Month: September 2015

Akira (1988)

Director: Katsuhiro Otomo

Writer: Katsuhiro Otomo, Izo Hashimoto (Screenplay) Katsuhiro Otomo (Graphic Novel)

Starring: (Voice Talents) Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Tessho Genda, Hiroshi Otake, Koichi Kitamura, Michihiro Ikemizu

Plot: A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psionic psychopath that only two kids and a group of psionics can stop.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Visually Beautiful Film

Story: In the aftermath of World War III in 1988 Tokyo has had to build again and 31 years later in the 2019 New-Tokyo is on the edge of the next war. We follow Kaneda and school student the leader of a biker gang including Tetsuo and Kei. When Tetsuo ends up involved in an accident after getting distracted by Takashi a young boy with certain abilities he gets taken by the government.

When Colonel Shikishima is running an operation to find Akira the cause of the previous World War the three children Takashi, Kiyoko and Masaru must prevent this happening while Tetsuo ends up becoming power and a threat to the whole city. Kaneda teams up with the resistance against the government through Kei and we follow as every side comes to a battle that will need to stop a future war.

Akira reaches levels most action films could never imagine with the number of character in the overall battle each having their own motives behind being involved. The look at what a future could have been all looks great and coming from a graphic novel everything works for what the film is trying to achieve. The violence is unlike anything you would have seen in an animated film which helps shows the world we will be entering.

Character Review

Kaneda: Kaneda is the leader of the school aged biker gang who drives the iconic red bike, when one of his gang is kidnapped by the government he joins the resistance against the government movement. Once we see what happens with his friend Tetsuo he must fight his old friend to stop the next World War happen. Kaneda is a great leading character that even after nearly 30 years is still one of the most iconic in all of animated film history.

Tetsuo: Tetsuo is a member of Kaneda’s biker gang but after he has an accident the government takes his away to use in their latest experiments. What happens to Tetsuo leads him to become a threat to the city as he searches for Akira a threat not just to Neo-Tokyo but the world. Tetsuo starts of as just a member of the gang wanting to become more and once he has the powers he learns he isn’t ready to have the leadership when he ends up turning on the people he once considered friends, a great villainous character without being a true villain.

Kei: Kei is a member of the resistance that Kaneda rescues from the police before joining forces Kaneda to stop the government and rescue Tetsuo from bring Akira back from the dead. Kei is the potential romantic angle for Kaneda who is also as tough as they come, she also has a connection to the children with the abilities.

Support Characters: Akira has a large amount of supporting characters which include Kaneda’s gang who all stick with him when he needs to fight. We also have the resistance who help Kei and Kaneda achieve the battle. We have the three kids who have to abilities in their own right that together making the deadly but also fighting for the right thing. We also have one last group and that is the government who want to bring the Akira power back as a weapon.

Director Review: Katsuhiro Otomo – Katsuhiro brings us his own graphic novel to the bring screen which offers one of the most entertain and well developed characters in recent film.

Action: Akira has action from start to finish, we have a motorbike chase to open the film, constant chases to either reach someone or escape from them and the final fight oh my god what a brilliant conclusion.

Animation: Akira has simply brilliant looking animation that help bring the action to life and once more I refer to the final scene which is just breathtaking visual moment.

Sci-Fi: Akira brings us into a future world where the world has been through another World War and had to rebuild in a new future with the Neo-Tokyo.

Settings: Akira creates a futuristic looking world that helps us identify just how far into the future we have gone with the story.

Suggestion: Akira is one for all the animated fans to see because it really is a visual treat with a stunning story that will stick with you. (Animated Fans Watch)

Best Part: The final battle which will leave your jaw dropped with how amazing it looks.

Worst Part: I would say this is going to be too violent for certain animated fans.

Action Scene Of The Film: The final battle is easily the best scene in the whole film and could easily be the best one in action animated films.

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes

Tagline: Signal Traced to Tokyo!

Trivia: The movie takes place in 2019 and depicts Neo-Tokyo creating a new Olympic stadium. Coincidentally, Tokyo is scheduled to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Overall: Akira really is one of the best animated film that ever got made that will still be talked about for years to come.

Scorecard Rating

Tags Akira

Movie Review

Memorial Day (2011)

I went into the latest of the challenge with a film I had never heard of but with the utmost respect for James Cromwell I knew I wouldn’t be let down.

