Sucker Punch: Movie Review

Sucker Punch: Movie Review

Sucker Punch
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Emily Browning, Jena Malone, Abby Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jamie Chung, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn
Director: Zack Snyder
With a truckload of hype and expectation screaming the next big geek thing, Sucker Punch is finally here.
Set in the 1960s, it's the story of Babydoll (an innocent Emily Browning) who, framed for the murder of her sister, is committed to a lunatic asylum by her murderous father.
With five days to go before she gets a life-changing lobotomy, Babydoll retreats into a fantasy world to try and plan an escape from a fate worse than death.
Along with Sweetpea (Cornish), Amber (Chung), Blondie (Hudgens) and Rocket (Malone), Babydoll sets her plan in motion - with a little help from the Wise Man (Scott Glenn).
Sucker Punch is an incredible film in many ways.
Incredibly frustrating, incredibly inventive and incredibly visual, it's easy to see why it doesn't quite make it.
It's stylish and astounding in spades (and the opening sequence which shows how Babydoll is committed is one of the best visually impressive scenes I've ever clapped eyes on) but narratively, it's not quite there and instead feels like a series of CGI sequences and some mightily impressive music videos.
Don't get me wrong - there are parts of this film that made my inner geek squeal with delight (impressive slow mo fight scenes, shots of 10 foot samurai warriors with red eyes being cut down by Browning's petite frame, dragons and planes, World War trenches with steampunk Nazis, an awesome OST) but therein lies some of the problem of Sucker Punch.
A film with a series of great moments strung together by some disappointing plot does not alone an outstanding movie make.
Sure, there'll be plenty of discussion of how Snyder's trying to provide strong female role models while dressing them up in provocative clothing - but the main feeling from Sucker Punch is it's a fantastic concept which never really gets past the ideas which may have been story boarded.
Having said that though, the core cast are impressive and you believe instantly in Babydoll's fantasy world and understand exactly why she retreats there to escape the horror; every single male character in this film (with the exception of Scott Glenn's Wise Man) is a slimeball and that gives the women a chance to shine in lead roles.
Ultimately, Sucker Punch will appeal greatly to the core audience it wants - the fanboys and fan girls who'll get their geek on over the utterly amazing action sequences.

But with a little more attention to the script, the visionary Snyder could have created a film which had a broader audience and would have been hailed as something revolutionary.

Burn Notice Season 2 : DVD Review

Burn Notice Season 2 : DVD Review

Burn Notice Season two
Released by Roadshow
Rating: M
So one of the best spy series on TV (sadly overlooked and plonked into awful late night slots) continues its second season - can you believe we're only on season two when there's six made? Sometimes there's just no accounting for taste.
Anyway, the brilliant Jeffrey Donovan returns as Michael Western, a former CIA Operative who was burned (ie fired) from the agency - but with no idea why or by whom.
This latest season finds him still stuck in Miami trying to find out who did it and why - but brings him a little closer to solving the mystery with the introduction of Tricia "Battlestar Galactica" Helfer's Carla.
But as ever, nothing is quite what it seems.
Why this show isn't a bigger hit is a mystery - but as long as we continue to get season releases, that's the main thing.
Sleek, smart and a little sexy, Donovan is effortlessly cool and this second season compounds the calibre of the show as well as the mythology. But it still remains easy to jump in.
A great ensemble cast is rounded off by Bruce Campbell, Gabrielle Anwar and Sharon Gless - and this year benefits from the appearance of one of Frasier's greats.

Extras: commentary, deleted scenes and behind the scenes - nothing spectacular.

Rating: 7/10 

Dr Who - The Mutants: DVD Review

Dr Who - The Mutants: DVD Review

Dr Who - The Mutants
Released by BBC and Roadshow
Rating: PG
This six part 1972 serial sees Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor and companion Jo thrust into the 30th Century to deliver a message from The Doctor's race, The Time Lords.
But when they arrive they find a world, Solos, torn apart by suspicion, Mutants and a Human Empire looking to flex its final might before leaving the planet it once ruled over.
Can the Doctor bring peace to both sides in these warring factions?
The Mutants is a story which is stretched a little too long - it could have comfortably sat in 4 parts but an extra 2 means the story drags somewhat and sags.
Some of the acting is of the ropiest order as well - but the story idea is An admirable one, dealing as it does with evolution and independence.
Pertwee still stands the test of time - even if those around him fail to measure up; some impressive effects (well, impressive for their time) shine through as well but all in all, The Mutants is a case of slightly missing the mark.
Extras: Commentary, docos - the usual collection - nothing really stands out from the extras. Is it possible the classic series is running out of things to say about each release?

Rating: 5/10

Jackass 3D Blu Ray Review

Jackass 3D Blu Ray Review

Jackass 3
Rating: R16
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

3 times the laughs, 3 times the stupid the cover blares.

