Jupiter Ascending stars Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean and Edddie Redmayne and is directed by the Wachowski brothers. It was released in Australia on the 19th of Feburary, 2015.
Jupiter Ascending is about a young woman called Jupiter (played by Mila Kunis) who, after being saved by a Splicer called Caine (Channing Tatnum) must confront her destiny as leader of the Earth and stop Balem Abrasax (Eddie Redmayne) from controlling the planet for his own pleasures.
Now this was one of my most anticipated movies of the year, being directed by the Wachowski brothers, who did 'The Matrix' and it's sequels (I still like the sequels a bit, even though some of the stuff is a bit ridiculous) and Cloud Atlas, a film I still don't know if I like or not. After viewing it, like Cloud Atlas, it took me a while to understand if I liked the next film from these brothers who are slowly degrading into terrible movies. The action scenes were fun to watch, and the ideas that they had created in this space opera, such as the tax file numbers, and the political government of the universe, was quite interesting to watch. Also, the idea about where humans come from was a wonderful idea, and made me hugely invested in the film. The main problem with the film is actually the story. The background and ideas associated with it are worthy of a great space opera like Star Wars, but are beat down by the characters and the story, which are the front lines that should draw the audience in.
To start off with, the story was incredibly predictable, with not much new offering. If you have seen the trailer, you have seen the better part of the movie, and the character development that takes place. I felt like Jupiter, while defending for herself a couple of times, was very much a damsel in distress, having Caine, the Splicer, rescue her numerous times, after she herself got into the situations. I wish Jupiter had more of a big epic fight in the ending then what she got, which was more of a cat fight with a villain I swear is secretly gay.
Which leads me to the villain, played by Eddie Redmayne. I didn't understand his idea as a villain at all. What he wanted, why he wanted it, what his purpose was. He was just a guy who wanted the planet Earth for something it was created for, and is now being attacked for it. I won't go too much into detail about it, but I felt like it should have been explored a bit more with more of a debate. Also, his acting was not the greatest. I'm not sure if this was due to the director or Eddie himself, but the villain just seemed so lame and unimportant to the whole idea. The voice that he put on as well seemed stupid, but I feel like he was doing that because he's meant to be thousands of years old and had to have this old man voice.
The splicer's were very interesting, being humans mixed with a DNA to give them powers, such as Caine, who is mixed with a Lycan, which gives him awesome smelling abilities (it sounds better in the movie).One of the best scenes in the movie was near the start, where Caine rescues Jupiter (of course) and there is an epic chase with jet boots. The jet boots was AMAZING in this movie and put to very good use. It is good to see the Wachowski brothers still have brilliant ideas, even if their characters sometimes lack depth.
Another problem with the film, was how much green screen was used. It started to become very obvious and annoying at times, definitely in scenes where it was just two characters talking, and they were standing in front of a green screen that stood out more then the actors. I actually swear the house they were in at the end was green screened as well, and it seems that the film makers spent soooo much money on cgi and action, that they forgot to set up some actual stages to record on.
The action scenes were also very few and far between, with maybe too much political issues, even though I didn't mind that. And even then, some of the political stuff went over my head, such as people betraying others and suddenly forgetting about said betrayal moments after. I'm not sure if it's just me missing something, but I did feel like I was falling behind, and nothing was mentioned about it when I looked up the plot.
All in all, Jupiter Ascending is a fun film to look at, and has marvelous ideas with the splicers and the ideas about humans, but lacks in characters and the actual story. The acting was alright, but nothing stood out as amazing.
I would give this a 2.5 out of 5 stars, and would recommend waiting for the blu-ray/ DVD release, or if you wish to see the action scenes on the IMAX screen (which aren't that impressive to be honest) watch it in cinemas.
Thursday 19 February 2015
Tuesday 17 February 2015
Fifty Shades of Grey Movie Review
Fifty Shades of Grey stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, and is directed by Sam-Taylor Johnson. The film was released in Australia 12th of February, 2015.
Fifty Shades of Grey is about a young woman called Anastasia who is given the chance to interview the millionaire "hottie" Christian Grey, after which they develop a relationship which becomes questionable after Anastasia learns the true nature of Christian Grey. He really likes BDSM. Even though it's only the softest, most civilized version of BDSM ever seen.
