Legend of the Guardians; The Owls of Ga'hoole

Legend of the Guardians; The Owls of Ga'Hoole is, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, a kids film. Yes, its based on a series of books (what isn't these days?) and directed by Zack Snider, of 300 and Watchmen fame, but it's a kids film. And that's not a bad thing.

Going in to it, I was expecting a really good show of 3D rendering and visual effects that made you go 'oooh' and 'awwww'. It delivered. Sure, I could knock it and say "so what? there's more to films than special effects". But what's the point in that? It's a cartoon in 3D, which, in my books is pretty cool in itself, and it's not got that nasty 'I'm made by Pixar so I'm gonna be amazing' stigma to it. (grrr, Pixar: BOO!).

The story is simple enough - a young owl and his brother get kidnapped by some nasty red tinged owls with metal masked faces; to be put to work either joining the 'pure ones' army (if they are the correct breed), or else to become a 'picker'. Which sounds as glamorous as it is - they basically have to go through the owl pellets (the bits of animals they cough out) and try to find little metal fragments, which somehow are magnetic and have an amazing ability to cause harm to owls...(yeah!?).
The main owl and his little crew of friends he acquires along the way flee the horrible owls to find the mysterious 'Guardians' and ask for their help. And then they train to fly and fight and the rescue begins.

I won't spoil the rest for you.

I liked the film - but it required quite a lot of attention as the minute you turned your head from the screen you would be lost - not knowing which owl was which if there was more than one of the same breed on the screen at once. It was mighty confusing at times, and for a kids film, I think that's not really what they intended. Visually it was stunning, and the voice cast were great - it was cute and you can really get caught up in some of the scenes (I was the girl holding her head in her hands and gasping "NO!" when something terrible happened - much the amusement of my boyfriend). However, I would have much preferred it if Snyder had done what he did best; gore it up and make it a story of sheer violence and glossy owl fighting scenes. It was too smooshy to be an adults film, but too confusing to be a kids film.

The Social Network

I went to see The Social Network last night and I didn't think I would be able to stay awake. Not because I thought it would be boring, but because I was SO tired. But then, a great thing happened. The film was GREAT, and I forgot I was tired.

What's good is that if you are really interested in the topic, and use facebook, meaning you like knowing nitty gritty information about people's lives whom you wouldn't usually know so much about if it weren't for facebook, then you will really like this film.

If you don't use facebook, and don't like films with lots of quick witted dialogue about stuff you have no idea about, then steer clear!

The story is about the guy who came up with the idea of facebook, but was taken to court because some people who hired him to make them a dating kind of site for Harvard, who claimed it was their idea... and is also taken to court at the same time by his ex best friend who was squeezed out of the company for giving him too much money, and generally trying to do all the hard work.

There is a lot of back and forth between the events that happened and the court cases and at first its a bit jarring to be watching the film and then be thrown into a room with them arguing about what happened, but you quickly become accustom to it and its a useful narration technique.

The acting was great, the story was interesting and there was some genius Parent Trap action going on with the Winklevoss twins. I would highly recommend this film.

A few people have said they think Mark Zuckerburg comes off as being an ass bag - completely ruining his friendship for a business, but... I really don't think he does. I think its a real situation and it got out of control - it sure does make me think twice about logging onto facebook though... i don't know why, but I feel like my whole perspective of the website has changed.. and I don't know if its for the better....

Back to the Future

I saw this bad boy at the cinema - for which it was re-released for its 25th anniversary, all shiny and new (kind of).

It was great, I wore my Hill Valley hoodie, and snuggled up with my boyfriend on the back row, with a slushy and a child like excitement! I've always been a big believer that all films are better at the cinema - even the oldies, and this was no exception, it really was cool. No other word for it.

I like when you go to see a well known film at the cinema again, because the people who are there to see it are already big fans, so its like a mini convention - with everyone laughing at their favorite parts, and sharing in the experience like a group of friend, rather than strangers stuffed into a strange sloping room!

The sound was amazing - I had to cover my ears when Marty plugs his guitar into the giant amp in the Doc's house, as I knew the sound would hurt my ears, and it did! But it only made the film better. The visuals were great, the quality was top notch and it was just as entertaining as watching it the first time, no matter how many times you have seen it before.

I guess the only downside for this one is you can really see the makeup effects clearly - the fake 'old' skin that is used to make them look, well, older. But for me that was all the more fun, I know some people prefer their films to be glossy, with no faults. To me, that's part of the charm.

I also found that (even though it was a late showing), I had trouble keeping my eyes open, because no matter when and where I watch it I find myself falling asleep with the familiarity of it. But again, part of the charm. There is no worry about missing anything because I have seen it a trillion times before. If you like comfort and nostalgia, then see this at the cinema before it goes!

Here's to hoping they treat the rest of the trilogy with such respect!

Apocalypto

Yes, sure, I'm late on the band wagon with this one. It was a film I intended to watch when it was first shown but failed to see for some stupid reason! (probably because no one would go with me).

I whacked this onto my DVD player, having bought it a few months ago, but never been in the mood to watch since and was pleasantly suprised. Which I am with most films I watch, but this one more so because I had such preconceived ideas about it, having been directed by the nut job/ not a nut job actor of actors, Mel Gibson.

Sure, when the film first started I did wonder what I had let myself in for - and even as a non film critic with no real experience in film other than having watched a god damn fair few, I could tell that some of the shots were... odd. I don't know how to describe it other than to say I just felt a little confused by some of the camera angles etc. But all in all the film was enjoyable. It looked great too!

You can't help but be impressed by the scale of the film - and even though its subtitled, you really don't notice! I find it hard to believe I even read the lines, as I was so sure at the end that they had started speaking English! Although to be fair there really isn't that much of a script.

The story is quite simple and easy to follow - a village is destroyed by a horrible group of men, who take them to a city to be used as slaves/ sacrificed to a God in order to aid their dying crops. The main character, Jaguar Paw, left his pregnant wife behind - trapped and hidden in a cave, and he decides early on that he must escape to get back to her. He is the hero, and you don't ever think he won't escape, which I personally like, because failure is so rife in real life, why throw it in your face in movies eh?

As the film continues it shows him and his friends go through some horrible ordeals and eventually Jaguar Paw gets free and then the hunt is on.

I was surprised by how much of the film was actually based on the capture, rather than the escape, however it was pivotal to the plot as you really have to like this character in order to appreciate the film. If you don't click with him, then you might as well turn off, because you HAVE to root for him, you just have to.

The film larks on as J.P runs back to his wife, with the bad bunch hot on his heels - there is hiding, fighting, slaying and lots of out of breath moments and its all edge of your seat stuff.

I would highly recommend this film! Watch out for a little girl making a prophecy - she is eerily scary, and not even an actor, she's a child who lives in a random South American village in the jungle! Premium find, as no child actor could have given such a terrifying performance!

The Hole 3D

Ok, so many people I know are so against 3D it's insane. Although I do understand the extra cost is a kick in the teeth because, hey! We didn't ask for the previledge of a 3D cinema, but that's besides the point. 3D is cool in my opinion, and even kids films can be good in 3D.... I rest my case.

The Hole 3D was a different kind of 3D... because looking back at it, I don't think I can really remember anything THAT 3D about it... I only just realised that... strange.

But it was entertaining any who. The story was actually more of a grown up topic than I thought would be the usual topic for a kids film (woah, I don't think that was English..). For a cert 12 film the theme was quite dark - there were many kids in the screen with their parents and what not, and if I was one of those parents I would have been a bit put off by the fact that there was adult language used multiple times in the film, and parts of it were just damn creepy!

So the story goes 2 kids move to a new neighbourhood - they don't really get on, and the older one is all grumpy and teen angsty and hates his mother for having to constantly move around for jobs. They meet the cute - oh so popular but also alternative, uber cool, everyones best friend girl, who doesn't have a boyfriend neighbour and then they find a hole.

It continues like that for a while with all the 'what's this hole all about' questioning and such. But then things start to get strange - and they start seeing things. They eventually follow one of these visions back to the hole and you watch it crawl back in, in one of the most terrifying crawling scenes I have seen since Tamara crawles out of the TV in The Ring! *shiver* But then they start to figure out what's going on and have to face their fears and grow closer as friends etc because of it.

