Pixels (2015)

"We're the only ones who can do this! 

I'm kidding, we're all gonna die." 

A movie where Paul Blart Mall Cop is president of the United States as aliens attack the world with arcade games from 1982 and the only way to save the planet is to round up video game nerd Adam Sandler and his old gaming buddies?

Sign me up. 

Not really much point in writing a premise for this film because, as silly and crazy as it sounds, that's actually the plot of the movie. 

You can't take 'Pixels' seriously so you just need to sit back and accept it really.

What could have quite possibly been a terribly embarrassing flop actually turns out to be a pretty entertaining movie for the most part.

I am not a fan of Adam Sandler. I think 'Click' may be the only role that I can watch him in without wanting to tear my face off but this film sounded too fun to be put off by the fact that Adam Sandler was in it. Despite being an Adam Sandler movie it's not really an "Adam Sandler movie" in the traditional sense. He's toned it down a lot for this film and, for the first time in quite a while, I actually didn't mind watching him. He's got some good scenes with some funny moments, he accepts the punchline and moves on. If only more of his movies were as reserved.

This being said, his "relationship" with the interchangeable female love interest Violet, played by Michelle Monaghan, is pretty laughable and totally unbelievable. Much like a video game, she's pretty much only there as a prize for Adam Sandler to win at the end of the movie. If you can get past the almost cringe worthy romance then you can enjoy the rest of the film.

The humour in this film is fun. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments and it keeps you entertained. Some of the scenes do drag slightly as they try and squeeze every joke out of mundane dialogue but apart from that it's a pretty decent comedy. 

The star of the show is definitely Peter Dinklage. He's a great character and has a lot of fun with being the "bad-boy" of the arcade game scene. He's the funniest character (and the best actor) in the film and I would have loved to have seen more of him.

The plot is as predictable as it comes but you don't really mind because it's a good time anyway. It's over the top and it's ridiculous but that's what is so enjoyable about it. It's not going to be nominated for a best picture Oscar but it's a good film to switch off your brain to and enjoy. 

The effects are also quite impressive with the pixelation process and it's enjoyable to watch how the old games translate into a real world scenario. My favourite scene definitely had to the the Pac Man chase through New York but there are lots of solid scenes to choose from. 

I imagine this film will be full of nostalgia for people of that era or who have played more of the original arcade games. It's a hard one to pitch because it's almost branded as a family movie but it's audience is relatively limited. Too young and they won't get the references but too old and they probably wouldn't go and see it. I knew most of the old arcade games but some went straight over my head so if you're a big fan of the old school games then you'll love picking them out and reminiscing. 

Overall, 'Pixels' can't be taken seriously but it's silly, it's cheesy, it's funny and it's over the top so you won't regret seeing it. Its been getting a lot of hard press but I think that it's a little harsh with a goofy movie like this. 

Now, where can I find myself a Ms. Pac-man machine? 
I have some grown up words to put as the high scores...

The Gift (2015)

"Good people deserve good things."

Anyone say or do anything bad in high school? 

Well you may just regret it after seeing 'The Gift'... 

After meeting an old acquaintance from high school, Simon and his wife Robyn are forced to deal with the past as they receive mysterious and unsettling gifts from Gordo "The weirdo".

After discovering that this film was produced by Blumhouse Productions, the production company behind pretty much most of the horrendous horror films of late ('Unfriended', 'Insidious: Chapter 3' and the 'Paranormal Activity' sequels), I was anxious to say the least.  Despite this, 'The Gift' has renewed my faith in their decisions and proved that 'Sinister' was not just a one off.

'The Gift' is an intelligent little thriller that is claustrophobic and uncomfortable to watch. It explores an interesting concept that your past can and will catch up with you eventually. It makes us trust no one and fills us with paranoia. 

The film starts off well with a curious set up. Gordo imposes himself on Simon and Robyn and intrudes on their life but, being polite people, they put up with his advances as their "friend". You can tell from the get go that this is going to be an uncomfortable psychological film and it doesn't disappoint.

Having only ever seen Jason Bateman in comedic roles, I was surprised to see that he was displaying some serious acting chops as Simon in this movie. He starts off with one layer to his character but, as the film progresses, there are more and more levels to his performance that develop a really interesting and believable character. I would love to see him do more roles like this one if this is where his next career step is heading.

The whole film feels reminiscent of classic films like 'Cape Fear' and 'Sleeping with the enemy'. There's an uncomfortable air of tension in the film that mainly comes from Joel Edgerton as Gordo, who also wrote and directed the film himself. You can never quite tell what is going to happen or what he's going to do next, he's socially awkward and it makes the other characters (and the audience) uncomfortable. You genuinely believe that he's an unstable guy who could be a threat to this young couple. Much like Simon, Gordo has an exterior shell that, once you chip away at it, reveals a whole new character with depth and life in him. 

