Inglorious Bastards review by Ali

Inglorious Bastards Review

Quentin Tarnatino, is the first director I know that made a spin-off of world war 2 history into a   2½-hour, four-language epic., Inglorious Basterds, is an alternative history of World War II from the writer-director of Pulp Fiction. As with all of his work, Tarnatino creates several different characters with several different storylines that merge fantastically together, but the amazing part is how they merge and sometimes crash and burn in the end.

The film moves between French, German and English dialogue and takes us through five chapters. First, in 1941, we see a Nazi, Colonel Hans Landa (played by Austrian Christoph Waltz), known as ‘The Jew Hunter’, discover and kill a Jewish family in France; only the youngest daughter gets away.

Then we’re introduced to the ‘basterds’, a gang of eight Jewish-American soldiers who, while deep undercover, roam Nazi-occupied France, murdering German soldiers and collecting their scalps. They’re led by a Tennessee hillbilly boy, played by Pitt, whose change of English accent shows Pitt’s calibre as an actor. Pitt is lively but he disappears for a long time and is upstaged by Waltz, who gives a teasing turn of sly comedy and cruel charm. His scenes are the film’s best. For the film’s final chapters, we leap to Paris in 1944, where the two stories collide.

The girl who fled the Nazis, Shoshanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) is now running a cinema which plays films by directed by Germans, because of the German occupation at the time. A Nazi private, Frederick (Daniel Brühl), takes a shine to her, which lands him a nasty ending. Shoshanna cinema is to host Fredrick’s film about his gun-toting heroics being immortalised in a film produced by Goebbels a big-time German director, who decides that Shoshanna’s cinema is perfect for the premiere. Shoshanna and the ‘basterds’ decide that the screening is their chance to strike and this is the epic scene where all of the characters plots combine together for a brilliant ending.

Although Tarintino’s signature of a bit over the top blood and gore is seen all over this film, it’s not much of a deterrence, because of the good writing skills seen in the plot and the perfect acting especially by Christoph waltz who speaks in 4 dialogues throughout the film. I give this movie a well deserved 4/5 stars.

Happy Together Review by Lin

Happy Together

People always miss a lot of things during their young age, having love as well as friendship. We always do not know how to cherish in our youth, when time take everything away, we just understand that we only really worth for a few days in our life, only a few pieces as well. Just like the name of the movie, happy together. We get together while we feel happy, then how about the sad moment. Even though this film is not the great work, it still has a profound meaning, about loneliness, about reunited, about time and the life as well. 

The whole movie put the point of view from plot to order the story of Yaohui Li as the main line for representing the story among three people named Baorong He, Yaohui Li and Zhang. Yaohui Li and Baorong He experiencing lingering, vindictive and quarrel then get separately ending after all. How Zhang uses his persistence and return to make Yaohui Li found place where the heart should stay. All these in my opinion are talking about just one story: a lonely man looking for a warm embrace and a place can be called home. For Yaohui Li the happiest in his life is that time during Rongbao injury, because only during this time he cannot go anywhere, because the injured Rongbao He will dependent on Yaohui Li at one hundred percent. Thinking of there is a person who is his loving waiting for him in home, do not need to laugh in the face, the heart is also felling happy. Zhang can make out from his voice, as long as there is Rongbao He in, the house is like a warm home for himself. Yaohui Li is such a spoiled object for Rongbao He, he always thought that no matter how far way he leaves him, as long as said that let us start again, Yaohui Li will return to his side and waiting for him. 

For Zhang, as if proving his existence only can through exploring the unknown land constantly until achieving the end of the world. But when he back home from the southernmost of earth, eating dumplings that make by his home, he seems understand why he have enough courage to walk so far that because there is always a place waiting for him to go back. In the films of Karwai Wong, everyone is lonely. Yaohui Li is lonely, because of cannot stand caprice of Rongbao He then chose to leave him, even though he reached the waterfall, but he knew that there should be two people who stand under a waterfall. Originally, such extreme beauty and passion in life should be shared with lover, not one person taste by self in loneliness. Rongbao He is lonely too, he profligacy that Yaohui Li give him, finally Yaohui Li choose to leave him. He lost Li Yaohui who always suffer himself with capricious, lost a person who always love him and also lost his emotional bottom line. When Rongbao He leaves Yaohui Li, although Li feels pain, but he ultimately can find a new life from Zhang. But the departure of Yaohui Li destroyed Rongbao He completely. Rongbao He pour on the sofa and crying until the whole body becoming twitch is his last scene in the movie. 

