To get ready for the new version of 'The Great Gatsby' directed by Baz Luhrmann I thought I would catch another interpretation of the story.
I also read the book as well to get ready. I read it more for the story than for the deeper subtext of the events. I know that it is highly respected and beloved. I quite liked the book for its romantic elements. I do feel that I'd need a class to learn some of the more deeper meanings.
As interpreted by Francis Ford Coppola and Jack Clayton, 'The Great Gatsby' is an excellent romantic drama. I know that not many people appreciate the film but I quite enjoyed it. To me they have captured the mood of the book really well with its interpretation of the rich and how they behave. It shows how rich people have not changed all that much over time in the way they behave. Film makers just love to stage the grand parties that Jay Gatsby throws. Let's them go really overboard in the extravagance. There is also the way the rich treat the lower classes and their lack of feeling or emotion for people who do not fit into their world. Normally someone like Nick Carraway would feel this contempt but by virtue of his proximity through location and relation he gets drawn into this dazzling world of the rich. I was worried that the films length would be too long but I was not bored at all.
Robert Redford is perfectly cast as the elusive Gatsby. Redford gives a nicely subdued performance that captures the character perfectly. While he does like to show off he does not do it in an obvious way. I also really loved Mia Farrow. I've mostly seen her in Woody Allen films and this is a performance that is very different to what I've seen her in before. Mia captures the many moods of Daisy so well and the tragic nature of her character. Bruce Dern is excellent as the thuggish Tom. Bruce captures the nastiness of the character perfectly. Lately I've been watching the TV series 'The Newsroom' so it was nice to see one of Sam Waterston's earlier films. He is brilliant as the naïve Nick. Sam brings out the sweetness and innocence of the character as navigates this world if opulence.
I did not think this was as bad as everyone says it is. I thought it captured the book really well.
In 2010 Ryan Gosling teamed up with director Derek Cianfrance for the brilliant romantic drama 'Blue Valentine'. They now return with a different type of drama.
When a director makes a highly regarded film there is a lot of expectations for their follow up film. I think there is even more added pressure when the lead actor from that previous film is in the new one. For me 'The Place Beyond The Pines' did not live up to the expectations. Derek and his writers have done a very clever thing by telling this story in three different but connected segments. While each segment is excellent I did not think they worked together as a whole. Each segment, although connected by the characters, felt like I was watching three different films. I would have liked to see each of those segments expanded in to feature length and explored more as opposed to being done as shorts. I really liked these characters and would have liked to spend more time with them exploring their lives and getting to know them better. Derek and his writers have created some excellent characters here and that is the best thing about the film. It is a shame that their story is not told in the best way.
I do not think that Ryan Gosling can give a bad performance. Once again he gives a fairly minimalist performance which works effectively for his character. Bradley Cooper gives further proof that he can be a serious actor. His character goes through many permeations in the film, largely due to the different segments, and he does a great job in each. Eva Mendes proves once again that she is more than just a pretty face. A really heartfelt performance. Aussie Ben Mendelsohn is making a career for himself as bad guys in film and specifically really grubby looking guys. But he is so awesome at it.
I know logistically and financially that it would not have worked but I think this film would have worked better as a trilogy of three different films as opposed to cramming it all into one film.
Each country seems to have their own version of a holiday for teenagers. In Australia it is Schoolies Week. In America it is Spring Break.
Wild vacations where teenagers go to get drunk, have lots of sex and take drugs are not events that interest me. Only one of those things really holds my interest. What I liked most about the film was that on the surface this looks like any typical teenage film about sex and drugs, but Harmony Korine has made it in a very arty way. I have not seen any of Harmony's previous films as they kind of scare me a little. They look to be too weird even for me. But Harmony has managed to tone down his weirdness with this film and made something that would appeal to a more broader audience. I also liked how the story unfolded too in a fairly non-conventional way.
