The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Directed By: Daniel Alfredson

Written By: Ulf Ryberg

Based Upon book of the same title by: Stieg Larsson

Produced By: Soren Staermose, Jon Mankell

Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist

Plot: Lisbeth Salander returns to Sweden after a year abroad, only to be accused of three murders, and has to go on the run whilst Mikael Blomkvist tries to clear her name and uncovers some horrifying truths. 

Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy have become world famous, making millions worldwide, and it seemed only fitting that they should be brought to the big screen. The original Swedish films have stayed true to the books, and have also been very successful. The first film was extremely dark, and the second installment carries on that theme, I noticed that there were no jokes, or humorous comments made throughout, and it's very clear that this is a very serious feature.

I do think that the film is rather inaccessible to anyone who has not read the books, as there are very complex plot-lines, with various characters weaving in and out of the story. Noomi Rapace is an actress completely unheard of before being cast as Lisbeth Salander, a role in which she plays a troubled, and frequently violent young woman beautifully. She makes this film into something else, something more interesting and rather brilliant. The chemistry between herself and Nyqvist's sinccere portrayal of Mikael Blomkvist is spiky yet fantastic. 

The film is not easy watching, and is definitely not something you can dip in and out of, you need to concentrate for the full two hours, otherwise you will lose out on vital information. The main point that brings this film down, and I cannot stress this enough, is how inaccessible this film is if you have not read the books. Even if you are familiar with them, this still takes alot of concentration, but it's most definitely worth it.

By Eammon Jacobs

Super 8

Super 8

Directed By: J.J. Abrams

Written By: J.J. Abrams

Produced by: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler

Plot: In 1970's Ohio, a group of kids are filming their low budget Zombie flick in a small town. They witness a train derailment, and watch as mysterious events unfold throughout their town.

When news first surfaced that J.J. Abrams (Lost, Fringe, Cloverfield, Star Trek) had another project planned, and it was to be a monster movie, rumours flew around that it was to be a sequel/prequel to his previous monster film Cloverfield. He soon shot down those rumours claiming that this film was something else entirely. Not that I doubted J.J. for one second, but having watched the film, he was completely right.
Whilst there is a monster involved, and it does look like the creature in Cloverfield, we can tell straight away that this film has alot of heart, and alot of potential, completely different from J.J’s last monster outing. There is a substantial amount of character development, specifically focused on Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning’s characters. We see how, and why Courtney’s character is so tortured, and how he learns to overcome this obstacle. In several scenes it is quite obvious that Stephen Spielberg has had his input in the script and prodcution, with one scene in particular being similar to Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. This isn’t necessarily a bad move, if slightly unoriginal.
There were a few elements of horror thrown into the mix, which I thought was a terrific technique, and there are several scenes which wouldn’t have been out of place in a Wes Craven film. There is quite alot of comedy between the group of kids, which keeps the film fresh, but without losing it’s pace at the same time. Its alot different from most monster/horror/thriller films that involve sour-faced adults and soldiers (although there are plenty of those)

J.J. Abrams has clearly learned a thing or two about suspense from his time on Lost. We do not see the monster fully until the second half of the film, a technique also used in Cloverfield. It’s really effective, and you are constantly trying to visualise in your mind what the creature looks like. The ending is slightly cliche’d but won’t disappoint. The film is brilliant, funny, tense and completely captivating.
Another great feature from J.J. Abrams, and slightly more family appropriate this time around.

Written By Eammon Jacobs

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger

Directed By: Joe Johnstone

Produced By: Kevin Feige

Written By: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFreely

Cast: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan

Plot: When Steve Rodgers is rejected from the U.S Army on medical grounds, he is recruited to test a super-soldier serum, turning him into Captain America, and giving him the abilities to fight the Nazis.

Captain America originated from the minds of two of Marvel Comics writers. He was used as propaganda in World War II, and was first depicted punching Hitler in the face. Since then, Marvel Comics has sold millions of copies of his adventures, and now it is only fitting for him to reach the Big Screen. The film is your average action blockbuster, but with a little more heart.

Chris Evans plays the role of Steve Rodgers/Captain America superbly, and has the delightful ability to show the audience that he not only has the brains and the brawn, but has a heart too. The chemistry made between himself and Hayley Atwell’s character; Peggy Carter, is almost enchanting. I loved Hugo Weaving’s character Johann Shcmidt, as this isn’t Weaving’s first attempt at playing a psyhcopath (The Matrix) he has clearly perfected his method’s, but without playing the same character twice. There is a very sinister atmosphere to the film whenever he is present on screen, both when is normal (as normal as any psychopathic Nazi can be) and when he becomes The Red Skull.

However, there is a large element of the film that is too unbelievable. When Johann/The Red Skull finds the “magical” object, he creates many weapons. Weapons, that wouldn’t look out of place in Star Wars. The scenery also changes, and everything becomes slightly space-age. It seems highly unrealistic that in 1942, these things would be present. But nonetheless, the film is highly enjoyable, and is easily accessible to anyone who isn’t familiar with the character’s comic history.