Film Review task

As part of your work on audiences and producers (FS2) you should watch at least one film a week. You should try and link your viewing be it by director, actor or genre.

You should then write a reflective review for the film, the types of things you should include are:

  • The name of the film?
  • Who directed the film?
  • Who starred in the film? What impact did these actors have on the film?
  • Where did you watch the film? e.g. at home, in the cinema etc...
  • Who did you watch the film with?
  • What format was the film in? e.g. DVD, download, screened on TV etc...

You should also reflect on what impact these factors had on your enjoyment of the film. You can also include a short passage on how good or otherwise you thought the film was. You can include images and links to youtube clips if you wish.

Important - please label the review with your name e.g. barney oram




The Italian Job (2003)

This modern remake of a British classic film has American corporate sponsorships written all over it. Firstly, there is only the beginning sequence of the film shown in Italy, and its not even Turin. its Venice!!! Thats half a country away!

Secondly, the film has no pinache, cajones, etc. (obvious Italian stereotypes there). Its not the kind of film you would see time and time again. Admittedly, I liked the performances played by Mos Def (in the upcoming Be Kind Rewind film) and Seth Green (comedian, Family Guy and other cartoon voices) who are more often seen as the kind of actors playing the 50s "Gee-Jolly-Gazoodles Mr Man!" version of a sidekick. But certain aspects, such as the inclusion of a commonly seen nemesis on Charlies part, and the getaway in what are now underpowered vehicles compared to what may have been more suitable in my eyes (Humvee, gunship, tank maybe?.)

The stunts, although incredibly unlikely as they are, do look somewhat impressive. The second team SFX guys really pulled it off with a helicopter in a parking lot, and blowing the road from udnerneath a gold-laden truck.

I do not detest this film. I am regularily a fan of Edward Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Seth Green. But these were definitely not there greatest films to date.

Review - Cloverfield

(I can't think of a way to connect this to 'Clerks' I don't care I'm doing it anyway)


Cloverfield is the latest creation from LOST creator J. J. Abrhams. A dark, grim and shockingly brutal tale of ordinary people caught in the most terrible of events, the film unique gimick is that the entire film is made up of hand-held camera footage taken by the surviors, as they race to rescue their friend in the middle of a city wide monster attack.


And what a monster it is. A horrific hybid of godzilla, giant insects, the LoTR cave troll and countless sea creatures, the 'Cloverfield' creature is evenmade even more terrifying by the fact we only get to see slight glimps of it until the very end of the film. A claw here, a lashing tail there,

Big Trouble In Little China

Film: Big Trouble In Little China
Director: John Carpenter
Actors: Kurt Russell, Kim Catrall, Victor Wong
Format: Downloaded from internet but burnt to DVD
LINK TO Tremors: Both feature Victor Wong

Once again, this is another film film had already seen. However, the version I watched was an extended version that re included deleted footage from the DVD and the Betamax version of the film. I thought that by watching this I would enjoy the film much more, and as a result I did. The deleted added more depth to the story and made the film make more sense. However, the betamax footage was basically what the audience was thinking but expressed through characters E.G After Kurt Russell's character beats up a bunch of men, Kim Catrall's character says "well done". Some of the footage was a bit pointless but this is the only way I was going to see the film in its original state. Since I downloaded it from the internet, I was a bit sceptical about the quality of footage. The main film was ripped form DVD so it was in it's best form, but deleted footage varied and it was obvious which footage was from Betamax.

The film itself is a pure action flick with all the standard one liners and fights you expect from an action movie. The film has an original plot, with some of it acutally based on Chinese mysticism so it isn't all what it seems.

Rating: 9/10

I love action movies and I have to admit, this one is one of my favourites. The deleted footage made the film more enjoyable and is only chance I will get to see the film in a finished state...

Kill Bill Vol.2 Review

At the weekend i was veggin (quiet night in) and felt like watching a couple of dvds, sifting through my collection i came across Kill Bill volume 2 which was definatly the film hit i needed and is also my prefered of the 2 volumes.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill vol.2 (2004) is the sequal to Vol.1 where we see "the bride" (Uma Therman) seek out more revenge on the foes that almost killed her at her wedding ceromony and putting her in a coma for six monhs. Throughout the film we see her journey through her eyes killing as she goes. Despite getting buried alive, beaten up and shot, her bloody rampage brings her success as she manages to cross of the 2 remaining assassins, including Bill himself at the climax.

The acting is startingly good and Thurman does another great job as the rampaging Bride and continues to build up her amazing track record. Any fan of her other films and acting should definatly put this film as a priority.


When i watch a film i also like a good soundtrack. Films such as donnie darko, go and garden state for example. This film definatly meets my standard of having a great soundtrack, just like its prior.

Overall i advise anyone to see this who hasnt as its just simple amazing and ywet another masterpiece created by QT

By Jam

No Country For Old Men

I watched No Country For Old Men by the Coens, also they have done The Ladykillers,

I thought that No Country was quite a good film which had a simple plot.
The Coens developed the characters, and their feeling very well as well as doing some good sets and set pieces.
Everything rolled into one so perfectly, with a cat-and-mouse of Llewelyn Moss and Anton Chirgurh, which became the story's centre. With other of sub-plots which roll into the themes of the films. Although good, i felt the ending was a bit abrupt.
There were no expensive actors except Tommy Lee, no exspesive sets and yet everything felt authentic.
I would recommend this to any person with a feel for films.

ChazD.

The italian Job (1969)

This classic British crime thriller shows what was capable back in the late 60's, when special effects like green-screening and CGI was barely a concept. Michael Caine leads a small team of theives and drivers to steal $4 million of gold bullion from under the noses of the Turin Police.

Scenes like the Mini chase scene and having the bus teatering on the edge of the cliff really sets the Italian Job apart from other movies at the release time. With no CGI, the film looks like a believable story, compared the the Star Wars trilogy, which was just a figment of Lucas imagination.

Directed by Peter Collinson, the whole movie (save the first half hour) was filmed on location, and adds a new meaning to British pride, involving Enlish gang leaders, Mafia, and three small hatchbacks racing across he roof of Italy, this film adds comedy to one of the best robbery films of last century. It literally leaves you on a cliffhanger.

The Usual Suspects Review

The usual suspects is a film about drug dealing, the group of people that the film is based around are hired to do 'jobs' for people who are mostly in the drug business.it starts with a police line-up which appears completly random. When all five of these people are suddenly aproached by a 'lawyer' respresenting a mysterious man, who has a made a name for being very dangerous and very powerful, yet no one knows if this man really exists.
These five people are hired by the mysterious man to go aboard a boat carrying drugs and stop it, steal the money and run, the job is worth $91 million.
Something goes wrong though, there is no drugs, and suddenly this mysterious man who hired these people appears and starts killing.

This film is very cleverly put together and directed (by Bryan Singer), the film is a bit confusing and makes you think. This film is one of my favorites, the way that most of the film is a police interview, and the end that is considered one of the best twist plots in film history make this film one of the best.

Kevin Spacey is the main character bringing his acting into the film, and giving it that certain quality that makes it good. The directors clever slotting of everything together to make it make sense in the end giving the film the characteristics of a cleverly made in depth film.
Eoin O'Kelly.

Magnolia

Both The Big Lebowski and Magnolia (1999, Paul Thomas Anderson) star Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore. What's interesting about the film is that it exhibits their ability to completely antithesis the previous role. In Lewbowski, Hoffman plays a sycophantic assistant to the rich Lebowski character. Here he plays a loser struggling as a care worker, who is kind and sympathetic. Moore, in Lebowski plays a free-wheeling, eccentric artist, plays an uptight irate wife a of a millionaire.

The film itself is complete genius. It consists of heavily interweving storylines set in the San Fernando Valley, which range from paranoia, to cancer, to insecure celebrities and young geniuses. What I feel Anderson is really trying to talk about here is chance and coincidence, which are heavy themes in the film. My initial reaction was that of unease, as the idea of a three hour film with several plots sounded messy and too full-on, but after watching, I found that these plot lines weave together into a dazzling and amazing piece of cinema.

