"A Million Ways To Die In The West"

What can one say about Seth MacFarlane? Well despite what a disaster he made of hosting the Oscars, he would appear to have a love of the western. And that is the genre that is the setting for his latest comedy.
Albert is a sheep farmer, and he has never really amounted to much. Still living with his folks, but he does have the love of a good woman, Louise, well that is until she dumps him, feeling she can do better elsewhere. So he is feeling understandably low, that is until he meets Anna, who has just moved into town with her 'brother'. She brings him alive, but there is a inevitable downside. She is married, and not to just any old cowboy, but the most terrifying sadistic gunslinger this side of Dodge City, wonderfully played by Liam Neeson.

Will Albert prove his worth when challenged by Clinch in a duel?
How far can an unsheared sheep see?
And just how many cameos can you have in a movie?

All these questions and many more are answered with the comedic style that made "Ted" such the hit that it was. I have to be slightly critical of the fact that a lot of the laughs are seen in the trailer, but fret not as there is still plenty to laugh at. There is some toilet humour which is not for the faint hearted.
But as mentioned MacFarlane does seem to love the westen, as the opening features some stunning cinematography, huge credits done in the style of a 60's western, and a great score. During the scene you would almost be forgiven for thinking you were watching the wrong film.

If you have not seen the trailer, loved "Ted" and like a western, then there is no reason why you will not thoroughly enjoy this latest film, which MacFarlane, starred in, wrote, produced and Directed.
As mentioned there are some cameos to watch out for, and a nice little surprise.

A comedy with some good laughs and a nice western homage......7 out of 10

"X-Men Days of Future Past"

Following on from the events at the end of "The Wolverine", we find that the feuding mutants have joined forces, to try and do battle with an adversary that seems unstoppable.
The sentinels seem to be the all conquering opponent, and there is very little that the mutants can do to stop from having their kind destroyed.
So, in a plot reminiscent of a certain James Cameron film franchise, their aim is to go back in time and avert the creation of the Sentinels by killing their Creator.

It may sound like a brief overview but literally that is all there is to the film. Now the delivery is another matter. We see Wolverine step into his past, meeting up with younger versions of the characters that he knows so well from the current day. At this stage, in the past, there is still some animosity certainly between  Xavier and Magneto, and takes some effort from the others to get them to combine their powers.
There is an additonal strand to the story, and the possible repercussions of the timeline involving Mystique. It all adds to the wonder of this entertaining movie.

There is the whole question of whether the film breaks the rules of time travel, and I am sure if one sat down and gave it some thought it would all become clear as to whether it does. But then one could end up destroying the fun. Best not to think about it too much.
Bryan Singer returns to the Directors chair, and fashions these characters that he so wonderfully brought to life in the original film.

I do really enjoy seeing two great thespians like Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen on screen together. It is a real treat for any film fan. It is a shame that they have so little screen time. But at the end of the day the film is about the past.
As one would expect there are some excellent set pieces and action sequences, all delivered with great cinematic style, and a delight to watch. There is one stand-out sequence involving Quicksilver  when the gang are seemingly surrounded.
One of the few downsides is that there are so many mutant characters in the series, that as many of them appear in this new film, some have just so little screen time. I know that Wolverine is probably the most popular character, and he had rather taken over the francise, but it would be nice to have some expansion on some the other characters.

A fantastic, Xciting, Xcellent romp with great visuals, and a great cast.......8 out of 10

"Godzilla"

Toho Studios finest is back, and bigger than ever.

The most famous lizard ever to walk the cinema screen has returned.
Japan 1999, and at a dig site a most remarkable find, a truly huge set of bones have been uncovered. What could they possibly belong to?  But startling is that something is found and it is far from extinct, and making its way to the main land. Also there are tremors being felt within the grounds of a nuclear power plant. Concern is being raised by Scientist Joe Brody. His protestations go unheard, and it causes him much pain when he suffers personal loss during the quake. The area is evacuated, and many questions are left unanswered as the Powers that be try to cover what is really going on.

We then jump forward to the present day. Things have quietened down, or have they?  Scientist Brody is still getting into trouble with the Authorities, as he still is desperate to find out what happened all those years ago. In order to try and instill some sanity in him, his Son is sent for, who is currently serving with the Army as an Explosives expert. Son Ford tries to get his Dad to see that his efforts are futile and a waste of time, but somehow Brody manages to get both he and his Son back to the site of the Nuclear plant, where they do some investigating. They are promptly arrested for trespassing and taken to a secret area, wherever the full picture of what is happening is revealed. And this happens just as those pesky earth tremors reoccur. Is history about to repeat itself?

Within this compound is a creature, one that feeds on nuclear energy, and is very destructive. Its intentions are unclear, but it is not the only large creature walking the Earth. A large lizard from a time gone by is lurking within the waters, and its size is tremendous, and likewise its intentions are unknown. It is greatly feared but has been given a name appropriate for its legend and size, that of Godzilla.
The nuclear feeding creature is making its way to Nevada, and the full picture becomes clear, in that it is not alone, there is another one of its kind, and its intention is to breed. Fortunately for mankind, Godzilla is aware of this, and this is why he is walking the planet to save humanity from possible death and destruction.

I had the great pleasure of seeing the film on the IMAX screen, and whilst the 3D aspect is not that enthralling, the overall film and sound quality were really enhanced.
As a lover of 70's disaster movies, it is like a dream of a movie. I grew up watching both the old Godzilla movies, and yes I also watched the cartoon series. So to see this new imagining of the legendary creature is a real delight. There are many great action sequences, plus lots of disaster based  scenarios.
There are varying results from ther cast. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is ok as the Army Bomb expert, but his character is one of the very few minor weak points of the film. The more mature members of the cast really shine, the likes of Juliette Binoche and Bryan Cranston are doing sterling work. But one shines above all others. And he is the remarkable Japanese actor Ken Wattanabe, who turns out high quality performances which each film he does. He gives the film some real gravitas, and an air of class.

Gareth Edwards wonderfully fills the Directors chair with air of confidence of someone who has been directing for many years, let alone the few films that he has made.
Key to the success of the film is the visual aspect, the effects are universally top notch, and a delight to see. Both the creatures and the destruction they create are wonderfully realised. These images coupled with thunderous sound and a great score make for a fun two hours at the cinema.

Godzilla IS back, and those dreadful memories of 1998 are long forgotten.....9 out of 10

"The Book Thief"

Liesel is a young girl, on her way to live with new adoptive parents. Having already experienced loss at a young age, with the passing of her younger brother, she now is to start a life with new parents as her mother wishes her to be safe from the clutches of the Nazis.
She is introduced to Hans and Rosa, the two very different from each other, he being the one she can relate to, laugh with, and Rosa is a stern german housewife. As the war starts, the Nazis begin their campaign, keen to exterminate all material that they believe makes unclean their way of life, and so destroy books by the library load.
Initially unable to read, Liesel is taught by her adoptitive father, and not only does her learning grow but as a person too. She befriends Rudy, a young german boy. But she meets another young man, when Hans and Rosa take into hiding Max, the son of a close friend of Hans's. With his being a Jew, he must remain out of sight, or put at risk the whole family.
With her knowledge increasing, so does Liesel's need to read more books. She visits the wife of a local German official whilst returning some clothing that Rosa has ironed. She discovers shelves of books, and is allowed to visit and to read, but soon the arrangement comes to an end. So Liesel uses her initiative and 'borrows' a book every now and then.
The books become important not only for her enjoyment, but she passes that enjoyment on to others whether to Max when he becomes ill, or to all the townfolk as they huddle for safety in the air raid shelter as the bombs drop.

Initially I thought that the film was a sedate story, seeming to not want to show anything too graphic or anything too harrowing. But the real beauty comes from the that we grow to love and care about the characters in the film, especially the main family members. We really take them into our hearts, and that is because of the great performances from Oscar favourites Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson, and also from newcomers like Sophie Nelisse and Nico Liersch who do brilliant work for actors so young.
I was quite taken aback by the Narrator, it was very much the surprise, but nicely done, and beautifully delivered by Roger Allam.

The film has beautiful cinematography and has a first class score courtesy of the legend that is John Williams. A delight for the ear and haunting in equal measure.
If one feels that this is a PG13 version of the war, then it most certainly saves its emotional punch for the finale. Certainly it was unexpected, brilliantly done, and had this viewer in tears. And the reason is again back to well written characters, who you take an interest in, its the heart of any movie.

An ending that you won't forget, and a film you won't forget.........9 out of 10.

"Plastic"

The Gilbey Brothers bring us their latest film, which is based on a remarkable true story.

