Seven: 15th Anniversary: DVD Review
Seven - 15th Anniversary Edition
Rating: 18
Cast: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
15
years after it first shocked audiences with its what's in the box denouement,
Seven is repackaged and re-released to celebrate the decade and a half on.
David Fincher's vision is still chilling after all
these years; the plot sees John Doe, a killer, exacting punishment on those who
get off on being involved in the seven deadly sins.
Morgan Freeman's hard bitten Detective Somerset along with Brad
Pitt's newbie Detective Mills are soon on his trail - but as each horrific crime
is unveiled, the net draws closer on Doe - and also the pair who are hunting
him.
Seven is still a killer despite all the time
having passed; its impact on the thriller genre can't be dismissed and its
ending certainly raised the stakes for what audiences would expect post its
release.
Extras: The re-released
set is a good one too - with 2 discs seeing an array of audio commentaries (from
the likes of the sound team, the production team and the actors and Fincher
themselves) which will add to the experience; coupled in with that are
storyboards, filmographies, promos, notebooks and alternate endings showing what
could have happened, this is a pretty comprehensive package.
Also
thrown in for good measure is a limited edition 32 page comic which concentrates
on the poor schlub who was the victim of gluttony - just don't read it after
you've eaten.
Rating: 8/10
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Is Anybody There? DVD Review
Is Anybody There? DVD Review
Is Anybody There?
Rating: M
Cast: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
1980s England - and in the stifling atmosphere of an old people's home, we find death and dementia not too far away.
10-year-old Edward (Bill Milner) lives in a care home run by his parents - but to get by on a daily basis, Edward has a morbid fascination with death - obsessed by the final moments of some of the residents, Edward spends his time recording their last dying breaths in an attempt to find out what comes after.
One day, while out walking and listening to the exit of an elderly resident on a pair of headphones, he's nearly run over by Michael Caine's ancient magician Clarence. The two form an unlikely bond as Edward realizes after Clarence tries to commit suicide, that he holds the secret to what comes next&
Is Anybody There? is a tear-jerker in parts - but thanks to a stellar performance from Michael Caine it avoids heading down the three hankies track. Once again, Caine manages to turn what could have been a fairly mawkish script into some truly emotive moments - there's pathos in spades here as Clarence first visits the home; he's shocked to realize that he will ultimately end up here but too weary to fight against the inevitability of his condition.
Bill Milner's Edward isn't a bad performance - while his morbid fascination and depressing endless questioning is a product of where he's been brought up, the sense of playfulness and earnest desire to learn about the afterlife and find some meaning in the world make the character rise above what could have been a tearful, doleful mire.
The only unwelcome note in Is Anybody There? is the family marriage melodrama which blights the final portion of the film - it's an unnecessary footnote to what's gone before.
Extras: None (disappointingly)
Rating: 7/10
Is Anybody There?
Rating: M
Cast: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
1980s England - and in the stifling atmosphere of an old people's home, we find death and dementia not too far away.
10-year-old Edward (Bill Milner) lives in a care home run by his parents - but to get by on a daily basis, Edward has a morbid fascination with death - obsessed by the final moments of some of the residents, Edward spends his time recording their last dying breaths in an attempt to find out what comes after.
One day, while out walking and listening to the exit of an elderly resident on a pair of headphones, he's nearly run over by Michael Caine's ancient magician Clarence. The two form an unlikely bond as Edward realizes after Clarence tries to commit suicide, that he holds the secret to what comes next&
Is Anybody There? is a tear-jerker in parts - but thanks to a stellar performance from Michael Caine it avoids heading down the three hankies track. Once again, Caine manages to turn what could have been a fairly mawkish script into some truly emotive moments - there's pathos in spades here as Clarence first visits the home; he's shocked to realize that he will ultimately end up here but too weary to fight against the inevitability of his condition.
Bill Milner's Edward isn't a bad performance - while his morbid fascination and depressing endless questioning is a product of where he's been brought up, the sense of playfulness and earnest desire to learn about the afterlife and find some meaning in the world make the character rise above what could have been a tearful, doleful mire.
The only unwelcome note in Is Anybody There? is the family marriage melodrama which blights the final portion of the film - it's an unnecessary footnote to what's gone before.
Extras: None (disappointingly)
Rating: 7/10
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
The Final Destination: DVD Review
The Final Destination: DVD Review
The Final Destination
Rating: R16
Cast: Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Mykelti Williamson
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
When Nick O'Bannon (Campo) 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 escape. However, with one of the bystanders 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.
The Final Destination franchise lurches on with yet another tale of teens in peril - this time though, death's saved 3D as its preferred method of dispatching people. There's little to offer in the way of character development, plot or anything sensible - but for this franchise which started a decade ago, it's never really been about anything other than the deaths.
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.
Mercifully short and with the 2D and 3D versions included in this release, there will be some who will absolutely love it - and there will be others (myself included) who hope this really is the end of the franchise.
Rating: 5/10
The Final Destination
Rating: R16
Cast: Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Mykelti Williamson
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
When Nick O'Bannon (Campo) 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 escape. However, with one of the bystanders 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.
The Final Destination franchise lurches on with yet another tale of teens in peril - this time though, death's saved 3D as its preferred method of dispatching people. There's little to offer in the way of character development, plot or anything sensible - but for this franchise which started a decade ago, it's never really been about anything other than the deaths.
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.
Mercifully short and with the 2D and 3D versions included in this release, there will be some who will absolutely love it - and there will be others (myself included) who hope this really is the end of the franchise.
Rating: 5/10
Monday, 12 April 2010
What Just Happened: DVD Review
What Just Happened: DVD Review
What Just Happened
Rating: M
Cast: Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Stewart
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
In this "satire" of Hollywood, Robert De Niro stars as Ben, a fading producer.As the film opens, Ben's just witnessed his latest film, Fiercely starring Sean Penn, being savaged at a test screening - and he knows this could signal the end of his time at the top.
As if that wasn't bad enough he's having trouble with his ex Kelly (Robin Wright Penn) and to give him a trio of troubles, his attempts to get Bruce Willis to shave off his bushy beard so their latest project isn't canned, are not going well.
So Ben finds himself in the middle of a life crisis - as well as a career one - can he pull any of it back?
What Just Happened isn't a bad film; it's just not as savage as it could be - while Penn and Willis play themselves, De Niro seems to play another more chilled out version of himself as he tries to juggle all the respective balls.
Given how successful The Player was at doing this kind of satire years ago(and it's inevitable these two will be compared) I have to admit I was expecting a little more caustic wit and biting satire about the industry.
Overall, coupled with a complete lack of extras, What Just Happened is somewhat of a disappointment - when you consider what kind of potential there was here, it's just a shame nothing more came of it.
Rating: 6/10
What Just Happened
Rating: M
Cast: Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Stewart
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
In this "satire" of Hollywood, Robert De Niro stars as Ben, a fading producer.As the film opens, Ben's just witnessed his latest film, Fiercely starring Sean Penn, being savaged at a test screening - and he knows this could signal the end of his time at the top.
As if that wasn't bad enough he's having trouble with his ex Kelly (Robin Wright Penn) and to give him a trio of troubles, his attempts to get Bruce Willis to shave off his bushy beard so their latest project isn't canned, are not going well.
So Ben finds himself in the middle of a life crisis - as well as a career one - can he pull any of it back?
What Just Happened isn't a bad film; it's just not as savage as it could be - while Penn and Willis play themselves, De Niro seems to play another more chilled out version of himself as he tries to juggle all the respective balls.
Given how successful The Player was at doing this kind of satire years ago(and it's inevitable these two will be compared) I have to admit I was expecting a little more caustic wit and biting satire about the industry.
Overall, coupled with a complete lack of extras, What Just Happened is somewhat of a disappointment - when you consider what kind of potential there was here, it's just a shame nothing more came of it.
