Late again I know and I'm sure my review of The Social Network wont add much to the debate, but here goes.
By now you will know that The Social Network is the new film from David Fincher, with a script from Aron Sorkin about Mark Zuckerberg the creator of Facebook.
The story follows Zukerberg from Harvard and the inception of 'The Facebook' to the double lawsuits regarding ownership of Facebook.
Many reviews will say how Jessie Eisenberg makes Zuckerberg into a likeable asshole that you want to like but never feel you can...a kind of Gordon Gecko figure, but i always like Gecko...and i l 'Like' Zuckerberg.
I don't think the Wall Street comparison stops there though. Though The Social Network isn't a film about greed and capitalism (almost the opposite), it is inspirational and showcases the new breed of young .com entrepreneurs, that don't have the years of business experience behind them.
As I slow crawl to decrepitude and leave the house less and less, it becomes easy just to watch movies from my arm chair...
So Kick-Ass on Blu-Ray. Another comic book conversion from comic book writer Mark Millar (him that wrote Wanted). Like a lot of Millars work it twists the usual conventions of comic book story telling but at the same time following ever comic book hero that has ever been written.
The story is set in a relatively believable world, where masked avengers don't exist...but why not? why doesn't someone put on a ski mask and....Kick-Ass?
That's what Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides to do...and becomes the title character. Along the way he is joined by Hit Girl and Big Daddy and Father and daughter team of crime fighters.
Without spoiling it...you can see the ending coming a mile off, but it is a comic book movie after all!
The quality of the movie is great in HD and the Blu-Ray has all the usual features, Directors commentary, making off...but nothing special, no BD-Live feature for example.
We all now know that this is an ongoing marketing strategy buy Lucas films to rip off the millions of Star Wars fans every few years. I guess the 3D cinema release will coincide with the Blu Ray release.
Ok, so i have actually been busy, moving house, hosting house warming parties, rebuilding new house...but I have seen loads of movies as well. Inception, Batman: Under the Red Hood...(Both worth seeing, though you may already know that about Inception)
To keep things moving on my blog i'm going to continue to review movies but also give you nuggets on other things going on...So expect reviews and comments on Social Media, Music, Games, comic books...anything geeky that i'm into.
I know this is an old movie (2007), but i managed to catch it on TV recently I thought it was worth reviewing.
I suppose it touched a nerve with me as i've played out most of this movie for real when i lived in Spain!
2 Days in Paris sees Marion and Jack (Julie DelpyAdam Goldberg) returning to Marion's home. Paris. They are forced to stay with Marion's parents for the stay and mix with Marion's old boyfriends...which she has a lot! Her starts the problems and Jacks building paranoia.
Both Delpy and Goldberg play there roles perfectly. Dark and ironic.
A funny and touching movie for anyone that's ever been in a relationship where English is the first language!
If you're a fan of the Pirates of The Carribian movies, then you should like Prince of Persia:Sands of Time. Based on the successful Video game franchise, which it almost captures the look and feel...almost. The gamers amongst you will see a a striking resemblance to another game franchise, Assassins Creed. The images of Jake Gyllenhaal prince Dastan precariously standing on roof tops definitely looks closer to Assassins creed than any Prince of Persia game.
The film canters along and a fast enough pace never to become dull, but lakes the set pieces of the Pirates movies. It also lacks a stand out performance...We have no Jake Sparrow to chew up the celluloid, which might seem like a good thing. We do have Ben Kingsley on best bad guy form and the strangely perma-tanned Gemma Arterton, but whose complaining...it's Gemma Arterton after all.
So Prince of Persia is a non-offensive summer block buster that will probably spawn several increasingly ridiculous sequels...but it is the first decent video game conversion I've seen.
Being a comic book fan, I was always bound to enjoy Ironman 2. So this review is unashamed in it's positivity.
Jon Favreau delivers a fan boys wet dream and an admirable follow up to 2008's Ironman.
