Movie Review

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3″ pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds.  When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible.  With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him.  As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him, does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Phase 2 of Marvel Studios set of movies begins with the awesome Iron Man 3 and instead of making it bigger and better than the Avengers, they went totally the other way and made it a personal story for Tony.  After the alien invasion in the last film, Tony is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and instead of talking about it, he does what he does best and makes more and more Iron Man suits and tech for them.

There is a new foe in the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and he strikes a near fatal blow right into the heart of Tony’s world.  This strips him of everything except his intellect which brings a new dimension to the story and his character.  Director Shane Black, making his first big budget film, takes the reigns of this franchise and injects new life into it with his own flair for sardonic wit alongside pulsing action which makes the flick breath-taking to behold.

The cast are superb with Downey Jr. on flying form as always, his quick wit and comic timing is of huge pulling power for the audience to like his character and sympathise with him.  There is a buddy cop element too with Stark teaming up with his buddy, James Rhodes/ War Machine (Don Cheadle), in some of the action scenes, these add much needed dimension to both roles.  Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) has an even bigger role than the last two films and even gets to don the suit.  Newcomers Guy Pierce and Rebecca Hall give good support while Ben Kingsley is utterly mesmerising as the Mandarin but to say any more about any of these new characters would ruin the movie.

There is so much to love in this movie with some genuinely attention-grabbing and original twists that you’ll never see coming, the action builds to a breathless peak that will see fans jumping in the seats with joy.  I did have one major issue with the film which took me out of the film for about 10/15 minutes but it regained its footing and blew the roof off the cinema with its geek pleasing eye candy, also don’t forget, like all Marvel movies, to stay till the end of the credits.

Kudos to Marvel for taking a different take on the character, for hiring a director with no proven track record in these types of movies but knew he’d pull it off and the fans would agree but overall thanks to Marvel for continuing to bring the comic book experience to the big screen, let’s just hope they can get Robert Downey Jr. back for more.

‘Iron Man 3′ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Four twenty-something’s try to get their friend off drugs by going cold turkey out in a remote cabin.  When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.

The horror remake bandwagon continues with this updating of the Sam Raimi classic from 1982.  Thankfully Raimi decided to oversee this effort and handed the reigns over to first time feature director Fede Alvarez, after he pitched a unique twist on the original.  That twist, for the most part, is that the person who is possessed is going through cold turkey and the others thing it’s just part of what happens.  It is a subtle change which brings added gravity to the situation and brings it up to date as well.

Once the book of the dead is opened and its passage read, the movie kicks into high gear, it ratchets up the tension and gore to new levels of gruesomeness.  Faces are cut, limbs are amputated and blood is everywhere, literally, which is what most people will be going to see this movie for anyway.

The cast are passable at best but the central character of Mia, played by Jane Levy, is absolutely superb as the addict who gets more than she bargained for when she tries to kick the habit.  She is relentless in the movie, bringing sweetness and malice to a solid role.  While first time director Fede Alvarez shows that he can play with the big boys and deliver a stunningly visual and genuinely gory flick.

Things that i disliked were the utter stupidity of some of the characters actions, one of them keeps coming back after a good few deathly encounters which is a little beyond belief, even for horror movies.  The sound mix and music are very muddled throughout, I’ve listen to the score on its own and it’s a chilling listen but it is practically inaudible in the movie.

This is probably the best horror remake so far but that isn’t saying much with what has come before, i think horror fans will love it and Evil Dead fans will, at least, tolerate it but it is a step in the right direction.  Also Evil Dead fans should stay till the end of the credits for a little surprise too.

‘Evil Dead’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.  Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage).  Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever, Gollum (Andy Serkis).  Here, alone with Gollum, he gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

This new trilogy of movies has had a treacherous time coming to the big screen, with legal wrangling, that went on for years, making original director Guillermo del Toro move on, it fell to Peter Jackson to jump back into the world of Middle-Earth and make these films a reality.  Then there was the backlash of shooting in 3D but not just any old 3D but a new technology which doubled the frame rate to 48, this was said to give a smoother image and to make the 3D not look as jarring.  Then there was the decision to split the book into two movies and then with only a few months before the first movies release it was decided that there’d be three films, making it a brand new trilogy.

So fans and moviegoers were excited but apprehensive to say the least, i seen the movie in both 48 and 24 frames per second 3D and both have their advantages and disadvantages but what it really comes down to is the movie any good.  The short answer is yes and no, it’s great to get back into middle-earth again but it stays too close to the ‘Fellowship of the Ring’s’ structure which makes the majority of the movie feel like a re-tread.  There also seems to be no definitive baddy or goal to attain, well there is one, but not on the scale of the previous trilogy.  This makes the movie feel trivial and not care about the characters as much.  Jackson seems to fall back into this world again quite easily but i think it suffers with its length, where some parts could have been trimmed and others feel rushed over.

All that being said there are some good aspects to the film, it looks stunning and the sound is breath-taking, Howard Shore returns to give another memorable score too.  The visual effects, as you would expect, are top notch and the production design is superb.  The cast, for the most part, are memorable with Martin Freeman being born to play this role, he brings new dimensions to an already well known character and it’s his journey that’ll bring me back for the next two movies.  Ian McKellen again is at home when playing Gandalf and it’s great that we get more of the playful wizard rather than the stoic Gandalf the White from the original trilogy.  The gang of dwarves are glossed over with only the leader, played by Richard Armitage, getting any kind of characterisation but he comes off as Aragon-lite, this band of grumpy fellows should come into their own though in the rest of the films.  Lastly, Andy Serkis is back as Gollum for an extended cameo and its in this scene, the best of the whole movie, where you see what’s great and terrible about it.  On one hand it’s a stunning scene but then it reminds you of what made the original trilogy so good, let’s hope the next two movies build upon this one and make it better.

