Friday 27 June 2014

Review : Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie

Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie : The Story goes that Mrs Brown owns a fruit and veg stall which she has inherited from her mother who inherited from her mother and her mother before her, It's a family business and Mrs Brown gets into trouble with taxes she is due. As if that wasn't bad enough A company wants to shut down Mrs Brown's Stall. In the words of Mrs Brown herself "They can feck off."



Hi Everyone

Welcome to my latest update which is Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie which has opened in cinema's today. I went to go and see it this afternoon. From all the hype and excitement I gathered from all the publicity stuff like posters and interactive trailers and actual trailers. I was really looking forward to watching this film.

The film is very Irish, as if you didn't know that already. It relates to a lot of Irish culture and the Irish lifestyle, they swear all the time 'feck this' and 'feck that'. Mrs Brown herself is a fantastic character brought to life by Brendon O Carroll who in himself is very Irish, grew up in an Irish background and who very recently was on the Graham Norton show talking about this film and going into the detail of his up bringing and his mother.

I really enjoy the TV Series, its very very funny and the scripts are just fantastic. I do laugh a lot when watching Mrs Brown not only because the material is original and naturally intentionally funny, but partly because I do find Irish accents funny. So having watched the TV Series, going into the film. I thought that the film was more sentimental than it was funny.

It was a bit like 'Philomena' in a way, as there is backdrop to Mrs Brown's character, when her husband died she had to give up her children and put them into care and there's a lovely sentimental bit on a bridge where she's talking to Kathy and she's feeling disappointed in herself, it allows the viewer to step back a little and just embrace whats happening just for a bit, of course it's there to make people go 'aww' but this of course relates to a lot of Irish women who have had to give up their children because they were widows and couldn't cope. So there a lot of Irish connections in the film.

Of course the laughs are there, but I didn't really laugh at all during this film. Because as I say I think it was more sentimental than it was funny, But there are some great funny bits in the film for instance there is a bit where Mrs Brown and Winnie are in the distribution centre and they are trying to get this receipt, and they have to go back as if it was an intentional out take which made it into the film, and this happens twice in the film. Some cases the actors just put each other off and they mess up their lines, but it's done so effortlessly that you just run with it. You don't question Mrs Brown's Boys, you just go with it, That's the joy of it's comedy. Of course there are moments of dry comedy, that in turn makes the film melodramatic ie. sometimes the laughs are there, sometimes there not.

At the end of it all the underlined message was 'all things work out in  the end'. I wasn't all that happy with the ending, to me it was just dropped on 'bom, the end' I thought 'oh, is that it' as if I was expecting more. Though I think this film does shy away from its laughs and isn't as energetic or as fun as the TV Series, it achieves it's drama really well and there's some awesome action. Some characters were under used like Fiona O Carroll as Maria. Maria I think is a very underused character anyway, and she doesn't do much in the TV Series, I had hoped she get a better part in the film because there's a lot more scene time, but no. Maria doesn't do much in this film either.

Overall I liked the film, it was good fun. not hardly funny yet surprisingly very sentimental. 8/10.

That's it from me for a while. Have a wonderful summer everybody I will see you again when I come back in the Autumn. Until then bye bye!

Thursday 26 June 2014

Review : South Park

South Park : Bigger, Longer and Uncut - When the four boys from South Park see an R-rated movie featuring Canadians Terrance & Phillip, they are pronounced "corrupted", and their parents pressure the United States to wage war against Canada.



Hello All

Okay, so South Park is now bigger, longer and uncut. In all sense of the word a movie which is an extended and without doubt an expanded episode of South Park but has all the basic stuff that the TV Show entails in terms delivering humour, a story and humour with a story. All of the main characters are in it. Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny as they would be. They all have something to do in this film, none of them stand out from eachother which is what makes them all such good characters.

So the story goes that the Four boys in South Park go to see an R-rated movie featuring Canadians "Terrance & Phillip' in  "Asses of Fire", then there parents find out they went, and they are pronounced "corrupted", and Kyle's mom Sheila with the rest of the parents pressure the United States to wage a war against Canada events get out of hand and everything escales to such an extent of possibilities of World War 3! It's then all up to Stan, Kyle and Cartman to save Terrence and Phillip before Satan and his lover Saddam Hussein rise up from Hell and rule the world and it'll be the end of everything for everyone.

