Daybreakers (out 31 May 10, Cert. 18) Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, Claudia Karvan, Isabel Lucas, directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, 2009, cert. 18
Monkey Score: 92% The year is 2017, and a plague has turned most of the Earth population into vampires. Their food supply, however, is about to go extinct as the mortals die off. With famine comes horrible mutations resulting from the lack of fresh blood. To remedy the situation a vampire corporation headed by Charles Bromley (Sam Neill) is hedging its bet by financing both special teams to capture the remaining mortals and the research of haematologist Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke), who is trying to create a synthetic blood substitute. Daybreakers boasts some genuinely scary moments, decent tension - and what is most refreshing - a great story with strong characters. We are very happy to report that there is none of the fetid vampire teen-angst peddled by that recent Hollywood trilogy. Gore fans will not be disappointed with masses of fake blood being expanded in very creative ways, thereby justifying the film 18-rating in the eye of the British censors. Daybreakers is much more than yet another vampire flick, though. The premise is very clever, and the execution simply brilliant: the lighting and colour palette used for daylight and night-light give the film an aesthetic quality that most horror films can only aspire to. The futuristic set was nothing but ambitious, and has been pulled off to perfection. At times it reminded us of such sci-fi gems as The Matrix and Gattaca: beautiful to look at, but by no means does it mean one can just sit back and enjoy with a bag of popcorn. Daybreakers is the thinking film-goer's horror movie, with a story paced to match the blood gushing. With Daybreakers the Spierig brothers have graduated to the big league. Both writing and direction are spotless in this edgy, dark and ultimately very intelligent bloodfest. And the actors are bloody good in it, too.
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Alice In Wonderland (out 31 May 10, Cert. PG) Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Matt Lucas, directed by Tim Burton, 2009, cert. PG Monkey Score: 89% The
Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is reunited with 19-year-old Alice (Mia
Wasikowska) as she returns to Wonderland. She also re-discovers her
childhood friends the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the
Dormouse, the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat. Alice embarks on a
fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen's
reign of terror. Actor Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton have been working together for 20 years, since the 1990 hit "Edward Scissorhands." The friendship they have developed has led to an incredible body of work where the lead actor's talent shines through thanks to the palpable trust and complicity between them. Disney's Alice In Wonderland is no exception: Depp's Mad Hatter is a stunning character that carries the film through on his deranged shoulders. Depp is assisted in this task by a talented cast, both live-action and voice-only, lending depth and texture to a story that is otherwise not very new. Visually Alice is arresting: Wonderland looks every bit the business and will transport you into the world dreamt by Lewis Carroll with the help from Danny Elfman's atmospheric score. Tim Burton's Alice is a beautiful film that will whisk you away from reality and leave a grin on your face. You'd be madder than the Hatter to miss it! |
Happy Birthday Fifi (out 31 May 10, Cert. U) With the voice of Jane Horrocks, cert. 15 Episodes list: Stingo cleans Up, Stingo's Naughty Day, Pip's Pony, Pip And The Wizard, Primrose Loses It and Inspector Stingo Monkey Score: 70% Fifi Forget-Me-Not, voice by Jane Horrocks, celebrates 5 years in Flowertots Garden with an hour long compilation aimed at toddlers and pre-schoolers. This well-produced kids show is a hit with younger children, and with their parents too, as it promotes social skills like sharing, helping others etc. It's rather sweet, but not exceedingly so: it contains enough naughtiness from Flowertots Garden resident hell raiser Stingo to keep the kids amused. This compilation clocks in at just over an hour, broken down in 10 minute episodes: it's perfect for a short TV break or a slightly longer session on a rainy afternoon. Released to coincide with half-term it could come in handy for frazzled parents as the week progresses! A sweet, well put together show, that will delight the under fives.
Blitz Street (out 31 May 10, Cert. E) Presented by Tony Robinson, BBC, 2010 MonkeyScore: 68% Produced to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Blitz, this BBC four-part series looks at what it was like to live through the devastation and psychological torment of wartime Britain. Using a specially
built row of terraced houses on a remote military airbase to recreate dramatic large-scale explosions, similar to those caused by the Luftwaffe bombs in the summer of 1940, Blitz Street gives us front row seats complete with close-up and super-slow motion. Presented by Tony Robinson,
the series also interestingly takes a scientific look at the effects of
each bomb. The obligatory expert analysis of the historical context, if at times a bit dry, is thorough and entertaining enough. What we found more interesting, though, was the look at how the psychological effects of the Blitz, including testimonies from a Luftwaffe pilot and survivors. A great way to introduce youngsters to the realities of the Second World War, while there are still survivors to tell the tale.
In Tranzit (out 31 May 10, Cert. 15) John Malkovich, Vera Farmiga, Thomas Kretschmann, Daniel Brühl, directed by Tom Roberts, 2008, cert. 15
Monkey Score: 56% In the mayhem that followed the end of WWII, a group of German POWs are accidentally sent to a female-run Soviet prison camp run by Soviet Officer Pavlov (John Malkovich) and Natalia (Vera Famiga.) Tasked with figuring out the the SS officers amongst their wards, the guards play a bitter game of cat and mouse with the prisoners. As all learn that situations are not what they seem, prejudices are sometimes unjustly held and love can be blossom even in such incredibly harsh conditions. On paper In Tranzit sounds like it could have the dramatic power of such recent POW classics as Life Is Beautiful and The Boy In Striped Pyjamas (also starring the stunning Vera Farmiga.) Based on a true story, one expects an epic love story set against the harsh war drama. In spite of the amazing cinematography, set and acting performances, director Tom Roberts struggles to bring together a script that has the tendency to scatter in all directions at once. Indeed there are so many sub-stories and detours that one has real difficulty in finding an Ariadne's thread that ties it all neatly together and moves the film along. A real shame as it is painfully obvious that aside from a decent screenplay all the ingredients were there to give In Tranzit the greatness the story deserves. The Making Of included on the disc is well worth watching, but makes the film feel even more like a missed opportunity. The discrepancy between the potential and reality of In Tranzit makes it almost too painful to watch. |
Armored (out 31 May 10, Cert. 12) Columbus Short, Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Skeet Ulrich, Milo Ventimiglia, Fred Ward, directed by Nimrod Antal, 2008, cert. 12 Monkey Score: 52% Army vet Ty (Columbus Short) gets back civilian life as an armoured truck guard, on the same crew as his godfather and mentor Mike (Matt Dillon). Along with a team that includes Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, and Skeet Ulrich, Matt plans a daring heist. Ty initially refuses to take part but needs money to keep up with mortgage payments: he accepts on the condition that no-one gets hurt. As things turn sour and homeless man gets killed, Ty attempts to figure out a way out of the deadly scenario. Boasting a very strong cast, Armored had the potential to deliver. Unfortunately it doesn't quite live up to expectations. Columbus Short delivers an excellent performance opposite baddie Matt Dillon, but the script is contrived and predictable. It should almost be a punishable offence to assemble such a pool of talent on any one project without giving them the means to do what they do best. There are a couple of nice chases and spectacular explosions thrown in, but one would rather be kept captivated by a good story than by the occasional loud noise. While it compares favourably against some of the direct-to-video drivel that finds its way to supermarket bargain bins, it is no surprise that Armored didn't set the big screen on fire. Mildly entertaining, with a good turn from The Losers' Columbus Short. Holy Water (out 31 May 10, Cert. 15) Directed by Tom Reeve, 2009, cert. 15 MonkeyScore: 50% With such an interesting premise one would expect the kind of off-beat comedy that worked so fantastically in Saving Grace, complete with quirky small town characters. Holy Water has a fair deal of quirky characters, but there stop the similarities. The haphazard direction manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, with stilted transitions and a lack of pace that makes the first half of the film a painful experience. The second half, once the pills have been stashed, is much more amusing - but while it will generate a few laughs it's hardly a comedic masterpiece. All in, Holy Water feels like a dress rehearsal, a first draft: it has potential but sadly it may only happen if the film ever gets remade, which is rather unlikely. Make up your own mind? We have 3 copies of Holy Water on DVD for you to win in our competition this week just follow the link!
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