Great Expectations: Blu Ray Review

Great Expectations: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

An adaptation of Charles Dickens' 13th novel, and the umpteenth film version of it, Great Expectations is, of course, the story of Pip and Estella. War Horse's Jeremy Irvine plays Pip, the apprentice of a blacksmith (played with considerable charm by Jason Flemyng) whose life is changed by his introduction to Miss Havisham (Helena Bonham Carter) and her daughter Estella (a porcelain doll like Holliday Grainger).

Pip comes from a more humble background and after falling for the distant and aloof Estella, decides he wants to be a gentleman to woo her. Fortunately for him, without warning, he's told by Jaggers (Robbie Coltrane) that he's come into a considerable fortune and will be trained as a gentleman.

But Pip's journey to thaw the cold heart of Estella is a long and arduous one, fraught with troubles and conflict.

Great Expectations is a solid, if unspectacular telling of the Dickens' story. It's perfectly serviceable, relatively watchable and yet utterly unoriginal as it spools out over 2 hours.

The leads are okay; perfunctory in many cases and Estella's coldness and brutal approach seems at odds to someone who's supposed to be a romantic lead. Irvine is equally fine as Pip, but there's never a real sense of engagement or connection with them or their respective plights. The supporting cast are solid and committed to their roles, from the formulaic film from within the BBC films mould - and out of all of them , it's perhaps Flemyng who impresses the most as Joe, Pip's friend and adopter. He brings a warmth and heart to the role that borders on heartbreaking when Pip turns his back on him. Likewise Bonham Carter is good as the initially eccentric and ultimately sad Miss Havisham and Fiennes adds an edgy energy to his Abel Magwitch.

Despite being sumptuously costumed, and making the most of the English countryside for sweeping establishing shots, I'm afraid to say Newell adds little to this film, rendering more a kind of film likely to be loved by fans of the book but feeling to others like yet another adaptation to sit through as part of an English class.

Great Expectations promises high expectations given the talent involved - and while it's relatively straight forward as a period drama and adaptation, it's unfortunately nothing new and original. Though, I suspect those longing for a good solid period drama will be enthralled by it.

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Jurassic Park 3D: Blu Ray Review

Jurassic Park 3D: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

The dinosaurs are back - and this time, they're in 3D. It's the 20th anniversary of Jurassic Park and to celebrate, it's been shined up, given the 3D makeover and thrust out, once again, into the world.

In case you don't know the story of Jurassic Park (and believe me, apparently there are some), it's the tale of John Hammond, a billionaire and dreamer, who uses his science connections to build a theme park which has been populated with dinosaurs.

But when Hammond brings in dinosaur experts, Dr Ellie Sattler and Dr Alan Grant (Dern and Neill) along with Dr Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) it appears that everything that can go wrong on the island, does so.

Soon, the group's fighting for their lives as the dinos break out...There's no denying thatJurassic Park is a classic movie which proffers up a wonderful experience of awe inducing excitement. It's one of the superlative releases ever made, with Spielberg crafting together a piece which satirizes corporate greed and lawyers, wallows in the hubris of science and shows the strength of a family bond and children.

But Jurassic Park is really about a little bit more than that - and it's the dinosaurs.

20 years ago, the work done by Stan Winston on the creature department was outstanding - they were so life-like that it was almost as if the dinos had been caught by a documentary crew in action. And to be perfectly frank, some 20 years later, they still look incredible.

Likewise, the soundtrack still soars as much as it did back then - I can't deny the initial burst of the theme gave me goosebumps all over again.

But the main reason for this release is the 3D - does it work and enhance the film?

Well, the answer is yes - for the majority of parts. There are moments when it works really well - and those are predominantly the set pieces - such as the field shot with Alan Grant as the dinos flock and run round them; it's here the 3D gives perspective to the fields and hills and breathes some life into the animation. Likewise the scene where the glass of water vibrates as the T Rex first stomps about is more eye catching now than ever. And the sequences with the T-Rex chase and the Velociraptors attack are guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat as it plays out. Just as it did some 20 years ago.

For the rest of the film though, the 3D adds little if nothing to what was already a spectacular watch. Despite some cheesy dialogue, some awful acting and a gratuitous shot of Jeff Goldblum semi shirtless, there's little depth that the 3D can bring - and in parts, the dark of the glasses actually detracts from what's on the screen.

Ultimately though, Jurassic Park remains worth a rewatch - a nostalgic family action blockbuster that really changed the landscape for these kinds of films (plus it's a chance to marvel at chunky computer screens and marvel at how exciting touch screen technology was back then. How far we've come....) With Jurassic Park 4 hitting screens very soon, it's time to go back to Jurassic Park and marvel at it all over again.

Extras: Bonus feature and a featurette on Jurassic Park 3

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I Give It A Year: DVD Review

I Give It A Year: DVD Review

Rating: R16
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

From the producers of Love Actually, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones' Diary, comes a new Brit rom com aimed at stepping up where Hugh Grant has gone AWOL. Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall are Nat and Josh, a mismatched couple who, after a whirlwind courtship, get married - and are just trying to get through the first year. That's despite their best friends thinking it won't last that long.

Things get tough for Nat, when a sexy client Guy (The Mentalist's Simon Baker) comes in to her life. Worried about the potential of losing the account, she slips off the wedding ring and starts a flirtation...

And it's not much easier for Josh, whose ex (Anna Faris) is still in the picture - and who is clearly meant for Josh...

