Trailer Review Tarantino gets a lot of stick for his movies. He is accused of using too much violence, misogyny, and gratuitous exploitation. I sometime wonder what other people are watching. His latest movie is no exception, and all sorts have spent much energy going on and on about everything from the number of lines given to the female cast to the ultra comic book … [Read more...]
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) review
The Man Who Fell to Earth - review The title role in ‘The Man Who fell to Earth’ was the first, but infrequent, starring role for Music Legend David Bowie. In it Bowie plays Thomas Jerome Newton, an Alien who has come to earth to find water to save his planet. Newton must build a high-tech empire to fund his journey home but he gets lost in the excesses of 1970's … [Read more...]
The Force Awakens (2015) review
Star Wars The force Awakens - review How can you re-start an Iconic film series and produce a film better than the originals? How can you re-start an Iconic film series and not offend the pseudo religious followers of the cannon? How can you re-start an iconic film series with a movie that is an exciting and fun and needs no knowledge of the previous movies? I do not … [Read more...]
The Martian (2015)
The Martian (2015) Ridley Scott is a great film Maker, one of my most favourite. His last dalliance with space ‘Prometheus’ was a huge disappointment. In Prometheus, the cinematography was glorious, but both the story and the science were dubious. So it was with no small amount of fear that I went to see The Martian. This is very different. Everything that was wrong with … [Read more...]
Legend (2015)
Legend (2015) A new film about the Krays staring Tom Hardy both as Ron and Reg. Directed by Brian Helgeland. Ultra-violent, and ultra-glamorous, is how they were portrayed in the 60s tabloids and ultra-violent, and ultra-glamorous is how they are portrayed here. True or exaggerated, the story unfolds like Shakespearean tragedy, and leaves judgement of the dubious … [Read more...]
Review: Tomorrowland (2015)
Brad Bird. Just the name should send feelings of childlike wonder through the body of any film fan. From The Iron Giant, to The Incredibles, even to Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Brad Bird has proved he is one of the most talented directors working in Hollywood today. He has the uncanny ability to make any sequence instantly awe-inspiring, whether it's the final scene of … [Read more...]
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
It's not often that something is labelled a classic as soon as it comes out. Films like Citizen Kane and The Shawshank Redemption took years of re-evaluation and rabid praise in order to become the hallmarks of the art form they are today. It takes a while normally. Here, I feel completely comfortable saying that Mad Max: Fury Road is not only the best film of the series, but … [Read more...]
The Salvation (2014)
The Western as a genre has been pretty played out. Whether it's the cheesy John Wayne westerns, or the gunslinging Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns, the genre has very few things left to do with originality anymore. Django Unchained came close, mostly taking the standard Western formula and transplanting it into the setting of late-19th century American slavery. Even that, … [Read more...]
Review: Birdman (2014)
To attempt to summarise the visual and dramatic flair of Alejandro Gozalez Inarritu's latest film Birdman, would probably result in a breakdown similar to the main character experience's throughout this weaving, trippy nightmarish comedy. … [Read more...]
Review: Whiplash (2014)
There have been a lot of films which focus on a teacher/student dynamic, with the brilliant, inspiring teacher doing everything they can to help bring out the hidden potential in their young proteges. Movies like Dead Poets Society and The History Boys tend to focus on unconventional, eccentric teachers who don't stick to the established curriculum and inspire affection and … [Read more...]