For some, this is a long and much overdue sequel to the 1994 cult-comedy classic. For myself I loved the first film, and anything Jim Carrey starred in during the nighties and despite my original lack of enthusiasm for remakes or long-awaited sequels, this I actually looked forward to.
For starters, I knew it wasn't going to be a great film, and I wasn't expecting it to be as good as the original, and although my hypothesis proved to be correct, it still is a laugh-out loud film, filled with goofy behaviour and ridiculous antics.
Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are re-united, with the Farrelly brothers back at the helm, with the mix slapstick and lampoonery comedy, this film is definitely what it says on the box. The film starts-off rather slow and it takes both Carrey and Daniels a while to get back into the goofy, dim-witted theme, with the beginning of the film manifesting more as a sketch or stage show with it's unconvincing dialogue and exchanges.
The plot of the film is somewhat similar to the original, as Harry and Lloyd must travel across America in-search of Harry's long-lost daughter. The story includes foiled assassination ploys, the same old-tired gags and a sort-of love interest which doesn't materialise into anything.
Good fun, and worth a watch if you love this type of comedy.
Saturday, 20 December 2014
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Mockingjay (Part 1)
Part 1 of a two-part store from a trilogy of films. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1.
Often depicted as the weakest book in Suzanne Collins' trilogy; Mockingjay is very much different from the previous two, it is a more political film with the antagonistic element of the games being replaced with propaganda and uprising.
The central theme of the film is the aspect of propaganda with the film's heroin, Katniss Everdeeen being the poster girl for the rebellion. If the two previous films were considered 'too similar' to some, then this film is a complete turn in direction. Although it is not as entertaining, mainly because the film does not focus of the Hunger Games, instead upon the politics, the imprisonment of the other Hunger Game survivors and the weak love triangle.
Jennifer Lawerence is amazing as ever, and in this film we again see her amazing acting range.
Overall, the film is good and enjoyable, but it does miss the action from the previous two.
Often depicted as the weakest book in Suzanne Collins' trilogy; Mockingjay is very much different from the previous two, it is a more political film with the antagonistic element of the games being replaced with propaganda and uprising.
The central theme of the film is the aspect of propaganda with the film's heroin, Katniss Everdeeen being the poster girl for the rebellion. If the two previous films were considered 'too similar' to some, then this film is a complete turn in direction. Although it is not as entertaining, mainly because the film does not focus of the Hunger Games, instead upon the politics, the imprisonment of the other Hunger Game survivors and the weak love triangle.
Jennifer Lawerence is amazing as ever, and in this film we again see her amazing acting range.
Overall, the film is good and enjoyable, but it does miss the action from the previous two.
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Mr Turner
Timothy Spall stars as the eccentric artist, J. M. W. Turner, in his later life in the 19th Century.
For those unfamilar with the artist's work, the painting James Bond and Q are looking at in Skyfall is The Fighting Temeraire. A painting about a bloody big ship; in the words of the secret agent himself.
Spall grunts, and snarls his way through this film, portraying the great painter as both a well educated and intriguing character.
The supporting cast are formidable and in times in offer comic relieve and comfort to the estranged soul of Turner.
The main issue of this film is that there is no clear narrative, and I had no idea of where this film could end, except for his death.
The cinematography was stunning, but after all this is arty film, about an artist. I would not be surpirsed if Dick Pope were to be nominated for another Oscar, his first and previous was from the 2006 film, The Illusionist.
Overall, an interesting and some-what humerus film for which I admired, but ultimately I was left confused bewildered at what and why things were happening.
For those unfamilar with the artist's work, the painting James Bond and Q are looking at in Skyfall is The Fighting Temeraire. A painting about a bloody big ship; in the words of the secret agent himself.
Spall grunts, and snarls his way through this film, portraying the great painter as both a well educated and intriguing character.
The supporting cast are formidable and in times in offer comic relieve and comfort to the estranged soul of Turner.
The main issue of this film is that there is no clear narrative, and I had no idea of where this film could end, except for his death.
The cinematography was stunning, but after all this is arty film, about an artist. I would not be surpirsed if Dick Pope were to be nominated for another Oscar, his first and previous was from the 2006 film, The Illusionist.
Overall, an interesting and some-what humerus film for which I admired, but ultimately I was left confused bewildered at what and why things were happening.
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Interstellar
In the current age of cinema of over the -top computer generated commercial cinema, Christopher Nolan offers an alternative mix of action, emotion with an added hint of art-house cinema.
Previously Nolan has taken us back to the 19th Century, a fictional city (Gotham) and a trip into the mind of ones conscious. in 2014, space is the new venture and within this journey he has employed Matthew McConaughey (Cooper) and Anne Hathaway (Amelia), David Gyasi and West Bentley (Doyle), and not forgetting TARS, the intellectual AI machine, to search for a new habitat in an interstellar adventure.
The film is set in dystopia future where the crops are being plagued with blight and dust. Earth has also succumbed to propaganda in order to set a false sense of security and economical distribution by suggesting that NASA are no longer in existence and that all ventures into space were nothing more staged performances.
Michael Caine is of course back (his sixth film with Nolan), and his role in the film as Professor Brand is to persuade Cooper onto his ship to help prove his theory, and to save the Earth.
The film is epic! Interstellar adventure involving complex quantum theory with help from the theoretical physicist, Kip Thorne. The science is sound, and the adventure is huge, but there is definitely something missing; the story. It starts well, but there are some many errors and the plot holes are larger than any supernova.
The film starts well, but ultimately falls flat near the end with many, 'what', 'how', moments.
I'm still a big fan of Nolan's work, but I would not rank this epic within his top 5 films, although it is better than his previous effort, 'The Dark Knight Rises'.
Previously Nolan has taken us back to the 19th Century, a fictional city (Gotham) and a trip into the mind of ones conscious. in 2014, space is the new venture and within this journey he has employed Matthew McConaughey (Cooper) and Anne Hathaway (Amelia), David Gyasi and West Bentley (Doyle), and not forgetting TARS, the intellectual AI machine, to search for a new habitat in an interstellar adventure.
The film is set in dystopia future where the crops are being plagued with blight and dust. Earth has also succumbed to propaganda in order to set a false sense of security and economical distribution by suggesting that NASA are no longer in existence and that all ventures into space were nothing more staged performances.
Michael Caine is of course back (his sixth film with Nolan), and his role in the film as Professor Brand is to persuade Cooper onto his ship to help prove his theory, and to save the Earth.
The film is epic! Interstellar adventure involving complex quantum theory with help from the theoretical physicist, Kip Thorne. The science is sound, and the adventure is huge, but there is definitely something missing; the story. It starts well, but there are some many errors and the plot holes are larger than any supernova.
The film starts well, but ultimately falls flat near the end with many, 'what', 'how', moments.
I'm still a big fan of Nolan's work, but I would not rank this epic within his top 5 films, although it is better than his previous effort, 'The Dark Knight Rises'.
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Annabelle
My first review in a long, long time (in a galaxy far, far away)...
Annabelle, a spin-off from the 2013 film The Conjuring, stars Annabelle Wallis as the mother Mia and Ward Horton as her husband. The couple are expecting their first child together, they have everything prepared, the room, the dolls, and so on...
One night an incident occurs which leads to the couple left shell-shocked. After this incident the mother found strange happenings, all related to their creepy doll...
This is not the most original film you will see this year, with the inclusion of demonic dolls, possession, the 'been there, done that person', and the religious guy that acts as the counter-weight in regards to good and evil.
If you love horror films, then you would probably find this subdued, although the rest would find this a 'jumpy' watch, unfortunately this is another case where the best bits are in the trailer, reducing the element of surprise.
Annabelle, a spin-off from the 2013 film The Conjuring, stars Annabelle Wallis as the mother Mia and Ward Horton as her husband. The couple are expecting their first child together, they have everything prepared, the room, the dolls, and so on...
One night an incident occurs which leads to the couple left shell-shocked. After this incident the mother found strange happenings, all related to their creepy doll...
This is not the most original film you will see this year, with the inclusion of demonic dolls, possession, the 'been there, done that person', and the religious guy that acts as the counter-weight in regards to good and evil.
If you love horror films, then you would probably find this subdued, although the rest would find this a 'jumpy' watch, unfortunately this is another case where the best bits are in the trailer, reducing the element of surprise.
Friday, 18 April 2014
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The second Spidey film directed by the aptly named Mark Webb has Andrew Garfield reprising his role as the conspicuous protagonist, this time he joined by an array of idiosyncratic enemies.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) was the first film in Webb's reboot of Sony's owned Marvel franchise; just five years after Sam Raimi's ill-fated Spider-Man 3. After viewing the trailer for this picture and finding out that there would be three adversaries, I was reminded of the aforementioned 2007 flop, so I my expectations before the film were of a mix bag.
The first villain we are introduced to is the mad criminal Aleksei Sytsevich; wearing a black tracksuit and dotted cut-line tattoo on his fore-head, driving a truck containing bio-hazardous chemicals; this is a man not to be messed with, especially as he armed with an AK-47. Paul Giamatti is almost unrecognisable. In total Giamatti's screen time only accounts to four minutes, including his appearance in the Rhino mechanic suit.
Friendship plays a major factor in this film with the class-dividing old buddy relationship between Peter Parker and Harry Osborne, whom has returned to New York and Oscorp after years at boarding school and travelling. The chemistry between Garfield and Dane DeHaan is believable compelling. The relationship and break-down of the characters is similar to that of Rami's version, but whereas it took three films for Harry Osborne to don the Green Goblin getup, he is introduced in this film.
