FILM: Wrath of the Titans (5/10)

Why did I watch it?

I watched Clash of the Titans and decided to see how the follow-up fared, more out of having nothing better to do than particularly enjoying the first film.

What's it all about?

Zeus (again played by Liam Neeson) and the gods call on Perseus to save mankind once more after Hades begins to return power to Kronos and the long imprisoned Titans.

Should you watch it?

Wrath, clash, smash, bash, it's all the same for Sam Worthington as he returns as Greek demigod Perseus. Wrath is very similar in style, plot and well just about everything else to Louis Leterrier's 2010 Clash of the Titans. It treads the same ground, impressive visuals, monsters, battles, the reluctant hero, nothing is new.

The film certainly doesn't score any points for it's dialogue. Somebody needs to explain to me why writers continually load scripts with cheesy lines. Point in case being Perseus looking up at the cyclops towering over him for the first time and saying to himself, 'You gotta be kidding me'. WHY, WHY, WHY, doesn't anyone from the directors to the actor themselves resist spouting garbage like this.

I struggle to comprehend why the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson and Bill Nighy, making his first appearance of the franchise, bother with this type of mediocrity.

Wrath of the Titans is not going to win any awards for originality, script or its acting. I guess that no-one watches this film with those kind of expectations, however for mindless, action blockbusters there are better options.

FILM: J. Edgar (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

J. Edgar Hoover is a historical figure I've always wanted to know more about. I enjoy American crime-based history and after reading James Ellroys's fantastic Underworld USA trilogy, which although fictional certainly suggested that Hoover was a very interesting character in American crime fighting.

What's it all about?

A biopic of John Edgar Hoover, the FBI's first Director, Clint Eastwood's film finds Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) recounting his career for his memoirs and reliving his beginnings at the Department of Justice before becoming Director of the department's Bureau of Investigation. The film touches on his war against communism, interest in scientific investigation, the G-men era and his relationship with close friend Clyde Tolson (Armies Hammer).

Should you watch it?
J. Edgar is a strange film. While I wouldn't go as far as saying I really enjoyed sitting through it's two hours plus running time, I found the subject matter incredibly interesting and DiCaprio's powerhouse performance as Hoover kept me glued to the screen. The film is certainly not lacking for strong performances as DiCaprio is well supported by Armie Hammer and Naomi Watts.

I think writer Dustin Black struggled to balance the elements of character study with the events taking place around Hoover. The film is definitely at it's most interesting when Hoover is leading the FBI through the pursuit of Dillinger, investigating the Lindbergh kidnapping and plotting against Martin Luther King. When the film remembers it's a biopic it turns to Hoover's personal life and time is spent analysing his relationships with close friend Clyde and his mother, played by Judi Dench. This narrative, from various times in Hoover's past, both professional and private life, to the current day, does jump around without too much coherence but I didn't find it as troubling as many critics seem too have.

J. Edgar will not appeal to those with no interest in American history yet for those keen to understand Hoover's dogged role in the creation of the FBI and some of the major political events of the twentieth century, and willing to forgive it it's flaws, it offers a fascinating look at the achievements and legacy of the man while touching on his character, all told through the great performances.


Oh and yes, some of the make-up and prosthetics used on DiCaprio and Hammer during the later years are distractingly laughable.

FILM: Ice Age: Continental Drift (5/10)

Why did I watch it?

I've watched all the films of the Ice Age franchise over the years so there wasn't any reason not to give Continental Drift a go and see what Sid, Manny and co were up to this time around.

What's it all about?

As the continents begin to break up (caused believe it or not by Scrat chasing his acorn), the film's group of regular characters are separated and Manny, Sid and Diego find themselves on a floating piece of ice where they meet Captain Gutt's motley crew of pirates.

Should you watch it?
If you have watched the previous three you might as well watch Continental Drift, though you will know exactly what to expect. Producing a third sequel is an indicator of how successful the franchise has been but also underlines how dependent studios can be to roll-out another sequel, devoid of too much development, for a guaranteed return. Anyway that's not Continental Drift's fault.

As with Dawn of the Dinosaurs there are additional characters this time around, a whole heap of them in fact. Sid's Grandma arrives, Diego has a love interest, Manny's daughter's gang, the film's villain and his posse of pirates to name a few. The producers clearly made a decision to make Continental Drift more teeny than the previous films, perhaps to match the age of the audience that has grown up with the franchise and the casting of the likes of Nicki Minaj, Drake and Jennifer Lopez underlines this, while the writing for Minaj's and Drake's characters does not so much underline it as write in capital letters, LOOK AT US COOL WRITERS, THIS IS WHAT TEENAGERS SOUND LIKE. Anyway, it's a kids film, who can get mad.

Thankfully the troublesome teens are kept on the side of the plot which serves just to occupy the half of the cast which aren't cut adrift and captured by Captain Gutt, brilliantly voiced by Peter Dinklage (Tyrion from GoT). Nick Frost voices Flynn, an effeminate seal in Gutt's employ, and his lines were the stand-out moments for me. Scrat's acorn hunt is still going and is always an enjoyable distraction from the central storyline.


As ever the film looks great, kids will enjoy the action and fun but for the rest of us the franchise feels tired, in the sense of characters and plots. However, with Continental Drift making over $800M it may be that Sid and co. are not on the verge of extinction just yet.  

FILM: 10 Years (5/10)

Why did I watch it?

The Mrs chose this one and I thought what the hell.

What's it all about?

The clue is in the title, it's a 10 year high school reunion romantic comedy starring Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson, Justin Long and Oscar Isaacs among others. There's little else to say except the film plays out the events of the evening as the characters reunite and discover things about each other and themselves.

Should you watch it?
Probably not. It's difficult to see what attracted such an ensemble cast to this mediocre, underwhelming school reunion yarn.

Most people's own school reunion's are uninteresting enough and the array of characters in 10 Years do not strike enough of a chord with the audience to make their story engaging. The characters are introduced almost en-mass and it's really difficult to invest in anyone in particular, especially considering the typical run of the mill issues and relationships involved, old flames, bullies, the popular girl etc., that all took place ten years ago.

The script does achieve some small levels of poignancy, the highlight being Oscar Isaac's song written for his secret high school crush, and their are a few funny running gags throughout but ultimately the reunion finishes, the story is told and my detachment from it left me wondering what was the point in watching.

FILM: For A Good Time, Call... (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

It's amazing how many films can pass you by on release. Admittedly this might not be the type of film I would look out for but I had never even seen or heard any mentions of this before my other half suggested we watch it.

What's it all about?

Dumped for being boring, Lauren (Lauren Miller) reluctantly agrees to move in with friend of a friend wild chick Katie (Ari Graynor) for the summer. The pair have a fractious history but their relationship improves when Lauren discovers that Katie is making money on the side from a phone sex service and decided she wants in.

Should you watch it?
I wasn't expecting much from this film, I wasn't even going to watch it but For A Good Time, Call... actually turned out to be a pretty decent comedy that put a smile on my face time and time again. Much of that is down to the subject matter, smutty raunchy sex humour will always be funny to my juvenile side. Credit needs to also be given to the leading pair, Lauren Miller and Ari Graynor. Miller (Seth Rogen's wife) co-wrote the film and Graynor is brilliantly cast as the Katie, the imposing, raunchy alpha-female masking vulnerability. I don't think the film would be as funny without her. Considering the female writing team and cast the film certainly rivals, but not quite beats, stand-out female comedy Bridesmaids.

Justin Long plays an over the top gay friend and cameo's from Rogen and Kevin Smith are among the film's highlights. 

Short, funny and with predictable heart in the final third, For A Good Time, Call... is worth checking out.

TV: Revolution (S1) (4/10)

Why did I watch it?

Sold entirely on the premise and the J.J. Abrams connection. When will I learn.... 

What's it all about?

Set in the future 15 years after the world's power mysteriously turns off, anarchy reigns and the United States of America has fractured into various republics and nations. The story follows teenage girl Charlie Matheson, a blackout survivor and her Uncle Miles, the former General of the ruthless Monroe Republic, located in Philadelphia, as they search for her brother, taken hostage by General Monroe and discover more about the origins of the blackout.

Should you watch it?

Sounds good right? Wrong.

Revolution is bad, really bad at times. The show suffers from the curse of its connections to Lost. The writers deliver some episodes of absolute dross, usually in the form of contrived tangents and side-quests to the character's main objectives, only to finish most episodes with some form of tiny reveal of the show's grand story, which the writers seemingly make up week by week.

Just turn the lights back on PLEASE

The swashbuckling sword fighting nature of the show's early episodes give way to episodes loaded with some of the lamest, most repetitive gun fights ever, punctuated with characters of frustrating stupidity and tediousness. The main character Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos) is an annoyingly righteous, not to mention stupid, teenage girl in the Hunger Game mould, who repeatedly clashes with her self-serving, stylised bad guy Uncle as many times as she has to be rescued by him after more poor judgement. The writers clearly tried to make Miles (Billy Burke) the show's anti-hero, a womanising, boozing killer wrecked by his past indiscretions and the show would have been better if they would have stuck to their guns but they all too often give in because he's one of the good guys.

Revolution's single shining light (no pun intended) is Giancarlo Esposito's turn as Captain Tom Neville, easily the show's best character. That is all.   

The similarities to Flashforward and Lost are all too obvious. The score, the flashbacks (actually more enjoyable than the present day action), the mysterious world changing event, the 'hatch' 'tower' are all borrowed with varying degrees of mediocrity.

At times watching Revolution I wished that the world's power would blackout to save me, I'll be skipping season two despite the slightly intriguing set-up in the finale. Another interesting concept from the J.J. Abrams stable (see Alcatraz) fails to live up to it's potential.