As far as story goes it starts off quite suttle and innocent with four boys going to see a film, but everything after that just takes off and everything just blows up in your face and what you get is everything getting exaggerated and over the top, but that's the joy of South Park. If you can't understand that then you miss the point of it entirely. In it's intirity sure this film isn't perfect but then what film is? It's true that this film has gone beyond the boundaries of which most South Park episodes would go, but there's something about this being a film and the fact that the writers have more time, there is more diversities to go the extra mile and actually go more crazy.

The control of the craziness is all contemperate as well, it's all very self contained within the film. For example the scene with Sadam Hussein and Satan as they come up from hell and Sadam thinks he's world ruler. In the normal realms of comedy there's a lot you can't get away with, but there is a special exception in the case of they way it's presented in South Park, because South Park basically gives the audience a heads up saying 'Don't watch us, we are going to offend you'. It protects itself very well and contains the craziness in its own right. Weither it's acceptable is down to a matter of opinion, baring in mind it is intentionally over exaggerated.

And into that you have all the songs, which are great to sing a long to, there very practical songs and very well written and funny. All of the music in this is iconic to South Park and stands out really well from what it is interperating to be. It's again linking into the story as if it is a part of the story. The problem is of course knowing how to contain yourself whilst watching and obviously the film is not going to work with everyone and please everyone so I don't think the film knows the finest line of going mental and people laughing with it. 7/10. 

Wednesday 25 June 2014

Review : Point Break

POINT BREAK
An FBI agent goes undercover to catch a gang of bank robbers who may be surfers.


Hello All.

In today's brief update, I want to talk about Point Break. It's a thrillingly entertaining cop crime drama whatever you want to prolong it to be. About a group bank robbers who may be suffers, a group of guys who do what they do, for the thrill factor and its about the adrenaline rush that's the outlined message behind the concept of the bad guys in this, although the bad guys in the film are not really evil. They just do what they do because they get a good kick out of it.

It's very easy to misjudge this film by saying 'Oh yeah, Keanu Reeves is the good guy and some bad guys are doing bad things, there dressing up as former presidents by wearing creepy masks but no one knows who they are or why the do what they do. They are the bad guys, Keanu Reeves is going to catch them and save the day'.

When watching it, I find it's not like that, it's very easy to mistake this as an extended episode of CSI or some cliche US Crime TV Series, when it's not like that. If anything the film goes to prove to move beyond the boundaries more complex than that. For instance, the budget is bigger for a start, there is more time to do things, its got big stars like Keanu Reeves,  Patrick Swayze and Gary Busey. In actual fact though the scale of it accidemic wise is good, that doesn't mean to say that the presentation of Point Break is sleezy. 

Far from it in fact, there is a scene where Keanu Reeves is attacked with a lawn mower and he is on the brink of having is face slashed by the blades of this lawn mower, It's a really intense scene to watch but you watch it thinking 'oh my god' so the shock factor and the wow factor fades in and out throughout the course of the film, and is there when it needs to be in the case of presenting the main star or one of the main stars in a moment of pure peril and jeopardy so I was very impressed by that.

The final moments are what seal the deal for me with this film. Because it is the last scene that's so contempartly shot and the sentimental value of what you get from it is just extraordinary. I won't spoil it for those reading who haven't scene, what I will say is there's lots to anticipate, there's always things to watch out for in the film, even if its the tiniest detail and it's a proper thriller with cops and car chases and everything a raw crime drama needs.  I won't argue that it is a no holds barred, adrenalin fuelled thrill ride but there's no way you could perpetrate the amount of carnage presented and mayhem and not incur a considerable amount of paperwork. So my hands are tied. 8/10.

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Review : Labyrinth

Labyrinth : Fifteen year old Sarah accidentally wishes her baby half-brother, Toby, away to the Goblin King Jareth who will keep Toby if Sarah does not complete his Labyrinth in thirteen hours. It's Adventurous and a genuine epic tale of fantasy and fun packed thrill.



So Labyrinth, it's a film about many things. It tells a story about love and heartbreak, it's about loyalty, friendship, courage, greed to name a few and all of these things and more a jumbled into one dynamically jam packed fun filled family adventure. It's many a favourite of many and I get a personal enjoyment out of it.

Although I do have to say that the film does take its time actually getting on wheels, and starting. Because at the start, The opening is very bold and you have the music of David Bowie electric guitar and 2 minutes and 47 seconds of opening credits with an owl flying about the place, and rather annoyingly this owl has to be there because it is has a significant value to the film.

