Film Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey   8/10
Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
Plot: a young Bilbo Baggins sets out on a journey to the Lonely Mountains along with thirteen dwarves to rescue stolen treasure from the dragon Smaug.

Following the phenomenal success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit has finally reached cinema screens with fantastic success and although the original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien was more child-like than the Rings trilogy,  Jackson’s addition of  a certain amount of darkness and action is extremely effective.

The acting is perhaps the biggest success of this film; Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins seems a little uncertain at first; however, as the film progresses, he really becomes the character we all love, with a particular scene with Andy Serkis (Gollum) becoming a highlight. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, giving us terribly emotional lines to will Bilbo on, as well as some moments of intense action. Also, we see some nice appearances from the likes of Christopher Lee and Cate Blanchett.

The film is also very successful in the way that it never slows down; once the group leave Bag End, we plummet above, below and within mountains, coming across all manner of creatures. All of the creatures, in fact, are done very well with spectacular special effects. However, some scenes are so covered in green screen it is sometimes noticeable; a distraction for dedicated film fans.

In Conclusion: with fantastic creatures, a stellar cast and a moderately exciting ending, An Unexpected Journey shows us that Peter Jackson rarely faults.

Film Review: Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World   6/10
Director: Lorene Scafaria
Starring: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Melanie Lynskey
Plot: as the end of the world is announced, a man, abandoned by his wife, goes on a road trip to find his high school crush along with his neighbour.

An apocalyptic film with comedy… well, there’s no action in this film and it’s fairly entertaining for something so dreary! The film seems to switch between deep depression (the real side to the end of the world) and a more bouncy, humorous and playful side. Overall, it’s nice to see a bit of both, which Carell and Knightley balance between them nicely.
 
The film, running at 101 minutes is nicely paced and has the usual beginning, middle and end. Whilst it may be disappointing to have no real ‘pay-off’ (boom!), perhaps it’s a dig at the likes of 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow. Lorene Scafaria delves appropriately into the emotional impact of families during this time, making sure each situation comes across as real and not at all set up, which it does, with perhaps the exception of the final scene.

Steve Carell is surprising in this role. His overused comedic and dramatic characters have become tiresome in many of the films he’s in. However, here and in Crazy, Stupid, Love he seems to have finally come out of his shell, delving into more interesting characters.
 
In Conclusion: a nicely crafted film with interesting characters and funny scenarios. Whilst it isn’t particularly memorable or classed as a ‘classic’ it’s still enjoyable in the moment.

Film Review: Breaking Dawn - Part 2

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2   7/10
Director: Bill Condon
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Michael Sheen
Plot: the Cullens gather vampires from all corners of the globe in order to protect the new-born Renesmee; following false allegations from the Volturi.

The Twilight Saga is either loved or hated by an individual; all five instalments, whether you love them or hate them, have all brought something unique to the tale. Bill Condon, the director of the two Breaking Dawn parts, has finished the Twilight saga with ease.

Part 2, despite suffering from a fairly slow and uneventful Part 1, is surprisingly entertaining, funny and satisfying. The film thankfully diverges away from the anti-climatic book finale which fans all wanted to see changed. The film, unlike previous instalments, has an incredible opening ten minutes; we are thrown into an opening credits scene with wonderful cinematography and whilst this is all very touching, it’s the moment we see Bella’s eyes open that it all begins. The opening ten minutes are captivating ; Bella’s scrounge for human blood is not only fairly comical but also very informative; Condon uses impressive visuals to show vampire senses, throwing the audience into the mind of Bella which is done perfectly. As well as this, the build-up to the battle in this film is very exciting; as Bella and Edward go all over the world in search of help, we get to see all sorts of vampire powers (however, some are uninteresting and not at all inspiring!)

The only criticism I have for this film is the special effects. The opening scene was very realistic, however the final battle and moments of high velocity (when the vampires are running very, very fast) the effects are quite distracting. The new-born, super fast growing baby Renesmee also looks more like a Sims character than a real child, something a series which has grossed billions should’ve corrected.

In Conclusion: with moments of humour and intense violence, it seems the Twilight Saga has learnt from its mistakes, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and finishes with a satisfactory finale.

