(film review) - Shutter Island.

I don't even know where to start with this as now that I have seen it and I'm trying to get my head around it. I'm still baffled and/orconfused on certain elements of the film. One thing I got to say first is, Ben Kingsley and Leonardo DiCaprio; Great performances. Anyway, here goes nothing.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays a U.S. Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels who takes on an assignment with his new partner, Chuck Aule, Mark Ruffio to look for a multiple murderess Rachel Solando on Shutter Island, the home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Rachel Solando is presumed missing as she has escaped her cell and apparently the desolate barren island, despite having been kept in a locked cell under lock and key and constant supervision. As Edward and chuck try to look for clues and retrieve information which may uncover her whereabouts, Ed discovers that not only is he experiencing migraines and having bad dreams that surround the death of his wife, the hospital staff seem unwilling to co-operate or co-operate to an extent but not enough to actually help. Furious and angry, Ed tries to leave with chuck because he feels that he is getting nowhere fast, but ends up being caught in a storm which leaves them stranded on the island until it passes.

Making sure that although he is on the island, not at his own will, he then tries to give it a second try and attempts to uncover the mysteries of the disappearance, his hallucinations, the involvement of certain governing officials and question the trust of his newly appointed partner.

As things aren't making any sense, the story unravels questioning loyalty, trust and secrets. Why was Ed sent to that mental institute? Why did they pair him up with an unknown partner? Why doesn't any of the wardens or higher ranking staff seem to not help him in his findings, especially as they requested help!? With all of that, Ed tries to also figure out why he seems to keep having hallucinations and migraines and what are the twisted secrets that include experimentations on patients?

This film is beautifully crafted. I mean, how do you speak and take advice from someone who is mentally unstable? You'll find your watching intently trying to unravel the mystery and questioning all the characters with what is real and what isn't.
To say this isn't a film with a twist would be silly. It seems that Leonardo DiCaprio likes films with a twist to them.

I can't really say much more about this film but you must watch it. A most definite watch. Out Now.

(film review) - Alice In Wonderland

Everyone knows the story of Alice in Wonderland! If you don't, where have you been? I mean, really? It's basically about a girl called Alice who ends up in a crazy world where a weird headed tyrant queen, who chops off heads of anyone who upsets her, a cat that floats, disappears and re-appears at will and a crazy man called the 'Mad Hatta' who is a little bit barmy. Not to mention a smoking catapilla and two dim-witted twins that are as dumb as each other. This is a crazy world where drinks make you shrink in size and food makes you grow in height.

If you know who Tim Burton is, you will know what to expect from this film. A dark, gloomy, maybe a bit twisted kind of film and well, to be honest, although it was a very colouful film, with that Tim Burton magic all over it, I got to say, I wasn't as happy with the outcome of this film as apparently, the film was labelled 'Alice in Wonderland' but was more based on all 3 novels which involves Alice. So I was fairly surprised when the Mad Hatter was, well, not as MAAAAD as I thought he was going to be. I thought he was going to be like, mad crazy and totally insane like, but he wasn't.
A lot of people liked it and well my faults with the film were that the Mad Hatter wasn't barmy enough and why wasn't it Alice's first time down the hole. They could have done that in the film or at least had shown it in the opening credits like how they did with Wolverine.

The Special Effects were good and could not be faulted. The acting was fairly decent too, but on a whole, I was just disappointed on how it was promoted to what actually happened. I felt Johnny Depp has had a better acting role in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and i felt he was under-used due to the fact that I expected more from his character. Who stole the lime light and I thought was absolute class, was Anne Hathaway. How her character was portrayed literally had me in stitches.

This is a good film watch if you love Johnny Depp, Tim Burton films or even Matt Lucas as he is quite funny. The story isn't THAT bad and the special effects carry the film nicely. With a few note worth characters and a concept that seems to be, a girl lost in a land full of drug addicts, if you bare that in mind, you will love this film.

Out now, go watch it.

(Vintage Film Reviews) - Jumper

Hayden Christensen plays (David Rice) a young man who discovers how to teleport (Jump) from one place to another in an instant. As this abnormality makes him and others like him different, they are seen as superior, God-Like, as it were and tracked down to be killed. David then discovers that there has been a raging war that has been going on for centuries between the 'Jumpers' and the 'Paladins', led by Samuel L. Jackson (Roland Cox) in the mist of just getting into doing whatever he wants, whenever. After shortly discovering this, he has to then fend off the Paladins and save himself and his love interest.

