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Showing posts from 2015

(film review) - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

After spending almost a week, running, ducking, diving, jumping, swimming and rolling away from Star Wars Spoilers EVERYWHERE online, I am glad to say that I have finally watched the film and I loved it.  Yes, there are a few issues with it, but what film is perfect? I saw this film last night and I have spent all day reading and listening to what people thought, their reviews, what they liked and disliked and generally how the film made them feel.   For me, after watching this film, I wanted to see it again.  I will not go into spoilers, but I will try and review this film without giving a lot away. Star Wars VII (7) is about the fall of the Galactic Empire, who inspire a military dictatorship now called the First Order who has begun executing it's plan to depose the New Republic and reclaim control of the galaxy.  The film picks up around 30 years since Return of the Jedi, after the fall of the Galactic Empire and a lot has changed.  Luke Skywalker is missing.  The veterans f

(film review) - The Martian

What have you done for me lately, Ridley? Some of us have these thoughts when we think of Ridley Scott. The guy who brought us some great and classic films such as Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down and American Gangster. So what was your last few films  Exodus: Gods and Kings? The Counselor? Prometheus ? Although I didn’t think Prometheus was that bad, but it wasn't a classic nor great.  So, again. What have you done for me lately, Ridley? Ridley has done, nothing! And people are starting to think that this great director has simply run out of juice. Well, fear not, because The Martian might be his return. The Martian is about a man named Mark Watney (Matt Damon) who with his team are out on a mission on Mars, but becomes stranded by himself when his team leaves him behind. Being the only human on Mars, Mark the Martian must figure out a way to survive and also return back to earth or die on Mars. The premise is pretty simple and with that sa

(film review) - Fantastic 4

I've been watching this develop from when they first announced it. I knew they were going to reboot it at some stage because the previous 2 didn't do that well and had they not rebooted the franchise, the rights would have went back to Marvel. With that said, Fox are having a decent time with X-Men due to First Class and Days of Future Past, but for Fox to keep a hold of their franchises, they will need to make a film every so often or reboot the franchise and do them well. This means, anything Mutant related belongs to Fox and Fox needs to come up with scorchers to keep them or break them up as much as they sensibly can and make great films which brings in money (spin-offs). Deadpool, Gambit and even X-Factor. A New Wolverine is coming but this is meant to be Hugh Jackman's last time. So unless they recast the role, Fox needs to pull more rabbits out of the hat. In Fantastic Four's case, Fox pulled out a Skunk. Fantastic Four is about a man named Franklin Storm

(film review) - Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

I like Tom Cruise, but there are people who don't. I don't know what it is as to why people don't particularly like him, whether it is his face, his acting, his nose, I don't know. I mean, if you don't like him because of his height, then I guess that could be a reason why you may not want to take him seriously, but with prejudices like that, ultimately, you are preventing yourself from having some fun in the cinema. He isn't that much shorter than Robert Downey Jr. and everyone loves Ironman (a 6-footer). An example of fun at the cinema would be, Edge of Tomorrow . The marketing for that film was poor and it made you think it was Oblivion 2 or something. Even though Oblivion wasn't that poor, it just wasn't a great film. Edge of Tomorrow is a great film and it just didn't get the push it really needed, whether you like Tom or not. Excellent story acting and a stunning Emily Blunt. But what I will say is that, Tom knows how to make action movies,

(film review) - Ant-Man

People make me laugh. I mean, I'm not entirely sure what it is, as I have thought about it for a little while, but I can only assume, 'popularity/familiarity'. I'll explain several experiences I have been through recently. Upon watching the trailers, for this film, I have heard from females (might I add) "Ant-Man? Really? No, not watching that?" When I ask, "why not?" and the reply was always "Ant-Man? It sounds stupid! Ant-Man? C'mon!? And he can communicate with Ants? Nope, this sounds stupid". I cannot remember the exact verbatim, but along these lines. I usually laugh it off and encourage them to watch it but, I don't know. However, these same people may love the hell out of a Spider-Man or even Batman? Maybe it is the fact that he communicates with ants or because he can shrink in size. Anyway, I digress. But what I want you to do is, go in with an open mind. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a father who has not been doing well

