I did a recap of sorts on the first five movies. Would you like to start here? or just carry on below as you like. By this point of the franchise, either you’re a fan, eager to wrap up the saga, or you’re not going to bother with this one at all as it’s coming in almost five years since the last instalment. Six films over fifteen years with writer-producer-series architect Paul WS Anderson back at the helm as director. The near five year gap has also allowed the franchise to shed its overload of characters with only Claire Redfield (Ali Larter) returning after having sat out the massive reunion instalment, Retribution. No idea what happened to all the others who had survived thus far. As before, the expected major battle that was set up at the end of the previous instalment is glossed over and Alice emerges from under the rubble of a devastated Washington D.C. only to be contacted by The Red Queen (Ever Anderson), the malevolent A.I. from the earlier instalments. Apparently, the returned Dr Isaacs (Iain Glen) has an ultimate cure for the T-Virus hidden within the original Umbrella base in Raccoon City, The Hive, thus bringing the sage full circle. Along the way, we get the ultimate back-story including the overall origin of the virus, its purpose and how everything really went to hell. It does contradict a little of the first two movies, but really, was the overall plan really set int stone way back then? Milla Jovovich proves she still has the chops to pull off the action beats and set-pieces, establishing her as one of the top female action stars. While Ali Larter returns on the side of angels, the rest of the very disposable characters consists of some notable TV stars including Eoin Macken (from The Night Shift), Fraser James (from Law & Order UK), William Levy and Ruby Rose (from Orange is The New Black). Shawn Roberts and Iain Glen return for bad guy duties, despite their characters having died in previous instalments, thus enforcing the clones concept even more. Still, five years seems to have tempered Anderson a bit. Gone are the 3D gimmicks that plagued the last two instalments. There is a sense of practical sets being used after the overblown locales in Retribution. The make-up effects on the undead are much better, while the CG effects on the creatures seem to be heavily controlled. Also, as the story returns to its original setting, the atmosphere also seem to have darken with an intent to return to its horror roots. There is a grim and gritty feel to it all, although the sheen of technology is still prevalent within The Hive’s Command Center from where Wesker operates. Ultimately, this is action distraction viewing and what little substance that could have been derived from earlier instalments where story is concerned is practically non-existent by this point. Can it appeal to a casual viewer who hasn’t seen the other films? Possibly, thanks to the comprehensive recap that opens the flick. A huge majority of the previous cast members are still credited at the end for those archived footage. Perhaps with this, Anderson can finally put the franchise to rest and allow this to truly be The Final Chapter. Directed by Paul WS Anderson Stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, William Levy, Ruby Rose, Ever Gabo Anderson with Shawn Roberts and Iain Glen Rating ***/5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here.
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From the outset, A Monster Calls may seem to be a coming-of-age fable as the opening narration makes us pay attention to young Conor (Lewis MacDougall) as "too old to be a kid, to young to be a man." It's also clear that Conor's mother (Felicity Jones) is ill, and most adults try to handle Conor with kid gloves; something that becomes clear is an annoyance to Conor himself. The 'why' of the matter becomes clear as the movie progresses and the true purpose of the monster is revealed, although some may figure it out much earlier. Along the way, the Monster (performed and voiced by Liam Neeson) relates three tales to Conor, two of which are beautifully animated in specific styles to suit the stories. These two segues add a far more fantastical and magical element to the movie than the presence of the monster does, which is impressive in itself. The animated sequences definitely caught my eye, being full of design, style and colour. They're not unlike the animated story in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Ultimately, it is an emotional rollercoaster of a story, and props to young newcomer Lewis MacDougall as the movie rests heavily on him. Director J.A. Bayona does a superb job of juggling all the elements, from the actors (including veterans Sigourney Weaver and Geraldine Chaplin) to the props, effects and animation. The pacing and editing allows the movie to build it's emotional journey, and it's a tough one. Of course, that may depend on each individual viewer, but I'd say you're a cold one if you didn't shed a tear by the end. And that end... well, I'll leave that to you. Beautiful and remarkable as the movie is, it's not something I'm going to sit through again for a while. I'll admit, the tears were flowing for more than half the movie simply because it's something that resonates with me. Conor's journey is a hard one and that final story the monster demands is (or can be, depending on your point of view) heart-wrenching. It may be the same for you, or it may not. The script by Patrick Ness (based on the book he completed from a story by Siobhan Dowd, who passed away before completing her own story) is both tender and tough as it is dealing with a very hard and sensitive issue within the context of the story. Forewarned is forearmed, so have a hanky or tissue prepared. Directed by J. A. Bayona Stars Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, with Toby Kebbel, Geraldine Chaplin and Liam Neeson Rating ****1/2 / 5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here. It took a while but it has arrived on our screens. (Had to get that out of my system.) Multiple UFOs arriving at the same time around the world isn't something new on our movie-screens. Having countries work together to figure things out in their own way, that's different and refreshing. Granted, we're still focussed on the American approach, but at least they interact with their like-minded colleagues around the world to share information on how to communicate with the aliens. It's also refreshing that the normally hawkish military are more restrained than normal, leaving it to the more aggressive nations of China or Korea to adopt that 'shoot first' policy. So, it's not quite an alien invasion movie, but there are some interesting aspects and approaches to the narrative of having a pair of scientists, linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) lead the way at opening communication lines with the mysterious visitors. Of course, the patience of the military can only last so long, so there's your ticking clock for suspense building... as if misinterpretation of terms was going to be enough to build conflict. There is a subplot revolving around Louise, and Amy Adams does a remarkable job at conveying the stress combined with the emotional impact on her character regarding that. It's also contributes to the bit of a head scratching twist that comes up later, but if you go with the flow and accept it, it'll make sense, to a degree. It's all. A matter of perception. Suffice to say, it