The Hobbit & Skyfall

Well I can truly say if these are the last two films of the year for me, what a way to end. Firstly Skyfall, a film that promised so much and actually delivered. This film has Craig being allowed to truly embody Bond and at the same time having fun. The welcome return of humour, and recognisable characters being reintroduced into their rebooted persona's is welcome. The feels like a new revitalised Bond, if Casino Royale was a wake up call, then this is the full stop and next sentence.
  As a Bond fan I loved the new Q, I loved the fact that for the first time in the last four films there was a memorable villain portrayed with show stopping vigour by Jarvier Bardem. This film hit every mark well and in Bond parley it hit the Bullseye and left its mark. I eagerly await the next film and I hope its not too long a wait this time.
 Yesterday I visited my favourite local cinema to capture the Hobbit in all its full 48 fps glory. I was sort of edgy about this choice, early press reviews were mixed claiming a video like sheen to preceding and that the highly detailed image exposed flaws in make-up and environments.
Now I'm not a Tolkien fan, I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy as a cinematic work, as a piece of drama and as a bravo piece of film making. The Hobbit is a lighter tale that the Rings trilogy, it takes place in a happier period of middle earth history and is very much a children's tale told to entertain and excite.
Jackson is  a director that excites ever since Bad Taste I have sought out each of his films. There is only one of his films that I find hard to be entertained by, and that is Meet the Feebles.  Even when flawed his work still delivers. Kong is too long, but so many scenes post arrival to Skull Island hit the mark, I still love the film. Lovely Bones is another work that for me is a perfect adaption of the book but Its hard to say I could watch it again. Because you still have to get past the initial act that deprives the heroine of her life and that is I think the one element of the film that audiences find hard to get past. But moments, beats work powerfully for me having read the book well before it became a film I knew what to expect, and felt it was a brave choice for Peter Jackson to make after Kong.
Its a sign of our times that success in film seems now to be based on box office performance and not on how good the film is, or how on a story telling level it succeeds.
The Hobbit is good, no hell its great. Yes it is a good hour too long, yes out of 13 dwarves only three really stick out in the memory but with another two films yet to come there is time for them to shine. As the opening part it works on all levels and with a welcome dose of humour. Martin Freeman delivers a great Bilbo and not to many liberties are taken with the story. This is recognisably the Hobbit  with a few minor tweaks which suggest big pay-offs further down the line. Nobody does Fantasy like Jackson and I came away from the film excited and with the damn Misty Mountains song cycling through my brain. The High frame rate issue I will tackle separately it deserves it. But I will be seeing this film again, it will be High Frame Rate and hopefully Dolby Atmos. I loved it and this is the perfect Christmas  Present on which to end the yearn.
So now I shall ponder my views on the High frame rate and post within the next day or so when I have let it all sink in.

The Hobbit Wellington Premiere

Well a great time was had by all, and as promised here are few pictures from the Wellington Premiere. It was a blazing hot Wednesday afternoon and there was a lot to see, and the air was buzzing with excitement  I've posted some of the clearer pictures I took , a lot of them involved avoiding heads, and other photographers didn't come out so great.

It was a long wait, the cavalcade of stars not arriving until about 4.30 pm at which time I had been waiting for two hours and was about ready to drop. But we were all in good spirits even if some of us were moaning about not getting a Gandalf style promotional Hobbit hat.  I had bought a Hobbit premiere t-shirt so looked the part, but as you will see from my pictures there were a lot of cosplay characters dotted around. I counted quite a few Hobbit s, 1 Gandalf and one Wring Wraith. Fortunately there were no Gollums present.

Hobbit premiere , artisan market, and Gandalf at the Embassy

Well today Sunday 25th of November was spent with my family in Central Wellington. I had but two goals. To view the Embassy canopy with its new Gandalf installation.

Then with a sharp turn left we were met by our local councils tribute to Middle Earth. It shows Wellington city rising up in the heart of Middle Earth. Now imagine this scene on the day of the Premiere this street will be closed off to traffic and filled with fans hoping for a site of the stars and the films director.

But the main purpose of our being in Wellington CBD was the Artisan Fayre which I referred to in  my last post. So what follows is just a flavour of Sunday at the Fayre. Various craftsmen and women, plus larger companies such as NZ Post and Air New Zealand advertised their links with the new film and various practical demonstrations of makeup, clothing and weapons were taking place on a small stage with large screen pumping out images to the gathering crowd. It was a family day out and there was a great atmosphere. I have a feeling that getting anywhere near the Embassy theatre on Premiere day will be optomistic. But I will be taking my camera.

So here are a few images as promised  to give you and idea at the interest approaching the Premiere.

Bag end arrives in Wellington.

Well by next weekend my mission will be to photograph the new Bag End sculpture that today arrived on the canopy of the Embassy cinema in Wellington. The home of the Hobbit premiere on November 28th. Traffic was being diverted today as the artwork was being put in place.




Also this week the Waitangi Park Artisan fare at will open which in the lead up to the Hobbit premiere will be showing the Lord of the Rings trilogy on giant screens. It will also be televising Premiere highlights as they take place. Again due to its close proximity to the Embassy I will be out with my camera to try and capture some of the things going on and sharing on my blog. More importantly the Artisan fare will give those artists and craftsman a place to showcase their skills and work to the public.

