DVD & Digital Download Reviews

DVD & Digital Download reviews

Digital Download reviews sponsored by NBC/Universal & are denoted with DD by the review title.  A link to the download is also supplied under the review.

Centurion

After the frankly disappointing Doomsday, Neil Marshall returns with Centurion a film centrered around the story of the mysterious 9th Legion that marched north of Hadrian's Wall and never returned.  This is Neil Marshall's idea of what happened and is very similar in tone to both Descent, Dog Soldiers and Doomsday.  It's another movie where our heroes are up against the odds of not only nature, but a relentless enemy that will stop at nothing to destroy them.  The enemy in question is the Picts.  A ferocious band of Celts led by the mute Olga Kurylenko who is the woad covered tracker who chases a group of the 9th Legion back out of the north, trying to make sure they never reach their destination.

As this is a Neil Marshall film, there are pleasing amounts of gore, hacked of limbs, disembowelments and all the other staples you would expect from Mr Marshall.  Unfortunately the story sometimes gets forgotten while the deaths and maimings get more creative.  The cast though and what an interesting cast it is too Noel Clarke (Street style Roman) and Riz Ahmed (Asian Roman)along with the enigmatic Michael Fassbender, make sure this is never a run of the mill pursuit movie.  Although at times you do wonder if Noel Clarke will threaten to 'shank' someone.

The scenery is harsh and foreboding and when we do get a break from the violence, the setting in the dank woods still keep you on edge, keeping you on the edge of your seat praying that there's not about to be a spear out of nowhere to slam into someone's head.  The brief love story that is intimated late on does seem a bit strange and even a bit bolted on, but still the level of acting going on from the entire cast carry's all the quirks through.  The direction is assured and the tone throughout is fairly even.  If there is any complaint it would be that, that there is not enough of Domonic West, Axelle Carolyn (Mrs. Neil Marshall) and Noel Clarke, although that would have ended up with too many cast members left at the end.

Once the set up is done away with and we get into the chase part of the film, things really pick up.  In places it's pretty tense as you wonder if they will make it and/or whose next for a grisily end.  Also the brief running time (97 Minutes), make sure that things never get dull or slow down.  All in all a solid effort from Neil Marshall, not his best film, but not far off.

Extras:

• Audio commentary with director Neil Marshall, cinematographer Sam McCurdy, production designer Simon Bowles and special make-up effects designer Paul Hyett
• The Lost Legion Featurette
• Getting Down and Dirty Featurette
• Guts and Gore Featurette
• Fireballs, Stunts & Mayhem Featurette
• Deleted Scenes - with introduction from director Neil Marshall
• Production Design Gallery
• Outtakes

Overall Rating:

Extras:

Clash of the Titans 

 

In a remake of the 80's classic starring Harry Hamlin, Laurence Oliver and Ray Harryhausens stop motion creatures, we return to the land of Argo and Perseus (Sam Worthington), son of Zeus and his battle to save Princess Andromeda from the jaws of the mighty Kraken.  But first he will have to cross to the underworld to take on Medusa and on the way take on giant scorpions, Calibos, and various other nasties.  Perseus is hellped in his quest by Io (Gemma Arteton) a demi god who has watched Perseus from birth, a band of Argo soilders led by Draco (Mads Mikkleson) and a blue eyed Djin (Think mystical Chewbacca (In actual fact there are a lot of resmebelances to the Star Wars films here, the Kraken is a bit like the Rancor, Gemma Arteton makes for a very good Princess Leia and even Ralph Fiennes as Hades does a god Emperor.. But we digress)).  Meanwhile Zeus (Liam Neeson) and Hades (Ralph Fiennes)  are having their own battle for the control of Mount Olympus and the humans below...

Louis Letterier had a hard job on his hands with the remake of Clash of the Titans.  Pretty much revered by anyone who remebered it from the 80's but has mangaged to produce a film with neither lives up to the original or ruins the memory with a bad remake.  It's OK.  However for the most part that can be ignored as Clash features some very fine action and CGi sequences. 

