invernessmovieclub Reviews

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

A satisfactory ending

[6/10 · 23 November 2015]

The stakes have never been higher for Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Co. as she leads an assault on the Capitol and assassinate President Snow (Donald Sutherland) – the mastermind behind the Hunger Games and the general suffering of the residents of the country of Panem.

Katniss' is still caught in an awkward love triangle between Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who is still in bad emotional shape after being rescued from the clutches of Snow and who may still be on an assignment to kill Katniss, and Gale (Liam Hemsworth) who is loyally sticking by our heroine's side as the mission begins. Weighed down with the burden and responsibility of the impossible task at hand, the movie suggests that if Katniss does succeed and survive there may not be much left of her.

The assault itself is where the film really kicks off as the near- ruined Capitol is suitably booby-trapped at every turn forcing the squad to go underground which is where the tension is ramped up to a near unbearable level – causing a number of cinema-goers to scream out loud.

Lawrence is still on good form and can now play the role in her sleep. The rest of the cast do their best, Gale especially benefits from a more beefed up role, but the majority of the stars are there only to support Katniss. I've always felt the role of Peeta should have been stronger than has always been portrayed.

What is quite refreshing about Mockingjay Part 2 is that it is not as straight forward as it seems. Whereas the film appears to be going in one direction, it stops and ventures off in a different unpredictable direction. But unfortunately it's not altogether successful. One death scene is merely brushed over whereas it should be key to the entire finale and instead of being victorious things become very bleak very quickly. The ending is also dragged out longer than necessary.

Whilst Mockingjay Part 2 is an improvement on its predecessor, it doesn't touch the highs of the first two movies. All in all it's a decent ending to a decent franchise and although it doesn't really finish on a high, fans of the books should be fairly satisfied with the conclusion.

The Gift (VI) (2015)

Return to form for the psychological thriller!

[7/10 · 31 August 2015]

Over the last few years the thriller genre has been somewhat neglected. There are, of course movies that get tagged as a thriller but they rarely leave you with that sense of fear and vulnerability as well as the tension and, well, thrills that this genre demands. Aussie actor Joel Edgerton has quietly been making a name for himself over the last decade with a run of strong and versatile performances. He can now add another string to his bow as the director of The Gift, a psychological thriller that will keep you biting your nails and leave you guessing how it's all going to end.

The Gift centres around Simon (Jason Bateman) and his wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall) as they move from Chicago to Los Angeles so Simon can begin employment at a new Security firm and to possibly escape a few personal issues they've had. Whilst shopping for furniture for their new home, they meet Gordo (Joel Edgerton) who went to school with Simon years before. Everything seems pleasant enough initially as Gordo accepts a meal invitation and returns the favour by leaving them a few innocent gifts. But as the movie develops Simon takes exception to Gordo randomly appearing at the house and eventually asks him to leave the couple alone. Is Gordo really as innocent as he seems? Or could Simon be hiding something in the past that he doesn't want Gordo to reveal?

It would be impossible to expand further on the plot without giving too much away but the slow build and reveals leave you hanging on to see what the next act brings.

The three leads are all excellent. Jason Bateman is giving the chance to play a little against type from his usual nice guy to the nastier aspects of Simon's nature. Rebecca Hall is also on top form as the vulnerable Robyn where you never know if her personal issues are causing her to overreact or whether she really is in danger at times. The movie though belongs to Edgerton who brings both sides of emotion to Gordo as making the audience feel threatened and also sorry for him.

There is no real action as the budget was less than $5m. It is simply a decent story based on the characterisation of the three actors and the claustrophobic edge that Edgerton brings to the direction. The Gift is by no means perfect and there are certain scenes that feel overlong at times. The plot itself also isn't anything we haven't seen before but The Gift is a more than satisfying thriller that will leave you gripped to the final scene and will make you think twice about reuniting with old acquaintances from the past.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

It not only raises the bar, it smashes it completely!

[9/10 · 14 May 2015]

When director George Miller created Mad Max back in 1979, he couldn't have foreseen the impact the micro-budget film would've had on the action genre. Not only did it launch Mel Gibson into an A- list star, it's gritty, post-apocalyptic style set a precedent for action movies and had a major influence on many directors for the next two decades. Two sequels arrived in the years following and then nothing. The series ended. Rumours have persisted since 2000 of another sequel but it wasn't until 2011 when the same director, Miller decided it was time to raise the bar once again and got to work on Mad Max 4. The wait has been worth it.

