Red Riding Hood: Movie Review

Red Riding Hood: Movie Review

Red Riding Hood
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Julie Christie, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Viriginia Madsen, Lukas Haas
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
From the director of Twilight, comes a film about a girl who's in love with the wrong boy as a killer stalks the village she lives in.
Hold up - that sounds exactly like Twilight....
Red Riding Hood is the latest adaptation of the fairy tale and sees Amanda Seyfried's Valerie trapped in a love triangle with Shiloh Fernandez's woodcutter Peter and Max Irons' Henry - as well as a murder mystery, when the townsfolk she's living with in a high mountain range are picked off by the big bad wolf.
As fear continues to grip the snow-capped village, a priest (played with scene chewing aplomb by Gary Oldman) is called in to try and save them.
But as the climate of terror grows, the threat to Valerie and those she loves becomes greater - and soon she realises she's the key to saving everyone.
From its opening shot of villages in mountains as the camera sweeps across trees, it's very hard to not think about Twilight - which I guess to a degree is what you'd expect from the director of the very first film. Throw in lines like "If you love her, you'll let her go" and "I lost a sister - I can't lose you" and clearly you're in teen angst territory in more ways than one. Add into the mix a pair of boys and a love triangle - plus a wolf which looks like one of wolf pack from a certain other franchise - and you'd be forgiven for thinking you're watching a different film.
That said, while the rest of the cast are fairly wooden and stilted, Amanda Seyfried shines in this. With her big blue eyes (all the better for seeing you with, right?) and pale complexion, she stands out from the rest of the townsfolk - but physicalities aside, she also stands out with her slightly ethereal acting, bringing an air of mystery to her part as the film goes on. Gary Oldman is okay too - but he's clearly overacting in some parts which takes the edge off a little.

I suppose at the end of the day, Red Riding Hood will find a teen audience that will adore it - with some striking visuals and a gothic air here and there, there's certainly something for genre fans to love - but many will feel they've seen it all before. Some may even argue they've seen it done better too.

Get Low: Movie Review

Get Low: Movie Review

Get Low
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek
Director: Aaron Schneider
Robert Duvall stars in this story spun, apparently, from folk tales.
Duvall is hermit Felix Bush who's spent 40 years living deep in the woods away from those nearby in mid-America.
Rumours swirl about him, the "weirdo in the woods", such as how many people he's killed - but no-one really knows much about his life or who he is.
One day, he heads into town to arrange his own funeral with Bill Murray's Frank Quinn (the local undertaker) - but with the proviso that anyone who attends has to bring a story about Bush.
Quinn, along with protégé Buddy (Lucas Black), pulls together the event - but it takes an unusual turn, as a long-standing mystery rises to the surface...
Get Low is not speedy cinema - it's blessed with some very, very dry humour and a stunning performance from Duvall, but it's slow to engage your emotions.
The mystery of why Bush made a hermit of himself propels the narrative along but by the time the revelation comes to light in the final act, it's lacking the commensurate punch that it needs. That's not to detract from Duvall's delivery of the truth, which is mesmerising, but you'd be hard-pressed not to join the dots of clues scattered throughout.

Unfortunately, what it means is that you feel slightly let down at the end - and while Get Low is blessed with great performances from Duvall, Murray and Black, it's not likely to endear you with its - at times - snail-like pace.

