychological thrillers are definitely my jam. Ali Plumb's review on radio 1 gave it simultaneously a 2 and 4 out of 5. I was even more intrigued.
mother! is the story of Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem's relationship, and the house they live in. And yes, it is as strange as it sounds. None of the character's in the film are named, and I only realised this towards the end, but actually I think it is quite effective. The acting by both Lawrence and Bardem was so great (as to be expected) that you feel feelings towards the characters, without knowing very much about them at all. One day a stranger arrives at the house, thinking it is a B&B, and Bardem insists he stays as it is night time. Strange things happen with his arrival, and the following day, his wife invites herself in as well. She is quite bolshy, brash and rude, and rubs Lawrence up the wrong way. Next the two sons arrive, and things take a completely different turn.
Now I don't want to ruin the film, but from this point, the whole plot goes a bit mad. Completely wild and mad and I have no idea what went on. We know Lawrence has a connection with the house and hates the visitors disturbing it and it only becomes clear at the very end what the connection is. The film becomes very abstract and I can see why people wouldn't like the film, and why it really is an arthouse movie.
I did like the questions the film throws up, about fame, family and celebrity. I also think it was quite political and asked some religious questions as well. And with that, I can understand why it may be controversial. I really don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil the film, but it really is bizarre.
The acting in the film was great, I really enjoyed the first half of the film, and I like the fact I left the cinema wondering what the hell was going on. You really want to know what's coming next throughout the whole film. Incidentally, the film isn't particularly scary or jumpy, as you may guess from the trailer. It's neither of those things, it's just plain weird.
I kind of want to copy Ali Plumb and give it a 4 and a 7 out of 10, but I'm going to lean towards 7/10 because in all fairness, I was entertained, and I did enjoy it. I'm glad I went to see it, and if you've been umming and ahhing about going, I think it is worth a watch. Just be aware it's weird as hell and you'll have no idea what's going on by 1hr 45!
mother! is the story of Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem's relationship, and the house they live in. And yes, it is as strange as it sounds. None of the character's in the film are named, and I only realised this towards the end, but actually I think it is quite effective. The acting by both Lawrence and Bardem was so great (as to be expected) that you feel feelings towards the characters, without knowing very much about them at all. One day a stranger arrives at the house, thinking it is a B&B, and Bardem insists he stays as it is night time. Strange things happen with his arrival, and the following day, his wife invites herself in as well. She is quite bolshy, brash and rude, and rubs Lawrence up the wrong way. Next the two sons arrive, and things take a completely different turn.
Now I don't want to ruin the film, but from this point, the whole plot goes a bit mad. Completely wild and mad and I have no idea what went on. We know Lawrence has a connection with the house and hates the visitors disturbing it and it only becomes clear at the very end what the connection is. The film becomes very abstract and I can see why people wouldn't like the film, and why it really is an arthouse movie.
I did like the questions the film throws up, about fame, family and celebrity. I also think it was quite political and asked some religious questions as well. And with that, I can understand why it may be controversial. I really don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil the film, but it really is bizarre.
The acting in the film was great, I really enjoyed the first half of the film, and I like the fact I left the cinema wondering what the hell was going on. You really want to know what's coming next throughout the whole film. Incidentally, the film isn't particularly scary or jumpy, as you may guess from the trailer. It's neither of those things, it's just plain weird.
I kind of want to copy Ali Plumb and give it a 4 and a 7 out of 10, but I'm going to lean towards 7/10 because in all fairness, I was entertained, and I did enjoy it. I'm glad I went to see it, and if you've been umming and ahhing about going, I think it is worth a watch. Just be aware it's weird as hell and you'll have no idea what's going on by 1hr 45!
36. American Assassin
From the trailer for American Assassin, I was really excited to see the film. The trailer makes it look like an action filled film with an exciting and interesting plot. In all honesty, I don't think this is going to be a very good review, because I wasn't as consumed by the film as I expected to be.
So much so that I've had to read a plot summary to remind me the jist of the film. Now to give me credit I started uni last week (Hi guys I'm doing a masters. I'm going to be a Master. How great is that. I mean it will be great at the end, but right now it seems like i'm just going to have to do a lot of work. A lot of last week was filled with me being told what a Student's Union is -or the Union of Students, Thanks Derby- despite already spending 3 years of my life in a Student's Union on pound pints. So please excuse me for how uninformative this review is)
The film centres around Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien) after being part of a terrorist attack on holiday, and losing his wife to be. Rapp is out for revenge, interacting with terrorists online, and trying to get his retribution through undercover work. After he meets with one of the terrorists, and it comes to a head, Rapp moves from a CIA safe house, to being offered the chance to be trained to become a Black Ops agent. From here we follow him through training, and we learn about a nuclear weapons plan the team need to intercept.
I did like the realism in the film, and it is quite scary to think about similar things happening in different parts of the world right now, in terms of nuclear weapons. Maybe because I am terrified of these things happening, my memory subconsciously erased how I experienced the film...
Overall, from my none review, the first thing I said when I left the cinema was "what a bang average film" so it is only fair to award the movie a bang average 5/10. I feel the film was too long and I ended up doing a bit of clock watching, the plot wasn't completely gripping, and I went in with quite high expectations from seeing it advertised. At the moment there are quite a few interesting looking films out, and I wouldn't perceive this as one of them. That said, maybe I would be more into it if I wasn't full of information about Continuing Professional Development, or how to use Blackboard...
So much so that I've had to read a plot summary to remind me the jist of the film. Now to give me credit I started uni last week (Hi guys I'm doing a masters. I'm going to be a Master. How great is that. I mean it will be great at the end, but right now it seems like i'm just going to have to do a lot of work. A lot of last week was filled with me being told what a Student's Union is -or the Union of Students, Thanks Derby- despite already spending 3 years of my life in a Student's Union on pound pints. So please excuse me for how uninformative this review is)
The film centres around Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien) after being part of a terrorist attack on holiday, and losing his wife to be. Rapp is out for revenge, interacting with terrorists online, and trying to get his retribution through undercover work. After he meets with one of the terrorists, and it comes to a head, Rapp moves from a CIA safe house, to being offered the chance to be trained to become a Black Ops agent. From here we follow him through training, and we learn about a nuclear weapons plan the team need to intercept.
