Archive for the ‘movies’ Category

Michael Clayton

March 6, 2008

michael clayton

Recently released on DVD this film seemed to go under the radar when it was out in the cinemas. The trailer reminded me too much of Clooney’s film Syriana only less sand and turbans but equally paint-watchingly boring. However saying that I was surprised that I actually enjoyed Michael Clayton as much as I did.

The film is about a corporate lawyer who get’s embroiled in a huge legal case being brought against some sort of evil crop spraying \ cancer enducing corporation.
The quick capsule review would suggest that you go and watch Erin Brockovich and then come back and realise how close the two films actually are storyline and characterwise. In saying that, Michael Clayton appears to be more of a man’s type of film than Julia Roberts mid 90′s classic and this would be more due to the fact that is overly peppered with hooded men using all sorts of assasination techniques and there is a scene that involves a poker game.

For me the film could have explored a few of the storylines more than it actually did and you are left wondering why they would even introduce certain characters or plot turners.

A decent film to watch but don’t expect great things that you might come to expect from *stiffled laughter* Mr. Clooney.

 

Link

Cloverfield

March 3, 2008

cloverfield galleryteaser2

It’s never good when you are queing up for your popcorn and there are warning signs saying the film you just bought a ticket for might cause epilepsy and or motion sickness but there really was nothing else on in the cinema and my fingernails were sore from scraping the bottom of the barrell.

Cloverfield was hyped up late last year as one of the most jaw dropping trailers that was confused for real life footage. The viral and secrecy ended when the launch date was announced and it hit cinemas with a bang crash and wallop!

I didn’t get swept up with the media hype or the mixed reviews as I had just seen I Am Legend and although I very much had to have my arm twisted for that one Cloverfield looked like a bit of a copy cat!

The effects in this film are very good, the plot is wishy washy and it does have the ability to make you squirm and jump on a couple of occasions. It ends all too suddenly and leaves you in your seat going ‘is that all’ but contrary to me telling Ms Ben that there was something at the end of the credits love nor money could have kept me in the cinema.

Again the only thing that scores this film high is the effects. Personally the Blair-witch-esque shakey hand held camera work did nothing for me only give me pink eye.

My verdict, wait for it to come out on DVD, get it and convince yourself it would’ve been better on the big screen. But you’d be wrong.

Link

John Rambo

February 9, 2008

john rambo

This will be easy enough to keep simple. There’ll be no ‘this film is loosely based on’ at all. It’s Rambo and to be honest the only reason you’d feel compelled to watch it is to retrace any last chance of feeling youthful at all. And believe me that’s snatched right away from you when you see that Sly should be using a zimmer frame. In my opinion it’s by far the goriest episode of the Rambo films. If you like films with lots of killing it’s for you. If the last film you saw had Hilary Swank in it, it’s not for you.

Don’t see it in the cinema, get it on DVD (IF you have to see it at all).

The End.

 

Link

Home of the Brave

February 7, 2008

homeofthebraveposter

When i saw this had been released to DVD i couldn’t understand how this had escaped the radar when it was in the cinemas. Samuel L, 50 cent (erm) and Jessica Biel are part of the line up and really without knowing much more then seeing the advert i rented it last night.

The film starts with how all of their paths have crossed whilst on a tour in Iraq. Some of the military background to the film should have been in my view made better. The start of the film tries too hard to be a Black Hawk Down and is a bit of a blunderfest. (No one fires an M16 assault rifle one handed sideways like a gangsta in the army)

The film itself is a follow on from their tour and seeing how they cope with everyday life when they come home. No heroes parade, burying their dead comrades, dealing with life long injuries and of course living with what they’ve had to do in Iraq.

It’s a funny kind of film and i’m really between two minds. It’s a good film when it’s believable and it’s borderline silly when it’s not. It reminds me a lot like the program called ‘Over There’ that ran for one season a couple years back.

The acting is good from, well the people who are actors. The only thing believable about 50 cent is that he’s muscle enough for the army, thats where it ends. I could see this film being more popular in America than anywhere in Europe.

Verdict? If you are into that post-war-sydrome kinda flick, it’s for you, otherwise i’d leave it on the shelf. Take a gander at the trailer…

Link

Juno

January 30, 2008

juno poster big

Courtesty of pigsback.com I trundled to UCI Coolock to see the film Juno. There seems to be a big splash about this film of late, this would be down to the outstanding role played by Ellen Page. I first saw her in the film Hard Candy which was a very dark but thrilling film,in Juno she plays a 16 year old girl who gets pregnant and the ups and downs that go with it. It’s very well written and is very funny in a dark middle America way and the film is very well shot.

There is much talk about Oscars surrounding this film, I’m not 100% sure if its that good but it definitely deserves to be seen on the big screen.