World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles: Movie Review

World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles: Movie Review

Battle Los Angeles
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Marines, Aliens, Explosions, Space ships
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Do you like alien invasion films?
Do you like plenty of shooting?
Do you like a minimal plot which sees a leader looking for redemption after the loss of troops in former combat?
Do you like stuff blowing up?
If you've answered yes, then move along, this review won't matter to you. Because right after you've read the title, you'll be in the queue for the ticket. And waiting for the inevitable video game release.
For the rest of you - strap in.
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles (to give it its title outside of the USA) centres on a platoon of marines recently returned from combat, who've suffered the loss of their own thanks to the decisions of Aaron Eckhart's staff sergeant.
24 hours later this crew of gung-ho grunts (including one who's about to marry, one who's got post-traumatic stress, one who's a marine on the brink of retirement - just the regular collection of cliches) is heading into battle when a series of meteors land at strategic points around the world.
Pretty soon, it's clear this is an invasion force - and the marines are one of the last lines of defence in the war against this unnamed extra terrestrial army.
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles does what it says on the tin.
As I've already said, it's got the tenets of a B movie, a war film and an FX spectacular thrown in - as well as the predictable Iraq allegory (the aliens are after our resources; they use water for fuel ... subtle it may not be).
But visually, its style is impressive - it looks like a war film with its handheld cameras, verite style following the marines as they try to save civilians from behind enemy lines (which resemble wartorn streets of Iraq). It really gets you into the heart, paranoia and uncomfortable nature of battle.
The opening works well - the suspense as the aliens arrive and simply start shooting does enough to set the scene (even with the obligatory last night out of the marines before being shipped out).
But towards the end, all semblance of plot goes out the window - previously unassailable aliens are able to be run down with humvees; gung-ho statements like "I'm ready for payback" really destroy what atmosphere there was. It's the kind of film that should be shown to Marines to hype them up before combat - the whole thing is akin to a major recruitment drive film or a PlayStation game (get the marines to the city, steal the bus, shoot the aliens, save the civilians etc).
The other major problem is that outside of Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez, I couldn't really tell you who's who - the other actors all blend into a camouflage goo and don't stand out in the slightest.

Having said that, World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles is a reasonable adrenalin-filled spectacle for two hours, full of bullets, bangs and boys (and slightly dodgy alien FX) - ultimately, it's not adding anything new to the genre but is distracting enough.

Chloe: DVD Review

Chloe: DVD Review

Chloe
Rating: R16
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
An erotic thriller remade from a French film from the 90s, Chloe stars Amanda Seyfried as a mysterious woman who wreaks some kind of havoc on an apparently happily married couple.
Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore are Catherine and David; when David doesn't return for his birthday and encouraged by the fact he appears to flirt with everything, Catherine suspects him of having an affair.
So she engages the services of prostitute Chloe (the sultry Seyfried who oozes sexuality in this) to tempt her hubby. But when Chloe comes back and reveals all, Catherine finds herself brought to life by the sordid details - and soon Chloe's about to destroy their lives...
Sultry and sexy, this psycho thriller also dips into the silly side as well - the end completely ruins what's gone previously and plunges Chloe deep into OTT territory.
Seyfried does sultry very well (boding well for Red Riding Hood) and Moore impresses as the obsessive yet suspicious wife.
Granted you can see what's coming and when, but respected Atom Egoyan spins out the suspense of the story well, and with the sensual side and sexual obsession ramped up, this is something a little different.
Extras: Deleted/ Alternate scenes

Rating: 6/10

Dr Who: The Movie: DVD Review

Dr Who: The Movie: DVD Review

Dr Who - The Movie

Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow
Paul MCGann's one outing on TV as the Doctor gets a release - although why the movie's been released as a stand alone after forming part of last year's Revisitations set is beyond me (even the special features are the same).
Anyway, set in the turn of the millennium and in America, the 7th Doc's been asked to convey the returns of the Master home - but when the Master breaks out (even in dead form) the Doc finds himself in San Fran on New Year's Eve 1999 - and gunned down.
Regenerating into McGann's 8th Doctor, suddenly the world is facing its demise as the Master's poised to destroy the cosmos&.
The Movie divided fans and still has me sitting on the fence - it's not the best Who ever thanks to some dodgy performances (step forward Eric Roberts' hammy run as the Master) but McGann showed real promise for the role - and it's a shame on TV it never amounted to more.
This two disc release has a wealth of special features which make up for the overall dismal quality of the show - and if you're not planning on getting the superior Revisitations set, maybe you should consider this.

