Movie Review - Jurassic World

Jurassic World

2015

The Cast

Since the early '90's I've enjoyed the Jurassic Park novels and movies.  Not only were they groundbreaking for their special effects but they were intelligent stories, which were well filmed and acted by a stellar cast.  I even have to admit to enjoying the third film in the series, which a lot of people have put down.  So, when I saw this episode was on the drawing board I was a happy bunny.  However, when I saw the cast line up and the story synopsis I decided I'd wait until the film made it onto telly.  Two years from the release and the movie is on...  Boy, was I glad I waited(?)  What the hell were the writers and director thinking of(?)  There are so many holes in the story it leaks crap in the majority of scenes.  The acting ranges from abysmal to average.  And, the special effects appear to be below par for the time - the opening corvid shot is really horrendous.

Poor Michael Crichton is turning in his grave.

What the first three films showed was that Murphy's Law was more than prevalent on an island where dinosaurs roamed.  So what do we find when the film starts(?)  The park is open and has been running for a few years.  You just know they've been lucky so far and that their luck is soon to run out.  Then we learn the scientists are creating new "Dinosaurs" to keep the punters happy and spending their money.  I can hear Malcolm screaming now, "Will these idiots ever learn?" - Evidently not Malcolm.  Even worse is that on the other side of the island they're trying to train raptors.  Though we're never really told why they're being trained, there is a military element which wants them as weapons (yawn, what else(?)...).  I think it's because somebody had a great idea for a CGI scene later in the film... and this is the only way they could link it in.

This leads me to the CGI Choreography because this is what it is.  There are sometimes when it's just way too overcooked to be believable.  The nannies, Zara's (Katie McGrath) dance of death is a particular case in subject.  For me, this was just ludicrous and stupid.

Back to the errors in the story, saying that there were no "Dangerous" animals on the island so the customers were never at risk was an outright lie.  Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), who runs the island actually believes this, even though the latest creation, which she signed off on, is very dangerous... as well as the raptors... which she also knew about... then at the climax of the film... well, this is one woman you shouldn't trust - ever.

One annoying thing, for me, was when Claire reprimands a colleague for wearing an antique Jurassic Park T-Shirt because it could be upsetting to the customers because people died there.  The thing is, he never mingles with the vacationers.  Secondly, the voice on the tannoy, at one point, actually welcomes everybody to Jurassic Park - Not Jurassic World!

I also hated the kids in this film.  A geek and a trainee stalker.  At least with the original kids, Tim and Lex you could relate to them, this, on the whole, is because there were well written and well acted.  Grey (Ty Simpkins) and Zack (Nick Robinson) are pretty two dimensional and boring, which can also be said for the rest of the cast, especially Claire.  Only Chris Pratt, as Owen, and Vincent D'Onofrio, as Hoskins, give decent performances, though their characters are very cliched.

This is one boring, seen it all before, cliche-ridden film that I'd not recommend to anyone - even if the end scene is quite entertaining.  I'll not watch this again and I cannot believe there's a sequel in the pipeline.

I give this prehistoric turkey a Jurassic 4.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

Honest Trailers (just 'cause it's awesomely funny)

- BEWARE SPOILERS -

How It Should Have Ended (just 'cause it's better than the film)

- BEWARE SPOILERS -

Everything Wrong With...  (just 'cause I support this guy's talent)

- SPOILERS DOH!!! -

Video Nasty - Cannibal Apocalypse

Cannibal Apocalypse

1980

Edmondo Amati Presents / Jose Frade Producciones Cinematograficas S A / New Fida

Almi Cinema 5 / Cinefear / Replay Video / Video Program Distributors VPD

5.25 / 10

What the writers Antonio Margheriti, who also directed, and Dardano Sacchetti give the viewers of Cannibal Apocalypse is a cannibalistic thriller with a twist of zombie fetish... and it works.

While fighting in the Vietnam war Charlie Buckowski and Tom Thompson are captured and imprisoned in a pit with very little to eat.  During a rescue by Norman Hopper a Vietcong falls into the pit; unfortunately for her, the prisoners are ravenous and start to tear her apart with their teeth as they feast.  Once back in the USA all of the team are subject to psychological tests.  Though it's only when Charlie is released that things start to take a darker turn.  As he's trying to kill time by going to the cinema he has the urge to devour the woman in the seat in front of him.  As she and her amorous boyfriend start to make out Charlie leans forward and takes a bite...  Meanwhile, Hopper who was bitten by Charlie during the rescue is starting to feel the hunger too...    Can the apocalypse be stopped before everybody become infected?

However, it's the rest of the pieces which deter from the film.  The acting, on the whole, is above average, even Giovanni Lombardo Radice (Charlie) performs better than he did in Cannibal Ferox.  John Saxon does a more than passable portrayal as Hopper, a man trying to help his friend while trying to resolve the mystery.  There's even a shining light in the shape of Cinzia De Carolis who is brilliant as the blossoming teenager Mary who has a crush on  Hopper.  Even Luca Venantini as Bobby (Mary's younger brother) gives a few good creepy kid scares.  However, it's Tony King's over-the-top acting as Thompson that hinders the film, as well as the actors representing the bike gang, and most of the extra's.

