Category: Review

Warm Bodies

120px-Film-stripThese days we need an excuse to get to the cinema, so with Valentine’s Day popping its ugly head over the Hallmark parapet we grabbed a nice dinner at the new ASK Italian then over the road to Cineworld to see the newest rom-zom-com:

Warm Bodies

“They’re not curing themselves. We’re their food source. They are not becoming  vegan.”

Plot-in-a-nutshell: walking dead becomes walking slightly-less-undead when he falls for a survivor

See it if you like: Funny horror films, basically. And cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.

While Shaun of the Dead couldn’t really be held responsible for a “slew” of spin-off comedy zombie films, there have been a few kicking around over the last few years and the success of Pegg’s film is bound to have had some effect. This one is based on a novel and one I do want to read if it’s as good as its adaptation.

The tale definitely owes a nod to Romeo and Juliet as our “hero” zombie R (he can’t remember the rest of his name, played by Nicholas Hoult) hooks up with Julie (Teresa Palmer), a survivor of a plague that turned most of the world’s population into shambling brain-eaters. Those which go even further down the infected line lose all their skin and turn into skeleton-like “Bonies”. Fast-moving, fierce and not-very-well-CGI‘d, these are the real bad guys in this piece.

As well as this “stages of zombieness” idea is a nice twist where it’s explained why zombies eat brains in the first place. I won’t spoil it though!

It’s apparent from the start that “R” is a little different, holing up in an aircraft with a collection of stuff that makes him appear like a shambling WALL-E. A lot of the dialogue is voice-over material as we get to share his thoughts, a novel idea for a zombie flick where we normally assume that they don’t have any.

Soon enough, he rescues Julie and the two start to bond. She, of course, is the daughter of the leader of the anti-zombie forces (Grigio, played by John Malkovich) which is bound to cause some problems should she try to take her new boyfriend home to meet daddy.

The film follows their development as a couple, the changes it makes to “R” and also the other zombies. This is definitely not a fast-paced, taught zombie fest. This rom-zom-com focusses heavily on the “rom”, has novel ideas about the “zom” and manages very well with the “com”. The audience in the cinema (sold out) were very vocal with their laughter around a lot of the dialogue – deservedly so.

Simply, it’s a nice film. Not excessively gory, though the Bonies would likely give younger viewers a few nightmares. It doesn’t run too long, it’s a clever idea, the cast work well and the jokes don’t fall flat.

Gillian really liked it, I enjoyed it and we’d both recommend it.

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Review: The Sleep Room

The Sleep Room
The Sleep Room by F.R.Tallis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First up, just to say that I got this book for free after winning a competition on Tor’s facebook page. This won’t influence my review other than that I’d probably not have picked this particular book up on a whim, nor read it as quickly! It’s actually not due for release until May 2013, and it’s always nice to get something before everyone else.

The book’s set in the late 1950’s, predominantly in a psychiatric hospital in the middle of nowhere where experiments are taking place with new techniques to alleviate illness. Nothing particularly gory, but old-fashioned by our viewpoint today. It’s written in the first person from the point of view of a new staff member, Dr James Richardson, as he tried to unravel the mysteries surrounding the patients while getting on with his job (and getting off with one of the nursing staff).
Imagine something along the lines of Shutter Island for the feel of things. Not quite “Gothic”, but just that dark, historic feel.

The medical talk all sounds pretty convincing, and indeed in the acknowledgements quite a few professionals are credited. It’s surprising to realise that some of the techniques mentioned were still pretty commonplace towards the end of the last century – or at least well past the halfway mark.

As time progresses in his new job, “things” start to happen. Some explainable, others less so. The story gently strays from medical thriller into horror as the pages turn.

If I’m honest, I found the ending a little predictable but the story on the way there was always enjoyable with a couple of particularly spooky sequences that had me looking over my shoulder as I read on my own at 2am! The fact that I managed to get through the whole thing in a couple of days is a definite indication that I was engrossed.

