Well what with it being over 3 months since my last post I wouldn't be surprised if you had thought me lost to the world but fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view) I'm back! For those who are interested, I've now shifted from the UK to Australia where I am preparing for my very first hot Christmas- never have I before put up a Christmas tree with shorts on but what do you know, it is possible.
Unfortunately my absence cannot be explained by me disappearing to watch movies continuously on loop in a darkened room and so it is more than likely that posts will be a bit fewer and farther between than they used to be (especially considering heading outdoors is more viable now what with there being a sun in the sky that actually warms me when I am standing under it).
Not sure what the next post is going to be on but it will only be a matter of time before we all find out. Welcome back readers, I hope it's not 3 months before my next post.
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Trailered: Machine Gun Preacher [2011]
The true story of Sam Childers who moves to Africa to save children from a life of hardship
Friday, 16 December 2011
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Reviewed: Final Destination 5 [2011]
15 - 92mins - Horror/Thriller - 26th August 2011
The first Final Destination (the one with the plane) was a very original piece of work that had most of us enjoying some horror and gore in a novel and new way. By the time the second came out (the motorway pile up) in 2003 it could still be classed as a popcorn movie but they really raised the ingenuity of the death scenes making it a reasonable way to waste an hour and a half. By number 3 (roller coaster) and 4 (Nascar) I didn't see the point in them anymore as you had to sit through an identical plot for 5/6/7 death scenes that, if truth be told, were not great. So when I heard the announcement of a fifth, I really didn't get it. Perhaps they are jumping on the 3D bandwagon like everyone else?
As expected it duly delivered not a lot in the way of entertainment. In Final Destination 5, a group of co-workers set off for a weekend of team building exercises. However on the way to their destination, a bridge that they are crossing collapses and kills all of them. Unbeknownst to the audience this was just a premonition of the event (ironically I never saw it coming...) and after a commotion Sam (Nicholas D'Agosto) manages to convince some of his fellow employees to get off of the bus. The bridge then collapses and their lives are saved. Over the next few days though the survivors start to die in strange circumstances as Death tries to restore order to the world.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Trailered: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance [2012]
Release Dates:
- 17th February 2012 (USA) -
- 22nd February 2012 (UK) -
Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Johnny Blaze (Cage) returns to our screens as the stunt motorcyclist turned hell blazing vigilante who tackles the evils that no others dare. In the original he took on the son of the Devil, Blackheart and the sequel sees him raise the bar to take on the Devil himself who is trying to take a human form. Watching the original hardly blew me away and was poor for the most part so the thought of a sequel does not fill me with much hope at all.
The only thing going for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is that it will take a lot for it to be worse than the original. At least from the trailer it looks like the CGI has been raised up a notch and the film is going to have its fair share of action and entertaining car chases to keep me interested. Also can anyone help me to distinguish between the Ghost Rider series and Drive Angry which are so similar in many ways? I can't see myself heading to the cinema for this so instead I'll wait at home for Cage's career to pull out from its nose dive.
Rating: D
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Reviewed: Cowboys & Aliens [2011]
12A - 118mins - Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller - 17th August 2011
Finally my prayers to the Hollywood top dogs for a bit of originality have been answered in the form of Cowboys & Aliens, a sci-fi thriller (which puts me in even more of an optimistic mood due to it being one of my preferred genres of choice). Yes it is based on a graphic novel and yes technology in the wild west has been implemented before but this isn't a sequel/prequel and as a concept is very fresh.
Daniel Craig plays Jake, a cowboy who wakes up in the middle of nowhere with no recollection of who he is, where he has been or how he got there. In fact the only clue given to him is a strange metallic bracelet that he is unable to remove from his arm. After making his way to the nearest town he soon makes himself known to the locals and is identified as a dangerous and wanted man guilty of several crimes including stealing gold from local rancher Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). After being arrested and readied for transport, alien spaceships appear out of nowhere and start snatching people away and blowing up the surrounding countryside. Jake's bracelet transforms itself into a weapon and he is able to drive the aliens away.
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Trailered: Machine Gun Preacher [2011]
- 23rd September 2011 (USA) -
- 18th November 2011 (UK) -
Director: Marc Forster
Based on the true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing biker who found God. Seeing the troubles in East Africa, he heads over to help repair homes destroyed by civil war where he encounters the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a renegade militia that forces youngsters to become soldiers. Determined to make a difference, Sam leads armed missions deep into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children and help restore peace to their lives.
