tvmovienews Reviews

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

Oz the Great and Powerful

[6/10 · 5 August 2013]

I'm not usually a huge fan of fantasy films as I find a lot of them focus too heavily on visuals and lack in storyline, so I wasn't overly excited to watch Oz the Great and Powerful. This film is directed by the brilliant Sam Raimi, who's work includes the original Spider-man and Evil Dead series. It is also based on L. Frank Baum's Oz novels, and is set 20 years before the events of the classic film 'The Wizard of Oz'. In this film it follows Oscar Diggs (played by James Franco), a small time magician, who is sucked into a tornado and crash lands in Oz. There he meets a witch called Theodora who believes he is the wizard prophesied to overthrow the Wicked Witch and save the people of Oz.

While I still don't think this was an amazing film, it was still much better than I expected. The storyline gave plenty of references to the original film, but still had its own originality. For such a long film I didn't feel that it dragged too much and moved at a pretty steady pace. The acting by all was very solid, in particular Mila Kunis who was great as one of the witches. As expected the special effects were pretty impressive, and I'm sure would've looked great in 3D.

I hope I haven't hyped this up too much, but if you go into it with the right attitude hopefully you enjoy it too.

My rating: 6.5/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

The Call (II) (2013)

The Call

[5/10 · 5 August 2013]

The Call is a WWE produced thriller starring Halle Berry, who works as a 911 operator and receives a call from a teenage girl who has just been abducted and locked inside the boot of a man's car. Halle Berry's character has to keep the girl calm on the phone, and work out the best way to get her to safety. This feels like a mixture of the Ryan Reynolds thriller 'Buried' and Liam Neeson's 'Taken', unfortunately it never reaches the quality of either film. It's full of clichés, poor acting and lazy plot holes, in particular the ending which just leaves you even more frustrated. It may have had more effect if it was made 10 years ago, but these days most phones come installed with a GPS and internet access, so the whole concept of having a phone and not being able to locate your whereabouts is a little unbelievable. They try and pass it off by saying the phone is a disposable, so it cannot be traced. This can probably be overlooked for the good of the storyline, and if you embrace this, it does have some pretty good moments which give the movie a pass mark.

I was surprised to see Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) appear in the movie, but unfortunately he is hardly used and you feel like his talents are really wasted in such a minor role.

Apparently this did pretty well at the box office, bringing in close to $60 million, which is great considering it cost $13 million to produce. There is even talk of a sequel in the works.

My Rating: 5.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

World War Z (2013)

World War Z

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

I love zombie films, but the quality over the years has been very mixed to say the least. Of the most recent zombie films going around, I would rate Dawn of the Dead (the remake) and 28 Days Later as the top two in my opinion. I had read quite a lot of positive reviews on World War Z, so I was excited by the prospect of a big budget zombie film that may not disappoint. I was also surprised when I saw Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt as the leading character, as these days Brad doesn't choose too many dud films. I watched World War Z in 3D to get the full affect and it didn't take long to click into action, with the zombie outbreak starting in the busy streets of Philadelphia. About 30 minutes into it I remembered thinking how awesome it was and if it kept its pace it could rival the top zombie films mentioned earlier. While I don't think it quite reached that level in the end, I still think it was a very entertaining and worthwhile film for fans of the zombie genre. One of the things that impressed me most about the film was that the storyline actually had some depth to it, with Brad Pitt traveling across the world trying to track down the origin of the outbreak. Surprisingly this film was rated PG-13, so if you are a fan of horror films with plenty of gore, you might be a little disappointed. While I enjoyed it, there are still plenty of flaws which hold it back, as it had potential to be so much better. In parts, the CGI was sloppy, the shaky camera and editing got distracting and some scenes unfortunately had plot holes, but what zombie film doesn't have its flaws right? It's an entertaining film all the same and worth a watch.

My Rating: 7/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

The Place Beyond the Pines

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

This is a crime/drama film directed by Derek Cianfrance and stars Ryan Gosling who also appeared in his last film, 'Blue Valentine'. Gosling is joined by Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes , Ben Mendelsohn, Rose Byrne and Ray Liotta. As you can see it is a huge cast. The Place Beyond the Pines is about a motorcycle stunt rider who turns to bank robbing as a way to provide for his lover and newborn child. This puts him into a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop who is trying to navigate a department ruled by a corrupt detective. This movie definitely won't please everyone, but personally I loved it.

The movie is broken up into three parts, focusing on a different character at a time. So we don't actually see Bradley Cooper until a third of the way in, with the beginning focusing on Ryan Gosling's story. This was really well done as every story has plenty of substance and helped break up the 140 minute runtime. The three parts merge beautifully into each other, showing the major implications caused by the characters actions throughout the film. I think the ending will also cause a divide in opinion, but I thought it was a fitting conclusion. The acting was terrific by the entire cast, in particular Bradley Cooper's whose performance rivalled his work in Silver Linings Playbook. It's also great to see Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn starting to get regular work in Hollywood. He is a great actor and definitely deserves to succeed. The music was handled by Mike Patton, which is pretty cool as the man is a genius. The camera work was also fairly unique in parts, as we watch some of the characters interacting from unusual angles.

As I said earlier, this definitely won't be for everyone as it requires some concentration to follow the plot.

My Rating: 7.5/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Drift (II) (2013)

Really good

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

Drift (2013)

Drift is an Australian film based loosely on true events of two brothers during the 1970s and the birth and rise of the surf industry in Western Australia. Determined to escape a life of factory work and petty crime, Andy (Myles Pollard) and his wayward surf prodigy younger brother Jimmy (Xavier Samuel) decide to start their own surfing brand called 'Drift', which produces custom wetsuits and new shorter surfboards. Initially the business creates some excitement amongst the local surfing community, but the challenges of living in a conservative town begin to hinder their growth. They must overcome pressure from the local police, banks and even a gang of drug dealing bikers. It's surprising to also see 'Avatar' and 'Terminator: Salvation' star, Sam Worthington play a hippy drifter in a supporting role, who is supposed to represent the era's anti-establishment vibe.

A lot of people are reluctant to watch Australian films as they are viewed by many as cheap and 'crap'. I had a similar view many years ago, but if you actually give them a chance, you will be surprised how many quality films have been made and don't receive the attention they deserve. Australia has produced an abundance of surfing movies and documentaries over the years, with its rich culture and history in contributing to the industry. This is the first time that I am aware of a movie focusing on the involvement in Western Australia however, as the attention is usually targeted along the east coast.

This was a really pleasant surprise for me and has left me thinking about it for days after. Not that it was a mind blowing film, or one of the best Australian films made. Far from it. I just felt it was the perfect 'Aussie' film, compared to Baz Luhrmann's big budget flop 'Australia', which gave such a forced representation of the stereotypical Australian outback. Very different films I know, but this just seemed so real and authentic in contrast.

Once again I hope I haven't hyped this up too much, but having entered into it with such little expectations, I really enjoyed it. Some of it is still pretty cheesy and the acting is a mixed bag. I thought the soundtrack was a standout featuring so many local bands, complementing the themes of the film. Considering the small budget the cinematography and camera work was superb.

My Rating: 6.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Broken (IV) (2012)

Broken

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

Broken is a British coming-of-age drama film directed by Rufus Norris and stars Cillian Murphy, Tim Roth and Eloise Laurence. It is based on the 2008 novel of the same name written by Daniel Clay, which draws heavy influences from 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. It tells the story of an 11 year old girl named 'Skunk' (what a beautiful name for a girl), who witnesses a brutal attack in the quiet street from where she lives. A series of violent events, both physically and emotionally ensue, which have a devastating impact on three neighbouring families.

