rumbleinthejungle Reviews

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

This is how you make a sequel!

[9/10 · 1 August 2016]

A thoroughly enjoyable night out at the flicks. I saw the first film and loved it and I think I might have enjoyed this sequel even more and whats-more, the screening I went to of this was absolutely still and silent - James Wan had the audience in the palm of his hand which is exactly the way it should be.

Wan takes everything you loved about the first film and turns the volume up a couple of more notches. The set design, script, acting and scare scenes are all uniformly masterful. My only criticism would be that it was a tad long and the middle section of the film could have been trimmed down a bit; we reach a point as an audience where we feel that the setup has been established for the final act and we want to move into the final movement of the film but Wan lingers a bit too long and shows us one too many possession scenes I think. This is a minor criticism though.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson deliver solid performances again and Madison Wolfe and Frances O'Connor (whom I enjoyed immensely in the excellent TV series The Missing) are also excellent. The scare set pieces are fantastic with the early scene of the demon visiting Lorraine at home being one of the best horror scenes in years. Great music and atmosphere and I was pleased to see that Wan even kept the creepy ascending yellow title scroll from the first film.

9/10. Loses one point for being slightly too long.

The Conjuring (2013)

The best Horror cinema experience I've had for a long time.

[8/10 · 31 July 2013]

Great modern horror with it's roots firmly in the 1970's, both in the story's setting and also with it's production style and cinematography - The Conjuring doesn't disappoint. Without going into the plot I will simply say that this is a highly effective ghost story that surpasses it's peers by way of the skillful direction of James Wan and the uniformly excellent cast. We care for the Perron's and want to see them survive this terrifying ordeal and we believe that Ed and Lorraine Warren also care for the frightened family and are willing to do whatever it takes to help them.

The good - The sets, script and actors are all fantastic. The atmosphere starts off creepy and just gradually increases until the climatic final act. Extra marks for the highly effective sound design that heightens the audiences sense of terror during the scares. It was also nice to see a couple of welcome touches of humor offering some much needed light when things threatened to become almost unbearably tense and heavy.

The bad - even though the director teases the audience for almost an hour before showing us anything of the main ghost I still felt that he could have held off a good while longer. Some of the most effective scares in the film involve seeing nothing more than the black shadows behind an ajar door.

It was great seeing and hearing the audiences reaction to this film in the cinema. Once the film started the cinema fell completely silent apart from moments when anxious viewers implored a character to be careful etc. Great stuff. There is at least one unexplored plot thread that would make for a great sequel so here's hoping that Wan signs up for at least one more film.

Prometheus (I) (2012)

Want to love it but can't

[5/10 · 20 October 2012]

It's so tricky to do something in the same spirit of a much loved franchise that was conceived over 30 years ago. The Star Wars and Predator movies showed that there is potential to cheapen the original films if you go the wrong way with it and the only film from recent years that I can recall having done right by it's original version was the recent prequel to The Thing. Although Prometheus is not really a prequel as such, fans of the original Alien films will still be mindful that this film is set in the same universe and Scott pays direct tribute to the first 2 films on more than one occasion here. Alas, Prometheus falls very short when it comes to establishing the brooding atmosphere and timeless vision of the future that the first films did. There are a few problems here not the least of which is the clunky writing, tacky musical score and paper thin characters that seem to be merely cannon fodder, not to mention conflicting filmic allusions to the origin of the famous Xenomorph creature. I understand that Scott changed his mind halfway through filming about the thrust of the story and it shows in that there are far too many loose ends left unresolved and some glaring contradictions in the plot; one such contradiction being that the 'Engineers' would already seem to know of the Xenomorph species (Holloway spots a mural depicting what looks to be a Queen Alien on a chamber wall) but at the film's end we're shown an early version of the creature that looks similar but different to the Geiger design. The film reminded me of Predators in the way that it was so enamored with the legacy of it's predecessors it forgot to do anything interesting or, in this case, coherent with it's own story. Couple that with the fact that, despite some of the gorgeous visuals, the actions of the characters and their dialogue consistently make this film feel cheap. The infamous scene where one character (supposedly an elite Biologist) attempts to make friends with a potentially dangerous alien organism (we can see the scare coming a mile away) feels like something you'd see on a late night, direct to video B Horror film. What a shame.

