Review: Lucy

(2014) Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Min-Sik Choi

I went into Lucy hoping for a short and sweet action movie with slight helping of food for thought, I am pleased to say this film had a lot more to offer than high kicks and gun fights.
The premise was super simple, Chinese baddies kidnap her and place a cache of drugs inside her tummy, Lucy is then savagely beaten by some of the thugs on her way to the drop off point and the cache bursts releasing the chemical drug into her system. The drug has irreversible effects and the sheer amount of the substance allows our heroine to unlock 100% of her brain capacity.
Lucy then sets off on a mission for revenge using her new 'symptoms' to aid her, she also aims to share her knowledge with a Professor who has been researching the secrets of higher brain capacity.
The main strength of this film was its small but extremely well selected cast, Min-Sik Choi as the villain was as chilling as ever. If you have seen Old Boy or the gruesome I Saw The Devil you will know how good he is at being menacing. Morgan Freeman did what Morgan Freeman does and made even the most mundane sentence feel heartfelt and commanded your attention every time he appeared on screen. Last but not least Scarlett Johansson (I refuse to use the name Scar Jo) gave a a much more realistic and emotional performance than anything she has done in her previous Marvel films. There was one particular scene in which after increasing her brain capacity to 20% and abandoning her sense of pain, she chats to her mother on the telephone reciting her earliest memories. All this while Doctors remove the damaged drugs cache under no anaesthetic what so ever, it made for a very intense scene and was the standout moment of the film for me.
These moments sadly became less frequent as her brain capacity increased Lucy became less human and acted more like a self-preservation focused machine. This was disappointing as the early scenes really showcased Johansson's talent. The action scenes were above average mixing blends of clever martial arts sequences, gunfights and Matrix style effects. It was a real treat to see Lucy use these abilities to gain the upperhand in situations but much like the acting, these scenes quickly became tiresome as she became almost invincible. The sense the she was in any danger what so ever went completely out the window, I knew full well she could cope with anything that was thrown at her. And believe me they threw everything at her, rocket launchers included!
In the films final act the action surrounded Lucy slowed down and was placed in the hands of secondary chararcters, this gave the chance for the philosophical elements to shine. These parts of the film were interesting and provided some real food for thought but were put to rest as the credits rolled. These idea like most of the movie started off with a bang but sadly ended with a fizzle.


Verdict

Lucy had the foundations of a solid action film with interesting sci-fi premise behind it, i just wish all these elements were fleshed out slightly more. This is by no means a bad film, you can come to this and witness some great acting, high octane action and maybe even leave with some food for thought. Unfortunately a few cut corners prevented Lucy from reaching full capacity.

3/5

Review: Life After Beth

(2014) Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly

Being a big horror fan and an avid follower of Aubrey Plaza and John C. Reilly's work I went into Life After Beth expecting big things and to come away with a smile on my face, unfortunately this film did nothing but leave me feeling a tad 'zombiefied'.
The premise is was simple enough, a grieving boyfriend Zach played by Dane DeHaan  attends the wake of his recently deceased girlfriend (Beth), killed by an apparent snakebite. Things are quickly turned on their head when he spots her the walking around the very next day with nothing to show for it but a strange bite on her leg and some memory loss. After having a chat with Beth's parents played by the ever witty John C. Reilly and quirky Molly Shannon the 3 agree its best not to tell Beth about her recent 'resurrection' but to carry on as normal. The Parents see this as an act of god, but Zach believes there is a much more sinister explanation for the return of his girlfriend.
The couple try their very best to continue their relationship and a even manage to conjure up some memories they shared together, but things become difficult when Beth suddenly begins to break into fits of violent rages and becomes victim to terrible mood swings. As more people rise from the grave, Zach's fears are confirmed as he looks upon the brink of a zombie apocalypse. I liked the fact that the zombie aspect of the film was never geared towards just simply eating brains, the rages added a fresh and exciting element to a familiar trope. Unfortunately for me this is where the enjoyment peaked as it felt like the director had to explore these new possibilities at every opportunity, sadly often resulting in the most bland outcome possible. There were countless times when I anticipated  the build-up to a comical scene or scary moment only to be greeted with sarcastic one liners or a lacklustre slapstick element. The plot left huge holes in the middle of the script as it raced towards its final act. There were 2 or 3 scenes where zombies were attracted to people's attics and I was intrigued by this and eager to find out why, however the film completely abandoned this premise leaving me none the wiser. I think its important to mention at this point that this was penned primarily as an 'indie comedy' I did not laugh once from start to finish and overall the film is simply not funny enough. There were quirky characters and 1 or 2 memorable scenes but this was pretty much dead on arrival. Anna Kendrick also stars in this film although because of only been given around 10 lines of dialogue I wish the director had poured his money into something that could have benefitted the plot as this part could have been played by anybody. As the credits rolled after a horribly rushed and negligent end scene I couldn't help feeling like this movie really missed the chance to be something truly unique.

The Verdict

Life After Beth could have been something fresh and unique, sadly this is a classic example of a great idea executed poorly. Even with 1 or 2 stand out scenes and the main cast's talented nothing can prevent this from being the dullest zombie apocalypse you'll watch in a long time.

2/5

Review: Guardians of The Galaxy

(2014) Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper

Guardians of The Galaxy may have come across to some as a 'gap film', a product made to fill the time until Avengers 2 arrives. It may also be looked at as less-than-serious addition to the Marvel franchise because it features a talking raccoon. Both of these opinions are incorrect as Guardians of The Galaxy is THE greatest Marvel film ever made, sit back and I shall explain.
The film opens with Starlord (Chris Pratt) being abducted from earth shortly after his Mother's death, then jumping to many years in the future where he has become a treasure-hunting outlaw. He tracks down a mysterious orb which is said to have great value where he is unfortunately ambushed by alien mercenaries that work for the villain of the story, Ronan The Accuser. Using his wit, silver tongue and a bit of luck Starlord manages to escape and flies to a trading planet in order to collect his cash reward. It is on this planet where he encounters 3 more 'Guardians'; the green skinned assassin Gamora played extremely well by Zoe Saldana and the hilarious odd-ball duo of Rocket and Groot voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. A scuffle over the orb and Starlord's capture ensues and all 4 end up shipped off to a maximum security space prison. Once incarcerated our heroes meet the fifth member of their team, the revenge seeking Drax The Destroyer played and voiced excellently by ex-wrestler (Dave Bautista).
The 5 Guardians agree to work together in order to pull off a jail break and set about collecting the tools they need, its here we get to see our first glimpse at just how varied each of them is and who they all utilize their skills differently. After an explosive first act the crew learns of Ronan's plot to end the universe and realise they must keep the orb as far away from the villain as possible.
The film had excellent pacing throughout and really kept me entertained, never was there a dull moment in the company of these characters and 2 hours seemed to fly by. What I adored most about GOTG is how varied but yet still extremely useful each character was, there were absolutely no weak links like in The Avengers such Hawkeye or the utterly dull Black Widow. Drax and Groot could both be looked at as power house characters, but the ways in which they utilized their strength was fresh and interesting. Drax's hilarious trait of taking everything everyone said literally worked really well for his warrior type character. Groot constantly surprised me with the sheer amount of living tree themed powers and tools he had at his disposal, there was one particular scene towards the end that nearly brought a tear to my eye it was so well done. Rocket Raccoon provided the most comic relief for most people during the screening, his quick to flare temper and sadistic sense of humour coupled with Bradley Cooper's incredible voice acting made his big screen debut nothing short of iconic. There was a brief scene in the prison that hinted at a dark and tragic pa t related to Rocket which hinted at more depth to his macho persona. Zoe Saldana played Gamora to a tee and was easily the best role i've seen her play in any movie, the efficient assassin with a hidden soft side dying to get out was both gripping and heart breaking to watch. Last but not least we have Chris Pratt as Starlord, easily my favourite Guardian, he just kept me laughing with his constant quick wit and need to be recognised and respected as a 'legendary outlaw'. He stole the show whether he was playing the fool or giving a serious speech about guarding the galaxy, I believed in him and wanted his character to succeed with every word he said.
The supporting cast was also pretty solid, John C Rielly played Corpsman Dey an officer on the planet the 4 guardians were arrested on. Karen Gillan played the evil Nebula, the no mercy half sister of Gamora. Visuals in the film were bang up to date, lots of detail and things to look at in the background which really command a second watch. can't end the review without mentioning the incredible 80's soundtrack which was based around an old cassette that Star Lord's mother gave him as a child. David Bowie, The Runaways and Micheal Jackson all accompany the exhilarating action perfectly.
This is not a film to be missed by anyone this summer and I really feel James Gunn has a big future directing Marvel films and I cannot wait to see what he has in store.

