The Lego Movie

http://www.thelegomovie.com/

Yes, I saw The Lego Movie, but before you write me off, allow me to explain my reason for doing so. 

It was recently my cinema buddy's 40th Birthday. As such a HUGE cinema and film fan, he of course wanted to see a birthday movie to mark the occasion. He had already seen the other films that were released that day and decided to go with a preview of The Lego Movie. Figuring it would be more fun than going to see Dallas Buyers Club. You can't argue with that. 

So off we went to watch a movie based on the brick toy that hurts like hell when you stand on it in bare feet, and which I always got bored with as a child because I was never very good at building things. I really wasn't expecting it to be any good.

The story is a relatively easy one to follow. Emmet is your average, run of the mill construction worker, living his normal everyday life like everyone else. That is until he gets left behind on site one evening and stumbles across Wyldstyle, the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. She is looking for the piece of resistance, in the hope of becoming the 'special', a person of significance who will save the universe from the evil President Business. There is only one flaw to her plan, she hadn't anticipated Emmet accidentally falling down a hole and finding the piece of resistance first, thus making him the 'special'. Wyldstyle must work with Emmet to utilize the skills he does have in order to save the day.

I'll be honest, I wanted to see Dallas Buyers Club and I thought this would be an absolute pile of poop. My expectations were incredibly low, but taking it at face value, I actually liked it, a lot. 

Emmet is a really likable character, he's just so nice. I kept turning to my cinema buddy at the beginning of the film and saying "it's you", because he's just as chirpy as Emmet. The other characters all have their own quirks that mean there will be something for everyone.  The story ambles along at a good pace and the main song WILL get stuck in your head. The animation may not look as flashy as Pixar or Disney but it serves it's purpose, which is to tell a fun and enjoyable story. 

It's school holiday this week in the UK. If you've got a kid, or can borrow one easily (I mean by way of a nephew or niece, not stealing one off the street), then take them to see this, I'm sure you'll find yourself smiling, if not singing, by the end. 7.5 out of 10.

 

Viewing Date - 8th February 2014

UK Release Date - 14th February 2014

Cast Overview:

(If you don't like knowing who the voices are DON'T SCROLL DOWN! ;0)) 

Emmet Brickowoski ~ Chris Pratt

Batman/Bruce Wayne ~ Will Arnett

Wyldstyle/Lucy ~ Elizabeth Banks

Lord Business/President Business/The Man Upstairs ~ Will Ferrell

Good Cop/Bad Cop/Pa Cop ~ Liam Neeson

Benny ~ Charlie Day

Unikitty ~ Alison Brie

Vitruvius ~ Morgan Freeman

Wally ~ Dave Franco

Superman ~ Channing Tatum

Wonder Woman ~ Cobie Smulders

Green Lantern ~ Jonah Hill

Barry ~ Jake Johnson

Lando ~ Billy Dee Williams

C-3PO ~ Anthony Daniels

Director(s) ~ Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Writer ~ Dan Hageman (Story), Kevin Hageman (Story), Phil Lord (Screenplay and Story) and Christopher Miller (Screenplay and Story)

Taken 2 - Guest Review

http://www.taken2movie.co.uk/

Unlike my Guest Review for Ruby Sparks I have absolutely no intention of seeing Taken 2. Not this, or any other weekend. I wasn't a fan of the original (it left me distinctly underwhelmed) and as this one looked to follow a similar, if somewhat milder path (Taken was a 18 certificate while Taken 2 is a 12A), I knew it wouldn't be for me.

But as my previous guest reviewer - my friend Faye - has seen Taken 2, I thought I'd call on her again for another one line review: "Just saw Taken 2... Not so good!!"

So now you know Taken 2 is one to avoid! :0(

Cast Overview:

Liam Neeson ~ Bryan Mills

Maggie Grace ~ Kim

Famke Janssen ~ Lenore

Director ~ Oliver Megaton

Writer(s) ~ Luc Besson (Screenplay) and Robert Mark Kamen (Screenplay)

Wrath Of The Titans

Mini Blog

http://wrathofthetitans.warnerbros.com/

I missed the first Titan movie - Clash Of The Titans - at the cinema and saw it quite recently on DVD. Both myself and my friend who were watching it fell asleep on my couch. That didn't bode well for a second Titan movie but I decided to give it a go on a dreary Sunday when I had nothing better to do. And I did at least manage to stay awake for this one.


