Dr Who: The War Games: DVD Review
Doctor Who - The War Games
Cast: Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury
Rating: PG
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
and the BBC
A seminal release in the Doctor Who back catalogue, The War
Games represents a seismic shift in the early days of the show itself
(but more on that later).
Patrick Troughton's Second Doctor, along with his companions Jamie (Hines)
and wunderkind Zoe (Padbury) find themselves back in the middle of the trenches
when the TARDIS delivers them into 1917.
Arrested, the trio find themselves tried as deserters and sentenced to death
- however, the Doctor soon realizes that he is out of his depth and may have to
commit an unthinkable act which will change him forever...
The War Games is an epic on many scales - the ten part black and white serial
sits at mammoth four hours of Whoey goodness (and thankfully doesn't see any
real lulls throughout) and sees stellar performances from the main trio who are
about to exit and a myriad of supporting characters.
And as is befitting the story, this latest release is a three disc behemoth
which is superlative and a real treasure trove for long term fans of the show -
and contains enough for the casual viewer to understand why fans are so
passionate.
The War Games signified an end to the black and white era of Doctor Who in
1969 - and also saw the first introduction of a back story and race (The Time
Lords) for the errant time traveler; as well as the revelation of where he came
from. In terms of the show's history itself, it's a gem and demonstrated how the
show could endlessly reinvent itself (which has served it well as it enters its
47th year)
The depth of extras on this release has seen it gifted an entire disc with
the beautifully remastered story split over 2 discs - some of the highlights
include a look at the Second Doctor's comic strips, behind the scenes of the
production, as well as some nice fan based extras (including a fan tribute to
bridge the gap between Patrick Troughton leaving the show and Jon Pertwee taking
over in 1970)
This is an essential release for any fan of the show and as they ready
themselves to bid farewell to the latest incarnation in the form of David
Tennant, it serves as a reminder of why the show really blazed its trail back in
the times of a lack of special effects and budgetary confines.
Extras: A mammoth amount - War Zone - cast and crew recall
the making of Patrick Troughton's epic swansong; Shades of Grey - just how did
the technical and artistic constraints of monochrome television conspire to
effect the unique look and feel of early productions? Now and Then - the ongoing
series visits the locations of 'The War Games' forty years on; The Doctor's
Composer - prolific composer Dudley Simpson looks back at his first five years
of work on Doctor Who; Sylvia James - In Conversation - make-up designer Sylvia
James talks about her work on Patrick Troughton's Doctor Who stories; Talking
About Regeneration - the concept of regenerating a show's main character into an
entirely new physical form proved to be both a lifesaver for the show and an
increasingly important part of its mythos. This feature explores the ideas
involved and takes a closer look at each of the Doctor's regenerations; Time
Zones - historians discuss the reality behind the various time zones featured in
'The War Games'. With political historian Dr. Martin Farr, military historian
Crispin Swayne, Newcastle University's Lindsay Allison-Jones and author Prof.
Susan-Mary Grant; Stripped for Action - The Second Doctor - the continuing
series of features focussing on the Doctor's comic strip adventures looks at the
Second Doctor; On Target - Malcolm Hulke - the first in a series of features on
the Target range of TV story novelizations looks at the work of writer Malcolm
Hulke; Devious - for over a decade, a group of friends on England's south coast
met on weekends to shoot an amateur Doctor Who film - 'Devious' - which takes
place between the events of Patrick Troughton's swansong 'The War Games' and Jon
Pertwee's introduction in 'Spearhead from Space', and features their own
previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor. To segue back into 'Spearhead',
the team decided to put up the money to employ Jon Pertwee for a day - in what
was to become his last ever appearance as the Third Doctor.
Rating: (For Dr Who fans) 10/10 - for non scarf waving members of
Earth, 8/10
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Thursday, 15 October 2009
The Final Destination: Movie Review
The Final Destination: Movie Review
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Bobby Campo, Shantel, Van Santen, Nick Zano, Haley Webb, Mykelti Williamson, Krista Allen
Director: David R Ellis
When Nick O'Bannon gets premonitions at the local speedway of a whole heap of deaths thanks to a speeding flaming car hitting the grandstand, he manages to get himself, his friends and a few bystanders out of the park before it's too late.
Just seconds after they've vacated the track, catastrophe strikes and over 50 lose their lives as the envisaged accident takes place.