I feel like Anderson as completely shrunk other writer-directors by seemlessly interlinking complex stories in such a film. Nevertheless, this film is absolutely incredible and I would recommend it to any body who loves true drama.

film review

Knocked up- Judd Apatow(2007)

Ben Stone a fun loving stoner and party animal, never expected his night with the hot aspiring TV presenter Alison to result in a sozzeled cock-up which finishes with an unwanted pregnancy and one of the year’s best comedy.Similar to Judd Apatow’s other directorial debut “40-year old virgin”, Knocked up subjects us to a sneaking peak at the gynaecologist’s, sex during pregnancy and crowning, but also gives us a insight to a moving relationship between imperfect characters. The film shows an insight into each other’s lives with the contrast of being an adult to still growing up, since Ben still lives with his roommates that don’t really work except on effectively a porn website.a well established ensemble give great gags but also a moving sense of affection.

film review

Ghost – Jerry Zucker (1990)

A super natural love story staring Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. Ghost is a genre bending blockbuster of a supernatural romantic drama. The difference between this film and a cheesy chick flick is that the young couple is allowed a brief yet memorable moment of on screen passion; and the thing that comes between them is death. This creates a real and emotional connection between the audience and characters. A serious tear jerking film where Patrick Swayze, who often has a corpse like acting ability is ideal for the role of the murdered boyfriend who learns to use his ghostly powers. Demi Moore is the grieving girlfriend who displays the emotional range of a teaspoon. However Whoopi Goldberg is there to add some glamour and is brilliant with abetting the young but separated lovers with her newly discovered psychic ability. Real credit must go to Bruce Joel Rubin for an excellent script of a minor mystic romance.

Donnie Darko

Link: Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in both Sherry baby and Donnie Darko.

Donnie Darko, directed by Richard Kelly.

Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) a talented but troublesome adolescent, is posessed with terrifying visions that only he alone knows the true meanings of. One of the more disturbing visions consists of Donnie witnessing the end of the world. With help from various characters including his soulmate Gretchen (Jena Malone) and a 6 foot bunny rabbit called Frank, Donnie sets out on the a mysterious journey to unravel the strange occurrences affecting all he knows before it's too late.

The film has an impressive cast including: Drew Barrymore, Katherine Ross, Patrick Swayze, Mary McDonnell and Naoh Wyle. Not forgetting brother and sister act Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The cast definatly helps make the film more appealing, i know this because that is what originally attracted me to the film.

Jake Gyllenhaal's performance in Donnie Darko highlights his amazing acting abilitly. His performancec here led him to be nominated for an Indepedant Spirit award for best actor and also led him to win countless excellent reviews. Another actor that i feel contributes a great performance to the film is Drew Barrymore. Barrymore plays the role of Donnie's teacher Karen Pomeroy, who's teaching methods are taken negatively by her collegues and parents of students. Barrymore's performance is really gripping and quiet uncomfortably strange at times. Both her and Gyllenhaa's performancesl make the film highly watchable and enjoyable.

I watched the film at home on DVD with my friend. I found the film more enjoyable watchinng it with my friend as there were parts of the film that i didnt understand preivously and that he explained to me and vice-verser. I would reccomend this film to friends however i feel that only an audience that has a interst in cult movies can really understand and enjoy it to its full potential.

Although there are parts of the film that some viewers may find confusing. The film is "Strange, different, beautiful and compelling". Donnie Darko is a cult classic that will continue to confuse and bring enjoyment to many audiences.