(film review) - Ted 2

So, we have a sequel to a film about a grown man and his childhood talking teddy bear named Ted . Sometimes I wonder, how people think of these things. Then I wonder, "Ok, fine. So the movie did well, so why a sequel? I'm sure that isn't going to work the second time around." Well, let me tell you. We are 6 months since the previous outing and not a damn thing has changed, well, really.  Ted (Seth MacFarlane) is living with his girlfriend and John (Mark Wahlberg) is living a lonely life without Lori. However, as Teddy is having issues with his wife, Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth), he decides to marry her and have a baby. The only one problem, Ted isn't considered real or better yet, he is not considered a real person. So, John and Ted must find a way to prove Ted can be considered a person with the help of a lawyer named Sam L. Jackson (Amanda Seyfried). What can I say about this film other than, people will ask me if this film is better than the first one, in w

(film review) - Knock Knock

First of all, I do not open my door to anyone. Police, Jehovah's Witness, door-to-door sales (wo) men, Bailiffs, Aunt's, Uncle's, Stray Cats, ANYONE! If I'm not expecting you or you do not call before you arrive, do not expect to gain an answer or entry. With that said, had Keanu Reeves' s character ADOPTED one of my core principles, we would not have a film. So, onwards and upwards aye. Evan Webber (Keanu Reeves) as an architect living happily with his wife and two children. With Both adults being the artistic type, Keanu requires some personal space so he can focus on a project he needs to complete and has the house to himself on Father's Day weekend. His wife Karen (Ignacia Allamand) is awaiting a delivery of a project she is working on but she takes the kids away on a family - planned beach trip whilst Evan can focus over the weekend. Once she is gone, That Night, the door knocks (Knock Knock) during heavy rain and two females was drenched at the do

(film review) - San Andreas

Can The Rock do any wrong? Ummm, of course he can. He is not immune. I mean, there are actors all over the world and Hollywood who do nonsensical films. Maybe just for a paycheck as they simply 'Mail-It-In', but The Rock has been trying to choose his films wisely. I won't mention the film he did with the Lion on his head, Hercules, (Opps, I just did), although, I never saw it, I heard it didn't do very well. Ahh well, I'm kind of glad I didn't as the trailer didn't do much for me anyway. Anyway, this film, San Andreas, a film a lot of people thought it was a film based on a very popular 2004 video game by Rockstar North for the Playstation 2 called Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, this film is NOT that. Raymond "Ray J" Gaines (Dwayne Johnson) is a Los Angeles Fire Department Air Rescue Pilot who does just that, rescue people who are in accidents. He has a wife, Emma (Carla Gugino) and a daughter, Blake (Alexandra Daddario), but their relationship h

(film review) - Mad Max: Fury Road

I'd like to start off by saying, I do not believe I have seen a Mad Max film, ever! As you gasp in disbelief, I'd like to point out that I am completely aware of them and that I have a rough idea about the character's background, but I do not remember watching a single Mad Max film from beginning to end and remembering it. Maybe it was a touch before my time or maybe I just weren't interested, probably the latter. But this film, I will remember. This film is a spectacle. Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) is a Main Force Patrol Officer, haunted by past memories and some may actually deem him as being mad/insane. He is a wanderer of a post apocalyptic wasteland where most of, if not all of the Earth is a desert and civilisation has collapsed. Water is hard to come by and the people who now live on this desecrated planet are fearless, ruthless and will do anything to survive or die for the cause. Max unfortunately, is on the run and trying to escape a situation he got

(film review) - A Royal Night Out

Not something I would have planned to see as I was completely unaware of this films existence. A friend of mine had asked me if I wanted to join them to watch this film and I said, "Yeah, sure" as I wasn't doing anything and well, why not? I do reviews, right? So, as I understand, this film isn't even out yet and I am watching this film based on a special screening, but I won't spoil the film other than give you a general synopsis, what I thought of the film along with the acting and what I got from it. Heir to the British Throne, Princess Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) seems restless with being Royal. Everything she says and does is open to scrutiny which may reflect badly on the Royal Family so there isn't much she can do outside of the royal home. She feels she has no sense of adventure and she cannot be normal. Her sister Margaret (Bel Powley) is the more adventurous, mischievous and care-free out of the two of them and she devises a plan to go out to celebr

