Identity Thief: Blu Ray Review

Identity Thief: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Ent

Following on from this year's first mis-matched road trip movie, The Guilt Trip comes the latest contender - Identity Thief.

Mild-mannered businessman Sandy Patterson (a likeable Jason Bateman) is an everyday American blue collar worker, who, one day finds his chance of getting a new job is being scuppered by someone who's stolen his identity and maxed out his credit cards. So, deciding, for once, to take matters into his own hands, Sandy heads from Denver to Miami to track down alterna-Sandy Patterson (Melissa McCarthy, complete with garish orange glow and horrendous clothes), who's been living the high life at his expense.

His plan? To get "Sandy" back to Denver so she can clear his name - sounds easy, but as Sandy soon discovers this plan is about to hit all manner of speed bumps.

Overlong and under funny, this latest from the director of Horrible Bosses manages to get the absolute best out of a pair of likeable leads despite giving them very little to work with. Once again, Bateman mines his very successful middle American schtick to great comic effect despite having very few lines to work with.

But once again, he proves identifiable for a lot of middle America as they get the chance to "stick it to the man". Melissa McCarthy, while initially garish and over the top, begins to grate but wisely and perhaps, unevenly, suffers from the affliction of a conscience in the final furlong of the movie. Farcical without ever being overly funny, this road trip without the subtlety may amuse some more than others, but in amongst the inevitable squabbling and moments of occasional grossness, there is some heart and emotion as McCarthy's "Sandy" gets a back story and suffers the unavoidable final act about-face.

All in all, Identity Thief is a good idea and a great premise which doesn't quite generate the funnies it needs and offers a straighter piece rather than a dramedy. It fails to deliver the laughs and despite a pair of likeable leads, it flounders with, ironically, no identity of its own to build on.


Extras: A Gag reel, alternate takes, making of, humour of Identity Thief, Easter Egg

Rating:

Quantum Leap - Seasons 1 to 5: DVD Review

Quantum Leap - Seasons 1 to 5: DVD Review

Rating: PG- M
Released by Madman Home Entertainment

Seminal TV series Quantum Leap in from the early 90s pen of Donald P Bellisario and garnered a cult following.

It's the story of scientist Dr Sam Beckett (a wonderful Scott Bakula), who theorises that one man should be able to time travel within his own lifetime. Putting that theory to the test, the good doctor sets up a machine and ends up lost in time, bouncing from life to life and as the credits say, "Striving to put right what once went wrong".


He's aided in his time travels by cigar smoking womaniser Al Calavicci (an equally wonderful Dean Stockwell) - and the problem Sam finds himself in is that he jumps from body to body, and looking at a different mirror image each time, and having a new set of problems to solve.

The show still holds up well - it's a great mix of brilliant chemistry between the two actors, an iconic Mike Post soundtrack, some good stories and a case of real heart in every moment of the way. Of course along the way, Sam bumps into some historical figures - including Buddy Holly, Michael Jackson - and he even jumps into the body of Lee Harvey Oswald (a contentious storyline) in the 4th season opener.

The show was pegged as a cult sci fi show of its time, and while occasionally it shows signs of dating here and there, it's still a tremendous collection which mixes social commentary with bloody good cult TV.

While the lack of extras on the discs of the series other than the first series is a real shame (there's still no sign of a good documentary wrapping up the show and looking at its appeal / sci-fi legacy), its effect is eternal. It's family entertainment at its best - and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Rating:

Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song: Movie Review

Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song: Movie Review

Cast: Christopher Landon and Derya Parlak 
Director: Tim van Dammen


Rock operetta meets the trailer park in this latest ambitious, light and fun re-telling of the tale of Juliet and her Romeo.

Set in Verona caravan park, it's the story of Romeo and erm, Juliet and their star crossed love, a story told a million times before and which has been given a spit and polish for this Kiwi version. The music came first this time around as composers/producers Michael O’Neill and Peter van der Fluit set Shakespeare’s text to music, mixing in styles such as rap, ballad and rock.