Video Presentation

The ‘The Hobbit’ was shot at a high frame rate of 48fps, it was, and still is, quite the controversy.  Personally, i didn’t find it too irritating but had my concerns about how this new frame rate would translate to Blu-ray since it has to be converted to the traditional 24fps in order for home viewers to enjoy.  I’m happy to report though that I noticed little to no difference whatsoever than if it were shot at the standard frame rate, although I must say the video does seem slightly smoother.  In fact, the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode looks utterly fantastic and rather remarkable in some areas.  Panning and action sequences are uniform and ultra-slick, not even the smallest hint of motion judder, which would be expected in such instances.  Filmed entirely on a Red Epic camera system, the 2.40:1 image also displays a dazzlingly bold and colorful palette, even if the cinematography seems to favor the teal & orange aesthetic.  Black levels are true and inky, penetrating deep into the screen with luxurious gradations, while shadow details remain plain and sharply delineated. It’s a splendid, demo-worthy high-def presentation fans will really enjoy.

Audio Presentation

The ‘Unexpected Journey’ also debuts with an explosive, reference-quality DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack that will give any system a healthy workout.  Starting in the front soundstage, the mid-range is amazingly extensive and broad, exhibiting the smallest detail with superb, crystal-clear clarity.  In action sequences, the upper ranges are precise and distinct, giving each roaring yell and clash of metal upon metal extraordinary intelligibility.  The design also comes with a powerful and robust low-end that extends far back into the room and rattles walls on several occasions.  Rear activity is also filled with more excitement, as subtle ambient effects play almost non-stop throughout the film’s runtime.  Howard Shore’s music bleeds into the back channels and envelops viewers with exhilaration, making this a marvelous and highly-satisfying lossless mix audiophiles will absolutely love.

Extras

The extras on this set are great but unfortunately they’ve been available for months on the internet so i’ve had to mark it down a bit.  They are extensive but if you’ve seen them already like i had then they’re redundant, hopefully the inevitable extended edition will boast a more extensive and exhaustive set of extras.

New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth — Travel with Peter Jackson and his crew through the various shooting locations across the New Zealand landscape and hear how they were transformed to represent Middle-earth.

Video Blogs — A collection of ten production videos which were originally made available through the internet.  Mostly hosted by director Peter Jackson, each featurette covers various aspects of the production with tons of BTS footage and interviews with cast and crew.  One video touches on the decision to film in 3D, a few focuses on shooting locations, another provides a tour of the production stage, and it all finishes with a red-carpet premiers in Wellington.

Trailers — Along with six theatrical previews, fans can enjoy three more trailers for videogames based on the mythology and film series.

This film feels more like a part 1 rather than a stand alone movie, which is how the ‘Fellowship of the Ring’ felt to me, so is harder to get into and see where it is going.  I’m still excited to see what the next two films bring as i hope they’ll give us a totally different story rather than a retread which is how this film felt.

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ is out on Blu-Ray 3D, Blu-Ray and DVD now.

Movie Review

After R (Nicholas Hoult), a highly unusual zombie, saves Julie (Teresa Palmer) from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

Taking its lead from ‘Shaun of the Dead’, this romantic zombie comedy for the Twilight generation is a delight from start to finish.  This flick is not just for the boys as the romance is as good as any other romantic comedy, a perfect date movie if ever i saw one.  It starts slow bringing us into this world, never telling us how most people became zombies, but once R takes Julie it springboards the film into gear. Their affection for eachother is never forced and feels genuinely touching.  It also speaks to the high tech relience we have in today’s society and that we are the zombies of today, which is an interesting insight.

Writer/Director Jonathan Levine (50/50) is a brings alot of new ideas to the tired zombie film and is a talent we sohuld watch out for in the future.  The soundtrack is a glorious listen too, pumping out classic tunes for Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Guns N’Roses, it will definitley be one to buy when it is released.

The cast are superb, no one does a bad job with Nicholas Hoult falling nicely into the leading mad role after starting off in ‘About A Boy’ and a supporting role in ‘X-Men: First Class’, he is going from strength to strength here, also watch out for him in ‘Jack The Giant Slayer’ in March.  Teresa Palmer is another young up and coming star in the making and is great as the woman of R’s affections.  John Malkovich and Rob Corddry round out the supporting cast and asre also excellent.

This is a fun, imaginative and heartwarming film that is a must see for anyone who enjoys these two genres, a perfect film for Valentine’s too.

‘Warm Bodies’ is out in cinemas now.

Once a successful New York couple, Emily (Rooney Mara) and her husband (Channing Tatum) are now struggling to readjust to life after his recent release from prison. Emily is plagued with a clinical depression and, following a car crash, is referred to respected psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) who offers the latest in prescription drugs to try and alleviate her anxiety.

However as Emily’s relationship with both Dr Banks and her prescribed medication intensifies, she finds herself descending into a chemical-fuelled nightmare where the lines between fantasy and reality become dangerously blurred.

From visionary director Steven Soderbergh comes a riveting psychological thriller where neither the symptoms nor the cure are quite as straightforward as they seem.

‘Side Effects’ is out in cinemas on March 8th.

Movie Review

A hit man (Sylvester Stallone) and a New York cop team up to get revenge on the killers who murdered their partners, and uncover a lucrative conspiracy while blasting their way through the New Orleans underworld.

This is the start of the 80′s movie star comeback which is happening in the next few weeks at the cinemas, both Arnold and Bruce care back too.  First out of the gates though is this total 80′s action movie throw back.  Its story of revenge and redemption is a long standing one and here it stays just the right side of cheese.

Director Walter Hill can do this type of movie in his sleep; thankfully he kept his eyes open this time around.  His direction is subtle in its movement and look but exaggerated in its dialogue and action.  It’s a slow burner of a movie which takes its time setting up the characters and has punctuations of ultra-violence, finishing off with a stunning mano-a-mano fight between Stallone and Jason Momoa.

Stallone is in his element as the no nonsense James Bonomo, great 80′s action character name too.  Sung Kang plays his partner of sorts and has some good scenes but he never really convinces as the character as his acting is sub-par throughout.  Adewale  Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays the villain who has a bad guy limp and cane plus he spits venomous dialogue at every opportunity.  Christian Slater has a great cameo as the money man but it’s Jason Momoa from ‘Game of Thrones’ fame who is the biggest revelation, he is genuinely menacing and can act too.

