Avengers - Age of Ultron

I have to admit, I am a little bit of a Marvel Fan, and now so is my lovely wife.  I think although I may have introduced her to Iron Man a couple of years ago just so I had someone to go to the cinema with for these little films, Clare has now become as much of a fan as I am.

As a continuation of the Marvel Universe franchise headed by Kevin Feige, Josh Whedon returns to the helm with his second outing with the Avengers.  All our favourites are back, Ironman, Cap, Hulk, Hawkeye and Scarlet Johannson trying to save the world from new threats and themselves.

When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner create an artificial intelligence using their Ultron Program, the AI becomes self aware and sees the Avengers as a threat to humanity.  Recruiting fellow Stark haters Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, they launch attack after attack on our valiant heroes.

The set pieces in AoU are fantastic, from the opening scene of the take down of Baron Von Stucker to the Hulk Buster or an awesome truck battle, there is no scene without spectacle.  When it takes a little respite in the mid section so we can warm towards the lesser known characters  (Avengers without their stand alone films), I could see some younger children longing for more action, but I felt this helped warm more to Hawkeye or Black Widow, why are they with the team? They are not God's or Super Soldiers or hulking green monsters, but their reasoning is just.

There are a few running jokes that work perfectly through the whole film and bring some well placed quips between main heroes.  Some nods for the geeks and easter eggs that I have definitely missed but may take them in on a second viewing.  There are a couple of moments that are set ups for later films such as Wakanda (Black Panther) and the Infinity Gems, and Ragnarok but sadly no Spiderman....yet.

The Avengers AoU will take a fortune at the box office and justly so, it is a great blockbuster film full of laughs, not as dark as I was anticipating (I was told it was the Marvel's answer to Empire), and Ultron is a great bad guy.

I can't wait for the next set of Marvel Films....

For a different review (and one in all shiny, singing and dancing IMAX), please see Rosh's thoughts here: http://roshfak.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/avengers-losing-my-imax-virginity.html

The Town That Dreaded Sundown

A Meta Horror Sequel with style

Apparently in the 1970's a film was released called "The Town That Dreaded Sundown", this was in turn based on a grizzly set of unsolved murders in the sleepy town of Texarkana.   A serial killer nicknamed "The Phantom" killed 5 and injured two more teenagers and to this day the murders remain unsolved.

TTTDS (2015) is based in the same town and the 1970's film is shown annually in the town to remind them of the horrors that occured.  This has become a town festival as teens come out to the local drive through and take in the low budget horror film with glee.

When the murders start up again, and follow the same chronology as the film/original murders, a local girl starts to investigate as well as the town police department

TTTDS has a real 70's feel to the style and music used, the kills are gruesome and it follows the "Slasher" style horror of Halloween or Friday 13th perfectly.  The meta references become a little annoying at certain points, but all-in-all it is what it says on the tin.

The ending was a real let down as they killer was revealed I had little concern or interest to who it actually was (and to be honest, I didn't really care).  I was happy for the killer to remain anonymous and the mystery continue, but this was the only real let down for me.

There are some great moments though, and an ingenious use of a trombone that has to be seen to be believed.  A few actors had me scratching my head to where I had seen them before.

A great little low budget slasher film that seems to be something that modern-day cinema has forgotton

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

09/04/2015 - 20:15 Bolton

There is not much point reviewing Blade Runner as everyone who wants to have seen it has already watched it, and those that are not interested never will.

What I can say though is how the cinema was full to the brim with avid film goers all ready for a couple of hours of classic sci-fi.  There were very few seats remaining, and 90% of the crowd had purchased snacks to partake in throughout this masterpiece. Why do we not get more of these events?

I went to watch the showing of Ghostbusters, Pulp Fiction and Sin City last year and on each occasion, the cinema was full. It is great to see so many people going to the cinema to watch films from a classic era, and it got me thinking, what others would I love to go and see?

The obvious ones for this year are Back to the Future (Part II) with Marty McFly going forward to the year 2015, The Original Star Wars Trilogy with the release of Episode VII at the end of the year and Jurassic Park with the World being visited again soon.  But what about others such as Jaws, Alien, Godfather, classics that we grew up with such as The Goonies, Poltergeist (could be another contender for the year as the remake is due out), Stand By Me?.

There are so many films that I, as a film lover, would willingly see on the big silver screen.  If this was a bi-monthly event, or even once a month, Classic Cinema, I would be there waving the flag.

There is a new Cinema opening up in Bolton Town Centre that I believe will really struggle against the larger companies such as Cineworld and Vue with their free car parks and out of town traffic, unless they have some good ideas, maybe the Classic Cinema approach is a way to get more bums on seats.

