Previewed: June's Releases

June's Releases

So we are well and truly into the Summer blockbuster months now and yet June delivers only a few noteworthy options.

As always, this post looks at what you should be heading out to see and what should probably be missed in your search of something to watch at the cinema.

Best Movies in June 2011

                           1. Incendies

                           2. The First Grader 
                           3. Green Lantern

                           4. Senna

                           5. Kung Fu Panda 2

                           6. Bridesmaids

Action/Fantasy/Thrillers
X-Men: First Class (1st June) [my review]
A look back to the origin of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr aka Magneto as they set up their school and later a team for humans with superhuman abilities. Yet another addition to the X-Men series (number 5 I make it) which will entertain but not blow you away. Pushing the limits of the series now but will drag the money in at the box-office none the less.

Green Lantern (17th June) [my review]
After the relative success of Thor, another brand new (in recent cinema) superhero for us to get to grips with. DC Comics the supplier of the content for this one as we see Ryan Reynolds as a test pilot given a magical green ring and tasked with protecting the universe from evil. Will do as well as Thor as all first time hero movies do.

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (29th June) [my review]
Number 3 and no Megan Fox, hmm! The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft that's hidden on the Moon and race against the Decepticons to reach it to learn its secret. This will quite probably be the highest grossing movie of the month (and up there for the summer) but that doesn't mean it is going to be the best. My wait for a good sequel will continue long after this has been released. Go and see it if you like CGI but don't expect any depth.


Animations/Children
Kung Fu Panda 2 (10th June) [my review]
The return of the ass-kicking panda Po and chums as they seek to protect their homes and way of life from a new and more deadly threat. If the success of the first is anything to go by then we are on for another winner. I don't think it will be quite as good as the first though and so suffers the usual sequel fate.


Comedy
Prom (3rd June)
The first of several very bad looking 'comedies' out this month is Prom which follows a group of teenagers as they prepare for their prom. Can't think of any reason to watch this even when it makes its way onto the TV. Avoid.

Jumping the Broom (10th June)
The next is this monstrosity where two very different families, one from a posh background and one from a poorer background converge for a wedding between the families. Cheap shots at the class divide seems to be the only attempt at comedy for a couple of hours. Run a mile. 

Swinging with the Finkels (17th June)
Another week, another poor looking comedy. A couple whose marriage is off the boil decide to take up swinging with another couple. Granted this does not look quite as bad as the previous two but will still leave lots to be desired, like laughter for example. Suppose this can be classed as the nearest thing to a romcom this month.

Bad Teacher (24th June) [my review]
Nearing the realm of reasonable comedies now as Cameron Diaz plays a foul mouthed school teacher who is on the lookout for a new man in her life (enter Timberlake). In order to win him over she hatches a plan that brings her in direct competition with her colleagues. It's not going to win anything but should at the very least give a couple of laughs. O and there's a Diaz car wash scene to win over the male vote.

Bridesmaids (24th June) [my review]
Probably can be considered to be the female version of The Hangover, Bridesmaids follows Annie in her role as bride of honour as she helps to organise her best friend's wedding and bring the bride's oddball friends together. Pick of the month as far as comedies go and should be worth a watch.


Drama/Documentaries
Senna (3rd June)
Although not a die-hard fan of Formula 1, the story of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna looks more than intriguing. Senna is a documentary about the man who won the F1 world championship three times before his untimely death at age 34. Definitely keep your eye out for this one.

Screwed (3rd June)
A true British film in every sense of the word. Screwed is a semi-biographical story based on the experiences of former prison guard Ronnie Thompson who spent seven years working in some of the UK's most dangerous prisons contending with violence, drugs and corrupt guards. Save yourself for when it comes on the telebox.

Honey 2 (10th June)
Recently released from juvenile detention, talented dancer Maria Ramirez finds an outlet for her passion with a new dance crew. I have to say that I have not had the 'privilege' of watching the original and for similar reasons I will have trouble finding the will to watch this one as well. Will be fighting it out with Prom for the worst film of the month.

The Beaver (17th June)
Mel Gibson is a troubled husband and executive who adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communicating to get through a bout of depression. Not really sure what to make of this one. I don't think it will do well in the cinemas but I reckon it will be a solid movie and worth the time.

Soul Surfer (17th June)
The true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton who as a 13 year old teenager lost her an arm in a shark attack. Based on the book she then wrote, this tell her story as she summons the courage to go back into the ocean and compete on a surfboard once again. Fantastic story that will appeal to a few but is unlikely to be any better than average.

Incendies (24th June)
The only foreign film on the list this month but also the most promising. After the death of their mother, both son and daughter gather for the reading of the will where they are told to take 2 envelopes and give them to their father and other brother. However, they believe their father to be dead and know not of another sibling. Both a drama and a mystery, it's sure to get you thinking. If your going to watch one film this month, make it this one.

The First Grader (24th June)
The true story of an 84 year-old Kenyan villager and ex Mau Mau freedom fighter who fought for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford. Should be a moving story of a man going against adversity and emerging from the other side. I am looking forward to watching this one. 


Horror
Stake Land (17th June) [my review]
The only horror of note for this month is Stake Land which combines The Road, a generic vampire movie and a zombie movie all into one. Martin teams up with a rogue vampire hunter as they make their way across the apocalyptic wastelands of America to potential safety in Canada. It seems the vampires are a cross between vampire and zombie so I will be intrigued to see how that works. Probably not worth a trip to the cinema unless your a fan of the genre.


So there it is. The start of the month is quite slow moving with not a lot of promise but this picks up towards the end with a couple of rough diamonds. Next month is the month for blockbuster hits lining up ready to be watched. Next up is The Hangover Part II. [my review]

Farm
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Reviewed: Inside Job [2011]

Inside Job [2011]

12A - 120mins - Documentary/Crime - 18th February 2011

The financial crisis of 2008 hit everyone hard of that there is no doubt and Inside Job seeks to understand the causes of this from how the crisis came about to who was responsible and what is being done to try and bring those people to justice. The overawing feeling whilst watching this movie is one of disgust, frustration and anger at the people who instigated the downfall of so many companies and who led to the destruction of so many lives both in America (and outside its boarders).

During multiple interviews the offenders are at a loss of what to say and even though they do not say what they believe, it is obvious that they are merely recalling fixed statements of denial or are actually stumped at ways in which to answer the questions without incriminating themselves. It also shows the conflict of interests of the 'expert academics' who are supposed to be independent and yet gain the majority of their income from the financial sector.

The director Charles Ferguson must be credited with making the seemingly complex world of cooperate finance easy to understand by introducing simple clear diagrams and visuals to help break down the barriers that could lead to confusion.

The film does skimp a bit on a point that I would have been most interested in. Why did the governments fail so spectacularly to enforce these fraud claims and why still is nothing being done? This if anything adds to the emotion that you feel when it becomes obvious that the players have not only escaped charges but are better off for it and still have extremely high power positions.

Overall this documentary got me reeling at the world of Wall Street with the most disturbing thing being that what they did was and still is considered legal and not criminal. Would you do the same thing though if the shoe was on your foot instead? You would like to think not but in this greed led world, it seems anything is possible

Rating: B

You may notice we are swiftly moving into a new month and so that can only mean one thing... a look at June's releases. [my article] Summer blockbuster months are upon us now so expect some exciting projects on the horizon.

Farm
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Reviewed: Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides [2011]

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides [2011]

12A - 137mins - Action/Adventure/Fantasy - 18th May 2011

The swashbuckling pirates return in their latest adventure as Disney tries to cash in on older once successful ideas rather than conjure up some new material for our viewing pleasure. On Stranger Tides sees us return to a time after that of the first three films. No longer is the focus on Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan who aren't included in the cast (neither is the prison dog!!) and whose story is considered to be finished in the third instalment, At World's End. Instead the story follows Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in his race to find the Fountain of Youth along with several other interested parties.

Jack is joined in this race by Barbossa- (Geoffrey Rush) now a profiteer working for the British Crown, Blackbeard- (Ian McShane) the most feared pirate on the seas along with his first mate Angelica (Penélope Cruz) and the Spanish armada who all want the power of the fountain for themselves. Throughout the quest they overcome challenges, encounter each other, run into mermaids and generally do as pirates do.

The movie gives out a bit of a 'same old same old' vibe with Jack elaborately escaping from captivity once again and fighting whilst balancing on wooden beams (distinctly familiar). It may have impressed in the first few films and despite being well executed is becoming decidedly stale as a concept in this one. I also felt that the inclusion of some sub-plots didn't add anything to the story (the priest/mermaid plot?) but rather detracted from it instead.

Despite this, those who are fans of Captain Jack Sparrow will not be disappointed as it certainly is better than the second and third instalments. Despite this one running it closer, it's a shame that they've never lived up to the original all the while being impervious to becoming box office flops.

The acting was mostly very good with Depp obviously returning to steal the show with his eccentric Sparrow creation but Rush, McShane and even Cruz put in their fair share to make the story believable. Both the set and clothing design departments show off their talents with impressive visuals to lap up and Zimmer's score does just enough to keep the movie flowing forward.

Overall this will keep you entertained with some good action scenes, comedy and a couple of strong performances but I'm still waiting for the series to return back to the heights of the first film which I don't think it ever will. There is guaranteed to be a fifth film (with or without Depp) but I feel that this should finally be laid to Davy Jones' locker while it can still escape with some credibility. Savvy?

Rating: C+

Ps. Once again I stuck to 2D and the general consensus I've got seems to suggest 3D is not quite worth extra pennies yet.

For my next post prepare yourself for a look into the financial crisis in the documentary Inside Job. [my review] Check it below...

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Reviewed: The Mechanic [2011]

The Mechanic [2011]

15 - 93mins - Action/Crime/Thriller - 28th January 2011

The Mechanic sees Jason Statham in a role that he rarely leaves these days as a vigilante, in this case called Arthur who fights against many enemies. The plot takes it's slight twist by the addition of a sidekick of sorts in the form of Steve (Ben Foster).

Arthur is a lone hitman who is very good at what he does by eliminating targets whilst making them look like accidents. But when his mentor Harry (Donald Sutherland) is killed leaving behind his son Steve, Arthur takes him under his wing and trains him up, teaching him the ways of becoming a successful hitman. Together they carry out contracts while all the time trying to unravel who killed Harry and why.

The movie is enjoyable with the action and methods in which the contracts are executed making it a decent watch but it never really takes off as a film tending just to jump from one death to another without giving enough plot to keep me overly interested.

I'm actually finding it quite hard to talk about anything else in this movie because there just isn't that much to talk about. The acting was OK, not bad or amazing and the same can be said of the rest of it as well. It delivers on the action scenes but a film cannot be totally reliant on just action to see it through.

I think this can be summed up as a typical Statham movie with lots of action, a story that is never going to blow you away and a girl or two thrown in for good measure. Probably not as good as Crank but gives you a similar way to spend an hour and a half if your looking for a reasonable action/thriller. If that's not what your after then this won't be one for you. Wait for it to come out as a cheap DVD or on the TV.

Rating: C+

Next up is the latest summer blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides [my review] which welcomes back some familiar faces while adding a few new ones to the mixer to freshen up the series that was only worsening by the end of the last film. As always the trailer is below so check it out.

Farm
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Reviewed: Primer [2004]

Primer [2004]

12A - 77mins - Drama/Thriller/Sci-Fi - 19th August 2005

Well I would be lying if I said that my brain didn't hurt slightly after watching this as it's definitely a bit of a thinker with quite a bit of technical 'mumbo-jumbo' that needs to be listened to in order to find the story behind it. I think it could quite nicely summed up by the fact that if you noted and listened to every detail they mention then you could be quite confident in knocking up your own version of the machine that they end up creating. So if possible try not to overthink this one too much and instead just let the story take you on its journey.

Primer is about 4 engineers who like to spend their time inventing things in their garage alongside their current jobs of building error checking devices. They soon discover that there is more to their latest invention than they first thought and go about trying to find a way to use it to its maximum potential. However while trying to achieve this, they end up creating more problems than they can possible hope to solve.

You are never directly told at any point what the overall picture is and are left to put the pieces of the jigsaw plot together yourself. Instead of glossing over the complexities as other movies might do to make it easier for the audience, it tackles them head on in a way that creates a challenging film but that is refreshing to see at a time when films are being dumbed down to appeal to a wider audience.

This is Shane Carruth's only journey into the film making world thus far and much can be said about the $7,000 film that went onto win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. Sure there are some production issues and it could have been executed and written in a better fashion but these flaws are what make it different and in my eyes better than some of its counterparts.

At a whopping 77 minutes long it's not going to hurt to take the time out and enjoy this quite intriguing little movie. Just remember that it's most definitely going to require a thinking cap and probably a second and third viewing as well for those who really want to get to the bottom of it all.

Rating: B

Up next in preparation of the new Jason Statham movie Blitz (released today), I look at his previous one, no not Gnomeo & Juliet but The Mechanic. [my review]

Farm
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Reviewed: Tangled [2011]

Tangled [2011]

PG - 100mins - Animation/Comedy/Family - 28th January 2011

It has been well over 10 years since the Walt Disney Animation Studios branch of Disney has had anything to shout home about as they have struggled to live up to their past successes (Lion King, Aladdin all the way back to Snow White in 1937) and compete with the modern animations of it's sister company Disney Pixar.

Tangled is based on the Brothers Grimm story of Rapunzel (the film's title was only changed from Rapunzel shortly prior to its release) who as traditional tales go was locked away in a tower with only her long flowing hair as a chance of rescue. As a baby, Princess Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is kidnapped by Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy) from the palace for her magical healing powers that have been passed onto her. Locked away in a tall tower and believing she's Gothel's daughter, she longs only for one thing- to get out into the world and see the floating lights that appear every year on her birthday.

