So here we are again, after a week off last week, due to the fact that we went out on Tuesday to a real life show, rather than a film. Anyway enough of that and more of this;
Kick Ass!
Tonight's film was the comic book style super hero comedy thriller; Kick Ass. Yes, well where do you pigeon hole a film like this?
I won't bore you with too much detail of the story, but it follows the adventure of Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), who wonders why there are no super heroes. So, he invents one.
Everybody, meet Kick Ass.
Who then gets his ass kicked within minutes. After a spell in hospital, he plots to re-launch Kick Ass and this time, he takes on a gang and wins, whilst being filmed by some locals. This footage gets uploaded to You Tube and you have an overnight sensation.
He gets embroiled with the local mob, led by Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong). This is where his path crosses with Hit Girl and Big Daddy, more wannabe super heroes, played wonderfully by Chloë Moretz and Nicolas Cage.
Big Daddy and Hit Girl take the vigilante super hero persona to a different level, with all manner of weapons in their armoury.
All the while Frank D’Amico's men are getting knocked off. It turns out Big Daddy is actually Damon Macready an ex cop with a score to settle, after being framed by Frank D’Amico.
What follows is an often funny, but more than often than not, very violent and bloody romp.
At first, this was bearable comedic action, with bullets and blades flying, especially the scene where Kick Ass and Hit Girl meet for the first time. They take on Rasul and his gang. The killing spree was carried out to the theme tune of the Banana Splits, it was clearly comedy killing.
It was funny but...... there's something not quite right about an 11 year girl, dropping the "C" bomb, then taking out 8 to 10 grown men with a double ended sword.
Actually, I almost agree with the shock value of the use of the C word. It gave the scene edge and the character of Hit Girl, the right degree of gravitas. However......
After this scene, the film took a sinister twist, the comedic soundtrack made way for a more malignant and portentous accompaniment. The killings weren't from a comic book, they were from a thriller. The special effects were more at home in a first person role playing video game, than a film.
All that being said, I enjoyed the film, the story line was strong and consistent, the plots and sub plots intertwined very nicely. I particularly liked the love interest, in the form ofKatie played by Lyndsy Fonseca, it provided a very good counterpoint to the bloods and guts.
Some points of note, the screenplay of the original Mark Millar story, was written by Jane Goldman, Jonathan Ross's Wife. Who also co-produced the film.
Secondly, the last time I saw Nicholas Cage in a film, was Knowing, where I thought he was not at his best. In Kick Ass he was actually very good.
I am not a fan of horror movies. I'm not a fan of slasher movies. Action thrillers are OK, but the violence in Kick Ass was gratuitous to say the least. The 15 Rating is dubious.
However, if you can see through this and view the film purely and simply as a modern, graphic, comic book style, super hero, special effect laden, comedic thriller and know that it's not real, (although the effects try to tell you otherwise), then it's a good film.
To be sure, I will have to watch it again.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
27 Dresses - 25th January 2011
So yet again we wander off into the realms of film fantasy with another chick flick, this time it's the 2008 film; 27 Dresses.
To be honest, after the first half an hour, I had pretty much written (in my head) the words to this review. It's a typical girl has a crush on boy, she can't tell him how she feels, another girl turns up, takes away boy, another boy, who has been on the sidelines, plays the sympathetic friend, 1st girl falls for sympathetic friend, who then screws it all up.......
......yes, that was pretty much the way of it, but............... it was so much more!
Yes the story was, at first definition, a formulaic chick flick, but the as the plot unfolds, it twists that formula and you start to go off on routes you didn't expect.
So, to put some detail on to that short synopsis;
Katherine Heigl plays Jane Nichols. Jane is a good friend to everybody and never says; "no". She has helped organise weddings for most of her friends, being bridesmaid at quite a few, as a result of this, she has a wardrobe full of bridesmaid dresses, would you like to guess how many?
Jane is also a PA to George (Edward Burns). Jane has a secret crush on George but cannot make her feelings known. Janes' sister; Tess comes to New York to stay with Jane and gets introduced to George and Jane then has to watch, as Tess and George fall for each other.
