The summer revival continues, Toy Story 3, I was never in any doubt that this film would be good, well outstanding. Pixar seem to deliver every time they put a film out, the original Toy Story set the bar, and with each film they raised the bar. With so many films the bar is so high that you’d expect them to fail to achieve the heights of the last. For me Pixar have bettered both the previous Toy Story films but all of their other films as well, that’s some achievement.
The film is beautifully rendered, the animation is amazing as you would expect, and the story takes elements of films 1 and 2 and combines them with elements of The Great Escape. Ending up with one brilliant movie!
The voice cast again are superb, with a great script with lots of funny moments in it. New toys and even a Totoro are seen alongside the regulars of the original films. The story is great and certain scenes towards the end really pull at the heart strings.
The final scene is so perfect and caps a truly remarkable trilogy of films. I hope they do leave it here. The end feels right, and I don’t think they could take it anywhere that one of the 3 films hasn’t been before.
Even the five minutes in the end credits are brilliant.
This is my favourite animated film ever, simply outstanding (10/10)
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Inception
Inception, now I’ve held of jumping into the blog with this review. I’ve been back to see it again before I was sure I wanted to write something about it. The 2nd time was at the IMAX, but that wasn’t the experience I was expecting, but more of the IMAX later.
Christopher Nolan is a director who I have a lot of time for, not only bringing Batman back to life he has also made some extremely good films along his career. Thinking about it his films they are all very strong, clever ideas transferred to film with great skill, possible he is one of the best directors around at this time. He doesn’t rush his visions, his dreams, as with the case with Inception, 10 years in the making from idea to production.
Nolan also does something else many directors miss, he gets the best from his actors, not just the stars but all his cast, they all seem to perform at the top of their game. Nolan also manages to get the best from his scriptwriters as well, which possible helps the actors, I don’t know what it is but the performances are all top notch.
So Inception, a film about dreams, a film about planting an idea in the mind of somebody, an idea which can change them, define them. An original concept or as somebody pointed out to me did Dreamscape already tackle this idea. Anyway Nolan’s dream is here, and that’s just the point, it is his dream. Or this is one theory I’ve formed, I have others but this one I like the most so I’ll run with it.
What got me was how much DiCaprio’s character (Cobb) was like Nolan. I found a set picture of them together and Cobb is Nolan. Nolan is showing me his dream, the director dreaming up his Inception, placing the idea of a film, a story into my mind.
But that could be wrong, that’s the beauty of this film, you can form your own idea and the film still works, the whole film is a dream, only parts are dreams with some reality. I assume Nolan does know the true story, and what his film represents, I would hope he does, maybe it’s something I will find out on the BD release, I do hope so!
I’ve skirted round the theory and I’m going to leave it at that, you make up your own mind. So now to the film………
To me this is a perfect film, I couldn’t really fault it, in-fact I can’t fault it. To me everything was right. The story was engaging, interesting and exciting. The production values are outstanding, the cinematography is stunning, the script is great, giving the actors everything they need to perform and they all perform.
DiCaprio is superb, even outshines his performance in Shutter Island, for me an actor who seems to be improving all the time. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is brilliant as Arthur, another underrated actor. I think his turn in Brick is brilliant. Ellen Page, an actress who can go on to great things, I liked her from Hard Candy and in Inception she again is faultless.
The supporting cast, well not really supporting the rest of the ensemble are all brilliant, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger and Marion Cotillard. Great cast!
And finally the music, another aspect of Nolan’s films which always seem perfect, Hans Zimmer delivers a super soundtrack which captures, the scale and beauty of this film, and adds the final touch to this outstanding motion picture.
Now to the IMAX, the film didn’t suffer, it was the actually experience, or the experience I was expecting. With The Dark Knight, Nolan filmed certain sequences on IMAX reels, and this was what I was expecting again. However he didn’t with this film, so we got a bigger picture and better sound, but not the full IMAX screen, but I can live with that!