The gang leave feeling they've had a lucky escape.
However, when one of the bystanders is killed within hours of the race track carnage, and thanks to a little help from the worldwide web, it soon becomes clear to Nick and his friends that their cards are marked and death is going to find them one way or another.
What do you say about The Final Destination?
It's a film franchise and a series of gory bloody deaths - it's not Shakespeare - and nor does it aspire to be.
But this latest entrant into the franchise, which began in 2000, has very little new to offer the cinematic world - other than the use of 3D.
And while the use of this new digital technology sees some very impressive Bond style opening credits which mesh all the previous deaths from prior films, it soon resorts to having you duck and squirm in your seat as various deathly implements head towards you in the cinema. However, half the problem of this film lies with its characters.
Obviously underdeveloped and with little back story or attitudes which make you like them, it makes it difficult to care about any of those the Grim Reaper has his eye on. Even one of the main leads, an airhead jock, is so unlikeable that you don't really care when he meets his maker.
But, as I say, you don't head to Final Destination for its thrilling in depth character analysis, witty dialogue and Oscar nominated acting - it's about the dispatching of the leads and the fact these characters don't stand a chance from the unrelenting march of Death.
Granted there are scenes which stretch out what you expect will happen to our leads and some of the surprises may confound your expectations. Myeklti Williamson gets a reasonable back story as an alcoholic guard who's lost his family - but his end (while swiped from the first film) is so callous that you are left unsure of who to root for. All you will be thinking is that OSH would have a field day.
I don't doubt there'll be a certain portion of the audience who'll enjoy this - and thanks to its short running time, it doesn't outstay its welcome.
It's just that The Final Destination doesn't reach the highs of the previous films - and may leave you hoping that the use of the definite article in front of this latest title means there won't be any more.
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Bobby Campo, Shantel, Van Santen, Nick Zano, Haley Webb, Mykelti Williamson, Krista Allen
Director: David R Ellis
When Nick O'Bannon gets premonitions at the local speedway of a whole heap of deaths thanks to a speeding flaming car hitting the grandstand, he manages to get himself, his friends and a few bystanders out of the park before it's too late.
Just seconds after they've vacated the track, catastrophe strikes and over 50 lose their lives as the envisaged accident takes place.
The gang leave feeling they've had a lucky escape.
However, when one of the bystanders is killed within hours of the race track carnage, and thanks to a little help from the worldwide web, it soon becomes clear to Nick and his friends that their cards are marked and death is going to find them one way or another.
What do you say about The Final Destination?
It's a film franchise and a series of gory bloody deaths - it's not Shakespeare - and nor does it aspire to be.
But this latest entrant into the franchise, which began in 2000, has very little new to offer the cinematic world - other than the use of 3D.
And while the use of this new digital technology sees some very impressive Bond style opening credits which mesh all the previous deaths from prior films, it soon resorts to having you duck and squirm in your seat as various deathly implements head towards you in the cinema. However, half the problem of this film lies with its characters.
Obviously underdeveloped and with little back story or attitudes which make you like them, it makes it difficult to care about any of those the Grim Reaper has his eye on. Even one of the main leads, an airhead jock, is so unlikeable that you don't really care when he meets his maker.
But, as I say, you don't head to Final Destination for its thrilling in depth character analysis, witty dialogue and Oscar nominated acting - it's about the dispatching of the leads and the fact these characters don't stand a chance from the unrelenting march of Death.
Granted there are scenes which stretch out what you expect will happen to our leads and some of the surprises may confound your expectations. Myeklti Williamson gets a reasonable back story as an alcoholic guard who's lost his family - but his end (while swiped from the first film) is so callous that you are left unsure of who to root for. All you will be thinking is that OSH would have a field day.
I don't doubt there'll be a certain portion of the audience who'll enjoy this - and thanks to its short running time, it doesn't outstay its welcome.
It's just that The Final Destination doesn't reach the highs of the previous films - and may leave you hoping that the use of the definite article in front of this latest title means there won't be any more.
Friday, 9 October 2009
An Education: Movie Review
An Education: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson.
Director: Lone Scherfig
Based on Lyn Barber's memoir, An Education explores the relationship between a 16-year-old school girl, Jenny (Carey Mulligan), and her thirty-ish suitor, David (Peter Sarsgaard).
