Review : Red

RED : Retired and Extremely Dangerous. When former black - ops agent Frank Moses has his peaceful life of retirement, threatened by a high-tech assassin, Frank reassembles his old team to come out of retirement, for one last job; in an effort to survive and uncover his assailants.

Hello Film Lovers

I trust you all had a nice weekend, Welcome to my next Dr Film review, which is RED starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirrin. Directed by Robert Schwentke who directed other movies such as "The Time Traveller's Wife" and "Flight Plan".

The film was released back in 2010. Had a budget of $58,000,000 (estimated),  did fairly well in the box office making a profit of $90,356,857 (USA) (28th of January 2011)

The Storyline consits of that of  retired agent Frank (Bruce Willis) who is bored and lonely living off his government pension, in a nondescript suburb in an equally nondescript house. The only joy in Frank's life are his calls to the government pension processing centre when he gets to talk to his case worker Sarah (Mary-Louis Parker).

Sarah is as bored and lonely as Frank is and marks her conversations with the unknown Frank and her spy novels as the only things fun in her life. When something in Frank's past forces Frank back into his old line of work again, he puts an unwitting Sarah in the middle of the intrigue, Frank and Sarah begin a journey into Franks past and the people he used to work with. Like Frank they are all RED ... Retired Extremely Dangerous.

This film, I'll be honest. I wasn't expecting much. I did like the storyline of it, I thought the ideas presented were good. But I though whilst watching it. It didn't do much for me, really. I just got board part way through and it didn't really arouse my interests at all, I had no interest in the plot.

To those who do really like it, I can understand why. The cast they got is great, people like Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirrin, John Malkovich they are all really big movie stars acting in an action film together. That's a really good set up of a cast, It's funny on many occasions. It's melodramatic comedy which plays for laughs. Some of the effects and action sequences are really good, they're directed well, very clean cut and precise, very dramatic, creates tension.





So what is it about RED that I don't like. If I'm being bluntly honest, I found it difficult to keep up with the pace of it. It is quite a slow movie. By the end of it, I sometimes watch a film hoping to get something out of it. Red is one of, about 3 films I've seen, which I've watched and left not learning anything from it. Other than fact, having me ask the question - have I waisted my time watching this?

There isn't really a member of the cast, I can pick out as being better than the other. I do think that they were just actors doing a job, like actors do. I think on behalf of me as a viewer, I struggled to invest in the characters. Which in turn partly spoiled my enjoyment of the film.

The length and the pace of it, for me I felt it was quite a long film to watch and to get to grips with. It took a while for the story to really engage and pick u the pace to become a heavy action thriller that it was, I do feel perhaps it was cheated a bit, because you got a great concept and a really good cast of people, in a quite dire and badly executed film.




As you can tell by examination, I didn't enjoy RED very much at all, it's not the best action film I've seen, but it is far from the worst.

I'll give it 5/10 - Which is standard even ground.

Thank you for reading this review

NEXT TIME : I will review 'Despicable Me' starring Steve Carrel, I will post that review on Friday the 2nd of August 2013.

 

Review : Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes : Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Dr John Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.

Hello Film Fans

Welcome to my latest rant on the media of film, in today's review I will reviewing Sherlock Holmes. Starring Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr John Watson.

Sherlock Holmes; is not a great film, by any stretch of the imagination. I've always been a bit sceptical with this film, because it is one of those films where I've always felt, you have to be in the right mood to watch it. And there are a few films out there that are like that, and Sherlock Holmes is one of them. You got to be in the right frame of mind, to watch this film, in order to get everything out of it. And even then it isn't brilliant; by any means. 

Sometimes I've watched this film and believed it to be utter dire tripe. Other times I've watched it and thought it was an okay movie, and considered it to be easy viewing. Today as I go through the film I will be giving my own biased opinion on this film, and you as the reader can make up your own mind afterwards.

The film starts off really well, very atmospherically, you got the Victorian gaslight streets of London. I really liked the setting. I thought it was pretty authentic, then we are introduced to Robert Downey Jr's interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, we whiteness his character, calculating an act of violence and what he's going to do before he does it. Step by step, he does exactly what we know he said what he was going to do, which is to be expected, we saw it coming.

Already, just by viewing that little aspect of the film, the viewer is given an instant piece of knowledge about Downey Jr's Holmes, what his character is about. That can calculate a method of violence in seconds, which makes him brainy as well as unusual. It gives the viewer something to cling onto and drive the story forward through his character, which is great. The audience is entertained and interested within seconds of the film starting.

Later on in the beginning scene, Holmes and Watson are on the brink of solving a case, and preventing a murder. They prevent the murder, catch the culprit. Meet with the police who arrest the culprit, it is then we are introduced to a opening credits sequence, which is over all flamboiant and graphic.

After the opening credits, We start to get caught up into the story. Holmes and Watson have finally caught serial killer and occult "sorcerer" Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his collaborating assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case.

Blackwood is hung by the neck until death, people assume that is the end of him. However after Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his dark and chilling killing spree, Holmes and Watson must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner's new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues behind the mystery. Which will evidently lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and worse still, the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.

 

So as you can tell by the premises of what the plot offers, that this film has the basis of a good story. The concept is there. I would be obliged to agree that there is nothing wrong with the story. I feel however maybe the films biggest fault, if probably due to the pase of it, or the progression of the story, it certainly gets better and more dramatic towards the end. I do think, that the major fault in this film, is probably the pase of it. It doesn't really do anything for me at all.

That being said, There some great fight scenes in this film. It's funny, the concept is clever, nice twists and turns in the plot that keeps the audience guessing, I love the costumes and settings to impersonate the 1880's /90's; It's very authentic and believable to the audience to extent their imagination.

As a crime drama, yes I would say that this film, stands up pretty well as being a decent feature length crime drama. It has a certain cleverness to it, which as I said keeps the audience guessing and wanting more. Which is why I think it's important that you should be in the right frame of mind to watch this film, otherwise your just not going to get it, at all. It will bore you.



Performance wise, You have some fantastic actors coming into this production who have a plethora of experience, so there is no doubt that he or she will do a good job.

I liked Robert Downey Jr, as Sherlock Holmes, I think Downey Jr is one of those people who is really good as being unusual, and strange. He has that quality of essentricty to him which in turn pays off, because it makes him likable as an actor.

Jude Law as well, very good performance from him, he plays Watson. very controlled and bold performance, again Jude Law is one of those actors who knows how to act, and act well, so he and Robert Downey Jr together are absolutely dynamic. They are a fantastic pair.

Mark Strong, playing the baddie. very sinister appeal to his character, sharp and controlled. He looks convincing to me as someone who could be evil, what Mark is able to do with his expressions and his eyes is brilliant, he takes a gift that he has, and uses it in order to tell his character. He is an actor with a lot of skill, and like Downey Jr, he to is eccentric. Again brilliant performance.

