Batman: The Killing Joke - Movie Review

I know that the DC cinematic universe is splitting fans down the middle with their live action films. But, does that cross over into their animated movies? Batman: The Killing Joke is an animated Batman film and is adapted from Allen Moores original graphic novel of the same name. I personally haven't read the graphic novel myself, but what I have heard is that its one one the best Batman stories and graphic novel ever made.

The main plot of the animated movie is that the Joker has one goal, trying to turn someone crazy for just having one bad day like he did. About half of this movie follows this main plot point. What I

What really annoyed me about this movie was that it was rated R, even though that there is nothing but PG 13 content in the movie. There is hardly any swearing, blood or sex in this movie. There is one sex scene but the camera pans away up so you wouldn't even be able to see something that is supposed to be rated R. I think the reason why they chose to 'make it R-rated' was to get people talking and excited for the movie in its advertising. Same situation with The Conjuring, they made  it rated R to get people to talk about it and in the end its just a PG 13 horror film. Same with this year's The Conjuring 2.

Another thing that annoyed me about this movie was that they gave Batgirl 30 minutes worth of backstory and it didn't pay off well. They didn't even need it as it added it nothing to the rest of the film. I mean I guess the reason why they chose to do it is so that the audience would feel symbiotic with her when she later gets shot by the Joker. They also did explore her 'relationship' with Batman but again it wasn't needed and was a bit weird. She also had this subplot with a mob boss fancying her and taking an interest, was not needed what so ever. If they were going to do character building why not mainly focus on the Joker. Could be that Batman and Batgirl chasing him down, locking him away and then him escaping a year or 2 later. If you are going to do set up, why not have relevant set up that would pay off well later in the plot? 

After the first half an hour so that's when the plot picks up. More character is involved and we get flashbacks of the Jokers origin. it's quite a decent take, but it's one of the origin stories that we are told and I thought it was done really well. After the whole Batgirl stuff at the start is when the story becomes more interesting, but my other main problem with the film is the ending. After all the events that happened, and I mean dark events which the Joker commits; it's not a massive pay off and that's what annoyed me the most. I got to see the dark Joker I wnated, but the ending didn't pay off the way I wanted to.

Over all if you enjoy the animated series and the Arkham games, you'll like the performences. I think this film has a problems with its first act and its ending because nothing was really resolved. Thats why I'm giving Batman: The killing Joke a C-.   

Jason Bourne - Movie Review

Jason Bourne is directed by Paul Greengrass, the original director of The Bourne Trilogy. He returns once again with Matt Damon for the fourth story of Jason Bourne (Bourne Legacy is excluded as is does not contribute anything from the original trilogy).

Without going into any spoilers Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is once again trying to uncover more secrets from his past. This time around he finds out more personal information which leads him to go out on a revenge path to uncover certain elements that happened and who was responsible. The start of the movie begins very strong with a motorcycle chase during a riot. This start of the movie is very fast paced and hooks you instantly. Other aspects also
happen during this opening which hooks you emotionally if you have been following the original trilogy. You learn about more aspects and motivations of certain characters like Tommy Lee Jones and AliciaVikander. Afterward, that's when the real plot of the film begins.

There is this subplot within the film that revolves this new social media app launching and people are very concern with privacy issues. The problem with this fourth entry, which for me is the worst of the Matt Damon Bournes is the story itself is very convoluted. One of the biggest aspects of these Bourne films is the action sequences, which it does deliver. Especially the Motorbike chase at the start, a car chase
and an excellent fight sequence. So it wasn't the action that disappointed me, but the overall story because it was not that interesting like in the past films. This movie is mainly a revenge story not just from Bourne, but from the villain as well which adds something to the overall movie. The entire story is around this new social media app and the person launching it drags the film down every time it is mentioned or brought up.

This film should have been much better, rather than it just being good. The directing is amazing, with great performances from Matt Daman and the rest of the cast. Also, the stunt and fighting sequences are spectacular and are some of the best fight sequences I have seen this year. This film shouldn't have been just a great action movie but also have a great story and that's what I feel drives down action films mostly today as they concentrate more on the action then the overall story. One of the reasons why I really liked Mad Max: Fury Road last year was because it had a great blend of practical action and a compelling story. There were moments where they could have steered this movie into a better direction, but because of the plot revolving around the social media app, it drags the story down, again and again, when it's brought up.