The biggest thrill it seems for watching this film is to see a couple of once sweet and innocent actresses break loose. Vanessa Hudgens has been gradually taking roles that lead to more hardcore stuff like this. Because she has blonde hair it did not look like her. She does give an excellent performance and seems to be maturing as an actress. Selena Gomez has taken a bigger step with her career in taking this film. Her character is the sweet little religious girl so in some ways it is not that big a leap. Selena is excellent though and her characters struggle with her friend's behavior and religion is one of the films more interesting points. Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine do a good job as well but I think because of their lack of appeal I did not see anything special in their performance. The best thing in the film though is James Franco. The strange thing about him is that I'm not sure if he is acting. I could almost imagine that this is what James is really like. Perhaps a hyped up version but if all the gossip is to be believed then this character is not too far off. But the character of Alien is very dynamic and James does a brilliant job with it. He goes to places that you never expect the character to go.
An unconventional teen film about their big spring party. Fans of Vanessa and Selena will get a thrill out of it but there is enough to keep others interested as well.
My quest to see as many Alfred Hitchcock films on the big screen continues. I finally get to catch up with one of his biggest hits.
I did not think it was possible but I have found an Alfred Hitchcock film that I was not all that impressed with. I suppose there had to be one. We can't all be perfect. While the story has an excellent premise, I just did not find it terribly thrilling. Being a Hitchcock film I was expecting it to be more tense than it is. Part of the problem is that Hitchcock tells the story at a rather leisurely pace. I found it to be far too long and needed some more editing to make the story seem more tense. Despite that the film is quite well made and looks really impressive. I quite liked the premise and the way the story unfolds. Things are not explained as explicitly as they are today. Although I must admit that there was one major plot point that I missed. The film is very much a product of its time. You only need to look at the character of Roger Thornhill. In the 1950's a man could get away with being the way he is but I think now he would be considered strange and possibly gay.
I'm ashamed to say that I have not seem very many Cary Grant films but from what I've seen he is a very good leading man. Cary odes an excellent job here and he draws you into his plight so that you really come to care about what happens to him. Eva Marie Saint is very good. Her performance is very subtle but handles the verbal sparing with Cary nicely. James Mason does very little as well but still manages to exude a great deal of menace with his character. Martin Landau is also very good at what is effectively just a henchman role.
For me this is not one of Alfred Hitchcock's best films but it is still a lot better than many films released today.
Some of the best drama seems to be coming from Scandinavian countries these days. And this film is no exception.
Many of you may know that I completed a university degree in Primary school teaching, so I am somewhat familiar with what happens to our lead character, Lucas in this film. My friends and relatives often ask me why I have never used my teaching degree. For one of the reasons you need look no further than this film. It is not only a scary film for male teachers but for men in general. I get the feeling that there is a lot of reports of people, young and old, who are making reports about being inappropriately touched by men when they were children. The biggest area of concern has been the Catholic church. While this film does not deal with a priest it takes an average man and put him in an incredibly difficult situation. It is so easy for harmless encounters to be misinterpreted and taken out of context. Men are becoming scared of touching not only other people's children but their own as well. This film is excellent at portraying how children can be easily manipulated. I know that touching children inappropriately is wrong and those who do it should be punished but I think people go overboard in their reaction when discovered. The way adults handle this situation, especially when questioning the child is questioned. Then the way everyone turns on Lucas is a big over reaction. The situation while troubling is totally believable. I felt like this is something that could really happen and that makes it an incredibly scary film.
Mad Mikkelsen usually plays the bad guy in films. But here he is a good guy accused of being a bad guy. He is brilliant at being an average guy who gets caught up in a difficult situation. While does do some silly things he is still a very sympathetic character and Mads makes him feel very real. Thomas Bo Larson is very good as Lucas's best friend and eventual enemy. It does seem a little implausible that he would turn on his friend so quickly. One minor problem I did have was that Thomas has a beard which is not doubt real but looks really fake. The film's best performance though is by little Annika Wedderkopp as the little girl at the centre of the controversy. She gives a very naturalistic performance for someone of such a young age.
People often wonder why less men are becoming teachers, you need look no further than this film. You would not categorize this as a horror film but it is still an incredibly scary film that every male teacher should watch.
There have been several remakes of horror films from the 1980's. It was only a matter of time before Sam Rami's classic was given an update.
