M Night Shyalaman’s The Happening, starring Mark Wahlberg

I like Mark Wahlberg, but perhaps he should stick with movies that area bit more action based, in this one he just looked confused most of the time, but then I guess it is an M Night Shyamalan movie, which can be a bit “confusing”.

I’m not a big fan of M Night Shyalaman’s movies, although I’ve watched most, this one just seemed to be more “confused and going nowhere” than usual, I’ve enjoyed previous movies of his more than this one.

The “shocking” bits don’t really shock, and it really doesn’t work as a “scary” movie, so apart from reminding us that we’re really not looking after the planet very well, this movie doesn’t seem to do much.

Taken Movie on DVD Review, starring Liam Neeson

I enjoyed this more than I expected to, whilst it’s not in the same league as the “Bourne” movies, it is a solid action movie that zips along at a good pace.

The plot doesn’t throw up any truly surprising twists, but Liam Neeson makes the most of what there is to work with and makes a convincing “p’d off dad”.

The action does have a few “that was convenient” moments, but isn’t over the top, and there are a couple of classic moments in it, like Liam Neeson telling the kidnappers that he will find them and kill them when his daughter is first taken.

Would I watch it again?

Transsiberian, starring Woody Harrelson & Ben Kingsley

I was expecting a lot more from this movie, there’s some good actors in it, but the plot just doesn’t really deliver, it’s just too predictable.

The plot “twists” were easily spotted and the acting didn’t manage to make up for this, perhaps because there wasn’t that much for them to really work with, especially as the characters are a touch stereotyped with no real depth.

There’s a few bits of nice scenery to see, but the movie kinda of plods along without gaining the pace that you expect. The action scenes aren’t over the top or unbelievable, but also somehow fail to deliver any real excitement.

Not a movie that I’ll be bothering to add to my collection…

10000 BC Movie on DVD Review

I didn’t go in to this movie (on dvd) expecting much, and yet it still managed to disappoint, in just about every way possible…

for a movie that’s going to have to rely on special effects to a high degree, they really did suck!

the Sabretooth in the pit was so unbelievable, both the visuals and the storyline, even my kids laughed, and they’re usually pretty easy to keep happy in this kind of film!

I guess 10,000BC is an kids action/adventure movie, so you don’t expect a compelling storyline, but the action and pace of the film never really grabs you either, so I guess the only saving grace is that it’s not a long movie…

if you haven’t watched this yet, I’d recommend skipping it.

Transformers 2 Movie Review

I’ve just been watching a couple of video reviews on youtube from some muppets slagging off Transformers 2 big time, as far as I’m concerned these guys (supposed “adults”) are total idjits!

I saw the film a couple of days ago with my kids and we ALL enjoyed it!

there’s some thing for everyone, Shia Lebouf for the girls, Megan Fox for us lads, and a healthy dose of pretty cool special effects and action.

The humor is a bit predictable at times, but it’s not really supposed to be a comedy after all…

The plots nothing amazing, but who’s really expecting it to be..?

this is a kids action movie, nothing more, and as that it works!

Terminator Salvation is the first of the terminator movies that I’ve bothered going to the cinema to watch since the original Terminator.

and I have to admit I’m still in two minds as to whether it was worth the price of the ticket!

don’t get me wrong, the special effects and action scenes are wicked!

but the plot is “lite” to weak and the last 15-20 mins had me and my friend laughing outloud…

why oh why did they try and put some “depth” in to what is essentially an action movie, it just doesn’t fit and it’s badly done!

Jimmy Carr summed it up nicely on a recent episode of “8 out of 10 Cats” with a joke referencing The Wizard of Oz, about how the tin man suddenly realizes he doesn’t need a heart after all…

I’ve been looking forward to the new Bond movie a lot more than any previous Bond film I can remember.

Casino Royal was a total change from the old style and I wanted to see if Daniel Craig’s new Bond would continue in the same gritty and more realistic “Borne” style, fortunatly it has!

There’s no unbelievable, unrealistic super weapons, or gadgets, just Bond’s implacable resolution to get the job done, and he sure does take a beating along the way, although nothing quiet so unpleasant as the torture scene in Casino Royal that made me squirm more than a little…

The movie opens with a fast paced car chase and rolls straight in to a Borne style rooftop chase. The action is fast paced, but still believable, at least compared to previous films.

My kids managed to drag me away from my desk this weekend to go watch the new Inidana Jones Movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Although it’s well over a decade since the last Indiana film, my kids have seen the others on TV enough times that they’re big fans, but I admit I was wondering if Harrison Ford could still pull it off, as he’s not exactly a spring chicken anymore…

I shouldn’t have been worried!

The movie is classic Iniana and I enjoyed it just as much as the kids.

Harrison Fordis joined by Cate Blanchett as the “baddy”, as well as one of my favorite UK actors, Ray Winstone, John Hurt and up and coming Shia LaBeouf, so there’s an excellent cast who are also on top form.

hmm, I guess you’re probably not here to find out why I haven’t posted a movie review since Feb, so I’m not going to bore you with the life stuff that happens now and again, we all have it, better I just get back in to the purpose of this blog…

oh, and my apologies for being a movie slacker recently!

So, having got my divorce and house move (see how I still managed to sneak it in anyway..) out of the way I can start enjoying going to the movies again, espoecially as it’s now in walking distance.

My first movie since Feb was Deception, and I didn’t manage to find a review on http://bbc.co.uk/movies/ it was kind of a blind viewing, but I was feeeling fairly confidant that I’d enjoy it as it’s Hugh Jackman, Ewen McGregor and Michelle Williams, who is (imho) more than a little hot…

What can I say, this movie shows just how good it can be to take a popular old comic and turn it in to a movie.

I’ll put my hand up right now as a big comic fan, I don’t still collect (too busy blogging nowadays), but I used to collect comics big time, I still have a large collection of X-men, Spidey, 2000AD etc.

We’ve had some excellent comic to movie conversions over the last few years, the X-Men and Spiderman being good examples, but who else liked Hell Boy? I did…

So there’s two questions I wanted answered from the movie…

a. is IronMan a good conversion from the comic?
&
b. Is it a good movie that non comic fans would enjoy?