"Glass" (Preview Screening)

Who would have thought that almost 20 years after the release of the smash hit "Unbreakable" that we would now be watching this third film in the planned trilogy?
I have to say that I never knew that this was planned as a trilogy. The first inkling I got was possibly like many others when seeing the very closing shots of "Split" and the surprise appearance of 'David Dunn', the Bruce Willis character from "Unbreakable".

The two worlds of "Unbreakable" and "Split" collide as we see characters from both films all gear up for the battle of Good Vs Evil, David trying to track down 'The Beast', one of the many split personalities of Kevin Wendall Crumb.
Entering into the fray is 'Doctor Ellie Staple', who believes that she can explain away the so called super powers of Kevin, David and Elijah Price.

Are these three characters deluded and that there is nothing actually at all special about them?
Do they actually possess great powers?

I am not sure whether I missed any reference to when the film is set in relation to "Split" but I read one review which said it was four weeks later, so let's go with that.
David has his own Home Security firm, and is working with his Son, Joseph, and in a nice touch the role is reprised by Spencer Treat Clark, who I always thought gave an astonishing performance in "Unbreakable". They are trying to track down 'The Beast' as four local girls are missing. Using his powers, David does indeed find Kevin, but before a showdown ensues they are both apprehended by the authorities, and put in an institution, under the charge of 'Doctor Staple', along with 'Elijah Price'.
The remainder of the film is pretty in the grounds of the Hospital as the good Doctor tries to explain away their powers. And yes it can get a bit bogged down at times, but one always gets a sense that there will be a big pay-off, that unfortunately never comes.
It is hard to go into too much detail without giving away key plot details.Samuel L. Jackson has recently said that due to world events that the original ending was changed. Would that have improved the finale?  Guess we'll never know.

One thing is certain is that once again James McAvoy gives an astonishing performance. It's not just about finding the right voice and characteristics for each of this personalities, but he changes his body language too in the flick of a switch. It's really impressive to watch. Sadly Willis and Jackson are given very little to do, both performances pale to what we saw in "Unbreakable".

It's a good film, and worth watching for McAvoy alone, and nice to see Willis and Treat Clark together again, but does it have a twist ending?????
I won't shatter your expectations, you need to go see the film......6 out of 10

"A Good Day to Die Hard"

All insurance companies beware, John McClane is back.

Once upon a time, there was a film franchise, it looked at the every day antics of of a New York Police Officer, and the unfortunate turn of events that would plague his life. This film series was not only well Directed, but had a cracking story, excellent action sequences, was well photographed, and was an all round excllent collection of movies. Then six years ago it all went horribly wrong....

I am of course referring to "Die Hard". We had three wonderful movies from 1988 to 1995, and then someone had the bright idea to bring McClane back with "Die Hard 4.0", and oh my it was a dire effort. It was dreadful, and not a worthy addition.

Jump forward to 2013 and New York's finest is back in business, and this time in Russia. Not seeming the kind of man to be taking a vacation, he is actually there as his Son has been arrested and is involved in a plot to steal nuclear material. Father and Son are reunited and all hell breaks loose.
Quite early on there is a major vehicle chase, and though it is action packed, it has to rank with "Quantum of Solace" as having one of the worst photographed chases in film history. The Camera is just too close. This gives little or no opportunity to take in and enjoy what is happening on screen. Yet even when there are just dialogue scenes, a characters face, and I mean just above forehead to the chin, fills the screen. I have heard of in your face but this was bloody ridiculous. I do not know what compels some Cinematographers to shoot in this style, it is so unnecessary, and all it does is infuriate the viewer, and this one in particular. You only have to look at the work of past Masters of the Camera, like Peter Menzies, Oliver Wood and the main man Jan De Bont, all knew exactly what to do with a Camera and give the best visuals to the audience. Alas Jonathan Sela, who has been ear-marked as a Cinematographer of the Future, should give up and try another aspect of Cinema, as he clearly sucks as a DP. Editing also plays a key factor, and so for that Dan Zimmerman must take full blame, as his work is appalling.

The plot is laughable, the characters dull, McClane has been made into some kind of unstoppable, unbeatable, unbreakable Super Hero, despite all that he goes through, he only seems to suffer with superficial cuts and bruises etc. At least in the earlier movies, he was an ordinary having an unordinary day. Far from the case here. The additional characters fair no better, the villain is the worst there has been, and the relationship between Father and Son is tedious.

Die Hard should now just be allowed to die, as the once excellent franchise has become a joke, especially when comparing now to its former glory. Roderick Thorp would be shaking his head in shame.......3 out of 10

"Looper"

I said in a recent review for the Joseph Gordon-Levitt film "Premium Rush" that I hoped that "Looper" would restore our faith in his ability to pick pleasing film projects....after watching "Looper" our faith is well and truly restored.

I will endeavour to do my best in describing the plot of the movie, without hopefully making it sound too complicated.
In the year 2074, time travel is a possibility, however it has been declare illegal, as the criminal fraternity have been using the process for the own gain. To put a stop to the use of time travel, a team has been assembled, and they send those caught time travelling back in time 30 years, where a looper is waiting to kill the criminal and dispose of the body.
'Joe' is one of the team of loopers who has this task. The team was assembled by 'Abe' who has come back in time with the necessary know how to put it all into practice.

The only problem for Joe is that his latest victim is his future self, not an uncommon practice, but still it can be unsettling for the looper, and some are not always able to carry out the hit. And that very sutuation happens here, so now we have two Joes to contend with. Each having their own agenda. Older Joe has travelled back to deal with 'the Rainmaker' a terrorist running riot in his time, his aim to travel back and kick him but as a child.

