Ghost Town.

I'm trying to write these reviews a little more fresh from the movie, as I have been waiting a few days sometimes before writing them and it just means my thoughts stew together and get convoluted.  It seems that usually I think clearest just after having seen a movie, even if later on I don't always agree with myself.  So, despite having a few backdated reviews still to do, I am going to review Ghost Town as I have just came out of it.

Ghost Town.

So here is Ricky Gervais in his first title role, playing, well himself... if he was a dentist.  He does it rather well and is the funniest and best thing about the movie, however, he is sitting firmly in his comfort zone of uncomfortable awkward comedy.  Other than the laughs provided by Ricky Gervais the rest of the characters just seem superfluous, Greg Kinnear is just plain annoying most of the time, and Tea Leoni is only really there to provide something more 'real' for Gervais' comedy to bounce off of.  

 

As for the story, it is not good.  It borrows from many other movies, and feels distinctly similar to many others.  It all goes a bit midday Tv movie complete with cheesy lines and happy endings (I don't feel like that is giving too much away, it is a 12A after all.)  One scene in particular gave had me and my friend in hysterics as it seemed to be taken directly from the forgotten classic that is Just Like Heaven.  It was entertaining and diverting enough, you just felt at some times like they would shut-up with some of the dialogue and get to where you knew they were going with the plot.

All that being said, it was quite an enjoyable experience, I like Ricky Gervais and even the predictable and soppy story couldn't put that much of a dampener on the movie.

6/10

It seems that I have seen a lot of average movies lately, don't worry review of Burn After Reading is forthcoming, just have to psyche myself up for that one, as I think once I get going in will be hard not to ramble off into infinity.  

Stone of Destiny.

Stone of Destiny.

Stone of Destiny is a story about Scottish Patriotism.  It is a story set in Glasgow, and Glasgow Uni no less.  It is a story about getting one over on the english.  And it has Pippin from Lord of the Rings in it.  It would be impossible for me not to like this.

And so like it I did, despite the underdeveloped characters, the questionable script and the dodgy 'wee highland lass' accent of Kate Mara.  It was just one of those films that made you smile, infectiously, you just couldn't help it.  Saying all that though I was rather pleased with Charlie Cox's performance as the cheeky chappy leader of the group, Iain Hamilton.  It saddened me that I knew nothing of the taking of the stone before seeing this film, although perhaps that increased my enjoyment of it.

This was never going to be a classic, but I for one just couldn't help liking it.  Perhaps best not to take it too seriously as I think, being a PG and all it is best viewed in a light-hearted manner. 

6/10

very short review, just lost the train of thought I had and decided it was better ended there than being dragged out.

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime.

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime - I've loved you so long.

Incase you haven't guessed, it is French.  And it is a typically French film, although that is not a bad thing.  On the contrary, I think some of the films coming out of France just now are excellent, and this one ranks right up there with them.  Although not quite in the same league as say La Vie en Rose or Amelie Poulain, it never claims to attempt to scale the same heights that those two did.  Instead it is a very muted, psychological, character study, explaining closely the family relationship and how it can be stretched and tested.  

Kristin Scott Thomas is outstanding in the leading role, and it is her journey which keeps us interested throughout.  Some may complain that it moves to slow, but I think any greater pace would be misleading and detract from the main focus of the film; her re-emergence into society.  Elsa Zylberstein is also brilliant as the more 'adjusted' of the two sisters.  Portraying an emotional counterpoint to the somewhat steely character of Kristin Scott Thomas.  I think it is the excellent performances of these two that give the plot life, they stir up great amounts of empathy in the viewer and make us believe in the story.

There is a notion in film theory of the complete viewer, where our attention is taken completely be the screen and no other noise, or movement enters our mind.  Never more so have I felt this than with this film, perhaps the fact that there are subtitles there means a greater concentration is required on the part of the viewer, but not once did I turn and say something to the people I was with.  I think that it is in achieving this that the real strength of this film can be observed, it is not the perfect film, but it is a very good story, well told and brilliantly acted.

7/10

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.

In a fit of productivity I have decided to write another review.  Immediately after having written the Step Brothers one!  I know, I know, crazy stuff.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Simon Pegg does America.

Having seen the trailers for this movie, I did not hold high hopes for it.  I think I only went to see it to see how Simon Pegg would function outside of his the niche he has managed to carve for himself.  I realise there has been Run, Fatboy Run - which I have thus far vehemently avoided watching and Big Nothing - which I have thus far unsuccessfully tried to erase from my memory, but this for me is his first proper Hollywood outing.  Despite its British Film Council and Film Four funding I still can't see any movie with Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges and Megan Fox as being anything like independent.  

Whole paragaph gone and I haven't even started to say what I thought.  Perhaps that is because my thoughts can be perfectly encapsulated in one word; meh.  At moments it was funny, at moments you felt some sort of empathy for the characters, but far too often it seemed like a lot of things I'd seen before but not quite as good.  I think I could've just watched the first ten minutes, went had a pint, came back for the last five and not really needed any catching up.  It's a rom-com, we know what happens, and then it does, and this is fulfilment?  This movie is consigned to the easily forgettable stuff that is churned out over and over again to entertain couples.  It is just that, a second date movie.  Not one for the DVD collection.

5/10

-no star thing, its only been two minutes-

Quite a short review actually.  Any excuse for that picture of Megan Fox.

Step Brothers.

It has been a week or so since my last review.  General laziness on my part, but hopefully I will keep this more updated from now on. 

Step Brothers - A return to form?

Will Ferrell has went downhill lately, following the excellent Anchorman and Talladega Nights his movie went into a bit of a slump in my opinion with Blades of Glory and the distinctly average Semi-Pro.  It is perhaps a symptom of this downturn in form that has seen the Set Rogen, Judd Apatow, Evan Goldberg group to emerge so triumphantly.  Step Brothers, however, is most definitely a return to form as it sees him reunited with John C. Reilly and has them both performing at their comic best.  Ok, its not the most nuanced of plots and it never even attempts to make any grand statement about life, but that is precisely why it works.  It is just plain funny.  Gut wrenching humour at its finest, this reminds why for a while we flocked to see anything Will Ferrell name appeared on.

The support cast are all excellent also, with Adam Scott in particular playing the annoying brother so convincingly that most of the movie I wanted to punch his smiling face almost as much as the characters.  Although, that might have something to do with his likeness to a certain Mr. Cruise.  

I'd like to think I was planning a long in depth review here, but the truth is there isn't much to say about Step Brothers, except that it is the perfect saturday night movie.  One I could watch again and again and still find funny.  Let's just hope Will Ferrell can follow this up with another one to rival Judd Apatow's lot.

7/10 

I know I said I'd make fancy star things, and at one point I will...maybe.

First Review: Tropic Thunder.

So I was thinking of how I should rate these movies.  The classic 5 star system, or some sort of percentage system, or even try to be 'unique' by pilfering Roger Ebert's 4 star system.  Well, I've decided to follow the IMdb and go for a 10 star rating thing.  I chose this because it means I can have more variety in my scores - because you can get an excellent 4 star movie and then a only great 4 star movie - without having the annoyance of giving a precise percentage mark.  In these reviews I will attempt to give away no more of the plot than what is revealed in the trailers, as it is a personal gripe of mine when reviewer give away twists of any sort.

On to the review.

Tropic Thunder surprised me.  It wasn't particularly good, it just wasn't the complete off-the-mark flop that many of my friends had led me to believe.  That being said, I do feel -  having recently watched Pineapple Express - that Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux could've just allowed for more jokes to shine through.  At times they seemed caught between slapstick and satire.  A prime example of this being the 'trailers' at the beginning of the film, surely over the top action films and rappers turned actors is easy fodder, but the audience I was a part of barely chuckled.  Often it felt as if there was a perfect set-up for a joke but no real punchline.  No real bite.  

On to the performances and Downey Jnr. shines through strongest, bringing back memories of the hilarious Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  Whereas, Jack Black and Ben Stiller seem muted and at times unsuited to the whole thing.  Ben Stiller just seemed out of place with bulging muscles and a tank top, I'm far too used to seeing him bungling his way through awkward situations and tripping over his own words. (I realise he was both bulging and tanktopped in Dodgeball but in Tropic Thunder it is much more understated.)  I also thought that Jay Baruchel and Brandon T. Jackson both held their own remarkably well alongside their more famous co-stars.  However, Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey both just proved a nuisance and annoyance every time they came on screen.  It felt like such a missed opportunity for the writers, here they have Tom Cruise playing a bald, fat, hairy, sweary man, who dances and they fail to make it funny.  Perhaps American audiences or perhaps my dislike of all his recent performances has made me biased, I'll leave up in the air. 

Anyway, quick summary as this is my first review and it is now 4 a.m.  Tropic Thunder feels like a missed opportunity, in the hands of more experienced writers I think it could have great.  But, as it is it only manages to get past average.  A good way to spend a hours with friends it certainly is, but not one I personally will be reliving. 

6/10

-later on I promise to make a nice wee image for the stars here, just not right now-

reivews upcoming: Step Brothers

                                  Wall-E

 

Birth of a waste of time.

Hello, and welcome to Please Feed Pet Shark.  This is going to predominantly be a blog for movie reviews, occasional book reviews and maybe some general wonderings.  It will immensely surprise me, if anyone other than myself, is even vaguely interested in what I write here.  However, with the internet, you just never know.

So, please allow me to introduce myself, I am a Glasgow University student currently studying film and literature.  This blog will hopefully allow me to vent my thoughts about both of those things coherently enough that I can turn them into essays, get my degree, make lots of money, and forget all about this blog.  I wanted to name the blog something, witty, something funny, something relating to film and literature, something Scottish even, but in the end I have settled for something that was written on a scrap piece of paper next to me. The Birth of Please Feed Pet Shark.