Thursday, January 14, 2010

Darkmatters Review: Daybreakers

Daybreakers (15)

Dir. Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig – also known as ‘The Spierig Brothers’

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Welcome to a bleak near future… In under ten years – 2019 to be exact - a plague will have transformed pretty much every human into a vampire. Good news for Twilight fans perhaps but not for anyone with an once of pride in humanity.

Not everyone is thrilled about their new blood sucking lifestyle, especially blood specialist Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke), who is working on a blood alternative for vampires to drink. This is an urgent task as nearly all the humans left alive have been rounded up and enslaved in massive ‘Matrix’ like farms where their blood is harvested and sold on.

The nasty vampire CEO of this blood channelling operation is Charles Bromley (Sam Neill) who has a heavily armed private army commissioned to hunt down and capture any rogue humans still at large. One of most loyal soldiers is Edward’s brother Frankie (Michael Dorman) who takes relish in tracking down humans and turning them in.

As the human blood supply dwindles, a terrible side effect of blood withdrawal begins to kick in on those vamps not rich enough to afford their shot of human life juice which is rationed in ‘coffee’. Blood deprivation you see causes vampires to regress into bat-winged mutant creatures that attack indiscriminately and pose a threat to whole civilised vampire society.

Step into the fray the last human resistance under the leadership of Lionel 'Elvis' Cormac (Willem Dafoe) – their ‘cure’ for vampires is to blow them away with crossbow stake guns.

Daybreakers really wants to be a hip cross between The Matrix and Underworld but alas the action on offer is fairly timid and predictable fare. Sure the vampires explode with startling gore soaked flashes but there is nothing groundbreaking here. The only thing that really impressed were the cool vampire friendly cars fitted with darkened windows and cameras that allow the creatures of the night to drive around in the sunlight.

Unfortunately directors The Sprierig Brothers fumble what could have been a great new action franchise and botch the climax so badly that when the door if very obviously left open for a sequel – it is the scariest moment of the film.

Daybreakers might look the part and delivers some ok vampire sci-fi action in places but the total is less than the sum of its parts. It’s never a good sign when one of the trailers before a film is much much more exciting than the main feature – the trailer in question was for ‘The Book of Eli’…

UNSEEN DELETED SCENE:

Denzel Washington bursts in and takes out both the vampires and the bumbling heroes - smiling his smug smile in the knowledge that his Book of Eli is much better than this mess.

Darkmatters rating: ööööö (5 exploding vampire mutants out of 10)

Darkmatters quick reference guide: Action 6 / Style 6 / Babes 6 / Comedy 6 / Horror 7 / Spiritual Enlightenment 2

"The cars are the stars!"

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Darkmatters Review: Spread

Spread (18)

Dir. David Mackenzie

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Spread sees Ashton Kutcher strut his stuff as a ‘himbo’ hustler named Nikki working the well pampered and preserved middle aged women of L.A. Nikki gives these ladies company and sexual gratification in return for a place to live and the use of credit cards… Everything seems to be funky (if utterly morally devoid) for him once he shacks up with his latest conquest / scam victim Samantha (Anne Heche who absolutely sizzles here).

But a chance encounter with hot waitress Heather (Maregarita Levieva) throws Nikki into a state of uncertainty as he might just have actually fallen in love!? From then on the film gallops towards what would normally be a sickly sweet ending with our lovelorn hero racing across the country to New York with a wedding ring in order to try and make a life changing commitment to Heather. British director David ‘Hallam Foe’ Mackenzie has other ideas however and to his credit Spread ends up being a refreshing alternative take on the usual Hollywood depiction of course of true love. Could it be that the ultimate ‘player’ is about to get played himself?

Los Angeles is depicted as a place chuck full of vacuous pretty faces whose self-interests are rampant and non-negotiable. It is hard to imagine that Kutcher is having to stretch too far for this role which requires little more then getting naked often and generally acting like a selfish ass. He’s bit too convincing as he works his way through a variety of attractive women, with absolute no regard for their feelings (you can’t help wondering what Demi Moore will think when watching this).

Spread is a powerful film that makes a valid point about the repercussions of living without a moral compass, and how an existence of squalid, loveless sex can turn round and bite you on the bum when looking for real love. The 18 rating is justified by the overload of nudity here – especially from Anne Heche who appears to be vividly working her way through the Karma Sutra on screen.

This certainly isn’t a feel good movie, or a wise choice for anyone dating an older woman. Spread is worth seeing though if you’re not easily offended and looking for an antidote to the many weak romantic comedies out there that peddle their ‘happy ever after’ messages.

