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‘What a week I’m having!’ – The Sunday Film Review #52

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Just one movie this week, but I promise that its a good one! Or at least one that will give you some kind of entertainment! Let’s neither dilly nor dally, let’s just get going!

Splash (1984)

A very early leading role for Tom Hanks. It’s true what they say about all big name actors start somewhere, and this film was really Hank’s first big break before he really took off with Big (1988). This film was a complete joy to watch. It was funny, action packed and some truly heartwarming and sweet moments. For any long time readers, the film Mannequin (1987) when I first saw it fast became one of my favourite films of all time. The central principle of a guy down and out on his luck finding true love in the abstract and absurd was incredibly touching to me. And Splash employs a similar concept. Hanks character encountered a young mermaid in his youth, and fast forward 20 some years, he encounters her again, romance blossoms and as I tend to say in these posts, hilarity ensues. Yes it sounds ridiculous, yes, it is ridiculous. But it is played with some much conviction and belief that by God will you get invested in these characters. Hanks shines as he always tends to, and its great to see him still in the early stages of his career. His passion for characters and ability to make you laugh and also close to tears is stellar. Supporting him as the mermaid is Daryl Hannah, who arguably may not be the greatest actress, but in terms of embodying a mermaid who first experiences civilised life, she was the perfect casting choice. For the comic relief, you get two powerhouses. John Candy plays Hanks brother and he is sleazy yet also incredibly charming to watch, whilst Eugene Levy plays a sort of mad scientist who goes so over the top that it doesn’t become cringey, but becomes quite endearing and provides some highlights throughout the picture. Is this a perfect film? Of course not. But in terms of providing some genuine laughs, emotions and stand out moments, it definitely meets the mark. I still prefer Mannequin (whose soundtrack will never be topped), but Splash made me evoke similar feelings and the ending, which is played out quite simply and without much development, works amazingly well, and will leave you with a big old smile on your mug when the credits roll. I encourage you to definitely check this one out. Great performances, great moments and a story that may sound far-fetched, but provides non stop entertainment throughout the whole 105 minutes. Check out the trailer for it below!

 

And that’s all for this week folks! Thank you for taking the time to read the review and watch the trailer! I really do hope you check this one out for yourselves! Have a fantastic week going forward, and I’ll see you next time!

Adam xx

‘Well, that’s just lazy writing’ – The Sunday Film Review #51

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Another week and another bout of movies to review! One known for being a cult 80’s classic, and the other being a sequel to one of the most popular comic book characters ever! So without further ado, let’s get right into it!

Short Circuit (1986)

Well this was definitely a weird experience. I had heard of Short Circuit vaguely before watching it. I had seen some clips, some people mentioned the effects and all that, but it wasn’t one I had heard talked about much. But having watched it, part of that speaks to me saying that this is almost the perfect cult 80’s film. You have the wacky characters, you have the at-the-time cutting edge effects, you have goofy acting and totally unbelievable characters and scenarios, and yet somehow, it all gels together beautifully. The story shows the military showcase 5 new robots that have the potential to be the next greatest advancement in weapons. One of them is struck by lighting and essentially develops a human conscience. Yes, you read that correctly. So the rest of the film focuses on this robot learning about human life and essentially becoming more human itself. It vaguely reminded me of E.T. (1982) but it contains many pop culture references. The Three Stooges, the Looney Tunes, Saturday Night Fever and many other films are referenced extensively and all of them are well timed and work pretty well! The special effects for the time are excellent. This robot is completely stiff and jagged, there is fluid movement and any sort of visual effects are handled with great detail and care. The main factor that lets film down, by far, is the acting. The acting is certainly not believable and is actually unwatchable on several occasions. Too many times to the actors seem like they don’t care about what their saying, or on the opposite, that they care far too much! One character did make me laugh however, a very stereotypical Indian scientist who acts as a sidekick to the male lead, and his dialogue is well written and very well timed comedically. It actually reminds me of the cab driver in the Deadpool series (we’ll get to him later…). Overall, this film is far from perfect, but in a way, that’s what makes it brilliant. For all its bad acting and completely wacky story, it does boast impressive effects and overall a heartwarming story. Definitely a product of its time of the mid-1980’s, but its an piece of history that still will put a smile on your face for a variety of reasons. And for the most part, completely safe to show to any children, they’ll definitely enjoy it! Check out the trailer below!