The only bad points are the above mention acting from Sung Kang but there’s also the constant cityscape shots between scenes with a Jazz saxophone wailing which gets repetitive very fast, other than that though this is a solid action flick which all Stallone fans will like.

‘Bullet to the Head’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

In 1865, as the American Civil War winds inexorably toward conclusion, U.S. president Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) endeavours to achieve passage of the landmark constitutional amendment which will forever ban slavery from the United States.  However, his task is a race against time, for peace may come at any time, and if it comes before the amendment is passed, the returning southern states will stop it before it can become law. Lincoln must, by almost any means possible, obtain enough votes from Congress before it is too late.  As the nation confronts its conscience over the freedom of its entire population, Lincoln faces his own crisis of conscience, end slavery or end the war.

Steven Spielberg has been trying to make this movie for over a decade now, his preferred choice for Lincoln was always Daniel Day-Lewis but when he passed on it he turned to Liam Neeson.  Back then it was a more sprawling epic which spanned Lincoln’s whole life, Spielberg continued to tweak the script but could never get it to his liking, Neeson moved on and the Day-Lewis came back into the picture.  They focused the film to encompass the last few months of his life and his struggle to get slavery abolished but in doing this they made a bold choice but a welcome one.

By focusing their efforts we really get under the skin of the tall man, the inner workings of democracy and the politics behind every law that has happened before and since in the great United States of America.  This is no flashy film with epic battles of the civil war but more a character driven stage play filmed with the biggest budget imaginable and production values all stage directors aspire to.  This is its biggest advantage and disadvantage, as it makes you concentrate more on what’s going on, as the politics sway each way, but it can be a hard struggle if you’re not paying attention either as you don’t get a breather from the back room dealings.

As always the movie looks and sounds stunning, Janusz Kaminski’s photography is breath-taking, working with Spielberg for the last 20 years, he just never repeats himself with the look and feel of the picture.  Sound Designer Ben Burtt, of Star Wars fame, went back and found all of Lincoln’s memorabilia from the era plus went to the White House and got sound effects from the actual Lincoln room so it would be authentic.  Composer John Williams brings us yet another rousing elegant score which he never fails to deliver.

Daniel Day-Lewis can really do no wrong and has been nominated again for an academy award which is well deserved.  Other notable actors are Tommy Lee Jones, James Spader and Sally Field, although the cast is vast and on flying form, these three are the pick of the film, beside Day-Lewis.  Each of them only have a few scenes but they inform their characters with zest and emotional weight that you feel everything they say and do.

The only bad points is the side plot revolving around Lincoln’s eldest son, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and his eagerness to join the civil war plus Spielberg spends ten minutes too long on the ending.  There is a satisfactory and stunning ending in the film but it doesn’t finish there, this is becoming a common flaw in a lot of movies these days where they don’t know where to end, Spielberg has had a few films like this over the last decade and it doesn’t need it.

Nominated for the most Oscars this year and come the big night it should get a good few of them too, with Daniel Day-Lewis being a shoe in for Best Actor.  So minor quibbles aside, this is a stunning, riveting and historical film which should be seen on the big screen.

‘Lincoln’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Former dentist, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), buys the freedom of a slave, Django (Jamie Foxx), and trains him with the intent to make him his deputy bounty hunter.  Instead, he is led to the site of Django’s wife who is under the hands of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), a ruthless plantation owner.

After the mis-step that was ‘Death Proof’ and the genre bending ‘Inglorious Basterds’, Quentin Tarantino is back with another triumph of cinema.  Taking its main element from the spaghetti westerns of old, he brings us a ‘Southern’ as he likes to call it.  It’s a simple story of revenge and rescue but with Tarantino’s words and liking for uber-violence, it’s a cowboy movie turned up to 11.

A lot has been said about the violence in his movies over the years but here it is over the top, bordering on cartoon violence with gunshots going off like they were fired from a bazooka rather than a handgun.  The question of slavery is another hot topic which many thought Tarantino would tarnish or gloss over in some way but that is very far from the actual fact, it’s handled in the best possible way and makes its audience think not only about the injustices of that time but of what’s going on in the world today.

Instead of going with a normal western style score, the director infuses the movie with contemporary made tracks along with music from other westerns which he loves.  This shouldn’t really work but it does, he also got maestro Ennio Morricone to write an original piece for it as well.  The look of the film is stunning with a gritty lived in feel contrasting the over the top violence and characters.

The cast, as in all Tarantino movies, are stunning.  I’m actually glad Will Smith turned down the central character as he would have been a distraction playing the main character, Jamie Foxx lives and breathes this vengeful man with every fibre of his being.  Christoph Waltz is great but he seems to be just playing a good version of his character from ‘Inglorious Basterds’ which is not a bad thing considering he won an Oscar for it but his awards nominations this year don’t add up compared to DiCaprio and Jackson performances.  The two formally mentioned actors are on top of their game in this flick, with Leo finally playing a villain and relishing it, in one scene he actually cuts his hand and continues going, even making it work within the scene, now that’s method.  Samuel L. Jackson is just lost in the role, with him not looking like himself and playing the part with a squinty eyed vigour of someone clued into everything.

It’s not all praise though as the first 2 hours are stunning but where it should come to an end, it sadly doesn’t, and it puts on the brakes and takes a roundabout way to get to its conclusion.  I can see the reason in it but Tarantino doesn’t quite pull it off, especially because he plays one of the characters in this latter section.  Besides that though this is a continuation of the stellar work from his last film and hopefully he can make one like these every two years now instead of waiting longer.

‘Django Unchained’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

When Bond’s (Daniel Craig) latest assignment goes gravely wrong and several undercover agents around the world are exposed, MI6 is attacked, forcing M (Judi Dench) to relocate the agency. These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee.  With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust, James Bond.  007 takes to the shadows, aided only by field agent, Eve (Naomie Harris), following a trail to the mysterious Silva (Javier Bardem), whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves.

Celebrating the franchises 50th anniversary and coming off the lacklustre ‘Quantum of Solace’, this 23rd entry in the Bond canon as a lot to live up to, thankfully it does with flair and could possibly be the best of them all.  Hiring Sam Mendes was a great step in making this a grounded, more character driven piece.  I know Bond fans had to wait an extra-long time because of the MGM bankruptcy a few years ago but i think this has helped this film refine itself into a well-rounded and possibly game changing film.

