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/

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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: TAKEN 2 (2012)

Director: Olivier Megaton
Writers: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Running time: 88 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
UK Release date: 4^th October 2012

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 8^th September 2013.

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

Having seen and enjoyed the first film in this series I was quite looking forward to a second instalment. Sadly it fell flat due to the studio’s insistence on “maximizing the audience” by toning it down to get a lower age certificate. So I was surprised to find the version showing on TV with a 15 Cert. as opposed to the 12 Cert. it was given on release. Now I know certification for TV works differently to that for a cinema release but even so I was actually looking forward to this one. I won’t do a summary this time because it’s basically the same story as the first film but with an element of revenge.

A well shot film making full use of its surroundings, Istanbul in this case. Well paced with the level action keeping the adrenalin pumping almost from the start. The performances were all very good although I felt nobody was particularly stretched. Liam Neeson was his usual self as Bryan Mills, Maggie Grace was good as daughter Kim, as was Famke Janssen as wife Lenore. Also worthy of note was Rade Serbedzija as major bad guy, Murad Krasniqi. It was ok as a piece of entertainment but I felt it didn’t do anything the first film didn’t. You usually expect a sequel to expand on the story of the first but this one virtually told the same story but with a couple of alterations. It seemed like the studio (Fox) were just out to cash in on the success of the first one. I’m just glad I didn’t go and watch it in a cinema but still, if you want entertainment that won’t stretch the little grey cells to much, then this is the one for you.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED (Just)

My score: 6.3/10.

IMDb Score: 6.2/10 (based on 124,940 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1397280/

MetaScore: 45/100: (Based on 35 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 21/100: (based on 162 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 54/100: (based on 197,482 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/taken_2_2012/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
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LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: UNKNOWN (2011)

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Writers: Oliver Butcher (screenplay), Stephen Cornwell (screenplay), Didier Van Cauwelaert (novel “Out of My Head”)
Running time: 113 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Mystery/Thriller
UK Release date: 4^th March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 20^th January 2013.

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

I’ll admit I am partial to the odd mystery thriller and this one seemed to fit the bill. From what I recall, it came out to a bit of a luke-warm reception from the critics and so I wasn’t expecting a great deal. I was pleasantly surprised; a nice slick thriller which, although it didn’t break any new ground, was entertaining enough. Here’s a very brief outline before I give you my thoughts.

When scientist Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) arrives in Berlin with his wife, Elizabeth (January Jones), he is involved in a traffic accident. This leaves him in a coma for four days and when he wakes he can only remember fragments of his life. He checks out of the hospital and returns to their hotel where Elizabeth denies knowing him, and what’s worse, there’s another man (Aidan Quinn), pretending to be him! Now desperate, he tracks down the driver of the taxi that was involved in the accident; Gina (Diane Kruger). She is reluctant to help him because she is an illegal immigrant but finally agrees. A former Stazi agent, Ernst Jürgen (Bruno Ganz) also agrees to help him and from here the pieces finally begin to come together. I will say no more or you will know too much.

Very well made with some very slick editing keeping the pace pretty high all the way through. It did feel a little like a travelogue in parts, giving us all the iconic views of Berlin whenever the plot brings the action outside. To be fair though, there are a few seedier parts of the city shown as well. All the main cast played their parts well with Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger standing out. I also enjoyed the performance of Bruno Ganz as the ageing former Stazi agent and it was nice to see Frank Langella as Martin’s old colleague, Rodney Cole. Over all, a decent watch that doesn’t really break any new ground but does what it says on the tin (and I can’t knock it for that).

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 7.0/10.

IMDb Score: 6.9/10 (based on 122,682 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1401152/

MetaScore: 56/100: (Based on 38 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 65/100 (based on 189 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 56/100 (based on 70,656 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unknown_white_male/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
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FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Pilot's Voice: Ladies and gentlemen, we're beginning our descent into Berlin Tegel, where local time is 8:30 AM, and the temperature is a cool minus four degrees.
Dr. Martin Harris: Morning.
Elizabeth Harris: Did you sleep?
Dr. Martin Harris: No. I'll sleep at the hotel.

Dr. Martin Harris: I don't know who this man is but you have to arrest him or many people will die!

Ernst Jürgen: We Germans are experts at forgetting. We forgot we were Nazis. Now we have forgotten 40 years of Communism - all gone.

Gina: [accepting his special watch in payment] Sentiment, it's always the first thing to go.

