Month: October 2017

‘Hasta la Vista, Baby’ – The Sunday Film Review #25

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Sadly this week lacks in movie reviews once again. This is down to the fact I’m either in rehearsals for full days or out touring, so any free time to watch movies becomes a bit more limited.

However, I thought to myself, in an attempt to cool down, I should go back to the movie that is in fact, my favourite of all time! So let’s jump right into it!

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Where upon heaven or high water do I even begin with this movie?! The follow up to already brilliant sci-fi masterpiece from James Cameron (who returns as director here), a movie so highly praised it is often among many Top 10 lists. And to top off with another fact of praise, believe it or not, this was the highest grossing film of 1991. Yup.

Most people know the basic premise of this film, and the Terminator franchise in general. But for those who don’t, here’s a quick lil’ rundown. So following on from the events of the first film, Sarah Connor’s son, John, is growing up in care, unaware that he will one day be the leader of the Human Resistance against the machines. However, when a Terminator (a cyborg disguised to look like a human) is sent to kill him, things get serious. Another Terminator arrives to protect him, and to say anything more would be waaaayyyyy to spoilery. But simply put, in terms of plot elements, this movie has it all. It has action, lots of it. And its not just senseless action either. So much of it is big and loud and engaging to watch. In a variety of locations, with a variety of vehicles and weaponry for the characters to play around with. Now let’s quickly detail the special effects. They are absolutely stunning and despite being over 25 years old by this point, they hold up remarkably well. This film was one of the first to truly pioneer the CGI technology that we are nowadays so accustomed and used to. But back then it was highly revolutionary and still packs a punch, particularly with the liquid metal effects on the T-1000. Oddly enough, I say those very same effects look better here than they do in the 2015 flick, Terminator Genysis. 

In terms of the story, its a very faithful continuation from where the first movie began, built, and left off. Most of the cast from the first return here, namely Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor. Arguably one of cinemas strongest female leads ever. Nuff said. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in fine form as the Terminator. He continues to expand on the character we saw in the original, which is incredible considering that he is playing an emotionless machine! Of course he get’s many funny one-liners, many of which are now firmly engraved in pop culture history. Edward Furlong also does a great job as young John Connor. One of few child actors who I haven’t found to be insanely annoying in their performances, so that’s always a plus.

This movie also packs a punch emotionally. I won’t say where or when, but for me personally, there are moments that feel really touching. And again, you wouldn’t expect those kind of moments going into this kind of film, but I think that just proves on how popular this film still is and why that’s the case. Honestly I would recommend this to anyone. I would however say watch the first movie to begin with, just so you can get all the context from this world and that you are fresh to go for the sequel. But some may say this is only for people who like sci-fi or action, I would argue against that view so strongly. I have shown this film to many people, many of which were never into sci-fi or action films, and they’ve loved it! I think that’s why the first two Terminator films are so fondly remembered by generations. They both have moments of fear, of comedy, of action, of emotion, of EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH! But Terminator 2 for me is the clear winner, and after many repeat viewings in the last decade, I can safely say, at the time of this review anyway, that it is my absolute No. 1 favourite film of all time! If you haven’t seen it, GO AND CHECK IT OUT PLEASE I BEG YOU!

 

Well sadly, that’s all for this week folks! I hope you enjoyed reading about my favourite movie ever, and I hope for those who haven’t seen it before, that you do go and check it out, as well as the rest of the Terminator franchise! Okay, maybe skip out Salvation…. maybe…

Have a fantastic week, and I’ll see you next time!

Adam xx

‘Throw the Nazi off the boat!’ – The Sunday Film Review #24

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello there! Another week and only…. ONE film review. I’ve been extremely busy with an acting tour recently, but I did manage to squeeze in this one film! So let’s get right into the review!

