A bump in the night takes on a slightly more disturbing connotation after watching 'Paranormal Activity'
The word of mouth marketing for this movie has created its success and the initial comparisons to 'The Blair witch Project'.
Its true this movie wouldn't exist if it wasn't for 'Blair Witch'...but because of 'Blair Witch' this is a much more accomplished movie.
The story revolves around a couple Kate and Micah (not the camp pop star). Completely filmed in a handheld style and documenting the couples midnight paranormal activities! Though the movie is genuinely scary at times all credit goes to the lead actors that are convincing in their portrayal of a couple dealing with issues in their relationship. Issues that might or might not be the cause of the paranormal activity.
This is Oren Peli first feature and its a good effort. The movie has several endings so I'd like to see the rejected versions as the UK cinema release is the weakest aspect of the movie.
A sequel is already in pre-production so lets hope it doesn't go the same way as Blair Witch 2!
6/10
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Friday 13 November 2009
UP
Even a below standard Pixar movie breezes over its competition.
Most reviews of UP will reveal that the first 20minutes are classic Pixar, full of emotion and deals with some very adult themes and that the middle act loses it way only to finally claw it back towards the end...and I'm afraid i can't disagree.
The beginning is the bravest I've seen in any Pixar movie, bringing the audience to tears in the first 10 minutes is an incredible feet...but you don't want a whole movie full of it.
Its important to note that i saw the UP in 2D...I'm not a fan of the 3D fad and hopefully Avatar will kill it for good!
8/10
Most reviews of UP will reveal that the first 20minutes are classic Pixar, full of emotion and deals with some very adult themes and that the middle act loses it way only to finally claw it back towards the end...and I'm afraid i can't disagree.
The beginning is the bravest I've seen in any Pixar movie, bringing the audience to tears in the first 10 minutes is an incredible feet...but you don't want a whole movie full of it.
Its important to note that i saw the UP in 2D...I'm not a fan of the 3D fad and hopefully Avatar will kill it for good!
8/10
Wednesday 23 September 2009
The Thing: Digital Presentation
OK, I know this isn't a new movie, but it was recently re-released after being converted to a digital presentation.
John Carpenter classic 80's SciFi horror is given a digital make over and not in the George Lucas/Star Wars kind, where everything is replaced for sparkly new graphics, which don't fit the original...Nothing so crude. This is simply a conversion to digital.
The movie looks better than ever, crisp colours and in crystal clear HD. Unlike many 80's SciFi movies this has stood the test of time. This is due to the lack of CGI for the alien effects. Carpenters insistence on using prosthetics and live effects makes this a genuine classic.
Even if you don't get a chance to see the new digital version, make sure you watch this movie again soon.
8/10
Thursday 10 September 2009
Tuesday 8 September 2009
District 9
This years has seen lots of Sci Fi movies, from huge block busters like Star Trek to small independents like Moon. Some good some bad and some very bad. I'm happy to say that District 9 is in the 'very good' camp.
The initial story reminded me of the 1988 movie Alien Nation. A ship of alien refuges arrives on earth, Johannesburg in this case.
The aliens (colloquially called 'Prawns' in District 9, due to there unique look) are almost instantly segregated and are penned into a shanty town, District 9.
But District 9 is to close to the city and its decided to movie all 1.5 million of them to District 10.
Neill Blomkamp delivers an accomplished movie on a minuscule budget compared to movies in the same genre this summer, based on his short film 'Alive in JoBerg'
Blomkamps greatest achievement is his ability to create digital characters that you can empathise with. George Lucas should take note.
Most of the marketing for District 9 starts by mentioning Peter Jackson, but his mark can hardly been seen, which is a good thing.
A special mention should go to Sharlto Copley who plays the main human character and gives a great performance, a character you dislike for most of the movie but you feel for by the end.
8/10
The initial story reminded me of the 1988 movie Alien Nation. A ship of alien refuges arrives on earth, Johannesburg in this case.
The aliens (colloquially called 'Prawns' in District 9, due to there unique look) are almost instantly segregated and are penned into a shanty town, District 9.
But District 9 is to close to the city and its decided to movie all 1.5 million of them to District 10.
