Anne Hathaway - Catwoman pics emerge

Finally, even if a little early, a teasing picture from the set of The Dark Knight Rises has emerged of Anne Hathaway. Many will have hoped it was in her Catwoman suit, but I think Chris Nolan and the people at Warner Bros. would want to keep some things secret.

When the casting choice was announced, the internet went into meltdown about how “wrong” the choice was. According to a friend of mine, she was not sexy enough to pull off the role of such a tempting seductress. Then, according to another friend (an avid comic reader) she was the perfect choice because she fit with where the current comic runs had taken the character by creating a very different Selina Kyle/Catwoman.

I reckon that Anne will pull it off under the direction of Nolan. If her turn in Rachael Getting Married is anything to go by, she can certainly give credence to dark, twisted and bitter characters

I’m looking forward to it!

Transformers 3 - 3D 2011

Transformers 3 – 3D 2011

Transformers 3 will be the blockbuster of the season, like it was made to be. There is no denying the pull that battle-crazy robots trying to save earth has on the general populous. Both previous films have grossed an amazing amount of cash in ticket sales and merchandising, that the third outing is a sure fire definite to make people hand over their hard earned cash. Epecially now since the film is in glorious 3D!

There are things that are amazingly fantastic about this film, but as with many of the films by director Michael Bay, there are some bad things (but not very bad!)

There are certain things we know about Michael Bay.

1.       He loves women
2.       He loves cars
3.       He loves big things
4.       He loves explosions
5.       He loves it loud, and
6.       He is a pubescent teenager stuck in a 40 year old body!

Michael Bay came out earlier in the year and admitted that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was not the film he wanted to make and that he made some mistakes. Really? He blamed the writers strike of 2008 in Hollywood which brought almost every film and TV show production to a standstill and promised a better film with a better story. I think we got a much better film and I would even go as far as saying that this could have functioned very well as the first film in the franchise, but I don't think we got a better story.

It's no secret that summer blockbusters are the bread-and-butter of any production company. Most blockbusters are void of storylines and have plot holes you can drive a semi through. TF3 is no different, and there are times you are left wanting just a bit more; just a bit more development, a bit more sense and a bit more continuity.

Yet, again what the film lacks is a sense of substance, although I concede that it must be difficult to find “substance” in a story about children’s toys that transform from robots to cars and trucks. The cartoon was simply a tool that Hasbro used to sell toys, specifically in Japan, yet the film version of that cartoon, released in 1986, did a really good job in finding substance in the mythos of Transformers. In that film, there were two human characters, a father and a son, which in its simplicity, was where the cartoons heart lay. They were a manifestation of Prime’s heart of humanity, a thread that these films so desperately need and is so jarringly absent.

It's just not enough to save the world, we want to care about it.

TF3 is missing that substance. Where we want to see robots, the story focuses too much on Sam Witwicky (Shia Lebeouf) who is at the next crossroads of his life: getting a job. We had his teenager angst in getting his first car, then the young adult angst of going to university, and now we have his adult angst of making his mark on the world, but, hasn’t he already done that? He saved the world from near destruction yet, he can’t get a job?

The exposition which sets up the story rests on the shoulders of another government secret. Much to Primes dismay, there is a spacecraft just sitting there on the moon waiting for some transformer to find it. It seems that it is the Ark (a nice reference to the cartoon) which was sent at the height of the Cybertronian war with a device on board that would create a new Cybertron. How it works with the Cube, I’m not sure, but the ark crash landed on the moon which caused the space race of the 60’s between Russia and the US.

For any “fan” or movie buff, the enormous plot hole that exists here is not worthy of bothering about and many may simply gloss over it, but as a story, the three films don’t fit together well, but when you think about it, very few series of films do.

But where this film lacks in story, it succeeds in attacking the audience with an astounding shock and awe campaign to numb your senses. As with the first two films, there are some insane action sequences that show off Bay’s style, flair and ego and gratefully, Bay has slowed down some of the action and sequences so that the audience gets to see more. However there are still times you really wish you could differentiate between the robots when they are clashing.  Bay knows how to shoot war and fighting and cars (especially cars!) and he pushed TF3 the the extreme. He really does lift the bar for action.

It is mind-boggling to see some of the scenes take place; especially in 3D. The scene of the skyscraper falling down which featured heavily in the trailer can only be seen on the big screen! The enormity of clashing robots and speeding cars that transform while driving to catch falling humans leaves you aghast. There is even a freeway sequence that gives “The Matrix: Reloaded” a run for its money.

The robots look fantastic. If they could look more real than from what we have previously seen, this is the film that does it. They blend in with the earthly surrounds and interact with human characters in a far more believable way.

There are some darker moments too where the film takes on a “Black Hawk Down” feel and there is  much more violence, which surprised me. Robots gush blood, have their spines ripped out and humans are vicerated by Decepticon weapons similar to that of the aliens from “War of the Worlds”.

