Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens Review

Plot: The First Order has risen from the ashes of the Empire and is on a mission to conquer the galaxy. A group of ragtag heroes join the Resistance, the only thing standing in the way of this new threat.

The Force Awakens may be one of the most talked about films of all time, but does it live up to the hype? Lock S4s in attack position, we’re going in.

When an audience is excited for the return of a popular franchise, it always helps to see that excitement reflected by the creative team behind the film. And reflected it was. Director JJ Abrams’ love of the Star Wars universe shines throughout. From subtle nods to key scenes from the original trilogy, to in-your-face “yeah that happened” moments that show longtime fans exactly what they want to see. The Force Awakens aims to please, and for the most part it does just that.

There are certain aspects to The Force Awakens that are too familiar. Its no surprise that there’s a bit of repetition, Star Wars does after all need to tick certain boxes with each release, but I would’ve preferred it if the film didn’t play it quite so safe. Some may see this as homage, others as a lazy retread. Whichever side you fall on you can be safe in the knowledge that The Force Awakens brings enough new material to the table to be a strong, fresh experience in its own right.

Star Wars has never looked better than it does here. Strange new aliens populate baron landscapes, lightsabers clash in a dark snowy forest and fighters soar over pristine waters, all accompanied by John William’s iconic score.  This often feels like a world (or galaxy) that’s alive and breathing, which no doubt is largely down to a variety of real locations that give the environments a much appreciated physicality.

As for the cast; fan favourite Harrison Ford kills it as Han Solo, but the real highlights are the saga’s new stars. John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver were instantly likeable as the upbeat Fin, the mysterious Rey and the sinister Kylo Ren. The script offers all the necessary beats, including some much appreciated comedy, but doesn’t offer any depth for potentially interesting supporting characters and occasionally throws in unnecessary expository dialogue, awkwardly telling the audience information rather than showing them. Here’s the thing though – you rarely have a moment to dwell on these problems because they’re swept under the rug by scene after scene of pure excitement. Stormtrooper raids, alien encounters, aerial battles, lightsaber duels – it’s all here. The Force Awakens is a relentless thrill ride bound to satisfy old fans and introduce a new generation to a galaxy far far away.

Verdict:

The force is strong with this one. A triumphant return that, despite retreading many of the steps of its predecessors, breathes life back into a galaxy many of us never want to leave behind.

4/5

Mr Holmes Review

Plot: An elderly, retired Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) lives out in the British countryside with his housekeeper (Laura Linney) and her son (Milo Parker). Haunted by memories of his past, Sherlock befriends the boy and together they work through the unsolved case that ended his career.

There have been so many portrayals of the iconic Sherlock Holmes that it could be said that modern fans are spoilt for choice. It’s therefore impressive that Mr Holmes succeeds in showing the great decretive in a new light: this is an aged, thoughtful and somewhat bitter Sherlock, weighed down by defeat and regret.

Based on Mitch Cullen’s novel of the same name, Mr Holmes is more personal and smaller in scale than the average Sherlock story. Ian McKellen makes the character his own, portraying Sherlock as a grumpy old man in need of a wake up call. This call comes in the form of his final case, which leads him through some of his most painful memories on a journey of self discovery. All this is balanced well with Sherlock’s relationship with Roger, his housekeeper’s son. It’s fun to watch Roger ease Sherlock out of his comfort zone as he attempts befriend the old man, despite his frosty nature.

The twists and turns in this film aren’t as frequent nor as significant as you’d expect from a typical detective flick, but this isn’t that. Mr Holmes’ story is about its character, not its case. JC

Verdict:

Full of character, warmth and intrigue, Mr Holmes is a satisfying story of closure for the great detective.

4/5

Spectre Review

Plot: Bond strives to uncover the mystery of Spectre, a deadly organisation with links to his past.

From the opening moments of Spectre it’s made clear that this is a Bond film with a sense of scale; epic locations, huge fights and a villain that poses a worldwide threat. Also looming large are the shadows of Spectre’s predecessors. Spectre comes after fan favourites Casino Royal and Skyfall, and styles itself as a direct follow up to the latter. It seems appropriate then, that this film is helmed by Skyfall director Sam Mendes, who certainly knows how to make a great looking Bond film.

