Leeches on society

Yakuza Apocalypse (2015)

Directed by Takashi Miike this film stars Hayato Ichihara, Yayan Ruhian, Riko Narumi and Lily Franky. A small town yakuza that looks up to his boss who protects the town finds out his boss is a vampire.

Including the usual bizarre Takashi Miike touches this film is fairly out there but starts with a decent idea, yakuza being blood suckers that live on the blood of civilians. Unfortunately the plot never takes the metaphor anywhere interesting and while the action sequences are entertaining they are not overly impressive. While I enjoyed this film there is little about it that will likely stay with me.

3/5

Making a splash

Sinkin' in the Bathtub (1930)

Directed by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising this cartoon has voices from Carmen Maxwell and Rochelle Hudson. After taking a bath Bosko heads out to see his girlfriend.

The first first cartoon from Looney Tunes this could easily be a Mickey and Minnie Mouse story and offers not a huge amount plot wise. Where this cartoon is really strong is that it is chock full of jokes from start to finish. I thought this cartoon really set a high standard for the quantity and surreal nature of humour in cartoons.

4/5

Love, nationalism and prison

Bandini (1963)

Directed by Bimal Roy this film based on the novel Tamasi stars Nutan, Ashok Kumar and Dharmendra. In 1934 a young woman is in prison for murder but begins to find she and the prison doctor have romantic feelings for each other.

I was not convinced by the structure of this film, with so much told in flashback, or the ending but I still enjoyed this film. Taking an unusual subject matter for the period this is a pretty interesting film despite it's flaws. There is a good performance from Nutan, some decent camera work but unfortunately some poor film stock.

4/5

Tipping point

Money Monster (2016)

Directed by Jodie Foster this film stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell, Caitriona Balfe and Dominic West. The host of a stock market tips program finds himself and his crew held hostage live on air by a man who lots everything on one of his tips.

In it's resolution this film may be a little obviously constructed but I really enjoyed how for the majority of the film the script rarely goes where you expect. While the film is not funny through out it certainly has it's moments and is some what timely in it's finger pointing at the financial markets. I enjoyed the performances although Jack O'Connell's character was a bit one dimensional.

4/5

Making a splash

Max Takes a Bath (1910)

Directed by Lucien Nonguet this film stars Max Linder. Diagnosed with a nervous twitch our hero is ordered to take daily cold baths.

Despite the simple plot things never run smoothly for Max as this is a silent comedy so plenty of silliness occurs. There are some decent gags in the set pieces and this is a good example of early comedy. Some of the special effects are pretty good all things considered.

3/5

#RichKidProblems

Kids in Love (2016)

Directed by Chris Foggin this film stars Will Poulter, Alma Jodorowsky, Sebastian de Souza and Cara Delevingne. A boy on his gap year starts to question his plans for the future and meets a girl who introduces him to new friends.

While this may be a coming of age film really it reeks of rich kids complaining they have everything handed to them on a plate and the impossibility of any of them working a “real job”. No doubt many young people do suffer existential crises at this point in their lives but this film is so wrapped in privilege it is hard to take the characters seriously. The acting and direction are decent but find it impossible to over come the flaws of the script.

2/5

56 years later they finally ruined it

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Directed by Antonie Fuqua this remake of a remake stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Vincent D'Onofrio. Farmers under threat from a robber baron seek out gunfighters to help them protect their land.

Akira Kurosawa must have been worried in 1960 when Hollywood first remade Seven Samurai (1954) that they would ruin his film but thankfully they did not, unfortunately Hollywood has now made good on that threat. Taking out pretty much everything that makes both prior efforts great films we end up here with violence without morality. This is a typical Hollywood pop corn picture with no brain or heart just plenty of explosions to try and distract you. Lacking anything in the way of character or personality it's hard to connect with the characters on screen. For someone as talented as Fuqua this film is a real disappointment with even the direction and editing in the action sequences being bland.

2/5

Special friends

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)

Directed by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa this film stars Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman and Alfred Molina. Bored of her life and stuck in a rut a television journalist takes the opportunity to work as a correspondent in Afghanistan in 2003.

As a piece of fiction this is an entertaining film that shows some of the more strange things that go on in Afghanistan. Not necessarily sticking too closely to it's source material or offering a deep take on the war in Afghanistan this is still a fun watch. I enjoyed the performance of Tina Fey who carries the film well.

3/5

Everyone wants a scar

Madeline (1952)

Directed by Robert Cannon this cartoon is based on the book of the same name by Ludwig Bemelmans. Twelve girls live in a Catholic boarding school in Paris but one of their number gets appendicitis.

Taking a simple story this is a good adaptation that fits well with the style of UPA's other cartoon. While the plot might be simple and not as funny as some of the other cartoons by UPA it is still entertaining. The animation style is decent as is the narration.

3/5

Horse shit

Wild Horses (2015)

Written, directed by and staring Robert Duvall this film also features James Franco, Josh Hartnett and Luciana Duvall. A Texas Ranger looks into the fifteen year old disappearance of a young man who was last seen on the land of a wealthy rancher.

Despite the great respect I have for Robert Duvall as an actor it is hard to find anything to praise about this film. The script has some seriously suspect dialogue and scenes that do not flow together naturally. There are also some really weak performances, Luciana Duvall being the worst offender with a completely wooden performance, and the direction is uninspiring at times too.

1/5

Never paying the character price

Paying Guest (1957)

Directed by Subodh Mukherjee this film stars Dev Anand, Nutan, Shubha Khote and Gajanan Jagirdar. Posing as an old man a young lawyer who schemes to get into the house of a family that hate him so he can seduce the daughter.

Confusingly this film starts as a comedy with a bit of romance becomes a noir in the middle and ends with a flash of a courtroom drama. It is not the genre swapping that disappointed me most about the film though it is that the male protagonist is actually pretty vile and never really earns a transformation which the ending uses. I suppose the performances are decent but the patchwork script really holds this film back.

2/5

A battle of the musical ages

Long-Haired Hare (1949)

Directed by Chuck Jones this cartoon has voices by Mel Blanc and Nicolai Shutorov. Bugs falls out with an opera singer and sets out to get revenge on him.

This is a classic parody and one of the better known Bugs Bunny cartoons. Living up to the hype this battle between silly and formal has plenty of laughs along the way. The animation is good as is the singing from Shutorov.

4/5

Unwanted and unfullfiling

The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)

Directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan this sequel stars Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain. From the Huntsman's past comes a threat in the north and the disappearance of the magic mirror.

Mixing part prequel and mostly sequel this film is a disappointment with plot that relies too much on exposition and does not always make sense. None of the characters are engaging and there is not enough comedy or action to hold together the flimsy plot. Leaning heavily on CGI the film is not exactly impressive to watch either.

2/5

Evil in yonder woods

The Witch (2015)

Written and directed by Robert Eggers this film stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralp Ineson, Kate Dickie and Harvey Scrimshaw. In the 1600s a family are exiled from the plantation in New Hampshire but when they go to live in the woods something evil menaces them.

Nothing is overly original about this simple genre piece but it is really well crafted. While the plot offers no deep insight into the nature of evil it does manage to by pass a lot of the questionable usual genre conventions about blaming sexuality. The direction is really good and Anya Taylor-Joy is clearly an actress to watch for the future.

4/5  

The unseen attempting to see

Poetry (2010)

Written and directed by Lee Chang-dong this film stars Yoon Jeong-hee, Lee David and Kim Hee-ra. An old woman struggles to find beauty in the world while after the suicide of a girl who was gang raped by six boys including her grandson.

This film has a fair amount to say about the way women are treated in a society that is still heavily paternalistic. While this may not be for everyone I enjoyed this tragic tale of woman trying to see the world while everyone else largely ignores her. There are good performances from the cast, especially Yoon Jeong-hee who has to carry the film.

4/5

A classic Griffith finale

The Lonely Villa (1909)

Directed by D. W. Griffith this film based on the play Au Telephone stars David Miles, Marion Leonard and Mary Pickford. When a man heads out criminals break into his house and terrorise his wife and daughters.

Taking a simple plot this film ends with a classic Griffith devise of tension over people riding to a last minute rescue. Clearly this is a very early film so lacks much complexity but it does what it sets out to do. What direction and action there is is of acceptable levels.

3/5

Not exactly a sequel

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg this film stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman and John Gallagher, Jr. Awakening inside a survivalists bunker after a car crash a young woman unsure of who or what to believe.

Starting with a decent premise this is an average execution of a claustrophobic thriller. I found the characters lacking in development and the final reveals a little too out of the blue really. John Goodman gives a really good performance but could do with having more to work with from the script.

3/5

Bollywood on classic Hollywood

Anari (1959)

Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee this film stars Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Lalita Pawar, Subha Khote and Motilal. A poor man who is honest to a fault falls in love with a woman who is a rich girl pretending to be poor.

This is a heart warming romantic comedy in the style of classic Hollywood but with that unmistakeable Bollywood polish to it. I really enjoyed the plot, it may be a little obviously constructed but the story unfolds well leading to a fair conclusion. Unfortunately the film stock is always up to the quality of the rest of the film and while Raj Kapoor gives a great performance he is a little old for his role.

4/5

Sounds like

Gerald McBoing-Boing (1950)

Directed by Robert Cannon this cartoon is based on a story by Dr. Seuss and is narrated by Marvin Miller. A young boys parents are at their wits end when their son can only communicate in sound effects.

A fairly simple story this is an entertaining short cartoon. There are not a ton of jokes but the over all premise is amusing. The art style is fine but unremarkable.

3/5

Mixed messages

Our Brand is Crisis (2015)

Directed by David Gordon Green this film inspired by real events stars Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie and Joaquim de Almeida. American political advisors head to Bolivia to attempt to turn around the fortunes of a political candidate.

Taking inspiration from the 2002 Bolivian election this film never really seems to get to grips with the issues and instead is too light of a take on the subject. We never really get to know the candidate and the film gives off too much of a vibe of Americans riding round the globe like they are the only ones that understand democracy. The cast do the best they can but I think the tone of the film is misplaced and the story too obviously constructed at times.

2/5

Basking in the darkness

Baskin (2015)

Directed by Can Evrenol this film stars Ergun Kuyucu, Muharrem Bayrak, Gorkem Kasal, Fatih Dokgoz and Sabahattin Yakut. Five Turkish policemen find themselves called out to a remote location and appear to have fallen into hell.

Visually this film is very impressive, while it is littered with gore and disturbing images it is done so with style. Unfortunately the plot does not really add a lot of scope or depth to the film but is good enough even if it takes a little while to get going. Considering the limitations the film was made under this is a really impressive effort even if it will not appeal to the tastes of all.

4/5

Capital issue

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

Directed by Francis Lawrence this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson. Now with the rebels Katniss finds herself being the symbolic head of the rebellion.

Clearly this film wants to ask questions about the ethics of war but never seems to get there, probably due to being the first half or a two parter. I did like that our protagonist is finally becoming more proactive but I felt like the film left so many questions unanswered it was dissatisfying. There are good performances from the cast but the film seems limited by studio greed.

3/5  

Wood in the woods

Flowers and Trees (1932)

Directed by Burt Gillett this is the first colour cartoon from Walt Disney Productions. Everyone in the forest goes about their business pleasantly till a tree gets jealous of the romance between two younger trees.

Taking a simple plot this is a fairly entertaining short cartoon. While there is not a huge amount of comedy there is the odd moment here and there that raises a chuckle. Clearly not the best of Disney's output this is still a major milestone for them.

