X-MEN ORIGINS: Wolverine

01st May '09 by Andy

Hopefully the start to a magnificent franchise, it certainly begins on a high - Wolverine has everything that the X-MEN trilogy should have offered up, don't get me wrong, X-MEN 2 is a superb film, and 1 is good, while 3 was merely a decision to put in as many special effects and forego a story - why?

Back to my original positive point, Wolverine, its a fantastic combination of gripping story line, stunning special effects, and truly believeable acting (given the universe in which they live). The only minor down point is Gambit who needed to be a lot more sullen, witty and faithful to the comic. The fight sequences between Wolverine and Sabretooth are awesome but still not unbelievable, and the story arc they have chosen is a perfect forerunner to X-MEN 2. You absolutely have to see this film if you have any interest in comic book based films.

In other film news:

"the only things certain in life is that every odd-numbered 'Star Trek' movie is s**t" - Tim [Spaced]
After watching the trailers; I'd be inclined to say that this may be the film to buck the trend, fingers crossed on this one.

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A Disappointing Step into the 3rd Dimension

11th Apr '09 by Andy

I - like so many - grew up in the era that just missed the first outing into 3D (phew) and so eagerly awaited the second incarnation of all encompassing entertainment with the technology to back it up. Before anyone says anything I am aware I am a grown adult but that will never stop me on some level actually being a child – a trip to the cinema is definitely one of those occasions. Anyway back to the film, the show was Monsters vs Aliens 3D (still aware it’s a kid’s film) in REAL D 3D (no idea what that means either).

Firstly the film – a good kids picture – no more, I would’ve enjoyed it if I was 8, unfortunately I’m not and it’s not got the imagination or wit we have come to expect from so many computer animated films from the Dreamworks / Pixar studios, with the likes of Monsters Inc, Shrek, Finding Nemo, Toy Story to name but a few. Although there are a few moments which will wash straight over your kids head, and bring about a wry smile.

Now let me move onto the real reason I’m writing this – the lacklustre 3D. For my mind to charge the extra they seem to believe they can add on to the ticket price, the film must make use of the extra dimension, this film does not. The most impressive moment to make use of the visual improvement are the trailers by Disney at the beginning [who appear to be firmly running with the 3D film genre] with some eye popping moments as things fly out of the screen, after this there is nothing that will even make you flinch at the screen.

Finally, my whole downer on this “new innovation” was based on a showing under the REAL D 3D brand cinema screen I am yet to see one of the new era of 3D films on an IMAX screen and am prepared to bet that this may greatly improve the film quality and will undoubtedly increase the 3D element exponentially.

So my take would be I-MAX is the only way to watch!

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I am Iron Man

07th May '08 by Andy

I fail to believe anyone could watch Iron Man without a) jumping head over heels into the plot, believing (more or less) every aspect and being completely gripped by the story line, glued to the edge of your seat and b) desperately wanting to give that suit a go. Iron Man really is every bit as good as the reviews state, the first grown up Marvel Action flick (quite literally the first sole Marvel flick, as the studio takes a solo outing to be extremely proud of).

The casting is a master stroke Robert Downey Jr. is every bit the imagining of Tony Stark, playing some brilliant monologues (it still counts as a monologue if you're talking to a mechanical arm, I'm sure of it). Jeff Bridges is outstanding and Gwyneth Paltrow plays off of Tony Stark with such brilliant awkward chemistry, the cast truly make this film.

That said the CG effects are also an absolute triumph, where you can never tell that CG is in use unless they want you too, and then you wish that the CG stuff actually existed and could be used.

All in all this is a real success for Marvel, and long may they continue in this vein, I can't wait for the sequel in 2010!

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