Monday, August 26, 2013

Elysium


SF:  After District 9 I wasn't sure if Neill Blomkamp had another original sci-fi in him. Elysium is a good film but sadly predictable. The story has been done, I spent a great deal of time being reminded of the excellent Battle Angel Allita and even a bit of In Time as well as a few other films of a similar ilk. Having said that I did enjoy the film and thought the acting was well executed, Sharlto Copley is outstanding, I almost didn't recognise him. However the camera is far to shaky on much of the action which tends to annoy me. Also I don't think the film has enough focus or emotional investment in the main character. Lots of potential, enjoyable, but sadly lacking 6/10

50 Eggs: This is a lot like the directors previous effort, District 9; an interesting concept film that becomes increasingly violent and action oriented.And whilst I thought D9 was overrated, I actually enjoyed Elysium more. Some of the images are striking and there are a few great sci-fi moments. I felt a little short changed by the second half where the story takes a back seat, but it's worth a watch. 7/10

DonkeyB: n/a

Overall: 6.5/10 



Friday, August 16, 2013

Project Jen- We're the Millers

This film presents 3-4-1 with exiting synergies, to present our end users with best practice recommendations from a reduced number of belly buttons to push. We can showcase for all our users an improved matrix of options within the same core envelope of current distributions.

That's right it's the first theatrical release of a film starring Jennifer Aniston since the start of Project Jen! Two birds one stone people!

Look out for our review in the next few weeks.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

SF: I've only ever seen clips of Alan Partridge so didn't have major expectations. The last Steve Coogan film I watched was Around the world in 80 days, a painful horror of a film. Fortunes smiled on this one, thoroughly funny from start to finish. The plot wasn't amazing but worked fairly well, the cast was fantastic and the jokes plentiful. Well worth a watch 7.5/10

50 Eggs: The Alan Partridge series are in my top 5 all time sitcoms. This is essentially the same formula but it didn't quite do it for me. It keeps everything that is good about the series, but for some reason loses the feel of it. I've got a horrible feeling that the thing that might be lacking, strangely, is the canned laughter. Still a good way to pass a couple of hours. 6/10

DonkeyB: More than funny enough. Iannucci is transforming his comedy stylings to film with great effect. I'm afraid it was still a little televisual, but I did feel a little like that might have been my own prejudice rather than the film's fault: there were a few scenes at the start in Alan's car which felt too eerily familiar. Perhaps this was to reassure long term fans, I didn't need it. Maybe because I trusted all involved so implicitly- I had forgotten around the world in 80 days existed. 7.75/10

Overall: 7.25/10

Despicable Me 2

SF: I only recently saw the first Despicable outing and rather enjoyed it. I have minion love so was looking forward to this but not expecting much. The story is ok here, nothing amazing but does well to be different from the first one. Plenty funny and lovely animation but there is a lot better out there. Still very enjoyable so 6.5/10

50 Eggs: The problem this sequel has is that it's whole 'raison d'etre' was covered in the first film: Evil genius turns good. Finished. Done. There's really nowhere else for this to go, which is why it was never going to be as good as the original. It all just feels a bit unnecessary. That said, there are some funny jokes, the animation is colorful, and the minions are good value. But how come this gets a sequel while Pixar continue to ignore the potential of the brilliant Incredibles...and at the same time taunting us by making rubbish like Cars 2! 6.5/10

DonkeyB: n/a

Overall: 6.5/10 (for once we agree!)

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Now You See Me

SF: One word for this film - Entertaining. Does pretty much what it sets out to do, a few magic tricks, twisty plot and a tiny bit of intrigue to keep you guessing. Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman are excellent as usual  and Jesse Eisenberg does pull off the smugness (reminiscent of The Social Network). It's not going to win any awards and you might not watch it again but still enjoyable and there are a few laughs. 6.5/10

50 Eggs: Stupid and clever at the same time, but as long as you're not out to pick holes you'll enjoy this. The script isn't bad at all, but its the cast that raise it up a notch into the 'pretty good' category. Isla fisher is the least believable, with her screechy shouting voice she uses on stage, but with pins like that, who is going to argue. I'd heard the ending was a cop-out, but I thought it was just fine. 7.5/10

DonkeyB: It has a great cast, which was the main reason to see it, but somehow I had managed to miss the fact that Mark Ruffalo was even in this film. I always like Mark Ruffalo. As SF has said it won't win any awards but it is never boring, there is always something to look at (no snickering about my Isla Fischer obsession), unfortunatley too often for a film about magic this is big film effects. Melanie Laurent deserves a mention as the best performance in the film, standing out amonst this strong group is notable. I'm always impressed when anyone acts in a foreign language- I can hardly order a pizza! 6.5/10

Overall: 6.75/10

Monsters University

SF: Pixar set a high bar, so with a sequel there are a lot of expectations. having said that I enjoyed this as much as Monsters inc which is the most praise I can give. Great sense of humour, amazing animation, fun plot - everything you would want. Charlie Day surprised me, excellent voice to monster matching. Look out for all the little in jokes. Go enjoy yourselves 8/10

50eggs: n/a

DonkeyB: Disappointing. At their best Pixar make beautiful films, with strong traditional stories which somehow still manage to surpise. Unfotunately, this lacks much of the charm of the original and is a basic Campus comedy of which we have all seen quite alot. It is essentially exactly the same film as Pitch Perfect but nothing like as funny. I'm sure the kids will love it, but it has much less for the adults than some of Pixar's best efforts. 5/10

Overall: 6.5/10