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The War of the Worlds (2019)
Refreshing
It felt like an eternity waiting for this TV series to reach our screens and, when it finally came, it did not disappoint. I was already excited to see an on-screen adaptation of War of the Worlds with the same setting and period as the source material and what I really liked about it was that it was a clever re-imagining of this classic tale but was faithful to the novel at the same time. Though the best moment came when we see the people running along the beach with the tripod towering over them in the distance. For me, that single shot sums up War of the Worlds in a nutshell.
Brilliant performances from the main cast, particularly Eleanor Tomlinson and Robert Carlyle, astonishing visuals and plenty of edge-of-your-seat suspense. H.G. Wells would've been proud.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Pure Genius!
This is an animated film that well and truly has it all! Stunning animation, laugh out loud humor, a gripping story and pulse-pounding action. The animation in particular is astonishingly clever. I'd go so far to say it's the best animation I've seen in a computer animated film. In terms of Marvel's best films of 2018, I'd put it equal first with Avengers: Infinity War. Absolutely astonishing!
Eagle Eye (2008)
Why so much hate?
Eagle Eye is a true action packed masterpiece that'll have you on the edge of your seat. I found myself more tense than when I watched Speed which I wouldn't have thought was possible. It features good performances from it's top rated cast especially Michelle Monaghan and the (uncredited) voice of Julianne Moore.
So imagine my surprise when I discover the film's rotten tomatoes score is only 27% and that it's reviews are mostly negative. Looking back, I think I agree that the film is a bit unrealistic but that's one of the earliest lessons I learned about films: never take them too seriously.
It does certainly have areas for improvement but if you like a thrill ride packed with heart-stopping, fast-paced action then Eagle Eye is the film for you.
Robot Wars (1998)
Astonishing!
When I was about 5 or 6 my dad told me about a TV show he'd seen that he thought I might enjoy. So we sat down to watch Robot Wars; it was love at first sight and it's remained my favorite TV show ever since.
The show presents some amazingly designed machines and we get to see them all destroy each other in some truly spectacular battles. In addition to the contestant robots, there are also the legendary house robots. All Hail Sir Killalot!
I was absolutely gutted when Robot Wars was taken off the air but those 12 years were worth the wait to see the brand new series.
It was quite different to the original series but I don't think that was necessarily a bad thing. It would definitely have not been the same without the watchful eye of judge Noel Sharkey or the enthusiastic commentary of Jonathan Pearce. If you have an interest in engineering, then Robot Wars is definitely a show you would enjoy.
Sadly this programme has once again been pulled from our screens but we can only hope that it'll return again one day......
Pixels (2015)
Visually impressive but overall below average
Pixels looked to be a very interesting film when the trailer first dropped. But, upon hearing how poorly it was doing, I avoided seeing it. When it on came TV earlier this year, I decided to give it a go. I think enjoyed it more than most people did but it was obvious why it had been criticized so much.
Many people have said it would have been better if Adam Sandler hadn't been in the lead role. I partly agree with that statement but I believe the films biggest problem is it's script. The story has a very unique concept (based on Patrick Jean's short film) but if it had just been scripted better, then it may have been more successful. There were multiple moments in the film where I found myself saying 'really?'. I must admit I found myself shouting in disbelief at a few of the scenes involving Josh Gad's character towards the end; I personally think this was a pretty poor performance from him. Plus hearing Q*Bert speak English wasn't quite right either. If he'd spoken the same way he did in Wreck-It-Ralph then it might have been better. And that post-credit scene was, to put it quite simply, wrong.
But the film wasn't all bad. The story is very original, the special effects are brilliant, the few gags that the film has are quite funny, Peter Dinklage's acting is top quality as ever and the final battle set to 'We Will Rock You' is very enjoyable.
All in all, it's a long way off being the worst film I've ever seen but, equally, it's even further away from being the best.
Creature Comforts (1989)
A true sign of Nick Park's genius
Many of us enjoy going to the zoo to see some truly astonishing animals. But here's one question that a lot of people don't seem to consider: What do the animals think about it? Well this film will tell you...
I've always been a fan of Aardman productions and Creature Comforts remains my favourite animated short film ever (as much as I love Wallace and Gromit).
Probably the biggest factor that makes this film so iconic is that it is completely unscripted. Various members of the British public who lived in either a housing estate or an old peoples home gave their opinions on the living conditions they have and these interviews were used as the voices of zoo animals. The most notable of the voice actors is a Brazilian man (a friend of director Nick Park) who makes no secret of his opinion of England. See if you can guess which character he voices.
The fact that this was Nick Park's first professional film and that he animated it all by himself makes it even more of an achievement. It won him his first Academy Award and remains one of his greatest triumphs. It was, without a doubt, a real sign of the wonders that were to come from him...
Arrival (2016)
Best Sci-Fi Film of 2016
Arrival was one of the most original and ingenious science fiction films I've seen in a long time.
I had high hopes for it before it's release as I'd read it was directed by Denis Villeneuve and, having watched Prisoners, I was already aware of his capabilities as a filmmaker. Plus I noticed the film had a 100% Rotten Tomatoes approval score following it's premiere. I doubted it would last (it didn't) but I knew it was a promising sign.
And when I watched it in the cinema, I was not disappointed. Arrival is one of those films that I would describe as being 'a classic story with a unique twist'. Aliens coming to Earth? That's nothing new. Earth is practically a tourist hot spot for extra-terrestrials. But there have never been any sci-fi films before where the focus has been on communication and language. That may sound boring to some but I was absolutely gripped the whole time.
Although the plot twist towards the end is very memorable, the best moment for me is the first encounter. The darkened setting of the spaceship, Jóhann Jóhannsson's astonishing music score, the breathtaking sound effects and the slow reveal of the aliens gives a recipe that I would class as sci-fi gold.
After watching the film, I decided to read the story upon which it was based and that made me appreciate it even more. The reason being is that there are actually very few similarities between the story and the film which gave me a real eye opener as to just how well Eric Heisserer had done crafting the screenplay
Overall, an absolutely smashing film and certainly a must for any hardcore science-fiction fan
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Far Too Slow
I am an enormous science fiction fan and 2001: A Space Odyssey is considered by many to be the greatest sci-fi film of the 1960s. So when I finally got the chance to watch it, I eagerly sat down and glued myself to the TV but, by the end of it, I regrettably admit I was left feeling disappointed.
Firstly I will admit that the story, cinematography and special effects were brilliant. But I just felt that the film, overall, never really gets going and is simply too slow. Plus I found the ending to be PHENOMENALLY confusing and I even had to consult the internet to fully understand it.
So whilst it's ranked among the greatest sci-fi films of all time, it doesn't do that much for me personally.