movie reviews by PvtCaboose91

"Decriminalised Murder. An outlet for American Rage."

There's nothing worse than watching a motion picture completely waste a brilliant premise. 2013's The Purge is one such movie. It's built on a marvellous idea that could've made for a mature and thought-provoking examination of contemporary society, but writer-director James DeMonaco has no interest in a quality motion picture, instead delivering a fatally ridiculous film that fails to take advantage of its potential. The Purge is stupid to a criminal degree, lobotomising itself over its eighty-minute duration. By the time the film reaches its climax, the proceedings have become so laughably silly that only the boldest viewers will make it through to the end.

In the near future, the United States government has sanctioned an annual "purge" for the country, wherein murder and assorted crimes are legal for twelve hours. Emergency services are suspended, police cannot be summoned, and general anarchy is permitted. As a result, crime rates for the other 364 days of the year are down, and the economy is more stable. Taking advantage of the situation, James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) is a home security salesman who has accrued substantial wealth through his business. On the night of the purge, James locks down the house as usual, ready to relax with wife Mary (Lena Headey), daughter Zoey (Adelaide Kane) and son Charlie (Max Burkholder). The night looks to be reasonably calm until Charlie decides to let a bloodied, helpless stranger (Edwin Hodge) enter their home. Making matters worse, the family are soon visited by a mob of armed "purgers" wanting to get the stranger. The Sandin family are given an ultimatum: give the man over, or the house will be stormed and all of them will be slaughtered.

Here's the thing: Charlie's choice to take in a potentially dangerous stranger is never believable, as it seems like it was only done for the sake of script convenience. And the family's decision to want to protect the guy, even though it could cost them their lives, is retarded. They do not know him, they owe him nothing, and yet they're prepared to protect him and possibly die for him due to a crisis of conscience? It's especially problematic since the stranger actually holds a gun to Zoey's head at one stage. And why is it that the armed mob spend so much time and effort trying to get to just one "homeless pig"? Couldn't they just keep hunting for other people? The Purge hopes nobody will think too much about it, as it's full of holes and vague motivations. Furthermore, the homeless guy is not even given a name or any characterisation beyond being a simple plot device. He does wear a set of military dog tags, though, to tell us that he must be a sympathetic good guy.

The idea of the annual purge is brilliant for a motion picture, provoking several questions. For instance, do businesses hire private armies to defend their property? What does this mean for the small businesses that are undoubtedly looted during the night? DeMonaco does show people killing and rioting, but what about other crimes? Do hackers and black marketers do most of their work during the purge? Alas, The Purge has no interest in exploring this stuff; instead, the premise is more like Assault on Precinct 13 (which was remade in 2005 from a script co-written by DeMonaco and starring Hawke), resulting in a routine "house under siege" flick marred by an over-reliance on silly horror movie theatrics. Indeed, DeMonaco wastes the most fertile premise in recent memory on a silly slasher movie that we've seen done before, done better, and done without all the elaborate set-up. Worse, DeMonaco captures a number of conflicts with herky-jerky cinematography, not to mention most scenes simply depict villains being conveniently killed mere moments before they plan to kill a main character.

Nit-pickers will adore The Purge, as DeMonaco's woeful screenplay of perpetual convenience, excessive idiocy, and unanswered questions is ripe for mauling. Had the writer-director pursued realism and depicted a truly nightmarish vision of society run amok, this could've been a harrowing motion picture full of potent societal commentary. But DeMonaco is only interested in cheap exploitation, with cartoonish violence replacing potentially fascinating details. The only real saving grace of the flick is Rhys Wakefield as the masked stranger; he's sinister and unpredictable, and his charisma makes him a memorable villain. The Purge's box office success has ensured that a sequel is coming, an avenue that might give the creative team a chance to create a truly epic horror film out of the superb central premise.

3.2/10

"The Kryptonian prophecy will at last be fulfilled. The son becomes the father, the father becomes the son... Farewell forever... Kal-El... remember me, my son."

For those unaware of the behind-the-scenes turmoil that occurred during the production of Superman II, here's a brief recap: director Richard Donner shot Superman I and II simultaneously, but filming on the second flick was halted before Donner could finish his work. Producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind did not want to pay Donner the money he was owed, and fired him, bringing in Richard Lester to take over the reins. Donner's vision was lost in the process, with Lester turning Superman II into a campy farce. Donner reportedly shot up to 80% of his Superman II, leading to a massive internet campaign demanding the release of Donner's missing footage. Thank God it finally happened, and we now have Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. While the continuity is shaky and this version falls short of perfection, the Donner Cut is more in line with the feel and tone of the first film, showing a devotion to character and logic that Lester's film sorely lacks.

