Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Cineworld Bolton: 31st January 2015

Any film that starts with things blowing up to Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" is on to a winner for me.

Clare and I had seen the trailers for this a couple of months ago, and I really thought this was not something Clare would fancy.  Not a fan of the Bond genre or anything too violent, I thought this would be a Pondo only experience,. how wrong I was.  

On the way to the cinema, Clare was telling me how the young actor in this film had not really done much before and was commended on his acting skills and also his personality by other cast and crew, how Colin Firth did his own stunts and how much she was looking forward to the film.

Set in a Bond Style Universe with meta references throughout, Kingsman:TSS has a very similar feel to the original 60s/70s era.  The Kingsman are a secret organisation of high class gentlemen with a certain set of skills and qualities.  When one of their knights, Lancelot, is killed in action (it happens at the very start of the film so it is not a spoiler!), each Kingsman has to present a "potential" for replacement.  Colin Firth's Galahad, yes they are all named after the Knights of the Round Table, chooses the son a previous Lancelot who has been brought up on the wrong side of the tracks since his fathers death.

How Kingsman: TSS got the 15 certificate is beyond me.  The profanities are vulgar and the violence is bloody and graphic, I think the BBFC actually saw a different cut of this film before offering the certification.  In one scene in a church, Colin Firth goes a little off the rails, due to a plot point that I am not giving away, and the violence that ensues for a good five minutes is just brutal.  Knives in heads, priest impalement, beheading and more of the likes, thankfully it is all played out to the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird which puts it alongside the "Shaun of the Dead - Don't Stop me Now" brilliance

Samual L Jackson plays a brilliant villain, Mark Strong as Merlin is just superb, Michael Caine is Micheal Caine and it took me a few seconds to spot that Mr Luke Skywalker himself was the good Doctor.

Matthew Vaughn has directed a winner here for me, fun story, great action and a call to the Bond franchise of old.  Damn good fun!

I was thinking though, how awesome would it have been with Sean Connery as Arthur, Roger Moore as Lancelot, Brosnan as Galahad, Dalton, Lazenby and Craig all in the mix and then Desmond Llewelyn as Merlin, but that is just me geeking out!

Taken 3

Cineworld Bolton: 25th January 2015

Taken 3 (or Tak3n)

So, Brain Mills is back and has tak3n some life coaching skills off John McClaine, no matter how hard the bad guys try, they will not tak3 you down.

Framed for the murder of his wife, Liam N33sson goes on the hunt to find those responsible whilst being chased by a team of better than average cops led by Forrest Whittaker who has two ticks (always playing with a chess piece and twanging an elastic band), not the usual one for a high intelligence detective, so he must be good.

Through the next couple of days, Forrest Whittaker learns that the case is not as open and shut as expected and starts to side with Brian.  Richard Kimble, sorry, Brian Mills has to try to solve the murder, find the suspects, protect his daughter from being tak3n and evade the cops, which sometimes results in a few civilian casualties.

If you want a run of the Mill(s) action adventure then this is a fun ride, nothing out of the ordinary and nothing new, but still it is a Tak3n film and they seem to work.  I can definitely see T4ken in production as Tak3n took over $50 million in it's opening weekend, so they are on to a winner, but  how far can they tak3 it till it becomes as daft as the Die Hard franchise, although they have dropped the age certificate from a 15 to a 12a which is a step in the wrong direction

One question though? How in the name of Zeus' Butt Hole did Brian get out of the "Car fallen down a car park lift shaft that explodes seconds after falling many stories" situation? Pinned down by 100's of police, Brian reverses the car down a lift shaft, when it hits the bottom it explodes which pretty much tak3s out the whole section of car park.  Minutes later, he is then on the phone to Forrest, no indication of how he got there without a scar or essence of singe

American Sniper

Cineworld Leigh: 23rd January 2015

American Sniper

I had not seen any trailers or information regarding this film, with our Amsterdam holiday and generally being busy we had not been to the cinema for a couple of weeks, so I knew nothing much at all.

Based on the biography of Chris Kyle (the Legend), a celebrated was hero and sniper elite over four tours of duty who seemingly struggled to leave the war and brothers behind whilst at home with his wife and family.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, who seemingly does not know how to cut a script down, I thought American Sniper was an entertaining film, but many sections dragged out more than they should have.  Bradley Cooper thankfully leaves the increasingly worse Hangover films behind him and proves he is a worthy actor, with American Hustle last year and American Sniper this year his acting prowess is improving, and I await the next Bradley Cooper film with "American" in the title.

There were a couple of sections in the film that really didn't sit well with me, one being an ambush during a sand storm near the climax of the film.  As the sand storm hit (and I know Clint was going for the effect of how difficult it was to see in the storm.) 5 minutes of gritty sandy film were nothing was clear at all was more annoying than engaging.

I like a few of Clint Eastwood Directorial films, but American Sniper just didn't hit the mark, it was ok, but just plodded by for a few hours.

I don't think it needs much analysing or critique as there doesn't seem much to the film.  He is truly an America hero, but the English in me just doesn't really get the glowing patriotism

The Theory of Everything

The Theory of Everything

Cineworld Bolton: 1st January 2015

I know of Professor Stephen Hawking, I have grown up knowing he is that guy in the wheelchair with the robotic voice and is proper clever.  Apart from that, I was no more informed about the genius in the chair.  After seeing the trailer, Clare was more interested in watching The Theory of Everything more than I was, but I went along for the ride.

Starting from Stephen's time at Cambridge University before the Motor Neurone Disease kicked in, it showed how his life and love was.  Brains of the class and a beautiful girl by his side.  Once the MND took over his life and he was given a couple of years to live the truth really hit.  

Whilst I was watching The Theory I was thinking to myself, this is just like Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot, it is guaranteed an Oscar just because of the portrayal, I will have to wait to see if my prediction is correct.  Eddie Redmayne is excellent in the role and is perfectly believable throughout, as well as Felicity Jones as his wife. The film shows the difficulties and strains put on the marriage throughout the decay of Stephen's disease.

I did find myself empathising for Jane (Felicity Jones) as her career and dreams are put on the back burner as she becomes a carer to a brilliant mind and a mother to three children.  When help eventually comes in, how Jane had coped prior without much help is amazing.

After leaving the film I have considered downloading "A Brief History Of Time" to have a read through on my generic reading tablet device, intrigued to learn more.  This proves that the power of cinema transcends different genres.

The Theory of Everything does drag in certain parts, but it has come out at the Oscar Nomination time so one can expect a different class of film at this time of year.

I found the film more interesting than I had thought I would and with the roles perfectly played out I was engaged throughout.