I was initially quite worried as I couldn't really remember anything about the first one other than the fact that Sam Worthington played Perseus, the half-god son of Zeus, played by Liam Neeson. I was told by my cinema buddy in no uncertain terms that that was pretty much all I needed to remember. 


And to be honest, he wasn't really wrong. You don't really need to have seen Clash Of The Titans to follow Wrath and from what I remember of Clash, Wrath is a much more action packed film. It also has lots of good british actors in supporting roles which make it like a who's who game. Ooh there's Toby Kebbell (I've met him), ooh there's Bill Nighy (I like him), ooh there's Ralph Fiennes (I've met him too).


I think my favourite of all the action set pieces has to be the big fight with Kronos at the end. For those who don't know, he's a humongous volcanic lava creature who is the father of Zeus and Hades. And he's not so happy about being imprisoned by his ungrateful brats. So impressed was I with Kronos that I have included a little featurette about him below instead of the standard trailer. I hope you enjoy.


Wrath Of The Titans will appeal to action/fantasy fans or fans of Clash Of The Titans, but don't be put off if you didn't like the first movie. 6.5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 1st April 2012

UK Release Date - 30th March 2012

Cast Overview:

Sam Worthington ~ Perseus

Liam Neeson ~ Zeus

Ralph Fiennes ~ Hades

Edgar Ramirez ~ Ares

Toby Kebbell ~ Agenor

Rosamund Pike ~ Andromeda

Bill Nighy ~ Hephaestus

Danny Huston ~ Poseidon

Director ~ Jonathan Liebesman

Writer(s) ~ Dan Mazeau (Screenplay and Story), David Johnson (Screenplay and Story), Greg Berlanti (Story) and Beverley Cross (1981 Screenplay).

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D

http://www.starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-i-3d/#5

While I have seen Star Wars Episode 1 before, and at the cinema, as this was a new 3D outing for the film I felt it only fair to grant this showing with a review.

Those who know me will not be surprised to discover that it was my brother who got me into Star Wars, as he was responsible for getting me into movies in general. However, rather than Episode 1 evoking fond memories of my brother, I have rather different memories of this movie. As this was the first film I saw with my late best friend Miranda. If you've read my blog before you will know that she was very special to me and that she is sadly no longer with us. 

We went to see Episode 1 the first time we met, on my 18th Birthday. I had never had a film experience like it, as Miranda was never one to hide her feelings and I soon found out that this extended to her cinematic viewings too. She whooped and cheered and clapped at the pod race, cried when Ani had to leave his mother, grasped my hand more times than I can remember during the high octane ending and gave a standing ovation to the end credits. Some people would hate being with someone who would be so vocal during a film but I loved it and continue to miss it when I watch the film now.

So of course, when the whispers started about the film getting a 3D release, I knew I had to see it. For Mazzy if for no other reason. This time I went with my cinema buddy, who is also a long time Star Wars fan, possibly an even bigger Star Wars fan than my brother. And that's saying something.

For those unfamiliar with the story, this is a prequel to the world famous sci-fi series of the 70s and 80s and charts the young life of Anakin Skywalker, a slave boy from the sandy planet of Tatooine. A planet that two Jedi Knights happen to de-tour to when their ship needs repair during their mission to help a young Queen from another planet which is under attack. Anakin finds a way to help the Jedi's out of their predicament by taking part in a pod race (the Star Wars equivalent of F1 racing). Meanwhile there is an uprising in the dark side of the force as a new Sith lord is sent to track down the Jedi's to eliminate them.

It was nice to see Phantom Menace back up on the big screen as a film so rich in gorgeous scenery and eye popping effects really does look it's best up there. But as with most 3D releases of late, I did find the 3D unnecessary and mostly unnoticeable. Maybe in an IMAX theatre the result would have been more evident but for me the 3D didn't really add anything. It was still great to watch, the pod race and the final lightsaber battle being my two personal favourites from this installment. 

