mattslim333 Reviews

Deepwater Horizon (2016)

Intense and moving

[9/10 · 9 October 2016]

Deepwater Horizon is based on true events- the explosion of an oil rig in 2010, which created the worst oil spill in US history. The first act of the film is rather character driven and explores the life of Mark Williams, played by Mark Wahlberg. He does a great job in the role and as usual puts in a great performance. Other actors include John Malkovich and Kurt Russell who also do well with the solid script, which relies largely on banter in the opening part, and the film can be funny despite the sensitive topic. As the film continues, you know what's coming and the way tension is built though mechanical shots of the inner workings of the rig are clever, as this builds the tension.

The actual explosion is the rig is incredibly intense, and the film is gripping all the way through. Even though most know the story, Deepwater Horizon never lost my interest and this is credit to the director Peter Berg, who showed his action style with the also gripping Lone Survivor. The action was largely not done through CGI and therefore looks very realistic and this is crucial for a personal film such as this. The aftermath and closing section of the film is very moving- after the high tension of the explosion, the personal tragedy caused by the event comes to the fore here and makes for a terrific ending and tribute to those who lost there lives. The soundtrack is touching here, and this is no surprise with the excellent Steve Jabolonsky on scoring duties.

The film's only fault is there is little development of most characters and they rather get lost behind the weight of the story, apart in this case from Wahlberg's character. Overall, Deepwater Horizon is a intense and moving tribute to those who lost their lives in this tragic event, and it's personal touch is clear which makes for an excellent film.

Jason Bourne (I) (2016)

2 stand out scenes but nothing else

[7/10 · 1 August 2016]

Paul Greengrass always delivers on action and suspense, a case proved with the original Bourne films and Captain Phillips, so I knew what to expect but I wanted more than that. I didn't get it.

The plot of the latest Jason Bourne film is basically him trying to find out more about his past, whilst being hunted by the CIA, so little is different from the originals. The only difference is bigger action sequences, and I must say they are spectacular, primarily the Athens sequence and the Las Vegas chase, as they are both suspenseful and enthralling. These both happen at opposite ends of the film, which consequently leaves the middle section pretty empty and cumbersome. There's a lot of running about through buildings in cities around Europe, and this never really leads anywhere and makes the middle section fairly boring.

The acting is OK, with Matt Damon doing fine with his little dialogue, with Tommy Lee Jones and Julia Stiles doing fine also, but nothing pushes the actors. The best performance comes from Vincent Cassel, who plays a CIA asset, with his character being the most interesting and developed in the film. The ending is also a problem, which is only there for sequel baiting and it should of been the start of the next film. Jason Bourne offers nothing new to the franchise, and it keeps looking back when it should be looking forward. I would also criticise the subplot of the "Deep Dream Co-operation" which is entirely pointless and doesn't add to what is basically a 2 hour chase.

Overall though, the film is pretty enjoyable, and is by no means terrible, just a bit boring in the middle and the lack of new ideas is evident. The franchise must have a new director to take it foreword, so we start looking at Bourne's future instead of his past.

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

The third one's always the worst

[7/10 · 25 May 2016]

Well, this isn't technically the 3rd film in the ever expanding X-Men franchise, but it is the 3rd in the prequel trilogy, and it's hopefully the last. X-Men Apocalypse is about the alleged first mutant who wants to "cleanse" the Earth and keep alive only the strong. The X-Men try to stop him, and the film starts in Ancient Egypt and this is never a good sign as the plot has too many strands which makes it rather complex. This isn't a criticism as all the plot elements are nicely brought together and overall the plot is OK. Michael Fassbender returns as Magneto and his character is seen in a different light in the 1st act; it's good character development for Magneto. Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy do what you expect them to do, which is put in good performances. They aren't challenged as the script is nothing special but it's certainly not the worst writing I've seen.

So what I've said so far suggests the film is mediocre and this is true but it needn't of been. The part of the film, leading up to the final battle is actually pretty enjoyable. It moves along well and I was really getting into the film. Couple this with Quicksilver's scene( the best part of the film by a mile) and it looks like a grand finale is in store. However, the finale is very predictable, as you could easily guess what was going to happen and there was no intrigue there at all. It was very standard action movie CGI stuff, so I actually found it pretty boring and it really spoils the good work of the rest of the film. It feels like the film builds to a climax that isn't what is should be: it's just a CGI, seen it all before fest. Despite this, the newcomers Ben Hardy and Sophie Turner excel in there roles and show why they should be in more blockbusters in the future.

