Author: Darren Lucas

Big Film fan and general entertainment fan

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Movie Review

Gigantic (2008)

A Look Into The Unbreakable Will of Gigantic

Director: Matt Aselton
Starring: Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, John Goodman, Edward Asner, Jane Alexander, Ian Roberts, Robert Stanton, Clarke Peters, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Mary Page Keller, Zach Galifianakis, Brian Avers, Sean Dugan, Frank Harts

Starting with a nice montage leading to the opening scene with the idea of two rats in a water tank one gives up the other doesn’t. Brian Wealthersby (Paul Dano, The Batman) is visiting his college friend Larry Arbogast (Brian Avers) who is conducting an experiment studying the rathile catching the ferry back to his work place Brian gets attacked by a homeless guy (Zach Galifianakis). The attack is seemingly for no reason but Brian has to give up.

Brian work in a mattress factory sales warehouse with his boss Roger Stovall (Clarke Peters) and Kevin Blue (Daniel Stewart Sherman). Roger is old wise man who seems to be like a mentor for Brian while Kevin is the delivery drive and is a bit on the slow side. On this day Al Lolly (John Goodman) and his assistant Gary (Sean Dugan) come into buy a mattress. Al is very too the point and agrees a price quickly and leaves.

Happy (Zooey Deschanel) comes to pay for the mattress and is shocked at the price but soon falls asleep on it leaving Brian to wait for her to wake up. On the day of the Delivery Kevin’s partner is off sick so Brian goes along to the Lolly residents. Turns out they are rich and have an awkward question to ask Brian. They ask Brian to drive Al to the back doctor as he thinks something is wrong with his back. Happy comes with them and proposes they have sex while they wait. Brian is left wondering what is next for him and what will happen with Happy.

Brian is in the middle of trying to adopted an Chinese from Kenyatta (Frank Harts) and is starting to get impatient with all the delays. His family are supporting him through the process his parents Kirby (Edward Asner) and Barbara (Jane Alexander) also helping him are his brothers John (Ian Roberts), James (Robert Stanton). The guys are out on their yearly tradition weekend in the woods.

With a mixture of colourful characters and to very different families can Brian and Happy have a relationship? Will Brian get his baby? and why is the homeless guy attacking Brian randomly?

This is a nice romantic comedy without any silly laugh out loud moments. Paul Dano plays a very simple role playing an everyday man who seems to be underachieving. Zooey Deschanel plays a quirky lady who seems a little out of each conversation but always wanting to achieve something from her life. Both Paul and Zooey give great performances with all the support cast giving good performances that help build and support the lead characters as the story unfolds.

It’s always good to see an indie comedy as the story is always more important than the laughs. The story has fresh side to it which gives it good value on the originality scale. The soundtrack also gives add to the story being told very well.

My Rating is 83%

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Movie Review

The Hangover Part ll (2011)

Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti, Mason Lee, Jamie Chung, Sasha Barrese, Gillian Vigman, Nirut Sirichanya
 
Two years have past since the Vegas bachelor party. This time Stu (Ed Helms) is getting married to Lauren (Jamie Chung). The wedding is going to be in Thailand so Phil (Bradley Cooper) sees an opportunity to have another epic bachelor party against Stu’s wishes. Doug (Justin Bartha) respects Stu’s decision but wants Stu to invite Alan (Zach Galifianakis) to the wedding. Alan who now considers Phil, Stu and Doug his best friends after what happened in Vegas. Stu agrees to let Alan come and the wolfpack is reunited again.

The Wolfpack arrive at the airport to meet Teddy (Mason Lee) Laurne sixteen year old brother. Alan doesn’t like Teddy as he wasn’t part of the original wolfpack. The five of them head of to Thailand to meet up with Lauren, Doug’s wife Tracy (Sasha Barrses) and Phil’s wife Stephanie (Gillian Vigman). Lauren’s father Fohn (Nirut Sirichanya) doesn’t approve of Stu thinking he is not good enough for his daughter.

