Today I had a great misfortune to see “The Last Airbender”. I really should say I am big fan of the cartoon, I was very surprised at how good that cartoon actually is. It has an epic story but pays a lot of attention to the details.

It is a shame to say that the film is just not good.. in any way. The acting is wooden, the story is weak, everything just feel stilted. Its a shame to say that even some of the famed special effects shots were not even that well done.

There must be balance

I did see another film this week, a film I have been waiting to see for a long time. That film was the amazing! “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World“. It is one of the best films I have seen in a long time, and I am going to see it again.

But if you see one good film you have to see a bad one. This is that bad one.

The basic premise

The basic story is that of book 1, Aang awakes and finds the fire nation has taken over the world. All of his fellow air benders have been rounded up and killed, and he is the last of his kind.. also he is the avatar, the one who can sort it all out. I can totally forgive the setup, there is a lot to cover and this just works.

But the entire affair just feels wrong, because they have to cram so much story into the one film there really is any time develop much. The real victim of this is the characters, I felt absolutely nothing for any of them. The consequence of course is I really don’t care what happens to them.

That is not to say there isn’t a great idea in here (that is why they made the cartoon), there could be a really interesting plot with why Aang has run away from the responsibility of being the avatar (which they pronounce with an odd twang in the whole film). This is touched on a number of times in the film, and it is about the only time there is something to enjoy.

3D doesn’t help

Going to see a bad film is not much fun. But having to spend £19 for you and your son to do it is even worse. I HAD to see this in 3D not because I wanted to, but because that was all they were showing it in. It seems to be a trick my cinema likes to pull, only have them in 3D and they can get extra money for nothing at all.

3D just doesn’t work, that is all I want to say on the matter. With a lot of fast motion as there is in this film it is even worse.

Didn’t want to hate it

I really didn’t want to hate this film, and I can’t say that I do. I really don’t feel anything for it. This is one of those films that has a lot of potential, but just never seems to do anything with all the ideas it presents. There is some great martial arts in here, and a fair bit of average work as well.

In short.. avoid this film! If you have nothing better to do and you really have to see it.. I would still consider finding something else to do.

I never wanted the A-Team movie to be made, you could not better the TV series cast, each and everyone one of them nailed their character to perfection.  With that said, this may suprise you, I really enjoyed the new A-Team movie.  It was a fun no-brainer popcorn film, and even with my love of the original clouding my opinion, I was still able to enjoy it and want to give some credit where it’s due.  Of course there are plenty of things I disagree with and I’ll get to those later but the film gets a fair amount of things right too and everyone should give it a watch.

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"How may I be of service"

I have have had my reservations about the new doctor, taking over the role from David Tennant was always going to be a very hard job. But I have to admit I am liking the new doctor. He has the quirkiness and charm that is needed to pull it of, his companion is actually very good, and the first two stories have been good. I think the revised look works well, and while he is still finding his feet he carries it of so well I think I could happily watch a few series and be more than content.

That was until this weeks episode. Written by Mark “League of Gentlemen / Psychoville” Gatiss it was a look into an alternative World War II where our secret weapon was the Daleks. You can not tell me that is not a great idea for a plot. The opening was beautifully done and the reveal of a Dalek in WWII inspired uniform was excellent (I especially liked the little union jack on and the cammo packs), even the name “Ironside” was a great touch. The inclusion of Nazi Daleks would make for a fascinating story in its own right (or how about Nazi Cyber Men?).
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Saw this trailer and I was blown away. Any good geek loves a zombie film, but one area that is sadly neglected when it comes to zombies is animation. From the looks of it A.D.intends to put that right.

You have to agree just from the trailer it looks like it could be a lot of fun. I especially like the style they have used, and the actual animation is top notch. Head on over to Zombieinfo where they have an interview with the creators and some additional concept art that looks fantastic.

As of yet I have not found the official site, and IMDB seems to be behind the curve on this one. So keep your eyes peeled and I will put out more info as I find it.

I have also just realised I have hardly talked about zombies on here at all, what a crime against undead nature. I will have to see what I can dig up.

What more can I say?

Announced this week is Bruce Campbell’s next film “Bruce vs Frankenstein”. This is going to be a follow on to the excellent “My name is Bruce” that came out last year.

All of us here at BGR are big fans of Bruce Campbell, from his early beginnings in “Evil Dead” all the way to his show stealing performances in the Spider-man films, he is always a joy to watch.

“My name is Bruce” really surprised me when I saw it. In many ways it felt a little unpolished and probably could have done with a little more work, but somehow that makes it more endearing. Bruce and the supporting cast are fun to watch. Ultimately Bruce carries the film (he also Directed it), wins the day, gets the girl, and slays the demon in a style only he could do.

I am looking forward to this when it is released some time next year.