"Anne Heche - in 'sizzle bikini' mode"

UNSEEN DELETED SCENE:

Nikki can't take the rampant hedonistic orgy lifestyle any more and decides to go back to his 'sugar mummy' - an amusing cameo from Demi Moore!

Darkmatters rating: ööööööö (7 throbbing himbos out of 10)

Darkmatters quick reference guide:

Action 6 / Style 7 / Babes 8 / Comedy 6 /Horror 5 / Spiritual Enlightenment 3

Friday, January 01, 2010

Darkmatters Top Films 2010

Darkmatters top film tips for 2010

2009 was a solid year for cinema releases (check Matt Adcock’s top ten of 2009) but 2010 already looks to be packing some very very cool films.

Here are my picks as to what looks like being worth seeing – obviously this isn’t an all encompassing list but these films are bleeping pretty loud already on my radar:

January picks

The Book of Eli

You want to see Denzel Washington kick serious ass in a film whose makers described its action thus… ‘Man on Fire’ is a mere taster compared to the righteous vengeance he (Washington) rains down on the scum in this film’? Yeah, me too!!

The Lovely Bones

Based on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl who is murdered by her neighbour. Now in Heaven she gets to follow the aftermath, sure it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun but Peter ‘Lord of the Rings’ Jackson is directing and hopes are high!

Up in the Air

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham - a corporate downsizing expert (i.e. he fires people for a living) whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles. From the director of Juno, this looks ace!

February picks

Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese directs this sanity shattering horror / thriller about a U.S. marshal investigating the disappearance of a patient from Boston's Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital. Cue dangerous nutters on the loose in the middle of a storm… clichéd for sure but if anyone can make this work I reckon Scorsese can.

Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief

This one was nominated by my sons who think that the gods of Mount Olympus vs high school student Percy Jackson (who might just be the son of a god) plot might be cool. Who has stolen Zeus' lightning bolt? Can director Chris Columbus contain his sentimental urges for long enough to make a good film?

A Couple of Dicks / Cop Out

Darkmatters favourite Bruce Willis teams up with Tracy Morgan under the direction of Kevin ‘Clerks’ Smith – I think everyone should want to see A Couple of Dicks in 2010 – even if it will be released in the cop out name of ‘Cop Out’…

March picks

Clash of the Titans

Sam Worthington steps up as Perseus – tangling God of War style with Ralph Fiennes’ Hades, Liam Neeson’s Zeus and Gemma Arterton’s eye catching Io.

I can still remember seeing the original 1981 version as a 10 yr old and proclaiming it to be awesome… so no pressure then on the new version!

Alice in Wonderland
Tim Burton brings the oddness to this new retelling where 19-year-old Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

Green Zone

Matt Damon goes covertly rogue after faulty intelligence about Weapons on Mass Destruction in an unstable region brings about bad things… Director Greengrass is good at getting Damon to do action (Bourne Supremacy etc) so this could be a decent military thrill ride.

April picks

Date Night

This look lots of fun - directed by hit and miss Shawn Levy - I'm hoping that this delivers some good funnies, it certainly has the potential with Tina Fey / Steve Carell combo!

The Losers

After being betrayed and left for dead, members of a CIA black ops team root out those who targeted them for assassination… The Losers is based on one of my favourite graphic novels and if they keep the ‘A-Team only darker’ feel to this it could be a winner!?

Piranha 3D

Alexandre Aja – the once very promising horror director of Haute Tension (Switchblade Romance) takes the reigns for this fishy slaughter-athon that looks to be gross out fun for anyone wanting to see nubile bathers mown to pieces by razor toothed fishes…

May picks

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Jake Gyllenhaal brings the platform jumping, hack n slash fighting Prince to life on the big screen from his origins on the PlayStation. Expect flashy action but little plot.

Robin Hood

“Everything I do, I do it for you…” no more as Russle Crowe steps into the green tights (kidding) to add to the Robin Hood lore thanks to Ridley Scott. This just could be Gladiator 2!

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Shrek Ever After, Toy Story 3 and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are my kids’ picks that they are looking forward to.

Finally – Darkmatters’ top 3 most anticipated films of the year – two of which star the same girl!?

1. KICK ASS

Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan with a few friends and who lives alone with his father. His life is not very difficult and his personal trials not that overwhelming. However, one day he makes the simple decision to become a super-hero even though he has no powers or training. Dave isn't the only vigilante in town, though. The father-daughter team of Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) are already on the prowl. Whereas Dave is an amateur, Big Daddy and Hit Girl are like a paramilitary version of Batman and Robin. Hit Girl is the assassin that Natalie Portman could have become in ‘Leon ‘but with a more X-rated mouth!

