Knives Out - Movie Review - A redemption for Rian Johnson?

This film is a 12A, was released on November 27th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

I meant to publish this review a while ago but forgot to because of stuff. Sorry!

Introduction

I. LOVE. WHODUNNITS. Not only are they usually really entertaining, but I like how they have you, the audience, actively guessing and theorising throughout the course of the runtime. Entertainment that I get more out of than just a good time is really engaging, even though I'm perfectly content with the latter. However, the genre has sort of gone dormant in recent years. We had Kenneth Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express in 2017, as well as his Death on the Nile on the way, but there's not been a good old-fashioned whodunnit in some time. 

Thoughts Going In 

Just looking at the poster for Knives Out made me want to see it, and this desire was only made stronger by the excellent reviews as well as Daniel Craig's silly accent in the trailers. So, I was keen for something that'd be fun, engaging, and just a great movie all-round. 

The Story

On the morning after his 85th birthday, Harlan Thrombrey is mysteriously found dead. With many family members who attended, all with different motives linked to Harlan, ace-detective Benoit Blanc is brought in to deduce who did what. 

What I Liked 

I'm just going to make it clear that I absolutely loved this film, and here's why:

The writing here is just phenomenal. This is easily one of the best, most meticulously written mysteries I've ever seen in a film. There are so many aspects to this mystery and seeing it all get pieced together is just a joy. As I said, I love 'playing along' with these types of films, and trying to solve the puzzles alongside the people in the film. This was a ton of fun. All the known pieces of information are delivered in fragments, and at a steady rate. By the time the film explains exactly what happened, it feels like a satisfying and oddly funny culmination of everything that was set up from the very beginning. You sit there smiling and laughing as it all comes together. Also, the pieces of the puzzle aren't just the things that the characters say when being questioned or things the detectives discuss, so many minor things that you barely think twice about act as vital to the end result. If you do see this, try to remember every line that is said, even the seemingly insignificant ones - it may just be the key to everything! I wasn't actively doing this, but it was funny at the end when certain things I could recall but didn't really care about became extremely important. So, the writing kept me engaged and entertained. 

The characters help to enhance the film's great story, and the performances were a big part of that. Of course, my favourite was Daniel Craig. Not only was he simultaneously doing the best and worst Southern USA accent, but he was also effortlessly charming and charismatic in his delivery. I could honestly watch this performance alone for two hours and be satisfied. The other stand-out was Ana de Armas. Her role in the film was larger than I expected which made me happy, as she is very talented and I hadn't seen her in much up until this point, the only thing coming to mind being Blade Runner 2049, where she didn't have an awful lot to do, even though she was in my favourite scene. Everyone else such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer were as brilliant as you'd expect, but I'd also like to mention how nice it was to see Chris Evans doing something excellent that wasn't a Marvel movie. I should address the fact that this film is hilarious, despite not being an alleged comedy. These actors sure know how to deliver this dialogue in the funniest ways possible.

To keep it brief, essentially everything else in this film was top notch. The cinematography was great, rarely was there a shot that ever felt uninteresting or lifeless. The set design was terrific, setting the scene and atmosphere appropriately. The score was wonderful and incorporated many traditional mystery-Esque sounds such as high-pitched violins which kept the film exciting. The colour palette was always interesting with each scene feeling distinct from each other and having their own moods. I just don't think there is a single creative aspect that was lacking in the slightest, everything was just marvellous. 

What I Didn't Like 

The only teeny-tiny problem I have with this movie is, you guessed it, some pacing issues. I know, it's typical for me to point at this as a flaw in a movie, but it is certainly more to do with me having quite a short attention span. Basically, there's roughly a 10-20 minute chunk of this film that was slightly less interesting than the rest. It wasn't bad, okay or even just good in the slightest, it was still great but it began to deal with aspects of the mystery that I didn't find as engaging nor as coherent. Luckily, it gets back on its feet smoothly, but that's just a tiny nitpick from me. 

Conclusion 

What more is there to be said about Knives Out? It's just fabulous. This film just gets everything right and manages to be a prime whodunnit as well as wildly funny, effortlessly charming and extremely engaging. Aside from a slightly less interesting section, this is one of the best films of the year, and something I doubt I will ever get bored of even after 100 viewings. It's masterful filmmaking, just go and see it for yourself. And remember, when you know what happens, keep it quiet!