(10/10) – And my Number 1 film! EVER!
Christopher Nolan is a director who I have a lot of time for, not only bringing Batman back to life he has also made some extremely good films along his career. Thinking about it his films they are all very strong, clever ideas transferred to film with great skill, possible he is one of the best directors around at this time. He doesn’t rush his visions, his dreams, as with the case with Inception, 10 years in the making from idea to production.
Nolan also does something else many directors miss, he gets the best from his actors, not just the stars but all his cast, they all seem to perform at the top of their game. Nolan also manages to get the best from his scriptwriters as well, which possible helps the actors, I don’t know what it is but the performances are all top notch.
So Inception, a film about dreams, a film about planting an idea in the mind of somebody, an idea which can change them, define them. An original concept or as somebody pointed out to me did Dreamscape already tackle this idea. Anyway Nolan’s dream is here, and that’s just the point, it is his dream. Or this is one theory I’ve formed, I have others but this one I like the most so I’ll run with it.
What got me was how much DiCaprio’s character (Cobb) was like Nolan. I found a set picture of them together and Cobb is Nolan. Nolan is showing me his dream, the director dreaming up his Inception, placing the idea of a film, a story into my mind.
But that could be wrong, that’s the beauty of this film, you can form your own idea and the film still works, the whole film is a dream, only parts are dreams with some reality. I assume Nolan does know the true story, and what his film represents, I would hope he does, maybe it’s something I will find out on the BD release, I do hope so!
I’ve skirted round the theory and I’m going to leave it at that, you make up your own mind. So now to the film………
To me this is a perfect film, I couldn’t really fault it, in-fact I can’t fault it. To me everything was right. The story was engaging, interesting and exciting. The production values are outstanding, the cinematography is stunning, the script is great, giving the actors everything they need to perform and they all perform.
DiCaprio is superb, even outshines his performance in Shutter Island, for me an actor who seems to be improving all the time. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is brilliant as Arthur, another underrated actor. I think his turn in Brick is brilliant. Ellen Page, an actress who can go on to great things, I liked her from Hard Candy and in Inception she again is faultless.
The supporting cast, well not really supporting the rest of the ensemble are all brilliant, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger and Marion Cotillard. Great cast!
And finally the music, another aspect of Nolan’s films which always seem perfect, Hans Zimmer delivers a super soundtrack which captures, the scale and beauty of this film, and adds the final touch to this outstanding motion picture.
Now to the IMAX, the film didn’t suffer, it was the actually experience, or the experience I was expecting. With The Dark Knight, Nolan filmed certain sequences on IMAX reels, and this was what I was expecting again. However he didn’t with this film, so we got a bigger picture and better sound, but not the full IMAX screen, but I can live with that!
(10/10) – And my Number 1 film! EVER!
Friday 16 July 2010
Get him to the Greek
Not being a massive Russell Brand fan, I was not going to let that put me off. I did like his turn in his first role as Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but then again the film wasn't about him. Here we have 1 hour 30 minutes of Brand, but I went in with an open mind.
Directed by Nicholas Stoller (Yes Man) and starring Brand(Sarah Marshall), Jonah Hill (Sarah Marshall - as somebody else) and Rose Byrne(Knowing),
Most of the time it was good, the rest of the time is was below average. Brand and Hill were good but both seemed stifled by an average script. Some of the slap stick comedy was funny, but nothing in the film had me in fits of laughter, a few giggles here and there.
But like most of these comedies the sentiment over took the comedy and the plot as the film neared it's final scenes. If I had laughed more or even liked the characters more the sentiment might have worked, but it ended up being just another "above average film", which is a shame because it had so much potential.
Overall a few funny moments, but the script was a letdown in the end (6/10)
Directed by Nicholas Stoller (Yes Man) and starring Brand(Sarah Marshall), Jonah Hill (Sarah Marshall - as somebody else) and Rose Byrne(Knowing),
Most of the time it was good, the rest of the time is was below average. Brand and Hill were good but both seemed stifled by an average script. Some of the slap stick comedy was funny, but nothing in the film had me in fits of laughter, a few giggles here and there.
