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.

Thanks for reading!

War 'Orse

Nobody does war like Spielberg. And who could have thought he could make scenes as powerful and moving as the opening sequence in Saving Private Ryan without blood? I certainly didn't but I was proved wrong! But War Horse isn't all moving and powerful, some of it is just dull and boring.

I think it was a couple of years ago I read the book by author extraordinaire Michael Morpurgo, so I couldn't remember every little detail before seeing the film. I do remember it being an extremely good book though! The story is of Joey the horse who is brought up by farmers son Albert Narracott, when World War 1 comes into the mix Joey is taken by the army to be brought into the fight. We then follow Joey as he embarks on an adventure that takes him all over the front line of the war. Cue the dodgy accents!

The first quarter of the film I admit had me worrying as it was quite dull and a tad cheesy. The only thing that had me excited was the setting which was the amazing countryside of Dartmoor which I have grown up next to for most of my life so I could recognise many of the places on the screen. But apart from that it was pretty boring.

Thankfully demigod Tom Hiddleston and ace detective Benedict Cumberpatch come and pick up the pace of the film and really start to make things exciting. Both actors at the top of their game and Benedict Cumberpath showing off a rather dashing moustache. Cue some powerful scenes of horses charging into German occupied territory. Which really is the highlight of the film.

Then the film goes to the other side of the war as Joey is accompanied by two German soldiers and the a french family. And my god are the accents terrible. Maybe not so much the french daughter and grandad but the German accents are so bad I would rather they had spoke German and subtitled the film! Near the end of the film a German soldier even says 'cheerio'! I have lived in Germany for eight years and I have never heard a German say 'cheerio'.

But besides from the first act and the terrible accents the film is actually quite good and Spielberg really proves he is the master director of war scenes. Unlike the books which are from the horses point of view this film looks at the people surrounding him which really gives a good insight into the characters. the film does stay true to the book but as with any book to film adaption it is not as good but this one is still great and a must see for anyone. You could probably take your gran to this one and she would love it! War scenes are great, everything else is not!