Everything Must Go (Film Review)

There is a charm behind muted low-key performances, underplayed but spark heavily allowing for a realistic performance from the actor towards his/her character. This is quite evident in the movie Everything Must Go.

Everything Must Go is both a comedy and a drama of a recently fired, recently divorced and alcoholic; Nick Halsey (played by Will Ferrell). The film showcases Halsey's struggles with his alcohol addiction whilst living on his lawn after being kicked out his home. Everything Must Go isn't exactly a heart warming tale as this film doesn't tie up all loose ends, instead the film is like a fable; you walk out with a motto.

The performances of Everything Must Go are strong throughout, however the real star of this film is Will Ferrell. Throughout the film, Ferrell provides enough charm within his character to give out a a few chuckles but at the same time, enough depth to take seriously.

4.5/5 

Drive (Film Review)

Drive is quite a unique film. The film has all the features of an action film; cars chases, guns and violence; yet it features enough drama and story present to make it a recommended drama film. The soundtrack and character designs and outfitting's easily cries the 1980s yet the film is set in the present day with technology and gadgets frequently used by the characters.

Overall the film is great.

However there are two points which really stood out in Drive. The first one is the star Ryan Gosling. Not only his performance was amazing. His character was heavily reminiscent of Clint Eastwood's character "The Man with No Name". However unlike Eastwood's character, Gosling's character was human and real. The other area which really stood out in Drive  was the soundtrack. If this film was to win any awards, it should be for the sound designs. Not only was the soundtrack deep and heavy. The soundtrack was very erotic. This is especially true when vehicles come into the mix. Not only were they loud, the cars themselves were a character in their own right.

4.5/5

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy Review

Summer has gone and past, Oscar season is approaching fast. 

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy is a spy thriller, based of the book by John le Carre. The novel (and the film) is often described as the anti-Bond. So for those who expect a fast moving movie with high violence and sex should look elsewhere. Tinker Tailor Solider Spy is not that movie; instead it's a movie with the intellectual challenge of finding a mole acting as the sole driving force.

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy is often said by critics to be the contender of being the best film of 2011. With amazing performances ranging from Gary Oldman as George Smiley to Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch as Peter Guillam. This film is guaranty to be nominated for the performance alone. 

The acting isn't the only element that is great. The Cinematography deserves to gain a mention from the 1970s Cold War feel to the beautiful scenery featured in the establishing shots.The writing is also top notch, with cleverly written words of dialogue to a daunting monologue about the cheating wife from Smiley himself. The soundtrack while kept to a minimum, also adds towards the feel and vibe of scenes.

This film is destined to be praised by the critics. Nominated (and possibly win) by the awarding bodies of the Academy and British Film Academy.  And possibly, by a small chance, go down in history and stand the test of time as being among the best films ever made.

5/5

They Live (1988) Film Review

This film was recommended to me for several reasons. One of the reasons being, Hitchin based metal group; Neverworld has written a song loosely based off this movie. The song titled, They Live (We Sleep) has been recorded and is currently having a music video in the making. I am currently serving as the camera operator for the video and I was told to watch this film for ideas. The other reason for this film being recommended towards me is because; the film in question is known to have a 5 minute plus long fight scene which, I been told I would enjoy.

I could honestly say, I enjoyed this film the moment the first frame hit my TV screen. Granted the acting isn't at all great, the special effects look very dated, topped off with the fact that there are plot holes big enough a fully grown elephant could walk through...but that is the charm behind John Carpenter's They Live.

The well known fight scene is easily the highlight of the film. What makes it funnier is that the entire context of the fight itself is absolutely pointless.

If this film had a bigger budget or had featured better acting and writing, The charm of this fun flick wouldn't at all exist.

5/5

Cowboys and Aliens Review

Cowboys and Aliens is kinda like a bag of pick 'n' mix sweets. While there maybe a tasty addictive treat within, there is also the bitter soul tasting sweet which no one likes.

Cowboys and Aliens opens up like the old classic westerns of the '50s and '60s. And for the the first 25minitues or so. The film does feel like a genuine western. However due to the title, the viewer always knows that aliens will come into the narrative at some point.

