Tag: James Bond

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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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A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) Review

Ben

If you are going to remake an iconic film, you must have a legitimate reason to do so. Just because it already has a popular fan base can’t be enough of a reason. Neither is the fact that the film franchise has clearly been sequelled into oblivion. I’d say that is the reason to reboot a series. There is a difference. Its subtle but there is definitely some distinction between the two. A remake is retelling a story with slight changes. The main concept and narrative strand is the same but you may change elements, like developing a characters back-story or … Continue reading A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) Review

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Skyfall (2012) Review

Ben

Casino Royale wasn’t a Bond film. I’m talking about the more recent Casino Royale, the fantastic film that introduced us to Daniel Craig’s brilliant version of Bond. The film that managed to pull Bond into the 21st century after the franchise had become a joke and a cliché. That’s why Casino Royale wasn’t a “proper” Bond film. To reinvent Bond for the (I hate to say it) Bourne generation, you had to remove the raised eyebrow, the drink, the gadgets, the same tried and tested formula and even, in the most extreme cut of all, the Bond theme itself. It was a … Continue reading Skyfall (2012) Review

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The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Review

Ben

I made an inevitable comparison between The Bourne Identity and Bond when I reviewed the first of the Bourne franchise last week. I also praised Bourne because it was without cliché, silly, unrealistic action or the need to “tick-the-boxes,” being forced to include key scenes, lines or character types. Two movies later and I’m beginning to realise that I spoke too soon. People praise the Bourne franchise and credit it with being the main reason for the positive reboot of the Bond franchise, and while I agree with that, the similarities between the Bourne series and the Bond series before … Continue reading The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Review

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Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) Review

Ben

This is really a film of two halves. The first half is brilliant and could easily have been the whole film. I actually wanted it to be the whole film and was slightly irritated when that part stopped and the story developed into something else. The second half, though not as good, is actually helped by how good the first half is. The first half that I’m so enthusiastic about is helped forward by the brilliant performance and chemistry between Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling. The premise for this part of the film is really simple and has been done to … Continue reading Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) Review

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The Bourne Identity (2002) Review

Ben

I used to resent the Bourne series. As a huge James Bond fan, when the series I loved was beginning to become a silly parody of itself, the Bourne films were showing it up and doing a spy film properly. There are no gadgets, silly quips, ridiculous action set-pieces and best of all, the series had freedom that Bond didn’t have. There were no “catchphrases” or scenes that had to be played out, like the gadget scene with Q. There were no “Bourne girls” and best of all, the story was simple and not drawn out. Nobody is trying to take over the world in … Continue reading The Bourne Identity (2002) Review

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Ten films you should be excited about in 2012!

Ben

When I actually wrote down all the films I think will be “must see” for this year, I actually got a list of twenty-one!!! I decided the best thing to try to do would be to narrow it down to a good ten. The ten I’m most excited about seeing because of the hype around them, the trailers, the actual story within the film itself or the fact that the earlier films in the series have been good. So without further ado, we begin at number ten… 10 – The Pirates! In an adventure with Scientists. It was the trailer … Continue reading Ten films you should be excited about in 2012!