Review: Star Wars - The Force Awakens (2015)

 

After many many years of anticipation (long before any actual announcement), thanks to Disney, we finally have Episode VII. 

I don't want to really go into the nitty gritty details too much, or at all, because I think it is worth going into this film with just your knowledge of the previous episodes. Armed with that, you will get a kick out of this movie. There is an enormous amount of nostalgia flowing through the veins of this film. Just seeing the characters you grew up with and loved will be enough to make most happy. 

JJ and co have crafted a visually spendid and very enjoyable beginning to a new trilogy. The film moves at a decent pace, and fortunately the new characters are very interesting. My pick of the bunch is Rey, the scavenger we've seen in the trailers. Boyega is also very good and brings plenty of humour to the film, but not in a cheesy way. Another of my favourites and no doubt what will become a big toy item is BB8. What a joy that droid is - I so want one.

The story itself, ever so secret in the promotion of the film, is an interesting one - mainly because of what it sets up for the rest of the series. For all the questions raised, there weren't many answers - both annoying and intriguing at the same time. I've seen some minor quibbles from others about the script/story being a bit lacking, and I can see that, but what is there is definitely promising of a bigger things to come - hopefully. 

Is this film great? Is it the masterpiece or exercise in excellence I was wanting? No. But, I instantly feel like I need to give this film time to sit, let the expectation fade away a bit, and then watch it again. I know I have that habit of letting films fall under the weight of 'I can't fucking wait to see this' pressure, that I struggle to reconcile my own thoughts. 

I can tell you this though, The Force Awakens is the Star Wars movie we deserved in 1999 - sadly we had to wait till 2015 to get it.

3.5/5

Review: Spectre (2015)

Topping Casino Royale and Skyfall was always going to be hard. Instead, we have a great film still, but not quite as exciting as the previously mentioned. It does, however, wallop Quantum of Solace.

Everything about this film is gloss, but, the substance is still very much there. Intriguing story, stunning visuals, massive action set pieces (albeit a bit far between), roaring score, stunning Bond girls and a flash and confident as hell James Bond. And, of course, an interesting villain with a flare for the eccentric.

I suppose the twists were not that surprising, but I enjoyed the way they played out. The film could use a cut down, as the pace did wane in the second half. As has been mentioned in other reviews, the opening sequence is probably the most exciting sequence for the film, with the ending being surprising lack lustre.

Bellucci is way too underused here - she gets about 10 mins of screentime, if that. Lea Seydoux is just a delight, but doesn't have the chemistry with Bond that Eva Green did. Bautista utters one word in this film. His part stays true to classic Bond henchmen - all brawn, little to say. And then there is Waltz. Always fun to watch, good guy or bad. Here, I think he was a bit underused as well, and his motivations were probably not enough for me.

Craig is definitely a great Bond. I think we all knew that after Royale. It is unfortunate that Quantum didn't have the script to allow him to have a great entry there too, but, 3 out of 4 ain't bad. I hope he returns for one final outing. He's still young enough for one more.

I've probably highlighted a few more negatives than positives about this one, but, overall I had a great time with Spectre. It has all the hallmarks a Bond film should have, and combines them well enough to make this a must see film. Royale and Skyfall hold up very well after repeat viewings, so I look forward to seeing if this one does too. 

Rating: 

4/5

Review: Sicario (2015)

Denis Villeneuve has become one of my director's to watch. After Incendies, Prisoners and Enemy, I was hotly anticipating his next feature. Sicario delivers!

From the get go, we're drawn into this fucked up world of the drug cartels. We're introduced to Emily Blunt's FBI agent in a very dark and harrowing way. It pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the film. Sicario is no walk through wonderland, but rather a journey into the bleak world of the war on drugs.

This is not a guns blazing action film - it is so much more than that. Villeneuve likes to have lingering shots, and keeps the pace at a slow but tense level. Sure there are action scenes, but you're on the edge of your seat as they build and play out. You are well and truly on board with the main players as they navigate hostile territory. 

Aside from Blunt (one of the best actresses working today), we have excellent co-stars with Brolin and Del Toro. Brolin is great as the cool and confident shadowy govt figure. Del Toro is even better.

There is some stunning cinematography on display here as Villeneuve again partners with his Prisoners lenser Roger Deakins. The score is highly engaging - I want this soundtrack right now. 