I'm going to give Knives Out a 9.5/10

Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari) - Movie Review - Fast-paced fun or a slow mover?

This film is a 12A, was released on November 15 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

After some hard luck, the Ford motor business decides to enter the world of racing by building a car to compete in the annual 24 hours at Le Mans in 1966. Not a huge racing fan, but it does give me a rush of energy that I enjoy. I also like Matt Damon and Christian Bale well enough, and the trailer seemed snappy and fast paced to my liking. So, I thought this would be something neat to catch in cinemas, especially because I lost interest in seeing Frozen 2 quite quickly. 

The film delivers in essentially everything that I was after. Damon and Bale give very strong performances, and they're also largely entertaining while on-screen. It is fun to watch these two and they anchor a lot of the film's strengths. On top of this, the racing sequences are a lot of fun too. They're fast paced, with some really effective sound editing / mixing to create the right atmosphere. The cinematography was also excellent in these scenes with some really smooth and wide pans around the speeding cars from many interesting angles. It really puts you in the driver's seat. The score was also terrific with some exciting tracks heightening the tension. The film also had a really good story, I like to see films that involve things such as problem solving, and this film did just that. A large segment of the film revolves around developing the car, and it makes it all the more engaging. So, the film succeeded in delivering what it promised. 

The only major issue is that the film is quite long - two and a half hours. I didn't feel bored at any point in that run-time, but the film did take some time to get going. Once it finds its feet and the main plot starts up, it whizzes by. But, the first 30 - 40 minutes of the film are quite slow and a bit dull in comparison to the rest of it. 

Le Mans '66 is a lot of fun and very solid. The performances, the racing sequences, and the filmmaking are all very strong and made this an enjoyable watch. Despite a slow start, it's a fun watch and something I'd not mind revisiting some time soon. 

I'm going to give Le Mans '66 an 8/10 

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon - Movie Review - Another classic for Aardman?

This film is a U, was released on October 18th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

With the arrival of an alien named Lu-La on Mossy Bottom Farm, its up to Shaun, Bitzer and the rest of the gang to get them home before they're caught. I love Aardman, and there's something wonderful about their films because I can always count on them to make me smile and laugh, two things that I love to do. With this film, they had me sold on the fact that it was Aardman, but then I was double-sold on the fact that it was another Shaun the Sheep movie, and then triple-sold when I heard it was called 'Farmageddon' - a genius title. So, there was no way I could miss this, especially combined with the fact that I adore stop motion and want to support it forever and ever. So, I had very high hopes. 

It didn't take me long to be smiling and laughing away, this film just further proves how terrific Aardman and their work is. The jokes in this film are just brilliant. After seeing any comedy film, I always feel like just listing off every single thing that made me laugh, but I am not giving away any jokes here because that'd spoil the film largely. To keep it vague, the jokes range from being excellent slapstick, to really clever word-y jokes, to small details in the background, and just plain silliness. All of it works really well, and even the jokes that don't work can still be appreciated, and they don't leave a sour taste as it doesn't take long for a funnier one to come up. The animation is also up to the usual Aardman standard, with brilliant attention to detail and a great job with colour and character design. But, the key attribute of the animation here is that it used to tell the story, because the film has a lack of decipherable dialogue for the most part. This visual storytelling is really commendable and the 'show don't tell' mentality needs to be adopted by other filmmakers, even outside of animation. 

In terms of negatives, there are very few. My biggest issue is that the film is quite predictable, but that didn't ruin the experience, it just slightly bugged me. Also, the film used pop songs a little too much for my taste, it isn't particularly new or original as many plot points are borrowed from other films, even if they're used well, and, like Aardman's previous films, it is generally harmless and thus not anything that'll leave you thinking nor something that has interesting themes.

It is plain, it isn't boundary-pushing, but who cares? A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, is a delightful time at the cinema with absolutely hilarious jokes, exquisite animation, and wonderful use of silent cinema. It is really just as good, if not better, than the first one. I highly advise you go and see this because it will cheer up you as well as your whole family, and going to see it will mean that more great things will come our way. Aardman have never let me down and I doubt that they ever will. So yeah, it's terrific, and there's not much else to be said.

