Samsara
What’s it about?
Sequel to the award-winning Baraka, Samsara explores the cyclical nature of life – through birth, growth, decay and death – without words but utilising the most vivid landscapes, people and constructions our planet has to offer.
What did we think?
Stephen says: If you share amazing or inspiring images and videos on social media, you’ll be well-prepared for Samsara: the ultimate visual feast. Taking five years to shoot across 125 countries, this film is a mesmerising visual journey through some of our planet’s most beautiful and thought-provoking vistas.
For the majority it is simply breathtaking, but occasionally the imagery takes you by surprise and opens your eyes to the hidden, but undeniably darker elements of our world.
Wreck-it Ralph
What’s it about?
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
What did we think?
Anthony says: You could speak about how Wreck-It Ralph is wonderfully intelligent, cleverly cast, full of easter eggs and video game references but it’s just easier to say this movie is awesome fun. Truly for all ages and demographics, this is a flick that will leave you smiling for hours, if not days, afterwards.
I left the cinema buzzing and with a strong desire to play one of the video games featured in the movie. And I think I may have a new favourite Disney princess. See it!
Red Dawn (2012)
What’s it about?
Noth Korea invade the US. A group of teenagers get trained in a montage and fight back in a vigilante group.
What did we think?
Anthony says: With a flimsy plot, poor characterisations and giant leaps of credibility, Red Yawn (see what I did there?) has very little going for it. Chris Hemsworth does a good job if you ignore an inconsistent accent but everyone and everything else is highly forgettable. This collection of cliches is a terrible movie whether you’ve seen the original or not.
Rise of the Guardians
What’s it about?
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.
What did we think?
While very clever, the storyline in this animated flick is more for adults than children. Not to say they won’t enjoy it, but it’s not something they’ll rave about or even remember a day or two later. Interesting but not engaging. Grown-ups should find the plot intriguing and name-the-voice good fun.
Celeste and Jesse Forever
What’s it about?
Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) are the perfect couple. Well, except for the fact that they are getting divorced. Screening at selected cinemas.
What did we think?
Liz says: For all the cheesy romantic comedies that Hollywood churns out, there are those films that invert the genre with aching honesty and richly drawn characters. This is definitely the latter. A smart and original flick written by Jones herself, this is an intensely human portrayal of what comes after the happily ever after. There’s no big, romance-conquers-all, orchestra-swelling finale; no big, looking-back-on-moments-past-only-to-realise-you’re-really-in-love-with-your-ex-who-is-just-about-to-get-married-to-someone-else montage. This simple film needs no bells and whistles to prove that time really does heal all wounds.
The Man with the Iron Fists
What’s it about?
Heads, limbs and plausibility go bye-bye as a soundtrack of phat beatz bludgeons away in this homage to classic kung-fu cinema, written and directed by rapper, producer and Wu-Tang Clan merchandise seamstress RZA. In a jungle village, the confusingly named Jungle Village, where the hip-hopper strains – unconvincingly – to play a humble blacksmith, named Blacksmith, an old chap, Gold, is offed by his crooked henchmen, Silver and Bronze. A knife-brandishing English soldier, named (groan) Knife, turns up, oh, and there’s a big bloke who can turn his body into brass, and he’s named Brass Body, and … no, sorry, this is pointless.
What did we think?
Ben says: There’s no doubting RZA’s long-held passion for chopsocky – but he hasn’t created a film. This is as authentic as glupping Red Bull with Sushi Train. This is his indulgent mess of a wet dream. And it’s utter wank.
What’s Popular
That Sugar Film
What’s it about?
Actor Damon Gameau goes all Super Size Me and eats the equivalent of 40 teaspoons of sugar a day in a doco that warns of the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.
What did we think?
Despite the fact it looks like he stole Morgan Spurlock’s idea and ran with it, this still has a lot of good things to say. The major difference between the two docos is that Gameau chooses to eat his sugar through a variety of foods most of us would consider healthy. Innovative in it’s storytelling methods, this flick will make you not only rethink that chocolate bar, but that low-fat yoghurt too.
Focus
What’s it about?
Elite con-man Nicky (Will Smith) agrees to tutor Jess (Margot Robbie) on the ways of deception and money-making, beginning an affair in New York that brings them hurtling back together years later in Argentina.
