Book Review: Easy Street (The Hard Way)

As readers may or may not know, I love Ron Perlman. Love him to the point of obsession. From Sons of Anarchy to The Ice Pirates (yes, even that piece of crap), I have gladly given viewing figures to anything that has him on the cast list. So when he released his autobiography, Easy Street (The Hard Way) it was a no-brainer about what would be the first book I read after finally finishing my degree.

For the earlier part of his career, Ron Perlman wasn't a face anyone would recognise because his roles normally involved layers upon layers of prosthetic make-up. He was a neanderthal caveman, demented hunchback and a loveable beast. But don't take me word for it, Perlman details all these roles and more as he delves into his career. He also writes about his family, the tragedy that he faced as he was growing up. He is also very candid about his depression and opens up about his personal details.

The book reads as if Ron was talking directly to you; lots of contractions, colloquialisms and many, many swear words. But that's how you could imagine him speaking and it makes it easier to connect with him as he recalls as the highs and lows of his life.

Perlman talks about his many experiences on different sets, meeting legends of film such as Marlon Brando and Sean Connery. He has praise for many, and those he didn't like, well, he skirts around these issues and leaves a lot of reading between the lines. He doesn't come across as someone afraid to speak out so I'm assuming that he is just being polite and not willing to bad mouth anyone unnecessarily.

If you take only one thing away from this book, then there is no doubt that it would be Ron Perlman's passion. Passion for acting, music, family. It oozes out from every word on the page. It was inspiring to read his story and I found myself identifying with him at several points.

Reading an idol's story is always risky; what if the person that comes across is not one that you like? Luckily this book has served to reinforce my love for Ron Perlman and even given me a new perspective on him.

Even if you are not a fan of the Hellboy star, this book is an extremely interesting text. I would also recommend it as a must read for anyone in the business that is show!

Cinema Review: Jurassic World (12A)

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Runtime: 124 minutes

Every once in a while, there are films that come along and change movie history. Back in 1993, that film was Jurassic Park, a motion picture that made a generation of cinema goers believe that dinosaurs could truly exist in the present day.
The two sequels that followed didn't quite live up to the original and the last time we saw any hint of a dinosaur was in 2001, back on Isla Sorna (Site B). But now, the park, first introduced to the viewer all those years ago, is back... but was it a good idea to resurrect the franchise?

Jurassic World is set 22 years after the events of Jurassic Park, but now the park, first dreamed of by John Hammond, is a reality, with people visiting in their droves; think Universal Studios or Sea World, but with prehistoric creatures. However, visitor numbers have started to stagnate and the park decides to try and create a brand new attraction that will get people excited again. Of course, as with all Jurassic Park films, the dinosaurs have other ideas and everyone on the island is put in danger.


The story isn't massively original; dinosaurs get loose and start to kill everyone. Instead, Jurassic World has to rely on the visual effects and human cast to create a film worth the ticket price. And it has produced the goods, although it is by no means a perfect movie.

The stars of the film are most definitely the dinosaurs. It is easy to believe that these animals are real. I worried that it might have been a case of 'been there, done that' but I was still hugely impressed by the array of creatures on the screen. There are a few new species but all the old favourites are present too.

As is obvious from the trailers, the biggest of the human stars is Chris Pratt. As 'raptor trainer and ex Navy man, Owen, he has most of the best lines and action pieces. Pratt uses the right mix of comedy and drama to make this a character everyone loves and cheers for.

Poor Bryce Dallas Howard is given the role of head bitch; the park's manager, Claire. She sees only numbers and statistics, having no sympathy for animals or staff she is in charge of, even finding it difficult to relate to her own nephews. Her character could be seen to be similar to the role Saffron Burrows had in Deep Blue Sea. However, it's a credit to how good of an actress Dallas Howard is as she manages to develop her character into one that the viewers eventually warm to, although some of that could be attributed to the chemistry she has with Owen.
And one main gripe I have, as a woman myself, is how on earth did she do all the running in heels??

Jurassic World follows the franchise tradition by including younger characters who are thrown into the danger. So here we have the aforementioned nephews who are visiting the island and their aunt Claire who they haven't seen for a few years. This time around, I found it difficult to like the two boys (the eldest is so unlikeable that I was praying for him to be eaten) and just couldn't warm to them until much later in the movie (again, when they share screen time with Pratt... coincidence or does that man have a magic touch?)

Again, there is a human bad guy (we can't blame everything on the poor dinosaurs) and this time around it comes in the hulking shape of Vincent D'Onofrio's Hoskins. Although not as intimidating as in his recent portrayal of Wilson Fisk (Marvel's Daredevil) he is nonetheless a suitably slimy antagonist in the little time he is on screen.

Jurassic World manages to pose the question yet again; who is the real villain, man or dinosaur?

This film looks great, has some moments of real tension and a finale that makes you want to jump up out of your cinema seat and cry 'YES'. No, this is not an original tale, but there are enough new elements to keep viewers hooked. The dinosaurs, both new and old, are certainly worth seeing on the big screen and I will say no more about them as they need to be seen to be appreciated.

Bond Retrospective: Dr No (1962)

Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress

Director: Terence Young

Runtime: 110 minutes

A world famous film series, spanning over 50 years, and featuring gorgeous actresses, fantastic gadgets and spectacular action sequences, all started back in 1962 with a movie based on an Ian Fleming novel.

In this retrospective, I will be looking at all of the films featuring Britain's finest spy, reviewing each one and judging them on the five elements that make a Bond film... a Bond film:
the girls, the gadgets, the cars, the villains and the title songs.