Film Review: Friends With Kids

Friends With Kids    5/10
Director: Jennifer Westfeldt
Starring: Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Maya Rudolph
Plot: a tough decision between two friends occurs when they decide to have a child.

Jennifer Westfeldt took a risky decision to direct, write and star in Friends With Kids, but she pulled it off to a satisfactory level. Firstly, looking at the negatives behind the promotion; the marketing machine behind this film was awfully misleading. Most of the main cast members were in the critically adored Bridesmaids and the trailer seemed all too similar in its material, which sadly, it isn’t. Yes, Friends With Kids doesn’t have the laughs, quirkiness and shock factor Bridesmaids had, although it is indeed a sweet and relatively entertaining romantic comedy.

Jennifer Westfeldt is fairly good in her role as Julie; her on screen relationship with Adam Scott (Jason) seems realistic and sweet throughout, yet is extremely predictable and clumsy at times. Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig – the stars of Bridesmaids – are terribly underused in this film and the very rare laugh-out-loud moments mostly consist of these two characters. The film also suffers from being a little too long; yes, the acting is surprisingly good at times (especially between Scott and Westfeldt) however none of it hides the cliché and moral-ridden storyline.

In Conclusion: it’s rather forgettable, however it’s sweet, uplifting and warm at times. Friends With Kids is perfect when you’re in the mood for mind-numbing anti-romance, yet the ending is all too inconclusive and you’ll be craving more laughs.

Film Review: Red Lights

DVD: Red Lights   6/10
Director: Rodrigo Cortes
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Oslen

Plot: a psychologist (Sigourney Weaver) and her assistant (Cillian Murphy) are out to prove paranomal activity is fake; however the return of the world famous Simon Silver (Robert De Niro) leads to a change in attitudes.

Paranormal films are becoming more and more the same. The same premise seems to be repeated over and over again. However, Red Lights has sparked something new in the genre.

Rodrigo Cortes, the director of the brilliant film Buried, is no doubt a very effective writer. Throughout Red Lights, we never see any kind of possession or activity which is deliberately meant to scare the audience; all of it in fact is fuelled from the plot itself. Also, the almost comical and satirical nature of the film, delivered by both Murphy and Weaver (almost mocking those believing in paranormal activity) ensures that nothing is taken too seriously. All this only fuels the suspense which grows throughout the film as the questions of whether paranormal activity is present, begins.

Sigourney Weaver is, as usual, fantastic in her role, yet nothing different to her usual. Cillian Murphy however is brilliant; as the film progresses, he receives more and more screen time, which is perfect as he steals the show consistently, with some very memorable scenes. Robert De Niro, plays a fantastic world renowned ‘magician’, achieving the impossible – Niro plays an almost chilling side to the character, which is never too obvious, it almost comes across as playful in a disturbing kind of way.

In Conclusion: Red Lights is a surprisingly good thriller/horror with some real jump-scares and moments of complete chaos. All the leads do their jobs perfectly and the finale is terribly tense, however it’s not one you would watch again.

Film Review: Skyfall

Cinema: Skyfall   8/10
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris
Plot: MI6 is under attack and 007 returns to destroy the threat.

Following the phenomenal Casino Royale in 2006, the reviews suggested that Quantum of Solace left audiences feeling a little empty. However, I thought Quantum was relatively entertaining, with enough action to cover its clumsy storyline.

Although Skyfall has been deemed by many as the best Bond yet, I don’t think it has the edge that Casino had; nor the intense bleakness. However, Skyfall does bring a number of cards to the table. Firstly, it seems more of a throwback to the old Bonds with the cars, gadgets and ‘old’ characters coming back to helm the screen. Also the plot, on the whole is fairly good; it’s a typical track down and ‘find whoever did this’ type of plot and is nice in its simplicity.

The opening scene is perhaps the best of all. Never has an opening to a Bond film had so many different angles, sections and locations! Mendes does a tremendous job of cutting from M in the office to Bond racing through markets and on rooftops, throwing the audience between the quietness of a London office to the chaos that ensues abroad. As well as the opening sequence, the title segment in which the theme song appears (by Adele) is fantastically chilling; throwing the audience into a world of villains, women and guns – it was the best possible start for a film to have been seen in a long while.

