Darkmatters hearts Sucker Punch's awesome new trailer

SUCKER PUNCH

Matt Adcock's tip for awesomeness next month...

Check this great new trailer:



Which one is your favourite?

"Emily Browning is Babydoll"

"Vanessa Hudgens is Blondie"

"Abbie Cornish is Sweet Pea"

"Jena Malone is Rocket"

"Jamie Chung is Amber"

You. Will be. Unprepared...

More about Emily Browning HERE



Darkmatters Review: Drive Angry 3D

Drive Angry 3D (18)


Dir. Patrick Lussier

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“Tell them, I’m coming… Hell is already walking the Earth”

How far would you go to avenge the death of your daughter and save the life of her baby? If you’re John Milton (Nic Cage in full on wild eyed, insane mode) then you’d break out of hell itself and hunt down the sick murdering cult leader who killed your loved one and plans to sacrifice her baby to Satan. Seems only right really.

"Amber Heard - looks very good in 3D"

Drive Angry 3D is a lurid, pulpy nitrous powered assault on your frontal lobes. I don't think anything can quite prepare you for this balls out, full throttle overload of wanton 3D action, sex and violence. So if you’re easily offended – be it by nudity, gore, cussing, violence or dodgy acting, then you really shouldn’t check this film. If however you like your plot and dialogue off the scale stupid, your women smoking hot and your action totally over the top, then Drive Angry might just be the best film you’ve ever seen.

Drive Angry 3D delivers everything that limp comic adaptation Ghost Rider failed to. Here Cage brings his Kick Ass A-game and is ably assisted by Amber Heard who scorches the screen, sizzling in 3D.

"This is 'driving really angry'"

The revenge / save the baby plot won’t win any originality awards but it serves as an excuse for director Patrick ’My Bloody Valentine’ Lussier to wreak as much bloody carnage as humanly possible – all in eye-popping 3D. Lussier delivers a megaton action horror that has put him on the cinematic map, and bagged him the right to make the next Halloween and Hell Raiser films. He is also an unlikely master of 3D – cars, bullets, blood and babes are surely what 3D was developed to deliver and Drive Angry 3D has the best 3D around.

Amber ‘All the boys love Mandy Lane’ Heard is the hot ticket actress of the moment and she delivers a great love interest / side kick to Cage here. The supporting cast are strong too with the excellent William Fichtner channelling Christopher Walken as Hell’s own unstoppable ‘Accountant’ and Billy Burke is all twitchy satanic menace as deranged cult leader Jonah King.

"Not just a pretty face"

Drive Angry 3D is a cult classic in the making, packing mean classic US automobiles such as the ’69 Dodge Charger along with unforgettable scenes including a ‘Shoot ’Em Up’ homage where Cage gets into a massive close quarters gun battle whilst making love to waitress.

It might not be big or clever, but Drive Angry 3D is perfect pulp fiction schlock and action fans should sell their souls to see this!

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööööö

(5 - a perfect storm of grindhouse B movie action)...

Awesomeness ööööö – don't fear the reaper
Laughs ööö – slap stick violence a go go
Horror öööö – goes over the line of good taste many times
Babes ööööö – Amber Heard is a thermo-nuclear hottie
Spiritual Enlightenment ööö – did you know that Satan doesn't like when people sacrifice babies to him?
- - -

Second opinion - try Bloody Disgusting who call Drive Angry 'first “fun” horror movie of the year'.

Try this pro / con list of checking the film too from BLOG CABIN

"Amber is the hot ticket actress for 2011"

More Amber Heard reviews on Darkmatters:

Miss Heard stars in And Soon The Darkness

Best looking zombie in Zombieland

Comedy star in Pinapple Express

and

Trophy girlriend in Never Back Down

Darkmatters Review: PAUL

Paul (15)


Dir. Greg Mottola

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Prepare for some quality close encounters of the nerd kind…

In the beginning there was Spaced, it was a superb slacker TV comedy that fused sci-fi geekiness with laugh out loud comedy to winning effect. Spaced launched the comedy genius partnership of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost onto the world and it also paved the way for their excellent big screen films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Now the dynamic duo reunite for a new comedy of intergalactic proportions - ‘Paul’. This is the tale of two average sci-fi nerd earthlings, Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost), who pick up a hitch hiker named Paul whilst trekking across America's UFO heartland. But Paul isn’t your average traveller – he’s a crash landed alien with a foul mouth and extra-terrestrial powers - who joins the guys on a bawdy road trip that just might alter their universe forever.

