Small Screen Surprises - The Week In Releases

Small Screen Suprises – The Week in Releases

Week Beginning 22^nd April
As we said in our news, we’re relaunching our DVD review section with an upgraded look. Two new features we intend to focus on are – ‘Release of the Week’, which looks at the most popular release on disc from the last week, and ‘One For The Collection’, which looks at a new release that we personally recommend getting. We’ll be making our DVD reviews shorter to accommodate a larger range soon enough – we hope you agree! For now, we hope you enjoy this week's DVD releases - reviewed. 

Release Of The Week:

Jack Reacher (DVD/Blu-ray)

Released: 22^nd April

Rating: 6/10

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Werner Herzog, David Oyelowo, Robert Duvall
Written by: Christohper McQuarrie

Lots and lots of extremely slick violence and a thriller set to entertain in the evening.

Tom Cruise does his usual big-movie action hero work here; a prototype in the genre. Cruise, as usual, committed to stunts – he performed the major driving sequence himself. His performance is the stand-out reason this film is worth a watch – it’s not the greatest thriller, but it’s slick and it’s sexy and it works like a charm if you just want to sit back and relax. The film is an adaptation of the novels of Lee Child. Jack Reacher (Cruise) is an expert in hand to hand combat, surveillance, driving… Well, anything related to catching bad guys. He’s an ex-military cop with an axe to grind.

Jack Reacher helps out Helen (Rosamund Pike) who strongly believes that her client’s assumed actions of shooting five innocents dead in cold blood is not all that it seems. As Reacher investigates further, the conspiracy starts to unravel.

Cruise’s biggest challenge with the role? Jack Reacher is 1.96 m with blue eyes and dirty blond hair. Cruise clocks in at around a reported 1.7m with his classic trademark brown hair. He was worried about measuring up the character’s impressive physique – we’ll join the long list of people who say he did the role justice.

Jack Reacher is the ultimate anti-hero – a man without limits, with extraordinary skill and with an unparallel focus.

Disc Extras: All the standard fare – commentary, etc.

One For The Collection:

Reservoir Dogs (Collector’s Edition)

Released: 22^nd April

Rating: 7.5/10

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Michael Madsen

Written by: Quentin Tarantino

It’s gory, it’s pulp and it’s classic Tarantino.

The debut feature film of the great Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction”, “Jackie Brown”, “Kill Bill: Vol 1” “Kill Bill: Vol 2”, “Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained”). You know who we’re talking about, don’t you? 

All the hallmarks of Tarantino are present in this film – watching his films back, you’ll see a lot in “Reservoir Dogs”.

The narrative is simple but explosive; it set the standard for several heist movies and a large chunk of the genre to follow. A group of strangers, using names such as Mr Blue, are assembled to pull off the greatest diamond heist. When the heist goes wrong and turns into a bloodbath of an ambush, the hardened criminals then have to find out who leaked the details. The film is most notable for Tarantino, but also for the spectacular performances of some of the actors, namely Keitel and Roth.

All the techniques from Tarantino are present; film noir style, a non-linear narrative, lots of gratuitous violence, underuse of close ups and a fair dose of black humour. And a lot of swearing. Tarantino’s classic use of using contemporary songs with few made-for-the-score selection began here.

It’s not an easy film to stomach, and when it premiered at Sundance, it was compared to an oncoming train – there’s no better analogy for it.

Disc Extras: A whole heap (and technically, the reason that we recommend this so highly and it’s reason for the re-release on DVD). Let’s take a look at the list:

Commentary with Tarantino (provides great insight into his process)

Profiling the Reservoir Dogs – A compiled profile taking you through Mr Brown, Mr Blue and all the strangers.

Tipping Guide – A guide to tipping, like a Dog.

Playing It Fast and Loose – A behind the scenes documentary about the effects that the film has had on contemporary cinema

Others:

Reservoir Dogs Style Guide/Dedications/Deleted Scenes/Original Interviews/An Introduction to Film Noir/Tarantino’s Film-Maker lab.
Critic’s Commentaries/Securing the Shot/Pulp Factoid Viewer

The Family Guy Trilogy – Laugh It Up, Fuzzball (Blu-ray/DVD)

Released: 22^nd April

Rating: 6/10
Directors: Dominic Polcino, Peter Shin

A hilarious treat for everyone involved… Well, for any fans of Star Wars (so a large part of movie going audiences) and/or a fan of Family Guy. Picture quality is great, the laugh-a-minute gags on this infamous cartoon look stunning on Blu-ray players too. The spoofs have been around for awhile now, but it’s all collected in one easy place now. A great comedic bash of a send-up of the Star Wars films – if you haven’t seen it before but like Family Guy, we implore you – buy this set! It’s not just Star Wars that Family Guy send up in this – there’s a fair few pop culture references in there for you to chuckle and spit out your drink too! (Don’t watch if easily offended). They say you can never account for taste and the shock gags and sometimes the oft-ridiculous parodies may grate on some nerves – some even fall flat on their face. 

Disc Extras: A digital copy of the film to take with you as you go. Extras including scenes to watch, how the series is put together. A ‘behind-the-scenes’ documentary. There’s also a bonus episode.

But you didn't hear that from us,

The Mr and the Misses

Ch-ch-changes - Big News From Us at Bydhifu!

As you know, we're a very young and fresh blog - but we aim to please and to produce quality content, so with that in mind, we're making some changes round the imaginary office. There's a LOT of news to share with you all! It's a very, very, very busy period for us till the end of May, so you may not see that much life out of us just yet, but we hope the following news makes you squeal with joy - or, at least, increase your boredom threshold?

First off, we'd like to thank our great readers - we've literally just turned about 2.5 weeks old, and we're already about 650 views (that's not all of us clicking the page repeatedly, we promise!). We want to thank you guys for coming to the blog and reading our posts!

Secondly, we want to start building the blog to increase the readership. We are looking to get more involved with our audience, so please - follow us on twitter with the handle @bydhifu, engage with us in the comments section, and most importantly, if you like what we're doing, we'd really appreciate you sharing the blog with others who may be interested. We promise eternal gratitude for those who help us! We can't promise enough hugs to those who enjoy reading our work to share our site with other potential readers, but, we'll try!


