Tag: 2013

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Movie Review

The Heat (2013) Movie Review

The Heat – Movie Review

Read our review of The Heat, a hilarious buddy cop movie starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.

Director: Paul Feig

Writer: Katie Dippold (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: An uptight FBI Special Agent is paired with a foul-mouthed Boston cop to take down a ruthless drug lord.

Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Heat starts when uptight FBI agent Ashburn (Bullock) heads to Boston for her latest case. She must work with foul-mouthed local cop Mullins (McCarthy) to learn more about the local area. However, the two clash in styles as they look to take down a ruthless drug lord.

As the two work together, they learn to put their differences apart to get close to the suspect. However, the case becomes more complicated than expected as they discover the truth about the ring of criminals.

Verdict on The Heat

The Heat is an action comedy following an uptight FBI agent and a nonsense Boston Cop. They are forced to team up and put aside their differences to track down a ruthless drug lord.

This movie is an entertaining buddy cop movie putting together two different people. Even if a lot of the comedy is overly forced and takes away from the core best parts. If you take away the forced comedy, this would be a welcome addition to the buddy cop movies and the main stories feels like everything you would have expected. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy work very well together and we could return to see their partnership again.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – The Heat is an entertaining buddy cop movie.

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ABC Film Challenge

Four Corners (2013) Movie Recommendation

Four Corners – ABC Film Challenge – World Cinema – F – Four Corners – Movie Recommendation

Four Corners

Director: Ian Gabriel

Writer: Hofmeyr Scholtz, Terence Hammond (Screenplay)

Writer: Ian Gabriel (Story)

Cast

  • Brendon Daniels
  • Jezriel Skei
  • Lindiwe Matshikiza
  • Irshaad Ally
  • Abduragman Adams

Plot: Fatherless and raised by his grandmother, thirteen year old Ricardo Galam lives in South Africa’s Cape Flats. A unique and volatile sub culture dominated by two Number gangs, the 26 and 28. Ricardo’s future as a chess prodigy is threatened by his growing interest in the 26 whose local leader is grooming him as a potential member. Unknown to Ricardo, the father he’s never known has been released from prison. Farakhan, a reformed general in the 28, is back in his old neighbourhood, an intruder in 26 territory. In a story that is at times raw and violent at other times touching and true.

Runtime: 1 Hour 59 Minutes

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Movie Review

Goodbye World (2013) Movie Review

Goodbye World – Movie Review

Goodbye World

Director: Denis Henry Hennelly

Writer: Sarah Adina Smith, Denis Henry Hennelly (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: When a mysterious terrorist attack causes chaos in the cities, a group of friends take refuge in their countryside cabin. But the challenges of living in a post-apocalyptic world soon take their toll on relationships within the group.

Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Goodbye World starts when a mysterious terrorist attack sees a large number of people receiving a text message reading ‘Goodbye World’. James (Grenier), Lily (Bishe) and Hannah (Grace) live in a remote cabin and open it up to their friends. They are joined by Lev (Cudi), Becky (Dhavernas), Nick (McKenzie), Benji (Webber), Ariel (Nozik) and Laura (Hoffman).

When the world starts falling apart in the aftermath of the messages. The friends start seeing their own lives falling apart and when strangers look to take advantage of them. This sees them needing to decide what they want to do in the future and how they will survive in this world.

Verdict on Goodbye World

Goodbye World is a comedy-drama following a group of friends dealing with the sudden end of society. It sees how quickly the world comes to a standstill and the friends must overcome their own problems.

This is a movie that starts well, with the friends coming together during an emergency in the country. However, it starts to become overly dramatic when we see how everything unfolds. There is way too much drama going on that doesn’t make complete sense. As well as the threat doesn’t feel like a big threat. The performances are fine without anyone standing out.

Final Thoughts – Goodbye World is a simple comedy drama about the end of the world.

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Movie Review

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: Part Two (2013) Movie Review

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part Two – ABC Film Challenge – Comic Books – J (Joker) – Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part Two – Movie Review

Dark Knight Returns

Director: Jay Oliva

Writer: Bob Goodman (Screenplay)

Writer: Frank Miller, Klaus Janson (Comic Book)

Cast (Voice Talents)

  • Peter Weller (Robocop)
  • Ariel Winter (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)
  • David Selby (The Social Network)
  • Michael Emerson (Lost)
  • Mark Valley (Stolen)

Plot: The Batman has returned after a 10-year absence. The Gotham authorities want to arrest him. An old foe wants a reunion. The Feds want the Man of Tomorrow to put a stop to him.

