Film/Documentary
Review by Chris
Enjoyable - Rating out of 100 - 61
When I sat down to watch Oceans 13 I was hoping it would repair some of the damage caused by Oceans 12 (I mean Julia Roberts pretending to be Julia Roberts, what were they thinking!), and it does, sort of.
The film starts with Willy Bank conning his business partner Reuben Tishkoff out of the ownership rights to a new casino they were building. Reuben suffers a heart attack which cue's Danny Ocean and co to form a revenge scam.
It's not that the plot is overly complex it's more how it's put together. The film feels a bit like a collection of scenes just thrown together with no real flow between them. The film is not as emotionally involving as it's predecessors either. With Oceans 11 I felt genuinely pleased when they succeed in robbing Terry Benedict but this time I just felt "happy for them". Which is more the sort of thing you just say when your ex-girlfriend find a new man.
The film is held together by Clooney and Pitt doing what they do best which is standing around in expensive suits looking ridiculously handsome.
In short the film is clever, fun, witty and entertaining but doesn't have to impact of Oceans 11. But then again not many films do.
Worth watching - A good film, not poor, not great, just good.
Wednesday 10 November 2010
Tuesday 2 November 2010
The Social Network Movie
Film/Documentary
Review by Chris
Very Good - Rating out of 100 - 74
I get easily excited but before seeing The Social Network my feet were twitching and my heart was beating more than normal.
The film documents the founding and rise of the social networking website - Facebook.
It gives an insight into the law suits and controversy surrounding the most popular website in the world. I found the film compelling yet with an undertone of sadness to see how money and power has corrupted a great friendship.
No Facebook staff or employees were involved in the film and I think this shows as every character was given a fair representation, Zuckerburg was portrayed as the genius he is with an obsessive work ethic, Sean Parker the playboy entrepreneur that made it all happen and Saverin as unfortunately one of the inevitable people who lost out.
I don't know how accurate the film is but I think it will appeal more to the geeky and nerdy amongst us. I came away feeling inspired about how a fairly simple idea, followed relentlessy, can turn into a £250 billion company.
Highly recommend - A fun, glamorous watch that keeps you entertained from start to finish.
Review by Chris
Very Good - Rating out of 100 - 74
I get easily excited but before seeing The Social Network my feet were twitching and my heart was beating more than normal.
The film documents the founding and rise of the social networking website - Facebook.
It gives an insight into the law suits and controversy surrounding the most popular website in the world. I found the film compelling yet with an undertone of sadness to see how money and power has corrupted a great friendship.
No Facebook staff or employees were involved in the film and I think this shows as every character was given a fair representation, Zuckerburg was portrayed as the genius he is with an obsessive work ethic, Sean Parker the playboy entrepreneur that made it all happen and Saverin as unfortunately one of the inevitable people who lost out.
I don't know how accurate the film is but I think it will appeal more to the geeky and nerdy amongst us. I came away feeling inspired about how a fairly simple idea, followed relentlessy, can turn into a £250 billion company.
Highly recommend - A fun, glamorous watch that keeps you entertained from start to finish.
Saturday 18 September 2010
Lymylife
Drama
Review by Jon
Enjoyable - Rating out of 100 - 65
I would like to have taken the 45 minutes of extra time that Inception should never have had and the entire run time of the Expendables, (did I mention those films were crap?) and allocated both to extending Lymylife.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film and could have happily watched it for another 2 hours. It's difficult to say why I enjoyed it so much as there are no characters to strongly like, or dislike, nothing especially eventful happens, (for a film anyway) and it's not particularly profound. (unless i missed something).
It's just a subtle story about people living in suburbia making a mess of their lives and muddling through.
Great script brings out the best in a good cast. Effortlessly engaging.
Highly recommend - left me wanting more!
Review by Jon
Enjoyable - Rating out of 100 - 65
I would like to have taken the 45 minutes of extra time that Inception should never have had and the entire run time of the Expendables, (did I mention those films were crap?) and allocated both to extending Lymylife.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film and could have happily watched it for another 2 hours. It's difficult to say why I enjoyed it so much as there are no characters to strongly like, or dislike, nothing especially eventful happens, (for a film anyway) and it's not particularly profound. (unless i missed something).
It's just a subtle story about people living in suburbia making a mess of their lives and muddling through.
Great script brings out the best in a good cast. Effortlessly engaging.
Highly recommend - left me wanting more!
Red
Drama
Review by Jon
'Watchable' - Rating out of 100 - 30
Straight to DVD. It had all the potential of being rubbish, but instead did well to take a trite plot and make it 'OK' to watch.
