Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon Movie Review
With this new work, Aardman Studios have lost none of their charm. It’s still very British and remains quite easily digestible. They also put those wonderful touches in that you need to be on the lookout for, like the Doctor Who cameo and the obligatory reference to toast.
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Staying true to the claymation technique keeps the character’s look organic and the emotional context warm. Tastefully mixing in CGI backgrounds and props helps to expand the possibilities. ...
True History of the Kelly Gang Movie Review
The film’s title is quite the misnomer as this is a highly stylised account of Ned Kelly and his family. Some of the creative choices yield engrossing scenes while others feel forced and dissipate momentum. This includes not capitalising on the acting of Nicholas Hoult who persuasively plays against his nice guy persona as the sadistic Constable Fitzpatrick. Odd that the chemistry between him and George MacKay’s Ned Kelly is so under-utilised.
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Their scenes ...
My Spy Movie Review
There is just not enough to work with here. The characters are written so one dimensionally that even when there is a hint of chemistry nothing becomes of it. Bautista and child actor Chloe Coleman have a few lovely moments together but the momentum is quickly stifled by a series of running gags that just don’t work.
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Little is made of the quirky presence of Kristen Schaal as JJ’s partner as she is tethered to a bank of computer screens almost the entire film. ...
1917 Movie Review
The set design feels absolutely authentic, as does the costume design and make-up artistry. The film score also hits just the right notes. It is never cloy or overly intrusive and succeeds at keeping you on edge the entire time. Cinematographer Roger Deakins also continues his amazing run with Mendes with some of his most nuanced work to date.
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The story was inspired by a tale told to Mendes by his paternal grandfather, Alfred Mendes. It involves the almost ...
Spies in Disguise Movie Review
The look of the animated film mixes photo realistic images, of things like cars and buildings with the overly exaggerated human features prominent amongst comic book characters. It’s a mix that doesn’t always fit together comfortably. The set designs however are often times fantastic looking.
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More strongly aimed at a youth market, it works in some strange ways to make it relevant to adults. This even includes a never seen before naked tattooed Yakuza butt and ...
Our top 10 movies of 2019!
And without further ado, here are the top 10 from 2019:
10. Us
Writer/director/producer Jordan Peele returned to fill us with fright and leave behind some food for thought with his new work, Us. Set in the summer in sun drenched California this time, the terror the Wilson family has to endure while on holiday is anything but sunny.
Click here to read our full review
9. The Nightingale
Set in Tasmania in 1825, The Nightingale delivers an adventure of epic proportions. Confronting ...
Little Women Movie Review
Gerwig gives the film a contemporary feel with the liberal use of different timelines, yet offers few visual cues so it necessitates the need of the audience to pay close attention. She also plays on the actors strong points and minimises their lesser strengths. Although allowing Emma Watson’s occasional reversion to her English accent is an odd oversight.
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Often considered the American equivalent of what Jane Austin offered the British readers, minus the sharp ...
JoJo Rabbit Movie Review
Using Christine Leunens's novel Caging Skies as the nucleus for his project JoJo Rabbit finds the Kiwi in great form. Leunens's book about a Hitler youth who finds out his mother is harbouring a young Jewish girl in their house provides the basis for a Waititi screenplay that is rich in humour and subtext.
It’s a wild ride that jumps from being uproariously funny to being heartbreakingly sad without missing a beat. The emotions feel real and are never less than meaningful. In contrast, ...
Jumanji: The Next Level Movie Review
The film easily divides into two halves, with the less impactful opening stanza setting up essential the same storyline as the films that have come before but with a minor tweak that doesn’t really pay off. They add two new characters into game play, Eddie (Danny DeVito) and Milo (Danny Glover) and when Eddie is cast into the Dwayne Johnson character, the Rock just can’t do justice to the DeVito voice and his mannerisms.
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Later in the film when Awkwafina takes ...
Cats Movie Review
Oddest choice of all is not utilising the current state of the art for cinema sound with its amazing ability for massive soundscapes. Instead we often get thin eighties sounding synth line based music. Also very few of the cast members have strong voices, with the exception of Jennifer Hudson who gets to belt out the thrice repeated hit, Memories.
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Keeping things very stagy, most of the cast is adapt at the sinuous physicality and dance movements needed to ply the ...
