Russian Aristocrat Problems

Anna Karenina (2012)

Directed by Joe Wright this adaptation of the Stoppard play based on the Tolstoy novel of the same name stars Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. In 1870s Russia the wife of an important politician falls in love with a young aristocratic cavalry officer.

Clearly the central thrust of this film is about fidelity and the hypocrisy in the way people deal with this issue based on the gender but I do wonder how relevant 1870 Russian views on this subject are to modern life. My main issue with the film is that the early part of the affair between the main characters is overly melodramatic and seemingly comes out of no where for no reason. The direction of the film is at times fantastic and frenetic but does seem to slowly drop the unique elements as the film progresses which is a bit of a shame.

4/5

Just another western

Gunfight at Comanche Creek (1963)

Directed by Frank McDonald this film stars Audie Murphy, Ben Cooper, Colleen Miller and DeForest Kelley. A detective goes undercover with a band of criminals that has been breaking criminals out of jail, running up their reward prices and then killing them to collect the reward.

Plot-wise this is a fairly standard Western with the usual stock characters and lacks any real character arc. Mostly the film is well made for it's B-movie nature and looks fairly decent compared to some you will see. About the most interesting thing is seeing DeForest Kelley in an non Star Trek role otherwise this is an average effort with a slightly unnecessary use of narration.

3/5

A Bacon Crisis

She's Having a Baby (1988)

Written and directed by John Hughes this film stars Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth McGovern and Alec Baldwin. After getting married straight out a college a young man struggles to get to terms with adult life.

The plot of this film is a pretty standard coming of age tale set around a quarter life crisis. Mostly the film is well done and no doubt having a child can have a transformative effect on people but I'm not sure you should necessarily pose it as the answer to everyone's relationship problems. Where the film is strongest is in showcasing that John Hughes style of comedy with some great flights of fancy that never lose sight of the drama.

4/5

Truth vs propaganda

The First of the Few (1942)

Directed by Leslie Howard this film stars it's director as well as David Niven, Rosamund John, Roland Culver and Anne Firth. In the inter war period an aeroplane designer struggles to get his revolutionary new designs built.

This film has the uneasy balance of being a WW2 propaganda film as well as a biopic telling the story the design of the Spitfire. There are a number of historical inaccuracies both in the addition of David Niven's character and the way the story is told, largely for propaganda reasons but there is plenty of truth in the story too. Where the film does benefit from being made during WW2 is in that it includes a number of action sequences that are actual footage from real dog fights.

3/5

Here Comes the blah

Here Comes the Boom (2012)

Directed by Frank Coraci this film stars Kevin James, Henry Winkler, Salma Hayek and Bas Rutten. A high school teacher becomes a mixed martial arts fighter to raise money to save the school's music program.

The plot of this film is pretty much as you would expect and is very much a clone of many similar films out there. There is the odd laugh here and there but otherwise the film could have really done with an injection of a bit more humour. In general terms the film is pretty well made even if it is fairly bland, the main disappointment being Salma Hayek getting stuck with a role that has basically nothing to do but wait to be impressed by the protagonist.

3/5

Ghost in the mind

Gothika (2003)

Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz this film stars Halle Barry, Robert Downy Jr., Bernard Hill and Penelope Cruz. After a car accident a psychiatrist awakes as a prisoner in the jail she works at and finds herself accused of the murder of her husband.

Everything here is pretty much par for the course in this standard genre piece. Some of the plot in the final part of the film does seem a bit of a stretch but when we you have a story dealing with the supernatural you probably have to expect a bit of that anyway. Mostly the film relies on jump scares rather than anything more creepy and insidious so this is not a horror film that really gets under your skin.

3/5

Rocky vs The Soviet Union

Rocky IV (1985)

Once again directed, written by and staring Sylvester Stallone this film also features Dolph Lundgren, Talia Shire, Burt Young and Carl Weathers. After Apollo Creed dies fighting a boxer from the Soviet Union our hero goes in search of revenge for his friend.

The film starts out with a good deal of promise as the early parts with Creed look like the film might be thematically similar to The Wrestler (2008) but unfortunately the film heads off down the route of simplistic Cold War propaganda. At times the script is really lacking on plot and the film has to rely on excessive use of montage and clips from the previous film to make it's run time. While the boxing elements are fairly well staged they are nothing above what you have seen before in the series and this is a heavily formulaic entry.

2/5

Reaching for nothing special

Jack Reacher (2012)

Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie this adaptation of the novel “One Shot” stars Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike and Robert Duvall. A retired Army MP investigates a mass shooting by a former Army sniper.

