This year marks Director Ridley Scott's return to the genre of Science Fiction aswell as his welcomed return to the world of Alien. This Summer marks the release of his secretive Alien Prequel, Prometheus and if that isn't enough alien action for you, This year also marks the long awaited release of the sega game; Aliens: Colonial Marines (Check out my games blog for more info, Available this summer on PS3/X360/PC and late 2012 on Wiiu). So to celebrate, I am watching all Alien films (Including AVP) and will be posting my reviews on here. My reviews start with the James Cameron film in the Franchise, Aliens.
Aliens takes place after the events of Alien in which Ripley has been brought aboard a ship only to realize that she has been in hypersleep for 57 years. Unfortunatley for Ripley, She finds out that the planet she encountered the Alien on all those years ago is now inhabited by a small colony of Humans along with over 150 Aliens. In order to find survivors on LV-426, Ripley must join the military's Colonial Marines unit to try and end the nightmare once and for all.
The film is in many ways different to it's predeccessor for the fact that this title is more Action than Horror and has a really good effect visually considering the year of it's release. The score is fantastic as it creates a very eerie feel as if you were actually in space being hunted by this creature. The Dialogue features some of the funniest lines you would ever imagine in a sci-fi flick aswell as Ripley's famous line " Get away from her you Bitch". The casting of this film is amazing with Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters) reprising her role as Ellen Ripley along with a whole new cast including Michael Bhien (The Terminator), Bill Paxton (Twister), Lance Henrikksen (Alien vs. Predator) & Jenette Goldstein (Titanic) to name a few. All in all, This is probably my favourite film of the franchise just because it has the perfect mix of everything however the first one is a close second. Look out for my review of Alien within the next week and look out for reviews for the AVP films, Alien 3 & Alien 4 within the next month.*****
Since the start of his movie making career, Steven Spielberg has always given his moviegoers a good experience, I mean you can't fault classics like E.T., Jurassic Park, Jaws & Schindler's List to name a few aswell as producing some of the biggest films to grace the big screen like the Back to the Future Trilogy & The Transformers Franchise. When Steven Spielberg announced he was going to do a film based on Herge's very popular comic book TinTin with Peter Jackson, People were exstatic but the one question on everybody's mind was can Spielberg and Jackson do TinTin justice?
Well, I'm pleased to say that they have indeed told the first of many TinTin stories very well. The film follows young intrepid reporter TinTin and his dog Snowy as they set out to solve a mystery connected to a murder case. They find out the murder is related to an old pirate ship called The Unicorn in which an age old secret containing the co-ordinates to the treasure of Sir Francis Haddock leads TinTin, Snowy, Capt. Archebold Haddock & Bumbling detectives Thompson & Thompson on an adventure to die for.
The film is Animated to such a degree that it actually looks like live action. The animation in the film is so complex and in all fairness is the evolution of animation and CGI. Aswell as that, The film has a great story that keeps you gripped at all times and it also has brilliant 3D effects if you are watching on a 3D Television. The film also has a brilliant voice cast including Jamie Bell (Billy Elliott), Andy Serkis (King Kong), Daniel Craig (The Golden Compass), Simon Pegg (Ice Age 3) & Nick Frost (Attack the Block) to name a few. All in all, This is a brilliant animated masterpiece from spielberg and jackson and a great first outing for the young reporter. Definitley worth watching and the sequel which comes out in a few years is definitley one to look out for.*****
Before I Begin this review, I just have to say, regardless of what the picture at the bottom of this review says, This film is for viewers of age 15 or over. If your wondering what the hell is Frankenhooker, Then you will find out by the end of this review.
When his girlfriend Elizabeth is killed in a freakish Lawnmower accident, Mad Scientist and boyfriend, Jeffery Franken decides he wants to resurrect his dead girlfriend but needs the body parts within two days of a huge thunderstorm (which is needed for the resurrection), So he decides to get the bodyparts from some of New York's finest prostitutes using supercrack to make them explode. Until his girlfriend comes back as Frankenhooker, A girl who wants everybody and money and who will love you.... To Death.
