Couples Retreat: DVD Review

Couples Retreat: DVD Review

Couples Retreat

Released by Universal Home Entertainment
Cast: Vince Vaughan, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Peter Serafinowicz, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis
Rating: M

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.

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.

However, that's far from what you get - it's more like a drama with some gags thrown in occasionally - it's disappointing in the extreme given the comedic talent involved.

Though it's worth saying 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.

Extras: A smattering of extras including an alternate ending,gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, a doco on filming in Bora Bora (oh the hardships) and commentary from director and Vince Vaughan round out the package - but ultimately the film is a disappointment.

Rating: 5/10

Doctor Who: The Black Guardian Trilogy: DVD Review

Doctor Who: The Black Guardian Trilogy: DVD Review

Doctor Who: The Black Guardian Trilogy
Rating: PG
Released by BBC/ Roadshow
Cast: Peter Davison, Valentine Dyall, Sarah Sutton, Mark Strickson
Another foray into the Time Lord's endless back catalogue, this trio of releases from 1983 mark a return for Peter Davison's fifth incarnation of the Doctor - as well as a return of a long lost foe.
Essentially this trio of stories sees the Doctor reunited with his old comrade Lethbridge Stewart as well as the introduction of a new companion Turlough to the TARDIS team of Nyssa and Tegan.
Throw in the return of the evil black Guardian who's determined to dispatch the Doctor by manipulating Turlough and you've got a recipe for adventure of the eighties kind.
Beginning with Mawdryn Undead, there's a sense of celebration in this story from the Doctor's 20th anniversary year - Turlough brings with him an air of distrust and an enigma which continues through Terminus (the second in the series) and ends with the sailing ships in space epic Enlightenment.
Peter Davison continues to impress some 20 years with his portrayal and there are some big names from the British TV scene in final story Enlightenment.
As ever with these sets, the stories come second fiddle to the extras which continue to be of a high standard and set the benchmark for docos and add ons for releases. A solid doco looking into the background of the Black Guardian does well to flesh out the story.
From film trims to new CGI effects there's plenty to keep fans interested for hours - throw in commentaries from the main actors and it's a package which will be guaranteed to eat up plenty of time.

Extras: Commentaries - with actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson and Nicholas Courtney, Sarah Sutton, writer Stephen Gallagher, writer Barbara Clegg, director Fiona Cumming and script editor Eric Saward. Who Wants to Live Forever? - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Nicholas Courtney, Mark Strickson, David Collings and Lucy Benjamin, director Peter Moffatt, script editor Eric Saward and plastic surgeon Dr. Simon Withey. Narrated by Floella Benjamin. Liberty Hall - a new drama. Journalist Philip Clarke (Simon Ockenden) travels
to Brendan School to interview Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart. Deleted and Extended Scenes Out-takes - the producer's blooper reel.Breaking Point - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton and Martin Potter, director Fiona Cumming, writer Stephen Gallagher, designer Dick Coles, camera supervisor Alec Wheal and sound supervisor Scott Talbott. Narrated by Floella Benjamin. Origins of the Universe - Sir Patrick Moore and, Dr. John Mason take a look at the science behind the Big Bang and the origins of the universe. Winner Takes All - cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Peter Davison, Mark Strickson, Janet Fielding, Keith Barron, Christopher Brown and Leee John, director Fiona Cumming, writer Barbara Clegg, costume designer Dinah Collin and camera supervisor Alec Wheal. Narrated by Floella Benjamin. Casting Off! - an actor's view of working on Doctor Who. With Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Keith Barron, Christopher Brown and Leee John, with director Fiona Cumming. The Story of the Guardians - the Guardians have appeared in Doctor Who as far back as Tom Baker's era - but who - or what - are they? With Robert Luckham (son of the late White Guardian, Cyril Luckham), Sarah Leppard (daughter of the late Black Guardian, Valentine Dyall), Doctor Who Magazine editor Tom Spilsbury and Doctor Who Adventures editor Moray Laing. Storyboards - a dual-angle feature, in which visual effects supervisor Mike Kelt uses the original storyboards to explain how he went about planning and shooting the model effects sequences for the show.

Rating: 7/10 

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars: DVD Review

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars: DVD Review\

Doctor Who - The Waters of Mars
Cast: David Tennant, Lindsay Duncan
Released by Roadshow Entertainment/ BBC
Rating: M
With David Tennant, arguably one of the most popular Doctors, handing over the keys to the TARDIS, there was always going to be a lot of attention on his tenth Doctor's final tales.
And given that his last year was going to consist of only 4 hour long specials, there was infinitely more scrutiny on this quartet of stories.
After the relative disappointment of Planet of The Dead, The Waters of Mars arrives with the heavy weight of expectation on its shoulders - and it doesn't disappoint.
The Doctor lands on Mars on Bowie Base One in the year 2059 - a space base run by Lindsay Duncan's Adelaide Brooke, and one of the first human colonies in space. Within moments of arriving two of the base's inhabitants are turned into zombie like creatures.
But that's not the half of it - the Doc soon realizes he's at a fixed point in time (one which can't be changed without dramatic implications for the future of the earth) and is faced with the reality he can't save one life without irrevocably dismantling the future.
The Waters of Mars is a spooky lead in to the end of Ten's time - it's there simply to showcase the brilliant acting of David Tennant and give the loyal fans a side of the Doctor they've never seen before.
Lindsay Duncan's Adelaide is a strong foil to the Doctor as she grapples with the reality of what happens to all of her staff, her own life and the base itself. The supporting cast do well (aside from irritating robot Gadget which simply grates) and the zombie like creatures which attack do a good job of frightening all and sundry. Sure, there's an argument that there's a little too much running around in corridors but when both Tennant and Duncan turn it on (notably in the electrifying finale), it's edge of the seat viewing.
The extras are the Dr Who confidential behind the scenes look at the making of this episode - an hour long doco which takes you into the world - although after some five years of these now they're starting to run out of ground to cover.
With the final two part epic The End Of Time on its way, The Waters of Mars is a good jumping off point to appreciate what exactly the show will have lost when this Tennant hands over the TARDIS keys.

Rating: 7/10

Boy A: DVD Review

Boy A: DVD Review

Boy A
Released by Roadshow
Rating: M
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Katie Lyons
Boy A is an unexpected treat.
It's the story of Jack (Andrew Garfield) a young man just released from prison and trying to make his way in the world. As he tries to build a new life, gets a job and sets about a relationship with Katie Lyons' Michelle, his past starts to come sharply in focus and threatens to derail everything he's worked for.
There's flashbacks to Jack's past as you start to recall the horror of what he actually did - and it's a crime which will make many recall the death of Jamie Bulger and the resulting media furore.
Boy A is a really surprising film; a perfect made for TV DVD which was nominated for 7 BAFTA awards - and its main actor Andrew Garfield (who was in The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus) scooped the best actor award.
It's not difficult to see why - with his self assured acting and engrossing screen presence, he's clearly one of the talents to keep an eye on.
It's very easy to get engrossed in films like this and with a compelling central turn from Garfield, Boy A remains a good compelling and fresh piece of film.

Rating: 8/10

Bright Star: Movie Review

Bright Star: Movie Review

Bright Star
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish, Kerry Fox, Thomas Sangster
Director: Jane Campion
Jane Campion returns to the big screen with Bright Star, the story of poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his love affair with Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish).
In 1818 London, Keats is a would be poet, Brawne, his fashion obsessed next door neighbour - initially the pair aren't attracted to each other, dismissive of each other's chosen profession and lifestyle.
Yet, against the odds and in the face of disapproval from society, the two are drawn together and begin a relationship.
But with Keats' health failing, it looks as if the duo's affair won't be a long one..
Once again, Jane Campion's crafted another piece of beautiful cinema; a tale of love, yearning and sensuality with some truly gorgeous costumes (which have in fact been nominated for this year's Oscars).
Whishaw's very good as Keats - he conveys the despair Keats felt as an "unsuccessful" poet during his lifetime - and Cornish is equally as good as Fanny who is suddenly struck by the wonders of love. There's a playfulness to their courtship to start off with - but that's swiftly replaced by the harsh reality of English society as Fanny's mother disapproves and forbids the two of them from being together - and from there, while you can tell what's going to happen, it doesn't diminish any of the heart and feeling of the film. The reality of their relationship's breathed a little fresh life into the somewhat dusty works of Keats - and you may find yourself swept away with it all.

Bright Star looks sumptuous and may strike a chord with many romantics everywhere.

