This Is The End!!!!

This Is The End.

When american comdys come to our screens we expect them to either be funny or just downright stupid and pointless to the point it's funny because it's so awful. But luckily for This Is The End it turns out that this is a comedy that at times balances itself rather nicely between the two. 

A parody of the Hollywood actors lifestyle we at first see Seth Rogen playing himself waiting at the airport for his friend Jay Baruchel who has flown in to spend some time with him playing video games, smoking drugs, drinking and having a good time. With Rogen suggesting they go to James Franco's new house for a party the guys head off for the celebrity filled party to party all night and have a good time. Arriving at the party the other main characters of the film arrive, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and a late riser Danny McBride all join the group. 

With other celebs thrown into the mix, a rather coked up Michael Cera who slaps Rihanna's arse, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Christoph Mintz-Plasse, Mindy Kaling and the British beauty Emma Watson. It is a massive mix of other comedy style actors who if only to be on screen for a few minutes to be killed off is a nice addition. 

As a massive earthquake takes place and beams of light strike the ground and take people up to the clouds above the group try to work out what has happened. Theories of a zombie apocalypse, the apocalypse and the four horseman, an alien invasion and the end of the world all ideas are thrown out there. Trying to survive on the little food they have they venture outside James Francos house to find other people, food and water to survive but soon enough they have to leave and see what really has happened to the world. 

As the group venture outside all manner of stupid things happen to the group as one by one they all find their way to escape the destruction of Earth. As giant monsters with massive dicks are shown on screen, demon possession, to the end credits of the group dancing with a well known US boy band the film has everything, laughs, WTF moments and utterly stupid moments as well. 

A great comedy film that looks at what celebrity's in Hollywood would do if faced with the end of the world and the comedic things they would get up to. With plenty of comedic actors making their appearance in the film it utilises them all and I have to say Michael Cera even if he's not a main character is just hilarious and has some stand out scenes at the start of the film. Directed by Seth Rogen you can see he had some major input into the film and definitely brought out the best in all the actors involved. 

For anyone who liked Pineapple Express, Superbad, Hot Tub Time Machine, Knocked Up or any major comedy release film starring any of the actors mentioned then you will truly love this film.

6/10.

Spring Breakers!!!!

Spring Breakers.

The latest film release from acclaimed director of Kids and Gummo, Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers is shown to be a cornucopia of drink, party's, drugs and the sordid and explicit world of Spring Break for many college students in the United States.

Set in the state of Florida it shows four friends Candy (Vanessa Hudgens), Faith (Selena Gomez), Brit (Ashley Benson) and Cotty (Rachel Korine) who all want to go and party for spring break instead of being stuck in their dorm accommodation on campus. But as the girls put all their money together they realise they don't have enough money so they take drastic action. Holding up and robbing a local diner they finally have enough money to go to Florida for SPRING BREAK.

As the girls get into Florida the drinks start to flow and the party's happen the girls get pulled into the party world. As the party's get wilder they soon enough are arrested for drug possession with no way out of jail and no money for bail.

Soon enough the girls are bailed out by local gangster/rapper Alien (James Franco), a guy who befriends the girls and offers them the chance to have a time of their lives. As Alien brags about his guns, drugs and money and as he puts it the fact he has "Scarface on RE-peat" he is a crazy over the top guy.

With the girls being sucked into Alien's mad and crazy drink, drug and violence filled world they start working for him. Donning pink balaclavas and matching bikinis they join Alien in robbing and terrorising other local drug dealers. As the girls question their intentions of what they expected of Spring Break to what is unfolding in front of them they question their actions. Will the girls ever leave Florida and Alien's lifestyle, what will become of the friendship with him and between themselves?

The film is a vibrant neon drink and party filled world showing a coming of age story of the girls lives. Of course with the two Disney starletts Hudgens and Gomez starring in the film they both show a more adult, wilder and explicit characters not seen before. James Franco is un-recognisable in the film as Alien with corn-rolled hair and some metal grills on his teeth he plays the gangster/rapper perfectly and brings an almost at times ludicrous over the top character to life so well.

A great addition to director Harmony Korine's filmography and has to be said his best film by far. The opening scenes of the film with the aptly fitting Spring Break music from Skrillex it shows drinks in full flow, topless girls and explicit drinking games and shows just exactly what the film is about. The party scenes are shocking, full of alcohol, drugs and sex and portrays Spring Break perfectly.

In the end the film comes down to this, we as British people are reserved about sex and debauchery and avoid talking about such things so this film would be seen as not our cup of tea. If Spring Breakers was a cup of tea it'd contain 80% alcohol and 20% cocaine and be accompanied by a massive spliff with some Skrillex blasting in the background.

7/10.

Oz the Great and Powerful!!!!

Oz the Great and Powerful.

Oz the Great and Powerful sees the return of director Sam Raimi after a short hiatus from mainstream film making after his Spiderman franchise was cancelled and re-booted with a different director. But that's in the past and what he has created here is what is described as a prequel to the original 'Wizard of Oz' film released in 1939.

Starting out just like the original 'Wizard Of Oz' in black and white you see a carnival setting in Kansas as Oscar "Oz" Diggs (James Franco) and his associate Frank (Zach Braff) are performing a magic act. Soon enough Oscar is in trouble and ends up flying away in a hot air balloon, heading for the centre of a tornado he's blown around and around and eventually ends up in a colourful land,OZ.

Stranded in a whole new world Oscar meets the first witch of the film Theodora (Mila Kunis), she believes him to be the great wizard who has come to take the throne in the land of Oz. As he ventures to the great emerald city Theodora slowly falls for Oz, reaching the city at last he meets the second witch Evanora (Rachel Weisz). While he speaks to Evanora he is told that the wicked witch lies west of the Emerald City and he has to break her wand to rid her of her powers. As he picks up two companions along his travels, a flying monkey Finley (voice by Zach Braff) and China Girl (voice by Joey King) he eventually comes face to face with the third witch Glinda (Michelle Williams). 

As Oz meets Glinda he finds out what is really happening in Oz and who is really the evil witch of the three of them. Oz must then work with the the people of Oz to rid the land of the Wicked Witch and become the great wizard that he is destined to become. But will he succeed in his adventure and will the land of Oz finally be free of the Wicked Witch?

Overall it has to be said in my opinion that the film is visually absolutely stunning, the special effects used to create the vast visuals of the land of Oz and the Emerald City are stunning and make it feel fresh and interesting. The storyline of the film is good but at points you can easily work out what will happen next and especially if you've seen the 1939 you can work out how Oz makes his final presence made to the people of Oz.

As far as the actors go James Franco I feel is just a little bit too sleezy he comes across as a creepy, sleezy over the top magician but to me James took it that bit "too" far. Mila Kunis in the first half of the film is great and brings an innocence to the character of Theodora, then in the second half she turns into an over the top character with the same formulaeic traits you'd expect from a witch. Rachel Weisz stands out as she portrays Evanora perfectly and is able to convey two sides to her character well. Michelle Williams as Glinda brings a bright bubbly character to the story and she does well to portray her innocence and kindness to everything in Oz.

As a stand alone film you can see what attracts people to it as it has the visuals, the well known actors and it's set in the land of Oz loved by many people. It's an ok prequel to the original 'Wizrd of Oz' film and clears up the storyline of how the wizard became to be in the land of Oz. For me as an older movie goer I found it didn't sit quite well with me which is a shame as it could have wowed me but it didn't. A great kids film that no doubt will have kids and fans of Oz flocking to the cinema to see this film. 

6/10.