But like most of these comedies the sentiment over took the comedy and the plot as the film neared it's final scenes. If I had laughed more or even liked the characters more the sentiment might have worked, but it ended up being just another "above average film", which is a shame because it had so much potential.
Overall a few funny moments, but the script was a letdown in the end (6/10)
Monday 12 July 2010
Predators
Well the summer continues with another average, well just above average film,with Predators. A sequel in many ways to one of my all time favourite films. Predators does it's best to re-light a franchise which lost it's way in it's true sequel and then wound up having to share screen time with one of the greatest sci-fi monsters ever in Alien Vs Predator, the game is great and that's where it should have stayed!
OK I'm being a little harsh on this film, it's not bad, it just lacks so much that the original had. A group of people who you like and actually care what happens to them, the new crew had no one at all I liked and that I wanted to see at the final credits. Not enough action, the film takes a long time to kick into gear, and when it does it soon takes it's foot of the peddle. When the original got going the tension grew and grew to the final fight. Other things like the script, the casting, Adrien Brody just wasn't right, he looked the part just didn't sound right or maybe that was the script!
The Laurence Fishburne part was a little strange as well and only slowed the film down again. And finally the music just didn't seem to fit the film, so that's a soundtrack I won't be getting any time soon!
Directed by Nimrod Antal (Armoured), and produced by Robert Rodriguez, with Adrien Brody (Splice), Topher Grace, Alice Braga and Laurence Fishburne.
Overall Topher Grace did the best job, the direction was good, the script average, the music no good, but the Predators looked the part. Yes the actually Predators were good, just a pity we didn't see enough!
(6/10)
OK I'm being a little harsh on this film, it's not bad, it just lacks so much that the original had. A group of people who you like and actually care what happens to them, the new crew had no one at all I liked and that I wanted to see at the final credits. Not enough action, the film takes a long time to kick into gear, and when it does it soon takes it's foot of the peddle. When the original got going the tension grew and grew to the final fight. Other things like the script, the casting, Adrien Brody just wasn't right, he looked the part just didn't sound right or maybe that was the script!
The Laurence Fishburne part was a little strange as well and only slowed the film down again. And finally the music just didn't seem to fit the film, so that's a soundtrack I won't be getting any time soon!
Directed by Nimrod Antal (Armoured), and produced by Robert Rodriguez, with Adrien Brody (Splice), Topher Grace, Alice Braga and Laurence Fishburne.
Overall Topher Grace did the best job, the direction was good, the script average, the music no good, but the Predators looked the part. Yes the actually Predators were good, just a pity we didn't see enough!
(6/10)
Friday 9 July 2010
The Hangover (BD)
I’ve been meaning to watch this for a while, having picked it on BD a few months ago. So last night I made the effort.
I’m always worried about comedies, how will I re-act on the 2nd viewing, whereas I was laughing out loud in the cinema, would I be reduced to a mere chuckle.
No! I still laughed out loud a lot last night, and really did enjoy it again.
It looks great on Blu-Ray and is the first film I’ve seen where it’s not about the CGI or action sequences. I was impressed. The sound was very good as well. However I couldn’t get the PIP commentary to work. I will have another go sometime!
The gag reel was pretty funny as well, in fact very funny in places. Check out the scene in the hospital with the old man……..
Overall still funny and very entertaining (9/10)
I’m always worried about comedies, how will I re-act on the 2nd viewing, whereas I was laughing out loud in the cinema, would I be reduced to a mere chuckle.
No! I still laughed out loud a lot last night, and really did enjoy it again.
It looks great on Blu-Ray and is the first film I’ve seen where it’s not about the CGI or action sequences. I was impressed. The sound was very good as well. However I couldn’t get the PIP commentary to work. I will have another go sometime!
The gag reel was pretty funny as well, in fact very funny in places. Check out the scene in the hospital with the old man……..
Overall still funny and very entertaining (9/10)
Wednesday 7 July 2010
Primer (DVD)
One of the lads in the office kept on at me to watch this claiming I would struggle to understand it. And he was right, not a clue what was going on at the end!
First of the film is very low budget, but that seemed to give it all it’s charm. I also think it’s a mood film; you have to want to watch it and need to pay attention. I reckon I missed some clues along the way, either in the dialogue or visually.
As I said if you are not in the right frame of mind, I reckon it just wouldn’t have the same impact or you would be just bored of it.
Well I was in the right mind set, I watched trying to pick up clues, but as the film went on, I just lost the plot! But this didn’t deter from the fact that I still enjoyed it.
I will need to watch it again; I know I do maybe even a 3rd or 4th time as I’m not sure I will even get it on the next viewing.
I’m not going into the film – just watch it!
Directed, written, produced and starring Shane Carruth, he does a really good job in all departments, the main other cast member is David Sullivan, again I thought he was very good as well.
Overall (8/10)
Tuesday 6 July 2010
FrightFest 2010 - The Films
Well last Friday, the 2nd of July was a date in many a Frightfesters diary, reminders would have been set for just before 2 that afternoon. All waiting and wondering what crazy gore filled films they would be seeing at the end of August.
2pm came and I was ready on the films page of frighfest, and 2 minutes early it appeared, 24 films and 2 documentaries in the main screen along with 10 films in the discovery screen.
For this years films I’ve decided to avoid trailers, write ups and reviews and as you will see there are a lot of films I will be seeing cold………
So here we go!
Thursday
Hatchet 2 Adam Greens sequel opens the festival. I liked the first one, a homage to slasher movies, on a low budget, it was clichéd but it never took it’s self too seriously.
Primal I know nothing about this film.
Dead Cert I did see the trailer for this abut 2 weeks ago while looking through the horror web sites. It looks ok, vampires in the East End!
Friday
Eggshells As this is Tobe Hooper Day! We are being shown one of his early films, rarely seen on screen, sounds like something to say yes I’ve seen that! As for the film again I don’t know much.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Who hasn’t heard of this film, many consider this film one of the greatest horror movies ever. I’m not sure however it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen it. Maybe on the big screen plus the frightfest crowd it could be a whole new experience.
Tobe Hooper – Q&A
Isle of Dogs May have seen a teaser for this, looked a little brutal and I think it’s British but could be wrong.
F Unknown!
Red Hill Another Unknown!
Alien Vs Ninja Unknown, except it will be a gore fest!
Saturday
Cherry Tree Lane Nope nothing on this.
The Tortured I have noticed the DVD on play but it’s not out till September so hadn’t paid it too much attention.
13 Hours And another one I know nothing about.
I Spit on your Grave Infamous video nasty, remade!
Monsters Now I do know about this one and it sounds brilliant.
Dream Home Nothing but from the timing I could guess it’s not western!
Sunday
The Pack I could assume a werewolf film.
Andy Nyman (actor) quiz and shorts
I think I will be nipping into the Discovery screen round about this time to see Outcast.
We are what we are And I have no idea what they could be!
Kaboom Nothing, I couldn’t even hazard a guess!
A Serbian Film Now I’ve had to look this up, as this is the talk of the festival. It sounds grim, sick and something a horror fan should see and maybe never see again.
The Loved Ones You would be hoping for a comedy right about now! Well Horror-Comedy! No idea!
Monday
Video Nasties Documentary and Q & A And off to the Discovery screen to see Amer!
The Dead And a zombie flick, at a guess.
Bedevilled I know nothing!
Red White and Blue And I have no Idea.
The Last Exorcism All I know is I could throw up! And not because of the 25 films before but because it’s hand held and I hate it!
So as you can see I know nothing about nearly all of this years films and I think I’ll keep it that way………………..
