jfcthejock Reviews

Defiance (2013–2015)

A Strong First Season With Established Lore, and History

[7/10 · 18 March 2014]

Well now that Defiance is finally finished as it's first season, I can safely say I am looking forward to the second season coming this year, 2014. Now I know that there was a lot of hate for the show following it's Pilot, but I must say that it drastically improved afterwards in it's later episodes.

Particularly between Noland and Irisa, and their past from the moment he found her as a war-orphan and adopted her. We discover that she has her own demons, stemming from her culture of being an Irathient and being experimented on as a child. We discover that she is a living, breathing weapon that many different factions are after to use her powers to their own means.

Nolan as the Lawkeeper of the town of Defiance, must also deal with general crimes and problems facing the town which is inhabited by humans and members of all eight alien Votan races. It truly steps up in later episodes, when the lore of the world is explore in particular the Pale Wars, conflicts and the issues facing the different Votan races.

As other major and supporting characters are explored, in the town we see that Defiance was built on lies, and of course blood. At the end of the finale of this first season, we see one powerful faction; Earth Republic invade the town looking for Irisa, and to use her abilities for their own good.

Now waiting for it's second season, I can say that it's worth watching for fans of shows like Stargate, Haven, Continuum and other staple science-fiction shows. I am waiting eagerly for the first episode of the new season, to see what has happened to the town and characters we were left thinking of at it's end.

Crisis (2014)

An Enjoyable Pilot, Perhaps Lacking In Realism But Still Worth Watching

[7/10 · 18 March 2014]

Crisis, seemed to me initially to be another conspiracy-laden tale about professional mercenaries kidnapping the children of powerful individuals in society, and holding them hostage as cliché, and too similar to shows like 24. But regardless I gave it a go, after seeing the rating it received on IMDb.

As the Pilot opened, I saw it was very cliché in terms of what school children in America face, being popular and small gripes that they make out as being far worse than they are. But then we see the premise of the show played out, and we see that those responsible for the kidnapping have almost every outcome planned out.

We see that the main prize of the children on board the bus going on a school trip, is the very son of the President of the United States of America. However he's not alone, as there are children on board who's parents are CEO's of major corporations, and computer experts who can hack into security systems, and pretty much bring the country to it's knees.

We're led to believe the father of one of the children, who has come on the trip for the purpose of helping out is innocent, but he proves us wrong after being dragged out of the room by the armed kidnappers and shown to be the mastermind behind the kidnapping.

His reason? He's a burnt out CIA operative who was blackmailed into taking responsibility for a failed operation a year previously. He took the blame for it for the sake of his daughter, who was threatened by his former colleagues. Now he's out for revenge, to expose the operation and those who turned on him through holding hostage the children of some of the most powerful people in the country.

The action is well shot, with a Secret Service agent who was injured during the kidnapping, coming after the kidnappers to save the children. There are some great revelations, that perhaps were revealed too early in the Pilot episode. But it makes me wonder about the military operation that (Dermot Mulroney) took the fall for, and how his former colleagues in the CIA could get away with threatening his daughter's life to silence him.

Gillian Anderson as the mother of one of the children on the school trip, being a powerful CEO of a mega corporation has secrets of her own; being that her daughter is really the daughter of her younger sister who is the FBI agent in charge of the investigation into the kidnappings.

All in all, Crisis is still in it's early days but for a Pilot it was enjoyable, and I hope it continues to lure me in every week to watch it.

Believe (2014)

A Strong Pilot, and Second Episode. I Want More of Believe

[8/10 · 18 March 2014]

I came across Believe when an advert on British television for it was aired, as it is coming to British screens later this month. I decided to watch it online, and it was impossible to stop watching it. For a Pilot, it was a solid, stable opening to the show with the characters being introduced and their relationships kick-started. I found the special effects used good enough, as it's not about the effects. When they were needed they looked realistic enough for me, and I felt the show was not meant to be a massive Science-Fiction extravaganza, but more of a fantasy-drama. We explore relationships, the plot of the show and how they'll develop over time.

As for the cast I love the casting of Johnny Sequoyah and Jake McLaughlin and would like to see their on-screen relationship develop. I also like the casting of Jamie Chung and Delroy Lindo as supporting cast, and as the second episode showed, they have their own reasons for their actions and their reasons are quite genuine and realistic. I can definitely say I am waiting eagerly for episode 3, and it annoys me to wait for it, but I know it will be worth the wait as it is with Game of Thrones, and The Walking Dead also. Well worth watching for fans of science-fiction, or fantasy shows and movies.

This Is the End (2013)

A Good Post-Apocalypse Tale That Cannot Be Taken Seriously, But Can Make You Laugh Hard

[8/10 · 4 July 2013]

This Is The End is what most would call a parody of celebrity life; in the film all the actors and actresses actually play their real identities; Seth Rogen is himself, as is James Franco and other comedic stars. This in itself adds a new dimension to Rogen's films in respect of him writing the script and directing it. Whilst the end-of-days happens around them, the comedic stars act like anyone would during a Post-Apocalypse film; turning on each other and deciding on matters related to surviving.

