Hello and welcome to my review of the horror film Eden Lake.
To kick things off I think I'll start with what makes this film as brilliant as it is, that reason would be the cast.
Michael Fassbender is as great as ever, Personally I think he makes the film more entertaining as a "what would you do in that situation?" kind of way, So many would say they'd handle it differently but I don't think they would when faced with the scenario thrown at this couple. He brings out the "I'll take care of this my dear" bravado that I think most men would like to summon when a couple is faced with a dilema.
Then there is Kelly Reilly, her character changes almost completely during the film, evolving with the situation and doing what I imagine most would do to save/protect their loved ones. The only slight annoying part is the cliché "Running from the danger but lets trip over" scene but thats hardly her fault, and she soon recovers to kick some butt.
And to finish there's Jack O'Connell who is terrifyingly believable as a young thug who has no sense of right or wrong, to put in a slight spoiler there is a scene at the end where a "video" is deleted and it feels like he also deletes it from his consciousness, He makes the film so believable and is relentless in his sadistic pursuit of the couple with his gang tagging along reluctantly.
This film has always been a firm favourite of mine and was one I wanted to review from the start, I love it because it's British and really leaves an awful feeling in your stomach (think Se7en) at the end. It's not a film that stereotypes all British youth as thugs as other reviews have stated, it's a simple horror story that uses youths instead of Aliens/monsters/ghosts/shadows/goblins etc so don't read to much into it.
Imdb score 6.9/10
Rich Review 9/10
Wednesday 21 November 2012
Monday 5 November 2012
Things 2013 should bring Part 2
Loved Mikes last post so thought I'd put my cinematic hopes for next year and onwards.
As many who saw The Dark Knight Rises know, the new Superman "Man of Steel" film is due for release next year and I for one am putting all my eggs in this basket, the trailer almost made me scream like a girl (or Mike) at a Justin Bieber concert!
For those that haven't seen the trailer click here if anyone can show me a trailer with a better ending than that then go ahead!
There are two versions, one voiced by Russell Crowe and one by Kevin Costner, oh on a quick side note the cast is incredible.
Other films due for release are the new Robocop, the trailer is pretty cool with the "New Omnicorp products" theme, not to sure how the film will turn out, I've seen the new suit and it looks just like that...a suit not a machine. Kick Ass 2 is also currently filming and I for one loved the first film so this should be good. and to end with Star Trek 2, the first one was awesome.
Totally agree with Mike about Indy, Ghostbusters and the like, these are films that I grew up watching, there are a lot of childhood toes that would be stepped on and crushed to dust if they tried to remake these films. I like to think that classics should now be left alone, I won't roll out the "they're running out of ideas" line because some films are better with new cgi technology...see above for instance but lets get some new stories into films.
P.S I don't really have an opinion on the Star Wars/Disney buy out, if they do it and do it well then all credit to them, if they ruin it however or as I'd call it "they do a Jar Jar Binks" again then the backlash from the fans would be unreal..
Sunday 4 November 2012
Things 2013 should bring
As you've probably seen, Willis is set for another return as John Mclane next year in Die Hard 5.
Films nowadays get the green light based on nostalgia and not necessarily because they are going to make a great movie.
This got me (Mike) thinking about what 5 films I would like to see return (either released or at least announced) in 2013.
Firstly, Prometheus. My favourite film this year. Please say the planned trilogy goes ahead! Not only did I really enjoy it, I want it to return to answer questions that people had from the first one.
Jurassic Park. This has been in the pipeline for almost 10 years and after recently watching the trilogy, I would love to see what is capable now especially if rumours are true that those who created Rise of The Planet of the Apes get on board.
District 9. What can I say? The first was excellent. To see another would be damn cool.
007. Skyfall was one of the best films of this year. Producers have already said Bond will return...but the announcement of title and stars is always exciting.
Finally, Star Wars. Following the announcement of the Disney takeover of Lucas films (let's forget about Indy for a few years), I've been up and down about the comeback of Star Wars. Down because I'm afraid it could be ruined. Up because I have been told that the same teams that made the Marvel movies could be involved. No matter what happens, these films will be the biggest films over the next 10 years. Title, cast and teasers will ensure for an exciting 2013 should Disney wish to proceed immediately.