Deadpool (2018)

The sequel to one of the funnest movies of 2016. When I first sat down to watch Deadpool (2016) two years ago, I knew nothing of this character. After I left, I loved him and his debut movie. So there was no question that I wasn’t going to check this one out! Just to bust a point early, I would argue you do not necessarily have to see the first film to completely enjoy this one. Sure, you’ll probably appreciate and understand things in a greater detail, but if you wanna dive straight into this, I think that isn’t a problem. And Deadpool 2 is essentially bigger, louder, more action-packed, more epic than its predecessor. Probably because of a higher budget! Ryan Reynolds shines once again as Wade Wilson/Deadpool. Cementing the popular opinion that he was born to play this part. He completely understands each and every facet of this character. What makes him tick, what makes him angry, what makes him laugh, he just completely embodies this persona. His supporting cast don’t disappoint. Straight from Infinity War, we have Josh Brolin playing Cable, who is both funny but also really badass. I think it must be Brolin himself, because I swear I haven’t seen him in anything where he hasn’t been the coolest thing to walk the screen, a very brilliant performance. The addition of new characters like Russell are hilarious too, but also serve this films more emotional and poignant side. If there is one thing that Deadpool 2 boasts more of than the first film, is I think it has a lot more heart. Right from the get-go, you have a very emotionally charged scene take place. And there are many moments that aren’t afraid to slow the film down and talk about more important issues than just cracking another joke. But one of the funniest aspects is definitely the presence of the X-Force. I won’t say much about them, but all I’ll say is, every second that they are together, you’ll be laughing your ass off! Also, stick around for the after credits scenes, theres quite a few of them… Overall though, this is truly a fantastic sequel. It doesn’t fall flat by any means, not entirely perfect, but to discuss those issues would be spoilery. But please go and see this film without any doubt that it will be anything less than spectacular. Deadpool is back, and he’s definitely here to stay. Check out the trailer to gear yourself up for a viewing!

 

And that’s all for this week folks! As always, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the reviews, watching the trailers and hopefully checking out these movies for yourself! Have a fantastic week going forward and until the next one, I’ll see you all next time!

Adam xx

‘If I’m King, where’s my power?’ – The Sunday Film Review #50

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! And welcome to the 50th edition of the Sunday Film Review! Whoever thought that we would get this far? I certainly didn’t! But I do have some films to review for you, so without any more celebrations, let’s get right into it!

Strangers on a Train (1951)

An Alfred Hitchcock classic! Now many people may know the legendary Master of Suspense for his work on films such as Rear Window, Vertigo and Psycho amongst others. However if you go further back in Hitchcock’s work as director, he has made several early and pre-1950’s gems! Lifeboat from 1944 is a great example, one which we’ve covered in this series. But what is special about Strangers on a Train? Well the story centres around two men randomly meeting on a train and striking up conversation. One of the men, Bruno, is quite the eccentric, and discussing theories of murder. Suggesting that he could the other man’s estranged wife (whom he wishes to divorce) and that Guy could murder Bruno’s father, forms the main element of this movie. In typical but brilliant Hitchcock style, we see a murder take place, and then the remainder of the film focuses on the tense atmosphere that builds from this. Which characters will catch on? Will Guy be able to deal with this anxiety? Who will he involve to save himself? How will he stop Bruno? Questions you will find yourself asking throughout this movie! For a film over 65 years old, the pacing holds up really well! If you dedicate 95 minutes of your life to this film, then you’ll be taken on a rollercoaster of a story, which all builds up to a thrilling conclusion. The films ending I’m not a huge fan of, I’m going to spoil it here, but let’s just say, for a man of Hitchcock’s style and reputation, you think he would make the ending more suspenseful or even open it up to conclude in a numerous amount of ways. However, if Hitchcock wanted to neatly wrap this up, then he succeeded. This is definitely as much as a classic as much as his more well known work. If you’re a fan of Hitchcock, a fan of drama or films that rely on suspense and tension, then you’ll definitely enjoy Strangers on a Train. Check out the trailer below!

