Posted: December 25, 2015 | Author: Donald | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Daniel Craig, Domhnall Gleeson, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, J.J. Abrams, John Boyega, Lawrence Kasdan, Lupita Nyong’o, Mark Hamill, Max von Sydow, Michael Arndt, Oscar Isaac, Star Wars: the Force Awakens | 8,899 Comments »
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Warning: SPOILERS
The new Star Wars film (Star Wars: the Force Awakens to be exact) has a simple theme: the only thing that can stop a bad guy with the force is a good guy with the force.
All in all, I would have to say that this new entry in the franchise is both better than the original Star Wars and not as good as the original Star Wars.
It’s better acted than what is now known as A New Hope; the dialog is a bit more pithy and witty; the characters are somewhat less one-dimensional; and the special effects less cheesy.
But there’s one thing the original space opera had that the new one doesn’t, can’t and will never have. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 18, 2015 | Author: Donald | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Abderrahmane Sissako, Abel Jefri, Brendon Gleeson, Colin Firth, Dave Gibbons, David Rawle, Fionnula Flannagan, Jane Goldman, Kessen Tall, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Mark Hamill, Mark Millar, Mark Strong, Matthew Vaughn, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Sofia Boutella, Song of the Sea, Taron Egerton, Timbuktu, Tomm Moore, Will Collins | 1,046 Comments »
First, a word from our sponsors. Ever wonder what a reader for a contest or agency thinks when he reads your screenplay? Check out my new e-book published on Amazon: Rantings and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader, including my series of essays, What I Learned Reading for Contests This Year, and my film reviews of 2013. Only $2.99. http://ow.ly/xN31r
and check out my Script Consultation Services: http://ow.ly/HPxKE
Warning: SPOILERS
Kingsman: The Secret Service, the latest entry in a comic book franchise, this one with an espionage theme, is, in many ways, an impressive and handsomely made movie.
From a technical perspective, it’s incredibly well done with the best costumes, sets, and music money can buy. It doesn’t stint and there is nothing in this film that is an old piece of tat or is cheap as chips.
The acting is also first rate, raiding the cupboards as it does for the actors who are left who managed to not appear in The Lord of the Rings or The Harry Potter series.
And it has some beautifully well staged and directed second unit scenes of carefully, even wittily, choreographed episodes of extreme violence.
In many ways, those who like these sort of studio type tent pole films will probably find it hard to carp at anything they see.
So why did I find the whole thing dispiriting and extremely depressing?
Read the rest of this entry »
