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Film Review: Transformers - Dark of the Moon

So, they borrow a well known song and album title from the band Pink Floyd, or at least part of it for the title of the third (and hopefully last) film in the trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I like a good action film, as much as the next person, and Michael Bay's style in filmmaking has, up until now, done pretty well and impressed me. See, with the first film, the action scenes and important ones to tie the story (kind of) together, were well mixed and it was a good film to watch all round. The second, not so much. It took a while for the actual story to begin, but when it got there, it was reasonable. This one, it has an entertaining conspiracy theory beginning, bit of a laugh there. The action scenes have all been given a booster jab, not that they needed it. A few well known stars have been given cameos, which is fun, for the first scenes. While I'm on the subject, the actors in this (and we're not including the Victoria Secret Model in this list) are all obvio...

Film Review: Snow White and the Huntsman

First time director, Rupert Saunders brings to the silver screen a re-imagining of the well known and loved fairytale - Snow White, imbuing it with a whole new style and substance to the characters and landscape. The characters become three dimensional characters that you care about, the good guys and the bad guys. And another that finds himself in the middle. Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth are the three main protagonists. With Sam Spruell as Ms Theron's brother in the film, which is a nice twist. And Sam Claflin as the duke's son. And of course, the not so merry dwarves, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Eddie Marsan, Johnny Harris and Brian Gleeson, they all help provide some humour to the film, to prevent things turning into Pan's Labyrinth. The acting is well done by all in this film. The landscape itself is a whole another character in the film, and it is shown excellently by the production design and the director,...

Film Review: Sucker Punch

My first preconceptions of this film, thanks to the reviews I had read, were quite similar to those of the film Inception. Also similar was my reaction to the film, expecting to be confused by the three worlds, and I wasn't. It all made perfect sense. The main character, portrayed by Emily Browning, is sent to a mental asylum by her stepfather when she accidentally shoots her sister. This is in the, say we say, "first world". Not long after arrival at a pivotal moment,   it transcends into the "second world", the mental asylum becomes a brothel, and Ms Browning's character's name is Baby Doll. When she dances, she goes into the third and last world, an ever changing battlefield. It is there, where she meets the "Wise Man", portrayed by Scott Glenn, who gives her a list of items with which to escape. Back in the second world, she recruits her fellow inmates, Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), her sister Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudge...

Film Review: Moneyball

Most of the sports films that have been made, have had very Hollywood plot lines. It was almost a recipe. Underdog team/coach/player/ whatever, trying to do something. A few montages of things going badly, then a winning formula, or new coach/player that tells them "they just have to believe in themselves" or teaches them how to work together with a few gimmicks. Which means, when you watch a well written film like Moneyball, you are completely unprepared by the realism and length of film that really tells you the true story. Or close to it, at least. With Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillan (Mr Zaillan wrote screenplays for The Interpreter, American Gangster and Clear and Present Danger) writing the screenplay, Brad Pitt portraying the character listed and the direction is tight and without any excess scenes, Bennet Miller was nominated for an Academy Award for his work with the film Capote - its a film worth watching for the all of the above and the finished product that ...

Film Review: The Borrowers (2011)

This is quite different from the version released in 1997, more angst and some drama, instead of the cutesy comedy from the first. This has some comedic moments as well, thanks mostly to Stephen Fry and Robert Sheehan's characters. And Christopher Eccleston's as well, come to that. His introduction and subsequent scenes are all worth watching. Mr Sheehan appeared to be portraying, more or less a PG version of Nathan in this, which worked rather well. Mr Fry was portraying the character Professor Mildeye in the film, which suits his well known intelligence and articulation perfectly. I quite enjoyed it, thanks in part from the tight script and the believable (kind of) special effects. There was not anything overly high tech, but instead the production team kept things simple. Less is more, in this case, worked well and meant that the focus was on the storyline and characters. Five Stars!

Film Review: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Impressive and attention catching title. Equally impressive and entertaining film. The basis is, as the title suggests, bringing salmon fishing to the dry and arid region of Yemen. Its a seemingly crazy idea, but as the film progresses and takes hold in your imagination, so does the idea. And into reality. Not just in the Sheik's, played by Amr Waked or in Harriet's played by Emily Blunt. It spreads to sceptic fish expert Dr Alfred Jones, played by Ewan McGregor. And then harsh, demanding and slightly overzealous PR for the government Mrs Patricia Maxwell, played slightly over the top by Kristin Scott Thomas. Her role brings a touch of spice to this comedy with romantic undertones. This film is directed by Lasse Hallstrom, a man who might be called famous for directing many similar films that focus on a miracle or an idea based on faith and maybe a smidgeon of science or simply a way of life that simply needs protecting. He's done well here also, as has the screenwr...

Film Review: Hanna

Have only just finished watching this film, and I have to say, I was sincerely and very much impressed by it all. First things first, Saoirse Ronan is probably one of the better actresses of her age. She has more skill and talent in bringing a character to life better than most well known actresses I can think of, some twice her age. All this talent is apparent in her portrayal of Hanna, a girl raised by her father Erik Heller (nicely portrayed by Eric Bana, also proving his considerable worth in this film) in the wilds of the north to be an assassin. It starts off as brutal and intense, and keeps up this pace throughout the entirety of the film. The supporting cast includes Jason Flemyng, Olivia Williams (looking a bit like Lena Headey in this), Tom Hollander, looking quite weird with blonde hair but also proving his range as an actor and course Cate Blanchett. Ms Blanchett playing a psycho bad ass CIA agent is something else entirely and she does it with style. The film is d...