With Dreamworks Animation emerging as the only real competition to Pixar in the animation film market, it made sense for them to make as much money from recognisable characters as possible. It is for this reason only that the follow-up to Shrek the Third, the rather neatly titled Shrek Forever After. Announced as the final instalment in the franchise (Puss in Boots filling the … [Read more...]
Shrek the Third (2007) review by That Film Guy
After the continued box office success of the franchise with Shrek 2, it was only a matter of time until Shrek the Third was released. Commercially it was less successful than its immediate predecessor but still took a phenomenal $798m form a budget of $160m and comfortably gave Dreamworks a reason to release a fourth part. With the King of Far, Far Away (John Cleese) about to … [Read more...]
Clerks (1994) review by That Film Brat
Clerks was the first film in the ˜View-Askewniverse', the fictional universe in which most of writer/director/actor Kevin Smith's films take place. They feature many of the same characters, and are best viewed in order, as a later film may have spoilers for a previous one. Clerks is the film that launched Kevin Smith's career, and is the definition of a cult film. It was made … [Read more...]
Shrek (2001) review by That Film Guy
As Pixar developed a stranglehold on the digital animation market, there was only one company that managed to give them any competition. Dreamworks Animation managed to find a huge success with the Shrek series of films. Shrek is loosely based on a series of children's books entitled Shrek! written by William Steig. Originally conceived by Steven Spielberg as a hand-drawn … [Read more...]
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) review by That Film Dude
Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, whether you prefer the radio show or the novels, is one of the undoubted classics of modern science fiction, and pretty much every work of comic sci-fi made since owes something to it. The film was supposedly in development hell for 24 years before finally being made, sadly only seeing a release after Douglas Adams passed … [Read more...]
Jack and Jill (2012) review by That Film Guy
Commercially, Adam Sandler is one of the most successful actors of all time. After a string of early success' like Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer he was able to create his own fan base who would pay to see almost any film with his name above the line. This level of success has not necessarily meant that the films have remained of the high quality of his early work. In … [Read more...]
Young Adult (2012) review by That Film Guy
The award-friendly duo of director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody reunite after the success of Juno with the Charlize Theron vehicle Young Adult. It was a moderate success taking $20m from a budget of $12m, which compared to Juno's $230m haul at the box office must be considered a disappointment. … [Read more...]
Back to the Future Part II (1989) review by That Film Guy
Following the commercial and critical success of Back to the Future, director Robert Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg began working on two sequels that would be filmed back-to-back. Back to the Future Part II which follows on directly from the original sees Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) back in 1985 when the Doc (Christopher Lloyd) returns from the future with a warning … [Read more...]
Back to the Future (1985) review by That Film Guy
It's hard to imagine a film world without Back to the Future, a film so delightfully playful, wistfully nostalgic and utterly enjoyable that it shaped the childhoods of an entire generation. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg, Back to the Future had a powerhouse production team who later became used to creating generation-defining films. It became a … [Read more...]
Men in Black III (2012) review by That Film Guy
Ten years after the release of the previous installment, direct Barry Sonnenfeld and stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return for Men in Black III. Mired in a controversial production cycle ever since being announced in 2009, Men in Black III uses an idea of Smith's to have his Agent J travel back in time to the 1960s to meet a younger version of Jones' Agent K. … [Read more...]