Film Review: VOLVER (2006)

Writer/Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Running time: 121 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama
UK Release date: 25^th August 2006

Watched on Terrestrial PVR Monday 22^nd July 2013.

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

I’m not quite sure just how this one ended up on ‘The List’, but on ‘The List’ it has been for some time now. Fortunately, one of our more enlightened film channels here in the UK does show a fair smattering of foreign films and this happened to be among a recent batch. So a word of warning for those that fear the subtitle; this one’s in Spanish with, yes, those troublesome words at the bottom of the screen. A film with hardly any male cast, it made for a very interesting watch. I’ll tell you more after this very brief summary.

Raimunda (Penélope Cruz), and her sister, Sole (Lola Dueñas) are cleaning their parents’ grave in the village where they grew up. With them is Raimunda’s daughter, Paula (Yohana Cobo). Their parents had perished in a fire and Raimunda and Sole had been brought up by an aunt, also called Paula. One of the neighbours, Augustina (Blanca Portillo), looks out for the aunt, who is quite old and frail. Matters come to a head when the aunt dies and Raimunda has to deal with other problems as well; a body to move, etc. As is usual at this time, family skeletons are pushed out of the closet and much is revealed about the mother, Irene (Carmen Maura). All seems quite chaotic but you know it will work itself out in the end… Or will it?

With a predominantly female cast, the story is unveiled in quite a refreshing and unusual way. I have to admit I did like the way everything was taken in a very practical way. No navel gazing going on here! All the performances were excellent with Penélope Cruz showing us just what a great actress she is, this time in her native tongue. Although I felt it was good, I didn’t feel it was great; maybe a second viewing at a later date might knock it over that level, but for now, it didn’t quite get over the line. Still, there is much to admire here and I’m glad I took the time to give it a look.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 7.4/10.

IMDb Score: 7.6/10 (based on 55,788 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441909/

MetaScore: 84/100: (Based on 38 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 92/100 (based on 161 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 87/100 (based on 70,373 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/volver/

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: http://www.sonyclassics.com/volver/
Trailer:

Film Review: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (2011)

Director: Rob Marshall
Writers (Screenplay): Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
Running time: 132 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release date: 18^th May 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 29^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having seen all the previous films in the series and despite being woefully disappointed by the third instalment, I decided to give this one a go anyway. The critics tell me it’s better than “At Worlds End” and I am prepared (on this occasion) to believe them. Fortunately (for them), they were indeed correct and while not as good as the first two, it is an improvement. I will give you more of my thoughts after this brief summary.

This time Jack Sparrow is on the trail of the Fountain of Youth. Teaming up with an old flame, Angelica, who turns out to be the daughter of the notorious pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself aboard Blackbeard’s ship and on route to the island where the Fountain can be found. Also on their trail there is Barbossa who, having lost his leg to Blackbeard is out for revenge. Throw in the might of the Spanish fleet and there’s more than enough competition for the prize. Certain items have to be collected before the Fountain can be used, not least of which is the tear of a mermaid and this proves very difficult to obtain. I don’t want to say too much, but needless to say a perilous journey is about to culminate in the mother of all showdowns! I had better not say any more of the Spoiler Police (Pirates Division) will have me clapped in irons and keel-hauled.

Very well made with some excellent CGI and stunt work; these are the hallmarks of these films. Performance wise; Johnny Depp did his usual comic turn as Jack Sparrow, Penélope Cruz did a decent job as Angelica Teach, Geoffrey Rush was good (as ever) as Barbossa and Ian McShane I felt did a decent job as Blackbeard. Honourable mentions must also go to; Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Sam Claflin as Philip, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as Syrina, Stephen Graham as Scrum, Keith Richards as Captain Teague and Richard Griffiths as King George.

Although I did find it entertaining to a point, I did feel it got a little tedious and predictable towards the end. The trouble is, with three previous films, we have seen it all before and it does all get a little repetitive. I also felt it was way too long! I guess the films are still making large amounts of cash for the Disney machine and so they will continue to make them (sadly). I think, if you haven’t seen a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film before then I can recommend it to you; if you have, then be prepared for more of the same.

My score: 6.3/10

IMDb Score: 6.6/10 (based on 111,001 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1298650/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 33/100 (based on 245 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 61/100 (based on 145,528 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pirates_of_the_caribbean_on_stranger_tides/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[Standing on a cliff edge]
Jack Sparrow: You know that feeling you get when you're standing in a high place... sudden urge to jump?... I don't have it.

Blackbeard: [points the gun at Jack's head] I need those chalices.
Jack Sparrow: Shoot. Save me the bother of the fall.
Blackbeard: You will go and you will return. Or I will kill her.
[points the gun at Angelica]
Jack Sparrow: [surprised] You won't kill your own daughter.
Blackbeard: [hands the gun to the zombie quartermaster] Quartermaster, give me six more pistols, remove the shot from all but two and do not tell me which two.
[walks to where the six pistols are at]
Blackbeard: You get to choose, Mr.Sparrow.