Overall, I really enjoyed this film from an action point of view. Compared to the other Bourne films in the trilogy it is the weakest of the four by far. This film is at least good with fantastic action scenes and strong performances from the actors. The overall plot was what dragged the movie down and it could have been a more intriguing story than it could have been.

That why I'm going to give Jason bourne a C+.

I was very excited for this film, there were loads os aspects I liked but was let down by the main story. This film should have been much better if you take into account the talent and the direction of the previous three.

X-Men: Apocalypse - Movie Review

X-Men: Apocalypse is the latest edition (8th or 9th  if you include Deadpool) within the X-men movie franchise by Fox. Bryan returns to direct his 4th X-men film and follows off after the events of X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Within this film, the first even mutant Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) returns from a deep slumber which he was portrayed by humans and now has decided that humans should be whipped out completely. Apocalypse recruits four mutants to become his four horsemen and once again the X-men need to come together and stop him from destroying the world.

Oscar Isaac as the villain brought some new elements into the movie. For me, it was good to see the franchise exploring new villains rather than using Magneto (Micheal Fassbender). My only problem with Apocalypse was nothing to do with Oscar Isaac (he played him really well), but with the appearance and his size. I mean sure loads of people freaked out on the early set photos of Apocalypse looking like a Power Ranger villain, but seeing early set photos or trailers doesn't mean that's what the final finished product is going to look like. Apocalypse looks small compared to his four horsemen which take away the illusion that he's supposed to be the first and most powerful mutant on the planet. It just annoyed me how his size doesn't show off how menacing he's supposed to be in this movie. On the other hand, Apocalypse did have some OP powers, which does cause some problems in this movie. He could take solid matter and turn it or anyone into dust if he wanted to. So why not use any of these powers on the X-men? 

One character in the film that does make you fell for him was Magneto (Micheal Fassbender). There are a few scenes in particular which you do sympathise with certain events of the film and stuff he needs to deal with his past. Once again Micheal Fassbender does an excellent job and is always bringing new cards to the table in each X-men film he's in.

I did feel that there are pacing issues with this film, but again like a felt for Suicide Squad was that there is a lot of character introductions as this is rebooting the X-men universe. There is Apocalypse's backstory at the beginning, Cyclops learning he has powers, Magneto's new life with is family. I feel that if you haven't seen any of the previous X-men films then you will not like it as much. This is because all the films have a lot of information that plays off from one another. Fans of the franchise will enjoy this movie for what it is. 

About an hour into the movie Mystique (Jeniffer Lawerence) is recruiting mutants and so is Apocalypse, so the film has to showcase what each of them has to do with the comics have a large line-up of different mutants with powers and abilities. This becomes a bit convoluted as the film tries to show off the X-men we know (with some re-casts) and trying to introduce new X-men that's never been on the screen before. However, some re-casts in the movie were not that bad. We are introduced to Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) discovering his powers and him coming to grips with him being a mutant. Jena Grey (Sophie Turner) didn't do a bad job and it will be interesting where the franchise takes her character in any upcoming sequels and Storm (Alexandra Shipp) had an accent! 

But hands down my favourite part of the film was Quicksilvers (Evan Peters) scene. They took the elements from Days of Future Past and incorporated it into this movie, which paid off really well. Quicksilver had a bigger role in the movie which I was happy about to see and again like the other characters does explore his origins, but doesn't really go for it. I think they'll be saving it for another X-men sequel.

One other thing that really did bother me was Mystique's character. I haven't got a problem with Jeniffer Lawrence as Mystique, but with what the film is doing with her character. The whole mutant and proud speech from Days of Future Past are very irrelevant because she isn't blue but stays as Jeniffer Lawrence. One could argue that the reason she is hiding is because she has become is mutant figure to inspire other mutants, but she dosesn't want to be that figure anymore and chooses to hide her appearance. So, therefore, everthing you stood for in the previous X-men didn't really matter. 

Overall I think this is a pretty solid movie. It's your typical X-men vs. new treat plot. Apocalypse is menacing and it is good to see a new villain fighting the X-men. The treat is high in this film and there is a lot of fan service (hopefully you haven't watched the final trailer as it gives away a massive spoiler, fun scene and hint to the next one). The film is entertaining but lacks a lot of features from X:men Days of Future Past and X:men First Class. This film does have character depth in it, but most of it is tied down to one character rather than a lot of others. This movie does have pacing issues, but never to the point where I was bored or I had to walk out. This Movie is not as good as others in my opinion but is much better than X-Men: The Last Stand and X:men Origins: Wolverine.

