Reviews by Spunkeroo

"I shall give this wretched world the queen it deserves."

2012 has featured the release of two live-action adaptations of the Grimms fairytale, with Tarsem Singh's Mirror Mirror and Rupert Sanders' Snow White and the Huntsman. I rather hated the hell out of Mirror Mirror due to it's ridiculously cheesy approach to the fairytale. Snow White and the Huntsman is the complete opposite to that film - this is a dark, gritty, and even violent re-imagining of the beloved tale. The verdict is in - Snow White and the Huntsman is far more superior film to Mirror Mirror. This the first feature film from commercials director Rupert Sanders, and he's handled this big budget blockbuster with technique and skill. The most notable change to the original story is the character of the Huntsman - he's given a bigger part in this film. There are many things one could nitpick about, particularly with the screenplay, but Snow White and the Huntsman manages to grab your interest from the get-go, and it is without a doubt, the fairer Snow White adaptation of the year.



Snow White, the young princess of Tabor, is imprisoned in a tower after her father's kingdom is overthrown by the evil Ravenna (Charlize Theron). Years later, Snow White (played by Kristen Stewart) escapes her prison just as Ravenna, who is now queen, learns from her Magic Mirror that Snow White's heart is the source for her immortality. Evading capture from the queen's guards, Snow White escapes into the dark forest, a place where no-one comes out alive. The Evil Queen enlists the help of the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to capture Snow White. However, the Huntsman ends up siding with the fugitive when he comes face to face with her, and the two set out to overthrow Ravenna. Meanwhile, Snow White's childhood friend William (Sam Claflin) sets out to find her after he learns that she is alive.



Written by Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, and Hossein Amini, the screenplay is riveting for the most of the film. Like I said earlier, this is a hugely different re-imagining of Snow White than we're used to. The writers really embraced the grit, and threw in all kinds of dark and spooky elements. The queen in particular is beautifully characterised villain. You get the sense that this evil queen was actually a human being at one point, and now she's a complete monster. This is achieved through actual establishment of the character - we see flashbacks from her past, and the relationship with her evil brother (played by Sam Spruell) is also established well. Snow White also has been written well, though this is a totally different Snow White to the one we're used to. In the film, she's a 'chosen one' type character - throughout the land, many believe she is destined to overthrow the queen. What's terrific is you actually get a feel that Snow White and Ravenna were complete opposites - they were true rivals who had to fight at the end no matter what. Last but not least, the Huntsman is a terrific love interest - it's a nice twist on the classic tale.

This brings me to the flaws of the screenplay - the love triangle. The inclusion of the character William was a truly unnecessary decision. He got in the way of the developing the relationship between Snow White and the Huntsman - to be honest, their relationship could've been stretched out a lot more. There also doesn't seem to be any purpose for the love triangle. There's no conflict between William and the Huntsman, and William himself isn't the most interesting of characters - he's actually the most insipid of the film. Another qualm I had with Snow White and the Huntsman is the pacing, particularly around the middle act of the film as Snow White and her companion are evading capture from the Queen's men. It felt tedious around this part in the film - nothing seems to happen, and the plot doesn't go anywhere. The queen is also off-screen for far too long. Still, the story kicks right in once we see a surprisingly effective twist on the poisonous apple and the spell-breaking kiss. The introduction of the dwarves also livens up the mood of the film, as they're pretty much the only source of humour. These characters are simply hilarious, and again, the writers added a nice gritty attitude to the characterisation of them - they're not the most pleasant of dwarves.



I think it's a no-brainer when I say this - Charlize Theron stole the show. She was hot as always, but she really brought the villainy to this role. Theron has so much range, and I'm still waiting for the day where she delivers a bad performance. Like all good actors, Theron works with the script to make sure her character has depth and is convincing, and through her, we can see the humanity Ravenna once had. This is the first time in a while where she's played a truly evil villain, but she pulls it off with so much skill. If there's one thing that can carry a film, it's a good villain, and she definitely delivered on her part. While all the other actors are almost always upstaged by Theron, they still bring solid performances to the film. Kristen Stewart gets a lot of hate for her role in the Twilight films. I personally am a fan, and while she struggles with her accent from time to time, Stewart delivered the vulnerability and fierceness of her character beautifully. Chris Hemsworth is also good value as the Huntsman, showing that he can deliver great performances outside the Marvel films. His Scottish accent was also perfect, and suited the gritty tone of his character. The dwarves were all sensational, played by well-known British performers such as Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane, Toby Jones, and Nick Frost. All deliver a solid performances of their mischievous characters. Sam Claflin did get on my nerves from time to time as William - he just doesn't seem to be trying. Maybe it was his character, but so far, nothing he's done has been that amazing. Remember Pirates 4?)



On the technical side, Snow White and the Huntsman is a masterpiece. This film is absolutely riveting when it comes to the visuals. With superb creature design, the visual effects used to create all the mythical creatures is amazing. There are trolls, trees that turn snakes, and at one point in the film, the characters stumble upon a beautiful garden called Sanctuary - the visuals alone in this location make it a joyous watch. With luscious cinematography by Greig Fraser, this is definitely one of the most visually stunning films of the year so far. Sanders also uses his visual effects creatively when it comes to the Evil Queen. She transforms into a flock of ravens, engulfs herself in flames, bathes herself in a white liquid - all the effects done with the Queen always have a great combination of spooky and exhilarating. What's also mind-blowing is the make-up done on Theron - throughout the film, the Queen actually grows older, and it's a really cool effect. The production design is top rate, and again, all is shot beautifully by Fraser. Sanders shows that he has an eye for beauty - Snow White and the Huntsman always manages to impress on this aspect. What really surprised me is how much action there is in the film. There are a lot of action sequences here, and although some are quite short, the spectacle of them is magnificent. Sanders stages some really exciting set-pieces, particularly the climatic raid on the evil Queen's castle, and all this is assisted by James Newton Howard's epic score. The costumes by Colleen Atwood are worthy of an Oscar, with Snow White's armour she wears at the climax being huge favourite of mine - Stewart looks like a total badass when she dons it.



Snow White and the Huntsman is a must-see in my opinion, and it's a promising debut from Sanders. With a standout performance from Charlize Theron, who may prove to be the best villain of year, and a beautiful visual style, this re-imagining delivers, and you're better off seeing this than Mirror Mirror. What I find extremely strange is a sequel is already being planned - what could they continue on with? Something tells me the love triangle will have more of a place in the sequel, but if it ends up like Twilight... oh dear.

"What? I got machine guns... in my butt?"

As a kid, I was a big fan of the Astro Boy anime series. It had action and cool robot characters - it was all great fun. Many years after the original series, a 3D animated feature film of the anime was to be made, and unlike most, I wasn't annoyed about it. I thought it could actually work. Directed by David Bowers, Astro Boy has a lot going for it. There's a great voice cast, pretty animation, and exceptional robotic battles. The issue is that this just feels extremely lame. I can't bring myself to hate Astro Boy, but I still have to say it is very flawed family film. For children, the lame screenplay can be ignored due to the flashy look of the film, but adults I doubt will enjoy the film as much.



In the futuristic Metro City, robots serve humans to make their everyday duties a lot easier. When the son of scientist Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage) dies tragically in an experiment gone wrong, he assembles a robot to replace his son. The robot (voiced by Freddie Highmore) has the same appearance and voice as Tenma's son, but he soon starts regretting the creation of this machine. He rejects it just as it starts discovering its robotic powers of flight and strength. Having no where else to go, the robot ventures to The Surface, the outskirts of Metro City, where it is given the name Astro. Meanwhile, the power-hungry President Stone (Donald Sutherland), is after Astro so he can attain the powerful 'Blue Core', Astro's power source.



Written by Bowers and co-writer Timothy Harris, the screenplay doesn't stay as true to the original story as die-hard fans would like. This didn't particularly bother me as much, as it appeared as if Bowers was trying to introduce this whole story to an audience who have never heard of Astro Boy. The screenplay is is very much the reason why I think the film doesn't work as pure family movie. Everything, from the characters, the dialogue, and the humour, feels extremely sophomoric. There are small moments throughout the film that feature strong comedic writing, but overall, much of the film's content ends up being really 'kiddy'. The political aspect of Astro Boy could've been expanded more, as that might've given older audiences something interesting to watch, but there's not much exploration into President Stone's motives and power, although he is an effective villain - you really hate the guy. There are touching moments between Astro and Tenma - the father-son conflict is quite moving, but the children Astro meets on The Surface are extremely annoying. While they serve as a way to hint at a family-type role, as mentioned earlier, these characters are simply too lame for adults to really care about them. However, children will no doubt be able to relate to them.

Metro City is actually levitating - it's a floating city. The Surface is pretty much the Earth it floats over. There is huge conflict between these two factions, but we're never given a look into why this is the case. President Stone hates The Surface due to some re-election he's got coming towards him, yet we never know why. There could've been a lot of explore with this theme, along with the idea that robots aren't just machines. There's actually a lot of untapped potential here, and it could've given Astro Boy some depth into being a film for all ages. Also, it never ventures into a somewhat darker tone. Even in the original source material (manga and anime), a dark tone would be adopted. This doesn't happen at all with the feature film, and the ending is way too abrupt for my taste.



In terms of the voice cast, Bowers has actually assembled a list of well-known actors. Freddie Highmore as Astro is decent enough, although his kiddy persona does get irritating from time to time. He's trying at least, which can't be said for Nicolas Cage as Tenma. I could recognise his voice so easily, and it felt like he wasn't even trying with his voice acting. The same can be said for Bill Nighy as Tenma's colleague Professor Elefun, who doesn't seem to care about this project and how he delivers his lines. Still, while both of them don't add a lot to their roles, it didn't bother me tremendously. Charlize Theron (I have no idea why she's in this) is given the smallest role imaginable. She's the narrator for an educational video about robots shown to children at the start of the film. Yes, I wish she had a bigger part in the film, but she adopted a nice friendly tone to her voice. I really liked her in this. Donald Sutherland is actually pretty great as the villain, gathering that mean spirited persona we've seen him deliver countless times.

The animation may be the strongest part of Astro Boy. Bowers has a lot of experience with animation work, and his 3D animation is terrific. The film actually features a 2D section as well - the educational video Theron narrates at the start is actually animated in the old two-dimensional style. The 3D work may not be the most impressive thing you've ever seen, it's a competent conversion from the 2D look of the anime and manga. Astro looks how he looked in the original material, and Metro City itself looks wondrous. There's an adorable quality to the look of the film, and it may add some value to older audiences. The action is also entertaining, and there are slight moments where Bowers will make fun of Astro's certain abilities (machine guns on his butt). The final battle sequence will have kids cheering for more. Edited well, the film's pacing is brisk and perfect for this kind of film, and the score by John Ottman is fitting as well.



Astro Boy is simply a kids movie. I really don't think there's a lot of value here for adults, although sadly, there could've been. This could've been a great family film, but it ends up being kiddy and lame to be honest. Still, I enjoyed Astro Boy. I doubt I'll watch it ever again, but if I have kids over, it's a decent way to entertain them. It's one of those films that you know your kids will enjoy - just show it to them, and go to the backyard for a beer if you really don't want to see it.

"Sometimes in order to heal a few people have to get hurt."

The last collaboration between director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody was back in 2007 with the Oscar-winning Juno. Now, after the amazing Up in the Air, Reitman reunites again with Cody, and the result is Young Adult. It's definitely a far-cry from Juno, but Reitman and Cody handle the subject matter amazingly well. Starring Charlize Theron, Young Adult, at the heart of it, is a character study of prolonged adolescence with the character of Mavis Gary. The main challenge of the film is whether or not you can handle this character, and Reitman definitely does his best to paint her in a sympathetic way. There's so much depth to Young Adult, and with its clever dialogue and a fantastic performance from Theron in the lead role, it conveys a lot of themes about life as of now. Yes, it may be a comedy, but it's also extremely depressing.



Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron), once the high school prom queen, now an alcoholic divorcée who writes a soon to be canceled young adult fiction series, makes the decision to return to her hometown Mercury in Minnesota. There she embarks on quest to win back her former sweetheart, Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). The fact that Buddy is now happily married to Beth (Elizabeth Reaser) with a baby doesn't dissuade her. Along the way, she forms a bond with Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt), another former classmate, who has been left disabled by a beating he took from a bunch of jocks.



Like I said earlier, the main challenge is whether you can stomach a character like Mavis. She is simply putting it, a total bitch. She tries a steal a man away from his wife, and she doesn't see any wrong in it. She believes she is better than everyone who still lives in Mercury, and from time to time, she'll treat others like shit. Cody however ensures that the audience can feel sympathy for such a person, and she does it in the first 15 minutes of the film. This opening sequence is dialogue free, and it simply depicts what a mess Mavis is. It explains what she does everyday - what she gets from the fridge, how she treats her dog, what she does during the night. The film is literally honed in on this character, and plays the humour on her utter immaturity. She does essentially act like a teenager at all times. All this just adds to this notion that she is a person who needs help, and you spend most of the time just wanting to tell her to wake up and change her life. She's an incredibly damaged character, and in a way, she's pretty much the anit-Juno. The great thing is there's no holding back in how low Mavis goes. Cody pushes for this character to do toxic things - it's what Bad Teacher should've been like.

When she returns home, she bonds almost every night with Matt. There's something strangely sweet about this relationship the two form - Mavis never acknowledged Matt at all in high school, but now she confides in him as she embarks on this quest to win back her childhood sweetheart. Matt, meanwhile, is a lot like Mavis in ways. Like her, he's extremely damaged emotionally, having being severely beat up by a bunch of jocks back in high school because they thought he was gay. Since he is disabled, not a lot of women spend time with him, so it's nice to this bond he shares with Mavis. All the other characters are well established, but are more often used as plot-devices to show the miserable life Mavis lives - while those of Mercury are happy, she still can't seem to find that happiness she so desires. With a life like this, I did feel sympathetic for this character. There are times where it is evident that she needs help considering how damaged she is - every time she feels upset or depressed, she either drinks to the point of intoxication (she almost does this every night with Matt), or she eats junk food.



Cody dials down from hipster comedy in Juno to a much more dark and dry sense of humour. This is actually a lot more realistic than most screenplays we've seen from Cody. She really embraces the Ricky Gervais style of making things as cringe worthy as possible, particularly with Mavis' constant attempts of winning back Buddy. There's a constant rejection of traditional story-telling conventions, and it just adds a great momentum to this film. Mavis finds herself stuck in this quest she has embarked on, and things just get messier and messier and messier. There has been a lot of discussion about the last act of the film, which many people call 'depressing'. I won't lie, it is extremely depressing, and it all fits in with this realism the filmmakers are pushing for. This is, in many ways, a portrait of life as we know it today. There are no true character arcs in Young Adult, nothing is resolved, and the ending in particular will leave audiences divided. I'm not trying to give anything away here but the film does not have a happy ending - she learns nothing from her experience in the film, there's no great epiphany, she's as damaged as she was at the beginning, and it just plays again into what life is like for some of us. There also themes about happiness - what makes us happy, what some of us do to maintain a happy life, what we try to do to find happiness. There are complexities to Young Adult, and for me, repeated viewings would be rewarding. That, of course, doesn't necessarily apply to all audiences - Young Adult dares us to like it, and that's what I love so much about it. I'll admit, it is hard to spend time with a character like Mavis, but her interactions with Matt really show a soft side to this incredibly damaged and lonely woman.



Charlize Theron is jaw-droppingly good as Mavis. Nominated for an Golden Globe (which I still think she should have won), her performance is bold and convincing. How she wasn't nominated for an Oscar, I'll never know. Like in Monster, Theron tries to make herself as ugly as possible (not in a physical kind of way). You'll see moments where her character will doll herself up with make-up and hair extensions before she goes out to see Buddy, hiding the sad and lonely woman underneath - this alone says plenty. Theron also delivers Cody's dialogue brilliantly, with a mix of dead-pan and sarcasm. She handles both her comedic and dramatic moments beautifully. It's a truly nuanced performance she delivers, and one of her best if you ask me. Patton Oswalt meanwhile is just as good. He is an absolute delight to watch. The constant bicker he has with Theron is terrific, and the both work really well together. The moment the two share during the film's final act is heart-warming stuff. Patrick Wilson is charming as Buddy, as he has played this kind of a role a lot of times. That's not a criticism - I actually like him a lot in this film. Elizabeth Reaser has her moments as Buddy's wife, while Jill Eikenberry and Richard Bekins are touching as Mavis' parents.

Reitman is no stranger to dramedies. All his previous films have had a good mix of comedy and drama, and in Young Adult, he definitely pushes for the drama to outweigh the humour. I'm not saying that the film isn't funny at all, but there is great deal of emotion here that just resonates a lot more than the comedy. Reitman directs all the dramatic scenes beautifully, and since he has Theron to work with, each are successful. A memorable moment is when Mavis has an emotional breakdown at a party. Also, the editing at work in Young Adult is amazing, with a lot of jump cuts, and quick-timed edits. It all feels a lot like Up in the Air if you ask me. Reitman doesn't, however, decide to adopt a slick and visually impressive look. With Eric Steelberg behind the camera, the film looks the tone of the film - depressing. There's not a lot of colour. There's not a lot of brightness. Much of the film looks like the whole sky was covered in clouds, and it really worked for me. The music also captured the right mood for me, and Reitman's inclusion of many 90s hits will work well for those who grew up in that era.



Overall, Young Adult is an almost flawless dramedy. My only complaint with the film is its length. At 90 minutes, the film just felt like it should've gone on longer. I would've liked it to have been fleshed out a lot more, and the ending just feels abrupt although it is a fitting way to end the film. With the film gradually gaining momentum in the shocking things Mavis does, the abrupt ending feels way too quick. Still, I loved Young Adult. If you can spend 90 minutes with a character like Mavis, it'll be a rewarding watch. Yes, it is very depressing, but it's a sensational movie experience. I laughed out loud, I cried, I cringed. There's a diversity of emotions running in Young Adult, and with Theron giving one of the best performances of her career, it's an honest and brutal character study that does not hold back. Young Adult is definitely one of the best dramedies I've ever seen.

"If I can't pronounce it, I don't want to eat it."

I'm infamous for enjoying the most barbaric kinds of humour. I like gross out comedy, sex comedy, and even racial comedy. Thus, when a 'smart' comedy comes out, I usually never have any interest in seeing them. There are times when I do actually enjoy a comedy with a witty and subtle script - Up in the Air is an excellent example. The most recent addition to this list is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (one hell of a title). I never had any real interest in seeing this even though I liked the trailer. When I was dragged along to see it with a cousin, I wasn't reluctant, and I actually really enjoyed this film. I can't say this is the funniest film I've seen all year, but it does provide many laughs throughout the running time, and it's rich with character and gorgeous imagery. Best yet, there's nothing too depressing about it. This is, at the heart of it, an extremely fun and sweet feel-good movie.



The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in India is the new home for a group of old British retirees who can't afford to stay in Britain anymore. They are stubborn prejudiced Muriel (Maggie Smith), who needs a hip replacement, mismatched married couple Douglas (Bill Nighy) and Jean (Penelope Wilton), recent widow Evelyn (Judi Dench), Graham (Tom Wilkinson), who grew up in India and has past issues to deal with, good-time girl Madge (Celia Imrie) who’s looking for a rich husband, and Norman (Ronald Pickup), an inveterate ladies’ man who’s actually just looking for romance. Each responds to this strange, colourful new world in different ways. The young owner of the hotel, Sonny (Dev Patel), is defying his family in keeping on with this inherited white elephant and in wanting to marry the girl he loves.



Written by Ol Parker, the film is an adaptation of Deborah Moggarch's novel, and it goes in directions you'd pretty much expect it to. Just from the trailer, you can tell already that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a predictable film. That being said, it doesn't damage the film in a horrific way. It does take away the element of surprise, but the film still packs in a lot of hilarious lines and characters. Parker's script is rich with interesting characters, with the more well-known stars getting the most attention. Graham, Evelyn, Douglas, and Muriel all have terrific arcs - they're developed extremely well. It's a shame that the rest of the characters don't get much of a look into at all. Still, there's enough romance and laughter between the characters to keep the film moving at fun and brisk pace. There's also a lot of emotion thrown in for good measure - there are sad moments in the film, and they do manage to tug at the heart-strings.

Parker's dialogue is witty throughout, and the film rarely depends on physical gags and raunch to generate laughter like most comedies we see nowadays. This is simply dialogue and character driven. Muriel in particular will guarantee applause from the audience. Although she is a caricature, her racism and fussy attitude is actually hilarious. Yes, she may be a tad bit obnoxious during the start of the film - but that's the point. Her transformation in the film is beautiful as she spends more time with another culture. Also really funny is the character of Norman, although his best jokes are featured in the trailer. There is a touch of romance in the film, particularly with Sonny and his girlfriend, and this is slightly weak as it detracts from most of the film. The same goes with the budding relationship between Evelyn and Douglas. All this romance just feels forced.



The cast is the main selling point of the movie. Director John Madden has gathered a group of veteran British performers to play the leads in the film, and they're all in top form. Judi Dench plays her role beautifully, creating a nuanced and likeable character. It's nice to see Bill Nighy playing a normal human being for once, and he's actually really fine. Tom Wilkinson doesn't get the most screen-time as one would imagine, but he's definitely one of wiser characters. There's a gentle screen presence he has that works well in this. Maggie Smith really shines in this as well. Dropping the whole persona of Professor McGonagall, Smith dives into her racist character with ease, and adds a nice adorable touch to her performance. Last but not least, Dev Patel is a lot of fun as Sonny. Surprisingly, we haven't seen a lot of him after his performance in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire (maybe it was The Last Airbender), but he definitely brought real enjoyment to his character, and it definitely shows he has a bright future in comedy.

Madden's direction is great, and although he doesn't take the film in unexpected places, he works well in his comfort zone. The film looks absolutely beautiful, thanks to the handsome photography by Ben Davis. Davis captures the colour and vibrancy of India gorgeously - this depicts the country in a truly positive manner. Also working for me was the score by Thomas Newman, which had a nice festive feel to it. All these technical elements give The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel an aspect of Indian culture - the combination of the cinematography and sound gives the audience a real look into this country.



Overall, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a delicate and sweet comedy that should be enjoyed by all ages. No matter what kind of comedy you're into, the film will generate laughter from you, and it leaves you with a good feeling. Yes, it's extremely predictable, and there's nothing groundbreaking or new here, but if you just want a film that's enjoyable and immensely satisfying, this should be witnessed by you.

"If we don't stop it, there won't be any home to go back to!"

2012 has been a great year for movies, particularly during the summer. Summer blockbusters have always been about the spectacle, and that's perfectly fine with me. The Avengers delivered on what it promised - an entertaining and visually exhilarating ride. It started off the summer season with a bang (it garnered critical acclaim and has grossed over a billion dollars worldwide so far, making it the third highest grossing film ever), and now Ridley Scott's long-awaited Alien prequel finally hits movie theaters all around the world. There's been a lot of hype surrounding Prometheus, as it marks Scott's return to the film that started his successful career. I was excited, and even though I didn't love the first Alien film quite like everyone else, seeing a sci-fi epic directed by Scott was something anyone, regardless if they saw Alien, would want to see. Having seen it now, in IMAX 3D, I can say that it literally blew me away. It definitely lived up to the hype, and even exceeded my expectations.



In 2089 on the Isle of Skye, scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover cave paintings identical to those already discovered in many different parts of the world - they depict a man reaching out to a strange constellation of stars. Three years later Shaw and Holloway are among the crew of Scientific Exploratory Vessel Prometheus, heading for the planet closest to the stars depicted in the drawings. Also on board are Captain Janek (Idris Elba), the powerful representative of Weyland Corp, Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) and David (Michael Fassbender), an all-intelligent android. Prometheus lands on the planet, and in a vast cavern the scientists make some strange, unsettling, discoveries.



Scripted by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof, Prometheus is filled with subtle throwbacks to Alien. It really expands on the Alien lore and concepts - I was quite annoyed that I never re-watched the first Alien film when I came out of this movie because you get more out of it if you do. Regardless of whether you're a newbie to this franchise, there's still so much complexity you can appreciate from the film. It's a truly deep plot Scott has going on his latest blockbuster, with themes of religion and our origins, and these link together beautifully. There are questions raised in the film about our makers, and like most films with a philosophical edge, these questions are never answered (it should be kept that way in my opinion). The film also follows a classic line of events, as the crew's situation just gets worse and worse. Scott and his writers really tried to create a reminiscent structure to Alien, and he succeeded with that. My only criticism with script is character - there's not a great deal of it than you'd expect. While the heroine, Elizabeth Shaw, is fairly well established and developed, some of the other characters aren't. There's no tension between some of them even though there should be, and times it fails to develop some members of the crew and even elements of story. Vickers in particular is established beautifully, but her character never has a chance to develop. The same goes with David. I don't mind this as much as most movie-goers probably will, but it's definitely a flaw in the film.



Prometheus always manages to keep you on the edge of your seat though. At the heart of it, it is a horror movie just like Alien. The film includes a dozen of unforgettable sequences - to be honest, every moment of the film is memorable. There are moments of gore, which definitely delivers on gruesomeness. A truly terrifyingly marvelous features Shaw performing abdominal surgery on herself. Expect a lot of blood. Also pretty spectacular was the climax - definitely the best sequence of I've seen all year so far. Holy shit, that got my heart pumping. From the moment it begins, you are tense and it won't stop til the ending of the film.

Scott has a remarkable cast to work with, though some are kind of wasted on their weak characters. Noomi Rapace is awesome, making a big name for herself in Hollywood after the Swedish adaptation of the Millenium trilogy and starring in the Sherlock Holmes sequel. She's fantastic in the role of Shaw, and provided the emotion and physique to pull off some truly unbelievable scenes. She's one to watch, I can tell you that. Logan Marshall-Green is exceptional as Holloway, delivering on the desperate attitude of his character. Michael Fassbender meanwhile is a show stealer. He adopts a more different approach to playing the android as opposed to actors cast in this kind of role in previous Alien films. Fassbender goes for eerie feel with his portrayal of David, and it actually works really well, making the audience suspicious about his true agenda. Likewise, Charlize Theron also had a suspicious feel in her acting here, and it definitely allowed her to be an effective character. It's a shame her character wasn't developed enough, as Vickers was actually really interesting. Still Theron was excellent, and my god, she is fine as hell (anyone who follows my reviews will know I almost always say something like that :P). Guy Pearce makes a brief appearance in this under heavy make-up as Weyland, and his practically unrecognisable. Idris Elba is also superb as the captain, but his character, like many, is never fully developed towards the end.



The spectacle of Prometheus is one of the film's strongest points. Scott is no stranger to working with a grand budget, and he always manages to work with it and create a visually terrific blockbuster. Everything about Prometheus looks beautiful. Shot by one of my favourite cinematographers, Dariusz Wolski, the film has rich, dark look, and it all falls into the place with eerie sets. The planet that the crew lands on is full of danger and death, and the film created this perfectly. The visual effects are top rate through out and definitely the best I've seen all year (yes, even better than The Avengers). The design of ship, Prometheus, is actually quite stunning, and the production design on the interior is superb - the space suits the crew wear look pretty awesome to me. While the score isn't that memorable, it did add to the tension of the film, and the creature designs are just frightening. If you're a fan of scary aliens, you're in for a treat, as Prometheus features an array of shocking things that will have you jumping in your seat. I saw this in IMAX 3D, and while the 3D isn't amazing (I was surprised considering it was shot in the format), it didn't ruin anything for me, and was implemented well at times, particularly the climax. Scott stages some pretty spectacular action sequences that actually have a real sense of tension to it - it's not just eye-candy, there is true suspense at work in Prometheus.



Yes, I have issues with the characters in the screenplay, but I still love this film. Prometheus is probably the first blockbuster with a complex narrative to be released this year. It's rich with subtle themes and references, and the cast is fantastic. After watching this, it made want to watch the Alien series all over again, and that's definitely a good sign. Once I've finished with them, you expect me in the cinema watching this another time. Yes, it's that fucking good.

"Did I not tell you he could jump!"

We've seen millions of films set in outer-space, and many of them have become classics over the years. John Carter is based off the 1917 novel, A Princess of Mars, and is considered by many fans to have been the inspiration for sci-fi epics including Star Wars and Star Trek. While this is probably true, the film adaptation has been made years after the genre has been used so many times, John Carter in the end just feels dull and cliché. Directed by Andrew Stanton, who is making his first live-action film after many years of working with Pixar, this is just a mildly enjoyable film. With Disney trying so desperately to launch a franchise since Pirates of the Caribbean is doing so well in terms of the box-office, John Carter (which is apparently the biggest box-office flop of all time) will entertain the most undemanding of movie-goers.



Edgar Rice Burroughs (Daryl Sabara) learns that his Uncle, John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), has died. Reading his diary, Edgar discovers that Carter had fought with the South in the Civil War and later, while fleeing from Apaches, had stumbled across gold in a cave and, via a magical medallion, had been transported to Mars, called Barsoom by the people who live there. These people are the tall, green, thin Tharks and the human-like, tattoed, Zodangans, who are in conflict with one another. Carter is attracted to Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins), a red Martian Princess.



John Carter was written by Stanton and co-writers Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon, and it's derivative of every sci-fi epic you can think of. Aircraft battles, rival species - George Lucas had done this a long time ago. Yes, there are films that can get away with having a certain genre like this, but the issue is with the screenplay. There's nothing special about it. To be honest, I found so much of this film confusing, particularly with the rival aliens, and the god-like villains known as the Therns, led by Matai Shang (Mark Strong). Surprisingly, considering how cliché this whole film is, the plot is extremely convoluted. There are too many unnecessary sub-plots, and it's hard remembering certain characters (the names all sounded the same...). The hero is likeable enough, and fortunately Dejar is not a total stereotypical princess - she's a scientist and warrior, which at least gives the movie an interesting character.

The first act of John Carter definitely has severe issues. First off, there are just so many plot-holes, and it's really the case of lazy writing. For example, when John Carter arrives on Mars, he can't walk properly due to the gravity change, and thus he must jump to be able to move in distances. Shortly after he realises this, he suddenly starts walking normally as if the gravity was suddenly changed to the way it is on Earth. How the hell did this happen? The writers should've at least took some time to develop this ability to walk properly as if he was on Earth. Also, the pacing is dangerously slow in the first half, mainly due to just uninteresting content. When the film tries to set up a romantic relationship between John Carter and Dejar, it's not convincing, and although his past is harrowing, I couldn't care less about Carter - he just felt derivative and uninteresting.



In terms of acting, John Carter doesn't feature any performances that really stand out. Taylor Kitsch is wooden and looks bored as the title character. He just spends most of the film talking in the same tone of voice, and although he maybe trying to appear like a badass, his performance is nothing great. Lynn Collins definitely added some enjoyment to the film (she's remarkably hot), but her acting itself, like Kitsch, is nothing special, although her character is a lot more interesting than John Carter. Thus, she has slightly more to do. Mark Strong and Ciáran Hinds look embarrassed to be in this and spend most of the film trying to keep a straight face. Willem Dafoe adds some good value to mix voicing the leader of the Tharks, and Samantha Morton is also commendable as his daughter.

While the first half is sluggish, the second act of the film definitely picks up the pace with a lot more spectacle. The action sequences are mediocre at best, and I gotta say, I think 3D ruined them for me. This is, by far, one of the worst 3D conversions I've ever seen (I never saw Clash of the Titans, so I can't compare this to the latter). It's not well used, and it added nothing to visuals - it just made everything darker. Thus, the action set-pieces never really grabbed me, and 3D was never even implemented well with them. With all these negatives, the film still has positive aspects. The design is amazing. The sets look beautiful, and the costumes, particular Lynn Collins', were great to look at. The ships look spectacular, although the visual effects used to create them are standard for this kind of thing. The score's not particularly memorable, but editor Eric Zumbrunnen did manage to capture a nice adventurous style to film, with long dissolves and well cut action.



I find John Carter extremely hard to recommend. There is some fun to be had with it during it's second half, but oh god, the other half... it's just boring to sit through. With the 3D just ruining so much for me, I'd say it's a decent rental, but don't expect anything spectacular. It's shocks me that the film had such an enormous budget ($250 Million), yet everything looks so unconvincing. Even Mars itself wasn't convincing (it just looked like a desert somewhere on our planet). Like I said, if you're undemanding with your sci-fi, then you probably could ignore the endless amount of flaws in John Carter. Otherwise, it's a film I wouldn't waste my time with.

"Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!"

The Hunger Games, directed by Gary Ross, is based on the popular novel of the same name. After I saw this film, I actually went out and read the book, and I loved it. Can't say the same thing about the film though. If you've seen something like Battle Royale, then The Hunger Games won't be as amazing as the hype has been setting it up to be. The transition from the book to film is poorly made, and the PG-13 rating has definitely damaged what the film could've been. Fans have called this the next Harry Potter, and with that franchise already finished, The Hunger Games is trying to take it's spot as the beloved novel-to-film franchise. Although it's better than Twilight (I'm gonna get hell for this, but they're not that far apart in quality), this really doesn't have the same charm as Harry Potter.



Sometime in the future in what was once North America, the rulers of a decadent dictatorship force 24 teenagers, 12 boys and 12 girls, from each of the country's 12 enslaved districts, to fight to the death in a protracted contest relayed to the entire country on television. In District 12, 16-year-old Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers when her young sister Primrose (Willow Shields) is originally chosen, and, together with Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), son of the baker, becomes a 'Tribute', taken to the nation's capital to be groomed and trained for the Hunger Games.



I've been reading The Hunger Games trilogy, and it's an amazing series of books. I hate to say this line, but the book is simply better than the movie. Personally I don't think The Hunger Games works so much as a film. The original book was written in first-person from the viewpoint of Katniss, so the reader would get an insight into every thought that went through her head. There was constant urge for survival in the novel, and that really added tension to it. This is missing in the film, which I guess is necessary. The books also had social commentary on the world of Panem, but there's no attempt to explore this. Instead, the film pushes more for the love triangle, a form of romance that has become quite popular with the whole Team Edward/Team Jacob phenomenon. I do think The Hunger Games has a better love triangle than Twilight - infinitely better. The characters are slightly more likeable, especially Katniss. However, Ross, who co-wrote the screenplay with The Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray, fail to establish a convincing relationship between Katniss and Peeta. I just didn't buy their romance. I must yet again fall back on the novel and it's first-person writing style, as it allowed the reader to know what Katniss really thought of Peeta.

Although I have huge qualms with the script, there were scenes I just loved, the reaping in particular. This is the moment in which Katniss volunteers as a tribute for the Hunger Games - it's a truly heart-wrenching scene. The writing is perfect, and the utter silence amongst the crowd just adds to the fear and emotional tension. It's a perfect transition from the page to the screen. Also working was spot-on characterisation of Katniss, and the relationship between her mother and Primrose is beautifully realised. Ross still tries to stay true to the book and I respect him for that. He keeps key moments of Katniss' past inter-cut within the film, using the terrific flashbacks, for example the death of her father. The other tributes in the mix also added some great tension to the film, particularly the career tributes who have been training their whole entire lives to compete in the games.



As Katniss, Jennifer Lawrence is perfect. If you get over the fact that she doesn't look 16 at all, you'll realise she embodies the role perfectly. This was very fine casting, and she definitely brings a strong presence to a female role. Lawrence might actually have a future career as a female action star. Josh Hutcherson brought charm to his performance as Peeta, and depicted this brilliantly kind character well. I can't say he and Lawrence shared a great deal of chemistry, but they were able to work competently together. Liam Hemsworth has little screen time as Gale, a close friend of Katniss back at home in District 12. He'll definitely have more to do in the sequel, which is when the love triangle will start to emerge (New Moon, anyone). The players in support are also superb - Woody Harrelson is entertaining as Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta's mentor, Elizabeth Banks has heaps of fun as Effie Trinket, and last but not least, Willow Shields brought a sweet innocence to Primrose that I adored. Among the tributes fighting in the games, no one in particular really stood out apart from Isabelle Fuhrman and Leven Rambin as two female career tributes. Rambin is beautiful and has been well cast as the pretty tribute Glimmer, while Fuhrman just relished her role, playing a sadistically evil character with confidence. It's no surprise she handled this role so well - Fuhrman actually played the evil child in Orphan.

Ross' approach to the action is shocking. He's decided to use the infamous shaky-cam style, and it doesn't help at all. It appeared as if it was used to hide the violence, but I've seen combat with swords and arrows done well with a PG-13 rating (Lord of the Rings in particular). This shooting style doesn't help a lot with the action sequences, which have been shot so poorly that you literally can not tell what is happening on-screen. There was only one action set-piece that I liked. There's a chase sequence during the games where Katniss flees from a growing bushfire. The shaky cam actually adds a sense of speed to the action, and the visual effects are handled well. In fact, the visual effects overall were decent - nothing too special, but convincing. Also, I loved the design of the capital and its inhabitants. The exaggerated look of things captured the mainstream and selfish ways of the Capitol. Though the design is great, it's a shame that it's not done justice by the horrible photography. Even Twilight had better cinematography than this (Yes, I just said that).



Overall, The Hunger Games is an average adaptation of a pretty outstanding book, and considering the hype behind this film, it really isn't that good. While the books are infinitely better than The Twilight Saga, the film only has a slight edge over the sparkling vampires. While Ross directs the drama well, his decision to opt for a handheld look is counter-productive. I'm still looking forward to the sequel, Catching Fire, which will be directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Water for Elephants). From his filmography, I see that there's little shaky-cam in his movies, so hopefully the sequel will be more enjoyable to look at.

"You’re gonna die. I’m gonna die. We’re all gonna die... Just not today!"

If you thought Transformers was dumb, just wait to you see Battleship. Based on the popular board game of the same name, this is like drinking a shitload of Red Bull - it's not good for you in any way, but it tastes nice. Battleship has nothing going for it in terms of plot - at all. We've seen so many invasion movies that the story doesn't break new ground. Directed by Peter Berg, the film does what it's meant to do - entertain us. There's enough eye-candy here to keep brainless teenagers like me impressed, but there's no way this can hold a candle to the success of Michael Bay's Transformers franchise, which in a way, it tries to mimic.



Alex (Taylor Kitsch) is the tearaway brother of naval commander Stone Hopper (Alexander Skarsgard). Forced into the navy he's still got a lot to learn, but still manages to maintain a romantic relationship with the beautiful Sam (Brooklyn Decker), who is the daughter of the strict Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson). Elsewhere, scientists have built powerful satellites to communicate with any lifeforms out there in the universe. This unexpectedly invites a nasty species of Aliens to crash down on earth in the sea. Intent on using the satellites to communicate with their home planet, the aliens begin battle with US Navy Battleships (three to be precise), and Alex has trouble dealing with the situation.



There's nothing complex about the script, no surprise there. The humans involved are dull, with Alex being quite unlikeable, and we never get to see a great deal of his romance with Sam. I can't particularly note any other characters as there's nothing more to say this element. Basically, these characters are flat and the action is pushed for. However, there is humour in the film, which I liked. There are moments in the film when it doesn't take itself too seriously. As Battleship definitely has an absurd concept, it was nice to see that the filmmakers at least had a sense of humour, with the early scenes being quite amusing. Though a lot of this charm disappears as soon as the aliens arrive, the film still brings small doses of the amusement to keep the audience laughing from time to time. This isn't witty comedy, but it's so silly that you kind of go with it.

What I also hated were the aliens. These aliens, though they may have cool tech, aren't interesting. This is, of course, the fault of the script. Why did these aliens land on our planet? What do they want from us? We can only assume these answers as we're never really given hints. Also, I wish the aliens had been actual characters themselves - that way we could've maybe learned more about their intentions. With so many invasion movies that actually have menacing bad guys, Battleship just feels weak in the mix. These aliens aren't the slightest bit threatening (apart from the weapons), and their look is rather... weird. I won't spoil their design, and I can't even explain how terrible they look. Basic statement I'm trying to make: the aliens didn't deliver on what they were supposed to. The running time actually went over-board for me (see what I did there?), clocking over 2 hours. Normally I'm fine with this, but when nothing interesting happens on screen, it really starts to get boring. The pacing is definitely an issue, with the first act in particular draining our minds. I just wanted the film to cut to the battle - that's what the audience is here for. With such an empty script, the film really didn't to spend anytime with plot and character development. It was just a waste of time.



Taylor Kitsch is not having a good year. After the dismal John Carter (which is apparently the biggest box-office flop of all time), he's not having a lot of luck in the industry. My issue with him is that he brings the same performance to every role with that husky voice. Is he trying to be a badass or something? Granted he did have a bit of humour to work with here so that was nice. Liam Neeson spends most of the movie trying to keep a straight face, though he doesn't have a lot of screen time. Likewise, Alexander Skarsgard isn't in the movie for very long. Brooklyn Decker, surprisingly, didn't bother me too much in the film, and she had great banter with war veteran Gregory D. Gadson, who plays a patient of hers. However, someone who did bother me was Rhianna. Oh dear, she shouldn't be acting at all. Luckily, her character had absolutely nothing to do in this.

The only reason I went into this was for the action, and the film delivered on its promise. While it takes a while for the action to begin, I was satisfied when it started. The aliens crashing on Earth literally brings the action to the film, and it immediately enters into explosive battles. Berg has always been fond of using shaky-camera work, but he tones it down in Battleship The action sequences are actually extremely well put together, with the sound perfect (the sound effects are reminiscent of those in Transformers), and the images crisp and convincing. There are small set-pieces that actually hark back to the game this film is based on, and those moments are fantastic, adding actual tension to the film as both sides can't see each other. My big issue with the action is that it never peaks at the end - the final confrontation is really disappointing, and far too short for there to have been any real suspense. Still, it looked great. The soundtrack is fun and upbeat, and while the aliens themselves look ridiculous, their technology is insanely cool. You'll find the aliens doing a lot more destruction than the humans (surprise, surprise).



Battleship is so stupid. There's no intelligence at all here. It's all eye candy, and it delivers on that. The action in this film has its breathtaking moments. While it almost has nothing to do with board game - no one evers says "You suck my battleship!" - it does entertain, and if you're in the right mood, Battleship is a lot of fun. It's a seriously flawed film, and there's no way a sequel will be made, but if you're bored and you simply want to see shit blow up, look no further than Battleship.

"We may not be gods. But we do what people say can't be done, we hope when there isn't any... whatever odds we face, we prevail."

Clash of the Titans was a shocking movie. It was simply terrible. As an adventure movie, it sucked as the characters were bland, and the story was thin. Even as an action film, it was mediocre - the sword fights in particular were shot and edited awfully. I never saw the film in 3D, so I wouldn't know how bad the 3D looked. Now, the director of Battle: Los Angeles (Unlike most movie-goers, I actually don't mind that film), Jonathan Liebesman helms the sequel. Wrath of the Titans is infinitely better than Clash. As a sequel, it doesn't improve or develop the story of this franchise, but the film succeeds on the element that is vital - the visuals. I'll be honest, I dug the hell out of this film, and even if you hated the first movie, I still think you'll enjoy Wrath of the Titans. The positives, in my opinion, outweigh the negatives, which are - surprise, surprise - in the scripting department.



A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Sam Worthington) the demigod son of Zeus, is living a peaceful life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius (John Bell). Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity's lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus (Liam Neeson), Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus' godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans' strength grows stronger as Zeus' remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon's demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus.



Alright, the first film had a bad script, so it's really no surprise that Wrath of the Titans is no different. However, since it's a sequel, I really didn't care. My issue with the first film is that Perseus as a character was never established well, and he never particularly developed over the course of his journey. In Wrath, we can at least suspect that he's developed into a stronger man during his years as a fisherman - weirdly enough, his new haircut really adds to his character, he actually looks like Perseus now. Obviously the stories nothing great, and it plays out like a video game. Still, it allows for the filmmakers set up better action sequences than the first film, and for the first time, we see Zeus in action. My biggest issue with the script is the ending. It felt extremely abrupt and the climax just happened way too quick.

This leads us to the characters. I don't get too upset when the plot is terrible in mindless action movies, but at least give us decent characters. All the new characters introduced are bland as they don't develop in any way, and you don't care about them at all. The same goes with the hero, Perseus. Although he acts like a badass now, we don't care about him, and there's no tension when something dangerous approaches him. The relationship he shares with his son is established briefly, so there's no emotional value there, and the some-what romance he has with Andromeda is also weak. This ain't really a spoiler, but towards the end, Perseus just kisses her - where did this come from? Before the kiss, they never shared any sort of romantic moment, though we could tell that Andromeda had feelings for Perseus. I would've also liked to have seen some form of a relationship between Perseus and Ares - after all they are brothers. The film just spends too much time with its action for there to be any sort of character interplay.



I've always thought Sam Worthington was a great action hero - he's a badass. Being an Aussie myself, his accent doesn't bother as much as most movie-goers, but it's a shame he doesn't have a lot to work with here. His performance as Perseus in Wrath of the Titans has definitely been an improvement over his in Clash of the Titans (it's definitely the haircut), but it's still nothing special. Meanwhile, Rosamund Pike proves she can still bring that badass girl attitude that was so amazing in Die Another Day. Like Worthington, her character's bland, and she doesn't have a lot to do here in terms of acting. But she's still awesome - how she doesn't have more roles in action movies, I'll never know. Liam Neeson finally gets to do more as Zeus, and I actually thought he did well. He's at least trying, and like I said earlier, we get to see him bring the hurt this time during the action scenes. Likewise, Ralph Fiennes also gets a lot more involved in the action, and he brings a convincing performance as well. Bill Nighy has heaps of fun with his role, but his screen time is quite limited.

In terms of action, Wrath of the Titans certainly delivers. This was what I went into this movie for - the action, not the script. Liebesman set up some really breathtaking set-pieces, which surprised me as his last action movie focuses so much on shaky-camera work. But alas, the action was shot perfectly in Wrath of the Titans. Even the sword fights are stunning - I couldn't stand the ones in Clash - and the battle sequence between Perseus and Ares is riveting stuff. The visual effects are top notch as expected - the creation of the monsters is superb. From the Chimera to the Kronus himself, the detail and design of these creatures is to commended. Also, the 3D actually adds to the experience. I was shocked, considering the film was converted in post-production. The film also looks beautiful, with gorgeous production design by Charles Wood, which has been shot with skill by Ben Davis. The score by Javier Navarrete was epic, and praise should be handed to Liebesman for keeping pacing brisk.



I've surprisingly met people who actually liked the first film, and if that's the case with you, then I can't recommend Wrath of the Titans enough to you. Yes, there's been no change with the script, and the characters are bland, but the action has been improved to such an amazing level. I went in for action alone, and I got it. Since the film is paced so well, you're never bored as the characters are always thrown into battle after short moments of conversation. With the 3D working well, and spectacular action set-pieces, Wrath of the Titans should entertain those who don't ask too much from their movies. Bottom line, check your brain at the door and enjoy the ride.

"I once caught Steven sticking my hairbrush up his ass. It wasn't the handle side either."

I grew up with the American Pie movies. Even though I didn't get half the jokes back then when I was kid watching this crude gold, I still laughed. As soon as I hit my teen years, I finally understood the jokes and loved these films more and more. So, bottom line, I'm an American Pie fanboy - that is, only first three. Yes, like many, I never bothered watching the direct-to-DVD sequels. I never want to watch them. When I saw the trailer for American Reunion, I shit my pants. I was so excited. It's been 9 years since the last true sequel, American Wedding, and Reunion would finally bring the old gang together for the last time. Surprisingly enough, this actually felt like an actual conclusion to the franchise, and not a way to respark it and make more sequels. Like the tagline states it, Save the Best Piece for Last, the filmmakers are actually pushing this to be last American Pie movie, but I can't say it's the best entry in the series.



Over a decade has passed and the old gang - Jim (Jason Biggs), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and of course Stifler (Seann William Scott) - return to East Great Falls, Michigan, for their high school reunion. Their plan is to relive their high school years during the course of the weekend, as they get drunk and party hard. Jim, however, is having sex issues with his wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), Kevin meets again with his first love Vicky (Tara Reid), and the same thing applies with Oz, who still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Heather (Mena Suvari). Finch has moved on from Stifler's mom (Jennifer Coolidge), and finds a spark with a former classmate, Selena (Dania Ramirez). Stifler, meanwhile, is up to his old tricks as usual.



Directed and scripted by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (the creators of Harold and Kumar), American Reunion plays the humour more on nostalgia rather raunch. This definitely added a sweet side to the film. As most fans will have missed the old gang, it's nice to see all the references to the first three films. Since I'm a fan of American Pie, I got all the nostalgic jokes and references, and I think audiences who have seen the previous films will actually get more out of this. To be honest, I think any newcomers to the franchise will be lost, as Hurwitz and Schlossberg really push for a nostalgic angle. However, the film still reaches for the gross out side of things, but I still think American Pie 2 really delivered on this kind of comedy. Still, Reunion has enough poo and nudity to satisfy American Pie fans. A certain sub-plot involving Jim and a girl he used to babysit (who is now a teenager and thoroughly attractive) is sure to crack audiences up, and allows for some terrific 'awkward moments' we remember from past films.

On the emotional side of things, the film has its ups and downs. With Stifler, it does work. He's still trying to live in the past during his teen years and doesn't realise he's an adult now. It works well as fans have loved this character from the first film, and there actually is some development for him. However, Kevin, Finch, and Oz have far less successful storylines. The dramatic side for their characters just don't work in this. When the film tries to play on the drama, it doesn't hold you for long. That being said, the marriage issues for Jim and Michelle worked for me. These are two characters we know and love, and as fans, we want their relationship to work out. Another issue I had with the scripting department were the cameos - some of characters from the past films (Sherman, Nadia, etc.) make very brief appearances, and I would've liked to see more of them. However, the reunion of the MILF guys (John Cho and Justin Isfeld) is definitely one of the high lights of the film.



It's great to see the old cast back together. Since this wasn't possible in American Wedding, it definitely adds a lot to this sequel. Jason Biggs still brings that naturalistic and goofy performance of Jim that he did so well in the previous films - he owns the role. Also, I couldn't get enough of Alyson Hannigan. She's so beautiful and plays her nympho character just as well as she did back in the old days. Biggs and Hannigan's chemistry is still intact, and they work together perfectly. As for the rest of the main cast, everyone gives solid performances and bring the laughs like they're meant to. Seann William Scott is still bringing that insanity and horny characteristic to Stifler - he's amazing in the role, and always will be. I also thought Dania Ramirez was a welcome addition to the cast. But the actor who stole the show was Eugene Levy as Jim's Dad. He was hilarious, and shares some pretty hysterical moments with Jennifer Coolidge.

To capture that old nostalgic feel of the 90s, the film also has a nice soundtrack with all kinds of hits from that era. There are also tracks that fans will remember from the previous films (Sway by Bic Runga). Hurwitz and Schlossberg keep the pace brisk, and there's always an upbeat vibe and energy to the film. There are many scenes that beautiful timed by the directors, and the character Stifler gives these moments an awkward and urgent tone that makes it reminiscent of certain scenes we've seen the past American Pie. Speaking of reminiscent, I thought the party scenes also had a nostalgic feel to them. Seeing Stifler drunk and partying is definitely a reminder of the old days.



American Reunion definitely makes up for American Wedding, which was definitely a mediocre entry in the series. It's satisfying, and the great thing is it plays on nostalgia, which makes it seem more like a way to conclude the series rather than a way to respark it. The ending doesn't hint at a sequel, but there's a truly hilarious post-credits scene that will generate belly laughs from the audience. While I don't think Reunion is my favourite entry in the franchise (I still like American Pie 2 slightly more), it didn't disappoint me terribly, and if this was a way to finish the franchise, then Hurwitz and Schlossberg have done a fantastic job.