Following on from Superman, the story finds Kryptonian rebels General Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa (Sara Douglas) and Non (Jack O'Halloran) freed from their Phantom Zone prison in space. Landing on Earth, the trio look to conquer the planet, briskly defeating the world's armies and overthrowing the President of the United States. Meanwhile, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) becomes convinced that Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) is Superman. After revealing his identity, Clark expresses his love for Lois, opting to give up his powers to be with her. Elsewhere, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) escapes from prison and seeks to team up with Zod to kill Superman for good.

The Donner Cut was orchestrated by editor Michael Thau, who managed to unearth six tonnes of raw footage from the original shoot. With the input of Donner and (uncredited) writer Tom Mankiewicz, Thau set about assembling the lost motion picture using scattered puzzle pieces. It's a brilliant experiment in rewriting cinema history, and Thau has, for the most part, succeeded. Lester's theatrical Superman II was littered with high camp, turning the villains into cartoonish jokes, forgetting that Donner's mantra on the original picture was to sell the superhero story with actual sincerity. Fortunately, the Donner Cut removes Lester's insulting tomfoolery, and the resultant vision is definitely something to behold. The biggest curiosity of this version is the inclusion of screen test footage of Reeve and Kidder for a pivotal scene in which Lois reveals Clark to be Superman. Donner never got to shoot it for real, so Thau only had the screen tests to work with, hence Reeve's hairstyle and physique is inconsistent, and the lesser production values are jarring. Still, the scene is a brilliant one, and it definitely still has life to it.

The most treasured moments of the Donner Cut are the restored Marlon Brando scenes. Even though his scenes were filmed, Brando was removed from the theatrical Superman II due to financial and legal issues. Hence, seeing Brando's material here is incredible, and his inclusion gives the flick dramatic weight, on top of feeling more in keeping with the original film. Moreover, the stuff with Brando brings Clark's character arc full circle. If nothing else, the Donner Cut should be seen for Brando. Another strength is Reeve's performance. The movie features some of his finest moments as an actor, and he's a tremendous presence throughout. Most notable is the scene in which Clark realises the consequences of his choice to give up his powers; it's the performance of the actor's career. And the fact that Reeve's best acting moment was left on the cutting room floor for a quarter of a century is disgusting. The Donner Cut has other charms, too; the dialogue has that witty Mankiewicz sparkle, the photography is often eye-catching, and Donner maintains a strong pace throughout. The dramatics of the narrative are paid enough attention to give them full lift-off, and there are several exciting action set-pieces throughout.

Even considering the limitations of the material, the Donner Cut is still imperfect. There's one awkward toilet gag that feels astonishingly out of place, and the final five minutes or so fail to gel. Superman turns back time yet again to reverse everything that has happened and prevent Lois from knowing his true identity. This is followed by another scene of Clark punishing the bully he met earlier in the film, which no longer makes sense after the events of the picture are reversed. At least the amnesia kiss from Lester's version is removed, but it would've been far more interesting if Lois still knew Superman's identity at the end of the picture. Some of the special effects do look a tad shoddy, but they did not necessarily bother me; as explained in the DVD extras, Thau aspired to create retro special effects instead of polished 2006 digital effects.

The best part of Donner's Superman II is that it does not need to be viewed simply as a curiosity; it stands alone as a proper motion picture. Sure, the screen test footage does stand out, but everything else comes together to form a coherent whole, which is miraculous. It's infuriating to ponder just how close Donner and Mankiewicz were to finishing Superman II. If only the Salkinds permitted just a little bit of extra time before shutting down production, we would be left with a more complete motion picture that could've exceeded its predecessor. And if Donner had completed the movie as intended in the 1970s, there's a good chance it would've been on the same level as X2. As it is, though, the Donner Cut still remains a wonderful movie, and it's difficult to go back to Lester's campy film.

7.7/10

"I've been waiting for this my whole life! I'm gonna be a scarer!"