Rating: 6/10 

My Wedding and Other Secrets: Movie Review

My Wedding and Other Secrets: Movie Review

My Wedding And Other Secrets
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Matt Whelan, Michelle Ang, Kenneth Tsang, Pei-Pei Cheng
Director: Roseanne Liang
In this rom com, Michelle Ang stars as Asian film student Emily Chu, a geek who's at odds with the world around her.
While her fellow film students are claiming their influences number the likes of Fellini, Emily's talking about how Star Wars turned her to the dark side of film making...
She's a bit of an oddball and that geeky goofy charm extends to the rest of her life.
But it also puts her into conflict with her Hong Kong parents - she's seen one sister nearly disowned after she dated a boy her parents didn't approve of.
So, when she meets good ole Kiwi James ( Go Girls' Matt Whelan) and the two spark, she's well aware of the potential divisions it could cause.
However, Emily's a dreamer and follows her heart over her head.
Things are further complicated when the pair fall in love and decide to marry.
In secret.
My Wedding And Other Secrets is a charming and sweet culture clash romantic comedy. It has an innocence and character which will melt your heart.
Michelle Ang manages to bring an endearing charm to Emily and life to the story. She veers on the right side of compassionate to her eccentric spontaneity rather than irritating - and she also has sincerity for the part as she juggles her heart, what's right and the wishes of her family.
And she gels very well with Matt Whelan's awkward and nervy James - but then all the supporting cast are pitch perfect. From Cheng Pei Pei (of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) who plays the mum to Kenneth Tsang's father, they all add to the overall feel good vibe of My Wedding and Other Secrets.

With a light deft touch, director Liang who based this story on her life, knows exactly what she wants from all - and the end result is a sweetly charming cultural rom com which perfectly matches the times we live in.

Never Let Me Go: Movie Review

Never Let Me Go: Movie Review

Never Let Me Go
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield
Director: Mark Romanek
(Be warned - necessary spoilers ahead)
From the 2005 book by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go has been adapted for the screen by Alex Garland.
It starts with an announcement that in 1952, a medical breakthrough means the average life expectancy now extends past 100 years old.
Then we fade into an idyllic English boarding school where we meet Carey Mulligan's narrator Kathy H as a school kid - she's been best friends with Ruth since forever. And their lives are completed by the friendship Kathy forms with Tommy.
Gradually the bonds grow stronger between the trio - as their confined existence grows.
The children there are essentially clones, being nurtured as organ donors for those outside in the real world. In a climate of oppression, they're told never to leave the grounds, have limited social interaction with the outside world (they're taught in classes how to order tea in cafes) and are encouraged to paint for inclusion in an exclusive gallery.
But it's not good for the trio - Kathy's lost Tommy to a relationship with Ruth.
Years pass - and the three of them find their lives permanently intertwined as their inevitable path plays out.
Never Let Me Go is haunting, harrowing, depressing and yet incredibly powerfully compelling viewing.
It begins with an air of mystery and intrigue as you know there's something different about these children but the reality of what it is evades you initially.
Once the truth comes out (via a great interruption by Sally Hawkins' disruptive school teacher who's honest with the kids), it suddenly adds a level of poignancy to this forlorn trio - they're told they'll complete (ie die) during their donations but it's all part of who and what they are.
An offer of deferral from the National Donor programme gives some hope - but when that reality is scotched, the world comes crashing down.
Essentially a three hander, this film is wonderfully acted by all three - Mulligan is hypnotic and shines as a detached forlorn Kathy, doomed to never be with her love; Knightley adds a subtlety to the manipulative Ruth and there's real anguish in Garfield's Tommy.
Deliberately drably shot (even landscapes look gloomy) this film is beautifully put together by Romanek.
The mournful, maudlin and sombre tone may not be for all and there's a little frustration at not exploring (or making you understand) why they can't run from the programme but ultimately this poignant and angsty piece is about love and accepting your mortality.

Never Let Me Go will haunt you and remain with you long after you've left the cinema.