This film however also mixes comedy into the dark material, it's clear there are a lot of pokes at religions, identities and even personal bias and prejudice. This mixed in with trying to find drinkable water, and edible food gives us some hilarious moments between the stars of the film. This Is The End was well worth the price of entry, and I would recommend it to fans of Rogen's earlier works for the sheer comedy in it. Well worth the price of admission and snacks.

Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

Lord of The Rings Has Grown Up, Into A Darker Child

[10/10 · 17 July 2012]

Game of Thrones, is what I call dark fantasy and the books emphasise the dark side of fantasy amazingly by writer George RR Martin, and the series of A Song of Ice and Fire. When I heard about the books being made into a television show, I was new to it. I was one of many, coming to the world of Westeros by the TV show first and not the books. The decision paid off well, and Game of Thrones amazed me until the final episode of the first season before I bought all the books and began to read them.

Game of Thrones incorporates, what many fantasy shows such as Earthsea and shows portraying the King Arthur legends; the simple tact of darkness we all possess inside us to become the worst we can be. Greedy, bloodthirsty, brutal and ambition. Game of Thrones gives us what The Sopranos would have been in a fantasy, medieval setting such as The Borgias is as well.

Depicting plots to take over the throne of Westeros, ambition by Princes, Lords and lowly soldiers is always present as everyone has their own sense of what is owed to them and what is there's to take. A sense of being owed something by their subjects, and their people. Simple individual men and women, who's ambitions cost the lives of thousands in the struggle for dominance.

This is perfectly portrayed by HBO, and the writers of the show as every noble house have their own plans for the land who are just waiting for their opportunity to put their plans into action. The sets and design department, have got everything about the show to perfection and what most fans of the books imagine seeing is what they do see. Characters are portrayed as they are in the books, and appear to embody their roles well.

Now with season two finished, and awaiting season three coming in 2013 we have a while to wait. But the show is simply, The Sopranos or The Wire in a mythical fantasy world. It's dark, gory and deeply seated in politics and religion as medieval times were similar.

True Blood (2008–2014)

Vampires, Werewolves, Witches Meets Six Feet Under

[9/10 · 6 March 2012]

True Blood; its now synonymous with vampires, werewolves, forbidden love, hardcore sex and much more. Its come a long way. Vampires are now in the open, to the public and known and socialising around us still feeding on humans, and controlling many aspects of our lives from the shadows. Enter the town of Bon Temp, in the deep south of the USA where the people of the small town are coming to terms with vampires out and among them.

We soon discover that vampires are not the only creatures among us, just the ones who are openly seen and acknowledged by the humans. Werewolves, Witches, shape shifters, shamans, ghosts, spirits, and even demi-gods in human form. Enter Sookie Stackhouse, a resident of the small town who hides a secret of her own; she is the last Fairy in the known world in human form who's blood is so valuable to vampires they would suck it out of her until she were dry.

Among all of these problems facing humans; there are also renegade vampires, Civil War among the ranks of the vampires, secretive Nazi-Werewolves, Witches conjuring up evil from the darkest abyss's of the darkness. Sookie must survive among all of this protecting herself from harm, as she is of such high value among all of this madness.

Hardcore sex, gut wrenching gore, deep-seated drama and mystery surrounds True Blood. Making it one of the greatest shows to grace us thanks to HBO, it is also produced by Alan Ball who gave us Six Feet Under through HBO. This is evident in True Blood, that openly celebrates homosexuality gracefully and very well, acknowledging sex as a form of communication.

With four season already gone by, and a fifth forthcoming it can only get better. Be it true that season one and three personally to me are the strongest of the four, all of them were amazing to watch. True Blood is an amazing companion for fans of Six Feet Under, Rome, Deadwood or simply HBO.

Alcatraz (2012)

Alcatraz Is Open Once More

[7/10 · 21 February 2012]

Alcatraz is a new show for 2012, putting together parts of Heroes with Lost and abit of CSI. The main cast are assigned to a top-secret branch of the FBI, discovering that Alcatraz did not shut down in 1963 and the prisoners moved to other prisons. In 1963, the entire population of Alcatraz island; prisoner and prison staff just vanished. The whole event is covered up by the US Government and forgotten about, the story of the prison being shut down due to unsanitary conditions for prisoners and budget cuts is the blanket story still being given to the public in 2012.

However now the prisoners and prison staff are returning from where ever they vanished to, which is unknown and they seem to have been given missions and assignments by those who took them. A new branch of the FBI is formed, by Sam Neill who was once a guard at Alcatraz but who luckily avoided the vanishing, now he wants to find out what happened to those on the island. Enter Sarah Jones, a tough as nails FBI agent who stumbles onto the secrets Sam Neill is hiding from the public and joins the new branch, along with historical specialist Jorge Garcia from Lost.

The premise is good, and luckily I can say that Alcatraz is still pulling me in as a viewer for the moment with some top-notch action, back stories behind some of the prisoners returning and a Lost homage story involving those who did the vanishing and why they took the 63's. However it does have its faults, the story is original but not the format it is presented in. We've had it before with Haven, and other science-fiction crime shows. Hopefully Alcatraz can steer away into its own and guide itself, rather than fall back onto old used methods of presentation.

