Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
What’s it about?
Liz says: Apparently vampires nearly took over the US, but for the superior axe-wielding abilities of one bad-ass action-hero president, Abraham Lincoln. Who knew?
What did we think?
Ben says: Even in the US Civil War era, American politics was full of horrific bloodsuckers. Honest Abe hacks up the undead in this silly Saturday-night schlocker of camp acting, balletic bloodletting and ubiquitous “This is Sparta!” digital slo-mo. Not likely to be seen on the History Channel, then.
I enjoyed the absurdity of it all but wished it took itself even less seriously. The healthy dollop of beheadings definitely helped.
The Dark Knight Rises
What’s it about?
It’s been eight years since Batman was last sighted but will he return when his beloved city is once again threatened? This time on an unprecedented scale? Well duh.
What did we think?
A triumphant – though somewhat bleak – return of the caped crusader, Dark Knight Rises is a gripping roller coaster ride full of action, explosions and metaphors. And it’s simply stunning in its scope.
That’s not to say there aren’t problems – a few sideplots are painfully predictable, the pacing is awkward to say the least , the last act is bloated and the sound editing guy should be shot – but the passion and the characterisations simply mean you don’t care. Anne Hathaway’s Selina Kyle is pretty true to the comics and adds an interesting dimension to a wonderfully convoluted plot.
Nolanverse fans will love the end of the trilogy. Believe the hype – it’s everything you want from a gritty superhero film.
Hysteria
What’s it about?
A whimsical look at how Dr Mortimer Granville devised the invention of the first vibrator in the name of medical science.
What did we think?
It’s true doctors used to diagnose Hysteria as a catch-all for women in the 19th century and true that sometimes manual manipulation of the vulva was prescribed as a treatment, so why not make a romantic comedy about it? 0_o Hysteria takes liberties with history but never pretends to be anything but playful so it’s easy to forgive especially in the light of the performances of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rupert Everett.
Despite my dislike of anachronistic events on film, I quite enjoyed this titillating comedy that managed both laughter and solid characterisations.
Magic Mike
What’s it about?
A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.
What did we think?
I was ready to have the pants entertained off me, and the first half hour did just that. There was so much eye candy early on – special mentions go to Matthew McConaughey’s on-screen bravado and bongo playing and Channing Tatum’s body moves. Oh. My. Goodness. Yes.
But, the sugar high simply wore off. Like being sober at a hen’s night, at first it was exciting and fun and a little bit naughty, but the longer it dragged on, the more you wished you were drunk off your ass.
Needed less romance, more bromance. Left the crowd wanting less talking, more stripping dancing. P.S. I need a teacup piglet.
The Amazing Spiderman
What’s it about?
Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: My dad summed it up with: “the only thing I got out of that movie was sore eyes from the glasses”.
The plot has more holes than a spiderweb, Peter isn’t as likeable as previous incarnations and it feels as if the director was chosen merely because his surname is Webb. Not even strong performances from Emma Stone, Martin Sheen and Sally Field can save a film that only teens unfamiliar with the character will like.
Katy Perry: Part Of Me
What’s it about?
It’s officially described as a documentary that chronicles Katy Perry’s life on and off-stage.
What did we think?
While I’m not sure it counts as a movie, this PR-based-image-piece-masquerading-as-a-documentary actually wasn’t too bad a watch.
It might be easy to bag but it’s really only meant for current fans and , most importantly, they will actually get a lot out of not only the behind-the-scenes stuff but the music and concert.
What’s Popular
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
What’s it about?
A hobbit gets caught up in… gods you should know this by know. I feel as if I’ve been in this cinema for years.
What did we think?
The third and final instalment of The Hobbit films is, rather thankfully, the shortest of the trilogy yet still manages to be too long. It doesn’t have as much bloating as its predecessors but there is still too many scenes and an elongated ending.
On the VERY positive side it also features an amazing battle scene that delights in both quality and length and Jackson doesn’t beat around the bush too much before getting into it. The plot wraps up nicely and the action abounds in an incredibly entertaining way and while it’s a shame it wasn’t a bit tighter (read shorter) this was probably the most entertaining of the three comfortably.
Paddington
What’s it about?
A young talking bear from darkest Peru is taken in by a slightly dysfunctional London family. Based on Michael Bond’s children books.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Enchanting and earnest, Paddington might be the finest children’s book film adaptation of all time. It will certainly become one of the great family films.