In this movie, everyone found a home to return to, just except Rongbao He. If everyone can face alone, then how to impressive film in an appropriate way, then the film how to excite person’s mind. Everyone in this movie is us. Every one of them, including Karwai Wang as well as our own is troubled by the same question: how we spend the best time of our life? What kind of attitude of life can make us calm in the face of ever-increasing time? The pain from the passing time all belong to the memory of youth, it is pain but also beauty

Gone in 60 Seconds Review by Annabelle

 

Gone in 60 Seconds is a movie about a man who is a retired professional car thief that in order to save his brother, must return to the industry and steal 50 cars in a short period of time.
Nicolas Cage stars as ‘Memphis Raines’ alongside Giovanni Ribisi as ‘Kip Raines’- two brothers who were involved in the car theft industry for years. However, Memphis decides to walk away from that life, while his brother Kip continues to work for stolen – car broker Raymond Calitri. After Kip screws up a job, his brother must step in in order to save him from getting killed by the famous crime boss. The job involves stealing 50 exotic cars in one night, while trying to hide from the police and compete against another gang who are also trying to complete the job. Memphis creates his own gang of car thieves, including Angelina Jolie (as Sara Wayland) and Will Patton who must work together in order to save Kip.

While this movie may satisfy the average car enthusiast, it lacks the action, including car chases that we saw in its predecessor (1974). Gone in 60 Seconds was also let down by a cast that was too big in size, as well as an illogical plot. However, these aspects are the movie’s only real downfall. It still provided a surprising sequence of events, and the producer was also able to deliver a movie that was still somewhat interesting and different to any other car movie out there. I give this movie a rating of 3/5, and would recommend it to anyone who is a car buff.

The Social Network-Review Michael Cesarini

The Social Network Review

I had mixed expectations going into watching “The Social Network” which is based upon the social network (hence the film’s title) Facebook and in particular its creator Mark Zuckerberg. From start to end the film essentially follows the beginning of Facebook to now and how it and the creator develop over time. The reason for my mixed expectations was I was unsure of how such a plot based on reality could keep an audience engaged for the full two hour length of the film. I was proven wrong. From the get go “The Social Network’’ is nothing but engaging. David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin team up to create a film less straight forward than what it initially seems, Zuckerberg continuously encounters problems be it in court, with the site, or those envious individuals willing to do anything for a piece of his success.

Zuckerberg quickly gains the audience’s sympathy, with the film starting with him being dumped. It results in viewers craving his success, wanting to witness him achieve more with his life. What makes the film such a success is the fact it appeals to such a wide audience. This is so because almost everyone has an existing knowledge of what Facebook is and are familiar with the interface, yet few new how it came about. The result is a desire to discover its origins, the film delivers in an entertaining manner, with the audience holding uncertainties as to when and how the final form of Facebook we have come to love sprouted. Few films have the ability to make one re-analyse the plot weeks after viewing the film, “The Social Network” did just that, I highly recommend this film to just about anyone.

Stars:4.5/5

Superbad (2007)

Superbad

This 2007 comedy classic depicts the story of three high school seniors in America who try to become popular by supply alcohol to a party but since in america are not 21 and unable to legally buy it. This movie starring Jonah Hill (Seth), Michael Cera (Evan), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Fogell/McLovin) and directed by Greg Mottola provides endless laughs for the teenage and adult audience.

This film starts out with two protagonists, Seth and Evan who are best friends at school, who are both perceived as "uncool" and face some bullying by the other boys at school, but meet some girls who are popular and ask them to buy alcohol. They see this as there chance to become "popular" as well as having a positive relationship with the girls which they think could be beneficial for starting a sexual relationship. But as they are under the American age of 21 for buying alcohol they go to there friend Fogell who has a recently purchased fake ID. From here the laughs start with his fake ID with one name the start of there problems. They have run ins with some corrupt police who use the law in their favour to have fun and turn to stealing alcohol from a party of middle aged and already drunk people. Whether they make it in the end you will find out when you watch it, but I would definitely recommend it.

Stars: 4/5

Daniel

Iron Man 3 review by Bradley

Iron Man 3 Review

Okay, while it is still fresh in my mind I’ll do my best and give you an awesome review of Iron Man 3 without major spoilers, need to keep in mind that it hasn’t been released in certain parts of the world so lucky us. Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black.

I’ll put up what Iron Man 3 is about “Marvel's "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?” (http://marvel.com/ironman3).

Iron Man 3 definitely delivered especially from the huge success from The Avengers, that said everything starts to center back into Tony’s (Robert Downey Jr) life and how he coping from a near death experience. Downey’s portrayal of Tony Stark is perfect, he really brings everything to it and it’s just enjoyable to watch him perform from start to finish. One thing that is noticeable is that he is now with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) they are living together and it is one aspect that really is where some of the heart is of the movie. There is a  moment where Tony just opens up to Pepper and admits how he is feeling and what is happening with him on the inside, this is where you get a feeling that Tony isn't well. The Mandarin has been behind a series of terror attacks "bombings" and one of these explosions catches Stark's interest when an explosion that injures one of Stark’s closest friends, he sends out an open threat to the Mandarin who is unpredictable (Ben Kingsley) which he does reply by blowing up Tony’s house which was just enjoyable to watch and was an epic scene it pretty much gets demolished. Now after Starks house being completely leveled, Stark is left with only his Mark 42 prototype suit, which is pretty banned up, now he will have to rely on his own skills and he is by himself trying to figure out what to do next. 

Aldrich Killian played by (Guy Pearce) brings an evil/mysterious atmosphere to his character even though he looks harmless on the outside. Tony’s best friend James “Rhodey” Rodes (Don Cheadle) reprises his role and is now the newly named Iron Patriot which is a cool name! He definitely has his moments throughout the movie. There is a great scene where Iron Man has to save 13 people that has been sucked out of Air Force One, while he can only hold on to four.

The movie defiantly has its moments from serious heart felt moments, funny scenes, and of course action... lots of action. Also it is more centred with Tony, Pepper and Rhodey, I found it satisfying that Tony finally finds the answer to a question which he has been haunting him “does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?”

This was really hard to rate because I’m a massive Iron Man fan and Robert Downey Jr is one of my favourite actors, so it would seem a little bias. But I'll say this, if you are a Marvel fan, Iron Man fan, Downey Jr fan it is simply a must watch hands down.

Rating 4.5/5 

Death Race 1 by Annabelle

Death Race (1) is about a prison named Terminal Island Penitentiary, and certain inmates who must take part in a pay-per-view broadcast, created by the warden (Joan Allen). These inmates, which includes famous actor Jason Statham, are chosen to participate in a modern gladiator game called ‘Death Race’ as the drivers. Each inmate is also given a female inmate to act as a navigator. Both drivers and navigators drive 3 races over 3 days on a closed track at Terminal Island. On the track, there are items termed ‘pressure plates’ that they must drive over in order to collect certain items; for example, running over a pressure plate with a sign portraying swords activates the player’s offensive weapons, while shields activate defensive weapons such as oil, smoke or even napalm. Skulls activate deadly metal traps which rise up from the track. Drivers use these weapons to kill the other players in any way they can.  Any racer that wins 5 races will be granted freedom by the Warden.  

At the end of one of the races, the most popular driver – “Frankenstein”- dies in an explosion, resulting from malfunctioning weapons (after his navigator was ordered to eject from the car).

Jensen Ames (played by Jason Statham), struggles to provide for his wife and daughter, and his situation is made worse after losing his job. After arriving home one night, Jensen is knocked out by a masked assailant. When he awakens, he finds himself covered in his wife's blood and wielding the weapon that killed his her; he had been framed for his wife’s murder. After being convicted and sent to Terminal Island, Ames gets involved in a fight with another inmate. The warden makes a deal; if he pretends to be Frankenstein (whose death has not been revealed to anyone but Ames himself), she will give him his freedom, and therefore his daughter. This is due to the high ratings that Frankenstein’s character gave the show.