Alcatraz I would recommend to fans of Lost and Haven, as it has both elements.

Kolobos (1999)

A Good Gory Slasher-Psycho Chiller Video

[6/10 · 21 February 2012]

Kolobos is quite an endearing premise, with quite an original title for the film being Kolobos which is Latin for mutilation. Alright its low budget, as low of a budget as you are gonna get especially in the late 1990's. I remembered seeing this film, when my family rented it from the video store for a Friday night horror shocker. It stayed with me for many years, the simplicity of a television turning on and showing a man cutting away layers of his face laughing hysterically really creeped me out as a child so I always kept my eye out for it, and saw it at least once every three years when it was on the budget horror channel and one day I saw it to buy and forked out for it, childhood memories of being scared to my wits of a man who seemed to have a fondness of some gruesome ways to murder his victims in the locked down house.

There were some ingenious methods of murder used in Kolobos, including a gory kitchen scene when a saw-type of launcher fires off a razor Sharp saw gutting its intended victims pretty much in half and then there is the shower scene, of acid pumped into the mains and eventually the horrific curdling Deer Antler scene which many who have seen Kolobos will remember.

Its not a film to write a lot of praise for, its dated and very low budget but its a good film that you can enjoy thinking of the old 90's horror nasties.

Stake Land (2010)

The Walking Dead With Vampires

[7/10 · 28 November 2011]

Well the way I would sum up Stake Land is a mix of The Walking Dead with Vampires, with the sheer survival element to it. The gritty desolate state of the world following a Vampire Apocalypse. The United States have locked down, every state to its own survival as groups roam the country including violent Christian White Supremacists who use Vampires as tools in their violent wars against other survivors.

The film follows a gritted Vampire Hunter by the name of just Mister, and his young charge who cross the crumbling country to the Northern haven in Canada known as New Eden. On their journey they meet many other survivors who follow them, and fall too against the Vampire invaders.

The scope of Stake Land feels alike to The Walking Dead, how small hold fasts and towns have locked down against the Vampires and are now suspicious of strangers and newcomers. Its obviously a low budget film, but Stake Land is no less moving or gritty than its big budget brothers.

Stake Land is for all horror fans, of Vampire films and even survival thrillers. Its a gory road trip film through the crumbling states of Vampire infested America.

The Sopranos (1999–2007)

A Mob Epic Spanning Several Years, Is The Greatest Show On Earth

[9/10 · 6 February 2011]

This show began in 1999, and soon became a TV gem. Its portrayal of Mob life in North New Jersey, the scale of it and of course the violence and rituals that come with it. Beginning with Tony Sopranos played the unique and amazing James Gandolfini, a well respected and good earner within the the New Jersey Mafia as a Captain in charge of his own crew. Of course this is really the start of the show, but not for Tony Soprano as hes been involved with the Mob since being a youth he followed his family into the life. However the show begins with his rise to the throne, of Boss of the family after the former boss dies from Cancer.

Through this transition, we meet his family; wife Carmela, his daughter and son and then his other family. The New Jersey Mafia family, his captains, under boss, consigilarie and his soldiers earning for him. The show is known for not being just about violence and the mafia, but also the idea of family life, love, trust, loyalty, and even the idea of depression. From the moment Tony takes over in 1999, through the war with his Uncle Junior for the tile of boss and on through the next several years he deals with internal struggles within the family, even separation with his wife through to 2007 and the war with one of the five New York families inherently we see many main characters drop and others rise in their place and role.

As indictments hang over the Family, many going and coming from prison and others just disappearing we see how the inner workings of the modern American Mafia is, or as close we can get safely. New characters are brought in, as we are pulled deeper into Tony Soprano's personality, either you love or hate him in the end but he is portrayed amazingly by Gandolfini.

For over several years, The Sopranos has had me fixed watching episode after episode as part of my routine. David Chase has taken us on a Gangster Epic journey, through many problems facing the Mob, the blood families of its members, even those outside of its world. The two worlds, the Mob world and the world we all know. Different reactions to things such as homosexuality, infidelity, even how to cope with depression. Such a different reaction, one that scares many.

The soundtrack of The Sopranos is probably one of the greatest i've heard with such a deep, thought provoking show. Songs fit snugly with many scenes, just matching the pace of the emotions of characters. Some call The Sopranos the greatest show on earth, its very close and to me in many aspects it is indeed true. The cast has been amazing since the beginning to the finale, the sets, even the writing has been grade A for all these years. Its a show for Mafia fans, its for those wanting a deep HBO drama, and its also just a piece of great television.

Treme (2010–2013)

A Good Solid Show That Shows Us The Side To Katrina, No One Wanted Seen

[8/10 · 5 February 2011]

I've watched Treme up to episode three already, and I must say its addictive to watch just like The Wire and The Sopranos. The characters seem to work so well, and the writing of David Simon is evident with many scenes and even the way the characters of New Orleans speak. Treme is set three months after the city of New Orleans was hit by hurricane Katrina, and the subsequent flooding of the city followed. Many people are still missing, and have not been found or recovered. Some houses still have dead bodies inside them, and water and electricity to some areas seems to be a luxury to some.

