Having not read the books, this lacked foundation. The characters are hurriedly developed and the wider social context is explored very little. The killings are very tame (12A) and the excessive shakycam distracting, but the lead performances are strong, the story holds interest and the non-shaky sections look great.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
We Bought a Zoo (2011)
Definitely a family movie, but the feel-good mush of the zoo renovation (everyone makes new friends – human and animal alike!) is almost over balanced by the subplot of a family struggling with grief. Mediocrity best viewed by girls and their mums, I’d say.
Two stars
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
21 Jump Street (2012)
The best comedy I’ve seen in years, probably since Superbad. Hill and Tatum are a fantastic duo and their natural bromance and easy chemistry hold the whole movie together. Some sentimental bits and a spattering of slapstick action but mostly just relentlessly funny. Definitely five-star humour.
Four stars
The Grey (2011)
Might have set my hopes unrealistically high for this one… turns out the wolves are either glowing eyes in the dark or CGI/animatronic blurs and Liam Neeson is either wolf psychologist or grief-stricken suicide case. Suitably bleak though and a solid (but predictable) anti-survival story.
Three stars
Monday, 19 March 2012
John Carter (2012)
Cool effects, a handful of passable jokes and a couple of violent-ish battles can’t save this from being total nonsense. Hollow shells of characters incite neither sympathy nor understanding and their ‘quest’ is so loosely held together that it renders the whole thing entirely unbelievable. Lots of (unintentional) laughs, though.
Two stars
Thursday, 8 March 2012
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
Inoffensive but unchallenging feel-good tripe. Judi Dench is as glorious as ever but the other British old hands seem like they’re breezing their way through it all with little effort or stimulation. Funnyish, but the portrayal of India as “an assault on the senses” (puke!) is a bit contrived.
Three stars
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Hugo (2011)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/
A lovely reflection on the importance of early cinema from Scorcese. The enchanting and magical atmosphere is accentuated by the beautiful cinematography (all that clockwork!) and our orphan hero. As adventures ensue the adult characters prove well-rounded and the plot manages to span humour, love, loss, and a creepy robot.
Four stars*
*Probably would have been five if I’d seen it on the big screen
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
You never expect to suffer boredom whilst watching superhero movies. What a shame then that Captain America lacked pace and interest. The first third was entertaining enough, but a failure to consolidate sci-fi with the 1940s and a noticeable absence of proper action left me feeling detached and, disappointingly, bored.
Two stars
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