Cowboys and Aliens does strike some similarities to another film; Starship Troopers. The similarities throughout can be seen in the narrative and alien design. To begin with, Cowboys features quite a large cast for a 2 hour film, because of this, some characters do not gain enough screen time or character development. This was a problem which featured in Starship Troopers. Luckily the acting in Cowboys is strong throughout. Another similarity to Starship could be seen in the alien design and portrayal. The aliens themselves are shown to be powerful, dominant and almost invincible in the first half of the movie, however their design contradicts them, especially in the daylight scenes where their looks are just corny and comic. Again, very similar to Starship.

Overall, Cowboys and Aliens will entertain despite the 'aliens' element being somewhat ripped from other films. The western motifs are strong though.

My Rating

3/5

The Rise of the Planet of the Apes review

As of mid-august 2011, no film has grabbed my attention, causing a stir with my emotions, until Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the 2011 reboot to the franchise, and unlike that Tim Burton movie, the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, manages to succeed in creating a film which can both stand on its own merit, but also have enough material to spawn it sequels.

To note, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a violent film. Much more than what the trailer promotes. Luckily the violence works for the story and is not tacked on. The film is also brilliantly acted with characters being from ambitious yet flawed, threatening yet human. The specials effects are also great; while they are not Avatar, the special effects managed to the job.

When I saw the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, I was in an almost crowded cinema, and what was unique was that every reaction following certain scenes, happened in unison. It happened during character Caesar's first spoken words; it happened during the finale battle.

Now I wrote in the review of Captain America, that it was the best film of the summer. After seeing the Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The opinion has changed. The Rise of the Planet of the Apes is so far the best summer film of 2011. It is also the best film I have seen this year period.

My Rating

5/5

Captain America Review

The Superhero Genre are the new Westerns. Both genres share the similar themes and concepts. They're also profitable, and currently, studios; major and minor, right now are milking the genre to every penny. Frankly, its getting boring now.

Captain America is the last major superhero release for 2011, and its a good one. While it has its problems, it is easily the best film of the summer so far. It is also the best superhero film to come out this year.

Since the release of Iron Man 2, all the Marvel film releases (with the exception of X-men) have been building up to The Avengers movie. Because of this, these films (Iron Man 2, Thor) suffer from problems. These include pacing issues, lack of character development, and the under use of some great names and actors. However in Captain America; the first avenger, those issues are none existent. Like the first two Marvel cinematic universe titles (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk), Captain America can easily be a stand alone title.

The film itself is very enjoyable, however this film doesn't make great use 3D so if possible. Captain America should be viewed in 2D if possible. The acting in Captain America is good throughout even thou it can be quite over the top and over dramatic. The characters in the film are well written and well portrayed, and unlike Iron Man 2 or Thor, the romantic sub-plot isn't tacked on.

Sadly the film does have its problems. Because the superhero genre is becoming overpopulated, clichés are starting to emerge, and those are quite evident in Captain America throughout. While the clichés ain't as bad as they are in Fast Five; it can be quite distracting when one or two pop up.

This film is easily the best film of the summer so far, and is the best superhero release of this year. It is also the last major superhero film for this year which is a good thing.

My Rating
4.5/5

Horrible Bosses Review

Comedies are a subjective genre, while this could be said about any other genre. Comedies (and Horror) generally takes the most flack. Half the time, the flack is generally due to a fault of the film (i.e bad acting, plot holes, chemistry etc). However most of the time, bad reviews of a comedy generally stems from the idea; what makes the viewer laugh.

Luckily Horrible Bosses (dir.Seth Gordon) did bring me laughs. I generally tend to find dark humour very funny, and Horrible Bosses is full of it. That's not all, the film is brilliantly acted, with the three leads (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis) providing enough material to chew the screen with. The three leading actors also shared a great deal of chemistry, which furthered the likeability of their characters. The supporting cast were also great, giving their share of memorable moments.

The only tiny complaint I had with the movie was that one or two bits and pieces were unexplained, which did bug me. Mostly the idea that the car operator, "Gregory" recording the conversations with the three leads. I felt that could of featured more of an explanation earlier in the film as it did feel somewhat out of the blue towards the film's climax (i.e chekhov's gun).