Rachael McAdams as Irene Adler, on one hand the over confident sex appeal of the show. on the other a scared little girl who just wants to stop running. Rachael McAdams, again very experienced, she's very good in other serious drama's that she's done. In this she's great for the purpose of her character being supported by Downey Jr.

As far as the Production is concerned on Sherlock Holmes, it has it's moments of accuracy and necessity of being a crime drama. Which is all very good, it accomplishes the task set. Holmes of course being an incredible story, and now that we have these new films out we as the viewer can enjoy and of course, we have the TV series with Benedict Cumberbatch which is brilliant as well. 

Overall I do believe that is film is very much down to how the viewer is feeling, if your in the mood to sit down and watch it and intake all you can from it. Then do. I think you'll take a lot form it. If you however don't feel that way, then my advice would be, to watch it later when your in a better mood.

I will give it a 6/10, It's an ok film, with a decent plot and storyline.

1 Gold Star to Robert Downey Jr
1 Gold Star to Mark Strong

Thank you for reading this review, I hope my review has been useful to you. Should you go on to watch the film.

NEXT TIME : I will review Spy action thriller 'Red' starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirrin.

I will post that review on Monday the 29th of July 2013.

Review : Snakes on a Plane

Snakes on a Plane -  A tight spot thriller, in which an FBI agent takes a plane journey,  full of some unexpected guests, a group of deadly and poisonous snakes. Deliberately released to kill a witness being flown from Honolulu to Los Angeles to testify against a mob boss.

Hello Film Fans

Welcome to my newest film review, in today's review I have chosen a tight spot thriller, starring Samuel L Jackson, 'Snakes on a Plane'.

The film was released back in the summer of 2006. It did pretty well, I'm sure it stands up as being a pretty successful movie, I certainly enjoyed it. I think the idea was good, if your wanting to come up with an idea for a new thriller, why do a film set on a plane, and have deadly snakes on that plane with them. That's a really good idea for a tight spot thriller movie, it can entertain as well as excite. The title 'Snakes on a Plane' though it does what it says on the tin, it's to the point, punchy and an exciting title, so very well chosen title.

The Storyline to 'Snakes on a Plane' entails of a young man - Sean Jones who whilst practising motocross in Hawaii,  witnesses the brutal murder of an important American prosecutor, by a powerful and untouchable mobster Eddie Kim.

He is protected and persuaded by the FBI agent Neville Flynn, who strongly suggests that Sean testifies against Eddie in Los Angeles. They embark in the red-eye Flight 121 of Pacific Air, occupying the entire first-class section.

However, It's not all plain sailing, as Eddie dispatches hundred of different species of snakes airborne. At a set time operated device in the luggage to release the snakes on the flight with the intent of crashing the plane. Neville and the passengers have to then struggle to avoid the snakes and survive.

As you can tell, the storyline arouses the interests of viewer to want to go and see it. The snakes themselves are computerised and accomplished with CGI. They looked to me quite animated and not so much believable as they could have looked, however if it looks like a snake, that's all the viewer needs in order to know what it is, I'm just pointing if you notice, they do look off - putting.



It is arguably said that this film is quite over dramatic, which I would agree to disagree upon, in some places yes, but it is just trying to fulfil it's purposes of being a thriller. It's nothing you can blame the film for as being a let down. In other ways it fails to gain interest, for example the first couple of minutes are a little hazy, it takes a while for the real action to start, and when the action does start, it never stops and lasts until the last few minutes. The director did a very good job at keeping the pace going, not excelling the limit of going to quickly, the action very much progresses all the way through.

Performance wise, you have Samuel L Jackson, who is probably the most experienced and well known actor in the cast. He was great. I really enjoyed the performance he gave, he was funny, serious and never let the two compare. You can tell he had a great time making that film.

The director on 'Snakes on a Plane' David R. Ellis; did a great job at fulfilling the needs of an action movie, I thought he did a very good job. As I said earlier he did a good job at keeping the pace going, he knew what he wanted the actors to do, which is always a good thing. He came across to me as being a very clear director who presented his ideas well, and communicated very much all of what he wanted to communicate.




 Overall 'Snakes on a Plane' It's a film in which you need to make up your own mind on, should you go on to watch it. It's all very well just saying my opinion, but really it really is up to you, what you think. Hopefully you'll agree with me, or maybe you'll have a different opinion to mine, entirely.

It is in my opinion, a very good film - 6/10

1 Gold Star to Samuel L Jackson

NEXT TIME : I will be reviewing 'Sherlock Holmes' starring Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr Watson. An interesting film, one I have mixed views about which I will go into more detail about when I review it.

I will review it on Saturday the 27th of July 2013.

Review : The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises -  Eight years has passed since Harvey Dent died. a new and deadly evil rises from where the Batman and Commissioner Gordon tried to bury it, causing the Batman to resurface and fight to protect Gotham City... the very city which brands him an enemy.

Hello Film lovers

In today's review, I will review a fantastic film, a truly epic conclusion to the dark knight legend. The Dark Knight rises, sees the conclusion to the Christopher Nolan trilogy and sees Christian Bale hang up his mask and cape for good.

The film was a huge hit last year, with it being widely renounded as being one of the best films released in 2012. It stands out in my mind as being a great film, It didn't have as big an impact on me as much as 'The Dark Knight' did. However having said that, The Dark Knight Rises never fails to entertain me, and it's action packed, brilliantly directed and builds up to it's climax brilliantly.

The Story or continuation from where The Dark Knight left off is, Despite his tarnished reputation after the catastrophes of the joker and the fall of Harvey Dent, Batman feels compelled to intervene to assist the city and its police force which is struggling to cope with Bane's plans to corrupt and destroy the city.

Bane of course, is Batman's arch Nemesis in 'The Dark Knight Rises' and what a villain to pick for Batman to fight against. Bane has had a bumpy ride over the years of Batman movies. This time we get to see Bane in a new way, He's still tough and true to the character in the comic strips and graphic novels, but I think bringing the sense of intellect and morality to the character makes the character ever more intimidating.




Bane of course, is played by actor Tom Hardy, and Tom Hardy is just extraordinary in this, what he's able to do with his expressions and his eyes, it's really quite clever and unnerving. As I watch him, he's very plain sighted but he's playing a character who knows no boundaries, inside he's planning stuff, stuff we don't know about but we will do as the film progresses. Hardy communicates that to the audience with intimidating appeal, and expressions with his eyes and eye brows, it's difficult to act without your mouth, he did an amazing job, Tom Hardy, he did good with what he had.

People now and again complain about the plot holes in this story, though I wasn't aware there were so many when I first watched it, looking back on it now, It is a story that leaves the audience members asking a lot of questions - for example 17 minutes into the film, you got Alfred telling you how the film is going to end, some people may think that that was a clever pick up line, for me I knew what was happening whilst watching that that was going to happen

However in contrast to that the film also ends leaving people in believing that they have watched something incredible - for example that plan crash scene at the beginning with Bane was one of the best scenes I have seen in a film, in all the years I've been on this planet, which is all of 17 and a 1/2 years now, that scene blew me away.

It has to be said, Christopher Nolan does a great job on producing and directing this film, to the up most of abilities. It is a dedicated and very profounded piece with excellent casting, I mean Anne Hathaway as Cat woman was just incredible, one the best performances she's in a film by a mile.



As a story, I thought it was clever, I thought some of the explanations as to how what happened were clever, all the back story to the prison set in the pit was very detailed and fitted into the story perfectly, Bruce Wayne's courage and devotion was tested to the limit. At the time when I first saw it, I didn't really get all the messages, but now that I do. It makes perfect sense to me as to how he could escape, and why he needed to escape.

The final battle was brilliantly shot, very climatic and adaptable for the cinema, overly dramatic and had me on edge, which again was good.

In a nutshell, a really fantastic film. one of the best films I've seen in many a long day. A great way to end the story, not that I wanted it to end. There are a few plot holes which let the story down, should you care to question it, but still overly brilliant, visually stunning, great pop corn flick, it offers more than any Batman film can.

For that reason I'll give it a 8/10

Thank you for reading this review.

NEXT TIME : I will review 'Snakes on a Plane' next, Samuel L Jackson experiences extreme turbulence and tackles some unwanted guests in another high tense action thriller, I will post that review on Thursday the 25th of July 2013.

Review : The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight :  When Batman, L.T Gordon and new D.A Harvey Dent launch an assault on the mob, they let the clown out of the box, so to speak. The Joker is back, bent on turning Gotham on itself and bringing any heroes down to his level.

Hello Film Lovers

Welcome to the latest of Dr Film film reviews. Today I will be continuing my pursuit into the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy. Today I am going to be talking about The Dark Knight, the second instalment of the trilogy and probably the most important part of the Bruce Wayne story. Though Batman Begins was more a starting off point Dark Knight really excels and explores the character of Bruce Wayne, and how he deals with being a billionaire by day, and crime fighter Batman at night.

This time, Batman is up against a new opponent - The Joker. Which is a no brainer really, he is the most iconic and dangerous villain in the world of Batman. If your doing a Batman film, sooner or later the writer of the director realises, The Joker's going to have to turn up some time.

The Continuation or this sector of the story, explores Batman and how he raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and New District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organisations that plague the city streets.

This partnership proves to be effective to start of with. But they soon find themselves, prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.

The issues raised in Dark Knight, are fairly straight forward, like Batman Begins it delivers a little message of it's own, that message being the Joker's message of 'One ordinary man can fall' and the Joker is a great antagonist. He's very much his own boss, he is a man who just wants to watch the world burn, and takes pleasure of doing horrible things for his own gain, and Nolan really plays with that, he doesn't see the Joker as a laughy physcopath, he sees him a calculating and domineering character, that is one step ahead of Batman all the time.




I think what makes the Dark Knight, a disconcerting story is the fact of the matter of there being quite gritty and cold violence in it. not that I object to that, I would expect no less, but at the same time this is not a children's film. The 12 rating is something, which needs to be taken seriously. I do think that though the story is very meaningful and good, It is a very on edge, high tense thriller with very gritty and gory moments in there. It's the sort of thing which needs to be taken seriously. Not to any extreme  extent cause it's a fiction, but still the awareness issues, and political messages, I would suggest taking them into account. Other wise, what's the point of watching the film.

The story explores new depths to Bruce, as Bruce and Bruce as Batman, you can tell he finds it difficult to tackle the two roles, hand in hand. I think that really comes through especially in the scene, where the audience witness the death of Rachael, and the demise of Harvey Dent when he becomes Two Face. That's a great example of the importance of a decisison. Especially for Bruce, because at the time he's not Bruce - he's Batman, he's just doing a job. The point is explored further in a different scene where Alfred reads the letter that Rachael writes to Bruce, of how she is sure he knows that he will always be Batman. It's true, but very much a kick in the head.



In a nutshell, The story is better developed, and explores the aspects of Bruce Wayne tackling between him and his alter-ego very well. very much a more darker and mellow story than Batman begins, which is a good and bad thing.

The main problem, is that this film really concentrates on selling itself on being one thing, that slows the story right down.

Overall, I think The Dark Knight is just an amazing film, but has it's faults here and there. 8/10

Thank You for reading this review

TOMORROW: I review the conclusion - 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Review : Batman Begins

Batman Begins : After being mentally and physically trained by his mentor, Bruce Wayne becomes Batman and begins his war on crime to free the crime-ridden Gotham City; In order top avenge the death of his parents and  defeat the corruption that the Scarecrow and the League of Shadows have cast upon the city.

Hello Film Lovers

Welcome to the next Dr.Film review of the month, in today's reviews I will be beginning my reviews for the Christopher Nolan - Batman trilogy. Over the next 3 days, I will be reviewing all three Nolan Batman movies, as I did with the Hangover trilogy, just so I can look back on each of the three movies with fondness and explore the world of Bruce Wayne, through Nolan's eyes.

Every Journey has a beginning, so I will start off with 'Batman Begins'. Released back in June 2005, Starring Christian Bale, Micheal Caine and Liam Neesan in the leading roles. 

The Story starts off with giving off the starting point to Bruce Wayne's story, before he became Batman; When his parents were killed, millionaire playboy Bruce relocates to Asia when he is mentored by Henri Ducard and Ra's Al Ghul in how to fight evil. 

When learning about the plan to wipe out evil and destroy Gotham City by Ducard, Bruce prevents the plan from getting any further and heads back to his home. Back in his original surroundings, Bruce adopts the image of a bat to strike fear into the hearts of criminals and the corrupt as the icon known as 'Batman'. But it doesn't stay quiet for long.

In a sense there is a message of 'The mantel of Batman is more than a suit, it's more than a job. It's a legend. It's whats needed to strike fear into the hearts of criminals, remember criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot. If they see you out there, they have a reason to be afraid. Batman gives them something to be afraid of' and that message never goes away, during the procreation of the first film. It stays with the audience from when Bruce puts on the Batman suit for the first time in Batman Begins, to the very end of 'The Dark Knight Rises'.

The attention to detail, in Batman Begins is so well interiated and designed, and the production on it is just fantastic, and for a production released in 2005, It was very good going of them to create something so brilliantly detailed and crafted. for example 'Wayne Manour' I thought all the sets for Wayne Manor were great, sort of 1800's feel to it, gives off big impression for the big pressures Bruce Wayne is under as Bruce Wayne and as Batman. I believe Nolan shows that off brilliantly.





  

However, If I'm honest with you my absolute favourite scene from 'Batman Begins' is the final climatic fight scene on the train, between Batman and the main villain Liam Neesan's - Ra's Al Ghul. I though the fight sequence was very clean cut, built up dramatically through the music and over all brought tension to me as a viewer, so all in all very good going, I think that's a brilliant scene.

