"San Andreas" - Special Preview Screening

It has been said in these reviews before, but for those who may not know, I am a huge fan of the Disaster movies of the 1970's. Leave me watching a Blu Ray of either "The Towering Inferno" or "Earthquake" and I am a very happy man.

And the latter of those two classics is an apt choice, given this film from Warner Bros. and New Line, as it is a modern take on that classic Earth trembling story.
Back in 1974 we had our lead couple (Charlton Heston & Ava Gardner) on the brink of divorce. A Building Designer (Lorne Greene) looking to add a new addition to the Los Angeles skyline. And at the Seismology Institute, impending disaster is predicted by a top Scientist (Kip Niven) but the warnings go unheeded.

We jump forward 41 years, (Wow has it really been that long), and very little has changed. Our Hero Ray is estranged from his Wife Emma, Ioan Gruffudd is in the process of building the biggest skyscraper in San Francisco, and Paul Giamatti predicts a disaster on an epic level.

So as you can see all the boxes have been ticked. Whenever watching a film of this nature I am always very weary, as I usually expect it to literally be a disaster, as was the case with "2012". But from the opening moments, we see nature at its most devastating. As a series of small but deadly quakes rock both Los Angeles and San Francisco, Ray does all he can to rescue both his estranged Wife and also his daughter Blake. The human element is brilliantly done with this family, and also with Blake in that coming to her moment of need are two young British lads, two Brothers, one of whom is applying for a job in Gruffudd's new Offices.

Understandably the biggest difference between this film and the 1974 classic is the visuals, and oh my word they are truly awesome. But where "2102" got it so wrong, with some ridiculous set pieces, this film has the right level of believability, and also maintaining a high level of suspense. Yes the action does the increase the old heart rate.
Leading the battle against Mother Nature is Dwayne Johnson as Ray, our Hero, and again perfectly played and written. He may look larger than life, but he is not an over the top death defying man of action, he is a credible Helicopter Pilot, just doing all he can to save his family, and Johnson excels in the role. Daddario and Gugino are also really good as the the ladies in his life.
Paul Giamatti adds to the cast with his performance as Seismologist Lawrence, who sees early on in the film what devastation it can cause during a trip to the Hoover Dam. We also have a guest cameo from a certain Songstress.  Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Art Parkinson are totally charming as the two British brothers, in fact Parkinson comes close to stealing the show with a really great performance.

A rousing score comes courtesy of Andrew Lockington, but a tip of the hat to Director Brad Peyton for bringing all the key elements together, and achieving a first class Disaster movie, one of a high standard that we have not seen for some time.
There are going to be both IMAX and 4DX screenings, and I would strongly urge to see the film in this format. With this being a preview screening, it was a traditional screen room, but rest assured come the weekend, I will be seeing it again on the IMAX.

See it...........feel it.................love it......9 out of 10

"Mad Max: Fury Road"

I have to this review by saying that I am not in any way a fan of the original movies. So I suppose it begs the question, why on earth am I watch this new film?

The future, a post apocalyptic desolate wasteland. Pretty much nothing but sand, where very litttle grows. Roaming the sand dunes are gangs of psychotic tribes, driving around in the most bizarre vehicles.
Immortan Joe rules, he controls the people, the supply of water, and rages a constant battle for fuel. Battling all this is Max, a former Police Officer, who has lost his wife and daughter, and now battles his own demons as well.

To answer my original question, when I saw the trailer, I was stunned by the visuals, which looked quite amazing. Also I felt that enough time had passed since having seen the original movies, that it was time to reacquaint myself with Mad Max and the world he is from. It must be 20 years since I last saw a Mad Max film, and I would be quite happy for the same amount of time to pass by before I see, if I see another one.

As a piece of entertainment, I cannot see what there is to be entertained by. The visuals are at times quite remarkable but it is so not enough to warrant 120 minutes of viewing. I just see what the point of the film is, just like the originals. Tom Hardy is a great actor, and is woefully underused. I would say that Charlize Theron has the better role.

The film is as barron as the wasteland that it is set in.............4 out of 10

"The Age of Adaline"

Having watched "Big Game", and a load of tosh, here we have the second film from my double bill, and another load of tosh. And yet it is still a highly enjoyable and entertaining movie.

Adaline was born at the beginning of the 20th Century and given that we are now in the current day, she looks as good now as she did 80 years ago. The reason being is that having been involved in a car accident, she then finds herself being struck by lightning. A remarkable thing happens in that her body stops ageing. To start with this causes very few problems, but as the years start to pass by, it becomes increasingly difficult for her to explain away the fact that she not getting any older. She is a Mother, and now the two are more like Sisters than Mother & Daughter. So she puts a plan into actio, as she has Federal Agents investigating her. She has up move away and start a new life, changing her identity, and leaving her Daughter to carry on her own life. So with that, every 10 years, she brings her current identity to an end, and moves on, to start again.

There are inevitable downsides to this way of life. She misses out on being present during her Daughters latter years, and can never be involved in a long term relationship. She had been close to someone, many years ago, but brought to an end, but things got really heavy.
She is once again getting ready to start another new life, when she meets Ellis. They have a couple of dates but Adaline is determined to move on. But Ellis is equally persistant, and over the course of time she forms quite the attachment to him.

For me. the key as to why the film is so likeable is that the characters are so well written, and equally well played by a great cast, especially main leads Blake Lively and Michiel Huisman. You do care about what happens to them, and those around them,. It is a wonderful quality that Lively has that makes you believe 100% that here is a woman who has lived throughtout the last 100 years or so.
It is also especially nice to see the likes of veterans like Ellen Burstyn (Flemming, Adaline's Daughter) and Harrison Ford (William, Ellis's Father) on screen, and must not forget Kathy Baker who also gives a great performance playing Ellis's mother.

