Mini Movie Reviews 2 - The Reviewening

[Easy E]

Torchwood

I just finished up both seasons of Torchwood and the mini-series. Here are a random collection of thoughts.

1. The characters are not consistent.
2. Some of the Plot Elements seem to use "It's in the Script" motivations
3. Captain Jack is not as fun as he was on Dr. Who. In fact, he's not fun at all, more depressing.
4. Everyone comes across as amatuerish and idiotic, especially people who are military/government types.

Here be spoilers!

1. They kill off the most problematic characters in the final season. Still not enough to save the show apparently.
2. This series has very few happy endings and has an incredibly bleak view of what happens after you die.
3. The series is an interesting counter-point to Dr. Who, because their is no Doctor to save the day. Just a bunch of incredibly flawed people. Therefore, most of the solutions are also incredibly flawed.

In the final analysis, I can't recommend watching this.

Pass

[blackcherry]

Its part of the charm of the show that it was, for a long time, really naff. It has its moments and each season is better than the last, with Season 3 being the generally agreed upon peak. What did you think of Owen and Toshikos sort of redemption as characters in the second series?

[Easy E]

I think the end result was predestined since no one could make those characters work consistently.

I'm still a bit shocked about what they did with Captain Jack's character. He wasn't even the same character from Dr. Who. He felt like a completely different person.

Also, the third season mini-series was very flawed. Once everyoen realizes that the aliens NEED humans, why are they afraid of them wiping out the entire human race. They can't and they won't because they NEED humans. We have the leverage then, because we don;t NEED the 456 (aliens).

However, it fit the themes of "It's In the Script" and everyone is amatuerish and idiotic. Took me right out of the season, which had been building well inthe first three episodes, then the last two went off the rails dramatically.

[El_Machinae]

I liked how dark it was, honestly. Various "moral dilemmas" we recognise were 'solved' by the betrayal of morals.

[CasperTheGhost]

I think the end result was predestined since no one could make those characters work consistently.

I'm still a bit shocked about what they did with Captain Jack's character. He wasn't even the same character from Dr. Who. He felt like a completely different person.

Also, the third season mini-series was very flawed. Once everyoen realizes that the aliens NEED humans, why are they afraid of them wiping out the entire human race. They can't and they won't because they NEED humans. We have the leverage then, because we don;t NEED the 456 (aliens).

However, it fit the themes of "It's In the Script" and everyone is amatuerish and idiotic. Took me right out of the season, which had been building well inthe first three episodes, then the last two went off the rails dramatically.

See I never saw it as the needed humans; they just wanted them for what they provided. They didn't need them to survive after all and its stated that they are, essentially, for feeling good, akin to alcohol etc. for humans.

[blackcherry]

Yep. As I recall it, the way they used the infants was, rather disturbingly, as drugs. So they didn't so much need them, as so much as would happily level every building on the earth to score a fix. The way things turned out was mainly because, as the premier defense against alien invasion, Torchwood was actually pretty naff at the whole deal.

From what was implied, Torchwood mainly survived on Captain Jacks ability to not be able to die and how he was able to be very callous when needed. Along with the Doctor coming to deal with the major problems.

[AsleepByDay]

Also, the third season mini-series was very flawed. Once everyoen realizes that the aliens NEED humans, why are they afraid of them wiping out the entire human race. They can't and they won't because they NEED humans. We have the leverage then, because we don;t NEED the 456 (aliens).

I hated the mini series, thing the whole moral choice was such a joke.
Spoiler warning
I mean seriously, 10% of the children or everyone? As dictated by people with the ability to level cities with impunity?

I really hoped that post the part where they kill the one on earth the aliens would start dropping rocks on major cites before broadcasting the identities of the torchwood team, blaming them and requiring their public deaths to stop the rock dropping.
The stupid idea with the noise would utterly fail as it is stupid, then following the murders of all his team jack would be buried up to the neck concrete and picked up by the aliens who while flying off with 20% of the worlds children would take it in turns to kick him in the face for all time.

[The Highlander]

The main problem I had with Torchwood was that instead of using the opportunity to do proper adult stories they just added loads of sex, violence and swearing in for no real reason. The first series of the Sarah Jane Adventures had more mature story lines, and it’s meant to be a kids show! I did like the third series however, it was only time they had story about mature themes (the scene in the cabinet meeting where they are discussing what children to give up was chilling realistic) and showed the price that sometimes has to be paid for survival.

Oh, and Captain Jack started off annoying and just got worse and worse.

[Easy E]

Yep. As I recall it, the way they used the infants was, rather disturbingly, as drugs.

Trust me, if you are addicted to drugs you "Need" them. If the aliens destroyed all humans, they would no longer be able to get their fix. That immediately makes killing all the humans no longer a feasible strategy for the aliens, and therefore no longer a credible threat.

Of course, that doesn't mean they couldn't kill off a lot of humans, but the aliens never really demonstrate such an ability in the show, since a simple NBC suit protects against their main attack (It's just that only one person int he building had an NBC suit handy).

I did like the contrast between the Pols who were NOT willing to kill their own children for humanities survival and the Capt. Jack who DID sacrifice his one and only Grandchild to save humanity and stop the threat. That was interesting to me. What makes a hero and what makes a leader, are they different and why must they be different?

In other news, I watched the first episode of The Tudors and thought it was total gak. Can someone give me a good compelling reason to watch anymore? The only interesting thing I saw was Sam Neil ACTING! (Points finger dramatically in the air.) Some reason other than copious amounts of sex and nudity. If I only wanted that in my movie watching I would just watch a Pr0n.

[Avian]

With the sequel coming, I thought it might be worthwhile to watch the first one, since it turned up free on internet TV.

The Expendables (2010)
Old man tries too hard. Reminded me of Ford in that latest Indiana Jones movie. Ending was somewhat amusing in an overly pyrotechnical way, but overall nothing you haven't seen before.

Verdict: Take it or leave it
(two out of five)

[blackcherry]

That film was a slog. There is definatly a market for those who like that sort of thing (my mate and all the other blokes in the cinema lapped it up) but to me it was boring, predictable and just so ho hum and they wasted Rorke and Statham. May be that its just not my cup of tea.

[Avian]

I can agree about Rourke, but how was Statham underused? He even got that juvenile sub-plot with Carpenter.

[Nocculum]

The Iron Lady

A solid, stoic, and non-judgemental look at the long, prosperous, and turbulent career of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

It is an interesting reflection on her life, with some heartfelt, well-acted, and humorous moments, mottled with powerful speeches, awkward memories, and tired and familiar phrases. If you are political in any way, this film will likely interest you, and if you are familiar with The Queen, and the King's Speech, and liked it? Then, well, this will be very solid a watch.

I enjoyed it, but through interest, I didn't think it could go much further or wrong...it has all the tour de force of similar films, and it's more than worth watching for Meryl Streep's phenomenal performance. A mixed bag in the end.

Verdict: Rental, avoid if judgemental.

[Private_SeeD]

The Eagle

This wasn't a bad film, however it does follow the usual formula for Roman films. Family dishonoured, so must regain family honour and etc. The acting wasn't that bad but, the action was very good but it should since its the film bread and butter. Had cameo's from Donald Sutherland and Mark Strong. I really enjoyed it and so did my brother but he love's these type's of films

Verdict: Watch 4/5

21 Jump Street

Now all my friends wouldn't shut up about how good this film is, so I finally got around to watch it and after getting over all the cringe worthy moments its a film that doesn't take it self that seriously and even thou its based on a tv show that's about it. It also makes references to the tv show at its expense which are genuinely funny. Also Johnny Depp has a cameo since he was in the tv show and his scene was a typical Johnny Depp scene and think was all made up on the spot. If your looking for a half decent comedy that involves not alot of thinking then rent this film.