The Grey (2011)

Survival tale goes against the grain

[7/10 · 4 March 2012]

I'm surprised to see the number of negative reviews here and also surprised as to the number of comparisons to Lee Tamahori's 'The Edge'; a completely different type of film in my opinion despite the similar locales. Unrelentingly bleak with almost no glimpse of warmth ( both literally and figuratively!) during the whole running time it's easy to see that this film will not be for everyone. The absence of a heroic ending and the depiction of the absolute fragility of man (and futility of machismo) will also serve to divide audiences even further. But, if you can get past these things and can overlook a couple of plot points that might seem illogical you are in for one heck of visceral cinematic ride. The story is simple - Liam Neeson is a distraught widower contracted to shoot Wolves in the Alaskan oil fields. On a flight to the mainland for R&R the plane goes down in the middle of nowhere and he and six other passengers are the only remaining survivors. The motley group must contend with a grim situation that see's them dropped in a freezing barren wasteland with no food, shelter or weapons and a pack of hungry Timber Wolves keen to pick them off one by one. I liked the AO Scott review for this film in which he pointed out that the film posed and answered a number of theological and existential questions in a very quiet and dignified way. Quite un-Hollywood. This is no Tom Hanks picture and unlike the aforementioned The Edge it's never for a minute considered an option for the men to make a stand against the Wolves in the way that Charles and Bob did with Bart the Bear in that film. They are completely at the mercy of the environment and it's predators whilst also being aware of the increasing futility of their plight. The film goes against the grain right from the outset and it's a stylistic decision from the creators that simultaneously elevates it above many of it's counterparts but also probably limits it's broader appeal - an early scene immediately after the crash where Neeson comforts a dying man is one of the most powerful and beautiful pieces of acting I've seen in recent years. To summarize, I found the film a very intense watch and it stayed with me for long time afterwards. Surely the hallmarks of a great picture?

The Thing (I) (2011)

Pretty good for a prequel to a re-make

[7/10 · 27 November 2011]

Yes - I'm a big fan of Carpenter's 1982 re-imagining of the Howard Hawks original. Yes - I was concerned when I heard that this film was being made but also intrigued at the idea of a prequel; a film telling the story of the Norwegian scientists experience with the alien seemed like a fairly original idea. Bottom line is......I liked this film. It does have a few inconsistencies but not so many as to detract from the overall viewing experience. Generally, the tone towards the '82 film is quite respectful and I think the fact that we have a non-Hollywood director heading up a largely unknown cast keeps things from being clunky and too safe. The CGI is, in my opinion, actually very well done. The creature design is absolutely spot on and manages to bring something new and fresh to the table while honoring Rob Bottin's original designs from the JC film. The creature sound effects are spot on, too. Interesting to see that this film has performed poorly at the box office. After watching this it struck me just how dark and bleak the story actually is; if anything this will probably have more success on blu-ray and DVD than it will at the cinema. To all the naysayers....I can't understand what the problem is? This could've been much, much worse. You could've had a director at the helm that had little to no interest in tying the film's together, but that side of things has been done very well indeed here; the scenes that are cut into the credits are really great. I think I might even re-watch this.......

Public Enemies (2009)

Completely unengaging

[3/10 · 23 September 2010]

This film elicited nothing but indifference and boredom from me. The cinematography, pacing, sound editing and lighting all seem very amateurish for someone like Mann who is considered a great stylist. The love story aspect of the film is very tepid we are subjected to some terrible acting from the female lead during her interrogation scene. The members of Dillinger's gang are all relegated to the background so Depp is never really given a decent foil for his character and we also learn next to nothing about his co-conspirators. Christian Bale is wasted here in his role as the agent pursuing Dillinger. He has very little screen time and the little that he does get sees him scowling and frowning as he paces about.