So that's the list. 5 films I'd like to see announced or go into production next year.
We've been told that there will be another paranormal activity, which is always pretty exciting, Superman is making a return with Nolan at the helm, Star Trek 2 is also on the cards, and the final in the Cornetto Trilogy (Pegg and Frost) will be out next year.
Thankfully the Batman Trilogy ended well. Harry Potter was tied up as it should have, and there will be no more Twilight movies!!
I am pleading with all the film companies out there...please please please no more Hangover films, leave Back to the Future as it is, along with Indy and Ghostbusters (especially as Bill Murray is just toying with Ackroyd).
Films nowadays get the green light based on nostalgia and not necessarily because they are going to make a great movie.
This got me (Mike) thinking about what 5 films I would like to see return (either released or at least announced) in 2013.
Firstly, Prometheus. My favourite film this year. Please say the planned trilogy goes ahead! Not only did I really enjoy it, I want it to return to answer questions that people had from the first one.
Jurassic Park. This has been in the pipeline for almost 10 years and after recently watching the trilogy, I would love to see what is capable now especially if rumours are true that those who created Rise of The Planet of the Apes get on board.
District 9. What can I say? The first was excellent. To see another would be damn cool.
007. Skyfall was one of the best films of this year. Producers have already said Bond will return...but the announcement of title and stars is always exciting.
Finally, Star Wars. Following the announcement of the Disney takeover of Lucas films (let's forget about Indy for a few years), I've been up and down about the comeback of Star Wars. Down because I'm afraid it could be ruined. Up because I have been told that the same teams that made the Marvel movies could be involved. No matter what happens, these films will be the biggest films over the next 10 years. Title, cast and teasers will ensure for an exciting 2013 should Disney wish to proceed immediately.
So that's the list. 5 films I'd like to see announced or go into production next year.
We've been told that there will be another paranormal activity, which is always pretty exciting, Superman is making a return with Nolan at the helm, Star Trek 2 is also on the cards, and the final in the Cornetto Trilogy (Pegg and Frost) will be out next year.
Thankfully the Batman Trilogy ended well. Harry Potter was tied up as it should have, and there will be no more Twilight movies!!
I am pleading with all the film companies out there...please please please no more Hangover films, leave Back to the Future as it is, along with Indy and Ghostbusters (especially as Bill Murray is just toying with Ackroyd).
Saturday 3 November 2012
REVIEW: Skyfall (2012)
Well what can I say? It sure has been a while. A while since I last did a review and a while since I saw a film this good.
That's a lie. Both Dark knight rises and Prometheus have really impressed me this year, but Bond is unlike any of those.
Without giving anything away, reviewing this film will prove to be hard. As soon as I left the cinema I wanted to talk about it.
Daniel Craig was born for the role of 007. I really can't imagine anyone else as Bond in this film.
Javier Bardem played one hell of a kick ass villain. Scary, comical and dangerous are words you could use to describe his character.
The storyline was gripping, plot was easy to follow and it took the best bits of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and mashed them together to make the best Bond yet. - decent story and incredible effects.
The script writers brought a comical element back, made easy by the 'comeback' of Q (played excellently by Ben Whishaw).
Incredibly, at the very end, just before the credits, it says 'Bond will return'. A good friend told me that they've not included these words for a while, but they know full well there will be another this time.
I'd describe it as a perfect British film, with the right amount of action, thrills and spills. It goes back to the very roots of Bond and introduces some excellent new characters for films to come. If your idea of Bond is the cars, guns and suits, you definitely won't be disappointed.
Rather than listening to me waffle on, just pay the £10 and go and see it. It was one of the best nights out I've had this year.
IMDB score: 8.2
Mike's score: 9.0
That's a lie. Both Dark knight rises and Prometheus have really impressed me this year, but Bond is unlike any of those.
Without giving anything away, reviewing this film will prove to be hard. As soon as I left the cinema I wanted to talk about it.
