The BFG Movie Review
My only experience of a ‘BFG’ was the BFG9000, a weapon found in the Doom and Quake video games using an acronym that implied words that ought not be uttered by a child. Given Roald Dahl's twisted mind, I would be unsurprised to learn that he was well aware of this possible interpretation when he released his book about a ‘Big Friendly Giant’ in 1982.
An animated TV version of The BFG was released in the late 80's but this time around Steven Spielberg has turned his acumen to a ...
Jason Bourne Movie Review
As an action piece, it gets the job done but as a proper Jason Bourne movie, it’s quite the disappointing experience. Gone are almost all the clever ways Bourne can extract himself from trouble and in their place are just Teflon walks in the park. Moments where no real menace can really stick.
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He gets out of almost every jam with just brawn and no brain. Julia Stilles is very much underutilized as well and sadly exits early and takes with her the only character that links Bourne ...
Central Intelligence Movie Review
They get to ply their trade delivering a script that doesn’t have a mean bone in its body. It’s quite refreshing to experience a comedy that doesn’t resort to the usual snide and put down ethos that seem to dominate the current crop of movie comedies.
The set up is certainly silly. Overweight high school geek returns as super buff superman CIA agent (who loves the film Sixteen Candles) and reunites with the only fellow student that treated him with any decency. Together they ...
Finding Dory Movie Review
Finding Nemo is such a timeless institution in our movie culture - whether you be a child or adult - that a sequel which in large parts rehashes its predecessor is simply a moot exercise.
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Finding Dory follows almost identical beats and set ups - a fish searching the open ocean for lost loved ones; encountering frightening denizens of the sea; aided by new found friends; becomes ‘imprisoned’ in an aquarium from which they must escape etc. In fact, every element of Nemo has its ...
Mr. Right
Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Up In The Air) plays Martha McKay, someone who is definitely unlucky in love. She crosses paths with Francis (Sam Rockwell) a Zen like hitman who soon becomes Mr. Right. She is neurotic and over the top, he is cool and in control, together they make an admirable team.
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The film’s script is not particularly believable in its execution of story but its use as a vehicle to promote the growing relationship between its two main players is quite engaging. ...
Warcraft Movie Review
With the late attachment of Duncan Jones as director, things looked good. Jones’ previous film, Moon, showed a sure hand at the helm and spoke well of the potential for a story with depth. The open book nature of the fantasy genre also informed a world of vast possibilities. In final results, this did not quite pan out.
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Self admitting to absolutely no knowledge of the video game, the movie’s lack of ability to establish a believably mythology was a real stumbling block for me. ...
Hunt For The Wilderpeople Movie Review
Named as ‘One of ten new directors to watch’ by Variety magazine in 2007 following his excellent feature debut, Eagle Vs. Shark and having received widespread acclaim for his follow up film, Boy, Waititi now presents one last ‘small’ film before he bursts Peter-Jackson-style onto the Hollywood scene with his helming of the forthcoming Thor: Ragnarok.
Hunt For The Wilderpeople follows very much in the flavour of Waititi's previous features. It too skates the fine line between ...
Money Monster Movie Review
The storyline revolves around a TV show called Money Monster that dispenses financial advice and features George Clooney as Lee Gates, its smarmy and egotistical host. When Gates’ on-screen advice looses one of its viewers his life savings, he concocts a plan for revenge.
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While the film is set in the television studio, it’s a claustrophobic thriller as Kyle Budwell (Jack O'Connell) seeks retribution for the loss of his inheritance and life’s savings. When ...
The Nice Guys Movie Review
Crowe is unafraid to play a role far removed from his usual on-screen persona and he lets his advancing age and lack of fitness give the role a realistic and well-worn feel. It’s one that is free from the false heroics that mar so many similar roles. Gosling gets the nuance just right between glamour boy idiot and heart of gold father. These two play off each other and the friendship that builds between them is so naturally developed; it’s a real pleasure to behold.
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X-Men: Apocalypse Movie Review
X-Men: Apocalypse will apparently bring to a close the early and formative story of the X-Men and it’s been a bit of an uneven ride. It started with the youth oriented X-Men: First Class (which followed in the steps of the first adult X-Men film by doing a good job of establishing the characters) then built more momentum with the hybrid X-Men: Days of Future Past (which had a more involving storyline) and then squanders most of that momentum with this latest film.
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