"The good, the bad and the nerdy - Comic-Con"

‘Paul’ is the ultimate fan boy sci-fi movie reference viewing experience, a love letter to every cinematic Martian adventure and close encounter we’ve had. From Star Wars through E.T. and Aliens – Paul is packed with dialogue lines, visual gags and nods of the head ripped from those classics of the genre.

Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been amongst us for a while, he’s been trapped at a top-secret military base for the last 60 years. But it seems that his usefulness to them appears to be coming to an end and so he promptly escapes pursued by gun toting federal agents. Graeme and Clive are the unwitting humans who he picks to help him get back to his mother ship – and comic misadventure on a grand scale ensues.

"We come in peace..."

Director Greg ‘Superbad’ Mottola brings a more frat boy feel to Paul and evokes a harder side to the comedy of his leading men than Edgar ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Wright did in Hot Fuzz etc. So it’s possible that you’ll be a bit offended by Paul if looking for the traditional Pegg / Frost vein of good natured comedy.

The special effects are great and Paul the alien is a masterpiece of CGI creation, fitting in superbly with the talented human cast which includes Kristen Wiig as a one eyed hill-billie bible basher love interest!?

Overall Paul is a triumphant blast – effectively pressing the inner nerd buttons and packing in more smiles per minute than any other comedy so far this year.

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öööö

(4 - my God, it's full of stars)...

Awesomeness ööööö – take me to your leader
Laughs öööö – lots of quality laughs
Horror öö – nothing too grim
Babes ööö – Kristen Wiig is fair
Spiritual Enlightenment ööö – faith in a God who can love more than one species required!?
- - -
Second opinion - try Den of Geek

"worth Wiig-ing out for?"

Darkmatters Review: Brighton Rock (1947)

Brighton Rock ( PG)


Dir. John Boulting

Reviewed by Matt Adcock


“Brighton today is a large, jolly, friendly seaside town in Sussex, exactly


one hour's journey from London.


But in the years between the two wars, behind the Regency terraces and


crowded beaches, there was another Brighton of dark alleyways and festering


slums. From here the poison of crime and violence and gang warfare began to


spread until the challenge was taken up by the Police.


This is a story of that other Brighton - now happily no more.”

With the remake hitting cinemas this year – there’s never been a better time to brush up on the excellent original, now digitally restored and available for the first time on Blu-ray.

Featuring a star making turn from young Richard Attenborough as the weasel faced Pinkie, leader of a seedy gang of crooks. Yes Brighton Rock, or ‘young scarface’ as they called in initially in the US is the crime tale adapted from Graham Greene's classic novel.

The new restored picture quality is by far the best way to witness this sneaky peek into the underworld of bustling Brighton. Amidst the tourists and tawdry London types taking the sea air there is a crackling undercurrent of bother that grips throughout.

There are many memorable scenes including the thrilling early chase sequence in which newspaperman Kolley Kibber is hounded by a gang of razor-blade packing henchmen through the daylight streets. The juxtaposition of knife violence and candy floss – mixed up with a heady dose of religious guilt and repressed sexuality – all makes for a fantastic cinematic experience.

Brighton Rock belongs to Attenborough though – his iconic lead performance is absolutely mesmerising to watch.
It’s a bleak and unrelentingly grim storyline brought to vivid life by the superb cast who have created a classic dark noir thriller. Perfectly summed up by Ida (Hermione Baddeley) when she says:
“I've never changed. It's like those sticks of rock. Bite one all the way down, you'll still read Brighton. That's human nature.”


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öööö

(4 – classic hoodlum seaside angst) go!)...

"Catholicism issues?"

Killzone 3 Anticipation

 Let the games begin!!

Darkmatters review of Killzone 3 CLICK HERE

"Anticipation is high"

"Mmmmmmmmm!"

KILLZONE 3 = potentially Matt Adcock's game of the year: LINK TO TRAILER

Darkmatters Review: True Grit

True Grit (15)

Dir. Joel and Ethan Coen

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God.”

As a big fan of the 1969 version of True Grit which starred John Wayne as federal Marshall Reuben ‘Rooster’ Cogburn and a huge admirer of the Coen brothers, I had high hopes for this gritty remake.

The new version keeps faith with the earlier film and Charles Portis's novel on which both films are based. It follows the trail of 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) in her quest to see justice brought to outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who gunned down her father in cold blood. She chooses Marshall Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) – a man who she sees has the ‘true grit’ necessary for such an undertaking.

"Marshall Reuben ‘Rooster’ Cogburn"

What follows is a classic Wild West odyssey of revenge, told in the Coen brother’s trademark gorgeous cinematic style. The western landscapes are breath-takingly shot, the build up to the climactic showdown is tense and the gun fight action is suitably fast and furious. This is a classy film that doesn’t rush the plot, lets you get alongside the characters to the point where you become fully invested in their plights and as such is an absolute joy to watch.

