Top Ten Movies of 2013!!!!

Top 10 Movies of 2013!!!!

So let me back track just a little bit to New Years Eve 2012 where I said I'd see as many films as possible in 2013 and review them all as well. Well I have kind of succeeded in this task, I have seen in total as of last year 66 films at the cinema. I have reviewed around 62 of those films with just four more reviews to finish off. 

It has been a great year for film and I know I could list so many other films I wanted to see but either couldn't find a cinema close enough to see or just didn't have time. I've seen massive epic special effect films like Gravity, Thor: The Dark World, Pacific Rim, The Wolverine and I have seen quirky impressive independent films like Short Term 12, Drinking Buddies, Ain't Them Bodies Saint's, You're Next and many many more. 

So out of the 66 films I have seen this year which ones have made my top ten. Well I have decided to just list the films and not put them in 1-10 order as they're all impressive films in their own way. 

So here goes:

Stoker: What was to be Park Chan-Wook's (director of Oldboy) first English spoken film in my eyes is a cinematic masterclass. The story of a family torn apart by the death of a father and the arrival of a mysterious uncle who has an interest in the daughter. Subtle hints of a different underlying theme was clever and made the film one to really think and talk about. Scenes that blend together so fluidly and of course the strong yet at times weird performances from Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode make it an impressive film.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brjtL-2kE9A

Zero Dark Thirty: A film that touched upon one of the many hailed triumphs for the United States of America, the hunting down and killing of Osama Bin Laden the then most wanted terrorist in the world. Set in Pakistan it shows the story of agent Maya who works tirelessly for years to track him down. Fast paced scenes of chases and information coming in it shows the meticulous intelligence work that the agents go through day by day. Bomb attacks and random shootings show how dangerous Pakistan can be and what can happen when the agents get deeper and deeper into the terrorists world. Juxtaposing for the last quarter the film it slows right down, a single night vision view is shown as your right in the thick of the siege on the compound. In my eyes it is one of 2013's biggest successes and a well deserved Oscar/BAFTA Nomination for Jessica Chastain's portrayal of Maya.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxC_JNz5Vbg

Short Term 12: This has to be one film this year that really took me by surprise and really did hit me emotionally as it is an exquisite film. The story of a foster home called Short Term 12 it shows a place for troubled teens looked after by Grace (Brie Larson) and her boyfriend Mason. Focusing on two particular teens Jayden a self harmer who respects no-one and Marcus who is just  turning 18 and ready to leave the foster home. Three scenes in particular with Marcus and Jayden will hit you right in the stomach and in an instant raise your spirits right back up. Strong performances by Brie Larson, Keith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever make it an impressive film and bring out characters you really feel for and go along with on their individual emotional journeys.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QxAYxNRgs

Gravity: Visually stunning, amazing, incredible, their are so many words to describe this film, four and a half years in the making Alfonso Cuaron and his son Juan have made an unforgetable film. As the Hubble Telescope is hit by flying debris Ryan (Sandra Bullock) and Matt (George Clooney) are hurtled into outerspace and are thrown into the darkness. Both of them try to survive and make it back to Earth but at what cost?. The film is in my eyes amazing, it disorientates, makes you breath fast and at times causes motion sickness which is something you don't get from other films. I have to mention the special effects as when you watch it you think it's real documentary footage but it's not, an incredible film everyone should go and see and in 3D.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4

  

Nebraska: The latest film from director Alexander Payne and it sees the most simplest and yet endearing stories to hit the screen this year. An ageing man with onset dementia Woddy Grant (Bruce Dern) receives a scam letter in the post saying he has won a million dollars and needs to go to Lincoln, Nebraska to receiver his winnings. Constantly picked up by the police who spot him walking along the main roads his son David (Will Forte) soon enough caves in and decides to drive him to Nebraska. Diverting to their hometown of Hawthorne you see how his close family including his brothers and his old friends treat him when they learn he has a million dollars. It's the warm sentiment, little quips and reactions of the characters that make you laugh so much. Another great film from Payne it will no doubt see Bruce Dern, June Squibb and Payne nominated for multiple awards come awards season.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT5tqPojMtg

