Review : Noah

Noah : We all know the story, its told in the bible that God gave Noah a warning that the world would be destroyed and that he must build an ark to protect the good from the wicked that was about to destroy and embellish the world. He also commanded him to round up two of every animal,etc. You know the rest.

Hey Everyone.

In today's review, I thought I'd talk about Noah, an epic action packed retelling of the story starring Russell Crowe as Noah. I have to say that Darren Aronofsky's imagery for this is really quite something. Its limitless in the ways he shows the great flood, and the importance of the story and how we know it and what we know combined with seeing it in his way which we don't know. If that makes sense.

I'm trying to say that the directing is well executed in terms of developing an epic retelling of the story. I mean you got a lot of famous faces in this, but that doesn't over shadow or shy away from the main purposes of the film too much. I don't think, What I do think is that we got a classic story and it's being retold in such a way that has never been seen before and we got famous faces to help persuade people to come and see it. 

I mean Russell Crowe as Noah, does a fantastic job. I thought he played the role very profoundly and dare I say is one of the most consumet of professionals out there. From what the trailers gathered it employed that this was going to be something big, and in all fairness it is. It's about a man being given a task to defend himself and ones he cares about, defending the ark from those who decease him like Ray Winstone's character who is a vile, grotesque sort of baddie. 

I thought the whole effect of the disaster was very well atmospherically done. It was authentic it had everything that there was to it. It was detailed, It was carefully shot. So the effects were brilliant. 

Putting all that aside. For me it was slow, the pacing of it was below par and didn't meet average expectations at all. The consistent dragging was annoying because it held back from the interesting stuff, there were some loose ends which were not tied up properly in order to make them coagulate with the ending and there for made me question the point of having them in there.

It was good on the effect side of thing, the acting and directing but everything else was a bit flimsy and therefore show me that this really isn't such a justified film after all. 5/10.

Review : Goodfellas

Goodfellas - A Martin Scorsese movie, Ray Liotta loves the life of being a gangster from a very young age he decided he was going to be a gangster, and he joins in with the mafia and gets involved with a lot of deep, violent indentation.

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I'm here to today to talk to you about Goodfellas. a Martin Scorsese movie from 1990, based off a true story about Henry Hill played by Ray Liotta who from a very young age wanted to be a gangster. This film was completely alien to me, I only watched it for the first time over the weekend.

I watched this film in two parts, Part 1 I watched on Saturday night and Part 2 I watched the Sunday morning, the overall concencise of it if you like is Scorsese implicating the life of gangsters, and how everyone's a rat, could dob you in and how it's a dog eat dog world and all the rest of it. Its communicated through graphic violence, death, drug smuggling, money dealing you name it.

Like with Wolf of Wall Street, Ray Liotta takes the liberty of talking us through the film as a narrator. I should say I'm not a fan of narration. I like to figure things out for myself, and Goodfellas I felt was a film, that could be told of it accord without all the narration. I don't know how stupid Scorsese thinks his audience is, but that's two films I've seen him use, narration in the dialogue as part of the end script.

Strangely enough for me though, knowing all that. It worked. I actually liked the narration a lot. It helped me understand what was going on. It was a guide essentially, with the relevant backdrop we needed, Ray Liotta tells what we need to know, and that's it. that's all there is to it. Everything else is told by action, wither that be violent action, abuse, cursing, swearing, killing etc.

I love Joe Pesci in this, he is fabulous. His character is not a very nice person, he kills a lot of people and is very angry a lot of the time. But I loved it, I loved his performance, not once does he come out of character he was terrific. It's a shame in a way he never made it all the way to the end of this film, but never mind. There was a good use of not having anymore use of his character in the story, it's understandable.

In the end of course, Henry Hill goes into the witness protection programme and becomes an outsider with a new life. The aftermath to Goodfellas is good, information is given at the end as a what happened afterwards kind of thing, continues the story on before the credits.

The acting and the quality of this film, is just incredible there is not a bad member of the cast in it. The speeches are very coherent to the plot, the background and inquisitive depth is great. I mean seriously this film ticks a lot of the boxes and is in every sense of the word more than a good film.