Steinfeld is an amazing young actress who makes the lead role of Mattie her own – determined and no-nonsense she is a powerhouse that matches Bridges excellent Cogburn blow for blow. The bond that grows between these two unlikely allies is powerful and shows that despite the differences to their age and backgrounds – they share a core understanding of honour and justice.

"Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross"

Also along for the ride is La Boeuf (Matt Damon) a Texas Ranger who is tracking Chaney down for his own reasons. He brings some comic relief which helps break up the stark manhunt dynamic and is much better than Glen Campbell was in the original.

As the heroes close in on their target and it looks like Cogburn will have to ride out against at least four gun toting crooks, you’ll be right behind him – reins in your mouth, a gun in each hand!

True Grit as a stunning film, by far the best Western for many a year and a fantastic exercise in gun-slinging, rootin, shootin action. You’d be a fool not to saddle up and mosey on down to Cineworld to check this at your earliest convenience.

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:


ööööö


(5 - serious quality retribution)...

Awesomeness ööööö – high plains drifter

Laughs ööö – some nicely worked comedy especially by Damon
Horror öö – nothing too grim but violent throughout

Babes öö – Steinfeld might be cute in later life

Spiritual Enlightenment öööö – justice comes one way or another
- - -

Second opinion - try The Guardian

"Hailee Steinfeld - voted 2nd best dressed woman at the Golden Globes"

N-Dubz 'Took It All Away' - Play Create Share mix

Only on PS3...

Added for Darkmatters by Matt Adcock

You don't need to be a N-Dubz fan (like my eldest son Luke) to appreciate just how cool this is. The power of LittleBigPlanet 2 on PS3 is awesome... So N-Dubz have created the first pop video in Little Big Planet2, and if that wasn't enough the band are also offering you the chance to create your own LBP2 N-Dubz video for a chance to win tickets to meet the band. Head to the YouTube LittleBigPlanet UK Channel homepage for full details or Click here.


Watch the video below  :)

Darkmatters Review: The Fighter

The Fighter (15)

Dir. David O. Russell

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

As the awesome Clubber Lang (Mr T) said in Rocky III “My prediction for the fight? Pain!”

Unlike Rocky III however The Fighter isn’t a showboating fight movie – this is a gutsy recreation of the true life gutter to contender story of Micky Ward whose stop start welterweight boxing career included some of the most memorable fights ever witnessed.

Mark Wahlberg steps into the respected fighters shoes / gloves and turns his usual slightly confused expression to good use as "Irish" Micky Ward – a boxer living in the fading shadow of his older brother Dicky (Christian Bale). Dicky is a crack head former big shot whose claim to fame is that he once floored Sugar Ray Leonard, although some say that Leonard just slipped. Whatever the truth Dicky has been riding on that one fight his whole life – wearing the title ‘pride of Lowell’ - the small town he and his brother hail from.

Bale is a hot tip for Oscar success for his supporting actor role and it’s easy to see why. He looks absolutely nothing like his Batman character – more like the painfully thin lead from a film he did some time ago called ‘The Machinist’. Bales’ Dicky is a twitchy, bug eyed, fidgety freak show – highly volatile and living his life by screwing-up beyond the call of duty. Melissa Leo is also on screen chewing form here as the boys batty mother / manager – an overbearing nightmare who favours her older son and secretly wants to see him regain some of his lost glory. Micky however she is happy to pimp out to fight organizers who just need a punch bag opponent for their upcoming fighters.

"Listen - your wooden acting is making me look great!!"

Director David ‘Three Kings’ O. Russell keeps the action tight and the family dynamics every bit as incendiary as any of the nicely shot boxing matches. Wahlberg does his best but is out acted by all around him – including slutty bartender love interest Charlene (Amy ‘Enchanted’ Adams, playing impressively against her goody goody previous roles).

There is plenty of dark humour to go with the brutal ring action like when a film crew who is following Dicky for an HBO documentary turns out not to be covering his big comeback but actually making a fly on the wall film about the horror of crack addiction.

The fighter is a great film, it has something for everyone – enough fight action to keep the Rocky / Raging Bull crowd happy but also sufficient out of the ring drama to stand as a fantastic piece of cinema. Recommended viewing.

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:


öööö

(4 - heavy hitting entertainment)...

Awesomeness öööö – goes the distance

Laughs ööö – you'll laugh but it's no comedy
Horror öö –  some brutal punching but nothing too strong
Babes ööö – Amy Adams goes for it
Spiritual Enlightenment ööö – love thy brother (even if he is a crack head)

- - -
Second opinion - try The Telegraph

"Amy Adams - not as glam as this in The Fighter"

Darkmatters Review: Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go (12a)

Dir. Mark Romanek

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

"Are we human? Or are we dancer? My sign is vital, my hands are cold…”

Never Let Me Go is a powerful, haunting and life affecting story of true love, bitter jealousy and all that it means to be ‘human’.