Watch the trailer

Link

Charlie Wilson’s War

January 25, 2008


It was by sheer fluke I actually went to this film, there had been nothing in the cinema of late and I saw an ad on telly and I didn’t even know what it was about or that Tom Hanks was in it but I saw Julia and that alone is worth 9.50 of my money straight off!

The film is based around (loosely I believe) a Congressman in the 80’s who has a reputation of being a womaniser and fond of the booze who was indirectly responsible for expelling the Soviet Armed Forces from Afghanistan in the decade which saw a lot of tumoil in the Muslim countries.

It made me laugh thinking of Bill Hicks sketches on ‘how did we know their weapons capability? – eh we checked the receipt!’ and it does give a good insight into what kick started some of the problems the United States are facing now today.

The film itself is sterling with everyone playing a believable role. I especially enjoyed Philip Seymour Hoffman and it will have you laughing in most parts. Unfortunately Julia didn’t feature as much as I’d have hoped but you can’t have everything!

I would recommend you go see this while it’s still in the cinema! Let the trailer whet your appetite

Link to official site

The Ex

January 14, 2008

When the dvd box in xtra-vision says, “so funny you will wet yourself” I had taken it literally and once home got the bubblewrap and sponge at the ready. Had seen some of Zach Braff’s ventures to big screen and hadn’t really thought them all that good. His role in Scrubs is outstanding and the show wouldn’t be the same without him but I feel he doesn’t translate all that well into serious roles.

So I was expecting big and wet things when I put this in (oooh I say matron) but was just disappointed from start to finish. It leads me to the conclusion you should

  1. Never go by the popularity ratings on the xtravision website
  2. Never believe the young wan working behind the counter when she says ‘Oi split meeself laughing so I did’ (obvious she left the more attractive, intelligent side of her at home then…)

Its your average guy has hot girl, they have kid, guy is free spirit, hates job, parents get involved, new job with hot girls ex, wheelchair, kid eating burger yada yada. If I explained it any more I would be insulting both of us.

Safe to say, if I was you I wouldn’t rent this in a fit and would feel even worse if I had caught it in the cinema! If my review doesn’t put you off enough, please watch the trailer…

I Am Legend

January 4, 2008


Last night I toddled along to Movies @ Swords and the choice was put to me, either we go see PS. I Love You or we go see I Am Legend. Now I know this looks like a no brainer but to be honest, after seeing the trailer first time of IAL I thought it looked brilliant but then once I heard it was about ‘zombies’ etc I wasn’t so interested and then I read some of the reviews of it and although it did well in the States it was getting dogged left right and center! But there was no way I’d go see PS. I Love You so Will Smith was the obvious choice!

I have to say I was pleasantly shocked with the film, I knew the CGI would be good having seen the trailer and it lived up to expectations, seeing New York transformed into a derelict city was very realistic and at times breathtaking (too strong?).

The story (loosely) puts Mr Smith as the last survivor of a human made disease in NYC and as he struggles to find a cure for the disease. I won’t completely spoil the surprise of the ‘zombies’ but the film is jumpy in parts and a tip of the hat has to go to Will Smiths side-kick dog.

The film certainly kept the better half hiding behind the popcorn for a while and was jumpy in parts and well timed suspense will keep you jittery at the right times. Will Smith plays a great role and is believable throughout. Better then some of the films I saw in 2007 and hopefully a mark of things to come in 2008!

I would definitely recommend this film to anyone a cinema view and not a dvd release!!
Here’s the trailer…

Link (official site)

Teeth!

December 28, 2007

Once in a while you come across a movie and think – WHY THE FUCK WAS THIS EVEN A MOVIE! I mean certain ideas should never have left the aul brain storming room…

TEETH tells the story of High school student Dawn (Jess Weixler) works hard atsuppressing her budding sexuality by being the local chastity group’s mostactive participant. Her task is made even more difficult by her bad boystepbrother Brad’s (John Hensley) increasingly provocative behavior at home. Astranger to her own body, innocent Dawn discovers she has a toothed vaginawhen she becomes the object of violence. As she struggles to comprehend heranatomical uniqueness, Dawn experiences both the pitfalls and the power ofbeing a living example of the vagina dentata myth.

Vagina dentata myth?

A quick look at the main site and you’d know that this film is just wrong. Oddly enough i found this tripe through the apple site…

fuck it i might aswel throw in a trailer for it aswell…

my god…

Link

The Kite Runner 2007

December 17, 2007

Courtesy of pigsback.com i went to the UCI to catch this movie. As per your usual freebie it was enjoyable but again i just found it be very much like all the political action thriller films about, particularly like Rendition.

It spends a lot of time getting into the movie and the trailer is a bit mis-leading, most of the story line takes place in the flashback. It just seems to follow the present day Iraq / Terrorist mould that’s doin the rounds these days!

Some great acting and the young guys that play the lead are very good and their friendship is heartwarming if anything!

Link

More movies at Hairyfish.org


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.