BlackFish

Genre: Documentary

Directed: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Starring: Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berge and Dawn Brancheau (archive)

Running: 80mins

Blackfish, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, is a fascinating, terrifying and deeply intriguing insight into the world of "so-called" entertainment, focusing on the ambitious extent that authorities of Seaworld will go through in order to keep it a money spinning attraction. Tilikum is an Orcha Whale raised, like many, in the surroundings of a concrete swimming pool in Florida's renowned tourist attraction Seaworld; a place that fails to advertise the true nature of the Orcha Whale. While friendly, they are considered extremely dangerous, pointing to the obvious nature of the mammal and its survival instinct, oh, an the title "Killer Whale" stands out also. 

The story here is a biased outlook on animal exploitation and begins with footage of Dawn Brancheau; Tilikum's most recent victim and ironically, Seaworld's oldest and much experienced trainer. Her death was tragic but not surprising.

The death of Dawn Brancheau is a clear motive behind Gabriela's Blackfish in which is pieced from the origin of whale hunting, to Seaworld's neighbour "Sealand" while its main focus is on the peculiar and incidentally tragic happenings in both Florida and Spain. Blackfish is not out to please the average Seaworld fan, rather an attempt at opening their eyes. 

The story of the whale is heartfelt and deeply emotional. Blackfish does well in captivating the emotions from former Seaworld instructors, the audience, the attraction and of course, the Whale - in which Tilikum is hailed both hero and villain. 

Blackfish fails to ask "you" the question and rather runs on archive footage, newspaper headlines and tries dividing fact from fiction with Seaworld being widely criticised from the beginning. Blackfish brings a lot of experts to the table, eyewitnesses and solid footage of incidents that are guaranteed to leave you shook. The only specimen it does fail to provide is a perspective from Seaworld representatives and for obvious reasons. So while it falls flat in that area, Gabriela's fascinating insight into the exploitation of Orcha whales is surprising, heartfelt and thoroughly frightening. 

 

The Original Nightmare Returns

Fans of Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger will get the opportunity to embrace the original Nightmare on elm street this Halloween. Coming to UK cinemas (no word regarding us Irish), A Nightmare on Elm street (1984) will re-emerge to celebrate both the creepiest night of the year, as well as the movie being regarded as one of the best horror movies to date.

Fans of the horror genre were left bitterly disappointed in what was quiet an obvious, yet bluntly dissatisfying remake that saw Jackie Earl Ray play the scarred child slasher in the remake of 2010. While I for one saw it as nothing other than entertaining, the majority of fans will want to quickly forget the attempted re-creation directed by Samuel Bayer.

For one night only, on October 31, Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street will darken cinemas with ultimate frightfulness in order to give audience a satisfying scare, something that is very rare in modern horror.

A new HD trailer is available to support the release, in which you can see over on Empire. In the meantime, check out one of the many iconic scenes involved with this horror classic.

Ben Affleck's appointment as Batman a good choice

This is a follow up to the article covered by fellow entertainment writer Paul Saunders of The Journalist.ie.

Okay, let's start by saying that if this was Spiderman, Superman or any other "superhero" of that kind, we would have been so bored by now! You can't browse the internet without bumping into a nerds perspective of why Ben Affleck's appointment is a terrible idea, or, if you click the right button you just might be convinced by someone else on how the vision of Affleck in the bat suit is not a total disaster.

Warner Bros. have accomplished a divide in Batman fans with immediate effect. Believe in me when I tell you, your opinion will not change their decision, and John Roden's opposed petition will do no such damage either.

Before I give my own opinion of why Ben Affleck as Batman could work, let's look at what John Roden is saying to us on Change.org ;"His acting skill is not even close to being believable as Bruce Wayne and he won't do the role justice. He's not intimidating enough for the role of Batman. Batman is someone that strikes fear in the hearts of men. His portrayal of Daredevil was atrocious and he's not remotely close to an action star or a superhero. Please find someone else and deliver to the fans what they want". 

There is only a certain amount of times the average Batman fan can use Affleck's performance in Daredevil (2003) as an excuse to rid him of future comic book movie opportunities. While Daredevil was mediocre, it was not all Ben Afflecks fault, after all the guy is an actor. He gets paid to do what he is told. Those who remember the movie will give it credit for its fighting choreography at least, no? Bare in mind if there was a flaw in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy it was the awful fighting choreography. Batman moved like a stiff gargoyle. Hardly a movie comparison but it wasn't all strawberries and cream when it came down to analysing Nolan's take and the Dark Knight Rises also has enough "croaks" to fill a nerd's blog.

Going back to Daredevil, where Ben Affleck played a kick ass blind super hero with a demented past. And while it may not have been the movie fans wanted, Ben Affleck was the best thing about it. Looking at movies such as Changing Lanes (2002), The Town (2010)  and Argo (2012), can he act? Come on, of course he can. Didn't he strike "fear into the hearts of men" in The Town? He delivered two great performances in Changing Lanes and Argo also. If fans are shedding any doubt over his acting credentials, watch the above films.

Adapting to the "dark knight" if you like, may prove challenging, but he isn't inheriting Christian Bale's Gothic voice (thank god). As we know, he will play an older Batman in order to reference the apparent "epic" collision between himself and Superman. However that vision could change.

Would he have been my first choice? No. But even now I can't tell you who would have been. But what I can say is it would not have been Christian Bale. Talks of Bale being offered 50 Million to return appeared extremely false over time. Christian Bale is a man who knows what's right for this franchise and by him not returning is a great stance from the Welshman. Warner Bros. are clearly aiming for something a bit more "light" but with a touch of grit also. If fans of Nolan's trilogy really think Warner Bros are out to destroy the pattern left by Bale they would be extremely gullible. You would like to think that Nolan and co have had a strong input in granting Affleck the opportunity. That is what I believe, and that is what will keep my mind at rest.

Ben Affleck has the build and the inter changeable personality to pull off both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Forget Jersey Girl (2004), the man starred in Hollywoodland (2006), State of Play (2009), both serious enough and quite believable roles that have gone on to place him as the next Batman. It's a new era for both Superman and Batman movies and one might have to get used to the possibility of Ben Affleck playing Batman beyond the Man of Steel sequel. Out with the old and in with the new. As a huge Batman fan (I even like Batman Forever), it would only slightly damage my love for the character if Affleck was to have a "stinker", but then again, I just have to remind myself that it could have been George Clooney...oh wait!

