TRONLegacy: Blu Ray Review
Tron Legacy
Rating: PG
Released
by Disney
Nearly 30 years in the making comes the
film Disney had high hopes for.
In TRON Legacy,
Garrett Hedlund stars as Sam Flynn, the son of former inventor and computer
genius, Kevin (Jeff Bridges). Kevin disappeared nearly 30 years ago, leaving
behind Sam, a major company Encom and a lot of questions.
Since that disappearance, Sam's now grown up and is somewhat
restless, flitting between being the CEO of Encom and running into trouble with
the law.
But when he receives word from family friend Alan (Bruce
Boxleitner) that a page was sent from Flynn's arcade (run by Kevin in the 80s),
he heads to see how that's possible and if his father is truly still alive.
And then, he's sucked into the world of the computer
run Grid and into a fight for his life.
Visually
and aesthetically, I was gobsmacked by the digital world they've created for
this - it looks stunning and is spectacular with its vibrant neon blues and
oranges standing out in the Blade Runneresque computer world. Scenes of combat,
reminiscent of the gladiator's arena from Roman times, are also sensationally
shot.Coupled with an incredible electronic soundtrack of dizzyingly good synth
from Daft Punk, the cyber-look of this film is, hands down, easily one of the
best of the year.
But the problem comes with the
overall plot. Or rather, a real lack of it.
With
clunking dialogue, this lumbers from one scene to the next - and it's a real
shame.
Not a major disaster by any stretch of the
imagination - but if the story had measured upto the effects, it could have been
unmissable.
Extras: Doco and cast info
Rating: 6/10
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Source Code: Movie Review
Source Code: Movie Review
Source Code
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright
Director: Duncan Jones
From the director of last year's brilliant Moon, comes a new sci fi thriller which has heart and soul as well as intelligence and action.
Gyllenhaal stars as Captain Colter Stevens, who finds himself on a train and facing a woman Christina (Monaghan) he's convinced he's never met before.
To make matters worse, he looks in a mirror and sees the face looking back at him is not his own.
Before he's got time to make head or tail of what's going on, a bomb destroys the Chicago bound train - taking him, and all the passengers with it.
When he wakes up though, he finds himself being questioned by the military (led by Vera Farmiga) and trapped in a capsule.
They explain he's got just eight minutes on the train to find out who is responsible for bombing it and send him back in - and will keep doing so until he's successful.....
Source Code is perhaps one of the best scifi thrillers ever made - but more than that, it's a compelling film which is grounded in humanity rather than just scifi.
Duncan Jones seriously impressed with Moon and he builds even more here with this thrilling and exciting ride. It's a fiendishly intriguing premise which throws you right in at the beginning by giving you few clues and so immediately you empathise with Stevens as he tries to find out what's going on.
Gyllenhaal is mightily watchable as Stevens; as the truth unravels, you understand and really feel his puzzled viewpoint; the thing is, it's all due to Gyllenhaal and his steely determination mixed with vulnerability.
But credit must also go to Monaghan; her Christine becomes the emotional touchstone on the train and the reason Stevens keep coming back - she helps give the story the humanity it needs to keep it from simply being a thriller with a large dollop of sci fi.
The other star is the script - initially complex and layered, it rewards an intelligent audience who are willing to take the ride and embrace the mystery of what's going on on the train as well as what's going on with Stevens. It also helps the director's really invested a degree of real time into this - each section on the train lasts only 8 minutes so you begin to feel the desperation as the clock ticks toward the inevitable explosion. It's a sort of scifi Groundhog Day in many ways.
Source Code is one of the best films of 2011 - it's intelligent, ferociously good film making, and a brilliant experience which rewards with multiple viewings.
Source Code
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright
Director: Duncan Jones
From the director of last year's brilliant Moon, comes a new sci fi thriller which has heart and soul as well as intelligence and action.
Gyllenhaal stars as Captain Colter Stevens, who finds himself on a train and facing a woman Christina (Monaghan) he's convinced he's never met before.