Constantly surprising, director Tim van Dammen's clearly drawn heavily from his music video directing background and the whole piece comes together with such toe-tapping gusto that it's impossible to deny. With the talent miming to other voices, the occasional misfire with the voice matching/ miming drips through, but all in all, it's an extremely enjoyable affair. Christopher Landon and Derya Parlak play the titular lovers with such aplomb that you can't help but be swept along with the story. Plus, given the fact they don't look out of place by the beach (Summer Bay Shakespeare anyone?) doesn't hinder the proceedings at all. 

The music's fabulous and ramps up the style pretty high in this take on Shakespeare's 400 year old story as the glorious re-versioning plays out. Ambitious and exciting, this Romeo and Juliet is something uniquely different; constantly surprising and always inventive, the operetta has an energy which is hard to ignore. A caravan roof doubles for a balcony and a wood just outside of the camping ground provides some truly memorable scenery as the declarations of love are unveiled.

Shakespeare's text may have been remade repeatedly - but this Kiwi view of it shows off a clever twist on the stuffy text - it's a music video rock operetta with a high dose of energy and directing gusto.

Rating:

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters: Movie Review

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters: Movie Review

Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddaro, Douglas Smith, Brandon T Jackson
Director: Thor Freudenthal

2010 saw the first Percy Jackson film unleashed onto the public. It was a great mix of Greek mythology, modern day humour and a major first to have a dyslexic hero on screen.

And now, the sequel's finally arrived in the cinematic form of Rick Riordan's second book, The Sea of Monsters.

This time around, Logan Lerman's Percy Jackson is feeling a little like he's a one quest wonder as the Half-blood offspring of Poseidon. When the camp that they inhabit comes under attack and the barrier separating them from the rest of the world is threatened, Percy's rival Clarisse (Leven Ramblin) is sent to recover the Golden Fleece and save the day.

But Percy, determined to live up to his name and face his prophesied destiny, grabs his friends Grover (Jackson) and Annabeth (Daddario), along with his newly discovered Cyclopean brother Tyson (Douglas Smith) and sets out to retrieve the fleece himself.

However, that quest means he has to cross the Sea of Monsters (aka The Bermuda Triangle) and face all manner of perils....

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is a fairly reasonable family piece of cinematic entertainment.

It starts off quite well, setting up a nice mix of creatures and mythology before ever so slightly losing its way after Percy leaves the camp the gang all call home. Whereas the first film relied a little more on the Greek mythology theme, this latest appears to have all but dispensed of that side of things and gone for a more formulaic family blockbuster film which is light on scares, and more on action.

That's not a bad thing - but it's a mixed bag at times. While Lerman and Daddario have charm eminating from their characters, they're clearly getting a little too old to play them as they look less fresh faced than in the previous outing. But they give it their all - and Lerman certainly manages to gallantly convince of his own crisis of self-belief.

Some of the creature work is fantastically well realised (even though there aren't perhaps enough monsters in a movie with the subtitle Sea of Monsters) but some of the work done when the trio are riding on creatures or being tossed around is a little wonky to say the least. That said, a final bad guy / boss battle at the end is stunningly original as it dissolves around our heroes while fighting them. Along with an animated sequence which is essentially coloured stained glass and tells the myth of the Titans versus the Olympians, there is some truly wondrous VFX at play in this film - despite the odd misfire.

As for the human talent, the best of the bunch is a cameo from Nathan Fillion as Hermes (who works for the postal service - geddit?) who steals his scenes. Thanks largely in part to a wonderful gag about much missed TV series Firefly, the film could have benefited more from his presence throughout. Alas, not this time around. Stanley Tucci is mischievous and bitter as Dionysus and Anthony Head brings some venerable acting to a centaur, meaning the adults are matching the kids throughout.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is pacy enough blockbuster entertainment which has a charm but lacks a certain emotional pull throughout. There's never really any feeling of a threat to Percy and his crew - and according to the Percy Jackson readers who went with me, fans of the books will be disappointed that large chunks have been missed out left, right and centre.

