Category: film review

Prisoners (2013)- Film review

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Prisoners is an intense thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Paul Dano. The story surrounds the disappearance of two young girls, Anna and Joy, and the actions of Keller Dover (Jackman), Anna’s father, and Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) as they each try to find the girls in very different ways. When Detective Loki is forced to release primary suspect Alex Jones (Dano), Keller takes matters into his own hands. Prisoners is a harrowing and deeply disturbing film about how far this father will go in order to find his daughter. I don’t want to say any more as this is a mystery and it goes places that really surprised me. It is a tough film to stomach but is worth it in the end. Continue reading “Prisoners (2013)- Film review”

X-men: Apocalypse (2016)-Film review

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X-men: Apocalypse is the latest film in the X-men franchise, featuring the younger cast from X-men: First Class. The film pits the X-men against the most dangerous villain to date: the ancient mutant Apocalypse, who sees himself as a God and seeks to purge Humanity and leave only the strongest mutants alive as his followers. The film also gives us younger versions of character’s we’ve seen before, such as Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Nightcrawler, and introduces several new characters as well. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Oscar Isaac and much more, and is directed once again by Bryan Singer. Continue reading “X-men: Apocalypse (2016)-Film review”

Captain America: Civil War (2016)-Film review

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Captain America Civil War is the latest film in the ever growing Marvel Cinematic Universe and is the 3rd Captain America film, although it seems much more like the 3rd Avengers film as it features the majority of hero’s that we’ve seen before (excluding Hulk and Thor), and introduces the characters Black Panther and Spiderman to the growing pool of superheroes. Based very loosely on the 2005 comic book series of the same name, this film pits the Avengers against each other, as leading Hero’s Captain America and Ironman disagree over a decree to turn the hero’s into assets of the UN; Ironman believes they need to be controlled, as when they are left to their own devices innocent people can sometimes get hurt, whereas Captain American believes they shouldn’t be weapons for a government as they can be corrupted. The film is very much about this clash of ideology between these two powerhouses, as all the characters we’ve come to know and love are forced to take a side and fight people they once saw as friends. It also continues the story of Bucky Barns a.k.a. The Winter Soldier that was started in the last Captain America film. The film is directed by the Russo Brothers and stars the returning cast of Chris Evans, Robert Downy Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Rudd, and introduces Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther and Tom Hollan as Spiderman.     Continue reading “Captain America: Civil War (2016)-Film review”

The Jungle Book (2016)- Film review

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The Jungle book is a live action remake of Disney’s classic animated musical of the same name. It has a lot of the same characters and the same basic plot as the original film, but tries to expand and modernise certain things to make it feel fresh and new. The film follows the human child Mowgli, who grows up in the forest with a pack of wolves and his guardian Bagheera, a black panther. After the lives of himself and his pack being threatened by the Tiger Shere Khan Mowgli is forced to leave, and with the help of Bagheera and a variety of other animals, including the care free Bear Baloo, makes his way to the human village on the edge of the jungle. It is a very simple story that has potential to be a lot of fun, and I’m happy to say this film was. This adaptation is directed by Jon Favreau and stars child actor Neel Sethi as Mowgli and the voices of Sir Ben Kingsley, Bill Murry, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson and Christopher Walken. Continue reading “The Jungle Book (2016)- Film review”

Eddie the Eagle (2016)-Film review

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Eddie the Eagle is the true story about English Ski-jumper Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards and his quest to achieve his lifelong ambition of become an Olympic athlete, despite not really being very good at sport. The film follows Eddie, played by Taron Egerton, as he tries relentlessly to achieve his dream of competing in the World famous event. The film is a feel-good story of determination and never giving up no matter how hard it can get which, while there are many films with similar morals, stood out amongst them as a very uplifting, motivational and an all-round enjoyable film; it didn’t try to be anything more than an entertaining story that makes you feel proud and full of excitement, which is something I don’t feel has been done as well as this in a while. The film is directed by Dexter Flecther and stars afore mentioned Taron Egerton, supported by Hugh Jackman as Bronson Peary, Eddies’ coach. Continue reading “Eddie the Eagle (2016)-Film review”

