Did you ever watch a zombie film and think "I would be embarrassed to be killed by that." "Stupid, slow moving zombies would never get me!" Not to be big headed but I always fancied my chances against a zombie. Now a vampire is a different matter but a zombie for god’s sake! Everyone's favourite geek Jesse Eisenberg has no problems with the shambling idiots. His problem tends to be other people. As he travels across America towards his hometown of Columbus he meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). They don't go by their real names in Zombieland see!
Columbus survives Zombieland by following an ever increasing list of rules. Simple, common sense rules that seem to mock the zombie genre in a very knowing way such as 'always check the back seat' and 'double tap'. My favourite rule has to be 'limber up’; Columbus holding his gun above his head performing stretches on the side of the road is brilliant! Everything seems to be running along as smoothly as you could expect in a post-apocalyptic wasteland as Columbus lives obsessively by his rules. That is until he meets the crazy Tallahassee and scheming girls.
This is filmed like a really slick music video. The opening shot of an American flag limply flapping in front of the Whitehouse, on fire and upside down is bold and striking, like most of this film. The survival rules get written large across the screen whenever they are quoted. Perhaps best of all we have Zombie kill of the week! I won't go into any more detail on that in case I spoil it. It all adds up to a fast paced film that never gets dull. Like a music video it is very stylised and very punchy. Despite being yet another Zombie film this feels very fresh, not because of any great storyline but because of how light it feels. Perhaps not laugh out loud funny; it certainly left me with a big smile on my face.
Case in point is Woody Harrelson. His character is big, nasty and desperate to find a Twinkie. He will do anything to find the last sugary treat in the world! They have an expiry date you know! I loved the wackiness of the characters. How anyone could stay sane in a world like that is beyond me and it seems the writer felt the same way. Also this has an amazing cameo from none other than Bill Murray. OK I don't want to give away anything more about this film; it's enough to say that this has breathed life into what was becoming a very stale genre since 28 Days Later blitzed its way onto the screen.
8/10
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Friday 23 September 2011
Vampires Suck (2010)
Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit.
I laughed more during Schindler's List.
Lazy film = lazy review!
2/10
I laughed more during Schindler's List.
Lazy film = lazy review!
2/10
Thursday 22 September 2011
Knocked Up (2007)
First of all an apology for not posting a review for almost a week now. I have many excuses, none of which you will be interested in I'm sure. Fortunately I have been keeping up with my film watching! OK back to business...
Knocked up stars Seth Rogan as man-child Ben. He drinks, smokes way too much weed, hangs around with his stoner mates all day, refuses to get a job and plans to make his millions by setting up a website that shows where in movies you can see some naked flesh. All in all a fun guy to hang around with maybe, but not the kind of person you would think capable of bringing up a child. He meets Alison (Katherine Heigl) on a drunken night out. In an almost unbelievable twist he manages to get her into bed, punching so far above his weight it was akin to Jimmy Crankie fighting Andre the Giant. Weeks later he gets the dreaded phone call from Alison announcing she is carrying his child.
This film draws on elements from several different genres. We have a stoner comedy, romance and drama. What it does well is merge all three of these so that there is a little bit of something for everyone, with the biggest emphasis on the comedy. Rogan is his typical chaotic self. A man possessed of constant verbal diharrea, who bumbles through life in his own little world. Rogan is so adept at playing this part I almost believe he is like this all the time. If you were to go around his house now you might expect him to really be smoking weed with his head in a goldfish bowl or boxing with giant flaming gloves on (see the intro to this film to see what I mean)!
Aside from the usual humour from Rogan and his gang of friends we have a story about a woman struggling to come to terms with an unexpected pregnancy and a new relationship (more out of duty at first) with a man with little prospects and even less of a clue! There is always an air of inevitability with the storyline but there are enough laughs here to make that unimportant. As a bit of a film geek there was also enough film references made to keep my eyes glued to the screen. Everyone will spot the Back to the Future and Star wars references but will they notice Swingers or Taxi Driver?
