Star Wars: The Force Awakens SPOILER Review (Part 2)

This is another HEAVY SPOILER WARNING for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  If you haven't seen the film, do not read any further. If you have, then relax and enjoy as I talk about the film in spoilerific detail. Also, please read my spoiler free review of the movie as well as Part 1 of my spoiler review, where I talk about the major events of the actual film. In this review, I'm going to talk about some of the questions which I have regarding the next films to come in the Star Wars saga. Proceed at your own risk, you have been warned.


Star Wars: The Force Awakens Movie Review (No Spoilers): http://movieswithmattharrison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-movie-review-no.html

Star Wars: The Force Awakens SPOILER Review Part 1: http://movieswithmattharrison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-spoiler-review.html



------------------------STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS SPOILERS------------------------------



I think its only natural for people to leave Star Wars: The Force Awakens feeling as if there was something missing, particularly because of the way the film concludes on such a cliff hanger. But, what people don't understand is this is a good thing. If you finish The Force Awakens and you're desperate to see more, then the film has done its job by successfully starting a story which will span a trilogy.

I also think its easy for people to criticise various characters and aspects of the movie's story because at this point, we are only a third of the way through and over-arching story. At this point, we are unable to see the bigger picture of events, meaning that we may find it difficult to interpret various aspects of the film.

One of the biggest questions I have concerning future Star Wars films concerns one of the saga's new central characters Rey. Its clear that from now on she will be training under the guidance of Luke Skywalker to become a Jedi. At one point, Maz Kanata even says to Rey that her past is unimportant, and what is important is what is about to happen. But there are still so many questions? Who are Rey's parents? Is Rey linked to Luke somehow? And who left her on the planet of Jakku, and more importantly, why?

My theory is a popular one amongst Internet bloggers and speculators, but I think it would make sense if Rey was the daughter of Luke, which may explain why she is able to utilise the power of the force at such an impressive rate. Even if she does not prove to be Luke's daughter, she must have a close connection to events which occurred many years ago involving Luke and Kylo Ren, as she experiences various visions involving Ren and Luke when she first touches Luke's lightsaber.

This is one of the most interesting things I hope they explain in future instalments. I am itching to know exactly what went wrong between Luke and Ben Solo, and why Luke felt such guilt at the fact his sister's son turned to the Dark Side to the point where he willingly exiled himself. There's clearly a lot of history between these characters and there are definitely a lot of holes to fill.

I mentioned before that Maz Kanata was a character who I was interested to see more from. Particularly, I hope we get one thing explained to us. This one thing is how she managed to come into possession of Luke and Anakin Skywalker's old lightsaber. Remember, the last time we saw it the saber was flung down a large shaft in the Cloud City alongside Luke's right hand. So how Maz came to own the lightsaber is very interesting to me. This detail was glossed over in the film itself however I feel they did a good job at explaining why it wasn't explained. After all, it is "a story for another time".

Another character who we know virtually nothing about, besides the fact he is Kylo Ren's trainer and Supreme Leader of the First Order, is Snoke. Where did he come from? Where has he been all this time? Has he been around during the time of previous Star Wars films only to lurk unseen in the shadows? And why does he want to find Luke Skywalker so badly? His character is the one shrouded in the most mystery. I can't wait to find out more about him! And for those who believe he may be Darth Plagueis, you might be on to something...

These questions are ones I am most interested to have answered in future instalments of the franchise. I do have various other questions that I feel like may not be the questions future films focus on. One of which being whether or not Leia tried to walk down the Jedi path. I have a feeling that she didn't despite the fact she is very force sensitive. Also, who is going to govern the galaxy now the First Order has destroyed the home planet of the Republic?

Hopefully, all of these questions will have begun to have been answered in Episode 8 ready for a satisfying conclusion in Episode 9. Either way, Star Wars is back and the future is looking good for the Star Wars saga in the hands of directors and production crews passionate for the material they are creating.



--------------------END OF STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS SPOILERS----------------------



Thanks for reading, and may the force be with you!
And have a Merry Christmas!
Matt

Star Wars: The Force Awakens SPOILER Review (Part 1)

This is a HEAVY SPOILER WARNING for those who are yet to see the Force Awakens. If you haven't seen the film, do not read any further. If you have, then relax and enjoy as I talk about the film in spoilerific detail. Also, check out my Spoiler-free review where I give my opinion on the film with no spoilers to be found.


Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review (No Spoilers): http://movieswithmattharrison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-movie-review-no.html




-------------------------STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS SPOILERS-------------------------------



So if you've read my spoiler free review you'll know I absolutely loved my experience watching The Force Awakens. I thought it did an excellent job at paying homage to the classic Star Wars stuff we're all used to whilst giving us new characters to love and enjoy. I can't wait to see where characters like Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren go in the next instalment, set for a May 26th 2017 release date.

According to various reports, all of the main cast of The Force Awakens are set to return for Episode VIII alongside old favourites Luke, Leia, Chewie etc. However, one character which will not be returning will be Han Solo, who is killed in the third act by Kylo Ren. Despite the fact I would never have been emotionally ready to say goodbye to one of my all time favourite characters in movie history, Han's death makes sense from a logical standpoint. Harrison Ford has admitted he wanted to see Han die in Return of the Jedi, and he probably only agreed to come back for Episode VII knowing he would be killed off.

But the first time I watched that scene I physically contorted in my seat knowing what was about to happen. It was a tremendous and a truly memorable scene, giving the film a necessary emotional punch. If the death of Han Solo tells us anything, it's that no character is safe. For a science fiction adventure film in which your characters embark on journeys fraught with danger, vulnerability of your main characters is crucial. If Han can die, then there's no reason why Luke, Leia or even someone like Rey can't die in the next one.

But I think we can all agree one character we want to see die is Kylo Ren, who is officially the biggest dickbag in the galaxy. He will forever be known as the scum who stabbed and killed his father. Despite this, I think its fair to say that the writing surrounding the character of Kylo Ren was the strongest aspect of what was a very smartly constructed script. From early on, the film illustrates perfectly how he is a conflicted man, especially when he is praying to the charred helmet of his grandfather Darth Vader. The pull of the Light Side (his family), which Snoke clearly sensed, was emotionally tearing him apart and the only way to fix this was for him to strike down his own father.

Not even Darth Vader went as far to kill one of his own. Ren had no such issue killing a member of his own family. But I don't think its fair to make comparisons between Vader and Ren even though it is incredibly easy to due to their aesthetics. But, in the original trilogy Vader was a calm, collected villain who was always in control; the defined version of villainy. Ren is very young, and inexperienced. He's constantly got something to prove and strikes out in anger when things don't go his way. Combining all of these various elements makes Kylo Ren the most interesting character of the entire sequel trilogy at this moment in time. And I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that after one movie, Kylo Ren became a more intriguing character than Darth Vader. Whether he de-thrones him as the best villain in Star Wars history remains to be seen.

Another huge spoiler worth discussing is that Rey, the lonely scavenger on Jakku, is our new Jedi. And we find out she's incredibly talented with The Force via 2 excellent scenes which see her explore the extent of her newly discovered abilities. One scene synonymously explains Kylo Ren's motivations as a villain, and its one of my favourite of the entire film. We see Ren use the force to try and extract information concerning the "map to Skywalker" from Rey, but Rey starts to fight back. She uses the Force against him and finds out why Ren is so conflicted within; "he's afraid he'll never live up to Darth Vader". The acting in this scene is incredible, with both Driver's and Ridley's changing facial expressions conveying the changing nature of the situation magnificently.

The other scene in which we see Rey use her new powers involves her performing a Jedi mind trick on a Stormtrooper. For those of you that didn't know, that Stormtrooper was played by Daniel Craig. I watched the film a second time yesterday, and you can easily identify his voice once you know it is him. It's a very funny scene as well, especially when Craig drops his gun on the way out. And for those complaining that Rey's "mastery" of The Force happens too quickly, she doesn't get it right first time. In fact, it takes her 3 attempts to get the mind trick to work.

I said in my spoiler free review that the movie was a lot funnier than I expected thanks to a sharply written script which made the humour flow naturally from the characters. I also said that Finn was one of my favourite characters not just due to his path of redemption which summarises his whole character arc, but because he made my burst out laughing on so many occasions due to John Boyega's brilliant charisma and enthusiasm.

"We'll save her, we'll use the force." "That's not how the force works!". Brilliant stuff. "Here that Captain Phasma? I'm in charge! I'm in charge now Captain!". Hysterical. And whilst we're talking about the movie's humour, I can't not mention that scene with BB8 in which Finn gives him the thumbs up, which he returns using an inbuilt lighter. I don't know about you but my theatre erupted the loudest at that moment alongside many others.

I also mentioned in my original review my only criticism of the movie was concerning its narrative, which I feel borrowed a little too many plot points from A New Hope. These included the pursuit of a droid containing valuable information as well as the assault on the planet destroying base of the intergalactic bad guys. We've seen it all before. But I can understand why these plot elements are involved within this movie. It's trying to play it safe whilst introducing Star Wars to a new generation of movie goers. It also needed to appease the fans of the original trilogy and did that well with a variety of hidden Easter eggs. I say hidden, there's probably loads of articles listing every single Easter egg down to meticulous detail at this point.

If anything, the Starkiller Base gives the X wings something to fight during the finale. It also gives us more of Poe, which I can never complain about. Poe is just a person I aspire to be like, the best in his field and assured of his status without ever bordering into excessive confidence or cockiness. The movie did a great job at showcasing he is, without dispute, the best pilot in the galaxy during the scene in which The Resistance come to fight The First Order after they storm Maz Kanata's palace. There is one tracking shot which sees him take out multiple Tie Fighters shot from the perspective of Finn from on the ground. That's another thing I loved about JJ Abrams direction of this film besides the return to practical effects, the use of long, wide takes shot on real-world locations.

There is CGI in the film and a lot of people have complained about the 2 motion capture characters for their look. These being Maz Kanata and Supreme Leader Snoke. The design of these characters didn't bother me at all, and I'm very interested to see these people explored in greater depth in future instalments. A lot of mystery surrounds these two, and questions need to be answered. I can't wait to experience the answers in less than 2 years time.

Coming to the end of the film now and I feel I should talk about the confrontation between Kylo Ren and Finn and Rey. Finn goes down very easily and takes a serious hit from Ren's lightsaber. I also loved the way the triple edged saber was used to good effect with Ren burning Finn's shoulder. When Finn goes down, daddy killer Kylo Ren tries to lift Luke's old lightsaber from the snow. After a short pause, the lightsaber flings out of the snow past his head and into the hands of Rey. Cue the fanboy tears.

From there a brutal fight ensues in which Rey becomes the victor after she calms herself and utilises the force. Another complaint I'm hearing from people is how easily Rey seems to beat Kylo Ren. I don't share this opinion. The movie shows us that Rey is perfectly self sufficient and able to hold her own in fight. It also shows Kylo Ren's inexperience. Think about it, he probably hasn't seen anything like Rey since he betrayed Luke. I mean I can't imagine Snoke trained him in lightsaber combat that much. To see Rey win such a brutal fight was incredibly gratifying for me as a viewer as we finally have ourselves a female Jedi.

After the Starkiller base is destroyed and Ren defeated (but not dead) R2D2 wakes up and reveals the location of Luke Skywalker, who is hiding on a the planet of the first Jedi Temple, exiling himself due to the burdening guilt of tearing apart the Solo family. He may seem to wake up out of nowhere, but hear me out. We see in Rey's vision sequences Luke placing his hand on R2. I believe R2 wakes up because Luke somehow has control over him. R2 powers down only to power back up again when the time was right. Now that The Force has awakened within Rey, Luke revealed the path to himself for Rey to follow.

The movie ends and we get a glimpse at Luke Skywalker who makes a very brief, dialogue-free appearance. Rey shows him his lost lightsaber, and the movie cuts to credits. I'm sure many will be disappointed we didn't see much more of Luke, but the movie's marketing campaign never promised us much of Luke at all. What his brief appearance does do is make us pumped for Episode VIII, in which hopefully we will see Rey train under Luke.

And while this is going on, Ren will be training under the guidance of Snoke. There, the battle between the Light and Dark Side of The Force can recommence once again.



--------------------END OF STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS SPOILERS----------------------



Hope you enjoyed reading some of the spoilers from the Force Awakens itself. Coming soon will be Part 2 of my Force Awakens spoiler review in which I shall talk about some of the questions I have concerning the future of the Star Wars saga.

Thanks for reading, and may the force be with you!
And have a Merry Christmas!
Matt

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Movie Review (NO SPOILERS)

What a time to be alive! Thanks to the efforts of JJ Abrams and all involved in the production of this film, we live in a world where we are going to movie theatres to watch great Star Wars movies. Despite the astronomical pressure and fan expectation, I think its fair to say that The Force Awakens, the 7th film in the Star Wars franchise, is a massive success and one of the most entertaining films I've seen all year. This film is the reason why I love movies in the way that I do.

But I'm getting ahead of myself and have completely spoiled what I thought about it, but I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is directed by JJ Abrams and tells the story of a post Return of the Jedi Star Wars universe, taking place approximately 30 years after the destruction of the second Death Star and the fall of the Galactic Empire. Since then, Luke Skywalker has gone missing and both the First Order (the reincarnated Empire) and the Resistance (the rebels) are both desperately searching for a lead to Luke's whereabouts. And that's all I'm going to say about the plot, because it's best you go into the movie not knowing anything for the full experience.

One of the biggest complaints people (myself included) have of the Prequels is that they're paced atrociously with scenes which do nothing to progress the plot or flesh out characters. Thanks to JJ Abrams fantastically frantic, fast-paced direction, The Force Awakens never ceases to be entertaining. Every single scene in this film matters, and the excitement levels never drop and the film never ceases to be supremely entertaining.

Abram's vibrant and passionate direction of this film seeps into every single frame. Everything to do with this film in terms of its aesthetics was absolutely spot on; it felt like it belonged in the Star Wars universe. The cinematography was fantastic with every shot having something special about it, John William's iconic musical score was back in full force (pun intended) and the use of practical effects over computer-generated imagery was an utter masterstroke by the filmmakers. The locations, the costumes, the use of puppetry, the visual and audio effects all felt like Star Wars to me. I was thrilled to see a film look as if it was shot somewhere on this Earth as opposed to in a fake, blue screen environment. I know some people are complaining that the CGI of the 2 motion capture characters was off, but I didn't have that problem at all! For me, when CGI was used it was used very well.

The action sequences in this movie are all filmed and executed to perfection, with both battles on the ground and in the air both being equally enthralling. Plus, the lightsaber battles were everything I wanted them to be! There was no pointless choreography and the fights were brutal, taking place between two or more people with the intention being to kill the opponent. Because its so real, the stakes are higher and its more entertaining to watch unfold. The fights feel like a bi-product of the internal conflict between characters and not the other way around, which is how it should be in my opinion.

Every shot of The Force Awakens is injected with the raw passion of the filmmakers who went out of their way to make every scene as perfect as they possible could. Having filmed on these amazing locations and brilliantly crafted sets almost certainly aided the actors in this film, all of which give phenomenal performances simply because they're so thrilled and enthusiastic to be performing in a Star Wars film.

One performance which stands above the rest was Daisy Ridley's portrayal of Rey; which is the physical embodiment of perfect casting. She's fantastic in this film, and so is her character. Rey is smart, quick-thinking, likeable, and can really hold her own in a fight. She's another strong female lead in what has been a good year for female leads in blockbuster films, and she tops this list with ease. I can't wait to see Rey in future films, because out of all the characters in this film (of which there are a few), she has the most interesting future and room for character development for sure.

But I have to admit that John Boyega's Finn may well be my favourite character in this film. His performance is the most charismatic out of everyone and a lot of the movie's humour channels through him, and works like a treat. Not only does he have natural on screen chemistry with Daisy Ridley, but Finn's character arc is the most noticeable and interesting one to watch unfold. It was great to see a Star Wars film get into the psyche of a Stormtrooper, and it's Finn's morality and willingness to do what is right that makes him so likeable and relatable.

When I say this movie has humour, I really do mean this movie is hysterical in so many places. And the fact is a lot of the humour in this film comes out so naturally and courtesy of so many characters. It would have been possible for them to go overboard on it but I think all of it was used excellently to liven up the tone of a film which is incredibly thrilling and emotional in a lot of places. I've also gotta give a shout out to BB8, who's awesome. I need one of those things around the house!

There are also so many other characters that don't get a lot of screen time in The Force Awakens, but I honestly can't wait to see more of them. One such character has to be Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, the most likeable, badass X-wing pilot in the galaxy. Seriously though Isaac is a quality actor and deserves the roles he's getting because he is so good in every role he is given.

The Force Awakens does this incredible thing where it pays homage and respects the old, but gets you excited and enthusiastic for the new and desperate to see more of where these characters are going to go and what they're going to do. It also would've been easy for them to shoe-horn in the traditional characters (like Han Solo) for nostalgia purposes. That is the complete opposite of what they do in The Force Awakens. In fact, Han Solo is integral to the plot. To see Han Solo and Chewie in the Millennium Falcon in a film released in 2015 was almost too much for my nerd brain to handle at times.

Harrison Ford knocked it out of the park playing Han Solo once again, proving that this was the role he was born to play. Both Han and Leia share a really beautiful scene in a hangar which was one of the most emotional moments of the entire film. In fact, due to the performances of both Ford and Fisher combined with the direction and the screenwriting, you really felt a sense of history and pain within Han and Leia's relationship.

And what's a Star Wars film without a great villain? Thankfully, The Force Awakens is no exception as the galaxy's new evil bastard goes to the man named Kylo Ren. He's honestly my favourite villain of the year. One of the reasons why I loved him so much was because he was actually a vicious, unpredictable villain who could lose his temper at any moment. He's completely irrational and devoted to an unhealthy degree to the man he idolises; Darth Vader. Despite the fact you hate Kylo Ren more than anything in this world, you still have a good grip on his motivations for his actions. This is especially during an intense scene between Ren and Rey, which synonymously makes Rey the most interesting character going into future instalments.

There are definitely some characters in this film which do not have much screen time, one of which being Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke, but you have to remember this is the first film of 3. We're getting 2 more films after this which will answer all of the unanswered questions, of which there are plenty. And the fact of the matter is, I can't wait to have them answered! Isn't that the point of the first film of a trilogy, to satisfy you by setting everything up but leaving you to speculate and ask questions about what is to come?

The only negative thing I can say about The Force Awakens is the use of some very familiar plot points, most notably the purpose of BB8 in the film and the Starkiller Base, the home of the First Order. Other than that, I loved every remaining aspect of this film. And to that I owe JJ Abram's a massive thank you. Thanks for bringing glory back to the Star Wars franchise by making an entertaining and emotional film which gave me everything I wanted.

Over to you Rian Johnson, you have some serious shoes to fill, but all of the tools needed to do it!


Rating - A

Thanks for reading, and may the force be with you!
Matt

Black Mass Movie Review

Black Mass is directed by Scott Cooper and stars Johnny Depp as an actual character for once and not a reincarnation of Captain Jack Sparrow, can you believe that! The film tells the story of James "Whitey" Bulger, played by Depp, and the expansion of his criminal empire in the 70s and 80s. Despite being one of the most ruthless, bloody and infamous gangsters in America, Bulger was allowed to get away with the horrific crimes he caused due to a formal alliance he held with an FBI agent and his brother, a powerful senator. However, as his criminal dealings become increasingly erratic, this alliance is put under immense pressure as the FBI try and find a way to take Bulger down.

So far I think its fair to say a fair share of movies to come out in 2015 have been hyped up only to fall short of my personal expectations. Thankfully, Black Mass is not one of those movies. It is an interesting and thrilling crime drama with real suspenseful direction, investing dialogue, good acting all round and characters you love to watch and interact with each other. I had a great time with this movie.

It definitely won't be looked back on in years to come as a definitive film within the crime drama genre (which is littered with classics), but Black Mass does everything it sets out to do and delivered on all of the levels that I wanted it to. A lot of the credit has to go to director Scott Cooper. While I wasn't a fan of his last film "Out of the Furnace", this film surprised me at how well it was directed. Cooper has a great handle on the movie's serious and at times disgusting tone, which makes for some truly haunting scenes and some thrilling moments.

But Cooper also excels with his visual direction. Black Mass really does feel as if a director has taken hold of a project and produced it in his/her personal style. It's definitely a good looking film. In fact I'd go as far to say that it is so good that it perfectly encapsulates the location the story is taking place in. Boston in this film is made to look murky, cold and chilling via Cooper's direction and because it is done so well, it feels like its own character. The movie's overall tone and visual aesthetic complement each other perfectly, which is I feel a necessity when telling a story like this.

I have to be honest here though, Black Mass would have failed if it wasn't for the brilliance of Johnny Depp in this role. His acting performance is so good to the point where his eyes seem to shut off and he becomes a completely different person. He steals every single scene he is in and when he isn't on screen you desperately want to see him come back on. Despite the fact he is a despicable human being who does some unforgiveable stuff, you still kind of empathize with him because he's such an interesting character with real humanity and an excellent back story. Credit here should go to the screenwriters for crafting such an excellent lead character.

The rest of the acting performances are all really good. Black Mass has such a huge cast but everyone who makes it up all understand their roles perfectly and shine when they need to. Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kevin Bacon, Adam Scott and Corey Stoll all did really well with the screen time they were accommodated. But Joel Edgerton was great as Connolly, Bulger's childhood friend and the FBI agent who he forms the alliance with to take down the Italians.

It's been a really good year for Edgerton. He can now properly wipe the shit stain that is Exodus: Gods & Kings off his reputation because this, along with his amazing debut directorial effort "The Gift" (which you must see) make him one of my favourite guys in Hollywood at the moment. He's another excellently crafted character, one whose motivations you understand and one who you route for to succeed, even if he is technically breaking the law.

As for issues I have with the movie, I only have maybe 1 or 2. The first being I think it is one of those films you watch once but never feel the need to go back to again. The second concerns the film's overall narrative. Black Mass has a habit of jumping years at a time. I just wish that they had decided against this. I think the film would have felt more narratively cohesive and less discombobulated. It was a decision made in the editing room which I felt hindered the natural progression of the story.

But overall Black Mass is a really good movie with an amazing lead performance. Even if you don't fancy seeing it, it should be worth a watch for people who are really into great acting, and crime dramas in general for that matter. It's a solid entry into the genre:


Rating - B+

Thanks for reading,
Matt

Bridge of Spies Movie Review

Bridge of Spies is a cold war spy thriller directed by Steven Spielberg starring Tom Hanks, and for those 2 reasons alone I went into this movie with reasonably high expectations. It tells the story of Jim Donovan, played by Tom Hanks, a skilled insurance lawyer who is tasked to defend a captured Soviet spy during his trial. However, after a U2 spy plane is shot down above Soviet air space and pilot Gary Powers is captured by the Soviet's, Donovan is the flown to Berlin to negotiate a swap between the US and the USSR so both spies can return home.

As I've just said, my expectations going into this movie were quite high. While Bridge of Spies may have fallen slightly short of the hype I set myself up with (I wanted it to be one of the best movies of the year) its still a dramatically effective and impactful film which creeps up on you emotionally towards the end. But, in order to enjoy this film you must know what you're getting into. It's a 2 and a half hour film of people sat around in rooms talking. I for one really enjoyed the experience for multiple reasons, I'd just be aware that this isn't a fast paced film with an endless amount of thrills or action set pieces. However, for what it is it is a good movie.

