Toy Story 3: Movie Review
Toy Story 3
Rating: 9/10
Cast: Woody, Buzz, Mr and Mrs Potato Head, Hamm, Rex, Andy,
Jessie, Bullseye, Ken, Barbie - and many more
Director: Lee Unkrich
It's taken over a decade for the third Toy Story film to hit the screens -
and man, was it worth the wait.
In this outing, Woody (Tom Hanks) and the rest of the Toy Gang (including Tim
Allen's Buzz Lightyear) are worried they'll be left behind as their beloved
owner Andy is about to leave home and head for college.
Faced with the option of being put in a bag in the attic, donated, binned or
taken to college, reality hits hard for the group when Andy selects only Woody
for a college toy buddy.
It gets even worse when a mix up sees the toys -along with Woody-
accidentally donated to the local daycare, Sunnyside.
But the toys see it as a new lease on post Andy life - being played with
daily is their view of a heaven.
How wrong they are.
Within moments of being there, they're mauled, smashed, vandalised and
generally brutalised - and as they try to escape, they find their quest to get
back to Andy's house hampered at every turn by Lotso Hugging Bear (voiced by Ned
Beatty) who despite smelling of strawberries, has a bitter attitude on a toy's
life..
It's upto Woody to once again save the day.
Toy Story 3 is an emotional blast - from the moment the lights went down in
the IMAX theatre (you must see it on the biggest screen possible) to the moment
someone utters the words "So long partner", this is epic, funny, heart warming
stuff.
It starts off in the best possible way with an audacious scene which shows
Woody as an action hero as he races to save a train load full of orphans from
dying at the hands of the Evil Dr Pork Chop aka Hamm (aka John Ratzenberger).
Quite simply it's a brilliant opening which showcases everything great about the
Pixar animation fold - witty dialogue, ambitious scope coupled with child like
imaginations.
Throughout the film, there's loads of great throwaway lines from various
characters which pay homage to the fact they're now past it - "Let's see how
much we're going for on eBay" being one of the best. And Pixar's even updated
the world they live in - with Andy's sister wearing an iPod - how much the
generation's changed in that decade.
(Although I have to admit, there's probably some who will say that it follows
a similar pattern to other Toy Story films in that Woody, Buzz and the gang are
all separated from Andy and have to return to him - so there's little else for
them to explore story wise.)
But what hasn't changed is the story telling - warmth and heart and big adult
issues like abandonment and facing your fate are in plentiful supply here. Along
with new characters (the likes of Ken, Timothy Dalton's thespian hedgehog,
Chuckles the Clown to name but a few), there's so much to love here. Ken in
particular is one of the highlights - check out an exclusive scene which never made it to Toy Story
3's cinema release here to get some idea of his character!
Be aware though that parts of this film are like a nightmare for the younger
end of the audience as they bubble with dark visions of life. A climactic final
sequence which sees Woody and the gang facing the perils of the landfill is
brooding, moody and full of adult angst - and even made one child in this
preview start screaming.
All in all, Toy Story 3 is a delight; a real crowd pleasing treat to end
perhaps one of the best trilogies of all time. Chocked full of gorgeous
animation and genuinely funny lines, you may find yourself leaving the cinema
wiping away tears of joy.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - Movie Review
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - Movie Review
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Xavier Samuel, Bryce Dallas Howard, Peter Facinelli
Director: David Slade
Consequences of choice and yet more teen angst.
That's the two chief ingredients of this latest Twilight film to hit the cinema.
It's been 220 days since The Twilight Saga: New Moon fever swept the world - and the debate began over Team Jacob and Team Edward. Well, that and the swooning and lusty cat calls thanks to the gratuitous flesh on display in the Wolf Pack.
New Moon ended with Robert Pattinson's Edward asking Kristen Stewart's Bella to marry him - and this one follows on a short time after that initial proposal. Back in her home town of Forks, Bella's turning Edward down because he won't make her a vampire like she wants so that they can be together forever.
However, Bella's dad Charlie (a welcome infusion of humanity and humour amid the teenage angst) is keen for Bella to spend less time with Edward and a little more time with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and her friends ahead of her graduation. But unknown to them, that's when Bella's decided she wants to become a vampire and part of the Cullen clan.
Things though are moving apace elsewhere with vamp Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) working on exacting her revenge on the Cullens following the death of her beau back in the first film. And as she forms her plan, Seattle is ravaged by a series of deaths which seem to be tied in with Bella and Edward's destiny...
Soon, an army of vampires is descending on Forks - and the choices Edward, Jacob and Bella make will have consequences for all those involved.
The third film in franchise is a marked change from the previous two - it's a slower more evenly paced kind of film with a lot more dialogue and bursts of action throughout. Consequently - and this is where divisions will form, my Twihard friends - some of the acting feels a little more stilted and the dialogue a bit cornier as the romance plays out (sample lines - 'I will fight for you until your heart stops beating' and ' Edward is my life.'). But to be fair, you expect that - and the audience which loves this film, won't care a jot for corniness and lines like those.
However, if you can get past that, this is actually a more mature film than the previous ones - with plenty of discussion about sex before marriage, consequences of Bella's choices and a fair degree of menace early on as the storm clouds begin to gather over Forks and its lovestruck inhabitants.
It's also richer in emotion and character - two of the Cullen clan get their back stories fleshed out immensely and there's quite the whiff of tragedy about their previous lives. And it's finally nice to acknowledge the fact that vampires are predators; the additional creatures we see in Eclipse (including fan fave Bree Tanner - who's got her own story - read a review of The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner here) are dangerous, evil creatures whose only desire is to satiate their blood lust.
That's not to say this isn't without its flaws - the final fight scenes between the Cullen clan, the wolves (whose CGI this time round is markedly improved) and the new born vampire army - as well as the Volturi's entrance (including the ethereal and sneering Jane) - feel a little rushed and end too quickly. Having had this level of menace hinted at throughout the film, it does feel like it's wrapped up a little too conveniently.
But ultimately, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is once again about Bella, Jake and Edward (as well as the continuing antagonism between the vamps and the wolves) - and all the rest of the film is merely padding around that relentless triangular relationship. The characters this time have been given more grey edges. Edward is now more jealous and petty; Jacob continues his unrelenting quest to get Bella to admit she loves him and not the vamp, and Bella loses a lot of sympathy she gained from New Moon by being completely unsure of her choices.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse may not win many new fans or converts to the cause thanks to some of its corny, aching angst - but with a richer story, stronger writing and more solid direction, it's one of the better Twilight films and one which the Twihards will once again covet. This series continues to be a phenomenon and Eclipse is a more measured entry into the genre.
Oh, and for the cougars out there, don't worry. Jake-Abs is back again (even giving birth to Edward's great line -'Does he not have a shirt?') so prepare your lustiest wolf whistle.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Xavier Samuel, Bryce Dallas Howard, Peter Facinelli
Director: David Slade
Consequences of choice and yet more teen angst.
That's the two chief ingredients of this latest Twilight film to hit the cinema.
It's been 220 days since The Twilight Saga: New Moon fever swept the world - and the debate began over Team Jacob and Team Edward. Well, that and the swooning and lusty cat calls thanks to the gratuitous flesh on display in the Wolf Pack.
New Moon ended with Robert Pattinson's Edward asking Kristen Stewart's Bella to marry him - and this one follows on a short time after that initial proposal. Back in her home town of Forks, Bella's turning Edward down because he won't make her a vampire like she wants so that they can be together forever.
However, Bella's dad Charlie (a welcome infusion of humanity and humour amid the teenage angst) is keen for Bella to spend less time with Edward and a little more time with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and her friends ahead of her graduation. But unknown to them, that's when Bella's decided she wants to become a vampire and part of the Cullen clan.
Things though are moving apace elsewhere with vamp Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) working on exacting her revenge on the Cullens following the death of her beau back in the first film. And as she forms her plan, Seattle is ravaged by a series of deaths which seem to be tied in with Bella and Edward's destiny...
Soon, an army of vampires is descending on Forks - and the choices Edward, Jacob and Bella make will have consequences for all those involved.
The third film in franchise is a marked change from the previous two - it's a slower more evenly paced kind of film with a lot more dialogue and bursts of action throughout. Consequently - and this is where divisions will form, my Twihard friends - some of the acting feels a little more stilted and the dialogue a bit cornier as the romance plays out (sample lines - 'I will fight for you until your heart stops beating' and ' Edward is my life.'). But to be fair, you expect that - and the audience which loves this film, won't care a jot for corniness and lines like those.
However, if you can get past that, this is actually a more mature film than the previous ones - with plenty of discussion about sex before marriage, consequences of Bella's choices and a fair degree of menace early on as the storm clouds begin to gather over Forks and its lovestruck inhabitants.
It's also richer in emotion and character - two of the Cullen clan get their back stories fleshed out immensely and there's quite the whiff of tragedy about their previous lives. And it's finally nice to acknowledge the fact that vampires are predators; the additional creatures we see in Eclipse (including fan fave Bree Tanner - who's got her own story - read a review of The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner here) are dangerous, evil creatures whose only desire is to satiate their blood lust.
That's not to say this isn't without its flaws - the final fight scenes between the Cullen clan, the wolves (whose CGI this time round is markedly improved) and the new born vampire army - as well as the Volturi's entrance (including the ethereal and sneering Jane) - feel a little rushed and end too quickly. Having had this level of menace hinted at throughout the film, it does feel like it's wrapped up a little too conveniently.
But ultimately, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is once again about Bella, Jake and Edward (as well as the continuing antagonism between the vamps and the wolves) - and all the rest of the film is merely padding around that relentless triangular relationship. The characters this time have been given more grey edges. Edward is now more jealous and petty; Jacob continues his unrelenting quest to get Bella to admit she loves him and not the vamp, and Bella loses a lot of sympathy she gained from New Moon by being completely unsure of her choices.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse may not win many new fans or converts to the cause thanks to some of its corny, aching angst - but with a richer story, stronger writing and more solid direction, it's one of the better Twilight films and one which the Twihards will once again covet. This series continues to be a phenomenon and Eclipse is a more measured entry into the genre.
Oh, and for the cougars out there, don't worry. Jake-Abs is back again (even giving birth to Edward's great line -'Does he not have a shirt?') so prepare your lustiest wolf whistle.
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Dr Who: Dreamland: DVD Review
Dr Who: Dreamland: DVD Review
Dr Who: Dreamland
Rating: PG
Released by Roadshow Entertainment/ BBC
This animated treat was one of the spin offs for the gap year the BBC's flagship show took in 2009.
But fans of the show don't need to worry - while David Tennant may have been touring with Hamlet, he took time off to record the voiceover for this 40 minute computer animated adventure.
The 10th Doctor ends up in Roswell, New Mexico in 1958 - and on the eve of an alien invasion as the bug like Viperox look to steal an alien who crashed in the area (sounds familiar to fans of the UFO genre.)
However, 10's not alone - he's got two new animated companions along for the adventure.
While Dreamland may take a little bit to adjust to the chunky animation, it's a zippy paced adventure which hurtles along. The short segments of the original broadcast made this easy to digest and in its long form it's still quite the treat. Plus for fans of sci fi there's smart nods to Roswell and a cliffhanger moment that echoes Aliens in many ways.
The animators have thought big and the writer Phil Ford haven't lost trace of the smart dialogue - and once again, David Tennant looms large over this project.
Dreamland is a must for fans of the show.
Extras: A second disc collects together the UK highlights trio of episodes of Dr Who: Greatest Moments - there are 3 programmes here, all an hour long selected from episodes from the show's return in 2005. Packed with interviews from various members of the cast which have never been screened before, it's a fluffy insight into the show, its characters and its titular hero. However, that may anger purists of the show as they will argue the greatest moments have spanned the past 45 years and Doctors before Christopher Eccleston.
Rating: 7/10
Dr Who: Dreamland
Rating: PG
Released by Roadshow Entertainment/ BBC
This animated treat was one of the spin offs for the gap year the BBC's flagship show took in 2009.
But fans of the show don't need to worry - while David Tennant may have been touring with Hamlet, he took time off to record the voiceover for this 40 minute computer animated adventure.
The 10th Doctor ends up in Roswell, New Mexico in 1958 - and on the eve of an alien invasion as the bug like Viperox look to steal an alien who crashed in the area (sounds familiar to fans of the UFO genre.)
However, 10's not alone - he's got two new animated companions along for the adventure.
While Dreamland may take a little bit to adjust to the chunky animation, it's a zippy paced adventure which hurtles along. The short segments of the original broadcast made this easy to digest and in its long form it's still quite the treat. Plus for fans of sci fi there's smart nods to Roswell and a cliffhanger moment that echoes Aliens in many ways.
The animators have thought big and the writer Phil Ford haven't lost trace of the smart dialogue - and once again, David Tennant looms large over this project.
Dreamland is a must for fans of the show.
Extras: A second disc collects together the UK highlights trio of episodes of Dr Who: Greatest Moments - there are 3 programmes here, all an hour long selected from episodes from the show's return in 2005. Packed with interviews from various members of the cast which have never been screened before, it's a fluffy insight into the show, its characters and its titular hero. However, that may anger purists of the show as they will argue the greatest moments have spanned the past 45 years and Doctors before Christopher Eccleston.
Rating: 7/10
Fantastic Mr Fox: DVD Review
Fantastic Mr Fox: DVD Review
Fantastic Mr Fox
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
Madcap and inspired, George Clooney stars in this version of the classic Roald Dahl tale.
Clooney is Mr Fox, who's given up his chicken philandering ways and taken a job with a local newspaper to appease Mrs Fox (Meryl Streep).
However, when farmers Boggis, Bean and Bunce move in nearby Fox is suddenly taken with the idea of one last major chicken heist to retire on. But he finds the adrenaline thrill of the theft intoxicating and soon he's upto his neck in it as the farmers fight back.
Fantastic Mr Fox is great fun - a wonderful vocal cast (including the likes of Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and a brilliantly deadpan turn from Jason Schwartzman as cousin Ash) will delight you from the beginning to the end.
However, it's director Wes Anderson who's the big winner here as he rocks the stop motion animation world with this. It's beautiful watch and you really appreciate the painstaking effort put in by the animators.
Quite simply Fantastic Mr Fox is one of the best pieces of family fodder I've seen for a long time.
Extras: A doco exploring the look of FMF, a look at the cast and a short detailing the basics of the insane game WhackBat from the film are an adequate package - but are a little weak to tie in with such a great film.
Rating: 8/10
Fantastic Mr Fox
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
Madcap and inspired, George Clooney stars in this version of the classic Roald Dahl tale.
Clooney is Mr Fox, who's given up his chicken philandering ways and taken a job with a local newspaper to appease Mrs Fox (Meryl Streep).
However, when farmers Boggis, Bean and Bunce move in nearby Fox is suddenly taken with the idea of one last major chicken heist to retire on. But he finds the adrenaline thrill of the theft intoxicating and soon he's upto his neck in it as the farmers fight back.
Fantastic Mr Fox is great fun - a wonderful vocal cast (including the likes of Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and a brilliantly deadpan turn from Jason Schwartzman as cousin Ash) will delight you from the beginning to the end.
However, it's director Wes Anderson who's the big winner here as he rocks the stop motion animation world with this. It's beautiful watch and you really appreciate the painstaking effort put in by the animators.
Quite simply Fantastic Mr Fox is one of the best pieces of family fodder I've seen for a long time.
Extras: A doco exploring the look of FMF, a look at the cast and a short detailing the basics of the insane game WhackBat from the film are an adequate package - but are a little weak to tie in with such a great film.
Rating: 8/10
Friday, 25 June 2010
Dr Who: Next Doctor: Blu Ray Review
Dr Who: Next Doctor: Blu Ray Review
The Next Doctor - Blu Ray
Rating: PG
Released by BBC/ Roadshow Entertainment
This 2008 Christmas special found itself the centre of much speculation coming after David Tennant's announcement he would be moving on from the show.
Writer Russell T Davies clearly delighted in the ambiguity of this tale which finds Tennant's Doctor on Christmas Eve in 1861 - and arriving in Victorian London, the Doc's thrown into a mystery which involves plenty of missing bodies.
Teaming with Jackson Lake (a wonderful David Morrissey), the Doc soon discovers the Cybermen are back on the scene - but he's not accounted for Lake's perception that he is firmly of the belief that he is the Doctor.
It all culminates in a rather silly pastiche of the Iron Giant with the Cyber King rising and threatening to crush London.
But it's in Tennant and Morrissey's performance that this episode succeeds. The pair offer up a masterclass in acting and along with Dervla Kirwan's evil Miss Hartigan. Coupled with the high quality of the HD with Blu Ray, this is a fairly disposable piece of Who entertainment. Which is all very well for a light fluffy Christmas audience, but long term viewing it's only thanks to the human acting of Kirwan, Morrissey and Tennant that this holds up
Extras: A behind the scenes doco and concert at London's Proms make up the rest of this disc - The Proms are worth seeing; the doco is the usual standard stock fare.
Rating: 6/10
The Next Doctor - Blu Ray
Rating: PG
Released by BBC/ Roadshow Entertainment
This 2008 Christmas special found itself the centre of much speculation coming after David Tennant's announcement he would be moving on from the show.
Writer Russell T Davies clearly delighted in the ambiguity of this tale which finds Tennant's Doctor on Christmas Eve in 1861 - and arriving in Victorian London, the Doc's thrown into a mystery which involves plenty of missing bodies.
Teaming with Jackson Lake (a wonderful David Morrissey), the Doc soon discovers the Cybermen are back on the scene - but he's not accounted for Lake's perception that he is firmly of the belief that he is the Doctor.
It all culminates in a rather silly pastiche of the Iron Giant with the Cyber King rising and threatening to crush London.
But it's in Tennant and Morrissey's performance that this episode succeeds. The pair offer up a masterclass in acting and along with Dervla Kirwan's evil Miss Hartigan. Coupled with the high quality of the HD with Blu Ray, this is a fairly disposable piece of Who entertainment. Which is all very well for a light fluffy Christmas audience, but long term viewing it's only thanks to the human acting of Kirwan, Morrissey and Tennant that this holds up
Extras: A behind the scenes doco and concert at London's Proms make up the rest of this disc - The Proms are worth seeing; the doco is the usual standard stock fare.