To make matters worse, he looks in a mirror and sees the face looking back at him is not his own.
Before he's got time to make head or tail of what's going on, a bomb destroys the Chicago bound train - taking him, and all the passengers with it.
When he wakes up though, he finds himself being questioned by the military (led by Vera Farmiga) and trapped in a capsule.
They explain he's got just eight minutes on the train to find out who is responsible for bombing it and send him back in - and will keep doing so until he's successful.....
Source Code is perhaps one of the best scifi thrillers ever made - but more than that, it's a compelling film which is grounded in humanity rather than just scifi.
Duncan Jones seriously impressed with Moon and he builds even more here with this thrilling and exciting ride. It's a fiendishly intriguing premise which throws you right in at the beginning by giving you few clues and so immediately you empathise with Stevens as he tries to find out what's going on.
Gyllenhaal is mightily watchable as Stevens; as the truth unravels, you understand and really feel his puzzled viewpoint; the thing is, it's all due to Gyllenhaal and his steely determination mixed with vulnerability.
But credit must also go to Monaghan; her Christine becomes the emotional touchstone on the train and the reason Stevens keep coming back - she helps give the story the humanity it needs to keep it from simply being a thriller with a large dollop of sci fi.
The other star is the script - initially complex and layered, it rewards an intelligent audience who are willing to take the ride and embrace the mystery of what's going on on the train as well as what's going on with Stevens. It also helps the director's really invested a degree of real time into this - each section on the train lasts only 8 minutes so you begin to feel the desperation as the clock ticks toward the inevitable explosion. It's a sort of scifi Groundhog Day in many ways.
Source Code is one of the best films of 2011 - it's intelligent, ferociously good film making, and a brilliant experience which rewards with multiple viewings.
Your Highness: Movie Review
Your Highness: Movie Review
Your Highness
Rating: 3/10
Cast: Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, Damian Lewis, Charles Dance
Director: David Gordon Green
From the team behind stoner comedy Pineapple Express comes medieval romp Your Highness.
McBride plays Thadeous, a slacker prince who lives in the shadow of his more talented brother Fabious, played by James Franco.
When Fabious returns from a quest with his new bride to be Belladonna (Deschanel) whom he rescued from a tower, it seems happily ever after is on the cards.
But when Belladonna's snatched by evil wizard Lazar, the duo have to team up on an epic quest to save the bride-to-be and rid their kingdom of the evil which blights it....
Forget any level of sophistication here, Your Highness is not about the smarts.
With puerile humour throughout (albeit some amusing one liners) it's not aiming very high.
Both Franco and Portman (rocking a terribly dodgy English accent) go for high and mighty; Deschanel simply opts for sulky.
A little more effort into the script and maybe some mockery of the fantasy genre and this could have been better all round.
Instead it opts for crass, vulgar and a waste of those involved. The only saving grace is McBride who, with some deadpan delivery and some very dry moments just makes this (barely) tolerable.
Your Highness is more a case of swords and saucy language than anything else - a teen audience will be amused. Others will just roll their eyes.
Your Highness
Rating: 3/10
Cast: Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, Damian Lewis, Charles Dance
Director: David Gordon Green
From the team behind stoner comedy Pineapple Express comes medieval romp Your Highness.
McBride plays Thadeous, a slacker prince who lives in the shadow of his more talented brother Fabious, played by James Franco.
When Fabious returns from a quest with his new bride to be Belladonna (Deschanel) whom he rescued from a tower, it seems happily ever after is on the cards.
But when Belladonna's snatched by evil wizard Lazar, the duo have to team up on an epic quest to save the bride-to-be and rid their kingdom of the evil which blights it....
Forget any level of sophistication here, Your Highness is not about the smarts.
With puerile humour throughout (albeit some amusing one liners) it's not aiming very high.
Both Franco and Portman (rocking a terribly dodgy English accent) go for high and mighty; Deschanel simply opts for sulky.
A little more effort into the script and maybe some mockery of the fantasy genre and this could have been better all round.
Instead it opts for crass, vulgar and a waste of those involved. The only saving grace is McBride who, with some deadpan delivery and some very dry moments just makes this (barely) tolerable.
Your Highness is more a case of swords and saucy language than anything else - a teen audience will be amused. Others will just roll their eyes.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Thor: Movie Review
Thor: Movie Review
Thor
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard
Director: Kenneth Branagh
So the Marvel universe continues its cinematic attempts to take over - this time with some help from a buffed up dude from Home and Away and a guy more likely to be known for Shakespeare.
Hemsworth plays Thor, a Norse god, who on the eve of his coronation as king is banished to Earth from Asgard by his father Odin (Hopkins) after he instigates an attack on the Frost Giants, a race with whom the Asgardians have been living in peace for years.
Dumped in New Mexico, Thor's found by Natalie Portman's scientist Jane Foster.
Convinced he needs to return to Asgard, Thor attempts to regain his mythic hammer (the source of his power) from a SHIELD facility.
But when he finds his powers have deserted him, Thor resigns himself to a life on earth.
However, back in Asgard, political machinations are afoot and Thor's brother Loki (a brilliantly reptilian Hiddleston) moves on the throne, prompting Thor's friends to try and bring him back....
Spectacularly epic, utterly engrossing and surprisingly funny, Thor is perhaps one of the best blockbusters in a while. Mixing Shakespearean motifs such as family betrayal, mistrust and revenge, it's clear to see why Branagh was attracted to this.
Hemsworth impresses as the petulantly arrogant god and Hopkins is suitably majestic as the regal Odin; each injecting their characters with the humanity and hubris needed of gods. Equally impressive is Hiddleston who brings the requisite element of mistrust to Loki that you're never quite sure whose side he's actually on - or what his motives truly are.
If there's to be a small quibble, it's that Portman and her team of scientists are a little underdeveloped - and the wonderful Kat Dennings is sidelined as simply comic relief.
The 3D serves really only to enrich the backdrops and isn't integral to the overall feel of Thor.
Yet, it's the Marvel universe which grows in depth with this latest adaptation - with crossover film The Avengers on the way, there's plenty to be done to lay the groundwork here. Mentions of Tony Stark, crossover characters from prior films and the obligatory Stan Lee cameo, this world is becoming more cinematically fleshed out than ever before - but not at the extent of alienating those who're not familiar with it all.
The winter blockbuster season is off to a simply Thorsome start.
Thor
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard
Director: Kenneth Branagh
So the Marvel universe continues its cinematic attempts to take over - this time with some help from a buffed up dude from Home and Away and a guy more likely to be known for Shakespeare.
Hemsworth plays Thor, a Norse god, who on the eve of his coronation as king is banished to Earth from Asgard by his father Odin (Hopkins) after he instigates an attack on the Frost Giants, a race with whom the Asgardians have been living in peace for years.
Dumped in New Mexico, Thor's found by Natalie Portman's scientist Jane Foster.
Convinced he needs to return to Asgard, Thor attempts to regain his mythic hammer (the source of his power) from a SHIELD facility.
But when he finds his powers have deserted him, Thor resigns himself to a life on earth.
However, back in Asgard, political machinations are afoot and Thor's brother Loki (a brilliantly reptilian Hiddleston) moves on the throne, prompting Thor's friends to try and bring him back....
Spectacularly epic, utterly engrossing and surprisingly funny, Thor is perhaps one of the best blockbusters in a while. Mixing Shakespearean motifs such as family betrayal, mistrust and revenge, it's clear to see why Branagh was attracted to this.
Hemsworth impresses as the petulantly arrogant god and Hopkins is suitably majestic as the regal Odin; each injecting their characters with the humanity and hubris needed of gods. Equally impressive is Hiddleston who brings the requisite element of mistrust to Loki that you're never quite sure whose side he's actually on - or what his motives truly are.
