Dr Who: Series 6 Part One: Blu Ray review
Dr Who Series 6 Part One - Blu Ray
Rating: PG
Released by Roadshow and BBC
Matt
Smith returns as the 11th Doctor in this latest (truncated) series of seven
episodes.
Continuing the formula which has proven
so popular, show producer Steven Moffat's crafted a clever way to hook viewers
in this year with this split season - starting with the Doctor's apparent death,
the story arc over these seven episodes is strong and culminates in the apparent
solving of who Alex Kingston's River Song is.
While the opening two parter isn't one for non fans as it weaves show
mythology with pacy American adventure, it's certainly a gripping start - all of
the main quartet acquit themselves well. New villains The Silence are incredibly
spooky and scary and while later villains aren't as terrifying, the story
telling is solid but the seventh episode creaks under the weight of expectation
Still it's not a bad run of adventures - you just
can't help feeling the best's being kept for the final batch of six.
Extras: Disappointingly only two minor featurettes -
again, best being saved for the full season set.
Rating: 7/10
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Final Destination 5: Movie Review
Final Destination 5: Movie Review
Final Destination 5
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Tony Todd
Director: Steven Quale
Fifth time's the charm for the franchise?
When a group of workers head out on a coach on a business retreat, Sam (D'Agosto) has a premonition the vehicle he's on is going to be pulled off a suspension bridge which will collapse. The vision's so powerful, Sam persuades seven of his coworkers to get off and run for their lives.
While the bridge does indeed collapse, the eight of them reckon they've had a lucky escape...however, when one by one, they're picked off and die in mysterious ways, it's clear Death's marked their card and is determined to collect.
Final Destination 5 has some good points and some bad points - while the bridge collapse scene is spectacularly well done, the rest of the deaths seem a little forced and it feels like the writers are starting to feel the strain of inventing new ways to off a largely unknown cast.
That said, some of the scenes, including one where one poor girl gets a fatal laser eye treatment, are likely to have you squirming in your seat and the addition of 3D means a variety of objects spike out at you on the screen. But the gore is mainly more amusing than frightening and Quale does a good job of stretching out the tension so that by the time the final death scene comes round, you've been waiting for it for a while.
A clever addition to the series, as explained by Death's emissary Tony Todd, is that if you're marked for death and you kill someone else, you're given back your life is unexplored for the potential dramatic tension that it has and is wasted as a great new twist which would have had some scripting legs. Equally, the ending is impressive and to discuss that any further would venture into spoilers territory - but it shows there is some thought gone into the latest film.
Sadly though, with a relatively bland cast of at times wooden actors and some frankly average dialogue, any real tension between the group feels forced and unrealistic, leading you to struggle to care if they are offed or not by the Grim Reaper.
Ultimately, if you're after a few comic moments, a bit of suspense and blood splashing onto you courtesy of 3D, then Final Destination 5 will tick your boxes. Everyone else will just hope the franchise is now finally laid to rest.
Final Destination 5
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Tony Todd
Director: Steven Quale
Fifth time's the charm for the franchise?
When a group of workers head out on a coach on a business retreat, Sam (D'Agosto) has a premonition the vehicle he's on is going to be pulled off a suspension bridge which will collapse. The vision's so powerful, Sam persuades seven of his coworkers to get off and run for their lives.
While the bridge does indeed collapse, the eight of them reckon they've had a lucky escape...however, when one by one, they're picked off and die in mysterious ways, it's clear Death's marked their card and is determined to collect.
Final Destination 5 has some good points and some bad points - while the bridge collapse scene is spectacularly well done, the rest of the deaths seem a little forced and it feels like the writers are starting to feel the strain of inventing new ways to off a largely unknown cast.
That said, some of the scenes, including one where one poor girl gets a fatal laser eye treatment, are likely to have you squirming in your seat and the addition of 3D means a variety of objects spike out at you on the screen. But the gore is mainly more amusing than frightening and Quale does a good job of stretching out the tension so that by the time the final death scene comes round, you've been waiting for it for a while.
A clever addition to the series, as explained by Death's emissary Tony Todd, is that if you're marked for death and you kill someone else, you're given back your life is unexplored for the potential dramatic tension that it has and is wasted as a great new twist which would have had some scripting legs. Equally, the ending is impressive and to discuss that any further would venture into spoilers territory - but it shows there is some thought gone into the latest film.
Sadly though, with a relatively bland cast of at times wooden actors and some frankly average dialogue, any real tension between the group feels forced and unrealistic, leading you to struggle to care if they are offed or not by the Grim Reaper.
Ultimately, if you're after a few comic moments, a bit of suspense and blood splashing onto you courtesy of 3D, then Final Destination 5 will tick your boxes. Everyone else will just hope the franchise is now finally laid to rest.
Senna: Movie Review
Senna: Movie Review
Senna
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost
Director: Asif Kapadia
You wouldn't expect a film about Ayrton Senna to be so moving unless you were a Formula One fan.
You would be wrong.
This doco, simply made using archive footage of races, interviews and home movie footage is one of the most rewarding films of the year.
It tells the story of his life -mainly on the track to be honest - and his rivalry with fellow driver Alain Prost, the Frenchman with whom discord became all out war.
But what emerges from Kapadia is an intimate portrait of a focussed and driven man who's knocked around by the system because all he wants is success and isn't willing to play the game.
Scenes of racing, some of which come from cockpit cameras are scintillating; there's footage of drivers' meetings which have been hitherto unseen and hint at some of the conflict felt by Senna as he butted heads with the powers that be; and of course, there's a wealth of footage from races thanks to videoing done at the time. By not using the traditional talking heads in a studio format, Kapadai's interlaced dialogue over footage of Senna - and it's a nice touch which immerses you more in Senna's life rather than taking you out and transporting you back to the studio every five minutes.
Throw into that some family footage, scenes of holidays and truly, Senna is a wonderfully multidimensional picture of the man who was a star on the tracks and a role model to so many Brazilians who were living through some truly horrific times back home.
The whole film is a truly emotional journey as it becomes a fascinating battle of wills, tactics and rivalry as the feud between Senna and Prost heats up.
Add in the final section of the film which deals with Senna's death in Imola in 94 and it's just heartbreaking, leaving you a wreck after the preceding joyous celebration of the legend.
Ultimately this doco is one of the best of the year; at the end, I left having been through the gamut of emotions and brimming with interest at a subject I didn't remotely care about when I initially sat down to watch this.
Senna is well worth your time and you can expect to see it next year on pole position come award season.
Senna
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost
Director: Asif Kapadia
You wouldn't expect a film about Ayrton Senna to be so moving unless you were a Formula One fan.
You would be wrong.
This doco, simply made using archive footage of races, interviews and home movie footage is one of the most rewarding films of the year.
It tells the story of his life -mainly on the track to be honest - and his rivalry with fellow driver Alain Prost, the Frenchman with whom discord became all out war.
But what emerges from Kapadia is an intimate portrait of a focussed and driven man who's knocked around by the system because all he wants is success and isn't willing to play the game.
Scenes of racing, some of which come from cockpit cameras are scintillating; there's footage of drivers' meetings which have been hitherto unseen and hint at some of the conflict felt by Senna as he butted heads with the powers that be; and of course, there's a wealth of footage from races thanks to videoing done at the time. By not using the traditional talking heads in a studio format, Kapadai's interlaced dialogue over footage of Senna - and it's a nice touch which immerses you more in Senna's life rather than taking you out and transporting you back to the studio every five minutes.
Throw into that some family footage, scenes of holidays and truly, Senna is a wonderfully multidimensional picture of the man who was a star on the tracks and a role model to so many Brazilians who were living through some truly horrific times back home.
The whole film is a truly emotional journey as it becomes a fascinating battle of wills, tactics and rivalry as the feud between Senna and Prost heats up.
Add in the final section of the film which deals with Senna's death in Imola in 94 and it's just heartbreaking, leaving you a wreck after the preceding joyous celebration of the legend.
Ultimately this doco is one of the best of the year; at the end, I left having been through the gamut of emotions and brimming with interest at a subject I didn't remotely care about when I initially sat down to watch this.
Senna is well worth your time and you can expect to see it next year on pole position come award season.
Hanna: Movie Review
Hanna: Movie Review
Hanna
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Jessica Barden
Director: Joe Wright
With a soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers, you would expect Hanna to be something a little bit cool.
And by golly, it is.
The Lovely Bones' Ronan is Hanna, whom we first meet in an icy wasteland as she hunts a deer with a bow and arrow. As she stands over the body, she tells it "I just missed your heart."
Within seconds of that, she's being attacked by a man - Erik (Eric Bana) - who turns out to be her father, training her for potential assassin work.
When Hanna decides she's ready to head out into the real world and not the snow covered wastelands of Finland, she's soon on the run from CIA officer Marissa Wiegler (Blanchett) who'll stop at nothing to bring her in and down.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Hanna's also got an assassin (Hollander) on her tale and winds up with a free loving family on their global road trip...
Hanna is effortlessly cool and stylish - though at times, it feels a little like that's at the expense of the script. It's almost as if someone's storyboarded some stunningly great images and ordered the director to shoe horn them in where possible. That said, while they do stand out, it's a real point of difference in this thriller which is welcome.
An absolutely pulsating and blistering soundtrack from the Chemical Brothers is brilliantly used; one sequence of a break out from a jail is akin to one of the Brothers' early music videos; it's frankly at times a welcome assault on the eyes and ears and will look like nothing else you've seen this year. It's hard to believe this is from the director who brought us Atonement and it really does show a skill at work and there's plenty on screen which you won't forget once the credits go up.
While Hollander, Bana and Blanchett are impressive in their roles (Blanchett appearing the coldest and disconnected as a ruthless CIA officer), this film is once again the showcase of star Saoirse Ronan, whose fragile looking but ass kicking teen assassin is the perfect mix of vulnerability and hard as nails attitude. With fiercely blue eyes, a gentle voice and a pitch perfect performance, it's easily her film to carry off - and she does it easily.
I'll freely admit Hanna won't be to everyone's tastes (there are some lapses in the logic of the script) - but if you fancy a hitman on the run thriller with an eclectic feel and awesome soundtrack, this is really something you'll cherish and love.
Hanna
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Jessica Barden
Director: Joe Wright
With a soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers, you would expect Hanna to be something a little bit cool.
And by golly, it is.
The Lovely Bones' Ronan is Hanna, whom we first meet in an icy wasteland as she hunts a deer with a bow and arrow. As she stands over the body, she tells it "I just missed your heart."
Within seconds of that, she's being attacked by a man - Erik (Eric Bana) - who turns out to be her father, training her for potential assassin work.
When Hanna decides she's ready to head out into the real world and not the snow covered wastelands of Finland, she's soon on the run from CIA officer Marissa Wiegler (Blanchett) who'll stop at nothing to bring her in and down.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Hanna's also got an assassin (Hollander) on her tale and winds up with a free loving family on their global road trip...
Hanna is effortlessly cool and stylish - though at times, it feels a little like that's at the expense of the script. It's almost as if someone's storyboarded some stunningly great images and ordered the director to shoe horn them in where possible. That said, while they do stand out, it's a real point of difference in this thriller which is welcome.
An absolutely pulsating and blistering soundtrack from the Chemical Brothers is brilliantly used; one sequence of a break out from a jail is akin to one of the Brothers' early music videos; it's frankly at times a welcome assault on the eyes and ears and will look like nothing else you've seen this year. It's hard to believe this is from the director who brought us Atonement and it really does show a skill at work and there's plenty on screen which you won't forget once the credits go up.
While Hollander, Bana and Blanchett are impressive in their roles (Blanchett appearing the coldest and disconnected as a ruthless CIA officer), this film is once again the showcase of star Saoirse Ronan, whose fragile looking but ass kicking teen assassin is the perfect mix of vulnerability and hard as nails attitude. With fiercely blue eyes, a gentle voice and a pitch perfect performance, it's easily her film to carry off - and she does it easily.
I'll freely admit Hanna won't be to everyone's tastes (there are some lapses in the logic of the script) - but if you fancy a hitman on the run thriller with an eclectic feel and awesome soundtrack, this is really something you'll cherish and love.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Oceans: DVD Review
Oceans: DVD Review
Oceans
Rating: G
Released by Hopscotch and Roadshow entertainment
Narrated by Pierce Brosnan, this nature doco is an outstandingly shot, relatively non-preachy primarily French piece about the majesty and bounty of the Oceans of our planet.