As luck would have it Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi), a thief, finds his way into her tower when hiding from the palace guard and Rapunzel fearing he is one of the evil monsters her mother has warned her about knocks him out. When he comes to she strikes up a deal that in exchange for him escorting her to see the lights and keep her safe, she will let him go and return his stolen loot.

The best thing about this film is the characters and their mannerisms. Gothel is vanity personified with snide remarks aimed at Rapunzel, Ryder the perfect amount of cockiness and all of the token extras play their part well. My two favourite though say absolutely nothing and easily steal the show. Both the chameleon (Rapunzel's best friend) and a guard's horse, Maximus are fantastic. Seeing a horse which acts more like a dog got me going but this was topped by the chameleon who seemed to have an expression that summed up the mood perfectly every time. A little legend!

In terms of graphics, they are some of the best I have seen in an animation with the detail in her hair in particular being most impressive. But then this should be expected as Tangled does now hold the record for most expensive animation and second most expensive film ever made coming in at a noteworthy £157.5 ($260) million.

As with all Disney, there was a couple of sing-a-longs thrown in for good measure and although they will not live long into the memory in the way that others have, (hakuna matata anyone?) they were still catchy and you will find yourself tapping along or humming a tune or two for a while after the movie has finished.

This movie got me laughing and even having watched it a second time I was still giggling away throughout. It works for both adults and children and the witty way in which it was written appealed to me greatly. I will happily be watching this again so it has most definitely worked its Disney magic on me. Disney might well be back!!!

Rating: B+

And in related animation news, the new Tintin trailer has just been released and it's looking darn impressive to say the least. Want to see it? Click here. Next up I look at the less well known sci-fi drama/thriller Primer. So check it out below.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Reviewed: Super [2010]

Super [2010]

18 - 96mins - Action/Comedy/Drama - 10th June 2011

Right from the off the premise of this movie appeals to me. I was happy with Kick-Ass and the slightly more realistic approach that they made their 'super' hero take and with Super this promise of an even more ordinary man coming off the streets to fight crime made me want to watch it as soon as possible.

Frank (Rainn Wilson) is just your ordinary bloke living an altogether uneventful life with few happy memories- 2 to be precise. He lives with his beautiful wife Sarah (Liv Tyler), a recovering drug addict, and works as a burger flipper in a diner. When Sarah relapses and leaves him for Jacques (Kevin Bacon), the local drug dealer, Frank is devastated and believes she was stolen from him.

A chance viewing of a religious hero The Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion) on TV implants the 'Good Vs. Evil' concept into his mind and before long Frank has an epiphany deciding that justice must be delivered, not only to Jacques but to all wrongdoers who happen to cross his path.Seeking inspiration for his new identity he travels to the local comic book store where he meets Libby (Ellen Page) who inadvertently helps him on his way. Whereas Batman had the gadgets, Spider-man had the web and Superman could do most anything, Frank's creation- The Crimson Bolt takes the best weapon award of all time with, that's right, a monkey wrench!!

The reality of the characters, much like the wrench, hits home on more than one occasion and for the people, me included, who initially compared it to Kick-Ass well you could not be much further from the mark. This film stands on its own and is a lot grittier giving the viewer an insight into the potential of the warped human psyche whilst toying with depression and other emotions too. This is the 'deHollywoodized' version and it would only take a small step for you to imagine this on your local news channel in the real world.

Although Wilson gives a very solid performance it is Page that I was more surprised and fascinated by. Having mostly featured as her 'Juno' type character in other works it was refreshing to see her in a slightly different role you will not have seen her do before bringing out an anxious and psychotic personality which becomes even more extreme after she dons her Boltie sidekick attire. (See the clip below for proof)

No super movie would be complete without a scene with POW and WHAM making an appearance on the screen at some point but where this is usually reserved for punches, The Crimson Bolt gets use out of them when wielding a shotgun. A nice touch if I do say so! Expect the humour to follow a similar vein right through until the end.

This is a superhero comedy but it delivers so much more on top. James Gunn really delivers (especially after Slither) and I will be keeping an interested eye on his next project. This will definitely be getting a second viewing from me and I'm already looking forward to it.

Rating: B+

Next up is Tangled, [my review] the latest Disney animation to hit our screens back in January. View a short clip of the film below.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Reviewed: Priest [2011]

Priest [2011]

12A - Action/Horror/Sci-Fi - 6th May 2011

The only interesting thing with vampire films these days is trying to work out what kind of vampire your going to get and what rules have been thought up to govern them in the world. The vampires of Priest are actual gruesome monsters with sharp claws and fangs which makes a change from the usual humans with slightly bigger incisors. That being said, they do exist as the human-turned-vampire slaves to their true vampire masters.

Based on Hyung Min-Woo Korean graphic novel, Priest is set in a world where humans and vampires were at war. Realising that they were losing, the humans invested in training up an elite group of warriors who could combat the vampires and turn the battle in their favour. Interesting really since the original comic did not involve vampires but rather fallen angels and daemons hence why the name of this film doesn't completely fit the content.

The church decides that after the war is won they no longer need their crack team of assassins and so fearing what they could do, they are disbanded and sent away to live normal lives with the authorities and society shunning them. (I got the impression this was at least in part attempting to parallel modern day war veterans but it was a theme that was only briefly passed over.) When Priest (Paul Bettany) finds out his family have been attacked by vampires and his niece (Lily Collins) taken, he goes against the word of the church and teams up with his nieces boyfriend Hicks (Cam Gigandet), the local sheriff to get her back.

Then follows some fighting, more CGI and special effects (which as a whole are good) and an attempt to fashion a story out of the situation. I just felt that this movie didn't have much going for it with the acting rather disappointing, the 'scary' parts failing to let my heart racing let alone make me jump from my seat and I began to lose interest half way through- never a good sign. Watch the trailer below and save yourself a trip to the cinema and a few quid.

The film also didn't know what direction it was heading in. By this I mean that it amalgamated a western theme with horror and action and a slight attempt at romance and threw it into a Mad Max post-apocalyptic type world. Maybe this might have worked in the graphic novel where you can imagine a cowboy western world to be more god fearing but it just didn't adapt to the big screen.

Although a didn't see the 3D version the general consensus is that I made the correct choice in opting for the 2D. This is probably down to the fact it was post-converted into 3D rather than shot in 3D and with large parts of the film set in the dark (one guess why), the addition of 3D glasses isn't going to help your viewing experience.

Finally, you like me may be surprised to find that it's only a 12A rating. If I ever saw some of the stuff in this film when I was younger than 12 I wouldn't have slept for weeks but then maybe the kids today are made of harder stuff!

So I was not the biggest fan of this movie and I have a feeling that I will not be the only one. If it wasn't for the cross shaped tattoo across his forehead, I would have had trouble distinguishing Bettany from his role in this and the equally disappointing Legion. One word sums this up and that word is rubbish.

Rating: D-

Next to grace my blog will be Super [my review]- another normal guy decides to become a superhero in this gritty dark comedy.

Farm
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Reviewed: I Saw The Devil [2011]

I Saw The Devil [2011]

18 - 141mins - Crime/Drama/Horror - 29th April 2011

This time I bring you a foreign movie from the country of South Korea. I Saw The Devil keeps in tune with many of the films to successfully make it out of Korea with it’s dark and gory plot based around revenge.

It follows Kim Soo-hyeon (Byung-hun Lee) who is a highly trained agent. One night while stranded on the side of the road after her car breaks down, Kim’s pregnant fiancée is attacked and brutally murdered by Kyung-chul (Min-sik Choi). This isn’t the first time he’s murdered and it’s sure not to be the last. What he doesn’t reckon on though is Kim hunting him down for retribution.

Both killer and fiancé are continuously interlocked in a game of wits and ever more sadistic acts on both each other and bystanders as they slowly converge towards the end of the movie. As Kim is dragged ever downwards into the world of violence, he treads a fine line with turning into the monster that he is hunting and it is fair to say that many of the scenes in this film will have you feeling slightly uncomfortable if you’re not well prepared.

Choi impresses as the masochistic killer who is a complete opposite from Lee’s calm and collected demeanour. Both actors breathe life into their characters that only seem to become more complex as the film unfolds. Having started out as two opposites, they slowly merge into one and it becomes increasingly hard to distinguish who should get the viewers support.

I wasn’t exactly sure where this movie was going to go especially after an hour when it could quite plausibly have finished with a few tweaks but continue on it did and I am all the more happy because of it. There is plenty of action and fight scenes split in between the character development and where normal revenge films seem to keep both protagonists apart until the end, Jee-woon Kim (the director) was on a mission to bring them together into every scene. The music perfectly suits the mood and is only trumped by the cinematography which was exemplary.

As mentioned, this is not one for the faint hearted or squeamish but the performances are fantastic and it really gives an insight into the minds of a serial killer and a man so stricken with grief that he can only comprehend vengeance. This ranks up there with my other favourite Korean movie Oldboy and although I Saw The Devil’s plot may be based on a tried and tested idea, its execution is very refreshing and keeps you guessing right until the very end.

Rating: A-

Next time I go hunting in the dark for vampires with Priest. [my review] Trailer below.