While it's a fairly bleak story, filled with heartbreak, the cinematography and style of this film is beautifully done, and the acting was equally as impressive. With the strong similarities drawn from 'To Kill a Mockingbird', it almost feels like a remake, however if you are going to remake a film this is probably the perfect way to do it. I found some parts of the film to be a little slow, so I wouldn't recommend this film to casual movie lovers who enjoy high budget Hollywood films. This one is definitely aimed at fans of independent films with deeper story lines.

My Rating: 7/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Sharknado (2013 TV Movie)

SHARKnado!

[9/10 · 5 August 2013]

In what will quite possibly be the best film of the year (haha), I bring you the much anticipated review on 'SHARKNADO"! What a brilliant name for a film. It says it all really. It has to be up there with 'Snakes on a Plane'. I could explain the storyline with great detail, but I think you already know from the name what this movie is all about; a tornado hits LA, full of ridiculously hungry killer sharks. What a concept! I can just imagine the board meeting brainstorming ideas, with Thunder Levin (yes the writer of the film is actually called 'Thunder', how bad ass is that?) saying "I have this killer idea about a tornado, but here is the twist.."

Anyway, after a pitch like that it would be no surprise to anyone that the film was made and subsequently aired on the American television station 'Syfy'. While the premiere reached an audience of 1.37 million viewers, the most notable aspect of the film's success was due to the fact that the internet blew up with people discussing the film on social media. In particular twitter where it was trending worldwide, including plenty of tweets from celebrities. With that sort of publicity, Syfy decided to replay the film a week later which received an even larger viewership of 1.89 million. Syfy has since announced that they have ordered a sequel to premier in 2014, and they will be running a Twitter contest where fans can choose the subtitle for the new film.

One of the funniest things to come out of this internet phenomenon, is the comments made by lead actor and former 'Beverly Hills, 90210' star 'Ian Ziering' labelling himself the next John Travolta, and claiming that Sharknado is his 'Pulp Fiction' role.

Obviously the acting is horrible, the special effects looked dodgy and the storyline is full of plot holes, but you just don't care as this falls in the 'it is so bad, its good' category. I was laughing the whole way through it and I can't wait for the sequel.

My Rating: 9/10

Just kidding..

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Pawn Shop Chronicles (2013)

Pawn Shop Chronicles

[5/10 · 5 August 2013]

Pawn Shop Chronicles is directed by Wayne Kramer (Running Scared, The Cooler) and stars a big cast including Paul Walker, Brendan Fraser, Matt Dillon, Vincent D'Onofrio, Thomas Jane and Elijah Wood. The film consists of three stories which are connected to a pawn shop and all have a very Texan-redneck type feel to them. It's hard to define its genre as each story goes in a different direction. The first is a dark comedy following a bunch of meth addicts who are looking to rob their drug dealer, the second is a disturbing horror story which includes really graphic scenes which will unsettle a lot of people. The third is probably the weakest story which is a bizarre scenario where Brendan Fraser plays an Elvis impersonator, who is looking to trim his sideburns before he plays a show at the local fare. While most of the cast really performed to the best of their abilities, the film feels really disjointed and tries to be really quirky which probably lets it down in places. I appreciate what they were intending to achieve and from the look of the outtakes it is obvious the cast all enjoyed making the film, which explains how they were able to stay within a smallish budget of $5 million. This could've been a lot better, yet it could also have been a lot worse. It's worth a watch, but again I have to warn there are some graphic and disturbing scenes in particular the second story that won't be for everyone.

My Rating: 5.5/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Evil Dead (2013)

Evil Dead

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

If you don't like horror films, then stay clear! Evil Dead is a horror film which serves as both a reboot and a loose continuation of Sam Raimi's series 'Evil Dead' franchise. Raimi decided not to direct this film however, and instead delegated the duties to Fede Alvarez. Raimi still signed on as a producer along with Bruce Campbell and Robert G. Tapert, the lead actor and producer of the original trilogy respectively. For those of you who haven't seen the original, the film follows a group of five friends who drive out to a remote cabin in the woods, and discover the 'Book of the Dead'. Upon reading some of the passages aloud, they unwittingly summon up demons which take possession of their bodies one by one.

