DESPICABLE ME

Animated action\adventure

PRINCIPAL VOICES
Steve Carell: Gru, candidate to become “the Greatest Villain of All Time”
Russell Brand: Gru’s mad scientist associate Dr. Nefario
Julie Andrews: Gru’s mother
Jason Segel: upstart inventor Vector
Kristen Wiig: Miss Hattie, owner of an orphanage
Miranda Cosgrove: Margo, a resident of Miss Hattie’s Home for Girls
Elsie Fisher: her tomboy friend Agnes
Dana Gaier: their young friend Edith
Will Arnett: the banker Mr. Perkins

REVIEW
The title gives a hint of what’s to come: a movie about an unpleasant, perhaps socially irresponsible person, who takes pride in being recognized as such. But what it does not tell you is that this is one witty, funny movie that is entertaining and heart-warming.

As with any good animated comedy geared to children there are references that only adults will understand such as the name of Gru’s bank. And there’s one joke for the Spanish speaking crowd and one for those old enough to know how to spell. But there are lots of other funny moments, some of them the laugh-out-loud sort.

Hans Zimmer, as Score Producer, is responsible for the wall-to-wall music. He remains my all-time favourite cinema soundtrack composer.

CLASSIFICATION
for rude humor and mild action.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
The carnival game operator has a soft drink on the counter with a short straw in it. Moments later he takes a sip from it but the straw is twice as long.

P.S.
I enjoyed the movie so much I saw it twice in both formats. To me this time it’s worth the extra few dollars to see the 3D version despite the slightly dimished brillance of colours.

P.S.S.
Stick around during the end credits to see some more antics of Gru’s little yellow minions who jabber away while getting into more mischief.

KNIGHT AND DAY

Action adventure romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Tom Cruise: Roy Miller
Cameron Diaz: June Havens, a vintage car restorer
Peter Sarsgaard: F.B.I. Agent Fitzgerald
Marc Blucas: firefighter Rodney, June’s ex-boyfriend
Paul Dano: boy scientist Simon Feck
Jordi Molla: Antonio, an international arms dealer
Viola Davis: F.B.I. Director George

REVIEW
It scores on all four counts: lots of action, limited adventure, plenty of romance and a sprinkling of comedy. The action sequences are short and sweet so you won’t get bored with them and the cinematography takes advantage of the locations so it is almost a travelogue as well.

The acting is fine, the story has the mandatory twists and turns but unlike most of this genre the plot is not too convoluted so it’s not too taxing.

CLASSIFICATION
for sequences of action violence throughout and brief strong language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• The flight attendant completely ignores passengers walking about the aircraft despite the fact the seat belt sign is on.
• While driving on the motorcycle Roy and June encounter the famous running of the bulls. Trouble is that takes place in Pamplona, not Seville.
• Cape Horn, Chile is approximately 11,105 km distant from Los Angeles not 3,976 as indicated on the beach sign post.

P.S.
The little souvenir Roy purchases in the airport gift shop accounts for the first half of the movie title but I have no idea what the “Day” part is all about.

WINTER’S BONE

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Jennifer Lawrence: 17-year-old Ree Dolly
Ashlee Thompson: her 6-year-old sister Ashlee
Isaiah Stone: their 12-year-old brother Sonny
Shelley Waggener: their neighbour Sonya
Garret Dillahunt: Sheriff Baskin
Lauren Sweetser: Ree’s best friend (or sister?) Gail
Cody Brown: Gail’s husband Floyd
Cinnamon Schultz: another neighbour Victoria
John Hawkes: Victoria’s husband Teardrop

REVIEW
This is no walk in the park. For the first fifteen minutes or so you have no idea why we are following the daily activities of some desperately poor people living in the Ozarks Mountains somewhere in Missouri.

The pervasive pale silvery-grey colours set the tone with just a hint of what is to come in this gripping rural crime story. The acting is uniformly first rate although that of Jennifer Lawrence is the best.

CLASSIFICATION
for some drug material, language and violent content.

P.S.
Mention of the fact “he's cookin' again” is not the sort one does at home nor that which takes place in a restaurant: it is the illegal manufacture of the psychoactive stimulant methamphetamine, better known as crystal meth.