The King’s Speech (2010)

How fitting to review a film about a British Royal considering we have had a Royal Wedding this weekend! I’m not really a huge fan of the Royals in general, however I do love a good, well made movie about them! Or TV series, massive fan of The Crown (check it out on Netflix!). Now this film claimed the Best Picture award at the Oscars, and after watching it its quite clear to see why! Despite dealing with the monarchy, it resists the urge to be epic and grandness in its depiction of not just the Royals, but Britain as a whole. This is quite a small scale film, centring around one man with a stammer, and the man who desperately wants to help him and break down his barriers. Colin Firth portrays King George VI, and does a brilliant job of showing how this man desperately wanted to claim authority and confidence, but is forever held back because of his speech impediment. However, Geoffrey Rush plays Lionel Logue, the man who assists him, and plays this character wonderfully as a foil to George. His is witty, funny and also is very relatable as he arguably represents the common man. There are several scenes where he is showing the King exercises that made me smile, because they are very similar to the voice exercises we do as actors! But whilst there is joy and humour, there is also many emotional moments. The announcement and declaration of the Second World War, although a short scene, I found immensely powerful. To see in such a short time, how many lives were going to be affected and how different people reacted to this conflict. The final crux of the film (I feel this isn’t so much a spoiler as opposed to retelling history), shows George VI boldly speaking to the nation, announcing the plans for Britain, about to go forward into the war. It’s tense, emotional, powerful and closes out the film nicely to truly show the journey this one man was able to undertake, despite extremely unfavourable odds. Overall, I would recommend this film to anyone, it isn’t a film about the Royal Family necessarily, its in essence a film about a man struggling with something he has had for years. I’ve known friends with stammers or stutters who found watching this film incredibly empowering to them. So if you know anyone who is struggling themselves, then maybe recommend them The King’s Speech. A worthy Best Picture winner, and a very well made British film.

 

And that’s all for this week folks! Thank you for reading the reviews, watching the trailers, and sticking with me through 50 editions of the Sunday Film Review. Here’s to many many more! Have a fantastic week going forward, and I’ll see you all next time!

Adam xx

‘The coward threatens only where he is safe’ – The Sunday Film Review #49

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Another week gone and another bout of movies waiting to be reviewed! So without any more dabbling, let’s get right on into it!

Loving Vincent (2017)

A truly one-of-a-kind film! So as the title does suggest, this is about the artist Vincent van Gough. More specifically, its exploring the potential elements that eventually drove him to his death. Now this is an animated, but what makes it stand out, is the fact that the animation is completely comprised of hand painted pictures. So each individual frame in this movie was painted by hand by a team of artists. Over 65,000 pictures were painted in total. And the end result is truly remarkable. The visual aesthetic, designed to match the iconic style of Van Gough himself, flows so beautifully as you see characters walk about, days turn into nights, and the various elements of nature at work. But whilst this is impressive, what was the peak for me, was seeing all the flashback segments told by characters who remember Vincent. These are shown in black and white and at times, the drawings actually look incredibly lifelike, true works of art in their own right. Now despite me gorging over the animation technique and style used for this film, it isn’t perfect. The story itself, whilst engaging, does feel at times a little ‘paint by numbers’ and even occasionally dull. However having said that, the voice acting team are top notch, and with their performances combined with the animation, it should keep you distracted enough away from any glaring flaws. Overall, if you admire Van Gough as an artist, or you’re just interested in seeing a film that is uniquely animated, then there is enough intrigue and content here to keep you entertained for its 90 minute run time. If you can handle the odd slow moment, then you’ll be just fine! But honestly, the sheer uniqueness of this film and the way it was created, deserves to be thoroughly applauded! Definitely check out the trailer below to see if you think its down your alley!

