Film Review: PONYO (2008)

Writer/Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Running time: 101 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family
UK Release date: 12^th February 2010

Watched on Terrestrial PVR Friday 27^th September 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Time being of the essence, I’m going to keep this short today. I heard many good things about Ponyo when it came out and have tried to see it a couple of times before, but always seemed to miss the boat (pardon the pun). Finally managed to pin it down about a month ago though and have been waiting for it to bubble to the top of the pile on my Freeview PVR ever since. Well the day finally arrived and it was definitely worth the wait. I’m a fan of the work of Studio Ghibli and of Miyazaki in particular and so that’s no huge surprise. No summary this time, I’m going straight into my thoughts.

Beautifully animated with all the style and grace of Miyazaki’s work. It is distinctively his own and I hope nobody ever tries to copy it. I saw it in the ‘Americanised’ Disney version with some well known names in the cast. For me though, I feel it always loses something; I would have rather seen it with its original Japanese soundtrack. For some reason, that gives it a little more authenticity and also makes it a little more mystical. But the English language version was ok too with the likes of Cate Blanchett as Granmamere, Liam Neeson as Fujimoto, Tina Fey as Lisa, Matt Damon as Kôichi, Frankie Jonas as Sôsuke and (of course) Noah Lindsey Cyrus as Ponyo. They all did a pretty good job. I very much liked to music by Joe Hisaishi as well, it has a great feel to it and fits the visuals really well. Over all, although I’m far from the target audience, I have to say I really enjoyed this engaging mystical tale. Maybe one for a very young audience, which proves I must be young at heart, but certainly a worthy watch.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 7.7/10 (based on 50,831 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/

MetaScore: 86/100: (Based on 29 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 92/100: (based on 158 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 80/100: (based on 93,134 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ponyo/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site (Disney): http://movies.disney.com/ponyo
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PONYO
Trailer:

Film Review: HANNA (2011)

Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Seth Lochhead (Story/Screenplay), David Farr (Screenplay)
Running time: 111 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Thriller
UK Release date: 6^th May 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 4^th March 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is one of those films that I have waited a long time to see. I remember when it came out I was slightly more than intrigued by its premise. Of course it didn’t make it to my local cinema and so I waited patiently for it to turn up on TV; a slightly muted response from the critics precluded a DVD purchase. Well, as you can probably guess, my long wait ended today and a viewing was arranged for this morning. I will give you my thoughts after this very brief summary.

Hanna has been brought up by her father, Erik, in northern Finland ever since she was very young. Home schooled with the help of an Encyclopaedia and trained in all forms of combat, he has been preparing her for what will inevitably come; but he will let her decide when the time is right. Eventually the time comes and he must leave her to fend for herself as agents move in. She is taken to a secret base where a certain CIA agent, Marissa, is very interested in her case. Hanna is not one for lying down though and she makes her escape. It’s now a chase and Hanna has to get to her father, who is now making his way to a pre-arranged rendezvous. She also has find out just what is so special about herself. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Thrillers Division) will be tapping my phone (again).

Really well made with some excellent fight scenes and action sequences; hats off to the stunt guys (& gals). I thought all the performances were very good, although I do have to single out Cate Blanchett as Marissa; she played the cold-hearted baddy very well indeed. Also worthy of note were; Saoirse Ronan who did an excellent job as Hanna; Eric Bana who was very good as Erik; Jessica Barden who did a good job as Sophie; Aldo Maland as her little brother Miles; Olivia Williams as Rachel, Jason Flemyng as Sebastian and Tom Hollander as Isaacs.

Although I quite enjoyed this film I felt it suffered, as many do these days, from the target audience it was aimed at and hence it’s certification. To tell this story with any conviction, I believe, a much tougher edge needed to be given to it. However, it did what it said on the tin and I cannot knock it for that. One thing I did like, amongst others, was the fact that the narrative did not fall into the trap of being so predictable that it became a chore to watch. Over all, quite enjoyable without being great… Even so… Recommended.

My score: 6.8/10.

IMDb Score: 6.9/10 (based on 68,330 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0993842/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 71/100 (based on 203 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 66/100 (based on 60,901 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hanna/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Hanna: I just missed your heart.

Hanna: Adapt or die.
Erik: Think on your feet.
Hanna: Even when I'm sleeping.

Hanna: Can we still be friends?
Sophie: I don't know. I mean, I don't really know who you are, do I?
Hanna: That's just it. Neither do I.

Marissa: Why now, Erik?
Erik: Kids grow up.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.hannathemovie.com/
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HannaMovie
Trailer:

Film Review: ROBIN HOOD (2010)

Director: Ridley Scott
Running time: 140 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A

UK Release date: 12th May 2010

Watched at the cinema Saturday 15th May 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have been a fan of the work of Ridley Scott for quite a few years now and so I was quite excited to see his latest offering. The story of Robin Hood has been told many times over the years, both as comedies and as more serious films. This rendition is a bit different, in that we are told the story of Robin and his men before they became outlaws.

