Star Trek Into Darkness - Review

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS


2013

12A

Directed by JJ Abrams

Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana


After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

It has to be said, my knowledge of 60's TV Star Trek is rudimentary at best and leaves a lot to be desired. Nonetheless, in comparison to the previous films of the franchise; this is one surpasses the previous offerings (naming no names, Star Trek Nemesis...)

Abrams consistently trades off vengeance versus justice and instinct against logic in a very smart way. A comedic tiff becomes a reflection on fear and it's utility - and this happens in a non jarring way. It's his ability to amalgamate comedy, drama and heart pumping action with ease that makes Star Trek Into Darkness so entertaining.

From the opening scene, we're thrown into the action during the climax of an exploration of a stunning scarlet planet with a spewing volcano. It becomes clear that Abram's is aiming to maximise the fun and not alienate new comers with too many back references to Star Trek of past. Sure there are fabulous cracks that the Star Trek veterans will enjoy, but for the most part this film requires no prior knowledge. Despite being futuristic, the themes are thoughtful and relevant to the society we live in. Which by no means should be a predicate of an action movie, but The Dark Knight Rises has shown that this can add level of credibility to a film.
 
Cinematically beautiful, Abram's captures all the high-tech, futuristic exterior and interior shots with clinical precision but at the same time the world he has created feels inhabitable and warm.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays and looks like a convincing leather clad villain. He struts around the Enterprise with an air of ambiguity that is chilling in the same way that Silva was menacing in Sky Fall. Chris Pine is flawless as Captain Kirk and shows great humility whilst still being the slick and cool ladies man that we expect. Star Trek Into Darkness is fun, entertaining and exhilarating. So many franchises these days lack heart and substance but Star Trek is bursting with it in ample abundance.

Rating: 7

Jack Reacher - Review

JACK REACHER

 

2012

 

12A

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

 

Staring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike and Richard Jenkins

 

 

For the past two years it has become tradition that the last film of the year is a Tom Cruise one. 2011 was sent off with Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol and 2012s NYE film was Jack Reacher. You will be pleased to know it did not disappoint.

When a random shooting takes place, a serial gunman is arrested and all fingers point in one direction. But things aren’t perhaps so clean cut when the sniper issues the demand “Get me Jack Reacher”. Can Reacher discover the truth before it catches up with him?  

For all the naysayers who questioned whether tiny Tom Cruise was the man to play 6’5 Jack Reacher, size really doesn’t matter in this case. Cruise portrays Reacher with impressive stature and convincing physicality combined with just the right amount of charm. It’s hard to deny Cruise’s gravitas and star quality, he brings sheer entertainment to this film. While he may not embody Lee Child's vision to a T, it's the spirit he captures and has hit the nail on the head.

It’s not always fair to judge a film in comparison to other films of the genre but by doing this we see where Jack Reacher succeeds where other action films fall short. The action genre is saturated with lazy movies that rely on boring fight sequences, gun fights and the obligatory car chases that go on for too long (shame on you Bourne Legacy!)

And while Jack Reacher does include these elements, it’s done necessarily and adds to the plot. You will laugh, be on edge, recoil and be left guessing from start to finish. It’s a classy action movie that’s full of character and heart.

Rating 7.5

 

Skyfall - Review

SKYFALL

 

2012

12A

Directed by Sam Mendes

Starring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and Judi Dench

 

When a hard-drive listing all undercover NATO operative is out of the hands of British Intelligence and into the hands of cyber villain Silva; James Bond must resurrect himself from a near death experience in order to recover the drive, salvage M’s reputation and control a man who wants ultimate revenge.

From a personal point of view, Daniel Craig is the most impressive James Bond to date even in the shaky second instalment: Quantum of Solace. Here Bond is back in fine form in a film specially made to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Ian Fleming’s juggernaut series. Having rebooted the film series away from the campness of the Brosnan era, Skyfall picks up a while after the first days of a licence to kill in Casino Royale. In this film he is more of a hurt hero battling with ghosts from his past.

The film opens with an adrenaline laced chase sequence through a Turkish bazaar. What’s beautiful about this opening is what director Sam Mendes has described as a “Russian doll” approach. You think it’s a car chase, which evolves into a bike chase, which morphs into a train chase: and this happens seamlessly. Praise must be given early on for cinematographer Roger Deakins who has delivered searing and dramatic visuals; stunning cinematography would be an understatement.

Sam Mendes has taken up the mammoth challenge of this 23^rd Bond movie with refreshing poise. He has spoken of trying to get a quality plot cemented to begin with and then to incorporate all the obligatory elements we expect from a James Bond film. This seems to work better than starting with necessary fundamentals (the credits sequence, the Bond girls, the exotic locations, the cars, the villains and the explosions) and trying to fit in something of a plot around it. There are charming odes to Bond films of yester year and finally a director has been happy to utilise the breathtaking British scenery for the majority of the movie: Skyfall is definitely worthy of the 50^th year anniversary.

This movie’s iconic credit sequence is one of the best ones yet. Craig takes a tumble through morbid animations supplemented by Adele’s dulcet tones. They definitely cracked it this time. James Bond spends a hour or so as an unshaven wreck who is out of shape and hitting the bottle. I say “out of shape” but fear not, Craig’s glistening musculature is not impeded by this. And rightly so because he has multiple Bond girls to please. Fellow agent Eve (Noamie Harris) gives a reasonable effort as MI6 sniper and Berenice Marlohe is utterly beautiful; but Skyfall is most definitely about the men.

Javier Bardem’s villain Silva does not surface until the second act, but when he does, it is glorious. In a lengthy tracking shot he delivers a parable about rats which acts as a recurring motif throughout the rest of the movie, he then probes Bond about his drink, his form, his relationship with M and even his sexuality in an erotically charged scene. It’s moments like this where Mendes is at his American-Beauty-best and Daniel Craig shows that subtlety is his ace. Silva is multifaceted and a highly original creation, a foreigner with a Nolanesque deformity to boot (echoes of Harvey-two-face anyone?) What’s bracing is that Silva’s motives are personal, and his way of going about his revenge is in a very 21^st century way.

There’s a wonderful reinvention of Q by Ben Whishaw who brings youth and humour while reminding us of, quite sinisterly, the damage that can be done with a computer before breakfast in the wrong hands. The banter between him and Craig is inspired, another example of Mendes getting the absolute best out of his actors. As commented by members of our viewing party, Ralph Feinnes plays it as enigmatically as ever but gets some excellent action scenes in the third act.

Skyfall provides everything we have come to expect and love from James Bond, it’s sleek, traditional, thrilling, fun and laden with classic characters. All in all, if Skyfall was to be the last Bond movie, Sam Mendes most definitely ends it on a high. However thankfully one thing’s certain, 50 years in, James Bond will remain on our screens as a Great British icon for many more years to come.

Rating: 8

Daniel Craig as 007

Ready for action: Daniel Craig as James Bond

Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem get to know eachother

Gadget man Q played by Ben Whishaw

James and Severine