Thursday 11 March 2010

Alice in Wonderland - Phil's Five Words for Films -

Alice in Wonderland (Seen In 3D) As more and more films seem to be hitting the big screen in 3d, it sometimes feels like the format is just there to take more money, having been crowbarred in at the last minute and the prices cranked up. This is definitely the case here. Tim Burton has created a lovely looking film but it doesn't really gain anything from being in 3D. In places, the 3d effects are rough round the edges and distract you from the action and body of the story. It does look good as a Tim Burton film, but he has made better films and this is nothing amazing. It looks ok in 3d, but there are better examples in cinemas right now and here, it is nothing amazing. It is a good version of the 'Alice' story, but... nothing amazing. In short, it is just an average film that left me feeling, well, nothing much at all. There is a great collection of famous voices on offer but no real character development and much of the talent is under-used or wasted. Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter all do a good job with their parts but, nothing amazing. You get the idea?. Everything about it was OK and I can't really say much more. See it in old fashioned 2d because you won't miss much, maybe wait for dvd for the same reasons. It just lacked a little something in every department. Just average all round.

5.5 out of 10
Cert PG (uk).2010.

Monday 1 March 2010

Rec - Phil's Five Words For Films-

Rec. ( short for record - in case you were wondering) Turn off the lights, crank up the sound, sit back and get ready for the terror. Imagine taking '28days later', 'Sean of the Dead' and 'Blair Witch', putting them in a pot and mixing them about. The result would look something like 'Rec', a Spanish horror that really piles on the fear. Without giving too much away, the film is set in a Spanish apartment building as a film crew is following the local fire-fighters on a routine patrol. A women has been heard screaming in one of the flats and the locals are worried. From there, all hell breaks loose. Filmed entirely on a hand-held camera, this is a frantic film that, once started, doesn't stop with the scariness. Bring on the gore. Tense, claustrophobic and a great example of proper, small budget horror at it's best. As long as you don't suffer from camera motion sickness, this is a cracking film that will grab you by the throat and try to bite your nose off. I love a good scare and this did the job. Don't worry about the subtitles, sheer panic is the same in any language. Great fun with a raised pulse. No need to bother with the American remake either.

8.5 out of 10.
Cert 18 (uk). 2007