Film Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2    9/10

Director: Marc Webb

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan

Plot: Oscorp unleash a number of super villains against Peter Parker while he faces struggles in his personal life.

Spider Man seems to have had a pretty successful run since its original, live-action trilogy (which began back in 2002 to a staggering $821 million at the box office). Following on from this success, 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man proved to be the most successful reboot ever, taking in an equally impressive $752 million and a haul of positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2, in contrast, feels like we’re actually getting somewhere this time around. The first film was very much a copycat of the Sam Raimi original, albeit with far grander effects and an impressive cast. Here, we finally get to expand on Peter Parker as a character, as well as his relationship with the marvellously likable Gwen Stacy (played by Emma Stone) and Aunt May (played beautifully by Sally Field). Andrew Garfield proves yet again that he is the perfect Spider Man; he succeeds in the emotionally charged scenes well. As well as the main cast, we’re also treated to an array of villains this time around; Jamie Foxx as Electro is far better than anticipated. Electro’s hunger for electricity plays out so well on-screen visually and his confrontations with Spider Man are cinematic gold! Dane DeHaan is, however, the standout amongst the newcomers to the series. It’s no secret that he transforms into the Green Goblin and he does so brilliantly. Though his screen time as the green fiend is fairly short, he steals each and every moment (the transformation scene specifically is truly gripping).

Marc Webb (the irony of this surname though…) has managed to steer this series in the right direction. He has a real eye for the action sequences, which must’ve been a difficult transition from his other works, such as 500 Days of Summer. However, the effects cannot be truly admired without the 3D. 3D has been used on countless occasions to little success but when it works, it really works. The shots of Spider Man falling through the sky will blow you away, and the attention to detail throughout is very rare in blockbusters such as this. Where Webb may fall slightly though is in the humour. It may well be in the hands of the screenwriters, but it feels a little too pushed and a little too desperate at times – it’s only a minor criticism but it does detract from the darker themes at hand.

In Conclusion: some may argue that The Amazing Spider Man-2 is a little heavy on the CGI front – I would disagree. This sequel is a visual, 3D feast that blends fantastic villains (except the Rhino… which felt hollow and pointless) and action sequences with a top cast. Dane Dehaan stands out overall while Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone’s chemistry is piping hot – this is the best Spider-Man movie to date.

Film Review: The Raid 2

The Raid 2   8/10

Director: Gareth Evans
Starring: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra

Plot: After leaving prison, Rama finds himself undercover once again and must uncover the corruption within the police force.

It’s really very rare and remarkable to see an up and coming director, like Gareth Evans, to storm straight to the big screen with an Indonesian action film (let alone a sequel). The Raid: Redemption – released back in 2011 – took $15 million at the worldwide box office on a minuscule budget of $1.1 million. As a foreign-language film, it received its cult classic status almost immediately when it opened at the Toronto International Film Festival to critical acclaim. The Raid 2 rams up the budget to $4.5 million this time around, and takes this newly established franchise to a whole new level.

The Raid 2 is colossal, slick and merciless in its action sequences. The first film concentrated its action in a giant tower block, whilst the sequel opens up its bloody and head-snapping canvas to a wide range of different locations; from a prison, to bars, to the tube... there really are no limits here. The close-combat fighting is even more slick and even more baffling than the first, with just as many shocks and surprises along the way. As well as knife wielding and fist throwing, there’s also some car chases to enjoy here too. As the film progresses, even more of these sequences are thrown into the mix and each fight scene feels completely different to the next.

While the majority of us went to see this film for its action, there are many that may want a stronger and tighter storyline than the first. Well, it may be that it’s subtitled or because there’s a whole array of characters which zip in and out of the film with little purpose, but it’s extremely difficult to follow. The film seems to criss-cross from these quiet scenes of dialogue to these massive action sequences with little purpose. Though Evans has attempted to make this more about the story and characters, we’re all here for the thrill ride.

In Conclusion: while the setting of the first film in a tower block was a huge part of its appeal, The Raid 2 wants to be unique and it certainly doesn't disappoint. There’s blood, there’s screams and there’s also a surprising amount of humour. While The Raid inevitably redefined the action genre upon its release, The Raid 2 goes even further than that – a foreign film to most certainly see (where can I buy a Hammer Girl poster and when will a spin-off of hers be green lit?)

Film Review: Noah

Noah   8/10

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connolly, Ray Winstone

Plot: Noah is informed of an apocalyptic flood and must take out a mission by God.