The film is practically one of the old 80's Grindhouse flicks in the fact that it contains Gore, Nudity and Crude Humour. The film features some pretty funny scenes including a supercrack orgy. The film features a few actors not that well known including James Lorinz (Robocop 3), Louise Lasser (Requiem for a Dream), Shirley Stoler (Malcolm X) & Former Penthouse pet Patty Mullen. All in all, A rather decent film that captures the feel of a Grindhouse flick however I strongly reccomend something like Planet Terror or Drive Angry to this. This is still however a very fun movie.***
If you can remember a few years back, Mad Max director George Miller released an original family film that brought together some music from recent era's. The film was called Happy Feet, Which told the story of young penguin Mumble who had the gift of Happy Feet (Dance) in a world where Penguins must sing to find their soul mate.
Well thanks to the success of the film, Mumble and friends return for this delightful sequel and this time he has company. After the events of the first film, Mumble has taught the whole of his flock how to dance and even has a son called Erick. When Erick realizes he can't dance and sets out to find what his gift is, Mumble goes after him and his cousins however everything goes wrong when an iceberg traps the flock of penguins without food. In a huge rescue attempt, Mumble, Erick and friends set out to rescue their loved ones before it is too late.
The film retains the same originality and fun of the first film while also bringing in more recent songs that all members of the family should know. The Cast includes old and new members including Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings), Robin Williams (Jumanji), Hugo Weaving (Captain America), P!nk (Get him to the Greek), Brad Pitt (Megamind), Matt Damon (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarrion) & Hank Azaria (The Smurfs). The Songs include Rawhide (Blues Brothers), Under Pressure (Queen) & We are the Champions (Queen) to name a few. All in all, Happy Feet Two is just as good as the original and definitley one family film to watch. ****
(UPDATE) I have now put the BBFC (Brittish Board of Film Classification age ratings next to the films that have age certificates.
2012 is supposedley the end of the world but that means we at least get 1 final year of great films and with films like 21 Jump Street & The Hunger Games so far, we have plenty more films to look forward to. Below is a list of some films that I will be watching and reviewing over this year:
- Contraband 15
- Haywire 15
- Red Tails 12
- Man on a Ledge 15
- Chronicle 15
- Journey 2: The Mysterious Island PG
- Safe House 15
- This Means War 15
- The Lorax U
- Project X 18
- John Carter 12
- Wrath of the Titans 12
- American Pie: Reunion 15
- The Cabin in the Woods 15
- The Pirates in an Adventure with Scientists U
- The Raven 15
- The Avengers (Assemble) 12
- Dark Shadows 12
- The Dictator 15
- Battleship 12
- Chernobyl Diaries TBA
- Men in Black 3 PG
- Piranha 3DD 18
- Snow White & The Huntsman 12
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted U
- Prometheus 15
- Rock of Ages TBA
- Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter TBA
- Brave U
- G.I.Joe: Retaliation 12
- The Amazing Spider-Man 12
- Ice Age: Continental Drift U
- Ted 15
- The Dark Knight Rises TBA
- Neighbourhood Watch TBA
- The Bourne Legacy TBA
- Total Recall TBA
- The Expendables 2 15
- Resident Evil Retribution TBA
- Dredd TBA
- Looper TBA
- Frankenweenie TBA
- Paranormal Activity 4 TBA
- Taken 2 TBA
- Red Dawn TBA
- Wreck it Ralph TBA
- Skyfall TBA
- The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 12
- Les Miserables TBA
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TBA
- This is Forty TBA
- Django Unchained TBA
- Silent Hill 2 TBA
Have you ever wondered how Johnny Depp started his career? Have you ever wondered what people were talking about when they mention the old TV Show 21 Jump Street? Well, You are about to find out with this big screen reboot of the 80's TV Series.
Schmidt & Jenko are a bunch of bumbling cops who are not very intelligent and because of their lack of intelligence lose their position in the force. The 2 are then transferred to a reopened police unit called 21 Jump Street in which young looking cops go undercover as high school students to take down a drug supply that is killing students.
