Caught the Grindhouse wanna-be film Machete last night.......... adapted into a film from the fake trailer as seen in the Grindhouse double bill by Robert Rodreiguz.
I was looking forward to this a lot, great cast, a typical QT move by Robert Rodreiquz to employ some "has" been a-actors and give them some new fire! Don Johnson, Seagal and De Niro (even if I think De Niro was still not that great) add in some uber cool b-movie actors, like Danny Trejo, Alba, Fahey (who I thought was great!) Cheech Marin and Michelle Rodriguez and you have a top grindhouse cast list!
Trouble is as good as some of it was, it didn't play out like the two grindhouse movies, Deathproof and Planet Terror, they are superb, this was just about good! It had it's fair share of moments, but it was too polished, too clean, it felt like a studio film just a little too much. Giving it that poor quality look the bad cuts and the awful music would have helped it so much. But I can see why the studio didn't want that look after the flop which was Grindhouse!
But it's not all bad - lots of T&A, lots of violence and some funny moments (even thought I expected more than there was!) It worked enough for me to enjoy it.
(7/10)
Tuesday 30 November 2010
Sunday 28 November 2010
Unstoppable
I do like Tony Scott's recent films, and I was looking forward to this one. A runaway train travelling into a highly populated area needs to be stopped.
What I did like was the look of the film, the train, the actors.
What I didn't like was the stereotypical characters and the cliched ending.
This was a pretty intense ride, Scott skipped the character lead ins, and got straight down to the action. He gave us glimpses of the day in the life of a train driver and conductor, but his star of the film was his train. It looked and sounded impressive as it thundered through the film, and Scott really drove home the destructive force that a train this size is.
Chris Pine and Washington worked fine for me, even if Washington never got out of 1st gear, then again the story and the script didn't play on the characters too much, this wasn't about acting, this was about the train!
I really like the look of Scott's films, this one not as flashy as Man on Fire, but the editing was sharp, a little too sharp in some places, leaving the action a little disjointed and it lost some of it's impact. I'm talking about the train full of children, it's never really made clear just how close it was. But this is a minor quibble, the rest of the film is a blast. Real edge of the seat stuff.
Solid entertainment (9/10)
What I did like was the look of the film, the train, the actors.
What I didn't like was the stereotypical characters and the cliched ending.
This was a pretty intense ride, Scott skipped the character lead ins, and got straight down to the action. He gave us glimpses of the day in the life of a train driver and conductor, but his star of the film was his train. It looked and sounded impressive as it thundered through the film, and Scott really drove home the destructive force that a train this size is.
Chris Pine and Washington worked fine for me, even if Washington never got out of 1st gear, then again the story and the script didn't play on the characters too much, this wasn't about acting, this was about the train!
I really like the look of Scott's films, this one not as flashy as Man on Fire, but the editing was sharp, a little too sharp in some places, leaving the action a little disjointed and it lost some of it's impact. I'm talking about the train full of children, it's never really made clear just how close it was. But this is a minor quibble, the rest of the film is a blast. Real edge of the seat stuff.
Solid entertainment (9/10)
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Harry Potter again!
I have to say it held my attention just as much the 2nd time. Still think Radcliffe is the poorest of the 3 actors, but listening to the script more it was quite stilted.
Didn't get any worse, but I didn't see anything else in it to make it any better!
(7/10)
Didn't get any worse, but I didn't see anything else in it to make it any better!
(7/10)
Saturday 20 November 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
First of the final installement of the Harry Potter franchise!
The end is near!
Harry Potter, 9 years it has taken to get to this point, some of the films have been great some average, but for the readers some just too much has been missed out. Not that I care, I haven't read the books and don't intend to now. I get the gist of the story! Even if it's all very Lord of the rings! I can live with just seeing the films!
Anyway the film, it's not bad, better than the last one, not by a lot, but enough. It kept my attention and my eldest liked it as well, again more than the previous one!
