Aug 31 2015

Final Girl (2015)

Director: Tyler Shields

Writer: Adam Prince (Screenplay) Stephen Scarlata, Alejandro, Johnny Silver (Story)

Starring: Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley, Logan Huffman, Cameron Bright, Alexander Ludwig, Reece Thompson, Emma Paetz

Plot: A man teaches a young woman how to become a complete weapon. Later she is approached by a group of sadistic teens who kill blonde women for unknown reasons. The hunting season begins.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Stylish Thriller

Story: Final Girl starts William (Bentley) discussing young Veronica’s (Shinyei) about her parents death, while asking a series of questions testing her. William offers to take Veronica to be trained.

12 years later Veronica (Breslin) still being trained by William for her latest test where she has to learn to kill without a gun. William knows who Veronica will be coming up against. The boys in question include Jameson (Ludwig), Shane (Bright), Danny (Huffman) and Nelson (Thompson) who enjoying hunting blonde girls before killing them. William has trained Veronica to take on killers ready to end the killing streak which has reached the double figures.

Final Girl brings yet another spin on a kick ass leading lady, with other films like You’re Next made it a twist this comes straight out this is what she will be. The random group of killers does feel rather generic and almost like a cheap version of the gang from ‘A Clockwork Orange’. I like how the film didn’t throw pointless twists in and also avoided flashbacks, instead it just flowed to the final act. I do think this is a very different to what we are used to should always be praised. (7/10)

Actor Review

Abigail Breslin: Veronica is the young girl trained by William to become a killing machine but also look like a regular 17 year old girl. She has been trained to final stop a group of killers who have been collecting body count for fun. Abigail gives a performance that could easily be her breakout performance into a new genre and style of character. (8/10)

Wes Bentley: William is Veronica’s trainer who has been training her for half her life, he is out for some form of revenge for losing his wife and child in the past. He pushes Veronica to her limits to make sure she is prepared for this latest test where he lives her solo to achieve. Wes does a good job in the mentor role that really shows him turning into the wise role showing he has a new place as an actor. (7/10)

Alexander Ludwig: Jameson is the leader of the gang of killers who hand picks the victim for their hunting game. He is charming and can pick up the girls with ease all to satisfy his psychotic side. Alexander does a good job in this role. (7/10)

Support Cast: Final Girl has a small supporting cast with the rest of the crew that are committing the murders, with Cameron Bright making a welcome return to the adult stage of his career.

Director Review: Tyler Shields – Tyler gives us a very unique styled thriller that could be a stand out one for people to enjoy. (7/10)

Action: Final Girl saves the action for when it is needed giving us good fights that don’t take up to much time. (7/10)

Thriller: Final Girl lets you know the plan early but seeing how it all unfolds keeps us guessing. (8/10)

Settings: Final Girl uses its settings well to show the style the film creates for the characters to be part off. (8/10)

Suggestion: Final Girl is one for people who like a different thriller, it turns the slasher idea on it head to make it enjoyable. (Thriller Fans Watch)

Best Part: The style is great and unique.

Worst Part: Slightly short and though I like the style some people wouldn’t enjoy it.

Action Scene Of The Film: Final act.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: Could easily have one.

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: You’re Next

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Tagline: The hunted becomes the hunter

Overall: Brave, stylish entertaining thriller

Rating

Fire City: End of Days (2015)

Director: Tom Woodruff Jr.

Writer: Michael Hayes, Brian Lubocki (Screenplay)

Starring: Danielle Chuchran, Harry Smith Jr, Kristin Minter, Mary-Margaret Humes, Matt Winston, Eric Edwards, Tobias Jelinek, Robert Peters, Brionne Davis

Plot: Set in a world where demons live among us, this exhilarating vitrine of effects and action sees a hard-boiled demon named Vine confronted with the ultimate choice between the salvation of his own kind and the life of an innocent human girl.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Fantasy Filled Horror

Story: Fire City: End of Days starts with Atum Vine (Jelinek) a demon walking among humans saving a young girl from Andre (McMillon). We go onto meet Cornelia who has a human side (Humes) and a demon side (Chuchran) who communicates to the underworld before hearing about the an in coming Interpretor.

Vine runs the building where he controls the demons from the real world seeing their true colours, but each member has their own vices, be it drugs, violence or sex but when one of Vine’s clients gets killed he finds himself in a world where all the human residents get along and apologise for any noise the night before. All the demons have to turn to Vine to solve the problem as he teams up with Cornelia, but the truth will leave Vine to make the ultimate decision.

