100 Words… – Page 19

100 Word Review – Safety Not Guaranteed

May 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Comedy, Romance, Sci FiTagged adventure, Aubrey Plaza, Comedy, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni, Mark Duplass, Romance, Sci Fi, time travelLeave a comment

Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke… You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.

In 1997, this actually appeared in the classifieds section of an American magazine.

Three journalists (Aubrey Plaza, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni) attempt to find out the truth about Kenneth (Mark Duplass), the recluse who placed it.

There are wonderful characters, so prepare to be moved. Don’t expect explosions. It’s very human, with a grounded level of action and adventure, and a dash of deadpan humour.

100 Word Review – Easy A (2010)

May 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged 1980s, adaptation, Amanda Bynes, Comedy, Dan Byrd, Emma Stone, John Hughes, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Patricia Clarkson, Penn Badgley, Romance, Scarlett Letter, Stanley TucciLeave a comment

More than your average teen Rom Com.

Olive (Emma Stone) is a clean-cut student who, in an attempt to save her gay friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) from endless bullying, fakes losing her virginity at a party. But no-one can manipulate the High School rumour mill for ever and get away with it.

There are some seriously sized head-nods to classic John Hughes movies and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlett Letter (Easy “A”, get it?) plays its part. If Emma Stone wasn’t enough, the supporting cast’s fantastic; Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell.

Funny, romantic and empowering.

100 Word Review – Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

April 29, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Sci FiTagged Action, adventure, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, computers, Edward Furlong, James Cameron, Robert Patrick, robot, Sci Fi, t-800, t1000, Terminator1 Comment

This might be my all time favourite film. Who wouldn’t love a film with scenes like this in it?

Arnie is back. But this time he’s the good guy.

The T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has been reprogrammed by John Connor in the future and sent back to defend his younger self (Edward Furlong) from the latest terminator, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick).

Linda Hamilton is back as Sarah Connor and, far from the shy waitress of the first film, she is kicking serious butt.

It won 4 Oscars in 1992 including Best Sound and Visual Effects and is unsurprisingly currently voted number 41 on IMDb.

100 Word Review – Penelope (2006)

April 28, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Fantasy, RomanceTagged American, British, Catherine O'Hara, Christina Ricci, fairytale, Fantasy, James McAvoy, Nick Frost, Penelope, Peter Dinklage, Reese Witherspoon, Richard E. Grant, RomanceLeave a comment

Born with a pig snout and pig ears because of an ancient curse on her family, Penelope (Christina Ricci) must hide from the world until she can finally be accepted by one “of her own kind”.

The cast is baffling; James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Richard E. Grant, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage and Nick Frost to name a few. The accents are beyond confusing. Some are British, some American, no logic applies.

This is a fairytale, but not in the traditional sense. It’s about mothers and daughters. It’s about appearances and curses and self-confidence. It is weird and it is wonderful.

100 Word Review – Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

April 27, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Sci FiTagged Action, adaptation, adventure, Age of Ultron, Avengers, Avengers Assemble, Black Widow, Captain America, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Comic, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, James Spader, Jeremy Renner, Joss Whedon, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sci Fi, Stan Lee, Thor2 Comments

Everything that Joss Whedon makes is beautiful, and this is no exception.

Following on from The Avengers (2012), we catch up with the gang still coping with the fallout from Loki. Stark (Robert Downey Jr) more than most.

I won’t give away any more plot. The script is as full of humour, emotion, action and fully formed characters. There’s action, romance, family ties and a whole lot more besides.

The cast is wonderful, as always. Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are all superb. James Spader is in his element as the ultimate artificial intelligence, Ultron.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

April 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged Action, adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

You’ve seen the first one and the second one.

You are ready to follow Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) into District 13, the heart of the resistance. What will Snow (Donald Sutherland) do to punish her betrayal? Does she really have the moral high ground? Is she fit to be Mockingjay?

Heavily built on the sturdy foundations of the previous films, don’t start with this one. However, it takes a good hard look at the intricacies of rebellion and the power of propaganda which is covered so well in the book (Read. The. Books.).

It’s the things we love most that destroy us.

100 Word Review – The Terminator (1984)

April 25, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Sci FiTagged 1980s, Action, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, computers, future, James Cameron, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, robots, Sci Fi2 Comments

One of the few examples of the first in film franchise not being the best.

Don’t let this put you off. It is a brilliant movie and a corner-stone of 1980s action Sci Fi.

An indestructible cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is set back from the future to murder Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), a waitress who’s unborn son will lead the humans in an war against the machines. Meanwhile a soldier from the future (Michael Biehn) is determined to protect her.

James Cameron’s casting is sublime. Arnie’s unsurprisingly realistic as the emotionless robot. Complete with stop-motion animation, this is an epic action.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

April 25, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jena Malone, Jennifer Lawrence, Panem, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

Sequel to The Hunger Games (2012), Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) has survived her first Hunger Games, but will she survive the scrutinising gaze of The Capitol and Panem’s terrifying leader, President Snow (Donald Sutherland).

With all the drama and almost as much of the politics as the books (read the books!), this opens up Panem in a way the first film couldn’t.

The cast is fantastic (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Jenna Malone) and the visuals are just as breath-taking. Prepare yourself for media spin, duplicity and rebellion.

Nobody ever wins the games. Period. There are survivors. There’s no winners.

100 Word Review – Life of Brian (1979)

April 23, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged Comedy, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, history, Jesus, John Cleese, Judea, Michael Palin, Monty Python, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones1 Comment

He’s not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy!

Now piss off!

Brian is just a normal guy who happens to live in Judea just after the BC/AD switch over and spends his life being mistaken for Jesus Christ.

If you’re already a fan of the Monty Python gang (John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman), you’ll love it. If not, prepare yourself for satire, silliness and delightfully dark humour.

Between them, the Pythons play 40 characters throughout the film. Perhaps not the most historically accurate but definitely an imaginative and only mildly offensive film.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games (2012)

April 22, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Battle Royale, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Jennifer Lawrence, Sci Fi, The Hunger Games, Woody Harrelson4 Comments

Read the books.

But, also, watch the film. It’s not as good, but still brilliant.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers her life in place of her sister’s when she is chosen to participate in The Hunger Games, a barbaric event designed to keep the masses in line in this dystopian future.

Yes, there are similarities, but it is more than an Americanised Battle Royale. Children are killing children to survive, but for the sport of the Capital. Battle Royale may be gruesome, but this is emotionally brutal.

Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson are both stunning in their supporting roles. It’s magnificent.