(P.S. We've updated the banner, we hope you like it. We know we do!)


Small Screen Surprises - A Relaunch
We're relaunching our DVD/Blu-Ray section and calling it Small Screen Surprises - as before, our aim as we set out on this journey across the blogger-verse, is to bring you up to date reviews and suggestions/recommendations for the week's releases. As well as what to avoid, and what's worth spending that spare change on in your pocket to rent - we'll also be going more into depth to look at DVD extras and commentaries. We're also going to expand the review section to look at other films that may not have hit the silver screen and that we may recommend - a slight change from our mostly feature film release reviews so far. (A new one is literally coming up in the next few hours, yay).


Framing Film - Incoming Inaugural Section
Look out for our inaugural interview feature coming up soon, probably early next week, with a prolific actor who takes on villainous and challenging roles. This will be the first in a series of interviews that we intend to conduct, and so far it has got us very excited! We have a few interviews lined up, including an indie short producer and a first time director within the next 30-40 days. The interview series will be titled 'Framing Film'.



Launch of 'The Greats' featurettes
Launching this week or early next week will also be our first The Greats feature, where we will be focusing and exploring either a singular film in each post or a collection of works - we will be revisiting old classics, be they feature films, cult films, standalone films, franchise fi... well, you get the idea.


Also, within the next two weeks, we aim to start our TV section, by looking at some of our favourite shows - these features will focus around recaps/introductions to the shows for those who haven't seen them. Eventually, we aim to do feature posts that allow people to gain necessary information about a show and what type of audience would want to watch it (and who would enjoy it), without giving too much away.

Writing Opportunities
At some point, we might even look to increase the team if there's any film lover out there who would want to write for us. Watch this space for more news on this later!

Flagship Feature
Finally, every so often, without any regular want to update, we'll be launching our flagship feature series, "But You Didn't Hear That From Us" - which will be a collection of movie industry related news, missed oppurtunities for old films, a look at recent 'arty' and independent films, as well as a huge heaping of oddball trivia that we find interesting, collected from a variety of reputable (read: internet related) sources! We do it, so you don't have to - and so you can look really cool at a party when you mention a fact that no-one knew and has everyone going, "ahh"...

(Disclaimer: How you use the knowledge we share with you will be completely up to you and your sole responsibility - we do not accept liability for anything, except, you know, making you look totally awesome).


We hope that you'll enjoy all of these new things coming from us, and we hope to hear from you soon,

But you didn't hear any of this from us,

From the team,

Thank you.

"Iron Man 3" - Review

Iron Man 3

Directed by: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie  Szostak, James Badge Dale, Ty Simpkins, with Paul Bettany and Jon Favreau
Written by: Drew Pearce and Shane Black

Rating: 7/10


The Extremis story arc from the comics gets a reboot. Basically.

A strong outing in the Iron Man franchise (and a definite step up - or mark-up - from Iron Man 2's flailing) and a great film to see even if you're not a fan. With a reported budget of $200 million, you'd expect quite a spectacular film; and it almost delivers. Entertaining? As usual in this series of Marvel films, a resounding yes. A true cinematic wonder? Probably not. It's critical, obviously, not to view superhero movies as cinema aimed at becoming a strong standard of art but with a budget, a team and a list of actors who are all known for heady roles, it wouldn't have been too far a stretch to imagine it. Regardless, even in the superhero genre, it's far from the best - after the Avengers (and there are quite a few Avengers references in the film, lest you forget), it almost feels like a small step back.

Director (and co-writer) Shane Black, of "Lethal Weapon" writing and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" directing fame - a film which also stars Downey, Jr. - delivers an ambiguous result - did they make it, or didn't they? His writing, true to regular form, is witty and on point and has some classic one liners that you'll be quoting on your way out. It also delivers a shockingly poignant (and a well poised comedic) middle arc when Stark (Robert) visits Rose Hill. Black and Drew Pearce deliver a script that is not only funny, poignant and ironic, but also complex, vivacious and in some regards, superficial. They should as well - Black was once Tinsel Town's highest paid screenwriter.


One of the real issues with this film are the action sequences; they certainly feel the part and look flashy, but much like Tony Stark, they're quite unsure of their boundaries. There are times when you could get lost in the chaos and confusion on screen in terms of action - some sequences feel draped and dragged, while others feel clunky and insecure. Black's strong point lies in the relationships and dynamics he commands between characters of the world he is in charge of; it is not in producing top end action sequences. However, in a superhero franchise, it is possible to overlook the feel of the action if the plot and characters are done right.


Downey, Jr.'s Tony Stark is a rare mix (and has been over the last two films in the franchise) - a perfect casting choice. Somehow, the effervescence and pithy parts of Stark's personality are not lost among the 'higher' drama such as the trauma he has suffered and Stark's issues in dealing with mortality and limitations - a true testament to the actor.

It is, however, nice to see former Director/Actor Jon Favreau back to playing Happy, now head of security for Stark Industries, among other supporting cast members which include Paul Bettany as JARVIS - possibly the unsung hero of each of the films as he helps set up some of Stark's best moments.

The plot centres around the rise of two villains within the world after the events of the Avengers; the Mandarin (played completely on form by Ben Kingsley) and mad-scientist/over-the-top theatrical villain Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). Killian at first tries to pitch a genetic modifier called Extremis to 'Pepper' Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), before turning it loose on the world of man. The major reboot here is that in the comics, Killian ends up committing suicide for his involvement in Extremis, not becoming involved with propagating it. And of course, the Mandarin of the film has been rebooted too. The Mandarin's presence in the early arcs comes across as a cross between Fu Manchu (facial hair included) and a certain recently deceased major terrorist leader - similarly, the Mandarin is focused on the destruction of America and the downfall of its higher echelons. Namely, the President. Kingsley plays the evil maniac on fine form, giving the beginning two arcs of the film a sense of menace and dread. An atmosphere which is sadly lost despite a committed performance by Guy Pearce. Initially, Pearce's Killian is slick and daunting - sadly, towards the end, his villainy is almost too hard pressed to take seriously.