Neill Blomkamp delivers an accomplished movie on a minuscule budget compared to movies in the same genre this summer, based on his short film 'Alive in JoBerg'
Blomkamps greatest achievement is his ability to create digital characters that you can empathise with. George Lucas should take note.
Most of the marketing for District 9 starts by mentioning Peter Jackson, but his mark can hardly been seen, which is a good thing.
A special mention should go to Sharlto Copley who plays the main human character and gives a great performance, a character you dislike for most of the movie but you feel for by the end.
8/10
Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Street Fighter: The legend of Chung Li
On my recent trip to India had the displeasure of watching (i did fall asleep through both)Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Street Fighter: The legend of Chung Li. I'll keep it short...Rubbish, I'd rather have alopecia then have to watch either again. So if you value your hair, steer clear of both these abysmal movies and if you have an love of film please start a group on FaceBook to force these directors (that I'm not gonna name check) to ever be allowed near, even a web cam again.
1/10
1/10
Wednesday 19 August 2009
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Depending on your age you will have either played with Action Man or Action Force. Both are the UK version of G.I. Joe.
Hasbro Toys band of slightly silly named poseable action figures. Children of the 80's will know of Duke, Destro, Dr Mindbender, Snake Eyes etc...Now children of the 'Naughties' will be introduced to G.I. Joe with Stephen Summers new summer action movie, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. An origin story of how 2 elite soldiers, Duke and Ripcord join the Joes and save the day and how the evil Cobra organisation reveals itself to the world.
Its all very silly and all good fun...but more than anything else its probably the loudest movie i have ever sat through (does this make me sound terribly old).
The story is simple but well paced...in fact the action doesn't really let up for the refreshingly short movie.
The Paris sequence is the best action set piece of the summer and the whole movie has a feel of a classic Bond movie on acid...more gadgets than Q could hope to build on a UK Government budget.
7/10
Hasbro Toys band of slightly silly named poseable action figures. Children of the 80's will know of Duke, Destro, Dr Mindbender, Snake Eyes etc...Now children of the 'Naughties' will be introduced to G.I. Joe with Stephen Summers new summer action movie, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. An origin story of how 2 elite soldiers, Duke and Ripcord join the Joes and save the day and how the evil Cobra organisation reveals itself to the world.
Its all very silly and all good fun...but more than anything else its probably the loudest movie i have ever sat through (does this make me sound terribly old).
The story is simple but well paced...in fact the action doesn't really let up for the refreshingly short movie.
The Paris sequence is the best action set piece of the summer and the whole movie has a feel of a classic Bond movie on acid...more gadgets than Q could hope to build on a UK Government budget.
7/10
Monday 10 August 2009
Start Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan
Welcome to a world where a personal communicator is the size of your fist, you can still beat up guys even though you're wearing a girdle and where a sun can shine even though it’s in an underground cave! Welcome to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Its generally understood the original cast Start Trek movies aren't great but the goods are always even in the sequence...that makes no 2 a good one (though I’m actually a fan of Star Trek The Motion Picture and for my sins and can chuckle at Start Trek 4: The Voyage Home....the one with the Whales!)
Back to Wrath of Khan...
Had a few friends round on Saturday night and after a few beers/ales we decided to give the BluRay of Star Trek 2 a go.
As far as Sci Fi movies go it’s got it all...Starships, aliens, comedic intervals, drama and Moby Dick quoting bad guy with a huge chest but a face like old shoe leather.
Ricardo Montalban chews up the screen and doesn't really leave much room for anyone else...he has all the cool lines.
The story is simple (well what else would it be). Kirk left Khan on a deserted plant back in the original TV series. Khan etal, escape the planet and seek revenge against Kirk. Khan gets his hands on a super weapon able to destroy and create worlds...though we never find out what he intends to do with it. Never mind.
The BluRay version doesn't really add much to the quality of the movie...it pre-dates digital sound doesn't really benefit from being in a digital format. It has tons of extras...to many to list.
I remember seeing Wrath of Khan at the cinema when i was a kid and that’s obviously where my love for it started.
If you have recently seen the re-imagined Start Trek, why not go back to 1982 and see a SciFi classic.
