X-Men: Days Of Future Past
What it’s about?
In the dystopian future, outlawed superhuman mutants are hunted down and killed, so gnarled and knuckle-clawed Wolverine is sent back to the 1970s to warn the younger versions of his fellow X-Men, thwart destiny and satiate the kidult Supanova crowd who still covet action figures in their 30s. Like me.
What did we think?
Careful, one of the mutants says of time travel, the mind can be stretched only so far before it snaps. Consider yourself warned. The exposition-and-character-heavy Days of Future Past could lose non-cosplayers fast. But hang in there. Paraplegic telepath Charles “Professor X” Xavier and metal-manipulating Erik “Magneto” Lehnsherr, again portrayed with impeccable dramatic heft by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender of 2011’s first-class X-Men refresh, make franchise rivals Thor and the Hulk look like the rather silly cartoons they are.
Returning director Bryan Singer adds flesh to his pioneering but outmoded early-2000s X-Men template, melding atomic-grade effects setpieces with Inception’s out-of-body mind-thumps (and Ellen Page), while introducing a tremendous take on the JFK magic-bullet theory. Oh, and there’s Tyrion.
So, Marvel’s latest mutation is both super AND cerebral? Your move, Avengers.
Godzilla
What’s it about?
A natural disaster that isn’t actually natural sparks off a chain of events which leads to a giant monster that could spell the end of the world for humanity.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The new Godzilla is like a one-night stand. It’s fun and exciting while it lasts but the next morning you have questions and thoughts that are generally unsatisfying.
Great effects and the best finishing move of all time (OF ALL TIME) mask some deficiencies in characterisation and story. The main ‘hero’ follows a journey of interconnected events that is beyond the belief of even someone who’s happy to believe in giant monsters.
But for those who do it isn’t about the frailties of the script, it’s about the giant lizard. And although we don’t see enough of the big guy what we do see is simply good fun. There are some good twists (avoid spoilers beforehand if you can) and some genuine respect and love for the character and its history but just don’t think about it too much.
BONUS: Luckily for me the very talented Rob O’Connor was still awake when I got out of the preview screening and was kind enough to draw this for me.
Transformers 4: Age of extinction (new trailer)
Everybody’s favorite giant robots are back. Even better – there’s no more Shia and instead we have Markie Wahlberg. Thoughts?
And if that’s not enough check out the stills:
A Million Ways To Die In The West (NEW trailer)
To be honest I normally hate anachronistic references in films but I have laughed at every single trailer and clip of this movie. I simply cannot wait.
Check it out and let us know what you think of this new ‘tooth fairy’ trailer.
Lucy
Luc Besson and Scarlett Johansson? I’m there. I don’t even need to see the trailer.
(but here it is in case you need to see it)
Godzilla
I’m not a fan of remakes and I have been singly unconvinced about a good US remake of the classic monster movie. But I got to see some extra extended preview footage recently and I’m actually now really intrigued. Not quite excited but it’s much better than my previous feeling of ‘meh’.
What’s Popular
Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years
What’s it about?
Beatlemania.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best & Ben Bissett say: Four boys. Four years. That’s all it took to take the Beatles from the grimy basements of Liverpool to the centre of a claustrophobic global touring hurricane. This was the birth of teenagers losing their shit in epic proportions over the cult of celebrity, and the most revelatory moments are the screamed, sobbing reactions to the barely-out-of-their-teens-themselves Fab Four. The heady rush of the first tours quickly turn to jaded dissatisfaction: by the mid-’60s the mop-tops had become caged animals in the circus, and their final tour gig ends with them carted away in a literal meat locker. Beatles for sale, indeed. Cinema-goers (and only cinema-goers, we’re told) are treated to the previously unscreened ‘65 Shea Stadium concert after the credits, yet this film merely skirts the Beatles lore and footage available in the Anthology series. But then, that damn thing lasted nearly 12 hours. In limited cinemas, one week only.
Pete’s Dragon
What’s it about?
Disney orphan a young boy (because Disney) and strand him in the woods. There he’s befriended by a furry dragon (because magic).
What did we think?
An interesting choice to continue Disney’s turning animation-to-live-action project, Pete’s Dragons actually offers up some entertaining surprises. While the obvious surprise might appear to be the choice to make the dragon furry, it’s actually the performance of Oakes Fegley which is the outstanding centrepiece. His charismatic Pete is heartbreakingly authentic and will drag you into belief so strongly you will overlook a story that is by the numbers: it’s not a bad story but it’s predictable. But the emotion is dragged forth regardless. Kids will love it and it’s not too scary even for little ones.
Blair Witch
What’s it about?