If there's to be a small quibble, it's that Portman and her team of scientists are a little underdeveloped - and the wonderful Kat Dennings is sidelined as simply comic relief.
The 3D serves really only to enrich the backdrops and isn't integral to the overall feel of Thor.
Yet, it's the Marvel universe which grows in depth with this latest adaptation - with crossover film The Avengers on the way, there's plenty to be done to lay the groundwork here. Mentions of Tony Stark, crossover characters from prior films and the obligatory Stan Lee cameo, this world is becoming more cinematically fleshed out than ever before - but not at the extent of alienating those who're not familiar with it all.
The winter blockbuster season is off to a simply Thorsome start.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Fast 5: Movie Review
Fast 5: Movie Review
Fast Five
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson
Director: Justin Lin
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Fast and The Furious franchise returns with Paul Walker's ex cop Brian O'Connor freeing Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto from a bus taking him to jail.
This puts Dom, Brian and Jordana Brewster's Mia top of the wanted list so they head to Rio to lay low for a while.
However, one last job pulls them back in - and when the trio's set up and betrayed by corrupt businessman Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the hunt's on to clear their names.
But Reyes isn't the only one hunting the trio - fresh on their trail is federal agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) who's determined to bring them in for their part in the death of three agents.
So, the game is set.
Fast Five is like a greatest hits of the franchise; a bevy of familiar faces return with characters from all the films making an appearance in some form or other - along with new ones like Hobbs and a new love interest for Diesel's Toretto.
But as ever, the star of this show are the cars and the stunts. A particularly audacious final set piece is destruction to the maximum - and one scene sees a car go off a cliff with amazing effect.
The plot's as lacking as ever to be honest - and when characters utter lines like "It's easy money", you know exactly what's coming. Coupled with plenty of shots of Diesel and Johnson leering at each other, this predictably over long piece isn't exactly breaking the mould.
And yet, despite all that, it remains watchable fare (thanks to a superbly original take on using subtitles).
With the promise of a final film to wrap everything up and with the fact old characters have been brought back, it's clear those involved in this series actually care about the creations they've given life to.
In a world where movies often trot out tired sequels and phone it in, Fast Five shows there's still some heart and soul in the car racing franchise - and that's a rare thing.
Fast Five
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson
Director: Justin Lin
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Fast and The Furious franchise returns with Paul Walker's ex cop Brian O'Connor freeing Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto from a bus taking him to jail.
This puts Dom, Brian and Jordana Brewster's Mia top of the wanted list so they head to Rio to lay low for a while.
However, one last job pulls them back in - and when the trio's set up and betrayed by corrupt businessman Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the hunt's on to clear their names.
But Reyes isn't the only one hunting the trio - fresh on their trail is federal agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) who's determined to bring them in for their part in the death of three agents.
So, the game is set.
Fast Five is like a greatest hits of the franchise; a bevy of familiar faces return with characters from all the films making an appearance in some form or other - along with new ones like Hobbs and a new love interest for Diesel's Toretto.
But as ever, the star of this show are the cars and the stunts. A particularly audacious final set piece is destruction to the maximum - and one scene sees a car go off a cliff with amazing effect.
The plot's as lacking as ever to be honest - and when characters utter lines like "It's easy money", you know exactly what's coming. Coupled with plenty of shots of Diesel and Johnson leering at each other, this predictably over long piece isn't exactly breaking the mould.
And yet, despite all that, it remains watchable fare (thanks to a superbly original take on using subtitles).
With the promise of a final film to wrap everything up and with the fact old characters have been brought back, it's clear those involved in this series actually care about the creations they've given life to.
In a world where movies often trot out tired sequels and phone it in, Fast Five shows there's still some heart and soul in the car racing franchise - and that's a rare thing.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Easy A - Blu Ray Review
Easy A - Blu Ray Review
Easy A
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Pictures
The teen comedy genre gets a welcome shot of life with this new film, loosely based on the infamous book The Scarlet Letter.