As you would expect, Tom Hanks is excellent in a role which may not require him to deliver on an emotional range like he has done in previous years, but in every scene he is in he radiates acting quality and keeps you captivated with his performance. He brings such an innocence and a likeability to his character, a man who just wants to do the right thing and prove that no matter who a person is, everybody deserves an equal shot at justice. It's these ideals which motivate his character throughout and because he is so likeable, you want this guy to succeed with the task he has been set.

Also, I have to give major praise to Mark Rylance who plays the Soviet spy in this film, because he is utterly terrific. Not only that, I love his character. He has a strange knack of remaining calm in situations where he really should be a little more concerned. And I love the fact the film made a point that despite the fact he is a spy for the enemy, he is not a traitor. In fact, Donovan even makes the point that he is quite the opposite. He's served his country admirably and honourably for not giving up any Soviet intelligence to the CIA. He and Hanks have real, organic on-screen chemistry and share some riveting conversations.

The reason why I was so invested in this movie's story and the 2 lead characters in particular was because the film's screenplay, written by the Coen Brothers, is constructed really well. The dialogue given to these characters here is excellent, and scenes which other movies would treat as downtime are actually where Bridge of Spies is at its most entertaining.

This, coupled with Steven Spielberg's masterful direction, make the seemingly mundane incredibly interesting. If you are a fan of directing and wish to direct yourself, I suggest paying close attention to the majority of the scenes in Bridge of Spies. Even when 2 characters are sat around talking, the direction of these scenes is marvellous to behold. Spielberg puts his stamp on every shot and gives the film another layer of enjoyment for film enthusiasts like myself.

It is definitely not a perfect film in my book and it is no where near the quality of some of Spielberg's earlier work, which is hardly an insult considering the man has made so many classics you'd struggle to fit them all on both hands! Being a 2 and a half hour film, there are times when it does feel like the movie's pace is dragging along. This is the case, for me, in that I feel as if a few scenes drag on for a little too long. I feel that whilst every scene was necessary in giving the narrative depth, some scenes could have been more impactful had they ended earlier.

I'm nit-picking here but there is also a transition that occurs between 2 scenes which came off as blatant propaganda, even if that wasn't the movies primary intention. Without spoilers, I'll say that it involves a transition from a Soviet prison to a US one, and the blatant differences between how well both countries treated their prisoners was a bit too much for me. This, however, was only one moment in a movie which actually does a brilliant job at steering away from US propaganda, with the exception of this one scene.

I'll also say that the ending goes on for too long and is very cliché Spielberg. But other than that, I really did have a good time with Bridge of Spies. Its well acted, well directed, well written and towards the end is surprisingly emotionally impactful. It's definitely not a casual watch but as a movie, I have to admit it is very good. If you know what you're getting into, I think it's a film you should see this year, especially if you're a fan of excellent filmmaking:


Rating - B

Thanks for reading,
Matt

The Captain America: Civil War Trailer is FINALLY here!!!

It's been a long time coming, hasn't it? At last! It seems that Kilgrave told Kevin Feige to finally release the trailer for next summer's headline event, Captain America: Civil War, set to be released on May 6th 2016. The scope of this film may not mirror the Civil War run in the comics, but it still looks like an amazing FILM based on the character drama exhibited in this wonderful teaser.

It naturally begins with the post credits scene from Ant Man. It shows that Cap and Falcon's "missing persons case" has come to an end, with them locating Cap's estranged friend Bucky Barnes, formerly the HYDRA vigilante The Winter Soldier. The effects of HYDRA's brainwashing are clearly fading and Bucky is regaining memory of his friendship with Steve.

And that right here proves to me that this film isn't the simple liberty and freedom vs. authority and regulation struggle like we all thought it would be. Civil War is essentially a personal story of the friendship between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. This movie's emotional weight will come from their relationship, and the trailer clearly indicates that the reason Cap is willing to go rogue from the government is for the sake of his friend. He's caught in a clear moral dilemma but he's doing the right thing, and this is why audiences will connect with him.

It was great to see William Hurt back as General "Thunderbolt" Ross as it finally gives currency to the 2008 Incredible Hulk film that Marvel has willingly forgotten about up to this point. General Ross is the voice of the government in this instance, delivering the news to the New Avengers that the world has had enough of them operating free of government supervision. The superhero registration act from the comics is known as "The Sokovia Accords", which makes complete sense after the chaos caused in the final act of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Friends are going to become enemies as this film removes the barrier between heroism and villainy. Old alliances will be broken based on ideological grounds. I love Black Widow's involvement in this trailer and I'm excited for the direction they are taking her character. It seems her alliances lie with Tony Stark and the government. But she has such a great relationship with Steve that her allegiances may come into question. She says "Stay out of this one...please!". She's practically begging Steve not to go after Bucky, but knows he will, which also means that she will have to side against him.

That's why I think this film is destined for greatness. There are so many characters in this film yet so many opportunities to create a multitude of different inter-related conflicts. Hawkeye vs. Black Widow being one, Scarlet Witch vs. Vision being another. But the main conflict-based relationship of Civil War (just as it is in the comics) is Captain America vs. Iron Man. Stark gives a great line which sums everything up; "If we can't accept limitations... we're no better than the bad guys".

Quickly wanted to mention Scarlet Witch who looks awesome and hot as hell in her new costume. Also, her allegiance to Captain America is now confirmed. When they released concept art showcasing the 2 teams, Wanda was nowhere to be seen so that made people speculate. Well speculate no more, she's Cap for life. It only makes sense for what Tony did to her parents, as well as what his creation (Ultron) ended up doing to her twin brother (Quicksilver).

Us lucky people got a look at Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther, the King of Wakanda himself, in full vibranium gear. I must say, he looks perfect. The design of his costume and the way in which he runs and fights is as close to perfect as I think we are ever going to get adapting a superhero from the pages to the screen.

The trailer does really well at showcasing Tony Stark's humanity as well in what is ultimately a very heavy trailer on Bucky and Cap (which it should be, it says Captain America in the title...). I love the shot of him over Rhodey after he gets his arc reactor destroyed. The look on his face just says it all. And I love the response he gives to Cap; "Sorry Tony, but he's my friend". "So was I". The line just says it all, highlighting the slightly humorous yet ultimately the tragic nature of this conflict.

And that final shot is glorious. It isn't some shaky cam bullshit with multiple, quick cuts and angle changes. It is one wide take of 2 pals laying the smack down on Iron Man's candy behind.

Now onto things that aren't in the trailer, because believe you me there are a lot of things they didn't put in which I'm glad they didn't. Firstly, Ant Man. Well... at least not at full size.

Crossbones, Baron Zemo, Sharon Carter and even goddamn Vision aren't in this trailer. But perhaps the biggest omission is that of a certain web-crawler...

Yes, we didn't get a look at Spiderman, and J Jonah Jameson isn't happy! But to be honest I am quite happy they didn't show him. I think what they're planning on doing is copying what they did with Vision in the marketing campaign of Age of Ultron; they'll wait until the final trailer and give us a minute glimpse at him. I'm excited to see Spidey back where he belongs, but I have to be honest when I say I'm struggling to see how he's going to fit in to this overall story, which again seems to be a personal tale of the strength of Steve and Bucky's friendship.

In the wider Marvel Universe, ordinary people with extraordinary abilities are popping up everywhere (the Inhumans, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage etc.). Maybe this is another factor which causes the government to release the Sokovia Accords, the fear they have of humans with super-human powers. Maybe one of these people is a 15 year old Peter Parker who Tony Stark takes under his wing as his protégé. It's all speculation at this point, but it's fun to speculate.

Long story short: loved the trailer, can't wait for May 6th! Watch it now:

Thanks for reading,
Matt

Jessica Jones Season 1 Review

If one thing is for certain it is this: Marvel and Netflix is a partnership made in heaven. Being completely free of catering for a young audience, Jessica Jones is the second Marvel show to appear on Netflix which pushes the boundaries totally and consistently. If there was one thing that Marvel was missing it was a strong show based off of a super heroine, and if Season 1 of Jessica Jones is anything to go by then we could be seeing this show return for years and years to come.

Jessica Jones tells the story of the character of the same name, a Private Investigator working in Hell's Kitchen. She's trying to rebuild her life after her previous attempt at being a super hero failed miserably until an evil figure from her past, Kilgrave, comes back into her life. This sends Jessica into a dilemma; she either continues to run away from her past and hope to God her life will gradually repair itself, or she can face her demons head on and bring down Kilgrave once and for all.

Krysten Ritter is terrific as Jessica Jones and her performances stays consistently great episode to episode. One of the biggest advantages I think Netflix Marvel has over the Marvel movies is that it has around 13 hours to flesh out and realise its characters. Unlike Daredevil, which is more of an action-packed crime drama, Jessica Jones is a more calm, meditative story. It's an intense and brilliantly effective character study concentrating on what might be one of the most intriguing characters in the MCU.

Despite the fact Jessica has extraordinary abilities, what is most extraordinary about her is her humanity, what makes her a person. She's rude, she's sarcastic but she's incredibly damaged and haunted by the events of her past from which she is trying to escape. There's a lot of internal conflict consistently raging on in her mind, and I love how Jessica Jones devotes its time to the titular character.

Netflix has also been doing a phenomenal job, unlike the majority of the movies, in creating some of the best villains the MCU has ever seen. Case in point is Kilgrave, played magnificently by the incredibly talented David Tennant who really commits to this role. He's one of the best villains in the MCU by a long stretch. He isn't a Nordic God or a Megalomaniacal robot, he's just a regular guy.

He has an incredible ability to make people do his bidding just by speaking to them. He could take over the world if he wants to, but no. He'd rather use his abilities to psychologically torment Jessica and those associated with her. He's simply a purely evil, sadistic man. But he's also a villain you can connect to and sympathize with as, like you do with Wilson Fisk in Daredevil, you learn about his backstory and find out just why he is as twisted as he is.

Mike Colter is also really good as Luke Cage and I can't wait to see him in his own series, set to be released probably around this time in 2016. He and Krysten Ritter have really organic on-screen chemistry and I love the directions this season took with their relationship. Plus, I was a huge fan of the way the show made you feel as if these 2 characters both connect with each other as they're both outsiders, but at the same time need each other to cope with the bad stuff that has occurred in their pasts.

The show does an excellent job at character building and weaving the plot to fit a 13 episode structure, almost playing out like a 13 hour movie. Even the supporting characters are great in the show. Even if it may feel like a lot of these characters aren't actually necessary to the season's overarching plot (which is Jessica finding peace with herself) they will do in later episodes. Characters which seem to have a minor role will all become relevant at some point.

This naturally brings me on to my only negative of the first season. While I like how all of the supporting cast have relevance with the story, at times in the last couple of episodes it felt like every time it would cut away from the Jessica vs. Kilrgave conflict it was wasting time and dragging out the story with characters who I really didn't want to see at that particular moment in time.

I have to admit that I definitely prefer Daredevil as a show, but I still think Jessica Jones is a great show and I really can't wait to see what they do with season 2. That's because Daredevil is more thrilling and has beautifully filmed action sequences which get my blood pumping every time they start. Jessica Jones is stylistically very different to Daredevil, showing off a more bleak sense of humour, musical choices and so on. Both shows film action very well and both shows do the basic character stuff similarly well. Jessica Jones is more character based than Daredevil is, and it's only a matter of personal preference as to why I prefer it over Jessica Jones.

Which I still think is a great show with a very strong first season. There are some really memorable scenes in this show, ranging from the nail-biting, the disgusting and the comedic. Favourite thrilling scene has got to be the scene in the police station. Most disgusting scene has to be what Kilgrave makes his mother do. The funniest being the bar fight scene in episode 2, where Luke Cage is cracking skulls and beating people up without even trying.

I am a huge fan of the Netflix format of Marvel shows. They don't hold back on the violence, the sex or the language and just go for it. Both of them so far have a great handle on what it would be like for a street level hero to fight their own, personal battles in the wider world of The Avengers. I'm really looking forward to next year, with Daredevil Season 2 and Luke Cage Season 1:


Rating - A-

Thanks for reading,
Matt

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Movie Review

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is the fourth and final instalment of the Hunger Games franchise based off of the second half of Suzanne Collin's novel "Mockingjay".  The film is a culmination of everything that has come before it, and follows Katniss Everdeen as she leads the rebellion against the evil President Snow and marches towards the Capitol in one final push to overthrow his oppressive regime over the people of Panem.

Now first and foremost I think its important for me to add that I am not a Hunger Games super fan as I haven't read the books. Every time I go in to the theatre to watch a Hunger Games film I'm always completely unaware of what's about to unfold in front of me. I'm not one of those people that completely slates a film because they missed out that one important scene from the books, I always create my own opinion based on how much I enjoy the movie as its own entity.

So because I had no idea what was about to unfold in this saga's final instalment, I was always interested to see where these characters would go. I was always captivated by the story that was unfolding, and I was particularly impressed with some of the directions they take with the narrative and the way in which the film positioned characters in relation to each other. For example, I've never really been a huge fan of the character of "Peeta" in these films, but in Mockingjay Part 2 I have to say Peeta stole the entire film. Josh Hutcherson's portrayal made Peeta more vulnerable than he's ever been before. He's a damaged, broken man for the majority of the movie's runtime and was the one character who developed the best for sure.

Jennifer Lawrence is typically brilliant with her performance as she really has the character of Katniss locked down tight. There is one scene in particular where she flexes her acting muscles, but a lot of the time her performance is very subdued. I think the combination of both of these factors perfectly embodied the character of Katniss; an emotionally damaged woman, but one who is determined to do what is right and is focused completely on her goals.

And Mockingjay Part 2 is so much more action packed than Part 1. In fact I have to say that Francis Lawrence and the production crew did an excellent job at crafting and executing some really terrific and exciting action sequences. I think my favourite scene of the entire film is definitely the "sewer" scene, where Katniss and co. are being attacked by these vile "Mutt" creatures. That scene was incredibly suspenseful, and maintained a consistently high level of thrills throughout, which I was very happy to see. I just wish that there were more of these scenes.

The major problem I have with Mockingjay Part 2 (aside from the love triangle which I've just come to accept and live with) is its dire handle on pacing. Part 1 was an incredibly slow and meditative film with no pay off whatsoever. Part 2 on the other hand does have pay off with some really intense action sequences and some powerful, bleak imagery, but it's still so excruciatingly slow on way too many occasions. This is the final film of the saga; it should be an exciting, action-packed and have an emotionally impactful ending. Instead, the film seems to grind to a halt in way too many instances.

The film's handle on pacing is actually quite atrocious. Not only does it grind the movie down to a stand still when characters should be involved in intense sequences, it also seems to speed up in the moments where the film should slow down and deliver that emotional punch. As it is the final instalment of the saga, people die in this film. When these characters do die, the movie glosses over them entirely. Surely these are the moments where the movie should wind down as opposed to just them resting in sewers or hiding in a tiger lady's basement?

I believe the Mockingjay book should have been adapted into one film. I think much like Part 1, Part 2 suffers from having way too many unnecessary scenes put in to extend the runtime and justify the movie's length. The film's ending perfectly reflects this. It goes for a "Return of the King" like ending only this time it doesn't feel like it is the closing of a book. Instead it feels like a string of scenes which were loosely tacked on in post. I feel the film could have ended 4 times before it did.

But just because I feel like a lot of this movie is way too slow doesn't mean I can't recommend you seeing it. I feel like fans of the Hunger Games novels and the films will take a lot of enjoyment from this film. I didn't dislike the film at all, I was very interested in the direction they took the story and how they fleshed out certain characters, plus the action was entertaining. I just can't possibly justify how slow this film is considering it should have been a non-stop thrill ride. Is it worth seeing in theatres? I'm not sure. But you'll probably go and see it anyway:


Rating - C+

Thanks for reading,
Matt

Spectre Movie Review

Spectre is directed by Sam Mendes (the man behind Skyfall) and is the 24th instalment in the long-running James Bond franchise and the fourth time Daniel Craig has played the popular character. In Spectre, Bond stumbles across a message from an old friend which leads him on a journey to uncover the mystery of Spectre, a shadowy, syndicate organisation responsible for coordinating several terrorist attacks. The adventure leads to Bond discovering some deep, personal secrets concerning his past. The best way I can sum up Spectre is as follows; it doesn't even come close to the brilliance of Skyfall or Casino Royale, but it is much better than Quantum of Solace (thank god).

Overall, Spectre is a bit of a disappointment considering it fails to deliver to the high expectations delivered by recent incarnations of the character. Instead of thoroughly embracing the more sombre, realistic take on Ian Fleming's iconic character, Spectre seems to sacrifice what made Skyfall and Casino Royale so memorable and instead pays homage to the classic Bond films of the Roger Moore days.

But there's a lot to enjoy watching this film and a lot of positives to take away from it. First and foremost, Daniel Craig is excellent as Bond. His organic performance in this film definitively makes him my favourite Bond of all time, embodying everything I understand Ian Fleming's character is. He has the look, the charm, the comedic timing, the physical ruthlessness and the vulnerability the role requires. He can play this role in his sleep.

I'd love to see him continue as Bond, but considering the narrative direction this movie goes I think this is unlikely. It's a shame, but that leads me onto another thing I really appreciated in Spectre; the fact it feels like the conclusion of everything we've seen before. The tie ins to Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall do a good job at expanding the universe of this incarnation of Bond. It gives relevance to events which have preceded it and heightens the importance of events which happen in this film in a similar way.

I really enjoyed the dynamics that Bond has with returning 007 characters M, Q and Moneypenny. The chemistry between them feels organic and natural, as if these characters have a real history of working together as a team. Through these characters is a lot of the movie's humour broadcasted, and I think all of the returning actors did terrific jobs and understood their roles in the film very well.

Its an aesthetically gorgeous film as well with incredibly helmed and choreographed action sequences which really put you in the moment. The inclusion of Dave Bautista as the evil henchman was also handled brilliantly by both actor and script. They both acknowledged that while Bautista is an excellent performer, his acting isn't great. He only has 1 line in the film and I feel Spectre did well at playing to his strengths. Bautista and Bond are involved in an amazingly thrilling and brutal fight sequence on a train which was for sure one of the film's stand outs.

While it definitely misses the genius touches of Roger Deakins behind the camera (who recently shot Sicario), the movie's cinematography is still excellent. The opening shot of this film is an amazing one-take-wonder which follows Bond through the streets, up an elevator, out a window and along a roof. It was Lubezki-esque. Also, the use of focus and lighting in particular is borderline genius, particularly when it came to introducing Christophe Waltz's character Oberhauser, the film's primary antagonist.

Christophe Waltz is fantastic and steals every scene that he is in. However, this leads me onto my biggest negative about the film; the screenplay misses a lot of really big opportunities despite the fact that Sam Mendes' direction is trying to take the film down a particular path. Take Waltz's character Oberhauser as an example. The direction they take this character, the head of Spectre, should have made him the most memorable 007 of all time. But the screenplay doesn't allow him to be this. His character should have had a lot more emotional depth. He should've been stripped down to his humanity (like Le Chiffre was in Casino Royale) and his motivation should have been made much clearer.

The same things can be said for Lea Seydoux. Her performance in this film is perfectly serviceable with some glimpses of brilliance, but the screenplay missed a few things out when it came to her character. Early on you buy into her chemistry with Bond and you maybe think a romance could flourish between them. However, in the end the romance felt forced and almost awkward at times, happening way to quickly without much emotional development going on at all. She could have been a great "Bond girl" and a very strong female lead had a few minor script alterations been made.

Also the film has a couple of pacing issues. It starts off with a thrilling action sequence, sets the scene very well in the first act and comes to a satisfying conclusion. But it drags a lot in the second act mainly revolving around a sub plot involving the character of "C", an official who wants to shut down the 00 programme and replace it with a massive global surveillance initiative. The revelation surrounding that aspect of the plot wasn't surprising at all and it took the movie away from the interesting, personal journey Bond was going on elsewhere.

Ultimately, Spectre is a bit of a disappointing film considering that with 1 or 2 more re-drafts of the screenplay, it could have taken the opportunities it missed out on taking. There's no doubting that it is a fun action film with an actor who perfectly embodies what Bond is all about, but issues I had with the story, the screenplay and some of the characters makes Spectre an overall disappointment. I will still recommend you see it as it is a fun time, but know that it doesn't even come close to the quality of Skyfall or Casino Royale. Or Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation for that matter, they are basically the same film!


Rating - B-

Thanks for reading,
Matt

Hulk CONFIRMED to appear in Thor: Ragnarok!!

Happy Back to the Future day! Let's celebrate by discussing the Norse Apocalypse!!

It's been confirmed by multiple movie news outlets that Mark Ruffalo's Hulk is set to have a major role in the upcoming third movie in the Thor franchise, Ragnarok. The film, which is currently eyeing director Taika Waititi to helm the project, is set to be released on November 3rd 2017, in-between Spiderman's first solo outing and the Black Panther solo film. The news also states that Thor will find Hulk on a distant planet and the film will see our heroes team-up on a cosmic adventure.

Accompanying this news is also the confirmation that Tom Hiddleston will return as Loki. So to those who were a fan of the "puny God" scene from the first Avengers, you're in luck!

When I heard this news I was excited but to me it also made perfect sense. It wouldn't make sense for the character of the Hulk to ride the fence during Phase 3 up until Infinity War. There were those who speculated around the time of Age of Ultron's cinematic release that Hulk would appear in a Phase 3 film in some capacity, which at the time everyone thought was going to be Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2.

What this news could mean is the possibility of at least glimpses of the famous Planet Hulk storyline which Marvel has been so reluctant to do despite enormous fan pressure on them to do it. If it turns out Thor finds Hulk on a distant planet then we could well be seeing the Hulk fighting in gladiator pits just like in the famous comic book storyline. I think this would appease a lot of fans.

But on what planet would Thor find him? I assume he would find him in space somewhere as opposed to Earth given the nature of how this news has been reported. Most likely it could be one of the planets which make up the 9 realms of the cosmos.

In case you didn't know, the nine realms are connected by Yggdrasil, or the Tree of the World. These realms are not other dimensions, they are in fact planets from across the universe connected by this large tree. So far in the movies we have seen Asgard, Midgard (Earth), Jotunheim (Loki's home), Vanaheim and Svartalfheim (the Dark World).

Is it possible that Thor could find Hulk in one of these distant realms? It's definitely possible. But Asgardians still have the ability to travel to locations outside of the 9 realms. Remember the post credits scene of Thor: The Dark World? Here we see Sif and other Asgardians deliver The Collector the Aether (which has been confirmed to be the Reality Stone). Its fun to speculate.

Also, how and why does Hulk travel into space? Last time we saw him he was fleeing from his duties as an Avenger using the Quinjet's stealth mode. I don't know if the Quinjet can perform interplanetary travel; maybe Hulk was taken? Again, it's fun to speculate over these questions.

