Succinct Sunday - A Whole Lot Of Whispers

So since I've been travelling the Asian continent, the hotels that I have been staying in usually have one thing in common: loud-ass hipster douches movie channels!  Regardless of the country that I am staying in, the hotels always seem to carry HBO Movies or Fox Movies and if I don't feel like experiencing the local night-life, I know that there is always a TV channel ready to broadcast films, both good and bad.  Since I travelled over here in February, I have seen a hell of a lot of new films, so I thought that I'd share my thoughts about them.  Don't worry, it's Succinct Sunday, so they won't take long...

THE VOW

Let's start with this charming little romance film, based on a true story. Rachel McAdams loses the last five years of her memory in a car crash, resulting in forgetting her life with her husband Channing Tatum.  Whilst McAdams has always impressed me in her recent roles, I am slowly becoming a fan of Tatum.  He doesn't take himself too seriously in his performances and he is on the up and up.  Back to the film, the emotions do get to you, the performances are impressive and the story-line is genuinely intriguing, especially since it happened to a real life couple.  Highly recommended.

EPIC

Let me paint a picture... Imagine there are magical tiny people in the forest that often defend nature from an approaching destructive force.  Yep, FernGully: The Last Rainforest... I mean, Epic never really captures the imagination in the same vein as the original Ice Age, instead choosing the disappointing path to follow in the footsteps of the other Blue Sky Animations, Rio, Robots and Horton Hears A Who.  Often boring, too childish to be taken seriously and never truly engaging, Epic truly fails to live up to it's name.  On a side note, who the hell thought that Colin Farrell's miscast voice fitted his character design?!  Ridiculous.

INSIDE MAN
Spike Lee directs Denzel Washington in a cop-crime thriller as he tries to solve Clive Owen's supposed 'perfect robbery'.  Whilst it is nice to see Chiwetel Ejiofor in another Hollywood film, I feel like this film's hype preceded it and I never really got caught up in the action.  I just always could tell I was watching a film, from Clive Owen's fourth-wall breaking opening monologue, noticing the pointlessness of Jodie Foster's character, and not mentioning the rapid changes in timeframe.  Despite the always impressive Christopher Plummer and the personal favourite Clive Owen, I never lost myself in the world and I feel like it suffered because of that. I can see why some people enjoy Inside Man, I was just not one of them.

THE CROODS

Good Lord, this is nearly shown daily so I can pretty much quote it to you verbatim. A unique premise, The Croods tells the story of a family of cavemen who must venture out from their cave-dwelling lives to escape clashing continents, where they meet the creative inventor Guy, voiced by Ryan Reynolds.  Funny throughout with a recognisable family dynamic at the heart, The Croods displays an interesting father-daughter core, fleshed out with humorous set-pieces and references for both kids and adults.  However, the locations are sometimes jarring, the characters are sometimes unlikeable and the main threat of the local carnivores are just confusing. I feel like if they just stuck to normality, it would have been improved but that's a tiny flaw.

SPIDER-MAN 3

I hadn't watched this since I paid for a cinema ticket back in 2007.  Now I remember why.  So much fantastic action and character development went into the first two Spider-Man films, all for it to go to waste in the concluding instalment.  The Sandman really killed Uncle Ben?!  James Franco gets amnesia?!  Peter Parker gets an emo fringe?!  MAKE IT STOP!  Those of you who have seen it will probably remember two scenes in particular: Parker strutting down the street (to music, presumably in his head), thinking he's the shit with his emo fringe; and then him dancing in a nightclub, right before he hits Mary Jane in the face.  Some of the worst scenes ever included in a super-hero film. Those of you who haven't seen this film, I've just given you two good reasons not to watch this film.  Too many villains, too many pointless action sequences, too many scenes with goddamn emo Peter Parker.

PSYCHO (1998 REMAKE)
I had only heard rumours of a shot-by-shot remake of Alfred Hitchcock's classic, but now I have seen the travesty. Absolutely pointless.  Vince Vaughn has never been more miscast, and that's saying something. Just stick with the original.  Please.

JUST GO WITH IT
To sleep with a pretty lady, Adam Sandler pretends he's married and getting divorced from Jennifer Aniston.  No this isn't one of Awesome-O 3000's movie ideas (hee hee, South Park reference) but the real plot of his rom-com from 2011. Whilst the film does have the occasional funny moment, usually due to Jennifer Aniston, there are far too few for another Adam Sandler 'comedy'.  What happened to the guy who was so fantastic in Punch-Drunk Love and The Wedding Singer?  Not the Jack & Jill / Grown Ups version we are getting today.  Remember who you were, Adam.


2-HEADED SHARK ATTACK
Yes, I'm reviewing this tripe.  From the same vein of Sharknado (the tornado made of sharks), comes this floundering turd of a film. So yeah, teens on a boat (including Hulk Hogan's daughter Brooke) captained by Carmen Electra (yeah, she still exists) get targeted by a really bad piece of CGI.  The result?  The Sy-Fy Channel loses another viewer.

JACK REACHER
Tom Cruise plays an ex-Army police officer, tasked with investigating the actions of a supposed mass-murderer.  In a change of pace, Reacher is a semi-vigilante cop that doesn't play by the rules...

*cough* Jack Bauer *cough*,
*cough* John McClane *cough*,
*cough* McBain *cough*

Plus in the books he's apparently around 7ft tall. Ideal casting for Cruise then... Despite the inspired casting of Werner Herzog and his magnificent voice as the overall villain, the film just criminally lacks originality or suspense.  Also, Hollywood?  Please stop casting Jai Courtenay in films.  He's just another Sam Worthington or Kellan Lutz. Stop bringing these talent-vacuums to the centre stage.  Sincerely, Movie-Lovers Worldwide.

TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES

I remember liking this film.  Upon re-watching it... I cannot remember why.  An insult to the originals.

And that's enough for now.  I'll probably post another next Sunday, but until then, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!

Chinese Whispers - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

WINTER IS COMING

I wasn't the biggest fan of the first Captain America film that was released back in 2011.  At all.  The First Avenger told the origins of Steve Rogers, a weedy, yet earnest young man who was deemed unsuitable for the American army during the Second World War.  He came across as a lovable loser-turned-superhero, but the film on a whole just rubbed me the wrong way.

Maybe because I'm a die-hard British patriot and I didn't care for the typical American view of the Second World War being all but fruitless without the saviour coming from across the pond.  Either way, when The Avengers (Avengers Assemble to us Brits) was released a year later, I was very excited to see how Iron Man, Thor and Hulk coped but was drastically less interested in the Captain.  Yeah, his shield reflects things, he's strong and fast... and ... he's a good war strategist... I guess?  But other than that, I had no idea why he was on this team of misfit heroes.  It was nothing against Chris Evans, the man portraying Steve Rogers.  He's a fantastic actor who played the role very earnestly and gives 110% in all of his roles (particularly Scott Pilgrim vs. The World).  Something was just lacking in this one Avengers prequel.

Three years later and it's sequel time! We've seen Iron Man Three, Thor: The Dark World and it looks like Ant-Man will be released before Mark Ruffalo Hulk's gets his own film.  So, that again leaves the Captain.  Taking place two years after The Avengers' Battle of New York, Rogers is still working for Nick Fury and the S.H.I.E.L.D. spy agency, all whilst adjusting to contemporary society.  However after investigating into some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s shadier operations, Rogers, Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) are branded as enemies of the state and must fight their own colleagues to stay alive.

