The sixth instalment in the X-Men franchise, and the second to focus squarely on the eponymous clawed mutant hero, The Wolverine sees director James Mangold assume the reigns and deliver a decidedly more muted and classically-styled film. It’s a brave move that results in a more relatable story, yet one that’s ultimately let down by the unconvincing amalgamation of styles, questionable performances and an all-too stretched run time. Continue reading “Review: The Wolverine (2013)”
Victor Hugo’s decades-spanning novel Les Misérables has been the subject of countless adaptations since its initial publication in 1862, the latest of which hails from The King’s Speech director, Tom Hooper. He has stripped the tale of ex-convict Jean Valjean’s quest for redemption through revolution-era France down to its core and captured the fraught emotion and difficult subject matter – poverty, prostitution, crime and corruption – through powerful, live on-set Continue reading “Review: Les Misérables (2012)”
Rise Of The Guardians, DreamWorks Animation’s latest big-budget offering, is every bit as bold as it is visually dazzling, rich in depth and expansive in scope. When the evil Pitch Black (Jude Law) threatens to instil fear in every child, the immortal Guardians – North (Alec Baldwin), Bunny (Hugh Jackman), Tooth (Isla Fisher), Sandman and new recruit Jack Frost (Chris Pine) – must band together to protect childhood innocence and optimism. Continue reading “Review: Rise Of The Guardians (2012)”
Part futuristic robot boxing drama, part redemption story between a father and his long-lost son, Real Steel – based on Dan Gilroy’s short story and unsurprisingly executively produced by Steven Spielberg – excels at one, but flounders on the other.
Washed-up former boxer Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) has found a new calling in the form of steel robot fighting. When his robot loses, and he nears rock bottom, he reluctantly reunites with estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to rebuild and train a potential championship heavyweight robot. As the stakes rise, Charlie and Max rediscover their similarities and get one last Continue reading “Review: Real Steel (2011)”
Empty Screens 