Devil

Devil

Directed By: John Erick Dowdle

Written By: Brian Nelson, M. Night Shyamalan

Produced By: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowlde, M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Mercer

Cast: Chris Messina, Bojana Novakovic, Bokeem Woodbine, Logan Marshall-Green, Jenny O'Hara, Geoffrey Arend

Plot: 5 people get into an elevator, when one of them dies, tensions risee, until it is crystal clear, that one of them is not who they say they are.

M. Night Shyamalan attempts to be the modern day Alfred Hitchcock, by creating this claustrophobic thriller/slasher flick. He certainly suceeds by keeping the 5 unsuspecting victims in the lift for the majority of the film, he  manages to kill them off quite effectively. He also keeps us on the edge of our seats by keeping us guessing all the way through who the killer is, the end result? Almost comical, which to be honest, ruins the film. In the final scene, I cannot take the killer seriously simply because it seems ridiculous and slightly cliche'd.

However, I do find the narration from the Spanish security guard at the start and end of the film very effective. It gives the film an eerie atmosphere before it has even begun, add to that the heavy piano sounds mixed into some of the scenes, and the scary atmosphere is complete. The actors in the film are relatively unheard of, which is good to have some fresh talent introduced. I was a little nervous each time the lights went off, because it is not obvious how these people are going to die, so I was slightly anxious to see how M. Night Shyamalan would work this into the film.

Devil isn't a work of  art, but it is entertaining enough, and doesn't have you groaning at each twist, it also doesn't have an extremely complicated story, it is a simple idea, developed into an Agatha Christie style thriller.

Written By Eammon Jacobs

Inception

Inception

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Written By: Christopher Nolan

Produced By:Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cottilard, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Tom Berenger,

Plot: Dom Cobb is a theif of the mind. He goes into people's subconcsious and extracts information required by whoever employs him. When he is offered the chance to return home after being pursued my numerous agencies, he jumps at the chance, only to find that he must not steal information, instead to plant an idea in a man's mind.

Inception has many levels of complication throughout the story, but has tongue in cheek moments throughout most of the film, whilst still maintaining a very serious atmosphere. Because the majority of the film is set within the mind, it could have easily been ruined by adding ridiculous themes and events into the storyline, because most normal dreams don't make any sense, so Christopher Nolan has been smart enough to keep the dreams themselves very sharp and realistic to save the film from becoming a farce.

However, I do feel that whilst Nolan has written a superb script, equipped with spectacular special effects and a terrific cast, the film lacks raw emotion, we do not get to see how any of the other characters feel about the events that are unfolding around them because the film is centred around Cobb.

This is not a film you can simply watch from any point, you have to watch it entirely to the credits, otherwise the experience and the effect that the story has on you is completely lost. Most of the things included in the film as brilliant and spectacular (Joseph Gordon-Levitts rotating corridor fight) whilst others are amusing, but simply pointless (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page's quick kiss) thus having no real reason for its input in the film. If the characters had more depth and had a little more focus on them then the film would have been benefited greatly.

But the concept of Inception, is completely mindblowing. A dream, within a dream, within a dream. This idea is fantastic and comes across plausible in the film without seeming ridiculous. The story is rather honest, and the last hour is spent wondering, how are they going to pull it off? The way in which Christopher Nolan rounds up his film is brilliant. And the last scene is completely up for debate, not having any real answers revealed, it is left up to us what has actually happened. Some people prefer the idea of a happy ending, but some people prefer the serious ending, but I won't give anything away.

Inception is a spectacle to be marveled at, and is one of the best films to have been released in the lastten years.

Written By Eammon Jacobs

The Hangover Part II

The Hangover Part II
Directed By: Todd Phillips
Written By: Todd Phillips, Craig Mazin, Scott Armstrong
Produced By: Todd Phillips, Daniel Goldberg

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong

Plot: The Wolf Pack are back, but this time, it's Stu's bachelor party, in Bangkok.

The first film was an instant hit with audiences of all ages. There was a spark that everyone clicked with almost straight away. Part II, maintains the comedy, with hilarious moments almost every second. But, it hasn't got the same flare as the first one, this concept has already been done. We know how this is going to play out, its the good old "Where-the-hell-are-we-what-did-we-do-and-how-did-we-do-it" routine. What the film really needs is more originality, it needs more events/people/hotels that will make people remember the film for those iconic laughs.

 There are various parts of the storyline that also mirror the first film, stolen Tiger=stolen drug monkey, missing tooth=missing finger. It is almost a copy. Also, some of the laughs are out of shock, rather than comedic value. However, the film is rather funny, and is easily accessible to anyone, there are no complicated plotlines, just simple, but effective, comedy. But be warned, this is not a film you should watch with older relatives. There are numerous sex gags, nudity and swearing. This does lower the tone of the film, because it seems like the script writers have had to fall upon bad language to get the lines in, which isn't particularly a good thing.
But, why change something that works so well, and brought in plenty of money? It definately works, and is terribly funny. If they turn this into a franchise however, the magic will be ruined.


Written By Eammon Jacobs

X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class

Directed By: Matthew Vaugn

Written By: Matthew Vaugn, Jane Gouldman, Zack Stentz, Ashley Edward Miller

Produced By: Gregory Goodman, Simon Kinberg, Lauren Shuler Donner, Bryan Singer

Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, January Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon

Plot: In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the film focuses on the relationship between Professor X and Magneto and the origin of their groups, the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants.

The film is fast, very fast. Numerous things happen at the same time, and usually in a film, this doesn't work whatsoever. But, Matthew Vaughn (Director) manages to keep everything in place and isn''t confusing. It has some very clear moments, which gives the film something to say about itsself. In fact, the whole film could be a metaphor against segregation and racism. The mutants feel segregated and cut off from the rest of society, showing us how they feel about not being accepted into the normal world is an eye-opener into the hearts of many people affected by this kind of problem.

This film completely overshadows the original X-Men series, which was recieved poorly by critics and the public. First Class has layers of depth and a considerable amount of emotion in each of the characters. For example, we see how deep Magneto/Erik Leshnerr's psycological scars are from his horrific experiences in the Nazi concentration camps. However, the writers of the screenplay have been clever enough and wise enough not to turn the film into a mindless revenge flick.

It's clever, pacy and entertaining. Obviously, there were no mutants involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis, but whilst watching the film, you wish that is how nuclear war was averted, and is almost believeable.

The film's only cameo is rather amusing for anyone who is familiar with the X-Men series. There are more of the Origins films planned, and if they are written, and filmed as well as First Class, then they too should be a success.

Written By Eammon Jacobs