Growing up one of my favourite things to do when I went to the video store was to go to the Horror section. I loved to look at the covers of the videos. Usually they were very scary looking. I was never brave enough to actually watch any of these films and so looking at the covers was as close as I got to seeing the films. One of the scariest was 'The Evil Dead'. When it came to watching the 'The Evil Dead' trilogy, I came to it in a backwards way. When 'Army Of Darkness' was released in 1992 it did not have the subtitle 'The Evil Dead III' so I was not aware that it was part of that series until I actually saw the film (this is in the days before the internet when I knew very little about films before I saw them). Thankfully I went back and watched the first two films after I saw 'Army Of Darkness'. The original 'The Evil Dead' was the first film directed by Sam Raimi. It was made on a very low budget. Despite that Sam managed to make an incredibly scary film. His blend of crazy camera moves and over the top cheap special effects made it a groundbreaking horror film. While the film story had a serious edge to it, the overall tone of the film was a lighthearted one. The craziness of the situation made it more funny than serious.
Director Fede Alvarez and with his co-writer Rodo Sayagues have managed to capture that spirit of blending serious horror with the silliness of the situation to create a remake that manages to invoke the spirit of the original film and also make it feel fresh and new. I loved how they gave the characters more of a background. I also liked the reason they came up with for getting the kids to the cabin. Even though the special effects have been updated that does not detract from their effect. I also liked how the film goes all out with the gore. You do not see many mainstream horror films so hardcore with their blood and guts. But then again this film seems to delight in its craziness and how far it can take the gore. Most times I have trouble watching that much gore but here I did not seem to mind it. You can't help but laugh at how outrageous it is. There is also a great deal of fun in spotting references to the original that are hidden in the background. It was a good idea that they did not try to remake Ash. He is such an iconic character and not being played by Bruce Campbell would seem wrong.
The cast definitely look like they are having a great deal of fun with the film, even if they are being mutilated all the time (in the film that is). Jane Levy is excellent as our hero and victim Mia. She really runs the gamete of emotions. Shiloh Fernandez is also very good as Mia's brother. Perhaps a bit more serious than needed but still good. Lou Taylor Pucci is good as the nerd of the group. Most of his role is exposition but he still gets some good action scenes. Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore make some good demon fodder.
Fans of the original 'The Evil Dead' need not worry. One of the few remakes that while not better than the original is still worthy of great acclaim. Make sure you stay until after the end credits for a nice little salute.
In 2009 I had the honour of attending the world premiere of 'Star Trek' at the Sydney Opera House. It was one of the best moments of my life. Finally after 4 years the crew of the Starship Enterprise return.
Yes I will admit it, I am a Trekie. I am not hardcore obsessed with the series but am still a big fan. While I was familiar with the Original Series I did not watch it while growing up. It was not until The Next Generation came to TV that I took an active interest and became a fan. I went on to watch all of that series as well as Deep Space Nine and Voyager. I have not seen much of Enterprise but hope to soon. When it was announced that JJ Abrahams was going to reboot the series I was pleased as the way the franchise was going it did not look hopeful. What I loved about what JJ did with 'Star Trek' was he used one of the series most popular elements, time travel, to take the film into a whole new realm without being anchored to the old series. So I had considerably high hopes for this sequel.
I want to warn you now that I will be revealing some spoilers in this review. You may want to read it after you have seen the film cause one of them is a major plot twist. The one thing that JJ and his team of writers have gotten right with these films is the characters and their relationships with each other. Kirk and Spock are the leads so their characters are more developed than the others but the rest of the crew feel just as well rounded. Then to have an excellent plot to put the characters in is just amazing. There are so many unexpected twists and turns that you are continually guessing as to where it is heading. I was worried when looking at the trailers that the film looked too earthbound but that is not the case. JJ has also staged some amazing action sequences that look really spectacular. He sure loves showing the shipos crew getting blown out into space. I was this film in Imax and seeing it on that massive screen was even more spectacular. While I loved this film I am willing to admit that it has problems. There are a few plot contrivances which seem strange because the rest of the film is so well written but the writers still make novice mistakes. I am still not sure about the similarities to 'Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan'. It was cool to see the link with the old series but considering they went to all the trouble of trying to set up their own timeline they still make references to the old series. There is also a cameo which I felt was a bit unnecessary.