2. Let Me In

Hopefully this American remake of my ‘film of 2009’ Let The Right One In can capture the same haunting and provocative atmosphere. The plot sees alienated 12-year-old Owen (Smit-McPhee) befriend a mysterious young newcomer Abbey (Chloe Moretz) in his small New Mexico town and discovers an unconventional path to adulthood. The film is based on the bestselling vampire novel, Lat den Ratte Komma In, by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist.

3. Iron Man 2

Bringing the heavy metal action this summer will be Iron Man 2 – following up the stylish first film. This time we’ll have Robert Downey Jr. taking on Mickey Roukes’ WhipLash. Nick Fury (Samula L Jackson), War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) add to the comic book fun!

PHEW - that's it for now!!

"Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl... she's going to be a big star this year!"

Monday, December 28, 2009

Darkmatters: Top 10 Films of 2009

You know the drill... these are the 10 best films of 2009 as voted for by Matt Adcock...

10. The Hangover

Funniest film of the year for sure - an unexpected bonus!!

Whole plot is summed up in this ace bit of dialogue:

Phil Wenneck: Tracy, it's Phil.
Tracy Garner: Phil, where the hell are you guys?
Phil Wenneck: Listen, we f**ked up. We lost Doug.
Tracy Garner: What? We're getting married in *five hours*.
Phil Wenneck: Yeah... that's not gonna happen.

9. Fish Tank

Great Brit film that captures emotions, aspirations and sexual chemistry - then messes with it all.

Katie Jarvis deserves to be a star!

8. District 9

It all kicks off when Wikus Van De Merwe picks up to examine and fiddle with silver canister and says: "Well, huh, this has got the markings of - so it's definitely alien but it's uh, not a weapon... but I don't trust it, ya know, I don't trust any-a the...arrghhh"
[sprayed in face with the Alien fuel] = a great set up for this intergalactic race relations masterpiece!

7. Slumdog Millionnaire

Poster for once says it all... you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to win a million!? Boyle is a genius director.

6. Moon

In space, no-one can hear you Whoop when you find an excellent, thought provoking new sci-fi... highly recommended for anyone with a brain and the capacity to enjoy good cinema!

5. Harry Brown

Striking a blow for ageing vigilantes and British films in one hard hitting package... a powerhouse film that strips society to its dark, rotting core (hoodies!?)...

4. Star Trek

Boldly going where we really wanted it to... The final frontier blasts a warp drive trail of fun and adventure that demands a sequel!

3. AVATAR

More space excitement - this time in jaw dropping 3D. Cameron has made a masterpiece that sets lots of new standards. See it in IMAX if you can!

2. Watchmen

The definitive graphic novel gets a stunning big screen make over. Rorschach FTW!!
This is story telling and visual stimulate taken to a whole new level!

1. Let The Right One In

Just amazing. This film delivers a rare experience – my wife who has yet to watch it all called it ‘quite the strangest thing she’d ever seen’. Movies like this are set apart from the run of the mill - you don't just watch Let The Right One In, you feel it too...

heck out last year's list here:

matts-top-10-films-of-2008

matts-top-10-films-of-2007

Matt's Top 10 Films 2006

Matt's Top 10 Films 2005

Matt's Top 10 Films 2004

Darkmatters Review: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes (12a)

Dir. Guy Ritchie

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

ONE WORD SUMMATION: CunningPlot

The names Holmes, Sherlock Holmes… The big screen takes a literary hit in the form of Guy
Ritchie’s new kick-ass new version of Sherlock Holmes. Robert Downey Jr. steps up as the crack detective and delivers a fantastic turn aided in no small part by his friend and partner in sleuthing Dr. Watson (Jude Law – acting better than he has in years!).

Villain of piece is the nefarious Lord Blackwood (Mark ‘Stardust’ Strong), a serial killer with a taste for young women and the black magic. Thwarted by Holmes in a fantastic opening scene, Blackwood proves to be a hard foe to keep down, rising from his tomb to continue his evil plans...

Holmes is a classic literary character from the mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and many were concerned when it was announced that Guy ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ Ritchie was going to direct this big budget reworking. But Ritchie delivers a rousing detective adventure that races along on a tide of excellent action scenes, witty dialogue and thrilling mystery.

Backed up with some really impressive CGI effects, this Holmes inhabits a living, breathing nineteenth Century London. The centre piece is a half built Tower Bridge above a bustling murky Thames, everything crackles with stylish attention to detail and a pleasing gothic feel which sucks viewers in. This dark and foreboding London provides a suitably classy backdrop for a deadly plot which stretches high into the corridors of power.