I'm going to give A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon an 8/10

Also, I was planning on ranking every Aardman film ever made to coincide with the release of this film, but I didn't because it was only when I began to write it that I realised everything I had to say about each film was essentially the same. So, here is a quick ranking of every Aardman film with their number rating next to them:

8. Flushed Away (7/10)
7. Early Man (8/10)
6. The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (Not 'Band of Misfits' tut tut) (8/10)
5. Arthur Christmas (8/10)
4. Shaun the Sheep Movie (8/10)
3. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (8/10)
2. Chicken Run (9/10)
1. Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (10/10)    

Joker - Movie Review - Worth all the fuss?

This film is a 15, was released on October 4th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Introduction 

The Joker is a character that has appeared many times in cinema history. There have been many interpretations that range through all kinds of tones and styles. However, my favourite, and probably many others' favourite is Heath Ledger from The Dark Knight (well, my actual favourite is Lego Joker but let's be real here). He brought probably the most realistic interpretation of this character to the screen, and created such an engaging performance that he ended up winning an Oscar for it. But, what if the Joker wasn't a secondary character? What if he was the main character of his own standalone film? That is where Joaquin Phoenix comes in. 

Thoughts Going In 

I didn't know what to expect going in. There had been a fairly mixed reception online with many critics I respect saying it was really good, but others claiming it is a nasty film that 'endorses violence'. So, I didn't really know what I'd think, but I was sure that it'd be something.

The Story 

Arthur Fleck is a mentally unstable man living in Gotham. He dreams of being a stand-up comedian but is held back due to a condition he has where he frequently starts to uncontrollably laugh, regardless of what is happening. However, after an incident involving him one night, a series of crimes involving individuals dressed as clowns begins and he convinces himself that his life is one big comedy. 

What I Liked 

I think it goes without saying that Joaquin Phoenix is outstanding in this film. He fully embraces this role and you don't question it being an actor for one minute. However, what I really liked about his performance was that he genuinely made me feel uncomfortable. Whenever he was on screen, which is essentially the whole movie, you don't feel safe. You don't know exactly what he is going to do, but you know that he will do something, and that it will probably be brutal. This made his interactions with other characters really intense and it also left me biting my nails as I awaited his responses to certain things. And, as expected, they are violent to a large extent. Some of it made my jaw drop in shock and other times prompted me to look away. This is a game changing performance, and, like Ledger, Phoenix deserves an Oscar all the way. Also, other performances in the film such as Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz were really solid too, if not as remarkable.

The filmmaking is also excellent. All the effort was put in to make this film stand out in the crowd of other films released this year to be as unique as possible, highlighting the nature of the protagonist. The cinematography is brilliant, with many shots feeling gritty and real with some subtle usage of shakey cam. The lighting was also eerie and helped to intensify the horror or shock of certain sequences, the set design complemented this too with a really appropriately scrappy and grim aesthetic. The score was also extremely haunting and its presence / absence in particular moments made the actions feel even more grounded in reality or horrifying. So, the behind the scenes work to make this a truly weird and thus unique experience was all done to a largely commendable extent. 

But, the most effective thing about this film was the fact that all the elements combined added up to one of the most unsettling experiences I've ever had watching a film. Seeing Arthur with his derranged personality inhabiting this world that is stylised to seem as weird as possible made me, as an audience member, feel uneasy and disturbed. It understands what audiences find hard to watch or hard to sit through and uses those to its advantage. Things that are thematically dark, things that are alarmingly real, all these things complement the atmosphere that the film puts you in. I don't usually have this kind of response to a film, so if there is a film that makes me have it, you know its done something very well indeed.

One last thing I should mention is that this film gets you thinking. It's the sort of film that you want to talk about for ages after seeing it because you won't be able to stop thinking about it. I can vividly remember so many scenes and I doubt they'll be leaving me any time soon. As great as other movies have been this year, none have left me thinking and wanting to talk about them as much as this has. I have had three different conversations with three different people about this film and I'd love that number to go up. It's a film that leaves you with a lot to take away and unpack, and I respect that. 

What I Didn't Like 

The biggest issue with the film can also been seen as a positive to some extent, and that is that I thought it was a tough film to sit through. I praised it for making me feel uneasy, but that also works against the film because it lowers the rewatch value for me. Even though it may be less stressful of a watch the next time due to the fact that I know all the outcomes, I don't have any desire to see it again, even though I liked a lot about it. Also, you may be wondering why I was vague about certain points I've made despite wanting to talk about this movie as much as possible. That's because, as much as I do want to think about this film, I do feel uncomfortable whenever I do. That might sound weird but this is a weird film to talk about, so I think it makes sense. I also think it is much easier to talk about in person as opposed to writing a review when trying to vary vocabulary and be as detailed as possible.

