I saw the penguins of Madagascar about two weeks ago, and it's one of those where you become quickly aware of how uncomfortable the cinema seat is because there's nothing of interest going on on-screen to distract you. The best I can equate this fim was with Mr Bean which worked okay as a fifteen minute quickie, but did'nt have the legs for a whole film. I'll give it 4 out of 10 for the kids, but really for an adult, it barely reaches 3. I saw Night in the Museum 3 last night, which was better, but for me still lacked a bit of spark. It bobbled along like a shot by Simon Church, and had bits I liked, but I won't go higher than a 6. They showed a preview of the Paddington film before, and if that is what it's going to be like, I'll stay home.
The Foxcatcher: 9.5/10 Excellent film based on the true story of Mark Schultz (wrestler) and John Eleuthère du Pont. I expect to see Steve Carell possibly win the oscar for his role as John Eleuthère du Pont .........Go see folks.
I'm on a poor run at the moment . 2014 has been a bad year for movies , in fact one of the worst i can ever remember unless your a Marvel fan and Gone Girl opitimises it. This film held so much promise. The first ninety minutes was great ( Unlike watching Charlton ;-) ) but then it hit a brick wall. I can't remember a film in recent years that ends as badly as this does, Where is the pay off ? Director , David Fincher seems to be able to do no wrong in the eyes of some critics. This critic isn't buying it.
Absolutely agree that it was good for the majority of the film but then suddenly stopped. Call me an old cynic, but when watching new films, I often find myself wondering if they set up non-conclusive endings purely on the off chance that a sequel could be made.
Ever since Lock stock was released there have been countless attempts to make a British crime caper that lives up to Guy Ritchie's movie and all , in my opinion , have failed. Whilst this falls a long way short also , it's definitely one of the better attempts i have seen and having Vinnie Jones in the lead helps a lot. This is like a Cross between Snatch and The Hangover ( if they were was set in Lithuania ) and it made me chuckle several times , which isn't an easy thing to do. Not Terrible but not groundbreaking either.
Exodus gods and kings Not sure why this was made. Preposterous story, made worse by a bad script, historical and continuity faux pas, bad acting and not saved by heavy use of CGI which looks dated compared to many recent block busters. 1/10.
I still can't quite believe that we will never see James Gandolfini again. This was his last performance before his premature death but The Drop is all about our very own Tom Hardy and he smashes this out of the park. This is a very watchable , claustrophobic crime drama , set in New York and it had me hooked from very early on and kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end . Director, Michaël R. Roskam has done a great job in getting the best out of this talented cast. Recommended
I'm on a poor run at the moment . 2014 has been a bad year for movies , in fact one of the worst i can ever remember unless your a Marvel fan and Gone Girl opitimises it. This film held so much promise. The first ninety minutes was great ( Unlike watching Charlton ;-) ) but then it hit a brick wall. I can't remember a film in recent years that ends as badly as this does, Where is the pay off ? Director , David Fincher seems to be able to do no wrong in the eyes of some critics. This critic isn't buying it.
I still can't quite believe that we will never see James Gandolfini again. This was his last performance before his premature death but The Drop is all about our very own Tom Hardy and he smashes this out of the park. This is a very watchable , claustrophobic crime drama , set in New York and it had me hooked from very early on and kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end . Director, Michaël R. Roskam has done a great job in getting the best out of this talented cast. Recommended
Great write up. Nodded in agreement throughout reading it. All three main actors (Hardy, Gandolfini and Rapace) put in incredible individual performances. But hardy in particular blew me away, I'm a fan anyway, but the way his character barely says any words in his scenes yet you can't take your eyes off his performance.
Not long back from American Sniper preview. Very enjoyable, fits into the Zero Dark Thirty / Jarhead / Hurt Locker group very well. Somewhat predictable unfolding of true story focussing on Chris Kyle, a US Seal sniper in Iraq. His back story combined with four tense tours of duty featuring plenty of edge-of-your-seat firefights, and then his struggle to readjust to domestic life afterwards. Very black and white from a USA as good guys point of view, and the brutality of the enemy, described several times as "savages", is illustrated enough to get you to root for them as champions of the civilised world.What I would expect Clint to do, really. The ending takes you aback if you don't know the story. If you like war stuff, this is tense and well-executed, way better than Fury. I would give it 8/10.
Stephen Hawking is one of the world's most amazing human beings and it would take a remarkable piece of film making to do this man's life any justice. The Theory of Everything is that remarkable film. With awards season coming up , if this movie doesn't feature heavily i will be extremely surprised. Eddie Redmayne's performance as Hawking is amazing. In fact it's a wonderful piece of casting as is Felicity Jones who plays his wife. I defy anyone not to be moved by this story and i highly recommend this film.
Saw Interstellar last night at Imax in Waterloo, and must admit was disappointed by it all. Most of it was a whoosh moment and sound was poor (a common complaint apparently), and couldn't understand a lot of dialogue and also Coopers southern accent. Overall, quite underwhelmed.
Good that a lot of these films are available in certain places in the run up to awards season. Looks like I've got a busy weekend ahead getting through them.
We have been inundated with films about people losing their memory every day or waking up to experience the same day and to be honest it's getting to be a very tired format. Before i go to sleep epotimises that. Although mildly entertaining the plot to this film is full of holes. It's just so silly that you never ever believe what your watching.