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty: A late entry to the list and still in cinemas this film really made me smile and just sucked me right into the film. Directed and starring Ben Stiller I wasn't too keen at first but this is a more serious role for Stiller and he really impressed me. Walter Mitty is a man who lives a normal life but zones out and imagines things that could happen inside his head. Threatened with losing his job and having to find photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) for the photo for the last copy of LIFE magazine Walter goes off on an adventure. Walter soon learns to live his life to the full and stop living inside his head, doing things he would never usually do he gains the confidence he has always wanted. Stiller is perfect as a more serious actor and certainly impresses behind the camera as a director. A warm, life affirming and entertaining film for all the daydreamers of the world.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Xk-yTuFEU

You're Next: Now some people will be confused as to why I have put this into my top ten and my reasons are quite valid. Advertised as a horror, home invasion film it shows a family being picked off one by one by masked invaders. But the film has a brilliant little twist to it which surprised me and definitely made the film alot more interesting. As a lone girl fights back she turns out to be the saving grace for the family and their only way to survive. To be honest I found the film to be a really black comedy film as the way in which people are killed had me in pieces with laughter and I'm not saying I have a twisted sense of humour. For anyone who likes the home invasion, threat style film with a lone blonde girl fighting back and want a big laugh then check it out.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufUQWpEkbf0

Pacific Rim: I have to admit I am biased at times when it comes to films and for me this is in my top ten because I am a massive Guillermo Del Toro fan. His first directorial film in almost five years it has him return in fine form with a giant robot VS Kaiju monster film. With earth under threat the jaeger program is formed to defend the world against the giant monster invaders. Raleigh and Mako drift to pilot Gypsy Danger and fight back for one last time to rid the world of the Kaiju monsters. I followed this film through production photos leading up to its release and to see GDT back on fine form with this style of film made me smile immensely. Looking at the making of book with the artwork and the meticulous design that went into the film really made the film stand out for me. A giant monster VS giant robot film directed by a giant director and artist in the fantasy film genre.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag

The Way Way Back: This was a hard film to choose as I wanted a comedy that really stood out and I have seen many comedys this year that have impressed. None more so than this one, Duncan a young boy dragged along to his mothers boyfriends holiday retreat he is out of place and has no friends at all. Finding by accident the local water park he gets himself a job and soon enough he starts to have fun and enjoy himself. Having to contend with the ups and downs of his mothers relationship and also having to learn to grow himself he learns alot about life and what to get out of it. The film is written, directed and also stars Nat Faxon and Jim Rash who bring out the funniest parts of the characters but also leave the charm in their to see as well. A really funny film that has a big massive heart in the middle of it and lets people know that life is what you make it and to not let anyone drag you down. Out on DVD now and in shops to buy for anyone who likes The Descendants, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine then check this film out NOW.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwNo1i3jkCo

Ain't Them Bodies Saints: A Bonnie and Clydeesque film that for me brought in the styles and workings of many other impressive directors. Set in southern USA you follow the story of a outlaw couple who survive by stealing and hiding out in an abandoned house. As they both give themselves up in a shoot out at the house he goes to jail and she ends up alone in a house and has to bring up their unborn first child. As he breaks out of jail and goes on the run the film turns its attentions to her relationship with the local police officer who takes a liking to her but will this happiness last?. The film for me is a triumph as the cinematography and visual imagery in the scenes is very Terrence Malick it has that use of light and beauty that is brought out on screen and makes it staggering to watch. Also the use of sound be it the long silence or the sound of crickets in the background it just transports you right into the heart of Texas. A visual treat that has strong performances from Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck and yet has the substance script wise to bring a lost souls style sentiment.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0c0v-stK0

So this is my top ten list of films for 2013 and I hope anyone who reads this has either seen a few of them or at least goes out and watches them at some point. I wanted to create a list that is diverse and doesn't have the obvious films you would expect. 2014 is turning out to be yet another big year in film and with awards season starting up quite soon it will be interesting to see who takes what award this year. So for you all I hope you had a great film filled 2013 and have an awesome time this year in 2014 for yet more great films to come. 

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

I have to admit I wasn't one of the people who at first got the whole appeal when it came to the first Anchorman film, I didn't and I'm not the biggest Will Ferrell fan either. But I did find the first film really funny when I did get round to watching it and so I was interested to see where the characters were now and what they could get up to. 

Following on from the first film we see Ron Burgundy presenting with his wife Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), fired because of incompetence and stupidity Ron  is soon enough a down and out. Struggling to make a living, being fired from Sea World and with the original news team now split up they all have their own lives. Ron (Will Ferrell) is jobless, Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) is the top cat photographer, Champ Kind (David Koechner) owns a chicken restaraunt and Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) is dead but not really dead. 