Sadistic, troubled small town rich kid (representing all that is wrong with society) shoots nice old man's dog for fun while impressing his friends. Nice old man is war veteran widower who stands for truth and justice.(representing all that's right with society)
Watch the cheese ooze out of your DVD player as it tries to read the disk.
However, for such a deliberately corny plot and the predictable events the film offers, it saves itself by being well acted, the dialogue is good and consequently the film remained quite believable.
A 'middle of the week' movie, take it or leave it.
Review by Jon
'Watchable' - Rating out of 100 - 30
Straight to DVD. It had all the potential of being rubbish, but instead did well to take a trite plot and make it 'OK' to watch.
Sadistic, troubled small town rich kid (representing all that is wrong with society) shoots nice old man's dog for fun while impressing his friends. Nice old man is war veteran widower who stands for truth and justice.(representing all that's right with society)
Watch the cheese ooze out of your DVD player as it tries to read the disk.
However, for such a deliberately corny plot and the predictable events the film offers, it saves itself by being well acted, the dialogue is good and consequently the film remained quite believable.
A 'middle of the week' movie, take it or leave it.
Fear Island
Thriller
Review by Jon
Rating out of 100 - 0
On the DVD case it said - ´will appeal to fans of Shutter Island' - why, because it's set on an island?
Moronic - as was the film.
I can't be bothered to say anything more, only...
...Do not watch this rubbish
Review by Jon
Rating out of 100 - 0
On the DVD case it said - ´will appeal to fans of Shutter Island' - why, because it's set on an island?
Moronic - as was the film.
I can't be bothered to say anything more, only...
...Do not watch this rubbish
Dying Breed
Thriller / Horror
Review by Jon
Good - Rating out of 100- 55
If the idea of being butchered to death by merciless half-wits scares you, then so will the film!
Set on the remote, wild island of Tasmania which has the sinister history of escaped convicts who turned to cannibalism to survive while on the run.
Two couples, (all of whom deserve to die) go on a 'camping trip' to investigate the disappearance of one of the girl's sisters some eight years ago. They arrive to a small hamlet where they encounter the usual threatening inbreds from whom you know 'no good will come'.
Even with the 'Scooby Doo' formula...they never stay together when they should... they upset the locals as soon as they get there, .. and so on, the film generates good tension all the way through and maintains its grisly potential right to the end.
Good - Much better than many with an almost identical theme . Watch as couple or with pillow to hand.
Review by Jon
Good - Rating out of 100- 55
If the idea of being butchered to death by merciless half-wits scares you, then so will the film!
Set on the remote, wild island of Tasmania which has the sinister history of escaped convicts who turned to cannibalism to survive while on the run.
Two couples, (all of whom deserve to die) go on a 'camping trip' to investigate the disappearance of one of the girl's sisters some eight years ago. They arrive to a small hamlet where they encounter the usual threatening inbreds from whom you know 'no good will come'.
Even with the 'Scooby Doo' formula...they never stay together when they should... they upset the locals as soon as they get there, .. and so on, the film generates good tension all the way through and maintains its grisly potential right to the end.
Good - Much better than many with an almost identical theme . Watch as couple or with pillow to hand.
Sunday 5 September 2010
Man Bites Dog
Black Comedy
Review by Jon
Very Good - Rating out of 100 - 85
If you are a film aficionado then this film is a must see - a bit a of cinematic history.
Not for the faint hearted I must say.
It's shot in the style of a documentary camera crew who follow the exploits of a cavalier, extrovert, deranged serial killer who thoroughly enjoys, and takes great pride in, indiscriminately executing and disposing of tens of victims in a manner that can only be describes as 'matter of fact' and informal.
This concept alone makes the film hilarious, (at least at the beginning) as you find yourself laughing at the most cruel, pshycotic behaviour - which in turn only makes it more funny because you know you shouldn't - rather like laughing in church or at a funeral.
Look out for the scene in which 'Ben' ( the principal character), charms his way in to an old lady's flat under the pretence of conducting a film about the elderly living alone - my favourite.
My only criticism is that while it starts out as a shocking, original comedy, the comedy so obvious in the beginning seams to fade until it arrives to a point when it simply becomes quite grim and macabre and then finally a little grey.
It's a shame that the directors felt it necessary to make so gruesome in places, it could have done with more comedy throughout and less hyper-realism.
However, its rare that you 'split your sides' laughing, and this film certainly delivers in places.
Highly recommend this, but you'll require a warped sense of humour.
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