Martyn Reviews

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Review: 'The Muppets' (2012)

The Muppets

Well, there really is nothing like nostalgia to get me liking a film. Much like the charm in the end credits of Jackass 3D, The Muppets made me feel my age, how long it’s been since I first saw Kermit and the gang, and how much we grow and how little we change.

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Review: 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' (2012)

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Now, I’m not one for rom-coms, old people, or India, I’m not in the target age group of the film, and I was not impressed by the advertisements. Somehow, against all of this, I was treated to a simple, feel good film that addressed the darker issues of race, sexuality and death.

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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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Movieville Podcast #13

This week, we talk about a prospective discussion board idea for the site, how YOU can be involved with the site and what you, the readers/viewers of the site want to see. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes You can email about the writing position at team@movieville.org Follow us on Twitter: @movievilleorg