With laconic and sparse narrative from Pierce Brosnan, the gorgeously shot footage sweeps across and swoops in and out of the waters of the world, as our senses are bombarded with wondrous images.
Images such as sealion, marine iguanas, a sea otter smashing shells on a rock on its belly to feed- to scenes of squid fending off crab who've wandered too close to their territory.
It's an hypnotic and mesmerising snapshot of the world around us.
And a reminder of what brilliance lurks under the waters and far, far away from our eyes.
With the greatest of respect, when Pierce Brosnan's laconic voice over is ditched, then this really is when the film soars because there's nothing to beat the beautiful viciousness of nature at work.
Sometimes, all you need is what's up on the screen to take your breath away -with just the majesty of nature, Oceans is truly awe inducing as it takes in the life in oceans all over the world - including New Zealand's waterways.
Granted in a film like this, there's bound to be a message about the effect of pollution and the vanishing wildlife but unlike others of their ilk, here the directors show some restraint and don't hammer home the message. By using images from space of the effects of pollution on the waters, the message is got across simply and eloquently - once again, just a simple image paints a greater picture than a thousand words could.
Extras: None - disappointing
Rating: 7/10
Oceans
Rating: G
Released by Hopscotch and Roadshow entertainment
Narrated by Pierce Brosnan, this nature doco is an outstandingly shot, relatively non-preachy primarily French piece about the majesty and bounty of the Oceans of our planet.
With laconic and sparse narrative from Pierce Brosnan, the gorgeously shot footage sweeps across and swoops in and out of the waters of the world, as our senses are bombarded with wondrous images.
Images such as sealion, marine iguanas, a sea otter smashing shells on a rock on its belly to feed- to scenes of squid fending off crab who've wandered too close to their territory.
It's an hypnotic and mesmerising snapshot of the world around us.
And a reminder of what brilliance lurks under the waters and far, far away from our eyes.
With the greatest of respect, when Pierce Brosnan's laconic voice over is ditched, then this really is when the film soars because there's nothing to beat the beautiful viciousness of nature at work.
Sometimes, all you need is what's up on the screen to take your breath away -with just the majesty of nature, Oceans is truly awe inducing as it takes in the life in oceans all over the world - including New Zealand's waterways.
Granted in a film like this, there's bound to be a message about the effect of pollution and the vanishing wildlife but unlike others of their ilk, here the directors show some restraint and don't hammer home the message. By using images from space of the effects of pollution on the waters, the message is got across simply and eloquently - once again, just a simple image paints a greater picture than a thousand words could.
Extras: None - disappointing
Rating: 7/10
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Priest 3D: Movie Review
Priest 3D: Movie Review
Priest 3D
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Stephen Moyer
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Paul Bettany and our very own Karl Urban star in this latest cinematic outing.
For centuries man has been at war with vampires. And with the vamps hunting them to near extinction, there was only ever one line of defence - the priests.
But after the vamps' defeat, the priests were abandoned and reintegrated back into society.
However, when an apparent vamp attack kills the brother of one nameless priest (Paul Bettany), he has no choice but to hunt down their daughter and break his vow, risking all out war...
Priest 3D (forget the 3D as this is another of those pointless conversions) isn't a bad attempt at a western crossed with vampires.
There's plenty of imagery from the wild west (including a final set piece on a train) and the bleached look of this post apocalyptic world, along with some quite cool comic style pre titles, give it a bit of different feel. But some wonky CGI and some frankly laughable dialogue see it unable to rise from the dead.
Which is a shame as Bettany is good as the monosyllabic priest and Nikita's Maggie Q and Karl Urban also are solid as supporting cast (even if the latter chews a bit too much of the scenery).
Ultimately, a case of stylish fight scenes and a great look over relative lack of substance and OTT scenes ( eg Urban air conducting an orchestra as carnage unfolds around him), Priest hints at a sequel but it would need to deal with the flaws of the first before it could ascend to higher things.
Priest 3D
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Stephen Moyer
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Paul Bettany and our very own Karl Urban star in this latest cinematic outing.
For centuries man has been at war with vampires. And with the vamps hunting them to near extinction, there was only ever one line of defence - the priests.
But after the vamps' defeat, the priests were abandoned and reintegrated back into society.
However, when an apparent vamp attack kills the brother of one nameless priest (Paul Bettany), he has no choice but to hunt down their daughter and break his vow, risking all out war...
