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Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Somebody merge Kill Bill 1 & 2 into one and re-edit the order of scenes!
The HUGE HUGE HUGE weakness of this film is the fact that it is so slow. If you have just watched Kill Bill Part 1 and expect blood and guts galore and lots of scenes showing Beatrix kick ass and sever heads and limbs then you'll be very disappointed. You need patience and to be in the right frame of mind to get the most from this movie. This film is definitely more like a western rather than a kung fu movie (besides the scenes with Pai Mei).
If you do have patience though you'll be rewarded. Many things that weren't explained in the first half are explained. It ties things up. People may often pigeonhole Tarantino as an action director, but here he really shines in the intriguing dialogue that he has the actors deliver.
The final encounter with Bill disappointed me and left me craving for more. It felt like something was missing and there were a lot of scenes cut from Beatrix's encounter with Bill. I feel this scene should have had a more epic fight scene, though the verbal exchanges were pretty intense. Bill shouldn't have been so easy to kill dammit! Overall this is definitely not a bad film, but it's incredibly imbalanced. Some scenes from this film should have been in the first half and some action scenes from the first half should have been in the second. I don't like the whole action first (part 1) and dialogue later (part 2)that Tarantino took.
I definitely agree that someone should merge Kill Bill 1 & 2 into one and re-edit the order of the scenes.
Brassed Off (1996)
A very engaging film that doesn't know what it wants to be
Before I start I'll say that "Brassed Off" is a silly name for this film. I would have chose something else. "King Coal" maybe? I dunno... anything but "Brassed Off".
Anyway, I'm from one of South Yorkshire's ex-mining communities so I approached this film with a more critical mind. The coalfields have never been depicted well on film so I approached this with low expectations... and it exceeded them.
This film really feels like they did their research. The accents are done pretty well and I definitely feel like I'm looking at a Barnsley mining village when I watch it, so I guess they did well with that. It's one of the better portrayals of South Yorkshire's coalfields, though there are still Northerner clichés in places that bug me.
The main problem with this film is that it doesn't know what it wants to be. It doesn't know if it's a comedy or a hard hitting social commentary condemning Thatcher and the Conservative party. If they wanted to do a social commentary they should have just done a straight up social commentary. No need for any romance stuff. It's the social commentary and seeing how these characters cope with the situations they face which interest me the most and make this movie.
There is comedy in here, which does stop the film from getting too depressing and political, though saying that if you're looking for a comedy then you might be disappointed as it does get pretty serious in the middle of the movie as the harsh reality of the situation hits home for the characters. If you're looking for more laughs I recommend The Full Monty instead.
I really wish they would have gotten rid of the unnecessary sub plot; the relationship between Gloria and Andy. To me it brings brings nothing to the movie, but I suppose at the time there was the mentality that "you must have at least one tale of romance in a film". I suppose if that's your thing (like the Jack and Rose romance on Titanic) then you'll like it I suppose. They do have chemistry. It's just not what I think the film should have a large focus on. The mine is closing and this probably had a huge effect on the lives of people in that community. The romance sub-plot is small potatoes.
It's a good film, though in my opinion The Full Monty did it better. It blended comedy, romance, drama, commentary on masculinity and politics way better. Brassed Off didn't keep it simple, doesn't flow as well, feels like a load of ideas slopped into one and the romance sub-plot is too distracting and ruins the film. I still recommend you watch this though (maybe after The Full Monty). The cast are outstanding, the film has characters that you really want to root for, the music is great, the film at times is incredibly touching and sad and if you live in a ex-mining area like i do the message at the end really hits home.
Anuvahood (2011)
Very disappointing film that could have been good
I was really disappointed with this film. It could have been really good. Maybe it could have actually challenged stereotypes of black inner city 'yoot' and inner city communities using the force of comedy or being actually funny; making fun of inner city 'yoot?'
What we have instead is this abomination. A boring played out storyline full of played out stereotypes. It doesn't even feel like a film. It feels like some TV comedy on Channel 4 or BBC3. If you're over 15 and don't live on or near an inner city council estate then you won't find this funny whatsoever. The only people i've heard like this film are the people (or kids) the film is making fun of. Even worse, if you live out of London or some inner city estate in Manchester or Birmingham or know the 'grime music' references you just won't understand and get some of the jokes. Speaking of the jokes it's all 'we've heard it all and seen it all before' territory. So much more could have been done when Kenneth (Adam Deacon) sneaks into his rival's flat for his stuff back.
The characters are so unlikeable too. They just seem so cliché, like they were just thrown together quickly after watching Kidulthood, a load of documentaries of 'kids on London Estates' and listening to a load of Wiley and 1xtra. They're also really stereotype and, well... stupid and annoying. Lots of comedies have played on stereotypes in the past, but this is just boring as hell. I could go as far as it feels a bit racist. Every character either instantly forgettable or so embarrassing you wish their character dies as every joke is taken a bit too far. The sex scene for example is something that is just cringeworthy.
This film just makes you wanna watch 'Friday' instead. At least the storyline of that film was entertaining and Chris Tucker and Ice Cube were really likable and played their roles well. Don't bother watching this film. It insults the intelligence of the audience.
Adam Deacon has potential as an actor, but definitely not as a director.
Fritz the Cat (1972)
An important piece of cartoon history that hasn't aged too well
When watching this film it is very important to consider the time it was made in. If you aren't willing to consider the youth revolution and the hippie movement of the 60s then this film isn't for you. You will just be confused and offended. This film is simply a commentary and criticism of the 'flower power' movement of the 1960s. This film compares humans to the animal kingdom. White people are cats, dogs and rabbits; the police are pigs; and the black people are depicted as crows, oppressed by everyone over years. To me the most prominent theme of the film is criticising white middle class students and the flower power movement. The young people who are anti-establishment, but when they get 30+ years old will become the establishment they are rebelling against.
First off, I love how New York City is depicted in this. It depicts it as a grimy metropolis full of drugs, murder, racism, robbery, segregation, sex and police brutality. Regardless of the characters being animals and some of the violence being animated It is all so in your face that sometimes it can get too much. It is a depiction which many can argue is realistic to this date.
Fritz himself is a character who is simply confused about what he actually stands for, but is disillusioned with academia and believes that real life experience is more valuable and rewarding. This quote from the film really sums up his character and the young people being criticised:
"You think learning is a really big thing an' you become this big *** intellectual and sit around trying to out-intellectual all the other big ***intellectuals
"
One thing Fritz definitely knows he wants is as much sex and drugs as possible. Fritz indeed does live a really hedonistic lifestyle. The film is full of animated sex. The film opens with Fritz trying to get girls by playing his guitar, but then managing to 'pull' a group of them by pretending to be an intellectual. What then proceeds is an orgy in the bathtub. This definitely isn't a movie to watch with kids.
Fritz really does also believe that he understands the black (crow) struggle and problems in the black (crow) community, but when his adventures take him to a black (crow) neighbourhood, Duke (a crow who befriends him) rightfully tells him that he will never fully understand the problem of racism from a black (crow) perspective as he himself is not black (a crow). Indeed Fritz is himself a criticism of white young people of the flower power movement as in the film he also starts a riot screaming 'we shall overcome' but at the end runs away when things get heated and doesn't even get involved, while his crow buddies get all the violence from police. What a douche.
I reckon after this the film kinda looses its impact and gets less interesting and exciting. It's a pity they killed off Duke so quick as well, as the character had so much potential. There are also so many ideas in this film, that as a result the end product is messy and unorganised, like an overstuffed sandwich. They should have stuck to one theme and explored this in detail, though I read this film was like this due to budgetary restraints.
This film as said can be argued to be as offencive as ever, especially as many who watch this probably won't 'get it'. Issues of sexuality and race are still relevant issues today, but Fritz the Cat, like many in its era explains these in a different way. I think this movie is good and historically significant, but cartoons like South Park and The Boondocks really have outdone this film now. I say this film is an important watch for anyone who is really interested and passionate about cartoons, anime, etc and wants to see a piece of history, but for regular members of the Joe public, I can't say the same.
The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)
No messing about - It's what it says on the box.
I have to admit that this film was better than I thought It would be. It was a film that could have either been quite good or really pathetic. It was quite brave of Channel 4 to take this series straight to the big screen. riding on the big success of the series and milking the franchise. I haven't watched all of the TV episodes, but to put it in simple terms it is just a feature length episode. Nothing that special. You could have probably split the film into bits and put it on TV.
This sort of movie has been done many times. Horny teenagers go on holiday with aims of drinking lots of booze, raving hard and 'loosing their virginity'. Many will compare this film to Kevin and Perry Go Large and also American Pie. This doesn't stop this film from being what it is though - a good laugh full of cringeworthy and gross out comedy.
The film does sneakily though turn into a sort of rom-com all of a sudden by the middle of the film with all of the lads and the love interests, which may annoy some viewers. This a result of a large section of the film dedicated to Simon trying to win back Carly. It's very cringeworthy and frustrating as he's the most boring character out of the lot. There is a really sweet and touching scene involving Will and Alison though, which is quickly ruined by rubbish gag.
As said the film does try way too hard with the humour. It is definitely If you aren't watching this with a load of mates in a packed out cinema then you will probably notice that there are way too many laughs from 'awkward situations' with girls and 'dickhead behaviour'. It would have been nice to slow down with the crude humour and to have a change of pace. Maybe the relationships between the boys could have been explored a bit more? A journey of discovery where they actually have to now mature into men. It just seems too hard to actually feel love and sympathy for the boys.
By the end of the film you can't help but feel incomplete. As though something is missing from the film. It just doesn't have the character development and the more complex storyline that American Pie has. It just doesn't feel like a film. The packed out cinema and the more exotic location (Greece) are the things that bring something extra.
In conclusion it isn't the UK American Pie as some people are saying, though If you can get past the overplayed stereotypes of young people, the lack of realism and the overload of sex jokes then you will enjoy this. It is what it says on the box. A laugh out loud and cringeworthy gross out comedy. If you go into the cinema with low expectations then you might be surprised.
Kidulthood (2006)
A great opportunity to portray young people in inner city London ruined
While this is a excellent piece of film, there are many problems with the film that can be seen, and especially by adults who work with young people.
1) My main criticism of this film is that it often sensationalises the issues that are faced by todays young people. The violence is over the top and at times the film is just too negative of todays generation of young people. Most of the characters are extremes and there is a lack of young people in the film that a wider audience can relate to. This is a film full of shock value.
2) The film also refuses to delve into the lives of the young people and why they act the way they do. It is a real disservice to young people who are facing these problems in reality. I'm sure there are loads of family Issues and wider problems. It would be nice to see a film that gives a balanced view of young black youth - a film that doesn't portray all of them as wannabe thugs and gangsters. This film just seems to want to shock the viewer with the acts that all these young people get up to.
3) I like the music, but I feel at times the director could have been more adventurous with the soundtrack and surprised us instead of just putting in all the UK grime and hip-hop that the audience expect (there is some pretty decent underground tracks featured though.
4) There is a lack of storyline. With everything these kids get up to you just get lost and wonder what the story is again.
5) The same bad white people and poor misjudged black kids storyline. Things are deeper than that and it would be good if things were more complex.
6) This film often has the reverse effect that it wants to have on the people it is portraying. It at times glamorises the lifestyle of these young people. It tries to shock kids into disapproving of the lifestyles of these on-screen young people and fails.
Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)
Guns, fists, boobs, knives and drugs.
The part of the film where we hear the character make a commentary and go through various years (the acid house scene in particular) was a bit cool and that's about it. The setting is what saves this film a bit, but it's still bloody awful.
The film features none of the social commentary and likable humour of Football Factory. It's more like a bloody street fight on a Saturday night outside an Essex nightclub - no rules, violent and not very intelligent.
