Month: August 2016

Director: Stephen Chow

Writer: Stephen Chow, Kan-Cheung Tsang, Min Hun Fung, Chi Keung Fung (Screenplay)

Starring: Stephen Chow, Zhou Wei, Man-Tat Mg, Yin Tse, Cecilia Cheung, Karen Mok, Vincent Kok

 

Plot: A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Enjoyable

 

Story: Shaolin Soccer starts as we see Golden Leg Fung the star football (I am calling it football not soccer because that is the name of the sport) player takes a bride to missed from Hung only to find himself crippled by the crowd. 20 years later Hung (Tse) is the coach of Team Evil and Golden Leg (Ng) is a crippled kit man who wants to coach his own team.

Golden Leg’s luck is about to change when he meets Mighty Steel Leg Sing (Chow) who has been practising the Kung Fu style of Shaolin and wants to embrace it into the game of football. Steel Leg brings together his brothers to form a team to take on Team Evil for the prize of $1 Million but can this unique style work on the football pitch?

Shaolin Soccer is one of those films where the story feels like it has been ripped from a comic book and thrown together to enter us into a world where we have to suspense our disbelief throughout the story. I do think it does play out like your standard sports film coming from nowhere to beat the best known team we know the final will be the biggest test too so on that side nothing is truly fresh. The films story is all about how Kung Fu can be used to make football an achievable sport for the talentless players.

 

Actor Review

 

Stephen Chow: Mighty Steel Leg Sing lives on the streets as he is determined to find a use for his Shaolin Kung Fu training. When he meets Golden Leg Fung he decides to try football and with this he reunites his brothers to make the most unorthodox team to enter the tournament. Stephen shines in this showing off his kung fu skills with his comedy skills.

Zhou Wei: Mui is a street cook that hides herself from the world but Steel Leg sees past her to see her real beauty as he tries to bring her out of her shell. Zhou is good in this supporting role which all works for the film.

Man-Tat Ng: Golden Leg Fung is a former football star that took a bride which ended his career, tired of being just the kit man he agrees to coach Mighty Steal Leg and his team as they enter the most famous tournament around. Man-Tat is good in this role as the man seeking one last chance to make up for his mistake.

Yin Tse: Team Evil Coach Hung ruined Golden Leg’s football career before using all of his wealth to control the gang making his team the all powerful force in the sports. Yin is good in this supporting role playing your typical villain.

Support Cast: Shaolin Soccer has a supporting cat which is mostly the rest of the team who all have their own abilities, they all add to the comedy being used through the film.

Director Review: Stephen Chow – Stephen puts together this entertaining film as well as starring in the leading role showing he can handle both sides of the job.

 

Action: Shaolin Soccer is filled with over the top whacky kung fu action.

Comedy: Shaolin Soccer makes you laugh with just how over the top everything really is going on through the film.

Sports: Shaolin Soccer brings us a fresh mix on football which we haven’t seen before.

Settings: Shaolin Soccer shows how the men are coming from the bottom of the streets to become household names.
Special Effects: Shaolin Soccer uses the effects to make everything happen with the Shaolin work which works but you can see them happening.

Suggestion: Shaolin Soccer is one you can just put on to sit back and relax. (Relax and Watch)

 

Best Part: All the over the top Kung Fu football mixing.

Worst Part: Certain special effects you can see how fake they are.

 

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $10 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes

Tagline: The sensation that swept Asia is coming to theaters!

 

Overall: A true sit back and relax film that can be enjoyed

Rating

 

 

Director: Nick Simon

Writer: Neil Elman (Screenplay)

Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Michael Winslow, Michele Weaver, Jimmy Bellinger, Lorynn York, Erron Jay, RJ Walker, Martin Kove

 

Plot: Colton West must defeat the lavalantulas once again.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Lacklustre Sequel

 

Story: 2 Lava 2 Lantula starts as the characters from the first film are living off their fame as Colton West (Guttenberg) now trying to be a big movie star once more. When the Lavalantulas return Colton must work with Marty (Winslow) to try and save his stepdaughter Raya (Weaver) and kill all the Lavalantulas before they take over the world.

2 Lava 2 Lantula does everything you want it too but unlike the Sharknados this time we get a sequel that knows it is a sequel but it feels like it is once movie too early to be acting like this already. I will say this is a fun easy watch but you do feel like this could be really clutching at straws with trying to give us new ways to create kills in the world created. We don’t get too much original material to work with but it is easy enough to watch.

 

Overall: This isn’t the greatest addition to the film and it doesn’t reach the levels the first did.

Rating

 

 

Director: John Patrick Shanley

Writer: John Patrick Shanley (Screenplay) John Patrick Shanley (Play)

Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Alice Drummond, Audrie Neenan, Susan Blommaert, Carrie Preston, John Costello, Lloyd Clay Brown

 

Plot: A Catholic school principal questions a priest’s ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Intense Thriller

 

Story: Doubt starts in 1964 where Father Flynn (Hoffman) is still trying to lift his followers in the catholic church. We meet the strict Sister Beauvier (Streep) who strikes fear in all the student in the school while the perky Sister James (Adams) tries her own way to get through to the students.

When Sister James starts to question what Father Flynn has been up to she goes to Sister Beauvier with her suspicious about what he has been doing with the kids well one in particular. We watch as the three clash as they look for what is the truth in a world before all the catholic child molesting was being reported.

Doubt gives us one of the questions that is always good to leave the film with, which side do you believe? This really helps because we do see both sides of the situation and we are also left without a true answer leaving us with the important word doubt. The film does touch on subjects that we have come to see in life with catholic church being involved with child molesting.

 

Actor Review

 

Meryl Streep: Sister Aloysius Beauvier is the strict Sister on the catholic school that all the other Sisters have to turn answer to if they have any issues. When Sister James suspects Father Flynn she leads the charge against him because of her old school ways of beliefs. Meryl is brilliant in this role as we see her character going in a direction way before her time.

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Father Brendan Flynn is the head of the parish where he picks the altar boys and works with the sisters to make the best decisions. When he gets closes to one of the boy’s heads start to turn and we are left to wonder if he is being a good man or taking advantage of this boy. Philip shows just how good he really was with this performance.

Amy Adams: Sister James is the innocent naïve Sister that teaches a class, she starts to piece together being the first person to suspect Father Flynn. She finds herself jumping between the sides never really knowing what to believe is true. Amy is great in this role almost being the character we are being able to relate to through the situation.

Viola Davis: Mrs Miller is the mother of the suspected victim of Father Flynn, she knows how difficult life is going to be for her son knowing that getting through this school will help any future he wants to have but the truth coming out could harm his future. Viola is brilliant in here few scenes supporting scenes.

Support Cast: Doubt has a supporting cast which includes the kids and the rest of the church who are only involved in the moments needed.

Director Review: John Patrick Shanley – John gives us one of the most intense films out there with how this subject.

 

Mystery: Doubt does keep us wondering just what is the truth out in the story.

Settings: Doubt keeps everything in the correct locations to make us believe we are in the right time period.

Suggestion: Doubt is one I think people should see at least once but I can see why it might be hard to see more than once. (Watch)

 

Best Part: Story.

Worst Part: Not one for re-watching.

 

Believability: This story might be fictional but the events are similar to certain moments.

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: Nominated for 5 Oscars

Budget: $20 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes

Tagline: There is no evidence. There are no witnesses. But for one, there is no doubt.

 

Overall: Very interesting and intense film with great subject matter.

Rating

 

 

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson (Screenplay)

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Ambyr Childers, Rami Malek, Jesse Plemons

 

Plot: A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Missed Opportunity

 

Story: The Master starts as we follow the naval veteran Freddie Quell (Phoenix) as he returns after World War II, he struggles to find a place after what he has been through working as a photographer at a before moving on to a farm job. Struggling with everyday life after the war Freddie finds himself on-board a boat, the boat offers him a chance to meet Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman).

On-board the ship Freddie learns that Lancaster is leading a cult like group of people that believe each moment on all lives lived are able to be communicated and Lancaster sees Freddie as his protégé. As the group gathers momentum we see how Freddie is embracing where he is within the cult but will his nature push the limit of how the Master sees him.

The Master is a drama showing the slow rise of a cult like group that should be one of the more compelling stories out there, the problem is that it comes off very slow and you never really believe the cause they are trying to bring together. The acting can’t be questioned but everything just feels very messy and almost never goes in a direction that makes much sense. I may have misunderstood the film in which case I do apologise but in all honesty I didn’t enjoy this story.

 

Actor Review

 

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Lancaster Dodd is the leader of ‘The Cause’ he has the power to pull people into his belief and sees Freddie as a protégé what could continue spreading the word. We can see the comparison of Scientology with this character.  Philip is great in this role as you would expect from the late great.

Joaquin Phoenix: Freddie Quell is a Naval veteran of World War II, he is struggling with life once he has returned but when he ends up on Lancaster Dodd’s boat he joins The Cause as the protégé to the Master. He is aggressive and easily switched into a fight mode. Joaquin shines in this role showing the full range of emotion needed.