Daniel Craig was born for the role of 007. I really can't imagine anyone else as Bond in this film.
Javier Bardem played one hell of a kick ass villain. Scary, comical and dangerous are words you could use to describe his character.
The storyline was gripping, plot was easy to follow and it took the best bits of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and mashed them together to make the best Bond yet. - decent story and incredible effects.
The script writers brought a comical element back, made easy by the 'comeback' of Q (played excellently by Ben Whishaw).
Incredibly, at the very end, just before the credits, it says 'Bond will return'. A good friend told me that they've not included these words for a while, but they know full well there will be another this time.
I'd describe it as a perfect British film, with the right amount of action, thrills and spills. It goes back to the very roots of Bond and introduces some excellent new characters for films to come. If your idea of Bond is the cars, guns and suits, you definitely won't be disappointed.
Rather than listening to me waffle on, just pay the £10 and go and see it. It was one of the best nights out I've had this year.
IMDB score: 8.2
Mike's score: 9.0
Saturday 27 October 2012
REVIEW Red Lights 2012
To put it bluntly this film is simply amazing!
I bought this at the start of the week after remembering how good the trailer was when it came out, I'm really glad I did as the film was brilliant start to end.
The director Rodrigo Cortés (Also the director of "Buried" starring Ryan Reynolds which is another stunning film!) has nailed the atmosphere, the whole film feels tense throughout, I wouldn't say it was "on the edge of your seat" viewing but I don't think it's trying to be, the more you watch the film the deeper you feel yourself pulled into the story and really trying to guess the outcome before it arrives.
The cast are absolutely perfect, Cillian Murphy and Sigourney Weaver are the perfect match as the paranormal debunking/University professor and her assistant , topped off with a sinister role for Robert De Niro who gives this film a really dark and believable element.
Also this film is great for debunking little paranormal myths along the way, the classroom scene where Cillian Murphy hands out "accurate" horoscopes to the students is very clever!
The ending of the film is perfect, some people may not like it but at least it's not one of the over used "you come up with the ending" films, I'm getting fed up of seeing 95% of a movie then the end being left for me to decide, it's not "deep" or "thought evoking" it's just plain annoying and a cop out.
imdb scores this film 6.2 out of 10, personally I think it's 8/9 easily.
Monday 22 October 2012
Review: Jurassic Park (1993)
I remember getting this film as a kid for Christmas on VHS. Back then I only saw it once so I watched it again today to find out why.
True to my younger self, it could well be another 20 years before I watch it again.
The concept is incredible. Michael Crichton clearly had some awesome ideas when writing about bringing dinosaurs back to existence. It has an amazing director in Stephen Spielberg, the cast are great and the soundtrack is typical 90's orchestral niceness.
So why won't I be watching it again soon?
Well the first hour is gripping. The science behind the park and construction is really interesting. It is EXACTLY how people would react if it was a true story.
But when things start to go wrong it gets extremely repetitive. How many times can they outrun a dino and then hide again only to be found again?
I was a little bit disappointed with the end, I can't say what I expected, because I didn't really know what to expect...but a cool plot twist would have made it a better film. - had I have written it, Nedry would have been more of a key character and his actions unseen until the end. But that's neither here nor there.
I wanted to love this film but I only liked it. That said, I will be watching the lost world and JP3, and I'm hoping for answers to questions such as "What happened to Nedry?" And "does the dinosaur having a cold/disease bear any relevance to the story?"
Maybe I have it totally wrong, and this was made knowing full well that the other two were going to answer a load of missing detail. - although I don't seem to remember it being released like this.
I also hope they make JP4, because from what I've read, it sounds excellent.
Overall, my main reason for disappointment is due to films such as I am legend, and Rise of the planet of the apes - which go into greater detail behind the genetics, and control of mutations etc, rather than aaarrrrgggh run!! - must be the geek in me.
Imdb score: 8/10
Mike's score: 7/10
Watch this film when you don't need to concentrate, not if you want one that gets you thinking.
True to my younger self, it could well be another 20 years before I watch it again.