And it's right.

It follows the same format as before; as Johnny Knoxville and his gang of malicious miscreants inflict various forms of torture on each other for no other reason than it seemed a good idea at the time.

But, my goodness, in places, it's extremely funny.

This film is frequently gross - think bums and air darts, portaloos and bungee ropes and you're starting to form an idea of how it'll all sit together. But yet, as I say in places, I just couldn't help laughing at the cojones (sometimes literally) on display and the minds that would come up with the various situations involved.

It won't break the mould - it will lead to a good night in for the lads and with a 3D copy and extended and uncut versions there's plenty for all fans of the Jackass genre to savour.

Extras: Outtakes, extended versions, making of, deleted scenes - enough to keep the fans happy.

Rating: 6/10 

World Cinema Showcase: Movie Review

World Cinema Showcase: Movie Review

The World Cinema Showcase
It's back showcasing some of the best cinematic talent around - from here and around the globe. There's a few premieres too - and as ever, it's a mixed bag to suit all kinds of tastes.
Here's just a taster of some of what's hitting the streets from the 1st of April.
Rubber comes with a cult following already behind it. Simply put (and no word of a lie), it's the tale of a tyre - yep, you read that right - who goes on a killing spree. This French piece of madness works on a few levels. It never sets out to be something radical, but plays with your expectations in a smart way. Worth watching for the way the action loops back to a group of spectators, direct to camera pieces and back to the tyre's rampage. So much so, you're never quite sure which viewpoint is the one to focus on. . At the beginning a character, in a monologue to the screen, tells you the best things in cinema happen for "no reason". It's best to bear that in mind as this piece of destined for eternal cult lunacy unfolds.
Bill Cunningham New York already is bound for great things. A simple film, this doco follows the life of 80 year old Bill Cunningham, the fashion photographer who walks the streets of the Big Apple, taking pics and setting the trends on the streets. Genuinely likeable, Bill's clearly old school, with ethics and principles aplenty - the majority of which get his support from within the industry. While many are happy to be photographed by the legend and put in his columns, not many know much about him. The engaging doco which plays out in front of you will charm and amuse in equal measures. Plus you'll be impressed at the major effect one person has on so many lives.
The Woodmans is a curious doco about the life of an artistic family. Mom Betty and Dad George believe that "art is a very high priority" - so much so that their two kids, Charlie and Francesca, spend much of their formative years being dragged around exhibitions and to a degree, suffering neglect because of their parents' passion. Inevitably Francesca gets the art bug but excels in photography - however, her own demons threaten her self obsessed world. The doco leaves many questions over the parenting skills, with interviews of Betty (in particular) and George never giving you the feeling they got the family right. Francesca's life plays out in telling journal extracts and her photos litter the doco casting a haunting presence over this troubling yet hypnotically watchable piece.
You Don't Like The Truth - 4 Days inside Guantanamo is harrowing to be brutally honest. Hidden-camera footage of a Guantánamo interrogation, released by a Canadian court, provides filmmakers Luc Côté and Patricio Hernríquez with acutely personal evidence of the tragic injustice of American war on terror tactics. Canadian-Afghani Omar Khadr, abandoned in Afghanistan by his father, is accused of killing a US medic. He was interrogated in 2003 aged 16 by Canadian intelligence officers. But the interrogation sees Khadr fall apart and get treated brutally by his interrogators as his mental state falls apart. With grainy images and an unclear view, the effect is devastating - quite simply the pictures tell the story - and commentators/ interviewers and those fighting for Khadr's justice and freedom all rationally weigh into the debate. Uncomfortable viewing but an essential reminder of the atrocities being committed as the ongoing war against terror continues.
We Are What We Are - a cannibal flick from Mexico - sort of says it all really. When the father of a human eating clan dies in the middle of the street, the family he provides for are flung into chaos. Well, sort of - as they try to work out who should lead them and continue the life of collecting and killing their victims. Dark and bleak it is and there's little light throughout. But scenes of the lead characters preying on their targets may also give nightmares because of the tension and bleak overtones. That said fans of horror (albeit of the subtle and restrained variety) will lap this up.
Bicycle Dreams is a doco charting the progress of riders in an annual 3000 mile Race Across America; focusing on the 12 day event which runs through some truly terrific and truly terrifying countryside, this doco is exactly what you'd expect from a feature looking at endurance athletes. Interviewees talk of "learning something about themselves" and "being pushed to the absolute limits and beyond." Interesting though are the choices made by the riders who partake in this difficult race - we see them forgo sleep and risk death to be the winner. Fairly told and interesting, this will fail to garner anything but a "What the hell are they thinking" reaction from those outside the cycling fraternity. But I doubt it will convince you to start training for it next year - particularly when this event they charted leads to tragedy.
Of Gods and Men was France's official selection for the Oscars this year - and it's searingly haunting. It's set in the monastery of Tibhirine, where Trappist monks lived in harmony with the largely Muslim population of Algeria. Well, that is until terrorists invade their village, frighten the local populace and look to the monastery for supplies and medicines. Ultimately, this true story leads to seven of their number being beheaded in 1996. From initial shots of prayer and treating the locals for their ills, to scenes of the monks studying, eating and living together, there's a hypnotic lull to this film which explores faith in a crisis. But when the terrorists break in, reality comes crashing in - however, it's never at the expense of the drama or over the top at all. The final sequence which sees the monks partake in a Last Supper is electrifying - even if the camera milks every emotion from the close ups on their faces. Lambert Wilson and Michael Lonsdale shine as the lead two monks in an entirely powerful and masterly film - and it imparts such a serenity and horror in you, it'll haunt you from the minute you leave the cinema.
Waiting for Superman is a doco about the American education system and its failings. From Davis Guggenheim (who brought us An Inconvenient Truth) its USP is that this doco blames weak teachers for the failing students rather than the system itself. Choosing to follow a clutch of kids from all sides of America and their families who want the best for them educationally, it manages to humanize the issue. Throw into the mix some inspirational teachers who're trying to make the difference after realizing what's wrong and some damning evidence (and some anecdotal) about where it's going wrong and you've got a fairly potent mix. Use animations and clips from the School of Rock and The Simpsons and Waiting for Superman aims to get its message out to all - many will appreciate what it's saying; some will feel, once again, that the doco maker is following his own agenda.
Tucker and Dale Vs Evil is likely to be the new cult hit (along with Rubber). A comedy horror with aspirations to do for hillbillies what Shaun of the Dead did for zombies, it's got a neat premise. Tyler Labine (of Reaper) and Alan Tudyk (of Firefly and anything cool) are the Tucker and Dale of the title; a pair of hillbillies who're just heading into the woods to do up their vacation home. But when they get nearly run off the road by a group of college kids, enemies are made. The hapless duo find things get worse when they save one of the girls from drowning and take her back to their cabin - soon, her friends are, in their words, "in a suicide pact" and "killing themselves on my property." Simple misunderstandings lead to hilarity and horror in equal measures - and you'll never look at a hillbilly again in an unsympathetic light.

