The Pact

The Pact: “Scream out Scary,” “Twisted and terrifying,” “Nail-biting Suspense”… Try the opposite.
★★

The Pact follows a simple plot that takes a little while to get going and once it does, you realise you’ve probably seen this before. The development of the characters is poor at best and you can’t help but feel nothing for them and although their acting is above par in comparison to many of the horror films I’ve seen of late, it doesn’t make up for how bad the film turned out. The Pact manages to draw you in somewhat by reducing the amount of awful dialogue seen in other films, allowing the tension to build in the silence, but to call it a horror would be lying, for the weak story was absent of any scary moments and the story failed to deliver anything exciting apart from the end credits.

James Bond: Skyfall

James Bond: Skyfall. Bond’s biggest opening weekend ever – and if you’ve seen it, you’ll understand why.
★★★★★

So I have managed to sneak out and catch Bond as it was a film I just couldnt bare to miss and for good reason, with Bond coming back with more enjoyment than I thought it could manage. What a way to signify the milestone Bond has reached, from the opening scenes in Istanbul to the final moments of Skyfall, Daniel Craig manages to become the Bond I had always hoped he would and so much more. With good locations, a good villain, some very good acting, some even better action and fantastic writing, this Bond film can definitely be put down as one of the best yet – some may even say the best in the history of all Bonds…

Image from: James Bond: Skyfall, (2012), [ONLINE]. Available here

Silence

Long time no post. Have been a few things going on recently and everything has been (and still is, to be honest) pretty hectic. The chance to get around to watching a film let alone sitting down to write a review (albeit one made up of just three sentences) is pretty tough at the moment. But, I have not forgotten this beautiful place. Oh no. No no no no. I have plans to slowly wean myself back into this as things become a little less hectic and then hopefully I can talk about all the things I enjoy and hate about the latest films I’ve happened to see. Then it should get back to normal with a few posts a week.

Just as a side note, like a minor replacement for not putting up any reviews, I will say that I have been enjoying some good TV whilst I’ve gobbled down my food during the day. BBC’s Hunted and the new series of The Walking Dead have been enjoyable so far – though, for anyone else watching TWD, what happened to the recoil that guns have? Homeland, too, still very much enjoying that: Feels as though it is on fast forward, which is by no means a bad thing in this case – eagerly awaiting to see what will hope next. Elementary, I figure, works well enough too as a spin off of Sherlock and I’ll keep watching it for now. I hate to admit it, but I quite like E4’s US import, Revenge. Just something about it that is very enjoyable. With Misfits about to come back on, I will certainly be making time to see it. Though I didn’t enjoy the second season so much as the first, I will  be watching this one still. I like James Nesbit, so have been watching Monroeon Catch-up too. It’s alright…

But anyway, TV is TV, and there are some new releases that have come out that I’m desperate to see but can’t at the moment 😦 And reading everyone elses reviews only makes me want to see them more. I’ll try and get over and give out some comments, too. Anyway, in the honorable and truthful words of Arnie, I’ll be back.

Jurassic Park III

Jurassic Park III: Hmm…
★★

Jurassic Park III tells the story of a couple of people who go to Isla Sorna with a certain Dr Alan Grant and after landing on the island, the dinosaurs begin to, as you’d expect from said film, cause them a wee bit of trouble. Simply put, Jurassic Park is actually an OK sequel to its predecessors (which I didn’t rate highly in the first place to be honest), loud and nonsensical, and not really worthwhile the time it takes to watch as the plot goes nowhere and is filled with awful characters and an even worse end. In reality, dinosaurs are long extinct from the earth, much like this franchise should be but unfortunately, we’re due for another in 2014.

Image from: Jurassic Park III, (2001), [ONLINE]. Available here

PS: Pixelated Fridays should be back next Friday – Sooooo busy!

Homeland (s02.e01-e02)

Homeland – Season Two: There’s the smile and a wee bit of redemption, suspense and a whole lot of genius… TV, oh how I love thee…
★★★★★

The Sunday just gone marked the return of the second season of Homeland (in the UK), staged some six months after the last episode ended and from the onset, Homeland updates you and makes its mark, keeping you just as glued to the TV as the first season, except that this time, it’s even more enthralling and suspenseful. Being a week behind the US, I couldn’t resist the urge to catch the second episode and whilst there are some minor gripes with certain things (let’s just say the Skype call and the positioning of some people as examples), everything else feels spot on, from the revelations to all the sub-plots (the father-daughter relationship my particular favourite), the writing and of course, the acting. Clever, ambitious and above all else, entertaining, Homeland is quite possibly the best show currently on TV and for you to miss it would be a huge mistake!

Image from: Homeland, (2012), [ONLINE]. Available here

Virgin Media Shorts

Virgin Media Shorts:

So for the first time ever, a Youtube ad has gotten my attention for the right reasons. The Virgin Media Shorts are here to champion undiscovered talent and there are some awards coming up in November including a People’s Choice Award. So with so little real time on my hands at the moment – no time to catch films or get on with that magazine idea at the moment – I thought I would check these shorts and throw up a few thoughts on them. I’m going to say straight off the bat that I think you should check them all out – they were shortlisted for a reason. Some are, of course, better than others but each are worthy of their place.

Sprockett – (Hazel Meeks)
Synopsis: Freddy is faced with a double-dare. Will he face his fear and enter the world of Old Man Sprockett? The answer is an enjoyable little flick that is constructed really well, addressing the typical childhood fear of the bogeyman. I liked this.

Rocket – (Jennifer Sheridan)
Synopsis: A small dog with big dreams.
This one is cute and a lot of fun. The music is chosen well and the only star, Bowie, the dog, is great. Aspirations and dreams of a lava-lamp inspired dog filled into two short minutes.

Man Up – (Carolina Giammetta)
Synopsis: Three men discuss how to be ‘the boss’ in life.
A comedy that is actually quite funny and addresses the life of every man and his relationship. You’ll know exactly what they are on about. It was well written and sits comfortably near the top of my list.

The Best Medicine (Dan Smith)
Synopsis: A girl with an unusual laugh tries to deal with what she considers to be her ‘problem’.
Another funny tale that does what it says on the tin. The repetitive scenes work well and ends great. Worthy of 2 minutes of my time just for the laugh.

Without Saying (film maker Paul)
Synopsis: A story set in the opening chapters of romance. A boy with no shortage of words struggles to express his feelings to the one girl who cares.
The script was nice, the idea too, but I can’t help but feel as though it was all a bit, well, pointless. I don’t mean to be harsh, and I understand what the message is that they are trying to portray, but I just couldn’t enjoy it as much as the others.

A Brush With A Bee (Katie Parnell)
Synopsis: In a small English Town square a struggling painter does battle with a bee to protect his final masterpiece from the insect’s tiny hands. He is old, tired and determined. He is particular. He is a tightly wound spring. Will the bee escape? Will the small buzzing creature get to its beloved painting, and will the painter survive his brief and unexpected brush with a bee?
The animation of the bunch is so very pleasant for the most part. Words are unspoken, but there need not be any here. Worth a watch, but not the best of the bunch.

Lucky 13: PJ, Tiny Planet Explorer
Synopsis: a boys journey through the universe to find a wondrous new planet to explore.
The adventure flick works well enough and the use of the camera and overlaid narrative is smart. But I didn’t particularly enjoy this, perhaps because it did feel very much like an armature film, of which I do appreciate in that this is pretty much what this is.

Little Larry
Synopsis: In Larry’s life every day is the same. Lonely. He is a mid-twenties, professional, single man who still feels like a child inside. Something is missing. Larry is finding growing up and fitting in so hard that he still sees himself as an 8 year old boy. Can Larry find the missing link thats stopping him grow into the man he longs to be?
I like this portrayal of someone being a lonely twenty something, and the end tops it off well apart from it being a bit sudden. But the point they are trying to make is made well enough here.

Skirt
Synopsis: Two People, One Flat
This non speaking drama features two people in a flat as they go through the awkward moments of moving in together, before it begins to get strange. I don’t really know how one would go about describing this funny little tale, so just give it a watch and enjoy.

Morning Rules
Synopsis: June is professional mourner. She’s teaching her OCD sister Izzy the tricks of the trade.
I found this pretty damn funny, even though the genre states Action & Adventure? It is one of the most enjoyable of the bunch thanks to the writing and acting here.

Dream Girl
Synopsis: An unexpected encounter on an early morning tube journey.
I think they did well to portray the awkwardness of this moment, and then I thought it got a little weird when it moved to the end of the short. I can understand what is trying to be said and all, and it does work, just perhaps it could have been done better.

Super Fast Samosa
Synopsis: BREAK OUT THE MANGO CHUTNEY! COS EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF HIM . . . . The gingerbread man story re-imagined with a bollywood twist.
This animation was indeed beautifully done and the music really worked. It was a great retelling of the gingerbread man story.

The Plotters
Synopsis: “Remember, remember… who are you again?”
The Guy Fawkes comedy is acted out really well as they debate a very important matter. A Good script and a great end. Another of my favourite – funnily enough, all my favourites are comedies.

Check Them Out Here

I might add some pictures and a few other bits later – so busy :O

Repo Men (2010)

Repo Men: Jude Law and Forest Whitaker go on the hunt for organs…
★★★★


I feel like it’s turned into an Action/Sci-Fi type week over here – In Time, Looper and now Repo Men reviews. I was just in that sort of mood, I guess. I like these, maybe a little too much 😮

When it comes to actors I really enjoy watching, both Jude Law and Forest Whitaker would be placed somewhere near to the top and for that reason, as well as the intriguing storyline of Repo Men is what initially enticed me to catch this speculative Sci-Fi film, and neither failed in impressing me again. Once the characters are established, Repo Men manages to provide a satisfying and enjoyable ride full of action that tells an intriguing story of morality where Law & Whitaker repossess artificial organs from those who can no longer keep up with their payments in a violent and often humorous manner that keeps you hooked from start to finish. There is more to this film than what’s on the surface though, and taking a minute to think about the ending and what the film is trying to say about Remy (Jude Law) makes this a respectable film that I personally enjoyed quite a lot.

Image from: Repo Men, (2010), [ONLINE]. Available here

Pixelated Fridays

Ooo, I say, a new feature that should appear every Friday without fail. Essentially, I give you five screenshots/freezeframes of five different films and you have to say from which film it is from. But I will also be going to the extra effort of pixelating the faces and some specific objects too, so who is the character and what is the pixelated object (if there is one)?

Now for the first week, things are a wee bit simpler than what they will be in the future. A beginner event that is straight forward, lets say. Faces are pixelated, there are no objects pixelated here and it might just be somewhat obvious. Just the question of what film and who’s the character? I’ll post up the answers tomorrow if people somehow don’t get these all.

Looper Review

Looper: A truly memorable sci-fi thriller from Rian Johnson
★★★★★

Looper has many plus points, from the stylistic opening scenes to the smart script and original storyline that concludes with a very satisfying end that will ultimately leave you thinking and talking about the whole film for some time afterwards. It’s initially paced at a speed that manages to hold your suspense whilst punching you in the face with action and superb acting, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt destined for a big and bright future (not to mention Johnson’s future too), but there are also some very slight negative points as the film progresses (I’m nitpicking), if you could call them negative as such. The pace shirks from its beginnings and becomes more, well, boggy and perhaps less entertaining as the earlier sequence of events, but no less enjoyable as the plot progressively develops in to something very interesting and so, take nothing away from Looper, it is a smart and largely well put together film full of great moments that provides something truly memorable – loved it.

Image from: Looper, (2012), [ONLINE]. Available here