Sunday 24 June 2012

The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

Running Time: 124 mins
Directed By: Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie, Mindy Kaling, Rhys Ifans
Screenplay: Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller
UK Release Date: 22nd June 2012 UK

Quick Plot: Tom proposes to girlfriend Violet one year after meeting, but they gather many obstacles such as grandparent deaths, sister’s becoming pregnant and new jobs before they can eventually tie the knot.

Review: Funny man Jason Segel’s latest screenplay was supposedly written with only one female lead in mind and that is British sweetheart Emily Blunt, who’s grace, beauty and charm continues to glide through Hollywood despite the fact she has, arguably, not had her ‘breakout’ film to date. The Five-Year Engagement could be one of her best, cookie monster impression included.

Favourably keeping her sweet British accent, Emily Blunt is like a breath of fresh air for the film, making this Apatow production a little different from the normal nudity crude fest. The Five-Year Engagement’s central source of enjoyment could solely be based on her charming presence, although Blunt is somehow more alluring opposite her co-star. Here, Segel keeps to the adorable, child-like character he’s known for, even with the bare bum shots, but he has been better.

Another wickedly proficient performance from Rhys Ifan’s means he is, once again, a little bit of a baddie which would have been delightful to have seen further explored. Alison Brie’s accent is justifiably excellent and her main moments on-screen are delightful.

This is in no way a stereotypical Rom-Com, with much more comedy than cliché terminal chase scenes or grand gestures of love from the top of a tower. Two major scenes strike out as the funniest involving a chase between Segel and Ifans plus Sesame Street impressions from Blunt and Brie. There are comical moments which might not be as funny on a second viewing, but enough for it to be seen more times and still enjoyed.
The main downfall for the film was the presence of scenes feeling as though they should be in the ‘deleted scenes’ extra on the DVD. With a 20 minute shorter runtime, The Five-Year Engagement could have been the perfect Com-Rom (more comedy and then romance) the trailers proclaimed it to be, making the ending feel a little less prolonged. A few cuts might have meant a few irritating and unnecessary characters could have been dropped to give more room for the leads. Even though they are fully developed, Blunt and Segel are the key attraction to the film’s likability so more time on them and less on supporting characters, such as the infuriating sandwich co-worker, could have upheld the film


Another success for Segel and co. that is sure to remain on top for the Rom-Com’s of the year. Blunt is superb and Segel lives on to reign as one of the funniest at the moment.

3.5/5

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Wednesday 20 June 2012

Monsters University: Teaser trailer‏

This is my second Disney post in less than a week, but there’s good reason for it. Today I got sent the very first teaser for Pixar’s Monsters University and I couldn’t wait to post it!

Along with it, Disney have released a little more concerning the plot:

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. “Monsters University” unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.
The first teaser is simply marvellous and nothing less than we’d expect from Pixar. If this is the quality that only a minute of a teaser holds, then there is no doubt the film will be another success for the team.

Can you believe it’s been 11 years since the first film was released?! Make sure you watch the trailer in HD as the colours are bold, vibrant and gorgeous.

 
Monsters University is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”) and produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”). The film is due Summer 2013 for UK cinemas.
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Saturday 9 June 2012

Super 8 review

Written and directed by JJ. Abrams, 2011’s Super 8 was expected to be another sci-fi blockbuster however, with a cast of charming child actors and a clarity of homage to the film’s producer Steven Spielberg, Super 8 is more than just explosions, hair raising tension and extra terrestrial meetings.

The film takes place in the summer of 1979 where a group of pre-teen pals are making their own zombie film. Joe Lamb (newcomer Joel Courtney) the protagonist, who apart from being the make-up artist of the film within a film, is spending his first summer without his late Mother. In some very emotional and heated confrontations, it is apparent that Joe’s relationship with his father, the town’s deputy (Kyle Chandler), is strained. Meanwhile Joe’s only sense of belonging and happiness is making train models and helping to make the film.

Joe is the sweeter character out of his simply written, but fitting, group of friends made up of Charles the director, Cary the firework enthusiast, Martin the worry wart and Preston the goody. One night, the group of boys meet with their helpful school acquaintance, Alice Dainard their reluctant female actor, to shoot a scene at the local, abandoned, train station. Everything goes according to plan until a passing train, that appears to be production value for Charles, collides with a car and causes a horrific train wreck which the kids go on to find out wasn’t an accident.

Like The Goonies, Stand by Me and other adolescent group films, the star of Super 8 is the collective of talented and energetic young actors who complete the film’s allure with their warming, eccentric and humble characteristics. Throughout the film they share many pre teen jokes about people being fat or too small as well as sharing their first run in with the military. In interviews, the boys revealed Abrams allowed them to create their own improvisation, or rather banter, in scenes which bring an inviting atmosphere for viewers.Unlike ET and the Goonies, there is a touch of romance in Super 8 between Courtney and Elle
Fanning who is absolutely delightful as Alice. Fanning aids Courtney with her previous experience in incredible roles to bring a very touching add on to the plot in a subtle love story.

Super 8 is surrounded by nostalgia feeling twenty or even thirty years past it’s time. But with the masses of SFX, Super 8 provides some stunning visuals teamed with extravagant surround sounds that cinema could have only dreamt of in the 80s. In quite possibly the most unimaginable but vastly epic and roaring loud train crash a film has ever seen, Abrams has left a mark on cinema in special effects.

Even though the exhilarating train crash stands out, it’s after the incident where the film begins to pick up pace and resemble that of a Spielberg 80s adventure. With mysteries and loops in the plot, the kids grow curious upon the recent intrusion from the military, finding it hard to believe they have arrived after the train crash out of coincidence. After dogs begin to run away, engines are stolen and people go missing, Joe is determined to save his town whether his father listens to him or not.

Swimming in a pool of charm, the children are responsible for half of Super 8’s enjoyment whilst the rest is down to the tribute it plays to ET, the Goonies and so on. Towards the end, family feuds and other events are glossed over very quickly and the ‘creature’ feels disappointing, but the film ends how it progresses- charming and sweet. Super 8 isn’t the monster movie everyone expected, instead it’s a simple story of friendship, family and growing older over a backdrop of disaster, train crashes and many Abrams’ lens flares.
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Friday 1 June 2012

I've moved!

I've moved to a new site called anamelesscat.wordpress.com

See you there!
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