No More Filmstar Magazine

Sadly if you are looking for the latest issue of Filmstar magazine like I was last week, then you'll never find it. The magazine after a promising opening five issues is no more. Due internal issues with the company owner which I won't go into here it means the UK is without its most promising new film magazine.

What I enjoyed about Filmstar was that it carried the mainstream content you would associate with Empire and Total Film, but never in the ass-kissing typeface they tend to favour. Instead a sizeable chunk of each issue was given over to DVD releases and foreign cinema. So in effect it combined the best of Empire with Sight & Sound magazine in a much more friendly format.

Who is to say that Filmstar won't be revived when everything is sorted? I certainly hope so as Empire in comparison just isn't a worthwhile substitute.

UP 3D Review

I'm a big fan of Pixar's output but it must be said that UP isn't their best offering, despite the hype. This also applies to the Cloud short that opens up the experience. Full of flair, invention and emotion it just lacks that something to elevate it to the next level.

UP itself is not a 3D film, clearly the format has been fostered into the equation with mixed results. Perhaps the next Pixar film will really exploit the added dimension, yet if you've only seen it in 2D, you've not missed out on anything revolutionary and saved yourself a few quid. £11 for an adult ticket; frightening.

UP is Pixar treading water, another Incredibles that will divide opinion. The real highlight for me is the montage where we see the ageing lead character's life in a few minutes. This is blockbuster of emotions, a real masterpiece and something I'll always remember. After this the wave can only break and from then on you're on the downward slope. UP wrestles with catering for adults and children. I found myself losing interest with onscreen events, just wishing for a return to those splendid moments early on.

Such is the high standard of Pixar's work that you cannot help but set your expectations high. UP fails to meet these demands but in today's market it still warrants your time and money.

2009 So Far In Films

We're almost at time now when its fashionable to look back at the preceding months and pick out your best of the year. My own trips to the cinema have been fairly limited, although one is just around the corner it is sadly a multi-plex. In other words you have 4 screen showing Transformers 2 and if you're lucky on a Wednesday night there might just be a one-off screening of something worthwhile, but not all the time.

DVD continues to thrive, ably assisted by blu ray for the more lavish releases. So what films have I enjoyed this year? Well, its not a definitive list but I would suggest next time you're scouting for a rental locally or online, these are worth a shot...

English Surgeon
A gut-wrenching experience and one that makes me proud of the NHS as we follow a talented surgeon who helps out a foreign hospital where benign tumours are killers thanks to the lack of care.

Hamlet 2
Finally something worthwhile from Steve Coogan's constant attempts in Hollywood. Its biggest hurdle is the fact that many will assume it is another modern interpretation of a Shakespear. Far from it, this film entertains and keeps you guessing.

September Issue
Anna Wintour is one of the most formidable characters I've ever seen on screen, partially because she is real. Cringe at her power and influence as Editor at Vogue magazine. This fly on the wall documentary is compulsive viewing full of characters that makes Ugly Betty seem bland in comparison.

Tokyo Sonata
A real revelation and that ending was one of the most inspired and emotional I've experienced in several years. Kurosawa has made a name as a director through J-horror but this is his first attempt at mainstream drama and its brilliant.

I'll pick out more later...

Paul Blart: Mall Cop Blu Ray Review

You wait ages on a mall cop comedy and two arrive practically within weeks of one another. Paul Blart: Mall Cop sees Kevin James as law, jury and executioner of his local shopping centre. Can he handle the arrival of Blu Ray?

Malls have quickly infused themselves into our culture, their success proving unstoppable. Gone are the drab concrete high streets of the previous years and in their place we have a clean cut environments, featuring identical stores as part of a monotonous, yet safe, inoffensive formula. While Paul Blart: Mall Cop may indeed be set in such a facility; it lacks any inspiration as seen decades previously in Dawn of the Dead. Malls should be a ripe breeding ground for comedy however here the writers stick to a tiresome formula, failing to take advantage of the opportunity, instead content to rely on generic stereotypes and obvious situations.