This new Bond flick is a standalone film, rather than continuing the story arc from ‘Casino Royale and ‘Quantum Of Solace’, which proves to be a superb thing as Bond goes through a lot in this film, essentially breaking down his character to then rebuild him again, just like Bruce Wayne in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’.

Daniel Craig is James Bond now, with many not thinking he could do it originally, here he cements his standing alongside his predecessors with a character who must dig deep within himself to overcome the obstacles he encounters.  Judi Dench can’t do anything wrong in any movie and her portrayal of M, especially in this film, will be the benchmark for many bond movies to come.

Newcomers to the franchise, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Albert Finney all have stellar scenes throughout with the main love interest, Severine, played by Berenice Marlohe, having an especially spellbinding couple of scenes and is a revelation.  The standout though is Javier Bardem, who is just mesmerising as Silva, he doesn’t appear till halfway through but when he does you can’t take your eyes off him.  Playfully messing with Bond and M in equal measure, he truly is the best Bond villain in a long time and I’d like to see him, at least, Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actor next year.

The film sizzles with awe inspiring visuals courtesy of cinematographer Roger Deakins, terrifyingly original and amazing action scenes with stunt coordinator Chris Corbould bringing out the best in his team.  It’s incredibly well edited by Stuart Baird, who has had a stunning career and is one of the best in the business while the iconic music is given a much needed breath of fresh acoustics by Thomas Newman, who swirls the orchestra into a frenzy of percussion but also giving the quiet moments much pathos too.

It all comes down to the director though, and the producers seem to have given Sam Mendes free reign over this film and it is the bond movie we’ve all been waiting four long years for, it actually exceeds expectation and you can’t say that about many movies these days.  It’s got everything you’d expect from a Bond flick plus a whole lot more to boot.  Bond is indeed back and may he return for another 50 years.

‘Skyfall’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

In the future, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market.  When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper”, a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is waiting to mop up.  Joe is getting rich and life is good until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination.  This sets off a chain of events that will change both men’s futures forever.

Some movies come along once in a while that just knock your socks off, ones that you’ve heard a little about but not too much, and they exceed expectations.  One such movie is ‘The Matrix’, with its genre defining and twisting ways, it hit right at the time where audiences wanted something original, interesting and different.  Looper is one of those lightning in a bottle movies which, in a summer movie season where originality was sparse, brings as much brain to its sci-fi brawn.

Director Rian Johnson (Brick, Brothers Bloom) has been around for years and while his first movie ‘Brick’ played with genre conventions too, ‘Looper’ takes the whole time travel concept and skews a brand new tale which is both familiar and fresh at the same time.  Setting up the rules in the first few minutes, it explains the premise to perfection and doesn’t break its own rules, which so many other time travel movies have to do to get them out of a hole by the movies end.

‘Twelve Monkeys’ is the closet comparison i can give for ‘Looper’, not only is it a Bruce Willis movie but it sets up the world and then twists and turns till the dramatic conclusion much like this movie.  As you can see I’m trying my best to not go into any specifics about ‘Looper’ as it’s best to go in with no expectations and just let the movie wash over you.

The performances are spot on with Joseph Gordon-Levitt having a stellar year, being in ‘Premium Rush’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ already this year, his portrayal of a younger Willis is note perfect but doesn’t go over the line into full on imitation.  The make-up does distract a little but overall he carries the film on his shoulders and is a talent who will only get better with time.

Bruce Willis is playing the action star here but in a contained way, he doesn’t give his usual one liners or eyebrow lifts but he does bring a genuine sensitivity to his performance.  Emily Blunt is a revelation, taking on the tough southern woman role, her accent never falters and her strength his quite powerful throughout.  Jeff Daniels is always great and it’s no different here plus Paul Dano is superb in a cameo role too.  Another revelation is Pierce Gagnon, who plays the child Cid; he is creepy and sweet in equal measure and would make a good Damian in a new remake of ‘The Omen’ if that was to happen again.

There is so much to shout about with ‘Looper, the story, direction, visuals, music and look of the movie are all just top notch, especially for a low budget movie.  I cannot recommend this movie anymore and i am, it’s an intelligent and emotional movie that will have many sci-fi fans clapping by its conclusion but non sci-fi heads will find a lot to enjoy too, so give it a shot.

‘Looper’ is out in cinemas now.

It has been eight years since Batman (Christian Bale) vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive.  Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) both hoped was the greater good.  For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act.  But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar, Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) with a mysterious agenda.  Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane (Tom Hardy), a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile.  But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

The Dark Knight Rises is the most anticipated movie of the last few years but can it live up to the hype and top the previous movie, which is probably the greatest super hero movie of all time, or will it go down as another in a long list of threequels which finish a trilogy with a whimper?  Thankfully it takes its lead from ‘The Dark Knight’ and builds on everything that has come before and gives us a fitting end to this Batman story.  This is movie making on a truly epic scale, using New York to its fullest, with the city being the lifeblood of the film.  How it blends aspects of current political and economic strife into its narrative is bold and beautiful to behold which really cements it in reality.   The ending will be the one thing that will polarise audiences but I for one loved it, it is poetic and the right ending for this story.

That’s not to say that it doesn’t have problems, the film takes its time to get going with the first 30 minutes being rather clunky but when Bane sets his plan into motion it all falls into place.  Some character beats don’t pay off as well as they should and it does feel a little long at almost three hours.  The batmobile is sadly not around anymore and his new flying vehicle, The Bat, isn’t really a great substitute but it has its moments but all in all these are just little nitpicks in a great film.

Christopher Nolan does what he started out to do and give is an ending to the saga he started and he doesn’t disappoint, he is just a great director who will hopefully go onto bigger and better things.  The look and feel of the film is different but familiar with cinematographer Wally Pfister, who exclusively works on Nolan’s films, bringing the gothic feel of the city to life but still keeping it grounded.  The score, again by Hans Zimmer, is breath-taking with a scarred theme for Bane intertwined with a slinky orchestral motif for Catwoman which both blend nicely with Batman’s heroic music throughout.