Cue love interest number 2, in the form of Kevin Doyle, a Wedding journalist who found out Jane's secret of always being the bridesmaid and never the bride, after he found her Filofax. He thinks it is a fascinating story and wants to write an article about it in his paper. He doesn't tell Jane this.
What follows is the process of Tess falling for George with the help of a few white lies to help endear herself to him, their love develops to the point where George proposes.
Which leaves Jane, the girl who can't say; "no" remember, planning her Sisters wedding, which is the wedding that she always wanted for herself, with the man that she wanted.
Her only solace comes in the form of Kevin, and inevitably they fall for each other. However, Kevin is still writing the article about Jane.
All the this comes to a head in the last third of the film where all the little deceits and feelings come out. I shan't spoil the end, needless to say it is a happy one, but the course to it is not glaringly obvious, there's a couple of very minor twists to put you off the scent, but it comes good in the end.
In summation then; the first third of the film had me feeling; we've been here before, it's a bog standard chick flick.
The second third had me doubting my first thoughts.
The last third almost had me choking back the tears!
Yes, the plot and storyline had me sucked in, so I was living the emotional journey that our heorine; Jane was taking.
Cracking movie, Katherine Heigl was fantastic, absolutely gorgeous. James Marsden, who played Kevin was also very good.
You know when you have seen a good film, when you start writing words about it and it just flows out.
This was a good film.
To be honest, after the first half an hour, I had pretty much written (in my head) the words to this review. It's a typical girl has a crush on boy, she can't tell him how she feels, another girl turns up, takes away boy, another boy, who has been on the sidelines, plays the sympathetic friend, 1st girl falls for sympathetic friend, who then screws it all up.......
......yes, that was pretty much the way of it, but............... it was so much more!
Yes the story was, at first definition, a formulaic chick flick, but the as the plot unfolds, it twists that formula and you start to go off on routes you didn't expect.
So, to put some detail on to that short synopsis;
Katherine Heigl plays Jane Nichols. Jane is a good friend to everybody and never says; "no". She has helped organise weddings for most of her friends, being bridesmaid at quite a few, as a result of this, she has a wardrobe full of bridesmaid dresses, would you like to guess how many?
Jane is also a PA to George (Edward Burns). Jane has a secret crush on George but cannot make her feelings known. Janes' sister; Tess comes to New York to stay with Jane and gets introduced to George and Jane then has to watch, as Tess and George fall for each other.
Cue love interest number 2, in the form of Kevin Doyle, a Wedding journalist who found out Jane's secret of always being the bridesmaid and never the bride, after he found her Filofax. He thinks it is a fascinating story and wants to write an article about it in his paper. He doesn't tell Jane this.
What follows is the process of Tess falling for George with the help of a few white lies to help endear herself to him, their love develops to the point where George proposes.
Which leaves Jane, the girl who can't say; "no" remember, planning her Sisters wedding, which is the wedding that she always wanted for herself, with the man that she wanted.
Her only solace comes in the form of Kevin, and inevitably they fall for each other. However, Kevin is still writing the article about Jane.
All the this comes to a head in the last third of the film where all the little deceits and feelings come out. I shan't spoil the end, needless to say it is a happy one, but the course to it is not glaringly obvious, there's a couple of very minor twists to put you off the scent, but it comes good in the end.
In summation then; the first third of the film had me feeling; we've been here before, it's a bog standard chick flick.
The second third had me doubting my first thoughts.
The last third almost had me choking back the tears!
Yes, the plot and storyline had me sucked in, so I was living the emotional journey that our heorine; Jane was taking.
Cracking movie, Katherine Heigl was fantastic, absolutely gorgeous. James Marsden, who played Kevin was also very good.
You know when you have seen a good film, when you start writing words about it and it just flows out.
This was a good film.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days - 18th January 2011
Tonight's film was How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days with Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey.
Yes, another chick flick in the same vein as The Wedding Planner (which Matthew McConaughey also starred in).
Again, it's a fairly predicatble romantic comedy, with some good laugh out loud moments.
Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, a fashion & lifestyle magazine journalist, who accidently falls into writing a column on how to lose a guy in 10 days, (guess where the title of the film comes from), to do this she must find a man, make him fall for her, then do her best to make him fall out with her.
On the flipside, McConaughey plays Ben Barry, an advertising executive working on mens fitness and sports accounts, but really wants a shot at the big new diamond account. His boss wants to offer it to someone else, but Ben brokers a deal where, he says he can get a woman to fall in love with him in 10 days.
Can you see where this is going?
So, through some external manipulation from his advertising rivals Ben ends up trying to make Andie fall for him. While Andie tries to capture his heart then ditch him in 10 days.
Cue an hour of romance, comedy, sadness and a dog dressed in Burberry, amongst other things.
Kate Hudson is brilliant in this movie, stunningly beautiful, but she needs to eat something!! Very skinny.
The jury is still out on Matthew McConaughey, I'm not sure that I like him. His accent starts to grate after awhile, but his good looks obviously make up for this, if you like that sort of thing!
Overall a better than average film, some good hearty laugh out loud moments. The romance wasn't overly sickly and of course, there's a happy ending, but how they get there, go watch the film!
Yes, another chick flick in the same vein as The Wedding Planner (which Matthew McConaughey also starred in).
Again, it's a fairly predicatble romantic comedy, with some good laugh out loud moments.
Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, a fashion & lifestyle magazine journalist, who accidently falls into writing a column on how to lose a guy in 10 days, (guess where the title of the film comes from), to do this she must find a man, make him fall for her, then do her best to make him fall out with her.
On the flipside, McConaughey plays Ben Barry, an advertising executive working on mens fitness and sports accounts, but really wants a shot at the big new diamond account. His boss wants to offer it to someone else, but Ben brokers a deal where, he says he can get a woman to fall in love with him in 10 days.
Can you see where this is going?
So, through some external manipulation from his advertising rivals Ben ends up trying to make Andie fall for him. While Andie tries to capture his heart then ditch him in 10 days.
Cue an hour of romance, comedy, sadness and a dog dressed in Burberry, amongst other things.
Kate Hudson is brilliant in this movie, stunningly beautiful, but she needs to eat something!! Very skinny.
The jury is still out on Matthew McConaughey, I'm not sure that I like him. His accent starts to grate after awhile, but his good looks obviously make up for this, if you like that sort of thing!
Overall a better than average film, some good hearty laugh out loud moments. The romance wasn't overly sickly and of course, there's a happy ending, but how they get there, go watch the film!
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story - 11th January 2011
Well tonight we had; "Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story", a spoof of every music biopic or rock-umentary ever made.
It follws the life of Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly), from young boy to old man, with his struggle with possibly every musical genre going, from the Blues in the 50's, through rock 'n' roll in the 60's, flower power, protest, disco. pop, rock, etc. etc.
John C. Reilly as Dewy manages to skillfully parody everybody from; Roy Orbison to Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson to The Beatles. Talking of which, the section of the film where Dewey and his band are with the Maharishi and The Beatles, in India, is a fantastic section of the film, I think I laughed from start to finish.
Jack Black and Paul Rudd appear as Paul McCartney and John Lennon and their portrayal and parody of the beginning of The Beatles rift is superbly reenacted and laugh out loud funny!
It's good and funny film, the story is predictable but that's not a bad thing. There are some running gags through the film, which although you know they are coming, it does pull the plot together.
Be warned, it is a 15 rating, so there is some nudity, crudity, strong language, but it's not excessive and certainly adds to the enjoyment without being overly gratuitous.
Other highlights for me were Tim Meadows as Dewey's drummer, who always seemed to be taking some new kind of drug; "you don't want any of this shit, Dewey"!
Storyline, as written by Sony Pictures;
The up-and-down-and-up-again story of musician Dewey Cox, whose songs would change a nation. On his rock 'n roll spiral, Cox sleeps with 411 women, marries three times, has 22 kids and 14 step-kids, stars in his own 70s TV show, collects friends ranging from Elvis to the Beatles to a chimp, and gets addicted to - and then kicks - every drug known to man; but despite it all, Cox grows into a national icon and eventually earns the love of a good woman - longtime backup singer Darlene.
