Reviews

A quick review of X-Men: First Class

Cut To The Chase Reviews from The City of Films are spoiler free ‘Reviews Abridged For Your Pleasure’. Quick, concise, and sometimes entertaining opinions on the go!

X-Men: First Class is the definitive follow up to the original X-Men film released 11 years ago. With superb action and fast paced storytelling the 2 hours and 20 minutes that this flick runs will fly right by. Centered around the origins of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr’s (Magneto) discovery of their mutant powers, they are pitted together against a common foe.

Taking place during the Cold War era, X-Men: First Class offers a dark and dramatic mood, while at the same time appearing lighthearted and filled with comic relief at moments. It does not shy away from telling the ugly side of some of Marvel’s most favorite antagonists and protagonists in a time when the whole world was on edge. Beyond the main cast that we are all aware of from the trailers for this movie, there are several mutants from Marvel lore who pop up throughout the film; sorry no Juggernaut. (Link has semi NSFW language oddly enough) Which turn out to be good tributes to previous incarnations of X-Men, both from the comics and from the small and big screen.

While there are a few moments of dialogue that may have you cringe, and some awkward split screen camera shots straight out of an old school 80′s montage, X-Men: First Class is a hit. By and large when you compare this to all of the other super hero movies coming out these days whose names are not Batman, this one is a good origin story and the pace was fantastic. For die hard fans, for casual film fans, First Class will help wash away the train wreck of a memory that was X-Men: The Last Stand.

Score: 4/5

Update, a fun music video for my fellow mutants.

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A funny X-Men: First Class comic brought to you by Penny Arcade.

Cut To The Chase: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

panda

Cut To The Chase Reviews from The City of Films are spoiler free ‘Reviews Abridged For Your Pleasure’. Quick, concise, and sometimes entertaining opinions on the go!

Kung Fu Panda 2 is a sequel that gets it right; with introductions and other such preliminaries out of the way – we get right to more laughs, better animation and more heart, all on a larger scale.  In the beautiful landscape of China, we our presented with amazing sequences of fighting that have obviously matured from the first film, so it’s clear they have been practicing in the off season.

One of my favorite scenes from the first Panda was the hand-drawn opening scene well the style is back for a few scenes this time around, just some of the best art I’ve ever seen on screen.  It doesn’t come off at all that this movie just wants your money having been released in 3-D, I would say this though; if you enjoyed Kung Fu Panda in 2-D, you will enjoy this sequel just as much or even more in, yes beautiful 2-D.  Save some coin and enjoy a more colorful experience. (Note: I was able to see a good portion of this film in 3-D so I could make this statement).

I’ve said many times on our site how much I loved the original, so it is with get pleasure I can now share with you my pure delight with Kung Fu Panda 2.  It’s what you would expect and more, in not just a sequel but more of a continuation from the first film.  I can’t wait for Kung Fu Panda 3.

Score: 4/5

pirateschase

Cut To The Chase Reviews from The City of Films are ‘Reviews Abridged For Your Pleasure’.  Quick, concise, and sometimes entertaining opinions on the go!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the fourth instalment of a franchise based on a Disney theme-park ride.  I couldn’t help but think to myself while watching this sequel; “I’m watching a product of a product…of a product”.  I suddenly felt sick.  This is an underwhelming film with almost no sense to be found.  The eccentric Captain Jack couldn’t even save this movie from drowning.  With a big budget and no emotion whatsoever, this could very well be the great fail of summer 2011.

There are pirates, ships and mermaids and a pretty cool Fountain of Youth scene hidden in here somewhere.  Yet underneath the poor pacing, recycled “we have to do this now” point A to point B scenarios and lack of imagination there is just a shell of a movie. I get the feeling they are just pulling out a checklist with this franchise now -  “Ships, mermaids, expensive…cut, print, crap”.  Shiver me timbers indeed.

Score: 2/5

noire

“This is Hollywood detective, there’s always a deal to be done.”

Last year a reader sent me information on L.A. Noire, asking me “Doesn’t this remind you of film noir movies?” Of course it was no secret that the game was embracing the 1940′s and looking to film noir for inspiration, but who knew it would be this authentic?