Jennifer Connoly comes on she does her bit, acting out something that is going to be real later cliche. More credits roll in and more music from David Bowie to keep us in the mood, I thought it was a nice touch that some of his music was in the film, just adds a nice nod to the audience to recognise David's talent.

The attention to detail in this film is interesting, for instance. Have you noticed that almost everything in Sarah's room has something to do with the movie later. All except Judge Dredd, Why is Judge Dredd so prominent here. But there are other things like the puppets and the prostectic make up on creatures like hoggel and the attention to detail on Ludo and Didymus are all things to watch out for, however there are nit picks to watch out for and easter eggs, which are so ever so carefully planted in the film.

I think Jim Henson presents something that can be enjoyed by both adults and children. It's a bit more adventurous and more lighthearted than other films like it that I have seen previous, and it's an adventure story which sets off on a real great pace, there's lots of great fantastic battle scenes and lots of great fights and lots of running about and David Bowie.

The problems with Labryinth is trying to contemplate between what is the real world and what is imagination. For example with Sarah all it takes the get out of the dream world is taking a chair and smashing out of it. What is the point of having a dream world if the victim can just take something imaginary to get out? Do two imagines make a real? Its just confusing putting two and two together, but that's just an example of one of the problems I had identifying between the two worlds set up in the film.

Labryinth is a classic, and people love it. However it is a film with a lot of contemperate mistakes. So It's 8/10 for me.

Monday 23 June 2014

Review : Speed

Speed : A young cop must prevent a bomb exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its speed above 50 mph.























Hello Everyone

Welcome to my next review which is action thriller 'Speed' starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Its about a Bomber terrorist who's plan to blow up an elevator plan backfires, so he rigs a bomb to a LA city bus. The stipulation is: once armed, the bus must stay above 50 mph to keep from exploding. Also if LAPD Officer tries to unload any passengers off, the bomb will be detonated. Joe Morton co-stars as Jack's superior, and Jeff Daniels supports Jack helping him try to defuse the bomb.

What's good about this film? well it's a proper thriller. Your getting a really exciting thrill ride of a movie with excellent suspense, just about the right amount of tension and suspense to keep you interested in the film. It never boars the tension is there once you have the storyline with the bus introduced your off and you don't stop until the end because you end up becoming hooked into wanting to know what happens next. The film posses an anxiety in the audience and wants them to go on watching.

This isn't a film worth sitting back and enjoying, this isn't a pop corn flick. This is a proper thriller which will have you on the edge of your seat literally. The plot is not that difficult to follow. It's fairly straight forward its just a matter of once you get going your off. It's all about the action. Keanu Reeves does a lot of physical stuff in this so he himself has to be very energetic to match the demands that the film has in order to equalise the capacity of the potential of what the film offers.

There is a feel of nerves throughout the way the tension keeps building really does help create an uncertainty of the influence and the more you watch it, the more you learn from it. When you watch it the first time around that's when the film is at its best. True sometimes it doesn't always work, but for me the best thing about this film is the uncertainty that the audience has the first time they watch it, and the thrill factor that creates. If you watch this film and don't enjoy it. I wouldn't be surprised but I would question the fact why you wouldn't enjoy it.

Speed is one of the most iconic action thriller films ever made, it's non stop physical action and it is what it is. 8/10

Sunday 22 June 2014

Review : 22 Jump Street

22 JUMP STREET : After making their way through high school - twice, big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a university.



Hello All

Hope your all having a good weekend, in todays brief update I will be reviewing 22 Jump Street. The sequel to 21 Jump Street. I met up with a friend shortly after watching this who hasn't seen the film, when he asked me what I was doing I told him that 'I just got back from seeing 22 Jump Street'. His reponse was 'Oh cool, how was it?' I then said what I consider to be a fair and honest comment 'It was interesting'.

You know they say most sequels suck. This one doesn't. It is very interesting, the thing that lets it down is the trailers because its the trailers that revealed key jokes and funny sinarios and didn't really shine the film in its best light. However if you actually overlook the pertential of the film from what the trailers make it out to be, its a fairly decent movie. I mean think of it this way, the proof is in the pudding and if you've never seen the film you can't make a judge of it.