From what I have read, this has divided its fan base. On one side you could argue that it misses the mark when compared to the intentions set out by the original. All of the characters have been renamed and the cult hero Ash no longer exists. His humour is really missed, including the catchy 'one-liners' that were utilized in the famous video game 'Duke Nukem'. Instead the character which closely resembles Ash, is overly serious, boring and continuously makes terrible decisions which drive you crazy. On the other side, if you look at it as a standalone horror film, I think it is great. It is full of suspense, creepy scenes, gore, violence and a reported 70,000 gallons of fake blood.. awesome! They really did nail the 'horror' element of it, which is why it's all the more frustrating they didn't bring back Ash, as it had so much potential. That missing humour was the ingredient which made the original so unique to most standard horror films and that is exactly what this is, an above average 'standard horror film'.

So in summary I really enjoyed this film and genuinely found it to be quite creepy in parts, but as a remake it missed the point.

My Rating: 6.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Deano and Nige's Best Last Day Ever (2012)

Two Little Boys

[6/10 · 5 August 2013]

This is a New Zealand comedy which follows Nige played by Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords) and Deano played by Hamish Blake (Hamish & Andy). After a series of unfortunate incidents, Nige finds himself in a terrible predicament when he hits and kills a Norwegian backpacker with his little Ford Laser. He is then forced to turn to his childhood friend Deano for support, but unfortunately Deano has some fairly outlandish techniques, which doesn't exactly make him the most reliable person to call in a crisis.

This was quite an unusual film and while it is classified as a comedy, it doesn't have too many 'laugh out loud' moments (or 'lolz' as the kids call it these days). I consider Hamish one of Australia's funniest comedians going around these days, and same with Bret in New Zealand, so I was expecting this movie to be quite hilarious. It had some fairly serious undertones which would almost place it in the dark comedy genre, yet it is still filled with plenty of bogan Aussie and Kiwi humour.

Two Little Boys was enjoyable to watch and Bret and Hamish did a great job in their roles. It was the first film or TV show I have seen Hamish actually act in and I hope it opens the door for him to do more. Maaka Pohatu who plays Nige's new best friend in the film was also quite impressive.

My Rating: 6/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Dead Man Down (2013)

Dead Man Down

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

Dead Man Down is another WWE produced action thriller directed by Niels Arden Oplev and stars Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace and Terrance Howard. This is the second time Oplev and Rapace have worked together, previously working on the original Swedish version of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. In this film, Victor (Ferrell) has infiltrated a criminal gang run by Alphonse Hoyt (Howard), with the intentions of seeking revenge against Alphonse who killed his wife and child two years earlier. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman living in the apartment adjacent from Victor, bribes him into executing some retribution against someone who has also caused her harm in the past. While the storyline of revenge is compelling in its own right, it feels like more than just a simple action film, as so much emotion and detail is explored around the leading characters which gives the film a lot of depth. The acting and directing is superb, and you can tell a lot of thought went into the screenplay. I really enjoyed this film and recommend it to most people.

My Rating: 7/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Stoker (2013)

Stoker

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

Stoker is a thriller which follows a girl named India (played by Mia Wasikowska), who's forced to live with her unstable mother (Nicole Kidman) after her father dies in a car accident. Her uncle (Matthew Goode) who reminds me a lot of the Norman Bates character in 'Psycho', returns home to live with them and help support them after travelling the world, however India suspects this mysterious and charming man has an ulterior motive. Originally Carey Mulligan, Jodie Foster and Colin Firth were cast, but all had to drop out and were subsequently replaced by the names mentioned above, who all do an excellent job in their respective roles. The look and feel of this film is undoubtedly its greatest asset, which is largely associated to the fact that one of my favourite foreign directors of all time, Chan-Wook Park was at the helm in his first English language film. Chan-Wook Park is famous for such films as his Vengeance trilogy (including 'Oldboy' which is being remade in Hollywood), 'Thirst', 'Joint Security Area' and 'Three... Extremes'. The man is an absolute genius, and I highly recommend anyone to seek out these films. Stoker is written by 'Prison Break' star 'Wentworth Miller', and while it was a good first attempt at writing, it is probably its biggest weakness. While this is a fairly standard psychological thriller, the innovative cinematic techniques and camera work hold the film together.

My Rating: 6.5/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

[6/10 · 5 August 2013]

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is the sequel to G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, which is based on Hansbro's toy, comic and media franchise. This is directed by Jon M. Chu and written by the Zombieland writers, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who help bring some humor to the series. In this installment, the G.I. Joe's are framed for stealing nuclear warheads from Pakistan by rival Cobra member 'Zartan', who is impersonating the President of the United States. The Joe's set out to clear their names, and stop the Cobra faction from completing their evil plot against the world. So as you can see, like most action films it doesn't exactly possess the deepest storyline going around. My knowledge of the comic series is quite limited so I couldn't help myself researching the characters featured in the film. In a nutshell, there are two rival groups; the 'G.I. Joe's' who are the good guys, and 'Cobra' who are the bad guys. Most of the characters have cool names like Roadblock, Firefly and Snake Eyes, and seem to have a special skill set. It really reminded me of a mix of 'X-Men' and 'Mortal Kombat', meets 'The Expendables'.

Several actors reprise their roles from the first film, such as Channing Tatum, Arnold Vosloo, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, and Byung-hun Lee. You may recognise Ray Park as 'Darth Maul' in 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace', so you would be aware that he is a pretty incredible Martial Artist. Joining the cast is Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Ray Stevenson and Bruce Willis. I always knew Dwayne Johnson was ripped, but my god, is he massive in this film! He makes Channing Tatum and Bruce Willis look like twigs next to him. Unfortunately Joseph Gordon-Levitt doesn't return in his role as Cobra Commander. Instead the character is played by Australian actor Luke Bracey.

For what this is, I thought it was a really entertaining. The action never stops for a rest and ticks most boxes to satisfy fans of the genre. It's crammed with plenty of big action sequences, things blowing up, car chase scenes, crazy ninja battles, and cheesy one liners which Bruce Willis delivers in spectacular fashion. The chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Channing Tatum comes across as really natural, and you can just tell they would be mates on set.

After reading reviews from G.I. Joe nerds around the world, there is an overwhelming consensus of disappointment towards major plot holes linking the first and second movie. As a casual observer, it probably didn't bother me as much and with a third film already in development, I look forward to the next ass kicking battle between the G.I. Joe's and Copbra.

My Rating: 6.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Playing for Keeps (2012)

Playing for Keeps

[6/10 · 5 August 2013]

Fellas, this is one that you would obviously watch with the cheese and kisses (misses). Or if you are a big fan of Gerard Butler and chick-flicks, this is also for you (guilty). Playing for keeps follows a former soccer star who has fallen on hard times and starts to coach his son's soccer team as a way to get his life back on track. Of course though, being Gerard Butler has its challenges. He gets swamped by advances by all of the attractive soccer mums, while trying to mend his relationship with his ex-wife played by Jessica Biel. For what it is, it's entertaining enough with some funny moments along the way. The cast is actually quite large with Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Judy Greer as the soccer mums and Dennis Quaid who is pretty funny as Uma Thurman's cheating husband and powerful business man, who tries to befriend Butler. It is also directed by Gabriele Muccino who has had plenty of success with 'The Pursuit of Happiness' and 'Seven Pounds'. This movie feels similar to the Will Ferrell comedy, 'Kicking & Screaming', where he also plays a little league soccer coach, but Playing for Keeps has less comedy and way more romance.