Zootropolis (2016)- Film review

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Zootropolis (or Zootopia) is an animated film from Disney animation and is directed by Bryan Howard, Rich Moore and Jared Bush, starring Ginnefer Goodwin and Jason Bateman and co-starring Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence and J.K Simmons. The film is set in a world where all mammals, predator and prey, live together in the city of Zootropolis. This city’s police force made up solely of large, tough, animals, until Judy Hopps (Goodwin) is appointed as the first rabbit police officer. The film follows Hopps as she struggles to be taken seriously as a cop, and when she tries to prove herself by taking on a case of a missing otter, she must seek the help of a fox con-man Nick Wilde (Bateman). The film is entertaining for both children and adults, as the best family films are, and is full of fun and meaning. It never had me crying but it did make me think and has strong messages that are important for all ages, not to mention smiling and laughing throughout. Continue reading “Zootropolis (2016)- Film review”

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016)- Film review

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Batman v Superman is directed by Zack Snyder and stars Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, with Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams and Gal Gadot supporting. It is the second film in planned DC Cinematic universe, after Man of Steel. As the title implies, the film focuses on the clash of these two well-known heroes. Batman, and the rest of the world, are in a fierce debate over Superman’s morality after the death and destruction of Metropolis caused during his fight with General Zod at the end of Man of Steel. Batman sees Superman as a threat to humanity on a global scale and, motivated by the death of a friend in the Metropolis battle, makes it his personal vendetta to destroy the Man of Steel. Unfortunately, the rest of the plot was spoiled by that second trailer, so as the trailer shows, Lex Luthor is in the background manipulating events, and another villain, Doomsday, appears to bring the characters together. There was stuff I enjoyed in this film, and some things I probably liked more as a fan of the comics, but there was also a lot of elements I really didn’t like. Continue reading “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016)- Film review”

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)- Film review

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10 Cloverfield field is director Dan Trachtenberg’s first feature length film and stars John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr. The film follows Michelle (Winstead), who wakes up in an underground bunker after being knocked unconscious in a car crash. With her are two men, Elliot (Gallagher) and her “rescuer” Howard (Goodman), who claims he saved her from an unknown attack that rendered the outside world toxic and inhospitable. The film largely takes place inside the bunker with only these three characters and so is very small and isolated in scale. Although it carries the Cloverfield name it is nothing like that film, so if you go in expecting the big monster movie Cloverfield was you may come out disappointed as this film is more about these characters and their confinement. If you don’t go in expecting a big monster and instead expect a very intense psychological thriller you will not be disappointed. Continue reading “10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)- Film review”

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)- Film review

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Little Miss Sunshine is a road trip movie starring Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin and Alan Arkin, directed by Jonathon Dayton and Valerie Faris, and written by Michael Arndt. The film follows a dysfunctional family as they travel cross-country in an old VW bus, determined to get their young daughter to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. It is an emotional journey as well as a physical one, as the film is tragic, heart-warming and really funny all at once. It’s important to note that while the story is about them trying to reach a beauty pageant, the meaning of the film is so much greater than that. It’s about the importance of family, and being confident and true in yourself, and, most importantly, finding happiness and love despite the difficulties of life. It’s actually quite anti-beauty pageant, and is a beautiful, touching film. Continue reading “Little Miss Sunshine (2006)- Film review”

American Ultra (2015)- Film review

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American Ultra is a stoner action comedy directed by Nima Nourizade, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kirsten Stewart, Topher Grace, John Leguizamo, and is written by Max Landis. It follows stoner couple Mike (Eisenberg) and Phoebe (Stewart) as they are hunted by government assassins after Mike is revealed to be a sleeper agent. The story of a normal person thrown into a crazy situation is a premise that has been done countless times, but this doesn’t feel cliché as it has a unique feeling. It is full of fun violence and a comedic style, along with well written characters and an energetic pace.    Continue reading “American Ultra (2015)- Film review”