Film 35 - The Raid 2

The Raid 2 - 31/03/2014

I watched the Raid about a year ago knowing very little of it before I pressed "play".  What I was blessed with is probably the best action film I have seen for years, and some of the most brutal fight scenes ever.  In my opinion, every action film fan needs to see this film.  Yes, the plot is very simplistic and is basically a promotional video for Silat (the fighting style used by Iko Uwais).

Upon hearing that Cineworld would be doing an advanced screening for unlimited card holders of "The Raid 2", I jumped at the chance and booked my ticket early.  Having seen the trailer, I was giddy.

The Raid 2 takes place almost immediately after the events of the first film and sees our main hero Rama, beaten, battered and bruised being told that the tower block they have just cleared out was full of small fishes in the big pond of criminals and he needs to go under cover to befriend the big bosses son (who currently is in prison), leaving family behind to protect them. 

Again, the plot is pretty simplistic, but Gareth Evans (the director, writer and editor) has decided to go for a little more dialog with this rather than just bosh, bosh, whallop.  With the plot being so simplistic and predictable, this just seems like padding and with the running time clocking just over 2 and a half hours, they do drag a little.  It is nothing new, crime bosses son wants more responsibility so plans to overthrow his father figure by teaming up with another rival gang. Cue betrayal, corruption, and hitmen.  

Saying that, as soon as the action starts (and believe me there is plenty of action), The Raid 2 becomes thrilling again.

At certain points, there could have been someone at the front of the cinema with cue cards, as everyone made the same noises at the same time.  The sight of a leg going a way it shouldn't do was followed by a collaborative "Oooooh", the over use of a kitchen cabinet received "ouches" then giggles as the audience began to see face prints in the chrome.

Gareth Evans could have cut this film down by 30 mins or even more and it still would have the same effect, the over-padded dialog sections are a breather between the highs of the action, but they do go on a little.

I must say though, the final 30 minutes of the film is just pure brilliance, it is right back to the "computer game boss battles".  Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Man (yes, they are called that) have an awesome corridor fight scene which is then followed by possibly one of the best fight scenes ever on camera (in the aforementioned kitchen)

Very good film, but I think The Raid is still the better one to watch. 

Film 34 - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America - The Winter Soldier

Take Marvel out of this film and all you are left with is a brilliant spy/espionage thriller, put Marvel back in and it just gets better!

I have seemingly turned my lovely wife into a Marvel Geek, having watched all the current Marvel Films (Avengers related) Clare is now a big fan of all things Super-Hero.

I thought the First Avenger was a mediocre film that had some good bits but more dull bits, Cap 2 blows all previous films out of the water for me.

The bar has been set higher since the release of Avengers Assemble and TWS takes the bar up another level.  The action scenes are thrilling, the main and side characters are great to watch (mainly Scarlett Johansson - and Clare wont mind me saying that), and the Winter Soldier is a great nemesis.

We get to see a little more character to Nick Fury as well which is never a bad thing, and the car chase scene which is his pinnacle moment is just superb.

There are some great references throughout the film for geeks to spot (I know, being a geek, I think I picked up on a lot more that the general watcher - including the potential of Dr Strange to be on screen soon), and the usual cameo of Stan the Man raised a little smile from Clare.

Is it perfect? no, but it is what a super hero film should be.  Very funny, very entertaining and very watchable.

I don't want to say much about the film as there are too many spoiler points, but this is definitely a game changer for the Marvel Universe, and don't be like 90% of the audience who must not have seen a Marvel Film at the cinema before....do not leave when the credits start to roll!

Film 33 - A Long Way Down

Film 33 - A Long Way Down

Pierce Brosnan decides that enough is enough an takes himself up to the top of a building on New Years Eve ready to jump after being convicted of sleeping with a minor, losing his TV presenting job, prison sentence and eventual messy divorce.  As he stands on the edge enjoying his last cigar, he is disturbed by Maureen (Toni Collette) who asks him if he is going to make a move soon as she is waiting to do the same.  Moment later, the annoying Imogen Poots and Aaron Paul are all on the same roof with the same intention.  The group form a pact where they will not try to take their life before Valentines Day.

Parts of the film where really engaging and I really enjoyed the "Maureen" story, Imogen Poots is someone I really do not understand, she seems to have sprung from nowhere and is in almost every film released this month.  But, I am not a fan.

Nick Hornby has produced some fantastic novels and High Fidelity for me is one of his best, but I could not really engage with the characters in this film 

A little long winded, some fun bits, but mostly just plodding along

Film 32 - Starred Up

Starred Up - 28/03/2014

Shawshank this is not!

As a teenager moving from Juvenile prison to Adult prison, Eric (Jack O'Connell) is a violent, abusive and down right nightmare, aims to prove his status quickly and also meet his estranged father who also is in the same prison.  

This seems to be a character that Jack O'Connell is perfect to play.  I have seen him in a couple of films and he always seems to play the really dis likable but perfectly acted "scally"

Starred up is not one to take your mum or aunty with a a nervous disposition to see.  A large percentage of this film is 4-letter expletives or the F variety or "See You Next Tuesday", it is no holds barred on the violence and disturbing nature of prison life.

I found myself sat forward for 90% of Starred Up completely engaged in the story and developments of the character.  Eric is someone who should never he released back into society even though he may start to show some improvement with his anger management issue, he is the anti-hero that you should not care about, but start to.

Brilliantly acted by Jack O'Connell, Rupert Friend (as the volunteer group counselor), Ben Medleson as Eric's father and pretty much the whole group of inmates and corrupt guards.

Film 31 - Labor Day

Labor Day - 25/03/2014

Stockholm Syndrome, or capture-bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which the hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with them.

Kate Winslett plays a socially inept, recently divorced, mum of one who is held hostage by an escaped fugitive, Josh Brolin.   Feelings grow between the "family" as the fugitive hides from neighbours, police and the rest of the world.  Josh teaches Kate how to bake, laugh, and love again, whilst also teaching the son how to play baseball.  All this happens within a long bank-holiday weekend.

All I can assume is that due to her social deprivation, the first male she has spent any decent amount of time with suddenly becomes an infatuation.  Either that or he makes a fantastic chilli!  Her son on the other hand is so in need of a father figure that he begins to dote on the fugitive almost immediately. This must be Stockholm Syndrome to the extreme, within 24 hours they are madly in love and ready to run away together.

There was one scene in the film that rang true with both Clare and I and brought a little tear to our eyes.  This was not down to the acting, but the subject being portrayed on the screen.  The reasons and feelings from this one scene resonated to our own lives and the loss of a child during early pregnancy.  Not wanting to see other people for fear of not being able to control emotions and seeing happy mothers and babies all around is very hard, and without the support of a loving family, I am sure we could have been in a similar situation to Kate Winslet and we too could have hidden ourselves away from everyone and everything.

Labor Day is set in 1987 and there is so much product and film placement to remind you of this all the way through it becomes a "Spot the Reference" game.  From posters of ET and Empire Strikes Back to shops full of retro cola cans.

To have the film narrated by Tobey Maguire and have him make a little cameo was really off putting too.  Also with Dawson (James Van Der Beek) making a little appearance as well as Agent Coulson from Agents of Shield and Avengers playing the estranged Dad (starting the film in scruffs and ending with him putting on a suit and tie could only mean he started his job in S.H.I.E.L.D at the end of the film), and then you throw in J K Simmons as the concerned peach loving neighbour, I started getting an urge to watch Spiderman!

A very forgettable film

Film 30 - The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel - 17/03/2014

I have seen a couple of Wes Anderson films so thought I knew what to expect from The Grand Budapest Hotel.  What we saw blew those expectations away.

Gustav M, the concierge of the titular hotel who is loved by his guests (a little more than they should be, despite their age), takes under his wing Zero, a lobby boy with aspirations.  What follows is a crime caper, murder, family feuds, prison and escape. 