There is much more robot time which will please the masses and you get the feeling that the film is trying really hard to cater to the fans this time although die-hards will be very disappointed that certain Autobots don’t have the names they are supposed to, but there is plenty to be happy about. The inclusion of Primes trailer is a welcome addition and when it transforms, OMG! Megatron is the real let down. Again, Bay and Kruger have no idea what to do with him nor do they understand is role in the Transformers world.  This villain is underused and pointless which is disappointing.

The transfer to 3D is astounding; groundbreakingly so. 60% of the film was filmed in 3D and unlike films that have the transfer added for the sake of it, this movie is meant to be enjoyed as a 3D experience. It has raised the bar since Avatar.

There is a lot of potential left in the Tranformer world. It’s doubtful this will be the end and it would not be surprising if the fans really get their own way and we see the introduction of the famed Unicron.

This could have been a 5 popcorn rating, but it gets a 3.5. There was plenty of moments I had goosebumps, even a moment I almost shed a tear (gotta love me some Bumblebee) and a few moments I was silently pounding the air with my fist.

Oh, and do yourself a favour, see this in 3D.

This is not for kids under 13! The violence is very strong.

X-men: First Class - 2011

X-men: First Class

First Class is a welcome return to beginnings both cinematically and in narrative.

Opening with scenes taken from Bryan Singers original X-Men where Erik (who will become Magneto) discovers his mutant power, First Class confidently walks the path made before it, but goes on to blaze a new trail of its own.

Having left Last Stand angry and downright broken hearted, vehemently hating the name “Brett Ratner”, vowing that should I ever cross his path I would tear out his heart and shove it down his throat and make him choke to death….sorry.

Rant over. I apologise. It still hurts.

I still have not seen Wolverine, my best friend forbids it. Hell, I forbid it! But after seeing First Class I am happy to see it return to form. I only hope it stays the course.

It is no doubt that the film is what it is because it starts with a credible story and script, has a strong cast and passionate director and producer. Director Matthew Vaughn successfully helmed last years sleeper hit, the ever-violent Kick Ass while Bryan Singer who directed the first two films, stepped in to offer assistance creatively and in a producing capacity. Singers subtle inflections  and influence are noticeable throughout the narrative and production.

The story is great at setting up a new, and earlier, chapter of the franchise; starting in 1944 at the peak of the German invasion and travelling through to the 1960’s when the US was heading into the Cuban Missile crisis. Some exposition allows the story of Xavier (James McEvoy) and Erik (Michael Fassbender) to come to the fore which then continues on through the rest of the film. This really is a story about them and their internal battles; Xavier believing that the human world will accept them and Erik knowing that they will not. And this is where the story finds its strength.

There is no doubt that X-men (the comic) is about human vs mutant and the deep rooted feelings of isolation, rejection and loneliness we all feel. The X-men are simply caricatures of humanity, hidden behind a power rather than a mask. First Class subtly weaves this through the core of its premise.

What is also appreciated is that we get insight into is the friendship that Xavier and Eric share, right up to the fateful moment that puts Xavier in the wheelchair. Given that we only catch glimpses of this love/hate relationship in the previous films, it is refreshing to see especially for those who have not read the comics, however, for a prequel or reboot (or whatever you want to call it), perhaps a second film could have been focussed on Eriks decision to create the Brotherhood. What I missed was the reference to Erik helping Xavier create the ..., but this could easily be visited in another film, they have always needed each other (as we see in Last Stand the exposition for Jean Greys character, they are friends meeting her together – although Erik has ulterior plans).

The cast of mutants is impressive and as this is a film to set up the “origins”, each mutant gets adequate introduction and development (unlike previous films...sorry!).

Hot-property-of-the-moment, January Jones (Mad Men, Unknown) makes a delicious sight as the scantily-clad, diamond-telepath Emma Frost. There’s certainly more to this woman than meets the eye! And everyone’s favourite shape-shifter Mystique (Raven) is introduced as a 9 years old who befriends Xavier which is a nice touch to the overall development of the story and a through line that will come full circle in the later films. It’s an opportunity to provide the juxtaposition of Erik – who believes all mutants should embrace who they are and Charles (Xavier) who believes mutant powers should be concealed so that humanity will accept them. The core fight between acceptance and rejection lies squarely on Mystiques shoulders and carried confidently by relative newcomer Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone).

Director Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, Layer Cake) proves again he has flair for the comic-book adaptions, perhaps even better than Singer and must have enjoyed working with more money and scope to create a huge, and sometimes epic, motion picture. The scale of the action is mountainous and works hand-in-hand to propel the narrative forward as opposed to just being in it for the sake of the genre. Matthew Vaughn best be careful, lest he becomes the king of the comic geeks.

In all, this is a brilliant film worthy of its positive critical acclaim.  

Solid 4.5 popcorns out of 5