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Shame (2011) Review

Ben

Some movies, regardless of the story or message it is trying to convey, are all about a single performance. That performance doesn’t always have to be the lead actor or main character. It could even be one performance in amongst an ensemble cast. That one performance can often overshadow the whole film, or actually make a film that would be average, an engrossing watch. Shame isn’t an average film but it is a movie about a single performance. It’s supposed to be that way but Michael Fassbender manages to take this one step further. He isn’t just good in Shame, he is amazing! … Continue reading Shame (2011) Review

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The Hobbit: A Unexpected Journey (2012) Review

Ben

I never really liked the Lord of the Rings. Some people call it the greatest trilogy ever made, while others will even argue they are some of the greatest films ever. The people who believe in the latter will usually be huge Tolkien fans, knowing the book inside out and satisfied that Peter Jackson did a fantastic job of putting all the intricate details on the screen. For that reason, I felt a bit excluded by the whole trilogy. I was interested in the journey of the Hobbits and the battles, as many as there were, were brilliant to watch, but it felt … Continue reading The Hobbit: A Unexpected Journey (2012) Review

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Tiny Furniture (2010) Review

Ben

Indie doesn’t just mean Independent studio. It usually has other qualities and unfortunately, now clichés that go with it. It is usually a “personal film,” written and/or directed by its lead. It is also set in a world filled with characters that have weird quirks, which everyone but those within the film seem to notice. Add an “indie soundtrack” (again, personally picked by the lead) and animate the opening (and/or closing) credits and you have yourself an “independent” film. These are films that are supposed to juxtapose what is considered mainstream but its become a genre of film itself, falling … Continue reading Tiny Furniture (2010) Review

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24 Hour Party People (2002) Re-View

Ben

Sometimes a factual narrative rather than a full on documentary is the best way of telling a story. I’m sure that Manchester’s music scene has got numerous documentaries about it, some of which are very good. The bands that feature in 24 Hour Party People probably each have their own documentary, telling the story of their rise to fame, success and for some, ultimate failure. I know for a fact, the main subject of the movie, Tony Wilson, Factory Records and to a lesser extent the Hacienda, will definitely have lots of factual television about it, it being such a key … Continue reading 24 Hour Party People (2002) Re-View

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The Omen (1976) Review

Ben

The Omen has become less of a horror movie and much more an iconic thriller. The first box you have to tick if you are going to make a horror film is “scare people” and unfortunately, The Omen doesn’t really do that. There are no jump out of your skin moments like this year’s Woman in Black or even tense, creepy moments where you are waiting for something bad to happen, like the Paranormal Activity series has become expert at. Instead, we get a film that tells a horror story. Its more like watching a ghost story unfold, a supernatural, … Continue reading The Omen (1976) Review

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Death Becomes Her (1992) Review

Ben

The really interesting, decent part of Death Becomes Her lasts about twenty minutes. I remember always thinking this film looked interesting because of the moment in the trailers that showed Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, beating each other to what would be death, but the both of them surviving. It showed Meryl Streep’s neck all bent out of shape and Goldie Hawn with a huge hole in the middle of her stomach after a shotgun attack. I was expecting a film where the bulk of the movie was these two woman attacking each other and the cool special effects that … Continue reading Death Becomes Her (1992) Review

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First Blood (1982) Review

Ben

Some films stand the test of time, regardless how long ago they were made. If we take the examples of both war films and action movies, then Platoon and Apocalypse Now are both still as watchable as they were when they were first made. The same can be said for Die Hard, a film still regarded as one of the best action films ever. I think your appreciation of a film will also depend on when you see it too. A lot of people see these action films when they are first released and they become the benchmark that others … Continue reading First Blood (1982) Review

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Cowboys and Aliens (2011) Review

Ben

This film would be a lot better if it was just called Cowboys. Before the aliens show up to cause all matter of destruction and chaos, the film follows Daniel Craig’s cowboy into a small, typical western town where he confronts a sheriff, tavern owners and most notably of all, Harrison Ford’s cowboy rancher. Daniel Craig plays the “man with no name” style cowboy really well. He has the mood, the hundred yard stare and the swagger required to walk into bars and taverns and exude a confidence and arrogance that makes people think twice about messing with him. The opening act, … Continue reading Cowboys and Aliens (2011) Review

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Super (2010) Review

Ben

I love superheroes and superhero films but if you had to make any argument against them, there are too many now. We are about to enter another cycle of The Avengers movies. That means each of the Avengers that got a first film are due a sequel (except Hulk) but also we have at least two new superhero film linked to the franchise, Ant Man and The Guardians of the Galaxy. Add that to the Justice League movie which has been announced, Man of Steel which we will see next year, a new X-Men and Wolverine movie, a new take … Continue reading Super (2010) Review

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Thor (2011) Re-View

Ben

Its strange looking back on these movies after the success that The Avengers movie was. My main complaint with this film and Captain America (more so with Captain America) was that they didn’t really offer anything new or exciting as superhero origin films. They used the same superhero origin movie checklist that most others used; average man becomes hero, fails at first attempt, learns valuable lesson then succeeds now he is a better person. Add a female character in trouble and you have most superhero origin movies, which just doesn’t cut it anymore. Thor is slightly different but not by much. … Continue reading Thor (2011) Re-View