Insidious (2011)

Insidious (2011)

I've always been a bit of a sucker for scary films and still maintain that the scariest one ever is Poltergeist! As much as I don't think that a film will ever become close to that in my rank of scary films, I always hope!

After seeing trailers for Insidious, I knew I had to see this film. After finally getting some friends to actually see this film, we ended up at a showing in Harlow (classy I know!).

I'd not heard of any of the actors in it, although Juliet did recognise one, and for me this did show in the acting skills. For me, it just seems a bit amatuerish.

In short the story is about a kid that for unknown reasons falls into a deep coma for months on end. The mother starts seeing ghosts, they move house, she sees the ghosts still and ends up calling in some comical style ghost busters.

The main things that made this a good film for me were the many occasions when you were scared out your skin. The film on most occasions does give you a few moments where you can get over the shock, but a couple of times doesn't give you that reat and that only makes you worse!

I enjoyed the films "Ghostbusters". 2 guys, played by Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson, who play a comical I'm more important that you and a constant trying to outdo each other. This does add a very small amount of comedy into the film and is very subtle and not obvious. This small bit of comedy was welcomed though.

The biggest let down for me in this film was (highlight text below as spoilers):

 - I wasn't sure if the main baddie in the game trying to possess the main characters son, Dalton Lambert (played by Ty Simpkins), was the devil or not. There is a lot of similarities to the devil, but it isn't clear

 - I didn't like that the main baddie didn't look all that scary when actually shown. As a silouette, or a drawing, he looked proper evil. But when shown properly, he looked like a bad Darth Maul.

 - The 'twist' at the end where the main character, Josh Lambert (played by Patrick Wilson), is possessed by the ghost that haunted him as a kid. The film ends with his wife, Renai Lambert (played by Rose Byrne), screaming as she realises the father is now possessed.

Well, I'd recommend this film if you fancy a bit of brainless scare! It is enjoyable!!

I'd give this film 2.5/5.


PS - look out for Jigsaw!

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 21st May 2011

I was looking forward to this film... although I didn't think much of Part 3 in the franchise and wondered if the absence of Bloom and Knightley would leave a noticeable gap. I have to say that after a while you forgot they weren't even there.

Depp was always enough to be the centre of attention and he pulls it off effortlessly. Although it's nice to see the familiar face of Rush for the fans.

Cruz was an interesting casting choice and I found her character to be amusing enough although to be fair, the part could have easily played by any Hollywood actress. I wouldn't be particularly upset if she didn't reprise her role.

Clafin is a new face as a cleryman, who disrobes as the film goes on if you require a bit of Man Candy too!

McShane was a stand out role for me... You honestly believed he was Blackbeard. His on screen presence was noticeable and the only character able to divert your attention was Jack Sparrow himself.

SPOILER

If anything I was disappointed that his character died so he won't be able to return for any future films

We saw the 2D version of this film and it's clear which parts were designed to be in 3D. It didn't distract too much but after a while became glaringly obvious and started to irritate me.

I have to say that this is probably my favourite of all 4 films and you probably wouldn't even have to have seen any of the others to enjoy it. It's pure Pirate fun without any of the restrictions of tying up the loose ends of the last instalment.

I would happily see this again and give it:

Priest - 9th May 2011

SPOLIERS

Well I have to say that I had high hopes for this film. I'd seen the trailer ages ago and thought that the story looked quite interesting and a different take on a vampire film.

Well, not long into the film I realised just how disappointed I was with it.

There is an interesting storyline, there has been an age old war between humans and vampires (who are more animistic in looks and nature than the typical vampire). Humans managed to get the upper hand in this war by creating the Priests. 6 warriors who managed to kill of most of the vampires and put the remaining vamps into camps.

5 remaining priests have now been integrated into society, albeit outcasts.

Now, one of the priests brother has been killed by some vamps and he wants revenge.

The following story is quite predictable. They go looking for some vamps, they find a human (ex priest) that is now half vamp and is like an uber vamp now. Anyway, they all somehow manage to survive things that would kill even super super humans and they all survive...but the queen vamp is still out there!!

I can't express how disappointed I was with the story and the way that the vamps were portrayed as more animal than humans that liked to suck blood, etc etc.

I did like the way that religion was incorporated into the weaponry and the way that the church was portrayed.

I'd suggest waiting for the DVD. My score - 2/5.

Source Code (2011)

SPOILERS BELOW

Had been looking forward to Source Code since seeing it covered on Film 2011 and was pleased to see it had finally been released.

Went to the cinema with an understanding of what the film was about and that is that mankind have found a way of reliving the last 8 minutes of a persons life. Jake Gyllenhaal then has to relive a persons life over and over until he can find out who blew up a train and has a dirty bomb planned to go off in down town Chicage.

There are some interesting twists in the storyline and, although confined to a small 'pod', you get a lot of background story on Jake's character. It's this background that helped the film for me. It made me care about Jake's character and I ended up feeling for the guy and was pleased when the ending came. Pleased in a good way of course.

There are some pretty predictable moment, and I wasn't so chuffed at the end when the person I pointed out in the first 5 minutes actually ended up being the bomber!

This isn't a film where you can just go and watch it mindlessly. You'll need to think about this film. 

Make the effort though, it's a good film!

Chris's score:

Sucker Punch (2011)

SPOILER WARNING

Well, what can I say about Sucker Punch. Well, it's certainly different, that's for sure.

It's basically a story about a girl who is taken to work in a whore-house, and who's dance transports her to an alternate reality where she, and her other friends are 'superheroes', if you like....well, at least that's what I thought.

I can't lie and say the acting is first class. Babydoll (or Baby Dyke, as we like to call her), is the star of the show. It is her sexy dance that hypnotises the owner of the whore-house/hospital (confusing, yes I know).

I must admit, however, that the special effects are quite good in the fantasy scenes. The way the girls plan to escape, and how they go about trying to do so, is quite clever - despite it going tits-up.

The film starts off with an introduction to Babydoll, and how her step-dad was abusive to her sister. In an attempt to save her, she nearly kills her step-dad. She runs away, but ends up being caught and taken to a hospital where her step-dad pays for a labotomy so that Babydoll cannot tell anyone what really happened.

The film portrays her subconscious mind, and her attempts at escaping in to her own little world.

Aside from the slightly comical moments, the sparse action scenes, and a few shock moments, I didn't really feel the film had a lot to offer if I'm honest. It is a bit disappointing when you realise that none of it actually happened. It's a bit of a disappointing ending for myself personally.