The cast are top notch, Bale is the definitive Bruce Wayne/Batman in many people’s eyes, and whoever picks up the mantle in any subsequent films has a hard act to follow.  He brings a creative balance to the role and always has his foot firmly in the reality of the character, where it could have easily gone the other way.  He also keeps Batman’s deep voice to a minimum this time out which is great thing.  The new villain, Bane, is a perfect psychical and mental match for Batman and Tom Hardy is superb, even under a mask his performance breaks through, with his eyes piercing every line of dialogue in a seductively menacing manner.  Much was made of his voice being muffled in early trailers and in the prologue released a few months back but here it has been fixed for the most part, some lines are still hard to hear but 90% you can make out, it may have to do with the strange accent or intonation that Hardy puts on but it is a striking one.  Anne Hathaway truly makes the role of ‘Catwoman’ her own, where Michelle Pfeiffer was all sexy menace, Hathaway is all business and looks out for herself above all else and she certainly can inhabit the cat suit.

Michael Caine and Gary Oldman do solid jobs with their roles, with Oldman getting a bit of action too while Morgan Freeman pops up in a sadly reduced role.  Newcomers Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard play supporting characters but quite significant ones, these were the two I kind of thought weren’t needed while watching the film but they come into their own as the film progresses and have some great standout scenes.

I was personally not impressed with the first few trailers for this film but the latter ones had increased my geek level and there are lots to admire in Nolan’s choices throughout the trilogy.  These films can stand as a pinnacle of comic book and movie trilogies where all others should and will be judged.  It may not have been planned from the beginning but how this closing film ties all the story arcs together from the two previous films is truly an achievement in itself and in turn giving us a rousing finale to a set of films that audiences everywhere will just want more of.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field).  Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today.  He is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets.  As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance, leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), his father’s former partner.  As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

So the reboot machine keeps on churning out films from our childhood but here we have a reboot, or should i say remake, of a movie series that only ended 5 years ago.  Granted Spider-Man 3 felt like it was stuff to the brim with too many characters and too much going on to be coherent so going back to basics is a good idea but not necessarily back to the origin story as even though this does have some interesting ideas, you can’t help feeling a little deja vu on more than one occasion.

That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its moments either with it being based a lot more in reality this time around with a fresh take on some of the canon reveals too.  The comedy angle is brought to the fore even more than the previous films but it threads a fine line between humour and dramatic moments.  The visual effects are outstanding with nothing looking dodgy at all and the updated spidey suit looks so fresh and just pops off the screen.  We finally have the mechanical web shooters too rather than the organic ones from the last few movies which is a welcome return to the comic iteration of them.  The musical score, by James Horner, doesn’t have a great theme and just plods along with bombastic fare but the main theme pales in comparison to the previous films, which people bemoaned of not having a great theme either.

The two main leads, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, are superb with their chemistry and sexual attraction just beaming off the screen, no wonder they are going out in real life.  Garfield is perfect, even more so than Tobey Maguire, as Spider-man/Peter Parker.  His physicality looks very skinny and seems like he couldn’t punch out of a paper bag but when he becomes Spidey he’s all powerful but still vulnerable at the same time.  Stone is just that girl next door, has so much confidence  and doesn’t mind being a little goofy too.  The villain is a bit of a let-down though with Rhys Ifans doing a solid job but not having that much to actually do, his motivations are solid but his plan just feels meh!!!  Martin Sheen and Sally field are good but not that significant roles and don’t have the weight that they had in the previous films.

So was it worth rebooting/remaking/reimagining? Well yes and no, even though it’s essentially the same story with different actors and villain, it gives me enough of a rush to see what they do with the inevitable sequel, so it’s worth checking out.

“The Amazing Spider-Man’ is in cinemas now.

Movie Review

A team of scientists journey through the universe on the spaceship “Prometheus” on a voyage to investigate Alien life forms and the possible genesis for our existence.  What the team of scientists discover on this Alien world is not what they expected and as they struggle to survive it becomes clear that the horrors they experience are not just a threat to themselves, but to all of mankind.

Ever since 2002, when Ridley Scott and James Cameron approached FOX about making an ALIEN 5, i was just wishing for it to happen.  So when Ridley confirmed a few years ago that he was going back to Sci-Fi and to the ALIEN franchise i was totally jazzed.  Then when the teasers and trailers started popping up it mesmerised me and i just wanted to see this movie ASAP, it was by far the one film that i most wanted to see this year.

So to my actual thoughts on the film, it starts off great and it’s very intriguing, it’s a slow build, creepy and unnerving although not as much as the original, its pace builds as things start to go wrong.  There is a scene to rival the chest burster one from the original but unfortunately from that point onwards the film takes a dive.  Where it should be getting better in the last 25 minutes it just dissolves into a run of the mill scare fest with things happening and then people not mentioning them again.

Noomi Rapace character is the new Ripley; she is an interesting, strong woman who holds her own throughout.  Michael Fassbender’s character, David, is the most fleshed out which is funny as he’s a robot, is he good or evil? If we’ve learnt anything from the other films it’s that they are not to be trusted.  Idris Elba and Charlize Theron have little to do but they make the most of their roles and they have some on screen chemistry too.  The rest of the cast are secondary and, for the most part, are very distracting as they’re just there to be killed off.

I went in expecting an evolution of the genre from one of its creators, especially considering Damon Lindelof’s (LOST) involvement too.  Ridley seems more interesting in the visuals, which is no real surprise, but some of the clunky dialogue, plot holes and lack of explanation for certain things is a major bug to bear with me.  I don’t want to go into spoilers here but in board strokes we do find out about the ‘Space Jockey’ and it does tie in with the original in a certain way.

To go into any more detail would ruin the experience for anyone wanting to see it without being spoiled but if you’ve seen any of the promo material then it’s been spoiled already.  It is worth a look but don’t expect a reinvention of the genre just more of the same.

