Half Year Review/Preview

So here we are, the mid-way point of 2014. It's been a pretty good year for film releases so far with many big names still to come. Here is my take on the films I have seen at the cinema during the first six months of this year.

JANUARY:

Frozen – This was actually released in December but I was a bit late to the party on this one and didn't take my daughter until the new year. For the first cinema trip of 2014, it was a great little movie. It reminded me a lot of the classic Disney films; the look and especially the songs. I love Idina Menzel and her voice is so well suited to the character of Elsa; her voice conveys so much power and emotion.

The one small thing I was disappointed with was the love story part of the plot. Yes, we know Anna is a lonely princess but does her companion have to be a man? Maybe I'm thinking about this way too much (which could be a first) but I was more interested in the sibling relationship and felt that the suitor part of it just got in the way. But then again, I don't suppose the film was aimed at 33 year old women with a heavy case of pessimism.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – Another reboot of the Jack Ryan franchise. This time Chris Pine takes the role originally made famous by Harrison Ford. The film also stars Kenneth Branagh (pulling double duty as the main villain as well as being the director), Keira Knightley and Kevin Costner.

Much better than the previous attempt at a prequel, 'The Sum of All Fears', it's a good film without being anything special. The characters are all likeable enough, except Branagh who is suitably despicable as a Russian businessman/terrorist. It is worth a watch on Blu-ray/DVD but you might want to rent it first.

FEBRUARY:

The Book Thief – The story of a young girl living in Nazi Germany, coping with life through learning to read, is beautiful and sad in equal measure. The film is based on a book written by Markus Zusak which I still haven't gotten around to reading. Having never read the story meant I could appreciate what was happening on the screen without worrying about any changes between text and film.

This book mostly concentrates on the children which makes some of the events truly heartbreaking. The young lady who plays the main character of Liesel is superb but the best casting has to be of her best friend Rudy, played by Nico Liersch. His performance is second to none; I can't imagine any other child who could have been so convincing in the role.

MARCH:

Captain America: The Winter Soldier – The first Marvel film of the year and what a film it was. Of all the Avenger heroes, there could be an argument that Steve Rogers is by far the least exciting. However, this film proved that Captain America doesn't have to be exciting to be important. 'The Winter Soldier' was a game changer which I won't spoil in case people still haven't seen it (honestly, what have you been doing?) It has far reaching repercussions, not just for Avengers: Age of Ultron (out 2015), but the Marvel film universe as a whole. Plus the mid-credit sequence was 'squeeeeeeeee-tastic'.

APRIL:

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – I'm not a massive fan of remakes or reboots but I love the new Spider-Man films. It's the new cast that do it for me. Andrew Garfield has the right balance of geek and cool (isn't the new word adorkable?) to carry off both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Then there is Gwen Stacy, played by the gorgeous Emma Stone, who is much more charismatic love interest than the boring Mary Jane Watson. I look forward to the third film as well as the Sinister Six spin off.

The Raid 2 – The Raid was an awesome Indonesian film released back in 2011. The sequel took the original and stretched it out to cover the action, drama and gangster genres. The first was Die Hard on steroids; the second is The Departed with more blood and action. I highly recommend both films and hold on to the hope that the trilogy will be completed soon (rumours are that Tony Jaa will be in number 3, I hope that comes true!)

MAY:

Godzilla – I love Godzilla films; love, love, love them. It all stems back to my teenage years, when Channel 4 dedicated a whole weekend to the great lizard. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning transfixed by the King of Monsters and the band of Kaiju he faced over the years. I have already reviewed the film and expressed my disappointment over several elements of the new film but it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for the franchise. I'm still excited for the sequel and I'm confident that there will be way more monster smack-downs in Gareth Edwards' second bite at the cherry.

X-Men: Days of Future Past – I had become disillusioned with the X-Men series after The Last Stand destroyed my enjoyment of the films. X-Men: First Class restored my faith in the mutants so I was intrigued by the thought of both old and new casts uniting for a new film. I was impressed and am actually looking forward to the new film due for release in 2016 (clue, watch X-Men: DoFP for a look at the next big bad).

Edge of Tomorrow – I don't understand the hate for Tom Cruise. He is entertaining in nearly every single film he stars in. This Sci-fi picture is 113 minutes of action and fun with Tom Cruise as a charming lead, ably assisted by Emily Blunt's 'Full Metal Bitch'. It won't win any Oscars but it is definitely worth checking out at home.

