Review Rewind: 30 Days Of Night (2007)

(Josh Hartnett after the premier of The Black Dahlia)

Cast: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George & Danny Huston

Directed by: David Slade

Screenplay by: Steve Niles, Stuart Beattie & Brian Nelson

Plot:

A small Alaskan town comes under siege from a group of bloodthirsty vampires during a period of 30 days when the town receives no sunlight whatsoever.

Verdict:

Neatly echoing John Carpenters classic horror picture, The Thing, 30 Days Of Night is more than just another blood soaked vampire flick. The bleak white setting of an Alaskan town that succumbs to a month of absolutely no sunlight combined with a brilliantly composed, very creepy score allows 30 Days Of Night to stand out as a genuinely tense horror movie.

But unfortunately letting the side down is the lead performances. Josh Hartnett and Melissa George are pretty solid on their own but as a team they fail to spark any kind of chemistry. This proves particularly problematic come the final scene of the movie that is beautifully conceived but doesn't contain the intended emotional impact.

Elsewhere however, Danny Huston impresses as the leader of the genuinely scary bloodsuckers and when blood is splashed and sprayed, it is done with purpose and style, acting on behalf of the graphic novel on which it is based upon and storyboarded straight from, much like Sin City and 300.

Not quite the excellent film it potentially could have been, 30 Days Of Night is still refreshingly tense and atmospheric compared to a lot of other pictures within the genre.

DDD

Review Rewind: 12 Rounds (2009)

(John Cena, willing to go to 'explosive' lengths to retain his title...)

Cast: John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris & Brian White

Directed by: Renny Harlin

Screenplay by: Daniel Kunka

Plot:

After his girlfriend (Scott) is kidnapped, Detective Ben Fisher (Cena) is forced to take part in a dangerous game consisting of 12 rounds to win her back.

Verdict:

Back in the 80's and the early 90's, action films all had something in common; a hero put through the mire till he eventually gets his man. They were a simple breed of film, the plot and dialogue irrelevant, the main character and action sequences the only real focus. 12 Rounds is without doubt a full-blown throw back to such flicks.

Director Renny Harlin - no stranger to the genre after directing Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger - does however have the benefit of an interesting plot device. The villain of the piece, highly camp, spits out rubbish dialogue, uses our hero, Detective Ben Fisher to play a game consisting of 12 rounds in order to win his kidnapped girlfriend back. It sort of neatly echoes the plot from Die Hard With A Vengeance.

WWE superstar, John Cena doesn't exactly convince with his acting ability. He lacks the natural charisma that another wrestler, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has successfully shown to become a major movie star. However he naturally does convince physically and therefore the action scenes are more believable. And it is the CGI free action sequences that make 12 Rounds an enjoyable, explosive old skool action fest.

DDD

Review Rewind: Night At The Museum (2007)

(The 'DO NOT DISTURB' sign was not to be taken lightly)

Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan & Robin Williams

Directed by: Shawn Levy

Screenplay by: Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon

Plot:

Larry Daley (Stiller) becomes a night guard at the Museum Of Natural History, expecting it to be a breeze but soon gets more than he bargained for when the exhibits start to come to life.

Verdict:

"Everything Comes To Life!" screams the tagline for Shawn Levy's latest directional effort, Night At The Museum. Hmmm the problem with that particular statement is the fact that, everything about Night At The Museum actually fails to spring to life, from the big potential of the plot, through to the array of comedic talent on show here.

Sure, plenty of intriguing museum exhibits do indeed come to life but when they do, nothing exciting ever happens. A T-Rex skeleton for example just decides it wants to play fetch. So you know you've pretty much had it when the highlight of the film proves to be, two tiny squabbling miniatures; Centurion Octavius played by Steve Coogan and a Cowboy played by Owen Wilson. The duo manage to bring some decent laughs to proceedings. Meanwhile, cameos by Ricky Gervais and Robin Williams are dull at best and Ben Stiller just goes through the motions as leading man, learning life lessons, etc, etc.

To be fair, the CGI throughout is excellent and the appearances of, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs and Mickey Rooney as former night guards at the museum raises a smile or two. Naturally the kids will have a blast too as in the end, Night At The Museum very much is family friendly fare that is sure to make millions, no matter what anyone has to say about it. Maybe a sequel - which is bound to materialise somewhere down the line - could do more with the huge potential that is clearly here.

DD

Movie Reviews 2010: Inception

(Leo's audition to be the next Bond was promising)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy & Cillian Murphy

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Screenplay by: Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

Plot:

Corporate spy for hire, Dom Cobb who specialises in stealing ideas from peoples dreams, takes one last job in which if he succeeds will be able to return home to his estranged children but if he fails will be trapped forever in an endless dream.