Finally, I will be giving this film a B-.  

Sausage Party - Movie Review

Sausage Party is the next Seth Rogan and friends team up film that is now a popular trend of comedy's coming out yearly. Frank the Sausage and other foods within the shopping store
all believe that once they are picked up and bought they go to this 'great beyond' where humans all look after them. Humans are gods and the great beyond is they're the idea of heaven, then learn later that it's all a horrible lie that was made up. This film is sort of a horror film mixed with a comedy, but surprisingly works well. Once the food finds out the truth, the foods whole belief system crumbles. So Frank goes out of his way to warn the other food at the supermarket about the horrible truth he has found out.

Overall this film isn't the laugh out riot that the trailers are making it out to be. It is a different view on our world from the point of view of food. This film explores the notions of religion, belief, gods, war and poverty. Most of the food in the film are represented by different ethnicities.

The concept behind the film is what I personally enjoyed about it the most. Poking fun at children animated movies while exploring this 'secret life' that we have humans can't see. This film takes concepts of a Disney movie, puts it through a blender and then creates an adult comedy that is both dark and funny at the same time. The amount of swearing and cursing within this film made it very bland after a while as they pretty much swear in every scene which got to the point where it wasn't funny.

The film wasn't as entertaining as I originally thought it was going to be, as most of the jokes are haha funny but not laugh out loud funny. Except from the ending, which was one of the most funniest and weirdest scenes in the film. Some of the jokes in the film are either funny or they just fall flat. For example, the bun played by Kristen Wiig would always make the joke of getting Seth Rogen's sausage 'in there' or just coming out singing for no reason which didn't really work.

Overall this film is entertaining enough and you can watch it as an R animated comedy with an interesting concept alone. 

Suicide Squad - Movie Review

The latest Hollywood blockbuster of the summer comes from writer and director David Ayre (Training Day, End of Watch and Fury). This is the DCEU''s (DC Expanded Universe) third film within their cinematic universe in attempted to compete  and catch up to Marvel. Amada Waller (Viola Davis) brings together a group of villains to form the Suicide Squad in order to battle treats like Superman after the events of the early Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Film. These DC villains are formed together to take a disastrous event happening in  Midway City.

Audiences are introduced to a group of characters that have not been seen on the big screen before without any prior backstory except a few characters at the beginning. However, it has worked before like in last summer's Guardians of the Galaxy  (directed by James Gun). For me, I felt that the combination of both humour and action is what DC needed to put in their films and this is the one that has kicked off their expanded universe. So far this if the third film within their shared universe and the previous two Man of Steel and Batman V Superman were a bit too dark, but having unwanted or two much humour could also ruin the experience.


The film hits the blend of humor and action really well with the characters being portrayed in the film. Margot Robbie who plays Harly Quin is just as Brilliant, Sexy and just plain nuts. If you were a fan of the original character from the 90's Batman the Animated Series I'm sure you will not be disappointed as she plays Harly really well.

With Will Smith who plays Deadshot, he brings a lot of humanity to his character and also bringing his own take and wit to the character. When he delivers comical elements in certain scenes, it is what that particular scene really needed and what the film needed. Speaking of brief characters even Jai Courtney (Captian Boomerang) was pretty decent in this film. I know for years Hollywood tried to make him happen in a few disappointing and unwanted film sequels (A Good Day To Die Hard and Terminator Genisys). But this time he shows his own likeness and snarkiness which pulls off really well.


If you have previously watched the trailers for this film, you'd notice that most of the advertisement is on the Joker that is portrayed by Jared Letto. Don't get your hopes up has he's only in the film for about 15-20 minutes worth. He isn't a villain in the film, but I would say he is used as more of a wild card and his unpredictability within the story. He's got his own side story in the film but isn't really important other to show Harley Quinn's Backstory and to explore their relationship. His own version of the Joker is very different to what I've seen in other media. Overall I don't mind the mob boss type Joker, but there really inst a stand out moment. Scenes that include his character from the trailers are not even in the finished film as I think they cut them out due to some of the re-shoots a few months prior to the set release.

One of the main elements that the film brings is the heart and getting the audience to fell sympathetic for this group of villains. This film shows a lot of characters with problems they are overcoming or coming to grips with. Such as El Diablo and the bar scene from the trailers turned out to be one of my favourite things about the film. This scene shows great character building.

