Reviews
You are here: Home » User Reviews
Reviewed by
mzmental
Totally awesome! Any sci-fi, comic book, super hero, superman fan would be insane to miss this!
Reviewed by
darthrodney
Well executed modernised reimagining with the origin tale done in such a smart way that the story you THINK you know doesn't really apply. Some great uses of flashbacks are a breath of fresh air for a superhero origin movie. The worries of Zack Synder helming the movie are thankfully unfounded ... Mostly. He 100% NAILS the visual spectacle Superman SHOULD be and gets some good performances from most of the cast and the action is truly epic. However some emotional moments and the love story of Clark/Lois falls pretty flat. That and the fact Lois somehow miraculously appears at every spot in the finale set piece considering the sheer area covered is laughable. That said though its VERY good, a bit shallow, but a positive start to the franchise and hopefully the rest of the stable of the DC Comics to come.
Reviewed by
filmbuff2011
Summer In February is a world away from Man Of Steel, but some counter-programming does no harm. It's one of those slow Sunday afternoon-type films that is decent enough but isn't likely to linger in the memory. Based on a true story, but not one of any major consequence, it starts on the Cornish coast of 1913. Amid an artist's colony, the arrival of Florence (Emily Browning) sets the hearts alight of two loyal friends - the caddish AJ (Dominic Cooper) and the more sensitive Gilbert (Dan Stevens). Florence does of course choose the wrong man to marry, setting off a chain of events that will have repercussions for this love triangle... Christopher Menaul's film is earnest enough, though the questionable actions of Florence render her a rather confusing character. Browning does what she can with Florence, but it's Stevens who really impresses on the acting front. It's pretty to look at too, though this would be expected. A written coda at the end explains why these characters should matter to the audience. However, you can't help but feel that they only matter to an artistic section of an audience rather than the general population this film is so clearly aiming for. That's what distances this film from being something more profound. However, it's a pleasant enough film that passes the time.
Reviewed by
filmbuff2011
Stuck In Love: don't mind the rather generic title that sounds like it was decided upon at a poll in the studio's marketing department. It's actually rather more thoughtful than your average romcom. William (Greg Kinnear) is a divorced writer who still pines for his ex-wife Erica (Jennifer Connelly). Over the course of a year, we follow him and his teenage children Samantha (Lily Collins) and Rusty (Nat Wolff), who are also writers. They come to terms with what love means to each of them - whether they think it's a complete waste of time or whether it's something worth fighting for, because it's all that really matters in the end. Writer/director Josh Boone doesn't try to hard to impress, but his script is perceptive enough to make some telling observations about modern relationships. The writing element to the story lends it a more romantic edge and the added touch of Stephen King's voice on a phone (yes, that is him) reinforces the value of telling stories. Boone doesn't tell us anything about love that we don't already know, but his cast work with effortless charm to at least sell their characters' emotions. Nothing too special then, but certainly worth the effort.
Reviewed by
filmbuff2011
Here's an unexpected delight - director Joss Whedon kicking off his shoes and trying something different: a modern dress version of Shakespeare's frothy but meaningful play Much Ado About Nothing. Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Beatrice (Amy Acker) are former lovers who quarrel and have committed themselves to single lives in the belief that love doesn't work. In reality, they seem to have been made for each other. The marriage of another apparently happy couple forces their emotions out, but there is some trickery afoot which must be resolved before love can run its true course. Shot in a week during a break in the filming of Avengers Assemble, it outwardly feels like a home movie. In the literal sense of course - it was shot in and around Whedon's house with his repertory group of TV actors, which also includes the always great Clark Gregg as Leonato and Nathan Fillion, as the dogged detective Dogberry. It's surprisingly effective, with modern touches like iPods that don't distract from what is essentially a timeless romcom. It's playful, well-acted by its cast and is carefully blocked out by Whedon and his actors, rather than just put together on the fly. He makes good use of his locations, without them feeling overly personal or familiar. Whedon has expressed interest in taking on Hamlet next - maybe during a break in filming of Avengers Assemble 2 perhaps? That would be interesting. Well worth checking out.
Reviewed by
filmbuff2011
It's the most anticipated film of the year... and now that it's finally here, does Man Of Steel live up to its promise? The answer is a resounding YES in six-foot-tall capital letters - at least for this Superman fanboy. Co-written and produced by Christopher Nolan and directed by Watchmen's Zack Snyder, Man Of Steel is an exhilarating reboot and origin story. Starting on a dying Krypton, maverick Jor-El (a grave and commanding Russell Crowe) sends his baby son Kal to Earth. He grows up under the watchful eye of his adoptive parents the Kents (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane), who keep his secret powers under wraps. As Pa Kent tells him, Kal (Henry Cavill) is the answer to 'are we alone in this universe?'. After meeting spunky reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams), Kal tries to keep his identity a secret. Then arch villain General Zod (Michael Shannon) arrives and tries to force him out into the open. Zod has other plans for Kal and Earth... One of the complaints about Superman Returns was that it was light on action and bowed in reverence to Richard Donner's 1978 film. Man Of Steel is a fresh take on this well-worn material, posing the question - how would we deal with Superman in the real world of today? Is he someone to be feared or is he a friend? Snyder is no slouch in the action department - a furious battle in Smallville is just a warm-up for the main event in Metropolis - eat your heart out Michael Bay. It's an action-heavy film, though one imagines that Nolan might have added a bit more depth had he been in the director's chair. Former Tudors star Cavill acquits himself well as Superman and Shannon makes a formidable foe. There's great promise for the future here. Snyder has essentially rescued an ailing franchise and while it may not be as outstanding as a Nolan Batman film, it's everything you could want a Superman film to be. Super.
Reviewed by
vu1999uk
Went into this one pretty blind, as there has been no hype leading up to this. Is a nice and light comedy drama helped along by a great cast, and never getting too heavy. Does mean it is neither funny or dramtic enough to be great, but is a nice solid watch all the same.
Reviewed by
Hego19
The best zombie film I've seen in years and the best film I've seen this year.
It's packed with action and tension and I must see.
Reviewed by
Hego19
Completely worth watching just makes my want to see the next one. the franchise has stood up to time
Reviewed by
Hego19
Must see the finish off the trilogy, much better than the 2nd. loads of laugh out loud moments
Reviewed by
Onionhead
If there's such a thing as a filmmaker treating its subject matter too affectionately, then this is that, and it makes you wonder why you should even keep watching.
Reviewed by
Onionhead
The characters exist more as poster children than fully formed individuals, but somehow that seems beside the point.