In all honesty, this movie was absolutely terrible. I've already heard from multiple sources that the book is terrible, but I had a slight hope that with a fresh set of eyes, maybe the film makers would make it bearable. They did not succeed. This movie was possibly the most boring movie I have ever encountered. I did not care for any of the characters, or the plot, or what was even going to happen next. Let me show you the basic idea that was discussed when writing the movie.
Anastasia meets up with Christian after some time has passed and they have not seen each other - Christian then wins her trust or whatever it is by doing some amazing things, like flying a helicopter or a plan or some stupid thing like that - Then Anastasia feels like she's gotta do some BDSM to balance out the amazing things that Christian is doing for her.
And that, my friends, is repeated at least three or four times in this movie. Not even in well thought out ways. Another thing that infuriated me, was the writing. The dialogue is sooo bad and sooo cheesy, I think at least 90% of the really soppy, really bad romantic movies have better dialogue. Actually, I feel like porn movies would have better dialogue and forwarding of the plot then this. Like I could believe some lady wanting to have sex with a pizza delivery guy. But this movie is next level stupid. There is no reason she would keep going back for this stuff. Honestly, the two of them hardly know each other. She keeps pushing it off as love that makes her go back to the BDSM, but in all honesty, she doesn't know much about his life, he doesn't take her out much, they don't really have any memories together other than him taking her for a helicopter ride one time. There is NO reason at all for her to love him enough to put up with his stupid BDSM ideas.
The acting was terrible, save for Dakota Johnson, who I actually enjoyed as Anastasia. She was that awkward weird sort of woman, that would make some situation funny just by being awkward. Hats off to her, and to her for the sex scenes, in which she had to reveal a lot of her body in.
Which leads me to another problem. The sex scenes. Where was the torture and punishment. I saw her get tied up, and I can't tell you how many couples I know who have done that. At one stage, she was tickled by a feather while tied up, and I almost spat out my popcorn at how crazy that was. If you can't tell, that was sarcasm. Because touching someone with a feather is not BDSM.
I will admit, I was intrigued by the whole workings of the 'Dominant' and 'Submissive' such as how she has to wait by the doors in a certain position and she has to do everything he tells her. Though, by the end I basically saw this as almost an idea about men controlling women without the idea of BDSM. I actually think it would have made a better movie if they had removed the BDSM, focused it on him being dominant in every aspect of her life, and how she was coping with it. Oh, and not listening to the nutcase who wrote this book, because I really really hated this.
Fifty Shades of Grey gets a 1 out of 5 stars, and that is just for Dakota Johnson's acting and charisma. I would suggest not seeing it at all, or if you must, download it. Or wait for it to be in the bargain bin. Because we definitely know it will be there. I'm going to go cry now.
Fifty Shades of Grey is about a young woman called Anastasia who is given the chance to interview the millionaire "hottie" Christian Grey, after which they develop a relationship which becomes questionable after Anastasia learns the true nature of Christian Grey. He really likes BDSM. Even though it's only the softest, most civilized version of BDSM ever seen.
In all honesty, this movie was absolutely terrible. I've already heard from multiple sources that the book is terrible, but I had a slight hope that with a fresh set of eyes, maybe the film makers would make it bearable. They did not succeed. This movie was possibly the most boring movie I have ever encountered. I did not care for any of the characters, or the plot, or what was even going to happen next. Let me show you the basic idea that was discussed when writing the movie.
Anastasia meets up with Christian after some time has passed and they have not seen each other - Christian then wins her trust or whatever it is by doing some amazing things, like flying a helicopter or a plan or some stupid thing like that - Then Anastasia feels like she's gotta do some BDSM to balance out the amazing things that Christian is doing for her.
And that, my friends, is repeated at least three or four times in this movie. Not even in well thought out ways. Another thing that infuriated me, was the writing. The dialogue is sooo bad and sooo cheesy, I think at least 90% of the really soppy, really bad romantic movies have better dialogue. Actually, I feel like porn movies would have better dialogue and forwarding of the plot then this. Like I could believe some lady wanting to have sex with a pizza delivery guy. But this movie is next level stupid. There is no reason she would keep going back for this stuff. Honestly, the two of them hardly know each other. She keeps pushing it off as love that makes her go back to the BDSM, but in all honesty, she doesn't know much about his life, he doesn't take her out much, they don't really have any memories together other than him taking her for a helicopter ride one time. There is NO reason at all for her to love him enough to put up with his stupid BDSM ideas.
