REVIEW: Wreck-It Ralph (2013 [UK])

(US poster)

Wreck-It Ralph is the perfect homage to 90s videogames. Because of this, you would be forgiven for thinking that this film might not be your cup of tea. But don’t let that put you off. At its heart Wreck-It Ralph is very much a typical Disney film and it has everything you would expect from the finest animators in movie history: emotionally invested characters, an original and deep plot-line, top of the line voice acting and the capacity to make a grown man cry.

The leading character, Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) is the ‘villain’ in the popular videogame Fix-it Felix Jr. He’s been doing his job for many years, wrecking the same building over and over again. Ralph doesn’t have an issue with this. What he does have an issue with however, is not being respected for what he does. On the basis of this, he decides to go ‘turbo’ and he leaves his game to acquire a medal from the world of Hero’s Duty. However, things soon turn sour, as Ralph is held responsible for the future fate of his game and the arcade where he calls home.

Joining John C. Reilly is a star-studded cast, featuring the talents of Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch and Alan Tudyk. As you’d come to expect from Disney, the voice acting never falls flat and does well to supplement the already brilliant script. Silverman is a highlight as the squeaky voiced youngster Vanellope von Schweetz, who ends up befriending Ralph.

Wreck-It Ralph holds many videogames references, but not so many that it gets to the point where it alienates the audience. Featuring characters and references to popular franchises such as Mario, Sonic and the Metal Gear Solid series, Wreck-It Ralph is a video game fan’s wet dream.

Ralph is also one of the finest Disney characters ever created. His penchant and desire to become more appreciated for what he does makes him a character that most people will relate to. His initial desire develops well over the course of the film as he comes to realise that his friend’s dreams are equally as important as his own. More often than I’d like to admit I had to fight back tears, particularly during the final moments.

Verdict: a tight script, brilliant casting and an emotional plot do well in making Wreck-It Ralph one of the greatest Disney films of all time, if not the best.

Score: 9.5/10

REVIEW: The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

Of all film genres, the Rom-Com is certainly the hit-or-miss of the playing field. There are many, many films of this genre that I have had to endure, while having to save myself from going mental. Sure, there are a few that I have had enjoyed in the past. The Holiday from what I can remember was pleasant, while Crazy, Stupid, Love is certainly up there with the best. While these were good, The Five-Year Engagement goes ahead and knocks them out of the ballpark.

Right away, the powerful chemistry between leads Tom Solomon (Jason Segel) and Violet Barnes (Emily Blunt) is apparent. The way they look at one another and speak to one another is adorable and goes a long way in developing the characters. In his role as Tom, Jason Segel isn’t quite at his best. Tom is a cross between the characters Segel portrays in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and TV sitcom How I Met Your Mother. While he’s certainly as humorous as he in these roles, it’s nothing new.

Emily Blunt as Violet however, is the stand out performance. She’s funny, quirky and hits all the right notes. Certainly a more upbeat role than the one she had in the sci-fi flick Looper, also released in 2012, Blunt seems to fit into character a lot more comfortably this time around. Community’s Alison Brie plays Suzie Barnes, Blunt’s younger on screen sister. Brie convincingly pulls of the English Rose accent in a well acted role, that could spell a shot for more big screen roles. Parks & Recreation’s Chris Pratt plays Alex Eilhauer as Toms’ idiot best-friend. Rhys Ifans and Jacki Weaver also co-star.

Despite its deep characters and moving story as well as one brilliant scene between Blunt and Brie portraying characters from Sesame Street, The Five-Year Engagement is one hell of a stretch. It spans a length of just over two hours – longer than your typical Rom-Com. The length becomes particularly noticeable towards the end, as the final half an hour feels like it could have been shorter. Regardless, the final moments do a lot to wrap things up and manage to keep up with just how adorable The Five-Year Engagement has been so far.

Verdict: perfect, in all the ways that a Rom-Com should be. Its length is only made noticeable towards the final moments but does a good job of keeping things moving before they get frustrating.

