Review: Skyfall

Review: Skyfall

"You know the rules of the game now. You've been playing it long enough."

M's careful statement to Daniel Craig's ever-improving Bond at the start of the movie sums up the James Bond series so far as Skyfall marks the 50th Anniversary of the character and the 23rd Bond movie in total. Such an occasion for such an iconic character should be marked with a movie that struts majestically forward in style whilst also glancing over its shoulder to the past, and Skyfall delivers in waves.

Yet what makes Skyfall such an excellent definition of a Bond movie is not the quirky gadgets, the larger-than-life villain or the relentless action scenes. It is the connection between old Jimmy and Judi Dench's M, one that has been a staple of the series for many years. The humanising of 007 himself is a feature that the franchise has long been missing, as Bond finally transforms from a savvy, generic super-slick spy to a man with a deep connection to his country and the people around him.

The film opens with an astounding chase sequence through the streets of Istanbul, as Bond chases down an enemy who holds data on every agent in the secret service. However, the mission fails and Bond ends up missing presumed dead. While he is "enjoying death" in a remote part of the world, the identities of several secret agents are revealed to an unknown villain who appears to have a connection to M's past. When the MI6 building is hit by a terrorist attack and M's life is put in danger, Bond returns to London and, equipped with trademark gadgets and fast cars, gets hot on the heels of the mysterious baddie. Yet, as he becomes more desperate and more lives are lost, he finds that his loyalty to M may not be as indestructible as he thought.

It's a premise that one can't imagine acting as a synopsis for one of Pierce Brosnan's over the top 90s Bond outings, and especially not Roger Moore's stereotypically wacky adventures as the spy, yet Skyfall's story is the most absorbing James Bond tale yet. From the opening scenes in which he and his "Bond-girl" Eve unintentionally destroy half of Istanbul in an exhilirating chase sequence, Daniel Craig's interpretation of the agent clicks into place almost immediately and we finally get a good look at the human behind the gun. Craig is on fine form, delivering his lines with a grim sense of brutality when required. His refusal to accept that there may be no place for a man like Bond in this modern world where computers are capable of bringing down entire companies is a refreshing twist for the character, and behind Craig's confident, suave eyes lie a deep emptiness within 007; one that possibly explains his need to flirt with death so compulsively. 

Yet Judi Dench threatens to steal the show as M. Skyfall marks her 7th appearance as Bond's superior, and her performance is superb as a woman coming to terms with the fact that the agents she sends on perilous missions are real men with real lives - lives that are in her hands. Ralph Fiennes and Ben Wishaw are excellent additions to the cast as Mallory, M's superior, and Q respectively. There is an excellent nod to previous Bond flicks as Q offers the spy a new gun which only he can fire, as well as a tiny radio which can send out a distress signal. "Not exactly Christmas is it?" scoffs Bond. "What were you expecting, an exploding pen?" smirks Q. "We don't really go for that anymore."

Of course, 007 isn't 007 without a memorable villain, and Javier Bardem provides an astounding performance as Raoul Silva. I can pay him no greater compliment than to compare his performance to that of Heath Ledger as The Joker; there is a madness behind his methods. He seems to block 007 at every turn and whenever we are sure our hero has the upper hand, Bond is knocked back down again. This pushes the theme of Skyfall further as we know that Bond isn't invincible and neither are the people around him.

The geographical scale of the film is excellent also, as for the first half we are transported around the globe from the remote corner of the world where Bond hides away, back to London, then off to Shanghai for some glorious fieldwork. Yet for the latter half of the film, we stay put in Britain, from the centre of London all the way to the Scottish highlands; a glorious sentiment to the British history of the Bond movies, and it's fantastic to see such a momentous display of action packed espionage take place right here at home.

Unfortunately however, Skyfall loses its edge when it comes to the girls. It seems to be a 'token' element of every movie that there be a Bond-girl, yet this particular entry doesn't need one. Eve is a witty character, yet it seems as though her back story is not fleshed out, she does not interact with anyone except Bond himself and she simply pops up whenever required with no real explanation.

The pacing is also an issue too, as at 142 minutes Skyfall certainly feels like a long movie. Still, this is the 50th anniversary of a majorly iconic character so we can forgive the team for enjoying a little self indulgence. This is one for the fans, and true followers of the Bond franchise will surely be very grateful for the lengthy running time.