So in the first one, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play cops who go undercover in a high school. In this film they do the exact same thing but at a University. It kind of understands the basis of crappy sequels and makes a joke out of sequels not living up the expectations of the film they are succeeding, and just says 'Look what the hell? Lets do the exact same thing again' because it worked before, we can make it diverse in places so its not exactly the same as the first one, we know it won't be as good as the first one, and it isn't but I admire that this film is very out going and is not afraid to laugh at itself.

Though there were a few things in the film that I felt were unnessacary, like lots of action sequences for instance. I thought they were sleezy and unnessacary and just didn't need to be in the film, It actully diverts the film from it's actual plot because theres no need for it. It's frustrating for me, However having said that this film did Pass my Laugh test, I did laugh a lot at this and not all the jokes are funny, some it is a bit mediocre and meledromatic and then you have the really funny blendid together into one comedy movie.

I commend the films lightheartedness, and it was very well directed. However the film has its moments to which is an insufferable challenge in wanting to enjoy it while you watch it. That creates mixed opinion for me because I find it frustrating that I want to like it more, when I know deep down that it isn't a brilliant film just 'okay'. But there's the rest of summer to come, who knows maybe this will end up being one of my favorite films released this summer. 6/10.


Friday 20 June 2014

Review : Adulthood



Adulthood : From Kidulthood, now to Adulthood. Six years after Kidulthood, Sam Peel is released from jail for killing Trife, he realizes that life is no easier on the outside than it was on the inside and he's forced to confront the people he hurt the most. Some have moved on, others are stuck with the repercussions of his actions that night, but one thing's for certain - everyone has been forced to grow up.

Through his journey Sam struggles to deal with his sorrow and guilt and something else he didn't expect - those seeking revenge. As he's pursued by a new generation of bad boys, Sam sets about trying to get the message across to his pursuers that they should stop the violence, much like Trife tried to tell him all those years ago. Can Sam stop the cycle of violence and make something positive from the wrong he has done or will his journey into Adulthood end here?


Hey Everyone.

So Kidulthood is done and dusted, now we're going from Kidulthood into Adulthood. Things have moved on slightly because obviously as time moved on so did the characters. Things have changed and escalated on a massive scale. Sam has gone to prison and has come out of prison as a new refreshed form, wanting to prevent the dangers that await him and correct something positive from the wrong he has done.

In terms of examining the two films hand in hand, I personally think Adulthood is a much better film than Kidulthood. That don't mean to say Kidulthood is bad, I was just more impressed with Adulthood in the way it made things tense and interesting, how it added to it's drama and the escalation of prior engaging matters.
Anything other than that, the two films are diversivedly similar. Therefore this film suffers from the same problems as Kidulthood.

But keeping it short, I can't really say much about Adulthood other than fact that the continuation is smooth and very dramatic, doesn't shy away from being a proper thriller. However the simularities between this and Kidulthood are there throughout the film, which makes the film diversivedly similar. It's a 7/10.

Thursday 19 June 2014

Review : Kidulthood



Kidulthood :  A day in the life of a group of troubled 15-year-olds growing up in west London.


Hey Everyone

Welcome to my next update in my films blog. Kidulthood, is drama but a drama focused on the lives of troubled 15 year olds. In the middle of their teens, there not kids. not quite adults which explains the word 'kidulthood' it's in the middle basically.

So the film is a conjunction of many, many story lines. your main character is Sam played by Noel Clarke who also wrote the script. Which I have no problem with someone writing and starring in their own film is quite ingenious and flexible and in my opinion makes it more fun to them. Rather than read off a script someone else has written Noel gets a chance to play a character he created and perform using the words that he wrote.

Anyway the structure of this film varies of going back and forth between several characters, all living the same day and all the various intertwined stories eventually come together to form an hour and a half long film. What I love about Kidulthood so much is that it's proper drama, the pure core and grit of is very real. All the characters in it, have an attitude and act chavy. Stuff like 'blud' and 'are you dizzy?' are both very contemperate means of dialect and some of the characters like Sam speak in that way. There's also enough time in there to thrown in some back story and mini subplots to keep the drama going and keep us interested.

I do think, even though it is a drama it is a bit too contemperate in places. The seriousness of it does tend to get the better of itself and in the end the film becomes a bit too serious and quite dark, especially in the final moments. It's still good but my critic is that had this film been a little longer, I would of liked there to have been a bit more time to cover up the loose ends which were given in the end as freeze frames and information text which is a nice touch, but would of been better to see them acted out or have something more given to it.