Still several years off the "swinging sixties" movement which defined the decade, early 1960s London was drab, conservative and much to Jenny's chagrin, boring.
Jenny is a talented and popular student on track to securing her father's dream of going to Oxford. Beyond university she dreams of living in Paris - a far cry from her monotonous existence in suburban London.
When David offers Jenny a lift home, she quickly responds to his flair for adventure. David and his friends are cultured, witty and rich and live life with a firm emphasis on having fun.
David deftly charms his way into Jenny's home, and simultaneously impresses and alienates Jenny's parents by whisking her off on adventures they would never consider.
Having completed his seduction, David's carefully managed façade inevitably begins to unravel, leaving Jenny to reconsider her own dreams and goals.
As Jenny, Carey Mulligan is flawless. It is her performance alone which elevates An Education above traditional Sunday evening telly fare. Mulligan steers clear of traditional teen angst and instead plays Jenny as a conflicted character, unsure yet argumentative, smitten yet wary.
Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity) adapted Barber's 12-page memoir into a film script. The supporting actors do their best with the at times cringe-worthy material (particularly Peter Saarsgard, who is required to initiate a sex scene with a banana).
In spite of the cast's best efforts, An Education remains an inoffensive, somewhat uninspired coming-of-age drama.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson.
Director: Lone Scherfig
Based on Lyn Barber's memoir, An Education explores the relationship between a 16-year-old school girl, Jenny (Carey Mulligan), and her thirty-ish suitor, David (Peter Sarsgaard).
Still several years off the "swinging sixties" movement which defined the decade, early 1960s London was drab, conservative and much to Jenny's chagrin, boring.
Jenny is a talented and popular student on track to securing her father's dream of going to Oxford. Beyond university she dreams of living in Paris - a far cry from her monotonous existence in suburban London.
When David offers Jenny a lift home, she quickly responds to his flair for adventure. David and his friends are cultured, witty and rich and live life with a firm emphasis on having fun.
David deftly charms his way into Jenny's home, and simultaneously impresses and alienates Jenny's parents by whisking her off on adventures they would never consider.
Having completed his seduction, David's carefully managed façade inevitably begins to unravel, leaving Jenny to reconsider her own dreams and goals.
As Jenny, Carey Mulligan is flawless. It is her performance alone which elevates An Education above traditional Sunday evening telly fare. Mulligan steers clear of traditional teen angst and instead plays Jenny as a conflicted character, unsure yet argumentative, smitten yet wary.
Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity) adapted Barber's 12-page memoir into a film script. The supporting actors do their best with the at times cringe-worthy material (particularly Peter Saarsgard, who is required to initiate a sex scene with a banana).
In spite of the cast's best efforts, An Education remains an inoffensive, somewhat uninspired coming-of-age drama.
Couples Retreat: Movie Review
Couples Retreat: Movie Review
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Jean Reno, Peter Serafinowicz, Temuera Morrison
Director: Peter Billingsley
We all know life sometimes gets in the way of relationships - whether it's work, kids or commitments, we're all a bit guilty of maybe neglecting (to a degree) the one we love.
Couples Retreat (starring a group of the Frat Pack) is the tale of 4 couples who head to an island resort at the insistence of one of their own who are on the verge of divorce - and see the getaway as a last make-or-break chance.
The quartet of couples all have their issues - there's Jon Favreau's Joey and Kristin Davis' Lucy who are at the stage of their marriage where they can't stand the sight of each other; Jason Bateman's suffocating Jason and Kristen Bell's Cynthia who (as mentioned) are on the verge of divorce; Faizon Love's divorced Shane and his 20-year-old girlfriend and Vince Vaughn's Dave and Malin Akerman's Ronnie - who to be fair are the strongest of the couples and whose only real problem is getting time together.
Once on the Paradise Island, the gang soon realise what they'd expected to be a vacation is more about therapy, building and strengthening relationships and talking - than partying and enjoying it.
The cracks begin to form in all four of the couples as they realise what's demanded of them&
Written by Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn (a reteaming of the Swingers gang), you'd expect Couples Retreat to be a riotous laugh a minute look at relationships during a retreat on a paradise island.
And that's what the trailer hinted at...
But yet Couples Retreat is not exactly comedy - it's probably more truthful to say it's a drama with a few deadpan good one liners thrown in - as well as some solid performances - including Jason Bateman who continues to shine on screen.
For the first time on screen, I've actually warmed to a character played by Vince Vaughn; usually boorish, his Dave is probably his most reality grounded and mature role ever which sees you sympathising with his plight as he and Ronnie begin to realise everything's not perfect in their lives.
Most of the laughs from Couples Retreat come from the side characters; from Peter Serafinowicz's contemptuous, sneering, deadpan island host Stanley to Carlos Ponce's terrifyingly creepy yoga instructor (trust me you'll never look at a yoga instructor the same way again) the supporting characters are the ones which are on screen caricatures. Sadly Temuera Morrison is there simply as an island style sidekick to Jean Reno's pompous Monsieur Marcel.
There are some great one liners and moments in Couples Retreat - but if you're expecting more than that, you will leave sorely disappointed. Granted, it's a more mature film, it just could have done with being a little funnier in places given the wealth of talent involved.
If, however, you're looking for a film which takes couples whose lives have been battered by the day to day pressures of modern life and forces them to re-evaluate, then a word of caution - Couples Retreat may find you leaving the cinema, thinking your relationship could do with a spruce up and makeover.
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Jean Reno, Peter Serafinowicz, Temuera Morrison
Director: Peter Billingsley
We all know life sometimes gets in the way of relationships - whether it's work, kids or commitments, we're all a bit guilty of maybe neglecting (to a degree) the one we love.
Couples Retreat (starring a group of the Frat Pack) is the tale of 4 couples who head to an island resort at the insistence of one of their own who are on the verge of divorce - and see the getaway as a last make-or-break chance.
The quartet of couples all have their issues - there's Jon Favreau's Joey and Kristin Davis' Lucy who are at the stage of their marriage where they can't stand the sight of each other; Jason Bateman's suffocating Jason and Kristen Bell's Cynthia who (as mentioned) are on the verge of divorce; Faizon Love's divorced Shane and his 20-year-old girlfriend and Vince Vaughn's Dave and Malin Akerman's Ronnie - who to be fair are the strongest of the couples and whose only real problem is getting time together.
Once on the Paradise Island, the gang soon realise what they'd expected to be a vacation is more about therapy, building and strengthening relationships and talking - than partying and enjoying it.
The cracks begin to form in all four of the couples as they realise what's demanded of them&
Written by Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn (a reteaming of the Swingers gang), you'd expect Couples Retreat to be a riotous laugh a minute look at relationships during a retreat on a paradise island.
And that's what the trailer hinted at...
But yet Couples Retreat is not exactly comedy - it's probably more truthful to say it's a drama with a few deadpan good one liners thrown in - as well as some solid performances - including Jason Bateman who continues to shine on screen.
For the first time on screen, I've actually warmed to a character played by Vince Vaughn; usually boorish, his Dave is probably his most reality grounded and mature role ever which sees you sympathising with his plight as he and Ronnie begin to realise everything's not perfect in their lives.
Most of the laughs from Couples Retreat come from the side characters; from Peter Serafinowicz's contemptuous, sneering, deadpan island host Stanley to Carlos Ponce's terrifyingly creepy yoga instructor (trust me you'll never look at a yoga instructor the same way again) the supporting characters are the ones which are on screen caricatures. Sadly Temuera Morrison is there simply as an island style sidekick to Jean Reno's pompous Monsieur Marcel.
There are some great one liners and moments in Couples Retreat - but if you're expecting more than that, you will leave sorely disappointed. Granted, it's a more mature film, it just could have done with being a little funnier in places given the wealth of talent involved.
If, however, you're looking for a film which takes couples whose lives have been battered by the day to day pressures of modern life and forces them to re-evaluate, then a word of caution - Couples Retreat may find you leaving the cinema, thinking your relationship could do with a spruce up and makeover.
The Secret of Moonacre: Movie Review
The Secret of Moonacre: Movie Review
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Dakota Blue Richards , Juliet Stevenson, Natascha McElhone , Ioan Gruffudd, Tim Curry Coeur De Noir/Sir William De Noir
Director: Gabor Csupo
The latest adaptation of a novel (this time, it's The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge) appears on our screens in time for the school hols.
It's the story of 13-year-old Maria Merryweather (Dakota Blue Richards, last seen in The Golden Compass) who starts the film becoming an orphan after her father dies.
