Why Pacific Rim is both Awesome & Awful, but mostly Awesome

After re-watching Pacific Rim for the first time, I was amazed by how totally awesome and inventive it was in place, but also awful in others. So, Here is my summary of the good and the bad o f Pacific Rim.

The Good: The F**king Soundtrack
Just listen to it, No seriously Go Listen To It, stop reading and Go...
Amazing wasn't it, the score throughout the movie is fantastic and perfectly complements whats going on onscreen and just overall adds to feeling of epicness going into every fight scene. It just gets you pumped up.


The Bad: The Sometime Atrocious Dialogue.
Sometime the dialogue in this movie is just atrocious, it's too cliched and cheesy, at times it seems the dialogue can barely be said with a straight face. It also seems to get lost in its own Jargon, the characters just seem to go on and on about the "Rift" and although its a good premise, the film doesn't focus on it enough to make it everyday jargon.

The Good: The Sometime Amazing Dialogue.
"Today, We are Cancelling the Apocalypse", Damn that's good. The film does a 180 on the dialogue, with it being over the top but amazing at the same time.

The Bad: Charlie Hunnam
Although I don't think Charlie Hunnam is a bad actor in this, he ins't great. It's not just his fault, the character is just kind of boring and uninteresting, which is shame. The character dialogue is also the worst, although this isn't helped by Hunnam's delivery, which often sounds like a 12 year old trying to do batman. Overall he's Serviceable, its just a shame, that a film with so many big ideas, fall so flat with the main character,

The Good: Mako Mori
You know a side character is good, when they create a test around them. Link . Now, I know not many people are particularly fond of the character, but i thinks shes brilliant, not only does she have more interesting backstory than the main character, but she is also a very different character from what we are used to. What makes her so great as a character is that her Cultural Center is completely different to that of the audience, shes not just a normal female partner, shes a character in her own right.

The Bad: The Stock Characters
This one I could give or take, at times the films use of stock characters is very in keeping with its cartoon origins, it does feel a little too contrived.

The Good: The Inventiveness & Attention to Detail
The film has an over abundance of ideas and although some what argue that the ideas are borrowed from certain anime, the execution is still top notch. The main idea is that of the "Drift", as a narrative device its brilliant because it pushes the inter character relationships to the main story as well allowing he characters back stories to be delivered naturally. The film is chock full of interesting Ideas.

Then there is the ridiculous attention to detail that just adds an extra layer of charm to the film, as well as adding to the constant world building done throughout.

The Bad: Can You Think of One?
Cant really think of another one.

The Not at All Ugly: The Style
The films neon infused colour palette and amazing design is just jaw dropping at times.

Agree, Disagree? Please comment Below and check out the rest of my site.

The 10 Best of 2014 So Far

As July 2nd (Exact middle of the year) just passed I thought I'd do a best and worst of 2014 so far. Now my list won't just be focusing on films I think are the best, but also my favorite films of the year as well. Here we go.

10. Edge of Tomorrow

This film came as some sort of a surprise for me, I went in expecting another "Tom Cruise" action movie, but what I got was a great Sci-Fi action epic. A lot of this is due to the "Groundhog Day" reset mechanic that just worked so well in this setting, combine this with great action and two good leading performances, it just creates a great summer blockbuster. Although the film does somewhat stumble towards the end, the great action and sci-fi concept mean I'm looking forward to seeing this again.

 9. The Double

After Richard Ayoade's directorial debut left me with a cold and sterile felling, I had tempered my expectations for The Double. Then I sat down and watched this dark, mysterious and funny thriller and the film just won me over, with its over abundance of style and ambition. Although not for everybody The Double excels due to the comically bleak and haunting world it creates, as well as the mysterious plot that surrounds Jesse Eisenberg's characters. The performance are compelling and the atmosphere is unique, there is a good chance you'll walk away from the film in a confused daze, and that's kind of wonderful.

 8. Her

Another film that just creates a realistic and grounded world filled with unique and interesting characters and relationships. Its sweet nature and subtle ambiance fill these characters with flaws and nuances that just seem to elevate the sci-fi romance into something meaningful and substantial. The film could be a little tighter, but it still places you in this wonderful world surrounded by these characters, and overall its hard not to smile when they smile and cry when they cry.