We meet a range of characters, from down on their luck musicians who are looking for their next gig to make ends meet with their bills to property owners still awaiting for insurance to pay out on their homes or businesses. We see the sense of hope lost, with nothing really around helping the people of the city off their knees. We see quite authentic sets, even parts of the city still obviously affected by the flooding. As families search for brothers, sisters and even mothers who are still to be found since the flooding.

The soundtrack of Treme, is loyal to the idea of original music of New Orleans. The Blues and Jazz is what makes New Orleans so original, the music, the atmosphere, the culture all of it. We are hit with a range of emotions watching Treme. Anger at how the government reacted to the disaster and how they just made it worse, sympathy for those who lost during the floods, and shock at the state of the city and how the people in it are treated by the police and the rest of the government. The sets are authentic of the city, and state of authority is obvious to be not working. Although i'm only at episode three now, the rest of this series is keeping me interested in the characters and their plight.

Blue Bloods (2010–2024)

A Interesting Police Tale Woven With Mystery and Paranoia

[7/10 · 1 February 2011]

Again, alike to Boardwalk Empire I watched the pilot of Blue Bloods the same night on Sky Atlantic. From the first episode alone, I saw both Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg in new light. More so Selleck due to his past roles in TV and film, he showed a more gruff tough persona alongside Wahlberg as head of a family of cops in the New York Police Department and Commissioner of the department, except his daughter who is a criminal lawyer.

There's always friction between cops and lawyers, more so when they're family. The first case for the first episode, touched a lot of the family members and especially the tough brother played by Wahlberg who bends the rules to get a result, and sister Bridget Moynahan who is the lawyer amongst them all. The question of right and wrong comes up a lot, as siblings argue about how far is far enough, and when crossing the line does not make it right to get a result.

However its not clean cut, right and wrong in this show or for the family. The scale of the show, isn't as big and the show's strengths come from the characters and their personalities. Obviously Selleck is on top form, but so is Bridget Moynahan and Donnie Wahlberg. New brother on the force, the youngest played by Will Estes is still to take up a strong role but he has the opportunity to in later episodes. He is pulled into a side-plot, involving the death of one of the family's siblings, a brother who was also a police officer who was killed in a botched raid.

However Estes is approached by Internal Affairs, and discovers his innocent loved brother was a mole for Internal Affairs to discover those of the "Blue Templers" a secret society within the New York Police Department made up of officers, who watched each other's backs, played by their own rules and now are involved in organised crime of their own stretching from Extortion to Contract Killings. Killers with badges. Estes is given quite a big role to fill, as he works for Internal Affairs to route out those of the "Blue Templers" and possibly discover his own blood within their ranks, possibly his own brother or father.

This is the side-plot that really has pulled me in, involving conspiracy and corruption within the ranks of the police force. Hopefully as we delve further into the series, this story will be more enforced, as characters become stronger and so do their surroundings.

Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014)

So Amazing It Has HBO Written All Over It

[8/10 · 1 February 2011]

The moment I read that Martin Scorsese had written the pilot of this show, I gave it a chance the moment It aired on Sky Atlantic here in the UK. It wasn't just the fact it was written by Scorsese, or that the show centered around the underworld of 1920's Atlantic City, but also that it starred the amazing Steve Buscemi as the lead Nucky Thomspon who ran the city, and its bootlegging operations.

The premiere of the pilot I sat back and prepared to be taken by storm, and I was. As new characters that would populate the show for the coming episodes, were introduced to me I got the feeling of a true gangster epic on the scale of The Sopranos. The fact also that Boardwalk Empire was also written by one of the writers of The Sopranos, made me trench myself in for the full 90 minute pilot.

Straight away I was taken to an epic gangster scene, a hijacking of a truckload of illegal booze. We meet a young Al Capone in his element of violence, soon we meet Nucky Thompson who we understand has tentacles everywhere in Atlantic City. From the local politicians, to his own younger brother in the city's police force. He has people on every echelon of the infrastructure of the city, he can order murders and orchestrate shipments of alcohol into the city after Prohibition begins.

Steve Buscemi is immaculate as Thompson, a man who is prepared to kill to keep control of the city's underworld. From mingling with the likes of Lucky Luciano, gangster legends like Arnold Rothstein and even John Torrio we see his connections in the mob are well placed. Even though this was only the 90 minute pilot, I already know this show is gonna take up a lot of my time in watching.

However, the show is keeping me interested as Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald is becoming a central character in Nucky Thomspon's life. We see how it worked for Nucky, having his connections paid off as he secured shipments of booze to keep Atlantic City afloat and even order murders to defend his territory. However he is not alone, and hes one of a few big fish in this pool of characters. Others intent on taking his throne from him. We also however sees he has a good side, or at least for moment appears good hearted in caring for MacDonald's character.

Finally finishing this epic, all 12 episodes I cannot now wait for the second season coming to television, the urge to see how Nucky Thompson will form further, who else will fall into his web of crime and deceit. I also want to see how Kelly MacDonald's character will develop. The soundtrack for Boardwalk Empire incorporates the music of the 1920's and earlier, the stand up comedians who sang classics on stage with a twinge of comedy to the old classics that would develop through from the 1920's onto the late 1960's. A clear homage to what HBO can really do with drama.

The epic scale of Boardwalk Empire brings to mind the likes of The Sopranos, The Wire, even Brotherhood. I can only hope the remainder of the series is just as strong and entertaining as the pilot was.

Doctor Who (2005–2022)

A Modern Re-Imagining of A Classic Science-Fiction Show For New Generations

[9/10 · 25 December 2010]

I tuned in for the new re-imagining of Doctor Who in 2005, now I have watched some of the older classic episodes and could only get into the colour episodes, and later serials but not the old Black & White ones which die-hard fans will always say are the greatest. However for my generation, it is hard and difficult to get into the cult classic episodes. This reworking of the show kick-started my interest with the Doctor, the Time Lords and the amazing adventures he goes on with his companions in a modern setting.

From the start, Christopher Eccleston caught my interests as a quite human and likable character. From him we had a moody booming Doctor who has fresh scars from the wars he has fought in, including the notorious Time War between him and his arch enemy the Daleks. From him we went to David Tennant, who gave us three series of his performance as a Doctor again who suffers from what hes seen. But as we've got further into the show, we've met even more arch enemies including a modern Master played by John Simm amazingly.

Finally we met the current Doctor, Matt Smith in the role again kept my interests as a strong, ecstatic and sociable character again dealing with the Doctor's main enemies and many attempts to destroy time, history and the universe. With the story writing, we have amazing plots involving Daleks, Cybermen, the return of the Sontarons and many more characters from the classic serial. Matt Smith seems to be getting stronger in his second series, with the amazing beautiful Karen Gillan as his latest companion Amy Pond.

The writing gets only better, production values are immense and even for some die-hard fans of the original series this re-imagining is a golden solid continuation of a classic franchise. I hope the show can only get better with new enemies, story lines and more companions. We are six series in already, with Christmas and New Year Specials and I want more. It can only get worse or even better now.

Kidnapped (2006–2007)

Actually An Interesting Action Thriller TV Series About An Unknown Topic

[7/10 · 24 December 2010]

I came across Kidnapped in a local DVD exchange store for a cheap price, when I was buying more than one DVD at the time. I bought it and gave it a go, by the end of the first of thirteen episodes I was hooked. The premise is simple at first, but it is interwoven into many different leads and in the end you have a large conspiracy that keeps you thinking. The kidnapping begins to turn out not to be a big factor in the conspiracy.

The cast is what for me made me watch on until the final episode, Jeremy Sisto and Delroy Lindo really work well together; one a former FBI agent who now works privately for people helping to find their loved ones kidnapped and one his former partner and boss. The pair work together to find the kidnap child of a wealthy family who have many dark secrets. The formula and route the show takes is similar to 24, and even Prison Break with many cliffhangers at the end of episodes. The action of Kidnapped is quite well directed and aimed, and also filmed. Characters are deep and have purpose, you do not watch thinking they are hollow or without attributes you can take a liking to. There are characters you will love and others you'll despise, but it makes you watch on to find the reason why the boy was kidnapped, and the dark secrets his family have.

Kidnapped is not without its flaws; at times it can be cheesy and at others you can see what is coming before it happens, as its clichéd. But its a worthy show to give a watch if you buy it on DVD or find it repeating late at night on cable.

The Experiment (2010)

A Very Unsettling But Brilliant Film About The Consequences of Giving Power To The Wrong People

[7/10 · 30 November 2010]

The Experiment is not the first of its kind, but its one of those that is watchable and enjoyable in my view. Casting Adrien Brody, and Forest Whitaker two Oscar winners against one another in a film about a psychological thriller where in a group of 26 men are chosen to participate in an experiment examining the roles of power, the conflicts and workings of those in a prison; between the guards and prisoners. Whitaker as the head guard, who comes from a dominating mother at home he has lived a sheltered, controlled and secular life looking after her as his own life suffered. He is given the chance to have power for once as a guard overseeing the prisoners of the experiment, as Brody plays one of the prisoners who soon becomes a leader to them.

Obviously, the exchange of power has its problems as Whitaker's character is unhinged and mad with power, while Brody is a man who never thought he'd be a violent man or much of a leader either. The Experiment examines, those who should not be put in positions of power if they themselves have never had even just a tiny bit of authority as having too much at one moment can turn them insane with power.

However it also examines the faults of the prison system, that guards use their power for their own goals of manipulation. Whitaker and Brody shine in one their more unknown roles, however not any less searing. The casting of the film was very well done, and other supporting characters like Twilight's Cam Gigandet does well in the film as one of the unhinged guards. The environment is well shot, a penitentiary and the bleakness of the cells and containment. The story is possibly where it lacks, it is not the most original plot for a film. It has been done before, and in a few cases done better but The Experiment is still a good film.

If you want a film that explores the depth of the roles of power and authority, and how they can corrupt even the most mild-mannered person The Experiment is a good choice.

