Scott Pilgrim vs The World: Blu Ray Review
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Ent
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 (read: dumped) from 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 realize 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) - but honestly, he will win you over - and not just with the
impressive fight scenes where he comes alive (you would really never peg him as
an action hero).
But all of the cast are great in this - Winstead brings warmth to her role as
Flowers - and Routh, Schwartzmann, 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
Eschewing pop culture references left right and centre, this comic book
gaming cross over 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.
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
stop it ever hitting a lull.
Scott Pilgrim is effortlessly cool and endlessly entertaining - go, get your
geek on.
Rating: 8/10
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
The Joneses: DVD Review
The Joneses: DVD Review
The Joneses
Released by Roadshow
Rating: M
This intriguing little release stars David Duchovny and Demi Moore, as the heads of a family called The Joneses.
Along with their seemingly perfect two kids, the family moves into an upper middle class suburban neighbourhood in America.Within minutes, they're impressing the neighbours with their slick lifestyle, latest mod cons, interior designs, using the latest phone around the high school kids.
But the reality is they're a family used by marketers to sell latest goods and to suck people into a lifestyle - they have quotas to meet - so life isn't perfect. But Steve is new to the family and starts to see the effects the hard sell has on his neighbour - and when it goes too far, the consequences of living the perfect life prove to be deadly.
This film has an intriguing start and a fresh premise - but after an hour in, it all goes a bit awry and becomes a different film as it gets darker. It's supposed to be a satire on consumer goods and the consumerist lifestyle and to a degree it achieves that - although there's little product placement outside of Audi cars.
It looks at the dark side of suburbia but holds back a little - and that's a disappointment - as it leads to quite an obvious ending - and the final third of it almost destroys the good work of the first hour.
Rating: 6/10
The Joneses
Released by Roadshow
Rating: M
This intriguing little release stars David Duchovny and Demi Moore, as the heads of a family called The Joneses.
Along with their seemingly perfect two kids, the family moves into an upper middle class suburban neighbourhood in America.Within minutes, they're impressing the neighbours with their slick lifestyle, latest mod cons, interior designs, using the latest phone around the high school kids.
But the reality is they're a family used by marketers to sell latest goods and to suck people into a lifestyle - they have quotas to meet - so life isn't perfect. But Steve is new to the family and starts to see the effects the hard sell has on his neighbour - and when it goes too far, the consequences of living the perfect life prove to be deadly.
This film has an intriguing start and a fresh premise - but after an hour in, it all goes a bit awry and becomes a different film as it gets darker. It's supposed to be a satire on consumer goods and the consumerist lifestyle and to a degree it achieves that - although there's little product placement outside of Audi cars.
It looks at the dark side of suburbia but holds back a little - and that's a disappointment - as it leads to quite an obvious ending - and the final third of it almost destroys the good work of the first hour.
Rating: 6/10
24: The Final Season: DVD Review
24: The Final Season: DVD Review
24 - The Final Season
Released by Roadshow Ent
Rating: R13
Jack Bauer's back in the final season of the show which reinvented the thrilling world of serialized television.
In this final year, Jack's eighth, Bauer is racing against the clock to prevent the assassination of a Middle Eastern leader (played by Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor) - as his death could change a peace accord for the worse.
But at the same time as Bauer's pulled into this plot, an audacious terrorist plot against New York City is nearing completion&.
24 The Final Season epitomizes the good and the bad of this show. Kiefer Sutherland is once again mightily impressive as the world weary Bauer (a man who's on the go for days at a time it appears) and the rest of the impressive ensemble cast work well around him.
But creatively the show was clearly nearing its end as midway through the run, the writing team just can't sustain it any longer. As it's the final year, it was perhaps inevitable some of the show's previous villains may return and while you could argue creatively this was an arc begun a long time ago, it somehow feels like the return is shoe horned in. It's a shame because the start is so electrifying and thrilling that by the end, you just begin to understand why it's ending.
Still Bauer will live on in a series of movies and I for one, can't wait to see those - although I will miss the ticking clock motif and clever way this show changed the nature of weekly drama.
Extras: A series of featurettes and deleted scenes as well as a look at a virtual New York. A Little disappointing there's nothing major on the retrospective front given this is the series' final year.
Rating: 6/10
24 - The Final Season
Released by Roadshow Ent
Rating: R13
Jack Bauer's back in the final season of the show which reinvented the thrilling world of serialized television.
In this final year, Jack's eighth, Bauer is racing against the clock to prevent the assassination of a Middle Eastern leader (played by Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor) - as his death could change a peace accord for the worse.