Paul is portrayed as a friendly local security guard with his own personal issues, which are numerous. Take your pick from aging, overweight, single, lacking confidence, unfit and hypoglycaemic; each of these is used as a basis for gags in the film, some tasteless. Frankly it’s tiresome and a predictable (if unbelievable) love interest ensues, with a heist thrown in for good measure. This blundering fool soon comes good as the mall is taken over by an organised gang, prompting him to use his knowledge, driven onwards by his love interest.

We were so disappointed by the film that we soon started counting the numerous Sony products used as props and devices in scenes. As a Sony financed picture this should not be a real surprise, but the high profile nature of some inclusions makes this example worse than any recent Bond film. Is it no surprise that one confrontation takes place in a Sony store?

The highlight of the Blu Ray is definitely the picture quality of this release that is entertaining and clean cut. It by no means tremendous but captures the range of colours and detail of a vibrant mall. The soundtrack is pretty inoffensive, with some good use of the surround channels at key moments. The real highlight is the strong song selection during certain scenes.

On paper the extras look sizeable with the featurettes along numbering eleven. This first impression is vanquished quickly when you realise that all of these rotate around the same axis, failing to offer any real insight into the roots of the film and the creative process. Instead it seems the producers felt the target market for this movie were the kids who love skateboarding, BMX, free running and other extreme sports. Why? Well, we’d guess that 95% of the extra footage and dialogue across the eleven shorts is all about the stunts.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is unique because the actual real-life stars of skateboarding, BMX and so on, actually have real roles in the film comprising the criminal contingent. This knowledge explains the poor standard of acting evident in the film, but provides the producer with the excuse to create these MTV-friendly features all about the stunts. It is extremely tiresome and having worked our way through these extras, we never want to see an extreme sport stunt again!

The remaining extras comprise of a trailer for Open Season 2 (which looks awful), instantly forgettable deleted scenes, the BD Live chat facility and a commentary from Kevin James and the producer. This track is reasonable, with plenty of anecdotes and hilarity evident. Both discuss the original writing sessions and the changes that had to be made in the final product. They both display a love for the film, but you have to wonder why the final product turned out to be so bland.

In Paul Blart: Mall Cop you have a tasteless comedy that lacks any real laughs, making it a potential disaster. The sad compilation of extras makes this a worthless disc that is best avoided, or at most a rental to remind you how bad things can actually be.

Push Blu Ray Review

This year has seen several science fiction blockbusters fail to deliver at the box office. Many of these failures instead enjoy success in the home market, could Push find a more welcoming audience on Blu Ray?

Excluding the lack of a major star to capture publicity interest, Push was not helped by a convoluted plot and narrative. The opening period of the film sets up previous events and then jumps forward to modern day Hong Kong. Normally opening credits are merely eye candy for what follows, yet in Push it’s a tool for a brief synopsis of the types of abilities you are about to see in action. Such is the wealth of information that director Paul McGuigan is trying to convey initially that’s its understandable how cinemagoers struggled.

Push is a conspiracy adventure that focuses on psychic abilities of humans. A branch of the American government known as the Division is carrying on research that was commenced by the Nazi regime. Their aim is to utilise these abilities to great a unique weapon, and the Division will not stop at anything to succeed. There are various types of special abilities and these seem genetic to particular families and handed down the generations. These skills require training and nurturing and our two main heroes are very much in the rookie category. Both are laying low from the Division and avoiding local crime gangs in Hong Kong.

Soon they both embark on an action packed adventure to hunt down a special Divisional drug that has gone missing. The Chinese crime syndicate want the drug for their own uses and Division has called upon some of its best people to retrieve the lost property.