I did like the realism in the film, and it is quite scary to think about similar things happening in different parts of the world right now, in terms of nuclear weapons. Maybe because I am terrified of these things happening, my memory subconsciously erased how I experienced the film...
Overall, from my none review, the first thing I said when I left the cinema was "what a bang average film" so it is only fair to award the movie a bang average 5/10. I feel the film was too long and I ended up doing a bit of clock watching, the plot wasn't completely gripping, and I went in with quite high expectations from seeing it advertised. At the moment there are quite a few interesting looking films out, and I wouldn't perceive this as one of them. That said, maybe I would be more into it if I wasn't full of information about Continuing Professional Development, or how to use Blackboard...
Sunday, 17 September 2017
35. The Hitman's Bodyguard
Seeing The Hitman's Bodyguard was an accident. There was a crash on the M6 meaning we couldn't make it to see Detroit and have tea beforehand, and as it happens, we were all rather hangry. The Hitman's Bodyguard started at 9pm, so we had a cheeky Nando's and were away.
We had no idea what the film was about, I haven't seen loads of advertising for it, and Rotten Tomatoes suggested it was a 36% film. Rotten Tomatoes was right. The film follows Bryce (Ryan Reynolds), a former 'triple A' bodyguard, after being called at the last minute to protect Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson). Kincaid is a notorious hitman, but also Interpol's last chance to prosecute a world leader for crimes against humanity. Bryce must ensure Kincaid is safely escorted from the UK to the Netherlands. As you can probably guess, along the way there are many hiccups - people trying to kill Kincaid, and Kincaid trying to escape.
From the plot summary above, the storyline doesn't actually sound that bad, it seems like it could be quite captivating, and exciting. However, in reality, it is an obvious story throughout, and the execution of it is not the best either. The film is 2hrs long, which is far too long for a movie you could guess the ending from the first 20 minutes, leaving the audience bored in places.
The film is by no means serious, and the elements of comedy do work in some places, but it isn't the funniest action comedy either. I watched Kingsman: The Secret Service last night (revision for the sequel, out next week), and found it far more humorous and exciting.
The only redeeming feature of the film was the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson, and the way it develops through the film. From the initial relationship as prisoner and bodyguard, to them working together to survive in situations, teasing each other, and possibly even friendship. I think the acting skill here really enhanced the storyline, it's just a shame the storyline was so weak. From that initial review on Rotten Tomatoes, I think it is clear that my view is probably the view of many.
The Hitman's Bodyguard worked in one way for me, it allowed me to have my chicken, and cured my hangriness. But on reflection, if it wasn't for the M6, I wouldn't have seen this film, and I wouldn't have felt that I was missing out. When we pick a film at the cinema, it's often based on adverts, what's popular in the media, the occasional Ali Plumb review on Radio 1, but more often than not, a quick score check on IMDb and RT. The Hitman's Bodyguard wouldn't even reach my radar. Maybe that is for me to open my horizons a bit more, and read more and see more less commercial films, but on this occasion, our system was right. The Hitman's Bodyguard gets a 4.5/10. I've seen worst, but not worth the 2hrs of your life really.
We had no idea what the film was about, I haven't seen loads of advertising for it, and Rotten Tomatoes suggested it was a 36% film. Rotten Tomatoes was right. The film follows Bryce (Ryan Reynolds), a former 'triple A' bodyguard, after being called at the last minute to protect Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson). Kincaid is a notorious hitman, but also Interpol's last chance to prosecute a world leader for crimes against humanity. Bryce must ensure Kincaid is safely escorted from the UK to the Netherlands. As you can probably guess, along the way there are many hiccups - people trying to kill Kincaid, and Kincaid trying to escape.
From the plot summary above, the storyline doesn't actually sound that bad, it seems like it could be quite captivating, and exciting. However, in reality, it is an obvious story throughout, and the execution of it is not the best either. The film is 2hrs long, which is far too long for a movie you could guess the ending from the first 20 minutes, leaving the audience bored in places.
The film is by no means serious, and the elements of comedy do work in some places, but it isn't the funniest action comedy either. I watched Kingsman: The Secret Service last night (revision for the sequel, out next week), and found it far more humorous and exciting.
The only redeeming feature of the film was the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson, and the way it develops through the film. From the initial relationship as prisoner and bodyguard, to them working together to survive in situations, teasing each other, and possibly even friendship. I think the acting skill here really enhanced the storyline, it's just a shame the storyline was so weak. From that initial review on Rotten Tomatoes, I think it is clear that my view is probably the view of many.
The Hitman's Bodyguard worked in one way for me, it allowed me to have my chicken, and cured my hangriness. But on reflection, if it wasn't for the M6, I wouldn't have seen this film, and I wouldn't have felt that I was missing out. When we pick a film at the cinema, it's often based on adverts, what's popular in the media, the occasional Ali Plumb review on Radio 1, but more often than not, a quick score check on IMDb and RT. The Hitman's Bodyguard wouldn't even reach my radar. Maybe that is for me to open my horizons a bit more, and read more and see more less commercial films, but on this occasion, our system was right. The Hitman's Bodyguard gets a 4.5/10. I've seen worst, but not worth the 2hrs of your life really.
Sunday, 10 September 2017
34. Logan Lucky
As soon as I saw the trailer for this film, I was excited to see it. It's no secret I love films about crime, and this heist looked excited, and Channing Tatum was involved (our lead, Jimmy Logan). The film lives up to expectations, and I really enjoyed it. It's a heist movie, but there is something extra that makes it exciting and enjoyable, as opposed to predictable and boring.
Jimmy has a rocky relationship with his ex-wife Bobbie Jo (Katie Holmes), who he has daughter Sadie (Farrah Mackenzie) with. Sadie is Jimmy's pride and joy, but he somehow always ends up being late (or turning up on the wrong day), angering Bobbie Jo. She decides to up sticks and move away from Jimmy, to an amazing mansion with her new husband.
Jimmy enlists the help of his brother Clyde (Adam Driver) and decides to spice up his life a bit, by deciding to steal the prize money from a big NASCAR event. He decides to win the support of Joe Bang (Daniel Craig) to help break into the safe. Joe is incarcerated for using explosives to open safes.
