REVIEW: Independence Day: Resurgence

We will not go quietly into the night...

In the current climate of reincarnating and rebooting beloved movies, 1996’s seminal disaster movie Independence Day gets a sequel 20 years later – and probably at least 15 years too late. Original director, Roland Emmerich (Hollywood’s go-to guy for disaster movies) wants a piece of the reboot pie – and brings back (most of) the original cast and some new characters to the fore. However, it seems that to make a sequel, Emmerich thinks that by hiding a very weak (and convenient) story behind mindboggling special effects, a blockbuster it will make.  To a certain extent and to a certain type of audience this may well be true, but for the rest of us, we have a weaker sequel desperately out of time, hanging onto the coattails of a ground breaking original.

I loved the first movie and using talent like Will Smith, Jeff “The Goldblum” Goldblum and Bill Pullman was brilliant as they are all fantastic actors. Sadly, Will Smith doesn’t reprise his role as we are suggested to that his character has been killed in a test flight and is no longer part of the team. However, those who are disappointed in this can be rest assured that they have cast a suitable replacement as his son – who is basically a cardboard cut-out likeness of a younger Smith but without the sass and Smith-ness that we come to expect from him. However, we could have had Jayden Smith as the heir to the character, but based on his previous performances in other movies I think we dodged that worry.

New cast members are younger, as if taking the reins from Goldblum and co. and such whippersnappers include Liam Hemsworth. He heads up the next generation, fresh from the Hunger Games and does a good job. The remaining young ‘uns are all there to tick off boxes really – token black guy (the Will Smith dude), hot Chinese girl for the geeky sidekick and the girl who becomes the love interest for Liam’s character. Goldblum and Pullman reprise their roles and great comic relief from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Brent Spiner add some gravitas and links to the previous film, but although it goes some way to smooth the ride, it’s still not enough to let it stand aside its predecessor.

The story goes that 20 years on, Earth has learned to put aside its differences after winning the war against the aliens – and we have been using their technology to bolster earth should they return (which Goldblum is convinced they will). As we need something to happen in the story, of course, they come back! However, the technology is better and we are again in a hopeless situation – and what follows is what you would expect – and that is where the film isn’t as good as it could have been.

The biggest problem is that the movie is a basic paint by numbers of a disaster movie/sci fi invasion movie with overwhelmingly convenient moments to help the main characters out.  And, like previous Emmerich movie 2012, the characters face certain doom on multiple occasions but the 1% chance of survival ALWAYS comes through. As a result you are left with an ‘on the edge of your seat’ style movie without the tension because you know the characters will always survive. It also has an undercurrent of patriotism and a little bit too much of “yay, America” -this sentiment might have worked in the 90’s but the world has moved on from such isolated views (maybe).

Overall though, even though it has its faults, it’s an enjoyable sci-fi/action adventure – a bit predictable but very exciting even so. Worth a watch, I reckon.

POPSCORE: 7/10

What am I talking about? Independence Day: Resurgence movie
Where can I find out more? http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/independence-day-resurgence
If you liked this try: Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012 (oh hang on they are all Roland Emmerich movies ain't they?), Mars Attacks, San Andreas

Anything else?

Will Smith isn't in this one, though you might see his picture on the wall of the White House.

REVIEW: Ghostbusters (2016) (12A)

If there is something strange, in your neighbourhood... who you gonna call?

After a suitably scary intro, the Ray Parker Jr. tune kicks in and you are strapped in ready for action - but the theme is practically faded out after about four seconds and gets straight into the movie. Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) is Erin Gilbert (the Peter Venkman of the team) who is desperate to be taken serious as a scientist and is getting a job as a lecturer at a school. However childhood friend Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) is carrying on their mutual childhood interest in ghosts and the paranormal. Both ladies have gone their separate ways - Abby researching at a local educational establishment and Erin at the respectable university. When a book they wrote years ago surfaces online, Erin finds that Abby has been selling it to make money without Erin's knowledge. Obviously miffed at this, but more concerned about the damage to her reputation, she goes and confronts Abby. When she gets there she finds her researching equipment alongside eccentric Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) who kind of plays the Egon Spengler character with a bit more madness/sass. Jillian has a hairstyle that really reminds me of Egon in The Real Ghostbusters cartoon - which may be purposeful or maybe not, but is a nice touch if so.

Meanwhile some loner blokey has decided to create armageddon by creating a portal to call ghosts to New York to "pester" humans. First, a ghost is seen in the subway by Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) and she runs away from it - and goes to the Ghostbusters to see if they can help and ends up becoming a Ghostbuster herself.   They employ hapless Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) who is more attractive than intelligent - which is clearly a gender swap dig at the way women are portrayed in the movies for their attractiveness and not brains. However, which every way you look at it, he has some of the best comedic moments and makes the movie funnier that it otherwise would have been.

Ghostbusters has been hit with a lot of criticism and the danger of reviewing this movie is that when anyone has said anything about this, especially bad, it's been taken as people being sexist. What's more, is that the first teaser trailer was one of the most divisive and disliked trailers EVER on YouTube. Even I worried about it - it was awful. I was sad.

But, the second one was much better, and made me less concerned. But the fan speculation was rife. All women ghostbusters, rubbish jokes, bad CGI - reasons people have gave for their dislikes. I think it was doomed from the start, and didn't have the best chance. Then.... there was a review embargo until release. This was not looking good. But I've seen it. And here's what I think.

The last line of the movie, Erin says something like, "It's not terrible, is it?" and my response would be no, it isn't. Although it's difficult to move it to another part of your mind, if you don't link this to the previous Ghostbusters movies (like this movie doesn't link to the others) then it's actually pretty good.

There are elements that are poor - some of the story is a bit iffy, and I think if they made reference to the previous movies it might feel like more of a part of the franchise. With the exception of cameos of cast and characters (the former not being the characters they are known for) then there are no clues that the other Ghostbusters ever existed. There's a lot of nods to the original - the hearse for Ecto-1, the PKE meters and equipment (though it's been verily updated) and some scenes that echo from the 1984 version. In fact the only truly same thing is the theme song.  I mentioned earlier that this is on for about 4 seconds. Don't worry though, the soundtrack itself has 4 different versions on it, and we hear three versions throughout the movie.

I really liked this movie, and it could have been so much worse. The ghosts were decent and it was a fun movie to watch. It was trying to be a comedy though... but it was mainly at the expense of others or through crude jokes. When it tries to be funny, I think it fails, but there is some genuine amusing moments, mainly with Chris Hemsworth's character and his lack of intelligence. Some may say that it's a bit offensive, but I'm not here to judge that.

So, to sum it up I would say that, leave the original Ghostbusters behind, go in and watch this as these ladies have their time at being Ghostbusters and you will enjoy it. It's a fun movie, with some amusing moments, and will pass the time. But, if you force it to stand up against Ivan Reitman's masterpiece from 1984, it may struggle.

Ghostbusters is out at all good cinemas from 11th July in the UK and 15th July in the US.

POPSCORE: 7.5/10

What am I talking about? Ghostbusters (2016) movie
Where can I find out more? http://www.ghostbusters.com/ AND http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/ghostbusters/
If you liked this try: Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II, Haunted Mansion, Casper and Scary Movie series of movies, possibly Bridesmaids and Spy for similar cast and humour

Anything else?

Some of the original Ghostbusters (1984) cast have cameo's in this movie including Annie Potts (who played Janine Melnitz), Dan Ackroyd (Ray Stantz), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barratt) and Bill Murray (Peter Venkman). Sadly none of them, except Ackroyd, have any link to their previous characters as they all play different characters in this. Ackroyd mentions about ghost classification - but it's not clear if he is Ray Stantz or not.
Like the actors, some ghosts make cameos from the other movies including Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
There's a lot of references to the original movie's scenes including moments like the banging on a window in a restaurant, pulling tablecloths from a table and being in the mayors office.

