Director: Matt Reeves
Writers: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
Released: July 2014
Featuring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell and Kodi Smit-McPhee
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I wasn’t expecting much from this sequel, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
A desolate planet with a small population living within the remains of an apocalypse. The humans are in search of a water supply to ensure electricity to their commune. However, the apes that were used in trials in the prequel have populated the forests where the water supply is.
I found the body language of the apes and the reactions of the humans fascinating.
The apes didn’t use English too much of the time so subtitles were uses, but even without them it was remarkably easy to understand them.It’s clear the makers did their homework regarding the body language of the apes!
Although, I did find the human storyline almost irrelevant. I was so captured by the story of the apes that the humans became uninteresting. Apes riding horses holding spears? Come on. Who needs people?
It was a great balance between emotion and action. The fight scenes showed off the motion capture incredibly! Particularly with apes riding the horses… I can’t get over how realistic it all was.
An exciting and captivating film about the clash of cultures and revenge. The storyline is more-or-less typical of the genre, but it is one of the best examples of modern film making; taking advantage of today’s technology… The motion capture will make you drool.
Director: George O’Barts
Writer: George O’Barts
Released: June 2013
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A “raunchy off-color comedy” is an accurate description of Pizza Shop – a cringe-worthy and slow-paced film.
To be fair, the director and writer of the show has said the film is aimed at the audience of immature males. Therefore, I am not the target audience!
An hour and a half of blatant toilet humour and crude content, possibly inspired by the fertile imagination of three teenagers. (At least I hope it wasn’t inspired by real life!)
I wanted to enjoy this movie but the set-ups were too long, the characters weren’t likable or relatable, and the camera work was static – or drifted from side to side indecisively on a dolly.
Wide shot after wide shot kept the viewer disconnected from the action, and the audio quality was poor. From room reverb to the occasional ‘hum’.
The acting wasn’t smooth, with the actors waiting for each other’s lines and occasionally breaking the fourth wall.
The dialogue explained every thought and action, nothing is left to the viewers’ imagination.
Unfortunately, not a film to be recommended unless you enjoy crude, filthy humour, and have insomnia
Good effort, though. Making a feature-length film requires a lot of dedication and enthusiasm. So kudos for the effort.
Jodie.
If you’re keen to have a look, you can buy Pizza Shop here
Director: Josh Boone
Writers: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Based on the book by John Green.
Released: June 2014
Featuring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell and Willem Dafoe
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My friend said this movie was “a real punch in the feels!” I agree.
Do not expect to walk out of the cinema feeling uplifted, inspired or at peace with the world. If anything, The Fault in Our Stars will rob you of the right to complain about your life, and you will find yourself driving home in total silence as you digest this story.
If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, it is about two teenagers with cancer who fall in love, before being faced with all sorts of tragic circumstances. ‘Heard it before’, I hear you say? On paper, you’re right, but on the screen, it is certainly something a little different.
It isn’t sugar-coated, or glazed too much with the flawlessness of Hollywood cinema. The raw and truthful tale of two kids with cancer has leapt to the fore with this film.
Depending on how close to the topic you are will depend on how much you take away. For a simple and sheltered viewer, like myself, I found the balance between reality and fantasy well done. But certainly not as inspirational as I expected.
The rumours are true: do expect to have a fat cry during this movie. But it’s not just the circumstances of the story that will trigger the tears, it’s the fantastic acting and soundtrack that work together so damn well that could cause the crying.
For me, I wept because the song “Wait” by M83 was so gorgeously teamed up with the most well-acted scene… It was just so amazing! I was in awe.
If you’re feeling good about your life and need to be reminded that other people aren’t having such a great time, watch The Fault in Our Stars. You will find your high spirits will crash down below ground level.
If you’re not into the storyline, experience it for the music!
Jodie’s rating: 7/10
BEWARE: This trailer makes this romantic drama seem like a coming of age, Perks of Being a Wallflowerkind of deal.
It’s not.
Directors: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Writers: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Shane Morris
Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad and Santino Fontana
Released: November 2013
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I’m not a huge fan of the cheese-covered conservative Disney films in general. I avoided watching Frozen until just last week, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
This was a modern story where the main characters are not searching for true love for once. In fact, it was based around friendship and family.
The trailer includes all of the cheese, targeting the younger audience with the shallow humour.
However, the humour in the movie is actually quite funny and target toward an older audience too.
I love how the characters are flawed. The princesses are far more relatable because they’re not perfect. In fact the Queen’s sister, Anna (pronounced Ana), is weird, quirky, funny and spontaneous who makes mistakes.
The characters look shallow in the advertising of Frozen, but they’re actually all lovable in the movie. From Olaf the snowman to Sven the reindeer.
I love the setting – Scandinavia is a beautiful choice, and a step back from traditional Disney settings where snow and blizzards are traditionally used as a backdrop to the tragic scenes.
The down-side were the accents… Only the main characters had American accents, which clashed with the Scandinavian community…
Disney has still kept with the baby-faced women with figure-hugging dresses. I think this is still a bit old fashioned. Why not have normal-sized eyes with a proportional body?
I always get annoyed with ALL the female characters having long hair in Disney films. I’m glad to see the likes of Tangled embracing short hair, but I think there should be a balance…
(Yes, I have short hair).
But the soundtrack was incredible with extremely catchy songs you won’t be able to get out of your head for weeks… Not even exaggerating. Kristen Bell does a magnificent job of voicing Anna – I had no idea she could sing!
Overall it was a fun film and worth a watch. A genuinely enjoyable film for the family.