The plot follows how Jimmy ends up smuggling Joe out of prison for the main event, how they steal the money, and the aftermath. As with most films like this, it's incredibly clever and interesting, and it really keeps the audience captivated in how they will pull it off.
The film is interesting as it looks at family relationships, and inter family relationships, looking at different bonds, and how people work well (or not) together. It also has elements of comedy, which again, kept the interest; it's not a serious film, but it is clever. Tatum played the character of Jimmy really well, although it is within the roles he usually goes for, there is no doubt that he can play it well. Driver was excellent at playing Clyde, he's very mysterious, and quite surprising at times - you're not sure how much Clyde is in it, or just following orders from his brother, and this is played really well. As well as this, I thought Craig was excellent. I feel we all know Craig as James Bond, but I think here he proved he can play varied roles. I was actually surprisingly impressed by his Southern American accent, and also his good-baddie role, if that makes sense.
The film finishes with an open ending, setting up for a sequel, so if that comes to light, I think it will be interesting to see if it is forced, or if there is more on the creators minds. That said, I did quite like the open ending, even if there isn't a second film.
A really entertaining film, I think it's absolutely worth the watch, and would encourage you to see it on the big screen. I give Logan Lucky 8.5/10 for its great lead actors, engaging plot, comedic script, and for making heist movies good again!
Jimmy has a rocky relationship with his ex-wife Bobbie Jo (Katie Holmes), who he has daughter Sadie (Farrah Mackenzie) with. Sadie is Jimmy's pride and joy, but he somehow always ends up being late (or turning up on the wrong day), angering Bobbie Jo. She decides to up sticks and move away from Jimmy, to an amazing mansion with her new husband.
Jimmy enlists the help of his brother Clyde (Adam Driver) and decides to spice up his life a bit, by deciding to steal the prize money from a big NASCAR event. He decides to win the support of Joe Bang (Daniel Craig) to help break into the safe. Joe is incarcerated for using explosives to open safes.
The plot follows how Jimmy ends up smuggling Joe out of prison for the main event, how they steal the money, and the aftermath. As with most films like this, it's incredibly clever and interesting, and it really keeps the audience captivated in how they will pull it off.
The film is interesting as it looks at family relationships, and inter family relationships, looking at different bonds, and how people work well (or not) together. It also has elements of comedy, which again, kept the interest; it's not a serious film, but it is clever. Tatum played the character of Jimmy really well, although it is within the roles he usually goes for, there is no doubt that he can play it well. Driver was excellent at playing Clyde, he's very mysterious, and quite surprising at times - you're not sure how much Clyde is in it, or just following orders from his brother, and this is played really well. As well as this, I thought Craig was excellent. I feel we all know Craig as James Bond, but I think here he proved he can play varied roles. I was actually surprisingly impressed by his Southern American accent, and also his good-baddie role, if that makes sense.
The film finishes with an open ending, setting up for a sequel, so if that comes to light, I think it will be interesting to see if it is forced, or if there is more on the creators minds. That said, I did quite like the open ending, even if there isn't a second film.
A really entertaining film, I think it's absolutely worth the watch, and would encourage you to see it on the big screen. I give Logan Lucky 8.5/10 for its great lead actors, engaging plot, comedic script, and for making heist movies good again!
33. Girls Trip
I think I sabotaged myself with this film, I had heard really good stuff about it, and maybe expected too much. Now Girls Trip is not a bad film, in fact it does exactly what it says in the tin. It's a classic chick flick comedy, a little rude in places, but with a good story line.
The Flossy Posse is formed by Ryan (Regina Hall), Sasha (Queen Latifah), Lisa (Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Dina (Tiffany Haddish), and the girls set off on a get together after not seeing each other for years. They hit New Orleans, where Essence Music Festival is taking place, and also where a company wants to make a big deal with Ryan. Ryan is a big celebrity, writing books about how to have the perfect relationship.
With everything in everyones personal lives, the weekend seems to be a turning point for the girls, getting back together and having some respite from work, family, and relationship troubles. As you can imagine, when we get into the weekend, all is not what it seems. Ryan's relationship is far from perfect, Lisa's life as a single mum gives her no time for romance, and so on.
The film continues with love rivals, cat fights, weeing on a zip wire, and everything else you can imagine, with lots of appearances and cameos from impressive celebrities- Ne-Yo, P.Diddy, Estelle; to name a few. The film is wacky and wild, but it is genuinely funny, and I think would appeal to most people. I had it in my head that the film addressed social and racial issues in a comedic way, and that is not what the film is. What it is, is a really easy watch. It does have some messages, and I think Ryan's situation regarding her love life, and money, is actually quiet thought provoking.
The film is something perfect for a lazy evening, or hungover morning. There are laughs for all, and the storyline on the whole is okay. I just don't think it was very memorable. There are no quotes, funny one liners, and the plot wasn't overly interesting. I feel like it is a film similar to last years Sisters- a comedy with Amy Poehler. I remember enjoying the film, but it's not memorable. I can't remember any plot lines, or any jokes, and I don't feel overly enthused to watch it again.
For this reason, I'll give Girls Trip at 6.5/10. It does what it says on the tin, and would provide light relief after a heavy Saturday night, but it's not a ground breaking comedy, and it's not going to win any awards.
The Flossy Posse is formed by Ryan (Regina Hall), Sasha (Queen Latifah), Lisa (Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Dina (Tiffany Haddish), and the girls set off on a get together after not seeing each other for years. They hit New Orleans, where Essence Music Festival is taking place, and also where a company wants to make a big deal with Ryan. Ryan is a big celebrity, writing books about how to have the perfect relationship.
With everything in everyones personal lives, the weekend seems to be a turning point for the girls, getting back together and having some respite from work, family, and relationship troubles. As you can imagine, when we get into the weekend, all is not what it seems. Ryan's relationship is far from perfect, Lisa's life as a single mum gives her no time for romance, and so on.
The film continues with love rivals, cat fights, weeing on a zip wire, and everything else you can imagine, with lots of appearances and cameos from impressive celebrities- Ne-Yo, P.Diddy, Estelle; to name a few. The film is wacky and wild, but it is genuinely funny, and I think would appeal to most people. I had it in my head that the film addressed social and racial issues in a comedic way, and that is not what the film is. What it is, is a really easy watch. It does have some messages, and I think Ryan's situation regarding her love life, and money, is actually quiet thought provoking.
