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paul_klein94
Reviews
The Lovely Bones (2009)
Uneven casting but all round wonderful film
Just first off, i have read the book twice. I love the book. it's my second favourite book of all time after American Psycho. Just, so you know I know what i'm on about.
As far as directing goes, Jackson does a good job. He's still got a flare for humans as well as effects which we can see in everything except The Rings (which i dislike for being boring despite looking amazing and having some of the best actors ever.) But, when it comes to casts Jackson has always put a crown on his head for brilliance then pulled an arm off with ignorance. Thinking of the Rings. You see how brilliant his cast is. Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, John Rhys Davies, Christopher Lee and Cate Blanchet are all brilliant actors. Then he puts in Liv "large mouth small voice" Tyler and Orloondo Bland and ruins everything. The same goes with King Kong. Jack Black, Andy Serkis (in both roles) and Jaimie Bell are amazing. Always have been always will be. But then in comes Naomi "average at best" Watts who screams and thinks thats fine and Adrian Boring giving his worst performance since The Pianist (which will always be awful to me).
In this film we have a similar issue. Despite effects looking very childish (it is the heaven of a child so it works in my view.) The cast get by. There are moments of pure gold with the likes of Stanley Tucci (who should have won the Oscar. Even though Waltz was amazing too). Who comes on and scares you. Ronan never lets him steal the show because she can act through anything and is always brilliant. Michael Impreiolli is good as the cop who needed more screen time like he gets in the book. And Susan Sarandon hams it up as drunk granny. These four performances keep the film on track as far as the storyline goes. They capture the book perfectly. Then we have average Rachel Weisz who is beautiful but far to young looking for the role of over-the-hill mother of three. The role suits Maggie Gyllenhaal or Kate Winslett. And Mark Whalberg (who is unfairly billed on the poster first). He's too young, too slim, too long hair, too no bearded and too boring as a dad. Turst me, if a daughter died, you'd be more angry than just smashing bottles. More tears? The role should have gone to Liam Neeson with a beard maybe, Alec Baldwin or even Gerry Butler.
All in all. The film is good. I loved the book and hummed for the film. I did see it four times to hum at it. If you like the book this will be half and half. If you haven't read the book, this would be a good start or even a good film in general. Just ignore Marky Mark's performance on the way out.
Elektra: The Hand & the Devil (2009)
Damn Good Movie
I have never been a DareDevil fan really but i read some of the Kevin Smith ones and some of the Frank Miller stuff and enjoyed it. I also enjoyed Miller's Elektra work. So I, like many, hated both DareDevil and Elektra. This people is the movie we should have got. Oh, and it's a low budget fan film that's only about twenty minutes.
Really good. Has heart, substance and a lot of good acting. If you get a chance check this little movie out. It has a killer ending and a really good soundtrack choice.
Trust me you won't regret it! Not just for fans of the comics but for anyone who enjoys a good little movie.
Watchmen (2009)
We Watch The Watchmen
The most loved Graphic novel of all time is brought to the big screen. Not all of it makes it but most. The ending is changed but it's still keeping the theme. The only way to comment on this film is to view all of it. So.
The writing was correct all of it was there. The directing was strong. Emphasis on creating a mood. The costumes were garish and mouldy at the same time. Which was what the comic was all about. The score was superb creating sorrow and heroism at the same time. The soundtrack featuring the original version of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. And more oldies for everyone to enjoy. The sets were spot on. Pause every shot to get a view of all the little stuff there. A reference to everything. The visual effects, lighting and camera work were steady and great creating the mood. Everyone was on top form. Which brings me to.
Acting.
I am a fan of the book. And the film was great. Crudup as Manhattan was great i believed he was perfectly cast. His voice was as i imagined it to be. Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman as Nite Owl 2 and Silk Spectre 2 were brilliant there odd romance was something quite fresh from the whole Peter Parker/Mary-Jane Watson thing. Carla Gugino and Steven Mchattie as the original Nite owl ans Silk Spectre were brilliant as i love them as actors. I must comment on how good Mathew Goode was at playing Ozzymandias my least favourite of all the characters.The army folk were good as were all the smaller roles. Helping build the world. But really i have to give most acting credit to.
Jeffery Dean Morgan as The Comedian. Fantastic. He was funny. He was sad. We actually felt sorry for him which you don't really do with arseholes. But he worked wonders.
Jackie Earle Hayley as Rorschach. To understand how it works you have to see it. He is fantastic seriously.
GO OUT AND WATCH IT!
Harry Brown (2009)
Harry Brown is Jack Carter Returns
I have been a Caine fan since lord knows. And i was looking forward to this. I had recently become a big fan of Old men revenge movies after i saw Liam Neeson in Taken and Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino.
This is similar but not the same. It isn't as quick paced as Taken but within a similar running time. This is similar to Gran Torino but a lot more graphic and less slow.
See, Harry Brown is Michael Caine. A lonely bloke who's wife is dying and only has one mate. His day involves TV, a trip to the pub with his best mate Len, home, bed. When his wife dies and he is unable to get there in time because vicious youths have taken hold on the underpass. Harry lets it go. When drug dealers spend their time in the pub. Harry lets it go. When youths kill his mate Len he begins to crack. When one tries to mug him. He finally flips.
This is a return to his early days. This is as much Caine playing Jack Carter as Gran Torino was Eastwood playing Dirty Harry Callahan.
This film veers dangerously into mindless violence but the director keeps the message of revenge and keeps Caine the victim at all times. And although a budding romance could have been cliché it's under stated between the two coppers. While guns fly everywhere. I find that all the shots are a little bit too far fetched. But the slang and the way they dress. Is spot on.
This film is the best British film since Nil By Mouth. Worth every penny you pay to see it.