The Avengers: Age of Ultron

SF: I did everything I could to avoid too many trailers and spoilers so I could watch this without my expectations being too high. I also feel this needs two scores because from a totally bias view its a 10, it delivers everything I want, tonnes of Marvel universe nods and hints. I'm enjoying the move from the more Ultimates line up to a traditional Avengers roster, I also screamed with glee when Vision appeared, ok not the Vision we are used to but Wonder Man isn't around so lets go with it. Having said that - Ultron without a mention of Hank Pym despite the Ant-man movie being on the way? Surely Tony Stark could of had him on Skype of something. Anyway I digress. As a film I didn't feel the same sense of awe that the first installment delivered. Maybe the attempts at character development were a tad shallow but this had plenty of action, a few good quips, amazing effects and I can't wait to see it again, maybe even three times so it deserves 9/10

50Eggs: Winter Solider having restored my faith in Marvel films, I was expecting big things from this. It partly lived up to those expectations. As a standalone film it tries to cram in far too many story threads, but viewed as 'hub' film in a massive story arc you can understand why. The first hour is a little slow but it does pick up, and the finale, whilst close to being a rehash of that of the first film, is spectacular. 1 point off for too much Hawkeye, but a point back on for lots of Black Widow. 8.5/10

DB: These Marvel films are definitely starting to suffer quite seriously from the law of diminishing returns, creatively at least if not yet financially. It is just not as good as the first one, not as funny, not as exiting, the bad character is nothing like as interesting (no Tom Hiddleston). The set pieces don't feel as spectacular, while I'm prepared to be told they are in fact 200 times bigger and involve twice as many people etc etc I just don't care very much about computer animations of things hitting things with things. The film has two ideas in it, neither of which are new or particularly interesting but both involve Bruce Banner: his conflict over whether he should assist serial world endangering narcissist Tony Stark and his conflict whether he can form a relationship with Natasha. Both ideas are under explored in favour of the ridiculously boring Hawkeye, who I was disappointed to see survive death near the start of the movie. There are none of the memorable moments typified by Bruce Banner swinging Loki about like a toddler with a doll from the first film in this film, it is all just more of the same. I was under the impression we were going to be getting some Hulk films, we only need one, but I would have preferred to see that than this. 6/10

Overall: 7.8/10

Foxcatcher

SF: Channing Tatum can act. Firstly this is another film that isn't fun to watch and I'll most likely never watch it again mainly because I found it dull.  After 45 mins I did almost leave as I just didn't see this going anywhere and I wasn't all that interested but it was Channing Tatum that kept me
watching, he made the film, he was subtly able to deliver a depth of emotions in wasn't expecting . Steve Carell gave a good performance too but I wasn't all that invested in his character. Most of the film is an unindulged drama focused on three people and the real events that unfolded. While films like this can be brilliant, I don't think this is one of them. 4/10

50Eggs: n/a

DonkeyB: Any review should start by saying that the performances in the film are exceptional. Steve Carell is utterly transformed as John Du Pont, and I thought if anything I was even more amazed by Channing Tatum's performance, he got the physicality of a wrestler exceptionally well I though. Once again 3 reviews favourite Mark Ruffalo was just outstanding also putting in a very convincing physical performance with somewhat less raw material (in terms of sheer size) than Tatum. The film is very still and very quiet and seems to be set in a perpetual autumn/winter which adds to the sense of impending doom which you don't need plot spoilers to sense from the outset.

I thought all those things were to the film's and the director's and cast's credit, but in the end I just wasn't gripped. There is a theme about american patriotism in the film and also money, and it seems to be saying something about the power of money to corrupt and and the ability to use patriotism to corrupt as well, but I didn't think the story was interesting enough to pay off the deliberate pacing and subtle underplaying throughout. 6/10

PS
I had no idea Sienna Miller was in the film at all until the end credits came up, this might be because she is one of those famous people that I have no idea what they look like, I assume she played Ruffalo's wife, its an easy part to miss, there is not a lot of screen for the female cast. Redgrave gets two scenes as Du Pont's  Hitchcockian/Larkinian matriarch, her presence more expressed through her absence. - Donkey B

Overall: 5/10

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

Project Jen- Rumour Has It

Normally here at 3-4-1 we don't discuss the plot of the films we review very much. This is because we know that everyone hates spoilers. However, the "plot"of this film does require some reference.

The idea is that Jen's family in this film, is the real family that the "The Graduate" was based on, and that the real Benjamin might be her real Dad. It has a pleasing possibility of intricate plotting and classic movie references. Also it is directed by Rob Reiner and scripted by the person who wrote Ocean's Eleven so it should be great fun.

There are a few things everyone knows about the Graduate - like the fact that Robert Redford was originally cast as Benjamin but turned the part down because he thought he was too old, only to be replaced by Dustin Hoffman who was in fact even older. To add to the irony, Anne Bancroft who was supposed to be old enough to be Hoffman's mother was actually only a few years older than him.

Here's something I bet you wont have realised though, Jennifer Aniston was exactly the same age when she made this film as Anne Bancroft was when she made The Graduate! For the record if you look it up Kevin Costner was 12 when The Graduate was released.

Background established sadly the film isn't very good. At the start there is something very father of the bride about the scene when Jen arrives back at the family home. In fact it takes a while to really go anywhere and on the whole it doesn't amount to much.

There is a developing theme with all these Project Jen films (a never ending parade of rom-coms). If there is anything funny happening, it happens around Jen, she is rarely even called on to try and be funny. I think its possible she is not very good at comedy!

Jen wears a short nightie in dark blue, very nice. In fact the costume designer did a pretty good job throughout the film. She deserves a name check and an IMDB link. Kym Barrett. Also at one point in the film someone suggests that Jen has nice hair and she should be a hair model - I've seen a number of her films now and I'm tempted to agree.

If you have two hours, watch the Graduate instead

Rating: 2 Green Dresses

Avengers Assemble

Sequel to Captain America, Iron Man 2, Thor and The Incredible Hulk

SF: For me this was either going to be fantastic or a horrid disappointment. I'm pleased to say I loved it. Perfect blend of action, humour and character. Joss Whedon did an amazing job, captured the essence of the Avengers (well Ultimates really which is fine). Also best Hulk so far. A well earned 10/10

50 Eggs: It would have been so easy to mess this up but instead Marvel have excelled themselves. All the characters mesh brilliantly whilst retaining their individual appeal in a storyline worthy of the Avengers name. A minor plot hole aside, this is the best superhero movie ever...and yes, that includes you Batman. 9.5/10

DonkeyB: It was fun, a good popcorn movie (if popcorn was an appropriate cinema food). It's still too long and too much crash bang wallop though. Not as good as Captain America but within the margin still gets 7/10

Overall - 8.83/10