Crazy Heart: DVD Review
Crazy Heart
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment
It was the film which saw Jeff Bridges finally take home a gold
statuette - and man, what a performance he gives.
Bridges is Bad Blake, a 57 year old washed up, living the twilight of
his life country singer playing bowling alleys and bars in deserted American
villages. But Blake's loved - while his fans appear to be in the final years of
their lives, wherever he goes he gets a rapturous reception - as well as some
very pleased to see him groupies.
Blake is the
archetypal bad boy of the country scene - battling alcoholism, refusing to write
new material and a little envious of the success of his protégé Tommy Sweet (a
pony tailed Farrell), he's clearly in need of redemption.
That salvation comes in the form of Jean (Gyllenhaal) who turns up
one day asking for an interview - however, a burgeoning relationship blossoms -
has Bad finally found what he needs to turn his life around?
It's not a new story in many ways - it's the same thing the screen's
seen many times before. However, what elevates Crazy Heart is Jeff Bridges. His
grizzled, weary rocker is so well played, you'll forgive the script for its at
times unoriginal route.
Coupled with some great
music, this toe tapping tale of redemption is perfect for the wintertime blues.
Extras: Disappointing - only
deleted scenes. Would have been great to have had something a little more for a
film which gave Bridges the recognition he's long been owed.
Rating: 8/10
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Dr Who: Myths and Legends: DVD Review
Dr Who: Myths and Legends: DVD Review
Dr Who - Myths and Legends
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow Entertainment
Three classic 1970s Who tales from two different doctors find themselves bundled in one package with the slightest tie in.
The trio of releases this month deals with the Myths and Legends aspects of the show - for a sci fi show, Who was never ashamed to adapt some of the greatest legends to fit in with its central premise.
Starring Jon Pertwee as the third Doctor, The Time Monster ropes in Atlantis as the Doc deals with yet another threat from his nemesis The Master; with Tom Baker's fourth Doctor, we get a retelling of the Minotaur tale in the ham infested Horns of Nimon and a trip to the Underworld in erm, Underworld.
There's nothing inherently wrong with these stories - Baker's efforts are not the best acted and Horns of Nimon veers dangerously close to pantomime at times thanks to some of the OTT performances from all involved. But they don't represent the best of what the show had to offer - and with classic releases nearing the end of the range, it's inevitable there would be some which don't live upto the mark.
However - the same can't be said for the extras on the set which are once again excellent. The centre piece is a documentary about the close relationship between Dr Who and kids show Blue Peter in which the linking of the series is closely examined. It's a great device and a doco which has been a long time coming. Coupled with commentaries from some of the main actors in this triumvirate of stories and the ever informative Production information subtitles which light up the screen, these three extras (of a wealth of many) bring the release out of the mire.
Rating: 6/10
Dr Who - Myths and Legends
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow Entertainment
Three classic 1970s Who tales from two different doctors find themselves bundled in one package with the slightest tie in.
The trio of releases this month deals with the Myths and Legends aspects of the show - for a sci fi show, Who was never ashamed to adapt some of the greatest legends to fit in with its central premise.
Starring Jon Pertwee as the third Doctor, The Time Monster ropes in Atlantis as the Doc deals with yet another threat from his nemesis The Master; with Tom Baker's fourth Doctor, we get a retelling of the Minotaur tale in the ham infested Horns of Nimon and a trip to the Underworld in erm, Underworld.
There's nothing inherently wrong with these stories - Baker's efforts are not the best acted and Horns of Nimon veers dangerously close to pantomime at times thanks to some of the OTT performances from all involved. But they don't represent the best of what the show had to offer - and with classic releases nearing the end of the range, it's inevitable there would be some which don't live upto the mark.
However - the same can't be said for the extras on the set which are once again excellent. The centre piece is a documentary about the close relationship between Dr Who and kids show Blue Peter in which the linking of the series is closely examined. It's a great device and a doco which has been a long time coming. Coupled with commentaries from some of the main actors in this triumvirate of stories and the ever informative Production information subtitles which light up the screen, these three extras (of a wealth of many) bring the release out of the mire.
Rating: 6/10
Gentlemen Broncos: DVD Review
Gentlemen Broncos: DVD Review
Gentlemen Broncos
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment
So the director of Napoleon Dynamite returns with this film.
Set in mid town America, Michael Angarano stars as aspiring sci fi teen author, Benjamin Purvis, home schooled and naïve in the ways of the world. Sent to a writers' camp, Purvis meets his hero, esteemed sci fi author Ronald Chevalier (FOTC's Jemaine Clement) and enters his manuscript (the terribly titled Yeast Lords) into a competition to win a deal.
However, Chevalier is struggling to find inspiration for his next book - and so, inspired by Purvis' Yeast Lords, he promptly plaigarises the whole thing.
