Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
The gang are all back for the third Potter film apart from director Chris Columbus who stepped a side to be replaced by Alfonso Cuaron and Richard Harris who died, his part is now played by Michael Gambon. The aforementioned prisoner has escaped and is on the loose looking for young Mr Potter.
This film maintains the same high production standards of the previous entries despite a change of director which appears to be fairly seamless. There are some really interesting elements to this film such as the nature of werewolves, how one might escape from a magical prison and how being in prison for twelve years for something you did not do might affect someone however these are largely untouched upon as they do not involve the children directly. In the end this is an acceptable entry into the franchise but it does feel like a lot of good opportunities were passed up.
3/5
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Once Upon a time in China
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Funded by an Asian conglomerate this adaptation of the Chinese novel of the same name is directed by Any Lee and stars Cow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. There is an assassin on the loose and a young governor’s daughter does not want to get married.
Obviously what first sparks attention in this film is the excellent wire work and martial arts sequences in this film but there is more to the film than just that. The main themes of the film are the characters struggling with the obligations of their place in society as well as the idea of poison in a literal and ideological sense. While the plot is maybe not that unoriginal all the parts of this film tie together well to make a both interesting and visually impressive film.
5/5
Funded by an Asian conglomerate this adaptation of the Chinese novel of the same name is directed by Any Lee and stars Cow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. There is an assassin on the loose and a young governor’s daughter does not want to get married.
Obviously what first sparks attention in this film is the excellent wire work and martial arts sequences in this film but there is more to the film than just that. The main themes of the film are the characters struggling with the obligations of their place in society as well as the idea of poison in a literal and ideological sense. While the plot is maybe not that unoriginal all the parts of this film tie together well to make a both interesting and visually impressive film.
5/5
Friday, 29 July 2011
Lightweight
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
In his final film made shortly before his death Spencer Tracy stars along side Sidney Poitier and Katherine Hepburn. A young white woman and a black man want to get married, drama ensues.
It is hard to put this film in the context of the time it was made when as the film states inter-racial marriage was illegal in a number of states in the US but in a modern context I am not sure the film holds up that well. In my opinion the film is too soft in approach with little real prejudice from the main characters as well as using a situation that is far too ideal, creating little tension and not really exploring the issues at hand. It would have been nice to see a much more blunt and less self congratulatory take on the subject.
3/5 in modern terms not really shocking at all.
In his final film made shortly before his death Spencer Tracy stars along side Sidney Poitier and Katherine Hepburn. A young white woman and a black man want to get married, drama ensues.
It is hard to put this film in the context of the time it was made when as the film states inter-racial marriage was illegal in a number of states in the US but in a modern context I am not sure the film holds up that well. In my opinion the film is too soft in approach with little real prejudice from the main characters as well as using a situation that is far too ideal, creating little tension and not really exploring the issues at hand. It would have been nice to see a much more blunt and less self congratulatory take on the subject.
3/5 in modern terms not really shocking at all.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Three husbands and a civil war
Gone With the Wind (1939)
Probably the first major block buster was adapted from the novel of the same name and stars Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Olivia de Havilland. Civil war gets in the way of a plantation owner's daughter and her ambitions.
Weighing in at nearly 4 hours long this is a serious marathon of a movie that took it's toll on the numerous writers and directors that worked on the project. This film is clearly a landmark in film making and the first half in particular has some great cinematography as well really impressive sections where Atlanta is being burnt to the ground (no CGI here). There are also some really great performances from the cast, it is easy to see how the film went on to pick up 8 Oscars.
What the film is really about is women of the 1930s struggling for freedom and control of their own lives in both personal terms and economic. Unfortunately the film is not as progressive in it's view of the South and race relations, at best you could say the story paints a massively naive view of the Confederacy but really reflects on how even 90 years after the civil war racism was still rampant in American culture. What the story does well is have interesting, not necessarily likeable characters, and manages not to drift too far into the realms of melodrama.
4/5 a flawed milestone in the history cinema.
Probably the first major block buster was adapted from the novel of the same name and stars Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Olivia de Havilland. Civil war gets in the way of a plantation owner's daughter and her ambitions.
