g-leno Reviews

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Could have been so much worse, could have been better too.

[6/10 · 3 April 2016]

I did not expect too much from this film after hearing some bad reviews, but it was a watchable film that has moments of what could be great content but gets let down a moment later. There are some masterful shots in this movie that look simply amazing. The CGI is very good with only 2 seconds of Doomsday footage looking a little fake, other than that, no complaints about the look of the visuals.

Ben Affleck is a very good Batman and is also pretty good as Bruce, which has not been done since Keaton in 'Batman'. Henry Cavil is still looking good as Superman, and acts well considering the sloppy script/story which I will come to later. Gal Gadot was surprisingly good as Wonder Woman. I was not a fan of the decision to cast her when first announced but she made the role her own and I have high hopes for her solo film.

As a core to the film, these actors rescue the film from a deluge of problems that could have destroyed any chance the movie had of being good. Eisenberg's Lex Luthor is frankly the worst part of the film. Every time he starts to build a sinister presence, it is ruined by a silly childish line or action. The plot is all over the place, with unnecessary dream sequences, shoehorned in cameos and supporting roles and plot holes and character inconsistencies that make no sense.

I read comics, lots of them, and I was expecting some changes to the characters so I was not too bothered by the changes that were made. What I was annoyed by is the huge inconsistencies in Superman and his powers. Now I understand that without toning his powers down we would not get a very good movie, but how can he react fast enough to catch a bullet yet not react fast enough to avoid gas spaying out of said projectile. Then he gets suckered in to the same thing again 2 minutes later. He seemed to forget that he has x-ray vision in 80% of the film, never used his speed for any real advantage and they also seem to have written out his freeze breath. I also have no idea why a nuclear blast would even bother Superman let alone virtually kill him.

All in all, this is one Superman fan who wanted so much more than Batman promotional material and an hour of set up for the justice league film. 6/10.

Deadpool (2016)

not just flogging a Deadpool!

[9/10 · 13 February 2016]

Like many other people who read Deadpool's (mis)adventures on a monthly basis, this film had a lot to live up to to make me happy. Getting the right blend of over the top violence and gore, crude jokes and 4th wall breaking references was never going to be easy, but it has been achieved with great success! The film is consistently funny from start to finish as long as you have the right level of maturity or aren't prudish.

Ryan Renyolds is perfect as the regeneratin' degenerate, delivering gags as fast the the bullets are coming from the various guns, and DP's wingman Weasel is not short of wit either. One of the best things here was Colossus and Negasonic teenage warhead appearance, which gives not only more options for characters for Deadpool to mock, but also gives the movie the feeling of being a part of a bigger universe in the same way as the Marvel studios movies do.

If there is one thing that I must criticise about this film, its that sometimes, the switch between the action to the origin flashbacks don't feel fluid, leaving the audience wanting more of the action, but instead just jumping back in time in what feels like the worst time. This could be to highlight how disjointed Wade's mind is though so I'll let it slide.

Bring on the sequel! 9/10 for pure entertainment, I mean, why else would you watch a film if not to be entertained?

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Superb Heroes

[10/10 · 24 April 2015]

Jumping right in to the action, this is one heck of a thrill ride only slowing the pace for a few moments to give a little back story to several characters that have not had their own film, and the new characters. I enjoyed the fight scenes immensely, with one in particular that had me grinning like the Cheshire cat.

Fans of the Marvel movies will already know what to expect from Thor, Iron man and Captain America, and the real delight for me came from the new arrivals, especially Paul Bettany as Vision.

The Real highlight for me was the villain Ultron. The way he looks and moves combined with the amazing voice from James Spader gives Ultron real screen presence and a great sense of menace that sets it apart from other robots in film.