Director: Samuel Fischer

Writer: Marc Conklin (Screenplay) Jeff Traxler, Marc Conklin (Story)

Starring: Jonathan Bennett, James Cromwell, John Cromwell, Jackson Bond, Mary Kay Fortier-Spalding, Emily Fradenburgh, Charles Hubbell

Plot: Memorial Day, 1993. When 13-year-old Kyle Vogel discovers the World War II footlocker belonging to his grandfather, Bud, everyone tells Kyle to put it back. Luckily, he ignores them. Although Bud has never talked about the war, he finds himself striking a deal with his grandson: Kyle can pick any three souvenirs, and Bud will tell him the stories behind each one. Memorial Day not only takes us on a journey into Bud’s complicated wartime past, but also into Kyle’s wartime future. As the two men share parallel experiences in combat, they come to realize how that magical day on the porch shaped both of their lives.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Brilliant Experience

Story: Memorial Day starts by following SSGT Kyle Vogel (Bennett) running a military mission where he gets injured by a bomb fragment, which he can add to his collection. While recovering in the hospital we Kyle start telling a story about his childhood, the story goes back to his grandfather Bud (James Cromwell) who was a military man himself.

In this trip to his grandparents Kyle (Bond) finds a military trunk and challenges Bud to recount his stories of World War II on Memorial Day. The two strike up a deal that Kyle can ask about three items from the trunk and Bud will tell the story behind them.

Memorial Day brings back memories of my late grandfather who never wanted to discuss his time in the war, we get to see how difficult it was for Bud to remember the war, the things he did, the people he lost and the memories that have scared him for life. The connection between the story tellers is unquestionable brilliant and the moments not overplayed feeling like they could have be real memories any war veteran has. This is a little gem of a film where we could all see our elders telling the stories involved. (8/10)

Actor Review

Jonathan Bennett: SSGT. Kyle Vogel is the soldier telling the story of the story he was told, he is involved in the current time war but he is only there because of the stories of his own grandfather. Jonathan does a good job in this role. (7/10)

James Cromwell: Bud Vogel is the grandfather telling the story to his grandson, he doesn’t talk about the war in normal everyday life but because Kyle challenged him he accepts the challenges to discuss a time he long wants to forget. James shines in this role as you feel you could listen to him tell stories forever. (9/10)

John Cromwell: Lieutenant Bud Vogel is the young version of Bid who is involved in World War II, he shows the same courage and calm that Kyle has learnt in the conflict that was a different time. John does a good job showing the emotion James creates. (8/10)

Support Cast: Memorial Day has supporting cast that includes the military men as well as the rest of the family who witness the story telling from behind a window.

Director Review: Samuel Fischer – Samuel gives us a great story about staying connected about the hardest times in life. (7/10)

Action: Memorial Day has limited war action sequences. (6/10)

History: Memorial Day shows what it would have been through the war time period. (7/10)

War: Memorial Day creates the two different time periods of war showing how conflict has changed between the generations. (8/10)

Settings: Memorial Day each setting used feels authentic to the moment of the story. (8/10)

Suggestion: Memorial Day is one to check out, I feel most people will enjoy it. (Check it Out)

Best Part: Third story from Bud.

Worst Part: I feel certain people will be disappointed with lack of war moments.

Believability: This could easily be a real connection between grandfather and grandson. (9/10)

Chances of Tears: You could have a few at the end. (5/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $4.2 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes

Tagline: Two generations. Two wars. One story.

Overall: A special little gem of a film.

Rating

Movie Review

Self/less (2015)

Director: Tarsem Singh

Writer: David Pastor, Alex Pastor (Screenplay)

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode, Ben Kingsley, Victor Garber, Derek Luke, Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen, Melore Hardin, Michelle Dockery

Plot: A dying real estate mogul transfers his consciousness into a healthy young body, but soon finds that neither the procedure nor the company that performed it are quite what they seem.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Sci-Fi Body Doublling

Story: Self/less starts with ruthless business man Damian (Kingsley) who runs the city and has connections in every corner of business, he weakness is that he has been diagnosed with cancer and will dead within a year. Damian has been researching a process called Shedding that his long time friend and confidant Martin (Garber) has never heard off.

Dr Albright (Goode) is the man behind the Shedding process and the idea has been pitched to Damian who has to make up his mind about making it happen. After going through the process Damian wakes up in a younger body (Reynolds), Damian now has to learn to adapt to his new body with the likes of walking needing to be learnt all over again. Damian has to start a new life though, with money put on the side along with a new name Edward.