Well written, well-paced and with good characters. I loved the language and the viewpoint of the protagonist, which I thought sat very well with the era in which the story was set.

As I said, not something I would have picked up myself but I’m very glad I ended up with it in my hands. If you like spooky horror rather than gross-out slash-fests, this could well be something you’d like.

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Les Misérables

120px-Film-stripAnother quick review following another rushed cinema trip around work and baby duties. Friends had been giving it good to better feedback, so we opted for the big budget Hollywood version of the Schonberg and Boublil musical classic.

Les Misérables (2012)

“Can you hear the people sing?”

Plot-in-a-nutshell: parolee goes on the run to turn a new leaf and gets caught up on French Revolution goings-on

See it if you like: actual proper musicals, not just plays with a few songs chucked in

I’ve never seen the stage version though I absolutely adore the CD set I bought about 20 years ago. As such my comparisons are inevitably going to be predominantly based on the audio side of things. On this front it comes off very well indeed, but I’ll get into that a bit more later.

Visually it’s stunning. Huge, impressive sets which seem authentic enough while still maintaining the feel of a stage show. In many of the scenes I could imagine the cast on an actual stage in front of me, but the production values are obviously far greater than any theatre could hope to match.

The opening sequence kicks things off in this manner with scores of men pulling on ropes to haul a stricken ship out of stormy water and into dry dock. You just couldn’t do that in any theatre. A perfect mix of scenery and CGI makes this scene simply enormous.

We’re introduced, at this point, to our two main characters: Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) and the police inspector Javert (Russell Crowe). It’s always a risk when you take someone famous for their acting skills and put them into a role where they have to sing a few words. To take two men known for action flicks and put them in as leads to a film that has about 0.1% spoken dialogue (the rest all being sung) must have involved a lot of auditions or a leap of faith on the part of the director.

On the whole, it’s paid off. Jackman certainly gives the acting performance of his career if his voice doesn’t quite match up to the task, while Crowe plays things a little easier but (on the whole) has the better voice.

Stand-out, though, is Anne Hathaway who plays the downtrodden Fantine. If she was auditioned alongside any of the original stage cast, she’d be up there with the top choices. Add to this an outstanding acting performance and you have one of the best displays of talent on screen I have seen in a long time.

Amanda Seyfried as the older Cosette rounds out the main cast and gives a good performance also. The remaining two well-known names are Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter who provide comic relief as the Thénardiers, a couple of the dodgiest characters you’re ever likely to meet. Both are suitably revolting and fit the parts perfectly.

The remainder of the cast are less well known and/or have performed in the stage show and managed to jump on board this celluloid version. They hold their own against the premium rate cast well, from rugrats like Daniel Huttlestone (Gavroche) and Isabelle Allen (young Cosette) to main members like Samantha Barks (Éponine), there isn’t a duffer in the bunch.

It’s a cracking story with highs, lows and a huge amount of passion. The songs are superb, though definitely more “acted” (by which I mean emotionally performed) than the CD version I have. I swear there were a small number of lyrical changes as well – very minor ones – but I could be wrong.

There is always a risk in taking something as hugely well known as this from one medium to another, and in many cases the simple expedient of chucking money at it results in a complete mess. This, however, is far from it. Big, glorious, and hugely emotional it’s as good a film version as could ever be imagined.

I know some people won’t like it (and didn’t), but I really did. I’d still love to go and see it on stage, I’m sure I will one day, but this will tide me over in the meantime. Hell, I think I’m going to dig out the CDs and pop them in the car. It’ll make a change from the Cavalera Conspiracy track that came on the stereo when we left the cinema!

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Grabbers

120px-Film-stripThe Irish Film Board does it again. After 2011’s The Guard, they’ve funded this radically different but just as enjoyable horror romp. With a reasonable story, great performances and very impressive special effects it proves that you don’t need to be a billion dollar studio to produce enjoyable cinema.

Grabbers

“I need a photograph of it for National Geographic. And facebook.”