Dr. Martin Harris: You should have let me drown.
Gina: What matters is what you do now, Martin.

LINKS:
(NOTE: All links were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://unknownmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/
Trailer:

Film Review: THE GREY (2011)

Director: Joe Carnahan
Writers: Joe Carnahan (screenplay), Ian Mackenzie Jeffers (screenplay/short story “Ghost Walker”)
Running time: 112 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama
UK Release date: 27^th January 2012

Watched on DVD Sunday 15^th July 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I had heard good things about this film and I was lucky enough to have the DVD lent to me for a viewing. It’s a film of highs and lows and one I would watch again, but maybe not for a while. For me, it didn’t quite live up to the hype (little does these days) but it was still worth a look. Here’s a brief summary then I’ll give you my thoughts.

Ottway is employed by an oil company in Alaska to shoot the wolves that come prowling around their drilling facility. He is a man on the edge, haunted by memories of his wife, almost at the point of suicide. When returning to Anchorage on a plane with a group of other workers, he is thrown into a fight for his life when it crashes leaving the survivors in the wilderness. He manages to gather those that remain together but then discovers that there are wolves in the area… and they’re hungry. The few that survived, Diaz, Taglet, Hendrick, Flannery, Burke and Lewenden, together with Ottway, make a bit for a tree-line they can see in the distance. If they make it there they know it’s now a battle for survival, not only against the wolves but also the elements and their own fears. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Alaska Division) will have me clearing up all the snow (again).

I was impressed with the sound design on this one, I watched it with the sound on my 5.1 surround-sound system turned up and it really felt like I was in a blizzard in Alaska (even on a summers day here in Yorkshire – not hard I hear you say). I also liked the cinematography, making full use of the scenery, but with some great close-up work as well. All the performances were very good; particularly Liam Neeson as Ottway, he played the starring role very well (as you’d expect). Also worthy of note were; Frank Grillo as Diaz, Dermot Mulroney as Taglet, Dallas Roberts as Hendrick, Joe Anderson as Flannery and Nonso Anozie as Burke.

For a film set in the wilderness it, surprisingly, relied heavily on the dialogue between the various characters. Some of which was very well written and well delivered; I just felt the pictures could have told more of the story. It was a little cliché in places and I did feel, towards the end, that they were running out of ways to kill them off. A little too long (IMO), but there was just enough there for me to deem it RECOMMENDED (just).

My score: 6.5/10

IMDb Score: 7.0/10 (based on 71,689 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1601913/

MetaScore: 64/100: (Based on 35 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 79/100 (based on 178 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 64/100 ‘Liked it’ (based on 64,605 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_grey_2012/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE
[first lines]
Ottway: A job at the end of the world. A salaried killer for a big petroleum company. I don't know why I did half the things I've done, but I know this is where I belong, surrounded by my own. Ex-cons, fugitives, drifters, assholes. Men unfit for mankind.

[repeated line]
Ottway's Wife: Don't be afraid.

Ottway: [trying to calm him] It's good. It's good that it hurts.
Flannery: It's good?
Ottway: It's good, yeah.
Flannery: Oh well then I'm fuckin' fabulous.

Ottway: Put that back. Put it Back! We're not looting dead bodies for swag.
Diaz: You got lucky today Ottway. You should be lying there with them. Don't push it.
Ottway: I'm not going to say it again.
Diaz: Motherfucker take a big step back!
Ottway: I'm going to start beating the shit out of you in the next five seconds. And you're going to swallow a lot of blood for a fucking billfold.

Hendrick: Is that it? You're just gonna sit there? Is that what you want?
Diaz: Yeah.
Hendrick: After what we survived?
Diaz: That's exactly why. What I got waiting for me back there? I'm gonna sit on a drill all day. Get drunk all night. That's my life. Turn around and look at that.
[mountains]
Diaz: I feel like that's all for me. How do I beat that. When will it ever be better? I can't explain it.

[last lines]
Ottway: Once more into the fray. Into the last good fight I'll ever know. Live and die on this day. Live and die on this day.

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

Film Review: BATMAN BEGINS (2005)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Bob Kane (characters), David S. Goyer (story/screenplay), Christopher Nolan (screenplay)
Running time: 144 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Crime/Drama
UK Release date: 16^th June 2005

Watched on DVD Sunday 8^th July 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

It has been a while since I first saw this film and I had forgotten just how good it was! Totally epic with a tremendous soundtrack by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, it really takes your breath away. I thought Tim Burton’s 1989 re-imagining of the Batman story was good but this was truly epic. Not that Nolan hasn’t borrowed from Burton to some extent; it’s very dark in tone and the styling is very gothic, just as in Burton’s version. Where this has the edge is in the way the story is told and how the characters evolve… But more of that later, here’s a very brief summary before I tell you more.

