A Man Apart ( Review )

A Man Apart Review

Love changes a man. Revenge tears him apart.

• Released: June 12 2003
• Cast: Vin Diesel,
• Director: F. Gary Gray, Larenz Tate, Timothy Olyphant, Jacqueline Obradors, Geno Silva
• Genre: Action
• Rated: MA 15+
• Running Time: 109 Minutes

Synopsis:
A Man Apart features Vin Diesel in a compelling role as tough DEA agent Sean Vetter, who sets out to avenge the brutal murder of his wife in a botched hit. As the drug wars rage along the Mexican/US border, a major player from the Baja Cartel is imprisoned and a mysterious figure known as Diablo wrests control over the entire operation. Now, Vetter and his partner (Larenz Tate) must join forces with jailed cartel boss to hunt down this dangerous and elusive new player.


My Verdict:
A Man Apart is a real guy flick. There is plenty of heat, action and shooting with Vin Diesel torn apart by the death of his gorgeous wife. Revenge is high on his priority list after his wife dies in his arms and boy does he have the looks to convey that he will stop at nothing to avenge her death. Some may find his acting wooden, but with his looks he doesn't have much choice. He just oozes vengeance while the film revolves around this vengeance. The plot is a little thin around the edges - we all know he will win eventually - but it doesn't really matter. There are some slow scenes which are tedious, but then the action scenes make up for those with some truly wicked shoot- outs between the cops and the drug lords. It is amazing to see yet again our hero surviving these shoot-outs even without a bullet-proof vest. This is not a film that will set the industry on fire but rather another reason for those keen on cops and robber type movies to go and have some fun. Definitely not to be taken too seriously.

A Beautiful Mind (Review)

A Beautiful Mind (Review)

"The only thing greater than the power of the mind is the courage of the heart."

Release Date: 7th March, 2002
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Adam Goldberg, Paul Bettany
Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Drama
Rated: TBA


Synopsis:
From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash, Jr. experiences it all. A mathematical genius, he made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery once he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. After many years of struggle, he eventually triumphed over this tragedy, and finally, late in life, received the Nobel Prize.

Hellboy ( Review )

Hellboy ( Review )

Cast: Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Rupert Evans, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Doug Jones and the voice of David Hyde Pierce
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro and Peter Briggs
Genre: Action/Sci-fi/Horror/Adventure
Rated: M medium level violence
Running Time: 122 Minutes

Here To Protect

Synopsis:
From visionary writer/director Guillermo del Toro (Blade II, The Devil's Backbone) comes Hellboy, a supernatural action adventure based on Mike Mignola's popular Dark Horse Comics series of the same name. Born in the flames of hell and brought to Earth as an infant to perpetrate evil, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) was rescued from sinister forces by the benevolent Dr. Broom (John Hurt), who raised him to be a hero. In Dr. Broom's secret Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence, Hellboy creates an unlikely family consisting of the telepathic "Mer-Man" Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), the woman he loves who can control fire. Hidden from the very society that they protect, they stand as the key line of defence against an evil madman who seeks to reclaim Hellboy to the dark side and use his powers to destroy mankind.

My Verdict:
The beginning of 'Hellboy' is one of those vague, confusing segments that are only there to provide the origin behind the main character. Very often this precursor is superfluous and here it definitely was. The origin of Hellboy may well have been explained without this introduction and saved us all much confusion - the recent 'Spiderman 2' got around this by introducing the character and story through the opening credits via a series of comic book drawings. Seeing Dr. Broom, who was to become Hellboy's father, discover the baby Hellboy was laughable and not a good sign for things to come. However, the movie did manage to turn itself around and provide some great entertainment.

'Hellboy' is a comic book adaptation which is very popular (think X-Men, Spiderman, Conan the Barbarian, etc.) and akin to many of the comic book genre where, apart from the main character, there are other characters that have some form of 'special' qualities. Here there are a few and they are all used well - especially Kroenen (Ladislav Beran) who is discovered to have an addiction to surgery, even resorting to having his eyelids removed - yuk! These characters all provide excellent opportunities for some great computer generated image work and associated special effects and make-up.

Ron Perlman is perfect for the role of Hellboy and was the original choice of director Guillermo del Toro, having already worked with Ron in Blade II. Hellboy has a dark sense of humour and delivers some clever lines in a deadpan voice, so he is not without some endearing personality but he struggles with his identity on a daily basis, constantly reducing his horns to stumps and pining for the woman he loves - Liz Sherman (a forlorn Selma Blair) - but thinks he can't have because of his looks. He continues his work against evil for the sake of his father, Dr. Broom, played by an aged John Hurt. Dr. Broom has a new assistant assigned to Hellboy, John Myers (Rupert Evans) who adds a kind of love triangle angle to the already disillusioned Hellboy and Liz. Nevertheless, they head off to finally destroy the evil that created him, which is really another excuse for some more fun and games with special effects and they really are fun.