JUNE:

Chef – My most recent cinema trip was a delight. There are no explosions, no CGI overload. This film is all about the characters and the script both of which are more than satisfying. Using social media as a tool to create drama and as a salvation, this film is very much of the now. There are no massive stars; Favreau is better known for his directing than his starring roles while Sofia Vergara is recognizable for her work on TV's 'Modern Family'. But 'Chef' doesn't need big stars, it has a great story and it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy as the end credits rolled.

So, apart from a trip to see 'Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie on Monday (to be reviewed for my local newspaper), that is the first half of 2014 done. However, that is not the end of my cinema trips. There are plenty of good movies still to come.

This list is not exhaustive and is in no particular order (not even release date):

Transformers: Age of Extinction - I don't care what people are saying about this film; have you seen the shots of Grimlock?

Guardians of the Galaxy - Been looking forward to this film since the first trailer. Plus I've had the other half rabbiting on in my ear about this for ages.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - I remember the cartoon and oh-so-cheesy original film. It looks like a lot of fun.

The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies - OK, so I wasn't entirely convinced by the name change but I am looking forward to see the last part of the book on the big screen. I will be sad to see the end; I have enjoyed this much more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Hercules - Dwayne Johnson in full on beast mode. Kellan Lutz should be ashamed for even trying to compete.

Expendables 3 - Always entertaining with the added bonus that legitimate hard bitch Ronda Rousey co-stars as Luna... I hope there's an arm bar in the film somewhere.

Lucy - The trailer was intriguing and I do love films with Luc Besson's involvement.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For - In Rodriguez I trust. The first was a clever noir with more stars than the galaxy. More stars, more storylines and more sex appeal than the original.

The Equalizer - Denzel Washington + Antoine Fuqua = Win!

Gone Girl - Based on the best selling novel of the same name. Ben Affleck has proved he is a good actor in films such as 'Argo'. Fans might be happy just knowing he isn't playing Batman in this one.

Fury - The trailer shows a much more dramatic film than first imagined. The cast looks good. No major stars apart from Brad Pitt but plenty of recognizable faces.

Nativity 3: Dude, Where's my Donkey - I love Christmas films and I'm not afraid to admit it.

Foxcatcher - My interest in this film probably comes more from Mark Ruffalo than Channing Tatum. Also the fact that it is a true story plus there is a slight connection with the world of MMA/UFC.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb - The first two films were entertaining and didn't make me want to stab Ben Stiller in the eye. I'm hoping to see more of Robin William's Roosevelt and maybe the three security guards, including the late Mickey Rooney.

Updated Website

So, thanks to my wonderful boyfriend, I have tinkered with my website so I can finally see who visits, what articles they read, etc...

The website is updated regularly with trailers, reviews and articles. It also has links to my Facebook and Twitter pages; all followers/likers welcome.

www.silverscreensnob.co.uk

See you there!

Die Hard - Which one is the best (and which is the worst)?

Over the past few weeks, we have introduced our daughter to the Die Hard films. She has loved them, she waits with anticipation to hear that immortal line (and proceeds to giggle furiously when it's uttered). It made me think about which film is the best but also why. So here is my opinion on the films, rated from worst to best; see if you agree.

5. A Good Day to Die Hard (Die Hard 5)

As a series, Die Hard has ended on a sour note. Each film tries to be bigger and badder than its predecessor so the fifth film was always going to have a hard time after McClane managed to save the entire country in Number 4. However moving the action to Russia just didn't work, it didn't feel right.

The bad guys were numerous yet, at the same time, non existent. Nobody cares about the villains and if you don't care about them, how can you care what John McClane does to stop them.

I missed the film at the cinema so that means I also missed the short reappearance of Lucy McClane... it's very bizarre to see her named fourth in the credits and not watch her on screen. And then we move on to the other McClane sibling. I have nothing against Jai Courtney but there were many times when I wanted to slap him around the face. He is supposed to be a CIA operative but spent a large part of the film having a hissy fit at seeing daddy dearest. Plus was there any need for him to talk to John about terrorism as if he were a complete novice... where has McClane Jr. supposedly been for the past few years (and 4 films)?

There are a few nice quips from John but the script is mostly lack lustre. The action sequences are cool and over the top (the car chase from the court being the stand out piece) but that can not save the film. Let's hope they do make another Die Hard film, if only to give the series a proper send off.

4. Die Hard: With a Vengeance (Die Hard 3)

A controversial choice maybe; many prefer the original three over the last two. However, I have my reasons.