The modern James Bond movies have always contained a feature to be admired; where the vast majority of films these days prefer to show off their flashy title card over a few seconds, Skyfall continues the tradition of playing the always-excellent Bond songs (in this case Adele's sultry Skyfall number) over brilliantly produced title sequences. As always, this review is spoiler-free but it's enough to say you will be blown away by the artistically superb scenes.

Summary

Director Sam Mendes had a momentous task on his hands when he took the reins of Bond's 23rd cinematic outing, but that hasn't stopped him delivering an outstanding feat of cinematic greatness coupled with a few nods of nostalgia. Thanks to some superb action sequences, a story which finally delves deeper into the characters and some Oscar-worthy performances from Daniel Craig and the rest of the cast, Skyfall isn't simply one of the best movies of 2012 - it's the best James Bond yet.

9/10 - Brilliant

See it if you liked: Casino Royale (2006), Taken (2008), Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

Review: Paranormal Activity 4

Review: Paranormal Activity 4

Another Halloween means another instalment in the Paranormal Activity franchise. Last year, after the slightly disappointing Paranormal Activity 3, the cash cow series was accused of having its udders rubbed until red raw due to a disappointing film with a very lacklustre send off. 

So is Paranormal Activity 4 an exciting return to form for the home-video horror, or is it yet another example of a sequel nobody wanted?

The result is a mixed bag. The film has a lot of fun teasing its audience to the point where the tension has us on the edge of our seats, however when the tease is revealed to be nothing particularly exciting, original or even scary, Paranormal Activity 4 leaves a bitter feeling that we should have been given more.

For those who may have forgotten, Paranormal Activity 2 left off with the possessed Katie killing her older sister and stealing her baby, Hunter. Sprint forward a few years and we are introduced to Alice, a 15 year old girl with a little brother, Wyatt, and parents who seem to be hovering on the brink of divorce. One day, a single mother and her child, Robbie, move in to the house across the street and (apparently) the mother takes ill and Robbie has to stay with Alice's family for a few days. 

Needless to say, strange occurrences begin terrorizing the household as soon as Robbie steps foot in the door, and Alice becomes convinced that something - or someone - has begun creating some, er, paranormal activity with some fatal consequences.

There's really no need to delve further into the plot; it's enough to say that Alice has a sort-of boyfriend named Ben, who comes up the nifty idea of using the laptops within the house to constantly record what anyone may be up to. Another really cool addition to the narrative technique is the use of an Xbox 360's Kinect machine, which, when viewed through a video camera, bathes the room in an eerie green glow. 

Also in the movie's favour is the fact that the acting is fantastic, as Alice and Ben are surprisingly likeable protagonists despite their immaturity. They are actually convincing teens rather than adults pretending to be youthful, while the child actors playing Wyatt and Robbie are fantastically creepy. It is clear that Robbie is disturbed from the first moment we see him, and as the film progresses his sinister dialogue is delivered with a sense of dread. "Why doesn't he like me?" asks Ben, when Robbie confesses his unseen friend does not hold any fondness for him. "You'll see," replies Robbie, sending a shiver down our spines. 

Katie Featherston is also on top form as usual as the possessed antagonist, Katie. Her creepy movements, voice and general presence consistently brings back memories of the first two films.

However, the commendable acting is not enough to distract from the horrifically slow pace of the movie, as well as a lack of ingenuity followed by a very disappointing climax. 

We all know what to expect by now in terms of the scares; for the first 20 minutes or so, nothing particularly frightful occurs. A door opens of its own accord, or perhaps a light switches on for no reason. However, in previous instalments, particularly the second, there have been stand out moments of genuine fright and terror in the audience. Take for example, the kitchen scene in Paranormal Activity 2 in which Kristi sits in the middle of the day and reads a magazine. Then, with no anticipation or the ominous rumbling that we have come to expect, every single cupboard door slams open with an explosive bang, making us jump out of our seats. 

Unfortunately there is no such moment in Paranormal Activity 4. There is a massively tense build up to each scare, which ultimately makes the moment itself predictable and unable to live up to the promise of the anticipation. For example, several scenes involving the family's cat jumping in front of the camera become tiresome and it almost gets to the point where we are insulted by the film-makers for leading us on so tediously. 