‘Prometheus’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

An alien criminal, Boris the animal (Jemaine Clement), kills the young Agent K in 1969, altering the timeline, changing the Agency and placing the Earth in danger.  Veteran Agent J (Will Smith) must travel back in time to 1969 to before the murder and work with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save him, the Agency, Earth and humanity itself.

Did we really need yet another sequel to the fantastic original, no not really, but what we do get is a very good threequel which is miles better than the second one.  After all the production problems, this film doesn’t reek of the behind the scenes shenanigans, the story makes sense, for a time travel film, and the conclusion is very heart-warming with it being the most emotional of the series.

Director Barry Sonnenfeld keeps things going at a far old pace while a few scenes in the middle fall a bit flat overall the film rarely slows down.  The 3D is great throughout as well, surprising as most films are stunning at the start but once you get used to the stereoscopic display it is redundant after that, but here you are constantly reminded of the 3D with Agent J, jumping into the past and the spectacular finale set around Cape Canaveral.  The visual effects are superb throughout with all the time hoping sections being especially amazing plus all the creature makeup by Rick Baker is absolutely breath-taking.

Will Smith is his usual self; he can pretty much do this role in his sleep by now while Tommy Lee Jones does what he can with a cameo while he looks very old especially after you’ve seen his younger self for a while.  Josh Brolin is the standout, doing a pitch perfect imitation of Jones while bringing a little extra to the part.  Jemaine Clement plays Boris with genuine menace and is by far the best villain this series as had.

I’m very happy for this series to go out on this film, it rectifies all that was wrong with the second one and gives a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, definitely worth a look.

‘Men in Black 3′ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

When Asgardian Prince Loki (Tom Hiddleston) arrives on Earth to enslave mankind, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency, must bring together a who’s who of Marvel Super Heroes.  Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evan), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) must try and put their differences aside so they may save the planet from certain destruction.

This is it! This is what we’ve been building to for the last few years of Marvel films and, despite some minor quibbles, this movie delivers in spades.  Director Joss Whedon (Firefly/Serenity) was the perfect man for the job as he brings everyone to the table in equal measure and never short changes any character.  His flair for action and humour is in abundance, whether it be Hulk smashing everything in sight or Tony Stark’s quick fire wit, it all blends together into a coherent tapestry which many where expecting to fail.

In saying that I had a few problems with it, it takes a while to get going as it introduces everyone back into the fold.  Plus you really need to bone up on the previous flicks and their connections as some will be lost without seeing them.  It is a tad too long too, trimming it by about 10 minutes would have benefited the flick in a large degree.  They are minor issues in an otherwise flawless summer action blockbuster flick.

The cast are on top form, with everyone firing on all cylinders.  Each gets their time in the spotlight on numerous occasions including lesser characters like Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).  The only missing cast member is Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) who is a no show although she is referenced and is coming back for ‘Thor 2′.  The standout for me was Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk; his interpretation of the character is the most genuine and grounded one we’ve seen thus far plus he’s the first actor to actually Mo-Cap the big green guy too.

I saw the film in 2D but there were a lot of shots which would lend itself to the 3D environment.  Although it was post converted into 3D, Marvel’s track record with the conversion process is telling me that it will be one to see that way.  The visual effects were truly astounding and, bar a few dodgy shots, the overall spectacle is truly breath-taking.

You should stay for the end credits too, there was a scene halfway through the credits when i saw it which may setup ‘Avengers 2′ plus there is rumours of an extra scene at the very end of the credits which they only filmed at the premiere a few weeks back, so make sure you stick it out for some extra super hero shenanigans.  The cogs don’t stop with this film though as ‘Thor 2′ and ‘Iron Man 3′ are both out in 2013 with ‘Captain America 2′ coming out in 2014 which may lead into the sequel to the Avengers in 2015 but that hasn’t been announced yet.

So rejoice all you super hero fans as this is the movie you’ve been waiting for, it could have been a total disaster but with a solid writer/director at the helm and a cast in top form it really needs to be seen to be believed at how good this movie is, you better start waiting in line now.

‘The Avengers Assemble’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Mumble (Elijah Wood), The Master of Tap, has a problem because his tiny son, Erik, is choreo-phobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik (Ava Acres) runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven (Hank Azaria), a penguin who can fly!  Mumble has no hope of competing with this charismatic new role model but things get worse when the world is shaken by powerful forces.  Erik learns of his father’s “guts and grit” as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner of fabulous creatures, from tiny Krill to giant Elephant Seals, to put things right

Having not seen the original, I was looking forward to delving into this world that director George Miller had created and seeing what wonders awaited me.  What i got was a pretty basic story which echoes parts of the original that I’ve heard of, and brings nothing new or interesting to the table.

The songs are generic reinterpretations of existing ones except for the Pink tune which is enchanting and uplifting but instantly forgettable.  The film looks stunning, almost real looking, but it’s a shame that there wasn’t a better story or journey here.  This is aim squarely at the under 10 age group of kids which will lap it up.

The only real redeeming feature for me was the double act of Brad Pitt and Matt Damon as two Krill, who are coming to terms with their lot in life.  Everyone else seems to be phoning it which is a shame as the acting talent here is great.  One for the kids only!

Video Presentation

Everything in ‘Happy Feet Two’ looks realistic and highly detailed, that is, except for the animated animals.  The opening sequence shows droplets of water falling onto the surface of the glass-like ocean.  From the falling drops the ripples that shoot out and disrupt the peacefully mirror-like surface, it looks as real as a nature documentary.  The scenery always looks this sharp; it’s just a shame that you can’t say the same for the characters.  Featuring furry penguin central characters, you’d expect their grey fluffy pre-feather fuzz to feature a plush and lifelike texture, but it doesn’t.  All colours are rich and alive, featuring bold and strong saturation levels.  Blacks are inky and deep but the black & white human’s looks eerie, almost like they’re covered in silver make-up or paint.  I’m sure this was a directorial decision to make the colours of the animals pop more, but it sure doesn’t look very good.  The image is void of banding, but aliasing is a problem that arises from time to time in dense feathers and fur and in tight patterns, like that of a screen covering a guitar amplifier.  Luckily, aliasing is the only real flaw with the video quality.