Where Skyfall seems to differ to the previous two Bonds is in its humour. Throughout, there are many one-liners which are sometimes very successful and executed at the perfect moment, yet others are a bit forced and clumsy. Many claim this to be like the original Bonds (fair enough!)

In Conclusion: Skyfall is tightly plotted, full of fantastic action sequences, humour and gadgets. Whilst it doesn’t quite reach the uniqueness and edginess of Casino Royale, it is several notches above Quantum in its scale and is a worthy Bond to continue the legend. And the ending, well, you decide.

Film Review: The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Cinema: The Perks of Being A Wallflower   8/10
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller
Plot: a young, introvert teenage boy becomes friends with two school seniors who begin to change his life.

The 1999 book of the same title was written by Stephen Chbosky; being both the director and author of its source material is incredibly rare in Hollywood however it works perfectly well here. The Perks of Being A Wallflower is a strangely simplistic tale of our young Charlie (Logan Lerman), who becomes friends with the eccentric Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller). Though the tale is incredibly easy to follow, the characters are all fantastic – with all three leads coming across as incredibly warm, uplifting and brave during some extremely tough times.

Logan Lerman plays the much anticipated role of Charlie very well; whilst he doesn’t look quite as timid and pathetic as you’d imagine, his portrayal is top-notch from beginning to end. Emma Watson shines here also; in her first proper, main post-Potter role, she is incredibly funny and electric, shining specifically during the more emotional scenes. Ezra Miller, best known for his mad role in We Need To Talk About Kevin, plays a role completely different to his norm, stealing some of the most comedic scenes of the film.

Where the film shines most is in its throwback to the 90s; the music, sets, cassette mix tapes and general high school experience are all captured perfectly on-screen, focusing purely on our main characters in their struggles.

In Conclusion: covering all aspects of teenage life with moments of hysterical laughter and eye-wetting emotion; Perks is uplifting and a real piece of old school cinema which is a perfect adaptation of its source material – a must see for teens.

Film Review: It's Kind Of A Funny Story

DVD: It’s Kind Of A Funny Story   6/10

Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts
Plot: a depressed teenager is submitted into an adult psychiatric ward, after convincing his Doctor that he’s suicidal.

A suicidal teenager opening a film wasn’t quite the beginning you’d expect from a cheerful film… but it is! Whilst it all sounds terribly difficult to watch, it changes quite suddenly within the first thirty minutes of the film. Firstly, both directors of the film are incredibly underrated; both have directed episodes of the magnificent ‘Big C’ programme, as well as a number of independent films I have yet to watch. The main strength of the film are the characters; Craig, our main, played by Keir Gilchirst,  seems to be really negative about all things positive, as well as going through some of the most embarrassing and cringe-worthy moments a teenager could wish for. Bobby, played by Zach Galifianakis is also a wonderful edition to the film; whilst I have found Galifianakis very samey and not particularly funny in all his films, the script here allows him to really use his acting skills as well as to prove that he doesn’t need crude humour to be funny. As well as the main characters, numerous other mad, crazy, insane individuals move into the picture throughout and add some very sad but also very humorous moments which are little touches but add a lot more to it.

As I have said, the film isn’t depressing at all. The storyline has been arched so well as to show the change our main characters go through and both Boden and Fleck, the directors, do a terrific job at showing the journey of a claustrophobic young man, coming out of his shell gradually.

Perhaps the film’s only negative point is its length; it’s 101 minutes drag towards the end. Whilst the characters have brilliant storylines with a well-thought out script to go by, once all loose ends are tied, the film seems to carry on for 10 minutes too long and could’ve been trimmed.

In Conclusion: not a masterpiece by any means, but an enjoyable, funny, sad and uplifting tale of what life is really like when you stand back! All ages would enjoy it too (12 and up!)

Three Misleading Film Trailers

When some trailers are released, they often look like they would appeal to a specific audience, when often, this isn't the audience the film is going to appeal to at all. Here are some examples.

Pan's Labyrinth
Alice in Wonderland meets Coraline... isn't it? No! Pan's Labyrinth is an extremely popular foreign film. Originally released back in 2006, to critical acclaim, holding an impressive 8.3/10 rating on IMDb. The trailer itself shows our main character Ofelia come across a fantasy world with mystical creatures and wide, daunting lands. It all seems very epic and adventurous but what the trailer glosses over is the fascist movement in Spain in 1944, something that features heavily in the film. Ofelia's father, an army officer/dictator, is a chilling, disturbing and cold-blooded character who kills innocent civilians on-screen. Do we see this in the trailer? Perhaps for a split-second!  This film is visually stunning but its marketing is completely wrong. Would a gigantic fantasy epic with terrifying creatures appeal to most… yes! Would a film about fascism, death and depression have as much of an audience… probably not.

My Girl

My Girl is a sweet tale of a boy and girl, who meet and become the best of friends… is there anything less depressing? Well, the trailer seems to suggest all is fine here, yet the young girl, played by Anna Chlumsky, is obsessed with death and constantly runs to the Doctor’s, claiming she has the latest break through illness. While it’s incredibly funny and uplifting in parts, it is also terribly upsetting and disturbing. The trailer seems to touch on all the typical moments of growing up but the film is far, far deeper than that. This is also a very good watch; very entertaining but awfully difficult to watch towards the end.

Bridge to Terabithia

A backdrop of fantastical creatures and adventures in the forest, such as being chased by dark, mysterious creatures and being thrown into the hands of giant trolls – all of which are no doubt a typical, children’s fantasy film. The trailer attempts to add an element of ‘epic’ to its marketing campaign which it pulls off pretty well. Meanwhile, expecting a rollercoaster ride is certainly what you receive with this film. However, it’s an emotionalrollercoaster instead of an action-packed one. Without giving too much away, Bridge to Terabithia deals with some terribly dark subject matter but there is no sign of these things in the trailer.There is a terrible yet effective twist in the plot for the audience. Definitely a must-see, yet be warned!

Film Review: Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

DVD: Salmon Fishing In The Yemen   6/10
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked
Plot: a consultant is eager to bring the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, and asks a fisheries expert for his help.

You would have thought that a film consisting of bringing fish to the Yemen alongside the director of 2010s abysmal, dull and unoriginal Dear John would be disastrous. Well, luckily, it isn’t! Hallstrom’s latest comedy outing is surprisingly entertaining and is unlike any British dramedy for a while. McGregor and Blunt are the best part of the film; whilst the plot does surprise, its two leads hold the film up throughout, being fantastic during both the emotional and comical scenes. Kristin Scott Thomas, the Prime Minister’s assistant, is also a nice addition to the film, the funniest and most memorable of scenes are helmed by Thomas, who returns throughout for some hilarious one-liners.

Of course, as you’d expect, the cinematography and sightseeing the film presents is brilliant. The amount of time spent examining the Yemen both over water and land adds an entirely different layer to the film, turning it from a ‘dramedy’ to an Attenborough-esque documentary.

Perhaps the films largest downfall is its attempt to become a thriller; as you’d expect, bringing fish to the Yemen is frowned upon by many of the surrounding villagers, but the films attempt at introducing gun fire and life-threatening circumstances is far-fetched and cannot be taken seriously.

In Conclusion: perhaps a disappointment if you had paid full price at the cinema, but an enjoyable, warm and light-hearted film with an array of British acting talents which will give you a carefree evening at home.

Film Review: Coraline

DVD: Coraline  9/10 
Director: Henry Selick

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman

Plot: a young girl called Coraline stumbles across a fantasy world in her new home, soon confusing it with reality.

Stop-motion animation is by far my favourite way of presenting a film compared to computer animation. Coraline is one of those films which achieves wonderful visuals as well as a fascinating, enchanting storyline which grasps its audience and doesn’t let go until the very end, something both children and adults alike would enjoy. Coraline has an array of voiceover talents; Dakota Fanning plays the title character superbly. Teri Hatcher as Coraline’s mother is a stand-out in the picture, turning from a tired catalogue writer to Coraline’s ‘other’ mother, which becomes a chilling and frightening transition. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders make a surprising and hilarious appearance to the screen, giving way for some much-needed comic relief amongst the dark themes and harrowing ghosts.

The film is, even for adults, terribly frightening. The thought of sewing buttons into eyes in a children’s film is not only strange but disturbing – a huge bonus on the films part as it doesn’t fail to take risks. Without the terror of Coraline’s ‘other’ mother, the quest that is taken would be meaningless and flat. The darkness of the film gives it a haunting feel throughout (through to the end) yet keeps itself at a child’s level by having its relatable and well-developed characters (particularly Coraline’s on-screen friend Wybie).

