Rogue One: A Starwars Story

There's always been a massive hole in the hole in the main Star Wars saga. A new hope starts,with the rebel alliance planning to blow up the death star. Rogue One is the story of how those plans end up in R2D2.  Jyn is the daughter of high ranking empire scientist and architect of the death star Galen Erso. Starting at her childhood and witnesses the murder of her mother and capture of her father by the empire who is forced back into his old life serving the empire. Leaving Jyn on the run Skip forward a few years and is now seeking out her father and revenge on the empire. She encounters Cassian Andor a rebel pilot who is looking for a introduction to her former carer Saw Gerrera after a message is sent via a deserter empire cargo pilot is captured by the alliance on Jedu former home of the Jedi temple and crystal mine.
 encounters the former temple guard Chirrut Imwe his gun toting partner. Before being sent on a rescue misson to save her father and uncover the weakness to destroy the death star.

As far Rogue One ranks as a good addition to the Star Wars saga. The action sequences are what you expect from this level of promotion. My big worry for this was that the Disney take over would have resulted in some really crap money spinner. I'm wrong though. The cast of actors are well picked and the story is interesting for the whole of the film. I definitely have few more favorite characters in Baze malbus and Chirrut Imwe proving that you don't need a light saber to be in tune with the force and lay waste to squads of storm troopers. Saw Gerrera although his appearance is fairly short Forrest Whitakers performance is definitely is one of the best. Mads Mikklesen as Jyns father Galen also gives a great performance. Rogue One has gone back to the mix of good verses evil.
The force is strong with Rogue One so I will give it 85 % Getfaster 444

 
So the first Star Wars spin off film has been released. Let's be honest this could go badly wrong under the wrong director, script writer, actors the list goes on and on. So it came with a lot of trepidation that I sat down to watch this latest offering.
 It's a really good start for the spin offs and Disney seems to be doing the right thing in taking a great deal of care making sure they don't mess this up. I does seem though that they really changed things around as they were coming up to the reshoot as was talk about a lot before the film was released. From the trailers I expected Jyn to be much more sassy, aggressive and to be honest a bit annoying. In the film she is nothing at all like that, she is more kind, likeable and brave. That is not the only change from the trailers which to be honest really are miss leading.
On the whole the team behind Rogue One did a fantastic job of making it Star Wars but also making different and original. That is no small feat at all. 85% mooopers

Grimsby

So The other night I was invited out by a friend to see Sacha Baron Cohen's latest film Grimsby frankly should have been called  Far too Grimsby. The films plot is set around Nobby a work shy party animal who lives at home with his girlfriend and nine children. Your impression of Nobby is that between constantly breeding, getting wasted and sponging off the state his life would be complete. But this isn't the case he is still looking for his brother Sebastian who turns out to be a top Mi6 agent on the trail of a arms dealer who is looking to let a virus loose and exterminate the worlds population of scum including the inhabitance of grimsby.

More Damp Squib than Octopussy.

To be honest I knew that this film was going to be a disappointment the minuet the opening credits finished. The film goes for the formular of gross out cheap laughs rather than Baron Cohens usual brand of subversive comedy as we have seen in Ali G and Borat. There are two scenes in the film regrettably are burned into my brain for ever which are the elephant and the fish market, don't look either up on google.
This film doesn't get any better than this, I did think that the few first person shoot out scene where a interesting idea but not enough to save any part of the film. I was not the only one who had stopped laughing in the audience nor did I hear anyone had enjoyed the film either.
In all honesty dont waste your time with this film. I hope this is a small bump in the road for Sacha who normally turns out brilliant pieces of writing.
Although I could saved myself a lot of time by redirecting you to the Leciester mercury newspapers review which I shall quote. "Grimsby: In which the privately schooled, Oxbridge educated multimillonare invites us to laugh at his latest creation; a bloke with no job and eleven kids.

DeadPool

Ryan Reynolds is back as our Friendly neighbourhood pool guy Dead Pool. Although this isn't  the first time that Ryan has stepped into the role. Unlike most of the other marvel films its a violent love story.
The movie tells the story of wade wilson former special forces and mercenary who is struck down with incurable cancer all seems lost. Then one evening he is approached a shadowy man in his local bar who offers him a cure plus the chance to gain super powers. After a very short period of thought he decides to go for it and this is where his troubles begin. He is tortured by Angel and Ajax yes the stuff that you use to scrub the kitchen sink. Eventually the changes take hold and he escapes to have his revenge on them.