Out of the entire Pixar oeuvre, 2001's Monsters, Inc. was probably the one movie least in need of a sequel; the problems of both the characters and their world are resolved by the story's end, leaving nowhere to go. To circumvent this issue, 2013's Monsters University elects the prequel route, but that also comes with its own set of issues. The big problem facing this movie is that Monsters, Inc. spent its entire runtime revealing the scare business as one big sham, disproving the notion that infants are toxic, and discovering alternate energy sources. It, therefore, goes without saying that University is not interested in the thematic relevance of the original movie, content just to be a fun college comedy (think Animal House or Revenge of the Nerds) based in the Monsters, Inc. cinematic universe. Luckily, judged as an entertaining time, the film is a big success. It would be nice to see Pixar going for broke and venturing into original territory once again, but I'll gladly take Monsters University over the abominable Cars 2 or last year's ordinary Brave.

Since childhood, diminutive cyclops Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) has dreamed of becoming a distinguished scarer, aspiring to be Monsters, Inc.'s most fear-inducing employee. He finally looks to achieve his dreams at Monsters University and embraces the opportunity by studying all the textbooks he can. In class, he meets Sulley (John Goodman), who comes from a long family of scarers and, therefore, has a gigantic ego. Although Mike and Sulley immediately clash, they must put their differences aside to prove themselves as scarers, teaming up and joining outcast fraternity Oozma Kappa to enter the annual Scare Games competition. Also in their team are a bunch of kindly but non-scary members, including the middle-aged Don (Joel Murray) and meek pushover Squishy (Peter Sohn), leaving Mike with the challenging task of training the ghouls to get the group into shape.

Writers Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson and Don Scanlon evidently want us to ignore a line in the previous flick that revealed Mike and Sulley have been best buddies since elementary school. It's a conundrum that wasn't given much thought. Additionally, since we know that Mike and Sulley will ultimately become best friends, some of the dramatic tension is undercut, and the animosity they share comes off as perfunctory. University also abides by a standard storytelling template, and there isn't much room for emotion or heart, two elements that Monsters, Inc. had in spades. But the picture overcomes these flaws and problems by surprising in a few other areas, particularly the immensely imaginative final act that I personally did not see coming. At about the 70-minute mark, it looks like the movie is about to wrap up, but there's still more to come, and the subsequent climax is magnificent. On top of being exciting and tense, the finale of University delivers a few nice messages about facing the consequences of your actions and sometimes needing to use alternate methods to accomplish lifelong goals.

What's notable about Monsters University is its playful tone and script, which is the closest we've seen to the old Pixar charm since Toy Story 3. Although the movie is rarely laugh-aloud funny, it is very creative, getting plenty of mileage out of the college setting. Mike is depicted as a geeky, nervous freshman, while Sulley is a slacker, happy to coast through university on his single roar. And the depiction of the various college clubs and other students is amusing indeed. As to be expected, the animation is incredibly sumptuous, excelling in terms of texture and detail. Backing Monsters University is another outstanding score by Randy Newman, which helps set a light-hearted tone that director Scanlon maintains throughout. However, while the movie is fast-paced, it does run a fairly hefty 100 minutes, considerably longer than its predecessor. Perhaps some trimming may have given the picture an added zip.

It almost goes without saying, but Crystal and Goodman remain delightful as Mike and Sulley. Nothing here really stretches the range of either actor, but their delivery is excellent, and they're adept at humour (which is especially fortunate for Crystal, who defaced his reputation with 2012's Parental Guidance). The most notable vocal performer, though, is Helen Mirren, who plays the school's strict dean. Mirren plays this type of role well, and her aura of authority is often very compelling. Steve Buscemi is present as well, voicing the role of Randy. It's interesting to see Randy's origins, establishing the rivalry with Mike and Sulley glimpsed in Monsters, Inc., and showing what he was like before he became the villain. Meanwhile, Joel Murray is extremely lovable as Don, and Nathan Fillion makes an impression as the typical arrogant college bully.

Monsters University is not the most enrapturing Pixar flick, and older fans of Monsters, Inc. will not find it as emotionally affecting as the original picture. On its own merits, though, this prequel succeeds; it's an endearing effort to pull Pixar out of the doldrums, showing us that the studio has not lost its touch after a very underwhelming couple of years. And be sure to stick around until the end of the credits for one of the funniest gags in the movie.