Still, if you enjoyed Butlers previous comedies like 'The Bounty Hunter' and 'The Ugly Truth', then you should also enjoy this.

My Rating: 6/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Intruders (I) (2011)

Awful

[2/10 · 5 August 2013]

Intruders is a Spanish horror film directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) and stars Clive Owen. It follows two children living in different parts of the world, who are visited nightly by a faceless being who wants to take possession of them. I thought the poster looked kind of interesting and I really like Clive Owen, but unfortunately you can't always judge a movie by its poster. This was really average and reminded me of that terrible movie 'Boogeyman' that came out in 2005. I always watch horror films late at night by myself, with all of the lights off and the curtains open so every creek outside can help add to the atmosphere. Even by doing this, it still didn't help this film. The CGI used to create the main villain known as 'Hollowface' was also really unimpressive and didn't give off a creepy vibe at all. While watching the start of the film and realising the main intentions of Hollowface was to steal little kids faces because he didn't have one of his own, I knew this movie didn't have much hope. I have seen a hell of a lot of crappy horror films and I can deal with that, but what really annoyed me was seeing Clive Owen ruin his career by choosing such terrible roles. He is so much better than this, what is he thinking?

My Rating: 2.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Awakenings (1990)

Very Awakening

[8/10 · 5 August 2013]

Awakenings (1990)

This film is amazing. It is biographical drama based on Oliver Sacks's 1973 memoir with the same name. Awakening tells the powerful story of Dr. Malcolm Sayer played by Robin Williams, who plays a fictionalized version of British neurologist Olver Sacks. In 1969 he experienced incredible results after he administered a drug called L-Dopa (which is commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease), to patients who had been in a catatonic state since the 1917-28 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica. These patients 'awaken' after decades of catatonia and are forced to adapt to their new life in a new time. The performances by both Robert De Niro and Robin Williams are spectacular and moving. In fact, Robert De Niro narrowly missed out on winning an Academy Award for his performance as Leonard Lowe, one of the patients that Dr Sayer treats. It has been years since I have watched a film that has moved me enough to get me close to turning on the water works, but I am man enough to admit I could feel a couple swelling in the eyes on this. It is incredible to think this is based on a true story, and makes you reconsider how insignificant our daily problems in life are compared to what these people have gone through. The things we take for granted are emphasised in this truly touching story. Do yourself a favour and watch this film.

My Rating: 8.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

Olympus Has Fallen Badly

[5/10 · 5 August 2013]

Olympus Has Fallen is an action/thriller directed by Antoine Fugua (Training Day) and stars Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman. The storyline follows a terrorist attack on the White House, masterminded by Kang Yeonsak, an ex-North Korean terrorist. Without giving away too many spoilers, the group eventually take control of the White House, with the president (Eckhart) held captive. The terrorists seem to have an answer for everything the Americans throw at them, however there is one remaining element which they failed to factor into their plan.. Gerard Butler. I know what you're thinking, how on earth could they be so negligent after all of that planning, right?

You could draw a strong comparison to the storyline attached to 'Die Hard' and the Harrison Ford film 'Air Force One'. Unfortunately while I really enjoyed those films, Olympus Has Fallen is a pretty big disappointment in my opinion. The writing is painfully lazy, with countless plot holes which just leave you incredibly frustrated. Time after time, characters make terrible decisions which leave you baffled as to how they managed to acquire any form of political power in the film. I am aware there is a certain leniency taken into consideration when watching action films with thin story lines, but the gaping holes were unavoidable and had way too much impact in the film. Not only that, but the film has a very arrogant and self-righteous attitude, telling us how 'America is the greatest country in the world'.

Maybe I am being too harsh, as I am sure there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this for what it is, but if you couldn't tell already it frustrated the hell out of me.

