Film Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

       Whilst long time fans of the Turtles legacy – be it the animated series of the late 80s/early 90s or the original 1990 live-action movie - will likely balk reflexively at the sheer mention of Michael Bay’s involvement (he produces here rather than directs), the truth of the matter is that this new film version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesisn’t quite the train-wreck one may have expected it to have been.

       Granted it isn’t a great film either – just a thoroughly average one.

       The background to the story is hastily summed up in the opening moments  (assuming familiarity on behalf of the audience) and yet there have been some considerable changes in this version. The turtles themselves are hulking and grotesque - which isn’t necessarily a bad thing - and their scarred, brutish bodies are more realistic (as far as the concept a mutated walking and talking turtle goes) and are also physically differentiated from each other in stature rather than just by their colours and personality.

       The CG is well realised and looks surprisingly good in motion, especially commendable considering that much of the latter half of the film is presented in broad daylight rather than choosing the obvious (and easier) option of perpetually obscuring their forms in shadow. The encounters with arch villain The Shredder (a cross between Bay’s Megatron and a Swiss Army knife) are fun - though short lived - and the exhilarating downhill truck sequence ends up being the film’s highlight.

       These are undeniably 'Teenage Mutant Turtles', however those expecting their fill of Ninjutsu will be sorely disappointed. Aside the aforementioned encounters with The Shredder, there is a distinct lack of martial arts; a big factor contributing to this is the result of the Foot Clan being just a bunch of mercenaries with guns. It’s dull and unimaginative – much like the overarching plot, which ends up with the villain’s master plan being eerily similar to that of the risible 2012 reboot of The Amazing Spider-Man.

       Megan Fox (as April O’Neil) takes centre stage in the first third of the movie with a crazed desperation (she’s not a terrible actress, just unimpressive), the mere casting of William Fichtner results in a huge ‘villain’ signpost appearing above his head as soon as he appears onscreen, Whoopi Goldberg phones it in, and voice-work from Johnny Knoxville barely registers. Only Will Arnett regularly receives laughs as affable cameraman Fenwick and it’s a blessing that he gets more screen time as the film goes on.

       All in all, this new iteration of the popular Turtlesfranchise is not a total disaster, certainly not to the point where fanboys need rage on about it (as predicted when the project was first announced); it’s just not that great of a film either. Although thuddingly unimaginative in parts, a plethora of Turtles references and a handful of fun sequences make this just about watchable.

16th October 2014

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Scottish Films Triple Bill

 

            So, I watched three Scottish films the other day.

            Despite being there on my ‘to watch’ list, I hadn’t really planned doing this ahead of time, so it turned out to be an interesting afternoon.

          Although quite different, all three films were all enjoyable in their own way and featured some interesting coincidences: two instances of Martin Compston playing a hard man (but let’s face it face it, when does he not), two instances of Kate Dickie getting nude (then again when does she not), two instances of Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ (uh, really?), and all 3 films featuring full frontal male nudity (okay, this is getting strange now…).

            So grab an Irn-Bru and some shortbread an’ let’s dife reit in! (sorry.)

            First up we have Andrea Arnold’s Red Road (2006), about a CCTV operator Jackie (Kate Dickie), who starts to spy on a man from her past (Tony Curran) who has recently resurfaced on the notoriously rough Red Road estate in Glasgow. Who he is to her and why she becomes obsessed with him is gradually revealed as the film goes on, leading to many a tense moment.

            Aside from the wonderfully naturalistic performances from all involved, the film excels in two areas. The first is the creepily effective sense of voyeurism felt as we observe a lot of CCTV footage, often from Jackie’s point of view. Glipses of the silent everyday minutiae of people going about their daily lives - as well as following the activities of certain people she has grown fond of watching: the man with the sick dog and the cleaning lady suffering unrequited love, for example. There are so many stories just barely hinted at as we find ourselves peering down from an eye in the sky.

            The other interesting aspect of the film for me was the air of mystery that hangs over the whole thing. You think the story is going one way, but then it unexpectedly goes another. Character motivations and actions are not always what they seem and shouldn't be judged by first appearances, both by we the viewers, but also for the other characters in the film. Information is gradually revealed as the story unfolds, shedding new light on our preconceptions. Oh, and keep an eye out for animal symbolism as further hints to the current portrayal of the characters.

            The depiction of the Red Road estate is suitably grim and depressing, and the themes of loss and obsession that hang heavily over the whole affair may not be appealling to some (there is one particularly heart-wrenching scene involving baby clothes), but it’s worth watching once, although it may be less impactful on repeat viewings.