In Conclusion: Coraline, at 100 minutes in length, is one of, if not the most, captivating animated feature film to have been made; its storyline is chilling, its characters superb and its animation timeless (see if you can spot the gravy train!) Coraline sustains a basic storyline yet its explosive characters and unforgettable finale make it one hell of a ride!

Film Review: Snow White and the Huntsman

Cinema: Snow White and the Huntsman   5/10
Director: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron
Plot: a darker take on the classic fairytale sees a Huntsman end up protecting Snow White after being ordered to kill her, leading to a quest to destroy the evil Queen Ravenna.

Over the years there have been numerous takes on the Snow White tale, many of which have failed to surpass the quality and magic Disney first created with the 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 2012 seems to have been the year for Snow White; several TV films have been created along with April’s Mirror Mirror, which was a rather forgettable and meaningless take on the classic tale. Snow White and the Huntsman, a film I have anticipated for months, never quite succeeds in reaching its aims either.

Firstly, Kristen Stewart as Snow White is a controversial and risky choice to have made, which sadly, doesn’t pull off in the end. Stewart’s British accent is too over-the-top and many of her facial expressions remind myself of her Twilight character Bella Swan. The poor take on Snow White produces no originality in the character, leaving the original Disney animation to succeed in this area. Chris Hemsworth is also slightly tedious; his role as the Huntsman and the character doesn’t seem to be any different to that of his superhero role as Thor, once again sparking little if no interest in the character at all. Charlize Theron, as the Evil Queen is the star of the entire show; her acting abilities shine through and she ends up becoming a chilling ‘woman’ with no human attributes at all, becoming perhaps the best villain to have appeared in any Snow White adaptation.

The films script seems to have the wrong focus, spending large amounts of time with Snow White and the Huntsman arguing whilst the key aspects of the original tale such as the poisoned apple are skimmed through without little meaning. The eight dwarfs, funnily enough, could easily have been cut from the film entirely, proving to be completely useless and try too hard to become loveable, funny characters which in the end, comes across as desperate.

Where the film succeeds however is in its visual effects. The large set pieces of the Queen’s castle seem completely real and come across as colossal even in the 2D format. The creatures too are animated perfectly; the little pixies, butterflies and fantasy animals are enchanting, something which Sanders as a director succeeds in doing, creating a world audience wish to explore.

In Conclusion : despite anticipating the film for a long time, its script comes across as  bland as well as its two titled characters. Charlize Theron presents a stunning performance as the Evil Queen and should receive notable awards for doing so. The films visual splendour and battle scenes are all executed beautifully yet in the end, the films ending screams sequel alert, yet I’m struggling to see where this tale could go.

Film Review: The Bourne Legacy

Cinema: The Bourne Legacy   6/10

Director: Tony Gilroy

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton

Plot: Aaron Cross is faced with a challenge following the previous three Bourne plots following Jason Bourne.

After the world saw Matt Damon play Jason Bourne for three Bourne films; it seems it wasn’t the end of the ‘Bourne Legacy’. Hence the newly introduced title and feature length film. The story, this time around, is just as (if not more) complex than the previous three Bourne films. All three previous films were full of subplots which often felt quite cluttered, until a usually all-rounded resolution by the end. The Bourne Legacy however doesn’t have the same feel nor does it flow nearly as well as the previous three instalments.

To begin with, the storyline is once again made out to be far more complex than it needs to be, as well as having numerous scenes which were completely pointless (such as Renner fighting wolves and trekking through the wilderness). The pointless scenes prove how its 135-minute running time is far too heavy; all previous Bourne films have run less than 120-minutes with a simpler beginning, middle and end, which this Bourne film doesn’t seem to have, instead, it is cluttered with destination after destination without any real goal to achieve, which will no doubt leave many audiences completely lost.

It must be said however that the performances led by Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz are both fantastic; Renner, whilst not quite having the edge of Matt Damon, fills his boots surprisingly well in his first real leading man debut – proving he could carry the film with both emotional and action-packed qualities. Weisz is also another great ‘Bourne girl’; proving to be feisty as the film progresses, pushing aside any pathetic personality traits that can often haunt females in action flicks (ahem, Transformers, ahem) which is great to see.

