tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19682120342877084272024-02-19T06:45:24.109-08:00I Blog, Therefore I Am - James BlanchardAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-42418589170059846312013-05-04T07:04:00.002-07:002013-05-04T07:04:52.301-07:00Doctor Who - Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS: Review<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The episode Whovians have waited years for</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> TARDIS</span> is, perhaps, the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">place least explored in the <i>D<span style="font-size: xx-small;">octor Who</span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> universe. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">But this week, Stephen T<span style="font-size: xx-small;">hompson was <span style="font-size: xx-small;">given the task of taking us into the belly of the the Doctor's wonderful ship. Does he <span style="font-size: xx-small;">make for a convincing tour guide? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I <span style="font-size: xx-small;">think it's fair to say that there wasn't a single Whovian in the land who wasn't looking forward to this ep<span style="font-size: xx-small;">isode, however Thompson's last script, <i>The Curse of the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Back Spot</span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, wasn't very well received. However, <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>JttCotT </i>is sever<span style="font-size: xx-small;">al steps ahead<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> of that story, making for a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">n entertaining and engaging <span style="font-size: xx-small;">story. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The story <span style="font-size: xx-small;">uses the ideas of time travel and infinity to good effect; whilst we don't see many new roo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ms of the T<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ARDI<span style="font-size: xx-small;">S</span> (except one, which I imagine raised the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">collective</span> eyebrows </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> of the entire nat<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ion at once<span style="font-size: xx-small;">)<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, it certainly succe<span style="font-size: xx-small;">eds at making the ship feel big. Corridors twist and change, architecture never stays still and director Matt K<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ing makes each corr<span style="font-size: xx-small;">idor feel individual. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Matt Smith<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'s and Jenn<span style="font-size: xx-small;">a Lousie-Coleman's performances are suberb (come on, what did yo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">u think I was going to say?) The two are definitely at their best during a confrontational scene, where <span style="font-size: xx-small;">the two really send sparks flying off each other. Murray<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Gold's music keeps the pacing nicely fluid, and the script is litter<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ed with nice little references to the past (and we got to see t<span style="font-size: xx-small;">he Eye of Harmony properly for once! Result!). </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The dialo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">gue is perfectly fine <span style="font-size: xx-small;">throughout (although I don't think it's going to win any awards<span style="font-size: xx-small;">). The monsters of the story, the 'Time Zombies' themselves are pretty creepy and add an extra layer of threat to the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">story. The ending wraps <span style="font-size: xx-small;">up everything nicely, even if it is a bit of cheap cop-out. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">However, there are problems. The acting of the Van Baalan Brothers is 'unconvincing' at best and poor at reasonable, and their</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> development seems to come to a grand total of nothing. And I can't help but feel like the explanation to the Time Zombies was a little disappointing; it's not a bad explanation, but it isn't what it was advertised to be. It also seems to lack the rewatch-factor - I really couldn't motivate myself more the three times. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall, <i>Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS</i> is good, but I'm not sure it <span style="font-size: xx-small;">deserves the place which <i>Doctor Who</i> lore will afford it. It's definitely enjoyab<span style="font-size: xx-small;">le, but<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, in my opinion, nothing massively special.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">8/10</span> </span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-68145553308758527482013-04-25T09:18:00.002-07:002013-04-25T09:18:32.935-07:00Doctor Who - Hide: Review<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hiding behind the sofa, or is it just horrific?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The infamous cliché of 'hiding-behind-the-sofa' is one what that <i>Doctor Who</i>, for the most part, embraces. Many a story has set out with the express intention of scaring the kiddy-winks, but this week, it's <i>Hide</i>, Neil Cross's second outing into the series after <i>The Rings of Akhaten</i>. So does it achieve it's aim?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JWEvmaCJIeVyF5du7ARkZrKTr31a07BpEr1pOmLCeALxo_cgENcXuZ0ARsaWNThs2QAdSXIl6p2oj2b6sfKtvk_00ki7-tjFM6Y3NHlYCVRJ4Tysi2VrtH_Eb9whnWDmsnadZiHQVP9X/s1600/hide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JWEvmaCJIeVyF5du7ARkZrKTr31a07BpEr1pOmLCeALxo_cgENcXuZ0ARsaWNThs2QAdSXIl6p2oj2b6sfKtvk_00ki7-tjFM6Y3NHlYCVRJ4Tysi2VrtH_Eb9whnWDmsnadZiHQVP9X/s400/hide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Hide </i>is a haunted house story, but not one which abandons it's Sci-Fi roots. Shaggy and Scoob-, sorry, the Doctor and Clara arrive at the haunted house in the hope of doing some ghostbusting, teaming up with a professor (Dougray Scott) and a psychic (Jessica Raine). The story makes good use of its setting, with some nice references to the 1970s time period, and making the house feel very large and unnerving. Director Jamie Payne pulls off an absolute stunner with every shot, making even innocent shadows seem like a potential monster. What's more, the story does venture outside of the house a surprising amount, but Payne keeps everything together beautifully. Helping along is the acting, which is very solid, with a special mention to Matt Smith (as usual) and Dougray Scott, whose interactions are truly magnificent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">But is <i>Hide </i>scary? Yes. The main (or at least, original) focus of the story is on 'The Witch of the Well', a ghost constantly trapped in a moment of fear. The pictures of the Witch are very unnerving, ful lof warps and distortions.It's human, but not quite right (the thing which I maintain always made the Cybermen scary). But there is another monster, the 'Crooked Man', who is perhaps a more traditional monster. Everyone involved in the production realises that a monster is scarier when you can't really see it, so its sections are full of fast cuts and whatever the opposite of slo-mo is. This episode certainly has atmosphere.