m-d-bolik Reviews

Green Lantern (2011)

Better than expected

[9/10 · 4 December 2011]

I didn't go to see this when it was released because some reviews were so negative. So I have just watched it on DVD. It was actually a very good film - and I thought it was well paced and enjoyable to watch. Of course there are flaws - but it was better than recent DC superhero outings, such as Bryan Singer's Superman or even the Dark Knight. I have to say, as a youngster, I was always more interested in DC comics than Marvel ones. And I have always felt that the Green Lantern would lend itself well to the big screen. This was really a very good film and unfairly criticised. As I mentioned there are flaws but these can be forgiven because of the movie's spirit - and also, as some have already mentioned - because it doesn't take itself as seriously as other superhero flicks.

So - ultimately - we trust the major reviewers - but it seems they can get it wrong. And now I am sorry I didn't see this in a movie theatre.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)

Surprisingly funny

[9/10 · 11 June 2011]

I didn't see the first movie and only knew of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid because my 7 year old daughter was reading the books. I was a bit apprehensive about the film and thought the best thing that would happen was that I might fall asleep during it.

I was relieved at the beginning to see it was live action rather than animation (yes - I had THAT little knowledge of what I was going to see!) Though there was a bad point at the very beginning where the car draws up with cartoon people inside. For a moment I feared it might be a cartoon/live action combo - but this was a temporary feature that was meant to bind the live characters to the cartoon ones in the book.

The first scenes in the roller skate arena made me wonder if it would just be about kids being horrible to each other. However, as the story developed I was quite captivated - the performances were all good, the story-line well paced, and various parts of the film made me laugh - and I rarely laugh at movies. I am wondering why the mother is pure Sarah Palin - this I will have to Google later. The film was an unexpected treat. It made a rainy day in Scotland a lot better.