In Time (more like waste of time)
Singer turned actor Justin Timberlake (friends with benefits) stars along side Amanda Seyfried (red riding hood) in Writer/director Andrew Niccol’s sci-fi thriller In Time that is really a film about those that have – time – and those that have not – time, to live, that is.
It’s a futuristic dystopian vision in which humans have all been genetically modified to perfection and stop ageing at twenty-five. This comes at one big price, however, and that is after reaching twenty-five, there is only one year left to live, As a result, there are the rich who have centuries, even millennia to live, and those who get by with only days or hours at a time before
they inevitably “time out.”
In this world we meet Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) a struggling working class guy from the poor Time Zone of Dayton who happens upon the rich time holder Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) in a bar one night who has grown tired of living and wants to die. When Henry is attacked by minutemen – thugs who rob time from other people – Will saves him and takes him to a hideout. The next morning, however, Henry transfers over a century of time to Will while he is sleeping and slips away only to time out on a bridge. This leaves Will the prime suspect in his murder and wanted by the Time Keepers, time cops who keep the Time Clock in order.
Will makes his way to one of the wealthy time zones where he wins big at poker against Weis, a millionaire time lender, but the time keepers show up to arrest him, so he takes Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried), the millionaire’s daughter hostage. On the run, the two eventually form a bond and
become like modern day Robin Hoods for the time-deficient, exposing a deep truth about the time clock system.
I’d wish I could like In Time, but it really gets boring in no time at all (sorry for the pun). if you like this genre of film then I would check out Limitless staring Bradley Cooper based on the novel by Alan Glynn called The Dark Fields instead of In time as in my opinion it is far more enjoyable. After watching JT in the fantastic friends with benefits I was hoping for another good performance but although I think the story let's this film down JT's character lacked substance to make you
sympathise with his plight.
So my verdict is simple, if this future was the reality then I have just wasted 1hr 49 minutes of my PRECIOUS TIME watching this film!
It’s a futuristic dystopian vision in which humans have all been genetically modified to perfection and stop ageing at twenty-five. This comes at one big price, however, and that is after reaching twenty-five, there is only one year left to live, As a result, there are the rich who have centuries, even millennia to live, and those who get by with only days or hours at a time before
they inevitably “time out.”
In this world we meet Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) a struggling working class guy from the poor Time Zone of Dayton who happens upon the rich time holder Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) in a bar one night who has grown tired of living and wants to die. When Henry is attacked by minutemen – thugs who rob time from other people – Will saves him and takes him to a hideout. The next morning, however, Henry transfers over a century of time to Will while he is sleeping and slips away only to time out on a bridge. This leaves Will the prime suspect in his murder and wanted by the Time Keepers, time cops who keep the Time Clock in order.
Will makes his way to one of the wealthy time zones where he wins big at poker against Weis, a millionaire time lender, but the time keepers show up to arrest him, so he takes Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried), the millionaire’s daughter hostage. On the run, the two eventually form a bond and
become like modern day Robin Hoods for the time-deficient, exposing a deep truth about the time clock system.
I’d wish I could like In Time, but it really gets boring in no time at all (sorry for the pun). if you like this genre of film then I would check out Limitless staring Bradley Cooper based on the novel by Alan Glynn called The Dark Fields instead of In time as in my opinion it is far more enjoyable. After watching JT in the fantastic friends with benefits I was hoping for another good performance but although I think the story let's this film down JT's character lacked substance to make you
sympathise with his plight.
So my verdict is simple, if this future was the reality then I have just wasted 1hr 49 minutes of my PRECIOUS TIME watching this film!
Moneyball
Moneyball is based on the 2003 novel by Michael Lewis of the same name which see's Brad Pitt star as baseball's modern day hero Billy Beane who's legendary approach to managing a professional league team earned himself and Oakland a place in baseball history as they managed to win 20 games (american league record) in a row on a shoe string budget replacing key star players with unknown's or players rejected by the other franchises as not being up to major league standards.
Beane hires a young statistician by the name of Peter Brand who uses a system called sabermetric to work out stats on players and their possible potential value.
Aswell as Pitt the film stars Jonah Hill (superbad, Knocked up) as Brand the film also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman (the boat that rocks).
The film is engrossing even if like me you aren't a fan of baseball and you get so caught up in Billy's plight that you don't notice that the film is nearly 2 hours long.
Overall Moneyball is a really good film well acted and certainly worth a watch
Beane hires a young statistician by the name of Peter Brand who uses a system called sabermetric to work out stats on players and their possible potential value.
Aswell as Pitt the film stars Jonah Hill (superbad, Knocked up) as Brand the film also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman (the boat that rocks).
The film is engrossing even if like me you aren't a fan of baseball and you get so caught up in Billy's plight that you don't notice that the film is nearly 2 hours long.
Overall Moneyball is a really good film well acted and certainly worth a watch
The devils double
This is a true story based on one of Saddam Hussein’s sons Uday and one of his political doubles an ex Iraqi soldier named Latif Yahia (Dominic Cooper). The film is directed by New Zealand director Lee Tamahori best known for Die another Day.
The film centre’s around the relationship between the sadistic Uday and Latif, based around events leading and up to the Iraqi war. Latif tries on numerous occasions to resist Uday’s ways but each time he is drawn deeper to the house of Hussein’s evil ways.
This film needs to be viewed with a open mind but as I found out that if you don’t believe in the Iraqi war this film shows how sadistic to their own people the Hussein’s actually where, although this is a western film so you can’t really be too sure that these events actually happened.
Dominic Cooper is fantastic as both Uday & Latif there is also a good performance from French actress Ludivine Sagnier best known for appearing alongside Vincent Cassel in Mesrine.
The film centre’s around the relationship between the sadistic Uday and Latif, based around events leading and up to the Iraqi war. Latif tries on numerous occasions to resist Uday’s ways but each time he is drawn deeper to the house of Hussein’s evil ways.
This film needs to be viewed with a open mind but as I found out that if you don’t believe in the Iraqi war this film shows how sadistic to their own people the Hussein’s actually where, although this is a western film so you can’t really be too sure that these events actually happened.
Dominic Cooper is fantastic as both Uday & Latif there is also a good performance from French actress Ludivine Sagnier best known for appearing alongside Vincent Cassel in Mesrine.
TED
Unless you have been in a coma for the last 4 months you'll already be aware the "Ted" is one of this year’s must see comedy movies.
It stars Donnie Wahlberg the beautiful Mila Kunis and the the voice of TED is Seth McFarland of family guy fame.
John Bennett is a lonely boy from south Boston who dreams of having a friend a friend for life. John parents can see how lonely he is and they decide to buy John a large teddy bear for Christmas that John names Teddy. One night as John is about to go to sleep he wish for Teddy to be real and that they were friends for life, much to John's amazement and surprise his wish has come true Teddy is a walking talking real life friend, a new best friend for life. Teddy becomes a minor celebrity in his own right of a couple of years but as the novelty wears off Teddy and John remain friends for life.
Fast forward to the modern day and having moved to the high class Southend district of Boston John & Teddy's somewhat immature friendship remains firmly intact as they spend time getting stoned, watching
movies and generally hanging out like best friends do. John is in a long term relationship with level headed Lori (Kunis) an ambitious office worker who is becoming increasingly frustrated by Johns lack of commitment and ambition to make something of this life and also putting some distance between himself and his oversized cuddly toy and matters are made worse when Lori comes home one night only to find Ted and 4 prostitutes in the flat. John is forced by Lori to distance himself from his friend or they’ll have no future together.
This movie has plenty of funny parts to it and not just the ones on the trailer in my opinion it's a film you need to watch a few times to capture all of the humour, am sure while your laughing at one thing you miss other funny bits. Look out for the thunder song am sure you’ll be signing it for weeks to come afterwards.
A word of warning though this movie captures the same sort of humour as family guy so be prepared for the odd near the knuckle piece of comedy and there is also a lot of drug taking or drug taking references, so if you watch it be aware of who you are watching it with.
