The Maze Runner - YAYAMF - Yet Another Y.A. Movie Franchise

Like many other teen films of the moment this has come from yet another young adult fiction series and like many others it holds much drama.  I have yet to read the series by James Dashner, I think I would be lying if I intended to pick up the book after seeing this movie. The story itself suits the big screen, it translates well and is enjoyable, thrilling and the acting isn’t that bad. This Dystopian Adventure revolves around Thomas played by Teen Wolf’s Dylan O’Brien, when he arrives in the Glade in a cage lift, without memories or a name (we find out it’s Thomas pretty early on and in the Trailer so no spoilers!). The Glade is situated at the centre of a giant maze, within this there are only boys and young men held together by Alby the first to arrive in the Glade. The story to me echo's the camaraderie of William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies, a story of a team of young boys who have crash-landed on an island. Though this movie doesn’t show the brutality of man being left to their own devices and having to fend for themselves. The Maze Runner depicts a relatively harmonious community where once a month the cage returns to the surface with supplies and a new boy whom is referred to as a ‘greenie’. The presence of a cage implies someone put them in the maze and to keep them from escaping there are Grievers, vicious and dangerous creatures. Though everything changes when a girl arrives with a message that spurs panic and chaos. 

O’Brien is an excellent protagonist and there’s no doubt that some of his fan base from Teen Wolf will come to watch it. Aml Ameen (Noel Clarke’s Kidulthood) plays the inspiring Alby, as the smart and headstrong leader he a great character who you route for, he has done an excellent job at keeping all these boys in check and working together. The cast is incredibly Brit-strong with Will Poulter, Aml Ameen, Kaya Scodelario and Thomas Brodie-Sangster all part of the massive ensemble cast. Will Poulter (We’re the Millers) plays Gally, the antangonist of the group, though it is easy to relate to him so you both love and hate him. Poulter seems quite at home in Hollywood and lets hope he stays there. The girl known as Teresa is played by Kaya Scodelario (Channel 4 Drama Skins) who has made the the leap from the small screen to the big quite seamlessly, though the accent could do with a little work. Our final Brit, Brodie-Sangster is almost a veteran now with it being nearly 11 years since his first appearance on the big screen with Love Actually. Brodie-Sangster, plays Newt the Right Hand man to Alby, it’s not the most meaty role but he does a good job. Ki Hong Lee playing Minho is in my opinion one of the greatest characters, second only to Thomas’s story arch. Minho undergoes the greatest character cycle in the movie. 

All in all The Maze Runner is a great family film, I wouldn’t hesitate to put it on on a wet sunday afternoon with the family, with the odd bit of mild profanity there’s not much to offend anyone. However despite there being a sequel in pre-production currently,  I wouldn’t hold my breathe to see if the sequel comes into fruition. The book series has extremely mixed reviews. But if you want some an Entertaining Dystopian Adventure then go for it. 

N.B. If you want a good giggle at a parody then check out SNL's take below.

Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron Trailer is HERE!!

It doesn't disappoint, now being a little rusty on what actually happens in this story I don't feel like I have a leg to stand on when it comes to the commentary of plot outlined in this trailer. What I can comment on thought is how excited I am to see James Spader play Ultron, that is one excellent bad guy voice! Also one of Britain's best exports motion capture actor Andy Serkis is in there too but playing who?? Some say Ulysses Klaw, I think its safe to assume he is there doing the motion capture for Ultron himself, If you haven't listened to the Nerdist Podcast of Andy Serkis talking to Nerdist helmsman Chris Hardwick, listen here -

http://www.nerdist.com/pepisode/nerdist-podcast-andy-serkis/

Serkis talks about his motion capture projects post Lord of the Rings.  Anyway I's getting sidetracked I'm loving the high drama in the series and Marvel seem to be doing it just right (except any attempt at Spiderman, but that's not just marvel's fault *cough* SONY *cough*) It will be interesting to see how DC's Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice turns out but we'll have to wait for that one till 2016.....I am just far too impatient.

Space Station 76 - All the things I wished it was and it could have been.

This throwback space comedy has all the makings of a cult phenomenon, the camera work, the set and costumes combined with some glorious hammed up acting from some familiar faces. But I’ll start by saying that I don’t intend for this to be a scathing review, but I know I won’t do such a good job of being objective because this film is full of false promises. It is one of those sad occasions where all the best bits are in the trailer. The script is weak and the whole thing just doesn’t commit to the style it promises.  There are many other films that just surpass it in the space comedy sub-genre of science fiction. This may be a rash thing to say but in my opinion the director Jack Plotnick should probably go back to his day job playing bit-part acting roles. I am a huge fan of all things Sci-Fi and when I saw this trailer I literally squealed with delight. The visual style of the picture appeals to me massively, if anything this was the part they got right. It is wonderfully reminiscent of Buck Rogers’ clean white set or the corridors of the Death Star in Star Wars and with many other nods to the space movies of the 70’s and 80’s. 

The cast as a whole are hit and miss, we open with a typical epic style opening to the movie and we are greeted by Patrick Wilson (Insidious, Morning Glory) as Captain Glenn of said Space Station 76. Wilson was serious yet funny with a character who holds some deep seated issues with his own sexuality and his ability to handle Jessica his new female Co-pilot played by Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings, Armageddon). Tyler was a little more difficult to digest as Jessica, she was tense, if not a little wooden playing the mild mannered and experienced pilot. Tyler’s whispered voice may have caused a million men and women to fall in love with her as enchanting Arwen in Peter Jackson’s franchise but here she just lacked a sense of humour, she could have pushed the character further maybe to a more theatrical end of the scale with a demure caricature. Jessica’s antagonist Misty is played by Marisa Coughlan, an actress possibly best known for T.V. with recurring roles on both Side order of Life and Boston Legal and few cinematic roles, she once played alongside Katie Holmes in revenge comedy Teaching Mrs Tingle. Misty is more on the nose with a level of humour that matches the style of the picture, the medicated housewife entertaining and yet utterly dislikable in her repression of her husband Ted, played White Collar actor Matt Bomer. Appearances of Jerry O’Connell as his usual consistent self, with appropriately hammy acting took this film only a fraction closer to where it intended to be.

Now maybe I’m a little hung up on the idea that this movie is a comedy and if I was to look at this a straight drama then we can see a number of themes and issues tackled. The sexuality crisis of the Captain, previously he had been in a undefined relationship with his Co-pilot Daniel. Infidelity rears it’s head in several relationships along with infertility in one case. But It is almost unavoidable that Space Station 76 was intended to be funnier, this was a mixed bag film its lack of committal to being funny and/or serious left me feeling more bitter than bittersweet.

First Past the Post - Gone Girl

Having seen a bunch of women reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn on public transport for the best part of the last year, I decided now is the time to get invested in these characters.  As a person who is quite contrary when it comes to movie adaptations of books I generally prefer to watch the movie first before I read the novel, minimising the disappointment I feel when they don’t portray the characters or the story quite right. Later I can then reap the benefits of the additional text in the books. Gone Girl is directed by the thrill seeking, David Fincher whom takes Gillian Flynn’s book and pulls no punches when it comes to translating this into a visual medium.  We follow a married couple; Nick and Amy Dunn, played by Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike respectively, on one July 5th morning when Amy mysteriously disappears. We watch intently as Nick Dunn strives to prove himself to the police and the public that he has nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance as more and more evidence appears damning him.  With some first person narration from Amy, the story takes twists and turns that reveal characters flaws and makes decisions that leave you unnerved but captivated by this relationship. Gillian Flynn has been quoted as wanting this to become the total ‘anti-date’ movie and that is what she achieved. Often the original writers of these novel-to-screen pieces don’t have much say in the final piece but keeping Flynn as the screen writer was a truly correct move for the production. Ben Affleck as Nick Dunn was a spot on choice, with the right amount of like/dislike qualities to make you distrust Nick from the off. Affleck, has had a troubled career with some not so good choices in roles (particularly around the early 2000’s) it was with the mega smash that was Argo that I think made most of us go - ‘wait Affleck a good actor? surely not!’, I definitely swallowed my words after Argo.  Affleck has gone from being a guilty pleasure to a serious contender on the awards playing field. Gone Girl just adds a big boost to his repertoire and definitely puts my mind at rest over the whole Batman scenario which has currently has Affleck down for at least two movies in the caped crusader get-up.  His Co-star Pike is without a doubt the stand out star of the film, her chilling voice over and intense glances really does make you wonder ‘what is she thinking?’. If anything she has the potential to be in the running for best actress at the Oscars. Though this may not be Fincher’s best work, his signature cuts and tension-building are there. He present’s a truly thrilling film that will have you giving your significant other a second glance. Flynn, Fincher, Pike and Affleck along with the cinematography, an enthralling supporting cast and excellent screenwriting make for excellent viewing, whether or not you have read Gone Girl, you need to see this film. 

P.S. I will be going to the bookshop and purchasing this novel tomorrow.