The legendary designer of Ridley Scott’s classic movie Alien, H. R. Giger has died aged 74
movies
All posts tagged movies
The Sacrament (2013/4) – Movie Review ★★★¾
Director: Ti West – Cast: Joe Swanberg, Amy Seimetz, Kate Lyn Sheil, AJ Bowen, Kentucker Audley & Gene Jones – Synopsis: Caroline (Amy Seimetz) is a former drug addict who has found solace living in Eden Parish a commune, miles from nowhere, self sufficient and led by the sinister and rather creepy “Father” – out of the blue Caroline reaches out to her brother Patrick by letter inviting him to visit her new home – Patrick (Kentucker Audley) travels to the commune with his colleagues, Sam (AJ Bowen) and Jake (Joe Swanberg) who work for VICE Media and specialize in “immersion journalise”, they hope to film these events and interview the man behind this mysterious commune – Verdict: shot in almost documentary style The Sacrament is easily Ti West’s best directed movie to date – the film draws inspiration from true life events and unlike West’s collaborator Eli Roth The Sacrament is not a picture full of B-Movie gore and violence, it’s a slow burning, thought-provoking feature that explodes into a melody of madness in it’s second half – it demonstrates one man’s sway over a group of vulnerable and somewhat weak individuals who are manipulated to his will – Overall although not a masterpiece Ti West displays his talent in combining the found footage format with a realistic, suspenseful story that’s well acted and has a superb soundtrack adding to the film’s overall feel – The Sacrament is nothing like West’s previous movies his supernatural The InnKeepers or horror homage The House of the Devil yet stands alone, taking his audience on an intriguing, frightening journey into the world of the cult – it’s a movie well worth the watch – just don’t get drinking the kool-aid !!
Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning star in the upcoming Disney movie MALEFICENT – a fantasy tale set around the classic story of Sleeping Beauty but told from the perspective of the villainous Maleficent played by an evil looking Jolie – here’s some new character posters for your enjoyment – the movie opens in a few weeks…. Enjoy!
47 Ronin (2013/4) – Movie Review ★★★★
Director: Carl Rinsch – Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Kou Shibasaki, Rinko Kikuchi and Jin Akanishi – Synopsis: A fictional account of the forty-seven Ronin, a real-life group of Ronin in 18th-century Japan who sets about to avenge the death of their master who was set to death after a demon used magic tricking him into an act of aggression that resulted in him betraying his kind and execution – after his death the band of Ronin led by Oishi must seek the help of Kai – a half-breed previously shunned by the Ronin to help them defeat an evil Warlord and his magical army – Verdict: Forget all the haters ! rent it or buy it 47 Ronin is worth the watch – the movie has everything from some decent CGI, a whole bunch of fun & colorful characters and action delivered on a grand scale with some fantastic sword fights and hand to hand combat – now okay I’m a big fan of Keanu Reeves and adore his films from the 1990s that includes Point Break, Speed and The Matrix but 47 Ronin has more to offer than just Neo – Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai & Helix) gives an intense performance as the proud Samurai turned Ronin leader and Pacific Rim’s Rinko Kikuchi looks deliciously evil and totally bad ass as the Warlord’s magic squeeze – some of the locations used in shooting the film were impressive & atmospheric including the backdrop of The Isle of Sky doubling for 18th Century Japan – overall: Carl Rinsch’s film debut is all sorts of bonkers fun and whilst the story has been slightly bastardized for entertainment value 47 Ronin is without question an enjoyable movie romp that’s dark in it’s story telling and respectful in it’s execution….
