My Most Anticipated Films Of 2015

Here we go, another year of great films. 2015 is going to be massive! Here are my most anticipated films of 2015:

10. Spectre (November)

I always love a good Bond film, and after the brilliant Skyfall, I can only expect the follow up to be even better. Obviously Sony had a pretty rough year in 2014 so I reckon they will be hoping to make this one as good as possible! Now, there has been a lot of negativity surrounding a leaked script for Spectre, but I imagine that this will just be great motivation for whoever is doing the rewrites to prove everyone wrong. Plus Christoph Waltz was born to play a Bond villain. Bring it on 007! 

9. Jurassic World (June)

The trailer came out to mixed reactions but I have faith that director Colin Trevorrow will do the latest instalment in the franchise justice. His previous film Safety Not Guaranteed was amazing and if he brings that kind of heart to a big blockbuster film then he will be in for a win. Also, I want to see Chris Pratt in more things, he was awesome in Guardians Of The Galaxy. I can't wait to see the Park open and back on the big screen!

8. The Good Dinosaur (November)

Pixar took a break in 2014 and they were definitely missed, so I look forward to their next project. This is the second of two films they have coming out next year and they are both original pieces! The studio is at their best when making new original stories rather than sequels and prequels. I hope The Good Dinosaur brings out the best in Pixar, their other film, Inside Out, looks and sounds great but I really like the premise of this one: 'Arlo, a 70-foot tall teenage Apatosaurus, befriends a young human boy named Spot.'

7. Midnight Special (November)

Jeff Nichols has proven himself to be one of the best directors around at the moment with Take Shelter and Mud. For that reason alone I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next. His new film follows a father and son on the run, after the dad learns his child possesses special powers. With Micheal Shannon attached, this is one is not to be missed.

6. Ant-Man (July)

The second of Marvel's two films for 2015 is Ant-Man. A troubled production may have cast a cloud over this one but I'm sure it will turn out great. Although I would have loved to have seen Edgar Wright's version of this film, I will still be turning up on day one to see if Marvel have produced another gem with Peyton Reed at the helm. Guardians Of The Galaxy proved that they could take any source material and turn it into gold and I hope that they do the same here with the relatively unknown Ant-Man.

5. The Hateful Eight (TBD)

It's always a great year when a new Quentin Tarantino film comes out. The Hateful Eight may have been in and out of development after script leaks but now it will finally be made, and I cannot wait to see what Tarnatino does with this one. His films are always a joy to watch and I imagine this one will not be an exception.

4. Silence (TBD)

Martin Scorsese is my favourite director so I am going to see whatever he makes. His latest is a passion project about two priests in the seventeenth century who travel to Japan to locate their mentor and spread the gospel of Christianity. With two brilliant actors, Andrew Garfield and Liam Neeson attached, this will surely be another awesome film added to his list.

3. That's What I'm Talking About (TBD)

For the last two years now, Richard Linklater has topped my favourite films of the year and he may do it again with his 'spiritual sequel' to Dazed And Confused. Not much is known about the film apart that it will follows the lives of college baseball students in the 80's. I have no doubt that Linklater will produce another awesome film, and because of time period it should also feature another one of his epic soundtracks! I for one cannot wait to see this.

2. Avengers: Age Of Ultron (April)

When the first Avengers film came out in 2012 I was over the moon, never did I think I would see these characters on the screen together. Joss Whedon did not disappoint and I have feeling that Avengers: Age Of Ultron will blow the first film out of the water. I cannot wait for this film, the trailer was great and Ultron is even better and more menacing than I expected. I hope this lives up to my expectations.

1. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (December)

I knew this film would be on my list but it wasn't until the awesome teaser trailer appeared that it topped it. When the Millennium Falcon appeared in all it's glory I was taken back to my childhood, watching the films, playing with the action figures and being completely obsessed with the world. From the moment that the trailer ended the excitement started and I only wish the film was coming out earlier, because the anticipation is agonising! This is definitely my most anticipated film of 2015.