Sam and his little band of followers do well for themselves. Are they really good at the commodities market?  Have they got that one item to sell that no-one else has? Do they provide a service which is in great demand?  No. They commit credit card fraud. They steal peoples card data, and then by cloning the cards they go on a huge spending spree, and then sell the items and enjoy the cash.
When pulling off one particular job, they just happen to rip off the wrong guy, as he is an accountant for a rather unpleasant gangster, Marcel. The team are given a choice of producing a few million pound to appease his wrath, or run the risk of losing vital parts of their anatomy before ending up six feet under.

So in order to put right what they have done because of card fraud, they decide to rectify by doing card fraud, but on a grand scale. Initially they plan to make enough money to get Marcel off their backs, but then a plan comes to mind to sort him, and to set them all up for life.

Can they pull off the biggest job and save their lives? Or does the old saying that crime never pays ring true?

This is a distinctly average film. I would love to know how much of the film is based on fact, and how much has been doctored to appeal to the movie going audience. Its like an empty present, it looks pretty on the outside but it pretty disappointing when you open the box to find nothing there.
Out of the cast, Will Poulter shines above all his fellow members, and the film is well photographed.
I suppose I had high expectations, given that the Gilbey brothers previous film was "A Lonely Place To Die"  (Review available on here), and I rank this is a truly exceptional thriller. So it is a shame that this new effort barely gets close to that earlier movie.

Ok, but that is as exciting as one gets.......5 out of 10

"Pompeii 3D"

As a lover of the disaster movies of the 1970's, this was must see viewing for me. Now given what I have seen in the trailer, and given that it is Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, I had a feeling that I would not be getting a history lesson, and that it may be best to leave my brain in the foyer.

And indeed if one does that, then this may be a relatively entertaining visit.

The film opens with an attack on a British village by the Romans. All are believed to have been killed. But one young boy has survived, and as is understandable he seeks revenge. He is captured and ends up in slavery. Eventually he finds his way to Italy, and over the years he trains and is seen as a decent Gladiator. His skills are to be shown in the arena, during a tournament, which will be the showcase of a visit by a noble Senator. Local Business man Severus wants to show off the beauty of Pompeii so that the Senate in Rome will finance the building of a huge Colliseum in Pompeii. But Senator Corvus had designs on the daughter of Severus. And the daughter, Cassia, and Slave cum Gladiator Milo have designs on each other. And all this whilst there are rumblings from the local hilltop. Could it be a sign of things to come?

Milo and new best friend Atticus are proving popular in the arena, but Romans are wanting to end their popular reign. Will Milo get the girl?  Will Severus get his new Colliseum? Will the mountain blow its top?
Certainly the answer to the last question is an emphatic yes, and in great cinematic style. The whole look of the film is very good, from mean and moody shots of a rainy Britain, what changes, to the lavish look of Pompeii. And of course when Vesuvius erupts, the visual effects go up a notch or two.
The plot is a sideline to the effects driven finale. It is ok but is never going to win any writing awards. The characters again are average, the cast do a good job of making them two dimensional. Sutherland is hamming it up for all its worth and is good fun.

It does get a little proposterous towards the end, but hey, as I said, leave your brain at the door, and you may just enjoy it, but it's not Dante's Peak........6 out of 10

"Sabotage"

One of Austria's finest exports is back, with another attempt to resurrect his career, after a few failed attempts, following his departure as Governor of California. Barring his appearances in "The Expendables" film series, nothing really has sparked the imagination. Can this be the film to change all that?

Arnold leads a team of gruff DEA operatives, who are well known for infiltrating drug organisations, and then taking them down, and confiscating both their products and money. They have a top notch reputation. But they decide that their salary is not sufficient for the work they put in, so as a group they decide to skim a little off the top of a huge pile of cash, hide it securely on site, and then return when the coast is clear.
The group make the return visit, only to find the cash is gone, and a message left, indicating that all is not as it seems. Soon enough the team find themselves under investigation. They are cleared of all charges but suspicion rests on their shoulders.
But just as they think all is fine and dandy, some of their group start getting killed. The finger naturally points at the Cartel whose money they stole. So the race to survive ensues....

Am afraid that yet again, Arnie has failed to ignite the boxoffice with this dire and tired film. The story is in no way engaging, most of the characters are pretty unpleasant, and it has so little going for it. There are some nice camera angles, and Olivia Williams is always worth watching, though why on earth she is in such an awful film baffles me.
Well, by my count, this is Arnie's third turkey in a row, whether he is not getting quality scripts anymore, or whether he is making bad decisions on what to make I do not know. But clearly the days when he could command the film world are clearly over.

Given the Directing and Writing talent involved, this should have been far better.......4 out of 10