This film isn't a blockbuster at all, but is a very good watch. Samuel's character is sinister and if you have not seen him in arole like this, you'd be pleasantly surprised. Hayden also acts well in this film, but i think the hat comes off to Billy Elliott star, Jamie Bell (Griffin), who i believe his role steals the show and the lime light from Hayden.

The locations in this film will make anyone who likes to travel want to travel to these places. We see Rome, The Grand Canyon, London, Egypt and Tokyo among many more. The fight scenes also take us across the world and the road in a matter of seconds and also add that little extra sense of 'the world is your oyster' kind of thing. However, the dazzling special effects may leave you a little dizzy.

If you enjoy a Samuel L. Jackson film, then this is something for you. No powerful statements though. You are bound to enjoy as there is a good storyline, however, the length and ending may disappoint. Another disappointing thing about the film is the character development. Maybe they will explain a bit more, later.

14th February 2009 at 09:45pm

(Vintage Film Reviews) - Alien Vs Preditor: Requiem

Who remembers Predator? Good, alie? Do you also remember Predator 2? Weren't that bad was it? And all the Alien films? Good as well, weren't they? (I actually haven't seen Alien Resurrection properly, so i can't really comment on that). Alien Vs Predator, well...was it good? Do you remember it? Have you even seen it? I have and unfortunately, I have erased it from memory. For those who have seen it will possibly remember the pure, unadulterated cheddar cheese ending as the building or whatever was exploding and the female and the predator was running away in slow motion like a scene from Baywatch.

NO!!!! Predator or Alien for that matter is not cheesy. What were they thinking of?

The sequel on the other hand is good. The Trailer doesn't show too much of the action, so you can actually watch the film and not feel disappointed.

This film, if you didn't know is the Sequel to Predator 1, 2 and Alien Vs Predator and the Prequel to all the Alien films. The film starts days after the ending of Alien Vs Predator where a Predator is giving birth to an Alien (Predalien). This ultimately gives this new Alien a Unique look. Buckhead and Dreads in tow. After the birth of the Alien, the ship in which a few Predators are on board, crash lands on Earth and then this is when all hell breaks loose.

Without spoiling the film too much, there isn't a lot of people you meet that actually survives, as everyone and everything in this film meets it's untimely demise once the predator ship crash lands.
The film has some bad acting and a few corny lines, but is a very good watch. The storyline isn't anything. This film does not need a storyline as Predators hunt Aliens and judging by the first AVP, this is a continuation. This film is about survival from two separate species that are fighting each other. Also, this is not for the squirmish as there were a few disturbing scenes in which some if not all women expecting will not enjoy.

Enjoyable watch.

13th February 2008 at 11:39pm

(Vintage Film Review) - Cloverfield

With what we already know about the film, i.e. in most cases, nothing. You actually leave the cinema experience not much different from before you stepped in. However, i must say, this was not a rubbish film to watch.

You follow a video fly-on-wall, documentary in which you meet and follow one person and his friends through an unforgetable experience all caught through one video camera. From when the film starts, it does not take very long until the action starts and does not end. If you watch the film to the very end, you'd understand.

This film is a disaster movie and not for the squirmish. Without giving the film away too much. I can only say what has been said by movie reviewers and that is, it is a cross between Godzilla and the Blair Witch Project.

The film is done in a way that is just like the Blair Witch Project, however, with some "Thing" running around lose in New York City (as per usual). This is NOT your one man takes on all odds kind of film. You can expect casualties in abundance, buildings toppling over and well....you know, your average blockbuster film like Independence day or Godzilla filmed from just a random guy from the public with his friends and a lot of battery power in his little camcorder, which captures an event that passes and doesn't actually seem to stop.

Acting was flawless and because of the way the film was shot, you can't help to feel involved and actually in the film. It's not like your watching a movie with actors playing people (in which you are), but it is like your actually in the film and what you watched was a close friend of yours or someone you knew or heard of in the real world.

This film is deep. This film is different. This film is Cloverfield and you should watch it.

2 February 2008 at 01:08pm