I saw Ant Man at the cinema, back when I wasn't blogging much, and just got the disk for Christmas. Like all the best Marvel films it does lend itself to rewatching several times. Because it is funny and exciting, in its own ways.
Probably like many people who saw this film, I didn't know the character beforehand. I've read a lot of comics, but not seen much of him. I remember the name Hank Pym. But I recall him being referred to in the past tense mostly, or as someone who was off looking for something somewhere else.
But then I hadn't heard of The Guardians of the Galaxy either and that made a pretty damn good film.
All the news about Ant Man before the film was released seemed to be about how the writing was a mess because of changes to the team during development. But I didn't see any of that in the final film. It seems to hold together nicely to me. The tone is consistent throughout.
I liked the comedy elements. The action scenes were quite distinctive, since this is a character with pretty unique powers. And it was a nice touch tying in to The Avengers as they did.
Michael Douglas is great as the old Ant Man. Paul Rudd is great as the new Ant Man. Evangeline Lilly is going to be awesome as The Wasp in films to come.
The bad guy is whats-his-name from House Of Cards. Boo hiss. Yes, decent baddie.
Estranged wife and child; cop step-dad; comedy gold partners in almost victim-less crimes.
OK, so it doesn't stand up to a lot of analysis. But it is a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. If this is the weakest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe then that's only because the other films are so brilliant... (and it is better than at least The Incredible Hulk and Thor 2 in my opinion).
Saturday, 26 December 2015
Chappie (2015) review
There have been several good AI films out over the last few years. Chappie isn't one of them.
It does have a few good things going for it. The Chappie character himself is quite engaging and I found him quite compelling... a robot learning fast from his environment.
But the story is clunky at best. And what is Hugh Jackman doing here? His character is just... well... crap. Not that the other human characters are much better, his is just the worst.
So I watched through to the end, despite the clunky story. And then the end is just ridiculous. It didn't have to be. There were plenty of decent endings that could have finished it off OK. But no; they had to go with one of the dumbest conclusions of all time.
What a let-down.
This is an annoying film, because it could easily have been better. Whoever came up with that ending ruined the film. It was nearly OK. And yet I find myself feeling like the makers completely let themselves down, let their families down, and their friends, and their pets, and their friends pets, and their friends pets friends.
It does have a few good things going for it. The Chappie character himself is quite engaging and I found him quite compelling... a robot learning fast from his environment.
But the story is clunky at best. And what is Hugh Jackman doing here? His character is just... well... crap. Not that the other human characters are much better, his is just the worst.
So I watched through to the end, despite the clunky story. And then the end is just ridiculous. It didn't have to be. There were plenty of decent endings that could have finished it off OK. But no; they had to go with one of the dumbest conclusions of all time.
What a let-down.
This is an annoying film, because it could easily have been better. Whoever came up with that ending ruined the film. It was nearly OK. And yet I find myself feeling like the makers completely let themselves down, let their families down, and their friends, and their pets, and their friends pets, and their friends pets friends.
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Merry Christmas
It's been a strange year for me. I got myself into a good place mid-year and then totally fell apart again. Sometimes it is worrying when things seem to be going too well... because it usually means there is a fall coming. A quiet boring life sounds so good sometimes.
Christmas has been a hard time in recent years. Partly because Jo and I got together just before Christmas 2001, but mostly because four years after she died I still get cards addressed to both of us. You know, the ones you get from distant relatives that you never see... but your late mum once told about your wedding in a circular or something.
I guess I could find their addresses and tell them. Since I haven't sent anyone cards for years, I was hoping they would just stop coming to me too... but they haven't... yet.
In some ways, I think I secretly like getting them. It's a reminder that doesn't feel self-indulgent. A bit like my mum taking a holly wreath up to my dad's grave every Christmas.
So.
I have friends coming round tomorrow. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.
Christmas has been a hard time in recent years. Partly because Jo and I got together just before Christmas 2001, but mostly because four years after she died I still get cards addressed to both of us. You know, the ones you get from distant relatives that you never see... but your late mum once told about your wedding in a circular or something.
I guess I could find their addresses and tell them. Since I haven't sent anyone cards for years, I was hoping they would just stop coming to me too... but they haven't... yet.
In some ways, I think I secretly like getting them. It's a reminder that doesn't feel self-indulgent. A bit like my mum taking a holly wreath up to my dad's grave every Christmas.
So.
I have friends coming round tomorrow. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.
Exit (2006) review
I was baffled by this Swedish film. Mads Mikkelsen's character is hard to fathom. And he's not very likeable. So when things start to go awry in his life the story has to carry you along; because Thomas isn't someone you find yourself rooting for.
And it does carry you, for a while.
But even though this is only a shortish film (100 mins) it lost me before the end. I really didn't care who had done what to who, for how much money, and who was going to win.
Of course I thought Thomas would probably win; but also that there might be a twist. Unfortunately the story just isn't compelling enough to make you care about the ending.
Rich people screwing each other over for a few million here and there, when they have billions, is just depressing... not entertaining or interesting.
And it does carry you, for a while.
But even though this is only a shortish film (100 mins) it lost me before the end. I really didn't care who had done what to who, for how much money, and who was going to win.
Of course I thought Thomas would probably win; but also that there might be a twist. Unfortunately the story just isn't compelling enough to make you care about the ending.
Rich people screwing each other over for a few million here and there, when they have billions, is just depressing... not entertaining or interesting.
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Wow! I have waited so long for another good Star Wars film and this is it at last.
I saw the original trilogy when they first came out. Star Wars in 1977 was the first film I remember going to see at the cinema. I saw the Special Edition in 1997 and was blown away to see it as an adult on the big screen again.
That was before the dark times; before the prequels.
But now the prequels have been defeated and cinema goers can look forward to the future again.
I won't be including any spoilers here because I worked hard to avoid them myself before seeing the film and know that many people haven't been able to see it yet.
So this isn't going to be a review, more an expression of relief that Star Wars is back and an offer of congratulations to everyone involved in making it.
The movie exactly captured the spirit of the original trilogy (which I re-watched back-to-back the day before seeing the new movie). Every detail looks right and I only had a couple of minor plot quibbles, which I will cover in a review later.
So. Woohoo. Star Wars.
I saw the original trilogy when they first came out. Star Wars in 1977 was the first film I remember going to see at the cinema. I saw the Special Edition in 1997 and was blown away to see it as an adult on the big screen again.
That was before the dark times; before the prequels.
But now the prequels have been defeated and cinema goers can look forward to the future again.
I won't be including any spoilers here because I worked hard to avoid them myself before seeing the film and know that many people haven't been able to see it yet.
So this isn't going to be a review, more an expression of relief that Star Wars is back and an offer of congratulations to everyone involved in making it.
The movie exactly captured the spirit of the original trilogy (which I re-watched back-to-back the day before seeing the new movie). Every detail looks right and I only had a couple of minor plot quibbles, which I will cover in a review later.
So. Woohoo. Star Wars.
Jupiter Ascending
Every now and then a film comes along that reminds you that you can't predict a film's quality based on the sum of its parts. On paper Jupiter Ascending should be good. It is written, produced and directed by the Wachowski people; it has a cast that includes some of my favourite actors; and a stellar digital effects team.
But it is crap.
There are great space ships, great creatures, great all sorts of things. But as a whole it adds up to nothing. The story gives nothing. Makes you feel nothing. It is an entirely pointless film.
How did this film ever get completed? Surely at some point someone must have thought "Er, hang on guys, this is a bit shit isn't it?"
Is it a kind of Emperor's New Clothes situation? Where everyone knows they are making something rubbish but no-one dares to speak up. Surely the actors can't have read the script and thought "Oh, that sounds good". Surely they can't. Surely.
What... a... stinker!
It's almost worth a watch just to see how talented people can still go badly wrong. Just don't pay much for the privilege; we don't want to encourage them to waste more time on sequels...
But it is crap.
There are great space ships, great creatures, great all sorts of things. But as a whole it adds up to nothing. The story gives nothing. Makes you feel nothing. It is an entirely pointless film.
How did this film ever get completed? Surely at some point someone must have thought "Er, hang on guys, this is a bit shit isn't it?"
Is it a kind of Emperor's New Clothes situation? Where everyone knows they are making something rubbish but no-one dares to speak up. Surely the actors can't have read the script and thought "Oh, that sounds good". Surely they can't. Surely.
What... a... stinker!
It's almost worth a watch just to see how talented people can still go badly wrong. Just don't pay much for the privilege; we don't want to encourage them to waste more time on sequels...
Ragnarok - The Viking Apocalypse
This just didn't work for me. It was formulaic and just cliché after cliché. Which was a real shame because the beginning was very promising. Unfortunately the first scene isn't just a taster of things to come; instead it gives away the only "surprise" that the film has to offer.
There are decent performances from the cast, but the story is too weak to save.
There are decent performances from the cast, but the story is too weak to save.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)