I think that Chris Pines performance here is the best he has ever given in a film. Kirk has so much going on in the film that gives Chris so much to work with as an actor. Zachary Quinto also has a strong role in the film. The way he is able to move from his stoic Vulcan side to his more emotional human side is amazing. Benedict Cumberbatch brings a great deal of English dignity to his role that makes his character all that more menacing. He really feels like a nasty guy. Simon Pegg once again is excellent. He proves that he can do heavy drama as well as hilarious comedy in a matter of moments. Karl Urban also has some really funny moments in the film. Zoe Saldana is excellent as well and has a few nice moments but I wish she had more to do.
Being a Trekkie I'm not sure you can trust my opinion with this film. I'm willing to forgive all the bad parts. But it is still an amazingly spectacular action film.
Weddings are a very popular subject for films. They are a major event in people's lives that are usually happy events but can cause misery as well.
This film was meant to be released last October, but the distributors decided to delay the release. I had heard rumours that test screenings did not go very well. So I had fairly low expectations when going to see it, despite the big name cast. The writer/director Justin Zackham has made an English language remake of a French film. One thing Justin has gotten right is the crazy French tone of the story. It is quite a crazy and convoluted plot device that gets the action going and it feels like a very French idea. Sadly Justin has not done a good job with the comedy side of things. There is the potential there to have some really funny moments but they have not been utilized. Justin nicely balances the various plot strands and shows promise in balancing the farcical elements but some how cannot make it funny.
You have to give credit for the great cast of Academy Award winners assembled here. It is one of the films highlights. The cast do a pretty decent job considering the lackluster material they have been given. Robert DeNiro is in silly comedy mode here and it pays off well. Diane Keaton plays her usually delightful self. Susan Sarandon is very good as well. Katherine Heigl does her usual bitchy routine. But she does have a softer side this time. I have long been a fan of Topher Grace so was pleased to see him on the big screen again. Ben Barnes does a decent job and Robin Williams is once again under utilized.
There was the potential there to have a really great ensemble comedy. Sadly it was not taken advantage of. A big name cast does elevate the material above being horrible.
The wave of films for seniors continues. Once again we see that older people seem to enjoy a bit of music in their retirement.
It always feels a bit weird going into a film where you know one of the main characters is going to die. You know that you are bound to cry at some stage. It is always hard for me to get too emotional in these situations as you know the crying is coming so that lessens the impact. I usually get more emotional when I don't know that the reaction is coming. It is always interesting to see how the characters in a film deal with the impending death of their loved one. In this film Arthur gets angry. Despite being such an unappealing character Arthur, you come to understand Arthur and why he is so mad at life and the world for letting his wife get cancer. And even though he is so grumpy and irritating his wife Marion still loves him. The film is not just all doom and gloom as it has many funny moments. There is a great deal of charm and sweetness to the film which makes it really pleasant to watch. But there are also some very sad moments which means you are bound to feel the full gamut with this one. The message I think is that old one of music calming the savage beast.
This may not sound like a compliment but Terrence Stamp has that look and nature of being a grumpy old bastard. He plays that tough side so well. But what also manages to do here is show his softer side as well. It is this soft side which makes us come to love Arthur despite his sometimes mean attitude. Vanessa Redgrave is simply delightful as the title character. She is able to really bring out her characters love of Arthur very nicely. Gemma Arterton is sweet as the choir master. Even if it seemed a little implausible that her character is not very popular. I was really surprised at how good Christopher Eccleston was. Even when playing good guy he has a nasty streak to him. But here he is a really nice guy.
Yes you will need to take tissues with you to see this film. I hope that does not put you off though as it is a very sweet film.
While Australia did not invent surfing, but with our country being surrounded by water means we have grown to love this sport.