Push is an easy target for criticism, yet reflecting on what it tries to achieve and its attempt to foster a sequel it is surprisingly fun. Part of the attraction is the Hong Kong setting that is colourful and vibrant; a real change from drab Australia or the States. Returning to the film you can piece together that opening with far more understanding and the whole experience is held together by a wonderful performance from young Dakota Fanning, in what could be a role similar to Natalie Portman in Leon. Our main criticism would be that the Division just lacks real menace or presence. Two agents and a few hired hands just doesn’t stack up as a powerful government agency.

While the script and quality of the film may vary depending on whom you ask, the picture quality on this Blu Ray is exceptional. Hong Kong comes to life thanks to several memorable locations, showing a huge range of colour and clarity. The only grain on this print comes with deliberate camera choices in scenes such as outside the fish market. Otherwise this is one of the best looking Blu Ray releases of 2009.

The soundtrack is dynamic and several action sequences will provide huge enjoyment, especially those featuring the Triads, who can call upon Bleeders for their own sonic attacks. Overall this is an extremely loud track that will ‘push’ your home cinema system to the max!

The extras are under whelming and overall quite disappointing for those wanting to explore the Push universe or background in greater detail, despite being in high definition. This may be a reflection of its limited budget, but it’s a sad selection on offer here. The menu system is pretty straightforward although our disc didn’t show the audio commentary from the director, Dakota and Chris Evans as an option, which is surprising. However the track is certainly present and even the director admits they’ll need most of its running time to explain the film itself. The commentary like Push is fun, with all three participants offering their views and memories of events. By far it’s the best extra on offer and well worth a listen if you enjoyed the film.

There are a handful of deleted scenes with optional commentary that last for just a few minutes. Two fill in gaps from the film, providing answers to a few characters that simply just drop out of view as proceedings reach a climax. The other extra is a short documentary (just nine minutes) called ‘The Science Beyond The Fiction’ that offers a short explanation of how psychic powers have been investigated and utilised by governments over the years. A long more involving documentary would have been appreciated along with some ‘making of’ features.

Overall Push is a fun ride but one that is a little too complicated for its own good. For Blu Ray owners this is an ideal rental and potential demo disk for your sound system.

New Project

Gamestyle is going well at the moment, a real variety of material appearing online if I do say so myself. Several interesting features, competitions and interviews from the guys and we're looking at some of the big releases for the rest of the year.

I actually enjoy writing previews, not only can you lay out how you actually feel regarding a forthcoming release, but you may end up buying it yourself! Unlike many other sites or magazines we don't butter up the publishers or developers just to gain access or a nice bit of code. Generally if we're excited about a title, then we're excited.

Now what's this about a new project? Well, I cannot say too much but it comes about thanks to a popular thread in the forums. We're just putting the finishing touches into place and I've been busy preparing initial material. Now where's that hint?

Filmstar Magazine

Just wanted to highlight the arrival of a new film magazine on the already overcrowded shelves. Issue 2 of Filmstar magazine is just out and I'd recommend anyone with an interest in cinema to pick it up. There are a worthwhile positive aspects, worth highlighting. Firstly its a good size and not littered with huge photographs as seen in Total Film and Empire. Images do play a part in what is a fresh presentation, leaving more than enough space for some worthwhile text.

In terms of balance this manages to cross the divide between the more mainstream publications such as Empire,whilst offering just enough foreign cinema with Sight & Sound additives to keep someone like me occupied. May even consider a subscription!

However Issue 2's lead article concerns the low budget 'Moon' which does seem promising and after attending the BBC Radio 5 Edinburgh event where Kermode and Mayo talked with the director, deserves some coverage. Yet calling it 'cult' and the first example of this in 2009 really annoys! The word 'cult' is thrown about too much nowadays and to call such a film on the eve of its release such is pretty lazy. Give it 5 years and I may be forced to agree, but not before!

The Proposal Film Review

Lets be honest, films such as the Proposal are an easy target for criticism. You don’t walk into a screening expecting to see something really special or groundbreaking. From my experience tonight, the majority of the audience were entertained and that’s ‘job done’ with a few laughs thrown in for good measure. Yes, the crowd was 95% female, but the whole experience was inoffensive and charming to both genders.