If the best thing people can say about the film is that the gunfire is very very loud in the shootout scenes (a Michael Mann signature) and that the costumes look nice.....then it might be best to give this one a miss.

Back to re-watch Heat then.

Predators (2010)

Half of a great Predator movie

[5/10 · 23 July 2010]

Just like after you scoff down a cheeseburger and Coke with fries, 'Predators' leaves you with that vague feeling of being unsatisfied despite the fact that you know you have just stuffed yourself stupid. Indeed, this film gives the viewer the opportunity to gorge himself silly on SFX, explosions and the like but still the feeling persists that the makers are far to conscious of making a film as close as possible to the first Predator film that they forget to inject any sense of personality into the proceedings here. So what we are left with is a kind of very calculated (but boring) homage to the first film that fails to capture any of the originals sense of menace and style. To be fair, I really liked the set-up of Predators - the motley bunch of mercenaries and criminals all slowly piecing together the puzzle that led to their being dropped on the strange alien planet and the sense that the Predators are always watching them and slowly closing in on the group. The second half of the film feels like the directors and writers don't know, or aren't sure, how to put it all together though. I remember the really exhilarating realization of thinking 'Wow - it's just Dutch and the Predator left!' at the end of the first Predator film and that sort of climax seems conspicuously absent here. It's not a terrible film - it just feels like half of a return to form and, ultimately, a missed opportunity.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Good lord..... can Peter Weir ever direct!

[9/10 · 20 February 2010]

Incredible. I was lucky enough to see this on the big screen and it was a great experience that I'll always treasure. Unfortunately, it was released at the same time as Return of the King and inevitably that film stole the limelight and steered the critics attention away somewhat. As an adaptation - this film is brilliant. You might be forgiven for thinking that, this being a period epic, there will be lots of talking and little action. On the contrary. Weir throws the viewer straight into the deep end with an early confrontation between the Surprise and the Acheron. The wide shots are simply incredible to behold - an early one of both ships firing broadsides just looks amazing. Crowe is in top form here as the proud Captain Jack Aubrey - a man who is in danger of letting his pursuit of the French Man O War Acheron become an intensely personal vendetta and steering his crew through ever perilous waters. Paul Bettany is his intellectual foil as the Irish doctor Stephen Maturin - a great role for Bettany and the chemistry between the two is palpable. The music and script are great and the casting is just top notch; the scenes of the Officer's eating in the great cabin are some of the most memorable ones in the film. As others have mentioned, the attention that Weir has given to period correct detail is amazing. The film is a piece of art as much as it is a boys own naval adventure.

Highly recommended.

Paranormal Activity (2007)

While not quite living up to the hype, it's reassuring to see a film like this in the theatre anyways.

[7/10 · 20 January 2010]

Just saw this film tonight and had reasonably high expectations. Mostly they were met.

We meet a middle class, happy, seemingly normal West Coast couple at the beginning of the film - Katie and Micah. They live in a very nice house in San Diego and all seems well save for the fact that Micah has just spent a whole bunch of money on video and computer equipment so he can conduct surveillance on the house, particularly while they are sleeping.... As the story unfolds, we learn that Katie has a rather sinister past and appears to have been, and still is, the target of some kind of sinister spirit or presence. A visit from a psychic sheds some light on the situation - he agrees that there is a presence in the house and explains the difference between demons and spirits. He recommends the couple speak to a Demonoligist but Micah is against this. As the nights go by the presence becomes more and more bold in it's actions and some of the scenes, even now in retrospect, are making my hair stand on end.

The good stuff - the acting and actions of the characters are very believable. At the beginning of the film Katie is a happy-go-lucky student and by the end she has very nearly lost her mind. Micah goes from being cocky and (thinking he's) in control of the situation to being inwardly scared but not showing it, and then completely frustrated and ultimately powerless to do anything to help protect the girl he loves. The house goes from being a warm, homely dwelling to something very much like a prison - claustrophobic and cold. The special FX are used sparingly but are very effective in the scenes that they do feature in. The sounds effects are also quite cool.

The bad - a little more background on Katie would have been nice and added another dimension to the proceedings. Also, the reaction of the psychic when he visits a second time was somehow not played as well as it could have been. Minor complaints.

See it if you like to be scared and enjoy getting the adrenaline flowing.

7/10

Avatar (2009)

Modern day epic with a heart.

[7/10 · 19 December 2009]

I must say that my hopes were not that high for Avatar after I saw the trailer (I thought that the CGI looked clunky!) but having just seen a 3D screening (not on an IMAX screen though) I must say that my initial cynicism was most definitely quelled. The story is a somewhat familiar one, but it is rendered here in a very loving manner and the world that Cameron has brought to life for us to behold is an extraordinarily beautiful one. The colours! The world of Pandora is populated with all kinds of spectacular flora and fauna - an early confrontation with a particularly vicious and razor toothed beast is particularly exhilarating, and the luminous overtones of the landscape are very warm to behold. I didn't find the long running time to be too much of a problem but I will say that I found that the 3D glasses make everything a touch too dark for my tastes.

The CGI is very nice and clean looking.....however I did notice that the character of Neytiri looked the best of all of the natives and Grace's Avatar looked the least good, IMHO. It seems like the most attention to detail was given to Neytiri's eyes? They did look amazing. Also, great to see Sigourney Weaver back in the fold. Plus she got the best lines of the whole film. Joel Moore's character has the worst lines in the film!

Compared to Cameron's other films....I'd probably put this one in the same bag as 'The Abyss'. Similar themes and a real sense of technical pioneering... but perhaps Cameron's next film will be his real latter day masterpiece? T2 did follow 'The Abyss' after all. Let's just wait and see....

Oh! And one last thing - I think that Michelle Rodriguez is hot.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

People who saw the original films as kids and young adults will be mostly satisfied.

[6/10 · 27 July 2009]

Don't try and judge an Indiana Jones film through your adult eyes - if you do then you might not end up having as much fun as you're supposed to. Mostly it seems that people took this fourth film WAY too seriously. I mean, Temple Of Doom isn't that great and The Last Crusade isn't quite as good as everyone would have you believe it is either. KOTCS is about as good as a fourth installment can get in any franchise. We're talking the law of ever diminishing returns here, folks.

Having said all that, I will admit that there are some cheesy bits in here - Shia LeBoeuf's faux Brando get up is fairly ridiculous and the chase scene in the jungle replete with Tarzan vine swinging sequence will be a little too much for some, but there is some good stuff in here.

Ford looks good and it's great to see Karen Allen back in the fold. John Hurt's character is good fun and Cate Blanchett is obviously having a great time playing the evil Russian scientist. Yes - some of the action set-pieces aren't quite as good as they were in the previous films and the tone is perhaps a little too reverential towards the films of yesteryear, but i do think that there is more than enough in here to satisfy all but the most ardent Dr. Jones enthusiasts.

Spielberg always said that he regretted making Temple of Doom as dark and as violent as it is, so Last Crusade felt like a logical step towards sending Indy back to his gentler afternoon matinée roots. If you look at the first two Indy films as being quite adult and brooding and the last two as being consciously geared towards the whole family then KOTCS fits in well with this lineage. Everybody knows that Raiders is the best film in the series. You can't touch it.

It's also worth noting that every even numbered Indy film has been one that hasn't pitted him against the Nazi's. I wonder if they will make an appearance in Indy 5?

It Might Get Loud (2008)

It Might Get.... odd?