My father and brother were surf life savers and enjoy going to the beach. So I grew up with surfers in the family. While it was not an activity that I would like to partake in, there still is a little bit of interest there. Australia has not only produced some of the world's best surfers but we also produced some of the world's best surf equipment companies. This is the story of how a surf company started. The film is fictional but some of the events are real. At the core of this film is a brilliant story about two brothers who share a passion for surfing. That is not a relatable topic for me I still enjoyed this aspect of the story. Writers Tim Duffy and Morgan O'Neill have not only crafted a great story but great characters as well. You can really tell why they are so passionate about surfing and what makes them enjoy it so much. Why they are willing to sacrifice so much to pursue this passion. The film also looks beautiful with some quite magnificent surfing photography. My only minor quibble is that the film needed some small trimming. It did feel a little bit long.
Myles Pollard has been in many films and TV series but I have not really noticed him until now. Myles is brilliant as the older brother and father figure Andy. Myles' passion for the film comes out in his performance. Xavier Samuel is also excellent as the rascal of the family. He gives a really charming performance. Lesley-Ann Brandt makes a delightful love interest that the brothers fight over. Kat Kelly is wonderful as the emotional core of the film, the mother. The biggest surprise is Sam Worthington. Taking time out from his busy career in Hollywood serves him well as he gets to give excellent performances in roles like this.
Once again Australia has produced an excellent film about a subject that we feel passionately about. Well worth seeing on the big screen to see the spectacular surfing the way it was meant to be seen.
He was one of the biggest movie stars. But now Robert Redford is taking a more low key approach to his movies.
The Vietnam War is one of those events that polarized many people. Many believe it should not have happened. Much like the recent Iraq War there were many protests against it. But in the 1970's they seemed to have taken more drastic measures to get their message across. There is a fascinating idea here about what happens to these protestors when they grow older. Specifically ones who were not caught and sent to prison. This is a low key thriller about what happens to these protestors. There are many old fashioned elements like the sub plot involving a reporter trying to track down Jim Grant the former activist. It is the type of detective work that we do not get to see in movies these days. But it is one of the film's, not so much bad points, but more interesting. Jim is not only being pursued by a reporter but the FBI as well. But somehow the reporter, Ben, does a better job of finding Jim than the FBI. Perhaps because the reporter uses more shifty methods than the FBI. I do think the film could have benefited from a bit more thrills. We do not feels all that tense during the film. Jim seems to elude capture quite easily on many occasions. But perhaps that is not the angle Robert was going for. It is still quite a good film and very entertaining.
One of the biggest elements the film does have going for it is the tremendous cast Robert has assembled. I got the feeling that this film was a quasi sequel to 'Sneakers'. Roberts character is much the same as the one he played in that film. There is no doubt he has a great deal of charisma. But it is still weird to see a 77 year-old man with an 8 year-old daughter. I've not been all that impressed with Shia LaBeouf but his normally arrogant attitude suits this character quite well. I was also quite impressed by Julie Christie. She has a small but significant role and manages to make the best of it. The other roles are filled with many familiar faces that do a very good job in their small roles.
A great premise that will good could have done with a bit more thrills to make it impressive. Still worth seeing for the cast alone.
Part of being an uncle is taking your nephew to films that you may not ordinarily see on your own.
It is very rare for us to see films coming from South Africa, let alone animated films. It is great to see them producing films that show off their country. Many animated films these days are aimed at appealing to as broad an audience as possible in order to make enough money to cover their huge budgets. This film is clearly aimed at a younger audience, something that I think many other animated films miss out on. Other films try to add mature humour so as adults don't feel like taking their kids to these types of films is a chore. Films of this kind normally go straight to DVD/Blu-ray. The story is very simplistic and the drama is not too thrilling so as to not frighten the little ones too much.
I think there might be some appeal to adults to hear some of the famous voices in the cast Samuel L. Jackson makes a nice fatherly figure. Jeff Goldblum provides much of the films humour. Leonard Nimoy is great as a distinguished leader.
While this may not appeal to the adults taking their children to a film like this, it does fill a hole in the market for younger children that I think is sometimes over looked by some of the bigger animated films.
Just when you thought the franchise had died they make another one. I think 'Paranormal Activity' is responsible.