It's one of Martin Scorsese's better films that he's made. What I liked the most was the insight into other aspects of life, these people maybe gangsters but they are good business men as well who know where to cut the chop, as it were. They may be nasty and narcotic but they are played to be that by the actors in a strong controlled professional sense of the word, like Robert De Niro did for instance.

If there was a note I would place to make it better it would be not to focus on lots of things all at once, It sort of went a bit too quick for my liking. It could of been done with a little bit more finer detail to make that closer to be a perfect film, having said that I love 'Goodfellas' it's in my Top 5 Favourite Movies and is one of Scorsese's best. 10/10

Review : The Other Woman

The Other Woman - Three Women who have apparently dated the same guy, and the guy has stood them all up in some way which inclines that the three must join forces in order to get him back even worse. It's all about Girl power and the status of relationships, how a man should treat his woman.

Hey Everybody

Have you ever had one of those days when you know right from the start, it's not your day. I got that feeling watching The Other Woman, slightly over powered and curious by the film. I was tempted to go and see this when I heard it came out because my mum and my sisters wanted to see it and so that weirdly meant I had to come to. So I did, watched the film, It was okay. I'm sure this film can be enjoyed more by females in comparison to males. It's target audience is more based on women anyway, it's very adult and genuine.

It's very much about Girl power and the status of relationships, which we all can relate to and look into. Every Girl I'm sure has had some time where a man has screwed them over in whatever extreme context one would dare to put it. But It doesn't bother me so much, because I've never had a proper girlfriend before. I'm quite happy being single at the moment and therefore that part of the film doesn't interest me so much as it would to others.

What does interest me however is the concentration in the mannerism of directing, I thought this film was very well directed. It was quite a fluent piece of romance and drama which play on each other in a friendly playful way.

The story I thought flowed very well and coherently, It is a film in terms of it story telling does it's best to please everybody, the fun part of it essentially is Cameron Diaz and the other two girls getting back the guy they have all in common with. It's all about a playful revenge and they got him back, and very well to.

Now the first thing to say about it is Cameron Diaz and her acting is terrific, she's a real trier, very diverse always keane to try whatever is thrown at her. Obviously this showed potential to her otherwise she would of turned it down.

The second thing to say about it is the other two supporting actresses in it Leslie Mann and Kate Upton are great as well. Leslie Mann of course has been seen in many many other films similar to the contrast of something like this so there was no doubt in my mind that she'd be able to cut it.

Kate Upton is great, some of you may know her from : Tower Hiest or The Three Stooges.

One of many concerns was Nicki Minaj, as we all know very vibrant and expressive presents in the world of Music, can she act?

Here's a clip with Nicki Minaj and Cameron Diaz.

Chick Flicks eh? Who needs them. No but seriously, back to the point. I do believe and it has to be put out there as one of my concerns about this film. There is a problem with Nicki Minaj's acting. Which makes it much worse when you stand Nicki next to Cameron Diaz, like the clip you've seen now one of them is trying really hard and other is doing it because she is a learning professional who is naturally good at performing.

But that's not the worse part of the film, there are other bits which are bloody awful, but she just can not act. I mean goodness me, I've never seen anyone so wooden and fake in a film perform as bad as Nicki Minaj. Her acting skills are nowhere near as up to speck as Cameron Diaz's standards and it is a relief to the films standard that it gets round that problem.

But it's still disappointing because her character has a lot of great lines such as 'selfish people live longer'. It's a shame that someone else wasn't chosen for the role. But the film gets round the problem that one of its cast members isn't good enough as an actress. I mean it's all very well doing all the eccentric music stuff but when your stripped clean from all that and your in a new ball park, and your up opposite Cameron Diaz, it's really awkward and very tough.

But I'm not a snuff, The film is great in parts. I really like the aspects of it trying to be playful and boosts its effort of being enjoyable. It's entertainment at a cringe standard that we're all used to. It relates to everyday life and relationships and that's all good and well done.