Spectre is a cinematic spectacle. Its set pieces offer a variety of intense action full of signature Bond moments. The film’s car chases, henchman showdowns and stealthy infiltrations are all well shot and exciting to behold. Daniel Craig himself is, to nobody’s surprise, still a perfect fit for Bond. Ben Whishaw’s Q and Ralph Fiennes’ M bring some much appreciated charisma and humour to the faces of MI6 and Monica Bellucci’s Lucia Sciarra is a decent Bond girl with more than just a pretty face.

Spectre ticks a lot of Bond boxes but suffers from its timing. The film is bogged down by unnecessary scenes that push back the screen time of its villain, played by Christoph Waltz, resulting in what ultimately feels like a forced relationship between the character and Bond within the film’s third act. This is a shame, because Waltz’s performance is on point, he brings a sense of cunning and power to what could have been the greatest villain in the Craig era of 007. And here’s the thing: the film thinks he is. Spectre will keep telling you that this is the big boss, this is the man behind all of 007’s pain, but its script hasn’t earned him that title. It’s disappointing that a two and a half hour long film ultimately fails to find time to establish a strong relationship between two of its main characters. JC

Verdict:

A decent watch, but this 007 isn’t quite on target.

3/5

Southpaw Review

Plot: After a devastating tragedy, celebrity boxer Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) must reinvent his fighting style and get back in the game if he is to reconnect with his daughter (Oona Laurence).

Southpaw does everything you might expect from a fighting film and… not much else. Despite an impressive physical performance from Gyllenhaal, it’s difficult to engage with the film’s two-dimensional characters and generic plot. This is the kind of script where you can pretty much guess every major plot point from beginning to end. That’s not to say Southpaw isn’t worthy of any praise – it’s a well shot, well edited film and the fights look legit, which may be because, in a way, they are. Gyllenhaal was really taking those punches and there’s only so much a relentless training routine can prepare a guy for taking hits like that. But Billy Hope himself isn’t a particularly likeable character and when a plot follows a path this well-trodden, it’s hard not to roll your eyes and check your watch when trudging through this summer’s fighting film. JC

Verdict:

Southpaw might be visually impressive, but its plot struggles to engage and ultimately fails to land a punch.

2/5

Inside Out Review

Plot: Emotions Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Anger (Lewis Black) and Fear (Bill Hader) make up “headquarters” – the central control room of 11-year-old Riley’s brain. As Riley suffers from a life changing event, emotions Joy and Sadness find themselves thrown from headquarters and into the outer sections of Riley’s mind. They must learn to work together in order to get back to headquarters and stop Riley from loosing who she really is.

Comparing Pixar’s Inside Out to Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi heist Inception might sound odd, but hear me out. If you’ve seen Inception you will have likely noticed how well the film takes something ordinary that we all possess and makes it extraordinary – everybody dreams and so everybody can relate to the rules of the film’s dreamworld. In the same way everyone has emotions and, like Inception, the rules of Inside Out build on this familiar concept in an extraordinary way. Mood swings, nostalgia, trains of thought and more are all present in this fun, colourful take on how the mind works.

Inside Out is likely to be the most upbeat film about depression you’ll ever watch, with the absence of Joy and Sadness leaving Riley with only anger, disgust and fear to keep her company. Dealing with a topic as serious as this and managing to keep it funny without watering it down is one of Inside Out’s greatest strengths. The other would be its world building – headquarters is only a tiny part of Riley’s mind and some of the film’s best gags come from its exploration of other areas including dream productions, imagination land and the subconscious to name a few.

Joy and Sadness share an interesting relationship, with their polar-opposite personalities gradually pushing forward the moral of the story. There are also some solid supporting characters such as Riley’s imaginary friend Bing Bong (Richard Kind) who steals the spotlight whenever he’s on screen. It’s characters like these that give Pixar films that special something that puts them a notch above your average children’s animation. In doing so many Pixar films broaden their audience-appeal and their latest release is no exception – Inside Out is too smart to be just for kids, it’s a true family film that you can appreciate whatever your age. JC

Verdict:

Smart, likeable and very funny. Inside Out is a film that’ll keep your own emotions busy throughout.

4/5

Ant-Man Review

Plot: Former superhero Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) seeks a new talent to keep his groundbreaking technology from getting into the wrong hands. After arranging an unconventional meeting with former thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Pym and his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lily) train him to become the new Ant-Man. As Lang grapples with his new shrinking power, he must prepare himself the heist of a lifetime.

When you put Ant-Man under the magnifying glass, what you’ll find is a film with a near-perfect balance of action, drama and comedy. The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a cocktail of quality entertainment. What might surprise some is that it’s a stronger film than the latest Avengers flick which, whilst a lot of fun, felt overcrowded at points.

Ant-Man is a funny film, the title might sound ridiculous but its filmmakers make sure you’re laughing with them, not at them. The comedic timing is on point throughout, with Michael Pena being the most consistent comedian as Lang’s partner in crime, Luis. The action itself can be hilarious to, with Ant-Man’s shrinking power giving the film’s fight scenes a sense of freshness as well backdrops that are simply comedy gold.

Ant-Man isn’t just a great superhero film, it’s a great heist film. Marvel continues to fuse other genres into its vast universe, preventing the rollout of MCU blockbusters becoming too similar for their own good. Another welcomed consistency is Marvel’s knack for reintroducing lesser-known heroes as extremely likeable characters. Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd both do a great job at bringing humanity to both generations of Ant-Men. They each bring a strong sense of humanity to their roles, with Pym’s rocky relationship with his cold daughter Hope being a particular dramatic highlight. Unfortunately Corey Stoll serves little purpose but to strut around as a cold and calculated villain, but the suit fits and his character has a menacing presence that lends itself to the film’s most intense scenes. JC

Verdict:

A small hero with a big impact. He might not be as cool as Iron Man, as mighty as Thor or as weird as the Guardians, but Ant-Man is here to stay and the MCU is all the better for it.

5/5

Unfriended Review

Plot: A group of high school friends have their Skype call interrupted by a ghost from their past. On the anniversary of her death, the spirit of former student Laura Barns awakens to torment those who wronged her.

On it’s surface Unfriended is an interesting concept, the entire film is restricted to the computer screen of its lead character. The attention to detail when it comes to the computer’s realism is impressive – all the programs used sound just as they do in real life. As much as the idea and execution of the setting is intriguing, it doesn’t make up for Unfriended’s bland characters and a poorly executed story.

All of the films characters seem to be nothing more than hollow examples of american teen stereotypes, there’s nothing intriguing about the characters. Even when the ghost challenges them to a deadly game of “I have never” we don’t really care what’s going to be revealed, because deep down, thanks to the film sticking so close to widely known stereotypes, we already know.

Unfriended’s sound design is probably responsible for the majority of the film’s scares. The creepy electronic clicks and hums of the computer combined with a glitchy screen provide some suspense, but the pay off is always a cheap jump-scare which, once you’ve got over the sudden assault of noise and gore, isn’t that scary in the long run. JC

Verdict:

Besides its setting Unfriended is nothing special. A cyber-slasher lacking likeable characters, an intriguing plot or scares that go beyond loud noises. Block, delete and look up Channel 4’s superior Cyberbully.

2/5

John Wick Review

Plot: Skilled, respected and retired hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) plunges himself back into the criminal underworld to exact vengeance on the local mafia.

You might be scratching your head trying to remember the last time you really wanted to see a Keanu Reeves film. If you’re like me then it was probably a long time ago. It’s not that I don’t like the guy, it’s just that his recent films haven’t looked that great. The good news is that John Wick is great. Reeves dons a cool, calm and calculated killing machine and it works perfectly. The rest of the cast are impressive too, from Michael Nyqvist as mob boss Viggo to Lance Reddick as the charismatic manager of the number one contract killer hotel.

John Wick’s plot is simple but satisfying, this is a film that knows exactly what it is and it takes no shame in that. If you want a deep story you won’t get it here, what you will get is a slick action film full of badassery and a nightclub shootout scene that will introduce your jaw to the floor. In a time where so many action films suffer from an overload of shaky cam it’s refreshing to see fight scenes directed and shot to this level of quality. Even though we’ve never seen the character prior to this film, when Wick gets into full swing it really does feel like a come back. Perhaps this is because it isn’t just the character that’s back on form, it’s Reeves himself. JC

Verdict:

There isn’t much in terms of plot, but if you want a solid, exciting action film then you’ve found it in John Wick.

 4/5