Guardians of the Galaxy

Director: 

James Dunn

Plot synopsis: 

Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted Peter Gilles finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser. Accompanied by a host of fellow convicts he must stop the bad guy and save the day.

First thoughts: 

My Dad had been excited about this film since Christmas, I on the other hand had my reservations. My first thoughts were that it would either be really great or really crap.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Review (Unspoiled): 

I was thoroughly disappointed by this film, and I'm a real lover of Marvel films. After hearing such great reviews prior to watching I found it unbelievably, completely underwhelming.

All the characters had promise. Each had such big personalities...in the trailer. In the film, nothing left an impression. This was the same for the villains. Overall the film was full of either inappropriate lines or badly worded dialogue that stretched a reasonably okay joke to its limits. I also found it hard to follow at times, there were to many character and planet names, the focus being pulled this way and that.

I will tell you that the end credit scene is not worth it. Don't waste your time.

Bottom line: 

The best bits are in the trailer, which makes it look much more polished. I could have walked out half way through without a care.

Recommend: No.

Spoiler Section:

I found the whole film predictable. It was obvious they were all gonna end up together, and finally work together. The narrative doesn't surprise, following suit with the needed sacrifice of one of the characters, Grot, being the most lovable and there for best target for tears, taking the one for the team. With the last minute resurrection into something even more lovable, a dancing sapling, of course. This plus the failure of the first plan and the token love story left me bored and grateful for the end credits.

In all I found all the characters lacking in any real substance. I mean yes, Grot is perfectly adorable but after a certain point his limited vocabulary left him no more than a plant based version of ‘Hodor’ from ‘Game of thrones’. What I will say though it was good to see Merle and Cruella Di Vil still get work.

Best Character: 

Grot. It has to be.

Worst Character: 

Rocket. He was just too ‘I'm a badass’ and his lines were the worst of the lot. Nebula was also a fail. Karen Gillan should have stayed on Doctor Who because her lines were delivered woodenly and in such a breathy tone one would think she was trying to be seductive.

Best Moment: 

N/A

Worst Moment: 

97% of the film if I’m being honest.

Please feel free to comment your own views on the film if you've watched it, I would love to know how others felt about it.

Romeo and Juliet (1996/2013)

Romeo + Juilet 1996

Director: 

Baz Luhrmann

Plot synopsis: 

A modernized adaption of Shakespeare play, though still set in fair Verona, the Capulet's and Montague's are now warring businesses empires fighting for dominance of the city.

First thoughts: 

I didn’t watch this film out of choice, but had to study it as part of my GCSE, writing an essay comparing the film adaption and the original plays text.

Rating: 4 Stars

Review (Unspoiled): 

I found this modern adaption of the play fantastic. It was easy to follow even with all the original dialogue and was a clear show of how timeless the text is as it made sense even in the new setting. The time setting gave the tale new life and was a great twist.

Bottom line: 

Amazing and original retelling.

Recommend: 

Yes.

Spoiler Section:

In the adaption I didn’t find the romantic aspect stupid as Luhrmann introduces the characters to each other in such away that he makes the audience feel the wonder and rampant energy between the two that somehow explains the whirl wind romance. I thought there was a clear amount of chemistry between the actors that carried the story along nicely and came across well in the wedding night scene as well as the next morning.

The soundtrack to the film paired with it greatly, keeping up the modern vibe without being to much.

Best Character: Mercutio, he was such a big character that his death felt as important as it needs to be to the narrative.

Worst Character: 

Lord Capulet, worst in character but best in acting, the fight scene between him and Juliet was truly scary. Paul Servinos portrayal as the over bearing father was frighteningly good setting the mood of the scene of perfectly.

Best Moment: 

I like the party as well as the nurses scenes, as I thought the actress took the part very well.

Worst Moment: 

The pairs death scene. In this adaption at least you saw real emotion, it was heart breaking to see her eyes open as he downed the poison.

 Romeo and Juliet 2013

Director: 

Carlo Carlei

Plot synopsis: 

The classic tale is told once again, in the traditional setting of Renaissance Verona.

First thoughts: 

I love both the play and the Baz Luhrmann adaption and was apprehensive of them making yet another version, especially one set in the traditional time and place setting as there would be nothing new or original about it. It would just be another mediocre adaption that's only real offerings were the costumes and backdrops.

Rating: 2 Stars

Review (Unspoiled): 

As predicted it was rich in costumes and lavish settings, indulging in shots of flowing dresses and establishing shots of the buildings. In terms of the casting I found Douglas Booth as Romeo a little to pretty, which I'm sure for most would make up for when he acting lacked. Together I did not favor the pair as the star-crossed lovers, they didn’t seem to match in a way that I doubted their chemistry. The other actors were all found lacking, the nurse was continuously over-acting, whilst the mother doing little more than standing around and smiling coyly. The film has been seen as controversial for not using the full and traditional dialogue of Shakespeare’s play, though even with the changes the actors gave of the air of reciting poetry and not actually acting through their lines.

Bottom line: 

Nothing but yet another re-telling, going through the plays narrative without any passion or energy.

Recommend: 

No, watch the Baz Luhrmann adaption, its infinity better.

Spoiler Section:

There are many important points in Shakespeare's play, and I felt that the majority were overlooked in this adaption. The face-off between Tybalt and Mercutio beginning one of them. Firstly, Mercutio was not made out to be much of a character at all, he felt more like a know it all prat which made his death feel insignificant though we all no it to be the turning point for the story. The actor lamely gasped out his final words, not giving them any gusto and fell limp and lifeless. Secondly, the scene itself started with a slow-mo shot of Tybalt and his men approaching with his hair flying about like some L’Oreal ad, setting the mood for the on coming ridiculousness of Tybalt's death.

As I have already written I did not like the pairing of Booth and Steinfield. Half way through I came to the anxious realization “God. I'm gonna have to watch these two play out a love scene.” But fortunately it was not to be, since Hailee Steinfeild was only fourteen at the time of shooting, a fact I only just became aware of. I think this did the film a favor as any sort of nudity or romantic scenes would have made me stop watching than and there.

Furthermore in terms of the acting I found Damian Lewis’ portrayal of Lord Capulet wooden, the fight scene between him and Juliet was devoid of any real emotion, unlike Paul Servino in Luhrmann's version he did not seem to get across any sort of threat, instead settled for muttering of his lines, looking more uncomfortable and angered by his ridiculous haircut than his daughter.

Please feel free to comment your own views on the film if you've watched it, I would love to know how others felt about it.