Recruited by a new 24 hour news channel GNN (Global News Network) the newsteam start off at the bottom again doing the midnight shift. Deciding to show people what they want to watch instead of what they need to watch the news team are a massive success and are soon enough back on top. 

The film in my eyes takes a stupid turn and it goes off into ridiculous territory, going blind, nursing a shark called Doby and finally a celebrity packed final showdown of various other news anchors it becomes stupid. I have to say to me it felt more of a Brick film, the best and most funniest scenes are the ones where he is on screen and especially his relationship with Chani (Kristen Wiig). Both of them bring forward the at times strange, demented yet funny characters that steal the whole film and would have been better with just those two. 

The storyline for me was just too flaky and it wasn't linear enough, a feeling that their must have been ALOT of footage filmed for the movie and only the best was kept and alot of fat was trimmed off. Ferrell is of course great as Burgundy but lines like "by the beard of Zeus" and many others we have seen before from the first film and feels stale. For any devout Anchorman fans they will love seeing their fave characters back on screen but for me it just felt all too seen it before and not enough original material. No doubt we'll see an Anchorman 3 and maybe a 4th but lets hope some new material is brought in.

5/10.

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.

The Family!!!!

The Family.

Robert De Niro is obviously known in the world of films for playing gangsters, two most poignant films being in The Godfather II as Vito Corleone and then Jimmy Conway in Goodfella's. Both parts were to gain him BAFTA and Oscar nominations in which he took the Oscar for his role in The Godfather Part II, it's safe to say he is one of the screens best gangsters. But it has to be said that De Niro has lowered his guard with this film as it has all the hints of being a good gangsters film but in the end it just feels flat and bland which is a shame. 

Starting out by telling the story of the Manzoni family you see Giovanni (Robert De Niro) being blown away by a sabotaged barbecue. Driving down a country lane Giovanni and his family, wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer), son Warren (John D'Leo) and daughter Belle (Dianna Agron) are looking for their new home in Normandy, France. Relocated yet again the family have been placed into witness protection after Giovanni decided to tell on his own mod family and have mob boss Don Luchese arrested and imprisoned.

As the family try to settle in things don't go according to plan, Giovanni hospitalising the local plumber, Warren embezzling and blackmailing students, Belle fighting off sleezey boys and Maggie blowing up the local store. The family is of course looked after by FBI agent Stansfield (Tommy Lee Jones) who is tired of relocating the family and just wants them to all "blend in" but to no avail. 

Soon enough the family are tracked down and Don Luchese's hired men arrive in town and set out to take out the whole family and leave no-one alive. With the family split up and their lives in jeopardy their going to have to work together as a family and use their killer instincts to survive.

The film is ok but is honestly nothing more than a entertaining gangster style comedy film, it could have been alot better but it just seems to skim over the characters and finishes too abruptly and quickly. De Niro you can tell will take any role involving a gangster to get viewers to pick up some of his better older films like Goodfellas. This has to be Luc Besson at his most complacent and feels like he is just making the film to entertain and not really bring anything new to the table. 

Pfeiffer, Agron and D'Leo are all good and add to the film in their own way but they don't impress and only add to the fast paced moving storyline.  The action is fast and slick but again it moves along just too quickly, leaving you satisfied it doesn't have you guessing and feeling you've seen something new and impressive. 

Overall a nice action film that if you want to watch and have on in the background you can do as even if you miss parts of it you'll still understand the ending. 

6/10.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire!!!!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The second film in The Hunger Games book trilogy this film has alot of anticipation and of course the return to screen for the Oscar winning actress Jennifer Lawrence. 

The film of course starts as we see the changed lives of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who live in a seperate winners village. Travelling around the various districts to thank them and to show the world their true love for each other they have to keep the people peaceful. 

President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) is constantly watching the couple and advises Katniss that she convinces the people of the districts her love for Peeta to keep the peace of face the consequences. With some advice from Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) he wants Katniss dead so he changes the 75th annual hunger games reaping. The winners from the past 74 hunger games will be chosen to represent their district in the 75th hunger games (The Quarter Quell) which means Katniss and Peeta will be fighting to survive yet again. 

