The Double Feature continued...

'G.I Joe Retaliation'

vs

'Trance'

Here it is, the second part of  my 'Double Feature', hope you relaxed during the intermission, hope you refreshed your  drinks, said hi to your friends and then got yourself back here. My next review concerns Danny Boyles next film, 'Trance'. We  have all seen this  man's work, it has broken boundaries, re-defined genre stereotypes and it has astounded millions in one night. To say  I was excited for this film would be an understatement.

'Trance'

Directed by: Danny Boyle

Starring: James McAvoy

Rosario Dawson

Vincent Cassel

Smooth criminal.

Danny Boyle has always pushed his audiences perception of what can be done through the medium of film. With '28 Days Later' Danny re-defined the zombie genre, breathing new life into a dead  franchise and simultaneously giving Cillian Murphy  his big break. With films like 'The Beach' and 'Slumdog  Millionaire' he showed us the many facets of humanity. It's dizzying highs and it's destructive lows. He has shown us the sun in all its destructive wonder with 'Sunshine' and he has demonstrated the  absolute depravity of man in 'Trainspotting'. Where would he take  us next?  

Lads, what are we lookin' at?

Plot

Don't worry I wouldn't deprive you of  the surprise of what  happens in this depraved and stylish jaunt through a human being. James McAvoys, Simon, is a charming character who through a series of events finds himself embroiled with Frank, Vincent Cassel, and his group of art thieves, he has helped them steal a valuable painting and unfortunately he has forgotten where he hid said painting, enter Elizabeth, Rosario  Dawson, to help Simon find his way.

Right, lads something is wrong with this picture.

Good

James McAvoy has once again surprised me. With roles in 'X-Men: First Class' and 'Wanted' I worried that Hollywood had got its claws into James McAvoy  and turned him into your run of the mill pretty boy with a gun. This film proved to  me that  James McAvoy is one of the best actors I have seen in a long time. Simon is a fantastically layered individual, full of complexities and emotion that he is a treat to watch. His personal journey throughout the film is wonderfully plotted out. Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel do not allow themselves to be completely overshadowed though, Elizabeth and Frank are very interesting characters, each with great scenes which allow their  quirks to  really shine through. Th pacing is very well done, the score is superbly dark and moody and the structure of each scene is fantastic. 

Bad

Even the greatest of films has flaws, and this one is no different. 

Danny Boyle has unfortunately fallen into  a trap that most directors of his kind fall into. This film, though fantastic, is not as original as you  would hope from a  Danny  Boyle film. He has allowed for some cliches  to creep into his work, and I can't lie at one point it  did feel like a soap opera, a fantastically acted one, but a soap  opera none the less. 

Rosario Dawson really surprised me, for two reasons.

Ugly

The simple fact is, regardless of what  I tell you about  this film you  will see it. That is Danny Boyle for you.

8/10

Rosario Dawson momentarily freaked me out, you'll understand when you watch the film.

The Double Feature.

'G.I Joe Retaliation'

vs

'Trance'

A couple of days ago I had the idea that I would try  and watch two films and then pit them against each other. The films I chose were, 'G.I Joe Retaliation' and 'Trance'. Two  very different films, yet one is being cited as a huge crowd pleaser and the second, a dark horse, an unsure bet. I wanted to see what it would  be like to review two films, compare them on their  merits and then decide for myself which was the better. I know what you're thinking, "really, these two, there is no competition". That  is the point regardless of my opinion and in the end, my choice I want to give you guys a proper insight, free of spoilers, into these two films, giving you the knowledge to make a well informed decision, and as G.I Joe will tell you,"Knowing is half the battle". 

'G.I Joe Retaliation'.

Directed by: John M.Chu

Starring: Dwayne Johnson

Ray  Park 

Bruce Willis

I  am choosing this image for the  simple reason, it  is the best thing in my review.

Right so, 'G.I Joe', an interesting idea. A bunch of plot shielded "soldiers" who take on a fictional terrorist organization code named 'Cobra'. Its conception was formed through 'Hasbro', the toy company. That's right, the same company behind 'Transformers'. You are probably wondering why I am talking about a toy company in a film review and you would be right to wonder, the reason? This is not a film, this  is another excuse  to tell the world how awesome an "American" army is. I can't remember why I went to the first one but  I did, so to keep in continuity with that I decided I would go to the second film.

He's not Joseph Gordon Levitt anymore, one of the best decision Joseph ever made.

