Hanging around

Monkey Business (1952)

Directed by Howard Hawks this film stars Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe and Chris Coburn. A scientist working on an anti ageing formula tests a new batch on himself with slightly different results than expected.

As a standard screw-ball comedy this film is pretty funny and has some good if not classic moments. The story suggest that maybe youth is not something the characters should be rushing after but does not exactly explore this theme with great depth beyond the idea children are childish. Where the film stands out is in it's excellent cast and it would have been to see more of Marilyn Monroe who is really good in the parts she is in.

4/5

The kids don't care

Tokyo Story (1953)

Directed by Yasujiro Ozu this film stars Chishu Ryu, Chieko Higashiyama and Setsuko Hara. An elderly couple travel to Tokyo to visit their grown up children and their families.

You will find this film on a number of “greatest ever film” lists and it is certainly a very good film but I am not sure it does enough to jump off the screen to fulfil it's reputation. The story is a sad one of children that no longer have time for their parents that could just as easily be set today as 60 years ago. While the direction and editing are slightly different to what you might be used to it is done in such a subtle way that you may not even notice.

4/5

Broom broom

Drive (2011)

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn this film based on the novel of the same name stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks. A mechanic and Hollywood stunt driver moonlights as a getaway driver.

The plot of this film clearly resembles a number of classic genre stories but does a good job of leaving more unsaid than said. Where the film is made is in it's execution which looks and sounds amazing. There is a nice level of tension through out which comes from the excellent direction and performances from a great cast.

4/5

Into cashing in

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Directed by J. J. Abrams this sequel to the 2009 reboot stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Karl Urban and Alive Eve. Kirk and crew hunt down a terrorist responsible for two attacks on Star Fleet.

I was not a big fan of Star Trek (2009) and I was not a big fan of this film for mostly the same reasons, this film is all bells and whistles with no heart or brain. Inevitably there are going to be comparisons to Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan (1982) which the script of this film falls well short of capturing the enigmatic nature of the same antagonist. While the plot attempts to say something relevant about the war on terror it never gets close to exploring those themes or being relevant in a way that Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country (1991) did, indeed motivation for the dark characters is never explored or explained. Alice Eve is criminally underused, you have to wonder if she is solely included for a scene where she is in her underwear and while Benedict Cumberbatch is a great actor his casting really does not fit with previous versions of the same character. Much like it's predecessor this film is not bad as an action film but is lacking as anything more which is a real disappointment.

2/5

Caught in the middle

Samurai Spy (1965)

Directed by Masahiro Shinoda this film based on a novel by Koji Nakada stars Koji Takahashi, Mutsuhiro Toura and Tetsuro Tamba. A samurai working as a spy for a neutral clan is drawn into the conflict between two rival powers.

Made during the Cold War the plot of this film could easily be a metaphor for the position that Japan and many other countries found themselves in, caught in the espionage war between East and West. Maybe it is because I do not speak the language the film is made in but at times I did find the plot hard to keep track of as it becomes increasingly convoluted with characters and double crosses. In general the action sequences are well made with some good samurai battles but the film could have done with being a little clearer as to who is who at times.

3/5

Chasing losses

Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood (2001)

Directed by Kevin Burns and Brent Zacky this documentary features interviews and unseen footage from Cleopatra (1963). We followed the troubled production of Cleopatra (1963) as a film studio bets everything it has on this mega production.

What this documentary does an excellent job of is charting disaster after disaster and various types of mismanagement that Cleopatra suffered from. Where the film falls down on is that it never fulfils it's premise and barely scrapes the surface of putting the film into a wider context of film history. It would have been nice to see some more interviews with those who had first hand experience with making the film but sadly nearly all the key people were dead by the time this documentary was made.

3/5

What was anyone thinking?

Sharknado (2013)

Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante this film stars Tara Reid, Ian Ziering, John Heard, Cassie Scerbo and Jaason Simmons. Los Angeles comes under attack from flooding, sharks and tornadoes.

This film has allegedly become something of a cult hit but it is very hard to see why as nearly every element of the film is terrible. About the best thing you could say about this film is that at least it is not massively offensive just stupid and badly made. The special effects are poor as is the casting, performances, script, direction and editing so watch at your own peril.

1/5