Abrams brings a Franchise back to Form this December

I was surprised, even a week after it opened, that the cinema for The Force Awakens was not more crowded - it was almost empty, in fact. But I suppose that's what happens when it's just after Christmas, movies aren't exactly on people's minds.

But Star Wars. I remember as a kid being taken by the brightness and acrobatics of the prequel trilogies; as I grew older I saw through the colour and the extravagance to what was a pretty dull story, mired in politics and the science side of science-fiction, trying to explain what the original trilogy hadn't felt the need to. It's more or less a general consensus that the prequel trilogy isn't on par with the original, and it's clear that resident geek and nostalgia-artist J.J. Abrams feels the same way too.

And so the curtain rises, the screen lights up and, in total silence, the Lucasfilm logo sparkles across the scene, followed by those famous words: "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."

And suddenly the music swells and you feel your heart catch in your throat as you see, superimposed over a starry background, the two words you've been waiting for: STAR WARS.

This is the entirely spoiler-free review; I'll be posting a spoiler article later tonight where I can examine my thoughts more in depth.

Book Review: The Quantum Universe...

Okay, so this is probably the most difficult review I've done, in part because I don't actually understand quantum physics, but also because this book took me months to read.

A Film to Make you Cry

Since my last review turned into a major cock-up with regards to research and stuff, I've decided to investigate Inside Out properly. So here goes nothing: Inside Out is a DreamWorks film about a group of emotions living inside...

Perhaps There's Hope in Franchising

Um, wow. I really got this wrong, didn't I? So it turns out Minions isn't a DreamWorks movie at all, but made by a studio called Illumination Entertainment. So let's rewrite this. I'm gonna try to keep this as close to the original review as possible, only taking out references to DW and maybe cleaning it up a little in the process. So, without further ado, the actual, proper, corrected review for Minions:

Road Warrior Remix is a Cinematic Storm

Like I said, I've saved the best for last. Mad Max: Fury Road was out today, and it was amazing. Seriously, I cannot recommend it enough. Before you read this review, go and see it - I promise no spoilers, but it just cannot wait, you've gotta go see this movie. See, here's the thing: it doesn't really do anything new, but it does Mad Max really, really well.

Playing the Same Old Tune

Well it hasn't been too long since Age of Ultron blasted across cinema screens, and was amazing in the process, although it's one of those retrospective movies which gets worse the more you think about it. But that's a post for another time. Remember a while ago when I said Pitch Perfect 2 and Mad Max: Fury Road came out on the same day? Well, that day was today! So I've got two reviews I'm writing today and, sad to say, I'm saving the best til last.

Age of Ultron: the Spoileriffic Review

This review is gonna be totally spoilery, just a heads-up. Spoilers waaaaaay under the cut:

Ladies and Gentlemen, We have Hit Peak Marvel!

I believe Marvel's time is coming. The end of the road is fast approaching for them; they've had a run of great movies, really great movies: Thor: The Dark World was fun and light-hearted, Iron Man 3 was surprisingly peppy in between the serious moments dealing with Stark as a human being, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier was one of the most solid spy thrillers I've seen in a long while.

But we're now entering the decline of the Marvel movie. We have peaked. And I can tell you that with complete confidence. No other Marvel movie will ever again be good. Because Avengers: Age of Ultron just set the God damn gold standard.

It Would've Been Better as a Rom-Com

I remember the last time I had a movie night. It was just me and a few friends, and we were all still up at midnight talking shit about Pacific Rim. It was fun.

It was fun because Pacific Rim is one of those movies you can just make fun of. On top of being a good action movie (it's about robots fighting aliens, what's not to like) it's just so ridiculous as a premise that you can't help but laugh at it.

And that brings me onto the movie I watched tonight: John Wick.

Cuddly CGI Adorableness Mixed with Amazing Beauty

Well, where to begin with this one? I suppose I should say, I spoke a while ago about how the location I watch a movie in might well have something to do with how much I enjoy it - after all, how can a mass-market-appeal cinema compare with the rickety glory and creature comforts of a small-time cinema such as the Electric? In a similar vein, I suppose I may have enjoyed the ending of Home a little more had it not been interrupted by a fire at the restaurant next door, but that's really selling the movie short.

Looking Ahead

So in the interest of actually getting something written, I'm gonna talk about some of the movies coming out this year. I probably won't go to see many of these (being as I am, for the most part, a skint student and until I actually have money I can't really do much) but then many of them I'm already marking as "not good".

The Choice Between Mind-Controlled Orcs and Riding Elephants is Surprisingly Difficult

Well I'm having no luck with motivating myself to write anything for uni, so I'm gonna write a couple of reviews instead. They're a little late - both games I'm talking about here came out late 2014, so why not ring in the new year with them? I wanna talk about two of my favourite games: Shadow of Mordor, and Far Cry 4.

A Magical Journey with a Realist Twist

I'm not much of a "musicals" person, I feel I should say that now. Not for any particular reason - I found the opening of Mamma Mia pretty boring, I didn't stick around for the rest of the film, and I have yet to see Les Mis because... well, for no reason in particular, that actually looks pretty good. But the only musicals I've seen are Disney movies and Pitch Perfect. And now Into the Woods has joined that list.