Audio Presentation

Since music is one of the most common strong uses of audio, you can be sure that this 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track isn’t lacking in that area.  The music is definitely the strongest aspect of this mix.  It’s well spread throughout the channels and extremely dynamic. If only there wasn’t a monotonous “Stomp” sound to 95 per cent of it.  It’s no wonder why there were only two nominees for Best Original Song at the Oscars, ‘Happy Feet Two’ sure didn’t warrant a nomination.  The effects are also strongly mixed, but not as frequent as they could/should be.  Some instances offer seamless examples of imaging, like seals chasing schools of fish and swarms of krill, but there aren’t enough non-music example of sounds emitting from the surround and rear channels.  The music is the only sound consistently present in all channels.  However, the effects make strong use of bass and low frequency sounds.  The audio mix is good, but feels at times like it was mixed by a couple amateurs.

Extras

Helping Penguins and Pals – Lil’ P-Nut, an infant kid who voiced a supporting role, teaches you about Antarctica, penguins, elephant seals, whales, krill and global warming. With more than enough hip-hop dancing, this featurette is made solely for kids.

How to Draw a Penguin – Storyboard and sketch artist Tim McEwan teaches you how to draw a baby penguin.  Also made for kids, this featurette would be better had he shown us how to do it on paper instead of some expensive touch screen computer that none of us will ever own.

Running with Boadicea – Watch people talk about the free running yodelling baby penguin, followed by an early unfinished deleted scene of her parkouring her way down an ice pillar.

‘I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat’ – Another great Looney Toons short, this time a musical starring Tweety Bird and Sylvester the Cat.

P¡nk’s New Song – Pop music star P¡nk (aka Alecia Moore) talks about writing her song “Bridge of Light” for the movie and voicing her character.

“The Mighty Sven” Sing-Along – Watch the clip of the movie featuring this song with karaoke-esque subtitles flowing across the bottom of the screen next to a dancing penguin.

“Bridge of Light” Sing-Along – Watch the clip of the movie featuring this song with karaoke-esque subtitles flowing across the bottom of the screen next to a dancing penguin.

“Papa Oom Mow Mow” Sing-Along – Watch the clip of the movie featuring this song with karaoke-esque subtitles flowing across the bottom of the screen next to a dancing penguin.

This is a decent animated film which will keep the younger kids happy for 90 minutes but other than that there’s not much else the film has to offer.

‘Happy Feet Two’ is out to rent or buy on DVD and Blu-Ray now.

Movie Review

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Sam Worthington), the demigod son of Zeus, is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius.  Meanwhile, dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon.  The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld.  Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.  Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

This is a far better movie than the last one, while the previous flick was quite po-faced, this has a genuine sense of humour about it and doesn’t take itself too seriously essentially grabbing its B movie mantle by the balls and running with it.  The effects are great and sometimes even jaw-dropping while the post converted 3D is handled quite well and gladly has none of the halo effect of the first ones 3D.

Sam Worthington’s character is thankfully not a whiny bitch this time around and with him being given a better reason to join the fight too, with him doing it for his son, it gives the film and his role some weight.  Rosamund Pike does what she can with a nothing role while Tony Kebbell is basically the comic relief.  Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Danny Huston, as the god brothers, are given a lot more screen-time this time around to differing results.  Huston still has nothing to do while Fiennes doesn’t have much of the menace that he injected into his Voldermort role which is a real shame.  Neeson has the most added value than the other two but in doing so his character is diluted into a dying deity who has no great lines like the ‘Release the Kraken’ from the previous movie.

Director Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) brings some stunning visual flare which was sadly lacking in the last film, his set pieces are a mark improvement and you can actually follow the action on screen too.  That being said some the quieter dialogue bits were rather cringe-worthy especially the last few scenes.  The movie is very short too, running 90 minutes without credits, this for some is a godsend (pun intended) but for me I would have liked just a little more character building because what is here is paper thin.

This is a great Friday night out at the cinema, it’s not too taxing on the brain, has some stunning visuals and the 3D is decent but not essential.  If you liked the original then you’ll love this but even if you didn’t then Wrath is at least better fun ride than the last one.

‘Wrath of the Titans’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) ate on opposing sides of the canteen in high school.  Now as adult cops, partners and best friends, they are given a mission to pose as teenagers in order to bring down a drug ring but both find school a very different place the second time around.

So the endless supply of reboots of 80′s and 90′s TV continues with this being Jonah Hill’s pet project for years, with that ’21 Jump Street’ is one of the most enjoyable action comedies since ‘Hot Fuzz’.  This is very loosely based on the original show and proudly wears that badge on its sleeve with nods to the series plus jokes about the endless churning out of TV show remakes too.  That’s not all it has to offer though as the comedy isn’t all of the nudge, nudge, wink, wink variety.  It’s got sight gags, gross out moments plus some of the most cringe-worthy scenes ever, especially one where the two leads try and throw up the drugs they just took, absolutely hilarious.

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller spread their directorial wings as the mostly have done TV work plus the animated film ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’.  There visual style is very hype and pacey while the comedic moments have that improvised feel but gladly don’t go on for too long, leaving you wanting more.  The action is fast and leaves you on your toes, with one particular chase sequence having a rise in tension as things that should explode don’t, leaving a side-splitting pay off at the end of the pursuit.

The cast are on top form, Jonah Hill does his usual comedy stick but never overplays it, coming off natural and endearing and is the soul of the film.  Channing Tatum broadens his acting chops with a stunning comedic part while still remaining firmly in his action man heartthrob character which he has been doing for a while now.  Ice Cube pops up as the angrier and angrier police captain and gets a lot of funny one-liners while Dave Franco (James’ brother) shows that he has practically copied his brothers’ facial tics.  Newcomer Brie Larson, as the love interest, brings genuine girl next doorness to her role but can be quirky funny too.  There are cameos too from most of the original cast including an A list star who I won’t mention here but suffice to say it is a great scene that he is in and a fitting return for his character.

This is a must see for any moviegoer, it’s funny, got tonnes of action plus has some romance in it to boot.  Hopefully this does the box office business and we get a sequel, as the possible setup for it is well handled towards the end.  Go and see it now!!!

’21 Jump Street’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Civil War vet John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) is transported to Mars, where he discovers a lush, wildly diverse planet whose main inhabitants are 12-foot tall green barbarians, Tharks.  Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins), Princess of Helium, who is in desperate need of a saviour.  Will John Carter help her to get her kingdom back and will he be able to get back to Earth?

Mainly based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs 100 year old book titled ‘A Princess of Mars’, this epic sci-fi fantasy has a lot going for it, a massive budget plus a visionary director who has dreamt of this film since he was 12.  It swells with broad strokes of escapism, derring-do and fantastical characters.  So much is packed into the just over two hour running time that your head may spin at times with all the different races and species you get along the ride.  This is all handled with a deft touch by Pixar director Andrew Stanton, with this being his first live action film; his epic scope doesn’t lose focus of the heartfelt story at its centre.  Michael Giacchino’s sweeping and majestic score is a thing of aural beauty too, bringing us on the voyage of discovery with Carter himself, it amazes and lifts the film to another level.

Because many films like Star Wars, Flash Gordon and Avatar have stolen story points from the source material, some of the movie will feel familiar to most people but that’s not to say that it isn’t enjoyable while it lasts.  The movie could be all serious but it has so much fun elements to it too, with Carter’s pet following him around everywhere being a highlight, when he’s trying to get used to the gravity on Mars is a hoot too, there are other subtle comedic touches that bring a lift to what could have been a pretty standard story.  There are talks of the budget ranging between €200 and €300 million, which is an astounding amount of money in this day and age, but i can assure you that it is all up there on the screen with some of the best CGI I’ve seen since ‘Avatar’, whether it will make its cost back is another story.  The 3D is pretty pointless though with nothing to talk about in regards to the depth of the picture which is a real shame.

The cast are good if not outstanding with Taylor Kitsch being a bit of a knob to start off but he grows on you and by the end you’re routing for him to win the girl and the day.  Ciaran Hinds pops up in cameo role and chews some scenery while Lynn Collins is stunning as the heroine who is a match for Carter.  Dominic West and Mark Strong play the villains and while the former is quite a whiny character, the latter is full of genuine menace that you’ll be hoping for his demise at every turn.  Willem Dafoe and Samantha Morton play two of the alien Martians and almost steal the whole movie away from everyone else.

There seems to be a backlash to this movie before it even comes out which is a disgrace as it is a rollicking good ride, I’ll admit the publicity hasn’t been handle right, which is going to hurt it, but if you give it a chance it’ll be worth your while.  With this being based on the first in a long series of John Carter books, Disney are hoping that it’s a big hit and i for one would welcome a return to this world again.  A movie for all ages and even possibly the new ‘Star Wars’ for many young kids who see it today.

This is a rip-roaring ride of a movie that people of all ages will love, if they can just get over the cheesy nature of the film and the fact that some of it seems familiar then they will love it.

‘John Carter’ is out in cinemas now.

Movie Review

Starting off in 2005, where we see the two sisters from the first two sequels discussing a box of VHS’s from their childhood, we then flashback to 1985, to see these events unfold.  Here their step father Dennis sets up video cameras around the house to capture what’s happening after a mysterious figure appears during an earthquake.  Kristi befriends an entity called Toby who is trying to get her to hurt her family but when she refuses all kinds of things start to happen to the house and the people within it.  What is going on and who is going to survive?

This horror series is just up my alley, it has old school scares without the gore or torture porn of some modern day horrors.  It makes you watch the corners of the screen for any sign of something moving and about to terrorise you.  This third film in the series is much better than the last one but doesn’t quite hit the tense heights of the original.  It fills in a good bit of the back story as to why events happening in the earlier films while still giving us a genuine scarefest in its own right.

Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulmann, whose previous film ‘Catfish’ had audiences guessing to whether if it was real or fake, are perfect for this film.  They bring a new sense of fun and dread to a series which could have been going downhill fast, thankful they’ve been asked back to helm the fourth film too.  Where the next film will go though will be interesting, i hope it is a sequel to the first film so that we can see what happens after Katie killed her boyfriend and then took her sisters baby, anything other than that for me will be a letdown.

The cast are all unknowns, which is good because you don’t know who will live or die, and they bring decent acting to the film while the child actors are extremely convincing too but the real star here are the scares and they don’t disappoint.  The hovering camera which sways from left to right through the kitchen is such a great addition to the static camera arsenal that it escalates the edge of your seat moments to 11.  If you’re a fan of the series then you won’t be disappointed, others should still have a good time with this too.

Video Presentation

The video for ‘Paranormal Activity 3′ is not meant to be pretty.  It’s not ‘Blair Witch Project’ level ugly, but the facts of this film are simple: the events take place in 1988, and the cameras are recording to videotapes.  So, naturally, there’s some aesthetic to the picture, the fact that it isn’t glossy and shiny and digital looking.  Presented in 1080p using the AVC MPEG-4 encode, this pre-sequel makes for an interesting watch.  Colours never band, but are also not consistent, going from warm with fairly good saturation to mostly off and under saturated for the majority of the picture.  There’s some intentional slight noise, some heavier grain that massively affects skin tones and detail levels, and textures can be pretty darned solid and believable, all things considered.

Audio Presentation

Much like the video, the audio for ‘Paranormal Activity 3′ is intentionally, kinda-sorta aimed at creating an era for the most part so one cannot expect a major sonic experience.  I love the intentional audio degradation and distortion early but it fades away over time.  The cameras do a good job of providing a realistic ambience for the film.  They have a constant light whir or whoosh to them, and exteriors pick up light wind.  Bass levels naturally pick up for Sarah’s footsteps or her throwing tantrums to be a total dick, but don’t precede her activities as much as in other films. The earthquake and a few other scenes have some pretty booming bass, it’s quite nice.

Extras

Lost Tapes – Two “lost tapes,” with optional play all feature.  Dennis scares his wife a few good times, before pitching his videotaping service.

This is a good film, better than the second one but still inferior to the original, although the lack of extras is a shame but if you’re a fan then you should check it out.

‘Paranormal Activity 3′ is out to rent or buy on DVD and Blu-Ray now.