The Verdict

Guardians of The Galaxy blew me away, its characters were charming, interesting and above all inspirational. This was a film that celebrated individuality, took it, embraced it and made it into a super power. For that I truly commend it. Guardians of The  Galaxy IS the greatest marvel movie ever made and I can see it becoming the Star Wars of this generation. James Gunn take a bow. 

5/5

Review: The Purge: Anarchy

(2014) Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford

Being one of the few people who enjoyed the original film I went into this sequel expecting good action horror and a simple plot, I was half right. The Purge: Anarchy has detached itself from all the original characters and now offers a glimpse of the terror and chaos that ensues on the city streets during these terrifying 12 hours in future America.
Frank Grillo plays moody hardman Sergeant out to seek revenge on his son's killer during the annual Purge; however his journey is interrupted as he decides to help a mother/daughter and girlfriend/boyfriend foursome who have accidentally been forced out onto the blood soaked streets. I assumed that the film would be a straight up series of chases, killings and jump scares until the film's Purge timer had elapsed, what I got however was a rather clever character driven thriller with a fair few plot twists and multiple themes.
The film did a great job of starting with a simple premise and then complicating the plot, building tension and throwing new scenarios at the characters. The characters were mostly forgettable however, Sergeant was so much better at killing people than any of the villains on the street that I never once felt like the other characters were in danger as long as they were close to him. The only times they were hurt was due to their own error or a clique 'you go ahead i'll hold them off' moment. The star of the film for me was a revolutionary type character that was not even shown in any of the trailers or marketing, he had a great reveal moment towards the climax. A lot of other films and media was given nods to, especially towards the final battle against the sadistic rich 'hunters' who had captured Sergeant and his crew. Everything from The Running Man, Hostel and even video game nasty Manhunt were lending subtle touches and idea but the film used them in the right ways and didn't rely solely on borrowing. Critics of the original film I think will be more on board with this sequel because it broadens it's scope on 'The Purge' as a concept, you get to see a lot of violence happening to a lot of different people. Some of it harrowing but some of it being eye-roll worthy, the gore was a big disappointment and was done using entirely CGI. BAD CGI.

The Verdict

If you enjoyed the original film there is a lot to like about it's sequel, if you were not an original fan there is still an entertaining thriller to be found here. The plot isn't afraid to deliberately catch you off guard and throw a few twists in here and there. Despite a few silly moments from characters and ancient looking effects The Purge: Anarchy isn't your typical mindless violent romp and can provide surprisingly thrilling moments during its bumpy chaos fuelled ride.

3/5

Review: Oculus

(2014) Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff

After recently being released from a psychiatric ward for committing murder, Tim is reunited with his paranormal enthusiast sister Kaylie who vows on proving that his crimes were the work of supernatural forces. The plot centres around an antique mirror which was bought by the siblings mother (Katee Sackhoff), the mirror appears to be home to a malevolent spirit capable of controlling the actions of and projecting visions into those near to it. The film picks up fairly quickly after a brief backstory seen through a series of flashbacks. Karen Gillan played the role of a Sister on an unrelenting mission to clear her Brother's name and prove to him (and more so herself) that the mirror was hiding a sinister secret. The set up began with Kaylie rigging out the house where they grew up and the crime was committed with thermo sensors, cameras and an ingenious, if not a little unsettling 'killswitch'. The odds do not go in Kaylie's favour as an ever growing impatient Tim tries to persuade her she is completely deluded, but then no sooner than he is ready to leave the mirror begins to reveal it's powers...
I felt the film's main strength came from the elaborate ways that were thought up of in which the mirror could toy with the two protagonists. So many of the scenes and shock moments came from these things that would happen but the viewer wouldn't realise till moments later, this really made for some hand over mouth moments. There were no cheap jump scares as such just an unrelenting sense of suspense and the occasional red herring, the mirror started out in what the siblings would consider a 'controlled environment' but soon made them question everything around them including themselves. I loved the way the film never delved into what was inhabiting the mirror, no complex backstory. It was as if the director said 'it is what it is' and let the focus be on the human element. The acting was pretty solid overall although I did have trouble with Karen Gillan's American accent, maybe its my own fault for be critical due to watching so many episodes of  Dr Who! This film was definitely one of the more intelligent mainstream horrors to hit cinemas this year and was a breath of fresh air due to it's constant air of suspense and satisfying payoff.