But at the same time, Benjamin's sold the story to some local (terrible) film-makers and when their movie comes out, a creative showdown's on the way.
Gentlemen Broncos goes for quirky and ends up with severely irritating - it's only thanks to the performances of Jemaine Clement and Sam Rockwell that I carried on to the bitter end of this. I can see what the writer and director were trying for but the whole puerile tone stops it ever getting off the ground.
Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes and doco behind the scenes
Rating: 3/10
Gentlemen Broncos
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment
So the director of Napoleon Dynamite returns with this film.
Set in mid town America, Michael Angarano stars as aspiring sci fi teen author, Benjamin Purvis, home schooled and naïve in the ways of the world. Sent to a writers' camp, Purvis meets his hero, esteemed sci fi author Ronald Chevalier (FOTC's Jemaine Clement) and enters his manuscript (the terribly titled Yeast Lords) into a competition to win a deal.
However, Chevalier is struggling to find inspiration for his next book - and so, inspired by Purvis' Yeast Lords, he promptly plaigarises the whole thing.
But at the same time, Benjamin's sold the story to some local (terrible) film-makers and when their movie comes out, a creative showdown's on the way.
Gentlemen Broncos goes for quirky and ends up with severely irritating - it's only thanks to the performances of Jemaine Clement and Sam Rockwell that I carried on to the bitter end of this. I can see what the writer and director were trying for but the whole puerile tone stops it ever getting off the ground.
Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes and doco behind the scenes
Rating: 3/10
Friday, 13 August 2010
Gallants: Movie Review
Gallants: Movie Review
Gallants
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Teddy Robin Kwan, Wong You Nam
Director: Derek Kwok Chi-Kin, Clement Cheng Sze-Kit
Wong You Nam stars as loser Cheung in this chop socky old school kung fu martial arts film which is part of the Hong Kong Film Festival.
Cheung is a dweeby kind of guy - the kind who would practice kung fu when younger but would still get beaten up - and has been beaten up both physically and metaphorically in his life ever since.
Cheung's sent to the backwaters by his bosses to help with real estate deals and get the land ready for redevelopment - however, he ends up being bullied and befriends those who run the Master Law teahouse which is in the bad guys' sights.
So, it becomes about regaining honour and nobility as Cheung ends up taking part in a martial arts tournament&will he be able to save the day?
Gallants has an old school feel to it - which isn't a negative thing at all; it simply feels like a nod to the past and with the zero to hero angle, it's quite a welcome piece of comic fun.
There's some great fight scenes which feel like they're from a computer game but updated with freeze frames and slow mo - and there's a frenetic energy to the editing which seems the film jump from place to place in its plot with ease - and thanks to some of the comic acting, it feels nostalgic rather than mocking.
Gallants
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Teddy Robin Kwan, Wong You Nam
Director: Derek Kwok Chi-Kin, Clement Cheng Sze-Kit
Wong You Nam stars as loser Cheung in this chop socky old school kung fu martial arts film which is part of the Hong Kong Film Festival.
Cheung is a dweeby kind of guy - the kind who would practice kung fu when younger but would still get beaten up - and has been beaten up both physically and metaphorically in his life ever since.
Cheung's sent to the backwaters by his bosses to help with real estate deals and get the land ready for redevelopment - however, he ends up being bullied and befriends those who run the Master Law teahouse which is in the bad guys' sights.
So, it becomes about regaining honour and nobility as Cheung ends up taking part in a martial arts tournament&will he be able to save the day?
Gallants has an old school feel to it - which isn't a negative thing at all; it simply feels like a nod to the past and with the zero to hero angle, it's quite a welcome piece of comic fun.
There's some great fight scenes which feel like they're from a computer game but updated with freeze frames and slow mo - and there's a frenetic energy to the editing which seems the film jump from place to place in its plot with ease - and thanks to some of the comic acting, it feels nostalgic rather than mocking.
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World: Movie Review
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World: Movie Review
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Rating: 9/10
Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick
Director: Edgar Wright
I've always believed (and secretly hoped) that the Geek would inherit the Earth.
And man, after this I'm not disappointed or giving up on that hope at all.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, Michael Cera stars as Scott Pilgrim, a slightly loserish 22-year-old who's directionless and a bit aimless and devastated after splitting from (read: dumped by) his girlfriend a year ago.
So when he meets Ramona Flowers, a hipster girl (Winstead), he's desperate to win her heart.
However, what Scott doesn't realise is that this girl comes with some serious baggage - seven exes who will kill Scott rather than let him steal her heart.
Throw into that mix the fact Scott's band Sex Bob-omb are competing for a contract and the boy's certainly got a lot to deal with.
The tone is set right at the beginning of this film with the Universal logo being given an 80s style gaming makeover, Scott Pilgrim wears its geek openly and proudly on its sleeve.
Cera is pitch perfect as the main character with his deadpanning delivery and timing, he's instantly engaging and incredibly amusing (although some may argue he's not stretching his career by playing a variant of every other role he's ever done) and will win you over, not just with the impressive fight scenes (you would really never peg him as an action hero).
All of the cast are great in this - Winstead brings warmth to her role as Flowers and Routh, Schwartzmann and Chris Evans really deliver as part of the evil ex brigade. But it's the initial Bollywood style fight of Satya Bhabha's Matthew Patel which is just genius. Credit also needs to go to Kieran Culkin as Pilgrim's wiseass room mate.
Eschewing pop culture references left right and centre, this comic book gaming crossover is a real treat from Edgar Wright (the genius who was part of the Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz UK comedies). It's hard to describe exactly how it takes the worlds of both the comics and 80s style fight games and brings them to life.
But with pop up style subtitles cropping up on screen, laugh out loud funny moments, Batman style fight scenes (Thwok and Kroww spring up during the scraps and you almost expect a Kazam and Adam West to show up) and frenetic cutting back and forth, it really is like a comic book has been brought vividly to life on the big screen.
Oh and the moment the Vegan police show up is just brilliant.
Once again, Edgar Wright's demonstrated why he's one of the coolest, most inventive and visionary directors in the business - the energy which is liberally sprinkled all over this film stops it ever hitting a lull.
Scott Pilgrim is effortlessly cool and endlessly entertaining - go, get your geek on.
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Rating: 9/10
Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick
Director: Edgar Wright
I've always believed (and secretly hoped) that the Geek would inherit the Earth.
And man, after this I'm not disappointed or giving up on that hope at all.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, Michael Cera stars as Scott Pilgrim, a slightly loserish 22-year-old who's directionless and a bit aimless and devastated after splitting from (read: dumped by) his girlfriend a year ago.
So when he meets Ramona Flowers, a hipster girl (Winstead), he's desperate to win her heart.
However, what Scott doesn't realise is that this girl comes with some serious baggage - seven exes who will kill Scott rather than let him steal her heart.
Throw into that mix the fact Scott's band Sex Bob-omb are competing for a contract and the boy's certainly got a lot to deal with.
The tone is set right at the beginning of this film with the Universal logo being given an 80s style gaming makeover, Scott Pilgrim wears its geek openly and proudly on its sleeve.
Cera is pitch perfect as the main character with his deadpanning delivery and timing, he's instantly engaging and incredibly amusing (although some may argue he's not stretching his career by playing a variant of every other role he's ever done) and will win you over, not just with the impressive fight scenes (you would really never peg him as an action hero).
All of the cast are great in this - Winstead brings warmth to her role as Flowers and Routh, Schwartzmann and Chris Evans really deliver as part of the evil ex brigade. But it's the initial Bollywood style fight of Satya Bhabha's Matthew Patel which is just genius. Credit also needs to go to Kieran Culkin as Pilgrim's wiseass room mate.
Eschewing pop culture references left right and centre, this comic book gaming crossover is a real treat from Edgar Wright (the genius who was part of the Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz UK comedies). It's hard to describe exactly how it takes the worlds of both the comics and 80s style fight games and brings them to life.
But with pop up style subtitles cropping up on screen, laugh out loud funny moments, Batman style fight scenes (Thwok and Kroww spring up during the scraps and you almost expect a Kazam and Adam West to show up) and frenetic cutting back and forth, it really is like a comic book has been brought vividly to life on the big screen.
Oh and the moment the Vegan police show up is just brilliant.
Once again, Edgar Wright's demonstrated why he's one of the coolest, most inventive and visionary directors in the business - the energy which is liberally sprinkled all over this film stops it ever hitting a lull.
Scott Pilgrim is effortlessly cool and endlessly entertaining - go, get your geek on.
The Collector: Movie Review
The Collector: Movie Review
The Collector
Ratng: 5/10
Cast: Josh Stewart, Andrea Roth, Madeline Zima, Michael Reilly Burke
Director: Marcus Dunstan
In this latest torture porn horror flick, Stewart is a former con man turned handyman Arkin who's spent the long months working at a swanky country home owned by the wealthy Chase family.
However, when Arkin hears his ex-wife's only got a few hours to pay off some debts, he decides to rob the Chase household and make sure she's safe.
But he comes unstuck when he heads to the home and finds the owner and wife chained up and bloodied - it appears someone else has already got designs on the home - and the family.
Not a film for the faint hearted, this moody and sadistic film is from one of the minds involved in the Saw franchise - that alone should be enough to tell you what's on the cards&.limbs being sliced, traps around a home and an unhealthy obsession with gore.
Sure, there's not much sense in a film like this (how did the wacko find the time to set so many traps around the house in just a few hours....does he have a group of helpers to call on?) but with The Collector, you're not there for the deep productive narrative. Stewart is fine as the hunter turned hunted who finds traps within traps as he tries to flee from the nightmare.