I thought this was a very well made film despite the obvious story. It effortlessly rises above being a vulgar comedy (which it is in places and a bloody funny one at that) with moments of real clarity. The novelty of it is that it has people dealing with things that any parent can relate to. Not so much in the 'having a baby with someone you just met' way but in the many other hopes and fears that come along with pregnancy or simply growing up. More than once I found myself shaking my head with embarrassed recognition at Ben's antics. Rogan's immensely likeable performance and the often brilliant script really make this a film worth watching.
7/10
Knocked up stars Seth Rogan as man-child Ben. He drinks, smokes way too much weed, hangs around with his stoner mates all day, refuses to get a job and plans to make his millions by setting up a website that shows where in movies you can see some naked flesh. All in all a fun guy to hang around with maybe, but not the kind of person you would think capable of bringing up a child. He meets Alison (Katherine Heigl) on a drunken night out. In an almost unbelievable twist he manages to get her into bed, punching so far above his weight it was akin to Jimmy Crankie fighting Andre the Giant. Weeks later he gets the dreaded phone call from Alison announcing she is carrying his child.
This film draws on elements from several different genres. We have a stoner comedy, romance and drama. What it does well is merge all three of these so that there is a little bit of something for everyone, with the biggest emphasis on the comedy. Rogan is his typical chaotic self. A man possessed of constant verbal diharrea, who bumbles through life in his own little world. Rogan is so adept at playing this part I almost believe he is like this all the time. If you were to go around his house now you might expect him to really be smoking weed with his head in a goldfish bowl or boxing with giant flaming gloves on (see the intro to this film to see what I mean)!
Aside from the usual humour from Rogan and his gang of friends we have a story about a woman struggling to come to terms with an unexpected pregnancy and a new relationship (more out of duty at first) with a man with little prospects and even less of a clue! There is always an air of inevitability with the storyline but there are enough laughs here to make that unimportant. As a bit of a film geek there was also enough film references made to keep my eyes glued to the screen. Everyone will spot the Back to the Future and Star wars references but will they notice Swingers or Taxi Driver?
I thought this was a very well made film despite the obvious story. It effortlessly rises above being a vulgar comedy (which it is in places and a bloody funny one at that) with moments of real clarity. The novelty of it is that it has people dealing with things that any parent can relate to. Not so much in the 'having a baby with someone you just met' way but in the many other hopes and fears that come along with pregnancy or simply growing up. More than once I found myself shaking my head with embarrassed recognition at Ben's antics. Rogan's immensely likeable performance and the often brilliant script really make this a film worth watching.
7/10
Thursday 15 September 2011
Lost in Translation (2003)
I wish I had seen this film in the cinema. There have been some wonderful scenes in cinema history but I can think of nothing better than the opening shot of this film: Scarlett Johansson's perfect behind, 40 foot across, dominating the screen. The gentle curve of her hip, the transparent pink knickers that hide just enough to make the shot all the more alluring. The slight crease formed by subtle movement where her bum ends and leg begins. The film title rolls across the screen just below the line where her legs and cheeks meet. Seriously though this kind of lingering cinematic shot is just what makes this film such a joy to look at. Honestly it’s not just because Scarlett Johansson spends a lot of time walking around her apartment in her knickers, this is a really beautifully made film.
Lost in Translation is set amid the lonely neon cityscape of Tokyo. Charlotte (Johansson) is a newlywed, left to entertain herself as her husband is working constantly (how could he! Idiot!). She strikes up a friendship with famous actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray) who is similarly lost and lonely while filming a commercial there. Sofia Coppola (on her directing debut) captures the feelings of boredom and isolation felt by her characters magnificently through the cinematography. Many early scenes look out at Tokyo from Charlotte's lofty hotel room as she mopes around (the fact that she spends most of these scenes in her underwear helps if I'm honest) hinting that there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored. There are many symbolic moments like this where feelings are conveyed through the images rather than dialogue. The effect is a bitter-sweet film full of beauty and melancholy.
Bob and Charlotte's friendship develops to the detriment of the nakedness. They rouse each other from their coma like states and begin to enjoy the craziness of a foreign culture. I hate Bob for making Charlotte get dressed and get out of her apartment. On the plus side Tokyo makes a fantastic backdrop, taking in lots of Japanese traditions as the film progress. We see Ikebana, temples, karaoke in a glass room miles up a skyscraper, sake drinking, strip clubs, quirky night clubs and games arcades. One shot of Bob playing golf on a deserted course with the silhouette of Mount Fujiyama in the background is especially stunning.
One criticism of the film is its slightly dismissive attitude to Japan. This is really highlighted by Bob's attitude to the locals, he looks on bemused as people fuss over him and playfully mocks people as they cannot understand what he says. It might just be a case of the film showing how people react to a foreign culture. That aside Bill Murray is fantastic as the jaded star selling his soul for a big payday as he films a commercial. He wears the ravages of a tiring world on his face perfectly. Johansson too is brilliantly believable as a young woman unsure of her place in the world.
Please don't watch this film as a will they/won't they romantic drama, you will be missing the point entirely. THIS IS NOT ABOUT SEX!!! Much has been said about the enigmatic final scene but I don't want to give too much away. Suffice to say the film is more concerned with how it makes you feel rather than the dialogue. I really liked that it shows us two troubled characters and does not try to find resolutions and fix them. This film is about a fleeting moment in time where two lost souls find each other. Appreciate it for what it is or bugger off and watch something with Jennifer Lopez in!
8/10
Lost in Translation is set amid the lonely neon cityscape of Tokyo. Charlotte (Johansson) is a newlywed, left to entertain herself as her husband is working constantly (how could he! Idiot!). She strikes up a friendship with famous actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray) who is similarly lost and lonely while filming a commercial there. Sofia Coppola (on her directing debut) captures the feelings of boredom and isolation felt by her characters magnificently through the cinematography. Many early scenes look out at Tokyo from Charlotte's lofty hotel room as she mopes around (the fact that she spends most of these scenes in her underwear helps if I'm honest) hinting that there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored. There are many symbolic moments like this where feelings are conveyed through the images rather than dialogue. The effect is a bitter-sweet film full of beauty and melancholy.
Bob and Charlotte's friendship develops to the detriment of the nakedness. They rouse each other from their coma like states and begin to enjoy the craziness of a foreign culture. I hate Bob for making Charlotte get dressed and get out of her apartment. On the plus side Tokyo makes a fantastic backdrop, taking in lots of Japanese traditions as the film progress. We see Ikebana, temples, karaoke in a glass room miles up a skyscraper, sake drinking, strip clubs, quirky night clubs and games arcades. One shot of Bob playing golf on a deserted course with the silhouette of Mount Fujiyama in the background is especially stunning.
One criticism of the film is its slightly dismissive attitude to Japan. This is really highlighted by Bob's attitude to the locals, he looks on bemused as people fuss over him and playfully mocks people as they cannot understand what he says. It might just be a case of the film showing how people react to a foreign culture. That aside Bill Murray is fantastic as the jaded star selling his soul for a big payday as he films a commercial. He wears the ravages of a tiring world on his face perfectly. Johansson too is brilliantly believable as a young woman unsure of her place in the world.
Please don't watch this film as a will they/won't they romantic drama, you will be missing the point entirely. THIS IS NOT ABOUT SEX!!! Much has been said about the enigmatic final scene but I don't want to give too much away. Suffice to say the film is more concerned with how it makes you feel rather than the dialogue. I really liked that it shows us two troubled characters and does not try to find resolutions and fix them. This film is about a fleeting moment in time where two lost souls find each other. Appreciate it for what it is or bugger off and watch something with Jennifer Lopez in!
8/10
Tuesday 13 September 2011
Forrest Gump (1994)
There was a time when I was younger that going to the cinema was a real event. Maybe it was the fact that I was young, maybe it is looking back through rose tinted specs, but the early to mid nineties left me with great memories of going to the giant UCI cinema in Swansea. 10 screens, that’s right 10 screens for your viewing pleasure. Now I can't quite remember but I'm sure they weren't all playing superhero movies or rom-coms. I look back on this as a mini golden age for cinema going. In the space of a few years some truly fantastic films were released including Jurassic Park, Independence Day, Terminator 2 and Braveheart. All are pure Hollywood blockbusters to the core, and I mean that in the best possible way, no sarcasm intended for once.
It really feels that Hollywood has lost the knack for producing these movie 'events'. I especially felt this on re-watching Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks plays the unlikely hero, a man with an IQ of 75 but a heart bigger that anyone's. This is a touching and often funny tale, a life story told by Forrest as he sits waiting for a bus to take him to see Jenny (Robin Wright), the troubled girl he has always loved. This central relationship is the main focus of the film but there are also some brilliant lesser characters, none more impressive than Gary Sinise as the angry Lieutenant Dan. For a film that packs in so much story it always impresses me how much depth these characters have.
I also forgot how original this film was. It places Forrest at the scenes of countless historic events. He teaches Elvis how to dance, meets JFK, fights in Vietnam, Meets Nixon and starts the Watergate scandal, inspires John Lennon to write Imagine, the list goes on and on. Many of these meetings are cleverly achieved by putting Hanks into old film reels with effects that do not look old even today. Even if you are a cold hearted monster that has no time for Forrest you would still be caught up in the 'spot the famous person' game the film seems to play. When you add to this cultural miscellany a soundtrack of some of the best songs of the eras depicted you get a film that never feels dull or slow. Jimi Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower playing as they patrol in Vietnam is perfect.
It was also a film that launched a host of iconic catch phrases, none more so than 'run Forrest run!' OK it probably was used in a mean way in a playground near you but it just shows how much this film passed into the public consciousness. Other notable efforts include 'life is like a box of chocolates' and 'stupid is as stupid does'. My point is that despite being a big budget, star studded film, Forrest Gump was brave and original. Despite this it achieved the success it deserved and became a film watched by almost everyone. What does Hollywood do with big budgets these days? Makes f*$*%*g Transformers 3 of X-Men 5 that’s what! Who is going to look back on films like that in 15 years time with fond memories I wonder?
9/10
It really feels that Hollywood has lost the knack for producing these movie 'events'. I especially felt this on re-watching Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks plays the unlikely hero, a man with an IQ of 75 but a heart bigger that anyone's. This is a touching and often funny tale, a life story told by Forrest as he sits waiting for a bus to take him to see Jenny (Robin Wright), the troubled girl he has always loved. This central relationship is the main focus of the film but there are also some brilliant lesser characters, none more impressive than Gary Sinise as the angry Lieutenant Dan. For a film that packs in so much story it always impresses me how much depth these characters have.
I also forgot how original this film was. It places Forrest at the scenes of countless historic events. He teaches Elvis how to dance, meets JFK, fights in Vietnam, Meets Nixon and starts the Watergate scandal, inspires John Lennon to write Imagine, the list goes on and on. Many of these meetings are cleverly achieved by putting Hanks into old film reels with effects that do not look old even today. Even if you are a cold hearted monster that has no time for Forrest you would still be caught up in the 'spot the famous person' game the film seems to play. When you add to this cultural miscellany a soundtrack of some of the best songs of the eras depicted you get a film that never feels dull or slow. Jimi Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower playing as they patrol in Vietnam is perfect.
It was also a film that launched a host of iconic catch phrases, none more so than 'run Forrest run!' OK it probably was used in a mean way in a playground near you but it just shows how much this film passed into the public consciousness. Other notable efforts include 'life is like a box of chocolates' and 'stupid is as stupid does'. My point is that despite being a big budget, star studded film, Forrest Gump was brave and original. Despite this it achieved the success it deserved and became a film watched by almost everyone. What does Hollywood do with big budgets these days? Makes f*$*%*g Transformers 3 of X-Men 5 that’s what! Who is going to look back on films like that in 15 years time with fond memories I wonder?
9/10
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