Posts tagged RAW: Film
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – 4K
Aug 12th
Geeks of the world rejoice! Computer games and comic books are cool. That is the premise for this brilliant and refreshing movie directed by Edgar Wright, of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead fame, and based on a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley. 22 year old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is in a band, Sex Bob Omb (great name) and he’s fallen for Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a roller blading delivery girl who changes her hair colour every week. In order to win her heart he must fight and defeat each of her seven evil ex-boyfriends.
At times you feel as if you’re playing a computer game, as text boxes appear on the screen labelling items in the room or to give a brief bio on characters. Giant scores and prize coins shoot out of each conquered ex-boyfriend.
Fairly simple plot, but the special effects and graphics combined with an exceptional cast, Michael Cera’s cute awkwardness is particularly perfect for this role, raise the bar and make Scott Pilgim vs the World refreshingly unique and incomparable to any other movie. It’s important to note here that Cera brings additional bite to the role in what is up there as his best performance yet. It’s not just his stock standard character that he played in Superbad, Juno and we’ll forget about The Year One.
This movie is fast paced, fun and hilarious. It’s a surprise package and not just a movie but an absolute experience, highly recommend you check this one out.
Kryztoff Rating: 4k
Nightmare on Elm Street
May 18th
Freddy Krueger is back in a remake of the hugely successful Nightmare on Elm Street that first hit screens in 1984. All the clichés of a horror flick are still here where we see each of the main characters slowly knocked off. In fact the entire premise of the film appears to be waiting for and finally witnessing each character’s untimely yet predictable death as it becomes near impossible to stay awake continuously. For a select unfortunate bunch of teens, Freddy targets them in their sleep so when they finally drift off into oblivion, their dreams become a nightmare as Freddy uses those infamous garden shear fingers to slice and dice each victim.
The film doesn’t break any barriers, or attempt to try anything different. It is your standard slasher film where one has the occasional desire to have a bit of a laugh when the plot gets a little ridiculous. In fact the remake is pretty much identical to the original including the dark secret the parents are keeping from their children with the exception that Freddy has gone from being a child murderer to a child molester, which is disturbing and just seems a bit misplaced in the general tone of the film.
The original was successful because it made such a significant impact on the horror genre but this film makes no such impact. Though it’s entertaining and plays with suspense so your nerves are on edge, you’d think after 26 years we could expect just a little bit more.
Kryztoff Rating 2.5K
RAW: Film – Harry Brown – 4K
Apr 23rd
It’s so refreshing to see a veteran star embrace their age.
Michael Caine is admirable in the role of ex-serviceman Harry Brown, a senior citizen living in The Estate: a haven for thugs and drugs. After his wife passes away, and close friend Leonard Attwell is murdered, Harry takes matters into his own hands when he realises the police, including D.I. Alice Frampton (Emily Mortimer) and D.S. Terry Hicock (Charlie Creed-Miles), are unable to help…
Harry Brown is perceived to be a ‘vigilante pensioner’, however there is more to the character. Perhaps the catalyst for Harry’s actions is the death of his friend, but it is clear that he is acting in the best interests of the community living in The Estate.
Frampton: It’s not Northern Ireland Harry.
Harry Brown: No it’s not. Those people were fighting for something; for a cause. To them out there, this is just entertainment.
Fresh director Daniel Barber (The Tonto Woman) paints a realistic picture of The Estate, gritty and unsafe. Hand-held cameras are used to great effect at the start of the film, where instability and unpredictability are quickly established as the norm. Combined with a well-written screenplay by Gary Young, this film engages throughout.
Caine is supported by a great UK cast, including a meek Emily Mortimer, a paranoid David Bradley and an aggressive Ben Drew.
You’ll never underestimate an old man again…
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
For more film reviews from Kryztoff, click here.
RAW: Clash of the Titans 3D
Mar 31st
Clash of the cliches is more like it.
100 minutes of recycled highlights from the golden age of sword and sandal classics to Avatar, Alien and even Life of Brian.
Sam Worthington gets the gig as the main man but lacks the square jaw to pull it off. Not that he is helped by all that stilted lingo these films insist on and the special effects that while impressive at times were mostly just kind of limp. None of the characters resonated with Liam Neeson as Zeus (and dressed as Freddie Mercury) and Ralph Fiennes as his unhappy brother, Hades (dressed of course in black) going at it but who cared.
Giggling at it all often seemed the right response. The indeterminable trek across the wilderness (sometimes over the same ground twice) with the aid of scorpions would drug even the most Coke fired up teenage boy. His fighting comrades, who having just been hailed great men, put up unbelievably lame efforts against Medusa. (Nicholas Hoult, you are no Orlando Bloom which in itself is no great rap) and soon (but not soon enough) Worthington takes control and, guess what, wins the day.
Another in the running for worst film of the year. Expect to read a press release from Homer distancing himself from the content.
Kryztoff Rating: 1.5K
RAW: Welcome
Mar 26th
Another teaser from Kryztoff‘s 11th Edition…
Welcome is a true drama, without romance or happy ending. Directed by Philippe Lioret, it is simple, yet very well produced.
Expect some impressive cinematography that presents the story in a powerful and captivating way.
The language of film is key to increasing the appeal of this multilingual film.
For the full review, check out the next edition of Kryztoff… in the mean time, see our current edition here for more film reviews.
RAW: Brothers
Mar 25th
Just a taste of what’s to come in the Kryztoff‘s 11th Edition…
Jake Gyllenhall gives a strong performance. Natalie Portman is acceptable, but this is not her best work. Tobey Maguire’s performance, however, as the physically and emotionally tortured Marine is incredible. While not convincing as a father, his scene-stealing portrayal as a survivor of war is brilliant.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
For the full review, check out the next edition of Kryztoff… in the mean time, see our current edition here for more film reviews.