Dredd Movie Review

Releases: 4^thOctober 2012

Rating: R18 – Contains Graphic violence & offensive language

Duration: 96 minutes 

Genre:  Sci-Fi Action

Starring: Karl Urban, Lena Headey, Olivia Thirlby, Domhnall Gleeson, Deobia Oparei, Jason Cope, Brandon Livanos, Langley Kirkwood

Director: Pete Travis (Vantage Point, Endgame)

Reviewer: Asher Bastion 

The Premise>> DREDD, a futuristic cop combines the power of judge, jury and executioner in Mega City One, a massive city that stretches down the entire East coast of America.  The endlessly inventive minds of writer Alex Garland and director Pete Travis bring DREDD (played by Karl Urban) to life in a futuristic neo-noir action film that returns the celebrated character to the dark, visceral incarnation from John Wagner’s and Carlos Ezquerra’s revered comic strip.

The Review>> Based on the super violent dystopian british comic, this is the second movie to have a go at the Dredd mythology. The last one being a bit of a shocker with Stallone as title character (I watched that one in a double feature with waterworld back in 95). Dredd is one of the judges, badass cops who have the tough job of trying to keep the peace in megacity one, a massive super city that stretches from DC to Boston with nothing but a post apocalyptic wasteland outside. Dredd as a character is very black and white in a city that’s dark grey; he’s almost religious in his application of the law. This society has is zero hope, and much of the population have turned to drugs to give them something to live for, the biggie of the moment being a substance called ‘slo-mo’ a hallucigen that changes the perception of time to a fraction of its normal speed.

From the opening scene of this ‘Dredd’ the film-makers got it right. We’re treated to an epic view of megacity one, it’s the worst that society has to offer simmered down into a world that’s both depressing but awe inspiring. The city blocks that most of society lives are town sized vertical slums, this is not a world any of us want to end up living in, but it some of it does ring true, being filmed in the same parts of South Africa that District 9 was. Also clever move by Alex Garland to use a visual effect as the drug, totally perfect for 3D, all the slomo sequences are absolutely beautiful, you almost can’t blame the addicts seeing the effects.

To Read Our Interview With Dredd himself (Karl Urban)
Click Here

The story involves Judge Dredd and rookie Anderson getting stuck in one of the city blocks, one that’s owned by some particularly nasty drug dealers, they manage to lockdown the block with the 2 judges inside and for Dredd, the only way out is up!

Written by Alex Garland, Dredd manages to balance the epic scifi/post-apocalyptic setting with super cool and interesting characters, you sense there may be a soft spot to Dredd somewhere far under that helmet, the rookie Anderson seems innocent but she’s got a dark side too her and has her own to offer some sweet psychic juju. The story is self is a great introduction to the Dredd world; it’s wisely kept simple and tight with some brutal action and insane visuals. It totally left me keen for more and luckily with the rumours of a trilogy floating round it sounds like we can expect to see more of Karl Urban’s chin dishing out judgment on megacity one..

The Verdict>> Brutal, Beautiful and Badass, but let’s hope for more story in a sequel.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Unlike the previous Judge Dredd movie, Karl Urban has confirmed that the helmet will never come off to keep true to the comic book character.

Judge Joseph Dredd is a fictional character whose comic strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine’s longest running, having been featured there since its second issue in 1977. Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner. Dredd and his fellow Judges are empowered to arrest, sentence, and even execute criminals on the spot. The character was created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra, although editor Pat Mills also deserves some credit for early development.

Mirror Mirror DVD Review

Releases: September 2012

Rating: PG – Contains violence

Duration: 106 minutes 

Genre:  Fantasy Adventure Family

Starring: Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane and Julia Roberts

Director: Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> One of the most beloved stories of all time comes to life in the spectacular motion picture event Mirror Mirror. A fresh and funny retelling of the classic fairy tale sees a beloved King vanish and his ruthless wife seizes control of the kingdom keeping her beautiful 18-year-old stepdaughter, Snow White, hidden away in the palace. But when the princess attracts the attention of a charming and wealthy visiting prince, the jealous Queen banishes the girl to a nearby forest. Mirror Mirror is a magical adventure comedy that will capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences all over the world.

The Review>> Now from watching the trailer for this film, one could be under the impression that it really is targeted directly at young girls. After all it is a classic fairy tale based on an undying love story. However, I think they have added in plenty of comedy a touch of PG action and a visually stunning representation of a fairy tale world. At first thought the casting of Julia Roberts as a baddie, kind of seems somewhat of a mistake. After all the Pretty Woman is such a loveable lady, how could an audience be turned against such a wide and ‘full of beautiful white teeth’ smile. Roberts is “The American Sweetheart”. Seriously, a baddie? An evil fairy tale queen? Well she actually pulls it off, for the most part. I can certainly name a dozen actresses that have oozed a greater sense of menace in a similar type of role, however Roberts certainly does enough for it to not distract you from the overall story.

