Real Steel

***
Release Date: September 6th 2011

Set in the near future, where robot boxing is a top sport, a struggling promoter feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.

Director: Shawn Levy (Date Night, Night at the Museum/2, Cheaper by the Dozen)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lily

The idea of robot boxing is somewhat unpromising, but this film sure packs a steely punch.

Set in the (not so) distant future, robot fighting has become a major sport in the US, shadowing human boxing to the point of non-existence.

Charlie (Hugh Jackman) owes a lot of people money, due to gambling problems and losing fights. He can't even pay his rent to unb gym owner Bailey (Evangeline Lily). Whilst on the run, he finds himself strapped in a legal battle over his 11 year old son, Max (Dakota Goyo). He bribes his ex's parents into giving him money so that they can be the legal guardians of Max, on the basis that Charlie spends the summer with him.

What Charlie doesn't realise is the more time is spent with his son, the greater they bond. This is the heart and core of the film; Charlie struggles to deal with every responsibility. Max brings out the best in him, he is his 'shoulder angel'. Charlies negative attitude is upset by Max's optimism.

When money is a distant memory and Charlie needs a new robot, he decides to break into a junkyard, Max at his side, and find a new (old) one. Max comes across a G2 model (known to the Real Steel world as an old school model) which later becomes Atom, their fighting machine. There's a moment when Max slips down a muddy chute and accidentally stumbles across 'Atom'. By shear luck it saves his life, and as their passion for robot fighting grows, so does their love for one another.

Shawn Levy brings out the cliches, as if he'd watched Rocky just before shooting the climactic battle of Real Steel. There's a lot that's been seen before, but it's hard not to find anything to like.

Overview: It's nice to see Hugh Jackman as someone other than Wolverine. Dakota Goyo is a gem in this. We could be seeing a lot more of him in the future.

About Time

****
Release Date: September 4th 2013

At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.

Director: Richard Curtis (The Boat That Rocked, Love Actually)

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson, Bill Nighy

About Time is a warm and heartfelt rom-com by Richard Curtis, the acclaimed director of Love Actually.

About Time sees Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, an incredibly intellectual youth whose luck in love is minimal. Before Tim moves to London and takes on a job being a lawyer, his Dad, played by none other than Bill Nighy, tells him a secret; that the men in the family (when they turn 21) can travel in time.

There are some limitations to the travelling of time in this film. Tim cannot say, 'kill Hitler or shag Helen of Troy'. He can only go back to a point in his own life. To initiate the travelling he must find a small, confined space, like a wardrobe, clench his fists and think back to the point where he wants to go to.

About Time takes it own style on time travel. Its limitations and the choices Tim makes are at times hilarious, at others consequential. It's unique story makes it stand out from the crowd.

Kudos goes to Domhnall Gleeson and Bill Nighy as father and son. Their relationship is reflected profoundly by their wit, body language and love. Other characters are more oft than not over-the-top and a little cliche. Rachel McAdams come in with no flavour to add to the dish, Tim's sister Kit Kat (Lydia Wilson) is too weird and difficult to warm to, Tim's uncle is forgetful and pushes stupidity to a new level, rendering his jokes the least amusing.

The second half of the film slows down and Tim starts to realise that the less he travels the better. It's better to go into this film knowing little, because you can come out with so much.

Overview: A unique take on time travelling. Domhnall Gleeson is exceptional in his first lead role.

Dredd

Release Date: September 7th 2012

In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.

Director: Pete Travis (Endgame, Vantage Point)

Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Domhnall Gleeson

Dredd is set in future America, a complete and utter wasteland of degenerates and lowlife scum where crime is at a high. The film is set in a city called Mega City One, a crazy, municipal area with 200 million inhabitants and eyesore sky-rises. Dredd and the other Judges are the only peacekeepers attempting to keep the city under control. They are the judge, jury, and executioners.

Judge Dredd is partnered up with Cassandra Anderson, a rookie on assessment with powerful psychic abilities. 'Are you ready? You don't look ready' says Dredd to Anderson, as he evaluates and trains her on what's supposed to be a routine job.

They end up at Peach Trees, a 200 story slum to investigate a triple homicide but end up with more than they bargained for. The neighbourhood is controlled by Ma-Ma and her clan. As soon as Ma-Ma finds out that the Judges have one of her 'perps', she quickly locks down Peach Trees and the Judges have to fight for their survival.

See this in 3D, it's sublime. This is a film made for 3D, rather than pushing on 3D during post-production, just to make a quick buck. It's success was minimal, only making $40m when the budget was $35m. Dredd's 3D aspect endorses every frame, every slow motion. The new drug Slo-Mo makes the brain function at 1% its normal speed, allowing the 3D and CGI to sheen, complimented with vibrant colours, standout water droplets, smoke and blood from a shootout. 

Dredd's storyline is light but tight. Its 95 minutes running time is jam packed with action and gore. Its not just easy to follow, its gripping... and to top it off, Karl Urban's plays a worthy Judge, with chin protruding and frown to boot. A contender for the best chin in Hollywood. Lena Headey is unrecognisable as Ma-Ma, known very well as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. Her demeanour is often laughable, but sometimes cold as ice.

Dredd's was shadowed by the incredibly successful Indonesian film The Raid. The release dates of both were close to each other and the narratives are very similar.

Overview: Dredd doesn't get the credit it deserves. Packs a hard punch and keeps the heart pumping.

5/5

2 Guns

****
Release Date: August 16th 2013

A DEA agent and a naval intelligence officer find themselves on the run after a botched attempt to infiltrate a drug cartel. While fleeing, they learn the secret of their shaky alliance: Neither knew that the other was an undercover agent.

Director: Baltasar Kormakur (Contraband)

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Bill Paxton, James Marsden, Edward James Olmos, Paula Patton

If you go into this with low expectations, you'll come out on a high. 2 Guns doesn't take heaps of intelligence to comprehend the plot, but it's a fine ride whilst it lasts.

It goes something like this: 'Bobby' (Washington) and 'Stig' (Wahlberg) and two crooks on a mission to rob a bank, but get more than they bargained for. The outcome: they find out that one is DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and the other is US Navy intelligence. The duo not only turn on each other, they anger many government factions in the process, including the Mexican Cartel.

Some may relate this film with the recent release The Heat. The only similarity they bear is the casting pair rock together. Washington and Wahlberg are like chalk and cheese; veritably different mentalities, at the same time complimenting each others personality with quirky jokes and habits.

Fresh, original ideas are harder to come by when it comes to the film industry. A films narrative need only make sense and mise-en-scene can then fill in the gaps. As time goes on innovative ideas are few and far between. 2 Guns does not fall into this category.

Bill Paxton has been off the radar for a few years, only appearing in a couple of blockbusters but with no major input. His 'take no shit' attitude is foreboding... 'have you ever played Russian Roulette?' he asks, as the veterinary nurse quakes in fear, eyes pierced and focused on the bullets being laid out in front of him.

2 Guns is as straight laced as they come. Easy to follow and a thrill to watch... even if you know what's coming.

Overview: An amazing duo that's aesthetically pleasing. Narrative is strong, but familiar.

Red 2

**
Release Date: August 2nd 2013

Retired C.I.A. agent Frank Moses reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device.

Director: Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest, Fun with Dick and Jane)

Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Byung-hun Lee, David Thewlis

What an amazing cast to have in a film. Nothing can go wrong with such acting prowess, unless it's let down by a poor, poor script. For Red 2, this is exactly the case.

It starts off with DC comic style sequences, preparing us for something big. Instead, we are shoved into a Costco, where Frank Moses (Willis) is loving normality, but possibly too much, as little remains of his 'Retired and Extremely Dangerous' attitude.

This is short lived however, as Marvin (Malkovich) approaches (almost) unseen to announce that he's being followed. Insert fake death, followed by a shambles of a plot, where Frank and Marvin were listed as participating in an operation codenamed Nightshade. The MI6 order Victoria (Mirren) to kill them, whilst a contract killer (Byung-hun Lee) does the same.

Now, whilst the plot never really thickens, and releasing our interest, the Red gang (consisting of Frank, Marvin and Sarah, played by MLP) fly across various different cities (Hong Kong, Paris, Moscow, England) in order to find information unbeknownst to them.

A lot of things are missing in Red 2. The first, which cannot be undone to keep with consistency, is Morgan Freeman. He was such a central character that his company is sorely missed. Helen Mirren does not have much screen time this time round. It's left to Malkovich, Willis and Parker, but the latter is frightfully annoying. Sarah does nothing but disrupt their plans and lacks the skill as a comfortable, female lead.

Red 2 aims high in comedy value but can't quite reach the first installment. Too much time is spent lingering on the unimportant, mainly, Marvin's facial expressions. Where laughs should be big, they fizzle out and die. Even appearances from Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins cannot make this any better, neither displaying any stand out thrills. Byung-hun Lee's Han Cho Bai is the odd one out, showing connotations of a child wanting to play with maturer personnel.

Overview: Nowhere near as good as the first. Tries hard, but fails even harder.

The Heat

*****
Release Date: July 31st 2013

An uptight FBI Special Agent is paired with a foul-mouthed Boston cop to take down a ruthless drug lord.

Director: Paul Feig (Bridesmaids)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport

This need to be started off by saying what a fantastic film!

Sandra Bullock is Special Agent Ashburn, a cocky, very unlikeable, plays by rules FBI agent from New York. Melissa McCarthy is Detective Mullins, a loudmouth, crazy, don't mess with street cop from Boston. Opposites attract and their chemistry flourishes as the film develops.

Ashburn is sent to Boston to track down an infamous drug lord named Larkin. Whilst pissing off the permanently pissed off cop (Mullins) in Boston, she is forced to work with her, much to the dislike of both.

It's hard to give this anything less than 5 stars. The Heat is lewd and crude but constantly hilarious. Although we've seen similar partnerships before with the likes of 21 Jump Street, the Rush Hour films and Lethal Weapon, The Heat has this kick-ass duo keeping the audience entertained.

Melissa McCarthy outshines Sandra Bullock in comedic prowess during the opening scenes. It's clear within the first few minutes that the other law enforcers surrounding Ashburn aren't keen. She suffers with egotistical arrogance and subconsciously believes she is better than everyone else. This tones down when she's builds up a relationship with Mullins, and eventually allows her to shine too.

Mullins, on the other hand, keeps it up throughout.  The two individually are difficult working with others (at least this is the impression), but this helps bring in the laughs. There's an incredible montage of Ashburn and Mullins bonding over a drink (or two) and the intoxicated antics they get up to.

It's nice to see a film in Hollywood that's not really heavily on technology. CGI is minimal, almost non-existent. The Heat relies on the grit, the way the cast gel, and cliches that never get old (Mullins' Boston family... loud but proud and includes a small but welcoming part from Michael Rapaport as Mullins' brother). Even Marlon Wayans takes a break from being ludicrous (think White Chicks and Scary Movie).

The only slight to The Heat is its plot. It's a little on the thin side, but greatly helped by the improv and satire that envelops it.

Overview: Topping the success of Bridesmaids is no easy feat, but it's easily done with the help from Bullock and McCarthy. Expect greater things from McCarthy.