This is short trailer I made for a friend competing in Nettle Warrior 2011. It was created using IMOVIES which is a joy to use. 

Kill List

I try to shy away from drawing comparisons but throughout this film you can't help but notice many homages. Having said that if I tell you any it will completely ruin the films ability to shock and unsettle you.

If your a fan of feeling really uncomfortable this film is for you. Is it a horror? I have no idea! You can't slap a genre tag on this. It's a true hybrid. This film will have you feeling really uncomfortable & it's hard to pin point why. The intensity of every scene is unrelenting, a simple dinner scene somehow has the ability to make you feel like your going to shit your pants. Maybe this is largely down to the score and the claustrophobic camera work.

The film follows two hitmen, they take a job from a mysterious, frankly weird acting chap & that's all I can tell you, the film then twists and weaves it's way to the finale leaving you with your jaw on the ground.

Go on to YouTube, watch the trailer and then get your arse to the cinema. The atmosphere created Is going to be much be 10 times better at a cinema than on home DVD. I can't recommend it high enough. 9/10

Lazy

Right, so I've been uber lazy lately and not posted anything. I'm going to try and post something at least once a week, whether it be reviews or news. In the meantime a brief catch up on what i've seen.

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS:

I had low expectations for this, I had seen the shit fest that was NO STRINGS ATTACHED last year. I was expecting more of the same but was pleasantly surprised. It is witty, the dialogue is sharp, the chemistry is great between the leads, the pop shots at other films was fun but the story was formulaic. It's classic Romcom story but that doesn't stop you enjoying it. 6/10.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: This was a while back now so I'm going to summarise with short sentences and one word statements. Tiresome, predictable, worst villain ever, not interesting after the first 25 mins. 4/10

THE SKIN I LIVE IN: This one is amazing, I can't recommend it high enough. Banderas is sinisterly magnificent, the direction is top notch & the twists and turns are mind boggling. Really the least you know the best. The trailer gives nothing away and that's a good thing. There are some really interesting camera angles, themes & the mise-en-scene was spectacular. Almodovar is a true auteur and in the hands of anyone else this plot could have become quite contrived and quite ridiculous. 9/10

MR POPPERS PENGUINS: Dire, I'm not sure if this will even hold a childs attention. 2/10

I've seen a lot more but I'm struggling to recall it all on this early morning.

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Synopsis: Harry, Ron and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord once and for all.


I caught this Film opening day, at midnight to be precise. The fact that I was one of the first to see it and have only just wrote my review can only speak volumes about my own laziness or the films inability to wow me. 


First of, I'll open with some honesty. I have never been a Harry Potter fan but was thoroughly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed The Deathly Hallows Part 1. I enjoyed all the character bonding in the woods and was blown away by the short animation exploring the story of the three brothers. 


Truthly there is nothing really wrong with this film, but at the same time its pretty bland & forgettable entertainment. All the interesting story from part 1 appears to have been replaced with cat & mouse sequences and overblown action which we have seen numerous times in the films predecessors.


If you haven't seen the any previous films theres not much point heading to see this. You will be out of sync with the story and to Warner Bros credit there is no playing catch up at the beginning. If you haven't watched the first 7 films, TOUGH! Where have you been??


There are some highly enjoyable action sequences, the vault break in is a highlight and the CGI in it is top draw. The film is sprinkled with light hearted humour throughout, but for me it just didn't work. Having said that the cinema was at full capacity & roaring with laughter at anything as small as a sly glance from Ron. There was cheering and hollering a plenty any time Harry & his crew outwitted The Dark Lord and his half thought out plans.


There were large sections of the film where Ron and Hermione disappear on there own adventures and we never see whats happening. For a franchise that is based on its 3 central characters friendships its disappointing that there only use in this film is to provide that long awaited kiss and allow the audience to swoon. 


The acting is solid from the central characters but some of the supporting members can be a bit cringeworthy. Daniel Radcliffe is not an actor i rate, he is solid as Harry Potter but thats it. Do you really think he could do anything else? I can see him pigeon holed as the fantasy caper boy for his entire life. Ralph Fiennes is fantastically sinister as Voldermort and literally chews up every scene he's in making all around him look like mere turd munching amateurs. As good as Fiennes is he can't escape the 'who can make the most intensely constipated face at a special effects wizard blast' For my money Fiennes wins largely aided by his hefty make up.


SPOILER - My biggest problem with magic based films is that no matter what the problem there is always a magical solution. When the slow witted Harry finally realises he is connected to Voldermort (Seriously, a slug could of worked that out) and that he must also die to stop him, you just know there is going to be a solution. Then what do you know a 'resurrection crystal' Problem solved, Potential for more books, films, merchandise, money, money & more money. At the time of writing this it is my understanding the JK Rowling (a slightly less haggard looking Gillian McKeith) will be rolling in more money Duck Tails style as she is in the process of re-visiting Hogwarts with a new book. IT ALL ENDS HERE, not likely............