Idea wise, I liked the idea that The League of Shadows were going to terrorise Gotham by inflicting a terror gas across the city through using Gotham's water supply; it's a clever way to do it. It was well written, and well included Cillian Murphy as 'Scarecrow / Dr Craine'.

Performance wise, I can't really say an awful lot about the actors performances; because no one really stood out to me as being better than anyone else, I thought all members of the cast of 'Batman Begins' were great, they were equal to their own level as well as other members of the cast. I liked everyone, even the extras did a good job.

'Batman Begins' offers something different, than any other Batman movie released previous, it has emotion, it has depth to the story, it has very good attention to detail. I would recommend though, You should probably watch 'Batman Begins' a few times in order to get it. You do need to watch it a few times, in order to understand the true meaning behind it, to expect the unexpected and embrace the challenges that this movie throws upon it's viewers.

Overall, I would say a very decent start to something that could only get better as it goes along.

I'll give 'Batman Begins' a 7.5/10

Thank you for reading this review, I hope you enjoyed it.

TOMORROW: I will review 'The Dark Knight' a film that has gone down in movie history as being ' a masterpiece'

Review : This is the End

This is the End - While attending a massive party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other well known celebrities are faced with a terrifying apocalypse.



Hello Everyone


Welcome to my next Dr.Film film review, which is the new Seth Rogan movie 'This is the End'. A movie I was very excited about watching, I thought the concept was great, I thought the celebrities were very well chosen; it's very much like "extras" where the celebs involved play over exaggerated versions of themselves, which is great. I love a laugh.

I'll be honest I wasn't expecting much, I knew it was going to be about the end of the world, but I had no idea that the cast members were going to be playing themselves, until I saw the trailers. Based on the trailers and all the publicity stuff, it really excelled my interests in wanting to go and see it. It was promoted very well, for something that came to my attention, at let's face it - the last minute. I had no idea that this was coming out.

The Story is takes place in Los Angeles in 2013. Whilst attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the climatic and terrifying apocalypse. To such lengths of six guys be stuck in a house. they are barricaded in, with little food and water. Between the six of them, although their friends there is a lot of conflict and disagreement that goes on between this group of friends.

Which I don't object to, arguments within a group are interesting, if they were to get on between the start and end of the film, the film would just get boring. I do feel some of the jokes were a bit over the top. I feel some of the acting was a bit hammy in places, namely from James Franco Danny McBride and Jonah Hill. Other than that, didn't really have a lot problems with 'This is the end' I thought it was a pretty decent film.



As far as jokes are concerned, this film could of been funnier. I smirked at some lines, but I during the whole course of the film, I didn't laugh out loud. One thing I really didn't like was the moderate sex references and penis jokes, they just weren't funny. they were stupid. There's an example of this when the guys are discussing what to do with Emma Watson, and Jay makes a suggestion for which is misunderstood, the whole raping Emma Watson thing just wasn't funny at all. As a comedy it was disappointing.

As a thriller it wasn't, I thought the director and Seth Rogan did a very good job at keeping the pace going. There were as I said conflicts and disagreements amongst several characters, and each character has something bad about them for which by the end they start to understand and learn from their mistakes. In the end, learn to repent so they can go up to heaven.

I thought, the whole set up of the destroyed world, was fantastic, it looked believable. It was atmopsheric, it was authentic, it gave off a dark mood to it which was awesome. It gave off a real christian sense of realism between the worlds of heaven and hell, and that this demon with five heads is coming back to walk the earth. That was all good, that made sense and fitted into the story really well. I also liked the look of heaven, that was good, as a christian it resembles everything id expect heaven to look like.



In a nutshell, This was in every sense of the word, and okay-ish movie. nothing special, not hilariously funny. Just ok. Seth Rogan's done better.

I'll give it a 6/10

Thank you for reading this review, if you don't like what I've said, it is just my opinion. I am very open to hearing other comments you have to say about the film. As I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

NEXT TIME : I will review Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Batman trilogy. Starting with 'Batman Begins' were the journey starts for Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne. I will start the Batman reviews on Thursday the 18th of July 2013.

Review : Django Unchained

Django Unchained - A western adventure, of which a middle aged black slave, who gains the help of a German bounty hunter, who condemns him a freed slave. The two of them set off to rescue his wife from a brutal and cruel Mississippi plantation owner.

Hello Film Lovers.

Welcome to my newest review of this month, which is a Quentin Tarantino classic 'Django Unchained'. This film was written and directed by Tarantino, and I will start off the review by saying 'Django Unchained' is an absolutely incredible film. I'd go as far as to say it's one of the best films released this year, it's brilliant.

The Film is about exploring the story of one former dentist, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), who buys the freedom of a middle-aged slave, Django (Jamie Fox), and then trains him up with the intent to make him his deputy bounty hunter. Instead, he gains the interest, of embarking on a journey to find and rescue, Django's wife who is under the hands of Calvin Candie (Leonardo Di Caprio), who is this ruthless, vile and cruel plantation owner.

The movie basis itself off the old western adventures. Stuff like the old hard hitting 'Clint Eastwood' wild west movies, So people who have seen those films will probably have a better understanding of the setting, but it was set during a time where black people were not treated as equals, and that white people always had the upper hand. Black people were not treated like individuals or treated like a person, Django however is an exception, because he was bought his freedom.

The costumes for this are very detailed, They add impressionism to the mood, and allow the audience to play on their imaginations So all in all, really liked the costumes, I thought they were all very well designed, and matched the time it was set as well as the scenery and the sets were.

Performance wise Jamie Fox as 'Django' was brilliant, in the many occasion where he showed fury and anger, it put you on edge, he had a great sense of control in this part, he was funny on some occasions and just overall did a very good job.

Christoph Waltz for me; blew every other member of the cast out of the water. even Leonardo Di Caprio and Samuel L Jackson who are tow very professional actors. He for me delivered such a lovely performance, through his body language, his speech, his mannerisms, I loved every second of his performance on screen, he is a brilliant actor.

Leonardo Di Caprio, probably gave one of his strongest performances, ever in this film. I know some people will discredit me for not saying 'Titanic' or any other movies he's better remembered for. But I truly think he did an amazing job in this film. He plays a plantation owner, who on one hand is a charming, well polite and a proper gentlemen. and on the other is a really cold, cruel, vile vicious man and he was an excellent villain I thought.

The way he played it and played with the two sides to his character, made me feel uneasy and unsure of what his character was about. not that that's neccacraly a bad thing, it just meant he communicated a message to me which said, "I may appear nice, but underneath I'm a total bastard".

Samuel L Jackson, back again in a Tarantino movie, playing a sort of co-villain if you like. his character is quite an intimidating and nasty person. Just as bad as Leonardo Di Caprio's character, but on the other hand is a black man. I think that makes his character all the more interesting, he's a black man which has the respect of a white man, so therefore can do whatever he wants.



