Movie Reviews / Previews
DVD Reviews: The Kite Runner
Don't let the bookworm prestige of the title or the two-hour plus running time dissuade you from The Kite Runner. It's one of those rare 'issue' films that remains an enticing and emotionally electrifying viewing experience that may restore your faith in cinema after the distracting memory left by that turgid Indiana Jones encounter you had a few weeks back. The story commences in 2000 San Francisco, where a young Afghan writer receives a mysterious phone call from someone in Pakistan telling him that he has a chance to redeem himself.
Don't let the bookworm prestige of the title or the two-hour plus running time dissuade you from The Kite Runner. It's one of those rare 'issue' films that remains an enticing and emotionally electrifying viewing experience that may restore your faith in cinema after the distracting memory left by that turgid Indiana Jones encounter you had a few weeks back. The story commences in 2000 San Francisco, where a young Afghan writer receives a mysterious phone call from someone in Pakistan telling him that he has a chance to redeem himself.
DVD Review: Freebird
Any film that has the balls to cast the usually well-versed and impeccably attired Peter Bowles as a lumbering, foul-mouthed, pot-smoking, cockneyfied old timer deserves some credit. Unfortunately he's only in it for the first five or so minutes (he passes out amid a mist of intoxicating weed), and it's therefore left for the younger likes of Phil Daniels, (ace in Quadrophenia) Gary Stretch (Dead Man's Shoes) and co to carry the film to its mortal doom. Freebird is a road movie of sorts that wants to be the British comedy answer to Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider but doesn't have the inspiration, charm or guts to carry any fleeting comparison to that vintage biker film.
Any film that has the balls to cast the usually well-versed and impeccably attired Peter Bowles as a lumbering, foul-mouthed, pot-smoking, cockneyfied old timer deserves some credit. Unfortunately he's only in it for the first five or so minutes (he passes out amid a mist of intoxicating weed), and it's therefore left for the younger likes of Phil Daniels, (ace in Quadrophenia) Gary Stretch (Dead Man's Shoes) and co to carry the film to its mortal doom. Freebird is a road movie of sorts that wants to be the British comedy answer to Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider but doesn't have the inspiration, charm or guts to carry any fleeting comparison to that vintage biker film.
Movie Review: XXY
It’s a tough life being a teenager. One minute you’re a clear- skinned, sweet little bundle of naïve curiosity, the next you’ve got a face like an angry dot to dot, your parents have become inexplicably infuriating, and you want to hump everything in sight even if you’re not quite sure why. Tough indeed, but not quite as tough as having all of those things and being a person of indeterminate gender born with both male and female sexual organs. So not only are you getting the hormonal explosion of one gender, you’re having to deal with all the problems associated with both as well as the lovely people calling you a freak and parents who don’t know what to do. That’s the situation for Alex, anyway- the young lead of this brave Argentinian film from female director Lucia Puenzo.
It’s a tough life being a teenager. One minute you’re a clear- skinned, sweet little bundle of naïve curiosity, the next you’ve got a face like an angry dot to dot, your parents have become inexplicably infuriating, and you want to hump everything in sight even if you’re not quite sure why. Tough indeed, but not quite as tough as having all of those things and being a person of indeterminate gender born with both male and female sexual organs. So not only are you getting the hormonal explosion of one gender, you’re having to deal with all the problems associated with both as well as the lovely people calling you a freak and parents who don’t know what to do. That’s the situation for Alex, anyway- the young lead of this brave Argentinian film from female director Lucia Puenzo.
Movie Review: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The latest project to emerge from the Judd Apatow stable, Forgetting Sarah Marshall has - for UK audiences - one defining aspect that may well put you off seeing the film altogether: Russell Brand is in it. Yes, that Russell Brand - the gurning, repetitive Beetlejuice tribute act who just won't go away no matter how much we pray to Baby Jesus. But... wait. There's more. If you were to avoid the movie because of his appearance, you'd be making a mistake. Why? Well, two reasons. A) Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a well-acted, superbly observed, snort-into-your-popcorn comic romp that intertwines both sharp characterisation and penis gags with winning effect. B) Russell Brand isn't actually that bad in it. No. Seriously.
The latest project to emerge from the Judd Apatow stable, Forgetting Sarah Marshall has - for UK audiences - one defining aspect that may well put you off seeing the film altogether: Russell Brand is in it. Yes, that Russell Brand - the gurning, repetitive Beetlejuice tribute act who just won't go away no matter how much we pray to Baby Jesus. But... wait. There's more. If you were to avoid the movie because of his appearance, you'd be making a mistake. Why? Well, two reasons. A) Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a well-acted, superbly observed, snort-into-your-popcorn comic romp that intertwines both sharp characterisation and penis gags with winning effect. B) Russell Brand isn't actually that bad in it. No. Seriously.
DVD Review: 30 Days Of Night
Just as Samuel L Jackson could star in the biggest box office turd of all time and still come out clean on the other side, so vampire movies can be terminally cack and still stake a place in the hearts of cinemagoers. A case in point is the Blade trilogy that people liked so much we got a TV series full of lunatic plotlines and enough fake fangs to restock the NHS. Heck, even John Carpenter’s Vampires managed two sequels and that had James Woods AND Daniel Baldwin. They’re not all bad though, and while the prospect of a new bloodsucker flick starring master of the middle distance stare Josh Hartnett may not fill your soul with glee, we have some shocking news for you. 30 Days Of Night is actually not that bad.
Just as Samuel L Jackson could star in the biggest box office turd of all time and still come out clean on the other side, so vampire movies can be terminally cack and still stake a place in the hearts of cinemagoers. A case in point is the Blade trilogy that people liked so much we got a TV series full of lunatic plotlines and enough fake fangs to restock the NHS. Heck, even John Carpenter’s Vampires managed two sequels and that had James Woods AND Daniel Baldwin. They’re not all bad though, and while the prospect of a new bloodsucker flick starring master of the middle distance stare Josh Hartnett may not fill your soul with glee, we have some shocking news for you. 30 Days Of Night is actually not that bad.
MOVIE REVIEW: Son Of Rambow
And as Sly Stallone recently shuffled his way back into the red bandana his little-known son is also flexing his muscles this side of the pond in the new film Son of Rambow.
Alas, the muscles flexed here are more the comedic type than steroid-induced tree trunks synonymous with Sly. This, however, presents us with one of the most fresh and surprising British films in years and a must-see film.
The 80s gave birth to many great movie franchises; Ghostbusters, Terminator and The Never Ending Story. Okay, maybe not the last one, but we also got the recently reinvigorated Rambo franchise.
And as Sly Stallone recently shuffled his way back into the red bandana his little-known son is also flexing his muscles this side of the pond in the new film Son of Rambow.
Alas, the muscles flexed here are more the comedic type than steroid-induced tree trunks synonymous with Sly. This, however, presents us with one of the most fresh and surprising British films in years and a must-see film.
Movie Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Since the pitter patter of Hobbit feet was first heard, we’ve been treated to endless fantasy literary adaptations from the good - Harry Potter (Films 3-5), the bad - Chronicles of Narnia, and the scratch your eyes out its so damn ugly - Eragon. So it’s fair to say those furry-footed fucks have a lot to answer for!
We didn’t expect to enjoy The Spiderwick Chronicles and if we’re honest we only went to see it after seeing Seth Rogen’s name in the credits, whose gruff voice and bearish physique has had an effect on us that makes us feel uncomfortable inside. The experience though was enjoyable and had an almost nostalgic feel to the proceedings with a story that happily balances character drama with action and adventure more akin to what we grew up with than most of fantasy stories today that try to outdo the previous offering by enlarging the scope and action.
A part-time photographer’s uncle once said “With great power comes great responsibility.” In Hollywood studio terms this means “With lots of money comes no originality.”
Thus when a genre is successfully reinvented, like the Lord Of The Rings did with fantasy, studios will throw their wads of cash at the nearest fantasy book series hoping to squeeze more milky gold from the supple mass market teat.
Since the pitter patter of Hobbit feet was first heard, we’ve been treated to endless fantasy literary adaptations from the good - Harry Potter (Films 3-5), the bad - Chronicles of Narnia, and the scratch your eyes out its so damn ugly - Eragon. So it’s fair to say those furry-footed fucks have a lot to answer for!
We didn’t expect to enjoy The Spiderwick Chronicles and if we’re honest we only went to see it after seeing Seth Rogen’s name in the credits, whose gruff voice and bearish physique has had an effect on us that makes us feel uncomfortable inside. The experience though was enjoyable and had an almost nostalgic feel to the proceedings with a story that happily balances character drama with action and adventure more akin to what we grew up with than most of fantasy stories today that try to outdo the previous offering by enlarging the scope and action.
Movie Review: Semi-Pro
He attempts to bludgeon the audience into laughter by sheer force of personality. Petulant rants, violent tantrums and hysterical outbursts are what he’s good at and they are here in good measure. Ferrell fans will be delighted, but we can’t help feel we’ve seen this character before.
Man-child Will Ferrell playing an unconventional sportsman and lame lothario may not sound like the most original movie description, but it’s a case of 'if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,' with new movie Semi-Pro.
He attempts to bludgeon the audience into laughter by sheer force of personality. Petulant rants, violent tantrums and hysterical outbursts are what he’s good at and they are here in good measure. Ferrell fans will be delighted, but we can’t help feel we’ve seen this character before.