Lifeboat (1944)

This film was made by the world known director, Alfred Hitchcock! And interestingly enough, the only film he made for the studio, 20th Century Fox. This was based off a John  Steinbeck literary work, the author most known for stories such as The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. The central premise takes place in World War II (which was still going on at the time), and a Allies ship has just been sunken by a German U-Boat, leaving a bunch of both British and American passengers and crew members stranded on a lifeboat. They pull aboard a straggler from the sea, he turns out to be a German soldier. Not only that, but the very captain of the U-Boat that ordered the Allied boats destruction. So the main draw of this film comes down to a few factors:

  • All of the action takes place on one main set, the lifeboat itself.
  • The constant tensions between the Allied survivors against the German
  • What isolation and desperation can do to people

Hitchcock as a director is often praised for being the Master of Suspense when it comes to film. There is an element of that here, but of course this is still early days compared to his later masterpieces such as Psycho and Rear Window but to name a few. What makes this film work are the characters. They’re all very different, have different and unique personality traits and how they all interlink with the German captain is very interesting to see in terms of development. There are a few twists and turns along the way, I won’t reveal any specific spoilers, but basically, when those moments happened, it still surprised me even though it really shouldn’t have! Where Alfred Hitchcock succeeds as a director is that no matter what the subject matter or style of film, he seems to find what makes it work and build it up to the maximum degree! So if you’re worried that a film set in just one place will be boring, that is completely not the case with this flick! It was seen as very controversial at the time, as America was at the peak of its involvement with World War II, and people criticised the film for sympathising with German characters. But alas, nowadays, it is considered an underrated gem in what was still a golden period in the history of Hollywood. If you like your history and you want to see some early Hitchcock material, then Lifeboat is definitely a film that is worth your time!

 

Well, sadly, that’s it for this week! Just the one film review, tried to make it a bit more fleshed out, but sadly time has been getting the better of me! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it, and hopefully next week there will be more than just the one film to talk about! Have a fantastic week, and I’ll see you next week!

Adam xx

‘He was found hanged in the elevator shaft…’ – The Sunday Film Review #23

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Welcome to another week of movie reviews! So without wasting much time, let’s get right on into it!

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1990)

Not too fab, but strangely not too awful. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise is quite a strange to assess. The first film from 1974 is definitely a classic. With a gritty look and feel, a low low budget to emphasis the terror and suspense and some truly disturbing scenes that make it hard to watch to this very day. The second one from 1986 went the opposite direction. With over the top visuals, gore and acting to boot, it was entertaining in its own way because it was so insane and bizarre, but any genuine horror from the original was definitely lost. With this third instalment, it can’t decide which tone it wants to go for. There are moments that spark some genuine horror and atmosphere, akin to the first film. But then there are moments, often involving Leatherface’s family, that do just come across as over-the-top, insane and almost laughable in places. And strangely, it is just an average film. By this point I was expecting this to be a total train wreck, but I managed to stay engaged through its 80 minute run time. I would only recommend this film however if you’re a sucker for either horror films, or this franchise in particular. If you stumble across it out of curiosity, then definitely avoid it. Not a classic, but not forgettable.

 

House of Wax (1953)

Definitely one of the best horror/thriller films of the 1950’s. This film was what brought Vincent Price back into the main spotlight and made him a household name for his sinister characters, and House of Wax is the epitome of that! Shot in glorious colour, and also 3-D (although if you watch on DVD, you won’t be able to access this feature), this film has it all! Disfigured characters, a loud piercing score, luscious laboratory sets and some genuinely amazing wax sculptures, that when shot properly, looks either spectacular or terrifying. The plot of the film may seem simplistic nowadays, but thats kind of the charm that makes it enjoyable to watch all these years later. So despite what people may tell you about how 50’s movies, especially horror/thriller movies are dated and clunky when watched today. Absolutely ignore them with this film, hands down one of if not the best horror/thriller of its era, definitely giving a lot of inspiration to the Hammer Horror set of films as well. Go and check this one out as soon as you can!