Score: 8.0/10

My Best of 2012 in the Arts

FILM:

1. Prometheus
2. The Cabin in the Woods
3. The Hobbit
4. Chronicle
5. The Raid

MUSIC:

1. Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension
2. While She Sleeps – This is the Six
3. Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour
4. Gallows – Gallows
5. Rolo Tomassi – Astraea

GAMING:

1. The Walking Dead (PS3)
2. Assassins Creed 3 (PS3)
3. Borderlands 2 (PS3)
4. Far Cry 3 (PS3)
5. Dishonored (PS3)

REVIEW: Gangster Squad (2013)

Gangster Squads opens with Sergeant John O’Mara (Josh Brolin), as he rescues a fresh faced young woman from a group of potential rapists. The scene in case does well in setting up a mood and audience expectations for what will follow in the next two hours: bad dialogue, excessive violence and a whole boat load of clichés. For what it’s worth however, Gangster Squad is not a bad film.

Brolin is one of the highlights, as All-American action hero O’Mara, although there is little in the way of character development. But truth be told, there is little in the way of character development for the entire cast of characters. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone serve as the love interest as Sergeant Jerry Wooters and Grace Faraday, respectively. Although the two actors on screen presence is enjoyable (as they have proven before in rom-com Crazy, Stupid, Love), it’s hard to care for them as there is practically no reason to do so. The films’ lead antagonist, Mickey Cohen is played by the brilliant Sean Penn. His out performs Brolin by a margin, but his noticeable make-up is laughable and often gets in the way of his acting.

The script is equally as laughable. Loaded with clichés and sometimes just flat-out bad dialogue, its only redeeming feature is the star-studded cast who have been burdened with it. More often than not, a character results to acts of violence as a response to particular situations. I couldn’t help but notice that certain characters, such as Wooters, picking up the nearest object at hand and flinging it as hard as they can onto the ground. A few of these situations mark character deaths, which should be sombre moments, but are only made laughable by the over the top acts of rage that accompany these parts.

Partly because of the under-developed characters, and partly because of the bad dialogue, the deaths of certain key characters don’t even hit home as hard as they should. Even when one of the more likeable characters meets his end, I found myself not really caring for his untimely demise.

Regardless, when they are done well, the action scenes are intense and a pleasure to watch. The final gun fight is well shot and does well in masking up the unforgiveable acts of rage that the characters seem to be prone to.

Verdict: an enjoyable gangster flick, although under-developed characters, a bad script and peculiar acts of violence and rage destroy any hint of what could have been a modern classic.

Score: 6.0/10

REVIEW: Django Unchained (2013)

Without a doubt, Quentin Tarantino is a master of his craft. Witty dialogue, brilliantly written scripts and excellent casting are just a few of the unique traits that set Tarantino’s works apart from the crowd. Django Unchained is no exception to this and is arguably one of his best films’ to date.

Jamie Foxx takes the lead as Django, a man on a mission to save his wife and one true love. Foxx nails the role perfectly, but is overshadowed by co-star Christoph Waltz, particularly early on. Waltz comical approach and laid back nature is similar to his previous Tarantino role in Inglourious Basterds. However, Waltz makes the transition from Nazi antagonist Col. Hans Landa, to travelling dentist turned bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz with ease. Leonardo DiCaprio performs as the villainous and pleasantly joyful redneck Calvin Candie in one of the highlights of his career. Samuel L. Jackson appears as the elderly Stephen, taking the reigns as the master of comedy.

The action sequences for the most part are well paced. They are intense and well executed, particularly one of the later shoot-outs. The earlier and somewhat slower scenes are tinged with many comedic moments from Waltz’s dentist. As Django Unchained draws close to the end with the aforementioned shoot-out, the viewer is roped in for another half an hour that slows down the pace. However, as uncomfortable as the slowing down of events goes, the final moments are touching and nicely wrap things up.

One of the strongest points in Django Unchained comes in the form of the soundtrack. Featuring various rap and soul artists, the film also includes a version of the original Django theme during the opening credits, which is a nicely done touch. Also featuring are original songs from Rick Ross (100 Black Coffins) and John Legend (Who Did That to You?), written specifically for the film.  Django Unchained manages to pull together one of the best soundtracks to a film you could possibly hope to hear.

Of course, this being a Tarantino film there are a few things you should be wary off. Django Unchained includes excessive use of the N-word and other racial slurs from the various cast and characters. It fits the western context and attitudes of the time, but it goes without saying that some if not many will find it to be offensive. There are also several strong instances of gore, and there is one scene in mind that is particularly stomach churning.

However, if you can stomach these particular issues, then you are set for a treat. Tarantino has created a masterpiece and one of the most memorable films of the past decade.

Verdict: despite nearly hitting the three hour mark, Django Unchained never seems to drag. The various ensemble of cast members and action scenes do well to propel the film onwards. Not a single minute is forgettable.

Score:  9.5/10