The lull before the Storm, Skyfall, Hobbits and Blu rays

Well things have been sort of quiet, most of the movies recently released in NZ have held very little appeal to me. Its sort of like having gorged myself and over indulged over the last three months of blockbuster season and having a mild case of cinematic indigestion.
I guess with the likes of the Avengers I had been spoiled. But recently I managed to catch and enjoy Karl Urban as the Icon Judge Dredd in Dredd.  A great adaptation of one of my favourite 2000AD characters that had the bad luck of having an almost identical plot to the Brilliant Raid. This film buried the memories of Stallone s take of the character and the film gets a lot more right than it gets wrong. A pity that financially it didn't break the US market. I sort of feel sick for making that comment. There seems to be something perverse about judging a films success based on its ability to make moolar at the US box office. It seems almost like I should be on the Deadline website passing judgement based on stats and box office breakdowns.


     Madagascar 3 was a bright, brilliant hilarious improvement on its two predecessors'  my son loved it and despite my lukewarm appreciation of parts 1 and 2 this for me delivered the goods and put a great big perma smile on my face.
     Frankenweenie  however was a disappointment  I appreciated it, but I didn't love it. It was retro Burton, well it is a remake of his live action Disney original.  Burton has a unique style maybe its time that tonally he revamped it and explored new visual stylings.

    Blu rays have been my viewing method of choice, with the Jaws release providing the most pleasure along with the comprehensive Prometheous blu ray. The film still doesn't work for me but Ridley Scott still delivers a great sci fi experience even when not firing at full capacity. The transfers are just breath taking and reinforce exactly why Blur ray is  the true cinephiles format of choice.

But Skyfall is a week away, and I have booked the afternoon off for the Hobbit premiere which is on the 28th November  and over the next week or so I will be roaming with my camera in the hope that I can get some great piccies to share on this blog. To give those of you who can't make it down here some sense of the occasion. Also I might publish some proper Blu ray reviews and share some of my collection. So hopefully things will pick up again as more exciting films head this way.
Catch you on my next post.

Back

Well after a lacklustre month of film things are looking more exciting. The view from my office window has this week become more interesting. The Hobbit premiere is two weeks away and Wellington is gradually transforming into middle earth. So as the first blog in a while I will share my new view.

Hobbit a week goes by.

Well just a quick little post, the Hobbit machinery is starting to kick into gear and film ties are starting to appear. The Hobbit Almanac being the first I've seen out there in bookshops along with the book with the cover being the film poster image of Bilbo. But messing around on my IPAD this afternoon, I came across the Hobbit App on Itunes and for fans out there who need a pre film fix its not a bad little primer. I suspect there will be a few updates prior to the films December release and that this is an evolving little program but try it out. There are links to it on the official Hobbit Facebook page.
     Also in following the local Wellywood scene via news and social media there is a brilliant blog by Nolder. Seek him out, as his posts are always informative and interesting. In fact this week after one of the Guardians writers did a hack job on Peter Jackson questioning his film making talents Nolder had the opportunity to defend Jackson via a local radio item.
   Seek his blog out if and One Ring Net is a good place to start if you haven't visited their site already.
   

Find Nemo 3D

Well last Sundays plan to see Finding Nemo 3D did pan out as expected. I spent the first part of  Fathers day enyjoying a great family  meal at Wellington's Joes Garage (where they serve my favourite coffee).  Then  followed twenty minutes of waiting in line to enter the preview screening being run by one of our local Radio Stations.  Only  to be told that there had been an almighty screw up with the cinema and the screening had been pushed back two hours to four oclock.
     Well we had already been in town for two hours, and my 4 year old was now running out of steam.  We therefore decided it was best to head for  home. We were not alone with many other parents deciding the same.
      Well my cinema drought ended yesterday when I took my four year old boy to finally see Nemo up on the big screen with the added 3d element.  Now I'm not going to break into a review, this isn't a new release and I suspect it being Pixar many of you will have it on DVD but I will comment on the extra dimension.
     Animated titles suit 3D well, but Nemo is a mixed bag, there are scenes that shine in 3D and then there are scenes which don't. Basically anything that is just a blue expanse gains nothing from the extra dimension. Intimate scenes, or scenes where the screen is busy however do. If your exposing your child to the film for the first time, then Nemo is Nemo. Its a great movie well told and it rattles along at a cracking pace. But if your just wanting to see this in 3D I'd think carefully about it. It just didn't wow me in the way I thought it would. This is one film where 2D is best.

The Dark Knight Rises and other matters

Well my absence from the big screen ended last week. It wasn't a new release I chose to see, but The Dark Knight Rises which has been out for a while and which I'm sort of glad I waited to see. Negative reviews from Aint It Cool Readers and some critics I respected had dampened my enthusiasm. But last weekend It was the Dark Knight or Total Recall. Batman won.
And to be honest, I enjoyed it, it is the weaker of the series but not to such an extent that it spoiled the experience. To be honest I loved it, I'm not prissy and over protective about the treatment of comic book legends. By virtue of his being a comic book creation, his story , his origin has been revisited many times and so a re imagining is legitimate and just as this has been a successful franchise for Warner Brothers there have been at least two misfires.
Chaos has been the undercurrent of Nolans Trilogy and the more grounded interpretation of his more iconic foes has been a breath of fresh air. My only criticism with this third and final entry of the Nolan canon is his treatment of Bain. Come on, who decided that Tom Hardy (an excellent and watch-able actor) should voice his character like some poor Sean Connery imitator with cotton wool in his mouth. I didn't feel the menace, it diluted the threat for me to the point that in one or two moments I found myself stifling my desire to laugh.
Nolan's direction is stand-out, action scenes pop, set pieces shine. Hats off too the special effects guys because in this film I find it hard to differentiate between the practical and cgi.