Overall, the decent script and decent acting can't help X-Men Apocalypse which loses it way in the final act, even though the promise was there. The predictability of the finale and the CGI heavy action really make it boring. I'm all for action scenes but this needed to feel more realistic (if that's possible in a superhero film) and more physical. I enjoyed parts of it, but it could of been so much better.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Perfection in movie form

[10/10 · 11 May 2016]

I wrote a glowing review on here for Age of Ultron, and I watched it again recently and it wasn't as good as I remember. So I wanted Civil War to be better, and it's better in every single aspect, from the plotting to the action scenes. The plot is that collateral damage from an event divides the Avengers, and it ends with civil war. That is a very broad summary but I don't want to spoil it. The plot is considered, well planned and intriguing with many elements pulling together to make a thrilling plot with surprises along the way. Unlike Avengers 2, the story isn't messy and it's more interesting as it doesn't hinge on huge action scenes. So a perfect story. The new characters are very nicely introduced, such as Black Panther who is important in the story and isn't crowded out by the other members of the team. The fact that all the characters feel more connected and he makes a valuable addition to the Marvel Universe. The only thing missing is a comedic connection, but this is made up for with some spectacular action.

The action scenes are stunning. The one at the airport is one of the best I've seen, as it's so well directed and it shines with the new additions to the team. The film isn't all action though and some of the more touching, character driven moments really ring true through the fights. The whole film, from the way it's directed, to the action, to characters is all perfectly played and perfectly done. I can' really think of a single fault, the lack of comedy isn't really an issue as the film flies along at a great pace. The film doesn't feel as long as it is, and that is always the sign of a perfect film.

Overall, all elements of Civil War are stunning. There is nothing wrong with it and it's certainly the best Marvel film to date and we, as superhero movie fans, couldn't of asked for anything more.

Criminal (2016)

Criminally underrated

[7/10 · 17 April 2016]

Criminal has been slated in most reviews I've read, so I went into this film expecting very little from it. However, the film is actually considerably better than these reviews suggest and has some clever ideas running through it. It's all about the memories of Bill Pope, played by Ryan Reynolds, being transferred into Jericho Stewart, played by Kevin Costner. Both actors do well with what they are given, and Costner is particularly impressive when he has to deal with his own thoughts and Pope's as well. This memory transplant is done so a task can be completed, and you'll understand why if you watch the film. The start of the film is very intense and really pulls in your interest, with a selection of plots being introduced and I felt they all connected quite nicely at the end. The script is a bit lacklustre and uses swearing for effect rather than proper character development, although this isn't totally lacking, as Stewart tries to connect with Pope's family, which develops the story and characters quite nicely.

The action sequences provide nothing new or inventive to the genre, but they are well done and they always feel like a payoff for decent storytelling. The primary issue I had with Criminal is the middle section, which becomes very lacklustre and slow, and to be honest is a bit boring. I know most films slow down at some stage, but this one lost my interest a bit, which is never a good sign. We get to see a lot of Gel Gadot here, and she plays a good part and acts well alongside Costner. However the film picks up again with a pretty good final third, although again, nothing new is shown and the action is slightly generic. The film ends well, and the clever principles of this film are not lost through the seen it all before action scenes.

So overall, Criminal is film with clever ideas but has generic action sequences which does not merit these ideas, despite the action being entertaining. The acting is good, but the script is lacklustre and the middle section is slow. Criminal is worth a watch, but it won't win any awards despite it being a decent crack at the action film genre.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Terrific fun

[9/10 · 5 April 2016]

Batman v Superman is a film with 2 pressures: hype and pleasing a huge fan base. I was certainly caught up the hype, and I feel like it lives up to in in almost all aspects of the movie. I'm also sure the fans would be pleased, as it's actually a very impressive film. As the title the suggests, the film is about Batman v Superman, which occurs for a variety of reasons which are explained reasonably well in the movie, and also features Lex Luther plotting a master plan as you would expect. The main cast include Ben Affleck as Batman, who does an exceptional job and he makes the role his own. Henry Cavill continues as Superman, a role which he suits pretty well, and does well, although I felt Affleck was better in his performance. Jesse Einsburg has a cracking go at portraying Lex Luther, and he brings a strange and psychotic nature to the role, with some terrific acting. All the other cast do just fine (e.g. Amy Adams as Lois Lane)and there aren't any problems with the performances. The action sequences are very impressive, as they have a physical feel despite being laden with CGI. This shows in the final act, which uses an incredible amount of CGI, but this doesn't devalue the film. The score is also very good, and it accompanied the film very well. The script is also well written, and it isn't clichéd and the dialogue is very impressive, with the characters embracing the value of saying quality lines.