But the world has established the fact that Nicki Minaj can't act, and if you want my thoughts Nicki stick to music - 5/10.

Review : Captain America - The Winter Soldier

Captain America : The Winter Soldier - Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

Hey Everyone

Welcome to another film review. Today's film review is going to be the sequel to Captain America - The Winter Soldier. I am for one pleased to see a sequel released, as it has been a while coming since the first one came out. I was just wondering what Steve Rogers was up to now, and this film really clues me in.

It's great. The references and the links that are made in relation to the comic books are in there in some context of detail, inclusion of characters, action sequences, small references. All sorts and it's communicated in such a way that you don't have to have read the comics in order to get those references. It's all pretty clear.

I liked the fact that it was all about a character origins being compelled into the story, communicated in such a way through mind blowing action, which is always good in terms of creating an effective visual effect. Also you want to create something that people are going to be able to enjoy, so the film fulfilled at least on that part.

What I didn't like so much is all the unnecessary softness and padding in the storytelling, I thought all that was meaningless and delayed more interesting story telling. It took a while to get on it's feet, it started off reasonably well, dragged out a bit in the middle and was really gripllingly exciting towards the end. Not a lot of rhythm in it.

The acting, I have to say was surprisingly a little below par in regards to the strength of the acting in the first Captain America film which I thought was much more communicated. In this film, the acting is more suttle, and droll and dull. That it's almost as if, main cast members have either no enthusiasm for the project or are just being dull. Scarlett Johanson does it a lot. Chris Evans does it a lot. Samuel L Jackson does it a bit which is very disappointing.

There was a bit of story to it, the storyline itself seemed very promising For Steve Rogers, awakening after decades of suspended animation involves more than catching up on pop culture. It is also about that this old school idealist must face a world of subtler threats and difficult moral complexities.

That comes clear when a man called Nick Fury is killed by the mysterious assassin, the Winter Soldier, but not before warning Rogers that SHIELD has been subverted by its enemies. When Rogers acts on Fury's warning to trust no one there, he is branded as a traitor by the organisation. Now a fugitive, Captain America must get to the bottom of this deadly mystery with the help of the Black Widow and his new friend, The Falcon. However, the battle will be costly for the Sentinel of Liberty, with Rogers finding enemies where he least expects them while learning that the Winter Soldier looks disturbingly familiar.

Seems like a pretty substantial story premise, which can give account for all the acting being down par and certain aspects not living up to greater expectations.

So overall, a fair movie 6/10.

Review : Captain America - The First Avenger

Captain America, The First Avenger :  After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending USA ideals.

Hello Everyone

Welcome to another Film review, in today's review I will looking at the first Captain America film from 2011 which sees the launching of the Captain America Film franchise into our age. It opens up a lot of doors for people and explores the diverse avenue's of Marvel's Characters who are very protective of their comics and care about their characters.

For those who are unaware of Captain America he is an American fictional character, a superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics Issue 1 (cover-dated March 1941) from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Now today it is a creation like all the Marvel characters still going strong and developing to be better. In terms of effect and course to effect I studied this film as being a piece of intellect. It's not one of the greatest action superhero films ever made. If anything it's like Spider man and in every sense of the word a fair movie.

So it is 1942, America has entered the second World War. Sickly but determined Steve Rogers is frustrated at being rejected yet again for military service. Everything changes when Doctor. Erskine recruits him for the secret confidential "Project Rebirth."

Proving his extraordinary courage, wits and conscience, Rogers undergoes the experiment and his weak body is suddenly enhanced into the maximum human potential. When Dr. Erskine is then immediately assassinated by an agent of Nazi Germany's secret HYDRA research department (headed by Johann Schmidt, a.k.a. the Red Skull), Rogers is left as a unique man who is initially misused as a propaganda mascot; however, when his comrades need him, Rogers goes on a successful adventure that truly makes him Captain America, and his war against Schmidt begins.

Here's a trailer

So what do I think of Captain America, well It is a film that prioritises itself on pleasing a fair percentage of it's fans. It stays true to the comics, but also is diverse at the same time. I like the story of the first film a lot, It is great at setting up a starting block in order to get potential stories up and going as well, so it's very part and parcel.