 7. Calvary

A films whose dialogue is second to none on this list. Every scene is undercut with tension and a sense of humour that's incredibly pitch black. The story unfolds as a tension building countdown, as the life of this priest is shown. His faith slowly becomes raw and bitter as his ethics are tortured at every turn and he is pushed to breaking point. Gut wrenchingly tense scenes litter the film, as several stories appear from nowhere but become integral to understanding the main character. With a veneer of black humour, interesting characters and  a mystery that spawns more mystery's, its a film not to miss.

 6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

My distaste for the name aside, Dawn is a natural evolution to the series and damn good blockbuster in its own right. At times this epic almost feels like a biopic, with the majority of film focused on Caesar and the tensions that war creates. The cinematography is outstanding, the acting is great and the story takes a alternative and surprising path down familiar roads. The human characters are a bit of a non starter, but that's ok because it's not there movie. An emotional and intimate story that ends with an explosive 3rd act.

5. The Lego Movie

Pure Unadulterated Joy in Film form. 

4. Dallas Buyers Club

Normally films like this just pass me by, often feeling like Oscar bait and overall just coming across as another over emotional inspiring story. But something about this movie just captured me, whether its the actors incredible transformations or the amazing true story of survival and desperation, something just felt special. The film never lingers to long on emotional moments and just carries on telling its inspiring story. This is why it felt so fresh to me, it doesn't over extend tear jerker moments in the hopes of carrying more emotional heft it just tells the story and gets you invested.

3. Grand Budapest Hotel

A rip roaring adventure flick with an undercurrent of melancholy that feels like a one of a kind film going experience. Wes Anderson's Style emanates from every shot and infuses the film with its quirky atmosphere and style. While Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori give this film its tremendous heart. As an overall package its simply delightful.

2. How to Train you Dragon 2

Only once in a special while does a sequel come along and feel like a natural progression of the original. The film just feels right, everything from the story to the animation just feels like a very purposely crafted piece of a rich tapestry. The story is more mature and ethical grey, while the overall the film just dives into emotional depth. Due to the films obscure pacing the story remains completely unpredictable and treads into uncharted waters. Not to mention the astounding animation and cinematography that is purely beautiful sight to behold. Its a momentous feeling film, that should be enjoyed by the whole family.

 1. Locke

A bit of an alternative choice, Locke is my number one because it simply feels like an experience. The trailers maybe trying to sell you something different, but Locke is an astounding piece of cinema. Tom Hardy creates the most believable and relatable characters of the year, with Ivan Locke trying to remain calm and in control as his life falls apart around him. I don't really know why I like this movie as much as I do, but without doubt it felt like an incredibly experience.

Agree or Disagree? Please comment below
Enjoyed my list? check out my 5 worst films of the year so far here:http://theflickfixshow.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-5-worst-of-2014-so-far.html

The 5 Worst of 2014 So Far.

5 of the worst, in what has been an exceptional year for film so far. Again the list wont just included the worst films but also films I found very disappointing or uninspired.

5. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Although not a bad film, this just scrapes into the list due to it being so bland, uninspired and worst forgettable. Although comprised of a promising team of actors and director, everything the film attempts to do just lands with a dull thud and that's about as much I can say, never bad but never good either.

5. Pompeii

Sometimes its unfair to see a film go so over the top cheesy but at the same time being played so straight. The films main issue is that if it went over the top and fun, it might have been fun but instead Kit Harrington's bored and serious sets the tone for this disaster flick. Keifer Sutherland knows whats going on, playing the villain so badly he might as well be in a Sunday morning cartoon. All this put together means, that the films goes with not a bang but a whimper.

3. 300: Rise of an Empire

I do kind of feel bad putting this on the list just due to fact that Eva Green steals this movie. Everything that hasn't got her in it, is just bad or poorly done. Trying to be a sequel, prequel and concurrent story to the original 300, Rise of an empire falls short because it lacks the style of the original,  as well as being stripped of all pomp and circumstance. In the end it just comes of a weak imitation of the original.

2. The Legend of Hercules

Now we get to the really bad movies. The Legend of Hercules feels like a TV movie and looks like one too, Which is surprising seeing as they spent 70 million on it. As a whole its poorly acted and feels like a mess of cliches, with some scenes that are so bad there funny and some truly awful dialogue. There are some moments that are actually well done, but these are few and far between.

1. Ironclad 2: Battle for Blood

Sometimes films are so bad there good, but not this time.

Agree or Disagree? Tell me Below
Check out my pick of the 10 Best of 2014 so far here: 
http://theflickfixshow.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-10-best-of-2014-so-far.html

Transformers: Age of Extinction & Bad Shot Composition.

