Review: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

Extremely different to the 2004 film, but this is no less fun. I enjoy the sword/sorcery/fantasy genre, and this is a combination of all that and trademark Guy Ritchie. Some say it is boring and difficult to follow - I say, dafuq? to that.

The effects are pretty well done. The action scenes are exciting. The production design is cool as well. If anything, it probably wasn't as funny as it was trying to be in some places and I don't know if Hunnam has the screen presence really needed for blockbusters. However, it is an enjoyable escapist fantasy film. I'll watch it again one day.

3.5/5

Review: Alien: Covenant (2017)

An improvement on Prometheus - slightly. For me, this film was more enjoyable because of the intense vibe. Prometheus had very little in that way. This film manages to provide thrills and expand upon the themes presented in Prometheus.

Scott knows how to craft a beautiful looking film. The sets and effects are lush. The cinematography on the planet, much like Prometheus, is glorious. The script is a bit better, mainly because there are less stupid human actions. This is what both films share though - nonsensical human decisions. It is probably more forgivable here.

The standout performances both come from Fassbender. I really wanted more from both Walter and David. The rest of the cast is pretty good. Unlike the first film, the characters are decent. Prometheus had a few too many dumb characters.

Overall, it sits just above Prometheus for now, but miles behind Alien and Aliens. It is almost a mish-mash of all Alien films. It may be impossible to do something truly original and amazing with this franchise now, but in saying that, I would like to see where this particular ending could go.

3.5/5

Review: Dunkirk (2017)

As per usual with a Nolan film, the anticipation was very high. The extremely positive reviews meant the expectation was ridiculous. And, like most of the first viewings of a Nolan film, I didn't love it.

Now, this film is definitely an exhilarating cinematic experience. I saw it on an IMAX screen (digital) and was quite impressed with the audio. I actually expected the IMAX screen to be bigger, so I was a bit disappointed there. However, the stunning cinematography definitely made up for that. Hans Zimmer's score tops off a great sound design.

Nolan immerses the audience in a tension filled war story. This is not a typical war film though. It plays out like a series of loosely connected vignettes. This is probably the issue I had - I couldn't connect to the characters emotionally through this method. Well, not enough anyways. There were hints of it here and there, but the jumping all over the place felt a bit jarring. I also felt the script didn't have the kind of impact I expected, especially since so little dialogue is used. Some of the dialogue was also inaudible.

Yes, the film is a technical marvel. The CGI feels non-existent. There is plenty of tension, but also a bit of dullness to it. I'm not sure if I was just tired or if I was getting bored on occasion.

The one thing I know for sure is that I look forward to experiencing it again once the hype has died down. I'll buy the bluray and crank it out on my home cinema. As with the majority of Nolan's films, I have learned to love and appreciate them more with each viewing. He is one of my favourite directors, so I hope to feel the love that others feel for this film one day. If not, then I can at least say it is a well made film.

3.5/5