I think the acting, is secondary in comparison to the effects used in it, but again it just relates back to the fact that Marvel produce a live action comic book onto the screen and there's only so much you can do today. But for me, It is essential that you have everything on equal terms which film fails to do.

So I do like this film, but in some cases it lets itself down and for that reason I am inclined to give it a  6/10.

Review : Locke

Locke : A story in which a man takes a long car journey to correct a mistake he made before hand, that's come back to haunt him. He must drive to London and at the same time maintain business to schedule, he puts his family and job on the line for some woman, he doesn't know very well.

Tom Hardy plays welsh construction builder Ivan Locke who after a long day at work gets in his car and drives to London to correct a mistake he made before, It means risking his job, his family and his reputation but at least he believes he is doing what is right.

What's entreating about this is it's just Tom in a car driving on the motorway, and he's exchanging conversation between different people on the phone. It really is terrific, the fact that you have something as simple as that be turned upside down and actually be about something other than boring.

There's no live action, there's no physicality. It's just dialogue stripped down to the core and played as it is.

What's good about it and what sells it for me, is Tom Hardy. Tom's great in because what Tom's able to do with his face and his eyes really over power the audience and he sells it on his emotion. So emotionally I connected with him well, The problems he was contemplating, he had a really good north accent.

He was driving up from Manchester to London, to risk everything for a woman who doesn't know very well who's having a baby and he has to be there because no one else can be. But at the same time he has to maintain his work and keep a business plan to schedule that means talking to his friend and his boss about keeping to that.

I just feel it's different and it brings everything to life. In between, Tom talks to his dad and we learn about the problems he had with his dad and we enter into a very dark and morbid relationship and what it was like, its almost as if a door is being opened and then it's slammed shut.

It all comes together towards the end, the only thing for me was. It's all good and is coherent as a story, however it doesn't really work quite so well in film structure. It would work I think better as a TV Series.

It's still good drama wise, and it's more suttel than an action movie. A very good watch 7/10.

Review : The Amazing Spider Man 2

The Amazing Spiderman 2 : Dare I say it actually turned out to be a very fair movie. I went in with low expectations. I didn't expect to be blown away, I didn't expect to express my infusiam or excitement towards this film. But I was very impressed with it.

Hey Everybody

Hope you had a good Easter Bank Holiday. I've been to the cinema a few times over the Easter Holidays, and one of the films I went to go and see was 'The Amazing Spiderman 2' to which I thought wasn't going to be all that great. From the trailers, it looked a pretty poor production. From clips it was a different matter. I saw two very interesting clips which showed of the film in a new light. It gave me a spark of interest to go an see it. It was just as well, I went on an Orange Wednesday to go and see it, because even if I ended up not liking the film, at least I didn't have to pay to get in.

For the record, It was a very interesting production and in every sense of the word an okay movie. It was fair, fair enough to make me think that it wasn't awful. The trailers don't do this film justice at all, and some of the action sequences don't really show off in good light either but the thing that got me about this film was the effect of being invincible. Spiderman was the hero, you got 3 stereotypical villains. Electro being my favourite villain of the whole film.

I don't quite understand why there were 3 villains in this, surely you can go with one villain in this case is Electro because he's the most interesting and do away with the other two. therefore resulting in Electro having a lot more scene time.

Andrew Garfield as Spiderman. I thought was really good, but it doesn't take much of a miracle to improve from Toby McGuire's performance. I think his Spiderman, has better abilities, he looks more flexible in the role. I don't think though this adds to my knowledge of Spiderman story which is a let down, because from the comics gather there's a lot more back story and added depth to Spiderman. For which the films have very little of.

Here's a clip.

I thought the story, wasn't as bad ad it could of been. It just needed a bit more added suspense and danger to keep me fully invested. One's attention span can only go so far, I felt my interest rate wasn't properly fulfilled in this film. It wasn't quite there.

In retrospect. The film was downsider in comparison to other superhero action movies, but it wasn't the worst sequel made to date. 6/10.