Verdict:

How exactly is Christopher Nolan getting away with this? Inception marks the third time Nolan has released a film mid-summer blockbuster season that doesn't actually play by the same rules other summer flicks abide by. With his Batman franchise already top of the superhero class, Nolan it seems can do no wrong when it comes to smart, engaging, challenging and yes, entertaining blockbusters. Inception is yet another strong example that having to use your brain for a mega bucks blockbuster is no bad thing.

And you will be giving your mind a fine workout to keep up with Inception. From the very first scene we are thrown straight into the complex world Nolan has created here and if you dare miss a beat even this early on you're going to really struggle to catch up later. This could be severely off-putting but just like The Matrix eleven years before it, you become so rooted in this highly original world, your mind doesn't dare wonder elsewhere. The Matrix is naturally a perfect comparison, not just because of the idea of another world beyond our own but also the gravity defying action.

Nolan is no stranger to big action set pieces anymore, after that flipping truck in, The Dark Knight. Here there is an explosive finale atop an Artic mountain that wouldn't be out of place in a 007 flick. However what sets it apart is the sheer insanity of it, with the scene taking place within two other scenes; a zero gravity scramble and a bullet ridden car chase. The fact that the three sequences manage to blend seamlessly and remain logical to the premise is just brilliant.

Inception is more than just exploding buildings and mind-bending physics. Nolan has once again assembled a fine cast and the surprising casting of Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt prove joyous. Page and Gordon-Levitt both bring real personality to their roles, displaying mature performances for this kind of material. Brit Tom Hardy deftly provides humour amongst the complexity and Cillian Murphy (now a Nolan regular) brings the right amount of vulnerability needed and crucial for his character.

More impressive however is Leonardo DiCaprio, who after being apart of the humongous success of Titanic all those years ago, could have just cashed in, picking up easy paychecks. But instead Leo has made terrific choices with his films, and his latest pick is one of his best yet. Inception's very big ideas would be nothing without a convincing lead performance at the heart of it and Leo delivers effortlessly. His emotionally complex performance ensures we believe in his journey and of course, the film itself. So what you have here is a film willing to invest as much into its characters as its action set pieces and a blockbuster that is as challenging as it is entertaining, surely with three such films now to his name, Nolan is just showing off.

DDDDD

Review Rewind: Hunger (2008)

(Proof that smoking really is bad for your health)

Cast: Michael Fassbender & Liam Cunningham

Directed by: Steve McQueen

Screenplay by: Enda Walsh & Steve McQueen

Plot:

The incredible true story of Irish Republican, Bobby Sands hunger strike that ultimately cost him his life.

Verdict:

Steve McQueen's debut movie, Hunger is mostly told, not through dialogue but with imagery. Using his camera expertly, always keeping it held firmly on a single image like somebody washing the blood off his hands, makes the scene say all it needs to say without any spoken explanation. There is plenty of other striking examples of this throughout.

Despite this brilliant technique, one of the strongest scenes in the picture does emerge through lots of spoken dialogue. A fifteen-minute sequence in which Fassbender's (watch out for this guy over the next few years) Bobby Sands talks to his priest about his plans perfectly captures the essence of this determined character. But again, notice how beautifully the camera captures the scene, especially as Sands relays a childhood memory.

Bold, powerful and uncompromising, winning plenty of awards at film festivals all over the globe, Hunger is an astonishing debut feature film.

DDDD

Review Rewind: Race To Witch Mountain (2009)

(As The Rock prepared to lay the smackdown, the others were blissfully unaware)

Cast: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Annasophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds & Alexander Ludwig

Directed by: Andy Fickman

Screenplay by: Matt Lopez & Mark Bomback

Plot:

A Las Vegas cabbie enlists the help of a paranormal expert to help protect two Alien siblings who have arrived on earth and are being hunted by the government.

Verdict:

It would appear that with Race To Witch Mountain, last year's The Game Plan and the forthcoming Tooth Fairy, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has become Disney's new golden boy. In, Race To Witch Mountain, Johnson neatly combines some good comic timing with his action chops to create a likable, unwilling hero. His performance sums up the film, this is a harmless, charming action adventure picture for the whole family to sit back and enjoy.

As you might expect though it's far from perfect. The flaws are obvious. Amongst the action set-pieces there are snippets of unconvincing CGI. You have seen the plot plenty of times before and there are moments of pure cheese.

One of the villains of the piece comes in the form of a game Ciaran Hinds, convincingly smarmy as a shady government agent. Another, of an alien kind, appears to be a nice throwback to the sci-fi films of the 50's. Something the filmmakers have a lot of fun with in general, referencing several sci-fi pictures.

