Cinderella
Over the last few years, Disney have been revisiting their back-catalogue and adapting their animated classics into live action remakes. Alice In Wonderland (2009) got the ball rolling and more recently we've seen the Sleeping Beauty (1959) related film, Maleficent (2014) and a new take on Beauty In The Beast is in the works with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. However, this latest take on Cinderella (originally released by Disney in 1950) doesn't so much revamp or darken what was pre-established, rather it gives more depth.
Over the last few years, Disney have been revisiting their back-catalogue and adapting their animated classics into live action remakes. Alice In Wonderland (2009) got the ball rolling and more recently we've seen the Sleeping Beauty (1959) related film, Maleficent (2014) and a new take on Beauty In The Beast is in the works with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. However, this latest take on Cinderella (originally released by Disney in 1950) doesn't so much revamp or darken what was pre-established, rather it gives more depth.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film has an air of prestige about it, with
some acclaimed names in Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi and Cate Blanchett, who completely steals the show as the wicked step-mother. As Cinderella, Lily James is a pretty fit even if her character's timidity undermines a sense of presence whilst Richard Manning is suitably handsome and noble-looking but doesn't bring anything new to the Prince Charming stakes. By no means does this film tarnish the legacy of the animated classic, but at heart, it's little more than a curious and slightly pleasing add-on. ***
some acclaimed names in Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi and Cate Blanchett, who completely steals the show as the wicked step-mother. As Cinderella, Lily James is a pretty fit even if her character's timidity undermines a sense of presence whilst Richard Manning is suitably handsome and noble-looking but doesn't bring anything new to the Prince Charming stakes. By no means does this film tarnish the legacy of the animated classic, but at heart, it's little more than a curious and slightly pleasing add-on. ***
Face Of An Angel
The latest film by Michael Winterbottom sees him delve into a mystery with Daniel Brühl as a film-maker, looking to make a movie about a high-profile and ongoing murder case which he starts to investigate himself. Given the lead and the director, it sounds promising; with Winterbottom tipping his hat to the giallo films of 70's Italy but the moments of surrealism add nothing but confusion and the comparisons to the famous Amanda Knox murder case are gratingly obvious. Given the addition of a pretentious script that runs way too long, this is a sorely disappointing mystery. Also features Kate Beckinsale and Cara Delevigne. **
The latest film by Michael Winterbottom sees him delve into a mystery with Daniel Brühl as a film-maker, looking to make a movie about a high-profile and ongoing murder case which he starts to investigate himself. Given the lead and the director, it sounds promising; with Winterbottom tipping his hat to the giallo films of 70's Italy but the moments of surrealism add nothing but confusion and the comparisons to the famous Amanda Knox murder case are gratingly obvious. Given the addition of a pretentious script that runs way too long, this is a sorely disappointing mystery. Also features Kate Beckinsale and Cara Delevigne. **
Get Hard
Will Ferrell plays a wealthy businessman sentenced to a ten-year sentence for embezzlement in Get Hard, whilst Kevin Hart plays a car-washer hired by Ferrell to train him for prison life under the belief that Hart is an ex-con. Will Ferrell is a talented comedic actor with a rather patchy history but with some great work whilst Kevin Hart, much like Melissa McCarthy is a talented actor who can be funny but is often given very poor material. Get Hard isn't a total loss as the film does seem to be looking towards some good ideas with a potentially likeable premise. It's just a shame that it feels the need to scupper satire and originality in favour of a few jokes that teeter dangerously towards racism and particularly homophobia. Not cringe-worthy throughout, but boy does it have its moments. Also features Craig T. Nelson and Ferrell's Lego Movie (2014) co-star Alison Brie. **
Will Ferrell plays a wealthy businessman sentenced to a ten-year sentence for embezzlement in Get Hard, whilst Kevin Hart plays a car-washer hired by Ferrell to train him for prison life under the belief that Hart is an ex-con. Will Ferrell is a talented comedic actor with a rather patchy history but with some great work whilst Kevin Hart, much like Melissa McCarthy is a talented actor who can be funny but is often given very poor material. Get Hard isn't a total loss as the film does seem to be looking towards some good ideas with a potentially likeable premise. It's just a shame that it feels the need to scupper satire and originality in favour of a few jokes that teeter dangerously towards racism and particularly homophobia. Not cringe-worthy throughout, but boy does it have its moments. Also features Craig T. Nelson and Ferrell's Lego Movie (2014) co-star Alison Brie. **
Home
The latest release from Dreamworks has Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons starring as Oh, a loveable but clumsy alien whose race has (benevolently) invaded Earth. Being banished from his own kind, Oh teams up with a young human girl, Tip (Rihanna) on this animated family adventure. Home seems to have no ambition for greatness or rising above any number of recent computer animated movies, and definitely makes too much of a show of its cast members (Parsons' Oh being rather clueless about human behaviour mirrors his most famous role as insufferable scientist Dr. Sheldon Cooper in a few ways, meanwhile songs from Rihanna and co-star Jennifer Lopez are crowbarred into the soundtrack). However, the performances are all very pleasing and whilst the film plays it safe, it's at least comforting. Not ground-breaking but enjoyable enough. Also features Steve Martin. ***
The latest release from Dreamworks has Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons starring as Oh, a loveable but clumsy alien whose race has (benevolently) invaded Earth. Being banished from his own kind, Oh teams up with a young human girl, Tip (Rihanna) on this animated family adventure. Home seems to have no ambition for greatness or rising above any number of recent computer animated movies, and definitely makes too much of a show of its cast members (Parsons' Oh being rather clueless about human behaviour mirrors his most famous role as insufferable scientist Dr. Sheldon Cooper in a few ways, meanwhile songs from Rihanna and co-star Jennifer Lopez are crowbarred into the soundtrack). However, the performances are all very pleasing and whilst the film plays it safe, it's at least comforting. Not ground-breaking but enjoyable enough. Also features Steve Martin. ***