Replacing Gibson with British actor Tom Hardy, Fury Road begins with a voice over "My name is Max, the world is fire and blood. It's harder to know who was more crazy, me or everyone else." We then launch straight into a chase scene over the desert plains of a post- apocalyptic desert where Max is captured by a group of cannibals. Elsewhere we are introduced to Furiosa (a pumped up Charlize Theron) who has been tasked by local gang leader Immotan Joe with driving an armoured rig full of now-scarce water across land in exchange for gasoline. Instead she rebels and heads for her homeland along with freeing Max and Immortan Joe's five wives, two of which are pregnant. And then all hell breaks loose!

What follows is simply a breathtaking display of action cinema. From here on, Fury Road is effectively one long chase as Immortan Joe's enormous army of lunatics pursue Furiosa across the endless desert. The film slows down briefly to introduce Furiosa's relatives, but the pursuit swiftly continues.

The action is simply relentless as supped up cars, motorbikes, trucks and tankers crash, flip and explode as they attempt to halt the rig with stuntmen literally flying everywhere. The stunts are simply astonishing, all the more so that Miller insisted that the majority of the action be filmed practically without the reliance on CGI – how no one was killed in the making of the movie is all the more astonishing. Director Miller, now 70, is at the top of his game and handles the action brilliantly. The locations are suitably apocalyptic (filmed on location in Namibia) and suit the movie perfectly.

The plot itself is simple and, although you don't get much in the way of characterisation, it really doesn't matter. There are enough glimpses of Max's past to fill in the gaps for anyone who hasn't seen the original movies. Hardy is a fitting replacement for Gibson and does a fine job as Max, however the real standout is Theron – shaved head and as far from the gorgeous blonde we know so well, she plays the role of Furiosa amazingly.

Not only does Mad Max: Fury Road raise the bar for action movies, it smashes the bar entirely. Sit back, switch your brain off and you'll have a blast!

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

Another Guilty Pleasure!

[7/10 · 11 May 2015]

When Pitch Perfect arrived back in 2012, it was considered a reasonable critical and commercial success - $65 million box office from a $17 million budget was nothing for Hollywood execs to be over-thrilled about but profitable enough to be thought of as a win. Then in the years following a combination of DVD rentals, sales and downloads as well as fantastic word of mouth turned Pitch Perfect into a guilty pleasure/cult classic – a chick flick that appeals to both sexes with a feel good factor, quotable dialogue and a soundtrack good enough to sing along to. Fans were crying out for a sequel and therefore in true Hollywood tradition, an encore has now arrived. Whilst Pitch Perfect 2 doesn't quite hit the same heights of the original, it doesn't disappoint.

Set three years later, the Bellas, led by Beca (Anna Kendrick) are at the top of their game. Three time national Champions and now performing in front of the President of the United States. After an ill-fated Miley Cyrus-like act by Fat Amy (Aussie actress Rebel Wilson) causes the whole world to see her private parts, the Bellas are humiliated and banned from performing in the National Championships. Seemingly back at square one, their only road to redemption is to win the World Championships – a tournament that no American a capella group has ever won. Faced against the terrifying but efficient German group Das Sound Machine, the odds are once again stacked against the Bellas and, just like before, they return to being underdogs.

Thankfully there is more plot for the audience to be involved with including Beca's internship at a recording studio as she follows her dream to become a music producer, although it's proving harder than she thought. Fat Amy gets her time in the spotlight in a will she/won't she love story. New character Emily, (Hailee Stanfield) is also a welcome addition as the newest member of the Bellas and contributes immensely as the group bond and are forced to re- discover who they are.

Although Pitch Perfect 2 is more or less a repeat of the first movie, there are plenty laughs to be had throughout and is equally as funny as the original. The majority of the comedy is centred around Kendrick, Wilson and Brittany Snow and, whilst the rest of the group are practically invisible at times, the one-liners are shared out amongst them. The supporting cast are also as reliable and as funny as ever. The inevitable musical climax is good enough for the audience to stand up and cheer in support of the Bellas.

It's a guarantee that Pitch Perfect 2 will be more successful than the original and talk of a three-quel will no doubt arise, however if this is to be the Bella's last performance, it's a worthwhile hit to finish on.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

A for Avengers. A for Awesome!