Quentin Tarantino pulled off another amazing project, besides all the graphic violence and bloody horror, he wrote and directed what I believe to be a truly clever, well written and thought out piece of drama which ticks pretty much all the boxes for me. Tarantino is so clever and so precise. I have no doubt he can deliver a great movie which adults can enjoy. There are some limitations with his work, sometimes it can be over exaggerated but then that also shows a great way of learning.

In a nutshell, I think 'Django Unchained' is a film in which the actors are tested as actors to perform. It allows the audience to get caught into the world of Quentin Tarantino. And it's just overall a wonderful Western Adventure. - 9/10

1 Gold Star to Christoph Waltz

1 Platinum to Quentin Tarantino

Thank you for reading this review, I hope you enjoyed reading my points of praise on this film. And if you haven't seen this movie, go out and buy it on DVD.

NEXT TIME : I will review 'This is the End' starring a plethora of well known faces : James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Emma Watson

I will post that review on Tuesday the 16th of July 2013.

Review : Broken City

Broken City -Written by Brian Tucker and Directed by Allen Highes, A story set in a city rife with injustice, ex-cop Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) seeks vengeance against the most powerful figure: Mayor Nicholas Hostetler (Russell Crowe), after being double-crossed and then framed.

Hello Film lovers

Welcome to a new Dr Film review, in today's review I have decided to look at 'Broken City' an action thriller based on political activism, in America today.

The film was released in the US on the 18th of January 2013, and came to the UK on the 1st of March 2013. It runs for approximately 109 minutes in total, so it's not a very long film.

The Story is set in New York City, more ore less around the time we are in now so 2010/12 that sort of time. Detective Inspector Bill Taggart finds himself up against a court, being charged for murder for killing   a thug and rapist Mikey Tavarez.

However important evidence vanishes from the case, and Billy is declared not-guilty by the judge. But the Mayor of the city, Nicholas Hostetler and the Chief of Police Carl Fairbanks, decide between them it would be in Bill's best interests, if  he leaves the police department.

Seven years later on it's the year 2012 or near abouts, Billy is a private detective that lives with his girlfriend Natalie Barrow, who is an aspirant actress and the sister of Mikey's victim. His secretary Katy Bradshaw (Alona Tal) is trying to collect a part of the debts in an attempt to try and rescue their business.

It's the week of the general elections, the competition between Mayor Hostetler and his opponent is very intense. One afternoon Hostetler summons Billy to his office and offers him a reward of 50,000 dollars to investigate and spy on his wife Cathleen Hostetler (Catherine Zeta Jones) that he believes is having a love affair.

Billy is suspicious at first, but then he discovers that Cathleen has been meeting up with a man called Paul Andrews, who is the coordinator of the campaign of Jack Valliant - Nick Hostetler's opponent.  Billy manages to sneak past the two of them, He takes some photos of the two of them and gives them to the Mayor. Though when Paul is found dead on the street one night, Billy finds that he had been double-crossed by the mayor and he decides to investigate matters further.



As a concept, this film is certainly one that grabs my interests. It has an outlined political messages besides all the action, extreme car chases and gun fights.

Mark Wahlberg is absolutely fantastic in this film, really controlled. Good at playing a tough guy, isn't afraid to do punch ups. Overall fantastic performance from him.

Russel Crowe, (besides Catherine Zeta Jones) the only well experienced actor in the whole of the cast, really gritty and nasty and vile character that he played. What I love about his character and the way he played was that his violence was not physical. it's how he manipulates other people to do the dirty work for him, makes his character very cold, with a dark personality. It's abit like Bob Gunton's Warden Norton in 'The Shawshank Redemption' there is some relation there, between these two characters. So really loved Russell Crowe, probably the best performance in the film for me.

Catherine Zeta Jones wasn't so bad. but that was pretty much down to the fact, that she didn't really do a lot.



Some of the action was a bit over the top in places, car chases and punch ups were very much over the top and unneccacry to what was happening in the story, it didn't really drive the story forward, it just delayed more exciting things for me. Those fights were just in it, for the sake of being in it.

This film also cleverly tests people trust in people, and who you are meant to rely upon and who you are not. I really liked that aspect of the film, gives the viewer a message to learn from it. It also gives one a sense of right and wrong which is also very good.

Overall really pleased and impressed with 'Broken City'.

Some of the action I thought could of been toned down, but overall it was a very good film.

I'll give this film a 7/10

1 Gold Star to Russell Crowe

Thank you for reading this review

NEXT TIME : My next review shall be a Quentin Tarantino classic 'Django Unchained' I will post that review on Saturday the 13th of July 2013.

Review : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter : Year Seven - The Deathly Hallows

Part One : As the magic world comes under the darkest threat of all, Harry and his friends are racing against time to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. On this quest Harry learns of the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows. 

Hello Film fans

Welcome to the last of my Harry Potter reviews. I know it's been a long week reviewing these films day by day, throughout the week. Now I reach the final certain with Harry Potter, I can finally rap things up and give you a basic synopsis on what I thought of the ending, and what I think of all the Harry Potter movies in general.

The Deathly Hallows, is the last story where Harry does battle with Voldemort one last time to decide which side prevails, good or evil. It's very much a last chance saloon showdown really, but with magic and a dark, spine chilling synopsis to the plot.

This story was split into two films, for reasons I still can't quite understand to this day. I think they decided to do it to make the film franchise last a little longer, or perhaps it was due to the fact that they could make more money from making two movies or whatever, the whole thing was an experiment of some sort, for me this weird format, it worked for this story. It's an idea that I'm overly kean on.

Part 1: Voldemort's power is growing stronger every day. He has now gained control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. It's left up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione to decide how they are going to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of Voldemort's Horcruxes and destroy them to in turn defeat the Dark Lord,himself. But little hope remains for the Trio, and the rest of the Wizarding World, so everything they do must go as planned.

Part 1 in every sense of the word, is okay-ish. I mean it was different to see them out of Hogwarts, It brought the trio together. the tension was their, It was very dramatic. The ideas presented were current and told the story well.

The production did another amazing job, the director David Yates was very precise and to the point with his camera angles, effect wise - nothing was introduced that I hadn't seen already. Again things progressed a bit slowly, I think more development was being made on characteristics which in turn interrupted the story telling a little. so in all fairness It's okay-ish. It's basically Harry, Ron and Hermionie on the run looking for Horcruxes.

Part 2 is when everything comes to it's climax, I don't think Part 2 is in any sense better than Part 1, I think both parts come side by side. they are both as good and bad as each other.

Part Two : Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord.  but Voldemort is determined to kill Harry before he can destroy him, forever.

Now Part 2 is in every sense more dramatic than Part 1, it has a real great pace. Lots of good fantasy fight sequences, brings excitement to the finishing story. It starts where Part 1 left off brilliantly, a very moody atmosphere where Hogwarts isn't a very pleasant place, anymore and Snapes headmaster. Very dramatic battles and in all fairness, a fairly decent ending. The film itself, It's not a fantastic film. However having said that it was a good way to rap things up and end it.