REVIEW: X-Men Apocalypse (12A)

The X-Men reunite for a final foray to conclude the Bryan Singer trilogy started by X-Men First Class and then, by default, meets up almost with the 2000 smash hit X-Men. X-Men (2000) was a movie that redefined superhero movies as genuinely good movies... rather just an exercise in punching baddies and over powered people in brightly coloured suits. Unlike that particular part three, X-Men: The Last Stand, this trilogy's conclusion is well, how shall I put it? First class.

Well balanced with chatty exposition and interspersed with action, this movie continues 10 years on from the 70's to 1983. Various X-Men are doing their thang - Erik Lensherr (aka Magneto) is now earning a living in Poland and is a family man. A number of mutants are still fretting about their place in the world including a girl in Egypt who can control the elements and another lady who sports an amazing latex purple outfit. 

The movie starts though many years before - in fact in Egyptian times - where some dude with powers (we discover is Apocalypse very shortly into the movie) is getting on a bit. In order to keep him living forever he must take the life force of a younger, stronger person - human or mutant, to continue on. Apparently if he snaffled a mutant he also gains their abilities. A suitable host is found - a very unconscious Poe Dameron (Oscar Isacc) who draws the short straw and gets shlucked up by the evil megalomaniac. I'm joking, it's not Poe Dameron but is certainly the same actor. Even back then he has four horsemen and some of the people take umbrage to this shucking of people's souls or whatever it is so end up destroying the place he is performing the ritual and he's buried under rocks until some silly people on 1983 decide to bring him back. Once he returns the quest is on for him to find four powerful mutants to take on the world as his four horsemen.

Meanwhile some lad is having problems at school with his eyesight, goes to the toilet and zaps the wall with his eyes - so his brother Alex, take him to Professor Xavier's school for the gifted to help him control his eye lasers. This is where we meet most of the others including Jean Grey (Sophie Hunter - Sansa from Game of Thrones), Hank McCoy/Beast (Nicolas Hoult reprising his role) and a Chinese girl  I would put money on is Jubilee but is never name checked. 

Mystique returns and is out and about and discovers Angel and Nightcrawler and that is pretty much the main selection of characters. Until Quicksilver appears too. Other mutants are referenced or mentioned with one notable cameo; but the roster, as you can see is huge. For all there are many of the it does a good job of trying to balance them all. Sadly the new additions to the roster - like Storm, Psylocke and Angel aren't very well developed and Storm is never mentioned by name. Nightcrawler is great comic relief but it's hard to take him seriously with a very stereotypical German accent and a jacket right out of a Michael Jackson music video.

Jean Grey is played well by Sophie Turner, at times looking like she's raided Dr Beverly Crusher's wardrobe for inspiration. McAvoy and Fassbender are great as usual and they have settled into their characters well and made the characters as believable in their younger years as Stewart and McKellan have in their later ones.

As the film approaches it climax, it does not disappoint. The film is great and I really enjoyed this one. My only complaint was that some of the dialogue was very predictable. For example there seem to be a lot of sentences with a long pause in the middle of then and you just knew what they were going to say.

Unlike Prometheus, which seemed to shoe horn the aliens reference in within 10 minutes in the end of the film, this movie is different. Singer seems to have really thought out the links to his original movie so it all goes together. This is Singers episodes 1,2,3 and they are all really very good movies. Maybe this one is the worst of the three but saying it like that does not mean it is a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination.  Overall, a strong conclusion to the latest X-Trilogy and will be up there with the best.

X-Men Apocalypse is out now at all good cinemas.

POPSCORE: 8/10

What am I talking about? X-Men: Apocalypse movie
Where can I find out more? http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/x-men-apocalypse
If you liked this try: Any of the other X Men Movies really

Anything else?

This has the biggest cast of heroes yet.
This movie is not officially part of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) because the movie rights currently belong to Fox.
It's on for quite a long time - nearly 2hrs and 30 minutes!

REVIEW: Batman V Superman (12A) - Dawn of Justice

After a two year wait from The Man of Steel, Zach Snyder returns with his long awaited Batman V Superman (BvS) movie. Starring Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill returning as Superman, BvS pits both men against each other in a slam down of epic proportions. Guest starring Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman (who has never been in a cinema film before... Wonder Woman that is, Gal's been in the Fast and Furious franchise) BvS is gunning to be the superhero movie to beat. It can’t go wrong... can it?

Well, the movie was off for a bad start over the controversial casting of Ben Affleck as Batman. Stepping into the gaping void left by popular choice Batman Christian Bale (not Gareth – he’s a Welsh footballer (though he might have been a batsman if he played cricket)), Affleck plays an older and wisened Batman. After a brief stint of montage flashbacks to establish the origins of Batman, the movie throws us straight into the end battle of Man of Steel. Just to recap – Superman is beating the bejeezuz out of General Zod as the World Engine (which sounds like a drum and bass tune) attempts to format the planet like a fresh install of Windows 7. As the battle rages in the sky, Bruce Wayne is on the ground, watching, like we did, the needless destruction of the city by these two super beings. After Bruce watches a destruction of one of his buildings, killing most of the occupants, he gets angry and has a score to settle with Superman.

This first 20 minutes or so of the movie impressed me so – it’s a fantastic way to make the storytelling more dynamic and, I guess, goes some way to challenge the negative criticism Man of Steel garnered over that very issue – of Superman destroying stuff and inadvertently harming people. Even The Avengers (Age of Ultron) took the mick a bit by making a big hoo-ha over getting the civilians away from the battle and keeping them safe. 

The scene is now set and I’m ready and primed for this humdinger of a movie. I’ve never been so excited for a showdown since Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage at Wrestlemania 5 – and that was an awesome match. Imagine my disappointment then, that, in a 2 hour 30 minutes runtime, the next 1 hour and 30 minutes hardly had any Batman or Superman in, and spent most of the time talking and character development. Most of it is Batman being grumpy and going to events as Bruce Affleck, meanwhile Superman is stuck in Clark Kent mode and occasionally bumps into Wayne. Highlights include the Lex Luthor party scene (as seen in the trailer) and a Batmobile chase that was quite exciting (and practically lifted from a sequence in The Dark Knight). Although the film ticks by, the ongoing dialogue and character movements get a bit boring and there are large parts where it just goes on and on and on. Jeremy Irons (as Alfred) plays a minimal but great role to rival that of any others and looks a bit like an aged Tony Stark as he tinkers with the Batmobile and other Bat-stuff. Ben Affleck does a great turn as Bruce Wayne and does some detective work, but it’s all panned out and rolled out so much that it still forces you to watch to wait for the fight we’ve all come to the cinema to see.

Ben Affleck’s Batman is quite awesome in some respects and a bit ruthless in others – he is quite dark and violent; and the few times we see him fight is impressive – looking like the Arkham games that are popular on the consoles and PC. However these fight scenes are rare but are exciting when we see them.

Superman is very similar to the one established in Man of Steel, but seems to be living with Lois Lane (Amy Adams) who is almost a major character herself. Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor is a bit strange and stuttery, maybe megalomaniac, maybe genius but you can just imagine one punch from Superman and he would be a goner. However, that’s never the case, as he’s left to go and do what he wants to do – which is to create a monster to bring Superman down.

When we finally trundle to the endgame (and we are a bit tired and just want to get it over with) it doesn’t let you down. Supes vs the Bat is a suitably crunchy affair, reminding me a lot of the Hulkbuster Vs Hulk in Age of Ultron.  IronBat takes on SuperHulk without the humour of Avengers but with added kryptonium. Once we’ve dealt with that, a brief respite is given as Lex unleashes his monster – Doomsday – that is partly made of General Zod’s dead body. Supes and Bats then have to make friends and join forces and, with the help of Wonder Woman (who’s been flitting about in background scenes all the way through the film as her everyday alter ego), attempt to save the world (or at least the city) once again.

