Category Archives: Movies

May 31 2012

The Three Musketeers

Viewed – 31 May 2012  Blu-ray

The question that immediately springs to mind here is, do we really need another telling of the age-old Musketeers story?  Brought to the screen countless times with varying success, this is familiar and well trodden ground, and one may wonder just what a new adaptation can bring that we haven’t seen before.  Easy answer – lots and lots and lots of CGI.

Directed by the often underrated Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Event Horizon) this starts well with a welcome swashbuckling introduction to Porthos (Ray Stevensen), Aramis (Luke Evans) and Athos (Matthew Macfadyen), who are double crossed by Aramis’ love interest Milady (Paul W.S. Anderon regular Mila Jovovich) resulting in the three heroes falling from grace.  Yet when a plot is uncovered to bring about war, the Musketeers team up with an ambitious but reckless young man called D’Artagnon (Logan Lerman).

Now you may have noticed the lack of star names amongst the cast there, and you wouldn’t be wrong.  Thankfully we have Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterdz) on hand to offer villainous duties as the cunning Cardinal Richelieu and a very camp Orlando Bloom as the Duke Of Buckingham, preventing the whole thing from descending into Z-List territory.  Sadly though, the feel here is more Monty Python than true blockbuster cinema, and despite some stylish cinematography, great set-design and well shot action – I failed to engage with the often plot-hole laden story or personality-free characters.  The less said about the cameo by Brit comedienne James Cordon and the talentless actress (is pouting a talent?) playing D’Artagnon’s love interest … the better.

As it stands, this was still fun and had some pretty cool sequences (who can’t enjoy two flying boats battling it out??) but lacked anything beyond its garish visual-overload to make me recommend it.  The forgettable Take That end-credits song says it all.  One for fans of the Musketeers only, Id say.

Verdict:  2 /5

May 29 2012

Movies I’m looking forward to

There are several movies I’m eager to see in the next twelve or so months.  On the near horizon is Christopher Nolan’s final part of his Bat Man Trilogy in the shape of The Dark Night Rises.  My reservations aside with what Nolan has turned the Batman mythos into over the last few years, few can argue how good The Dark Knight turned out, especially with the involvement of the late Heath Ledger.  It seemed a movie even Nolan was going to struggle beating, and even though this latest entry has mostly passed under my radar undetected, recent images have immerged of Ann Hathaway’s Catwoman, to get this film goer all twitchy and excited.   Out July 20.

Further on the horizon is the return of cult movie director Quentin Tarantino with his much hyped new western Django Unchained.  Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and also Leonardo DiCaprio … this following the excellent Inglorious Basterdz has gotta be a must see by anyones expectation.  ETA: January 2013.

I didn’t know what to make of the forthcoming The Amazing Spider-Man.  A second origin story, this time featuring The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker in place of Tobey Maguire, and pitting the web slinger against The Lizard, in the form of the always enjoyable Rhys Ifans.  Then I heard that the wonderful Emma Stone will be playing love-interest Gwen Stacy … and suddenly I took notice.  I don’t know how it will compare to the already very good trilogy that went before (especially 1 & 2) but the casting is good, and effects have moved on a fair bit … so it could deliver.  It’s out July 4.

Not quite making it to cinemas here in the UK but for a select few, the latest entry in Spanish horror saga [REC] makes a splash on DVD / Blu-ray in September in the shape of the very interesting looking [REC] Genesis. A prequel to the shaky-camera terror masterpieces that came before it, I fear this may be a bit too action driven and gore laden to have the same disturbing feel of 1 & 2 … but either way, I still have to see it.

May 26 2012

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

Viewed – 26 May 2012  Blu-ray

The first Sherlock Homes movie I really enjoyed, as although looking back the casting of Robert Downey Jr didn’t seem obvious at first, I was pleased to see his chameleon-like acting skills suited the part immensely, helped by an equally adept Jude Law as Dr Watson.  So sitting down to another escapade with this likable duo was easy.  This one has Holmes and Watson up against their greatest ever foe, Professor Moriarty (a brilliant Jared Harris) who seems behind a series of bombings and assassination attempts.  Holmes leaps into action to piece the clues together and sets forth on an adventure that takes him from London to Paris and many other locales in an attempt to prevent a global catastrophe.