[7/10 · 21 July 2009]

As intriuged as I was with the idea of this film, the trio of guitar players cast together looked a little odd.... at least on paper anyways. One is a classic rock legend, the other is a very individualistic (and highly influential) sonic craftsmen and the last is a white kid from Detroit heavily influenced by black blues and the archaic recording techniques of yesteryear. On one hand, it makes sense to represent the very different approaches that all 3 have become synonymous with, but on the other hand it feels slightly unfair to team up two blues influenced guys with another player whose style relies on his manipulating and processing of sound to come up with what is essentially a 'less is more' approach. That contrast may have just been what the director was seeking, but it didn't stop me feeling sorry for The Edge when Jack and Jimmy are playing dirty slide on Zep's 'In My Time Of Dying' while The Edge stands there looking a bit lost. But then, Jimmy Page probably feels the same way when Jack and Edge are trying to get him to sing a harmony part in 'The Weight' and he protests that he "Cant sing, sorry!". Jack White, while not being directly humbled on camera, must nevertheless be aware of the immense legacies that the other two guitar players have left behind them while he is still very much carving a name for himself. He comes across well though - cocky and self-assured without being arrogant. His preference for the bare-bone expressionism of what rock n roll has been, and should still be, was clearly very heartfelt and honest. There are lots of great moments to behold in this film, even if it does feel ready to finish about 20 minutes before it actually does. Jimmy Page going giddy with excitement whilst listening to Link Wray's 'Rumble' in his front room or the looks on Jack and Edge's faces when he launches into the seminal 'Whole Lotta Love' riff are just two great moments. In truth, Jimmy Page steals the show - he's just such a strong personality when compared to the politely spoken Edge or eager to impress White. Also, seeing as both Page and White are coming at the guitar from the same kind of school of black roots music, perhaps instead of having White fly the flag for the contemporary guitar player, someone like Thurston Moore would've been a more daring and interesting choice? It's a tough call.

Highly recommended for fans of rock music and the electric guitar.

Open Range (2003)

Mostly great but almost painfully earnest in parts

[6/10 · 20 June 2009]

I'd heard great things about this film and for the most part I wasn't let down when I finally got around to seeing it. I think that Costner is capable of great things and, although I've not seen the reputedly awful The Postman, I'm one of the few people I know who rates Waterworld as being a decent flick. The film works because of the great scenes between Duvall and Costner's characters - some of the dialogue is really quite poetic and very well written. The corrupt rancher, played by Michael Gambon, as well as his right-hand man possibly aren't as menacing as other western baddies that I could think of. This is mostly due to the fact that they hardly feature in the film as opposed to poor acting on their part; they don't get enough screen time to establish much of a presence at all. Annette Benning is the other major character and she's really good. The love story between her and Costner plays out in a very quiet and dignified way. Benning is really gorgeous, too! There's a tone of almost painful sincerity and earnestness that underpins certain scenes and I put this down to Costner wanting the film to have the old school western feel. The relatively long build-up to the final showdown is also very much in keeping with the traditional western film format. So, much better than the 'Assassination of Jesse James' but maybe not quite as enjoyable as '3:10 to Yuma'.

Shine a Light (2008)

Fantastic! Hopefully gets re-screened on IMAX sometime soon.

[9/10 · 11 May 2009]

Yes - I was stupid and missed seeing this on the big screen. But even at home on DVD you get the feeling that you're witnessing something very special. I saw the Stones live 2 years ago now, but we were quite a way back and my wife couldn't really see anything. This film is the next best thing to being in the front row of a Stones show - i'm sure of it! I'm a huge fan of 'The Last Waltz' and whilst I found the archival footage that's scattered through 'Shine a Light' to be not as essential to the films experience as the interviews in 'The Last Waltz', it still contributes to making 'Shine' an even more rewarding Stones film than it already is.

What is there to say about the Stones that hasn't already been said? Yes they are old - dinosaurs, even. But if there's anyone that's stayed as close to the top of the performance game in the way that Jagger and co. have, than I've yet to see them. Jagger is the real deal - one of the last greats of rock n roll showmanship. Whether he's spitting some nasty harmonica on a Muddy Waters tune, or racing toward the front of the stage to deliver the first line of 'Tumbling Dice' he OWNS the room and the stage for the entire 2 hours that they play. Keith is looking old and yes, he's not as good on the guitar as he perhaps once was. But he too has a level of 'too cool for any ol' school' onstage presence that is completely untouchable. Sometimes, it manifests itself in the form of him dropping his hands down by his sides during a guitar solo and shooting the audience a charming, rougish smile. Mostly, he just stalks around the stage and looks f%*king cool.I think his voice is really good and the 2 numbers he does with the band were real highlights - esp. 'Connection'. I think my favourite bit in the whole film was during 'Champagne and Reefer' when Buddy Guy plays a solo and Keith starts circling him. Magic. Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts are the real engine-room of the Stones - there's no doubt that Ronnie is the better guitar player but he knows his place is back behind Mick and Keith, and Charlie still cracks the snare and crashes those cymbals with all the verve of a man half his age.

