Reviews
Let Me In (2010)
Let it be...
I have just got out of a preview screening of this movie (UK viewer) and it is the first time i have left the cinema with a smile on my face in years. It was a brilliant remake of the Swedish original, and although it takes the structure and the characters from the original, it stands on its own as a different take on the story.
Critics, including myself, had fingers at the keyboard ready to slaughter this film, and hang it and use it as a hung example as to why Hollywood shouldn't remake foreign films. It is completely the opposite, it has kept the integrity of the first film and focused mostly on the relationship between the vampire and the child, but added much more depth to their characters, and some better more intense than the original.
Although it is advertised as a horror film to bring in the masses, it is so much more. There is a lot more blood and guts than the first but not taken out of proportion. And the bond between the protagonist's is beautifully played out, such a bizarre situation made to feel real by two blossoming young actors. Every performance was of great quality.
I don't want to spoil the movie, but expect some of the same but something completely different. An intense thriller beautifully shot and worthy of it's original... check it out
9/10
Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
One Protagonist, One Antagonist...
I am just not sure which is which.
I am trying to avoid spoilers here, because it is a definite film you must check out because it is a great new take on the prison based thriller genre, which provides 90 odd minutes of great entertainment with lots of twists and turns to keep the story fresh.
My main criticism is that the story seems to twist and turn so much it gets itself into a nasty tangle. The base of any thriller for an audience, is to want the protagonist to prosper at the downfall of the antagonist, but at the end, i was unsure which of one of the two mains, Nick Rice (foxx) or Clyde Shelton (butler) i should be 'cheering' for.
Each Character has their fair amount of being the good guy, but both were more of the bad guy, a very confusing aspect to a thriller.
Never-the-less, there are some brilliant performances and a very entertaining fresh story kept me glued to the screen for the entirety of the movie.
****/5
Avatar (2009)
The End Of The Gimmick
This is my first review ever on IMDb, and it follows me leaving the cinema 15 minutes ago. The movie gave breakthrough advances in cinematic technology, the birth of the new 3D, Real D, and also a good 2 and a half hours of great entertainment which left me wanting more of the same breed.
I watched the film with huge expectations after seeing a 20 minute preview in new york, back in July.I was originally sceptical of the use of 3D having seen the other releases this past year, Final destination, my bloody valentine and a handful of 3d animation films, using 3D as nothing more as a unique selling point, and a use to get cheap shocks. Avatar finally see's the breakthrough of this.
Since the 1920's 3Dimensional cinema has tried to make its mark and failed, but with focusing more on deep field photography as oppose to the objects flying towards you, is now a proved success. The elaborate colourful world of Pandora is really brought to life with the long shots viewing the never ending wild mountains and forests, whilst fast-paced action entertains the foreground.
The huge artillery used by the army to the arrows used by the na'vis also shows massive steps into making animation looking as real as possible, and for first time i can recall, actually looked impressive alongside real action.
My only snag about the movie, is that some of the performances could have been stronger but nevertheless, they pulled together to back up the breathtaking special effects.
9/10