Shrouded in political mystery, The Winter Soldier manages to outdo nearly all of the previous Marvel films in it's quality by finally making the transition from simple comic-book fare to an all-out conspiracy thriller.  More impressively, for the first time, the film made me sympathise with Steve Rogers as a man-out-of-time who just wants to transfer the camaraderie of his army days into today's secular "Don't Trust Anyone" society.  The characters of Black Widow and Nick Fury are just as preposterous as ever, but their so-far secretive back stories are finally touched upon and partially revealed to finally give them a bit more fleshing out, rather than "They're just super-spies...".  The funny thing about this film is that the titular Winter Soldier barely features in the film, and yet you are more-than-adequately served a healthy dose of narrative, filled with suspense and intrigue throughout.  No one is truly what they seem and it gives the film a fantastic edge, similar to the Mandarin-twist of Iron Man Three.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of things wrong with some of the plot contrivances, (Nick Fury cutting himself out of a car whilst it's upside-down is one such example) but you forgive the film for still being the disbelief-suspending film it is at heart.  Despite it's standard of ratcheting up the action, the action scenes are incredibly choreographed whilst the pacing is constant, yet not overwhelming.  Whilst Fury, Black Widow and the new character of The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) are fleshed out appropriately, there are other characters that don't get their due, such as the undercover Agent 13 (Emily VanCamp) and S.H.I.E.L.D. director Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford).  I imagine these roles will be increased in future Captain America films but it just gives a tiny feeling of dissatisfaction.  However, this is a tiny gripe.

One major gripe I had with the film however was the complete lack of mentioning Agent Phil Coulson!  Two years have passed since the events of The Avengers, you'd think that they could have given a passing mention that he is still walking around, heading up the current Marvel TV spin-off Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  It would have counted as a nice little nod to the audience and also another sign of the impressive Marvel continuity that is running through these films.  However despite this, there are several other little hints at new and interesting upcoming characters for the Marvel geeks in the audience, such as myself, to point to the screen .

In any case, bravo Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  You managed to turn this Captain America doubter into a full supporter.  Now that the flag-waving, Nazi-puncher has been replaced with a genuinely interesting and troubled character (which still cannot be said of Superman), the only weak link in the Marvel chain has been fixed.  I highly recommend this film to those of you out there who aren't just looking for a superhero film, but an interesting commentary on today's paranoid society.  Also to those haters of The First Avenger.  It might just surprise you, as it did me.  I just hope they carry this into the rather 'out-there' Guardians Of The Galaxy, out during summer.

P.S. Stay for the scene at the end of the credits!  Sounds redundant to tell you this, but there were so many people who just left the auditorium after my viewing.

Rating: 9/10

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!

Chinese Whispers - The LEGO Movie

Everything Is Awesome

I honestly thought The LEGO Movie was such a bad idea. Don't get me wrong, a movie based on a children's toy is not original; just ask Michael Bay and his upcoming 'four-quel'. But a movie based on toy construction blocks sounded like one of the most outlandish and risky ideas I'd had heard coming out of Hollywood in a long time.  It had 'train-wreck' written all over it, and whilst a Lego train-wreck in my pre-teens would have been fun to see happen before my eyes, I wasn't as optimistic in my twenties.

However my worries were lessened when I saw the first released trailer and noticed that the film wasn't taking itself seriously, like the previous ones released under the 'Lego' such as the Bionicle films.  It seemed tongue-in-cheek, fresh and smart, and understandably so.  Coming from the creative team behind such hilarious gems as Scrubs, Clone High and 21 Jump Street (Phil Lord and Chris Miller) was more than enough convincing I needed.

The film is set in the Lego world of Bricksburg, where the evil Lord Business (voiced by Will Ferrell) is planning on unleashing a deadly secret weapon on the town's inhabitants.  The wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman and his magnificent vocals) seeks The Special, who might be the only person capable of stopping Lord Business.  However destiny falls to an ordinary construction worker, Emmet (voiced by up-and-coming Guardian of the Galaxy, Chris Pratt).  With the help of rebellious Wyldstyle and her boyfriend Batman (yes that's right...), Emmet must awaken The Special within him to keep Bricksburg free and movable.

Trust me; the amount of negative titles I had envisioned for this review were infinite.

"Some Parts Missing"... "Assembly Required"... "Brick Shithouse"...