Emma Stone is Olive Penderghast, who finds her world changed when she's caught up in a lie.
After avoiding a friend's camping trip for a weekend, Olive's badgered into confessing that she slept with a college guy over that 48 hour period; something which is patently untrue but one which is given life despite her protestations to the contrary.
Within hours, the school campus is full of the rumour that Olive's become a harlot and after helping faux relieve a friend of his virginity, Olive's reputation is sealed campus wide.
But Olive soon discover there's a cost&
Easy A rocks because of a smart, sharp script and a star making turn from Emma Stone. Self effacing, amusing and incredibly watchable, Stone carries the film and gives a performance which is pitch perfect.
Admirable support from the likes of Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson seal the deal - and make it a joy to watch again and again.
Extras: Gag Reel, Audition footage - commentary. The Blu Ray has pop culture references, movies of the eighties, the making of and a pop up trivia.
Rating: 8/10
Easy A
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Pictures
The teen comedy genre gets a welcome shot of life with this new film, loosely based on the infamous book The Scarlet Letter.
Emma Stone is Olive Penderghast, who finds her world changed when she's caught up in a lie.
After avoiding a friend's camping trip for a weekend, Olive's badgered into confessing that she slept with a college guy over that 48 hour period; something which is patently untrue but one which is given life despite her protestations to the contrary.
Within hours, the school campus is full of the rumour that Olive's become a harlot and after helping faux relieve a friend of his virginity, Olive's reputation is sealed campus wide.
But Olive soon discover there's a cost&
Easy A rocks because of a smart, sharp script and a star making turn from Emma Stone. Self effacing, amusing and incredibly watchable, Stone carries the film and gives a performance which is pitch perfect.
Admirable support from the likes of Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson seal the deal - and make it a joy to watch again and again.
Extras: Gag Reel, Audition footage - commentary. The Blu Ray has pop culture references, movies of the eighties, the making of and a pop up trivia.
Rating: 8/10
Friday, 22 April 2011
Devil: Blu Ray Review
Devil: Blu Ray Review
Devil
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Entertainment
M Night Shyamalan returns with the first of a trio of anthologies from his Night Chronicles series.
In this, five people -who apparently have no connection - find themselves trapped in a skyscraper elevator.
As the police and various organisations try to free the quintet, it appears all of them have something to hide - and that one of them is actually the Devil, who's come to collect&
Devil feels like it should be part of a Twilight Zone series of stories on the small screen rather than the big screen release - its pacy story telling and brevity of running time are benefits.
With no famous leads or cast members, Devil works on one level as you're never quite sure who's going to make it out alive or who has the dirtiest secret. It's a clever twist from the director on the casting front - but it can't make the script soar.
The story's a little predictable and you can see how the intertwined story is going to unravel well before its muted and disappointing end.
That said, it's nice to see Shyamalan returning to grass roots film making - and I'd be interested to see some more of this trilogy.
Extras: Deleted scenes, docos on the story making and future releases - nothing stunning.
Rating: 5/10
Devil
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Entertainment
M Night Shyamalan returns with the first of a trio of anthologies from his Night Chronicles series.
In this, five people -who apparently have no connection - find themselves trapped in a skyscraper elevator.
As the police and various organisations try to free the quintet, it appears all of them have something to hide - and that one of them is actually the Devil, who's come to collect&
Devil feels like it should be part of a Twilight Zone series of stories on the small screen rather than the big screen release - its pacy story telling and brevity of running time are benefits.
With no famous leads or cast members, Devil works on one level as you're never quite sure who's going to make it out alive or who has the dirtiest secret. It's a clever twist from the director on the casting front - but it can't make the script soar.
The story's a little predictable and you can see how the intertwined story is going to unravel well before its muted and disappointing end.
That said, it's nice to see Shyamalan returning to grass roots film making - and I'd be interested to see some more of this trilogy.
Extras: Deleted scenes, docos on the story making and future releases - nothing stunning.
Rating: 5/10
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