It's more of a setup for the final battle, with a lot of running around and not really doing much, a bit of humour to lighten a very dark mood, but not enough to spoil the atmosphere, which is becoming very heavy and dark.
However even in this day and age, they still managed to use some rather shabby special effects, the chase at the start is littered with poor effects shots, the bit in the tunnel, the worst of them all!
The story does feel disjointed at times, and never really flows, things just seem to happen, maybe it's down to bad editing, or just a bad writing! But still there is enough to like in this film.
Radcliffe is still very wooden, Watson is superb even if she's competing with Stewart (Twilight) for the most angst teen girl in cinema at the moment! She is really running Stewart a fine race, though I've not seen the 3rd Twilight yet! Grint gets better again, along with Watson he has matured as an actor! The rest of the cast are bit parts, and there are so many of them as well. But this film belongs to the 3 main stars, I would say they have 70% of the screen time, the rest fight for scraps! Which is a shame because it's a very strong supporting cast!
Is it going to go out with a bang - Yes I would say so!
Am I glad it's nearly all over - Yes I am!
(7/10)
The end is near!
Harry Potter, 9 years it has taken to get to this point, some of the films have been great some average, but for the readers some just too much has been missed out. Not that I care, I haven't read the books and don't intend to now. I get the gist of the story! Even if it's all very Lord of the rings! I can live with just seeing the films!
Anyway the film, it's not bad, better than the last one, not by a lot, but enough. It kept my attention and my eldest liked it as well, again more than the previous one!
It's more of a setup for the final battle, with a lot of running around and not really doing much, a bit of humour to lighten a very dark mood, but not enough to spoil the atmosphere, which is becoming very heavy and dark.
However even in this day and age, they still managed to use some rather shabby special effects, the chase at the start is littered with poor effects shots, the bit in the tunnel, the worst of them all!
The story does feel disjointed at times, and never really flows, things just seem to happen, maybe it's down to bad editing, or just a bad writing! But still there is enough to like in this film.
Radcliffe is still very wooden, Watson is superb even if she's competing with Stewart (Twilight) for the most angst teen girl in cinema at the moment! She is really running Stewart a fine race, though I've not seen the 3rd Twilight yet! Grint gets better again, along with Watson he has matured as an actor! The rest of the cast are bit parts, and there are so many of them as well. But this film belongs to the 3 main stars, I would say they have 70% of the screen time, the rest fight for scraps! Which is a shame because it's a very strong supporting cast!
Is it going to go out with a bang - Yes I would say so!
Am I glad it's nearly all over - Yes I am!
(7/10)
Friday 19 November 2010
Jackass 3D
Last night caught the 3D Jackass film!
What's it about? A bunch of crazy men doing some stupid, crazy, sick stunts for laughs.
Summary: Jackass started life on MTV, and has become a massive show for MTV, and spawned 3 films, the latest being shot in glorious 3D. It's an acquired taste for the most part, but some of it is just so funny, this is every grown man's dream. To act 13 all your life. Yet some of these stunts are plain dangerous, getting in front of a charging bull, wouldn't be on my list of things to do, in fact nothing I saw in this film as funny as it was would I even attempt by myself or against someone else. Maybe due to the fact I couldn't afford to rig half the stunts up anyway!
Back to the film, it's not a film to really like, it's just funny in a major slapstick way! Some of it is vile, but caught up in the film you can't help but laugh (even if the guy over my shoulder kept retching!!) Seriously thought we were going to have our own live vomit scene in the cinema! Lucky for me he kept control of himself!
But to say I didn't like it is wrong - I did like, because I laughed till my sides hurt, my throat became sore and tears rolled down my face. And so the film succeeded in doing what it intended to do, and I loved nearly all of it!
FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY (9/10)
What's it about? A bunch of crazy men doing some stupid, crazy, sick stunts for laughs.