Denial (2016)

A film about a real life ‘historian’ who denies the Holocaust ever happened. That’s right, you’re in for some real drama here. Now as this is based of a true story, no matter what the film is, there is usually to some extent some use of artistic licence. However, if this did occur within this movie, it was subtly masked. The performances given here, particularly by leading lady Rachel Weisz, make this story feel just as real as I’m sure it was back in the late 90’s. Timothy Spall plays the Holocaust denier, and despite being a keen admirer of history myself, some of his points did make me question what I knew. I’m not saying I deny any of the events that happened, as we do know them to be horrific and true, but I liked that a film was able to make me think deeply from both sides of the argument. I would really urge you to see this film for yourself, as I think it is one of those important watches. Despite being set in the modern era, it reminds us truly of the monstrous acts committed in the Second World War. How humanity was able to stoop so low, to serve as a historical reminder for what must never happen again. I don’t have much more to say on the film without giving away all of its high moments and key interactions, so if you get the chance, please do watch it. An important film, with an important reminder.

 

And that’s all for this week folks! As always I hope you have enjoyed reading the reviews and watching the trailers and maybe even checking out these two movies for yourself! Have a fantastic week going forward, and until the next one I shall see you all next time!

Adam xx

‘Honey, go make me a sandwich’ – The Sunday Film Review #48

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! And welcome to the Sunday Film Review… WITH MORE THAN ONE MOVIE TO REVIEW, PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY WE HAVE DONE IT! That’s right, after a 6 week or so stint of having one movie a week to review, we have a bit more for your buck this time! So let’s get right on into it!

They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970)

The second of what we shall call for the purposes of this review, the Tibbs Trilogy. So way back I reviewed a film titled In the Heat of the Night (1967). That filmed starred Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs and ultimately won Best Picture that year. It dealt with very serious issues of the time (and still serious these days) that of race and extreme prejudice. It’s a powerful little film for its time that has gone down as one of the greats of 60’s cinema. This film doesn’t build upon any of that. Granted, the character of Virgil Tibbs is still here and he is just as cool and suave as ever, but any sort of deeper subtext is annihilated. All this film is, at its heart, is a very straightforward, cop/drama movie stereotypical of the 70’s. Big, loud, bombastic music cues, gun fights, car chases, you get the picture. The music itself, cliche as it may sound now, was orchestrated by legendary producer Quincy Jones, and he certainly puts his talents to good use here. Some noteworthy scenes however, concern Tibbs with his family, specifically his children. There’s a scene where he catches his son smoking, he then takes him to his room and makes him try a cigar as well as some alcohol (which doesn’t end well). This is played with humour but also a straight edge by Poitier and it’s one of those scenes that makes you stop and really think about whats going on, instead of all the mindless action. There’s a follow up scene also, where Tibbs slaps his son for disobeying him, only to regret it and they have a moment of embrace. Again, this seem feels uncomfortable at first, but develops into something quite lovely. So aside from a few cute scenes, this film also shines amongst the trilogy at showing Virgil Tibbs at his utmost coolest. He can solve tensions without even saying a word, no sarcastic quips, no cheesy one liners, just a straight stare and a good eye. So overall, whilst this film is mostly stereotypical action, there are some scenes with true heart and some of the chase sequences are impressive for the time. If you like Poitier’s acting, and particularly this character, then you can waste 100 minutes of your time with this film. But if you’re after something a bit deeper, in akin to In the Heat of the Night, then maybe go and find something else to stick on.

The Organization (1971)

The third and final film to close out the Tibbs trilogy. And sadly, its the dullest of the three. Once again, there is no deep questions or social issues being tackled, for this film is even more straightforward action movie than the last one. Granted, the opening break-in scene is quite spectacular for the time in which it was made. But once the opening credits have rolled, its just scene after scene of angry characters talking, gun fights, car chases, you get the idea. Poitier is again the shining force in this movie, feeling really comfortable and grounded in just who Virgil Tibbs is, and every scene that he appears on camera is a delight. However, Poitier aside, there really is no reason to seek out this movie and to view it. It’s really forgettable and aside from some decent performances, there is honestly nothing to ride home about. It’s such a shame that a trilogy that began with such power and promise, was to fade out in the most generic way possible. Even the family scenes from They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, which were arguably that movies saving grace, are not as polished. His wife and children being reduced to mere cameos for comic relief. So ultimately, unless you’re either a big fan of Poitier’s work, or you happen to be a sucker for all kinds of generic action, then you really shouldn’t bother with The Organization, as it will be 100 minutes of your life that you won’t be able to grab back.

 

And that is all for this week folks! Two films to review is better than one so we’ve made some progress! I hope you enjoyed reading the reviews and watching the trailers! Have a fantastic week going forward as always, and until the next review, I’ll see you all next time!

Adam xx

‘Thanos is coming…’ – The Sunday Film Review #47

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! And the cinematic event of the last 10 years has finally landed at our feet! Avengers: Infinity War is the culmination of the last 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Everyone is here (or are they?) and its time to duke it out with the big boss, Thanos, the Mad Titan. My general thoughts on the film? It’s pretty damn fantastic! If you’re a Marvel fan or a fan of these kinds of movies then you need to see this! It’s not crucial necessarily to have seen every film in the MCU so far, but the more you have seen, the more impactful this will certainly be. So if you want to read on, I will give you the following warning…

THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN MASSIVE, MASSIVE SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE FILM, DO NOT CONTINUE WITH THIS POST!

You have been warned. So, without further ado, let’s begin!

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

I decided to do something different for this review. I think if I was to try and write down all of my thoughts and feelings towards this film, then you poor readers would be here forever! So I made a video where I discuss my thoughts and feelings on the film, somehow summed into about 11 minutes! So if you have seen the film and you want to know my thoughts, then please do give this a watch!

And in case you haven’t seen the movie and need reminding of the epic-ness you are going to experience, here is the trailer!

 

And that’s all for this week folks! But what an experience this one film has been. Anyone who has already seen it should understand what I mean by that, and if you haven’t, then you owe it to yourself to check this movie out! Thank you for taking the time to watch my review on the film, and I hope you have a fantastic week going forward! So until next week, I’ll see you all next time!

Adam xx

‘Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain…’ – The Sunday Film Review #46

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Another week and YES, another single movie review! I swear I’m not doing this intentionally! I can promise that you’ll definitely have a review next week, as that is the release of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which me and Lauren are seeing a midnight showing! But before then, we’ve been catching up on the whole MCU, so let’s take a look at a film from Phase Three, Doctor Strange, let’s go!

Doctor Strange (2016)