Plot

To explain the plot  I will  have to  spoil the first one a little bit, so if you  want to be surprised avoid reading this next bit. The president of  the United States is a 'Cobra' agent. There, done, the most complex point in the film and it was set up in a previous film. The plot follows the "Joe's", some time after the events of  the previous  film. 'Duke'(Chaning Tatum) is now  in charge of the team and he, 'Snake Eyes', played by  the fantastically deadly Ray  Park and 'Roadblock' played by Dwayne Johnson. Quickly the Joes world is turned topsy turvy when they are attacked mercilessly by an unknown force while simultaneously being condemned by  their  government. Thus begins a series of ridiculous events.

These characters have the most interesting journey and it takes  a backseat to , well you'll see.

Good

Ray Park,Ray Park, Ray Park. Best actor  in this entire  film and best thing as well. He has the best lines in the film,  has the best scenes and he does all his  own stunts.His interaction with every other character is absolutely fantastic. Not every scene is his however, Byung-Hun Lee who  plays 'Storm Shadow' has an excellent introduction and then there is Adrianne Palicki and her red dress, superb.

Bad

Well, here we are but you knew that we  would get here and that we would be here for awhile, so lets dive in. The sickeningly sweet interaction between Duke and Roadblock is so  

bad that you know what is coming for one of these characters as the movie trundles along.  The dialogue is terrible and will have you laughing, not in the good way, while the acting can be ridiculously over the top and nothing ever  really feels genuine. I will give you one tip that I learned from this movie and that is when your army is decimated and your on the run from government, head to "the hood" because they will always help. This alternate world has really been messed, first off France lost the eiffel tower and in this movie Europe lost England. Seriously, it happens and then fifteen minutes later when the film ends it seems to be completely  forgotten about. Between a very weird,extended cameo from Bruce Willis to a villain slo-mo walk away that takes up the final ten minutes of  the  film. I am not kidding, clock the walk away, all he is doing is slowly walking away from the action to a helicopter, that has a huge design flaw.

There is nothing to  say.

Ugly

Let me start with saying, bad films can be fun, the evidence is there in film like 'Evil Dead 2' and 'Black Dynamite'. Films that know that their plots are outlandish and their characters ridiculous but  because they  don't take themselves seriously they hit on a wonderful chord that moviegoers adore.This is not one of those films.

3/10

England and France are so messed up now.

Mark 2

My second sketch, and this time I went for more of a separation between man and machine.

The next one I'm going to do will be a little more surreal. Hope you guys enjoy this one.

I found that the Iron Man half cam across as having emotion
in this piece.

Iron or Man?

As 'Iron Man 3' draws closer and closer, I've come up with  one or  two ideas for Iron Man, a kind of promotion for  the film by fans like  me. Here is my  first one. I hope you like it. There will be more.

The theme is 'Iron or Man', as the films continue on the line between tech and man is blurring. Tony is finding it harder to stay relevant in a world where Gods, monsters and Super-humans are now becoming the norm. I think he is having a nervous breakdown in his own unique way. Here is my first  sketch and I hope you enjoy.

Iron or Man?

Man of Steel needs help

Vote for the last son of  Krypton

Hey guys, saw that  a competition of sorts is going on between the various films coming out this  year, so I thought I'd help in my own small way. Here is a link to the site and guys, please vote for 'Man of Steel'. Lets show everyone around the world how proud we are being Superman fans. Cheers.

Best film of the year? Vote Man of Steel!!

He needs you!

Which are you.a Thief or a Sucker?

'Identity Thief' Film Review

Director; Seth Gordon

Starring; Jason Bateman

Melissa McCarthy

You see this one, you will not like her.

Wednesday night I had a choice, I had two premieres that I was invited to see. One being the manic magicians film, 'The Amazing Burt Wunderstone', with Steve Carrell, Steve Buscemi and Jim Carrey and  the 'Identity Thief' with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy. I tossed, I turned, I tumbled. There was a lot of t's. In the end, I tossed a coin, and it came up 'Identity Thief', so did I turn out to be a sucker?

This one scene is one of the rare laughs in the film.

Plot

Sandy Patterson, Jason Bateman's character, is a run of the mill, everyday joe who is trying to get by with his family in tow. He's scraping the barrel, earning just enough to keep his family afloat, he has two kids, and another on the way. This point is really drilled home, as it is mentioned a multitude of times before the first half hour of the film. We are then introduced to "Sandy Patterson", the identity thief "Diana". She is loud, crass and incredibly annoying. When Sandy(real Sandy) finds out that Diana is spending all his hard earned money he decides to head to Florida where she is located and take her down. Comedy fumbling's ensue, now and then.