Everything seems to go well with the new body, parties, girls booze all the things he never got a chance to do in his first life, but Damian can’t help but miss his previous life with daughter Claire (Dockery) as well as vision he has no idea about.

Damian decides to investigate this vision he has which leads him to discover where the new body really cam from and what the Shedding company has really been getting up too.

Self/less brings another twist to the double swapping idea, sure we only see one side of it all but that doesn’t mean we don’t see the effects. We have the people who knew the body side while he tries to convince the mind side, so that all works nicely. I liked how the film tries to bring in the idea of becoming immortal and the people it would effect. The idea give us the old cause against effect concept and all works really well. Overall this does plan out simple but also gives us the moral questions. (7/10)

Actor Review

Ryan Reynolds: Young Damian is the new body that Damian gets, he gets to live for fun until he starts getting vision of a life that wasn’t his. After he starts researching it turns out the body is of a man called Mark who made a deal to save his dying daughters life. He know has to expose the truth before he loses control. Ryan continues to show his range in a leading role. (7/10)

Natalie Martinez: Madeline is the wife of Mark who thought her husband had died, but when Damian turns up she gets to learn how much he sacrificed to give his daughter a new life. Natalie does well but never really excels in this role. (5/10)

Matthew Goode: Albright is the doctor taking care of the Shedding process, he is very careful to keep his own identity secret to protect what is really going on. Matthew gives us a calm villain which all comes off very well but also ends up feeling rather generic. (6/10)

Ben Kingsley: Damian is the successful business man who is dying, he uses his money to go through the Shedding process thinking it is all legit, he leaves his daughter to his money but himself a back up once he has changed. Ben does well in his early role in the film. (7/10)

Support Cast: Self/less has a supporting cast that is either helping Damian or trying to capture him, they all do well without doing too much.

Director Review: Tarsem Singh – Tarsem does a good job directing a sci-fi action film. (7/10)

Mystery: Self/less does create a mystery but doesn’t give you many clues to what is happening. (5/10)

Sci-Fi: Self/less uses the idea of advanced technology being used to change human mortality. (7/10)

Thriller: Self/less gives us the thriller side by making us want to know what will happen until the end. (7/10)

Settings: Self/less doesn’t us any special location during the film. (3/10)

Suggestion: Self/less is one to really give a chance to, I think this is one people will enjoy but I understand it might be slightly long for all. (Try It)

Best Part: Car chase.

Worst Part: Slightly long.

Action Scene Of The Film: Car chase.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: The Island

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $12 Million

Budget: $26 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes

Tagline: God created man. Man created immortality.

Overall: Good sci-fi film that asks moral questions.

Rating

Movie Review

Jim Caviezel Weekend – Outlander (2008)

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date September 27, 2015
1 Comment on Jim Caviezel Weekend – Outlander (2008)

Director: Howard McCain

Writer: Dirk Blackman, Howard McCain (Screenplay)

Starring: Jim Caviezel, Sophia Myles, Jack Huston, John Hurt, Cliff Saunders, Patrick Stevenson, Aidan Devine, Ron Perlman

Plot: During the reign of the Vikings, Kainan, a man from a far-off world, crash lands on Earth, bringing with him an alien predator known as the Moorwen. Though both man and monster are seeking revenge for violence committed against them, Kainan leads the alliance to kill the Moorwen by fusing his advanced technology with the Viking’s Iron Age weaponry.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Medieval Sci-Fi Actioner

Story: Outlander starts when a spaceship crash lands in Norway 705, we see two pilots emerge from the wreckage one Kainan (Caviezel) survives the crash, while the other shows wounds from an attack. Kainan gets a crash course on the local language Norse and culture while he gets ready for rescue. Kainan decides to explore the local wildlife for basic survival reasons and comes across a small village that has been destroyed before he is ambushed by the locals.

We learn that the people who capture Kainan have their own conflict between king Hrothgar (Hurt) and his daughter Freya (Myles) about who she can marry while the man who captured Kainan is the man who could become king Wulfric (Hudson). It isn’t long before the dragon that Kainan has been hunting attacks the village leaving many dead or missing. Even after the attack the village refuses to believe Kainan story of a dragon, believing Gunnar (Perlman) and his village is responsible.

The village goes on a hunt with a still captured Kainan who proves his worth to the village leading to them joining forces to finish off the dragon who took his family from him. Kainan has to slay the monster and unite the two battling village to kill a common threat before they all get killed.