Like all the previous films, the action is fast, edgy and completely realistic. Tony Gilroy, whilst creating slightly hollow real plot scenes, flexes his muscles during scenes of intense mayhem. A particular motorbike chase is staged perfectly, with the use of hand-held cameras weaving in and out amongst the traffic which couldn’t feel anymore real - without the need for 3D.

In Conclusion: the Bourne Legacy proves that perhaps the original trilogy should be laid to rest; although it isn’t a complete disaster, lengthy action sequences full of ‘ooh’, ‘ouch’ and ‘aargh!’ moments are cinematic brilliance. However the film’s story feels all too cluttered with numerous characters and subplots that cannot be followed from just one simple viewing. The film’s ending also isn’t at all conclusive and shows how this story hasn’t ended yet.

Film Review: The Lorax

Cinema: The Lorax   4/10

Director: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda

Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito

Plot: a young boy attempts to find the origins of ‘the Lorax’ and the history of the trees to gain affection from a girl.

Dr Seuss’ books are incredibly enchanting with some extremely successful film adaptations such as 2008s Horton Hears A Who with some incredibly unsuccessful- such as 2003s Cat In The Hat. The Lorax is the next book to be adapted from its small 45-page book length. At first glance, it seems a struggle to stretch such a short story into a 86-minute film which unfortunately shows in the final product.

Firstly, the film has a few A-list voice actors who really add something to the film. Highlights include Danny DeVito as the Lorax himself; DeVito’s comedic skills shine through even without having his face on show as he makes the Lorax the most loveable and likeable character on-screen. Betty White as Grammy Norma is also a hilarious fixture throughout, grabbing some of the funniest scenes which couldn’t have been as successful without White taking the microphone. Both Zac Efron and Taylor Swift however seem slightly dull choices for the main two leads; they fill their roles accordingly yet with little edge or uniqueness.

Whilst animations are meant to ‘wow’ with their special features, the Lorax seems to fall flat a little. The animation seems to look uninspiring in places with the young lead, Ted, looking like a straight-to-DVD type of character, not to mention very forgettable. The film tries to dazzle too often with a marshmallow-type river shoved onto the screen with little meaning towards the story (something which distinguishes a fantastic script to one which isn’t). I viewed the film in 2D and seemed perfectly adequate too, 3D didn’t seem something that would add much.

The film also has little for adults; the greats such as Shrek, Finding Nemo and the Incredibles have comedy and action to enjoy for those of all ages whilst the Lorax feels very constricted and full of silly slapstick humour which doesn’t carry over well with older audiences.

In Conclusion: the musical numbers are cute, the moral message sweet and the Lorax adorable but overall, the film is strictly for under eights to enjoy. The film is cluttered with too many uninteresting main characters whilst the best are pushed to the sidelines.

Film Review: The Wedding Video

Cinema: The Wedding Video 

Director: Nigel Cole

Writer: Tim Firth

Starring: Lucy Punch, Robert Webb, Rufus Hound

Plot: A wedding video capturing a couple’s wedding is presented as a gift from the best man.

At last a clever and successful handheld, scripted film without possessed children, demons or dodgy woods. The Wedding Video follows the trials and tribulations of a couples wedding, its build-up and aftermath. Its stars, Lucy Punch especially, are comedic geniuses and utilise an already fantastic script. Rufus Hound handles his role well as he slips into his first acting debut and whilst the role doesn’t handle any heavy material (excluding the final third), he uses his comedic background perfectly and allows this British comedy to shine with his witty commentary.

Not only are the main three stars fantastic, an array of smaller roles are guaranteed to leave you in stitches. The wedding planner and vicar are both, surprisingly, the funniest characters of all; the planner’s drug addiction gives way for some brilliant one-liners during the final ceremony and the vicar’s array of church plays on video are very British and most of all, very funny.

For a comedy, surprisingly, the film takes twists and turns leading to some rather more emotionally intense themes. Whilst this is a big risk for a comedy it works surprisingly well and gives the story a little more ‘oomph’ without feeling like a cheesy soap opera.

Director Nigel Cole and screenwriter Tim Firth do not limit themselves to cut and trimmed home video tapes either; various montages spruce up the film during scenes of complete and utter chaos.

In Conclusion: the Wedding Video is great fun for both the audience and cast; throughout the film the stars seem as if they are genuinely laughing (a scene in a wine tasting venue sticks out). Whilst the film isn't out to grab an Oscar, its aims and objectives are met and exceeded (what I love in a film). With minor family members returning throughout for refreshing one-liners and the hand-held effect executed surprisingly well, the film is overall another hit British comedy which will no doubt become a regular at times such as Christmas.

Film Review: Catfish

DVD: Catfish   7/10

Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Starring: Yaniv Shulman, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost

Plot: two filmmakers begin to document a friend’s online relationship with a young woman and her family which he has never met. The relationship leads to some unexpected discoveries.

Documentary films are perhaps the most unexpectedly fantastic genre of film; perhaps because it’s not a form of escapism or full of explosions and car chases. However, Catfish is here to prove everyone wrong, as it follows a real-life, long distance relationship between two Facebook users. It follows Yaniv Shulman as he attempts to meet the partner he’s exchanged phone calls with, seen pictures of and messaged for a number of months. As well as his female friend, he also becomes a member of the family, having regular conversations with her mother, father and siblings.

Catfish is surprisingly chilling in its nature. The unexpected nature of the documentary leads to unforeseen circumstances that will leave you grinding your teeth without any typical high pitched music or gimmicks. Instead, the real life situation unfolds before the audiences’ eyes with ease, at a steady running time of 87 minutes which zooms by in an instant.

Whilst the documentary is interesting, particularly how it shows the way a picture can determine if you like someone or not; leading to phone calls and sending packages to one another, it does, at points, feel a little staged. Whilst it may be completely factual, parts seem a little far-fetched but overall, it is extremely exciting to see a feature length documentary entertain you for so long.

In Conclusion: Catfish is a breath of fresh air for the documentary genre; it almost throws found footage films out the window, showing how real life is far more interesting than set-up situations. Surprisingly though, the film is climatic by its ending, leading to an unexpected twist causing a confrontation which can only be described as cinematic gold.

Film Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Cinema: The Dark Knight Rises  7/10

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan

Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne 

Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Plot: eight years have passed, Batman has become p

public enemy number one after his absence however

a new terrorist leader named Bane causes him to

resurface.

After Batman received the reboot it deserved from Christopher Nolan, Batman Begins and the Dark Knight were both phenomenal in their own ways. Whilst its third instalment aims to be more grand and epic in its scale, it slightly fails to reach its objectives; however it is an extraordinarily exciting and entertaining film.

Firstly, beginning with the downsides of the film. None of the cast give spectacular performances; Christian Bale as Batman doesn’t step up to the mark as much as the previous two instalments and, if anything, is the least exciting he’s been - even once he attempts to save Gotham City. Tom Hardy as Bane is perhaps the biggest downfall of the whole film. Bane’s voice is not at all chilling, neither is he a crucial character by the end either. Bane, whilst looking slightly daunting, seems distanced from his voice as you can barely see his face move when he speaks and sounds more Santa Clause than mass-killing lunatic. The returning cast consisting of Gary Oldman and Michael Caine are nice to see on-screen, however, for a final instalment, it would’ve been nice to see either characters ‘kick some bottom’ as it were and reach out of their comfort zones (who wouldn’t want to see Michael Caine in Batman’s car?) The film’s storyline is also quite poor considering its predecessors; it follows a typical end-of-the-world type scenario with more threat of bombs going off than the actual villain himself.

However, the film does have many features to love. Anne Hathaway as Selina/Catwoman surprises fans worldwide with an edgy, cool portrayal of the feline, with funny and light moments but also with darker and more sinister ones. After watching interviews and behind-the-scenes videos, Hathaway did most, if not all the stunts herself, proving to have some of the organic and real close-combat moments in the film whilst still sustaining her class and cat-like credentials (like jumping out of half-closed windows, for example).

The action sequences in the film are staged perfectly, they are no doubt far bigger than anything Nolan has done before. A particular sequence at Wall Street is chilling and feels completely real with gun fights a necessity. Another new, welcomed member to the film is ‘the Bat’, an aircraft with humungous power which flips, dips and zooms through Gotham City with a colossal presence, adding to the cinematic experience.

