The team made a 3 minute film showing our admiration for two of our favourite movies that we reviewed here on the blog. Those two movies were Catch Me If You Can and Fight Club. Both movies exemplified their respective genres really well and were a joy to review.
Member contributions:
Brady: Tree guy #1 / Voiceover guy #1 / Blog poster / Twitter poster
Jack: Tree guy #2 / In charge of Wikispaces / Blog poster / Twitter poster
Victor: Tree guy #3 / Voiceover guy #2 / Blog poster / Twitter poster
James: Tree guy #4 / In charge of group report / Blog poster / Twitter poster
Jon: Tree guy #5 / Camera man / Blog poster / Twitter poster
Damian: Tree guy #6 / Video editor / Blog poster / Twitter poster
Saturday 28 May 2016
YouTube Video
Wednesday 25 May 2016
The Hunger Games (2012)
Based on the book by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games directed by Gary Ross, is a film about a survival competition where young representatives must participate in a fight to the death. The story sets in the nation of Panem, which is divided into 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year, 2 "tributes" from each district are chosen at random to participate in The Hunger Games. The story follows 16 year old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as she volunteers to take her sisters place in the games. Along with her male counterpart Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), they face multiple tributes in a cruel fight to the death that is broadcast throughout all of Panem.
I found the plot of the film rather interesting as the development of the story was quite fast. However when you come to realize that we are watching children kill each other, the story becomes rather dark and brutal. The story has several cliches that suit more of a teenage audience, there are multiple action scenes which make the film exciting and fast paced. Overall, I think the the film can motivate one to read all the books to follow the series as I enjoyed how well it portrays people living in a totalitarian nation.
I found the plot of the film rather interesting as the development of the story was quite fast. However when you come to realize that we are watching children kill each other, the story becomes rather dark and brutal. The story has several cliches that suit more of a teenage audience, there are multiple action scenes which make the film exciting and fast paced. Overall, I think the the film can motivate one to read all the books to follow the series as I enjoyed how well it portrays people living in a totalitarian nation.
Rating: 8/10
Tuesday 24 May 2016
Moon (2009)
Moon, directed by Duncan Jones, is a film which follows Sam (Sam Rockwell) on his personal encounter while at the end of his three year journey. His goal is to send packages to earth to help with their power plant problems. It is a classic Sci-Fi film with a baffling mystery that challenges the viewer to live in the shoes of the protagonist. This Drama Sci-Fi doesn't receive the credit it deserves compared to those Hollywood blockbusters such as Interstellar and Gravity.
Sam's isolated three year posting is about to come to an end and he longs to return to Earth to see his wife. His only company throughout this sojourn has been that of Gerty, the base's HAL-like robot voiced by Kevin Spacey. Unfortunately, the final weeks and days are proving to be the most difficult, and Sam finds himself going a bit squirrelly, leaving both he and the audience to wonder if what's unfolding is actually happening, or merely a drama taking place in his addled mind.
I highly recommend all Sci-Fi lovers to watch this film, you will not regret it. Although the CGI and effects aren't as flashy as some would like, the film takes away those elements and focuses on the plot, in specific the eerie scenes which leaves the audience with a lot to comprehend.
Sam's isolated three year posting is about to come to an end and he longs to return to Earth to see his wife. His only company throughout this sojourn has been that of Gerty, the base's HAL-like robot voiced by Kevin Spacey. Unfortunately, the final weeks and days are proving to be the most difficult, and Sam finds himself going a bit squirrelly, leaving both he and the audience to wonder if what's unfolding is actually happening, or merely a drama taking place in his addled mind.
I highly recommend all Sci-Fi lovers to watch this film, you will not regret it. Although the CGI and effects aren't as flashy as some would like, the film takes away those elements and focuses on the plot, in specific the eerie scenes which leaves the audience with a lot to comprehend.
Monday 23 May 2016
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
What
is a movie review blog without a classic oldie? And what better movie to
review than a Monty Python one!
King Arthur and his Knights seek out to find... The Holy Grail... or so we are told by the cartoon God in the sky.
This movie is without doubt one of the most hilarious movies which will keep you stitches from all the laughter. Its complete randomness and strange happenings in the background with cats being banged against poles and collecting mud in a field adds to the comedy element, keeping the viewers in a cheerful and laughing mood.What is brilliant about this film is that many actors play multiple roles, and the first time you view it, you often do not know that they are the same person. Combined with the clever writing style and humour, it makes this movie one for the ages that can be watched countless times and still provide laughs for everyone.
King Arthur and his Knights seek out to find... The Holy Grail... or so we are told by the cartoon God in the sky.
This movie is without doubt one of the most hilarious movies which will keep you stitches from all the laughter. Its complete randomness and strange happenings in the background with cats being banged against poles and collecting mud in a field adds to the comedy element, keeping the viewers in a cheerful and laughing mood.What is brilliant about this film is that many actors play multiple roles, and the first time you view it, you often do not know that they are the same person. Combined with the clever writing style and humour, it makes this movie one for the ages that can be watched countless times and still provide laughs for everyone.
Rating: 9.5/10
Sunday 22 May 2016
The Babadook (2014)
The Babadook is a Psychological Thriller directed
by Jennifer Kent about a widow whose 6-year-old son becomes obsessed with an
imaginary monster but when a children’s book called “Mister Babadook”
mysteriously appears, the monster becomes all but imaginary.
This thriller is different to
other movies of the genre such as ‘Sinister’ by avoiding any gore or violence
for basically the whole film, and not using gimmicky jump scares that the genre
has come to rely on. Instead the film uses the foreboding music and use of
darkness to create an eerier atmosphere which results in slow burning tension
akin to Alfred Hitchcock films. The film however isn't devoid of twists as the
ending is one of the most interesting endings I've seen in a thriller before.
The Babadook has been
critically acclaimed since it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014,
with many praising it as one of the best films of the year. Even the director
of arguably the best horror movie ever made William Friedkin (The Exorcist) said
“I've never seen a more terrifying film. It will scare the hell out of you as
it did me”, showing the calibre of this small budget Australian film.
The Babadook (2014) - IMDb
Saturday 21 May 2016
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Pan's Labyrinth, directed by Guillermo del Toro, is an international film that takes place in Spain 1944 during the civil war. The movie focuses on a girl and her "fantasies" who is sent with her pregnant mother to live with her sadistic and ruthless captain step-father in the country-side. During the night, Opehlia (Ivana Baquero) meets a fairy who takes her to an old faun in the center of the labyrinth who says she is a princess of another world and needs to prove her loyalty through a series of three gruesome tasks.
Uncomfortable with her new surroundings, suspicious of her stepfather and desperately concerned about the worsening condition of her mother, Ofelia uncovers a strange alternative world, and the chance to escape forever the pain and uncertainty of her everyday life. The film alternates between the world of Civil War Spain and the increasingly bizarre, dark and frightening world of the Pan's Labyrinth. As the twin plots progress, they intertwine, with the tasks of Ofelia becoming the choices faced by a Spain at the crossroads.
Overall, the movie isn't one that should be watched by children despite it's fantasy nature. The film looks at dark concepts of reality in a civil war and a child's way of escaping these harsh realities, however whether it is truly real or just her imagination is left for yourself to decide.
Uncomfortable with her new surroundings, suspicious of her stepfather and desperately concerned about the worsening condition of her mother, Ofelia uncovers a strange alternative world, and the chance to escape forever the pain and uncertainty of her everyday life. The film alternates between the world of Civil War Spain and the increasingly bizarre, dark and frightening world of the Pan's Labyrinth. As the twin plots progress, they intertwine, with the tasks of Ofelia becoming the choices faced by a Spain at the crossroads.
Overall, the movie isn't one that should be watched by children despite it's fantasy nature. The film looks at dark concepts of reality in a civil war and a child's way of escaping these harsh realities, however whether it is truly real or just her imagination is left for yourself to decide.
Friday 20 May 2016
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Directed by George Nolfi, The Adjustment Bureau presents to the viewer an unconventional love story in that fate isn't a matter of circumstance, but rather a meticulously controlled process governed by a higher order unbeknownst to all. David Norris (played by Matt Damon), a young politician running for governor of New York comes across Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) under peculiar circumstances. Finding himself inexplicably infatuated he's determined to be with her. However, it seems that this higher order has different plans for both of them, interfering with their lives to make sure it never happens. In discovering that his fate was never under his control, David is determined to ensure his life becomes his and be with the one he loves.
With such an enticing premise, this film is an incredible love story with an element of sci-fi. The chemistry between the two leads immediately has you rooting for their success and has you frustrated and wanting more as they attempt to be together. Addressing this philosophical question as to whether we really do have control over our fate by displaying the power of love, the film is somewhat relateable. It's through this that the audience becomes committed to the characters and the story.
Furthermore, with stylistic directing that effectively traverses the landscape of New York, the film is visually stunning and beautiful to watch.
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