Rev Stan's film blog

Review: More Marvel fun in Guardian's of the Galaxy

Synopsis: An unlikely group find themselves thrown together and in trying to save their own skins end up reluctantly trying to save the galaxy from the baddies.

Stan's thoughts: Went into this Jon Snow and just wanting something mindless and entertaining for a couple of hours.

It does stretch my interest in comic book movies with the absurdity of some of its characters - a talking raccoon and talking, walking tree tree. There are also characters with ridiculous names like Drax, Denarian Saal and Yondu Undonta but it is witty and a occasionally wry and doesn't take itself too seriously which helped me warm to it.

I'm not sure I understood the intricacies of the relationship between the different peoples,  something about parents sending their children to be brought up by baddies and fragile peace accords. There's an powerful orb too that no-one really understands but everyone wants. But none of that mattered too much as the primary plot points are pretty ABC.

Stan points too for having some kick-ass female characters on both sides of the goodie/baddie fence. Great to see the likes of Karen Gillen breaking into Hollywood and completely unrecognisable as the bald, blue-skinned Nebula - she actually shaved her head for the part. And Glenn Close was channelling intergalactic air hostess in her look as leader of something or other. And Chris Pratt as the films hero Quill is quite cute.

So all in all, it ticked all the mindless fun boxes.

Ratings

• Stan’s 70%
• IMDB 88%
• Metascore 76%
• Rotten Tomatoes 92%
• RT Audience Rating* 96%

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* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Review: They've done it again with X-Men - Days of Future Past

Synopsis: In the future the survival of the mutants is under serious threat from robots designed to hunt down and kill them using DNA taken from Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence). Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is sent back in time to reunite sworn enemies Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) so they can stop the scientists developing the robots.

Stan's thoughts: Not even an emergency evacuation of the cinema 45 minutes in (it was a false alarm) could spoil this. The script is at times witty and cheeky, the characters are rounded enough for you to care about them and the action sequences so clever if they don't take your breath away they will certainly have you grinning.

There is one particularly brilliant scene involving Quicksilver and I'd pay to see the film again for that alone.

You never doubt that that Fassbender and McAvoy have the powers of their characters such is the quality of their performance and the film that disbelief is just left at the door something that has been sadly missing from other fantasy/comic book movies recently.

Great also to see female mutant Mystique playing a larger part in the story.

Loved this. Might just have to go back and see it again.

Ratings

• Stan’s 89%
• IMDB 87%
• Metascore 74%
• Rotten Tomatoes 91%
• RT Audience Rating* 95%

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* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

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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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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Review: Thor, The Dark World

Synopsis: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has to enlist the help of his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to fight an old enemy.

Stan's thoughts: The first Thor was good, well-made comic book fun and it was that, Chris Hemsworth's ripped body and the fact that Tom Hiddleston looked like he was having a ball as the bad brother that made me want to see this.

For the first 20 or so minutes it's a bit plodding (plot exposition - whatever) but then Mr Hiddleston arrives and suddenly it all picks up. Hiddleston's joy in this role shines across the screen and he is up there with the best of the lovable baddies.

It is silly fun, with a sense of humour and other than the slow start my only other grumble would be that there is only one gratuitous Hemsworth torso shot. One is definitely not enough when you've worked that hard to be in that shape but that's just my...er...opinion.

Ratings

• Stan's: 70%
• IMDB: 76%
• Metascore: 54%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 65% 
• RT audience rating: 84%

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Review: Kick Ass 2

Synopsis: Hit Girl/Mindy is forced to turn her back on her super hero ways by her guardian while Kick Ass/Dave is determined to carry on which throws him into the path of super villain wannabe Chris D'Marco/The Motherfucker

Stan's thoughts: Loved Kick Ass for its tongue in cheek, irreverent approach to the comic book hero movie and while the sequel no doubt looses some of the unique gloss of the first it is still great fun. Its a good mix of dark and silly humour, comic book ideals and quite violent action sequences.

A good 'disengage brain and sit back and enjoy' film that at one hour 38 minutes knows how not to over stay its welcome, which is refreshing. It was also great to see so many British thesps popping up in supporting roles: Daniel Kaluuya, Iain Glenn, Benedict Wong, Steven MacIntosh and Andy Nyman and I didn't even recognise Jim Carrey.

Ratings

• Stan's: 60%
• IMDB: 73%
• Metascore: 41%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 29% (Audience rating is 74% so two fingers to the critics)

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Ratings

• Stan's: 60%
• IMDB: 64%
• Metascore: 66%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 60%

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Summer in February

- See more at: http://film.revstan.com/#sthash.FUZJbjz8.dpuf

Ratings

• Stan's: 60%
• IMDB: 64%
• Metascore: 66%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 60%

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- See more at: http://film.revstan.com/#sthash.FUZJbjz8.dpuf

Review: The superman reboot, Man of Steel

Synopsis: It's back to beginning for the Superman story following our hero from birth to how he ended up  on earth pursued by a big baddie.

Stan's thoughts: This is by far the most sci-fi looking Superman with lots of Star Trek-esque space ships and settlements on other planets which were quite stunning. However, they don't make up for the fact that this felt like a long film.

As soon as Michael Shannon's General Zod says he's going after Kal-El/Clark Kent it just feels like a very slow build up to an inevitable fight. And the fights do go on a bit. Once you've seen Superman smash through a series of buildings, you've seen Superman smash through a series of buildings.