Rating: 6/10
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Secret Diary of A Call Girl S3: DVD Review
Secret Diary of A Call Girl S3: DVD Review
The Secret Diary of A Call Girl - Series 3
Rating: R18
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Dr Who's Billie Piper continues to ditch her wholesome image as she takes on the role of Belle de Jour, the infamous London sex blogger who kept the tongues wagging with her online antics.
This series finds a distinct similarity with life as Billie's escort by night Belle is celebrating the success of a book deal in the eight episodes which comprise Series 3.
But Belle's struggling to keep up with three different lives - that of the escort, the author and of the everyday Hannah. Coupled with the fact she's attracted to her publishing boss, it's all getting a little steamy - in more ways than one.
Light and frothy with a salacious edge, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl - Season 3 is really a series of encounters with a bit of plot thrown here and there. But it's Piper's charms which keep the show going and stop it from delving too deeply into mere titillation from its (at times comic) sex scenes. There's some subtle character development within the series but it's a return to form for a show which suffered a crippling creative lull in its second year.
Raunchy and edgy, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl - Season 3 is a guilty treat.
Extras: Webisodes from the series
Rating: 7/10
The Secret Diary of A Call Girl - Series 3
Rating: R18
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Dr Who's Billie Piper continues to ditch her wholesome image as she takes on the role of Belle de Jour, the infamous London sex blogger who kept the tongues wagging with her online antics.
This series finds a distinct similarity with life as Billie's escort by night Belle is celebrating the success of a book deal in the eight episodes which comprise Series 3.
But Belle's struggling to keep up with three different lives - that of the escort, the author and of the everyday Hannah. Coupled with the fact she's attracted to her publishing boss, it's all getting a little steamy - in more ways than one.
Light and frothy with a salacious edge, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl - Season 3 is really a series of encounters with a bit of plot thrown here and there. But it's Piper's charms which keep the show going and stop it from delving too deeply into mere titillation from its (at times comic) sex scenes. There's some subtle character development within the series but it's a return to form for a show which suffered a crippling creative lull in its second year.
Raunchy and edgy, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl - Season 3 is a guilty treat.
Extras: Webisodes from the series
Rating: 7/10
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
The Brothers Bloom: DVD Review
The Brothers Bloom: DVD Review
The Brothers Bloom
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel Weisz star in this drama about a pair of con-men.
Brody and Ruffalo are Stephen and Bloom, who've spent all of their lives getting by thanks to various scams and plots. But Bloom (a light comic turn from Adrien Brody) yearns for more - he wants a real life rather than one that's the result of their continuing deceits.
One day Bloom meet NY heiress Penelope (an enchanting Rachel Weisz) and falls in love - despite their plans to scam her, the trio end up entangled in their own ways as Penelope becomes addicted to their thrill seeking ways.
However, one last heist involving a book trapped in a Prague museum and Robbie Coltrane's Maximillian could prove to be their undoing.
The Brothers Bloom is a quirky character piece which has plenty of "What the??" moments thanks to odd visual moments. It starts off with gusto but runs a little foul of itself towards the end.
However, there is quite an emotional pay off at the end - and thanks to good solid performances from all involved, The Brothers Bloom is a breezy refreshingly different film.
Extras: Featurette, deleted scenes and a theatrical trailer make me feel there's been some sleight of hand somewhere.
Rating: 7/10
The Brothers Bloom
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel Weisz star in this drama about a pair of con-men.
Brody and Ruffalo are Stephen and Bloom, who've spent all of their lives getting by thanks to various scams and plots. But Bloom (a light comic turn from Adrien Brody) yearns for more - he wants a real life rather than one that's the result of their continuing deceits.
One day Bloom meet NY heiress Penelope (an enchanting Rachel Weisz) and falls in love - despite their plans to scam her, the trio end up entangled in their own ways as Penelope becomes addicted to their thrill seeking ways.
However, one last heist involving a book trapped in a Prague museum and Robbie Coltrane's Maximillian could prove to be their undoing.
The Brothers Bloom is a quirky character piece which has plenty of "What the??" moments thanks to odd visual moments. It starts off with gusto but runs a little foul of itself towards the end.
However, there is quite an emotional pay off at the end - and thanks to good solid performances from all involved, The Brothers Bloom is a breezy refreshingly different film.
Extras: Featurette, deleted scenes and a theatrical trailer make me feel there's been some sleight of hand somewhere.
Rating: 7/10
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