After dinner the woldpack and Teddy go for a casual one of drink on the beach. Phil wakes up in a hotel room with a now bold Alan and a tattooed faced Stu. Phil gets a phone call from Doug who is back at the wedding hotel so they think they are safe only to find out they have lost Teddy. Finding Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) in the room along with a monkey they aim to figure out what happened the night before and where Teddy is.

With most of the film based in Thailand and Bangkok we see how different a culture it is, Having a mixture drug dealers, prostitute, mobsters, monks and police. This is a laugh out comedy but doesn’t get to the same level as the original. The story is very similar to the original filled with cameos from Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Tambor and Nick Cassavetes.

If you enjoyed the first one you will like this one too not so fresh but still funny.

My rating 83%

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Movie Review

Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Marion Cotillard, Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine, Lukas Haas
 
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his trusted partner in crime Arthur (Joseph Gordon Levitt) are on a job trying to steal information from Saito (Ken Watanabe). Only these two are not your normal thieves, They go into the mind and steal from the memories of the victim. The job goes wrong when the subconscious of Cobb’s wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) turns on the two of them. Cobb races to gather in information from Saito’s mind.
 
When they wake up Cobb has to find another way to gather the information and goes more old school by trying to beat it out of him. Things get worse when Saito learns they are still in a dream and the architect Nash (Lukas Haas) hasn’t created a perfect dream world.

They all wake up on a train and Cobb, Arthur and Nash all go their separate ways. Cobb and Arthur meet back up to discuss where to go next only for Saito to find them after Nash sold them out. Saito offers them a job to do Inception and after Saito offers to get Cobb back home to America he accepts the job and they set out to find a new team.

Cobb goes to Miles (Michael Caine) to find a new architect. Miles introduces him to his best student Ariadne (Ellen Page). Cobb sets her a task of drawing maze and takes her into the dream world to see what she can create, while she learns more from Arthur Cobb goes to find a forger Eames (Tom Hardy). Eames is the best Cobb knows and also knows a chemist who has created a formula to make them sleep longer Yusuf (Dileep Rao).

The team is now set and the job is simple enough. Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) is going to become sole heir to a multi million dollar company when his father Maurice (Pete Postlethwaite) dies. Saito wants Robert to disband his company a rival to Saito’s but in order to do this they have to enter Robert subconscious and give him the idea. The plan involves using Robert’s relationship with his father and godfather Peter Browning (Tom Berenger) to make him make the decision.

With the plan under way we learn about the relationship between Cobb and his Wife. Ariadne believes Cobb will cause problems having Mal in his subconscious. Can the team complete the job without any hitches and will Cobb get to see his children again. watch and you will find out.

This is something very rare nowadays in Hollywood a truly original story. the special effect are breath taking from the folding streets in France to the anti gravity fight scene. Each character is very well developed

  • Cobb with his mysterious past
  • Arthur by the book guy
  • Eames shady professional
  • Ariadne young and ambitious
  • Saito business man who wants more and more
  • Mal always in Cobb’s dreams

The music by Hans Zimmer adds to the tension being built from start to finish and will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through. The action scenes are thrilling keeping you guessing how they will get out of the situations they end up in. The twists in the story will keep you wondering what has happened and what will happen and even the end will leave you working out what actually happen give this movie such great re watch value.

This simply is the best action thriller you will ever see more than an absolute must see. Making a stunning $820million this is one of the best money making movies ever.

My rating 100%

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Movie Review

Scream 3 (2000)

Neve Campbell Reunites with Ghostface in Scream 3

Neve Campbell Reunites with Ghostface in Scream 3

Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Liev Schreiber, Kelly Rutherford, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Foley, Lance Henriksen, Deon Richmond, Matt Keeslar, Jenny McCarthy, Emily Mortimer, Parker Posey, Patrick Warburton, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy
 
A few years have past now Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) is now a talk show host of a show called 100% cotton. After filming a cameo in ‘Stab 3’ Cotton gets a phone call from Ghost face who is going to kill his girlfriend Christine Hamilton (Kelly Rutherford). Ghost Face leaves a picture of Sidney’s mother at the scene of the crime.

Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) is high flying presenter now and as she knows about the Woodsboro the police ask her help Detective Mark Kincaid (Patrick Dempsey). Sidney (Neve Campbell) lives in the middle of nowhere working from home as a phone support worker.

Dewey (David Arquette) now works as a technical advisor on ‘Stab 3’ which production gets put into question. the director Roman Bridger (Scott Foley) and producer John Milton (Lance Henriksen) try to keep the film in production. The actors from the movie Tyson Fox (Deon Richmond), Tom Prinze (Matt Keeslar), Sarah Darling (Jenny McCarthy) Angelina Tyler (Emily Mortimer) and Jennifer Jolie (Parker Posey).

With a video sent from Randy (Jamie Kennedy) giving the heroes the rules of trilogy. Having this information we are left to wonder who will survive this time and anyone could be the killer.

This being the third in the trilogy it was meant to be the last coming full circle and giving us the ending we were all looking forward too. Filled with twist and tension which goes to a higher level and even re-writing the history of the first two movies. The characters are all well developed to all be made out to be potential suspects. The final reveal is a big surprise. Still well worth a watch for slasher fans. We have the full victim list HERE.

My rating is 70%

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Movie Review

Scream 2 (1997)

Scream 2: Neve Campbell and Jada Pinkett Smith Story

Scream 2: Neve Campbell and Jada Pinkett Smith Story

Starring: Neve Campbell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Omar Epps, Heather Graham, Liev Schreiber, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Timothy Olyphant, Jamie Kennedy, Jerry O’Connell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Luke Wilson, Tori Spelling, Elise Neal, Laurie Metcaf

Starting with the release of the movie ‘Stab’ starring Heather Graham as Casey from the original and Luke Wilson as Billy. Phil (Omar Epps) takes his girlfriend Maureen (Jada Pinkett Smith) to see the movie. Everyone is given a ghost face costume. while the movie is rolling a ghost face kills both Phil and Maureen make the publicity rise on the films opening night.

Sidney (Neve Campbell) now in college gets a prank phone call but quickly identifies the caller who hangs up once they are exposed. Sidney’s room mate Hallie (Elise Neal) keeps trying to encourage Sidney to join a sorority. When they find out about the murders Sidney goes to find Randy (Jamie Kennedy).

Randy is in a film class where they try to figure out if the movies created the ‘stab’ killer or not. In the class is Cici (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Mickey (Timothy Olyphant). In the class they have a big discussion about how sequels are not as good as originals keeping to the feel of the original not being to serious.

Sidney has a new boyfriend Derek (Jerry O’Connell). Having Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) turn up riding her fame from her book and movie. Gale meets a ambitious reporter Debbie Salt (Laurie Metcalf). Gale brings Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) to do an interview with Sidney about how she accused him and he turned out innocent. Completing the line up is Dewey (David Arquette) who comes to make sure Sidney is safe.

This time we are left with a slightly different list of suspects:

  • A reporter who keeps want to be the story
  • The Ambitious reporter wanting to make a name for herself
  • The Accused murderer of Sidney’s mother
  • The boyfriend proving she can pick the crazy ones
  • The Film student who loves sequels
  • The sorority who want to become the most popular

The Movie is a good follow up to the original. Having the idea of the release of the story in movie as background to the story of what is happening in these characters lives. Keeping its tongue in cheek style very nicely through out. Containing lots of twists and turns leading us to the big climax and revelation of who the killer is. The characters are all different and have very interesting potential motives. This is well worth a watch for slasher fans keeping the series worth watching and wanting more.

My rating is 76%

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Movie Review

Tekken (2010)

Uncover Tekken’s Elite Fighters with Jon Foo

Uncover Tekken's Elite Fighters with Jon Foo

Director: Dwight H. Little
Starring: Jon Foo, Kelly Overton, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Ian Anthony Dale, Cung Le, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Luke Goss, Mircea Monroe, Tamlyn Tomita, Candice Hillebrand, Marian Zapico, Gary Daniels, Lateef Crowder, Anton Kasabov

Jin (Jon Foo) a runner with a big fighting skill in the outside city of Anvil get discovered by Tekken the corporation who control the world they come after him and kill his mother Jun (Tamlyn Tomita). Setting out on revenge Jin goes to become the wild card entry in the iron fist competition against the Tekken elite fighters.

