Wanted

So Cool....

This film was everything an action film should be: Explosions, guns, knives, car chases, fighting, gore...Morgan Freeman.

Seriously I really enjoyed watching this. The film which is set around a group of assassinators who
kill people that are named by fate, stars James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.

When Wesley (McAvoy) learns of the murder of his father, he is recruited to join his father's organisation of assassinators called Fraternity, lead by a man called Sloan (Freeman). Wesley learns that like his father he possesses superhuman abilities which enable him to kill in ways that very few people in the world can.

What I really liked about this film was the way it was filmed. A considerable amount of the action was in slow motion and was cleverly put together which reflects the intelligence of the assassinators. Having seen Jolie already in action films, I was interested to see how James McAvoy would do. I think that the film was very well put together and the final twists towards the end remained well hidden.

Being an 18 certificate, the film did contain a large amount of bloody violence, swearing and sexual references. I think some of the funniest aspects were those scenes where we saw Wesley in his pervious boring life, putting up with his cheating girlfriend who sleeps with his best friend and a
boss that won't get off his back at work. The revenge sequences on these characters really are the best.


I think that action fans should definitely watch this, it contains everything you could want!

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Despicable Me

Such a cute family film...

Despicable me is a film I watched for the first time with friends a few weeks ago (Yes I know the second one is now in cinemas). I actually really enjoyed it and was surprised by how much I liked it. Obviously when you have the voices of Steve Carell, Russell Brand, Jason Segel, Julie Andrews etc, you are going to have a good family film.

The character of Gru (Carell) is so entertaining and funny, that we almost instantly like him, despite his desperate attempts to be the villain. Of course there is also the annoying but amusing role of Vector (Segel).

The cutest role of course is the role of the little orphan girl Agnes played by Elsie Kate Fisher, the line 'It's so fluffy I'm going to die' is perhaps the sweetest line of dialogue in the entire film. The roles of Edith (Dana Gaier) and Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) are also as interesting and as an audience I feel we become quite attached to these three girls, as Gru himself grows into a father figure.

This film is so fun and enjoyable for all ages, like I said it is a funny film, hugely attributed I must say to the minions and the silly things they do. I think that adults would enjoy this kind of a film as there are aspects specifically targeted towards adults.

I really do recommend this film...


☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Dark Shadows

Quite odd...

I have to say I wasn't particularly blown away by the film, despite the fantastic cast with Johnny Depp in the lead role. I'm not entirely sure what I expected but I felt that there was a lack of something. Although there were some humorous aspects mainly from Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, but I felt that as the film went on the plot became weaker.

It is quite cheesy in many ways, throwing in ghosts, vampires and all the stereotypical horror characters. I did find myself laughing once Barnabas Collins arrived into 1972 and being completely confused and surprised by modern society. I did also think Eva Green was entertaining as the villain Angelique.

I suppose typically of Tim Burton you had the usual gore and strange eccentric characters, but I just hoped for something more in regards to the plot. I didn't really feel attached to the character Barnabas and was actually far more interested in Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote) as a character, due to her story. I think this character could have been developed even more and perhaps worked more on the ending which to me seemed unfinished.



☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Premium Rush

Premium rush is a film that I heard about a while back and thought sounded interesting.

The film which stars Joseph Gordon Levitt, Michael Shannon and Dania Ramirez, is a funny and cleverly filmed story about a group of bike messenger's in Manhattan who deliver important parcels and post to various recipients. The plot focuses upon one particular messenger, Wilee, who is given the task of delivering a very special piece of post by 7pm. 

The recent star of Man of Steel Michael Shannon (General Zod) takes again to the role of a villain. This time he is a corrupt cop who also wants the post and therefore goes to extreme lengths to intercept the mail from Wilee. 

I think what most impressed me about this film is the filming of it. Not only does the film manage to use a non linear narrative, cleverly flipping back and forth to fill in the details of the film, but the clever portrayal of what could happen in the future should the messages chose to take dangerous routes when riding through the city, is also entertaining.

For a hour and a half movie just to casually watch in spare time, the film was really enjoyable and as always the performance of Joseph Gordon Levitt was amusing. I was also impressed by the skills and clear training that the actors must have gone through with regards to cycling, it all seemed pretty extreme. I certainly wouldn't risk riding in the city, that's for sure.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Man of Steel

Superman is back!!!!!

Without a shadow of a doubt this will be the best film of the year. All you superhero fans go and see it now in cinemas before it is too late. You will regret it if you don't!

Zack Synder has bought us back one of our beloved heroes in a huge way, going back to the very begins of superman. Thanks to the incredible writing of David.S Goyer who really seems to have a way with words which evoke a variety of feelings, and the incredible vision of Christopher Nolan, the crew and cast have really made superman more than just a guy in underwear who can fly.

For those who have seen the Dark Knight Trilogy, you will know how Nolan and Goyer are both able to transform characters and ground them in a way that causes us as an audience to really become emotionally attached to these characters. In this film Clarke Kent is surrounded by such characters including his birth parents Jor-El (Russell Crowe), Lara Lor-Van (Ayelet Zurer) and his adopted parents Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane). Then of course there is the much stronger version of Lois Lane (Amy Adams) who really plays a huge part in this film and mirrors our love of Superman.