However, this was honestly the most fun I've had in a cinema for quite a while, probably since The World's End and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa both made me giggle like a schoolgirl over the summer of 2013.  The humour was sharp enough for adults to enjoy, such as jokes about over-priced coffee, but silly enough for the kids to enjoy; Morgan Freeman's character spontaneously appears on screen quite clearly being hung by a cheap piece of rope in a surreal manner resembling Monty Python.

Despite the previous example, the animation was dazzling and so rich in depth that I'm sure I will see new and hidden jokes in the background on a second and third viewing (which will be happening soon...).  The directors Lord and Miller intended for the film to appear as realistic as possible and as if made via stop-motion technology, despite all being computer-generated and you really can't tell the difference.

What surprised me more than anything about The Lego Movie was the message at the heart of the narrative.  It isn't just an adventure thrill-ride through the Wild West, outer space and Cloud Cuckooland, but also a showcase into the heartfelt love that people have for their collections of bricks and shapes.  I, for one, was never that bothered about creating my own Lego worlds when I was younger.  It probably shows how unimaginative or impatient I was, but I never got the appeal.  Either way, this supposed 'kiddie film' actually gave me an insight into why people love Lego as much as they do.  Quite impressive for a film that I'm sure will be dismissed by many as quick and easily as I did.

Not only does it provide an interesting insight, but it also includes one of the most infectious songs that you will hear in a film all year.  Similar to Pharrell's Happy in last year's Despicable Me 2, I was singing "Everything Is Awesome" out of the cinema and the days following.  I challenge anyone to hear it and not be swept up in it's smothering positivity and happiness, even if the original meaning is quite satirical.  So was Python's "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" and you never forget that catchy whistling.

You can see how much effort has been invested into making the several worlds that feature in The Lego Movie.  Each looks like a child has imagined them, built them and has played with them, and the effect is not lost.  Films with a personal touch such as these and the ones made by Aardman studios (Wallace and Gromit or The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists) are made with such heart and enthusiasm that it completely transfers from the screen, and cinema is a much greater place for them.  Take your kids to see this film, or failing that, please go yourselves. You won't be disappointed, because don't worry; everything is awesome!

Rating: 9/10

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!

Chinese Whispers - Don Jon

JGL - Just Good Lovin'

I'm in danger of overloading on Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Knowledge of my man crush has spilled out into public domain now and this will be the second JGL film that I have reviewed in a row.  Such love!  Isn't it just sickening?  Appropriately, love is all that his directorial debut, Don Jon, is about.  But just two different kinds.

JGL plays the titular Jon, who obsesses over a certain lifestyle; all he values in his life are his material possessions, his appearance and his women.  Oh and pornography.  Lots. And. Lots. Of pornography.  Enter Scarlett Johansson's Barbara, a 'Perfect 10' who just might be 'The One' for our Don Jon.  But in order to seal the deal, Jon must be willing to end his decade-long love affair with porn.  She sees this as a character flaw, whereas he doesn't see any difference from her love of Hollywood rom-coms.

I recently read an article on Vice.co.uk about the rise of lad culture entitled "How Sad Young Douchebags Took Over Modern Britain" in which the author claimed that beer-swilling, tanned muscleheads have taken over the typical example of 'tough guys' in today's society.  Whilst I mostly agree with the article, from the example shown in Don Jon, it seems to be a transatlantic problem too.  Jon typifies your quintessential modern, selfish, misogynistic 'meat-head'.  His obsession with a perfectly-groomed body and perfectly-cleaned apartment is only matched by his fascination with the ideal world of sex that modern pornography depicts.  After a typical night, he always compare his experience with the one he sees in pornographic movies and it leaves him feeling hollow.  So he feels he must fill that void with endless amounts of self-abuse.

Despite the comedy within the film and the light-hearted premise, Don Jon is an incredible study of an often-shamed or ignored addiction.  The original title of the film was Don Jon's Addiction and the obsession shown throughout is definitely an eye-opening one; despite all the perfection around him, Jon finds the only place he can constantly 'lose himself' is in the world of pornography.  It's understandable why JGL plays the role with true pathos and heart as he wrote and directed the film as well, making the entire project obviously very personal to him.