There is also some guest appearances form American singer Norah Jones, Sam Jones from the 80's Flash Gordon movie and also look out for a Giovani Ribisi and a deranged stalker.
Overall I think TED is an overwhelming success of a movie, cleverly written and the effects are as you would expect nowadays. If you’re a fan of comedy then defiantly don't miss it.
It stars Donnie Wahlberg the beautiful Mila Kunis and the the voice of TED is Seth McFarland of family guy fame.
John Bennett is a lonely boy from south Boston who dreams of having a friend a friend for life. John parents can see how lonely he is and they decide to buy John a large teddy bear for Christmas that John names Teddy. One night as John is about to go to sleep he wish for Teddy to be real and that they were friends for life, much to John's amazement and surprise his wish has come true Teddy is a walking talking real life friend, a new best friend for life. Teddy becomes a minor celebrity in his own right of a couple of years but as the novelty wears off Teddy and John remain friends for life.
Fast forward to the modern day and having moved to the high class Southend district of Boston John & Teddy's somewhat immature friendship remains firmly intact as they spend time getting stoned, watching
movies and generally hanging out like best friends do. John is in a long term relationship with level headed Lori (Kunis) an ambitious office worker who is becoming increasingly frustrated by Johns lack of commitment and ambition to make something of this life and also putting some distance between himself and his oversized cuddly toy and matters are made worse when Lori comes home one night only to find Ted and 4 prostitutes in the flat. John is forced by Lori to distance himself from his friend or they’ll have no future together.
This movie has plenty of funny parts to it and not just the ones on the trailer in my opinion it's a film you need to watch a few times to capture all of the humour, am sure while your laughing at one thing you miss other funny bits. Look out for the thunder song am sure you’ll be signing it for weeks to come afterwards.
A word of warning though this movie captures the same sort of humour as family guy so be prepared for the odd near the knuckle piece of comedy and there is also a lot of drug taking or drug taking references, so if you watch it be aware of who you are watching it with.
There is also some guest appearances form American singer Norah Jones, Sam Jones from the 80's Flash Gordon movie and also look out for a Giovani Ribisi and a deranged stalker.
Overall I think TED is an overwhelming success of a movie, cleverly written and the effects are as you would expect nowadays. If you’re a fan of comedy then defiantly don't miss it.
The Hunger Games
One of 2012 most anticipated movies was The Hunger Games, the film is based on the top selling teenager aimed novel by American author Suzanne Collins, don’t get me wrong though both the book and the movie are suitable for an adult audience too, I have reviewed the book in the Book’s & eBook’s section of the site.
The movie is directed by Gary Ross who’s other movies include Toby Maguire & Seabiscuit to name a few, the movie stars
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald
Sutherland as its main stars.
The story takes place in post apocalyptic country named Panem where the country is split into 12 poorer districts & the wealthy capitol, each districts has to a lottery called “The Reaping” where 1 boy & 1 girl aged between 12 – 18
called tributes are selected to take part as tributes in the televised event know as “The Hunger Games” , A fight to the death where only the fittest & strongest tribute can win and earn the ultimate prize in Panem wealth and fame, the reaping is a stark reminder to the people of Panem when a civil uprising once threatened the country and is the capitols way of showing Panem that any future uprisings will be crushed and retribution served to the districts.
District 12 is a poor district in the country where the main source for the district is mining, each district has an industry but some are more wealthier industries than others, so in d12 in order for extra income for her family Katniss Everdeen (Jenifer Lawerence) has found that if she hunts outside the districts boarders she is able to use her catches to trade for some luxuries / niceties to help her family survive.
At the reaping though against all the odds Primrose Everdeen in her first reaping at the age of 12 is selected for “The Hunger Games”, unable to let this happen her older sister Katniss volunteers as tribute something that has never happened in district 12 ever, alongside Katniss a bakers son named Peeta Mellark is chosen as district 12’s competitors for the 74th annual Hunger games. The tributes are taken to the capitol where they meet there mentors who will hopefully guide the tribute to ultimate victory in the games.