Race To Witch Mountain is thankfully, one of Disney's more convincing adventure movies of late, a much better effort than the likes of National Treasure.

DDD

Movie Reviews 2010: Shrek Forever After

(Don't i know you from somewhere?)

Cast: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy & Antonio Banderas

Directed by: Mike Mitchell

Screenplay by: Josh Klausner & Darren Lemke

Plot:

After making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin, Shrek (Myers) finds himself trapped in an alternate universe where his family and friends no longer recognise him.

Verdict:

What a pleasant surprise this is, the fourth entry in the Shrek franchise not only massively improves on its limp predecessor, Shrek The Third, but also manages to get back on par with parts 1 and 2. Newly on board Director, Mike Mitchell has simply gone back-to-basic and in doing so has rediscovered what made the first two Shrek's sing in the first place.

Most surprisingly, this is the first Shrek picture to present a fresh spin on the story. With Shrek waking up in an alternative universe where his family and friends no longer recognise him, this sequel manages to separate itself from the previous films. The plot also allows Shrek to fall in love with Fiona all over again and therefore give an emotional kick to proceedings. There is real energy and purpose to the film with Shrek forced to race against the clock to complete his goal (something sorely missing last time out).

Perhaps even more importantly, Donkey and Puss In Boots are fully back on song and unlike Shrek The Third, very much included in the story. Donkey takes the biggest share of the laughs but the ingenious decision to turn Puss into an overweight, spoiled pet allows him to steal every scene he's in.

Also, where as Shrek The Third opted to throw in some poorly misjudged new characters, Shrek Forever After instead adds memorable ones. The villain of the piece (no more Prince Charming), Rumpelstiltskin is a weaselly, sneaky delight, voiced superbly by Walt Dohrn who is actually a storyboard artist for DreamWorks. This time out as well, we are not forced to watch endless scenes of fairytale referencing - one of the major downfalls of Shrek The Third - instead there are just the odd clever moments, like one of Rumpelstiltskin's witches melting away in true Wizard Of Oz fashion or Pinocchio's hilarious attempts at gaining a potion to make him a real boy.

Throw in a whole army of Ogre's, a couple of thrilling action set-pieces and some vivid 3D that never feels gimmicky, and you have yourself a truly magical return to form for the lovable Ogre and co. Will next summer's, Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides pull off a similar surprise? Here's hoping...

DDDD

Movie Reviews 2010: Predators

(Casting an Arnie lookalike for the latest Predator film wasn't going well)

Cast: Adrian Brody, Alice Braga, Topher Grace, Oleg Taktarov & Laurence Fishburne

Directed by: Nimrod Antal

Screenplay by: Alex Litvak, Michael Finch & Robert Rodriquez

Plot:

A group of elite warriors are parachuted on to an alien planet where they encounter an alien race known as Predators.

Verdict:

Aliens Vs Predator: Requiem was such a horrid mess it should have spelt the end for the Alien and Predator franchises. But two years down the line here we are again with Predators and some time next year, Alien will return as well. Interestingly though, a certain Robert Rodriquez first conceived this latest Predator flick a very long time ago and all though he decided not to direct, he still takes a producing credit.

Predators literally drops us right into the action and doesn't waste any time whatsoever trying to take the franchise in yet another direction - one of the fatal flaws of the A V P pictures - instead there is a real back-to-basics approach adapted here. For starters we are back in the jungle - no ordinary jungle though, the Predators home planet - where the Predators get to do some proper hunting. Also, Director Nimrod Antal handles the action scenes superbly with minimal fuss and minimal CG. It's almost believable that this could have been released all those years ago when Rodriquez first wrote the damn thing.

Still far from perfect though, Predators has plenty of problems. The plot is never given a moments thought and the ending suggests more films could follow. The characters are given similar treatment with no one standing out as either interesting or memorable. Topher Grace is a perfect example of poor casting and Laurence Fishburne's cameo as a sole survivor is just a bad excuse for filling screen time. Everyone else is just easy prey for the Predators, a bunch of walking cliches. Adrian Brody however fairs a bit better, beefing up considerably for the role, he is a convincing enough lead, playing well against type.

The most enjoyable aspect of Predators is the countless nods to the original film; hardcore fans of Predator will have a great time ticking off every one as they appear. The original Predator itself, check. The original score playing throughout, check. Jesse Ventura's giant gatling gun, check, and very neatly we now get to see a blade-versus-blade showdown between a Predator and a human, something that happened off screen in the 1987 film. And to round things off nicely, allowing you to leave with a smile on your face, a brilliant song choice that plays over the end credits.