Synder has done a fantastic job of bringing his own vision to the filming and visual aspect of the film. It is beautifully shot and consistently plays with light in incredible ways which help to build enhance the emotion and beauty of the story.

Then there is clearly an aspect of Nolan's love for architecture and land formation which sets the film in stunning locations, taking us from sea to desert and to urban skyscrapers.

Casting of course was perfect. Henry Cavill really becomes superman, not only in his image but in the emotion and complexity of the character. The fact he is torn between humanity and his own kind is clearly created through conflict in his actions.  The relationship between superman and both his dads is truly effective not to mention the maternal instincts from both his mothers.

Of course with every hero comes a villain and that villain happens to be very good. As General Zod, Michael Shannon is ruthless, evil and merciless. The destruction caused throughout the film by this character is significant which increases hatred for him. Accompanied by Faora-Ul, the evil female sidekick who to be quite honest is just as ruthless, Zod tears the Earth apart.

I don't want to give anything away, therefore I will say that the cast is brilliant and the production done on this film is incredible. Similar to the way batman was reinvented superman has become entirely redone. Giving a background to Superman humanises him a lot more and the producers,writers and directors have done an incredible job on this film. For those who stay loyal to the original films, give this a chance, it may surprise you. It certainly has bought superman into modern day and everything is bigger and better. Oh and the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is awesome!

(No spoilers in comment section please!)

              ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Not your traditional view of the late president...

I guess you could say that this take on President Lincoln is rather bizarre and unusual. It certainly adds a more thrilling aspect to his life and makes him to be a hero on a completely different level to how he is currently perceived.

The film itself didn't actually receive the best reviews which I'm guessing is because of the anti-vampire members of the audiences who are sick of the long lasting stream of vampire related films which have been released over these past years.

Instead of glamorising vampires however I feel that this film does stick to the much truer form of vampires as monsters who should be feared and are killed by silver to the heart. Also the representation of Abraham Lincoln as an almost Van Helsing figure adds that side of vampire hunters and the thrill for the audience comes from the vampires who get their heads sliced off.

When you find out that Tim Burton's name is attached to the film as a producer, the amount of blood and gore within the film does seem to make perfect sense. There is certainly no holding back on detail which I feel is a strength of the film.

I was impressed with how well the film makers interweaved Lincoln's real life with this fictional plot and his hidden life as a vampire hunter. Also the added bonus of seeing Abraham grow up and his childhood was rather interesting.

The film wasn't as bad as it has been reviewed. I quite enjoyed and wasn't bothered by the fictional side of the president. If vampires are your sort of thing, in truth you probably will rather like this film.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Bean

A childhood favourite of mine...

Yesterday I rewatched 'Bean' and seemed to have forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Starring in his most well known role, Rowan Atkinson plays the role of Bean brilliantly. The film is hilarious throughout and you can't help but laugh at Mr Bean's eccentric and clumsy behaviour as well his naivety.

The film is set around the public presentation of a $50 million painting which Bean has been instructed to deliver a speech upon. But of course things naturally go wrong when he ends up ruining the painting and causing havoc amongst the family he is residing with.

This film really is a family film and is so enjoyable to watch.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Friends with Benefits

Warning this film is pretty full on....

As implied by the film title, 'Friends with benefits' tells the story of two characters, Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie Rellis (Mila Kunis), who meet through work and decide to become friends with benefits.

The film is thoroughly entertaining but is very predictable in regards to the ending of the film, of course typically of the rom-com genre they do end up happily together after a number of emotional arguments and advise from close friends.

The chemistry between Kunis and Timberlake was brilliant and throw in the humorous performances of  Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins and the brief appearance from Emma Stone and you have an entertaining cast.

If romantic comedies aren't your sort of films then perhaps this isn't the film for you. However if you do enjoy them then definitely watch this. It is witty, funny and really touching in places.





☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

June Nominations

Here are the nominations for June:


Best Film:

Man of Steel
World War Z
After Earth
Monster University
White House Down


Best Actor:

Harry Cavill- Man of Steel
Jaden Smith- After Earth
Brad Pitt: World War Z
Channing Tatum- White house down

Best Actress:

Amy Adams: Man of Steel
Meirielle Enos- World War Z
Sandra Bullock- The Heat
Saoirse Ronan- Byzantium

Best actor in a supporting roll:

Kevin Costner- Man of Steel
Will Smith- After Earth
Jason Clarke- White House Down


Best Actress in a supporting roll:

Maggie Gyllenhaal- White House Down
Sophie Okonedo- After Earth
Vicky Mclure- Redemption


Best Director:

Zack Synder - Man of Steel
M. Night Shyamalan - After Earth
Mark Forster- World War Z
Roland Emmercih- White House Down

May Winners

Best Film:

Star Trek into Darkness















Best Actor:

Leonardo Di Caprio (The Great Gatsby)

















Best Actress: Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby)

Best Actor in a supporting role: Benedict Cumberbatch ( Star Trek into Darkness)











Best Actress in a supporting role: Alice Eve ( Star Trek into Darkness)






Best Director: J.J Abrams (Star Trek into Darkness)