As well as JGL, I was surprisingly impressed by Scarlett Johansson's performance as Barbara, the 'Perfect 10'.  Even though she is cast with the character's appearance in mind, her talent is definitely what shines brightest.  This is the first time I have seen Ms Johansson given the chance to act in a film for such a long time.  Her recent foray into the world of comic-book adaptations (Avengers, Iron Man 2, The Spirit) could be attributed to her buxom figure drawing in male audiences, but it results in her playing eye-candy with not much chance to flex her acting muscles.  However, in Barbara, Johansson plays a cocky, self-assured woman who, deep-down, is just as shallow and self-centred as Jon, even if she doesn't know it.  Her 'Perfect 10' status is wholly exterior, but you can tell she is enjoying playing this damaged character.

Don't get me wrong; my love for JGL is not blinding me from seeing this film's flaws.  Personally, I didn't quite buy the friendship that Jon has with his night-school classmate played by Julianne Moore.  It felt like JGL wanted Jon to find a way out of his addiction, and that he could be happy without having his high expectations fulfilled, but it just didn't feel right.  I didn't sense that much of a character arc from Jon to make it seem like the correct ending.  I could see where JGL is coming from, but like Jon's videos, it all seemed too perfect.

However from a directorial standpoint, as well as a writer, this debut film is very impressive.  The characters are a little broad but engaging, the message is well-meaning and the drama is evenly balanced with the comedy and romance.  It might not be for everyone, such as watching it with your parents, as the subject matter is very mature and quite graphic at some points, but it is always with it's tongue firmly in cheek.  So to speak.

Rating - 8/10

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!

Chinese Whispers - Premium Rush

Again, this review has been hiding away since I saw it in the cinema two years ago. So since this film features one adrenaline-filled chase after another, you gotta enjoy the irony of how slow I have been with this.

On Yer Bike

Now my love for Joseph Gordon-Levitt is well-known in my circle of friends.  Despite starring in the much-loved Shakespeare adaptation 10 Things I Hate About You, my attention was first caught by JGL after watching Brick, a film that rests comfortably within my Top Ten Films.  From having his heart broken in (500) Days of Summer, to being recognised by Christopher Nolan and starring in both The Dark Knight Rises and Inception, I am so proud that I have seen him grow into the leading man I knew he would become.

Like most revered leading men in today's acting industry, like Leo DiCaprio and (out of nowhere) Matthew McConaughney, JGL picks his roles very carefully, holding the script's integrity as paramount, as well as the chance to test his range and skill.

In Premium Rush, JGL takes a step away from thought-provoking dramas and romantic comedies to star as Wilee (like the Coyote) a bike messenger from Manhattan.  One particular delivery requires Wiley to deliver an envelope across the city that controls the fate of a large sum of money.  However he is pursued by corrupt police officer, maniacally played by Michael Shannon, who wants the envelope's money for his own crippling gambling debts.  Pretty much 16 Blocks with bicycles.

Now whilst the film begins strongly, introducing the characters and the premise well, it's not long before things start to fall apart.  This is mainly due to the protagonist and his friends being bike messengers and cyclists.  Any person who has ever driven a car will know how annoying cyclists can be, and Premium Rush surely proves this.  All the cyclists come across as cocky arseholes who think they run the streets, probably to make them appear cool and streetwise but they just across as arrogant know-it-alls. Wilee appears earnest enough in the beginning, headstrong and determined; but by the end, he is just one of the dumb gearheads.  I mean his name rhymes with 'Wheelie', for God's sake.

The film moves along with a quick pace and there are two pretty exciting chase sequences early on starts giving hope to the rest, but then the film begins to think it's Pulp Fiction and we are transported to earlier that day, shown a 10 minute long scene which could have been significantly shorter, and then transported back, completely breaking the film's momentum.

