Tilda Swinton

Whether it be DC or the Marvel Comics Universe the excitement of a new movie landing on the big screen is an event, it’s something as a film fan I can honestly say I look forward to – yes I won’t deny my favorite genre of film is Horror and the Western but I grew up watching the likes of Christopher Reeve as Superman, Michael Keaton as Batman and Tobey Maguire as Spider-man so my love for this superhero craze is pretty extreme, I feed of it’s excitement and thankfully in recent years we as comic book fans have been spoilt rotten by the countless comic book movie adaptations that have consumed our screens the majority of which have been wonderful to watch….

First things first you must watch this movie in 3D and on the big screen, a big chunk of what gives Doctor Strange it’s uniqueness, it’s originality is it’s trippy Inception style visuals, for me the magic & sorcery of the film’s narrative comes alive during these colorful eye catching moments and praise must go to Sinister director Scott Derrickson and his team for having the bottle to go against the grain and deliver something bravely unique to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – as far as the casting goes Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch handles Doctor Strange with style – the wit, arrogance and complex nature of Strange is brought alive before your eye’s, Cumberbatch looking every bit the Sorcerer Supreme he will undoubtedly become – The Ancient One who is an old wise man in the comics is portrayed by actress Tilda Swinton – her presence and looks remind me of Tripitaka the ancient bald monk from the Japanese show Monkey, she truly is a delight and owns her character bringing a level of mysterious mysticism to Doctor Strange – my own slight negative in the movie is Mads Mikkelsen’s villainous turn as Kaecilius, as a villain this character is nowhere near as evil or dark as I would have written or imagined him to be and having someone like Mads a great actor coming off possibly his darkest role Hannibal Lector it’s seems a slight waste not to have him be insanely bad BUT that being said it does not deter one jot from the pictures overall enjoyment – Derrickson‘s Doctor Strange is not only a totally bonkers, weird at times experience it’s also a film with intelligence and one that’s magically entertaining throughout – the film thou is not a one trick pony, don’t get too bamboozled by it’s effects and stop thinking about it’s story, that first quarter of the movie showing Strange as the gifted neurosurgeon he once was, his relationship with Miss Palmer played by Rachel McAdams are of great importance as the movie moves forward – oh yeah and before I forget hang around for them customary extras after the credits rise, they’re lots of fun and lay the foundations of what’s to follow….

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….

From the mind and the direction of the brilliant Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom & Rushmore) comes a tale of Gustave H, a hotel’s concierge and his friendship with a lobby boy at a famous European hotel between the wars….Ralph Fiennes looks like he’s having a ball in this the first trailer of Wes Anderson’s latest The Grand Budapest Hotel – the film lands early next year….

trivia: this movie is Wes Anderson’s seventh collaboration with Bill Murray