 

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

A sequel that’s just as good as the original? What a rarity to find these days! After watching the first John Wick (2014) not too long ago, I was quite impressed at how fast paced and interesting it was despite just appearing to be another run of the mill action flick. This one pretty much ups the ante on all kinds of fronts. More guns, more action, more fights, more deaths, more everything! But one thing I have to praise this film on in particular is the colour scheme it chooses to use. Everything is bright and colourful and reminds me of an over the top Asian action movie, but for all the right reason. Keanu Reeves is most definitely his John Wick character, and I would argue one of his best roles in a long time. He’s cool, skilled and also vulnerable, which I think is all the more important to show in action stars, as well as many movies in general. So if you’ve seen the first film and liked what you saw, this one is worth checking out. There are some moments which may seem like a direct retread of the first movie, but those moments are few and far between compared with whats new and all of the blazing action that you won’t want to miss. Will there be a third movie? I hope so! But in the meantime, check out the first two instalments to find out what the hype is about!

 

And that’s all for this week folks! Apologies for the seemingly lack of movies this week. It has been my one week off during a 3 month long tour that has been going on so I’ve had a lot of things to sort out and not a great amount of time to watch movies. Nevertheless, weekly editions of the Sunday Film Review will continue, so have no fear, the fix will be provided! But as always, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the reviews, watching the trailers and hopefully checking out some of these films for yourself! Have a fantastic week, and I’ll see you next time!

Adam xx

 

‘Beware evil-doers, wherever you are!’ – The Sunday Film Review #22

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Another week means another week of movies to review, so let’s get right on into it!

Tales of Terror (1962)

One of the best Edgar Allan Poe adaptations! Now truth be told, this is a package film, comprising 3 short stories: Morella, The Black Cat and The Case of M. Valdemar. The cast in these are brilliant, Vincent Price stars in all 3 episodes, and he is wonderfully sinister and charming as usual. Peter Lorre stars in The Black Cat as a raging drunkard whose action go far beyond his words. And to complete the trilogy of horror greats, Basil Rathbone appears in the final episode, definitely pulling of the role of a sinister doctor a tee. In terms of actual horror, I doubt theres anything in here that would spook modern audiences, although the way these films are shot, the locations used, the acting, and the style of horror used is still all very effective over 50 years later. In short, if you’re new to Edgar Allan Poe film adaptations or are wanting to get into classic horror, then Tales of Terror is definitely a really good place to start!

Alice in Wonderland (1951)

My first viewing of this animation classic! And you know, its just as wacky and crazy as everyone says it is! Right from the minute Alice stumbles down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland, logic is thrown completely out of the window in favour of crazy characters, ever-changing environments, and very memorable moments. Some stand out examples include the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter’s tea party, and of course, the Queen of Hearts. How closely this follows the original Lewis Carroll novel, I’m honestly not too sure. However, the sheer insanity that the animators were able to cram into 75 minutes of film is remarkable, especially for the 1950’s, when Disney was still in a financial grey area. The only slight nit pick I personally had was that whilst all of the characters in the film are very memorable and stand out, there were some that appear so fleetingly, that whilst you still get a sense of their personalities, you don’t really learn that much about them. But for the time, the film’s length and the fact it’s clearly geared to showcase its barmy tone, it does that job really well! I haven’t yet seen the 2010 remake or its 2016 sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass, but it will be interested to see the differences. And at least now finally I can say I’ve seen the original film that is held so dear to everyones hearts.

Radio Days (1987)

A very interesting concept for a movie! Woody Allen crafts together a narrative in which he, as the narrator, tells the tale of his early years growing up in a Jewish community and being encapsulated by the new technology of the radio, and all the stories it fed him. From the tales of the Masked Avenger, to the gossip of the stars behind the voices. How this film works, is showcasing these stories that Allen heard as a child. It’s very abstract to say the least, jumping between casts of characters back and forth, but strangely enough, it works quite well. Each main character of focus, such as Mia Farrow’s character, gets a full journey and pay off. And ultimately, this film is a clear love letter to the medium that Allen, and indeed a lot of children from the 1930’s and 40’s, adored so much. In a world before television and before cinema really boomed out, its great to see a film acknowledge this powerful form of entertainment and leisure. There are definitely more harrowing moments as well, such as America’s involvement in World War II, and the huge story of a girl being trapped down a well, and how the nation was gripped, all thanks to radio. If you want to see some quirky stories, all weaved together via the radio, and a performance from Julie Kavner before she became famous as Marge Simpson, then check this one out!

 

The Raven (1963)

Another hit for Roger Corman’s line of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations! This one stars Vincent Price and Peter Lorre, both of whom are still on top form, fresh of the bat of Tales of Terror. But the real appeal cast wise, comes from the fact that Boris Karloff is playing the main villain. And despite being in his older years as an actor, he delivers an engaging, menacing and powerful performance! Jack Nicholson makes an early acting appearance as well! Definitely not his best when compared with his later wide catalogue of work, but nevertheless, he puts in a good show. The main highlight? The wizards duel towards the end. Not only are the effects very impressive for the 1960’s, the fight that Karloff and Price put up genuinely feels like the old boy of horror vs. the new boy. A clash of the titans if you will. And thankfully, the duel doesn’t last for a fleeting minute, it goes on for a good while, but never feels like its either overstayed its welcome or lost its main appeal or interest. The only thing that surprised me about this film was that it was a lot lighter in tone compared to other Poe adaptations. Now I’m not sure if the original work of The Raven was as comedic as the movie, but it is very noticeably different compared to other Poe films. But if you’re fine with that, then you’ll this winner from a classic period of Gothic horror!

 

Jane Got a Gun (2015)

A promising title and concept, sadly a tad disappointing. Shame as well, as the cast here is very commendable. Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor amongst others star in this modern Western, showcasing Jane seek help to protect her dying husband Bill Hammond, from a ruthless gang of thugs that they were once affiliated with. Pretty straightforward, should be dead exciting. Sadly its a lot of horse-riding needlessly, lots of chat and lots of build up to a very disappointing climax. What should be an epic Western gunfight around this one house turns into most of the enemies dying in one blow and then a weak confrontation with McGregor’s villain. Even the title is deceptively misleading! Jane herself wields a gun once in the first segment and only really uses it in the last 20 minutes of the film. So overall, this could have a great attempt at a Western for 21st Century audiences, but again, due to all the reasons mentioned above, it just falls very very flat.

 

The Red Turtle (2016)

I wish I had seen this in the cinema! This film marks the first collaboration the renowned Studio Ghibli has made with an outside company, and man does their prowess show here! The story is a man is shipwrecked onto a deserted island. He continuously tries to build rafts in order to escape the island, but is mysteriously stopped by a red turtle. I won’t say anymore as you should see how it all unfolds for yourself, but this film has many strong factors! For one, the animation is gorgeous. The water effects are brilliant on their own and the way the human characters move in the movie, is some of if not the most fluid human animation I’ve ever seen in a film! Also, this film is told completely without dialogue, one of the most effective films to do so! That’s why I wished I had seen this on the big screen, to appreciate these magnificent qualities even more than I did on DVD! And at 77 minutes, it isn’t gonna feel like an eternity! In short, if you’re new to anime, Studio Ghibli, or just want something different to watch, then The Red Turtle is well worth your time!

Make Mine Music (1946)

Probably the best Disney package film of the 1940’s! So essentially, there is no overall story, but more like 10 short stories woven into a feature film length production! Most are accompanied by music of the time, which sounds great if you’re into that classic style! All of the animations are fluid and colourful, and considering this was all hand drawn, its a marvel to gaze at now! Sure there are some segments that come across as a bit bland or non eventful, such as Blue Bayou, but thankfully these segments don’t go on too long and are overshadowed by the more successful stories, such as The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met being my true favourite! This particular vignette features at least a dozen characters, all of whom who are voiced and sung by just one actor! Even in today’s industry, to create that amount of truly distinctive characters is a great achievement. So despite this getting lost as one of the forgotten Disney films or simply just one of the package films, Make Mine Music is probably the best of the bunch. THere’s a great amount of variety in terms of the content, the animation is a dream to look at, and by the end, it almost feels like you’ve come away from a night at the movies, or the opera, whichever takes your fancy!

 

That’s all for this week folks! As always, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the reviews, checking out the trailers and maybe even going on to watch some of this films for yourself! Have a fantastic week ahead, and we’ll check in next time!

Adam xx