The Wolverine: Movie Review

The Wolverine: Movie Review

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Fanke Janssen, Will Yun Lee, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Rila Fukushima, Tao Okamato
Director: James Mangold

He's back, bub.

With a sequel to X: Men: First Class waiting in the wings, it seemed a little odd to have another crack at telling a Wolverine story - but there's no doubting the cigar-chomping, wise-cracking, buffed up beefcake is an incredibly popular character and given that Hugh Jackman's been the Wolverine for years now, it's no surprise he's returned to this role.

In the latest, Logan's living rough in the Canadian wilds, bedraggled and uninterested in life as a mutant or as Wolverine after the death of Famke Janssen's Jean Grey in X Men: Last Stand. But, years ago at Nagasaki, he saved the life of a man known as Yashida when the bomb's dropped and now as the ultra-rich Yashida nears the end of his life, he wants to repay the debt to Logan.

So, escorted to Japan by the red-haired Yukio (Fukushima), Logan meets with Yashida as requested. However, after he's asked to look after Yashida's grand-daughter Mariko (Okamato), things start to go awry - a scientist named Viper appears to attack him in his sleep and suddenly, the once invulnerable Logan is now facing mortality, questions about his own life and a very uncertain future.

Bound by his word, Logan's thrown into a war against the Yakuza, aimed at bringing down the Yashida empire and Mariko as he tries to work out what exactly is happening to him...

The Wolverine is a different X Men movie to any that have gone before it.

It's a more considered, more introspective piece which favours smarts and story over all action set pieces. It's by no means yet another origin story for Wolverine, but is in fact, an adventure of Logan's from 1982 and one of the first he had as a solo character which has been a much-heralded comic arc for Wolvy. Jackman is at his vulnerable best when Logan's trying to work out what's going on - both in modern day Japan and also in his own life. He brings an understated downplaying of the role this time around (no cigar-chomping here, bub) and it makes Wolverine a lot more realistic as he goes on his journey, faces his lack of immortality and takes on his demons.

Fuelling a feeling of a drifter film, a Ronin (samurai without a master), this Logan's a more melancholy and maudlin character in this latest outing - and while there are some incredible bursts of action (a sequence aboard a bullet train stands out), the overall feeling is muted and not what you'd expect from the sixth outing of the X Men favourite. Swathes of the film pass without any real action or spills and thrills, and it teeters precariously on the dull in places - but the story telling's key here and Mangold's certainly given that the time to breathe and depth to a character that you thought you already knew.

It's this side of the film which is infinitely more interesting than the rest of what transpires towards the end - because it forgoes its original path for a finale which is generic, boring and simply a "battle the boss" end. It's almost as if Hollywood's come in and commanded an action beat down ending to provide a blockbuster pay off.

Throw in Svetlana Khodchenkova's Viper, who appears to have come from the Joel Schumacher era of movie villainesses with her Poison Ivy-esque costume and MO and the conclusion is a muddled mix of the totally expected and utterly predictable in among the different setting and relatively mutant-free world.

All in all, The Wolverine's to be commended for not sticking ot the formula, offering something completely unexpected and providing a more downbeat blockbuster experience. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's stylish, different and just about a success. It's a story of honour, family pride, greed, personal belief and exorcising demons - it's perfect fodder for the tortured hero and offers up many insights into a world of superheroes without dabbling too deeply within.

A fantastic final tease sequence sets up X Men: Days of Future Past thrillingly so make sure you stay on for the credits - it's a magnetic piece which concentrates on the three main players of the X Men movies and has got this geek salivating for the sequel.

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Ping Pong: Movie Review

Ping Pong: Movie Review

Director: Hugh Hartford

A documentary about the sport of table tennis with a central cast whose combined age hits nearly 703? I'd almost written it off as Young@Heart but with sport instead of singing to be honest.

In this British documentary, Hugh Hartford follows the trials and tribulations as well as charting the build up to the World Championship finals in China by tracking some of the global OAP competitors.