Downey Jr, easily one of my favourite actors is on brilliant form as Holmes, and his quips, excentric behaviour and plethora of increasingly bizarre disguises is a joy to behold.  Law is somewhat more subdued this time around but still manages to spar with his on-screen buddy amicably.  Joining the cast is The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace who makes for a feisty action heroine.  Yet above all else this is director Guy Ritchie’s gig with some quite remarkable visual flourishes that enhance the wealth of action sequences and really stamp his identity on the movie.  He’s come a long way since Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and has grown into a director with real intelligence and  imagination.

The story does get a tad confusing and over-complicated at times, and the comedy is laid on a touch thick for my liking.  Yet as a follow-up to an already impressive adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary icon – this is every bit as good as that movie was, and in Moriarty has a villain that actually gives Holmes a run for his money this time around.

Verdict:  4 /5

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May 22 2012

Unknown

Viewed – 21 May 2012  Blu-ray

With Liam Neeson enjoying a sort of resurgence in popularity following a spate of hit thrillers, pretty much anything starring the Irish-born actor is essential viewing of late.  Although at the time this garnered very mixed reviews and seemed to be wrongly marketed as a cheap cash-in to Taken … therefore, I have been quite hesitant to check this one out.

Neeson plays Dr Martin Harris, on route to a summit in Berlin with his beautiful wife Liz (January Jones – Mad Men, X-Men First Class), who is involved in a car accident, and on awakening from a coma four days later, discovers that someone has taken his identity, and not even his wife recognises him.  A great set up, that although causing strong deja-vu with this viewer (Frantic, anyone?), immediately grabbed my attention.  As expected Liam Neeson is very good as the confused Doctor, handling car chases, fist fights and a compelling situation with ease.  Supporting him is a perfectly angelic January Jones and also a street-wise Diane Kruger as the cab driver who comes to Neeson’s aid.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan) with similar slick production values and European setting to Taken, this may lack the emotional intensity of that movie and much of the ‘cool’ but still offers a gripping 2 hours of entertainment that’s really hard not to enjoy.  The ending did sort of screw with my perceptions, leaving me a tad conflicted … and the villains are out of the shady government cookie cutter.  Yet if you’re after an above average thriller with intrigue, twists and quality action, if short on surprises … this will do the job nicely.

Verdict:  3.5 /5

May 7 2012

Revolutionary Road

Viewed – 07 May 2012  DVD

I am a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, with some of my favourite movies having stared this gifted actor.  Now when you think of what leading ladies he has been pared with, you’d be forgiven for immediately coming up with Kate Winslet and their on-screen love affair in James Cameron’s Titanic.  Now for the second time, they are paired again as Frank and April Wheeler, who at first glance seem the perfect suburban couple.  They have the big house, the lovely children, the nice neighbours and the perfect existence.  Yet bubbling under the surface is resentment and despair.  Both yearn for something more, something their relationship isn’t giving them and so decide they are going to give up everything and move to Paris.

Based on the novel by Richard Yates and directed by Sam Mendes, ex-husband of Kate Winslet … this like his earlier American Beauty is again holding a mirror up to the suburban dream (albeit in the 50s), with all the cracks and unhappiness that might lurk in the shadows.  It made me think of David Lynch, how his Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks showed us that not all is perfect in that picket-fence image, and although this movie doesn’t delve into Lynch territory freakiness, it felt similar and in some ways had the same atmosphere of impending doom.  DiCaprio again is solid and believable, at times typical American blue-collar, other times a ticking time bomb.  Winslet whilst equally as good sports a somewhat sketchy American accent that distracted me and her character came across less sympathetic.  Also at times the arguing felt forced and unnatural, almost like they were playing it up to hammer home that this couple don’t get a long – but it wasn’t necessary.

As an exploration of a relationship however, I found this absorbing, helped by good support from the likes of Kathy Bates and Boardwalk Empire’s Michael Shannon, and as a vehicle to reunite Winslet & DiCaprio, this was a good alternative to the ice berg movie.

Verdict:  3.5 /5