Outlander manages to mix the two worlds of sci-fi and medieval without having to include the idea of time travel. This film could have been lazy and just resorted to time travel but instead tries to create the idea of different times through the universe. This makes things very interesting because Kainan is an alien to our people, we get to see a realistic reaction to an unknown person turning up in the time which would be very hostile in the time period. I did like how Kainan isn’t as good as we believe he is but wants to redeem himself for the error in his ways. I would go negative with how the film ended because we know that Kainan’s people like to conquer and destroy worlds and approaching Earth wouldn’t they want to destroy Earth like they did the other planet? When it comes to base story we get a very interesting story that shows by pointing a side differences people can conquer a common enemy. (6/10)

Actor Review

Jim Caviezel: Kainan is from a faraway galaxy but when his ship gets attacked he ends up crashing in Viking Norway along with his monster a dragon. Kainan has to unite the two fighting villages to look to hopefully finish off the beast once and for all. Jim shows why he can lead a film, but he does need a strong support cast because he doesn’t quite have the complete ‘IT’ factor needed for a film this level. (6/10)

Sophia Myles: Freya is the daughter of the leader of one of the villages who is meant to be married to the man her father see most fit to become king. She is very good in combat which could become helpful in the battle. Sophia gives a solid supporting performance playing the new tough princess role. (6/10)

Jack Hudson: Wulfric is the young leader of the warriors who could one day become king but his conflict with Kainan could show his real colours. Jack gives a standard performance in the supporting role never really shining to the level required. (5/10)

John Hurt: Hrothgar is the leader of the village who has to try and control the rivalling village to take down the dragon. John gives what you would expect from him but this role could have gone to any older actor making this a rather plain performance for what Hurt is capable off. (5/10)

Ron Perlman: Gunnar is the leader of the other village who ends up getting involved in the battle once he learns what really took his town and family. Ron makes for a good Viking but doesn’t get enough screen time. (5/10)

Support Cast: Outlander has a large supporting cast of what would only be called background Vikings who either help in battle or die in battle.

Director Review: Howard McCain – Howard does have a good idea that works on paper but the two generation meeting wouldn’t always appeal to the casual audience. (7/10)

Action: Outlander is filled with battle scenes between the Vikings and the dragons. (8/10)

Sci-Fi: Outlander manages to mix a visitor from the stars with Vikings nicely to create the story without having to resort to the sci-fi side to the story too often. (7/10)

Settings: Outlander creates a realistic looking Viking settlement for the most part but the alien worlds very heavy on the CGI. (7/10)
Special Effects: Outlander has what can only be described as poor CGI effects for the creature, the alien worlds and even the spacecraft, with a budget this big you would expect them to get this right. (1/10)

Suggestion: Outlander is one to try but don’t expect anything special if you do, I would be best suggest to fans of the Vikings too. (Try It)

Best Part: Not using time travel.

Worst Part: CGI

What Could Have Been Better? – Better CGI

Action Scene Of The Film: Joined forces fight.

Favourite Quote: Kainan ‘This thing has carved out a territory and you’re in it!’

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: Nope

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: Pathfinder

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $7 Million

Budget: $50 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes

Tagline: It destroyed his world. He won’t let it destroy ours.

Overall: Outlander does make for a solid sci-fi film but never reaches the levels it could.

Rating

Tags Outlander

Movie Review

Jim Caviezel Weekend – Transit (2012)

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date September 26, 2015
No Comments on Jim Caviezel Weekend – Transit (2012)

Director: Antonio Negret

Writer: Michael Gilvary (Screenplay)

Starring: Jim Caviezel, Diora Baird, James Frain, Elisabeth Rohm, Sterling Knight, Harold Perrineau, Jake Cherry, Ryan Donowho

Plot: A gang of bank robbers hide their loot in the car of a family going camping. They chase down the family to kill them and get the loot back, but run into a fight.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Simple Action With the Family, Not for th Family

Story: Transit starts with a daring heist where the robbers walk away without a trace. Our four robbers Marek (Frain) Arielle (Baird), Losada (Perrineau) and Evers (Donowho) as they look for a way past the road patrols. Nate (Caviezel) and his family Robyn (Rohm), Shane (Knight) and Kenny (Cherry) are on their family trip when the thieves see their vehicle as an opportunity to transport the money past the patrols.

Once across the road blocks the thieves follow the family as they wait for their chance to collect their money but when the cars get involved in a drag race Nate finds himself arrested, leaving the thieves having to think of a new plan. Nate has just been released from prison making his speeding a violation of his parole and this trip is a way of making up the time he lost in jail.

When the first attempt to reclaim the money goes wrong the thieves have to bide their time before coming back after the family in a real cat and mouse chase across country.

Transit comes off as a very easy to watch action film, it never really challenges you as an audience member because nothing comes off new, all of the characters are very generic with the lead being a husband trying to keep his family together and the criminals all fitting the check box list. I will say this does keep you attentions from the moment it starts and isn’t afraid of just starting with the heist only leaving us with the escape attempt. I simply can’t praise this though because it will always go down as a forgettable action film because nothing truly memorable happens in the film. (5/10)

Actor Review

Jim Caviezel: Nate is the former criminal who is trying to rebuild his family life after a short stint in jail, he takes them cross country but when his family get targeted by a ruthless group of thieves he has to show how much he cares about his family against these men. Jim does a good job showing he is a good reluctant hero. (7/10)

James Frain: Marek is the leader of the thieves he stays calm for the most part before showing his true ability to snap after the money escapes his grasps. James gives us a solid villain with all of the clichés you need. (6/10)

Support Cast: Transit has a supporting cast that includes Nate’s family who have become distant from him because of his time in jail, the rest of the thieves who are all out for themselves and will easily turn on each other and a group of cops who try to help.

Director Review: Antonio Negret – Antonio gives us a solid action film that really doesn’t end up giving us anything new but is easy to watch. (6/10)

Action: Transit has car chases, car chases, car chases oooo there was a fight and some shooting too. (6/10)

Thriller: Transit keeps you attention as you want to see if the family makes it out alive. (7/10)

Settings: Transit keeps the settings easy to watch but has nothing stand out in the locations with most of it being inside the swamp lands. (7/10)

Suggestion: Transit is one for all action fans to try but if your not an action fan give it a miss. (Action Fans Try)

Best Part: Caviezel is a good leading man.

Worst Part: Nothing original.

Action Scene Of The Film: Three way car chase.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: The Marine

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $5 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes

Tagline: A Pulse-Pounding Story of Survival and Revenge!

Overall: Action film 101 hey that sounds like my site.

Rating

Movie Review

Movie Reviews 101 Midnight Horror – Deadline (2009)

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date September 25, 2015
No Comments on Movie Reviews 101 Midnight Horror – Deadline (2009)

Director: Sean McConville

Writer: Sean McConville (Screenplay)

Starring: Brittany Murphy, Thora Birch, Tammy Blanchard, Marc Blucas

Plot: A screenwriter who travels to an abandoned house to finish a script on time, but a series of strange events lead her to a psychological breakdown.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Smart Story Wrong Genre

Story: Deadline starts by showing Alice (Murphy) our struggling screenwriter leaving the city to spend time in an isolated house to finish her latest work. Along with her friend Rebecca (Blanchard) who drives her we get to see the enormous house where she will be staying. Rebecca helps Alice settle in before leaving with the car to return next week to pick Alice up.

Alice alone in the house with the creakiest doors in the history of film it becomes clear that her week in the house will become difficult. The first night includes a nightmare and Alice starts to feel she isn’t alone in the house. We learn that Alice has an ex-boyfriend called Ben who is fresh out of prison who has done something to her in the past and Alice believes will come after her. Alice sees things in the shadows which lead her to discover the home movies of a couple called Lucy (Birch) and David (Blucas) before we find out about Alice and Rebecca real relationship.

Night two the hauntings escalate to hearing crying, seeing unusual images on her laptop, but this only drives Alice to stay and continue watching the videos. As Alice continues to watch the videos we see how David starts to change as the relationship continues as well as his obsession with filming moments of the couple life together. Alice has to try and figure out what happened between Lucy and David all while trying to battle her own demons which play out as a parallel to the story unfolding on the recordings.

Deadline offers up what looks like an traditional ghost haunting to solve a murder film and for the most part this is all that. Where this film takes a big change is in the final act which will leave you wondering about what happened. The biggest disappointment about this film is the idea that Alice has found tapes, watches them only to have the scene play out like we are actually there too. I do think if you watch closely you will see the hints about the end but otherwise this will disappoint on scares because most of the film is watching Alice watch the tapes. There was a lot more this film could have offered but in the end it falls short and never manages to decide what type of film it is meant to be. (4/10)

Actor Review

Brittany Murphy: Alice is our screenwriter heroine who decides to isolate herself from the world as she tries to finish her latest work. She isn’t as stable as we think as an ex is freshly out of jail that could come after her but when strange things start happening around the house we watch as she watches video recordings of a previous couple’s time in the house. Brittany does a solid job in one of her last acting roles but never reaches the level this film could have had with the ‘Don’t Say a Word’ level of acting. (6/10)

Thora Birch: Lucy is the wife from the videos who starts to see changes in her husband, she is also the ghost that seems to be haunting Alice warning her. Thora does a standard job as the victim but doesn’t seem to fit the role. (5/10)

Tammy Blanchard: Rebecca is Alice’s friend back in the city, she is the only connection to the real world Alice has and helps fill in the blanks to what was reported to have happened. Tammy gives a solid supporting performance without ever having enough time to excel. (5/10)

Marc Blucas: David is the unstable husband to Lucy who starts to question his wives faithful side before ending up becoming obsessed with the idea of not being able to trust Lucy. Marc starts out struggling in the role where it looks like David is normal but when he starts turning slightly darker it seems to bring out the best in him. (6/10)

Support Cast: Deadline doesn’t have anyone else turn up on camera in the cast.

Director Review: Sean McConville – Sean does a solid job directing it just seems like he wanted something fresh but went around reaching it the wrong way. (4/10)

Horror: Deadline starts out with very basic before moving away from the horror genre. (4/10)

Thriller: Deadline does try to keep you guessing and you are expecting a surprise by the end. (6/10)

Settings: Deadline creates a very isolated location for all the action to take place perfect for horror story. (9/10)

Suggestion: Deadline is a late night TV that you could give a go to but don’t expect anything great. (Late Night TV)

Best Part: Twist is clever.

Worst Part: Lack of horror.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $1.8 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes

Tagline: Focus your fear.

Overall: Deadline is a horror thriller that really lacks any horror or thrills but does have a smart enough story.

Rating

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Movie Review

Welcome to the Punch (2013)

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date September 25, 2015
1 Comment on Welcome to the Punch (2013)

Director: Eran Creevy

Writer: Eran Creevy (Screenplay)

Starring: James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Harris, Daniel Mays, David Morrissey, Peter Mullan, Natasa Little, Daniel Kaluuya, Ruth Sheen, Jason Flemyng

Plot: When a notorious criminal is forced to return to London, it gives a detective one last chance to take down the man he’s always been after.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Typical Criminal Film

Story: Welcome to the Punch starts with detective Max Lewinsky (McAvoy) trying desperately to stop criminal Jacob Sternwood (Strong), Max goes against orders to try and capture him ending up shot with Jacob escaping. When the dust has all settled Jacob is out of the country and Max is no longer the popular detective he once was.

Jacob’s son gets injured prompting him to call his father which brings Jacob back to the country. The police know he is going to return and decide to go after him even against Max and his partner Sarah (Riseborough) advice. When the mission goes wrong Jacob escapes yet again and heads back to England to see his son. Max and Sarah come up with the idea of using the son as bait putting him inside a public hospital even against their superiors Nathan (Mays) advice.

What follows is a game of cat and mouse with both Max and Jacob trying to bait each other into making mistakes so they can finish the rivalry, but not everything is what it seems because Jacob is also investigating what happened to his own son. Max also learns of a deeper conspiracy from within the force that he can finally put a stop to but and what cost, he must work with Jacob as they both untangle the conspiracy and discover the truth.

Welcome to the Punch ends up copy all the clichéd ideas that we are used to seeing the criminal film world. We have two enemies having to team up to solve a bigger crime even if they have personal problems with each other. I am going to end up on a rant with I would like to apologise before hand. Why is it we only meet the characters that are on the wrong side of the law, we could have a few false leads with actual good cops. I am tired of only getting introduced to the villainous characters. I have to say I am disappointed with the final film because in the end it just feels like all the rest we have seen before. (/10)

Actor Review

James McAvoy: Max is the detective that has been hunting down criminal Jacob and just when he thinks he has him captured he gets shot letting Jacob escape. Once he has recovered a sudden injury leads to Jacob getting returning to city where Max finally gets a chance to settle the score with Jacob. James continues his dive into the violent movies with this one but ends up give us a solid performance. (6/10)

Mark Strong: Jacob is the criminal that shots Max as he escapes but when his son is injured he has to return to the country to find out what happened to him. This puts him back n Max’s radar but he also discovers that there is other people out to get him now. Mark fills the villainous role but in the end turning ally, he ends up giving us a performance we know he can give us. (7/10)