When you think of a traditional biblical epic, you may well picture a three-hour long, speech-heavy and slow moving film from the 1950s… Darren Aronofsky – the genius behind Black Swan and Requiem for a Dream – removes every ounce of boredom and has created a timeless epic.

To start with, the performances in Noah are all remarkably tight. Russell Crowe and Ray Winstone take to the stage as two acting veterans in an epic showdown, and they play out their scenes with real weight (a particular speech just before the flood begins by Ray Winstone is spine tingling). Emma Watson and Logan Lerman stand out the most in the supporting cast; Watson’s character faces tribulation after tribulation and twist after twist. Watson proves that she can establish herself in a post-Potter world. Logan Lerman really surprises here also; his need for a wife plays out devastatingly before the flood hits and he, too, shakes off all remnants of the child actor within him. The real standout here though, is Jennifer Connolly. Her role as Naameh - the mother of the family - fleshes out as the film progresses, and by the final thirty minutes, she oozes this deep, maternal strength that is truly gripping to watch!

Aronofsky has not only assembled one of the most explosive cast of the year thus far, but also a film that makes you feel something - whether you have any religious affiliation or not. The flood plays out in the middle third of the film and unfolds unflinchingly on the big screen (it takes absolutely no prisoners). The shots of these giant rock monsters flinging hundreds of men through the air are colossal, and everything you could possibly want from a blockbuster.

There are some bizarre side stories to the film though. Anthony Hopkins is fantastic, yet his story as Noah’s grandfather is a little bizarre and sidetracks the film at random points. Douglas Booth seems to be sidelined throughout too; he has a lack of dialogue and there are times when he, as well as some other minor characters, are completely disregarded and pop up merely to remind us that they still exist!

In Conclusion: Aronofsky succeeds in making the family drama as epic as the flood itself, which plays out like a battle in Middle Earth. There’s something here for everyone – a disaster film to remember.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier   8/10

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson
Plot: Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) battles a new enemy, The Winter Soldier, as well as a new threat from SHIELD.

Marvel seems to have hit the correct mark with sequels – Thor: The Dark World – and missed it with others – Iron Man 2. Whether you prefer the sequel to its predecessor or not, you cannot deny that Marvel always strive for better, and The Winter Soldier is no exception.

Whilst the first Captain America film immersed itself in a slow-burning origin story, The Winter Soldier is a bolder and more exciting film. To begin with, the action scenes in the film are relentless; the film opens with a giant boat, capture sequence which cranks up the momentum and lays the foundations for even bigger set pieces later on. Certain sequences in cars are phenomenally staged and flawlessly assembled; there are steering wheels ripped off, giant battering rams thrown about and enough explosions to put The Avengers to shame. We should be thankful to Marvel for this film, because there’s always been a sense of their films holding back for the next one – whereas the $170 million budget here says otherwise.

Though the action sequences are some of the best you may see this year (let alone from a Marvel film), the entire production wouldn’t quite succeed without its acting royalty. Chris Evans returns as the titled character and he manages to delve deeper and deeper, by exploring his character’s traumatic memories of war. Samuel L. Jackson makes a comeback – yes, again – and plays perhaps his largest role in a Marvel film to date. Those that may not be his biggest fan should remain seated; as he plays a crucial role in one of the most spectacular car chases you may ever see (take note of a giant battering ram which you yourself will want to own). The real star of the show here though is Scarlett Johansson. Her close-combat kicks and punches are so gut-wrenchingly powerful, that you wonder why she hasn’t had a film of her own yet. Also, Johansson and Evans get to play out together here in a Brad and Angelina-type ensemble, yet you constantly question where their real intentions lie.

There’s little to criticise here. The story itself is gripping but a little difficult to follow at times. It’s a film that is loyal to its most trusted followers, as it leaves little for those that haven’t seen the first film recently. The 3D – which was spectacular in IMAX – is a decent conversion but not entirely necessary. It isn’t on the scale of Gravity or Avatar, but the option is there (you won’t miss anything seeing it in 2D).

In Conclusion: Captain America: The Winter Soldier is ginormous and far bolder than any other Marvel film. The story plays out like a giant cat-and-mouse, espionage thriller, rather than the typical good guy, bad guy flick we’ve become so familiar with – this is a must see. Plus, stay through the credits, there are some post-credit scenes you won’t want to miss.