            The second film watched was the recent adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel Filth(2013), which was a pretty wild ride all the way through. Drinking, drug abuse, sex, violence, extortion, corruption – and that's just what the policeman protagonist gets up to! James McAvoy gamely embodies the ambitious yet wholly out of control detective Bruce Robertson in possibly his best role yet.

            There’s a darkly humorous streak running all the way through (not to mention many a shocking moment), which makes it all the more effective once the tone shifts into much more serious territory as the walls start to crumble all around Robertson. There’s a great ensemble cast (Jamie Bell does a decent Scottish accent and Eddie Marsan is on fine form once again) and the ‘mystery’ element surrounding Robertson is decent despite being a tad obviously telegraphed from the beginning. Some of the more psychedelic elements ended up being overused (the squealing jump scares involving prosthetics seemed unnecessary and Jim Broadbent’s giant foreheaded Shrink says ‘Yeeees’ one too many times can become grating) but on the whole it’s an engaging look at one man’s decent into madness.

            The most interesting aspect for me was how the film very much starts from Robertson’s point of view (and how he perceives himself to be), but gradually shifts towards showing us how things really are. All in all, it’s worth seeing this on the strength of McAvoy’s performance alone.

            The final film in this triple bill is the arty sci-fi flick Under the Skin (2013), which stars Scarlett Johansson as an alien who drives around Scotland in a white van seducing men in order to kidnap them. It sounds ridiculous - and it kind of is. The delivery though is slow, steady and at times very minimalist.

            Some of random people she encounters whilst driving around were actually real members of the public (secretly filmed via hidden camera), which leads to some authentic moments, despite the fact that she is, you know, a famous Hollywood film star! I wonder how many times people recognized her and they had to scrap the footage? Anyhow, the film is weirdly understated – some may get feel bored quickly at the occasionally ponderous scenes of Scarjo staring blankly at something, but the music is excellently creepy and the once again if you take into account that it’s all an alien’s curious view of human life, the strangeness of it all makes sense.

            The strongest parts are the post abduction sequences, which are dreamlike and hypnotic, showing the kidnapped males gradually walking forward oblivious into a black liquid. The final sequence is also impressive, but there is not enough in between these moments to be able to recommend this to absolutely everyone. Oh, and Scarlett Johansson gets naked in this. Hey wait? Where are you going?

            So that was my Scottish Triple Bill. I would say they are all weird and wonderful in their own ways whilst also sharing some striking similarities. As of which one I would recommend – it depends what you are in the mood for. The most mainstream would be Filth, a more gritty independent film would be RedRoad, and for a more esoteric and dreamlike experience choose Under The Skin.

            Sae tak’ yer pick mah hen laddies an’ lassies! Ok, I’ll stop now…

31st September

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Film Review: The Guest

      Following on from his inventive home invasion horror flick You’re Next, Adam Wingard’s following feature, The Guest, is a slightly more restrained yet surprisingly enjoyable thriller.

      Dan Stevens (in flawless all-American mode) stars at David, a mysterious military man who arrives at the home of a grieving family, claiming to have previously served with their K.I.A. son. Invited to stay with them and gradually ingratiating himself into their lives, it’s soon revealed that something is not quite right and, as bodies start to accumulate around town, a more sinister truth emerges.

      From the title font to the synth-laden score and soundtrack, it is clear we are in 80s inspired territory. Hints of influences such as The Hitcher, The Stepfather and The Terminator (as well as a hefty dose of John Carpenter) permeate throughout the film, and yet although it starts out straight enough, we soon are made aware of just how much The Guest’s tongue is set firmly in its cheek.

      Although at times predictable and even downright bordering on the ridiculous, the irreverence, dark streak of humour and the sheer self-awareness in its delivery throughout, all set The Guest a mile above what its (at first) seemingly standard set-up for a thriller might suggest. It doesn't take itself too seriously, the plot revelations aren’t overly explained and the pacing is excellent – but most of all: its just plain old fun.

      The film’s secret weapon is, of course, Dan Stevens (best known for his role in the hit TV series Downton Abbey) whose presence here is so magnetic that he wins over the audience just as easily as he does with the various characters that cross David’s path during the film. Managing to straddle the divide between hero and villain so effortlessly and radiating pure charisma – it’s worth watching this for Steven’s performance alone - a star-making turn if there ever was one.

      Elsewhere, character actors such as Leland Orser and Joel David Moore pop up to great effect, but it’s also Maika Monroe that stands out from the rest of the decent cast of relative unknowns - a delight as we see her slowly evolve from bratty teenager to ersatz Final Girl.

       Perhaps the most unexpected treat of the year so far, The Guest offers much more than its simple premise, coupled with perhaps one of the most effective soundtracks of the year. Entertaining enough for the casual cinemagoer, but for fans of the 80s horror/thriller genre this is nigh on unmissable.

13th September 2014

 

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Double Dose of Lucy

This week on Double Dose we have a have Lucy,starring Scarlett Johansson and directed by Luc Besson.

You can check out the (spoiler free) written review by clicking HERE. It’s also up on PillowMagazine.comand can be read HERE.

We also have Episode 17 of The Padcast, which you can listen to below. Paddy and myself review and discuss the film in a bit more depth, so be warned that there may be the occasional mild SPOILER.

You can also download an .mp3 of the episode HERE.

If you’ve enjoyed it please show your support: LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE!

29th August 2014

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Film Review: Lucy

      There are two main draws for this movie. One: the return to form of Luc Besson, director of such acclaimed films as Leon and The Fifth Element. Two: a leading role for Scarlett Johansson - one full of gunplay, superpowers and general ass-kickery that flirts with being the nearest thing we are going to get to a 'Black Widow' movie.


      Unfortunately, Lucy is neither of these things. Instead we get a hodgepodge retread of some of Besson’s previous artistic flair that occasionally threatens to thrill, but more often than not takes a back seat to extended sequences of philosophical sci-fi noodling.

      The plot, which concerns a drug that increases the brain’s functionality (from the supposed usual mere 10 percent all the way up to its full functionality), is admittedly largely pseudo science and a tad barmy, but not necessarily a bad starting point for a fun action movie. Where Lucy fails however, is in its insistence on taking the concept rather too seriously and coming off all the more of a damp squib because of it. It’s less of a Limitless and more of a Transcendence.

      Scarlett Johansson is perhaps the film’s greatest asset. Despite being relegated to acting stony faced and delivering monotone for much of the second half, she gets to show good range earlier on, particularly during the tense sequences of the first 20 minutes (arguably the best moments of the film). Contrary to what the marketing hype would have you believe, however, there isn’t all that much action involving her – increasingly so as the film goes on.

      Choi Min-sik is terrific as a quietly threatening Korean mobster, but feels utterly wasted beyond the film’s initial scenes, Morgan Freeman barely registers in a typecast role he has played countless times before, and Amr Waked unintentionally yet accurately conveys his almost pointless presence throughout. Elsewhere, the over abundance of intercut stock footage, extended CG sequences that signify changes happening inside her body, and the all-powerful nature of Lucy’s myriad abilities (which means there is almost no sense of threat from her pursuers toward the climax of the movie), all just serve to dull the viewing experience.

      There are occasional flashes of Besson’s brilliance, and yet most of theses are rehashes of his past efforts: the tense standoffs and realistic crime drama (Leon), the beautiful female killer (La Femme Nikita), the reaisation that said female has a bigger role to play in the universe (The Fifth Element), the frantic car chase through the streets of Paris (Taxi - which Besson wrote an produced) – none of which quiet gel together cohesively here. Much like the appearance of a CG dinosaur, they seem to be included here just because Besson could.

      There are some other intriguing moments: the aforementioned opening scenes with mobsters in a hotel that continually cranks up the tension, and a scene involving a phone call home mid-surgery - but these are few and far in between. Although the ultimate trajectory with which Besson aims for with the initial concept is a surprisingly ambitious one, it doesn’t quite work so well in this chosen method of delivery.

      The result: Lucy is a thoroughly average experience that will leave those expecting a fun action romp scratching their heads, particularly come the finale.

 27th August 2014

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Instagram update - 1000 Followers!

     Hey everyone! I recently passed the 1000 Followers mark on my Instagram account, so I thought I would give a general update in regards to my LEGO photography journey.

      This article will also serve as to highlight certain people that have featured me and given me props along the way.

      Firstly though, a quick shout out to these people:

@bricksbydaisy            @g_e_n_y_a_            @isakrundereim 

@lego_pete            @legostorybr            @leon.deakin

@mylegocy            @nenelego            @raddingtonfalls

@theshortnews            @vera_senyuta            @virtueofficial

 

      I don't really do shouts or features on my Instagram account itself (I just like to keep it as a simple showcase/gallery), so I will use this opportunity here to big-up those particular wonderful people who have supported me from really early on (back before I had many followers), and who continue to do so even now.
      You will find links to each of their accounts by clicking on their name above or below – please check them out!

          @bricksbydaisy                 @g_e_n_y_a_                  @isakrundereim

               @lego_pete                     @legostorybr                     @leon.deakin

 

               @mylegocy                             @nenelego                       @raddingtonfalls

 

          @theshortnews                      @vera_senyuta                      @virtueofficial

     Okay, now an update on what's been going on.
     
     To get a bit of context, have a look at my previous article 10 Steps to Becoming Insta-famous, that outlines my motivation, method for attracting followers and other general Instagram Do’s and Dont’s that have served me well. For an even wider context, check out all my other LEGO articles (collected together) HERE.

      So has anything changed since then? Well since the time of writing that article (roughly 3 weeks ago) I have gained around 500 followers. Not included in that number, are around 20 followers who have followed me only to subsequently unfollow me (all ‘randomers’ and not actually people I know in real life), who I suspect only followed me to get a follow back. It’s all good – just part of the game. As outlined in the earlier article I will only follow others that post consistently (in terms of subject matter and quality – read my previous article for more on this).

      As well as the regular organic methods of growth, a few successes here and there have helped boost my profile (also on my Twitter and Tumblr accounts).

      Here are a few of them:

      Having bought some custom printed tiles from minifigs.me, I used them in my photography, namely these two:

      I also thought it would be good to tag the shop when I posted the pics on twitter as a way of saying ‘thank you’ and giving them a shout-out (they are a small business that have a great passion for LEGO), and was surprised to get this tweet back:

      So basically I said 'sure, why not', and here is the result:

     Pretty neat, huh? You can view the actual store page HERE.

     As it did big me up and also had a direct link to my Instagram in there, I gained a bunch of new followers on both my Instagram and Twitter. It was around then that I started up my Tumblr account too, as another way of showcasing all my photos (but in a higher resolution). Since all my social media accounts link back in to each other (and this blog) it all helped increase exposure across the board.

      Later on, this idea of using the LEGO dice as a TV grew quite popular and was featured front and centre in a minifigs.me promo piece on brickfanatics.co.uk – a popular LEGO blog that I often browse.

      You can check out the actual feature HERE. As this also had a direct link to my Instagram, it lead to some more great exposure for me. I think the TV idea was very popular and lead to some ‘inspirations’ for others doing a similar sort of thing on their Instagram accounts.

      Some, like isakrundereim, were super polite and asked permission before (not that he really needed to) and then tagged me after. He’s super cool – check out his awesome MOC here:

      Others, didn't credit or give me a shout out at all (so I wont give him any free advertising here). Such as:

      There were one or two others too, but I forgot to screenshot them at the time. Oh well – it’s still flattering I guess.

      Another really cool moment is when one of my favourite bands Chromeobigged-up one of my photos (based on the cover of their recent hit album White Women). You can see the photo and the original pic below:

       After retweeting me (which was cool enough as it is) they eventually reposted the picture on their own Instagram account, and the number of likes that got was ridiculous!

       Since then I’ve also been a featured photographer on brickcentral:

      Three separate occasions of having my work featured on the super-popular Lego-minifigures Tumblr:

      Some random guy on Instagram replicating my sigfig as a homage (along with those of some other popular Lego Instagrammers he admired):

      And even strangers tagging me in their random stuff.

      It may sound like all of this is bragging, but in truth it’s all very flattering and I am grateful for everyone that has bigged-me up and my work along the way! I really appreciate all of it!

      Of course , for some ideas like my ‘300 followers’ celebration pic:

      I’ve seen variations of this since then such as:

      But in hindsight the idea is kind of obvious so it would be silly to assume they copied me. Others, such as my ‘500’ followers celebration:

      ...has been done by someone else too, but I reckon this one was just sheer coincidence. (Plus mine’s a bit better – haha!)

      You do also get the odd person stealing your work and reposting it without crediting you (and then blocking you when you try and talk to them! - scumbags!) but I guess you are always going to get a few of those...

      Finally, before I go, shouts also go out to these guys, as they have also all been super supportive! Thank you!

@Asuka18Matilda,

@brickcentral

@brickdreams

@bricking_it

@fbouckley

@just_annie

@kpeerthy

@lego_bengee27

@legoahlic

@llego123

@sadlegomike

@scottakoz

@ycp28

     Anyway, that's about it for now. See you next time!


     You can check out my other LEGO related articles by clicking HERE.

20th August 2014

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