(film review) - Avengers: Age of Ultron

The bar has been raised. Joss did such a great job with the first Avengers (Avengers Assemble) movie, that he had to find a way to top himself. Or at least, match bar for bar, his first Avengers film. Did he do it? Well, in Whedon we trust, right? Let's get down to it without any further delay. The Avengers pick up where Captain America: The Winter Soldier left off. If you do not know the Winter Soldier story, shame on you. Basically, the events which occur in that film have a ripple effect which spills out onto the Marvel Cinematic Universe and directly into this film. Just like how the events which occur in the first Avengers film have a ripple effect which spills out onto Ironman 3. Ironman (Robert Downey. Jr), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johanson), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) & Hulk (Mark Ruffulo) are looking for Loki's Scepter which are in the hands of Hydra leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (this was seen in the e

(film review) - John Wick

In film, sometimes the best stories are the ones that are the simpliest.  I can't think of any to hand, but if push comes to shove and of late, maybe Mad Max: Fury Road .  For the spectacle that it is, from what I understood from the story of that particular movie, Max is in a situation and he needs to get from point A to point B. Meets someone along the way who wants to go to point D and he's not too sure about them, but decides to travel with them to help them while they both desperately try to escape an ever engaging and relentless force chasing them. John Wick, well, not quite like that but simple enough with even less moving parts to the story. The general synopsis is, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is a retired family man.  After his wife contracts a terminal illness and leaves John a dog to remember her by, John is soon confronted by Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen), the son of Viggo Tarasov, the head of the Russian crime syndicate in New York. He offers to buy John's car

(film review) - Fast & Furious 7

Fast and Furious 7. Yes, 7! There has been 7 films in vein of speedy cars, daring heists and street fights under the banner, 'Fast', 'Furious' or an amalgam of them both. And to think, who would have even thought this franchise would amount to 7 movies. I'm pretty sure Vincent didn't see this one coming. And having done all these films over a number of years, the stars who brought this together have grown a bond with one another, so with the passing of Paul Walker, mid - shoot, you can only imagine how special this film is to them and the many many fans who adore the franchise. Where the director and studio were in two minds about cancelling the film altogether, they decided to go ahead and complete the movie after their short break and what we got, was a very entertaining and decent film. Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family are attacked very close to home forcing him to retaliate against the previous movies antagonist's older brother Deckard

(film review) - Project Almanac

A film about time travel and the repercussions when you alter the timeline. Something which has been trial and tested over the many years from the day it was first conceived. Many successful films involve time travel. Some are poor in execution and some are just poor. But the ones which are successful, stand the test of time (No pun intended) and are obviously classics in their own right. Back to the Future, The Terminator, 12 Monkeys (Now a TV show in which I am finding hard to follow), Timecop & Looper, just to name a few. But we all know the consequences, right? Aspiring inventor, 17 year old David Raskin (Jonny Weston) is admitted into MIT and upon searching through his attic, he stumbles across an old video camcorder which belonged to his father who hasn't been around for 10 years with a recoding of his 7th Birthday on it. When viewing the recording, he notices both his 7 year old self with his 17 year old self spotted in a reflection. When David and his sister Chris

(film review) - Ex Machina

What have we learnt about artificial intelligence? So many films have covered this and for some reason, like Time - travel, Zombies and Vampires, we do not tire from these stories. I'll ask you again. What have we learnt about artificial intelligence? Well, that it isn't real, yet. What if you are able to create an intelligence soo real, you'd mistake it for real intelligence and not an artificial one. What if you are able to create an intelligence soo real which also inhabits a humanoid body soo real, you'd mistake it for a real organic human being and not an artificial technological construct. Is this a scary thought? Does this intrigue you? The film stars Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) who is a computer programmer who wins a company lottery syndicate which allows him to meet the CEO of his company, Nathan. Nathan is an eccentric genius who lives in the mountains in his plush home with his only assistant, Kyoko and wants Caleb to spend a week there to perform a serie

(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 a

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