The Hobbit Battle of Five Armies: Uuuuuuuuugggghhhhhh. Horrid dialogue, wooden performances and not the Hobbit. The high frame rate results with the CGI being jarring and visually unpalatable, with many action sequences rendered like a video game boss fight sequences, even down to the stylistic choreography. Pacing is non existent, given the relentlessness of what happens when you make one third of a short novel into a three hour extended LOTR battle. I saw this because I saw the others, but there's very little to recommend this film. I do look forward to a year from now when an enterprising group of nerds re-edit the three films into one film called The Hobbit. If you do see this, you may enjoy the 2D version better. 3.46/10
Mockingjay part 1: Well made but deeply unsatisfying. This feels like the first two elongated acts of a great film, but the pacing of the storyline (by necessity I concede) means that the narrative arc has an abrupt ending, leaving the viewer frustrated. The performances are solid, and the costumes, cinematography and script are executed with precision. However, having read the books, this should have been one exceptional film rather than a money grabbing split which ruins the momentum of the narrative. I anticipate that this will be redeemed by the finale, but in the meantime it's irksome and Catching Fire remains the best of the films thus far. 7.48/10
Exodus: Gods and Kings - Hnnnng. Okay, this might be a little longer than usual. Having studied this aspect of the Bible extensively, I'd have to say that Jews and Christians are likely to be very disappointed, though for different reasons than others, who will also be. Bale is very well cast, but that's as far as it goes, the rest of the cast struggle to bring depth to their performances, hampered by a somewhat average script. The CGI is irksome, cinematography is occasionally excellent, but otherwise clunky and distracting, costuming and set design are a triumph and the pacing is fine. However, the storyline, which is really the crux of the whole film, fails on both fronts. The first two acts are generally consistent and a concerted attempt to legitimise the fantastical subject matter, but the third act descends into farce at times, diminishing the groundwork laid earlier. Watch this at home if you must, and if you're familiar with the intricacies of the original story, then don't expect too much. 5.17/10
Gone Girl: Incredible. A brilliant screenplay, great performances and phenomenal script make for a thoroughly gripping experience. A film well worth your time. 9.13/10
Sin City 2: Not as good as the first one. Some good moments made for a mostly enjoyable script, but this lacked the urgency and pizazz of the original. Whilst the excellent cast were solid, with standout performances from Levitt and Green, ultimately this was a little lacklustre, with poor pacing in the final third. 6.89/10
Interstellar: sublime cinematography, superb acting and compelling script make for a thoroughly worthwhile experience. A dash of 2001, pinch of Event Horizon, nod to Sphere, Sunshine and Contact, and Nolan has created a powerful film that drags you along relentlessly. And yet, there are a few too many leaps which unsettle the finesse of an otherwise brilliant film. Not being a physicist I'm sure there are other issues of a scientific nature, however, ultimately this is a moving cinema experience. 8.76/10
Predestination: A very polished, thoroughly enjoyable film. Exceptional performances and lovely cinematography combined with a well conceived script made for a compelling time travel film which kept me interested throughout. 8.12/10
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: An excellent sequel. Wonderful creature design, solid storyline and some epic sequences made for an enjoyable and engaging experience. The script was somewhat predictable but well executed and the cinematography was wonderful, with the exception of a couple of odd stylistic decisions. Not quite as emotionally engaging as the first film but still worth seeing. 7.89/10
How to train your Dragon 2: Wonderful! An enjoyable and satisfying sequel which looked beautiful. The creature design was superb, cinematography was stunning and the storyline was heartfelt and compelling. Judging the reactions of the (many) children present, a thoroughly engaging family film well worth seeing on the big screen. 8.37/10