You are probably wondering why I would go see this film. I have two words for you: David Zucker. One of my all time favourite films is 'The Naked Gun', which was co-written and directed by David. With his brother Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, David created some of the funniest films ever made. I think it was this reputation was why David called in to write and direct 'Scary Movie 3' and '4'. This time he is only writing but it is still a major disappointment. I like to think that David is only doing these films to make money because there is nothing funny about them. It is quite obvious that they are aimed at a teenage audience but it feels like they are written by a teenager as well. There is very little by way of plot except some vague references to 'Paranormal Activity' and 'Mama'. It is a flimsy excuse to make lame jokes about various horror and non-horror films. What I did find funny about the film is that there are references here that I'm sure many Australian teenagers would know very little about.
In fairness the cast of the film do a reasonably decent job considering the material they have been given. They are not able to elevate the humour at all. Then again most are not known for being terribly funny anyway. There are several 'celebrity' cameos to keep the kids interested but even those jokes fall flat.
I like to think that there is still some greatness left in David Zucker. That these films just pay the bills. I hope he goes back to greatness soon.
I do not think that many people appreciate the times we live in. Cavemen certainly had a tough time, as this film demonstrates.
They will no doubt deny it but I've always felt that DreamWorks animation have either unknowingly or knowingly made films similar to others that are either in development or been released. You only need to look at their very first film 'Antz'. When I first saw the trailer for this film I thought the story looked almost identical to 'Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs', but with the animals being played by humans. I know I am being very picky but I think I hold some of these animated studios up to a higher standard than some others. Despite the level of familiarity I did quite enjoy this film. One thing that DreamWorks films have going for them is their use of 3D. Because their CEO Jeffery Katzenberg is a big proponent of the format their films are usually filled with scenes that are made for that format. Which is why I enjoyed this film. It is full of great action sequences that look incredible in 3D. The film is well worth seeing just for that aspect. The plot is the typical story of a father's over protection taken to extremes. This gives the film much of its humour and in that respect the film is quite funny. The characters are also well made too which makes it an enjoyable experience.
Another thing DreamWorks likes to do is to cast famous names. Sometimes this can be of a detriment to the film. What I liked about this film is that the animators have made the characters resemble the actor who provides their voice in some small way. Emma Stone is a brilliant actress in live action films and proves here she is also brilliant at vocal work. She can convey the drama and comedy of each situation so well. This would have to be one of the best things that Nicolas Cage has done in a long time. He makes an excellent paranoid father. Ryan Reynolds is also very good as the families new recruit and guide. I was a little disappointed that Catherine Keener does not get much to do in the film but she is still a very good mother. Clark Duke provides much of then film more funnier moments. The legendary Cloris Leachman does a fine job in a clichéd grandmother role.
I went in with very low expectations and ended up enjoying the film more than I thought. Well worth seeing in 3D if you get the chance.
The White House is allegedly the most heavily fortified place on earth. Is that why it has taken so long for film makers to make a film about it being taken over.
Much like the battle of the Snow White films last year, this year we have the battle of the 'taking over the White House' films. And much like last year's battle we get a hardcore version of the story and a soft-core version. This is very much the hardcore version. Hardcore is probably putting it lightly. Subtle does not seem to be a word in director Antoine Fuqua's vocabulary. While I like films with lots of action I think there can be a limit to how they are handled. I would have preferred a situation where the White House was taken over in a more stealthy way. The big assault on the White House, while spectacular, is very much over the top and a bit ridiculous. The same can be said of all the action in the film. I found many of the plot points to be rather silly as well. Antoine and his writers have not managed to make them seem believable. They come across as really ridiculous. That's aside from the fact that they are clichéd and predictable.
Despite all this silliness, Antoine has assembled quite an impressive ensemble cast. Gerard Butler seems to be then only one of them, though, that has pitched his performance to fit in with the tone of the film. It's like his character somehow knows that this is all silly but goes along with it. Aaron Eckhart spends most of his time tied to a railing acting all noble and angry. He is unable to being much to such a limited role. Angela Bassett, much like Gerard has also gotten on the right wave length of the film's tone. I really felt sorry for such a distinguished actress like Melissa Leo who is treated rather shabbily here. I know the role calls for it but just seems wrong. Morgan Freeman does add a level of dignity but it is not enough to elevate the film.