Overall the film is decent, it really is. But I’m so sat on the fence with this one I really don’t know which way to go. I really want to like it and love it but I don’t. I’m worried that I’ve been Marvel-ified and I’m so used to a superhero movie being like the scores of Marvel ones we’ve seen that maybe I’m biased. Or maybe Snyder is trying to be too clever. I’ve grown up with both DC comics and Marvel ones and both have their own style. Marvel is a family adventure and, in the main, a universal, colourful heroes save the world. DC have always been aimed at the older audience – late teens and upwards, darker, more adult storylines – and maybe this is where this movie, and DC ones in particular, will always differ. I love the 1978 Superman with Christopher Reeve – it’s a bit cheesy but it’s a good movie. These new ones have all this dark hue thrown over it and don’t seem very optimistic – even the end to this movie makes you feel a bit like you need a sit down (even though you have done for the last 2 and a half hours).

In summary – the movie is over long but a decent attempt at its promise. Batman is great, Superman not so good. Ben Affleck isn’t bad as Bats so may have come some way to redeem himself. It’s a rocky start to the DCEU, but hopefully they will find their feet to catch up with Marvel as I’m sure there’s still many more stories to tell. I’m looking forward to Suicide Squad, however.

POPSCORE: 7/10

What am I talking about? Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice
Where can I find out more? batmanvsuperman.dccomics.com
If you liked this try: Any of the other DC movies but especially Superman, Batman (especially the more modern ones), also DC TV series like The Flash or Arrow too. To a lesser extent Green Lantern...

Anything else?

This follows on from Man of Steel and the movie actually starts just before Man of steel finishes.

REVIEW: Pixels

PIXELS is the latest Adam Sandler movie which preys upon people within a decade of Sandler’s age bracket and hoping that the lure of retro arcade classics will help this movie become the blockbuster that it promises to be. Up front and centre on both the poster and the trailer, is a gigantic Pac-Man that is terrorising the world. But before we go that way, where did this idea come from? Was it Sandler’s inspiration or some other source?

 

Well the truth is, is that it is based on a mini movie that had all the hallmarks of a fantastic idea. Check it out the clip, by clicking here.  It  was fantastic as an idea so it was to go without saying that someone somewhere would be wanting to take it further and sprinkle the “magic of Hollywood” ‘pon it. Sadly, it was Da Sandler who got his mitts on it. Part of the appeal of Adam Sandler films, original ones anyway, was the young goofball, wanting to be loved and trying to get the girl. Now he’s older, the template doesn’t fit quite so well, and this movie is a very similar premise, and sometimes it borders on creepy. In this movie the love interest is a really pretty girl who is visually a lot younger than the ageing Sandler and it looks more like a dad pursuing a daughter than two people who would fall in love.

 

However, besides that fact, Sandler’s character doesn’t really have any redeeming features (apart from really good at certain video games (read 80’s arcade machines)) so it’s difficult to see how those two would get together even in the constraints of this movie. There’s a sequence where the two of them are in a cupboard and it just doesn’t make any sense and feels rather strange to watch. You may have noticed that I have not even told you the names of these two characters, as the story is so weak I can't even recall them. But, IMDb promises me that Adam Sandler's character is called Brenner and Violet (Michelle Monaghan) is the love interest. Backing up those two characters, we have Kevin James (as the President of the United States?!), Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad and the creator of Pac Man himself, Professor Iwatani (even if he is played by an actor).

 

The movie goes like this (but if you have seen the trailer it basically explains the premise) but it’s this – in the 1980’s NASA send a message of greetings into space to show them what our lives are like in the 1980’s – complete with the arcade games of the day, speeches and music videos from the megastars of the day and more. However, instead of a message of hello to the universe, they took it as an act of war and therefore create arcade game characters to come to Earth to destroy us. It’s times like this when they should have just stuck with The Carpenter’s “Calling All Occupants…” song and left it at that. Anyway, this premise sounds damn good on paper – but as with a lot of movies these days it seems that it is not the inspiration but the execution of it that lets the movie down. As described, we have a talented cast with a mix of experience and the film does show sparks of brilliance on occasion, but this is few and far between. This is a copy and paste sci-fi action movie that doesn’t really take anything further forward in terms of story or character development.

 

The problem with this movie is that it’s a fantastic idea and has an epic selling point, and, like most movies of that ilk, it’s the execution of the idea that it falls prey to. Character development is mostly non-existent – and for the pixelated characters it relies solely on what we know in pop culture and that’s about it. Adam Sandler exclaims each video game character as if to tag it – the only thing missing is a hashtag graphic at the same time while he says it. In fact, as cheesy as it sounds, that wouldn’t look too much out of place in this movie. The movie then is heavily special effects laden and low on just about everything else. Even the low-fi HD pixelated characters are shallow.

 

Adam Sandler is getting older and the schtick that worked when he was younger just sparks of desperation and doesn’t seem to work in this instance. I think he needs to move on and try being a different type of character and move with both his audience and his career. The movie is below average and even the most die-hard fans of sci-fi and/or retro gaming (which demographic it is clearly gunning for) would struggle to say it’s a good movie (and yes, I’m one of them). The only film worse I have seen in 2015 is Fant4stic Four (see my review here) and this isn’t much better. If I had to sum it up – it’s all looks and no personality.

 

Pixels is out now on DVD and Blu Ray and digital download.

 

POPSCORE: 5/10

What am I talking about? Pixels movie
Where can I find out more? http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/pixels/
If you liked this try: King Kong (latest Peter Jackson version), Night at the Museum (which is far superior), Independence Day (ID4), Wreck it Ralph (which does the licensed characters a lot better)

Anything else?
The closing credits re-run a synopsis of the movie in 8-bit style.       

REVIEW: Deadpool (15)

After many, many debates on whether this movie would be made, Deadpool finally hits our screens and hits it does. Ryan Reynolds has stepped up to the plate twice now in his attempt to break into the superhero genre as a superhero himself. As well as featuring for Marvel in Blade II as Blade’s sidekick, his first real outing was actually as Deadpool in the luke-warmly received X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. Although it was generally in the lower rated echelons of superhero movie opinions, the Deadpool portrayed there had his mouth sewn shut and was a complete waste of a character much loved by many. As if to rub salt into the wounds, or maybe take a distance from Marvel, Reynolds defected to DC to star in similarly panned Green Lantern which may have had a decent run as a franchise if it wasn’t so badly made and relied on too much CGI. Although Ryan Reynolds is a likeable guy and a great actor – he plays smarmy, arrogant or wisecracking as you require it. So he would be the ideal choice for Deadpool. But, he’s already had two strikes – this one needs to be the home run. And do you know what? It is!

 

This new Deadpool movie is all what you would expect from a movie and more and is full of blood, guts, gore and one liners. Some of the insults are both creative and zany, and with the inclusion of X-Men’s Colossus, it adds a flair to the proceedings. Poking fun at everything it can and highlighting it via quips and jokes about poo, death, blood and just about everything else, Deadpool is a Marvel movie unlike any other but also as you would expect.

 

Once again, as expected, this introduction to the character is an origin movie and charts the wise-cracking Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) in flash back format from two-bit mercenary for hire to the Merc With the Mouth. The film slams straight into the action as Deadpool takes on a multitude of enemies and proceeds to tell backstory while doing it. Once up to date, Deadpool carries on from where we left off in the most basic story of revenge, but the quips, special FX and soundtrack (which includes some Wham! and Salt 'n' Pepa to name but two).

 

Even though it is a very different Marvel movie (the closest to it would most likely be something like a Blade movie or The Punisher) and not yet a part of MCU, all the hallmarks of a Marvel movie are there – ties to other movies (in this instance the X-Men) and, of course, Mr Stan Lee features as a cameo. With added self referential items – which without giving anything away do include said X-Men mentioned above among other things, this movie is all a Deadpool fan would want. With a strong supporting cast and a funky soundtrack to boot, strap in and enjoy the ride as Deadpool is your host on this Marvel’s version of Taken. It’s a great start to 2016’s bumper crop of superhero movies to come but it’s set the bar high.

 

Of course, you have to stay to the end of the credits because it’s a Marvel movie isn’t it?

 

Deadpool is out now at all good cinemas and it’s dead(pool) good.

