Inception Review

When I first watched Inception, I knew it had rave reviews, but kept an open mind, because films hyped up that much always seem to disappoint, like when you get told that a cake tastes perfect that much, that when you take a bite, it doesn’t really compare to the descriptions you got. I was right with Inception, It started abruptly and I had hardly any clue as to what was going on in the first 10 minutes, which world was which and what was going on, as the film progressed, I understood the concept and what they were actually doing with the events.

I have never been a huge Leonardo DiCaprio fan, there is just something about him that doesn’t quite fit in my books, but he did well, he was a bit excitable/hectic at times, but I guess that’s part of what he had to do, but it was a bit of an extreme portrayal. I must say, I was happy to see Ellen Page and her character, as she is a good comedy actress (Juno) and she played this more serious role very well, and gave you more sympathy towards Leonardo’s character, without her, I think I would not have really cared if he died or not.

The direction was compelling, I can see what people mean there, but you can’t go wrong with an anti-gravity hotel fight scene, but this was directed really well, and was enjoyable. I saw the appeal of everything, and if you looked at individual performances or scenes, they are good, but overall lack direction, especially with the “Mal” character stopping parts or filling gaps when the story might be dragging a bit. The film tries to be a fast paced, intelligent blockbuster, and it is, but it’s not all it could have been and was hyped up to be.

I can see why people said this cake was the best in the world, but after all the hype, I can see it being a good cake, it has most of the right ingredients, just probably not baked right.

Panic! At The Disco Vices And Virtues Review

Ever since Panic! split, I was worried about what they would be doing and hoped they wouldn't do anything stupid like the other half did, and went onto soft rock which frankly sounds naff, and i am extremely pleased to say they were smart.
This album is back to what we love, the madness of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, but we have hints at Pretty. Odd in songs such as Always, which emphasise the madness but they stand on their own as great tracks. Obviously I have favourite tracks, Hurricane, which I have decided to choreograph a dance to for a performance event, on the 25th of May, and Sarah Smiles which is just a lovely song, but with a good beat to keep you interested.
The publicity of this album, while not as mainstream as it really should be, worked, especially in the short film, The Overture, with clips of some of the songs from this album, and showing that Panic! are ready to come back fighting, if ever they were gone.

The sound just seems to put a smile on your face, get rid of the lyrics, I must say that Brendon and Spencer have stepped up to the plate excellently, by producing high quality, high energy tracks. Also, I would like to say to many critics of the song lyrics, who say the Album is majorly filled with simplistic lyrics, well, maybe that's the beauty of it, because it can connect with people differently, I heard one track, The Calendar, and got a different message than was meant to be given, at least it isn't narrow and sometimes confusing like some of the songs in Pretty. Odd became, it has identity for everyone, well, everyone with good taste in music.

In short, this is a class album, with all the quirks and bangs of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, but with the precision applied that Pretty. Odd contained. I sincerely hope this album gets some award or recognition.

10/10

Sucker Punch Review

Hi guys, sorry I know, I said I would post this ages ago, but at least I am now.

What can I say about Sucker Punch, well, I went into the cinemas with low expectations, I will admit, I expected a 15 rated movie for one, but this was a 12, and I expected a lot of action in short skirts and bad taste against women. I was I think anyway, pleasantly surprised, the movie starts with a fitting score which keeps the mood throughout, a soundtrack I am tempted to purchase.
Oddly, it takes about half an hour before any action starts, but I wasn't craving it, I was actually wanting to see the story develop more, the action was typical, but more tasteful than you would imagine, it focused more on the visual effects than "Babydoll", the lead.

I think I should explain this film, a girl, "Babydoll" loses her mother, and so her stepfather takes Babydoll and her sister, but when he finds that he is left nothing in the will, he goes to rape Babydoll, when she barricades herself in ther room, the stepfather advances to her young sister, Babydoll, escapes through the window, retrieves the stepfathers gun, and shoots at him, she misses and shoots her sister, then runs out of the house, to see the police, the stepfather has her sent to an asylum. This all happens in the first 5 minutes of the film, but it doesn't seem rushed, it is poetically directed, by the director of Watchmen, so it has that feel, but I felt different than I expected, I expected to want more action, but I wanted to see the drama unfold even more.

When being led through the asylum, and when the stepfather arranges for an illegal labotamy to be performed on Babydoll, we have the obligatory introduction of cast members and key, but Zack Snyder, the director does something to make it feel fresh and every key thing is pointed out but not in a condoscending or stupid way. And we reach the labotomy, where just before it is performed, we enter fantasy world number one, where everyone is part of a burlesque house, in roles that they would suit in the asylum, the same with when the characters are in fantasy world number two.

I won't reveal much more because, I fell you have to see it to understand what I am saying, it can't fit into a genre well, becuase it is it's own genre, and I like that, I wasn't a B rated movie, or a sob story drama, it was a journey, one which picked you up, but only if you wanted it to. I am speaking of the many critics who slated this movie for only satisfying Zack Snyders sick feelings, well, I think they are sick for not seeing this movie for what it was.

It is in essence, a struggle for escape for Babydoll and her friends, some of the most interesting points are kept a mystery but that is part of what appeals to me, I don't want to know how they really tried to escape in the asylum, I don't really want to know how they really retrieved the items, becuase I don't think any of the characters saw it, and it would be intruding on them.

I have to applaud the soundtrack, for fitting so perfectly into a 1960's setting, for enhancing the story and tension, also, the actors and actresses in this were actually not bad, especially with Vanessa Hudgens to act against, which is obviously hard, but Carla Gugino was superb, I must say, she was the rock that stopped this movie from slipping, she made you care about the characters, becuase she genuinely did, which is odd really, but she did and it was lovely.

In conclusion, don't see Sucker Punch for what you want, see it for what it is, it will be a much better experience, and I suggest you purchase the directors cut on DVD, as I feel it will give a much better experience, I know I will.