Skyfall (2012)

By Daniel Bradley

This is a personal review, dear friends, and I have one word for you. Wonderful.

But it wasn't always so. Half an hour in, I was worried. Predictable scenes and scripting made the beginning wooden and my disbelief was hard to suspend. This was made worse by the fact the important bits of the first 34 minutes had all been shown previously in the trailer. Like knowing what you've got for Christmas 3 weeks in advance.

The 35th minute, you'll be pleased to hear, changed all that, with an elevator in Shaghai.

Wonderful cinematography, locations and a real 50th anniversary Bond bonanza thrown in on the side. Q, M and the gang had the right amount of screen time. References galore, with some terrific casting. The wit was spot on. And by the close, the film could have been made for me. A surprise grounds keeper, a wonderful setting and Macgyvering of the highest calibre.

The best moment: Saluting tradition at every opportunity.

The worst moment: 29 minutes in with premature despair.

Rating: 8.1/10. See this film if you're a fan of Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Daniel Craig, England, James Bond movies and reworked clichés.


Skyfall by Adam Edwards

In one word, stunning.

It is extremely rare that I like a film when I leave the cinema, it usually needs time to grow on me. However, Skyfall was etched as greatness in my mind from the off.

With a fantastically British story line and so many subtle and not so subtle nods to the franchise as a whole, it truly is a fantastic celebration of the 50th anniversary and a terrific addition to the Bond series.

Best moments: Tube scenes, Nods to the history of Jimmy Bond, Adele

Worst moments: Nothing.

Rating: Solid 9/10  -- See this film if you love classic Bond. Goldeneye, Moonraker, Live and Let Die and if you like Britain.

Pitch Perfect (2012)

By Ricky Wells

Absolutely brilliant. The comedy is fresh and original. The romantic threads are obvious, but the story doesn't lean on them as plot devices, which allows them to be obvious without feeling tired and hackneyed. The music is great; lots of original mash-ups. Elizabeth Banks is hilarious in her cameo role.

Best Bits: Rebel Wilson is glorious. The 'riff-off' scene is fantastic. The whispery Asian one-liners are gold.

Worst Bits: WAY too much fake vomit. The deep voice gimmick.

Rating: 8 to 8.5/10 - Funniest movie I've seen a while, with some quality a cappella music

For Fans of: Mean Girls, Bring it On, The House Bunny, Hairspray, Glee (mostly for the show choir aspect)

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

By Marty Lawrence

A stellar cast, and digitally filmed in an unusual, comic book-style, this movie is based in the not too distant future, where paranoia and constant surveillance is the norm, and centres around a new drug named Substance D, which is rife across the world. The Police send Keanu Reeves, an undercover cop, to infiltrate the drug rings, and find the main supplier, but his prolonged use of the substance causes him to believe his undercover persona is the real him.

Best Scene: Where Robert Downey Jnr brings a Bike home he has purchased. Wonderful example of the rampant paranoia.

Worst Scene: There isn't one bad scene that stands out per se, but the whole movie can sometimes appear slow and dialogue-heavy.

7/10 A fairly slow tale of paranoia, suspense and some nice twists and turns along the way, with great acting. It's hard to know whether I enjoyed it more because of its digital re-enhancement or because of the plot itself.

For fans of: Minority Report, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Memento, Sin City

The Kids Are Alright (2010)

By Daniel Bradley

My favourite film distributor is Focus Features. (The speciality film unit of Universal). It may come as a surprise then that I did not want to watch this film. (But Nicola made me buy it on Blu-ray).

Despite being unsure on the trailer, we watched it and I was pleasantly surprised. A well observed lesbian family comedy designed to shine light on the potential future ramifications of anonymous gamete donation. Fertility treatment aside, the heartache inherent in a stale relationship coupled with a double helping of 'come of age' angst make this a well layered film aimed at a 30+ audience.

Best moment(s): Any point at which gay porn is mentioned. The skateboard.

Worst moment: I was looking for a more upbeat finale and for Mark Ruffalo's character to be more than a lecherous man in a garden.

