The mission for Hollywood executives to fill the gaps left by Harry Potter and Twilight in the burgeoning tween market continues with the fairytale-based Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Directed by Tommy Wirkola of Dead Snow fame, it lists Will Ferrell as a producer and saw its release delayed by a year to coincide with star Jeremy Renner's meteoric rise in popularity. … [Read more...]
Kon-Tiki (2012, Norway) review by That Film Guy
Norway's most expensive film to date, Kon-Tiki was rewarded for its efforts with an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards. Directed by Joachim Ronning (Max Manus), Kon-Tiki stunningly recreates one of Norway's most famous national narratives, namely the crossing of the Pacific by Thor Heyerdahl (Pal Sverre Hagen) on a balsawood raft in an … [Read more...]
The Warriors (1979) review by That Art House Guy
New York in 1979 was very different to the New York of today. That much is clear from both the movie The Warriors, which was shot entirely on location in the city “ a gritty, unnerving, graffiti covered city “ from dusk till dawn. It's also clear from the furore that surrounded the film on its release. It was linked to outbreaks of violence and vandalism. Cinemas were released … [Read more...]
A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) review by That Film Guy
It has been 25 years since John McClane burst onto our screens in the iconic Die Hard. Pit in an impossible situation in the Nakatomi Plaza his working man's hero managed to overcome an evil genius and save the day, but his greatest accomplishment was not to die. As the Die Hard series went on John McClane grew as a character, adding more depth and interest up until Die Hard … [Read more...]
Review: Bullet to the Head (2013)
In the crowd of 80s style throwback action movies popping up recently, Bullet to the Head is possibly the least known. It's advertising wasn't as strong as The Last Stand, and certainly not as strong as A Good Day To Die Hard. And while The Last Stand lost money, that's nothing compared to this. Its $55 million budget grossed a total of $4.5 million as of writing, which is … [Read more...]
The Last Stand (2013) review by That Film Brat
What screams cheesy 80s action films more than Arnold Schwarzenegger? Arnie is the symbol of 80s action flicks, films like The Terminator, Commando and The Running Man are now known as definitive of the era. After a cameo in The Expendables that was so small it might as well of not been there at all, and a much more extended role in The Expendables 2, Arnie announced he was … [Read more...]
Battle Los Angeles (2011) review by That Film Guy
Battle Los Angeles follows a group of US Marines who are thrown into combat with extraterrestrial invaders in the City of Angels. On August 12, 2011, large masses thought to be meteorites land in the oceans near several major coastal cities. The objects are discovered to be spacecraft containing hostile extraterrestrial life. Marines from Camp Pendleton arrive in Los Angeles, … [Read more...]
Jack Reacher (2012) review by That Film Brat
Jack Reacher didn't start off well. Controversy erupted when it was announced that the actor who was cast for the titular big, hulking 6'5 military policeman was none other than Tom Cruise. Many fans cried out against this, saying he didn't match the psychical attributes described in the books, and didn't have the power for the role. Author Lee Child supported the decision, … [Read more...]
Braveheart (1995) review by That Film Guy
Following on from The Man Without a Face, director and 80s megastar Mel Gibson turned his eye toward a historical epic about a Scottish legend; William Wallace in Braveheart. The film was a huge commercial and critical success earning $210m from a budget of $53m as well as winning the Best Director and Best Film Oscar at the 68th Academy Awards. … [Read more...]
So Undercover (2012) review by That Film Brat
Starring Miley Cyrus as a private detective, So Undercover is a film you have probably never heard of, and even if you had, if you are above the age of six you know to stay away. This is the kind of movie you really have to wonder what was going through the studio's head when they green-lit it. My guess is they already had a poster made, and then realised what a stupid idea … [Read more...]