Now who will reboot this franchise.

Lastly, tomorrow Fathers day, I'm off to Courtney Central to see Finding Nemo 3D with my boy. So a review will follow shortly after. I also will be looking at the Avengers blu ray and will post up what extra's are on the Australasia release of the film. But finally I have now in my possesion, Jaws!!!!. I have had a brief glimpse and the picture is stunning, my favourite film in a brilliant release. This is one viewing I am going to savour.

So back online soon, also might put up a post with films that I'm looking forward too.

Hunt for the Jaws Blu Ray

Jaws, just the thought of it takes me back to the day my brother and I persuaded our babysitter to detour from the line for The Man Who Would be King in favour of the line for the film with a Poster that promised big sharks with big teeth. I was about 7 and the introduced me to the magic of Mr Spielberg, Duel , Close Encounters and my first cinematic love, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
   So yesterday I spent my lunch hour treking through Wellington, in search of the blu ray that was my own personal holy grail. My efforts went by unrewarded. Websites told me that 22 August was the New Zealand day of release. But I just couldn't find  a copy of it for love or money. What happened, why can't I find it anywhere. Not even my beloved JB Hi-Fi had a copy.
  So last night, I was down, today I spent yet another lunch hour in a fruitless search for the object of my obsession and still no joy.

   So a big thank-you to my wife who came to the rescue, yes I could've ordered online from Amazon. But nah so she took the matter in her own hands and ordered from a local supplier. If all goes well I will have the silver platter in my hands tomorrow night and I will be revisiting my favourite movie but this time in all its high def glory.
    I just wish I knew why I couldn't find it in JB

The Comeback and catch up

Well its been quiet on the blog recently, mainly due to the last three weeks or so dealing with family matters, hospital visits, and catching up with the folks back home via webcam, and skype. After seeing the Spider man film I was all movie d out and found it hard to motivate myself to go to the flicks. But that doesn't mean I gave up on movie s, nah, that's what blu ray is for. I reconnected with my favourite classic movies as my Amazon parcel belatedly arrived with film loving goodness. Top of which was viewing my Blu ray copy of The Italian Job with Michael Caine , which is an absolute fantastic transfer that allowed me to wallow in its pristine presentation.

But before I go on, I have to acknowledge two cinematic heroes passing away. Firstly the marvellous Marvin Hamlisch who as a Bond fanatic I have to acknowledge for his brilliant theme for the Spy Who Loved me. Lastly Tony Scott, whatever way he left this earth, and for whatever reasons I will miss his cinematic eye and storytelling prowess. There is a small select group of movies that I constantly revisit. Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Frighteners, The Italian Job, Die Hard, Star Wars and amongst those classics, The Last Boy Scout. So tonight I will be watching that gem soaking up Shane Blacks brilliant acidic dialogue and feeling the sadness wash over me.

So a toast to Mr T Scott, thanks for the great movies you delivered, and the memories I have.
Normal service is about to be resumed when I visit the cinema to see Total Recall and maybe add a few Blu ray reviews to the site.

I missed you but now I'm back.

ICE AGE 4 Continental Drift, and Pixar's Brave.

Well yesterday I plugged my brain on the back seat of the Wizmobile, and took Mrs W and Master W to the pictures for our family outing, the weather was proving unpredictable, and I wanted to try out our son with a Reel D presentation as I kinda figured the light plastic frames would be more child friendly than the more heavier Dolby Digital 3d glasses.
Well my experiment was a success, my son having kept his glasses on for the duration of the film  which was ICE AGE 4 Continental Drift.
Now right off the bat lets be honest, ICE AGE as a movie franchise, is not going to win any Oscars for best screenplay, like a tv show it is a series of films that invites you to join a familiar cast of characters, and a few new members to the franchise on a series of escapades, playing fast and loose with history. Ice Age 4 as the title tells you, takes place during the continental drift, which is an excuse to separate our friends from the loved ones and for them to spend the next 90 minutes reuniting with each other.
     The last episode introduced us to Bucky as voiced by Simon Pegg and this time, we are introduced to a villainous band of pirates led by an ape, voiced, well I'll let you guess who but Game of Thrones fans will be pleasantly surprised.
      The story is only a frame work for a series of sketches and outlandish action sequences, but you know these films are critic proof because they are there to entertain the youngsters, and to be honest I kinda loved it. I know going in to these films what to expect, and every time I come away with a smile, having enjoyed the experience. This is a family film that delivers, I enjoyed it a lot more than the Lorax, and a hell of a lot more that the Alvin films and my 4 year old was suitably entertained and didn't move till the end credits. Though that might be due to the excessive amount of sweets he had consumed during the presentation.



Today I took my good wife to see the latest Pixar movie Brave, a Scottish tale about the conflict between a mother and daughter, a well paced, beautifully animated and colourfully told with a wonderful Scottish voice cast. I loved this film. Now I know some trusted critics have described it as a Pixar lesser work, I strongly disagree, I do feel it delivers for an older audience which is why we didn't take our 4 year old. By older I mean more your 7 years and upwards, just because its a little more talkie than your usual pixar fair. If I was to group this with other Pixar films I enjoy then this would be up there with the Incredible's and Ratatouille. Now I would break down the story for you, but that would be spoiling it  , this is a film you need to discover for yourself. But I enjoyed it ,Pixar still has it, and this film delivers. I guess in simple terms critics can have their opinion but this is one film that really invites you to decide for yourself.

Birthdays, the Lighthouse and Blu Rays

Well its been a wicked fortnight spent on the one hand celebrating birthdays and on the other battling the stomach bug from hell. Now I would be a lier if I even attempted to claim that this had curtailed my cinema going. It didn't, simple truth of the matter is Rock of Ages was the only new film in town, and to be quite honest it didn't really appeal. But last Saturday was spent celebrating my sons 4th birthday and Thursday my own 46th. 

   Well if you have been a follower of my blog you will know that Birthdays in our household mean a visit to Amazon.co. UK , a time when my wife unleashes the Visa card and sets me loose. As you well know when placed in this intolerable situation I tend towards a mix of the old and the new in the blu ray selection process. So this years official Mark's birthday selection is as follows.

1. The Yellow Submarine, if there is one other love outside of cinema, then it would be for the music of the Beatles. As a young kid in the 70's they were something I grew up with, and became a part of my make up. The Yellow Submarine to a kid brought up on Disney is like a shot of adrenaline , very much a product of its time, and yet timeless due to its wonderful stylistic choices. I already have the DVD but I now have the 4K blu ray restoration. It was the one film I did watch on my birthday and Its never looked better.
2. Transformers 3 The Dark side of the moon. Purchased to show off my 3D set up and because I actually enjoyed this third effort. 
3. X Men complete collection, it was on special and as it had X Men First class and for this reason it jumped to the top of my order along with
4. The Jurassic Park Collection, Spielberg, Dinosaurs, what more can I say. Its not Jaws but that Blu ray is out soon so this will help the wait.
5. Despicable Me 3D what can I say, I love this animated marvel, and its one I can share with my son.
6. The Italian Job, this is the original and in my eyes greatest version. Michael Caine, Benny Hill, Cool Britannia and a brilliant Quincy Jones soundtrack. I've yet to see the Blu Ray but its one I cant wait to hold in my hands and put into the player.

So although my blog has been quiet, my film watching hasn't been. I was even taken aback by the Blu Ray of Highlander which I had been led to believe was barely better than the DVD version. ( Its a lot better, it shows its age, but I was pleasantly surprised). 

    

     But normal service is about to resume, later today I will be taking the family to our local Lighthouse cinema to see Ice Age 4 and then tomorrow I will be taking my wife to see Brave. We would have taken my son but reviews have led me to believe that it might be for a slightly older audience. So watch this space. Also in the next week or so we will have Spiderman and the Darknight films to look forward too.

      But tonight I have something else to look forward too. Rialto film channel is showing Kill List the Ben Wheatly movie which I have been waiting to see for nearly 12 months to see. It didnt get distributed in Wellington so this is my first chance to see it and I'm pretty excited so I might expect my views in the next roundup I post.

Catch up Men in Black 3 and Prometheus

Well since my last review I've found myself soaking up film news, mainly the Hobbit announcements, the most important of which being the plans for its premier in Wellington. Buzz words abound, 48 fps etc and I'm praying for this to cap my year. I'm not a Tolkien fan per se, I would never win a pub quiz, but I am a Jackson fan, I worship Weta's wonderful work  and I've found myself looking across towards Mirimar's Shelly Bay, as signs of film making activity could clearly be seen from my office Window.

But I did manage to catch one good movie, I enjoyed Men In Black 3 it was everything Men in Black 2 wasn't, Will Smith brought his A game and Josh Brolin was amazing in his portrayal of Agent K. I loved it, for being the surprise that it was, for its sense of fun and for the Time travel .

Prometheus mmm now I will be working up to a proper review but for now I will just give my initial thoughts. This deserved to be so much better than the cinematic mess that has emerged. I have never seen or heard such piss poor characterisation. Scott is still a striking visual stylist, and the special effects work is amazing, I'm an Alien fan but I will be quite clear, I wasn't seeing this as a prequel, I accepted Scott's promises that this was a different story, with a different DNA. But no matter how good the effects, or idea's on display, the creature design work was piss poor. When you embrace certain design elements from the Alien franchise , you had better deliver with the creatures. I'm not talking about xemorphs, but the basic DNA template that is one of the major threads of this tale. New creatures , hell yeah but knowing Weta brought them to life is all well and good but elements made me think of Jackson's Kong and in particular the pit, and hell guys those creations were more terrifying than anything in this film.
    I was also disappointed with the whole mankind meets his creator theme, as this was weakest area of the film the scripting not being up to the ideas being pushed. But what really grated was some very basic, piss poor characterisation.

    I didn't want alien, I read the reviews, I wanted something new, a new kind of terror, and I didnt get it. This film was neither terrifying or thought provoking, But elements I did like, the set design, the use of 3D and the fantastic opening which was both beautiful, violent and disturbing atone missing from the rest of the film.

Even now , my head is turning over the missed opportunities, and gaps, there are no real plot holes though it is a criticism I have read a lot in the last three days. It just doesn't explain anything, and you know sometimes, the horror is in the idea when fully explained.

3D Blu Ray's high price for depth

Well five weeks ago , I bit the bullet. For a couple of months I had been moaning about our old first generation HD TV. The fates conspired and we found ourselves in the position of being able to afford a newer model. My pick list of must have attributes were that it had to be Plasma, 1080p and 24 fps capable. My wife's condition was that it had to be a 50 inch screen and her reasoning? Well it was practical why replace a 40 inch tv with with a  40 inch surely bigger is better. A flawless argument. ( I wasn't going to disagree with her faultless logic)
    But fate was on our side as due to 2012 new TV lines coming out our local electrical retailer was holding a major TV sale and  we found we could afford a better model than we had previously been considering  a Panasonic with 3D functionality.
    So? I hear you ask.
    Well as each new Home Entertainment breakthrough comes out, were asked to pay a premium. Here that premium is software related. I follow the wonderful  Bill Hunt and his site Digital bits and there have been a number of posts about the poor take up of 3D in the home. Well now that I work in Wellington CBD I can go window shopping which then occasionally and when the wife isnt looking ends up in a purchase. I managed to get three films relatively cheaply, Piranha 3D, Coraline 3D and finally my favourite of the moment Tintin ( I love this movie, Spielberg , Jackson and the magic of Weta). Tintin was the most expensive, at $39.99 and that is a price I can live with.
    So a few facts, the average Blu ray price in New Zealand, non 3D is roughly between $34.99 and $40.00. The first thing you notice is a lack of consistency in pricing. But with 3D content, the prices  have been in the range of $40 - $56.
    3D is cool when done well, when done badly it offers nothing to a movie. Coraline is even more magical in 3D and has become the de-facto demo disc in our house. But I managed to get that for $19 I cant justify any purchase of a  3D blu ray at $56.
    So Mr Studio, if you wanna the format to take off, don't screw us over the pricing. $34 flat, or $56 3D, its a no brainer.

Battleship

Well despite the quiet, I have been attending my local cinema, but I decided that one film was a no brainer, that the hype and its popularity made it review proof. Suffice to say I loved it, that its success is well deserved as it brought out the ten year old in me who grew up on UK Marvels incredible hulk magazine. So thank god for the Avengers and I feel a return trip to the cinema coming on. Special note, in this film the 3D is worth it.
    So Battleship, I saw this two weeks ago as for some reason New Zealand and Australia got the film first. I held off posting on it, because I thought I would hold off until it came out Stateside.
    I knew it was based on the board game, and to be honest it references the game in a clever fashion , its an okay film, its just not a great film. But I'm not going to slam it for that, Transformers to me is not a great movie, but it was a success. There is a lot to like in this movie, but at the same time a lot to hate. Its quite simply a gladiatorial contest between Alien scouts and the elite of the Earths navies, all fought in  a controlled arena whilst an alien scouting party attempts to create a transmitting beacon on Hawaii to communicate to the invasion fleet.
    It''s not Independence day and at times it feels like Michael Bay light, only in that it lacks his excesses and feels more controlled. The first hour feels slow but once the action kicks in the pace picks up. This is a pure popcorn movie, characters are cardboard cut outs, they do stupid things for no reason at all, and then do something outrageously heroic five minutes later. For what it is its okay, but how will it withstand the juggernaut that is the Avengers? I honestly don't think it will, it just can't compete. Put simply having seen both there is good reason why Avengers is doing repeat business.
    

Pirate Band of Misfits

Aardman have that rare quality of consistency in hitting creative highs. From humble beginnings they have developed into one of those great little success stories. They under the skilful guidance of Pete Lord have exercised and developed their imaginative skills to entertain young and old. Being a Brit I was brought up with Morph Lord's popular plasticine creation , a tempestuous clay character who hindered the artistic processes of Tony Hart, and who made the occasional guest appearances on Children's TV and magazine show Blue Peter. Over the years pop videos and Oscar winning shorts have marked the progression of this Bristol powerhouse.
      A few years ago I was fortunate enough to see some of their work first hand, when attending an animation expo in Cardiff around the time of Nick Parks Wallace and Gromit the Wrong Trousers. I remember marvelling at the sheer detail and craftsman ship that went into the creation of the props.
     I remember the magic of their animated everyday conversations, the evolution of their characters and the short films that began to earn them honours. I remember my heart sinking a beat when their Bristol Warehouse burnt down, destroying a lot of classic props.
    So having missed Arthur Christmas this year, I was determined to see their latest work Peter Lords Pirate Band of Misfits based on Gideon Defoes comic novels. Once again they deliver on all fronts, delivering a film that has more originality and fun in each frame of skilful animation than a single episode of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. This film from its spot on voice casting and excellent use of British 80's rockabilly and punk delivers on all fronts, a humerus high energy romp ably abetted by some brilliant voice work from Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleason, Russell Tovey and Imelda Staunton.