Summary: Jackass started life on MTV, and has become a massive show for MTV, and spawned 3 films, the latest being shot in glorious 3D. It's an acquired taste for the most part, but some of it is just so funny, this is every grown man's dream. To act 13 all your life. Yet some of these stunts are plain dangerous, getting in front of a charging bull, wouldn't be on my list of things to do, in fact nothing I saw in this film as funny as it was would I even attempt by myself or against someone else. Maybe due to the fact I couldn't afford to rig half the stunts up anyway!
Back to the film, it's not a film to really like, it's just funny in a major slapstick way! Some of it is vile, but caught up in the film you can't help but laugh (even if the guy over my shoulder kept retching!!) Seriously thought we were going to have our own live vomit scene in the cinema! Lucky for me he kept control of himself!
But to say I didn't like it is wrong - I did like, because I laughed till my sides hurt, my throat became sore and tears rolled down my face. And so the film succeeded in doing what it intended to do, and I loved nearly all of it!
FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY (9/10)
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Skyline
Alien Invasion along the lins of ID4, looked good from the trailers, but the reviews were rubbish!
What's it about? An alien invasion!
Cast: Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson, Brittany Daniel, Crystal Reed and Donald Fasion
Written by Joshua Cordes and Liam O'Donnell
Soundtrack by Matthew Margeson
Directed by The Strause Brothers
What I liked? Most of the special effects.
What I didn't like? The script, the acting, the story, the lack of interest and the what the hell was that ending!
Summary: The trailer was cut to perfection, it looked good, didn't give that much away and I was looking forward to this. Then the reviews started, it didn't sound promising at all, in fact it sounded like a disaster!
All I have to say is thank God I have a Cineworld Card, I would have been gutted to pay full price for this! Not even the really good SFX was enough to for the price of a ticket!
I don't think I've seen so many ideas pumped into one film, but they are not just ideas I am talking about things taken from other films. Skyline borrows heavily from a number of SCI-FI classics, the Matrix, ID4 and Cloverfield, but ends up in a complete mess. As they say too many cooks!!
What didn't help this film as well, is the complete lack of any intelligent writing or plot, ok plot can be quite simple - Survive the alien attack! But if that's the story then you need characters you care for, or like a little bit. Here we have a group of 20 year olds who are dumb, never mind can't act out of a paper bag. They make silly decisions, they have no emotional depth, and you can't wait to see them get sucked up by one of the many aliens roaming the streets or flying through the air!
And to top it all it's not even exciting, the biggest jump is an old man and his dog!!!! Their is no tension at all in this film, no panic, no sense of the end of the world. Just these idiots in their pent house!
And then we come to the ending, which I can't really go into except its, "Really you have to be joking me, that's the silliest thing I've ever seen!" And it is! I just hope they don't do a 2nd one!
Summary Bar some very good looking SFX this film was a complete and utter mess (2/10)
What's it about? An alien invasion!
Cast: Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson, Brittany Daniel, Crystal Reed and Donald Fasion
Written by Joshua Cordes and Liam O'Donnell
Soundtrack by Matthew Margeson
Directed by The Strause Brothers
What I liked? Most of the special effects.
What I didn't like? The script, the acting, the story, the lack of interest and the what the hell was that ending!
Summary: The trailer was cut to perfection, it looked good, didn't give that much away and I was looking forward to this. Then the reviews started, it didn't sound promising at all, in fact it sounded like a disaster!
All I have to say is thank God I have a Cineworld Card, I would have been gutted to pay full price for this! Not even the really good SFX was enough to for the price of a ticket!
I don't think I've seen so many ideas pumped into one film, but they are not just ideas I am talking about things taken from other films. Skyline borrows heavily from a number of SCI-FI classics, the Matrix, ID4 and Cloverfield, but ends up in a complete mess. As they say too many cooks!!
What didn't help this film as well, is the complete lack of any intelligent writing or plot, ok plot can be quite simple - Survive the alien attack! But if that's the story then you need characters you care for, or like a little bit. Here we have a group of 20 year olds who are dumb, never mind can't act out of a paper bag. They make silly decisions, they have no emotional depth, and you can't wait to see them get sucked up by one of the many aliens roaming the streets or flying through the air!
And to top it all it's not even exciting, the biggest jump is an old man and his dog!!!! Their is no tension at all in this film, no panic, no sense of the end of the world. Just these idiots in their pent house!
And then we come to the ending, which I can't really go into except its, "Really you have to be joking me, that's the silliest thing I've ever seen!" And it is! I just hope they don't do a 2nd one!
Summary Bar some very good looking SFX this film was a complete and utter mess (2/10)
Sunday 14 November 2010
Due Date
The other night caught the road-trip comedy, Due Date.
What's it about? High-strung father to be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifiankis and Michelle Monaghan.
Written by Alan R Cohen and Alan Freedland
Soundtrack by Christophe Beck
Directed by Todd Phillips
What I liked about it? Most of the comedy, the acting and the script
What I didn't like? Not much.
Summary: The reviews for this film were a mixed bunch, one week they were very good, the next week, it was 1 star reviews everywhere. I still liked the look of it, and surprise surprise it was not that bad, well not a 1 star film anyway. It's not perfect, it's not ROFL, it's not anything new, in fact it's Planes,Trains and Automobiles, minus the trains and two funny men, this one only has one. I'm not saying Downey isn't funny in this film, he is, in a dry, serious kind of way. While Galifianakis's character is the total opposite, and that's what the film plays on. And it works.
It has the usual sentimental touch at the end, as everything works out for all parties concerned.
Overall like I said it was nothing new but it was entertaining. (7/10)
What's it about? High-strung father to be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifiankis and Michelle Monaghan.
Written by Alan R Cohen and Alan Freedland
Soundtrack by Christophe Beck
Directed by Todd Phillips
What I liked about it? Most of the comedy, the acting and the script
What I didn't like? Not much.
Summary: The reviews for this film were a mixed bunch, one week they were very good, the next week, it was 1 star reviews everywhere. I still liked the look of it, and surprise surprise it was not that bad, well not a 1 star film anyway. It's not perfect, it's not ROFL, it's not anything new, in fact it's Planes,Trains and Automobiles, minus the trains and two funny men, this one only has one. I'm not saying Downey isn't funny in this film, he is, in a dry, serious kind of way. While Galifianakis's character is the total opposite, and that's what the film plays on. And it works.
It has the usual sentimental touch at the end, as everything works out for all parties concerned.
Overall like I said it was nothing new but it was entertaining. (7/10)
Tuesday 9 November 2010
Let Me In
The American version of the Swedish film, Let the right one in. With strong critical reviews on the most part this looked like they could have made a decent US version for once.
What's it about? A young girl moves into a small town and befriends a lonely, bullied boy, but she hides a terrible secret.
Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins and Elias Koteas.
Written by Matt Reeves
Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino
Directed by Matt Reeves
What I liked? The look of the film, the lead cast, the kids are superb. Abby's vampire face, her eyes are amazing.
What I didn't like? The CGI Abby! The swimming pool scene.
Summary: So close, but one thing and one thing only ruined this film for me. The CGI Abby, in the attacks, climbing the tree and jumping the fence, all looked terrible and just broke the spell of the film. The worst thing is the other parts of the film are terrific, the two kids Smit-McPhee and Moretz are brilliant, the small supporting cast all perform with the little they have. Yet the story is about the two kids friendship and Reeves really brings that to the fore, he does a great job with the direction. Some of the scenes are beautifully shot, just like the original, and Reeve's demonstrates a good visual awareness and I'm looking forward to his next project.
The only place he drops the ball is with the CGI Abby, the attacks become cartoon like in away, I can see what they wanted to try to emphasize that Abby was a ferocious monster, but it just looked wrong!
Overall, brilliant performances and some great direction are spoilt by some poor CGI! (7/10)
What's it about? A young girl moves into a small town and befriends a lonely, bullied boy, but she hides a terrible secret.
Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins and Elias Koteas.
Written by Matt Reeves
Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino
Directed by Matt Reeves
What I liked? The look of the film, the lead cast, the kids are superb. Abby's vampire face, her eyes are amazing.
What I didn't like? The CGI Abby! The swimming pool scene.
Summary: So close, but one thing and one thing only ruined this film for me. The CGI Abby, in the attacks, climbing the tree and jumping the fence, all looked terrible and just broke the spell of the film. The worst thing is the other parts of the film are terrific, the two kids Smit-McPhee and Moretz are brilliant, the small supporting cast all perform with the little they have. Yet the story is about the two kids friendship and Reeves really brings that to the fore, he does a great job with the direction. Some of the scenes are beautifully shot, just like the original, and Reeve's demonstrates a good visual awareness and I'm looking forward to his next project.
The only place he drops the ball is with the CGI Abby, the attacks become cartoon like in away, I can see what they wanted to try to emphasize that Abby was a ferocious monster, but it just looked wrong!
Overall, brilliant performances and some great direction are spoilt by some poor CGI! (7/10)
Friday 5 November 2010
Burke and Hare
This was one film I wasn't looking forward to seeing, from the word on the street and the trailers! Plus I wondered why David Tennant left the project! Now I know!
What's it about? The infamous killers Burke and Hare, who supplied a number of bodies to a local surgeon.
Cast: Tim Curry, Simon Pegg, Isla Fisher, Andy Serkis and Tom Wilkinsion.
Written by Piers Ashworth and Nick Morrcroft
Soundtrack by Joby Talbot
Directed by John Landis
What I liked? Nothing!
What I didn't like? Well where to start!
Summary: Oh dear, a comedy without any funny moments, at all, not even a snicker or a smirk. The other problem is, why make it an all out comedy, make it dark with some humour, but they ended up with a comedy farce which is a complete mess. Burke and Hare now come across as bumbling idiots throughout the film, but then we are given glimpses that they were fairly intelligent men. Maybe if it had a more serious tone, with some funny moments, it could have worked so much better!
Pegg is ok, the rest of the cast, including all the "I've worked with Landis before" or "I want to be in a Landis film" cameos are wasted and pointless! The script is poor, the story is ok, but the buck ends at Landis and I think his style of humour is outdated, stuck in the 80's and in then end ruins the film.
Overall didn't like anything about this film, (1/10)
What's it about? The infamous killers Burke and Hare, who supplied a number of bodies to a local surgeon.
Cast: Tim Curry, Simon Pegg, Isla Fisher, Andy Serkis and Tom Wilkinsion.
Written by Piers Ashworth and Nick Morrcroft
Soundtrack by Joby Talbot
Directed by John Landis
What I liked? Nothing!
What I didn't like? Well where to start!
Summary: Oh dear, a comedy without any funny moments, at all, not even a snicker or a smirk. The other problem is, why make it an all out comedy, make it dark with some humour, but they ended up with a comedy farce which is a complete mess. Burke and Hare now come across as bumbling idiots throughout the film, but then we are given glimpses that they were fairly intelligent men. Maybe if it had a more serious tone, with some funny moments, it could have worked so much better!
Pegg is ok, the rest of the cast, including all the "I've worked with Landis before" or "I want to be in a Landis film" cameos are wasted and pointless! The script is poor, the story is ok, but the buck ends at Landis and I think his style of humour is outdated, stuck in the 80's and in then end ruins the film.
Overall didn't like anything about this film, (1/10)
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Saw 3D
Last night was the final (hopefully) Saw film, this time in glorious 3D! The final chapter of the franchise bows out with the added bonus of flesh and bones flying out of the screen!
What's it about? The same it's been for the last 6 films, traps, redemption and plot twists galore!
Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell and Cary Elwes
Written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan
Directed by Kevin Greutert
What I liked? The 3D, at least things came out of the screen! The fact it's the last one.
