Date: Tuesday 12th March
Film: Welcome to the Punch (2013)
Director: Eran Creevy
Starring: James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough and David Morrissey
Running time: 01 hour, 39 minutes
Rating: 4/10
Another day, another Sky screening, another film that is all visuals and no trousers.
With a cast I admire, and Ridley Scott's name plastered all over the advertising, I had high hopes for Welcome to the Punch. Sadly, I felt incredibly let down.
This felt like all style over substance. London looked stunning but the plot was thin, bordering on the ridiculous and it started to feel like the actors were treading water.
Plus, it would be really nice if there wasn't a whole scene set in the front room of an old lady with a fondness for clown memorabilia. Those things are scary.
Challenge day: 168
Challenge time: 10 days, 12 hours, 46 minutes
Challenge film total: 130
Showing posts with label 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4. Show all posts
Friday, 15 March 2013
Monday, 4 March 2013
Some people will say that not all witches are evil, that their powers could be used for good. I say burn them all!
Date: Thursday 28th February
Film: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Running time: 01 hour, 28 minutes
Rating: 4/10
As much as I wanted to like this, even though the trailer held little appeal to me, I almost knew that I was going to be disappointed as soon as I sat down.
I want to blame it all on the 3D. I'm not a fan of 3D, I try to avoid it as much as possible. With a few notable exceptions (Dredd, things showing on the BFI IMAX screen), I struggle to see the benefit. Like films I've seen previously, there were strange bits dangling off the edge of the screen, seemingly unattached to what we were seeing, that caused no end of distraction. There were things flying toward your face - I've said it before, I'm a jumpy person. I know there's nothing flying toward me, doesn't mean I won't startle myself. There was something amiss about the visuals of the whole film. However, I don't think the 3D was the issue with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.
The problem was the absurdity of the whole thing. Was it a comedy, was it gore, was it fantasy? It never appeared to pick a genre and stick with it. It could have mashed up the genres but it didn't even do that well. Each scene seemed to be straight from a different movie.
I couldn't relate to the characters in any way, the storyline was tedious, the 3D was terrible. Overall, not the best film I've seen recently. Not one I would recommend.
As much as I wanted to like this, even though the trailer held little appeal to me, I almost knew that I was going to be disappointed as soon as I sat down.
I want to blame it all on the 3D. I'm not a fan of 3D, I try to avoid it as much as possible. With a few notable exceptions (Dredd, things showing on the BFI IMAX screen), I struggle to see the benefit. Like films I've seen previously, there were strange bits dangling off the edge of the screen, seemingly unattached to what we were seeing, that caused no end of distraction. There were things flying toward your face - I've said it before, I'm a jumpy person. I know there's nothing flying toward me, doesn't mean I won't startle myself. There was something amiss about the visuals of the whole film. However, I don't think the 3D was the issue with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.
The problem was the absurdity of the whole thing. Was it a comedy, was it gore, was it fantasy? It never appeared to pick a genre and stick with it. It could have mashed up the genres but it didn't even do that well. Each scene seemed to be straight from a different movie.
I couldn't relate to the characters in any way, the storyline was tedious, the 3D was terrible. Overall, not the best film I've seen recently. Not one I would recommend.
Challenge day: 156
Challenge time: 09 days, 18 hours, 19 minutes
Challenge film total: 121
Friday, 1 March 2013
How do you explain something that you can't even understand yourself?
Date: Saturday 23rd February
Saturday night, I'm back at home and visiting the oldest friend for an evening of good wine, junk food and trashy movies. First up
Film: What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)
Director: Kirk Jones
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick and Matthew Morrison
Running Time: 01 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 4/10
A film I hadn't seen before. Mainly because I despair of multi-thread ensemble films. With the exception of Love Actually, I've yet to see one that works well.
What to Expect... is another one that falls short of the mark. I don't remember laughing, I didn't like the majority of the characters. This could have been truly horrendous, if it wasn't for two saving graces;
Film: The Lucky One (2012)
Director: Scott Hicks
Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner
Running Time: 01 hour, 41 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Now, I have no excuse on this one. I've seen it before. I knew I didn't enjoy it. I still chose for us to watch it. Mainly because sometimes I can be incredibly shallow, and I just want to watch Zac Efron run around with dogs.
This is not a good film. It is, like most Nicholas Sparks adaptations, predictable, a little cheesy and a repeat of tried and tested characters.
This is a trash film. Something you know you shouldn't watch. Something you feel guilty about afterwards. Something that, at the time, seems to work.
Challenge day: 151
Challenge time: 09 days, 13 hours, 22 minutes
Challenge film total: 118
Saturday night, I'm back at home and visiting the oldest friend for an evening of good wine, junk food and trashy movies. First up
Film: What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)
Director: Kirk Jones
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick and Matthew Morrison
Running Time: 01 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 4/10
A film I hadn't seen before. Mainly because I despair of multi-thread ensemble films. With the exception of Love Actually, I've yet to see one that works well.