The Collector is adequately made, extremely well lit and quite horrific piece of film at times - it's evocatively tense and may well see you watching from behind your fingers. Granted it's not the nicest of films - but for those who want to have their fill of blood and gore, it's going to score quite a few points.
I'm not 100% sure why films like this continue to be made - each one tries to outdo its previous franchise entrant or competitor in terms of devious traps and kills but still there's clearly an audience out there for these types of films.
There's also the ending which sees it being set up for a sequel...maybe Jigsaw's now got himself some serious competition.
The Collector
Ratng: 5/10
Cast: Josh Stewart, Andrea Roth, Madeline Zima, Michael Reilly Burke
Director: Marcus Dunstan
In this latest torture porn horror flick, Stewart is a former con man turned handyman Arkin who's spent the long months working at a swanky country home owned by the wealthy Chase family.
However, when Arkin hears his ex-wife's only got a few hours to pay off some debts, he decides to rob the Chase household and make sure she's safe.
But he comes unstuck when he heads to the home and finds the owner and wife chained up and bloodied - it appears someone else has already got designs on the home - and the family.
Not a film for the faint hearted, this moody and sadistic film is from one of the minds involved in the Saw franchise - that alone should be enough to tell you what's on the cards&.limbs being sliced, traps around a home and an unhealthy obsession with gore.
Sure, there's not much sense in a film like this (how did the wacko find the time to set so many traps around the house in just a few hours....does he have a group of helpers to call on?) but with The Collector, you're not there for the deep productive narrative. Stewart is fine as the hunter turned hunted who finds traps within traps as he tries to flee from the nightmare.
The Collector is adequately made, extremely well lit and quite horrific piece of film at times - it's evocatively tense and may well see you watching from behind your fingers. Granted it's not the nicest of films - but for those who want to have their fill of blood and gore, it's going to score quite a few points.
I'm not 100% sure why films like this continue to be made - each one tries to outdo its previous franchise entrant or competitor in terms of devious traps and kills but still there's clearly an audience out there for these types of films.
There's also the ending which sees it being set up for a sequel...maybe Jigsaw's now got himself some serious competition.
Dr Who: S5 Vol 1: DVD Review
Dr Who: S5 Vol 1: DVD Review
Doctor Who: S5 Vol 1
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Entertainment
When David Tennant announced he was stepping down, there were fears that would be the end of the revamped Dr Who - but as ever, with this show, reinvention keeps it fresh.
Further consternation was caused when it was revealed the youngest ever actor Matt Smith would be taking on the role.
So to say there was a lot riding on the new series - along with new head writer Steven Moffat was an understatement.
But what a start to the new series - this volume collects together the opening trio of adventures for the 11th Doctor and his new companion Amy Pond.
The Eleventh Hour which introduces Matt Smith is the best of them - a thrilling rollicking ride which shows why Matt was born to play the role - with a spot on performance and a commanding presence from the off, it's easy to see why he was picked.
Sadly The Beast Below and Victory of the Daleks suffer in comparison to the opening adventure - the latter with its reinvention of the Daleks as multi coloured eye sores - there's nothing wrong with these tales but they don't sparkle as well as the Eleventh Hour.
Although Karen Gillan does well as the new companion and is at times, a bit wide eyed, it's a winning partnership and with hints of a season wide story arc, there's plenty of intrigue ahead.
Extras: The Monster files - a series of specially shot looks at the baddies of this adventures finally lift these releases simply out of the vanilla status.
Rating: 7/10
Doctor Who: S5 Vol 1
Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Entertainment
When David Tennant announced he was stepping down, there were fears that would be the end of the revamped Dr Who - but as ever, with this show, reinvention keeps it fresh.
Further consternation was caused when it was revealed the youngest ever actor Matt Smith would be taking on the role.
So to say there was a lot riding on the new series - along with new head writer Steven Moffat was an understatement.
But what a start to the new series - this volume collects together the opening trio of adventures for the 11th Doctor and his new companion Amy Pond.
The Eleventh Hour which introduces Matt Smith is the best of them - a thrilling rollicking ride which shows why Matt was born to play the role - with a spot on performance and a commanding presence from the off, it's easy to see why he was picked.
Sadly The Beast Below and Victory of the Daleks suffer in comparison to the opening adventure - the latter with its reinvention of the Daleks as multi coloured eye sores - there's nothing wrong with these tales but they don't sparkle as well as the Eleventh Hour.
Although Karen Gillan does well as the new companion and is at times, a bit wide eyed, it's a winning partnership and with hints of a season wide story arc, there's plenty of intrigue ahead.
Extras: The Monster files - a series of specially shot looks at the baddies of this adventures finally lift these releases simply out of the vanilla status.
Rating: 7/10
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