Not so slow

Slow West (2015)

Written & directed by John Maclean this film stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Caren Pistorius and Ben Mendelsohn. Innocence and experience travel across Colorado together in search of the same girl but for different reasons.

Taking a simple coming of age tale set in the Old West this film plays out it's story against a stunning back drop. While the plot is enjoyable and has a decent exploration of some moral quandaries it is always the landscape that shines through here. The photography does an excellent job of showing New Zealand standing in for Colorado and is breath taking through out.

4/5

Second album slump

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Written & directed by James Gunn this film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. God makes man, man and his gang of misfits kill god.

Picking up where the last film left off this is a fairly fun film about a group of outsiders becoming a family but always feels like it lacks depth. The plot does the usual MCU trick of moving the plot no a little but still feeling like treading water. Decently made but lacking a little something from the first film I really think the plot needed more of a timer on it to put more energy into the film.

3/5

The worst beach vacation ever

Dunkirk (2017)

Written & directed by Christopher Nolan this film based on real events stars Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard and Kenneth Branagh. We follow the battle of Dunkirk from the land, sea and air as British forces try to evacuate from the beach.

Taking everything he has learned from making his previous films this evolution in Nolan's film making is the perfect mood poem for Dunkirk. Instead of focusing on details and historical figures instead this film attempts to capture the emotions and universal experiences. I really enjoyed this film even if it was 106 minutes of pure anxiety that is exactly what it needed to be.

5/5

Not a trip to Stockholm

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Directed by Bill Condon this film which stars Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Luke Evans is live action adaptation of Disney's previous animated version. A peasant girl from a small village in faux France is locked up in the castle of an aristocrat cursed into beast form.

This is a very safe adaptation of previously existing material that manages to avoid some of the pitfalls in the original folk tale. The relationship between the two central characters is always difficult to handle but I think this version does a decent job. Of course the highlight of the film is Emma Watson but largely the film is as you would expect it to be.

3/5

Batman makes friends

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Directed by Chris Mckay this film has voices from Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson and Ralph Fiennes. Our hero needs to learn to play with others.

Taking the humour of the first Lego film and grafting it onto an odd ball version of the Batman universe this is a fun ride through out. The message behind the film is pretty simple but the script is chock full of jokes and references to keep even adults entertained. Some of the action sequences get a little hectic but over all this is a really well made effort.

4/5

The Shane of mutants

Logan (2017)

Directed by James Mangold this film stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook and Dafne Keen. Many years in the future an aged Wolverine is called to help a young mutant girl as he tries to look after Professor X who is suffering from a brain disease.

Continuing the sequence of every stand alone Wolverine film being better than it's predecessor this is the best X-Men film in some time. What I love most about this film is the way it brings something new to the genre, a look at what happens to our heroes once they are past their prime. While I do believe that everything is Shane (1953) this film does occasionally get a little too close to being heavy handed in drawing parallels. There are some great performances from Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman, it will be a real shame that Jackman is retiring from the role but this was a great way to go out.

4/5

Baby is all grown up

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Directed by Robert Aldrich this film based on the novel of the same name stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. A child star grows up to find her sister has the more successful career and torments her in her twilight years.

Somewhat more famous for the behind the scenes feud between lead actresses this is still an entertaining thriller. While the plot is not overly deep it is a fun fight between two great actresses. Compared to modern thrillers this may be no great shakes but it was ground breaking in it's day.

3/5