infernalaffairs1980 Reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

Turtle Power?

[7/10 · 2 November 2014]

OK, so I went into this film with both excitement and trepidation.

I was taking my daughter to see a film which was based on characters I had watched and loved when I was her age. Now, I know the original 1990 film was hardly an Oscar contender, but for a young child it was the right mix of action and humour. Would the new version be a load of crap? Mumblings from other reviewers had been less than positive and that worried me. However I wasn't going to be put off so it was away to the cinema with an eager 9 year old girl in tow.

The plot is simple; four teenage mutant ninja turtle brothers must face the evil Shredder in order to save New York. See, how uncomplicated is that? Of course there are other elements to the story but nothing overly convoluted which is good seeing as the film's 101 minute run time is already crammed with action sequences and plot devices. The scenes speed into one another; We meet Eric Sacks (William Fichtner) and establish his relationship with April, then in the very next minute, he is meeting with Shredder and discussing their evil plans. Nothing is given a chance to build up, questions are answered as soon as they're asked.

There are also unnecessary links between the characters. Without giving away too many spoilers, the writers (Josh Appelbaun, Andre Nemec and Evan Daugherty) have tried too hard to establish a shared history. While I can understand why they have attempted to do so, it does not add anything and should have just been left alone.

The main action sequences are stunning, especially the downhill chase that has featured heavily in the trailers. Jonathan Liebesman has directed effects laden movies before (Wrath of the Titans and Battle Los Angeles) but this is probably his best attempt so far.

The turtles do not have equal screen time, with Michelangelo and Raphael receiving most of the attention. Also, I was a little put off by the fact that Leonardo was voiced by Johnny Knoxville. His voice is too recognisable above all the others (even Tony Shalhoub who I thought did a good job as the voice of Splinter). Apart from that niggle, there is a great relationship between the turtles (and the rat).

Megan Fox was not awful as April O'Neil, yet she wasn't that good either. She spent too much time being the object of various lustful comments, and not enough being the fearless reporter she is supposed to be (taking photos on a phone does not make you a journalist). And Will Arnett's character is next to useless; I'm hoping that they bring Casey Jones in to the sequel.

As a reviewer, I should probably abhor this film, but as a movie lover, I walked out of the cinema having enjoyed it. Yes, the humour is immature but this is a children's film for adults. There are several references that will be certain to go over younger heads yet they can enjoy the fart jokes and physical comedy.

So, was my trepidation justified? A little. But the child inside me couldn't help but love it and I am actually looking forward to a second helping.

Chef (2014)

Serving up a brilliant movie

[9/10 · 8 June 2014]

Director - Jon Favreau Starring - Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara Jon Favreau is a man whose work is more well known than his face. Pete Becker? Happy Hogan? Maybe this is because he has spent the past few years behind the camera, helping to create the Iron Man franchise. In his latest film he pulls triple duty; writing, directing and starring.

Chef is a dramedy which tells the tale of Favreau's Carl Casper, a talented chef who, following an incident involving a food critic, lava cake and the internet, takes his talents on the road in a food truck. The film then shows how this affects his relationship with his son and ex wife (the beautiful Sofia Vergara).

Some people may be attracted to the prospect of an Iron Man reunion with the inclusion of Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. However neither actor is in the film for very long, although R.D.J's short turn is utterly hilarious.

Instead the film is at its best when we see the relationship Carl shares with his son Percy (Emjay Anthony) and best friend Martin, (John Leguizamo), as they journey across America in their truck. All three actors are wonderful; their scenes are sparky yet natural.

Do not see this film on an empty stomach. Food is lovingly shot and used to great effect. Meats, spices, fruit, sweets and so on, are given screen time most actors would kill for.

Music is also used creatively with a special guest appearance by Gary Clark Jr. and a brass band version of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing; it shouldn't work but somehow, it does. The music adds to each scene without detracting from the action on screen.

The film uses social networking, such as Twitter, as a convincing plot device; from the downfall of Carl to his rapid resurrection and beyond. The audience is reminded how the internet can affect a person's life (maybe a little shot at critics everywhere).

This film was nice. That isn't an insult; it was a genuine pleasure to watch a film that was funny without being embarrassing or gross out. The cast were superb and all looked like they were genuinely having a good time together. I left the cinema feeling happy without having been overwhelmed by action. I would thoroughly recommend this film to cheer up the most miserable soul.

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Groundhog Day with aliens?

[7/10 · 28 May 2014]

Director - Doug Liman Starring - Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt Take one part Groundhog Day, one part Matrix, even a pinch of G.I. Joe, and you end up with Tom Cruise's latest movie. But don't let the sound of this unique mash up fool you, this is an entertaining sci-fi, action movie.

For some reason, there are people in this world that do not like Tom Cruise. Actually, they detest him, believe him to be the spawn of Satan, etc, etc, etc... However, I have no problem with the diminutive super star. I actually enjoy his films; Mission Impossible, The Last Samurai and that cameo in Tropic Thunder. I like him and, in this film, I still like him. He is well suited as William Cage, a smooth talking mouth piece for the military who is 'drafted' into a fight against the Mimics, aliens who have invaded earth. The audience isn't told why they're here but, as a scene mid way through the film explains, it doesn't matter why they're here, they're here and that's all that matters. So there isn't any convoluted explanations to get in the way of the action.

Cruise is joined by Emily Blunt who is quite believable in her role as fellow soldier Rita, aka The Full Metal Bitch. Blunt obviously worked hard for this role and just the sight of her biceps made me want to weep into my bag of maltesers.

Together they share a secret; the ability to re-live the same day over and over again which could be the key to ending the alien invasion.

The two stars definitely share a chemistry, although at times you're not sure if it is romance or just comradery. There are also some real comedic moments; Tom Cruise can be a funny guy.

The film does well to keep interest considering how many times you see the same thing or have to guess if the scene is for the first time or a do-over. There were a couple of times when I thought 'enough already' and maybe the final part could have been brought forward by about 15 minutes but that might say more for my attention span than Liman's direction.

I have to say that there is something magical about seeing London on the big screen; the capital is displayed in all her glory at several points. It's nice to know that the aliens invade countries other than America every now and then.

This is based on the short novel 'All You Need is Kill' and I'm sure some fans of that will complain about Cruise's role in the film (much the same as when he took on the part of Jack Reacher). But for the uninitiated, such as myself, this movie is a fine enough reason to go to the cinema.

Godzilla (2014)

Is Godzilla still the King?

[7/10 · 17 May 2014]

Directed - Gareth Edwards Starring - Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe In 1954 the Toho Film Company made a picture about a huge dinosaur-like monster that rampaged through Tokyo. It was only 93 minutes long but it spawned a legend that has lasted 60 years and 28 (Japanese) films. I am, of course, referring to the colossus that is Godzilla.

Fast forward to 2014 and the newest incarnation of the world's most famous kaiju. Godzilla is an icon and the director, Gareth Edwards, had a mammoth task to overcome; how to bring the monster into the 21st Century without angering the fans.

The film begins with some original opening credits; words are redacted before the viewers' eyes, leaving only the names of the cast. This plays out over footage, supposedly from the 1950s, showing radars, military personnel and, finally, a large nuclear explosion at Bikini Atoll (the first of many references to actual events and /or classic Godzilla movies ).

We jump to 1999 and meet Dr. Ichiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) who is investigating the skeleton of a large, prehistoric creature found in the Philippines. Then we zoom over to Japan where Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) is concerned about the nuclear plant where he works. Disaster obviously ensues and what follows is a sequence reminiscent of the Fukushima disaster which occurred only a few years ago.

And now we are up to date. Joe's son, Ford, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, is happily living in San Francisco with his wife (Elizabeth Olsen) and young son.

At this point I would like to say that I was slightly disturbed at watching these two young actors playing lovers as, in my head, they are the Maximoff siblings (I know, I know, it's not real but I can still have my opinion).

Father and son are eventually reunited and that's where the action really begins.

Cranston is brilliant as a father who feels like he has lost it all; both traumatised and unhinged in equal measure. Watanabe is the yin to Cranston's yang; calm and collected to a point where some of his dialogue is barely above a whisper.

The younger actors; Taylor-Johnson and Olsen, are not as strong in their roles. Olsen is not given much to do except cry and run. In fact, one downside of this movie is that there is a distinct lack of strong female characters.

Taylor-Johnson has a larger part to play but he doesn't quite fulfil the leading man role. He isn't entirely convincing as an action star but neither plausible as desperate family man. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a good actor but he wasn't given enough to work with. The script is basic with Cranston's impassioned ranting (heard in the trailer) as the only stand out part.

But to most, it isn't the human cast that people care about. Does the 2014 version of Godzilla make the grade? In short, yes. He bears a resemblance to the original creature but without the look of a rubber suit. You could believe that there is a dinosaur-like monster out there. As you have probably gathered from the many trailers, Godzilla isn't the only kaiju in the movie but I will leave what they are, and why they are there, as a surprise.

And then there is THAT roar. Spine tingling with a bass deep enough to turn your internal organs to mush, perfect.

At several points in the film, just as the audience thinks it might be treated to a monster smackdown, the focus is always pulled back to the less interesting human story. However, the final battle is worth waiting for, if not a little short. Gareth Edwards has held enough back for the inevitable sequel (pending box office results).

There are small niggles here and there but I was always a fan of the King of Monsters (another classic reference) and there is enough here to remind us of the creature we fell in love with.

Bonus points if you spot the reference to another kaiju which appears in the first half of the film.

Rating - 7/10 www.silverscreensnob.blogspot.com

The Grandmaster (2013)

The more philosophical side of Ip Man

[7/10 · 11 May 2014]

Director - Kar Wai Wong Starring - Tony Chiu Wai Leung, Ziyi Zhang The Grandmaster is a film about Ip Man, a master of Wing Chun and the teacher of one of the world's greatest and best known martial artists, Bruce Lee. However, do not expect to see Mr Lee, there is only the merest mention of his name in the final moments of the film.

Also, do not expect a movie chock full of action; although there are obviously fight scenes, most are short, bloodless and at times just there to showcase the amazing martial arts styles.

There has been a previous film about Ip Man, entitled, surprisingly, Ip Man (2008) and starring Donnie Yen. Where that film was more action (presumably to capitalise on Yen's ability), this is more subdued and reflects on the history of not only Ip Man, but the essence of Kung Fu, in particular the style of Wing Chun. The script is littered with wise sayings and philosophical teachings giving the impression that The Grandmaster wants to delve behind the fighting and be driven by the characters.

In Tony Leung the film has a strong lead. He exudes charm and is convincing in his role as a Wing Chun master (Leung is better known for his dark and brooding roles in films such as Infernal Affairs and In the Mood for Love). He stars alongside Ziyi Zhang as Gong Er, the daughter of another Grandmaster who has a love/hate relationship with Leung's Ip Man. Zhang is beautiful and graceful, the perfect ice maiden. However it is this very quality that sometimes makes it hard for the audience to fully sympathise with her character; her facial expressions rarely go beyond a steely stare. Given she is part of the film's more sentimental story lines, it is hard for the viewer to truly understand what is going on, especially in the dialogue free parts.

Unlike the previously mentioned Ip Man, this film spans a much longer time-line, from 1936 China to Hong Kong in the 50s. The Second Sino-Japanese War, which is central to Yen's film, is a small section which is only there to show us why Ip Man leaves China in the first place. Indeed large blocks of text flash up thorough out the picture to give us information and remind the audience that this all really happened.

The film is beautifully shot; Kar Wai Wong uses the elements to dazzling effect. Snow, rain, blossom, steam... all are used to create a wondrous sight and visually stunning pieces (the sequence at the train station is a perfect example). The white plains of Northern China, described as harsh by characters, are nothing short of breath taking under his direction.

If you want a film that gives us an Ip Man of action, then I highly recommend Donnie Yen's 2008 movie. However if you prefer a more character driven and thoughtful piece, then this will be more than satisfying.

Rating - 7/10

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

[8/10 · 5 May 2014]

If the first film was an origin story then this is Spider-man's coming of age. We spend most of the time, not with Spidey facing off with the bad guys, but working on his relationship with Gwen Stacey. Garfield and Stone still spark off of each other making the whole relationship angle interesting without being sickly. We also get more information about Peter's father and his work with Oscorp which gives this version more depth than the original trilogy.

And onto the bad guys. The trailer has given us a glimpse of three villains and there has been some concern over bad guy overkill. Rest assured, while Rhino and the Goblin do make appearances, this is the Electro show. Jamie Foxx's transformation from super geek to super villain is a marvel (sorry) and the special effects for his look are outstanding. At one point in the film I was worried we were going to be treated to a Dr. Manhattan (Watchmen) moment, but thankfully this film is a 12A so a suit is mysteriously added to save everyone's blushes.

The new Harry Osborn is an improvement over the whiny James Franco portrayal. Dane Dehaan is suitably cast as a poor little rich boy who shows his true colours when he doesn't get his own way. By the end I wanted to give him a good slap, the sign that he played his part well.

Sally Field returns as Aunt May and, although in only a few scenes, she acts others off the screen. When she has a heart to heart with Peter I could feel myself start to choke up (but we'll keep that between ourselves).

Garfield and Stone truly shine yet again. Stone's Gwen Stacey is feisty, gorgeous and intelligent, giving the audience a girl who is a believable equal to Peter Parker and Spider-man. Garfield has a tough job having to give us a sarcastic, lovable hero whilst also portraying a young man with relationship troubles and daddy issues. He manages to pull it off, although I admit to preferring his spandex clad Spidey.

