Zombieland: Words To Live By

Zombieland is a comedy horror film directed by Ruben Fleischer. The film revolves around a rag tag group of survivors in a zombie apocalypse as they try and find something to live for. Little do they know that they have already found a reason to be, in one another.

So, this is one of my favourite comedy horror films of all time, I have seen it a countless number of times and no matter how matter how much watch it, it remains excellent. This was the perfect storm of comedy, heart and peak Jessie Eisenberg.

My one complaint about it would be that it is not a horror film, it is classified as horror comedy, but it leans into the latter far more than the former. It is in no way scary.

Each one of the characters in this film seems so perfectly cast and brought to the screen and the interplay they have with one another is simply magical. The relationship between Eisenberg’s character and Emma Stone’s character is so believable and sweet that you would have to have a heart as cold as ice not to feel anything about it. The same can be said for any number of other character relationships in the film.

Columbus’s (Eisenberg) rules for surviving “Zombieland” are all terrific and will make you laugh, there is also a kernel of good wisdom in there if you look close enough. However, the real standout comedy moment of the film has to be the Bill Murray cameo, which is simply superb.

Overall, this was the perfect storm, lightning in a bottle. A once in a generation comedy horror film that everyone should see. I like to pretend the sequel never happened.

Pros.

The chemistry

All of the actors are on perfect form

The heart

The comedy

Bill freaking Murray

Cons.

It is not a horror film

5/5

Reviewed by Luke

A Private War: Horrors Need To Be Seen

A Private War is a biography drama film directed by Matthew Heineman. The film recounts the last years of celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin’s life, as she becomes consumed by the need to be on the front line and show the horrors of war, a need that leads to her death. It is a true story.

Before, we get into this I just want to say that this film is unrepentantly bleak, you will leave this film feeling sad and possibly angry, but that proves why you need to see it. The issues raised herein are very real and are still happening right now, human evil is alive and flourishing.

This is a very powerful film that has a lot to say, it show us how these journalists are risking their lives to show us the truth about wars all around the world. It shows us the horrific human cost of war, which often has thousands of innocent victims.

Rosamund Pike is giving the performance of her career as Marie, she plays the character as a woman possessed, she desperately needs to leave the war correspondent lifestyle behind, but crucially she can’t. Pike is one of the finest character actors currently working and this film hammers that point home.

Overall, not a film that will make you feel happy and not one that everyone will enjoy, but a very impactful film with a many valid points. I recommend it.

Pros.

It is upfront and doesn’t shy away from the truth

Rosamund Pike

It is very affecting; it will haunt you for a while after you watch it.

Shines a light on someone you might not know much about.

Cons.

It is a very hard watch.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

End Of Days: Arnie Died For Our Sins

End Of Days is a fantasy action film directed by Peter Hyams. The plot sees muscles for hire Jericho (Arnold Schwarzenegger), become wrapped up trying to stop Armageddon. Jericho must protect a young girl, Christine (Robin Tunney), from turning into the reincarnated wife of Satan (Gabriel Byrne). His mission is to stop Satan consummating the union before the stroke of midnight of new years eve thereby brining about the end times and save Christine from her diabolical destiny.

So there is something almost therapeutic about watching Arnie beat the crap out of the Devil. This film does not really require much attention to watch and is a great passive viewing experience. It is dumb and the more you think about it the dumber it gets, but that is part of the fun here.

The film manages to be genuinely quite tense and scary when it wants to be. It uses Lucifer’s powers to get effect creating some chilling scenes. I also enjoyed the powerless feeling Schwarzenegger’s character had for most of the movie, it is interesting to see him play a character who can’t just punch or explode his problems away; though he does in the end.

Byrne is a lot of fun as the Prince Of Darkness, he plays the character with a lot of wicked menace but is also not afraid to crack a cool one liner every now and again, so that this film is not a completely dower affair. I also enjoyed watching his character interact with Schwarzenegger and I thought the two had great on-screen chemistry.

Overall, a great action horror thriller, there aren’t many of these types of films that work, but this one does to great effect.

Pros.

Byrne as the Devil

Schwarzenegger’s powerlessness

The tension and the horror

A few cool one liners

Cons.

The ending undoes the helplessness and Arnie just blows everyone up.

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Sex Tape: The Clapp Would Be Preferable

Sex Tape is a romantic comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan. The plot follows a couple whose sex life has become quite stale, so in an effort to spice things up they decide to make a sex tape. In what might be the most cliché and uninspired twist of all time, the tape makes its way to the cloud and the couple have to race around town to try and get their family and friends to not look at the video.

So I genuinely believe this film is why Cameron Diaz quietly retired from acting, it is just embarrassing for all involved.

So firstly it is not funny in any way, it is the safest, studio friendly comedy that I have seen in a long time. It is almost afraid to say anything of note or to tell an edgy joke, it is just bland. A lot of the jokes not only fall short, but make you cringe.

Secondly, Both Diaz and Jason Segal, who plays her on-screen husband, don’t seem like they want to be there, and they have as much chemistry as a cat and a dog. I could honestly believe it if someone told me they were forced into it. Though there is no nudity in this film, there is a strange amount of almost or close nudity from Diaz, the reason I mention this is because it is odd isn’t it that her character has these little bits, but Segal’s character never does. It feels very one sided, this is not just a problem with this film, but with the medium in general.

Overall, this is creepy trash that even a cameo from Jack Black can’t save it.

Pros.

The Jack Black cameo

Cons.

The unequal semi nudity

It is too safe

It is cringey

It is dull

1/5

Reviewed by Luke

The To Do list: Exploring Your Body

The To Do List is a romantic comedy film directed by Maggie Carey. The plot sees Brandy (Aubrey Plaza), make a to do list before she goes off to college, the twist however is that the items on the list are sexual in nature as Brandy is quite inexperienced, so she sets out to change that.

This has been in my Netflix queue for quite some time and I finally watched it, and I have to say I am glad I did. I ended up enjoying it way more than I thought I would, and it is easily one of the best films I have seen recently.

I thought the sex positive message of the film was very good and very enlightening for teenage viewers. The idea that sex is a natural thing and nothing to be ashamed off is something that is not said often enough, especially for Women. It is nice to see a new wave of media with a sex positive female focus, other example of my point would be Book Smart, Blockers and Fleabag.

I also thought the film was hilarious and it often had me laughing. I thought Clark Gregg as the overprotective, uncomfortable with sex father was the standout in this regard, his character often had me in stiches, and he paired with Connie Britton’s sex positive mum worked wonders.

Overall, a hilariously good, funny film that I highly recommend everyone watch.

Pros.

Clarke Gregg

Aubrey Plaza

Bill Hader

It has a very good message

It is hilarious

The cameos

Cons.

None

5/5

Beauty And The Beast: The Definition Of Stockholm Syndrome

Beauty and the Beast is an animated family film directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. The plot sees social outcast Belle (Paige O’ Hara), becomes the prisoner of a Prince (Robby Benson) who was turned into a beast after insulting a witch. As things appear sinister Belle realises that The Beast is not as monstrous as he first appeared, and they end up falling in love; it is a tale as old as time.

So before I get into it, I want to say yes I know the premise is troublesome, it is a textbook case of Stockholm Syndrome and the message of the film sucks hard, but hey it is a Disney animated film so what else is new.

This was not one of the Disney animated films I grew up on, I think I might have seen it once before, so when I watched it the other night it was almost like the first time and I have to say message aside it is a fairly okay family film. This is not in top tier Disney animated films at least not to me.

I thought the songs where okay, some better than other admittedly. They were catchy enough and they got in my head, but I didn’t remember them much once the film ended. I liked Belle and thought she was an interesting character it is just a shame that she is side lined once the Beast is introduced to the narrative. Her and the Beast have a form of chemistry on screen that is believable, thought I wouldn’t call it romantic.

Overall, one of the meh tier Disney animated films, maybe if I had grown up on it I would have felt differently, but as it stands it just seems quite bland with a seedy undertone the more I think about it.

Pros.

The animation is beautiful

Some of the songs are good

Cons.

Some of the songs are bad

The message and the premise are troublesome

Belle is a good character but doesn’t get to shine

2.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Out Of The Shadows, Casey Jones, A Hero Emerges

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Out Of The Shadows is an action superhero film directed by Dave Green. The plot this time around sees the grotesque looking CGI brothers taking on other worldly entities and normal baddies who have been turned into animal super soldiers.

So I enjoyed this film more even than the first film. I think it has a few glaring issues the CGI chief among them but is on the whole a step up from the first film.

I enjoyed that the creepy overly sexual Mikey (Noel Fisher), did not make a return and I thought that the foursome felt better and more natural on screen in this film. Two things that bugged me about the Turtles and their storyline is one, the subplot about wanting to fit in and be human, which felt like the most obvious generic sequel plot line ever. Two, the Brothers have weapons but we never see them use them in any real way, yes I know it is a kids film so we are not going to get blood and gore, but at the same time they don’t even seem to fight with them rather their hands most of the time; that irked me.

I like Stephen Amell as Casey Jones, I think he is perfectly cast and is the best thing about this movie; also Casey is my favourite character from the cartoon. The human plot is okay, not really much different from the first film. Megan Fox is overly sexualised every chance they get, and Will Arnett is there, being funny? Killing time? I don’t know at this point.

I like that this film have Shredder (Brian Tee) and more active role where we got to see him interact with other characters rather than just appearing having a few lines and then disappearing. I also liked that they went with Beep Bop and Rocksteady, with Krang as the main villain. I enjoyed that they embraced the weirdness.