The film is something perfect for a lazy evening, or hungover morning. There are laughs for all, and the storyline on the whole is okay. I just don't think it was very memorable. There are no quotes, funny one liners, and the plot wasn't overly interesting. I feel like it is a film similar to last years Sisters- a comedy with Amy Poehler. I remember enjoying the film, but it's not memorable. I can't remember any plot lines, or any jokes, and I don't feel overly enthused to watch it again.
For this reason, I'll give Girls Trip at 6.5/10. It does what it says on the tin, and would provide light relief after a heavy Saturday night, but it's not a ground breaking comedy, and it's not going to win any awards.
Thursday, 3 August 2017
31. Dunkirk
I was so excited to see Dunkirk, it's based on a true event, it doesn't surpass the 2hr mark, and the cast is incredible. It didn't disappoint. Last night before we watched the film, I had a little look at the previous 30 titles I've seen this year, and I'm delighted to let you know, this takes the top spot. I know a lot of the big titles often come out around the back end of the year/beginning of next year due to the awards season, but actually, 2017 has given me a lot of bang average films (hit me up with your suggestions of 2017 winners I haven't seen if you fancy.) This movie was captivating, interesting, emotional, full of action. It really was fab. It also has Tom Hardy in it (and my new friend Jack Lowden...).
The film encapsulates the evacuation of Dunkirk (it sounds Scottish but turns out it's in France) from 3 different view points- land, sea and air. On the beach we follow Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) and his mute mate as they try to battle through the troops to grab a spot on a boat nipping back to England. Amongst setbacks and breakthroughs, they find Harry Styles, and we finally discover the real reason why he cut his hair off all those months ago. On water, Mr Dawson (Mark Rylance) is giving the Navy a hand by travelling across to Dunkirk on his private boat with his son and son's friend, in order to help bring some troops back. From the skies, we follow Farrier (Hardy) and Collins (Lowden) as they support troops on air attack on the bomb dropping enemies, fighting against limited fuel. To add to the interest of the plot, we follow the story from 3 different time perspectives; a week on land, a day on a boat, and just an hour in the air. These time frames cleverly match up as we reach the climax of the film.
The film also really followed the British way of life, and anytime a soldier had any kind of break or respite, they were offered a brew. 'Don't worry love go down there there's tea!' 'Go down stairs and grab yourself a brew and a blanket'. A sentiment I can wholly get on board with.
As you can see by the fact I am using proper bulky paragraphs, and not twiddly sentences, I was really encapsulated by the plot and it really held my interest, especially as we switched between the 3 plots. The script was very small, with very little dialogue, but it wasn't needed. The story told itself between the fabulous acting, the tension, the music, the sound effects and the cinematography. I could go on. The cast itself is full of well known, credible actors (Rylance, Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy) and some new faces, but the acting was incredible, and the whole thing was casted really well. I thought Styles would be in it for promotion reasons, or just because he's Harry Styles and he can do what he wants. Apparently he was cast out of 1000s of hopefuls and Christopher Nolan had no idea who he was (everyone knows who Harry Styles is???).
To add to that point, everyone had great cheekbones. Really lovely ones. It was a sight to see. I reckon someone in the makeup department must have had an eye out with all those sharp and edgy faces. However, my one disappointment was Tom Hardy. Almost the entire film he spent hiding behind his Bane mask, until the final scenes. What a tease, and what a waste of an excellent face. Spoiler alert but you essentially have to wait until the end of the movie for him to unmask and reveal his chiselled by angels face.
Overall, I very clearly loved the film. Full of non-stop action and emotion, not bulked out with meaningless romance, or sexism, or silly humour. Get yourself to the pictures to watch it, where you can really find yourself in the film, with the loud effects and great quality screen. It's my must watch of the summer!!! My only gripe being that Tom Hardy's face needed to be in it more, it's a 9.5/10 from me. Go and watch as soon as you can.
The film encapsulates the evacuation of Dunkirk (it sounds Scottish but turns out it's in France) from 3 different view points- land, sea and air. On the beach we follow Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) and his mute mate as they try to battle through the troops to grab a spot on a boat nipping back to England. Amongst setbacks and breakthroughs, they find Harry Styles, and we finally discover the real reason why he cut his hair off all those months ago. On water, Mr Dawson (Mark Rylance) is giving the Navy a hand by travelling across to Dunkirk on his private boat with his son and son's friend, in order to help bring some troops back. From the skies, we follow Farrier (Hardy) and Collins (Lowden) as they support troops on air attack on the bomb dropping enemies, fighting against limited fuel. To add to the interest of the plot, we follow the story from 3 different time perspectives; a week on land, a day on a boat, and just an hour in the air. These time frames cleverly match up as we reach the climax of the film.
The film also really followed the British way of life, and anytime a soldier had any kind of break or respite, they were offered a brew. 'Don't worry love go down there there's tea!' 'Go down stairs and grab yourself a brew and a blanket'. A sentiment I can wholly get on board with.
As you can see by the fact I am using proper bulky paragraphs, and not twiddly sentences, I was really encapsulated by the plot and it really held my interest, especially as we switched between the 3 plots. The script was very small, with very little dialogue, but it wasn't needed. The story told itself between the fabulous acting, the tension, the music, the sound effects and the cinematography. I could go on. The cast itself is full of well known, credible actors (Rylance, Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy) and some new faces, but the acting was incredible, and the whole thing was casted really well. I thought Styles would be in it for promotion reasons, or just because he's Harry Styles and he can do what he wants. Apparently he was cast out of 1000s of hopefuls and Christopher Nolan had no idea who he was (everyone knows who Harry Styles is???).
To add to that point, everyone had great cheekbones. Really lovely ones. It was a sight to see. I reckon someone in the makeup department must have had an eye out with all those sharp and edgy faces. However, my one disappointment was Tom Hardy. Almost the entire film he spent hiding behind his Bane mask, until the final scenes. What a tease, and what a waste of an excellent face. Spoiler alert but you essentially have to wait until the end of the movie for him to unmask and reveal his chiselled by angels face.