Snowpiercer (2014) – Movie Review ★★★★½
Director: Joon-ho Bong – Cast: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, John Hurt, Ed Harris, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, Ah-sung Ko, Kang-ho Song & Alison Pill – Synopsis: This is the first English-language film from the exciting South Korean director Joon-ho Bong (Mother & The Host) – Based on a French graphic novel and set in the future where the only survivors of a failed global-warming experiment try to exist on-board a speeding train known as the Snowpiercer – Verdict: If your one of these people (and there are many) that watch a movie and shout disbelief at the screen till the end credits then don’t watch Snowpiercer, the movie is based on a graphic novel and like all comic book adaptions there are many moments during this film that scream WTF at you – leave your negativity at the door, relax and enjoy the smart creative vision that this film has in abundance and then praise the undoubted genius that is filmmaker Joon-ho Bong on a picture that from start to finish is a visual feast of apocalyptic delight with enough colorful characters and dark content that could have filled a trilogy of movies let alone this one – the exciting, stylish design of the train caught my eye, from it’s dark, gloomy carriages at the back of the train where the lowest on the social ladder would reside to the school, night club and brilliance of the fish tank aquariums that one would find in carriages further up the train – Joon-ho Bong also filled the picture with superb character actors from Jamie Bell’s rebellious second in command, John Hurt’s old, wise mentor, Chris Evans rugged & somewhat reluctant leader and Tilda Swinton’s hilarious turn as one of the movies villains, the whole cast are tremendous in bringing a somewhat realism to the story – overall just like the Snowpiercer this movie runs at 200mph, it’s visually out of this world, action packed with some incredible fight scenes and a scifi flick that will stand the test of time – for me the films only negative is that it had to end….
OMG! THIS DRUG MULE is going to kick your ass!! not many movie trailers have had me gushing with excitement and re-watching instantly – LUCY the latest sci-fi flick by filmmaker Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) that stars the Black Widow aka: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman and Choi Min-sik looks delicious in every way possible – at times Besson’s career behind the camera has flattered to deceive but with cult movies such as Leon, Fifth Element and the underrated La Femme Nikita under his belt we should never loose hope in his French magic returning – Take a peek at Johansson and co in this mind warping, action packed trailer…. Enjoy!
here’s some new movie stills from the upcoming Rodriguez & Miller’s sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For that stars Eva Green, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dennis Haysbert, Juno Temple, Ray Liotta and Stacy Keach – loved the first movie and this sequel promises much of the same, fabulous visuals, beautiful & sexy ladies and a gritty, dark storyline – I for one can’t wait…. Enjoy!
I know what your thinking… a reboot of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES WTF?… No Thank you! But listen one minute you stubborn sons of turtles this one looks different, Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: LA) looks to have crafted a darker, edgier feel to the whole proceedings, with some creepy ass looking Turtles that may make young kids run away rather than go awwwww and with the inclusion of the delicious Megan Fox this 2014 version looks somewhat sexier and modern and even with the limited running time of this small teaser trailer the mood, the intensity and the excitement actually looks a vastly superior beast, more reminiscent to a Transformers flick than that sappy 1990 version…. here’s the teaser and some new stills – take a look and enjoy!
The cast includes: Megan Fox, Pete Ploszek, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Alan Ritchson, Danny Woodburn, Whoopi Goldberg, William Fichtner & Will Arnet
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – US (8th August) – UK (17th October) – Australia (N/A)
300: Rise of an Empire (2014) – Movie Review ★★★¾
Director: Noam Murro – Cast: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro & Callan Mulvey – Synopsis: The story is told about the Battle of Marathon where King Darius I of Persia is killed by the warrior General Themistocles – The King’s son Xerxes witnesses his father’s death and after a week of mourning and some devilish words from Darius’s loyal naval commander Artemisia he declares war on Greece and then embarks on a bizarre journey through a desert, a cave where he bathes in some strange liquid substance and reemerges as the “God King” – Verdict: Noam Murro’s movie takes place before, during and after the events of Zack Snyder’s 2007 film where Gerard Butler’s King Leonidas and his 300 met their fate on the battlefield – 300: Rise of an Empire may not quite hit the dizzying heights of it’s predecessor but it’s an action movie that’s quite the ride, containing sumptuous visuals, great underwater shots, some fabulous stylish blood splatter moments and a cast that’s equally the measure of the first, especially the delicious Eva Green who delivers yet another evil performance playing the warrior Artemisia who is uncompromising in her revenge against the Greeks, that sex scene with Themistocles (Stapleton) is worth the admission ticket on it’s own, two great warriors coming together for a moment of energetic raw, brutal passion – overall: if like me your a fan of the slow-mo style action used to good effect in Snyder’s original and the brilliant TV show Spartacus and you love your movies to be of a blood thirsty nature then Rise of an Empire is just the ticket….
