MOVIE REVIEW: THE HANGOVER 2 (15)

"F***ING HILARIOUS"

Hangover 2 is a Comedy film Directed by Todd Phillips (same guy that brought us the first Hangover and Due Date). Right after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand to Stu’s wedding. Stu’s plan for a quiet pre wedding brunch, however it all somehow goes seriously wrong. Its Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti, Jamie Chung, Mason Lee & Jeffrey Tambor.

THE REVIEW:

When I saw the Hangover 2 trailer a couple weeks back I was jumping in my computer chair excited to see such a funny film make a much anticipated return. The first Hangover took everyone by surprise with the concept and how funny it was so when the sequel was coming I know everyone put a note in their blackberries, iPhone, HTC etc..

Before watching it I was wondering how they could make this Hangover even funnier than the first one (question on everyone's mind). After watching it I’m glad to say this part 2 does not try to outdo the first one, it just does a awesome job in matching it in funniness. To my delight the writers Craig Mazin & Scott Armstrong exceeded my expectations with all the surprises along the way. 

It starts off a little slow with all the introductions but as soon as the craziness begun there was no stopping these guys. It’s wild, exciting fun and extremely entertaining. The gang end up somewhere completely different to where they were the day before, that’s when the retracing of their steps begun once again. The team of Phil, Stu, Alan & Mr Chow are characters made from comedy heaven. Their different approaches to situations are what makes it so enjoyable to watch and especially what they say. The racial slurs are just EPIC, every context they mention the word ‘Nigger’ is just so hilarious to listen and watch. Movie is set in Thailand and Director Phillips manages to capture the countries surroundings very well. #GoodCinematography.

Alan takes the #StarOfTheShow award because his character played by Galifianakis is absolute genius. It’s the things he says and the way he acts and thinks, literally a walking idiot. Without him I don’t think this film would have worked as good. He truly is a classic character that I enjoyed watching. Stu is another great character who’s not always up for a good time and would love the quiet life but comes to realise himself that he is a party animal at heart. Phil (Cooper) is a good character that holds the gang together through hard and clueless times. Mr Chow (Jeong) is a person you only had to hear him speak in order to start laughing. His accent and body gestures are too funny for words. #BrilliantCast.

#SpoilerAlert: i didnt like Mike Tyson showing up at the end, he was not really needed. i had an awkward moment watching this used to be beast of a boxer on stage singing like he was (maybe thats just me). *shrugs*

OVERALL:  Fun Times @ The Cinema.

 STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5:  4.5

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE FILM:

The scene where the gang (Wolfpack as Alan like to call them) go into the strip club to see a woman about what happened to them the night before as they can’t remember.

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

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MOVIE REVIEW: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (12A) (2D) (3D)

"ENTERTAINING BUT NOT BETTER THAN ORIGINAL"

Pirates Of The Caribbean 4: On Strange Tides is an Action Fantasy Adventure film Directed by Rob Marshall (same guy that brought us Memoirs Of a Geisha, 2005). This film centres Jack Sparrow & Barbosa, they embark on a quest to find the elusive Fountain of Youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too. Its Starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Kevin McNally, Sam Claflin, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Stephen Graham, Keith Richards, Richard Griffiths, Greg Ellis, Damian O’Hare & Oscar Jaenada.

THE REVIEW:

Before I went to see this fourth instalment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series someone asked me ‘Will the film not feel weird without most of its original characters?’ I thought about that question and couldn’t answer but had it in mind.

After watching this film I had mixed feelings of the outcome. The storyline is long, active, funny & entertaining (lots of things constantly going on) and fresh to the eyes but I don’t think it’s better than the original (not far off the mark though). I think the problem it had was that it’s just a long piece of film that doesn’t have enough jaw dropping scenes from time to time, starts off great but doesn't end that way. Another problem is taking a classic and adding new things to it (that original feel to it). The new characters are not bad actors/actresses (far from it) it’s just that some scenes needed certain people from the previous films. Capt. Jack Sparrows needed Orlando Bloom & Keira Knightley along in this journey (they were missed).

On Strangers Tides tell the story at a good pace with amazing production behind it. The Cinematography was pictured beautifully. From the costumes to the sets everything just brought back memories of the previous films. Marshall did a good job directing this film but lets the sub plot get in the way of the actual story (left unsolved). Some of the fight scenes seemed too routine and boring until the mermaids come along. 3D? Well I had the opportunity to watch it in 3D but didn't really feel like it was necessary, nothing amazing happens in apart from some in your face sword movements. I even kept taking my glasses off just to check the difference.

Jack Sparrow (Depp) is this films best asset. His character is just so iconic & entertaining that he continuously stands out in each Pirate of the Caribbean film. He does a brilliant job once and his character is the glue that holds this film together. I liked Angelica (Cruz) as Mr Sparrows love interest, she’s another fresh face, a good actress and a sight for sore eyes (I must say). Barbosa (Rush) is another great character with a serious & funny side to him, he also is a classic character. New baddie Blackbeard (McShane) brought a dark presence to his role which worked well.

 STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5:  3.5 

FAVOURITE MOMENTS IN THE FILM:

1. Jacks Sparrow’s early scene with the King.

2. Jack Sparrow (Depp) & Angelica’s (Cruz) last scene together on a remote island.

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

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MOVIE REVIEW: ATTACK THE BLOCK (15)

"A BRILLIANT MIX OF COMEDY, ALIENS & SOUTH LONDON YOUTHS"

Attack The Block is an Action Adventure Sci Fi film Written & Directed by Joe Cornish (Debut Film). This film is about a teen gang in South London defending their block from an alien invasion. 
Its Starring  Nick Frost, Joe Whittaker, Luke Treadaway, John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Lee Long, Paige Meade, Danielle Vitalis & Terry Notray.

THE REVIEW:

After watching the trailer a couple weeks back, we had this film in mind because the idea looked completely different to anything we had seen before. A movie about aliens attacking a block in South London? Really? Yes. Sounds strange doesn’t it?  – That’s exactly why we wanted to watch it.

Slides & Smalls are glad to say that we was not disappointed with the end product of this film, it was exactly how we pictured it (and more). These kids armed with fireworks, baseball bats, knives & a samurai sword are going as H.A.M (Hard as a Motherf*****) as they can on these aliens trying to attack their block.

The films storyline doesn’t over run, it’s actually timed very well (87mins to be exact). The writer didn’t force it to on longer than it needed to. The way the film blends some many things into one work rather brilliantly. It’s fast paced, funny and entertaining, one minute it had us laughing the next frightened (aliens looked visually stunning). From the word go the story engages and does not have any no dull moments.

The characters are what make this film such a success. These hooded youths (stars of the show that go from zero to hero) are very London like, they speak their minds (raw & uncut) which is different because some of thing they say are really the truth that society tries to turn a blind eye to. They also acted out very good banter that had us (and the whole cinema) laughing out loud (multiple times). The jokes come thick and fast, it’s not cheesy nor is it forced (hopefully other countries will get the British culture & slang's). Cornish (Director) could have asked for a better début. Its films like this that show off the talents that British production companies has on offer.

 Moses (Boyega) leads the pack in their fight and does a very good job, he was very believable front man . The rest of the gang from Pest (Esmail) to Patrick (Long) were all really good actors with admirable auras (Him & his mates fully ‘repped’ their block). #GreatCast.

OVERALL: Good Entertainment.

 STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5:  4.5

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE FILM:

The whole scene when the teen gang end up in Sam’s (Whittaker) flat.

(if you loved another moment in the film, please feel free to share it with us in the comments.)

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MOVIE REVIEW: HANNA (12A)

"OK MOVIE WITH PLOT HOLES"

HANNA is an Action Thriller film Directed by Joe Wright (same guy that brought us The Soloist, 2009) This film is about a 16 Year Old girl who’s been raised by her father to become the perfect assassin. She is being sent on missions across Europe while being chased by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives. Its Starring Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Paris Arrowsmith, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, John MacMillan, Tim Beckham & Nathan Nolan.

THE REVIEW:

When we saw the trailer we was intrigued to see a little blonde girl running around shooting guns and professionally killing people with hand combat that’s just breath-taking to watch. We couldn’t remember the last time we saw a Movie that looked like a serious young killer.

After watching this motion picture distributed by Focus Features Slides & Smalls felt a little tricked because of the action we got in the trailer was pretty much the best bits of the whole film. We was expecting more blow out action packed scenes of guns, fights, explosions to go with a fast paced storyline. Instead Hanna started off promising but then goes into a journey of self-discovery & friendship making (certainly was not expecting that). The middle part of the film is boring and felt like the storyline was changing into something else, other characters start to play bigger roles than her and it just didn’t feel like she was this main person we was all meant to be watching. Luckily they get back on track (sort of) and she continues on her journey of ass kicking but had some unexplainable plot holes (like how she shoots arrow without the bow). The story only takes form right at the end because before that we don’t really get a sense to how everyone is connected what their motives are for what they are doing. Our main characters fight scenes are really the only good ones to watch the rest are were very amateur.