Overall, I very clearly loved the film. Full of non-stop action and emotion, not bulked out with meaningless romance, or sexism, or silly humour. Get yourself to the pictures to watch it, where you can really find yourself in the film, with the loud effects and great quality screen. It's my must watch of the summer!!! My only gripe being that Tom Hardy's face needed to be in it more, it's a 9.5/10 from me. Go and watch as soon as you can.
Saturday, 15 July 2017
28. Despicable Me 3
It's no secret that I love Despicable Me; a fun cartoon with lovable characters and hilarious Minions. That's right, I fall on the 'love 'em' side of the marmite flavoured annoying yellow creatures. If you don't already know, Despicable Me is centred in a world full of heroes and villains, full of battles to either be the best, or the baddest. The central character in our film is Gru (Steve Carell), and since 2010 (yes, that's 7 years ago, do you feel old?) he has flitted between the baddest baddie, and a hero, served by his adorable Minions (we last saw them in 2015 in their own film).
The antagonist in this film is Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), who previously was a child star, starring in his own show 'Evil Bratt' where he did just that. Upon the TV show's cancellation he took on the character, and is aiming for world domination. Clearly it is up to Gru to sort this out!
We discover that Gru has a twin brother, Dru, who is quite the opposite to Gru- cheery, charming and full of beans. After the initial annoyance, Gru and Dru team up to take on Bratt.
Amongst story lines about catching unicorns, a high speed car chase, and an island full of pigs, Despicable Me 3 holds the attention of the audience, whichever generation they sit in. The thing about these films is that they really work for those of any age, without alienating anyone.
Unfortunately, with 2 other films and a spin off behind it, Despicable Me 3 is not the greatest in the series, and it is more than likely the worst. The plot wasn't the most memorable, but it was rather predictable, and to be honest, there simply wasn't enough Minion action for my liking. The best bit of the film by far was a Minion pretending to be an air hostess, welcoming his peers onto the plane 'Bello, Bello, Bel-lo, Belllllo....' had us in stitches for ages.
If you have kids or nieces or nephews or what have you, I'd definitley consider taking them to watch the film, especially with the holidays coming up. You will end up giggling as well as them, and it is genuinely not a bad film choice. If you are watching it as a true Despicable Me fan, it is still worth a watch, but don't be expecting miracles. I can only give Despicable Me 3 6.5/10 for trying!
The antagonist in this film is Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), who previously was a child star, starring in his own show 'Evil Bratt' where he did just that. Upon the TV show's cancellation he took on the character, and is aiming for world domination. Clearly it is up to Gru to sort this out!
We discover that Gru has a twin brother, Dru, who is quite the opposite to Gru- cheery, charming and full of beans. After the initial annoyance, Gru and Dru team up to take on Bratt.
Amongst story lines about catching unicorns, a high speed car chase, and an island full of pigs, Despicable Me 3 holds the attention of the audience, whichever generation they sit in. The thing about these films is that they really work for those of any age, without alienating anyone.
Unfortunately, with 2 other films and a spin off behind it, Despicable Me 3 is not the greatest in the series, and it is more than likely the worst. The plot wasn't the most memorable, but it was rather predictable, and to be honest, there simply wasn't enough Minion action for my liking. The best bit of the film by far was a Minion pretending to be an air hostess, welcoming his peers onto the plane 'Bello, Bello, Bel-lo, Belllllo....' had us in stitches for ages.
If you have kids or nieces or nephews or what have you, I'd definitley consider taking them to watch the film, especially with the holidays coming up. You will end up giggling as well as them, and it is genuinely not a bad film choice. If you are watching it as a true Despicable Me fan, it is still worth a watch, but don't be expecting miracles. I can only give Despicable Me 3 6.5/10 for trying!
Thursday, 29 June 2017
27. Baby Driver
Baby Driver came out yesterday, and we had the pleasure of seeing it on it's opening night. I hadn't seen much advertising for the film (but I do spend the trailers at the pictures on Buzzfeed wondering what flavour crisps I am, instead of paying attention.) We checked out the rating on Rotten Tomatoes and it had 100% so we were well in. Obviously as the film has only just been released, it's not the biggest achievement to have 100%, but it's still a pretty good indication that the film is going to be a good one.
The starting credits are rolling, and the first scene is really interesting and creative. It's a contemporary dance sequence, where the lyrics are hidden in the scenery of the shot. I thought it was really innovative and new, nothing like anything I have seen before, and it grabbed my attention. From there we are right into a car chase. Again the chase was fast, but interesting, it had action, but also twists and turns in it's plot, not just a car chase.
Baby Driver follows Baby, a getaway driver (duh) for armed robberies and such. Baby (Ansel Elgort) has a passion for music, and uses it to aide him in his driving, a job that a big mistake landed him in, years ago. We follow him as he meets a girl (Lily James) and tries to ditch his life of crime, to no avail.
Baby Driver is sort of a cross between Drive, and Ocean's Eleven. I was worried that it would just be a carbon copy of Drive (I urge you to watch this if you haven't already), but it has it's differences. There's a different backstory, and different characters, as well as Baby's involvement in the heists, and his interaction with others. It also is a humorous film, with real laughs in places. The comedy element was done well, as it enhanced the plot, as opposed to turning it into a slapstick movie. There is also the cleverness of how the jobs are pulled off, or not, similar to Ocean's Eleven. Again, I think it was different enough to make it stand out.
The action scenes in the film were brutal, and violent, but these scenes are included, again, to enhance the plot, and not for the shock factor. I really enjoyed the action, and it definitely wasn't boring. The film is 2hrs long (you know how I feel about this) and yet I wasn't clock watching, I was interested to see what was next. However, I did, last night, have a dream of massacring a load of people and then jumping off a cliff, so I guess if you are of a nervous disposition it could haunt you for weeks!
The soundtrack to the film was also really well done. There were so many classics from so many genres, and it was just really interesting to see how they worked with the film. As a music lover I especially appreciated this. If the soundtrack is released I definitely want it for my car!
Overall, I'm going to give Baby Driver an 8.5/10. I really want to give it a 9, and I really do recommend you going to see it, but I can see a lot of similarities drawn from other films. The first two scenes of the film are by far the most original, and the most interesting and creative, but when we get towards the end, some of the scenes don't match up to this. Don't get me wrong, they are full of action and work well with the plot, but I was just so in awe at the opening titles and how it was so imaginative, I can't help but think that the middle and end can't quite match it. Please go and see it and let me know what you think!