Tremors

Film: Tremors
Director: Ron Underwood
Actors: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Victor Wong
Format: DVD
LINK TO Aliens: Gale Anne Hurd acted as producer on both movies

I would to say from the begining, I love this movie. This film is very straight forward, it doesn't rely on any over complicated plots, or for that matter any plot at all. This is the plot given by IMDB.com:

"A small town gradually becomes aware of a strange creature which picks off people one by one. But what is this creature, and where is it? At the same time, a seismologist is working in the area, she detects tremors . The creature lives underground, and can 'pop up' without warning. Trapped in their town, the town-folk have no escape"

See, told you it was simple! The film has some great effects but they do look very dated due to what we have seen in films from recent years like Freddy Vs. Jason and other films of this nature.

I liked this film and have been unable to track down the 2nd and 3rd movies but I would advise people not to go near the 4th. The film has some great acting in it and is thoroughly enjoyable. I had already seen the film before, like the others I have reviewed, and it hasn't lost anything through multiple viewings.


Rating: 8/10

This movie is tremendous fun, well cast cast, beautiful shots of scenery, buts its over a bit too quick and looks a bit dated by todays standards...

Harry Potter and Goblet of fire

Linked to Sweeney Todd as they both have the actor Timothy Spall in them.


I really love this film as i have read the books and watch each film as it comes out at the cinema. This has to be my favourite out of all the Harry potter films so far. This is for many reasons. Firstly the amount of talented actors and actresses such as timothy spall, David Tennant and Maggie Smith grew and i find that recognisable faces whos performances you can rely on to be enjoyable to watch, make films easier to understand and enjoy fully. For example.
secondly i love the way this film shows the darker side to fantasy. The costumes are all picked to depict characters personalities. Thirdly i like it because it gives an audience what it wants, a film that has a beginning a middle and and end but that will keep going if you want it to. Recognisable and easy to relate to characters and it looked good too.

Rendition

Link: 'The importance of being Earnest' Links with 'Rendition' as Reese Witherspoon stars in both.

Rendition was supposed to be 2007 's thought provoking 'message' film, for me however it didn't deliver. It did attempt to get a strong message into main streem cinema, however it was disapointingly dull given the explosive subject matter. Its baised upon a US resident abducted by the CIA and is tourtured as he'sbelieved to be a terrorist. Whilst this is happening, back in America his pregnant wife is desperatley tring to find out where he is. It may have been more edgy if he'd had some clue what his tormentors were on about. This film couldv'e also been more effective if the actors has more chance to shine. but over all i was unimpressed









Sweeney Todd (Tim Burton 2008)

Linked to Shark Tale as both are produced by Dreamworks.


I went to see this at the cinema during the weekend. The film is certificated as an 18 because it has outright violence in it, but i thought that it could have been a 15 easily. The violence is not made to look realistic, the only really gory bit is where the lady is thrown in the fire and you have to watch her burn. The certificate should mean a smaller audience as you are looking at adults who also like musical thrillers. i think many cinemas turned a blind eye to this certificate, by letting under 18's into the film. This may be because they knew otherwise they may not get a very big audience.

Overall I was disappointed by this film, although it looked really good; the costumes were beautiful, the use of colours was amazing, the shots were well planned (so it seemed) and it was all in context to the historical time period. The plot was thin, and although this is a Thriller so nothing is supposed to be resolved, the lack of closure on some subjects such as joanna and the sailor, left me feeling as if there should be more to the film. I also felt somewhat cheated by the lack of really catchy songs.
they say that a marketing tool, especially for musicals is to have memorable songs and through people generally singing the songs a certain hype begins to bring in a wider audience. Sadly the songs were not catchy and so there was no hype about the fact it was a musical.
I don't think i'd recommend this film to a friend unless they enjoyed films that were pleasing to the eye but unstimulating for the mind.

the Simpsons movie (David Silverman 2007)

After years of waiting, the Simpson’s movie it finally makes its appearance, and it has mixed reviews. I first saw this film on DVD and from the start could see that the animation used was a lot more smooth and sophisticated compared to the hit series.
The films plot is that Homer Simpson has polluted Springfield so much that the government put a glass dome around the whole of Springfield. If this wasn’t bad enough, they plan to blow up Springfield shortly. So it’s up to the Simpson family to save the day.

