What’s Out in November?

It’s the start of the month (give or take few days!), so what films should we look out for this month in the UK?

The Light Between Oceans

Directed by Derek Cianfrance

Based on the book of the same name which was released back in 2012, this period drama stars Micheal Fassbender & Alicia Vikander as a couple who live at lighthouse, who one day discover a baby floating in the seas off the coast of Australia. After raising the child, they eventually discover the true parentage of the child, and face a moral predicament on what to do. Also starring Rachel Weisz

The Accountant

Directed by Gavin O’Connor

Following his debut as Bruce Wayne, this film also sees Affleck play a character who is not as he seems. Christian Wolff (Affleck) is maths genius who happens to also work as an accountant for some of the worlds most nefarious criminals. Hot on his trial are the US Treasury Department, who want to see him taken down. If you’re looking for a thrilling action film this month, this is for you! Also starring Anna Kendrick & J.K Simmons

Nocturnal Animals

Directed by Tom Ford

If you’re looking for something a bit more dark and psychological, Jake Gyllenhaal & Amy Adams lead a star studded cast in this melancholic thriller. We follows the trials of Susan Morrow (Adams) who is sent a disturbing novel, by her ex-husband. A book containing violent and threatening material. Also starring Isla Fisher, Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Michael Shannon.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Directed by David Yates

The massive box office release of the month, and one for the fans of Harry Potter. Based on the spin off novel written by J K Rowling, the HP will continue to grow past the core novels! We cross over the Atlantic, with the film being set in America. Newt Salamander (Redmayne) gets caught up in a conflict in 1920s New York and it’s down to him to save the day! Also starring Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston & Ezra Miller

Your Name

Directed by Makoto Shinkai

As a fan of Anime, it’s always interesting when I see one get a box office release over here in the West. Unless it’s bound to be a success, they don’t usually get seen over her. Your Name sees two teens, who lead two different lives, having switched bodies overnight. The film follows their journey on finding each other, and how they effect the lives of others. The film has garnered excellent reviews so far in Asia, so it will be intriguing to see how it preforms here.

Allied

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Brad Pitt isn’t a stranger to war films, previously appearing in Fury & Inglourious Basterds. This time, Pitt plays Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan, who was stationed in Africa. Based on the true story of two people, working for different sides, who fell in love during their time working together in World War 2. Marion Cotillard plays the French fighter who our protagonist falls for. But back home, the French operative faces execution after facing accusations of being a German spy, and it’s down to Vatan to clear him name. Also starring Jared Harris & Lizzy Caplan

November 5, 2016 0

Halloween Review-Ouija:Origin of Evil

Director: Mike Flanagan

Starring : Elizabeth Reaser, Annalise Basso, Lulu Wilson, Henry Thomas

The marks of a good horror film are that you leave the cinema reeling from what you just witnessed, heart racing, dreading the long, dark walk home. If you are looking for a thrill this Halloween, then I would highly recommend this Prequel Ouija (Origin of Evil), as this film does not disappoint for these reasons. I am told it’s a huge improvement from the first film, which in itself is an unusual anomaly.

Set in 1965, a recently bereaved wife Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser) enlists the help of her two children Lina (Annalise Basso) and Doris (Lulu Wilson) to scam the locals with their Séance act. After catching Lina using an Ouija board at a house party, Alice brings this classic prop into the scheme. Unknowingly this time, the evil spirits through the Ouija board, speak through Doris and eventually gain full control of her. With the help of the School Head teacher who is also a priest (of course he is a priest!) a series of gruelling, nail biting scenes unfold as Doris starts to take over the little suburban house.

From great recent Netflix shows like Stranger Things, we know that an all-star child cast can lead the way ahead, however I couldn’t quite get to grips with Lulu Wilson’s transformation from a sweet innocent girl to her work as a mediatory. I would assume any child would be pretty petrified if they started hearing the deceased! What lets the film down even more is how quickly Alice believed in the paranormal, for a scammer she shows little cynicism. I am a great believer in taking time to build an incredible storyline before anything jumps out at you! I felt the most convincing performance was played well by Annalise Basso, her journey was reflective of the viewers own, from distrust of the other worldly phenomena, to her sweet romance with the dreamy Parker Mack (who plays teenage heartthrob Mikey).

The shivers do set in when Lulu Wilson’s acting is enhanced by the CGI effects. Seeing the innocent Doris becomes engulfed by evil spirits, watching her bright doe blue eyes turn deep white and the cracking of her vertebrae itself, would be enough to make a cat’s hair stand on end. The film strongest point was building tension between scenes. Whilst the audience lets their guard down with some off beat comedic scenes, the ghouls come out to play. I know I was scared!