See this film if you don't like the trailer and are affected by any of the themes expressed in this review. 6.5/10

Lawless (2012)

By Ricky Wells

Based on a true story, Lawless is a dark and dirty look at the bootlegging culture of Virginia during Prohibition. Generally on the slower side, it's interlaced with enough scenes of intense violence and action to keep you on the edge, keep you interested, and allow the movie to flow. I went in expecting a lot of action-movie cliches, but was pleasantly surprised.

Positives: Tom Hardy is incredible. Guy Pearce very good. Not cliched; original in its own way.
Negatives: It may be just a little too slow at times. Not enough Gary Oldman.

Bonus: Shia shows signs of growing into a more mature actor.

It's hillbilly crime drama at its finest. 7.5/10

Looper (2012)

By Adam Edwards

Billed as this generations The Matrix, I may have gone into this expecting too much. An enjoyable film and enough time travel/sci-fi happenings to satisfy most geeks.

Best moments: some great one-liners and some brilliant action.

Worst moments: Questionably goes off subject and perhaps a questionable ending.

Rating - 6/10

For fans of: Sin City, Inception, Time Travel.

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By Daniel Bradley.

I am really beginning to distrust the tagline 'This years the Matrix'. It wasn't at all. It was good, yes, but head and shoulders above everything else? Unfortunately not.

The production value of this film was bloody impressive. Attention to detail and design was faultless. Script and acting was credible, (creepy child included). So where did it go wrong? Do not hype a film too much, don't show the best bits in the trailer.

Best moment(s):
i) "Pass me the Philips."
ii) Retrograde torture.
iii) "Your face is back to front."
iv) Frog-based booty call.

Worst moment(s)/Quibbles:
i) Not removing the stranger's blunderbuss during shed incarceration.
ii) Retrograde torture. ("Eeee!").
iii) Poor parenting during final few frames, re. immediate environment.
iv) Continuity problems.

I loved Bruce & Jeff in this, but thought Joseph looked slightly...off. Not sure why, was he wearing a prosthetic nose? Watch for a bit of fun and the kid. 6.5/10

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

By Jamie Lawrence.

Now anything animated in computer form is a delight for me, and what better way to continue my love of films with a light-hearted comedy about dragons. However, although it was joyful and full of sweet moments it lacked that really comedic factor.
Best Moment: The creative variety of dragons + names of characters.
Worst Moment: Lack of real laughing material.
Rating: 7.5/10 - Would have been 8 if there were a few more silly jokes and less slow-paced story-telling.
For Fans Of: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and other heart-warming animations.
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By Daniel Bradley.
I couldn't help but fall in love with this film the first time I watched it. The voice actors couldn't make up their minds where they were from, the narrator was loveable, the feel good Vikings - the Dumbledore's Army feel to the whole thing...
Best moment: Feeding time/getting to know you section.
Worst Moment: You never see anyone cook a dragon. Which would have been historically accurate. If dragons existed. The jury is out.
Extremely underrated in my opinion, watch this and enjoy. 8/10

Defiance (2008)

By Daniel Bradley

Defiance. Harrowing view of Jewish treatment in WWII. I watched this and loved Daniel Craig's Cockney/Eastern European accent. Very satisfying war film.

...However there are some unrealistic moments of suspense or stupidity - purely thrown in for dramatic effect. I have a hard time looking past things like that, especially if they're based on a true story, but that's just me.

Best moment: Brotherly love during the finale.

Worst moments: "OH FFS, THAT WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED!"

Not a feel good film. Definitely have to be in the mood for this one. 7/10.

Once (2006)

By Daniel Bradley

I watched Once last night. I do so love this film, I bought it on bluray but it won't work so I'm sending it back for a replacement!

I love the music and the quirky, awkward comedy moments. I love the power and depth of emotion in both Glen Hansard & Markéta's vocals. Very cute.

Best Moment: Opening two scenes.

Worst moment: Slow family meal.

Watch this film if you have a thing for acoustic melodies and Irish accents. 8.5/10.