7.4/10

A war movie from South Korea, 2011's The Front Line is an intimate depiction of the Korean War from a resolutely Korean standpoint. Rather than an American examination of the foreign conflict, this is a Korean flick with Korean actors, with an overwhelming sense of authenticity and a lack of Hollywood bias. Although The Front Line is visibly inspired by modern war movies in terms of its visual approach and narrative structure, there are enough unique twists and new details to make it worthwhile, not to mention it tells an important story about "The Forgotten War." It's a powerful anti-war film from director Hun Jang, packed with visceral combat sequences and thoughtful insights, and it contains some interesting observations about the roles that China and America played in the conflict.

The Front Line is set in the waning days of the Korean War, as the North and the South continue to attempt negotiations to end the hostilities and mutually agree on a border. Intelligence officer Eun-pyo Kang (Ha-kyun Shin) is sent to the front lines to investigate the recent death of a field lieutenant from Alligator Company, as there are fears that a spy is amongst them. Kang heads to Aerok Hills, a strategic location that keeps changing hands amid the fighting. Within Alligator Company is one of Kang's former comrades, Soo-hyuk Kim (Soo Go), whom he had long thought dead. To Kang's shock, Kim has become a fearless commander, relinquishing his humanity to become a ruthless leader lacking a moral compass. As it turns out, the situation at Aerok Hills is far more complicated than Kang could have imagined, confounding Kang as he also has to deal with the ever-present threat of the North Korean soldiers.

Although North Korea is prevalent in the media at present, it's doubtful that many Westerners actually know much about Korea's long history or, indeed, much about the Korean War. The Front Line is a bit hard to follow at times as some facets of the war aren't sufficiently explained, not to mention the structure is confusing, with a few flashbacks that are inadequately clarified. But once the main story kicks in, the film soars. What's especially notable about The Front Line is how it underscores the futility of war and highlights that everyday soldiers have no hatred for their enemies outside of what they're told to do. Aerok Hills changes hands so much that South Korean soldiers dig a small hole to store chocolates, matches, and cigarettes. The other side finds this hole and takes the items but leaves other things, including rice, wine and letters to home that they hope their enemies will post. Later, once the ceasefire is signed and the war is over, a troupe of soldiers are bathing themselves, and their enemies pass by. But they don't open fire on each other, prompting a North Korean officer to comment, "I guess it's really over." Furthermore, I'm not sure how accurate the climax is, but it's heart-wrenching to watch as it sums up the irrationality of war in a potent fashion. The messages are familiar, but that doesn't make them any less impactful.

It's inarguable that Korea has emerged as a moviemaking force to be reckoned with over the past decade or so, and The Front Line is another superlative demonstration of the country's abilities. The flick was produced on a relatively modest budget, but you'd never know it; it has the appearance of a $100 million blockbuster, with large-scale battle scenes and spot-on production values. The reason for this is pretty clear - Koreans don't work for exorbitant sums, nor are they driven by ego, hence the majority of the funding goes towards sets, costumes and locations. The Front Line is a breathtaking cinematic experience, with riveting battle sequences assembled with top-notch skill in every department. The immersive sound design makes you feel in the thick of the action, the film pulls no punches when it comes to gore, and the special effects are seamless, resulting in some of the finest combat scenes in recent memory. Moody lighting design also adds visual interest; one of the battles is lit by sporadic flares. Fortunately, outside of the big battle scenes, director Hun Jang shows a great filmmaking eye. If there's anything to nit-pick, it's that The Front Line was shot digitally on Red Epic cameras when a grainy 35mm aesthetic (like Saving Private Ryan) would have been more effective.

While the characters at the centre of the film are stereotypes, the actors imbue their roles with enough depth to make them believable. The dialogue between the soldiers is unusually strong, and the script shows a proclivity for philosophical discussions, exploring the effects of war on a man's soul. The Front Line is well balanced between character interaction and large-scale battle scenes, emphasising that this is a war drama instead of an exploitative action film. It's a fine line to walk, and Jang nails it. However, the acting from the English-speaking American soldiers is utterly horrendous: stiff, wooden and unbelievable. At least said performers are only present in one scene, though.

The Front Line is not perfect - its opening scenes are clunky and unfocused, it's overlong at almost two hours, and it devolves into some needless melodrama in its third act - but it's a breathtaking motion picture, and its minor flaws are not enough to undo the movie's endless strengths. War buffs owe it to themselves to seek this one out; it's easily on a par with the wildly acclaimed The Brotherhood of War.

7.8/10

"Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity."

It's telling that After Earth is the latest directorial effort of M. Night Shyamalan, but the marketing campaign has made absolutely no mention of this fact. A one-time critical wunderkind, Shyamalan has fallen far from grace, reaching an all-time low with 2010's The Last Airbender, which should've ended his filmmaking career. Although After Earth is not a Shyamalan movie in the typical sense (he only co-wrote, and the story isn't his), it retains the director's eye-rolling trademarks: awkward pauses, muted performances and a subdued atmosphere. Unfortunately, this translates to a lethally boring sci-fi production with flaccid direction, making After Earth a total drag instead of a mind-blowing action-adventure.

In the future, Earth has become uninhabitable, compelling the human race to abandon their home and colonise the distant planet of Nova Prime. Said planet is home to an aggressive race of aliens called Ursas, who are blind but can smell their prey's fear. Military leader Cypher Raige (Will Smith) is the best at battling the Ursas, learning to relinquish his fear and thus become invisible to the predators. Unfortunately, Cypher's son Kitai (Jaden Smith, Will's son) is falling short of his father's expectations, though he wants to prove himself. On a whim, Cypher takes Kitai on a mission into deep space with an Ursa egg in the cargo hold. But the ship crumbles in deep space, causing them to crash-land on Earth, leaving everyone dead except for Cypher and Kitai. They require a beacon to signal for help, but it's in the tail-section of the ship, located about 100 kilometres of dangerous terrain away. Cypher has two broken legs, thus Kitai is their only hope.

If nothing else, After Earth is a unique viewing experience since it displays what happens when Shyamalan and a star with a comparably inflated ego collaborate to produce a metaphorical, self-regarding, semi-autobiographical motion picture. After all, Will Smith wrote the story, casting himself as the most awesome and famous dude in the universe who tries to guide his teenage son to follow in his intimidating footsteps. Boy, that's subtle. And let's take a moment to let it sink in that Will's character is named Cypher Raige. Fucking Cypher Raige! What's tragic about After Earth is that this is a boring survival story backed with a potentially exciting mythology. The film does attempt to explore it via voiceover in the opening credits, but it fails to do much else, leaving unanswered questions and untapped potential, especially since a whole lot of literature was actually written regarding this world. Why have humans stopped using guns and projectile weapons of all sorts in the future? They only use blades here, yet firearms would be much more effective against the Ursas.

What's astonishing about After Earth is how small it feels. Here's a story set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, and yet Kitai wanders through endless regular-looking forests and landscapes as opposed to destroyed cities or anything else that would've made for compelling viewing. The fact that the film lacks scope makes me wonder where exactly the $130 million budget went (no doubt Shyamalan and Will Smith took a large portion each). Meanwhile, none of Earth's animals have evolved in any creative way, and the digital effects are seriously terrible. The computer screens and space stuff look okay, but the animals look like a PS2-era video game. Superior CGI has been glimpsed in movies on the SyFy Channel. Furthermore, Shyamalan does not have a firm enough grasp on large-scale action. Despite the deadly scenarios that Kitai becomes entangled in, the movie just isn't exciting. Even the final showdown between Kitai and an Ursa (which lasts all of five minutes) is a bore. The attempts at suspense and tension fall flat, with hindrances (running low on breathing fluid, being stung by a bug) coming off as perfunctory and rote. There's nothing to put you on the edge of your seat. The only surprising thing about After Earth is that it's not in 3D. Whoa.

Since this is a vanity project for Will Smith, his performance is incredibly self-serious. The actor sheds his comedic, light-hearted persona entirely, becoming emotionless and stoic. While it's somewhat commendable for Smith to attempt to stretch his range, he's not playing to his strengths here. Try as he might, Smith is hit-and-miss as a serious performer, and he's dull as dishwater as Raige. And nothing against Jaden Smith, but the young guy is terrible here. Flat, forced, unengaged and unengaging, Jaden does nothing worthwhile with the script. As a result, all of the dramatic scenes between Will and Jaden are boring, destroying all potential for a compelling survival tale. It's pretty unsurprising, though, as the actors in Shyamalan movies are often sombre and sedate. Outside of the Smith boys, there really aren't any other performers worth mentioning, as they all receive what amounts to cameo appearances.

