Review: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Do you ever feel anxious before watching a movie? I do. It is driven by an insane desire and excitement to see particular movies. These films have typically been the major blockbusters. Films of immense expectation. I both love and loathe the feeling, but I think I would rather have it than not. In recent years I have had the feeling quite a fair bit. Some that stick out for me are The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers and Interstellar. Sure, there are plenty more, but these are the ones that come to mind immediately.

This year, there are two films I can think of at this point that are creating that intense anxiety and excitement for me. One of those is the film I got to see today (thankfully) and the other is Mission Impossible: Fallout (coming in late July).

This review is for today's film - Avengers: Infinity War.

After 10 years of films in the MCU we finally have the beginning of the end - the great battle with Thanos. What a build up we've had - from the great Iron Man in 2008 to most recently the kick-ass Black Panther. Some fantastic films, some great films and some just good. Nothing bad in my opinion.

How does Infinity War fare? The simple answer to that is excellently.

The Russo Brothers came on board the MCU with the remarkable Captain America: The Winter Soldier and then the impressive Captain America: Civil War. Infinity War at this point sits side-by-side with Civil War for me - maybe a tad higher. Only subsequent viewings will allow me to confirm that. Winter Soldier and The Avengers duke it out for top spot for me in the MCU.

What we have after 10 years though is a film that brings the large group of heroes together to fight the big bad in a way that is very engaging and often funny. Visually this film is splendid, with plenty of action in other parts of the universe. The tone is mostly serious, as this is the end game, but damn it is fun. At 2.5 hours, there is a lot going on, but it flows very well. Thanos has been worth the wait. That is all I will say there. I honestly don't want to say anymore than that, as it really is a gigantic film that should be experienced without nothing but the relationships you've formed with the characters over the last 10 years. Going in with that, you should definitely have fun and probably get a little emotional.

4.5/5

Top Films for 2017

What a year! My wife and I welcomed our first child into the family. Subsequently, I watched less film but still managed 235 - that's about 4 per week. Of those, 56 were re-watches and 25 were trips to the cinema. That rate of cinema trips is declining rapidly though. 

I still managed to sort through clips and compile my Top Films video. It is a 5 min clip with honourable mentions. It contains 40 films I loved and 25 films I almost loved. I hope you enjoy it and find something that interests you. 

Click here for the video link.

Thanks. Here's to a great 2018 in film.

Review: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

I didn't get around to seeing Blade Runner (1982) until a few years ago. I don't recall loving it the first time around, and after another 2 visits I still don't know if I love the movie. I do however think it is very well made, mainly for the visuals and dystopian world that was built. Great score too.

Despite that, I have been anticipating the sequel for quite some time. Mainly because of the director involved - Denis Villeneuve. The man has some beautifully crafted films under his belt before this one. That alone was reason enough to be excited. If you've seen Prisoners, Sicario and Arrival, then you know what I mean.

Denis has not disappointed here. Blade Runner 2049 is a breathtaking film. The special effects and cinematography by Roger Deakins are just flawless. I could watch this film over and over again just to analyse the detail in the future Los Angeles that Denis has expertly expanded on from the original. You will think this is all real.

The story is a natural and logical progression from the first film, but you probably can get away with having not seen the first. The run-time is a massive 163 mins, which can be a test. That's 45 or so mins longer than the first, and people can find that one slow. This is also slow, but never dull. This movie is not an action film. There is action, but it is minimal. This film is about the journey of the characters and the mystery being solved. Even though it takes its time, I was never bored. I was entranced and enjoying the sumptuous delights that were being displayed on screen. This is true science fiction.

I haven't touched on what the actual story is, and don't really want to. It is best to just enjoy the ride without knowing too much. I'm in love with this film for the visuals and world building as well. Even more than the first one. The rest of it will take some further viewings, as there is a bit more to unpack about the story and how it was told. I have felt that way about plenty of films before. Films that I am not sure how to feel about initially, but I know that further visits will be rewarding. This is because they deliver so much, it takes time to fully process. Some examples of films like that for me have been The Dark Knight and Inception. Those two are from another master of the craft working today - Christopher Nolan. Both he and Denis are a couple of the best filmmakers working today.

Blade Runner 2049 is quality on all fronts. An impressive cast and a riveting sound design. The score by the great Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch isn't as transcendent as the original by Vangelis, but it is effective. Make sure you check it out on a big screen with a great sound system. Don't be bored, because you're witnessing something beautiful unfold before your eyes. Films like this don't come along often enough. I look forward to watching this again - and again.

4/5

Review: It (2017)

I went into this film with some high expectations. I haven't read the novel or seen the TV mini-series, but the trailer and the recent critical acclaim had me hyped up. So, guess what? I left the cinema a bit disappointed.

First at foremost - it is an alright film. I won't beat around the bush on that. But, without even knowing how faithful the adaptation is or how it compares to the mini-series, to me it just seemed liked a slightly creepier/gorier version of a kids supernatural adventure film. To me, this felt like a movie version of Stranger Things.

I guess I expected it to be quite a tense and scary ride, but there wasn't all that much intensity and the scares were a bit predictable. It certainly has creepy moments, but nothing that stuck with me. For comparison sake, films that have creeped me out in recent years have been Insidious and The Conjuring. The Descent is also one that comes to mind as being a horror ride for me.

What we get with IT is a fun film with the gang of kids working very well together. Their individual personalities really shine through and make for an enjoyable film experience. There are a lot of laughs, which perhaps takes away from the horror of the situation. IT himself is well portrayed, but after a while I felt the film relied too much on quick cuts and fast movements from him to be scary. I didn't feel the real menace of IT enough. This is what was missing for me. I wanted that suffocating dread. I want the stuff of nightmares to come alive. It didn't for me.

In the end though, the film is entertaining and well produced. The cast of kids really do make it work. I do look forward to Chapter II. For those that don't know, this story is a two part presentation, but Chapter I does resolve to the point it feels like a complete film. Chapter II will be from the Adult perspective.

3/5

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

The Soap Opera Diaries

My wife is currently on maternity leave with our first child - little man Baby Cruz. She wrote this small entry as a guest post.

Ok here I go...I hope this is ok. 

So the sad part about maternity leave is that it allowed me to get up to date with The Bold and The Beautiful. This has become a somewhat happy event though, as it means I get Cruz cuddles while he has his afternoon nap for 30 minutes while I hold him in my arms. 

So what has been happening in the world of the Forresters? Well, Ridge is still trying to win Brooke back. Back in March when I started watching it again, they were about to get married in Sydney. Then Ridge (played by a different actor to the original Ridge....how ridiculous!) was caught by Brooke kissing his dad's wife and the wedding was off!! When they returned to LA, Brooke became engaged to another man - Bill Spencer. Not quite sure who he is, I may have missed a few episodes in the last 15 years. Anyway, so Ridge has spent the last 3 months worth of episodes trying to win Brooke back. I'm thinking he'll still be doing the same when Cruz starts school. 

As a side story to this, the Spectra Designs Fashion House stole designs from Forrester Creations and released their new line of dresses. If this sounds familiar to you (it did to me) it is because this happened before - 15 years ago and probably a few more times during the 15 years of episodes that I have missed. 

As entertaining as watching this show has been for the last 3 months (not really entertaining), the best thing about it is that it is conveniently broadcast during Cruz's 4.30pm daily nap. Would I recommend you leaving work early to catch the latest developments? Probably not!

Review: Baby Driver (2017)

Strap yourself in for a fun ride. I was initially not all that excited to see Edgar Wright's latest directorial effort. I like/love his films, but there was something about this film that didn't really get me initially - I think it was the actual title. As stupid as that sounds, I thought the title "Baby Driver" sounded a bit lame. But, as time went on and I saw a trailer and then the reviews started flooding in, well, I changed my tune.

I asked a mate that loves car films to see this with me. He likes to watch films without knowing anything about them. I told him it was called Baby Driver - that's it. He wouldn't have looked it up. What I was secretly wondering was whether he would indeed like this film - hell, I wondered if I would too. You see, he hated Hot Fuzz after I recommended it to him. I love Hot Fuzz by the way.

What did we think? Not only is it a fun ride, he thought it was awesome. I think he reacted to it better than what I did, and I loved it.

The car scenes are very well executed. They're exciting and tense, and there's some playfulness to them. Baby, the Driver, listens to his iPod almost incessantly. He has specific tracks to drive to. To set the mood, to give him perfect timing behind the wheel. From the first scenes, you know you're going to enjoy the movie.

The other aspect that got me is the emotional story behind Baby. Without going into it, as an audience member it was important to feel that connection to him and his story, and Wright really nailed it. His chemistry with Lily James is on fire. She is just an absolute delight.

The humour is great, but not too over the top. After all, this is a reasonably serious situation for Baby with deadly consequences in this world of crime he's reluctantly involved in. Another aspect I really liked, is that the story doesn't go the way you think it will.

This is definitely a must-see film. The music is groovy and really tops off the driving scenes. I can tell you now, the drive home from the cinema was an inspired one.

4/5

Review: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

The 6th film in 15 years and the 3rd actor to play the iconic role. I admit, I wasn't really excited to see this film. With a baby in my life now, this was probably going to be one film I decided to miss at the cinema. Well, I am glad I took the opportunity to go with some mates - because it was a blast.

Tom Holland made his debut as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. He was often cited as stealing the show in that film. I don't think so, but he was a great addition to the already bumper cast. It intrigued me to see where they could go with the character, but, I wasn't exactly hanging out for it. I suppose I was still wanting to see Andrew Garfield get a chance to have a great third film in his turn as the character. I loved Amazing Spider-Man, somewhat liked Amazing Spider-Man 2, but really wanted to see where that universe would go. Oh well...

Back to this film. Holland nails it. I have absolutely no clue about how Spider-Man is portrayed in the comics or the animated shows, but he really does provide a fresh take on the characters of Peter Parker and Spider-Man. This is the aspect that got me the most - it didn't feel like a retread.

Peter Parker in this film is a real teenager. Although Holland is 20-21, he perfectly encapsulates what it is to be a teenage boy. He and his geeky sidekick build lego star wars, check out chicks out of their league and get teased by seniors.

Michael Keaton as the villain Vulture - excellent work from the 89/92 Batman. Keaton is great as a good guy and as a bad guy in films. Here he is really showing how masterfully he can play unhinged, not to the point of batshit insane, but just enough to make him unpredictably deadly.

Much to my surprise, the story is fairly grounded and the presence of Tony Stark/Iron-Man is limited. I was concerned that the film may focus too much on this character and take away from Peter - but, this is definitely a Spider-Man film. Stark plays a great mentoring role, and that's pretty much it.

There's plenty of humour in this. I was laughing out loud quite regularly, and very invested in the journey of the Parker/Spider-Man. The action is exciting but not over the top. This is an excellent film overall. It stands up there with the first two Tobey films - maybe even higher.

4.5/5