3/5

5 jiltings and 0 funerals

Shuddh Desi Romance (2013)

Directed by Maneesh Sharma this film stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra, Vaani Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor. A young man from India who works as a tourist guide and occasional rental guest for weddings struggles to find what marriage means for him.

Exploring a younger generations attitudes to love and marriage against the traditional values of India this film is somewhat interesting but maybe a little too gentle in it's approach as the main characters never really suffer any major consequences for their actions. I did enjoy the film and the ending was a refreshing choice. Some of the musical numbers were a little kitsch for my taste but over all this was a decent watch.

3/5

War, I saw

Warsaw 44 (2014)

Written & directed by Jan Komasa this film stars Jozef Pawlowski, Zofia Wichlacz and Anna Prochniak. In 1944 teenagers join the Polish home army and take part in the Warsaw uprising against the German occupiers.

Taking a historical backdrop this fictional story manages to capture the horrors of the real events and while it never goes deep into the political aspects it tells a good human story. Some may find this hard watching but I thought it was a really good film. Unusually the film mixes in modern electronic music on it's sound track which works surprisingly well.

4/5

By the horns

Ferdinand the Bull (1938)

Directed by Dick Rickard this film based on the story by Munro Leaf is narrated by Don Wilson. Finding himself to be of a more gentle disposition than his peers a bull looks for a peaceful life.

Taking a simple story this is a decent adaptation from Walt Disney. Winning the Oscar for best animated short clearly this was one of the best films of it's period but I would not say it is overly remarkable. Both the animation and story are good but maybe a few more jokes would have helped.

3/5

In a big hole

The 33 (2015)

Directed by Patricia Riggen this film based on real events stars Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche and Lou Diamond Philips. Thirty three miners become trapped underground in a Chilean mine and the world watches on as the government attempts to rescue them.

Taking a familiar news item this disaster film provides a decent but shallow over view of the events of the 2010 mining disaster. While the film is a fine watch it never seems to be more than skin deep. The cast and crew do a decent job but at times the script seems to fall back on familiar genre cliches.

3/5

The travel bug

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Written & directed by John Landis this film stars David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Giffin Dunne and John Woodvine. Two American backpackers travelling in Northern England fall foul of a werewolf.

Coming billed as a cult classic this film is a fun little genre film but never really lives up to the hype. I am not sure either the plot or the characters are really fully developed enough. The special effects are good for the period and probably what gives the film it's reputation.

3/5

Clash of the DC titans

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Directed by Zack Snyder this film stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg and Gal Gadot. Two titans, the great detective and the man of steel, face off over their different points of view.

Hinting at the theological this film opens asking some interesting questions about the world of super heroes and vigilantes but never really suggests any answers. While the second half of the film does not always hit it's emotional moments perfectly I found it to be a far less cluttered film than Captain America: Civil War (2016), providing a better take on the issues and also feeling more like an epic battle of titans. I enjoyed the performances and I am actually looking forward to move from the DC universe now.

4/5

Snapping

Elmer's Candid Camera (1940)

Directed by Chuck Jones this cartoon has voice acting from Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan. Elmer decides he wants to become a wild life photographer but gets more than he bargained for when he runs into a rascally rabbit.

Fairly silly but not overly humorous this is a pretty standard entry in the Merrie Melodies series. At the time they were still working out the kinks in the characters so while they are recognisable they do loo slightly different. Not as good as some of it's successors this is still a decent effort.

3/5

Even the CGI has CGI

The Jungle Book (2016)

Directed by Jon Favreau this film based on the book of the same name stars Neel Sethi with the voices of Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray and Idris Elba. A young boy is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle where he finds himself hunted by a tiger.

Taking a classic tale and a hint of the previous Disney animation this film is a good adaptation of Kipling's ideas. I enjoyed the coming of age style of the story as well as the themes that run throughout the film. Mixing live action and CGI works pretty well here even if all the CGI is not perfect it still gives the film a great look.

4/5