filmfan's diary

Firstly, a few reviews of the films I saw in July. I imagone that if you'd been to the cinema at all in July, that you'd have seen one of these three. I'd love to know what you thought of them, or anything else you might have seen.

Secondly, a little look at some of the films out this month, using MSN's August roundup as a starting point. 

Hancock - July 2nd 
I enjoyed this oddly original superhero tale, as much as 4/5 stars, and then I read some reviews and changed my mind.
I realised that although it was funny in places and the SFX were cool, it did seem to change genre completely
as it drew to an end. I can see this becoming Will Smith's 'go to' role if he's having trouble, like Men In
Black was. A good cast let down by a simple plot with a twist you can see almost before the movie starts.
Fun enough, but I can't help but wonder if its Wednesday release was just to capitalise on the Orange Wednesday receipts.

3.5/5

WALL·E - JULY 18th 
Pixar does it again! The story of the last refuse-collection robot on an abandoned Earth is funny and also
cute. Despite the fact that the most endearing characters are machines, WALL·E is a very human movie. It's
got all the classic themes of loneliness, love, adventure and man-on-a-mission, only its mostly robots doing
it all. There are human characters in WALL·E, but by the time they turn up, they ain't a patch on our little
square bin-bot. The story of why they left Earth (and why they left it in such a state) is well handled and
at times, clever satire, only slightly pushing a worthy message onto wide-eyed widdle kiddies.
Not that its just for them, but if your old enough to copy Hancock's drunkeness, go see The Dark Knight first. 

4.5/5

The Dark Knight - July 24th
The newest Batman film is nothing short of incredible. The biggest story is Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker - a
breathtaking portrayal that's creepy, funny and completely enthralling. I found that the plot felt almost like a
secondary thing, but it was just as entertaining. It's twisty and twisted, with the actions of both the heroes and
villain(s) being, by turns, cruel, unusual and unnecessary. The acting of the rest of the cast was spot on, but special
mention should go to Maggie Gyllenhaal, who has made the role of Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes in Batman Begins)
her own. It's been said since it'a release that The Dark Knight raises the bar for all superhero movies, but it raises
the bar for all movies. Having topped IMDb's Top 250 film's upon its US release in mid July, and barely getting anything
like a negative review, The Dark Knight is so good that it's unlikely to see any serious competition until The Watchmen
is released.
 
4.75/5


In three movies, that was July. I've not seen anything else (shame on me), but there wasn't a lot else to see. But its all
about August now, so what's coming up?

Well MSN believe that this lot are worth watching.

I agree with them about Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Get Smart and The Wackness. I'd maybe see

Three and Out

British indie comedy. Out 25th April. Mackenzie Crook accidentally kills two people whilst driving his train. He finds out that if he kills a third the company will sack him and he'll get a big pay-off. Will he find someone willing to die just so that he can escape his dreary career? Also starring the sexy Gemma Arterton (St. Trinians and next Bond Film Quantum of Solace) as a love interest and featuring celebri-chav Kerry Katona as a 'chav with a heart of gold', this sounds like a barrell of black-comedy laughs.

Smart People

Next film featuring the excellent Ellen Page of 'Juno' fame. US indie dramatic romcom. Out 9th May. Page plays the quick-witted sharp-tongued daughter of a dressed professor (Dennis Quaid, of the excellent Vantage Point). She tries to cheer him up, but the smart money's on local doctor Sarah Jessica Parker. Will dead-beat adopted brother Thomas Haden Church (Sandman in Spiderman 3) spoil everything? Looks fun and uplifting with some quotable quips.

Step Brothers

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly play brothers angry at each other, with hilarious consequences. Out 22nd August. The trailer (follow the link) is genuinely funny - in the way you expect any film with these two in it. The whole thing looks like an excuse to get Will and John to shout at each other and fling silly insults - excellent! The fact that they act like kids is sure to lead to comedy gold - like that kid gang attack in the trailer. Bound to cheer up even the prof. from Smart People, Pineapple Express (see previous film blog) finally has some competition.

Couldn't let those gems pass you by!