The true life inspirational stories tend to do quite well in the box office but that's usually because the audience can in some way relate to the characters. This is less likely for Machine Gun Preacher which although has a story worth telling does not quite capture my imagination in the way it might others. Hence...
Rating: C
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Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Reviewed: Rise of the Planet of the Apes [2011]
12A - 105mins - Action/Drama/Sci-Fi - 11th August 2011
It's been 10 years since the last Planet of the Apes film and looking back, it is fair to say that the years have not treated it too well- the ape costumes are verging on amusing rather than scary. This latest reboot brings us an origins story painting a picture of the beginning of the end for the human race and the start of dominance for the apes on Earth. They have brought back this franchise again with a movie that isn't really part of said franchise. All other Planet of the Apes movies are set on a mystical planet whereas this is set on present day Earth and as such, although I understand why they did it (money money money), would have been better to disassociate with the Planet of the Apes brand.
Will Rodman (James Franco) is a researcher for a pharmaceutical company working on a cure for Alzheimer's- a disease close to his heart due to his father's (John Lithgow) battle with the disease. When his leading test subject breaks free and 'goes ape' she is put down along with the rest of the project. However Will discovers she was only protecting her newborn child who he takes home and raises as part of his family. It soon becomes apparent that the drugs subjected to the baby chimp's mother have been genetically passed on to him gifting the ape with extremely high levels of intelligence.
Monday, 15 August 2011
Trailered: A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas [2011]
Release Dates:
- TBA (UK) -
- 4th November 2011 (USA) -
Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Welcome one and all to the beginning of the Christmas season! For those that don't know me, I despise anything Christmas related before December at the very earliest so with a release date 52 days before Crimbo my blood is already beginning to boil.
Six years after their Guantanamo Bay incident, stoner buddies Harold Lee (Cho) and Kumar Patel (Penn) have grown apart and build themselves new lives. But when a mysterious package arrives at Kumar's door for Harold on Christmas Eve, his attempts to redirect it result in him burning down Harold's father-in-law's prize Christmas tree. Instead of admitting his guilt, the duo set off on another adventure through New York to search for the perfect replacement and cover their tracks.
The first one in the series was a solid popcorn movie, the second tried too hard and failed to be funny so I'm pretty sure the third with continue the plunge into shockingly bad. A different story but it looks like the same content as the last two which makes this hold no interest for me. Also their mocking of 3D is somewhat flawed as the majority of people will not be watching it in 3D (what's the point) and so bang goes the irony.
Rating: F
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Sunday, 14 August 2011
Trailered: Haywire [2011]
Release Dates:
- 20th January 2012 (UK, USA) -
Now you let me know if this plot line rings any bells. We have super soldier Mallory Kane (Carano) who was created by the government to do its bidding but during one of her many missions she is betrayed by the people she trusted the most. After surviving her attempted assassination she goes on a revenge mission seeking payback for those who were responsible. How original!
I'm not sure about this one, it just seems a bit 'samey' to so many other films out there- all they have done is change the main character into a female. I'm sure there's a chance it will impress with decent action scenes/car chases but not enough to warrant a visit to the cinema from me.
Rating: D
Farm
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Reviewed: The Smurfs [2011]
U - 103mins - Animation/Comedy/Family - 10th August 2011
Well it has been a while since my last post so sorry about that- I'm sure you were just lost without my views on what you should be watching so I'm going to make up for it with a couple of reviews and new movie trailers thrown at you all in one day. First up are those blue critters they call "The Smurfs".
Despite me trying to be as neutral as possible before settling down to watch a film I found myself preparing for the long haul when I decided to watch The Smurfs. As a kid I never really got into them but did occasionally catch a TV show or two so wasn't flying completely into the unknown like some of the more recent comic book characters that I have reviewed.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Reviewed: Good Neighbours [2011]
N/A - 95mins - Comedy/Crime/Thriller - N/A
Good Neighbours follows three people who live in the same apartment building in Montreal over the course of Winter in 1995. Spencer (Scott Speedman) is a wheelchair bound introvert who spends all of his time in his flat on the first floor; Victor (Jay Baruchel) who has recently moved to the area since returning from China; and finally Louise (Emily Hampshire), a waitress at a local restaurant who spends most of her time either socialising with her pet cats (Tia Maria and Mozart) or reading up on the local serial killer who is running riot near to where they live.
Each of them is flawed in their own unique way so much so that I found myself asking the question why are any of them friends at all? Only the nervous Victor seems to be capable of something resembling social skills despite the uncanny ability to put his foot in everything time and time again and yet on several occasions they all sit down to dinner together when it's extremely obvious that they would be somewhere else.
