Time for a film

The Hangover Part III makes the most of it’s characters varying personalities and adds a stronger plot and purpose to the story than the previous installments. While it’s very hit and miss at times, there is enough laughter throughout to entertain, with fans of the series sure to have a decent experience.
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Director Todd Phillips (The Hangover) brings back the characters we know and love from the first two films and takes them on another adventure, this time on the road, as they try to track down Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) and return the valuable gold bars he stole from Marshall (John Goodman). While we don’t get to see much of Doug (Justin Bartha), the rest of the Wolfpack each have highlights, with Alan (Zach Galifianakis) getting a strong focus again. While Stu (Ed Helms) wasn’t the worst, it’s still Bradley Cooper‘s character of Phil who is the most likable of the bunch and provides some structure as the most normal guy.

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With an opening scene that blew me out of the water, Star Trek Into Darkness did just enough to entertain and captivate me throughout with some nice humour thrown in as well. As someone who had only seen the 2009 film, my lack of Star Trek knowledge didn’t affect the movie negatively, while I’m sure those who are big fans will get even more out of it.
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Director J.J Abrams returns for his second Star Trek film, bringing along most of the cast members from the first and they don’t disappoint, with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto’s chemistry impressing as Captain Kirk and Spock. This time around the plot focuses on a manhunt to capture the lone villain who wreaked havoc from within their own organisation.  Read more

A film of multiple layers and stories, The Place Beyond the Pines is often mesmerising but not without it’s faults. The first act is hard for the rest of the film to match, with Ryan Gosling giving a standout performance as a motorcycle stunt rider who turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover and their newborn child.-

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Director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) grips the audience to the screen as they witness the film’s characters dealing with one event that has a flow on effect for the rest of their lives. The supporting cast is also strong with Bradley Cooper, Ben Mendelsohn, Ray Liotta and Eva Mendes all providing an emotional connection.  Read more

Oblivion is an often mesmerising Sci-Fi film with stunning cinematography and a soundtrack that provides tension and intrigue around every corner. It’s complex plot may not be perfect but the music and the film’s ease on the eye does enough to carry it and give an entertaining, suspenseful viewing.
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Director Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) enters the Sci-Fi realm again with his 2nd feature film, this time starring Tom Cruise as Jack Harper: A veteran assigned to extract Earth’s remaining resources who begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself. Like many films of this nature, the story-line is somewhat complicated and there is much more than meets the eye, as something darker brews that the audience and Jack himself soon discovers.

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Steven Soderbergh doesn’t seem to make poor movies and Side Effects is another example of his stylish, signature film-making, this time with a thrilling, almost entrancing movie. Combined with Thomas Newman‘s perfect soundtrack and Rooney Mara’s incredible performance, it’s a film that I thoroughly enjoyed as I was completely glued to the screen.
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Soderbergh has said this may he his last theatrical film ever, which is a real shame if true but I can see why he may want to end with Side Effects, as it would definitely be finishing on a high. It’s plot is simple enough in theory: A young woman’s world unravels when a drug prescribed by her psychiatrist has unexpected side effects, but make no mistake, this is a complex and layered film. I find the complexity to be beneficial and it flows well, however I can see why some would be turned off, as surprises and twist’s may be impossible to see until they are shown.  Read more