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9fZcibzMex8eGvFYZqEKwJT2J4qVwWfnAt1nYOWhJ3aIJIp3EYl328Z0Ob9OiFTnxekD7z0jm8G9n5cJ9EosBjb5zNRAYn_jbcVPQSc8kOhvkoCUHOjI4tNK0lqHvZC2JP7sVvJlGFuO/s1600/hide+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9fZcibzMex8eGvFYZqEKwJT2J4qVwWfnAt1nYOWhJ3aIJIp3EYl328Z0Ob9OiFTnxekD7z0jm8G9n5cJ9EosBjb5zNRAYn_jbcVPQSc8kOhvkoCUHOjI4tNK0lqHvZC2JP7sVvJlGFuO/s400/hide+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The characterisation is pretty strong throughout the episode. There's a romantic sub-plot between the Professor and the Psychic, which is mostly believable, (although the apparent age gap occasionally gives pause for thought). Clara does feel a little to 'fresh', acting in places like she's never seen anything like this before, despite the fact she's no longer a new companion. I can forgive this though, as it was one of the earliest episodes to be filmed and JLC (as she will now be referred to) does do another very good job. The dialogue is generally pretty good, although it does sometimes lean towards to generic 'exchanging quips' setup. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">However, towards the end the story does fall down. And the ending itself makes no sense; without wishing to spoil it, the whole thing completely negates the horror of the story. What's more, there's another character, who is vital to the plot, but get's maybe three lines of dialogue. Then, to add more superfluous rubbish to superfluous rubbish, she is revealed to be the Great X7 Granddaughter of the Professor and Psychic! Why? What's the point? It's not adding anything - it's just busy work! Perhaps this a pattern with Neil Cross's work - <i>The Rings of Akhaten </i>was full to the brim with unnecessary additions that only made a mess.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiEyeOiqaYOreYPZGG_uQAETUeU839dNgbb1pEXj50Ri-rc70AygkmA9-53RBQMt6i70p_RfrnrqBIenmDYxwZRC1WxEMX2BNSJYWiw5ZDpAQeDTEaOCMNm1PVSri85TB10zk2sw8U8N8/s1600/doctor-who-hide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiEyeOiqaYOreYPZGG_uQAETUeU839dNgbb1pEXj50Ri-rc70AygkmA9-53RBQMt6i70p_RfrnrqBIenmDYxwZRC1WxEMX2BNSJYWiw5ZDpAQeDTEaOCMNm1PVSri85TB10zk2sw8U8N8/s400/doctor-who-hide2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Taking the last five minutes out <span style="font-size: xx-small;">of the equation, though, <i>Hide</i> is brilliant, accel<span style="font-size: xx-small;">erating to the spot of being my favourite story of 2013 so far and my <span style="font-size: xx-small;">third favourite episode of Series 7 so far (only just losing out to <i>A Town Called Mercy </i>and <i>The Snowmen</i>)<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. It's scary<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> and atmospheric, so what more could you want from a haunted house story? But it gives more - it gives character, and charm, and fun. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall, <i>Hide</i> is great. Get<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ting past the rather irr<span style="font-size: xx-small;">itating ending (wh<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ich, after a couple of re-watche<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s, I found easy to forgive) this <span style="font-size: xx-small;">story is a great example of why <i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Doctor Who</span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ha<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s earned it's scary reputation. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">9/10</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-86670732008148615892013-04-24T01:22:00.000-07:002013-04-24T01:23:20.300-07:00Oblivion: Review<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can Tom Cruise be taken seriously?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The trailer to this film promised both huge, expansive, and undeniably beautiful visuals, coupled with a deep, philosophical story, centred around its characters. Well, it delivers on a least on of those promises...</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLMF8j8Rhk-BxGnq9GCi9majHy2-Rw_XILWqKuaT_Q-wpaFE7DWRzVwK1KC5u_8rR2ae51TeYhvskw0hhBmnKTVqgv8zkq64IJqTJjis1_4Zrtyi5gV-XS9hI-TjNlrmE2lSK8VA1xgS5/s1600/Oblivion-poster-tom-cruise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLMF8j8Rhk-BxGnq9GCi9majHy2-Rw_XILWqKuaT_Q-wpaFE7DWRzVwK1KC5u_8rR2ae51TeYhvskw0hhBmnKTVqgv8zkq64IJqTJjis1_4Zrtyi5gV-XS9hI-TjNlrmE2lSK8VA1xgS5/s400/Oblivion-poster-tom-cruise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The film is a visual stunner, leaving no environment steril<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e, and making a great use of <span style="font-size: xx-small;">practicable</span> effects. Although it does <span style="font-size: xx-small;">occasionally</span> veer close to the <i>Avatar </i>school of special effects, most of the time the special effects do add something to the overwhelming prettiness of the world created. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">T</span>he Drones </span>(a big part of the story) make <span style="font-size: xx-small;">a</span> large, booming noise that real<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ly adds to their screen pr<span style="font-size: xx-small;">esence<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. Direct<span style="font-size: xx-small;">or Jose<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ph Kosinski should be <span style="font-size: xx-small;">commended on realising what CGI is for (that is, making what is already there even better).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The soundtrack is generic (and sound<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s very similar to Hans Zimmer's <i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Batman</span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> work)</span></span>, but not bad. It adds nicely to the pacing<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, which is good, because I was never bored<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. However, it doesn't make up for the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">paper-thin story.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The only thing that surprised me about the story was how obvious it was. There are some minor twists that are <span style="font-size: xx-small;">abandoned as quickly as they are puked up<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, but otherwise<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, the story goes exactly where I expected it to go. Evil aliens are downtrodden humans, imperialist humans are evil aliens, e<span style="font-size: xx-small;">t cetera et ce<span style="font-size: xx-small;">tera. Sally, the main villain, is su<span style="font-size: xx-small;">itably chilling, making good use of her southern drawl ("I am your god"<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">sent shivers dow<span style="font-size: xx-small;">n my spine), but I w<span style="font-size: xx-small;">as expecting a prop<span style="font-size: xx-small;">er alien reveal. I<span style="font-size: xx-small;">nstead we get a big computer. Hooray. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">But now it's time to answer my first <span style="font-size: xx-small;">question; can Tom Cruise <span style="font-size: xx-small;">be taken seriously? No<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, is the answer. The acting is absolutely nothing special. Cruise <span style="font-size: xx-small;">appears to only be capable of resentment and breath<span style="font-size: xx-small;">lessness<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and Olga Kurylenko really brings nothing <span style="font-size: xx-small;">to an already flat character. In fact, characterisation is uneven across the boar<span style="font-size: xx-small;">d, with most <span style="font-size: xx-small;">of them not being able to make up their mind whether their bitchy or just misunderstood. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Oblivion isn't bad<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. Not really. But for all it's <span style="font-size: xx-small;">pretentiousness<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, useless dream sequence</span></span></span>s and flashy vi<span style="font-size: xx-small;">suals that don't serve much purpose, you could <span style="font-size: xx-small;">be forgiven for resenting it. Overall, Oblivion is nothing s<span style="font-size: xx-small;">pecial and, ultimately, forgettable. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">6/1<span style="font-size: small;">0</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </h3>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-65732440517151436032013-04-20T09:28:00.002-07:002013-04-20T09:30:12.107-07:00Doctor Who - Cold War: Review<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good return for an old enemy?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doctor Who has continued into this week with a return to the 'base under siege' format; one we haven't seen for a while. But, more importantly, it heralds the first on-screen depiction of the Ice Warriors since 1974's <i>The Monster of Peladon</i>. So, is <i>Cold War</i> suitably chilling?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the terrible pun. Secondly, <i>Cold War</i> is pretty good, one I'm happy to call the best from writer Mark Gatiss. Whilst it's doesn't even try to break the mould of it's format, it brings many new and interesting to the Ice Warriors. I have to say, that I love the idea of the huge piece of armour contains only a small, gecko-creature, and the fact it could change tactics almost instantly makes the Martian soldiers seem far more threatening than their wheezing, lumbering <span style="font-size: xx-small;">counterparts of the classic series (all right, I know, <i>The Seeds of Death</i> was brilliant, but it was the Ice Lord that made that story).</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Director Douglas McKinnon does a great job at utilising the submarine setting, managing to make seem claustrophobic without being annoying. Some of the lighting got on my nerves, the harsh yellow of the warning lights and the flourescent blues not gelling very well to my eye, but otherwise each shot was well put together. The practicle effects team should be congratulated on the armour of the Ice Warrior, which manages to look both (almost entirely) faithful</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> to the classic design, and yet brilliantly updated. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbMiGpq2G_lm6q8JrXzp_ZUGeKeGgNk-jo44Mb8gLCEy-9ZNpEiIEBJwr9laUfC0dNV6luHuCu1QNeYzqiRA2JLe1hpbY8rnsqhnCNzgzIDPq_zUNA2e2ILs8F6EdPL1AQZOkiIDP-sjs/s1600/Cold-War-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbMiGpq2G_lm6q8JrXzp_ZUGeKeGgNk-jo44Mb8gLCEy-9ZNpEiIEBJwr9laUfC0dNV6luHuCu1QNeYzqiRA2JLe1hpbY8rnsqhnCNzgzIDPq_zUNA2e2ILs8F6EdPL1AQZOkiIDP-sjs/s400/Cold-War-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The acting is, once again, all round superb. Matt Smith <span style="font-size: xx-small;">pulls another great performance (he seems to be getting better and better each <span style="font-size: xx-small;">series). The story doesn't really push the character into anywhere new<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, but<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Smith keeps the character as <span style="font-size: xx-small;">buoyant</span> as ever. Jenna Louise-C<span style="font-size: xx-small;">oleman balances determined and <span style="font-size: xx-small;">vulnerable</span> very well, once again, and <span style="font-size: xx-small;">the supporting cast is all very solid (with a special mention to the grandfatherly David Warner). However...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Most of the characters remain heinously underdeveloped, verging on <i>28 Weeks Later </i>level. One char<span style="font-size: xx-small;">acter, who appears to be <span style="font-size: xx-small;">psychologically disturb<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ed <span style="font-size: xx-small;">at the beginning<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">melts the Warrior's <span style="font-size: xx-small;">icy prison because 'life's too short to wait'. I assumed that he was goi<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ng to somehow facilitate the Ice Warrior's rampage; instead, he only shows up once more, to be killed. Another character</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>,<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> a soldier wanting the Cold War to escalate, proposes an alliance with the Warrior. You guessed it, he's killed straight after. It all makes me feel that those characters are only there to facilitate plot points , and that's something I consider a writer's deadly sin.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Don't get me wrong, though<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, <i>Cold War </i>is<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> a good watch (it is <i>Doctor Who</i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, after all). The plot, unlike last weeks, is co<span style="font-size: xx-small;">herent, and <span style="font-size: xx-small;">it is a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">chieves it's goal of re-introducing the Ice Warriors to both sea<span style="font-size: xx-small;">soned and fresh-faced viewers. The icing on the cake, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">however, is Nicholas Briggs voice for the invader from Mars - it's less hissy and<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> louder than the<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> classic version<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and captures the old sol<span style="font-size: xx-small;">dier characterisation very well. A friend of mine pointed out it sounded like <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Predator<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (who has <span style="font-size: xx-small;">gon<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e to the trouble of learning <span style="font-size: xx-small;">the loca<span style="font-size: xx-small;">l lingo, in th<span style="font-size: xx-small;">is case), which can only be a point in its favour.