Amy Adams: Peggy Dodd is the wife of Lancaster and firm believer in the Cause so much so that she does have a big say in what is going on behind the show Lancaster puts on. Amy is also good in this role standing strong next to the leading men.

Support Cast: The Master has a strong supporting cast that all do a great job in a film where acting isn’t the problem.

Director Review: Paul Thomas Anderson – Paul is a director that has given us some of the best films we have ever seen but this time I feel the film gets dragged down with a slow story.

 

Drama: The Master is a drama that doesn’t seem to get enough out of the potential story it has but can’t have anything bad to say about the acting.

Settings: The Master doesn’t have any memorable settings trying to make us feel like a cult could be raised within your local neighbourhood.

Suggestion: The Master is one film I think people would like but I can see many people like myself not enjoying this. (Try It)

 

Best Part: The acting.

Worst Part: The Story

 

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: Nominated for 3 Oscars

Budget: $32 Million

Runtime: 2 Hours 24 Minutes

 

Overall: Brilliantly acted but such a slow moving story.

Rating

 

 

Director: Nicolas Lopez

Writer: Nicolas Lopez, Eli Roth, Guillermo Amoedo (Screenplay) Eli Roth, Nicolas Lopez (Story)

Starring: Eli Roth, Andrea Osvart, Ariel Levy, Natasha Yarovenko, Nicolas Martinez, Lorenza Izzo, Ramon Llao

 

Plot: In Chile, a group of travellers who are in an underground nightclub when a massive earthquake hits quickly learn that reaching the surface is just the beginning of their nightmare.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Intense From Start to Finish

 

Story: Aftershock starts as Gringo (Roth), Ariel (Levy) and Pollo (Martinez) travelling around Chile, they party over all night where they meet three girls Monica (Osvart), Irina (Yarovenko) and Kylie (Izzo). Going for one last party the six new friends find themselves in the middle of an earthquake, one seriously injured and an impending tsunami heading towards them.

The friends must race against time in a country none of them call home to make it out alive but the natural disaster isn’t the only threat when the prison is damaged leading to the prisoners being released upon the streets.

Aftershock gives us something very different because we get a disaster movie which comes off realistic and sudden which is a big plus but it doesn’t stop there by giving us a survival horror when the group have to survive from prisoners. It would be fair to say there is a negative with the building up to the disaster but this does help give us small character development. When we deal with the aftershock of the earthquake we have to deal with non-stop action throughout. This was a real surprise because I thought there would have been more hype about the film.

 

Actor Review

 

Eli Roth: Gringo is the single father on the trip, he is friends with Ariel which shows that he isn’t the closet with Pollo. He is using this holiday as a chance to get over the recently divorce but when the quake hits he finds himself having to pull Pollo out of his daze. Eli does well but it becomes clear he really should be behind the camera.

Andrea Osvart: Monica is the stricter older sister to Kylie who tries her best to keep her sister safe on their adventure but she has a secret from the rest which is very important for the aftershock side of the story. Andrea is good in this leading role being the sensible one during the situation.

Nicolas Martinez: Pollo is the Spanish talking member of the group, he has gotten by because the money his family has. He finds himself having to step up after the quake to do the things normal men wouldn’t. his final moments are slightly stupid but otherwise a good character. Nicolas is good in this role as the man who needs to step up.

Natasha Yarovenko: Irina is one of the girls who is very similar to Gringo being a single parent and also a success. She starts off thinking she is more but soon becomes the strongest one during the situation. Natasha is good in this role and the sympathy between her and Gringo’s character comes through strong.

Lorenza Izzo: Kylie is the younger party animal of the two sisters, she just wants to have fun on her trip but with her old sister trying to protect her she finds herself being held back until the quake hits and she wants her sister to help her. Lorenza is good in this bratty like character which put her on the map for a future horror scream queen.

Support Cast: Aftershock has the basic supporting cast that all help with the survival side of the story.

Director Review: Nicolas Lopez – Nicolas gives us a film that keeps pulling us in once the earthquake hits.

 

Action: Aftershock use the action for the destruction side of the story which helps us with mother nature side of the story.

Horror: Aftershock comes from the human side of the story as we see just how twisted they can become in a situation our characters find themselves in.

Thriller: Aftershock keeps us on edge from start to finish.

Settings: Aftershock uses Chile for the settings which works for a different location and shows our characters lost during a disaster.
Special Effects: Aftershock has good effects to create what happens to the characters in the disaster.

Suggestion: Aftershock is one to watch especially is you like disaster movies. (Watch)

 

Best Part: Earthquake.

Worst Part: Slightly too much before the quake.

 

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $2 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes

Tagline: The only thing more terrifying than Mother Nature is human nature.

 

Overall: Surprisingly intense film that blends two great genres.

Rating

Director: Matt Brown

Writer: Matt Brown (Screenplay) Robert Kanigel (Biography)

Starring: Jeremy Irons, Dev Patel, Devika Bhise, Stephen Fry, Toby Jones, Jeremy Northam, San Shella

 

Plot: The story of the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his friendship with his mentor, Professor G.H. Hardy.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Very Important Story

 

Story: The Man Who Knew Infinity starts as we meet Srinivasa Ramanujan (Patel) as he struggles to impress for a job to support his wife Janaki (Bhise). When he final gets a chance he finds himself working for Sir Francis Spring (Fry) where he gets encouraged to explore his mathematic skills over the world.

With all of his skills Srinivasa reaches out to G.H. Hardy (Irons) to try and correct some of his most famous work and this brings Hardy’s attention and after talking it through with his associate Littlewood (Jones) Hardy brings him to England.

Reaching England Srinivasa gets pushed around by the fellow lecturers and students with his relationship with Hardy being the only thing keeping him there as the two go out to prove to the world just what they can do. Even after the war breaks out and the racist nature of the surrounding citizens in England won’t bring down Srinivasa.

The Man Who Knew Infinity gives us the story of one of the greatest minds the world never got everything from. The name could easily be glossed over but what he achieved is important to maths and its theories today. While elements of the film are made to be more enjoyable the basic concepts behind the man himself are clear to see, while I would have liked to have seen slightly more of his wife’s struggle with both before and during his time away as this side is very important to how much risked for this chance I can understand that this side of the story wouldn’t have be recorded as easily as his time in England. I think each actor gives us a great performance without ever trying to outshine any other character on the screen.

 

Overall: This is an important history lesson that I wish everyone could see just to show how much he risked to change the world.

Rating

 

 

Director: Gavin Hood

Writer: Guy Hibbert (Screenplay)

Starring: Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman, Barkhad Abdi, Phoebe Fox

 

Plot: Col. Katherine Powell, a military officer in command of an operation to capture terrorists in Kenya, sees her mission escalate when a girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute over the implications of modern warfare.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Intense Thriller

 

Story: Eye in the Sky starts Colonel Katherine Powell (Mirren) planning her latest mission in her search for terrorists in Kenya. She has two drone pilots located in the States Steve Watts (Paul) and rookie Carrie Gershon (Fox) being her eyes in the sky as Katherine co-ordinates with the locals in Kenya planning the take down.

We continue to meet everyone else involved in this operation with Lieutenant General Frank Benson (Rickman) keeping everything under control from a British military office and Jama Farah (Abdi) a ground surveillance from the ground.

Finding the terrorists, the we get go through the legal and ethical decision about any drone attack, this is what creates all of the tension through the film.

Eye in the Sky shows us the modern warfare and how the search for these deadly terrorist, the story shows how difficult these decisions the people involved have to face because they are not only trying to stop terrorist attacks they are trying to protect the innocent lives involved too. Having the people located all over the world also shows us how much of a global operation this actually is too. I think the tension is built up through the film that does help keep us on edge and is willing to offer up the questions about what we would do too.

 

Actor Review

 

Helen Mirren: Colonel Katherine Powell is running the operation to locate and capture known terrorists in Africa. She has to communicate with people all over the world on this operation as well as dealing with legal and ethical consequences. Helen gives us a great grounded performance through this film.

Aaron Paul: Steve Watts is the drone pilot stationed in Nevada having to watch over the situation unfold, he knows that he is pulling the trigger that could end innocent lives. Aaron is good in this performance showing all the emotion needed in the role.

Alan Rickman: Lieutenant General Frank Benson has to communicate with the highest ranking officials as to what can be done for the good of the mission and the good of the country all after he had the difficult decision what present to buy. Alan gives the performance you would expect from him in one of his last before we lost great.

Barkhad Abdi: Jama Farah is the Kenyan agent on the ground that has to risk his own life to get close to produce a positive ID on the suspects. Barkhad is good in this role having to deal with the most action involved in the story.

Support Cast: Eye in the Sky has a supporting cast that are all involved in the operation from all around the world they all help balance what would be the right or wrong decision.

Director Review: Gavin Hood – Gavin gives us a thriller that keeps you on edge throughout as well as offering all the questions needed during these operations.

 

Thriller: Eye in the Sky keeps us on edge wondering how the operation will go from start to finish.

War: Eye in the Sky shows us all the angles on the modern warfare when it comes to the decision making when dealing with terrorists and innocent lives.

Settings: Eye in the Sky puts our characters in different global positions when it comes to dealing with the operation, each location shows how modern warfare is being handled now.
Special Effects: Eye in the Sky uses the effects very well throughout when needed but never turning them too often.

Suggestion: Eye in the Sky is one I do think everyone should enjoy. (Watch)

 

Best Part: Tension being built.

Worst Part: I think some people might expect more action.

Oh My God Moment: Final decision.

Favourite Quote: Lt. General Frank Benson ‘Never tell a soldier that he does not know the cost of war.’

 

Believability: This could be a real operation.

Chances of Tears: Maybe.

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $13 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes

Tagline: Welcome to the new front line. 

 

Overall: One of the most intense thrillers of the year.

Rating

 

 

Director: Phillip Noyce

Writer: Terry Hayes (Screenplay) Charles Williams (Novel)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, Billy Zane, Rod Mullinar, Joshua Tilden

 

Plot: After a tragedy, John Ingram and his wife Rae spend some time isolated at sea when they come along a stranger who has abandoned a sinking ship.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Suspenseful

 

Story: Dead Calm starts when married couple Rae (Kidman) and John (Neill) suffer the personal tragedy when their son is killed in a car accident. To cope with the loss, the two head out to sea to get away from the world and grieve in their own way.

The couple’s peace is broken when lone survivor Hughie Warriner (Zane) whose crew have all died as the couple agree to help the stranded sailor. Whilst investigating Hughie’s boat John learns the truth about this man whose sinister side takes over as he takes control of their ship kidnapping Rae along the way. The film becomes a battle for survival from Rae point of view and John must repair the damaged boat to have any chance of saving the day.

Dead Calm keeps the story short and sweet never trying to be anything more than it needs to. We never find anything getting confusing with the most part just being a fight for survival be it on a damaged boat or stay one step ahead of a mad man. This really does make this easy to follow.

 

Actor Review

 

Nicole Kidman: Rae is dealing with the loss of her son in a car accident where she was also badly injured in. she joins her husband on their yacht sailing around the Pacific but her time of grieving is interrupted when she finds herself being held captive by Hughie. Nicole is great in this role showing a strong female character through the ordeal she finds herself in.

Sam Neill: John is the husband of Rae who just so happens to be a sailor, he takes her away to grieve the loss of their son only to find himself in a race against time using all of his skills to save from the hands of a mad man. Sam is good considering he has to spend most of the film alone.

Billy Zane: Hughie is the lone survivor from another yacht claiming his crew all died but soon we learn about his dark side as he has always been planning to hijack the next boat he came across with Rae as his prisoner. I do feel this character could have been even darker than what we got. Billy is good in this role but I feel we did need to see slightly more twisted in his character.

Support Cast: Dead Calm really doesn’t have anyone else truly involved with most extra characters only appearing in an odd scene.

Director Review: Phillip Noyce – Phillip gives us a tense thriller that keeps us on edge throughout.

 

Thriller: Dead Calm does keep us on edge throughout because we know just how stranded the characters are through the situation.

Settings: Dead Calm puts our characters in the middle of the ocean which shows us there is nowhere they can go to escape what is happening, perfect us of setting.
Special Effects: Dead Calm has good effects when needed with most just really being used sparingly.

Suggestion: Dead Calm is one I would recommend seeing as it does everything you need it to do as a thriller. (Watch)

 

Best Part: Tension building.

Worst Part: A certain death.

 

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes

Tagline: High Seas. Deep Terror.

 

Overall: Suspense filled thriller.

Rating

 

 

Director: Rohit Dhawan

Writer: Rohit Dhawan, Tushar Hiranandani (Screenplay)

Starring: John Abraham, Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Akshay Kumar, Akshaye Khanna, Parineeti Chopra

 

Plot: When India’s top batsman Viraj Sharma goes missing in Middle East, two cops Kabir Shergill and Junaid Ansari from either side of Arabian Sea must team up for a 36-hours man-hunt before the final match between India and Pakistan.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Fun Action Comedy

 

Story: Dishoom starts when India’s top batsman disappears after helping India to the final. This becomes a massive case which sees hard as nails cops Kabir (Abraham) to India to work with slacker cop Junaid (Dhawan) who is always up for a party. The two have to put their differences aside to find out the truth about what has happened and if they are dealing with just a fanatic fan or a true terrorist.

Dishoom follows the footsteps of the buddy cop films where we see the clash of styles needing to work together to foil an evil plot. This all works well through the film as get the laughs when needed without any being silly but we get the action needed to make us enjoy watching our heroes make it out of all the situations they find themselves in. the main plot does have enough twists to keep us guessing which is also a big plus.

 

Overall: Enjoyable first venture into Bollywood

Rating