Hugh Grants brilliantly vain, but loveable Pirate Captain wants to win the Pirate of the year award. But luck is not on his side, but when attempting to boost his treasure chest he comes across Charles Darwin the romp kicks in and the fun really begins. The scenery is filled with in jokes right down to the little Blue Peter badge on Pirate with Gouts hat. I enjoyed this some much I saw it a second time with my Mrs but in 3D and I have to begrudgingly admit, the 3D is done well  does add something magical to the mix. But there is so much going on that on second viewing I spotted more humorous asides missed on the first viewing.
If you want some cool Brit comedy that is most definitely family friendly then you cannot go wrong seeing this little screen gem. So out and support the magic of originality and fun.

Now I think I will revist my art of Chicken Run book a savour their unique magic.

Jo Nesbo's Headhunters

 This Norwegian gem is a brilliantly dark , black comedy that will have you laughing and hiding behind your fingers in equal measure. This crime thriller delivers, to the point you don't know if to laugh or scream. Based on Joe Nesbo's novel this tells of a corporate head-hunter Roger Brown who to support his wife's tastes and lifestyle also operates as an art thief. The character as introduced is not appealing in any sense of the word, he comes across as arrogant and shallow but like all good anti heroe's his salvation is at hand but it will be bloody.
  As in all good thrillers Mr Browns world is turned upside down after he is introduced to the handsome Clas Greve (played by Game of Thrones Nickolav Coster Waldau) . Browns fall from grace is bloody and quick, and he is soon forced to flee for his life. All darkly funny and bleak to the point that you cannot see any way out for Brown.
  This Norwegian film is pure fun, the pace is fast, the humour brilliantly dark if it is remade the only directors I could think of that could do this tale justice would be either Danny Boyle or The Cohen Brothers. But in all honesty this would be my preferred version.  Highly recommended, especially for the dog fight alone enjoy this twisting turning dark comedy thriller I promise you will not be disappointed. In closing Morten Tyldum's direction is brilliant, stylish fast paced so kudo's for a job well done.

Attack the Block

 

Joe Cornish is the director of this gem, which is being released in New Zealand this week. His comedy pedigree is high quality being one half of the Adam and Joe show. He also contributed along with Edgar Wright and Steven Moffat to the Adventures of  Tintin screenplay, and if you have seen the Sean of the Dead blu -ray , DVD then you will have seen his making of documentary, and his make up test as a zombie.

The films plot is simple  a young woman Sam played by Jodie Whittaker is robbed by a gang of hoodies but when an unexpected meteor crash  provides enough distraction she escapes. The gang are in turn attacked by a viscous little alien. The arrival of more means they are forced to take refuge in a London tower block  and the battle for survival begins. The same tower block that Sam calls home.

 This  horror, action comedy has a tone not unlike Sean of the Dead, its background is firmly grounded in reality, which makes the arrival of the aliens stand out. Nick Frost makes a memorable appearance as Local Drug dealer Ron and the films star John Boyega  commands the screen as anti hero Moses. The humour is natural and unforced, the effects memorable and at 88 mins the film moves along at cracking pace.

A total blast and a must see, go have fun and see some damn good acting , what more can you ask for.

The Raid

  

The past two weeks have been film nirvana for me. Every choice  I have made, has revealed a gem, and restored my faith in the magic of cinema. Its easy to lose when your drowned in formulaic fare that plays too safe and in so doing, leaves one hungering for the real McCoy.
   
The Raid is a cinematic kick to the gonads that demands your attention. This is a cinematic action nirvana The plot is simple, a 20 man SWAT team is sent to a 15 Storey tower block ,tasked with arresting the criminal overlord who rules with ruthless efficiency from the security suite located on the buildings top floor. Once the first gun shot is fired, mayhem ensues. Directed  by fellow Welshman Gareth Evans this is a master-class in cinematic on-screen fighting. The geography of the brutal fight scenes is a joy to watch unfold, at no time are you confused or lost in the events unfolding. The fights are extreme, wire free and brutal, this is not a balletic martial arts experience, it is cold, ruthless brutality but of the type that has you clinging to the edge of the seat.
   The films star and one of the fight choreographers Iko Uwais is a revelation, and along with his colleague Yayan Ruhian they have put Indonesian fight choreography firmly on the map. Yayan also plays the films memorable villain, Mad Dog the Overlords right hand man.
    If you love action, martial arts and films that grab you at the throat until the closing titles this is a must see and yes a sequel is on the cards and I for one can't wait.

John Carter Fan Trailer 2 "Heritage"

John Carter firstly is not a bad film, it has its faults yes, mainly in pacing, and a few story emissions and maybe a little too much exposition. However as a boy post Star War's this was a series of books I soaked up, finding it hard to believe it came from the man who gave us Tarzan. This is a fan made trailer, and maybe how this tale should have been sold. I found this films marketing to be its biggest achilles heal and a terrible misfire on Disneys part. This film though not perfect deserved better than this.

New Universal Logo - Logos Through Time - 100th Anniversary (2012) HD

Some magic from Weta and a brief history of Universal logo's unfolding before your very eyes.

Shere magic.