The games are a brutal televised show peace that the whole country is made to watch, the camera's cover everything and the competetor's have no where to shelter themselves from the camera's, this allows the rich to bet on tributes by sponsoring them and providing the mentors with money that can mean a tribute can be sent items that will help them in the rough forest terrain of the games.
The film is action packed and the effects are really good, I will say this though if like me you have read the book you will feel slightly disappointed that the movie doesn’t quite do the fantastic book the justice it deserves.
There are some really good performances so as Lawrence but in my opinion the real star is Woody Harrelson (cheers, white men can’t jump, natural born killers, zombieland to name just a few) as Haymitch Abernathy an alcoholic former winner of the games who is Katniss & Peeta’s mentor, there
are also some other standout performances but Harrleson defiantly was well cast as Haymitch.
This though is still a really enjoyably good movie and like the book is defiantly worth checking out.
The movie is directed by Gary Ross who’s other movies include Toby Maguire & Seabiscuit to name a few, the movie stars
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald
Sutherland as its main stars.
The story takes place in post apocalyptic country named Panem where the country is split into 12 poorer districts & the wealthy capitol, each districts has to a lottery called “The Reaping” where 1 boy & 1 girl aged between 12 – 18
called tributes are selected to take part as tributes in the televised event know as “The Hunger Games” , A fight to the death where only the fittest & strongest tribute can win and earn the ultimate prize in Panem wealth and fame, the reaping is a stark reminder to the people of Panem when a civil uprising once threatened the country and is the capitols way of showing Panem that any future uprisings will be crushed and retribution served to the districts.
District 12 is a poor district in the country where the main source for the district is mining, each district has an industry but some are more wealthier industries than others, so in d12 in order for extra income for her family Katniss Everdeen (Jenifer Lawerence) has found that if she hunts outside the districts boarders she is able to use her catches to trade for some luxuries / niceties to help her family survive.
At the reaping though against all the odds Primrose Everdeen in her first reaping at the age of 12 is selected for “The Hunger Games”, unable to let this happen her older sister Katniss volunteers as tribute something that has never happened in district 12 ever, alongside Katniss a bakers son named Peeta Mellark is chosen as district 12’s competitors for the 74th annual Hunger games. The tributes are taken to the capitol where they meet there mentors who will hopefully guide the tribute to ultimate victory in the games.
The games are a brutal televised show peace that the whole country is made to watch, the camera's cover everything and the competetor's have no where to shelter themselves from the camera's, this allows the rich to bet on tributes by sponsoring them and providing the mentors with money that can mean a tribute can be sent items that will help them in the rough forest terrain of the games.
The film is action packed and the effects are really good, I will say this though if like me you have read the book you will feel slightly disappointed that the movie doesn’t quite do the fantastic book the justice it deserves.
There are some really good performances so as Lawrence but in my opinion the real star is Woody Harrelson (cheers, white men can’t jump, natural born killers, zombieland to name just a few) as Haymitch Abernathy an alcoholic former winner of the games who is Katniss & Peeta’s mentor, there
are also some other standout performances but Harrleson defiantly was well cast as Haymitch.
This though is still a really enjoyably good movie and like the book is defiantly worth checking out.
The Sweeney (2012)
English director Nick Love returns the to the big screen with this modern day remake of the popular late 70's TV show about the London metropolitan police forces flying squad The Sweeney.
Director Nick Love best known for films such as Football Factory, The Business, outlaw, The Firm (remake). The Sweeney follows on his tradition of using the cream of British actors for the main roles.
In the Sweeney Nick Love has cast veteran British actor Ray Winstone as Jack Regan and rapper / actor Ben Drew (plan b) as George Carter The film also stars Damian Lewis, Hayley Atwell and Steven
Mackintosh.
The movie see's as Winstone head of London's elite flying squad who's excessive but successful methods of catching criminals is causing the department to be investigated from within despite its success in catching the criminals.
The team are hot in the heels of a jewellery heist team that murder a customer in the latest heist they pull but as Regan and Carter discover all is not as it seems and with the division already under the
spotlight things soon spiral out of control for the pair.
