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Pacific Rim

Filed under: Cinema by thefriedgold — Leave a comment
July 30, 2013

Pacific Rim (2013)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Starring Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman and Robert Kazinsky

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The planet is being attacked by huge monsters that are coming through a portal beneath the sea and it’s time for the human race to fight back by creating robot fighting machines.

 

My first thoughts when seeing the trailer for this film was it seems like a bigger budget Syfy channel TV film much like a Giant Shark vs. Giant Octopus and I wasn’t interested in seeing it. However with Del Toro as director I thought I would give it a go. As usual with his films it looks spectacular, the effects and the fight scenes between monster and robot are stunning. However the film lacks any other interesting points and in the middle of all this destruction a love story develops of which I had no interest in.

 

Recommend

Apart from the fight scenes and the stunning effects I found this film boring. I felt the film didn’t really know what it wanted to be. I wouldn’t recommend it but at the end of the day it’s up to you if this is something you want to waste your time with.

TheFriedGold rating – 2/10 – TV movie with great effects

 

 

Film Fact

 

There is a post credit scene involving a character who makes a reappearance and once all the credits have rolled there is a roaring noise which suggests a hint at a possible sequel.

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Now You See Me

Filed under: Cinema by thefriedgold — Leave a comment
July 11, 2013

Now You See Me (2013)

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine

 

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Four magicians who are brought together to form the group The Four Horsemen are tracked by the FBI and Interpol after they commit robberies during their stage acts.

 

The four magicians all have their own set of skills which are shown off at the beginning of the film which is why they are brought together. They bring some amazing magic tricks to the stage for the audiences all while committing bank robberies and giving the money to their viewers. The film plays on the whole illusion trick by having characters constantly saying everything is not quite what it seems leaving the audience guessing throughout the film what is going to happen, much like a real magic trick.

I’m a fan of all the main actors in this film and every single one of them performed very well. Mark Ruffalo has something about him that is making him one of my favourite actors around at the moment.

 

Recommend

I really enjoyed this film. I mean what’s not to like? Magic is fun and entertaining and all the actors are great performers. The film will have you second guessing some bits and you do have to pay attention and think for yourselves at times but sometimes it is nice to do some of the work in your own head and not be spoon-fed everything. Fun for everyone.

 

TheFriedGold rating – 7.5/10 – Abracadabra

 

Film Fact

Michael Caine was locked in his dressing room for a whole night during the shooting of the movie. Caine fell asleep after shooting and couldn’t hear when the director called the day a wrap. Everyone thought that Caine left and the set was closed. Caine woke up in the pitch dark and wasn’t released until the morning until someone heard his cries for help.

 

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This is the End

Filed under: Cinema by thefriedgold — Leave a comment
July 10, 2013

This is the End (2013)

Directed by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg

Starring Seth Rogan, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride

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Jay B is visiting Seth Rogan in California and they decide to go to James Franco’s newly built house for a massive party. While popping out to a shop to get some cigarettes everything goes to shit and it appears that they may be witnessing the end of the world.

 

The film is as silly as the trailers made out but is great fun, silly and in parts quite gory. All the actors play exaggerated versions of themselves in the film and don’t mind sending themselves up for laughs. As well as the 6 main characters, Seth Rogan, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride there are a host of other cameos in the film including a very weird Michael Cera and a take no crap Emma Watson.

There are some hilarious scenes involving conversations on cumming and rape which are so stupid you probably wouldn’t get away with them in any other film.

The film is originally based on a short comedy film called Jay and Seth verses the Apocalypse, starring Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogan, which was made straight after production of Knocked Up finished. The trailer got such a popular response that it was put into full feature film production.

 

Recommend

If you are a fan of this bunch of actors then you will definitely appreciate the dark humour and stupidity that is running throughout the film. It was great seeing it at the cinema but you won’t be missing out on anything watching it when it comes out to buy or rent.

TheFriedGold rating – 7/10 – This isn’t the end for any of these guys

 

 

Film Fact

Initially Michael Cera wasn’t really slapping Rihanna’s butt, but rather making the motion and stopping right before touching her. As a result, the scene wasn’t working on camera because it looked too fake. Eventually Cera asked Rihanna if he could really slap her butt, she said yes but on the condition that she be allowed to really smack him across the face each time. Cera agreed.

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Despicable Me 2

Filed under: Cinema by thefriedgold — Leave a comment

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Directed by Pierre Coffin,  Chris Renaud

Starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Russell Brand

 

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A master criminal has stolen a top secret research lab so the AVL (Anti Villain League) recruit Gru to help find the culprit because who else would be better than a villain to catch a villain.

 

The film centres around Gru working as a spy for the AVL while at the same time his relationships with his adopted children and women as potential mother figures.

The film has plenty of laugh out loud moments but these don’t really come from the main character of Gru. The minions make this film so much so that it could have just been about them. It doesn’t matter that they don’t speak in English and you don’t know what they are saying because that sort of makes them even funnier. These little guys are becoming my favourite animated characters of all time. The witty one liners and the singing in the film will get you laughing every single time they are on screen.

 

Recommend

The film as a whole wasn’t the best when it came to storyline but the minions made the film very enjoyable and will make you quote bits forever more. Probably not worth a cinema visit but do check this film out when it is released to Buy or rent.

 

TheFriedGold rating – 6/10 – the minions were the stars

 

 

Film Fact

Look out for the minions in their own feature film in 2014 which will take place before they met Gru

 

 

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World War Z

Filed under: Cinema by thefriedgold — 1 Comment
June 27, 2013

World War Z (2013)

Directed by Marc Forster

Starring Brad Pitt

 

 

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A former UN employee, played by Brad Pitt, is called back into action to help investigate and stop the zombie outbreak that is destroying he whole world.

Having not read the book I went into this film only knowing what I had seen in the trailers and little bits of information from people who have read it. I understand that the film is a take on the book and not a direct likeness. When I first saw the trailer, I was very unsure over the CGI zombies that were piling on top of each other however when watching the film it didn’t bother me. The CGI wasn’t heavily involved and when you got close up they were the normal zombies you would expect.

The film had parts that felt like a resident evil game, sneaking past a zombie and getting in and out of somewhere ASAP but without the real tension or care for the characters. The characters just didn’t have that connection with the audience that made you root for them.

 

Recommend

Considering I thought I was going to dislike this film I actually enjoyed it and wasn’t a waste of my money. The film isn’t your typical zombie film and is less the gore fest that you would normally get. It is more of an understanding and beating the outbreak of the zombie virus and less of the kill to survive attitude.

I found the film enjoyable and so would recommend this as one to watch. I couldn’t possibly say how fans of the book would respond so would like to know what you thought.

TheFriedGold rating – 6.5/10 – Would have liked more gore

 

 

Film Fact

The film was supposed to be released in December 2012 but was pushed back to June 2013 to allow for the Christmas release of Jack Reacher

 

 

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