Saturday, March 31, 2007

Doom


What is it with films based on computer games? I mean... they're all shite.

This one especially so.

Look at it this way, Doom; one of the greatest computer games of all time, atmospheric, scary, revolutionary. So why hire a couple of clearly the worst screenwriters on the planet, find a director who thinks he's playing the game and then spend a shitload of money on it to no avail??

I like The Rock, I most things I think he's extrememly entertaining and he should be the new Schwarzennegger (yes I know I've probably spelt that wrong), however, he's severely lacking in a suitable big budget vehicle to push him to that level, and Doom sure as hell isn't it either!

I'm sure Karl Urban could do better as well, he was ok in LOTR and Pathfinder looks ok, but then there's no real dialogue in the trailer so that could go anywhere, in Doom, he may as well just be the face at the bottom of the screen. And Rosamund Pike, somebody ask her to stop now please.

Doom - 2/10

Tip for the day: Spend 2 hours playing Doom 2 on a DOS PC instead

Saw III


Ok, the first Saw was kinda inventive, interesting, low budget affair.

Saw II, bigger budget, actually carried on the story (to a degree), larger set pieces, bigger cast, (what I thought was) a wicked twist, and Donnie Wahlberg.

Saw III, teeth on the poster, I don't recall any specific teeth bits, at the start at a push, but that's about it, more plot progression, in more detail this time but without the interesting bits and characters, in other words; THE DREADED BACKSTORY.

yawn.

Don't get me wrong, I cringed like a motherfucker at a couple of bits, but overall the film was slow, dull and made the cardinal sin of explaining shit that doesn't really matter! (See Severance + it's special features for example)

So what you get is: blah blah blah blah JESUS OH GOD blah blah blah blah blah well that's it I guess.

My girlfriend enjoyed it, personally I think it's weak, they haven't really upped the ante in terms of gore and inventiveness (traps are different, just not brilliant) and it spent far too long trying to justify it's actions. again.. yawn

Saw III - 4/10

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

A Scanner Darkly


Um.... Er.... Brain....starting..to..hurt...

Technically a very interesting film, the whole rotoscoping thing, is pretty well done, although at times looks a little odd, backgrounds start shifting in an odd way with the camera moves.

Some of the scenes with Robert Downey Jr and Woody Harrelson are extremely funny, however everything else is a bit of a non-starter really. Reeve's character is barely engaging, the whole concept of what's going on, gets severely muddied, the themes of paranoia, substance abuse and psychosis still ring through, but as for the narrative....um...

I will watch the special features, but I'm thinking £14.99 was FAR too much for this one, even if it is supposed to be the most faithful PKD adaptation yet.


A Scanner Darkly - 5/10