Tower Block stars SHERIDAN SMITH (Musical production of Legally Blonde, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps), JACK O’CONNELL (Eden Lake, Harry Brown), RUSSELL TOVEY (Being Human, History Boys) RALPH BROWN (Mean Machine, Killing Bono) and KANO. Tower Block is produced by James Harris (Screwed, Cockneys VS Zombies), Mark Lane (Cockneys VS Zombies) and Ronnie Thompson (Screwed).

Synopsis
Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil. When Jimmy is brutally murdered by two hooded figures, Becky, Kurtis, Neville and the other residents of the Serenity House tower block are witnesses to the killing but, fearing retribution, are too scared to give detectives any information and the police investigation is going nowhere.

One year later, someone has decided to take justice into their own hands. Picked off one by one, the tenants of Serenity House are under threat from a mystery sniper who has set deadly traps throughout the building keeping them prisoners in their own homes.

Unsure of why they have been targeted, the group put their differences aside and undertake daring attempts to escape the building. But with every exit leading to another death, will they ever escape?

★★1/2☆☆

As a rule of thumb, I tend to avoid films that use numbers as a substitute for letters and/or words. Titles like 2 Fast 2 Furious, Thir13en Ghosts and Scre4m just stick in my craw. The only exception to this principle being Se7en which doesn’t count because a) it’s an awesome film and b) the 7 is so ludicrously far away from looking like a“v”, I can sort of forgive it. So now we have Journey 2: The Mysterious Island- the title styled in such a way that emphasis is put on the “2” with the consequence being that the name,when spoken aloud, results in a decidedly Shatner-esque pronunciation. This is the successor to 2008′s Journey to the Centre of the Earth and stars the ridiculously muscled Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, current teenage knicker tingle Josh Hutcherson and the venerable Michael Caine.

The film tells the story of Shaun (Josh Hutcherson) who has received a mysterious message about an equally mysterious island. After some clue-solving with his hulking stepfather Hank (Dwayne Johnson) the pair travel to Palau where they meet madcap pilot Gabato (Luis Guzmán) and his daughter, Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens). As a story, it isn’t bad. It’s a decent enough romp through an island filled with fantastical creatures and magical places. The acting’s fine, with the surprise of the film being how decent the pairing of The Rock and Michael Caine turns out to be and how well they play off each other. Luis Guzmán’s Gaby started to grate after a while, his role to whine, complain, get scared of things and be a “loveable” oaf for the kids to laugh at.

Journey 2 is pretty much the Nick Jr. version of Avatar. We have a lush jungle, elephants the size of Jack Russells, ants the size of buses and bees big enough to accommodate two human passengers. It’s a colourful CGI fest that for the most part succeeds. The action scenes pop along nicely and there are some decent, quieter puzzle-solving moments too (although there doesn’t seem to be anything The Rock’s character isn’t an expert in.)

What isn’t as much fun is the dialogue which clunks and groans from one tiresome exchange to the next. The writing is purely perfunctory and any attempt at humour is pretty much lost in the effort it took to get to the punchline. Having said that, I must admit watching The Rock sing “What a Wonderful World” and play the ukulele is arguably worthy of the price of the disc alone. There aren’t many surprises to be found here, with some plot points signposted so clearly earlier on it almost makes watching the rest of the film pointless. Yes, I get that it’s a family film, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be completely devoid of any intrigue or indeed, decent jokes.

Still though, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island isn’t bad. It’s a fairly fun 90 minutes that boasts some colourful effects and singing wrestlers. It’s better than its predecessor and promises an genuinely interesting sequel.

Ben Browne

Rating G
UK DVD/BD Release Date:28 May 2012
Director:Brad Peyton
Cast:Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzmán
Buy Jounrey 2 On: Triple Play (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) / DVD

A unique crime thriller set on the unforgiving streets of London, iLL MANORS follows six disparate lives, all struggling to survive the circles of violence that engulf them.

There is ex-dealer Kirby, who has just been released from prison, thug Ed who will stop at nothing to find his missing phone, troubled Michelle who is just looking for her next hit, young Jake who finds himself drawn to the local gang, Chris, who seeks revenge, Katya, who is desperately trying to escape this foreign land, and Aaron, our main protagonist who is just trying to do the right thing.

Narratively linked through original music from Plan B, the film is a visually stunning and emotionally impactful experience, laced with street-wise humour. Ground-breaking in its approach, iLL MANORS proves to be one of the must-see films of 2012.

Ill Manors stars Riz Ahmed, Ed Skrein, Natalie Press, Mem Ferda, and Anouska Mond.

Published via LongTail.tv

World Premiere – Wednesday May 30th: Revolver are offering for sale a very limited number of tickets, to offer fans a rare chance to walk the red carpet with the stars of iLL Manors at the World Premiere in Leicester Square on Wednesday May 30.  To book tickets, head to ticketmaster – http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/360048B584190B6E?artistid=5054072&majorcatid=10005&minorcatid=0.

“Its Superbad meets The Hangover!”