As much as I love Samuel L. Jackson (and let's face it, who doesn't) I wasn't too sure about the introduction of his character. The first two films were all about McClane, as a lone hero, against a large number of terrorists. He had help along the way but he had never been saddled with a partner; There were already so many 'buddy' movies including Lethal Weapon, 48 Hours and even Beverly Hills Cop. Although I can see why they decided to change it up, the feel wasn't 'Die Hard'.

I was also a bit peeved that Simon (Jeremy Irons) just happened to be Hans Gruber's brother. Yeah, it made sense in the storyline, but it just felt lazy. Obviously that family had big problems. It also put an end to my theory that Hans was created from pure evil, but in a good suit.

I did enjoy seeing New York, even if most of it was at break neck speed. The city is a star in itself; from subways to parks, from rough to rich neighbourhoods. The Blu Ray transfer brings each scene to clear brilliance.

And on a last note, I finally know how they made 4 gallons with those jugs... only taken at least 10 viewings to fully understand it.

3. Live Free or Die Hard (Die Hard 4.0)

So, after pooping all over the buddy aspect of Die Hard 3, why on earth would I prefer number 4 and the introduction of computer hacker Matt Farrell? It's not as if Justin Long is a better actor than Samuel L. Jackson (hell no) but it's what the character brings that interests me. In the previous three films, John eventually figures out the villains dastardly plan and manages to save the day. In this one, John cannot work things out because he has no clue about the modern world and technology. He is firmly from the old school and this point is made throughout (sometimes like a hammer to the head). He needs Matt to save the day; heck, to save the entire country. Matt is like John's young, nerdy Yoda.

This is also the film when we are first re-introduced to John's kids in the form of Lucy Gennaro/McClane (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Some people have described her character as a bitch but I suppose that's the whole point. She is her father's daughter and the audience gets to see her change as she realises she needs her dad a lot more than she first thought. It gives parents everywhere hope that our kids won't always hate us (you can tell I'm looking forward to the teenage years).

I confess that part of my preference for part 4 is the inclusion of Cyril Raffaelli and Maggie Q. Raffaelli is under-rated as a martial artist and I was excited that he was finally getting some Hollywood exposure (I thoroughly recommend watching District 13 and Kiss of the Dragon to see him at his finest). With Maggie, it was the addition of a butt kicking female that I enjoyed. She looks good but also fights like a beast; the clash between her and Willis is brutal.

This film just feels more exciting to me, and the ending is more satisfactory (although that part I cannot explain). We watched the DVD version because it was uncut so we sacrificed clarity of picture for more action (and that line in full).

2. Die Hard 2

So, onto sequel number one. From the opening shot of William Sadler performing naked Tai Chi to the final runway sequence, Die Hard 2 is almost as good as the original. The setting is bigger and the sequences more outrageous (maybe a little too outrageous but more about that later).


There are some nice little nods to the first film including appearances from Sgt. Al Powell and Richard Thornburg; just enough to prove it's a Die Hard film without looking like a carbon copy. The script, the look and action sequences all seem very 'Die Hard'.

The film is also a love letter between John and his wife Holly. Although they barely spend any screen time together, the film is about them; about John doing anything and everything to save his wife (again). Who isn't delighted at the end with their reunion?

There could be an argument that some of the action scenes are over the top. I'm not advocating that these types of films be realistic; we watch action films to be entertained, rarely to be educated. However, if people can moan about the runway scene in Fast & Furious 6 then surely we can't forget the one in Die Hard 2. Also the hand grenades used against McClane when the General finally escapes have the longest fuses known to man. But these are small niggles that, when you first watch, you don't care about.

The only reason this film doesn't get to number one is because it's a sequel, so...

1. Die Hard

In 1988, a film was released that started a series which, so far, has spanned over 25 years. It starred an actor in his early 30s who was better known for being one half of a TV duo in the series 'Moonlighting'. It was a film that forever linked Bruce Willis to action star status.

Many films have used the idea of confining the setting to one building (Towering Inferno in the 1970s, and more recently The Raid and Judge Dredd, being examples) but this one seems to be the most famous of them all.

It's not just Willis that makes this film so good. Alan Rickman has never been better than as Hans Gruber. In any other hands, this character could be just a typical slime-ball killer but Rickman manages to bring an air of class to the role. His coolness is only offset by his ruthlessness (the scene where he shoots Takagi is particularly callous).

John McClane is an everyman, nothing particularly extraordinary. A New York cop with family problems. That's what makes it so special. He's taking on the bad guys not because he has the training to do so, but because he is the only one who can.

