Wrath of the Titans (2012)- review

Running Time: 99 mins
Directed By: Jonathan Liebesman
Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston, Toby Kebbell, Edgar Ramirez
Screenplay: Dan Mazeau, David Johnson, Steven Knight
UK Release Date: 30th March 2012

Quick Plot: With the war between gods and Titans continuing, Perseus the son of Zeus, must join with other half Gods to free his father and save the gods from the prison of Tartarus.

Review: With the amount of money it made, it was no surprise that a sequel to Clash of the Titans was knocked up. Obviously, the Clash makers wanted the same result and have secured this by introducing a few new cast members, adding curly hair to Perseus, oh, and producing some out of this world, glorious CGI and 3D.

Set a few years after Sam Worthington's legendary defeat of the Kraken, Perseus declines his father's offer to live with the Gods and remains on earth as a human. With his wife killed off before Wrath begins, Perseus struggles as a fisherman and a single father, refusing to pray for help from his relatives. Neeson's Zeus quickly enters asking for help from his son as the God's immortality is at risk. Confusion arises within the first ten minutes over the array of different accents. Perseus Australian, his boy British and everyone else either British and/or American. The confusion is forgotten soon after with a small Perseus vs. fire breathing demon battle, which sets the pace of the film; bewilderment, among a blend of careless dialogue followed by extreme CGI Titan fights.

Killing off the delightful and forever charming Gemma Arterton in the first, consequently brings Rosamund Pike as the female focus for Wrath, to create an appealing, attractive likeness to the male implied genre. Pike, like Arterton in Clash of the Titans, does all she can with the material she's been given, but she's not used to her best ability causing her performance to lack engagement. Having a small soft spot for aussie Sam Worthington, I will watch him in any film, but his passion for Wrath of the Titans isn't nearly as exciting as his enthusiasm must have been for Avatar, causing Perseus second time round to feel a lot like the first time. Clearly, Toby Kebbell is used to add a bit of comedy and like the rest of the cast, delivers the fun he can but his appearance and the use of jokes feels like Agenor was created with Russell Brand in mind.

Yet with the mess of the script and the absence of anything exciting, the effects are completely exhilarating. Many people were disappointed with both the film and 3D conversion in the first film, but this time round the 3D is something to enjoy. With fire, Cyclops’ and spears being thrown right into your face; Wrath of the Titans is worth the 3D. Personally, it’s one of the best 3D film’s I’ve ever seen.

Though visually and technologically the film is and will be a financial success, there is nothing mentally engaging.

2/5

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Arthur Christmas (2011)

Running Time: 97 mins
Directed By: Sarah Smith
Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen
Screenplay: Peter Baynham, Sarah Smith
UK Release Date: 11th November 2011 - UK

Quick Plot: When a little girl’s present is accidentally lost within the operation Santa Claus system, can Santa’s son, Arthur, successfully deliver the girl’s present in time before Christmas morning?

Review: Having seen a clip from Arthur Christmas back in August, I have been dying to see Arthur. And with 5 days to go till Christmas, I finally have!


Though this type of animation is not the usual Aardman handmade craft, the charm and witty script is still pure Aardman fun. The story is based on the annual mission that Santa Claus takes every year, delivering presents to children all over the world. Writer and director Sarah Smith has modernised this original story into the 21st century with the S-1 sleigh which lacks reindeer, the GPS tracker and various other technology and electronics to help speed up the process taken on Christmas eve. There’s Santa, his wife Margaret, father Grandsanta and two sons. The eldest, Steve, who is set to take over the Santa throne and Arthur, our hero of the film. Each character is structured for kids to like them because of their individuality and their humane voices. Including the sweet little, but unconventional, Elves. The elves are the important factor for helping Santa deliver all the presents in just one night and in a very funny scene, we are shown just how that is done. In lots of quick movements, the elves delve into a house in a mission impossible manner with lots of high tech gadgets and harness which is sure to bring laughter to children. Though it's highly planned out and not as traditional as the tale of Santa goes, this take on delivering the presents has an effect on children. After seeing the film with my  4 year old cousin, he told me that he's going to have to look very closely for the elves when they visit him on Christmas eve because they are very quick and smart. Personal story aside, this scene in particular is superb.

The voice talents are ideal as McAvoy gives a Arthur a real dorky yet lovable voice while Laurie makes Steve real stern and proper. Broadbent and Staunton are great as the Mr and Mrs, but it’s Nighy as the hilarious, all smoked out traditional Grandsanta who grabs all the laughs. Although most of his oral jokes are written to fly straight over children’s heads his psychical jokes such as his teeth are fun for all ages. That’s what makes Arthur Christmas so charming- the script. It’s written to give some jokes for the adults and for the kids but stays true to the spirit of Christmas overall.


In the manner of a road trip, the film takes off as Arthur is accompanied by Grandsanta, an elf, an a very old reindeer to try and reach the house of the little girl before sunrise. A lot of things go wrong but in a typical Christmas roadtrip movie, you know all will end well. In the middle, it seems to drag down in a little repetition (they get lost..again?!) but this is mere because of the magical and traditional Christmas ending which unexpectedly touched my heart. I’m sure that in a few years to come, Arthur Christmas will be known as a Christmas classic.

Full of absolute charm and traditional Christmas spirit, Arthur Christmas is one of the better Christmas films in a long time. Don’t be put off by the bright colours and animation, the film’s for adults too!
4/5

Arthur Christmas trailer

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