Conclusion 

I think Joker is a really terrific piece or work, but I don't know if I like it or not. The amazing central performance, the impeccable work behind the camera, and the atmosphere of the film make it something else. But, the uncomfortable nature makes it less rewatchable than most other films. But, regardless of that, I think I really do like this film. It's difficult to talk about but I do want to talk about it. And I like the fact that it has given me this reaction and that it has left me thinking and probably will have me thinking for much time to come. Anyway, I think I'll need something a bit more light-hearted next, and how lucky is it that Shaun the Sheep is back on the big screen next week!

I'm going to give Joker a 9/10   

My Top 10 Favourite Film Scores

Hey! Have you read something extremely subjective today? If not, then allow me to completely change that, if you insist on continuing to read this, that is. 

So, I have really come to appreciate scores for films in the last year or so. I've picked up on how scores can impact a scene in terms of emotion, power, and awe. This list consists of scores that I personally think work well in the context of the film and outside of the film. I'll list what I like about the film's score, the composer, and some of my favourite tracks from it.

Note: I am not particularly knowledgeable about technical jargon when it comes to music, so my vocabulary will be somewhat limited and repetitive. Sorry!

10. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009) (Mark Mothersbaugh)

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is one of my favourite animated films of all time, and aside from the humour and animation, the score is one of its best attributes. The film is very science-y and a lot of the music has some really nice electrical leitmotifs that reflect this aspect. It gives the sense of all the wonder that is on display, and it works really nicely outside of the film for what I call "Thinking Music" which is music that I can listen to and not get distracted by when I'm working. In terms of my favourite tracks, Swallow Falls is a really nice opener that sets the mood, Introducing Flint has some quirky sounds to it that all culminate into a really exciting ending, and Flint's Determination is a good tune too.

9. How to Train Your Dragon (2010) (John Powell)

The How to Train Your Dragon series isn't just visually stunning, it's musically stunning too. The first film has the best score in my opinion because it both started the series and has two of the best tracks in it. Forbidden Friendship is a charming tune that has sounds that speak of discovery as it builds to a really sweeping conclusion, along with the awe-inspiring moment when Hiccup places his hand on Toothless' face for the first time. And Test Drive, need I say more? You'll see that many of the scores on this list have a track that accompanies one of my favourite scenes ever, and this is one of them. The music feels so epic and blood-pumping and you can feel every burst of wind and sharp turn in the scene. It's just so terrific. The rest of the score has the same elements, and it works wonders.

8. The Social Network (2010) (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)

The Social Network is one of the best acted and best written films I've ever seen to the extent that I was legitimately sad when it ended as I could continue watching more like it forever and ever. But, the score is brilliant, and you know it. Much like Cloudy, this film has some really good Thinking Music, but what sets this apart is that the music doesn't feel as if it was written to accompany scenes in a film. It genuinely feels as if it is written on its own, and all the better for it. Intriguing Possibilities, Painted Sun in Abstract, and Pieces Form the Whole are all so abstract and ominous yet really exciting. I always just love to listen to such interesting sounds, and this film delivers a score that has just that. 

7. Ready Player One (2018) (Alan Silvestri)

Okay, Ready Player One is a movie I've liked less and less with time. It's not because it's boring or anything, but some plot holes just become more prominent the more you see them. If there is one thing that keeps me a fan of this movie, it's the score. This is my optimum cup of tea when it comes to scores. I love grand, epic pieces of music like this. Ready Player One's strength is the fact that it is somewhat generic. As much as I love the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings themes, their iconicity can be a little bit distracting, even though they are excellent. Sure, this film does have some recurring leitmotifs but they don't necessarily trigger the thought of this film. So, this is beneficial because whenever I just want to hear something awesome and epic, I can listen to this. Additionally, they work fabulously in the film. "Why Can't We Go Backwards?" has a really quaint start but builds to be really big and boisterous, making the scene really exhilarating, Looking for a Truck and She Never Left are equally tense and exciting, and "What Are You?" is a really cosy piece that can calm you down after all the craziness. So, while it isn't iconic, it serves its purpose as a generic, epic score really efficiently.