Ralph McQuarrie thanks for the memories

Last night Twitter feeds were a buzz with the passing of a legend AT 82. George Lucas may have given us Star Wars but Ralph McQuarrie gave it a look and  a feel unlike anything else on screen. When Lucas was touting the film around the studio's he enlisted McQuarrie's help asking him to illustrate a couple of scenes to better inform the studio executives on what Lucas wanted to deliver on the big screen.
   The final look of the film didn't stray too far from McQuarrie's designs. The Illustrated Star Wars Universe is a marvellous book that allowed McQuarrie's work to be seen by a wider audience and of course devoted fans. Also he designed the iconic Battle Star Galactica, ET, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. But film work is just a fraction of what he did. His work lives on in young and old alike. On toy shelves, bookcases, and off course on film ,Blu ray and DVD.
   So a toast to a legendary designer and artist, who has given much to popular culture and who will be missed.
Ralph McQuarrie
June 13th 1929 - March 3rd 2012

JOHN CARTER Final Movie Trailer

JOHN CARTER Final Movie Trailer

Star Wars, Avatar, owe Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter series a big debt, here's the Trailer. This is one movie due out in New Zealand on the 8th this week that sort of feels like its coming in under the radar. Such has been the lack of marketing for this film. Watch , enjoy and seek out.

The Dry spell, The Artist, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Its raining hard outside, this we are reliably informed by news and media is due to a weather bomb. This is the first time I have heard that term used to describe a weather pattern. It seems almost befitting after a lack lustre week of film releases which made venturing outside less than appealing.
    Being between jobs means at the moment with a little too much down time  between job hunting and redrafting my CV. I have been revisiting old haunts in  Wellington. I also used the opportunity to view two films at Wellington's  the Embassy, which has just undergone a major refurbishment which has added twog two new screens, and a downstairs bar.



   Being Oscar week I had to see the Artist which I enjoyed on a technical level but didn't love .Jean Dujardin's performance is outstanding, capturing that silent era style of acting with masterful emotional performance that perfectly converys the depths of his character without the fall back of sound. Equally Michel Hazanavicius direction is masterful, there are moments when I really felt like I was watching a film from the period, it is only when Berenice Bejo is on screen that the cinematography feels a little contemporary. Bearing in mind its Oscar wins I have to say I felt they were well deserved except for Best Picture, which I felt should have gone to Hugo.
    It there was one film last week that blew me away, it would have to be Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy a masterful adaptation of a very British  spy tale. Tomas Alfredson deft direction brings a wonderful sense of depth coupled with intelligence. Set at the height of the 70's cold war, George Smiley as played by Gary Oldman is approached by government ministers to investigate top level leaks within the British Secret Service, all point to a double agent working within the Circus.








    As a child of the UK in the 70's I can say with some confidence that he captures that mood so prevalent at the time, that cold war paranoia that so dominated the British press at the time.  I caught myself smiling when I saw the familiar logo of Wimpy up there on the big screen. A fast food chain that served a mix of good old English stodge, along with Burgers and which by the mid 90's had almost disappeared from the British high-street. It was the place that was affordable, the British equivalent for its time of Burger King or McDonald's, the one place I was guaranteed a trip too when visiting the cinema with my dad.
   Sir Alec Guinness was the most notable George Smiley of my youth, the BBC having made a series of notable adaptation's of John Le Carre's novels. Oldman's style seems more appropriate and more how I imagined him from the novels. There is a complexity conveyed without having to say a word. In this film, silence, and body language of characters convey a lot more than what is said. This film is very a much a game of mental chess, and if at times you lose track of who is doing what to who'm  all the information is there on the screen and so would well be worth revisiting on its eventual release on Blu ray or dvd.
   A solid cast, a virtual whose who of British acting both old and new In a taught  highly intelligent thriller, I highly  recommend this film.

 In closing just one quick note about the Oscar's. For the first year in quite a while I failed to be excited by the nominations. Films I thought deserved to be nominated weren't, I wanted Tintin to garner at least one nomination and felt that Weta's work on Rise of the Planet of the Apes deserved to be rewarded. It just seemed to me to be a lacklustre year. But at least Hugo which I felt showed a master Director at the top of his game got five technical awards. So I felt some relief. Hopefully next year will be a more rewarding event.
But big shout out for Wellington's own Bret McKenzie for his best song Oscar and well deserved too.            

Normal service is about to resume

Apologies for the lack of posts, but due to circumstances beyond my control I have been out of action for the past few weeks due to ill health and lack of internet access. But as you can see I am back in the land of the living after battling bronchitis and intermittent Internet access.
Prior to my illness I saw the wonderful, magical Hugo 3D a brilliant children's tale and a marvellous love letter to film. Directed with a master's touch by Martin Scorcese this is a masterful use of 3D and a film  which captures a unique take on the world through the eyes the films hero the orphan Hugo. The last time I experienced something this magical it was viewing the film Amelie but this has the added spectacle of 3D which is used with almost a painters eye to draw us into the world of Hugo and equally the early days of cinema.
    Today my first trip to the cinema since coming down with this bug was to finally view the Girl with the Dragon tattoo. David Fincher's take on Stieg Larsson's first part of his Millennium trilogy. Now right of the bat I'll be clear, I haven't seen the original Swedish take on Stieg's tale and I certainly haven't read the original novels. But I'm a Fincher fan, and this tale worked for me, in places I found it predictable but the acting is all top notch and the tale is told with pace. Its a film that doesn't pull its punches and doesn't outstay its welcome. Rooney Mara is simply hypnotic as Lisbeth Salander and is well served by Daniel Craig as Blomkvist.
   Meanwhile the news that the big Yin, Mr Billy Connelly was officially joining the cast of the Hobbit had me hoarsely whooping for joy and made up for my missing the Hobbit Extra casting call, due to ill health and missing the Internet deadline for online applications. Still hey ho.
  So now I'm back in action and already the signs are promising for the next few weeks at my local cinema.
  So normal service is about to resume so watch this blog