The only thing I would have changed in this movie was to give Anthony Mackie a bigger part in it because i really enjoyed his performance in Captain America: the Wintrr Soldier, and was disappointed not to have him alongside Chris Evans again where he seemed to fit perfectly in his previous appearance. Vastly enjoyable film for all except the art crowd.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

This is the new benchmark

[10/10 · 2 August 2014]

What is the point of continuing to make films when you have made an action packed extravaganza like the Avengers already? The answer is so that you can produce a film like Guardians of the galaxy! Essentially, Guardians is everything that was right about the Avengers, minus what was wrong with it (not that there was much wrong with it).

The story is extremely well paced, with no time to get bored between the action scenes as these are separated with essential plot details and very amusing comedy lines. The villain does not get to do much, but this film has to introduce so very many characters, locales, items and ideas that the lack of development for the bad guy can be expected and not judged to badly.

Rocket and Groot steal so many of the scenes that it automatically makes them the easiest characters to love, but Pratt's Star Lord is still a great character perfectly cast. Gamora was not as lethal as I would have liked, but was still well played and Dave Bautista As Drax is the best performance i have seen from a wrestler, being better than even Dwane Johnson.

The special effects are visually stunning, with lots of colour and detail in the environments. Rocket and Groot look amazing and the first proper look at Thanos was also pleasing. Even the make-up effects look good, when added to the performance of Micheal Rooker, you get even better supporting characters to compliment the main cast.

If the success of Avengers gave Marvel the confidence to make this relatively obscure comic into a film, then i hope that this film brings in the kind of money that proves it was the right choice so that more brilliant characters can be shown to the general public. Marvel, Please keep making films of this quality!

Inception (2010)

What is the big deal?

[7/10 · 29 June 2014]

This is an entertaining film with a clever plot and interesting ideas, but why do people rave about it being the greatest film of the decade? It really is no more revolutionary than the Matrix was in the 90's, it most definitely is not as masterfully made as the Lord of the Rings films, and the action is no better than any other sci-fi or super-hero film that comes out.

As said, I enjoyed the film and is certainly enjoyable, but I would not be eager to watch it again as I don't think it is one of those films that can be watched over and over. Is it just the legion of Nolan fans? Or am I missing something that makes people give this a 10/10?

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014 Video Game)

its, well, not the best game.

[6/10 · 17 May 2014]

I bought this game on ps4, and it really isn't worthy of a next gen console. It is a straight port from the old machines so the graphical quality is just not as good as it should be.

I have played every Spiderman game that Beenox has made, and this one continues to be an adequate game, the story pays plenty of fan service to readers of Spiderman comics, the side missions add a bit more content for longevity and the rewards for doing it make it worthwhile. Although the game is quite fun and is an OK addition to the Spiderman games, It fails to offer anything that has not been seen in the other games, and sometimes just feels like a re-hash of the previous game.

The voice acting is not brilliant, but it does the job. Stan Lee has a brilliant part in the game and deserves the respect that he gets for his creations. To summarize, its not bad, but its nothing special. I wouldn't rush out and buy it unless you are a massive Spiderman fan, or have finished your other games and need something to play.

The Wolf Among Us (2013 Video Game)

Decent all round game, NOT for kids.

[9/10 · 17 April 2014]

Based on the comic books 'Fables', this game is a story based RPG where your choices have an effect on the rest of the story. Made by the same people that gave us the brilliant Walking Dead and Back to the Future games, this game is the same style as those, but has a little more action in it. The animation is spot on for the feel of the game, giving a touch of brightness to what is, at is heart, a very dark and gritty tale that is meant for the mature gamer.

The characters are well done and are a fresh take on classic fairy tale characters, almost like the television series 'Once upon a time'. I loved this games take on Georgie Porgie, and there are numerous little hints and nods to many of the well known characters that may not appear in the game.

All in all, the adult content makes this game a refreshing experience, and the episodic release means that there is no rush to play the game and you can play through it bit by bit making it last longer. I hope games like this continue to be made and that the level of quality is on par with this game.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Winter soldier, best movie this spring!