It really is a coming of age, facing your demons film - for kids and adults alike. Yeah, so its never going to win any awards - but its good fun, and creepy. Not sure it really hit its mark with the 3D elements - but not all films can be as awesome as Step Up 3D! (no joke, the 3D was amazing!).

I'd watch it again, in 2D just to watch it and be entertained - its much like The Vampires Assistant (which the main kid was in), and Zathura - its kind of fun, kind of spooky, a bit more grown up than you'd expect and overall i can't say I didn't like it!

Winter's Bone

I saw this almost a week ago now. I had to sit on my thought for a while on this one, for whilst I knew it was a good film, I didn't know if it was a film I particularly enjoyed. Not meaning it was boring, or awful at all, just a feeling it provokes made me a little wary of it. However, saying that, after a few days of thinking it over, I can say this was a good film.

It is one of those ones which will win awards for reasons I, as an unqualified, uneducated film watcher, will not understand, but that's not a bad thing.

The story isn't slow, but isn't progressive. It's interesting enough for it to not be boring, but there is nothing thrilling here, to keep you entertained. If you have a short attention span then this is not for you.

The atmosphere of the film was very realistic, as I can imagine the backwoods of some American town is actually like how this film portrays it. You believe the story, and the family struggle. You like the characters. You don't get a chance to hate the 'bad' guys, as they aren't really bad. There is a system, where people in this town follow rules, they respect the people they are supposed to and they walk and talk in a way that will get them the least amount of trouble - the women keep their heads down and the men make trouble for the law. What I do have to comment on is the acting - which I think most people will comment on for this one. As it is well known the main character, Ree, was played by the actress Jennifer Lawrence, who was almost NOT cast due to her being dubbed 'too beautiful' for the role. Of course, she pushed and pushed and was finally given the role and she did, indeed, nail it. It was a great performance. Only just outshone by the actor who plays her uncle in the film, who was probably one of the best actors I have seen this year I think.

If you like family drama's with a little bit of gangster violence thrown in, and a little bit of heartache, then I would recommend this film.

The Last Exorcism

I wasn't too sure about this one going in. I mean, how many times can you watch a possession movie? I was pleasantly surprised, then, when it started up and it was like a nice documentary about a preacher who basically made money off the fact that people thought they were possessed. In fact, I would have liked it if the story had continued on this way for the whole film, but as it happened, this was just a blatant 'try to make this story more real by adding a family back story'.

I didn't find the film bad in any way. It was just very disjointed. The beginning of the film, like I said, was a nicely paced documentary, the middle was the 'oh my god, is she possessed? is she mad? Surely she's possessed! No, she must be mad! No, its her Dad who's mad' malarkey, which then jet streamed into the last segment of the film, which was where it all went a bit supernatural and Wickerman-ish. If you watch this and think you should have seen it coming, trust me. I don't think you should have. It was a completely out of the blue ending that didn't join up with the rest of the film at all.

There were 3 blatant chapters for this film, but they didn't match. If you're looking for a scary film, this had its jumpy moments in the 2nd segment - of the usual ilk; contorted bodies, scary dark house scenes, and altered voices, but it does lack in true horror.

What really raised the bar though, I have to say, is the acting of the main girl, Ashley Bell - she doesn't appear to have been in much, but I expect she is up and coming. I didn't believe she could look creepy for a second, but when she turned it was horrible!

Introductions

Hi,

I have been thinking about starting up a slight 'review' blog for a while. Not that I have any kind of intelligent thing to say about films, but because I watch alot of films and so figured I might as well combine watching with writing.

What I watch and what I think about what I watch isn't supposed to sound smart or funny etc. So if I manage that at least once, I will be impressed with myself. I just love films and I'm not in any way snobbish about it.

If you're interested in seeing my 'reviews' please subscribe - I am at the cinema all day tomorrow so should be able to pop something up then. And I will probably hit you up with some of the films I have seen this past year - just for fun.

S

ps. Blog layout due to change - just used this as a template. :S