The film looks great, and the set list is a grab-bag of real gems - I think that the cover of 'Just My Imagination' was almost my favourite song of the whole set. The cameos from Jack White and Christina are OK - Jack does a cool version of 'Loving Cup' and the song suits his high, keening vocals. Christina sure can sing up a storm but the vocal acrobatics do turn me off, sorry. Buddy Guy is without a doubt the best of the guest appearances. When he steps up to the mic to deliver his first line during 'Champagne and Reefer' BANG! - you'll be knocked over on your ass. And then some. It's the only time during the whole set when Jaggers dominance of the stage is legitimately challenged.

All in all, highly recommended.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Streetwise story of love and destiny should appeal to a good deal more than 'City of God' did.

[7/10 · 3 April 2009]

A very enjoyable film. I saw this last night with my wife and we both enjoyed it. I'd managed to side-step most of the preceding hype for this one and all I was really expecting was a less violent 'City of God'. The idea for the main story being revealed through flashback while the central character is being interrogated is not a new one (The Usual Suspects) but is it done very well here. Dev Patel is somewhat laconic but very good nonetheless, as is the actor portraying his brother. The gameshow host and the main police Detective are also very good characters. The birds-eye-view shots of Mumbai, and the Bombay slums in particular, are really great and some of the editing is very propulsive and helps carry the story along. Great soundtrack, too. Not overly violent and i think that it could be enjoyed by a wide variety of ages which is definitely a plus and no doubt has had something to do with it's widespread appeal.

7/10

Army of Darkness (1992)

Truly, a sight for sore bones!

[7/10 · 21 March 2009]

Ha ha ha ha! This film is so silly and awesome. I love all the stop motion creatures and the the sped up film effects. Bruce Campbell is awesome. He plays the part of Ash to the hilt and you can't help but go along for the ride.The script is very funny and there's also a lot of great physical comedy, too. The skeleton army is great and I love the fact that they are slightly disgruntled.

Yes, it's a homage to various other films in a way, but it's not overly reverential. It doesn't take itself too seriously and I think it's very hard to strike that balance of horror and comedy. To be fair, I would say that this is more of an adventure comedy, though.

Ultimately, if you can't let go and have a blast watching this then it probably doesn't say many good things about you.

"Well hello Mr. Fancy-pants!"

REC (2007)

Really wanted to be excited about it......

[5/10 · 20 March 2009]

But in the end it was just OK for me. There is some really good stuff in here and there was one particular shot near the end (Pablo looking over the railing of the stairwell from the top of it and seeing all the Zombies) that blew me away, but maybe I just had too high an expectation for this? I don't know. I do like the first person POV but I think that maybe I wanted the Zombies to be a bit more terrifying. They moved pretty good but some close up stuff looked a bit too undemonic... or something. Good sound effects, and there's a definite feel of three acts here - the beginning up until the cop gets bitten and then it goes a bit quiet in the middle before a doctor from outside of the building comes along and all of sudden all hell really does break loose. The girl, Angela, played by Manuela Velasco is very good. You begin to get more terrified as she does so she's like a kind of emotional barometer for the entire film. The idea of a faceless character, Pablo, is intriguing as the most you ever see of him is his shoes but, unlike Angela, he keeps his cool at the end as things start to go pear-shaped. Even in Cloverfield, a film that this has often been compared too, we got to see the cameraman Hud 3 or 4 times over the course of the film. I'll probably watch it again though. At 70 odd minutes it's certainly not a chore.

Empire of the Sun (1987)

"P-51's! Cadillacs of the sky!"