POPSCORE: 9/10

What am I talking about? Deadpool movie
Where can I find out more? http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/deadpool
If you liked this try: Any of the other Marvel movies but especially Blade II, The Punisher and possibly the Daredevil (Netflix series), Ghost Rider and also the latest X-Men Movies but ...
DEFINITELY NOT X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE OR GREEN LANTERN!

Anything else?

Ryan Reynolds has been Deadpool before in X-men Origins: Wolverine and there is at least 3 sequences in the movie where he makes a reference or there is a reference to this.
Colossus, one of the X-Men, features in this movie.
This movie is not officially part of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) because, like the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, the movie rights currently belong to Fox.

BYTE: Merry March

I'm Paul ... and this is Paul & The Popcorn...

Welcome to a merry March - and I hope it is so for all of you!

Firstly I must apologise for the lack of updates - my computer has been playing funny, then it decided to pack in and with working lots and being on adventures I haven't had time to fix it. Obviously I have now so there'll be some reviews up and posted over the next few days.

Last month we had Deadpool (review soon as I've seen it 3 times now!) this month we have the muchly anticipated Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. Wow! And we've got London has Fallen, Grimsby and Allegiant (part one) to look forward to among others.

Although I visited Middlesbrough Comic Con back in February (I need to write that one up as well, jeez I'm slacking) the first epic one of the year for me is the one in Wales - the Sci Fi Weekender, which we have been going to for about 5 years now. This year guests include Garrett Wang (from Voyager), the ever lovely Eve Myles (she's beautiful inside and out) and the oft imitated but never bettered, the legend that is Brian Blessed! I'm really looking forward to this one and a two part review will come in time. And, if my new video camera comes, you might even get a You Tube video. if you are going there, say hi!

Later in the year I'm looking at visiting other 'Cons and on my hitlist include Destination Star Trek in Birmingham in October and The London Film & Comic Con by Showmasters in July. The latter stars Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and others while the former celebrates 50 years of the Star trek frnachise and includes cast members from all of the series AND prop and set shoots. Wow!
 

Looking at the latest stuff as well:

>   Xbox Live:  Games with Gold this month includes the usual selection of games, rather than list them I've included the link that's in blue. However, as this links to the current games, if you click the link it is the current games available and maybe not what's available now. Remember though that all the Xbox games have limited availability and are yours to keep once you have purchased them. However, some are only available at the beginning of the month, some at the end and some longer than that. Generally though, there are some games for the first two weeks and then a different set two weeks after, so you need to move quickly.

Every Xbox 360 game that is featured on Games With Gold from now, is now backwards compatibly with Xbox One which means the Xbox 360 games above WILL work on your Xbox one. They are adding new games all the time, so keep checking to see if you can use any of those old 360 games again on your shiny new Xbox One.

>  PSN: PS Plus this month has another selection of games but usual rules apply in that if you stop your subscription those games'll stop workin'. I know this to be true because it has happened to me. However, simply subscribe again and poof! by magic they work again. Also, this is the link to where to download the games, which means that although there's a certain set this mont, if you click the link next month there will be different games on offer - so get in while you can.

Origin has another game on the house which is Need for Speed: Most Wanted still -  so get it now before it's gone forever. As always you need to have an Origin account to get this. if this game is on your Most Wanted list, then now's the time to take advantage.

Origin have a new thing out called Origin Access which is £3.99 a month to play their games and you can cancel at any time. I need to look into this further but it looks pretty cool if you have the time to do it. If you check it out - let me know.

 

As always we have Loot Crate and Nerd Block unboxings to look forward to...

...AND Marvel Collector Corps is coming in April!

It's time to go now but -  I'll see you soon.

Keep being awesome!

Until next time

Paul

REVIEW: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (iMAX) 3D Version (12A)

In 1983, young people the world over saw the conclusion to one of the most quintessential sci-fi series of films ever known. They were introduced to the Ewoks, story arcs were completed and people went home satisfied. Names like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo became household names in reality and legend in the fictional universe. Since then, they have never really left our imaginations or pop culture. Darth Vader died in Return of the Jedi, but redeemed himself, and all was good in the world.

 A few decades later, George Lucas decided to try and replicate the mania that was prevalent back after the first trilogy was released. In 1999, it came amid fanfare and you couldn’t go wrong with great actors like Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson could you? Er, yes, yes you could.

The “new” trilogy, Episodes I-III (Lucas loves his numerals) or “the rubbish ones” – whatever you would like to call it, seemed like a shameless cash in and a major step back for Star Wars as a franchise. There had already been an amassed back story both forward of the “original trilogy” and back. In keeping with the canon, Lucas had to go back – and retell the story before the characters we knew. Some of it hit home –Yoda was good but the CGI version lacked the appeal of the “muppet” version of the originals though. Darth Maul was intense but vastly underused and with the exception of the endgame of the first movie, was pretty much a redundant character. Anakin in the first movie was just basically a young Wesley Crusher, and the relationship between Anakin and Padme in the later ones, was just weird. And the biggest issue of all was a Gungan called Jar Jar Binks. Lucas had tried to recreate the Star Wars we loved but it just didn’t work very well, even though, I personally thought Episode III wasn’t really that bad.

Lucas sold the rights to Star Wars to Disney a few years ago for about $4billion and basically will never have to work again in about 150 lifetimes. Meanwhile, Disney thought about how they could do what they did with Marvel and turn a troubled franchise into something remarkable. First, they scrapped everything as canon, other than the new cartoon series and the movies. Which caused a bit of a stir – but the good thing was Chewie was still alive! They have kept this previous canon though and now refer to it as “legend” but is not part of the new storylines created henceforth. Which makes sense really since the future as written in the previous canon was getting cluttered and making a new movie to fit in with it all (except for making a book into a screenplay (which I think was bandied about after the conclusion for Episodes I-III)) would have been difficult to say the least.

Then, they drafted in JJ Abrams who had been rebooting the Star Trek franchise. I’m sure many fans, like myself, were concerned about this as the Trek reboot wasn’t bad, but could have been better and… what the hell is going on with all the lens flare? It was unnecessary and made the film seem shiny and distracting.  Social media was wondering about the movie – would it be more JJ Abrams or will it be more Jar Jar Binks? After something like a two year tease, on 17^th December (or 18^th depending) The Force Awakens opened…

…And broke every box office record in the galaxy.

The Force Awakens stars unknown actors John Boyega and young starlet Daisy Ridley as Finn and Rey respectively.  As you may not have seen the movie yet and may wish to I will try to avoid major spoilers but I will be telling you some things so you have an idea at what the film is about. If you do not wish to know, go down my review and read the final paragraph which is a conclusion about the film and will not tell you any spoilers.

 

Firstly I waited to see the iMax 3D version and it was a very good version indeed. The 3d was good (some cool parts where things fly out at you) and this is the sort of epic movie you would want to see in iMax.

If you are still with me – let’s go…

Possible light spoilers ahead - (skip to last paragraph)

The film begins with a Resistance pilot named Poe who has a funky droid called BB-8, and is seeking to find Luke Skywalker who has disappeared. As an attack force led by the mysterious Kylo Ren, Poe tries to escape. Meanwhile we see a stormtrooper tussling with his conscience – something we’ve never really seen before in a Star Wars movie - and this makes them more individual. The new Stormtrooper outfit is smarter and snazzier, and, like most of the equipment, vehicles and outfits in the movie, have been upgraded to a more modern look. X-Wings are now black, and TIE fighters look more swish – but are still as fast. Poe is caught, but BB-8 escapes to pass the message on.

There’s a slew of new characters in the mix too – Finn (the Stormtrooper mentioned above), Rey (a young lady who is great flying spaceships, using a blaster, a lightsabre, etc), Poe (who, sadly, has the same name as a Teletubby) and lovable droid BB-8 (who, let’s be honest, is R2-D2 for the social media generation). Backing up this glamourous new bunch include the old favourites Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Leia and the droids, Threepio and Artoo.

