What I have been watching lately.

Planet of the Apes (Original version)

Still a great film and still holds up todays blockbusters in terms of scale, action and story.
Charlton Heston gives a great performance as Taylor with a great supporting cast of other Oscar winners Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter.

It's a shame most franchises of today don't look to films like the Planet of the Apes or inspiration. This film alone in my view saved 20th Century Fox from possible bankruptcy in the 60's, made two sequels, one prequel a cartoon series, a live action series, toys, comic books and a remake.

Oh and another remake on the way of Conquest of the Planet of The Apes called Rise of the Apes.

Learn from this franchise Hollywood.


The Fighter 

Really good film that I was expecting to just be a fairly average flick. Boxing films have been done to death from from Rocky to Raging Bull but this film brought a nice freshness to the genre. I found it more of a drama film rather than a sports film like the other boxing films I have seen in the past, the amount of boxing in the film I felt was very little actually. They also filmed the fights as if you were watching it on TV and it worked brilliantly and nicely added more tension and threat in the fights as if it's really happening in front of you, great idea by the makers of the film.

I have no idea if they filmed it this way for budget reasons but either way, it really added to the scenes and made the film more unique. 
The performances were fantastic from everyone, but the stand out performance without a doubt was Christian Bale who should get his first Oscar nomination for this film (No idea how he hasn't been nominated before). I really hope it does well in the Oscars as it's a film that Hollywood should make more of with great character's and heart all the way through.




The King's Speech 

Brilliant film with a great cast and well executed. I can't think of any negatives with this one as it was great from the get go with Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush being the icing on the cake.

I'm convinced this will do well at the Oscars as it's perfect Oscar material and is a great film in it's own right. 
I would recommend this to anyone of all film tastes from Citizen Kane to Star Wars.




Saw...Whatever...6 or is it 7 now?

Crap, just don't bother.




127 Hours

Really enjoyed this and was never bored, which is impressive considering that the film focuses on one man with his arm stuck in a rock for 127 hours.

So already to most peoples minds is that director Danny Boyle hasn't got much to work with. But luckily Aron Ralston (James Franco) has loads of issues that up until that point, just ignored or was essentially running away from.
Also the film like all of Danny Boyle's film's are very visual with plenty of flashbacks in Aron's life as well as trying to move the rocks in lots of different failed attempts.

The scene which I was warned about when going in where Aron cut's his arm off, wasn't as bad as some have made about to be and was really well done.
I think James Franco will get a Oscar nomination for his performance for this film. I have always felt he's a great actor and more than proves it for this film, especially the moment with him and a mini DV camera.
Danny Boyle will also get nominated for this film but I think nomination is all it will be as he won last year for Slumdog Millionaire.

The film it self is a great film but like with Slumdog Millionaire, I feel that his older films are still his best. It's only been until Slumdog Millionaire won at the Oscars that people finally caught up with Boyle but for me it was Train spotting and 28 Days Later that made me think he was a great director.
But I'm sure this is another one that I would personally add to Trainspotting and 28 Days Later that shows Boyle at his best.


Megamind

I was expecting this to be rubbish but was pleasantly surprised, thought the voice acting worked especially from Will Ferrell and it never dragged.
Not a classic like Toy Story, Snow White or Spirited Away for example when it comes to children's animated films but I liked it and it ticked all the boxes. Minor negatives would be it's scale as when there were scenes with huge crowds it felt like the makers cut a few corners and in Pixar films for example they never cut corners.
But it was funny and made me laugh a couple of times but I wouldn't really watch it again if the truth be told.




True Grit

I thought this was really good, never seen the the original as I just can't stand John Wayne.
The Coen brothers are on top form with this one as it's well paced with Bridges giving the film a great bit of humor when needed.
The girl in it Hailee Steinfeld is the true star though, who totally outshines Bridges, Brolin and Damon with ease. Reminded me a lot of Natalie Portman's screen debut performance with Leon, as it's very clear she has a bright future ahead of her.

Not quite the classic like No Country for Old Men or The Big Lebowski from the Coen's but still a good watch, but possibly after the Oscars will be forgotten about as in recent years there have been so many good westerns like Unforgiven and 3:10 To Yuma.
I don't think it will storm the Oscars but it will get a couple of nods and I hope Hailee Steinfeld wins something for this.