Verdict: Rental 3/5

[blackcherry]

I can agree about Rourke, but how was Statham underused? He even got that juvenile sub-plot with Carpenter.

Thats the point. He got a cliched story shoved in (the second I saw he had a girlfriend I actually told my friend what was going to happen and it played out. Beat. For. Beat) and the way the scenes were structured, in that they had no link to the rest of the film, makes it look like they were just dropped into the film.

Just personal preference I guess :P

I saw two films recently.
Avengers(2D)
Late to the party, but still I'm glad I watched it. It did drag in some parts but otherwise its a good film and a perfect rebuttal to the Micheal Bay way of making blockbuster films that has been prevalent the past few years. One thing to mention that is important, is that my other half, who normally has no interest in this sort of stuff, loved the Avengers. So Marvel are doing something right.
Watch

Dark Shadows
Mixed. Its not really a film with a solid plot at all, so its best to go into the film expecting to just watch a film that has all of the actors mucking about and having a bit of fun. Eva Green is fun as always as an evil witch and the two fight it out whilst trading snarky comments and having sex. Things explode, history nearly repeats itself and a sequel is set up.

Rent

[Easy E]

With the sequel coming, I thought it might be worthwhile to watch the first one, since it turned up free on internet TV.

The Expendables (2010)
Old man tries too hard. Reminded me of Ford in that latest Indiana Jones movie. Ending was somewhat amusing in an overly pyrotechnical way, but overall nothing you haven't seen before.

Verdict: Take it or leave it
(two out of five)

My biggest gripe is...

no one was expendable. Not even Dolf.

[ColShaw]

My biggest gripe is...

no one was expendable. Not even Dolf.

Yeah, that bothered me too. A movie with a title like that, there should be one, two survivors at the end, tops.

I actually liked the movie, though. I've got a soft spot for '80s action flicks, and I just saw this as an affectionate homage with lots of familiar faces.

Just saw The Hunger Games yesterday. I think it would've been an excellent movie... if not for the damn editing. Every single shot in the movie felt clipped a couple of seconds too short, and even during slow conversations, the camera kept jumping and cutting away, just from cinematographic hyperactivity I think. Seriously, there were maybe 2 shots in the entire movie that were more than 10 seconds long, and the shaky-cam was truly obnoxious.

It's unfortunate, really, because Jennifer Lawrence and Woody Harrelson are both excellent in it, and it's otherwise compelling and well done.

Worth a Watch nonetheless.

[BigbyWolf]

Right-o, I've seen a few recently, so I'll chuck in a few Mini reviews over the next couple of days...

Stake Land (2010)

As a change, it's a vampire apocalypse film, and not a zombie one. And I thought it was good. A relatively low-key cast (including Kelly McGillis- remember her? I guarantee you won't recognize her...), it's a story about a boy who loses his parents to the vamps at the start of the outbreak, and is rescued by a hunter, known throughout the movie as "Mister". The film them jumps forward to his late teen years where humanity, for the most part, lives in small guarded communities. Over the course of the film Mister & the boy gather a motley crew of survivors (including a pregnant girl, a former soldier, and a nun) as they set out to search for a safe haven.

Dark, gritty, violent without being overly so, and well acted by the main cast.

Verdict- At least rent. I rented it, then bought it. A good break from anything Twilight or True Blood related...in this, Vampire = Evil. And that's all there is to it.

[Avian]

My wife bought this some time ago as she loves Vera Farmiga.


Up In The Air (2009)
It's a romantic comedy by the same guy who directed Juno (so two warning signs right there). Starring George Clooney, the aforementioned Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick (unknown to me, but had some part in the Twilight movies, it seems).
The movie is about responsibility, contributing and loneliness. It's all right, but too long.

Verdict: Watchable
(three out of five)

[Avian]

My biggest gripe is...

no one was expendable. Not even Dolf.

Yeah, I mean, really, Sly. Have you forgotten that...

... he killed Apollo?