The house is in ruins….. it’s hard to tell what caused more damage, the fire or the helicopter’s efforts to put out the fire. Relive the party that caused the destruction with “Project X,” on Blu-ray Triple Play, DVD and Digital Download from 2nd July.

Nima Nourizadeh makes his feature film debut directing a cast of talented newcomers who scored parts through a nationwide talent search. “Project X” stars Thomas Mann, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Oliver Cooper, Dax Flame, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Alexis Knapp and Miles Teller (“Footloose”). Todd Phillips (“The Hangover” films) produced the film.

“Project X” will be available on Blu-ray Triple Play and on single disc DVD . The Blu-ray Triple Play features the extended cut and theatrical version of the film in hi-definition Blu-ray, and the theatrical version in standard definition on DVD. Both the Blu-ray Triple Play and the single disc DVD include UltraViolet which allows consumers to download and instantly stream the standard definition theatrical version of the film to a wide range of devices including computers and compatible tablets, smartphones, game consoles, Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players.

SYNOPSIS
“Project X” follows three seemingly anonymous high school seniors—Thomas, Costa and J.B.—as they attempt to finally make a name for themselves. Their idea is innocent enough: let’s throw a party that no one will forget, and have a camera there, to document history in the making…but nothing could prepare them for this party. Word spreads quickly as dreams are ruined, records are blemished and legends are born. “Project X” is a warning to parents and police everywhere.

Blu-ray Triple Play

·         2- Discs

o   Blu-ray

#XTENDEDCUT – Extended Cut Feature

Theatrical version

Special features:

Project X: Declassified

Project X: Pasadena Three

Project Xpensive: Tallying up the Damages

DVD

·         Theatrical version

·         Special feature:

o         Project X: Pasadena Three

·         UltraViolet Digital Copy

o         Theatrical version

Extended Cut Running Time: 94 minutes

Theatrical Cut Running Time: 88 minutes

Rating:  18

Pre-Order/Buy PROJECT X On:Triple Play (Extended Cut, Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) / DVD

The Dark Knight Rises stars Christian Bale,Tom Hardy, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Josh Pence, Daniel Sunjata, Nestor Carbonell, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, Joey King, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis, with July 20th is the day the legend ends.

source IMPAWARDS

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What is supposed to happen after graduating from university? Many are told a job awaits in their field of study or perhaps some travelling before settling down for a career. But what really happens is nothing. Tiny Furniture embarks on a journey with its young professional audiences to find the answer to questions reserved for the catacombs of the mind: When am I an adult?

Armed with a university degree and nearly 400 hits on her YouTube page, Aura (Lena Dunham) sceptically walks back into her childhood home as well as the childish habits she thought a university could wash away. With the hope of delaying the passage of time and the responsibility it brings Aura explores a new life revisiting old memories. Sharing the space with her mother (Laurie Simmons) — a well- respected artist — and sister (Grace Dunham) — the recent recipient of the nations highest prize in student poetry — leads to intense bickering and shows one of the clear negatives of having to return home. Aura’s mother (Laurie Simmons) actually makes the decree Aura may not enter her room unless she is home because, “I have to invite you into my space.”

Aura quickly finds work as a day hostess at a restaurant that isn’t open until the evening. Her film theory degree has earned her the position of answering a phone. Though life appears to have stagnated Aura is still a young woman and New York City offers an abundance of available young men. With the help of her old friend Charlotte (Jemima Kirke) Aura attempts to find herself under the bring lights of the city. This is a story long told before yet newly explored for changing generation.

Lena Dunham may not be a familiar name at the moment but you can expect in the next few years you’ll be hearing her name more and more. The 26 year-old triple threat — director/writer/actress — has only just begun to shine, seen by the current success of her HBO show Girls, produced by Judd Apatow — which she also writes, acts and occasionally directs.

Tiny Furniture is told in a sort of vignette-style with different scenes adding a little more depth to a character without having any conclusion within a scene. Often times these characters talk to one another but no one listens. Aura’s mother — played by Dunham’s actually mother — sleepily asks Aura to remove a noisy clock from her room after Aura asks to sleep with her, with the obvious notion of simply removing Aura from her room. Charlotte responds in the same way after being asked to help calm down an underage-drinking party only to start giving out lap-dances.

The honesty of this film comes from its real-life honesty. Dunham uses her own mother, sister and best friend in the film so the chemistry didn’t have to be created. Many of the scenes were actually done in just one take. Often times longer encounters play out right on the screen in real time adding to some cringe-worthy moments of ill-conceived logic. A mother/daughter argument devolves into Aura throwing a temper-tantrum and flailing around like child in need of a nap.

The questions of what happens next and when maturation into adulthood is complete are never really answered. A white wall of cabinets lingers before Aura responding to her blank stare with a reflection. When she asks her mother where things are in the home she’s always told in the white cabinet. This is really the symbol of this film. A degree no longer means what it used to and expectations are doomed to end in disappointment for many. Just because you spent four years learning about one thing does not guarantee you’ll be asked to work in the field. The white cabinets house what it is Aura is looking for and while others may know exactly where to look she must take the time to open each and every one.

David Rowley

DVD Release Date: 28th May 2012 (UK)
Director: Lena Dunham
Writer: Lena Dunham
Cast: Lena Dunham, Grace Dunham, Laurie Simmons, Jemima Kirke, Alex Karpovsky,
Buy Tiny Furniture:On DVD

Tiny Furniture UK Trailer Published via LongTail.tv

Fancy winning a copy of the film? full details can be found here

Pacey sports drama, FAST GIRLS will burst out of the blocks and into UK cinemas through Studiocanal on June 15th 2012. When sassy streetwise Shania (Lenora Crichlow) meets ambitious, middle class Lisa (Lily James), their two worlds collide on the athletics track with explosive results. As the FAST GIRLS strive to qualify for a major world athletics championship, they battle adversity and rivalry on their dramatic, heartwarming and inspirational journey.

Fast Girls Stars Noel Clarke, Lenora Crichlow, Lily James, Lashana Lynch, Lorraine Burroughs, Phil Davis, Dominique Tipper, Bradley James and Rupert Graves and will arrive in UK&Ireland June 15th.

Fast Girls – Behind the scenes with Lenora Crichlow Published via LongTail.tv

Fast Girls – Meet The Team Published via LongTail.tv

After several years of forgettable, disappointing films of the noughties it must be a sigh of relief by the director’s fanbase that Savages does look to have the craziness we expect from the filmmaker. We may have had several drug cartel films the past few year majority generic forgettable crap usually direct to DVD but Savages is trademark Stone, gritty, twisted with plenty of social commentary and at the looks of it dark humour. Apart from the generic hip hop beat for the soundtrack it now looks potentially we have something interesting to check out that’s not a comic book film, reboots or prequels, we love all films at The Peoples Movies nice to get something a little different for a change !

Savages has a great assembled cast of Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir and the film will arrive in UK&Ireland September 28th (USA July 6th).

Savages – TV Spot Published via LongTail.tv

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★★★★☆

Judging from the Chronicle trailer my initial reactions were that it was Akira lite, but it did have an interesting angle being a handheld style superhero film. So does this film manage to pull it off or just feel like a low budget cop out?

Chronicle is about three high school friends who make a discovery that mysteriously grants them superpowers. But the more they start to use these powers the stronger they become. Their their friendship is put to the test as things get out of hand, what starts out as harmless pranks soon turns into serious events that puts lives at risk. Tensions rise and they must keep each other in check.

First time feature director Josh Trank sticks to a simple rule that all camera work involved is through the lens of video equipment. Our main character Andrew (Dane DeHaan) starts with a camcorder which he brings everywhere to document his friendship, in a rather eye rolling fashion; but cctv & camera phones start to be added to the equation. This device is used to support the story telling and in a rather cool fashion. It adds an extra dimension of realism to the events we see, without feeling that we are actually being obscured from viewing what is taking place. As Andrew gains the ability to free float objects independently of himself, we are not just fixed on a first person view of events and it cleverly allows for freedom of movement.
At the beginning though, what we are treated to is essentially to is a bunch of faff to try establish that yes, this person films everything.

The powers are used in a seemingly real fashion with each of the characters playing with them and daring each other to do more, this is supported by some good c.g. It is the small events that add to the realism of the whole; Max Landis & Josh Trank writing this as if they were the ones who gained these powers. It starts with childish jokes between friends such as making objects float to scare people and flying baseballs into each other, but takes a dramatic turn once Andrew goes too far and nearly kills someone(there’s always someone who has to go too far). It is here that the group establish rules, the golden rule being that their powers are not to be used on people.

Each of the main characters Andrew (Dane DeHaan), Matt (Alex Russel) & Steve (Michael B. Jordan) represent a different moral standing. Matt & Steve already being fairly popular teens at high school see their powers as something for fun, whereas Andrew being the quiet bullied type starts to view his powers as a weapon. Their relationship is well balanced with each character providing equilibrium for the others, but it is strained when they start to inevitably drift apart. The idea that their powers grow the more they use it adds an interesting dimension; as we see Andrew building his powers faster than the others it starts to ask the question, whether it is an equilibrium only because they were all on the same terms. Josh Trank staggers their ability evolution through this film with firm control; which culminates in their eventual power struggle and a grand spectacular battle.

This film is a good achievement for something that’s high concept but on a low budget. It taps into a yearning of feeling like we would be capable of extraordinary things given this catalyst with it’s docu fly on the wall style of visual storytelling. Josh Trank’s strength as a director is his ability to grasp what it feels like to be in the midst of these grand events & not get lost in spectacle. Surprisingly his use of camera work is what makes this film work. I would definitely like to see what the director is capable of on a blockbuster budget.

“MIND-BENDING EXTENDED EDITION WITH THRILLING NEW FOOTAGE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY ”

Dexter Kong

Blu Ray/ DVD Release Date: 28th May 2012 (UK)
Rated: 12A
Director: Josh Trank
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Alex Russell, Dane DeHaan
Buy Chronicle: DVD (+ Digital Copy) / Blu-ray Extended Edition (+ Digital Copy)

Chronicle UK Trailer [HD] Published via LongTail.tv

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