Despite these good points, Batman v Superman is a little bit let down by messy storytelling at the beginning and I found it difficult to follow the plot to start with and the opening is a bit all over the place to be honest. The strands of the story do eventually connect up, but it could of been a lot cleaner. Another minor problem is Wonder Women, and whether she is needed in the film. It's debatable, but I liked it as she is well introduced when she finally appears, and I would of liked to see her in a larger portion of the film. I also felt the movie is a little bit over the top and it does get ridiculous at times.

Overall, Batman v Superman has all you'd expect from a superhero film: Big action, lots of CGI, and generally being over the top. What it also has which some films of this type don't is quality acting and a good script, which certainly make DC's latest film worth a watch. It's pure superhero madness.

London Has Fallen (2016)

Not as bad as you think

[7/10 · 13 March 2016]

I walked into this film expecting a brain dead action film about a terrorist attack on London, and that is primarily what I got. London has Fallen is all about a plot to assassinate all the world leaders when they attend the Prime Minister's funeral, after he dies in dodgy circumstances. The U.s president is protected by Mike Banning, played by the predictable Gerard Butler, who puts in his usual hard man performance without really trying, and the president is played by Aaron Eckhart who does a reasonable job. The US security team include Morgan Freeman who admitted he only did it for the money, which pretty much sums up the script's quality. Freeman is not challenged, but does fine with what he is given in a boring rather clichéd script.

Before the action starts, we get see some of Mike's family life which is an interesting perspective for this film, and provides us with some meaningful character development, which makes a change from the 1st film. I liked the family perspective, but the script doesn't support it well enough so it drops off as the film really gets going. When the attacks first happen, and the events straight after this is when the film is at it's best, with some exhilarating sequences and some questionable dialogue from all involved. After the initial attack, the pace doesn't drop, which is good as otherwise the film would become a drab affair. Despite the fast pace, the action is very predictable, despite being enjoyable, and I also thought the ending was pretty good and well thought out. Despite the good, there is other bad, like the supporting characters rather falling by the way side, like a British agent and it feels like she's just been thrown in to include a women in the film, and I felt she should of had an expanded role. Also, the score was no where near dramatic enough for my liking, even though you can't notice it all the time because of the quick pace of the movie.

To summarise, they poor script is evident throughout despite great action sequences and decent pacing. The lead stars do what they have to do, without doing anything spectacular whilst other characters fall to the wayside. Despite it's faults, London Has Fallen is nonetheless an enjoyable action flick, but is certainly won't win any awards or get amazing reviews, but brain dead films never do.

The Transporter Refueled (2015)

Rebooted but not fully refuelled

[5/10 · 16 January 2016]

I liked the original Transporter films, they were boosted by the acting of Jason Statham and some enthralling chases and stunts. The latest edition to the franchise lacks these 2 things, with Ed Skerin taking over duties as Transporter Frank Martin, and whilst his performance is solid, he's no Statham and he doesn't suit the role as well. Also, the chases are not as exciting as before, with them being too similar to other films, bringing nothing new or different to the action film table. The stunts are OK, but the shoddy camera work spoils them as it's hard to follow and the over use of corny slow motion shots doesn't help the film's cause, and makes everything rather cliché.

The plot is implausible, with the likelihood of 4 prostitutes trying to topple there boss with such an intricate well thought out plan being zero. However, the script is largely OK, but the addition of Frank's dad gives the script a poor excuse to add some awful 1 liners between dad and son. Also, the 3 musketeers references are very out of place, to put it lightly. Despite the films flaws, there is still some things to enjoy, like to films quick pace and decent acting. The film is also enjoyable and fun, despite it being not very good quality from a critical view.