In terms of reexamining 'Kidulthood' it is a drama, and doesn't try to be anything but a drama, and believe me it is a drama there's not getting away from it. It's an honest down the line, deep drama which is true to it's meaning of showing a day in the life of some troubled 15 year old fictional teenagers, though the characters are fictional the things they face are not fictional, the issues raised in this film are very real and relatable and I guess that's why the drama runs away with itself slightly and takes on an overpowering feel in it's ending where the viewer reaction is 'woah... that was good'. 7/10

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Review : Monsters Inc

  Monsters Inc - Have you ever wondered after you get tucked up in bed at night, about the Monsters that may possibly be hiding in your cupboard? Of you don't because there are no such thing as Monsters. It's just a child conspiracy that there is a Monster there that's going to jump out and scare you. In the realms of Monsters Inc however It's nothing personal. It's just a job.

Hey Everyone.

Welcome to my latest update in film reviews. Yesterday I reviewed 'Up' today I'm reviewing 'Monsters Inc' another Pixar film which has entered our hearts as being a classic. Personally... I think the film is rubbish... no I'm just joking, It's very good.

The idea was really strong and original. The raw basics and sciences behind it were very playable to diverse between Monsters hiding in the cupboard and the actual Monster world itself. The actual Monster world itself is no different to any background of a normal world. It's actually similar to our world, the Monsters act very civilized and friendly towards one another and there are playable comedic elements.

Into that you got Mike and Sully your main characters, which interact for 95% of the film and need the most animation done to them. The expression and features that went into these two characters are both really authentic and impressive when watching them incorporated in a scene. I mean Sully's fur for example, the attention to detail is amazing. Which just goes to show, the digital design and the concept artists were fantastic. All the step by step story boarding for this is just the same as Up although I think Monsters Inc is better than Up, because as much as like Up. Monsters Inc dares to stretch ones imagination a bit more further to the extreme.

The story, there's not much to it. Sully and Mike are good at their job, their presented with a problem, there's a conspircy and plot happening in the factory they work at and the rest of the film is about the two of them trying in their best efforts to fix the problem.

Though I must say that even though there is much to the story, the way it is told and all the effort that went into is, is why I admire it so much. It's a very playful melodramtic family comedy and audiences can recognise it as a comedy and PIXAR are playing on the laughs and sometimes the laughs are there, sometimes their not. John Goodman and Billy Crystal play their characters Mike and Sully to near perfection really put a voice to the character and make it come to life, with exceptional talent.

I mean John Goodman's sentimentality in moments where Sully is Sad, Happy, Angry or Arrogant you feel it. Personally I prefer Sully at his most sentimental moments because Sully starts off in this film quite a cocky character and a perfectionist but still a nice guy, then he meets Boo and he get attached to her and I think by the end, Sully doesn't want to let her go. He would keep her with him, if he could, but he can't, that's what's upsetting for him. John Goodman does a great job with that at showing feeling to character. I think if another actor had done it would of been different. not better, but different.

So summerising this film basically it's one of my top 3 PIXAR films ever. It's an idea from Pete Doctor that is relateable to children who think there are monsters living under the bed or in the cupboard. 8/10.

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Review : Up



UP

Up, Up and Away. Pixar presents a new feature length presentation and tells another memorable and well loved story. This is story is that of a man who is old and lives on his own in his accommodated house, his wife has passed away and has an idea to pursue a dream that he and his wife had of making it to a place called 'Paradise Falls'. The man devises a magnificent invention of several million balloons floating above his house which in turn lift his house off the ground and he flies his own house. It's a genius idea.

Hello Everyone

Welcome to my latest film review for this month, which is UP Pixar film from 2009. Up is one of the films which has entered people hearts and it's a public pleaser and people love it. And for very good reasons, it's funny, its adventurous, its emotional (I do know people who have cried watching this film) It's dynamic in terms of it's ideas. I mean the floating house being one of them, the dogs with the technological advanced collar on it, that's a cool idea. So already there are lots of refreshing concepts and raw ideas in Up and I haven't even begun to talk about the film yet.

The film is an emotional rollar coaster, one minute its nice and jolly and happy the next moment its very sad. It's not a bad thing, it's just the way it tells the story. The sentimental moments I think are what makes the film stand out the most, obviously there a bits for families and it is family friendly. But it's those clever brains at Pixar who glue all the pieces together to tell a story. Because that's what Pixar does, it tells many stories and is company that has never had one continental flop, ever. In it's whole entirety it's been set up. Not one flop.

So I thought the story telling was excellent, the story itself doesn't do much for me personally. I would like the story more meaning and more exciting but the pacing of it and the actual effort that went into telling a sentimental, comical and adventurous story is why I'd admire it so much. The characters are well constructed I don't mind them or them interacting in the story. The environment is brilliantly devised, relates back to what I said earlier about Pixar's attention to detail. The jungle is a wonderful set, very colourful and yet at the same time vast and mysterious, and quite authentic with the correct lighting sometimes its there, other times it isn't.

Then you got your thrill of adventure which of course you get the structure of a jam roly poly. In a nutshell all very good, action is there when it needs to be and there's fault in the timing. When you get a thrilling in this film, you feel it. That's what is so good about UP whatever emotion is delivered : sad, happy, jolly, adventure, thrill ect. You Feel it and that adds an empowering motion to the viewer. Not many films these days can do that.

So not much to correct with Up, because there is not much wrong with it. I would say that it gets an 8/10. It's very good, very sentimental and good range of mixed emotion. However the actual story doesn't really do a lot for me.

Sunday 15 June 2014

Review : Night at the Museum



Night at the Museum : It stars Ben Stiller as a night watchman who's job is to work the graveyard shift at a museum. But strangely there are some wonderful and slightly mysterious events which happen at night. Everything in the Museum magically comes to life.

Hey Everyone

Next on the list for my film reviews for this month is 'Night at the Museum' a family film set in a Museum and what makes this Museum different is everything in it comes to life,but only at night. The title is very adequate to the purposes of what the plot has to offer.

I think for me, it's very easy to shrug  this one off and mistake for being a pretty duff film, not going to be much good and simply just shrug it off and rather not bother with it, and it's a film which I think hasn't got the best deserved positive attention. You do have to be in the right frame of mind to want to enjoy this film, but that's just a usual perspective when trying out a different form of diversity.

It's a shame because all the ideas for this film are very good indeed. It's well constructed and well thought out. I just can't put my finger on why I fail to enjoy it as much as I should. Perhaps it maybe because of the pacing of it or perhaps it's just doesn't work for me in terms of deliverance. I don't know but for some explained reason there is very much an over minded amount of Insufficient laughter, Insufficient situations, Insufficient action and lack of engagement with the audience. That of course could relate to the pacing of it.

The actual premise is promising, which is why I'm in a torn about situation because I do like the concepts behind it and I do like the technicalities and style of the way it is directed. The story is really good, as I said before well constructed and very well thought out. But then you have to deliver the laughs and actually entertain your audience, that I think is were the story gets all over the place, because you have your moments of lighthearted drama, then comedy, then things come to a stand still for a good long while before you get the climatic action strategy in the end. It's confuses me because this film has the ingredients for a good film, the concepts there, but it's presented in a very badly executed way.

Ben Stiller, does good with what he has. He's been in some duff movies, and it has to be said there are times when me and Ben Stiller don't connect well in what his acting has to offer and obviously Ben is known for light hearted comedy such as this. I think is certainly one of his better films that he's done. It's not one of Ben Stiller's greatest films. But it's also not one of his worst.

The Actual set up of the Museum is very impressive, the dynamics of the editing are all very coherent. The best effects which cause the best impact on the audience are the ones which stand out like the reconstructed dinosaur made out of dinosaur bones, it moves and looks very authentically and just adds to the realisation of what is being seen on screen in relation to real life. The only difference is the film is fictional.

So 'Night of the Museum' is a bit of a topsy turvy film, and at the end it's all wham bam thank ya mam! 5/10

Saturday 14 June 2014

Review : The Zoo Keeper



Zoo Keeper : Kevin James interacts and talks to the animals and they talk to him and overall consensus of this is he helped them. Now they communicate with him and want to help him, as a way of saying Thank You.

Hey Everyone

Welcome to my newest review which is The Zoo Keeper. Going into detail, there is not much to go by other than the fact you know your going into a family film with a certificate PG. It's an all roundabout movie which is good for children and adults and blends in quite well in making it anything no less complex than that.

It is a very interesting film, based on the fact that I was blind going into this film. I watched it, thought it wasn't too bad considering that this a very underrated movie. I think it doesn't do too badly, It may not stand up so well in delivering the laughs, but I can see how it tries to be funny.

