Posts tagged reviews
Review: Snow White and The Huntsman
Given that there was such an appetite for gritty, edgy re-imaginings of comic book heroes, maybe it was only a matter of time before someone took the same approach with fairy tales. We all know that these stories were bloodthirsty and dark in their original form, so actually, maybe it’s about time.
Review: Moonrise Kingdom
Adolescence is a difficult enough time without being labelled as emotionally disturbed – both Suzy (Kara Hayward) and Sam (Jared Gilman) have trouble fitting in and make a pact to run away together fuelled by the power of young love. Fans of Wes Anderson will not be disappointed (this one is high on the list for me now), those who aren’t so enamoured will know what to expect. The exquisite sets, camera work and characters all come together to explore the themes of family and coming of age. A nostalgic, eloquent film made with skill and a lot of heart.
DVD Review: Journey 2 The Mysterious Island
Your step-dad is The Rock. Your granddad is Michael Caine. How can you not go on an epic family adventure?
Review: 2 Days in New York
“Your family are like a reverse Godot”
Following on from 2 Days in Paris with Julie Delpy’s Marion now separated from Jack (Adam Goldberg) and replaced by Mingus (Chris Rock). Where 2 Days in Paris looked at sexual hang ups and the 30 something getting to know you relationship stage 2 Days in New York focuses on family dynamics and established love. Marion’s family are visiting from Paris and intrude on the cramped household with their Gallic ways. Albert Delpy (Julie’s dad) takes on the role of father with Alexia Nandeau as her sister and Alex Nahon as the ex-boyfriend.
Review: UFO In Her Eyes
Set in the tiny ‘Three Headed Bird Village’ in China’s beautiful Guangxi province, UFO In Her Eyes is a satirical look at rural Chinese society and the rapid development of the country as a whole.
Review: The Raid
If there was one film that had me salivating for the best part of the past year it was this hyper Indonesian fight fest by way of Welsh director Gareth Evans, the nationality mash-up of the creative force and his film is by no means necessary but a fact that I cannot help finding neat.
Review: Zero One
Every science fiction fan knows that intelligent computers are dangerous and will attempt to kill all of human civilisation. We all also know that this is a story that has been told many times, and generally with a much bigger budget than Zero One will have had. However, there is a nice new spin put on the story here, and some fun to have along the way.
Review: Sol
Many years in the future, groups of students are sent off to a strange planet every year and instructed to find our sun - Sol - amongst all the stars in the sky, whilst also surviving an alien world and aggressive competing groups. This time, however, something goes wrong. Most of the students are killed on the journey out, and the rest are stranded with few provisions. Can they put their differences aside to work together? This is a fairly standard Hunger Games or Lord of the Flies set-up, with a heavy leaning towards Science Fiction which works very well.
Review: Juan of the Dead
Juan of the Dead, or Cuban’s answer to Shaun of the Dead managed nothing but to fulfil my already low expectations of it. Rarely am I put off by budget constraints, but when there is a lack of resources then talent needs to step up in order to keep proceedings from veering into weak schlock territory and in this case it appears that there was little of that on hand.
Review: Beloved
A melodramatic French musical from Christophe Honore (Dans Paris) starring the captivating Catherine Deneuve and her daughter Chiara Mastroianni. The story spans forty five years from 1963 to 2008 and follows the lives of a mother and daughter on their quest for happiness and search for true love.
Review: Cycle
An astronaut is searching. He’s searching for a room, a cave, escape, salvation… He’s caught in loops - cycles - of time, characters and conflicting information. And there is a menacing fog approaching, ready to bring an end to everything.
Review: Mitsuko Delivers
Director Yuya Ishii took the idea of embracing your averageness to an odd and intriguing place in Sawako Decides in his latest feature, Mitsuko Deilvers, he plays with the idea of being “cool” to each other. Focusing on the idea of community, friendship and goodness this is a charming, funny and delightful look at the problems of modern society. Yuya Ishii presents his simple life philosophies in an accessible and sometimes surreal way and Mitsuko Delivers follows his usual pattern of peculiarity.
Review: Being Elmo
Elmo is the breakout star of hit television show Sesame Street, an international super-star and cultural icon. However, Elmo is hiding a secret from all of us - he is a puppet. Being Elmo is the story of Kevin Clash, the man behind the puppet and the journey he took to realise his dream to work with Jim Henson.
Sundance London Review: Chasing Ice
Chasing Ice is a documentary with a weighty subject but is mighty light on being particularly memorable. Addressing the climate change debate through a thoroughly pleasant conservationist/photographer, James Balog, who is clearly passionate but comes across a bit flat amidst a rather mundane presentation, save for few brief glimpses of concerned humanity and pretty natural imagery.
Sundance London Review: Safety Not Guaranteed
Safety Not Guaranteed is a film straddling a few well-worn recent indie genre staples whilst almost creating a whole new one…Almost! The main plot is similar here and there to smaller strands of Napoleon Dynamite, Ghost World and You, Me and Everyone We Know, leaving a strangely familiar feel to proceedings. Whilst it borrows in tone from several lo-fi, mumblecore efforts it does make a play for its own originality of sorts’ although it stumbles into the increasingly formulaic: cynic gains perspective through oddball companionship.
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Due to FCC regulations, we cannot show graphic intercourse over the airwaves. Instead, Peter and...
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