Saturday, 24 June 2017
26. Wonder Woman
I'm so late in uploading this, but I've been super busy and also I have been enjoying the glorious weather we have been experiencing/complaining about. Last week's film was Wonder Woman - another superhero film. I was getting to a point when I was unsure which direction we could go with more superhero films - Dr Strange, Deadpool, the terrible flop that was Batman vs Superman - DC and Marvel just can't stop themselves. However, I really wanted to write this review today to urge you to go and see Wonder Woman if you can - it really is great.
Wonder Woman follows Diana, Princess of the Amazons (Gal Gadot), as she goes through her warrior training, something her mother has prevented her from doing for so long, to protect the tribe and paradise-like island from the imminent return of Ares, God of War. After a dramatic family incident, Diana flees to a cliff edge to do some wistful staring into the distance, and as she does so, World War I spy Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) enters the realm. He is fleeing the Germans, who realised he was undercover, and Diana saves him, coming across a man for the first time. From here, Diana realises it is her duty to stop the war happening across the world, and to destroy Ares. Much to her mother's dismay, Diana pops across to England, battles in trenches and finds her self right in the centre of the action.
I really enjoyed the film and found it really balanced. There was intense action, the training and battle scenes were exciting and interesting. Lucy Davis was fabulous as Etta, a great comedy character adding another angle to the film. I also really enjoyed the political angle on the film; discussions about war, politics and evil. Is war down to one person? Is evil just one person? Questions about deindividuation. There were many parallels to our own history which I thought added depth to the film. I really do wish it was a badass lass that sorted us all out, and again I think this film worked really well from a feminist point of view.
There were also a few twists and turns, keeping the film interesting, and I think there were surprises and unexpected moments to keep you on your toes. As well as this, the cinematography was great. The island of Themyscira was truly beautiful, and the contrast between the foggy industrial London and the dingy trenches made it enchanting to watch.
Overall, for the first time in quite a few films, I'd really recommend giving this a watch. Exciting, interesting, political, and with a female lead who shows the lads how it's done, you just can't knock it. I'm giving Wonder Woman a solid 8.5/10!
Wonder Woman follows Diana, Princess of the Amazons (Gal Gadot), as she goes through her warrior training, something her mother has prevented her from doing for so long, to protect the tribe and paradise-like island from the imminent return of Ares, God of War. After a dramatic family incident, Diana flees to a cliff edge to do some wistful staring into the distance, and as she does so, World War I spy Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) enters the realm. He is fleeing the Germans, who realised he was undercover, and Diana saves him, coming across a man for the first time. From here, Diana realises it is her duty to stop the war happening across the world, and to destroy Ares. Much to her mother's dismay, Diana pops across to England, battles in trenches and finds her self right in the centre of the action.
I really enjoyed the film and found it really balanced. There was intense action, the training and battle scenes were exciting and interesting. Lucy Davis was fabulous as Etta, a great comedy character adding another angle to the film. I also really enjoyed the political angle on the film; discussions about war, politics and evil. Is war down to one person? Is evil just one person? Questions about deindividuation. There were many parallels to our own history which I thought added depth to the film. I really do wish it was a badass lass that sorted us all out, and again I think this film worked really well from a feminist point of view.
There were also a few twists and turns, keeping the film interesting, and I think there were surprises and unexpected moments to keep you on your toes. As well as this, the cinematography was great. The island of Themyscira was truly beautiful, and the contrast between the foggy industrial London and the dingy trenches made it enchanting to watch.
Overall, for the first time in quite a few films, I'd really recommend giving this a watch. Exciting, interesting, political, and with a female lead who shows the lads how it's done, you just can't knock it. I'm giving Wonder Woman a solid 8.5/10!
Monday, 12 June 2017
25. Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge
A little late again, but our latest cinema trip was to see the newest film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise - number 5. I am unsure why big franchises like this continue to make films, as very few films manage to make number 5 a success (I am still hoping and wishing for Shrek 5 to be incredible, and actually if Despicable Me makes it to number 5, that will clearly be great too). Either way, I don't think the movie will be breaking any records.
The film isn't terrible, but it's probably just how you imagine. Johnny Depp plays the Jack Sparrow in the same way he always has done, Kaya Scodelario and Brenton Thwaites are the films too love interests, and there are a few cameos throughout. We'll come back to that later. Javier Bardem does make a great baddie as Salazar, but that is probably the only good thing about the film.
The film is a big mish mash of lots of events, there's a bank robbery, standard pirates with swords, a wedding, the return of the Black Pearl, seas parting, and a quest for the Trident of Poseidon. In an attempt to make the film interesting, Scodelario's character, Carina, has an interest in the stars, and is very knowledgeable on the topic. It seems like the film attempted to show how a female can intelligent and be an integral part of the plot, however, to offset this, the other characters hurl sexist abuse at her throughout, undermining her importance for a cheap joke.
On to the cameos as promised, what the hell is Paul McCartney doing in Pirates of the Caribbean 5???? Surely he hasn't run out of money, he's Macca????? The scene was so bizarre, but I actually think it's worth the watch (or at least to try and find the clip on YouTube or something) just for his appearance.
Overall, the film isn't boring, it does keep your attention, but I think the plot is unclear and there is a lot going on. It seems like the writers wanted to put as much as possible into one film to make it extravagant, but sometimes more is less. I guess this is the type of film that you could watch on a Sunday and not have to think too much, but it wasn't my favourite. There are so many more films released this year that have a more interesting plot, better acting, and that are 10x more funny. There are also films that have been a lot worse, so I give this movie a fair 6/10 .
The film isn't terrible, but it's probably just how you imagine. Johnny Depp plays the Jack Sparrow in the same way he always has done, Kaya Scodelario and Brenton Thwaites are the films too love interests, and there are a few cameos throughout. We'll come back to that later. Javier Bardem does make a great baddie as Salazar, but that is probably the only good thing about the film.