Fire City: End of Days brings us into a fantasy world where demons live among the humans without any real problems, but when certain things start happening in the world of the demons starts to fall apart. The group of demons existence becomes questioned by a coming of the next level. It all works really well but I can’t help but feel that this could be a brilliant television series following Vine as he tries to keep the demon world secret. (7/10)

Actor Review

Danielle Chuchran: Demon Cornelia is the one who can detect the presences f demons but as this new one seems to difficult to place she has to team up with Vine to solve the mystery to what has made the people change. Danielle does a solid job as the demon version of Cornelia. (6/10)

Tobias Jelinek: Atum Vine is the demon controlling the demons in the building along with the humans, but when a new Interpretor arrives the humans change leading Vine to have to figure out what is happening. The truth will leave Vine to ask himself the ultimate question to see which side of the lines he wants to stand. Tobias does good job in the leading role. (7/10)

Support Cast: Fire City: End of Days has a supporting cast that includes the different demons and the humans all living in one building.

Director Review: Tom Woodruff Jr – Tom brings us an imaginative world that works well for the story as everything just keeps you guessing throughout. (7/10)

Fantasy: Fire City: End of Days brings us into a fantasy world where demons are part of the world. (8/10)

Horror: Fire City: End of Days has good horror elements with the idea something is haunting the halls of the building. (8/10)

Thriller: Fire City: End of Days keeps you guessing to what is actually happening in the world filled with the demons. (7/10)

Settings: Fire City: End of Days puts everything inside one building which helps try to figure out what is going on while they can’t go out and find answers. (9/10)
Special Effects: Fire City: End of Days has good practical special effects to make the demon creations. (7/10)

Suggestion: Fire City: End of Days is one for all the fantasy horror fans to watch. (Fantasy Horror Fans Watch)

Best Part: The switching between demon and human form in Vine.

Worst Part: Felt a little bit too much like a TV pilot.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: Could easily have one.

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 41 Minutes

Overall: Fantasy fans hidden dream of a movie

Rating

Aug 31 2015

Preview – FIRE CITY : END OF DAYS

Burbank, CA – Academy Award Winning Creature and Character Effects Designer Tom Woodruff Jr makes his highly-anticipated directorial debut with Fire City : End of Days, hitting DVD and Digital October 6 from Uncork’d Entertainment.

Set in a world where demons live among us, this exhilarating vitrine of effects and action sees a hard-boiled demon named Vine confronted with the ultimate choice between the salvation of his own kind and the life of an innocent human girl. Tobias Jelinek (Hocus Pocus), Danielle Chuchran (SAGA : Curse of the Shadow), Glee’s Harry Shum Jr, and Kristin Minter (TVs E.R) star.

Fire City, written by Brian Lubocki and Michael Hayes and inspired by Woodruff’s short film, Fire City: King of Miseries, was successfully financed by way of a Kickstarter campaign in 2013.

Aug 30 2015

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)

Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Writer: Scott M Gimple, Seth Hoffman, David S Goyer (Screenplay) David S Goyer (Story)

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth, Fergus Riordan, Spencer Wilding

Plot: As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Darker Sequel

Story: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance starts the action in Eastern Europe, Moreau (Elba) is trying to protect a boy from the devil himself, hiding him out at a monastery, he wants the Rider to protect the boy but when the monastery is attacked Nadya (Placido) escapes with the boy. Ray Carrigan (Whitworth) has his men in hot pursuit but Moreau helps save the day.

Now it is time to repeat everything that happens in the first movie in comic book form that also doesn’t match anything that happened, Johnny Blaze (Cage) now living in wait for it Eastern Europe. Moreau comes Johnny for help offering him a new deal which will see the curse placed on Johnny lifted. When Carrigan gets the boy Danny (Riordan) Nadya has to work with Johnny to save her son while Carrigan has to get Danny to Roarke (Hinds). Wait we have a narration half way through the film about how the devil acts?

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is a story that is much darker than the first outing and without reading the comics I guess is closer to what the source material is meant to be. I did like the darker tone and overall look of Ghost Rider through the film. The story itself follows the idea of making the Rider the anti hero but slightly more controlled as we watch him try to fight the devil who put the curse on him. This is all very simple comic book stuff but never pushes any boundaries which I think we would have all like to have seen. I personally think this is a slight improvement on the first outing but having the established character really did help. (6/10)

Actor Review

Nicolas Cage: Johnny Blaze is trying to keep away from his Ghost Rider persona but the devil is always after him, when Moreau comes to him with a deal. The deal will offer him a chance to become clear of the curse placed upon him. Johnny has to team up with Nadya to stop the devil rising. Nicolas brings his style to thi film with his over the top working throughout. (6/10)