With the build-up to the hunger games Katniss and Peeta must make allies to fight with when in the arena to survive. Each competitor showing off their skills most of them are impressed with Katniss's archery skills and decide to be allies with her. Finally in the arena they are all up against different various challenges, raving mad baboons, acid gas, a river of blood and flocks of mockingjays they have a big task ahead of them. With everything against them, the threat of their families being killed and President Snow set on having Katniss dead what will happen to Katniss and Peeta?

The film itself is a big improvement from the first one and it has a great pace to it, building up from all the preperation your soon enough thrown right into the action. Seeing Katniss and Peeta back in the arena and this time with alot more allies gives a more unified feel to the 75th quarter quell. The different elements in which they are up against is a great idea as they are not only fighting for survival but also fighting the elements as well. 

Jennifer Lawrence is again just on fine form and you can tell she has become an impressive actress who falls into the character of Katniss so easily and no doubt she'll get better and better. The supporting cast of Hoffman, Sutherland, Harrelson and newly added Jena Malone and Sam Claflin give the film a bit more variety and brings in more characters to progress through the film.

For a second film in the hunger games franchise it is a step up and really impresses, with the same director on board for Mockingjay Part 1 you can expect something just as impressive and action filled with yet more big name actors added to the franchise. 

9/10.

Don Jon!!!!

Don Jon.

Numerous actors are trying their hand at writing and directing, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is another one of those people and not only has he written and directed the film he also is the main star.

"My body, my pad, my ride, my family, my church, my boys, my girls, my porn" is the list Jon Martello (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) rhymes off that are the most important things to him in his life. A promiscuous male in which every night-out ends with him bedding a girl and the nickname Don Jon he is soon not satisfied with the sex so he turns to one of his obsessions, porn. 

Then one night a girl arrives into his life that makes him change, Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson) is out with friends and he soon enough works his moves and tries to take her home but to no avail. Tracking her down and asking her out for coffee the two hit it off and a relationship starts to form but he just isn't completely satisfied. Caught watching porn by Barbara he vows to her that he doesn't watch porn and that only men who don't get any watch it. 

Now changing the error of his ways he takes night classes and soon enough the urge comes back and he starts watching porn again, caught watching it on his phone by Esther (Julianne Moore) he feels embarrassed. Esther sympathises with him and at first mocks him but then she understands him and tries to make him see the error of his ways and that porn isn't all it's cracked up to be.

With Jon's family loving his new girlfriend and the relationship potentially on the rocks if he gets caught again and the guidance from Esther he has some serious thinking to do but what outcome it is is up to him.

For what is a film about the male man finding love and learning about the error of his ways Levitt has touched upon a subject that is never really addressed head on and at times in a funny way. Lines like "they give awards for films......they also give awards for porn" just shows at times the naivety men can have. Levitt plays a great character who goes through the motions of what he thinks and feels love is to him, a proud man of his posessions, his boys and family he's every girls perfect guy. Johansson is of course allowed to be at times overly sexy, tight pushed up dresses, teasing and the prominent accent all add to the possessive fantasy character that Barbara is. 

Flash scenes of how Jon goes to church and confesses in the confession box are at times too repetitive but it adds to what is Jon's repetitive lifestyle. Some scenes in the film can be seen as quite erotic especially when he is stood outside Barbara's apartment  stood behind her wanting to go "inside" and instead he "goes" in his trousers (pardon the pun/innuendo's) you can guess what happens in the scene.

For what is Joseph Gordon-Levitt's first directoral  full length film he has produced something that is essential in today's modern day society, yet he keeps it tongue in cheek as well. Strong performances from the man himself, Johansson and Moore keep the film heading down a straight path and not becoming too funny or too x-rated he balances both quite well. 

For anyone who enjoys a good romance film with some porn and life lessons thrown in then this is the film for you.

8/10.

Short Term 12!!!!

Short Term 12.

When you read what Short Term 12 is about you know from the start you will be in for an emotional rollercoaster, playing with your emotions you go up and down throughout the film. Set in a temporary foster home for troubled teens, Grace (Brie Larson) and her boyfriend Mason (John Gallagher Jr) are care workers who provide a safe place for the teens to live. With a new volunteer just starting Nate (Rami Malek) you see how the house all work, live and play together and are in a way a little dysfunctional family of their own.