'Hellboy' is essentially a movie for anyone who loves a comic book adaptation with plenty of action and lots of special effects. Certainly a good-looking B-grade movie that might not be for everyone, but for the diehard fans, this Hellboy manages to give evil hell.

Rating : B-

Christina Bruce

Alien Vs Predator ( Review )

Cast: Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, Ewen Bremner, Colin Salmon, and Tommy Flanagan.
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Writer: Paul W. S. Anderson (screenplay)
Genre: Science Fiction
Rated: M medium level violence, low level coarse language
Running Time: 101 Minutes

Whoever Wins, We Lose.

Synopsis:
The iconic monsters from two of the scariest film franchises ever battle each other on Earth in 'Alien Vs. Predator'. The discovery of an ancient pyramid buried under the Antarctic ice sends a team of scientists and adventurers to the frozen continent. There, they make an even more terrifying discovery: two alien races at war. No matter who wins, we lose.

An incredible and horrific adventure begins when billionaire industrialist Charles Bishop Weyland gathers an international team of archaeologists, scientists and security experts, led by environmentalist and adventurer Alexa "Lex" Woods, to investigate a mysterious "heat bloom" emanating from deep under Antarctica.

What they witness 2000 feet below the frozen surface at first excites, and then terrifies them. They discover a pyramid bearing a mixture of Aztec, Egyptian and Cambodian cultures. Inside the pyramid they find a matrix of chambers so technologically advanced that it becomes obvious that an extraterrestrial influence has been at work there for thousands of years. The chamber walls reconfigure unexpectedly, trapping members of the team and cutting them off from their colleagues.

Moving from chamber to chamber, the horrific truth finally reveals itself: Predators have been keeping alive a captive Alien Queen who lays eggs at 100 year intervals. Young Predator warriors are tested by fighting the Alien offspring. The team stumbles into the middle of an incredible rite of passage - and a war between Aliens and Predators.

My Verdict:
'Alien Vs Predator' has been an anticipated movie for so long. Two of the most destructive, vicious evil alien characters created for the screen pitted against one another, a bit like waiting for 'Freddy v Jason'. The movie doesn't introduce either character for a while, slowly building the anticipation as the scientific party discovers an ancient pyramid beneath the Antarctic. This pyramid is interesting as the scientific party soon discover that it reconfigures itself every 10 minutes and reeks of 'Indiana Jones', which increases the level of expectation. Trouble is, the party is soon split into groups and then you know that one by one they are going to be killed off with no hope of saving each other. Enter the Alien and Predator to do just that.

After reducing the human numbers significantly, much of the action where the Predator takes on the Alien(s) is basically in the dark which allows for plenty of 'funny business' - who knows what's really happening, coupled with some very choppy editing making some of the battle scenes a total blur. And then before you know it, the movie is over! There is little human character development; unlike in either of the single franchises, so much of the movie seems pointless. But still, there might be enough to satisfy some fans of the genre but this will never be a great movie.

You know those movies where the best parts are often in the trailer? Count this as one of those. Unfortunately this movie could have been so much better if we weren't let in on some of the secrets in the trailer. A long build up at the start sets a snare for a finale that never really satisfies which was so disappointing. I just wished that these two protagonists had been left alone and their memories kept alive as individual anti-heroes.

Rating : C-

Christina Bruce

The Pink Panther Movie Review

The Pink Panther Movie Review

Cast: Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Jean Reno, Beyonce Knowles, Emily Mortimer, Clive Owen
Director: Shawn Levy
Screenplay: Len Blum and Steve Martin
Genre: Adventure/Comedy
Rated: PG Mild Comedic Violence, Mild Sexual References, Infrequent Mild Coarse Language
Running Time: 93 Minutes

Get a clue!

Synopsis:
The story centres on a familiar murder-heist narrative. A famous soccer coach meets an untimely death by homicide (via poisoned dart), leaving behind Xania, his beautiful and famous fiancée (pop star Beyonce Knowles), who is devastated. Not only has Xania lost her intended, but she also finds that her engagement ring--the fabled "pink panther" diamond--is missing. Inspector Clouseau's boss, Inspector Dreyfus (a topnotch Kevin Kline), decides to give the case to his incompetent inferior, scheming to take over the case at just the right moment in order to win the coveted Medal of Honor. With his reverent sidekick Ponton (Jean Reno) and adoring secretary Nicole (Emily Mortimer), Clouseau tackles the case as only he can, destroying evidence, fumbling names and pronunciations, insulting victims, and all the while attempting to charm the gorgeous Xania in his inimitably uproarious style.