Plot-in-a-nutshell: Alien creature arrives on a small Irish island and the inhabitants have one night to survive. And get pissed.

See it if you like: Your nice, generic monster films with a generous lathering of humour

This one almost slipped us by. I just happened to catch a review of it online and I’m not even sure if it made it out in the cinema at all. A shame if it didn’t as it’s pretty damn good. If you like such films as Lake Placid which are formulaic but don’t take themselves too seriously, then this should be right up your street.

Richard Coyle plays Garda Ciarán O’Shea, an alcoholic police officer who is one half of the entire force on the dinky landmass. His partner is off for two weeks holiday and is temporarily replaced by the workaholic Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley). The two get on like… erm… a house that’s not on fire. O’Shea’s clumsy advances not altogether going down well with the prim Nolan, who also finds herself being wooed by science nerd Dr. Adam Smith (Russell Tovey) once our first creature is discovered.

It turns out our creatures have two basic needs – water and blood. So that’s all fine, then. They can’t venture inland. Oh. Except there’s a huge storm coming in so it’ll be chucking down…

The cast are really good together, forming a lovely rag-tag band of unprepared heroes doing their best to keep the island’s tiny populace safe. There are plenty of comic moments, the majority based on dialogue, and capable performances all round. It’s a solid script, has its (very long, tooth-ended) tongue planted firmly in cheek and paces itself well.

What impressed particularly, though, were the special effects. The alien creatures were stupendous, from the smaller ones to the big-ass baddie in full flow at the end, the detail is excellent. I have seen far worse on big budget TV shows, and in Hollywood films (Conan, I’m looking at you).

There’s not a lot else to say without giving away too many jokes or plot points, so I’ll leave it there. Don’t expect anything radically new and you won’t be disappointed. Good, old-fashioned, monster movie fun.

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Bad Ass / The Tournament / Cockneys vs Zombies

120px-Film-stripA very quick round-up of films, all watched at home. With the cancellation of the Cineworld cards and a decision to stay at home more to help out with the kids (and save money), we’ve got a huge stash of movies to get through that we didn’t have the time for before. The last couple of nights we made it through season 3 (as it is so far) of The Walking Dead, but before that we had a mini-movie-marathon.

Cockneys Vs Zombies

“If we’re not backing in 10 minutes… ******* wait longer.”

Plot-in-a-nutshell: Two failed bank robbers must save their grandad’s OAP home from demolition… and the Zombie Apocalypse

See it if you like: Gory, funny slasher films

Better than it had any right to be, this is a spiritual successor to Shaun of the Dead, in that it’s a zombie film, a comedy and set in London. It’s also fairly low budgets but that barely shows up on the effects or on the cast who are brilliant.

Basically, the zombie apocalypse kicks off in London. Two wide boys (Harry Treadaway and Rasmus Hardiker) decide to rob a bank to try and save their grandad’s old folks home from being demolished and find they’ve got a ton of money, a handy collection of weapons… and the undead walking the streets. Grandad himself (Alan Ford - Snatch‘s Brick Top) doesn’t really need much assistance in the arse kicking department as he pretty much plays to type and heads the OAP revolution. The woman he aims to impress is played by none other than legend Honor Blackman.

Oh, and one of the random fuddy-duddies is Richard Briers. From The Good Life to decapitating zombies. There’s a career move for you.

Topping the list, though, is the hottest zombie slayer I’ve seen in some time – Michelle Ryan. Apparently she was in Eastenders, so obviously I’ve never seen her before. Hopefully we’ll see more of her. She looks very nice holding a gun and covered in guts…

The gore is nicely done and over the top enough to be funny. Make-up effects are superb – definitely more Shaun than Brain Dead. Plotwise it’s nice and simple, with some good set pieces and a lovely collection of one-liners thrown in for good measure. Overall, a cracking little bit of entertainment for an evening if you fancy a giggle.

Bad Ass

“I told you I didn’t wanna fight.”