The verdict

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Oculus, it genuinely felt like an intelligent horror movie that had been made with attention to detail and care. A few accent gripes and 'its behind you' moments aside I can hand on heart say this film scared me, which is ultimately the goal of a horror film. It succeeds in telling a gripping ghost story and where many films has fallen off at the halfway point Oculus remains a terrifying and suspenseful ordeal throughout its runtime. As a parting note all I wll say is there is one particular scene, in which I will simply refer to as 'the light bulb scene' that will stay with me for many nights after watching this gem!

4/5

Review: Snowpiercer

(2013) Chris Evans, John Hurt, Jamie Bell

When the world is plunged into a deep freeze after a failed attempt to control global warming, the last survivors are forced to live on board The Snowpiercer. This near indestructible train with what seems like miles of carriages was supposed to be humanity's salvation, but a sinister class system has evolved over time and tensions are running high...
It took me a long time to finally see this film due to its extremely limited release in the UK, but boy was it worth the wait. I knew about 5 minutes into this film that Chris Evans was no longer playing the clean cut super hero style role as he boldly stood up against a POW camp style attendance count. The opening few scenes in which the lower class (tail end of train) were preparing for a the rebellion brought back feelings of prison break movies, the guard pattern watching and hiding of essential escape materials was great to watch. A stunning performance by Tilda Swinton as the sadistic (but often hilarious) 'Mason' injected bouts of terror and comic relief into the plot at the same time. The rebellion goes off with a bang as the occupants of the rear carriages push forward in order to reach the engine room. They come across various other passengers who help them with their mission but a couple of Koreans are among the most valuable, the male of the 2 being able to open electronically locked doors while the other is a clairvoyant. The thing that really surprised me is how simple the plot seemed at first, get from point A to B but quickly became a more complicated affair. As the passengers moved further up the train we get to share their bewilderment as they open the various carriage doors, the contents ranging from deadly to the down right bizarre. There is a scene which involves the crew stumbling in on a primary school class mid lesson which was a truly stand out moment for me! Throughout the entire film I was always eager to see what was going to be thrown at the heroes next, how they would overcome their current predicament and what was really waiting behind that final door....
The Verdict

It is rare for an action film to make me feel the range of emotions that this film succeeded in doing and lets hope this sets a trend for future releases. Snowpiercer truly shone through the crowded and mediocre slew of action films produced over the last couple of years. It's varied and talented cast carried the film from start to finish and the increasing sense of tension made for a heart pounding experience.

4/5

Review: How To Train Your Dragon 2

(2014) Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera

The film's story begins roughly 5 years after the events of the first film and over the course of these years the Viking people of berk have made peace with the dragons and are living together happily. A great touch was that every dragon was similar to it's rider in someway and the constantly bickering twins Rufffnut and Tuffnut were on top form as always! So happily infact that the opening sequence is a head spinning rider/dragon race mixed with aspects of basketball involving sheep (yes they're back). The thrilling action of this opening scene combined with the gorgeous visuals Dreamworks has presented sets the tone things to come. I was really surprised at just how much the film crammed in to its 1hr 40min runtime, providing just enough backstory and also expanding on almost all of characters from the previous instalment. The incredible amount of detail on the facial/hair animation of the characters was a big surprise and some of the armour pieces of Hiccup's outfit were a treat for lovers of fine detail. There was a lot more emotion in this sequel and this make for a couple of heart in mouth moments, but even when the moments creep up the action and story never wavers. The pacing is just the right mix between character development, intense action and the occasional surprise. Amongst a few predictable plot points and the occasional flat joke I really couldn't find fault with this film and it was an absolute joy to watch.

The Verdict

This is a prime example of how to make an animated sequel, the film  delivered everything I loved about the first film and cranked it up to 11. The breath taking visuals, intense action sequences and surprising emotional weight made this one of the best animated movies of the year so far. How To Train Your Dragon 2 proves that Dreamworks can stand side by side with Disney as one of the giants in animation. A near perfect film for all ages and highly recommended.

4/5