Hardcore fans of the novels should be pleased to learn that Ritchie’s Holmes is less pipe and Deerstalker Hat, and more fist fighting dandy whose brilliance at deductive detective work is mirrored by a self doubting, troubled inner character. This feels more like a detective hero we can really root for.

Credit must go to Robert Downey Jr. and Law who have brilliant screen chemistry and whose banter is fantastic to behold. Also on hand for some decent support is the lovely Rachel McAdams as a mischievous thief who has some ‘history’ with Holmes.

"Holmes is up against some very dark arts..."

It’s elementary my dear that with ‘untitled Sherlock Holmes sequel’ listed on both Ritchie and Downey Jr.’s coming soon slate - we can lookl forward to this being the start of a new franchise. Which is good news for movie fans as Sherlock Holmes has never been this much fun before.

Darkmatters final rating of: öööööööö (8 – worth seeing on the big screen for sure!)

Darkmatters quick reference guide:

Action 7 (some nice action set pieces)

Style 8 (classic look and feel)

Babes 6 (eye candy on hand)

Comedy 7 (Law and Downey Jr. are a laugh riot together)

Horror 6 (some nice gothic thrills)

Spiritual Enlightenment 4 (quality intellects win out)

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Darkmatters Review: AVATAR

AVATAR (12a)

Dir. James Cameron
Reviewed by Matt Adcock

ONE WORD SUMMATION: Imax-tastic
“You are not in Kansas anymore. You are on Pandora, ladies and gentleman.”

This is the intro given to the new soldier grunts as they arrive for their tour of duty on the planet moon Pandora – a vibrant place teaming with strange alien life… This is a world where the air is un-breathable, the plant life hostile and the alien population wild and savage but it is also the source of a highly valuable mineral. That is why the ruthless RDA Corporation has sent their military might with the mission to potentially evict the native Na’vi aliens by force. The secret weapon of the RDA is their AVATAR programme which allows humans to of control lab grown Na’vi bodies, with a view to establish relations with the aliens and persuade them to move.
Enter wheel-chair bound marine Jake Sully (Sam ‘Terminator Salvation’Worthington) who takes the place of his deceased brother on part in the AVATAR programme. Sully manages to befriend the Na’vi and falls in love with their princess Neytiri (Zoe ‘Star Trek’ Saldana). When it becomes clear that they do not wish to move from their home, Sully becomes caught between the two sides as greedy RDA boss Parker Selfridge lets his bloodthirsty Colonel Quaritch (Stephen ‘Public Enemies’ Lang) unleash his war machine on the Na’vi.
Director James Cameron has created an unsurpassed eye-popping visual feast with AVATAR – reportedly costing over $300million to make. I can guarantee that you’ll never have seen such immersive, impressive, jaw dropping special effects. The world of Pandora is an absolutely stunning creation. This is ‘high definition cinema’ like never before and the spectacle is even more amazing in the 3D screenings which I’d highly recommend choosing. The attention to detail is sumptuous, the imagination behind the alien world and the kick ass human future technology sets new standards in sci-fi excellence. Having ‘Aliens’ veteran Sigourney Weaver on hand as lead scientist Dr. Grace Augustine also adds a lovely subliminal link to Cameron’s previous alien epic.

If you want to pick holes in this technological marvel you might take issue with the ‘off the shelf’ goodies vs baddies coupled with love story plotline. Oh and the Leona Lewis theme song is a bit poor but these are minor grumbles for a film that delivers almost 3 hours of heavy duty entertainment. AVATAR is a ‘must see’ on the big screen – to quote my son James “this is the film of the year”.

Darkmatters final rating / out of 10: ööööööööö (9 – amazing on all levels, very nearly a '10')

Darkmatters quick reference guide:

Action 9 (awesome when it kicks off!)

Style 10 (unbelievably cool)

Babes 8 (would you go 'blue'? - you might be tempted!)

Comedy 6 (some comic touches)
Horror 6 (more tension than anything too horrible)

Spiritual Enlightenment 8 (Are we human - or are we dancer / AVATARs)

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Have a very Zavvi Christmas!!

This festive season entertainment specialist Zavvi.com will make your Christmas shopping even easier as it offers you the best in music, film, games, electronics, books and a host of other categories at the best prices.

In the run up to Christmas 2009 Zavvi.com are offering customers the chance to benefit from further ‘Deals of the Day’ and, with free delivery on all items, offer customers a reliable, low cost and stress-free alternative to the high street.