Plot-in-a-nutshell: OAP and failed police candidate kicks two punks asses and becomes an internet sensation… then gets pushed into doing the police’s job for them

See it if you like: “One man against many” films, with a dash of humour

Danny Trejo crops up in a lot of films in a supporting role, but this is the first time I remember him taking the lead. A shame he’s left it so long as he’s quite good. Based on a viral video involving an old guy (wearing the same shirt Trejo wears in the opening scene) handing a younger man’s arse to him on the bus, the film kicks off with a similar sequence which elevates Frank Vega from down-and-out Vietnam vet to public hero.

Trouble then seems to start following him as his best friend is killed by some gangsters and the police seem unwilling or unable to pursue it. Needless to say, Vega decides to start taking matters into his own hands. So far, so Harry Brown. However, Bad Ass is a little more tongue in cheek, less edge-of-seat and not as classy as Caine’s offering.

It’s entertaining enough, for about two thirds of its length, and then it just seems to jump the shark a little. Without wanting to spoil anything – and I don’t think this will – there’s no need for the flipping bus chase sequence. It just doesn’t fit. At all. I actually thought it looked familiar, then spotted on IMDB that it’s a digitally altered version of the one from 1988’s Arnie dud Red Heat.

Not a bad movie for an evening in with some (home made) popcorn, but a shame about the ending.

The Tournament

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Tournament.”

Plot-in-a-nutshell: Thirty of the world’s top assassins compete against each other for a $10m price – kill or be killed

See it if you like: Bloodthirsty, fast-paced action films

Now this one was fun. A cracking cast, a simple idea, a nice back-story and lashings of violence. It also answers the question: if you wanted to set up a hugely violent conflict between gun- and knife-wielding lunatics, perhaps involving the theft of motor vehicles, some stupid driving and expect people to turn a blind eye or simply not notice that the place is being trashed… do it in Middlesbrough.

I’ve been to Middlesbrough. I can verify that it would be the ideal location.

And such is the premise. Thirty of the world’s top assassins compete in a “last man/woman breathing” competition to remove the opposition within a 24-hour timeframe. In Middlesbrough. Sorry, I just can’t get over that.

Oh, actually, it’s thirty assassins and an unwitting alcoholic priest (Robert Carlyle) who gets dragged into things. Obviously, we don’t get to focus on all thirty competitors but the handful we do get to follow are well played and provide a lovely variety of set piece fight sequences and other stunts.

Someone who many may recognise, but not be able to name is Sébastien Foucan. The Frenchman starred in the opening sequence of the fairly recent Casino Royale Bond movie, utilising his incredible skills at parkour. Here, he’s typecast but who cares? He’s great to watch in all his wall-jumping glory, and takes part in the most ridiculous sequence in the film (possibly – there are a few).

Carlyle ends up under the wing of Lai Lai Zhen (Kelly Hu), who decides to protect this unwilling participant for reasons which become slightly clearer as the film progresses. Hu, incidentally, has a hell of a career as a voice actress and has also popped up in a huge number of well known TV series. However, this is only the third or fourth major film she’s appeared in and this staggers me based on this performance. She, frankly, kicks ass. A very convincing action star, in my opinion.

Making a return appearance in the tournament is the previous winner, Joshua Harlow (Ving Rhames). Harlow didn’t intend to compete again, but seeing as some nasty person killed his wife and is apparently also taking part he decides to dust off the killing kit and join up.

Basically, the plot is an excuse to stick a lot of quality action into ninety minutes and sell it to an audience. It works. While not as silly as Shoot ‘Em Up, it’s every bit as entertaining. Pointless, filled full of errors and physics-defying nonsense but – quite simply – who cares? It wraps you up in it’s ridiculousness and doesn’t let go until the credits roll.

Sure, the plot’s predictable. You know within twenty minutes how it’ll end – but isn’t that the case with most horror films these days? It’s just working out how each cast member will pop their clogs that keeps the interest and The Tournament does this well.

Definitely recommended for one of those “I’ve had a bad day – take my mind off work” evenings.

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