As her sole inheritance, she's left a book - but that book is the story of a centuries old dispute between the Merryweather and De Noir dynasties - over a necklace of magic Pearls bestowed on them by the Moon Princess (Natascha McElhone.)
Despatched to live with her uncle Sir Benjamin Merryweather (Ioan Gruffudd) at the isolated Moonacre estate, Maria begins to discover there may be more truth to the book and the feud than fiction&
The Secret of Moonacre is not a bad fantasy story - it's just bogged down by some, at times, pantomine performances by supporting members of the main cast. The worst offender of this is Juliet Stevenson's Miss Heliotrope, who appears to think she's in a Carry On film. Her overacting distracts from the more restrained subtle performance of Dakota Blue Richards' Maria Merryweather - even Tim Curry's Coeur De Noir/Sir William De Noir is over the top.
It's a shame because the true beauty of this film comes from its sumptuously gorgeous sets and costumes.
The department involved with making the Moonacre world a reality needs an Oscar - they're so wonderfully visualised and made real that it's just sad the story doesn't follow suit.
The Secret of Moonacre may keep the kids quiet for a little while - but an older audience may find it slightly lacking - there's a real lack of development in the interaction between the main characters - and where alliances are forged and friendships made, the brevity doesn't help make it more plausible.
Overall despite attempts to give the classic period movie a more fantastical twist, The Secret of Moonacre falls a little flat and may leave some of the kids in the audience (old or young) fidgeting in their seats.
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Dakota Blue Richards , Juliet Stevenson, Natascha McElhone , Ioan Gruffudd, Tim Curry Coeur De Noir/Sir William De Noir
Director: Gabor Csupo
The latest adaptation of a novel (this time, it's The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge) appears on our screens in time for the school hols.
It's the story of 13-year-old Maria Merryweather (Dakota Blue Richards, last seen in The Golden Compass) who starts the film becoming an orphan after her father dies.
As her sole inheritance, she's left a book - but that book is the story of a centuries old dispute between the Merryweather and De Noir dynasties - over a necklace of magic Pearls bestowed on them by the Moon Princess (Natascha McElhone.)
Despatched to live with her uncle Sir Benjamin Merryweather (Ioan Gruffudd) at the isolated Moonacre estate, Maria begins to discover there may be more truth to the book and the feud than fiction&
The Secret of Moonacre is not a bad fantasy story - it's just bogged down by some, at times, pantomine performances by supporting members of the main cast. The worst offender of this is Juliet Stevenson's Miss Heliotrope, who appears to think she's in a Carry On film. Her overacting distracts from the more restrained subtle performance of Dakota Blue Richards' Maria Merryweather - even Tim Curry's Coeur De Noir/Sir William De Noir is over the top.
It's a shame because the true beauty of this film comes from its sumptuously gorgeous sets and costumes.
The department involved with making the Moonacre world a reality needs an Oscar - they're so wonderfully visualised and made real that it's just sad the story doesn't follow suit.
The Secret of Moonacre may keep the kids quiet for a little while - but an older audience may find it slightly lacking - there's a real lack of development in the interaction between the main characters - and where alliances are forged and friendships made, the brevity doesn't help make it more plausible.
Overall despite attempts to give the classic period movie a more fantastical twist, The Secret of Moonacre falls a little flat and may leave some of the kids in the audience (old or young) fidgeting in their seats.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
(500) Days Of Summer: Movie Review
(500) Days Of Summer: Movie Review
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler.
Director: Marc Webb
Okay right from the off, I am going to issue you a warning.
Much like the start of the movie, which emphasises that the following film is not a love story, (500) Days of Summer will divide people's opinions.
To some the quirky factor of 11 may be too much to handle or the main protagonist will either come across as doleful and sympathetic or whiny and irritating. Seriously I saw this with three friends and we were divided straight down the line - two loved it and two hated it. As you can see from the rating above, we are heading into safe waters with this review.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (GI Joe, Third Rock From The Sun and half the indie movies of the last five years) stars as Tom, a bored greeting card writer and frustrated architect, who is going nowhere fast.
Tom has settled with what he's been given in life, but that all changes when Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is hired as a new secretary in his firm. It's love at first sight.
Backed up by his suitably quirky mates (aren't they always in movies?), Tom finally talks to Summer over their love of those happy British rockers, The Smiths.