Seraphim Falls (2006)

An Enjoyable Western But Disjointed With Many Gaps In Its Story

[6/10 · 30 November 2010]

Seraphim Falls was not a film I knew much about, considering I picked it up for cheap four years after its release however it gave me an enjoyable viewing even with its gaps in its story, some small periods of the film that I almost lost interest in watching but still with its moments. Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson are explosive on screen together, both Irish but they pulled off two very authentic Western accents. What makes the two of them work so well together is the back story they both share together, the reason for Neeson hunting Brosnan down intending to kill him for a past grudge.

In comes the relentless pursuit of Neeson for Bronson, we discover Bronson was a Captain during the American Civil War and Neeson was a Colonel for the other army. As the film deepens, we discover Bronson came after remnants of the enemy army after the war ended. Specifically Neeson's Colonel character, in his search for him it ended with Neeson's wife and children dying in a blaze. Neeson swore revenge on Bronson and has been searching for him ever since.

Neeson is ferocious as the determined Colonel seeking revenge for his family's death, and Bronson as his target seeking redemption for his past sins. The story sort of makes up for the minor boring segments of the film, the filming and shooting of the film has been done great with many Western hallmark environments and scenery. Weapons are authentic and so is the way of speaking, this is mainly for Western fans who are looking for a deep story of revenge and hatred in the Wild West.

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

An Enjoyable Modern Western Where Russell Crowe and Christian Bale Work Amazingly Together

[7/10 · 30 November 2010]

I personally am not much of a Western fan, however recently I have got into the more modern and recent Westerns with casts I know of from other modern films. Maybe these films are not Westerns but they are to me and to others. 3:10 To Yuma is obviously a remake of a classic Western film, but it follows the original's story. The story is simple Christian Bale must escort captured con Russell Crowe to the 3:10 train to Yuma to face justice for his crimes, and those of his gang. Bale is doing the job for $200, which he needs to secure his land from being taken from him by the tax man.

Here in begins his journey with his son to take Crowe to the train station, both dealing with those of Crowe's gang and even Native American Indian attacks. The weapons and equipment of the Wild Western period look amazing, sound great and authentic. The action is searing, and times can really take you aback with gunfights erupting anywhere. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale work well together, alongside an impressive supporting cast with Ben Foster playing Crowe's gang second-in-command intent on freeing his boss from the law.

However its not just attacks and ambushes Bale must deal with, he like Crowe hides his own inner-demons which are also another reason for him doing the job. To tackle demons from his own past. The film moves along well, and you never get tired or bored as you are always moving along. This is accomplished with the cast, and story. A solid Western is what I would call 3:10 To Yuma and a film to settle down with.

The Killing Fields (1984)

A Solid Deep Story With A Great Cast and Sad Historical Value

[8/10 · 30 November 2010]

The Killing Fields is a surprising film, that could have matched any Vietnam set film as its set in Cambodia. Most know of the Vietnam War, but almost only half of the world still remembers what Cambodia went through during Pol Pot's heinous ethnic cleansing of the people with the help of his brutal regime the Khmer Rouge. They systematically murdered over 2 million Cambodians who were to them 'undesirables' and needed to be removed.

The Killing Fields is a film that realistically portrays the genocide, and the infamous Killing Fields where most of the genocide victims ended up, and attempting to cross the watery fields their remains made a soup to crawl through. This film is extremely sad and hard hitting, as the Cambodian genocide never really got much coverage as say the Vietnam War did. The filming of the event in this film is very well done and captures the horrific moments of the genocide. People being herded onto trucks bound for executions, children being murdered in front of their parents.

This film could in my opinion match even most big-budget Jewish Holocaust films with how gritty the feel of this film is. The film follows American photographer for a US newspaper who is stuck in the country following the Khmer Rouge's take-over played by Sam Waterston, however it is the second and most frank viewpoint of character Dith Pran portrayed by real life Khmer Rouge survivor Haing S. Ngor who was sadly murdered in 1996 due to his views of the Khmer Rogue.

Haing S. Ngor is amazing surviving the Genocide, seeing many of his friends and countrymen hacked down by the Khmer Rogue. This film is for those who wish to see a tragic event just as sad as the Holocaust and indeed the Vietnam War. Its disturbing at times but must be to portray the events of the Genocide. This is a classic in its own name now, and its a film I can watch over and over again.

Robin Hood (2010)

An Alright Film, But Definitely Not Historically Accurate

[6/10 · 29 November 2010]

The 2010 adaptation of the Robin Hood legend, by Ridley Scott is simply an alright film to me. It made an enjoyable film for the evening but thats about it and as I watched, it was indeed a different reworking of the legend to portray Robing Hood as a commoner and not the man of nobility, who took the identity of Robin of Loxley. That a single man defied a King, and became an outlaw you would think this would be in history books but no, its legend.

As for the cast Russell Crowe would have not been my first choice to play Robin Hood, he continuously fell out of his English accent into a mix of Yorkshire, Irish and at one point Welsh. If that weren't bad his band of merry men including Little John played by Kevin Durand who's portrayal of a Scotsman is quite appalling being i'm Scottish myself, as he too slips between an Scottish accent to an Irish one quite poorly. However one actor kept me watching and that was American Scott Grimes playing Will Scarlet, with a Welsh accent. He is definitely on his way in the business, as he can pull off a Welsh accent for an entire film.