My Verdict:
After a famous soccer coach is murdered on the field and his ring the famous Pink Panther diamond is stolen right then and there leaving his fiancé Xania (Beyonce Knowles) distressed, Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin) is brought in to solve the case by his boss, Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline) who hopes the bumbling and inept Clouseau will mess up enough so that he can take over, solve the case and take the glory. But what Dreyfus doesn't realise is that Clouseau's incompetence will win through and that Clouseau will be the winner and France's next hero.

Using a well-used formula of slapstick and visual humour to carry the movie, director Shawn Levy tries desperately to bring back the class that surrounded Peter Sellers in his role as Inspector Clouseau in 1963 and to introduce the character to a new audience.

Steve Martin uses a quasi-French accent as the naïve, inept and sometimes-stupid Clouseau, which is in stark contrast to most recent movie, 2005's 'Shopgirl' that was such a seriously beautiful piece. Here, Martin relies on the script and not himself, which is a shame as his talent is wasted.

Alongside Martin is Jean Reno as the deadpan sidekick Ponton who spends most of his time trying to look innocent and poker-faced. Kevin Kline seems to be going through the motions as Dreyfus and things get really desperate and embarrassing when the classy Clive Owen is brought in to try to justify a serious status. Beyonce Knowles is the femme fatale who gets around just trying to get noticed and she even gets to sing.

Whilst this 2006 version of 'The Pink Panther' is never intended to be a re-make it is hard not to make comparisons with the original and it is quite different in storyline to the original, but it does beg the question whether Steve Martin can cut it as Inspector Clouseau. So does he? Yes to a degree but he will never be Peter Sellers, he is simply Steve Martin doing his version of Inspector Clouseau and some scenes are even funny but too often the humour falls flat with its overt obviousness and nakedness.

Think also that there is a generation that do not even know of the Peter Sellers Clouseau so they will probably always believe that Martin is the one and only, but for others, Sellers is and always will be the only Clouseau. Perhaps some movie franchises should just be left alone with their originality and uniqueness left intact.

Rating : **

Christina Bruce

Batman Begins Review

Batman Begins Review

Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Ken Watanabe, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer
Director: Christopher Nolan
Screenplay: Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer
Genre: Action/Adventure/Crime/Fantasy
Rated: M 15+ moderate violence, moderate themes
Running Time: 134 Minutes

Synopsis:
Christopher Nolan's 'Batman Begins' explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful.

He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

My Verdict:
Based upon Batman characters created by Bob Crane and published by DC Comics, 'Batman Begins' is a fresh and inventive take on the many previously made movies of the same character, some of which were dubious and left many wanting. Rest assured because director Christopher Nolan has delivered a decent and deserving movie that will satisfy previously disgruntled fans of Batman, giving this film a noir approach without overdoing the dramatics and releases the need to compare this movie with any of the previous Batman movies.

'Batman Begins' reveals the origin of the caped crusader's reason and rationale for his actions. As a young child, Bruce Wayne fell down a disused well and was swarmed by teeming bats from a nearby cave (which later becomes the infamous "batcave"), hence the connection to bats which evolved from this fall and which eventually lead to the tragic death of his parents that he witnessed.

Upon growing up, Bruce ventures to the East to "find" himself, is taught by a mysterious man, Ducard (Liam Neeson) and then returns home where he vows revenge on the criminal and corrupt presence in the city of Gotham. He is assisted in his quest by the ever-loyal butler, Alfred (Michael Caine) and using the knowledge of Wayne Enterprise's Applied Sciences, gizmo's and gadgets wiz, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) and receiving law and order help from one of the few good cops, detective Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), seen long before he ever became Commsioner Gordon. Throw in the resident baddie, Dr Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy wearing the most uber-funky glasses), Gotham City's crime lord, Carmine Falcone (a badly miscast Tom Wilkinson) and the required love-interest Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) and the scene is set for a ripper of a tale involving a mind-altering drug that is set to be released into the atmosphere of Gotham City.

The cast of 'Batman Begins' are excellent possibly with the exception of Tom Wilkinson's role as Falcone - Tom is usually good but here he seems out of his depth with not enough anger and nastiness for a crime boss. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman get all the good, fun witty lines and are do them justice making both of them irresistible, Cillian Murphy (who missed out on the lead role as Batman) is a suitably twisted nasty doctor, Liam Neeson is ok as the mystifying Ducard and Katie Holmes surely has the cutest dimples to win over even the hardest heart.

The set-up of 'Batman Begins' is at times, too slow, bordering on tedious but it does make appreciation of when Bale gets to don the cape and do some serious crime fighting all the more worthwhile, even if some of the physical fight scenes are edited so that it's near impossible to work out just what is happening. Clearly left wide open for a follow-up sequel, this Batman has wings worth seeing.

Rating : ***½

Christina Bruce