Rating: 6/10
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Date Night: Movie Review
Date Night: Movie Review
Date Night
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ray Liotta, William Fichtner, James Franco
Director: Shawn Levy
Steve Carell and Tina Fey team up in this comedy about mistaken identity.
They're Phil and Claire Foster - a NY husband and wife whose suburban lives have been besieged by the mundanities of two point four children; for whom each day is a series of routines - including their Date Night which sees them ordering the same dishes week in, week out.
So, shocked by the news one of their favourite couples is about to divorce, Phil decides to shake things up to prevent their marriage from being the next casualty.
On the spur of the moment, he takes Claire to a swanky Manhattan restaurant and refusing to give in because he doesn't have a reservation, takes someone else's.
And that's where the problems start - because it turns out the reservation was for two people who have big problems with the law and pretty soon, the pair are out of their depth and fighting for their lives.
You would imagine Date Night would be the dream partnership on the big screen; both Carell and Fey are much loved in The Office and 30 Rock - and to be honest, they work well together on the screen; they're a plausible pair of long time marrieds who've lost their spark.
Fey is particularly funny - I have to admit to never having been 100% won over by her charms but she really has some hoot out loud funny lines; likewise Carell is his usual toned down self but again, thanks to some great lines, gets the chance to shine. The pair have such great ways of delivering the lines that gives it some sparkle; with both of them, it's down to inappropriate lines and odd comments here and there which really make this likeable duo work well.
But unfortunately this caper doesn't quite work as a story and I don't know exactly what went wrong with it; it's not a bad film, it's just a bit lacking that 5% magic that needs to make it gel. Perhaps it's because in parts it feels like a blockbuster (complete with a well shot chase scene) mixed in with some old fashioned comedy, but the sum of its parts don't add up.
While the chemistry between Carell and Fey is great, there's just something about the film which leaves you a little disappointed at the end of the night.
Date Night
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ray Liotta, William Fichtner, James Franco
Director: Shawn Levy
Steve Carell and Tina Fey team up in this comedy about mistaken identity.
They're Phil and Claire Foster - a NY husband and wife whose suburban lives have been besieged by the mundanities of two point four children; for whom each day is a series of routines - including their Date Night which sees them ordering the same dishes week in, week out.
So, shocked by the news one of their favourite couples is about to divorce, Phil decides to shake things up to prevent their marriage from being the next casualty.
On the spur of the moment, he takes Claire to a swanky Manhattan restaurant and refusing to give in because he doesn't have a reservation, takes someone else's.
And that's where the problems start - because it turns out the reservation was for two people who have big problems with the law and pretty soon, the pair are out of their depth and fighting for their lives.
You would imagine Date Night would be the dream partnership on the big screen; both Carell and Fey are much loved in The Office and 30 Rock - and to be honest, they work well together on the screen; they're a plausible pair of long time marrieds who've lost their spark.
Fey is particularly funny - I have to admit to never having been 100% won over by her charms but she really has some hoot out loud funny lines; likewise Carell is his usual toned down self but again, thanks to some great lines, gets the chance to shine. The pair have such great ways of delivering the lines that gives it some sparkle; with both of them, it's down to inappropriate lines and odd comments here and there which really make this likeable duo work well.
But unfortunately this caper doesn't quite work as a story and I don't know exactly what went wrong with it; it's not a bad film, it's just a bit lacking that 5% magic that needs to make it gel. Perhaps it's because in parts it feels like a blockbuster (complete with a well shot chase scene) mixed in with some old fashioned comedy, but the sum of its parts don't add up.
While the chemistry between Carell and Fey is great, there's just something about the film which leaves you a little disappointed at the end of the night.
Kick Ass: Movie Review
Kick Ass: Movie Review
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloe Grace Moretz
Director: Matthew Vaughn
What if the superhero in your neck of the woods really was the guy next door?
And what if he really didnt have any special powers other than a desire to make a difference and live upto his love of comic books?