Saoirse was a good lead, she played this trained killer very well. Bana, Blamchett, Hollander, Arrowsmith, Williams all pull off good performances.

OVERALL: OK Movie.

 STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5:  3

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE FILM:

The Holding room scene where Hanna (Ronan) comes face to face with a pretend Marissa (Blanchett)

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

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MOVIE REVIEW: EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE (15)

"FOR BBC1 NOT THE CINEMA"

Everywhere & Nowhere is a coming of age Drama Directed by Menhaj Huda (same guy that brought us Kidulthood, 2006). This film is centred around a British Asian torn between honouring his family traditions and his love for DJing. 
Its Starring James Floyd, Adam Deacon, Alyy Khan, Shivani Ghani, Shaheen Khan, Saeed Jaffrey, Katia Winter & Simon Webbe.

THE REVIEW:

Here’s a film that looked like another version of adulthood/kidulthood from the trailers but turned out to be a disappointing drama about family, decisions, terrorism and last chances. I thought this was going to be the Asian version to one of Adam Deacons Hood series. Thank god they didn’t call this one ‘Asianhood’. It had some elements from the film Bend It Like Beckham but this time the main person is a boy and swap the Football for Djing.

We couldn’t understand why they thought to put this in the cinema, why not BBC 1 on a random Friday night?. The storyline takes way too long to take form and when it hit the real issue the message was not put across properly. There are scenes that are not really necessary, they spent too much time dwelling on things that don't matter. We the audience do not get enough on other characters to understand them. There’s nothing this story tells the audience that the world does not know already. There’s also nothing that showed us that it cost a lot to make (a couple flats, houses, nightclubs, couple cars) and that’s it really. Also the way it ends it inexcusable. its just seems to come to crashing halt after a major shake of the story's equilibrium. 

The best thing about the whole film is the music, the creative and fresh side of our main guy Ash comes in. We hear good remixes to Bollywood classics that we have not heard before. From the end product of this film you wouldn’t be able to tell that the same Director Menhaj Huda directed Kidulthood (doesn't show at all). He tries to bring us into the world of other cultures but the story has no charisma. The cinematography & screenplay is average.

Main character Ash (Floyd) did his best but wasn’t able to showcase his talent enough. We wondered why Adam Deacon makes a random appearance in this film, he does a great job (as usual) as Zaf but we could obviously tell he was put in this film for it to create a buzz (without him nobody would think twice about watching this). Seems everybody is an actor nowadays even Simon the singer from Blue is doing it, he plays a DJ called Ronnie in love with an Asian girl. Ghani, Buckley, Revah, Winter, Malik, Fletcher, Jaffrey all do good enough job. #OKCast

OVERALL: Dull Coming Of Age Drama.

 STAR RATINGS OUT OF 5:  1.5

ONE FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE FILM:

The end scene at the dinner table.

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

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TRAILERS: ALL THE FILMS OUT IN CINEMA THIS MAY (2011)

THIS MONTHS RECOMMENDED MOVIES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED.

  ·         WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (IN CINEMA 4^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6b2XhXkPpg

·         13 ASSASSINS (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-IzbkXo7bo

·         DEEP END (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxmETq3YtjM

·         EVERYWHERE & NOWHERE (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U85oRq6R8o

·         FLYING MONSTERS (3D) WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyf8v5bf-rA

·         FORGET ME NOT (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z4db_OJEGE

·         HANNA (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRUx88vRjIk

·         MY DOG TULIP (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ3wpKlMrZI

·         PRIEST (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VNczhWD2ao

·         SOMETHING BORROWED (IN CINEMA 6^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qlMqqc7YdE

·         ATTACK THE BLOCK (IN CINEMA 13^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXcdT67xS38

·         TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT (IN CINEMA 13^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNFME2Kj8PA

·         PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN 4: ON STRANGER TIDES (IN CINEMA 18^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR_9A-cUEJc

·         FIRE IN BABYLON (IN CINEMA 20^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rInB38IYPbg

·         THIRD STAR (IN CINEMA 20^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exqPzEYADuk

·         VIDAL SASSOON (IN CINEMA 20^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28jvlBA0RMk

·         WIN WIN (IN CINEMA 20^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbe33D59euY

·         THE HANGOVER 2 (IN CINEMA 26^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1eFEMNLtao

·         DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 2: RODRICK RULES (IN CINEMA 27^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbqqYuG1TCM

·         HEARTBEATS (IN CINEMA 27^TH MAY)

TRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znpU_Aup-Bg