The film opens with a wonderful piece of animation as Roberts narrates the scene and sets up the story. It has become a very well used tool in cinematic story telling to use a completely different style of animation with narration to give you the back story that is necessary to give you enough of the history and start the character emotional connection process. The best way to describe the style of the opening animation is like CGI generated 3D puppetry. In fact I enjoyed the style so much that I wouldn’t have even cared if they had of stayed in this style for the entire film. However they didn’t and I must admit that the wonderfully over the top and extremely colourful costumes and scenery helped to take this film for an okay family oriented film and into something that was actually really enjoyable.

Although some creative license has been taken with the plot and even characters, the central core story remains the same. Of course it is always hard to consider a different take on this fairy tale after we have so fully become indoctrinated to the Disney version that has for so long been the dominant player. For example there’s no Doc, Sleepy, Dopey, Happy or any of the other such names for the dwarves. Although there are a couple of little nods to those charcterisations, here we see a new collection of little people, with a quite fun array of styles that help to create a little more width and depth, oh and even height with the introduction of stilts.

Then of course there is Snow White, beautifully played by relatively new comer, Lily Collins. From her previous cinematic roles in The Blind Side, Abduction and Priest, Collins has shown quite the opportunity for a big career in acting. (As long as you kind of ignore that turd of a movie Abduction) However here, she has that Anne Hathaway kind of elegant beauty that fills the screen and dazzles along through the many costume changes. It is always wonderful to see a beautiful woman rocking full eyebrows, instead of this whole painted lines that so often seem to get forced upon the modern day leading ladies. (Oh goodness, I think watching this female oriented movie has brought out my feminine and slightly bitchy side)

Then of course there is Armie Hammer, what a growing powerhouse within the movie world. He was great ass a set of twins in “The Social Network” and then powerfully moving as the right hand of one of the most powerful men in history in J Edgar. Here he plays the charming prince with a great deal of comedy but still a brooding coolness that helps to keep the film moving along at a good pace. Of course every film like this needs it’s characters of comedic relief, and although he has done a great job in many other films, Nathan Lane really doesn’t seem to get the chance to really bring his A game and really does get upstaged but a group of men, shorter in physical and acting stature than him.

The Verdict>> Overall a fun filled family film with loads of laughs, a sprinkling of PG romance and side order of not too intense action.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> The original script included a scene between a shirtless Prince (Armie Hammer) and the Queen (Julia Roberts) in which the Queen remarks how smooth his chest is. This line had to be altered when Hammer refused to shave the hair off his chest for the scene.

Lily Collins admitted in an interview that she originally auditioned for the role of Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman, losing to Kristen Stewart.

Julia Roberts said in an interview, “I was like, ‘this is a terrible idea.’ I was against it (the movie) a thousand percent.” However, when Roberts had a meeting with director Tarsem Singh, her opinions changed completely. “I am such a fan of Tarsem, and fell under his spell.”

According to Julia Roberts, her costumes in the film were both heavy and almost impossible to move in. At one point while shooting, Roberts turned rather quickly to her co-star Nathan Lane during a take, and pulled a muscle. Needless to say, they had to stop shooting. Lane asked if Roberts was all right, and she responded with, “I think I just ripped something.”

Throughout the film, Julia Roberts wears enormous ball gowns. On the set, her children hid underneath her skirt without anyone knowing. In between takes, Roberts had her children removed from the set because she was concerned about them hearing her “vile” dialogue as the Evil Queen.

According to Julia Roberts, Mirror Mirror is the first film that made her young children aware that their mother was a famous film actress. Even though her children showed a large amount of enthusiasm about the Evil Queen, Roberts did not let them see the film for they were “too young.” In fact, Roberts kept her work a secret from her children while Mirror Mirror was filming. “They’re too young for it (the movie) and I think they would find it (me) disturbing,” she said.

While filming a fight scene between the Evil Queen and Snow White, Julia Roberts accidentally ripped out some hair from Lily Collins.

Dark Shadows DVD Review

Releases: September 2012

Rating: M – Contains horror, violence, offensive language & drug use

Duration: 113 minutes 

Genre:  Drama/Comedy

Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green

Director: Tim Burton (Corpse Bride, Alice in Wonderland, Edward Scissorhands)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet-or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better…

The Review>> so the Team is back. Can you imagine the phone call? Tim: “Hey Johnny it’s Tim. Any chance you’re free to dress up like a weirdo with heaps of make-up and maybe kiss my wife a bit?” Johnny: “Oh Tim sure, I was having withdrawal symptoms from the last time. I always love the chance to act like a weirdo”

Do you sometimes get the feeling that Johnny Depp may very well be the most boring person in the world in his normal life, in order to balance out just how absolutely nuts out weird he is on the big screen? Of course behind the slight mocking I have to admit that this team works well together. Of course throughout their eight films together, Burton and Depp have continued to bring beautifully visual films to the big screen. Not all the films have succeeded in being not only stunning to watch but also enthralling in storyline; however they are generally always very entertaining.

This film kind of sits somewhere in the middle. Dark Shadows is visually stunning in so many ways. The backgrounds and locations are so well crafted that you can’t help but turn your attention at times away from the actors and on to their surrounds. I guess this kind of also demonstrates that there are times in the film when the story seems a little predictable and therefore not quite as engaging as it could have been.

Of course the blend of cast is really quite wonderful and although I do poke fun at how often Burton and Depp have worked together with Bonham-Carter, they really do work well together onscreen and the additional cast are well incorporated. Eva Green is wonderfully menacing as the beautiful alluring villain. An expressive cinematic example of the proverb about a woman scorned. Eva Green described her role of Angelique as “Bette Davis and Janis Joplin mixed together.”

Then you add in the wonderful, Michelle Pfiefer, Christopher Lee, johnny Miller and you have got a brilliant line up. As previously mentioned this is Tim Burton’s eighth film with Johnny Depp, his seventh film with Helena Bonham Carter, his fifth film with Christopher Lee, and his second film with Michelle Pfeiffer (Pfeiffer had starred in Batman Returns twenty years previously).

The Verdict>> A solid and entertaining Burton-Depp collaboration, not their best, however still a great experience on the big screen.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> To prepare for his role as Barnabas Collins, Johnny Depp undertook a weight-loss regime and a diet of green tea and low-sugar fruit, getting his weight down to 140 pounds.

For the sex fight sequence, the actors worked with stunt coordinator Eunice Huthart and wore harnesses that spun them through the air. Eva Green was not too fond of the sequence since she doesn’t like heights.

Bonus Featurette

Looper Movie Review

Releases: 27^thSeptember 2012

Rating: R16 – Contains Graphic violence & offensive language

Duration: 118 minutes 

Genre:  SciFi Action

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Jeff Daniels, Paul Dano and Emily Blunt

Director: Rian Johnson (The Brothers Bloom, Brick)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper” – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination.

The Review>> I love a good Sci-Fi time traveling film. However there really haven’t been a large number of really good ones over the years. I think the only other one that I really rated would have to be Twelve Monkeys. The clever nature of the script, visual layers and insanely great acting created this wonderful cinematic experience that I could watch over and over again and most likely still see elements that I had never seen before. So I have been waiting patiently for another film to come along and challenge my senses with the same veracity. That film has arrived in the form of Looper. I really cannot begin to express how much I enjoyed this film. For me it was a unique and refreshing take not only on how time travel could be utilised but also in it’s dealings with the consequences of time travel.

Firstly let me say how absolutely amazing Joseph Gordon-Levitt is. Thoroughly awesome and wonderfully layered performance by him throughout the film. If it wasn’t weird enough that he doesn’t really look like himself thanks to the incredible makeup done on him, but also he wonderfully portrays this emotional inner battle between doing the right thing and self preservation. This in itself adds some excellent depth to the plot in a delicately unpredictable manner, that truly does take you on a dynamic journey. I do want to say that this at times is not a fast paced film, which is a great thing. There are moments when you get to sit in the moment and kind of loose yourself in the complexities of the storyline. That is all that I will say of the storyline, because it is well-crafted and you need to be left to experience it for yourself.

To See some Pics of the makeup Transformation that Joseph Gordon-Levitt takes

Click Here

The rest of the cast is rather brilliant too on all levels. From the supporting cast of Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels, Paul Dano and even Piper Perabo there is a well-developed intensity that helps to drag you deep into the story. Paul Dano is one of those actors who you wouldn’t class as super handsome or attractive in his confidence. In fact more along the lines of Paul Giamatti, he is a specialist in playing the more diverse and interesting roles. Characters that are flawed and struggle with the day to day aspects of life. So here he is a brilliant part of the story. Like Joe, he is also a Looper, but unlike Joe he is not as confident or successful, so when he is faced with closing his own loop, things unravel at a high rate of knots.

To See A collection of some of the international Poster artwork for Looper

Click Here

Anyway… No more about it from me… cause this really is one film you need to experience for yourself. However be warned there is a fair amount of violence and it is rated R16 for various reasons.

The Verdict>> This is one of the best Sci-Fi films I have ever seen and for me one of the best films of 2012 so far.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> This movie marks the third collaboration between director Rian Johnson and lead actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the first being Brick, and the second being a quick cameo in The Brothers Bloom as a bar patron with guitar

Emily Blunt revealed that she agreed to star in the movie after reading half of the script. She didn’t even know what her character was.

This is the third time Bruce Willis’ character time travels and encounters his younger self. The first was Twelve Monkeys and the second was The Kid.