I understand that Chris Kyle is a hero in the eyes of the American people and he did do an important job but this film goes way over the top . In fact i wouldn't have been surprised if this had started with the commonly seen cartoon Marvel introduction , it's that sycophantic and it's no coincidence that this directed by Clint Eastwood. Bradley Cooper does a decent enough job , as does Sienna Miller and it does entertain if you can see through the stars and stripes. It's a shame that Eastwood didn't make this more of anti war movie because then this film could have worked but sadly this is just a pro American film made for Americans.
Critically acclaimed, it has won the Golden Globe for the Best Foreign Language film and is Oscar-nominated in the same category. It is certainly visually stunning and the lead is very strong but, for me, it was a little disappointing, particularly as I had fairly high expectations of this film.
It comprises a series of vignettes with no real narrative structure and felt like a triumph of style over substance (although maybe that is partly the point, given that it follows the decadent and vacuous lifestyle of rich socialites in Rome). It is a little derivative of La Dolce Vita but without that film's satirical edge and originality. It also felt a little over-long.
Finally saw this last night.
Must say I quite enjoyed it, eccentric and deliciously bonkers at times, although perhaps a little self-indulgent.
Comments
I saw Night in the Museum 3 last night, which was better, but for me still lacked a bit of spark. It bobbled along like a shot by Simon Church, and had bits I liked, but I won't go higher than a 6.
They showed a preview of the Paddington film before, and if that is what it's going to be like, I'll stay home.
I expect to see Steve Carell possibly win the oscar for his role as John Eleuthère du Pont .........Go see folks.
Ever since Lock stock was released there have been countless attempts to make a British crime caper that lives up to Guy Ritchie's movie and all , in my opinion , have failed. Whilst this falls a long way short also , it's definitely one of the better attempts i have seen and having Vinnie Jones in the lead helps a lot.
This is like a Cross between Snatch and The Hangover ( if they were was set in Lithuania ) and it made me chuckle several times , which isn't an easy thing to do. Not Terrible but not groundbreaking either.
6 out of 10
Not sure why this was made. Preposterous story, made worse by a bad script, historical and continuity faux pas, bad acting and not saved by heavy use of CGI which looks dated compared to many recent block busters.
1/10.
I still can't quite believe that we will never see James Gandolfini again. This was his last performance before his premature death but The Drop is all about our very own Tom Hardy and he smashes this out of the park.
This is a very watchable , claustrophobic crime drama , set in New York and it had me hooked from very early on and kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end . Director, Michaël R. Roskam has done a great job in getting the best out of this talented cast.
Recommended
8 out of 10
Get any good numbers?
Very enjoyable, fits into the Zero Dark Thirty / Jarhead / Hurt Locker group very well. Somewhat predictable unfolding of true story focussing on Chris Kyle, a US Seal sniper in Iraq. His back story combined with four tense tours of duty featuring plenty of edge-of-your-seat firefights, and then his struggle to readjust to domestic life afterwards.
Very black and white from a USA as good guys point of view, and the brutality of the enemy, described several times as "savages", is illustrated enough to get you to root for them as champions of the civilised world.What I would expect Clint to do, really.
The ending takes you aback if you don't know the story.
If you like war stuff, this is tense and well-executed, way better than Fury. I would give it 8/10.
Stephen Hawking is one of the world's most amazing human beings and it would take a remarkable piece of film making to do this man's life any justice. The Theory of Everything is that remarkable film.
With awards season coming up , if this movie doesn't feature heavily i will be extremely surprised.
Eddie Redmayne's performance as Hawking is amazing. In fact it's a wonderful piece of casting as is Felicity Jones who plays his wife.
I defy anyone not to be moved by this story and i highly recommend this film.
9 out of 10
Overall, quite underwhelmed.
No, before Dave Mehmet gets too excited, it's not about Miss Whiplash.
It's about a muscian working for his big break.
Some really good acting and stuff, but the script was so predictable I could have written it myself.
Edit: Just read, it's not realeased to UK cinemas until January 15.
I saw it in a cinema in Marseille a couple of weeks ago.
Before I Go to Sleep
We have been inundated with films about people losing their memory every day or waking up to experience the same day and to be honest it's getting to be a very tired format. Before i go to sleep epotimises that.
Although mildly entertaining the plot to this film is full of holes. It's just so silly that you never ever believe what your watching.
5 out of 10
I understand that Chris Kyle is a hero in the eyes of the American people and he did do an important job but this film goes way over the top . In fact i wouldn't have been surprised if this had started with the commonly seen cartoon Marvel introduction , it's that sycophantic and it's no coincidence that this directed by Clint Eastwood.
Bradley Cooper does a decent enough job , as does Sienna Miller and it does entertain if you can see through the stars and stripes.
It's a shame that Eastwood didn't make this more of anti war movie because then this film could have worked but sadly this is just a pro American film made for Americans.
6 out of 10
It that a problem with Fixanity or my wifi?
Thought the film was excellent.
Wild is out now or soon - good book but can't see it being a particularly exciting film.
Must say I quite enjoyed it, eccentric and deliciously bonkers at times, although perhaps a little self-indulgent.
Thanks for all your helpful reviews, Blucher.