You're basically watching a load of angry gorillas injected with booze and drugs. Every character on this is a stereotype or a cliché. The film just alienates the audience. No-one except the most screwed up of minds can relate to this.
The violence is also over the top. A lot of it is absolutely unnecessary. You can tell from watching it that most of the scenes serve no purpose other than to gross out or fascinate the viewers. The scene where some psycho goes to a pizza delivery place to knife up one of the staff with a pizza cutter is just not necessary to the plot at all.
Also, If any of you are worried about a lack of sex then don't worry. You're assured to see lots of personality and depth free 'birds' in this film baring their tits and getting their brains shagged out. Seems like the only purpose of women in this is as sexual objects, trophies and targets for abuse. It's a festival of misogyny and it's cringeworthy.
You'd be better off watching Eastenders than watch this crap. This film is strictly for the 'lads'.
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (2010)
A new guilty pleasure!
This is a series that has gained quite a cult on the internet. There are even grown men who are fans: male fans who often call themselves 'Bronies'.
What's all the hype about anyway? This is a series which has been created and developed by Lauren Faust, the wife of Craig McCracken, who is the creator of the Powerpuff Girls and Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends (FHFIF). Faust was involved in the creative direction of both of these shows and the character of 'Frankie' on FHFIF was even based on her. It's a show that has had a good amount of fan input as Faust herself often hangs around on the internet communicating with fans on sites such as Deviant Art, etc.
I'm not going to go too in-depth about the show and i'm not going to talk about the characters as there's lots of information here. The plot itself is nicely written and the characters are all interesting. What sets this aside from other kids shows is that it doesn't speak down to it's audience. It covers issues such as conflict, relationships, jealousy, etc in a very mature and entertaining way.
A minor gripe is the lack of male characters. When males do show up they're always inferior comedy relief.
Overall, this is a very good kids show. It doesn't speak down to it's audience and the characters are much deeper than on most 'shows for girls'. No matter how much the fans compare this to the Powerpuff Girls, the shows haven't got much in common. Aside from featuring strong female characters, my Little Pony has a much more toned down sense of humour, a less mature plot and doesn't feature coarse violence. It's for the young ones. It's still got quite a bit to offer mature cartoon fans and it's strangely entertaining. It's a new guilty pleasure.
Watch it with your children. Maybe you'll like it.
Superbad (2007)
Not that bad but not that good.
Superbad was one of them films where the trailer was better than the film. When I saw this in the cinema I thought DAMN... I'm gonna have to see this! It looked like one of the funniest films of the year...
...and I was wrong! Of course there are a good few laugh out loud moments, but the problem is that this film milks the hell out of it's jokes and because of the lacking storyline, that's all you're focussing on.
here are my problems with this film:
1) The cops had way too much screen time. They should have just played minor roles. They didn't really belong in this film. They would have been better suited in a different style of comedy.
2) The girls are incredibly forgettable. I can't even remember their faces. The typical stereotype brainless girls that teen movies are full of. Girls who are just sex interests and not people. They could have been different and had interesting female characters.
3) McLovin carries the film. He's the funniest character. The situations he gets himself in are hilarious. Seth and Evan are OK, but annoying. A focus on the relationship between the two characters would have put this film on a different level.
4) The storyline is cliché in parts. Typical American Pie/Porkys style teen flick. Also what's with the 70s music and the 70s references. Am I the only one who doesn't get it?
Overall, I find this film disappointing because there was so much potential with this. The result isn't too bad though. This is a movie that is one to rent or borrow from a friend. It's a film that you can enjoy with friends over a couple of beers. I can understand why people like it. Everyone probably knows at least one character on this film who was like someone from school. If you're after comedy that isn't too taxing on the brain and immature jokes then this is for you. A teen comedy for the Family Guy generation. It's one of those comedies that University/College students would find funny. You need to be in the right frame of mind to watch this.
If you're over 30 then this film probably isn't for you.