This week I enjoyed a good mixture of classic films, new releases and a film from 2000 I’ve been meaning to see in Battle Royale.
I watched Daniel Radcliffe’s new movie The Woman in Black, caught Johnny Depp’s Dark Shadows and then reviewed Men in Black 3.
I watched two ‘classic’ movies in Star Wars Episdoe V and VI which means I’ve finally caught up on the older Star Wars movies! (Yes, I know this is very embarrassing that I hadn’t seen them!) Read on for my thoughts…
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The Woman in Black (2012) - I found this horror movie to be relatively scary and well done. Radcliffe is great and has convinced me he won’t that his career won’t be remembered as Harry Potter. Heaps of tense moments as we watch a young lawyer travel to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost who is terrorizing the locals. B
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - What many consider to be the best of the whole Star Wars series, I quite enjoyed it and the plot definitely thickens. The final scene between Darth Vader and Luke is great and I can see why it’s so famous – love the twist. Seems that the special effects improved as well over the 3 year period after Episode IV. B+
Dark Shadows (2012) – While it had it’s moments, ultimately it was quite boring and lacking any feelings for the characters. A great cast can only make up for the script so much and I definitely thought it was a bit of a flop. Depp plays Barnabas Collins, an imprisoned vampire who returns home years after his imprisonment. Eva Green plays a villain well enough, Chloe Moretz still impresses me and it was made a bit easier on the eye with the very pretty Bella Heathcote. A few chuckles and smiles saves it from being a complete disaster and it opened quite well but I wouldn’t be recommending it. C+
Battle Royale (2000) – This Japanese movie is basically a more brutal ‘Hunger Games’. Set in the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under a new ‘Battle Royale’ act they decided to make. Everyone claims it’s much better then the Hunger Games but it didn’t really do it for me. The over the top blood sputters and seemingly invincible characters (10 bullet shots and still moving about) ultimately lowered the realism of it, which I think is something that is important to the movie that it feels as real as possible. It was entertaining though and finishes a little different to what I was expecting. I rated it on par with The Hunger Games which I also didn’t love. B-
Men in Black III (2012) <<< Click here for my full review. It exceeded my
expectations with it’s humour and entertainment. B
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) - The final installment of the original trilogy, I really enjoyed Episode 6. Everything seemed to fit in nicely, the two hour runtime flew by and I thought it wrapped up well. Special effects were great considering it was made 29 years ago. My favourite of the series. A-
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Have been in the mood for movies lately which is always great – and have a big list I’m slowly getting through. Seeing What to Expect When You are Expecting tonight, and I’m not expecting much! Would love to hear your thoughts on any of these movies 
Woman in Black was very atmospheric and quite creepy horror, I did appreciate Radcliffe’s efforts in doing something else than HP, but I think it was a bit too soon for him, 5 years from now maybe, but now all i could see was Harry Potter running around the freaky house.
Good summary there! I kept thinking he was going to use some spells or something haha. But I think towards the end of the movie I was starting to stop thinking of him as Potter. Was the same when I saw Emma Watson in My Week with Marilyn. Should slowly lose that stigma if they can find some good movies. And yes atmospheric is a great word to describe it. Definitely created the tenseness well.
I didn’t find Radcliffe reminded me too much of Harry Potter in this movie. I struggled more with the age he was portraying and having a kid! Actually…maybe that WAS because he was Harry Potter…
Also, I found it really really scary, not just relatively scary! It still creeps me out when I think of certain scenes. :S
I was the exact same. At the end of the movie I looked back to where the movie reel is and I could have sworn I saw the Woman so I bolted outta there!
Man, I detested Battle Royale. Like… seriously hated. You’re one of the few other people I’ve found that don’t absolutely love it, so, yay!
Good to hear man! Considering how lenient I usually am with movies too it was quite a disappointment. Not sure how people can love it, and it being super hyped up definitely didn’t help it’s case.
Dark Shadows was so disappointing! And I am usually a Johnny Depp fan.
The contrast of the darkness/violence and ‘humor’ didn’t really work for me.
Eva Greene was super sexy and a good badie though.