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Writers: Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Released: April 2014
Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman
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I feel silly thinking this kids’ movie could be anything but a shallow cartoon.
Animation aimed at children but also being entertaining for adults, such as The Lion King and the Toy Story trilogy, have been and gone.
Perhaps it’s just going to be a string of cheaply made kids movies from now on. With famous voice actors dragging it to the cinema.
I thought it had a blatant moral of “be yourself”. But then I realised it’s a bit deeper than that – it’s about breaking out of the mould created by society. Liking the same songs as everyone else and told to be happy by staying in the same job for the rest of your life is the lifestyle the protagonist breaks out of.
The Lego Movie was bizarre and silly. It’s a film with a lot of hugely successful actors lending their voices to characters made of bricks.
The lego-bricked world is smart on one hand, but also looks pretty cheap.
There were a few funny one-liners, and I loved Liam Neeson’s two-faced character. His voice was hilarious.
A very similar story and appearance to Wreck It Ralph… which I gave a 5/10.
I found it a bit dull, not very quirky or clever and quite a boring family movie. I know it’s aimed at children though, so my expectations shouldn’t be high anyway… Even so, I think they’re underestimating how much children can understand.
Director: Andy S. McEwan
Writer: Andy S. McEwan
Released: April 2014
Featuring: Steven Patrick, John Gaffney, Darren McColl, Chris Quick, Paul Massie, Karen Quick, Alan Cuthbert, David Marshall and Tony Quigley
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A great 11 minute film about two men finding a suitcase full of old records which they reckon will bring them thousands of pounds.
I enjoyed this film, it is simple and very well produced. The lighting is great, the camera work is steady, the sound is even, and the acting is natural. It’s come together very well indeed.
The storyline has a couple of plot-holes, like the context of the first scene, I’m not sure if they are painters painting a house or clearing out a deceased relative’s home. Not that it would have contributed hugely to the story anyway.
I’m not sure what the men decided to do regarding getting rid of the third guy who wanted some of the profits either, it wasn’t entirely clear.
I think if each scene began with a wide or establishing shot, it also would have helped to give context of the situation.
The continuity was impressive, every shot led seamlessly to the next.
Despite those nit-picking critiques, I thought it was funny and enjoyable. A great scene is hidden at the end of the credits so keep an eye out!
The Way Way Back is a funny, feel-good film, similar to Little Miss Sunshine and Juno. It’s an uplifting tale about Duncan (Liam James) who has to endure a summer with his mum Pam (Toni Collette) and her new boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell).
Struggling to withstand Trent’s subtle bullying, Duncan goes out as often as possible. He soon gets a secret job at the local pool, where he gains a lot more confidence and gets a good reputation.
It is extremely well cast. Carell does a fantastically accurate job of being a total a-hole. Collette, just like in Little Miss Sunshine, plays the warm mother figure convincingly. She is a fantastic actress. The main character, Duncan is aloof but certainly not played as an emotionless character, which I think should be applauded.
My favourite character is laid-back Owen (Sam Rockwell), Duncan’s boss at the local pool. He’s a hilarious character who balances the heavy situations out with a lighter perspectives.
Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Released: April 2014 Featuring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford and Samuel L. Jackson —
Wow! Okay, I haven’t seen the first of the Captain America films (Captain America: The First Avenger) but I feel I still got the impact of the movie without much of the back story.
I haven’t seen the Avenger movies either (don’t kill me!).
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is about Captain America’s (AKA Steve Rogers) past haunting him. He was once in the army where he lost a dear friend, Bucky. The flash backs are gorgeous; back to the 1940s. Steve Rogers is trying to fit into the modern day but the values of the people in charge don’t sit well with him.
Basically there is a lot of action, awesome characters who are well developed, and the plot is so relatable with our current battle against Nanny States and over-surveillance.
I thought Captain America was going to be a patriotic conservative goody-two-shoes… A wannabe Superman if I may say so…
How wrong could I be.
Captain America is a bad ass super soldier with a ridiculously calm attitude. What a dude. With awesome morals, too.
My favourite quote of his comes about when Nick Fury (director of the super-spy agency, SHIELD, that Captain America is a part of) says that the world needs more surveillance to eradicate potential threats to humankind. Captain America/Steve Rogers, finds it difficult to justify this lack of privacy:
“…holding a gun to everyone on Earth and calling it protection… That’s not free, that’s fear!”
But the most impressive character was Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff. She is equal to male superheroes intelligence-wise and combat-wise. She is also witty… I don’t know if I’m going too far saying this, but she is CLOSE to being a female version of Batman… I’m not taking it back! It’s out there.
It happened.
Natasha is just the coolest. She doesn’t have a fat cry when things get difficult, she is sneaky and knows how to work the system. She is still so feminine without wearing next to nothing too.
I said Black Widow should have shorter hair, but then I realised that would be inconvenient for Johansson’s stunt double whose face is obscured in all the long-shot fight scenes.
A super exciting film that doesn’t let your mind wander during the fight scenes. Relatable characters and plot with awesome enemies. The Winter Soldier is a good-looking son of a gun, yet ridiculously ruthless with an upsetting back story.
Fantastic. Such a fun film. Even for somebody who hasn’t seen the previous film, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Scary, funny, exciting, thrilling and dark.
After reading a bit about the background, I found the short-and-sweet episodes to be easily digestible.
It is a popular underground web-series about a New York woman surrounded by ‘crackpot relatives’.
The episode I watched was quirky and weird, but almost to the point of being cringe-worthy. The characters were theatrical and outrageous – certainly made for the stage.
It is, however, created by several accomplished writers, directors and actors, particularly with Sundance Film Competitions on their CV.