The film has a Pythonesque feel to it for the entirety.  The way the characters walk, exist, and react in this world is comical, the way they talk is very similar to Wes Anderson films and was sometimes hard to follow. but this made it more interesting.

GHB is a beautiful looking film, bright and vibrant with engaging characters 

Part IV had me in hysterics for the whole section, and the ski run is just pure genius.

I cannot lie, this is a bizarre film, and gauging from the reaction from the veteran audience in with us at Cineworld, not to everyone's tastes.

The Cross Keys had us laughing as Our Bill (next door neighbour - see The Monuments Men) turned up again. 

Film 29 - The Book Thief

The Book Thief - 15/03/2014

During World War II, Liesel, sheltered by adoptive parents finds comfort stealing and reading books and sharing them with others. She meets Max, a Jewish refugee, who is hiding in their basement who drives her passion for the written word.

This is a child's perspective of World War II, sometimes it feels like a film for children, sometimes a fable, sometimes historical.  A very interesting story to it, although I think the narration from Death is unnecessary for the film (I haven't read the Markus Zuzak novel, so don't know how important this actually is).

The Book Thief is an enjoyable film, but far too drawn out.  I do not have issues with long films, and at 131 mins this is hardly an epic, but it does seem to drag it's heels for pretty much the full running time.  For me, it could have been edited a further 40 mins and still told the same story (and probably would have attracted a younger audience and taught them something)

Geoffrey Rush is great in his "Papa" role and Emily Watson is the grumpy (but loving) "Mama".  Sophie Nelisse (Liesel) was very good in the titular role, but sometime seemed to lose the German accent.  Rudy (Nico Liersch) was a little annoying for me, and wasn't strong enough an actor to carry his role.

John Williams (the God of Soundtracks) did his usual with the score, what a legend!

Film 28 - The Zero Theorem

The Zero Theorem - 14/03/2014

The Zero Theorem, directed by Terry Gilliam is......erm......well, it's about.......

There is.......

I....

......

I really haven't got a clue how to do anymore on this.

Watch 12 Monkeys, it's brilliant.

Film 27 - 300: Rise of an Empire

300: Rise of an Empire - 08/03/2014

With five minutes to go the action really started, and then the film ended.

I loved the style, flair and passion behind "300", and King Leonidas was fantastic as were his 300 Spartan Warriors.  When the Spartan 300 are marching towards Hell's Gates they meet a group of Arcadians whose professions are Sculptors, Potters and Blacksmiths.  When Leonidas asks the professions on his Spartans the response clearly proves which is the group of warriors.

This is what 300: Rise of an Empire felt like for me, a weak version to the strong predecessor.  With the outer shell looking like a strong and well structured force, but weak and not ideal for the job underneath

Eva Green's character was very well portrayed and evil to the max, but Thermistokles was just not strong enough

There are some fantastic action scenes beautifully choreographed as with the original, comic book styled violence with vibrant colours.

Some good scenes, but just stick with the original

Film 26 - Ride Along

Ride Along - 01/03/2014

Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh made buddy cop movies for me in the 80's/90's and this has never been topped since.  The connection between the two cops from different backgrounds just worked.

Again in 2001, in a different style,  Denzel took Ethan Hawke for a "Training Day" and blew me away.

Ride Along is a buddy cop movie with Ice Cube taking brother-in-law to be, Kevin Hart on a training day to see if he can cut it and prove he is worthy to marry Ice's sister.  There are a few references to Training Day, and every other buddy cop movie has followed the same story.  The reveal of the bad guys was predicted at the very start of the movie, the double cross detectives were obvious from the very word go.

Kevin Hart is big bucks at the minute, taking America by storm.  But, his whiny voice didn't do anything for me.  A few funny moments but nothing that we hadn't seen in the trailer.

If you really have the urge to watch a buddy cop movie, watch Lethal Weapon (any of them, they all work). If you want to watch the movie they keep referring, then I definitely recommend Training Day.