As one of the teens Marcus (Keith Stanfield) is about to turn 18 you see the emotions that he goes through on screen, rapping about his past and asking for his head to be shaved you assume he is strong and secure with his new to be freedom. Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever) is a self harming girl who respects no-one and does whatever she wants, constantly drawing she talks to no-one about her problems.

Grace and Mason work with the teens at the home and try to make the place as happy a place as possible. Grace in particular starts to relate to Jayden and soon enough she starts to get her to open up about her past and what had happened to her and why she is always angry all the time. This relationship in turn starts to play on Grace's mind and soon enough Grace must face up to her own problems head on and deal with her own past in order to move forward.

 Two scenes that standout in my mind are one with Marcus when he is having his head shaved and the other with Jayden explaining her short octopus story. Marcus's scene shows him having his head shaved before he leaves and you think to yourself  "new start, new haircut". After his head is shaved Marcus says "is it lumpy...can you see any scars" then it hits you and you realise what he has been through, slowly raising his head you see him smile and you smile back with pride at his bright new happy future with is new haircut.

The scene with Jayden really hits you hard, sat on the floor with Grace she tells the story of her Octopus drawings of how it would sacrifice a leg to feed it's shark friend. The emotion in that scene and how you just know Grace relates to her situation and the sadness you feel for Jayden is truly overpowering.

It has to be said Brie Larson is perfect and portrays Grace with such ease, to be able to bring out a strong character that is deep down wounded herself is impressive. Keith Stanfield as Marcus and Kaitlyn Dever as Jayden are both impressive, bringing out two emotionally fuelled teens both in different circumstances they really make you feel for the characters. The use of showing how characters express their feelings is so simple yet so clever, Marcus rapping to let people know what he's thinking and Jayden drawing what she feels is a great thing to touch upon. As many children in abusive situations never want to talk but communicate in different ways so to use rap and art was a great choice.

For what is such a short film Destin Cretton has made an emotional film that will have you close to tears one minute and in another have you smiling and laughing again.

10/10.

Gravity!!!!

Gravity.

With a film that has nothing but constant praise you have to stop and think for a second is it "really" that good well I have to say the critics are correct, Gravity is in my eyes phenomenal. Avatar was the last film that was highly praised by all and was James Cameron's billion dollar movie which was to make him one of the most talked about directors, now is Alfonso Cuaron's time.

Gravity sets the scene in outer space where we see Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) attached to the explorer shuttle and working on the Hubble Space Telescope while we see Lieutenant Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) on a space walk flying around the shuttle trying to set a new record. Flight engineer Shariff Dasari (Paul Sharma) is attached to the shuttle and finishing up his latest repairs while also fooling around being tethered to the shuttle. 

Soon enough a transmission from mission control Houston (voiced by Ed Harris) comes through telling the team to abort the mission as a Russian missile strike on a satellite has caused a chain reaction of debris to come hurtling towards the shuttle. As the debris hits Explorer the crew are thrown into chaos, Ryan is still attached to the arm of Explorer and is spun around numerous times, Kowalski keeps shouting for her to detach. Detaching and being thrown into space she is soon spinning out of control with nowhere to to and soon panics and hyperventilates. 

With both of the astronauts stranded and floating around in space its only a matter of time until their oxygen runs out and they have yet to find a way back to Earth. 

For everything Cuaron has done with the film it has all been cleverly thought out as every shot and camera angle has been planned. The visual effects are just something I have never seen before, seeing the curvature of the earth at one point with the northern lights green effect is just astounding to see. The debris that flys around on screen looks really impressive and at times you have to stop and say "this isn't a documentary" as it looks visually that good you think it's real.

I have to mention the 3D aspect as for some films it is used as a gimmick to get bums on seats but with Gravity the 3D is used to enhance the film and it does it perfectly. With Ryan being thrown in circles on screen she comes flying towards you at one point, bolts, tears and floating objects all come towards you subtly. 

One thing the film does is it disorientates you completely, not knowing where the character is going and just floating around upside down and round and round. And with no fixed point of land/Earth you can't gauge where the character will go next and I have had people comment it left them feeling abit of motion sickness. And this to me is another quality to the film it effects your body, feeling motion sickness and also out of breath when Ryan is gasping for air it just effects you so much. 

In my opinion the story of the film could have been worked on abit more as it is at times easy to work out, sound wise it can at times be alit bit too loud and abit much. But for what Cuaron has produced is a sheer masterpiece of filmaking, a film that can rival and stand up against Cameron's Avatar and Howard's Apollo 13 this is one film to stand the test of time. Come award season let's just expect Gravity to be in every category apart from Animated film. 

