Movies | the m0vie blog

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D – F.Z.Z.T. (Review)

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Darren

F.Z.Z.T. is a reminder that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a genre show still in its first season. That might not sound like a good thing, and F.Z.Z.T. isn’t the strongest of the mediocre crop of episodes so far, but it does indicate that there is still potential. The Girl in the Flower Dress teased the possibility that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. might have settled into its own incredibly unambitious niche, and any evidence to the contrary should be welcomed.

F.Z.Z.T. is boring and generic, but at least it’s boring and generic in a way that is different from most of the boring and generic episodes so far. So that’s something.

A Gemma of an idea…?

Continue reading →

Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Avenger, Blake, Chitauri, Cobie Smulders, Fitz, Fitz Kreiner, List of Red vs. Blue characters, Naked Time, new york, Phil Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D, Simmons, Skye, star trek, star trek: deep space nine, star trek: the next generation, Stargate SG-1, Titus Welliver | 2 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Carrie (2013)

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Darren

Carrie is, for the first half of its runtime, a fairly effective attempt to update Stephen King’s iconic high school horror story about religious repression and teenage issues. While Chloë Grace Moretz isn’t quite as memorable and quite as nuanced as Sissy Spacek was in Brian De Palma’s much-loved original adaptation, she gives a strong central performance. However, the film falls apart a bit as it enters the second half, turning into a large-scale action set piece that feels more like a superhero disaster movie than a psychological teen horror.

There will be blood…

Continue reading →

Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Brian dePalma, Carrie, Chloë Grace Moretz, Gabriella Wilde, Julianne Moore, Kimberly Peirce, Lawrence D. Cohen, Margaret White, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Sissy Spacek, stephen king, Sue Snell | 10 Comments »

Jameson Cult Film Club Presents Predator! Tuesday 19th November 2013!

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Darren

Due to unprecedented demand, the Jameson Cult Film Club is returning to Dublin for a special 25^th anniversary screening of the 1987 classic, PREDATOR. Continuing on from this year’s successful screenings of Die Hard, Intermission and LA Confidential, the Jameson Cult Film Club promises to transport the audience right into the world of this high suspense, sci-fi thriller at a secret Dublin location on Tuesday 19^th November 2013.

Continue reading →

Filed under: Movies | Tagged: aidan kelly, cult film, die hard, dublin, jameson, jameson cult film club, LA Confidential, Movies | 3 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Parkland

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Darren

There are few moments that hold as much sway over American popular consciousness as the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Perhaps only the moon landing or the news footage of the 9/11 attacks could compete from the last half-century of history. The assassination and its aftermath have been discussed and reconsidered countless times in the decades since those shots rang out in Dallas. There are those who continue to believe in some sinister conspiracy, while others seem to accept the probability that the nation was rocked by the actions of a single disturbed individual.

Parkland offers relatively little to the discussion, focusing on the stories unfolding around the assassination and the lives that intersect with the famous historical figures who pass through the narrative. While it’s a nice idea in practice, these sorts of historical ensemble pieces can be tricky, as Bobby demonstrated rather recently. There’s a sense that even some of these characters who find themselves caught up in events larger than themselves have become figures of interest themselves, and a scant 93 minutes isn’t enough to peel back any layers or reveal anything particularly insightful.

Sadly, the characters are not as well developed…

Continue reading →

Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Abraham Zapruder, assassination, Assassination of John F. Kennedy, billy bob thornton, Dallas, Jacki Weaver, james badge dale, john f kennedy, john fitzgerald kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, Lyndon B. Johnson, Parkland, paul giamatti, United States | 2 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Gravity

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Darren

Gravity is a phenomenal piece of filmmaking, and one of the highlights of the year. It’s a bold and visually stunning survival movie, built around the most simple of premises with incredible craftsmanship. It’s a lean and well-constructed thriller that manages to effortlessly capture the impossible isolation experienced by those flying in the void. Never over-wrought or over-strained, Gravity is an absolutely beautiful accomplishment for all involved.

Floating in a most peculiar way…

Continue reading →

Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: 3d film, Alfonso Cuarón, film, Filmmaking, george clooney, Gravitation, Gravity, hollywood, Houston, Physics, Ryan, sandra bullock, Sound design, Space station | 12 Comments »

Subtitle European Film Festival, Kilkenny, 25th November – 1st December 2013

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Darren

I just got this press release about the upcoming SUBTITLE European film festival being held in Kilkenny towards the end of November. I’m always a fan of European cinema, and nothing beats the ethereal atmosphere of a film festival, so I thought I’d pass it on. You can find more details about the festival and their line-up on their website here. I particularly recommend Headhunters and A Hijacking if you can get to see them.

The press release is below.

Continue reading →

Filed under: Movies | Tagged: art, California, Cinema of Europe, European Film Awards, Film festival, germany, Jim Sheridan, Kilkenny, Movies, Netherlands, november, Pauline McLynn, Television program, United States | Leave a comment »

Watch! X-Men – Days of Future Past Trailer!

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Darren

The trailer for X-Men: Days of Future Past has arrived. Check it out below.

Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Days of Future Past, dofp, x-men | 5 Comments »

Watch! Captain America: The Winter Soldier Trailer!

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Darren

The trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier has arrived. Based on Ed Brubaker’s acclaimed run on Captain America, the film sees the iconic comic book character adapting to life in the 21st century while discovering that perhaps the past isn’t quite as closed-off as he might have suspected. It actually looks quite intriguing – like it might take the look at S.H.I.E.L.D. and it relevance to the modern world in a way that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been so energetically avoiding. Indeed, it looks like it might be a S.H.I.E.L.D.-centric movie, which is a smart bit of world-building and a nice way of exploring the character and his themes. Check it out below.

Filed under: Movies | Tagged: arts, avengers, captain america, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Cobie Smulders, ed brubaker, Emily VanCamp, Winter Soldier | 3 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Thor – The Dark World

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Darren

Thor was a gem. I’d argue it remains the best of the Marvel Studios films, expertly and enthusiastically embracing the heightened melodrama of comic book storytelling and boiling it down to faux Shakespearean elegance. With Kenneth Branagh directing and a fantastic cast, the film hit on a lot of the old-fashioned comic book spectacle. Yes, it was sheer nonsense, but there’s something surprisingly affecting about hearing Anthony Hopkins intone Stan Lee’s decidedly corny dialogue. This is sheer unadulterated pop, filtered down and distilled.

A lot of that carries over to Thor: The Dark World. “Some believe that before the universe, there was nothing,” Hopkins’ Odin assured us in the trailer, in a narration omitted from the film. “They’re wrong. There was darkness…” Sure, physicists and scientist might weep at the suggestion, but Hopkins is able to imbue the ridiculous line with a surreal gravitas. “I like the way you explain things,” Jane tells Thor at one point, and the British accents lend the goofiness a strangely convincing air.

It doesn’t make any sense, and it’ll hurt your head too much if you think about it, but that’s entirely the point. This is a movie about a Norse god with an English accent and flying hammer.

It’s… wait for it… hammer time!

Continue reading →

Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Alan Taylor, Dark World, jon favreau, joss whedon, kenneth branagh, marvel, Marvel Studios, stan lee, thor, Thor: Dark World, Thor: The Dark World | 6 Comments »

Watch! Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Trailer!

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Darren

Via Paramount, here’s the latest trailer for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which is being released in December. It’s a pretty big deal. Eagle-eyed viewers will spot some RTÉ footage in there. Great Odin’s raven!