Category: Film reviews (2015) (Page 5 of 7)

“A CGI disaster” Tomorrowland review

24 May 2015 / Adam Brannon / 3 Comments

TOMORROWLAND: A WORLD BEYOND (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Brad Bird

Music: Michael Giacchino

Starring: George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson

REVIEW AUTHOR: Adam Brannon

Disney has an intriguing track record when it comes to movies. The multi-billion dollar company has produced some incredible films and some absolute stinkers, with its live-action department bearing the brunt of this misfortune.

Here, The Incredibles director Brad Bird is hoping to add another great film to his CV with Tomorrowland: A World Beyond, but does this George Clooney fantasy adventure tick all the right boxes? Continue reading

“Cinematic Red Bull” Mad Max: Fury Road review

19 May 2015 / Adam Brannon / 14 Comments

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (UK CERT: 15)

Director: George Miller

Music: Junkie XL

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult

REVIEW AUTHOR: Rob Stoakes

Up until a week ago, I was really looking forward to this film. Mad Max as a series has a criminally underestimated impact on our pop culture psyche thanks to its unique aesthetic. Everyone now knows exactly what they want to do in the event of the apocalypse; strap dustbin lids and S&M gear to our bodies. Continue reading

“Incredibly well-made” Big Game review

10 May 2015 / Adam Brannon / 3 Comments

BIG GAME (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Jalmari Helander

Music: Juri & Miska Seppa

Starring: Samuel L Jackson, Onni Tommila, Jim Broadbent

REVIEW AUTHOR: Rob Stoakes

If you asked me as a baby what film genre I would think would have more complex plots in the future, I would pee myself. That’s what you get for asking a baby questions about the evolution of cinema.

As a functioning adult who doesn’t pee himself quite as often, however, I am surprised at how ambitious action movies have become. As an example, Avengers: Age of Ultron is 150 minutes long after the studio cut out an hour. It can’t just be about a robot trying to take over the world, either; no, your brain needs to keep a mental chart of all the relationships, motivations and plans within plans. And Avengers 2 is relatively straight forward compared to some other recent fare (hi Christopher Nolan). Continue reading

“Deeply unnerving” Unfriended review

3 May 2015 / Adam Brannon / 1 Comment

UNFRIENDED (UK CERT: 15)

Director: Levan Gabriadze

Music: N/A

Starring: Shelley Hennig, Moses Jacob Storm

When was the last time you watched a genuinely scary horror film? For me, Sinister, The Conjuring and You’re Next are three of the most terrifying movies to grace the silver screen in the last few years.

However, for every Sinister, there’s a One Missed Call. Bland, forgettable films litter the genre and we’re still waiting for a 90s-esque resurgence to kick-in. Here, Universal Pictures starts its summer movie campaign with Unfriended, but will it have you watching through your fingers? Continue reading

“This one belongs to James Spader” Avengers: Age of Ultron review

26 April 2015 / Adam Brannon / 14 Comments

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Joss Whedon

Music: Brian Tyler/Danny Elfman

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans

I doubt that Joss Whedon and the team down at Marvel knew just how successful 2012’s Avengers Assemble would go on to be. After just a few months of release it became the third highest-grossing film of all time, by no means an easy feat to achieve.

Therefore, Whedon and co had their work cut out trying to build on the solid foundations they had laid when it came to producing a sequel. However, three years and $250m later Avengers: Age of Ultron hits our screens. But is it the follow-up everyone was asking for? Continue reading

“Better suited to TV” A Little Chaos review

19 April 2015 / Adam Brannon / 1 Comment

A LITTLE CHAOS (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Alan Rickman

Music: Peter Gregson

Starring: Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci

From the mind of director Alan Rickman, everyone’s favourite Slytherin, A Little Chaos follows the story of a gardener as she tries to prove her worth, creating a fountain at the beautiful Gardens of Versailles. But does this historical drama have any depth? Continue reading

“One word? Tight” John Wick review

18 April 2015 / Adam Brannon / 4 Comments

In the first of his reviews for Movie Metropolis, Rob Stoakes looks at Keanu Reeves’ latest thriller, John Wick.

History will probably not be kind to Keanu Reeves. Many of cinema’s great action heroes are defined by their personality, from Schwarzenegger’s cool and confident professional to Willis’ put-upon everyman, while Reeves is defined by his lack of a personality. However, there is one thing that the most depressing block of wood this side of Liam Neeson can do to make history look more kindly upon him, and it’s continue to star in films of the quality of John Wick. Continue reading

“Disappointingly generic” The DUFF review

12 April 2015 / Adam Brannon / 1 Comment

THE DUFF (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Ari Sandel

Music: Dominic Lewis

Starring: Mae Whitman, Ken Jeong, Allison Janney

The school-set comedy genre has been done to death over the last two decades. From body swap comedies like 17 Again that hang on the pulling power of their stars, to films that now have a cult following like 10 Things I Hate About You, each of them has little to offer once the end credits roll.

With the brilliant Mean Girls being one of the only exceptions to the trend, the latest film to tackle the genre is The DUFF, but is Ari Sandel’s directorial debut worthy of a recommendation? Continue reading

“A guilty pleasure” Fast & Furious 7 review

5 April 2015 / Adam Brannon / 10 Comments

FAST & FURIOUS 7 (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: James Wan

Music: Brian Tyler

Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez

Everyone needs a guilty pleasure and since 2001, audiences from across the globe have flocked to see The Fast & Furious franchise in all its over-the-top glory.

However, filming on the latest instalment, Fast & Furious 7, was delayed after the tragic death of lead actor Paul Walker, so does his untimely passing hurt the resulting movie? Continue reading

“Sickly Sweet” Cinderella review

31 March 2015 / Adam Brannon / 3 Comments

CINDERELLA (UK CERT: U)

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Music: Patrick Doyle

Starring: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter

Taking a look through Disney’s back catalogue of animation is like a lesson in film history. From Snow White to Bambi and The Lion King to The Princess & the Frog, there’s something in there for everyone to enjoy.

However, the studio has in recent times, taken to reimagining its classics as live-action adaptations with last year’s Maleficent starting a generation that will include Beauty & the Beast and a Tim Burton directed Dumbo. The latest offering is Cinderella, but does it hold a candle to its animated counterpart? Continue reading