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.

Film Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire   10/10
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Plot: A rebellion occurs after Katniss and Peeta succeed in the 74^th Hunger Games. President Snow must now seek justice and revenge.

Well, well, well. The Hunger Games – released back in March 2012 – surprised audiences worldwide with its chilling political message. Labelled a ‘teen franchise’ before it even began; Gary Ross turned the stigma surrounding this so-called ‘Battle Royale’ copycat and ‘Twilight’ successor onto its head. The first film was shocking yet ultimately unsatisfying, leaving audiences craving for more. This time around, Catching Fire is unbelievably epic and satisfying.

Firstly, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is beautifully shot and one of the most atmospheric films of the year. From the get-go, Francis Lawrence throws us into the murky, distorted yet familiar world of District 12. Cinematographer Jo Willems captures the setting perfectly; the light blues are particularly effective when we see Katniss and Gale together in the forest; giving the forest a chilling effect. In addition, the special effects have stepped up ten notches since the first film. The sweeping shots of the tribute train zooming from district to district are truly beautiful and completely believable. It is however the arena scenes where the budget (approximately $130 million compared to the first film’s $78 million) really shows. Colossal shots – which were left out of the trailers, thank goodness – such as giant waves, fighting monkeys and deadly mists, are captivating to watch on the big screen.

Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, is nothing short of phenomenal here. She steals each and every scene she’s in. Her most heartbreaking scene may well be her speech to Rue’s family – a victim of the previous Games - as well as the moment afterwards in which Lawrence is pulled away as the audience rebels. It’s really quite difficult to put into words Lawrence’s excellence in this film.

Though Lawrence shines, there are other notable cast members. President Snow, played by Donald Sutherland, takes a more pivotal role in this second instalment; an earlier scene where he and Katniss have a face-off in her new home is utterly captivating to watch. It’s so very rare you see a younger and older actor and actress play off a scene so perfectly. You don’t for one moment doubt their seriousness and realism in the scene. Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket also returns with some extraordinary costumes and make-up throughout the film; some so laughably outrageous, that you can’t help but love her. Stanley Tucci plays a far different side to Caesar Flickerman this time around; his role, to keep the viewers at home away from the news of the rebellion, is so interesting to watch. The fear in his eyes as all the Victors hold their hands up in the air makes you realise how high the stakes are. You see him realise, for the first time, that he has been contributing to these games. These small touches are the most memorable, which is a reason to believe that this film series is working.

Sam Clafin is also a new addition, who works well as Finnick Odair. His accent is carried out surprisingly well and it’ll be interesting to see how he develops his character through Mockingjay. The most brave, outrageous and excellent addition has to be Jena Malone as Johanna. She is by far the most intriguing tribute to watch, and flourishes whenever she comes onto the screen – her interview before the Games and the ‘lift scene’ are just two of her many highlights.

In Conclusion: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is ultimately flawless. As a book to film adaptation, it works perfectly for book fans and casual moviegoers alike. Jennifer Lawrence is superb and the supporting cast alongside her reflect how this series is truly about its characters. And finally, Francis Lawrence has directed an intense rollercoaster which culminates in a chilling final shot – Mockingjay has a lot to live up to.

Film Review: Gravity

Gravity   8/10
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris
Plot: a tragic accident leaves a medical engineer and astronaut out in space, alone.

It’s difficult to find an adjective a newspaper, magazine or blog hasn't yet used to describe Gravity; but here’s a start, unique.

Following the space antics of Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), Gravity thrusts its audience into the abyss. To begin with, the most impressive aspect of this film is its visual effects. As impressive as the performances are, Gravity presents audiences with effects unlike any they’ve seen before. As a viewer, I didn’t once question whether the events were really occurring in space; the effects are so seamlessly put together, that there doesn’t seem to be one, poorly established or unfinished shot – it all looks so real. In addition, the 3D here is phenomenal. So many films have tried and failed to achieve what Avatar did in 2009, which was a cinematic experience like no other. Gravity continues this ‘must see in cinemas’ hype, which is an occurrence all too rare.

Though its effects are top-notch, it’d be an incredibly thin piece of cinema if its acting didn’t stand up to the mark also. Thankfully, it does. George Clooney does what he does best here, which is… George Clooney. He’s utterly charming as Matt; a character who assists Ryan from the get-go. The main star here though is Sandra Bullock. Her fairly turbulent (pardon the pun) yet – at times – phenomenally successful run in the genre of comedy has become only natural to her. Thankfully though, she has finally returned to the other job she does best; getting down and dirty in a role. Like in the Blind Side, we see Bullock transform into a completely different person, and Ryan is the perfect role for her. Her portrayal is utterly heartbreaking at times, yet steely and determined during others.

Whilst there is much to applaud in Gravity, there are flaws. Firstly, on entering the cinema, I hadn’t once heard how incredibly cliché and corny the dialogue was going to be. At first I considered it a mockery of other science-fiction films but it continued throughout. The painfully random, out-of-place Bullock line, “I hate space” seems forced and if anything, annoying. Unfortunately, such dialogue continues throughout; it seems as if Cuaron (director and writer) was too insistent on keeping these characters grounded (again, pardon the pun), whilst they seem (mainly Clooney’s character) a lot less grounded than they should.

In Conclusion: Gravity’s running time of 90 minutes has become so very rare in today’s cinema, yet it fits its time comfortably and its pace doesn’t falter once. Sandra Bullock is the one to note here, stealing the show throughout, spinning alongside the flawless graphics. Cuaron has crafted a very technically complex film here and you wouldn’t think it had taken so long to make – a real masterpiece in filmmaking.