2015 is going to be an awesome year for film, there are loads more that I am excited for, not just the ones above. I hope everyone has a great New Year and remember to keep up with my blog to find out what I think about these films when they come out and more!

What are you looking forward to watching? Let me know in the comments below.

Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading!

My Top Ten Films Of 2014

So it has been another great year for film. Below are my top ten favourites of 2014, I personally feel that these are all awesome films and everybody should go and check them out. So read, find out my opinion and then go and watch them before the end of the year! Now just a reminder that I am going on US release dates so this also means that films like Birdman and Whiplash (which I cannot wait to see!) won't be out over here in the UK until next month, but I have feeling they may have made it onto my list if the reviews are to be believed! Here are my top ten: 

10. The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie is one of the funniest films this year. I didn't realise going in just how much I would be enjoying myself in the cinema and then subsequently, in the many viewings after within the comfort of my own home. It's just stupidly enjoyable and gives a very good commentary on the monopoly of the media and political world. I wish every family film was made with as much love and care as this. You can read my full review of The Lego Movie here.

9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Marvel have had another great year in 2014, as both their latest films turned out be some of the best they have ever made. Captain America: The Winter Soldier came and put the once laughed at hero on the map as somebody you might want to take notice of, because he kicked some serious ass! Unlike last years two films, The Winter Soldier blended the amount of action and comedy perfectly, creating a solid superhero flick that isn't all just mind numbing action but a political piece as well. Captain America will be your new favourite Avenger! Read my full review here.

8. The Grand Budapest Hotel

I have a love/hate relationship with Wes Anderson sometimes, I don't know whether he is a cinematic genius or just a parody of himself. This film showed his genius. The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of his strongest films and really uses his quirks to the most in order to tell a really great story of a friendship between this year's best comedy duo, Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori. The film is very sweet and incredibly well made and original. You can read my full review here.

7. Cold in July

Cold In July was one of those films I had never heard of before it's release but when I did finally watch it, I loved it! The film twists and turns its way through its ever changing story and it is a great joy to watch when you have no idea what's coming next. It's very stylish and dark with a great cast of characters that come together in the most unlikely of ways. I don't want to say too much about it, just go and watch it, you won't be disappointed! Ready my mini review of it here.

6.Guardians Of The Galaxy

I don't think you could have any more fun watching a film in the cinema this year than Guardians Of The Galaxy. Marvel hit another home run with this unlikely hit that cemented the fact that you could slap Marvel on to anything and it will make money. I'm so glad this did well because it deserved too, it was hilariously funny and featured some awesome actions and visuals along the way. James Gunn, the director was able to make us believe in a talking raccoon and a humanoid tree! He also turned Chris Pratt into the next action film star. This film is awesome and I have seen it multiple times already and I will see it multiple times more! Read my full review here.

 5. Gone Girl

Gone Girl was another entry on David Fincher's list of amazing films. He is definitely one of the best directors around. It also made you wonder why you had only just heard of Rosamund Pike? She stole the show in this adaptation. The film was dark and moody and travelled along it's weird mystery plot at a pace that never left you bored. It stayed close to the books and really translated the material well onto the big screen. Go see it if you haven't because you won't be disappointed. Don't read up on it so you won't be spoiled, unless you want to read the book, because it's just as good. Read my full review here.

4. Interstellar

It seems to be the cool thing at the moment to jump on the bandwagon and dislike this film. I'm not saying that those people are wrong, but I think we are maybe scrutinising this a film a little too much because it's come from Christopher Nolan who is only known for making epic masterpieces. I think Interstellar is another one of his epic masterpieces that is unlike any other film this year. I was truly blown away by its scale and I connected emotionally with most of the characters, making it for me, a really powerful film and story. I really dug it as a sci-fi and Nolan fan. I wish more blockbuster films were made like this. Read my full review here.