The film does suffer from pacing issues, on one hand, could be from the re-shoots and critical feedback from the other two films for being too dark. But on the other hand, the film does have to show a lot of character background at the beginning as they are popular villains from DC's rogue calorie. Hense why there is a lot of background and flashback sequences throughout the film, such as Harley Quinn's character she is given a lot of background and flashback scenes with the Joker to show to the audience her origin and abusive relationship.

The last tow issues I personally had with the film was the film's main villain and the films setting. First off the villain was too one dimensional and also too powerful for the squad to take on. And secondly, the environment could have been reduced. Like in Batman; Assult on Arkham the smaller setting in Arkham Asylum, made a more interesting  story because it was set in a smaller location with a smaller team. I think the live action film could have borrowed some elements from the animated feature film that was released in 2014.

Overall Suicide Squad gave me what I was hoping for, aside from a few disappointments I was really pleased with this film. This is by far the best film within DC's universe and as a comic fan It gave me what I wanted to see and hope to see these villains in other expanded films or within a sequel.

Birdman Critique - By Bradley Holman

Birdman

Or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance (2014)

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu

Synopsis

Riggan Thomson (Micheal Keaton), is a washed-up Hollywood actor who was most famous for playing the superhero ‘Birdman’ many years ago. Riggan turns to writing, directing and starring in a Broadway play in an attempt to revive his fallen carreer. During rehearsals, a light falls onto one of the actors in the play, an actor Riggan does not like. Riggan tells the producer (Zach Galifianakis) Jake that he made the light fall in order to replace the actor. Riggan then casts the well-known volatile method actor Mike (Edward Norton), who thinks he owns the theatre. After reading the previews Riggan is convinced that Mike stole his spotlight. During the problems accruing with his play Riggan also has to deal with his family problems especially his young daughter Sam (Emma Stone) that has just got out of rehab, while struggling with his ego ‘Birdman’ inside of him.

Narrative Structure

The narrative structure of Birdman is linear. The story follows the character of Riggan Thomson in chronological order (beginning, middle and end). The story does not have cut to past/future events of the story and therefore is not non-linear. Alejandro González Iñárritu had defended the way of how a story can be told. Audiences are hooked from the opening scene as it follows the story (and changing between all the characters) throughout the whole film.

Cinematography

The Cinematography of Birman puts the viewer in the mind and point of view of an actor who is slowly losing his mind. The film gives the illusion that it is done with one long single continuous take.

Editing, Sound and Lighting

The film creates the feeling that the viewer is following the main character and they have achieved this by creating the illusion that it is done in one shot. Through the use of clever editing techniques, really long takes and some really skilled actors they have accomplished that. Because it has been filmed like one continuous shot the film has this ferocity, the theme of being unpredictable that is mirrored by its drum only soundtrack. Which also feels as it was made up in the moment. The soundtrack is very jazzy, creating the feeling of being unpredictable, simpler to how the film also feels that way. The film looks like one long take, however considering Birdman's visual style, which features complex steady-cam and handheld camera movements that travels around the whole massive ‘maze-like set’ having any traditional lighting is nearly impossible. The obvious solution is to build as many practical sources into the set as possible, which allows for freedom of character and camera movement while maintaining a naturalistic sense of light.

Function and Purpose

The function and purpose of this film shows how being famous shows Riggan’s popularity and fame. During the scenes where ‘Birdman’ appears and Riggan is flying, it symbolises his own fame is rising and that he is invincible. Riggan also hears the voice of ‘Birdman’ telling him to do certain things that help with the story. He is fighting with his own inner ego, while trying to recover his family, his carrier and himself.

Filmmaker history

Alejandro González Iñárritu is a Mexican film director, whose 1999 film ‘Amores Perros’ won an Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. In his early career, Alejandro started out as a DJ. Soon composing soundtracks for Mexican films and TV adverts. He then started growing a strong passion for film and went to the United State to study film directing. Alejandro then turned to creating long featured films such as Adriana Barraza, Rinko and Kikuchi which received seven Oscar nomination (including Best Picture and other directing categories)

Films genre

The genre of the film Birman is a black comedy that explores morbid humour. The humour makes light of the subject matter. The tone of the film is empathetic and acidic that shows a strong connection with the audience looking for an original story that will make them watch something that they haven’t seen before. The film explores drama conventions by including props such as drugs, guns and alcohol. These props can be seen clearly in the film and fits in with the drama and black comedy elements of the film. The film is set in a theatre and the city and gives the film a gritty look that appeals to its genre.