2pm came and I was ready on the films page of frighfest, and 2 minutes early it appeared, 24 films and 2 documentaries in the main screen along with 10 films in the discovery screen.
For this years films I’ve decided to avoid trailers, write ups and reviews and as you will see there are a lot of films I will be seeing cold………
So here we go!
Thursday
Hatchet 2 Adam Greens sequel opens the festival. I liked the first one, a homage to slasher movies, on a low budget, it was clichéd but it never took it’s self too seriously.
Primal I know nothing about this film.
Dead Cert I did see the trailer for this abut 2 weeks ago while looking through the horror web sites. It looks ok, vampires in the East End!
Friday
Eggshells As this is Tobe Hooper Day! We are being shown one of his early films, rarely seen on screen, sounds like something to say yes I’ve seen that! As for the film again I don’t know much.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Who hasn’t heard of this film, many consider this film one of the greatest horror movies ever. I’m not sure however it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen it. Maybe on the big screen plus the frightfest crowd it could be a whole new experience.
Tobe Hooper – Q&A
Isle of Dogs May have seen a teaser for this, looked a little brutal and I think it’s British but could be wrong.
F Unknown!
Red Hill Another Unknown!
Alien Vs Ninja Unknown, except it will be a gore fest!
Saturday
Cherry Tree Lane Nope nothing on this.
The Tortured I have noticed the DVD on play but it’s not out till September so hadn’t paid it too much attention.
13 Hours And another one I know nothing about.
I Spit on your Grave Infamous video nasty, remade!
Monsters Now I do know about this one and it sounds brilliant.
Dream Home Nothing but from the timing I could guess it’s not western!
Sunday
The Pack I could assume a werewolf film.
Andy Nyman (actor) quiz and shorts
I think I will be nipping into the Discovery screen round about this time to see Outcast.
We are what we are And I have no idea what they could be!
Kaboom Nothing, I couldn’t even hazard a guess!
A Serbian Film Now I’ve had to look this up, as this is the talk of the festival. It sounds grim, sick and something a horror fan should see and maybe never see again.
The Loved Ones You would be hoping for a comedy right about now! Well Horror-Comedy! No idea!
Monday
Video Nasties Documentary and Q & A And off to the Discovery screen to see Amer!
The Dead And a zombie flick, at a guess.
Bedevilled I know nothing!
Red White and Blue And I have no Idea.
The Last Exorcism All I know is I could throw up! And not because of the 25 films before but because it’s hand held and I hate it!
So as you can see I know nothing about nearly all of this years films and I think I’ll keep it that way………………..
The Collector
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Horror film, and I had heard some good things about The Collector. Written by the pair behind the later Saw films, this sounded like it could be good.
Directed by Marcus Dunstan and starring Josh Stewart in the lead followed by a cast of TV stars, including Madeline Zima, Daniela Alonso and Andrea Roth. The film opens well, sets the scene for what’s to come and delivers really well. This is a gory film in the end, and fans of Saw should feel right at home with the blood and guts. Some of the traps built from everyday household objects are a little OTT but this is the movies!
However my favourite part was the cat and mouse scenes when Stewart’s character is trying to avoid the collector as he tries to escape. Once the cat knows the mouse is in the house all hell breaks loose, the gore starts the bodies mount up and we are in typical horror film territory for the final act.
The script and story are mostly redundant from the time Stewart’s character arrives at the house, the music was ok, but I can’t remember too much off it.
Overall I did like this film, it’s a clichéd horror movie, but it’s rare to find a horror movie which isn’t. The acting was pretty good and I liked most of the traps. The gore was a little excessive but nothing I’ve not seen before.
(8/10)
Directed by Marcus Dunstan and starring Josh Stewart in the lead followed by a cast of TV stars, including Madeline Zima, Daniela Alonso and Andrea Roth. The film opens well, sets the scene for what’s to come and delivers really well. This is a gory film in the end, and fans of Saw should feel right at home with the blood and guts. Some of the traps built from everyday household objects are a little OTT but this is the movies!