Farm
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Reviewed: Grizzly Rage [2007]

Grizzly Rage [2007]

N/A - 86mins - Horror/Thriller - TV Release



Well you sure are in for a treat today as I bring you the unique Grizzly Rage. This epic follows four students who decide to go on a road trip after recently graduating. They trespass into a gated off park for some off road fun but early into their adventure things start to go wrong as they crash their Jeep into a tree accidentally hitting a bear cub in the process.

Now as we all know grizzly bears tend to stick close by to their cubs and so it is not long before momma bear shows up and starts hunting them down (in your standard bear with a blood vendetta scenario) as they flee the scene of the crime. And just to make it all that better, this is no ordinary bear, O no, but rather a mutated super grizzly bear from all the toxic waste that has been dumped into the lake nearby.

The acting is poor with weak performances not doing much for the script that would have needed some world class Hollywood stars to make me even think about evoking some emotions. The award for the best performance has to go to the bear who most of the time did look genuinely pissed off, as would I if I had to take part in this movie.

I wouldn't say it was a redeeming feature by a long shot but the cinematography isn't half as bad as it could have been (for one of the scenes at least) when compared to what the rest of the movie was offering.

Even better though is the fact that the movie is trying to take itself seriously but fails on every level to do so. Call me cold hearted but I was laughing all the way through the 'horrifying bear scenes' as the graduates were outsmarted again and again. It doesn't take long before you end up siding with the bear and are egging it on to get the next one. I was going to give you the trailer but this is so much better...

Quote from video- "When you see the animal roar, he's smiling. He wants marshmallows" If only our poor students had known!

Whoever thought that a grizzly would make for a good terrifying enemy in a movie certainly didn't think long and hard about it- being a massive and potentially dangerous animal in real life, there is not one point in the entire movie when bear and actor are in the same shot. This leads to some quite appalling and certainly comical scenes where the film makers use obviously fake props, stock footage and shockingly bad blood CGI (I'm talking Playstation 1 standard here) to bring the bear 'to life'. My favourite scene had to be the guy in a bear costume; and you could tell, jumping on their Jeep while they are trapped inside!

Apart from those moments of unintentional comic brilliance I would rather take my chances in the movie along with the bear as then I would one, not have to watch it and two, could hope to be killed off nice and early so I didn't have to ever think about this again. Why not a zero rating you ask? I've seen worse.

Rating: F*

Next up is the movie I thought would be best in April, I Saw The Devil. [my review]

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Reviewed: Thor [2011]

Thor [2011]

12A - 114mins - Action/Adventure/Drama - 27th April 2011

Been a while since my last review. I blame work and other such inconveniences for what it's worth but anyway on with the reviews, this time in the form of another Marvel comic book hero.

The Marvel comic book creation is unleashed into the movie world which is growing desperately thin on new and original pieces of work. In recent years Marvel (Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man) has given us from average to good but never great with the best of them tending to arrive from the first movie of the series with the new superhero (Hulk is emphatically excluded from this sweeping generalisation). Thor, as the first of many summer superhero movies (including the next Marvel adaptation- Captain America: The First Avenger) could have headed either way.

Thor is about, if you haven't already gathered from the title, Thor (Chris Hemsworth)- the god of thunder. After an ancient war against the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), king of the Aesir forges a truce between the two races which last until the day Thor is due to be crowned King. During the coronation ceremony, several Frost Giants break into Asgard. In retribution Thor goes against his father's will and leads an assault on them bringing about a war in the process. Odin banishes Thor to Earth stripping him of his powers opening the door for his brother Leki to take control.

Arriving on Earth, Thor soon runs into astrophysicist Jane (Natalie Portman) and her colleagues who are unbeknownst to them studying the effects that Thor has caused in the sky. Without his super powers and trusty hammer Thor must learn to adapt to his new surroundings and try to discover a way to return home.

As in most of the Marvel movies, comedy is woven into the plot to keep the movie going and Thor achieves this well. Most of this is derived from Thor as he copes with his new surroundings a makes for some funny moments. Portman, the love interest, is smitten from the first time she sees Thor which she creates excellently right from the off.

In keeping with the swords and hammers over guns, I liked when the modern day sniper was called into the action and instead of picking up his trusty rifle opted of a compound bow. For those less aware of the Marvel world, that character is Hawkeye and a subtle nudge in the direction of The Avengers film due for release next spring. Along with a Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D reference the movie keeps in line with other Marvel productions by intertwining them together but in a subtle and refined way. Hopefully The Avengers can live up to the expectations they are building!

I found Thor to be better than I though it was going to be with good acting performances especially from newcomer Hemsworth and a good balance between action, comedy and drama to keep me entertained for the whole 2 hours. If you do go and see this at the cinema, which I would recommend, then make sure to stay until after the credits have finished rolling for some bonus footage.

