Hello!
Lets get started on my brand new blog.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (American language version)
First and foremost this IS definitely a remake of the Swedish film. Almost a shot for shot remake of the Swedish film. Rooney Mara's version of Lisbeth Salander is almost a carbon copy of that of Noomi Rapace and Daniel Craig does a great impression of Michael Nyqvist doing an impression of Daniel Craig. That being said, and clearly having seen both the films (golden rule no.1), I didn't thing the film was any better OR any worse than the Swedish film. And I really liked the Swedish film. The 2011 version avoided doing what most remakes do and self-censoring the graphic details of the story, which, in this case, are not only integral to this film, but also to the rest of the Trilogy. The question isn't so much would I recommend this film, but more so a question of would I recommend it over the original, and that depends on which side of the fence you fall on with subtitled films. And that's a different subject all together.
Sherlock Holmes II: A Game of Shadows
Let it be known from the start: I'm not the biggest fan of franchise films. I enjoyed the first and second Pirates of the Caribbean films, found the third to be horrendously overlong and the fourth boring. Having enjoyed the first Sherlock film and hearing that Stephen Fry was in the second I felt that nothing could go wrong. Empire magazine described the film as being "Bigger, Better, Funnier" than the first. Whilst I can't go as far as that, I have to say I did enjoy the film. It does help having an AMAZING literary character in Mr Holmes and a good referencing point upon which to base your script (the plot is influenced by Conan Doyle's novel "The Final Problem"), but the highlight of the film, as with it's prequel, has to be the relationship between Robert Downey Jr's Holmes and Jude Law's Watson. My one major criticism is that it goes on a bit. There were at least 3 occasions when I thought "it's got to be finishing soon". And it didn't. It wasn't quite a POTC4 moment of "I wish this would end", but it could have been (comfortably) half an hour or so shorter.
Whilst on the topic of Sherlock Holmes adaptations, I'm so glad that Sherlock is back on the BBC. Benedict Cumberbatch (the man who can do no wrong) and Martin Freeman, in my opinion, surpass the achievements of RDJ and Law for on screen chemistry. I think I'll go into more depth about Sherlock at some stage. But not yet.
Snowtown
When Snowtown was likened to my favourite British horror film for quite some time, "Kill List", I decided it was a must see. It's not really a film I can describe as enjoyable. And that is by no means a criticism. The film is based on the Snowtown Killings (see wikipedia), and is, quite simply, bleak. In the same way that "The Road" with Viggo Mortensen is bleak, but rather than being set in a post-apocalyptic America, it is set in 1990s Australia in what could be seen as the worst advert for Australian tourism ever. Add to that bleakness a gripping tension throughout as the sense of inevitable dread flows through the film and you have a great piece of cinema. Not an easy watch and somewhat confusing at times (nothing a visit to wikipedia after the cinema visit didn't solve) but the ability to create that much tension without ever really being graphically over the top (see Hostel/Saw etc) all in all a very good film.
American Psycho
Onto my home viewing this week and first up is 2001's, Christian Bale led, American Psycho. I've been told I needed to see this for a while as I would enjoy it. Quite simply, I did. The plot is based on Patrick Bateman (Bale), a Wall Street businessman/serial killer. Imagine "Dexter" with more humour. The first half of the film is a dialogue driven black comedy, set to 1980s classic pop hits. The second half goes a bit nuts but brings it back again for the finale, making for an excellent film. I'll never listen to "Hip to be Square" or "Sussudio" in the same way again.
Batman Begins
Blog number 1 and I'm already talking about a film I've just watched for the second time. I saw the Nolan reboot of Batman when it was initially released in 2005 and in all honesty wasn't overly keen. Looking back, I fail to see why. I can only imagine that my film taste has improved drastically with age! There wasn't one aspect of this film I disliked. Bale (again) plays a brilliant role as the troubled Bruce Wayne and Michael Caine appeared to have been playing Alfred since the early 90s. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox is wonderful casting (I couldn't help recalling how much I miss John Cleese in the Bond films for his gadget-y stuff), and Liam Neeson plays a role that benefits him as an actor, as opposed to a role where he has to kill people and look hard, although he achieves both in this film. I thoroughly enjoyed Batman Begins and look forward to re-watching The Dark Night at some stage this week, which, on release, I snubbed as an average film with a standout performance from Heath Ledger. We shall see how things have changed!
Feel free to agree, disagree and comment on anything I have posted. The lack of discussion regarding films is dull...
Lets get started on my brand new blog.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (American language version)
First and foremost this IS definitely a remake of the Swedish film. Almost a shot for shot remake of the Swedish film. Rooney Mara's version of Lisbeth Salander is almost a carbon copy of that of Noomi Rapace and Daniel Craig does a great impression of Michael Nyqvist doing an impression of Daniel Craig. That being said, and clearly having seen both the films (golden rule no.1), I didn't thing the film was any better OR any worse than the Swedish film. And I really liked the Swedish film. The 2011 version avoided doing what most remakes do and self-censoring the graphic details of the story, which, in this case, are not only integral to this film, but also to the rest of the Trilogy. The question isn't so much would I recommend this film, but more so a question of would I recommend it over the original, and that depends on which side of the fence you fall on with subtitled films. And that's a different subject all together.
Sherlock Holmes II: A Game of Shadows
Let it be known from the start: I'm not the biggest fan of franchise films. I enjoyed the first and second Pirates of the Caribbean films, found the third to be horrendously overlong and the fourth boring. Having enjoyed the first Sherlock film and hearing that Stephen Fry was in the second I felt that nothing could go wrong. Empire magazine described the film as being "Bigger, Better, Funnier" than the first. Whilst I can't go as far as that, I have to say I did enjoy the film. It does help having an AMAZING literary character in Mr Holmes and a good referencing point upon which to base your script (the plot is influenced by Conan Doyle's novel "The Final Problem"), but the highlight of the film, as with it's prequel, has to be the relationship between Robert Downey Jr's Holmes and Jude Law's Watson. My one major criticism is that it goes on a bit. There were at least 3 occasions when I thought "it's got to be finishing soon". And it didn't. It wasn't quite a POTC4 moment of "I wish this would end", but it could have been (comfortably) half an hour or so shorter.
Whilst on the topic of Sherlock Holmes adaptations, I'm so glad that Sherlock is back on the BBC. Benedict Cumberbatch (the man who can do no wrong) and Martin Freeman, in my opinion, surpass the achievements of RDJ and Law for on screen chemistry. I think I'll go into more depth about Sherlock at some stage. But not yet.
Snowtown
When Snowtown was likened to my favourite British horror film for quite some time, "Kill List", I decided it was a must see. It's not really a film I can describe as enjoyable. And that is by no means a criticism. The film is based on the Snowtown Killings (see wikipedia), and is, quite simply, bleak. In the same way that "The Road" with Viggo Mortensen is bleak, but rather than being set in a post-apocalyptic America, it is set in 1990s Australia in what could be seen as the worst advert for Australian tourism ever. Add to that bleakness a gripping tension throughout as the sense of inevitable dread flows through the film and you have a great piece of cinema. Not an easy watch and somewhat confusing at times (nothing a visit to wikipedia after the cinema visit didn't solve) but the ability to create that much tension without ever really being graphically over the top (see Hostel/Saw etc) all in all a very good film.
American Psycho
Onto my home viewing this week and first up is 2001's, Christian Bale led, American Psycho. I've been told I needed to see this for a while as I would enjoy it. Quite simply, I did. The plot is based on Patrick Bateman (Bale), a Wall Street businessman/serial killer. Imagine "Dexter" with more humour. The first half of the film is a dialogue driven black comedy, set to 1980s classic pop hits. The second half goes a bit nuts but brings it back again for the finale, making for an excellent film. I'll never listen to "Hip to be Square" or "Sussudio" in the same way again.
Batman Begins
Blog number 1 and I'm already talking about a film I've just watched for the second time. I saw the Nolan reboot of Batman when it was initially released in 2005 and in all honesty wasn't overly keen. Looking back, I fail to see why. I can only imagine that my film taste has improved drastically with age! There wasn't one aspect of this film I disliked. Bale (again) plays a brilliant role as the troubled Bruce Wayne and Michael Caine appeared to have been playing Alfred since the early 90s. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox is wonderful casting (I couldn't help recalling how much I miss John Cleese in the Bond films for his gadget-y stuff), and Liam Neeson plays a role that benefits him as an actor, as opposed to a role where he has to kill people and look hard, although he achieves both in this film. I thoroughly enjoyed Batman Begins and look forward to re-watching The Dark Night at some stage this week, which, on release, I snubbed as an average film with a standout performance from Heath Ledger. We shall see how things have changed!
Feel free to agree, disagree and comment on anything I have posted. The lack of discussion regarding films is dull...
Posts
I think I'd prefer less films and more focus, but not a bad read. Also:
ReplyDelete"...both the films (golden rule no.1), I didn't thing* the film was any better..."
*Think
I noticed the spelling mistake after too. And I agree. Next time will be less films and more focus.
ReplyDelete