Iâve just watched this for the second time and reckon youâre a bit of a miserable bast on this review.
Motivations made sense first to last. Consistent with the tone of the earlier films. Some brilliant little touches of humour that the DC films lack, and yet, out of all of Marvelâs movies, this seems closest in tone to Empire Strikes Back. The movie resolves its own mystery, but leaves a lot of the people normally termed heroes in a very dodgy place.
Love the part where Falcon and Winter Soldier are chortling like schoolboys at Capâs goodbye to Agent 13. I also love Ant Man in this movie; heâs a total fanboy. The airport scene is probs the best sequence that Marvel have managed to get on the screen.
One of the best, informed docuâs on the military imperative of war in US
Caught X-Men Apocalypse this weekend. Not a bad film at all. Set in the 1980s, itâs the younger versions of the X-Men kicking around in this. Thanks to the huge events in the previous film, I think you can safely assume that the original 3 films didnât actually happen, especially when you consider the events in this one.
Jean Grey, killed off at the end of X-Men II, arrives back in this movie, recast and played by Sophie Turner. She might be my least favourite thing in this movie. Some of this is not her fault. Turner has one of those faces that depending on what sheâs doing, can be all over the place. Contrast with J:Law, who is also in the movie, and has never had a problem conveying that sort of emotion with her face. My main problem is that I didnât get a sense of Jean Grey. Instead, I just felt like it was an English girl doing her best job of being Jean Grey, and not quite making it. I was reminded more of Sansa Starkâs character in GoT than Famke Janssenâs earlier (and later) portrayal.
The Quicksilver sequence in this movie is something else, easily the best theyâve done in all the movies the character has featured in. X-Menâs Quicksilver is already looking pretty old. Doesnât look that much younger than his dad. Also on the looks crap stake is Xavierâs bald head, which clearly looks like a shaved head, when the mop is supposed to have gone forever for story-related reason. Fair play to McEvoy for scalping himself, but câmon dudes, basic stuff.
The 7.3 it has got on IMDB is probably a bit harsh, but not that much.
I think 7.3 is fairly representative for X-Men - it was good but pretty generic and I think a big missed opportunity for the series to establish itself. As it is, I donât think weâll get another one after the next film. Fox have a version of the Old Man Logan story in development for Hugh Jackmanâs last outing as Wolverine, and with him out of the franchise they lose a hugely popular character. I really donât like J-Lawâs version of Mystique and her contract is up after the next film anyway, so who leads the series going forward? McAvoy and Fassbender are fantastic but they arenât the two to be a focal point of the series.
My preferred option would be to do the next film planned, send off Wolverine with a great last hurrah and then take a break from the series for 5 or 6 years. What I think will happen is that Fox will continue to churn out X-Men films until people lose interest, which would be a shame.
It is quite odd in that itâs both the end of a trilogy and the setup for something new. The film spent a lot of time subtly getting characters to the iconic X Man look. It very much reminded me of the way Skyfall completes the initial Craig trilogy and sets us firmly back into the classic Bond groove.
Theyâre itching to do more. Singer has just got this universe to the where he wants it. Frankly, I donât mind and donât mind not seeing Wolverine either. Jackman has already had more time devoted to him than any other character.
Finally got around to seeing Good Will Hunting over the weekend. It was alright; very much enjoyed seeing Robin Williams do his thing. Affleck is a much better actor these days
Also rewatched the Edward Norton Incredible Hulk film. Itâs the forgotten part of the MCU (but hey kids, Iron Man is in it). Odd film. Apparently Edward Norton only took the role because he had a three film contract with the studio. He doesnât look like he gives much of a fuck, but one suspects that even Mark Rufffalo, the current Bruce Banner, would have had problems making this movie much better.
Itâs just unnecessarily dark, and by that, Iâm talking lighting, not theme. Most of the Hulk set pieces take place at night, which is unforgivable for this character. There are bits that wouldnât look out of place in a Batman movie.
New entry in the worst film ever categoryâŚ
Airplane vs Volcano 2014. Commercial airliner gets caught in a ring of supervolcanoes.
CGI was done on a BBC Micro. A 4 engined 737 with a cargo ramp. Passenger climbs out to mend an engine with a hammer on a rope made from seat belts.
It makes Sharknado seem like Shawshank redemption
Oh and the rescue plan involves in flight refueling a commercial airliner. Of course
Also about looks, Iâm interested how theyâre going to bridge the age gap between young Xavier and Magneto and their older selves. If the next movie is set in the early 90âs itâs only about 10 years before the original trilogy. Fassbender doesnât look 10 years younger than Ian McKellan so thatâs a ton of old man makeup theyâll need.
Took my daughter to see the BFG last week before she started back at school. I knew nothing about it before going so I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Having realised afterwards that it was a product of the Spielberg, Mathison partnership that also brought us E.T. I guess I shouldnât have been so surprised.
Say what you like about CGI, but the amount of expression that they can get in the faces of these creations these days, combined with a great performance by Mark Rylance, made it truly believable. Ruby Barnhill who plays Sophie was also excellent as were the rest of the cast, although quite what was going on with Rafe Spallâs soft Scottish accent I have no idea.
If you have young kids and have yet to see it Iâd definitely recommend it.
This is a film Iâve seen but this is itâs first trailer.
I saw itâs premier a few months back. There a few more showings for London Film Festival and then a December release. Screen play by an old mate of mine fom Southampton. Talented guy! Itâs also got a football theme so perfect for you all
Hey, well done on London Film Festival showing. Itâs hard to judge a movie from itâs trailer so I wonât
Ignore the hard sell at the end ⌠Itâs a great literary interpretation of one of my favourite movies.
Bridget Jonesâs Baby -
As a trade off to see Eight Days A Week, I went with Mrs SOG to see this at the weekend. If you enjoyed the first two movies you will enjoy this. There are plenty of laughs in it and it poodles along quite nicely without taxing the brain too much (pretty much standard Chickflick fare). As we walked out I overheard a guy talking about how good The Beatles movie is so I am looking forward to catching that tomorrow!
The Big Short is on Netflix, so I have how seen The Big Short
Fantastic movie. Amazing to think it does a better job of explaining the sub prime crash better than the news outlets of the day. The fact that youâve a number of very decent performers, on point, really doesnât hurt it.
On my list to watch again in the very near future. Itâs that sort of film.