Safety Not Guaranteed
- By Neil Waite
- 13 years ago
What’s it about?
A magazine writer and two interns from Seattle attempt to track down the placer of a classified ad seeking a companion for traveling back in time. As they learn more about him, they begin to question if he is actually able to perform the feat.
What did we think?
The film initially threatens to drown in the quirks and indie precociousness of its premise, but the sharp script manages to dig deeper and find moments for the characters to reveal new layers and hidden motivations. The central performances by Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass are a real joy, giving aimless slackers everywhere a decent name. You’re kept guessing until the final moments about how things will play out and the conclusions, bar one frustrating sideplot, are satisfying and uplifting.
Hotel Transylvania
- By admin
- 13 years ago
What’s it about?
Dracula is re-imagined as an exclusive hotelier and overprotective single father with serious control issues.
What did we think?
Lisa Clifford says: Much like a complimentary hotel toiletry kit, Hotel Transylvania was serviceable at a pinch, but ultimately disposable.
The tired and unimaginative story was balanced out by reasonable pacing and a few cute, monster-related call-backs. Kids in audience seemed to get a kick out of the fart jokes… and shamefully, so did the big kid next to me. Not really for everyone.
The Watch
- By Elizabeth Best
- 13 years ago
What’s it about?
What happens when a do-gooder (Ben Stiller) and his hapless vigilante Neighbourhood Watch buddies (Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Richard Ayoade) discover suburban disturbances are actually being caused by killer aliens? Dick jokes. Lots and lots of dick jokes.
What did we think?
Ben says: Almost 30 years ago, “he slimed me” was funny. Likening green goo to semen, repeatedly? Not so much. Despite its likeable lead buffoons, this formulaic sci-fi comedy is less than the sum of its – oh god I’m going there – private parts.
Kath & Kimderella
- By admin
- 13 years ago
What’s it about?
The foxy ladies of Fountain Gate are back to tackle the European hierarchies (and the big screen) in their epic adventure of Kath and Kimderella. Set in the gorgeous but bankrupt Papilloma, the girls embark on a journey to Italy after Kath (Jane Turner) wins a holiday for two.
What did we think?
Elodie Boal says: The movie gets off to a triumphant start, but what happens next is a big jumble of awkwardness. This really is a pointless plot with a storyline that didn’t go anywhere. Out of place and the Cinderella references added a whole lot of cheese. Recycling is good but not when it means rehashing and reusing a lot of old television material.
Even I, a true fan, got lost in all the montages, dance sequences and oodles of costume changes that gave Sex and the City a run for its money.
I must admit the guest appearances were entertaining and Frank Woodley’s scene on the castle balcony was incredible. Overall however, I left rather disappointed. Only diehard fans, should see it. Otherwise, wait for $1 Tuesdays.
The Expendables 2
- By StewartCook
- 13 years ago
In all honesty, you already know if you want to see this film no matter the reviews. Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger together, punching people in the face and shooting everything that moves is an action fantasy fan’s wet dream. As such a bad critical reception won’t dissuade attendance (not forgetting of course that the film boasts a tonne of other action stars doing shooty/explody things and yelling stuff).
Expendables 2 is not Oscar material, nor is it ever pretending to be; however the it is very self aware and plays that card fast and often (on some occasions a tad too hard). Norris despite his cultural cache is essentially irrelevant to anything going on in the film and his screen time fails to add to the film. Arnie and Willis share probably the easiest and most engaging action banter, whilst Lundgren continues to impress in the interesting (for an action film) role of Gunnar. Statham is perhaps a little lost amongst the pile of muscled torsos all vying for screen time, but whenever he’s kicking people in the face he’s doing it as hard as he can just for you. Jet Li is in the first five minutes… maybe. Van Damme feels a bit under written, but his show down with Stallone is really all you want to see and it’s pretty damn cool.
Ultimately E2 isn’t quite up to the consistency of the first outing, but it’s super fun nonetheless.
Moonrise Kingdom
- By Anthony Sherratt
- 13 years ago
What’s it about?
Two kids, driven by love, run away setting a curious chain of events into motion as a New England community rush to find them.
What did we think?
If Oscars were awarded to the best movie rather than the most popular then the next would go to Moonrise Kingdom. I’m still smiling.
Delightfully quirky, Moonrise Kingdom is a triumph. It’s curious, off-beat and has so many layers you may not fully appreciate it until much later as you relive the adventures mentally and realise the depth of the interactions.
I DARE you to not fall in love with this film.