[9/10 · 5 April 2014]

I was so very happy with this movie, I walked out of the cinema feeling that it was probably the best way I could have spent my evening.

Chris Evans has hit his stride in the role of Captain America. Every time he plays Steve Rogers, he gets better at it. The first avenger was a shaky start, with many characters being introduced and never being given any more to do or say in the film. In the Avengers, he comes forward as the tactical mind of the team, but is overshadowed by the ego of the powerhouse characters. This film however gives him the full attention while still managing to develop Black Widow, Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., and do a more than decent job of introducing Mackie's Falcon.

I really enjoyed the way that the plot moves and shifts, making this so much different from many other comic book movies. The focus is on plot, characters and back-stories as much as the action, although there is still plenty of action too. Well choreographed fights, excellent visual effects and innovative ideas for gadgets and missions in the film make for a thrilling ride of a movie I hope that this level of quality continues to come from Marvel Studios, and as long as it does they will have the monopoly on the summer blockbusters for the foreseeable future. Bring on Guardians of the Galaxy!

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Dreadful, Geoge Lucas should refund everyone for this.

[2/10 · 24 November 2013]

I will never watch this film again, I have only seen it twice, once at the cinema way back then, and once recently to check that it really was THAT bad. The only reason I did not give this a score of 1/10 is that i believe no film deserves that as it takes time and effort to make any film.

Ray Park was the best thing about this film, and when the best part only says 3 lines, its got to be bad. the special effects were brilliant for their time, but now are nothing special so don't add anything to the (bad) experience of watching it.

Anyone who gave this film more than a 4/10 is a fan-boy (or girl) of epic proportions. I would rather spend a day watching Twilight playing on loop for a day than watch this again. For the manual on how to ruin one of the greatest sagas on film, contact George Lucas. Disney cannot possibly any worse than this!

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

game changer, but the saga peaked at the start

[9/10 · 21 November 2013]

There is no denying that this film was the start of something big, and you cannot take away from it the fact that it changed the face of the sci-fi genre, maybe even the whole film industry, in to what it is today. For its time, the effects, story, characters and detail in this film are are beyond exemplary. Most action and sci-fi films aim to be compared to star wars, a feat that is rare and, in my opinion, has only been achieved by Terminator 1 and 2, the lord of the rings trilogy and marvels: the avengers.

A new hope works brilliantly as a first chapter to a saga, however, I feel that it works better as a stand alone film. Unlike many films that are a 'first part', it has a beginning, middle and end, tells everything that needs to be told and leaves the characters in a satisfying place. I feel that having seen the prequels does not diminish anything about this film like it does to episodes five and six.

The only problem that I have is that the original theatrical release doesn't really exist anymore, you can only really get the version that has been tinkered with by Lucas to put needless CGI extras in. This is the original and best of the star wars saga, however i do feel that many people see this through rose tinted glasses and will not see any faults in any of the three original films, even though they are happy to say that the three prequels do not exist as far as they are concerned. Awesome film, great legacy, and now that Disney has the rights away from Lucas, a great future too.

Saints Row IV (2013 Video Game)

Huge amounts of crazy, lots of fun too.

[9/10 · 31 August 2013]

The first Saints Row game that i played was the third one, and This one takes a lot of material from its Predecessor. The city is the same so if you learned where things were, you will have no problems with navigation. The best thing about these games is the comedy found in everything, from the names of places to the content of conversations between characters. Some game take themselves far too seriously but this is a refreshing break from that.

Some refer to these games as Grand Theft Auto's little sibling, but I think that it is different enough to stand alone as an adult game, without the comparisons by simply having the craziest storyline and missions in games. Another big bonus is the character design aspect that allows you to create you own character in the same way as Skyrim and other games. This makes it personal to you, rather than being given a set character that you have no attachment to at the start.

The only criticism I have of this game would probably be that there may be a little too much repetition on the collectible side of things. most games that I have played have 50-200 items to find. I was a bit daunted by the Amazing spider-man game having 700! but over 1200 here may get boring for the people like me, who play to 100% complete, by the end of the game.

All in all, a very entertaining game that deserves to be played! If you enjoy this game as much as I have then it will be money well spent!

Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

Complete and utter excellence

[9/10 · 26 August 2013]

I had heard a lot of bad things about this before i went in to see it, but I loved the first film, so I was never not going to see this. All the bad comments that i have heard have come from people who either haven't seen the original or are over 50 years old with little to connect them with the characters or the whole super hero genre.

I thought that this was a fantastically fun and imaginative story, with humor coming from both genre related in-jokes and gross out visual violence. Perfect casting in Jim Carrey and John Leguizamo. Chloe Grace Moretz Continues to shine as Hit Girl and steals the show in most scenes that she is in. Olga Kurkulina is genuinely and terrifyingly believable as Mother Russia.

This was the most fun I've had at the movies for a couple of years, and anyone who enjoyed the first film should love this. I really hope that Kick-ass 3 gets made as there are a lot of tantalizing bits that leave you wondering what may happen in a future sequel. My only criticism would be that I think it should have been rated 18 rather than 15 due to the very graphic violence and disturbing scenes.

All in all: A must see!

The Wolverine (2013)

Not the greatest film ever, but an entertaining action flick

[7/10 · 29 July 2013]

I am one of the people that like X-men origins: Wolverine, and i was looking forward to this film a lot! I would like to say it lived up to my expectations,but i'm not sure that it did. There are a few massive plot holes but i don't worry about that too much when watching a movie based on a comic book.

There are less memorable bits in this than origins, but the action sequences are big and bold and very well done. The touch of violence and humor goes well with the setting in Japan being serious and organised. The villains are a bit one dimensional but really, who cares? Its a Wolverine film and i would go and see a sequel without hesitation.

If you are not a fan of comic book movies or action films in general, then don't bother with this, but for an evenings enjoyment, its well worth it. Bring on 'days of future past', cant wait!

Man of Steel (2013)

Nowhere near as bad as a lover feared

[8/10 · 21 June 2013]

I was dreading this! A 'realistic' Superman? How is that possible? that'll be nothing like the comics I love!? Well, i came out of the cinema feeling pretty good about it! Firstly the criticisms. I wasn't impressed that superman kills, thats against everything he is supposed to be. Secondly The absence of the classic score that still rouses my spirits whenever i hear it, was sorely missed. Lastly my minor quibble that i don't think it would have been worse to have an older style brighter costume.

On to the good points! The opening of the movie on Krypton is Jaw dropping! Any sci-fi movie would have been proud of that 10 minutes of footage! Russel Crowe was great and it gave a good setting for the rest of the story. The fight sequences are very well made and utilize great special effects to make the super powers look very real.

To avid comic readers, there will be a lot of flaws to spot, but to Joe public, i think this will be a hugely enjoyable blockbuster. I just hope they lighten the mood (and costume) if they make a justice league film off the back of this. A solid 8/10 from me, just not as fun as Avengers Assemble.

Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013 Video Game)

Enjoyable game for novices and experts alike

[9/10 · 19 May 2013]

As a massive fan of the Tekken fighting games, i am always wary of getting other fighting games, but as a super hero fan, i simply had to give this game a shot. What I ended up with was an enjoyable game with simple enough controls to get to grips with, but there is scope to learn to use the moves of each character to incredible effect.

The game has a story mode that is far superior to most fighting games, and the level of detail that has been put in to the S.T.A.R. labs missions makes the 1 player content last much longer while not seeming like too much of a grind. I was also glad that the studio didn't make superman and batman the instant pick that they may have been being the famous pair, the other characters are all very competitive for 2 player use.

If your favorite character is not one of the 24 playable ones, you can almost guarantee that they will have a cameo in the game somewhere, and with down-loadable content on the way, the games longevity will be increased.