Max Manus: Movie Review

Max Manus: Movie Review

Max Manus
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Aksel Hennie, Nicolai Cleve Broch, Agnes Kittelsen, Christian Rubeck, Ken Duken

Director: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Based on true events, Max Manus is the tale of one man's life in the resistance and his battle to conquer his own inner demons.
Having fought the Soviets in Finland, Manus (played by Norwegian Aksel Hennie) finds himself back in Norway just as the German occupation is underway.
Joining the growing resistance movement, he quickly manages to garner himself a reputation as a rebel fighting against censorship and spreading propaganda.
However, he quickly finds himself in the firing line - and is arrested by the Germans. Promptly escaping to Scotland, he finds himself embroiled in a special sabotage group who try to bring down the Nazi occupation from within.
But as Manus continues to fight the ever present oppressors, he soon has to fight his own battles as he loses those around him he loves.
Max Manus is a film of boys own war and to a degree, derring do. It's unflinching in its gritty portrayal of the Norwegian fight against the Nazis - and scenes of street side gun battles are bloody, violent and bleak. There's a palpable sense of dread as Manus and his team take on saboteur missions - because of their initial lack of training and degrees of incompetence, you're never quite sure whether they'll survive or not.
And yet, it's wrong to dismiss Max Manus - production wise, it looks stunning with stomach churning flashbacks to Manus' time in the trenches in Finland. It also doesn't shirk from the grim reality of combat during war - and the effects it has on the main protagonist as his friends are killed and he finds his place in the world uncertain.
It's impossible to watch Max Manus without recalling last year's Dutch resistance flick, Flammen and Citroen which has an uncannily similar storyline.
That said, the end packs an emotional punch - Manus's compassion for his comrades and his portrayal of the feeling that in reality not all of them will return from the missions give it a sad and affecting aura.

All in all, Max Manus is once again a reminder of the ultimate price paid by those willing to sacrifice everything for the freedom of their country - and an acknowledgement that worldwide, many of us owe a debt we can never repay.

Balibo: Movie Review

Balibo: Movie Review

Rating: 7/10
Cast: Anthony LaPaglia, Oscar Isaac, Nathan Phillips, Damon Gameau, Gyton Grantley, Tom Wright

Director: Robert Connolly
The ever reliable Anthony LaPaglia stars as war journalist Roger East in Balibo - he's called to investigate the disappearance of five Australian journalists in the township of Balibo by Jose Ramos-Horta (Oscar Isaac).
The quintet was looking into the invasion of East Timor by Indonesian forces when they disappeared - and despite East's initial reluctance to get involved, Ramos-Horta piques his journalistic fancy. East's been promised the job of running the News agency in East Timor as the invasion got underway in 1975 - but he's more concerned about what actually happened to the journalists and why the Australian government - and the world - didn't seem to care.
However, as East heads closer into dangerous territory he soon realises the country's on tipping point and atrocities are being committed which no-one's being told about - can he get to the truth and survive?
Political thriller Balibo is, by turns heartbreaking, horrific and dramatic - the central story of the missing five is book ended by a journalist interviewing a girl who was in Balibo in 1975. He's trying to establish exactly what went on so that those whose lives were lost can get some form of justice. Throughout, the film is interspersed with footage of the journalists and their journey deeper into the heart of East Timor. By initially only using snippets of the journalists' actions, Connolly very cleverly pieces together a narrative framework which is rich in content and throws you right into the middle of the story.
LaPaglia is great as ever as war frazzled journalist East - his relationship with the young Ramos-Horta fizzles with initial mistrust - and even the viewer's not 100% sure if East is being given the truth by Isaac's character. The journalists themselves are well played - and their naivety going into the war zone is suddenly replaced by a very real fear of what they may actually face when confronted by the Indonesian troops. There's a smattering of humour as the journos realise they may have been beaten to the story by a rival network, but the ever encroaching menace and horror of their pursuit of the truth is overwhelming and on several occasions, you find your heart in your mouth. The ending is certainly guaranteed to leave you numb and sickened - but director Robert Connolly doesn't milk the situation for dramatic effect - he simply tells the story rather than tug on the heart strings.
Balibo manages to be a compelling political thriller without delivering an overtly political message - scenes of bodies being discovered massacred in a village are stripped of soundtrack so only the sobs of the characters convey the horrific situation.

Banned in Indonesia amid concerns the story's been skewed to an Australian audience and doesn't tell the truth about how the five journalists died, Balibo remains a deeply affecting and haunting film as the reality of what happened some thirty years ago comes to cinematic light.