However the poor performances did not finish there, they continued with many American actors portraying English characters, and at times it got quite annoying. Again however just like Scott Grimes, British talent Mark Strong stole the show for good British talent in the film. The battle scenes were strong but again followed the scenes in Gladiator, just in a more gritty environment. Robin Hood is an enjoyable film, however nothing revolutionary and certainly not without its problems, even with Ridley Scott directing it with a big budget.

A film for an early evening as its quite a long film, especially the Director's Cut of the film which I saw.

The Walking Dead (2010–2022)

An Amazing Zombie Television Drama, That Has Finally Graced Our Screens

[10/10 · 29 November 2010]

Through the last few dozen or so years, we have had many survival post-apocalypse TV dramas however they've all been about surviving a nuclear holocaust or a normal virus that kills off most of the nation's population leaving a small number of survivors. However we have never had a Zombie television drama, and now we have it in the form of The Walking Dead. Only a few shows pull me in every week to watch the next latest episode of the show, and even making me count down the days to its airing.

The Walking Dead does that for me, and now we are almost at the end of the first season and so I cannot express my love enough for this show in order to secure a second season of it to come. Now the premise is what gets people going bonkers about, especially the die-hard fans of the The Walking Dead comic strip in which the show is based on. However for me as a fan of survival post-apocalypse television and films, its the realism of the show that pulled me in. The lack of weapons, firearms, ammunition and even basic medical supplies, all in lacking and the group of survivors must try and do with what they have at hand.

Axes, baseball bats, crossbows anything really that they can use to deal with the undead. In The Walking Dead you feel and sense the desperation of the characters and how it gets to them emotionally, and physically. We also have quite a small but powerful cast, of both American and British talent including the headliner Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes. Homegrown British talent, and he really performs his role brilliantly in the show as he is backed up by American talent Jon Bernthal playing his police partner Shane Walsh.

The violence is realistic of the situation, lots of brains being splattered and horrific injuries that the zombies exhibit. The make-up of The Walking Dead of the zombies is amazing, I cannot say anymore there is no need for CGI here and hopefully they stick to that. The story and side-plots of The Walking Dead weave family tragedies and the urge to protect each other well together. However this is a show no one can watch without expecting anyone of the main cast to die, it has been stated that no one should get comfortable with the cast because at any time it can change, and anyone is on the chopping board.

However if this ever happens, many of the characters are seen off with very emotional scenes that the cast perfectly create with their performances. Some of the most heartfelt scenes I've seen have been in this show and with season 2 finished with quite a climatic finale, I had to admit it wrapped up the season very well. Some of our favorite characters are gone, and others have taken their places for the coming third season in October 2012.

For fans of the comics, and the release of the trailer to the forthcoming third season of the show we can expect much more from sinister characters like The Governor, and new characters introduced in the final episodes of season two. Cannot wait for October 2012, to roll around the corner.

Eragon (2006)

A Fun Fantasy Tale But Nothing Special, Best For A Cheap Rent Or Buy

[6/10 · 29 November 2010]

Eragon, yet again is another book adaptation film that i've never read however it came out at time of Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings and so I missed it. However swing in 2010 i've bought it for cheap so I gave it a go. First thing that hit me is its very cliché' and there is nothing are shocked about seeing. You can see it coming half way through the film, who's gonna die, who's gonna save the day, who's gonna live. This is a very contrived film, and is certainly not a film that will change your life or much less change you evening you choose to watch it on.

The characters are good, but very underdeveloped with many turning up you don't even get a detailed back story from. The premise is the only thing salvageable in this film, and even that can get quite tiring to follow as you've seen it before in past films. Its obviously the reason Eragon did not do well in the cinema, it feels rushed and well forced upon us when we had a far better selection of other films to enjoy at the time of its cinema release.

The cast is good, but it feels like they have been under used or under-performed. Clearly the strongest role played in Eragon is by Jeremy Irons and a good voice over from Rachel Weisz, but still its obviously underdeveloped. In all honesty, this is a cheap film for the kids on the weekend to sit down to and not some big movie night title for you and your friends to enjoy. Leave it to the kids on a Saturday morning to enjoy, and for adults choose something you'll actually not spend most of the time criticising. Its OK for kids, and possibly an adult who isn't so criticising.

Jackie Brown (1997)

Less Guts, Over-The-Top Violence and Quirkyness But No Less Stunning

[8/10 · 28 November 2010]

Most Tarantino fans agree that Pulp Fiction is Tarantino's greatest work, due to its wackiness and over the top violence and humour. I won't disagree there, but Jackie Brown another of Tarantino's films is just as good personally. Yes it is lacking some things in Pulp Fiction, more in order to make space for a more entwining storyline and also to interlink characters more. Jackie Brown is about a 44 year old stewardess Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) who is caught by the ATF and law enforcement ferrying cash for a Los Angeles based gun dealer Ordell (Samuel L. Jackson) who is making a killing in profits selling all kinds of guns to very sour and dangerous people.

She is given a choice; help the authorities nail Ordell or face hard serious jail-time and here begins her story. She chooses to nail Ordell for the cops, in exchange for no prison time and immunity. Beginning her sting, to let the cops catch Ordell with his hands on the money she begins to hatch her own plan of taking Ordell's $500,000 dollars for herself. Alike to Pulp Fiction we see the spanning storyline from different perspectives and viewpoints of those of Jackie, Ordell, and even the lower characters of the world including a Bail-Bondsman and a newly released con friend of Ordell's.

Tarantino makes us in the end root for Jackie Brown to get her hands on Ordell's money, as we being to like her and understand her predicament due to Ordell's activities. We see him as a cowardly brutal businessman who in the end would rather shoot one of his people dead, than allow them to live and risk prison. Tarantino shoots Jackie Brown alike to how he shot Pulp Fiction, with very gritty environments and set-pieces, moving from one to another to piece in another character's story.

The violence isn't regular, but when it comes along its just right to get across the scene like when Ordell shoots dead one of his own people when they risk a big prison sentence, or when Robert De Niro's character flips out shooting dead Ordell's annoying girlfriend. These scenes are quickly shot, and you are taken to another character's point of view.

Maybe Jackie Brown to some hardcore die-hard Tarantino fans is not his best work but to some its one of his best, alongside Pulp Fiction. The cast is great, with searing performances from Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson and even Robert De Niro in supporting roles, however one that even surprised me was Robert Forster's performance as the bail bondsman who gets close to Jackie Brown and helps her swindle the $500,000 from under Ordell's nose. His performance was quite good, and at a point almost stole the show from Samuel L. Jackson. Jackie Brown is a great film in Tarantino's long run of works.

Watchmen (2009)

A Strong Visual Adaptation of A Comic That Follows A New Trend of Superheroes

[9/10 · 28 November 2010]

Now personally I have never read the Watchmen comics, being I was to young too and that i've never really been a comic lover. However this film adaption of the comic seems to me a very well done one, and follows like a few Marvel adaptations and also 300. Watchmen incorporates a new trend of superheroes and that is the torn, damaged, and very human superhero. Someone more realistic, and obviously does not have superpowers but does wield training and equipment that allows them to be heroes to the world.

Watchmen follows a different time line, and of course a parallel universe that sees the 1980's pan out a lot different to how they really did. Nixon is still in power, the stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union is at a boiling point that is nuclear war on the horizon and obviously the end of the world. Afar from the plot of the film, I can greatly appreciate the amount of work, funding and scope given to this epic project. The cast was brilliant and worked well alongside each other on the screen, special effects were top notch and were not cheap looking in which would have made the film also feel cheap.

Zack Snyder has done a great job of adapting quite a great but difficult to adapt comic into a film, maybe to some its not what Watchmen should be but its certainly at least close to the truth. At over three hours long, you have to have the threshold of patience to really enjoy this film and open your mind to a new world in the film. For some this is a hard task to do, and for others its just impossible and so it is for the patient group of film goers to enjoy. If you persist its a worthy reward, a dazzling world parallel to our own and also shows us the deep seated fear and paranoia of the Cold War period. How everyone feared their neighbour was a Communist or Soviet sympathiser.

Its also to me, a new look at superheroes. Not those of the Marvel world who have powers and seem to always save the day, but everyday men and women who with training and equipment at their hands are able to at least try to stem crime and corruption. Watchmen is not for children obviously, and so its for a mature viewer with its content but also its scope. Watchmen makes a insightful film to watch, and also just one to let your mind open to on a Saturday night. Cast:9/10 Special Effects: 9/10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

The Epic Finale That Harry Potter Yearned To Become, Now Follows The Epic Journey That Lord of The Rings Had

[9/10 · 26 November 2010]

Harry Potter personally has been an enjoyable series of films to date, however it lacked the epic scale and plot that up to the fifth film The Order of The Phoenix finally corrected. The fifth and sixth films of the series finally hit gold with the epic scale that brought back memories of The Lord of The Rings or the Star Wars prequel films. In part one of the final film, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione face off against the dark lord himself in a race to turn back the tide he has brought with him consuming the land.

In this finale, the scale of things has been lifted and no longer do we have a child like world that the first few films incorporated. From the start of this film, you know it has come a long way and matured into something more deeper and epic. No longer do our characters have a safety net to save them, at the final moment of the film and nor is there a quick fix present for them. Instead we have soul searching, character development and confessions being made that set the groundwork for part two.

Harry, Hermione and Ron have matured and grown into the characters we waited for them to become. Battle hardened, scarred warriors that have their flaws, but also their strengths that they will need to use against their enemies. This is also a film that will hit fans of the franchise hard, with many characters falling at the hands of the dark lord and will surely be missed.

The budget has also been raised for these two final instalments, and its obviously with the scale of locations, effects and plot-driven events. I feel that The Deathly Hallows has reached the epic level of Lord of The Rings, and even Star Wars. I think that the studio and director finally caught onto the success of The Half-Blood Prince with its dark theme and story, following on with the dark lord now taking over every foundation of the Wizarding world, our heroes are desperate, and at times turn on one another out of fear and desperation.

You feel these characters have grown and can now survive on their own, as they have to and have no one there to help them. This is a great start to the finale, and I cannot wait for the final part and hope the dark theme and epic scale continue.