In Conclusion: perhaps being caught up in too much hype, the Dark Knight Rises takes a while to find its feet when it comes to story. Tom Hardy doesn’t get the chance to really play out Bane with a massive piece of metal over his mouth and his character is rather pointless by the final 30 minutes. The action set pieces are climatic, the dangers larger and climax humungous, it’s a gigantic film with huge expectations to meet and whilst it meets some with its heart-pounding pace, it lets down others with a slightly cluttered storyline. However a must-see in cinemas and IMAX if possible.

Film Review: War Horse

Blu-Ray: War Horse   1/10

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Lee Hall, Richard Curtis, Michael Morpurgo

Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch

Plot: a young boy named Albert enlists to serve in World War I to reunite with his horse; whilst attempting to survive in the trenches.

No doubt, following the success of the book and stage show, a film of War Horse was around the corner. Despite Spielberg taking the wheel to steer this film towards its eventual award ceremony success, War Horse is painfully over-hyped and a showcase of what the Academy Awards (Oscars) want, hence its unbelievable six nominations.

Following the story of a boy who loves his horse isn’t enough to fill146 minutes. The story, whilst being completely unbelievable in a historical setting, attempts to overcomplicate itself with the buying and selling of the horse, war issues and relationships, as well as the maintaining of the family farm which  suits a BBC Four 9pm drama series rather than a Hollywood war epic. The term ‘epic’ is used loosely here, apart from its running time, its action sequences are terribly slow; the use of corny music also makes it all the more unreal, unimportant and careless.

Unfortunately, there are no ‘stand out’ performances either and this may be because I didn’t find the film enjoyable or care at all about the characters.  No one did particularly bad and it’s nice to see acting talents such as David Thewlis and Benedict Cumberbatch starring, which was perhaps the main saviour of the film.

In Conclusion: War Horse seems to have been made purely for its target audience, fans of the book and stage play. Oscar judges also seem to adore it due to its nostalgia which is very old-fashioned and doesn’t date well at all, something Spielberg needs to update in future films. Dull characters, short and slow action sequences do not fill the film and could easily be whittled down to 80 minutes and shown on a Sunday afternoon on TV.

Film Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

Cinema: The Amazing Spider-Man  6/10

Director: Marc Webb

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans

Plot: a boy named Peter Parker attempts to understand how and why his parents disappeared and a strange occurrence leads him to face a man named Dr. Curt Connors who knew Peter’s father.

Following the successful reboot of Batman, it was only a matter of time before another famous superhero film was to be remade. Spider-Man seems to have beaten everyone else to it (Superman/Man of Steel shall be released next year). Marc Webb, director of 500 Days of Summer (a fantastic romantic comedy that twists the genre into something quite interesting), takes on the new Spider Man series here with success. The film should   be praised for its additional scenes, especially those showing Peter’s parents leaving him and his father at work on top secret projects. Whilst these scenes aren’t crucial they allow the audience to have a deeper understanding of how Peter’s life has played out; it allows more sympathy to be applied too. Scenes such as these were perhaps the only reason for there to be a reboot and perhaps to have a brand new storyline for its sequel.

On the down side the film cannot help but redo events that have already happened back in the 2002 version and whilst this had to happen it does feel a little clumsy in parts; however, many of the events are done to a better standard, thanks to a huge improvement in special effects.

Andrew Garfield steps into the role of Peter Parker quite well, whilst there wasn’t anything wrong with the original Tobey Maguire; Garfield adds a more modern feel to the role. Emma Stone who plays Gwen Stacy is perhaps the biggest improvement on the original; Stone adds such a fresh vibe to the film with her witty lines and powerful, independent figure that Kirsten Dunst never achieved in the original. Rhys Ifans (Dr. Curt Connors) isn’t given nearly enough character development to become the ultimate villain; however he plays his scenes well and is just one of a whole array of talented actors in the production.

In Conclusion: The Amazing Spider-Man is not the best film of the year, nor is it the best superhero film of the year but it is an extremely entertaining blockbuster that will make you ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ as you see the webbed hero swing from building to building. You’ll definitely laugh and perhaps even cry, with top-notch effects and an array of A-list actors and actresses, it is bound to be enjoyed by the masses but die-hard fans may be missing the deeper details that they were hoping for.