The film is humourous in all meanings of the word. The jokes are just constantly rapid and in quick succession with a lot of dirty jokes aswell as some funny sequences caused by the drugs. The Cast is brilliant and includes Jonah Hill (Superbad), Channing Tatum (G.I.Joe), Ice Cube (Boyz N The Hood), Brie Larson (Scott Pilgrim), Dave Franco (Fright Night) & A Cameo appearance from the man himself, Mr. Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) who reprises his role as Tom Hanson. This is the funniest film of 2012 and a definite one to watch. *****
For anyone who doesn't know, The Hunger Games is based off a very popular book series written by Suzanne Collins and shows you what our future could be like in a few years if our government keep on treating the world like their own playground.
The film follows 16 year old, Katniss Everdeen and how her love for her sister, Prim puts her life at risk. When Prim's name is read out for the anual Hunger Games (A Reality TV Show in which 1 boy and 1 girl from each disrict must fight to the death.) Katniss volunteers to protect her sister and gets entered with fellow competitor, Peeta Mallark. When the games begin, Katniss must use all of her skills to survive as alliances form, can she make it out alive...
This film is fantastic and quite literally one of the best films ever made and is easily the best film of 2012 so far... The film features Action sequences hard to beat by any film, Romance between the characters and much much more. Their is a brilliant cast that includes Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men First Class), Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man), Wes Bentley (Ghost Rider) & Donald Sutherland (Animal House). This is easily the best movie of 2012 so far and I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did. May the odds be ever in your favor. *****
It's Time to play the music, It's time to light the lights. That's right the muppets have returned to the big screen after 12 years. In this film you will be able to see your favourite puppets once again with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear, Gonzo & Animal. But the question is can the film live up to the Muppet name.
Well I am proud to report that The Muppets have indeed returned with a bang and the film is comical. The film follows 2 brothers, Gary and Walter. Gary is a Human while Walter was born a Muppet. The 2 brothers become big fans of The Muppet show and they grow up watching it together. Anyway, time passes and Gary tells Walter that he plans a vacation to los angeles with his girlfriend and that he plans to bring Walter with him to see The Muppet Studio. There he finds out that an evil Millionaire is going to demolish the muppet studio to drill oil and that if the Muppets want to keep their studio they have to raise $2 Million. In an effort to save the studio, Walter, Gary and his girlfriend Mary decide to get the muppets back together for one last show in the form of a telethon to raise the money to save the studio.
The film has a range of different laughs from Animal in Anger Management to Beaker singing Smells like Teen Spirit in a Barbershop Quartet. This film will make you cry with laughter and feel really happy that once again The Muppets are back in action. Other than the Muppets, This film has a huge list of Cast members like Jason Segel (Bad Teacher), Amy Adams (Enchanted), Jack Black (School of Rock) aswell as Cameo appearances from Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met your Mother), Zach Galifinakas (The Hangover) & Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost). All in all, The Muppets is a fantastic film and a definite one to watch. Full of fun and easily the funniest film of 2012 so far. *****
Best Film - The Artist
Best Actor - Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Best Actress - Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Best Supporting Actor - Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Best Supporting Actress - Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Best Animation - Rango
Best Director - Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Best Writing Original Screenplay - Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen)
Best Writing Adapted Screenplay - The Descendants (Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash)
Best Foregin Language Film - A Seperation (Iran) in Persian
Best Documentary Feature - Undefeated
Best Documentary Short Subject - Saving Face
Best Live Action Short Film - The Shore
Best Animated Short Film - The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Best Original Score - The Artist
Best Original Song - Man or Muppet from The Muppets
Best Sound Editing - Hugo
Best Sound Mixing - Hugo
Best Art Direction - Hugo
Best Cinematogrophy - Hugo
Best Make-Up - The Iron Lady
Best Costume Design - The Artist
Best Film Editing - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Visual Effects - Hugo
That's it for another year. :D
