Godzilla: Movie Review

Godzilla: Movie Review

Cast: Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanbe, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Sally Hawkins
Director: Gareth Edwards

It's time to do the Monster Smash again.

Set across three time periods, the 2014 Godzilla film starts with Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston's apparently crazy Joe Brody warning that a disaster is about to hit the nuclear plant he works in with his wife. Sustained seismic activity has lead to this potential problem - and soon, Brody loses his wife in the subsequent meltdown.

15 years later and Brody's son, Ford (Kick Ass's Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has now grown up and works as a bomb disposal expert. When his father's arrested in Japan for going back into the quarantine zone, Ford leaves his wife (a woefully underused The Avengers' Age of Ultron star Elizabeth Olsen) and son to go to pick him up - but soon finds himself caught up in an event which could signal the end of the world - and the return of Godzilla...

Unashamedly B-movie in its feel and story, but bang upto date in its execution, the creature feature Godzilla is a curious beast in many ways.

The director of low budget indie Monsters, Gareth Edwards, has brought the creature back to life in a film which embraces the history of Godzilla films and simultaneously updates the monster. In fact, the creatures in the 2014 Godzilla movie are perhaps rendered perfectly, with Godzilla himself almost bear-like in his reptilian appearance and true to his earlier celluloid incarnations.

Sadly, though the actual monster star of the movie appears to be sidelined in many ways - rejected in favour of a series of cliched and stereotyped characters, ripped directly from a pulpy trashy movie, with some cheese served up that's almost as large as Godzilla himself.

There's a crazed conspiracy crackpot scientist, whose warnings no-one pays heed to (a great Cranston), another scientist who spends a lot of the time aghast but who seems to mysteriously know how Godzilla works (Ken Watanbe), a stoic yet impassive soldier who finds himself in every appearance of the monster (Taylor-Johnson, relatively emotionless and unable to really centre the movie as it progresses after Cranston's searing turn) and a procession of kids and animals who are in danger.

It's these beats which pepper the relatively serious movie and which make it feel tonally a bit uneven, and crucially, add little to the overall narrative. A lack of emotional connection in among the impressive set pieces does little to connect you to the unfolding disaster. (Though the subtext is there - Ford deals with bombs in his life and yet is negligent of the human one ticking under his nose.)

That said, while the dialogue borders on the cliched and preposterous ("Nature has an order, a power to restore balance"), the restrained action more than delivers throughout as cities get smashed once again. It's the smaller moments which shine in this, the touches which embrace the creature's past heritage and the genuine chills that Edwards throws down your spine. Flourishes that recall Jurassic Park and small Godzilla easter eggs add to the feeling of a film that's occasionally derivative but respectfully willing to tread its own path.

Edwards has found a way to bring some new and intimately haunting visuals to the screen - from troops jumping out of a drop-ship skydiving into hell to jets plummeting out of the skies, the darkness haunts Godzilla the movie, with 24 hour news showing footage of creatures fighting (both an homage to old movies and a commentary on today's global eyes and ears) to great effect. The opening titles are impressive too, a mix of conspiracy theories, Hiroshima atomic bombs and censorship which set the murky tone right away.

But it's that dour feeling which ripples through Godzilla  - Edwards has negotiated a cautious way through silly and sensible, but, in among the scale of it all and with the odd intimate (and occasionally over-used moments), he somehow manages to leave you with a feeling of wanting more carnage - after all, isn't that what Godzilla does?

All in all, Godzilla deserves to be commended for embracing the creature feature of olden days, and the legend of yore - certainly, monster fans will be impressed by what Edwards has committed to the screen - it's almost a love letter to the Godzilla movies you'd have watched growing up. It's just a shame that the human elements of the movie let the side down and leave this monster lurching a little when it really should be roaring.

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The Moo Man: DVD Review

The Moo Man: DVD Review

Rating: PG
Released by Vendetta Films

A doco following a farmer in England, who's obsessed with his cows, is a gentle treat.

It follows Steve Hook, who runs an organic dairy farm in the south of the UK, and who is attached to his cows in many ways. Over a four year period the doco follows the highs and lows of Hook's life - as he takes on the supermarkets by delivering direct from cowshed to front door to dealing with sick members of his herd.

A quiet little film, The Moo Man looks more at the effect of being a dairy farmer these days, and avoids the obvious message it could ram home against the supermarkets. By being restrained and factual, it may seem quite dry to some, but to those willing to invest 100 minutes, it's an interesting insight that's pertinent to these parts.

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Win a double to Armageddon in Wellington or Hamilton

Win a double to Armageddon in Wellington or Hamilton

Good news - I've got passes to either the Wellington or Hamilton Armageddon Expo.

The Armageddon Expo returns this month and thanks to our pals over there, I've got double passes to giveaway (sadly no transport to and from so you'll have to find your own way there).

We're giving you a chance to win a double to either one of those shows - simply email to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com  and tell me where you want to go!

You'll have to hurry as the competition closes 19th May!

Superheroes, zombies, sci-fi monsters and real-life anime characters are gearing up to make their annual appearances, alongside real fantasy, fiction and comic stars at the Hamilton Armageddon Expo at Claudelands Events Centre on May 24th and 25th. And in Wellington on May 31st / June 1st.

"This is our third year at Claudelands Events Centre and it's really one of the best venues for this event in the country," says Armageddon Expo Event Director Bill Geradts.
"Our guests really enjoy coming to New Zealand, they find the Waikato audience to be very enthusiastic and always make them feel welcome" says Geradts.

"From a hosting point of view, I can't fault Claudelands - the venue dynamics absolutely work for what we need and it remains one of our favourite cities for the Armageddon Expo" he says.

The line-up of top international guests from the small and big screens heading to Hamilton includes Leven Rambin from The Hunger Games and DJ Qualls of Supernatural and Breaking Bad fame as well as Michael Rowe from the popular show Arrow.
Jake Abel of the Percy Jackson films and Supernatural TV series heads to the event alongside Christopher Judge of Stargate SG1, Samantha Ferris from Supernatural, James Patrick Stuart of Battlestar Galactica 1980 and Steven Williams of the original 21 Jump Street TV series and the cult-hit film, The Blues Brothers. Hobbit stars Mark Hadlow and John Callen also join the extensive guest list.

Recognisable by their distinct voiceover work, Charles Martinet (voice of Super Mario brothers Mario and Luigi), Paul Eiding (voice actor from Ben 10) and William Salyers (The Regular Show) will also appear at the Hamilton event alongside international J Pop performer Chii Sakurabi, comic artists Bill Sienkiewicz and Richard Fairgray and comic writer Tom Taylor.

All celebrities attending will take part in panels, signings and photos, so fans can meet them in person.

As well as big names, huge exhibitors and the biggest display of costumed cult-fans to gather in one place, events will keep the adrenalin flowing throughout the weekend from Cosplay contests to the classic Fear Factor Challenge.

Whatever the niche, Armageddon Expo has it covered.
From its inception in 1995, the Armageddon Expo has grown to become the largest fantasy event in Australasia. With shows in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Melbourne and Hamilton, the Armageddon Expo embodies the ever-growing pulp culture phenomenon.

To see a full list of stars and events happening at the expos go towww.armageddonexpo.com
Please note - this competition does not cover your travel expenses to or from the events.

Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD: Blu Ray Review

Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by Vendetta Films

Peter Cushing, the forgotten Doctor Who, stars in this 1960s colour film, transferring to Blu Ray for the first time.

In a remake of a very famous William Hartnell serial, the Daleks (in their full technicolour awfulness) are trying to mine the Earth's core to take over the planet - and also the solar system by driving the planet around (stick with it, it was the 1960s)

But on hand to stop them is the Doctor...

Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD is a bright technicolour film that zips along with pace and impressiveness. If you're a Whovian, you'll know what to expect from the film, but Cushing brings a level of eccentricity and dottiness that's similarly in keeping with Hartnell's turn as the Doctor but yet somehow manages to eek his own mark on the long running Time Lord role.

Also included is the great Dalekmania doco, a nice 58 min piece, that's a solid extra and a nice addition to this package.

Extras: Dalekmania Doco, Interview, trailer

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ZB Reviews - Bad Neighbours, Belle and Chef

ZB Reviews - Bad Neighbours, Belle and Chef

It's back to the movies with Jack Tame this week with reviews of Bad Neighbours, starring Seth Rogen and Zac Efron; Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Belle and Jon Favreau in Chef.

Take a listen below

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/listen-on-demand/audio/634234501-darren-bevan--at-the-movies

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/listen-on-demand/audio/634234501-darren-bevan--at-the-movies

A Hijacking: DVD Review

A Hijacking: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Madman Home Ent

The film that Captain Phillips should have been, A Hijacking is a Danish film that's not based on a true story.

Pilou Asbaek (from Borgen) is the chef on a final voyage of a Danish tanker, that's hijacked by Somali pirates. Forced into being the go between, the chef starts to realise how serious things are - and how abandoned the crew feels.

Tense and impressive, A Hijacking flips back and forth between the waters and the corporate shenanigans as the negotiations continue. It's an interesting way of doing things and almost feels like a doco thanks to the rather dour somewhat serious filming.

But A Hijacking remains a thrilling piece of cinema - a modern day high stakes film that has all the tension and all the frissons of something about to boil over. Gripping and impressive, it's worth your time.

Extras: Brief doco

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Sunshine on Leith: Movie Review

Sunshine on Leith: Movie Review

Cast: Kevin Guthrie, Antonia Thomas, Jane Horrocks, Jason Flemyng, George McKay, Peter Mullan, Freya Mavor
Director: Dexter Fletcher

It really shouldn't work - a musical based on the songs of the speccy eyed twins, The Proclaimers....and yet, here it is.

Sunshine on Leith is based on the stage hit of the same name and is the story of two soldiers, Davy and Ally (Guthrie and McKay) who return to Edinburgh after their platoon is attacked in Afghanistan.

However, the duo are faced with family and love problems as they head back to their home town - and their parents (Mullan and Horrocks) are beset by their own issues - when a long lost daughter from an affair shows up.

Essentially, Sunshine on Leith is one of those bubblegum musicals that's as effervescent as it is disposable. With people bursting into song all over the place, you'd expect it to rankle as the tunes are belted out from within panoramics of an eternally sunny Scotland (surely some CGI trickery).

But yet, Sunshine on Leith delivers a feel good movie of fun and charm - and even tosses a Proclaimers cameo in very early on. It helps that the songs are part of the narrative rather than casually thrown in when the story appears to hit a lull - it's this natural feeling that ensures this musical fits in with the singalong nature of some of the Proclaimers biggest hits.

And yep, they're there - a flash mob of 500 Miles, Letter From America, and Let's Get Married are all guaranteed to see you smiling along (500 Smiles anyone?). With the genial cast all doing their own singing, and Dexter Fletcher framing the whole piece so nicely, it's a perfectly pleasant piece that's got more charm than you'd ever expect.

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