In Kick Ass, Aaron Johnson stars as Dave Lizewski, your average teenage boy who is at a loss as to why no-ones ever become a superhero. So donning an all over green body scuba suit, Dave aka Kick Ass heads out to the streets to see if he can make a difference.
And he does for about 2 minutes; before hes stabbed, beaten up and run over by a car.
However, after a spell in hospital and undeterred, Kick Ass heads back to the streets and becomes a sensation much to the disgust of local crime kingpin Frank DAmico (a brilliant Mark Strong) who vows to shut him down.
But DAmico has other problems in the form of 2 other masked vigilantes, Big Daddy (a superb Nicolas Cage) and his daughter protégé, Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz in an abusive star turn) who want revenge on DAmico.
When all of their paths cross, the would be superheroes find their lives changed forever.
Theres so much to love about KickAss granted, its not for everyone but this film, based on a comic book and adapted for the screen by Jonathan Ross wife, will have you laughing loud.
From Nicolas Cage brilliantly channelling Adam West as Big Daddy, through to Johnsons very rounded performance as the everyday kid who ponders why a nobody becomes a superhero, Kick Ass is a welcome addition to the comic book genre.
But what marks it out above the normal films is how its grounded in a reality as Lizewski notes you only need naivety and optimism to become a comic book hero as hes just your average guy, no radioactive spiders. Coupled with some very real violence (and one use of some boundary pushing language from the young Hit Girl, which offended some censors), this comic book adaptation embraces the reality of the superhero world and subverts your expectations.
Each kick, each punch, each beating has a very real effect on those who experience it and its this which may catch you off guard because you expect the heroes to survive every blow. And they all have issues too when Kick Ass realizes a new superhero in town is getting more attention than him, he looks to add a cape to his outfit to see if its giving him the edge; its this kind of layered detail which really brings the story to life.
Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) has done a great job with bringing this stylishly to the screen; along with a pumping soundtrack, cut scenes of fights and a truly brilliant flashback involving the best use of a comic ever committed to celluloid, Kick Ass really does reset the boundaries for the genre.
Forget Spiderman, X-Men, The Hulk et al Kick Ass is the new hero in town and having set such dizzying highs on the screen through some great action set pieces, it really does deserve to be your new favourite film.
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloe Grace Moretz
Director: Matthew Vaughn
What if the superhero in your neck of the woods really was the guy next door?
And what if he really didnt have any special powers other than a desire to make a difference and live upto his love of comic books?
In Kick Ass, Aaron Johnson stars as Dave Lizewski, your average teenage boy who is at a loss as to why no-ones ever become a superhero. So donning an all over green body scuba suit, Dave aka Kick Ass heads out to the streets to see if he can make a difference.
And he does for about 2 minutes; before hes stabbed, beaten up and run over by a car.
However, after a spell in hospital and undeterred, Kick Ass heads back to the streets and becomes a sensation much to the disgust of local crime kingpin Frank DAmico (a brilliant Mark Strong) who vows to shut him down.
But DAmico has other problems in the form of 2 other masked vigilantes, Big Daddy (a superb Nicolas Cage) and his daughter protégé, Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz in an abusive star turn) who want revenge on DAmico.
When all of their paths cross, the would be superheroes find their lives changed forever.
Theres so much to love about KickAss granted, its not for everyone but this film, based on a comic book and adapted for the screen by Jonathan Ross wife, will have you laughing loud.
From Nicolas Cage brilliantly channelling Adam West as Big Daddy, through to Johnsons very rounded performance as the everyday kid who ponders why a nobody becomes a superhero, Kick Ass is a welcome addition to the comic book genre.
But what marks it out above the normal films is how its grounded in a reality as Lizewski notes you only need naivety and optimism to become a comic book hero as hes just your average guy, no radioactive spiders. Coupled with some very real violence (and one use of some boundary pushing language from the young Hit Girl, which offended some censors), this comic book adaptation embraces the reality of the superhero world and subverts your expectations.