My Rating: 5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Trance (I) (2013)

Trance

[7/10 · 5 August 2013]

Trance is a psychological thriller directed by the brilliant Danny Boyle and stars James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel and Rosario Dawson. Danny Boyle would have to be one of the most talented directors going around these days, and boasts an impressive resume including 'Slumdog Millionaire', '127 Hours', '28 Days Later...' and 'Trainspotting'. He was even given the honour of directing the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. Danny Boyle possesses the uncanny ability to adapt his style to a range of different genres and absolutely nail it every time. This vision is once again on display in 'Trance', a film about a heist gone wrong, where Frank (Cassel) and his crew attempt to steal a $25 million painting. Simon (McAvoy) tries to prevent the robbery from occurring and gets hit in the head for his troubles. Simon suffers amnesia due to the blow, which causes major problems for Frank once he discovers that Simon switched the painting on him. Frank becomes determined to find the true location of the painting and tortures Simon for answers. After this fails, he forces Simon to see a hypnotherapist in an attempt to untangle his memory, which leads everyone involved into a very dark and twisted path.

This is a film that people will either love or hate. I thought it was superbly done and would rate it as one of the best films of the year at the moment. Boyle's visual flair, an imaginative screenplay, mixed with first-rate acting performances really make this film special. Vincent Cassel is a very underrated actor in my opinion and Rosario always gives such a natural performance. There are certain actors who's personalities just seem to shine through on screen, and you can just tell Rosario Dawson would be a genuine person off camera.

Similar to films like 'Inception' and 'American Psycho', 'Trance' explores the deepest depths of the human mind, so some people might find it hard to follow as it does jump back and forward quite a lot. Also just a warning there is a fair bit of full frontal nudity for those put off by it.

My Rating: 7.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Killing Season (2013)

Killing Season

[5/10 · 5 August 2013]

Killing Season is an action/thriller directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Ghost Rider) which stars Robert De Niro, John Travolta and Milo Ventimiglia. It follows two veterans of the Bosnian War, an American named Benjamin (De Niro) and a Serbian named Emil (Travolta). After Emil helps Benjamin out with some car trouble, he is invited back to Benjamin's cabin in the woods for drinks to say 'thanks'. The friendship however turns stale after one of them reveals their true intentions, and it quickly becomes a case of 'cat and mouse'. Robert De Niro is one of my favourite actors of all time, so it was great to see him back in a more serious role compared to the light and fluffy films he has become accustom to in his later years. Travolta's transformation into a Serbian is partially convincing due to his dark complexion and the thick beard he has grown for the role, but his accent seems a little shaky at times. While this isn't an amazing film and it has received some fairly negative reviews due to its inaccuracies in relation to the Bosnian War, I think its main intentions were to focus on the duel between both men and how the war has effected each man's personal life. I thought it was entertaining enough, but probably won't watch it again anytime soon.

My Rating: 5.5/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Twilight (I) (2008)

So much hype for another 'teenage high school' film

[6/10 · 13 June 2009]

Twilight is based on the books by author Stephenie Meyer, about a teenage girl that risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire. This movie has received a massive amount of hype and has quickly formed a cult like following. Being a big time Buffy and Angel fan, it is hard to not see the similarities between this movie and the TV series, minus a vampire slayer of course. One of the things that always drew me to the Buffy TV series, was their ability to still take a comedic approach at the vampire scenario. Whereas this movie was so serious at times and seemed to change the 'rules' when it comes to vampires (such as allowing them to stand in daylight and instead of burning into flames, their skin becomes diamond-like which seems odd?). I am probably just being picky, but it really didn't do much for me and just seemed like another 'teenage high school romance/drama' story. Having said all of this, I can see how this would appeal to so many (plus I haven't actually read the books) so feel free to make up your own mind. It still was entertaining enough, I suppose I am just surprised by the level of hype surrounding this film. My Rating: 6/10

Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia (2009 Video)

A Cheesy Action/War film

[3/10 · 13 June 2009]