It follws the life of Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly), from young boy to old man, with his struggle with possibly every musical genre going, from the Blues in the 50's, through rock 'n' roll in the 60's, flower power, protest, disco. pop, rock, etc. etc.
John C. Reilly as Dewy manages to skillfully parody everybody from; Roy Orbison to Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson to The Beatles. Talking of which, the section of the film where Dewey and his band are with the Maharishi and The Beatles, in India, is a fantastic section of the film, I think I laughed from start to finish.
Jack Black and Paul Rudd appear as Paul McCartney and John Lennon and their portrayal and parody of the beginning of The Beatles rift is superbly reenacted and laugh out loud funny!
It's good and funny film, the story is predictable but that's not a bad thing. There are some running gags through the film, which although you know they are coming, it does pull the plot together.
Be warned, it is a 15 rating, so there is some nudity, crudity, strong language, but it's not excessive and certainly adds to the enjoyment without being overly gratuitous.
Other highlights for me were Tim Meadows as Dewey's drummer, who always seemed to be taking some new kind of drug; "you don't want any of this shit, Dewey"!
Storyline, as written by Sony Pictures;
The up-and-down-and-up-again story of musician Dewey Cox, whose songs would change a nation. On his rock 'n roll spiral, Cox sleeps with 411 women, marries three times, has 22 kids and 14 step-kids, stars in his own 70s TV show, collects friends ranging from Elvis to the Beatles to a chimp, and gets addicted to - and then kicks - every drug known to man; but despite it all, Cox grows into a national icon and eventually earns the love of a good woman - longtime backup singer Darlene.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Remember Me - 4th January 2011
So tonights' film was Remember Me, with Robert Pattinson playing the moody and rebellious Tyler Hawkins, who meets up with Ally Craig (played by Emilie de Ravin). They soon discover that their somewhat troubled lives have things in common. Ally witnessed the murder of her Mother. Tyler found the body of his elder Brother who had comitted suicide.
They are also both children of divorced parents. And through these common bonds, they help each other through their troubles.
Tyler has a close bond with his gifted younger sister (Caroline) and plays an essential role in her day to day life. Which could not be said for their father; Charles Hawkins, ably portrayed by Pierce Brosnan.
All this and more is what makes this film. You need to watch it, follow it, pick up all the references, don't question it. Follow the story, build with the film the relationships of the characters.
It is all the small details, coincidences, crossing paths, everyday troubles and relationships that weave themselves neatly into a fine, but somewhat unremarkable story.
Unremarkable that is, until the end of the film.
Yes indeed, it is 105 minutes of story telling and plot development and 3 minutes of gob-smacking, sad, unexpected, but first class conclusion.
If you haven't seen the film, see it. Buy it. Rent it. Watch it, but do not look it up, or ask anybody about it. Don't read any synopsis or spoilers or anything! Just watch it.
If you have read this, you will know there's an ending worth watching, as long as you don't know what it is, then it's a film worth watching.
Really enjoyed this film and I hope you all do too.
They are also both children of divorced parents. And through these common bonds, they help each other through their troubles.
Tyler has a close bond with his gifted younger sister (Caroline) and plays an essential role in her day to day life. Which could not be said for their father; Charles Hawkins, ably portrayed by Pierce Brosnan.
All this and more is what makes this film. You need to watch it, follow it, pick up all the references, don't question it. Follow the story, build with the film the relationships of the characters.
It is all the small details, coincidences, crossing paths, everyday troubles and relationships that weave themselves neatly into a fine, but somewhat unremarkable story.
Unremarkable that is, until the end of the film.
Yes indeed, it is 105 minutes of story telling and plot development and 3 minutes of gob-smacking, sad, unexpected, but first class conclusion.
If you haven't seen the film, see it. Buy it. Rent it. Watch it, but do not look it up, or ask anybody about it. Don't read any synopsis or spoilers or anything! Just watch it.
If you have read this, you will know there's an ending worth watching, as long as you don't know what it is, then it's a film worth watching.