'Deathly Hallows' together judging from Parts 1 and 2 together. I think it's every sense an okay story, Part 1 is okay - not much happens and Part 2 isn't all that fantastic, but gave the Potter movies a decent send off. I mean that last send off scene, at the train station was just so cringe worthy, I laugh at it.

I will give the Deathly Hallows a 7/10 for both parts combined.

For the Harry Potter movies in general, there a great trill and adventure watch especially the first two movies. It's only when things start to get more serious, that you need to have your attention on it. These movies can sometimes be witty and daring with humour, sometimes the laughs are there, sometimes their not.

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter is fantastic, he was very strong in role and was Harry Potter.

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, who was in every sense of the word a bumbler and the joke of the trio, an all rounder and confident performance. He is very enjoyable to watch on screen.

Emma Watson as Hermonie Granger, again brilliant. The brains of the trio. she doesn't let her looks personae what her characters about. overall very good.

Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, very creepy and sinister and chilling, was very good at communicating to children that he is a villain.

So overall, thanks for reading these reviews guys, I've enjoyed writing them and sharing my thoughts on them. I'm pleased to say I've done all the Potter films now.

NEXT TIME : I will review 'Broken City' starring Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta Jones. I will post that review on Wednesday the 10th of July 2013.

Review : Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter : Year Six - The Half Blood Prince - Harry Potter is about to begin his 6th year at Hogwarts, during one potions class he discovers by mistake an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more and more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.



Hey Everyone

Today I will be reviewing the penultimate Harry Potter adventure, before it's conclusion. This adventure of course being 'The Half Blood Prince' and was released as a movie blockbuster for 2009.

I will start this review off by saying this is a very gloomy story, it's quite dark, creepy and doesn't really lighten up any situations as to where 'Order of the Phoenix' left off.  I think 'The Half Blood Prince' is a film that progresses slowly and builds up it's tension, grabs the viewers attention. In the last concluding moments the viewer is shocked to have to mourn over the loss of a very important character.

This movie concentrates on Harry's relationship with Dumbledore, and Dumbledore's importance to Harry's life. It focuses on the importance Dumbledore's guidance is to Harry and Michael Gambon communicates this really well in his performance, he shows an insurity of trust that makes Dumbledore comes across as friendly.

The basic storyline of 'Half Blood Prince' entails, the sixth year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, and in both the wizard and muggle worlds Lord Voldemort and his deatheaters (followers) are increasingly active. With vacancies to fill at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore persuades an old friend and college of his - Horace Slughorn, to come out of retirement and back to his old job at Hogwarts as potions teacher. While Professor Snape receives long awaited news. Harry Potter, together with Dumbledore, must face treacherous tasks to unlock the secret that will enable them to defeat Harry's evil nemesis.



This movie is in every sense of the word for me, and okay-ish film. It's not perfect, It's not rubbish either. I do think it progresses a bit slowly than other Potter movies. It has basic concentration in bringing development out in characters which is good.

The humour in this, I felt there wasn't enough of it, because it was quite a dark and chilling story it had to lack being humorous in order to focus on being serious. I feel with 'Half Blood Prince' if you lose attention with it, it can get a bit boring.

I thought the effects of the time travel, and looking back into Tom Riddle's past was brilliantly accomplished, by the production team. That was for me my favourite effect of the film.

Performance wise, for me I thought the best performance was Jim Broadbent as Professor Slughourn. He was brilliant at showing that he was hiding something, something that he didn't want Dumbledore to know. I really enjoyed watching Jim Broadbent in that role, thought it was a very good performance.



Overall there isn't an awful lot I can say about this film, It's not my favourite of all the potter films. effect wise it didn't really do anything special for me. I do think that it lacks my interest from time to time.

I'm going to give it a 6/10

Thank you for reading this review

TOMORROW: My Harry Potter reviews come to a close I will review the conclusion 'The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2'

Review : Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter : Year Five - The Order of the Phoenix - With their warning about Lord Voldemort's resurrection ignored, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard media as being delusional and their story being non - believable. The Ministry of Magic authorities an authoritarian bureaucrat, who slowly seizes power over Hogwarts.



Hello Everyone

Welcome to today's Harry Potter review. Today I will review 'The Order of the Phoenix' the fifth story out of seven Potter books. This film obviously continues off the incredibly moody impact that 'Goblet of Fire' left off, and we know as the audience that Voldemort has returned, but people prefer to believe the wizarding media who have unfortunately printed stories about the stories being false, knowing that this story would cause uproar and panic the ministry think it best that they make Harry's story out to be a lie.

The film opens in a park, and Harry is sitting on the swing by himself, which leads into the demontor ambush where Dudley is attacked by a demontor and Harry is forced to use magic to save himself and his cousin, but by doing this is charged with felony and has to go to court to stand trial for what he had done, he is told he is expelled from Hogwarts, luckily for him is rescued by Mad eyed moody and his gang of wizard pals. They take Harry to a secret base set up by the forces of goodness to plan against Voldemort. This organisation is called 'The Order of the Phoenix'.

Harry is then reunited with his god father Serious Black, and his Friends Ron and Hermonie. But things have changed when they go back to Hogwarts for their fifth year. Harry returns to Hogwarts with full of ill-fortune. Very few of the students and parents believe him or Dumbledore that Voldemort is really back.

And the ministry had decided to step in by appointing a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher that proves to be the nastiest person Harry has ever encountered - Delorous Jane Umbrigde, who is a woman obsessed with the colour pink. Harry also can't help stealing glances with the beautiful Cho Chang, who is a young girl in Ravenclaw that Harry has a likeness for in this film and in 'Goblet of Fire'.

To top matters off even higher, Harry experiences dreams that he can't explain, but it has something to do with a mystery behind something Voldemort is searching for. With these many things happening, Harry experiences one of his toughest years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.





With a lot of pushing,shoving and convincing from Ron and Hermionie, Harry agrees to form a secret club with many of the students. He teaches them defence skills and useful magic tricks and uses encouragement and infusiam to motivate his friends into forming an army into fighting Voldemort.

I do think that 'Order of the Pheonix' is a lot more toned down compared to 'Prisoner of Azkaban' and 'Goblet of Fire' which were two very gripping, high tense and dark stories. 'Order of the Pheonix' it doesn't do anything special for me, It has it moments but at the same time, it's a bit dull and I lose interest in the plot. So this film is very much as see saw film for me. It goes up but then comes back down.

I do think it's quite dire in some aspects in the way the story was told, and the story was slow. It took a long time to be introduced to Voldemort who I was so hyped about seeing from all the trailers and movie posters, and we only see him for all of 15 minutes at the end.

It was disappointing that we didn't see more of Voldemort, but the wand battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore wasn't too bad, It was eccentric with all the sparks and CGI effects, was a very convincing effect, but it's not something I hadn't seen already.




In a nutshell, 'Order of the Phoeniox' it's okay-ish. I personally think it's the weakest of all the Harry Potter films, it just lacks my attention which is a pity.