The movie picks up several years after the original. Tony Stark is Ironman and everyone loves him for it (almost), but the suit is slowly poisoning him.
The government is after his ironman suits as his closest rival Justin Hammer, played to frighteningly nerdy perfection by Sam Rockwell. Hammer enlists Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), to build a drone army to stop Starks dominance in the weaponised exo-skeleton arena.
Starks best friend Lt. Col. James 'Rhodey'Rhodes is also after the suit and eventually get his hands on a prototype, to become War Machine...a supped up version of Ironman.
Other charaters from the marvel also pop up, Scarlett Johansson turns up as S.H.I.E.L.D agent Black Widow and Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury. All leading towards 2012's Avengers movie.
I was always bound to love it...
8/10
P.S Stay in your seat for the end credits for an extra scene
I have a soft spot for the original Clash of the Titans, with its Ray Harryhausen stop frame animation and hammy acting.
As Hollywood has run out of ideas and is now dredging through it's back catalogue or raiding your local comic book store for new stories.
Thanks to that we have a new big budget (though the FX don't represent this) version of Clash of the Titans from directorLouis Leterrier.
Leterrier is famous for the Transporter movies and the better of the two recent Incredible Hulk movies. So perfect for a movie that selo-tapes Greek mythology
together.
Man of the moment Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator: Salvation) is Perseus...all muscles and no brains and as wooden as the sets (if they where built and not generated).
This version has none of the charm of the original and the least said about Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes the better. This really is a turkey!
Obviously something is fishy as the the asylum is run by (Sir) Ben Kingsley...
The movie has a few scares and is fairly tense and looks beautiful as you would expect with a Scorsese movie.
The closest movie to Shutter Island is Scorsese's own remake of Cape Fear. The sound track beats you into submission and constantly reminds you that you are watching a THRILLER!
I'm a huge Scorsese fan and have loved his past collaborations with Leo. However the biggest issue i have with this movie is Leo. He just isn't believable as an military man with a shadowy past, he simply isn't old enough and doesn't have enough age in his eyes.
It's no spoiler to tell you that the movie has a twist (the US marketing was based around telling you that the movie has a twist) So don't be shocked when you see the twist crashing towards you as loudly as the movies booming score.
It would be easy to call Green Zone, "Jason Bourne does Iraq!" But that would make a pithy and dismissive review.
It's true Green Zone is directed by Paul Greengrass and it stars Matt Damon. It's filmed in Greengrass' handheld and improvised style...but that's where the comparisons ends.
Damons' Staff Sergent Miller is a much more believable character, with a very real agenda...to find thoseWMD's. Miller isn't the unstoppable force like Jason Bourne and mostimportantly Miller is based in the real world, during a real event. At one point Damon/Miller even gets a swift beating from Jason Isaacs (Hello JasonsIsaacs) Special Forces operative.
This is a much easier film to watch that any of the Bourne movies, it rattles along nicely with an amazing 30 minute set piece finale, which would make any fan of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare put down there controller.
This is easily the best of the recent crop of Iraq war movies, including The Hurt Locker.
I think we are about to be overwhelmed by period horror/thriller/action movies, with the success of Sherlock Holmes (and its still to come sequels) and now The Wolfman ...
The Wolfman harks back to Hammer horror and the classic Hollywood horrors from the 40's. Set at the end of 18th century, it's the story of an estranged Son returning to his birth place after the brutal murder of his brother. The 'horror' begins when Benicio Del Toro is attacked by the title creature
The movie looks amazing at times, with more than a generous nod to the original movie. Joe Johnston's is in the end a confused flick, not going far enough to be a true horror and not a good enough scripted to be thriller.
While watching The Wolfman, one other movie constantly pops into your head...An American Werewolf in London, which The Wolfman even parodies at one point.
AAWL sets an ironic tone from the start and keeps that up through the script...The Wolfman lacks the conviction.
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!
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!
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.
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 almostinstantlysegregated 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.
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.
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.
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.