This is largely an average thriller that mostly sticks to it's source material with a few changes. The plot does appear to take it self a little seriously at times for what is a slightly unrealistic story but otherwise is a pretty standard genre entry. As you would expect with the people involved the film is well made but lacks any real flair or depth.

3/5

Not a tempest

Yellow Sky (1948)

Directed by William A. Wellman this film stars Gregory Peck, Anne Baxter and Richard Widmark. A gang of bank robbers come across a young woman and her grandfather in a deserted town silver rush town.

Allegedly the plot of this film was inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest but it is a real stretch to find any link between the two. The plot is fairly basic genre fare and works pretty well although I think the early parts of the film do not hint enough at the main characters need to change so it does sort of come out of nowhere. Mostly the film is well made with the occasional piece of interesting photography but it is more the odd moment that stands out rather than being an exceptional looking film.

3/5

No bark, no bite

Love Bite (2012)

Directed by Andy De Emmonyy this film stars Jessica Szohr, Ed Speleers and Timothy Spall. In a British sea side town a werewolf is hunting down virgins, desperate teenage boys beware.

Despite being build as a horror-comedy this film is light on both the horror and the comedy side doing neither really. The plot has little of interest to say about the pressures on young people to lose their virginity and the conclusion of the plot is pretty much a smack in the face to the way the main characters have acted through out the rest of the film. While the performances are not bad there honestly is not a lot for the cast to work with here.

2/5

Back to school

St. Trinian's (2007)

Directed by Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson this reboot stars Gemma Arterton, Talulah Riley, Rupert Everett and Colin Firth. Girls at the worst behaved boarding school in England look to raise money to save their school.

While the plot of this film features a number of elements borrowed from the first film in the series a number of plot holes seem to have crept in and mean you should not think too hard about this one. Largely the story is what you would expect but the humour is fairly weak, nearly always going with the obvious. The cast features a number of big names but most of them are relegated to bit parts and while the direction is slick at times it does not have a huge amount to work with.

2/5

Ra Ra RAF

Angels One Five (1952)

Directed by George More O'Ferrall this film based on the novel “What Are Your Angels Now” stars John Gregson, Jack Hawkins and Michael Denison. During the Battle of Britain in the Second World War a new and inexperienced pilot that thinks he knows it all joins an existing squadron.

The plot of this film is pretty average stuff and could easily be an RAF recruiting film as particularly the early parts seem most interested in procedure than drama. While this is a fairly simple script it works pretty well and is a fairly inoffensive watch. Obviously this film was made on a small budget and mostly features action from the point of view of those stuck in the control room but with in it's limitations it works pretty well.

3/5

I killed history

I Killed Wild Bill Hickok (1956)

Directed by Richard Talmadge this film stars it's writer Johnny Carpenter, Denver Pyle, Virginia Gibson and Tom Brown. A former Confederate soldier starts over catching wild horses and selling them but local ruffians have other ideas.

While the title character may be a historical figure this film has no basis in history and a completely fictitious plot. The plot is fairly basic but the script lacks any sort of character development and has the usual poor attitude to Native Americans. I watched a HD version of this film but the image quality is pretty terrible and at times it is even hard to tell which character is which.

1/5

Space turd

Space Warriors (2013)

Directed by Sean McNamara this film features a bunch of kids and Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino and Danny Glover. The son of a former NASA employee attends space camp as part of a team that can win a trip into space.

When a screen play has five credited writers it is never a good start and this film is pretty much your generic kids film filled with stereotypical characters. As far as the plot goes I can just about buy that kids might come up with a useful idea to help save some astronauts but allowing them to actually have anything to do with the rescue is just stupid. In general the acting is not too bad apart from Danny Glover who seems to be hamming it up just to pick up a pay cheque.

2/5

The rich get away with murder

All Good Things (2010)

Directed by Andrew Jarecki this film based on real events stars Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella and Kristen Wiig. An heir to a real estate tycoon marries a young working class student, their marriage hits difficulties and she disappears.

There are parts of this mystery film that are both fascinating and really dark, the first 2/3 being very good. My problem with the film is the final third where it offers speculation of what may have happened rather than leave the audience to draw their own conclusions. Clearly the strongest elements of the film are Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst in the lead roles, both give great performances.

3/5

Saturday morning special

Frankenweenie (2012)

Directed by Tim Burton this remake of his own earlier short features the voice talent of Charlie Tahan, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Landau and Winona Ryder. A young boy looks to use science to bring his pet dog back to life.

The inspiration of this film is clearly a mix of classic horror films and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein which the film does a good job of reflecting but I am not sure it ever captures the depth of. While this is a quintessentially Tim Burton film it does feel at times like he is just going through the motions of repeating earlier work. There is some fun to be had here but I think that ultimately and kind message behind the film is a bit of a confusing mess and was clearly not that important to the film makers.

3/5

Temptation waits

The Monk (2011)

Directed by Dominik Moll this film based on the novel of the same name stars Vincent Cassel, Deborah Francois and Josephine Japy. In 17^th century Spain a monk that is a famous preacher faces the same temptations he chastises his flock against.

There is plenty of mileage to be had in any piece that looks at the hypocrisy of the Catholic church, especially it's recent indiscretions but I am not sure this film ever goes far enough in this direction. There are some changes from the original novel but the film mostly sticks to the plot, which I found a little predictable, and does a good job of showing the fears and religious views of the time. The film has a nice creepy undertone nearly all the way through but I'm not sure it ever completely capitalises on the dark, Gothic nature of the story.

3/5

Childhood vs Fear

Rise of the Guardians (2012)

Directed by Peter Ramsey this animated film features the voice talent of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher and Jude Law. Guardians of childhood come together with a new member of their team to stop the Boogeyman from ruining childhood.

The idea for the plot of this film comes from a series of books by William Joyce and is a continuation of the series rather than a direct adaptation, which works pretty well. In general this film has a lot in common thematically with many other children's tales but is pretty well constructed. There is not a lot that is overly remarkable here but it is pretty much a solid entry into the genre being well done in every area.

3/5

When Mayans meet Indians

Kings of the Sun (1963)

Directed by J. Lee Thompson this film stars Yul Brynner, George Chakiris and Shirley Anne Field. In Mesoamerica a group of Mayan refugees escape conquest by Hunac Ceel and travel north in search of a new place to build a home.

There are sadly few films set in the rich history of Mesoamerica and this one falls somewhat short of expectations for a great historic epic set in the mighty empires of the area. Essentially the story is a pretty average fictional piece that while it may lack some grandeur and scale is not too bad to watch. Some of the casting is slightly suspect with mostly white actors playing the rules but otherwise the film is pretty well made and Yul Brynner is obviously the main draw here.

3/5

Flash-aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaa

Flash Gordon (1980)

Directed by Mike Hodges this film based on the classic comic strip stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton and Brian Blessed. Earth comes under attack from space and a famous American football quarter back is the only one who can save the planet.

Given the nature of the source material taking a camp approach to this adaptation is understandable but there are various other problems that hamstring the film such as completely bland protagonist that has no character arc. Some of the more hammy elements of the film have inspired a cult following but beyond that there is not much to praise here. Some of the acting is decidedly suspect and the special effects are pretty much terrible through out.

1/5

Wide of the goal

Goal II: Living the Dream (2007)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra this film stars Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Anna Friel and a host of footballers as themselves. After impressing playing for Newcastle United a young Mexican footballer is transferred to the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid.

While the film attempts to look at the pressures a player can come under playing under such media spot light it is hamstrung by the need to be both family friendly and not offend club that it needs players from for cameos. The sub-plot with the protagonist's mother and step brother is shoe horned in and at times edges towards the unbelievable. In general the film is not too badly made but is certainly for younger viewers and football fans will get a head ache if they think too deeply about the football depicted.

2/5

Restoring confidence

Killing Them Softly (2012)

Directed by Andrew Dominik this film based on the novel “Cogan's Trade” stars Brad Pitt, Ben Medelsohn, Ray Liotta and James Gandolfini. Two low level criminals rob a card game and a mob enforcer is brought in to find the perpetrators.

The main undertone of this film is an attempt to use the robber and confidence in the local card games as a metaphor for the recent global financial crisis but you could say the film talks the talk but does not walk the walk in that regard. Otherwise this is a fairly standard crime affair that is more preachy than effective in it's subtext. Generally the film is well made with one stand out moment when the first murder takes place but otherwise is is mostly unremarkable.

3/5

Welcome to 1000

Hick (2011)

Directed by Derick Martini this film based on the novel of the same name stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Blake Lively and Eddie Redmayne. Shortly after her 13^th birthday a girl runs away from home and falls in with some bad people.

Generally this is supposed to be a coming of age tale but it is hard to see why after a run of terrible events things suddenly change for the better at the end. There are a number of changes from the novel and ultimately it is hard to see why this story is worth telling over any number of other coming of age films. Chloe Grace Moretz does well in the lead role but Eddie Redmayne is an odd choice to play a wannabe cowboy.

