Star Wars Episode VII : The Force Awakens

December 17th 2015 - Bolton - 00:05

Grauman's Chinese Theatre, LA, 1977.  Thousands of unaware fans lined up around the block to watch a new benchmark in cinematic history.  What they encountered was visual effects that rivalled anything they had seen before.  Mind's were blown away by what they had seen and the adventure that accompanied them spoke to the hearts of millions

Cineworld, Bolton, 2015.  With every seat taken and extra screens opened for the midnight screening of the next episode in the franchise that had been tarnished more than blessed, I sat in the midst of Star Wars t-shirts, hoodies and two guys who had taken it a little too far, thinking to myself....."Help us obi JJ Kenobi, you're our only hope".  I can say that just over two hours later I knew how the 1977 queuing masses felt, I had just been blown away by visual beauty, stunned by dog fights of mesmeric wonder, witnessed an adventure that had heart but I also had a sense that through all the nostalgia it seemed ever so familiar.  In fact, with hidden plans, super bases and helmeted villains it seemed very familiar indeed.

I am not one to give away any spoilers, and feel that Episode VII is something that most of the population will get some great enjoyment out of, so talking about the plot will be for another reviewer to do, for me this film was either going to go two ways

The way of the Jedi - realising what captured the imaginations of all the people who love and grew up with the original trilogy.  Understanding that fancy green screen effects and shiny CGI holds nothing without character and emotional connection.  Effects are there to increase the world's environment not to be the focal point.  In 1977, although the effects ILM created were mindbogglingly amazing for the time, they were limited and only used when necessary

The way of the Menace - back in 1999, just after Lucas had decided to butcher the original trilogy for the first time, I queued for the midnight screening of the phantom menace.  I remember leaving confused.  I should have loved it, but what was it about...and why? Plastic characters already resembling their Kenner counterparts, no depth and the most confusing and convoluted plot. Little thought put into story and characters. Instead of blowing me away, I felt like I had watched a cartoon.

The Force Awakens cannot hide from the fact that it is an almost replica of the first two film combined.  Note for note copies of plot points, character motivations and even a cantina (although missing a favourite amputee).  Yet, it has it's extra slices of brilliance thrown in for good measure.

I was fearful of the main character having attended the Hayden Christian School of acting as her first scene followed two acting greats Max Von Sydow and Oscar Isaac and she really didn't not hold up, but as the film progressed I slowly began to forgive her and as the character grew so did my compassion for her.

Thankfully, all though not perfect, JJ has created something magical again.  Reinvigorating the love of Star Wars that has always been with me but reliant on the strength of the first (chronologically) two and a half films. Thankfully there are now three and a half great Star Wars films, which put them in the majority!

Krampus

10 December 2015 - Bolton - 16:10

My wife asked me recently what films I would like to watch this Christmas on the run up to the festive day?  Thinking of the obvious ones like Muppets Christmas Carol, Elf, Home Alone, It's a Wonderful life etc, I discounted them and thought of the more traditional.  Die Hard 1 & 2 and Gremlins.

Gremlins is a fantastic Christmas film and one worth a watch every year.  It combines comedy, horror and festive times all into one nostalgic classic.  So imagine my surprise to see a new horror festive comedy hitting the screens this Christmas, Krampus.

When a young boy loses his belief a few days before Christmas due to family issues and the in-laws from Hell, a frozen desert descends upon his sleepy town isolating the feuding family from the rest of society.  What they originally think as a freak storm turns out to be an increasing nightmare of Anti-Christmas, CG filled torment.

What it fails to do primarily is give you character to like so the terror they are facing is "terrible".  I cannot say I actually cared about any of the family, possibly Omi, but she had a dark past that made her unbearable too.

The creatures that bring forth Krampus, doing his dirty work before he arrives, are laughably rubbish.  The Gingerbread trio look like something out of a Warner Brother Cartoon and should be battling Wile Coyote rather than in a mainstream film.  

That aside, there are some practical effects in the film as well, mainly the Krampus character, when not leaping from roof to roof.  However, this just makes it stand out more against the cartoon-esque harbingers.

I think I will be sticking to the Joe Dante Christmas this year for my Crimbo Horror Comedy film

The Lady in the Van

5th December 2015 - Bolton - 15:20

Knowing little of Alan Bennett, but a big fan of Maggie Smith, I wanted to see this adaption of the play and book as soon as I saw the trailer.

Quintessentially British through and through, The Lady in the Van is a beautiful story of some true nature.  When the transient Mrs Shepherd parks her van on the playwrights driveway after being threatened by the council, what follows is 15 years of cantankerous behaviour and a friendship of bizarre qualities

This needs to be an oscar nomination for both Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings as two Alan Bennetts.  Both parts play off each other perfectly and I found myself laughing and smiling along with the unfolding story.  Nothing much happens for the full running time, but the characters on screen are engaging.  Even side characters such as the residents of the street who all become fond of Mrs Shepherd, despite her constant abuse, or the social worker assigned to helping her are all very entertaining

For someone who is unfamiliar with the stage play, book or pretty much anything Bennett, the Lady in the Van had little new to offer, the finale was obvious and the story in between tick all the same tropes.  What this film had to offer though was character and charm, a charm that brings you along for the ride (or park as it may be) and entertains you throughout,