When his parents are murdered by a mugger young Bruce Wayne is devastated. He has inherited the Wayne fortune but later, when the man responsible for his parents’ murder is himself murdered by crime boss, Carmine Falcone; he leaves to travel the world and learn how to defeat men like him. Eventually he comes across Henri Ducard who, in turn, introduces him to Ra’s Al Ghul, the leader of a fighting force who call themselves the League of Shadows. They are sworn to destroy evil in the world, no matter the cost. Wayne trains with them and he is forced to face his darkest fears. When the time comes for him to join them though, he refuses and returns to Gotham. Here the family butler, Alfred helps him re-enter society and gain a place back at the family business. He now has a purpose and uses the company resources, with the help of former board member, Lucius Fox, to equip himself for the next phase of his plan – the Batman. His childhood sweetheart, now district attorney, Rachel Dawes and a cop, Jim Gordon, become part of his plan to bring down Carmine Falcone; but are there are other, more sinister, parties behind him?... I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Gotham Division) will have me manning the bat-signal (again).

Beautifully shot with some stunning CGI; chiefly used for the cityscapes of Gotham, and they look great. The sets and locations all blur seamlessly together and make for a visual treat; Nolan certainly has an eye for this kind of thing. All the performances were excellent; especially Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, he really nailed it. I must also give praise to Michael Caine as Alfred; a role he could have been born to play, I thought he was perfect. Katie Holmes was also very good as Rachel Dawes, as were Liam Neeson as Henri Ducard, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon. I will give honourable mentions to; Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow, Tom Wilkinson as Carmine Falcone, Rutger Hauer as Earle and Ken Watanabe as Ra’s Al Ghul. Oh, and if you look carefully you might spot a young Jack Gleeson (currently on TV’s ‘A Game of Thrones’) in a minor role.

I’m sure that many people saw ‘The Dark Knight’, the sequel to this film, and wet back to re-watch this one. I have, of course, seen both but decided to re-watch them in order so I can get some perspective before the third instalment is released in a couple of weeks. As I said at the beginning, I had forgotten just how epic this film was and how it manages to hold your attention virtually all the way through. All the characters are quite believable (despite being based on a fantasy comic book) and their motivations are made clear. Something that many filmmakers forget but something that is vitally important when it comes to keeping the attention of the audience. For me, one of the best origin story movies I’ve seen and one I have no problem in deeming… HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My score: 9.1/10

IMDb Score: 8.3/10 (based on 414,263 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0372784/

MetaScore: 70/100: (Based on 41 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 85/100 (based on 261 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 90/100 ‘Liked it’ (based on 969,838 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_begins/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Enormous Prisoner: You are in hell, little man!
[punches Bruce Wayne]
Enormous Prisoner: And I am the devil!
[punches him again]
Bruce Wayne: You're not the devil. You're practice.

Bruce Wayne: They told me there was nothing out there, nothing to fear. But the night my parents were murdered I caught a glimpse of something. I've looked for it ever since. I went around the world, searched in all the shadows. And there is something out there in the darkness, something terrifying, something that will not stop until it gets revenge... Me.

[Bruce is refusing to demonstrate his commitment to justice by executing a criminal]
Ra's Al Ghul: You cannot lead these men unless you are prepared to do what is necessary to defeat evil.
Bruce Wayne: And where would I be leading these men?
Ra's Al Ghul: Gotham. As Gotham's favoured son you will be ideally placed to strike at the heart of criminality.
Bruce Wayne: How?
Ra's Al Ghul: Gotham's time has come. Like Constantinople or Rome before it the city has become a breeding ground for suffering and injustice. It is beyond saving and must be allowed to die. This is the most important function of the League of Shadows. It is one we've performed for centuries. Gotham... must be destroyed.

Dr. Jonathan Crane: I am more than aware that you are not intimidated by *me*, Mr. Falcone. But you know who I'm working for, and when he gets here...
Carmine Falcone: He-he's coming to Gotham?
Dr. Jonathan Crane: Yes he is. And when he gets here, he's not gonna want to hear that you have endangered our operation just to get your thugs out of a little jail time.