Violante Placido: Nadya is the mother of Danny who has to reluctantly team with up Johnny to save her son before the devil uses him to come to Earth. She has also made a deal with the devil only hers was to bring Danny into the world. Violante ends up filling the tradition sidekick character in a comic book film when she looked so strong early on. (5/10)

Ciaran Hinds: Roarke is the devil walking on Earth but he needs Danny so he can unlock all his powers and rule the Earth. Ciaran will always give good performance even if the material isn’t at the highest level required. (7/10)

Idris Elba: Moreau is a French monk trying to offer help but soon has to turn to Johnny offering him the deal to save himself if he save Danny. Idris shouldn’t be a supporting star but with the confusing accent throughout we have seen him improve since. (5/10)

Johnny Whitworth: Ray Carrigan is the hired man trying to bring Danny to the devil, he tries to find a way to get extra money but he is easily disposable in the eyes of the Devil. He has a history with Nadya and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to making extra money. Johnny makes an interesting enemy who does give us a good performance. (7/10)

Support Cast: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance has a supporting cast that includes extra goons trying to get the kids, the kid himself that does offer plenty to the story but other than that there isn’t too much else happening from the supporting cast point of view.

Director Review: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor – This partnership does bring us a much darker toned film but still only one that can’t be taken too serious. (6/10)

Action: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance has plenty of comic book action but this does have two good actions scenes with the quarry scene and the final chase being the stand out ones in the series. (8/10)

Fantasy: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance brings us into a world of good versus evil where the two clash for the place on Earth. (7/10)

Thriller: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance does keep you interested but never reaches the edge of your seat level that other films do. (5/10)

Settings: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance takes the action to Eastern Europe and well that is all that will stick with you. (5/10)
Special Effects: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance has improved special effects but again it is difficult to create a flaming skull character on film, but there are a couple of bad moments with the over the top action scenes. (6/10)

Suggestion: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is one for the fans of the comic book genre to try and see what they think. (Comic Book Fans Try)

Best Part: Final chase with the fight on the car.

Worst Part: Elba’s accent was hard to believe.

Action Scene Of The Film: Quarry scene.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $51 Million

Budget: $64 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes

Tagline: He rides again

Trivia: After this film, the live action film rights to Ghost Rider went back to Marvel Studios.

Overall: Darker and Improved sequel that still doesn’t reach the heights it needed too.

Rating

Aug 29 2015

Bournemouth Film & Comic Con 2015

I attended my first Film & Comic Con event over this weekend and all I can say is what an atmosphere. While I am not one to dress up in cosplay I couldn’t believe some of the costume people bought to the show. While my personal favourites were the Walking Dead ones, I bumped into a Daryl Dixon and saw a Ricky Grimes stalking the walkers. There was a Baymax along with the string of usual comic book characters, I did loss count of how many Deadpools I saw.

I couldn’t help but find myself wondering just how many Funko Pops the world has created with nearly ten stands of just Funko Pops. Autographed photo stands were plenty too but at least each one offered so much range. The one that appealed to me most is the T-shirt stands because I love me a good t-shirt and I picked up two,

Walking Dead

Night of the Living Dead

I wanted to get myself the Daryl Dixon shirt but they didn’t have my size 😦

I did get myself a Walking Dead mug because this photo is just plan cool.

One of the biggest highlights for me was the DeLoren being there and off cause I had to get myself inside the time machine like the one in a film I’ve seen.

Having three halls of guest with one being the sports stars which I avoided, the two I went to I got to meet Hardcore Bob Holly the former WWE wrestler who was one of the toughest in the business and actually looked like he wanted to beat people up, a former hardcore Champion.

As the film fan that I am I went here to meet the actors of some of my favourite films and shows. I had to pop over to meet Hodor from Game of Thrones just because of how I used to communicate with a friend at work by saying Hodor in different tones and my God he is huge.

The main reason why I had to go to this event was Robert Englund he is one of the true horror icons and after last years brilliant The Last Showing I got the opportunity to get Robert and Finn Jones to sign my copy of this brilliant film, all I need now is Emily Berrington and I have the three main character signed on one film.

Lets face it Robert Englund is most famous for Freddy Krueger and I had to take my collection of Nightmare on Elm Street which I got signed along with his first victim Tina (Amanda Wyss).

The best is saved for last where I met Amanda first and got this photo signed, I went over to Robert who had all the fans where he left the message, ‘you’re next after this bitch‘ which I think is the most epic autograph signing I have.

Overall this was one hell off a day out and when I go again I will look to go with a group of people to increase the banter level, but this was one day I won’t be forgetting for a long time.