This movie has removed the humour found in the previous movie ‘Death Race 2000’ (Death Race 1 was a remake of this movie).  While there are a lot of action and car chases, it lacks a good plot/story line, and also has a running time of 111 minutes (and yes, this is considered too long).  This coupled with a bad storyline means that the movie boils down to only a series of car races, with a majority of the scenes involving death or violence; so unless you can handle these aspects in a film, this is not the movie for you. Aside from these negatives, Death Race 1 still provides some level of entertainment to viewers as well as cheap thrills and perfect actors for the role.

Rating: 3/5

End of Watch Review by Ali

About half way through End of Watch, the two patrolman heroes played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena receive a call from a female cop in distress. What they find when they track her down offers the kind of jolt that mainstream Hollywood thrillers rarely provide.
 Director of End of Watch, David Ayer gives us street-level snapshots of the work of the LAPD as they go on patrol in search of the three major food groups: guns, money and drugs. Officer Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal) is studying filmmaking. He has attached a miniature camera to his chest, along with that of his partner Mike Zavala (Pena) and he brings a camcorder out on patrol too. The things they encounter and film range from a gang member accused of intimidating a mailman to a wide-eyed junkie who complains that her toddlers have gone missing. (Where they've gone, when it's revealed, is heartbreaking.)
It seems that everyone in the picture, good guys and bad has a camera and is intent on immortalizing themselves on YouTube. This makes for jerky, hand-held shooting but also adds to the sense of reality.The bad guys are horribly written, possessing a vocabulary that doesn’t extend much beyond angry swearing and filled with the mindset of a Grand Theft Auto villain. Yet it doesn’t decrease particularly from the experience. You might not be able to make much sense of their enemies, but you still don’t want them to get shot which shows that the plot and characters are able to capture the audience’s attention mainly due to the use of the “found footage” technique which gives viewers the point of view of the characters, basically saying what they see is what the audience see. All in all Ayer’s violent, foul-mouthed thriller succeeds in moving more than most other cop films out there.
3.5/5

Ali

Limitless Review-Michael Cesarini

Michael Cesarini

Limitless 

Neil Burger’s “Limitless” is a film which is engaging because of the way it works on a potentially realistic basis. The magic drug in the film is the only thing not present in our current world and in the context of rapid scientific advancements, it does portray elements of the potential future. All of which is justified throughout the film, as to how it “unlocks” the brain.

When the concept of the film is addressed in isolation it seems ridiculous, however Leslie Dixon is quick to establish the central character Eddie in a world demanding intelligence be it through the stock market or with literature. It is with the use of these real world features that the film is able to play on the imagination of viewers and the sheer potential of the brain. The possibilities for the pills are endless Eddie makes financial gains, improves his love life and is constantly confronted by an endless array of opportunities in life. The moral dilemmas can also be related to real world situations, the film builds on the idea of greed and how much can one really gain without consequence. Eddie pushes these boundaries continuously and the ramifications are harsh and unpredictable.

The film is engaging and unlike any other I have seen, Bradley Cooper adheres to his great performances in past films and contributes to this one’s success. It will appeal to a wide audience by the way it provides an intriguing insight into the potential economic and social factors can have on someone’s life when given no limits.

Stars: 4/5

Sherlock Holmes Review by Bradley Graves

This week I’m reviewing Sherlock Holmes (first movie), which is a fun, witty, and action packed movie. So what is the movie about?  Set in England, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) teams up with is loyal partner Dr John Watson (Jude Law) to tackle a new challenge, going up against the sinister Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) which apparently has some evil/supernatural plans of his own, but it gets even more complicated for Holmes and Watson when his ex Irene Adler played by (Rachael McAdams) who cannot be trusted and dangerous, despite her looks. The movie was directed by Guy Ritchie.

It is a reinvention of Sherlock Holmes, a new one and it delivers. With Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock it seems to me he was meant for the role, he brings a natural presence to it is wonderful, there is a fight scene which is awesome, it involved Holmes fighting in a ring and of course wagering for money, Holmes fighting was interesting to see it shines a new light character, the filming of the scene was well done especially the slow-mo moments!  It would be hard to see another actor try and play this amazing character when seeing how Robert has portrayed him. Of course Jude Law who plays Watson, Holmes loyal companion, he brings a much more masculine role, not over the top but just right amount. Downey and Law’s on screen chemistry really gives the characters a connection with each other, both actors seem to play well of each other and it really adds to the film making it enjoyable to watch. Mark Strong (Blackwood) does give a great evil vibe to his character, Holmes has to question is magic real? or is there something else at hand? Rachael Mc Adams portrayal of the lovely and charming Irene Adler was welcomed, she didn’t have as much screen time which was kind of a letdown but she made her impact in small doses throughout the film also the addition of hinting with her relationship with Holmes in the past.

The setting of England was well thought out by Guy Ritchie, its dark, mysterious, murky, and touches of colour in places, also with the addition of the famous landmarks around England like a half built Tower Bridge which features a great scene towards the end of the film.

Overall if you are a fan of Sherlock Homes, it is must watch, you get to see a reinvention of the legendary sleuth who daring sleuth, highly intelligent, action daring, and using that Holmesian deduction. It is a great on screen relationship of Holmes and Watson keeping you watching and ask "what is going to happen next?", with good performances by the supporting cast it is definitely worth the time watching.

I give the movie 3.5/5

By Bradley Graves

Late Autumn review by Lin

Late autumn: Forgive me, will break a promise after parting

Late autumn is particularly suited to view and admire by oneself, it is not to appreciate the movie itself but the loneliness during the late autumn.

Late autumn is a literary film, has all the characteristics of the literary film: less number of actors and actors’ line and slow speed of the plot. Film is set in Seattle, Anna that a China second-generation immigrants lives in Seattle, she was sentenced to prison after killing her husband. After seven years because of the death of her mother she gets a permit to go to Seattle for three days from prison authorities. In the bus bound for Seattle, Anna met Hyun a very handsome man did not bring enough money for bus ticket and borrow money from Anna. After that he gives Anna his watch as a pledge and makes the agreement of meeting in Seattle unilaterally again. Then these two people who live in the bottom of the United States met in Seattle and received a simple, flexural and short love.

This is a no result and cannot define encounters. The affection between Anna and Hyun cannot be defined for loving, maybe just the struggle for the long despair. Two people, who live in despair, saw a little light thought it is the hope, and then they desperately want to draw together. In the end found that just an illusion. Seattle’s dismal late autumn just like their respective life, without any vitality. Anna’s love disappeared before the imprisonment, while Hyun’s love was discarded behind the sell himself, now one of them full of sadness, another was casual indulgence. In the movie, when Anna’s first love said that there were a lot of things happened over the years, Anna just replied that nothing happened in me. She said the real also desolate.

Anna is a woman with some unbeknown stories and Hyun like the person who has story. With the deepening of exchanges, they gradually understand each other; more understanding make them want to close more, so that the rapid and decisive closing causes the doomed separation. To some extent, they are the same kind of people that was harmless to society but discarded by society. We do not know what kind of early spring, midsummer Anna has before, but now only remain late autumn, all of her feelings buried by time. Hyun brought her an opportunity to release, let her talk about herself story, let her roar the man who ruined her whole life, let her cry her eyes out for the injustice what she has suffered, these are good, no matter how life going after, suffering people should not bear so much on her mind. Anna was understand eventually, she understood that is not loving, it was just a memory and persistent. As Hyun puts it, from now on, you grasp your happiness.

Hyun should not let Anna wait for him, even if only a little relies on. A man whose life was chased by someone cannot make any able promise. Hyun understand his destiny, he gave Anna a yearning and emotional kiss as a farewell, not only say goodbye to Anna but also to this world.

A few years later, Anna was out of jail, she waited for Hyun at café which they have been kissed originally. She also knows the ending of Hyun, but she does not want to believe, would rather wait in vain. Early in the kiss goodbye, she has already heard the voice from the Hyun’s heart: Forgive me; I will break a promise after parting

In late autumn story, not only narrate a hopeless loving but also a real life. The end of the film, Anna said to herself: hi, it’s been a long time.

Hachi review by Lin

Hachi review by Lin

Hachi, adapted from a true story happened in Japan in 1935is a real story. It turned into a Japanese film in 1987 by Tatsuya Nakadai, which was a sensation in Japan. In December 2009, the American version of the film be on show that directed by Lasse Hallstrom.

Film is about a story between university professor named Parker and Akita a dog. Parker portrayed by Richard Gere, went home by train at night and he picked up a puppy (Akita) at the train station. He wanted to give the dog to the management office of station but was rejected by them; he can only helplessly take the dog home. Then because he cannot find the owner of the puppy so the protagonist has been to raise the akita in the side until it grows up. Because the collar of dog with a luck word ‘Hachi’ means the number of eight so this dog was called by Hachi. Once Hachi followed the smell of Parker to find out the railway station that commuters must go through, since then, Hachiko saw the host off every morning and five o’clock in the evening waiting for its master outside the train station on time, no matter rain or shine.

It becomes an acceptance that no need to make firm plan, a people and a dog become a scenery line into this border town. If no accident, this movie just an ordinary life film but the death of Parker send the story from boring to the moving. Nobody told Hachiko about that park has left the world forever and never came back again. Maybe even if told Hachi about this and he cannot understand, in his mind park just went to work as usual, but this time the time of working is very long and do not know when he will be back. So Hachiko does the same day after day, ran to the station in the evening and waiting for park, Hachiko looks forward to that may be his master will open the door and say "Hi Hachi’ like normal. So-called touch is need time to precipitation. The first day is just a natural thing, the second day and the third day may just be a habit. But the habit is a terrible thing, waiting for a hope year after year till the end of life that it still holding his hope. No one can say he has not been touched. Why we will be touched and why we will cry, it just because we know that Hachiko never less than he wanted happiness. And the most uncomfortable is that Hachiko forever keep there and watches a never coming reunion. Even if the whole world forgot Parker, Hachi would still remember him, choosing Parker is the most important decisions in Hachiko daily life. Since the sentence in the movie let me unforgettable until now, when the little granddaughter ask grandma that why the grandfather choose the Hachi to care, grandma said that not grandfather choose the Hachi but the Hachi choose the grandfather. The story of Hachi is tragedy and no one can change that, but its meaning is telling us to cherish what you have now and what you will have in the future.

At the end of film, Hachi had made such a dream, Parker comes back just like the memory in the best time, it is also like its young time running to his master…

G. I. Joe Retaliation (2)

 

This film following the plot line of the first being the specialised "Joes" forces fighting against there arch enemy the Cobra, as well as the twist of fighting to keep there spot as the government tries to "make them out of the picture". This film has a well known cast with the likes of; Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) as Roadblock, Bruce Willis as General Joe Colton, Channing Tatum as Duke and Adrianne Palicki as Jaye who were selected as they share the traits characters in this film. The plot line of this film is a very simple one, yet very well carried out by the director Jon M. Chu. This action film does incorporate a very rare bit of humour but more could be added. As for the action it was very well done with stunning explosions, fast paced fighting scenes and luckily no sappy romance scences. As the movie tries to be realistic, the technology is definitely feasible in the future if not now, but the extent of nuclear warfare does go far from belief. This creates an unrealistic feel to the movie but does not dampen the action scenes. 

 

As for the plot line, Roadblock takes charge after the "Joes" are bombarded by an airstrike leaving only who were able to escape. After drawing the conclusion that it was an inside job, and that the president would have to have authorised the attack the "Joes" seek out the one man who they can trust, retired General Joe Colton. They show him evidence of the president being an imposter, but is deemed inconclusive. After seeking and gaining further proof of the president, General Joe Colton agrees to help the "Joes" get revenge. Meanwhile the Cobras rescue there Commander from prison and start to employ his master plan. From here the "Joes" face the government and Cobras to try and save the world and get revenge.

 

Stars 4/5

 

Daniel