Paddington is a loveable and well-meaning scamp who delights and will entertain everyone regardless of age. You will love this bear whether you grew up reading the stories or not. But rest assured if you did you’ll see references to most of them that will warm the heart. Even adults will melt and they have the added bonus of the subtext on immigration hysteria. Nicole Kidman surprises with a perfect over-the-top villain and Peter Capaldi is brilliant in his brief role. Stop reading this review and go see it.
The Water Diviner
What’s it about?
A low level psychic (Russel Crowe) journeys from Australia to find the remains of his sons destroyed in the Great War. He finds the enchanted world of the former Ottoman Empire has been cut into pieces by the politics of men.
What did we think?
Dan says: I am not a fan of Rusty at all but the guy sure can act. The story that he pushes along is beautifully shot and a joy to behold. It paints the faceless enemy as exactly what they are, more of us. Proud, angry and frightened.
The film treats the delicate story of Gallipoli with a great deal of respect though the third act gets a little bit “Indiana Jonesy”. There are some CGI issues and Rusty’s “Batman voice” can be a tad grating but ultimately this is a measured and heart-warming film with something for everyone. (Except kids. It’s a bit gruesome in parts)
Exodus: Gods and Kings
What’s it about?
Egyptian prince Moses (Christian Bale) learns of his heritage with the enslaved Hebrews and leads them to rebel against his former brother, Pharoah Ramses II (Joel Edgerton).
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Ridley Scott, director of Gladiator, attempts to bring both scope and realism to a dull myth that mostly happens outside the characters’ control, and unfortunately doesn’t do enough to change that. There are amazing sets and CGI galore, most appreciated when the plagues of hornets and red river-water sweep through Egypt, but the central conflict of the two brothers is flat and uninteresting. Everyone besides Bale either hams it up (Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn as a mincing viceroy) or barely registers at all (Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver), making the film unsatisfying even at two-and-a-half hours.
Editor's Choice
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
What’s it about?
A hobbit gets caught up in… gods you should know this by know. I feel as if I’ve been in this cinema for years.
What did we think?
The third and final instalment of The Hobbit films is, rather thankfully, the shortest of the trilogy yet still manages to be too long. It doesn’t have as much bloating as its predecessors but there is still too many scenes and an elongated ending.
On the VERY positive side it also features an amazing battle scene that delights in both quality and length and Jackson doesn’t beat around the bush too much before getting into it. The plot wraps up nicely and the action abounds in an incredibly entertaining way and while it’s a shame it wasn’t a bit tighter (read shorter) this was probably the most entertaining of the three comfortably.
Paddington
What’s it about?
A young talking bear from darkest Peru is taken in by a slightly dysfunctional London family. Based on Michael Bond’s children books.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Enchanting and earnest, Paddington might be the finest children’s book film adaptation of all time. It will certainly become one of the great family films.
Paddington is a loveable and well-meaning scamp who delights and will entertain everyone regardless of age. You will love this bear whether you grew up reading the stories or not. But rest assured if you did you’ll see references to most of them that will warm the heart. Even adults will melt and they have the added bonus of the subtext on immigration hysteria. Nicole Kidman surprises with a perfect over-the-top villain and Peter Capaldi is brilliant in his brief role. Stop reading this review and go see it.
The Water Diviner
What’s it about?
A low level psychic (Russel Crowe) journeys from Australia to find the remains of his sons destroyed in the Great War. He finds the enchanted world of the former Ottoman Empire has been cut into pieces by the politics of men.
What did we think?
Dan says: I am not a fan of Rusty at all but the guy sure can act. The story that he pushes along is beautifully shot and a joy to behold. It paints the faceless enemy as exactly what they are, more of us. Proud, angry and frightened.
The film treats the delicate story of Gallipoli with a great deal of respect though the third act gets a little bit “Indiana Jonesy”. There are some CGI issues and Rusty’s “Batman voice” can be a tad grating but ultimately this is a measured and heart-warming film with something for everyone. (Except kids. It’s a bit gruesome in parts)
Exodus: Gods and Kings
What’s it about?
Egyptian prince Moses (Christian Bale) learns of his heritage with the enslaved Hebrews and leads them to rebel against his former brother, Pharoah Ramses II (Joel Edgerton).
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Ridley Scott, director of Gladiator, attempts to bring both scope and realism to a dull myth that mostly happens outside the characters’ control, and unfortunately doesn’t do enough to change that. There are amazing sets and CGI galore, most appreciated when the plagues of hornets and red river-water sweep through Egypt, but the central conflict of the two brothers is flat and uninteresting. Everyone besides Bale either hams it up (Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn as a mincing viceroy) or barely registers at all (Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver), making the film unsatisfying even at two-and-a-half hours.