Jack Sparrow: The fountain of youth, what does it require?
Angelica: A Mermaid, Jack.

Blackbeard: Bring the mermaid!
Philip: You're killing her.
Blackbeard: I'm a bad man.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.disney.co.uk/pirates-of-the-caribbean/index.jsp
Trailer:

Film Review: G-FORCE (2009)

Director: Hoyt Yeatman
Running time: 85 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

UK release date: 31st July 2009

Watched on Sky+ Monday 2nd August 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Maybe it’s because I’m male and still connected with the child inside, I don’t know, but I just like movies made for children. There’s something about a simple plot, uncomplicated characters and a happy ending that just appeals to me for some reason. But I digress; we’re here to talk about a bunch of CGI rodents.

A crack team of specially trained guinea pigs, Darwin, Juarez and Blaster, along with their tech guy, a mole called Speckles are on a mission. They have to infiltrate the home of electronics magnate Leonard Saber and steal secret files from his computer. The files reveal that there is a real threat to national security and the clock is ticking. When they go to show the information to the FBI, things go wrong and it all culminates in the withdrawal of funding for the program. This leaves the head of the program, Ben, a human, trying to persuade the FBI about the treat as the animals escape. They make it to a pet shop where they meet another guinea pig called Hurley and a hamster with an attitude called Bucky. Can the animals escape capture and make it back to Ben in time to save the day? Well, you guessed it; I’m not going to tell you right now.

Quite a well made film with some nice CGI creatures. I find that giving human attributes to animals never really works, but it’s something Disney has been persisting with for many years. Honourable mentions to the voice talents of Sam Rockwell as Darwin, Jon Favreau as Hurley, Nicolas Cage as Speckles, Penélope Cruz as Juarez, Steve Buscemi as Bucky and Tracy Morgan as Blaster. And the humans, Bill Nighy as Leonard Slater, Will Arnett as Kip Killian, Zach Galifianakis as Ben and Kelli Garner as Marcie.

There were one or two good jokes, but not a great deal to make the adult audience laugh. I thought the best scenes were in the pet shop. It’s one of those kind of OK films that you could quite happily have on in the background to keep the kids entertained, but not one I’d go out of my way to see again. Over all, not really recommended, but maybe a bargain bin DVD purchase to entertain the youngsters.

My score: 5.3/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0436339/
Official Site: http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/g-force.html
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi3233022489/

Film Review: VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (2009)

Writer/Director: Woody Allen
Running time: 93 mins (approx)

Certificate (UK): 12

UK Release Date: 13th February 2009

Watched on Sky+ Monday 17th May 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

As both a writer and a director, Woody Allen has made some funny, some thought provoking but always entertaining films. For me, this one falls into the thought provoking category. As with a lot of his films, this is an exploration of how relationships work. But let me tell you something of the plot first.

Friends Vicky and Cristina are to spend the summer in Barcelona. The more stable, and engaged, Vicky has arranged that they stay with her aunt Judy and husband Mark. Cristina, who has always been more daring, is just getting over writing and directing a twelve minute film she hated. They go out to see the sights and, after a few days they meet Juan Antonio, an artist, who offers to take them to a small town for the weekend where they can see the sights. He makes it clear his intentions are to get one, or both of them into bed. Cristina, being the more adventurous is keen to go and persuades Vicky to accompany her. After a day of sightseeing Cristina decides she wants to share Juan Antonio’s bed. Unfortunately she becomes ill right at the critical moment and ends up bedridden for the rest of the weekend. This leaves Vicky and Juan Antonio alone together. One thing leads to another and they end up in each others arms. When they return to Barcelona Juan Antonio calls Cristina up and they go out together. After a few weeks, Cristina moves in with Juan Antonio. And then Juan Antonio’s estranged wife, Maria Elena turns up. Throw in Vicky’s husband to be turning up and proposing they marry in Spain and you’ve got a pretty well mixed up Woody Allen plot. There is more, but, as ever I won’t give the ending away.

This is a very well made film with dialogue that is unmistakably written by Woody Allen. I do question some of the morality, but then again, Juan Antonio did make his intentions clear from the beginning. Very good performances from all of the major players, Rebecca Hall as Vicky, Scarlett Johansson as Cristina, Javier Bardem as Juan Antonio and Penélope Cruz as Maria Elena.

Although it’s not the kind of film I’d usually go out of my way to watch I did enjoy a lot of the dialogue and the way the film explores the neuroses of relationships. It’s pretty entertaining, especially whenever Maria Elena appears on the screen! Over all, recommended, but turn your moral compass off first.

My Score: 6.9/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0497465/
Official Site: http://www.vickycristina-movie.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi941753113/