I have to say that Im not the biggest fan of the marvel franchise as most of them  are aimed at families and very similar plots. DeadPool Felt like a change of pace for once with a more non family friendly script. From the word go you are laughing and in places cringing at the amount of gore hitting the walls. As the body count rises considerably you still feel engaged by the film waiting for the next gag or spatter of brains. Ryan Renyolds does make the role his own especially after his performance as The Green Lantern flopped. I like how all the marvel movies are now starting to tie into each other in the same way as the comics. The use of Shields down base as the scene for the final show down between Dead Pool and Francis. The budget for this was the smallest fpr the marvel franchise so far but I think that helped as there was very little in the way of CGI or big explosions helping to keep the focus on the acting. It I hope that the marvel franchise  will find time to make another Deadpool movie or maybe Deadpool and wolverine film.
If you enjoy the Kick Ass series you'll love this, its defiantly worth the watch go catch it before its released to dvd.

90 percent

GetFaster444

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

It feels I, like many others have been waiting for this for 30 years or so. I do clearly recall watching Return of the Jedi as a small boy and wondering what happens next? Happily ever after doesn't seem like the Star Wars universe and we all need to see that.

This episode has so much expectation that I feared going in that it would be a nostalgic mess of cameos. However that was mostly thankfully unfounded, a wise decision all round. The new cast Daisy Ridley, John Boyaga and Oscar Isaac are great and come across very well. By that I mean well cast and just the right amount of playful interaction and dramatic depth. The villains Adam Driver and Dominic Gleeson are more apprentices in waiting in the dark side. This works as they clearly don't get on, like fighting brothers who are both unhinged in different ways.

The returning cast how did they do? Well it's really all Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew with a cameo from the rest. But honestly Han and Chewee are silver screen magic they really add another level of greatness when they do arrive.



Much has been made of the practical effects and real sets and locations. To be honest I didn't think that much about it. There is clearly CGI in there but the difference is 99% of the time my eyes and mind weren't going "oh ffs" at the clear crapness of the cgi like I do a lot. (I'm looking at you Alice through the looking Glass trailer). From and an effects point of view this how every film should be done if you really care about it.

This does feel like a very big new start for Star Wars I'm not 100% sold that Disney can keep it up long term. The main issue with it all long term is lack of making it all special. If you look at Marvel you will see it all becoming more and more like a TV show. Very formulaic and predictable although I do admit I'm not a fan of most of the Marvel films (Guardians Of the Galaxy excluded).

 I do hope this is just the start and better is to come because I did enjoy The Force Awakens very much, but I do believe it is near impossible to create something truly special based solely on something that was special from the past. It just not gonna be the same of course and nor should it be.
 The Star Trek reboots are a good example of that, the first film was fun and interesting but the second was totally forgettable and from the trailer the third looks like it's going to kill the series. What made it special has been lost along the way.

I do hope that they really develop the new cast in future Star Wars films leave the past behind and embrace what they have started. I really would love it if they succeed.

Mooopers
90%
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I don’t think I have looked forward to a film as much as I have Star Wars: The Force Awakens for a long time, and on thinking on it I don’t think there has ever been an event like this in movie history.  This is what makes it special.

That is why I was there at 8am on the morning of the opening day.  I have never been to the cinema that early before and was alarmed at how many people that decided it was a good idea too, felt the need for nachos, chocolate and popcorn. As an aside, I was disappointed about the lack of serious costumes.  I know you are out there cosplayers, I have seen you!  Instead  I got two people dressed in stormtrooper onsies that from the back looked like easter bunnies. Just saying.

So, to the actual screening.  I will be honest, this is what my brain usually does during Star Wars titles.  Politics, politics, politics, Death Star, politics, politics' This time I read it properly as it is more like a 'where are they now?' piece without the 'then' and 'now' photos.

I promise no spoilers.  The first scenes have a massive impact, Po Dameron is awesome, BB8 adorable, holy crap Kylo has some moves and for a villain has some major style (it is intimidation by having immense taste).  That is roughly the first ten minutes, it escalates quickly.

I am going to offend a few people now by using the 'F' word.  This film is FUN. All the characters are believable, even without all the backstory details.  The interaction between the cast is genuine.   It is great to see the original cast who bring a sense of gravitas to the story and clearly have approached it with integrity.

There are some great moments of comedy, perfectly timed and not over done.  There are also some very subtle nods to the original films dotted around.  There are also moments that are just heartbreaking to watch and you will think on them long after you have left the cinema.

Visually it is amazing, as technology gets better and better in film making you know that only now are we getting near to George Lucas's vision of what this universe looks and sounds like.  I'm loving it!

I could go on about Rey and how she really does pin the whole story together.  Fin, who is openly terrified most of the time in opposition to Rey's pretty unflappable demeanour.  Kylo, who seems to be a good guy trying to be bad with an unhinged quality rarely seen in a film and Po, who is a skilled fighter with a lot of well earned confidence and a sweet attachment to BB8.

