Author: Martyn

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Martyn reviews: Jane Eyre

A classic. Jane Eyre is a classic story, written by Charlotte Brontë in 1847, and brought to life in the stunning film adaption by Cary Fukanaga. The film follows the principles of the book, making it fresh, and in an age of cynicism towards remakes and studio rehashes, it actually comes together as a beautiful, and relevant tale. The story follows our protagonist, Jane Eyre, as she runs away, from what and where is unclear, but there's fear and desperation in her lungs. Throughout the film we're given the flashbacks of how she has come to be, from her youth with an overruling Aunt, to her school years, and to her first job. It's a tale of woe, and one with a dark nature. Even with the story's age and probable dissection in English classes throughout the world, I don't want to spoil the tale. It's a film which takes a young girl through the steps until she is a woman. It takes fear, desire, depression, and youth, corrupting them and pushing us through the journey. I was surprised with the believable nature of the story, (even more so than 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes') as the characters just felt real. It had the depth you'd expect from a novel and took us on the same journey, with all the details on the way. The film really does hit home the emotion when it needs to, the character's and their individual plights don't feel forced, naturally finding themselves within their predicaments, dealing with the hand they've got. It is both a credit to Brontë's realism in writing, and Fukanaga's direction that the film literally feels like its happened, and that it is happening for the first time in front of your eyes. Overall, the film oozes beauty, the opening is one of the most stunning in recent memory, and haunts with its grace. The soundtrack is fantastic, going with the classic aesthetic, whilst retaining the needed emotion and most of all, unease. The acting is fantastic, Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender come off as revelations, and their chemistry is at times unbearably unsettling, with the deep stares, lips poised and rearing. In all respects, its a fantastic tale, brilliantly told, and beautifully brought to life. Even with my dislike of period dramas, Jane Eyre is my film of the year. A haunting and fascinating look into the past, and one I shall not soon forget. 9/10

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Martyn reviews: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

'Planet of the Apes', now I'm sure you've heard of it, is the classic featuring Charlton Heston with a strong feeling of isolation and xenophobia. Now, it is not important however, to have watched the 1968 film to enjoy and understand the smash hit of the summer, yet the added context of the original does enhance the experience. However, Rise of the Planet of the Apes in my eyes, is where Hollywood gets it right. It literally takes what you expect from the story, and runs with it, beautifully. The film follows scientist Will Rodman, brilliantly played by James Franco, as he struggles to come to terms with his father's Alzheimer's disease. The cure he works on is tested in the lab on chimps, and when the project is sabotaged, Will is left with the task of putting down a baby chimp. Deciding instead that the life of the baby is his responsibility, he raises the chimp, called Caesar, at his home with his father. Without divulging anymore information, I can tell you that the film took the conventions of the mainstream film, and just knocked it up a notch. The brilliantly told story of heartache and desperation told through both Will's and Caeser's eyes hits all the right spots. Its a brilliant, and somehow believable ordeal, with a cast of characters and narrative to really take you along with it. The film's digital effects team work wonders on the animals, with close up shots of faces displaying stunning realism, which when mixed with the brilliant motion capture performance of Andy Serkis, you're treated with the suspension of disbelief. All in all, without boring you any further with the details, the directing is spot on for the standard, the acting is brilliant, the story progresses beautifully, and the film is just a good, old fashioned, get your popcorn and watch romp, whilst retaining the important element of making the audience think. Rise of the Planet of the Apes, gets an 8/10 from me, and if you haven't watched it yet, I seriously recommend it.

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Samuel L Jackson to star in Django Unchained (2012)

As confirmed, Samuel L Jackson is to team up once again with Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained'. The film is Tarantion's homage to the great westerns of cinema, with a fresh twist. Claiming 'Django Unchained' as a 'Southern', using the setting and political climate of the deep South of america, rather than the sprawling west, the film's subtext will lie with the values of slavery and humanity, rather than the slaughter of Native Americans or the invention of the railway. Jackson will join what is turning into a tremendous cast, with the Oscar winning Cristoph Waltz as a German bounty hunter returning to work with Tarantino, Jamie Foxx as the protagonist Django, as well as Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie the slave owner. Samuel L Jackson will play DiCaprio's house slave in the film. Other rumoured actors for the film are Kevin Costner and a supposed Treat Williams Django Unchained is set for a 2012 release, which is looking to be a great year for movie-goers!

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Trailer for Human Centipede 2 (2011)

Tom Six, director of 'the Human Centipede' promised that his return would make his first endeavour look like 'My Little Pony', and with the outright ban from the BBFC of the film, it looks like he wasn't lying. The trailer for the second 'full sequence' is built on what you don't see, it uses extracts from the letter sent by the BBFC to the film makers, put together with images of reactions to the footage. Actors or not, the trailer is a horror fan's dream. The film franchise can be slated for continuing the bad nature of the so-called 'torture porn' genre, but it's ban in the United Kingdom came with the warning that the aesthetic and nature of the film posed true danger to an audience, so it must be cranking up the elements of horror to a new level. See the trailer here: The teaser trailer for the second film actually made me chuckle, being called Martyn and all, give it a peek see below: What are your thoughts? Has horror truly gone too far? Are the BBFC right to tell the public what they can and cannot see? Is this all an over hyped bluff?

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First Trailer for Carnage (2011)

Roman Polanski is one for controversy, whether it be his life and the tragedies and mistakes throughout the years, or the content and attack of his films, he has made more than a name for himself. His latest film, 'Carnage' is the simple yet ingenious story of four parents thrown together as their children are involved in a fight at school. The film boasts a tremendous cast, with Jodie Foster, John C Reilly, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz fighting it out in one flat. Here's the trailer: From the trailer, its clear to see that this film is going to be a treat for those with a darker sense of humour, so if you're going to give 'The Inbetweeners' a pass, you can trade in the crude and boyish charm for this rich, awkward mess of emotions with dialogue aplenty. Carnage is based on the play 'God of Carnage' by Yasmina Reza, and is due out in America on the 16th December 2011, so expect a confirmed date for the United Kingdom to fall shortly after.