Act of Valor
What’s it about?
An elite team of Navy SEALs embark on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent.
What did we think?
A bizarre mishmash of recruitment ad and feature film. Military enthusiasts will no doubt enjoy a realistic look inside some interesting operations but the average viewer may struggle with the staccato plot.
The discordance is heightened by the occasional switching to first person shooter view (ala Call of Duty games). The use of real Navy Seals has pros and cons but the fact it was often difficult to tell the two wooden main characters apart just shows how generic and cliched this movie is.
Battleship
What’s it about?
A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.
What did we think?
With characters that are both cliched and two-dimensional, a loose plot, a very clumsy forced tie-in with the boardgame of the same name and transformer-like alien ships… Battleship is more advertisement loosely disguised as a feature film.
And yet if you’re interested in mindless action over quality then there might actually be something here for you. Not for the discerning movie goer but it’s not a total shipwreck.
2.5/5
21 Jump Street
What’s it about?
A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.
What did we think?
A remake of a classic 80s TV show sounded like a bad idea. Making it a B grade comedy sounded like an atrocious idea. The trailer left me seething. And yet somehow this actually works.
With intelligent B-grade writing and some very insightful commentary about society and youth today, it turned out to very entertaining even as it respectfully mocked the series it’s based on. I liked it. Dammit.
B Grade but quality B Grade.
John Carter
What’s it about?
Transplanted to Mars, a Civil War vet discovers a lush planet inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a savior.
What did we think?
Is it perfect? No.
Does it flow perfectly? Not quite.
Is it fun? Yes.
Is it a good story? Definitely.
Ignore the critics – this is a fantasy delight that all sci-fi fans should see. Not just because it’s a text that inspired so many of the ‘classics’, but because it’s an old-fashioned romp. It not only transported John Carter to Mars, it took me back to my childhood with the Edgar Rice Burroughs books that captured my imagination.
Wrath of the Titans
What’s it about?
Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world.
What did we think?
A messy celebration of poor film-making which proves special effects aren’t enough by themselves.
Why anyone thought a sequel was warranted is beyond me. Why they served this up boggles the mind even more. They certainly didn’t learn from their mistakes.
Mirror Mirror
What’s it about?
An evil queen steals control of a kingdom and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright.
What did we think?
Like a shiny red apple the lovely scenery and gorgeous star are enticing, but true to the original story the fruit leaves you feeling a bit off. The aesthetics are wonderful and Julia Robert’s wicked turn as the witch entertains but the re-imagination just never quite gels.
In a year of Snow White overload (Once Upon A time, Mirror Mirror and the upcoming Snow White & the Huntsman), this is not the Charming we were looking for. 2.5/5
What’s Popular
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
What’s it about?
Alexander has more terrible days than most, especially compared to the rest of his ‘perfect’ family. Wishing on his birthday that they could experience the sort of day that he normally has, Liar Liar-style, they do.
What did we think?
Rob O’Connor says: Surprisingly amusing! This live-action Disney family film is loosely based on a popular children’s book, so our expectations were low – happily they were exceeded. While so many of these films feature idiot parents, bratty kids and a story aimed at selling Happy Meals, Alexander avoids all that, delivering a nice message about families sticking together.
The jokes were well spread over our posse (9yo, 13yo and parents) and there were enough quality laughs for all for a pass mark. The cast, which include Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, are dependable but not stretched. The film is good, single-view, inoffensive, forgettable family fun for 7 year olds and up. That’s definitely better than most films in this genre.
Let’s Be Cops
What’s it about?
Two friends dress up as policeman and get carried away when they get mistaken for the real thing.
What did we think?
What do you get when you have a cop movie without cops? This. With a simple premise, Let’s Be Cops is really a one-joke wonder trading off the popularity of TV’s New Girl. And for fans of the show that’s probably gong to be enough. Nick and Coach…. er… I mean Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans are likable (and rather similar to their small screen characters) but there’s just not enough in the script for anyone.