One point in his master plan, which involves an aircraft and a dangerous human package relies on what amounts to complete chance - on someone whom even Killian admitted was ready to go off the rails at any moment - which could completely screw his plans up for...well, eternity.


Stark's character is much more human and much more afraid this time - afraid of losing Potts, "The one thing" he can't live without, and just generally broken (he suffers several anxiety attacks). It's always nice to see those who think they are invincible fall so that they may rise again after all.

A second (or third?) subplot centres around botanist/crazily good genetic scientist Dr Maya Hansen (played by Rebecca Hall) who appears throughout the story arc several times - which initially gains a look of jealousy and mistrust from Potts. She is one of the keys to the Extremis arc - she helps create it along with a group of scientists (with some help from Stark).

Paltrow's performance is not only well acted but a perfect fit to the performance put in by the male lead. Cheadle develops a comedic and relatable shifting action-buddy relationship with Stark (again), contributed to in equal parts both by script and acting finesse.

The film tries very hard to be very many things; as well as becoming things that it wasn't meant to be. The film deals with another blow to Tony's mortality/future and how he matures emotionally. It also deals with his relationship with Potts, and tries to run itself as a serious romantic subplot. Underpinning it all is the comedy and pithy that we've come to expect from the franchise. Much like Shane's first outing as a director, it also ends up exaggerating (or sending up) some aspects of most of the major characters, the plot and a few of the action sequences. The most obvious reference is when Stark makes an action-hero-esque quip and he gets the reply "That's all you have? A cheesy one liner?".

There's also the subplot involving Ty Simpkins as a bright young child who befriends Stark and helps move the sticks along by being the comic foil at several set ups. Oh, and do not forget the mass amount of gadgetry and tech on display. I'm quite certain that Iron Man 3 is as close as technophiles can get to a titillating feature film movie experience currently.

Sadly, it can't be all things at once - even very few legendary films manage such a stature.

But there's good news on the horizon - the oft berated robot arm from the first and second films makes a third comic appearance. Well, we say comic, but really, it is comic because Downey, Jr. is so on form that he can make others look hilarious. Even if they are mechanical arms.

There's also a fifteen foot rabbit. Not even joking.


What the Mr thought:
Worth the price of admission if you're looking for a film that lightly touches on deeper subjects, provides good value entertainment, is rough around the edges and is quite funny to boot. While not the greatest superhero movie of recent times, it is still a very strong presence. Helps limit some of the boundaries that the genre can hit and is useful in demonstrating how wonderfully consistent Robert Downey, Jr. is! What will Marvel do with the franchise (if) he ever decides to leave though?

The climax lacked the tension that was built by the Mandarin - perhaps in part down to how the character plays out. Both villains and heroes end up becoming extended versions of themselves. Perhaps to not so strong an effect.

(The Mr alone in the cinema!)


What the Misses thought:
I laughed a lot! The one liners were great, and is a testament not only to Downey, Jr. but to the writing. Personally though it feels very different from the first two films, as the Mr said the action scenes were slightly clunky and that is probably why it felt different.

However I loved it and cannot wait for the next one!


And come on guys, it's a Marvel film - don't be silly like half of the audience in our screening and leave early! Wait till the very end of credits to gain an insight into Stark's possible future and a hilarious scene.

But you didn't hear that from us,

Mr & Misses

'The Place Beyond The Pines' - Review

'The Place Beyond The Pines'

Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen, Ray Liotta, Rose Byrne, Ben Mendelsohn, Mahershala Ali, Harris Yulin, Bruce Greenwood, Robert Clohessy
Written by: Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio, Darius Marder

Rating: 8/10

This isn't an easygoing film.

The sins of the father are central to the plot in a masterful cycle of history repeating itself. Sons rebel against  fathers and have to deal with their pasts, of all three generations present, in explosive form. The film's only downfall is the structure and pacing of the acts - the first two race by, while the last one trundles along. If you're looking for a film to watch that doesn't make you work and reflect; this isn't it. 'The Place Beyond The Pines' is a very visceral and real film. It doesn't try to dress up or hide anything; it lays it's raw beating heart in all three acts directly before the audience and forces them to not just ingest but to digest and to consider. As the film moves on, the audience is slowly sucked into the world of Schenectady in New York, in a parachute fall of despair (which seeps through the entire film) into a world where the characters are not only immersive, but engagingly self-destructive. The film drops the audience into the harshest moments in the lives of it's characters; moments which end up defining them or ruling them. Though at times, it is hard to discern whether the moment is a product of the character or vice-versa. And that is where the beauty of this film comes from.

Ryan Gosling's 'Luke' certainly has echoes of James Dean and Steve McQueen; not the only parts of the film that induces old greats from American cinema. The film is set over 15 years in three distinct story arcs; the first one featuring Luke, the second with lawyer-turned-rookie policeman Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), and the last act featuring their children. There are a few endearing, even funny moments in the film.

The first act is about motorcycle stuntman Luke Glanton who works with a traveling circus; during a stop in Schenectady, he meets Romina (Eva Mendes), who is a fling from the past. Both still are dealing with feelings for each other, despite Romina now living with her new boyfriend, Kofi (Mahershala Ali). Luke discovers that Romina has hidden the fact that she was pregnant and is now raising their child; a point which forces Luke to reflect on his own absentee father and how he wants to be there for his child. He ends up quitting the circus and staying in Schenectady where he befriends Robin (Sam Mendelsohn) - a mechanic who gives him a place to stay and a minimum wage job. When Luke wants to provide for 'his' family, Robin suggests that he put his "unique skill set" to use robbing banks, as he had done, previously. The first act is finely woven together by raw filmmaking; the appearance of shaky handheld cameras that grow ever more nervous in pursuit sequences or an almost motion-sickness inducing camera shot from what appears to be the side of a motorcycle, or even the dashboard cameras employed in the chase sequences - it puts the audience directly in the seat of the action. Rather than just telling the story, the camera comes alive with perspective.