I think this is what I enjoyed most about 'The Gift', the fact that all of the characters are believable as human beings rather than just characters in a generic thriller. They react like normal people would and have secrets like normal people do. Life isn't black and white and that's what is expressed through the characters and the plot in 'The Gift'. It deals with a grey area in the human psyche as you begin to see the flaws come to light as the cracks appear in the characters.

It is a refreshing story that is told in a way that we aren't used to in modern cinema. Everything isn't wrapped up nicely and you have to work to put the pieces together throughout. It's a mystery that keeps us guessing and doesn't follow most conventions. It's a simple plot but sometimes less is more when dealing with a mystery thriller, it keeps us focussed on the details rather than a large and overblown plot.

The stakes are raised for this young couple as their relationship and their lives disintegrate. They are likeable enough to care for yet we don't fully trust them. This makes for some great tension and threat. The danger of the film doesn't come from a masked killer or a demonic possession, it comes from a place that is altogether human and very close to home for the audience. It creates a claustrophobic atmosphere because most of the film is set in their new home, the characters are like caged animals and you are just waiting for them to snap. We can relate to both the protagonist and the antagonist, which is a scary prospect in itself. It explores themes and ideas that are very human and emotions that we deal with everyday.

Secrets, secrets and even more secrets...

It is a well thought out and well paced film. It gives us enough information at the beginning to hook our curiosity so that it can start with a slow build up. Just when the film feels like it might be lagging, there is an event that ups the ante and keeps you guessing. It ends when it should end and leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions which is great. 

Overall I think that 'The Gift' is a clever and psychological film that goes the extra mile for the audience. It could have taken the easy way and become a bland and predictable thriller but it does its best to elevate itself from what has become a bit of a stale genre. 

It's the essence of what a psychological thriller should be. It's not a white knuckle ride but it gets under your fingernails and stays there. It entertains you, it creeps you out and makes you think. 

I think I might avoid the high school reunions in the future... Just in case. 

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

"The Syndicate is real."

Can we still call Tom Cruise a movie star? 

Can he even be used as an advertising tool anymore?

Here we have 'Mission: Impossible' number 5.

After an International organisation hell-bent on destroying the IMF surface, Ethan Hunt and his team have to track down the highly trained rogue Syndicate and take them down.

I am actually a big fan of the first 'Mission: Impossible' and I had heard through the grapevine that this one was a good step up after the relatively successful 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' in 2011. Tom Cruise has been desperately trying to make a comeback and, if it is going to happen, then it would be with a return to the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise. I was relatively passive towards the release but, seeing as it was released against 'Fantastic 4', 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' seemed to be the better option.

I'm glad I went to see this instead of 'Fantastic 4' but I'm also glad that I had the luxury of using my Cineworld card on this one. 

Credit where credit is due, Tom Cruise is looking old but he still manages to keep up with the physical demands of the film and pulls off some pretty incredible stunts. He's build for the role and it helps us believe that, despite his age, he's still able to do everything we are seeing on screen without the help of CGI or a stunt double. I was extremely impressed by the fact that just about all of the stunts in this film are 100% live action. It takes us back to a time when CGI wasn't an option and the blockbuster was a blockbuster for a reason. There are several set pieces in the film that will make your jaw drop, especially knowing that the stunts have been done in camera and not in a computer. One in particular is the shot from the trailer on the plane, a stunning piece of filmmaking and a great opening to the film.

There was quite a lot that I enjoyed in this film. It really felt like a classic action movie and had all the trademarks that you'd expect. There is quite a bit of comic relief, generously provided by Simon Pegg which really helps lighten the mood of the film. If there was no comedy then I don't think this film would be able to stand on it's own, it relies on the comedy to elevate it from a "serious" action flick. 

It also has some great homages and reminds you of why we love the classics. The first act is great and transports you back to the glory days of the action genre. It is dramatic, funny, a bit cheesy and a lot of fun. 

The first act is full of guns, explosions, gadgets and tension and that's all of what we loved about the first 'Mission: Impossible' film. This, however, doesn't last too long as the film spirals into farce and pantomime.

The film is way too long.

Around the point that you expect the finale to arrive, it takes another turn and you begin to check your watch periodically until the end. The plot becomes overly complicated with shoehorned twists and turns that just seem pretty ridiculous. Characters have so many long monologues and sudden revelations that it becomes less and less believable. Even for a 'Mission: Impossible' film. You can suspend belief so far before it just becomes a bit silly.

A massively convoluted plot really drags this film to a halt as you lose more and more interest in it. It would have benefited immensely from ending about 45 minutes earlier and being wrapped up a bit cleaner. If it knew it's limits and knew when to finish, it would have been a fun and modern homage to the great action films of the 80's and 90's. 