Rockstar Games has created a massive world not just for gamers but for anyone who’s ever wanted to back slap a liar in an intense interrogation scene from your favorite black and white classic. For anyone who wanted to drive into town on a summer’s morning with Billie Holiday playing in your 1942 Lincoln Continental Coupe; L.A. Noir is waiting for you to do all of that and so much more. Read More Here:

The following is a wide range of great films that came out in the year 2010.  We strongly urge every Citizen to check out these titles.  With the exception of ‘The Single Best Movie of the Year’, the rest are in alphabetical  order.  There are many list around the web by this time, you will find a lot of people share the same favorites, take that as a sign that those are must see movies, or ignore everyone and watch what you want, I’m not your parent. (more…)

Reaction: The Social Network (2010)

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

The Social Network

There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth. David Fincher’s The Social Network is as much about Facebook as Rocky was about boxing.  “The Facebook movie” that many people are skeptical about centers on the creation of the social networking site, with relationships, success and greed getting in the way.  That’s just a starting point for this landmark movie, one of the best in years. (more…)

Reaction: Cemetery Junction (2010)

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Cemetery Junction
It’s a town full of losers and we’re pulling out of here to win.
-
Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

My single most anticipated movie of the last two years has finally arrived, was it worth the wait?  I stayed clear of any form of spoilers and reviews, even shying away from clips posted online.  Cemetery Junction was released on home video (only theatrical in the UK earlier this year) on August 17th;  I bought the DVD (Blu-ray had nothing special) and hurried home.  I watched the feature, the extras and then the feature once more with commentary by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.  Here is my reaction: (more…)

Reaction: Inception (2010)

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

InceptionYou mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.

Note: CoF reactions are always spoiler free.  We will now be making the habit of condensing all the good things you normally find in a well written review into what we call a ‘Reaction’.  Who are we to criticize someone else art?  So we will just talk about the overall experience, seems fair.

Last week I posted an article titled ‘Why Everyone Should See Inception‘.  I wasn’t just blowing smoke, I am still out there urging people to take the trip to their local cinema and check this one out.  The reason I wrote the article before I even saw the movie I should explain, is because every once in a while and not often, a movie will be released you know you will enjoy (the last one for me being Shutter Island).   My main case in the article was that Inception was original and that moviegoers should be supporting this kind of movie.  Well, I saw Inception opening weekend with a packed house of believers and saying it met my premature hype and expectations would be too obvious.  Would it be less obvious if I said it exceeded them in every way?  Well it did. (more…)

Toy Story 3

When I first learned of another sequel to the already perfect film set that is Toy Story and Toy Story 2 I’ll be honest, I was scared.  I immediately felt betrayed by the team at Pixar as I jumped to conclusions as to why they wanted to make another film.  It didn’t occur to me that maybe there was more to tell, something more to say to bring it all full circle.

The journey myself and much of the world took with these toys was one of reminiscence, for the older audience the days of young were behind us and we embraced these toys as if they were at one point our own.  For the young, it gave them a chance to believe – believe that the childhood they were living could last forever with a bit of imagination and a big toy box.  What am I getting at?  Toy Story 3 is the best movie of 2010 thus far and should be nominated for Best Picture when award season comes around.  I had high expectations walking into the film and upon exiting; I knew each of those expectations were exceeded beyond words.  I saw the film weeks ago and can just now put to you how perfect this movie is.  How’s that for hype?

The packed theater stood and cheered when the credits fell, some wiping away tears – older members hiding it with the fake search for their wallet and keys.  It’s another masterpiece by Disney/Pixar that touches on nostalgia to please every possible moviegoer there is.  The final act will have you on the edge of your seat – amazed at what powerful animation, music and storytelling can do for us.  This is what a movie should do; this is why we love them.  It’s worth the wait in line, worth the ticket price and worth the crying baby a few rows over.

Toy Story is a series that will last to infinity and beyond (had to do it), it’s funny, inventive, touching and thanks to this final act; it’s flawless.  The trilogy brings to an end an amazing set of movies that must be cherished.  It’s a story about leaving the past with fears of moving on.  Something we all must come to terms with.

A perfect conclusion to a perfect movie trilogy.  For the folks at Pixar, I have one question for you: Where do you get those wonderful toys?

Woody Toy Story

So long, partner.

The Bedwetter

What?! A book review!  Yes, The Mayor can read (slowly) and will stop talking in the third person right now.  In this edition Sarah Silverman makes her literary debut with The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee. Silverman I should add is one of my favorite comedians, she does great things with TV and film and so obviously a book was the next step.  If you are a fan of her famous internet videos (an example below) and The Sarah Silverman Program consider yourself a fan and pick up this book.  It’s irreverent, funny and sometimes emotional.  I’ll explain… (more…)

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