#cinetalk

"How's your thirst for adventure, Captain?"

The Adventures of Tintin is a performance capture adventure film starring Jamie Bell (The Eagle), Andy Serkis (Burke & Hare), Simon Pegg (Run Fatboy Run), Nick Frost (Attack The Block) and Daniel Craig (Casino Royale). The film is directed by Steve Spielberg (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial).

Combining the stories of The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure, the film depicts Tintin’s first encounter with Captain Haddock and the discovery of a clue to the treasure of his ancestor Sir Francis Haddock. They set out to find it with protection from a prison escapee who tried to get the treasure as well as Detectives Thompson and Thomson.

Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor. But someone else is in search of the ship.

 I'll be honest when I say I wasn't the most excited for this film. Not because I have a strong attachment to the original Tintin sauce material but I just didn't 'feel' for it. Then the trailers got released and that didn't help, I clearly wasn't feeling the hype that was being surrounded by it. I think it was the aspect of performance capture.

With that on-board lets delve in shall we. I think it was a smart idea not to try and make Tintin as a live action film, I think if that was attempted it would of been a big fail! However, it's use of performance capture did not impress me much. I think full CGI could of been better.

The cast selection was very good, I think every character was voiced very well and that they complimented who they were portraying. Andy Serkis as Captain Archibald Haddock was rather impressive, you feel that Serkis was enjoying the role and that comes through. Jamie Bell as Tintin I felt was standard, not acting out of his means. Daniel Craig's Red Rackham was also decent and unrecognisable, I had forgotten that it was Craig playing the villain of the film. My particular highlights were the comic police duo of Thompson and Thompson who were being played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. I think this was largely due to the fact that Edger Wright wrote there respected script lines. And also the personality shown in Snowy, Tintin's trusty doggy sidekick.

The film had great action set-pieces and the scenery did look very rich and often spectacular that would rival any Pixar animation. In detail the sea looked stunning when on screen. This was also heightened because I naturally went to the 2D showing. 3D still has no place for me what so ever!

I still have a major gripe with performance capture though, I don't think it looks good when trying to convey human characters. It's trying to look real whilst at the same time looking worse than a dedicated CGI effort. I made sure to pay close attention to the facial details, A) the mouths still didn't look 'natural' enough when dialogue was being spoke, and B) THEY NEVER BLINK! I noticed this a lot. Look at the main characters and you'll find they literally hardly ever blink at all. Something so fundamentally simple lets the whole film down. 

A decent effort from Spielberg in terms of a semi-animation performance capture film, the action is great and cast fit perfectly but too much was let down on the capture side. Performance capture still feels extremely hollow. It's still worth a watch and you could do a lot worse at the cinema at the moment.

★★★★☆

The Guard is a comedic fish-out-of-water tale of murder, blackmail, drug trafficking and rural police corruption. Two policemen must join forces to take on an international drug- smuggling gang - one, an unorthodox Irish policeman and the other, a straitlaced FBI agent. Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleason) is an eccentric small-town cop with a confrontational and crass personality and a subversive sense of humor. A longtime policeman in County Galway, Boyle is a maverick with his own moral code. He has seen enough of the world to know there isn’t much to it and has had plenty of time to think about it. When a fellow police officer disappears and Boyle’s small town becomes key to a large drug trafficking investigation, he is forced to at least feign interest when dealing with the humorless FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) assigned to the case. 

 Now, more often or not the cast alone can make or break a film, even down to wether you want to see it in the first place. I mean if Tom Hanks was in a Michael Bay film I’d question my morals to see it despite my love for Mr. Hanks. The Guard stars two actors that I never thought I’d see work together in Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. But you know what? It’s pure and utter genius.

Don Cheadle plays Wendell Everett, a straight, humourless stiff of an FBI agent that does everything by the book and takes no shenanigans. Cheadle performs solidly in this role and chemistry between him and Gleeson is just right.

Brendan Gleeson gives one of his best performances as Gerry Boyle, an ‘un-PC’ Police Officer who is often eccentric, crass and with a misguided racist sense of humour that is the perfect match up to Cheadle’s character.

The one thing that stands out the most in this film is the superb script, written by John Michael McDonagh who also directs. Now there seems to be some pedigree in the McDonagh family, Martin McDonagh is the other brother who directed and written 2008 brilliant In Bruges which also starred Brendan Gleeson. It seems these Irish siblings have a real knack of writing fantastic black comedy screenplays which are critically acclaimed.

The Guard is a comedic fish-out-of-water tale of murder, blackmail, drug trafficking and rural police corruption. Two policemen must join forces to take on an international drug- smuggling gang - one, an unorthodox Irish policeman and the other, a straitlaced FBI agent. Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleason) is an eccentric small-town cop with a confrontational and crass personality and a subversive sense of humor. A longtime policeman in County Galway, Boyle is a maverick with his own moral code. He has seen enough of the world to know there isn't much to it and has had plenty of time to think about it. When a fellow police officer disappears and Boyle's small town becomes key to a large drug trafficking investigation, he is forced to at least feign interest when dealing with the humorless FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) assigned to the case. 

Now, more often or not the cast alone can make or break a film, even down to wether you want to see it in the first place. I mean if Tom Hanks was in a Michael Bay film I'd question my morals to see it despite my love for Mr. Hanks. The Guard stars two actors that I never thought I'd see work together in Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. But you know what? It's pure and utter genius.

Don Cheadle plays Wendell Everett, a straight, humourless stiff of an FBI agent that does everything by the book and takes no shenanigans. Cheadle performs solidly in this role and chemistry between him and Gleeson is just right.

Brendan Gleeson gives one of his best performances as Gerry Boyle, an 'un-PC' Police Officer who is often eccentric, crass and with a misguided racist sense of humour that is the perfect match up to Cheadle's character.

The one thing that stands out the most in this film is the superb script, written by John Michael McDonagh who also directs. Now there seems to be some pedigree in the McDonagh family, Martin McDonagh is the other brother who directed and written 2008 brilliant In Bruges which also starred Brendan Gleeson. It seems these Irish siblings have a real knack of writing fantastic black comedy screenplays which are critically acclaimed.

I really loved The Guard, it's incredibly witty and funny at the same time. You'd be hard pushed to find a worse film than this to see this year. A highly recommendable and solid film. The Guard is one of the best of 2011.

In my view there has only been three main comedy heavyweights over the last 20 years. Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey. Out of the three Jim Carrey has been my favourite over the course of my life, and has remained consistent at least as well.

Here are my Top 10 Jim Carrey films in no order of preference.

10. BATMAN FOREVER

A questionable Batman film but it was the first one I saw as a kid. Jim Carrey for me plays The Riddler so well and was perfectly cast at the time. 

9. THE MASK

Like with Batman Forever, Carrey demonstrates his strengths in playing unbelievably wacky over the top characters, like The Mask.

8. ME, MYSELF & IRENE

Essentially playing two roles, two characters. Carrey handles the split personality of Officer Charlie Baileygates/Hank great.

7. DUMB & DUMBER

The most slapstick and gross-out Carrey film of them all but a classic none the less. Who'd of though Jeff Daniels could compliment Jim Carrey's 'Lloyd Christmas'.

6. I LOVE YOU, PHILIP MORRIS

A film that didn't gather much cinema time and rather controversial (those Americans distribution companies sure don't like explicit homosexuals). I find this to be Carrey's sweetest and one of the finest performances of his career to date.

5. LIAR LIAR

A man who lied all the time until a simple wish from his son changes his life, the ability to never lie until a certain time. It's a great film and I think its Jim Carrey's best overall comedic performance.

4. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

The most fantastical film of his career as we see Carrey team up with Michel Gondry. Underrated role alongside the wonderful Kate Winslet. 

3. MAN ON THE MOON

A criminally underrated film as a whole. Jim Carrey was the perfect choice to play the late great Andy Kaufman. A great comedy performance with true drama at the heart of it all.

2. THE TRUMEN SHOW

Before Big Brother and social networks Carrey was starring in a satirical look into being born onto a television show as if it was real life. Jim Carrey gave an award winning performance in The Truemen Show and remains one of his best.

1. ACE VENTURA PET DETECTIVE

Ace Ventura! Must be one of the most recognised and iconic of all his roles. One of my earliest film memories are from Ace Ventura, from acting out the scenes as a young 6 year old and finding stupendously hilarious and still is to this day. All righty then!

★★☆☆☆

The Old West.. where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. 1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been.

  Cowboys & Aliens, a genre mash that sounds absolutely amazing on paper but what about in reality? Well I’m sorry to say that it doesn’t live up to it’s name and the trailer. Directed by Jon Favreau who to be fair hasn’t really made a bad film, that is until now. The film lacks an exciting story and generally felt really flat.

Daniel Craig plays Jake Lonergan, a wanted criminal outlaw who has suffered amnesia. He has a pretty cool introduction at the beginning of the film. Craig plays this role very well as the mysterious loner cowboy and it suits him. He also looks pretty damn cool in the western setup.