The cast for the most part fit in just fine with Gemma Arteton and Mads Mikkleson coming out of the film the best.  Unfortunately while not a bad actor and looking the part Sam Worthington just can't carry the film, as potentially exposed in his previous films (Avatar, Terminator Salvation), although he looks the part and does the right things, there's something about him that makes him unable to carry these films and is dependant on those around him to cover his inadequacies and help carry these films off, which once again is on display here.  Although Mads Mikkleson and his band of Argo soilders are the life and soul of the quest to claim Medusa's head they collectively look like members of an 80's hair metal band and you half expect them to whip out some electric guitars and crash out a few riffs before their fates are sealed.  Now to the Gods themselves in the shape of Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.  THese sequences on Mount Olympus are the most risable as it looks as Mr Neeson was only employed to deliver the 'RELEASE THE KRAKEN' line and nothing else, his weirdly shimmering armour and his weirdly reshaping beard become ever more distracting.  As for Ralph Fiennes, there's a good reason why you have seen nothing of him in any of the pre release material or trailers.  He looks utterly ridiculous as Hades dressed all in black with plenty of red eye makeup which just makes him look like a cery tired rendidtion of Ron Moody as Fagan in Oliver doing an impression of Voldermort in Harry Potter..  We potentially could have done without any of these sequences at all as they add nothing.  Looks like Danny Houston lucked out as Posiedon as he only has 2 lines throughout the whole film and does nothing else.  Easiest way to earn a paycheck for sure.

Overall it's an average action movie, with some above average performances.  What should also be mentioned are the creatures.  While most people will harken for Ray Harryhausen's stop motion creatures, the new renditions of Medusa and the Kraken are incredible and the when the Kraken (Finally) arrives it's something to behold.  (Shame they kill it off as quick as it arrives),  The battle with Calbos's Giant Scorpions are excellent sequences too.  It's these sections that Letterier does himself real justice as they are staged perfectly and the big monsters work mostly from his experince on the Hulk movie.

Oh and for those of you who remember the original, yes Bubo does make an appearance...

Extras:

• Maximum Movie Mode: Harnessing The Gods
• Sam Worthington: Action Hero
• Alternate Ending

Overall Rating:

Extras:

Green Zone (DD)

Roy Miller (Matt Damon) is a squad leader charged with being the team that goes to the suspected WMD sites during the Iraq conflict.  Arriving at several of these sites and findng that they are empty and look like they have never been used for the supposed sites he starts to get increasingly frustrated with the intel his team is receiving as he believes that it is completely wrong.

At one of the sites in a playground in the middle of a town one of the locals comes forward and informs Roy that there is a meeting going on jjust down the road with some high level Iraqi officials.  Roy takes the chance on the news and storms the house.  They capture several Iraqis but Ayad Hamza or as he is more commonly known to the US troops the Jack of Clubs (The most wanted appeared on a deck of playing cards during the conflict which were handed out to the groud troops so they would know if they came across any of them) but he manages to escape.  When bringing back the prisoners they are hijacked by a US special forces team and taken off their hands.

Even more frustrated Niller managed to hide a diary that  one of the prisoners had which reveals all of the safe houses for Ayad Hamza’s people.   Miller realising not is all that is seems is approached by a member of the CIA who confirms Millers thoughts.  Now working alongside the CIA it’s a race against time as the Special forces seek to ‘keep quiet’ any chance of the secrets that they hold getting out and wiping out any chance of getting the truth  out there.

With the whole of the team that brought us the Bourne movies you know you are dealing with a high quality level of film making here.  The setting and cinematography makes Iraq look vast and labrynthian at the same time and beautiful despite the destruction that has raged during the conflict.  The action sequences are handled effectively with enough crash bang wallop added in to keep you glued to the mystery that unfolds before your eyes. 

The cast are solid with Damon looking especially comfortable in the lead role, which since Bourne seems to be able to just drop into.  Unfortunately we don’t get to see nearly enough of Jason Issacs as Briggs the leader of the special forces team and his fantastic moustache.

The Green Zone at times is electrifying with bullets wizzing and Miller trying to just reveal the truth and prove that there is more going on here than just a simple search for WMDs.  We all now know the truth about what really happened and you just can’t help thinking how much of this film is based on fact?  A solid thriller with heavy doses of action.  For anyone who liked the Bourne films or a decent War film then this is for you.

Overall Rating:

Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart is the story of Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) a broken down, fading country star, who inbetween travelling to small town gigs, is slowling killing his reputation because of his drinking.  Until one of the towns he plays in he meets young divorcee Jean (Maggie Gyllenahaal), an aspiring journalist who wants to run a story on Blake and find out what has become to this former country star.  They soon fall into a relationship and this spurns on Blake to sort his life out and rebuild his career with a chance in a support slot with his former protege Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell).

