Films I've seen of late (April)

Whiplash (2014)
Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons are student and tutor in this enthralling and mesmerizing story about power and control. Teller plays the young drummer who gets sucked into the gravitational pull of Simmons' maniacal tyrant. The student is manipulated in various ways all in the name of excellence. The finale is breathtaking but leaves you with an interesting take on what it means to be the best of the best.
(10/10)

The Second Best Marigold Hotel (2015)
A bunch of old British people living in India get up to some mischief trying to save their beloved hotel from going under (or something). Watchable, but I found it hard to feel emotionally engaged. Oh, and Richard Gere's in it.
(5/10)

RED 2 (2013)
More of the same spy-jinks as in the last one. Similarly fun but forgettable. Oh, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is in it.
(7/10)

Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
There was a danger that the adventures of Po would slide into half-baked ridiculousness, but Dreamworks has managed to maintain the quality and tone of the previous two films. Still lots of fun with awesome set pieces, Panda 3 doesn't disappoint. Whether this can be continued on for the next two sequels which as in the works remains to be seen.
(8/10)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)
When you go with the kids to see a film about chipmunks that can talk (albeit in an annoying hard-to-understand high pitched voice), you don't have very high expectations. I didn't, and that's all I can say.
(4/10)

Left Behind (2014)
You see, the thing about this film is that it was derided when it came out. Nicholas Cage was accused of sleepwalking through his role, and its overtly Christian messages were too much (even for Christian audiences it seems). You might think this is all about the Rapture of the biblical End Times, but it's actually more about a father-daughter relationship that needs mending in the middle of things going pear-shaped on a biblical scale. Maybe – like Alvin and the Chipmunks – because my expectations were so low, I didn't think this film was too bad. Yes, it's clearly made on a low budget and features quite a lot of terrible acting but the story holds up (just). Honestly, it could have been a lot worse.
(5/10)

The Guard
An hilarious take on the buddy cop movie with Brendan Gleeson as a local Garda and Don Cheadle as an FBI agent teaming up to track down some drug smugglers and bent cops. Full of surreal moments and Irish humour, it deals with both sinister and comedic moments with ease.
(8/10)

Batman v Superman
I've already written a full review, which can be read here. Needless to say, most critics and fans disagree with me. This is fine – people are entitled to their own opinions – but the vehement hatred for what is just a fun comic book movie seems over the top and unnecessary.
(8/10)