Rev Stan's film blog

RUMOUR: Benedict Cumberbatch Up For A Role In A Marvel Studios Movie?

Love the thought of Benedict Cumberbatch in a Comic Book movie.

RUMOUR: Benedict Cumberbatch Up For A Role In A Marvel Studios Movie?.

X-Men: First in Class

Pre-quels are curious things. Is it a sign of desperation, that the writers have run out of ideas for taking the characters forward or that the previously disregarded back-story is now deemed suitable script fodder? I'm not a comic book expert so I have no idea whether X-Men: First Class fits into either of those categories (please do let me know - my life is too full of other mindless internet surfing these days).

Which leads to the key question is it worth it? Well I can answer that with a resounding 'yes' - every one of the 243 minutes. And the reason why it works is purely down to the cast.

This is much more of a character-led film than the other X-Men movies. In a nutshell it's about how Professor X came to be in wheelchair and arch enemy of  Magneto but in having such skilled actors as James McAvoy (Xavier) and Michael Fassbender (Erik/Magneto) what you get is the depth of character necessary to elevate this above the usual movie froth. 

When the camera pans to Xavier's tear-filled eyes and pained face you genuinely believe that he has been inside Erik's head and witnessed the horrors and subsequent pain he experienced as a child. It gives the characters the heart and soul and connection needed to get the audiences buy-in to the rest of the story  which revolves around the cuban missile crisis. 

A popcorn movie I finally liked: Thor (and the gratuitous pic)

I warmed to Thor disproportionally to how much I warmed to 3D. In fact I didn't warm to 3D at all and continue to dislike it intensely but anyway that's another post, back to Thor.

It's all very predictable: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is desperate to become King but his father doesn't think he's ready, that he's too hot-headed and arrogant, plunging in, hammer twirling, without thinking through the consequences fully.

Of course he learns the hard way having been stripped of his all powerful hammer and banished to earth for accidentally starting a war leaving his dodgy brother to step into his shoes.

Yes there is a lot of CGI and a lot of ridiculous fighting but there is also a nice-ish love story between Thor and a human girl he meets played by Natalie Portman. I also like the amusing mix of comic book fantasy and 'real world' as the two collide.

It is strict popcorn fun with the added bonus that Hemsworth actually made me say, almost out loud, 'Oo hello' when he took his top off.

I'm giving it 62%. On Rotten Tomatoes it gets 94% from the critics and 84% of visitors liked it. It hasn't been released in the US yet so no rating on Metacritic.

 

Scott Pilgrim vs the hype

Much anticipated Scott Pilgrim vs the World arrived in cinema's last week and I was very much in the mood for something light and mindlessly entertaining, something to fill the gap left by Kick Ass.

So the story is a simple one. Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera playing the sort of role in which he is quickly becoming typecast*) fancies hair-colour changing Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) but in order to carry on dating her he must defeat her seven evil ex's.

It's a love story punctuated by fight scenes of a comic-book style complete with some Batman-esque 'word-effects'. From the opening with the Universal Studios logo done in the very old blocky computer-game style to the villains disintegrating into a pile of coins, director and co-screen writer Edgar Wright's tongue is firmly in his cheek.

Such touches that give the film it's quirky computer game/comic book feel could quickly become annoying but they are imaginative and amusingly done.

And it is stuffed  with some really funny lines and great, larger than life characters - I particularly like Kieran Culkin as Scott's gossipy, gay room mate.

One of the best cast films of next year?

The cast of upcoming X Men First Class just gets more and more interesting. Not only does it have Stanley favourites James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender and the interesting Aaron Johnson but now Nicholas Hoult has joined the team.

It's good to see acting talent being chosen over brawn and looks for a comic book movie and with Matthew Vaughn at the helm it is definitely going to be on my watch list next year.

Ben Whishaw as the young Magneto?

There's a bit of a debate going on over on comicbookmovie.com about the remaining cast for X-Men: First Class.

James McAvoy was recently announced as playing a young Professor X which leaves the young Magneto. Names that have been thrown into the arena include Charlie Cox of Stardust fame and yes, fav thesp of mine Ben Whishaw. Whether this is just fan wishful thinking or a genuine consideration may never be known. But, I actually quite like the idea of Whishaw playing the baddie in a comic book movie.

I've commented recently how I'd like to see him play comic or baddie and a role like this I think would tap into his fun side you read about interviews.

So I'll add my call: Ben Whishaw for Magneto please!