Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Films I've seen of late (February '18)

#10 Viceroy's House (2017)
India, 1947. Lord Mountbatten becomes the last Viceroy of India and is tasked with overseeing Indian independence from the British Empire, but with a very short timetable. Faced with impending civil war and pressure from home, he is forced to compromise with the nation's Hindu, Muslim and Sikh Indian leaders. Taking a sympathetic view of the Viceroy, this film offers a fascinating and moving insight into one of India's most tumultuous periods.
(7.5/10)

#11 Return to Oz (1985)
Quasi-sequel to the 1935 classic, Return to Oz lacks a lot of the charm and timelessness of the original. Still, it's a competent effort – with impressive effects and a competent storyline that involves Dorothy freeing her friend (the Scarecrow) from the evil Nome King, with the help of some unusual Oz residents and her, um, talking chicken.
(6/10)

#12 Hook (1991)
Robin Williams (RIP) is in his prime as an actor portraying Peter Pan, grown up with children and having forgotten his magical past. Throw in Dustin Hoffman camping it up as Captain Hook as well as Bob Hoskins (RIP also) plus the great Maggie Smith and you have a weighty classic. Some may dismiss it as missing its mark but I think it has a lot of heart and serves the source material well.
(7.5/10)

#13 Early Man (2017)
A tribe of stone age cavepeople are challeged to a game of football by their bronze age invaders. Aardman animation is pretty much the king of stop motion, and Early Man is a display of their incredible talents. Sadly, this isn't enough to save the movie entirely. It has some fun and clever moments, but never quite lives up to previous Aardman films.
(6/10)

#14 Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
A group of friends form a book group (along with a couple of strangers) to discuss Jane Austen novels in the midst of various personal crises. Enjoyable chick-flick.
(7.5/10)

No comments:

Post a Comment