Continue reading »]]> Film review - The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Rating: 6/10

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, Kyle Chandler, James Hong, Brandon T. Jackson

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Review: Film review - The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) – A remake of the classic 1951 sci-fi movie of the same name this film has a lot to live up to. Keanu Reeves is the lead, playing Klaatu an alien who has been sent to earth to speak to the UN in Manhattan. On his arrival in Central Park he meets Helen Benson (played by Jennifer Connelly) who is an astrobiologist called up by the government as part of a task force to handle what they thought was a imminent collision of an object with earth but turned out to be a spaceship landing on earth. Just as they meet, Klaatu is shot by government forces and although he is kept alive the government does not trust his motives and decides to interrogate him. He escapes but before he can get far his human body begins to deteriorate and he needs help so contacts Benson who picks him up, helps to treat him and decides to trust him. While Benson is trying to persuade Klaatu not to destroy humanity the government try to investigate a giant robot provided for Klaatu's security. They inadvertently set it on a path of destruction and it becomes a cloud of microscopic bugs that destroy all in its path. Meanwhile Benson is separated from Klaatu as she is seized by the government, but Klaatu escapes with her dead husbands son Jacob (played by Jaden Smith). As the earth comes closer to destruction all three are united once again and Benson and her son try to persuade Klaatu to stop the destruction of the earth.

This film was always going to be remade because special effects have moved on so much that massive improvements to the look can now be achieved. However, always in these remakes the problem is maintaining the standard of the underlying plot. It's the script and plot that holds this film back, the original had both with little effects, this has neither, but with good effects. Its not bad, its just not good when it could perhaps have been great. Lets hope the next version gets the job done.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still_%282008_film%29

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970416/

Amazon: Buy it

Trailer:

Continue reading »]]> Film review - The Hunter (1980)

Rating: 6/10

Starring: Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold, LeVar Burton, Ben Johnson, Richard Venture, Tracey Walter, Thomas Rosales Jr., Teddy Wilson, Ray Bickel, Bobby Bass, Karl Schueneman, Margaret Mary O'Hara, James Spinks, Frank Delfino

Directed by: Buzz Kulik

Review: Film review – The Hunter (1980) – This action thriller stars Steve McQueen (in his last role before his death) as bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson. He tracks down criminals who have skipped bail and brings them back for money. Some serious, some not so serious. Alongside this he has a relatively happy home life with wife Dotty (played by Kathryn Harrold). Though he is somewhat nervous about the fact that she is pregnant. Into this mix a criminal from his past starts following him and threatens to kill him.

McQueen was getting a little old for all the action stuff in this film to be honest but largely pulls it off with a deliberate nod to his age in the plot itself. It moves at a fair pace so there's always something to watch. The seriously dated look is now of course a bonus as it takes you straight back to the seventies. In the end though the plot is more than a little disjointed and feels a bit like seven writers wrote seven parts of the script and then they stuck it all together.

Overall, entertaining enough.

Fun points to note. The Tran Sam was 'the' car of its day. There's a spectacular car falling out of a skyscaper car park stunt.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunter_%281980_film%29

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080907/

Amazon: Buy it

Trailer:

Continue reading »]]> Film review - He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

Rating: 6/10

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Justin Long, Kris Kristofferson, Hedy Burress, Busy Phillips, Leonardo Nam, Rod Keller, Wilson Cruz, Morgan Lily, Natasha Leggero, Greg Behrendt, Sasha Alexander, Corey Pearson, Frances Callier, Angela V. Shelton, Bill Brochtrup, Peter O'Meara, Luis Guzman, Brandon Keener

Directed by: Ken Kwapis

Review: Film review – He's Just Not That Into You (2009) – True its a romcom and yes Hollywood make a lot of them, but, this one is different. Why? I hear you cry. Well, because instead of having a couple of stars to front it this time they've jammed a bunch of them in! Does it make the film any better? Well, no actually.

Following a series of couples and singles through the various pitfalls of relationships He's Just Not That into You has fun at the expense of anyone who's ever had a date or relationship. No real need to explain the plot really its just a series of relationship vignettes with Hollywood A' listers.

Not bad as such, it'll keep you amused for a while, but in the end its a bit of a waste of a good cast.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He%27s_Just_Not_That_into_You_%28film%29

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001508/

Amazon: Buy it

Trailer: