(Movie) 4th wall wrecking ball....a look at Deadpool

Okay guys, this is a doozy.

11 years this movie has been in the making. This is like the Mad Max of the comic book world. 

Then, in a single moment, where planets aligned, and the rest of the universe fell into place, God saw fit to say, "Fuck it, this is what the world needs right now."

A lo' and behold, we got a saviour in red spandex.

Let's begin, because if I don't review this now, it'd be like perpetual edging and no one wants that.

Story/ Dialogue: For those of you who don't know who Deadpool (Played by Ryan Reynolds) is, he's a schizophrenic mercenary who can't die, thanks to a healing factor. This ability has caused his cancer to rapidly fluctuate, giving him the texture of a melted wax model crocodile.

To Deadpool, the fact that his appearance has changed this drastically occurs to him that this might be a deal breaker for his girlfriend (Played by Morena Baccarin. God, I miss Firefly.) decides to find the man that did this to him.

This is brief summary and there is so much more to this movie than mentioned. According to Reynolds, there are over 100 easter eggs in the film.

The story alone is enough to grab you. However, you find that it jumps between Deadpool's past and the present. As a result, it doesn't feel as though there's a dip in pace at any point in the film.

With regard to the dialogue, it was as though Shakespeare wrote a sonnet that was then handed to Charles Bukowski to be spunked all over.

What I mean to say is, it's so vulgar that it exceeds itself to become art. My closest example (And I mean by a long shot,) is the tv series Archer.

The analogies, the banter and the one-liners are...for a want of a better expression, on point.

Cinematography: The visuals in this film are impressive. Like, this is not an Iñárritu film, but I feel as though they both have the same amount of love put into the cinematography and CGI.

One of my favourite shots was the over shoulder shot when Deadpool lines up his shot to kick the guy he was chasing in the head. I can't imagine that would have been easy to shoot. 

Colossus looked awesome, but the real winner is Deadpool's eyes. So much expression from the whites of his eyes shifting that throughout the film I was sitting there asking myself, "Do eyes actually do that? Is that how they function?" 

It always felt as though there was something going on and even on a first watch, I feel as though I missed a lot. So I want to watch it again.

Audio: Even the audio track had comedic timing. DMX's "X gon give it to ya," stopping upon the realisation that something has been forgotten, then starting back up again, to "Shoop" by Salt and Pepa playing while Deadpool is waiting to kick some tail.

The dubbing was synced up well, and none of the audio was terrible, which is actually quite thankful. My audio teacher at my school once said, "Humans can handle crappy quality picture, but nobody will put up with shitty audio." So while this might seem like a criticism, it's actually a compliment.

Overall: Deadpool as a film is not only fantastic, but it stays true to the character. Unlike the one seen in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this Deadpool feels as though he's jumped off of the page and started doing his thing.

The film is self aware, raw and hilarious. Plus, you feel as though you connect with the character on so many levels to the point where I almost got emotional in parts of the film. 

Deadpool, 11 years in the making, is a labor of love.

So it's my honour to give this film the Ravensmark, a seal reserved for the best of the best films out there.

Thus ends this review.

If you enjoyed reading this, have a look through my previous reviews. I do books and comics, too. 

Also, feel free to message me on twitter, tumblr and facebook with recommendations! I love getting recommendations from you guys!

(Movie) Can you teach a robot to love? A look at Equilibrium

Thanks to Bill Andres for this recommendation. This one's a favourite for him, so it's a pleasure to review it!

I've seen this once before, eons ago when I was around 17 or so. However, it never really stuck in my mind. 

I do put that down moreso to the fact that I'm an easily distracted person (See the gaps between review dates if you don't believe me,) so I was willing to give the movie another shot. 

Is it as underrated as Bill has claimed? 

Let's see! 

Story/ Dialogue: Set in an alternate world to ours, in the city of Libria, this world is dominated by a fascist government known as the Tetragrammaton. (The symbol for this society is quite similar to the Nazi's swastika,) The Tetragrammaton have stomped out emotions by injecting a drug called Prozium on the basis of suppressing negative emotions. Anyone seen feeling, listening to music, or housing art is charged with a sense offence and is sent to the incinerator. Those who enforce the new laws regarding emotions are known as Tetragrammaton Clerics.

The best of these Clerics, John Preston, tries to deal with these emotions after he misses a dosage. The movie follows Preston as he tries to work with the resistance to bring down the Father; the figurehead of the government.

While this looks good on paper, in practice is dulled by over the top prose and rather weak plot development. It's only until 3/4 of the way through the movie that we meet or are even aware of the Resistance. Futhermore, Preston doesn't come off as someone we can identify with. He's cold, calculated, but even showing his interactions with his family didn't seem to make me connect with him.

While I understand that this is what Prozium does to you in regards to emotions, I feel as though you'd find someone more relatable in a robot. I'd have to wonder how much better received it would have been had we seen this movie from a member of the Resistance's perspective.  

Cinematography: This is where the movie excels. It's well framed, with sweeping pans that show the grand architecture of Germany, where most of the film was shot. Visually, it adds more to the storytelling than the dialogue ever could. One of my favourite shots is when Preston kills his partner and it switches focus from Preston's boss to his sword, where a single drop of blood falls of the end of edge. I think the only part that confused me was the moment where he was looking at the matte painting from the window. I suppose it could have been symbolism for him feeling something, but it ruined the suspension of disbelief. 

Audio: The tracks throughout the film tended to jump between rock music and a choir to represent the dogmatic beliefs of an iron fisted government. The sound effects were covered well, given the jump cutting fight scenes. 

Overall: As I said in the story segment of this review, Equilibrium is a fantastic idea in theory, but in the same way a man tries to behead a criminal with a spoon, is subject to poor execution. 

With that said, the Gun Kata concept is excellent and I'd love to see it refined in a future movie.

While I struggled a lot with this film, I did enjoy it and learned a lot from watching it. 

So I'm going to give it a solid 3 stars.

Thanks again to Bill for his recommendation of a film that is underrated and a good study focus. 

His artwork is amazing! Give his facebook page a like:

https://www.facebook.com/wasillustrations/

That's it from me! Until next time, folks! 

(Movie) Spaced Out....a look at Interstellar

A pair of gents by the name of Connor and Ethan recently recommended this movie to me after we got talking about space and science and all sorts of nerdy things.

So, having come back to reviewing, I figured I would show them not only what I'm capable of, but what I thought of their recommendation. 

Here we go! 

Story: A former pilot leaves a dying planet in hopes of finding the people who were trying to find habitable planets in another part of the universe.

A gross oversimplification to be sure, but that is the summation of the story. Nice and simple, right?

Wrong! 

This is a Christopher Nolan movie. If you've seen Memento, Inception or the Dark Knight trilogy, you know that this movie is not going to be easy to follow.

Let's get the negatives out of the way, first.

1. The story is somewhat weak. I only found out what was truly going on halfway through the film.
2. They spent way too much time focusing on Cooper and Murph's relationship. Not to say that it didn't warrant it, considering how important it is to the movie, but I felt that it could have been handled better.
3. The writers for this film treat the audience like idiots. Andrew Stanton from Pixar will tell you, "Give them 2 + 2. let them figure out the rest." I felt like I was being talked down to and that's the last thing you want from your audience.

With that said, from what I understand, the science is pretty spot on. I also like the poetry that Michael Caine quotes (Fun fact: That poem is the basis for the Rundown/Welcome to the Jungle. Not just a pretty action movie.) The poem, by Dylan Thomas, is a perfect representation of the state of humanity and the hope that it holds on these adventurers.

Also, Matt Damon needs to stop getting lost. First it's behind enemy lines, now it's TWICE in space.

Cinematography: Like all of Nolan's films, Interstellar is visually impressive. From the lighting, to the camera angles (Key one being when it's attached to what appears to be a crashing prototype plane of some sort,) to the framing of the vast uninhabited planets that they visit.

My only gripe for this section is TARS. WHAT THE HECK EVEN IS THAT THING!? It looks clanky, impractical and makes me think of Robin Williams if you took all the humour out and turned him into a discount Rubik's cube.

Everything else, from the corn fields to that weird book room in the heart of the black hole is visually astounding.

Audio: The music for this felt as though it picked a fight with the dialogue so instead of having a decent conversation with the audience, they tried to talk over the top of each other.

Now, I'm not sure if it's just my ears, but sometimes it feels as though the dialogue is a little too soft.

With these things in mind, I enjoyed the score and felt it added to the movie's overall atmosphere. It gives you this sense of adventure and the overall innocence that comes with discovery.

Overall: While I had my grievances, I did enjoy Interstellar. As a lover of space, I felt I grew to know it a little bit better for watching this film.

I'm going to give it 4 stars.


Something I didn't explain before is that Connor and Ethan are missionaries with the intent of travelling to places to spread the word of God. A great cause, to be sure, but one that doesn't come cheap. 

If you'd like to support them, I've left links below so that you can help them out. They're good blokes and I'd like to see them get to where they need to go.

Connor and his wife Alix are headed to Greece and Germany and Ethan is going to Cambodia and Hong Kong.

Please support them if you can.


https://www.youcaring.com/connor-and-alix-bruson-391046
https://secure.ywamnewcastle.com/product/student-paymentdonation/

(Movie) (Spoiler Free) Lost in Space...a look at Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

So you're all aware, the review will be SPOILER FREE! 

If I get enough requests for it, I'll talk spoilers. 

Let's begin.

Story/Dialogue: In short, this story is once again about good vs. evil. The labels for the two factions are the Resistance and the First Order, respectively. In the midst of all this, a deserting stormtrooper ends up finding a scavenger on the planet of Jakku. Together, they try to get a droid with a map to the find a key ally for the Resistance. 

Nice and simple, right? 

Okay, so I'm going to get the negatives out of the way, first. The dialogue in some aspects is atrocious. It feels as though certain characters are saying things for the sake of the audience more than anything else. 

Plus, between Finn and Rey, it felt as though they had stumbled onto the set of Star Wars and cameras happened to be set up to watch them. Please don't misunderstand, I love these new characters. However, I also feel that my suspension of disbelief was ruined because they felt like fans being on set, rather than characters in a movie.

With that said, the story was pretty solid. The characters base wants are simple and easy to identify. Furthermore, the film was a lot lighter than the other films. There were some genuinely funny moments and the characters felt a lot less...I want to say stiff.

I want to say more, however, I do not want to spoil it, so let's move on.

Cinematography: The fantastic part of this film is that not only did we get to see Han, Chewie and Leia, but they also brought back the crew from the originals/prequels.

The framing in this seemed a little chaotic. Though, it also adds a little more to the action, so it's not a bad thing. 

It was fascinating to see how they added CGI to a lot of new aliens. While in a lot of instances the alien work was still done with latex casting and the like, the CGI felt a little out of place. Especially with certain characters that I won't name.

Audio: JOHN FREAKIN' WILLIAMS RETURNS!! The creator of the Star Wars theme added so much extra atmosphere to the movie. Of all the things I love about Star Wars, it's the iconic music. It was nice to see that the theme of the characters of the older films came back into play, but I also feel as though the newer character's themes weren't all that memorable. I wouldn't have minded a subtle weave of electronic music within the orchestral arrangement for the new themes. 

Overall: Some have loved it, some have hated it. Does it feel like an Episode IV reboot? Sure it does!

As a film, the Force Awakens is a force to be reckoned with. Solid storyline, excellent visual effects and music make it fantastic as a standalone film. 

As an instalment to an iconic franchise, though, I am still unsure it holds up. In a lot of ways, it feels like a fan film, where the fans snuck in on set and acted out Star Wars. On top of that, the small details, like blaster fire, made it feel inconsistent with the franchise.

As a fan of the films, I find myself torn.

I'm going to give this film 3.5 stars. 

Author's note: Thank you guys for sticking around. I know I've been away and busy with a couple of personal projects, but news is coming!

In the meantime, it's back to reviews as always. However, I'm only doing one a week. It'll be randomised. You won't know whether or not it's a book or a movie and that's due to access and time spent on reading/watching. I'll cover series if you guys want, but recommendations are always helpful! 

Thanks for reading! I'll catch up with you soon! 

Kind regards,

Ravenreviews

(Movie) A fine wine....a look at the Intern

I went to see this with the iron matriarch on Monday. We'd seen the trailer and talked about going to see it, so we were pretty excited. (She also got out of letting pay for her ticket! Incorrigible.)

I'd seen some of the reviews for it, too (Jeremy Jahns and Chris Stuckmann are two such guys I subscribe to on YouTube,) and they seemed to enjoy it.

But enough of expectations and reviewers! Was it worth watching?

Let's find out! 

Story/Dialogue: A retired widower Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) has sent in an application video for a seniors intern program at an online fashion company run by Jules Ostin, (Anne Hathaway) a quirky boss who excels at micromanaging.

As Ben deals with being back in the workforce, Jules struggles with the decision to hand over control to a CEO. 

Now, let me be very clear on this point! This is not a romantic comedy. At least, not in the traditional sense. Blake Snyder will tell you that all buddy comedies are romance stories and to a point, he's right.

However, we're dealing with love in a friendship capacity. It explores dynamic of two people with a massive age gap and no romantic interest in each other. Ben, even as an intern, plays a mentor to Jules, who challenges him and keeps him on his toes. 

It's this chemistry that works really well throughout the movie. 

The other thing is that it's incredibly funny. There were a lot of instances throughout the movie that were both tastefully done, yet still hilarious. 

While the dialogue isn't prose from the tongue of the Bard, it's perfectly suited to the film. Not groundbreaking, but not clunky. 

Cinematography: The camera seemed to reflect Jules in that there was no handheld element. Dolly shots made grand sweeps of the streets of Brooklyn and the remodelled warehouse that Jules works in. 

I think the only instance where I was irked by the lighting was when Jules was in bed and even though the lights were off, there was this weird glow as if there was a skylight right on their bed. It was an interesting shot, but it kind of took me out of the story, which bugged me. 

Unlike the camera shots, the framing was often unbalanced. Characters would all stand to one side leaving 2/3's of the screen empty. However, this is not a complaint, merely an observation. It allowed all the focus to be on the characters in the scene, but didn't allow for much visual storytelling. 

Audio: The score contained a lot of flutes, which made the shots of Brooklyn feel whimsical. It also included a lot of upbeat piano and more bar appropriate music in those scenes.  A lot of the other times, it wasn't all that memorable.

The atmos tracks were well layered and added an air of authenticity, while maintaining that same movie quality. It's often difficult to balance that, so it's something that I greatly appreciated.

Overall: Frankly, this movie was everything I hoped for and more. The acting was excellent, the humour was funny and tasteful and you can't help but like each of the characters. It really shows that even though you may be retired, you still have plenty more to teach and to learn. 

Lastly, I also loved how the beginning and the end shots mirrored each other. It was a nice touch.

5 Stars.

Thus ends this review.

(Movie) I need some space....a look at the Martian

When it comes to watching movies, I have two rules.

1: Anything surrounding hype is not to be watched until the hype has died down. (I've still yet to see Frozen)

2: Pick movies based on the story, not on the cast in the movie.

This movie is the first in which I've broken the rules I've set for myself. 

Why?

Let's review! 

Story/ Dialogue: The story follows a crew on a mission to Mars. One of the crew is presumed dead and left behind on the red planet after the crew had to leave abruptly. This crew member, Mark Watney (Matt Damon), must survive a certain amount of solar days until NASA can get him home.

This is a classic tale of man vs. nature. What's interesting however is that it cuts between Earth, the Hermes (the ship that the rest of the crew are on,) and Mars. Everybody has their own way of handling the situation. Teddy Sanders, played by Jeff Daniels, is trying to not cause a panic and doesn't want to tell the crew, because he wants them to focus on the mission.

Meanwhile, Mark needs to find a way to grow food while everyone finds a way to get him back.

Arguably the best thing about this movie is Mark's determination to survive. He tackles the task with humour and a plucky, can-do attitude. It makes you want to root for him and make sure he gets home.

The other thing is the tension. This guy is in space, so making sure he doesn't suffocate is the top priority. Even though the situations are different, the tension only increases. I was literally on the edge of my seat by the climax of this film.

The dialogue is snappy and a lot of it makes you laugh. There's even a few references in there to satisfy your inner geek.

Cinematography: You and I have seen deserts. Sandy with a couple of rocky mountains, right? Well, if you add a filter, you can make it look like Mars. I know this probably sounded sarcastic in your head, but it was actually praise. They resolved the challenge of making a desolate place interesting. With all the sweeping shots, you really get this sense of isolation. The framing is well composed and nothing looks visually boring. 

One of the better parts about the visuals is that you couldn't tell what was green screened and what wasn't. I mean, the space scenes were (or were they? CONSPIRACY!) but the rest of the scenes look liked they'd been shot in the same place Mad Max: Fury Road was shot.

Seriously though, fantastic visuals and framing.

Audio: I love how a lot of the music tied into the story. It added humour and an extra layer of suspense to the overarching story. What's more is that I really enjoyed how balanced the sounds, dialogue and music were well balanced. None of them seemed to overtake the others, which I really liked. 

The score had an tension raising element with some electronica flowing throughout which I really enjoyed.

Overall: The Martian is a movie best seen from the edge of your seat. Not only is there a fantastic cast, there's more funny moments to outweigh the crap (if you've seen the movie, you'll understand the pun,) Mark gets into. 

It's well worth the watch and is one of my picks for best movies of 2015. 

Which is also why it warrants a Ravensmark (Picture pending,) a symbol for movies, comics and books of the highest calibre. 

Thus ends this review. 

(Movie) Why so complicated? A look at Fallen Angels

This film was recommended by Paz (pazvsstuff.blogspot.co.uk) Thanks Paz! 

After last week's review of Chungking Express, I made a friend in Paz and she looked over the review. Naturally, her response was that we can't be friends, but she was obviously kidding, otherwise I wouldn't be doing the review she recommended. 

The question is, did this movie redeem Wong Kar-Wai in my eyes?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: Like its predecessor, Fallen Angels is set into two parts. The first story follows a hitman who gets his jobs from a woman who cleans his house. She has a crush on him but he can't reciprocate, as he ends up with a blonde. This leads us into the second story, where she finds out about 'Blondie' and we're introduced to a mute escaped convict who is hiding out with his father. For work, he breaks into other people's businesses and treats it as his own, often physically forcing people to buy his wares. 

The story in this sequel (In a lot of ways, that's what Fallen Angels is,) is a lot more cohesive and it tends to jump back and forth between the characters, which is something I really appreciated. When I get involved with a film, I like knowing who my characters are in the beginning and why I should care about them. Though the ex-con was introduced later, he was introduced in a subtle fashion and woven into the narrative a lot better than the characters in the previous movie. 

I found the characters likeable, if somewhat ridiculous (Perhaps that's why I liked them,) and found the story a lot more engaging than Chungking. Though it has a few references to the first movie, it could be classed as a stand alone if you've never seen Chungking Express. 

Cinematography: Wong Kar-Wai's handheld style feels a lot better in this story, giving us a fly on the wall perspective and letting us look at people from angles that we'd never consider. This gives the shot an out of place look, which shows our character's discomfort in some instances, or makes them feel small in others.

There was a scene filmed an ice cream truck which I found funny as there were people packed in like sardines and you could practically feel the discomfort of the tight space.

I also really enjoyed the film's shots on the roads. Sometimes it'd up or lower the frame rate, depending on the atmosphere and it worked really well in terms of story.

Audio: The tracks of this film really set the atmosphere. From jaunty, jazzy beats to distant sounds of nightclubs, you always got the feel of Hong Kong nightlife. Even its pockets of people listening to individual tracks that didn't feel as though fit in actually worked out well to represent how a person feels in the midst of their experiences. 

The subs were well written, and easily understood.

Overall: Yet again I was pleasantly surprised this week. Fallen Angels ended up being a lot better than I expected. There was a lot more structure to the story and it was a lot easier to follow. While in some cases the acting was a bit ridiculous and the narration kind of bugged me, (Though it was necessary for the mute,) overall, this movie was a delight to watch. 

