Change Your Image
dereksbryan
Reviews
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
Interesting Cast - But Where Are The Others?
I have to say upfront that I enjoyed this as an "actioner", my pulse was racing in all the fight scenes and the countdown climax had me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the characters and the cast were brilliant as well. But why call it GI Joe 2 when there is so little to connect it character-wise with the first? For sure Hasbro's characters are in there, so they have product to sell, but I wanted to continue the stories of the characters from the first movie, all of whom seem to be dead - if the "cut and paste" exposition at the start is to be believed. As a stand alone action movie this was very good, I loved the set pieces - many used in the trailers, unfortunately - and the locations: It is 10 years since I visited Fort Sumter, so I enjoyed seeing what it looked like here. The characters were well defined (or at least better drawn than in many of this type of movie) and the interplay between characters was fun to watch. I take issue with the need to show more of the family life just to include more scenes with Channing Tatum, but I suppose the producers wanted their money's worth. If GIJ3 does get made, please bring back the characters from #1, perhaps with those from #2?
Brotherhood of Blood (2007)
How to maximise a low budget to great effect.
I would recommend this DVD to anyone attending film school, or planning to make their own movies on very little. For a budget of $500K the talents of Victoria Pratt, Jason Connery and Coolio can be shown off to advantage by keeping down the number of locations and sets, minimising expensive FX and spending time (the least expensive component before the cameras start rolling) on sorting out the structure, characterisation and story of your script. Shoot direct on High Definition video, with rented quality lenses and then edit with a feel for rhythm and pace and you'll (maybe) produce something as good as this horror-flick. You get hints of the world around, of a greater story, but mostly it is a claustrophobic action picture that makes your pulse race as you fear what will happen to the heroine/hero next. A very good piece of work - don't expect every great film to be "Gone With The Wind" high drama or "Star Trek" spectacular.
Lovers, Liars and Lunatics (2006)
Well paced farce, with tragedy waiting in the wings.
This is a well-balanced, carefully timed farce, with tragedy waiting in the wings. The casting has been done with care, and the warring family at the centre are very believable. Amber has written a story that shows her left-field imagination at its best, and as a director shows that she can handle a full crew as well as anyone. Her editing produces a pace that is well-balanced and pulls you into the story before racing you along. Amber's role is another tough one to pull off successfully because the character is not driving the situation. For me this is when you see an actor at their best. As the bullied and abused side-kick Amber is painfully convincing: at times you'll feel like comforting her, or kicking the boyfriend's butt. Independent movies are hard to finance, and Amber has worked like a Trojan to raise the funds for a full crew, and production schedule, even getting money from her fans. Not only does Amber write, direct, edit, produce and star, she also sticks the labels on the envelopes when you buy the DVD. This is an A+ effort and I look forward to seeing Amber Benson's mainstream directorial debut in the near future.
Doctor Who (2005)
Get the sofa ready to hide behind...
The new productions of this classic BBC series have been the most successful ever. Completely overhauling the old cardboard-set format, with the latest CGI and an attention to detail that would not be out of place in a US production, this comes with imaginative scripting, and characterisation in depth. The pace rarely flags, and at the end of each episode you find yourself wanting more. Billie Piper's portrayal of Rose is a revelation to those who knew her only as a pop singer. She 'gets' Rose, and as someone from South London, I know the type. Character development is strong in this series, so it is a pleasure to watch the changes to Rose as she faces up to her fears and finds her strengths. The Doctor is energetic and fun to be around - sometimes. I confess I was annoyed by Christopher Ecclestone's decision to quit the cast at the end of Season One (announced even before the series had ended),but the well managed transition is believable and with David Tennant in the role the show seems set fair for a successful future.
Kingdom Hospital (2004)
Inspirational, highly recommended
Because this was shown on British television late at night, it suffered in the ratings here as it has in the US. This is a shame because it is a seminal piece of television. Inspirational work all round. Watch it for the way it blends grand CGI with real-time effects, or the sudden twists and turns in the narrative which keep you guessing which way it will take you next. The clever use of comedy, often grotesque, to leaven the horror, and the enthusiasm with which the cast and production crew seem to have thrown themselves into the project, should make this show required viewing for would-be writers and programme makers. This is highly recommended.