DDD

Review Rewind: Shrek The Third (2007)

(Well it still beats going to the dentist right?)

Cast: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas & Justin Timberlake

Directed by: Chris Miller & Raman Hui

Screenplay by: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Chris Miller & Aron Warner

Plot:

Shrek Goes on a quest to find Arthur, the rightful heir to the king's throne of Far Far Away, after refusing to take the throne himself.

Verdict:

There is a pivotal moment in Shrek The Third that perfectly sums up the disappointment of Shrek's latest adventure. After a magic spell goes slightly wrong, Puss In Boots and Donkey end up switching bodies and... nothing funny actually happens. A potentially ingenious gag that doesn't even muster a snigger let alone a decent laugh. Instead it just feels lazy and desperate; a feeling that more than once pops into your head during the course of Shrek The Third.

It's a great shame that when you have two hilarious and likable characters like Donkey and Puss In Boots - who both stole the show in parts 1 and 2 respectively - and you leave them on the sidelines in favour of, pop culture and fairy tale referencing. In fact there is so much of that going on here, it doesn't feel clever anymore, it just becomes irritating.

Frustratingly there are moments of genuine brilliance here. The opening scenes are snappy, playful and funny, gently reacquainting us with Shrek and co. And Fiona's amphibian father's overwrought death scene is expertly played out by John Cleese. While elsewhere, Shrek has a riotous nightmare about being a father, and the gingerbread man sees his life flash before his eyes in a sequence so brilliant, so funny, it deserves to be in a better sequel than this.

It would be harsh to also criticise Shrek The Third's threadbare story because to be fair, the previous Shrek's themselves weren't blessed with the greatest of stories to tell, but still you cant help but notice the poor repetition on show here; Shrek on a quest again, Prince Charming as the villain again. New character additions are highly unmemorable too with Merlin, voiced by Eric Idle, just plain annoying and hugely misjudged, and Arthur, voiced by Justin Timberlake, a whiny, bratty, uninspired hero.

Whether this will be the last time we see Shrek and co. is debatable but it is probable Shrek The Third will still take big bucks at the box office. So another sequel could materialise and if it does lets hope the writer's look to Shrek 1 and 2 for inspiration, rather than this uninspired sequel.

DD

Review Rewind: Aliens Vs Predator: Requiem (2008)

(Scare tactics were required to speed along the birthing process)

Cast: Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth, John Ortiz & Johnny Lewis

Directed by: The Brothers Strause

Screenplay by: Shane Salerno

Plot:

Aliens and Predators at war land in a small American town and the residents must band together to fight them off.

Verdict:

It would seem, that to all but kill off an already dying franchise is a popular thing in Hollywood. It happens all the time and the latest to receive the death sentence is actually two franchises in one. Alien and Predator were, once upon a time, classic motion pictures, and in the form of James Cameron's Aliens, we were treated to at least one good sequel, a bona-fide classic in its own right.

So Predator lost its momentum with a limp, city based sequel and after the tortured productions of Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, Alien Vs Predator emerged back in 2004 but failed to do justice to the characters. However by comparison to this latest mess, Alien Vs Predator doesn't look so bad after all. The Brothers Strause as they call themselves have taken two iconic characters and thrown them into an awfully cliche ridden teen horror picture; yes there is even a token hot chick who takes her clothes off.

The acting is risible at best and you wont care for a single character on screen, in fact you have a better chance at cheering on the Predator instead. But even that is still reaching because by the time any Alien Vs Predator action comes into play you wont actually be paying much attention anymore, add that to the fact that nearly every action sequence takes place in complete darkness and pouring rain, making it practically impossible to tell what is going on, and you have the final nail in the coffin for this movie and most likely, the franchise as well.

D

Movie Reviews 2010: Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call: New Orleans

(They really shouldn't have mentioned, The Wicker Man, remake)

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes & Val Kilmer

Directed by: Werner Herzog

Screenplay by: William M. Finkelstein

Plot:

A rogue cop investigates the brutal massacre of a family in post-hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, whilst dealing with an escalating drug problem.

Verdict:

Where else this or any year, are you likely to see the carcass of an Alligator in the midst of a road traffic accident, and then see the scene again from the point of view of another on looking Alligator? How about some Iguanas popping up for a music montage? Or how about a soul break dancing - "Shoot him again." "Why?" "Because his soul is still dancing!" Werner Herzog's update of 1992's cult picture Bad Lieutenant is the only place you will see all of the above.

These audacious scenes all randomly pop up in an otherwise conventional cop thriller with the plot wrapping itself up in a single scene lasting little more than a minute. But that is beside the point; this is a character study through and through. And who better than Nicolas Cage to represent said character study. Cage is absolutely mesmerising, on the kind of crazy, compelling form that makes him the most gifted actor of his generation; when he chooses the right material of course. Importantly, a wise decision was made by screenwriter Finkelstein to give Cage's Detective Terrence McDonagh's escalating drug problems some kind of excuse, by having McDonagh forced to continuously take prescription medication for his back injury, sustained in a rare moment of generosity at the start of the picture. This allows Cage to remain somewhat likable during his downfall.

And that downfall - drugs, gambling, woman, dirty cop dealing, threatening old ladies - has the perfect backdrop with post-hurricane Katrina, New Orleans. Every shot of the film captures the decaying city allowing it to become a character in its own right. And as the film reaches its redemptive finale, its one of those 'it really shouldn't work' but hey guess what, it does in spades.

DDDDD

Review Rewind: Walk The Line (2006)

(hmmm... what was that song again?)

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Patrick & Ginnifer Goodwin

Directed by: James Mangold

Screenplay by: Gill Dennis & James Mangold

Plot:

A biopic of legendary singer, songwriter Johnny Cash.

Verdict:

As James Mangold's, Walk The Line opens outside a prison facility, the distant sound of a guitar being plucked and the heavy beat of foot tapping can be heard. If you are already a fan of the man in black, then you will recognise the familiar sound immediately and find your foot joining in, if you have never heard a Johnny Cash song before, well you will start tapping anyway and by the time the end credits begin to roll you will have a new list of songs ready to download.

This opening scene perfectly sums up Walk The Line; catchy with a capital C. Director Mangold's brave decision to allow his leads, Phoenix and Witherspoon to personally sing every note sang in the movie allows for a fresh and exciting vibe in the concert scenes. With the duo haven never sang before, these scenes feel like witnessing the birth of new and thrilling vocal talent. Phoenix and Witherspoon come across so convincing and confident in their singing abilities it's a real joy to watch.

Being a biopic, Phoenix and Witherspoon have more than singing to do of course and Walk The Line's main focus is of there characters will they/wont they love story. This central relationship is appealing, sweet and convincing thanks to Phoenix and Witherspoon's terrific performances. Phoenix is great but Witherspoon is even better with an energetic turn perfectly graced with an underlying sadness.

Walk The Line only really hints at the darker side to Cash's life - being haunted by the violent death of his brother, addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs - but never fully explores them but it never hinders what is a perfectly paced and brilliantly acted film complete with a killer soundtrack.

DDDD

Review Rewind: Lord Of War (2005)

(Nicolas's new wardrobe made quite an impression)

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan, Ian Holm & Ethan Hawke

Directed by: Andrew Niccol

Screenplay by: Andrew Nicool

Plot:

Cage plays arms dealer Yuri Orlov as we follow him from small beginnings in America to bigger, more dangerous dealings in Africa.

Verdict:

The two main reasons to see Lord Of War are fairly straightforward. One reason is Nicolas Cage, clearly enjoying himself playing a role that is a perfect fit for him, with every word of his brilliant voiceover oozing with charisma, which is second nature to Cage when he is on this kind of form.

The second reason is, Lord Of War may well be a movie with a message at its core but it does not ever try to ram that message home. Just look at the brilliantly cruel opening credit sequence where we follow a bullet through production to the point it is loaded into a gun and shot directly through a young boy's skull, which is swiftly followed by our introduction to Cage's arm dealer Orlov, as he quips with a perfect grin about there being enough guns in the world for one in twelve human beings to own a personal firearm, and the only thing he is worried about, how he is going to get the other eleven to own one too.

A slight qualm with Lord Of War is the second half of the picture undeniably loses the fizz and fast pacing of the first half, but the ending itself is satisfying and somehow feels right even though it probably shouldn't; but then that is exactly what Director Andrew Niccol has achieved here, a perfect balancing act, beautifully highlighted by the opening and final scenes.

DDDD

Review Rewind: You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008)

(Adam Sandler can surf using a car, apparently)

Cast: Adam Sandler, John Turturro & Rob Schneider

Directed by: Dennis Dugan

Screenplay by: Adam Sandler & Judd Apatow

Plot:

After faking his own death, legendary Israeli counter-terrorist agent, The Zohan moves to New York City to pursue his life long dream of becoming a male hairdresser.

Verdict:

You Don't Mess With The Zohan undeniably looked promising on paper; Sandler inked the script with current comedic kingpin, Judd Apatow and in the opening scenes things do shape up nicely. Sandler's Zohan performs all kinds of hilarious, crazy stunts. Catching bullets with his fingers and his teeth, and allowing a piranha to swim in his shorts are ingenious highlights. It appears, a potentially brilliant action/comedy could be on the cards.