5 Stars.

(Movie) Assassin's Creed...a look at In Bruges

This movie was recommended by Terri Jacobs. Thanks Terri!

In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes. When it first came out, I remember seeing Mr. Farrell on Letterman promoting it and talking about how much he enjoyed the experience.

The question is however, is the movie any good?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: The story follows Ray and his mentor Ken as they hide out in Bruges for two weeks after an assassination. While Ken embraces the almost fairytale-esque atmosphere, Ray regards the place with utter distaste. Throughout their visit, Ray falls for Chloe, a young drug dealer who doubles as a production assistant, fights her ex boyfriend Eirik and makes friends with a drug abusing racist little person named Jimmy. He throws himself into all of this as a way to cope with the fact that he accidentally shot a little boy during the assassination.

The story here alone was enough to draw me in, but the way it progresses and shows why Ray's so angry throughout the film shifts the tone rather drastically, especially during the funnier scenes. I found Ray to be another likeable asshole in film (I think I might have to do a list for my YouTube channel). Getting in and out of trouble while talking about what other people would perceive as utter nonsense leaves you laughing and not being sure why. But those more dramatic scenes contrast so heavily that in a lot of ways, they feel out of place. As they add more to the story, though, it adds context and have reason for being.

The dialogue was fantastic, with the banter between Ray and the people he interacts with making you laugh. Furthermore, there are instances where you find yourself laughing and going, "Is this how real assassins behave?!" There's one scene where two assassins are in a standoff with a pregnant hotel owner in between them. They sit and talk while the owner is sitting there, "If you're not going to shoot someone, F&*K OFF!" It was brilliant. Broke the tension appropriately.

Cinematography: In Bruges captures a lot of the city's beauty, with sweeping establishing shots and tight framing. Using a movie set to make use of night shots was a really great idea. The parts where they're on something doesn't really look as though they're on anything, but the banter makes up for that. It was interesting seeing how things were framed. There were moments where Ray and Ken are framed right in the middle and it doesn't feel boring to look at, which I found fascinating, but never worked out why.

Audio: The music varied from classical to almost having a real gypsy vibe going on. While it fit the movie well, it wasn't overly memorable and I couldn't find myself buying the Original Soundtrack.


Overall: In Bruges was an unexpected surprise. I found it compelling with likeable characters and a tragic backstory. In a lot of ways, it was like a fairytale, but the ending left you feeling as though you were waking up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and would happily watch it again.

5 Stars.

(Movie) Concrete Jungle...a look at Chungking Express

Thanks to Maia (uzuyucky.tumblr.com) for the recommendation

I think in terms of the movies that I've seen, this is the first one that I really struggled with watching. Understand that it has nothing to do with the fact that it's foreign, but the fact that it's an unconventional story.

As a writer who loves character driven story, it was really difficult for me to get a proper grasp of the story. Thank goodness for Wikipedia, am I right?

In any case, let's review!

Story/Dialogue: This film contains two stories. The first is about a cop by the name of He Qiwu, who had his ex break up with him on April Fool's day chasing a woman for a platonic relationship. They meet and spend time with each other before he takes her to a hotel so she can sleep. The woman in question happens to be a smuggler and shoots the drug baron who screwed her over the next day. She then wishes him a happy birthday via message from the hotel that they stayed at, which leads into the second story.

Faye Wong works at the takeout shop that He Qiwu and another cop, designation 663 frequent on their beat.
663 is dealing with a breakup of his own with a flight attendant and the more time he spends at the takeout spot, Faye ends up liking him. Later on the stewardess comes by to give the cop his spare keys to his apartment. Faye uses the key to break into his room and try and improve 663's life. Eventually he figures out she's breaking into his apartment and asks her on a date. She doesn't show and 663 finds out that she's gone to California as a final move before settling down.
She returns to find the takeaway shop is now owned by 663, who is renovating the takeaway shop into a restaurant. They exchange words and there's mention of a boarding pass she drew him a year ago. She writes him a new one and asks him where he wants to go. He replies that he'll go wherever she suggests. The movie finishes there.

Part of the reason I wrote out the over arcing story is that there's no resolution, no real mystery. We, the audience are taking a peek into the window of these people's little worlds. When I say story in regards to Chungking express, I use the term loosely.

The dialogue is heavy with prose, with personifications of towels and apartments. Characters speak their minds, yet the plot doesn't move further when they say things.


Cinematography: The better part of this film is looking at crazy camera angles and wondering at their significance. Or whether there's any point to the closeups that Wong Kar Wai uses. With his use of stop motion and crazy jump cuts, he recreated the crazy Hong Kong atmosphere and made it visually overwhelming to watch.

There were nice beats where we focused on something for a few moments to allow our eyes to rest, but visually this film is one that you'd have to watch again and again to take it all in.

Audio: One song that features in this film frequently is California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas, but interestingly, I was captivated by the Cantonese cover of Dreams by the Cranberries. This aside the film mainly consisted of smooth jazz, the kind you'd expect out of a Dick Tracy comic.


Overall: This movie has received fantastic reviews for those that it's touched upon. I liken it to Sarsaparilla. One of those things where you either like it or you don't.

What annoys me is that while I sort of see what Wong Kar Wai was going for, I found the movie dull. Perhaps I didn't get it, but I wasn't all that drawn in to the visual aspects because I couldn't keep track of the story.

While I respect the work put into it, I wasn't a fan.

3 stars.

(Movie) Comedy for Cynics....a look at the Royal Tenenbaums

This recommendation comes from Jessica (meetmeinmontavk.tumblr.com)

I remember seeing the beginning of this movie when I was younger. It was late at night and I could recall that everyone in the movie was sad and eccentric.

At the time, I went to bed.

Now, many years later, I've watched it again. I'm older, somewhat wiser and have a stronger grasp on the quality of film.

So even though I was reviewing it, did I once again want to enter the embrace of my mattress instead of watching this film?

Let's review!!!

Story/Dialogue: The Tenenbaums are a family of eccentric geniuses with an estranged father and a mother immersed in her work. Each of the kids Chas, Margot and Richie are experiencing post success funks. Carrying their personal hurts and quirks, they move back into their childhood home to reassess their lives. On top of this, their dad comes back into their lives with the intent of being a part of it and trying to be a real father.

What's interesting about this story is how the family is well rounded and dysfunctional they are as characters. A Bob's Burgers before there was a Bob's Burgers, if you will. Each of them has a different relationship with their father and seeing it develop over the movie is fascinating to watch.

The dialogue is poignant, yet humorous, which is often how I'd imagine most people would feel if they have Christmas with their families.

There are a lot of moments where you find yourself laughing in the same way you'd laugh at a good memory you have of a friend you're no longer friends with.