Earle: Jessica, where are you?
[walks into outer room]
Bruce Wayne: [to Jessica] Eye on the ball, and...
Earle: Why is no one answering the phone?
[sees Bruce from behind, teaching Jessica to play golf]
Bruce Wayne: [turning around] It's Wayne Enterprises, Mr. Earle, I'm sure they'll call back.
Earle: Bruce? You're supposed to be dead.
Bruce Wayne: I'm sorry to disappoint.

Batman: Falcone sent them to kill you.
Rachel Dawes: Why?
Batman: You rattled his cage.
[throws photos of Judge Faden with prostitutes]
Rachel Dawes: What's this?
Batman: Leverage.
Rachel Dawes: For what?
Batman: To get things moving.
Rachel Dawes: Who are you?
Batman: Someone like you. Someone who'll rattle the cages.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www2.warnerbros.com/batmanbegins/index.html
Trailer:

Film Review: KINSEY (2004)

Writer/Director: Bill Condon
Running time: 118 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Biography/Drama
UK Release date: 14^th March 2005

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 23^rd June 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

A film that was critically acclaimed when it came out, I decided to give it a look to see what all the fuss was about. As I recall, it didn’t do too well at the box office and so I wasn’t surprised to find it tucked away on a late-night showing on a Sunday night. A film I found put me through a whole set of emotions and one that I’m sure will make the audience ask questions of themselves as well. But I digress, here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Alfred Kinsey was an entomologist (a scientist who specialises in insects) who had spent twenty years on an exhaustive study of a particular species of wasp. One day some students, a married couple, come to ask his advice on a problem of a sexual nature. He does his best to answer them but, having only recently married himself, felt frustrated that he didn’t have all the answers. He decides to conduct his own study and the bulk of the film concentrates on this study and the effect it has on him and those around him. I don’t want to say too much more, just that the film very much concentrates on Kinsey and those around him, the content of the study is only touched on, so if you were expecting something maybe a little more explicit then you may be disappointed.

Well made, although I did feel it came over as a bit of a ‘by the numbers’ biopic. Having said that there were some very good performances on show, particularly from Liam Neeson as Albert Kinsey, Laura Linney as Clara McMillen (his wife) and, in a smaller role, John Lithgow as his overbearing father, Alfred Seguine Kinsey. Also worthy of note were; Chris O'Donnell as Wardell Pomeroy, Peter Sarsgaard as Clyde Martin, Timothy Hutton as Paul Gebhard, Tim Curry as Thurman Rice and Oliver Platt as Herman Wells.

Although there’s no denying the impact the work that Kinsey did had on modern society, I felt the film was a bit of a let-down. It did have its moments of sentimentality, but there was much more that I couldn’t connect with. I guess because I never really connected with any of the main characters. The start is quite slow and ponderous but it does pick up through the middle third; by the third act I felt it had lost focus again. During the process of compiling his data Kinsey explores his own sexuality and in showing this (I believe) the filmmakers made a big mistake. After that I found it hard to take the him seriously I’m afraid and, although they do try to separate sex and love; and fail miserably; the film never really did enough to redeem itself. Worth a look, up to a point, but be warned; some of you may find some of it hard to swallow (in more ways than one).

My score: 5.9/10

IMDb Score: 7.1/10 (based on 28,156 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0362269/

MetaScore: 90/100: (Based on 189 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 79/100 (based on 40 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 73/100 ‘Liked It’ (based on 32,388 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kinsey/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Alfred Kinsey: Love is the answer, isn't it? But, sex raises a lot of very interesting questions...

Clyde Martin: When did you first begin masturbating?
Old Woman: I INVENTED it, son.

Alfred Kinsey: [Kinsey is teaching his first class] Who can tell me which part of the human body can enlarge a hundred times. You, miss?
Female Student: [indignantly] I'm sure I don't know. And you've no right to ask me such a question in a mixed class.
Alfred Kinsey: [amused] I was referring to the pupil in your eye, young lady.
[class laughs]
Alfred Kinsey: And I think I should tell you, you're in for a terrible disappointment.

Wardell Pomeroy: How old were you when you first engaged in sexual activity with a partner?
Research Subject: 14.
Wardell Pomeroy: How?
Research Subject: With horse.
Wardell Pomeroy: [pause] How often were you having intercourse with animals at age 14?
Research Subject: [stunned] It's true. I fucked a pony. You are genius, how did you know?
Wardell Pomeroy: You just said you had
[pause]
Wardell Pomeroy: sex with horse.
Research Subject: Nooo... Whores, not horse, *whores*.