What to Expect... is another one that falls short of the mark. I don't remember laughing, I didn't like the majority of the characters. This could have been truly horrendous, if it wasn't for two saving graces;
1) The always awesome Anna Kendrick
2) Joe Manganiello. Shirtless. Doing one armed pull ups.
I don't think I'll be rushing out to see this again. Still, it was better than Valentine's Day. Just.
Film: The Lucky One (2012)
Director: Scott Hicks
Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner
Running Time: 01 hour, 41 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Now, I have no excuse on this one. I've seen it before. I knew I didn't enjoy it. I still chose for us to watch it. Mainly because sometimes I can be incredibly shallow, and I just want to watch Zac Efron run around with dogs.
This is not a good film. It is, like most Nicholas Sparks adaptations, predictable, a little cheesy and a repeat of tried and tested characters.
This is a trash film. Something you know you shouldn't watch. Something you feel guilty about afterwards. Something that, at the time, seems to work.
Challenge day: 151
Challenge time: 09 days, 13 hours, 22 minutes
Challenge film total: 118
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
There's positive energy and then there's just plain dumb luck.
Date: Saturday 9th February
Film: Just My Luck (2006)
Director: Donald Petrie
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Chris Pine and Samaire Armstrong
Running Time: 01 hour, 43 minutes
Rating: 4/10
Considering this film mixes a couple of my favourite things - Captain Kirk and my biggest guilty pleasure, those charming scamps from McFly - it can only be described as 50 shades of complete tripe.
Still, The Luce and I were not in a rush to do anything on our lazy Saturday and somehow this ended up in the DVD player.
We knew it was not going to be great, that didn't stop us getting caught up in it. As teen films go, it could be worse. It has some funny moments and it contains one of the greatest chat up lines I've ever heard. One I can't wait to try out; "I'll be the redhead with a face like this".
Probably not the worse film I'm going to watch on this challenge but still, it's the one I'm most ashamed to admit watching.
Challenge day: 137
Challenge time: 08 days, 20 hours, 45 minutes
Challenge film total: 109
Film: Just My Luck (2006)
Director: Donald Petrie
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Chris Pine and Samaire Armstrong
Running Time: 01 hour, 43 minutes
Rating: 4/10
Considering this film mixes a couple of my favourite things - Captain Kirk and my biggest guilty pleasure, those charming scamps from McFly - it can only be described as 50 shades of complete tripe.
Still, The Luce and I were not in a rush to do anything on our lazy Saturday and somehow this ended up in the DVD player.
We knew it was not going to be great, that didn't stop us getting caught up in it. As teen films go, it could be worse. It has some funny moments and it contains one of the greatest chat up lines I've ever heard. One I can't wait to try out; "I'll be the redhead with a face like this".
Probably not the worse film I'm going to watch on this challenge but still, it's the one I'm most ashamed to admit watching.
Challenge day: 137
Challenge time: 08 days, 20 hours, 45 minutes
Challenge film total: 109
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
There'll be one guy left with one eye. How's the last blind guy gonna take out the eye of the last guy left?
Date: Tuesday 4th December
Film: Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Director: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson
Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 4/10
Seven Psychopaths is the tale of a screenwriter who gets caught up with the wrong people when his best friend, a professional dog-napper, takes the dog of a local, slightly mental, criminal.
I had such high hopes for this, it has a brilliant cast and I have so much love for Martin McDonagh's previous outing, In Bruges, but there was something about it that didn't connect for me.
Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken both excel but I felt like they were acting uphill against a script that was nowhere near as tight as it could have been. This film had so much potential but, for me, something was lacking. The story seemed disjointed in places, it didn't flow in a way that made a lot of sense. There were some moments I found myself chuckling (mainly down to the wonderful Sam Rockwell) but overall I wasn't impressed.
Although, it would appear I was alone in this, the rest of the screen were laughing throughout. I've decided I must be odd. Go see it, I might be a lonely person fighting against the tide (it wouldn't be the first time, I'm the only person, it seems, who does not like Anchorman).
Challenge day: 72
Challenge time: 03 days, 17 hours, 18 minutes
Challenge film total: 48
Film: Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Director: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson
Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 4/10
Seven Psychopaths is the tale of a screenwriter who gets caught up with the wrong people when his best friend, a professional dog-napper, takes the dog of a local, slightly mental, criminal.
I had such high hopes for this, it has a brilliant cast and I have so much love for Martin McDonagh's previous outing, In Bruges, but there was something about it that didn't connect for me.
Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken both excel but I felt like they were acting uphill against a script that was nowhere near as tight as it could have been. This film had so much potential but, for me, something was lacking. The story seemed disjointed in places, it didn't flow in a way that made a lot of sense. There were some moments I found myself chuckling (mainly down to the wonderful Sam Rockwell) but overall I wasn't impressed.
Although, it would appear I was alone in this, the rest of the screen were laughing throughout. I've decided I must be odd. Go see it, I might be a lonely person fighting against the tide (it wouldn't be the first time, I'm the only person, it seems, who does not like Anchorman).
Challenge day: 72
Challenge time: 03 days, 17 hours, 18 minutes
Challenge film total: 48
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