I, Frankenstein: Movie Review

I, Frankenstein: Movie Review

Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Jai Courtney
Director: Stuart Beattie

Based on a graphic novel by one of the creators of the Underworld series Kevin Grevioux, I, Frankenstein stars Aaron Eckhart as the titular creature.

200 years after he was created and after he got revenge on those who brought him into this world, Dr Frankenstein's creature (Adam as he's named) finds himself suddenly in the middle of an age old war, which could determine the fate of humanity.

On the one side is the Gargoyle Race - and on the others, the demons.

But when the demons get word that Adam could hold the key to their tipping the balance, the fight for Adam and the notes from his creator which brought him to life intensifies...

I Frankenstein is quite simply, a fairly bad B movie masquerading as something wanting to be more.

Infused with sullen and emotionless characters, it's hard to care about any of the fight going on or any of the combatants.

Aaron Eckhart skulks about as the creature, decked out in hobo gear, scars and guyliner and looking like someone's stolen his chocolate milk. While trying to effect a Batman style growl, he's effectively given the creature no unique selling point and a way to stand out from among the grim, dark FX that are placed all over the film. Granted, Frankenstein's monster is trying to find his place in the world, but Eckhart never quite nails that tortured alienation or the distance from any of the human or creatures within the world created.

Bill Nighy throws in another version of the character he played in Underworld and chews a bit of the scenery while doing so as the demon bad guy; and Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski gives the English accent a bit of a mangling as the scientist trying to make sense of it all. Miranda Otto is probably the worst offender though - through an aloof performance as the Queen of the Gargoyles, you don't feel any sympathy with their plight or a sense this battle's been going on for centuries.

Nobody's expecting miracles in a film like this - merely seeking a distraction and some FX heavy action sequences. Beattie manages some impressive FX for despatching the demons (with swirls of fire filling up the screen) but a ponderous over-reliance on using too much slow mo and bullet time style makes each sequence feel like a turgid rehash of the previous one.

Along with lumpen, leaden wooden dialogue, delivered soullessly by all the players, I Frankenstein feels like Comic Book 101 - the dialogue may work in the panels but in the 3D world and despite some visual directorial flourishes, it barely registers anything other than a groan of unoriginality. In fact it would be better titled Y, Frankenstein...

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Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor: Blu Ray Review

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Ent

Here it is then - Matt Smith's final outing as the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who.

In the last Christmas special outing, The Doctor is drawn to a mysterious message which echoes throughout the stars - dragging Clara (Jenna Coleman) along for the ride, the Doctor soon realises he's been summoned to his final battle and that the clock is soon to strike twelve...

The Time of The Doctor is a mournful and glum outing and one which is in many ways, tangled up in all its own continuity to almost be impenetrable to those unsure of the history of the 11th Doctor. While it posits together a story that's practically unheard of for the Doc - stranded in one place, refusing to leave and defending a small village to the last, its only real strong point is the tour de force performance of Matt Smith, who excels despite the layers of old man latex thrown on him.

It's a curious regeneration story in many ways - most of the Doctor's exits force him to face a series of unstoppable odds that he only defeats by making the ultimate sacrifice, thus enforcing his stance as a true hero for all. This one sees the Doctor taking a series of small victories and the writers taking a few liberties in the dismissal of mysteries which have haunted the last 3 years - and it sometimes feels like a slap across the fans' faces.

However, when it comes to the moment we've all been expecting, Matt Smith delivers something utterly heartbreaking and makes up for the 55 odd minutes of head scratching. It's a truly sad end and one which makes you realise just how much he's given to the role - 30 seconds of Peter Capaldi may not add too much, but Matt Smith's brutally quick exit is a shock - and all in all, so is The Time Of The Doctor - it's Doctor Who at its most divisive.

Extras: All of the Matt Smith Christmas specials have been thrown on, as have a couple of BTS pieces.

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ZB Movie Review - Are We Officially Dating?

ZB Movie Review - Are We Officially Dating?


http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/Auckland/player/ondemand/1398321779-Darren-Bevan--Are-We-Officially-Dating-

An Idiot Abroad 2: Blu Ray Review

An Idiot Abroad 2: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by BBC And Roadshow Home Ent

Moaning Pom Karl Pilkington returns in another series of the travelogue which pushes him out of his comfort zone and miserably into the rest of the world - all with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant pulling the strings.

In the first series, Karl saw the Seven wonders of the world - and this time, he's off to fulfill a bucket list of things to do. And he's not happy. Stopping off with ladyboys in Thailand, bungee jumping in New Zealand (not completed) and land diving - these are just some of the highlights - but as ever, the humour comes from Karl being pushed out of his comfort zone and into situations he could never imagine.

Throughout the moaning and the whingeing there's a really good travel series here, with many of us getting to experience a world from our armchair - and there's an affability to Karl which is contagious.

Extras: Deleted scenes,  and a featurette on one of Karl's ideas.

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Lovelace: Blu Ray Review

Lovelace: Blu Ray Review

Rating: R16
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment

This biopic about notorious porn star Linda Lovelace, star of Deep Throat, is about as dark a tale as it comes.

Amanda Seyfried stars as Lovelace, with Peter Sarsgaard as Chuck Traynor - it's the tale of their romance, relationship and marriage. But it's a far darker story with the reality of how Lovelace was forced into her famous career by a desperate and violent husband whose abuse caused her no end of unhappiness.

Lovelace as a movie is slightly dour and disappointing. While the story's a tricky one to tell given the true horror of her life (which will be unknown by many) the problems come with the lumpen leaden direction and TV Movie style script. Seyfried is perfectly cast - and delivers a truly memorable and nuanced performance but not even she can lift the overall feel of the film. An unrecognisable Sharon Stone as the mother and Robert Patrick as the father add to the surprise casting of the piece, but it can't shake the feeling that this needed a little bit more pizazz to give it some life - even with its troubled subject matter.

Extras: Behind the scenes piece

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Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters: Blu Ray Review

Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by 20th Century Fox Home Ent

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 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.

Extras: Motion comic, deconstructing a demi-god, back to camp half blood

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Her Master's Voice: Movie Review

Her Master's Voice: Movie Review

Director: Nina Conti

Ventriloquists - chances are that you're either in favour of them or think they're an outdated form of entertainment that's just a little bit cringeworthy. And what happens to the puppets of those who have died?

But, in Her Master's Voice, the likely probability is that you'll end up re-assessing your opinion of the talents involved. This documentary, which played at last year's Doc Edge fest, is getting a much needed wider release.

Starring and directed by Tom Conti's daughter Nina Conti, herself a very popular ventriloquist, takes the bereaved puppets of a former colleague and lover, the British theatre giant Ken Campbell to Venthaven in Kentucky (a resting home for puppets). But along the way, she takes an inward look at herself, her life and her motivations for doing what she does - as well as re-examining and grieving the relationship she had with Campbell.

There's a dark, maudlin edge which permeates part of this self-examining doco and it's one which is a fascinating watch and a reflective piece which offers a fascinating peek into the art form. Through interacting with other ventriloquists at a convention, she begins to realise why she is involved with this art and also celebrates the success she has in it.

Nina has a very modest approach to film-making and it helps her, ironically, find her own voice. Granted, you can be a little cynical at the use of the puppets making comments and interviewing her, but it's a nice device to propel the story along. While many claim the puppets simply voice what their master is too afraid to say, some of what Nina's puppets come out with - especially the deadpan Monkey puppet for which she is known - does occasionally shock as it opens pockets of her psyche that may have stayed hidden.

She's framed some great shots too - a shot of the puppets at Venthaven, all silent, lacking masters and voices is haunting and sad in equal measures as they are the bereaved and left behind. It's an impressive image and one which oozes poignancy before helping Nina to assess her relationship with her former mentor and lover as well as the puppets she works with.

All in all, Her Master's Voice is a fascinating insight into an at times troubled psyche - but one which entertains as much as it probes.

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