For the first time I really
enjoyed an X-Men film, and it wasn’t
just due to Hugh Jackman’s nude scene. I also urge to you to go out and see a
small Australian film, The Babadook.
It's one of the best horror films you will see this year. Warning: Don’t take
the kids if you want them to continue to go to bed with the light turned off. Releasing
next week is The Trip to Italy, which
is more of the same as the first one if you caught that. Though, it sure does
make me want to get on a plane for Italy. Until next week… Ciao!
(My movie Pick
of the week)
The
Babadook ✪✪✪✪½
Opens
in Australia: 22nd May 2014
USA: 6th June 14
UK: 24th October 2014
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth: Luna Palace Cinemas
OUR THOUGHTS
The Babadook
probably shouldn’t have worked. Somehow, though, it manages to skilfully pull everything
together, in no small part due to the assistance of some compelling, raw
performances from the two leads: Essie Davis as single mother Naomi and
six-year-old Noah Wiseman playing her son Oskar. Wiseman gives an extremely
nuanced, authentic performance of a troubled boy attempting to deal with a
mother who is becoming unhinged.
Naomi is still mourning her husband’s death the
day her son, Oskar, was born. Oskar’s behaviour is becoming increasingly
worrying; he insists that Mr. Babadook, a character from a disturbing book that
has just turned up in their house, wants to kill them both. Oskar’s obsession
with the monster causes him to be expelled from school, and creates a rift
between Naomi and her sister. Whether the monster is real or part of Oskar’s
and his mother’s imagination is the heart of the story.
First time feature Director, Jennifer Kent, also
penned the script, and she’s pulled of a great feat, creating a well-paced
storyline, immersive visuals, and eliciting confident, stylish performances
from her small and mostly unknown cast.
A good horror thriller is a rarity; a director who
knows how to create the immersive feel required to soar above cliché into
unsettling thrills, even more rare. We may not want The Babadook under our bed,
but we certainly want more films like this on our cinema screens.
STUDIO BLURB
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her
husband, battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house, but
soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
X-Men:
Days of Future Past ✪✪✪✪
Opens
in Australia: 22nd May 2014
USA: 23rd May 2014 UK: 22nd May 2014
Other Countries: Release Information
OUR THOUGHTS
Marvel releases are the best popcorn films around
these days. You are guaranteed wit, action, good looking, muscle-bound
superheroes and no-expense spared special effects. The one exception, for me,
is the X-men series. From the very first episode, they have always managed to
be just “good enough,” but not exciting. The story lines just haven’t grabbed
me and they feel kind of a poor cousin to The
Avengers and Spiderman.
So with a decided lack of excitement, I sat ready
to be unimpressed much to the consternation of friends who are fans of the
great Wolverine and his gang of straggly heroes in uncomfortable looking suits.
It was quite a surprise to discover that from the opening sequence, through to the
very interesting concept of Wolverine travelling back in time to work with the
younger versions of Charles Xavier and Magneto, I was hooked.
James McAvoy as Xavier and Michael Fassbender as
Magneto really shine. But the real show stealer is Evan Peters as Quicksilver.
The scene in the kitchen where we steal a slowed-down peek of his view of the
world as he moves at super-speed will probably be my favourite scene of the
year.
This film feels fresh, original, and has turned a
non-fan into an X-men follower. Now I am eagerly awaiting the next installment,
and that surprises me.
P.S. Stay for the end
credits.
STUDIO BLURB
The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war
for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF
FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original "X-Men" film
trilogy join forces with their younger selves from the past, "X-Men: First
Class," in order to change a major historical event and fight in an epic
battle that could save our future.
The
Trip to Italy ✪✪✪
Opens
in Australia: 29th May 2014
USA: 29th April 14 UK: 25th April 2014
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth: Luna Palace Cinemas
OUR THOUGHTS
The hubby and I enjoyed the first one of these, The Trip. This one is more of the same,
although I do think its too much more
of the same. There’s also an odd storyline thrown in, among what is improvised
comedic scatting, which I don’t think works very well.
Something is a little off in this one, and it’s
definitely lost some of its original charm. The views of the Italian
countryside are glorious, but around the half way mark, I just kept thinking
that they had now overstayed their welcome and that they needed to cut their
trip a little short—and I’m a big Steve Coogan fan. If you are a huge fan of the original and are
hankering for more of the same, do go along. For the rest, wait for its showing
on television or catch on DVD
STUDIO BLURB
Michael
Winterbottom's largely improvised 2010 film, The Trip, took comedians Steve
Coogan and Rob Brydon or semifictionalized versions thereof on a restaurant
tour around Northern England. In this witty and incisive follow-up,
Winterbottom reunites the pair for a new culinary road trip, retracing the
steps of the Romantic poets' grand tour of Italy and indulging in some
sparkling banter and impersonation-offs. Rewhetting our palates from the
earlier film, the characters enjoy mouthwatering meals in gorgeous settings
from Liguria to Capri while riffing on subjects as varied as Batman's vocal
register, the artistic merits of Jagged Little Pill, and, of course, the virtue
of sequels.
What have you seen this
week? Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree? Share your thoughts
with us.