Overall, The Transporter Refuelled is a reboot that lacks the qualities of the original trilogy, and a poor plot and script problems make the credible acting of Ed Skerin fall under the wheels. Despite this, you can still enjoy what is there, as the film moves along nicely. Don't, however, pay too much attention. There's no point, as you will instantly forget the film when it ends and go back to watch the originals to remind yourself what the series used to be.

Ant-Man (2015)

Impressive.

[8/10 · 18 July 2015]

I love pretty much all the Marvel films, except Iron Man 2, which is awful. They often involve big action set pieces, but Ant-Man is a little different. The action is toned down, and the film is much more character driven, and the movie reaps rewards from this. The characters are brilliantly written and they spark off each other and create chemistry between themselves. This is achieved by a fantastic and quirky script, which Ant-Man benefits from.

Michael Douglas is puts in a solid performance along with Paul Rudd and all the other cast. The acting is very solid throughout the film, and Michael Pena's character is a brilliant and well-written part to the film. Ant-Man has moments of brilliant comedy, which mean the film's 2 hour run time just fly by, the film feels effortless in it's cleverness. Now, to the action scenes. They are few, but when they do come, they are eccentric and feel different in the way they are shot/edited from other films. When Ant-Men shrinks, the difference in scale feels real and this is vital to the film's success and is what provides the action with a different feel.

The problem I had with Ant-Man was it lacked a killer punch in the finale. Even though the final act is good, I feel it lacked a moment to make you go "WOW!!", and you usually get these moments in Marvel films. I also felt that some strands of the storyline were not followed up on in the film's conclusion, but maybe they will be addressed in later Ant-Man films, as I presume there will be a sequel.

Overall, Ant-Man is a great addition to the Marvel cinematic universe, and it's eccentric and has a lot to enjoy. It's got it's niggles, but it's great fun and Ant-Man will be a brilliant edition to future Avengers films.

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

It's good, but it's not quite White House Down.

[8/10 · 17 July 2015]

I like Antione Fuqua, his films are often well-written and tense. Olympus has Fallen is certainly tense, with the opening action set piece and the climax of the movie. However this tension is not there in the middle half of the film, and it plods along without much story development in the 2nd act. Despite this, Olympus has Fallen is still pretty enjoyable. The acting from Aaron Eckhart and Gerard Butler is impressive, and the supporting cast do a good job too. I didn't like the score, it didn't really add to the movie at all and never ramped up the tension like a good score should. This is quite a minor problem, amongst a enjoyable film.

Despite this, we must compare it to White House Down, a film of similar nature. I much preferred WHD, as it's comic verve in the script make it less plodding and the pacing is much better than Olympus has Fallen. The overall films are both good, but WHD is better in a variety of ways.

Olympus has Fallen, then, is a enjoyable action film with good acting performances, but lacks the comedy that WHD has and I think the action is actually more exciting in said film. However, Olympus has Fallen is good fun nonetheless and is definitely good popcorn entertainment, but it certainly won't win any awards.

Terminator Genisys (2015)

Dumb but fun

[8/10 · 6 July 2015]

Terminator Genisys is one of those films which you can't think about too much, otherwise your brain will melt like liquid metal. You need to just enjoy it, and I enjoyed it very much. The best thing about Terminator Genisys is the action sequences which are exciting and well edited, and aren't shaky-cam mad like Transformers. It makes it exhilarating and thee bus flip scene is particularly impressive. The acting doesn't feel wooden and Emilia Clarke does a great job as Sarah Connor. I thought however that J.K Simmons and Matt Smith didn't get enough screen time, so the film did them no justice. I liked the score too.

The main central problem with Terminator Genisys is the plot. It felt convoluted and rushed and to be honest made minimal sense. Too much is not explained in the film and you end up thinking "What does that mean?" and "How is that possible?." None of this is helped by Arnie's techno babble, which does the film no good. The script was actually pretty solid apart from the babble.

Overall, then, I really enjoyed it but the plot needed to be simpler. But if you can live with the silly plot, Terminator Genisys is not a waste of time and a good edition to the franchise.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The Ultimate Superhero Movie

[9/10 · 26 April 2015]

Avengers: Age of Ultron is all about the rise of Tony Stark supposed peacekeeping program, Ultron, who I'm sure will become an iconic villain, as he tries to destroy the human race.

