James Mcavoy has clearly been busy, starring not only in Welcome to the Punch, but also in Danny Boyle's Trance which I am looking forward to catching next week.
The Basic premise of this movies is that police officer Max Lewinsky (McAvoy) is trying to catch Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) when Sternwood's son is injured, he comes back into the country giving Lewinsky an opportunity to take him down, however there is something much larger going on, and soon the pair are working together.
This is one of those films where characters that initially appear trustworthy are actually involved in the conspiracy, and as the film unravels more and more people are implicated, and the plot twists and turns more than a roller coaster.
This was an enjoyable movie, regular readers of my blog will know that I don't like bloody thirsty violent films where the use of blood is over the top, and this film avoid that nicely, yes there are some scences where people are killed, and blood is shed, but it is in context and to take it away would diminish this film, the balance is about right.
The Complex relationship between Lewinsky and Sternwood is fascinating and the way in which that is played out by McAvoy and Strong is superb.
Having said all that, there is something slightly lacking to take this from an enjoyable film to a great movie, much of it is largely forgettable, and i'm sure in a year or so this won't be something that springs immediately to mind, when someone mentions James McAvoy. I can't quite put my finger on what it is that is missing, but it just felt a bit like the film was plodding a bit.
On the whole though a good watch, worth seeing, but from reviews and trailers I think McAvoys next film out next week will be better 7/10
Monday, 18 March 2013
The Croods
The Croods is an annimated fun family film, it is narrated by Eep the daughter of a caveman, she wants to go out and explore the world, but her father won't let her and prefers to keep the family in the cave where it is safe.
I enjoyed this immensely, it is very funny, with lots of cartoon style slapstick humour, especially at the expense of the Father, Grug (Nicholas Cage) the character of Belt is also superbly funny.
As well as being funny, it also has a bi of a serious side, I especially enjoyed the emotional turmoil of Grug as he realises that he is no longer able to keep is family safe, and that his role as head of the family is under threat.
This is easily the best annimation of 2013 so far, and although we are only a quarter of the way through the year, I would certainly expect it to be up there at the end of the year when thinking about best annimation. 9.5/10
I enjoyed this immensely, it is very funny, with lots of cartoon style slapstick humour, especially at the expense of the Father, Grug (Nicholas Cage) the character of Belt is also superbly funny.
As well as being funny, it also has a bi of a serious side, I especially enjoyed the emotional turmoil of Grug as he realises that he is no longer able to keep is family safe, and that his role as head of the family is under threat.
This is easily the best annimation of 2013 so far, and although we are only a quarter of the way through the year, I would certainly expect it to be up there at the end of the year when thinking about best annimation. 9.5/10
Monday, 11 March 2013
Oz The Great and Powerful
The Latest in the recent trend of rewriting fairy tales is what I guess would be considered a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, which seeks to explain how the wizard got to Oz and became the Wizard.
This is a stunningly beautiful film, with lots of special effects, The Film opens with a small screen black and white section in Kansas, which contrasts brilliantly with the big screen vibrant colours of Oz, which really brings the film to life.
The Story itself is well written and fun, in the classic kind of fairy tale model, this is defiantly one that Kids will enjoy. I saw the 2D version, but maybe this is one film where the 3D might add that extra something that just gives it the extra edge.
For all the brilliant special effects cinematography and vibracy, this film is perhaps lacking slightly in the acting category, there is very little in the way of emotion in this film, and nothing to really make you care about the fate of the characters involved, but maybe that can be forgiven slightly.
This is a stunning visual masterpiece 8.5/10
This is a stunningly beautiful film, with lots of special effects, The Film opens with a small screen black and white section in Kansas, which contrasts brilliantly with the big screen vibrant colours of Oz, which really brings the film to life.
The Story itself is well written and fun, in the classic kind of fairy tale model, this is defiantly one that Kids will enjoy. I saw the 2D version, but maybe this is one film where the 3D might add that extra something that just gives it the extra edge.
For all the brilliant special effects cinematography and vibracy, this film is perhaps lacking slightly in the acting category, there is very little in the way of emotion in this film, and nothing to really make you care about the fate of the characters involved, but maybe that can be forgiven slightly.
This is a stunning visual masterpiece 8.5/10
Saturday, 9 March 2013
Side Effects
Side effects is one of those films where you think you know what is going on and hen all of a sudden you realise that you didn't really know, my friend who was with me saw it coming, but I didn't maybe I just didn't pick up on it.
For me the movie is slow to get going, but picks up pace towards the end, about half an hour in I was beginning to lose interest, but its definitely worth sticking with it.
Once again Catherine Zeta-Jones puts in one of those performances, where her character is not all that she appears, she is very very good at this kind of performance, where her Character is very misterious, and you never know what her real intentions are (see my review of Broken City)
Without giving away the story, all I will say about this movie is if you have seen the trailer, you don't know anything, the 3 central characters all trying to get one over on each other, understand what each is up to and gain an advantage is very cleverly scripted, and superbly worked.
This is a decent movie, worth a watch, its slow to start but stick with it, it's worth it in the end 7.5/10
For me the movie is slow to get going, but picks up pace towards the end, about half an hour in I was beginning to lose interest, but its definitely worth sticking with it.
Once again Catherine Zeta-Jones puts in one of those performances, where her character is not all that she appears, she is very very good at this kind of performance, where her Character is very misterious, and you never know what her real intentions are (see my review of Broken City)
Without giving away the story, all I will say about this movie is if you have seen the trailer, you don't know anything, the 3 central characters all trying to get one over on each other, understand what each is up to and gain an advantage is very cleverly scripted, and superbly worked.
This is a decent movie, worth a watch, its slow to start but stick with it, it's worth it in the end 7.5/10
Friday, 8 March 2013
Broken City
Broken city is an interesting film full of political scandal and intrigue, but the trouble is this film would not be out of place had it been released in the mid 90's. It certainly does not feel fresh and new, it felt like I was watching something from the 1990's
That said Russell Crowe puts in a decent performance as the Mayor, and probably a better performance than Wahlberg in the leading role, Zeta Jones is cast well in a fairly typical understated Zeta Jones role, where her character is a little bit secretive and mysterious, and you never feel like you know what her real motives are.
The fact that it is disappearing from my cinema after just a week suggests it has not done to well at the box office, but on the whole this is worth a watch, It's not the sort of film where I came out wanting my 2 hours back, Just don't expect it to be breaking new ground 7/10
That said Russell Crowe puts in a decent performance as the Mayor, and probably a better performance than Wahlberg in the leading role, Zeta Jones is cast well in a fairly typical understated Zeta Jones role, where her character is a little bit secretive and mysterious, and you never feel like you know what her real motives are.
The fact that it is disappearing from my cinema after just a week suggests it has not done to well at the box office, but on the whole this is worth a watch, It's not the sort of film where I came out wanting my 2 hours back, Just don't expect it to be breaking new ground 7/10
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters
There seems to be a proliferation of Fairy Tales with a new wist, following Snow White and the Huntsman last year, we now have Hansel & Gretel and Oz The Great and Powerful is out tomorrow.
This is a very strange film, the premise is that Hazel and Gretel have escaped from the witch as children, and now spend their lives hunting witches for a living.
I'm not sure that Renner and Artherton will look back on this as one of their best movies, I really didn't enjoy this movie. I wouldn't say its a bad film, but its not that good either, its just mediocre which in many ways is worse. at least I can get worked up over a bad movie, this just left me with nothing, and it's instantly forgettable, so much so that I am really struggling to find something to say here. 4/10
This is a very strange film, the premise is that Hazel and Gretel have escaped from the witch as children, and now spend their lives hunting witches for a living.
I'm not sure that Renner and Artherton will look back on this as one of their best movies, I really didn't enjoy this movie. I wouldn't say its a bad film, but its not that good either, its just mediocre which in many ways is worse. at least I can get worked up over a bad movie, this just left me with nothing, and it's instantly forgettable, so much so that I am really struggling to find something to say here. 4/10
Monday, 4 March 2013
Safe Haven
From the first time I saw the trailer for this film, I thought it might be a film I would enjoy, I did enjoy it, but perhaps I had slightly higher expectations than the reality.
Other than the Major plot twist half way through, which I didn't see coming, this film is relatively predictable and you always have a sense of where the film is going, There is one major plot fail, involving them travelling somewhere in a car, then having to arrange a lift home (what happened to the car?) but aside from that this is an enjoyable movie.
I was perhaps expecting a twee happily ever after ending, and in some ways it is, but the epilogue scene to close the movie is very clever, and very emotional, if you are prone to being weepy in the cinema take a tissue for the end.
I guess the best word to summarise this film is pleasant. its worth a couple of hours of you time, but definitely won't be high on the list of really memorable films this year. 7/10
Other than the Major plot twist half way through, which I didn't see coming, this film is relatively predictable and you always have a sense of where the film is going, There is one major plot fail, involving them travelling somewhere in a car, then having to arrange a lift home (what happened to the car?) but aside from that this is an enjoyable movie.
I was perhaps expecting a twee happily ever after ending, and in some ways it is, but the epilogue scene to close the movie is very clever, and very emotional, if you are prone to being weepy in the cinema take a tissue for the end.
I guess the best word to summarise this film is pleasant. its worth a couple of hours of you time, but definitely won't be high on the list of really memorable films this year. 7/10
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