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Some <span style="font-size: xx-small;">will hate <i>Cold War</i> for the am<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ount of <span style="font-size: xx-small;">liberties</span> it takes wi<span style="font-size: xx-small;">th the Ice Warriors. Personally, I loved them, and it makes them feel much more powerful and complex than before. Mark Gatiss has said that he would love to work with the Ice Warriors again, and even look at there home<span style="font-size: xx-small;">world of Mars. Well, Mr <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gatiss, carry on like this and I have no objections.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">8.5/10</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </h3>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-25330698606420892042013-04-08T06:34:00.001-07:002013-04-08T07:22:04.913-07:00Doctor Who - The Rings of Akhaten: Review<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Singing Doctor Who's praises?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jenna<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-Louise Coleman takes her first trip in the TARDIS in this divisive episode. The s<span style="font-size: xx-small;">tory is ful<span style="font-size: xx-small;">l of impressive visuals, but does the story live up its grandiose setting? </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">As mentioned before, the story is a visual stunner. The amount of progress Doctor Who has ma<span style="font-size: xx-small;">de in it<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s Special Effects Department since its inception; the fantastic CGI on the planet, great sets and fantastic <span style="font-size: xx-small;">prosthetics</span> make the Rings of Akhaten truly feel like a alien world. The acting is very strong all round, with young Emilia Jones giving a performance way beyond her years, Jenna-Louise Co<span style="font-size: xx-small;">leman retaining her <span style="font-size: xx-small;">feisty</span>, but caring traits from the previous epiosde, and Matt Smith gives on<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e of the best performances of his career<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, somehow managing to capture the character of The Doctor perfectly. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Murray Gold <span style="font-size: xx-small;">created some modern classics for this episode, w<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ith a couple of songs sending shivers down my spine. Songs play a large part in the story, and, to be honest, it's be entirely subjective whether you'll enjoy that part or not. Personally, I enjoyed the singing very much, and one song in particular added enough weight to a scene to nearly move me to tears (nearly. I'm still a man). Director Farren Blackburn does a perfectly good job of displaying the episode, making good use of the sets, although, sometimes it's not totally clear what's going on. However, this is a problem somewhat more inherent to the plot.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The plot is, frank<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ly, a bit of a mess. Ideas aren't fully utilised<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, plans are flimsy at best and logic appears to have thrown down the stairs by the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">C</span>huckle <span style="font-size: xx-small;">B</span>rothers. What was going on with the mummy? What was the Ch<span style="font-size: xx-small;">orister going on abo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ut? <span style="font-size: xx-small;">It all smacks of being rushed, and the confines of the story not being to hold all the ideas it had. The Vigil<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (some creepy, steampunk prison <span style="font-size: xx-small;">guards</span>) get barely two minutes of screen time, a the mummy does nothing but dodder about in its cage a bit. I t<span style="font-size: xx-small;">hink this a real shame, because it<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'s obvious some real work went into creating th<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e costumes, and there was an absolute heap of potential that never came to anything.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The plot is rescued, however, by a tru<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ly brilliant scene of The Doctor facing off against the parasite-god. Matt Smith pours his very soul into the speech he makes<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">painting smiles <span style="font-size: xx-small;">on the faces of Whovians across the land. Accompanied by <span style="font-size: xx-small;">another of <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gold's wonderful songs (one that rivals 'Abi<span style="font-size: xx-small;">gail's Song' from <i>A Christmas Carol </i>as my all-time favourite<span style="font-size: xx-small;">), it makes for a stirring moment. It's let down a little towards the end, a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s C<span style="font-size: xx-small;">lara turn<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s up to inject some forced sentiment into the situation<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, but it doesn't really detract from the moment as <span style="font-size: xx-small;">a whole.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiTkhkkaxFaVEF1WbmoQDM7G7ZS4ezgQafm5nc4C_XF2magsENx3H-cfFT92MYOTj5Lc_wUY6cc8l6vt_mEjJQY9tUsd0ux91eB9OMoF7FaVNzTNMdnl4fUnmvpjg83vEnysDWrwJj_Od/s1600/akhaten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiTkhkkaxFaVEF1WbmoQDM7G7ZS4ezgQafm5nc4C_XF2magsENx3H-cfFT92MYOTj5Lc_wUY6cc8l6vt_mEjJQY9tUsd0ux91eB9OMoF7FaVNzTNMdnl4fUnmvpjg83vEnysDWrwJj_Od/s1600/akhaten.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Rings of Akhaten </span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">is very divis<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ive. Some will love it, oth<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ers will despise it.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">And<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, as per <span style="font-size: xx-small;">my tradition in Love/Hate situations, I think it's okay. Whilst it wastes <span style="font-size: xx-small;">much of its potential, it's good to see a proper a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">lien world, complete with culture and religion and detail. In fact, this story would most likely appeal to <i>Star Wars</i> fans, as both are rich in de<span style="font-size: xx-small;">tail.