Although this webcom is not my cup of tea, I can appreciate the amount of work that must go into these weekly episodes. What dedication to make it to their third season of the show, raising over $20,000 to fund it! Plus, the bravery and perfectionism they have to change the actor playing the main character three times during the series.
A very specific kind of humour which I may be missing because of my lack of American culture. But worth a look!
Jodie.
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Director: David O. Russell Writer: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence Released: January 2014
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I honestly didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was Jennifer Lawrence is in it. Which sold it for me.
Bright, bold, glossy and rawkus. American Hustle shows off the glamorous seventies in a gorgeous light.
In the same way The Boat that Rockedmade the sixties nostalgic, American Hustle enhanced our recollection of the seventies.
I was utterly gob-smacked to discover that Danny Elfman composed the music… You can’t even tell. Certainly a step away from the stereotypical sound expected from Elfman. The actors were incredible. Everyone was so believable and realistic. Kudos to Amy Adams. I lost my faith in her acting ability after Man of Steel, (as Lois Lane) but she has made a come-back, for sure. She even does a fantastic monologue without make-up on.
Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence – absolutely flawless acting.
Someone told me American Hustle is “all cleavage and big hair”… I can’t really disagree with this statement. But it’s shot in such a classy and upbeat way, the plunging neck lines and big up-dos fit perfectly.
The script is beautiful! There are double meanings and strong themes in the dialogue, with funny lines and meaningful quotes.
The story was below average though. It was over-complicated, and relied too heavily on voice-overs. But the overall idea of two con artists and the characters they play to do the illegal dealing is cool.
The music was fun, the pub scenes were moody, and emotions ran high.
Probably not needing to be a two and a half hour movie, but a playful and provocative watch nevertheless.
Jodie’s rating: 6.5/10 – mostly for the acting and script
I do love time travel. It can be matched up to any theme; romance, action, a light-hearted chick-flick, drama, thriller, comedy… It’s so versatile, yet remains so interesting. It is a theme that explores freedom, risk and responsibility.
But be careful! There are many of us who will be happy to point out the inconsistent, nitty-gritty details when making a story based around time travel.
These are just a few movies that are worth a look if you’re into time travel:
The Time Traveller’s Wife
A romantic film, yet with the time travelling theme. Very well intertwined! I feel like time travelling and not being able to take your clothes would be an unfortunate likelihood. So in that respect, someone’s put a bit of thought into the logistics.
Also, Rachel McAdams… She’s incredible.
About Time
A light hearted and cheeky take on the hereditary time travelling gift. It has a brilliant cast including Rachel McAdams (again) and Bill Nighy. I like how it’s about ordinary people with time travel ability.
The Butterfly Effect
A haunting tale of all the things that could go wrong when time travelling. An ultimate thriller, although very creepy indeed. It has a cringe-worthy feel that reminds me of Requiem for a Dream. Probably not a ‘fun’ film, but certainly an incredibly well-made film.
Looper
Although the storyline was a little disappointing, the creativity of the time travel theme was refreshing. We were seeing a gangster and under-handed use of time travel. It has an action twist to the sci-fi subject.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
My second favourite Harry Potter movie. Purely for the time travelling, I have to admit. But it’s a great story.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 This is my favourite Harry Potter film. They ‘aparated’ (a magical method of transportation) all over the country. Although, I guess that’s not technically time travel.
Midnight In Paris
No watch, no Tardis. Yet, at midnight every night a 1920s vehicle would pick Gil up and take him back in time. This was a beautiful film, harnessing everybody’s fantasies and bringing them to life.
Hmm. Maybe one day we’ll have time travel!
Jodie.
PS. Where are the female time travellers at?
I know I need to stop going on about it! But The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a fantastically inspiring film. It really did make me want to travel. Coincidently, Iceland is my dream location anyway. So that was just the cherry on top.
This got me thinking what other films make you want to quit your day job and get lost in the wilderness.
Into the Wild
A film that keeps coming up in conversation when I talk about travelling films. I have seen the first 40-odd minutes of it, but it didn’t quite grasp my imagination… Perhaps I should give it another shot though. Still shots taken from the film look extraordinary. (Finally reviewed it).
Midnight in Paris
It is a film I marvelled over. It’s a perfect marriage between the environment of a magical and unfamiliar city, plus a fantastical and romantic storyline. Can’t go wrong with a bit of time travel too! The mysterious and enchanting themes will make anyone want to book a flight to Paris.
Eat Pray Love
Now, I need to disclose that this was so disappointing! I thought it was going to be a deep and meaningful tale of self-discovery. However, it was pretty much a chick flick based in three different countries; Italy, Bali and India. But I have to say, I did buy into the dream. To take off for a year! What an experience.
Up In The Air
I know, I know, you pretty much only see airports in this film. But my imagination was harnessed by this movie! Turning up to an airport, picking a place, and going. No strings attached, no worries, just leaving everything behind.
Water For Elephants
Have you ever fantasised about joining a travelling circus? Perhaps it’s not a common dream now days, but I can definitely relate to it. Living rough, never being in the same place twice or staying in one location for too long. The people around you, mesmerised and spellbound by the circus performances.
Cemetery Junction
It’s all about escaping the ordinary life. After being inspired by Julie, a young aspiring photographer, Freddie realises he doesn’t want to live in a sleepy town either. He wants to go on an epic adventure. The film is about him building up the courage to leave; to ditch a town of no potential, to go around the world. It’s a grand idea to ponder.