What we do know is that Ragnarok is "the end of all things" in Norse mythology. Expect some monumental stuff to go down. In fact, I remember Kevin Feige saying that Thor: Ragnarok was the linchpin movie of Phase 3; the film that would change the landscape of the MCU and pull the carpet from under our feet, similar to Captain America: The Winter Soldier's "SHIELD" revelation in Phase 2.

If Ragnarok is close to the source material we should see Thor and Hulk fight Surtur and the fire demons of Muspelheim. But what about a certain Mad Titan hell-bent on collecting infinity stones to complete his newly acquired gauntlet?

I think Thanos is going to have a role in Thor: Ragnarok. Whether he has a small one or is the main villain of it I can't tell yet. Just bare in mind that he's now off to collect the Infinity Stones himself. One such stone is hidden inside the Tesseract (the Space stone) which is currently on Asgard in the custody of Odin...

... or at least what Thor thought was Odin. In actuality it's Loki. Remember back to the first Avengers film? Loki's scepter and the gem powering it was given to him by the Other, Thanos' servant. Loki failed to conquer Earth and lost the gem which Thanos presumably gave him. The God of Mischief has some serious debt to pay. So what if Loki somehow causes Ragnarok to happen... and when Asgard is in ruins, Thanos can come and retrieve the Tesseract for his own personal use...

Whatever happens, this news that Hulk will be appearing in Thor: Ragnarok gets me even more excited for a film which will have massive repercussions for Infinty War and everything else after it!


Thanks for reading,
Matt

The Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Trailer is AWESOME!!!

What a perfect trailer. Honestly. A trailer which gets you unfathomably excited for a film showing a bunch of new stuff we have yet to see whist at the same time not spoiling anything and telling us things we didn't already know. This new trailer for The Force Awakens (my most anticipated film of 2015) should act as an exemplar for those who work in Hollywood marketing films.

The footage they showed off and the way the trailer built up and built up sent shivers down my spine and goosebumps up my arm. And the reason why this happened was because it genuinely felt like Star Wars to me. In terms of it's overall aesthetic; the iconic musical score, the sound design, the costumes, the sets, the visuals, the cinematography... It all felt like Star Wars. Remember that feeling of awe and wonderment the first time you watched the original Star Wars films? Watching this trailer felt like I was doing that all over again.

It didn't spoil anything I didn't already know:

 - Daisy Ridley's character Rey is a scavenger on Jakku with an awesome pet BB8 droid.

 - John Boyega's character Finn abandons The First Order and teams up with Rey.

 - Adam Driver's Kylo Ren is part of a Darth Vader cult that vows to finish the "work he started".

 - Han Solo has a large role in the film and The Millennium Falcon will make a return.

 -  Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron is a kick-ass Resistance fighter pilot.

 - The Resistance and The First Order are currently at war with each other in a conflict that probably won't even resolve itself at the end of this film.

This new trailer spoiled nothing for me. I still don't know if Rey has a connection with a Solo or a Skywalker? I don't know how her and Finn come across Han Solo? How do General Hux, Captain Phasma and Supreme Senator Snoke fit into the film? I don't know, and I'm so happy I don't!

This trailer is definitely the most action-oriented trailer we've seen from The Force Awakens so far. And while the action set pieces look phenomenal my 2 favourite moments of the trailer are as follows:

1) The shot which pans around Finn and Poe Dameron by the X-wing. That shot is pure JJ Abrams class and something which you would have seen in the original trilogy and not in the prequels.

2) John Boyega's face when Adam Driver's Kylo Ren is about to swing his lightsaber at him. The look of fear and the instant realisation that he is woefully unprepared summarises the entire situation beautifully, and gives the character of Finn room to develop as the trilogy progresses.

I can't stress to you how excited I am. In 2 months time I am going to go to a movie theatre and watch a brand new Star Wars film. It really doesn't get any better!


Thanks for reading, and may the Force be with you!
Matt

Sicario Movie Review

 



 

Sicario is directed by Denis Villeneuve (the director behind Prisoners and Enemy) and boasts an incredible cast of talent including Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. Sicario tells the story of Kate (played by Emily Blunt), an idealistic FBI agent who involves herself within an operation with the intent of tracking and taking down a major player in the Mexican drug cartel. Here she finds her morals questioned as she becomes determined to find out what is really going on.

 

Before we start I'm just going to say it off the bat, Sicario might be one of my favourite movies of the entire year. Denis Villeneuve has proved to me once and for all that he is one of the brightest talents working today in mainstream cinema as his direction of this film is near flawless. The way he introduces us to these characters, the way he sets up intrigue and mystery, the way certain revelations are revealed are all done expertly by a man who clearly has immense understanding as to how to tell a story and how to structure a movie around it.

 

I say it's one of my favourite films of the year because of one simple reason; it's the most thrilling thriller I've seen since Whiplash. The first 2 acts of this film exhibit a consistent level of slow to medium-burning tension when every once in a while it explodes into life. The third act of this film culminates in some of the most effective and pulsating thrills I have seen in a very long time. I think serious credit needs to go to Denis Villeneuve for creating an enthralling finale which was unrelenting in it's high levels of suspense and tension. In a thriller like this, I should be biting my nails and clenching my fists. I was doing just those things during Sicario, which I was so pleased about.

 

It's not often I have a physical reaction to a film. When Sicario ended, I sat there for a good couple of minutes just so I could catch back my breath. I'm not exaggerating but this film honestly had a deep impact on me. Not only is it immensely impactful as a thriller but it might just be the best constrcuted film of the entire year when it comes to telling an interesting story. The screenwriting of Sicario as well as the dialogue are also very strong, which made it for me the best film of the year in terms of its overall construction.

 

This film may not be as entertaining as something like The Martian or Mad Max: Fury Road, but for someone who loves excellent filmmaking Sicario is nothing short of a wet dream. It doesn't share the same happy and hopeful tone of optimism The Martian had where no matter how desperate the situation, you can always remain positive. Sicario's tone is purposefully hopeless and dire at times; no matter how large the situation you solve in one place, that same problem will continue to manifest somewhere else. I was a huge fan of it's dark, serious and at times disgusting tone. It reminded me a lot of Se7en, one of my all time favourite films.

 

I feel like I've been saying this a lot in movie reviews recently but this is honestly one of the best looking films of the entire year. The genius that is Roger Deakins was the director of photography on this film and you can really tell. His grand, epic and inventive cinematography makes this movie (which is already structurally fantastic and unbelievably thrilling) better than it already is. I could tell from the opening shot of this film that Deakins was behind the camera which is testament to his incredible talent. And the pounding musical score which swells up at just the right moments is also truly great, acting as just one of the components which made some scenes in this film almost unbearably intense.

 

And of course the acting is great, as is the writing surrounding the 3 main characters. Emily Blunt puts in one of her best performances and once again proves herself capable of doing her own stunts and being convincing whilst doing them. I loved the way her character was introduced and how she develops as the movie progresses. You route for her because of her determination, but you like her because of the vulnerability she radiates at the same time. Josh Brolin's character also has a really good introduction and as a character works for comedic effect.

 

But this is Benicio Del Toro's film. His performance is so subtle yet so breath-taking in a role which he disappeared into. His character is also by far the most interesting one to watch and the one you want to keep going back to. He has the best character arc by a long way. I think this is mainly due to the purposeful mystery that surrounds his character. We're not told instantly who he is and who he works for, we have to wait and find out. And when you do find out, it's immediately gratifying and sets up a finale with some of the best suspense filmmaking I've seen in a very long time.

 

Sicario is not a fun time filled with hope and optimism, it's rather the opposite. But if you're a fan of great movies then Sicario will give you everything you want and more. It's one of the best theatre experiences I've had all year and is one great thriller which is exactly what a thriller should be; thrilling! When I make my favourite films of the year list, Sicario will feature very highly I can promise you that:

 

 

Rating - A

 

 



 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading,

Matt 



 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ant Man and the Wasp" confirmed for 2018!!

Considering how successful both critically and commercially Marvel's Ant Man was, it should probably come as no surprise that a sequel to the film will be released on July 6th 2018, entitled "Ant-Man and The Wasp", the first Marvel film to be named after one of their superheroines. However, 12 months ago Marvel released their Phase 3 plans dating movies all the way to May 2019, and an "Ant Man 2" was nowhere to be seen. This led a lot of people to believe that we'd have to wait until Phase 4 to see Marvel's smallest hero return in a solo adventure.

Well it appears that if one of their properties is popular amongst fans and efficient at the box office, they will be willing to change their plans and fast-track in sequels. What this has meant is a re-shuffle of the Phase 3 pack with movies moving from their original dates yet again. This is now the second time Marvel has changed their future movie line up in 2015 alone; last time people were going crazy over the inclusion of a certain web-slinger.


Updated Phase 3 schedule

Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe now looks like this:

The inclusion of an Ant Man sequel has pushed some movies forward, and others back. Black Panther, which was originally pencilled in for a November 3rd 2017 release was moved to July 6th 2018 after Marvel acquired the rights to Spiderman. It's moving in the opposite direction now, coming out on February 16th 2018. It will be the last MCU movie before the Infinity War spectacle. Fans are happy that his solo adventure will be brought to us at least a couple months earlier.

Fans are not so happy with them pushing back Captain Marvel. It will still be placed in-between the Infinity War films but will now come out on March 8th 2019, 4 months later than previously scheduled. This is the second time Marvel has pushed her back, and I don't blame them considering there is no actress or director attached to the film. And those who are complaining that Marvel is purposefully delaying the release of their first female led superhero movie for "other" reasons, I don't understand you. This new film is led by a female superhero. An iconic one at that, with an actress who seriously kills it as that particular character!


Sequel ideas

I really enjoyed Ant Man and am pleased that we're getting a sequel as there's a huge amount of story potential and interesting character arcs for Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne as well as Michael Douglas' Hank Pym. I kind of feel like the title "Ant Man and The Wasp" has duel meaning; it could be referring to the modern incarnation or Hank Pym and his wife Janet, who is currently lost in the Quantum Realm.

Speaking of the Quantum Realm, I think it's going to have a huge role in this sequel. At the end of Ant Man when Scott successfully returns, Hank begins to wonder. If Scott can return, maybe his wife can be saved. If I were to predict I'd guess that this was going to be the plot of the movie as it was eluded to in a not-so-subtle way in Ant Man's closing stages.

If you want to read more about the Quantum Realm and how it may have an important role in not just an Ant Man sequel, but other Phase 3 films, click here: http://movieswithmattharrison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/ant-man-quantum-realm-theory.html



Phase 4?

With this news also comes three new release dates for future MCU films. Some believe these films will be part of Phase 3, which I completely disagree with. I still get the sense that Phase 3 will end with the second Infinity War film, with Inhumans acting as it's epilogue and a bridge into Phase 4.

Below are my incredibly early predictions for what these films could be. Yes, I'm sat here predicting what films will come out in 2020. Don't judge me.


May 1st 2020 - Untitled Spiderman film sequel

July 10th 2020 - Guardians of the Galaxy 3

November 6th 2020 - Fantastic Four/X-Men


A Spiderman film is almost a shoe-in. Guardians 3 is very likely. However, the third film is very difficult to predict. Possibilities are literally endless! If Marvel get the rights back for the X-Men and Fantastic Four characters in the next couple of years (which isn't actually that unlikely of a thing to happen) then we'll definitely see them incorporated into the MCU fold.

But I think at least one of these 3 films will introduce a new character or a new group of characters. As the X-Men and F4 have never appeared in the MCU before, they fit this description. But Marvel could use other characters. Nova? Namor? Spider Woman? She-Hulk? Blade? Who needs new characters when you could release either Doctor Strange and/or Black Panther 2? Could a Defenders movie be on the cards? What about finally giving us the Mark Ruffalo-led Hulk film we all want? Or will they give in and finally give us everything we could ever want... the return of Howard the Duck!

Jokes aside, predicting Phase 4 is almost impossible at the moment. The fact I'm sat her speculating films that will be released after Infinity War (which is still 4 years away) is testament to what Marvel has achieved with it's cinematic universe. If an Ant Man sequel means more content from Marvel, I can not possibly complain.


Thanks for reading,
Matt

Macbeth Movie Review

Directed by Justin Kerzel, Macbeth is an adaptation of the famous William Shakespeare play of the same name, telling the story of a Scottish Thane who after hearing a prophecy that he will one day become King of Scotland murders the King he once served. However after the fateful deed is done, he and his wife who spurred him on to commit the heinous act become consumed with guilt as they begin to lose touch with their sanity.

It probably comes to no surprise that the standout qualities of Macbeth are the acting performances delivered by the two leads, both of whom take to the roles as if they were born to do so. Michael Fassbender is truly terrific as Macbeth. His performance completely encapsulated the looming insanity of his character, striking a fine and measured balance between repulsiveness and sympathy. He is definitely Oscar-worthy in what turns out to be yet another stellar performance from a man who just might be one of the most committed and naturally talented actors in Hollywood.

But Marion Cotillard's portrayal of Macbeth's wife is just as good as, if not better than, Fassbender's work. She really has a lot of layers to work around with her character in a performance which asks a lot from her in terms of emotional range. She delivers acting of the highest quality as always. While some may argue the screenwriters missed a few opportunities to flesh out her character and make her even more compelling, I would disagree with them and say that I really enjoyed the direction the film took her. While Macbeth's perception of what is real and what is to be questioned falters, his wife seems to remain incredibly calm despite her involvement in the King's murder.

And I think one Cotillard monologue in particular which disproves my previous statement is my favourite scene of the entire film. Director Kerzel locks the camera onto her for a good couple of minutes in what became the most absorbing scene of the entire film for me. His direction of these scenes allowed the actors to truly showcase their unbelievable talent.

Macbeth is also a film which is visually immaculate. There are so many shots in this film which would give artsy filmmakers instant hard-ons. It is one of the best films of the year in terms of its aesthetics. A lot of the shots they accomplish do an excellent job at not just powerful, visual storytelling, but bringing to life the murky, cold and creepy environments in which the film takes place in. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the majority of the shots in this film could be framed as paintings, which is testament to the film's cinematographer Adam Arkapaw.

The musical score is also one of the year's best. However, despite the fact that this film may showcase some of the best acting and visuals of 2015 so far, there are still three things about Macbeth that I wasn't such a huge fan of. The first is to do with the film's pacing. The runtime doesn't overstay it's welcome however there are a vast number of scenes which seem to go on for way too long without clearly functioning as a character development scene or a narrative developing scene. Don't get me wrong, when this is done with the main focus on the acting performance being given it really works, but it doesn't all the time.

My second issue is something which may not bother you, but as someone who loves to examine the way film's are constructed I found issue with Macbeth's stylistic inconsistencies. For example, there is a battle sequence early on in the film where I thought the two different filmmaking styles in action didn't mesh well together. In fact, I think they came into direct conflict with each other on more than one occasion. One minute Macbeth is utilising a suspense-driven hand-held style, the next a deeply artistic style with focus on visual imagery, done so using super-slow motion techniques. To me, they didn't work well together at all.

And finally, my biggest issue with Macbeth is the dialogue. Because I'm stupid and I'm not well informed with Middle-English and Shakespearean language, I found the movie's dialogue hard to follow. For me, this hurt my viewing experience as I found it difficult to latch onto basic things such as character motivation. At times, the amazing visual imagery just wasn't enough for my own personal understanding of what was going on. But if you're well into Shakespeare you will love this new incarnation of the story.

Macbeth is not a film I can recommend that everyone should go see. It's definitely one to watch for people who love great acting and for aspiring cinematographers out there if you can get past the Shakespearean dialogue. However, I think fans of the original play will be very pleased with the way this film has turned out so to them I would thoroughly recommend you watch it:


Rating - B-

Thanks for reading,
Matt