Good

I'm writing this right now trying to remember what honestly was good about this film. On paper it should be funny, these two actors are comedy pedigree. Sandy is a decent enough character, he has one or two good lines but I can't bring the specifics to mind right now. Diana has some quotable lines, that's really it. There is a wonderful sense of family and sincere emotion at times but it is drowned out by the incessant gross out jokes and really disturbing sex scenes.

This leads to a scene that haunts me, deeply.

Bad

There is a lot of stuff, though Diana is the funnier of the two characters she is also the least likable of the two also. For two thirds of the film she is completely unlikable, I think that is fine for a film, the characters you don't like usually have some feature that counter balances the reason you don't like them, this turns it around from hating the character to you loving how you hate them. This is not what you get from Diana, you just hate her, simple as that. The villian of the piece is completely tacked on, he has no stake in the whole film other than Diana apparently screwed him over at some point in the past, and is literally in two scene which last five minutes all together. Between gross thumbed soup and really, really weird sexual tension between Diana and every male character in the film you will be wondering why you're sitting in the theatre.

Ugly

This is not a good film, the premise reminds me of 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles", you know without planes, trains or any sense of humour or proper character or plot development. Simple as that.

3/10

Oz the so-so and over actor.

Oz the Great  and Powerful Review

Director; Sam Raimi

Starring; James Franco

Mila Kunis

Michelle Williams

Rachel Weisz

He is....annoying.

When I heard that  Sam Raimi was making a brand new version of the 'Wizard of  Oz' I was very much, underwhelmed. Another director  trying his hand  at breathing new life  into a classic,by re-imagining it for a modern audience. It felt  to  me like there was no originality anymore, to go that far  back and touch on a film that is so close to almost  everyone's hearts. It was another knock  to my childhood. If you've read my thoughts on Michael Bay you know that the last year has not been kind with regards to how Hollywood has treated a lot of peoples cherished childhood memories. I found out then that it  was a prequel of sorts. Giving us the origin story of 'The Wizard' himself, but more interestingly, the origin of  'The  Wicked Witch of the West'.

Zach Braff doing what he does best...I'll get to you in that one.

The Plot

It's way  back when, things are simple, uncomplicated and in black  and white. The times they are good, but that's not what "master" illusionist 'Oscar Diggs' wants however. He wants things to be great, he wants to be great. Through a series of  odd and ridiculous events involving a random woman, a music box, Zach Braff and a strong  man, Oscar  finds himself in  the magical world of....Oz. In this weird, wonderful and at times over-acted place Oscar meets witches, claims to be a wizard and saves a slightly psychopathic china doll. I'm serious about that china doll, she is...intense at times.

The Good

Mila  Kunis, without going into too much detail. She has the most interesting character journey throughout this whole film. She is  also really hot, so that's bonus points there. The little china doll, though intimidating at times, is also one of  the more humourous and interesting characters of the film. The design of Oz( the kingdom, not the guy) is pretty most of the time.  Coming off as a child's version of  'Pandora'. The final act and the films climatic battle was visually beautiful and the Wicked Witch of  West is  superb. She hasn't lost that evil streak.

This girls has some of  the best lines of dialogue.

The Bad

Right, where to begin. I suppose the irony of the "good" witch being the least interesting and most annoying of the witches assembled in this film is not lost on me. The origin of  the Wicked Witch of the West is brilliant and intriguing but honestly should have been fleshed out. You feel for her, but in the kind of, "oh honey don't worry about that man, he's not worth your time", way. If they had fleshed it out more it would have added a lot more depth to the character and would have added some more weight to a very light film experience. At times, a lot of times by the way, the acting is way  over the top, surprisingly so since the cast that has been  put together is of such high quality. James Franco for  example is a bit of a douche for  most of the film, and not in the redeeming fashion. 

The Ugly

It is a good film,  it's not  great but  there are some really nice scenes, the visuals at times are superb and the Wicked Witch of  the West has been replicated with such care you can't help but respect Sam Raimi for that. If only  the acting transitioned from black and white to technicolor as well as people from Kansas seem to. 

5.5/10

I know what you're thinking. What a wonderful place Oz is.

Look out for the little nods to old friends. They are both subtle and blatantly obvious.