I Give It A Year deserves some praise for playing with some of the traditional rom-com tropes. But it also deserves a degree of indifference for giving us two leads who we're never exactly rooting for. Byrne and Spall can barely stand each other on screen, so it makes it difficult to really care whether their marriage should work or not. In fairness, though, this is not their fault - merely the writing which doesn't endear the pair to an audience right away. Baker oozes charm as the temptation (and is actually a well written, well rounded nice guy as opposed to a sleaze) and Faris seems a bit too drippy as a hippy ex from Josh's past to really give the romantic sizzle it needs.

Throw in the usual British collection of oddballs and misfits, who only seem to surface in crowd-pleasing rom coms and you've got the lot. Want an inappropriate best friend/ best man? Step forward, Stephen Merchant to roll out yet another slight take on his character he's been perfecting for years. Want an angry counsellor, who's clearly in need of psychiatric help? Roll out Peep Show's Olivia Coleman to fulfill those requirements.

Wisely though, Ali G's Mazer has some idea of what works and keeps the whole thing moving briskly along and with a degree of directorial panache.

In fact, while I Give It A Year has some good solid moments of laugh out loud mirth as degrees of farce are churned into the mix, it's nowhere near as clever as it wants and aspires to be; funny one liners here and there, and situations which are recognisable rather than cliched and repugnant, the UK rom-com crowd pleasing fans will lap it up. Others may find parts of it a little tiresome and unoriginal.

Extras: Bloopers, outtakes, deleted scenes

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Rise of The Guardians: Blu Ray Review

Rise of The Guardians: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

Starring Star Trek's Chris Pine as Jack Frost, Rise of The Guardians is the tale of a threat to the world from the evil Pitch (played by Jude Law).

When the collective group known as the Guardians - Santa (Baldwin), the Easter Bunny, (Jackman) The Sandman (doesn't speak throughout) and the Tooth Fairy (Fisher) - find children are stopping believing in them, they realise they're facing a danger bigger than they could have imagined. It turns out that threat is Pitch, a nightmarish character / Boogeyman (played by Jude Law) who is sick of lurking in the shadows and being ignored. So, The Guardians decide to recruit Jack Frost, the lone boy whom no-one sees to help them save the day.

Rise of the Guardians is a curious beast.

On one hand, the story is a relatively novel one, a kind of Avengers of the imaginary world unite.

But on the other, there's not quite enough to keep it going or enough knowing story subtext to engage the adult audience.

Visually, it looks - in places - stunning, painting in FX that are lush, subtle and gorgeous to behold. But then, it's almost as if the animators get carried away by how clever they feel they are and end up swamping the screen with so much unnecessary animation or, worse than that, throw in FX shots for no real reason other than because they can.

Also, it's a strange mix of story as well - these aren't the traditional characters as you'd come to expect. This Santa is a Russian accented, tattooed heavy who employs Yetis rather than the traditional elves; the Bunny is a gruff on-the-edge Aussie, and the lack of real recognition may mean some are put off in this slightly skewed tale.

But there are themes of belonging and belief melting through the Avengers recruitment feel of the film - and while it's not a bad mix overall, it's just neither fish nor fowl unfortunately. It's a film that's a little lacking in story, a little too ready to show off its animation and a little too dark to appeal to a mass audience of kids.

Extras: Behind the scenes pieces and commentary

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Side Effects: Blu Ray Review

Side Effects: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment

Steven Soderbergh brings you an unnerving thriller in this latest release.

It's the story of Emily Taylor (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo's Rooney Mara) who apparently had it all - including a loving husband (Channing Tatum) who was sent to jail for insider trading. After 4 years alone, Emily's become depressed and is seeking the help of a psychiatrist, played by Jude Law. When he prescribes her some drugs, she suffers from some horrific side effects including murder...

Side Effects is a taut thriller, which while a little slow initially to unwind, has a way of ensnaring you in its web. Thanks to a powerful performance from Mara and a story which is a little twisty and needs some attention paying to it, its all too plausible premise plays out with horrific consequences and recalls some of Hitchcock's noirish intentions as it unspools.

Interesting ideas mix with some very realistic situations and soon you're no closer to knowing what's what and who's who until the final reveals are made.

Overall, Side Effects is a terrifically effective thriller and a film which will leave you agog in parts - mainly due to the fact that it appears it really could transpire.

Extras: None

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The World's End: Wellington Premiere

The World's End: Wellington Premiere

Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Nick Frost were in the capital for the premiere of The World's End tonight in Wellington.

Also on the red carpet were Benedict Cumberbatch, James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage and Sir Peter Jackson.

Here are some images from the World's End Premiere in Wellington.

Wolverine extended bullet train sequence and funeral scnes leaked

Wolverine extended bullet train sequence leaked

Good news for fans of Hugh Jackman as the Wolverine.

A brand new bullet train fight scene sequence has been unleashed for the new film which is due in a couple of weeks.

Take a look at the Wolverine - Extended train fight scene here.

Take a look at the Wolverine - Funeral scene here.

Another brand new The Wolverine trailer's dropped with a nice intro from Hugh Jackman.

Here's your first look at the brand new Wolverine Trailer.

It comes after director James Mangold released a 7 second tease of the full Wolverine trailer

And there's also a brand new The Wolverine poster out as well.

So get excited for the brand new full length The Wolverine trailer.