Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Film Review

There seems to be a strange new creature in the world of Ant-Man – this kind of vibrating ghost person. Meanwhile, Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) thinks that he may has left his wife Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) in a mysterious realm, and he’s working with his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) to try to get back there to find it. Then there are some bad guys, and the FBI and stuff happening. And Ant-Man (Paul Rudd).

Ah, not much of a description but really what this film was all about for me was the humour, the action fun times and that’s about it. And if you stay for the secret Marvel bit, make sure you’ve seen Avenger’s Infinity War first and prepare to have your heart broken a little.

Captain America: Civil War (2016) Film Review

There are these superheroes who go around and save the world against terrible horrors – like giant alien worms and the like. And behind them, they leave destroyed cities, dead civilians and people are not happy about it. So, the world wants to set a restriction on them – make them responsible to a panel. Some of the heroes, notably Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) are for this – he is feeling particularly guilty from the last film. Others, like Captain America (Chris Evans) are against this, concerned that they would become puppets for bad guys. And then there are problems, and they all fight, and it gets exciting.

I love it. They’ve thrown in some new guys, like Spiderman (Tom Holland), and brought back loads of the originals. Notably, the Hulk is missing, and I want him back, but I’ll still enjoy all the fun and ridiculous stuff that this film gives me. And I’ll watch more in the future!

 

Ant-Man (2015) Film Review

So there’s a guy who’s developed some way cool technology only, realising it is dangerous, locks it away to keep everyone safe. Only there’s another guy, a bad guy, who wants to get his hands on it/develop it himself. Then there’s usually another guy who accidentally gets involved, and then there’s the daughter, usually the daughter of the first guy, who is smart and ace and beautiful and obviously will be the love interest regardless of how little chemistry there is between her and the accidental hero. Of course, she’s overlooked because she’s a girl, she couldn’t possibly be any good, then she proves herself a little bit and finally gains some trust of at least one of the hundreds of men in the film. Of course, she still doesn’t get any kudos and most people will be talking about her hair or clothes anyhow (if she gets a mention).

Look, it’s fine. It’s a pretty average plot, a pretty average origin story for one of the most ridiculous sounding superheroes. And I like the cast, and the script did what it needed to and the special effects were pretty ace. There was a good amount of comedy, but really, is this the film that has tipped me over the edge of superhero films? I’ve enjoyed them for a long time, though I feel I have a real hate/love relationship forming with Batman v Superman (that’s surely got to be totally shithouse).

 

The Cider House Rules (1999) Film Review

Dr Larch(Michael Caine) runs an orphanage with a side business of providing the occasional abortion. Homer (Tobey Maguire) is one of the orphans who, after several attempts at being adopted out, becomes a permanent fixture of the orphanage and a favourite of Dr Larch, learning some doctoring skills. Then Candy (Charlize Theron) and her boyfriend Wally (Paul Rudd) visit for a procedure and Homer sees his chance to see the world. Well, a bit more of Maine, at least. Wally goes to war, Candy and Homer hang out a LOT, the other workers at Wally’s parents’ orchard have issues and it’s all a big story.

And yet… despite all the things happening, all of the big and major and life-changing and extremely dramatic things, I felt very little throughout. I just didn’t really care what happened to any of the characters, I shared none of the emotion of any of them. It did have that epic feel of a typical Oscar Best Film, and there is no surprise that it was nominated. Thank goodness American Beauty won that year.

The Cider House Rules won Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Michael Caine) and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or published and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Lasse Hallstrom) Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Film Editing and Best Music, Original Score.

 

Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) Film Review

It’s the 1970s and Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is the legendary anchorman of a small San Diego television station. He’s got his crew; field reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), sportsman Champ Kind David Koechner) and weatherman Brick Tamland (Steve Carell). Then along comes a woman, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) to join the team, and he needs to evaluate his thinking.

Sometimes, I just cannot tell why I like some Will Ferrell films and not others, given they mostly have the same silly things happening throughout. But, this is one that I really, really like. Stupid, dumb, but really very funny. And the quotes from Brick are some of my favs.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) Film Review

Anchorman 2 sees the reunification of news anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) with his team: handsome roving reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), crazy sports reporter Champ Kind (David Koechner) and extremely stupid Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) as they move to New York to launch new 24-hours news network GNN.

I loved Anchorman. There were a lot of visual gags, a lot of slapstick and a lot of stupidity. Why did they have to revisit it? There were no new gags here and what was fun in the first film was tired and old in this. Even Brick, who I loved in the first, was overused and disappointing in this. The only good thing was, at the end, they brought back the multi-news crew battle, this time featuring Sacha Baron Cohen, Marion Cotillard, Will Smith, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jim Carey, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly and Kanye West. It wasn’t quite worth sitting through the whole film, but I may well look it up on YouTube. Ah, here it is!

Knocked Up (2007) Film Review

Alison (Katherine Heigl) takes her sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) out partying to celebrate her new onscreen role on a television entertainment show. He meets Ben (Seth Rogan) who is out partying with his stoner friends. They spend the night together and then, a few weeks later, she discovers that she is pregnant. The film takes them through the discovery and up to the birth with them trying to form a relationship with each other and prepare for a baby.

It’s pretty average. There are certainly fun moments, but there seemed to be no reason for it to go on the way it did. I could not figure out why on earth they would pursue a relationship given how much they really didn’t get along. But luckily, it seemed that having the baby meant they will have a happy life. Whatever.

Clueless (1995) Film Review

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is rich, not-the-brightest, great at arguing her position and loves a good project to work on. After successfully setting up lonely teachers Mr Hall (Wallace Shawn) and Miss Geist (Twink Caplan), she is waiting for the next one. Luckily, along comes Tai (Brittany Murphy) a new student whose grunge style deeply offends Cher and her best friend Dee (Stacey Dash).  They make her over and try to set her up with one of the popular guys, but things don’t go to plan. Between this and her home life with her step-brother, Josh (Paul Rudd) hanging around, Cher has a lot on her mind.

I really like this film, and can’t totally explain why. Perhaps it is seeing Turk from Scrubs (Donald Faison) as a young guy. Or it brings back memories from my youth. Certainly, the basic plot is quite strong, but I’m sure that Jane Austen has a lot to do with that, given that the film is based on Emma. It can’t be the acting, because that is really not very good. It’s ok, but Alicia Silverstone spends a lot of time repressing smiles and many of the other actors are extremely over-the-top. Perhaps it is just because it seems that the teenagers are generally nice and innocent and everyone really wants the best for each other. Even the gunman (spoiler alert?) isn’t too scary.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Peter (Jason Segel) and Sarah (Kristen Bell) are a dream couple – she is a gorgeous actor who stars in a TV cop drama and he is the affable composer boyfriend who creates the soundtrack for the show. Peter does not see it coming when Sarah breaks it off with him. In an attempt to get over her he throws himself into the arms of other women, but when this doesn’t work, he takes a holiday to Hawaii. On arrival, he discovers that Sarah is staying there with her new boyfriend, British rocker Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Luckily for Peter, he gains the sympathy of the hotel employees, notably Rachel (Mila Kunis).

This is my kind of humour. Well, there are a lot of things that I find funny. But this, with hilarious pathos, a fair whack of slapstick, a certain amount of filth and more than a little sentimental claptrap – love it. I’m a big fan of most of the cast, and I just really liked the way this was all put together.