The acting was terrible, save for Dakota Johnson, who I actually enjoyed as Anastasia. She was that awkward weird sort of woman, that would make some situation funny just by being awkward. Hats off to her, and to her for the sex scenes, in which she had to reveal a lot of her body in.
Which leads me to another problem. The sex scenes. Where was the torture and punishment. I saw her get tied up, and I can't tell you how many couples I know who have done that. At one stage, she was tickled by a feather while tied up, and I almost spat out my popcorn at how crazy that was. If you can't tell, that was sarcasm. Because touching someone with a feather is not BDSM.
I will admit, I was intrigued by the whole workings of the 'Dominant' and 'Submissive' such as how she has to wait by the doors in a certain position and she has to do everything he tells her. Though, by the end I basically saw this as almost an idea about men controlling women without the idea of BDSM. I actually think it would have made a better movie if they had removed the BDSM, focused it on him being dominant in every aspect of her life, and how she was coping with it. Oh, and not listening to the nutcase who wrote this book, because I really really hated this.
Fifty Shades of Grey gets a 1 out of 5 stars, and that is just for Dakota Johnson's acting and charisma. I would suggest not seeing it at all, or if you must, download it. Or wait for it to be in the bargain bin. Because we definitely know it will be there. I'm going to go cry now.
Saturday 14 February 2015
Still Alice Review
Still Alice stars Julianne Moore, Kirsten Stewart and Alec Baldwin among other actors and is directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. It was released in Australia on the 12th of February.
Still Alice is about a linguistics professor, who is in her early 40's or so, has a husband, played by Alec Baldwin, and grown up children. She slowly discovers she can't remember certain words or phrases, and after seeing a doctor, discovers she has a rare case of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She must face this with her husband and her children, one of which is played by Kirsten Stewart.
Straight off the bat, Julianne Moore was amazing in this film. I didn't see Julianne Moore but saw a scared lady who was about to face something she couldn't stop and soon enough, wouldn't be able to remember. She expertly manages to change her character's feelings quickly, to keep in par with her character's disease and her destructive memory. Even Kirsten Stewart, Keanu Reeve's monotone padawan learner, was exceptionally good in this film, being the only person that is trying to help Alice out with her serious situation. The interaction between Julianne Moore and Kirsten Stewart's characters were well done. They really captured what a mum and daughter would act like, arguing, laughing and loving. Alec Baldwin was also good as a husband who was slowly losing his love and was having trouble dealing with the left overs of her.
Still Alice was a good movie, don't get me wrong. I felt for Alice for the whole duration of the film. The dialogue was good, the acting was good, even the directing. I just felt like something was missing from Still Alice for the third act. So much was being set up and uncovered, and then it's just left there. I'm not sure if this was the director's intention, showing us the inside of Alice's mind, with set ups that don't go anywhere because she's forgotten all about them. I'm not saying she should have fallen off a bridge of her husband run away with a hooker, it just felt like all in all, it lead to nothing.
There was one scene near to the end, where Alice discovers a message to herself about how to go on with life, and it is so tense and sad. And that's due to Julianne Moore's brilliant acting and the director. To be fair, this movie would get a lower grade if it wasn't for the fact that everyone's acting was fantastic and the characters were believable and I cared for all of them.
I recommend seeing Still Alice when it comes out of blu-ray or DVD, as it is not a must see movie, but still well done. I give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Still Alice is about a linguistics professor, who is in her early 40's or so, has a husband, played by Alec Baldwin, and grown up children. She slowly discovers she can't remember certain words or phrases, and after seeing a doctor, discovers she has a rare case of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She must face this with her husband and her children, one of which is played by Kirsten Stewart.
