(film review) - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

I have read a lot of columns and articles revolving around a lot of what people have been stating about this film. Apparently it is a parody of sorts of the main actors life. And after viewing this film, I guess I am at liberty to say, I somewhat agree. To an extent of course. Fortunately, this film came out a lot later over her in the UK due to it's limited release in the states.

You need to be of a certain age to remember Tim Burton's Batman It starred Michael Keaton and Jack Nicolson. These days, people only talk about Christopher Nolan's Batman and if you are lucky or unlucky, you might have caught Val Kilmer or George Clooney's Batman. Although Nolan's Batman Trilogy was great, Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns were great films, however, Keaton didn't return after Returns. They are deemed by most, the original Batman films and arguably, Keaton was the best Batman, EVER! Obviously this is subjective and open to debate. It came out in 1989 and although I can proudly say that I didn't see the film when it came out, I did however watch it on my cousins VHS.

This film is about a man named Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton) who is a washed up hollywood actor trying to get back on track to where he used to be in life. Infamous for playing the role of Birdman, a fictional superhero character which has grossed him popularity and success decades earlier, Riggan wants to reinvent his career by writing, directing and starring in his own Broadway Production. His best friend and lawyer, Jake (Zach ) tries to help him where he can and give him good advice while he is struggling with the production involving problems with the actors. Riggan employs Mike (Edward Norton) a method actor to help resolve this issue. Riggan also struggles with his daughter, Sam (Emma Stone) and the relationship they have together, not to mention that the grand opening is in a few weeks, the previews have been terrible and an influential critic promises to write a negative review, just because she doesn't like Riggan. It is a lot to take in and deal with for Riggan, not to mention the good old glory days being Birdman. Is it time for the Birdman to resurface?

Not to give too much away, this film is an oddly laced black comedy where the location is set on and around the set. Cleverly directed with very clever screenshots. When you go to watch it, I want you to count how man times the camera changed angles. Now I don't mean pan into an angle, I mean change. Film does it all the time, however, this film comes across like one long consistent shot that continues moving. A bit like what Gravity did, but I felt that this film was soo much better due to the dynamic characters and how they used the technique. There is soo much things going on and soo many clever things to see, hear and laugh at. You might even cry during the course of this film, but if you find yourself unable to get into it, you must enjoy the actors and their efforts to bringing their characters and this screenplay to life. Excellent. From the trailers, you aren't particularly shown what this film is about other than a few laughs here and there and a fight, but once you watch this film, you WILL enjoy it. If you don't, I dare you to leave halfway through the film. The actors deserve their nominations for awards, the director and the film. Brilliantly written and directed. I can't really think of anything else to say other than go and see it. It's really really good! Quite possibly one of the best films I've seen this year. I know, we've just started.

(film review) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

For as far back as I can remember, I was a TMNT's fan. Well to an extent anyway. I don't remember having the toys but I remember which ones were which, which ones I liked and why. I remember my first gaming console, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) had a Turtles game with it I got for my birthday. That game was cool. I remember going to the Arcades at the seaside and playing the 4-Player Turtles game where you had to save April O'Neil from the evil clutches of Shredder. Nearly every little boy had a Turtles T-Shirt and quite possibly, the bumbag and over little kiddie stuff, like Lunch Box etc. In more recent years, I got the 4-Player Turtle game I tried to play in the Arcade when I was younger, on my Xbox360 and I also got some other Turtles game (Turtles in Time) I think it was. So, imagine my excitement, being a slight fan, that they were doing another film. Yes, I was happy. The first film which came out in 1990 is older than dirt now. A reboot was indeed necessary and only if it is to be done right. Was this done right? Yes indeed it was. Yes indeed it was.

This film is about four teenage mutant ninja turtles who get rumbled trying to clear the streets from the evil footclan by budding up and coming reporter, April O'Neil (Megan Fox). When trying to convince her boss Bernadette Thompson (Whoopi Goldberg) that the mutant turtles are real to no avail, she convinces her cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to speak with Eric Sacks. Shortly, Shredder comes out of hiding with his footclan hunting for the Turtles, their demise as well as a sinister plan to unleashing a deadly toxin into the city.

Without going into too much about the film, this is how a film based on a old comic or old 80's cartoon should be done. I'm looking at you Transformers. There was a story, there was action, it was evenly paced, it was funny, Megan Fox didn't suck as badly as she has previously in her career and the special effects were excellent. Lots of fun and action, just like the cartoon and the games. Fun and Action. Every aspect of the Turtles were captured down to a tee. Their personalities were spot on and even Master Splinter was great. There is a lot more which they can address in the possible sequels to come, but other than that, this was a really entertaining and thrilling journey back to loving something I used to love as a little boy. Should they do a sequel, they need to add more mutants and I most definitely need to see Krang and the Technodome. If no Technodome, Bebop and Rocksteady need to be in the mix.

Not excellent but you will have fun. Enjoy.

(film review) - Horrible Bosses 2

So I've committed a sin. Well sort of. I went to the cinema to watch this film recently and I hadn't seen the previous film. This is something I don't often do. I don't go into the cinema to watch sequels to a film I have not seen before, but on this one occasion, I made an exception.
I didn't know anything about the characters and the roles they may play or how their characters were in this film in comparison to the previous film, but I must say that this film was a good great watch.

Having worked previously for horrible bosses (Horrible Bosses), the 3 friends, Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman), Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) decide to come together to own their own business and be their own boss. They think of their own product to sell but do not have the money to fund it. As they are looking for investors for their product, they approach Burt Hanson (Christoph Waltz) and his son Rex (Chris Pine) in which Burt makes a deal with them and they start hiring staff, manufacturing the product and are ready for distribution. However, at last minute, Burt backs out of the deal leaving them in debt. Feeling cheated, angry and wanting revenge, the bumbling trio devise a plan with the help of Dean 'MF' Jones (Jamie Foxx) to get the money so they can pay for their product and get out of debt.

Now, I hadn't seen the previous film so I had no idea what to expect and although I heard the first film was decent, I didn't know enough about the characters to understand them. With that said, you don't need to see the first film as this film is a stand alone film which does not need the prequel for you to understand why the 3 bumbling idiots are they way they are and to why they are such idiots. This is shown throughout the film as well as constantly reminded by a previous boss from the first film. I mean, I cannot stress enough how stupid these guys are. I wouldn't say that they are completely dumb. They aren't Harry and Lloyd, but damn, they are pretty stupid. But if anything, I see them as, one smart guy, one semi-smart guy and one non-smart guy and because they encourage each other on what are seen as good ideas at the time, and the fact that they are very close friends, their plans often fall apart, repeatedly.

All the actors play their parts well and the dialogue in this film is amazing. Very smart, witty and funny. I couldn't help but laugh at the antics and stupidity of this film and although, not the funniest film I found this year, 22 Jump Street has taken that crown for me, but this film was a very decent watch and if you enjoyed the first film, you will enjoy this one (I watched the first one before I wrote this review)