I had a feeling it would be a good film, but like "Big Game", was very surprised how much I enjoyed it. The Mother relationship is at the heart of the movie, as much as the one between Adaline and Ellis. And provides for some moving moments.

Nice to see a mature movie, with strong characters and a great story........7 out of 10

"Big Game"

With no disrespect to Mr. Jackson, I was not expecting a great deal from this movie. In fact I was expecting to be giving it a very low score.  But I like the fact that movies still can surprise one.

US President William Moore is not particularly popular. He may even rival President G.W. Bush for his lack of fans. That being said, he is still heading to Helsinki, for a pre G8 Summit meeting. With him is his trusty Head of Secret Service, who is shortly due to retire due to being hit by a bullet, intended for the President.

Meanwhile, in a small village in Finland, a small group of villagers are congregating for their rites of passage event. This occurs when a boy turns 13. Hunting and fishing are the main pastimes, and even way of life within the village. And turning 13 is the moment that the village send a boy out into the forests, and see if he returns a man. He is sent to test kis skills with bow and arrow, see what the forest offers him, and what he can bring back as a trophy. Though given his size, many of the villagers believe he will fail. He hopes to prove them wrong.

Air Force One is making its way over Finland, and during the journey there is an attack from some nasty looking terrorists who are ground based, and have launched a missile at the Presidents plane. Following usual protocols, the President is evacuated in an escape pod, and Special Agents are not far behind, jumping out with parachutes. The only problem is that there is there is someone on the inside helping the terrorists, and the President will soon find himself alone, in Finland, with little help.
And that little helps in the form of Oskari, and his trusty bown and arrow, though his proficiency at it is somewhat lacking. They must not only tackle the elements but deal with the terrorists.

As it sounds, it is complete tosh, but I have to say I found it highly entertaining. It is one of those films where no brain is required. But what did prove to be the biggest surprise was Onni Tommila, who not only gives a really good performance, but his character is the most engaging and interesting of the film. It is fascinating to see him on screen, and how he plays him, and also the relationship he has with his Father, and how he is perceived by his fellow villagers.
And naturally Mr. Jackson is as pleasing as ever, though with it being a 12A, it is a little short on his usual level of cursing !!
There is also a rather unusual piece of casting regarding Jim Broadbent as a CIA Analyst, and during his role he does the most un-Jim Broadbent-ly thing I have ever witnessed (Did that make sense?)

I know that there have been some damning reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, and regard my time at the Cinema reasonably well spent.....................6  out of 10

"Spooks The Greater Good" - Special Preview Screening

For ten glorious years "Spooks" reigned supreme on British Television, ranking as one of the very best shows to come from the BBC, or any other channel for that matter.

Now the spy show gets the big screen treatment, as we see the great Peter Firth back as 'Sir Harry Pearce', head of MI5, trying to prevent an imminent terrorist attack in London.

The film opens with a transported Prisoner being freed, much to the huge embarrassment of MI5. The powers that be are looking for heads to roll, and top of the list is Section D Chief, Sir Harry Pearce. For many he is seen as a relic of the Cold War, and long past his prime, others think that MI5 itself is long overdue for being put out to pasture.
With his beloved organisation in tatters as it picks up the pieces of losing their prized terrorist prisoner, Pearce goes it alone to try and make amends. He knows that key information was given out by someone at the highest authority. So we have an escaped terrorist on the loose, a Traitor walking the corridors of power, and a rogue MI5 Chief on the run.
MI5 Director General Oliver Mace, brilliantly played by Tim McInnerny, knows he needs a suitable Spy to find Pearce, so brings on board decommissioned agent Will Holloway, who has connections with Pearce. So Holloway sets off to bring back the disgraced Chief to account for his actions, and also try and prevent a major terrorist atrocity in the very heart of London.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge "Spooks" fan, in fact in the run up to this movie release, I have been revisiting the ten series from the BBC. And as a huge fan, it does pain me somewhat to say that the film does not recapture the magic and brilliance of the show. It is good, and it is especially pleasing to see Peter Firth back in his most famous role, and that is always a bonus, but it fell somewhat short of some of the exemplary episodes that we got to enjoy, and this is surprising given that the film is written by Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent, who penned the final series of "Spooks", and this tenth season showcased it as its very best.
For a show that seemed to show all that was great about being a Spy, we see very little of it evident here. In fact it would be a case of why not to be a Spy. Given the increased budget for the film, against what was spent on the show, there is little evidence that the boat has been pushed out. For me the show truly exceled with some remarkable end of series cliffhangers, involving some spectacular storylines, and you would think with this movie, they would at least try and get to that level of entertainment or even top it, but sadly no. There are a few tense moments but to especially get the pulse racing.
Yes there are connections to the shows past, with key figures from the last series working alongside Sir Harry, and there is the return of an old friend, and of course I will not reveal who it is here, Top Secret !! But apart from Sir Harry, they are all sidelined for new boy Will Holloway, and there is where some of the problem lies. As much as Kit Harington may be pleasing on the eye, he is not Spooks material. You look at those that have gone before him. Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Penry Jones, Hermione Norris, Richard Armitage, and I am afraid that he is not in the same league. I don't know whether having the longer hair was due to continuity on "Game of Thrones" but there is a scene where he ties it up at the back, not a good look.

There have certainly been far better episodes of the show than this feature length movie, and if I am truly honest, if the plan is to start a series of movies, then I do not see it getting past this first film. 
When myself and a friend learned of the film, from Peter Firth, a few years ago, we were very excited. Then to see it come to fruition, even more so. But after the journey, it feels like a very different "Spooks" to the one I remember and loved......7 out of 10