Insurgent
The second of a projected four films based on Veronica Roth's Divergent series of novels, Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is a "Divergent" on the run from the authorities in a rigid Orwellian society. Most decidedly not for those who haven't seen or read Divergent (2014), Insurgent falls flat next to its derivative but fairly well-executed predecessor. A number of decent actors are the film's strongest asset (it's clear Kate Winslet and Shailene Woodley are trying really hard) but the whole thing is just a mess that only shows how ridiculous the over-hanging plot really is. Also includes Theo James, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Naomi Watts, Zoe Kravitz, Jai Courtney and Daniel Dae Kim. **
The second of a projected four films based on Veronica Roth's Divergent series of novels, Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is a "Divergent" on the run from the authorities in a rigid Orwellian society. Most decidedly not for those who haven't seen or read Divergent (2014), Insurgent falls flat next to its derivative but fairly well-executed predecessor. A number of decent actors are the film's strongest asset (it's clear Kate Winslet and Shailene Woodley are trying really hard) but the whole thing is just a mess that only shows how ridiculous the over-hanging plot really is. Also includes Theo James, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Naomi Watts, Zoe Kravitz, Jai Courtney and Daniel Dae Kim. **
Seventh Son
Though some may expect (or at least dream) that Seventh Son is The Big Lebowski (1998) channeled through J.R.R Tolkein, it is in fact a rather ordinary and not partiuclarly memorable fantasy adventure film starring Ben Barnes as the titular "seventh son", whose psychic powers are key to defeating an evil witch played by Julianne Moore. Jeff Bridges plays Barnes's knightly mentor but is mis-cast despite Hollywood's current insistence that this is now Bridges' niche rather than the laid-back hippie-ish cool guy of Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (or, really just Bridges himself). The film widely side-steps most of the ludicracies that haunt other films of its ilk, but it's still completely forgettable, for better or worse. Also features Kit Harington, Alicia Vikander and Olivia Williams. ***
Though some may expect (or at least dream) that Seventh Son is The Big Lebowski (1998) channeled through J.R.R Tolkein, it is in fact a rather ordinary and not partiuclarly memorable fantasy adventure film starring Ben Barnes as the titular "seventh son", whose psychic powers are key to defeating an evil witch played by Julianne Moore. Jeff Bridges plays Barnes's knightly mentor but is mis-cast despite Hollywood's current insistence that this is now Bridges' niche rather than the laid-back hippie-ish cool guy of Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (or, really just Bridges himself). The film widely side-steps most of the ludicracies that haunt other films of its ilk, but it's still completely forgettable, for better or worse. Also features Kit Harington, Alicia Vikander and Olivia Williams. ***
Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge Out Of Water
The second feature film for everybody's favourite underwater sponge, Spongebob Squarepants (Tom Kenny), this time Spongebob and pals must go to the surface to solve the mystery of what has happened to the secret formula used to make the beloved "Krabby Patty" beef burgers. Whilst this is the central plot point, the film casually saunters into it and the pacing is resultantly flawed. Those who like the Spongebob sense of humour will probably be tickled by this, but it's nothing special, even with Antonio Banderas hamming it up as an honest-to-goodness pirate. ***
The second feature film for everybody's favourite underwater sponge, Spongebob Squarepants (Tom Kenny), this time Spongebob and pals must go to the surface to solve the mystery of what has happened to the secret formula used to make the beloved "Krabby Patty" beef burgers. Whilst this is the central plot point, the film casually saunters into it and the pacing is resultantly flawed. Those who like the Spongebob sense of humour will probably be tickled by this, but it's nothing special, even with Antonio Banderas hamming it up as an honest-to-goodness pirate. ***
The Tale Of Princess Kaguya
From Studio Ghibli and director Isao Takahata (Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)), The Tale Of Princess Kaguya is a minimalistic but beautiful fairy tale about a girl found in a bamboo stalk who is raised to be a princess. Like a lot of Ghibli's best films, the plot isn't rigidly structured and it's more of an exploration of the character and those who associate Ghibli exclusively with the lush art style and feel-good fantasy of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki may be surpised at the film's more esoteric style and moments of bitter-sweet and even tragic melancholy, but the film rewards the daring with something really rather beautiful. The English language dub features the voice cast of Chloe Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Darren Criss, Lucy Liu, James Marsden, Oliver Platt, Daniel Dae Kim, Dean Cain and Beau Bridges. **** (Hot Ticket)
From Studio Ghibli and director Isao Takahata (Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)), The Tale Of Princess Kaguya is a minimalistic but beautiful fairy tale about a girl found in a bamboo stalk who is raised to be a princess. Like a lot of Ghibli's best films, the plot isn't rigidly structured and it's more of an exploration of the character and those who associate Ghibli exclusively with the lush art style and feel-good fantasy of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki may be surpised at the film's more esoteric style and moments of bitter-sweet and even tragic melancholy, but the film rewards the daring with something really rather beautiful. The English language dub features the voice cast of Chloe Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Darren Criss, Lucy Liu, James Marsden, Oliver Platt, Daniel Dae Kim, Dean Cain and Beau Bridges. **** (Hot Ticket)
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