I'm going to give it a 6/10

Thank You for reading this review

TOMORROW : I will review 'The Half Blood Prince'

Review : Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter : Year Four - The Goblet of Fire - Harry unexpectedly finds himself selected to compete as an under aged player in a dangerous multi-wizardry school competition, It is there that Harry witnesses the resurrection of the greatest dark saucer of all time. 



Hello Everyone

Welcome to my next film review. I'm continuing with the Harry Potter reviews and today's review I'm going to be talking about 'The Goblet of Fire' released back in 2005. It is the fourth instalment in the Harry Potter chronicles.

Now speaking as a fan of the movies, this one truly is a visual spectacular. Before I saw the film, I had never read the book, so my understanding as to what this story was about was a bit hazy to say the least. However seeing is believing and I watched this film with all sincerity and enjoyment. I liked it a lot.

This time around, Hogwarts is joined by two other schools, and the three schools combine because Hogwarts has been selected to host a fantastical event, the Tri-wizard tournament. The tournament of course consists of three players - one from each school to compete in three deadly tasks. By winning a challenge the winning contestant, will receive an advantage in the next challenge. In the final the one who wins is promised eternal Glory. For the safety of those under-age a law has was put down that no one under the 17 could be allowed to put their name forward as a nominee. But it is a surprise to everyone, including Harry himself, when he unexpectedly becomes a contender.



So as you can tell, the danger couldn't be more sever for Harry himself, as he has no choice but to compete. Harry's first objective to do battle with one of the most fearsome creatures in the magical world, a dragon. I thought the dragon itself looked amazing, obviously when creating a fantasy drama, with a dragon included one has to make a convincing dragon for the audience to believe in. I was very sceptical about the production being able to pull off the effects of creating a convincing dragon, I think they did very well. I thought what we saw of the dragon was really good, just didn't see much as I hoped.

Still lovely authentic CGI effects on the dragon, at some places of shot the dragon was a little bit animated in it's movement, which took away some the fear factor of it. However it's presence was atmospheric and the creature was threatening and fierce.



 The second task in the black lake with the mermaids, that was very sinister and creepy. The merpeople themselves are very vicious and hostile, the way they threaten Harry is really intense and nerve racking, so in the sense of giving the audience a thrill, the task was accomplished very well.



Then finally you have the final task set in the maze, and the maze itself is a fantastic idea. How it can mess with people's minds and logic of thinking, it really proves to be a life threatening challenge and a battle of wits amongst everything else.

Now despite the dark, hard hitting moments in the plot of Goblet of Fire, there is some nice comical moment and lovely sensitive heart warming moments, which in turn complement each other as the film goes on.



Hermione is great in this film, I think this is the first film that I noticed Emma Watson really starting to flourish to her role, and she really seizes this, every sense of emotion and depth and feeling, Emma herself looked gorgeous in the pink dress that she wears for the ball scene. It was a pretty decent performance.

This is also the film that we - the audience witness the return of Lord Voldemort. This return of course really puts us - the audience on edge and grabs our attention. The scene also concludes with big climatic fight scene between Harry and Voldemort, In which a new darker threat is imposed upon the magic world as far as Harry knows it.

So a dark, spine -chilling yet laugh, happy story ends on a sour note, and leaves the audience very upset and grieving for the loss of a character.

In a nutshell, It's not a bad film, there are some brilliant surprises and effects but nothing that the previous three didn't offer. having said that, you do get something different with 'Goblet of Fire' and you enjoy it as well as the others.

I'll give it a 7/10

Thank you for reading this review

TOMORROW: I will review Number Five - 'The Order of the Pheonix'

Review : Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter : Year Three - The Prisoner of Azkaban - It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; and not only does he have a new "Defence Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but he is about to face some personal issues as there is also trouble brewing. News gets out that convicted cold hearted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison Azkaban and is coming after Harry to kill him.



Hey Everyone

Welcome to today's review of 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' a story that tells the dark secret truth of the identity of Harry Potter's Godfather.

The film was released back in 2004, Harry is now thirteen years old, and approaching his third year at Hogwarts. After the events that took place in 'The Chamber of Secrets' the dangers that now await Harry and his friends, get more dangerous and life threatening year by year. This time Harry is threatened when he hears news that murderer Serious Black has escaped from wizard prison 'Azkaban'. With a motivation to find Harry and kill him.

Harry Potter is having a tough time with his relatives yet again. He vacates from the Dursley House, after he uses magic to inflate Uncle Vernon's sister Marge who was being offencive and disrespectful towards Harry's parents.

Initially nervous about using magic outside the school, he is pleasantly surprised to hear that he won't be penalised after for his act after all. However, he soon learns that a deadly and extremely dangerous criminal and Voldemort's trusted aide Sirius Black has escaped from the Azkaban prison and wants to kill Harry to avenge the Dark Lord.

And to worsen the situation  for Harry, vile creatures called Dementors are appointed to guard Hogwarts and inexplicably happen to have the most horrible effect on him.

Little does Harry know that by the end of this third year, many holes in his past - whatever he knows of it, will be filled up and he will have a clearer vision of what the future has in store.

The events that take place in 'Prisoner of Azkaban' are a lot more darker and sinister, the Dementors are chilling and very scary. There a monster with a lot of style, they don't chase their victims they approach them really slowly, and you know your in trouble when everything goes cold.

For example, the sequence on the train where we first meet a Dementor is very chilling, everything going cold in the room, it's dark, a unknown creature is learking around, that is very scary.



Again, like in the previous two Potter movies, Azkaban has some incredible effects and moments. One moment inperticular is Buckbeak - The Hypergriff, a griffin hours like creature with huge wings. It looks incredibly impressive the CGI on it, is very authentic and life like. The Dementors are also a great creation, with their sinister mannerisms and the way they approach really slowly.

I also thought the effects with the time turner was cool, and how things co-elect and tie in with key bits in the plot that was all cleverly done and put together and in every aspect was great.

'Prisoner of Azkaban' introduces three important characters: R.J Lupin, Peter Petegrew and Serious Black.  It is also the first film to feature Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, since Richard Harris passed away. Michael Gambon of course was a great replacement who doesn't copy Richard Harris but makes the character of Dumbledore his own, which I like.



In all honesty I really like 'Prisoner of Azkaban' - The story is more darker than the previous two, more sinister and nerve racking which sets the audience on edge, and really gets them interested in the plot which is great.

I'll give it 8/10

Thank you for reading this review

TOMORROW: I continue with my Harry Potter reviews with 'The Goblet of Fire'

Review : Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter : Year Two - The Chamber of Secrets - After Harry gets a strict warning not to return to Hogwarts, he ignores them in order to be reunited with his friends and find out what terrible things are happening and who's plotting them. Only to find that the school has been plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and Harry has a strange voice haunting him.



