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Transformers
(dir.Michael Bay)
Dreamworks
After their planet is ravaged by civil war, two warring factions of shape-shifting robots arrive on earth in search of a digital rubik's-cube gizmo with the power to turn ordinary electrical appliances into all consuming monster robots. The Decepticons are led by the evil Megatron, who was discovered frozen in the ice by troubled geeky teen Shia La Beouf's grandfather. Luckily he's just bought a new car that turns out to be one of the friendly Autobots who are here to save us - led by the articulated lorry-esque Optimus Prime.
As a kid you would probably shit bricks at how cool the robots are in this movie, but as an adult it's like watching a 120 minute trailer that shows all the best bits. An experience not too dissimilar to lying down on a motorway being run over constantly. The premise is thinner than Highlander II, with very little explanation for why the robots can assume some shapes they like, but don't bother at other times - when being a steam roller might be more useful than being a cool little dune-buggy.
Hollywood heavyweight/lifecoach Michael Bay adds his usual flair, taking his cue from the George Lucas school of film making - where you can't see the CGI because it's all CGI, and it works pretty seamlessly. There are some great sequences and effects - notably the helicopter-bot assassin that attacks the US Army a couple of times in an attempt to steal their bandwidth or something.
It's a fun ride, so don't take my cynical opinion on it all. I was always more of a Lego fan.
25th Jun 2007 - 3 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
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Shrek The Third
(dir. Chris Miller, Raman Hui)
Dreamworks
Lame threequel to this previously excellent series; really the only point seems to be to remind you how watchable (and re-watchable) the first two are. Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas are all back as Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots.
A duff plot involving the succession to the Far, Far Away throne is thrown in as little more than an excuse for a trip to add Jason Timberlake as a goofy, but still v handsome Prince to the gang. Shrek doesn't want to be king (or a dad), meanwhile Rupert Everett's Prince Charming is back. He does want to take over — ooh, who will get the crown in the end?
Couple of OK jokes, Eric Idle's Merlin is not bad; but considering the non-stop, smart and unexpected gags that filled up the first two, you don't come away from this feeling very happy ever after at all.
18th Jun 2007 - Add Comment - Tweet
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Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(dir. Adam McKay)
Dreamworks
Legendary 70's News Anchor and leading chauvinist, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) has his world thrown into chaos, with the arrival of rival Victoria Corningstone (Christina Applegate) and her fabulous 'heiny'.
It's The Frat Pack, so you know what you are getting. Ferrell just stays the right side of completely maniacal. The 40 Year Old Virgin, Steve Carell, is excellent as mentally retarded weatherman Brick Tamland (who will go on to be a key advisor to the Bush administration) and old friends Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson and Tim Robbins drop by for a nice set-piece on feuding News Teams. However, it's Burgundy's Spanish-talking dog, Baxter, that steals the film - with the frankly brilliant ending.
1st Nov 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
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