Sadly once the films very thin story heads to the big apple, an entirely different, unfunny film kicks into gear. Running jokes about Middle Eastern traditions grow very tiresome whilst gags about the Zohan's seductive methods in the hair salon where older woman get more than they bargained for, also become very irritating.

To be fair to Sandler he does still remain a fairly charming presence throughout the picture but has no decent support whatsoever. Turturro in particular who is no stranger to creating silly characters in Adam Sandler comedies (See, Mr. Deeds & Anger Management), summons his most over-the-top creation yet with the Phantom but disappointingly fails to provide any laughs.

The film winds down to a strained finale that throws in a bunch of celebrity cameos in a desperate move to finish on a high but instead only adds to the overall disappointment of this fruitless comedy.

DD

Review Rewind: The Happening (2008)

(They looked on in despair as the 'Plants' made their advance)

Cast: Mark Wahlberg & Zooey Deschanel

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Screenplay by: M. Night Shyamalan

Plot:

The east coast of the United States believes it is under a biological terrorist attack after a string of grisly suicides break out.

Verdict:

You know theirs no saving a movie when this happens. "It's plastic... I'm talking to a plastic plant." Mark Wahlberg looking completely perplexed, must have loved this scene but being serious for a second - something that The Happening, the sixth film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, never seems to be - it's not just Wahlberg but everybody involved here, walking around with the same baffled look pasted across there face. So could it be the wind that's seemingly chasing them, perhaps? Could it be the realisation that plants, yes frigging plants are possibly responsible for the 'event' that is happening, maybe? Could it be the increasingly ingenious ways people are coming up with to commit suicide, perhaps? Could it even be that crazy old lady who turns up for no apparent reason, possibly? All could it just be the fact that all this actually came from the same guy who made The Sixth Sense... definitely.

D

Review Rewind: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

(1,001 explosions and counting)

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel & Tyrese Gibson

Directed by: Michael Bay

Screenplay by: Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman

Plot:

The Autobots have now formed an alliance with the U.S Military with the goal of taking down all remaining Decepticons on the planet. After capturing a rogue 'bot', it is revealed that a deadly threat is on it's way to Earth, 'The Fallen'.

Verdict:

One thing you can't accuse Michael Bay of is not trying to entertain an audience. Seemingly trying to break a new world record for the highest amount of explosions in a single film, Bay does indeed blow shit up. But you can't really use it as a criticism when he does it so damn well. That is the case with his mega-budget sequel, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen.

On a technical level, this is amazing. The special effects are used to good effect, not just for the sake of it. The creation of the Transformers presents CGI at it's very peak. The action sequences including some brilliant Transformer Vs Transformer smack downs are executed to near-perfection especially the sequence where Optimus Prime takes on several Decepticons.

So it's a great shame that Bay doesn't pay as much attention to other areas of his film. All though all the cast members who reprise their roles from the first outing are fine because we already know there characters, some new characters added this time are not fine at all. The twin Transformers who spend the whole film spitting out hip-hop slang are extremely irritating and another annoying character bought into the mix, Sam's new college roommate, who ends up tagging along for the adventure, spends every second he is on screen, whining, screaming or just blurting out rubbish dialogue.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the story as well is filled with plenty of plot holes much like it's predecessor. In the end though, Shia LaBeouf is a great lead once again and you will at least be entertained because this is pure popcorn entertainment that on the whole, is worth your time.

DDD

Movie Reviews 2010: Up In The Air

(Anna Kendrick forgot about the rules regarding hand baggage allowance)

Cast: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick & Melanie Lynskey

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Screenplay by: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner

Plot:

Ryan Bingham (Clooney), a frequent flyer and corporate downsizer is living high flying lifestyle just fine until a new work colleague and a new love interest come into the fold.

Verdict:

George Clooney can do no wrong it seems, consistent, funny, utterly charming, always picks the right roles to play and the right Directors to work with and that is certainly the case once again here, with Up In The Air. However something else sticks out here; the realness to Clooney's performance making it, perhaps his best pick to date, no wonder he only needed to briskly read Reitman's script before jumping onboard.

With that said, the woman who have an affect on Clooney's Bingham as the film progresses are also great, especially Anna Kendrick as a sharp new recruit with bright ideas for the future of Bingham's business. There relationship is a perfect odd-couple scenario as they are forced to work together.

Seemingly continuing where he left off with Juno, Reitman just gets better and better, crafting his best film out of the three he's directed so far. The script is his sharpest yet with Reitman's interesting decision to use real people who lost their jobs in the economical downfall for some of the 'firing' scenes, adding a bigger emotional punch to proceedings and the huge relevance that comes with it.