The film is a big mish mash of lots of events, there's a bank robbery, standard pirates with swords, a wedding, the return of the Black Pearl, seas parting, and a quest for the Trident of Poseidon. In an attempt to make the film interesting, Scodelario's character, Carina, has an interest in the stars, and is very knowledgeable on the topic. It seems like the film attempted to show how a female can intelligent and be an integral part of the plot, however, to offset this, the other characters hurl sexist abuse at her throughout, undermining her importance for a cheap joke.
On to the cameos as promised, what the hell is Paul McCartney doing in Pirates of the Caribbean 5???? Surely he hasn't run out of money, he's Macca????? The scene was so bizarre, but I actually think it's worth the watch (or at least to try and find the clip on YouTube or something) just for his appearance.
Overall, the film isn't boring, it does keep your attention, but I think the plot is unclear and there is a lot going on. It seems like the writers wanted to put as much as possible into one film to make it extravagant, but sometimes more is less. I guess this is the type of film that you could watch on a Sunday and not have to think too much, but it wasn't my favourite. There are so many more films released this year that have a more interesting plot, better acting, and that are 10x more funny. There are also films that have been a lot worse, so I give this movie a fair 6/10 .
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
24. Baywatch
I was 'lucky' enough to see Baywatch before it was released to the public, not because I'm a big time blogger, but because I am a Cineworld Unlimited member. I think the fact that I've left it until a day after the release to write my review shows it's distinct bland and averageness. I was jumping out of my seat to slate The Belko Experiment, and I couldn't wait to talk about politics and justice and just how great Get Out was. Baywatch? Not so much.
The story follows Mitch (Dwayne 'THE ROCK' Johnson) and his crew of lifeguards as they have trials for new recruits. Matt Brody (Zac Efron) is on board by default, along with Ronnie (Jon Bass, casted for cheap laughs) and Summer (Alexandra Daddario, casted for incredible body, alongside Kelly Rohrbach and Ilfenesh Hadera). Together old timers try to convince the new recruits that being a life guard is not just about swimming and stopping people from drowning, but something bigger. Mitch tries to convince the ensemble that there are drugs plots and plots to take over the beach front, littered with the deaths of important members of the community.
Amongst Johnson and Efron showboating, and many shots sexualising women's bodies, the story comes to a head in a nightclub, with a silly dance off scene and some fish. The plot is wishy washy and not memorable, yet obvious. The jokes are silly and obscene and cheap. The Rock is The Rock, and Zac Efron is just in it to suggest the film is not just for men to ogle at the women. I feel like the film tried to make the script seem like the women were in it for more than just looking great, but the main plot was clearly all about Matt Brody being great. I feel like it tried to not make it sexist whilst making it overtly sexist and it just didn't wash with me. I'm not hating on women looking great, because damn I am jealous, it's the fact that that is all they were casted for. Why can't women look great, be full of brains, save the day, kill the baddie and be the main focus of a 'comedy' like this? Or is that another story all together?
It still doesn't quiet meet the dismal lows of Sausage Party, but it's simply not a great film. If you like The Rock and silly LAD humour and looking at hot women in swimwear then maybe this film is for you, but I left feeling bemused, like I'd lost a few hours and like I need to lose about 40 stone. Not my favourite. 4.5/10, could try harder.
The story follows Mitch (Dwayne 'THE ROCK' Johnson) and his crew of lifeguards as they have trials for new recruits. Matt Brody (Zac Efron) is on board by default, along with Ronnie (Jon Bass, casted for cheap laughs) and Summer (Alexandra Daddario, casted for incredible body, alongside Kelly Rohrbach and Ilfenesh Hadera). Together old timers try to convince the new recruits that being a life guard is not just about swimming and stopping people from drowning, but something bigger. Mitch tries to convince the ensemble that there are drugs plots and plots to take over the beach front, littered with the deaths of important members of the community.
Amongst Johnson and Efron showboating, and many shots sexualising women's bodies, the story comes to a head in a nightclub, with a silly dance off scene and some fish. The plot is wishy washy and not memorable, yet obvious. The jokes are silly and obscene and cheap. The Rock is The Rock, and Zac Efron is just in it to suggest the film is not just for men to ogle at the women. I feel like the film tried to make the script seem like the women were in it for more than just looking great, but the main plot was clearly all about Matt Brody being great. I feel like it tried to not make it sexist whilst making it overtly sexist and it just didn't wash with me. I'm not hating on women looking great, because damn I am jealous, it's the fact that that is all they were casted for. Why can't women look great, be full of brains, save the day, kill the baddie and be the main focus of a 'comedy' like this? Or is that another story all together?
It still doesn't quiet meet the dismal lows of Sausage Party, but it's simply not a great film. If you like The Rock and silly LAD humour and looking at hot women in swimwear then maybe this film is for you, but I left feeling bemused, like I'd lost a few hours and like I need to lose about 40 stone. Not my favourite. 4.5/10, could try harder.
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
23. Alien: Covenant
I've never seen an alien film before. It's clearly not my thing. It's about aliens. It's in space. It's not very realistic. There is potential for lots of mindless gory violence. It's over 2 hours long (2hrs 2mins to be precise).
I was ployed with the promise of Nando's, and to be fair, it wasn't truly awful.
Essentially the film is about a ship of people (and a lovable robot) travelling to a habitable planet to colonise and set up shop, similar to many other space based films I've seen this year. Seriously, where are they all coming from. I said I didn't like space and now space films are all over the show. I can't get rid of them. I'm sure about 20% of all the films I've seen this year are in space.
Anyway.
They come across a planet that's about 7 years closer that they 'must have missed' during research, and decide that will do, and to head for that instead (We all know where this is going). Some members of the crew land on the planet and start to explore, and that's when things start to go wrong. The main ship comes down the the planet to give them a hand (seriously, why did everyone think this was a good idea??) and it all starts kicking off.
Michael Fassbender plays the robot on board the ship, and also the robot from the previous film apparently. Without spoilers, there is a major plot around both his characters. It's all very intense but it comes to a head in a scene where Michael Fassbender 1 is teaching Michael Fassbender 2 how to play the recorder. No idea the relevance, but I couldn't stop laughing. It was true comedy genius, although perhaps not intended. I did wonder at one point that maybe my Tango Ice Blast had been laced with LSD as I really wasn't sure what was going on.