This film delves deep into that world of moral ambiguity. What is right, what is wrong. Who are the bad guys. What are we fighting for. It is precision film making, and just leaves me wanting more. 

Rating:

4 out of 5.

Review: Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

One of my most aniticpated films of the year. When news broke that it was being released nearly 6 months early, I was very pleased. The production has been pretty tight lipped, and the first trailer created a buzz...well, for me anyways. 

Christopher McQuarrie, better known for his script writing (e.g. The Usual Suspects), helmed Cruise's recent picture Jack Reacher as well as penning the script. It was a big success. My expectations were because of that, and because the previous entry (Ghost Protocol) was a great film - essentially rejuvenating the series. That's not to say M:I-3 didn't do much for the series - in actual fact, it rescued the series after the much maligned M:I-2. Another fact - I really enjoyed M:I-2. You can deal with that fact however you please. 

You've done it Christopher McQuarrie! Rogue Nation succeeds at being both a thrilling action film, but also a great spy film. Cruise seems like he doesn't age. The man is 53, and yet he runs, jumps, dives, swims, fights, drives, rides and completes many major stunt pieces like he was someone half his age. The man has a dedication to entertaining audiences, and in my opinion, he succeeds almost every time he has a film released. 

Ethan Hunt and his team are on the trail of The Syndicate - an anti-IMF, which has been secretly causing mayhem around the world. I don't really want to say more about plotline - watching the trailer is enough. Because this is a spy flick, it is best not to know too much about plot threads and how the characters are involved in them. Let the film take you for a ride and uncover them in very thrilling ways. 

You will see the familiar faces from previous films (Pegg, Renner and Rhames), with new ones thrown in to keep you guessing where their allegiance lies. Ving looks like he has been enjoying the good life (if you know what I mean) but it was still good to see him back; Pegg's role in the series looks like it is becoming more prominent; and Renner, well, I think he could have been given a bit more action scenes. Newcomer Rebecca Ferguson is great - sexy and tough, and can definitely hold her own on screen. I look forward to seeing her in future film roles. 

So how does it compare with previous entries? Well, I am glad you asked. After a recent revisit of the series (I actually watched them all again over the weekend), I would say my favourite is still probably Ghost Protocol (4). Number 1 and 4 are pretty close together though, with 2 and 3 being about on par with each other. Rogue Nation (5), well, that sits in the company of 4. I definitely want to see it again soon, and something tells me I will have difficulty in picking a favourite between 4 and 5 after a few more viewings. They're both great films in this franchise - and to have them come along one after the other is a treat. It makes expectations for the inevitable sixth entry off the charts. 

Rating:

4 out of 5.

Review: Mad Max - Fury Road (2015)

After many years of patience since the news of Miller's intention to film another instalment, to now being able to experience it - that patience has paid off. 

After two very good first entries in the Mad Max saga, Beyond Thunderdome was a major let down. George Miller has rectified that misfire with Fury Road - an absolutely jaw dropping spectacle. Miller structures this insane road carnage around a story that starts with Max taken captive, then inadvertently becoming intangled with Furiosa as she flees Immortan Joe. Her cargo is precious to Joe, and so a massive chase ensues. 

It is pretty simple stuff, but it is pulled off in a very exciting way. The basics of it all is actually pretty similar to Mad Max 2, but, the scale is grander. Miller has utilised very little CGI and created some of the most impressive stunt work you will ever see. The vehicles alone are pretty damn cool, but seeing them rocket along a desert wasteland doing things you never thought was possible, is, well, amazing. 

I love Tom Hardy, and his take on Max as the man of little words and crazy action is cool to watch.  Hardy is good as Max - but he'll never replace Mel. Theron is tougher than tough in her role as Furiosa, the once loyal member of Immortan Joe's clan, and now someone that longs to return home. Immortan Joe himself is an interesting character, and is actually played by the actor that was the villain in the first film - Hugh Keays-Byrne. He's essentially a dictator here, keeping people enslaved as he enjoys what last resources there are left. 

The whole film is essentially one big chase. There are moments of character development and story, but mostly this film is about carnage. At this point I wouldn't give it anymore than 4 stars, as I feel I would have liked a bit more character development, or at least understood them more. But, that is a minor quibble. I have to say I have suffered a bit from the social media blow up of this film - that it is the greatest thing since slice bread. I wouldn't say it is a masterpiece, not just yet anyways. I did however enjoy the orchestra of destruction on display, and the return of Mad Max. This is blockbuster film making unlike what we have seen for a long long time. Thanks to CGI and superhero antics, we've probably forgotten how else a blockbuster can be.