Sherlock Holmes A game of Shadows

I'll keep this review short and sweet, I love Sherlock Holmes, I was brought up with Basil Rathbone, dabbled in Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett was the perfect embodiment of Conan Doyles creation. But I loved the reimagining in the first Sherlock Holmes film. Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr were a spirited embodiment of the duo and Guy Ritchie brought his tool box of tricks to add an urgency and energy.
    Well now Holmes returns in another installment and this time he is taking on his greatest foe, Moriarty. But this film is all over the place. The first hour had me looking at my watch, as incident after setpeice after incident made for a badly paced  mess, once Jared Harris as Moriarty makes his presence felt then things pick up and some  momentum propells the film forward to its conclusion.
     Its not the acting that lets this film down, its the script. For the first half of the film you are forced to endure Holmes as an action man aimlessly trying to work out what Moriarty's plan is. Scenes come and go along with Jackie Chan moments of pugilism and martial arts.  Jude Laws Watson fairs better but the wedding subplot is just ill thought out and not as entertaining as the writer thinks.
    The last time I came out of a film feeling this underwhelmed was Shanghai Knights.  Holmes is intellect is what draws us into his tales be if film or literature. For the first forty five minutes this aspect of the character takes a backseat to the action man figure.
    So sadly for me an underwhelming effort where Ritchies love of slow mo actually becomes overused I think as far as reimaginings of the character go I will return to the BBC's Sherlock and await season 2 for a more satisfying and enjoyable less bloated reimagining of the hero.

Mission Impossible 4 Ghost Protocol

The Mission Impossible tv series was to me always about the team, everyone pulling together with their set special skills to achieve the mission objective. This to me was what was lacking in the movie incarnation with Tom Cruise firmly taking centre stage and very much a star veichle for his set of skills.
    However Brian De Palma's first movie and J J Abrahams third episode were until now the stand out episodes of the series with great action set pieces. The second was a John Woo orgy of all his stylistic cinematic traits, which left me bored.
    Brad Bird comes to this installment with fresh eyes and a new vision. His background in animation allowing for a smooth transition into live action. His previous films have been tight with story telling and character and his Pixar Movie The Incredibles was filled with story and great action moments.
    In this fourth and in my view the best of the series so far each character has an important role to play and each has their own standout moment in the film. Ethan Hunt still leads but Cruise is standout in a story that is both easy to follow with heart pounding action and stunt work that had my heart in my mouth. The stunt work really is standout especially knowing that alot of his was performed live without the benefit of CGI , and the pace doesn't let up for one second.
    In this episode the IMF team has been disavowed, after being set up by the films main protaganist. The stakes are high. Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton all are given their moments and deliver.  This is up there with Fast and Furious Five as one of the best action films of the year and a brilliant new direction for the franchise. Brad Bird brilliantly keeps the film the film on course with an excellant mix of character development and action. I eagerly await his next film with keen anticipation.
   An excellant closure for 2011 and if there is one must see for the start of 2012 this film is it. If I'm honest I can't wait to see this film again. 

The Adventures of Tintin

I'm an unashamed Spielberg and Jackson Fan, when its a rainy day or I'm feeling Low its Jaws or Raiders that go into the DVD player. Of Jackson's films its The Frighteners, or Braindead. So to see a film that is a marriage of these two cinematic titans and to see it at the close of the old year I was excited to say the least.
     Tintin being European is part of my youth, summer holidays were marked by morning programming geared to entertain kids on those rainy days that prohibited playing outside. Herge's adventures of Tintin was s regular staple. For me as a kid it wasn't Tintin that kept me glued to the screen more it was the Thompson twins and Captain Haddock. With a Blistering barnacles you knew fun was on the cards.
     Prior to the films release back in October my wife had treated me to the purchase of the Art of book, yet another brilliant Weta publication which not only allows you in on the creative process but in such a way that does not give too much away about the films story.
     So I went in with high expectations and came away with one great big smile on my face. This film from the opening titles quickly propels you into the almost photo realistic world of Herge"s creation. Weta have once again thrown us a game changer, the play of light , their skillful character designs which capture Tintin's  essence and world without any sense of artificiality.
     Stephen Moffat, Joe Cornish and Edgar Wright bring a European sensibility to the tale, it starts off slowly quickly establishing the main plot then propels you at pace through action and plot. All this with an emphasis on fun and once Captain Haddock arrives on screen the real fun begins. This is a film with Spielberg firing on all cylinders and his joy comes across on the screen with infectious enthusiasm and outrageous action setpieces concluding with a breathtaking crane battle. This is a joy to watch and family friendly fare and I hope there are more tales to come.
      In closing a special mention for the excellant use of 3D, animation of course lends itself well to the medium and in this film its use just shines, so if you get the chanced this would be my preferred viewing option.