FilmXTRA

‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Movie Review

Tom Perkins — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 10:30:05 +0000

In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. – (C) Paramount

Now back in 2009 the first G.I. Joe film came out and if you didn’t see it, I envy you because it was terrible and despite being universally hated, it unfortunately made enough money to warrant a sequel. So I’ll admit I wasn’t looking forward to seeing this. I mean it was supposed to come out last summer but was apparently delayed so they could beef up the film with a 3D conversion and shoot some additional material for Channing Tatum because you know that he’s a big star now… but anyway the question is was it worth the delay and more importantly have they managed to improve on the failure that was the first film?

Check out the video review below and let me know what you thought of the film in the comments section.

Quickie Reviews – Week 12

Tom Perkins — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 09:30:59 +0000

Hey guys and welcome to week 12 of Quickie Reviews, a weekly show where I tell you about the latest releases, what you should be seeing and what you might want to give a miss. So check out the video below and see if there’s something that takes your fancy for the next time you head out to the cinema.

THIS WEEKS RELEASES

Jack the Giant Slayer, Stolen, Identity Thief, Compliance

FILM OF THE WEEK

Jack the Giant Slayer – VIDEO REVIEW

What was your film of the week and why? Let me know in the comments below.

‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ Movie Review

Tom Perkins — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:40:15 +0000

An ancient war is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack (Nicholas Hoult) into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend-and gets the chance to become a legend himself. – (C) Warner Bros

Now if you haven’t noticed, over the past couple of years Hollywood have taken a liking to reworking childhood fairytales and while critically they’ve not had much love, financially some certainly have, so we might as well get used to it guys because this film definitely won’t be the last.

Check out the video review below and let me know what you thought of the film in the comments section.

Quickie Reviews – Week 11

Tom Perkins — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:30:58 +0000

Hey guys and welcome to week 11 of Quickie Reviews, a weekly show where I tell you about the latest releases, what you should be seeing and what you might want to give a miss. So check out the video below and see if there’s something that takes your fancy for the next time you head out to the cinema.

THIS WEEKS RELEASES

Welcome to the Punch, Red Dawn, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, The Paperboy

FILM OF THE WEEK

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

What was your film of the week and why? Let me know in the comments below.

‘Welcome to the Punch’ Movie Review

Tom Perkins — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:34:10 +0000

Former criminal Jacob Sternwood is forced to return to London from his Icelandic hideaway when his son is involved in a heist gone wrong. This gives detective Max Lewinsky one last chance to catch the man he has always been after. As they face off, they start to uncover a deeper conspiracy they both need to solve in order to survive.

Now pretty much as soon as I heard about this film, it reminded me of film I saw last year called The Sweeney, which was basically a cops and robbers thriller set in London that was trying so desperately hard to look like Hollywood blockbuster but it failed, miserably and the reason for that is we British just can’t seem to make these types of films serious without them becoming just another Guy Ritchie-style cockney gangster film.

Check out the video review below and let me know what you thought of the film in the comments section.

Quickie Reviews – Week 10

Tom Perkins — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:02:21 +0000

Hey guys and welcome to week 10 of Quickie Reviews, a weekly show where I tell you about the latest releases, what you should be seeing and what you might want to give a miss. So check out the video below and see if there’s something that takes your fancy for the next time you head out to the cinema.

THIS WEEKS RELEASES

Oz: The Great and Powerful, Robot & Frank, Side Effects, Parker, The Guilt Trip

FILM OF THE WEEK

Robot & Frank

What was your film of the week and why? Let me know in the comments below.

‘Oz: The Great and Powerful’ Movie Review

Tom Perkins — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:00:07 +0000

When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking-that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well. When small-time magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) pulls one flimflam too many, he finds himself hurled into the fantastical Land of Oz where he must somehow transform himself into the great wizard-and just maybe into a better man as well. – (C) Walt Disney

I remember watching the Wizard of Oz when I was younger and despite being absolutely terrified of the flying monkeys, every time it was on telly I would always watch it and be envious of the adventure Dorothy goes on. Also up until very recently I wasn’t even aware there was other books, so when I first heard about this prequel, of course there was a part of me that was really quite excited. However when the first trailer came around, the worries began to flood in, especially because it looked too similar to the terrible re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland. So is this film a worthwhile prequel to the enchanting classic?

Check out the video review below and let me know what you thought of the film in the comments section.

Quickie Reviews – Weeks 8 + 9

Tom Perkins — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 02:29:07 +0000

Hey guys and welcome to Quickie Reviews, a weekly show where I tell you about the latest releases, what you should be seeing and what you might want to give a miss. This week I also give you a recap of Week 8, so check out the video below and see if there’s something that takes your fancy for the next time you head out to the cinema.

THIS WEEKS RELEASES

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Broken City, Stoker, Safe Haven, Arbitrage

FILM OF THE WEEK

Stoker – VIDEO REVIEW

What was your film of the week and why? Let me know in the comments below.

LAST WEEKS RELEASES
Cloud Atlas
Mama
Song for Marion
To The Wonder
Lore

‘Stoker’ Movie Review

Tom Perkins — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 20:30:56 +0000

After India’s father dies in an auto accident, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother. Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

Now I wouldn’t necessarily say I was a fan of Korean Director Park Chan-Wook’s previous work, I mean there’s no doubt he’s made some interesting films in the past but I don’t think I could ever truly say that I love them and while that’s because he’s got this twisted point of view of human nature that can be quite shocking, it also meant that there’s a level of anticipation that I was going to see something a little different with this film.

Check out the video review below and let me know what you thought of the film in the comments section.

‘Cloud Atlas’ Movie Review

Tom Perkins — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:43:15 +0000

Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future. Each member of the ensemble appears in multiple roles as the stories move through time. – (C) Warner Bros.

In recent years originality has taken more of a back seat in mainstream cinema, I mean yes there have been numerous films that have continued to push the boundaries of certain genres, but you rarely see a film these days that is different and brave enough to bring something new to the big screen. So is ‘Cloud Atlas’ that film or is it just another big budget mess that’s trying to hard to be something different?

Check out the video review below and let me know what you thought of the film in the comments section.