Runtime: 1 Hour 16 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part Two starts as the Mutant gang have turned themselves into the Sons of Batman. Using their fighting desire to protect the city, as the rise of vigilantes has happened. This has awoken Joker from Gotham Asylum and the President calling upon Superman to stop Batman.

Joker escapes going on another one of his rampages. With the new police commissioner hunting down Batman. It leaves Bruce needing to make the difficult decisions, when it comes to protecting Gotham.

Verdict on Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part Two

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part Two picks up right where part one finishes. This sees Batman being a wanted man and needing to face an old enemy and an old ally. The three sides head into battle as they look to solve the problems presented to them, in the larger battle for the right thing.

This is a much more interesting sequel, mainly because it has more iconic characters involved. The Joker and Superman help us understand the bigger picture of the movie. Much like how Avengers got torn apart with political points of view, this offers the same discussion between Batman and Superman. However, the Joker side of everything does seem to lack the impact it should have.

Final Thoughts – Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part Two is a much darker path and improved conclusion to the story.

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Movie Review

Grown Ups 2 (2013) Movie Review

Grown Ups 2 – ABC Film Challenge – Sequels/Remakes – G – Grown Ups 2 – Movie Review

Grown Ups 2

Director: Dennis Dugan

Writer: Tim Herlihy, Fred Wolff, Adam Sandler (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Adam Sandler (Hustle)
  • Salma Hayek (The Hitman’s Bodyguard)
  • Kevin James (Becky)
  • Chris Rock (Madagascar)
  • David Spade (Joe Dirt)

Plot: After moving his family back to his hometown to be with his friends and their kids, Lenny finds out that between old bullies, new bullies, schizo bus drivers, drunk cops on skis, and four hundred costumed party crashers sometimes crazy follows you.

Runtime: 1 Hour 41 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Grown Ups 2 starts as Lenny (Sandler) has returned to his hometown for a quieter life. This sees him getting to spend more time with his friends Eric (James), Kurt (Rock) and Marcus (Spade). As he learns about his youngest son dealing with bullying, he must face his own past against bullies.

This sees all four needing to deal with their relationships with their children. Needing to see them accepting they are growing up themselves. This leads to them clashing with local college bullies.

Verdict on Grown Ups 2

Grown Ups 2 is a comedy sequel that looks to put together the former friends as they move back near each other. It sees them needing to accept that their children growing up and changing. Dealing with their own problems as they are reaching the next age of their life.

Here we see the comedy fall off a cliff, being dumb slapstick or fart jokes. Despite having the idea to show parents struggling with their children getting older and things in life will be changing for them. Other films have done this a lot better in the past, which is why this movie comes off as more disappointing. This does continue to show the chemistry between the friends and while the comedy doesn’t work, it remains the same between the friends.

Final Thoughts –Grown Ups 2 is a weak sequel that gets caught up in trying to be extra funny and missing every joke.

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Movie Review

Coffee Town (2013) Movie Review

Coffee Town – Movie Review

COffee Town Poster

Director: Brad Copeland

Writer: Brad Copeland (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A website manager enlists the help of his two friends in order to convince the owners of his favourite coffee shop — which doubles as his office — not to turn their business into a bar.

Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Coffee Town starts when a website manager Will (Howerton) spends his days in a coffee shop. He gets joined by his two friends, officer worker Chad (Little) and police officer Gino (Schwartz) on a daily basis. The three learn that the coffee store might turn into a bistro and decide to think of a plan to stop it.

They decide to break into their coffee shop and make it look like a robbery. However, their plan doesn’t go to plan, as their loose cannons only end up going wrong. All while trying to point out the bigger question about creating friendships in life.

Verdict on Coffee Town

Coffee Town is a comedy that looks to bring a group of slackers together to try and rescue their local coffee shop. It sees them put together a wild plan in hopes of making it remain their favourite place.

This is a comedy that doesn’t seem to click in the best way. The characters are mostly unlikable as they are filled with inappropriate figures. Most of the laughs miss and we are left with the life lesson not getting enough focus. However, the three leads do work well together, showing a bond through the situations.

Final Thoughts – Coffee Town is a comedy that lacks the laughs it tries for.

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Movie Review

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013) Movie Review

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – ABC Film Challenge – Sequels/Remakes – C – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – Movie Review

Cloudy

Director: Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn

Writer: Erica Rivinoja, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein (Screenplay)

Writer: Judi Barrett, Ron Barrett (Book)

Cast (Voice Talents)

  • Bill Hader (IT Chapter Two)
  • Anna Faris (Scary Movie)
  • James Caan (The Godfather)
  • Andy Samberg (Popstar)
  • Will Forte (Nebraska)

Plot: Flint Lockwood now works at The Live Corp Company for his idol Chester V. But he’s forced to leave his post when he learns that his most infamous machine is still operational, and is churning out menacing food-animal hybrids.

Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 starts right where the last movie finished. Flint celebrating saving the residents, gets a visit from his idol Chester V who offers to help with the clean-up. As Flint gets to meet his idol, he gets to learn the disturbing side effects of what has happened on the island.

Flint is joined by Sam, Steve, Tim, Earl, Manny and Brent to finish destroying the machine and ending a potential end-worlding event. However, not everything is as it seems from what they learn from the island.

Verdict on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is an animated sequel. It picks up right where the last movie finished. It shows the consequences of what happened and shows an amazing world that has been created behind on the island. This leads to Flint needing to understand the importance of friendship.

The movie does feel even more fantasy based, with amazing creations let loose upon the world. the living breathing versions of food, make for a wonderful creation. Each has its own personality that helps move the story on as Flint needs to learn what they are all about. This whole movie does feel like it is in a different direction from the previous film, one that works very well.

Final Thoughts – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is a great sequel expanding the universe.

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Movie Review

The Call (2013) Movie Review

The Call – ABC Film Challenge – Mystery – C – The Call – Movie Review

The Call

Director: Brad Anderson

Writer: Richard D’Ovidio, Nicole D’Ovidio, Jon Bokenkamp (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: When a veteran 911 operator takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl’s life.

Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Call starts when 911 operator Jordan Turner (Berry) goes through a horrific call. 6-months-later Jordan is training the next group of operators to be prepared for the worst possible calls. Elsewhere, teenager Casey Welson (Breslin) is abducted in a mall carpark.

Casey gets to get a 911 call off, with Jordan stepping in to help locate her. However, killer Michael Foster (Eklund) needs to cover up her clues, unaware that Jordan is listening to everything that happens. Jordan is left to make sure she gets her home safe to help her overcome her own nightmares.

Verdict on The Call

The Call is a mystery thriller following a 911 operator dealing with the trauma of failing to save a victim. She gets another chance once the killer strikes again, leading her to do everything in her power to save the latest victim.

This is a slick thriller that shows a simple idea can make for an edge-of-your-seat movie. The cat-n-mouse style gives the movie all the intensity required. Halle Berry is brilliant in the role of the operator who wants everything to be ok, showing the calm on the call and the desperation in her actions.

Final Thoughts – The Call is a great thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.

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Movie Review

Walking with Dinosaurs (2013) Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – 2010s Movies – W – Walking with Dinosaurs – Movie Review

Walking wtih Dinosaurs Poster

Director: Barry Cook, Neil Nightingale

Writer: John Collee (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: See and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, in a story where underdog Dino triumphs to become a hero for the ages.

Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Walking with Dinosaurs starts as two children Ricky (Rowe), and Jade (Rice) are sent to spend time with their Uncle Zack (Urban). Zack is a palaeologist studying dinosaurs, which appeals to Jade, but not to Ricky.

Here, Ricky gets told a story by a talking bird. One is about a young dinosaur who learns to navigate the world with the threats they must overcome. Despite being different, he made a story of legend amongst his species.

Verdict on Walking with Dinosaurs

Walking with Dinosaurs is a fun family animated movie. It follows a group of dinosaurs that navigated a difficult environment to survive, in a humorous way. It will show the battle between the brawn and brains that were placed upon dinosaurs.

While harmless in the story it is telling, it never seems to break out of voiceovers for the documentary it started as. Giving a little story about one species of dinosaur, in a world filled with hundreds of different species.

A lot of the jokes are more pop culture-based or silly humour, which can get a couple of laughs along the way. It does have part of a teaching experience, giving information about each dinosaur we meet.

Where to Watch: Walking with Dinosaurs is available on Disney Plus and Sky Go.

Final Thoughts – Walking with Dinosaurs is a fun little animation, with an educational message.