pflynt

Ender’s Game (2013) – Dir: Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Tsotsi)

I admit I am kind of happy to see the beginning of the film verbatim as it was in the book. This film feels G-rated, unlike the intellectually sophisticated, elegant and violent story that it is based on. Valentine Wiggin (Abigail Breslin) is frail and empty as a character. Ender (Asa Butterfield) is weak andContinue reading “Ender’s Game (2013) – Dir: Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Tsotsi)”

Tsotsi (2005) – Dir: Gavin Hood (Ender’s Game, X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

It grips you, the trials of these characters. Thug ‘Tsotsi’ (Presley Chweneyagae) tries to make a name for himself. Crew collapsing in on itself after a murder. Tsotsi, the gangster, hides from the rain. Drawn into the situation, relies on instincts instilled in him since he was young. He reacts as his character should. WhatContinue reading “Tsotsi (2005) – Dir: Gavin Hood (Ender’s Game, X-Men Origins: Wolverine)”

Pacific Rim (2013) – Dir: Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy: The Golden Army, The Devil’s Backbone)

I appreciate the exposition of the alien versus mecha theoretical construct, yet the audio feels like it’s been swiped directly from Alien. Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam – Sons of Anarchy) as our narrator/hero, Raleigh Becket, is somewhat cool. Typecasting be damned, it’s nice to see a sauve gangster taking on aliens and trying to saveContinue reading “Pacific Rim (2013) – Dir: Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy: The Golden Army, The Devil’s Backbone)”

Accepted (2006) – Dir: Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine – he also wrote High Fidelity and Grosse Point Blank)

Feels like a National Lampoon’s comedy. Bartleby ‘B’ Gaines (Justin Long) keeps quiet about his feelings for Monica (Blake Lively,) due to a fear of being exposed, humiliated by rejection. Justin Long is lively, funny and committed to the role. Bartleby, as a character, is witty and more Ferris Bueller than Ferris Bueller. Schrader (JonahContinue reading “Accepted (2006) – Dir: Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine – he also wrote High Fidelity and Grosse Point Blank)”

Traitor (2008) – Dir: Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Despite containing a mystery (which once you’ve seen the film, you know the secret,) Traitor is immensely re-watchable. This is a complex spy game. We know that someone is a traitor, but from whose perspective? Who is the traitor? And did he betray the cause, or his country? Stuck in a Yemen prison, we areContinue reading “Traitor (2008) – Dir: Jeffrey Nachmanoff”

Man of Steel (2013) – Dir: Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch)

It’s a little unsettling to begin by watching a woman give birth. We all knew well in advance of this film’s release, that Russell Crowe was going to take up Marlon Brando’s role as Jor-El. Russell rocks the shiznit. However, as good a job as the makers did on this film, a lot of theContinue reading “Man of Steel (2013) – Dir: Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch)”

And Everything is Going Fine (2010) – Dir: Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich, Sex Lies and Videotape)

And Everything is Going Fine is told in excerpts from interviews of, and live monologues by Spalding Gray; telling the story of his life. This is a tribute to his life, after his death in 2004. Gray became famous for his unique artform, he sits at a table before a live audience and tells a storyContinue reading “And Everything is Going Fine (2010) – Dir: Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich, Sex Lies and Videotape)”

After Burner – stages 1 and 2 (sega master system)

The first couple of attempts I’m left feeling is that it? Is that worth considering for a top games list? Or am I simply remembering and romanticising the arcade version which was shaped like a fighter jet and bent and moved with the jet on the screen. And vibrated when your jet got shot. IContinue reading “After Burner – stages 1 and 2 (sega master system)”

Birdman (2014) – Dir: Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Babel, Amores Perros)

I was looking forward to this movie. It’s had quite the build-up. Everybody is saying how amazing it is and I was already aware that the director had made some impressive films leading up to this one, (which I haven’t yet got around to seeing.) So that has given substance to the myth that BirdmanContinue reading “Birdman (2014) – Dir: Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Babel, Amores Perros)”

CQ (2001) – Dir: Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom)

This is a forgettable film, despite having all the elements of an intelligent, satisfying art film. It’s about filmmaking. It takes a shot at scifi (so-called genre films) but it isn’t funny, so I wouldn’t call it satire. Gerard Depardieu and Billy Zane are featured fairly prominently in this film, but their performances are ineffectiveContinue reading “CQ (2001) – Dir: Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom)”