Each kick, each punch, each beating has a very real effect on those who experience it and its this which may catch you off guard because you expect the heroes to survive every blow. And they all have issues too when Kick Ass realizes a new superhero in town is getting more attention than him, he looks to add a cape to his outfit to see if its giving him the edge; its this kind of layered detail which really brings the story to life.
Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) has done a great job with bringing this stylishly to the screen; along with a pumping soundtrack, cut scenes of fights and a truly brilliant flashback involving the best use of a comic ever committed to celluloid, Kick Ass really does reset the boundaries for the genre.
Forget Spiderman, X-Men, The Hulk et al Kick Ass is the new hero in town and having set such dizzying highs on the screen through some great action set pieces, it really does deserve to be your new favourite film.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
She's Out of My League: Movie Review
She's Out of My League: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, TJ Miller, Nate Torrence
Director: Jim Field Smith
Jay Baruchel stars as Kirk, a weedy airport worker, whos downtrodden at work and unlucky in love.
Suffering from low self esteem, Kirk is the kind of guy who reckons hell never be a success in life or love.
Then, one day, this average Joe meets what his friends describe as a hard ten Molly (Alice Eve all teeth and blonde hair as well as other noticeable assets). Much to their surprise and Kirks the pair strike up a relationship.
But despite the best intentions, Kirk begins to fill with self doubt over why Mollys with him and that along with the doubts from family and friends threaten to sabotage their budding relationship.
Shes Out Of My League is a formulaic, sweet natured comedy with a few foul rough edges and some awkward moments.
Jay Baruchel plays the neurotic, self destructive loser with low self esteem issues with a lot of charm thanks to his gentle portrayal and recognisable everyman, this film never lapses too far into self parody and keeps one foot clearly in the charm camp.
Theres some laugh out loud moments which take you completely off guard and both the likeable leads make this film work. Its also nice to see the raw honesty of the relationship exposed and unlike most films of this genre, one of Kirks friends actually spends time actively encouraging Kirk to believe in himself and wills him to make it all work.
Shes Out Of My League wont win any awards what it will give you though is a diverting film for 100 minutes filled with unexpected laughs.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, TJ Miller, Nate Torrence
Director: Jim Field Smith
Jay Baruchel stars as Kirk, a weedy airport worker, whos downtrodden at work and unlucky in love.
Suffering from low self esteem, Kirk is the kind of guy who reckons hell never be a success in life or love.
Then, one day, this average Joe meets what his friends describe as a hard ten Molly (Alice Eve all teeth and blonde hair as well as other noticeable assets). Much to their surprise and Kirks the pair strike up a relationship.
But despite the best intentions, Kirk begins to fill with self doubt over why Mollys with him and that along with the doubts from family and friends threaten to sabotage their budding relationship.
Shes Out Of My League is a formulaic, sweet natured comedy with a few foul rough edges and some awkward moments.
Jay Baruchel plays the neurotic, self destructive loser with low self esteem issues with a lot of charm thanks to his gentle portrayal and recognisable everyman, this film never lapses too far into self parody and keeps one foot clearly in the charm camp.
Theres some laugh out loud moments which take you completely off guard and both the likeable leads make this film work. Its also nice to see the raw honesty of the relationship exposed and unlike most films of this genre, one of Kirks friends actually spends time actively encouraging Kirk to believe in himself and wills him to make it all work.
Shes Out Of My League wont win any awards what it will give you though is a diverting film for 100 minutes filled with unexpected laughs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Very latest post
Honest Thief: DVD Review
Honest Thief: DVD Review In Honest Thief, a fairly competent story is given plenty of heart and soul before falling into old action genre tr...
-
The Last Of Us Part II: PS4 Review Developed by Naughty Dog Platform: PS4 Wracked with but not wrecked by spoilers dropping before rele... -
Sex Tape: Movie Review Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segal, Ellie Kemper, Rob Corddry, Rob Lowe Director: Jake Kasdan Predicated around the ... -
Brand new Oblivion posters unveiled Entertainment Weekly' s got the first look at some new Oblivion posters. The Oblivion posters s...