The Rover: Bleak. A typical Australian production that felt only one or two steps removed from a student film. Great performances, uncomfortable soundtrack, obligatory 'bleak Australian landscape' cinematography and little dialogue made for a solid, if unpolished, film. Knowing the geography of the Flinders Rangers does become problematic in terms of continuity occasionally. 6.32/10
Guardians of the Galaxy: Magnificent*. Beautiful cinematography and a delightful script, with excellent performances and a thoroughly engaging storyline. The soundtrack adds a lovely dimension to this film, and the creature design was superbly done. Well worth seeing on the big screen. 9.03/10
Lucy: Existential crisis distilled into just over an hour and a half, made for the Cosmos viewing generation (get on it if you haven't already). The dialogue is ham fisted and designed apparently for idiots, but the storyline is fantastic and Johanssen is brilliant. Some excellent action sequences, though lacking the grandeur I was expecting. I wanted it to be better, but it was still thoroughly enjoyable if you ignore all of the 'science'. 7.98/10
The Expendables 3: A bit rubbish. Not particularly funny, awful script, not much done with characters, no real storyline. As expected, there were some fun 'splosions, a level of lunacy to the action that was beyond ridiculous, many famous faces that were ready for a pummelling and obligatory one liners. I wanted more. 4.37/10
Sex Tape: Some very funny moments and a rather nice, honest script made for a more enjoyable experience than I was expecting. Whilst it's not brilliant, there are enough genuine laughs and ridiculous situations to make for a solid adult comedy. The performances are fine, though nothing spectacular, and it's the right length for this type of film. 6.82/10
Transformers: Age of Extinction - Uuuuuuughhhhhhhh. At least an hour too long, if not more. Awful dialogue, mediocre acting, utterly ridiculous storyline (though I accept that's a given) and weird cinematography that fluctuated between brilliant and terrible. The fights between the giant robots themselves were excellent and some of the design elements were stunning, but nowhere near enough to make up for the shortcomings, and the 3D added nothing to the experience. Ham fisted political commentary and casual racism further lower this film in my estimation, nor was there much humour to alleviate the endless succession of overblown action sequences interspersed with horrid exposition. 3.79/10
X-Men Days of Future Past: an excellent film, with a brilliant cast, compelling storyline, excellent visual effects and a fantastic script. Not quite as exceptional as the first prequel but still a thoroughly enjoyable, polished and surprisingly funny experience. 8.98/10
Edge of Tomorrow:Fantastic fun, a thoroughly enjoyable sci fi with excellent battle sequences, great performances and a compelling storyline. Both Blunt and Cruise are exceptional and the overall concept of Groundhog Day cross Independence Day was well executed. Very worth seeing on the big screen. 8.37/10
Godzilla verdict: A really fun homage to the original films which, thankfully, didn't take itself too seriously. Stunning cinematography, excellent creature design and some great monster fight scenes are somewhat hampered by a truly appalling script and odd pacing, though not enough to totally dampen the experience. The acting was fine, given there was nothing to work with, and I really enjoyed the cheesy little additions. It won't win any awards but it was a fun monster movie. 7.12/10
Maleficent verdict: Uuuuuughhhh. So disappointing. The character design was wonderful and there were some great sequences, but otherwise this film failed on almost every level. Ham fisted storyline, rubbish dialogue, poor acting (though there wasn't much to work with), predictable plot, shoehorned humour and clearly hampered by the original story. There were some good moments, but overall this was a lacklustre film which I so desperately wanted to rise above my expectations, which were low anyway. 4.87/10
Dallas Buyers Club verdict: An exceptional film with brilliant performances from the entire cast and a heartbreaking storyline. Well worth your time, though have tissues handy. 8.93/10