When it comes to kicking butt, Rebecca Ferguson plays a relatively functional female but, as expected, there is plenty of ass and cleavage to drag her down as a decent character. She was strong up to a point but, ultimately, still needs Ethan Hunt to save her most of the time.

Sean Harris plays a cardboard cutout of a villain that may as well have been a cartoon character. He's passable as an old school evil super villain but that's pretty much as far as it goes. If corny and pantomime is what they were going for then they hit the nail on the head with Sean Harris.

Overall, 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' is a bit of fun if you don't take it too seriously. It's way too long and it begins to drag it's feet in the latter half of the film but has enough action to keep you occupied in between. The stunts are the best part of this movie and definitely make the film worth seeing. You pretty much know what to expect from Tom Cruise and 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' comes out the other end as a pretty good action film.

Return to form for Tom Cruise? Maybe, maybe not. 

It might be too late for Mr. Cruise to make a comeback. 

Some may say it's Impossible...

That could be the plot of 'Mission: Impossible' 6, Tom Cruise in his 60's still trying to hold on to his title as an action star. Get him in with Stallone and you've got 'The Expendables 4'.

Inside Out (2015)

"Take her to the moon for me, Joy."

From Pixar (the guys that bring you everything good in the world) comes 'Inside Out', the film that makes your feelings have feelings and then makes you have the feels.

After her Midwest life is uprooted and moved to San Francisco, Riley's emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to deal with a new city, house, and school.

Pixar are well known for their ingenious films that are suitable for both kids and adults. I am a huge fan of their films and I was very excited to see 'Inside Out'. 

Pixar have gone and made a film that just about every human being on earth can relate to, except maybe if you're a serial killer with no emotions... The other 99% of the population of the world have emotions so I guess that's their key audience.

'Inside Out' is an extremely clever movie that is funny, heart breaking and heart warming. 

'Inside Out' is mainly based inside the head of young Riley whose whole life is about to change. The emotions all have control over Riley and, depending on the situation and who has control, they create memories that define who she is. Some memories stored are more important than others but they are basically all essential to her personality. The entire world that Pixar creates inside the head is both literal and metaphorical and it's extremely clever how they link the literal world with the metaphorical world. From the "train of thought" to your subconscious mind, 'Inside Out' is almost too smart for it's own good as it brings a childlike perspective to a concept that would be nigh impossible if anyone but Pixar had the balls to do it.

Even though 'Inside Out' is branded as a kids film, I actually thought it was more of a film for adults. Granted, there's enough adventure and bright colours to keep the kids entertained but I, personally, think that it would be a hard concept for children to grasp. It goes deep into our emotions and has a lot of metaphors that would probably go straight over their heads but they'll probably still have a good time nonetheless. For the adults, there are some complex themes and ideas that run through the film and I'm in awe at how Pixar manage to simplify and visualise them, while keeping us entertained of course.

We delve into the subconscious brain of Riley as we revisit and deconstruct the human brain. We learn about the formation of nostalgia in our happy memories and the deep rooted phobias that we all have buried away. From our memories to our dreams, 'Inside Out' examines it all and gives us a hilarious explanation for them. It does all this while dealing with some difficult themes that could have been problematic to manoeuvre around if it wasn't Pixar. 

It tends to just go without saying but, as always, the animation is simply breathtaking. Every single detail is carefully constructed and everything in the world that the film creates is natural and authentic. It's so good that, much like all of Pixar's other films, you forget you're even watching an animated film. You are totally and utterly absorbed by the story and the characters that you don't even notice the animation. Which is the true test of an animated film. 

There is the perfect balance between humour and emotion. It really picks up towards the end and I was literally doubled over at a few of the scenes and jokes in the last act. I was also welling up at a few points in the film which is a hard thing to achieve in an animated film. While on Riley's journey, you look into your own emotions and experiences and can relate to the film on so many levels.

I guess I should quickly mention the short film that was at the beginning of 'Inside Out', a well known tradition in all of Pixar's movies, which was called 'Lava'. It was a cute little story about a volcano trying to find love. The animation was beautiful, yet deceptively simple, and has a catchy little song that was inspired by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's classic rendition of 'Somewhere over the rainbow'. Much like a great support act at a gig, it was the perfect opening to get you in the right zone before the curtains opened for the main act.

Overall, 'Inside Out' is an instant classic and I can't recommend it enough. Although the main themes of the film may be hard for kids to grasp, it is still a great family movie that everyone can enjoy. It's extremely clever, brilliantly written and will make you laugh a lot. 

You may even shed a tear. 

If you don't relate to this film on at least one level or another then I think you may have to get tested... Just incase you're a serial killer. 

I wonder what the emotions in my head look like?