Harrison Ford, who plays Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde is a very suited hole for him. And always looks great in a cowboy hat. Ford plays the powerful and rich cattleman with such ease. It’s a good role for him as Ford is just acting for fun now. He’s of that age where he can pick and choose what he wants to do.

Olivia Wilde is the mysterious traveller called Ella Swenson. In my opinion not a very good role for Wilde who’s acting wasn’t particularly great. It was very wooden, think January Jones in X-Men: First Class. I felt she was a lot better in Tron Legacy. What was a major disappoint is the lack of Sam Rockwell, he always lifts a film but was very much in the background. The film would of been a lot better if he had a bigger role to play.

★★★★☆

It is 1942, America has entered World War II, and sickly but determined Steve Rogers is frustrated at being rejected yet again for military service. Everything changes when Dr. Erksine recruits him for the secret Project Rebirth. Proving his extraordinary courage, wits and conscience, Rogers undergoes the experiment and his weak body is suddenly enhanced into the maximum human potential. When Dr. Erksine is then immediately assassinated by an agent of Nazi Germany’s head of its secret HYDRA research department, Johann Schmidt aka the Red Skull, Rogers is left as a unique man who is initially misused as a propaganda mascot. However, when his comrades need him, Rogers goes on a successful adventure that truly makes him Captain America and his war against Schmidt begins.

  Now, when it came to Captain America I has as much knowledge about it as I did with Thor - virtually zero. In some respects I think this is a blessing in disguise because then I’m not caught up on whether certain bits are faithful or not the comic itself. Captain America: The First Avenger is the last major comic film of the year to which will lead onto next year’s ‘The Avengers’. Ironically being the last film it is in fact the first superhero in this Marvel universe that starts the avengers initiative. The film is set during World War II which also makes it unique, a period superhero war film. Kind of like this years X-Men: First Class but less ‘traditional’ war orientated. 

Chris Evans is the man to don on the Shield and plays Steve Rodgers/Captain America. This isn’t his first foray into the hero world having previously played Johnny Storm/Human Torch in Fantastic Four which is also a Marvel creation. The less said about the Fantastic Four series the better to be honest! Have to say though Chris Evans is excellent as the ‘all American war hero’ and is convincing in both his pip-squeak Steve Rodgers character and the beefcake hero of Captain America. I find myself liking Chris Evans more now after seeing some more diverse roles.

Hugo Weaving is the villain of the film, he plays Johann Schmidt/Red Skull, a power hungry officer and right hand man of Adolf Hitler’s advanced weaponry division - but so power hungry that he disbands from Hitler and wants to conquer the world himself with his own army. Hugo Weaving does a great a baddie, even with I’d say slightly dodgy German accent but nothing too noticeable. I don’t he has been the best villain out of this years comic films however though but Weaving is still a joy to watch on screen.

Hayley Atwell is the dame of the film, sorry I mean love interest. She plays Peggy Carter who is an officer with the Strategic Scientific Reserve. She’s charming but looking back doesn’t actually do an awful lot because it wasn’t just her helping Captain America out, I felt she kinda got lost in the background despite being to connected. Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Chester Philips is what you’d expect from a World War officer and credit to Tommy Lee Jones he gets the job done with a simple yet effective performance.

With the main cast on display Captain America also boast an impressive supporting cast, Stanley Tucci plays Dr. Abraham Erskine who originally created the super soldier, I really like Tucci and I couldn’t say a bad word about his role within this. The young Howard Stark is played by Dominic Cooper who impressed me as the young American inventor. Neal McDonough (who seems to be back in familiar war surroundings from his time on Band of Brothers) and Toby Jones complete the rest of the main supporting roles. Also you’ll have Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury towards the end and also the ‘spot the Stan Lee cameo in this Marvel film’ game. 

I really enjoyed Captain America: The First Avenger as it was exactly how I hoped it would be, a superhero film that doesn’t take itself too seriously but just enough to keep the balance. It reminded me of how fun Iron Man was and also Thor which is why I liked it so much. The 3D is of course not with writing about at all so I’d recommend seeing it in 2D to get the full colour in. I didn’t pick up on too many negatives except for certain un-plausible setups like when Steve Rodgers first turns in Captain America which leads into a kind of chase sequence (I won’t say any more) and also when he goes charging into an army base where I felt who could of be EASILY detected. The films ‘gun-ho pro-American star spangled banner’ theme didn’t bother me one bit as that was expected with a film called Captain America which was designed just for that purpose! 

A wannabe serial killer wins the lottery and pursues his lifelong crush.

Trailer : Lucky (2011) - I like the look of this, seems quite qwerky in a dark humorous way. It also stars Colin Hanks who has the same likability as his Father.

No UK release date yet.