As family entertainment goes, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is perfectly serviceable and utterly forgettable the minute it's over. If a third film goes ahead (as is hinted at the open ending), there really does need to be a little more magic in this franchise to make it stand on its own two legs.

Rating:

Watch 14 minutes of Watch_Dogs game play

Watch 14 minutes of Watch_Dogs game play 

Good news for you if you're hanging out for Watch_Dogs, the thrilling looking game coming later this year.

14 minutes of Watch_Dogs game play has been released for you to enjoy.

Watch the Watch_Dogs gameplay here

What Maisie Knew: Movie Review

What Maisie Knew: Movie Review

Cast: Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgaard, Steve Coogan, Onata Aprile, Joanne Vanderham
Director: Scott MCGehee, David Siegel

Based on the book by Henry James, but re-versioned for the cinema and modern day, What Maisie Knew is a powerfully perfect piece of film. 

Told from the point of view of Onata Aprile's young Maisie, it's the story of a child, pulled from pillar to post by divorcing parents. She's a rock star Susanne (Julianne Moore) and he's Beale, an art dealer (Steve Coogan) and their continual batting back and forth of Maisie, under proclamations of love is heartbreaking to bear.

When the pair inevitably split up, both get new partners - Beale takes the nanny Margo with him and ends up marrying her and Susanne winds up marrying on a whim to Alexander Skarsgard's Lincoln. But poor Maisie ends up going back and forth, taken in by various promises and let down by all prospective parents but never losing her prospective enthusiasm and hoping for the possibility of love.

When she starts to bond with the laid back Lincoln, a calming influence in her life, Susanne's insecurities come to the fore and things threaten to boil over which could have emotional consequences for Maisie.

What Maisie Knew is one of the finest dramas I've seen all year.

Haunting and emotionally gripping, the slow burning heart of this film is anchored by a wonderful performance from Onata Aprile's Maisie; a perfect encapsulation of a young soul lost in life already and who never loses optimism. Neglected by her parents, and loved really only by Margo initially, she saves the joy for the nanny and bonds subtly and in a heartfelt manner with Skarsgard's Lincoln. The duo have a wonderful chemistry and the relationship of protector and charge is beautifully played with adorable soul and simple sensitivity by both Skarsgard and Aprile. Underplayed and never exploited, it's a natural relationship which shines in among Coogan and Moore's utter loathsome selfish behaviour.

If anything, What Maisie Knew belongs to Skarsgard and Aprile - and while the story plays out exactly how you may expect, it's only because you're hoping for a perfect resolution for Maisie, a kind of wishful fulfilment which we perhaps seek for the young in our own lives. There's a tremendous poignancy here which proves difficult to ignore.

Utterly affecting and ultimately rewarding, What Maisie Knew is essential viewing.

Rating:

Gardening with Soul: Movie Review

Gardening with Soul: Movie Review

Director: Jess Feast

Kiwi doco Gardening with Soul has a simple mantra - "You can't be bored in a garden". It's a doco featuring gardening expert and nun extraordinaire, Sister Loloya Galvin.

She's the main gardener of the Home of Compassion in Island Bay in the capital. 

By all stretches of the imagination, she's a local legend - espousing gardening tips as well as beavering around the bushes and pottering in among the plants while inspiring others within the community to take up the gardening. 

But director Jess Feast has taken in more than just the magnificent gardens which Loloya tends to and landscapes she dwells in- and has woven together a story of social history in New Zealand as well as philosophical elements. 

Loloya worked as a nurse with sick children and also raised children with disabilities. What follows is an insight into a life gone by and a woman whose very soul has always been in the heart of her community. 90 year old Loloya has some great moments as she reminisces among the root veg, (She believes if everyone had a shed to go to, there would be no domestic violence within New Zealand).

Thanks to gentle Q&As from Jess, this quietly moving spiritual reflection on a life is beautifully shot, socially fascinating and completely charming. 

It's a social snapshot of a New Zealand which may be in the past, but whose roots, thanks to Sister Loloya, have continued to grow and flourish long after the winds of change have blown through.

Rating: