PACFIC RIM - REVIEW

PACFIC RIM - REVIEW

Giant Monsters taking on Giant Robots in this visually spectacular epic, which looks to entertain with a solid big adventure yet it underwhelms with the characters and the story.

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes - a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) - who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

Pacific Rim will dazzle with its impressive Special Effects, as it is real easy on the eyes. The scope of the film is impressive as the Jaegers and Kaiju battle it out on both land and sea.

Del Toro’s mastery is at work during all these scenes taking extra care in every action scene, giving us a real sense of these monsters and robots physicality and destruction.

As we watch the story unfold its clear to see that Pacific Rim does have some brains to it, however it doesn’t offer any surprises. It’s really a straightforward narrative, which gives us what we expect and doesn’t leave room for more.

Some of the characters really suffer under the weight of the Robots vs. Monster battles, as you never get invested to them. Charlie Hunnam who plays Raleigh, leads this film yet is character is pretty one-dimensional. While Hunnam plays the character pretty well, audiences would come out of film without remembering his character’s name.

Rinko plays Mako, a character that was much more interesting, as she is someone who is afraid, yet has to overcome that fear every time she steps into the Jaeger.

The real stand out characters in this film would be Idris Elba as Pentecost, Charlie Day as Dr. Geiszler and Ron Perlman as Hannibal Chau, a badass black marketer. When Perlman comes on screen his aurora, charisma and charm breaks through the screen instantly, as he takes the screen in his stride in what’s sure to be another memorable role for Perlman.

While the story and characters could certainly be improved the film really is about the war between the Jaegers and Kajiu, which is simply splendidly wonderful.

The film a sense of wonder and amazement, it offers us an excitement ride as we watch Robots obliterate these monsters trying to take over the world. But could it have been a little better? The simple answer would be yes.

My Rating

6.5/10

GROWN UPS 2 - REVIEW

GROWN UPS 2 - REVIEW

Grown Ups 2 is the first sequel that Adam Sandler has ever done.

The first film was surprisingly mediocre for all the comedic talent that was on show, however this time around Grown Ups 2 shows us exactly why Adam Sandler has never done a sequel as this film makes the first film look good.

The plot of the story is really non-existent, inconsequential and just plain bad. There really isn’t a real thought to this putrid madness instead the film is really just setup to showcase random CG gags that isn’t quite amusing or funny.

One major problem I had with the first film, was that the film was written by Adam Sandler (which is a problem for all his recent films), thus we never got any sense of Chris Rock, Kevin James or David Spade in the story or the comedy, they weren’t given room to breath and really put themselves into the story.

I was hoping that this time around we would get a better sense of these guys, alas Sandler shows us he never learns and instead we get juvenile putridness.

The film does offer some laughs though, but you will be surprised at just how far and few between the laughs really are. You know the film is in trouble when the funniest person in it is Taylor Lautner when that said film stars Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Kevin James and David Spade.

The film relegates all wit for deer piss, literally, as the film manages to throw in every story arc from every 90’s family comedy film, trying to grasp at some sense of a story. Nothing is well developed and if there is some movement in the story line we get some random gag that has nothing to do with the story.

Without a clear vision for the story, it would seem they tried to through as many half ass jokes in there to distract the audience from the non existent story.

While the film does have some laughs it’s not as entertaining as it should have been, considering the amount of comedians and celebrity cameos thrown in for good measure.

Grown Ups 2 certainly is proof that Adam Sandler as lost touch with his comedic side and while audiences keep showing up for his drivel it would seem that we will never get another good Adam Sandler comedy for while.

My Rating

3/10

THE WOLVERINE – REVIEW

THE WOLVERINE – REVIEW

After the dismal Wolverine Origins and the brilliant X-Men: First Class film, this Solo X-Man film, The Wolverine, wasn’t as highly anticipated. My expectation for this film wasn’t too high either, and yet when I left the cinema, I knew that The Wolverine is really something special.

The film takes place a couple of years after Last Stand, as we find Logan, in the beginning of the story, as a broken, lost, tormented soul, who has retired from his superhero ways, having given up on being the Wolverine.

Hugh Jackman as Logan

His then transported to Japan to meet a man he once saved in WWII, but soon finds himself embroiled in a deadly plot of betrayal and greed, which sees him lose his immortality and face his inner demons.

With so many comic book films being released, so many of them being these larger then life stories with huge action scenes that’s filled with magic and futuristic weaponry, The Wolverine really distinguishes itself as character driven story.

The film certainly delves into the pain and misery of this immortal who is burden by his long life that’s filled with grief. It’s a real introspective view on the Wolverine, who at his core is this lonely haunted soul that craves death, but is cursed with immortality.

With the film set in Japan, it really takes its audience and the characters on this remarkable journey in this foreign land.  The locations that where chosen for each scene is so different then last and yet so picturesque that it brings a certain level of tranquility to its audience.

The film certainly is influenced by its setting in Japan as the story really borrows from Japanese sensibilities when it comes to storytelling. It shifts seamlessly from big action and fight scenes to the quieter moments where we get to see and understand his in ambitions.   

Svetlana Khodchenkova as Viper

That’s not to say that the film is one big philosophical view on the Wolverine, as its not. The bullet train scene is certainly the highlight of the film, as the trailers really don’t do it any justice. Hugh Jackman’s fight scene with Japanese Legend, Hiroyuki Sanada is a beautifully choreographed memorable battle.

The film has very intricate action scenes, yet the film really is a drama, a character piece that sheds itself of the label comic book or superhero film. It delivers in terms action, character work and story. The film offers the big spectacular action but balances it out with the emotion.

With no other major mutants forcing their way on screen, Hugh Jackman once again brought his A-Game to the role, only this time he managed to change the tone of the character, giving us a different side to the hero.

As the film goes to great length to show us Logan’s torment, Jackman has more to play with, adding a different nuance to his performance, as this will certainly mark his best Wolverine performance to date.

Another major plus for this film certainly as to be with its supporting cast, which includes Rila Fukushima and Tao Okamoto who play Yukio and Mariko Yashida respectively.

Both these lovely ladies are making there film debuts with The Wolverine, which is quite remarkable as Rila and Tao both play there characters so well that you would be gob smacked to think that this is the first time these girls have starred in a film both in America and Japan.

Rila Fukushima as Yukio with Logan

Rila is certainly something else as Yukio, as the character has been changed quite a bit from her comic book counterpart, but I can say without a doubt fans will love this version of the character so much more. Rila certainly brings a different energy to the film, with her energy, enthusiasm, idiosyncrasies and just plain bad-assness. So much so that when the character establishes herself as Wolverine’s bodyguard, it will instantly induce a smile but all the while you will know she has the skill to back it up.

Hiroyuki Sanada plays Shingen Yashida the father of Mariko and one of the many antagonists of the story. Hiroyuki plays the role with such a cool bravado its easy to see why his so loved in Japan.

The Wolverine certainly is one of the finest superhero films to come out recently, and for the first time we really get to see that superhero films can be big action, fun films, but at the same time they can be good character driven stories that’s filled with drama, intensity and intrigue.

My Rating

9/10

PS. There’s a little post credit scene that teases X-Men: Days of Future Past!