Based on Kazuo Ishiguro's highly acclaimed novel, director Mark ‘One Hour Photo’ Romanek delivers a film that will slowly and carefully unpick your soul. Romanek is the guy who made one of my favourite ever films – the little known, low budget oddity ‘Static.’ With Never Let Me Go however he is at the helm of a full blooded big screen classic, enhanced by having a stellar cast in the form of Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley).

"through a glass darkly"

The story tells the tale of three seemingly normal friends growing up together, their lives connected by a heart breaking secret. We join them at their time at Hailsham – an oppressive boarding school cut off from the outside world. The teachers, led by the matriarchal Miss Emily (a great turn from Charlotte Rampling) keep their students fed a strictly limited diet of information, and engender a rule of fear created by awful tales of what happens to anyone who ventures further than the school gates.

If you’ve read the book you’ll know what is going on but if like me you come to Never Let Me Go without prior knowledge then you are in for a head spinning treat. I’m not going to explain what makes Kathy, Tommy and Ruth different from the rest of us, but there is a wonderfully sinister backdrop of this film, which comes to drive the main story with some fascinating science fiction elements.

"Ella Purnell does a good young Keira"

Don’t approach Never Let Me Go looking for a feel good experience. The screening I saw this at had several female audience members in tears by the time the end credits rolled. The story is certainly dark and tragic, yet also deeply thought-provoking and likely to leave you pondering what you’ve seen for some time to come.

The cinematography is gorgeous throughout, employing an otherworldly slightly washed out style which works really well in depicting the alternate 1980s England settings. The kids playing the younger versions of Keira Knightley (Ella Purnell), Carey Mulligan (Izzy Meikle-Small) and Andrew Garfield (Charlie Rowe) were excellent too and could well be ones to watch as future talent.

"the future may be bleak"

Screenwriter Alex ‘Dredd’ Garland does a good job in making the novel work on screen and Romanek shows just how good a director he is by handling the building unease masterfully and delivering an artistic treaty on the sadness of being or wanting to be human.

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öööö

(4 - broken hearts and 'what ifs')...

Awesomeness ööö – powerful stuff

Laughs öö – limited laughs (in the dark)

Horror ööö – an effective growing sense of 'wrongness'

Babes ööö – Carey Mulligan outshines Keira Knightley

Spiritual Enlightenment ööö – love is human

- - -

Second opinion - try reeltalk

Darkmatters Review: And Soon The Darkness

And Soon the Darkness (15)

Dir. Marcos Efron

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Did you hear the tale about the two young, hot, American girls (Amber Heard and Odette Yustman) who go cycling in Argentina?

You know, the one where one of them gets kidnapped, tortured and whose life depends on her lovely blonde friend tracking down the kidnappers and saving the day?

Well – if you this ‘tale’ does sound familiar, chances are that you might have seen the original 1970 British thriller of the same name (which was set in France).

So what’s good about this slick remake? First and foremost is the casting of the two female leads - Heard and Yustman are both smokin’ hot babes – both can act and each of them are carving out decent film careers. I’ve been a huge fan of Amber Heard ever since her amazing performance in All the Boys Love Mandy Lane Heard – and she has sizzled up the screen in pretty much everything she’s been in from then on.

"an important scene for the plot of the film!?"

Even the poor remake of The Stepfather was rendered watchable thanks to miss Heard slinking around in a bikini, which must have been noticed by writer-director Marcos Efron here because he throws in a key voyeuristic sun bathing scene with the express purpose of showing off the two stars. Amber’s no dumb blonde either as she co-produced the film.

From the nice touristy opening, the film then ramps up the suspense, And Soon the Darkness follows the tried and tested formula of cute foreigners in danger thrillers. Karl ‘soon to be the new Judge Dredd’ Urban is the requisite hunky hero who helps save the day. Things look grim for a while and there are some plot twists thrown in for good measure. It all looks good (the scenery as well as the cast) and is competently made, so whilst not ever likely to be regarded as a classic – this is a thriller worth checking out.

"Hero ready"

Walking a fine balance where nothing gets too nasty, the threat and torture are handled with admirable restraint. And Soon the Darkness won’t satisfy gore hungry SAW fans but it shows that there is skill of making an ‘almost horror’ film that doesn’t completely suck.

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:


ööö

(3 - Watchable and slick holiday nightmare)...

"another key scene..."