If you are looking more Bruce Campbell action check out:

• Army of Darkness
• Bubba Ho-Tep
• The Evil Dead
• Evil Dead II

and a whole ton of other great films.  If you want to know more about the legend, check out his site

The day of the Triffids makes its return

Some time ago I wrote about one of my favourite Sci-Fi TV Series “Day of the Triffids“. Made in 1981, much like “Blakes 7” it is a little known British gem of a show that never really seemed to get the regard it should have got. Over Christmas the BBC have finally shown the new version. With some excellent actors, and a more grown up feel it is an excellent addition to the growing catalogue of remakes of this classic story.

I have to confess I have not read the book, and now I am starting to think I should. Every remake of this story has something new, while the core story still remains as chilling as ever.
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There has always been a tradition of remaking films, and healthy culture with take old films and rework them. But they are never straight out copies, they have to be re-imaginings of the original concept.

Sometimes they produce a true classic in their own right. Airplane for example is basically a remake of a 1957 film called “Zero Hour”. A fairly by-the-numbers air disaster film. But with a new look at it a truly hilarious comedy was created.

Then there are cases where the original is a great concept, but the film just does not do it justice. John Carpenter’s 1982 remake of “The Thing” took another obscure film and turned it into a horror classic (one I still have problems watching some scenes).

Every time something new should be brought. Either a new twist on the idea, or just improving it all around with a better director. But a film should never be remade just for the sake of it, and an all time classic definitely shouldn’t. Read more

I started off this article thinking about crime comedy, and the distinct lack of films in that area, I picked the first two films immediately and was thinking about other films I can put in that I love. I started searching and started putting in all manner of films I had not considered at first films like “The Lady Killers”, “One of our Dinosaurs is Missing”, “Hot Millions”, “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” (trust me, though I ping from kids film to adult I am looking at quality and meaning not suitability).

When it occurred to me there are plenty of comedy films in the “Crime” genre, but that is not what I was really going for. I wanted films based around the detectives not the criminals. Alec Guinness alone has some of the best films in “The Lady Killers”, “The Lavender Hill Mob”, and “Kind Hearts and Coronets”.

Then it stuck me, the first two films had come easily. They a films of genius that you may not have heard of (though I hope you will see). The last is a collection of film that screams so obviously that it is in this group, and sets the standard not just of this group of film, but of comedy itself. Read more

It has a new look, but the same story

“Ghost in the Shell” is simply one of the most amazing films ever made! I don’t say that lightly, there are a lot of films out there, but very few come close to the depth and insight portrayed in GITS.

As far as Sci-fi or Anime films go, this is the bench mark. There are only a few other films that can match it (Akira, My neighbor Totoro, basically master peices). But for me it is the standard by which all of these types of films are measured.

When I saw “The Matrix” (over 10 years ago now) I was astounded like everyone else. But then you compare it to GITS are you start to see whole sequences where they just stole the concepts. It doesn’t detract from “The Matrix”, but shows just how strong GITS is.

Which is why I am so pleased they have gone back to the oringal 1995 film and “Renewed” it. Read more

I have only heard of “The Guild“, largely thanks Wil Wheaton. But anything Felicia Day is doing is always fun.

I think I will have to check out “The Guild” see what its all about.

If you have never seen “Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” then you have not see Felicia at her best

When the Repo man comes.. its time to run

The premise for the film is quiet simple. Set in a dystopia future a mystery disease has killed the majority of the population. All looked lost for humanity until “Gene Co” offers a solution, they will replace your organs and save your life… for a fee. But there is no problem if you can’t pay now, you can pay on credit. Through the intro to the film it explains the company forced through new laws that made it possible to repossess the organs if the borrower could no longer pay.

I have to admit the opening to this film made me smile, largely because I can see how it would be entirely feasible for this to happen, big business is in the habit of making laws that are not good for the populous, so why not take back their organs? they don’t own them?

This film had a lot of promise, but staring Paris Hilton can it really work? She is not renowned for her glittering acting skill. Read more

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The Machine Girl. A film you sould probably see.. but I don't know why

I was lucky enough to be given this film for a birthday present by BGR’s very own Sideswipe. I have just finished watching it, and I feel that I must immediately blog about it.

Now I love B-movies, I can enjoy a good gore film (if it has a purpose), I relish in a totally surreal adventure. But when you read on the front of the box “A film so incredibly outrageous that it couldn’t possibly exist…” I start to get a little worried. I have the distinct feeling there is so little content for the marketing guys to talk about they have to resort to making claims. Read more

Street Fighter: The Legend of Fail, I mean Chun Li

The second official live action film based on the Street Fighter video games is possibly the most mediocre action film  I have ever seen.

That said, I will buy it on blu-ray just for the awesomeness of Balrog.

There’s an awful lot wrong with this film from a Street Fighter fan’s point of view but as a stand alone film it’s not bad, just average, from the competant but not great fights to the glory of Balrog and an RPG which really sums up a lot about this film, it shouldn’t really have been called Street Fighter at all really.

Of course there’s also the question, how does it compare to the original live action film?

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