The film was predictable, but I quite liked the ending. It was dark and jumpy and scary, and it did hold my attention throughout the film. I was going in and expecting it to be completely terrible, especially as I assume it's probably about number 40 in the franchise by now. If you like this type of film, if you like the previous films (I assume), then you will enjoy this. There are gruesome bits, and bits where you will jump out of your seat, and I think if you want something that's an easy watch in this sort of genre of film, then it does the trick. Alien: Covenant get's a pretty respectable 7/10 from me.
I was ployed with the promise of Nando's, and to be fair, it wasn't truly awful.
Essentially the film is about a ship of people (and a lovable robot) travelling to a habitable planet to colonise and set up shop, similar to many other space based films I've seen this year. Seriously, where are they all coming from. I said I didn't like space and now space films are all over the show. I can't get rid of them. I'm sure about 20% of all the films I've seen this year are in space.
Anyway.
They come across a planet that's about 7 years closer that they 'must have missed' during research, and decide that will do, and to head for that instead (We all know where this is going). Some members of the crew land on the planet and start to explore, and that's when things start to go wrong. The main ship comes down the the planet to give them a hand (seriously, why did everyone think this was a good idea??) and it all starts kicking off.
Michael Fassbender plays the robot on board the ship, and also the robot from the previous film apparently. Without spoilers, there is a major plot around both his characters. It's all very intense but it comes to a head in a scene where Michael Fassbender 1 is teaching Michael Fassbender 2 how to play the recorder. No idea the relevance, but I couldn't stop laughing. It was true comedy genius, although perhaps not intended. I did wonder at one point that maybe my Tango Ice Blast had been laced with LSD as I really wasn't sure what was going on.
The film was predictable, but I quite liked the ending. It was dark and jumpy and scary, and it did hold my attention throughout the film. I was going in and expecting it to be completely terrible, especially as I assume it's probably about number 40 in the franchise by now. If you like this type of film, if you like the previous films (I assume), then you will enjoy this. There are gruesome bits, and bits where you will jump out of your seat, and I think if you want something that's an easy watch in this sort of genre of film, then it does the trick. Alien: Covenant get's a pretty respectable 7/10 from me.
Saturday, 13 May 2017
22. Mindhorn
When I first saw the trailer for this film, I honestly couldn't contain my excitement - I think if you saw the trailer and had the same opinion, you won't be disappointed. However, I do think that you have to 'get' a certain type of humour/comedy style to enjoy it. I love alternative/surreal comedy, so just the thought of something with Julian Barratt AND Steve Coogan is like my dream. I then also realised Russell Tovey was in the film and I was even more excited.
The plot follows Richard Thorncroft (Barratt), who is a failing actor dreaming of any work bigger than a toothpaste advert. His biggest role was as the title character in 80s detective series 'Mindhorn'. Mindhorn's USP is the fact he can see the truth. Thorncroft's agent sorts him out with a job helping the police - there's a killer on the loose on the Isle of Man (Mindhorn's hometown), and he is proposing he will only speak to Mindhorn, despite him being fictional. Thorncroft travels to the island, meeting old flames and work mates whilst trying to solve the murder and catch the killer.
The film was everything I wanted it to be, it was funny, silly, you could even say there was a plot twist - it was truly great and I couldn't stop laughing. I'd honestly watch it again right now, and very few films I feel like I could watch over and over in close proximity. I know in a lot of my reviews I talk about things like morals and character development and interactions and all that rubbish, but there isn't much to say about this film. It simply does what it says on the tin, and it executes it really well. Barratt is so good at playing the 'uncool' character trying to play it cool - Coogan is great as the rival costar. Thorncroft's old stuntman is played by Simon Faranby (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Barratt) - if you are a Boosh fan you may recognise him- and he is excellent part of an interesting love triangle, throwing hilarious insults in Thorncroft's direction.
Mindhorn really did live up to my expectation, it was laugh out loud funny all the way through and just was such a lighthearted easy watch. It hit my idea film time of 1 hour 30 minutes, was full of great comedians and looked like they must have had a great time filming it. My one criticism would be that it wasn't quite as good as Alan Partridge:Alpha Papa. That may be because we are so familiar with Alan, and he is already a character who we know and love, whereas Thorncroft & Mindhorn are totally new. With that, I urge you to watch both - and I give Mindhorn a solid 9/10! (If you don't like this type of film/comedy though, I feel like you may sit all the way through the film wondering what's going on)
The plot follows Richard Thorncroft (Barratt), who is a failing actor dreaming of any work bigger than a toothpaste advert. His biggest role was as the title character in 80s detective series 'Mindhorn'. Mindhorn's USP is the fact he can see the truth. Thorncroft's agent sorts him out with a job helping the police - there's a killer on the loose on the Isle of Man (Mindhorn's hometown), and he is proposing he will only speak to Mindhorn, despite him being fictional. Thorncroft travels to the island, meeting old flames and work mates whilst trying to solve the murder and catch the killer.
The film was everything I wanted it to be, it was funny, silly, you could even say there was a plot twist - it was truly great and I couldn't stop laughing. I'd honestly watch it again right now, and very few films I feel like I could watch over and over in close proximity. I know in a lot of my reviews I talk about things like morals and character development and interactions and all that rubbish, but there isn't much to say about this film. It simply does what it says on the tin, and it executes it really well. Barratt is so good at playing the 'uncool' character trying to play it cool - Coogan is great as the rival costar. Thorncroft's old stuntman is played by Simon Faranby (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Barratt) - if you are a Boosh fan you may recognise him- and he is excellent part of an interesting love triangle, throwing hilarious insults in Thorncroft's direction.
Mindhorn really did live up to my expectation, it was laugh out loud funny all the way through and just was such a lighthearted easy watch. It hit my idea film time of 1 hour 30 minutes, was full of great comedians and looked like they must have had a great time filming it. My one criticism would be that it wasn't quite as good as Alan Partridge:Alpha Papa. That may be because we are so familiar with Alan, and he is already a character who we know and love, whereas Thorncroft & Mindhorn are totally new. With that, I urge you to watch both - and I give Mindhorn a solid 9/10! (If you don't like this type of film/comedy though, I feel like you may sit all the way through the film wondering what's going on)
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