Overall Horrible Bosses is a funny and entertaining film, and providing one is into black comedies, it is a must see film.

My Rating
4.5/5  

Cars 2 Review

As of 2011, Cars 2 is Pixar's lowest rated film to date, receiving a “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a average score of 57 on metacritic, however is it as bad as what people say?

To begin with Cars 2 is the sequel to Cars; a film of which didn't really strike the cords and connections with many people as previous films of Pixar have done. Cars 2, being the sequel has lots of convincing to do; especially if it follows Toy Story 3, a film which is often considered among the best films of 2010.

Cars 2, like Cars, does share the same problem, and that problem is the intended audience. Generally the subject of Cars is more male oriented, and by having a movie about talking Cars and racing, animated as well would easily be enough to narrow the audience down. It isn't a fault of the characters or the story as those aspects were strong to begin with. What is funny is that if these very same characters took form of a human or an animal, the overall reception would differ dramatically.

Now like other Pixar movies, of which feature great story, great animation, and great voice acting to list a few. Cars 2 follows that trend and is no different. These characters featured are loveable, funny and easy to root for. The story is entertaining, paying homages to many spy flicks of the past generations. The animation speaks for itself. And the humour found is plenty, enough to please those of all ages.

But for all the good, there are some negatives for this film. The most notable being that I felt the final third act was rush and poorly put together. But other than that, there was little to fault and complain about.

I saw Cars 2 in 3D and I found it very enjoyable and while it isn't the best Pixar has to offer, it is at least worth a watch.

My Rating

3.5/5

Harry Potter 7-2 Review

I am somewhat glad Harry Potter film series is finally over (unless JK Rowling writes another instalment). But is the final out the best of the series (as one reviewer mentions in the film's TV promo)...?

Few things to note; I have not read the books by Rowling and I haven't seen every single HP movie. (I saw the first three and the final three including this film) This means this review is solely based off the film I saw.

To begin with the good, the film was entertaining with a good balance of positive material and darker material. The film had also great special effects. Finally, the film was (almost) acted beautifully. The stand out moment of the movie overall was (SPOILER) Severus Snape's death. The pure emotions given from actor Alan Rickman was easily the highlight of the film, and the only scene which I remember the strongest. 

Now onto the negatives. The biggest problem this film had came from the narrative. A small percentage of the film was given to characters of which I was unfamiliar with, placed into a moment of danger and expected me care. Another problem I had was that, that small percentage of the film given to the other characters scenes distracted me from what was happening to the three main characters, mood and thematic wise. If HP 7-2's narrative was limited only to the strict few (i.e Potter, Weasely, Granger and the villains), the film would be shorter but stronger.  

Another problem I had with HP 7-2 was in the epilogue, the three leading actors did not make convincing 40 year olds. While they may of looked the part with make up and all, the voice made it clearly obvious that these actors were not 40 at all. 

Overall a good film but hardly perfect due to its flaws.

My Rating

3.5/5

My next review will be Pixar's Cars 2

Film Critics (?)

I recently had some form of an 'arguement' in concerning a movie called Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon. In it I mentioned the bad reviews the film is currently recieving and my hate for the director Micheal Bay. Some point in that arguement, I was noted that you shouldn't trust critics and their reviews, however I beg to differ.

Now I will try to keep this arcticle as unbiased as possible.

Now before I begin, I need to make a point about the statement; "check your brain at the door before you see it". Now I have several problems with that statement. Firstly, why should you check your brain at the door? If your watching a dumb film, you don't need to "check your brain at the door" to enjoy it. Just look at the people who enjoy B and Z grade movies; the Grindhouse movies. Those people accept and acknowledged what they are watching. You don't need to leave your brain behind.

Now onto the the topic of critics, whether they're right or wrong. First thing one person should note is that, who is reviewing the movie in question; then what movies do they review and how do they review it. One of the most praised critics around is Roger Ebert. When he reviews movies, he generally looks at the expirence the movie in question, vibes and intends to give out. He is very self aware of who made the film, who stars in it, and the fans the movie may gain. Now while I don't always agree with his reviews, Ebert is the essential critic to all movies reviews.

Ebert had a partner called Gene Siskel of who reviewed movies on their tv show up until Siskel's death in 1999. Siskel, unlike Ebert often nitpicked the pros and cons of a movie. Something many critics of today do. Following Siskel's passing, (my favorite) critic Richard Roeper was introduced and filled in Siskel's shoes until the shows cancellation. Roeper, unlike both Ebert and Siskel, nitpicked a movie, but also was aware of the experience intended for a film. I would suggest watching or reading Roeper's reviews as an alternative to Ebert.  

Now while I've just mentioned only a few names and their methods here, one medium is always needed for a review, and that is the film. On the topic at hand, how I view it is that; you cannot just have your own opinion on a film and that all. Yes its the most honest to oneself, however it is also very shallow at the same time. When I look at reviews, I always have a few names and sites in my mind when I look for a review. Mine are Ebert, Roeper, Spill.com, Amazon UK, YouTubers and MetaCritic. All of which differ from each other. The best part of having multiple reviews of varying backgrounds is that, if there was a bad review, it could be challenged and discussed.

On the subject if reviews should be trusted if one wanted to see a film, If the vast majority of a review tends to be negative, It would be an easy answer, however if one believed that all that negativity could be challenged, then one should see it in order to make that argument.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Review

Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting, those cats were fast as lighting...

Kung Fu Panda 2 is the sequel to the 2008 film, however is it better than the first, or does it fall into the other category.

This 2011 sequel introduces a new villian; a peacock by the name of Lord Shen; whose aim is to rule the country with fireworks and cannons, of which may result in the end of Kung Fu. The story also dives into the reasons why our friendly panda character's father is a duck.

Firstly with the good. The film is funny as hell. I frequently laughed out loud several times throughout. The funniest moments of the film were between characters Po and Lord Shen. What also makes it stand out is that the chemistry between them is well match and very entertaining to watch.

The voice acting is amazing, the animation is amazing, the 3D is amazing. Every character in this film has their own charming personality, helped out by the fact the voice overs and the animation is superb. I also particully liked the CG anime sections of the film as they were a breath of fresh air  for me but also helped the narrative in its own sence. The use of 3D was well immplemented as it gave more character towards the cities, it also made the action sequences funnier to watch.

I must say the film is darker than its predecessor as it does feature some darker themes such as murder, so be warned.

Onto the bad (or weaker sections), I did feel that the film did get a bit repeative towards the end as actions scene would stop then start then halt then resume.

Overall, a great and enjoyable fun filed movie to watch, like the film Rango which was released eariler this year; this film does have some minor problems, luckily they are not large enough and most people would just see past it.

My Rating
4.5/5 

The Hangover Part 2 - Review

There is something similar concerning the American Pie films and the two Hangover movies. Both film series practically repeat the same material with every release. Is it a bad thing? It really depends on the person.

Me? I have no problem with film series (providing its comedy only) repeating the same old formula which made the first (few) film(s) funny. The Hangover Part 2 is no different, yet, I still laughed out loud. The transsexual jokes and song sung by Stu (Helms) was the highlight for me.

The jokes asides, The Hangover Part 2 is well acted and well paced throughout. While it featured its own set of cameos throughout, I did feel that Mike Tyson's cameo just didn't work.

Overall a funny and entertaining film to watch, even thou it is the same formula as the predecessor.
My Rating
3.5/5

Microsoft's 2011 E3 Review

Note this blog was written simutaniously with the live broadcast. So mistakes may follow.

Microsoft Openned their E3 with Modern Warfare 3. The man playing had some controller problems at first, but what is shown for MW3 looks very simular to Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops. Their 'love child' maybe?

The game began with an underwater section which eventully lead to a war torn New York City.
"In the Intrest of time"
The soilder you would be playing breaches a rooms and steals some missle code.  What happens next is a boat chase, ending with the boat sailing into the real end of a chopper.

Activision
"oh thank you thank you, we can't wait for November 8th 2011"

I highly doubt MW3 will get more than 95 on metacritic. Something Activision aims to recieve.

Wellcome to E3 says the spokesperson.