TOY STORY 3

Animated adventure

PRINCIPAL VOICES
John Morris: 17-year-old Andy
Laurie Metcalf: his mom
Tom Hanks: Woody the Cowboy
Tim Allen: Spaceman Buzz Lightyear
Joan Cusack: Jessie the Cowgirl
Don Rickles: Mr. Potato Head
Estelle Harris: Mrs. Potato Head
Jodi Benson: Barbie doll
Wallace Shawn: Rex the Dinosaur
Blake Clark: Slinky Dog
John Ratzenberger: Hamm the Piggybank
Ned Beatty: Lots-o-Huggin’ Bear aka “Lotso”
Michael Keaton: Ken
Teddy Newton: Chatter Telephone
Emily Hahn: Bonnie
Timothy Dalton: Mr. Pricklepants
Kristen Schaal: Trixie the girl Dinosaur

REVIEW
Although less witty than the first two installments and without the double entendre for “adults only” it more than makes up for these shortcomings with a more interesting story, one filled with adventure, comedy and romance.

As usual the animation is nothing short of perfection, something we’ve come to expect from Pixar Studios.

One caveat: the garbage collection center sequence may be too scary for some kids but it’s hard to tell for sure in a darken movie theatre: if so, they all seem to have recovered by the time the end credits appeared.

CLASSIFICATION


P.S.
Save yourself some money and don’t bother seeing it in 3-D as there only one or two scenes where it adds anything to the viewing experience and as with all 3-D it suffers from a less brilliant palette than in the traditional format.

SPLICE

Science fiction

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Adrien Brody: genetic researcher Clive Nicoli
Sarah Polley: his associate and girlfriend Elsa Kast
Brandon McGibbon: Clive’s brother lab technician Gavin
David Hewlett: their boss William “Bill” Barlow
Simona Maicanescu: Joan Chorot, head of the pharmaceutical firm
Delphine Chanéac: Dren

REVIEW
This updated “Frankenstein” tale of two scientists working with gene-splicing technology to create new species has a twist: the result of their efforts might have beneficial pharmaceutical implications. But maybe not.

The CGI is pretty seamless and the use of gore to shock is done sparingly although there are moments when turning the head aside seems the best course of action, certainly for the squeamish like me.

The acting is fine and the leads do a credible job of being “a almost married couple”. Certainly not for everyone, but those who are into this sort of thing will find it mildly entertaining.

CLASSIFICATION
for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language.

PRINCE OF PERSIA

Action/adventure

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Ronald Pickup: King Sharaman of Persia
Jake Gyllenhaal: the King’s adopted son Prince Dastan
Richard Coyle: the King’s eldest son and heir Prince Tus
Tony Kebbell: the King’s second son Prince Garsiv
Ben Kingsley: Nizam, the King’s brother and most trusted adviser
Gemma Arterton: Princess Tamina
Alfred Molina: Sheik Amar, an ostrich race promoter

REVIEW
This big-budget fantasy adventure is an action-oriented romp through ancient lands. There's never a dull moment despite the fact a lot of what transpires makes little sense. Trying to keep track of the good-guys and bad-guys takes some effort as does the time-travel aspect from the mystical dagger.

What with all the running around and fighting, acting really takes a back seat amidst all the special effects. It is a moderately entertaining time out from reality although the target audience of young teens would certainly disagree.

CLASSIFICATION
for intense sequences of violence and action.

GET HIM TO THE GREEK

Comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Russell Brand: rock star Aldous Snow
Rose Byrne: his girlfriend Jackie Q
Jonah Hill: Aaron Green, employee of a record company
Elisabeth Moss: Aaron’s live-in girlfriend medical intern Daphne Binks
Sean “Diddy” Combs: Sergio Roma, executive with Pinnacle Records
and others no doubt

REVIEW
Raunchy comedy is not for everyone: characterised by its sex-oriented theme and reliance upon the frequent use of the f-word instead of intelligent dialogue it is replete with lots of partying, drinking and doing drugs.

The “humour” includes explicit reference to certain body parts, projectile vomiting, lots of carnage and mayhem, various sex acts, speeding cars and fast women. In a word, anything that might provoke some mirth from the target audience.

I could not wait to walk out.

CLASSIFICATION
for strong sexual content and drug use throughout, and pervasive language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
While laying in bed Daphne’s ID card changes position between shots despite the fact she remains on her back with her arms at her side. It does the same thing when she and Aaron are having a coffee in the hospital’s cafeteria.