To see the rest of Zavvi.com’s extensive range of products available, please visit www.zavvi.com.

Under £10:

Gifts for Him…

	Muse – The Resistance Fronted by one of the most distinctive voices in modern music, Matt Bellamy, alternative rock giants Muse return with their most orchestral album to date, The Resistance. Zavvi.com price - £8.95 (RRP £16.99)
	Rocky: The Heavyweight Collection Now, the Best Picture Oscar-winning (1976) original and its equally powerful and action packed successors are presented with their best-ever picture and sound in The Heavyweight Collection. Rocky Balboa is an unlikely winner. At the outset, he's a second-rate boxer whose trainer has given up on him. That all changes when he "goes the distance" with the reigning champ! In the ensuing saga, Rocky battles the toughest of the tough and weathers even harder bouts outside the ring. With its riveting fight sequences and stirring performances, these six films tell the awe inspiring story of one hero's unforgettable journey. Zavvi.com price - £9.75 (RRP £48.99)
	For Crying Out Loud! Jeremy Clarkson For anyone who's ever been driven to wonder just what is the matter with people these days, "For Crying Out Loud" is the perfect riposte. Surprising, fearless and always laugh-out-loud funny, Clarkson's back and he's got a point. Zavvi.com price - £5.00 (RRP £7.99)

Gifts for Her…

	Twilight Double Disc DVD TWILIGHT, based on the acclaimed novel by Stephenie Meyer, is the highly-anticipated movie of the ultimate forbidden love affair between a vampire and mortal. Boasting a whole host of bright young talent including Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Kristen Stewart (Into The Wild, What Just Happened) and Cam Gigandet (Never Back Down, The O.C.), the screenplay is written by Melissa Rosenberg (Step Up, The O.C.) and directed by the Award-winning filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke (Lords of Dogtown, Thirteen). Zavvi.com price £9.95 (RRP £22.99)
	Mind Body and Soul: Nutrition Matters Nintendo DS Nutrition Matters offers users the ability to track their net calorie gains and losses through exercise and dieting. A simple and accessible tracking mechanism monitors both calorific burn through daily activity and food intake through an extensive nutrition database. It's the fun way to stay healthy on the move! Zavvi.com price - £8.95 (RRP £22.95)
	It's Not Me, It's You Lily Allen The outspoken mockney popstrel Lily Allen's debut album, 'Alright Still', established her as the voice of a new breed of young person, and the long-awaited follow-up 'It's Not Me It's You' is full of similarly zeitgeist-inflected tunes. The first single, 'The Fear', is somewhat heavier in tone than previous singles such as 'LDN' and 'Smile', and sees Allen dealing with notions of modern celebrity, a theme that continually crops up on the album. Allen also confronts political issues on this markedly more adult album than its predecessor, perhaps intentionally preparing a more mature image for the future. Zavvi.com price £8.95 (RRP £15.29) You know you want to!! check these facts... Zavvi.com offer FREE delivery on all items - Items are shipped from the Channel Islands offering significant tax savings e.g. Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 for PS3 Play.com Price = £44.99 Amazon Price = £39.70 Zavvi.com Price = £38.95

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Darkmatters AVATAR Competition

Darkmatters AVATAR Competition

AVATAR takes us to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on an epic adventure, ultimately fighting to save the alien world he has learned to call home.

James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of “Titanic,” first conceived the film 15 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not exist yet.
Now, after four years of production, AVATAR, a live action film with a new generation of special effects, delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story.

Matt Adcock's full Darkmatters review of AVATAR will be up this weekend but the good people at Fox have provided some fantastic AVATAR kit which you can win (if you live in the UK).

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a selection from the light up Drinking Glasses, Notepad and Pen, Glowing Shoelaces, USB Mouse Mat which glows and gives you 4 additional USB ports, Glow T-shirts, Messenger Bags, superb world time Clock or wicked Light-up Speakers for i-pod / mp3 or PC use is to answer this:

Question: What is the name of the alien race who are the natives of Pandora?

And for extra credit / better prizes:

Tie Breaker: If you were to control an AVATAR of any species from any sci-fi movie, comic, game or novel - who / what would you choose and why.

Please email your answers to: darkmatters@another.com by 24th Dec in the following format...

Answer:

The alien race who are the natives of Pandora are the XXXXXX

Tie Breaker:

I would choose my AVATAR to be XXXXXXXXXX from XXXXXXX because I'd use it to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Good luck!!

Editor's decision is final.

DARKMATTERS - The Mind of Matt