This straight to DVD release is the third installment of the 2001 film staring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman. Personally, I didn't even know there was a sequel to the original, but considering this is a WWE produced film staring Mr Kennedy, who was I not to watch this? The storyline is pretty basic, navy SEALS organize an attack on Colombian Special Forces to clear their names and rescue a hostage which is one of their own. After watching this I can see why this was a straight to DVD release, it was really bad! The acting was remarkably horrible, and the storyline was equally as bad, but I wasn't expecting anything more then a cheesy action/war film with cheesy one liners, and that is exactly what I got! My Rating: 3.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Quarantine (2008)

Entertaining enough

[6/10 · 13 June 2009]

This movie focuses on a television reporter (Carpenter) and her cameraman (Harris) as they shoot a normal day in the life of a fireman, which leads them to an apartment complex where they are locked inside with what appear to be zombie like creatures. The movie is shot from the view point of the cameraman (similar to the Blair Witch Project) which can often leave the viewer a little dizzy. This movie started off slow, however once the zombie like creatures started to show, the movie became a lot more entertaining. I have seen some really good zombie films, and a lot of terrible ones, I would say this one was one of the better ones. We watched this at 12 at night with all the lights off and it made the film a lot more enjoyable. If you are going to watch this I recommend you do the same to get the most out of it! My Rating: 6.5/10

JCVD (2008)

Easily Van Damme's best!

[8/10 · 13 June 2009]

This is easily the best Jean-Claude Van Damme film ever! Although Double Team also staring Dennis Rodman would have to be close (this is a joke.. kind of..). In JCVD we see a different side to Van Damme that we have never seen before, and finally we get to see that the man can actually act! Van Damme plays himself, having difficulties landing movie roles (losing out on a part to Steven Seagal after he cuts off his ponytail), tax problems and an impending legal battle over the custody of his daughter, Van Damme decides to travel back to the country of his birth. Most of this movie is spoken in French, which is cool to see Van Damme speaking his native language. This is a great change from Van Damme's signature action films, and is classed as a Drama with parts of it often being quite funny. Van Damme delivers a surprisingly emotional performance, which even includes a very random and heartfelt 5 or so minutes monologue, which begins with him stating 'this is more than a film...'. After watching this film it is hard not to like Van Damme and feel sorry for him. This movie was also very well shot, with some really great cinematography and lighting that really helped set the mood throughout. This film is definitely recommended! My Rating: 8/10

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

A worthy addition to the Underworld series

[6/10 · 13 June 2009]

This is the third instalment of the Underworld series that takes place before the original. It is a Sci-Fi that tells the story of how the centuries old feud between vampires and one time slaves, the Lycan's (werewolves) develops. Missing the two main stars from the original films (Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman) and a new director, I was curious as to how this movie would hold up to the originals. I went in with lower expectations, and surprisingly this movie was just as good as its predecessors. Billy Nighy is always awesome to watch, and he is really convincing as the menacing vampire leader, Victor. Michael Sheen was also fun to watch as Lucian, the werewolf who leads the rebellion against the vampires and Rhona Mitra did a good enough job as his love interest Sonja. This movie might have missed Kate Beckinsale, but you don't completely notice this as Rhona shares an uncanny resemblance to Beckinsale. This movie stays true to the Underworld stories and is an entertaining film. My Rating: 6.5/10

Surfer, Dude (2008)

Painful

[3/10 · 13 June 2009]

I really enjoyed Edtv, so I was interested in seeing McConaughy and Harrelson together again. Unfortunately this was all kinds of bad! This is pretty much a stoner movie, focusing on Steve Addington (McConaughey) who is a world famous surfer who decides to return to his hometown. He is then pursued by a company to sign on to a surfing video game, which he doesn't want any part of. The storyline and acting is horrible in this! I was also interested in seeing Nathan Phillips in this being a fellow Australian.. but he really is an atrocious actor! If you like surfing then this might be for you, but don't expect anything amazing as it was painful to sit through! My Rating: 3.5/10

For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews