The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug!!!!

The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug.

It has to be said The Lord Of The Rings trilogy of films was a massive success and many a Tolkien fan rejoiced at the films and finally saw the books on a big screen. Peter Jackson was of course to decide to adapt this time round The Hobbit book, with the news that he was to spread the film across three films and also add characters of his own creation fans were sceptical.

Second time round and we see the story continue with the dwarves and hobbit carry on their journey to the lonely mountain to slay the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). As the group continue their journey they venture into places that they shouldn't go and get into all sorts of situations. 

Being chased by giant spiders and getting caught up in their giant webs, floating down a river in wooden barrels fighting off Azog's orc's with the help of the elves, to  escpaing from the Woodland realm of the Elves the small dwarf group get into different predicaments. 

Of course Gandalf has his own small quest as well to speak with Radaghast and find out what is going on in the old ruins, finding a darkness he soon enough sees the all seeing firey one eye of Sauron. I obviously have to mention the hobbit in this story Bilbo, having found the one ring he toys with it and soon learns of its power of making him invisible and something he can use against Smaug. Entering the mountain you see the interaction between the two and how Smaug can see the hobbit even with the on ring. 

Back story's of Laketown and Bard the Bowman and his role within the movie comes clear and no doubt you will see him in a more important role in the third film. An added thread in the film is of course adding Legolas and a new character called Tauriel is something interesting and to show a love triangle situation between those two and a dwarf is interesting. 

The action comes thick and fast in the film and it covers alot of ground and locations which keeps the film fresh and interesting. Splitting the film into what is at times two storylines, that of Bilbo and the group and Gandalf and Radaghast I liked as again it kept things interesting and gave an insight into what is yet to come. 

I felt the love triangle and adding Legolas to the film had no real impact, he ran about with his bow and arrow, killed a few orcs along the way and then drifted off which was not very good. Showing Beorn and also Bard to bowman was a great decision as many Tolkien fans will know Bard's real involvement with the book. Smaug is of course massive and certainly a force to be reconned with and Bilbo definitely has alot of work to do in order to help the Dwarves reclaim their home.

The only downside I found was that the film was a little bit long and for a younger audience they certainly would drift and maybe at times get bored. For any Tolkien fans this will be something to rejoice over as it is the second installment of a popular classic book loved by many. 

With the third and final film to come at the end of the year it will definitely be something everyone will want to see, especially anyone in the Tolkien fandom. 

8/10.

Nebraska!!!!

Nebraska.

The latest film from director Alexander Payne (The Descendants, About Schmidt) sees him cover the subject of an ageing man with onset dementia set on going to Lincoln, Nebraska to get his one million dollars. 

Woody (Bruce Dern) wanders the highways trying to walk to Nebraska but is always picked up by the Police, David (Will Forte) is Woody's son and receives countless phonecalls about his father being picked up at the side of the road. With his mother Kate (June Squibb) pretty much leaving him to it and saying "he never told me he wanted to be a millionaire" they have a ageing style marriage.

David soon decides to let his father have his way and he decides to drive him to Nebraska to show him that it is nothing but a scam. On their way there Woody has a fall and the pair detour to their old town in which they used to live, Hawthorne. While there they bump into and meet a whole bunch of people Woody knows, his old business partner, old friends, old flames of his past and of course his family who have stayed in Hawthorne. 

With the news of Woody winning a million dollars word gets around and soon enough they all start coming out of the woodwork asking for money. People saying that they're owed a certain ammount of money and then family members also asking for money in which they gave to Woody back when he was an alcoholic. 

Soon enough Kate arrives and becomes the wife she has always been, defending Woody and fighting his battles for him she confronts the family members and tells them where to go. Humiliated by the locals and his old friends and family David tries to convince his dad that it is a complete scam but he is having none of it. 

Arriving into Nebraska the pair finally learn if Woody has really won a million dollars and will he be able to drive back through Hawthorne with his head held high?.

The film for me is really impressive but also really funny in its own quirky way, the subject matter is simple yet allows for characters and situations to come through so easily. Situations with quick whip lines between family members and how family members interact after being apart for so long are covered in a funny way. Bruce Dern was made to play the role of Woody as he plays him with such ease, at times you feel like your watching a documentary of a real life situation and this film could really happen as well. June Squibb is perfect as the wife and mother Kate as she brings her own humour to the film but also is a perfect wife and mother defending her husband who you can see she puts up with all the time. 

The humour and comedy in the film is perfect, from long pauses and stupid glances at the dinner table to a scene where Woody and all his brothers are sat watching TV it's funny but so real and relevant today. The stupidity of family members who also get sucked into the scam has the "I told you so" moments for David. Shots of the vast landscape show how desolate and unpopulated the areas are in which they travel and also live and let you know the towns are small and everyone knows everyone. 

One theme I saw was acceptance, acceptance of each others situations and that at times you have to accept who your family is no matter what situation their in. Learning to see who your real family and friends are and realising what you had and what you have now as well. 

For me it's one of the best comedy's of the year and from a seasoned professional like Alexander Payne who we can say has made yet another great film that no doubt will be in many category's come award season.

10/10.

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom!!!!

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

All I will say is that I cannot review this film as it is a subject and film that everyone should go and watch, not for the acting or the direction or for the actors in the film but to learn about the great man that is Nelson Mandela. 

Watch the film to learn about the life, trials, tribulations, redemption and inspiration that is Nelson Mandela and the inspiration and peace he brought to South Africa and to the world. Please watch this film with open eyes and go and read the book of the same title as you will be fully informed of the true spirit and life of an inspiration that the world has sadly lost. 

RIP Nelson Mandela.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty!!!!

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.

I'll admit I'm not a big Ben Stiller fan, I never liked Zoolander, I got bored of Tropic Thunder and I didn't laugh at Dodgeball but this time round I was seriously impressed with Ben Stiller. A film that revolves around a man Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) who daydreams on a daily basis and imagines different scenarios happening in real life it works really well.

Working for LIFE magazine Walter is what he calls the 'negative asset manager' which involves him processing all the photographers negatives to be used in the issues of LIFE magazine. As the news comes through that the magazine is to be closed down in favour of a more online presence Walter and his fellow colleagues are in limbo as to what will happen. With the final issue being made, a final photo has been sent in by famous photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) to be used for the last front cover but Walter can't find it. 

Fantasising a relationship with the new girl in the office Cheryl (Kristin Wiig) and member of the dating website eHarmony he finally strikes up a conversation with her. Helping Walter out to track Sean down she says he is in Iceland and so Walter must decide what to do, stay in the office and not get the last photo or go out of his comfort zone and fly to find Sean. 

With cut scenes of his daydreaming/zone out scenes where different things take place you see a small part of Walter's mind. Deciding to go and find Sean Walter puts himself in various different dangerous situations that he has to keep questioning if it is real or if it's inside his head. Finally realising he has to live his life outside of his head and make these things happen he soon enough gets the confidence that he has always wanted but does he find Sean and get that final photo?

For me this film was a triumph because I can kind of relate to Walter in certain aspects, I daydream and sometimes talk to myself and make up scenarios that I wish would happen. I literally lost and immersed myself in the film and just drifted into Walter's world and I loved it because it was nothing too funny but it was sincere and respectful for daydreamers of the world. The special effects add to the daydream/zone out scenes and really make them feel really real and even though they're over the top they could happen inside anyone's head. 

Stiller I thought wouldn't fit the role as this is a more serious role and film for him to direct but he suits serious and he plays him with ease as well. Starting out as a organised and very routine orientated man he learns more about life and he finally ends up a more confident and full wholesome person, just to show life outside your head can just be as good. Wiig and Penn add to the film and bring in characters who try to push Walter as much as possible and also give him hope in life to do what he wants. 

Critics may not like this film too much and it has had mixed reviews but for me the critics who enjoy it are the daydreamers, the dreamers, the creative people, the people who zone out as well. For any daydreamers of the world then please go and see this film, become immersed, zone out and just enjoy Walter's world as you will love it, just like I did.

10/10.

Carrie!!!!

Carrie.

Horror re-makes are something that has been quite popular recently, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Evil Dead and now here Carrie has it's own re-make/re-imagining. Of course we all remember the Brian De Palma original from 1976 that saw a demure little girl go to prom and unleash her telekinetic powers. This re-make is something that obviously follows in the same vein as the original but with a few added little tweaks and changes to keep up to date. 

Starring as Carrie (Chloe Grace Moretz) we see her this time in a water polo game, the outcast and near the side of the pool she eventually hits the ball straight into a girls face. Back in the changing room and this time the girls are alot more covered up Carrie experiences her first period and mistakenly screams that she is dying. The girls in tern throw sanitary products at her while one of the girl films Carrie's misfortune on her mobile phone which later on will be posted onto YouTube. 

As Carrie starts to notice these strange things she can do she decides to research her telekinetic powers, reading books in the library and watching videos on YouTube she learns about what she can and can't do. With the girls who bullied and taunted her being punished one girl Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde) feels bad for what she did to Carrie and asks her boyfriend Billy Nolan (Alex Russell) to take her to prom. 

Of course Carrie has the constant struggle with her very devout religious mother Margaret White (Julianne Moore) who says she should have killed her at birth. Locking her in a cupboard under the stairs and telling her to pray she does nothing but scare her daughter. 

With Carrie deciding to go to prom she makes her own dress and goes against her mothers word "they'll all laugh at you" is the only words she gets from her mother. Of course her fellow school bully and now banned from prom Chris (Portia Doubleday) is hatching her revenge on Carrie by putting a bucket of blood up above the stage to pour all over Carrie and humiliate her even more.

For people who have seen the original we all know what happens, Carrie is covered in blood and she

 soon enough exacts her revenge on everyone who had laughed, taunted, maimed or given her false hope. Bodies fly across the room, fires erupt and alot of people are killed in her mad fit of telekinetic rage. She also goes after Chris and her boyfriend and in a clever new way she gets her final revenge. 

For a re-make it isn't too bad, it has the blood filled deaths that we all expected and being 2013 the CGI and special effects are used to make them look more sinister and impressive. Chloe Grace Moretz for me didn't look too demure enough and this isn't to criticise her natural size she could have been alot slimmer and look more vulnerable. She does look alot more menacing with the upwards glare you can see the evil in her eye which is not what Carrie was she was an innocent girl with scary new powers who just wanted to fit into society. The odd little tweaks of how a mobile phone video is posted of Carrie on YouTube brings the film more up to date with current times which is good.

The film went with the tact of having Julianne Moore being more psychotic, bashing her head against the wall, stabbing herself in the leg, scratching her wrists till they bled she was more menacing. To me this was a great idea as it shows the ferocity in the mother and the determination she went too to protect her only daughter. 

Overall a good re-make that could have been so much more if it had changed and made it alot more appealing. For anyone that hasn't seen the original then you will love it as a standalone psychological style film for anyone else who HAS seen the original be ready to grumble and constantly compare the two.

7/10.