2 Guns

Genre: Action/Comedy
Director: Baltasar Kormakur
Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton & Bill Paxton.
Running: 109 Mins

Buddy cop movies signified 1980/90 action flicks with Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte's 48hrs, Tango and Cash and Beverly Hills Cop to name a few. While modern Hollywood tends to be more ambitious with dramatic tales featuring pretentious dialogue, a movie such as 2 Guns could be potentially overlooked by so-called movie connoisseurs as Ryan Gosling parades the fans with his good looks and facial expressions in Only God Forgives, and Johnny Depp and Tim Burton try to squeeze endless money from the passive. If you look hard enough, Denzel Washington and Mark Whalberg can be seen in the background advertising a simple movie that is well shot, ambitious and truthfully funny; it goes down as one of the most surprisingly entertaining flicks of the summer. 

2 Guns is an explosive tale of two ambitious individuals who believe they are working for the right cause only to discover loose ends that could spell the end of their careers. It was important to pair the right actors to create the necessary chemistry and that is well advertised in the opening scene as Robert "Bobby" (Denzel Washington) and Michael "Stig" (Mark Wahlberg) are in a restaurant which conveniently sits next to a bank. The story flashes back to show us the initial plan, played out by Stig. What they both know is their friendship is fake as both Bobby and Stig are working to rob the bank for different associates; Bobby is an undercover DEA agent and Stig is a Naval intelligence officer. It's the vanity in both characters that gets them into trouble following the robbery as Bobby's alliance as well as Stigs', betray the supposed plan leaving both men blackmailed and head hunted by Earl (Bill Paxton) who is determined to retrieve his money in the bloodiest and funniest ways possible.

The result of the bank robbery sees Stig sitting on 43 million with nobody to turn to. Bobby is also left out in the dirt as he is destined to investigate the motive behind his agencies portrayal; all while dodging bullets from the Mexican Cartel, the Navy and of course, Earl and his cohorts.

If 2 Guns sounds messy, it is, but all in good fashion as it supplies an endless amount of funny characters and die hard murderers. The movie focuses on two concepts; a survival premise as 2 Guns is blended with numerous "bad guys". On the other hand, its a fantastic reference to 80s and 90s "Buddy" action flicks, as Bobby and Stig come to realise the daunting task of having to work together in order to survive this mess and that's where director Baltasar Kormakur introduces a comedic ingredient that advertises great chemistry and wit about each of our protagonists.

2 Guns is the first movie to showcase Denzel Washington's humorous side. Okay, he has a certain amount of "swag" in almost all of his movies that can make him funny anyway, but he is full on this time around and bounces off Mark Walhberg's character so smoothly, you would think these two were raised in the same home!

This movie isn't trying to be perfect, with the introduction of Bill Paxton transforming it into a right cheese-fest at times, but that premise is recognisable from the off. Bill Paxton's Earl is a vicious character, playing a villainous Governor of California (Terminator free) to the extreme. While 2 Guns is explosive and funny, a movie like this can't fulfil it's buddy cop premise without an exotic female intervention that uses the clichéd fall out of two apparent friends and Paula Patton as Deb does just that.

Overall, director Baltasar Kormakur did a great job in constructing some great action scenes with dialogue of serious and humorous. While we know of Mark Walhberg's comedic side from Seth McFarlen's "Ted", nobody could have predicted the chemistry between Mark and Denzel would work so well.

7.8/10

The Wolverine

Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, 
Running: 129 Mins

If there is one thing we can all agree on in terms of X Men's prolific Wolverine character, is that Hugh Jackman enjoys the hell out playing him. And while X Men: The last stand (2006), along with Wolverine (2009) have been pretty much steam rolled and crapped on by not only comic book fans but movie buffs as a whole. Hugh is undoubtedly adamant in providing cinema-goers with a longer lasting taste in their mouth this time around, and that taste doesn't necessarily have to be a bitter one.

The Wolverine is a more in depth focus on Logan's struggle to overcome the fact that he has and will more than likely continue to struggle with his mutant ability. Following the events of The last stand, Logan is located out in the cold (literally) as his wolverine skills are put to good use as his choice of a nomadic lifestyle results in a homeless rugged wolverine. His dark days are spent suffering with regrettable nightmares relating to Jean Grey (Famke Janssen). Logan is hunted down as the great "Wolverine" by Yukio (Rila Fukushima) and invited to Japan where he will be tested of his true desire with Yashida (Hal Yamanouchi) offering him the chance of immortality. It is the event of that meeting that leads Wolverine into a physical battle of emotion and choices as Logan is caught up in an internal war, as Yashida's niece (Tao Okamoto) is targeted by the sleazy Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) and her cohorts. 

Logan is attacked from all angles as he begins to realise that the Viper is after much more than Yashida's niece,  leading him into the fight of his life even if it means losing a lot of blood. Wolverine embarks on an exciting warpath, one that involves less exaggeration (Helicopter battles free) and some straight up gut wrenching!

Directed by James Mangold (Walk the Line), The Wolverine is an explosive adventure when it needs to be, adding a touch of drama when it mattered. Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is far more engaging this time around, as you follow him from the events in Japan, to the cold woods right through to his battle with immortality, you pity the Wolverine at times, particularly in his struggle to let go of his true love that was Jean Grey (X.Men).

The staging premise in Japan is a wonderful set, giving off quite a comic book feel with a dark twist. While the overall cast is not much to brag about, the chemistry between Jackman and Rila Fukushima is very surprising as you will find yourself rooting for Rila's kick ass character just as much as Wolverine.

The Wolverine stages some satisfying action scenes such as the scrap on the bullet train, and while it is probably the most far-fetched scene in the entire movie, you understand the concept and quickly adapt to the vision of Mangold which ultimately leads to a showdown of many battles. Numerous villains such as The Viper, Shingen, Noburo (excluding the abundance of cohorts) is one flaw of the movie as it appears messy at times and quite direction-less as there is no official focus on a particular villain which can lead to you completely forgetting who you should fear until they get screen time. The Viper is probably the worst villain played in any Marvel movie so far. Maybe it was the actor or the writer's job, but she was plain and simply crap, dull, characterless and just down right careless. She reminded me of Uma Thurman's poison Ivy performance; poor and downright irrelevant. The Viper is noticeably filled in to add a touch of dangerous femininity which turns out to be boring!

We could talk of the bullshit romance that unexpectedly develops for Logan, but let's not be too harsh; with great cinema comes great stupidity, and the wolverine, make no mistake, throws in some stupidity but nowhere near the car crash that was X.Men Origins.