Rating: 

4 out of 5.

Review: Blackhat (2015)

When news of this film hit, I was quite excited in the expectation of another Michael Mann film. Then, just before release here in Australia, it gets pulled. WTF!!

Reviews essentially pulled this film apart, and the box office was practically naught - so I can understand why distributors didn't even bother. But, this is a Michael Mann film, so what the hell is going on with not releasing this theatrically?

Well, I finally found out why. It is nowhere near the level of film that we're used to from this great director. He's responsible for one of my favourites - Heat - as well some other great films in The Last of the Mohicans, The Insider, Ali, Collateral, Miami Vice, and to a lesser degree Public Enemies, Manhunter and Thief. Even those last 3 are quite good. This film, damn, it is barely good.

Sometimes I feel I am being generous by giving it 3 stars, but, if you were to take the Michael Mann factor and expectation out of it, then you would think it was a good flick. Well filmed, some tense action scenes, decent story.

However, as a Mann flick, it seems to lack a great script, and well drawn out characters. Once of key elements to Mann films is a real fleshing out of character arcs - it's all in the dialogue. Here, that barely resonated with me. I wanted to feel something for these characters, inc the main guy played by Chris Hemsworth - but I just didn't feel it. You know you're loving a film when you get caught up in the world and the stories of the characters - and the only way to really do that is with a good script. Sure, there are plenty of films that you can love without there being much dialogue at all, I know that, but even here we're not given much to feel in the way these characters are portrayed.

For the most part, it is a good film, just disappointing that Mann didn't pull off a great one. Maybe a revisit down the track one day might be different.

Rating:

3 out of 5

Review: Jupiter Ascending (2015)

The Wachowski's have pulled off a feast for the eyes. This film has to be one of the most visually splendid movies I have ever seen. The attention to detail is astonishing, and the ideas behind it are fantastic.

So how does it fair story wise - I think it is pretty good. As you get further along, you will have some questions for sure. I think there could have been another 20 or 30 mins in there to really do the story and character's a bit more service (and the audience), but overall I really enjoyed what they did.

Kunis is Jupiter Jones. She is the heir to the world of Earth. Part of a long line of rulers in the universe, her DNA holds the key to our future. Tatum is her protector. Sent to Earth to bring her back to the 'aliens' home planet, he will stop at nothing to do his duty. That is a really simple breakdown of the story, as there is a few layers to it.

Some say it gets a bit muddled. It kind of does, but, as I said above, I think it just needed a bit more runtime to flesh it out a tad more or give some closure to some threads - considering they're touching on quite a bit of story in the first place. The flipside to that is it could have been cut down and more streamlined. But, that wouldn't be the Wachowski's. I think it went pretty well for the first 2/3 to 3/4, then it started to drop in coherence.

The film is being bagged out a fair bit - I think it is unwarranted. Is this the best Wachowski film? No. Is it anywhere near their best? Not quite. Is it occasionally cheesy space lunacy? Yes. Is it the kind of film you should go with the flow and have some fun with? Fucken aye.

The Wachowski's have constructed a balls-out space opera with a story I would like to see continued. Unfortunately, it looks like we won't. I will be happy to relive it in glorious Full HD Bluray though. I wonder if there will be a longer cut? I hope so.

Rating:

3.5 out of 5.

Review: The Imitation Game (2014)

Admittedly, I knew nothing about Alan Turing before going into this film. I knew a bit about what Enigma was, but that is it.

Cumberbatch at the start gave me a sort of Sherlock vibe with his portrayal, but this went shortly after. He is in top form as the socially awkward, mathematical genius. He is supported very well by Keira Knightly as his colleague and "love interest".

The film tells the story of Turing during his time in the war with a team of specialists as they try to crack the German's Enigma code, but also interchanges time periods to Turing's late schooling days and then post war life.

Although the story is overall engaging, I did feel it just dragged in parts, and the flashbacks to his late school life didn't really serve much purpose for me. There was questions in my head over what his post war life was depicted as, but these didn't seemed to be answered. For me, this made it a bit confusing to watch, as I wasn't sure why some story elements were touched on but not really explained later on. Perhaps I like a neat bow with some films.