The stories being told by the respective characters are all equally compelling. We get a wonderful look at the future, beautifully recreated, in both visual effects, and also production design.  The stories all start to converge when the three main protagonists meet on a farm, run by Sara, a young mother, whose Son has some unique abilities. Could he be 'the rainmaker'?  One thing is for certain, is that it builds to a very memorable finale.

All performances in the film are great, but I have to give a special mention to Pierce Gagnon, who plays 'Cid', the young boy. He is truly amazing, at times moving, and then other times he is truly chilling. For such a young actor to this give this level of performance is remarkable.

Yes there are plot holes in the film the size of the national debt in Greece, but for anyone who loves fantasy of science fiction, this is a film to be loved, as they seldom get as good as this. A real delight to watch.......9 out of 10.

"The Expendables 2"

That motley crew of mostly 80's has beens returns for another action packed outing with "The Expendables 2".

The first film did moderate business at the box office. In their hey day, any one of the lead stars could have doubled the takings had they been at the height of their box office power. But times have changed almost thirty years have passed. The stars are looking older. But can they still walk the walk?

The answer is a resounding yes, they most certainly can.
For me in some respects this movie has something fundamental in common with "The Avengers Assemble ",a film that came out earlier this year. The storyline of the film is of little consequence, as its only purpose is to bring this group of characters together for some action packed fun. At the end of the day you are not paying for an Oscar winning Screenplay, you are paying to see some of biggest action stars of the 1980's together for the first and possibly only time ever. I say first time, as there are the same actors from the first film here again, with a few new additions to the cast.

Church is the man who assigns the missions to Barney Ross and his team of Expendables. Church feels that the team let him down after their previous mission did not go the way he had hoped. And he feels that he is owed one by the group. So he assigns Ross and Co. to venture off to track down a fallen plane, the hold of which contains a safe and within the safe is a device which contains the location of a huge haul of plutonium, and the mission is to get the device before anyone gets their hands on it.
Before we even get to this part of the film, there is a brilliant action packed opening sequence, where the team are sent to retrieve a kidnapped Asian business man, and his rescuer, who has also been kidnapped. Cue a great start to this movie.
As mentioned, there some new names in the cast, ranging in age from a sprightly 22 to a geriatric 72. Though not naming any names.

As one would expect, the plan to obtain the device does not go to plan, and it soon is in the hands of chief villain 'Villain', as played by the Muscles from Brussels himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Nice to see him back on screen.
Thankfully the major improvement from the first movie is that both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis are given more screen time. There are also a couple of surprises along the way, both take place within the first 30 minutes of the film.

I have to say that as much as I was looking forward to seeing JCVD on screen, the biggest surprise was Chuck Norris. He is someone that has never really made an impact on me, but he is given a great entrance, and plays his scenes very well. There are some good in film gags, involving several of the actors on screen. This provided quite a bit of humour.

Revenge is sought by The Expendables, I won't explain why, as I do not wish to ruin the film, but this is when the cavalry arrives in the shape of 'Church' played by Bruce Willis, and 'Trench' played by Arnold Schwarzengger. It all leads to a huge shoot-out in an Airport. All the big players are there, armed to the teeth, doing what they do best. And this is what your admission ticket is for. It really is quite a spectacular sequence, brilliantly executed, with a bit of humour, but just seeing these great faces from the 80's, killing everything in sight, one more time. Fantastic.

EXciting.....EXplosive....EXactly what makes a great trip to the Cinema......8 out 10

PS - At the time of writing this review, the film is the second week of its release, and has suffered at the Box Office, but so has every other major film on release in the US. More the timing than the film, but I hope it makes enough money to give Lionsgate and Millenium the incentive to make "The Expendables 3". We so need to see the likes to Wesley Snipes and Steven Seagal in the third film. Fingers crossed.

"The Cold Light of Day"

Will Shaw is a man with problems. The firm he owns is about to go belly up, and despite wanting to stay at home and try to rescue his firm from financial disaster, he has to endure a far worse fate. Having to spend the weekend on board a yacht with his family. Clearly there are some family tensions.
When tensions get the better of Will, he heads to the mainland. He makes his way back to the yacht, but it is not where it should be, and also his family are all missing.

The local Police provide no help whatsoever, in fact they wish to hand him over to a gangster, who will do lord knows what with him. But in the struggle he is helped by his Father, played by Bruce Willis. It transpires that his Father Martin works for the CIA, and has in his possession a briefcase with sensitive and a whole host of nasty characters want to get their hands on it, including his Superiors, who come in the guise of Sigourney Weaver.

What follows is a travesty of a film, with below par dialogue, a mess of a story, lots of car chases, shooting, bad acting, in all a general mess of a film. The camera work at times can induce vomitting, in fact so can many other aspects of this film.
The cast member I feel most sorry for is Sigourney Weaver, she should give real consideration to firing her agent, what with this following "Abduction", she really needs some decent material to work with.
Aside from the hope that the new "Die Hard" movie will erase the memory of the dire "Die Hard 4.0", maybe Mr. Willis should consider retiring, as he clearly is suffering from a similar fate to that of Miss. Weaver, and given that he is 67, the action roles will not exactly be flying in his direction.
And my only hope is that Henry Cavill can do a far better job with the new "Superman" franchise that what he has displayed here.

A mess, save your time, your money, and your sanity......3 out of 10