The movie is actually a decent British crime film and am not ashamed to say that I was very much surprised at this film, ok maybe
Ben Drew shouldn't hang up his gold bling microphone just yet but to be honest he actually suites the roll a Carter.
Overall this movie is decent and in my opinion providing you’re a fan of British crime films this movie is worth watch although don't expect it to be a classic.
Director Nick Love best known for films such as Football Factory, The Business, outlaw, The Firm (remake). The Sweeney follows on his tradition of using the cream of British actors for the main roles.
In the Sweeney Nick Love has cast veteran British actor Ray Winstone as Jack Regan and rapper / actor Ben Drew (plan b) as George Carter The film also stars Damian Lewis, Hayley Atwell and Steven
Mackintosh.
The movie see's as Winstone head of London's elite flying squad who's excessive but successful methods of catching criminals is causing the department to be investigated from within despite its success in catching the criminals.
The team are hot in the heels of a jewellery heist team that murder a customer in the latest heist they pull but as Regan and Carter discover all is not as it seems and with the division already under the
spotlight things soon spiral out of control for the pair.
The movie is actually a decent British crime film and am not ashamed to say that I was very much surprised at this film, ok maybe
Ben Drew shouldn't hang up his gold bling microphone just yet but to be honest he actually suites the roll a Carter.
Overall this movie is decent and in my opinion providing you’re a fan of British crime films this movie is worth watch although don't expect it to be a classic.
The Story of "Wish You Were Here"
If you were discovering music in 1960's, 70's or even 1980's there is one band that am sure changed the way looked at popular music that band was PINK FLOYD
One of Pink Floyds most iconic albums and my personal favourite was "Wish you were here" right from the opening of shine on you crazy diamond to the closing parts of the same song this album takes hold and refuses to let go until you have been on a musical rollercoaster.
Wish you were here was Floyd's follow up to the hugely acclaimed Dark side of the moon which in its own rights is a masterpiece so what this documentary does Is lift the lid on how this follow up album came about, it features interviews with all the band including Rick Wright who has since sadly passed away.
This is a must for all Pink Floyd fans young and old
One of Pink Floyds most iconic albums and my personal favourite was "Wish you were here" right from the opening of shine on you crazy diamond to the closing parts of the same song this album takes hold and refuses to let go until you have been on a musical rollercoaster.
Wish you were here was Floyd's follow up to the hugely acclaimed Dark side of the moon which in its own rights is a masterpiece so what this documentary does Is lift the lid on how this follow up album came about, it features interviews with all the band including Rick Wright who has since sadly passed away.
This is a must for all Pink Floyd fans young and old
Savages
Savages see's Oliver Stone returns for his first film in 3 years after he directed the sequel to "Wall Street"- "Wall Street 2
Money Never Sleeps” back in 2010.
Savages is a crime thriller with a pretty decent cast consisting of Benicio del Toro, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Aaron Johnson & Salma Hayek. Savages also stars Blake Lively who's character named O short for Ophelia narrates this movie which is not unusual but it really seems to work in this movie.
The film is about 2 boyhood friends from Laguna Beach California "Chon" (Taylor Kitsch) an ex navy seal who smuggles out some seeds on a tour in Afghanistan along with "Ben" (Aaron Johnston) a business & botany student out if Berkeley reinvent the home grown marijuana trade and become the biggest import / exporters of the drug in America but there success has a price the lads become wanted by the Baja a ruthless Mexican Cartel who
want the boys to work with them but when Chon & Ben turn them down the Baja kidnap O until the boys agree to the partnership.
The boys set about doing whatever they need to do to free O from the Baja and with the help of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta) this takes them on a dangerous and bloody war with the cartel. This film is at times violent well the blu-ray version has an unrated version which is the version which I watched and with a ruining time of a little under 4 hours be sure you are in the right frame of mind when sitting down to watch this.
Money Never Sleeps” back in 2010.
Savages is a crime thriller with a pretty decent cast consisting of Benicio del Toro, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Aaron Johnson & Salma Hayek. Savages also stars Blake Lively who's character named O short for Ophelia narrates this movie which is not unusual but it really seems to work in this movie.
The film is about 2 boyhood friends from Laguna Beach California "Chon" (Taylor Kitsch) an ex navy seal who smuggles out some seeds on a tour in Afghanistan along with "Ben" (Aaron Johnston) a business & botany student out if Berkeley reinvent the home grown marijuana trade and become the biggest import / exporters of the drug in America but there success has a price the lads become wanted by the Baja a ruthless Mexican Cartel who
want the boys to work with them but when Chon & Ben turn them down the Baja kidnap O until the boys agree to the partnership.
The boys set about doing whatever they need to do to free O from the Baja and with the help of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta) this takes them on a dangerous and bloody war with the cartel. This film is at times violent well the blu-ray version has an unrated version which is the version which I watched and with a ruining time of a little under 4 hours be sure you are in the right frame of mind when sitting down to watch this.
Taken 2
Liam Neeson returns in the taken 2 as Bryan Mills a retired CIA agent who after rescuing his daughter Kim in taken is hunted himself by the families of the men he'd murdered while rescuing her.
This time Neeson is kidnapped himself along with his ex-wife who along with their daughter surprise him at the end of an assignment in Istanbul protecting a wealthy Arab businessman.
I was sceptical when I first read about this movie, I mean the first Taken was original and actually has become quite a cult movie so like so many other movies where they stretch the franchise out I was worried that the same would happen with this but am pleased to say they haven't.
Led by the father of one of the Albanians killed by and his ex-wife are taken so Bryan has to enlist the help of his daughter using some of the specialist tactics he's learnt over the years this time to free them from his captors and ultimately get his family to safety while ending this bloody feud once and for all.
Directed by Olivier Megaton and starting Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace alongside Neeson this is a brilliant sequel but hopefully it's the last we see of Bryan Mills.
This time Neeson is kidnapped himself along with his ex-wife who along with their daughter surprise him at the end of an assignment in Istanbul protecting a wealthy Arab businessman.
I was sceptical when I first read about this movie, I mean the first Taken was original and actually has become quite a cult movie so like so many other movies where they stretch the franchise out I was worried that the same would happen with this but am pleased to say they haven't.
Led by the father of one of the Albanians killed by and his ex-wife are taken so Bryan has to enlist the help of his daughter using some of the specialist tactics he's learnt over the years this time to free them from his captors and ultimately get his family to safety while ending this bloody feud once and for all.
Directed by Olivier Megaton and starting Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace alongside Neeson this is a brilliant sequel but hopefully it's the last we see of Bryan Mills.
The Raid
An not a fan of Asian films normally due to the way the action is that fast and unbelievable that the viewer gets lost in what’s happening I mean a man running up a wall the doing a back flip isn't something you tend to see in your average street brawl but I couldn't help like "The Raid".
The story is set in a tower block that's in one of the most deprived areas of Jakarta that is being run by a criminal who has control of the tower block and is virtually untouchable in the criminal underworld, the police decide that the only way to bring him down is for them to take the tower block so they send in an elite swat squad but things soon take a turn for the worse for the police as every resident in the tower turns against them in an all-out bloody war that is leaves the viewer cringing at time, this certainly isn't a movie for the squeamish as the action use a whole host if weapons from guns, knives, axes and pretty much anything they can lay their hands on.
As the action rages and the blood sprays everywhere the plot takes an unexpected twist that leaves you wondering who to trust in this edge of the seat no holds barred epic.
The story is set in a tower block that's in one of the most deprived areas of Jakarta that is being run by a criminal who has control of the tower block and is virtually untouchable in the criminal underworld, the police decide that the only way to bring him down is for them to take the tower block so they send in an elite swat squad but things soon take a turn for the worse for the police as every resident in the tower turns against them in an all-out bloody war that is leaves the viewer cringing at time, this certainly isn't a movie for the squeamish as the action use a whole host if weapons from guns, knives, axes and pretty much anything they can lay their hands on.
As the action rages and the blood sprays everywhere the plot takes an unexpected twist that leaves you wondering who to trust in this edge of the seat no holds barred epic.