[9/10 · 22 April 2015]

Once upon a time the prospect of bringing The Avengers together as a movie seemed like a daunting task. Gathering the leads from four separate movie franchises plus two supporting characters and villain and doing it successfully was a potential challenge. Unfortunately for Director Joss Whedon, he made it look easy – the original Avengers was a massive success – the third highest grossing film ever which raised the expectations for sequels. Age of Ultron (AOU) arrives three years later – not just a follow up to The Avengers but also to 2014's superb Captain America: The Winter Soldier (CATWS), where the concluding events had massive repercussions in the Marvel Universe. Whilst it may not hit the fun heights of the original movie, this darker, grittier sequel raises the bar to a new level.

Following the collapse of SHIELD and criminal organisation Hydra in CATWS, The Avengers are now being funded by Tony Stark. Whilst on a mission to retrieve a Hydra weapon in Eastern Europe, a run-in with a pair of powerful twins, Wanda (Scarlett Witch) and Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver), Stark has a vision of the world's end and the Avengers dead. Convinced the world needs more protection than the Avengers can give, Stark, along with sceptical but willing Bruce Banner, discover technology that will help re-start a dormant Artificial Intelligence world defence programme called Ultron. Before long, Ultron takes form, becomes self-aware and decides that the best way for world peace is humanity's extinction.

After Ulton's escape, The Avengers aggressively pursue him across several countries in order to thwart his plans. With the Maximoff twins working alongside Ultron, The Avengers are thrown into disarray as their own fears and pasts come back to haunt them and begin to doubt their unity as a team.

The action comes thick and fast and only slows down occasionally to provide a few back stories for both Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) who was criminally underused in the original film, and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). The initial attack on Hydra's base is brilliantly executed as the camera follows each of the battling Avengers around a forest in one continuous action shot. We finally get to witness the Hulk well and truly off the leash as Iron Man is forced to bring in his "Hulkbuster" suit in order to take him down in a fantastic display of destruction. And of course there is the big action climax where director Whedon throws everything at the audience as The Avengers battle Ultron's endless army of clones.

It would be unfair to give away anymore plot details as this would ruin the twists in-store but AOU sets up the next five Marvel movies nicely in both subtle and obvious ways. The most amazing aspect of AOU is how each of the six Avengers get their own chance to shine – none of them are neglected – signs of a great writing team and director. New character Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) is a highlight and is just one of the new characters that will play a key role in the Marvel Universe. All credit has to go to director Whedon for handling such a monumental cast and making a movie on a scale not seen before as well as being laugh out loud funny throughout. A for Avengers. A for Awesome.

Jupiter Ascending (2015)

Visually astounding but tiring and stupid

[4/10 · 24 February 2015]

Directors of Jupiter Ascending, The Wachowskis, arrived on the movie scene back in 1999 with landmark action sci-fi 'The Matrix' which revolutionised the action genre with its ground breaking special effects. Despite making a couple of worthy follow ups, The Wachowskis have never scored another Matrix-like hit in the 16 years since. The directors themselves have said this is likely their last big chance handling a production of this size before studios withhold the enormous budgets they have been accustomed to. Has it paid off for them? Unfortunately not.

The prologue tells us that Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born just as the planets have aligned and therefore is destined for great things. Years later Jupiter is stuck in a dull life as a cleaner along with her Russian family. It all takes a turn when she finds strange alien creatures called Keepers in her bedroom and is subsequently kidnapped and, unbeknownst to her, sent for execution. Caine, a crossbreed human/wolf, (played by Channing Tatum) rescues her and they are forced to flee to keep her alive. Caine explains that Jupiter is the Queen of the Universe reincarnated and the three current co-rulers (the original Queen's children) will be forced to give up their inheritance unless they take action. The eldest brother Balem (Eddie Redmayne) has big plans to harvest mankind for their resources and Jupiter is now in the way.

Visually Jupiter Ascending is literally out of this world – the Wachowskis are true visionaries when it comes to creating worlds – everything looks amazing from the creatures to the huge space stations – the special effects are practically flawless. The first action set piece is also brilliantly rendered as Caine fights off a number of hunters across the skies of Chicago whilst keeping Jupiter out their hands.

Unfortunately the plot is pretty unoriginal – pretty much the Matrix over again – a special one needs to save humanity from dark forces. The directors do their best to keep things fresh and it's clear that every dollar spent on the film is on screen, however it all gets a bit tiring after a while. Whilst Tatum and Kunis are fine, Eddie Redmayne is portrayed as the big bad, however he is far from threatening and is near useless. With any sci-fi movie you accept aspects will be far-fetched but Jupiter Ascending is just a step too far. As with the Matrix trilogy, the ending was flat and likewise with Jupiter, it's uninspired and leaves too many loose ends untied.

