Apr 30 2013

Review | Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3

Directed by Shane Black

The third film in the Iron Man series is set shortly after the events which occurred in Avengers, but Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is not celebrating any victories. Inwardly he is struggling to come to terms with these recent events (simply referred to as New York) Iron Man 3 Teaser Posterand suffers anxiety attacks due to post-traumatic stress. He has withdrawn himself to a certain degree, spending most of his time tinkering in his workshop while Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is left to run Stark Industries, and Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) rules the skies in his War Machine suit, now re-branded as the Iron Patriot. As a result of all his spare time, Stark has made some impressive changes to the Iron Man suits, which are at times funny, but also very cool.

While Iron Man has been in semi-retirement, a new evil has risen in the form of The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), who indiscriminately slaughters men, women and children, with the help of his new breed of super soldier, and defies all, claiming that the United States is getting what is coming to it. In a confrontation with the media, Tony Stark impulsively dares the Mandarin to bring the fight to him, which he promptly does, destroying Stark’s entire house with Tony and Pepper barely managing to escape. Stark goes AWOL trying to figure out the mystery of The Mandarin and has to do so without the help of his Iron Man suit. He proves that he is not just a hero because of his armored suit, but he is quite the formidable foe with even the most basic of tools. We get to see Iron Man in his simplest, most basic form. No glamour, no computers, just the genius that is Tony Stark. Then when the going gets rough we also get to see what he can do with his entire workshop. Tony Stark is not perfect and his weaknesses are laid bare in this story but he proves that he is still a hero even when everything has been taken away from him.

The first movie to be released as part of Marvel’s Phase 2, Iron Man 3 had a lot to live up to. Especially being the first Marvel movie to come out since Avengers. How do you create a bigger battle than the one that earth’s mightiest heroes had to face?  Well, Iron Man 3 wasn’t out to try and go bigger or more impressive, yet I was more impressed. The story was deeper and the villains seemed more villainous. Iron Man had to face this threat on his own. There was no S.H.I.E.L.D. or Avengers team to back him up this time. One has to assume they were busy dealing with their own problems. As always, Robert Downey Jr. is the perfect fit for Tony Stark. Anyone can put on an Iron Man suit but in my eyes only Downey Jr. could be Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow had more than one moment to shine this time as Pepper got her chance to be the hero. I could feel the emotion shown in her face at the times when she showed her care for Tony. Without giving away too much of the plot I will say that Ben Kingsley was great as The Mandarin but I was disappointed with how his role played out, through no fault of his own. His acting was impeccable. Guy Peirce was also a very cool calculating bad guy as Aldrich Killian. These Marvel movies never fail to keep a sense of humor through it all and Iron Man is always great with his deadpan wit.

Written by Ben Freeman

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Mar 29 2013

FILM HOUSES YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO LIVE IN

FILM HOUSES YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO LIVE IN

 

From the producer of Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and Sinister comes DARK SKIES: a supernatural thriller about a young family living in the suburbs.  Daniel and Lacey Barret and their two young sons witness an escalating series of disturbing events involving their family.  Unable to understand what is happening to them their safe and peaceful home quickly unravels and friends turn against them.

When it becomes clear they are being targeted by an unimaginably terrifying and deadly force, Daniel and Lacey take matters into their own hands to uncover the truth and protect what belongs to them.

 

Finding the perfect home is tough enough without having to think about ghosts, demons, and aliens.  So to celebrate the release of Dark Skies on 3 April we are taking a whistle-stop tour around the film houses you really wouldn’t want to call home, including: the Bates mansion from Psycho, Leatherface’s family home from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Freeling household from Poltergeist.

The Barrett family home (DARK SKIES)

You could not ask for a nicer home than the Barrett’s house. Situated in the heart of a pleasant neighborhood with friendly neighbors on both sides this is a lovely property for any family. The only downside to this location is the occasion attacks from ‘The Grays’, dark forces intent on causing disruption and general havoc.

The Bates Mansion (PSYCHO)

Do not be deceived by attractive offers of dinner with an elderly woman at the Bates mansion. For once you step into this home your chances of coming out alive are seriously diminished. A particular room to avoid would be the basement, in which you may meet a few more residence than you bargained for.