Andrea Riseborough: Sarah is Max’s partner who ends up having to work with him to catch Jacob but this could make or break her career in the police department. Andrea does a solid job in the supporting role. (6/10)

Daniel Mays: Nathan is the lead detective who blames Max for the escape even if it means Max might have been right. He doesn’t let Max have a chance to redeem himself but is force to let Max handle the potential return of Jacob. Daniel gives us a performance you would expect from him in a criminal based film. (5/10)

David Morrissey: Thomas is chief of police making the final decisions on any police matter but is running low on patience with the Max over the situation. Why do people cast David in a shady role when we know he will become a villain. (6/10)

Support Cast: Welcome to the Punch has a supporting cast that does end up filling the generic criminal world characters.

Director Review: Eran Creevy – Eran gives us a traditional criminal conspiracy world film but never really ends up reach the potential it could have. (5/10)

Action: Welcome to the Punch is filled with over the top gun battles but doesn’t really end up being anything special. (7/10)

Crime: Welcome to the Punch puts us into the criminal world and nearly everyone is on the wrong side of the law. (9/10)

Thriller: Welcome to the Punch tries to keep you guessing but because you meet only villains you don’t have much to work out. (5/10)

Settings: Welcome to the Punch uses London as the main setting which works for the idea because London makes for an iconic setting for a criminal film. (8/10)

Suggestion: Welcome to the Punch is one to try but really wasn’t something I really enjoyed. (Try It)

Best Part: Final shoot out.

Worst Part: Lack of originality involved in the story.

Action Scene Of The Film: Final sequences.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $8.5 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Minutes

Tagline: A Stunning, Intelligent Thriller

Overall: If you want to see just another criminal world film this is for you but nothing new here.

Rating

Tags Welcome to the Punch

Movie Review

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Post author By Darren Lucas
Post date September 24, 2015
2 Comments on Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Writer: Christopher McQuarrie (Screenplay) Christopher McQuarrie, Drew Pearce (Story)

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Simon McBurney, Jingchu Zhang, Tom Hollander, Alec Baldwin

Plot: Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Non Stop Action

Story: Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation starts in London, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) who gets his latest mission, a shadow nation known as the Syndicate who have turned the tables on Hunt. CIA Director Alan Hunley (Baldwin) is out to close the IMF with William Brandt (Renner) there to defend them the ruling is that the IMF is closed.

The Syndicate captures Ethan preparing to torture him before Ilsa Faust (Ferguson) saves him but remains undercover inside the Syndicate. Hunley is trying to hunt down Hunt even if it ends up going through his former team with Benji Dunn (Pegg) first up. Hunt continues to use his old team mate Benji as he tries to bring down the Syndicate, the question remains just how deep does the Syndicate’s cover up go and can Ethan and his team stop them before they complete their plan to create a new world they can control.

Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation is the toughest test Ethan has faced to date while I still wonder how anyone would even consider the fact Ethan has gone dark after just the four mission we have seen, we have to deal with it again here. I like how through the how film you are not sure what side of the fence Ilsa is but when it comes to Ethan’s story it does feel like more of the same. It is unfair to say this is bad because if it ain’t broke don’t fix it and this could easily be the most action packed of the series especially as it doesn’t seem to let you have time to breathe. This is a wonderful addition to the spy genre. (8/10)

Actor Review

Tom Cruise: Ethan Hunt is our leading special agent who has been working on tracking down the Syndicate, when his unit gets closed down yet again he must go rogue himself with both the Syndicate and CIA after him. Ethan has to turn to his trusted team to supporting him along with undercover British Agent Ilsa to stop the Syndicate once and for all. Tom Cruise continues to show why he is the biggest blockbuster star around this a great performance. (9/10)

Jeremy Renner: William Brandt has to deal with the wrath of the CIA Director who is out to stop Ethan and the IMF. He must let Ethan complete the mission but can’t directly help him in anyway, before teaming up with Luther to save Ethan. Jeremy continues with this almost awkward role, not his fault his character just feels out of place in the action side of things. (7/10)

Simon Pegg: Benji Dunn is the technologically skilled team member of Hunt’s who ends up getting pulled into the field which he wants to take down the Syndicate while being chased down by the CIA. Benji brings all the laughs to the making everything have a lighter feel which is much needed with all the action. Simon gives a great performance with an added laugh in almost every scene he is in. (9/10)

Rebecca Ferguson: Ilsa Faust is the member of the Syndicate that helps Ethan but through the whole film we never really know who she is working for even with her connection with the British Secret Service. Rebecca does a good job in the role that offers up the most interest mainly because we don’t know where her alliance is and Rebecca helps give mystery to his character. (7/10)

Sean Harris: Solomon Lane is the leader of the Syndicate, former British Intelligence who is waging his own war where he can end up control the fire arms being used in wars. Sean makes for a good villain but I think we still need that little extra from his characters side. (7/10)

Support Cast: Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation has a big supporting cast that are the henchmen, the supporters of Ethan and just the pawns in the game as the truth needs to be bought out.

