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Category: Film reviews (2014) (Page 1 of 2)

“Too Slow in Parts” Mockingjay Part 1 Review

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PT1   (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Francis Lawrence   

Music: James Newton Howard

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Liam Hemsworth


The Hunger Games series has become something of a worldwide phenomenon over the last few years, with over $1bn in takings between two films, success is a bit of an understatement.
A year after the critically acclaimed Catching Fire, director Francis Lawrence returns with the first part of Suzanne Collins’ underwhelming finale – Mockingjay, but can it continue with the series’ success and improve on the lacklustre novel? Continue reading

“A Striking Visual Translation” The Giver – Review

THE GIVER   (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Phillip Noyce  

Music: Marco Beltrami

Starring: Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, Alexander Skarsgard


Over the last decade, cinema-going audiences have had the treat of numerous adaptations of popular young adult novels. Some of them have been particularly great – the Harry Potter series the highlight – whilst others have been less than stellar – Twilight, I’m looking at you.

However, with The Hunger Games on the edge of its tantalising conclusion, director Phillip Noyce introduces teens and adults alike to a whole new world in The Giver, but can it seduce audiences which have already had numerous fantasy worlds to enjoy? Continue reading

“Watch out Pixar” How to Train Your Dragon 2 Review

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2   (UK CERT: PG)

Director: Dane BeBlois  

Music: John Powell

Voices: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington


Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon was an example of setting your expectations low and coming out pleasantly surprised. The first film proved that the studio could create animated masterpieces and it left audiences across the globe hooked.

However, expectation has never been higher for its sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2, but does it soar to the dizzying heights of its predecessor? Continue reading

“Terrible film-making at its best” Transformers 4 Review

TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION   (UK CERT: 12A)
Director: Michael Bay  
Music: Steve Jablonsky
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer


Michael Bay’s Transformers series has received a huge amount of criticism since the first film was released back in 2007, some of it fair, and some of it not. Now, 7 years on and three films later, Bay returns to the helm of one of the biggest movie franchises of all time with Transformers: Age of Extinction, but can it silence his critics? Continue reading

“More DC than Marvel” X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

X-Men: Days of Future Past (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Bryan Singer   

Music: John Ottman

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen


Bryan Singer’s return to the X-Men franchise comes at the perfect time both for the series and its director.

After last year’s poorly executed Jack the Giant Slayer, Singer needed to come back to home turf and after a string of irritating X-Men films, including the entertaining but soulless X-Men: The Last Stand and the downright offensive Wolverine origins story, it seems the superhero series needed to do the same.

But can a re-partnering 11 years after the brilliant X2 restore the magic of one of Marvel’s best comics? Continue reading

“Simply Stunning” Godzilla Review

GODZILLA   (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Gareth Edwards  

Music: Alexandre Desplat

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche


The king of the Kaiju, Godzilla, has had a very chequered cinematic history. From the classic original Japanese films to Roland Emmerich’s 1998 disaster, the famous beast hasn’t always been given the respect deserved of such an iconic monster.

Now, 16 years after Emmerich’s critical flop, Monsters director Gareth Edwards resurrects the gargantuan reptile in this year’s reboot, simply titled Godzilla, but is it a return to form?

Continue reading

Pompeii 3D – Review

POMPEII 3D (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson   

Music: Clinton Shorter

Stars: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland


The disaster movie has always been a genre guaranteed to create incredible box-office returns. If you look at Roland Emmerich’s impressive blockbuster hit 2012, which grossed over $750million, it is clear that destroying well-known landmarks = bums on seats.

However since 2012‘s 2009 release the genre has fallen into a dormant state. Nevertheless, four years later Paul W.S. Anderson attempts to reawaken this box-office behemoth with his take on the tragic true events at Pompeii, but does the film succeed in its task? Continue reading

“A film that never needed to exist” The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Review

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Marc Webb   

Music: Hans Zimmer

Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Dane DeHaan, Jamie Foxx, Sally Field


Marc Webb’s first attempt at being behind the lens of a Marvel film was 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man. Just five years after Sam Raimi concluded his trilogy with Tobey Maguire in the tight fitting suit, Andrew Garfield donned the iconic costume in a film that was good if a little unnecessary. Here, Webb returns just two years later with The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but can it prove its worth? Continue reading

Noah – Review

NOAH (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Darren Aronofsky   

Music: Clint Mansell

Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone


Biblical epics never seem to translate well from paper to the big screen. Mel Gibson’s 2004 misfire, The Passion of the Christ, showed just how difficult it was to turn promising source material into silver screen gold.

