Movie Review - Predestination

Predestination

2014

Screen Australia / Screen Queensland / Blacklab Entertainment / Wolfhound Pictures

Stage 6 Films / Signature Entertainment / Arclight Films

7.5 / 10

This is a very well sculptured and acted time travelling tale about an agent who is on his final mission to stop the fizzle bomber.  Throughout all his travels back in time, the bomber has always appeared to be one step ahead of him.

The Spierig Brothers, Michael and Peter, wrote a nicely crafted and layered story based on the Robert A Heinlein's story "All you zombies".  As directors, they do a fantastic job of bringing the story to the screen and getting the best out of their actors.  I've always rated Ethan Hawke and here he excels as The Barkeep; the agent on his last assignment.  Along with Sarah Snook, who is brilliant as The Unmarried Mother, they add a touch of class to the movie.

This is not an action-packed movie as it relies on the story rather than glossy special effects and fight scenes.  At times, it's slow and thought-provoking as the audience is slowly immersed in an emerging mystery.  The climax makes Oldboy's seem tame in comparison.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this film...

Except for one thing...

From H G Wells' The Time Machine to Doctor Who to Back To The Future to Dr Who there's been one absolute that a time traveller must not do... but they always do...  The paradox.  Unfortunately, if you like science fiction and time travel then you will probably figure out the ending of the film before it comes.  I had an inkling in the first scene.  Then, by the twentieth minute, I'd got most of it figured out.  Ten minutes after that I understood.  Which left two-thirds of the film left to go.

However, this wasn't much of an issue as the film pretty much carries itself strongly throughout and I enjoyed every minute of it, right up to the chilling finale.

This is not a film for everybody, though if you don't mind the slower dramatic style of moviemaking then you should enjoy this film.

Movie Review - Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society

Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Solid State Society

2006

Production I G

Bandai Entertainment / Manga Entertainment

8.25 / 10

I don't know if this was intended to be the third season / Gig in the Stand Alone Complex series.  I say this as it could very well have been stretched out into the twenty-six episodes the series runs.  However, the one and three-quarter hour film manages to get the point across admirably, while still getting the audience to think of what may be ahead for the human population.

Togusa is now in charge of Section 9 after Major Kusanagi retired two years previous.  While on a mission, he and his team stumble upon a lead to an Ultra-Wizard Class Hacker the "Puppet Master".  This, in turn, leads them to other conundrums and secrets, including the children that are going missing in the city which nobody knows about.  Not only do Section 9 have to investigate and solve these mysteries but they also have to resolve issues within the team, due to the major's retirement.

Even with the complexities of the story and all the twists and turns within it, the screenwriters Shotaro Suga, Yoshiki Sakurai, and Kenji Kamiyama (who also directed) do a great job to tie it all together in a comprehensible and intelligent way.

For me, this is the best of the three storylines in the Stand Alone Complex series as it holds some viewpoints that are relative today.  We already have puppet masters in today's society and our elderly population is living longer, it's not too far of a stretch to imagine the film's visions becoming future truth, should we start to wonder down the techno-path.  People are already talking about populace explosion...  These are issues to fire up the brain cells.

The animation is on par with the series, which is to say, of a high caliber, though still not up to the beauty of the 1995 original, and this can be said for the direction and soundtrack also.

You do not need to watch the Stand Alone Complex series to enjoy this film as it is a stand alone in its own right.  I would recommend that you at least watch the original Ghost In The Shell before checking this out, though it's not necessary.  You do need to set time aside to watch the movie, any interruptions may affect your overall enjoyment and understanding of the story.  It's also a film NOT to watch with people who don't get the concepts of Cyber Punk Science Fiction...

Movie Review - Terminator Genisys

Terminator Genisys

(2015)

Annapurna Pictures / Paramount Pictures / Skydance Media : Paramount Home Media Distribution

8.25 / 10

Yet another Terminator time-travelling yarn.  This time, because of previous alterations in the past, when this new timeline's John Connor sends Kyle Reese back to save his mother and himself from Skynet he is attacked by an unknown assailant.  Kyle see's this and as he passes back through time he catches some strange images of his younger self.

One of the reasons I loved this movie was the superb homage to the original by recreating some of the opening segments; this was a brave and daring move by the writers Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier, and director Alan Taylor.  This could have gone so wrong... but it was so right.  Even more so, because the humour that appeared in T2 and was missing in the first as it was played more seriously, is here in these recreated scenes.

When Reese lands in this timeline he finds that the Terminator he is following is not the only one on the hunt for Sarah Connor.  From here on it's a race, not to shut down Skynet as that never come to fruition, but the Skynet AI, which has only been delayed and is now branded as Genisys.  A total package app that will allow users to have control over all their gadgets... as will the AI.  This AI will bring on a nuclear devastation as well as give birth to the Terminators.

However, all of this leads to some paradoxes, one of which I really loved, though I couldn't really bring myself to believe it was actually an option.  I don't like spoilers so I won't say anything else, though you'll spot it when it happens.

The special effects are, as always, brilliant and larger than life.  Taylor does a great job of keeping the pace going throughout the film, right from the tribute at the beginning to the reveal at the climax.

Arnie Schwarzenegger is still the Terminator and it was great to see him back in the role, both real and CGI'd.  He brings a nice joyful feel to the character, which is strange saying he's playing an android.  This humour was added in T2 and worked really well, now he feels as though he's part of the family.  A Terminator film isn't a Terminator film without Arnie.  Now they have his CGI image he can keep appearing forever.

However, though Emilia Clarke, did a nice job as Sarah Connor I still preferred Linda Hamilton's strong single-minded character in T2.

I also wasn't too keen on this film's John Connor, played by Jason Clarke, or Kyle Reese, played by Jai Courtney.  Maybe because the original film had such an impact when I first saw it. Michael Biehn was a much better Reese and I could believe the sexual chemistry between him and Sarah... that chemistry is lacking in this film - John Connor may never be born.  Even John Connor's character isn't without flaws, he doesn't appear to be from Sarah's loins or even a "super" soldier created from her extensive training after his birth.

These slight issues could be down to the writer, director, or actor.  However, it doesn't stop the movie from being good fun... and giving plenty of scope for a sequel.

If you enjoy The Terminator films then you will like this one.  I would recommend you to give this a viewing, at least once.  If you've not watched a single Terminator film then don't start here, go back to the original, you won't be disappointed.

Movie Review - Ghost In The Shell - The New Movie

Ghost In The Shell - The New Movie

(2015)

FUNimation Entertainment / I G Production : FUNimation Entertainment

8.25 / 10

Though this sequel prequel is better than the first sequel, Ghost In The Shell - Innocence, it still doesn't match up to the original, Ghost In The Shell.

What the screenwriters John Burgmeier, Clint Bickham, and Tow Ubukata, give the audience is the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi and her perfect machine of paid mercenaries.  I like the idea that she sees her team as a well-oiled machine, each person represents a working part of the machine and every part (man) is required to make her perfect machine.  Since she is a cyborg, I could quite easily see her making this simile.  It's the story of how they were recruited into Section 9.

The story is stronger than the last as the Disney influence is no longer there and the philosophical issues are once again interwoven throughout the story, which helps to give it strength and carry the viewer along.  However, there are not as many twists in the tale.

Also, the CGI is used to much better ability, as it's mixed in with the traditional animation style to help build better effects and ambience.  I particularly liked the scene near the beginning where a child is running through a flowery archway...  The flowers are so bright and vivid it's very dreamlike.

There is so much right with this animation that I cannot pick any faults, except it's just not as hard-hitting as the original... or as stylised.

If you've watched the original then I'd say forget watching Innocence and opt to watch this one instead.  It's soo much better and has a similar taste, tone, and mood to the first.  These two together what a treat, not just for the eyes but for the mind also.