A stunning, visually aweing, incredible, immersive sci-fi film that will leave you breathless and wanting it to never end.

10/10.

Thor:The Dark World!!!!

Thor: The Dark World.

What is the third film Marvel film to be released this year and the second film from phase two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: The Dark World sets the scene of a war on Asgard. 

A story is told of how a dark elf army led by Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) went into battle against Thor's grandfather Bor (Tony Curran) in which they battled to stop Malekith from using his latest created weapon 'the aether'. With Bor triumphant he was to take the aether and place it in a stone and bury it deep underground, Malekith of course escapes with his general and sacrifices the rest of his dark elf army.

With Thor (Chris Hemsworth) back in his home world of Asgard after the attack by Loki (Tom Hiddleston) on New York in Avengers Assemble Loki is placed in jail on Asgard by his "father" Odin (Anthony Hopkins). As Thor battles enemies on the different planets with his fellow Asgardian soldiers he is hoping to bring peace to the nine realms and become king of Asgard. 

Of course Thor's love interest Jane (Natalie Portman) is back on earth and investigating strange occurrences with her assistant Darcy (Kat Dennings) and soon enough Jane comes into contact with aether and is attacked by it. With this aether running through her body nothing can attack or harm her and the only person who can help finally arrives back on Earth, Thor.

Soon enough Malekith awakens and knows the whereabouts of the aether and is hell bent on obtaining it to use it when the nine realms align and he can destroy all the light and turn everything into darkness. With Jane in danger and now in Asgard, Thor asking for Loki's help and Malekith set on destroying the universe what will happen?.

The film has alot of characters which are in part all integral to the storyline that is running through the film, Thor has alot of things to do to save not only Asgard but the other realms as well. Deciding where his fate and life will lie is also another point he has to work out, be with a mortal human (Jane) or stay on Asgard and rule over the nine realms. At times it can be moving along a quite a pace which isn't too bad, setting the film mainly on Asgard was a good idea as you get to see his home world and the whole dynamics of the people of Asgard. 

Hemsworth as Thor is of course charming and brings the character to life really well, Portman plays the vulnerable Jane and is just swept away with everything that is going on. Hiddleston as Loki is funny and witty and brings some laughs but also brings the fight as well when he is needed by Thor. The effects are massive just like Iron Man 3 they have gone ALL OUT with this film and bring plenty of destruction and explosions and pump in more and more action sequences. 

The ending for me could have been alot more planned and thought out especially what happens to Malekith it feels just a bit of a cop out. Of course the after credit scenes set the scene for the next Marvel installment film and tey certainly entice and give insight in what we can expect next from the Marvel cinematic universe. 

An overall entertaining, action packed, fast paced superhero movie that fits in perfectly with the other Marvel releases and sets you up for Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

8/10.

Drinking Buddies!!!!

Drinking Buddies.

Rom-com's, especially with big budgets tend to come across as too polished and always always have the happy ending that everyone goes "awwwww" at the end, Drinking Buddies turns this idea right on it's head and it works really well. 

The story takes place in a Chicago brewery where Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) both work, flirting with each other constantly you are sucked into thinking their perfect for each other. But they are both surprisingly taken, Kate is with Chris (Ron Livingston) and Luke is with Jill (Anna Kendrick) and they are both happy in their relationships. 

The two couples finally meet at a party and decide to go on a break out to Chris's family's cabin in the woods. Kate and Luke do what they do best and drink and make a bonfire on the beach and stay up all night while Chris and Jill go on a hike and enjoy a picnic and a mistaken intimate moment where they both feel bad. 

Kate soon enough becomes a newly single woman and decides to do what she does best and that is to drink and party with her male co-workers, sleeping with Dave (Ti West) this angers Luke who is very protective of Kate. With Jill and Luke constantly talking about marriage it's only a matter of time for Jill's stupid actions on the trip away to come to the surface. Will Kate ever find happiness on her own or does she need to win Chris back.

Like I said this is a more realistic rom-com as everything that you expect to happen never takes place, Luke being asked to go skinny dipping with Kate doesn't happen. Expecting Luke to break up with Jill and run over to Kate's arms doesn't happen and the awkward moments are at times really awkward but true to real life situations.

The way in which this film works is that it is mainly un-scripted so the improvisation comes from the actors who have no doubt had awkward situations themselves. Johnson and Kendrick bring across a really cute couple who are secure enough with each other, Wilde and Livingston bring across a more stern couple who you can feel have different ideas of their relationship. 

A really basic, indie and quirky, funny comedy that is very much more of a realistic rom-com that every couple can really relate to.

8/10.

Bad Grandpa!!!!

Bad Grandpa.

It's been a good few years in which we have been subjected to the sheer stupidity of the funny situations the Jackass team put themselves in. This time round the Jackass team have come up with a more story based film and I have to say with the ammount of Jackass shenanigans it is really funny and feels fresh and new.

Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) is an 86 year old man who has recently lost his wife, with his daughter being sent to prison he has the task of taking his grandson Billy (Jackson Nicoll) to his father. With the two of them never having any contact and knowing each other they have to learn to get along in order to drive across the US.

Obviously with a grandson who is a little mischievous both of them get up to some stupid antics, Irving getting his penis stuck in a vending machine and stretching it,  Billy trying to gain entry into a strip club, Irving having explosive shitting and kissing his own granddaughter passionately the list of antics is endless. 

Theirs not alot to the plot of the film but it does have the Jackass candid camera elements thrown into the plot between the Grandpa and Grandson and it works really well. Both characters are both as worse as each other and they both fool so many members of the public into thinking they're real situations taking place. 

Scenes where penises stretch, shit is thrown on walls, chairs are knocked over, bodies flung through windows and testicles are shown it's all part of the fun and I could have watched it for another few hours. Knoxville is obviously a pro when it comes to playing Irving and just transforms perfectly into this old 86 year old naughty grandpa and Jackson as Billy just plays along with it. 

Knoxville has said in interviews he met the kid when he followed Knoxville around on set and kept hitting him in the balls and wanted him on a future Jackass project. And this is the perfect setting for him to unleash his antics, Jackson is a perfect little hellraiser and he plays up to the cameras so perfectly and is willing to do anything to get a reaction and a laugh. 

The finest moment for me in which I was in stitches with laughter would be where they dress Jackson up as a little girl for the beauty pageant and Jackson does a routine of pole dancing to Motley Crue's 'Cherry Pie' song. The fact Irving comes on-stage and starts firing off dollar bills Billy's way just had me crying with laughter. 

Being a massive Jackass fan I loved this film because it brought back some of the old style Jackass stunts but it didn't present it in a way we've seen before. If this was Jackass the movie 5 or 6 people would have been bored of it but bringing in a moral storyline to take you along was genius and Jeff Tremaine and Johnny Knoxville have created something really funny. 

A laugh out loud funny, crude, ridiculous, cringe worthy, Jackass film that Knoxville and co should be proud of, LONG LIVE Jackass.

8/10.

Enders Game!!!!

Enders Game.

Sci-fi films have been coming thick and fast this year and this an adaptation of Orson Scott Card's book is another one to add to the list. Set in the future it sees the human race devastated by an alien attack, with a future much bigger attack imminent the government seeks out a young mind to lead them. 

Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is a young demure character who is nothing but tormented every day while on the program. Being shunned as an outcast he struggles to socialise with his other cadets and is soon kicked off the program as he didn't make the grade to advance to the next level of training. Finally back home he is visited by Colnel Graff (Harrison Ford) and Major Gwen Anderson (Viola Davis) who decided to recruit Ender to come back as he showed great potential. 

As Ender again struggles to fit in he finally finds a friend in Petra (Hailee Steinfeld) with whom he trains with and strikes up the one true friend he can rely on. Moved onto lead his own Dragon Army he finally starts to earn the respect from his fellow cadets and again shows promise working on tactics in practice sphere's and also impressing Colonel Graff in simulation alien attacks. 

Ender of course has psychological problems to overcome as well, vivid dreams and a relationship with his sister Valentine (Abigail Breslin) that is constantly strained with long periods of lost contact with her. He not only has the moral dilemma of what he should do during the finally battle with the alien race but also what the aliens are trying to tell him in his dreams. 

Showcasing what is a more younger style sci-fi film it is an interesting take on the future of the human race when an alien race threatens to attack. Asa Butterfield plays Ender really well and brings across a very confused and conflicted but strong character who values his family alot especially his sister. 