I'm bad with my history knowledge, so I didn't even know that homosexuals had been "punished" to this level in the timeframe depicted. Again, another story that shows how fucking horrible we are to each other as humans on this planet, and how recent this horrible history really is. Hell, even in the 21 st century, are we still much better.

Anyways, I digress - the movie is very good. It should definitely be something that everyone watches - but it ain't no best picture.

Rating:

3.5 out of 5.

Review: American Sniper (2014)

Well, this film is certainly doing some bumper business at the U.S. box office. In some ways, I can see why, but really, I don't think it is because of the film being great - because it is not.

I like Eastwood as a director - he's made some pretty damn good movies. This one, although it is good, seems to be lacking a bit. The action is fine, with some scenes being quite intense, but the emotional hit I was expecting wasn't there. It is certainly a film that is trying to convey the PTSD that Chris Kyle was working his way through, but I feel as though it did it at a surface level. Whenever the opportunity to explore it came up, we're going back to war. It wasn't until the end where I felt the emotional side really start to resonate.

The film itself is well acted by Cooper. I don't know if it is Oscar worthy good, but, he's definitely doing some of his best work here. Sienna Miller as his wife probably didn't have much to work with. I didn't feel anything special from her - solid, but nothing outstanding. The rest of the cast are all merely support roles, with no one in particular being a standout - this is Cooper's show.

In the end, it felt similar to The Hurt Locker in some ways, although I think that movie is better overall. This one is a solid film, with a mostly quality production (you may spot the reason for me saying mostly). The story is occasionally very gung-ho, but does try to balance that out with the horror of war for the soldiers involved (even if mostly for the American soldier aspect). Chris Kyle's story is a very interesting one, but the film was perhaps a bit too cold for me to really get engaged with.

Rating:

3 out of 5.

Review: Birdman (2014)

Birdman is one of the most highly praised films to come along in recent months. I had been very keen to see this. I did sit in wonder at the technical achievement of making this film look like it is all done in one take, but, I did not fall in love with the movie itself.

Keaton plays a former major star that is now mounting a Broadway play. He's on a comeback of sorts, and feels the need to ensure he's still somebody. He was the star of a hugely popular series of films - Birdman. I did like that Keaton played this role, it was almost like he was poking fun at himself (he was Batman), whilst the film seems to satirise or poke fun at everything else from actors, directors, producers, critics and the whole merry go round of that world. It is classed as a dark comedy. 

Keaton plays his role well, as do the mega support cast. We've got Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis and Andrea Riseborough all contributing with some great performances. The cinematography, as mentioned before, is very well handled. My mate was getting a bit sea sick at the start with all the camera movement and seemingly no cuts to shots, but, I had no issues with it. I sat there trying pick where the cuts were, as many have and will do. 

As a whole, I found the film interesting, but never really fell in love with what I was watching. I enjoyed the interactions Keaton has with each character, particularly his confrontations with Norton's character. In the end, my mate and I both looked at each other and were like "ok". I honestly didn't know what to think, and in some ways, I still don't. It is a bizarre film. A true arty farty type pic, with lots of potential analysis and discussion to be had. I may revisit on dvd sometime down the track, when all the hype has died down. For now though, I can appreciate the fuss, but it's not for me. 

Rating:

3 out of 5.

Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

I found out the night before seeing this film that I had won tickets to a premiere screening. What a delight that was, as this is definitely a film I was wanting to check out upon release. Was I disappointed? Hell no.

Colin Firth stars as a member of a secret society of spies, known as the Kingsman. These guys report to no one, so have the added benefit of no political angle. They're secret peacekeepers. They get no glory, just the satisfaction of having done good. After the loss of one of their own, they have to recruit another. Firth's candidate is a young and brash, almost hoodlum type. He's not had the best of lives, but, for reasons you will see, Firth owes it to him to help out.

The recruits are in training, whilst technology genius Samuel L Jackson is plotting an evil plan to 'help' the world. It's simple plotting, but the execution is great. Director Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men: First Class) has constructed an intelligent, witty, funny, balls-to-the-wall action-spy-comedy that will knock your socks off. It is hell violent, and is definitely not for the stuck up types. You got to have a sense of humour with this one, otherwise you're not going to enjoy it. 

If you've seen Kick-Ass, then you know what to expect. He's taken the violence and comedy of that and melded it with some of the style and class of X-Men: First Class to create a truly enjoyable film. Firth is just amazing. He's perfecto as the super spy that is cool and suave, and violent when necessary. The young recruit of his is newcomer Taron Egerton. He does a great job of matching it with Firth, and shows some good promise as an actor. Mark Strong and Michael Caine play support roles, and both are as you would expect - excellent. Jackson as a super villain - great stuff.

I sat in giddy wonder as the events unfolded on screen. I think the ending was perhaps a bit overboard, but it is a minor complaint. I enjoyed the nods to the James Bond series. This is not trying to emulate it or even make too much fun of it, but it merely wants to join the party as a great spy series. It certainly has the makings, and there is always room for cool spy flicks.

Rating:

4 out of 5.

Review: Big Hero 6 (2014)

Got to the cinema complex with seeing The Imitation Game as the reason for being there. A massive queue awaited us, and it was sold out. So, the only other film I was reasonably keen for (it was a toss up between Imitation and this) was Big Hero 6. I'd heard good things on social media. 

And well, it was like fate. I absolutely loved Big Hero 6. It was funny, fun, superbly animated and just had plenty of heart to it. You may have gathered, if you've read many of my reviews, I'm about the emotion sometimes. This just gave me the warm fuzzies, with a bit of a tear too. 

I had no idea what this film was about. I had seen a couple of short trailers a few months ago, so I knew it was about a kid and his marshmallow like robot. I thought, yeah, that looks cool. Our kid is Hiro, and he is a genius. A genius that is squandering his talent until his brother convinces him to try out for the same nerd school he attends. Right from the get go though, I was drawn in. Hiro plays around in the underground world of bot fighting. These early scenes of a futuristic city and cool toys had me glued. 

Hiro comes into contact with Baymax, his brother's invention. The two bond, sort of, and adventure ensues. Now, I'm glazing over major plots points, but, add in a bad guy to the mix, and this turns into a superhero adventure. This, I did not expect, so I was pleasantly surprised. 

The elements that make up the story all seem familar. There's probably nothing really original here, with influences from other similar genre pictures apparent. But, that didn't really bother me. I was really caught up in Hiro's journey, mainly because of his partnership with Baymax. Baymax is just the coolest robot we've ever seen (well, one of at least). He's the sidekick we'd all love to have. Cute, lovable and just damn neat. If he doesn't warm your heart, then you're a cold son of a bitch. 

Although you could complain about originality, you just got to let go and have fun with it. I really enjoyed myself watching this film. It's got plenty of heart to it (there I go again) and is excellent entertainment for all ages. 

Rating:

4.5 out of 5.

Review: The Water Diviner (2014)

Russell Crowe stars in and directs this Australian historical drama. Set after the events of WW1, Crowe plays the father to 3 sons, killed in the war. As a promise to his wife, he goes to Gallipoli in Turkey to bring their bodies home.

Crowe has assembled a stellar cast, and shot this film in quite authentic locales. I occasionally had a mini series or telemovie feel about this, but that doesn't take away from the heart of the story. The film itself is very good, and engaging. It serves as a suitable dedication to Australian history, and shows that both the Turkish and ANZACS suffered greatly. The leaders of the armies from Turkey are by no means shown to be heartless, in fact, they probably had more heart than our allies.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel any sort of greatness when watching the film. There is a subplot with a hotel owner (played by Kurylenko) that is occasionally weird. I see what Crowe was trying to do here, but, it came off as a bit ho hum for me. Overall, a very good feature debut as Director for Crowe.

Rating:

3.5 out of 5.

Top Films for 2014

Well 2014 was a bumper year with 302 films watched, although it was only the first year I have been tracking number of films. So, who knows, I could have done more in previous years. Out of the 302, I have selected 31 (shown below) of the 2014 Australian release date films that I rated 4 stars or more out of 5. Of the list below, the top 6 are: Her, Begin Again, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Blue is the Warmest Colour and The Normal Heart. These 6 films are ones I gave at least 4.5 out of 5 to. The others, well, I could spend all day trying to sort them in order of preference, but, I won't. Not all of these films are critical darlings either (notice the inclusion of Transformers: Age of Extinction).

If you're interested to see my full list of films watched in 2014, here is a complete list.