When I hear the words Ouija board, it conjures fear into me. I am a big fan of this amazing horror prop. Think Exorcist and Paranormal activity. As far I am aware, not other film has inventively used the board in this many ways. I loved how the writers used the board not only to summon spirits, but used the pointer as a looking glass to see into the spirit world, creating another visual dimension to the film. In the final scenes we see that the board itself isn’t necessary, as Lina discovers a way to transform to board through blood and her spectacles as a pointer. This continues the fear, as the medium of the board can be transformed.

Having watched the trailer, admittedly I was most excited to see this horror film because its set in 1960’s! Visually I enjoyed watching the late 1960’s design styles with the sleek flicked our hair, bright pastel tones and long ruffled dresses. As an avid horror fan, I very much horror set time periods without modern technology. It’s not scary when you can phone or email a friend with your smartphone. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule like The Ring.

The ending of the film encompassed many clichés of horror films, spooky basements, historically haunted houses but hey you could argue that this is what audiences are paying for, to see a story arc that had predictable scares in it. Overall, picture this, a group of your best mates sitting down this Halloween, clutching their popcorn tightly and enjoying this good horror film. It’s a thumbs up from me.

October 31, 2016 0

20 Years of Mission Impossible!

So last weekend, I decided to watch Mission Impossible : Rogue Nation again, because I was having a lazy Sunday! A wonderful film, but it got me thinking, which is the best one out of the entire franchise? Checking out the IMDB pages, I saw that it’s been 20 years since the first film came out, and that they have grossed over $2.7b in that time! (thank you http://www.boxofficemojo.com/ for that figure!). I doubt the makers behind the first film would have foreseen it still going strong two decades later! So in reverse order………..(this is just my opinion! so feel free to disagree 🙂 )

5. Mission Impossible 2 (2000)

This sequel was actually the highest grossing movie out of the original trilogy, but personally, I believe that was more down to the hype of the second film, rather than the substance. After the intense, espionage thriller that was the first film, director John Woo was bought in, and totally changed up the film. Woo is known for his over the top actions scenes, and this film had it all. Slow motion, sliding with two guns in hand, doves! The plot was very generic, and the villain forgettable. What made the original great was its spy element, they tried to make this film more ‘Bond’ like, and it just didn’t work. For me, its the worst of the bunch!

4. Mission Impossible 3 (2006)

There wasn’t anything seriously wrong with the 3rd installment, it was a perfectly good film, with a stellar cast, including the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laurence Fishburne, and the introduction of Benji, played by Simon Pegg, who has since become a fan favorite and series regular. The movie does do well in providing a more human side to the superspy persona of Ethan Hunt, showing a much more vulnerable side to him. J.J Abrams does a solid job after the disappointment of the 2nd film, but the feeling of franchise fatigue and a straightforward betrayal story line didn’t really entice anyone, with people asking if a third installment was even required!

3. Mission Impossible (1996)
The original, and probably the finest of the original 3 movies. To be honest, the CIA break-in scene alone makes the film stand tall. But it is so much more then that! Brain De Palma creates a cerebral thriller which not only had several action scenes, but also moments that required you to pay attention to a plot which could get complex, but it pays off in the end. Watching it for the first time when i was younger, the film was rather messy, but its on future viewings when you can really appreciate how all the plot points come together, and the end game is revealed. It’s startling how different this film is, compared to it’s direct sequel. There’s no slow motion, no corny action, just pure suspense!

2. Mission Impossible : Rogue Nation (2015)

It’s probably fair to split the franchise into 2 parts. The first 3, then the following films. Both Rogue Nation, and Ghost Protocol have been by the biggest success of the series, and it’s not hard to see why! It’s a difficult decision in deciding which one I prefer, but personally, one scene in GP probably tips it in its favour. But make no mistake, RN is still not only one of the best MI films, but probably one of the most polished action films in recent times. The opening scene involving the plane taking off is ridiculously well done, and edge of your seat stuff. Though the scenes during the Opera at the Vienna Opera House is personally one of my favourite scenes in film. The entire scene goes perfectly with ‘Nessun Dorma’ being preformed in the background, the choreography is simply amazing.

1. Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol (2011)

Left to right: Jeremy Renner plays Brandt and Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL, from Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions.

There really isn’t much to separate the top 2, but GP has the edge, solely down to the Burj Khalifa scenes. The climbing segments are by far some of the most intense stunt-work you will see in any film from Hollywood. The fact Tom Cruise did this himself, adds to the wonder of these segments. The film also does great in rebooting the franchise after the luke-warm reception of MI3. They even went as far as removing ‘4’ from the title, to make it appear as a stand alone movie. Benji returns, and has a greater role, out in the field, and the character of Brandt, played by Jeremy Renner is introduced. If there are any low points, its the fact the movie seems to peak in it’s middle arc, and the villain is total non presence. The movie does a spectacular job in producing several memorable set pieces, from the prison escape, Kremlin break-in and of course the Dubai set piece! So for that alone, its my favourite of the entire lot!

And just because this scene is SO well done…….here it is again!

October 5, 2016 0

‘The Magnificent 7’ Review

Last time Denzel Washington teamed up with director Antoine Fuqua, we were treated to the wonderfully thrilling ‘The Equalizer’ in 2014. Can they work that magic again in the remake of this 60s classic?

The story follows a group of gunslingers who take it upon themselves to protect a town from a corrupt businessmen. As with any ensemble film, its all down to the strength of the cast. The leader of the 7, is played by Washington. He is supported by a strong team, including Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio & Byung-Hun Lee. The diversity of the 7 also makes a nice change, from American, Mexican to Korean!

The films strength is most definitely any of the numerous scene involving stand offs. As with any Western, you’re bound to get a few stand off between the good & bad guys, and this film does this extremely well. Bringing back shades of ‘The Equalizer’! The shoot out scenes are choreographed well, and the final stand off in the town is thoroughly enjoyable to watch! Peter Sarsgaard does a credible performance in making us look forward to his inevitable downfall! The villain is usually where most films can drop the ball, but it does a sound job is creating a hateful antagonist.

At more than 2 hours in run time, the film does tend to drag at times. The initial hour or so is pretty leisurely in setting things up, and some of the 7 are introduced in a swift manner. It would have been nicer to see more background to some of the 7, rather than scenes of travelling or small talk! The final showdown does seem to go on for a bit too long, you feel like some of it could have been cut from the final take.

I’ve not seen the original, so I can’t really make a direct comparison to it! The film delivers an action packed, raucous adventure. The cast worked together smoothly, and the gun fights rack up the excitement! The film doesn’t offer anything new, so don’t expect any dramatic story lines or shocking plot twists. With all that in mind, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the show!

September 27, 2016 0

Episode 007 is up!

It’s another packed half hour show this month! For the reviews”Don’t Breathe” and “Kubo and the Two Strings” are cross-examined. Can ‘Don’t Breathe’ match ‘Lights Out’ & ‘Conjuring 2’ in the recent string of fine horror films? Can ‘Kubo’ match heavyweights Disney & Dreamworks in the field of animated feature films?

We also have a quick look at ‘Bridget Jones Baby’ & ‘Sausage Party’, to wrap up the reviews.

Marvels latest release, ‘Doctor Strange’ headlines the October release schedule. Tom Cruise returns as Jack Reacher, in the sequel ‘Jack Reacher:Never Go Back’. Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher, Gal Gadot & Jon Hamm all star in the comedy ‘Keeping Up With the Joneses’. Finally, as its Halloween next month, we take a look at ‘Ouija:Origins of Evil’.

We’re adding a new section to the show, where we all give our opinions on a question. This show we all discuss “What was the worst film you’ve paid to watch at the Cinema?”. Seeing a bad film is annoying enough, to pay to go watch it is even more frustrating!!

Enjoy the show!

September 23, 2016 0

“Don’t Breathe” Review

Directed by Fede Alvarez

Starring Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minette & Danielle Zovatto

2016 has been a excellent year for stellar horror films, Conjuring 2, Lights Out & Green Room have all helped revive a genre filled with cheap cash ins and cliches. ‘Don’t Breathe’ looks to add another fine feather to the cap with its home invasion flick.

Director Fede Alvarez is already known among horror fans for his savage ‘Evil Dead’ film from 2013. ‘Don’t Breathe’ is no where near as brutal, but it is one of the most suspenseful films of the year so far!

The film follows the misadventures of a young trio of friends (Levy, Minette, Zovatto) who rob the homes of the rich, but make the grave mistake of attempting to rob the home of a blind army veteran (Lang).

Jane Levy stars in Screen Gems' horror-thriller DON'T BREATHE. — Jane Levy stars in Screen Gems’ horror-thriller DON’T BREATHE.

You could split the film into 2 halves. The first half is truly amazing. After the break-in is botched, and one of the robbers is killed, the film takes on a predator like feel. As the survivors attempt to hide and escape from ‘The Blind Man’. He may be blind, but similar to ‘Daredevil’, he has honed his other senses, in such a way he is still a formidable foe! Stephen Lang does a wonderful job playing The Blind Man, his muscular physique simply adding to the danger of the rabid pursuer. The filming during the home invasion at some points is a cut above the rest. The long tracking shots, as the camera follows the protagonists around the house really cranks up the tension! The scene in the basement in the dark has to be one of the most intense scenes in any horror film!

After a twist in the middle of the film, the movie takes on a slightly more over-dramatic tone, the Blind Man is still formidable, but the twist seemed like a cheap ploy to make the audience root against him, and the typical horror cliches start to pile up in the second half. The burglars are not exactly characters you feel sympathetic for. Sure one of them is doing this to help her sister have a better life, but at the same time, robbery doesn’t exactly get you points for sympathy! While one of the characters you simply can’t wait to die, as they are so irritating! After a riveting, on the edge opening half, the film does not maintain it’s drama over the entire course of the run-time, and it does get rather predictable. This should not take away from the sheer excellence of the initial hunting phase of the film. Some may enjoy the twist reveal, some may not! It is certainly a film of two halves!

7/10, wonderful concept, slightly ruined by the over-dramatic second half

September 19, 2016 0

‘Money Monster’ Review

Directed by: Jodie Foster

Starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell

With recent hits like ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’ & ‘The Big Short’, Wall Street has been in the cross-hairs for satire. ‘Money Monster’ does not hit the heights of the films mentioned, but it provides some good entertainment with several moments of laughter.

The film focuses on Lee Gates (Clooney), the brash, vibrant presenter of his Investment show, Money Monster. A charismatic TV personality who is just as comfortable dancing on screen as he is presenting! Due to a failed investment tip, one of the companies featured on the show crash in the markets. Leading to one irate shareholder (Jack O’Connell) to take matters into his own hands. The broken investor manages to get into the studio to hold Gates at gunpoint, forcing him to wear an explosive vest. To make things worse, the cameras are forced to keep rolling, broadcasting it across the world. It’s down to Gates’s producer Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) to keep a calm head and guide Gates in this dangerous situation.

The segments between Clooney & O’Connell in the studio are by far the best segments of the movie. With Gates trying to maintain his composure and trying to reason with the gunman. O’Connell is especially great, playing the role of ‘the desperate man who lost everything’ perfectly. Having Robert communicating with the host via the earpiece was a great touch, which helped build chemistry between the host & producer.

The film had a choice to go down the route of hostage films such as ‘The Taking of Pelham 123”, where the situation is very much real, and anyone could be killed if things flare up. But with this, after a while, you can tell that he won’t go through with his threat, and the film becomes somewhat of a comedy, similar to ‘The Martian’. There are several moments which will genuinely make the audience laugh! One highlight being Gates giving an inspirational speech to the world, to save his life, only for it to fail miserably.

The film is not a classic, the plot does become somewhat dull when the story leaves the studio setting. The shady corporate dealings of the company that lost millions is one of the side plots, but it feels pedestrian when compared to the hostage situation. It’s the cliche story of a corrupt CEO. While the humour is plentiful, people expecting an intense thriller will be not be too pleased. The film won’t live long in the memory once you leave the cinema, but it won’t leave you disappointed.

June 8, 2016 0

Silver Screen Show : Episode 3

Another month down, another episode wrapped up! In this episode we take a look at the biggest release so far this year, Captain America : Civil War. It’s a Marvel double with X-Men : Apocalypse also coming out this month. Comedy sequels never really hold up, will Bad Neighbours 2 prove us wrong? Also a small word for a rare Bollywood flick getting a mainstream release, with Fan.

Enjoy 🙂

June 8, 2016 0

‘Captain America : Civil War’ Review

Ever since ‘Avengers Assemble’ released back in 2012, the cracks in the relationship between Tony Stark’s Ironman & Steve Rodger’s Captain American were starting to appear. It all finally comes down to an explosive conclusion in one of Marvel’s finest films so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

A film containing so many different superheroes could have become a complicated mess. But the Russo Brothers once again served up a right treat for fans and critics alike. After their stellar work in creating the superb ‘Winter Soldier’, they have proved that they are capable of handling the upcoming Avengers movies.

Following the destruction in previous films caused by members of the Avengers across several previous films. The world has decided to reign in the action of the Avengers with the introduction of the ‘Sokovia Accords’. Which would mean the United Nations would have control of what the Avengers do. Simply put, Ironman is for it, Captain is against it.

This all eventually leads to two sides being formed, which has been the main angle the marketing team for the film have used to stir up the crowd. What works well here is that all the players in the ‘Civil War’ get their moment to shine. Even the minor characters such as Falcon & Vision get their moment in the spotlight. The usual Marvel humour is there as always, though they know when to use it, the final act is virtually devoid of any humour. The new additions also hit the right spot. Chadwick Boseman does a great job as the fearless Black Panther, his no nonsense attitude makes a refreshing change from the usual Avengers banter and quipping. Tom Holland’s portrayal of a young Spiderman steals the show in his brief appearances, and has everyone looking forward to his solo adventure! The Russo Bros. did a fantastic job in managing to fit everyone in, and making it work so fluently.

The films centerpiece is the showdown at the airport, where the 2 sides finally get down to trading blows. In what some will say is one of the greatest action scenes ever filmed, the set piece is filled with cameos, humour and action. The build up to this does not disappoint. It’s pretty obvious the heroes are pulling their punches during the scene, as they don’t really want to hurt one another. The final showdown at the end of the film between Ironman, Captain & The Winter Soldier is the polar opposite. The showdown is dramatic, and filled with tension. Which served as a nice treat, not the usual ‘end of the world’ scenario. This film is very much about Captain America, not the Avengers. Chris Evans & Downey Jr put in probably their best performances so far in all of the MCU outings so far.

The film though isn’t perfect. On the plus side of 2 hours, the film is stretched out a lot. The first hour or so is key in setting up the showcase battle, but it feels like some scenes could have been shortened or even cut to speed up the pacing. The 3rd act is a brutal fight, but it feels a bit of a let down after the epic airport scene. The films ”antagonist” was once again one of its weak points. Not since Loki have Marvel been able to produce an enticing villain. This is somewhat put on the side, as the feud between Tony & Steve is what really drives the film, the villain feels like somewhat of an after-thought. If he was removed entirely, it really wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

After the underwhelming critical response to Dawn of Justice, Marvel once again proved that they are the kings of the comic book big screen experience. The hype to the film has most certainly been justified, and it will interesting to see if they can top this in Infinity Wars.

5/5

May 1, 2016 0

Silver Screen Show : Episode 2

Our second show is up! 😀

This month we take a look at the big release of the month, ”Batman v Superman, Dawn of Justice”. Was all the hype worth it? ”Zootropolis” is the latest animation from Disney, will it reach the heights of previous releases like Big Hero 6 & Frozen? Finally we discuss one of the films that have flew in under the radar, the wonderfully suspenseful ”10 Cloverfield Lane”.

Enjoy 🙂

April 29, 2016 0

‘The Jungle Book’ Review

Directed by Jon Favreau

Starring Neel Sethi, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson

I can’t even remember the last time I watched the original 1967 animated version of The Jungle Book, so it was great to see that their would be a CGI remake to bring back those childhood memories!

The story follows a similar pattern to the original. in which Mowgli (Sethi) is escorted by his mentor, Bagheera the Panther (Kingsley) to go live with his fellow humans in the village. Baloo (Murray), King Louie (Walken), Shere Khan (Elba) & Kaa (Johansson) once again all feature along with the addition of a few other characters.

In what could have just been a quick cash in for Disney, has turned out to be already one of the films of the year. With director Jon Favreau doing an excellent job in the pacing the story, with some incredible action scenes.

The CGI was always going to make or break the film, especially as 12-year-old Neel Sethi would have to act the entire film on his own, in front of a green screen, as he is the only human character in the entire movie! It cannot have been easy to act on your own for the entire film at such a young age, but the kid did well. The CGI shown here is by far some of the best we have seen, Disney did a fantastic job with all the animals, and never at any point during the film does the quality drop.

The voice casting is near perfect. Bill Murray absolutely nails it with his role as Baloo, and Ben Kingsley provides the calm assurance as Bagheera. Idris Elba does a wonderful job as the villainous Khan. Lupita Nyong’o takes up the role of Mowgli’s adopted Wolf mother Raksha, who does well to voice the pained mother who has to give up her child. One gripe would be the role of Scarlett Johansson as Kaa the Snake, who only features in the film for a brief moment. It would have been nice to the more of the deceptive snake!

The nostalgia factor will play a huge role in the enjoyment of the movie, you cant help but smile when the music for ‘Bare Necessities’ starts to fire up, and the homage to the Lion King with a stampede scene was a lovely touch. Younger members of the audience will find this the definitive version of The Jungle Book, and maybe even for some Adults! It’s no wonder a sequel is already in the works.

4/5

April 26, 2016 0