Each of them is flawed in their own unique way so much so that I found myself asking the question why are any of them friends at all? Only the nervous Victor seems to be capable of something resembling social skills despite the uncanny ability to put his foot in everything time and time again and yet on several occasions they all sit down to dinner together when it's extremely obvious that they would be somewhere else.
Friday, 5 August 2011
Trailered: In Time [2011]
Release Dates:
- 28th October 2011 (USA) -
- 1st November 2011 (UK) -
Director: Andrew Niccol
In the future people stop ageing at 25 and must work to buy themselves more time, but when a young man finds himself with more time than he can imagine he must run from the corrupt police force to save his life.
Interesting concept this one and another chance for Timberlake to breakaway from his pop star status and transition into the movie world. I am more optimistic he can achieve it with this film as there are no comic moments as in Bad Teacher where his goofiness played to the audience rather than whatever his acting abilities merited.
I can see myself going to watch this but I have this feeling that it is not going to live up to the promise that I'm now attaching to it. Fingers crossed that the potential for this film comes to fruition.
Rating: B
Farm
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Thursday, 4 August 2011
Previewed: August's Releases
August's Releases
Best Movies in August 2011
1. The Interrupters
2. The Guard
3. The Skin I Live In
4. Cowboys & Aliens
5. Super 8
6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
7. The Help
Action/Fantasy/Thrillers
Super 8 (5th August)
After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town and investigate into the creepy phenomenon. Spielberg and J.J.Abrams working together should provide a good entertaining movie. Go watch.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Trailered: Battleship [2012]
Release Dates:
- 18th May 2012 (UK, USA) -
Director: Peter Berg
And this is the reason I keep an eye out on films that are going to be released in the future. I'm assuming that everyone has heard of the game Battleships? Guess a square and drop in those hit pegs when you strike lucky? Of course you have. Everyone has. I never thought that I would see the day though when they based a film on it!!! I mean really, are the film distributors that desperate that they have to resort to board games for inspiration? Good God I just don't believe it. I'm actually in a state of shock.
The official plot line is : A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals. What's even more insane is they have somehow got Neeson on board with them. It looks terrible and yet I'm so interested to see how they can make this into a movie that I may be so sad as to go and watch it. Check out the trailer and decide for yourself. Less you sunk my battleship and more you sunk my belief in the film industry!
Rating: C
P.S. If this starts a trend then I'm hyped about the Monopoly movie!!!
P.P.S. +10 points to whoever spots Rihanna in the trailer.
Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @ FAbFilms
P.P.S. +10 points to whoever spots Rihanna in the trailer.
Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @ FAbFilms
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Reviewed: Captain America: The First Avenger [2011]
12A - 125mins - Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi - 29th July 2011
With the summer season now in full blast we get our latest and final all action comic book hero for the year in the guise of Captain America- yet another character that I am unfamiliar with. Have I missed out on a childhood filled with comic books? It would seem so.
Set during World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) a poorly yet determined man has only one goal- to join the army so that he can serve and protect his country. Due to his illnesses and diminished stature though he is rejected and turned away by every recruitment station he visits. A chance encounter with Dr. Erksine (Stanley Tucci) changes his fortunes and leads him to be accepted onto a secret project codename Project Rebirth where his honour and integrity gain him the chance to become a super soldier. He undergoes the transformation and becomes capable of near superhuman acts.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Reviewed: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II [2011]
12A - 130mins - Adventure/Drama/Fantasy - 15th July 2011
So 14 years after the adventure first began it is finally over and we wave goodbye to the world of Harry Potter and Co. I would be lying if I personally thought that was the case- I would not be surprised to see Rowling bring back some of the characters in one shape or another in the coming years. I recently watched the previous 7 films in a marathon effort so to see mini reviews for all of them check out my article here.
Hopefully everyone is aware of the storyline by now but for the nomads amongst us the eighth and final installment sees Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) along with his friends take on the evil wizard Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). In order to give themselves a fighting chance they have to hunt down the remaining Horcruxes before Harry can square up against him for the last time.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Trailered: Paranormal Activity 3 [2011]
Release Dates:
- 21st October 2011 (UK, USA) -
I don't think I am best equipped to talk about this movie what with me having seen neither of the first two in the series but they always seen to make a stir when they are released. It is brought to us by the same guys behind the intriguing Catfish [my review]. The third installment is to be a prequel to the first following Katie and Kristi when they were children and haunted by the daemon which was referred to in the first two films.
I think for those of a nervous disposition some sort of adult diaper may be a necessary requirement when going to watch this movie but I cannot see a way in which they will be able to shake it up so that it is not just a repeat of the first two films. If you enjoyed the first two then expect this to give more of the same otherwise don't bother
Monday, 25 July 2011
Reviewed: Stake Land [2011]
15 - 98mins - Horror - 17th June 2011
Stake Land is set in a post apocalyptic world where a vampire epidemic has spread over the whole country leaving only small pockets of people left to fend for themselves. One such group consists of Martin (Connor Paolo), just an ordinary kid before the vampires, and Mister (Nick Damici), a vampire hunter, as they travel north through infected America to the promised land of Canada where rumours are of a safe zone called New Eden. As Martin and Mister travel, they run into new people and communities both good and bad who each have their own unique ways of coping with the disaster.
For a film with the title Stake Land you might think you know what you are letting yourself in for but the enemies are rather ambiguous and are what I would call the offspring of a vampire (only come out at night, need to be staked etc) and a zombie (brain dead drones, don't get bit or you will turn etc). Whatever they might be though, they still do their job of looking evil and warrant a wide berth if survival is the aim of the game.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Trailered: The Inbetweeners Movie [2011]
Release Dates:
- 19th August 2011 (UK) -
- N/A (USA) -
One for the British amongst us or others aware of the comedy series The Inbetweeners. That's right, it's back but this time as its own full length feature. Will (Simon Bird), Neil (Blake Harrison), Simon (Joe Thomas) and Jay (James Buckley) are our four socially troubled eighteen year olds who set off on a lads holiday to Crete to drown their sorrows and chase some tail.
Full Length Trailer:
Lude, crude, rude- the three rhyming words that I would associate this movie with and that's why I, along with many others, love it. I can't see it offering anything that the TV series hasn't already given us but as they called a day on that after three series this will provide a nice fix. Will I want to go to a cinema to watch this still remains to be seen but I will certainly get round to watching it at some point.
Rating: C
Farm
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Saturday, 23 July 2011
Reviewed: Running With Scissors [2006]
15 - 116mins - Comedy/Drama - 2nd February 2007
Strange one this. Augusten Burroughs (Joseph Cross) was born into a dysfunctional family. With his father (Alec Baldwin) an alcoholic and a mentally unstable mother (Deirdre- Annette Bening) living in a delusional world where her belief that she has what it takes to become the world's greatest poet is only surpassed by attempts to achieve this goal, it's unsurprising to find that Augusten's life has been impacted greatly from a young age.
As he grows into a teenager, Deirdre signs him away into the custody of her shrink, Dr. Finch (Brian Cox) an equally eccentric man who it seems treats his children as more of an experiment than an actual family. From here, instead of normality, Augusten has leapt from the proverbial frying pan into an immensely large fire. He befriends the two daughters, Hope (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Natalie (Evan Rachel Wood) as well as Neil (Joseph Fiennes) the most damaged of all of Finch's children.
If I'm honest, I'm not sure exactly what to make of this film. It seems intentionally set out to confuse the viewer but then deals with some serious topics amongst all of this. Each individual character is damaged and has serious character flaws that need to be addressed, some more than others. Although I have never read the book of the same name, I hear it sticks to the content closely and is all based on the real life events (I'm assuming more in part than in full) of Augusten. Despite this, because of its tendency to be so random and with so many things going on it is hard to ground yourself and actually believe that these are real people and not just extreme characters. This made it hard to relate with the characters.
Friday, 22 July 2011
Trailered: The Thing [2011]
Release Dates:
- 14th October 2011 (UK, USA) -
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Many of you may already know of the original movie of the same name from 1982 and if you don't then make sure you watch it in the future! That is unless you plan on watching the new version as the 2011 release is a prelude to John Carpenter's classic and so if you know how that one started then it might significantly reduce the tension they will build up in this one.
Set in the Antarctic at a research site, palaeontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) joins up with a Norwegian scientific team that has stumbled across an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice with an organism that seems to have died in the crash intact. Unsurprisingly, the specimen wakes and is unleashed into the isolated colony. Being a shape-shifting creature it has the ability to turn itself into a perfect replica of any living thing and once the scientists realise this, paranoia spreads amongst them as they try and work out who is infected by the alien before it gets them too.
Trailer:
While I can imagine the graphics will be improved, I doubt they will trump the original as it used some cool puppetry to create its aliens. It will have good suspense as you try and discover who is no longer human but the fact I basically know how it ends makes me think that I won't enjoy it that much.
Rating: D
Farm
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