There's 81 year old Terry, a Brit who's been struck by a return of his prostate cancer issues; 89 year old Les is a fellow UK dweller and philosopher, who takes his training seriously and can be found at the gym doing weights to get in shape; 89 year old German Inge whose training's helped get her out of dementia ward - and the oldest competitor Dorothy from Australia, whose 100 years gives her celeb status at home and also at the championships.

Hartford tracks the lives of 9 of these but spends more time off the championship floor and manages to capture a spirit of fierce competitiveness as well as their tenacity for life as the end approaches. He builds their back stories so that you're invested in them as the competition nears; with moments and a style that's non-intrusive, Hartford manages to imbue the piece with heart, humour and pathos.

In a couple of sequences, he skirts around the sentimental path before deciding to concentrate on the characters rather than tugging on the heart-strings. It's a wise move which pays off once the final tournament takes place and then the sly humour kicks in as one competitor hopes she gets the opponent who can't move around the table so that she can win. As the crowds give their approval at the results among the pomp and pageantry of the ping pong world in China, it's something akin to a gladiator seeking the emperor's favour in an auditorium and it's intoxicating for both the competitors and the viewers.

With gallows humour, gentle tension and a typical deadpan Brit eye for detail and moments, Ping Pong is as much a celebration of life as it is an inspirational piece; a simply put together film which shows once the twilight comes you don't have to just give up, but celebrate the spirit that dwells within.

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Talking movies with Jack Tame - The World's End

Talking movies with Jack Tame - The World's End

This week, sickness and The World's End as well as Zero Dark Thirty.

Benedict Cumberbatch at the World's End Premiere in Wellington

Benedict Cumberbatch at the World's End Premiere in Wellington

The internet has spoken and asked for more Benedict Cumberbatch.

So here are some more shots of Benedict Cumberbatch at the World's End Premiere in Wellington.

Antarctica A Year on Ice director talks his film

Antarctica: A Year on Ice director talks his film

I caught up with Anthony Powell, director of Antarctica A Year on Ice to ask a few questions about the doco screening this weekend at Auckland's mighty Civic.

Tell us about your film. Where did the idea come from?
Living a unique experience in Antarctica, that had never been put on film before, and wanting to share it.

When did you begin shooting and did it all go according to plan?
Progressively shooting for a couple of years before deciding that yes, I definitely had something unique that was worth pursuing. It took several years of additional shooting and lots of broken cameras to get the main footage done.

Did you know when you had everything you needed for your film or did you eventually just reach a point where you said to yourself ‘I have to stop shooting now’? I can imagine that must be one of the challenges of making a documentary, knowing when you have an ending.
I knew I had enough when I stopped shooting. There are definitely a couple of extra pickup shots that could have helped a bit after the first edit pass, but that would have required another year in Antarctica to achieve.

What’s it like to be here with the film at the New Zealand International Film Festival?
The end of a very long journey, but the start of a new one.

What’s the best reaction you’ve had to one of your films from an audience member?
“Jaw dropping”    “Wow, incredible”   “Just amazing, I had no idea” -It usually causes a couple of teary-eyed moments for the women viewers...

Conversely, what’s been the worst?
“I quite liked it”

What’s next for you?
A collaborative film that covers all seven continents

Questions for Ant Timpson, head honcho of Incredibly Strange

Questions for Ant Timpson, head honcho of Incredibly Strange

The New Zealand International Film Festival is upon us - and it's time to put curator of the Incredibly Strange, Ant Timpson under the spotlight.

Another year, another incredibly strange festival – what were the pickings like out there this time?
The pickings are always plentiful but that doesn't necessarily translate into snagging all the films I want to screen. Even with my godlike powers I am still humbled by foreign distribution plans and the like. Pretty happy with the line-up that I ended up with though.

What’s the one film that’s an absolute must from your programme?
You know I hate playing this game, Darren, and every year you ask me this same question. Well listen here, I won't be bullied by this line of questioning into make some snap decision that I'l regret for years later. Don't you know the power of the internet? Whatever I say now will end up like some epitaph on my tombstone. Don't you realize the pressure such a question puts on a film fanatic like myself?  Have you no shame? In saying that, I'd highly recommend both Cheap Thrills and You’re Next because they're crowd-pleasers in the best sense that come alive with a packed amped audience.