However my favourite part was the cat and mouse scenes when Stewart’s character is trying to avoid the collector as he tries to escape. Once the cat knows the mouse is in the house all hell breaks loose, the gore starts the bodies mount up and we are in typical horror film territory for the final act.
The script and story are mostly redundant from the time Stewart’s character arrives at the house, the music was ok, but I can’t remember too much off it.
Overall I did like this film, it’s a clichéd horror movie, but it’s rare to find a horror movie which isn’t. The acting was pretty good and I liked most of the traps. The gore was a little excessive but nothing I’ve not seen before.
(8/10)
Wild Target
To say I was a little disappointed is true I was expecting a lot more, then again maybe I should have known it would be a subtle British comedy with a little slap stick comedy and set my sights on that. However I do like Emily Blunt and did wonder how Rupert Grint would fair outside Hogwarts, so it was always worth seeing.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring the two mentioned along with Bill Nighy, Rupert Everett, Eileen Atkins and Martin Freeman. The cast are all ok and they all performed the comedy well, it’s just it was just a little too subtle at times, which I found funnier than the slap stick comedy. So I felt I was laughing out of turn with the small audience in the cinema. In the end I just laughed to myself!!!!
Emily Blunt was good along with Nighy, I did like his character. Grint faired well outside of Hogwarts, he should be ok when that ends next year. Freeman was ok as the cocky hitman
I do think the writing was aimed at Nighy and he got the better lines through out the film.
In all it was well directed, acted, can’t remember the soundtrack so that must have been rubbish! The plot was ok, nothing outstanding, so overall 7/10.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring the two mentioned along with Bill Nighy, Rupert Everett, Eileen Atkins and Martin Freeman. The cast are all ok and they all performed the comedy well, it’s just it was just a little too subtle at times, which I found funnier than the slap stick comedy. So I felt I was laughing out of turn with the small audience in the cinema. In the end I just laughed to myself!!!!
Emily Blunt was good along with Nighy, I did like his character. Grint faired well outside of Hogwarts, he should be ok when that ends next year. Freeman was ok as the cocky hitman
I do think the writing was aimed at Nighy and he got the better lines through out the film.
In all it was well directed, acted, can’t remember the soundtrack so that must have been rubbish! The plot was ok, nothing outstanding, so overall 7/10.
Brooklyn’s Finest
Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) directs this gritty New York cop film, set in the world of drugs, slavery and undercover cops. It features a strong cast, who all perform really well to a solid script. But it isn’t a prefect film, and I can’t decide if the story falls apart in the middle or the pacing is wrong.
Yet this doesn’t spoil the overall effort and it is a solid drama.
Richard Gere is good as the retiring officer with a drink problem, Don Cheadle is always good, well has been in his last few films. Wesley Snipes gets into a decent role at last and reminds me of his turn in New Jack City. Ethan Hawke was the star for me as the cop on the edge trying to support an ever growing family.
The main characters are also supported well by Will Patton, Lili Taylor and Ellen Barkin.
The direction is very good, and the cinematography as well, along with a fine musical score this should have been a superb film. Instead I’m left with a really good film weighed down in the middle by either the pacing or the story…….
Overall 8/10 and a missed opportunity to have a created a classic cop drama.
Yet this doesn’t spoil the overall effort and it is a solid drama.
Richard Gere is good as the retiring officer with a drink problem, Don Cheadle is always good, well has been in his last few films. Wesley Snipes gets into a decent role at last and reminds me of his turn in New Jack City. Ethan Hawke was the star for me as the cop on the edge trying to support an ever growing family.
The main characters are also supported well by Will Patton, Lili Taylor and Ellen Barkin.
The direction is very good, and the cinematography as well, along with a fine musical score this should have been a superb film. Instead I’m left with a really good film weighed down in the middle by either the pacing or the story…….
Overall 8/10 and a missed opportunity to have a created a classic cop drama.
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