KHANNNNNNN....KHANNNNNNN...........KHANNNNNNN.....
9/10
Its generally understood the original cast Start Trek movies aren't great but the goods are always even in the sequence...that makes no 2 a good one (though I’m actually a fan of Star Trek The Motion Picture and for my sins and can chuckle at Start Trek 4: The Voyage Home....the one with the Whales!)
Back to Wrath of Khan...
Had a few friends round on Saturday night and after a few beers/ales we decided to give the BluRay of Star Trek 2 a go.
As far as Sci Fi movies go it’s got it all...Starships, aliens, comedic intervals, drama and Moby Dick quoting bad guy with a huge chest but a face like old shoe leather.
Ricardo Montalban chews up the screen and doesn't really leave much room for anyone else...he has all the cool lines.
The story is simple (well what else would it be). Kirk left Khan on a deserted plant back in the original TV series. Khan etal, escape the planet and seek revenge against Kirk. Khan gets his hands on a super weapon able to destroy and create worlds...though we never find out what he intends to do with it. Never mind.
The BluRay version doesn't really add much to the quality of the movie...it pre-dates digital sound doesn't really benefit from being in a digital format. It has tons of extras...to many to list.
I remember seeing Wrath of Khan at the cinema when i was a kid and that’s obviously where my love for it started.
If you have recently seen the re-imagined Start Trek, why not go back to 1982 and see a SciFi classic.
KHANNNNNNN....KHANNNNNNN...........KHANNNNNNN.....
9/10
The Hurt Locker
Gone are the days when retrospect played a part in movie making...George W had hardly left office before we had 'W' by Oliver Stone.
No more is this prevalent than in the modern war movie...though they are not so much war movies, but movies about the Iraq war.
The Hurt Locker is one of these movie...The story of a new addition to a specialist bomb disposal squad on the streets of Bagdad.
The story is supposed to be giving us an insight into the daily lives of these soldiers in this absurd war..but never really hits the mark. Filmed in a semi (over used) docu-style as many war movies are, but never seems make you feel part of the drama.
I loved the recent HBO miniseries Generation Kill and so was looking forward to The Hurt Locker and really wanted to like, even love it as the pre-release buzz was that this was a classic, but for it wasn't.
I felt contrived and unoriginal...that said it wasn't all bad, in fact at times it was gripping and had several nice (but under used) cameos.
The director Kathryn Bigelow, who brought us 'Point Break' and 'Strange Days' has been grasping for hit for a while and she almost gets it, but this movie is trying to be a crowd pleaser and a subjective look at the Iraq war all at the same time...and the two never really blend.
4/10
No more is this prevalent than in the modern war movie...though they are not so much war movies, but movies about the Iraq war.
The Hurt Locker is one of these movie...The story of a new addition to a specialist bomb disposal squad on the streets of Bagdad.
The story is supposed to be giving us an insight into the daily lives of these soldiers in this absurd war..but never really hits the mark. Filmed in a semi (over used) docu-style as many war movies are, but never seems make you feel part of the drama.
I loved the recent HBO miniseries Generation Kill and so was looking forward to The Hurt Locker and really wanted to like, even love it as the pre-release buzz was that this was a classic, but for it wasn't.
I felt contrived and unoriginal...that said it wasn't all bad, in fact at times it was gripping and had several nice (but under used) cameos.
The director Kathryn Bigelow, who brought us 'Point Break' and 'Strange Days' has been grasping for hit for a while and she almost gets it, but this movie is trying to be a crowd pleaser and a subjective look at the Iraq war all at the same time...and the two never really blend.
4/10
Friday 7 August 2009
Watchmen: Directors Cut
First let’s get the bad bits out of the way...
Why is the DC version only available on import? and what is the need to bring out several different version of the same film over a period of months....the Watchmen ultimate edition comes out at Christmas...
And now the positive...
This is as close to the original graphic novel, without including the 'Tales of the Black Freighter', comic within a comic (this will be included in the Ultimate version).
So fans of the graphic novel will be happy...very happy....just like me.
The story of the masked avengers being picked off by a mysterious killer in an alternative 1985, where Nixon is still president and the threat of nuclear war is ever looming is genius.
The characters are really people, not just blue costumed Ubermen, flying saving cats from trees.
Original meant to be characters from the DC back catalogue, Batman, Wonder Woman etc...but blocked over fears of ruining the charterers reputations. It’s easy to see the roots of Night Owl and Rorschach from the DC universe, but these new guys are have a real depth to them...disillusioned with the world and the their formed masked avenging days.
A special mention must go to Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach a firm fan favourite, but played perfectly, tragic and heroic at the same time.
Running at over 3 hours the Directors Cut version can seem a long haul, but for me it was enjoyable afternoon. For the average movie view it’s probably too long, as its paced quite slowly compared to the recent flurry Superhero movies...So this won’t appeal to everyone.
8/10...Just make sure you have the big packet of Doritos to hand.
Thursday 30 July 2009
The Bank Job
I have to admit, Jason Statham (The Stath) movies are a bit of a guilty pleasure. Ever since seeing his definitive performance in Snatch I’ve followed his career. He's moved from ‘Cockney Geezer’ to martial arts 'Bad Ass' through the Transporter series and Crank.
Obviously the guilty pleasure is that he is a pretty poor actor, that usually sticks to c grade action movies...So I was quite looking forward to The Staths return to ‘Cockney Geezer’ territory in The Bank Job.
A cross between The Italian Job and Buster, The Bank Job is a 70's heist movie set in London.
Statham plays the 'Cockney Geezer' / petty criminal with a heart. Statham and his cohorts get are persuaded by an old colleague to do 'one last job'...all pedestrian stuff so far.
Of course there is an inside man, a general splattering of unsavoury types, cops and MI5 or 6!
It’s all been done before...some including Statham. It's obviously a UK film, but doesn't show London of at its best. Obviously filmed on a very small budget and unable to dress streets and sets to give it the authentic feel of the 70's. It's no Long Good Friday.
Some nice work by the supporting cast and the usual from The Stath, though he keeps the 'action man' at bay for most of the film. A fun distraction for an evening 5/10.
Obviously the guilty pleasure is that he is a pretty poor actor, that usually sticks to c grade action movies...So I was quite looking forward to The Staths return to ‘Cockney Geezer’ territory in The Bank Job.
A cross between The Italian Job and Buster, The Bank Job is a 70's heist movie set in London.
Statham plays the 'Cockney Geezer' / petty criminal with a heart. Statham and his cohorts get are persuaded by an old colleague to do 'one last job'...all pedestrian stuff so far.
Of course there is an inside man, a general splattering of unsavoury types, cops and MI5 or 6!
It’s all been done before...some including Statham. It's obviously a UK film, but doesn't show London of at its best. Obviously filmed on a very small budget and unable to dress streets and sets to give it the authentic feel of the 70's. It's no Long Good Friday.
Some nice work by the supporting cast and the usual from The Stath, though he keeps the 'action man' at bay for most of the film. A fun distraction for an evening 5/10.
The International
Another thriller starring Clive Owen, probably with a huge twist at the end where his boss is actually the orchestrator of the whole affair. I'm such a cynic.
To my surprise I was proved....right...almost.
The story revolves around Owen, an Interpol agent tracking down clues that lead him to uncover a corrupt bank funding global criminal activities, but that’s too simple...obviously all the major governments and agencies are involved or aware. How can one man fight such a huge organisation and win. No spoilers...just watch and find out.
My expectations weren't high, but some nice camera work and tasteful direction help as well as a standard performance from Owen help to keep this at 5/10
To my surprise I was proved....right...almost.
The story revolves around Owen, an Interpol agent tracking down clues that lead him to uncover a corrupt bank funding global criminal activities, but that’s too simple...obviously all the major governments and agencies are involved or aware. How can one man fight such a huge organisation and win. No spoilers...just watch and find out.
My expectations weren't high, but some nice camera work and tasteful direction help as well as a standard performance from Owen help to keep this at 5/10
Thursday 19 March 2009
Ok, it's been a long time since i last blogged.
I promise i will be better this year...
Now also on twitter:
https://twitter.com/thinkincircles
More updates soon.
I promise i will be better this year...
Now also on twitter:
https://twitter.com/thinkincircles
More updates soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)