The film is ambitious, which is good to see but it ultimately fails in creating an interesting flowing narrative.  Michael Shannon comes across as such a larger-than-life character, he starts becoming a villainous caricature. However, he plays 'the imposing bad guy' so well and he is one of my favourite screen presences so I'm just glad he's starring in more mainstream films.

Despite it's flaws, I'll give Premium Rush credit; this was the first time I had been excited by a bike chase.  And there are a lot of them.  Good hint for future directors; not as expensive as car chases, but still just as exhilarating.  It has encouraging moments but is let down all too often.  

But not by JGL.  

'Cause he's awesome.  

There, I said it.

Rating - 5/10

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!

Chinese Whispers - Dredd 3D

Improvements Are Coming

So I have a few reviews that I have stored up on my iPhone's Notes app, so I thought I'd get them published and free up some space (as well as stop being a lazy reviewer). Consider this a DVD review if you want, it might be just a few years too late to be relavent...

Let me start by saying my expectations for Dredd were not high. The trailer looked cheesy as hell, plus I really wasn't a fan of the Sylvester Stallone film, Judge Dredd, that was released in the mid-90s.  

For one: he took off the mask, which Judge Dredd never does. 

Two: the perpetual engine of lowest-common-denominator Rob Schneider (derp-de-derp) was second billing. Might as well cast Adam Sandler or Martin Lawrence in drag.

And Three: he takes off the f##kin' helmet, man!

Adapted from the 2000 AD comic strip, Judge Dredd, Dredd takes place in a vast, dystopic metropolis called Mega-City One that lies in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.  Dredd is a Judge, essentially a police officer with the powers of judge, jury and executioner.  He and his rookie partner, Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), are forced to bring order to a 200-storey high-rise block of flats and deal with its resident drug lord, Ma-Ma (Game of Thrones' Lena Headey).

I know, it sounds incredibly schlocky, cheeses and like a bad 80s exploitation film, right?  That is the film's strength, more than it's weakness.  Whereas most films would try and include some kind of hidden message or heartfelt sentiment somewhere in these exploitative 96 minutes, Dredd just delivers non-stop action from the start.  And it does it so well.

Written by Danny Boyle-collaborator, Alex Garland, who had previously penned screenplays such as 28 Days Later... and Never Let Me Go, the film's dialogue is realistic, the characters are relatable and yet the Die Hard-meets-Robocop situation is so incredibly over-the-top, but it all balances so well!

Karl Urban doesn't overdo the menace as the titular Dredd, like I had feared. He mostly has to turn his head, growl and then grimace, but he does it remarkably well.  Olivia Thirlby (the best friend in Juno) provides a decent supporting role, adequately annoying Dredd at occasions as well as utilising her convenient and unbelievable psychic powers.  The only disappointment is villainous drug lord Lena Headey who is all but wasted in the penthouse suite of the Peach Trees tower block.  With the raw emotion and sly wit she displays in Game of Thrones,  she could have been a female Hans Gruber, controlling villainous hordes from behind a desk of drugs and money.  Yet she is demoted to scowling and threatening nameless grunts with knives. Disappointing.

The film was originally offered to Duncan (son of Bowie) Jones, who I think would have made an amazing director but Pete Travis does a decent-enough job.  He delivers an interesting visual experience when the drug 'slo-mo' is utilised but there might have been a few slow motion scenes that could have been sacrificed.  Yet again, there is no need for the film to be made in 3D and it looks perfect in 2D, so no need to shill out for the 3D version at home.

This hyper-violent, self-satirical film may not be for everyone as the blood and over-the-top violence honestly took me by surprise.  However, it fitted the tone of the film so well, as well as gave a great re-introduction to the character of Dredd, with Stallone and Schneider nowhere to be seen.

My friend Tim is a big campaigner for the commission of a sequel to Dredd, which is getting more attention and gaining more steam every day. Since the film failed to recoup it's budget, it will probably be Kickstarted sooner than later, so I highly recommend you brush up on the original!

Rating - 8/10

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!