Next up is Tomb Raider reboot. Boy the game looks dark, nothing at all like TR Ledgends or Underworld.
Lara does like to moan in the reboot. I know shes a younger, inexperance character but she moans too much.

after raiding the tombs, enter EA Sports. Whats funny is that the spokemen for EA forgets the Moto EA has. WOW that is weak.

enter Mass Effect 3. the game surports Kinect. Begin the demo;
the dioulouge branchs could now be operrated by voice, as to with giving team members orders. Enter possible boss battle, end Demo.
The devolpers promise Mass Effect 3 would be the best game of the series.

Ghost Reacon Future Soilder  is the next title. The clip show of the game does look cool. The game also supports Kinect. during the demo the crowd cheer during the kinect weapon customisation. So far Ghost Reacon has gotten the biggest response.

Also all future titles under the Tom Clancy name will feature Kinect.

Xbox Live section. I can still see Microsoft still has the bad actors for the demos.
YouTube is also coming to Xbox Live. BING is also coming to Live.
"You say it, Xbox does it"
Then we get a cheesy advert for Xbox Live

Gears of War 3, the biggest crowd response has changed to Gears. (its an exclusive)
My complaint is that who ever is working sound. They have ruined "War Pigs".

demo demo demo
What is shown of Gears3 is the (co op) campain. The game so far looks more comedic than the first 2 games.

Enter Halo theme tune.
"that was ten years ago, this is now"
its Halo Combat Evoled Anniversary. the very original game Remastered. in HD

the show has reached its one hour mark. I'm getting quite bored now. Microsoft better show something wanting or intresting.

enter Fable The Journey
the guy playing Fable looks very disintrested.

I'm getting really bored now.

Minecraft is being ported to Xbox and is playable with Kinect. Yawn
Kinect has Experiance Disney World via Xbox, omg, why not just visit disney land for real

Now I feel like killing myself. Fucking Child actors.

Kinect Star Wars, as much as I low the original trilogy, your E3 Microsoft has hit rock bottom. The game looks bad. I swear, Microsoft better return to form by the end.

Seseme Street Kinect same ol same ol
I wish I was high as these child actors are doing my head in.

Then the show came to a close with a trailer for Halo 4.

Overall Opinion.
the show started off great with titles in which are worth investigation. However by the halfway mark, the show began to sag and then came Kinect. Once the show enter Kinect terroirty, the show sucked. It went on too longs, was boring to watch and increadibly painful to the eyes and ears. Even a reveal of Halo4 couldn't save the show from rock bottom.
Rating 4/10

Sony and Nintendo's shows better be good.

A Good Man Goes To War Review

Series 6 of Dr Who is AMAZING. I forgive you Steven Moffat for the shortcomings of the 5th series.

A Good Man Goes To War is the 7th episode of Series 6 and while it isn't The Doctor's Wife, this episode is among the best of the series so fat. I UNDERSTAND Everything: The Idenity of River Song; Why Rory and Amy's baby has time load genes in her. Every refrences from previous episodes I caught, and those from the original series I also caught...

The acting throughout was strong as all roles were very convincing with the right amount of emition and proviking response present. The Doctors introduction fo the episode was also increadible. I LOVE SILHOUETTES, I'm going to listing to some BohRhap now...

My Rating
10/10

Hollywood's Digital Dilemma...and a suggestion on how to fix it.

Source: THR & Spill.com
The times they are a-changin'. It's no secret that video-on-demand and online streaming video sites are the new big thing. Maybe it's due to skyrocketing ticket prices (thanks again 3D!), maybe it's just because we humans tend to be almost magpie-ish about new technology, snapping it up like crack fiends when something new comes out (*coughApplecough*). Maybe it's because people prefer to watch films in the comfort of their own home, on their own time, without having to cram into a fold-down seat next to a hideous-smelling fat guy and eat their stale $14 popcorn while a frayed single mother yells at her wailing human worm spawn throughout the entire film. Whatever the reasons for it's growth and sustained popularity, streaming video is going to stick around for the forseeable future, and it's causing a bit of a rift among Hollywood studios and celebrities.

In a recent announcement, Lionsgate CEO John Feltheimer has decided to embrace the new trend: "We view Google, Netflix, iTunes, Amazon and other new digital media players as partners, not adversaries”. Citing increased growth in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, as well as increasing demands for VOD and digital content delivery, Lionsgate films has signed a deal with Netflix to distribute their hit AMC series 'Mad Men' through the service, paving the way for future releases through the company or through other companies in foreign markets.

In another massive move, Miramax just unveiled a joint venture with online streaming site Hulu to showcase films from their vast library of titles, such as 'Pulp Fiction', 'Trainspotting', and 'The English Patient'. The deal will bring hundreds of classic films to Hulu's premium service (Hulu Plus), as well as rotate up to 15 of their titles a month through Hulu's ad-supported free site. CEO Mike Lang also recently spearheaded a similar deal with Netflix saying, "From day one, we’ve been very clear about the importance of digital and our desire to respond to the significant pent-up demand for our films - delivering to consumers whenever and wherever they want".


However, the new move towards digital content seems to be rubbing a lot of people the wrong way. While few would argue that allowing old films to be immediately available via digital streaming is a bad idea, the current trend may be extending out into actual theatrical releases, which has upset a large population of creative professionals. Christopher Nolan ('Inception') and Jon Favreau ('Iron Man') are the latest directors to openly oppose a new DirectTV VOD service that would allow people to download and view brand new movies only two months after their theatrical release for only $29.95. Joining forces with other Hollywood directors like James Cameron and Quentin Tarantino, they are arguing that shortening the theatrical lifespan of a film can be detrimental to the "moviegoing experience". Even theater chains are getting in on the argument - Regal Entertainment and AMC Entertainment have struck back by cutting down the number of trailers from companies who support DirectTV's new service including Disney, Fox, Universal, and Warner Bros.

It's not an argument that will be won, or even partially settled any time soon. As long as there's money to be made and a demographic to be taken advantage of, studios will continue to pursue new forms of revenue and promotion for their films. Likewise, Hollywood professionals and theater chains will not willingly choose to cannibalize their theatrical runs to chase a new digital market. Weigh in, Spillios! Would you rather see companies move away from theatrical releases towards a strictly digital market? Do you like the way things are now, where a movie is released in theaters, and then is released on Blu-ray at the same time as it's available on demand? Would you like it to be released earlier on one form of media or the other? Let us know!

HERE IS A SUGGESTION ON HOW TO FIX IT.

While seeing a film in the cinema or at home has its own Pros and Cons for example,

1. At Home, the viewer is able to adjust there own comfort when viewing the film where as the comfort in the cinema is somewhat fixed.
2. At Home, the cost of seeing the film is cheaper compared to the cinema.

• At the cinema, the quality of the films (video, audio) watched is better due to lack of compression and artitfacts which plague home viewing.
• The experiance for viewing the film is stonger. The higher cost of viewing plus the fact the viewer has made that journey to see the film makes his/her opinion on the film more genuine.

In early Hollywood Cinema history, each studio had and owned their own venue where their films would be screened. The lack of video devices, tvs or the internet lead to increased viewings. How I see it is that, if the only way you could wittness a film is by going to the cinema; Filmmakers (and/or Hollywood...?), should finance their releases (even if it has to come from their own pocket) for the cinema only. Any chances of seeing the film on any other medium would be out of the question.

This idea, in theory would 1, make their films stronger as the filmmakers has more to loose, so naturally the amount of effort placed during the making of the film would be stronger and more passionate. 2, People would have to go the cinema if they wanted to see a certian film. It would also elimate piracy.

I might even take a simular route when I begin making and releasing the films I make.
Richard.

Pirates 4; On Stranger's Tides Review

For the sake of length and time to write this review, all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies have been addressed as Pirates 1, 2, 3 or 4.

On Stranger's Tides is the 4 film in the Pirates series, and firstly, it's a big improvment over Pirates 2 and 3. However this film is no where as good as the first installment.

To begin, the writting for Pirates 4 is pretty sloppy. While it isn't as bad as Pirates 2 or 3. The writting is still pretty sloppy as the film was plagued with plot holes and cliche predictable narrative.

PLOT HOLE Number 1; Captin Jack Sparrow hides behind a banner which is hanging in the middle of the street. The guards that are looking for Sparrow look all directions from their window and are unable to spot Sparrow.