Clyde Martin: Just one more question. You've just told me your entire history: childhood, family, career, every person you've ever had sex with. But there hasn't been a single mention of love.
Alfred Kinsey: That's because it's impossible to measure love. And, as you know, without measurements there can be no science. But I have been thinking a lot about the problem lately.
Clyde Martin: Mmh, "problem"?
Alfred Kinsey: When it comes to love, we're all in the dark.
Clyde Martin: So, you do think it matters?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/kinsey/
Trailer:

Film Review: AFTER.LIFE (2009)

Co-Writer/Director: Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo
Running time: 99 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama/Horror/Mystery
UK Release date: 28th August 2010 (Film4 FrightFest)

Watched on Sky+ Monday 11th July 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I really didn’t know much about this film before seeing it, apart from a mention it got on a film review TV program about a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised with this psychological thriller with a bit of a supernatural twist. It’s a lot better than it appears to have been rated on certain web sites (you know who you are Rotten Tomatoes!). Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my take on it.

Schoolteacher Anna Taylor has an argument with her boyfriend, Paul Coleman, at a restaurant one stormy night. She leaves in a temper, takes her car and drives into the night. Distracted by her thoughts she ends up in an accident. The next thing she knows she wakes up on a slab in a mortuary run by Eliot Deacon. He tells her she’s dead and only he can hear and speak to her. Of course she doesn’t believe him and tries to leave, but he won’t let her. Is she really dead, or does Mr Deacon have a secret? Well, yes, you guessed it; I’m not going to tell you here. Those Spoiler Police are getting tougher.

A pretty well made film that I found quite atmospheric. It always keeps you guessing with some quite clever plot twists. Good performances all round, particularly from Christina Ricci as Anna Taylor and Liam Neeson as Eliot Deacon. Both were excellent, as was Justin Long as Paul Coleman, he really surprised me with this one. Oh, and a special mention for young Chandler Canterbury as one of Anna’s pupils, Jack, he did a great job too.

Although it did fall into the odd cliché here and there, I found the plot entertaining and refreshingly different from many film of this ilk I’ve seen in recent years. Yes, it’s not the most original idea, and there were one or two continuity errors, but I liked the way it was done and I liked the ending (no clues here). Over all, certainly worth a rental… Recommended.

My Score 6.7/10

LINKS:
(RT = Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0838247/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/after.life/
Official Site: http://www.afterlifethefilm.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: THE A-TEAM (2010)

Co-Writer/Director: Joe Carnahan
Running time: 114 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Thriller
UK Release date: 30th July 2010

Watched on Sky+ Monday 4th July 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember the TV show for it’s humour and the clever ways Hannibal Smith put his ‘plans’ together. Oh, and the fact that they could fire 6,000 bullets in one scene without anybody getting hit. All these elements feature in the film version and yet, to be honest, I didn’t really care for it all that much. The characters were all very superficial, the bad guys were bad, the good guys were not as bad as the bad guys and I was quite glad when it was over.

For a change I won’t bother with a summary of the plot, there is one clever twist in it, but I won’t bore you with the details. Let’s instead have a look at the visuals… The CGI is all very well done, but there is an awful lot of it. There are plenty of explosions, enough to rival a Stallone action blockbuster! There was some nice stunt work though, both with vehicles and people on the ground, hats off to those guys. Although I saw it in 2D it was very obvious it was made for 3D and it didn’t look all that great (IMO).

Moving on to performances, well everyone was just about adequate; Liam Neeson was ok as Hannibal, although I thought his accent was totally wrong. Bradley Cooper did a decent job as Face, as did Jessica Biel as Charissa Sosa, the female lead. Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson (now there’s a name to conjure with) did ok (just) as B.A. Baracus and, for me, the star turn was Sharlto Copley as Murdock, despite the poor material he had to work with. Moving on to the bad guys, Patrick Wilson did a decent job as Lynch, as did Brian Bloom as Brock Pike.

Although visually exciting, I found this one a bit too tame, probably due to it’s 12 rating here in the UK. I would have loved to see a much grittier 18 Certificate version, but sadly it’s all about money these days. At the end of the day it did have a half decent plot, although I’ve not covered it here, and the visuals and the stunts were pretty good. Plot-wise I found it all a bit too tame, but worthy of a watch… Just one mind you.

My Score: 6.0/10

LINKS:
(RT = Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0429493/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_team/
Trailer: