The Grey (2012)

Film of 2012 #30
Some Spoilers

The latest film from Liam Neeson, sees him as a hunter in the Arctic circle protecting the oil workers from the wolves if they come to close. There is a plane crash and the story follows the survivors lead by Liam Neeson as they try and survive the weather and the wolves. I knew very little of this film going in but my Father-in-Law-to-be is a massive Liam Neeson fan and we always go and see his films as they come out so this was the next in line. I have to be honest and say that I knew very little of this film going in and I was disappointed with what I got. 

It is a well acted film and the characters are good and some of the set pieces were excellent and enjoyable and I have to say that the cinematography actually worked so well that I felt the cold that the actors did as you believed they were cold. There is a bit of predictability about the plot but there are also some points that I did not see coming but at the end of the film I was not that impressed or bothered about it. The ending in itself was not what I wanted from a film and to be honest this sort of film is just not for me. 

This is a hard film to recommend as I did not like it and will not see it again, overall I know that there will be an audience for this sort of film and you will know if you fall in to this category, I am going to give it 2 stars, the acting is good and some of the scenes are worth seeing but overall not a film for me. Let me know if this is your sort of film and let me know why I should like and appreciate this film. 

The Next Three Days (2010)

Film of 2012 #24
Some Spoilers

This Russell Crowe film is a remake of a French film (Anything for her) that I have not seen and centres around the idea that a Woman is jailed for murder and her husband has 3 days to break her out. It explores the concept of a normal man doing extraordinary things in the face of love. I actually really enjoyed this film, while I do not know if a normal and could do what is required of Russell Crowe it is an interesting exploration of the idea, you see him watching YouTube videos on how to make Bump Keys and open car doors and I have no idea if these things would work but it is an interesting angle and also the fact that what he tries back fires and does not work actually, it works really well for the film with the idea that he is not perfect and things do not always work out the way you expect, 

My biggest issue with the film is the title it implies that three days are ultimately important to the film and overall you do not really get an understanding of how much time is passing or passed and it is not really clear how long anything takes for him to do or feel the time pressure. Other than near the end but then it is being measured in minutes not days. I like some of the intelligent touches that the Russel Crowe character throws in there with the bag of rubbish and going to the train station which is very clever.

I do not normally like Russell Crowe as I do not like him in real life but he was actually very good in this and I actually think he is an excellent actor. When someone that you do not like can convince you they are likeable and intelligent and nervous and scared they must have some good acting skills. I recommend this film it is a strong 3 stars, there are flaws and some of his knowledge seems to come from nowhere but overall a very enjoyable film that I would probably watch again.

Unknown (2011)

March 2011

I went to this film with my girlfirends father as he is a big Liam Neeson fan, so I had very limited expectations, however I did enjoy Liam in Taken. An basically it is Taken with Amnesia, he goes around trying to find himself and in some ways what he finds is intriguing and the twists in the film are awesome.

Liam brings a depth of character to all the parts that he plays that you cannot help but enjoy whatever part he is playing and in his new role as an action hero he is easy to get behind.

This film has some excellent supporting characters with January Jones as his wife and Diane Kruger as Gina the Taxi driver, there is also an excellent turn as Bruno Ganz who helps Liam find information to who he is.

This is a 4 star film, it is an enjoyable exciting action flick with enough intrigue to keep you interested, go and see it.

Clash of the Titans (2010)

Format - Cinema
Date - 2 April 2010
Director - Louis Leterrier

"The Clash of the Titans" is set in the Greek city of Argos where a war is about to explode between man and the gods. Perseus (Sam Worthington) raised as a fisherman, but is actually a demi-god. Perseus is the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson) who is about to take on the gods after the death of his family. Zeus' brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes) was the one who kill his family, and Perseus wants to kill him. However, it is Perseus's destiny to rescue the city of Argos from the ruthless rage of Hades and his Kraken monster. With nothing to lose, Perseus leads a band of soldiers on a quest to defeat the Kraken. In doing this, Perseus will prevent Hades from overthrowing Zeus and in turn destroying mankind. Douglas Young (the-movie-guy)

Thanks to IMdb for the plot summary.

I went in to this film with no knowledge about what the story of the film was and then I saw that I had seen it all before. It is your standard Greek mythology lesson with a son born to a god and a woman, they fight and meet lots of Greek legends, including Medusa (the ending of that part is shown in the posters). You have your standard heroes with a mission and their adventures as they try to complete it.

This film was enjoyable, nothing particularly special about it. It is what I would term a popcorn flick lots of action pretty people and big CGI effects exactly what it says on the tin (Poster or trailer). Nothing to unexpected happens in the film and you can guess most of how it will go.

The effects were as stunning as I am sure the budget can justify it looked really good and the monsters. The acting was a different matter altogether, I have to say there were no direct complaints but there were to many people in this film and they must have cut quite a bit of the character development just so they could shoe horn in some more magic beasties with their computers. Sam Worthington of "Avatar" fame was not bad he did seem to be channeling Russell Crowe from Gladiator in this role. There was also a bit of William Wallace in his performance or that may just have been the way the character was written. Liam Neeson was Zeus and he did all he had to do in the role, the character again was a bit strange seemed to jump back and forward and did not seem to me to know what he wanted. Ralph Fiennes plays Hades and he is charactiscally brilliant however I never seen him drop the ball. Perseus's companions on his adventure, now this is where the real problem came. Mads Mikkelsen as Draco was very good in the role as aged warrior with respect and contempt for Persius and the mission. Now this sums up my problem with the film the rest of the men on the mission with him all blended to one, you never really knew who was who and I could have sworn the King went on the mission with them. Finally if you like looking at beautiful women in filme then Gemma Arteton as Io fulfills this role and she is very easy on the eye through-out the film.

Now to a recommendation I have no idea what to say, the film was enjoyable for what it was if you like adventure effects and action then go and see it. If you like to be 100% sure about what is happening then give it a miss.

2/5 light sabre swords from the gods.

Let me know if you have seen it and your thoughts on it also any feedback on my thoughts appreciated.