If Dr. Sam Beckett’s Quantum Leap accelerator was fixed and marketed to the masses whose body would you inhabit for a while? I’m guessing the majority of men would jump into a Scarlett Johansson or a Mila Kunis and fudd themselves silly until Al showed up and you turned all blue and shiny.
Personally, and this is the ’10% gay’ part of me talking, I think you could do a lot worse than inhabiting Sam Rockwell’s lovely, lovely body and life (and possibly get a shot at both Mila and Scarlett anyway). Of course, if either me or you, did leap into his frame he’d automatically become massively less awesome, therefore leaving me with the feeling that the Quantum Leap accelerator is really a bit poo. Unlike Sam…
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If, like me, you get far too over-excited about ‘event movies’ and, for example, spend days before a Star Wars release swinging a lightsaber from dawn til dusk or, quite fittingly for this review, run around your house singing “I am Owen Man! NA-NA-NA-NA-NANA! Owen Man!” then you’ll also know the crushing disappointment of huge expectations.
While a sleeper hit has, by definition, no expectations around it, a sequel has nothing but. When the first Iron Man hit the screens, despite it being a Marvel tentpole flick, the buzz was fairly minimal. After release it was one of the most hotly anticpated new franchises going. So how does the superhero sequel compare to its brethrin?
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Some short films have only a smattering of humour going for them. Some short films are solely visually impressive. Some short films have nothing to offer but a sweeping statment. Logorama, winner of the best Animated Short Film at this years Oscars has all of this and more.
Utilising only contemporary logos for characters and background, Logorama begins like an animated, commercialised, Tarantino flick as the Michelin Men hunt a gun-toting Ronald McDonald. As the film gathers pace it takes on the disaster movie mantle, merging 2012 with every consumerists wet-dream.
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In cinemas across the country on May 14th, Ridley Scott’s imagining of Robin Hood promises action and adventure as the title character is reincarnated, Doctor Who-like, for another outing on celluloid.
But what makes this version of the classic story different to the others before it, most recently the much loved or loathed, (depending on your perspective), and undoubted cheese-fest that was Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
And what of Ridley Scott’s direction? Will this latest historical/martial epic mark a return to the highs of Gladiator, or another muddled and disjointed failure like Kingdom of Heaven.
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Last week Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the irrepressible creators of South Park, did what they do best by shining a big bright light on stupidity and ignorance wherever they can find it. In the second part of their celebratory 200th episode spectacular (which once again asked who Cartman’s father was, told Tom Cruise to step out of the closet and poked fun at gingers) the comedy duo stepped back into the ultimate taboo; showing the prophet Mohammed.
Or did they? As always, whether they did or didn’t isn’t the point. What is the point is that the reaction to the cartoon was exactly as you’d expect from anyone who follows dogmatic rules to their own behest. The part of Islamic doctrine that states you shouldn’t show Mohammed is obviously more important than the stuff about tolerance and love.
As headline grabbing as the South Park episodes have been, you only need to open a newspaper, switch on a radio or watch a Miley Cyrus film to realise offensiveness, like love, actually is all around. This makes me happy, let me tell you why…
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Do you like air? Not the French pop act famous for soundtracking The Virgin Suicides, but the oxygen, nitrogen, argon mix that goes into your lungs and helpes you live. I do. I think it’s great. I also like trees, clear skies and polar bears. Not that I’ve ever actually met a polar bear but I have no reason to see them homeless, begging for change.
On election day this year you have a choice between a few quid off your National Insurance, a chance to complain about immigration or the opportunity to say that you think that there are people out there who deserve a chance to stand up and say no to the callous way we treat our Earth and everything on it.
Without too much further persuasion to possibly look a few more years ahead on election day here is Adrain Ramsay, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, giving us his favourite film of all time ever…
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Posted by Owen Nicholls in Reviews
22/04/10
For most people starring in the mega-flop Evan Almighty would completely ruin their career. No matter how much good faith your supporting roles (Anchorman, Little Miss Sunshine) and television work (The Office) gained you, being at the centre of an epic of awfulness such as the Bruce Almighty sequel would cause you to live under a rock for years to come, scrounging a career in true life tales featuring huskies (I’m looking at you Paul Walker!).
But Steve Carell is impossible to dislike. Like a newborn kitten or the art of mutual masterbation, he’s just great. Films that fall a little flat like Get Smart, Bewitched and Dan In Real Life are always 100% tolerable just for having Steve’s face appear. Date Night is one of these movies.
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If, like me, you find trying to live a normal, functioning life impossible without the education of movies then join thisfilmison with our new ‘Guide’ segment. To help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of we’ll scour the film universe in order to pick up do’s and do not’s essential to fulfilling that fantasy silver screen life.
This week, in honour of Date Night, the new Steve Carell and Tina Fey comedy (read a full review here) we’re looking at all things woo related, or if you’re in your 70′s the world of courting.
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With just eighteen days before the release of Iron Man 2 the seemingly traditional viral marketing campaign has hit the web with a vengeance. The theme of said campaign centres around ‘Stark Expo 2010’, glimpsed briefly in the previously released trailers. The more you explore the intricate and comprehensive mix of viral videos, interactive maps and endorsement tie-ins the more apparent it becomes that the makers of Iron Man 2 have approached the marketing with the same conscientious, attention to detail with which they seem to have made the films.
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This weekend saw the airing of two light entertainment programmes with remarkable similarities and hugely contrasting opposites. Both featured musicians and singers performing other people’s work. Both had audiences showing their appreciation through the gesture of placing hands on hands. Both features men and women the British public wouldn’t recognise if they sat next to you in the pub.
One was on ITV with viewing figures above the first election debate. The other aired on BBC4 and achieved viewing figures south of the number of people who are already getting fed-up with my constant election referencing. One featured ‘Talent’ in it’s title. The other featured talent on its show. The latter was Way To Blue: The Songs Of Nick Drake (still available on BBCiplayer).
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