Chronicle Review

Went to see this low budget gem fairly late after a recent rehearsal, not sure what to expect.

Okay trailer, mild buzz from the States but then some of the reviews started to come in.

What a pleasant surprise this was. The story of three teens who happen upon a hole containing an object which causes each of them to have super powers.

This isn't like the Fantastic Four where they are subjected to the same experience and have different powers, they all are able to move things with the power of their minds.

We see them experiment with these powers. Causing trouble, playing practical jokes, entertaining themselves. But then one of them causes some serious harm and things begin to change between the boys, and inside themselves.

They also learn they can fly! And we see some of the best flying sequences put on film in a long time, if not all time. You believe you are flying with them, and with the "home camera filming" technique it all looks real and very appealing.

There are some plot holes (literally) that are evident but they are easily forgiven in the grand scheme of such an impressive film.

There were some literally "jaw dropping" moments in this film. The final ten minutes is breathtaking, as we see the true extent of the boys powers in the context of a city landscape. Helicopters, cop cars, people, buildings. Quite amazing. And like Cloverfield before it (but much better) we see top notch effects grounded in reality due to the lo-fi filming techniques that the story dictates.

Sure, I would loved the film to have been longer and seeing the boys use their powers to gain riches and female attention on a grander scale would have been amusing. But then again, that has already been done, and the way the powers consume the individuals, and it results in the bad decisions one of them makes, brings about a fresh and compelling feature debut.

Definitely a film I would love to see again on the big screen. The gauntlet has been set down in front of the other super power based films coming out this year, and on a fraction of their budgets.

And Mr Snyder, if the new Superman Man Of Steel flying sequences are NOT as exhilarating as the ones seen in this film then I will be sorely disappointed!!

5 stars out of 5

War Horse Review

Here we have the latest film from a certain Mr Spielberg.

To say I grew up with Steven Spielberg's films would be an overstatement but I have great memories of watching his films from a very early age.

Running out of the screening of Jaws, loving the "Close Encounters" poster, staying all the way through the credits of E.T. Running to catch a bus in Swansea after watching Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom in 1984, with the theme tune still running through my head (okay I know Last Crusade is the best Indy film, but we had to wait another five years for that.)

Realising that 1993 was one of the greatest Spielberg years when he released both Schindler's List and Jurassic Park in the same year. Two such different films but both cinematic masterpieces.

It's been a bumpy ride here and there, since then as a Spielberg aficionado, but still many films to treasure along the way-Saving Private Ryan, Catch me If You Can, War of The Worlds. Amistad?Munich? The Terminal? Not so much.

I have to say I was quite disappointed with Tintin, a bit like the popcorn I was eating, it was sweet and easy to swallow, but without any real substance or lasting effects afterwards.

So we come to War Horse. Was I disappointed? No. Is it Steven's best film? Far from it. Is it worth seeing on a big screen? Absolutely!!

All the great Spielberg films for me have truly memorable John Williams scores and this film is no exception. The music is amazing in this film and truly underlines the many emotions that we are feeling. I'm going to watch the Oscars in a few weeks but I have no great favourites in any category. Apart from best original score, which it would be wonderful for Mr Williams to step up and receive once again. Although, sure, I'd love Meryl to get a third Oscar now I think about it!

The story of War Horse is quite well known now. Spielberg takes us back to almost another era of film-making with this film. And it's nice to visit!

I admit to having teary eyes on several occasions. The way the camera moves and is situated shows Spielberg's knack for drawing his audience in. There is a great harvest scene, a two horse race and a sequence towards the end of the film where I was almost blubbing like a baby (although now having had a baby, they don't so much blub as scream!)

I thought the acting was excellent throughout, and this is a film I look forward to watching again. Will it be again and again and again? I'm not sure. The film is very episodic in structure, a couple of sections feeling a bit more flabby than others. I might be tempted to move to the chapters on the Blu Ray that will have us reaching for the hankie.

Anyway, great return to form for Spielberg after Crystal Skull and Tintin, and I very much look forward to what he and Mr Day Lewis will be doing with the upcoming Lincoln.

4 stars out of 5