2/5

Licence revoked

Licence to Kill (1989)

Directed by John Glen this is the 16^th film in the Bond franchise and stars Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell and Robert Davi. After the mauling of his good friend Felix Leiter, Bond goes it alone in the hunt for revenge against a drug dealer.

While the plot for this film is one of the more sensible ones given the excesses of the previous Moore run the plot is rather basic. Where the film does fall down is in comparison to For Your Eyes Only (1981) where Bond showed a much more nuanced view of revenge while here that seems to have gone out the window. Few if any of the action sequences here are on the level of some of the more iconic that series has thrown up but over all this is a fairly decent, if average effort.

3/5

Flames of ego

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Directed by John Guilermin this film stars Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden and Faye Dunaway. On the opening night of a massive new skyscraper cost cutting in the buildings construction leads to a massive fire.

This film fits right in with a glut of disaster films that were made around the same period and includes plenty of thrills and spills as the characters struggle to survive. It does take a little while for the story to get going but otherwise this is pretty standard genre fare. When it comes to the stunts some are pretty impressive but it largely fairly obvious model work a lot of the time.

3/5

I have some video tapes to return

American Psycho (2000)

Directed by Mary Harron this film based on the novel of the same name stars Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe and Chloe Sevigny. In the 1980s a young, wealthy banker is frustrated with his job and life.

As with the book it is based on this film is a cutting satire of the rise of superficial life style that arose in the 1980s and is based in conformity, greed and commercialism. The film does a good job of keeping the themes of the book but struggles slightly to retain the ambiguity although this alternate interpretation offered by the film does lend itself more recent cover up culture of the financial sector. There are some really iconic moments in this film that are well captured thanks to the direction and committed performance of Bale in the lead role.

5/5

#vampire problems

Vamps (2012)

Written and directed by Amy Heckerling this film stars Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter and Sigourney Weaver. Two female vampires living in college find that eternal life is not all it's cracked up to be.

While this film is supposed to be a comedy it does sort of lack actual jokes and the dramatic growth the main characters have shows up far too late, pretty much out of nowhere. Mostly the script comes across as too interested in the superficial elements, there are some nods to the idea of people trying to stay young past their time but this is a token effort. When it comes to the casting both Silverstone and Ritter strike me as about 10 years too old for their roles as supposedly eternal 20 somethings, most of the rest of the execution of the film is pretty bland.

2/5

Left behind

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

Directed by Ken Annakin this film based on the novel of the same name stars John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur and Janet Munro. After the ship they are travelling on sinks thanks to pirates a family makes a new life on a desert island.

Obviously this is an old film based on an even older book so some of the attitudes are a little suspect but not so bad as to ruin the film. There are changes between the book and the film, largely to introduce more action rather than give any depth but this film will probably appeal only to younger children. What does take you out of the film are some of the odd choices of animals for the island (tigers and zebras in the same place) and odd choices about which violence is sanitized and which is not.

2/5

Touching

Untouchable (2011)

Written and directed by the duo of Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano this film stars Fancois Cluzet, Omar Sy and Audery Fleurot. In France a young black immigrant who gets a job as a carer for a rich old white man.

The plot for this film does not really pull any surprises and while there seems to be a lot of talk about how race is handled in this film (for better or worse) in my opinion class difference is the bigger issue than race here. What the script has going for it is plenty of personality and manages to bring in tones of humour without taking the easy shots of basing the humour around one of the characters disability. Over all this is a well made film that handles a pretty tricky subject fairly well even if it does not have a huge amount of originality.

4/5

Give away

Free Samples (2012)

Directed by Jay Gammill this film stars Jess Weixler, Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Halley Feiffer and Tippi Hedren. A law school drop out spends the day stuck in an ice cream truck handing out free samples.

The basic plot of this film is your basic coming of age tale with a fairly cynical protagonist. Not much is revolutionary about this film but it does have some funny moments, mostly through the dialogue. Some of the coincidences stretch believability a little towards the end but otherwise this is a pretty well made little independent film.

3/5

The Word

Ordet (1955)

Directed by Carl Th. Dreyer this film based on the play of the same name stars Henrik Malberg, Biritte Federspiel and Emil Hass Christensen. A religious patriarch living on a farm in Denmark struggles with his religion and the religion of those around him.

As the play this film is adapted from was written by a priest it is not surprising that it has a pro-religious conclusion but the general message of the film is that people should be less concerned with the dogma or nature of their faith and focus on believing instead. Mostly the story works well but those of us of a non-religious persuasion may well find the miraculous ending too easy as I did. What I liked about the execution of the film was the long takes with slow camera moves that really draw you in at times.

4/5