Add to this a really short lived period of exciting terror during the last twenty seconds of the film and we are left with a bitter realization that Paranormal Activity 4 could have, and should have, been much scarier than it actually was. The movie itself is very unevenly paced, as it takes a very long time for the real tension to crank up and even then, it seems to end as soon as the film begins to show superb potential by transforming into a tale of pure terror. The final few terrifying minutes are easily the best moments of the movie and it's unfortunate that they are not a decent representation of the feature as a whole. 

Summary

Paranormal Activity 4 marks yet another commercially successful yet critically wavering episode in a series which has experienced a wavering level of quality in itself. To its merit, it has a superb cast who act brilliantly and naturally, which absorbs us further into a film which demands our full attention. That said, movie-goers who have been critical of the franchise in the past are unlikely to be converted this time, as the movie brings nothing new to the formula and is easily the least scary in the entire tetralogy so far. 

Better than the third but not quite reaching the same shocking heights of the first two, Paranormal Activity 4 is a decent spooky flick, however some horror fans may be hoping for something a little more Sinister...

6/10 - Not Bad

See it if you liked: Insidious (2011), Sinister (2012), The Possession (2012)

Review: Ruby Sparks

Review: Ruby Sparks

Don't be fooled by the trailers on this one. Ruby Sparks may look like a cute, fun romantic comedy but underneath that enjoyable surface lies a deeper, anguished tale of obsession, perfection and the harsh truth of reality. 

It's an ode to the superb script (a little 500 Days of Summer with a dash of Meet The Parents, all thrown in to the Donnie Darko mixing pot) that, despite its frequent flips from romantic comedy to psychological drama, Ruby Sparks never feels messy or confusing. With a compelling protagonist, a suitable girl next door and absorbing displays of incredible acting, there is very little to complain about with regards to this feature.

So what's it all about? 

Paul Dano, fresh from his ill-fated role in Looper shows off his diversity as Calvin, a young writer whose first novel reached extraordinary heights by topping the New York Times Best-seller List. A few years later and Calvin lives alone, unable to eliminate the writer's block preventing him from publishing his follow-up book. That is until, after an extremely vivid dream about a fictional girl named "Ruby Sparks", Calvin begins writing her entire story - a story that suddenly becomes real as she appears as a physical being in his kitchen. 

Soon realising that Ruby isn't all she's totally built up to be, Calvin begins re-writing her entire personality, changing her moods and feelings to his will. Before long, he falls into a dangerous obsessive game as he tries to create the perfect girlfriend for himself, failing to understand that even the girl of his dreams can come with some very real life problems.

It's a delicate comic premise that doesn't get tangled up by any sci-fi or magical explanations as to how the situation could possibly occur. There's a guy with a typewriter. He just wrote a girl into existence. They are now in a relationship. "How does this even happen?" asks Calvin's brother. "I don't know, it's love, it's magic!" he replies, willing to bury his head in the sand.

Yet the charm of the movie is with Calvin himself; an every-man whose previous relationships have crumbled due to his incessant need for perfection. He has an idea of what his girlfriend should be, and until he literally creates his own, none have satisfied him before. Ruby Sparks is not afraid to show its dark side, and Calvin is the embodiment of the film's ambiguity in terms of its tone. Paul Dano plays him with a naive innocence that makes the later, more sinister scenes that bit more disturbing - seeing our protagonist make the wrong choices, and watching as his relationship with his dream girl falls apart, pulls us into the film even further than the superb acting did in the first place. 

Ruby herself is played brilliantly by Zoe Kazan, an extremely talented actress who also holds the credit of screenwriter for this particular film. At times we sympathize with Calvin, as Ruby slips through his fingers only to be snapped back as soon as he hits the typewriter. Yet, for all her cute, adorable perks, she too hides an underlying sadness and a need to find out the truth behind her existence. The standout scene of the film, in which Calvin sinks to his all time low by using his typewriter in front of Ruby and forcing her to carry out a mixture of absurd and degrading acts to prove he can "make her do anything", shows that Kazan is capable of more than just giggling and smiling - she packs a serious emotional punch.

If her acting is a punch, then her writing is a knockout. There is comedy littered all over Ruby Sparks, particularly in the first act where Calvin is still trying to determine whether or not Ruby is real - yet it succeeds at becoming a true study of a relationship. Should one person have more power than the other? Is ambiguity healthy? Is there really a perfect match for everyone, or should we just accept that we're to make do with what we're given? It's a deep study into the psychological needs of one half of the relationship, and there are curveballs around every corner.

So the only complaint to be made regarding the film is the fact that the supporting characters are incredibly unoriginal. About an hour in we meet Calvin's mum and stepdad, a pair of 'medicinal plant' growing free spirits who live detached from society. One would be forgiven for being reminded of Meet The Parents, particularly when it comes to Antonio Banderas playing Calvin's incredibly eccentric stepdad - and just try to hear him talking without thinking of Puss In Boots!

Add to that Calvin's very overly familiar brother, a man who initially can't believe his sibling's situation, and we have a ragtag band of secondary fillers who do very little to push the plot forward.

Despite this, though, the constantly changing vibe of the narrative is enough to keep audiences completely engrossed in the story.

Summary

Ruby Sparks doesn't try to be any more than it actually is. Primarily, it is a love story, but it is an incredibly diverse one. Beneath its bubbly exterior, the film hides a thought-provoking examination of modern relationships and the over-possessive tendencies one may have over another person. The story will stay with you long after you leave the cinema and, despite some unnecessarily contrived side characters, Ruby Sparks is a superbly acted, brilliantly scripted flick for anyone who's ever wondered "what if?" after all was said and done.

9/10 - Brilliant

See it if you liked: 500 Days of Summer (2009), The Truman Show (1998), Little Miss Sunshine (2007)

Review: Liberal Arts

Review: Liberal Arts

The curse of the sitcom has hit Josh Radnor pretty hard, as to the masses he is known simply as Ted from the brilliant sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Yet that hasn't stopped him from breaking out of the mould, if purely for his own personal pleasure, by writing and directing a stunningly true-to-life tale of nostalgia and philosophy in the form of Liberal Arts.

It's not perfect by any means; Radnor shows a great talent for scriptwriting and character development within his story, however there is no particular ingenuity with regards to his film-making techniques. This often leads to a little boredom, and audiences may leave the cinema wishing that the movie had gone that extra mile to be slightly more visually impressive. Yet despite its flaws, Liberal Arts is an engaging film, and probably the best indie flick of the year. 

The movie follows the story of Jesse, a 35 year old college admissions officer whose head has been buried deep in books ever since his graduation from college. He longs to experience the nostalgia of campus life once again, so when Jesse's old professor calls to invite him to a retirement party, he jumps at the chance to visit his old educational environment. He meets 19 year old Zibby (played surprisingly well by Elizabeth Olsen), and the two quickly connect over a shared love of literature, language and philosophy. Jesse soon begins to wonder if it's time for a second stab at life, and restarts university once again as he pursues a deeper relationship with Zibby.

The narrative's pretty basic, but that doesn't stop it from being charming - sometimes the simplest narratives have the biggest impact, and Liberal Arts is certainly engaging. There are a few lulls here and there, however, particularly when Jesse and Zibby begin abusing modern pop culture - the characters begin to become slightly unlikable and cocky. 

That said, Radnor really excels in his role and handles the pressure brilliantly. Jesse is given strength by the realism of Radnor's performance, and his upbeat attitude throughout the majority of the film really hides an underlying sadness. "What was your major?" asks Zibby. "I was English," replies Jesse, grinning. "With a minor in history. Just to make sure I was fully unemployable." 

As for Elizabeth Olsen, the major surprise of the film is just how good she actually is, particularly during the most emotional moments. Zibby's relationship with Jesse is so easy to believe; it's naturally formed and it naturally clicks together - and, true to real life, it's left ambiguous for a long period of time.

The supporting cast are decent, particularly the excellent Richard Jenkins as Jesse's old professor who hilariously decides he isn't ready for retirement after all. Zac Efron also makes an appearance as (the slightly unnecessary) Nat, a young stoner student whose philosophical debates keep Jesse entertained in spite of himself.

Like I said earlier, the main problem with the film is the lack of diversity within its cinematography. Fans of indie movies looking for colourful, cutesy scenes like the intro of 2007's Juno, or ingenious moments such as the "Reality" and "Expectations" scene from 2009's 500 Days of Summer will be disappointed for the most part, as Liberal Arts lacks any particularly exciting imagery to match its colourful dialogue. What it lacks in this department, however, it makes up for in lighthearted comedy, such as when Jesse restarts university and spends his days carrying out stereotypically student activities such as playing guitar underneath trees, capering over the lawns and even throwing frisbees with glee on his face.

Summary

Liberal Arts is the best indie film of 2012, and although it lacks the visual punch and artistic imagery of similar flicks, Josh Radnor's latest directorial venture is a charmingly brilliant look at nostalgia and philosophy. This is a film that treats its audience like they may actually have a brain, and the script is incredibly true to life; its realism is sure to entice viewers even further than the excellent performances from its cast. The way that Liberal Arts shows that life can barge in the way of one's best laid plans is the main reason that anyone prone to nostalgia - or even procrastination - should see it.

8/10 - Great

See it if you liked: 500 Days of Summer (2009), happythankyoumoreplease (2010), Midnight In Paris (2011)

Newsarama: 7th October

Newsarama: 7th October

Newsarama is here once again, rounding off the week with a look back at the most interesting tidbits of movie news from the last seven days. Exciting new teaser trailers this week, as well as the reveal of some bizarre boardgame adaptations in the works.

10. Captain America 2 auditioning for a leading lady.

Since his untimely departure from his own era, poor old Steve Rogers has been missing his beloved Peggy Carter. Well, he may be in luck, as there's a new love interest on the cards for him to bond with in his sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Marvel have apparently assembled (geddit?) a wide range of female talent to audition for the unspecified role, including Imogen Poots, Teresa Palmer, Emilia Clarke and Jessica Brown Findlay. Logic would suggest that the part in question is that of Sharon Carter who, in the comics, is the granddaughter of Cap's girl in the first movie and offers him solace in his new modern setting.

Meanwhile, Marvel have also confirmed that Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow will be making an appearance in the movie, ensuring the Marvel universe stays consistent with its crossovers following The Avengers this year. Captain America 2 opens in the UK on April 4th 2014.

9. Director Matt Reeves confirmed for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Rupert Wyatt jumped ship from the sequel to 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes a few weeks ago following disagreements regarding the tight release schedule. Now, Cloverfield and Let Me In director Matt Reeves will commandeer Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Reeves is no stranger to huge action blockbusters, and Cloverfield certainly showed off his ability to display chaos and destruction.

His appointment does not change the release date, which will be May 22nd 2014.

8. Andrew Garfield and Marc Webb confirmed for Amazing Spider-Man 2.

It was pretty much a given thanks to the success of the first installment, but Andrew Garfield has signed on to reprise his role as Peter Parker in the sequel to this year's The Amazing Spider-Man. The reboot of the Spider-Man franchise grossed over $750million dollars at the worldwide box office, so it's no surprise that Sony are looking to push forward with a sequel. 

Also, director Marc Webb has confirmed he will return to front the film. The only major player still in talks to return is Emma Stone, who played Peter's love interest Gwen Stacy, but given that the sequel(s) may revolve around Gwen's fate (spoilers!) it would be very inconsistent for the series if she didn't reprise her role. The film's plot is being kept under wraps for now, however it has a release date of April 18th 2014.

7. Hasbro going wild with boardgame adaptations.

Following the, er, "success" of this year's Battleship, Hasbro are clearly going a little crazy with the brainstorming sessions at boardgame HQ. They have announced 3 more movies to be adapted from their family-friendly toys, including (you ready for this?): Monopoly, Action Man and Hungry Hungry Hippos.

I swear I'm not making this up. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that Monopoly turns out to be an 18-rated drug fuelled bender movie starring Christopher Lloyd as "The Monopoly Man", desperately trying to pay off his gangster debts by selling train stations and hotels.

6. Rian Johnson provides in-cinema commentary for Looper.

Cinema-goers who loved Looper enough to see it a second time are in for a treat, as writer/director Rian Johnson has provided an audio commentary which can be taken into the cinema. Here's what he had to say on the matter:

"I recorded a commentary track to be downloaded, put on an ipod and listened to in the theater as you're watching Looper. This is an odd thing I tried with The Brothers Bloom, and have gotten a few requests for it again, so here it is. It is totally different from the commentary track that will be on the Blu/DVD, a bit more technical and detailed. Needless to say, this is NOT to be listened to on a first viewing, or before you've seen the film. Also, please work it so that a glowing screening is never out of your pocket during the movie. Listen to the introduction before heading to the theater, it has instructions.  And lemme know how it works."