1. How is it Sparrow can make it towards the banner without gaining attention from the public.
2. While hiding behind that banner, why does the strets of London spot sparrow hiding behind the banner.

PLOT HOLE Number 2; Blackbeard is searching for the fountin of youth, yet he uses Sparrow to lead him to the location.

1. Sparrow's compas. The film makes it obvious that Blackbead and his daughter (Cruz's character) know about Sparrow's compas. It points to what you desire, why do they need Sparrow in the first place.

The writting the first problem with Pirates 4, the next problem I had was to be found in the editting. The editting was very slow and loose. it overall lacks the speed and tension that is needed to keep a viewer invested. Another problem I found was that Pirates 4 did had some pointless CGI during one of the film's sequences. What happen is that Sparrow swings from a palm tree to attack guards from below. This scene was done mostly in close up, and the CGI background used was frankly horrible. Granted I know the film was shot on a RED system which is known to feature some bad rolling shutter, but why just shoot that scene using 35mm, it would of looked much better and it wouldn't at all dent the budget.

Finally, the performances. While the film did have some good acting throughout, it still did suffer some problems. Firstly Blackbeard never at all felt threatening. Depp as Sparrow felt a little tad slow and bored compared to Pirates 1, 2 and 3. Other performances in the film were good dispite them being given little to do. The latter statement goes true when looking at Geffory Rush and Penelope Cruz

Overall a weak film but miles but better than Pirates 2 and 3.
My rating 2/5

I knew I would guess right...Dr. Who Series 6 "The Rebel's Flesh" review.

This week, I have been guessing everything correctly. From Pirates 4 getting mixed reviews to the world NOT ending at 6pm. Simular thing applies to this weeks episode of Dr. Who.

The Rebel's Flesh is the 5th episode of series 6. After an amzing episode last week (See The Doctor's Wife Review), I expected this episode to be weaker than Episode number 4. Guess what I was right.

However, just because the episode was weaker than The Doctor's Wife, it doesnt mean The Rebel's Flesh was bad. Far from it; the episode broadcasted tonight was well acted and well paced. The special effects were on par with The Doctor's Wife, pretty slick. The whole episode was very gripping and entertaining from the openning title crawls to the big reveal at the end. Overall a great episode. The only reason why I would consider episode weaker than The Doctor's Wife is because of the emtional involment that episode held, (I was on the point of tear during The Doctor's Wife) something which tonights episode just didn't have.

My Rating
8/10

We're Doomed; The Eurovision Song Contest has Arrived...The Doctor's Wife review

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't win.

On a more positive note; this weeks episode of Dr Who was amazing.

Firstly the acting was overall stronger, the cast were at the top of their game. The special effects were also stronger. Last weeks was just bad. What is more surprising is that this episode had me on the brink of crying soley because of the chemistry shared between The Doctor and Sexy (Human TARDIS), and the 'goodbye'. If you are a owner of an animal and you have a strong close bond to them; you  would understand why this episode had me on the brink of crying.

Dr. Who Series 6; The Doctor's Wife
My Rating
10/10

Dr Who Series 6 - The Curse of the Black Spot Review

Living up to last weeks episode of Dr Who would be a very hard job as last weeks episode was amazing. That said, those who have been watching Dr Who recently, the trends usually follows; you have a great episode, then you would be treated to a weak episode.

The Curse of the Black Spot follows this trend as the episode was incredibly weak. Its been reported that the production for this episode was moved ahead of time, and it is very evident throughout as the whole episode just felt rushed. Key example: the writing and the acting.

However I will admit, I did enjoy the final few minutes of this episode and the teaser for next weeks episode The Doctors Wife looked pretty slick.

My Rating 1.5/5

Richard

RIP Isle Of Red, enter Pushing a Pull Door

Recently I have become sick of the title; Isle Of Red; of which I created during high school. Personally I have been finding it just dull.

But anyway...


I will be returning my post on blogger due to the fact I have more free time since I am on holiday from Uni. Yippee

Look forward to more post as I will be posting film reviews (new and old), random crap, and opinions on society in general.

Richard.