Straight off the bat, Julianne Moore was amazing in this film. I didn't see Julianne Moore but saw a scared lady who was about to face something she couldn't stop and soon enough, wouldn't be able to remember. She expertly manages to change her character's feelings quickly, to keep in par with her character's disease and her destructive memory. Even Kirsten Stewart, Keanu Reeve's monotone padawan learner, was exceptionally good in this film, being the only person that is trying to help Alice out with her serious situation. The interaction between Julianne Moore and Kirsten Stewart's characters were well done. They really captured what a mum and daughter would act like, arguing, laughing and loving. Alec Baldwin was also good as a husband who was slowly losing his love and was having trouble dealing with the left overs of her.
Still Alice was a good movie, don't get me wrong. I felt for Alice for the whole duration of the film. The dialogue was good, the acting was good, even the directing. I just felt like something was missing from Still Alice for the third act. So much was being set up and uncovered, and then it's just left there. I'm not sure if this was the director's intention, showing us the inside of Alice's mind, with set ups that don't go anywhere because she's forgotten all about them. I'm not saying she should have fallen off a bridge of her husband run away with a hooker, it just felt like all in all, it lead to nothing.
There was one scene near to the end, where Alice discovers a message to herself about how to go on with life, and it is so tense and sad. And that's due to Julianne Moore's brilliant acting and the director. To be fair, this movie would get a lower grade if it wasn't for the fact that everyone's acting was fantastic and the characters were believable and I cared for all of them.
I recommend seeing Still Alice when it comes out of blu-ray or DVD, as it is not a must see movie, but still well done. I give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Kingsman: The Secret Service Review
Kingsman: The Secret Service is directed by Matthew Vaughn,
and stars Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Tamar Egerton, Michael Caine and Samuel L.
Jackson among other British actors. The story is about a Kingsman agent, played
by Colin Firth, who finds a young man called “Eggsy”, who happens to be the son
of his previous recruit for the secret service agency, and recruits Eggsy to
become the next Kingsman. During this time, they will go up against the weird
and funny villain Valentine, played by Samuel L. Jackson. The film was released
in Australia, 12th of February.
Now, to start off with, I have a 50/50 chance of liking a
Matthew Vaughn movie. He has made some brilliant movies, such as Layer Cake,
which I own on blu-ray. But then he’s made some other films that me personally,
have not been a fan of. I’m talking about Kick Ass. Now don’t get me wrong, I
know everyone loves Kick Ass, so they should be sure to love this film. But I
wasn't a fan of the first one and haven’t seen the second one yet, which seems
good, seeing as the majority of people hated it. So going into this film I was
skeptical, but really hoped it would be good.
Kingsman: The Secret Service was fucking amazing. I had a
brilliant time with it, both in the funny moments and the serious tense
moments. I’m not sure if it was due to the fact that I LOVE spy stories (I own
all the James Bond’s) but every joke worked and every tense situation actually
made me a bit nervous. There is one scene near the middle of the movie where
they are falling and have to work together to get out alive, and I actually
found my heart beating a lot just wondering what will happen. Movies,
definitely spy movies and comedy movies, that can make me not predict what is
going to happen next are brilliant.
Tamar Egerton, who plays ‘Eggsy’ in this movie, was actually
brilliant. Watching the trailers for this movie, I was a bit off put by him,
feeling like he might be the guy trying to do comedy but does a terrible job
and thinks he’s the funniest man alive. But he pulled it off brilliantly, not
just doing the comedy well, but the action as well. Colin Firth, to me, is an
excellent actor and I enjoy him. His scenes are wonderful too, and there’s this
one fight scene in a church that was absolutely hilarious while being brutal in
the action department. But to see what they did happen in a church, makes it
even more hilarious. All the characters are brilliant, and the movie makes you
feel for certain characters, wanting them to succeed, such as ‘Eggsy’ beating up
his step dad, or so on.
The only real problem I have with the film is the pacing,
which is sometimes I found myself wishing the scene would pass or that one
scene should have gone longer. Also, and this is just a me thing here, but I do
wish the training scenes had gone on a bit longer, as I highly enjoyed those
and they were fun and hilarious. Besides that, the acting and action, even the
comedy, was excellent and a welcome surprise.
I recommend seeing Kingsman: The Secret Service while it is
in cinemas, and will give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
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