Now, 10 years on from that, Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky breathes new life into the biblical genre with his take on the classic ‘Noah’ tale. But can his sixth attempt behind the camera reverse the ailing genre’s fortunes? Continue reading

Labor Day – Review

LABOR DAY (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Jason Reitman    

Music: Rolfe Kent

Stars: Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith and Tobey Maguire


Director Jason Reitman is no stranger to obtaining a few awards from his varied career, with films like Juno and Up in the Air under his belt, you would be forgiven for thinking that he could put himself on autopilot – however his latest offering Labor Day stays well clear of such drama.

Starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, the film stays on the right side of touching without feeling overly sentimental and cheesy. But is it worth a watch?

Following the story of Adele (Winslet) and her son Henry (Gattlin Griffith) as they comes to terms with repairing their lives after an unsuccessful marriage, Labor Day leaves the story and plot of Joyce Maynard’s hugely popular novel to the audience, who piece things together themselves, culminating in a pleasing if slightly clumsy final act.

Josh Brolin stars as Frank Chambers, an escaped murderer looking for somewhere tolabor-day-poster1 lay low whilst the police continue searching for him. Brolin is a master of playing the bad guy gone good and his performance here is no exception to that rule. His convict-like scowls are brilliantly juxtaposed with scenes involving him cooking and baking, leaving the viewer slightly perplexed by his real intentions – at the start that is anyway.

As the story takes place over a weekend, the film does feel a little drawn out in places but this adds to its simplistic charm, with the characters and their sublime acting doing most of the work.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOQL3Xi8dPE?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Gattlin+Griffith+Arrivals+Teen+Vogue+Young+VSzZ7JYENCTlWinslet is excellent as Adele, a woman so heartbroken and terrified by the painful effects of love she no longer leaves the house. Her fragility is exceptionally intense; her hands and facial expressions talk more than words ever could and this is a theme throughout the film. I wouldn’t be surprised if Winslet is nominated for an Oscar at next year’s awards.

However, by far the standout is Gattlin Griffith’s performance as young Henry. Here is a boy who would do anything for his mother. His transition from moody teenager to vulnerable young adult is beautiful to watch and again, his facial expressions speak volumes.

As the police close in on Frank’s location and Adele and Henry’s behaviour becomes ever more suspicious, Labor Day becomes increasingly intense in a ‘will they won’t they’ kind of way. As much as the film drives home the simplicity of its intentions, you can’t helped but get sucked into their predicament and this, along with the acting, is where it stuns most.

Unfortunately, the simple nature of the directing and cinematography leaves a lot of room for other areas to fill, and this doesn’t quite happen.

The score is mind-numbingly dull which is a true shame. Rolfe Kent has created some stunning pieces of music for films across the decades including his Golden Globe nominated work on Sideways, not forgetting the excellent score in The Wedding Crashers. Despite some lift in the latter half of the picture, it remains a relatively music-free affair.

Tobey Maguire’s narration is also a little dull. Those of you familiar with the Spider-Man trilogy will know how irritating Maguire’s voice can be, and unfortunately it’s the case here too.

Overall though, Labor Day fills the void in between the magic of the Christmas blockbuster and the frantic summer season which is approaching thick and fast. Filled with some fine performances from the three lead actors and a story which really makes you believe in second chances, it’s an utterly compelling and emotional spring flick. Only the poor score and uninspiring cinematography lets it down.

Category

Scoring /10

Story/Plot

8

Acting

9

Special Effects/Cinematography

5

Soundtrack

5

Costume Design

5

Script/Dialogue

9

TOTAL /60

41

Overall: The only film with a step-by-step guide to pie baking!

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