Obviously some of the gags could of been a lot more off the wall, and over exaggerated but I'm glad that all of the gags are suttle and much more contained. It could of been something a lot more catastrophic. The film itself, I understand as I think it tries to be a warm family film that relates to both children and adults. I think it does that quite well.

I can't say much for the acting, the acting I think is very mediocre when coming into a film where it's a comedy, not only a comedy but a family comedy you'd expect things to be bit faint and lighthearted and the lightheartedness of it. I didn't feel I was seeing any enthusiasm from any member of the main cast in it. The moments of true ident are none.

I think the problem that some people have with this film is that they don't realize that it is actually funny. I think if you want to enjoy the film. You have to be more laid back and more calm to just enjoy the ride. Some sparks of comedy and fun but largely a flat and unrewarding comedy. 5/10

Friday 13 June 2014

Review : Forrest Gump



Forrest Gump : Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what your going to get.


Hello All

Forrest Gump, a memorable and moving tale which starts off at a man sitting on a bench, ready to tell his story. Tom Hanks gives a very memorable and insightful performance which adds to the drama and make the film all the more genuine.

So the idea of the story is that It's a look in the life of Forrest Gump and different diversities of what goes on in his life. What makes the film interesting and I want engages the audience the most with this film is the fact that Forrest is different. He is very unlike any other boy in his class at school, he thinks and acts differently.
However the story is about this man and his incredible life achievements. Obviously there some connections to be made throughout the course of the film, which are there to help us engage us more.

For me I feel that with this film it's all about the timing, and this is a film that requires a lot of patience, and it takes its time. Throughout the duration of the film you do get the feeling that the pacing and indeed the co-ordination is profoundly well timed to both add to the drama and to tell the story properly.

I think the reason why I like Forrest so much is that he is a daft, yet lovable character. He is never mistaken or misjudged by anyone as being stupid or retarded or any form of being which narrows him to the lowest common denominator. He is a character that has many great attributes which make him such a wonderful character. It also gives Tom Hanks a lot to go on as well. You can tell that Tom had no problem with this or if he did the technicalities in his performance are so well done, you can hardly notice a fault. It's not effortless or faultless. Tom just doesn't hold back from showing the character he's playing with true honesty.

It's a drama at the end of all. Just a drama, with a lot of depth into it's main character and has much to be learnt from. 7/10

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Review : Attack the Block



Attack the Block : Joe Cornish's creature movie where a group of teens, bare arms to defend their block from a savage monstrous alien menace.

Hey Everyone

Welcome to my latest review, in today's update I will be talking about Joe Cornish's 'Attack the Block' a film I didn't expect to like so much as I do.

The story goes that a group of teens are out drinking on Fireworks night, and they come across a dead alien, It's finding this alien that is turning point in the film and all the intense action starts happening and it soon becomes a fight for survival as they try to stay alive, as they work their way up the tower block.

The base of the plot is great, the pace of it is very coherent and very much does a very good job at keeping the suspense going. It's part mickey take out of other films, part gag part serious, and the course of suspense all mix together to form one good solid movie.

I think what makes the film funny, is it's sort of mild humour which engages its laughs through both physicality and references to other films. Violence can be funny, in interpreted in the right light hearted way it's why slap stick works so well. It's more or less the case with this film, but with baseball bats and fireworks.

The film also achieves something raw and refreshing which implies it being anything other than 'another creature movie' in the sense that the aliens themselves are not like anything seen previous and they move like apes yet snarl and roar like tigers, have razor sharp teeth and claws to carry off a real menacing look.

And I think it's the case of the scenario's of this film is what I find most interesting. The fact that you got your setting - a tower block, your situation - alien invasion and your characters. With those three on your side your in for a strong performance.

And I really like the script, the script and the dialogue is all very fluent to it's present day elaborate setting and the lighten of the mood is very much there and all the raw basic stuff, what is missing however is the lack of concentrational balance which isn't too much of a problem, because the film starts off well, mellows down in the middle and redeems itself at the end with a overall big bang conclusion.

Overall, really good film indeed. 7/10

Friday 6 June 2014

Review : The Change Up



The Change Up : Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman star together, one the free way man who's got all this free time on his hands. The other a family man dedicated to his wife and family and one day they switch body so the other one has each others lives.

Hey Everyone.

Welcome to my latest film update, which The Change Up. A Sitcom starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds. Who change places which therefore causes, drastic measures.