Chinese Whispers - The Monuments Men

The Mediocre Men

Earlier this year, I was able to visit the Etihad Stadium to watch my beloved Manchester City take on Crystal Palace to hopefully gain three points to help fight for the Premier League title. They had strung an impressive record of home victories before them so confidence was high when facing Palace who were at the bottom of the table.  All these famous stars and power players in the City squad, forming such an impressive arsenal, but that day, they could only muster a measly 1-0 victory. It was disappointing to say the least.

The Monuments Men tells the story of a group of American art experts and appreciators who travelled to war-torn Europe during WWII to salvage priceless works of art that were being destroyed in the bombings of several European cities.  George Clooney directs and stars in this story based on real events, along with Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin and Cate Blanchett.

(Firstly, before I speak about the film, may I just describe the cinema in which I watched it?

As you may or may not know, I am currently travelling around Southeast Asia and I managed to see The Monuments Men with my girlfriend in a shopping mall's cinema in Patong, Thailand.  The two tickets I bought, along with a bottle of water and a HUGE cup of Coca-Cola cost me the equivalent of just under £5; an unexpected but very welcome total.

As we were ushered to our screen, we took our seats in the centre of a beautiful auditorium.  The standard confectionary adverts and schlocky horror-movie trailers were played for approximately ten minutes, before a presentation of adoration for the King of Thailand started. It was completely surreal. 

The opening music and placard was subtitled with the caption 'Please stand to honour our King'. We looked around, and all other cinemagoers, Thai and foreign, were standing, so we did similar too. A minute or so later, the tribute finished, we sat down and the film started. Surreal experience over.)

Back to the film.  There is no doubt that when you organise this amount of talent in a film, you're going to see some amazing acting, but the talent is wasted if it isn't arranged into an ensemble. Here is where we find The Monuments Men.  Individual performances are impressive, such as Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Jean Dujardin (The Artist) holding their own alongside veteran Hollywood performers, but the story is separated into several strands.

Bill Murray flies off to Belgium, John Goodman is sent to Northern France and Matt Damon tries to free the potentially helpful Cate Blanchett, arrested as part of the French Resistance in Paris. With the narrative so wide instead of being kept together, unfortunately the attention to each thread is not spread evenly.  The film is sold as a bit of a wartime comedy-caper or WWII Ocean's Eleven, but this is hardly the case.  Romantic subplots are hardly given basis, antagonism turns to friendship in the blink of an eye and most characters hardly experience any kind of character arc.

The film tries to show how we are all affected by war, even if your intention is to protect, rather than destroy.  Clooney tries to demonstrate this by highlighting certain deaths that occurred over the salvation of art pieces, but they end up not being that devastating, as the audience haven't got to know the characters that well to care.

Of course since the film is based on real events, poetic licence can only go so far and Clooney couldn't have changed the script to fit conventional film plot stereotypes but the resulting storyline fails to gather any momentum. The only exciting section comes towards the end, after the main mission finishes and nothing apart from a few minor altercations raise pulses throughout the film.

The Monuments Men is a 'nice' film and I hate using that word, but it is the only word I can think to describe it.  It's not awful, not by a long shot, but with such a cast and story, it fails to live up to the potential that lied before it.  In terms of George Clooney-directed films, it falls way behind Syriana or Good Night, and Good Luck.  

The Monuments Men fails to push any buttons or take any chances, in storyline or direction, but still manages to get the job done.  A tepid 1-0 victory, despite the odds being greatly in their favour.

Rating - 4/10

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!

Mike Dunn's Chinese Whispers

IN-FLIGHT TREATS

For those who don't know me personally, I'm currently travelling around Eastern Asia and will be until June.  As amazing as this is, my priorities are having to be reassigned, spending my days visiting temples and shrines instead of cinemas and multiplexes.  Hardly any popcorn at all!  It feels as wrong as it sounds.

However, whilst on the plane, I managed to watch a few films; some relatively new releases and some old classics for which I finally found time.

