|
||||||||||
Michael Jackson's This Is It (out 22 February 10, Cert. PG) Michael Jackson, produced & directed by Kenny Ortega, 2009, cert. PG MonkeyScore: 78% This Is It was put together from many hours of taped rehearsal sessions never intended for theatrical release or indeed home entertainment. There is no fancy camera work. The editing is kept light, too, to preserve the integrity of the performance. The resulting film is both very intimate and completely surreal, and true to its original brief: the footage was commissioned by Michael who privately wanted to document the rehearsals for his own library. Michael's estate may have worked closely with the production to release the picture yet a perfectionist like Michael would have possibly asked for quite a few changes. While he is commanding when performing the likes of Man In The Mirror, Michael appears frail almost to breaking point at other times: the camera captured it all, like the fly on the wall that it was. By its very nature This Is It is a clip show, a montage of various bits and pieces cobbled together with a loose narrative thread. From a purely 'film' perspective, it's weak at best, even by music film standards. Yet This Is It redeems itself ten times over by offering fans a side of Michael that has rarely been seen during his lifetime: Michael the incredibly gifted performer, hard at work to produce a show he could be rightly proud of, warts and all. The fans will obviously need no prompting to lap This Is It up. The others will probably struggle but should persist: anyone with even the most passing interest in music should watch til the end credits roll. |
Jennifer's Body (out 22 February 10, Cert. 15) Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, directors Karyn Kusama / M. David Mullen, 2009, Cert. 15 MonkeyScore: tbc% Hailing from the production team behind indie smash-hit Juno, Jennifer's Body is a horror/comedy about possessed teenagers and satanic rock stars. High-school student Needy (Amanda Seyfried, Sophie in 2008's humongous hit Mamma Mia!) has to protect the town against her beautiful but dangerous best friend Jennifer, (Megan Fox - of Transformers fame). Jennifer's fit body now houses a hungry demon after an encounter with a Satan worshipping rock band. She starts targeting male students to feed appetite for human flesh, while the seemingly powerless Needy looks in terror. review coming soon We have secured 3 copies the eagerly awaited Jennifer's Body DVD for you to win to in our competition this week, courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (out 22 February 10, Cert.18) Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Cameron Diaz, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Katherine Helmond, Flea, Gary Busey, Ellen Barkin, dir. Terry Gilliam, 1998, cert. 18 MonkeyScore: tbc% Adapted from the counterculture classic novel by Hunter S. Thompson, Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas is a drug-hazed journey to Sin City for journalist Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro.) Duke is on his way to cover a motorcycle race, and they have stocked up on controlled substances for the trip, picking up a terrified hitchhiker along the way (Tobey Maguire) amongst other antics. review coming soon |
Mike Myers, Liz Hurley, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Michael York, Mindy Sterling, dir. Jay Roach, 1997, Cert. 15 1960s. The aptly named Dr Evil (Mike Myers) freezes himself to escape capture by his arch-enemy, expansive British secret agent Austin Powers (Mike Myers.) Powers volunteers to be frozen, so he can be brought back into service should the villain ever come back. Indeed, all hell breaks loose in the 1990s as Dr Evil returns, steals a nuclear weapon and holds the world at ransom. Austin is awaken to a world rather different from the one he left, and gets paired up with the daugher of his former partner, Vanessa Kensington (Liz Hurley.) review coming soon
The Day Of The Triffids (out 22 February 10, Cert.15) Joely Richardson, Dougray Scott, Eddie Izzard, Brian Cox, Ewen Bremner, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason Priestley, 2009, Cert. 15 MonkeyScore: tbc% Adapted from John Wyndhams best-selling sci-fi thriller, The Day Of The Triffids tells of a post solar storm world that has left most of mankind blind. To make matters worse the Triffids, a carnivorous plant used for alternative fuel production, are on the loose. A few sighted survivors lead the fight against the terrifying & mobile plants who are headed to towns so they may feed on human flesh. Worse still, social order has collapsed with a few opportunistic maniacs finding themselves in positions of power. |
||||||||
|