This is probably the trippiest film of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. A lot of people have said that Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 (2017) is the wackiest film, but I stand by Doctor Strange. The crux of this film, and the main source of the title characters powers, is magic. And magic definitely brings about the mystical, the crazy and the visually mind boggling. Buildings folding in on themselves, who dimensions of bright colours and strange objects, it really doesn’t get more bizarre than this. But what about the story? Well to keep it brief and overtly spoiler free, Doctor Stephen Strange is a brilliant surgeon, whom after a near fatal car accident, has the nerve centres in his hands effectively destroyed, leaving him unable to continue with surgery. However, after finding sanctuary in a cult like base in Nepal, he begins to learn the ways of magic from the Ancient One (played by Tilda Swinton), whilst learning to fend off against the villainous Kaecillius and the overlord Dormammu. Cumberbatch’s performances here are mostly fantastic (particularly some of the early scenes with Rachel McAdams character) but if theres one thing I wished for it was that this film could have been a little bit longer. It’s a few minutes short of 2 hours, but I can’t help but feel that the overall story and journey that Stephen Strange undergoes is rushed for the sake of a shorter run time. Don’t get me wrong, the journey is still there and its done very effectively by all members of the cast, but this grand transformation for me just seems to come about all too quickly. Having said that, when he really starts to harness his powers and starts kicking ass, that’s when the film really gets good. And with a slight cameo in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and his upcoming presence in Infinity War, I’m very much looking forward to how the character is going to develop next. The effects were Oscar worthy. Nuff said there. And the supporting cast do great jobs also, being both funny and dramatic when needed. The final thing I want to touch open is mainly regarding the films ending. I won’t spoil it specifically but I’m very glad it doesn’t completely end all happy-clappy and everything is all right kind of exit. There’s still some doubt and intrigue that gets stimulated further in the post-credits scene. Actually, now the final, FINAL thing I want to touch on is the final villain, Dormammu. A being of infinite life, power and capability, and he is barely seen or used to any meaningful effect. Its a trait that plagues so many of the MCU films across the three phases, and its a shame here because I got really interested in how this big baddie was going to unleash hell on the world, and its brutally kept from us. I don’t know if there is going to be a Doctor Strange 2 or anything like that. But if there is, Dormammu needs to make a more expanded return. Overall, this is a must watch if you’re getting into or catching up with the MCU, especially if you are planning on seeing Infinity War. Watch it quick, and then get ready for the cinematic event of the last 10 years. It’s gonna be a big one!

 

And that is sadly all for this week folks! Thank you for taking the time to read the review and check out the trailer! Hopefully you’ll all be going in excitement to see Avengers: Infinity War with me this next week! But whether you are or not, have a fantastic week going forward, and I’ll see you all next time!

Adam xx

‘What’s kryptonite?’ – The Sunday Film Review #45

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! I know, I know, we may as well call this the Sunday Single Film Review by this point. But what can I say! Life just is so blumming busy! But anyhow, let’s take a look at our film review for the week!

Midnight Special (2016)

So this is a very interesting, not-talked-about-much modern sci-fi flick! It stars Michael Shannon in the lead, an actors whose performance I greatly enjoyed in The Shape of Water (2017). This film, his role seems quite similar. The role of someone who has a hard edge and overall a somewhat intimidating presence. But before I discuss more on character, lets have a quick chat on the plot! So we are introduced to these two men who are ferrying a young boy from state to state, avoiding religious cults as well as the FBI and the Government. What’s special about the boy? Well he possesses some form of supernatural powers such as the ability to bring down things from space and also give people visions of another world, this other world that he actually claims he comes from. This fact does serve as an interesting talking point for the latter part of the film, as even though we learn of this boys power, its never explained how he got it or how he even ended up in our world. Not that this is necessarily a problem, but its a point worth considering none the less! So what else stands out about this movie? Well for me, it was the performance from Kirsten Dunst. Having sort of grown up with her on the screen from her days as Mary Jane in the original Spider-Man trilogy, it was nice to see her in another big budget movie. And her performance has matured insanely! She comes across so genuine as a mother figure to Alton (the young boy) and every time she was on the screen, she had my eye and attention. Adam Driver (Kylo Ren in the new Star Wars trilogy) also makes an appearance and again, a very credible performance. I wish there had been more of him throughout the film, but the parts where we do get him are very well acted. Overall, there’s not really much more I want to say about this film to avoid the risk of giving away any further spoilers, but I’ll leave you with my closing pitch! Overall, if you’re a sci-fi fan, then I would strongly urge you to give this a watch, because no matter what corner of the sci-fi realms you come from or enjoy, there will be some element you’ll enjoy here. If you’re a family or a couple and want something interesting to put on, then this isn’t a bad shout at all! It’s definitely not the best film ever made, far from it (Joel Edgerton’s frequent mumblings are annoying enough), but if you want to see something that currently is standing on its own two feet and not supported by some sort of wider franchise, then Midnight Special is certainly not going to waste your time!

