| |
Rocky
Balboa
Cert: 12A
Starring: Sylvester
Stallone, Milo Ventimiglia, Burt Young, Geraldine
Hughes
Director: Sylvester
Stallone
Running Time: 102
minutes
|
 |
The
thought of a new Rocky film may tend to have a couple of different
effects on people, some will go running to the cinema, others running
away from it. But this installment in the saga may give us a few
surprises yet.
It is modern day, with his career long behind him and his beloved
wife Adrian now passed away Rocky (Stallone) spends much of his time
reliving his past by relaying stories to the customers at his restaurant.
Meanwhile the reigning champion Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver) is struggling
for respect due to his unwillingness to take on a suitable challenger.
It is then Dixon’s manager contrives a publicity stunt of a
computer-generated match between his fighter and the legendary Rocky
Balboa.
With all of the renewed interest in the retired fighter, it does
not take long for people to want to see the real thing. The question
is can Rocky meet the challenge with age and his length of time out
of the ring against him?
This movie is much improved from some of the previous ones, in that
it goes back to the basics of the original film.
Yes there are areas of the film that are a little slow, and some
speeches are a bit long, but it’s your affection towards the
character and wanting the underdog to succeed that warms you to the
movie.
It is still not quite up to the original, but will give the younger
generation a chance to see what the ‘Rocky’ character
was all about, and the older ones a touch of nostalgia. |
Blood
Diamond
Cert: 15
Starring: Leonardo
DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly,
Stephen Collins, Arnold Vosloo, Jimi Mistry,
Michael Sheen
Directors: Ed
Zwick
Running
Time: 143
minutes
|
 |
Solomon
Vandy (Hounsou) is a fisherman from Sierra Leone whos life
is turned upside down when his village is raided by rebels.
His family become refugees, and while his son is press-ganged
into the service he is forced to work in the diamond mines.
But one day he discovers a large pink stone that he manages
to hide from his captors. However it is not long before rumour
of his discovery comes to the attention of fellow detainee,
Danny Archer (DeCaprio), a gunrunner and former mercenary.
These two Africans could not be any more different from each
other, but both are interested in the stone and its ability
to change their lives. By enlisting the help of Maddy Bowen
(Jennifer Connelly), a photojournalist who will do just about
anything to get an exclusive story, our trio find a common
goal - to get the stone and themselves out of Africa.
There are some good performances in this movie, and although
the action scenes are almost a little too plentiful, they are
generally quite well handled by the director and the plot moves
quite smoothly. But, what also adds to the movie is its look
at the workings of this sort of civil war and what goes on,
perhaps provoking a little thought of the effects on the children
and the communities that come into contact with it.
In general it is well filmed, and with its mixture of action
and its serious side does make an entertaining movie to see. |
Eragon
Cert: 15
Starring: Peter
O'Toole, Leslie Philips, Jodie Whittaker, Richard
Griffiths, Vanessa Redgrave
Director: Roger
Michell
Running
Time: 95
minutes
|
 |
Venus
is one of those quintessential British films, from the writer
that gave us ‘My Beautiful Lau-ndrette’, the director
of ‘Notting Hill’, to its veteran actors.
Two grumpy old actors, Ian (Leslie Phillips) and Maurice (Peter
O’Toole) spend much of their time together when not working.
Their world come to a crashing change when Ian invites his
grand-niece Jessie (Jodie Whittaker) to come and look after
him, only to find a loud, tough talking young girl who is really
more interested in finding a job while she is in London.
While Ian is in horror of Jessie, his friend on the other hand
is enthralled and becomes infatuated with her. Jessie is repulsed
with both of the old men, but begins to listen to Maurice when
he says he can get her a job.
As there relationship develops he wonders if he can turn this
country girl into a lady, but at the same time he begins to
realise how little he actually knows himself.
This movie is essentially a character study of an aging old
actor coming to terms with his life, and while this won’t
be to everyone’s taste, it is light hearted and pleasant
to watch. It gives us the opportunity to see some wonderful
acting and also the chance to see Peter O’Toole really
go to town with his character. |
|
|