Captain America 2: Infinitely better than the first one, with a good storyline, brilliant cinematography and epic fight sequences. The acting was great and, as expected, the dialogue was witty and clever. Scarlett Johansson was brilliant, Chris Evans was excellent and Samuel L was, well, Samuel L. A thoroughly enjoyable film though people should NOT bring their goddamn infant offspring to the cinema on a late night Friday opening weekend screening. Otherwise, good fun. 8.27/10
Divergent: I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the screenplay, acting and cinematography of this film. I'll admit that as a fan of the trilogy I was very skeptical about bringing this story to the screen, but this is a very good rendition of the novel and the few changes are completely understandable and add to the pacing of the story. A little long but otherwise this was a thoroughly enjoyable film that was well cast and, thankfully, didn't skimp on the violence. 8.21/10
Her: A sublime film with a beautifully crafted script and mesmerising cinematography. This was a delicate portrayal of a not-too-distant future that incorporates elegant metaphors regarding the human condition, sentience and consciousness. 9.23/10
The Muppets Most Wanted: An all star cast, great score and hilarious script make for an enjoyable family film. Tina Fey is brilliant and the storyline is better than the last one, well worth your time especially with kids. 8.74/10
A Million Ways to Die in the West: Meh. Some very funny jokes, but otherwise nothing really happens, you're not compelled to care about any of the characters, there's no real storyline (not that I was expecting a good one) and there's a general lack of cohesiveness to the plot, with many ideas introduced but not developed. As usual, the line between humour and racism is crossed and, unlike Ted, this film falls flat as a whole, leaving you with the sense that it should have been much better. 5.38/10
Hercules: Quite fun with a nice take on the 'man-or-myth' question. Poor CGI is offset by a solid, if not terribly good, storyline and Ian McShane adds a nice flair to an otherwise meh script. Dwayne Johnson is well cast in the iconic role, and I surprisingly actually cared about the characters. Whilst it could have been better, it was mostly enjoyable and fun. 6.93/10
The Raid 2: Just awesome. Two and a half hours of non-stop, visceral, disturbing but stunningly choreographed martial arts violence on an epic scale. Brilliant cinematography and amazing foley, I'll admit that I'll never look at a hammer quite the same way and much of this film was enjoyed whilst squirming and exclaiming in fascinated horror. The storyline could have been a little less obtuse but otherwise It was enjoyable and utterly ridiculous. 8.76/10
The Wind Rises: somewhat disappointing. Miyazaki is a director whose work I generally adore, but the narrative is stagnant and the film lacks the beautiful whimsy and delight of his previous films. Clearly hampered by the 'true story' component, this two hour experience is bland and unfortunately I was almost glad it was over. The moral commentary was odd and crudely executed and it should be noted that this is NOT a children's film, they would be horribly bored and probably very confused. Still visually stunning, and there were some tenderly crafted moments, but overall an uninspiring experience. 4.93/10
The Grand Budapest Hotel: a delightful oddity with a brilliant script, stellar cast and excellent cinematography. If you don't like Wes Anderson films then you'll hate it, but since I love a dialogue driven plot and highly stylised visuals I like his films generally and this one didn't disappoint. It's charming, witty, tragic yet cheerful and a satisfying experience overall. 8.89/10
22 Jump Street: Hilarious! A very tongue in cheek, self aware comedy with many thoroughly funny (and surprisingly clever) moments. The storyline is, of course, ridiculous however the performances are excellent and there's not a dull moment. Not one you have to see at the movies, but well worth watching. 8.13/10
The Wolf of Wall Street: an excellent film with brilliant performances and superb dialogue. It felt slightly long in a few places, and the level of debauchery is slightly absurd, but overall a very successful and thoroughly compelling morality tale for our times. 8.87/10
The Equaliser: Surprisingly good. A slow burn with the pacing, but a thoroughly well realised concept, great performances, epic violence and a solid storyline. A really enjoyable action thriller well worth your time. 8.11/10 As an aside, I need to go to Bunnings tomorrow...