6. Dinosaur (2000) (James Newton Howard)

I'd imagine you're probably seeing this and thinking "What?" But I think that this may be the most underrated score of all time. I think that because the film Dinosaur was passed off as an average Disney movie, most people overlooked a lot of the effort that went into this film. In all fairness, I do have a soft spot for this film as it was one of my favourites as a child, but I do think that the CGI holds up amazingly and the score is masterful. So many tracks in here are memorable and work well with their scenes. The Egg Travels is another one of my favourite scenes of all time and the music is a major part of that. The building from being small and quiet to vast and loud really emphasises the progression of the egg's journey as it goes from the hands of a raptor running through a jungle to a pterodactyl swooping over a canyon. It's simply magnificent. Inner Sanctum / The Nesting Grounds is tranquil and soothing, while Across the Desert and Breakout are equally as powerful. I think this score deserves more credit because it really is something special.

5. Isle of Dogs (2018) (Alexandre Desplat)

Both of Wes Anderson's stop motion features have brilliant scores, and while Fantastic Mr Fox is a better film than Isle of Dogs, the score isn't. Although, it would be at number 11 if I extended the list. The score to this film encapsulates the charming and bizarre nature of it. The End Titles in particular are really fun with such odd combinations of instruments intricately playing out together, it often has you struggling to choose something focus on, in a good way. Another key thing about this film's music is that it is very integral to certain sequences in the film. Six Months Later + Dog Fight is a key aspect of its respective scene. Many components such as the dogs move in beautiful choreography with the music. It's rather hard to explain it's true brilliance unless you watch it yourself. The other notable track is The Municipal Dome, which is great Thinking Music but with a Japanese-esque twist to it, especially with the percussion and brass. So, this score is where it is because of its unique nature. 

4. The Martian (2015) (Harry Gregson-Williams)

The Martian is one of my favourite films of all time, and while the score isn't one of the primary reasons, its still something I bare in mind when thinking about it. You've probably guessed that I love a lot of this film's tracks because they serve as Thinking Music, but the best thing about this film, is that the Thinking Music works really well outside of the film, and even better in the context of the film. When you hear something like Making Water or Science the S*** Out Of This, you feel like Watney is thinking to it too, whether he's problem solving or calculating something. The fact that this music works in both settings is the best part. Other notable tracks include Hexadecimals, which is oddly satisfying as it plays out over a silent montage, and Crossing Mars which is such a simplistic and vague piece that it captures the scope and haunting emptiness of Mars as Watney crosses it. So, the big achievement here is the wide appeal of this score, being perfectly fit within the film, and greatly satisfying outside of it. 

3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) (Alan Silvestri)

Yep, you knew it was coming. One might even say, it was inevitable. But of course I love this score, and I'm sure you can guess what one of the top two is from this. Even though I said iconicity can be distracting when listening to film scores out of context, what makes Infinity War an exception is the fact that this score offers much more than just the Avengers theme. A lot of it is impactful and as this film goes in directions that one may not have expected, it is only amplified. The End Game makes the very brief one-to-one fight between Iron Man and Thanos as powerful as it could be, and Infinity War playing out loudly over such insipid credits really makes that ending feel all the more shocking and emotional. Also, in terms of the Avengers theme, I have huge amounts of respect for this score because prior to this film, many people said the MCU's music was really lacking and that they didn't have a memorable tune under their belt. But, then this film came along and has immortalised the Avengers theme as one of the best themes in history. Forge uses the tune perfectly and when Thor arrives in Wakanda (another one of my favourite scenes ever), I get chills all over and my blood pumps faster and faster. So, how could this list get any better?

2. Avengers: Endgame (2019) (Alan Silvestri)

Well done Mr Silvestri, you've managed to make not one or two but three scores I really adore. Much like Fantastic Mr Fox and Isle of Dogs, despite Endgame being slightly inferior to Infinity War, the score isn't. There are so many excellent tracks in this film and all of them work beautifully in and out of the film. Arrival is a really sombre rendition of the iconic Avengers theme as well as setting the tone for the next three hours suitably, One Shot does a great job at providing the hope that the Avengers may succeed, and Worth It accompanies the greatest moment in the MCU, involving Cap and a hammer, and it makes me smile whether I'm just listening, or listening and watching, and it probably would if I was just watching. But then you have Portals. Which, in my opinion that I am entitled to, is the best piece of music ever written for a scene in a film. It captures the awe and amazement as all you heroes who were once thought to be dead return in one giant formation. It is a spectacular thing to behold and I don't think words could ever do it justice. And, surprisingly, there's more that comes close to topping that. The Real Hero is really earnest and makes you think about the entire journey the last twenty-two films have told, and Main on End is my favourite version of the Avengers theme. Seeing the silhouettes of the original six with the signatures of their respective actors writing themselves as the music builds around it, I just cannot physically express how swept up I feel whenever I watch or hear that. So, how on earth can the list get better? Well, it can. 

