Priest (2011)

Film of 2012 #19

Some Spoilers

Another film based upon a comic book that I have not read, this time it is a post apocalyptic world in which humans and vampires have lived together forever and the humans developed the Priests, highly skilled and powerful fighters that were created and trained to fight the vampire menace. I have to say that this film is a mess, it seems to grasp the fact that not many people will know the set up but not enough belief in itself to set the world up properly and develop the world that is new to so many people, had they done this a bit better then i think a franchise could have been born here that would have been quite interesting.

You join the world after the Priests have been removed from power and de-commissioned as the vampire menace has been controlled or so it would appear. Now if the film had been about the world in which Priests were created and you followed the young priest through his training I think you would have a better grasp on how the world got where it is and how the reliance on the church and perhaps the ending could have been the set up for this world, there are a few twists that are obvious and because this film feels so rushed they are telegraphed and not that much of a surprise. The vampires are CGI creations that appear to be more animals than a thoughtful dangerous enemy and perhaps if the vampires had been treated like the Bugs in Starship Troopers you would have taken to them a bit more.

Overall I like Paul Bettany and Karl Urban in this film but they do not really get enough to go with and Maggie Q is another character that could really have done with a bit more development, overall this film is very flawed and would love to hear from you if you have read the comic is the film a good adaptation? This is a 2 star film, the actors do not deserve to be in a 1 star film but really it is a film that I would avoid, let me know if you disagree with that. 

Blind Side (2009) (2nd Review)

DVD February 2011

What can I say, I love this film, it is the first film I took my now Fiancee to go and see and I got it for her on our first Christmas together and it is a film I have now had the pleasure of watching 3 times.

Every time I see it I enjoy it just as much, the tears flow and the laughs come and it you know even though this is based on a true story and i usually mark it down for that I cannot mark this film down for anything. Considering the content and my usual kind of movies, horror, sci-fi and fantasy I cannot say anything bad about this film.

I give an interesting detailed view here, this was under the old format where I tried to link all over the place but I am now a year down the line and still I will watch this film amny more times in the years to come

5 stars for this film and an insistance that you have to see it at some point.

The Blind Side (2009)

Format - Cinema
Date - 2 April 2010
Director - John Lee Hancock

Based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher. Michael has no idea who is father is and his mother is a crack head. Michael has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. Michael Oher was the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft. Written by garykmcd

Thanks to IMdb for the plot summary.

This is the true story of Michael who has nothing but athletic ability and a willingness to learn. The film follows him getting a family and making it through life and football.

I went in to this film thinking, I don't like true story films however a review from a blogger stated it was very good, so I thought when I was going to the cinema fit that film in. And I was so glad I did it was really enjoyable film, I went in with no knowledge of the film or who it was about but it gripped me from the start. There is no real suspense in the film but it tells the story of how a upper class white republican family take in a homeless Black teenager. Now there is some talk in the film about their motives but genuinely it just seems to be a families willingness to accept a stranger into their home and their acceptance of him into their family.

The acting in this was sublime and Sandra Bullock was well worth her Oscar win, she played the well to do white American house wife doing good charity work. Her husband played by Tim Mcgraw, while a lesser part was played to perfection. Quinten Aaron in the main role was quiet and subdued and gave of the appearance of being perhaps a bit slow but pulls it around when he needs to and puts in a sterling performance, looking forward to what he does next. The performances of the kids in this were also magnificent with Jae Head as SJ and Lily Collins as Collins giving believable performances.

I would so recommend this film to everybody the acting is strong and the story holds up very well, even as it is based upon a true story.

5 out of 5 big left tackles.

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

Here is the review that convinced me to go and see the film, www.dogatemywookie.co.uk