The direction, though above average could have been helped by adding a little more action as well as tension to the atmosphere of the film as the pace of the story is pretty regular throughout, another drawback to this type of movie.  A few iconic shots and differing camera angles wouldn't have gone amiss either.  However, the bad lines in the film actually help to keep the audience unintentionally entertained.  I loved the scene where the cop transforms into a Cannibal and when his superior officer confronts him, while he's devouring a colleagues hand, he says in a caring tone, "My God son, put it down."  Awesome scene.

This is an enjoyable film and I would definitely recommend it to everyone especially if you like Zombies or Cannibals.  This is, in fact, storywise, one of the strongest Cannibal movies made.  Since it doesn't feel like a horror film, as there's not enough eeriness (which is harder to create due to it being shot mainly in daylight) you can enjoy it in the full daylight - no need to watch at night or in the darkness behind closed curtains.  Well worth one viewing, though you may just find yourself coming back to it again... and again...

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Cannibal Apocalypse

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 - Death Race 2050

Death Race 2050

(2017)

Universal 1440 Entertainment / New Horizons Picture : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

8.25 / 10

Way back in 1975 Roger Corman gave us the great Death Race 2000 which introduced us to race car driver Frankenstein in a dystopian future where vehicular manslaughter gets the driver points.  In 1978 Corman gave us Deathsport a similar concept and once again starring John Carradine.  In some countries, this released under Death Race 2050, though it wasn't a sequel.

Now in 2017 Corman is back with the real deal.

And what a deal it is.  The Death Race is still running and the United Corporations of America are making the money off the back of the games.  Frankenstein is still unhappy with his role as the favourite and the puppet of The Chairman; all he wants to do is race... he's a racecar driver.  The Chairman, knowing Frankenstein's feelings has arranged for a replacement in a genetically perfect human, Jed Perfectus.  Then there are the rebels who are tired of being controlled by the corporations and decide to fight back by attacking the race and the drivers.

What director and writer G J Echternkamp, along with fellow writer Matt Yamashita bring the audience is a wonderful satire wrapped up in a schlocky B-Movie.  I particularly loved the crappy in car scenes where they go back to the 70's style of screen driving... the actors sit in a stationary car while the landscape plays behind them on green-screen.

There are some nice story elements which bring the film up-to-date.  In this race, the drivers have a passenger.  The passenger is the gateway for the virtual reality ridealongs.  This is a nice addition as it allows for a building of characters, whereas the first movie was more race and kill based.

Malcolm McDowell is brilliant as The Chairman, camping it up whenever possible... and you have to love that hair.  Though it's Manu Bennett as Frankenstein that steals the show.  John Carradine was good but Bennett adds a little more depth to the character and I like his portrayal the better of the two.

If you ever wondered what the great thing about B-movies was or what a makes a good Roger Corman production then give this film a view.

If you like funny films with a story and a point of view then give this a view.

If you want a good night in with a good film... then give this a view.

And sing with Minerva Jefferson and myself...  Drive, Drive, Drive,.  Kill, Kill, Kill.  Drive.  Kill.  Drive.  Kill.  Drive.  Kill.  Drive.  Kill.

Movie Review - Ghost In The Shell

Ghost In The Shell

(1995)

Kodansha / Bandai Visual Company / Manga Entertainment : Metrodome Distribution / Anchor Bay Entertainment

10 / 10

I had quite forgotten how wonderful, inciteful, imaginative, and beautiful this film is.  Since Hollywood is making their own version of this film I thought I would revisit the original itself.

America will ruin this movie.

What writer, Masamune Shirow (Manga Author), and screenwriter, Kazunori Ito, give the audience in Ghost In The Shell is a deep and thought-provoking story of a world on the edge of great change.  It's the year 2029 and most of the population have been augmented with machinery and computerisation.  People are able to send thoughts through the wires and electronic ether to each other as well as verbally.  Cyborgs are used to help to police the civilisations.

Major Motoko Kusanagi is one of these cyborgs.  She works for Section Nine who are on the trail of The Puppet Master; a hacker who can infiltrate his way into a person's shell and use their ghost to assassinate officials.  Though, The Puppet Master is not what he seems.

As the story progresses and the truth is revealed we asked a question...  What actually represents life?  This looks to be a simple question, however, in the context of the story it expands to absorbing and provocative magnitudes.

This is a story with heart and thought.

What makes this movie and story even more substantial is the animation.  Within this film are some great shots and scenes.  I love the way that even the backgrounds are so detailed and add to the feel and atmosphere of the film itself.

This is a visually stunning piece of work that should be viewed for that fact alone.  In addition, the musical soundtrack of Kenji Kawai is superb as it matches the artwork and feel of the film.  In one montage, Kawai's music and the accompanying images emote a feeling of sadness, despair, and hope in the viewer.

If you haven't seen this movie yet then do yourself a favour and find yourself a copy to watch.  Now in my top ten movies,