1. The Lion King (1994) (Hans Zimmer)

This is my favourite score for mostly reasons that have already come up. The music accompanies some of my favourite scenes ever, it works in and out of the film, and I have a soft spot for it because I grew up with this film and the score forever stays in my head. But, if it's all for the same reasons, why does this get the top spot? It's because this contains some of the most glorious and majestic sounds I think I'll ever hear. Remember Who You Are and The Rightful King are so unbelievably phenomenal that I'm not even going to attempt to put their greatness into words, it simply cannot be done. I Was Just Trying to be Brave, Kings of the Past, Stampede, and essentially every other track is just amazing. What's also amazing is the fact that the score only has a small number of leitmotifs that are slightly rearranged in different scenes. This is such an accomplishment because the ability for strictly finite pieces of music to be perfectly fit for so many different moments is outstanding. It fits the film's cyclical themes really neatly. And, above all, it is just great music. Anyone who listens to this can appreciate it, even if they don't like The Lion King or even the score itself. I don't really know what else to say. Sometimes, the magnificence of the very best things in life cannot be truly deciphered, and I know that this can't. 

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed reading something you don't agree with. But, these are just my favourites. The fact that we all have different favourites is something to be celebrated. I am planning on doing more top 10 lists as this was fun to put together, so get ready for even more subjectivity, because this was just scratching the surface.

It Chapter Two - Movie Review - Three hours of what exactly?

This film is a 15, was released on September 6th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Introduction 

I'm not really a huge fan of horror movies as I generally don't like the idea of getting scared as entertainment. So, going by this, I never saw It (2017). It didn't particularly seem like the kind of thing that I'd get anything out of. However, literally the day before I saw this, I decided to watch it for the first time to see if I was wrong. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. It's a really well-acted, enjoyable, engaging, and well made film, despite not being particularly scary to me and a bit too long. But, I enjoyed it to the extent that I wanted to see the next chapter of this story. 

Thoughts Going In 

Like I said, I saw It for the first time the day before I saw this, so I don't really have a great deal of affinity for it nor did I have much time to really form an opinion about what I was about to see. I didn't really think I'd be writing an in-depth review as I guessed all that I'd have to say could be condensed into an NMTS review. But, I suspected it'd be something very similar to the original if the trailers were anything to go by, so I was moderately looking forward to it.

The Story 

27 years after the Losers club defeated Pennywise, he's back to haunt the town of Derry. So, Mike, the only member who remained there, calls the rest of the gang back together in the hopes that they can put aside their subsequently made differences and truly defeat the evil clown and all the evil he brings about. 

What I Liked 

The best thing about this film is the acting and characters. Firstly, the casting is fantastic. I don't believe for one minute that these are not grown up versions of the children from the original - it's near perfection. The performances they give off also feel very reminiscent of how the characters were beforehand. You can tell what each of them have been through and how it has had an effect on them in some way. That and they were all really likeable and quriky. I can't really pick a favourite as they were all equally great, but I do think James McAvoy was my favourite if I had to choose. This was a great strength as it was the best part of the original, so to see it wasn't lost was relieving. Bill Skarsgard was also excellent as Pennywise. His deliciously freaky voice and appearance were great. He makes for a really threatening and oddly entertaining antagonist. 

The way the film looks and sounds is appropriately gorgeous and unsettling. It gives off a frequent sense of fear from the somewhat muted colour palette and evokes it when a sudden burst of bright blue or blood red appears. The way the music also swells around certain scenes is chilling and it knows when to cut it for effect. Certain sound effects like creepy laughs also created an eerie atmosphere. So, it was good to see that this film was both a pleasure to watch and listen to, and have both elements take you right into the world of the film. 

