The summer of 2014 hasn't seen as many strong independent films like last year.
However, this is a well written film about Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) who becomes friends with Chantry (Zoe Kazan) who is with her long time boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall). Wallace and Chantry develop feelings for each other and struggle with what to do. It sounds cheesy and boring, but don't miss this film.
The film is well cast. Radcliffe feels very natural in the role. It's nice to see him play an everyday man instead of some epic famous character. Radcliffe is good at both and this film proves it. He also has good chemistry with Kazan.
The story can be predictable and maybe a bit forced at times, but its heart warming and grows on you. It uses artistic and visual motifs well and feels well rounded and complete.
The romantic comedy genre seems to be criticised a lot. There are plenty of junk films in it, but "What If" is a gem. It is a nice little treat at the end of a blockbuster filled summer.
7.5
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Monday, 18 August 2014
The Expendables 3
Jet Li appeared for 5 minutes total and doesn't even fight :(
Action scenes are a yawn; all the been there done that. No suspense whatsoever; it's even worse than a Micheal Bay film.
The climax fight was just 3 minutes tops and was like Stallone wasn't even trying.
The storyline is just a drag and dull; the worst in the series. The "young-bloods" in this movie are just plain unlikeable, arrogant and disrespectful i.e. One of the young ones (I didn't even bother knowing his character name) screamed at Stallone to shut up. Are these kind of characters the ones we're supposed to like?
Banderas was just wasted and everyone hates his character. He was supposed to be comic-relief, but instead he's just annoying. I remembered laughing with tears watching EX2; I barely grinned at this. Stallone said he wanted to go back to the dramatic storyline like EX1 and look what happened. Not dramatic and not funny.
5
Action scenes are a yawn; all the been there done that. No suspense whatsoever; it's even worse than a Micheal Bay film.
The climax fight was just 3 minutes tops and was like Stallone wasn't even trying.
The storyline is just a drag and dull; the worst in the series. The "young-bloods" in this movie are just plain unlikeable, arrogant and disrespectful i.e. One of the young ones (I didn't even bother knowing his character name) screamed at Stallone to shut up. Are these kind of characters the ones we're supposed to like?
Banderas was just wasted and everyone hates his character. He was supposed to be comic-relief, but instead he's just annoying. I remembered laughing with tears watching EX2; I barely grinned at this. Stallone said he wanted to go back to the dramatic storyline like EX1 and look what happened. Not dramatic and not funny.
5
The Inbetweeners 2
Just got back from the first screening of this and, on the whole, found it to be a decent film, albeit not as good as the first one.
The plot is bit weak, but there are plenty of laughs along the way to keep you giggling like the inner school child that you are.
I wonder if the boys are too old now to be acting like kids, and if this will in fact be their last outing as the Inbetweeners? I just hope that if they make more the quality doesn't dip too much.
Overall, you know what you are getting when you see the Inbetweeners, and you get plenty of it. It may not win any Oscars, but it's a damn fine way to spend a rainy August afternoon.
6
The plot is bit weak, but there are plenty of laughs along the way to keep you giggling like the inner school child that you are.
I wonder if the boys are too old now to be acting like kids, and if this will in fact be their last outing as the Inbetweeners? I just hope that if they make more the quality doesn't dip too much.
Overall, you know what you are getting when you see the Inbetweeners, and you get plenty of it. It may not win any Oscars, but it's a damn fine way to spend a rainy August afternoon.
6
Hercules
The trailer teases this movie as being a myths and monsters movie: it isn't. It's a fairly routine swords and sandals actioner, and the mythical critters teased in the trailer all come before the opening title, and are either tall tales depicted, or things seen unclearly from a distance. What is left is a rather dark film with a lot of battle action, pitched uneasily at a level which is too graphic for family viewing.
Dwayne Johnson does this stuff well - he looks good, has great physical presence and, even when the part is somewhat darker than usual, he remains very likable. The supporting cast are all quite good - it was interesting to see Rufus Sewell playing a goodie for once (kind of like a young Ian McShane even though McShane was also in the film, with all the best moments of humour), and John Hurt gets to play both ends of the spectrum, meek and scenery-chewing.
I quite liked this - it is certainly a lot better than this year's previous Hercules offering - but felt that it was a missed opportunity: they promised me monsters and then didn't deliver them!
6
Dwayne Johnson does this stuff well - he looks good, has great physical presence and, even when the part is somewhat darker than usual, he remains very likable. The supporting cast are all quite good - it was interesting to see Rufus Sewell playing a goodie for once (kind of like a young Ian McShane even though McShane was also in the film, with all the best moments of humour), and John Hurt gets to play both ends of the spectrum, meek and scenery-chewing.
I quite liked this - it is certainly a lot better than this year's previous Hercules offering - but felt that it was a missed opportunity: they promised me monsters and then didn't deliver them!
6
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