I will be interested to see how the master of disaster Roland Emmerich handles this story in a few months. Hopefully it will not be as silly as this film is.
Each year we get to see some of the films that were honoured with an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language film.
Scientists are an interesting bunch. Most of them when they get set onto a coarse of action regarding a subject, they never give it up and usually to the detriment of friends and/or family. That is certainly the case with Thor Heyerdal. You have to admire his tenacity in trying to prove his theory. Directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg have done a very good job at getting across that passion. What they seem to lack is making the journey that Thor and his mates go on interesting. Earlier this year Ang Lee set the bar pretty high for films about people (or person) stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The events that these guys go through are not all that different to what Pi experienced. But Ang made the journey more interesting. Ang did have a great book to work from and it had a certain fantasy element, so that's why he could do more. There are a few thrilling moments with encounters with sea creatures but they are few and far between. Most of the time the boys are lamenting the fact that they might not be going in the right direction. One other problem I had was the lack of background for Thor's mates and crew. His three mates seem rather keen to go on this treacherous journey but we do not know why. Are they such good friends that they will follow Thor anywhere? I would have liked a scene where Thor asks them to join him and try to convince them to join him.
Pal Sverre Hagen is very good as Thor. He does come across as very plain though. Pal does a good job of showing Thor's determination but I kind of expected a little more. Anders Baasmo Christiansen does a better job with his character. As the engineer who help Thor with the design of the boat and agrees to go on the journey but later regrets it, Anders is given more to work with. Gustaf Skarsgard is also very good and provides much of the film's humour with his witty lines. Agnes Kittelsen is excellent as Thor's poor suffering wife. While she was willing to follow him after they got married, she looses interest when they have children. That is one of the film's good parts where we see how selfish Thor is in going on this journey.
A good but not great film about a group of crazy Norwegians. I did not find it as inspiring as I had hoped.
Let Phase Two begin.
I had very high expectations when going to see this film. Obviously there was the fact that it is an Iron Man film but it is the film's co-writer and director that was the biggest factor for my excitement. One of my all time favourite films is 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' written and directed by Shane Black. So I got really excited when he signed on for 'Iron Man 3'. And I was not disappointed. I have seen the film twice now and I thought it was better the second time around. Shane and his co-writer Drew Pearce have crafted an excellent story that takes the events of 'The Avengers' and sees how Tony Stark deals with them. I liked how the story had a nice emotional element to it, largely from the fact that his friends are more involved in the story. There is also the story sending up the recent War on Terror as well. Shane has a long career of making great action films and he has brought that lengthy experience to this film. The action scenes are well choreographed and quite thrilling. My favourite being Iron Man's rescue of people who fall out of Air Force One. The biggest pleasure though was how funny the film is. There are many clever and witty lines in the film as well as some hilarious situations. The sequence where Tony teams up with a young kid reminded me a lot of 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' except Robert was playing the Val Kilmer role. It also sets up what I think maybe an Iron Man replacement.
With word that this maybe the last Iron Man film that Robert Downey Jnr. is in I pity who ever has to follow him up. Robert has definitely made his mark on the character. You really feel like he is Tony Stark. Shane has certainly been kind to Robert by giving him some hilarious lines to say as well. Shane has also beefed up Gwyneth Paltrow's role too. Gwyneth also gets to be involved in the action more as well. She does an excellent job of it and hopefully we get to see her in more action roles in the future. Sadly the same cannot be said of Don Cheadle. While he does play an important role in the film I would like to have him more involved in the story. Guy Pearce is another one of those actors that can do any role he is given. My only problem here is that he is playing a bad guy again. I'd like to see him play a good guy for a change. Rebecca Hall is very sweet as one of Tony's former girlfriends. Jon Favreau also has a nice plot as Tony's former bodyguard. The best performance though, as you would expect, is Ben Kingsley. I cannot say much more but he is incredibly funny.
I think this might be my favourite film of the series. An excellent action film that is also incredibly funny. Shane Black firmly cements himself as not only one of my favourite writers but directors as well.