The one other thing I really liked about this film was the way that it followed up from the original. Bear in mind that this isn't coming from someone who adores the first film like many others do, but I thought this was a really satisfying narrative. All the loose ends feel like they've been tied up, without it feeling like there's a single thread left behind, and there are many sweet callbacks to the first film which incorporated in a nice theme of memory and confronting your past, which I liked. It was also neat to see some parallels between how the characters acted around one another as children and how they do so as adults. 

What I Didn't Like 

The length is problematic. You've probably seen this criticism but I thought I'd throw mine in too. I think a film being long is only ever a problem if you're not enjoying it, so I have no problems sitting through films like The Lord of the Rings trilogy or, more recently, Avengers: Endgame, because I enjoy those films enormously. With this, I was enjoying it quite a bit, but not enough to endure nearly three-hours worth of material. I also felt as if that runtime didn't need to be, as many scenes could've been shortened and the film would still work just fine, or even better.

One thing I admired about the first film was the fact that it wasn't necessarily scary, but it was horrifying. Now, obviously fear is extremely subjective so this argument really only works for me and / or other people that weren't scared of the first It film. But, to me, even though I wasn't scared, I still thought there were plenty of horrific elements in it, such as the zombies, or bathroom covered in blood, or the way Pennywise's mouth opens. These elements were enough to connote to me, the viewer, why the children in the film were scared or uncomfortable. And, it was used to the right extent where I didn't feel uncomfortable watching the film and could still enjoy watching them on their adventure, because usually when I'm scared of something, I'd have to look away or stop listening which I feel could take me out of the film, even though I completely relate to the fear the characters feel. Here, I felt the horrific elements were a bit excessive. This may seem like a silly argument when talking about a horror film, as it may have been an intentional decision here to go above and beyond with the horror, but I don't feel that it needed to be. The first film managed to show fear without going crazy, so this film didn't have to either. I also think this may be a viewpoint unique to myself as unrealistic horror such as this doesn't scare me because it is very clear that it isn't real. Also, in regards to jump-scares, this film has them and I don't regard them as actual scariness in a film, because they're scary in the moment and never again. Also, they're not even that scary in the moment because it doesn't take a genius to see when one is on the way. 

Another minor issue I have is that I feel like the characters are bit less compelling as adults. When they were all children, you felt as if they all needed one another as being young makes them much more vulnerable to anything that happens to them, and the way they bickered was more believeable and more entertaining. Here, they're still great as I said earlier, but some of the novelty has been lost. This wasn't a dealbreaker, but something I did notice while watching. 

Conclusion 

How I feel about It Chapter Two is nearly the exact same as how I feel about It. Both are well acted and look and sound great with clever narratives, while being a bit too long and not really scary. However, as much as this may seem so, I think the first is slightly better. It's a better length, doesn't feel excessively horrific, and has a more compelling set of characters. That said, I did still enjoy this film enough. It has plenty of what I wanted to see for me to say I had a fine time. So, I'm sure anyone who liked the original will get something out of this, even if there are some issues that present themselves. 

I'm going to give It Chapter Two a 6/10

Hobbs and Shaw + Angel Has Fallen - Movie Reviews - Exciting action or forgettable fodder?

So, over the past week, I visited the cinema two days in a row. I had a bit of a crazy week as I recieved my long-awaited GCSE results (which I was happy with if you were wondering) and these two visits provided me with what I needed around this time. One I saw the day before my results, making it serve as a last-minute cleanser, and the other I saw on the day I received them, serving as a reward of some kind. But, beyond that, the reason I am combining them is because I don't have much to say about either and what I do have to say about them is similar stuff. Both action, both cheesy, both part of franchises I like, and so on. 

Hobbs and Shaw 

This film is a 12A, was released on August 2nd 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

This film puts the characters of Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham on a mission to stop an evil Idris Elba from getting his hands on a deadly virus. I actually really like the Fast and Furious franchise. As much as it is ridiculous and over the top, I do get some genuine enjoyment whenever I watch one of them. Well, I'm not huge on 1-4, it's only 5-8 that I'm a proper fan of, with 7 being my favourite. However, its biggest issue is that it feels very pretentious whenever they attempt to be dramatic among stuff like cars jumping out of planes or between buildings. However, I hoped this would finally be an entry into this series that didn't take itself seriously at all, so I was excited to see it. 

THIS MOVIE IS SO STUPID AND I LOVE IT. What makes Hobbs and Shaw work is that the filmmakers understand that the audience want to see these two characters doing some awesome stuff as a team, and they have a fluid definition of awesome. The stuff that happens in this movie is so proposterous that even the mere thought of it for one second makes you realise how it absolutely cannot happen in the real world. But, who cares. This film reminds me why I enjoy cinema so much. It's not a work of art in the slightest, but it embraces the fact that cinema is about taking us to a different world, one that may not play the rules of our own, and that makes it more enjoyable. Additionally, you can't help but laugh at some of these stunts. The climactic battle involves a chain of four cars clinging onto a helicopter and being suspended above a cliff edge, and that was so gloriously bonkers that I laughed until I cried. What also makes this film work are the characters, Hobbs and Shaw are a great duo and their banter between one another makes for some entertaining moments. The Rock and Statham are two actors I really get a kick out of watching in ridiculous settings such as Rampage or The Meg, so this was a great combination. Idris Elba was great as a cheesy villain, and Vanessa Kirby did a good job as Shaw's sister. It was also a huge relief to see this movie didn't take itself seriously. There is drama in the film but it's hardly prominent. Took you long enough, Fast and Furious. 

The film is far too long. I can watch a feature based around these characters with this premise but it feels stretched out. I feel like a solid 90 minutes would've been just fine but the extra 45 minutes is really pushing it. The action also gets a bit dull after some time, whenever it isn't being proposterous and completely stupid in a good way, it feels quite uninteresting. The hand to hand fight scenes were the main culprit as I was more interested in the things going on with the cars. It's also really generic and lazily put together as an excuse for these characters to team up. The biggest problem is that this really isn't much of a film as much as it is a series of set pieces involving the same characters.

Overall, this is probably one of my favourites in the series. Hobbs and Shaw is ridiculous, stupid, absurd, fatiguing, generic, and I loved it. The fact that we finally have a Fast and Furious film that doesn't have any pretentions and understands how great the implausabilities of the action are is simply wonderful. I really enjoyed this film as it offers what I've been so desperate to see from this series ever since I became a fan. It isn't quite as consistent or even as other entries like 5 or 7, but it's one I'd pick to watch again as opposed to the rest. 

I'm going to give Hobbs and Shaw a 7/10 

Angel Has Fallen 

This film is a 15, was released on August 21st 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 


Mike Banning is framed for the attempted assassination of the President after he was the only person to survive an attack. I like the 'has fallen' series well enough, it's good for a round of trash filmmaking that is enjoyable. Olympus has Fallen is decent, enough action and cheesy lines to keep it afloat, and London has Fallen is so terrible with ridiculous action and cheesier lines that I actually like it more, even though it is much worse. Going into Angel, of course I didn't have high hopes. I wasn't keen to see a truly great film, I just wanted to have some fun. 

This film definitely delivered. What sets this apart from the previous films is that the formula they had has been ditched. It was always an initial attack on a nation, Banning escaping, the president being held hostage and at gunpoint, before Banning saves him and all is good. This time, it's Banning himself that is in danger. This made the film feel instantly more engaging as it's only the lead who is in danger, not an entire nation. The film also delivers in terms of the action. While there isn't an individual set piece that stands out like the last films, there's consistent amounts of action throughout the film and it is entertaining and even tense sometimes. Gerard Butler does a great job as Banning, he is a really likeable hero in all of these films, but when his father, played by Nick Nolte, enters the mix, it gets better because the two have a fun dynamic that is really entertaining. This film also felt more refined than the others and more as if it was trying to be good film, which it somewhat succeeded at because I could see some competency on display.

This movie is quite predictable, you know how it'll go based on the set up. The action can be quite unremarkable at times and thus feel less enjoyable, and it is overly long and a bit tiring at points. But, inevitably, this isn't a genuinely good film. Even though it has more competency than before, I'm still unable to take this series seriously because most of the enjoyment I got was ironic, and I was riffing on the film with my friend the whole time it was on. So, despite the series' best efforts, I still can't respond in the way they were probably intending.

The best of the trilogy. Angel has Fallen offers a different narrative into this series which makes for a competently made, and somewhat entertaining, action movie. It's not good by any means, but I got some decent enjoyment out of it and would rather revisit it than any of what had fallen before this. 

I'm going to give Angel has Fallen a 6/10