And just when you get comfortable and think you understand what the film is about and where it is heading, Reitman has a couple of tricks up his sleeve as the film winds down neatly to a perfect ending for a brilliantly made motion picture that feels beautifully old fashioned.

DDDDD

Movie Reviews 2010: It's Complicated

(This is how complicated love can be)

Cast: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin & John Krasinski

Directed by: Nancy Meyers

Screenplay by: Nancy Meyers

Plot:

After being divorced for nearly a decade, Jane (Streep) and Jake (Baldwin) reignite their relationship despite Jake being re-married and Jane recently meeting nice guy, Adam (Martin).

Verdict:

Director Nancy Meyers latest, It's Complicated, is rather simple actually because it treads all the same paths a standard rom-com treads. So yes you have seen it all before and yes you will know how it's all going to work out.

However the journey is a fun one thanks to a great cast. With the brilliant hit show 30 Rock, Baldwin has established himself as a hilarious comic actor and here is on top form, turning a potentially slimy character into a riotous, likable one. Streep of course is as reliable and likable as ever whilst Steve Martin gives a nicely restrained performance; it's a case of three old pros making sure we keep watching. But then it's relatively newcomer John Krasinski who ends up stealing all there thunder with a perfect showcase of comedic timing.

There are moments of forced gags, some cheesy dialogue and awkward dramatic acting along the way but some genuine big laughs do emerge including Streep and Martin smoking pot and Krasinski's reaction when he discovers the affair going on. So if nothing else, see it for the performances.

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Movie Reviews 2010: Alice In Wonderland

(The biggest grin in the world)

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Michael Sheen, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry & Matt Lucas

Directed by: Tim Burton

Screenplay by: Linda Woolverton

Plot:

19 year-old Alice returns to the magical place from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and discovers her true destiny; to end the terrible reign of the Red Queen.

Verdict:

If you are looking for a bang on faithful adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice Adventures In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, this is not where you will find it. On paper, Burton and Carroll is a tasty looking partnership but this re-imagining is pure Burton.

When Alice ventures down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, the twisted and fantastical world Alice finds herself in, is straight from the imaginative mind of Burton; especially the eerie floating heads river that Alice must cross at one point in the film.

Because of this approach, the story is very thing and the plot moves along without any real purpose, we basically jump from one scene to the next without any major plot or character developments. Alice's journey is very straightforward and happens so fast you will barely noticed she has even taken it. However Mia Wasikowska is convincing enough in her transformation from sweet and innocent lost girl to Jabberwocky slayer.

The game cast including a host of British character actors are mostly great with some standout vocal work from the likes of Michael Sheen and Stephen Fry (perfectly cast as the Cheshire Cat). Anne Hathaway is sadly wasted though with very little screen time. Johnny Depp, once again on eccentric duty for Burton, nails The Mad Hatter with ease, entirely defining the 'Mad' in his name. To Depp's credit, he manages to add some emotional weight to the character as well; but the Futterwack! dance is just, wrong.

Alice In Wonderland also the marks the first film in the wake of Avatar, to seamlessly combine live action and animation, which is fitting seeing as it has amazingly beaten Avatar's record for the highest grossing opening weekend in North America; but if it goes on to beat Avatar's overall box-office takings then ill happily do the Futterwack! myself.

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Movie Reviews 2010: Green Zone

(Jason Isaacs reports the finding of Jason Bourne)

Cast: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Jason Isaacs, Brendan Gleeson & Amy Ryan

Directed by: Paul Greengrass

Screenplay by: Brian Helgeland

Plot:

Sergeant Miller (Damon) is posted to Iraq to assist in justifying the war by finding Weapons Of Mass Destruction. After several failed attempts at finding any kind of evidence of the weapons, Miller starts to ask tricky questions and before he knows it, his own people are out to get him.

Verdict:

Director Paul Greengrass is now a seasoned pro at delivering an action blockbuster that is as exciting as it is intelligent. Sticking with his Bourne leading man, Matt Damon, Greengrass delves into the Iraq war. More specifically, the murky issue of Weapons Of Mass Destruction.

Damon's Sergeant Roy Miller sure resembles Jason Bourne but how could he not, he's as tough and able and keeps asking questions, of course though this time he is asking the question we were all asking after the invasion; where are they?

After last years, The Hurt Locker did some proper cinematic justice to the men fighting for their country in the Iraq conflict, Green Zone emerges as the first picture to successfully use the war as a template for an exciting and enthralling action blockbuster with plenty of substance too.

