Movie 43: Review

I've put off watching Movie 43 for a very long time, considering all of the dreadful feedback it received when it was initially released in January of last year. The plot of the film vaguely revolves around three teenagers trying to find the "most banned film on the internet", which is appropriately titled Movie 43, although the American version of the film has a completely alternate plot revolving around movie producers pitching this film to a company. Regardless of this, both versions contain this plot solely to string together 12 un-funny, crude, horrific sketch comedies containing an unbelievably star-studded cast of actors. From Hugh Jackman to Stephen Merchant; nobody is left out. 

Johnny Knoxville

I have literally no idea why so many well-known celebrities would agree to be a part of this truly appalling movie. One of the opening sketches features Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet attending a blind-date, but the 'hilarious' twist is that Hugh Jackman's character has a pair of prosthetic testicles on his neck which only Kate Winslet appears to notice. This successfully sets the tone for the rest of the movie, with scene after scene revolving around a tiresome concept dragged out far beyond being funny. A theory I have heard is that the actors were made to feel guilty after signing their contracts so they became obliged to continue the production, but when you reach a sketch revolving around a woman wanting her fiancée to defecate on her, it becomes very hard to believe any such ideas. 

Emma Stone

Speaking of defecation, Movie 43 really leaves no stone unturned when it comes to the juvenile areas of comedy. Incest, periods & blatant racism all make an appearance, and none are handled in a remotely funny manner. In fact, the only slightly entertaining sequences of the movie such as a scene between Stephen Merchant and Halle Berry didn't rely heavily on these kind of topics at all, and were much better for it. The majority of the film seems as if a young, pre-pubescent boy was behind everything, which isn't ideal when there's such critically acclaimed actors present. 

Although it may seem like I'm being pretentious about Movie 43, that's only because there is genuinely nothing redeemable about this film. I'm all for 'low-brow' comedy when it's done correctly, and I even enjoy the earlier Scary Movie films which feature huge amounts of this, but Movie 43 simply isn't good. I really wish I could say otherwise, because I'm a fan of many actors featured, but it just is downright awful from start to finish. 

Verdict
In case it isn't obvious, I'd highly recommend giving Movie 43 a miss. It only runs for around 90 minutes, but felt as if it dragged on for far, far longer. Unless the American version is drastically different, I have no idea why this film was ever made, and feel bad for everybody involved. Do yourself a favour and watch a comedy such as Airplane which shows just how successful a rapid flurry of jokes can be. 

"Teenage boys are physically attracted to naked women."

"Our research doesn't show that, sir."

Recently released trailers

Following yesterday's new trailer for the highly anticipated Godzilla re-boot, I've decided to present a few trailers released over the past few months which I am personally very excited for, and maybe a couple that you might have missed due to them not being heavily publicised. Next to each is also the date on which it was released, just to give some chronological awareness to this list: 

X-Men: Days of Future Past (29/10/13)
Back in 2011, X-Men: First Class was released which provided an entertaining glimpse into the history of the beloved comic-book series and also gave the leading role of Charles Xavier to the talented James McAvoy, alongside Michael Fassbender as a young Magneto. Days of Future Past looks similar in that it features both of these characters and their respective actors, but also features Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart to play their older counterparts, as the story revolves around time-travel and the prevention of a devastating war which would end both humanity and the lives of the mutants. Aside from a strangely abrupt transition halfway though, the trailer released for Days of Future Past sets a very dramatic tone which the film will hopefully live up to. 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (18/12/13) 
This trailer opens to Gary Oldman addressing a crowd of people over a mega-phone, describing how the world has practically collapsed following the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes released in 2011. The length of the trailer makes it feel more like a teaser than anything, but it gives a brief look into when the film will be set and how the events of the previous instalment will play heavily into the plot. It's definitely a movie which I'll want to watch this year. 

Interstellar (14/12/13)
The teaser for Christopher Nolan's upcoming space-themed movie Interstellar doesn't exactly give very much away concerning the plot of the movie, but I'm very excited regardless. Every single film by Nolan that I have seen has been amazing at the very least, so I can't imagine that Interstellar will break this trend. The trailer is very serious and philosophical; something which gives it a very 'Nolan' feel, and the decision to have Matthew McConaughey narrating only adds to the established atmosphere. 

Guardians of the Galaxy (18/2/14)

Released far more recently, the first trailer to Guardians of the Galaxy lacks the gritty, serious tone created by these other trailers and instead chooses to embrace its comical and entertaining atmosphere through a much more jovial soundtrack and cast of characters. I'd admit that until recently I had no idea who exactly the Guardians were, but the film seems to be acknowledging this by introducing each as if the entire audience were unfamiliar with them, something which may turn out to be far more beneficial than assuming everybody has interest prior to this trailer. 

 

Godzilla (25/2/14)

And last but certainly not least, the newly released trailer to Godzilla, coming later this year. Narrated almost entirely by one of my personally favourite actors Bryan Cranston, this trailer develops upon the sinister, eerie tone that the original teaser created. Yet again very little of the monster itself is seen, and it seems as if this will be the same within the actual movie, but I have no issue with this as it builds tension far more than if everything was revealed. There's no way of knowing yet if Godzilla will successfully live up to the hype, but providing it repeats the atmosphere of the trailers, 2014 is looking to be a very good year for movies. 

Outlast: Game Review

I don't think a game has ever managed to reduce me to an anxiety-stricken wreck quite so successfully as Outlast. Within an opening text, you are told that you play as Miles Upshur; a journalist who decides to investigate Mount Massive Asylum after receiving an anonymous tip. Almost immediately things begin seeming a little strange, with stereotypical scares such as silhouettes in windows and flickering lights, but soon it appears that whatever happened at the asylum should have been left alone permanently. 

As you play as a simple journalist, you traverse the entire game armed with nothing but a camcorder with a night-vision function, causing the majority of sequences to be shown through a spooky green glow. As most of the game takes place in complete darkness, you'll be using the camcorder a lot, which is difficult because the batteries drain phenomenally quickly, leaving you in terrifying nothingness. More can be collected throughout the game, but you always need to consider conserving your power so that you're not suddenly caught being chased by murderous patients with no idea as to where you should go. 

And it's this sense of constant helplessness which separates Outlast from other survival-horror games. From start to finish, there is literally no way of fighting enemies, so you have to constantly be mindful of their positions and be prepared to run and hide if the need arises. But whether you hide under a bed, in a locker or even simply in a fireplace; nowhere is safe. On more than one occasion I was brutally dragged out from my hiding-place and killed on the spot. Yet I loved every minute of it. 

I'm a huge fan of horror already, but Outlast dragged me in and didn't let go until the very final credits rolled. The atmosphere created within the first mere moments of game-play sticks with you until the end, and causes the scares to be even more insidious and real than they ever could have been without this incredible sense of immersion. This is also due to the amazingly creepy sound-design and the game's refusal to pull anything back, particularly when it comes to gore. It's rather rare whilst playing Outlast to not see a dismembered torso or deformed, skulking, deranged killer, but it's all necessary to create a game which is this scarily engrossing. 

I have very few problems with Outlast, but the consistent need to wait for enemies to pass by certainly becomes slightly tiresome towards the end. That's not to say it's not always terrifying when you begin being chased, but after the third or fourth time of being killed, things get a little repetitive. This is particularly apparent in the cat-and-mouse sequences featuring a huge prison-guard, but it never becomes so common that it ruins the experience. Without giving anything away, the plot also wraps up completely differently to how you would expect, which I wasn't a huge fan of, but it was still entertaining nonetheless. 

Verdict

Outlast is a terrifying game which hooked me almost instantly. Like with most 'scary' forms of media, it has to be enjoyed properly by sitting in complete darkness with the sound up high, but if you can endure the constant barrage of horror, then it's a hugely enjoyable experience which I would definitely recommend.  

"You have to hide." 

Trainspotting: Review

Becoming something of a British cult-classic, Trainspotting successfully brought a relatively young Ewan McGregor into the public eye and told a gritty and realistic story about hardcore drug use. Ewan plays a young man called Renton, who is severely addicted to heroin amidst the Edinburgh drug scene. Fairly early on, Renton attempts to escape the vices which hold him by going 'cold turkey'...but fails on numerous occasions. All around him, Renton consistently sees his friends succumb to the allure of hard drugs; each with varying outcomes. It isn't till a life-threatening incident which causes Renton's parents to intervene, that a light at the end of the tunnel begins to appear. 

Renton (Ewan McGregor)

There's no doubt that Trainspotting is a brutally in-your-face portrayal of what taking drugs will lead to. At no point does it advocate or glorify the abuse of substances, not too dissimilar to the incredible Requiem for a Dream. There's a single shot of the film which will now be permanently burned into my mind, and rightfully so, because to say this film is "one-sided" would mean condoning the use of substances, which has consistently been shown to lead to disastrous outcomes. 

Despite all this, Trainspotting is also a slightly humorous black-comedy, with comedic moments placed throughout. That's not to say it's a laugh-a-minute film that'll have you smiling from start to finish, far from it, but certain characters such as Renton's friends Spud (Ewen Bremner) and the scarily aggressive Begbie (Robert Carlyle) occasionally provide comic relief to alleviate the very dark tone. 

The only real problem I have with Trainspotting is that it doesn't really wrap-up as conclusively as I'd have liked it to. I expected to have some sort of conclusion to at least the main characters, but sadly that doesn't happen. The ending is far from bad, it just isn't as definitive as I would have expected it to be. 

Verdict

Trainspotting is an entertaining British film, but it definitely isn't an easy watch from start to end. It holds no punches when presenting this kind of lifestyle, which is commendable and beneficial in the end, as it creates a gritty, honest film which is well worth a watch, providing you don't mind the occasional glimpse into a darker life. 

"And the reasons? There are no reasons.

Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?"