It’s been a while
Recently I’ve watched more films that I’ve been reviewing so brace yourselves for a run down of the good, the bad, and the surprising. The past few weeks have yielded a variety of flicks that have tantalised cinema goers, as well as a few classics that I thought deserved to be revisited.
TOY STORY 3
First on the agenda is Toy Story 3. After an 11 year wait the highly anticipated finale exploded on to our screens. The wait was definitely worth it as we follow our favourite heroes Woody and Buzz on their final journey. The plot is well thought out as we see the progression of the toys’ fate when Andy is about to leave for college. Mistaken for trash, the toys find themselves heading to Sunnyside, but don’t let the name fool you. What initially seems like a retirement haven for old toys, it’s soon revealed to be a prison run by an unassuming pink bear. All is not as it seems at the play school and our heroes are soon desperately trying to get back home. An excellent combination with prison escape parodies makes this film highly entertaining. But how will it end? All I can say is have a tissue to hand…
THE KARATE KID
Karate Kid stars Will Smith’s son Jaden in his début lead role as Dre Parker, a young boy forced to move to China with his mother. To say that this is the 12 year old’s first leading role, he does an excellent job as he graces our screens with quality acting that echoes his father’s presence. As far as remakes go I was dubious when I first heard about this film but it adapted the original story well to a modern setting. Jackie Chan is also on top form as Mr Han, this version’s equivalent to Mr Miyagi’, as he opts for a more serious approach as opposed to his signature slapstick kung fu roles. Chan successfully portrays the tragic life of his character as he pulls off emotionally charged scenes alongside his young co-star. At the core of the film is the original story in all its glory as Dre is trained to take on the bad guys in the signature kung fu stand off. An enjoyable remake that can be appreciated for its loyalty to the 1984 version as well as adding its own flavour to the mix.
GOEMON
As a fan of Eastern film, I can’t imagine why I haven’t mentioned one sooner. But Goemon is an excellent place to start. Influenced partly by a legendary Japanese bandit whose tale echoes Robin Hood and an anime called Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Goemon is a spectacularly beautiful film. It has all the great features of a historical fantasy as we see characters engaged in spectacular battles and rooftop chases. The film’s main focus centres on Goemon and his role during the Japanese Civil War during which our hero sets out on a quest for revenge after his master is betrayed and killed. The most impressive feature of this film is the incredible effects used to show Goemon take on entire armies, scale castle walls and display exceptional combat skills. The brilliant inclusion of styles like those found in anime mean that this film is ideal for those who want to experience a live action version.
CHAPLIN
The controversial and troubled life of Charlie Chaplin is explored in this 1992 film based on the actor’s autobiography. Robert Downey Jr. plays the silent era icon from his first audition, through the successes and failures of his career and personal life, his exile from America and finally his re-acceptance and recognition before his death in 1977. There are no major criticisms I can give for this film: the acting is brilliant by Downy Jr. who captures Chaplin’s essence convincingly and importantly it is historically accurate. Even if you are not a fan of Chaplin, Downey Jr’s performance is enough of a reason to admire this film. At nearly 20 years old it still manages to hold its own and deserves the 3 Oscar nominations it received.