James Bond is sent to Jamaica on a mission to discover the whereabouts of a colleague, who himself was investigating the disruption of American rocket launches. Once there, he works with Felix Leiter of the CIA, and meets Honey Ryder, an innocent woman who is dragged into Bond's adventure.
The assignment leads to an island owned by the mysterious Dr. No.

When we first meet Bond, he is dressed in a tux, playing cards and flirting with a beautiful woman. This is the spy that audiences know and love. As his infamous introduction is uttered, the theme kicks in and we start a journey that will eventually become synonymous with all Bond films.

Having never read the books, I can only base my opinion on how I think a spy should be. Sean Connery has the looks and charm to make the character loved by men and women alike. However, he also possesses a killer, steely-eyed look of an assassin, as evident in one scene where he kills a man in cold blood. This Bond means business.

The film screams 60s; from the pop-art inspired opening sequence to the hair and fashion of the cast (the ladies in particular). Even the story revolving around the space race is very much of the decade. 

The film is a good watch and, for fans of the franchise, a welcome sign of things to come.

Car: As the first film, the elements that make up a 'classic' Bond movie haven't yet been established, and that includes the wheels driven by Connery. Apart from a hire car used to travel to Miss Taro's house, there is no main vehicle to rave about. 4/10

Gadgets: Again, not too much to write about in his first outing. The outrageous apparatus provided by Q branch has yet to surface. This film does have the one and only appearance of Peter Burton (in the role that would go on to be filled by Desmond Llewelyn in future films). As Major Boothroyd, he is the man to provide Bond with his signature Walther PPK. 5/10

Girls: As would become tradition, there is usually a few meaningless trysts before the main lady makes her play for the hero. The ladies are all stunning but Ursula Andress is in a class all of her own. From her emergence from the water, she captivates Connery and the audience with her stunning good looks. It's an entrance that many have tried to imitate (even in another Bond film, but more about that another time) but none have bettered. However, it's not just how she looks that makes the character memorable. Honey Ryder is a figure of innocence but manages to display a darker side when she confesses to killing a man with a poisonous spider. She almost faints when Bond is forced to kill a man in the water but she doesn't shy from the fight when they are being captured. I'm not suggesting that this first film had a feminist outlook, Ryder wears next to nothing for most of her screen time, but she certainly wasn't just a damsel in distress. 9/10

Music: It's the classic theme throughout, from the opening sequence to the end credits. So good, it still sends a shiver up my spine to this day. However, it might have been fun to hear somebody try to sing something cool or sexy including the lyrics 'Dr. No'  9/10

Villain: Dr. No himself is talked about throughout the movie but is only seen in the final third. I feel like more could have been made of his bionic hands (covered by black PVC-like gloves). He is suitably well spoken, intellectual and slightly creepy; enough to make him a decent bad guy. However, he really is a mere gateway to the bigger and badder members of SPECTRE. 6/10

The name's Bond, James Bond.

With Bond number 24, titled Spectre, due for release in November of this year, I have decided it is a good time to revisit all of the super spy's films.

So, I will be re-watching every movie, from Dr No to Skyfall, and reviewing each one. I will also be looking at the five main elements that have become synonymous with Bond; the gadgets, the girls, the car, the villain and the theme song.

Cinema Review: San Andreas (12A)

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Giamatti

Director: Brad Peyton

Runtime: 114 minutes

Back in the 1970s, disaster films were big; The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno and the Airport movies, to name but a few. While not destined to go down in movie history as a fellow classic, new film San Andreas taps into that same vein and produces a fairly entertaining picture.

Starring Dwayne Johnson (a big enough actor that he can now drop 'The Rock') as a rescue pilot who, in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in San Francisco, has to rescue his family before the next one hits.

The plot is simple enough, a man does everything to save his (soon-to-be-ex) wife and daughter in the wake of a natural disaster. Travelling by land, sea and air, Johnson's character, Ray, is a man who will do anything for his family. And that's essentially what the movie is about. Ray doesn't run around shooting and beating people up (save for one small moment that reminds the audience of Johnson's action man credentials). Instead he gets to act, with real emotion and depth that he doesn't always get a chance to display. No, it isn't an award garnering role, but he does well enough to make the viewer care.

 He is ably assisted by Carla Gugino as his wife (for now) who has one of the best lines of the film (every parent will understand when they hear it uttered). She is a great fit for the role; feisty enough for the action parts, but she also plays the loving partner and mother very well.

With some films, the daughter tends to be a whiny, self-obsessed nightmare (yes, I'm looking at you Transformers 4). How refreshing then that Alexandra Daddario plays a strong female who gets to be as much a hero as her on-screen father. Her two companions (including a potential love interest) may have been awkwardly squeezed into the film, but it was nice to see the boys having to rely on a woman.

With all great disaster flicks, there has to be a scientist who nobody listens to until it is too late. San Andreas presents us with Paul Giamatti, who has the unenviable task of filling the audience in on all the science and technical chatter. As such a great actor, I expected more from him, but there was only so much Giamatti could do with the character. He does at least have one very funny line amongst all the worrying and hiding under tables.

The destruction of San Francisco is impressive and the film does produce genuine moments of tension. But, there are some dubious moments, such as an unexpected cameo from a pop icon and some added shmaltz that almost ruins the film; both of which are completely unnecessary. The film is held together by stunning visual effects and the charm of Dwayne Johnson.

With so many big name films being released in 2015, this could get lost among the big boys. However, if you're at a loose end, this is engaging enough to justify a cinema ticket.

I did it!!!

Well, that's all folks. After 6 years of studying for a degree alongside working, being a mother and an awesome blogger, it has finally come to an end.

I'm just chilling for a bit now, but I will be back to watching, reviewing and writing about films asap... including my first trip to the cinema in over a month (been too long!)