Tag: review

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Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Following one of the most dramatic Guy-Ritchiesque trailers and the (now) legendary rise to fame of the late Stieg Larsson, TGWTDT (to give it it's full initials) had high expectations. To give it a fair trial one must refrain from watching the Swedish film of the same name and/or reading the book. Director David Fincher (Social Network, Benjamin Button) takes his time to work through well selected scenes and character introductions. In traditional Fincher fashion he leaves no holds barred. Read more

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A re-review of Avatar (2009) by Kazed

Okay, okay. It's been almost two years since this was released, and for a few months now I've wanted to 're-review' the famous Avatar - Lord of (Suicide) Dreams. This is something I wouldn't usually do- changing my opinion on a film, but at the time of it's release, I suppose I, like many others was amazed at how visually stunning the blockbuster was. Unfortunately, this was blanketed by the poor story and lacklustre dialogue. Yes, I gave it a 9 back in 2009, which is a near perfect score, but I guess visually it's a well deserved score. HOWEVER. Under the NEW rating system, Avatar won't hold up so well like it did back then. This was meant to be a short, nice little refresh for the previous review I had written a couple of years ago. The only reason I'm doing this was because it doesn't deserve the full 9 I gave it. For the most part, the previous review was right on the button, it's just the rating- it was too high. Here we have the new, revised rating: Performances: 7/10 Plot: 4/10 Visuals: 9/10 Dialogue: 3/10 Overall: 6/10 - THIS is what the original rating SHOULD'VE been. Luckily, the visuals saved it's ass, otherwise, it would've been a pretty below-average flick.

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Muni on TV - 5 US shows that are going to be huge this year

New Girl So Bhav has already reviewed this show in depth and said everything that I wanted too, its worth a read, so I’d say go have a look at it. I will say that I’ve been looking forward to this show when I first heard about it. Zooey Deschanel as a quirky, nerdy, cute hart broken woman who moves in with 3 guys is in it self a wonderful concept. The pilot episode was very well put together; it introduced all the characters and gave a warm feeling to the characters. However, I think I already know how this show will end, it’s a shame but I’m not complaining, simply observing. I got a feeling this is going to be a huge show and will gather a big following, I’m not sure anyone in the UK has picked up the rights yet, but they should. People get on this bandwagon! I’m in love 8/10 2 Broke Girls I remember a few months back I saw the trailer for a this show, and I was intrigued. I have a little crush on Kat Dennings, (but I have a HUGE crush on Zooey), regardless, I gave this show a watch, and when it first started it took me a while to get into. Towards the end I was surprised by how much I got into it and liked it. The show follows two waitresses Max (played by Dennings), a young woman who lives in Brooklyn with her boyfriend and works two jobs just to get by, and Caroline (played by Beth Behrs), a rich girl from Manhattan who’s broke after her father gets done for scamming other people, who ends up getting a job in the diner. The show has some room to grow and towards the end both girls have a goal, which will be the arc of the first season. I’ll definitely watch a few more episodes and see if I get into it. A solid 6/10 Up All Night Another comedy for you to get your teeth into, Up All Night is about a couple who have their first baby and how they cope with parenthood as well as their jobs and bringing up a child. The show stars Will Arnett and Christina Applegate, as the budding new parents. Both are very funny, and I was actually laughing out loud in the two episodes that I’ve seen. I like Arnett he is ridiculously funny and really is the star of the show. The show also stars Maya Rudolph, as Ava who is Christina’s character, Reagan’s boss. She brings a different but funny dimension to the show, which is perfect. The actors all work well together and have a lot of charisma on screen. I honestly think this is going to be one of the funniest shows on TV, definitely one to get into and watch. A lovely 7/10 Terra Nova Right, that’s all the comedy done, now to look forward to the epic hour long drams that will have us hooked for the next 8-9 months. I’m going to start with Terra Nova. Now I want to quickly state that this show hasn’t aired yet on TV, it will be aired tomorrow and I’ll be watching it on Tuesday and will give a full review then. However, for now I will say that this: from the trailers that I’ve seen, Terra Nova is going to be a big show, something like Heroes and Lost. The show centers on the Shannons, an ordinary family from 2149 (when the planet is dying) who are transported back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join Terra Nova, a colony of humans with a second chance to build a civilization. I got a feeling that this show is going to gather a huge cult following and, if it is well written and has a good arc over the first year its going to be a big hit with the audiences. Also there will be dinosaurs! How lovely. A killer 7/10 Pan AM The final show which I’m going to say is going to be huge in 2011 – 2012 season was tough. I don’t watch a lot of hour-long drama unless they’re really good. It was a toss up between Pan AM, a period drama set in the 50’s about the airline industry and the glamorous life that came with it, or The Playboy Club set in the 60’s about another glamorous side being in the infamous Playboy Club and about the bunnies. I’ve seen, The Playboy Club and will review this shortly, but what I would say about that show is that, It felt like the show was trying too hard to be like Mad Men, and it was failing in all departments. However I haven’t seen Pan AM yet as it airs tomorrow, so I’m just basing it all on trailer and from what I believe will make a good show. I love period shows, I’m a huge fan of Mad Men Boardwalk Empire, and the Kennedys so this should theoretically be up my street. However, this is going to be to network television which comes with a lot of rules it has to follow, meaning it’s not as free as HBO or AMC (cable networks), which are given free reigns on what they can do. I’m glad this isn’t another cop show, medical drama, or legal production. We will have to wait and see what kind of reaction the show will get, but I have a feeling it will be a positive one. A flying 7/10

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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