The World Cinema Showcase starts this Friday in Auckland before hitting Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Full details here.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work: DVD Review

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work: DVD Review

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

Released by Madman
Rating: M
A simply stunning doco about the stalwart of the American showbiz scene, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work follows the comedienne through one year of highs and lows of her life.
During that time, Joan tries to launch a stage play, get as much work as she can and generally seize every opportunity which presents itself - and then milk it for as much as she can.
A warts and all portrayal of how to deal with longevity in showbiz it may be, but what it's also is a fascinating look at how one woman continues to thrive within the industry.
We watch Joan take every chance to get her play off the ground and then see her slump catastrophically when it gets 3 star reviews - we view her apartment, with its opulence and magnificence; or as she says "how Marie Antoinette would have lived if she'd had money."
You can't help but want her to succeed or to empathise with this bastion of showbiz - but what you do get out of this is a cautionary tale of how ruthless the industry can be - however, given the amount of effort Joan puts in (filing cabinets full of jokes, trying out material over Obama), you just can't look away.
Highly recommended.
Extras: Commentary with Joan, Extra scenes, Q&A at Sundance and trailer.

Rating: 8/10

Paranormal Activity 2: Blu Ray Review

Paranormal Activity 2: Blu Ray Review

Paranormal Activity 2
Rating: R16
Released by Universal

Following on from the soaraway success of the first Paranormal film comes part two.

Once again, it's a doco style film where everything unfolds through CCTV around a house - this time, it's the home of Paranormal Activity's original victim Katie - to be specific it's sister Kristi (Sprague Grayden), a recent mother.

It begins 60 days before the death of Micah from the first film - the handheld video camera captures the return home of the new mom and her son Hunter as they begin their new life with husband Daniel and daughter Ali and their pet Alsatian.

But with something in the house as well, it's clear this isn't going to end well for all involved.

Paranormal Activity 2 is sinister, creepy, and improves on the first one. Those involved could have simply once again ramped up the scares and gone for obvious horrors - but thanks to a degree of restraint, there's an ominous tone of creeping horror in this sequel (which is more prequel than anything).

With CCTV footage you find yourself scanning all corners and waiting for the shocks to come - and even when they do, you're caught out.

Paranormal Activity 2 retains the quality of the first and leaves it open to a third one&here's hoping the trilogy will see it all wrapped up nicely rather than stretched out like SAW.

Extras: Exclusive footage, an extended cut - these are ok but do little to enrich the experience.

Rating: 7/10