X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

A Blast From the Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past is an ambitious film uniting both members of the old cast from the original trilogy and the new younger faces of X-Men: First Class. The plot follows Logan aka Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) as he is sent back in time to the 1970's to prevent the assassination of Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage) and avert a dystopian future in which nearly all mutants have been hunted down and killed.

Although the plot follows the character of Wolverine for the most part, the true stars of the film are Mystique or Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) and Professor X (James McAvoy). Whereas Fassbender's Magneto stole the show in First Class, in this film McAvoy steals the limelight with a truly emotional character arc with one highlight especially being a scene shared with the future Professor X (Patrick Stewart) that contains some fantastic acting on both parts. It's a testament to the screenplay and the writers that the film mostly manages to juggle the high number of characters and complex plot relatively well. While it was nice to see some of the old cast return, they are very much left aside while the newer cast along with Jackman deal with events unfolding around them.

James McAvoy as Professor X

As with many great ensemble films, this film gives each character something to do while even introducing new characters in the process. One notable example is Quicksilver (Evan Peters) who has some truly humorous and spectacular sequences. The action is excellent and the Sentinels, particularly in the future, are a formidable foe. Bryan Singer returns to this franchise with his last film being X2 and admirably picks the mantle back up without any cause for concern. There is enough fan service there to please those who like the comics and enough story and character to keep the average cinema audience entertained. The film also contains enough lighter or comedic elements, an important point in a film about a dystopian future where there is a danger of too many darker themes.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Michael Fassbender as Magneto

A minor issue I had with the film was that it did feel a little bloated. The X-men franchise is well known for its wide and varied cast. Part of the fun of these films is seeing all the different mutants, their powers and what they can do. But with new mutants introduced every film, you could see why this could be a problem. I was a little disappointed to see some characters from X-men First Class removed entirely from this plot, with their absence being explained away quite arbitrarily. In addition, many characters are reduced to simple cameos. It will be interesting to see how this is addressed in X-Men: Apocalypse which is slated for a 2016 release. And yes, there are moments that hint towards this next film, particularly if you stay for the end credits Easter egg.

Nevertheless, X-Men: Days of Future Past is a fantastic return to the X-Men franchise for Bryan Singer. Although some of the film feels like course correction after the much disliked X3, there is plenty here to enjoy. Xavier's relationship with Raven is a fascinating one and is explored more in this film, seeing Logan interact with past versions of characters is as amusing as it is interesting and the action looks great. If you're looking for an X-Men film done right, you could do a lot worse than Days of Future Past.

Godzilla review

Godzilla sees the return of the 'king' of monsters to the big screen in a triumphant and satisfying film. Directed by Gareth Edwards, credited with the making of the indie hit Monsters, the film contains breathtaking action, staggering destruction and real human emotion. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston, Edwards keeps the human story the focus of this movie with the titular creature kept mostly in the background and not appearing until a good way through the film. This serves the film well though as it builds anticipation making the appearance of Godzilla even more spectacular.

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Joe and Ford Brody

The film bases around one family, the Brody's, and provides ample room for human drama amidst all the action. Joe Brody (Cranston) is consumed in his search for the truth around an accident at a nuclear plant he used to work for. While his son Ford (Taylor-Johnson) seeks to move on from this past and live happily with his family. In one of his first roles since the hit show Breaking Bad, Cranston hits the mark once again finding real emotional resonance in Joe Brody and delivering some truly stirring and impressive monologues, although he is very much a supporting role in this film.The star of the film is Taylor-Johnson who does just enough to supplement the action and CGI with human drama despite coming off a little too stoic in some scenes. Most of the other characters in the film have little to do and struggle to make an impact.

Its a testament to the writing that the human story remains front and centre in this movie and isn't overshadowed by the enormous monsters and battles. Credit must also be given to the script as the film is paced perfectly. While some have criticized the slow start, it gives the arrival of these monsters some context and allows for some great acting by Cranston. The running time doesn't feel overextended and the switching of locales keeps the plot moving along nicely. When it comes to monsters, this film succeeds tremendously. Godzilla is as he was intended: a force of nature. The impact of the battling between Godzilla and the other monsters is incredible to behold and a type of action that feels like its been missing from the big screen for a while.

King of the Monsters

Gareth Edwards work in this movie has been described by some critics as Spielberg-esque and this is well earned. The slow build towards the reveal of something extraordinary or terrifying yet always spectacular is reminiscent of old films such as Jurassic Park and Jaws which is high praise indeed as those films are held up as an example of how to make great movies. Godzilla and the other monsters have such a sense of scale and awe that you can't help but be mesmerized by them as an audience. Despite similarities to Spielberg's work this film certainly feels like Edwards' own and the decision to trust him with such a large budget with his limited works was well worth the risk. Compared to the 90's Godzilla film this one is much more successful and impactful.

Only a slightly dull main character keeps Godzilla from becoming a truly amazing film and earning five stars. Incredible special effects and an interesting and entertaining plot keep the film ticking along nicely while emotional gravitas is found in spades with Cranston's performance.

What did you think of Godzilla? Let me know in the comments below.

Anchorman 2 Review

The long-awaited sequel directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and Christina Applegate follows Ron Burgundy and his news team during the rise of 24-hour news channels. Like it's predecessor the plot is loose and the script pretty uneven, however, unlike most films this plays to Anchorman's strengths and only pushes the humour to the forefront, which is the whole point of these films.

The highest compliment I can pay Anchorman 2 is that it almost reaches the comedic level of the original. Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) is every bit ridiculous as he was a decade ago and no less amusing. Ferrell adopts the persona again with ease and clearly has a blast playing him. The supporting cast may have less to do in this sequel but do shine in their respective roles, particularly Carell's Brick Tamland whose idiotic antics still serve up plenty of laughs including an hilarious scene with green screen technology. The sequel also injects new blood into the cast with James Marsden playing a rival news anchor in the vein of Vince Vaughn's character in the original. Expect nods to the original throughout the film including another battle scene with extensive cameos that surpass the original's already overblown sequence.

The News Team Is Back!

Another plot thread is the introduction of Ron's child, Walter. For me, this area didn't quite work, with Burgundy's outbursts feeling quite out of place in the family scenario set up in the film. In my opinion this thread could have been removed entirely as there was enough going on with the new characters and nods to the original without shoehorning in another plot thread. Nevertheless, I appreciate the director's attempt to try to do something new with the sequel as there was a real danger going into this film that it would be too similar to the original.

Remember The Ground Rules

Overall, Anchorman 2 is a well received return to the big screen for Ron Burgundy and his news team. Although hitting on many of the same beats as the original and being more of the same rather than reinventing the wheel, this film succeeds in providing new laughs and entertains in abundance. Although these sorts of film aren't to everyone's tastes, McKay brings enough fan service to fans of the original without being too heavy handed, making Anchorman 2 a successful comedy sequel.

How Star Wars: Episode VII Can Succeed

When I first heard the news that Disney had purchased Lucasfilm and were making more Star Wars films I was initially shocked. After processing this information though this seemed naive of me. The Star Wars franchise ticks a lot of boxes, it has an established fan base that spans generations, a rich and deep universe with plenty to explore and many different angles to approach and most importantly from Disney's point of view it rakes in the cash at the box office. So why wouldn't they make more movies? As far as Disney is concerned it has become a juggernaut of the film space after its acquisition of Marvel. However, there are pitfalls to avoid here and things that need to change. Here's how I think Star Wars Episode VII can succeed...

A (Hopefully) Fresh Approach

One thing some fans of Star Wars will be pleased about is that the franchise is no longer solely under the direction of George Lucas. Although Lucas will be a consultant on the film, helping where he's requested, for the most part the writer's have a Lucas-free take on the movie. While I think Lucas had a good sense of a story arc, he was not so good at screenwriting. Directed by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek reboot) little is known about the plot of Episode VII. Despite the official scheduling showing that production is supposed to begin soon there have been no official cast announcements although it is rumored that Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford may return in supporting roles.

Although I don't dislike the prequels as much as some fans (as I grew up with the prequels they conjure certain happy memories from my childhood) I can see their faults and missteps. As a fan of the series, if Abrams can learn from the mistakes of the prequels then the new film will be off to a good start. In essence: Less midichlorians (literally) and more Darth Maul (not literally). The writers need to not be afraid to move away from the Skywalker lineage, that story's been told now, and move to more uncharted territory. With fresh eyes on the franchise there is great potential for some truly spectacular cinematic moments.

Expand the Universe

Since the original trilogy was released there has been a veritable gold mine of games, books, comics and even television concerning the expanded universe of Star Wars. This should not be disregarded as a byproduct of the Lucas era. In my opinion, Episode VII should be an original story but there's no reason not to give nods to other characters or storylines from the expanded universe and even use some of the characters for future films. Not all storylines would be appropriate for the big screen but there's certainly lots there to look at. This expanded universe should be nurtured by the new head honchos in charge of the franchise and not be ignored. If Disney can take up a similar role as they do in the Marvel films then there is hope.

Cast Wisely

One thing that I think Star Wars has sometimes done well in the past and sometimes not so well is casting. The new film needs to have enough tried and true actors with a bit of pedigree but also some new blood to inject the franchise with new life. After all the next few films will ideally inspire a whole new generation to become fans of Star Wars. The main three protagonists from the original trilogy should not be shoehorned in as fan service, but given a purpose and a legitimate send off to give way to the new actors.

The franchise needs a villain that is dangerous, a physical threat rather than get bogged down in politics as Episode I and II often did especially after having a villain as good as Darth Vader was. If the new film is to go down the younger actor route, the writers need to be careful and show much more nuanced character development than they did with Anakin's character. Too often was Hayden Christensen in the prequels moving through the emotional gears too quickly which made him come off unlikeable and unreasonable. Give us characters we care about and are emotionally invested in.

New Worlds

One of the great things about Star Wars is its near limitless potential for different locales. From the hot and dusty desert of Tatooine to the icy and cold ranges of Hoth, the franchise has shown variety in abundance. However, we've seen Tatooine lots, show us new planets that are different and offer something new. Not only will this help the film distance itself from the previous films but it will give us new fiction and demonstrate the writers commitment to expanding this universe.

Star Wars Episode VII is set to release on December 18th 2015

In case you missed it here's my most anticipated movie list of 2014: http://whirz.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/my-5-most-anticipated-movies-of-2014.html

What do you think the next iteration needs? What characters would you like to see?
Let me know in the comments below.

My 5 Most Anticipated Movies of 2014

2014 is shaping up to be a great year for movies. Although some films have already been pushed to next year, there are still plenty of hyped up blockbusters coming our way as well as I'm sure, some under the radar hits. Here's my top 5 list (so far):

1) X-Men: Days of Future Past

I'm a big X-men fan and have enjoyed to varying degrees each installment of the franchise so far. Bryan Singer is back in the director's chair for this one after leaving the franchise following X-2. The film is toting a massive cast mixing both the cast of First Class and the original trilogy. The likes of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry and Jennifer Lawrence are just some of the big names returning to this one. The film will also feature new characters such as Quicksilver, Bishop and Blink. The plot will follow the X-men in both a dystopian future and the past, as they try to fix their future timeline in the past using time travel. It remains to be seen whether Signer will be able to reach the critical acclaim of his own X-2 and First Class or disappoint fans with another X-3 by Ratner. However, early impressions of this one look good.

70's? Check.

2) Godzilla

I wasn't massively aware of this film until rather recently. Starring Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Aaron Taylor Johnson (Kick Ass) the film will follow, well, Godzilla as he wreaks havoc through cities. Its a story that's been told many times now, but this take promises to offer something fresh while going back to the original from the 50's. It's still early but with a May release coming up this is one to keep an eye on. Not convinced? Check out this trailer...

3) Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The second installment of the Captain America films, this latest Marvel foray into it's First Avenger's escapades promises something different to the first. Playing out more like a conspiratorial/political thriller, Cap must team up with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) to face the Winter Soldier. The film will also surely address Captain America's adjustment to modern life and the fallout from The Avengers while also teasing for the next Marvel films.

Chris Evans as Captain America and Scarlett Johannson as Black Widow

4) The Amazing Spiderman 2

I wasn't a huge fan of the first Amazing Spiderman film. The Raimi films had done a good job of setting up the character and his origin, something that I felt didn't need to be rehashed again while I found the Lizard to be a lesser villain than those shown in the previous films. However, this sequel promises more action, more villains and greater stakes for Spiderman. It looks like Sony Entertainment Pictures is taking a leaf out of Marvel's books and trying to form their own Spidey universe, with a Sinister Six title already green lighted as well as future Spidey titles. I'm interested to see where this goes and I hope Marc Webb can pull it off.

Andrew Garfield as Spiderman/Peter Parker

5) Interstellar

My final pick is Interstellar. I'm a huge fan of Christopher Nolan's work from Memento to the Dark Knight trilogy to Inception. He has a great sense of story and knows how to craft a great plot. The fact that little is known about Interstellar is making me even more excited as Nolan is not only capable of making great films but also great blockbuster films that not only entertain but make money. The fact that this is an original film is greatly exciting. This sci-fi flick about black holes and the exploration of space will star Matthew McConaughey and will release later this year.

So those are my top 5 anticipated picks for movies (so far) this year. Tell me yours in the comments below? Any of these films feature on your top 5?

If you missed my top 5 most anticipated games for 2014, you can check that out here: My 5 Most Anticipated Games of 2014

Her Review

Directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson and Amy Adams, Her follows Theodore Twombly, a secluded writer who falls in love with his operating system or OS named Samantha. The film is set in a near-future version of Los Angeles however science fiction is the least addressed genre in this film.

The film is a melancholy observation on human relationships and human interaction in the modern age. The near-future setting is surprisingly believable and easy to relate to. There are no flying cars, hover boards or grungy urban cities. Instead Jonze delivers a very minimalist Los Angeles which equal parts sleek, elegant and somehow, just right. It's a testament to the setting of the film that it barely features in the story and yet is quite memorable, Jonze gives the audience just enough of a glimpse to show that this is a different world to ours, yet not so much that it feels alien to us.

Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly

Nevertheless, the story and characters are the main focus of this film. Joaquin Phoenix has played many villains in his career and is adept at doing so, but his portrayal of Twombly deserves equal merit. Depression, loneliness and anti-social behavior are all facets of his daily life complimented by the disjointed setting. It's ironic that this near-future world has more connectivity with technology than ever and yet the human characters are all so disconnected. Twombly moves through life like a ghost until he purchases an OS. An artificial intelligence that tailors its personality to its owner, think Siri, if Siri worked! But of course much smarter, dynamic and alive. This AI becomes Samantha for Twombly played by Johansson. Her character never physically appears on screen and yet this is an exceptional performance from Johansson, what she manages to convey just through her voice is quite remarkable ranging from curiosity and inquisitiveness to passion, heart and soul. The audio and dialogue is just right so that you get that sense her voice is speaking into your ear, which is the primary way Samantha and Twombly communicate. Amy Adams also puts on a decent display, a mirror at times to Twombly and vice versa and is an important character who provides a human contact for Twombly.

Amy Adams as Amy

Along with the wonderful setting and acting on display here is a neat script and screenplay. One of my few criticisms is the film can feel overly long. Many scenes can be pretty hard going and some of the emotions are dragged out unnecessarily. The film won't be to everyone's tastes (few are) but for a such melancholy movie there is plenty of humour too, poking fun at our modern lives.

Her is a fantastic film, and one of the best science-fiction films I have seen in recent memory. Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlet Johansson's performances are outstanding as is the story of looking for human compassion in a technologically connected world.

Captain Phillips Review

Based on the true story of Richard Phillips and the hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama, this film is directed by Paul Greengrass (Bourne Trilogy) and stars Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. The film follows Phillips (Hanks) as he is kidnapped by Somali pirates and held to ransom.

The film features some fantastic performances especially from the two main leads, aided by the powerful story and the great direction from Greengrass, the film has a perpetual atmosphere of tension which rarely lets up. You never stop feeling sympathetic for the protaganist and can feel the emotion through Phillips words and actions. At no point did I feel that he could have done any more or less, his actions and attitude towards the pirates feel plausible and authentic.

Tom Hanks as Richard Phillips

At a running time of two hours and fourteen minutes, the film could be excused for cutting away from Phillips more often as it sometimes does to show the rescue operations that are being planned simultaneously to the kidnapping. Nevertheless, Phillips and Muse (Abdi) hold most of the screentime. Greengrass has a great way of filming tense scenes particularly in claustrophobic conditions such as the lifeboat as well as action which he is well versed in particularly from the Bourne franchise. Abdi also deserves credit here as the leader of the Somali pirates who presents a very layered character, one clearly capable of violence yet there is a degree of understanding to why he takes these actions, he's certainly not a two dimensional villain and credit to the actor for that.

The film carries great weight and emotion, especially one of the final scenes which really aims for the heartstrings. My only grievance of the film would be that Captain Phillips story continues to be interesting after his rescue, it would have been nice to see some of that played out on screen but I'm nitpicking here really.

Overall, I would highly recommend Captain Phillips, of all the Oscar-nominated films I've seen so far, this one is my favourite at the moment, not only does it contain great acting from Hanks and Abdi but the script is airtight (forgive the pun) and the direction atmospheric, tense and immersive.

The Wolf of Wall Street Review

Directed by Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas and The Departed) The Wolf of Wall Street follows the meteoric rise of Jordan Belfort played by Leonardo DiCaprio as a stockbroker in New York. The plot follows his rise from a penniless man to multimillionaire as the audience follow his story and the story of his company Stratton Oakmont. The film also stars Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie and Matthew McConaughey.

Based on Jordan Belfort's memoir which has the same title, the film follows Belfort as he forms his own stock brokerage and quickly descends into a corrupt and decadent lifestyle. The black comedy persists throughout this film and is quite effective. DiCaprio gives an excellent performance as Belfort clearly enjoying the over-the-top and lavishness that his life becomes. Drugs, prostitution and sex all run throughout the film often intentionally descending into dark territory as equally as it does ridiculousness. There are neat touches throughout the film from Belfort occasionally breaking the fourth wall speaking directly to the camera to bigger set pieces and the impressive number of extras on screen. One of the highlights is Belfort's sales pitches which are as outrageous as his life becomes and that his employees adore.

As previously mentioned the film can be darkly humorous with Jonah Hill bringing a lot of the laughs but DiCaprio also has his fair share of hilarity in the film. There is a question over whether the film goes too far, depicting debauchery just for the sake of it. At a running time close to three hours this becomes more and more apparent as the film goes on. Belfort is unquestionably self-destructive and ranges from arrogant to stupid as he taunts the FBI to try and stop him. It's a film that never takes itself too seriously and yet hits some important points about lifestyle, the modern world, and, of course, money. Money is Belfort's ambition, passion and enthusiasm. Without it his world and the world of those around him crumbles.

Overall, the film is a good one containing equal parts ridiculousness, dark humour and debauchery. At three hours long I felt a little exhausted around the two hour mark after so much screen time devoted to such a lavish and self-destructive personality as Belfort's. Nevertheless, the film is good and certainly may be one of DiCaprio's best performances.

