IMT: Movie Reviews: November 2010

Monday, 29 November 2010

FILM REVIEW: The American (15)

SLIDER’S REVIEW:

Here’s ladies man George Clooney playing lead role in this adaptation from the 1990 novel “A Very Private Gentlemen” by Martin Booth.

I like a film that starts off with unanswered questions. Anton Corbijin who directs this movie does just that. It got my attention for a moment as you all know I’m a sucker for a bit of action and thriller in films. After the little spell of action the film then goes into BORING MODE. As for the next 35 minutes nothing significant really happens. After that the story then sort of starts to take shape, but slooooowly.

I didn’t want give up on this film because it still had that Thriller effect because Mr Clooneys Characters Jack/Edward had this trust nobody mentality so he was constantly looking over his shoulder and keeping safe. Everything seemed quiet, dark and secretive as i didnt get any background information so for me this kept this character intresting. Havent said that the more characters introduced on screen the better feeling I got watching this film. Lots of scenes of one man wasn’t really cutting it for me however sexy you ladies might think he looks.

If anyone is expecting a heart racing show stopper of a movie then dont watch this one.

The American as a whole is an okay film; it’s not bad it’s just not great. The screenplay uses the element of surprise on a low level. The whole look of the film has the settings of a Jason Bourne type of film but then doesn’t deliver like one. Even though I had not read the book that this film is from I can tell the important and not so important parts were all thrown into this movie. This is good to some extent because normally writers take stories and do their take on it which is normally different from the original. The writers for this film had the films pace going so slow... snails could have gotten to point of this film faster.
On a good note the locations were picked very well and the long and wide shot of the town looked great on screen.

Acting wise everybody did their parts well especially Clooneys character. However he did have this clueless look about his face for most of the film. I couldn’t tell if he was going to strangle someone to death or start crying on their shoulders.

This story could have been told in about 20mins but nope they manage to stretched out for 103minutes.

MY STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5: 2.5

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE FILM:

What the women does with the gun made for her.

(if you loved another moment in the film, please feel free to tell us in the comments)

SYNOPSIS:

An Assassin hides out in Italy for one last assignment.

TRAILER:

Monday, 8 November 2010

FILM REVIEW: Due Date (15)

SLIDER’S REVIEW:

Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr) & (Ethan Tremblay) Zach Galifianakis are the two very well mismatched actors whos path cross at a aiport and after a few mishaps end up on a journey together to Los Angeles by car. Peter has to get to the birth of his child as his wife's Due Date is coming up in a few days.

It’s ironman and that funny guy from the Hangover film playing lead in this American Comedy film Directed by Todd Phillips (funny enough the same man who directed Hangover). With a line up like this I was expecting a exceptionally funny film. I got about 60% of that. I think the reason Zach Galifianakis was as good as he way in Hangover was because of the cast he was surrounded by. In Due Date he just has Robert Downey Jr to banter with who does his part as well as he could. But everytime I saw Mr Downey Jr in this film I kept thinking of Ironman and thinking he was going to get in his suit and blow something up then I realise this is not that type of film.

These two work well because their opposites, one is normal and the other is crazy. The constant naggin from the Ethan character is a joy to enjoy. They have a hate love relationship as Peter hates Ethan but Ethan loves Peter, by the end they at last find their friendship (tiny bit of bromance never hurts).

This movie acomplishes the task to be funny and even some of the serious scenes are not so serious. As for the storyline its predictable and unpreditcable at the same time. I saw things Ive seen in films before and then saw scenarios which shocked me because I was not expecting it to happen like it does in the film. All the characters have a likeness to them because they are all funny except the pregnant wife Sarah Highman (Michelle Highman) whos moody obviously due to being heavily pregnant and without a husband at such a crucial stage.

#A Good Watch (y)

MY STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5: 3

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN FILM:

The coffee moment in Darryl’s (Jamie Foxx) house when he tells them what type of coffee everyones drinking.

(if you loved another moment in the film, please feel free to tell us in the comments)

SYNOPSIS:

High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.

TRAILER:

Saturday, 6 November 2010

FILM REVIEW: Jackass 3D (18)

SLIDER’S REVIEW:

These guys were risking life and limb to make this movie.
Scenes in Jackass 3D will make you want to puke so don’t bother buying popcorn in the cinema, you might just bring it all back up… (Don’t say I never warned you all)

This is not a film it’s more of a documentary but It still had me in stitches most of the time because it is very funny. It’s a bunch of clips put together by a bunch of friends hurting each other all in the name of fun.

This movie is filled with a heap of stunts that had me laughing out loud and other stunts were just too disgusting to watch. The 3D looks very visible as you can see objects being thrown. I think that will give movie the edge it needs to do well in the cinema. There was also enough pranks and skits in this film. I don’t even want to mention the stunts and spoil it for anyone going to see this.

Jonny Knoxville and his friends don’t try too hard to makes it seem genuine, it just seems to flow somehow. But there are skits that they try and make it seem like its real but we can clearly see the reactions are fake and its just acting. (Maybe they should have left some skits out)

Haven’t said that I didn’t feel like they were going out their way to make me laugh because as the stunts were performed they were laughing themselves and having a great time which made me laugh with them. These people didn’t care about their bodies or what they eat drink or get hit with. It’s pretty amazing stuff. I also liked the way everyone was on a same level playing field so anything could happen to anyone at anytime. For example one person could be talking to the camera and then someone comes from behind and just punches that person in the face with a boxing glove. (in slow motion it looks hilarious)

#I’m very surprised no one was serverly injured through the making of this film.

MY STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5: 3.5

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE FILM:

The cheating midget couple skit at a bar #CLASSIC

(if you loved another moment in the film, please feel free to tell us in the comments)

SYNOPSIS:

Johnny Knoxville and company return for the third installment of their TV show spin-off, where dangerous stunts and explicit public displays rule.

TRAILER:

FILM REVIEW: Saw 3D The Final Chapter (18)

SLIDER’S REVIEW:

Jigsaw is back (well mostly his voice anyway) for the seventh time and im thinking ‘oh my is should one gruesome & twisted finale.' Because for me the excitement in watching Saw is to do with Jigsaw’s voice In the tapes and the original characters themselves. Its also to do with the traps and the way people are killed. So I was excited to see how this epic run of a horror film would end.

Sadly, I think this Saw was made just to make money and that they ruined it. The plot itsself has no substance, seems random and just gets worse as the film goes along. I hated the fact that they based it around a guy who had supposedly survived one of jigsaws traps like we havent met a couple of them before in previous Saw’s.

The new characters I didn’t like them because I wasn’t able to connect to them in anyway and I thought their acting was rubbish.The return of a original character at the end seemed made up and not well thought out unlike before when we learned that Amanda Young had become jigsaw’s helper. The ending didn’t go out with a explosive bang more of a firework spark which is sad because the previous Saw's started so well.

Oh and I think everyone who pays to see this in 3D will be quite frankly dissapointed as the effects are so minimal it's embrassing to call it 3D. The parts that are in 3D make the traps look unreal. (these directors keep fooling us with these so called 3D films)

On a good note I think fans will like Saw 7 because theres lot going on in the film to keep your focus. Most people come to see people die disgustinly and that’s what you get.

#Lets just hope there isnt a Saw 8 (now that would be tragic)

MY STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5: 3

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE FILM:

The Decibel Trap

(where the girl has to be quiet for him to take the key out from inside her or she dies.)

(if you loved another moment in the film, please feel free to tell us in the comments)

SYNOPSIS:

As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.

TRAILER: