Steve has written 32 reviews for films during 2014.
-
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969
Both the film and Lazenby get panned frequently, even by me, but then I realised it had been years since I had seen it and gave it another go and I was so surprised. It was great!
This was the first time they recast bond and while its old hat to us now at the time people were not happy. However, after You Only Live Twice I'm glad Connery didn't come back for this. Lazenby brought a youthful freshnes and…
-
Thor 2011
When I first watched this film I gave it four stars. Then time passed and I looked back on it as a film and all I could remember was Branagh's wonky camera angles that are just as excessive as JJ's flares on camera but I revisited it last night and loved it again...despite the wonky camera.
A lot of people were shocked when they heard that Kenneth Branagh was doing a Marvel movie but I can totally see why Thor…
-
The Emperor's New Groove 2000
Really fun and extremely underrated. I can probably guess why. Two reasons, not a well known story and the main voice is David Spader, not an actor that has many followers. Many didn't give this film a single chance, and they were so wrong to do so.
This film is extremely fun and the script is superb. Even David Mamet commented that this film was one of the most superior scripts in Hollywood at that time. Told beautifully through flash…
-
After Earth 2013
I avoided this at the cinema. Shyamalan, Smith and son, space... The parts of the sum did not give a good total in my opinion. However, I watched it last night on Blu ray and was pleasantly surprised.
It's not amazing. It's not great. But it's not bad either.
A decent enough premise, a small amount of time on back story, lots of well crafted action, some beautiful CGI and a different kind of performance from Will Smith...measured. Something I…
-
The Bourne Legacy 2012
I think this film has a really hard time. With the departure of both Damon and Greengrass a lot of people had written this movie off before even watching it. I love the Damon and Greengrass Bourne films but was determined to not let that cloud my judgement.
I'm glad I did. This is actually a well crafted movie. Intelligent, exciting and thrilling. Good performances and Renner as Cross gives a different type of hero than Bourne with different intentions…
-
Gone Girl 2014
Lots of people have raved about this...
I am not one of them.
It's ok. Its a good film and worth your time. It has a better story than most films out these days so please go and watch it...but...
It only works as a film because of Four things. 1) Finchers very careful and precise direction. 2) Affleck 3) Pike 4) Reznors soundtrack that builds tension well.
In truth it would have worked better as a 22 episode TV…
-
The Great Gatsby 2013
I know a lot of people thought this was more style than aubstance and story. I would strongly disagree. Yes...it oozes Baz Luhrmann style but it deals with substance and plot equally. I think that such blatant style is so infrequently seen that when we see it at this level people give a knee jerk reaction against it.
Luhrmann crafts a twenties New York unseen on cinema before infused with pop culture of now to help create the excitement that…
-
The Mist 2007
I had the pleasure of spending 24 hours with my brother recently (@robdoginson) who is having his own shock-Tober. I noticed that in his selection wasn't the mist. He had talked a lot to me about the film and so I borrowed it from him. He lent it me on the proviso....I must watch the black and white version, not the colour version. I duly obliged.
Starting with the Frank Darabont intro that says he wanted to use the black…
-
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones 2002
Right. I know when you first think of this film the word shocking comes to mind but I decided to look again for a fresh perspective. The script is bad. Hayden Christensen is awful. Ewan McGregor seems to be sucking a smug lemon for the entirety of the film, not a great start.
But...
There are lots of positives to take away from this. Visually this film is amazing. Some of the shots Lucas sets up are beautiful. Some of…
-
The Blair Witch Project 1999
I first watched this at my cinema at midnight on Halloween when it first came out back in 1999. I had spent weeks following the viral marketing scheme. I was hooked and I left the cinema completely freaked.
Fifteen years on I have fond memories of this evening and wanted to relive what I experienced that night in the cinema. I failed...
Awful. Awful. Awful.
I hated all the characters. Heather being an annoying control freak with no essence of…
-
Scream 1996
This was one of the first teen slasher flicks that I watched growing up and loved it. Last night was the question of does it still hold up when I'm nearly twenty years older? Yes and no.
Still extremely entertaining. Still extremely enjoyable. Still a lot of fun. A great script that is witty and self aware yet honouring of what has come before it. Craven and Williamson have created a tongue in cheek movie that still fits and respects…
-
RoboCop 2014
It's ok.
A good example of how to take the essence of an eighties movie but reboot it with modern day politics.
It's nowhere near perfect but a lot of fun. Give it two hours of your life. Don't expect fireworks...just lots of explosions, some great effects, an ok plot and Samuel.L.Jackson being Samuel.L.Jackson with hair.
Oh, and Gary Oldman is very good in it.