Chocolat
About a mother and daughter who wander from place to place, finding towns to warm up with chocolate treats. They’re always on the road, floating from town to town, until they finally settle. It is more about the people than the places to be honest, but it’s a magical film with beautiful locations nevertheless.
Brooklyn One of my favourite films about a young Irish girl who goes to Brooklyn to work, but she’s torn between her life in Ireland and her life in Brooklyn. Should she follow her heart and stay in America? Or should she stay in Ireland with her vulnerable mother and the life that’s expected of her?
Director: Mark Lewis
Writer: Mark Lewis
Released: 2013
Starring: Christina Shipp, Samantha Steinmetz, Jared Stern, Brad Hemsath, Scott Lewis, Kim Barlow, Kim Gordon, Alexander Cook, Julian Lowenthal and Sean McDonald
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This cast and crew deserve applause!
This is a comedy about the adventures of two girls, Angie (Christina Shipp) and Tara (Samantha Steinmetz), who pop some unknown pills to escape boredom in their small town.
Brian (Jared Stern), Tara’s boyfriend, comes home to find the girls high. Brian ends up ‘babysitting’ them and we follow their crazy and hilarious journey through the town.
The script is actually really genuine and funny. Talking in depth about colours and other irrelevant and random subjects.
Brian provides a great balance in the film. We are seeing what is happening through his eyes, rather than the story turning into a ‘Dumb & Dumber‘ kind of deal.
Some of the scenes, particularly the montages, could be edited down to make them snappier and keep the comedic pace.
The acting is certainly believable. The delivery of the dialogue is so genuine in most cases.
The reaction of Angie getting doused in milkshake was great. Also, Brian’s (Jared Stern) conversation about how the girls’ got a pie after leaving them alone for just a few minutes, were all very memorable moments. Very well portrayed!
Actually the ‘pie’ scene where the girls have to hide their drug induced high in front of Mrs. Wolvertine, a church-group friend or Tara’s mum, was hilarious. It was so awkward, but so natural!
Mrs. Wolvertine: [to Angie] Remind Tara if she forgets, will you dear?
Angie: Actually, there is no way I can carry that kind of responsibility…
*sprints over to the truck and throws herself on the flatbed*
The rest of this scene will have you in stitches.
*Brian gets into the car and looks over at Angie with a pie on her lap*
“…where the f*** did you get a pie?”
His facials were so blank yet so confused, it just made that line so funny.
I think it would have been cool to have a few scenes through the eyes of Angie and Tara, or even just a few flashes of their perception.
The photography is pretty good! There were a few shots that could have had better composition. But for the most part, the film is well shot and the audio is clear.
It felt like the cast were completely comfortable, like they were just hanging out with friends. This gave the whole movie a really natural tone, allowing the funny material to come easily.
I was expecting to see a bit more of a character development or a more obvious moral by the end. But a fun film nevertheless!
Director: Ben Stiller
Writer: Steve Conrad. Based on The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber
Released: January 2014
Featuring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn and Sean Penn
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An inspirational fable to say the least. I have been waiting for a movie like this for a long time.
“Having a Walter Mitty moment”, you’ve probably heard the phrase. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty explores the ‘what if’ situations in life.
Coincidently, there is a hilarious reference to Benjamin Button in the movie.
Everybody can relate to Walter Mitty. Dreamers, travellers, photographers, bored office workers… Anybody who fantasises about running away or doing something crazy.
Ben Stiller not only produced and played the lead, but he directed it too. I have a new-found respect for this man. I have fished him out of the pile of cheap laughs in comedies with Owen Wilson or Adam Sandler. He is way up there with respected artists and creatives. Absolutely incredible.
The shots are beautifully framed and the locations are simply breath-taking.
Iceland has been on the top of my travel list for a few years now, so the fact that this movie is mostly based in Iceland just gives me warm and fuzzies. No other location could offer this film with a better foundation. What an exceptional choice.
The characters are real. The acting and casting is superb. Kristen Wiig, Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, Patton Oswalt, Adrian Martinez… Holy beans. This cast is gorgeous.
I can’t think of another movie that put me in these situations and locations first hand. I feel like I experienced the courage Walter experiences, and how he felt when he is embarrassed or intimidated. I don’t know how they did it.
I suppose it is the genuine dialogue, the seamless transitions between scenes and the emotional and realistic reactions. Genius.
Now. The music. The soundtrack and the use of music for the scenes is simply a HUGE part of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Jose Gonzalez and Of Monsters and Men in particular had songs that complimented the film perfectly.
My favourite scene is the montage of Walter Mitty going through the mountains to the song ‘Lake Michigan’ by Rogue Wave. The music is more than icing on the cake… This is the flour IN the cake; it is so essential and so well mastered.
House on fire leave it all behind you,
Darkest night let the lightning guide you
– Step Out by Jose Gonzalez
I won’t lie to you; I did have a fat cry. But I shan’t be ashamed! This film just gave me chills, and the songs moved me. I blubbered like a baby. Deal with it.
Films should be entertaining and transport you to another world, and make you feel different when you walk out the theatre. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty did this. I walked out feeling inspired, excited, exhilarated, happy and feeling the urge to travel, even more so than before.
My favourite component is how a lot of the characters’ mistakes were things that would happen in real life, such as throwing something away absent-mindedly or daydreaming about having a conversation with somebody.
This is more than a feel-good film. This is a lively, funny, adventurous film, full of rich and interesting characters and places. I cried, I laughed, I felt empowered and excited. It’s just a magical adventure. I’m going to see this again.
Don’t just dream it; live it.
Jodie’s rating after first watch: 10/10
The first 10/10 ever given on filmfreak.co.nz!!