A bunch of twenty-somethings go exploring in a forest that’s apparently haunted by the Blair Witch.
What did we think?
If you’ve seen the original you’ve seen this, but don’t let that scare you away because, despite that, it’s still a really tautly directed and entertaining 85 minutes. The story is extremely light, but the jump scares are almost omnipresent as the film races towards the big conclusion. It’s intensity will be loved by most horror fans though the familiarity of the journey does detract a bit.
Bridget Jones’s Baby
What’s it about?
Helen Fielding’s down-to-earth 20/30/40-something creation is back, still struggling with life, and about to embark on her most extravagant adventure yet – a baby, whose paternal genes she’s not quite sure.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: Let me start with a disclaimer – I hate Renee Zellweger in this role. I loved the books, and always thought the casting was deeply offensive to legions of great British actresses – her ridiculously twitching terribly-accented Bridget did nothing for me. Surprising, then, that I found this sequel to be rather good. Zellweger’s now utterly-toxin-ravaged face is difficult to watch, and she still overplays Jones obscenely, but there are some seriously funny – proper “pah!” LOL moments – and some brilliant turns from Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey and, particularly, Emma Thompson as the obstetrician who, god bless her, is ageing beautifully (i.e. naturally).
It drags a bit – two hours?? – but it’s got just enough of the good stuff to keep you going, thanks in no small part to Fielding’s work on the screenplay and Shazzer picking up the director’s reins once again. I’m shocking myself by saying this, but it’s worth a watch!
Editor's Choice
Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years
What’s it about?
Beatlemania.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best & Ben Bissett say: Four boys. Four years. That’s all it took to take the Beatles from the grimy basements of Liverpool to the centre of a claustrophobic global touring hurricane. This was the birth of teenagers losing their shit in epic proportions over the cult of celebrity, and the most revelatory moments are the screamed, sobbing reactions to the barely-out-of-their-teens-themselves Fab Four. The heady rush of the first tours quickly turn to jaded dissatisfaction: by the mid-’60s the mop-tops had become caged animals in the circus, and their final tour gig ends with them carted away in a literal meat locker. Beatles for sale, indeed. Cinema-goers (and only cinema-goers, we’re told) are treated to the previously unscreened ‘65 Shea Stadium concert after the credits, yet this film merely skirts the Beatles lore and footage available in the Anthology series. But then, that damn thing lasted nearly 12 hours. In limited cinemas, one week only.
Pete’s Dragon
What’s it about?
Disney orphan a young boy (because Disney) and strand him in the woods. There he’s befriended by a furry dragon (because magic).
What did we think?
An interesting choice to continue Disney’s turning animation-to-live-action project, Pete’s Dragons actually offers up some entertaining surprises. While the obvious surprise might appear to be the choice to make the dragon furry, it’s actually the performance of Oakes Fegley which is the outstanding centrepiece. His charismatic Pete is heartbreakingly authentic and will drag you into belief so strongly you will overlook a story that is by the numbers: it’s not a bad story but it’s predictable. But the emotion is dragged forth regardless. Kids will love it and it’s not too scary even for little ones.
Blair Witch
What’s it about?
A bunch of twenty-somethings go exploring in a forest that’s apparently haunted by the Blair Witch.
What did we think?
If you’ve seen the original you’ve seen this, but don’t let that scare you away because, despite that, it’s still a really tautly directed and entertaining 85 minutes. The story is extremely light, but the jump scares are almost omnipresent as the film races towards the big conclusion. It’s intensity will be loved by most horror fans though the familiarity of the journey does detract a bit.
Bridget Jones’s Baby
What’s it about?
Helen Fielding’s down-to-earth 20/30/40-something creation is back, still struggling with life, and about to embark on her most extravagant adventure yet – a baby, whose paternal genes she’s not quite sure.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: Let me start with a disclaimer – I hate Renee Zellweger in this role. I loved the books, and always thought the casting was deeply offensive to legions of great British actresses – her ridiculously twitching terribly-accented Bridget did nothing for me. Surprising, then, that I found this sequel to be rather good. Zellweger’s now utterly-toxin-ravaged face is difficult to watch, and she still overplays Jones obscenely, but there are some seriously funny – proper “pah!” LOL moments – and some brilliant turns from Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey and, particularly, Emma Thompson as the obstetrician who, god bless her, is ageing beautifully (i.e. naturally).
It drags a bit – two hours?? – but it’s got just enough of the good stuff to keep you going, thanks in no small part to Fielding’s work on the screenplay and Shazzer picking up the director’s reins once again. I’m shocking myself by saying this, but it’s worth a watch!