There is an attempt to give the character a bit more depth by raising the issue of how mankind would deal with 'a superman' which was interesting but not quite interesting enough and with little humour to bolster the special effects dominate.

All that aside Henry Cavill's bod was worth the ticket price alone, it certainly filled out the Superman suit nicely.

Ratings

• Stan's: 62%
• IMDB: 81%
• Metascore: 55%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 56%

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Review: Iron Man 3

Synopsis: All you really need to know is that Iron Man goes after a big baddie

Stan's thoughts: Love the Iron Man films primarily because of Robert Downey Jnr's cocky and brash Tony Stark. He's sharp and funny and as always entertaining to watch. As usual Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Col James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) act add emotional and physical support  but there are some new villains in the form of Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). Kingsley is having such fun in this film he is a joy to watch and steals several scenes.

My only slight niggle is the final big battle quickly descends into big roberts bashing each other which gets a little bit tedious after a while but it is a minor grumble.

Overall, just good, disengage brain, sit back and enjoy fun film.

Ratings

• Stan's 72%
• IMDB 78%
• Metascore 62%
• Rotten Tomatoes 78%

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Spiderman vs Batman film review

If you are going to 'reboot' a franchise only 10 years after you first started it then surely you take a fresh approach. Get in new actors (check) change the tone and style (X)  start at a different point in our heroes history (X), bring in a new story (check/X) 

And that is the problem. As good as Andrew Garfield is and he has a lot more screen presence, charisma and human appeal than Tobey Maguire, the story just feels too familiar. The style and the tone of the film feels too familiar and I just got bit bored.

Aside from Garfield and new leading lady Emma Stone, between which there is great chemistry, and a new baddie - a badly CGi'd lizard - there isn't anything new. I was hoping that director Marc Webb would do for Spiderman what Christopher Nolan did for Batman when he 'rebooted' that franchise with Batman Begins but no.

It's a real shame because I do like Andrew Garfield and it was worth seeing for him but only once and I won't be buying the DVD.

Meanwhile there is Batman coming off the high that was The Dark Knight with the Oscar  winning performance by Heath Ledger - surely the most inventive performance as a villain we will see for a long time.

Dark Knight Rises had big shoes to fill and it did, sort of. Tom Hardy was always going to have a tough job as the baddie Bane made all the more difficult because he wears a mask over his mouth and nose, and it is quite difficult to make out what he is saying sometimes.

He isn't the Joker and nor should he be but, he isn't The Joker. Neither did he feel as clever as a villain. He's more of physical villain, there is no humour in his character he just wants to batter Batman. 

Without giving too much away The Dark Knight Feels like a very elaborate escape movie. It has the thrills and spills and the ice cool gadgets like the bat bike which I just love, but I just can't connect or feel very much empathy for our leading man. He is just a little too aloof to get a real sense of his sacrifice.

I did enjoy The Dark Knight Rises. It put a smile on my face but it did feel a little long and I'm not rushing to see it again. My ideal would be the colour of Andrew Garfield's Spiderman in the Dark Knight setting but as that isn't going to happen I think Batman easily wins.

Spiderman I'm giving 58% on IMDb it has 76% with a Metacritic score of 66% while on Rotten Tomatoes UK it has 89% from critics and 65% from users

The Dark Knight Rises I'm giving 78% on IMDb it has 89% and a Metacritic score of 78% while on Rotten Tomatoes it has 87% from critics and 92% from users.

 

Reviews round up: This Must Be the Place & Avengers Assemble

This Must Be The Place

Sean Penn doesn't half like to mix up his roles and admire him greatly for that because so few that have reach his level of success do. Here channelling Robert Smith he plays a bored, retired rock star who, on the death of his estranged father, decides to go in search of a man who was a guard at his concentration camp during the second world war.

On the one hand it's deliciously quirky but on the other hand there is there the holocaust/revenge plot and I'm not sure the two sat comfortably together. 

Penn is superb as you can imagine and so is Frances McDormand who plays his wife, although I'd have liked a bit more of her. But Penn's odd and quirky character and how bored he's become with his life just felt trivial against the concentration camp storyline although I was curious as to whether he had got it in him to mete out his revenge.

I'm giving it 65%. On IMDB it has 67% and no Metacritic score while on Rotten Tomatoes it has 69% from critics and 60% of visitors gave it three and a half stars or higher.

Avengers Assemble

In my mind this film is called Avengers Ensemble for reason known only to my small brain but anyway, I loved it. And what made me love it was the humour, it didn't take itself too seriously - it is about comic book heroes after all. I laughed out loud several times. There is one particularly funny moment between The Hulk and baddy Loki which had me giggling for quite a while, but I won't spoilt it.

And I think the fact that the characters had a bit of depth helped tremendously. Much of the humour is derived from a clash of personalities of our assembled super heroes working together for the first time. 

Robert Downey Jr does steal it a little as Iron Man but then I love the Iron Man films and wasn't overly fond of Captain America. (And I haven't seen the rest).

There is going to be a sequel which is predictable and I wonder if they can recreate the humour when there isn't that element of 'meeting fellow super hero for the first time'. I'll still go and see though.

Funny and good fun and I managed to see it in 2D - hurrah. I'm giving it 82%.

On IMDB it's got 88% with a Metacritic score of 69% while on Rotten Tomatoes it 93% from critics and 96% of site visitors have given it three and a half stars or higher.