For the bad guys there’s the wannabe Darth Vader - Kylo Ren (who’s got a history), General Hux (a fanatical with a crisp RP English accent that would make the BBC proud), a multitude of Stormtroopers (including one played by Daniel Craig) and a creepy hologram called Snoke (who is apparently a Supreme Leader).

JJ Abrams had a very difficult path ahead of him, but, like a Jedi (do there is no try) he has excelled himself in this movie. Minimising lens flare and sticking to Star Wars lore as much as he can, Abrams gives the yearning public the best Star Wars movie since Empire Strikes Back in 1980. The movie has elements of a paint by number Star Wars with an X-Wing sequence right out of Star Wars and other set pieces similar. What could become a generic rehash instead becomes familiar and makes it feel more true to the Star Wars feel of this picture.

Locations are built with the cast actually there, so there is a lot less CGI than you would expect – though it is necessary in a world full of lightsabers and laser guns.  The technology has been given a makeover – a bit like the difference between a Ford Escort and a Ford Focus – both are similar cars but one looks a bit more modern and swisher than the previous one.

Harrison Ford returns as ladies’ favourite, Han Solo, and it’s like he has been in character since Return of the Jedi as so comfortable has he slipped back into the role. The dynamic is still there with Peter Mayhew’s Chewbacca and they are a great sight to see on the big screen again. Chewbacca is fantastic – especially with some of the asides he does which are just fab. But the moment they both walk back onto the Millennium Falcon and Solo utters, "Chewie, We're home!" complete with that half smile of his, just pretty much sets the nostalgia chimes ringing.

The new cast do a sterling job of carrying such a weight on their shoulders and Princess (who is now General) Leia is woefully underused. BB-8, the new circular droid, fills in for the loveable duo of C-3PO and R2-D2, and, when all are on screen together they go from Laurel & Hardy to the Three Stooges. BB-8 seems more sonorous than the legendary Artoo, but both can share the screen without taking one from another.

Poe, the Resistance’s best fighter pilot, is introduced right at the start and has some cool moments, but, like Leia, is only in it sporadically and he seems a funky enough character who could give Han Solo a run for his money. Finn, the turncoat Stormtrooper, seems capable of great things but spends most of the movie hyperventilating and running away from things. This is a direct contrast to Rey, the heroine of the piece who can basically do everything and is good at everything which takes things away from her character a bit as she seems to be able to do everything the other characters can’t and then some.

Then we have the bad guys – leading the chase is Darth Vader wannabe Kylo Ren, resplendent in black with a funky lightsaber and a mask and voice that would rival Vader’s own. However, the mystery is not as shrouded as Vader was as we only have to wait half way through the movie to see him without his mask.

Finally, no Star Wars movie would be complete without a Death Star or something of that ilk and The Force Awakens doesn’t disappoint in this part either.

Spoiler over - (you can continue reading now)

In conclusion, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is clearly made by a director who both grew up with the franchise and adores it in equal measure. There’s enough similarity with the other Star Wars movies (by this I mean the original 70’s trilogy) to feel familiar yet enough difference to move it on and appeal to the next generation. There is a feel that this version of Star Wars reflects in the younger generation how their parents felt in the 70’s and 80’s growing up. The hype machine is in hyper speed and the merchandising is bordering on silly. But, the movie itself is a sturdy piece of filmmaking that is a worth addition to the franchise. This will go down as a classic in itself and make stars of the new actors representing the characters. The movie has shocks, twists, action and adventure, and that’s all you need in a good sci fi movie – especially Star Wars. I cannot wait for the next one, but the 30-odd year wait was worth it for this one. Well done JJ Abrams, you are now officially up there with Lucas, Spielberg and the other director greats. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is out now at all good cinemas.

POPSCORE: 9.5/10

What am I talking about? Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie
Where can I find out more? www.starwars.com/the-force-awakens
If you liked this try: Any of the other Star Wars movies, any Star Trek Movie, Spaceballs,   

 

Anything else?

This film follows on 30 years (ish) from Return of The Jedi - both in the story and in real life.
Abrams cast unknown actors for some of the lead roles - and much was made of the auditions in London earlier this year.

REVIEW: The Martian (12A)

THE MARTIAN is Matt Damon’s latest blockbuster directed, no less, by the legend that is Ridley Scott. Not to be confused with yesteryear classic My Favourite Martian or a male friend named Martin, The Martian is a disaster movie with a difference. One part Castaway and two parts Gravity, The Martian tells the story of a squad of astronauts who when encountering difficulties in a manned mission to Mars, evacuate to return to Earth. As evacuation procedures are put into place, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is left for dead when he is hit by some debris of part of their equipment. Reluctantly abandoning the search for him to save the rest, Commander Lewis (the luscious Jessica Chastain) sends the crew home to safety.

Not long after Watney awakens to find out that he is still alive and alone on the planet and it will be four long years before help arrives. If he wants to survive he will need to “science the shit” out of Mars and solve each problem as it arises and does so in an almost MacGyver like fashion.

The Martian is such a well made film with emotion, great humour and arresting visuals. As the ensemble cast – themselves of stellar pedigree – assemble on Earth to try and save him, Watney alone is played brilliantly by Matt Damon. He has only his charm and the bleak red desertlike landscape to play with and coupled with an ongoing disgruntlement for Cmdr Lewis’s penchant for disco, the solo sections of him on Mars are as amusing as they are brilliant. The cast on Earth rearing up to save them include  Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sebastian Stan, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels and Sean Bean. I was expecting Sean Bean to die, but luckily he stays within an office environment so in this movie he stays very much alive, much to my happiness. The Earth sequences are a great contrast to the barrenness of mars.

The Martian has a cool disco soundtrack which strangely goes with the story and the quest for one man to survive takes this idea to the limit. Coupled with awesome cinematography and top actors this film is a must see. It’s on for a while but it is great and deserves all the credit it gets.

POPSCORE: 9.5/10 

What am I talking about? The Martian film

Where can I find out more? http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-martian

If you like this try: Gravity, Interstellar (especially since Damon features in that), Guardians of the Galaxy, Castaway, Apollo 13

Anything else?

This film is based on the book The Martian by Andy Weir - something I think I would quite like to read!

REVIEW: Mad Max: Fury Road (15)

George Miller, the septuagenarian director, returns with his latest Mad Max movie - Mad Max: Fury Road. No Mel Gibson here, but replaced by the ladies favourite, Tom Hardy. Also featuring a few other well known names including South Africa’s finest, Charlize Theron, Mad Max takes it forward for the next generation.

Using a dazzling array of amazing stunts (here’s to the old school) and minimal computer aided special effects, Mad Max features a dystopian world where everything seems to be miles away, and the people are all a bit strange.

The world in which they live is one I would never like to live in, but it draws you in with its dystopian vibe and barren landscape. Tom Hardy grunts his way through the movie, and for all that he plays the titular character, the main character, it could be argued, that Furiosa (Theron) is the main hero(ine?).

The bad guys are suitably clownish and crazy with a side order of sinister and evil. The movie is pretty much a road trip from one place to another – then they turn around and come back again. Although light on story, the movie is a dazzling array of stunts and explosions and there is an awesome guitarist with flames coming out of his guitar which pretty much plays for the entire movie as the soundtrack.

The cars (sorry, I think I would be better placed saying vehicles) are characters unto themselves and are often garishly made. Imagine The Fast and the Furious cars with horns and pipes and spikes and a jaded paint job and you wouldn’t be too far from this movie.

The movie is really quite good and I enjoyed it even though it was light on story and heavy on action. But, when a movie is this gripping, you can forgive such fallacies.

There are a couple of points about the movie I want to raise though – this includes the fact that Mad Max doesn’t really feature in this movie as much as he should have, and there was not a lot of dialogue or work for Hardy to do – apart from being tied up and being grumpy. Nicholas Holt’s character Nux, was suitable crazy and helped keep up the frenetic tempo we would expect the film to be. He also gets the best line: “Oh what a day, what a lovely day!”  Theron does a good turn as the heroine taking the slave girls away from the antagonist, and trying to save them. She is suitably kick ass and is a strong independent woman.

The movie overall is a good one, and there is talk of a few sequels too – hopefully Max will be featured more in it, but if not, maybe there’s more scope for a Mad Maxine or something. Who knows?

Mad Max: Fury Road is available on DVD, Blu Ray and download/streaming now.

POPSCORE: 8/10 

What am I talking about? Mad Max: Fury Road

Where can I find out more? http://www.madmaxmovie.com/

If you like this try: The original Mad Max movies, Fast And the Furious (if you like the road trip/car racing part), The Book of Eli, I Am Legend (both of these if you like the apocalyptic loner thing)

REVIEW: SPECTRE (12A)

It's been nearly 10 years that we have seen Mr Daniel Craig slip into the white tuxedo of cool and brining back the next iteration of Bond to a contemporary audience. In Casino Royale nearly 10 years ago in 2006, Daniel Craig was rough, gritty and a man's man. The women loved him for his ... well probably for the blue Speedo's which he managed to rock very well apparently. Seriously though, in a world getting sick of the camp and the pie in the sky gadgets, it brought James Bond to the modern times. Die Another Day was so out there it practically signalled the end of Bond altogether and the ageing Pierce Brosnan (who had held the franchise quite well up unitl then) was becoming a parody of himself.

Craig, in my eyes at the time, wasn't a suitable James Bond. However, after seeing his performance in Casino Royale my mind was changed. I ate my hat, swallowed my words, what ever you want to say. This version of James Bond was realistic, gritty, painful and witty and had the charisma of his previous incarnations but has a silent deadliness in his dealings with others. When, at the beginning of Casino Royale, he is asked about his first kill his quarry responds with, "the second one is much..." and off goes the gun and Bond replies coolly, "yes, considerably."

...that was one of my favourite lines of the first movie, and he does have some cool retorts, especially in the torture scene of Casino Royale. Quantum of Solace followed which took place straight after this movie and felt like the extended, straight to DVD sequel movie that was more of an extension to Casino Royale rather than a movie itself. Still it wasn't bad, but it didn't drop much hope for the one after that. But things did change.

Skyfall pretty much decimated the box office and, to me, it only felt like five minutes ago that that movie was at the cinema and Adele's track, Skyfall, was doing the rounds and doing it's own record breaking as it was. Skyfall was a conscious move by the makers to bring Bond back to what we know and there were a lot of changes made to set up Spectre, Daniel Craig's fourth outing as our favourite spy.

Spectre then, is probably the Bond movie that is starting to get back to the Bond that our parents grew up with. Still maintaining the Bond we know from the Craig era and using ideas from the others, this is both a moving forward movie with the story but also an homage to the old ones. Some parts are blatant visual cues or references to the old movies, and some reference the more recent ones.

Spectre feels like it is a movie that has a story to tell and is on for quite a long run time, so you have to strap in for the ride. The action is judiciously spaced with character and plot developments and sometimes the talking and walking is on for a bit too long before anything exciting happens. For those who have seen all the other Craig era movies, then there is plenty to get your teeth into as it answers some questions, raises some others and has some nice references so you feel you are moving along with the character as they develop (i.e. there's a rather fetching porcelain bulldog on Bond's table near the beginning of the movie).

Director Sam Mendes and, of course, Daniel Craig return for the next instalment of the James Bond franchise. Most of the characters return from the previous movie - Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) from Skyfall comes into his own in this one, which is good because he came across as a bit of nasty piece of work in Skyfall. That role now is filled by 'C' or Max Denbigh who is wanting to disband the 00 initiative and have something more modern and new in it's place (involving drones and computer surveillance). I can't help but feel he would love to hang out with Silva from Skyfall with all of his computers. But 'C' is the least of our worries as Bond discovers the mysterious organisation SPECTRE led by the mysterious Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) who has been "the architect" of Bond's misery since Casino Royale. Or, at least, so he says.

Backing up Bond once again is new pals Moneypenny and Q (Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw respectively). I had my concerns about them changing Moneypenny too - but Naomie Harris does such a fantastic job that I was glad to hear that the makers of Bond want to keep the aforementioned characters (and their actors) for a few movies more.

Spectre starts at the Day of the Dead festival as Bond is following a lead to try and uncover the truth about recent events (i.e. what happened in Skyfall). As MI6 is undergoing changes in the office, Bond is told that, after causing some chaos, he is destined for some time off. As he leaves the office he enlists the help on Moneypenny and Q to continue his off-the-record investigation of this mysterious syndicate. Along the way he meets some rather attractive ladies in the form of Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux who provide the exotic Bond girl love interest. Bellucci claims the record of oldest Bond girl (though she isn't in it very long) and Seydoux's Madeleine Swann, though sexy, gives Bond a run for his money every now and then.

Heavy on exposition, story and character development, Spectre takes Bond into its next chapter. There is a lot going on here and it's great. The action sequences come when they are ready and when they do they are worth waiting for. There's some surprises, nods to the other movies and feels like a follow on though this could stand in it's own right. This is a great movie and is up there with the best, but in my opinion its not quite as good as Skyfall or Casino Royale.   

SPECTRE is out now at all good cinemas.

POPSCORE: 8.5/10

What am I talking about? SPECTRE, the latest James Bond movie

Where can I find out more? http://www.007.com
If you liked this try: The James Bond movies Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace - basically the Daniel Craig era Bond, any of the Bourne series, Taken, Mission: Impossible series of movies 

Anything else?

The theme tune for this one is called The Writing's On The Wall and is performed by current pop star Sam Smith.  

SPECTRE is an acronym standing for Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. It is a fictional global terrorist organisation featured in the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming and prominent in the 1960s James Bond films.

REVIEW: The Fantastic Four (or Fant4stic)

Never has a film caused so much of a stir as Josh Trank’s “offering” Fantastic Four. Rocked by controversy and even Twitter updates from the director before release, this film had everything going against it. Stan Lee doesn’t cameo in it and even the trailers looked lack lustre. My blog, as you may have read, celebrates all things geeky, movies, music and more. I should have been excited for this, I should have been chomping at the bit just like I was for Avengers: Age of Ultron. But you know what? I was quite happy to pass it by.

However, I didn’t and watched the movie – and I’m sorely disappointed.

Josh Trank had a great run with the ever-so-popular Chronicle – so he knows how to make a good movie. Although Chronicle was a decent enough movie (not that I particularly thought it was the best myself), his credentials suggest he was capable of stepping up and making a mark with a superhero movie in the mainstream. I was excited at first, but then saw what he wanted to do. He changed the race of Johnny Storm and was starting to make other changes too. I questioned the casting – yes, Kate Mara is a very pretty girl – but was unsure of her Sue Storm. Aside from the whole Human Torch debate, Jamie Bell cast as Ben Grimm/The Thing was another issue for me. I have nothing against Jamie Bell as an actor – and he even hails from the same town as me - but I didn’t think he was the best choice for the role. Miles Teller – who puts in good performances in Divergent and Whiplash was cast as Mr Fantastic too – but again, he wouldn’t be my choice for Reed Richards. However, I have been wrong before – I wasn’t happy with the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond and Chris Evans as Captain America at the start – but they both were, and still are, excellent actors (and nice guys) and won me over because they are world class actors and made the role theirs. The key point here is that they convinced me that they were the characters that they played.

So onto Fantastic Four. The runtime is around 1 hour and 30 minutes and this is disconcerting for a reboot. I’m not sure how much stuff you can get into a movie that length – especially if it’s not an animation or kids movie. However what I experienced was that, yeah, you can’t get much into it.

Fantastic Four is a reboot of Marvel’s First Family and the truth is – it was my first exposure to Marvel and comics I had followed by Spiderman. I have a soft spot for them and I appreciated the previous movies even though they are generally described as bad. However, this movie takes us back to the days when they were not sure about superhero movies and not the awesome blockbusters we are used to now.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

The movie starts with a young Reed Richards in school saying he will do great things at the ridicule of others. Fast forward a few years later (7 actually) and he’s at a Science Fayre where he is selling his wares and inexplicably Franklyn Storm and his adopted daughter, Susan, give Richards a chance to make his idea a reality. Teaming up with Victor Von Doom (who is stereotypically goateed and grumpy) and Sue they set to work on his idea. Meanwhile Johnny Storm is doing a Fast & Furious racing and when he prangs his dad’s car he is kind of grounded and gets forced to work on the project by his dad with the others. After a montage of working lots and about 30 minutes of run time (or more) Ben Grimm gets a phone call to ask if he fancies popping by to have a go at this new device they reckon can get them to another dimension called Planet Zero. Ben, of course, thinks this is an awesome idea and turns up and off they go. Disaster ensues when they visit - they get some powers and leave Doom behind as they think he’s bought the farm. They return a bit injured and, we now at around 50 mins into the film they are tested upon by the government.

Right now we are nearly two thirds through the film and really nothing much has happened. The last 30 minutes is condensed into – oh Dooms alive let’s bring him home, I’m home now I want to go back, let’s go back and fight, the end.

END OF SPOILER

Considering the movie is 1 hour and 30 minutes and it takes nearly 2/3rds of that to get going, this is a massive opportunity wasted for Marvel’s First Family. The characters are bland and uninteresting – it’s as if the writer is thinking “we all know who they are …let’s just get on with it” and then hasn’t a clue what to do with them. Sue Storm spends most of the movie rapping computers and when she does get powers spends most of her time holding her breath and flying around in force bubbles. The Thing doesn’t even have blue eyes (another change which I was not happy about), is completely naked (for the love of Mike, why!?) and spends most of his Thing state begging Reed Richards to help him. Reed himself is a flimsy geek stereotype and not the strong leader we know and love in the comics – he even naffs off for some of the movie and leaves the others behind. No real role stands out except for Reg E. Cathey’s Franklyn Storm who has the deepest voice known to man and comes out with some nice thought provoking statements.

It’s hard to say what exactly went wrong with Fantastic Four without mentioning – well pretty much everything. The casting was suspect, the story makes no sense at all (complete with major plot holes) and the changes the director opted for just doesn’t work. It might have been a decent movie if it wasn’t the Fantastic Four and a bit more of an awareness with continuity and sense but as a Fantastic Four movie it’s just terrible. I’ve never seen such an awful adaption since 1996’s The Avengers (which was based on the 60’s spy series of the same name). The movie is confusing and slow and it’s a massive wasted opportunity. I would love to see what Marvel would do with this franchise if they had control of it – and I’m sure it would be awesome, but as it stands it’s really, really bad.

POPSCORE: 4/10

ARCHIVE: REVIEW: Iron Man 2

hey guys, I've always reviewed movies and here's an article I wrote a long time ago - and it was when Iron Man 2 came out. I really liked this movie, but here it is from the archives for your reading pleasure...

FILM: IRON MAN 2

Starting pretty much straight after the last one, after Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) announces that he is IRON MAN it seems that he is on cloud nine and is doing really well for himself. Starting a rather nifty Stark Expo that runs for a year and, according to Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), it will also drain the finances of Stark Industries.  It's a needless folly but the public like it. Meanest of whiles, an evil is brewing from all sides.  The army want the Iron Man suit to use as a weapon.  Stark's competition, Hammer Industries, want to develop similar suits but fail miserably.  And, a disgruntled son of Starks father's work colleague (Mickey Rourke) decides to have a crack at taking Iron Man down. For the lads, theres a rather nubile Natalie (Scarlett Johansson) working with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to try and convince Stark that there's a bigger game to play than the one he thinks he is involved in.

Tony Stark is finding that the power he gets from that thing in his chest (you can tell I'm very accurate here can't you?) is killing him, so a side part of the film is his quest to try to save his own life as well as that of others.  He also has some great lines - and on his birthday he dresses up in his Iron Man suit and answers the most question he gets asked from people - how do you go to the toilet in the suit?

Add a sprinkling of War Machine (Ironman's colleague) and a rocking soundtrack from AC/DC I think you get very much a good bang for your buck. Robert Downey Jr is one of may favourite actors and his portrayal of Tony Stark is spot on - he's a bit arrogant but a bit witty but has his heart in the right place. Scarlett Johansson plays a really sexy part in the film and can kick ass as no one else can, and the remaining characters help the story along.

There is always that problem of the difficult second movie.  But retaining the original cast, moving on from what was developed in the first film and the immediately likeable Tony Stark - this film is fantastic and I'm sure there will be another sequel. There have been a lot of questionable Marvel films out - but this is totally in line with X-men and Spiderman blockbuster standard.

Brilliant movie, if you like action or comic book movies it's a must see.

POPSCORE:  9/10

Oh and as an addition - I really think you should sit through the credits... they may be a surprise at the end... ;-)

BYTE: Awesome August

It's Awesome August... Hello!

In a month full of sunshine, comic-cons and festivals, here we are nearly at the end of August. Really, I should have written something by now but I do have a demanding full time job I'm doing in between watching all these movies (I have to pay for it somehow! ;-) )so I'm sorry for the late updated.

However lots has been happening in August - including recent movie releases. Although blockbuster season is upon us, a number of movies that have been advertised and released this month have failed miserably to set the stage alight.  Pixels was released to some soggy fireworks and an amazing yet scathing review (parental advisory if you click the link - lots of cursing!) of it too. Not only that the worst superhero movie in recent memory Fantastic Four was also released. Riddled with problems from the outset the final product was terrible too - and I'm saying that! You know how much I love my superhero movies.

There's still some movies to look forward to going forward including Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December and SPECTRE, the new James Bond in the Autumn too. Other movies that recently have come out that you may or may not fancy to see include - The Man From U.N.C.L.E, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and computer game based action/thriller Hitman: Agent 47. Sinister 2 hits movie screens too if you like your horror sequels.

Let's get to the computers - a new release from Rare had me reaching for my wallet - 30 of their classic games for the Xbox One - starting way back in the 80's to present day. Starting off in the early 80's with the games I grew up with on my ZX Spectrum, Rare Replay starts with Atic Attack and JetPac. Going through the decades via Battletoads and Killer Instinct in the 1990's to more recent 2000 hits like Viva Pinata and Perfect Dark Zero - I found this game pack to be very good value indeed. I purchased the limited edition version with the T-Shirt and, when I get time to play, I'll do a full review for you.

Star Wars will be the theme for  the next exciting installment of Disney Infinity 3.0 and will be available in the autumn too. It's definitely on my to buy list - and there will be more as I get it.

Sheffield Film and Comic Con was this month - and I'll give you a review soon enough as I attended it!   I introduced two of my friends to their first comic-con and they both enjoyed it too. Guests included Michael Biehn (from Terminator and Aliens), horror legend Robert Englund and Darth Vader himself David Prowse. Also there were legendary wrestlers "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase.  It wasn't as busy as other conventions I've been to but it was still excellent.

Looking at the latest stuff as well:

>   Xbox Live:  Games with Gold this month includes the full games of Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light and How To Survive Storm Warning Edition on XBOX 360 and for the posh 'uns who have XBOX ONE you are treated to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes to download free if you are a subscriber.

>  PSN: PS Plus this month is as follows:

PS4 has:

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris

Limbo

Sound Shapes

Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones

PS3 gets:

CastleStorm

God of War: Ascension

Sound Shapes

Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones

Vita receives:

CastleStorm

Sound Shapes

Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones

Of course usual rules apply in that if you stop your subscription those games'll stop workin'.

As always we have Loot Crate and Nerd Block (this months has actually been excellent as I've received it now) unboxings to look forward to...

...AND Marvel Collector Corps in August is based on Secret Wars! Apparently it's been dispatched! 

It's time to go now but - have an Awesome August and I'll see you soon.

Keep being awesome!

Until next time

Paul

REVIEW: Terminator: Genisys (12A)

Terminator movies have been gradually churned out over the years since the first one back in 1984 when James Cameron took a risk with some unknown actor called Arnold Schwarzenegger and a lead character combo of Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn. Fast forward a few decades later and we have the latest instalment of the popular franchise.

Many Terminator movies feature wars, Terminators and the ongoing travails of John Connor and his mum Sarah. Although iconic now, Terminator was a massive risk for the relatively unknown actors at the time – and even now, the memorable lines like “I’ll Be Back” and “Come with me if you want to live” resound in popular culture and make the original an instant classic. But where do you go from the following movies? Terminator 2: Judgement Day was a massive smash and was awesome (in my opinion) and made the Terminator a permanent fixture on a lot of peoples top ten movies of all time.

They tried to mix it up a bit with Terminator 3 with a stunningly beautiful girl as the cyborg killer. More recently, Christian Bale took up the standard bearing in Terminator: Salvation which was lacklustre at best – and had no Arnie (kind of). However that movie pretty much wrapped everything up. So where do you go from here?

Well, Genisys is the latest incarnation of Terminator and what do you do when the last movie pretty much completed the cycle? You – kind of remake the first one. Already on dodgy ground, Genisys starts in the future and sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back in time to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) from The Terminator (Arnie). John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the resistance against Skynet is our only hope against the machines. Making a plan to protect his mother he sends volunteer Kyle Reese back to 1984 where Genysis attempts to reboot Terminator by making the same movie again. This time the amazing chemistry of Hamilton and Biehn is replaced by the awkwardness of Courtney and Clarke. Sarah Connor is no longer the petrified waitress but a hot, sassy kick-ass chick attitude with and Reese spends most of the movie being taken aback by her and trying to figure out what the hell’s going on. The movie also features “Pops” (the original Terminator character played again by Arnold Schwarzenegger) who apparently actually visited Sarah Connor when she was young and has become part of her family as a guardian and surrogate parent.

Seeing original 1984 The Terminator at the cinema only weeks before on a one off special showing, I had the original still fresh in my mind. It follows the original quite closely for a time, albeit with different actors and slightly different consequences – when old Arnie fights young Arnie for example, is on of the best parts of the movie and is inspired. As the movie goes on, it continues to develop the story and brings it in a different direction and rushes to a conclusion. Lots of homage’s to the original 1984 movie, some hat tips to T2 and 3, and none regarding Terminator: Salvation.

This film has tried to bring Terminator to the new audience, but although by no means bad, this movie, I felt, could have been a lot better. There is no taking away that Emilia Clarke is a stunning looking lady, but her sassy Sarah Connor never fit right with me at all and her chemistry with the rather lacklustre performance of Jai Courtney had me pining for Hamilton and Biehn.

The special effects are fantastic and the highlights include Arnie as the Terminator and the fact it’s a twist on the original movie. However, the movie, although enjoyable, was not as good as it could be, and this means that they will have another challenge if Terminator 6 is going to be made. Overall though, it’s not bad, but could be better. For those of you who heard that Dr Who’s Matt Smith was going to to be featured in this movie – well he is – but don’t expect much screen time. It did make me smile however that he is credited as Matthew Smith. Guess he gets his Sunday name on this one.

POPSCORE: 7/10

What am I talking about? Terminator: Genisys

Where can I find out more? http://www.terminatormovie.com/home#

If you like this try: Terminator (previous movies especially the first one), Robocop (especially the first one), Aliens

Anything else?

James Cameron officially endorsed this film and considers it the official third film in the franchise.

The body of young Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie is not actually Arnie but actor and body-builder Brett Azar who was playing the original Terminator. Arnie's face was computer edited on him later.

REVIEW: Ant-Man (12A)

Ant-Man (don't forget the hyphen) is out at cinemas now and is the latest offering from the House of Ideas. Starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang and the inheritor of Hank Pym's (Michael Douglas) suit, Ant-Man is the latest Avenger to have a stand alone movie. Rocked by director fall outs and trouble from the outset - plus living in the shadow of the most recent Avenger's movie - can it live up to expectations... and is it any good?

Ant-Man starts with a nod to the 80's where an aged Peggy Carter and Howard Stark are trying to reach a deal with a younger Hank Pym over his Ant-Man technology - but the plan doesn't go too well. Although the sequence is just a bunch of people in a room - the special effects are subtle but brilliant. Michael Douglas is de-aged to look younger, while the ever pretty Hayley Atwell is computer generated to look older. We then fast forward to present day - a brawl in a prison where Scott Lang (Rudd) is serving time for burglary (not robbery because that implies violence - he's a cat-burglar). He gets released on the a same day and goes back home in an attempt to connect back with his estranged daughter Cassie, who views him as a hero.

Lang gets back to his friends apartment as he needs a place to crash, and by a friend through a friend through a friend (which is done in a comedic fashion) he learns that an old bloke has left his house empty and there's something of value in the safe. Working out that he needs money to get a place so he can see his daughter, Lang reluctantly takes on the job. After a really clever break, in all he finds is "a motorbike suit and a helmet". They escape without incident and Lang decides he's taking the suit anyway and goes back to the apartment.

Lang gets curious over this suit as it is not your run of the mill bike suit so, like all of us would, he tries it on... but for some reason stands in the bath tub. As he fiddles around he finds it shrinks him to the tiniest size and becomes Ant-Man. While small and negotiating a running bath tub, nightclub and falling out of a window, Hank Pym's voice in his helmet explains to him that the place he broke into was the Pym residence and he let him take the suit. He then recruits Scott Lang to take over the mantle of Ant-Man and take on the might of the disillusioned Darren Cross and the YellowJacket suit - built for war and to be able to take on the myth that was Ant-Man.

There's an array of great cast members all working together on this movie - Atwell is in it only at the beginning (again in a flashback) but Evangeline Lilly plays a great Hope Van Dyne - Pym's daughter. The movie is slightly comedic and funnier than the previous Marvel ones and I think they took a risk with this one. There are a lot of people reviewing this movie and hammering it - but to be honest I found this movie quite good. No, it's not anywhere as near as the Iron Man or Avengers movies, not even Captain America. But it's infinitely better than the Marvel's of old - Fantastic Four and Spiderman. I really enjoyed this - though I had my reservations about Rudd as Lang and that Ant-Man would be in a stand alone movie.

The special effects are used in a different way - instead of seeing BIG - which we all know Marvel can do with ease and panache - it's all about the small. Ant-Man controlling ants as allies, clever moments like fighting inside a briefcase or a toy train track are both inspired and funny in a strange way.

I think this movie needed to be made regardless of whether it was good or not because it's needed to take the overall story of the MCU forward. The incorporation of these characters and in particular the tech (suit, Pym particles, etc) will help set up Phase Three. I erroneously stated in my Age of Ultron review that AoU was the end of Phase 2 - but it isn't - this movie is. If you stay to the end of the credits you will know why.

Overall this movie was good. Funny moments, a different perspective and sets up the next phase nicely. Yes it could have been better - but it will do. Roll on next year for Captain America. If you still  want your Marvel fix though, Fantastic Four - or Fant4stic will be out around 8th August.
 

Ant-Man is out now in all good cinemas.

UPDATE: I have been to the cinema to see this a second time in 3D - nothing to write home about but still good fun to watch a second time around.

 

POPSCORE: 8/10

What am I talking about? Ant-man movie
Where can I find out more? http://marvel.com/antman

If you like this try: Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015), Iron Man trilogy

Anything else?
This is actually the end of "Phase 2" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or MCU. Definitely. I'm right this time.
One of Lang's friends goes undercover as a security guard. He says "Can I whistle?" and Lang comes back with, "No, don't whistle." He does so when he's undercover and whistles the tune "It's a Small World After All."
The movie was originally due to be directed by Edgar Wright, but he left and it's now directed by Peyton Reed.
Thomas The Tank Engine and Baskin' Robbins are featured in this movie.
There IS a sequence a few minutes into the credit sequence so don't leave as soon as the credit roll - and there's an even BETTER bit at the end.
Apparently, Ant-man WILL return...