Category: Review

Review: Pain & Gain (2013)

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Pain and Gain

Leaving the ludicrously successful world of sentient robotic beings destroying the world bit-by-bit (otherwise known as Transformers), director Michael Bay lends his hand to dark satire Pain & Gain, the bizarrely true story of a mid-90s plot that saw three bodybuilders extort and blackmail their way to success. It’s regrettable, then, that what is, at times, a well performed and deliciously dark deconstruction of the American Dream, quickly becomes a distasteful and hard-featured botch job thanks to Bay’s inability to be anything but over-the-top and overambitious.  Continue reading “Review: Pain & Gain (2013)” →

Review: Elysium (2013)

Jamie Neish6 Comments

Elysium

Writer and director Neill Blomkamp burst onto the scene four year’s ago with District 9, one of the most distinguished feature debuts of recent memory. That film saw him deliver a morally complex, emotionally perverting, technically superb film that surpassed expectations to the tune of $210M worldwide. His next film Elysium – set in the year 2154 where the wealthy have abandoned a shattered Earth in favour of a man made space station free of diseases, pain and suffering – sees him up the ante, yet retain that winning blend of action and social commentary. Continue reading “Review: Elysium (2013)” →

Review: We’re The Millers (2013)

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We're The Millers

The latest in the line of R-rated comedies hoping to capitalise on the success achieved by The Hangover, Bridesmaids and The Heat, We’re The Millers boasts a starry cast and neat premise, yet squanders both by subjecting them to a hit-and-miss script and a series of laughably uninspired gags. When small-time pot dealer David (Jason Sudeikis) has his marijuana stash stolen, he’s forced to become a drug smuggler to repay the debt to his boss.  Continue reading “Review: We’re The Millers (2013)” →

Review: The Lone Ranger (2013)

Jamie Neish4 Comments

The Lone Ranger

Conceived for a radio show in the early 1930s, the characters of John Reid – soon to become the Lone Ranger – and his trusted sidekick Tonto soon transitioned to television, where they became American cultural staples. Since the series ended in the late 1950s, there’s been various attempts to bring the tenacious crime-fighting duo to the big screen, none more bizarre and erratic, yet somewhat thrilling than The Lone Ranger. Continue reading “Review: The Lone Ranger (2013)” →

Review: Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters (2013)

Jamie Neish1 Comment

Sea Of Monsters

Adapted from Rick Riordan’s popular novel series, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief proved to be a playful and speedy, if unremarkable, escapist adventure. Ultimately though, due to poor box office takings (it made a paltry $230M worldwide), a sequel seemed highly unlikely. Fast forward three years and, as if by magic, the son of Poseidon is back in action for Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters, this time with new director Thor Freudenthal on board. Continue reading “Review: Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters (2013)” →

Review: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013)

Jamie Neish2 Comments

Alpha Papa

Invented by Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci for the BBC Radio 4 programme On The Hour, fictional media whore Alan Partridge has since enjoyed cross-platform success as a radio and television presenter. Twenty two years later, and with new writers Neil Gibbons and Rob Gibbons joining forces with old hands Coogan and Iannucci, Alan migrates to the big screen with the funny and often surreal Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. Continue reading “Review: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013)” →

Review: Red 2 (2013)

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Red 2

Red, a sort of adaptation to DC Comics’ limited comic book series of the same name, was released two years ago to modest box office success and lukewarm critical reception. You’d think, then, that the sequel, which sees Dean Parisot assume the directorial reigns, would iron out the issues that plagued its predecessor. Unfortunately, that’s simply not the case, and Red 2 ends up being as nonsensical, irritating and lacking in credible narrative as Red was. Continue reading “Review: Red 2 (2013)” →

Review: Only God Forgives (2013)

Jamie Neish6 Comments

Only God Forgives

After the crossover and award winning success that was Drive, writer and director Nicolas Winding Refn returns with polarising revenge thriller Only God Forgives. Arguably more in line with Valhalla Rising and Bronson than the aforementioned thriller, Only God Forgives is likely to alienate audiences with its fever-dream narrative state, but bewitch them nonetheless with its vivd visual style, lurid tone and Cliff Martinez’ stand-out score. Continue reading “Review: Only God Forgives (2013)” →

Review: The Smurfs 2 (2013)

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The Smurfs

Released in the late summer of 2011, Raja Gosnell’s The Smurfs made an astonishing (and not to be snivelled at) $560 million at the worldwide box office, despite a lukewarm critical response. So, in that respect, The Smurfs 2 seemed inevitable. And, without doubt, a mere two years later and Belgian comics artist Peyo’s little blue fictional creations are back for another cinematic adventure that rehashes the formula that proved so fruitful the first time around. Continue reading “Review: The Smurfs 2 (2013)” →

Review: Pacific Rim (2013)

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Pacific Rim

Marking Guillermo Del Toro’s first directorial effort since Hellboy II: The Golden Army (he was originally attached to direct The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey before departing due to MGM’s financial difficulties), Pacific Rim is a surprisingly sprite blockbuster that works well as a throwback to the classic 1950s and 60s Japanese monster films, but is ultimately let down by a calculable narrative, questionable performances and over-the-top action. Continue reading “Review: Pacific Rim (2013)” →