I would recommend this game to any fan of fighting games and/or DC comics characters, and i hope that this becomes a franchise of games, not just a one off. Note to Disney: make a game like this for Marvel characters, there is lots of money to be made!

Iron Man Three (2013)

I think its the best Iron man movie yet!

[9/10 · 26 April 2013]

First of all, let me say that all of the people out there who write reviews saying "just another stupid comic adaptation", Stop watching these movies if you don't like the whole genre! About the movie. Great comedy moments lighten the mood from time to time as the body count is pretty high for a 12 rated movie. People who like the dark knight trilogy because its 'dark' even though no one dies will find this great. This film has it all, great special effects, action sequences, comedy and concepts.

Its Main bonus that it has over the other two installments is that is not just another bad guy in a rip off suit. Those looking for another Avengers will be expecting too much, and may well be disappointed, but they need to save the team ups for Avengers 2!

My only fault in this movie was the lack of scenes with Rhodey in his suit, War Machinedeserves more screen time! In summary, not a 10/10 like Avengers, but a very worthy addition to the Marvel cinematic universe.

Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet (2010 Video Game)

Childish fun!

[9/10 · 31 December 2012]

I played this game as a super hero fan-boy, knowing that it is aimed at the younger gamers. I was surprised at how much fun i had! Silly story lines and cartoon heroes make for a refreshing break from the super serious Arkham city and the brilliantly gory wolverine tie-in game.

Some characters are much easier to use than others but all have parts to play and some good lines. You can almost guarantee that your favorite hero is in the game, being able to play as Hulk, Thor, Spiderman and many others! Although why the writers put reptil in rather than a more famous character like Hawkeye or even ms. marvel, i will never understand!

If you can get this game, have a bash and you will have some fun. Then go get Lego Batman 2 and have some more fun!

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse (2012 Video Game)

Back to the multi-verse in style

[8/10 · 31 December 2012]

If you are a fan of family guy, then you will find the gags funny, you will spot references to the episodes that the levels are based on and you will enjoy the fun story of the game.

The controls can be a little clunky in places but are by no means the worst i have endured. The only real problems that this game suffers from is firstly the hidden collectibles are easy to find except 1 per level which will annoy you while finding it and some of the mini games during levels have hard to use controls.

All in all, if you own family guy dvds and a console, then buy this and enjoy!

The Dark Knight (2008)

Totally overrated

[3/10 · 31 December 2012]

Quite possibly the most over hyped and overrated pile of junk in my lifetime.

Batman Begins was a fine movie and apart from the frankly terrible scarecrow, was an enjoyable watch.

The Dark Knight was hailed as as masterpiece, I disagree. Heath Ledger was not a Joker. If it had been a villain called something else i would not have had a problem but this is so far away from the source material that it makes no sense for them to even refer to him as the joker. Jack Nicholson was better in every way. Two face was good but hardly used at all. On top of all of that the whole idea of making a film about a comic book 'realistic' is pointless, the whole idea of batman is unrealistic, just the way it should be.

To all those people who say 'this film is darker which makes it better' you are all forgetting what happens, the joker actually dies in the 1989 film, no one dies in this.

If you are a fan of classic batman, DO NOT watch this film, stick with the vastly superior Tim Burton film!

The Avengers (2012)

Pretty much perfect!

[10/10 · 31 December 2012]

The only fault that this movie has is that its not long enough! The fights are great. Seamles panning through the war zone with ultra cool set pieces that are just used as fillers! Most movies would kill for some the little bits as the best thing in their whole film. Cap bouncing iron man's repulsors off his shield and taking out the enemies is just one example of this! Hulk steals the show probably because most people enjoyed the iron man and Thor stand alone films more than the others and thus expect them to be the best characters.

Every character has their time in the spot light, and the only one that could have had a bit more action is Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury.

Easily the best film of 2012, and for me, the best film i have seen since The Lord of The Rings! Bring on Avengers 2! i'm sure it will Destroy Justice League at the box office!