What I didn't like? The teeth pulling scene - Ouch! Oh and the acting!
Summary: Thank god it's over, I didn't like the first, 2nd and 3rd were good, then they all became the same, the good thing was they kept the plot twists interesting and didn't sign post them! Even to the end of this film, they threw in a nice little twist! Trouble is 6 films in and I couldn't give up on it. The final chapter is pretty cringe worthy in places, the worst being the teeth pulling scene. The traps were pretty inventive really, again 7 films in and they kept that part of it fresh. But I'm glad it's over!
Overall a fitting end to 7 years of torture! (7/10)
What's it about? The same it's been for the last 6 films, traps, redemption and plot twists galore!
Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell and Cary Elwes
Written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan
Directed by Kevin Greutert
What I liked? The 3D, at least things came out of the screen! The fact it's the last one.
What I didn't like? The teeth pulling scene - Ouch! Oh and the acting!
Summary: Thank god it's over, I didn't like the first, 2nd and 3rd were good, then they all became the same, the good thing was they kept the plot twists interesting and didn't sign post them! Even to the end of this film, they threw in a nice little twist! Trouble is 6 films in and I couldn't give up on it. The final chapter is pretty cringe worthy in places, the worst being the teeth pulling scene. The traps were pretty inventive really, again 7 films in and they kept that part of it fresh. But I'm glad it's over!
Overall a fitting end to 7 years of torture! (7/10)
Monday 1 November 2010
Easy A
John Hughes lives, well his memory does in this film, it felt like a Hughes movie, it certainly bowed down in homage to the great director, even allowing us some glimpses of his great films and playing every Hughes card we've ever been dealt throughout his films! This film wants to take it's place alongside those films, and for me it gets there with plenty to spare.
What's it about? A clean-cut high school student relies on the school's rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.
Cast: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson
Written by Bert V. Royal
Directed by Will Gluck
What I liked? Emma Stone, the script, the soundtrack.
What I didn't like? Not enough ROFL moments.
Summary: Emma Stone is an up an coming actress, I liked her in Zombieland and in this she is perfect. In fact everybody is great, Tucci and Clarkson are fantastic as her parents, while Bynes shines in her roll as Clean Teen! The only person who struggles is Kudrow, she just can't shake that Phoebe from Friends tag. But Stone is brilliant here and her sense of comedy is really delivered well, from her lines to her actions, I can't think of any actress which could have done a better job.
Gluck also shines, in his homage to John Hughes, well I thought it was, it does have enough clues in it, with references and video clips from a lot of his films, or maybe it's just a tribute to the 80's high school films, like Say Anything, another film referenced. But whatever it is, I liked it, I really like it, and so did my wife!
Overall I thought it was smart, brilliantly acted, a fine tribute to Hughe's style of film making and wholly entertaining (9/10)
What's it about? A clean-cut high school student relies on the school's rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.
Cast: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson
Written by Bert V. Royal
Directed by Will Gluck
What I liked? Emma Stone, the script, the soundtrack.
What I didn't like? Not enough ROFL moments.
Summary: Emma Stone is an up an coming actress, I liked her in Zombieland and in this she is perfect. In fact everybody is great, Tucci and Clarkson are fantastic as her parents, while Bynes shines in her roll as Clean Teen! The only person who struggles is Kudrow, she just can't shake that Phoebe from Friends tag. But Stone is brilliant here and her sense of comedy is really delivered well, from her lines to her actions, I can't think of any actress which could have done a better job.
Gluck also shines, in his homage to John Hughes, well I thought it was, it does have enough clues in it, with references and video clips from a lot of his films, or maybe it's just a tribute to the 80's high school films, like Say Anything, another film referenced. But whatever it is, I liked it, I really like it, and so did my wife!
Overall I thought it was smart, brilliantly acted, a fine tribute to Hughe's style of film making and wholly entertaining (9/10)
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