Fans will be happy to know that there are several hints concerning the future of this franchise as well as spin offs... just keep watching.

The Raid 2 (2014)

The Raid 2

[8/10 · 5 May 2014]

Be aware, this film is The Raid 2, not The Raid the second. The difference being, people should not expect more of the exact same, this franchise has evolved.

The film picks up about half an hour after the first one, with the hero, Rama, now having to go undercover to find more corrupt cops and protect his family.

If The Raid could be likened to films such as Assault on Precinct 13 then the second film can be described as part Infernal Affairs, part The Godfather. The action is still there, extreme and over the top (not a complaint), but Evans has still kept the tension that made the original so extraordinary. The final fight scene is immense and superior to the confrontation in number one between Rama and Mad Dog. Where that was raw and gritty, The Raid 2 produces an exchange that is technically amazing and visually stunning.

I was worried that stretching the run time from 100 minutes to two and a half hours would damage the film. Although the film could easily be trimmed down by about 30 minutes, I wasn't sitting in my seat praying for the end; the balance between action and tension kept my interest until the very end.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Another Bigelow Triumph

[9/10 · 5 May 2014]

So, I realise I'm late to the party in regards to this film but better late than never, right?

On the surface of it, you can be forgiven for automatically comparing Zero Dark Thirty to Bigelow's other 'war' film, The Hurt Locker; you could be forgiven but you would be entirely wrong! The two films are completely different yet both are equally compelling, just for contrasting reasons.

The movie starts with audio only; calls between victims and the emergency services during the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. It's heartbreaking and horrifying without actually showing you anything. From here we jump two years and we are introduced to Jessica Chastain's character, Maya. Bigelow and writer, Mark Boal, give the audience a strong female character; a single minded woman who stops at nothing until she gets what she wants. Chastain's portrayal is a marvel; from her first 'interrogation' to the final moments, Maya's growth as a character, in strength and resolve, is utterly convincing. The only downside is that the audience never gets beneath the surface. Bigelow sacrifices who Maya is for what she does. However Jessica Chastain is so powerful in her role that the viewer will follow her story anyway without question.

The death of Bin Laden is almost always told as the story of the brave men who stormed his compound, yet we don't get to meet this group until two hours into the film. This film isn't about these people, it's about what went on behind the scenes to allow such a mission to take place; the many layers of bureaucracy and years of research Maya and company endure just to get a meeting with the Director of the C.I.A (played by James Gandolfini).

Some of the torture scenes make for uncomfortable viewing no matter what your opinion of it's usage. Bigelow pulls no punches in her direction and creates a visually beautiful film amid harsh environments. The final half hour of the film, the storming of Bin Laden's refuge which is shot almost in real time, is fascinating as the director switches between night vision goggles and the drab natural light of the compound, drawing the audience in and creating a tense final scene (despite the fact that we all know the ending of this story).

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

The Captain moves Marvel forward

[5 May 2014]

The latest instalment of the Marvel franchise has landed in the muscly form of Captain America. However the main attraction is neither the size of Chris Evans arms (sorry ladies) nor the pout of the beautiful Scarlett Johansson (never mind boys). Instead, the whole film is nothing short of a game changer for those that follow the Marvel universe and the TV series. Without giving too much away, watching the old films will never be the same again.

Mr Evans does a fantastic job as the man out of time trying to make sense of the world he now inhabits. Joining him this time is Ms Johansson as the arse-kicking Black Widow, and Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, aka, Falcon. Both are great in their sidekick roles; Black Widow gives the girls a reason to cheer by holding her own against the men of the movie, however these moments seem to be inter-cut with several lingering shots of her tightly clad bum. Mackie also plays his part well without looking like he is just auditioning for his own solo film.

The film is action sequence after action sequence but this doesn't detract from the plot. The only negative I have with the faster paced scenes is that sometimes the punches and kicks are a blur (but that could be something to do with my age).

And now onto the titular Winter Soldier. I won't reveal his identity, even if it is pretty much an open secret now. However I will say that, although he is an excellent foil for Steve Roger's Captain, I would have liked to see him a lot more. For a man whose name is in the title, he plays second fiddle to some of the other bad guys.

Despite my Winter Soldier gripe, this is a fantastic film and really does open up the future for the Marvel film franchise. There are little nods to other Marvel characters, both old and new, which should keep every fan boy (and girl) happy. As usual please stay until the end of the credits for two post film sequences, the first of which had me squeal with delight... thank goodness there was only my boyfriend and daughter in the cinema (who were just as excited).

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