And so the picture begins as both fall in and out of love, all told from the point of view of the lovelorn Gordon-Levitt.
First-time director Marc Webb is certainly given the freedom to play with the typical romantic comedy structure. The film plays with time, going from the first feelings of love to the bitter taste of a broken relationship, then back to the awkward initial moments of intimacy, then back again.
Webb also plays with animated sequences and in a bizarre moment, a full scale Busby Berkeley-style dance number in a park. But the great thing is it all works. Yes it's quirky, yes it wants to be different but it doesn't feel completely forced.
Gordon-Levitt has developed from geeky child actor, through geeky teen, to geeky adult but his fine comedic chops stand him well in the more humorous moments. After years of honing his skills in independent movies, (500) Days of Summer, along with his appearance in GI Joe this year, mean he has well and truly arrived in the megaplexes.
Zooey Deschanel plays pretty much the same doe-eyed-ingénue-with-an-edge role as usual and isn't really asked an awful lot to do, but she is a perfect foil to Gordon-Levitt.
There are other minor quibbles, including the slightly overbearing soundtrack, which clearly is hoping that it's mix of trendy, 80s Britpop and French ballads would send it top of the CD charts, just like the soundtrack to that other indie darling Juno.
But overall this is a gem of a movie.
It turns the traditional romantic comedy on its head and will leave you smiling as you leave the cinema. Or of course you could hate the movie like my friends -up to you to decide
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler.
Director: Marc Webb
Okay right from the off, I am going to issue you a warning.
Much like the start of the movie, which emphasises that the following film is not a love story, (500) Days of Summer will divide people's opinions.
To some the quirky factor of 11 may be too much to handle or the main protagonist will either come across as doleful and sympathetic or whiny and irritating. Seriously I saw this with three friends and we were divided straight down the line - two loved it and two hated it. As you can see from the rating above, we are heading into safe waters with this review.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (GI Joe, Third Rock From The Sun and half the indie movies of the last five years) stars as Tom, a bored greeting card writer and frustrated architect, who is going nowhere fast.
Tom has settled with what he's been given in life, but that all changes when Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is hired as a new secretary in his firm. It's love at first sight.
Backed up by his suitably quirky mates (aren't they always in movies?), Tom finally talks to Summer over their love of those happy British rockers, The Smiths.
And so the picture begins as both fall in and out of love, all told from the point of view of the lovelorn Gordon-Levitt.
First-time director Marc Webb is certainly given the freedom to play with the typical romantic comedy structure. The film plays with time, going from the first feelings of love to the bitter taste of a broken relationship, then back to the awkward initial moments of intimacy, then back again.
Webb also plays with animated sequences and in a bizarre moment, a full scale Busby Berkeley-style dance number in a park. But the great thing is it all works. Yes it's quirky, yes it wants to be different but it doesn't feel completely forced.
Gordon-Levitt has developed from geeky child actor, through geeky teen, to geeky adult but his fine comedic chops stand him well in the more humorous moments. After years of honing his skills in independent movies, (500) Days of Summer, along with his appearance in GI Joe this year, mean he has well and truly arrived in the megaplexes.
Zooey Deschanel plays pretty much the same doe-eyed-ingénue-with-an-edge role as usual and isn't really asked an awful lot to do, but she is a perfect foil to Gordon-Levitt.
There are other minor quibbles, including the slightly overbearing soundtrack, which clearly is hoping that it's mix of trendy, 80s Britpop and French ballads would send it top of the CD charts, just like the soundtrack to that other indie darling Juno.
But overall this is a gem of a movie.
It turns the traditional romantic comedy on its head and will leave you smiling as you leave the cinema. Or of course you could hate the movie like my friends -up to you to decide
Fame: Movie Review
Fame: Movie Review
Rating: 4/10
Cast: Asher Book, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Paul Iacono, Debbie Allen, Kelsey Grammer, Charles S. Dutton, Kay Panabaker, Walter Perez, Megan Mullally, Anna Maria Perez de Taglé
Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Fame costs - and right here, is apparently where you start paying.
When asking around the office about Fame memories, there were common themes - whether it's the legwarmers or Leroy, everyone's got an opinion on this iconic film and TV series.
So you'd have to wonder how massive a challenge it would be to rewrite the film and update it for a more savvy audience in 2009.
The latest version features a cast of relative unknowns as the wannabes who are put up against the acting talents that are Charles S Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth and Megan Mullally (who all play teachers in this.)
The film begins with a smattering of auditions as the Performing Arts school gets ready for a new year - and a new batch of would be famous people.
Thereafter, it's broken up into the four years (from freshman year, sophomore, junior and senior year) the cast are at the school for - and their various trials and tribulations in the run up to graduation.
Let's lay this on the line here - as you can tell from the summary, there are no main or major characters - and it's difficult to describe Fame as an ensemble cast.
Concentrating on the positive for a moment - the whole film is brilliantly choreographed and has a tremendous energy during the scenes of dancing and singing - every one of those involved in those respective scenes gives 110%.
But therein lies the major problem for Fame - it's too unfocussed.
There are around 10 "leads" whose lives are followed over a four year period during the film's 100 minute duration - as any basic mathematician will tell you that doesn't leave much time for either character development, consistent plot or time to get to love those who faces the obstacles.
And here's another problem - the obstacles that these kids face are unfortunately so predictable and stereotyped you can see them coming a mile off.
Every talent cliche is there - the classical pianist who's a genius but who just wants to cut loose and sing - against the wishes of her father; the naïve young actress who doesn't believe the sleazeball will hit on her; the jealous boyfriend; the rapper who's father left; the actress who can't trust her instincts and cut loose because of self doubt&
It's just so disappointing to see as it the predictability of the situations can be seen a mile off - and I know films are supposed to be escapism and not set in any kind of reality, but how can you put characters into these situations when everyone has seen these kind of dilemmas before?
The young cast give it their all in each heavily choreographed set piece after set piece - but when it comes to dialogue, unfortunately they're acted off the screen by the old guard of Grammer, Neuwirth, Mullally and Dutton.
You can't fault the energy of Fame - it's just a shame none of the major songs are as memorable as Irene Cara's original theme and the whole production doesn't fly.
Rating: 4/10
Cast: Asher Book, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Paul Iacono, Debbie Allen, Kelsey Grammer, Charles S. Dutton, Kay Panabaker, Walter Perez, Megan Mullally, Anna Maria Perez de Taglé
Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Fame costs - and right here, is apparently where you start paying.
When asking around the office about Fame memories, there were common themes - whether it's the legwarmers or Leroy, everyone's got an opinion on this iconic film and TV series.
So you'd have to wonder how massive a challenge it would be to rewrite the film and update it for a more savvy audience in 2009.
The latest version features a cast of relative unknowns as the wannabes who are put up against the acting talents that are Charles S Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth and Megan Mullally (who all play teachers in this.)
The film begins with a smattering of auditions as the Performing Arts school gets ready for a new year - and a new batch of would be famous people.
Thereafter, it's broken up into the four years (from freshman year, sophomore, junior and senior year) the cast are at the school for - and their various trials and tribulations in the run up to graduation.
Let's lay this on the line here - as you can tell from the summary, there are no main or major characters - and it's difficult to describe Fame as an ensemble cast.
Concentrating on the positive for a moment - the whole film is brilliantly choreographed and has a tremendous energy during the scenes of dancing and singing - every one of those involved in those respective scenes gives 110%.
But therein lies the major problem for Fame - it's too unfocussed.
There are around 10 "leads" whose lives are followed over a four year period during the film's 100 minute duration - as any basic mathematician will tell you that doesn't leave much time for either character development, consistent plot or time to get to love those who faces the obstacles.
And here's another problem - the obstacles that these kids face are unfortunately so predictable and stereotyped you can see them coming a mile off.
Every talent cliche is there - the classical pianist who's a genius but who just wants to cut loose and sing - against the wishes of her father; the naïve young actress who doesn't believe the sleazeball will hit on her; the jealous boyfriend; the rapper who's father left; the actress who can't trust her instincts and cut loose because of self doubt&
It's just so disappointing to see as it the predictability of the situations can be seen a mile off - and I know films are supposed to be escapism and not set in any kind of reality, but how can you put characters into these situations when everyone has seen these kind of dilemmas before?
The young cast give it their all in each heavily choreographed set piece after set piece - but when it comes to dialogue, unfortunately they're acted off the screen by the old guard of Grammer, Neuwirth, Mullally and Dutton.
You can't fault the energy of Fame - it's just a shame none of the major songs are as memorable as Irene Cara's original theme and the whole production doesn't fly.
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