I have to say the ending was to be desired it just felt too up in the air and no particularly nailed down but it was an overall goo film. The special effects were great and brought the film to life, a better more elaborate back story for the alien race would have made the film more interesting but then sticking to a story from a book and not deviating from the text can be hard to do. 

An overall good sci-fi film that showcases alot of younger up and coming actors with an interesting future of the human race.

7/10.

Le Week-end!!!!

Le Week-end.

What has been a flurry of teenage rom-coms featuring high profile stars it is getting abit saturated, the latest release of Enough Said has brought forward a love story of the older generation. Le-Weekend is a love story for the much older generation in every greatest respect.

Focusing on an ageing sixty year old couple, Nick (Jim Broadbent) and Meg Burrows (Lindsay Duncan) they are to celebrate what is their thirty year wedding anniversary in the very place they honeymooned, Paris.

With Nick booking what looks like the cheapest hotel in Paris Meg takes the initiative to book into something a little more comfier and cleaner to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Wandering around Paris the couple sit in bars drinking, go to expensive restaurants and try to enjoy each others company. 

On the surface the couple look happy but soon enough you see the little flaws and cracks in their long standing relationship. Meg says to Nick "once the kids have gone what will become of us" clearly showing that she has her doubts as to what their future will hold. Slight digs and laughter at each others misfortunes are what keep the couple happy, tring to rekindle their love they run from restaurants without paying, run in the road and generally go back to what they were thirty years ago .

Constantly questioning each other they bump into one of Nick's old students Morgan (Jeff Goldblum) who is always impressed by Nick and has the typical American attitude positive attitude about everything. With their relationship on the rocks and both of them having to deal with their potential future they have alot to think about. 

For what is another rom-com for the older generation it's refreshing and also enlightening to see what happens between a married couple of thirty years, the problems they go through and how they deal with life. What is shown on trailers is all happy is quite the opposite when you watch the whole film, at times dark themes run through some of the scenes. Broadbent and Duncan are great on screen together and at times show a more natural connection and relationship between each other showing their years of acting they have mastered how to become a character. 

A funny, interesting and enlightening film that shows perfectly what an older couple go through after the kids have up and left and they're left with just each others company.

7/10.

Enough Said!!!!

Enough Said.

Romantic comedy's tend to target the younger teenage age range to mid/ late twenty's but they never cover any other ages. Well, Enough Said switches things up and is a romantic comedy for the older generation, in particular here people who have had children, divorced and are not really looking for love.

Showing the lives of Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) a divorcee masseuse who travels around to massage various clients she lives a normal life with her teenage daughter Chloe (Tavi Gevinson) with who she doesn't particularly get along with and isn't looking for love. Albert (James Gandolfini) is also a divorcee video archiver who lives on his own and has regular visits from his teenage daughter Ellen (Tracey Fairaway). 

Both of them aren't really looking for love and don't really see a reason to, as Eva attends a party with her close friend Sarah (Toni Collette) a chance meeting happens and she is introduced to Albert. As the two give each other a sly dig saying their is no-one around they find hot at the party the two leave the party and go their seperate ways. Soon enough the two start meeting up for dates and start to get along really well and they start a kind of unofficial relationship. 

Carrying on with her job Eva contacts a client she met a the party Marianne (Catherine Keener) who is a new age kind of person who earns her living writing poetry. As the two become friends and go out for meals Marianne can talk about nothing else but her ex husband with whom she had a daughter and explain in detail all his faults and misgivings. As Eva gets more close to Albert and strikes up a great friendship with Marianne she soon enough finds out that Albert is Mariannes ex husband, then she starts to see Albert differently but how differently?

I have to say I found this film very heart warming as it touches upon the more older spectrum of 50+ single divorcees and what they go through with relationships. Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are great as Albert and Eva as they both portray two totally different people but who are going through the same situations. The little in jokes really make you feel they know each other well, Albert's dodgy nasal whistle and how he can't whisper and Eva's compulsion to knit all the time. It shows that these are things older viewers can relate to and it makes you warm towards the characters. Bringing in their children also adds another dimension and how older parents tackle the "sex" talk and the kids going off to college it's current.

Throughout the film they never say that they're boyfriend and girlfriend, they are mature adults and never need to use that social tag. Introduced as "my good friend...." it keeps it current again as they are older adults and don't need that social tag. A truly heart warming, funny, life affirming film that has you smiling throughout.

9/10.