Frank: A lovely, odd, quirky and occasionally somber film which is nothing like anything else I've seen. Brilliant performances, compelling yet strange storyline and surreal soundtrack, this is a film which will not be to everyone's taste but is worth seeing. Fassbender is particularly good and the overall experience was a positive one. 8.14/10
The Hobbit part two: The Desolation of Smaug - worse than part one. Manufactured and unnecessary drama, complete and utter disregard for the storyline, horrid cgi, poor pacing, jilted dialogue and irritating plot additions in the form of dumb romantic love triangles angered me more than I was anticipating. Whilst some of the cinematography was superb, so much of the original story was lost or irrevocably altered (Beorn, for example) that it made for a simultaneously enraging and bewildering experience. Some of the casting was well done, and Laketown was beautifully envisioned, but otherwise this was an utterly depressing experience. A film with little substance and no soul, I'm mortified by how little I care for these on screen characters whom I adore in their literary world. 3.12/10
The Lego Movie: Fun and very entertaining, though I'd say slightly over hyped. Some very funny moments, but the storyline was odd and I'd imagine young children would be awed yet confused. Great visual humour and the 3D was rather good and made for some spectacular Lego action sequences. I curse the composer as I'll have 'everything is awesome' on a loop in my brain for weeks, but it's well worth seeing with enough adult jokes to ensure everyone will enjoy it. It fell a little short of my (high) expectations but a fun family film nonetheless. 7.88/10
The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro - Meh. Rubbish dialogue and horrid soundtrack can't be saved by the stunning visuals. Characterisation is sloppy, one wonders what big names like Jamie Fox and Paul Giamati were thinking, and even the stronger performance of Emma Stone was still hampered by the awful writing. He's whiny, needy and ultimately this was just an average superhero film that looked pretty and had a few good moments interspersed with drawn out blergh. It feels too long, and it is at two hours and twenty minutes. 5.11/10
300 - Rise of an Empire verdict: Watch Spartacus instead. Poor mixing in post means the uninspired dialogue is often hard to distinguish and the acting is mostly appalling with the notable exception of Eva Green. There were some cool moments and some awesome costumes, but overall a very meh film. 4.73/10
12 Years a Slave: Horrifyingly brilliant. Incredible performances, brutal storyline and exceptional cinematography. Deserving of the many accolades it has received. 9.94/10. Now excuse me whilst I spend some time watching puppies and kittens in an attempt to regain some emotional equilibrium.
47 Ronin: a film that should have been more fun than it was, jilted dialogue and poor cgi mean you're never quite properly invested in the outcome of the storyline, making for an average viewing experience. The 3D was very well done, but otherwise a meh experience. 4.67/10
Monuments Men: mostly entertaining but let down by a poor script and lack of narrative cohesion. I imagine it was somewhat constrained by the need to stick to the history, but this meant I didn't care as much about characters as I feel like I should have and the plot felt cobbled together. Some good moments but not exceptional, see it on DVD. 6.87/10
Mockingjay part 1: Well made but deeply unsatisfying. This feels like the first two elongated acts of a great film, but the pacing of the storyline (by necessity I concede) means that the narrative arc has an abrupt ending, leaving the viewer frustrated. The performances are solid, and the costumes, cinematography and script are executed with precision. However, having read the books, this should have been one exceptional film rather than a money grabbing split which ruins the momentum of the narrative. I anticipate that this will be redeemed by the finale, but in the meantime it's irksome and Catching Fire remains the best of the films thus far. 7.48/10
Exodus: Gods and Kings - Hnnnng. Okay, this might be a little longer than usual. Having studied this aspect of the Bible extensively, I'd have to say that Jews and Christians are likely to be very disappointed, though for different reasons than others, who will also be. Bale is very well cast, but that's as far as it goes, the rest of the cast struggle to bring depth to their performances, hampered by a somewhat average script. The CGI is irksome, cinematography is occasionally excellent, but otherwise clunky and distracting, costuming and set design are a triumph and the pacing is fine. However, the storyline, which is really the crux of the whole film, fails on both fronts. The first two acts are generally consistent and a concerted attempt to legitimise the fantastical subject matter, but the third act descends into farce at times, diminishing the groundwork laid earlier. Watch this at home if you must, and if you're familiar with the intricacies of the original story, then don't expect too much. 5.17/10
Gone Girl: Incredible. A brilliant screenplay, great performances and phenomenal script make for a thoroughly gripping experience. A film well worth your time. 9.13/10