In terms of story, it's well written and I enjoy the characters in all their crazy eccentric glory. Even the Narrator, whom I'd normally dislike just because narration in a visual movie would frustrate me, actually enhanced the quality of the film, which was a nice change.

Cinematography: One of the things that most surprised me most (and as this is the second Wes Anderson film I've watched,) is the fascination with symmetry that Mr. Anderson (HAH!) has. Everything is in the centre of each third and a lot of shots include characters stood in the three separate parts of the frame.
Each image is ordered and has this odd filter that feels like you're watching a Beatles documentary from the 60's.
There are some fantastic shots, especially the tracking shots of Richie's bird, Mordecai, that appeal to me.


Audio: A lot of the tracks that feature in this film are acoustic, including a variation of the Beatles', "Hey Jude." Music in Wes Anderson films tend to be acoustic and, for want of a better phrase, "fluffy." It actually both contrasts and enhances the film as a whole, which I found surprising.
The sound department is to be commended, as its work in the audio layering is well done and feels natural. Each of the characters say their lines clearly and concisely, even when they're being quiet.

Audibly, the film was pleasant to listen to.

Overall: The film hits this spot in your chest that makes you want to cry to the point where you're not sure whether or not you find something funny or sad.

The story is cohesive and set in chapters, so it's easy to follow. Each of the characters are quirky, yet likeable and more importantly, redeemable.

Cinematically, we see the sets in bright or pastel colours that contrast with the dark woods and the frames being incredibly orderly to the point where the cameraman might have OCD (Or CDO, if you need all the letters in the right order.)

Audibly, we have tracks from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, amongst various other acoustic soundbites.

Overall, the movie is pleasant and you leave the film feeling satisfied, not as though you have closure, but as best as you probably could get.

I'm going to give this film 5 stars.

Thus ends this review!

(Movie) You're waiting for a train....a look at Snowpiercer

This review was requested by Sara Cooper. Thanks Sara! 

This was one of the first movies I watched before I started getting involved with Film School.

Released in America a year after its initial release due to the company owning the license requesting editing to the film with the director denying that, Snowpiercer is one of those films that captures your attention. What is not commonly known is that is an adaptation from a French graphic novel titled, "Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette."

Without further ado, let's review.

This review shall contain no spoilers.

Story/Dialogue: Set in a distant future where the world has suffered nuclear winter, the remnant's of the world's population lives on a train known as the Snowpiercer. It's a capitalist society, where the further down the train cars you go, the more terrible things get.

Enter Curtis, a slave who seeks to revolt by reaching the front of the train with his ragtag group of followers.

As the movie progresses, you see how different the rest of the train cars are.

What's more, there's a lot of secrets hidden on this train. Ones you never expect to witness.

The dialogue isn't over the top, but some scenes felt a little forced. I can't say which ones as it contains spoilers, however.

The film has a way of making you invested in these characters and rooting for them, which is something that most films struggle with these days. (Ala Age of Ultron.)

Not knowing it was an adaptation prior to this review, I would have said it's one of the better original stories I'd witnessed.

Cinematography: Oh man, the set pieces on this film are insane! They make it look as though they're shooting in tight quarters and it feels as though the stakes are high, especially in moments like the New Year scene.

One of the best things about the editing in this is that there is actually a reason for all the choppy cuts during action scenes. It's chaos with loads of people fighting in tight quarters.


Audio: Oddly, this audio makes me think a lot of Bioshock. With that said, it wasn't overly memorable. The dubbing, especially for the Korean, was fantastic.


Overall: Snowpiercer is one of those diamonds in the rough. The cast give a great performance, though the ending left me with loads of questions. The setting integrated beauty and a visceral disgusting element that struck me as horrifying and fascinating.

I give this movie 5 stars.

(Movie) Tapped out...a look at Half Nelson

This movie was recommended by Jessica (meetmeinmontavk.tumblr.com)

I was discussing Blue Valentine with Jessica last week and she suggested that I take a look at this film, as it was the movie that showed Ryan Gosling's true acting potential. 

I'm inclined to agree. 

But, how does it rate?

Let's review! 

Story/Dialogue: Half Nelson follows Dan Dunne, a history teacher using an unusual method of teaching called didactics. Teaching a class of African American kids, he's well liked amongst the students and teachers, but the Principal is not a fan as they are of different teaching styles. 

He's also a cocaine addict. 

When Drey, one of his students finds him in the bathroom stoned, she helps him and they establish an unlikely friendship. 

Drey is a teenage girl with a single mum who works and a brother in prison for dealing drugs. His former employer, Frank (Portrayed by Anthony Mackie) tries to recruit her into the business, while Dan tries to mentor her and be her friend as well as her teacher.

The main theme of Half Nelson is change and the collision of opposites. Throughout the film, we see this theme reinforced. What's more, the film's rewatchability shows that this film can be analysed over and over so you can see the many examples of the theme being portrayed. (I'll cover those in the next section.)

The dialogue is easy to understand, though not everything is straight forward in the speech. Like, you're not going to have someone who asks for help straight up, they need to beat around the bush. To admit your deepest fear is the turning point.

While I don't want to give away spoilers, I also would like to point out that his addiction is never resolved. However, I don't think this would be the same movie if it had been resolved. This is about current conflict in the self and the world around the characters, not the resolution of said conflict.

Cinematography: Most of the scenes are shot handheld, which gives us an intimate atmosphere to what we witness. We're less of an audience and more of a bystander that is mostly ignored.

There are instances of dolly use, such as when Dan is going for a morning run, but it's not used often.

As you watch, you'll notice that the theme of change and conflict of opposing forces is shown visually throughout the film. This includes:

- Skin colour

- Age
- Class
- Profession

- Mentors

- Relationships

This occurs both internally and externally and it's all shown on screen.

Audio: Though not overly memorable, the music is the kind of tracks you would hear on the street. It feels natural. It's not as though you'd hear Hans Zimmer or John Williams at a restaurant or on a street corner, but this score and library audio combination feels right at home on the streets of NY.

The sound department did a fantastic job in making sure that the atmos tracks were well layered and didn't conflict with any of the dialogue.

Overall: While I'm not a big fan of the white saviour trope in films (See Elysium and such movies like that,) I did enjoy how immersive this film was. I felt that rather than simply watching it, I was a part of it. 

Ryan Gosling really stood out in this role and felt real somehow. In the other movies I've seen, he's often been disconnected from the film or has been Ryan Gosling pretending to be someone else. In this film, he was Dan Dunne. 

I loved Drey as a character. She's smart, sassy, but she's also prone to making mistakes, which only made me like her more. She's organic and her development as a character is really interesting to watch.

Overall, I give this movie 5 stars. 

(Movie) Death Race...a look at The Last Cab to Darwin

This review was requested by Daniel Rath of Headland Creative Media (http://bit.ly/1KpUelk)

When I asked Daniel if he had any recommendations (I have been taking requests for comics, books and movies, in case you hadn't noticed. :P) he suggested this movie without a second thought.

Still in theatres in Australia, I went and saw it this Sunday just gone with the Iron Matriarch, (I wrote a post about her on my tumblr, which you can see if you get the chance.)

I'll be the first to say that I'm not a big fan of Aussie films. I'm told on a regular basis that all we have to offer is cop dramas and Aussie comedy that most of the world just doesn't get. You only need to look at the American version of Kath and Kim for that one.

This aside, I was skeptical as I entered the theatre. 

So, did it fall short? Or did it exceed expectations?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: Michael Caton plays Rex McCrea, a taxi driver from Broken Hill, NSW who is dying of cancer. He hears on the radio about a Doctor in the Northern Territory (Over 3000kms or 1864 miles) who has recently had a bill passed to make euthanasia possible for those patients who are in need to die with dignity.

There are other aspects to this plot, such as characters he meets and befriends and the places he goes. For spoiler's sake, I'll avoid talking about it.

The characters in this film are incredibly likeable. Rex is a loner with a razor wit and the companions he meets along the way are delightful. Their arcs are equally as important as Rex's as they reflect the other aspects of experiencing life.

One of the things I loved was how they portrayed the Koori bloke in this film. His character arc was emotionally satisfying and you found yourself grinning along with him.

Loveable rogue types, dude. Problematic favourites. 

My favourite character though is simply delightful and you can't help but fall in love with her. She's got a lot of guts and heart and it adds an element of dialogue to an unspoken storyline. She calls it like it is and I love her character so much for that.

The dialogue of this film is witty and carries an air of unapologetic blokiness about it. It fits the typical 'Laid back Aussie vibe' that most foreigners seem to think we have, yet has these undertones of intelligence that shows the characters are saying more than they're letting on.

Cinematography: This movie absolutely shone in the cinematic department. You had landmarks in the film that were iconic. This includes Alice Springs, Darwin, Broken Hill and the Devil's Marbles. I loved the time lapse shots showing night falling and the transition of the day. 

The visual symbolism was beautiful and should be kept and eye out for. See if you can figure out the significance of the tree of dead feral cats. Landmark? Or Symbol? 

Framing was creative, yet not all that innovative. Nothing really had me asking, "How did they get that shot?" But it was incredibly pleasant to watch in terms of soft pushes and slow camera movements. 

Visually, it was a feast for the eyes and it was a great way to show Australia's best sides. We are more than just the Gold Coast, Bondi and various deserts. 

Audio: While the tracks were pleasant to listen to, with lots of guitar work that didn't make it sound like the Tamworth Country Music Festival, it wasn't overly memorable. It reminds you of a bloke who lives out at Broken Hill. Hard working and in this case, taken for granted and under-appreciated.

Overall: The Last Cab to Darwin should be considered an iconic movie and as far as I'm concerned, sets the bar for Australian film in 2015. 

Forget your Australias, forget that atrocious looking Blinky Bill reboot (I'd be happy to review it, if only so I can smite the bugger,) this film is honest, deep and intense. I found myself holding my breath in certain instances and was invested from the moment Rex started dancing in his house at the beginning of the film.

The Last Cab to Darwin warrants a Ravensmark (picture pending,) reserved only for media of the highest caliber. I haven't seen a drama like it and I think it'll be a long time before I see a drama like it again. 

Thus ends this review.

I hope you enjoyed this review as much as I enjoyed watching it. Please, if you can, share this on facebook and retweet it on twitter. Support this amazing film.

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Thanks again, guys! I'll see you again on friday for Civil War! :D 

(Movie) Heart of Stone...a look at Song of the Sea

This review was recommended by Nicky (flourishtodecay.tumblr.com)

For those of you who don't know, Nicky is one of my best friends.

So one night when were talking, she asked me, "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WATCH SONG OF THE SEA!?!" (It was honestly like that. All caps. You know it's good when people are asking you to watch something they love in caps.)

Credit to Nicky Costi (flourishtodecay.tumblr.com)

This wasn't the first time and I'd been putting it off due to reviews and writing. But after this request, how could I possibly say no?

So I said that I'd review it.

Is it as good as Nicky made it out to be?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: The story is based heavily in Irish folklore. A young boy named Ben loses his mother when she gives birth to his little sister, Saoirse. When she is grown, she cannot speak, but after she dons a cloak that turns her into a seal, her father, Conor puts the cloak into a lockbox and throws it into the sea. The two kids are sent away with their Grandmother, leaving their father and their sheepdog, Cu, behind.

The rest of the movie is about Ben and Saoirse trying to get home and so Saoirse can don her outfit once more to fix the world of the good neighbours.

Now, I'm trying not to spoil this for you, dear reader. I can't add more to this without ruining the story and the significance of the folklore.
My only suggestion is...if you decide to watch the movie, you look up the creatures in Irish folklore.
The dialogue is very natural. You could meet these kids, adults and elderly folk in real life and aside from hashtags, they would speak as they do in this movie.


Animation: The animation style touched on something nostalgic. It makes you think of a movie, tv series or a children's book you'd seen/read as a child. It fills you with emotion to see these character come to life as if by magic.

Each of the textures of both characters and landscape is unique. It's as if Elmer the Elephant was used in a South Park style construction of setting and characters.

The wonderfully odd thing though is that the frame rate doesn't move in the same way that stop motion would. It's as though it was scanned into a computer and had the frames move so smoothly that it was visually satisfying to watch.

It was as though it was filmed on a dolly.


Audio: Irish music is so soothing. The drums and the whistles and the soft harmonising of the voices. It made me think of an old Gamecube game called Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. The music in that game and Song of the Sea are incredibly similar.

It also draws a lot on the song that was in the story, The Snowman. I don't know. Every time I listen to the tracks I think of Walking in the Air.

It was memorable and it gets stuck in your head. Infectious, even.



Overall: This movie (after much prompting, thanks Nicky!) was absolutely delightful visually, audibly and in terms of storytelling. It drew on folklore that didn't convolute the story and allowed you to be immersed in the world as a gradual experience, rather than simply chucking you in the deep end. Another thing that Nicky mentioned and I'm inclined to agree with is the fact that it's highly rewatchable. If you're a visual person, you may need to watch it again so you can keep track of the story rather than simply looking at the textures. If you're a story person, then you can rewatch it and be taken in by the visuals. The audio is impossible to ignore as it's ingrained in the story and you may just want to rewatch it for that.

Song of the Sea was a fantastic experience that's self contained in its story and is overall incredibly satisfying. Which is why I'm giving it the Ravensmark (Picture pending,) as this symbol is reserved for media of the highest caliber.

Thus ends this review.

If you can, please share this review around as the movie is highly underrated and warrants exposure.

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(Movie) The darker side of business....a look at the Social Network

First of all, ugh.

This movie is recommended by Maia (uzuyucky.tumblr.com)

Let me preface this by saying that I was suitably miffed about watching this film. When I first heard about the release in 2010, I found myself saying, "They'll make a movie for just about everything these days!"

It's not because I don't like Facebook. I'm a user, after all.

It's because Hollywood thought it important enough to make it into a movie.

So while I was dragged kicking and screaming to watch this movie, (I can still hear Maia's voice in my head as my fingers slam the keys and my eyes are narrowed,) the question is:

Did seeing the movie change my mind?

Let's begin.

Story/Dialogue: This story jumps between Facebook's inception and the period in which Mark Zuckerberg is getting sued by both the Winklevoss twins and his close friend Eduardo Saverin. I'm not sure how true to the original story this movie was, but I get the feeling you're not supposed to like Zuckerberg. If you are supposed to, it's a Sherlockian like. What I mean is, he's an asshole, but because he's brilliant, he gets away with it.

This arc that Zuckerberg takes ends on a strong note with a satisfying touch for the audience, who by this point aren't overly fond of him. As it is with most films, the ending will be the opposite of the beginning. The Social Network showed this remarkably well.

The dialogue is intelligent (They're at Harvard, so I suppose it's a given,) and throws a lot of numbers and statistics around.

They use the tagline in the movie, which would seem tacky in most other films, but worked well in raising the stakes.

I'm not going to go into too much more detail about the story for spoiler reasons (plus, finding out who Justin Timberlake plays is pretty freakin' awesome if you haven't seen this movie already. A great introduction,) but we'll say that it was well written for a story that is not yet finished. (I feel as though the rise of Facebook must be contrasted by its fall, which it is yet to have. Only then will we have a complete movie in a story sense.)


Cinematography: Visually, this movie was excellently framed. You see multiple instances where you have characters in three or more different perspectives...very Citizen Kane.
I love the stylistic choice of having low tungsten lighting contrasted with natural outside light everywhere else.
A lot of the movie is shot at night, so you see a lot of tungsten bulbs being used and gives everyone that artificial look, which would also be a representation of everyone wearing a mask. Hiding their true intentions.

Audio: THIS IS THE SEGMENT I'VE BEEN MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO!!!

TRENT REZNOR.

THE SCORE WAS WRITTEN BY NINE INCH NAILS!!!

While there was a recurring theme song that played throughout the film, there was some heavy industrial music that sounded awesome. It only enhanced the scenes by adding arpeggios and digital sounds. The music was brilliantly composed and I'm actually going to look at getting my hands on the OST for this movie because I'm so psyched about it. (You know a score is good if it makes you scour the internet looking for it.)


Overall: Firstly, as I wrote this all I could think of is this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMRBYkg5jmg

It never fails to make me laugh. Now that I've seen the Social Network, I laugh even harder.

As for the movie, I was surprised at how poignant the story was. It was a tale of betrayal and power and how the things you can create can get out of hand. Eisenberg played a great Zuckerberg, though I have to wonder if Zuckerberg himself really is that much of an ass in real life.

I wish I could hate how much I enjoyed watching this movie. It was compelling and the story was excellent.

5 stars.

Goddamn it Maia. 5 stars. I_I

Thus ends this review.

Feel free to leave a comment recommending new comics, books and movies. I read and reply to all of them. Unless they are bots. 

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I'll see you guys on Friday with a comic review!

(Movie) Misery Guts....a look at Blue Valentine

I swear to you I don't have a thing for Ryan Gosling.

This movie was suggested to me by Hannah (readingfreak.tumblr.com)

For the record, to my knowledge, she does not have a thing for Ryan Gosling either.

In my recent experience with Ryan Gosling, I've come to the conclusion that Ryan Gosling is in fact a younger Nicholas Cage clone who had facial reconstruction surgery and somehow managed to have cat DNA integrated into his system.

At least, this is how his acting comes across. Not that that's a bad thing. Merely an observation.

But this movie is not about Gosling alone.

So, let's review.

Story/Dialogue: This story juxtaposes two events that coil around each other like a double helix. The beginning, where Dean meets Cindy and the end, where the love between Dean and Cindy is lost. When Cindy and Dean are just getting together, Cindy learns that she is with child with no thanks to a guy she was seeing previously. Dean takes responsibility and becomes a painter of houses. Cindy works as a nurse and together they have a life that Dean is desperately trying to hold onto and Cindy feels she's suffocating in.
The best thing about the dialogue is that even though there wasn't a lot of it, the lack of it conveyed more than a load of dialogue could ever do. Though, what dialogue there was wasn't overly profound.
The story says a lot about a realistic love and how passion can wane. I recall a post that showed this movie as one amongst a few movies that showed an excellent representation of love.

Cinematography: This movie's juxtaposition of two stories bleeding into each other is shown through the types of camera movement. As Dean and Cindy begin with their relationship, the handheld style and rich colouring shows the rose coloured glasses stage of a relationship. The one where everything is happy and upbeat. The other end of this story shows more steadycam and dolly shots, with a lot of colour bled out of them. This is to represent the routine and structure (however unsteady) that the relationship has developed. It also shows the fact that the love is gradually fading away.

A final note, but the last shot of the movie where Ryan Gosling is walking away while fireworks are going off reflects the intense emotions felt when breakups occur. Passionate people are explosive and when those people collide, it often reflects poorly in the aftermath.

Audio: I had some trouble with the audio and while I'm not sure if it was the copy of the movie I had or whether it was intended, it forced me to focus on the character's faces and watch how they communicate rather than the words they said. Ryan Gosling has a habit of repeating a lot of his lines and while it's not bad, you start to focus more on what he's doing rather than what he's saying, which I think is a good thing. Movies are visual, after all.

The tracks in this movie were so subtle that they were gone from my memory even as I heard them. "You and Me" by Penny and the Quarters was the most memorable track, but only because of the significance of it to the movie.

Overall: Blue Valentine was a movie that showed better than told. Had I not gone in knowing the premise of the movie, I would have been dissatisfied with the end result. Knowing what I do, though, made the movie an enjoyable watch.
I've been informed that Blue Valentine's director actually had Ryan and Michelle live together with the little girl so that their chemistry appeared genuine. Which it most certainly did.

A great, if sad movie. Cathartic, almost.

4 stars.

Thus ends this review.

If you had thoughts about the review or the movie itself and want to discuss it, I'd love to know what you think down in the comments. 

Recommendations are always welcome!

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Stay tuned, as this isn't the only review out today!

(Movie)Little Things...a look at Amelie.

I'd heard the name, I'd seen the gifs, but nothing emotionally prepared me for this movie.

Amelie was released in 2001 and won many awards at film festivals. Let's see if we can't find out why.

Story/Dialogue: Amelie follows a protagonist of the same name through her home city as she interacts with the people in it. Known to be a dreamer, she tweaks the lives of those who are miserable to make them better.

Though, we all know that the kindest people are the ones who are reaching out for someone else to take notice. So who will take this dreamer's hand?

Amelie is a delightful character who reminds you of the brownies from old stories. They would clean your house so long as you treated them with kindness. Though they show her backstory of how she was exposed to so much death and pain, she faces it with a small smile and a can do attitude. Armed with her imagination and wit, it's impossible to not want the best for this well rounded young woman.

While each of the key players in this story get a small amount of time dedicated to them, you see how important it is as you see the community around Amelie change with her help.

While the story itself is immersive, some might find it difficult to keep track of everything. There are a lot of characters to pay attention to and every one of them is important to Amelie's development.

Cinematography: Did you know that Vincent Van Gogh used to eat yellow paint in the hopes that he'd be happy?

Amelie shows a lot more storytelling through visuals than any dialogue. The rich yellow filter in each scene makes you feel happier and take joy in the smaller details of the movie.

You'll notice that everything about this movie is soft. Soft lighting, soft speaking and soft camera movements. They make it easy for your eye to follow and indulge visually in this feast for the eyes.

During the character introductions, it feels as though Amelie had her hand on your back, guiding you quickly toward the other characters so as to introduce them, as you have many a name to remember. 

One final note is the blending of fantasy and reality. While the VFX are not fantastic, they reflect what's in Amelie's head well. Those moments where you wish you could be swallowed up by the ground or turn to water because you're so embarrassed. The suicidal fish was fantastically done, even though you know it's fake, it doesn't destroy your suspension of disbelief. 

Audio: The musical score that accompanies Amelie throughout her journey is reflective of the character. Sweet and mischievous. It times well with her walking and the woosh sounds when you're introduced to new characters are delightful. While the tracks weren't memorable, they reflected their characters well. 

Overall: Amelie is a feast for the eyes that takes you by the hand, sits you down and shows you how to look at life's little enjoyments. Steam coming off coffee of a morning, indistinct chatter at a cafe, hands going into grain, breaking the skin of pastry. All of these little things that people neglect to appreciate. 

It's a movie that you either love or don't understand. You can't just like this movie. It's not exactly possible. Plus once you finish it, you feel satisfied, the same way you do once you finish a filling, home-cooked meal

To quote John Green, you fall in love with it the same way you fall asleep. Slowly, then all at once.

This movie warrants a Ravensmark. Reserved for only the best movies, books and comics.

Thus ends this review.

Please feel free to recommend new movies, comics and books and share your thoughts in the comments!

Special thanks to Hannah (readingfreak.tumblr.com) for this recommendation.

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(Movie) Dream Theater...a look at Inception.

A heist movie where the vault is your mind and your crew mess with dreams?

This is my kind of movie.

When it first came out, I remember going into the cinema not knowing what it was about. I just remember that it had an awesome cast and they looked suitably gangster. Like, Mafia gangster.

This movie has been out for five years and one of the biggest challenges that has been around since the inception (hehe) of film is to make sure it stands the test of time.

Has it aged well? Or will it pass into obscurity so that the hipsters of the future will talk about it in the same tone as film students talk about Un Chien Andalou?

That's the point of this review today.


Story/Dialogue: We have Cobb, our gentleman dream thief, assembling a team in order to infiltrate the dreams of a corporate heir to bring down his empire so that he can go home.

Like most heist movies, it takes precision, delicacy and a great understanding of the layout. Unlike most heist movies, the layouts are created by the people that infiltrate it.

It tends to deal more with the psychology of the subject than your regular heist movies. Which makes sense, given that you're literally inside someone's head.

In typical Nolan style, the story is out of order like its predecessor Memento. The best thing about telling the story this way is that it's like living a half remembered dream. You come into things half way through and yet somehow you never really figure out how you got to the beginning in the first place. It's all in fragments like a film just before editing. Shot out of order and chaotic.

The only real downside to this film is that Nolan has this awful habit of holding you by the hand and explaining EVERYTHING to you. As Pixar's Mr. Stanton once said, "Don't give them 4. Give them 2 plus 2 and let them figure it out." The audience are not stupid. Give them some credit and let them figure it all out.It kind of takes the fun out of the movie when it feels as though the film maker is taking the mickey out of you. The only film maker I can tolerate trolling me is Luc Besson.

Slight note: I loved how Nolan chose the name Ariadne. Way to make use of your Greek Mythology, dude.


Cinematography:  Visually, this movie is excellent. The lighting makes use of the yellows, blues and greys and utilises them to their maximum potential. From the scene we are introduced to Cobb and Arthur with the golden Japanese decor to the rainy New York streets in Yousef's mind, it is visually relaxing to watch. You are not blinded by the intensity of the shots and it allows you to take in the details. It's not heavily saturated in colour so that you are overwhelmed by everything that's going on.

The framing was excellent, especially in the hotel corridor fight scene where they flipped the room about so that the people rolled with it. Watching them try and get their footing right was both funny and tense, like watching armless MMA fighters kick each other's butts.

Plus the visuals in the beginning with Ariadne were delightful to watch. As a general fan of physics, watching it being defied was awesome.

Of all the things about this film, the cinematography was my favourite. It was easy on the eyes and wasn't cut so quickly that you couldn't keep up with the action. Watching rooms shift and architecture move about was riveting to see.


Audio: Ahh, Hans Zimmer. Kung Fu Panda, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Last Samurai...this man injects class and tension into films and gives them a sense of atmosphere that a lot of films lack. Music and audio hit me on a personal level. I'm a guy who loves music and believes that though film is a visual medium, without sound, it lacks dimension. You can create dreamscapes by closing your eyes and listening to music and I believe that's what Zimmer has brought to the table. The rising crescendos of tension during infiltration drag you to the edge of your seat and tape your eyes open so you don't want to miss anything.

But, like all of Nolan's films, the sound mixing is often skewed and volumes are raised and lowered erratically. This is especially frustrating when characters are talking. Missing dialogue is fine when your visuals tell a story, but if you're going to hand feed us information, at least make sure we can hear it.


Overall: I loved this movie after coming out of the cinema. It made me question a lot of things and at the time, I couldn't work out why I liked it.

But as I said, the point of this review is to determine whether or not this film will stand the test of time.

As there was no real use of phones, old school instant messaging systems or anything of that function, I'd say that it'd age really well. It captures the aesthetic of the 30's while giving it a modern twist and has potential to be a sci-fi classic.

However, the way the director leads us around and the music bother me immensely.

4 stars.


Thus concludes this review.

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