The music.  I have been whistling or humming Rey's theme (used in one of the trailers) consistently.  It is my brains' elevator music, always on in the background with occasional bursts out loud.  I cannot express how good this composition is and the ways it has already been used.

Okay, as you can tell I really enjoyed this film.  I am in no way an expert on the canon of Star Wars but understand there are some messed up histories going on here.  I am hoping that the writers have come up with some amazing ideas on how to move this all forwards with un-obvious twists that made Empire Strikes Back so revolutionary.  Once the film had finished I have to admit I was straight on the forums, searching through theories of what is going to happen next.  It was very enjoyable watching the feeds come through.  The fans and their dedication and loyalty to what has gone before are really what makes this story great!

Beakoala
93%

Legend: The story of the Kray Twins

It seems that The Kray Twins have made more money for the British film industry than they did as gangsters.

Tom Hardy has taken on the mantel of both Ronnie and Reggie Kray Britain’s most notorious Gangster twins.

The Film revolves around the relationship between Ronnie and Frances Shea (Emily Browning) who also narrates the film. Along with Christopher Eccelston as Nipper Read, Taron Egerton as Mad Teddy.

The story stars when Reggie’s Driver Chris Shea Fails to him pick up before work (I do use the term work loosely).   Frances is intrigued by her brother’s employer and the relationship starts from there. Before you think that I’m writing a review of great romance sorry your wrong. It’s not long before the twins come into a spot of bova’ with the south London firm trying to over their patch. This is where you start to the less charming side of the twins especially Ronnie who is starting to suffer the effects of Paranoid Schophrinia comes into play.

Of course as the brother’s fame and influence creeps well beyond the criminal underworld even into the corridors of parliament, their sense of invulnerability grows.  The relationship between Frances and Reggie starts to take a turn for the worst as he become more involved in the life, running the club and stints at her majesties pleasure.   The twins fortune start to take a turn for the worst when Ronnie cements their reputation in British gangster history by walking into The Blind Beggar after hearing that a rival is wetting his whistle on their turf, and shooting him brown bread in front of the other punters.

Even the police can’t ignore a murder on their patch and reopen the investigation the noose starts to close around the boys. The final nails in the coffin for the twins is Ronnie’s paranoia gets the best of him as he asks Jack ‘The Hat ‘ Mc vitie to kill Leslie Payne (David Thewlis). Of course Jack manages to screw this up which leads to him being lured to a party and stabbed dead.

Tom Hardy is a great lead for both parts as he truly is menacing as London’s favourite gangsters twins.  I do hope that he gets something come award season. The rest of the cast are great at their respective roles.  The film also shows the twins obsession with celebrity especially Ronnie in the bar saying he wanted a proper shoot out like in a western. It seems that they where more interested for being gangsters than actually doing the business.   As for the film it’s wroth the watch mainly due to tom hardy’s performance as the twins what bugged me most was the historical inaccuracies that seem to have been added mainly the rape scene as there is no evidence to suggest this occurred.

The film delivers as expected. If you enjoyed Tom Hardy's performance check him out in Bronson. 

75% 

Witness the Power Of Street Knowlegde.

As promised I went to see the new movie about the album that changed rap forever.  The film tells the story of how Easy E along with Ice Cube played by his son and Doctor Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella came to toghter to form Nigga’s With Attitude against the backdrop of gang culture, drugs and a highly Racist police force in Compton through out the 1980’s.  The first part of the film sets up the group’s individual stories showing their personal struggles from easy E involvement in the highly dangerous drug culture and dodging the law.  Dre’s love of old soul and funk music whilst Djing in a run down disco for $50 a night and Ice cube ability to write lyrics. 

Eventually Easy decides to quit the drug game and along with the rest of the group set up a label. With a little help finding his swagger with the help of Dre in the studio recording the groups first EP that shot them to fame.  A trip to the pressing plan to resupply the label's stock, we are introduced to Paul Giammatti played by Jerry Heller. As the money and fame rolls in the strains start to show within the group along with suspicions of how the money is being divided.  

The story it self plays along well accompanied by some the songs from the original album long with new score composed by Dre.  I think that the involvement form the surviving members of the group does give the film much more grounded view of life at the time, in fairness I think there has been some embellishing by Dre and Ice cube.

I do think feel that some of the story has been slightly embellished by Dr Dre and Ice cube to make it more interesting and to drive the story.  I would recommend going to see this film especially if you are a rap fan. The cast do are convincing and story will grip you for its duration regardless whether you have listened to the album or not. It’s also a fitting tribute to Easy E who died of HIV.