3. Frank

One of my most loved films of the year is also the only one I haven't written a review on. That's because I came late to the Frank party and was completely taken by it when I saw it recently. In fact, after I watched it once, I went back and watched it again. It is a really sweet film that makes you fall in love with its characters and heartfelt story about music, fitting in and mental illness. Like I said, I was just really taken back by it and loved every element of it, I even went and bought the soundtrack right after I had finished watching it. Domhnall Gleeson and Michael Fassbender act their socks off and really take you on a great roller coaster ride of a film. Definitely deserving of number three on this list as it truly is one my most loved film of this year. Go watch it!

2. Nightcrawler

At number two is Nightcrawler. It is easily one of the best written films this year and features an awesome performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, who I hope will get a lot of recognition at the Oscars for his disturbing role. This dark, gritty and fast paced thriller will have you on the edge of your seat for the duration of the film. It's the directorial debut of Dan Gilroy and it's one hell of a film to begin with! It feels very relevant with its commentary on the class system and media industry, it's just a treat to watch with it's beautiful cinematography. Not just one of the best films of this year but also one of the best films I have ever seen! Read my full review here.

1. Boyhood

Talking about some of the best films I have ever seen, Boyhood is yet another classic from Richard Linklater and the second time in a row one of his films has topped my best of the year list! Boyhood is not just an ambitious premise but a film that manages to pull it off with such ease that you wonder why it has never been done before? Linklater has really captured the feeling of growing up and the three hour film flies by as you watch actor Ellar Coltrane's life flash before your eyes. By the time it is over you too will feel as if you are sending young Mason to College. There is something for everybody here and it was moving for myself being a similar age to Mason throughout the last 12 years and sharing some of his experiences. It really is a film that will stay with you forever and one that was pretty easy to decide as my favourite film of 2014. You can read my full review of the masterpiece here.

So, that concludes it for my top films this year! Stay tuned for my most anticipated films of next year list that should make it online just before the New Year!

Let me know what were your favourite films of the year in the comments below.

I hope you have all had a great Christmas.

Thanks for reading!

The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

I'm only going to give you a quick run-through of my thoughts on this film as I haven't had a lot of spare time to write and I am also trying to compile my top ten films of this year and most anticipated of next year lists!

So The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies. If you have kept up with my reviews of these films for the last couple years then you will remember that I enjoyed the first one, and very much disliked the second one. This one is... alright. My expectations were low but I found myself enjoying certain parts of this epic climax. The beginning was very cool and I really liked Smaug but I did feel this segment would have been better at the end of the last film, because when you come out of the cinema the opening is just a kind of an afterthought. The rest of the film has it's moments but is still bogged down by the worst aspects of the prequel trilogy; the overuse of CGI and no main character (or not enough use of Bilbo!). I mean come on, the film is called The Hobbit! And Martin Freeman is awesome, give him more to do in his own film! I did however enjoy the dynamics between Thorin and Bilbo in this film which I feel the last one kind of forgot about. Other actors I liked were Evangeline Lily, though her character was nothing more than a love interest, Lee Pace (did anyone else think it looked like he had pen marks on his face at the end of the battle?), Luke Evans and obviously Ian Mckellen who I believe may actually be Gandalf in real life... Anybody looking forward to seeing Billy Connolly in this film will be disappointed when he turns up as a cluster of pixels.

This film has good moments, a lot of the action is pretty cool looking, but never reaches the awesomeness or realisticness of Helms Deep or Minas Tirith. I'm very happy The Lord Of The Rings got made when it did, because Peter Jackson has definitely had a case of the George Lucas flu whilst making these prequels! The finale is epic in scale and Peter Jackson closes his trilogy a lot smoother than The Return Of The King. I wasn't left disappointed by this Hobbit film. The films won't hold up well over time but at least we'll still have The Lord Of The Rings to satisfy all our Middle Earth needs. I know this all sounds like negative points but I did enjoy the film I swear! It just wasn't anything special, that's all. It had the pressure of The Lord Of The Rings on it's back and was being adapted from a 300 page kids book, stretched into three really long films...