[9/10 · 16 March 2009]

I first saw this film when I was maybe 9 or 10 and it made a huge impression on me. Everything about the film is just perfect - the way it looks and feels, the acting and the script, the beautiful music. I was, and still am, a bit of WWII plane enthusiast in my youth, and the scene where the P-51 fly's past Jim on the rooftop was just so awesome to behold! Spielberg is a master who can easily balance high drama with spectacle. Bale and Malkovich are both excellent and Nigel Havers is also very good as the interment camp doctor. My favourite parts of the film are when Jim returns to his house and stays there all by himself, and the whole second half of the film in the internment camp. Highly recommended and worth checking out. This is one of Spielberg's lesser known films but it is an absolute gem.

Superbad (2007)

The widespread proliferation of dumb-ass culture continues

[2/10 · 8 March 2009]

The poor, poor teen generation. Seth 'one note' Rogen continues his reign of terror, huh? I caught this last night on Sky and for a supposed comedy, I only laughed maybe once during the whole film??? And I like comedy. Jokes and gross-out gags that we have either heard before or are just so tasteless that they should have remained unheard. Considering previous generations have had The Breakfast Club, Dazed and Confused and even Waynes World, I feel sorry for the teens who will have their adolescence defined by something as low-brow as this. At least their is some kind of moral fiber to be found in the character of Evan and I guess the pillow-talk scene at the end between Seth and Evan is kinda cute. But the lameness of Mclovin and the cops sinks this movie faster than the Bismarck. The reality is, I know of enough culture-free young males that will love this film and that to me is the most depressing thing about this kind of movie.

Doomsday (I) (2008)

Neil slips up, bigtime!

[3/10 · 28 February 2009]

What a pity! I loved The Descent and Dog Soldiers and I had high hopes for this film even though I thought that the whole zombie/virus/outbreak storyline device has been thoroughly flogged to death. I understand that Marshall held the release of this film back due to the proliferation of the Zombie movie a couple of years back? He needn't have bothered as '28 Days Later' is a far superior movie. Where do I start? The film never really gets going, Rhona Mitra is very pouty but she has hardly any lines so instead of being a lead she sort of fades into the background. Bob Hoskins is about the only actor here who leaves any kind of impression and he's only in about 5% of the film. Sean Pertwee is also thoroughly wasted in a tiny role here. The story and plot is just so.... blah. By the end of the film you don't care about the outcome, or any of the characters for that matter either. Bad direction, plot-holes everywhere and, one of my most hated things in a film, a blaring noisy soundtrack that nearly drowns out the dialogue at certain points. I assume that this was supposed to be some kind of tribute to Mad Max/Aliens/Escape From New York, but it just comes over as bad pastiche and adds nothing new to the spirit of those great films. Huge disappointment. I hope that Marshall comes back swinging for his next film.

The New World (2005)

Enjoyed the 'making of' doco. more than the film itself!

[5/10 · 26 February 2009]

The latest film by the enigmatic director Terence Malick (The Thin Red Line, Badlands) divided critics and audiences with some declaring it a self-indulgent, plot-less load of twaddle and others labeling it a masterpiece of poetic cinema. The story concerns the early encounters of English explorers with the Native American peoples in Virginia 1607, focusing specifically on the relationship between the adventurer John Smith and Pocahontas The film clocks in at just over three hours and there are large sections that are bereft of dialog but we do get the thoughtful, pondering voice-over of Smith as his relationship with the innocent Pocahontas takes shape. Visually, the film is incredible to behold and I probably enjoyed the 'making of' documentary more than the film itself; the director of photography and production crew all elaborating on the painstaking way they recreated the magnificent sets and costumes. Malick himself is absent from the entire documentary, but do we gain certain insights into his filming technique, such as his preference to shoot the entire film in natural light.

Eastern Promises (2007)

A slow burning, almost unassuming film that one could easily brush aside.