Blake manages to hold it together for a while but before soon the cracks begin to show and Blake comes to a crossraods either carry on his self destructive path or get into rehab, sort himself out and put his life and career back together.

Based in part on Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard.  The book is inspired by the life of country singer Hank Thompson.  The film itself manages to incorporate aall of these men to create a towering perfomance in the shape of Bad Blake, thanks in no part by Jeff Bridges who lifts the entire proceedings with a masterful performance which has already garned him some awards and has him currently sitting in the red hot favorite position to carry off the Oscar at the end of March.

The story however is formulaic and would actually be pretty dull if it wasn't for the superb cast.  Jeff Bridges in particular lifts this out of generic rut it could have fallen into.  Add into the mix the ever dependable Robert Duvall as Blakes best friend and Gyllenhaal once again is a pure delight to watch.  More surprisingly Colin Farrell can actually hold a tune and do a decent southern accent as well.  Farrell only appears fleetingly but is totally convincing as the protege who has risen above his mentor and become a superstar (based on Garth Brooks?).

As mentioned about the story and direction Scott Cooper, it drags and if it wasn't for the central performnces you would be looking at a 2 star movie.  Also, if you watch Walk Hard: Thje Dewey Cox Story, you can't help but think they were taking the rise out of this film.  Well worth checking out though as previously mentioned due to the incredible acting performances throughout.  The music is performed by the actors too and Bridges, once again scores highly as his voice sounds like he's been doing it for years.

Extras:

• six deleted scenes
• Theatrical trailer

Overall Rating:

Extras:

Extraordinary Measures

With two of his children suffering from a life threatning disease Pompee syndrome and being told by doctors there is no hope, a idealistic father, John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) leaves his job and takes on the risk of joining forces with reclusive medical researcher, Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford), who has workable theories but has never brought any of them as viable medicines. Together, this unlikely pair face impossible odds as they battle the entire medical establishment and time itself to find a cure before it's too late.  Inspired by the book "The Cure" by Greeta Anand.

Extraordinary Measures has the look and feel of one of those mid afternoon 'real life' tearjerkers that you would see on TV.  Despite featuring a stellar cast (Brendan Fraser is outstanding, Harrison Ford however is just plain grumpy and shouty), it should work, but it doesn't.  It's not that it's bad, it's not.  It's just not that convincing either.  If it wasn't for one of the extra features on the DVD featuring the real family, which is far more emotional in 10 minutes than the entire 1 and 40 of the film, then this would be no doubts called soulless. 

However foir those of you who like their true to lkife emotional family dramas, then this is for you.  Also if you liked films such as Lorenzo's Oil (Which is a far better choice) you will probably blub all the way to the end credits.

Extras:

• Behind the scenes
• Deleted scenes

Main Feature:

Extras:

Edge of Darkness  

Mel Gibson returns to the front of the camera for the first time in 7 years to star in Martin Campbells conversion from TV to Movie version of the 80’s drama Edge of Darkness.  The story follows cop Tom Craven, whose daughter is brutally slain on his doorste after she comes for a surprise visit.  At first Tom is believed the intended victim but after a few anomalies come to light it seems that his daughter was embroiled in a cover up operation involving the Government and a local nuclear powerplant.  His quest for answers are sometimes helped and sometimes hindered along the way by the mysterious Darius Jedbah (Ray Winstone) reaching an inevitable violent climax as the shocking truth strarts to come to the surface.

In what is Mel Gibsons first acting job in 7 years you think he would have gone all out with a full on action pic or comedy, but what he chooses here is the film that tries hard but ultimately fails as it repeadtledy is it’s own undoing with some ghastly plot devices, scripting and denoument.  Mel Gibson delivers an accent which sounds like Mickey Rooney for the most part, his cop on the edge is nothing more than a collision of Mad Max and Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon.  Ray Winstone is no better, woefully out of his depth in a role that was originally intended for Robert De Niro, he is the weakest link showing up at the most inopportune moments and doesn’t add anything to the overall plot.  The insistence on doing deep voice talking (made famous by Christian Bale in the Batman films) to sound scary is borderline ridiculous.

The direction however is strong enough to hold the weak movie together.  It should be as Martin Campbell has been through this story once before as previously mentioned he directed the original TV series.  As with these remakesthe action has been  relocated to America, which doesn't necessarily add anything, maybe a bit more realism as you can imagine this kind of underhanded type of behaviour happening.  Overall this is a sub par thriller featuring a bunch of characters you don’t care about.  So when the ending creeps in  you will know there is only one way it is going to turn out considering the people Tom is up against.

Extras:

Overall Rating:

Extras:

44 Inch Chest

Colin Diamond (Ray Winstone) is a successful car salesman, who after discovering his wife Liz is having an affair has an emotional breakdown. His friends convince him to kidnap his wife's lover and then encourage him to torture and kill him.

Diamond's partners in crime are suave homosexual gambler Meredith (Ian McShane), crotchety and bigoted Old Man Peanut (Hurt), the down to earth Archie (Tom Wilkinson) and the combustible Mal (Stephen Dillane), who by turns encourage Colin's lust for revenge and sympathise with his situation, and conspire to emotionally and mentally torture Liz's new man, Loverboy, first by locking him in a cupboard and threatening him, and then tying him up and subjecting him to humiliating verbal and physical assault.

  The film has the look and feel of a stage play brought to the screen, with simplistic use of sets, a decent cast (Which are fully wasted) etc.  The film is a utter mess with brief decent bits of acting buried in reams of expletive hewn dialogue doesn't offer much and the cast are left floundering.

Of the cast John Hurt and Joanne Whalley stand out from the others, in what slowly becomes a slow, turgid and expletive driven thriller that ends up going nowhere.  If you have run out of all other options then you may want to give this a look.  The most surprising thing around this film is that it comes from the writer and team that gave us Sexy Beast.  Which is far superior to this film and you'd probably be better off rewatching that.

Extras:

• Trailer
• Audio Description

Main Feature:

Extras:

The Wolfman (DD)

Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) receiveing a letter from his brothers fiancee Gwen (Emily Blunt),  who informs him his brother is missing and she implores him to help with the search.  When he gets home he discovers he is too late as his brothers body has been found in a ditch by the road.  Stricken with grief, old memory returns of the untimely death of his mother, his father (Anthony Hopkins) does little to console him.  He travels to the local village of Blackmore where the locals are rife with tales of the crazy man who is doing the killing, others however feel it is the work of something entirely more sinister.

Gwen asks Lawrence to find out who killed hhis brother and his investigations take him to the nearby gypsy caravan.  When he gets there a local mob also arrive intent on taking revenge on the gypsys as they believe they may have something to do with the killings as they started soon after they arrived.  Unfortunately for all of them the beast also decnds on the carvan and leaves little left after tearing through the group.  Lawrence escapes with his life barely, but after being bittetn finds himself undergoing the transformation into a werewolf on the next full moon.  In his quest for answers he discovers that the answers to all his questions may lie closer to home than he may have wanted.  With the law closing in on him led by the driven Aberline (Hugo Weaving) time is running out for the Talbot's...

The Wolfman is a throwback to the old school art form of horror school making with more reliance on the natural jumps, double bluffs and scares in a style long forgotten in a CGI age.  With more than a passing resembelance to Francis Ford Copolla's take on Bram Stokers Dracula, this is briming with Gothic foreboding. The Wolfman effects are incredible and terrifying at the same time.  The gore is kept in check but at the same time doesn't leave much to the imagination as the full horror of the Wolfman's rampage takes place.

The cast are superb with Del Toro leading the way with the troubled Lawrence.  Anthony Hopkins is in maleovent form as Sir John Talbot in a perfomance which features some of Lecter simmering away in the background.  Emily Blunt shows once again why her star is rising fast and Hugo Weaving is the glue that holds this gothic jigsaw puzzle altogether as the relentless Scotland Yard Inspector Aberline.  The cast outshine the effects which is excellent as you are mesmerised by their performances as this modern gothic horror unfolds.

Joe Johnston is once again in his element directing the beasts and controlloing your emotions asyou wonder where the next scare is coming from.  Jurassic Park III and Jumanji held him in good stead for this.  Overall the old school and even the new school CGI gore hounds should enjoy this at times very scary gothic rollercoaster with ease.  At last a remake that does it's original justice by keeping enough of the original while adding the modern film making element in. 

It's time to bay at the full moon once more... OOoooowwwww!!!!!

iTunes link:    http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=23708&a=1816394&url=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2FWebObjects%2FMZStore.woa%2Fwa%2FviewMovie%3Fid%3D366939156%26s%3D143444%26uo%3D6%26partnerId%3D2003

Overall Rating: