The Dog doesn't Die in This One

I'm currently experiencing a revelation of disappointment. You see, I had come to believe that nothing would top the pinnacle of modern cinema that is Captain America: The Winter Soldier; in terms of cinematography, story, and economy of storytelling I believed there was no much which stood up there with it in recent years. Sure, there was The Raid 2 which I consider practically perfect in terms of fight choreography and blocking, but that was perhaps the only contender.
Now, however, we welcome another challenger into the ring.

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:

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.

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".

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.

Star Wars and Serenity had a foul-mouthed baby and it is good!

As I write this I'm listening to Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Vol. 1, so you can already tell what this is going to be about. And on top of the kick-ass soundtrack there's a good movie with some great effects and a surprising depth to the colourful character roster.

How to Break a Dragon's heart

I want to go on record here, right now, and say that at present I prefer Dreamworks to Disney Pixar. Yes, Pixar have had some great films, probably more than Dreamworks, but there's something about the way they handle themselves and the way they portray their characters that makes me wanna root for the guys at Dreamworks.

Oh, and in case you couldn't tell from the title and the opening, this is about How to Train Your Dragon 2.

One Big Colossal-Monster Punch-Up

When Godzilla came out in 1998 I was amazed. I'm ashamed to say it was one of my favourite films (probably - I was six when I first saw it and it stuck in my mind, they obviously did something right) but I have never watched it since I was old enough to go and see 12-rated movies in the cinema. Now, with the rise of a new Western take on Japan's biggest export (from head to feet) it's time to see how Gareth Edwards' more traditional interpretation of a classic kaiju holds up.

Bigger, Better, Bloodier!

If Gareth Evans is a name with which you are unfamiliar, why do you read this blog? It's about movies. And Gareth Evans is a name which, in the movie, world, is quickly becoming huge. When The Raid hit screens three years ago, it was a low-budget, gritty martial arts action film and its visceral action sequences and close camera work made it a cult hit and raked in fifteen times its one million-dollar budget.

Now, The Raid 2: Berandal is out in cinemas and it's bigger, badder and bloodier than ever before. Featuring a more expansive world, more involving story and an impressive array of detailed characters, it's still the bone-crunching, face-breaking fist-thrower the prequel was; only this time, Evans has the budget to spread it about a bit.

The Winter Soldier: The SPOILERIFFIC Review

WARNING: SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER AND DO NOT WISH TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN IT, DO NOT READ THIS POST.

A Night-time Screening of a Slick Superhero Spy Thriller

There's something interesting about a midnight screening. Perhaps it's the exclusivity - being the first one to see a movie, being able to call it before anyone else, and when they ask the next day you, bleary-eyed and proud, can stand up and say "Yes! I have seen that movie!". Perhaps it's the silence as you step out of the cinema and realise it's nearly three in the morning - the one time of day you can see a movie and the sky looks pretty much the same when you leave as when you went in. Perhaps it's just the fact that it's midnight - it's always been a pretty special time.

Whatever the reason, I expected something special out of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And I can't say I was disappointed.

Pastel-Coloured Poetry in Motion: Zipping through Wes Anderson's Latest Flick

Wes Anderson was not, until recently, a name which appeared on my radar. Which is a shame, because it's going to take me so long to get this finished because I'm watching The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou as I write this. Anderson's films have a way of drawing you in, and the same can be said of his latest offering.

Summon Creature of Habit: my experience with HabitRPG

The past few weeks I've been trying to make better use of my time than simply watching YouTube videos and neglecting to practise my languages. I've already told you how useful I find Duolingo as a tool, but the reason I've been using it daily is because it's one of the habits I've been training myself to pick up, thanks to an ingenious little tool which has been helping me pick up better habits.

It's called HabitRPG, and it works like a traditional 8-bit RPG: you get hit points and experience - you gain the latter by ticking things off your to-do list, and you lose the former by avoiding your daily tasks (for me, that's usually language practice and writing). Okay, so maybe not entirely like an 8-bit RPG. But the principle is the same; if you lose all your HP, I assume you die. I haven't been apathetic enough to try this yet.

Movies, Oscars and a pre-Valentine's Day Apology...

I feel like Inside Llewyn Davis has really drawn the short straw in being out this year. In time for the Oscars this February, it's netted just two nominations (for cinematography and sound mixing - how did this miss Best original score?!), coming up against such giants as American Hustle and Gravity. Which seems a shame, really, given my opinions.

'Tis the Season...

I really should stop reviewing movies. For one thing, I can't stand any of them. I go in expecting something brilliant, and the half I like is always overshadowed by the half I detest. Sometimes there's too much story getting in the way of a cheap-thrills B-movie ride, sometimes there's all action when we need some quiet talk and agonised looks. I hate trilogies, I hate superhero movies, I hate plodding crime "thrillers". I hate movies, basically. But I really hate the fact that awards-season is rolling round now, because it means we get into these thick, story-heavy movies at a time when you need a marshmallowy chocolate winter warmer.

Why I kinda hate superhero movies. And trilogies in general...

Okay, so I don't know what started off the whole trilogy thing. Maybe it was the Godfather, or the Dollars trilogy. Answers vary, some even dating as far back as Boris Karloff's stint as Frankenstein in Frankenstein(1931), Bride of Frankenstein(1935), and Son of Frankenstein(1939). I couldn't say for sure, of course - I haven't seen enough films to say for certain, and even if I had my opinion is a drop in the film-review ocean - but what I do know is this:

I utterly hate them.

Two Toms on top form, in two very different movies

Having adjusted to uni life, it's been nice to relax and unwind this past week. Since yesterday, I've seen two films, and it's remarkable how good cinema has become now the summer blockbuster season is over. The two films I watched bridged the gap between vacuous action movie and Autumn Oscar-bait, and it's interesting to see the contrast, but also the stand-out performances which really make both films. So here we go: my review of Thor: The Dark World and Captain Phillips.

Love, Betrayal, and the unnerving sight of Nathan Fillion in a fat suit...

This blog is fast becoming entirely movie-related - not entirely a bad thing, mind, it's good to have some direction and an audience in mind - but then apart from movies I haven't really done anything. Except I was in Stratford on Tuesday, wandering around the big park behind the RSC theatre and eating Turkish Delight and Earl Grey ice cream (these are real things and they are AWESOME!).

And I was there to see a movie. So, you know, movies still are the only interesting thing I really do. Ho hey.

Hobbit Hang-ups

So the Hobbit is coming out tomorrow. Peter Jackson's new trilogy, and it's starring Martin Freeman and a whole ton of Hollywood heavyweights, not to mention Benedict Cumberbatch. From the cast list alone I'm expecting a flashier version of BBC's Sherlock; what can I say? I'm setting myself up for disappointment here.