To earn the wild card entry Jin meets Steve Fox (Luke Goss) an ex fighter who is hustling crowds to find someone to fight Marshall Law (Cung Le). After becoming victorious Jin is now the people’s choice and Steve becomes his agent/trainer taking him to the iron fist tournament.

Heihachi Mishima (Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa 47 Ronin) is the leader of Tekken with his son Kazuya (Ian Anthony Dale) the next in line and head of security. Jin’s goal is to take out the Tekken leader in revenge for his mothers death but first he has to beat the fighters.

Cast

  • Christie Monteiro (Kelly Overton)
  • Raven (Darrin Dewitt Henson)
  • Nina Williams (Candice Hillebrand)
  • Anna Williams (Marian Zapico)
  • Bryan Fury (Gary Daniels)
  • Eddy Gordo (Lateef Crowder)
  • Sergel Dragunov (Anton Kasabov)
  • Yoshimistu (Gary Ray Stearns)

Can Jin over come the odds and become the first wild card Iron Fist winner ?

This is based on the video game Tekken and from the few i have played i have only heard of a few of the fighters in the movies. I think most Tekken fans will be disappointed with the film as many characters and twist do not follow the games very well. One the other hand having mainly human fighters it will make more sense to an unknown to the series.

As a one of fighting movie this is not actually a bad movie with some well constructed fight scenes. The story is easy to follow seeing who the good and bad guys are but the twists are not as hidden as they could have been. All in all i think i would rate this movie well.

My rating 70%

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Movie Review

My Name Is Bruce (2007)

My Name is Bruce: The God of War Rises in a Small Mining Town

My Name is Bruce: The God of War Rises in a Small Mining Town

Director: Bruce Campbell
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Grace Thorsen, Taylor Sharpe, Ted Raimi, Ben L. McCain, Ellen Sandweiss

In a small mining town where one hundred Chinese workers are killed in a cave in the God of war and even bean curd Guan-Di in now the protector of the grave. When Jeff (Taylor Sharpe) and his three friends disturb the grave by stealing an ancient lock on the tomb Guan-Di rises from the the grave and kill the three friends.

Meanwhile Bruce Campbell (playing himself) in on the set of cave alien 2 a sequel to a movie he hated himself. Meeting his agent Mills (Ted Raimi) in a strip club to discuss his career chances. After a few to many drinks he struggles back to his caravan and drinks more before making a phone call t his ex wife Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss). Soon after a knock at the door from Jeff begging Bruce for help to take out Guan-Di thinking its just a movie pitch Bruce ignore Jeff. Jeff ends up kidnapping Bruce taking Bruce back to Gold Lick.

Upon arriving in Gold Lick Bruce is treated as a form of saviour. Jeff a huge Bruce Campbell fans has convinced the whole town Bruce can fight this monster. Meeting the Mayor (Ben L.McCain) Bruce is taken to a town meeting to learn about the monster he will be fighting. Bruce thinks this is just a present from his Mills so he just plays along. Kelly (Grace Thorsen) Jeff’s mum thinks Bruce is a fraud but the rest of the town believe in Bruce.

Upon going out on a hunt for Guan-Di Bruce finds out that Guan-Di is actually real and runs all the way back to his caravan. With the town all out of hope Jeff goes to fight Guan-Di on his own. Can Bruce Campbell be the hero his movies have made him out to be?

Verdict on My Name is Bruce

The B-movie legend Bruce Campbell makes and stars in My Name is Bruce a strong horror comedy that is a tongue in cheek look at his career. This is a good laugh for all fans of Bruce Campbell keeping you interested with his charm and one liners which he became famous for. Very enjoyable film that could have been more successful that is was. Ted Raimi playing multiple characters for extra comic value works well. This is a great entry-level horror movie.

My rating 77%

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Movie Review

Scream 4 (2011)

Exploring the Terror Behind Ghost Face in Scream 4

Exploring the Terror Behind Ghost Face in Scream 4

Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Lucy Hale, Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Brittany Robertson, Neve Campbell, Alison Brie, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Aimie Teegarden, Hayden Panettiere, Emma Roberts, Marielle Jaffe, Marley Shelton, Erik Knudsen, Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella, Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody

Ten years has pasted since Sidney (Neve Campbell) survived the last murders. Sidney has since written a book about her experience. Sidney returns to Woodsboro for a book signing with her PR lady Rebecca (Alison Brie). Deputy Dewey is now Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) he is also married to Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox).

Upon Sidney return two students are killed by Ghost Face. Sidney cousin Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts) with her two best friends Kirby (Hayden Panettiere) and Olivia (Marielle Jaffe) get the news along with Jill’s ex boyfriend Trevor (Nico Tororella). Video blogger Robbie (Erik Knudsen) and his partner Charlie (Rory Culkin) complete the school group line up.

With Sheriff Dewey in charge he has a new squad of deputies including his new partner Judy Hicks (Marley Shelton) an old school friend of Sidney. The other two we meet are Deputy Perkins (Anthony Anderson) and Deputy Hoss (Adam Brody).

Using the ‘Stab’ movies as their reference points to how to make it out the situation the Jill, Kirby, Sidney all stay at Kate Roberts Jill mother and Sidney Aunt. Having a squad car with Perkins and Hoss in are they going to be safe?

The list of suspects in Scream 4 is good and will keep you guessing all the way.

  • Is it the reporter who can’t write anymore
  • The Deputy who was ignored at school
  • The mysterious boyfriend
  • The film geeks who film their lives
  • The one who wants to be center of attention

Anyone could be the villain and every corner pushes a different prime suspect before pulling that name straight back off the table. Check out the Scream 4 Victim List for full spoilers HERE.

This movie keeps in the same trend of the original trilogy never taking itself too serious and having little pops at all over remakes. Even giving us the updated rules of the ‘Remake’. Add in the clever opening sequences puts you on the edge of your seat from start to brilliant revelation on the Ghost Face is. If you like the original movies you will like this fourth as it is same sense of tension through out. Even if your new to the franchise this isn’t a bad place to start up from as the back story isn’t important and what is needed to be filled in gets done in the short filled conversations.

My Rating 82%

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Movie Review

Identity (2003)

Director: James Mangold
Starring: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea Duvall, John C. McGinley, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Rebecca De Mornay, Leila Kenzie, Holmes Osbourne, Bret Loehr,

Dr Malick (Alfred Molina) is doing research about a serial killer Malcolm Rivers. Rivers is going to be put to death the next night and Malick discovers something that could change the punishment of Rivers. Having a midnight hearing with Judge Taylor (Holmes Osbourne) the case is presented.

While the case goes on we go to a motel with a storm raging Larry (John Hawkes) meets a range of different characters looking for a room. starting with George York (John C. McGinley) carrying his injured wife Alice (Leila Kenzie) and step son Timmy York (Bret Loehr). The injury was caused in a car accident involving a driver Ed (John Cusack) and his fallen star actress Caroline (Rebecca De Mornay). After trying o get help Ed meets hooker Paris (Amanda Peet) and young couple Lou (William Lee Scott) Ginny (Clea Duvall). The final arrival is policeman Rhodes (Ray Liotta) and his prison transfer Robert Maine (Jake Busey).

After Caroline gets killed the guests at the motel start to panic to make matters worse Robert Maine has escaped. With this complex characters we are left to wonder who will make it through the night and what is the evidence to get this convected murder a new trial.

This is a good horror thriller using a basic concept leaving a group of people in the middle of nowhere with a killer on the loose. The story is pack full of twists and turns to keep you guessing from start until the big reveal at the end. The storm adds to the tension being built through out the movie.

A true thriller that hides all identities with shocking revelations on all characters a must for the thriller fans with part slasher.

My rating 78%