The second act focuses on Avery Cross whose story crosses paths with Luke Glanton with drastic consequences. Like Luke, he also has an infant son that he needs to be a father too - but he has his own issues to deal with, including corruption in the police force and pressure from his powerful father (Harris Yulin), a former judge. Avery's character isn't all together consistent; initially conflicted, he ends up quitting a corrupt police force, only to strong-arm his way into the District Attorney's office thanks to the machinations of his father.

The final act deals with the sons of Luke and Avery; Jason (Dane DeHaan) and AJ (Emory Cohen) respectively. While the first two acts were created around the charismatic presence of its male leads, the last one focuses on the instinctive kinship that initially forms between the two teenagers and the inevitable downward spiral of devolution once their father's pasts are revealed. In the conclusion, all the characters are forced to confront the choices that they made - and where those choices will take them.

The film itself is nothing short of a masterclass in turning points and the ability to create a perennial atmosphere. Cianfrance carefully, with the help of cinematographer Sean Bobbitt (whose credits include "United 93" and "Shame") and a haunting score composed by Mike Patton, creates a world that draws the audience in and doesn't let them go; while the third act does force reflection and is important in understanding the characters, the rest of the film doesn't let up. Cianfrance also seems to be happy creating worlds in which there's no hero to root for; no good endings - everything just becomes murky and characters have different levels. In today's day and age, where audiences are expecting to be spoon-fed information and direction due to the exceedingly high competition in the film industry, it's a risky move that strikes bold tones. You can't just cheer for the anti-hero Luke or the sometimes-stoic Avery; the lines get blurred and the tone is lost. It does something rare in contemporary feature film; it truly leaves judgement up to the audience. It shows that we are all capable of falling, of redemption and of inevitability. There's also a sense of futility that drips slowly throughout the entire film.

It may not be entirely like Cianfrance's last outing, "Blue Valentine", but it certainly bears all the hallmarks of it. There's a raw intimacy and almost claustrophobic sense of being forced to deal with guilt and pain - just like "Blue Valentine", it doesn't give much breathing room during the thrill ride.

The transitions in the film are the key to it all; the transition of father to son, of redemption to sin, of sin to redemption - even between scenes. The editors make use of both jumpy cuts to help create a choppy narrative, but also make use explicitly of crossfades - which, in some way, reflect onto the film itself as all three acts fade constantly between each other in the minds of the audience.

What the Mr thought:
A film well worth seeing if you're after some serious drama or reflection; it won't be an easy film to watch, but it is definitely entertaining. It doesn't just tell a story; it absorbs you into it.

What the Misses thought:
Well...what can I say about this film? It was tough to watch. But that is what made it so good. The characters went full circle and I thought that was very cleverly constructed. If you want a film that isn't going to make you think or reflect, this film isn't for you. If you want a film that you are drawn into, reflect upon and is just so powerful, then The Place Beyond The Pines is for you.

But you didn't hear it from us,

Mr & Misses

This Week's DVD Releases - 15-22nd April

Pitch Perfect (2012)

'Aca-scuse me?!'

DVD/Blu-Ray

Release Date: 15/04/2013

Directed by: Jason Moore
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Adam DeVine - with John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks
Written by: Kay Cannon

Rating: 6.5/10

A film that is so terrible with plot, it could bother not to have one. The saving grace?

It's utterly hilarious.

Your standard musical farce comedy about the maturing of a group of budding students  - their illustrious leader (notoriously mocked in the film for a visual spectacle at last year's Championship), Aubrey (played by Anna Camp) is relentless in her pursuit to keep things traditional and conservative - to stop the process and revert back to what she idealises the group as. Anna Kendrick plays the new comer Becca, who throws everything into turmoil and helps all the characters, including herself, reinvent themselves.

The film's shining star though? Rebel Wilson as Fat Amy. Not only are there great comic moments throughout, but Wilson's timing is impeccable and her performance is side ripping hilarious. The songs will have you tapping and singing along, wanting to join the Bellas in their quest for a win at the Acapella championships. If you want a laugh or like musicals, this one is a do-not-miss.

Seven Psycopaths (2012)

Released 15/04/2013

DVD/Blu-Ray

Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko
Written by: Martin McDonagh

Rating: 7/10

A brilliant film by Martin McDonagh, which sees him reunite with Colin Farrell from his first feature outing, "In Bruges" (2008). Sure, it has echoes of Tarantino, and in fact, Quentin does some of it better, crisper and sharper. But, still, the film and it's own little world inside the life of Hollywood, is finely crafted, down to a tee.

Marty (Farrell) is a writer with huge writer's block - all he has is a title for his next piece of work 'Seven Psychopaths'. It's a great send up of self-referential humour and great use of black comedy. Marty's friend, Billy (Sam Rockwell), ends up dognapping a Shih Tzu from the unbalanced gangster Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson). The underworld of Hollywood then intermeshes with Marty's writing to create an eclectic, offbeat but entertaining mix.

I, Anna (2012)

Released 15/04/2013

DVD

Directed by: Barnaby Southcombe
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Charlotte Rampling
Written by: Barnaby Southcombe

Rating: 5.5/10

A film that didn't make as much of a splash as some of the feature films, but definitely one worth a second look. Bernie Reid (Gabriel Byrne) is investigating a homicide that leads him to the mysterious Anna (Charlotte Rampling) and a conspiracy that will unravel around them.

A stylish looking neo-noir thriller; another 'lemonade' film.


Classics on Blu-Ray:
A whole slew of old classics have been released onto Blu-ray this week and as always - deserve some love and attention and are all recommended.

Films include: Blade Runner (1982), Dances With Volves (1990), The Color Purple (1985), The Goones (1985), The Empire of the Sun (1985), Casablanca (1942), Ben-Hur (1959), Aladdin (1992), Heat (1995), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975).. Among many others. A great way to bring back some of the greatest films to ever grace the screen and into your home - and to reintroduce them to a new generation.


Boxsets:

Castle Seasons 1-4

Created by: Andrew Marlowe,
Starring: Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic

Rating: 7/10

Castle has to be one of the most oddball crime dramas that have graced TV over the last few years - but definitely worth a watch. If you're looking for your next box-set and haven't seen Castle, this is it!

