This Weeks Reviews: Last Of 2009

Next Time: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

Gamer

Phil's Quick Capsule Review:
Gamer has all the ingredients to be an amazing movie – not least the talented directors from the Crank films. But unleashed with more money and less studio control they have created a over edited, over directed, over blown and tiresome action movie that is about as interesting as watching someone else play a computer game. The last half is better but this is really one to avoid.

Best Bit: Michael C Hall is good value for money

IMDB Rating: 4/10

Rent, Borrow or Buy: Borrow

If you liked this try: Crank 2 (8/10); Crank (7/10); Bad Boys 2 (5/10)

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St Trinian's 2: Legend Of Frittons Gold

Phil's Quick Capsule Review:

If you liked the first St Trinian’s (which I did) then there is a lot to enjoy here again… from Rupert Everett camping it up to David Tennant showing he can do comedy very well. If however like many you hated the first film avoid this as it will just annoy you. In short – harmless fun.

Best Bit: The assault on St Trinian's

IMDB Rating: 6/10

Rent, Borrow or Buy: Rent

If you liked this try: The Goonies (9/10); Pirates of the Caribbean (8/10); St Trinian’s (6/10)

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2010 Preview

Most Excited: A Team

Okay I’m going out on a limb here but call it wishful thinking but the A Team is certainly the film I’m most looking forward to. A kick ass cast, a good director and a healthy chunk of 80’s nostalgia means that this pretty much CANT fail.

2. Iron man 2

The original was a quality Summer blockbuster and this looks like more of the same.

3. Toy Story 3

Pixar films automatically deserve a place here as each yet they just get better and better. When was the last bad Pixar film?  Exactly...

4. Shutter Island
Scorsese does horror. Say no more.

5. Alice In Wonderland

Tim Burton. Alice In Wonderland. Johnny Depp. If it’s as good as Sweeney Todd it just can’t fail.

Bubbling Under: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Green Zone, Robin Hood

Potential Stinker Of the Year: Wall Street 2 : Money Never Sleeps

A film that has direct to DVD written all across it and possible the worst idea for a sequel ever, Gordon gecko returns as the (anti) hero trying to save Wallstreet. See DTV plot ahoy except two small thinks… both Michael Douglas and Oliver Stone return. Add Shea ‘Overrated’ LeBouf and this just sounds terrible.

Bubbling under: Step Up 3-D, Twilight : Eclipse; The Last Airbender

And last Year... So how did I do in my look at 2009 last year? Well, last year I pegged Star Trek, Pelham 123, Terminator 4 and Watchmen to be hits.

Star Trek was a resounding hit, in fact the 2nd best film of the year as it turns out. Watchmen was pretty poor however and Terminator 4 was just plain average.  Both did reasonable business at the box office. Pelham 123 was a mixed bag – I loved it, others didn’t.

As for the misses… 2012; Xmen Wolverine were both terrible. However Fast And The Furious and GI Joe were MUCH better than I expected. So there’s hope for Step Up 3-D yet… not!

Next Time: Our last reviews of 2009

2009 : Year In Review

Film of The Year: Slumdog Millionaire (9/10)

In Brief: One of the surprises of the year (India set movie about Who Want’s To be A Millionaire? Really?), Slumdog made you laugh, cry and at times genuinely shocking. Brilliantly directed this was a film that deserved it’s plaudits. And more!

2. Star Trek

In Brief: JJ does good again. Best action film of the year.

3. Gran Torino

In Brief: One of the Definitive Eastwood movies of any decade.

4. Up

In Brief: Will Pixar ever make a bad film? On the evidence of UP probably not…

5. Harry Brown

In Brief: Michael Caine kills hoodies. Say no more.

Bubbling under: The Wrestler; Bruno; District 9; Coralline; Drag Me To Hell; The Hangover; The Boat That Rocked; Role Models; Inglorious Basterds

Stinker Of The Year : Body Of Lies (3/10)

In Brief: Body Of Lies biggest crime was that it was just painfully dull. A bad film that you could have maybe excused if it was a cheap DTV action thriller but the whole situation is compounded by the fact it was a Ridley Scott movie with a cast that included Leonardo DiCaprio. Avoid.

2. Fighting

In Brief: Worst MMA film ever. DULL.

3. Watchman  

In Brief: Over hyped, dull nad sooooo loooong.  Massive let down.


4. Transformers : Revenge Of The Fallen

In Brief: So much money. Wasted. Oh at least you see Megan Fox in jeans. DULL!

5. Xmen Origins: Wolverine

In Brief: Yawn.


Bubbling under: Twilight; The Day the Earth Stood Still; Max Payne; Pride & Glory; Bronson; Never Surrender; Rob Zombie's Halloween 2


Next Time: Looking to 2010

This Weeks Reviews: 24th - 30th Dec 2009

Next Time: Year In Review 2009

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Inglorious Basterds

Phil's Quick Capsule Review:

Inglorious Basterds is grade A Tarantino joy. Sparky dialogue, tense stand offs, bone crunching violence (literately) mixed with more than a touch of dark humour and QT's own personal take on history combines for one of the most barkingly insane films your likely to see this year.

Best Bit: The opening 23 minute scene. Only Tarantino.

IMDB Rating: 8/10

Rent, Borrow or Buy: Buy

If you liked this try: Pulp Fiction (10/10); Reservoir Dogs (9/10); Jackie Brown (9/10)

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Rob Zombie's Halloween

Phil's Quick Capsule Review:

Rob Zombie's Halloween was a violent, bloody remake that actually ticked enough boxes to make it enjoyable. Rob Zombie's Halloween 2 is a confused, gore less mess that does little but make you want to watch the entire film on fast forward. The fact the Weinstein's are planning a third (in 3-d!) just shows how far the brothers has fallen in recent years. Probably the fourth worst film of the year.

Best Bit: Urm... it's short. Ish.

IMDB Rating: 3/10

Rent, Borrow or Buy: Steal.

If you liked this try: Halloween (8/10); Halloween 2 (6/10); Rob Zombie's Halloween (5/10)

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This Weeks Reviews - 19th - 24th Dec 2009

Next Time: Inglorgious Basterds

Harry Brown

Phil's Quick Capsule Review
Harry Brown is a joy of a movie. If you like your films jet black dark that is. A revenge movie of the highest order, Michael Caine hasn't been this good in a decade and whilst the story is more than a touch morally dubious, Harry Brown is still hands down the British movie of the year.

Best Bit: Torture - Michael Caine style

IMDB Rating: 9/10

Rent, Borrow or buy: Buy

If you liked this try: Death Sentance (8/10); Death Wish (6/10); Punisher 2004 (5/10)

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Robin WIlliams : Weapons Of Self Destruction

Phil's Quick Capsule Review:
Believe it or not (and if you've seen Bicentennial Man you may not) but Robin Williams is one of the greatest comedians of the last thirty years. His latest, Weapons Of Self Destruction, whilst not on par with 2002 Live is still hands down better than most stand up shows. If you like laugh out loud comedy then this is a must see.

Best Bit: Viagra & Heart Operations

IMDB Rating: 7/10

Rent, Borrow or Buy: Buy

If you liked this try: Live 2002 (8/10); Robin Williams: At The Met (8/10); An Evening With Robin Williams (8/10)

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This Weeks Reviews - 12th - 18th Dec 2009

Next Time: Harry Brown

Saw 6

Phil's Quick Capsule Review
Bucking the recent downward trend of the franchise, Saw 6 is actually surprisingly good, if a little old hat in places. It breaks down like this - if you like the inventive deaths that Saw throws up you'll like this. If you don't, the sixth film in the franchise is probably not the place to jump in.

Best Bit: A Pound Of Flash

IMDB Rating: 6/10

Rent, Borrow or buy: Borrow

If you liked this try: Saw (8/10); Saw 2 (7/10); Saw 3 (6/10)
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V - The Mini Series

Phil's Quick Capsule Review:
An allegory for Nazi Germany, V - The Original Mini Series is still as powerful over twenty five years after it originally aired. Okay so the effects, clothes and look may feel a little dated but juxtaposed against a show of this quality it shouldn't really matter. If you haven't seen it quite simply you have missed a truly landmark TV show.

Best Bit: Lizards!

IMDB Rating: 8/10

Borrow, Rent or Buy: Buy

If you liked this try: V - The Final Battle (8/10); V - 2009 (6/10); V - The Series (5/10)

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This Weeks Reviews - 5th - 11th Dec 2009

Next Time : Saw 6

Carriers

Phil's Quick Capsule Review
28 Dawn of The Living Stands Laters. Although considering most of those rate in my top 10 horror movies of all time, the fact Carriers doesn't sit too out of place along side some of them isn't a bad thing. Thoughtful, shocking and well made it's biggest issue it that it just isn't scary enough.

Best Bit: Tough choices.

IMDB Rating: 7/10

Rent, Borrow or buy: Buy

If you liked this try: 28 Days Later (9/10); The Stand (8/10); 28 Weeks Later (7/10)
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