If your trying to make your mind up whether to watch 2D or 3D? go with 2D. There is barely any 3D in this and the picture quality is so dull. Save yourself the money! If you do go 3D don't buy the HP special 3D glasses, they are too small and irritating on your face, especially if you already wear glasses.


Summary: A rather bland ending and not a patch on the superior Part 1. The final scene that offers closure almost unravels everything done via cheese. However the chance to see The Dark Knight rises trailer cannot be missed! 5/10

Super

Synopsis: After his wife (Liv Tyler) falls under the influence of a drug dealer (Kevin Bacon), an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt (Rainne Wilson), a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.


Going into this movie I knew very little of it, it seems to have completely flown under the radar here in the UK. The only thing I had really been told was "It's Kick-Ass lite", how wrong they were.

First off I love Kick-Ass but this is a completely different beast. Kick-Ass is more of an out-and-out comedy with over-the-top ulltra violence thrown into the mix. Super is very bleak in tone & examines the mindset of a loser having the only good thing in his life taken away from him.

Early on the film establishes that Frank (Wilson) suffers from hallucinations, that may be due to his fragile state of mind or may be God leading him. It is through these visions the Crimson Bolt is born. Research is taken out at his local comic book store where he meets his will be sidekick Boltie (Ellen Page) and together with good intentions they take to the street to fight crime however several ignorant people seem to get in the way and face the wrath of the Crimson Bolt (watch out queue jumpers).

The comedy in the film often falls flat with few exceptions as the jokes are often mis-timed. In addition to this the story is weak in places and leaves a lot to be desired. However the film is at its best when the unrelenting brutality kicks off. With each blow of the Crimson Bolts monkey wrench i winced as if I was in pain. The violence it is extremely gritty and gory but extremely well done. The action sequences are some of the more impressive I have seen in a while and far surpassed the last film I watched: Transformers: Dark of The Moon. If you have a low threshold for blood or blunt trauma you may find yourself looking away.

The true star of the show is Ellen Page who lights up proceedings whenever she is on screen & is genuinely likeable. She is sweet and naive but with a very dark sinister side that only makes her character more enjoyable. Rainne Wilson does a superb job at portraying his characters loneliness as he mourns his wife leaving him & Kevin Bacon seems to be the go to bad guy of the moment, he nails the scumbag drug dealer role. His character is nothing new but is solidly created. Liv Tyler has less to do and as a result her character feels rather hollow.

Summary: Not the greatest film of the year but certainly not the worst, well worth the admission. The story may be flakey in parts but its at its visceral best when skulls are cracking and blood is spurting! 6/10

Transformers: Dark of The Moon

Synopsis: The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets. 

Memories of Transformers 1 & 2 will forever stain my movie watching memory. With that in mind its hard to approach the 3rd instalment with anything but dread. But who knows, I could be proved wrong (as has happened in the past so many times before) and this film could completely blow me away. Right......??????

To begin with this film is a true test of one's endurance. Clocking in at 157 minutes it's hard to think of a film that lasts this long with such a limited plot. At what I thought must have been the 2 hour mark I checked my watch to find only an hour had passed. I had read of people leaving early but not being one to give up & the fact i had spent £10.60 on the IMAX experience I persevered.

Parts of the film look amazing (to be expected with a budget of $195m) and the IMAX screen only adds to this. However the dull tint of the 3D glasses is increasingly irritating & only a foot note of the issues with 3D. For me one of the biggest problems with the Transformers franchise is the battle sequences. People seem to enjoy them but I have major problems establishing which robot is which. It hard to establish who is on top due to the metallic grey colouring of every Transformer with the exception of Bumblebee & Optimus Prime. The action sequences are a blurry, over-edited, un-exciting mess of metal hits metal and are easily the dullest thing in the movie. With that in mind the final battle is about an hour long & I couldn't help but notice the dandruff issue of the patron in front of me as my eyes began drifting from the screen.

The characters have no depth what so ever & I did not care if they were in danger. I often found myself wanting Shia Lebeouf to be stomped from existence due to him being a man devoid of any charisma or charm. I can only attribute the fact that he has a transforming car as his key ability to frequently bagging premium women.

This instalment includes the addition of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in place of Megan Fox. She is a great metaphor for the film as she looks fantastic but struggles to leave a lasting impression other than that. The film is packed with explosions, toppling buildings, amazing visuals but with so much going on, nothing ever really happens. You can't help but wonder what could of been if some of that cash used on visuals went to producing a semi-decent script.

Already the film has grossed $162m in USA alone, it has been successful & obviously has a market but leaves me dreading a fourth instalment.

Summary: The film treads no new ground & is essentially what we have seen in previous parts. Length, Editing & Character Depth are major issues but sections of the film look amazing. 2/10