For non-New Girl fans, the first half of the movie is sort of okay but it just runs out of direction and laughs. After awhile it feels like you’re the one doing time. Don’t do the crime kids.
The Drop
What it’s about?
Set in the working-class streets of Brooklyn, Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) is an unassuming bartender working at his cousin’s bar that operates as a “drop” taking illegal cash deposits from the Mafia.
What do we think?
Andrew Stewart says: This is a movie that builds slowly, storing small pieces of intense energy away until the pressure gets too much and it explodes all over the screen in the most satisfying way. The ending is gripping and is a fitting crescendo to the complex character development carefully crafted throughout. Both Hardy and the late James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) make this mobster thriller worth seeing.
The Mule
What’s it about?
In 1983, a meek Australian footballer (Angus Sampson) is detained by local law enforcement for seven days, until he passes the heroin he is smuggling in his stomach.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: For the first 45 minutes, the film is a dark comedy with a hapless, loveable hero under serious pressure. After that, things go from strangely funny to just strange, because we spend roughly as much time in the affairs of the no-good cops and crooks around him. There’s some nice period touches, with high-panted outfits and TVs tuned to the America’s Cup, to create a muddy feel of middle-class Australia. It’s also stacked with fine performances from the likes of Hugo Weaving, John Noble and Noni Hazelhurst. On the whole, though, it’s a grubby crime caper that doesn’t have much humour, and not much intrigue either.
Editor's Choice
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
What’s it about?
Alexander has more terrible days than most, especially compared to the rest of his ‘perfect’ family. Wishing on his birthday that they could experience the sort of day that he normally has, Liar Liar-style, they do.
What did we think?
Rob O’Connor says: Surprisingly amusing! This live-action Disney family film is loosely based on a popular children’s book, so our expectations were low – happily they were exceeded. While so many of these films feature idiot parents, bratty kids and a story aimed at selling Happy Meals, Alexander avoids all that, delivering a nice message about families sticking together.
The jokes were well spread over our posse (9yo, 13yo and parents) and there were enough quality laughs for all for a pass mark. The cast, which include Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, are dependable but not stretched. The film is good, single-view, inoffensive, forgettable family fun for 7 year olds and up. That’s definitely better than most films in this genre.
Let’s Be Cops
What’s it about?
Two friends dress up as policeman and get carried away when they get mistaken for the real thing.
What did we think?
What do you get when you have a cop movie without cops? This. With a simple premise, Let’s Be Cops is really a one-joke wonder trading off the popularity of TV’s New Girl. And for fans of the show that’s probably gong to be enough. Nick and Coach…. er… I mean Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans are likable (and rather similar to their small screen characters) but there’s just not enough in the script for anyone.
For non-New Girl fans, the first half of the movie is sort of okay but it just runs out of direction and laughs. After awhile it feels like you’re the one doing time. Don’t do the crime kids.
The Drop
What it’s about?
Set in the working-class streets of Brooklyn, Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) is an unassuming bartender working at his cousin’s bar that operates as a “drop” taking illegal cash deposits from the Mafia.
What do we think?
Andrew Stewart says: This is a movie that builds slowly, storing small pieces of intense energy away until the pressure gets too much and it explodes all over the screen in the most satisfying way. The ending is gripping and is a fitting crescendo to the complex character development carefully crafted throughout. Both Hardy and the late James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) make this mobster thriller worth seeing.
The Mule
What’s it about?
In 1983, a meek Australian footballer (Angus Sampson) is detained by local law enforcement for seven days, until he passes the heroin he is smuggling in his stomach.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: For the first 45 minutes, the film is a dark comedy with a hapless, loveable hero under serious pressure. After that, things go from strangely funny to just strange, because we spend roughly as much time in the affairs of the no-good cops and crooks around him. There’s some nice period touches, with high-panted outfits and TVs tuned to the America’s Cup, to create a muddy feel of middle-class Australia. It’s also stacked with fine performances from the likes of Hugo Weaving, John Noble and Noni Hazelhurst. On the whole, though, it’s a grubby crime caper that doesn’t have much humour, and not much intrigue either.