The Wolverine is really enjoyable, with Hugh Jackman's admiration for the character shining brighter than ever. Whether this will lead to another X.Men flick time will tell, but if it was a choice between another "tired" Patrick Stewart X.Men, or an official Wolverine sequel, a Wolverine sequel would probably come off better.

Overall: A great action flick under a well designed premise, and while the villains could have had more character, it is still highly entertaining.

7/10



....

Fast and Furious 6

Genre: Action/Thriller/Comedy
Director: Justin Lin
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel & Paul Walker
Running: 130 Mins

So the fast and furious saga continues. Saga is correct? Well in Rocky Balboa terms it is so who is to say we can't use it here? Dom and sidekick Brian return to race and blow stuff up, however this time around their wicked maneuvers is appreciated due to the fact that "The Rock" is no longer their nemesis!

Living it up in European islands the gang is scattered far from home as they spend their hard earned cash from the heist in Rio (Fast Five). However all holidays must end soon, even for rookie criminals as Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) finds the whereabouts of Dom (Vin Diesel), offering him an ultimatum which relates to former lover Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) who is potentially well and truly living. Hanging out with a gang of road mercenaries, Letty is involved with Shaw (Luke Evans) - the kingpin Hobbs is so adamant to get hold of. It is through that exposure that convinces Dom to reassemble the crew in order to trace the gang and find some truth behind Letty's fictional death.

The masculine presence of Dom is completely overshadowed by Hobbs with the performance and overall showmanship of Dwayne Johnson stealing the role of the protagonist. It is fair to say we have come to the point of no return for both Dom and Brian (Paul Walker) as the once clever companionship is most times irrelevant and over seen as the creators of Fast and Furious are clearly paving way for the actions of Dwayne Johnson - and could we blame them? Dwayne Johnson owns Fast and furious 6, just as he did with Fast Five. And while there is some entertaining fist fights featuring the team work of himself and Diesel, we all know that Johnson could have done without him.

Struggling to forget the eh, forgetful 2 Fast 2 Furious, characters such as Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris) and Han (Sung Kang) are still scripted to do something funny or insanely stupid. Their presence is practically nonexistent, with "jive" comedy supplied by Roman falling on its knees every time.

The latest adventure is just as explosive and extremely funny when it's not supposed to be; with Dom and the gang always finding a reason to race leading to some entertaining scenes as they dodge tanks, take down airplanes while Vin Diesel showcases his best Superman impression - fans will be impressed by both the explosive action and the overall look of the movie, even if it is hilariously far-fetched!

Resembling the fast paced, at times dramatic story of Fast Five, the writers are clearly ambitious and some what reluctant to slow down anytime soon, offering a concept similar to Sly's Expendable's, meaning you just never know who you might see in the next drag race. And while "The Fast and the Furious" (2001) focused solely on car racing and the obsession and corruption behind it, the once dramatic tale has given birth to five new chapters that have slowly gone off the original concept. That is not to say it is a bad thing, in fact some might disagree when I say the first movie is the best. Why? Because we have adapted to what has become a franchise of utter silliness, yet they signify Hollywood's determination for blockbusters; known as movies that offer nothing other than a mindless euphoric cinema trip - and frankly, we don't mind.

Overall: Explosively Entertaining = 7.8/10

The Hangover Part III

Genre: Comedy
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zack Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong. 
Running: 100 Mins

While The Hangover was pretty original, Todd Philips shows for the third time around that his visionary comedies are pretty funny but at times, one dimensional.  The Hangover part III looks to take a new direction (hangover free). So how did Todd and the guys get on this time around?

The guys are worried for the mental health of Alan (Zack Galifianakis) following the sudden death of his father. While Alan is hilariously obnoxious in refusing to cooperate, it is the presence of Phil (Bradly Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms) that helps reel Alan into what he believes to be the return of the wolf pack. However things take an expected turn for the worst as the gang are ambushed on route to Alan's destination. Doug (Justin Bartha) is kidnapped. Phil and Stu can't help but ignore the name of Chow who has a big part to play in the mess they will inevitably become part of.

On the orders of Marshall (John Goodman) the guys must find and return Chow - or Doug is a dead man.

And so begins a wild goose chase that is sometimes funny, yet most times boring and child like with the concept slowly but surely loosing the clever, witty comedic effort it supplied in the first movie. The onscreen companionship of both Chow and Alan is what saves this comedic effort from completely sinking. The character of Chow is in your face the whole time with sequences of loud, over the top camp-ness, revealing a movie that could have been called "Hangover: The origin of Chow".

Zack Galifianakis continues to advertise the same character he plays in everything. Of course we expect nothing less than humorous dialog from this guy and that is just what we get - with a more twisted mind-set from the once touched-friendly Alan who is now on the verge of straight up murdering someone. Not everyone will appreciate the sudden change of character or maybe you won't even notice.

The apparent importance of Alan is so drawn out at this stage that he completely shuts out the presence of both Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms. The Hangover III reveals that while Chow becomes annoying, along with the peculiar change of Zack's character, we will still munch on our popcorn and laugh on occasions with or without Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms - Hangover III so desperately wanted to take a new direction that they forgot about Cooper and Helms. It is a bit of a shame, but yet this is what happens when one man steals the show from the very beginning.

We did not need the Hangover III, let alone a sequel. Yet this is modern day Hollywood and while it is funny on occasions, one can not help but notice a desperate attempt for new material has resulted in a two man show - Chow and Alan. The Hangover part III is funnier than the sequel (in small sequences), but just as forgetful. The wolf pack may live on, but not to fill the pockets of the Hollywood hierarchy.

Overall: Partly Funny - unoriginal - over the top - beats the sequel - highly forgetful 

5.5/10

Star Trek Into Darkness

When J.J. Abrams reinvented Star Trek back in 2009 his intention was to appeal to fans of the franchise and the not so, taking the ever so popular modern element of things and running with it. Doing so has reeled in a huge demographic; if not for the plot, then for the fantastic sequences of action. Those who thoroughly enjoyed Star Trek's Hollywood return were left to anticipate an exciting sequel in what was surely on my list of the summers most exciting movies. Star Trek into Darkness has not only satisfied my thirst for action, but its simple plot of revenge along with the return of Kirk and Spock that has paved way for a J.J. Abrams inter galactic trilogy. 