Castle stars mystery and crime writer Castle (Nathan Fillion) who, through connections and almost unbridled wealth, becomes part of the NYPD in Kate Beckett's (Stana Katic) homicide squad. The two develop feelings for each other and then spend the majority of the seasons fighting them.

Seasoned fans of Whedon's "Firefly" series (or "Serenity") will love to see Nathan Fillion in fine form as a quick witted writer who always has a quip. The pairing of Fillion and Katic is sublime.

The best parts? Castle's attempts to explain the murders as if they were written in 'pop' fiction by coming up with hilariously un-plausible reasons for their murders.


But you didn't hear it from us,

Mr & Misses

'Olympus Has Fallen' - Review

'Olympus Has Fallen'

"Hashtag?!"

Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Rick Yune, Dylan McDermott, Melissa Leo, Radha Mitchell, Robert Forster, Ashley Judd
Written by: Creighton Rothenberger & Katrin Benedikt

Rating: 5.5/10

Is the Die Hard prototype that worn already that we have to start looking for a younger and leaner replacement? Regardless, 'Olympus' is a fun action movie - an action movie that ultimately lacks tension, but still an enjoyable ride none-the-less. The title itself is in the past tense; which leaves you plagued with a sense of inevitability throughout the viewing experience. In a sense, it's got all the hallmarks of Die Hard - and every other contemporary action film glorified by greats like Woo - where one man takes an entire horde of enemies to save a country and the world, and to redeem themselves. Ultimately, the heroes are flawed and broken, sometimes in penance and sometimes just in the wrong damn place. It's a basic set-up (Con Air, Die Hard, Hero... and so on and so forth), but one that works brilliantly. Throw in some witty quips to make flaws to help turn into the rogue we can relate to and laugh along with, turn up the tension to 11, throw in huge explosions and epic action sequences and you have a classic on your hands. While 'Olympus Has Fallen' is no classic, it is an acceptable spectacle that will keep any action movie fan entertained and committed.

In essence, the whole taking back a building full of terrorists out to destroy the world by an ex-Special-Forces guy is blown completely out of proportion here; take the Nakatomi Plaza and raise it to the White House, replace Rickman's slick terrorist with Rick Yune's ruthless, and a veritable Willis with a seasoned Butler and you get 'Olympus'.

It's clearly a film with patriotic overtones; the smoldering and crumbling ruins of the Washington Memorial as the Hercules crashes through it are clearly symbolic. There's the old adage that the American flag can never be allowed to touch the ground - something which is clearly reflected in the heavily animated shot of the bullet-ridden flag after it is ripped from the top of the White House and thrown over the edge.

One thing you don't get in this film is small; the cast is star-studded, the effects are ridiculously over the top, the plot is so improbable that it is almost condescending to the average movie junkie, and the whole journey looks epic.

The film's plot is relatively simple - it starts out with Christmas at Camp David, where due to horrendous weather conditions and a freak accident, the First Lady (Ashley Judd) is lost into an icy lake. Mike Banning (Gerard Butler's in charge Secret Service Agent) takes the blame for the decision as he chose to save the President (Aaron Eckhart) over her and is re-assigned to the Treasury (with a desk conveniently near a window that allows him a great view of his former work place).

North Korean terrorists, led by Rick Yune's extremist Kang, attack the White House through trickery and an all guns blazing assault that is helped by determined ground forces who are posing as tourists visiting Washington and flanked by some very auspicious trucks that carry large calibre turrets in them. They then take the White House, the President and his staff, hostage. Morgan Freeman's Trumbull then becomes acting president, a nod to America's current prestigious leader, President Obama. The terrorists demand the retreat of America's Seventh Fleet and forces in the DMZ in South Korea - as Banning drily puts "Is that all?".

The movie raises two important questions about the narrative: why would they let an unidentified C130 (a plane that even from the trailer you will be able to tell is extremely hard to miss) get so close to the White House (I think the centre hub of America's political machine and home to much of it's heritage) - which I believe would have more than a single anti-air defence system on the roof of the White House, as well, you know tall buildings in the way in the city for a plane that big, a large cache of weapons and you know, launch more than two fighters to take on a military craft of that size? Secondly, how did they get such unfettered access to weaponry, allowed to get hundreds of extremely trained commandos into the country and a stupendous amount of explosives without a single intelligence agency being tipped off? Especially in today's paranoid, security ridden world? Though perhaps looking for sense in an action film is like looking for tropical birds in the middle of an urban city.

And the single most important question which is raised in every one of these Die-Hard prototype films; how come the one guy, who is presumably not only the ex-Special Forces in the film, seems to be so innumerably more badass than the others?

Eckhart seems to reprise his constant role of the high power character that wears a finely tailored and crisp suit, is conflicted by past events/decisions and someone who has/or is about to make a U-turn of epic proportions on their life.

Regardless, America's enemy in the film is never clearly defined beyond Kang's extremely well prepared military group; it's never truly explained whether or not it was a North Korean sanctioned attack, but it is clear that they are ready to go to war in the blink of an eye and that apparently, the only thing standing in the way of a full-blown assault which appears to be another foregone conclusive victory - is America and it's presence. And in this case; they are also the critical link in a chain that could lead the world into an all out nuclear war. The film doesn't (and could have) cover enough ground regarding the war between North and South Korea; Kang seems focused on not just forcing America to leave, but also to suffer as he and his countrymen had suffered.

The CGI is watchable - if not a little overdone - (opening forest shot, the desecrated flag, the attack by the Hercules) and the score fills in all the necessary gaps adequately. While the narrative may not be coherent or feasible; it has it's moments - like when Butler's character literally struggles with the concept of a hashtag on a keyboard to save the world and suggestions to his nemesis about certain games they could play.

Though there is the odd throwback to Die Hard - such as when Banning meets a turncoat in an almost carbon copy the scene when Rickman's terrorist pretended to be hapless innocent 'Bill Clay'

The film, whether inadvertently or not, sends a clear message about America; about the need for a stock-check, a rebirth on the horizon and an un-bowing will (and eventual victory) over even the most devastating terrorists. It's clearly an image that is undoubtedly part of the American fantasy landscape.