Hello Again

Today I am continuing with my Harry Potter fetish of reviews with 'The Chamber of Secrets' the not long awaited continuation to 'The Philospher's Stone'. It was released in November 2002, This time their is a new deadly danger facing Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermonie. After defeating Lord Voldemort you would think Harry is in the clear, but he isn't.

We understand this when we are introduced to Dobby (The House elf) and Dobby is a slave to a wizard family, who appears out of no where into Harry's room. Dobby warns Harry not to go back to Hogwarts, Harry doesn't understand why he shouldn't return, to insure he's not going back to school Dobby creates a diversion which results in Harry getting locked in his room, and even though Harry's a wizard, he can't escape because he's not allowed to use magic outside of school.

Luckily for him, he is rescued by Ron, Fred and George who come to collect him, in their magnificent flying car. The flying car of course is a brilliant idea, and the fact that the production manged to pull it off convincingly is amazing.

They take Harry to Ron's house 'The Burrow' and we have a very interesting incite to Ron's family and the Weasley's which is great gives Ron a back story. Mr Weasley is introduced, who works at the ministry of magic, a huge organisation in the wizarding world. The Weasley's get a shopping list of things to collect for next term of Hogwarts, which means a return trip to diagon ally for the viewers.




It is in diagon ally that Harry is re-introduced to Hagrid and Hermionie. We then meet a new character Gildaroy Lockheart, who a prudent, snobbish, self confident character which makes him all the more entertaining to watch on screen, because we as the viewer believe he's not all that he's cracked up to be.

Draco Malfoy turns up again as well who I failed to mention in my previous Potter review, but he turns up again along with the first appearance of his Father Lucias Malfoy, who is just as cold and vile as Draco is.

Then following that scene of course is the sequence in the car, with Ron and Harry they fly the car to Hogwarts, that was a very cool scene to watch, very comical, dramatic and tense at the same time. So all in all that's very good, very well accomplished scene, very well shot and carefully directed.

And when Harry finally returns to Hogwarts, he realizes soon that strange and terrible things are indeed happening: Harry is suddenly hearing mysterious voices from inside the walls of the castle, muggle-born students are being attacked for mysterious and sinister reasons, and a message scrawled on the wall in blood puts everyone on his/her guard - "The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies Of The Heir, Beware". So you can tell that there is a new and deadly danger fancying Harry and his friends, one that could possibly threaten Hogwarts from carrying on.

The mystery deepens when Hermonie is attacked, and it's up to Ron and Hermionie to crack the case, it is then that the plot thickens and the story becomes quite sinister and dark indeed.

I thought all the set up in the chamber, and the Syltherin background t it was brilliantly built up, It so atmospheric and chilling when we got inside the chamber. And discovering the true secrets of Voldemort was great as well, really adds depth to the this story and to the Harry Potter franchise.

It is then that Harry has to do battle with the monster which is a ginormous CGI Snake known as a 'Basalic' and the snake itself looked like a monster and looked threatening. Harry kills the snake and defeats the mysterious Tom Riddle. Then matters in the story are tied up in the story shortly after Harry saves the school from being closed.

So all in all, 'Chamber of Secrets' I think  is in every sense better than 'Philospher's Stone' It just brings new things to the story and really carries on the story from where it left off. It was a very well made film indeed.

I'll give it an 8/10

Thanks for reading this review

TOMORROW: It's 'The Prisoner of Azkaban'

Review : Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter : Year One - The Philosopher's Stone - Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny ahead of him proves his worth while attending his first year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.




Hey Everyone

For the whole of this week, I will be reviewing all the Harry Potter films one by one. Starting off Year 1, The Philosopher's Stone released back in 2001.

SPOILER ALERT: Just encase you haven't seen these Harry Potter movies yet, and you don't want it to be spoiled, you may as well turn away now.

This movie is the beginning of something that was very special, It is the visionaries of J.K Rowling on the screen for everyone to enjoy, I know a lot of people prefer the films to the books, which just goes to show though Rowling was a good writer, people would rather visualise and experience the worlds of Harry Potter she creates for themselves, rather than let their imagination run away with them.

The film starts very atmospherically indeed, we are introduced straight away into Pivet Drive, and we the viewer are introduced to Dumbledore and to Professor McGonogal and to Hagrid who are all great characters that Rowling has created. We are introduced to Harry and how he ended up at the Dursley's House when he was a baby. Which all great, very well acted scene, straight forwardly paced, built up atmospherically with the fog and the music and with the fact it was night time, again atmospheric sets the mood, was very impressed with how the production accomplished the tasks in hand.

We then get a flash forward to the future when Harry is 11 or just turning 11, and he sleeps in the cupboard under the stairs. He just performs certain tasks for the Dursley's like making breakfast,cleaning etc. just doing basic hard labour house hold choirs and not being treated as an individual or with any respect.

The family take a trip to the Zoo for Dudley's birthday, and Harry realises he has a talent he never thought he had, he can talk to and communicate with snakes. I thought all the Zoo scene was good. I liked how they did certain tricks which could fool the eye, the glass disappearing and then reappearing, fooled me as a child. The snake is animated and yet authentic to every detail.

And then we have more great effects such as the effect with all the letters flying around everywhere, and the owls stalking Mr Dursley. That was all good and brought up very dramatically.

The Durlsey's move away to a house on an island somewhere, but Hagrid finds them and he tells Harry he is destined for greatness and he invites him to come to Hogwarts to be given the finniest tuition in Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Harry goes with him, It is then we are introduced to diagon ally and a little bit more into Harry's back story, which all very exciting and dark and built up in a very prefashioned manner which makes the whole thing sinister.



 But it is when Harry's going to Hogwarts that things really get interesting, he meets Ron and Hermonie who as we all know turn out to be just as important to the stories as Harry. Then we arrive at Hogwarts and the landscape is just amazing, brilliantly lit, the castle itself looking at upwards gives the building power and malevolence. It looks great. and the floating candles another trick of the eye, but still very good.

Very precise animated techniques used for the sorting hat, I was truly amazed by how they achieved that task.

But putting all those lovely effects aside, my favourite scene in Philosopher's Stone is arguably the Troll scene in the girls bathroom. Where Ron and Harry risk their lives to save Hermonie by being incredibly stupid. Never the less, I love how dramatic that scene is, with crash, bangs and wallops, wood shattering all over the place, The troll itself looked great, a ghastly angry monster, which I like. the effect was very authentic.

Another effect which I thought was good was devil snaire, and the plants which could kill you in a second, that was very well achieved, as was the scene with the flying keys.



As for the story itself, It was very good indeed. It's not my favourite of the Harry Potters, but is a very strong opener indeed. You just know at the end of it that Harry, Ron and Hermionie will get up to more and more exciting and thrilling adventures.

In a nutshell 'Philosopher's Stone' has some of the best effects and dramatic moments which test the viewer's expectations of what will happen.

I'm going to give it a 7/10

TOMORROW : I will review 'Chamber of Secrests'

Thank you for reading this review, I will report again soon.