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.

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

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

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

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

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

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