Paper Towns
I admit when I first saw this trailer (the first one) I went out and bought the book the very next day. Now I’m trying to decide if I should read it before the movie or not. On the one hand books are usually better (nearly always) and yet the trailer was that good it possibly deserves to suck me in.
Hmmm.
Me and Earl and the dying girl
Yeah I’m so there.
Cooties
Um… I’m conflicted. The premise looks good but it seems to go overboard a bit and not enough for it to become good again. Plus Kristen Stewart.
San Andreas
What’s it about?
The ‘big one’ – the overdue earthquake that has threatened California for over 100 years – finally hits. Cue special effects. And The Rock.
What did we think?
I grew up on disaster movies (Towering Inferno is seared into my brain) so have a special place in my heart for them. So I enjoy Hollywood revisiting them every few years despite the fact that most of them are quite poor. But there’s still something ‘fun’ about watching mayhem and carnage on the big screen and for special effects San Andreas is incredible despite the fact you’ve seen most of the best ones in the trailer. The rippling of the earth is almost worth the price of the ticket alone although how they spend so much on FX and still have have one of the worst photoshopped family pictures is beyond me. Plotwise it’s incredibly predictable and the fact a decorated war hero stole a government helicopter to save two family members over the thousands of people he is paid to save is completely overlooked. The science is woeful (don’t start me on the tsunami) and the aftermath is heavily sanitised. I still enjoyed it as a mindless popcorn movie but my wait for a new smart disaster flick continues.
Tomorrowland
What’s it about?
A headstrong teenage science enthusiast (Britt Robertson) teams up with a bitter inventor (George Clooney) to re-enter a trans-dimensional utopia and save the world from destruction.
What did we think?
Director Brad Bird has made dazzlingly fun movies such as The Incredibles and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and while Tomorrowland isn’t as good as his past work, it’s definitely in the same spirit. The visuals are very creative, and the main characters are endearing, with Robertson being an especially lively presence. The plot (co-written with Lost and Prometheus writer Damon Lindelof) is a bit hard to follow and sort of unsatisfying, but it’s still charming enough to be worth the ride.
War Machine Movie Review
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What’s Popular
Patti Cake$
What’s it about?
Aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski (Danielle Macdonald) dreams of escaping the New Jersey suburbs.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Here’s a fun game… Watch the first ten minutes of Patti Cake$, then write a list of all the things that you think will happen. Now you don’t have to see the rest of the movie.
Victoria and Abdul
What’s it about?
Judi Dench is Queen Victoria again in a film that explores the monarch and the the Indian servant who brought light to her final years.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Queen Victoria is humanised in a delightful way in this Stephen Frears film that’s “Based on true events… mostly.” The monarch’s life is oft visited in cinematic form, but Victoria and Abdul proves her rich history can still provide some surprises. Dench turns in another captivating performance as the regal figure whose crown has become all too heavy in her twilight years. Ali Fazal lights up the screen as her optimistic devoted “Munshi”, a teacher who provided Her Majesty a late-in-life spiritual awakening, much to the disgust of her children. An uplifting, emotional jaunt that’s made no less enjoyable by the fact that it doesn’t really push any boundaries.
IT (2017)
What’s it about?
A group of bullied kids band together when a monster, taking the appearance of a clown, begins hunting children.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Sadly, the scariest thing about the new iteration of IT is leaving New Kids On The Blocks songs running in my head.
Great performance from nearly the entire cast and impressive production values, but simply no tension. It’s actually an excellent 80s coming-of-age movie but let’s face it, that’s not what we signed on to watch.
Little Evil
What’s it about?
Every new step-dad has the occasional thought their new step-child could be evil, but what if they really are the Antichrist?
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Good silly fun with a lot of heart, Little Evil is, at first glance, an entertaining premise stretched to fill an entire film. However, Little Evil’s real strength is in its emotional impact rather than comedic value. Yes, it’s very funny with shout-outs to a range of the genre, but the nuances of emotions and relationships are surprisingly deep. From Evangaline Lily’s loving dedication to her son, to Adam Scott’s recognition of the child’s vulnerability, Little Evil has more than just good laughs. The fantastic cast (it also includes Sally Field and Kurgan from Highlander) well and truly delivers. While it’s not the cult classic he gave us with Dale and Tucker vs Evil, director Eli Craig entertains us enough to leave us looking forward to his third feature film.
Editor's Choice
Patti Cake$
What’s it about?
Aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski (Danielle Macdonald) dreams of escaping the New Jersey suburbs.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Here’s a fun game… Watch the first ten minutes of Patti Cake$, then write a list of all the things that you think will happen. Now you don’t have to see the rest of the movie.
Victoria and Abdul
What’s it about?
Judi Dench is Queen Victoria again in a film that explores the monarch and the the Indian servant who brought light to her final years.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Queen Victoria is humanised in a delightful way in this Stephen Frears film that’s “Based on true events… mostly.” The monarch’s life is oft visited in cinematic form, but Victoria and Abdul proves her rich history can still provide some surprises. Dench turns in another captivating performance as the regal figure whose crown has become all too heavy in her twilight years. Ali Fazal lights up the screen as her optimistic devoted “Munshi”, a teacher who provided Her Majesty a late-in-life spiritual awakening, much to the disgust of her children. An uplifting, emotional jaunt that’s made no less enjoyable by the fact that it doesn’t really push any boundaries.
IT (2017)
What’s it about?
A group of bullied kids band together when a monster, taking the appearance of a clown, begins hunting children.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Sadly, the scariest thing about the new iteration of IT is leaving New Kids On The Blocks songs running in my head.
Great performance from nearly the entire cast and impressive production values, but simply no tension. It’s actually an excellent 80s coming-of-age movie but let’s face it, that’s not what we signed on to watch.
Little Evil
What’s it about?
Every new step-dad has the occasional thought their new step-child could be evil, but what if they really are the Antichrist?
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Good silly fun with a lot of heart, Little Evil is, at first glance, an entertaining premise stretched to fill an entire film. However, Little Evil’s real strength is in its emotional impact rather than comedic value. Yes, it’s very funny with shout-outs to a range of the genre, but the nuances of emotions and relationships are surprisingly deep. From Evangaline Lily’s loving dedication to her son, to Adam Scott’s recognition of the child’s vulnerability, Little Evil has more than just good laughs. The fantastic cast (it also includes Sally Field and Kurgan from Highlander) well and truly delivers. While it’s not the cult classic he gave us with Dale and Tucker vs Evil, director Eli Craig entertains us enough to leave us looking forward to his third feature film.