Sin City 2: Not as good as the first one. Some good moments made for a mostly enjoyable script, but this lacked the urgency and pizazz of the original. Whilst the excellent cast were solid, with standout performances from Levitt and Green, ultimately this was a little lacklustre, with poor pacing in the final third. 6.89/10
Interstellar: sublime cinematography, superb acting and compelling script make for a thoroughly worthwhile experience. A dash of 2001, pinch of Event Horizon, nod to Sphere, Sunshine and Contact, and Nolan has created a powerful film that drags you along relentlessly. And yet, there are a few too many leaps which unsettle the finesse of an otherwise brilliant film. Not being a physicist I'm sure there are other issues of a scientific nature, however, ultimately this is a moving cinema experience. 8.76/10
Predestination: A very polished, thoroughly enjoyable film. Exceptional performances and lovely cinematography combined with a well conceived script made for a compelling time travel film which kept me interested throughout. 8.12/10
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: An excellent sequel. Wonderful creature design, solid storyline and some epic sequences made for an enjoyable and engaging experience. The script was somewhat predictable but well executed and the cinematography was wonderful, with the exception of a couple of odd stylistic decisions. Not quite as emotionally engaging as the first film but still worth seeing. 7.89/10
How to train your Dragon 2: Wonderful! An enjoyable and satisfying sequel which looked beautiful. The creature design was superb, cinematography was stunning and the storyline was heartfelt and compelling. Judging the reactions of the (many) children present, a thoroughly engaging family film well worth seeing on the big screen. 8.37/10
The Rover: Bleak. A typical Australian production that felt only one or two steps removed from a student film. Great performances, uncomfortable soundtrack, obligatory 'bleak Australian landscape' cinematography and little dialogue made for a solid, if unpolished, film. Knowing the geography of the Flinders Rangers does become problematic in terms of continuity occasionally. 6.32/10
Guardians of the Galaxy: Magnificent*. Beautiful cinematography and a delightful script, with excellent performances and a thoroughly engaging storyline. The soundtrack adds a lovely dimension to this film, and the creature design was superbly done. Well worth seeing on the big screen. 9.03/10
Lucy: Existential crisis distilled into just over an hour and a half, made for the Cosmos viewing generation (get on it if you haven't already). The dialogue is ham fisted and designed apparently for idiots, but the storyline is fantastic and Johanssen is brilliant. Some excellent action sequences, though lacking the grandeur I was expecting. I wanted it to be better, but it was still thoroughly enjoyable if you ignore all of the 'science'. 7.98/10
The Expendables 3: A bit rubbish. Not particularly funny, awful script, not much done with characters, no real storyline. As expected, there were some fun 'splosions, a level of lunacy to the action that was beyond ridiculous, many famous faces that were ready for a pummelling and obligatory one liners. I wanted more. 4.37/10
Sex Tape: Some very funny moments and a rather nice, honest script made for a more enjoyable experience than I was expecting. Whilst it's not brilliant, there are enough genuine laughs and ridiculous situations to make for a solid adult comedy. The performances are fine, though nothing spectacular, and it's the right length for this type of film. 6.82/10
Transformers: Age of Extinction - Uuuuuuughhhhhhhh. At least an hour too long, if not more. Awful dialogue, mediocre acting, utterly ridiculous storyline (though I accept that's a given) and weird cinematography that fluctuated between brilliant and terrible. The fights between the giant robots themselves were excellent and some of the design elements were stunning, but nowhere near enough to make up for the shortcomings, and the 3D added nothing to the experience. Ham fisted political commentary and casual racism further lower this film in my estimation, nor was there much humour to alleviate the endless succession of overblown action sequences interspersed with horrid exposition. 3.79/10
X-Men Days of Future Past: an excellent film, with a brilliant cast, compelling storyline, excellent visual effects and a fantastic script. Not quite as exceptional as the first prequel but still a thoroughly enjoyable, polished and surprisingly funny experience. 8.98/10
Edge of Tomorrow:Fantastic fun, a thoroughly enjoyable sci fi with excellent battle sequences, great performances and a compelling storyline. Both Blunt and Cruise are exceptional and the overall concept of Groundhog Day cross Independence Day was well executed. Very worth seeing on the big screen. 8.37/10
Godzilla verdict: A really fun homage to the original films which, thankfully, didn't take itself too seriously. Stunning cinematography, excellent creature design and some great monster fight scenes are somewhat hampered by a truly appalling script and odd pacing, though not enough to totally dampen the experience. The acting was fine, given there was nothing to work with, and I really enjoyed the cheesy little additions. It won't win any awards but it was a fun monster movie. 7.12/10