Rating: B-

Next up I will review Grizzly Rage. [my review] I'll let the trailer do the talking but suffice to say it's gonna be a good... bonus marks to those who can keep a straight face!

Farm
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Reviewed: The Kids Are All Right [2010]

The Kids Are All Right [2010]

15 - 106mins - Comedy/Drama - 29th October 2010

The Kids Are All Right is predominantly a drama first and a comedy second. It follows a lesbian couple Jules (Julianne Moore) and Nic (Annette Bening) and their two children Joni (Mia Wasikowski) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson). Both of the kids were conceived with the aid of a sperm donor. When Joni turned 18 she has the right to find out who the donor is but is not interested. Her brother however is and convinces her to get in touch and they meet up with Paul played by Mark Ruffalo in order to feed their curiosity.

Paul, a down to earth relaxed man takes all of this in his stride and begins to bond with his children. This is all done without the mum's knowledge until Laser reveals that they have been to see him. This obviously affects them and with Jules and Nic being 2 very different characters the extent of this is proportional. Nic is a lot stricter and controlling in life so is very wary of Paul whilst Jules, although initially cautious is a lot more accepting. Paul's intrusion then sets up the rest of the plot.

The acting in this film is unsurprisingly good considering the cast involved but the film falls down with its content whereby the actors have to make the best of a script that does not live up to its potential. Several situations arise but it feels as if Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg the writers opt for the easy path and lead us away from the potentially juicy scenes only to leave us with slightly comical and less in depth replacements.

I was most disappointed with the ending which as with other scenes tries to wrap up proceedings and leaves the viewer with a sense of injustice that nothing more is going to be made of the plot. Whilst The Kids Are All Right is an acceptable film, it could have been so much more.

If you like your acting performances (with Wasikowski leading the line) and want an enjoyable plot that has a few moments to appreciate then go and see this otherwise it's probably not worth it. A more light-hearted through and through comedy approach to a similar story can be achieved by watching the film The Switch which involves a woman's best friend changing his sperm for the sperm donors whilst in a drunken state.

Rating: C+

Next I treat you with the latest comic book creation to come out of Hollywood in the form of Thor. [my review]

Farm
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Reviewed: Insidious [2011]

Insidious [2011]

15 - 103mins - Fantasy/Horror/Thriller - 29th April 2011

Now if there is one thing that freaks me out most in movies it is horrors that involve children in any way. So when I sat down to watch a movie from the guys and gals that have given us Paranormal Activity revolving around the story of a possessed child, well lets just say I had my diaper at the ready!

Insidious follows a textbook family, the parents- Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) that have it all as they move into their new suburban house with their 3 beautiful children. However all is not as it seems as one of their sons, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), after slipping off a ladder while exploring in the attic falls into a coma. Strange things then begin to happen as objects move, mysterious voices are heard and you catch things in the corner of your eye. After this activity drives them from their new home they enlist the help of a paranormal psychic Elise (Lin Shaye) and the horrifying truth becomes evident. It is not the house but Dalton that is haunted!

As with most horror movies, I find they only tend to scare me until I know what I'm up against ie. keep the monster hidden and let the suspense/not knowing get me grabbing for my cushion. This movie was similar in that respect with the majority of the scares coming in the first two thirds before it began to fall away slightly. This was more than enough though and will give you the jumps that you are looking for if you decide to go and see it.

Considering what the trailer gives us, I was quite surprised that it took so long to get to the realisation that it was in fact the boy that was possessed rather than where they were living. It is a good 50 minutes to an hour before this is realised which irked me somewhat.

The inclusion of the two bickering paranormal activity assistants was a well thought out idea as it gave a break from trying to scare you, injecting a bit of comedy into the fray and enabled the audience to be lulled into a more relaxed state so that when the next scare came you were off guard and less than ready for it.

Apart from the scary evil entities, horrors are made or broken by the music or lack thereof that accompanies the suspense and the cinematography. Insidious does not disappoint. The music leads to the creation of an intense tension that stays with you throughout most of the movie and lingers after it finishes and the cinematography is also top notch.

Insidious does serve up moments of actual horror that had me keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary several hours after the film had finished. It is a far cry from James Wan (director) and Leigh Whannell (writer) other collaborations of the Saw series and despite using a tried and tested framework, they made the movie original. It will probably be one of the better horror movies that's released this year but then again, I doubt there will be much competition.

Rating: B-

Next up I bring you the comedy drama The Kids Are Alright. Cast your eyes downwards for the trailer.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @ FAbFilms

Reviewed: The King Of Kong- A Fistful Of Quarters [2007]

The King Of Kong- A Fistful Of Quarters [2007]

12A - 79mins - Documentary/Sport - 6th June 2008

This appealed to me on two levels. First off I was drawn in by the old school arcade games but secondly and more importantly this movie has a great story to tell that does go so much deeper than video games. This film is about 2 men as they fight for the right for the top score on Donkey Kong. Just thought I'd mention this now but you DO NOT have to be a fan of or even care about video games to enjoy this movie.