The Proposal is entirely predictable in the usual Hollywood way, the premise with a slight twist has been seen before and the ending is no great surprise. However it’s the journey that proves to be entertaining and the real attraction. I’ve got a lot of time for Sandra Bullock; she knows her range and has built a successful career out of what tools are at her disposal. On this experience she can play a hardnosed businesswoman with ease!

My main criticism is the length of the film for this genre is too long. The Proposal tries to cover an array of characters and events, so much so that it feels a few scenes were taken out, as it jumps in places. More could have been made of family relationships or the background to the couple, as most of the detail was pretty shallow. In spite of this staying with developments was easy. I really wished we had more of the New York angle, but it was refreshing that the majority of the film takes place in a distant location. I found myself thinking back to Local Hero in places, a marvellous film and this is no match, but as a rom-com with a touch of its charm, The Proposal isn’t half bad.

DVDs Are Worthless?

Or so it seems trying out Music Magpie if you're anticipating moving up to blu-ray, or just clearing out the boxes of films you've never gone back to watch again.

I find myself in the same position, DVD is a great format and one I use to rent, especially films that never received a cinema release. Extremely portable, universal (excluding region coding) and those wonderful extras. Being based on my own experiences of Beta-Max, VHS and Laser Disc, its a vastly superior format. Yet the future will be one without physical media, and that's a huge shame.

I'm already abstaining from randomly buying any old blu-ray. Instead only the classics or collectors/directors/specials/whatever else the marketing dept make up releases are allowed entry. The Kubrick films for instance are wonderfully put together, featuring some top-notch commentaries and background material, same with The Godfather set.

Even then, blu rays are extremely cheap when you know where to look, or when to buy. Very rarely do I pick up one upon release, although I'm trying to fight the urge to acquire Fincher's Button epic, with a host of extras. And I'll know soon enough these discs will be practically worthless, so only the best may apply.

Still, the enjoyment factor makes it all worthwhile.

The Hangover Film Review

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Just like those stag nights I’ve attended in Newcastle, but that’s another story for another time. Being stuck in a desert is not everyone’s idea of a good time, but these fellas make the most of the gambling and pleasure capital of the world. Freed from the chains of domestic life, everything goes a little mental, leaving an almost permanent haze and fear of the unexplained.

Refreshingly The Hangover does not show you the misdemeanours of the bachelor party, instead concentrating on the after-effects and trying to piece together the events of the night before. Few answers are provided until the very end, Todd Phillips preferring to keep viewers guessing until the end credits role. The actual trip of remembrance is hit and miss. The characters form an unlikely bond and slowly, shamefully, the fog clears.

Generally the audience enjoyed the film, laughing for the majority of gags it produces. I actually felt it missed the mark on several occasions; too many characters were introduced before moving onto the next event in a rapid procession. Phillips does keep you guessing, with genuine laughs and regular forays into the gutter, with some candid visuals. Coming from the director that started his career filming GG Allin, this should come as no surprise.

The Hangover will score with the youth of today; it does possess more substance than Road Trip, American Pie and other genre offerings and similarly will do well on DVD, no doubt in an ‘extreme’ edition.

Star Trek Review

J.J. Abrams brings his customary visual flair and ability to create accessibility to the Star Trek franchise, in what is a successful reboot.

This is the best Trek adventure in light years, but that’s not really saying much really. Fans of the genre will lap it up and those in need of a shallow romp will be relieved at the lack of traditional Star Trek diplomacy and customs, instead focusing on action. Despite the hype Star Trek is good but nothing more, yes it delivers on special effects and its epic portrayal of space, but the plot is full of holes, which prompted that old Hollywood trick. You’ll know what when you actually see the film, as a dynamic is called upon to get scriptwriters out of a loophole.

For the most part I could not shake off the feeling that this is Top Gun in outer space with Kirk playing Maverick, a young and over confident know it all, pitched into combat whilst still in school. It’ll be interesting to see where the franchise goes next.