Brave (2012)

By Daniel Bradley

I watched Brave. And loved it!

In the cinema several under-5s shrieked and cried - but I think that's because it was early after release and no mothers had warned them against it. Bloody great big bears! And some geniune laugh out loud moments. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Best moment(s): Scottish babbling. The three bears.

Worst moment: Crying infants in the cinema.

Another good animated kids film. 7.5/10.

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

By Daniel Bradley

I caught the Bourne Legacy at the pictures when it came out. I am a big fan of the Bourne series. I have read the books, and know that there are considerable differences, but this bothers me little. The first and third film were very clever, the second is a fine film but lacks the pace or purpose of its siblings.

Now, I read an interesting review that said, whilst watching the new film, there are constant reminders that a better film is going on elsewhere. And to a certain extent this is true. It runs in parallel with Ultimatum. But it has it's own merits. It fleshes out the overall story without retconning anything and has some great action scenes. My one issue with the film is that it's heavy on dialogue, (whilst so much went unsaid with Jason in the the trilogy.) Perhaps this is a new, spunky character that thinks too much, who knows. Let me know if you see it... I have ideas for where they may be going with it.

Best moment: Sarcastic tone & a log cabin meeting.

Worst moment: Cliché car chase.

Fans of the series, see it. 7/10.

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By Jamie Lawrence.

In my opinion, Bourne films have something different to the standard action film, including Bond films, and that is their focus on making sure all of the dialogue is quick, clever and easy to follow. Having not read the books it is hard to judge whether this film did credit to Ludlum's work, but despite a whole new main character, it still felt very 'Bourne-y'.

The film works in  parallel with Ultimatum and answers any questions that the previous film leaves you confused by - what is happening in the CIA? Who else is hunting Bourne? What are the repercussions? Are there other Bournes? How are these 'agents' so much stronger and fitter then anyone else?

It is not as fast-paced as previous Bournes but you learn much more about operations Treadstone and the others, Jeremy Renner is fantastic, Rachel Weisz is great and the whole film seems to satisfy.

Best Moment: The beginning training tasks and resultant log-cabin meet up.

Worst Moment: A slight cliche ending.

Rating: 8/10

For fans of: Bourne series, and James Bond with a bit more of an intellectual plot.

Total Recall (2012)

By Daniel Bradley

I watched Total Recall the other day. The new one. Now, I'm not against remakes, some are good... but...

The fight and chase scenes are well choreographed. The gadgets are clever and some of the interesting futuristic ideas used are, well, interesting!

However, did I care about any of the main characters? Did the main antagonist draw any gasps of fear or terror from me..? No, sadly not.

Best moment: General gadgetry.

Worst moment: Not enough substance to get invested in the characters...

Give it a miss. Unless it's 2am. And you've had vodka. And you have no one to text. 3.5/10.

Taken 2 (2012)

By Adam Edwards

On the whole, a very watchable film. If you watch it as a second part to Taken it is very enjoyable. As a stand alone film it is not up to scratch. Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen get far more air time and as an avid sci-fi viewer, this pleased me. Liam Neeson impresses as usual but there is not an utterance of the famous line. Overall, in the grand scheme of film making it falls ever so slightly short. If there were a double viewing option, do it.

Best Moment: Liam Neeson's acting style. Brilliant as usual.

Worst moments: An all too quick resolution.

Wait for the DVD? - Yes. and then watch Taken first as a double header.

Rating 6.5/10

For fans of: Taken, Bourne, Shooter.

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By Daniel Bradley

As an aside to Adam's review, I would concur, it is the perfect accompaniment to the first film.

There are some wonderful moments, worth paying £4 at the cinema to see, but no more.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Favourite moment(s):
i) Macgyver speed of sound solution.
ii) The Bourne soundtrack rip-off during a chase scene. (Fantastic).
iii) Phone call from the embassy.

Worst moment(s)/quibbles:
i) Generally poor make-up.
ii) The unusual strawberry ice-cream choice.

A firm recommendation. 7/10.