I really admire The Wachowskis as filmmakers - they strive to deliver amazing spectacle and originality with every movie they make. Whilst Jupiter Ascending delivers as a spectacle, it is a major disappointment as a movie. It seems like they will have to make do with smaller budgets in the future.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Mission Accomplished!

[8/10 · 8 February 2015]

Comic book films have become a genre in themselves over the last decade. The well-known characters – Batman, Spiderman, Xmen, Avengers etc have been consistently successful which has led Hollywood executives to plunder the more obscure titles in search of the next big thing. Kingsman: The Secret Service is one such title based on the graphic novel, The Secret Service by legendary writer Frank Miller but the difference is this is not a film to take the kids to. But don't let that put you off, it's one of the most enjoyable and over the top experiences you'll see at the movies all year.

Kingsman kicks off in 1997 somewhere in the Middle East. Secret agents, AKA The Kingsman led by Harry (Colin Firth) are on a mission to extract information from a prisoner who duly blows himself up, killing one of their agents. It's Harry's duty to break the news to his widow and in turn meets young Egsy (played by newcomer Taron Egerton). Years later The Kingsman are looking for another recruit and Egsy (now grown up and in the midst of a local gang war) comes to Harry's attention.

The next hour of the film is a cross between The Apprentice and Full Metal Jacket as the potential recruits are tested in life or death situations and whittled down to find the best of the best. In the meantime we are introduced to token megalomaniac billionaire villain Valentine (Samuel L Jackson) who is making it his mission to sell his "product" to all the world leaders in an attempt to save the Earth from extinction – of course nothing is ever as it seems and it's only a matter of time before the Doomsday clock starts ticking.

It's here that the film starts to have fun. The casting of Colin Firth is a genius move – always known as a gentle type of dramatic actor in his first action role, Firth is let fully off the leash and must've spent months in training for the two brilliantly filmed, and extremely violent fight scenes that are as good as anything similar you've seen on screen before. Taron Egerton – plucked from relative TV obscurity – does a fine job and this will no doubt be the start of a new career for him. Samuel L Jackson is good value and can play this role in his sleep and his henchwoman, Gazelle is straight from the Comics and slices up opponents with her blades that double as legs.

The director Matthew Vaughn (director of Kick Ass – the copied style of funny, ultra violence here is clear as crystal) is also on great form and handles the action superbly - clearly setting the tone to be an enjoyable ride whilst frequently referencing the old school James Bond films before he went all serious – gadgets, guns and girls are the order of the day. All in all, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a cracking piece of OTT cinematic excitement – Mission Accomplished!

Dracula Untold (2014)

Decent but lacks a little bite

[6/10 · 3 October 2014]

Dracula is undoubtedly one of the most famous mythological creations in literature history. He has been brought to the big screen dozens of times since Bram Stoker penned the novel way back in 1897, however we know very little about where he came from – how did he turn into the legendary monster? Given the popularity of movie origins of late (Casino Royale, X-Men First Class, Batman Begins to name but a few), it's no surprise that a beginnings story for the Prince of Darkness has now arrived.

We are advised in the opening voice-over and montage that Prince Vlad Tepes (Luke Evans) was once a brutal military leader, also known as Vlad the Impaler for the way he tortured and killed those he conquered. The introduction is swift and we soon find Vlad now living in peace in his castle with his wife and young son. When the invading Turkish army led by Sultan Mehmed (Dominic Cooper) demands 1000 young boys, including Vlad's son, join his army – Vlad, knowing that he is severely outnumbered, seeks power from a higher source to help keep his family safe. His closest adviser tells him the myth of a Vampire named Caligula who can grant the strength of 1000 men, at a high price of course, and therefore Vlad seeks him out. The rest, as we know, is history.

Dracula is played convincingly by British rising star Luke Evans and brings a subtle sadness to the darkness the role carries. The director, Gary Shore shows some nice visual touches given this is his debut full length movie – he made his name making highly acclaimed short films and has a bright future ahead of him. Canadian actress Sarah Gadon plays Vlad's wife Mirena and has a few decent moments but unfortunately the rest of the cast fail to make any impression. We are advised that Vlad and the enemy Sultan Mehmed were raised, almost as brothers, but this is only touched on briefly.

The battle scenes are mightily impressive, especially after Vlad has gained his powers, taking on and swiftly defeating a huge army single handedly. However the rest of the movie feels slightly rushed – at only 92 minutes, Vlad's shady past could've been explored a little more. The ending is tied up nicely and leaves Dracula Untold open to further instalments. Box office takings will inevitably decide its fate.

All in all Dracula Untold was a decent origins movie. It is worth seeing for the action and spectacle but dare I say it, lacks a little bite.

The Equalizer (2014)

Righteous Vengeance!

[8/10 · 1 October 2014]

The Equalizer is a loose remake of a TV show from the 1980's that starred the late Edward Woodward. It ran for 88 episodes and the lead played Robert McCall, an ex-special forces agent, turned private detective who assisted those in peril. Following the success of films such as Taken, The Expendables amongst others, Hollywood has discovered a market for the ageing action hero and therefore it was only a matter of time before a big screen adaption of The Equalizer was greenlit. The result is a satisfying and often brutal revenge action thriller.

Denzel Washington likewise plays kind hearted widower Robert McCall, known as either Bob or Mr McCall to his colleagues who, by day works in a Home Depot type outlet and by night lives a quiet life reading books whilst sipping tea at a local diner into the early hours of the morning. He befriends a young prostitute Teri (Chloe Grace-Moretz), who also regularly frequents the diner, and witnesses her Russian pimp strike her after she arrives late to a client. Soon after she is hospitalised and McCall's conscience tells him that he must take the matter into his own hands. After swiftly taking out the pimp and his four colleagues in 28 brutal but gloriously choreographed seconds, McCall is advised that he has taken down the east hub of the Russian Mafia.

When word reaches Mob boss Pushkin of McCall's vigilantism, he sends highly trained 'Teddy' (played excellently by Kiwi actor Marton Csokas) to find and kill McCall and with half of the Boston police department on the payroll, it's just a matter of time before McCall is found. But, of course, McCall possesses a particular set of skills and the past that he has tried so hard to leave behind has trained him for such an occasion.

Although the plot is nothing new, the tension builds well and the action is handled superbly by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen). There is a number of loud and full on action set pieces but also several quieter scenes which are as equally as gripping. Denzel Washington is as cool as ice and as good as ever and is easily one of the most consistent and reliable actors working in Hollywood – can you believe he is almost 60? Age is definitely not a barrier here.

The Equalizer is one of more surprising films of 2014. The gritty tone and occasional splattering of blood set this apart from most of the "toned down" action films from the last few years. Whilst it's not perfect, it has everything a modern action film fan could ask for and if you like your movies with a bit of righteous vengeance then look no further.

Into the Storm (2014)

A thrill ride worth taking

[6/10 · 9 September 2014]

Think back if you can to the last time you saw a really good tornado based disaster movie. Unless you're a huge fan of B-movie Sharknado or the like, chances are it'll be Twister. But that was back in 1996 – 18 years ago! With extreme weather becoming ever more common, the time is definitely right to bring this unstoppable force of nature back to the big screen for another dose of cinematic destruction.

Set in the small town of Silverton, Oklahoma, Into the Storm follows a group of Storm Chasers as they travel throughout the country chasing and filming tornadoes. Led by veteran chaser Pete, on the verge of losing funding due to a lack of successful footage, he is determined to capture the ultimate footage inside the Eye of the Storm.

Elsewhere it is graduation day at Silverton High School and Vice- Principal Gary (played by Brit actor Richard Armitage) has asked his two sons, Donnie and Trey, to interview all graduating students for a time capsule video project of where they think they will be in 25 years. Donnie chooses instead to help the girl of his dreams Kaitlyn complete her video project in a bid to win her heart. When a smaller series of tornadoes hit the town, Gary and Donnie are completely cut off from each other leading to a dangerous rescue mission. But another, bigger tornado – perhaps the biggest that's ever been, is fast approaching.

The performances of the actors are all fine enough. Young actor, Nathan Kress, who plays Trey is a stand out and is definitely one to watch. The plot is fairly predictable, however you don't watch a film like Into the Storm for the actors or quality of plot, it's all about the overall thrill ride.

Director Steve Quale served his time as special effects pioneer James Cameron's assistant on Titanic and Avatar, and considering the budget for Into the Storm isn't huge, he handles the visuals incredibly well – every cent is on screen. The tornado effects are devastatingly real – the speed in which the town is torn up is frightening, especially when the winds engulf a burning petrol station and produces a "firenado" – which hasn't been seen on screen before. The hand held "found footage" style of much of the film is also super effective as it places the viewer in the heart of the action – you are feeling almost every moment as if you're there with the characters and at times it is almost heart stopping. At 90 minutes, the film also doesn't overstay its welcome.

I never had huge expectations for Into the Storm, however it proved to be more effective than I anticipated. Like Gravity proved last year, some films simply have to be seen on the big screen to get the full immersive experience. It may not be one of the best films of the year but it is a thrill ride worth taking.

Predestination (I) (2014)

Refreshing and Intriguing

[9/10 · 1 September 2014]

****possible spoilers****

The Spierig Brothers started their directing career with a low budget zombie film, Undead in 2003 and followed this up in 2010 with bigger budget vampire flick Daybreakers which was relatively successful both commercially and critically. Predestination is a huge step up in terms of scope, writing and overall production quality and is one of the most refreshing and interesting sci-fi movies of recent years.

The film begins in New York in 1975 where a shadowy man is trying to diffuse a bomb set by the terrorist The Fizzle Bomber. Horribly disfigured in the attempt, he awakens in the future in hospital with a reconstructed face (Ethan Hawke). We discover he is a "temporal agent" for an un-named company who has been on the trail of The Fizzle Bomber for years and is sent back in time to New York to work as a barman in another attempt to apprehend the terrorist. He agrees to listen to a story by mysterious and unusual customer (played by Aussie actress Sarah Snook) as she reveals her past, which builds the foundation of the second half of the movie. Hawke then offers her the chance to change the events which have led her to the present. To expand on the plot further would be to reveal key elements and twists in a time-travelling mind bender of a film.

The trailers and posters for Predestination almost suggest it could be an action packed sci-fi but it is in fact an intelligent low-budget character driven thriller with touches of sci-fi. The real strength of the movie is two-fold. Initially the actors - Ethan Hawke gives one of his best performances in years whilst Sarah Snook is a revelation and is destined to be spending a lot more time in Hollywood in years to come. It's a raw, fragile and almost tragic performance and is nothing less than extraordinary.

Secondly the writers/directors, The Spierig Brothers have conjured an intriguing premise and succeed in mis-directing the audience at every turn. They reveal occasional clues throughout which fit together into a larger jigsaw whilst keeping you on the edge of your seat for the entire running time. Although this is a fairly meagre budget film, The Spierig Brothers have given Predestination the look of a much larger budget – how they accomplish this is simply astonishing.

Based on a 1958 short story, All You Zombies by Robert Heinlein (don't let the title fool you, there are zero undead in this film), Predestination is a truly creative and head-scratcher of a movie. It will keep you guessing until the conclusion and you'll be discussing it for a long time to come. One of the more original movies you'll see this year, or any year.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

This risk paid off!

[8/10 · 3 August 2014]

When it comes to making choices there is no studio willing to take risks than Marvel. Their track record of casting ex-addicts (Robert Downey Jnr) and indie directors (Kenneth Branagh (Thor) John Favreau (Iron Man) and the Russo Brothers (Captain America 2) have paid off immensely. But to date all the movies they have skilfully crafted have been mainstream heroes. Guardians of the Galaxy is their biggest risk yet. Based on an obscure comic without the advantage of 50+ years of history behind it and no direct connection to The Avengers, some considered Guardians to be a step too far. However Marvel have again proved their worth and come out on top.

The prologue begins on Earth in the 1980s as a young Peter Quill flees a hospital after witnessing his mother pass away and is swiftly kidnapped by an alien ship. Cut to 26 years later and Quill (given himself the title Star Lord and still listening to music on his cassette playing Walkman) is on the hunt for a mysterious alien orb that will make him rich. After narrowly escaping an attack from another group of hunters, he is arrested and locked up with a group of misfits – green assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (ex-wrestler Dave Bautista), Rocket (a brilliantly CGI raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (an alien tree-humanoid also CGI brought to life by Vin Diesel). Cue one of the most enjoyable prison breaks in recent memory.

Each member of the Guardians has their own motive: Gamora works for her father Thanos (THE big bad of the Marvel universe, only glimpsed here but will play a key role in Avengers 3 when it eventually happens) who is after the powerful orb to help him accomplish his task of ruling the universe. Rocket and Groot are working together as Bounty Hunters and wish to arrest Quill for a huge reward and Drax is on a revenge mission to hunt down Ronan The Accuser (the bad guy pulling the strings) who murdered his wife and daughter.

Together the Guardians have fantastic chemistry and is laugh out loud funny in a number of places. Although the focus is on Quill as Star Lord (played out well by comic actor Chris Pratt), the two CGI creations Rocket and Groot steal the show, especially with Groot's limited vocabulary – he only says I Am Groot but it actually makes sense!

Although the story is nothing new – huge source of power, characters team up and save the day in a big action finale, Guardians feels fresh as it expands the Marvel Universe into outa space – Earth doesn't get another mention. The special effects are excellent but the focus is always on the characters as they team up to thwart Ronan and his army.

All in all, Guardians is a very enjoyable and recommended addition to the Marvel Universe. As usual stay till after the credits for a funny surprise. This risk has definitely paid off.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Hail Caesar!

[8/10 · 17 July 2014]

Planet of the Apes is one of the longest running movie franchises in Cinema history. The original from 1968 remains a classic to this day and has spawned four sequels, a television series and a failed re-boot in 2001. It was a surprise then that 20th Century Fox announced in 2010 that they would re-booting the series and Rise of the Planet of the Apes – an origin story - was released the following year with spectacular results and a sequel was green-lit almost instantly. It has taken three years for the sequel to hit the screens and whilst it doesn't hit the heights of Rise, it is a worthy sequel.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (DOTPOTA) is set ten years after Rise as the clever introduction shows how quickly the ALZ112 virus (or Simian flu - briefly featured at the end of Rise) has spread around the world, wiping out of most of humanity. Caesar (the super intelligent ape from Rise) and his fellow apes live peacefully in the forests surrounding San Francisco, happy in the knowledge they are alone without mankind's interference. But their peace is soon interrupted by a small group of immune and desperate humans led by Malcolm (played by Aussie actor Jason Clarke) who are looking to re-establish civilisation by re-starting a dam which will give humans power for the first time in years.

Startled by the apes' ability to speak, Malcolm and Caesar form a grudging truce and agree to work with each other for the good of both parties. Caesar is well aware that humans will bring force if he does not agree to assist. But tension, not just between the two species but also amongst the two groups threatens the peace and it isn't long before all hell breaks loose.

The key to this whole movie working is believing that the apes are real and fleshed out characters. Not only are the visual effects incredible – within ten minutes you have forgotten you aren't looking at real apes – the actors behind the apes perform wonders too. Andy Serkis (responsible for the game-changing Gollum in Lord of the Rings) is behind Caesar and he has given him a complex and believable personality – fierce leader, family ape and a warrior protective of his territory – clearly the hours of studying apes has paid off immensely. Caesar's fellow ape Koba is also a stand out and the token bad ape who threatens to run riot. Such is their quality you can almost sympathise with them. The two human leads – Clarke along with Keri Russell are both on good form and are well supported by Gary Oldman amongst others.

On the downside DOTPOTA is quite slow – building tension is admirable but it overstays its welcome slightly. Plot-wise it is fairly predictable and offers no real surprises or twists but that is a minor gripe of Summer Hollywood Blockbuster whose purpose is to entertain – and entertain it does – Hail Caesar!

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

It won't win awards but it makes no excuses for what it is!

[7/10 · 2 July 2014]

Not one to be defeated, Michael Bay has returned with a "re-boot" - Age of Extinction (AOE) being set a few years after part three (Dark of the Moon - DOTM) with a new cast including Mark Wahlberg. The result is an enjoyable but not entirely successful popcorn movie.

We are advised early on that after the battle of Chicago in DOTM, Transformers are now being hunted by a special branch of the CIA. The government feels mankind will never be safe while the robots exist on Earth. Mark Wahlberg plays Cade Yeager who is a broke inventor and single dad who unearths Optimus Prime (leader of the Autobots) after purchasing an old abandoned truck. Soon after they find themselves on the run from dangerous CIA agents, along with his rebellious daughter, her boyfriend and four Autobots including fan favourite Bumblebee.

The plot thickens when we are introduced to Stanley Tucci's character, billionaire Joshua Joyce who has discovered how to break down the Transformers metal (called Transformium) and create new more advanced robots that they plan to use for American defence. We discover that the big bad Megatron who was killed in DOTM is still influencing matters and has a plan to capture what is known as The Seed – a power source which is what originally created the Transformers.

The visual effects are still devastatingly real – even more so than the previous movies and the action extremely impressive as you'd expect from a director who thrives on thrills and spectacle – explosions and slo-mo running from danger is a given as often as possible. Mark Wahlberg is on decent form and proving he can play pretty much any part with ease. The appearance of the Dinobots for the showdown is a welcome addition, although they don't get as much time as they should.

Unfortunately at 164 minutes the film is far too long and some of the action scenes are drawn out longer than necessary. The conclusion is a bit stupid and, although a lot of the comic relief from previous films is gone, there are the occasional attempts at humour which aren't always required. There are also several characters who don't really serve any purpose. AOE will not win any awards and it makes no excuses for being exactly what it is – a big, silly piece of entertainment that is an improvement on the last two films. Turn your brain off and you'll enjoy it.

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

THIS is why we go to the movies!

[9/10 · 11 June 2014]

Why do we go to the movies? To be entertained, to laugh, to be thrilled and to be pulled into a situation that we will never experience ourselves. Edge of Tomorrow doesn't just meet the above criteria, it smashes it and is one of the best and most surprising movies of the year.

The introduction explains that humanity is battling an alien force known as the "Mimics" who have swiftly swallowed most of Europe and Russia. Tom Cruise plays William Cage, a wimpy PR strategist for the United Defence Force, who has never seen a day of combat in his life and is content to sit out as American troops pour into England to assist the fight as mankind gather for one last stand on the beaches of Normandy. After upsetting the top ranking officer, Cage finds himself cast into the frontline of battle in a metal exo-suit. Unfortunately for the troops it is a slaughter and cries of "they shouldn't even know we were coming" are heard among the soldiers. Within five minutes Cage is dead along with every other soldier on the beach.

Then he wakes up on the day before battle and is again thrust into action before swiftly being killed off again. And of course he wakes up again then dies and wakes up and dies and wakes up and so on and so on. Each time he re-visits the same battle he learns more about the enemy and figures out how to stay alive slightly longer. If you're looking for a comparison it is Groundhog Day meets Starship Troopers.

Tom Cruise is excellent in the role – it is refreshing to see him as a smug pathetic coward who grows into an action hero – it is his best role in years. Cruise teams up with Emily Blunt – also excellent who clearly spent a lot of time in the gym whilst preparing for her character of battle hardened soldier Rita, nicknamed Full Metal B***h. She agrees to train Cage every day and soon discover they share a connection which just might win the war and save mankind.

The action scenes are fast paced and blistering – the Mimics are an unstoppable force of sci-fi cinema and the beach battles are brilliantly rendered by director Doug Liman who has adapted the story from an obscure Japanese story called All You Need is Kill. Although the body count is regularly high, it isn't a violent movie. To the contrary, it is a very entertaining and even laugh out loud funny in places as Rita often discovers the most efficient way to handle Cage is to kill him repeatedly and "re-set".

Edge of Tomorrow, although not totally original (What is these days?), it is entirely refreshing to see a big budget Hollywood blockbuster that isn't a sequel, re-boot or comic book adaption. It is one of the most enjoyable films you'll experience all year. In short, THIS is why we go to the movies!

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

X Marks The Spot!

[9/10 · 11 June 2014]

The original DOFP story was originally a two issue comic back in 1980, however it feels like it was dreamed up especially to solve the problem the studio faced after 2011's X-Men: First Class: what to do with a franchise that has been split into two time lines with two sprawling casts – the originals (Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan etc.) and the younger iterations (James Mcavoy, Michael Fassbender et all.)

DOFP begins in 2023 with a voice-over from Professor X as he explains mutants are on the verge of extinction and asks "is our future truly set?" This is followed by a fantastic action sequence involving characters both old (Magneto, Storm, Colossus, Wolverine) and new (Blink, Bishop, Warpath) against a mass of unstoppable Sentinel robots that have been created specifically to destroy mutants. It is simply a breathtaking display of action cinema.

The only way, it seems, to prevent mutant extinction is to send Wolverine back in time to his 1973 body to prevent the war before it begins. Charged with stopping Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from assassinating weapons-maker Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage) – the event which will result in global annihilation, Wolverine is hampered by obstacles – his claws are no longer metal, Professor X is a depressive alcoholic without his powers and he also has to seek the help of Magneto who is being held captive in an unbreakable plastic prison beneath the Pentagon. This is undoubtedly one of the highlights of DOFP as speedster Quicksilver is recruited to assist the team in the breakout.

The film slows down half way as it develops the characters but focuses specifically on the relationships between Professor X, Magneto and Mystique and their quest to prevent the doom that lay before them and all the "What Ifs" that are presented. With time travel films there are always questions that don't get answered thoroughly but it's a fresh idea that both past and future time lines are allowed to coincide at the same time.

The original characters are utilized well in the future setting and the new characters are blended in seamlessly with the story. The music is excellent and the special effects are superb - Singer has put every cent of his $250m on screen for the audience to enjoy.

In short DOFP is far more sophisticated and has the best and most complex story of any X-Men movie to date. Be sure to stay until after the credits for a glimpse of 2016's sequel X-Men: Apocalypse. X well and truly marks the spot!