The concept is incredible. Michael Crichton clearly had some awesome ideas when writing about bringing dinosaurs back to existence. It has an amazing director in Stephen Spielberg, the cast are great and the soundtrack is typical 90's orchestral niceness.
So why won't I be watching it again soon?
Well the first hour is gripping. The science behind the park and construction is really interesting. It is EXACTLY how people would react if it was a true story.
But when things start to go wrong it gets extremely repetitive. How many times can they outrun a dino and then hide again only to be found again?
I was a little bit disappointed with the end, I can't say what I expected, because I didn't really know what to expect...but a cool plot twist would have made it a better film. - had I have written it, Nedry would have been more of a key character and his actions unseen until the end. But that's neither here nor there.
I wanted to love this film but I only liked it. That said, I will be watching the lost world and JP3, and I'm hoping for answers to questions such as "What happened to Nedry?" And "does the dinosaur having a cold/disease bear any relevance to the story?"
Maybe I have it totally wrong, and this was made knowing full well that the other two were going to answer a load of missing detail. - although I don't seem to remember it being released like this.
I also hope they make JP4, because from what I've read, it sounds excellent.
Overall, my main reason for disappointment is due to films such as I am legend, and Rise of the planet of the apes - which go into greater detail behind the genetics, and control of mutations etc, rather than aaarrrrgggh run!! - must be the geek in me.
Imdb score: 8/10
Mike's score: 7/10
Watch this film when you don't need to concentrate, not if you want one that gets you thinking.
Thursday 18 October 2012
REVIEW: Prometheus (2012)
Reposted due to app issues: otherwise unchanged.
Ok well here goes my review of Prometheus.
I've wanted to see this film ever since the first trailer came out, It was the kind of anticipation I felt when hearing Spiderman was being made.... this film however did not have the same effect, much like Apollo 18 I felt like I was waiting for the film to finish rather than to find out how it ends.
Right from the start I wanted to love this film, I'm a big fan of the Alien franchise, not so much the AVP or AVP requiem films (which in my opinion are just awful) but Ridley Scotts and James Camerons were awesome, So when Prometheus was released on Blu-ray I pretty much bought it immediately, with the excitement built up from the trailer I settled down to watch, I was totally disappointed.
Visually the film is stunning, the landscape as well as the CGI really pulls you in, much like Avatar you sometimes have to remember just how far visual effects have come in the 33 years since "Alien", but much like Avatar the plot is weak, confusing and pointless. The end isn't an end, more of an open ended question that no one needed to ask.
As far as the acting goes Charlize Theron is as good as ever but the stand out performance has to be Michael Fassbender, he is really convincing as the android "David" even his movement and tone of voice are perfectly non human. One negative that I will make of the acting is the total miscasting of Guy Pearce as an old man, Originally so the character could be shown much younger but this lets the film down so much.
That's pretty much it, if you want a good "Alien" style film...watch Alien or District 9.
Ok well here goes my review of Prometheus.
I've wanted to see this film ever since the first trailer came out, It was the kind of anticipation I felt when hearing Spiderman was being made.... this film however did not have the same effect, much like Apollo 18 I felt like I was waiting for the film to finish rather than to find out how it ends.
Right from the start I wanted to love this film, I'm a big fan of the Alien franchise, not so much the AVP or AVP requiem films (which in my opinion are just awful) but Ridley Scotts and James Camerons were awesome, So when Prometheus was released on Blu-ray I pretty much bought it immediately, with the excitement built up from the trailer I settled down to watch, I was totally disappointed.
Visually the film is stunning, the landscape as well as the CGI really pulls you in, much like Avatar you sometimes have to remember just how far visual effects have come in the 33 years since "Alien", but much like Avatar the plot is weak, confusing and pointless. The end isn't an end, more of an open ended question that no one needed to ask.
As far as the acting goes Charlize Theron is as good as ever but the stand out performance has to be Michael Fassbender, he is really convincing as the android "David" even his movement and tone of voice are perfectly non human. One negative that I will make of the acting is the total miscasting of Guy Pearce as an old man, Originally so the character could be shown much younger but this lets the film down so much.
That's pretty much it, if you want a good "Alien" style film...watch Alien or District 9.
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