Thank you Cineworld for hosting these events, but I would love more....

John Wick - Unlimited Screening

07/04/2015 20:15 - Bolton

Treated to an unlimited screening and a free bag of Jelly Bunnies, I sat waiting for John Wick to start. In a cinema full of Cineworld Unlimited pass holders, I was bemused by the amount of talking, rustling and general "Code of Conduct" violations from people who must frequent the cinema on a regular basis.  Admittedly, this was mainly through the trailers, but even at the start of the film I was blessed on hearing how someone's day at work had been filing for Trafford Council.  These people should know better.  Giving free noisy bags to an entire cinema crowd really does make for a loud rustling at the start of a film, but rant over, I did enjoy some bunnies myself too.

With an emotional start quickly giving you a back story into the latter end of John's "career", I was engaged almost immediately.  Very stylistic and almost comic-book-esque with it's motives and bad guys, John Wick is set on a path of destruction when his car is stolen and his last link to his recently buried wife is taken from him.  All the big bosses know who John Wick is and what he is capable of, and the citadel is worried to have such a tour-de-force back on the scene.

For the first hour or so, John Wick is very funny, suave, enjoyable until the inevitable tropes begin. The big Russian mafia boss puts out a hit on John and will stop at nothing till he is out of the picture, that is until he captures John and tells him all his plans and then just walks away leaving the task to his incapable henchmen.  This is when I kind of lost interest, from this point the film just plodded on for no reason, no real point to it.  The vendetta from the start had been settled, the contract on John revoked, yet for some strange reason, knowing of his Boogeyman status, the Russian mob still go after him instead of just leaving it alone. 

What could have been very entertaining, turned to point and click action, against nameless, faceless adversaries.

Well, at least I got a free bag of Jelly Bunnies.

Fast and Furious 7

03/04/2015 :10:45am - Bolton

I can't decide which of the two Bank Holiday films were less based in reality, Spongebob: The Movie or Fast 'n' Furious

I am new to the Fast franchise after seeing the first one and then leaving it a fair few years until Roshtakular told me to watch 5 and 6 due to the inclusion of Dwayne Johnson.  Again, I must admit, I only watched the 6th installment, but was entertained throughout.  The action is over the top, the characters are super human and the stunts absolutely bonkers, but still very entertaining.

Clare had seen less of the franchise than myself, having seen the first one many years ago, but the 7th installment held a little intrigue due to the Paul Walker incident.  Wondering how it was to be handled.

Following straight after the events of Furious 6, the brother of the last film's protagonist is out for revenge against Vin Diesel and his "Family".  Jason Statham, as the brother, is a mean machine with a real screen presence that isn't utilised fully enough, just turning up at inopportune moments to mess with the crew and their plans.  

There are plenty of bombastic scenes such as the bus chase sequence, the drone in London, but the Dubai Tower jump scene for me was just so out of this world, it was brilliant.  You really have to leave all reality at the door, and just sit back and enjoy.

Fast 7 is an enjoyable ride making so little sense and again the Rock is just superb, "Lady, I am the back up!"

A fitting tribute to Mr Walker is played at the end of the film that may bring a little tear to your eye.

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water

1st April 2015: Bolton 18:30

Bonkers, completely and utterly bonkers, but great fun all the way!

With my nephew up for the Easter Break, it was a perfect excuse to go and watch The Spongebob Movie.  Clare was not really interested in going so I needed someone with similar humour to join me.

I had not seen an episode of Spongebob for well over ten years, and can honestly say I am not a massive fan, but the original Nickelodeon programs such as this and Ren & Stimpy hold a dear place in my heart for being a little different.

When Plankton attempts to steal the secret formula of the Crabby Patties (again) something goes a little awry and the formula just disappears.  Thought to be in cahoots with Plankton, Spongebob has to go on the run and try to solve the mystery of the missing formula.  Obviously this involves time travel, an inter-dimensional dolphin, brain surgery and the apocalypse.  Perfect sense!

Don't be fooled from the trailer by thinking the film is mainly based in the "real world" with 3d versions of the beloved characters as this is the last 10 minutes of the film.  90% is based around Bikini Bottom with the original style of animation, which for me is a lot better.

Some great voice talents in this and some "I know that voice" moments, with English actors and celebs voicing characters for the UK version.

I can honestly say that Spongebob, as whacky and bizarre as it is, made me laugh a lot more than the 6-laugh-test and is a very entertaining film to watch.  Just remember, if you watch it whilst under the influence of alcohol of any other substance you may start seeing Bubbles!