But at the same time as Bauer's pulled into this plot, an audacious terrorist plot against New York City is nearing completion&.
24 The Final Season epitomizes the good and the bad of this show. Kiefer Sutherland is once again mightily impressive as the world weary Bauer (a man who's on the go for days at a time it appears) and the rest of the impressive ensemble cast work well around him.
But creatively the show was clearly nearing its end as midway through the run, the writing team just can't sustain it any longer. As it's the final year, it was perhaps inevitable some of the show's previous villains may return and while you could argue creatively this was an arc begun a long time ago, it somehow feels like the return is shoe horned in. It's a shame because the start is so electrifying and thrilling that by the end, you just begin to understand why it's ending.
Still Bauer will live on in a series of movies and I for one, can't wait to see those - although I will miss the ticking clock motif and clever way this show changed the nature of weekly drama.
Extras: A series of featurettes and deleted scenes as well as a look at a virtual New York. A Little disappointing there's nothing major on the retrospective front given this is the series' final year.
Rating: 6/10
Monday, 10 January 2011
Inception: DVD Review
Inception: DVD Review
Inception
Rating: M
Released by Warner Home Video
One of the films of 2010, Inception finally arrives on DVD and Blu Ray.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, who works in subconscious security and steals ideas from people's minds while they're sleeping - via a shared consciousness.
He's approached by Ken Watanabe's Saito who wants to bring down a rival company and its head Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) using corporate espionage by getting Cobb and a team to plant an idea into a rival's brain. However, inception of an idea isn't the easiest thing to carry out...
Still mind bending, Inception remains a great watch - even if you've seen it before, you can pick up on the clues of what's already gone before and see how the puzzle fits together.
With a wealth of extras, this is a great release, with stunning effects and an enigma which still requires a lot of intelligence to crack.
Extras: A heap on different formats, but worth seeking out the Cobol Job; a comic prelude which give the movie some grounding. Genius.
Rating: 9/10
Inception
Rating: M
Released by Warner Home Video
One of the films of 2010, Inception finally arrives on DVD and Blu Ray.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, who works in subconscious security and steals ideas from people's minds while they're sleeping - via a shared consciousness.
He's approached by Ken Watanabe's Saito who wants to bring down a rival company and its head Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) using corporate espionage by getting Cobb and a team to plant an idea into a rival's brain. However, inception of an idea isn't the easiest thing to carry out...
Still mind bending, Inception remains a great watch - even if you've seen it before, you can pick up on the clues of what's already gone before and see how the puzzle fits together.
With a wealth of extras, this is a great release, with stunning effects and an enigma which still requires a lot of intelligence to crack.
Extras: A heap on different formats, but worth seeking out the Cobol Job; a comic prelude which give the movie some grounding. Genius.
Rating: 9/10
Family Guy: It's A Trap: DVD Review
Family Guy: It's A Trap: DVD Review
Family Guy - It's a Trap
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
So, the final Family Guy spin off gets its time to shine.
These at times puerile parodies have been a bit sporadic on the laughs and the creators acknowledge that in this latest release which urges us "To lower our expectations."
And they're right - if you do that, you'll probably enjoy this Family Guy version of Return of the Jedi (the least loved of the Star wars films). With throws to Star Trek, David Letterman, Lost In Space and many more, there's certainly a fair few laughs to be had here and there.
Characters from other Seth McFarlane animated shows like American Dad make appearances and it does feel like creatively they've run a little short on steam. Still, like Piranha (recently released on the small screen), this works with a few beers and a few friends.
Extras: Commentaries from the creators, outtakes animatics and Trivial pursuit make an interesting bunch.
Rating: 6/10
Family Guy - It's a Trap
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
So, the final Family Guy spin off gets its time to shine.
These at times puerile parodies have been a bit sporadic on the laughs and the creators acknowledge that in this latest release which urges us "To lower our expectations."
And they're right - if you do that, you'll probably enjoy this Family Guy version of Return of the Jedi (the least loved of the Star wars films). With throws to Star Trek, David Letterman, Lost In Space and many more, there's certainly a fair few laughs to be had here and there.
Characters from other Seth McFarlane animated shows like American Dad make appearances and it does feel like creatively they've run a little short on steam. Still, like Piranha (recently released on the small screen), this works with a few beers and a few friends.
Extras: Commentaries from the creators, outtakes animatics and Trivial pursuit make an interesting bunch.
Rating: 6/10
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Predicament: DVD Review
Predicament: DVD Review
Predicament
Rating: M
Released by Vendetta Films
Adapted from the novel by New Zealand author Ronald Hugh Morrieson, this is the tale of naive teen Cedric Williamson (newcomer Hayden Frost).