Really enjoyed this film and I hope you all do too.
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
One Magic Christmas - 28th December 2010
Tonight we enjoyed the cutesy, American, feelgood, Christmas movie; One Magic Christmas. Starring Mary Steenburgen as the hard done by, no Christmas spirit, Mother of two; Ginny Grainger.
Ginny with her husband Jack and two children; Cal and Abbie, face a bleak Christmas, times are hard, Jack has no job, Ginny works at the local supermarket, presents will be thin on the ground this year. That is, until Christmas angel; Gideon (played by Harry Dean Stanton), turns up, tasked with rekindling the Christmas spirit within Ginny.
How does he achieve this, I hear you ask?
Well you'll just have to watch it to find out! It's only a short movie (88 mins), so it's an ideal feelgood film to slot into a free afternoon / evening whilst polishing off another couple of mince pies.
Be warned, it has a slow start and the story building takes some time, but stick with it, once you get to the point where Ginny's Christmas has hit it's lowest point, then when it is magically turned around it will leave you all reaching for the tissues!
One Magic Christmas, is a magical movie. Enjoy.
Ginny with her husband Jack and two children; Cal and Abbie, face a bleak Christmas, times are hard, Jack has no job, Ginny works at the local supermarket, presents will be thin on the ground this year. That is, until Christmas angel; Gideon (played by Harry Dean Stanton), turns up, tasked with rekindling the Christmas spirit within Ginny.
How does he achieve this, I hear you ask?
Well you'll just have to watch it to find out! It's only a short movie (88 mins), so it's an ideal feelgood film to slot into a free afternoon / evening whilst polishing off another couple of mince pies.
Be warned, it has a slow start and the story building takes some time, but stick with it, once you get to the point where Ginny's Christmas has hit it's lowest point, then when it is magically turned around it will leave you all reaching for the tissues!
One Magic Christmas, is a magical movie. Enjoy.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Bedtime Stories - 21st December 2010
So tonight we watched Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler. A light hearted Disney family film, where over looked and under appreciated Skeeter Bronson (played by Sandler), makes magical bedtime stories come to life, with the help of his Niece and Nephew.<
The plot revolves around the ownership and management of a hotel. True to form, there are bad guys; played by Guy Pierce and Richard Griffiths and the good guys Sandler, Russell Brand, Courtney Cox and Keri Russell.
It is an entertaining escapist movie, where the bedtime stories seemingly come to life in reality. Adam Sandler is OK in this but I found that the best laughs came from Bugsy the boggle-eyed guinea pig.
As a film to get and keep on DVD, it may not get played that much, but as an occasional film to watch if it's on TV on a soggy Sunday afternoon, then I suggest watch it with the family, especially if you have kids from 8 to 80!
I'm not sure it will make it as an all time classic live action Disney film, but nonetheless it's not a bad 96 minute diversion to the stresses of reality!
Enjoy.
Oh and to all those of you that actually read this, can I just say, as this will be the last Film Night before Christmas; a Happy Christmas to all of you and as Tiny Tim observed; "God bless us, everyone"!
Please leave a comment.
The plot revolves around the ownership and management of a hotel. True to form, there are bad guys; played by Guy Pierce and Richard Griffiths and the good guys Sandler, Russell Brand, Courtney Cox and Keri Russell.
It is an entertaining escapist movie, where the bedtime stories seemingly come to life in reality. Adam Sandler is OK in this but I found that the best laughs came from Bugsy the boggle-eyed guinea pig.
As a film to get and keep on DVD, it may not get played that much, but as an occasional film to watch if it's on TV on a soggy Sunday afternoon, then I suggest watch it with the family, especially if you have kids from 8 to 80!
I'm not sure it will make it as an all time classic live action Disney film, but nonetheless it's not a bad 96 minute diversion to the stresses of reality!
Enjoy.
Oh and to all those of you that actually read this, can I just say, as this will be the last Film Night before Christmas; a Happy Christmas to all of you and as Tiny Tim observed; "God bless us, everyone"!
Please leave a comment.
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