47 Metres Down: DVD Review

47 Metres Down: DVD Review

Entirely predictable but nonetheless fluffily entertaining, the obsession with sharks is once again mined in Johannes Roberts ticking time thriller, 47 Metres Down.

Centring on sisters Lisa and Kate (This Is Us' Moore and Vampire Diaries Holt respectively) who are on a holiday in Mexico together, 47 Metres Down is a strong advertisement for maybe never taking that seems-too-good-to-be-true off-the-beaten-track holiday experience.

Rankled by a recent break-up Lisa is wary when a couple of locals offer her and her thrill-seeking sister the chance to go into a shark tank and go underwater. But talked round by Kate, the duo embark on the trip overseen by a grizzled, bandana-wearing Matthew Modine.

However, when the cable snaps, sending the duo down to a seabed depth of 47 metres, and with air supplies running out, the pressure's on to get them out of the deadly waters.

Providing generic jump scares and a plethora of sisterly bonding and issues working out, 47 Metres Down is as disposable a piece of mid-year entertainment as Hollywood's likely to offer up. It starts out nicely with a subversion of the shark attack idea in a pool, and a dropped glass of red wine releasing a blood-like trail.

As was demonstrated by Blake Lively's lithe-body-in-a-bikini shark box office hit, The Shallows, there's still plenty to be mined in the old primal terror storyline of man (or woman) versus the elements. And while 47 Metres Down suffers from a lack of clear vision as it rests on the sea-bed thanks to dark murky shots, there's still the requisite amount of claustrophobia on show with close-ups of the girls demonstrating their plight.

While the end's signalled by a wordy explanation of a warning of the side-effects of diving, 47 Metres Down settles for a calm, very familiar horror set-up (hook ups with unknown locals, who may be too good to be true) before unleashing a frenzy of moments towards the end guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat.

If you're willing to settle for generic moments and a degree of predictability, 47 Metres Down, with its relatively affable and familiar leads may prove the cinematic fish food you could chew on during the continuing winter months. 

Prepare for STAR WARS™ The Last Jedi™ Season

Prepare for STAR WARS™ The Last Jedi™ Season

STAR WARS™ BATTLEFRONT™ II Prepare for STAR WARS™ The Last Jedi™ Season Pick your side as the First Order and the Resistance once again ignite the flames of war across the galaxy. Your journey continues with new heroes, vehicles, and items, along with daily quests and weekly challenges.

NEW TRAILER: Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War

NEW TRAILER: Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War

Here it is - the new Avengers: Infinity War trailer, releasing in cinemas on April 25, 2018.

 

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse trailer

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse trailer

Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the creative minds behind “The Lego Movie” and “21 Jump Street,” bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a ground-breaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. 

“Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.

Win a copy of Kedi

Win a copy of Kedi

Thanks to Madman Home Entertainment, you could take home a copy of KEDI on DVD, out now!

About Kedi

Hundreds of thousands of cats roam the streets of Istanbul, neither wild nor tame. 

This is the story of seven of them. 

For millennia, cats have roamed the city of Istanbul. Granted freedom and respect, they wander in and out of peoples lives, an essential part of this rich and proud city. 

Claiming no owners, they live between two worlds, neither wild nor tame. 

They bring joy and purpose to those they choose to adopt, acting as mirrors to the people of Istanbul and allowing them to reflect on their lives in unique and touching ways.

To win a copy, all you have to do is email your details to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com! 

 Include your name and address and title your email KEDI!

 Competition closes December 16th

Win a Coco prize pack

Win a Coco prize pack

To celebrate the release of Disney Pixar’s latest film, Coco, we have a Coco themed prize pack to giveaway. 

Prize pack includes Sticker Set, Bookmark Set, Notebook, Stationary Set, Mini Speaker and a Sling Bag. 

The family feel good of the holiday season, Coco opens in cinemas Boxing Day 

#PixarCoco

To win this prize, all you have to do is email your details to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com!

Include your name and address and title your email COCO!

Competition closes December 16th

American Made: Blu Ray Review

American Made: Blu Ray Review

Tom Cruise packs on the charm in this hybrid of the recent War Dogs and Narcos which is based on a true story.

American Made: Film Review

Cruise stars as Barry Seal, a TWA pilot in the late 70s who's so bored with work, he deliberately causes turbulence to amuse and irritate in equal measure. Spotted running contraband by CIA spook Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson), he's offered to come work for the good guys.

Recruited as a reconnaisance pilot snapping pictures of Central America, Seal is soon inducted into both sides of the conflict after being spotted by Pablo Escobar's rising cartel. Shot down and offered the chance to run drugs from Colombia into the US, Seal soon finds himself entangled and playing both sides for plentiful fiscal reward.

But Seal's life is further complicated when he's forced to run guns into Nicaragua at Schafer's behest after being busted with the drugs...

Dialling down the mega-watt grin and over-enthusiasm plays greatly to American Made's charm and ensures that the unfolding story of a man trapped in his own bastardisation of the American dream.

Sure, Seal knows what he's doing and there's no Sopranos-esque anti-hero at play here - and Cruise and his returning Edge of Tomorrow director Liman are smart enough to know that holding back and concentrating on the apparently true story is the way to go with this piece.

Packing in adegree of incredulity and playing matters straight as well as threading in news reports from the time give the film a shaggy dog edge that's ripped straight from the pages of the "It's so crazy it couldn't be true."

However, it also helps that Cruise never once feels like he's acting, imbuing Seal with a degree of humanity and vulnerability as he finds himself ingratiated in the world within.

While it's fair to say some of the surrounding edges never quite rise as perhaps they are hinted at earlier on (the local sheriff, the hillbilly wastrel brother-in-law) when the action of American Made concentrates on cruise's Seal and the tightening vice of his amoral attitude the film's more than a pleasant surprise.

It's very much a romp, brought to life with the breath of its lead actor and the seamless energy of its direction - and it may actually surprise you as it weaves its tale of criminally-led derring do.

Above all, it will remind you of the sheer charisma and power of Tom Cruise when he's not over-performing.

If anything, dialling it down and playing the role to hand instead of anything more packs American Made with a tremendous coke-fuelled joie de vivre and reason to view it.