November 2014: I have to say, after almost a year of watching Walter Mitty, I think it’s realistically closer to an 8/10 because Kristen Wiig doesn’t really work with the genre, and the movie can look a bit sterile.
However, I’ll stick with 10/10, because that’s how it feels after the first watch.
Director: Joe Scott
Writer: Joe Scott
Released: December 2013
Production company: Ace Film
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Tamla Rose is a pleasant reminder of what a dedicated independent film crew can produce.
This feature-length film is about three aspiring singers who transition from back-up singers for an ego-driven solo singer, to taking centre-stage as a successful trio in their own right. The group, which perform Tamla Motown-type music, experience personal struggles and conflicts as their egos inflate.
The Commitments
Tamla Rose initially reminded me of the 1991 film The Commitments, with its young wannabe-musicians and the strife they go through as they fight for fame.
However, the originally upbeat and energetic tone of Tamla Rose quickly resembles a Spice Girls-like film… Which is fine if you like the Spice Girls.
Lacking the grittiness and raw talent shown in The Commitments, Tamla Rose is a clean-looking 2D insight to the cut-throat industry of producing bands.
The film is sprinkled with original songs that unfortunately appear to be badly synced, yet the tracks are enjoyable and well produced. The filmmakers clearly knew what they were doing when it came to recording the catchy songs.
The composition of the shots were well thought out and there is a clear, linear storyline. The acting was believable and well-cast with Adi Alfa, Alexandra Johnson and Tisha Merry playing the leads. A huge shout-out is also needed for the hair stylist, Sarah Gannon.
Overall, it is an enjoyable film that bounces along quite nicely considering all the young talent involved. However, it could be even better with less dialogue, a little less music and shorter scenes. It’s a fantastic accomplishment nonetheless, and worth watching for the soulful music.
Making a feature-length long film is not easy. The amount of organisation, preparation and dedication put into this independent film, Beer & Seed, does not go unnoticed.
Accomplishing all these things on a budget only makes it more difficult; the cast and crew deserve immense credit.
Beer & Seed is well shot, well lit and well framed. However, the acting is sometimes wooden which lets down the feel of the film somewhat.
Many of the characters are college students. who are portrayed as one broad stereotype; undedicated drug-taking drinkers. Although the opportunity for character development was skimmed over, it was comedic nevertheless.
The dark themes, the basic sets and the static shots created a stage-play look which worked well.
Although I do think a ‘mockumentary’ style would have done wonders – using the rough look of the filming to its absolute advantage.
Beer & Seed reflects a team of creative and dedicated filmmakers.
Quirky and entertaining, although certainly a ‘seedy’ storyline.
Worth a watch! Check them out at their website here or rent/purchase the film on Amazon.
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Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.
Based upon The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Released: December 2013
Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch,
Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt and Orlando Bloom
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This movie is about three hours long, but I felt like I was in the cinema a lot longer than that. Perhaps because we went to the midnight premiere. Being in a theatre until three in the morning can be tiring…
However, despite not being too fussed about the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or anything to do with The Hobbit, I did enjoy this film.
Despite not seeing the first instalment, I certainly found The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug entertaining.
Well shot, incredible visuals, powerful Howard Shore pieces and a fun storyline! Actually, it was quite funny – particularly the ‘barrels on the river’ scene. Absolutely absurd! Yet brilliant! …you’ll know it when you see it.
There are wicked scenes and it was quick-paced for the most part. But I must mention the exhausting monologues and the drawn-out scenes. It was easy to lose interest during these parts.
I’ll tell you this for free: if Peter Jackson let his movies be edited down to no more than two hours long, I think they would be highly rated by a much wider audience. But I guess he has captured an extremely devoted viewership.
Fair enough though. His films tend to be vast and epic to say the least.
I feel like this movie needs two ratings. For The Hobbit fans, I’d say you will adore this movie and a 7.5/10 would be about right.
However, for those of us who appreciate the movie for what it is, and are not affected by the hype, I think a 6.5/10.
Jodie’s rating: an average of 7/10
As a side note, the scenes that included a dark forest with giant spiders reminded me of
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Remarkably similar.
Matthiew Klinck follows his brother, David, throughout his day-to-day life in Guangzhou, China. The culture shock is evident, but with a twist.
David is an English language teacher, so not only does the documentary follow the Westerners learning the Chinese culture, but the Chinese students learning the Western culture.
This documentary is upbeat and exciting; a totally different angle on the interaction between Western and Chinese cultures. The environmental hazards, work ethic and business dealings highlights the divide between East and West.
English teacher, David, and his Chinese girlfriend
David and his girlfriend run their own English language company, but when David’s not teaching he’s recording an album with a group of friends. The documentary follows the band as they get an investor, before creative and business priorities begin to clash. These ‘characters’ aren’t quite expanded on enough though, making them seem quite harsh and hard to relate to.
There are a few parts where I think the editing could have been snappier, with a faster pace because it begins to look like a home movie. If this was to be aired on television, a re-edit would probably be needed with an obvious climax and resolution to make the footage have a larger impact.
Marketing and branding needs to be worked on. The title, My Brother Lives in China could be made more catchy. The backwards ‘N’ on the poster does make it look like the film is based in Russia, so perhaps the presentation of the poster could be revised.
The entire movie soundtrack is made up of the band’s music which fits so perfectly! The band, Tomorrow Is No, represents the perfect mix of Chinese and Western cultures in a pop-rock genre really well. Fantastic voice-overs!
The visuals are superbly filmed, particularly in the light-deficient areas.
Overall, a decent watch! I enjoyed seeing a different side to intercultural communication. I think this film is just shy of a seven. It is a great concept, but a faster paced version would pick up the slower points.
Well done to the filmmaker, Matthiew Klinck! Sincerely hope you get funding for the sequel.
Jodie’s rating: 6.5/10
Check out the documentary, My Brother Lives in ChinaHERE
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Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Simon Beaufoy, Michael Arndt and Suzanne Collins. Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins
Released: November 2013
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci
and Donald Sutherland
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What a total disappointment!
The first movie was INCREDIBLE! A breath of fresh air. A new and exciting concept – different to the usual slog. Themes of anti-corporation, anti-government and shining a light on the absurdity of focussing on reality television rather than the actual reality.
But the second movie barely mentioned these themes. And if they did, it was literally one line of dialogue which summed the whole idea up, causing an originally important theme to become meaningless and redundant. It is pretty much leaving the best parts for the third movie. Catching Fire is just a set-up for Mockingjay.
“Yes” I have read the book, which was incredible. The first movie covered the book well, the second didn’t. I know one shouldn’t compare the book to the movie because they are very different mediums. But quite frankly, the makers left out all of the good parts and focussed on the Twilight-esk star-crossed lovers storyline. Which I felt was a mere footnote in the novel.
However, if you haven’t read the book, I will expect you to find the movie slow-paced, underwhelming and lacking action. The movie spends WAY too much time outside of the arena trying to set up the situation of district rebellion, which isn’t done convincingly anyway.
When you FINALLY make to the arena, it’s literally like you’re being shown one problem after another with no time to catch your breath or analyse character development. There is very few battle scenes too. Very disappointing.
The actors were well cast and the acting was very good. Particularly Jennifer Lawrence who is equally as convincing as she was in the first movie… Despite the inexhaustible crying.
In terms of shots and visuals, there is one impressive birds’ eye shot, and the fire on Katniss’ dress is more realistic. But I can’t say it was worth the hype I’ve heard recently.
I’m so upset. The movies are expected to make a lot of money, to ensure this, the deep themes and interesting ideas have been ditched for a cheap love story to cater for a wider audience. Which goes against the entire point of the actual Hunger Games story! Anti-corporation and anti-consumerism.
I reckon a small independent film company would have done a far better job; staying true to the ideas of the story, rather than aiming for a cheap buck.
…the musical score were average. But perhaps the soundtrack will be different.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Writers: Alfonso Cuarón and Jonás Cuarón
Released: October 2013
Starring: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney
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This movie is out of this world!
Ha.
I saw Gravity 3D and it was spectacular. The director, Alfonso Cuarón, said movies should be a visual experience – a lot of dialogue isn’t necessary to tell the story – and he certainly did that well.
Claustrophobia, agoraphobia, isolation, suffocation and death. This is a terrifying movie, playing on our natural fears. It is a very ‘human’ film – it goes back to basics – which is extremely effective in such an alien environment.
I’m not sure how to describe the epicness of the visuals… It is inviolable. Simply spectacular. The shot of the Northern Lights from outer space, and of the sun emerging from behind Earth… Wow.
Ryan (Sandra Bullock) and Matt (George Clooney) were absolutely incredible. I am a huge fan of George Clooney anyway, who played a chatty and upbeat character. But I was pleasantly surprised with Sandra Bullock! She convincingly played a strong protagonist.
All the dialogue used makes a huge impact. There is literally no unnecessary dialogue. The spoken word is almost used as a parallel storyline; Ryan’s back story links to her current traumas.
The audio is so detailed and layered. The use of silence is powerful and serene. Ryan’s heartbeat can often be heard in the background. The point-of-view shots include the dampened sounds of collision as though heard from inside the astronaut suit.
Speaking of audio, the soundtrack is incredibly moving – especially in the final scene! RANDOM FACT: Steven Price, who composed for Gravity, also composed for The World’s End.
Structurally, the story keeps you hooked. The count down before the next debris shower from the destroyed satellite near-by, and the suspense as the oxygen depletes… You literally find yourself holding your breath.
The loneliness, desperation, mourning, horror and serenity creates a hugely emotional journey. The point-of-view shots, as mentioned before, just gets you closer to the action.
Director: Alan Taylor
Writers: Don Payne and Robert Rodat. Based on Thor by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby
Released: November, 2013
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston (the ninth Dr. Who!), Kat Dennings…
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I haven’t seen the 2011 prequel, but Thor: The Dark World was still entertaining.
Obviously this is an action-packed, exciting and a surprisingly funny superhero movie which is bound to be a hit with most.
I saw this movie twice, and I certainly enjoyed it more the second time around – which I think is common for superhero films. The first watch is just about the storyline, but the second time is about the characters.
Loki is my favourite character for sure! He is vindictive and vicious with a quirky comedic element throughout most of his dialogue.
The best thing about Thor: A Dark World is the self-awareness of the characters. The references to Captain America and, my personal favourite, when Loki says that a comment repeated by various characters will “become a line”.
I really like the lighter side of Thor. Marvel films don’t tend to take themselves too seriously, which is cool.
Personally, I don’t think Chris Hemsworth is hugely attractive, but I am aware I’m in the minority. If you’re keen for a bit of eye-candy, you will appreciate this film.
But, if you’re wanting a pretty cool supernatural storyline with frightening villains, then you’ll be quite pleased with the twists and action scenes in this sequel. They jump through time and space which is ah-maz-ing. Any time travel enthusiasts will appreciate these elements.
I love the costumes of the dark elves – so creepy! Also, the environment the characters fought in were amazing – Iceland scenery of volcanic ash wastelands being the most impressive.
I wondered what I was going to be watching when I first saw it actually…
This short film is about a man who calls a lock smith to get him out of a compromising situation.
It is tastefully done and leaves most of it to the imagination – making a bigger impact! The clever thing about the film is that it is based in one room with only two characters and no music, yet it still tells a convincing story.
It will be interesting to see the final cut, so that I could comment on the lighting and audio. But certainly a solid effort was put into acting a scripting with clear morals.
It’s an interesting concept made simple and entertaining – I’m very keen to see the final cut!
I was lucky enough to see the rough cut, but if you are keen to take a look, keep up to date with their progress on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lockedmovie
Written: Robin Swicord. Based on the book of the same name written by Karen Joy Fowler
Released: September 2007
Starring: Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, Maggie Grace, Hugh Dancy, Kevin Zegers, Marc Blucas, Jimmy Smits and Lynn Redgrave
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This film is up there with Bridget Jones’ Diary, I reckon.
I got this DVD because there was a ‘buy two, get one free’ deal on. Since the choice was limited, I thought I’d give this a whirl.
I was concerned because I had no interest in any of Jane Austen’s romance novels and had little knowledge of the stories and characters. So I wondered if a film about people discussing these books would be confusing…
Not the case, surprisingly!
The first time I watched it, I was just like ‘meh’, better than a chick flick… But kind of average. So it gathered dust on my shelf until one day, boredom and exhaustion from watching my DVD collection five times over resulted in me indulging in The Jane Austen Book Club once again.
I have to say, I really love this film now. The six main characters are empowering and strong, they all relate to at least some part of your own personality or life experiences. I could literally write an entire in depth essay of each character if necessary, they are that ‘real’!
I’m loathed to say they are ‘very human’, but you get where I’m coming from… They are likeable and relatable.
This is a character-based film where each character has some sort of hurdle to overcome, or growth.
Maria Bello as Jocelyn
Jocelyn is my favourite! She’s never fallen in love, which she says is “all like fiction to me anyway”. She’s a dog-breeder, and if you catch onto her mannerisms early enough, you’ll notice she treats men like dogs – she’s strict, short-tempered and dominant with them. Jocelyn is known as the ‘match-maker’, always on the look-out on who she can pair people up with. She’s drawn to ‘Grigg’ because he’s “eager to please” and “tries hard”… Sort of like a dog.
“Alone’s not the end of the world. For as many years as you’ve been married I’ve been quite happily unmarried.”
Emily Blunt as Prudie
Prudie gets on my nerves SO much! But I can’t help but admire her. She is so elegant, controlled and feminine. Her mother was a hippy, so she has a systematic and professional lifestyle to distance herself from her past. However, she is falling for a rebellious student…
Prudie: Trey, you really shouldn’t come on to me.
Trey: Why? Because you’re a teacher? We’ll go back to my place…
Prudie: Let’s not and just wish we did.
Kathy Baker as Bernadette
I would love to have a best friend like Bernadette. She is optimistic and loves people. Bernadette is a free spirit and probably doesn’t think things through very much, she has been married and divorced six times. But she is totally in love with the idea of love and brags about her previous husbands like they are trophies – not regretting any of them.
“My first husband was a politician. He was embarrassed by every move I made. He said I was rude and loud. “Stop pointing your breasts everywhere,” he’d say to me. I was 17… I married the first man who looked at me… But I’d like to get married again, maybe just once more.”
Hugh Dancy as Grigg
Aww, Grigg! You almost feel sorry for him because he is so excitable and happy all the time. You just want to take him under your wing and look after him. He stumbled into the Jane Austen Club because Jocelyn was trying to set Sylvia up with him.
“Hi! Well, I’m excited. Never read anything by Jane Austen before. What is it? I went to the bookstore to buy a copy of each one of the novels, and I saw this. And I thought, ‘Well, maybe they’re sequels’. So, I figured it might be a good idea to keep them all together in one book, in case I needed to refer back…”
Amy Brenneman as Sylvia
Sylvia is a woman who is an amazing mother and best friend. Her husband who she has been with since highschool recently asked her for a divorce and she is devastated. However, toward the end of the film, she realises how much she has grown and changed – perhaps something she was never able to explore in her younger years.
“I don’t want to meet someone [else]. I wanna pull the covers over my head and read novels. And eat. I’m starving. Allegra, go get me a dozen eggs. I’m gonna make a flan.”
Maggie Grace as Allegra
Allegra is the daughter of Sylvia. She is a fresh-faced, alternative, out-doorsy young lady who immediately clashes with the tightly-laced Prudie. Allegra falls in love and trusts “too quickly” causing her strife. She is close to her mother and quickly becomes a strong component to the book club.
Bernadette: How’s Sylvia doing without Daniel?
Allegra: She’s still stuck in the wounded stage. When she’s ready for anger, I’m so there.
Each Austen novel has a curious relevance to each character’s life. The details are subtly interwoven into the story, so even if you haven’t read any Austen, you can guess pretty easily. If you are an Austen fan, you’ll relish the tibits they reference all through the script!
This ‘review’ is more of a character bio, so please excuse that! However, I have to say, the film relies on these characters so heavily, they really ARE the story.
I am so buying the soundtrack! Amazing songs! Particularly “Save Me” by Aimee Mann.
As a side note – I am such a fan of Robin Swicord now. She’s worked on Matilda, and even collaborated with the writers of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button!
Director: Neill Blomkamp Writer: Neill Blomkamp Released: August 2013 Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura and William Fichtner
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What a concoction! An action sci-fi film with epic fight scenes, storyline, characters and sets.