What did we think?
Dominic says: Smith and Robbie are exactly the charismatic couple you want, and it’s easy to watch them pull off big steals together in grand locales such as Buenos Aires and the American Super Bowl. It’s less easy to remember the plot, not because it’s too complicated but because the constant lies and illusions fail to distract from the fact that they’re playing uninteresting characters. It’s sort of funny, sort of pretty, but in the end sort of not very good.
Seventh Son
What’s it about?
An evil witch (Julianne Moore) seeks revenge in a war between supernatural and humankind. The only hope of her demise lies with the Seventh Son – an inexperienced boy who soon becomes a chosen apprentice.
What did we think?
Elodie says: Good, not great. There’s a decent storyline and convincing CGI dragons help with special effects. However, all this only hits the mark if you can understand the mumbling of drunkard “Spook” and trainer of the apprentice, Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges). If you can’t, you’ll scratch your head wondering what on Earth is happening. I left wishing I’d read the book instead.
50 Shades Of Grey
What’s it about?
A creepy sociopath manipulates a stupidly innocent girl into becoming his sex toy. But it’s OK because he’s very good looking. And because housewives everywhere say so.
What did I think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Not even flashes of nudity and titillation can disguise a hodgepodge of two-dimensional characterisation and cliche. The lead male lacks any real presence and his youth only adds to the unbelievable nature of the plot. The dialogue is poor (but to be fair it was in the book as well and a lot of people didn’t mind) and the overall themes are irritating. Even the sex scenes have been toned down, robbing the movie of any real appeal. A poor man’s Pretty Woman but without the charisma or charm. To be honest it’s not quite bad but it’s certainly not good. It’s actually 50 shades of beige.
Editor's Choice
That Sugar Film
What’s it about?
Actor Damon Gameau goes all Super Size Me and eats the equivalent of 40 teaspoons of sugar a day in a doco that warns of the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.
What did we think?
Despite the fact it looks like he stole Morgan Spurlock’s idea and ran with it, this still has a lot of good things to say. The major difference between the two docos is that Gameau chooses to eat his sugar through a variety of foods most of us would consider healthy. Innovative in it’s storytelling methods, this flick will make you not only rethink that chocolate bar, but that low-fat yoghurt too.
Focus
What’s it about?
Elite con-man Nicky (Will Smith) agrees to tutor Jess (Margot Robbie) on the ways of deception and money-making, beginning an affair in New York that brings them hurtling back together years later in Argentina.
What did we think?
Dominic says: Smith and Robbie are exactly the charismatic couple you want, and it’s easy to watch them pull off big steals together in grand locales such as Buenos Aires and the American Super Bowl. It’s less easy to remember the plot, not because it’s too complicated but because the constant lies and illusions fail to distract from the fact that they’re playing uninteresting characters. It’s sort of funny, sort of pretty, but in the end sort of not very good.
Seventh Son
What’s it about?
An evil witch (Julianne Moore) seeks revenge in a war between supernatural and humankind. The only hope of her demise lies with the Seventh Son – an inexperienced boy who soon becomes a chosen apprentice.
What did we think?
Elodie says: Good, not great. There’s a decent storyline and convincing CGI dragons help with special effects. However, all this only hits the mark if you can understand the mumbling of drunkard “Spook” and trainer of the apprentice, Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges). If you can’t, you’ll scratch your head wondering what on Earth is happening. I left wishing I’d read the book instead.
50 Shades Of Grey
What’s it about?
A creepy sociopath manipulates a stupidly innocent girl into becoming his sex toy. But it’s OK because he’s very good looking. And because housewives everywhere say so.
What did I think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Not even flashes of nudity and titillation can disguise a hodgepodge of two-dimensional characterisation and cliche. The lead male lacks any real presence and his youth only adds to the unbelievable nature of the plot. The dialogue is poor (but to be fair it was in the book as well and a lot of people didn’t mind) and the overall themes are irritating. Even the sex scenes have been toned down, robbing the movie of any real appeal. A poor man’s Pretty Woman but without the charisma or charm. To be honest it’s not quite bad but it’s certainly not good. It’s actually 50 shades of beige.