Look, I liked it, didn't love it, but it'll do. I am giving The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies a rating of 3/5.

What did you think of the final Hobbit film? Are you happy it's over or have you been left wanting more adventures in Middle Earth? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

Come back soon for my review of the year and what I am most looking forward to in 2015!

My Top 10 TV Shows Of 2014

Usually I do a review of the year near the end of December, that has my top 10 films and top 5 TV shows. This year I have decided to do it differently because there has been a lot of good TV I wanted to talk about! So my top 10 films will come later this month, as there are still a few films left to come out. Here are my top 10 shows of 2014:

10. Boardwalk Empire Season 5

Boardwalk Empire has been one of the best shows on TV for the last 5 years. I started watching it from day one and have not been disappointed since. It's had ups and downs every season but thankfully the final season was overall very good. I do feel the finale lacked slightly and cast a shadow over the season but it will still go down as one of the best crime shows ever to be made. 

9. Arrow Season 3

There have been a lot of comic book TV shows this year but Arrow still tops the lot of them. After a stellar second season, the show proved that it was more than just good looks and decent action. Although I don't believe the third season has started as strong as the second it is still pulling its punches and keeping me entertained week after week. I've grown to love all the characters and I can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of the season, especially after it's insane mid-season finale!

8. The Strain Season 1

For me The Strain was the biggest surprise of this list. I never intended on watching this show but one night I sat down and started it. I was not disappointed. The cast is great and the story is gripping. These vampires are real ones and proper scary! It has been a great first season and I cannot wait to see what the show has got in store for it's second.

7. True Detective Season 1

I was really looking forward to True Detective and although it was an incredible piece of drama, it did take a few episodes for me to get into. I may not have loved it as much as some critics claimed too but overall it was an amazing philosophical story. That tracking shot at the end of episode 4 (I think) was also one of the greatest pieces of camera work I have ever seen! It will be interesting to see what the writer does for a follow up.

6. The Leftovers Season 1

The Leftovers has seemed to become one of those shows that you either love of hate. I binge watched it over a weekend and I loved it! I wasn't one hundred percent sure what the show was about but was really surprised and happy to see them jump ahead after such a big supernatural event and look at how the world was affected by it. It was a brilliantly made and a very good looking TV show, I cannot wait to see the story evolve.

5. Homeland Season 4

I've been watching Homeland since day one but never loved it as much as other audience members have, in fact I have almost quit watching it a few times. This season however has really surprised me because I have absolutely loved it! They have done a complete revamp of the show and it now moves at faster pace with big exciting things happening every episode. It feels to me more like a TV version of the Bourne films. Carrie still isn't a very likable character but there has not been a TV show this year that has had me quite as gripped. 

4. Orange Is The New Black Season 2

I loved the first season of Orange Is The New Black and was really looking forward to the second one. Thankfully it did not disappoint and in fact I would say it improved on the first one! I actually like Piper now and there were characters from season one that disliked and now like and characters I liked and now hate. There has been some great writing on the show and some great moments which have been very powerful. Netflix is proving to be one of the best providers of original television, who would have guessed? Bring on season three!

3. House Of Cards Season 2

Yet again another Netflix TV show that improved on it's first season and provided some of the best television this year. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are incredible in their roles and every season the dynamics have changed and I can't wait knowing that season three is going to be even bigger and better than the last. The final moment of the season had me cheering at the TV for more. Such an awesome show!

2. Fargo Season 1

I made sure to watch the film just before starting the show, after doing so I loved how much the series captured the spirit of the original. I think in the end that the show may have even been better than the brilliant film. Martin Freeman showed that he was a very capable actor and the show even put Billy Bob Thornton back on the radar. Such a great and gripping show which had me obsessed from episode one.