Overall, a solid sequel that works for the most part. There are a few issues that need to be ironed out if they ever hope to make a third film though, however.

Pros.

Going with Krang as the Villain

More Shredder

Making Mikey less of a sex pest

Casey Jones/ Stephen Amell

Cons.

The weapon thing bugged me

Why is Will Arnett in this film?

Also they were creepy and overly sexual with Megan Fox

3.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Wonder Woman: The Shining Light Of The DCEU

Wonder Woman is a superhero film directed by Patty Jenkins. The plot centres of Amazonian warrior Diana (Gal Gadot), who becomes entangled with a WW1 plot and who finds out that she is a demigod. There is a lot going on, but hey it’s a superhero film.

Before I get into this review I just want to say that this film is probably my favourite DCEU film to date, closely followed by Shazam, and I believe it achieves a lot of what Captain Marvel was going for in terms of female empowerment, but is often short changed in favour of the inferior MCU film.

Gadot really did prove all of the haters wrong, she perfectly embodied the character on screen and became almost synonymous with the role. Diana as a character is easy to root for and is very down to earth and likeable despite not being mortal.

The colour pallet of this film and the use of humour really help this film to set itself apart from the wider DCEU and establish it as something with its own identity. I really think this film nails how to use comedy in a superhero film it has several funny sequences including the penis scene early on with Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), which made me laugh, but hey I also laughed at the “what are those” line in Black Panther. The humour also doesn’t take away from the badass action, as is the problem with the MCU a lot of the time.

Yes, I know I can’t talk about the film without addressing the final CGI boss fight that does let the film down and ends it on some what of a sour note, it is a shame, but the rest of the film more than make up for it.

Overall probably the best DCEU film.

Pros.

The comedy

Diana and Steve

Gal Gadot

The Action

The WW1 setting

Cons.

The final fight

5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Iron Man 3: The MCU’s First Slip Up

Iron Man 3 is a superhero action film directed by Shane Black. The plot sees Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), suffer with the consequences of being Iron Man. It is a very human story. The you have some nonsense with serums and old enemies seeking out Stark. However, at its heart it is a story about Tony finding a new place in the world and coping with it.

This review may be controversial.

So, this film had a big task to accomplish it had to follow Iron Man 1 and 2 (which I enjoyed), and also serve to end the Iron Man trilogy, that is a tall order by any means. I applaud Shane Black for making this a more stripped back story, focusing on Tony as a human being rather than a superhero. Having him have to use his mind to get himself out of trouble rather than this armour or his Superhero pals. As a character study piece it gets thumbs up from me, however, this is not a character study film this is a superhero film.

It is in that regard that I think this film falls apart. The promise of Ben Kingsley as the famous Iron Man villain the Mandarin was a tantalising one indeed, so when they revealed that the he wasn’t the actual Mandarin and was actually an actor it was more than a little disappointing. The real villain of the film was a one note baddy whose name I can’t even remember, the subversion didn’t work and was later undone in further material.

Overall an ambitious film in a lot of ways, it succeeds as a character study it fails as a superhero film.

Pros.

Making Tony Stark human.

Not including other Avengers (outside of Rhodey)

Giving Pepper something to do

Cons.

The twist doesn’t work

It adds nothing to the MCU as a whole and ends up feeling quite inconsequential

2.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

The Rental: The World’s Worse Air BNB: Imitation Is Not The Finest Form Of Flattery

The Rental is a horror thriller film directed by Dave Franco. The premise seems two couples head to a rental house for the weekend, once they get there they notice that it is the Air BnB from Hell and things quickly escalate.

Now, I had mixed feelings on this one. I thought for what it was trying to achieve and for a first-time directional effort it was good, but in a lot of other ways It was critically let down.

I thought the actual story itself was well done and well executed, it was tense and it used that tension well throughout. What I didn’t like however, was how blatant it was in its homage. This film feels like Franco is trying to make a Hitchcock film, there are several sections that seem directly inspired, I didn’t enjoy that. Mimicking the classics does not make your film a classic.

The characters are also a mixed bag. On the one hand you have Alison Brie as Michelle, the nice person of the group, she is likable and should really be the hero of the story; however she is unceremoniously killed off. The other 3 main characters are differing degrees of bad people and their unpleasant actions make it very hard to sympathise with them.

One more thing that bugged me about this film was the weird racism subplot from the start of the film. It plays into character motivations eventually and gets better over time, but at the start of the film it did not fit at all and felt forced and clunky. Trying too hard to be relevant.

Pros.

A solid first effort

Uses tension well

Alison Brie

Cons.

It feels like a poor imitation of one of Hitchcock’s lesser works

The racism subplot at the start of the film does not feel natural

3/5

Reviewed by Luke