Another Ben Wheatley film – what can you tell us about the delicious sounding A Field in England?
You make it sound like a chore. "Another Ben Wheatley".. Let me rephrase that for you boyo… HOLY
GUACAMOLE! YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER BEN WHEATLEY FILM!!" - Why yes Darren, we're extremely lucky to have his psychedelicalicious period piece. The less you know about the film the better. I can tell you it's in B&W and if that scares you off, then what the hell are you doing at the Film Festival in the first place?

Cheap Thrills appears to have the potential to shock – what’s been the audience reaction to this one?
Potential? Ahem - it will shock some. And it will definitely arouse the most jaded film fans to sit up and take notice. It's got a very wicked streak of black humoor running throughout it's outrageous set-up. I saw it at SXSW earlier this year and the audience went gaga over it. It reminds me of the early work of Paul Bartel (Eating Raoul, Private Parts) in that he liked playing with traditional dramatic set-ups - and then twisting them until they become hilariously deranged. This will be the one people will talk about to friends the next day for sure.

And a chance to see Arrested Development’s Michael Cera play quite dark – tell us more about Magic, Magic?
Well it's a Chilean psychological thriller film that premiered at Sundance this year. It's part of a two film collaboration between the Chilean director and Michael Cera and it recently wowed the folks at Cannes. Simply put it's the story of young woman, (Juno Temple) who is travelling in Chile with her cousin (Emily Browning), her cousin's boyfriend, his sister, and their friend (Michael Cera). As she starts suffering from insomnia, she begins to lose her grip on what is real and what isn’t. It's hard to classify as it's a real hybrid, part psychological thriller part horror movie, heavy on atmosphere and performance.

Elijah Wood as a killer in Maniac, a reboot of what’s believed to be one of the most suspenseful films ever - sounds enticing?
Well I've never heard the 1980 Maniac, referred as suspenseful - I've heard disgusting, misogynistic and repellent. It's a classic 80s nasty that wallows in its deviancy and you have to admire the chutzpah of the film to never waver from its commitment. The remake matches the commitment but surrounds the film in this intoxicating veneer of grindhouse chic - where there's incredibly thoughtful execution in the film-making but the subject matter is still as grotesque and unhinged as the original. Elijah is only seen in reflections because the entire film is stunning shot via POV - and I think it’s that distancing that really allowed Elijah to embrace the role of the titular Maniac and really go to town. This is not a date movie unless your date has multiple piercings and numerous demon tattoos on their chest.

V/H/S was popular last year and now the sequel’s here – you’ve been a producer of an anthology series (The ABCs of Death), how do you rate the creativity of this latest?
Well V/H/S 2 lifted the game a lot and I was very impressed with the calibre of the shorts. I wasn't knocked out by all the shorts in Part 1 but this time around they're all good and one of them is a 20m descent into hell that is just elfin unbelievable. This is a lot of fun, the mean-spiritedness of the original has gone and this is all about making the audience scream and laugh. This and You’re Next are the two bright spots on the horror calendar for 2013. You'd be foolish to miss them on the big screen.

Outside of the IS, what other films are you looking forward to seeing and why?
That's a good question. I haven't even had time to go through the programme properly to see what I want to see. These days, I kinda like just jumping in blind to films at the festival. It's such a rare feeling to have today - there's so much pre-discussion and picking apart films before they get a chance to breathe. It's rather sad. The fest is one opportunity for me to literally just see a title and take a chance. That's where the real surprises come and the films that knock you for six. You have to be willing to just be swallowed up by cinema sometimes, otherwise it's like fighting a rip. You're gonna drown unless you just go with the flow.

Describe your perfect film festival day...
Good films. Good projection. Good audience. Good night.

The World's End: Movie Review

The World's End: Movie Review

Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike
Director: Edgar Wright

They say all good things come to an end.

So it is with the Cornetto trilogy, aka The Blood and Ice Cream trilogy, which began back in 2004 with Shaun of the Dead and grew to a phenomenon with 2007's Hot Fuzz.

Simon Pegg re-teams with on screen buddy Nick Frost and behind the camera whiz Edgar Wright for this latest, which sees Pegg playing initially a little darker than he has done before.

Simon Pegg is Gary King, a black coated, black haired and distinctly Gothic lizard of a man who believes the best year of his life was when he attempted a pub crawl (aka The Golden Mile) in his home town of Newton Haven.

Determined to finish what he started for reasons initially unclear (though hinted at with some kind of family tragedy), King attempts to pull back together the other four players in this epic challenge of alcoholic proportions and put the band back together for one last boozy night out.

However, in his unswerving dedication to the amber nectar, he's ignorant to the fact most of the gang have moved on - and one is still harbouring a grudge over treatment from all those years ago.

Paddy Considine's Steven now works in housing, Martin Freeman's O-Man is an estate agent with a blue- tooth permanently wired to his ear and Eddie Marsan's Pete is a respectable man with a family of two kids in suburbia. The final link is Nick Frost's Andy, a partner in a firm and the one who feels most betrayed by King's behaviour and lies.

But, against all the odds, King manages to pull them together and they all pile into his car from the 80s (which he still owns) and head back home to try and complete the legendary pub crawl, no matter what.

However, when the quintet hit the Haven, it appears not all is what it seems and soon, Gary and the gang are facing a fight for their lives, and potentially the planet's future.

The World's End is an epic, exciting and giddy end to the Three Colours Cornetto series.

It's still Pegg and Frost as you know them, but this time, the world's been created on a larger scale - both in budget and characters.

So, it means all the main players have had to severely up their (already high) game and the end results are truly beneficial for the audience. Pegg's brought a complexity to his Gary King which marks some of his best work. Initially distinctly unlikable, Gary is a bit of a hard ask when it comes to eliciting sympathy. But it's as if Pegg knows that and has imbued his Gothic quest leader with an infectious energy, even if he does seem to harbour several personality disorders.

And Frost is utterly incredible in this - confined to the (relatively) oafish roles in the first two films, here his Andy is the straight man for a change and is completely watchable for it. Many of the crowd pleasing moments are elicited by Andy's behaviour and to say more on that front, would spoil the pleasure I felt when those moments came to the fore. The core dynamic is still there at work and still the bonds of friendship ring true, regardless of how initially fractious they may be.

By widening the ensemble cast, Pegg, Frost and Wright have ensured there's more of a dynamic at play without ever losing the tight plotting, jeopardising the story and providing smart and silly pay-offs. And that's the thing about The World's End, it is remarkably silly in places, but it's the kind of goofy fun which leaves a wide grin on your face. The sci-fi elements are brought to the fore in this story as the likes of The Stepford Wives, The Village of the Damned, The Invasion of the Bodysnatchers and The Thing are all referenced.

But, by choosing to lace the script with these moments rather than hang it on them, the story is all inclusive and universal - it's about growing up, losing and rediscovering friendships and staying true to your youthful dreams, despite life trying to force you into maturing.

Considine brings stoic solid support as Steve, Martin Freeman adds a deadpan edge as O-Man but it's Eddie Marsan who is the best of the ensemble. There's a tragic pathos to his turn as the put upon Pete and his underplaying is much to the advantage as the story unfolds.

Wright also needs to be commended as well for adding in a new layer of action to his directing cannon. Early scenes may be slower, concentrating on the relationships and interplay, but once the action begins, the wonderfully choreographed moments unspool with such frenetic yet careful ease.

However, Wright doesn't lose the personality of his characters as the action plays out. One bravura sequence sees Pegg channelling some of the best silent comics as he tries to administer a beat-down while not spilling a drop of his pint. It's impressive stuff and certainly adds a level that could make Wright someone to watch when Ant-Man comes out in a few years.

With an impressive OST recalling some of the best of Britpop and a sense of emotional darkness, The World's End is a gritty yet silly end to the trilogy; it's one which suggests all the players are ready to move on, but are celebrating one last blast before calling time, gentlemen.

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