12 Years a Slave Review

Before watching this film I had heard many good things about it, with this in mind I gave 12 Years a Slave a watch recently and was not left disappointed. Directed by Steve McQueen (Hunger and Shame) the film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Giamatti. The film is an emotional story of slavery in America during the 1800's and addresses family, injustice and racism.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Ford

The plot follows Soloman Northrup (Ejiofor) a freedman from New York state who is kidnapped and forced into slavery in the Deep South. The script is partly based on the real-life memoir of Soloman Northrup, and never fails to keep its audience captivated. The film is well crafted, beautifully shot and contains some fantastic acting. Special mention has to go to Ejiofor as he brings raw human empathy to the role and genuine emotion. Fassbender too is a great highlight as the highly racist and cruel Edwin Epps. The story follows Northrup as he tries to reunite with his family, a story that's been told many times before and yet McQueen manages to make it deeply resounding and a triumphant film.

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Soloman Northrup

One of the themes that runs throughout the movie is the question of survival. Ejiofor's character meets two fellow slaves early on with contrasting opinions, one who argues that they must fight for their freedom and the other who argues that they should keep their heads down. This internal struggle can be seen in Northrup throughout the film as well as other characters as he moves systematically through many emotions: from hope instilled by one master Ford (Cumberbatch) to despair when he is forced into Epp's service. The film never shies away from the brutality of the era, showing some truly horrifying treatment to Northrup and his fellow slaves both mentally and physically.

There are very few problems with the film. I thought more time could have been spent with the conclusion of the story, without spoiling anything, the ending is fairly abrupt. The film is very authentic and may feel like hard going to some audience members, however, for the most part the film is well paced and thought out.

Overall, I highly recommend this film not only as a film about slavery but about great narrative, fine acting and a story of reunion and finding oneself.

American Hustle Review

American Hustle is a film I personally didn't know much about other than it was based around con artists and set in the 70's. Directed by acclaimed director  David O. Russel, (The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook) the film stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. American Hustle is a stylish well-paced film that showcases some fantastic acting and is certainly one of Russel's best films.

The plot follows Irving Rosenfeld (Bale), a cunning conman who works with Sydney Prosser (Adams) to con money using a loans company as a cover. However, when Richie DeMaso (Cooper) enters the picture, Rosenfeld and Prosser are forced into compliance with the FBI which leads them into conning the mafia, powerbrokers and politicians. The plot moves along at a nice pace and rarely slows apart from the opening twenty or thirty minutes. The 70's backdrop for the film looks slick and well crafted from the sets to the period clothing all giving the film a tone that emphasises the plot and the world of con artists.

Bale as Irving Rosenfeld and Adams as Sydney Prosser

There's some fine acting on show here, with Adams' seductive Prosser being a particular highlight as you're never quite sure who's side she's on. Other members of the cast help too with some larger-than-life performances from Bradley Cooper's ambitious and over reaching DeMaso to Jennifer Lawrence's wild and unpredictable Rosalyn. Bale plays a more understated role in this film which at times seemed a little too overdone, at times I wasn't sure if he was less competent as a con artist than the likes of Prosser, but his talent does shine through nonetheless. The film also has a humorous tone at various points particularly with the scenes at the FBI with DeMaso and his overblown ego and Lawrence's outbursts.

The film often walks the line of the audience not knowing who is conning who and at times this becomes detrimental to the film as a whole as some sections were a little too complicated for me and I'm sure for others but some will delight in the unpredictable nature of the film and the subject of cons. I also found the ridiculousness of some of the 'plays' or methods of conning people a little too out there but these are small problems really.

Overall, I thought American Hustle was a slick and stylish movie with substance too thanks to great acting particularly from Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper. Although the plot became too bogged down for its own good at times, it did not stop the film from being enjoyable and an interesting take on the 1970's, con artists and is one of Russel's best films to date.