To start with, this film is brilliant. It has everything. Comedy, action, suspense and strong characters. The comedic elements in the film, mainly at the start of the film, work really well and create chemistry between the superhero's, which was lacking in the first film. Next, the action sequences are prolonged and a bit mad, but not on a Michael Bay level. The sequences work really well, and the best piece of action is the Iron Man v Hulk scene, which wows and adds more to the characters. Apart from the action, some backstop is explored mainly of Black Widow, which, again, works really well, as do the edition of all the new characters. They never feel lost to the egos of Captain America and Iron Man, and give the film an angle the first one never had in the end: A feeling of sadness and tragedy at the ending, and it is set up perfectly for more Avengers movies.

Overall, if you have any sense, you will see this film and love it when it finishes.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Brilliant film

[9/10 · 23 February 2015]

Kingsman is brilliant. Lets not mess around here, it's a truly fantastic movie. Matthew Vaughn delivers a cracking spy film which delivers thrills and spills but also emotion so you can connect with the characters.

The acting in Kingsman in sublime. Colin Firth puts in a stellar performance, acting with grit and getting the comedic side bang on. Newcomer Taron Egerton is also fantastic, getting the right balance between hard man and nice man, without making his character too clichéd. The action and soundtrack are 2 other things which really stood out for me in this film, with the action sequences shot in a very unique and stylistic way that makes the action enthralling. The finale, without spoiling it, it particularly good for action sequences. The soundtrack is a mix of composed music made directly for the film and well known songs, like Guardians of the Galaxy. This works really well, and gives the film a fun tone and makes you smile.

The only reason this doesn't get a ten is because it felt a bit short in places, especially when Eggsy is training. Hopefully this will be extended on DVD, to add that extra bit of story. Maybe the back story was too confusing. Make up your own mind. Watch this film.

American Sniper (2014)

A absolute must see

[10/10 · 26 January 2015]

When you go and watch a Clint Eastwood film, you expect a powerful film filled with emotion and heart stopping tension. American Sniper doesn't disappoint in these departments, as Eastwood delivers a stunning motion picture.

Firstly, Bradley Cooper is fantastic as Chris Kyle, delivering typical family man values but losing them thorough the pressures of war. he delivers emotion and passion in the role, and was the perfect casting choice. Sienna Miller is great as his wife too, showing the stress of being a wife to a Navy Seal.

Another big positive is, of course, the action. It's very realistic, with plenty of blood and exciting moments to keep American Sniper moving at a good pace. Also, the script is brilliant as the dialogue between Kyle's army mates is snappy and often comedic, again very realistic.

To top this cracking film off, the ending scene where Kyle is revealed to have died is very powerful and wraps up a powerful film perfectly.

Overall, a total triumph.

Into the Storm (2014)

Plenty to enjoy here!

[7/10 · 22 December 2014]

Into the Storm is good fun. No other way to describe it really, it just provides all you expect from a disaster movie. Lots of action sequences, a bit of tension, and brilliant CGI throughout. Despite this, the characters lack proper depth, but this is probably made up for by great acting, mainly from Richard Armitage, of course He really plays a great part of a troubled dad, and this gives a lot to the film.

However, the main problem I had with this film was the shocking ending. It's very much a "God bless America" style ending, which I don't feel sums up a disaster movie well at all. To make matters worse, the 2 idiot storm chasers survived, god only knows how, this being unrealistic, in what overall is a realistic interpretation of natural disasters.

Overall, if you look past the awful ending and lack of depth, there is plenty to enjoy here. It's not as good as other films of it's kind, but it makes a good attempt, and this makes Into the Storm worth a watch.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

The rubbish i thought it would be.

[2/10 · 14 December 2014]

This being a TMNT movie, I thought it would be a bit stupid, but not so stupid the film becomes a farce of the franchise. I don't feel the comedy in the movie works well, and the jokes don't come over to the human characters. Another problem was the sheer amount of pointless back story. The turtles are so bogged down in this some of them lose there characteristics, whereas the humans have zero back story.

The only way the movie redeems itself(slightly) is through the CGI towards the end of the film. It makes the action feel real, even though the film is about ninja turtles. This being produced by Michael Bay, we can expect this, however I feel the rest of the film didn't live up to this, making the film shocking and lacking in any real plot or involving elements that make movies good.