[8/10 · 26 February 2009]

I've enjoyed every Cronenberg film that I have ever seen and this film is no exception. Viggo Mortenson proves himself, once again, to be amongst the finest actors in this era of film-making and surely he and Cronenberg have found a creative foil in one another. Naomi Watts offers up a considered performance that doesn't unnecessarily slide into pathos and Armin Mueller Stahl is very commanding in his portrayal as the tight lipped, S.O.B that is Semyon - the Russian 'Godfather'. Beautifully shot, the film holds your attention for the whole 100 minutes and, if anything, it almost ends rather abruptly. I guess I was looking for some kind of justice or resolve that wasn't there. I wonder if it was heavily edited in post production? Still, the film is very good and continues in a similar thematic vein from the directors previous work, 'A History of Violence'. Cronenberg is finding his rhythm in his role as the straight, independent mainstream cinema auteur and is without a doubt one of the last of the classic film-makers.

Baby Mama (2008)

Comedy lite that avoids being completely generic

[6/10 · 26 February 2009]

Tina Fey is great. Probably the best comedic talent to hit mainstream US TV in years. I think that, one day, 30 Rock will be viewed with the same reverence as Seinfeld is today. She pokes fun at herself, which is endearing, and even though she doesn't get a writing credit for 'Baby Mama' there are several subverted stereotypes, i.e Sigourney Weaver's smug CEO and Romany Malco's fast-talking doorman as well as Steve Martin's over the top neo-hippie Barry, that seem like Fey-ism's and they all help make this film better than average. I watched this with my Wife as it's the kind of movie that I know she enjoys and I too enjoyed it, but I guess, like other reviewers, I'd like to see something that Fey has scripted herself and contains a little more of the smart humour that she is fast becoming known for.

Flesh+Blood (1985)

Pretty good medieval flick

[6/10 · 22 February 2009]

Just watched this last night and, after reading lots of positive comments on this page, I guess my expectations were high. Well....it's a good film. Well shot and acted and the set design is very realistic in it's depiction of the filthiness of the dark ages. There's no really good score to speak of though, so that was something of a disappointment. The story centres around Martin (Rutger Hauer), a soldier who leads a band of amoral warriors on a revenge mission after they are betrayed by their commanding officer. He find himself falling in love with Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who is the supposed fiancé of Tom Burlinson's character, and Martin ends up using the catholic superstition of his amoral comrades to prevent her from coming to any great harm. She inadvertently becomes a member of their band and they take over a castle. Tom Burlinson's 'Steven' tracks them down, with the help of the treacherous commanding officer 'Hawkwood' and there is a lengthy stand-off at the castle. The crux of the story centres around the Martin/Agnes/Steven love triangle and the viewer is never really sure what Agnes' intentions are. One thing that could be a drawback for some viewers is the lack of a clear-cut 'good guy'character throughout the film. Both Martin and Steven are flawed men; the first being for the most part an amoral thug despite the occasional glimmer of goodness when he meets Agnes, and Steven is a pompous, spoiled noblemen's son. Despite the occasionally clunky dialogue, I rather enjoyed this film. As a final note, the violence and sex aren't as bad as you might think - the rape scene is not gratuitous but is somewhat double-edged as far as the character of Agnes is concerned. The sheltered noble-womens loss of innocence has been a longtime coming and, despite the awfulness of the circumstances, she can't hide her excitement and attraction to Martin.

Hope and Glory (1987)

Very good autobiographical film

[7/10 · 22 February 2009]

I first saw this film when I was 9 or perhaps 10 years old and it made quite an impression on me. Having just re-watched it recently, I was pleased to see that it has aged rather well. Despite the back-drop of the blitz, this is more of a character driven piece as opposed to a war film, per se; and all the actors are uniformly excellent. I picked up on the little nuances of regret between the Uncle and the Mother this time around, something that brings another dimension to the film and something that I would have been too young to comprehend when I first saw this. And the final third of the film, when they go to live with Grandpa by the river, was just as good as I remembered it being. Funny, sad and full of joy and life, this is a great film that can enjoyed by all ages. Recommended if you enjoyed 'Empire of the Sun' and the Robert Westall book 'The Machine Gunners.'