The problem with this film is it isn’t Simpsons. With the flashy expensive animation and the new characters, it isn’t the Simpsons we all grew up with and love. Dan Castellaneta and the rest of the Simpsons cast still deliver the punch lines brilliantly with great timing as usual but for a film which has so much to live up to that’s not nearly enough.

The film seemed to have put the funniest bits in the trailers so there’s nothing better than what we’ve all already seen. And the fact that the plot doesn’t seem to develop much and as a result the new characters they introduce don’t seem to be too relevant. Even my five year old brother wasn’t that impressed.



On the other hand we see Bart’s penis

Sin City review

I first saw this film as soon as it came out on dvd and since then it has remained one of my favourites for the following reasons.

Brutal and breathtaking, Sin City (Robert Rodriguez 2005) is a stunningly visual film based off Frank Miller's comic books, just like 300. The film is divided into 3 main interwined stories which gives the audience a breather in between all the action and is a great method of introducing the characters. Sin City is without a doubt extremely faithful to Frank Millers comic-book. Each shot can be easily recognised from a panel in his comic strip, director Rodriguez himself described Sin City as a "translation" rather than an adaptation . Just like the Comic books it's all black and white with some occasional colour to emphaisaise on certain things (very similar to Shindlers list girl in the red coat). Normally black and white films put me off, but this felt completely different. once i was emerged in the film i didnt even feel like it was black and white. This was because even if there was colour it wouldnt really make a difference as most of the scenes are set in grotty ally ways, apartments and late night bars. This gave a very noir feel about it.

Im quite a fan of acion flms too, so this was a real treat for me and anypone else who prefers the gangster/action genre. The violence is pretty much consistent throughout and extremely graphic, but due to the film being in black and white i reckon it managed to get away with more.

Also, what attracted me to this film was the range of a-list actors all bundled into one film. Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Elijah Wood, Jessica Alba, Clive Owen and Josh Hartnett. These actors all fit in perfectly with their characters, so well you forget who they really are and throughout they give very impressive performances.

overall, if your a fan of action, noir films or any of the characters above, this is definatly as film for you. This is certainly a film that will go down in history and will be sure to inspire many directors to come.

by Jam

Predator

Preadator was a late 80's film directed by John McTiernan. The film is typical of most media types during this decade as it is laughably cheesy. An example of this film being cheesy is found when one of the soldiers say they have no time to bleed. There is also a scene when one of the soldiers is looking into the sky and talking about the loss of his close comrade, while you have the typically cheesy music in the background. This film had Arnie as the main soldier who eventually kills the preadator. At the time this was probably the ideal choice because the story is good vs evil and the good wins, so by casting Arnie as the good guy made sense. I watched the film at home with my dad at home, it's a typical father son film. Mainly because it's so cheesilly macho.

Star Wars

I have chosen to review star wars episode IV: a new hope, this is because mark hamill (luke skywalker) has a minor role in nausicaa as the mayor of pejite.

This is an iconic piece of sci-fi film making as it was a blockbuster hit that was produced on a budget of only $11,000,000 and it blew the world away. This was George Lucas' third feature film and also one of his best. Star Wars tells the story of Luke Skywalker a young boy from an alien planet called tatooine, whose life is thrown into turmoil when his family is murdered and he has to set out to save a powerful princess. At the same time he is also being trained to become a jedi by 'uncle' Ben Kenobi, a former jedi. This film has everything, a wide array of characters which everyone can identify with, a whole lot of action, some drama thrown in for good measure and some excellent one-liners.

Even if the acting isnt that great it has a good cast including Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness and James Earl Jones. These presences alone moree than make up for the lack of acting from some of the more inexperienced cast.

As this film came out in 1977 I wasn't able to see it in the cinema and so I had to settle for watching it on the TV with my family when I was alot younger than now. But now I have bought the original trilogy wich includes the original theatrcal releases of the films, I urge anyone who hasn't got it to buy it as its always good to own a film that will condstantly be remembered as one of the greatest films of all time.


 

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