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">To sum up, this s<span style="font-size: xx-small;">tory is pretty good. Whilst it's held up on flimsy logic, it's engrossing enough, and littered with enough<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> good moments to make it a perfectly good <span style="font-size: xx-small;">first adventure for a new companion.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">8/10</span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-15551392757528780992013-04-05T09:50:00.000-07:002013-04-05T10:10:48.822-07:00Doctor Who - The Bells of Saint John: Review<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doctor Who returns, smelling as fresh as a daisy</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Finally, after waiting through <i>Asylum of the Daleks </i>and <i>The Snowmen</i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, Jenna<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-Louise C<span style="font-size: xx-small;">oleman has fully joined The Doctor on his travels<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. But does <i>The Bells of Saint John </i>live up to the hype? Short answer: yes. Yes it does.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49wz4XGc55Fs0MpUW75Ck8_JeTkBBnC_36opQ3PpDcpcnTF5ce4y5GuhsCDAIyL2gRXJKdxem3eLZe7m2ZI7BAcrKSaK3P9xxRorozoXVCzRn1L8oadLFqJWsuLI-Hok-Fs2aiYdyLczW/s1600/1-bells-of-saint-john-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49wz4XGc55Fs0MpUW75Ck8_JeTkBBnC_36opQ3PpDcpcnTF5ce4y5GuhsCDAIyL2gRXJKdxem3eLZe7m2ZI7BAcrKSaK3P9xxRorozoXVCzRn1L8oadLFqJWsuLI-Hok-Fs2aiYdyLczW/s400/1-bells-of-saint-john-poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The episode<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s opening seq<span style="font-size: xx-small;">uence is highly reminiscent of the David Tennant era; a modern-day setting with a threat taking the form of something we all take for granted. However, the fact that this setting has been used far less frequently in Doctor Who of late makes it seem far <span style="font-size: xx-small;">more unique than it ever did before. Director Colm McCarthy pulls a visual blinder<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, making maxim<span style="font-size: xx-small;">um of use of the London landmarks and filling the screen with fun visuals</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(made popular by <i>Sherlock</i>)<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. </span>It's a shame that he doesn't appear to making a return for the foreseeable future. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Composer Murray Gold co<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ntinues his habit of getting better every year, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">inventing some excellent new additions to the soundtrack. What's more, the visual and special effects used in the episode are truly outstanding; only in Doctor Who could I believe that someone is actually riding a <span style="font-size: xx-small;">motorcycle up the side of The Shard.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Speeding up the side of a building seems somehow <span style="font-size: xx-small;">appropriate</span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">for this story; the pacing is like a freight train. Not a single moment is wa<span style="font-size: xx-small;">sted and not a line of dialo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">gue could be cut without feeling a sheer weight of guilt. Dialogue is a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">nother strong point of the story, whether it be Miss Kizlet<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'s (Celia Imrie) <span style="font-size: xx-small;">aloof</span> torments ("<span style="font-size: xx-small;">No one loves cattle more than <i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Burger King</span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">" is now a personal favourite)</span></span>,<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> flirty banter or <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Clara's caring attitude towar<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ds the children in her care. Of course, dialogue <span style="font-size: xx-small;">i</span>s only as good as t<span style="font-size: xx-small;">he actors who deliver it, but there's no need to worry on that front. Jenna-Louise Coleman continues to amaze <span style="font-size: xx-small;">me on how she keeps her role so realistic in a world so fantastical<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and Matt Smith maintains his balance of childish wonder and instrument-of-justice brooding as well as he always d<span style="font-size: xx-small;">oes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plot itsel<span style="font-size: xx-small;">f is sol<span style="font-size: xx-small;">id</span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">enough, although not as deep as writer Steven Moffat is capable of<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (and borrows rather heavily from <span style="font-size: xx-small;">the 2006 episode <i>The Idiots Lantern</i>)<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. It revolves around a sinister organisation<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, lead by the deliciously evil Miss Kizlet<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, using <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wi-Fi to harvest human minds and feed them to her 'client<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'. "But who is this 'client'?"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">I hear you ask. Anyone who's been following Doctor Who with even a medium of interest could probably <span style="font-size: xx-small;">guess it, but it's still enough to splash a smile across</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> the seasoned Whovian's face. What's more, the reveal of the Spoonhead<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'s (<span style="font-size: xx-small;">stop laughing) is genuinely quite cre<span style="font-size: xx-small;">epy, although I do have one gripe: <span style="font-size: xx-small;">the actual robot wasn't shown enough. The great pie<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ce of practical design that was there barely g<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e</span>t any screentime, and i<span style="font-size: xx-small;">nstead we were stuck with people<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> and their spinning heads, which I found a little difficul<span style="font-size: xx-small;">t to take seriously. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This is on<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ly a slight niggle, however. Despite the fast pace, fun visuals and verging<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-</span>on<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-</span>whacky</span>-in-places soundtrack, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">the story is genuinely creepy in places. As mentioned before, the opening sequence establishes a real sense of threat, and a recurring theme of people trapped in the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wi-Fi <span style="font-size: xx-small;">exc<span style="font-size: xx-small;">laiming that</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">"I don't know <span style="font-size: xx-small;">where I am!" is almost overbea<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ringly unsettling<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. The <span style="font-size: xx-small;">conclusion to the plot is also very c<span style="font-size: xx-small;">lever, throwing an excellent curveball, b<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ut also showing off The Doctor's darker side, and the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">lengths</span> to which he is willing to go to save the wor<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ld.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bells of Saint John </span></span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">tru<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ly does feel <span style="font-size: xx-small;">like a fresh start for Doctor Who. Although the blockbuster<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-a-week format has been carried over from 2012,<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> this certainly feels like one <span style="font-size: xx-small;">of the biggest. The new costume, new companion and new (ish) theme-tu<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ne<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> all help to add to the feeling that this episode is ushering in a new era for the show, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">inevitable</span> pa<span style="font-size: xx-small;">v</span>ing the way for the 50th Anniversary this <span style="font-size: xx-small;">November.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">So, in conclusion, <i>The Bells of Saint John </i>is a fast, fun, a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">nd truly welcome edition to Doctor Who</span>. It marks a fresh and interesting introduction for Jenna-Louise Coleman, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">and makes Whovians <span style="font-size: xx-small;">all over excited for the approaching anniversary. So welcome back, Doctor Who, we're loo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">king forward to your stay.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>9/10</b></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-50498120131616913902013-04-04T11:21:00.000-07:002013-04-04T11:21:36.369-07:00Trance: Review<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Danny Boyle attempts to out-weird himself in this thriller </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ever watched a film that's not the same at the start as it is at the end? No? Well go and watch <i>Trance</i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, it might be a good experience. Whilst Danny Boyle's latest venture is a good enough watch, it goes through <span style="font-size: xx-small;">several stages of strange, leaving the watcher bemused as to precisely what's going on. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The film begins, to all intents and purposes<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, as a heist <span style="font-size: xx-small;">movie</span></span></span></span>. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story follows James McAvoy's character enact<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ing an inside-job to steal a <span style="font-size: xx-small;">valuable<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> rare painting with his criminal <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">counterparts</span>, led by a convincingly <span style="font-size: xx-small;">F</span>rench Vincent Cassel<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. However, he <span style="font-size: xx-small;">receives</span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">a blow to the head, and can't <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">remember</span> where he hid the painting</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">To discover this, they take him to a hypnotist, who wants a stake of the booty for herself. An interesting, and simple, enough premise; one that got me hooked without knowing anything more of the film. However, the film decides to delve far deeper than what that would suggest, piling on levels of detail, leaving me wondering whether all of it is entirely necessary. Some elements (integral elements, in fact) are explained in one monologue, and, whilst the use of flashbacks is effective at watching the threads come together, it often poses the question<span style="font-size: xx-small;">: "<span style="font-size: xx-small;">W</span>here did that come from?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Focussing on the positives, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">the acting across the board is all excellent<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. James McAvoy is, as ever, a pleasure to watch, making his character feel highly realistic and tangible<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (even if the character itself is little implausible<span style="font-size: xx-small;">; more on that later). Vin<span style="font-size: xx-small;">cent Cassel makes a character with plenty of potential to be bland en<span style="font-size: xx-small;">g</span>aging<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and Rosario Dawson <span style="font-size: xx-small;">holds afloat the several layers of her character gracefully. However, character <span style="font-size: xx-small;">is one of the problems<span style="font-size: xx-small;">; it is highly <span style="font-size: xx-small;">inconsistent</span>. McAvoy goes from being a low-level crim<span style="font-size: xx-small;">inal, to love-sick puppy, to abusive boyf<span style="font-size: xx-small;">rie<span style="font-size: xx-small;">nd; <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dawson goes from accomplished professional, to greedy schemer, to manipulative femme-fatal. Cassel is the only character who remains <span style="font-size: xx-small;">recognisably</span> intact throughout the whole thing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">As mentioned before, the film begins like a he<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ist one, but <span style="font-size: xx-small;">it certainly doesn't end that way. After the first act, the movie begins to g<span style="font-size: xx-small;">et more an more surreal<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, full of stran<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ge dream-sequence<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s and hallucinations. Boyle, to his credit, does a great job at capturing the weirdness<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, but towards the end the hallucinations, flashbacks and dreams happen practically consecutively, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Also said before, some of the detail just feels <span style="font-size: xx-small;">superfluous: rotting bo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">dies in the boot and talking blown-apart heads just don't fit with the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">tone of the film<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and the nudity was nothing more than <span style="font-size: xx-small;">gratuitous<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I</span>t loses sight of itself, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">which bemused me massively<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and made the whole thing come across as messy. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The dialo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">gue in the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">film is generally excellent, although the hypno-speak gets a little <span style="font-size: xx-small;">wearisome at times. The soundtrack to is fast and punchy, ref<span style="font-size: xx-small;">lecting the pacing very well. But it still smacks of wanting to have it's cake and <span style="font-size: xx-small;">eat it; sometimes it's a heist film, sometines it<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'s a psychological thriller, and at a couple ti<span style="font-size: xx-small;">mes it tries it's hand at being an action film. If it'd stuck to being one thing or the other, this had potential to be an absolute cracker. But<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, alas, it <span style="font-size: xx-small;">spread itself too thin.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The ending tries<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> it's hand at being <i>Inception</i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and works surpris<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ing well<span style="font-size: xx-small;">; c</span>alling it a cliffhanger is largely overstating it, and I don't imagine there's a se<span style="font-size: xx-small;">quel coming any time soon (there were less than ten people in the cine<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ma when I w<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ent to see it), but it leaves plenty to the imagination, and for once fit the t<span style="font-size: xx-small;">one of <span style="font-size: xx-small;">what the film <span style="font-size: xx-small;">decided it was at that point.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall, though, this film is a bit of a mess. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">In terms of tone and character<span style="font-size: xx-small;">isation and development, it just can't make up its mind, making it confusing to watch. If you try not to think about it<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> too hard, you'll enjoy yourself, but otherwise, you'll come out wondering precisely how much LSD the cashier put in <span style="font-size: xx-small;">your <span style="font-size: xx-small;">popcorn.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">6</span>.5/10</b></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-4799659581034526082013-04-02T11:19:00.002-07:002013-04-02T11:19:33.422-07:00Oz the Great and Powerful: Review<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An enjoyable, if predictable, take on the classic</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ever since Tim Burton decided to tackle <i>Charlie and the Choc<span style="font-size: xx-small;">olate Factory </span></i>and <i>Alice In Wonderland</i>, it's <span style="font-size: xx-small;">been a commonplace <span style="font-size: xx-small;">sight to see a modern, big-screen take on a children<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'s favourite in the local cinema list<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ings. But does Sam Raimi ruin another <span style="font-size: xx-small;">staple of our <span style="font-size: xx-small;">staple of our younger years, or does <i>Oz the Great and Powerful </i>do its bas<span style="font-size: xx-small;">is justice?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film starts out<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, as it should, in Kansas<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, following James Franco's Oz</span></span></span></span>, <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a small time magician and deft womaniser. W<span style="font-size: xx-small;">hat defines the opening segment of the film is that it is displayed in a 4:3 ration, and in black <span style="font-size: xx-small;">and white<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (a nice <span style="font-size: xx-small;">acknowledgement to <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>, it must be said<span style="font-size: xx-small;">), before returning to the brightly<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>coloured, CGI<span style="font-size: xx-small;">-</span>fest we<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'ve come to expect from today's blockbusters. Offering credit to where it's due to Raimi, he does a fairly good job at using th<span style="font-size: xx-small;">is gimmick to good effect; many of shots did feel genuinely pulled straight out of a pre-colour film. But the overall effect was diminished by the obvious <span style="font-size: xx-small;">green screen and screen-dominating special effects. For the next ten minutes or so afterwards, the film is just a computer generated showcase of <span style="font-size: xx-small;">strangely</span> obvious imagery, much of which I'm dubious of it's placement in Oz<span style="font-size: xx-small;">; I can't remember River Fairies or Bell-<span style="font-size: xx-small;">flowers</span> in the original<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">From here onwards, though, the CGI is used <span style="font-size: xx-small;">considerably</span> more tactfully<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. Beside<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s a couple of overblown shots, there is a genuine sense of style to sprawling Emerald City and fog-filled graveyard. Although Zack Braff's flying monkey looked a little horrible at times, the little China Girl was aesthetically <span style="font-size: xx-small;">superb, and should <span style="font-size: xx-small;">serve as an example of how <span style="font-size: xx-small;">characters</span> sho<span style="font-size: xx-small;">uld be created in <span style="font-size: xx-small;">CGI</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The acting<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, for the most part, is solid enough, but n<span style="font-size: xx-small;">o one in the cas<span style="font-size: xx-small;">t brings anything <span style="font-size: xx-small;">particularly</span> special to the table. The only actor in the pantheon that <span style="font-size: xx-small;">even vaguely stands <span style="font-size: xx-small;">out is Rach<span style="font-size: xx-small;">el Weisz (f<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ar right), who does inject at least some level <span style="font-size: xx-small;">of genuine <span style="font-size: xx-small;">drama into her dialo<span style="font-size: xx-small;">gue<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, but is l<span style="font-size: xx-small;">et down infinitely <span style="font-size: xx-small;">by the script, which was clearly written with Disney-loving <span style="font-size: xx-small;">kiddy-winks in mind. Some of the lines were sappy at best, and it<span style="font-size: xx-small;">'s fairly obvious some of the characters don't believe what they're saying. What's more (though it pains me say it<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, given the amount of </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>talent the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">girl has)<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, Mila Kunis (far left) simply cannot pull of The W<span style="font-size: xx-small;">icked<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>Witch of The West; her <span style="font-size: xx-small;">performance</span> veers violently from heart-broken <span style="font-size: xx-small;">heart-throb to the cackling witch so jarringly it's impossibl<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e to take seriously<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and the exposed green-cleavage and tight leathers don't much help either. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">That aside, most of the <span style="font-size: xx-small;">characterisation</span> is even enough. As mentioned before, Rachel Weisz keeps <span style="font-size: xx-small;">a definitive running theme throughout all <span style="font-size: xx-small;">facets</span> of her character, and, although all of his development seems to happen in one moment, James Franco keeps Oz buoy<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">an</span>t at least. I'm going to come back to the Chi<span style="font-size: xx-small;">na Girl, however, as she is one of the best developed and used characters <span style="font-size: xx-small;">within the whole film: Joey King does an excellent job at supplying her voice<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, whilst her frailties (drawing clever <span style="font-size: xx-small;">parallels with her <span style="font-size: xx-small;">porcelain origins<span style="font-size: xx-small;">) </span>make her incredibly endearing and even a little moving in places<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. She<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, too, acts as a catalyst for the development of Oz's character, and mak<span style="font-size: xx-small;">es herself very useful towards the climax<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, which, if your heart is even the sligh<span style="font-size: xx-small;">test bit soft, will bring a smile to your face.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst the conclusion of the plot is satisfying enough<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, the ending itself is a little o<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ver<span style="font-size: xx-small;">bearing<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ly happy; it'll please children<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, and inevitably<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, their parents, but it doesn't quite <span style="font-size: xx-small;">gel with the p<span style="font-size: xx-small;">osition Oz finds himself in the film on which this is based. But that is only a slight bu<span style="font-size: xx-small;">gbear in an<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> otherwise stylish, fun, and relatively clever third act, which will please tho<span style="font-size: xx-small;">se who know their <i>Oz</i> and not leave you disappointed. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">So, to con<span style="font-size: xx-small;">clude, this is a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">n enjoyable, but entirely safe, ad<span style="font-size: xx-small;">dition to this new tr<span style="font-size: xx-small;">end of film making<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. If you're in for some light entertainment, or (as is intended) going to see this a<span style="font-size: xx-small;">s a family, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">you'll have a good time. Taking your inner cynic would be a bad idea, as it's not the next <i>Blade Runner</i>, but<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">otherwise, worth a lig<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ht-hearted watch.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>7.5/10</b></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869723259570860286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968212034287708427.post-83012441611691178362013-04-02T04:28:00.002-07:002013-04-02T04:28:45.530-07:00A Post of Things to Come<h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For better or for worse, I now have a blog</span></span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Well hel<span style="font-size: x-small;">lo, <span style="font-size: x-small;">I</span>nternet</span></span>, <span style="font-size: x-small;">welcome to my <span style="font-size: x-small;">blog, a place where I've co<span style="font-size: x-small;">me to express <span style="font-size: x-small;">my thoughts, opinions, and perhaps other things I find interesting. But first, here<span style="font-size: x-small;"> are a few things about me:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am an aspiring screenwriter, but crippled but a huge lack of motivation<span style="font-size: x-small;">. I <span style="font-size: x-small;">have several projects I'm working on (which I'll come to later), however.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Science Fiction is my first, and <span style="font-size: x-small;">greatest, love, and if had to choose between Star Wars and Doctor Who, I'd agonise for hours, <span style="font-size: x-small;">before choosing Doctor Who. I take a big interest in histo<span style="font-size: x-small;">ry, philosophy, and politics, probably making me the most boring person to grace to the blog<span style="font-size: x-small;">o</span>shpere<span style="font-size: x-small;">. But hey ho. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So, I'm sure you're looking for a reason to stick around here. Well, on Tuesday, I will be posting my review of <b>Oz The Great and Powerful</b>, and on Wednesday, I'll review <b>Trance</b>, Danny Boyle's latest venture into cinema. Also, I'll be reviewing this weeks episode of Doctor Who, and be making that a weekly. There will also be other musings, thoughts and reviews on other books and TV, as well as comments on news. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">What's more, here's a list of script projects I'm working on:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">>The Phantom Menace: Reimagined</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">>Wonder Woman</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">>Skulduggery Pleasant - adaptation for screen</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">>Doctor Who: Teleforce (for a live action fan-series)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So, that's it, for the moment. I hope you enjoy your time on this blog, and have as much fun as I will. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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