Rev Stan's film blog: Action/Adventure

Review: Kit Harington is hot in Pompeii

Synopsis: Gladiator seeks revenge on those who slaughtered his family ends up in Pompeii where he falls for a nobleman's daughter. Oh and the volcano about to go off.

Stan's thoughts: There are two good things about this film. Kit Harington has a well-honed bod and is a delight to the eye and there is a rather hot kiss (in more ways than one).

Other than that I could have written the plot on the back of a serviette. There are is lots of fighting and lots of baddies growling and women simpering and lots of CGI although the 3D feels superfluous. *Potential plot spoiler* There are no surprises although I can't quite decide whether the ending was Hollywood not being obvious for once and adding some poignancy or whether it made the rest of the film pointless. If you see it let me know your view.

Entertaining enough but it will be Kit Harington's bod which stays in my mind.

Ratings

Stan’s 50%
IMDB 59%
Metascore 39%
Rotten Tomatoes 28%
RT Audience Rating 42%

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The Amazing Spiderman

Posted at 09:45 AM in Action/Adventure, American films | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: Spiderman (it's the second Amazing one)

Synopsis: The debate about whether Spiderman is good or bad rages, Spiderman struggles with his relationship with Gwen (love her put her in danger, leave her and she is safe but heartbreak etc) and then of course there is a new baddie to contend with, well two actually, who are out to get him. The usual stuff.

Stan's thoughts: I do really like Andrew Garfield as Spiderman. He has far more charisma than Tobey Maguire, more personality in general. He's cheeky and there are some nice little wink and nod references such as Peter Parker's ring tone being the old Spiderman theme tune. But Garfield is a skilled actor and brings just enough emotional depth, often an inner conflict to Peter, to make him a rounded character. If you want proof of his acting credentials just watch Never Let Me Go - there is one scene towards the end which will emotionally tear you apart.

There is probably less action in this than will satisfy some comic book movie fans but I actually prefer that and enjoyed the fact that characters and plot were given time to develop. It helps that people like Sally Field and Dane DeHaan are in the cast.

Dane DeHaan has long been a favourite of mine since I saw him in the little indie film Chronicle. There is a solid back story to his character Harry which gives him depth and a nice little twist to the usual storyline.

This was a fun Spiderman with a bit more heart than usual which made it a more rounded and satisfying film for me. A comic book movie that makes me laugh and cry gets the thumbs up but then I could watch Andrew Garfield and Dane DeHaan all day.

Ratings

Stan’s 79%
IMDB 77%
Metascore 58%
Rotten Tomatoes 72%
RT Audience Rating 82%

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Posted at 10:37 AM in Action/Adventure, American films, Comic book films | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: Did Divergent live up to the book?

Synopsis: Set in the future when most of mankind has been wiped out by war and enclave of humans has divided themselves into factions depending on their dominant trait. Anyone who doesn’t have a dominant trait, like the films heroine Tris is divergent and seen as a threat - if they are discovered.

Stan’s thoughts: Loved the books. They don’t have quite the same level of cruelty and brutality as the Hunger Games (sorry but comparisons are inevitable) but it’s an inventive world and compelling story. However, where the Hunger Games films have managed to capture the blood, grit and fear of the books in Divergent the film-makers have not been able to resist adding a Hollywood gloss.

For a start Tris’ is from the Abnegation faction whose dominant trait is selflessness. They reject vanity, dress simply and without make up or adornments and yet both Tris and her mother look pristine and made up in the film.

Then when Tris is in training she gets quite badly beaten up in the books but there is just the merest hint of a bruise on her face in the film which disappears very quickly.

What I did like about the film is the way they visualised the ‘fear’ simulations and the Dauntless cave and their escapades. Divergent the film is entertaining enough - better than the critics seem to be giving it credit for and Theo James who plays Four is pleasant eye candy but I can’t help feeling a teeny bit disappointed. Maybe the producers of the Hunger Games films set the bar too high.

Ratings

Stan’s 60%
IMDB 75%
Metascore 58%
Rotten Tomatoes 41%
RT Audience Rating 77%

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Posted at 05:29 PM in Action/Adventure | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: Captain America (the second one)

Synopsis: Captain America is adjusting to his new life in the 21st century and then it's the usual baddies have infiltrated the goodies which turns the goodies against goodies and hero has to sort it out.

Stan's thoughts: After seeing a run of really, really good intelligent and thought provoking films it was time for the musical equivalent of easy listening. Something you can just sit back and enjoy without much thought and Captain America fit the bill perfectly.

It's definitely an improvement on the first film although the Captain America costume still looks ridiculous and the character is still a little bland. There is a nice central plot premise which is a modern day equivalent of genetic cleansing as well as lots of car chases, explosions and fighting and Chris Evans looking buff in tight top.

Scarlett Johansson gets some of the best lines and as a result is probably the most interesting character. And Samuel L Jackson gives the performance you'd expect in that sort of role.

What can I say? It's satisfying, well-made, disengage brain fun.

Ratings

Stan's: 60%
IMDB: 83%
Metascore: 70%
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
RT audience rating: 95%

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Posted at 09:12 AM in Action/Adventure, American films, Comic book films | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: Jack Ryan - Shadow Recruit

Synopsis: Jack Ryan is reborn in the shoes of Chris Pine this time he is a covert CIA agent working in a bank who is following the money to the terrorists.

Stan's thoughts: This is standard action/spy fodder that works in getting you to the edge of your seat occasionally but isn't quite engaging enough to distract you from all the plot holes. Perhaps Chris Pine should have got his top off a bit more as a distraction, well that would have worked for me.

Keira Knightley plays what I like to call an equality character - a role that feels artificially inflated and intellectualised in a vain attempt to address the fact that it is male dominated film. In my head I had a far more interesting storyline for her than the one the script writers ultimately came up with.

Kevin Costner phones in his performance and Kenneth Branagh steps out from behind the camera and directing to play the Russian baddie but is, well, Kenneth Brannagh with a Russian accent.

It's all entertaining enough for an hour and 45 minutes but nothing really special.

Ratings

Stan's: 55%
IMDB: 65%
Metascore: 57%
Rotten Tomatoes: 56%
RT audience rating: 62%

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Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Posted at 06:56 PM in Action/Adventure, American films | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: The Silly (and not in a good way) Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Synopsis: Walter Mitty has done nothing worthy of putting on an online dating profile except in his head, when the picture for the final cover of Life magazine, where he works, the search for it takes him on an adventure.

Stan's thoughts: Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. This is contrived and far-fetched even for Hollywood. We are supposed to believe that at man who is introverted, hasn't done anything remotely interesting or exciting, let alone travelled, other than in his head, is suddenly capable of trailing a famous photographer to remote and often dangerous corners of the world. And, regardless of where he is, his phone works.

This is at best very mildly entertaining but judging by the ratings its getting perhaps I'm just too cynical for it.

Ratings

Stan's: 30%
IMDB: 77%
Metascore: 55%
Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
RT audience rating: 79%

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The Counsellor

Posted at 07:19 PM in Action/Adventure, American films | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ender's Game Film Review: Asa Butterfield is great, shame about the sluggish plot

Synopsis: After seeing off an alien invasion an elite force of kids is being trained up to fend off the next attack

Stan's thoughts: This film is a visual and SFX feast following Ender (a brilliant Asa Butterfield) as he is trained up to lead into battle but I'm afraid I found it a little bit dull at times.

The extended training sequences started to feel like I was watching someone else playing a computer game, which is never fun. In fact you know there is going to be a big battle and the rest of the storyline (trials and tribulations of Ender becoming a leader) isn't always engaging enough to sustain the build up.

That said there are one or two nice little plot treatments that do lift it - one of which isn't Ben Kingsley's wandering 'Maori' accent.

Didn't quite live up to expectations but will give the next one a go as this is based on a series of books and might be a victim of having to set up subsequent plot lines.

Ratings

Stan's: 59%
IMDB: 72%
Metascore: 50%
Rotten Tomatoes: 62%
RT audience rating: 78%

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Posted at 10:36 AM in Action/Adventure, American films, Sci fi | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: The solid teen flick How I Live Now

Synopsis: A fledgling romance is interrupted as four kids have to fend for themselves after a war breaks out. Separated into different camps, they are determined to be reunited and recapture their previous life.

Stan's thoughts: As a teen romance this is a cut above, partly because it steers well clear of anything saccharin and too schmaltzy and partly because of its grim, realistic setting. Great performances from the four kids/teens led by Saoirse Ronan and George MacKay as the star crossed lovers.

Solid, entertaining and occasionally moving this doesn't have the super-natural element (definitely no vampires) much utilised by a lot of teen fiction/films at present but it is refreshing for that. If you are thinking of watching The Host, watch this instead, it is much, much, much better.

Ratings

Stan's: 74%
IMDB: 63%
Metascore: 58%
Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
RT audience rating: 62%

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Posted at 10:52 AM in Action/Adventure, British films | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: The cracking Captain Phillips

Synopsis: Based on the true story of a merchant marine who is kidnapped by Somali pirates

Stan's thoughts: Director Paul Greengrass proves again that he is the master of suspense. My nerves were well and truly jangled by the end of Captain Phillips but that's not what makes this such a great film. Greengrass doesn't present the Somali's as out and out baddies as it would have been easy to do but puts their actions into a wider context which gives the film more depth than merely a kidnap thriller.

And then there is Tom Hanks's performances as the Captain. He is brave without being a Hollywood hero. His ordinariness and therefore his vulnerability that adds a layer of tension, an extra sense of jeopardy and he deserves an Oscar nomination for the final scene alone.

Oh and the Navy Seals are hot too ;0)

Really, really enjoyed this film go and see Captain Phillips.

Ratings

Stan's: 90%
IMDB: 81%
Metascore: 83%
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
RT audience rating: 93%

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Posted at 08:29 AM in Action/Adventure, American films, Biopics | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: Sod the critics, I loved Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Synopsis: When Clary's mum goes missing in trying to find her, she discovers that she is part of an underworld of demons and demon fighters.

Stan's thoughts: I do have a penchant for young adult fiction and this is the first book in a series (I've yet to read) so it ticked that box for me from the outset. It is contemporary gothic fantasy (tick), heroine who is more powerful than she knows (tick), unrequited love (tick), forbidden love (tick), good looking goodies (tick), good looking baddies (tick) and a few vampires and werewolves (tick, tick).

Mortal Instruments is good fun with enough thrills and spills and twists and turns to keep you thoroughly entertained. I've glanced at a few of the sniffy reviews which say it is derivative of so many other stories and doesn't know what it wants to be and to that I say - aren't most stories these days? For me it's the imagination with which those elements are put together and whether it holds its own. And for me it did.

Came out with a grin on my face, wanting to see it again and that hasn't happened at the cinema for a long time.

Ratings