Gwen Stacey, Parker's intelligent love interest is perhaps the most interest and intriguing relationship as the characters deal with the complexity of young love, personal issues, education and moving away as well as keeping his word from Gwen's father to 'stay away'.
Jamie Foxx's character, is the misunderstand character of the film, and despite Harry Osborn's decent into insanity, Max Dillon is a lonely and forgettable punch-bag whom you remorse for. His transformation from a intelligent 'nobody' to an enraged electrical charged super-villain is nothing more than far-fetched, but the character is portrayed in a convincing manner by Foxx, but this is also attributed by good character building. Electro portrays a powerful antagonist for the web slinger as he tests Parker's strength, memory and brain. The progression from a character is clearly mentally unstable and is obsessed with Spider-Man, a man that is recognized every where in New York, compared to himself whom no one knows exists is interesting, but I personally think the film picks up many flaws when we see the character's power evolve.
Overall the film is spectacular and is the most epic Spider-Man film ever made with a bold state of intent from Sony to Marvel Studios that this is their franchise and its here to stay.
Though 3D is nothing more than a gimmick in modern cinema, but admittedly it does have its moments in free-fall sequences and boy does this film milk them as the film feels more like a virtual reality simulator.
A must see over the Easter weekend; good character development, but is slightly flawed and rushed in parts.
8/10 - but I am being nice!
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) was the first film in Webb's reboot of Sony's owned Marvel franchise; just five years after Sam Raimi's ill-fated Spider-Man 3. After viewing the trailer for this picture and finding out that there would be three adversaries, I was reminded of the aforementioned 2007 flop, so I my expectations before the film were of a mix bag.
The first villain we are introduced to is the mad criminal Aleksei Sytsevich; wearing a black tracksuit and dotted cut-line tattoo on his fore-head, driving a truck containing bio-hazardous chemicals; this is a man not to be messed with, especially as he armed with an AK-47. Paul Giamatti is almost unrecognisable. In total Giamatti's screen time only accounts to four minutes, including his appearance in the Rhino mechanic suit.
Friendship plays a major factor in this film with the class-dividing old buddy relationship between Peter Parker and Harry Osborne, whom has returned to New York and Oscorp after years at boarding school and travelling. The chemistry between Garfield and Dane DeHaan is believable compelling. The relationship and break-down of the characters is similar to that of Rami's version, but whereas it took three films for Harry Osborne to don the Green Goblin getup, he is introduced in this film.
Gwen Stacey, Parker's intelligent love interest is perhaps the most interest and intriguing relationship as the characters deal with the complexity of young love, personal issues, education and moving away as well as keeping his word from Gwen's father to 'stay away'.
Jamie Foxx's character, is the misunderstand character of the film, and despite Harry Osborn's decent into insanity, Max Dillon is a lonely and forgettable punch-bag whom you remorse for. His transformation from a intelligent 'nobody' to an enraged electrical charged super-villain is nothing more than far-fetched, but the character is portrayed in a convincing manner by Foxx, but this is also attributed by good character building. Electro portrays a powerful antagonist for the web slinger as he tests Parker's strength, memory and brain. The progression from a character is clearly mentally unstable and is obsessed with Spider-Man, a man that is recognized every where in New York, compared to himself whom no one knows exists is interesting, but I personally think the film picks up many flaws when we see the character's power evolve.
Overall the film is spectacular and is the most epic Spider-Man film ever made with a bold state of intent from Sony to Marvel Studios that this is their franchise and its here to stay.
Though 3D is nothing more than a gimmick in modern cinema, but admittedly it does have its moments in free-fall sequences and boy does this film milk them as the film feels more like a virtual reality simulator.
A must see over the Easter weekend; good character development, but is slightly flawed and rushed in parts.
8/10 - but I am being nice!
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Borrowed Time
So a few weeks ago I managed to watch an exclusive showing of a new British drama, Borrowed Time. The film is set in London and explores the lives of two complete opposite individuals; one an old miser whom has a fondness for taxidermy, and the other an adolescent male that tried to burgle him - which is how the two meet. The purpose for the burglary was to steal enough loot to pay off an unwanted debt which has resulted on a proposed bounty on his head.
The film is heart warming and offers many laughs along the way, but you soon realize that both characters have many demons that need to be resolved.
Perhaps not the most compelling of film dramas you will watch this year, and it is not without its bizarre moments, but none the less the feeling of both animosity and friendship between the two protagonists is what makes the film an interesting watch.
The film is heart warming and offers many laughs along the way, but you soon realize that both characters have many demons that need to be resolved.
Perhaps not the most compelling of film dramas you will watch this year, and it is not without its bizarre moments, but none the less the feeling of both animosity and friendship between the two protagonists is what makes the film an interesting watch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)