Maleficent verdict: Uuuuuughhhh. So disappointing. The character design was wonderful and there were some great sequences, but otherwise this film failed on almost every level. Ham fisted storyline, rubbish dialogue, poor acting (though there wasn't much to work with), predictable plot, shoehorned humour and clearly hampered by the original story. There were some good moments, but overall this was a lacklustre film which I so desperately wanted to rise above my expectations, which were low anyway. 4.87/10
Dallas Buyers Club verdict: An exceptional film with brilliant performances from the entire cast and a heartbreaking storyline. Well worth your time, though have tissues handy. 8.93/10
Captain America 2: Infinitely better than the first one, with a good storyline, brilliant cinematography and epic fight sequences. The acting was great and, as expected, the dialogue was witty and clever. Scarlett Johansson was brilliant, Chris Evans was excellent and Samuel L was, well, Samuel L. A thoroughly enjoyable film though people should NOT bring their goddamn infant offspring to the cinema on a late night Friday opening weekend screening. Otherwise, good fun. 8.27/10
Divergent: I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the screenplay, acting and cinematography of this film. I'll admit that as a fan of the trilogy I was very skeptical about bringing this story to the screen, but this is a very good rendition of the novel and the few changes are completely understandable and add to the pacing of the story. A little long but otherwise this was a thoroughly enjoyable film that was well cast and, thankfully, didn't skimp on the violence. 8.21/10
Her: A sublime film with a beautifully crafted script and mesmerising cinematography. This was a delicate portrayal of a not-too-distant future that incorporates elegant metaphors regarding the human condition, sentience and consciousness. 9.23/10
The Muppets Most Wanted: An all star cast, great score and hilarious script make for an enjoyable family film. Tina Fey is brilliant and the storyline is better than the last one, well worth your time especially with kids. 8.74/10
A Million Ways to Die in the West: Meh. Some very funny jokes, but otherwise nothing really happens, you're not compelled to care about any of the characters, there's no real storyline (not that I was expecting a good one) and there's a general lack of cohesiveness to the plot, with many ideas introduced but not developed. As usual, the line between humour and racism is crossed and, unlike Ted, this film falls flat as a whole, leaving you with the sense that it should have been much better. 5.38/10
Hercules: Quite fun with a nice take on the 'man-or-myth' question. Poor CGI is offset by a solid, if not terribly good, storyline and Ian McShane adds a nice flair to an otherwise meh script. Dwayne Johnson is well cast in the iconic role, and I surprisingly actually cared about the characters. Whilst it could have been better, it was mostly enjoyable and fun. 6.93/10
The Raid 2: Just awesome. Two and a half hours of non-stop, visceral, disturbing but stunningly choreographed martial arts violence on an epic scale. Brilliant cinematography and amazing foley, I'll admit that I'll never look at a hammer quite the same way and much of this film was enjoyed whilst squirming and exclaiming in fascinated horror. The storyline could have been a little less obtuse but otherwise It was enjoyable and utterly ridiculous. 8.76/10
The Wind Rises: somewhat disappointing. Miyazaki is a director whose work I generally adore, but the narrative is stagnant and the film lacks the beautiful whimsy and delight of his previous films. Clearly hampered by the 'true story' component, this two hour experience is bland and unfortunately I was almost glad it was over. The moral commentary was odd and crudely executed and it should be noted that this is NOT a children's film, they would be horribly bored and probably very confused. Still visually stunning, and there were some tenderly crafted moments, but overall an uninspiring experience. 4.93/10
The Grand Budapest Hotel: a delightful oddity with a brilliant script, stellar cast and excellent cinematography. If you don't like Wes Anderson films then you'll hate it, but since I love a dialogue driven plot and highly stylised visuals I like his films generally and this one didn't disappoint. It's charming, witty, tragic yet cheerful and a satisfying experience overall. 8.89/10
22 Jump Street: Hilarious! A very tongue in cheek, self aware comedy with many thoroughly funny (and surprisingly clever) moments. The storyline is, of course, ridiculous however the performances are excellent and there's not a dull moment. Not one you have to see at the movies, but well worth watching. 8.13/10
The Wolf of Wall Street: an excellent film with brilliant performances and superb dialogue. It felt slightly long in a few places, and the level of debauchery is slightly absurd, but overall a very successful and thoroughly compelling morality tale for our times. 8.87/10
The Equaliser: Surprisingly good. A slow burn with the pacing, but a thoroughly well realised concept, great performances, epic violence and a solid storyline. A really enjoyable action thriller well worth your time. 8.11/10 As an aside, I need to go to Bunnings tomorrow...
Frank: A lovely, odd, quirky and occasionally somber film which is nothing like anything else I've seen. Brilliant performances, compelling yet strange storyline and surreal soundtrack, this is a film which will not be to everyone's taste but is worth seeing. Fassbender is particularly good and the overall experience was a positive one. 8.14/10
The Hobbit part two: The Desolation of Smaug - worse than part one. Manufactured and unnecessary drama, complete and utter disregard for the storyline, horrid cgi, poor pacing, jilted dialogue and irritating plot additions in the form of dumb romantic love triangles angered me more than I was anticipating. Whilst some of the cinematography was superb, so much of the original story was lost or irrevocably altered (Beorn, for example) that it made for a simultaneously enraging and bewildering experience. Some of the casting was well done, and Laketown was beautifully envisioned, but otherwise this was an utterly depressing experience. A film with little substance and no soul, I'm mortified by how little I care for these on screen characters whom I adore in their literary world. 3.12/10
The Lego Movie: Fun and very entertaining, though I'd say slightly over hyped. Some very funny moments, but the storyline was odd and I'd imagine young children would be awed yet confused. Great visual humour and the 3D was rather good and made for some spectacular Lego action sequences. I curse the composer as I'll have 'everything is awesome' on a loop in my brain for weeks, but it's well worth seeing with enough adult jokes to ensure everyone will enjoy it. It fell a little short of my (high) expectations but a fun family film nonetheless. 7.88/10
The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro - Meh. Rubbish dialogue and horrid soundtrack can't be saved by the stunning visuals. Characterisation is sloppy, one wonders what big names like Jamie Fox and Paul Giamati were thinking, and even the stronger performance of Emma Stone was still hampered by the awful writing. He's whiny, needy and ultimately this was just an average superhero film that looked pretty and had a few good moments interspersed with drawn out blergh. It feels too long, and it is at two hours and twenty minutes. 5.11/10
300 - Rise of an Empire verdict: Watch Spartacus instead. Poor mixing in post means the uninspired dialogue is often hard to distinguish and the acting is mostly appalling with the notable exception of Eva Green. There were some cool moments and some awesome costumes, but overall a very meh film. 4.73/10
12 Years a Slave: Horrifyingly brilliant. Incredible performances, brutal storyline and exceptional cinematography. Deserving of the many accolades it has received. 9.94/10. Now excuse me whilst I spend some time watching puppies and kittens in an attempt to regain some emotional equilibrium.
47 Ronin: a film that should have been more fun than it was, jilted dialogue and poor cgi mean you're never quite properly invested in the outcome of the storyline, making for an average viewing experience. The 3D was very well done, but otherwise a meh experience. 4.67/10
Monuments Men: mostly entertaining but let down by a poor script and lack of narrative cohesion. I imagine it was somewhat constrained by the need to stick to the history, but this meant I didn't care as much about characters as I feel like I should have and the plot felt cobbled together. Some good moments but not exceptional, see it on DVD. 6.87/10