Here’s some new Theatrical Banners from four new films coming soon – First up the delicious GODZILLA that stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Bryan Cranston and is helmed by Monsters Director Gareth Edwards – from the footage I’ve seen already this one promises to be this years Pacific Rim (love me some monster mayhem) – next up is Marc Webb’s THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 banner that is simply electrifying, the film stars Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone and see’s our hero take on Electro, The Rhino and The Green Goblin – this one’s followed by MALEFICENT the new Disney movie that stars Angelina Jolie & Elle Fanning – I must confess after watching the trailer this one has moved up a few notches on my 2014 must see list – and finally we have Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore reuniting for more comical romance in BLENDED – big fan of these two, loved The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates so more of the same and I will be a happy chappy…. Enjoy!
Here’s a new movie poster, the latest trailer and some stills for THE MAZE RUNNER a post-apocalyptic adventure that is based around the 2009 novel by James Dashner – It’s the latest in the craze of possible young adults film franchises similar to those that have come before: The Mortal Instruments, The Hunger Games and this years Divergent and it’s full of familiar faces too: Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf), Will Poulter (We’re the Millers), Thomas Brodie Sangster (Game of Thrones) and Ki Hong Lee (The Nine Lives of Chole King) – judging by this early teaser the film’s got lot’s of promise, it has an interesting almost Cube like premise played out within a dark and futuristic setting – take a peek and then mark your calendar…. Enjoy!
The Maze Runner – US 19th September) – UK (24th October) – Australia (18th September)
here’s a new limited edition GODZILLA poster and two newbies from Disney’s MALEFICENT
HER (2014) – Movie Review ★★★★½
Director: Spike Jonze – Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt & Scarlett Johansson – Synopsis: The latest directorial feature from the mind of Spike Jonze tells the story of Theodore Twombly (Phoenix) a complex and somewhat lonely individual who makes his living writing personal letters for other people. After Theodore’s marriage comes to and end he becomes intrigued with a new operating system, and a voice within that system called Samantha, a bright, female voice, who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. The two of them strike up an unusual friendship and slowly but surely Theodore falls deeply in love – Verdict: Spike Jonze’s HER has joined Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and Where the Wild Things Are amongst the strangest, yet wonderful, original achievements I have witnessed on a cinema screen in over twenty years – and like it’s predecessors HER is a thought provoking, visually stunning and emotionally haunting movie, Phoenix gives yet another acting masterclass playing the sensitive, almost huggable Theodore and he is well supported by the delightful Amy Adams who plays his best friend and Scarlett Johannson who lends her seductive, husky vocals for Samantha – One thing I always like about a Spike Jonze feature is his camera work and the beautiful images he manages to capture and HER is full of them, one of my favorite moments in the movie is when Theodore lets Samantha guide him through a small fair, with his eyes closed Theodore follows Samantha’s instructions, spinning, sneezing and eventually ordering some food, it’s gorgeous to watch – overall HER is a worthy addition to any movie collection – it’s sad, funny and somewhat scary but one that will have you talking about it’s content for many years to come….superb!
Congratulations to all of the winners & losers at the 86th Academy Awards – 2013 was a fantastic year in film – so many great films and performances – here’s a few stills…. Enjoy!
SAD NEWS the towering comic writer/director HAROLD RAMIS has passed away aged 69 – along with starring roles in the likes of Stripes & the two Ghostbusters movies (that he also co-wrote) Harold Ramis was also an accomplished filmmaker directing movies such as Caddyshack and Groundhog Day that both starred his good friend Bill Murray, Analyze This & Analyze That starring Bob De Niro & Ice Harvest that starred John Cusack – the movie world has lost another giant but the memory of Harold Ramis will continue to entertain with the many film’s he either wrote, directed or starred in – thanks for the laughs Big Man and don’t forget “Don’t cross the streams”
absolutebadasses 