House of Leatherface (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE)

This quiet country residence is far from the city and will provide time away from the hustle and bustle. Unfortunately it also homes a leather-faced, chainsaw-wielding serial killer who enjoys impaling women and massacring travelers searching for petrol. It is also worth noting that local petrol station attendants and hitchhikers are not to be trusted.

112 Ocean Avenue (THE AMYTVILLE HORROR)

This Dutch Colonial house located in a suburban neighborhood in Long Island looks like the perfect home for a family of five, but all is not as it seems in this dark residence. Strange goings on include swarms of flies, red swine-like eyes outside the second floor window and ooze that drips out of the walls and the toilets.

The Freeling household in Cuesta Verde (POLTERGEIST)

In the planned community of Cuesta Verde sits the Freeling house. The house seems fine at first but when the static on the TV starts playing up it is time to go. Be especially careful of the living room ceiling and bedroom closet. Nothing serious, they are just portals to a ghostly realm inhabited by ghouls who will steal your children. Like I said, nothing serious.

The Isolated Cabin (THE EVIL DEAD)

A remote cabin in Morristown Tennessee is the ideal location for a spring break with a couple of friends. The local woodland is perfect for walks and the cabin is nice and cosy. My only advice would be to steer clear of reading the ‘book of the dead’. If you decide to give this charming publication a read you may experience such frustrations as sadistic trees, fire-poker-wielding girlfriends and demons possessing your friends and trying to butcher you.

The MacNeil’s (THE EXORCIST)

Situated in Georgetown, Washington is the house which the MacNeils call home. This lovely re-brick house on the corner of Prospect and 36 is worth every penny. It’s worth avoiding one of the bedroom however, as a demon named Pazuzu has the nasty habit of possessing its inhabitant. It usually takes two priests to get rid of this nasty individual, and please note that the window will need replacing after their visit.

Mar 26 2013

Review: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Directed by Don Scardino

The story of the incredible Burt Wonderstone begins in 1982, when a bullied young Burt arrives home after school to find the house empty on his birthday, with instructions from his mother on how to make his own cake, including going to the shop for the ingredients. When he opens the present left for him he finds a magic kit, complete with instructional video, and becomes obsessed with magic, the The Incredible Burt Wonderstone postersense of wonder it brings and the feeling that anything is possible. Through the magic tricks a friendship is formed at school, which over the years ends up being a partnership in a very showy Vegas act, where they speak about their “magical friendship” and it becomes the basis of their act together. Time goes by and Burt becomes tired of his act, but doesn’t want to change anything, until his position is threatened by the arrival of a popular new magician, Steve Gray, who calls himself the Brain Rapist. His acts are as horrific as his name, but he manages to pull crowds by being more extreme, outrageous and even sickening, more like Jackass stunts than magic, but the audience is once again thrilled by new things they haven’t seen before. In a failed attempt to create a similar type of act, Burt and Anton have a falling out and their act falls apart. The two friends go their separate ways but are soon humbled by their experiences and realize all the things they had lost sight of: the importance of their friendship, and their excitement about magic. Everything builds up to a final showdown between the competing magicians, where Steve completes his final dramatic act (there is nothing magic about it, he is just going for gross), but is completely overshadowed by Burt (and new partner Jane) and Anton’s grand new magic act.

It is a heart warming ending to a story that reminds us about the importance of our friendships and not losing the wonder and excitement we had as children.

This is one of those movies that as soon as it started I knew I was going to enjoy it. I was taken back to the eighties in the opening scenes and loved all the details. You can feel the excitement over their newly learned magic tricks and in turn feel the disappointment we are meant to feel when the act goes stale years later. The parts are well cast, particularly Jim Carrey as the “Brain Rapist”, but also Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi as Burt and Anton. Olivia Wilde was great as Jane, but they could have done a lot more with her. She showed off her talent in the parts she was given but I guess after all this is a movie about The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.