Weighing in at nearly 4 hours long this is a serious marathon of a movie that took it's toll on the numerous writers and directors that worked on the project. This film is clearly a landmark in film making and the first half in particular has some great cinematography as well really impressive sections where Atlanta is being burnt to the ground (no CGI here). There are also some really great performances from the cast, it is easy to see how the film went on to pick up 8 Oscars.
What the film is really about is women of the 1930s struggling for freedom and control of their own lives in both personal terms and economic. Unfortunately the film is not as progressive in it's view of the South and race relations, at best you could say the story paints a massively naive view of the Confederacy but really reflects on how even 90 years after the civil war racism was still rampant in American culture. What the story does well is have interesting, not necessarily likeable characters, and manages not to drift too far into the realms of melodrama.
4/5 a flawed milestone in the history cinema.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Keep on rolling
Skateland (2011)
Director and Writer Anthony Burns brings a coming of age tale to the big scren starting Shiloh Fernandez and Ashley Greene. A 19 year old boy that works at the local roller rink has no idea what to do with his life, stuff happens.
There is not much new here and the ultimate conclusion of the film that the main character should just go to college is a real weak way out. For anyone that grew up in the 80s one of the highlights of the film is no doubt the sound track although a mix tape would work equally as well as watching this film. About the only shining light in this film is the really good performance of Ashley Greene but other than that there is not a whole lot to recommend this film above it's numerous rivals.
3/5 average 80s coming of age tale.
Director and Writer Anthony Burns brings a coming of age tale to the big scren starting Shiloh Fernandez and Ashley Greene. A 19 year old boy that works at the local roller rink has no idea what to do with his life, stuff happens.
There is not much new here and the ultimate conclusion of the film that the main character should just go to college is a real weak way out. For anyone that grew up in the 80s one of the highlights of the film is no doubt the sound track although a mix tape would work equally as well as watching this film. About the only shining light in this film is the really good performance of Ashley Greene but other than that there is not a whole lot to recommend this film above it's numerous rivals.
3/5 average 80s coming of age tale.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Stolen time
The Good Die Young (1954)
This British crime drama stars Stanley Baker and also includes a young Joan Collins in a supporting role. Four men from differing back grounds are down on their luck and all have women problems, is crime the solution?
There is nothing especially original about this film and unfortunately it ends up being a bit of a weak effort as it spends far too long building up the back story for the characters. It is nearly two thirds of the way into the film before we really get down to the meat and potatoes of the story and this means there is very little drama or tension. When we finally do get to the crime itself and the resolution that greed corrupts it is far too little and far too late.
2/5 weak effort.
This British crime drama stars Stanley Baker and also includes a young Joan Collins in a supporting role. Four men from differing back grounds are down on their luck and all have women problems, is crime the solution?
There is nothing especially original about this film and unfortunately it ends up being a bit of a weak effort as it spends far too long building up the back story for the characters. It is nearly two thirds of the way into the film before we really get down to the meat and potatoes of the story and this means there is very little drama or tension. When we finally do get to the crime itself and the resolution that greed corrupts it is far too little and far too late.
2/5 weak effort.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Artsy
Seraphine (2009)
This French film won numerous awards in it's own country and stars Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur. Based on a true story a German art critic discovers a French cleaning lady with a talent for painting.
This is a fairly slow moving film and I think it would have been more interesting if it included a bit more of the artists childhood so we could better understand how she became the person she was but instead it focuses on the relationship between the artist and her patron. Another possible direction would have been a greater focus on if the patron was just taking advantage of a crazy old lady or not. While the relationship portrayed is unusual I have to say that over all the film is less interesting than the art work Seraphine ended up producing which is full of rich and vibrant colours.
3/5 average art biopic.
This French film won numerous awards in it's own country and stars Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur. Based on a true story a German art critic discovers a French cleaning lady with a talent for painting.
This is a fairly slow moving film and I think it would have been more interesting if it included a bit more of the artists childhood so we could better understand how she became the person she was but instead it focuses on the relationship between the artist and her patron. Another possible direction would have been a greater focus on if the patron was just taking advantage of a crazy old lady or not. While the relationship portrayed is unusual I have to say that over all the film is less interesting than the art work Seraphine ended up producing which is full of rich and vibrant colours.
3/5 average art biopic.
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