"The Expendables 3"

Ever since this film was green lit and went into production, I have been eagerly counting down the days to seeing this third in the franchise.
I must say that I was in complete awe and amazement that Stallone managed to get Harrison Ford to appear in the movie, and real coup for sure. And the other new 'mature' cast members are also quite impressive.

The film opens with a big style prison break. Well a movie train prison break, as former Expendable 'Doc' is being transferred, and his former colleagues want him back to join the group, so they engineer an audacious prison break from a heavily armoured and well manned train. There are more than a few passing nods to a cast members recent incarceration !!!
With 'Doc' safely out of Prison, the gang head on to a simple matter of an arms deal, all is going fine until the dealer arrives. It turns out to be 'Conrad Stonebanks', former Co-Founder of The Expendables, and longtime nemesis of Barney Ross, who believed his former friend was dead, by his hand. But he is very much alive, and now Stonebanks aims to make the group history. With one of the crew in Hospital, and Trench being sidelined, Ross has to decide what course of action to take, and deal with his new boss, Drummer (Ford). Ross believes that given the suicide nature of the mission, he does not want to endanger the lives of his best friends, so goes it alone, but hiring some new blood, some younger carefree blood, with the help of 'Bonaparte' (Grammer). So with a new team in place, and they bringing technology and know how way over Ross's head, they head after Stonebanks.
All goes well, in fact a little too well. And soon Ross and the team are attacked, and he is left for dead.
The Fed's are not too happy that Ross has once again failed to deliver his arch nemesis. But they find the location that Stonebanks is holding his young team, and Ross heads off, and has a few extra passengers!!
This all leads to the big finale showdown, and what an action packed piece it is. One of the biggest finales I have ever seen, it really is quite something, but how does this compare with the rest of the film?

As much as I really wanted to love this movie as much as I did the second one, it is not in the same league. The biggest issue I have is that it does not feel like an Expendables movie. It is a nice idea having the new young blood, now whether it was the idea to have them permanantly take over, or that they would need rescuing by the older members that Ross leaves behind I do not know, but the whole fun of the first two films was this gang of aged characters, working together, the great banter, and these great names from the 1980's all on screen together. And that chemistry is well and truly lost here.I appreciate that the elder cast are not getting any younger and may find it difficult to the more action packed or stunt related work, so maybe did they they go a film too far?
The main body of the original expendables are benched for the main centre of the film. Blink and you miss the likes of Jet Li and Robert Davi.
I also have to say that one the biggest letdowns is Mel Gibson as 'Stonebanks'. I cannot decide whether we cannot relate to him as a villain, or that he is just not nasty enough. A huge step down from the brilliant Jean Claude Van Damme in the second movie.

There are some things to enjoy. The opening prison break is great, as is the follow on job. The hugely action packed finale is worth watching. And there is, as ever, a great score from Brian Tyler.

If there is to be a fourth film, and judging by the newly released opening box office takings that will be a HUGE IF, then they need to take the film back to the style of the second. If they cannot fulfil a film with mature leads, and recreate that great  banter and in-film jokes, then maybe it is best to leave the franchise at three films.

Good but much room for improvement.....7 out of 10

RIP - Robin Williams - A Tribute

I have to say that this is one tribute I did not expect to be writing just yet. Despite some personal demons, Robin Williams was always someone who struck me as being so full of life.
A short while ago we Brits said goodbye to one of our Comedy legends, gone all too soon, when we said farewell to Rik Mayall. Now America has lost one of its truest comedy talents.

For fans of Cinema or Comedy it is a very sad day. To lose someone who has given so much to the World of Entertainment is always upsetting, but he really did go too soon.
From those early beginnings on "Mork & Mindy", to Oscar winning success, he really was an incredible talent. Initially best known for film Comedy roles, but he did eventually move into drama and gave some quite remarkable performances.
Anyone who has seen either "Insomnia" or "One Hour Photo" will know what I am referring to. Such dark and powerful peformances, in roles that you remember long after leaving the Cinema.

As a Stand-Up comedian, there are few who could equal his humour, his energy, his love of what he did. I have seen numerous routines that he did, and you cry with laughter time and time again.

Of his varied career, there are many highpoints. His tremendous success in "Mrs. Doubtfire" was rightly deserved. Strong performances in films like "Goooooooooood Morning Vietnam", "Awakenings, and a personal favourite of mine, and one I think he should have won the Oscar for, namely "Dead Poets Society".
He did however win a Supporting Actor Oscar, and rightly so for his work on "Good Will Hunting". I can picture now host Billy Crystal beaming with such pride as his best friend gets the Award. It was a moving moment, and a great Oscar celebration.
There are so many great movies, and some which were not as beloved by others, but I still love all the same, films like "Jack", "Father's Day" and I loved seeing him in the remake of "The Birdcage".

As a fan of Parkinson, the appearances by Robin Williams on the show, are now the stuff of legend, even managing to upstage Stephen Fry.

As we shed tears at your all too early passing, we know that heaven will soon be full with tears of laughter. You entertained us, you made us laugh and cry in equal measure. You are a one off, and someone we will never EVER forget. RIP Robin......"Nanu, Nanu"

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Special Preview Screening

Ten long winters have gone by since the events of the first film. Things have considerably calmed down. The virus has really taken its toll against the humans.
The apes have created their own colony in the woods and forests that surround San Francisco, and given that they have had little contact with the humans, believe that they could be all alone once more.

But things are about to change. There are some humans who have become resistant to the virus and have survived. The few that remain continue to exist but their fuel supply is rapidly disappearing, and their only hope is a water hydro dam. The only problem is that it is located within the very forests populated by the apes. During an investigatory visit there is an altercation and an ape is shot and killed. Naturally this rather agrivates the apes. They go to the humans and tell them they remain in the City, and the apes remain in the forests.

Malcolm knows the great need for restoring electricity, and so sets off to see Caesar, and see if there is anything that can be done, but he also knows full well that if he fails in the task, Dreyfus will take the stockpile of automatic weapons that they have, and wage war on the apes.

Willing to know why the humans want access to the forest area, Caesar allows Malcolm to show him what is needed, and why it is so vital. Caesar seess this as an opportunity, if he gives the humans access to the dam, once the work is done, they will go and leave them in peace, as he knows that outgun the apes.
But this willingness to move on is seen as weakness by some of the other apes, especially by Koba, and even his own Son. Koba has visited the City and has seen first hand the arsenal of weapons at the humans disposal. But it seems that trust between both parties is very hard to gain and so very easy to lose. Koba knows that he has a hard battle to instill his views on Caesar, so does the only thing he can, and that is, in an apt Brutus style moment, take down his leader and blame the humans, thus insighting the apes to declare war.
But the Apes are not the only ones to be dealing with a power struggle, as Malcolm and Dreyfus  do battle. One trying to avert war, and the other keen to destroy all the Apes.

It is fascinating seeing how the Apes have developed, and how much the different characters have been fleshed out. They are brought to life by some truly awesome visual effects. Caesar once again is brilliantly given life and breath by Andy Serkis.Oldman and Russell are decent enough in their respective roles. Clarke is great as Malcolm, one who is keen to both protect the humans, and see no harm befall the Apes.
There is however some predicatability with the film, which means that it does pale somewhat at the side of the first film, which was far more unnerving and more compelling.

But it is still a decent movie. And according to internet sources, a third film has been greenlit.

Monkey business well worth watching........7 out of 10

"The Fault In Our Stars"

Right from the start, you get the message. This is going to be no sickly sweet young teen romance story, nor will it end happily, but what is clear is that this is a well made movie, and it is evident why it has taken the box office by storm.

Hazel is a young girl dealing with cancer. In order for her to get out of the house, and also to try and express what she is feeling, she goes to a Cancer support group, more to apease her parents than anything. The head of the group is a God loving nut, and she clearly finds it tiresome attending. But there could be some entertainment from winding up one of the newest members, Gus, who has come partly for himself, as he too has cancer, but mainly he is accompanying his partially sighted friend Issac.
Hazel finds Gus to be very cocky, and she takes pleasure in having fun with a battle of words with him. But soon a friendship does develope. They find out more about each other, discovering each others likes, trading books. Which leads Hazel to lend Gus a book which she regards as her bible. He too finds the book a revelation.
She has tried on numerous occasions to contact the author, but with no joy. Gus however proves to be more successful, and they decide to have a trip to Amsterdam, to meet the author.  The trip does not go to plan. Prior to the trip, Gus had always been more infatuated with Hazel, than Hazel with Gus, she being happy to just stay as friends. But the short break changes that, and their love for each other starts to blossom.
But a secret is told, and we discover that one of the two teens is more seriously ill than we imagine, and the inevitable starts to unfold.

I am sure there are so few people in this World who have not been affected by cancer, whether it be themselves or a family member. So certainly there will be many who have something to relate to with this film.
Director Josh Boone does a great job, admirable considering he is a relative newcomer, making the film engaging without being too sombre or too over sentimental. There are some good performances in the film from seasoned veterans like Laura Dern, as Hazel's mother, and Willem Dafoe as the author that Hazel and Gus seek out.
But top marks to both Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, playing Hazel and Gus. They really convey a sense of friendship, love and loss with great performances. A very minor quibble would be that maybe they are a few years too old for their roles, but that aside it leaves little wonder why it has been so successful, and fair play to a film on such a small $12 million budget that can do te business that this movie has been doing.

Have the tissues at the ready.....8 out of 10

"Locke"

This review may seem late in coming, but I missed it first time round, and thanks to something our local Cinema chain does, I was give the chance to this movie.

I have to start by saying that I cannot recall in recent memory of having been so misled by a films trailer. Watching it, you see a desperate man, alone in his vehicle, clearly under immense pressure, having some very heated phonecalls. And considering that the film is just him in the vehicle, and dealing with this pressure, the sense of confinement would surely make for a very tense and atmospheric film.

It is still tense and atmospheric but not to the level that was indicated in the trailer, and certainly not through the reasons that one was led to be the cause of his bad night.
Dont get me wrong, the film is worth watching as it is a vehicle, forgive the pun, to show the great acting talents of Tom Hardy who does a great job of man under pressure. The lead character should be in the circus with howmuch juggling he has to do.
Naturally with his making a lot of phone calls, there are several well known names doing the voices for these various characters, and i have to say that some may find more fun in identifying the unseen cast. I was surprised by some of the names I saw in the end credits.

Good but could have been so much better...... 7 out of 10

RIP - Eli Wallach - A Tribute

Just found out about the sad passing of an amazing actor - Mr. Eli Wallach.
A truly remarkable man who was still acting well into his 90's.
Such a versatile list of films within his CV, from the films that he made his name in, like the spaghetti westerns of the 1960's, to comedy opposite Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in the highly amusing "Tough Guys", and returning to crime with his wonderful appearance in "The Godfather Part III".

And even into his tenth decade he was still stepping in front of the camera, whether on the small screen appearing in smash hit "Nurse Jackie", or back on the big screen with movies like "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps" and "The Ghost".

A lesson to us all, a man who clearly loved the profession that he was in, and carried on right til the end, thank you for so many great movies....Rest In Peace Eli

"Edge of Tomorrow"

 A science fiction, alien version of Groundhog Day, is what we have on offer here.
Tom Cruise plays Major William Cage, a soldier, who spends most of his time in this battle with the aliens, avoiding battling with the aliens. He is constantly able to avoid being sent to the front line but nos his lack of combat activity finds him being seconded to a Unit which is going to be deployed into action. He stands out like a sore thumb, and does not get on well with his fellow soldiers. Soon enough they are dropped via aircraft into the thick of it, and Cage promptly engages one of the alien creatures known as mimics. Both die in the fracas, and as the creature dies, this special alien type bleeds onto Cage, and the next thing he knows, he wakes up alive and well. But back on the base before they have left for battle.
It seems this particular alien has special qualities, that can allow a human to relive the past day, and if need be, the events can be altered. Should he die, he will just go back to that same day, but if he is hospitalised and his blood is changed then he will lose the ability.
The arrival on the battlefield is a massacre and the aim is to kee reliving the day, and use the information to get away, and stop the alien attack.

The film has been garnering rave reviews especially from critics, and I am seriously puzzled as to why. The film was dull and boring. The groundhog day, understandably became repetitive. The reason as to why the aliens attack is never made clear, it is also unclear as to why they are called Mimics. And don't get me started on the ending.

Disappointing......5 out of 10