Elysium (a term from Greek mythology referring to where the blessed dwell after death) is based in the year 2154 where Earth is polluted, diseased and overpopulated by the poor and dying.
On an artificial planet/space station not far from Earth is ‘Elysium’. This is a place populated by the wealthy, where robots and machines take care of all the work and security of the station. They have access to machines that can cure anything from cancer to old age.
We follow the struggle of Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), as his fight to get to Elysium is littered with obstacles and unexpected twists and turns, loss and conflict.
What I like about this film is how it’s not a cold-hearted sci-fi. Every development is paralleled by an emotional character change too. It is clear how Max’s perspectives and values shift as he grows through his traumatic experiences.
The fight scenes are extremely well choreographed and shot! Wow, I got chills when the camera was mounted on the gun, as it moved around – almost first person. The jerky/shaky camera work was effectively used, without giving anybody motion sickness. This technique certainly accentuates the gory scenes! Prepare yourselves for exploding people…
Because Earth was no longer divided by countries, it was a huge boiling pot of accents. A bit of French, Spanish, American, Afrikaans and English accents/dialects were all spoken, but subtly mixed.
The characters were wicked! Jodie Foster’s character verbally bitch-slapped anybody who stood in her way. She began speaking French, and then spoke with a posh English accent with an American twang here and there. I thought her English accent was an epic fail, but considering my previous paragraph, perhaps her accent is accurate of the era.
Matt Damon kicked ass! He’s a talented actor because he plays the emotive dramas (Good Will Hunting) convincingly, with the ability to do actions (Bourne trilogy…) well. These two strengths were perfect for the character.
You’ll all know him as Wikus (the “sveetie man”) in District 9, but Sharlto Copley was far from sweet in this film. He played a vicious character, Agent Kruger, very well indeed. I think he’s one of my favourite actors, up there with good ol’ Christoph Waltz.
The ‘sveetie’ man of District 9
My favourite character, however, was Spider (Wagner Moura). He was not a stereotypical ‘geek’, but an intelligent and complex person. His intentions are confusing at first, which makes his character strong and respectable.
The bad: There were a few dull scenes and minor plot annoyances, such as certain occurrences being a little too lucky. The motives of the villain – Agent Krugar – are relatively unknown/unconvincing. There were a few dull spots where my mind wandered a tad, and the final fight could have been more memorable.
If I had to illustrate what this movie is like, I would explain it by using the following recipe:
Ingredients:
A bunch of futuristic flying machines, that reminded me of Star Wars,
A few chase scenes and the adventure of Total Recall,
A pinch of In Time – the future representations are similar at times
And for the icing, spread on a DOLLOP of District 9. The set design, attitudes and props are similar. (Due to sharing the same writer and director)
Method:
Mix everything together. Add the neglected love interest, and a sprinkle of violent fire arms. Beat into submission and heat at magma level to make the hottest sci-fi film of 2013.
Director: Louis Leterrier
Writers: Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt
Released: July 2013
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Mélanie Laurent, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman
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Um. Yeeeeaaaah. So the reviews I had been reading before I went to see Now You See Me, basically stated that it was over-complicated and so layered that one would need to watch it more than once.
This is quite simply, not the case.
It is so clichéd, so typical, so obvious, that the ending could be guessed half way through the film.
The ‘twist’ is… Barely even a twist. It wasn’t shocking or unforeseen at all. My reaction was more like, “oh yeah. Hmm. I’m not surprised”.
So, it really is nothing like The Prestige. The magicians are superficial and unlovable, as are the other characters who are all underdeveloped. For the most part, they were unbelievable – despite the epic cast!
I usually love Woody Harrelson’s and Michael Caine’s work, but they really weren’t given the chance to shine. Their characters were brief and shallow. But oh my God, Jesse Eisenberg just got on my nerves! I can’t stand the characters he plays, who are usually very similar.
The story was like something seen on a long-running TV series like CSI or what not. It was so… Average.
The only cool parts were when they explained how the tricks were performed. That was quite effective.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of major jump-cuts that became jarring. Leaving out a lot of footage, although kept the pace, did make you feel disconnected from the film.
I am quite disappointed in this movie. Despite hearing negative reviews on this film I still went into the theatre expecting to be thoroughly entertained and mystified… Yeah.. Nah.
I wasn’t expecting much from this sequel, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Although, I did find the human storyline almost irrelevant. I was so captured by the story of the apes that the humans became uninteresting. Apes riding horses holding spears? Come on. Who needs people?
An exciting and captivating film about the clash of cultures and revenge. The storyline is more-or-less typical of the genre, but it is one of the best examples of modern film making; taking advantage of today’s technology… The motion capture will make you drool.
trailer includes all of the cheese, targeting the younger audience with the shallow humour.
Disney has still kept with the baby-faced women with figure-hugging dresses. I think this is still a bit old fashioned. Why not have normal-sized eyes with a proportional body?
The Lego Movie was bizarre and silly. It’s a film with a lot of hugely successful actors lending their voices to characters made of bricks.
I think if each scene began with a wide or establishing shot, it also would have helped to give context of the situation.
A super exciting film that doesn’t let your mind wander during the fight scenes. Relatable characters and plot with awesome enemies. The Winter Soldier is a good-looking son of a gun, yet ridiculously ruthless with an upsetting back story.
One of my favourite films about a young Irish girl who goes to Brooklyn to work, but she’s torn between her life in Ireland and her life in Brooklyn. Should she follow her heart and stay in America? Or should she stay in Ireland with her vulnerable mother and the life that’s expected of her?
NZ Film Freak 