Cedric is bullied at school and has an odd family life (to say the least). His father (Tim Finn) is building an enormous tower in their front yard from rubble, as he copes with the loss of his wife.
One day Cedric meets Mervyn Toebeck (Heath Franklin aka comedian Chopper) and the pair forms a friendship, with Mervyn abusing the bond to bludge off Cedric and his family.
When pasty white oddball Spook (Jemaine Clement) shows up, the trio hits upon the idea of blackmailing the locals - and Cedric's determined to use the scheme to get revenge against the Bramwells (the developers who stole his family land).
But the revenge plot goes a little wrong.
Wannabe Gothic comedy it may be, but Predicament remains a difficult and divisive watch. Sure Clement and Franklin make good watching, and while the scenery is beautifully realized and shot, there's little that's actually engaging in the film itself.
Which is bitterly disappointing - I can't exactly pinpoint why Predicament doesn't do anything for me; but it is a curio of a film.
Extras: Trailers, featurettes and cast and crew interviews - nothing sensational.
Rating: 5/10
Predicament
Rating: M
Released by Vendetta Films
Adapted from the novel by New Zealand author Ronald Hugh Morrieson, this is the tale of naive teen Cedric Williamson (newcomer Hayden Frost).
Cedric is bullied at school and has an odd family life (to say the least). His father (Tim Finn) is building an enormous tower in their front yard from rubble, as he copes with the loss of his wife.
One day Cedric meets Mervyn Toebeck (Heath Franklin aka comedian Chopper) and the pair forms a friendship, with Mervyn abusing the bond to bludge off Cedric and his family.
When pasty white oddball Spook (Jemaine Clement) shows up, the trio hits upon the idea of blackmailing the locals - and Cedric's determined to use the scheme to get revenge against the Bramwells (the developers who stole his family land).
But the revenge plot goes a little wrong.
Wannabe Gothic comedy it may be, but Predicament remains a difficult and divisive watch. Sure Clement and Franklin make good watching, and while the scenery is beautifully realized and shot, there's little that's actually engaging in the film itself.
Which is bitterly disappointing - I can't exactly pinpoint why Predicament doesn't do anything for me; but it is a curio of a film.
Extras: Trailers, featurettes and cast and crew interviews - nothing sensational.
Rating: 5/10
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Salt: DVD Review
Salt: DVD Review
Salt
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment
Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent whose life is turned upside down one day when, on the eve of her wedding anniversary, a Russian defector comes in from the cold and fingers her as a Russian sleeper agent.
It gets worse when Salt's accused of being the one who will kill the Russian president in America, igniting fears of Day X (a feared day when America and her allies will be attacked on all sides) coming true.
Mind you, Salt doesn't help herself by running - to try and clear her name.
Salt is a thriller which doesn't thrill as much as it could. It's fine in the action stakes and kudos need to be given to those involved as the majority of the stunts are done without the use of CGI...but it's the story which has hokum written all over it.
The main trio of actors involved- Liev Schreiber, Chijetel Ejiofor and Jolie acquit themselves fine - they're all very dour and G man in various ways - and the whole film does take itself rather seriously.
Jolie's ok when she's kicking some ass but she looks so slight that it's a hard ask to be convinced that she'd be the one to better the bad guys (or are they the good guys?).
Underwhelming - and disappointing given this could be the first of the franchise.
Extras: Doco on Ange as action hero; a look at the costumes and commentary with Philip Noyce, director.
Rating: 5/10
Salt
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment
Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent whose life is turned upside down one day when, on the eve of her wedding anniversary, a Russian defector comes in from the cold and fingers her as a Russian sleeper agent.
It gets worse when Salt's accused of being the one who will kill the Russian president in America, igniting fears of Day X (a feared day when America and her allies will be attacked on all sides) coming true.
Mind you, Salt doesn't help herself by running - to try and clear her name.
Salt is a thriller which doesn't thrill as much as it could. It's fine in the action stakes and kudos need to be given to those involved as the majority of the stunts are done without the use of CGI...but it's the story which has hokum written all over it.
The main trio of actors involved- Liev Schreiber, Chijetel Ejiofor and Jolie acquit themselves fine - they're all very dour and G man in various ways - and the whole film does take itself rather seriously.
Jolie's ok when she's kicking some ass but she looks so slight that it's a hard ask to be convinced that she'd be the one to better the bad guys (or are they the good guys?).
Underwhelming - and disappointing given this could be the first of the franchise.
Extras: Doco on Ange as action hero; a look at the costumes and commentary with Philip Noyce, director.
Rating: 5/10
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