(Note: I currently have no Internet access so I'm writing this on my iPhone, hence why I have not been able to include the usual accompanying pictures)

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The first film I watched was In A World..., the directorial debut for hippy-named Lake Bell, who also writes and stars.  Bell plays Carol, an aspiring voice-over artist in this quick-witted and snappy comedy set within the voice over industry where the famous words "In a world..." are synonymous with the legendary late Don LaFontaine.  If you saw an epic movie trailer in the late 90s, you will have heard his voice.

As the daughter of the new king of voiceovers, the ceiling is already glass for Carol.  However an opportunity has arrived for someone to finally re-utter the words "In a world..." for a new female-based film epic.  With her father and other rivals vying for the privilege, does Carol have the chords for the job? 

IAW... was a funny and acerbic character piece set in a world often ignored or dismissed.  The politics and turmoils of such a seemingly simple industry were intriguing and yet extremely relatable.  Bell gives a very impressive debut, as writer, actor and director.  Both the script and performance are engaging, however her directing style lacked any memorable quality. This is, of course, to be expected of a first time director, especially one who features in nearly every scene. This is only me nit-picking.

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The second film I watched was one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time, Casablanca. I am ashamed to say it took 25 years on this planet for me to see this film, and the hype might have taken away from the impact this film had on me.

The storyline, for those like I who haven't seen it, follows Rick (Humphrey Bogart) who runs a bar in the Moroccan city of Casablanca during World War II.  The city has become a port for fleeing Europeans trying to get to America and one of those is Rick's old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). Famous for staying out of people's problems, how can Rick stay impartial when it comes to his past love?

Now whilst the film did impress me, watching Bogart and Bergman's epic romance for the first time, I feel like it's reputation preceded it slightly so I was expecting to be blown away and enamoured with the love triangle more than I was.  The atmosphere was nostalgic and the performances were heartfelt but in terms of classic cinema, it's no Citizen Kane.

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After all the drama and seriousness, I needed a comedy to cheer me up and decided on Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2.  I hadn't seen the first Meatballs film but had heard only positive things from friends and after seeing the sequel, I definitely want to see the original.

Set immediately after the first film, where creative inventor Flint discovered how to turn water into food, his invention is continuing to wreak havoc.  Only now it is creating terrifying food/animals that may take over the planet!!!

Completely over-the-top and with it's tongue firmly in it's cheek, CWACOM2 embarrassed me several times, as I openly guffawed whilst passengers around me were trying to sleep.  Since it comes from the same writers and creators of Scrubs and Clone High, it's understandable why I found their type of humour so engaging.  The animation and characters will equally appeal to the youngsters, as this is the audience it is obviously aimed towards, but the humour is more than funny enough for adults too.

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To finish on a confusing and overdone note, the final film I selected was Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal book, it depicts the lives of several wealthy socialites in 1920s America.  Seen from the point of view of Nick Carraway (played by Tobey Maguire), he describes his introduction to the party lifestyle of the upper classes in New York and his friendship with a mysterious businessman, only known as Gatsby (played by Leo DiCaprio).

A look at Luhrmann's filmography can tell you that he doesn't do films half-heartedly; Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge! and even Australia were overblown epics of the grandest variety.  With Gatsby, Luhrmann does manage to capture the devil-may-care atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties through the lavish and decadent party scenes, as well as document the undercurrent of class-warfare that stems throughout the original text.

However, through methods such as using modern music to accompany party scenes, as well as seemingly experiment with below-par CGI during car chase sequences, Baz manages to constantly remind me that I am watching a film.  DiCaprio is fantastic as ever, and Carey Mulligan performs admirably as usual, but all their hard work drawing me into the drama is spoiled by a screaming soundtrack of will.i.am and Jay Z.  Many critics have praised the innovation of using modern music, I am just not a fan.

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And with the closing credits of The Great Gatsby, I arrived in Kuala Lumpur.  Since then, I have seen quite a few films so I will be reviewing them in due time.

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read and you'd like to be kept more up to date with my posts, I can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews - if you want to help the site grow, give them a 'Like' or a 'Share'!