Beginning at a fast pace, we are immediately reminded of Kirk's (Chris Pine) leadership upon the Enterprise as he puts the crew in jeopardy following his decision to save Spock (Zachary Quinto) from an erupting volcano. Thinking about friendship rather than the reputation of the federation, Kirk is demoted and the Enterprise removed from his control. Meanwhile John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) is about to destroy the federation from the inside out, reinstating his own history with the federation by blowing up one of its organisations in London. His catastrophic mark is the first of many as he sets on destroying everything in his path using personal revenge as a valuable motive.

Kirk convinces Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller aka Robocop) to let him go after John who is holding ground in Klingon territory.

So begins a cat and mouse plot, as Kirk along with Spock regather the team of explorers in a bid to capture the one man army that is John. Desperate to bring John to justice, Kirk and the Enterprise fight through the powerful force of John, only to unravel a historic tale of love and revenge, leading to consequential decisions from everyone on board the ship.

The star of the show here is Spock, as he continuously plays the conscience of Kirk to a wonderful extent. Spock is involved in a tremendous introduction and a frenetic showdown.  His onscreen friendship with Kirk is both comedic and dramatically heartfelt through out the events of the Enterprise's ambitious man hunt. Chris Pine is brilliant as he masters the heroic persona of Kirk once again - showing off his dramatic skills also, in scenes of quality acting.

This is not a "leave your brain at the door" type of flick, so it is open to people who choose to nit-pick at potential flaws of the movie. In terms of Star Trek history, I am not the guy, however Star Trek into Darkness does offer scenes of endless solutions, even at the worst of times. While Kirk's vigilante style heroics are played to the fullest, the movie's disastrous scenes are always met with simple, yet predictable solutions in almost impossible circumstances. I found that quite annoying through-out, and you will find these decisions being carried out right up to the climatic ending. I would not have been surprised to see Spock or Kirk whip out shark spray from a bat belt!

But ignoring their desperate attempt at survival, the villainous presence of John Harrison is spine tingling  This guy does not hold back. The heartless thrive of John reminds you that of agent Smith in the Matrix. Comparing powers would be fun actually!

Into Darkness offers a more dramatic element than the first movie, revealing a selfishness within certain characters of the movie, which blends nicely with the darker, more in-dept elements of the sequel. 

Star Trek into Darkness is a good time, as J.J. Abrams shows off his brilliant imagination and his motivation behind transferring a simple plot of revenge using quality cinematic visuals for you to explore. Just like the first movie, the dialog involved with characters such as Kirk and Spock, not forgetting Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Bones (Karl Urban) who are all a joy to engage with.

8.5/10

Star Trek 3 has been announced for 2016, while fans can look forward to J.J. Abrams and his take on Star Wars in  Star Wars: Episode VII.

Evil Dead

Let's start by admitting something that I am quite ashamed to admit; I have never seen the original that was "The Evil Dead" (1981). While this can be viewed as quite an appalling statement, it serves me a slight benefit. Why? well, while I plan on watching the original sometime in life, I was happy to have the courtesy of going to see Evil Dead without being too fussy. While I am normally the "oh, how it's just not as good, or even near enough the same as the original" type of guy, it was nice to change the scenery a bit, leaving me with no knowledge of the franchise and lots of curiosity (you have come to the right place). I was optimistic in every way. So all I can say is this; Evil Dead 2013 is quite possibly the finest, most astonishing horror movie since The Exorcist. Below is an anti pedantic review on a movie being hailed as one of few horror remakes worth remembering.

Brief: A group of friends head to an isolated cabin in the woods, where a book of the dead will decide their inevitable death.

Mia (Jane Levy) is determined to quash her drug habit. She agrees to go cold turkey in the company of her trusty friends. Considered an ideal spot for Mia to rehabilitate, Mia's brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) and co are weary of her consistency. Just as Mia gets cold turkey, so do the surrounding woods, as dim-wit companion Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) discovers a book of the dead, unleashing a demonic force beneath the cabin as a frightening history returns to strike its victim; that victim is Mia. Mia is possessed by a girl of the past, but the illogical the crew put her possessive behaviour down to "cold turkey" - their lack of logic (taking into account the cabin has been isolated for years) results in a game of death worth witnessing.

Evil Dead is a fine throwback to 80s horror - with an element that relies on frightening you through the use of graphical images, rather than jump scares. While there are many attempts at surprising the viewer with a screech or two, Evil Dead survives on disturbing the mind rather the art of suspense.

The movie's introduction is excellent, giving you a taste of what your in for; chopped limbs, blood is vomited and nails pierce every part of the human body - all extreme fun and a great reference to the meaning of true horror.

While Evil Dead depends on its grotesque element, it should by no means be attached to the brain-farts that were Hostel and Saw 3, 4 and the rest.  It differs from "torture-porn", adding a touch of dark humour and scenes of over top sprees of violence.

One or two cast members are beyond irritating; David and his "Everything is fine" attitude becomes annoying and quite illogical considering the circumstances. Jane Levy, who plays protagonist Mia, shows great onscreen potential, specifically in scenes that show evidence of her being realistically frightened.

A modern horror remake can hardly show one trailer without critics of old an new slating it, asking the question - why? I am one of them, and pessimism can be a second language of mine. And while I have not seen Sam Rami's (complete control) 1981 creation, I can't honestly ask the question as I and many have, and will continue to ask - why?

Never the less, Evil Dead convinced me, showing no sign of laziness, while the  production did a great job re-kindling some creativity in terms of crafting the props we see through-out. The involvement of CGI here is minimum, which in my mind shows proof of the productions desire to show, that at some stage, we can't keep living in the past. While the 80s will never be forgotten, Hollywood can be forgiven at some stage - and while we are quick to set a light to The Thing, A Nightmare on Elm st and Halloween (dam you Rob Zombie), I am confident that Evil Dead will get the respect it deserves - at least from a large minority of horror movie buffs. Why shouldn't it? It's the type of horror we have been asking for. And if you think that the minor change in plot was unnecessary, think again. It is vital that remakes of good and bad switch it up slightly in order to show its creativity, and some what "balls" by expanding on what we already know and hope to enjoy.

Overall: There is a plot here, but it tends to go missing on occasions, but horror fans will adore this movie, as the grotesque element is both hilarious and exceptionally disturbing.

Movie Quote: "Why don't you come down here and let me suck your cock, pretty boy?" - A possessed and horny Mia

7/10

The Place Beyond the Pines

As far as Ryan Gosling movies go, Blue Valentine (2010) is by far my favourite. Heck I would even throw it onto my invisible list of all time favourites. Those who have seen Blue Valentine will know that director Derek Cianfrance created an absolute gem of a movie, bringing out a riveting performance from Gosling. Derek returns with Gosling once again, showboating a frenetic drama consisting of three chapters that are pieced together over a total of 15 years.

Luke is a motorbike performer, entertaining tourists in the local circus. Walking out to an eagerly awaited crowd, Luke is clearly adored for his skills on a dirt-bike rather than his personality. Luring in the background is the beautiful Romina (Eva Mendes). Immediately we witness an evolved chemistry that spells history. While Luke is clearly fond of his own company, he can't ignore his love for Romina, considering the kid she shares with her boyfriend is indeed Luke's. Adamant to win Romina back, Luke hooks up Robin, played by the ever so brilliant Ben Mendelsohn.

Aside from Robin's generosity in offering Luke a place to stay, Robin gives Luke the chance to put his motorbike skills to good use. With the prospect of having enough money to provide for Romina and his boy, Luke agrees to rob a bank, with the assistance of Robin.

Luke's personality is bleak, with a troubled past hanging over him. This shows evidence when his hunger for more money becomes his weakness. Luke collides with Avery (Bradley Cooper); a dedicated force of the law who is struggling to cope with a level of corruptness in his department. Avery comes face to face with his morals as he is up against Ray Liotta and co, who are out to test Avery's loyalty in more ways than others. 

This is a brilliantly shot movie with dumbed down dialogue that just reels you in with every character. Watching Gosling on the bike is mesmerising, while the enormous sounds of the bike makes you feel like your sitting on the back of it!

The Place beyond the Pines is a dark focus on the choices in life and the morals you choose to take with you. While it is told over three  magnificent chapters, the final chapter is quite ordinary and strangely different. Although it is still relevant, I had to keep reminding myself that I am watching the same film.

Gosling is wonderful to watch, re-kindling an inspirational presence that will remind you of the character we adored in Drive. Bradley Cooper generates quite a serious performance this time around, in which I must admit was hard to engage in at first, but his tied circumstances helps his character to grow as you begin to love, pity and despise his presence.

While we expected nothing other than a memorable performance from Ryan Gosling, even he couldn't save the third half of a movie that was so far from what was, it became such a pain in the ass to watch.

 Its only downfall is the coincidental finale. It appeared too desperate, attempting to connect the dots over a 15 year period. Avery's jive talking son is so irritating you just wonder what on earth the writer was thinking! The extended story was still intriguing (at times), with a modern high-school step up, but was it necessary? No.  However it did stick to the generational concept of "crossing paths". The unpredictable writers of this movie continue to brag about how this "place beyond the pines" is so far from a one man show, it is willing to throw anything at you - the Eminem impersonator is proof of that, while the cheesy ending doesn't help either.

Still, the final chapter is just as watchable, and that is down to the inclusion of prospect actor Dane DeHaan,who is quite possibly the savour to what would have been a disastrous third chapter that followed an engaging first.

8/10

Look out for: Only God Forgives - May/June 2013. You can watch the trailer below

Dark Skies

Aliens have chosen your home. So what would you do about it? Although Dark Skies does not teach us anything new in terms of the potential existence of an Alien race, it does show you that boarding up your house to prevent abduction is a waste of time...they are aliens for Christ sake! RUN!

With a neat quote on how we are not alone to begin with, Dark Skies is the story of the Barretts; a family struggling to cope with financial issues. Just as things begin to go their way, a majority of supernatural mishaps is forced upon their suburban house; while sequences of moving objects, ringing noises and an empty fridge might be something to deal with, a flock of birds from three different directions is not, leaving the family to question what is turning into a series of unexplainable events.

As we know, there is always a peculiar member of the family. In this case Sam (Kadan Rockett); their youngest and certainly the cutest. Sam spends his days talking to the sandman, who as we see time and time again in these suspenseful stories, the chances of the so-called sandman existing are very high. While the mother Lacy (Keri Russell) is passing it up as childlike immaturity, Lacy begins to realise that the events in the house could be related to Sam.

Struggling to convince her husband Daniel (Josh Hamilton) of the potential danger the family is involved in, Daniel typically shrugs it off as a dose of paranoia (the man never believes the wife, why?)

It is following the visit it to an Alien connoisseur (J.K. Simmons) that all is revealed; the house has been targeted by aliens. And as blunt as it may sound, there is no apparent solution to this, however Daniel is adamant to protect his family.

There is a majority of boring sequences involving nothing, with the second half of the movie trying to justify an alien invasion under bizarre circumstances, with the typical involvement of someone who has spent their entire life searching for answers.

I was really looking forward to this, knowing that the producer of both Sinister  and Insidious are involved, I was hoping to be satisfied in terms of a good story and a good scare. The story had potential, with an introduction that gets you quickly involved but the second half of the movie just lost its way. I was willing to ignore the majority of boring sequences of unrelated dialogue and drug using teenagers (although Jesse, played by Dakota Goyo, is quite a rebel) in order to be really frightened because let's face it, I don't remember seeing modern day Alien style horror like this? They don't come around very frequent so I wanted this to work.

Sure, some scenes were cool, the birds, the hungry Aliens etc, but there was too much stupidity brought on by Daniel that I failed to get involved with any of the leading characters. They are caught up in unfortunate circumstances, but you fail to lend them any pity. You root for the Aliens (when they appear).

With one or two scares involving the appearance of Aliens, I wanted more. Dark Skies failed to stay consistent.

Although the trailer survives on promoting Sinister and Insidious, it his for that reason Dark Skies falls flat, using a similar concept of horror through-out (or script if you like); the drawings, the strange kid, abduction, if you have seen Sinister or Insidious you will know what I mean when I say it is all way too similar.

Overall: It is no Fire in the Sky, Signs and certainly no Close Encounters. However the uncontainable use of drama could be ignored to understand a mundane story. I give it credit for its screeching scares every now in again, but the characters and the plot are way too similar with a second half that looses its touch.

5/10

Look out for: The potentially worthy remake of Evil Dead & The Conjuring - July (Trailer below)

Rocky II (1979)

"Yea, I love yous too. I just also wanna thank God. Except for my kid bein' born, this is the greatest night in the history of my life. I just wanna say one thing to my wife who's home: YO, ADRIAN! I DID IT!"

Following the success of Rocky, Sly returned with a sequel that is far better than critics give it credit for. In relation to the history of cinematic sensations and the unsatisfying sequels that inevitably follow, Rocky II is one of the best follow-ups in movie history. As we know, the Rocky saga slowly but surely gets worse - but not just yet.

Rocky II is an immediate continuation of the path Rocky Balboa would inevitably choose to go down; one that would pave way for a sensational rematch with Apollo Creed. Confronting each other in the hospital following the bout, Apollo is abusive and typically loud mouthed regarding his demand for a rematch - a fight Rocky and Micky want no part of.

Time proves the best healer for Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) as his growing relationship with Adrian reaches a new height. Rocky convinces Adrian of potentially retiring while on the other hand Apollo (Carl Weathers) is receiving a hail of media criticism with many claiming the fight should have lasted no longer than a few rounds. Struggling to cope with such negative attention, Apollo is trying everything in his power to reel Rocky into settling the grudge once and for all. Rocky is beginning to settle into a life with fiance Adrian (Talia Shire), however the possibility of life without boxing appears daunting. With Rocky struggling to adapt to life in advertising, and a baby on the way, he begins to realise that his heart is in the ring. Rocky knows if he can get Mickey on board, he could upset the odds once again.

Mickey (Burgess Meredith) is reluctant to return to Rocky's corner, believing the underdog was "lucky" to go as far in the first bout. But Micky needs Rocky for what he never had while Rocky needs Micky for his knowledge and inspiration.

As the "gonna fly now" anthem lingers in the back ground, Mickey tapes the hands of Rocky once again in a bid to close the mouth of Apollo Creed once and for all.

I adore the return of Rocky just as much as I did with the original. I think the "beef" between Apollo and Rocky gives the sequel a more entertaining factor, with a bigger insight into the life of each boxer - while the aftermath of the fight invites you into the home of Apollo, revealing a more in depth analysis of the character and the family man he is behind closed doors. The struggle of Apollo captures a vital part in the sport, showing sequences of ambition and what he must do to satisfy himself more than anyone. On the other hand we get a delightful insight into Rocky's new life, as certain opportunities begin to open, but as much as he can easily pay the bills through advertising and factory work, Rocky Balboa is "born to fight".

There is a mash-up of beautiful scenes this time around. The chemistry between Sly and Talia is a delight to watch once again; with the snowy scene at the zoo and the wedding that follows. But there is a slight dip in the relationship due to Rocky's desire, while Adrian is pregnant. It makes Rocky's task all the more important and once again emotional. Sly gives another superb performance along with the fantastic bragging-rights of Apollo.

Burgess Meredith is mesmerising. He is involved in more emotional scenes and significant speeches: "if you wanna blow it, then damn it I'm gonna blow it with ya. If you wanna stay here, I'll stay with ya. I stay with ya. I'll stay and pray. What do I got to lose?"

Rocky II is another dramatic classic from the cast, with a plot that is more straightforward, but offers a climax better than any in the saga. Yep, a better climax than the first and a better fight. This review is not a comparison. The original Rocky received an academy award for its originality and inspiring performances. The sequel however offers nothing new; although it does supply a number of memorable scenes as did its predecessor, but maybe critics failed to find a ripe concept this time around, which is something Sly did ever so well before hand.

I on the other hand love this sequel. As I gradually progress to reviewing the third movie, unsurprisingly, the first two movies are the body to Stallone's career. The ones that follow are the limbs that hang in the balance of the mind-set of your average movie lover.

Rocky (1976)

His whole life was a million to one shot

Rocky will go down as one of the greatest movies ever made. If Sylvester Stallone's story behind bringing Rocky to the big screen is not one to go by, the movie proves just as emotional, ambitious and heavily inspiring. Let's take a trip back in time to review a movie that was scripted by Sly and nearly sold for the price of a few meals.

Pennsylvania is home to many characters stalking the gritty streets of Philadelphia, catering for the company of poverty stricken individuals on every corner. Small-time loan shark and local boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is one such resident of this area. Struggling to make a break-through with the sport he loves, Rocky gets the chance to defy all odds when heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) grants him a once in a life time opportunity to compete for the title.

Although Rocky has adapted to his own company, he looks to keep it that way, even when gym owner and former trainer Micky (Burgess Meredith); comes knocking, offering to lend a hand in helping Rocky survive the fight. With very little choice, Rocky is forced to accept the opportunity from Micky; despite years of bad blood and fall-outs relating to what Rocky could have been, but never was. On the other hand, Apollo's camp is sceptical of his chosen opponent. Apollo can only see the fight going one way. The egotistical big-mouth seems more worried about the media's build up to the fight and what the result of the fight could mean for Apollo's generosity in the future.

Despite being swallowed by a level of pessimistic perceptions, Rocky concedes a level of optimism along with the help and company of Adrian (Talia Shire); a local pet shop assistant who plays a significant role in Rocky's ambition, while an unwritten chemistry quickly evolves, leading to a love story that would carry the saga - from start to finish.

Written and directed by Sylvester himself, Rocky would go on to be one the greatest sporting dramas of our time. Rocky is critically acclaimed for its creation of mixed emotions and extraordinary characters. The fictional biopic (based on the lasting bout between Ali and Chuck Wepner) tends to suck you in from the beginning as the "rags to riches" sympathetic sensation of one man's ambition is heartfelt every time.

Watch as Rocky and Mickey battle the critics of America, sweeping aside the "underdog" perception in a bid to defy the odds. The "Take you back" introduction is one of many nostalgic sequences, even for those who were not around in the 70s (like me).

38 years down the line, Rocky continues to supply a mash up of emotional aspects and exciting sequences. Despite the interactions between Apollo and Rocky, ignoring the well rehearsed annoyance of Adrian's brother Paulie (Burt Young), taking in the memorable "blood sweat and tears" between Rocky and Micky; in my opinion, Rocky stands out significantly due to the presence of Talia Shire. Her performance brings out an ecstatic audition in Sylvester Stallone - revealing a blossoming relationship that makes Rocky a joy to watch, over and over again.

Sylvester Stallone's classical effort picked up an academy award for best picture in 1977 which has resulted in the recognition of Stallone today.

Stay tuned for Rocky 2.

Seven Psychopaths

             Harrelson, Rockwell and Walken all good....Farrell, not so much!

 

From Martin McDonagh comes another brilliantly developed movie with the characteristics similar to that of  In Bruges (2008).

 

Let's start by saying upon the release of the trailer, there wasn't a movie that looked as unattractive as this one. I mean I did not want to see this movie, in fact I passed this one up to see Rise Of The Guardians at one stage. Why? well an apparent dark and twisted comedy just didn't look that funny. I have been wrong before, and I am yet again.

 

Seven psychopaths tells the story of a struggling screen writer who through-out the mundane events in life has lacked the activity of the pen. Based in Los Angeles, Marty (Colin Farrell) is mind-set on creating a love story, with a touch of violence. The movie? seven psychopaths. Although a writers block refrains him from lifting off, it seems a designated plot comes round when friends Billy (Sam Rockwell) and Hans (Christopher Walken) steal a Shih-Tzu from the wrong guy.

 

Running a corruption business that involves a rob and return routine, the guys are unaware of the gangster reputation behind Charlie (Woody Harrelson). Marty gets caught up inadvertently, leaving a mess that he Billy and Hans must clean up (to stay alive).

 

The introduction to McDonagh's four year return immediately describes the sheer madness to come. Seven psychopaths is hilariously gory and extremely unpredictable. Marty is an alcoholic character who is centred as the main character and carries a storyline that could have done without his presence; maybe it was the Irish accent I couldn't take to? I have seen Colin in some decent flicks, but his original-self didn't blend so well with the other characters.

 

The characters of both Walken and Sam Rockwell give this movie the psychotic premise the critics are labelling it as. The comedic performance from Rockwell is the highlight of a movie narrated so well by Farrell, but I simply didn't fancy is performance. The bloody graphics and Harrelson's bipolar villain is enough to convince you.

 

This might sound crazy but the movie appeared made up the longer it went on. I felt that way because it was that crazy. The wonderful concept is yet again the dark and twisted humour, offering some cracking dialogue between certain characters, particularly Hans who, behind his criminal lifestyle  cares for his cancer stricken wife.

 

Overall: Seven Psychopaths is one of the most surprisingly enjoyable movies of 2012. With quite an original concept, and a fine cast of veterans, it is a nice send off to what has been a fantastic year at the movies.

 

8/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Rise Of The Guardians

        Rise Of The Guardians rekindles the imagination we thought we had lost

In a world outside of the norm, the North Pole to be exact, Santa and affiliates are forced to regroup in a bid to prevent the Boogieman from taking over the world. The only problem is they ain't strong enough; introducing Jack Frost to help the rise of the guardians!

Dreamworks creates yet another fantastic animation that shows once again Disney does not rule the imagination of the audience.

Jack Frost (Chris Pine) is bewildered to the fact he possesses a rare power, although it becomes a point of acceptance 300 years later. Given to him by the moon, his perks involve invisibility, flying and to pretty much turn everything to ice. However Jack is part of a collection of guardians but doesn't know it yet.

The North Pole is home to North aka Santa (Alec Baldwin). North is the Leader of the guardians;  Tooth (Isla Fisher),  Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and the Sandman who all thrive on making the lives of children very happy. However when Pitch (boogieman) played by Jude Law shows up, a year by year agenda of celebrations take a turn for the worse as he sets on vanishing any such beliefs in the guardians, creating an impact of nightmares for the children. It is then that the "Moon" decides to invite Jack Frost as the new guardian in a bid to save the world from utter darkness. Much to the dislike of Bunny and Co, the guardians are forced to accept Jack as their own in a desperate fight against the dark and brilliantly humorous, Pitch.

An original tale, Rise of the Guardians is brilliantly told through the eyes of Jack Frost and other imaginative characters we have all believed in. Santa is visioned far from the jolly old fella we have all waited on Christmas eve; he holds an egotistic personality with a funny accent. Both naughty and nice, the pros of being a historic figure to children is still referenced nicely through-out. Bunny, as in the Easter bunny was my favourite character. Ironically perceived as an Australian Kangaroo, make no mistake he is a grumpy bunny and even more so when he confronts Jack in numerous altercations.

Jude Law plays a boogieman that only a child could have imagined; making Rise of The Guardians all the more appropriate. Aside from Yetties instead of Elf's, and Bunny's boomerangs instead of Eggs, this short tale is a consistent ingredient of comedy and originality with 97 minutes of wonderful CGI animation.

Overall: Rise of the Guardians is beautifully constructed with scenes that pull off with, or without 3D glasses. Just one of many animated movies this year, Rise of The guardians will stand out in terms of the originality involved.

7/10

Return Of The Tournament: Mortal Kombat Season 2

Mortal Kombat legacy is set to return for a second season, with director Kevin Tancharoen reprising a web series that raked in more than 60 million views in 2011.

Fans of last years web-series are in for treat, with Tancharoen set to take the series back to its original concept - tournament style. With fan favourites such as Liu Kang and Ermac on board, Tancharoen reveals a nostalgic return, he said; "Fans are in for a real treat with the second season of Mortal Kombat: Legacy. With added visual effects and storylines that dive deeper into our warriors as they make their way to the tournament, we’re taking this series to a whole new level. I'm really looking forward to showing fans the first clip during the Streamy Awards on February 17."

What was an unsuccessful pitch to Warner Bros in 11", Mortal Kombat: Rebirth supplied an original imagination, but it was on the brink of disperse following the online teaser. Although Tancharoen's original agenda had failed, Rebirth went viral with out-cry for a theatrical release. Failing to re-invent Mortal Kombat to the big screen, Tancharoen was giving the go-ahead to shoot a plethora of web series, leading to where we are now. However I still wouldn't rule out the possibility of an MK re-boot.

"Machinima and our audience have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this series, and I’m thrilled to announce that Mortal Kombat: Legacy 2 will return to its original home on Machinima," said Allen DeBevoise, Chairman, Co-Founder, and CEO of Machinima

Although I am a die-hard MK fan, and with the "Legacy" failing to impress me on many occasions, Tancharoen's second pop looks set to make a significant mark and some what a redemption for what has been a mediocre adaption in 95" followed by a terrible sequel.

MK Legacy season 2 will see Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa reprise his role as Shang Tsung. Those who remember the theatrical release will have vague images of his introduction following the "Fight music"? you know, "Your soul is mine!". He was bad ass and should retain that image in February of 2013.

In the mean time, it's an MK Legacy catch-up for me.

College: House at the end of the street (267)

Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence) is the first to find conspicuous events surrounding the landscape of their new home and the rural town within. Her mother Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) is desperate to remain optimistic and sees it a fresh start.