What the Mr thought:
It's worth a watch, if you're wanting a joy-ride on the silver screen. In a sense, it's like driving fast, but knowing that you won't get hurt if you crash; it's also understanding that your generic sportscar may not be the fastest, or even the best, but it sure as anything will get you to the finish line - but don't look for any into

What the Misses though:
I always love a film with Gerard Butler in! So the film is definitely worth seeing, it isn't ground breaking but it's good to watch. I thought in some places that the CGI was well.... not that put together, a little over the top and distracting. However I did enjoy the film, and unlike the Mr I felt the tension, a little, towards the end.

If you haven't already don't forget to follow us on twitter! @bydhifu

But you didn't hear it from us,

Mr & Misses

Scary Movie 5 - Review

"Scary Movie 5" - Feature Film Review

Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Starring: Ashley Tisdale, Simon Rex, Erica Ash, Molly Shannon, Heather Locklear, Jerry O'Connell, Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan
Written by: Pat Proft, David Zucker

Rating: 2.5/10

You'll spend the entire time wishing the Morgan-Freeman-sound-a-like could narrate this film off the cliff they keep referring to. The entire Scary Movie franchise is predicated on jokes that are meant to engender laughter and instant recognition in the time they are released in; hence the slew of parodies of recent (and popular) films/characters/actors, as well as the older gags. While the franchise is no great work of art, it has had its moments (namely, parts 1 and 3). Those films elicited some laughter from a normal, healthy and non-stoned audiences. You won't be able to say the same for this film; half the gags are late, the other half look like they're trying too hard/were not even devised properly. Shock and gross-out gags don't even reach their full potential in this film (a stray toothbrush here, a shot of a hoover sending projectile vomit there), even the pop culture references are out of touch. The main plot - and using the word is a special kind of mercy - is barely there; the film seems to be digging heels into the ground and refusing to give up the goods. For veterans such as Zucker, this feels like a worn-out and apathetic attempt at dredging up old gags and styles from greats like "Airplane!" and even from earlier Scary Movies (a few gags will bring up nostalgic feelings of Zucker's direction of the third installment). For newcomer Malcom D. Lee - who is not only the cousin of eminent director Spike Lee, but is also the director of the lukewarmly received "Soul Men"- it is a train wreck of a catastrophe.

You know that awkward feeling you get, when you go up to see a comic open for another headliner or better act, and they bomb? They've been opening for absolutely ages, but they never seem to get anywhere? They try to use topical jokes, but completely miss what their audience wants and there's a lot of eerie silence till the announcement comes that the opening act has finished? That's kind of what sitting through "Scary Movie 5" is like. Except it is so much worse.

The story 'follows' (or is forced into an-almost-narrative by the Morgan-Freeman-type guy) Ashley Tisdale as 'Jody Sanders', a punk rocker who is the wife of the tragic brother of Charlie Sheen - who unwittingly stars as himself. Charlie's brother, Dan Sanders, played by Simon Rex, gains custody of Charlie's children after he and Lindsay Lohan (also appearing as herself) are attacked and Charlie disappears under mysterious circumstances. The children are initially thought to be lost, but as Snoop Dogg (or Lion?) wonders around a forest with Mac Miller, they are forced to take refuge in The Cabin In The Woods (a pun that is forced through gritted teeth by Mac) - where they happen upon the children. The story follows the family's struggle to adjust as they battle their way through a reservoir of cliche's and lost gags - the main premise following the haunting presence in the house they come to inhabit. Jody's personal narrative, other than coming to terms with the three 'feralesque' children that are now in her care - concerns her inadvertent desire to dance in a local ballet production of Swan Lake - the clear throwback to "Black Swan". Dan's own narrative deals with gags relating to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", with gags so mistimed that I'm not even sure they were intended to be funny - a scene with a newscaster and him hearing his wife inadvertently reveal her affair on air was so badly paced that it was completely wasted, for example. However, the sequence of story-parodies that are interwoven are so lost in an ocean of randomness that it takes an overarching narration to even attempt to bring them together.

In the few brief moments, where the film approaches moments of almost brevity, it raised a grin or two from the audience. But for the most part, the gags fell on deaf ears. The film is barely crawling into the hole created by the budget, and it's definitely fallen short of previous performances from the franchise. It says something when the audience laughed more at the outtakes then an entire 'comedy' movie put together - and the outtakes didn't even contain anything remotely structured or interesting. The film, in entirety, feels like 86 minutes of someone wanting to just run out the time, get the money and go. The gags, stars and parodies are all there in a physical sense, but they're just hollow shells of days gone by.

For a film billed as a comedy, there was nothing but the tragic fall of a wheezing franchise. Perhaps it is time to put the parodies and the insane empire of parody attempts it has spawned, to rest.

What the Mr thought:

Simple put; don't waste your money. Vote with your feet and make sure there isn't a repeat performance. 1-2 days after release at our local cinema, and it was already so bad, they reduced the showings to a few measly ones during the evening. Help others by not seeing it.

What the Misses thought:

I have to agree with my Mr! Admittedly I did laugh, at parts, but overall it was not nearly as funny as previous Scary Movies. As you found out about me in one of our first posts, I dislike horror...well, I hate it. This film was  a horror, not in genre but how it was to watch. I enjoyed the outtakes during the credits, but that is probably about it.

But you didn't hear it from us!

Mr & Misses

The Week's DVD/TV Box-set Releases - 12/04/2013

Part 1

Every Friday that we can manage, we intend to do a short review of films that have come out/are coming out on that week on DVD as well as any potential box-sets that people should be on the lookout for if they need a new show to follow or to watch. My mother always had a saying about films that were easy to get into, and easy to leave, which entertained without challenging or breaking down any barriers; she used to call them 'lemonade' films. Or close to it; translation isn't always easy! 'Lemonade' films are those films that aren't classics, but are just plain fun to watch and there's no real letdown when it doesn't turn out to be the next Godfather, and it doesn't break you down or break your heart like Philadelphia. And that's the beauty of films like that; they aren't trying to be anything more than a good story to just dive into and enjoy an evening with. Part 2, looking at the release of Being Human - Complete Collection and Wild At Heart Seasons 1-8 will be released sometime over the weekend.

Without further ado, let's get straight to the feature film releases;

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Released April 8th 2013
DVD/Blu-Ray
Directed by Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Billy Connolly, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Graham McTavish, Manu Bennett, Barry Humphries, Sylvester McCoy, Lee Pace

Rating: 8.5/10

This week's biggest release, without a shadow of a doubt. Peter Jackson's latest epic installment in the Middle-Earth universe split critical opinion, both on technicalities (as he filmed the film in a faster rate than the industry standard of 24 frames per second (fps) at double; 48 fps) and with regards to the film itself. The 48fps experience at the cinema was less than stellar as the hyper-realism that resulted from the film being shot in 48fps was only useful, at best, for action sequences. The film itself has garnered over $1 billion in revenue already and is only on the rise.

The first in a three-part installment, the Hobbit charts the tale of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sixty years before the beginning of Lord of the Rings, as he is convinced, or rather cunningly persuaded, by Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to journey with a band of dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) to reclaim the old dwarven home of Erebor from Smaug the Dragon. The film also depicts how the Ring of Power comes into Bilbo's possession and how his somewhat self-deceptive relationship with it begins.

The film's pace is tepid at best, lacking at worst. Despite a strong backstory, the decision to split the Hobbit into three movies instead of perhaps two, (or dare-I-say-it) even one, means that it takes a long time for, well pretty much, anything to happen. It's roughly 20 minutes into the film before the famous first line from the book is even uttered. And it feels slightly wrong; the set is absolutely stunning, the cast put in committed and focused performances, the script is well written and the direction is, as usual with Jackson, forever moving forwards and has an outright epic feel to it. The film itself looks stunning, especially on HD TVs. So why does it feel wrong? That question is answered with another question; why did this have to be split into three parts? Sure, financial reasons aside, there's no reason why the film should be in three parts. The story, despite all the detail and stunning work that has gone to produce this film, feels slow. At times, it can even feel like a history lesson in Middle-Earth (and that's probably because Jackson chose to use information from the appendices of the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and you can find yourself losing focus with the tale on screen. All grumblings aside from a big fan of Tolkien's work - Jackson has done it again. If you haven't seen the Lord of the Rings trilogy or this film, I'd immediately recommend getting a copy of it. Not only is it beautiful, but it is a fantasy epic of which the scale is almost incomprehensible; Tolkien created and populated a universe, Jackson brought it alive for everyone to witness. There are some brilliant moments in the film that will be remembered for a long time; the classic Three Stooges like trolls and the game played between Bilbo and Gollum, for a few examples.

Despite the issue with pacing; the film itself is wonderful and it would be a shame to miss out on this epic tale if you haven't already seen it - if you have, I'd still recommend buying a copy.

The Expatriate
DVD/Blu-Ray
Directed by: Philipp Stölzl
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Olga Kurylenko, Liana Liberato
Rating: 6.5/10

This is the second review that I get to do this week that involves the lovely miss Kurylenko. In this case, she plays a CIA chief as opposed to a crash survivor, which is an upgrade (of sorts). The film has all the trademarks and trimmings of a top-notch stylish thriller, and is embellished with strong performances, a fast paced script and beautifully archetypical action sequences. As good as most thrillers of recent years. For a small(er) film, this movie has done well; it enjoyed top rankings in the iTunes chart before release and ,for a short time, was the number one most pirated movie of 2012. It was shot on a budget that may seem a pittance compared to what some Hollywood feature films get budgeted for (like the film above!), but has turned out quite well.

Aaron Eckhart plays Ben Logan, a former CIA agent, who is targeted suddenly by the CIA for termination and who goes on a thrill-a-minute run for his life with his estranged daughter (Liana Liberato), Amy Logan, when all records of them are erased and he realises that they are part of a much wider cover-up.

If you're looking for an easy-to-watch film with a few twists for an interesting movie night, I would recommend this film. However, if you're looking for something deeper or more of a 'classic'; this film is not it.

That's the beauty of it though; it takes all the classic elements of a stereotypical thriller and conspiracy film and plays them to a tee; it's a perfect lemonade film. The reason why I recommend it is because it's not trying to be the next Bourne; but it takes good elements from there, from other films such as Taken and Unknown, and amalgamates them into a 90 minute journey that does what it says on the tin. It's no The Usual Suspects or the Bourne Identity, but it work as what it is, and it doesn't want to be anything more.

"Oblivion" - Review

'Are You an Effective Team?'

Rating: 6.5/10

Rated: 12A

Starring: Tom Cruise, Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman

The question that plagues the film from Mission Control, "Are you an effective team?" is answered with a resounding and resolute "no" by the film. The film is a visual affair in aesthetic bliss. The animations are sleek, the set design is spot on for the war torn future and the weapons, as well as the robots, look like machinations of a beautifully honed mind. Tom Cruise is typecast, somewhat unsuprisingly, as a soldier who has survived a war that ravaged Earth. But from that point onwards, despite the enthralling visuals, the brilliant set design, the completely in place costumes and the big budget names, the film starts to roll downhill. Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman are underused and almost appear misplaced in this film, and the film seems intent on redeeming it's sluggish pace and lack of direction throughout with a retributive ending.

Cruise plays a warrior, or a 'technician' called Jack Harper, who along with a very repressed but adoring Andrea as Victoria, serve as Earth's 'clean up crew' after a war between the people of Earth and the 'scavs' (scavengers). The war resulted in the moon being shattered (which is shown beautifully several times) and the necessary migration of the people of Earth off-planet to the distant moon of Titan. Jack and Victoria are tasked with maintaining the drones that patrol/protect and the hydro-electric 'rigs' designed to harness as much power as possible from the oceans in the form of hydroelectric power for the human race.

There is a haunting beauty to seeing the Earth designed in such a visceral aftermath; there are scatterings of ruins, remnants of once great buildings (the Empire State Building for one) in different stages of debris. Oddly enough, nature seems to have taken back the planet after humanity has 'abandoned' it; the cities that were shattered by earthquakes and tidal waves thanks to the destruction of lunar consistency are overrun by an abundance of foliage and an exotic variety of fauna.

Jack has a relatively rigid existence; he gets up, goes to work each day repairing drones, fighting bad guys and comes back home to be with Victoria. We get to see plenty of shots of Cruise pulling his focused and tense Hero Prototype looks and stances, but we don't really get to see much more than that. He is, however, haunted by memories of a woman, called Julia, played superbly subtly by Olga Kurylenko, from pre-war New York. She resurfaces during the film as a survivor and throws Jack's life, as well as his beliefs, into disarray.

Joseph Kosinksi, writer/director/producer of this reaching big budget film, also wrote the graphic novel that inspired him. The craftsmanship and love for stunning and precise animations is still there. Tron Legacy, Kosinksi's last 'big' outing on the silver screen, was similarly a visual treat. With a budget of a reported $120 million, you would expect big names, big effects and a visually stunning film, all of which this film delivers on.

The characters are often hard to relate to; which always makes for a difficult to watch film. Especially considering the pace and the fact that the film clocks in at over 2 hours. There's a love triangle, retribution, moments of sheer panic and a seat-of-your-pants thrill ride, but they all fade and blend into the background. The film trudges along, but the spark is essentially missing.

It feels like an extended throwback to old sci-fi films, with stunning new age visuals; which, unfortunately, doesn't blend well in this case.

The film itself is, however, worth watching alone for the visual treat; and while the storyline isn't groundbreaking, it makes a decent impact. For those unfamiliar with films such as The Day The Earth Stood Still, or even War of the Worlds (also starring Cruise) will find this film fun and well worth the ticket price. To all others, the film is still a strong outing in the sci-fi genre; it simply just feels like it missed the upright on a few sequences (the beginning of the film is peppered with football references).

The score hits all the right notes - it's poignant during points of reflection, and epic during the movie's major action sequences. Not a spectactular and memorable score, but one that does exceedingly well for the film and helps frame the emotions that the film hopes to be eliciting during each act to a tee.

Jessica Chastain, of Zero Dark Thirty fame, was originally meant to playing one of the female leads; which would have had a radical difference in the onscreen chemistry.

While the film obviously doesn't set out to answer the all important questions in life; it depicts a struggle that has been seen before in this genre - despite which, if for the visuals alone, it is still worth seeing.

What the Mr said:

The film trudged along like the little engine that could; however, it could have been so much more. More depth to the characters, more space to let the story breathe and a more fluid dynamic on screen would have made this movie into a spectacle to behold.

What the Misses said:

I liked it, but I didn't love it. I found it slow moving and almost hard to relate to the characters. I agree with the Mr though; the visuals were stunning and that is something that really draws me in. I must say though that I enjoyed it more than the man asleep (and snoring might I add,) in the second row!

But you didn't hear it from us,

Mr & Misses 

About Us

As the title says... About Us!

The Mr:

We are all storytellers.

This is what I find fascinating in the world around us; from rudimentary scrawls on the cave walls: to the mythic symbols of the Egyptians: to the resounding passages from Chaucer and Byron - humans created and lived multiple life times, universes, stories.

I am an aspiring writer that fell in love with the art of story telling from a very young age. I have had a deep respect for all its forms for a very long time. Movies and shows provided me with an escape and a purpose. In one minute I could be following the whirlwind romance of any of Humphrey Bogart characters and on the next I could be on a planet, far far away...

Film gave me a way to connect with people; a shared non-hostile interest with my mother, a root of understanding and in-jokes with my peers and siblings and finally a fullfilling journey for my beautiful girlfriend and I.

Films, especially in this day and age can change and morph the way in which we live our lives. Think of how many people have seen films such as, Star Wars, Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather...

Films inspire, comfort and persevere.

When people are down, or lost, or are in a bad place, you can never underestimate the power of a finely crafted film and a meaningful message.Think of all the great partnerships, all the first kisses and all the beautiful fairy tale lives that people have lead, or experienced because of film. All the dates, all the family outings, the multi-dollar industry, and its massive influence on technology and every day life, including social trends.

The big screen and the little screen have radically changed and altered world history, as well as the human heart and our tender souls.

This is why I fell in love with films, and why I have been writing about them, and one day, hopefully for them.


The Misses:

Hey, I'm the Misses, Georgia.

I'm primarily a photographer, and that is one of my biggest passions in life, along side Ferenc of course! But I do love films too, after all my degree is half about moving image!

I photograph weddings & portraits because I love working with people. If you would like to see my photography blog just click here and you can also find me on Facebook.

Our first date was to watch a film and this has been a massive connection between us ever since. We love a good film, whether that be a musical (a personal favourite of mine), an action film, rom com or pretty much every type of film...other than horror...that's something I like to avoid!

We are both also a sucker for a good TV show. Favourites of mine include, Grey's Anatomy (!!!), Friends, Warehouse 13 and of course...Eastenders! But don't worry I won't be blogging about the latter.

A passion of mine is also Youtube. While I don't make videos I do enjoy watching them, mostly because like I said above I love working with people! Youtube is a great way to see people from all around the world, but also a great way to view cute videos of cats...

Welcome

Welcome to the inaugural post on our new blog; 'But You Didn't Hear It From Us'.

Understanding the power of word of mouth!

The blog is a film review site targeted mostly at big budget Hollywood feature films, but our interests don't stop there!

The idea for the blog started out from a life long passion for film from both of us with the Mr watching anything and everything and the Misses, well... Disney and musicals, not necessarily in that order. We watch a lot of films together, whether that be in the cinema, a dvd or on the small screen!

As far as reviews go the main content will be written by the Mr, he is of course the writer in this relationship. Along side the review the rating system is broken into two parts; a scale of 1 to 10 and a short summary and opinion of the film by both the Mr and Misses.

We're not aiming to be professional critics, but your run of the mill arm chair critics!

But you didn't hear that from us,

Mr & Misses