The one liners are funny and the action is superb. Plus we first hear that infamous line.
There is a tenuous link between how the line comes about and a throwaway line made by a bad guy in Die Hard 5, bonus points if you know what it is.

Die Hard is my number one Christmas film; every Christmas Eve we watch Willis take on Hans, Karl etc...  Even after watching every year for at least the last 7 years, the film is neither tired nor boring.

And that's it, my view on the Die Hard film series. Not everyone will agree with me (thank God) but then again some people might not have thought about it before.
All I hope is that we get a sixth film to say farewell to McClane properly.

24 - The 200th Episode

So, we're over half way through 24: Live Another Day and we've hit a milestone in the series, Episode 200.

It's hard to believe we've had 200 hours of Jack Bauer saving the day but here we are, and what an hour of TV to mark this occasion.

Of course I won't spoil it for you (as if I would ever do that to you) but be prepared; this episode is packed full of action and emotion, I guarantee there won't be a dry eye in the house (well, unless you're Jack Bauer).

After last week's Jack-light episode, it was nice to be back to normal service. However, Kiefer Sutherland does not carry this hour alone; the cast, as a whole, are wonderful. It's not just the big speeches but the small touches; the little looks and small moments of silence that say so much.

Long may 24 continue... here's to at least another 100 episodes!

World Cup... how does it affect you?

So, there's a little football tournament starting tonight which might be taking over a few people's television sets for the next few weeks.

Now, I have nothing against the World Cup, in fact, I love the World Cup (mostly until the inevitable England exit but maybe this year is The One). However, there could be such a thing as overkill and every now and then I'll need a break. There's bound to be one or two rubbish games and that's when I'll be busting out the emergency DVDs and/or Netflix. I still have the classic 'Ran' to watch, plus I also have my Infernal Affairs boxset.

So, will football (or soccer) be taking over people's lives until 13th July, or is it business as usual (24 and Jack Bauer does not wait for any man)? Come visit Silverscreen Snob's Facebook or Twitter page for more discussion.

We're off to see The Wizard...

So, with the new website up and running for reviews and trailers, I thought I would use this place to talk about anything 'film' related that has happened.

Sometimes my job has a few perks and today was one of those times as we got to take our Year 6 children to see 'Wicked'. I've seen the musical twice already but I was still excited to go again. Plus we got to watch Wizard of Oz in the morning.

The kids couldn't believe how old the film was and it's true; even Captain America knows a  reference or two from the Judy Garland movie. That moment when the Technicolour fills the screen is still  magical.

Wicked is a fantastic musical that does well to create a prequel without spoiling the original (too much). It reminded me how much I love musical theatre. Can't wait to buy some tickets to take my 8 year old madam to the theatre over the summer holidays.

Erm, and that's it for tonight. Will write more at the weekend!

Review: Chef

Director - Jon Favreau

Starring - Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara


Jon Favreau is a man whose work is more well known than his face. Pete Becker? Happy Hogan?  Maybe this is because he has spent the past few years behind the camera, helping to create the Iron Man franchise. In his latest film he pulls triple duty; writing, directing and starring.

Chef is a dramedy which tells the tale of Favreau's Carl Casper, a talented chef who, following an incident involving a food critic, lava cake and the internet, takes his talents on the road in a food truck. The film then shows how this affects his relationship with his son and ex wife (the beautiful Sofia Vergara).

Some people may be attracted to the prospect of an Iron Man reunion with the inclusion of Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. However neither actor is in the film for very long, although R.D.J's short turn is utterly hilarious.

Instead the film is at its best when we see the relationship Carl shares with his son Percy (Emjay Anthony) and best friend Martin, (John Leguizamo), as they journey across America in their truck. All three actors are wonderful; their scenes are sparky yet natural.

Do not see this film on an empty stomach. Food is lovingly shot and used to great effect. Meats, spices, fruit, sweets and so on, are given screen time most actors would kill for. 
Music is also used creatively with a special guest appearance by Gary Clark Jr. and a brass band version of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing; it shouldn't work but somehow, it does. The music adds to each scene without detracting from the action on screen.
The film uses social networking, such as Twitter, as a convincing plot device; from the downfall of Carl to his rapid resurrection and beyond. The audience is reminded how the internet can affect a person's life (maybe a little shot at critics everywhere).

This film was nice. That isn't an insult; it was a genuine pleasure to watch a film that was funny without being embarrassing or gross out. The cast were superb and all looked like they were genuinely having a good time together. I left the cinema feeling happy without having been overwhelmed by action. I would thoroughly recommend this film to cheer up the most miserable soul.