Film Review: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues    4/10
Director: Adam McKay

Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd

Plot: Ron Burgundy returns as he’s offered a job on America’s first 24-hour news channel.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy released back in 2004, proved to be a box office success. On a budget of $26 million, the film returned over $90 from across the globe. It’s surprising though that it has taken this long for a sequel to surface. However, here it is; an ultimately flawed and drawn-out comedy sequel.

Firstly, Anchorman 2 does sometimes succeed on the laugh front. Surprisingly though, very few laughs come from Will Ferrell himself. Instead, they come from Steve Carell. Carell’s character – Brick Tamland – receives far more time to shine in this film and his scenes with Kristen Wiig are comedic gold. Though these two work so well together (a duo spin-off wouldn’t go amiss), the rest of the cast seem to fall behind and add little. Ferrell’s star role as Ron Burgundy comes across as a little desperate at times, as he uses overtly racist and unnecessarily offensive jokes. Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd and David Koechner are all prominent at the beginning of the film, before funnelling off and returning for brief scenes, which add little to the film’s comedic value.

The film also seems to suffer from its pacing. Running at a staggering 119 minutes, this film is far too long. Comedies in general are most effective and popular when running (like the original Anchorman) at a healthy 90-minutes. The opening hour is like a giant road-trip bonanza before the story fleshes out a little. Before long though, a painfully long sequence spent in a lighthouse and a bizarre battle towards the end feel incredibly pointless and hollow (though the cameos are rather surprising). The length of the film seems to swallow any of its comedic value, which really thins out in the final hour.

In Conclusion: though there are a lot of new jokes here and it’s inevitably more ambitious than the first (which I didn't enjoy), Anchorman 2 is way too long and tries to go beyond what it does best – and that’s make people laugh.

Top 7 Catching Fire Scenes I Cannot Wait To See Again

Warning: Contains spoilers! 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was by far one of – if not the most – ambitious and exciting blockbuster of 2013. The foundations laid down by the first film (which was perfectly crafted by Gary Ross back in 2012) are used here to build on the world of Panem and flesh out the relevant characters. Unbelievably, Francis Lawrence may well have made a film that’s even better than the first.

With the upcoming, anticipated DVD/Blu-Ray release, I thought I’d pick out seven scenes I cannot wait to see again.

7. The Opening Scene

As soon as Catching Fire began, I was in. The aerial snaps of the forest are so effortlessly shot; you’re immediately drawn in to this eerie, corrupt world. You feel like you’re looking at a normal forest, yet there’s a chilling backdrop that you cannot help but shake off.

Undoubtedly, the most shocking moment in this scene for fans of the book was when we see Katniss hallucinate because of the terror she faced in the games. The sheer shock-factor I felt as we saw Katniss scramble backwards in horror was a fantastic surprise. Not only did it serve as a throwback to the first film for casual moviegoers, but it was also a little add-on that – as a fan of the book – I thought was unbelievably effective.

6. The “Spin It” Scene

This very small moment seems to have been forgotten by a lot of people. Whenever I mention it, others seem to shrug or at least vaguely remember. When we see Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in the Control Room – the set of which is still phenomenal the second time round – we see him panic as the tributes surround the Cornucopia. The mere words “spin it” gave me such chills. You sit there anticipating any sign of movement and when it happens – it happens. The camerawork in this scene worked so brilliantly, and the effects are groundbreaking.

5. President Snow/Katniss Meeting

This was by far one of my favourite parts of the book. Translating this scene to film was always going to be tricky, as you really have to feel as if Katniss is in danger. Thankfully, Jennifer Lawrence and Donald Sutherland bounce off each other in this verbal acting master class. Chilling and mocking (no pun intended), this scene shows how – though giant action scenes are great – the smaller scenes can be just as effective.

4. The Final 10 Minutes

I’d be shocked if you found someone who had forgotten how this film ended. Even though I’d read the book numerous times before seeing this film, I was still on edge through the final ten minutes of this film. Jennifer Lawrence being taken up in the giant claw and her waking up and lashing out on the ship are phenomenal moments. The moment Liam Hemsworth says “there is no District 12,” you expect it to end. But no, oh no! Jennifer Lawrence’s face begins by showing utter devastation before turning, with this deep, roaring fieriness that makes you fling your feet around in excitement for the next part. Catching Fire marvelled the perfect cliff hanger ending.

3. Quarter Qwell Announcement

Woah! This was one of the scenes that I felt benefited most from being translated to screen. Seeing the multiple reactions from Katniss, her mother and Prim, to Peeta and Haymith are all heartbreaking. It all felt so frantic and it’s the turning point in the film where everything is flipped onto its head, and from that moment on, it just doesn’t stop.