 

And once again, that is all for this week folks! Thank you very much for reading, and I hope you check out this film for yourselves! Have a fantastic week going forward, and I’ll see you all next time!

Adam xx

‘You’re such a noob’ – The Sunday Film Review #44

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello there! Sorry that we are back to just one review this week, life certainly seems to consistently busy! But hey, at least we have something to review, and this weeks film is certainly a big one! So strap on your VR headsets, and let’s go!

THIS WILL BE A VERY SPOILERY REVIEW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Ready Player One (2018)

Full disclaimer, I had never read the book that this movie is based on. Which for me is quite baffling. I love video games, I love all things 1980s and 90s and considering the book is jammed with many pop culture references, it would seem like the perfect read. And after watching this film, I must get round to it! This film is honestly fantastic, and even my brother (who has read the book) said it was a good film also! Steven Spielberg puts his directing stamp on this flick and everything is lovingly created, from the environments, to the references used and even down to the music choices. I can’t tell you how big the smile was on my face when I heard the first few synth beats of Van Halen’s Jump. Truly a great music selection all round! So whats the basic premise?

Wade Watts is a young lad who lives basically in a s**thole and escapes through this virtual reality world called The Oasis. Where people can be who they want and do what they want. But as the creator of the programme has left a competition for all its players, that’s where the main bout of this story ensues. Our main cast are all extremely likeable here, forming a rag-tag group of heroes which reminded me a lot of 80’s teen movies that focused on a band of kids, which only seemed appropriate.  The game consists of 3 challenges, the first being a simple racing challenge, but the later two are brilliant. The second takes the characters inside the world of The Shining (the 1980 film version from Stanley Kubrick) and it has been lovingly recreated. Everything from the sets, the camera angles, the music, its so amazing to see these characters within this environment. And whats the final challenge? Playing an Atari 2600. Yep. You heard me right. Specifically, playing 1979’s Adventure on Atari 2600 and finding the first Easter Egg that was ever planted within a video game.

For anyone who is a fan of retro gaming or just pop culture in general, you are gonna love almost every second of this movie! In terms of characters, you get everything and everyone appearing: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spartans from Halo, the creature from Aliens, Marvin the Martian, Chucky the killer doll and my personal favourite, THE IRON F**KING GIANT! First off, if you haven’t seen the original Iron Giant movie then you need to go and rectify that THIS INSTANT. That’s a brilliant little film in itself, and to see it in full 3D CGI glory is wonderful. But this leads me to talk about one of my favourite scenes in the entire film. During the big climatic battle, the Iron Giant is leading the charge, and then the main villain embodies his own giant character to fight it. And who does he choose? Mecha Godzilla! That’s right, Mecha Godzilla from the Japanese film series makes an appearance, and it looks fantastic! It’s rendered beautifully, it has all the weapons (including finger missiles) and it only made me wish that the battle between the two lasted longer! But a third character joins the fray, one of the leads takes the form of Gundam (a legendary Japanese anime) and his introduction is handled perfectly.

If I had any gripe with this movie, its that I wish the battle scenes featuring different sets of characters went on for longer. Most of their appearances are fleeting, and don’t get me wrong its great to see them, but it just makes you long for more of them. Another small gripe would be that some moments with the leads in the real world feel a bit stock and cliche for Hollywood. Love tropes and moments of comfort aside that just feel like Spielberg has to appeal somewhat to Hollywood conventions, but these moments are so few and far between that it doesn’t really detract from the overall film. But what I will highly praise this film on, is its use of CGI. The Oasis world is completely rendered in this way and considered it is a video game, it uses probably the most impressive CGI I have ever seen in a modern movie. Characters look real enough but also reminding you that you are indeed in virtual reality. I already mentioned the characters such as the Iron Giant that are also beautifully rendered in this way, and honestly, with many films use of CGI seeming forced and looking blatantly fake, this film will feel like a breath of fresh air as it takes you inside this virtual world.

Overall, I think you should go and see Ready Player One. And if you’re reading this, I hope you already have because this review was spoilery as anything! But if you know anyone who is on the fence about it, convince them to go. In a time when our real life stories and news is so bleak and many movies are being made to reflect this, its brilliant to watch a film with so much life and energy bursting onto the screens. Everything from the references, to the morals behind the story, its all fantastically placed and paced and I assure you, whether you’ve read the book or not, it will leave you at some point with a smile on your face. So pop your quarters in, and get ready to play!

 

And that’s all for this week folks! I hope you enjoyed reading this review, and that you enjoyed Ready Player One! And if you haven’t seen it yet, get yourself down to the cinema and treat yourself! Have a fantastic week going forward, and I’ll see you all next time!

Adam xx

 

‘Team GB, let’s go!’ – The Sunday Film Review #43

Posted on by Adam Martyn

Hello all! Another week, and sadly just one movie to review. It’s fair to say life seems to be busy recently, which is great! But I did have time to squeeze in one movie, so let’s have a natter about it! Let’s go!

Fast Girls (2012)

And the Americans get a lot of stick for being overly patriotic… On the surface, this film feels like pure positive propaganda for Team GB and the London 2012 Olympic Games, as this was released a mere 2 months before the games kicked off. And you know what, that’s fine. It’s not harming anyone for being overtly proud to be British and celebrating British talent. The premise is quite straightforward. A young girl in suburban London has a gift for running and just manages to qualify to be part of the national team for an upcoming sporting event (its not billed as the Olympics, but with all the hype it may as well be). She joins the team, but its run by a stuck up rich guy, whose posh daughter happens to be on the team and the two clash. It’s a classic clash of classes (try saying that three times fast) and it plays out exactly how you think it would. You could call it a spoiler, but essentially, they bicker, they fight, they settle their differences, find their common ground and make up. Painting by numbers people. Hell, the back of the DVD box has a shot that is the final shot of the movie, so if that isn’t a giveaway I don’t know what is! So is this film worth your time? Well, Noel Clarke is in it as the teams trainer. Now with Noel Clarke, I have loved his worked on projects such as the Hood Trilogy (Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood), where not only is he accurately able to portray these urban characters in such a realistic manner, but he’s able to take simple stories and make them much more interesting and dynamic. Sadly, he doesn’t do much of that here. Don’t get me wrong, his performance is still good and not ‘bad’ by any means, but the character he’s been given doesn’t have much to do or many places to go, running the typical ‘I’m a disgruntled trainer, and this is my last shot’. Also, the posh girl is played by a very young Lily James. Who would later rise to fame in films such as Cinderella (2015), Baby Driver (2017) and Darkest Hour (2017). So if you want to see one of her earlier performances on film, then you can do so here. Again, its nothing necessarily groundbreaking, but interesting nonetheless. Overall, yes this was probably made and released at a time when British morale was exceptionally high. The 2012 Olympics made us all feel proud and honoured to be British, and this film admirably does a good job at harnessing that pride. I’ll admit, I still felt a little proud when the girls win, and this is purely fictional! So its fair to say that the 2012 spirit the majority of us felt is still well and truly embedded within our subconscious. If you’ve got a spare 90 minutes, sit down, put your feet up, grab some snacks and drinks, and you can feel just as patriotic and proud all over again.

 

And sadly that is all for this week folks! I hope you enjoyed reading the review, checking out the trailer and potentially checking out the film for yourself! (Ohhhhh Britannia…) Again, hopefully next week we will have more films to review, and I’m aiming to do that. But of course, the busy cogs of life must come first. So there could just be one film, there could be more, we will just have to wait and see. Have a fantastic week going forward, and I’ll see you all next week!

Adam xx