1. Game Of Thrones Season 4

After the departure of Breaking Bad last year it was only obvious that Game Of Thrones was going to take it's place as the best show on TV. The world and the characters are so diverse and complex that every episode delivered with a big bang or an important piece of information that changed the dynamic of the war for the Iron Throne. I think the show has really found its legs now and is carrying on with some of the best writing, acting and cinematography not only in the world of TV but in the world of film as well. TV doesn't get better than this! Expect to see this show in the top spot of my list next year as well (I hope!).

Well that concludes my top ten shows of this year. I want to add that shows such as Halt And Catch Fire and The Newsroom were also very close into making it on the list. 

See you soon for my top ten films of the year.

What were your favourite shows of 2014? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

I've been quite busy recently and haven't had time to write a review for the the third instalment of The Hunger Games franchise. I saw the film last week and my feelings are a bit mixed on it. Carry on reading to find out why.

So the third film follows the first half of the final book in the trilogy. Following pretty much after the events of the second film, we see Katniss in District 13, where she must help start the rebellion by being the 'Mockinjay' symbol to create war propaganda and unite the districts against the Capitol. I've read the books and was surprised they were going to split the last one into two films. Unfortunately every young adult franchise seems to do this now and Lionsgate are going to want to keep on milking The Hunger Games cow because it has made them a tonne of money. Because The Hunger Games franchise has been so well done, I thought this film might show me a viable enough creative reason for splitting the films. It does not. The film drags and hasn't got enough content to keep me fully engaged throughout. In my opinion they split the films where the book finally gets interesting. This means the second part should be pretty great but I am not longing for it like I was after watching the brilliant Catching Fire.

Katniss is a great character and she has always been played superbly by Jennifer Lawrence. This film is not an exception but does feel less like Katniss is helping move the plot of her own film. Obviously this is not a great time in her life but there is only so much upset Katniss I can take, she took a backseat in this one and rarely engaged in the action. This is similar to the book, however she does do a lot more in the second half, so I guess we'll just have to wait a year to see Katniss at her best.

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad film. In fact there are quite a few really awesome and powerful scenes. The only problem is, is that the awesomeness is mixed in with long, boring scenes that drag. I just want to see the main character do something!

One of things I like about the films is that they can delve into the world more than the books did, because we aren't just looking at this world from Katniss's point of view. Mockingjay continues this and shows a really well developed and thought out world. We get to see some awesome rebellion scenes and find out more about the villains like President Snow, who was definitely my favourite character in this film. He is pretty darn scary. Donald Sutherland has brought way more to that character than I ever got from the books. I love all the political and social undertones to the film and they are the themes that separate this franchise from other young adult films. A love triangle is present but it never feels like the driving force of the film. I like that Mockingjay still feels different and cool.

So Mockingjay is an ok film with standout scenes but pretty dull ones as well. I feel if the third book was one film, with just the awesome scenes from part 1, and then whatever is to come in part 2, we could have been looking at one of the best trilogies of our generation. However this is not the case and the once superb franchise now has a dent in it, not a big one, but a dent none the less. I'm still excited for part 2 but not as much as I was last year after watching Catching Fire. I am giving The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 a rating of 3/5.

Here's hoping the second part is a lot better!

What did you think of Mockingjay Part 1? Are you still excited for the final instalment next year? Let me know in the comments below.

On a different note, the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer came out yesterday and it looks incredible! I grew up on Star Wars and I cannot wait to go see a new one in the cinema! Go watch it if you haven't already!

Thanks for reading!

Interstellar

Wow. How do you review a film like Interstellar? Well for one I am keeping it SPOILER FREE, so get ready for a very vague review, but overwhelmingly positive because Christopher Nolan has made yet another masterpiece.