Rian Johnson's audio commentary can be downloaded when you visit his Tumblr by clicking right here.

5. Seth Macfarlane will host the 2013 Oscars.

Seth Macfarlane, the man behind Family Guy and this year's feature film Ted, will host the Oscars next year. The ceremony, which celebrates and awards the most outstanding movies of the past year, was hosted by Billy Crystal this year and Anne Hathaway and James Franco in 2011. Both shows were panned for being "stale", "boring" and "not risky enough."

Given Macfarlane's affection for poking fun at celebrities, as well as his pedant for showtunes, we should be in for a decent night. Not quite as risky as Ricky Gervais but still a lot more entertaining than Billy Crystal.

4. Warner Bros. to re-release The Wizard of Oz in 3D.

To coincide with their 90th anniversary next year, Warner Bros. have given themselves a shiny new logo. The sheen will no doubt be paid for when they re-release one of their biggest hits, The Wizard of Oz, in 3D. Expected to be released in late 2013, possibly October, the movie will be preceeded by a 100-film DVD boxset including some of Warner Bros. biggest hits. The sets will also include a variety of documentaries and never before seen footage.

The downside? They're expected to have a retail price of over £400. Well, now that Harry Potter and Batman are gone, Warner Bros. do need the cash...

3. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's Extended Editions confirmed.

It was to be expected, following the phenomenal success of the extended versions of the Lord of the Rings movies. The Hobbit trilogy, a prequel to LOTR, will also recieve the extended treatment. 

While the movie adaptation of Tolkien's beloved novel will hit cinemas on December 14th this year, the DVDs will be released in the summer of 2013 and will include up to 45 minutes worth of extra footage, as well as exclusive documentaries and interviews with the cast and crew. 

Now you're Tolkien! Sorry...

2. Taken 3 could be taking it too far according to franchise director.

Poor old Taken 2 has had a tough time of it from the critics (you can read my review by clicking right here), but that hasn't stopped audiences around the world lapping it up.

So the inevitable question rose once again over the weekend - will there be a Taken 3?

Director Olivier Megaton (who is not a Transformer, as far as I know), squashed rumours immediately, stating: "We want to work with Liam again on another movie, and the priority is to do something else, another movie. I don’t think that it will go on for Taken 3, I don’t see the point. The second one, it was fine, we closed the books. Even the screenwriters, if this one’s a success too, maybe they’re going to think about it, money is money for them. But it will be very difficult to ask Liam to be back again. The logic of his character has ended for this one, for me."

 1. Trailer round-up: Die Hard 5, The Lone Ranger, Bullet To The Head and The Croods.

This week saw a steady trickle of trailers from Hollywood, including a new outing for Bruce Willis in A Good Day To Die Hard, Johnny Depp up to his (coughtboringcough) wacky adventures in The Lone Ranger, Sylvester Stallone kicking ass in Bullet To The Head and Nicolas Cage teaming up with Emma Stone in The Croods.

You can check out all of the trailers below. Check back to Movies Under The Microscope this week for reviews of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Liberal Arts and Ruby Sparks.

Review: Taken 2

Review: Taken 2

Liam Neeson was in a rut. He was cast as a father figure in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. He was cast as a weary and wise king of the jungle in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Just to top the typecasting off, he was cast as a physical and psychological mentor to Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins.

So he must have been as surprised as everybody else when 2008's Taken turned him into an action superstar overnight. Featuring a brilliant plot, a man's race against time to save his daughter when she is kidnapped overseas; excellent action scenes and chases through foreign streets; and of course one of the most iconic monologues in cinema history ("I will find you. And I will kill you."), Taken was a surprise hit.

Critics scoffed at the idea of a sequel, however. "Taken 2? She's been taken again? Worst. Parenting. Ever." The film does not follow the same formula as its predecessor though. This time, while on holiday in Istanbul, Neeson's Bryan and his wife have been captured and it's up to his daughter to save them instead.

The result is a horrifically restrained affair. Where the original Taken revelled in its realism, splattering the walls with blood and guts galore as Bryan did anything that was necessary to find his daughter, Taken 2 spends the vast majority of its 90 minute running time shying away from such violence. This leads to a dull, predictable movie that is a mere shadow of the first.

The main plot revolves around the vengeful dad of one of the Balkan goons who Bryan brutally disposed of in his previous endeavours. "We will have our revenge," he swears as he lowers his son's body into the grave. Meanwhile, Bryan is in Istanbul and is surprised to find his daughter Kim and his ex-wife Lanore there to greet him. A family reunion ensues, however it is (eventually - yawn) cut short when Bryan and Lenore are "taken" and it's up to Kim to rescue them.

From then on it's Bourne-style business as usual, with rooftop chases, ledge dangling and shootouts galore. Yet something just doesn't feel right.

Taken earned a 15-certificate for its "strong violence and scenes of torture." This was then bumped up to an 18 for the DVD as more scenes of bloodshed and gore were chucked in.

Taken 2, however, sits soundly at a 12A - a move made, no doubt, by the movie executives rubbing their hands together at the thought of a wider audience. As a result, Taken 2 loses its originality and its impact. Bullets enter walls rather than flesh, blades are brandished instead of used and a scene in which a character's throat is slit is simply implied rather than shown. The original would have laughed at our squeamish ways and focused the camera brutally on the death.

Neeson excels, however, and let's face it - he's the reason we're all watching. His screen presence is such that Bryan becomes a hugely likable character. We feel admiration for him and his skills as in one scene, with a bag over his head and certain death looming, Bryan counts to himself as he blindly tracks the duration, speed and distance that his captors are dragging him which then allows Kim to interfere. The super-spy elements are written well, even if they are a little predictable and run-of-the-mill.


Yet that makes the villains seem even more ridiculous. The vast majority of them are basic disposable fodder, and even more of them are as thick as two short planks. At least in the first film his enemies had some decent martial artistic skills and were a pretty decent shot - Taken 2 seems more like a video game set on "easy" mode where the bad guys have unbelievably terrible aim. The climax of the film is hugely disappointing too and amounts to little more than a conversation, but for the sake of spoilers this shall be left undisclosed.

Summary

Taken was no masterpiece, but it succeeded as an exciting vehicle for Neeson, the dormant action star just waiting to burst on to our screens. The film still had a drive and a sense of urgency that spurred us on to the edge of our seats as we watched a father do anything to save his daughter, an urgency that is missing in its sequel. So it's a shame that, despite Neeson's best ass-kicking efforts and some cool but predictable action scenes, Taken 2 fails to live up to its predecessor - in fact, it fails to live up to most modern action films at all.

3/10 - One for the rental list.

See it if you liked: Taken (2008), Live Free Or Die Hard (2007), Unknown (2011)

October Preview

October Preview

October is upon us and with it comes many great looking new movies. From sequels and animated fun to novel adaptations, as well as what looks to be a new indie favourite, the cinema has plenty to entice you with this month. 

In no particular order...

007: Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardam, Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench

Release Date: 26th October

The name's Bond. James Bond. Following the somewhat disappointing Quantum of Solace, it looks like Daniel Craig's incarnation of the iconic special agent has ditched his emotional baggage and is back into badass mode. Skyfall will see MI6 thrown into turmoil as, after an operation in Istanbul goes horribly wrong and the identities of every agent are leaked online, James Bond is presumed dead. In the aftermath, questions are raised regarding M's ability to handle the situation - that is until Bond returns very much alive. Seeking answers, he confronts Raoul Silva, a dangerous villain claiming to have a personal connection to both of them.

Skyfall marks Daniel Craig's third consecutive Bond movie, while Judi Dench as M is now sitting at eight. Newcomers to the series Ralph Fiennes and Ben Wishaw also provide support.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower


Director: Stephen Chbosky

Cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd

Release Date: 3rd October

Originally a coming-of-age novel about the highs and lows of growing up, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is now hitting the big screen. It follows the heartwarming story of Charlie, a socially awkward freshman whose move to a new school throws his life up in the air. He is taken under the wings of two seniors however, as they introduce him slowly but surely into the real world and the emotional baggage that comes with it.

It's your basic feel-good teen flick, but with a healthy dose of realism and heart. Emma Watson is sure to be the driving force behind ticket sales, as she attempts to follow in the footsteps of her co-stars and thrust off her Harry Potter image in a film that includes "drug use, sexual scenes and strong language". Ooh.

Hotel Transylvania

 
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

Cast: Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi, Selena Gomez

Release Date: 12th October

A hotel for classic monsters is the name of the game here, as Dracula, Big Foot, Frankenstein's Monster, ghosts and skeletons take a break from their hectic lives in Hotel Transylvania. Dracula, the owner, invites the other fabled monsters to visit the hotel and celebrate the 118th birthday of his daughter Mavis.

That is until a young adventurer, Johnathan, stumbles upon the hotel and Dracula is forced to protect Mavis from falling for the human whilst protecting him from all the monsters inside the building.

Redemption for Adam Sandler? Looks that way - fingers crossed.

Liberal Arts



Director: Josh Radnor
Cast: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Zac Efron
Release Date: 5th October

How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor returns to the director's chair for his second indie outing. As well as writing Liberal Arts, Radnor takes up the role of Jesse, a 35 year old college admissions officer in a romantic relationship with 19 year old student Zibby.

Now that How I Met Your Mother is soon to reach its conclusion (surely!), it's good to see Radnor breaking out from his breakout role as the show's star. He had already proved his excellent flair for atmosphere and subtle realism in his directorial debut happythankyoumoreplease back in 2010, so Liberal Arts will hopefully be the indie hit of 2012.

On The Road


Director: Walter Salles
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund
Release Date: 12th October

Two guys and that blank-faced girl from Twilight go on a road trip. She does naughty things to them and she gets naked a few times, all while Sal, one of the guys, tries to get over the death of his father. Sex with Kristen Stewart is not the answer, my friend - doesn't he read the papers?

 Ruby Sparks


Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Cast: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Steve Coogan, Antonio Banderas
Release Date: 12th October

A high-concept romantic comedy with an excellent twist, Ruby Sparks follows the story of Calvin, a struggling writer. He wrote a successful mainstream novel at the age of 19, however he has failed to follow it up with anything of equal quality. After an assignment from his therapist, Calvin's writer's block subsides and he begins writing the story of Ruby Sparks - soon after, he realises he is falling in love with her.

The next day, he wakes up to find that Ruby Sparks has sprung to life from the page and is now a physical being who can speak to him. Hilarity and questions of sanity ensue.

Paul Dano has already impressed this year as an ill-fated looper in, er Looper, and solid support from the likes of comedy king Steve Coogan should ensure that Ruby Sparks certainly lights up the screen.

Frankenweenie


Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Martin Landau, Catherine O'Hara
Release Date: 17th October

A Tim Burton movie without Johnny Depp? Not seen one of those in a while! Frankenweenie, a remake of one of Burton's earlier short films, has been labelled as his "freshest, finest film in years", so we can (probably) expect big things.

The charmingly black and white film tells the tale of Victor, who harnesses the power of science to bring his beloved pet dog back to life after his untimely death. The experiment works, and Sparky accidentally gets out and begins causing havoc in the town of New Holland.

Interestingly, Frankenweenie is the first black and white AND the first stop-motion animated film to be released in IMAX 3D. Those necks be cranin'.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Director:  Eric Darnell
Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer
Release Date: 19th October

Billed as the most critically and commercially successful film in the hilarious trilogy, Madagascar 3 hits British cinemas on 19th October. Deciding that it's time for a last ditch attempt to get back to New York, Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Gloria the hippo and Melman the giraffe find themselves stranded in France whilst eluding capture at the hands of a crazed hunter.

Cue an animated trek across Europe which is sure to be a more child-friendly version of Eurotrip whilst maintaining a decent and hilarious dose of international stereotypes.

Paranormal Activity 4


Director: Ariel Schulman
Cast: Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton, Micah Sloat
Release Date: 17th October

"Urgh, another one?!" I hear you cry. Abuse it all you like, you'll be going to see it just like everybody else.

Paranormal Activity 4 picks up just after the events of the 2nd movie in the series, detailing where the now possessed Katie vanished to with Hunter, the baby who happens to be the object of the demon's desires.

Now living next door to Katie and Hunter is Alice, a teenager who notices "weird stuff" going on when Hunter is around. When Katie is taken to hospital, it falls to Alice to babysit Hunter, and more "weird stuff" happens. Like I even need to explain it. Now with added webcams!

007 aside then, October looks to be shying away from the huge action blockbusters, instead offering some more character-driven dramas and plenty of animation to tempt us inside the cinema and away from the cold winter nights. Check back to Movies Under The Microscope throughout the month for reviews of all of these films; in the meantime, you can check out the article archive from the drop down menus on the right.