I am a sucker for a feel good movie and always love a happy ending so I was pleased with the end result of this film. It was entertaining even if it was predictable, and to my delight I found myself laughing at a lot of the humor.

Written by Ben Freeman

Mar 26 2013

Review: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

This tale begins in Britain, 740 AD, the time of Merlin and Morgan le Fay. This is where the foundation for the story is laid with an introduction to Balthazar the good sorcerer, played by Nicolas Cage, Horvath the evil sorcerer, played by Alfred Molina, and the promise of a chosen one or “Prime Merlinian” who would be Merlin’s successor.

the sorcerer's apprentice POSTERHundreds of years go by and we arrive in New York where Balthazar meets Dave Stutler, the young boy who is to become his apprentice. Very soon all hell breaks loose as these two come under attack from Horvath but the action ends as abruptly as it started when Balthazar traps himself and Horvath in a vase.  Another ten years go by before the two sorcerers are freed and the fight continues. Dave, now played by Jay Baruchel, joins the fight and must learn on the go from Balthazar. As Horvath makes preparations to raise an army Dave hones his powers, while winning over the girl of his dreams. Everything culminates in a final battle, with a brilliant display of fireworks, and finishes up pretty much as you would expect.

There have been a few movies in recent years that have started out as a very basic idea and expanded into a screenplay, for example Battleship, based on the game Battleships, though how that game translates into a story I’ve no idea. Disney has drawn on old material for their movies also. Pirates of the Caribbean was based on a ride at Disneyland, as was The Haunted House. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a remake of possibly the most famous story from the musical Fantasia, where the part of the apprentice is played by Mickey Mouse. If you’ve seen the cartoon you’ll remember that the majority of the story was about Mickey using the magic to help himself get the chores done, but getting into trouble because he used it for selfish reasons and yes, of course they recreate that scene, but thankfully there is much more to the story than that. Director Jon Turteltaub loves to have some good old fashioned values and morals in his films and this one is no different.

The effects are well done, the sequence with the tesla coils put to music I found impressive and some of the scenes involving the sorcery I thought were quite clever and original. I had to laugh at one quote which was straight out of Star Wars, and I loved hearing the same old music from Fantasia start up as Dave started to clean the lab using his powers to control the mops. Alfred Molina makes a good villain but Nicolas Cage was unconvincing as the sorcerer. Jay Baruchel is unfortunately the same in everything I see him in. He is likeable but unimpressive. I enjoy the movies he’s in, but it’s no thanks to him. He doesn’t ruin the movie but he doesn’t add anything to it either.  In the end this film was a fun ride but don’t set your expectations too high if you haven’t seen it yet.

Written by Ben Freeman

Mar 25 2013

Review: Good Vibrations (2013)

Good Vibrations (2013)

Good Vibrations, directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn LeyBurn (Cherrybomb), is the story of Terry Hooley’s discovery of punk in Belfast during the 70′s. The film follows Terry or, as he will later be known, the godfather of Belfast punk. The war between the Irish Catholics and Protestants has just begun and Terry seems to be the only one not to have picked a side. Instead he preaches peace, something that will make him a target for both groups.

After nearly being kidnapped for being passive, Terry takes refuge in his record collection. That’s when the idea that will come to shape his entire future occurs, to open a record store. In Terry’s mind music is the only thing that can save the people of Belfast for music picks no sides, has no real opinion, instead it brings people together. At least it did before the violence began.

We follow Terry on his journey from peaceful neutral to the godfather of the Belfast punk scene. We see him discover Rudi and the Outcasts and their rise, fall, and eventual rise again to fame.

The opening sequence of this film was something special. It had this feel of a world far from any that we know. The visuals, the colors  the camera angles used in this sequence is reminiscent of the work done by director Wes Anderson. This effect was evident throughout the film, although not quite as much as within that opening sequence.

The interactions between Terry and his customers was fantastic. Terry having this burning passion for music, could not seem to help himself when giving advice to people on what to buy. This kind of interaction and music snobbery shown here reminds me of the characters in the film High Fidelity.

Terry Hooley was played by Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones). Richard gave an inspired performance, the range of emotions his character demanded of him, often in the same scene, would be demanding to any actor and Richard truly succeeded in capturing them all. Terry was a loud character, unpredictable in not just his emotions but his actions. Richard’s portrayal was of such high quality that you could swear you were watching Terry himself.

It is hard to comment on the rest of the actors as Richard’s performance and his character was such a memorable one that it is hard to recall anyone else being in the film.

What adds the layer of realism and reminds you, through the laughs and good times experienced when watching these live bands and listening to their music is the use of real footage. Footage from the violence on the streets, of clashes between the IRA and the police was truly humbling. It reminds you of the horrors that occurred during that time and the suffering of people caught in the cross fire.

Good Vibrations was definitely a film I enjoyed watching. Terry is a character I found myself rooting for, I was scared for him at times and felt sorry for him at others. What he did for the punk scene in Belfast was truly incredible and an inspiration to music lovers everywhere.

As Terry himself said, “When it comes to punk New York has the hair, London has the trousers but Belfast has the reason!”

Written by Oliver Willis

Mar 12 2013

Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

2001 a space odyssey

This movie is an epic story starting with the dawn of man, then jumping forward to a future not dissimilar to our own. The opening scenes depict early man struggling with the simplest life, living in a barren landscape, afraid of who will be the next to be taken by the predators living all around them. This is all played out to the famous music that everyone now knows as the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Then one day a monolith appears, standing out in stark contrast to the rest of the landscape and catching the attention of one tribe of ape like people. Interaction with the monolith seems to spark an “evolutionary” process, with one of the tribe figuring out how to use a bone as a tool or weapon.

We then jump forward to the future, at least it was the future when this film was made, where it seems the initial spark of intelligence has grown to the point where man is now capable of space travel, with even hotels in space for workers and presumably tourists who can afford the expense. We follow the story of Dr Heywood Floyd as he travels to the moon on top secret business, which is eventually revealed to be the discovery of another monolith on the moon. After visiting this monolith we again jump forward, this time only 18 months, to a space ship on what is referred to as the Jupiter mission.  There are five crew members aboard this ship and the on-board computer, who is treated like a person, named HAL. Three of the crew members are in hibernation leaving two to run the ship. We see the everyday life as they go about their usual routine, until things start to go horribly wrong and suspicions build against HAL, who seems to be malfunctioning and sabotaging everything to try and cover up his mistakes. I can’t say too much more without giving away too much, in case anyone hasn’t seen this movie, but in the closing scenes of the film we see the monolith once more and are treated to an array of images and colors, finally ending with the theme song.

In a way this is a very controversial movie, not because of the subject matter, but because people seem to either love it or hate it. Saying anything against this movie will just about start a war with the fanatics, but the truth is I did not enjoy this movie. I understand perfectly the reasons the fans say they love it, it was very well filmed, the effects were brilliant for the time and a lot of the scenes were stunning. Much of what was depicted was very realistic, but my main complaint is that it was excruciatingly slow! The word odyssey means a long and eventful journey, which is a very apt word to use in the title, but some scenes were far more long than eventful. Everything takes so long to happen and yes, that adds to the realism, but it takes away the enjoyment. If I wanted realistic, I would watch a documentary, not a science fiction movie! The scenes where they are in their space suit and all you hear is the breathing, again it is realistic, but painfully annoying. Every time the monolith appears and you hear the choir start “singing”, I had to turn the volume down because it was an unbelievably annoying sound, kind of like a million flies or mosquitoes buzzing around your ears.

I admit I’ll never forget the creepiness of HAL’s perfectly even, calm voice as he quietly sabotages the whole mission, or the detail of everything in the space ships and the way the people and objects behaved in zero gravity, but none of this could redeem the movie from the long periods of nothing happening. Fanatics, you can keep this one.

Mar 6 2013

0117 Hour Digital Short Challenge

 A CREATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH BRISTOL TEMPLE QUARTER
13-19 APRIL 2013

Bristol Film Office, Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival and M Shed present the third edition of the 0117 Hour Challenge, inviting filmmakers, animators, visual and sound artists to make digital shorts focused on the theme of ‘Journeys’ and exploring Bristol Temple Quarter in just 117 hours. This high-energy event is part of a series of Bristol Temple Quarter commissions coordinated by Watershed, Knowle West Media Centre and MAYK, with support from Bristol City Council and Arts Council England.

The 0117 Hour Challenge has been held successfully for the last two years as a short film contest and gained interest as an example of the current Bristol filmmaking scene. For 2013 the brief has been expanded to include visual and sound artists, celebrating the diversity of the city’s creative talents.

Between 13-19 April 2013, teams will be challenged to make a short digital piece of up to 3 minutes in length (drama, documentary, experimental, live action, animation or soundscape) in 117 hours. Work should draw on Bristol, (people, places or life) as themes and inspiration as part of the overall theme of journeys. Each piece must also contain one selected location and another element, both of which will be given to teams during the launch briefing at M Shed on Saturday 13 April. Bristol Film Office is securing locations in the Bristol Temple Quarter, with all location fees waived for participants of the Challenge. In addition, independent production music library Synctracks is providing free access to its catalogue for registered teams, with a choice of thousands of contemporary tracks and an extensive classical collection.

The series of Bristol Temple Quarter commissions aims to engage people with Bristol Temple Quarter through new cultural experiences designed to surprise, question and delight. The commissions are seeking to document the present, reflect on the past and suggest new opportunities – as a location for enterprise; as a connected place for travel to, travel from, or travel through; and by projecting Bristol nationally and internationally.

Watershed Managing Director, Dick Penny said: “The area now designated as the Enterprise Zone has always been an enterprise area based on the transport links of water and rail. Industrial brands of old such as Puritan Soap and Redcliffe Crown Galvanised Iron have been replaced by creative digital brands like E3 Media and IBM. The 0117 Challenge is a great opportunity to showcase creative talent and to engage more people in the BTQ project.”

Encounters Managing Director, Liz Harkman said: “We’re excited to launch the third edition of the 0117 Hour Challenge, following the event’s success in previous years. Opening up the competition to visual and sound artists will no doubt bring new creative perspectives”.

The finished digital shorts will be showcased as part of a celebratory event on Friday 19 April, where the work that incorporates all of the criteria and captures the atmosphere of BTQ most succinctly will be awarded a prize of £1,000 cash by a distinguished jury. The shorts will be shown at further events in the South West and will also join the M Shed museum collections as part of the city’s memory, available for future visitors to experience.

In order to participate, all teams must register online for free at http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk before Thursday 11 April.

 

Mar 5 2013

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man

Directed by Marc Webb

Spider-ManIs it just irony, or does it mean he was always meant for the job, when a guy named Webb directs a movie about a kid who develops Spider-like super powers?  Well either way I’m a fan of his work, having previously directed one of my favorite movies, 500 Days of Summer.

Everyone knows the story, a geeky young school boy is bitten by a spider and becomes Spider-Man, compelled to fight crime, right wrongs and be a symbol of justice to all around him. Forever haunted by the fact that he could have prevented the death of his uncle Ben, he devotes his life to fighting evil, always plagued by the idea that no one he loves will ever be truly safe.

I’ll admit it was Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie that made me a fan of the whole franchise in the first place, but there were many things I liked about The Amazing Spider-Man that I thought were better than the 2002 Spider-Man, such as the handmade web shooters and the inclusion of Gwen Stacey.  The handmade web shooters are a brilliant way to show just how intelligent Peter Parker is.  He uses both his scientific knowledge to create the web fluid and his techno-geek side to come up with the shooters which can change to shoot different types and shapes of webbing. Peter’s love interest, Gwen Stacy, is played by the beautiful Emma Stone and she is faultless as always.  She isn’t just a pretty face but comes across as a real person, an intelligent woman, who isn’t just the damsel in distress, but is a great character who has some depth to her. Another thing that this movie includes which was seriously lacking from the previous movies is the witty banter that just doesn’t let up whenever Spider-Man is taking down the villains.

I couldn’t help chuckling to myself when they desperately wanted to say “With great power comes great responsibility” but didn’t want to sound the same as the old Spidey movie.

The one thing that didn’t come across is that Peter Parker is supposed to be a nerd, a loser at the bottom of the pecking order at school, but he was portrayed as a cool kid with attitude and even his high school nemesis Flash Thompson was trying to be nice to him after the first fight, when Peter stood up to him and was beaten up for it.

The costumes were well done, Gwen looked like she’d stepped off the page of one of the comics and spidey looked great with all the detail in the suit.

I couldn’t help feeling like there was nothing new in the story itself but at the same time I can forgive them for that because this is a reboot and they have to retell the beginning, before going on to other things, so I look forward to seeing where the take us in the coming sequels.

Overall this movie looks great, delivers a few laughs and was entertaining the whole way through.  Definitely one of the better movies of 2012.

Written by Ben Freeman

Mar 1 2013

New Film: One Night In Istanbul

One Night In Istanbul is a movie adaptation of the sell-out play of the same name,starring Steven Waddington (The Sweeney, Sleepy Hollow, Last of the Mohicans), Paul Barber (Only Fools and Horses, The Full Monty) and Lucien Laviscount (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road).
One Night In Istanbul tells the tale of two down on their luck Liverpool cabbies, Tommy and Gerry, who strike an unusual deal with a local gangster to take their sons on a trip of a lifetime, to watch their beloved football team play in the European Cup Final in Istanbul. Hoping to use the trip as a chance to bond with their sons, big trouble awaits them in the form of a sexy hotel chambermaid, two ruthless crooks on a mission and a bag of counterfeit cash.
It is 3-0 down at half time and things could not be more desperate both on and off the pitch. Stevie G and the boys in red are trying to launch the most amazing football comeback in history, and Tommy is in deep water, being held hostage. With the clock ticking and time running out, a miracle is needed fast. In the end a bit of faith, and Gerry’s lucky underpants may be the only thing that can get them and the cup back home in one piece.
For more information why not visit the official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/oniimovie.
Feb 26 2013

Good Vibrations release date

Nominated for three Irish Film and Television Awards, for Best Film, Best Actor (Richard Dormer) and Best Costume, Good Vibrations is the amazing story of Belfast music legend Terri Hoole, the man responsible for discovering The Undertones and recording Teenage Kicks, giving alternative music a chance to flourish in Belfast during the darkest days of Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Richard Dormer (Five Minutes of Heaven) stars alongside Jodie Whittaker (Attack The Block, Venus). The film premiered at the London Film Festival in October at the Odeon West End, Leicester Square. Good Vibrations is released in the UK and Ireland by The Works UK Distribution on March 29, 2013.
Terri Hooley is a radical, rebel and music-lover in 1970s Belfast, when the bloody conflict known as the Troubles shuts down his city. As all his friends take sides and take up arms, Terri opens a record shop on the most bombed half-mile in Europe and calls it Good Vibrations. Through it he discovers a compelling voice of resistance in the city’s nascent underground punk scene. Galvanizing the young musicians into action, he becomes the unlikely leader of a motley band of kids and punks who join him in his mission to create a new community, an Alternative Ulster, to bring his city back to life.
Heartwarming and uplifting, Good Vibrations was a hit at the 2012 Galway Film Fleadh where it won Best Irish Feature, it also received the Audience Award at the 2012 Belfast Film Festival and opened Karlovy Vary. It features performances from Liam Cunningham (The Guard, Clash of The Titans), Adrian Dunbar (Ashes to Ashes, Mo), Dylan Moran (Run Fatboy Run, Sean of the Dead), Andrew Simpson (Notes on a Scandal), Mark Ryder (Albatross) and Kerr Logan (Game of Thrones) as Fergal Sharkey. It is the second film from Cherrybomb directing duo Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn and scored by David Holmes(Ocean’s Eleven, Analyze That); Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn and Nathan Connelly, who have known and loved Terri for many years, are executive producers. Producers are Chris Martin, Andrew Eaton, Bruno Charlesworth and David Holmes.

Good Vibrations is out 29 March 2013.