Set in the future where our planet is running out of food and the human race is on the bridge of extinction, a team of explorers set out on the most important mission in history; travelling beyond our galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. This is the basic premise, but after all, this is a Nolan film, expect this and a lot, lot more. Yes Chris and his brother Jonathon Nolan have written yet another complex and creative cinematic experience that is unlike any other film you will see this year.

The cast of the film is brilliant, especially main character Cooper played by Matthew McConaughey who continues his recent run of perfect performances. All the performances are great, however I have yet to find a character played by Anne Hathaway who I have any connection towards, she was perfectly fine in the movie, I just never engage with her as much as other actors.

The film is visually stunning, an incredible piece of film making that definitely takes a lot of influence from 2001: A Space Odyssey, it's about as long a running time as well, thankfully though the story runs at a faster pace! Be prepared though, this three hour film isn't a breezy fun time, you are going to have to sit and listen intently because this is one film that encourages you to think about what is going on. If you go in ready though, this film will blow your mind. It is unlike any other film I have seen and viewing it in the cinema really engrossed me into the epic scale and story. It doesn't follow the traditional three act structure and the story goes into different directions constantly. It's also very powerful and I was tearing up at least three different times during the film, it also has a countless amount of goosebumps moments. For a film about Matthew McConaughey going into space, the first 40 minutes I didn't want him to leave Earth for the sake of his family! The heat of this film lies in the father/daughter relationship,be prepared for a full range of emotions during this film, because it is pulled off extremely well.

I have read a lot of reviews picking holes in the plot or the realism of the science. They have done nothing to curb my enjoyment of this film. The science shown is based on theories rather then reality and although some of it can seem far fetched, this is at the end of the day a science fiction film. Sit back and believe if for the sake of the story and the themes and ideas it wants to convey. This is a film that you are going to take home with you, I saw it last night and I am still trying to process it all.

It has a few flaws like the odd one or two underdeveloped characters but this does not take away from the enjoyability and ambition of the film. Nolan films are going to get harder criticism then others because he has made a long list of incredible films. He is one of the best and most innovative filmmakers around and nobody makes films like Interstellar, so it is great to see a film that completely blows you away. I always leave his films in awe and respect of his filmmaking. Yes there are aspects of this film that could have been cut to shorten it, but at the end of the day this is not your average film, and the experience of watching it was worth every minute and I would happily of watched another hour if need be.

I feel like I'm gushing a bit now. Interstellar is a masterpiece of a film. Go see it. I am giving it a rating of 5/5.

I know this film has divided audiences, so let me know what you think in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler was pretty much unknown to me until about a couple months ago when the excellent trailer came out. I knew straight away it was something I really wanted to see. Unlike last week's Fury, Nightcrawler did not disappoint at all.

The film follows Lou Bloom, a man who is in desperate need to make it in the world. He finds himself in the world of crime journalism and becomes a freelance nightcrawler, filming urban street crime for news channels. 

Lou Bloom is a very weird guy. He's intense, creepy and has a dark side which comes into play when he starts to blur the line between observer and participant in the crimes he is filming. Bloom is played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who is at the best he has ever been in this film. Gyllenhaal is pretty much unrecognisable in Nightcrawler and lost a bunch of weight to play the character. Bloom may not be a character you particularly like but he is so interesting and unpredictable that you will be on the edge of your seat for the whole duration wondering what crazy stuff he will be doing next. He isn't a character you sympathise with, but you will see a man who has been shaped by the economic climate and has also been overloaded with a bunch of information from the Internet on how to make it in the world. Jake Gyllenhaal should definitely being seeing some Oscar nods for his incredible performance. Other great performances come from Rene Russo who is excellent as news director Nina. And Riz Ahmed who plays Lou's partner Rick, also really good in his role.

The film is really dark and is very good critique of media culture, especially news corporations and the lengths they will go to get their ratings. It may not be as subtle as the message was brought across in Gone Girl but it still is a lot of fun and very thrilling film to watch unfold. The relationship between Lou and Nina is played out really well and although it goes to some really messed up places it is never unbelievable. I found it similar in theme to Breaking Bad, with idea that bad guys make it in the world whilst the good ones get left behind.

The cinematography is great, the film is very good looking and portrays the streets of downtown L.A as dark, gritty and a scary place to be. This is the directorial debut of Dan Gilroy, previously a writer of films such as The Bourne Legacy, and he has gotten off to one hell of a start. As an aspiring filmmaker myself, one could only dream of writing and directing a film as good as this to begin with, I can't wait to see what he does next.

As you can tell, I really, really loved Nightcrawler. It is definitely one of the best films this year and I hope it generates a lot of awards buzz. I am giving this excellent film a rating of 5/5.

What did you think of Nightcrawler? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

Fury

When I watched the very underrated End Of Watch last year, I thought that David Ayer would have been a great choice to make a war film, because the relationship he created between two police officers would have worked just as well with a group of soldiers. When I heard he was directing Fury I thought he was a perfect choice. I did however worry a little bit when his earlier film Sabotage came out and was pretty awful. Maybe I should have worried more because I saw Fury last night and I was not a fan.

I went into this film thinking that it would be a realistic portrayal of war centred on the friendships created from a five man tank crew. I was wrong. This film is is heightened macho war film made for a Call of Duty audience that focuses on Norman, a young soldier who has to endure a tank trip with a bunch of American bullies. Yes the actors were good in their roles, played by Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Berthnal and Michael Pena but they are horrible people and completely unlikeable, apart from Logan Lerman's character, Norman, who you feel sorry for, but even his character by the end of the film is rushed into becoming a bit of douchebag like the rest of them.

I'm not saying that this isn't a realistic portrayal of war because the characters weren't nice, but the writing would always contradict itself. The crew like to say how Brad Pitt's 'War Daddy' character is the only reason they are still alive, but continue to try and anger him throughout. War Daddy himself proclaims that the controversial decisions he makes are to keep his crew alive but he continues to make reckless decisions that put them in harms way.

Norman is forced to live with these people who pick on him and hit him and force him to do things, but only because 'they're keeping him and themselves alive'. I didn't buy it, they just came across as macho American bullies who I had no affection for. The script attempted to justify their behaviour, but the odd half hearted apology to poor Norman didn't work for me. These guys never came across as friends, more just like guys who had to put up with each other. There was no bonding and the brother's in arms attitude that comes in by the end of the film just feels forced.

There are some good scenes in the film, I particularly liked one that is set in house with two women, but again by the end it is flawed because Ayer writes every female character in this film as easy, and would happily sleep with his characters if they gave them food or showed any kind of affection towards them. This was Ayer's problem in Sabotage as well, the women were so badly written that they just all sounded the same.

The film itself looks great, the cinematography is very good and there are hardly any special effects, unfortunately this is let down by the writing and the storyline. The action looks good and is really well done but once you've seen one set piece then you've seen them all, it all got a bit boring by the end. And be warned, because of the use of tracers in the guns the action will sometimes look like the crew are fighting Hydra rather than The SS.

As you can tell, I was pretty disappointed by this film, I wanted so much more from it. I enjoyed watching Logan Lerman and I think he was definitely the best thing about the film but I wish some thought had been put into the other characters so I could have cared for them, no matter whether they were good or bad people. If you want a dumb Call of Duty like action film then go see Fury. If you want a unrealistic pulpy but fun portrayal of Nazi killing then go watch Inglorious Basterds instead. If you want a seriously good World War Two film then go watch Saving Private Ryan. I am rating Fury a 2/5.

I know a lot of people liked this film, so feel free to let me know what you think in the comments below.

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Gone Girl

It's really hard to talk about thrillers, especially ones with as many twists and turns as Gone Girl has, but I will try my best. I read the novel in which the film is adapted from not so long ago so it was pretty fresh in my mind. Whilst reading I thought this book would be one hell of a difficult adaptation but with David Fincher behind the reigns I wasn't too worried, even if his last adaptation was an unneeded film because the Swedish original adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was so good. I can tell you now that Gone Girl is an absolutely brilliant adaptation that is faithful to the novel as well as being an incredibly thrilling and brilliant film.

Gone Girl follows Nick played by Ben Affleck who comes home one day to find his wife has disappeared. That is really as much as I can tell you as anything else would be considered spoiler territory. The whole film is one big crazy story that will constantly have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out the characters.

Ben Affleck really shines in his role and pulls off the emotionally detached character of Nick Dunne perfectly. However it is Rosamund Pike who steals the show as Amy Dunne the missing wife. The whole cast of the film is great and even give actors like Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry room to show off their acting chops. Nobody has a bad performance throughout.

The film itself looks great and the beautiful cinematography associated with Fincher films is at play yet again creating a brilliant atmosphere which is added to by the eerie but wonderful soundtrack that gives an off putting vibe to the feel of the film. The editing is also really dramatic and the movie moves along like in fast paced segments that feel like short chapters of a book. Yes Fincher pretty much adapts the book beat by beat but in a way that is still entertaining for those who have read it. I for one was just enjoying seeing how he did it because I would have had no clue where to start but he made it so easy. I guess that's down to having the auther Gillian Flynn write the screenplay as well.

I highly recommend this film. It's dark and disturbing but a really clever portrayal of a couple's relationship and the invasion of privacy and fear mongering of the media. The two and a half hour running time flies by with the ever gripping and changing plot line.

This may be quite a short review but is a film that is difficult to talk about but one you will want to discuss for hours on end afterwards. If you're going to see any film this weekend then go see this one. It's another David Fincher masterpiece. It's also one of the best films you will see this year. I'm giving Gone Girl a rating of 5/5.

Let me know what you thought of the film in the comments below.

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Quick Reviews #9

It's been a while since I have posted on here. Sorry about that, many different things going on right now! But I have spare moment, so I thought I would do another round of quick reviews. This one being a bit different though. I am going to list off a whole bunch of films I watched recently and give a few sentences worth of review  followed by a rating. Let me know if it works. Enjoy!

They Came Together

Stupidly funny. Like Airplane! but for romcoms, a genre I'm not a fan of but this film makes fun of them in a way that is great for people like me but still has enough love for the fans. One of the funniest films I have seen this year. Be warned the trailer doesn't do it any justice. 

4/5

A Million Ways To Die In The West

Completely the opposite to They Came Together. Not funny, I maybe laughed once. Had some funny concepts but never pulled them off correctly. I love Family Guy but I feel like Seth Macfarlane was trying too hard here. I wouldn't give up fully on his start of live action films but this was just awful.

1/5

Maleficent

Looked pretty stylish but was let down by dull and uninspiring script that didn't do enough to show just how good Angelina Jolie is. Action was cool but the story took an iconic villain and didn't make her that villainous, just a bit boring.

2/5

Chef

I like these kind of films. Loved Jon Favreau in it. Came off as a bit overly nice. I like nice, but felt there was too much of it in this film, everything concluded the way you expected it to. Food looked incredible.

3/5

Edge Of Tomorrow

An absolutely brilliant sci-fi film. I like the time travel Groundhog Day aspect to it. Was like Source Code on a bigger scale. I wish it hadn't turned into a generic action film at the end but overall was very enjoyable to watch. Cruise and Blunt are both very good.

4/5

Cold In July

Loved this film! Didn't know much going in, I recommend you do the same. It's a crazy thriller that constantly changes your expectations as to where the film is heading. Cool and stylish with an awesome soundtrack. Just watch it, one of my favourite films this year.

5/5

I hope you enjoyed these short reviews, I like doing it this way so might do one again soon. Give me some feedback in the comments below, let me know if you agree or disagree with any of my opinions. 

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Go watch Cold In July!!