Elissa is more than helpful after learning a murder had occurred in their new home, leading to flirty chats between herself and ideal genre heartthrob Ryan (Max Thieriot) - the son and last remaining member of the murdered family. The suspect is Ryan's younger sister who has not been seen since the killing. While a myth of sister lurks the backyard of the woods, we see Ryan is holding her on basement arrest.

With the plot praying on a routine escape from the enslaved sister, most of the movie focuses on a developing relationship between Elissa and Ryan. The film gets to the point where you forget there is a girl being starved in Ryan's basement. The movies backbone is depending on the occasional fright from the sister while trying to balance a chemistry of love that blends together like Tabasco and tea!

The majority of the film was rubbish as the Gremlins offers a more suspenseful taste than this.

With an old school introduction that was quite pleasing on the eye, the majority of the film was rubbish. The twist at the end does not make up for the first 95 minutes. The Gremlins offers a more suspenseful taste than this

Overall; a mundane attempt at a tiring genre. Another cheap concept involving suspense and characters that where downright careless. Wait for Sinister!

Read my extended review.

College: What Richard did (281)

                                          

Lenny Abrahamson is known for mastering the independent classic, Adam and Paul (2005). He looks to grab your attention to a different topic. We follow Richard (Jack Reynor) and his "Molly coddled" lifestyle.

Richard (Jack Reynor) lives a charming life with wealthy backgrounds; he spends his summer days with friends and having the "craic" in the family beach home. His sights are on Laura (Roisin Murphy) who to his unfortunate circumstance is tied up with Connor (Sam Keeley).

It centres upon numerous images and silent embarks of Richard reminiscing at his beach home, driving his car, eating cereal, and smoking silently as he stares into oblivion in almost every shot. It got so boring first off I began to believe that all of these activities are what Richard actually did.  He gets closer to Laura; however the dramatic portrayal of the movie finally kicks in when an argument outside a party leaves Connor dead.

The suspense and the dramatic follow up is what makes the first half feel terrible to the second half, and unfortunately it is. We see the acting skills from numerous actors including Jack Reynor and his father Peter (Lars Mikkelsen), who both create probably the only seen worth remembering.

The problem with the film is not the acting, but the plot was so weak. The movie was quite short in 87 minutes and lacked development between any characters, resulting in a lack of emotion for such a serious premise.

Overall; beautifully shot no doubt, but really slow on developing a lack of emotion and dull scenes of practically nothing. However Jack Reynor gives a performance that does convince you of an enjoyable portrayal of character.

Read my extended review.

For full review

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2

The release of Twilight Breaking Dawn - Part 2 can only call for one thing - celebration. Cinema-goers around the globe will be celebrating the end of a terrible franchise, for now. However there is a large minority who will probably shed a tear while they try and get to grip with life after Edward. So before I can truly celebrate, an important review is beyond my eager finger tips; Breaking Dawn part 2, or as the french would say, part deux.

Life in the Cullen house is no different, well, beside from a reformed Bella (Kristen Stewart) and the kid she shares with Edward (Robert Pattinson). Vampires and wolves go about there day to day mundane lives as life in the woods is just never ending (literally).

It's an introduction to soft, yet twisted music as we are thrown into the bond that both Bella and Edward share. We learn the once bookish sweetheart is now a greedy blood sucker (that's my girl!). Although many of lifes ambitions are now at her advantage, Bella is yet to control her thirst for blood as she fights to avoid the hunger for humans. This comes as a disadvantage to her as Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is guarding Bella's daughter Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) in fear of Bella's thirst. However the Cullen house is never dull for long as the relationship between Bella, Jacob and Edward form a family unit that focuses on what is best for Renesmee; who is half human half vampire (apparently that's extraordinary).

A plot we have seen once too many in the franchise arrives at our door, snapping the letterbox in desperate need to sell us something. When a false accusation gets back to the Volturi, the affiliation is sent into panic. They believe a child like Enesmee will damage the existence of the Vampire race beliveing she holds a unique power that is not worth the risk. Leader of the Volturi, Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) is determined for answers and leads the cult toward Bella and the Cullen family. While there is only so many happy montages we can take in a Twilight flick, enough is enough as word gets back to the house concerning the safety of Enesmee. Edward an co begin to recruit Vampire families from around the way to support an possibly fight against the Volturi.

The majority of Breaking Dawn part 2 is a round up of silly sequences between Jacob, Bella and Enesmee as we get a glimpse of Edward's ridiculous attempt for a smile every so often. The movie begs for interest with the introduction of the Volturi, but you just know that even the antagonist will have no impact in this follow-up. Twilight continues to centre around a fake romance that involvs everyone; family, friends, vampires, wolves, the lack of chemistry as well as acting skills is down right disgusting.

This review is analysed by a movie fanatic so I look for aspects in every film, good and bad. They say a males perspective of Twilight will always differ from that of females, but I understand what the entire franchise has tried to offer; imagination, romance, masculinity and a tear-jerking plot. If you are looking for what I have listed, you will not find it in Twilight because if you are judging the movie for what it truly is you will know it is a story taken from a book. The fantasy novel held the responsibility of a good possible story line, however the onscreen adaption has failed upon two vital ingredients; acceptable acting and acceptable plot. I failed to accept either.

In my Breaking Dawn review I said the previous flicks are mundane and sometimes quite bearable. I then followed up on saying I might regret saying that. I do. However my honesty will still prevail and will admit to saying that the original Twilight is not all that bad (I might regret saying that). Just like the one previous, Twilight continued to offer nothing new with the same irrelevant characters (and actors) with a plot that just spells laziness and quite silly and hilariously boring.

I said the same with the BD part 1 review; "I would fail to understand why twlights' biggest fanatics could even enjoy this trash" (echo)

Overall: A less than half decent ending could not change my consensus. It is a terrible film in every way shape or form. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are more irritating than ever. Just like it's predecessors, Twilight Breaking Dawn part 2 is hopeless!

2/10

Empire's Breaking Bad podcast special

 

Following 8 episodes of sheer delight, we eagerly sat around the house browsing the TV series category of Netflix. Why? well, let's just say things haven't been the same since Walter Heisenberg deserted us once again. However, it delights the "Curious" blog to reveal Empire's latest podcast. Empire got a hold of Bryan Cranston for a Breaking bad podcast special. A 30 minute reflection on the first four seasons with the man himself. The link below will take you to the Christmas present Empire has so gratefully given us.

30 minute interview with Bryan Cranston - http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35707