While watching the new Transformers film the other day, something continued to bug me and that was my inability to focus on the cool and interesting visual goings on. Instead I seemed to focus on random areas of the screen. At first I thought this was due to my lack of engagement with the film, but on further inspection I realized that it was just the way the film was constructed and how some of the shots where very badly composed.

Focal Point

The main example of this for me must be Lockdowns "Big" reveal. Him stepping out of billowing smoke with a spacecraft flying behind him is cool no matter my feelings towards Micheal Bay's Transformer films.

But Instead my eyes are drawn to thing above him and I seem transfixed by it. The focal point of this shot doesn't seem to be the bad-ass Transformer but instead the engine on the ship above him.

That's Better

What makes this so baffling to me, is that the poster featuring this scene amends this mistakes.All this shot needs is to be re-framed a couple of inches down. Thereby making Lockdown The focal point of the shot. Although it doesn't help that the whole thing is lopsided to the left.

This isn't the only time that it happens either. A continuing theme throughout all the Transformers films is the weird way that the actual Transformers themselves are always shot using these obtuse angles and shots. They are almost always shot using low angle shots, this is probably used to create and constant sense of there size and to make the audience feel small by comparison.

The issue is that the low angel is often used when the transformers are simply conversing among themselves. Combined with the fact that these shots often feature two Transformers, This just makes it very hard to focus and concentrate on what they are saying. When  conversing they should just be shot like normal human characters, this should help to keep the audience visual attention.

Overall when you add this to the often messy and very cluttered visual style, it just means that the majority of the action scene just passed me by, while my eyes glazed over. Is it just me??

Dirt Cannon lol

The Wind Rises - Re-Visited

So, after writing a positive review of the film and thinking it was another Ghibli home-run, my mind just seemed to linger more than it should have. The more I thought about it the more I found my self seeing the cracks and flaws, that are hidden underneath the gorgeous visuals.

At first I think I was distracted by the fantastic animation and amazing sound design and the fact that I wanted to love it. Then I pinpointed the reason for my lingering troubles with the movie, and unfortunately it was Jiro, the main character. My disdain stems not only from his character but from what the film-makers decided to do with him.Therefore my dislike for the character slowly decayed everything that had him in it (which is most of the film).

My main quarrel with the character, beside the fact that I think he’s quite bland and uninteresting, is that for such an ostensible “Good” character, the way that he and the film treats the morale dilemma is so disingenuous. The fact that the character and film just simply ignores this ethical issue creates this strong dissonance between the character and his attitude. The characters in-curiousness about his actions and the world around is mirrored in the films in-curiousness about delving in to such subject matter. This just leads to some very frustrating moments in the film

Then there is the romance which is made dull and uninteresting by his involvement. It often feels forced and contrived because the two lack any resemblance of a spark or chemistry together.

Ultimately the film falters due to a lack of conflict and urgency in the story and the characters. The film felt like it often had a lot to say, but just decided to say nothing at all.

Re-Rating: 6.5/10

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: First Trailer.

A First look at Michael Bay TMNT Movie, Looks like its Another Transformers Movie. For a TMNT Trailer this seems to be completely The wrong Tone.

And Why On Earth Is Megan Fox In This Movie???

Glenn Beck On Noah:

After slating the movie base solely on a review, Glenn Back some what apologized for criticizing the movie before he had seen it. Well now he has, after being invited to a screening by the Paramount President, and what does he have to say? nothing particularly good, but one exception summary of the movie. Beck stated "“I believe that it is not a godless climate change movie. It’s more take ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ meets ‘The Shining’ and ‘Friday the 13th,’ with a sprinkle of ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.’”. Is it Just me or does that not sound Amazing.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/24/beck-saw-noah-over-the-weekend-and-hes-calling-it-the-babylonian-chainsaw-massacre/#

Age Of Ultron Set Pics

 Some set pics have been release for some of the new Avengers. With Quicksilver sporting a fairly minimalist comic style costume, which look vastly superior than the supposed X-Men Quick Silver, In my Opinion.

Then We have the Scarlet Witch costume that looks fairly simple and toned down, whether there is another costume, we'll have to wait and see.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past: Poster

What the hell is this neon infused monstrosity. A poster has actually managed to put me of watching a movie. Iron men, floating Professor X and random effects and colours, make the poster look preposterous. With focus being on Wolverine and Mystique all so has me worried, but as long as the film is still centred around Fassbender and McAvoy's Characters, it might still be all right, but its looking doubtful that is the case.