Director Review: Christopher McQuarrie – Christopher brings his own style of action to this film to make us entertained from start to finish. (8/10)

Action: Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation has brilliant action sequences through the whole film. (9/10)

Thriller: Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation keeps you on the edge of your seat from the opening sequence until the end credits. (10/10)

Settings: Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation uses each setting to create another action sequence that all works but nothing to make us think they are important to actual story. (6/10)

Suggestion: Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation is a must watch this year as it is easily one of the best action films of the year. (Watch)

Best Part: Morocco chase.

Worst Part: I think there is more to come from the Brandt character.

Action Scene Of The Film: Morocco chase.

Funniest Scene: No masks.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: Yes

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 2 Hour 11 Minutes

Tagline: Go rogue

Trivia: The stunt coordinator told Simon Pegg that Cruise was going to do all the driving because he didn’t have any driver better than him.

Overall: Spy films have never felt more action packed.

Rating

Tags Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Movie Review

Audition (1999)

Director: Takashi Miike

Writer: Daisuke Tengan (Screenplay) Ryu Murakami (Novel)

Starring: Ryo Ishibashi, Eili Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, Renji Ishibashi, Miyuki Matsuda

Plot: A widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after all.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: What Just Happened?

Story: Audition starts Ryoko (Matsuda) in hospital dying with her husband Shigeharu (Ishibashi) and son Shigehiko at her side. Now fully grown up Shigehiko (Sawaki) wants his father to move on with his life and potentially get married again. Yasuhisa Yoshikawa (Kunimura) decides to help his friend Shigeharu by holding a show where woman of a certain age audition to be his new wife.

When Shigeharu finds the profile of Asami Yamazaki (Shiina) he believes he has found the perfect woman, having the accomplishments he desires in a woman. As Yoshikawa tries to look in Asami past he struggles to find anything but Shigeharu can’t help but remain attracted to her. We start to learn more about Asami’ past and that not everything is as it seems with her but the true identity will leave Shigeharu facing the true terror.

Audition starts with a nice style of trying to create a romantic angle which if you knew nothing about the film works very well. The problem I think this film will always have now is people knowing it has a very twisted second half and simply put it will either shock you or disappoint you. I really don’t know what happened in the final third of the film and this does work because it leaves you to figure what you want the ending to be. (8/10)

Actor Review

Ryo Ishibashi: Shigeharu Aoyama is the widowed man, who raised his child alone but after a few years he decides he wants to get married again. Everything is going smoothly with the beautiful but mysterious girl he meets but her secret will leave him fighting for his life. Ryo does a great job in the leading role. (8/10)

Elhi Shiina: Asami Yamazaki is the mysterious and beautiful girl Shigeharu meets and chooses for his new wife, but she isn’t everything he thinks as she has a much darker side to her history. Elhi does a great job in this role showing a full range of emotions. (8/10)

Support Cast: Audition has a small supporting cast which mostly helps the create the audition.

Director Review: Takashi Miike – Takashi brings us a film that really keeps us guessing right until the end. (8/10)

Horror: Audition has to get high praise on the horror in the final third of the film. (9/10)

Romance: Audition creates a good romantic angle for the characters and showing just how far the people would go for love. (8/10)

Thriller: Audition does keep us guessing right up to the final moments of the film. (9/10)

Settings: Audition uses the settings well to show the different society levels the two characters are leaving in. (8/10)

Suggestion: Audition is one for the hardcore horror fans to watch, if you only like certain levels of horror this will be too much for you. (Hardcore Horror Fans Only)

Best Part: The final third.

Worst Part: It will be too much for some.

Funniest Scene: The Auditions.

Oh My God Moment: Foot scene.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes

Tagline: She always gets a part

Trivia: Described by Quentin Tarantino as a “true masterpiece if ever there was one,” in a video discussing his favourite films released between 1992 and 2009.

Overall: A film that will test how much you can watch in one showing.

Rating