The Dark Knight Rises

Fours year ago today I wandered over to my local cinema at 8:50 in the morning grabbed a cup of tea and sat down to watch The Dark Knight, which was excellent.  Well this is the exact same team that made that, so... should you expect anything different?  No, not really this is yet another excellent film from Christopher Nolan, it's dark, edgy and ultimately very satisfying.

My only criticism would be that I saw the ending coming a mile off and it would be nice to have another motive for the villain other than destroying Gotham City, but it was still a very good way to end the trilogy.  Who will pick it up from here?

Alphas S01E01 – Pilot

When an informant is shot dead in a sealed interrogation room a special team are called in to solve the seemly impossible crime.  Each member of the team has there own special abilities that make them a unique crime fighting team.

This was kind of like Heroes but without anything really special about it.  It was all quite nicely done but didn't really blow me away.  I just kept thinking all the way through "you're not as good as Heroes was!".  Could improve but I'm not holding my breath, looks like another middle of the road science fiction show that won't last more than two seasons tops.

Falling Skies S01E01 – Live and Learn

Humanity has fallen to an alien invader and all that is left is a handful of survivors who are struggling to stay alive and are ever hopeful that they will find a way to stop the invaders for good.

This is a show that should be right up my street, and for the most part it was pretty good but sadly not spectacular.  Hopefully it will improve as the series continues.  Can't help but think that it will end up in a War of the Worlds style conclusion, lots of hints at it.  Although with my history of science fiction shows I'm worried about it's longevity.  Also quite annoyed to see an element in this story that is remarkably similar to a story I have been planning for some years now.

Piranha 3DD

Sequels are never as good as the first film... and there is no way anyone should have expected this to be any different.  The first film was probably the most worthy film to use 3D to date, this however was poor at best even in 2D.  It didn't have any of the thrill or sex appeal of the first film.  For the most part it was pretty stupid and laughable.  Now, I know it's supposed to be stupid but this was just too far.  The Hoff however was probably the best thing about this film which just about says it all!

Lost S01E04 – Walkabout

John Locke is the focus of episode four, we see flashbacks into his past which reveal some truly incredible things.  This is another fantastic episode with an incredible ending.  It also is the moment that you realise just how important Locke is going to be to the series and you start to realise that this not just any old island (if the monster and polar bear hadn't already cemented that in your mind).

Every shot is this series is fantastically done and the flashbacks seamlessly slot into the natural flow of the story.  I am very glad that I decided to start back at the beginning, these sorts of shows are definitely better when watched in sequence.

Lost S01E03 – Tabula Rasa

Well episode three is a little bit of a come down after the first two episodes.  It's still good but it doesn't ask  us any more challenging questions, this one is primarily for character development.  It shows you exactly who is capable of what!  The focus of the episode is Kate's past as we see some flashbacks from before the crash.

My favourite part of this episode is towards the end when the Lost team lay an upbeat and happy song over the scene and everyone seems to be getting along for the first time, it's a feature that they use very well throughout the series; it's a real feel good moment just before the focus shifts to something or someone else, the music stops and everything looks very sinister again.

Lost S01E02 – Pilot Part 2

So if episode one raised some questions then episode two just threw more at us. What with the creature in the jungle that sounds like a machine, where they are, why they crashed and then the back stories of all of the characters? So why not throw in a Polar Bear and a distress message that’s been playing for over sixteen years. I love the puzzles, I love that the characters are interesting and varied and who can forget the moment Kate (Evangeline Lily) reveals a little part of her back story (and all of her underwear!!!).

I’ve heard varying reports about the conclusion to the show but not the actual conclusion so I’m going to remain positive, hope for the best and enjoy the journey.  I have faith in you Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, don't let me down.

Lost S01E01 – Pilot Part 1

The first time I watched season one of Lost, I watched the whole season in five days. Well that was six years ago and I can still see why I did it. That is the most outrageous opening to a TV show I think I have ever seen. I love the confusion we experience with Jack as he wakes in the jungle and then when he finally gets to the beach to discover what’s left of the plane, the engines still whirring away, people screaming and in various states of shock and injury, we get live the moment with the characters. So much happens in those first few minutes that you can’t help but get completely sucked in. This is a beautifully crafted show.

Having already seen the first four seasons, I know some of what is going on and am able to spot more of the hints to what is coming and there was a conversation between Charlie and Kate that really made me chuckle.

KATE: Have we ever met, anywhere?

CHARLIE: No, that would be unlikely.

Love it!

The Cabin in the Woods

Ok, I’m going to try and tell you about the Cabin in the Woods without any spoilers! Basically there is a cabin… and… it’s in the woods. If I tell you any more I could ruin it for you, so I won’t.

I will tell you however that this is the most important film to happen to the horror genre since Scream. This will forever change how you view horror films and how you remember horror films you’ve seen before. Now I’m not talking about the unnecessarily grotesque movies like Hostel that I have very little time for, but the monster movies like Friday the 13th, the sort of films that have a set of rules that must be adhered to. Well the Cabin in the Woods not only adheres to these rules and clichés but it smashes them to pieces all in the same action. Watch this film it is simply fantastic!

I'm Back!

Ok, so it's been almost seven months since I completed Film-Year and in that time I have moved to New Zealand... shhh!  I'm hunting Hobbits!

You'll be pleased to know that I haven't exactly gone cold turkey on the films either, so far I've seen 53 films this year and a fair bit of TV.  Game of Thrones has to be the best thing I've seen in the TV since the Walking Dead... so I thought for a laugh I might start reviewing those as well (plus the 53 films that I have to catch up on).

One other thing, so far I've only made it to season 4 of Lost (and that was when it originally aired) and I plan on finally finishing it by the end of the year, but to make it more interesting I'm going to start back at the beginning (I wasn't going to make it easy, plus I need the catch up)!!!