Billy Mitchell is the prodigal child- the shining icon of the sport, I dare not say hobby in fear of offending any fanatical arcade enthusiasts who might be reading. Back in the early 1980's he held the high score records for Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, BurgerTime?!? and was the first person ever to achieve a perfect score on Pac-Man. In 1999 he was proclaimed the Video Game Player of the Century so he knows what he is doing and isn't modest about it. There was a point in the movie when he told the film crew to guess what his three character high score name was and I was a little surprised when I found out it wasn't 'GOD' although his answer is nearly as good.

Steve Wiebe, the unknown contender, comes across as a very down to earth and amicable chap in his quest for the high score crown. Life has dealt Steve an unfair hand as despite being extremely talented in sports, music and work he became injured, never found his big break and was laid off as a Boeing engineer (he now works as a school teacher). So your already siding with Steve and this only becomes stronger when you get to know Billy and the hostile network he builds up around Steve to try and discredit his high scores.

During the movie you can't help but smirk with the seriousness that they take their arcade games but then again you have to respect them for being able to achieve these scores that you and I are never going to even come close to achieving.

It was especially well produced and I liked the way in which there seemed to be minimal involvement from the documentary makers. If they did ask any questions then it was edited out and it make the whole story seem less contrived. Although there were interviews during the movie, it felt as if a film crew had just pitched up and were following everyone around rather than being intrusive. No doubt there has been some editing to alter the story but every movie does this.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I put this on but I really got into it as the makers create suspense, anticipation and drama out of something that really shouldn't have made that much of an impact on me. After all it is essentially about a video game but you, like me, will find yourself rooting for Steve in this emotional roller coaster. It's not only an exceptional documentary but a exceptional movie as well!

Rating: A

Next up, I try and scare you with Insidious [my review].

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @ FAbFilms

Reviewed: Hanna [2011]

Hanna [2011]

12A - 111mins - Action/Adventure/Mystery - 6th May 2011

Hanna is not only the story of a girl who you would definitely not like to meet down a dark alley but also one of discovery as she learns to live in the real world away from the restrictions and rigorous regime that her father has bestowed upon her.

The story begins in the forests near the Arctic Circle where Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) lives with her ex-agent father Erik (Eric Bana) in solitude, hunting the animals and being trained by her father for a greater purpose that is kept from us. After they activate a homing beacon, US marines flock to their house where they can locate only Hanna. They take her in for questioning to a top secret base in order to discover the whereabouts of her father but find that Hanna will only speak to Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett) the head of the operations (with her own agenda), who she knows by name.

This is where we discover first hand the true potential of Hanna as she executes Marissa's double and the guards around her before attempting her escape from the compound. The movie follows her story as she then flees the scene in order to reunite with her father. All the while she is being tracked down by the warped and slightly crazed Isaacs (Tom Hollander).

As the movie develops you can't help but feel somewhat sorry for her as all she has ever known is the confines of her father's house and the encyclopedic knowledge that she has been taught as a bedtime story rather than the fairytales that other children are given. In some ways this is a coming of age story just from a slightly different angle than the norm as she adapts to a world that she finds alien and confusing.

Cinematography is hectic with the picture cutting, chopping and changing during fight scenes and supported by dramatic music (given to us by The Chemical Brothers) that adds to the action splendidly. This is then contrasted by long scenes that are shot with no cutting whatsoever which really allows for the tempo of the movie to help dictate the franticness of the action when it arrives. Locations, like the camera work, varies greatly as one moment you are in the wild in the Arctic or a desert before being transported to the urban landscape as a metropolitan city or a city from the developing world.

Things that did not quite work for me were the occasional plot holes and slightly unrealistic/unbelievable scenarios that kept popping up- can you grab the underside of a truck moving at 50 mph and still hold on because I know I can't, the poor Texan accent put on by Blanchett who I would have expected better from and I also would have enjoyed just a bit more action during the movie.

All in all Hanna is an enjoyable little action adventure that will please on most fronts. In essence it is replicating one of the Bourne trilogy with a 16 year old girl and is not as explosive and action packed as some might expect but Ronan's performance along with a mysterious undertone that parallels the story make it worth the watch.

Rating: B

Next I'm giving you a documentary to look at that most will not have heard of. The King Of Kong- A Fistful Of Quarters [my review] follows a man and his attempt to break the arcade game Donkey Kong world record. Have a gander below.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @ FAbFilms