This film is a situation comedy, short on situation and indeed comedy, So the story is Jason Bateman is a family man, who is dedicated to his wife, children and job, he's a go getter works hard everyday and yet complains not to have it all, and reminisces in the free time he no longer has. Then you got Ryan Reynolds who is a free way man who has all the free time in the world. So what if they switched bodies and so one has gets an incite into the others life... this totally does not copy off Freaky Friday in the slightest.

The writers from The Hangover present a half asked production it has to be said, in terms of deliverance to the script, the weight of it and carrying the comedy and the drama and the situation is just all over the place. One minute the films really happy, then its sad and very serious and then it's all laughs and giggles. It's a jam packed emotional rollar coaster ride.

It basically says 'Hey. Jason Bateman is being a Ryan Reynolds being a jack ass, and Ryan Reynolds being Jason Batemen being less of a jack ass.' In the 'Change Up' And you know there is a saying where you have to judge films on their own merit? Judge them on their own terms, whatever their selling out to be, people always say that critics are such party poopers, and will make anything up for good press attention, and that it all adds up to saying 'some films are just fun, and some films are just action and quality' so deal with it. 

Well, that is not always the case. There is a difference between a good comedy film and a bad comedy film, In the case of something like 'Ted' it's all right. Seth McFarlane humour, duo of a guy and his teddy bear and the hilarious things they get up to. Which is all fine, then you got something like 'The Change Up' with these two guys. Their chalk and cheese, etc we know how these rifts work.

And it is perfectly possible to watch them and be entertained by them, and it also possible to say 'that's neither enjoyable or funny'. And the problem with this film is, it's 112 minutes of dire tripe which doesn't do either of those things. It tries too hard to be funny, there are some scenes which are very uncomfortable to watch.

Overall, Insufficient laughter, Insufficient situations, Insufficient engagement with the audience not much explanation to the what or why the two men changed places. It doesn't back itself up. So Yeah... Not good in many ways. 3/10

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Review : A Million Ways to Die



A Million Ways to Die in the West : A film from the man who brought us Ted and Family Guy, Seth McFarlane is at it again. Writing, Directing and now starring in his own film. Which is over crowded with other famous faces which we're all familiar with from other things. The Story goes that as a cowardly farmer begins to fall for a mysterious new woman who comes into town, he must put his new-found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival.

Hey Everyone

Welcome to my newest review, which is the newest Seth McFarlane movie. 'A Million Ways to Die in the West'. The film was released over the weekend, and I've had amble opportunity to go and see it shortly after it came out. Now I do find Seth McFarlane and his material very funny. I love Family Guy and I really enjoyed 'Ted' so I couldn't wait to see what Million Ways to Die would have in store for me.

The film is over crowded with famous faces, all of which are actors I'm familiar with. Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanada Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman and Giovanni Ribisi all of which do their pit and names help advertise the film quite well. 

As far as popularity goes, I think Seth McFarlane humour is for an acquired taste, I understand fully that not everyone likes Family Guy and Ted and this new film, It's completely understandable as to why this sort of comedy isn't for everyone, lots of crude humour and sex references and other rude stuff which mesh together to form a deliverance to make people laugh, and you laugh and enjoy the ride.

I did go into 'Million Ways to Die' wanting it be something new, wanting it to be something refreshing and highlight Seth McFarlane in a new diversity, and I also thought 'ok, It will do as well as Ted did' and actually quite the opposite happend. What this film did was make me see a new light to Seth McFarlane, the kind that me think 'you know what, that wasn't all that great'. This film is quite boorish. It strolls along in the world of Seth McFarlane which tells a immature, violent and I hate to say it unfunny tale. The film isn't funny. I sat there watching it in the cinema with about 8 people, no one laughed. I did start to question 'what's up with Seth McFarlane' why is he not making me enjoy his work? It was a challenge to want to enjoy this film whilst watching it. 

There was something about the pacing of it and the overall synopsis of moulding humour into the dialogue which didn't do it for me. The gags just arn't funny enough, and what it comes down to in the end is insufficient laughter, which is a dreadful shame. It really is. And I want to like it more, partly because I really like Seth McFarlane and his past achievements, but 'Million Ways to Die' was just a flop, a monumental flop. I think part of the reason it fails is because Seth McFarlane himself is in it, he's playing a character. After watching his performance as Albert, I don't think much of Seth as an actor. He's great at doing his voices, and he's a good director but I think acting is stretching it a bit for him.

So yeah... didn't like this film. don't think much of it. 4/10