puts the movie entirely on her shoulders with able support from Jeremy Renner, Forrest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlberg whose characters either aid or hinder in the situation. The design of the aliens appear quite unique, but it's the design of the language that is quite remarkable, also ultimately playing into the mystery of the alien's nature and likely origins. It's nice that all this is beyond the conventional depictions of aliens thus far. Even with such dramatic thrillers such as Prisoners and Sicario in his resume, director Denis Villeneuve infuses the science fiction with a hefty dose of realism, creating a dramatic science fiction film that would rival even Close Encounters of the Third Kind. His reliance on natural lighting adds to the aura of realism while creating an almost dream-like atmosphere, thanks to cinematographer, Bradford Young. Villeneuve keeps the pace steady and engaging, having the characters drive the story without being overly brainy and still manages to deliver a solid piece of entertainment. He makes the unlikely majestic enough, allowing little snippets of information through just so to keep a viewer engrossed, and it gives hope to his next major movie, Blade Runner 2049. While some of the more sci-fi aspects of the movie may turn some viewers off (at least one friend has complained about that, having expected the movie to have had more action as an alien invasion movie should), it is an engrossing flick that deserves your attention. Directed by Denis Villeneuve Stars Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forrest Whitaker, Michael Sthulberg, Mark O’Brien and Tzi Ma Rating ****/5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here. This seemingly critical darling may appeal more to the critics for its nostalgic value. Sure it would strike a chord with the dreamers and creators who had to give up things in pursuit of the dream, to do what it is you feel you were born to do, but ultimately... it's very much a movie about chasing your dream, but with a cost. Presenting it within the framework of an old-fashioned musical... well, that has its ups and downs. As much as I enjoy the toe tapping, infectious jazzy melodies and songs, as well as the incredible dance choreography presented with long single takes, it doesn't feel like it's enough to warrant a musical. Sing Street integrated their songs better than this, but then, this is more the fantasy romance of old fashioned musicals. Characters burst into song and bust a move every now and then, although not necessarily to the benefit of the story, no matter how amazing the presentation and performance. Sure, the opening set-piece on the highway is a showstopper, but it was also obvious the songs are pre-recorded, and the performers are lip-synching. This happens for most of the major numbers that involves the song and dance, but the more solid singing performances are the smaller set-pieces, such as when it's simply Seb (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) singing at the piano, or when it's Mia's torch song of an audition. Those have a more live-singing vibe, which resonates a more honest performance. As to the movie itself minus the songs, the story strictly revolves around Mia and Seb with everyone else seemingly a peripheral cameo to their romance, for the most part. While Emma Stone shines, making this very much her movie, Ryan Gosling doesn't seem to do anything very different from most of his other movies, playing a strong silent type for the most part, unless it's about jazz, and simply being charming, even when his character seems rather standoffish. The chemistry between the two stars is palpable though, this being their third movie together. Director Damien Chazelle pulls off the impossible by reviving the essence of the old musicals, mostly by paying homage be it the music, dances or set-pieces, and even the story. Will this foster a resurgence of movie-musicals of this nature? I think, not likely, but it's also not likely to stop others from trying given its success. Props do go to the composer Justin Hurwitz and songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The songs and melodies do stay. In all, there is an infectious joy to most of the movie, and then it meanders a bit, the songs drop off and the melodrama settles before it ramps for the end. It does feel like it was stretching it for a bit, but ultimately, the entertainment value remains high enough to carry it though. Still, it is melodrama and that should factor into your own personal enjoyment of the movie. Directed by Damien Chazelle Stars Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling with Finn Wittrock, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Tom Everett Scott, and JK Simmons Rating ****/5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here. A little update first. There's quite a few movies to catch up on because I stayed away during the holidays. I'm not particulalry fond of crowds. So a few other reviews are up at the on Berning Away, click thourgh for... Kimi no Na Wa (Your Name) [posted Dec 9, 2016] Rogue One (posted Dec 20, 2016) Assassin's Creed (posted Jan 5, 2017) The Great Wall (posted Jan 6, 2017) and now... While he may still be in control of the stunt-work, action super-star Jackie Chan is playing more to his age these days. While he may be tackling more dramatic roles, he hasn’t completely abandoned the genre that made him famous. Although for some, the lack of those impressive extended action beats may disappoint. It would be a very unfair assessment. Chan does his best and he does it well enough where the story here is concerned. Set sometime in the early 20th century, Japan has moved in on China and the Chinese armies are fighting back. Chan’s little gang of thieves (who rob trains) get swept up in plot to bomb a railway bridge that is crucial in supplying the Japanese armies, although they may not be entirely sure how they’re going to achieve that. Director Ding Sheng takes his time to establish a string of characters before rolling up the main plot, and there are quite a number of characters, each getting a kind of credit screen giving their name, position or ranking, and catchphrase. Once things get going, it’s a fairly straight-froward adventure with a couple of heist attempts, decisions on who’s doing what, one jail-break off a train and the finale where they carry out the plan to blow up the bridge. In all, it’s almost like a war flick with men on a mission, even if it’s a gang of thieves instead of soldiers. Given with the title, there are several action set-pieces set around trains, and given the number of characters floating around, there are no real extended one-on-one action beats. That being said, there are some brutal moments within the action, but they happen so fast it’s hard to determine if the violence is truly over the top at times. All that is mostly off-set by the humour throughout the movie, including one hilarious moment of banter between Jackie and his son, Jaycee. In all, even if it requires some patience to get through the first quarter of the film, it is ultimately an entertaining and fairly action-packed flick. Directed by Ding Sheng Stars Jackie Chan, Zitao Huang, Kai Weng, Jaycee Chan, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Sang Ping, Darren Wong, Koji Yano Rating *** /5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here. |
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