The political subtext is just that, with Greengrass making sure the political side of things are kept in the background and keeping the intense action in the foreground allowing the pace to never let up. Because of this a couple of characters are wasted along the way, sadly including The Wire's Amy Ryan as a determined journalist. Jason Isaacs however more than makes up for his limited screen time enjoying every second of his villainous role.

There are no easy answers here including the climax that offers no real closure to proceedings but of course in reality the war in Iraq is far from over.

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Movie Reviews 2010: The Road

(Man reads to Boy)

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron & Robert Duvall

Directed by: John Hillcoat

Screenplay by: Joe Penhall

Plot:

Based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name, The Road follows a Man and his Boy as they desperately try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.

Verdict:

End of the world disaster flicks tend to either build up nicely until a happy or inconceivable ending goes and spoils it, or they just spend the entire runtime reducing cities to a pulp via lots and lots of CGI (stand up Roland Emmerich). The Road however is having none of it. Sticking very faithfully to the Cormac McCarthy Pulitzer winning novel of the same title, Director John Hillcoat's film is a harsh, chilling and compelling vision of the future. It's harsh on the eyes with the burnt landscapes and cruel to the ears with abrupt dialogue; Man says to Boy "They committed suicide" after coming across some hanging bodies, the Boy asks "Why?" The Man replies "You know why" without a moments hesitation.

Depressing indeed but the central relationship of Man and Boy - we are never told their names - desperately trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world, convinces enough to make us care for them and their journey as they seek to reach the coast. To further add to the downbeat tone, other survivors have turned to cannibalism and the Man, played sombrely by Mortensen, is slowly dying.

Undeniably The Road is a far more comfortable read because you can put the book down when ever you feel the need to. On screen though in a dark cinema with no breaks in between the harshness unfolding in front of your eyes, it is not an easy watch. But stick with it because what unfolds is a refreshing take on the genre that actually sticks to its guns all the way to the end credits.

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Movie Reviews 2010: Iron Man 2

(This is the part where the male side of the audience start to pay attention)

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson & Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Screenplay by: Justin Theroux

Plot:

Tony Stark is enjoying life as Iron Man until a Russian inventor threatens to destroy his image. Meanwhile, the U.S Military also want Stark too hand over his technology for the Iron Man suit so it can be turned into a weapon for Military use.

Verdict:

It's nice to see, Director Jon Favreau stick to his guns in this second outing for Iron Man. Great, interesting casting, characters actually allowed screen time to you know 'live and breathe' and not just one pointless action sequence after another. Yep that was what made 2008's Iron Man so damn enjoyable and the same can be said for this sequel that does manage to live up to it's predecessor.

Another reason Iron Man proved to be such a winner was the fact it was so effortlessly fun. Downey Jr. had most of the lines of course (and yes he is just as funny and charismatic here) but this time out, nearly everyone else enjoy a fair share too, especially Rockwell and Cheadle whom after somewhat controversially replacing Terrance Howard from the first outing, does a very solid, professional job, never undermining what Howard did before and at the same time making the character his own especially once he becomes War Machine. One slight mishap this time round though is Favreau's decision to extend his cameo appearance into a full-on supporting character; sure he has a lot of fun with it but in a couple of scenes it's just, well, too full-on.

It isn't all about the fun however with some darker terrain covered, in particular the revelation that Stark's suit is actually slowly killing him. Also, the main villain of the piece, Rourke's Ivan Vanko is a character hellbent on revenge. Rourke revels in the role, continuing his recent comeback success story with another interesting turn. Sticking with the villains, the gamble was taken to include two bad guys this time around with Rockwell's weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer along for the ride too. Thankfully the gamble pays off with the duo given equal screen time. Like Rourke, Rockwell is very good too, making his Stark wannabe every bit the smarmy weasel that he really is. Scarlett also makes her mark on the movie as the very sexy, very athletic Natalie Rushman, especially when dispatching Hammer's henchmen wearing a figure-hugging cat-suit.

So their is a lot of talking but that doesn't mean the action scenes are in anyway affected. In fact they are just easier to appreciate because of it. The Monaco Grand Prix set-piece where Vanko tears up motor-racing cars like they were toy cars is a blistering sequence that is equally matched by the climatic battle scene where Iron Man and War Machine take on an army of combat ready droids created by Vanko and Hammer. A gloriously, explosive finale that is only let down slightly by the massive iron suit that Vanko embodies for the scene; basically a repetition from the first film's climax.

Iron Man 2 wins you over in the end with it's sheer enthusiasm for the character and indeed it's supporting characters, just like the first outing did. Marvel's next two outings, Thor and Captain America, will do well to follow in these foot steps.

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