Priest 3D (forget the 3D as this is another of those pointless conversions) isn't a bad attempt at a western crossed with vampires.
There's plenty of imagery from the wild west (including a final set piece on a train) and the bleached look of this post apocalyptic world, along with some quite cool comic style pre titles, give it a bit of different feel. But some wonky CGI and some frankly laughable dialogue see it unable to rise from the dead.
Which is a shame as Bettany is good as the monosyllabic priest and Nikita's Maggie Q and Karl Urban also are solid as supporting cast (even if the latter chews a bit too much of the scenery).
Ultimately, a case of stylish fight scenes and a great look over relative lack of substance and OTT scenes ( eg Urban air conducting an orchestra as carnage unfolds around him), Priest hints at a sequel but it would need to deal with the flaws of the first before it could ascend to higher things.
The Guard: Movie Review
The Guard: Movie Review
The Guard
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong, Fionnula Flannaghan
Director: John Michael McDonagh
It's back to slightly scabrous ways for this comedy about an Irish Garda played with great gusto by Brendan Gleeson, who's on somewhat of a career relaunch following In Bruges.
Gleeson is Sergeant Gerry Boyle, an Irish cop who loves the whoring and the drinking but is at heart, an old fashioned copper, prone to a bit of casual racism and abuse - however, he still believes in the law.
So his relatively quiet life is somewhat ruined by the arrival of a corpse, an American FBI Agent (a brilliant turn by Don Cheadle) and an attempt to shut down a massive drug smuggling racket run in his neck of the woods.
Darkly ironic, sardonic and sarcastic, this film's essentially a buddy cop film with one major difference - Gleeson.
His perfect timing and F bomb peppered delivery gives the film the tone it needs to set it apart from the rest of its genre and while the start of the filum (to quote the Irish vernacular) feels fresh and different, it does sag a little towards two thirds of the way through.
That said, there's enough to give it the oomph it needs to race to the finish line with another great character turn from the ever dependable Mark Strong.
Cheadle and Gleeson are a great pair and a sharp script brings out their very best - even if it is some of the most un politically correct material you've heard in a long time. Although Boyle's comments during the initial FBI briefing are just frankly hilarious as he bandies around as many stereotypes as you can imagine.
However, he's not just all unPC and whoring; thanks to Gleeson's clever portrayal and some script smarts, he's got a tender side when dealing with his dying mother.
There's just something witty about this darkly black tale of The Guard and while the story runs out a little toward the end, the humour will have you smiling throughout thanks to the great buddy dynamic between Cheadle and Gleeson.
The Guard
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong, Fionnula Flannaghan
Director: John Michael McDonagh
It's back to slightly scabrous ways for this comedy about an Irish Garda played with great gusto by Brendan Gleeson, who's on somewhat of a career relaunch following In Bruges.
Gleeson is Sergeant Gerry Boyle, an Irish cop who loves the whoring and the drinking but is at heart, an old fashioned copper, prone to a bit of casual racism and abuse - however, he still believes in the law.
So his relatively quiet life is somewhat ruined by the arrival of a corpse, an American FBI Agent (a brilliant turn by Don Cheadle) and an attempt to shut down a massive drug smuggling racket run in his neck of the woods.
Darkly ironic, sardonic and sarcastic, this film's essentially a buddy cop film with one major difference - Gleeson.
His perfect timing and F bomb peppered delivery gives the film the tone it needs to set it apart from the rest of its genre and while the start of the filum (to quote the Irish vernacular) feels fresh and different, it does sag a little towards two thirds of the way through.
That said, there's enough to give it the oomph it needs to race to the finish line with another great character turn from the ever dependable Mark Strong.
Cheadle and Gleeson are a great pair and a sharp script brings out their very best - even if it is some of the most un politically correct material you've heard in a long time. Although Boyle's comments during the initial FBI briefing are just frankly hilarious as he bandies around as many stereotypes as you can imagine.
However, he's not just all unPC and whoring; thanks to Gleeson's clever portrayal and some script smarts, he's got a tender side when dealing with his dying mother.
There's just something witty about this darkly black tale of The Guard and while the story runs out a little toward the end, the humour will have you smiling throughout thanks to the great buddy dynamic between Cheadle and Gleeson.
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