2. The Victory Tour

There were so many memorable shots in this section of the film. From the non-Capitol friendly speeches to the shouting crowds, you can just feel the rebellion coming and brewing. The scene in which Katniss drops the rehearsed speech cards and talks directly to Rue’s family is flawless. Lawrence proves once again that she can play the fiery action hero as well as someone who can sympathise with a devastating loss (Rue). The moment we see Katniss being pulled away as a member of the crowd is pulled out and shot, your heart physically stops. The slamming of the doors isn’t the end of it either. As Katniss lashes out, you watch in absolute awe because you don’t for one second doubt that these feelings aren’t real.

1. The Cinna Scene
I don’t know what it is about this scene that struck such a chord. Out of all the moments, this was the one I was anticipating the most. If it wasn’t pulled off properly, I think it would’ve affected the overall message and theme of the film. It surprises me that so few mention this scene when discussing the film at a later date. The words Cinna ushers, “I’m still betting on you, Girl on Fire” are so incredibly epic. The sheer stakes by this point are colossal and this small moment before we enter the arena is perfect. The moment though is when Katniss steps into the pod. As the glass comes down – as I’ve read the book - I was waiting for any sign of movement. The moment you hear the doors click, you know that it’s happening. Lawrence’s face as Cinna is slammed against the glass is mind-blowing. Then, when you think the moment couldn’t become any more intense, Katniss rises up into the arena.

The shots of Katniss as she scrambles against the glass and plummets up into the arena are unbelievable. If you weren’t fully immersed by the film up to that point, you must’ve been then.

Catching Fire is out on Blu-Ray/DVD in March

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug    6/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage
Plot: The quest to reach the Lonely Mountain continues, yet further dangers lie ahead for Bilbo, the Dwarves and Gandalf.

2012’s An Unexpected Journey was a satisfying, exciting and incredibly promising first instalment in the newly established trilogy. It introduced all the characters – old and new - and set up the story for future films perfectly. However, The Desolation of Smaug, the second in the trilogy, ultimately fails to live up to expectations; with poor special effects, numerous pointless back stories and an unsatisfying ending.

The ultimate criticism I have with the film is its special effects. Peter Jackson relies entirely on computer-generated sceneries during most of the film, which becomes painfully distracting and out-of-place when we cut away to a real and genuine environment. Numerous wide shots of the group on their journey rely on stiff and flimsy computer-game-like images, which immediately pull you out of this world. The difference between the genuine, New Zealand landscapes and the CGI ones are cataclysmically noticeable. In addition, the scenes in Smaug’s lair are hideously unconvincing and fake, taking away from the stellar performances and story at hand. This ties in with the script funnily enough; there are a huge number of action sequences in this film compared to the first, which is fine, yet the less dialogue there is, the more the film relies on its visuals, which are simply not up to scratch. There’s also a very poor use of camera shots during certain sequences; during the barrel scene, there are constant cuts to these hideous, blurry water cameras which seem to have been strapped to the barrels as they hurtle down the stream. They’re completely out of place, unnecessary and draw away from the utter chaos at hand.

Following the first film, I’ve argued that a trilogy could be done well; however after this second instalment, I seem to feel differently. The title of the film – The Hobbit – seems to have been misplaced. There are far too many stories involving the Elves which assist very little in the quest to reach The Lonely Mountain. In addition to this Gandalf also goes on trips to bizarre locations which are completely pointless and painfully slow. It just feels as if this film goes nowhere; yes, the group travel further, but the ultimate goal is left incomplete.

Though the special effects are fatally flawed and the story filled out too much, the characters are still captivating to watch. Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins is chirpy, quirky and refreshing. Whenever he shares the screen with Ian McKellen, you feel that the film improves staggeringly, yet such scenes are rare this time around. Ian McKellen, as noted, is once again top-notch and fantastic as Gandalf the Grey. There are also performances from Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lily, Stephen Fry and Luke Evans, who all add a little more spice to the story, yet their importance is questioned.

In Conclusion: The Desolation of Smaug has too many pointless characters and storylines (most notably being the tedious Elf/Dwarf love triangle). This instalment proves that quality has been sacrificed for quantity, which raises the question as to whether this was a truly creative decision. Where it does shine though is still in its characters. We get to see each of them – including all the Dwarves – receive their moment to shine, and the barrel sequence is a lot of fun. Ultimately though, the final scene may well leave you sighing.