Robin’s story begins in France. Having followed King Richard to the Holy Land for the crusades, master longbow man Robin Longstride and the rest of the King’s army are heading home. On their way they are pillaging as many French castles as they can. During one of these sieges the king is killed by a crossbow bolt through the neck. His crown is entrusted to Sir Robert Loxley to return to England. A traitor, Godfrey, ambushes him but the attackers do not get away because Robin and his men, Little John, Will Scarlet and Alan A’Dayle, ambush the ambushers. Godfrey gets away but is scarred by an arrow shot by Robin. Sir Robert, mortally wounded, makes Robin promise to return not only the crown to London, but also his sword to his father in Nottingham. Having delivered the crown and seen Richard’s brother, John, crowned king, Robin and his men head for Nottingham. There he meets Sir Robert’s wife, Marion, and his father, Sir Walter. In order that Marion can hold onto their lands after his death, Sir Walter proposes that Robin stays on and pretends to be Sir Robert. He agrees, partly, I suspect, because he’s attracted to Marion. Here we are also introduced to Friar Tuck, who helps Robin take grain intended for the rich bishop in York and plant it in the local fields instead. Meanwhile, Godfrey has gained the new King’s confidence, ousted the royal chancellor, William Marshal and set off, with a group French soldiers to ‘collect taxes’ in the North. Now, I think I’ve told you enough of the plot, there’s a lot more, but I don’t want to spoil the ending.

I really enjoyed this film, beautifully shot and brilliantly imagined, as we’ve come to expect from Ridley Scott. There were even some funny moments that were very welcome, we so seldom see little jokes like that in most modern dramas. It did fall a little flat in the middle, but soon picked up when the action got towards the end. Decent performances from all of the major players, Russell Crowe as Robin Longstride, Cate Blanchett as Marion Loxley, Max von Sydow as Sir Walter Loxley, William Hurt as William Marshal, Mark Strong as Godfrey and Oscar Isaac as Prince John. I should also give honourable mentions to; Danny Huston as King Richard The Lionheart, Eileen Atkins as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Mark Addy as Friar Tuck, Kevin Durand as Little John, Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet and Alan Doyle as Allan A’Dayle. Sorry it’s such a long list.

There has been a lot of talk about accents, particularly that used by Russell Crowe for Robin. To be honest, it didn’t really bother me; I didn’t find it particularly distracting. Over all I found it quite an enthralling film to watch with plenty of action, although it does fall a bit flat in the middle. Beautifully shot and well directed by Ridley Scott, forgiving the rogue accent problem. I was somewhat taken aback by the events just before the end, but I won’t say too much about that (spoilers). Over all, recommended.

My score: 7.8/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/

Official Site: http://www.robinhoodthemovie.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi73860121/

Film Review: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (2008)

Director: David Fincher
Running time: 161 mins (approx)
Certificate (UK): 12
Released in the UK: 6th February 2009

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 14th February 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

David Fincher has directed some of my favorite films, both Se7en (1995) and Fight Club (1999) would easily make it into my top 100, maybe even my top 50. So it was with some anticipation that I watched this one. I was not disappointed, it’s a really great film that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go until it’s over. It’s not perfect, so few films are, but it’s certainly entertaining, if maybe a little too long.

Benjamin Button was born in 1918 in New Orleans on the day the Great War ended, that’s World War I for the uneducated. His mother had died giving him life and he looked old and wrinkled. His father, for some reason, took him out of the house and left him on the steps of an old peoples home run by Queenie. She took him in, not expecting him to live long, but, as it turned out, she was wrong. You see, for some reason, Benjamin was born old and, as we watch, he grows young. As time passes, he gets stronger and we learn about daily life at the home, the comings and goings and some of the characters that live and work there. One day, Benjamin meets a young girl calle Daisy, she is visiting he grandmother at the home. Although he looks in his seventies, he’s really about eight years old. They hit it off, and years later she has a great effect on Benjamin’s life. Eventually, when he’s seventeen, Benjamin leaves and joins the crew of a tugboat called “Chelsea”. They sail around the world and are in Russia when he meets Elizabeth Abbott, the wife of a British diplomat, with whom he has an affair. When World War II breaks out he stays with the tugboat and gets involved in some action, which he survives unscathed. On his return home his real father comes to him and tells of his regret for letting him go. He’s a rich man and he leaves it all to Benjamin. I won’t say any more anout the plot or I’ll be here all night, but needless to say he eventually meets Daisy again…

As I was watching this film I though it reminded my slightly of Forrest Gump (1994), but soon realised this film had a much bigger scope. It’s told mostly in flashback, with Daisy on her deathbed and her daughter, Caroline, reading Benjamin’s journal. I thought the make-up and special effects were really excellent, I really thought I was looking at an eighty year old Brad Pitt! Talking of which, Brad Pitt was really excellent as Benjamin Button and Cate Blanchett did a great job as Daisy. I must give honourable mentions to, Julia Ormond as Caroline, Taraji P. Henson as Queenie, Jared Harris as Captain Mike and Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth Abbott.

Over all, a really engaging film with a great cast, some great effects, that are subtly done and a really heart-warming ending. If anything, I found it a little over-long, but all in all, it’s one I can recommend.

My score: 8.3/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/
Official Site: http://www.benjaminbutton.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi2171469849/