As I mentioned above the scenery in Episode 1 is stunning, you have Naboo, the home of Queen Amidala, a warm, green planet which also inhabits the Gungans in their home under water beneath Naboo's surface. Then you have Tatooine, a desert-like planet with two suns and finally Coruscant, which is likened to a planet which is like one giant city, the home of the Jedi council and the Galactic Senate. Each planet has a very specific and unique look and feel to it and they each look fantastic on the big screen owing to the detail your eye can really take in.

My final point as to why you should see Episode 1 on the big screen is of course John Williams wonderful score. Especially during the lightsaber battle at the end. Just pure class and sounds great coming out of those giant speakers.

Sure Episode 1 is not exactly known for being the best Star Wars film, but it has it's merits, which I hope I have demonstrated above, and all the best stories have to start somewhere, right? 7 out of 10 (it looses a point for Jar Jar - but then you already knew that didn't you?!)

Viewing Date - 15th February 2012

UK Release Date - 10th February 2012

Cast Overview:

Liam Neeson ~ Qui-Gon Jinn

Ewan McGregor ~ Obi-Wan Kenobi

Natalie Portman ~ Queen Amidala/Padme

Jake Lloyd ~ Anakin Skywalker

Ian McDiarmid ~ Senator Palpatine

Pernilla August ~ Shmi Skywalker

Ahmed Best ~ Jar Jar Binks

Anthony Daniels ~ C-3PO

Kenny Baker ~ R2-D2

Frank Oz ~ Yoda

Terence Stamp ~ Chancellor Valorum

Brian Blessed ~ Boss Nass

Director/Writer ~ George Lucas

Unknown

http://unknownmovie.warnerbros.com/

I had planned to go to the cinema today with one of my friends, although neither of us knew what we should see. She wanted to see I Am Number Four but as you know, I've already seen that, and as it was pants I'm not in a hurry to see it again. So I suggested seeing Unknown. I'd seen the trailer a couple of times and thought it looked quite good. It was only when I put my idea forward that my friend told me she quite likes Liam Neeson, and as such she was quite happy to see this too.


How were we to know that going into the unknown would be almost as bad as re-visiting I Am Number Four?


We join the film during a flight to Berlin for Dr Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) and his wife Liz (January Jones). He's going to a conference there and she's come along for the ride to keep him company. Discovering on arrival at the hotel that his briefcase has been left behind at the airport, Dr Harris takes a taxi back to the airport to pick up his case but never makes it. His taxi is involved in an accident and crashes into a river. Dr Harris is pulled from the sinking car by his taxi driver Gina (Diane Kruger), but his injuries leave him in a coma. When he awakes four days later he goes back to hotel and finds that someone is impersonating him. Worst of all, is that his wife seems to be in on the act.


The first half of Unknown had me on the edge of my seat as the mystery unravelled, but I found the second half slipped into a rather unbelievable and slightly drawn out absurdity. I can't really go in to the reasons for the shift in the film's trajectory without giving away too much of the plot. Similarly I can't tell you why Martin has a doppelganger or what his objective is without giving the ending away. I will simply say that the first half of the film is good. If the second half had lived up to the expectations set by the first half, it would have been a well made, well acted thriller. But as I have already said, it did not. The film goes from being intriguing and mysterious to being almost comical with it's silly one liners and bad plot twists.


It made me long for the days when thrillers were just that and kept you enthralled all the way to the satisfying ending. A rather inadequate thriller which left the thrills in the first half and retained nothing original for the hour that followed. 6 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 6th March 2011

UK Release Date - 4th March 2011

Cast Overview:

Liam Neeson ~ Dr Martin Harris

Diane Kruger ~ Gina

January Jones ~ Elizabeth Harris

Aiden Quinn ~ Martin B

Bruno Ganz ~ Ernst Jurgen

Frank Langella ~ Rodney Cole

Sebastian Koch ~ Professor Bressler

Director ~ Jaume Collet-Serra

Writer(s) ~ Oliver Butcher (Screenplay), Stephen Cornwell (Screenplay) and Didier Van Cauwelaert (Novel)