Judged as a father-son survival story, After Earth is dramatically limp and uninvolving. And as a science fiction action-adventure, it's even worse, with barely a handful of set pieces, none of which provide any lasting impact. The film looks decent enough, but the unconvincing CGI is too distracting, and ultimately, there's nothing new to see here. After Earth cannot have been created by the same M. Night Shyamalan who gave us the masterpieces of The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs. Where the hell has that artistic, intelligent filmmaker gone? This movie feels like the work of a gun-for-hire who just doesn't care anymore.

4.1/10

"Every human being we save is one less zombie to fight."

Here's the shocker: World War Z doesn't suck. It's been impossible to miss all the bad press about the movie across its production period, most notoriously when it entered a reported seven weeks of reshoots in a bid to salvage the picture. Yet, the finished product is surprisingly good, an enjoyable though not perfect big-budget zombie epic based on Max Brooks' 2006 novel of the same name. In an age full of small-scale zombie stories like Dawn of the Dead and TV's The Walking Dead, it's refreshing to watch World War Z, which is more of a global action-thriller than a simple survival story. Nevertheless, the movie is flawed in several departments. It's serviceable as a blockbuster, but that's pretty much all it is: a well-paced, conventional action film in need of a more robust script.

A former UN researcher, Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) is now a devoted family man, looking out for his adoring wife Karin (Mireille Enos) and two daughters (Sterling Jerins and Abigail Hargrove). But a zombie outbreak begins unfolding right in front of them, prompting Gerry's former employers to airlift the family to safety. With a team investigating the outbreak to find a cure, Gerry is forced to offer his services and is sent on a globe-trotting mission to find the source of the disease. Leaving his family on board a military aircraft carrier, Gerry heads off with a small team to start an investigation before it's too late for humanity.

Reports on the budget for World War Z vary wildly, with some publications claiming the flick cost up to $400 million, a staggering sum for a motion picture that looks like it was produced for about a quarter of that amount. Of course, one has to consider that about 40 minutes of the film were outright abandoned in post-production, prompting Paramount and Pitt's production company Plan B to splash out more money to have an entirely new third act written and filmed. The script is still marred by problematic aspects despite all the reshuffling, though. For starters, it's never clear why Gerry's former boss wants him, as he only has a vaguely defined background, and the script lacks meaty character development. Moreover, World War Z fails to explore the intriguing philosophical questions of what happens when society breaks down. To its credit, the script does not turn Gerry into a superhuman, though credulity is stretched when he and one of his comrades are the sole survivors of a plane crash.

Brooks' novel was more or less a satire of today's post-9/11 anxiety and America's foreign policy, and it was told from multiple perspectives without a central protagonist, making it suitable fodder for a television miniseries as opposed to a feature film. The adapted screenplay for World War Z (which was famously written and rewritten by at least half a dozen people) disposes of the satiric slant as well as the multiple perspectives, turning the source material into a simple blockbuster about Gerry and his wife and kids. Following brisk introductory time with the Lane family, the outbreak begins, and the rest of World War Z becomes a succession of set-pieces. Hence, while the book resembled Steven Soderbergh's Contagion, director Marc Forster's film is more like Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds. That said, though, World War Z really soars in its final act when we get into reshoot territory. The seams of the reshoots are visible if you look for them, yet the movie actually gels, with the rewriting (courtesy of Damon Lindelof and Drew Goddard) resulting not in an idiotic action climax but an intelligent, taut and tense finale more focused on character dynamics and stealth than endless zombie killing.

The biggest issue with World War Z is director Forster. In the hands of a superior craftsman, the film could've soared to unimaginable heights, but Forster is not cut out for helming blockbusters. Although a handful of action beats do work, multiple sequences are marred by hideous shaky-cam and frenetic editing, turning potentially exhilarating set-pieces into incoherent jumbles. At times, it's difficult to discern the geography of various scenes. However, the camera movement fortunately settles down in the final act, exhibiting evidence that Forster may have indeed been fired (though I can only speculate on the matter) and replaced with a more patient filmmaker. The rest of the picture's technical specs are impressive, with a particularly propulsive score, and the performances across the board are strong. Pitt is the heart of the movie. Having produced the film as well, it's clear that Pitt actually cares here, resulting in one of his most focused performances in a blockbuster to date. He works well as an Everyman, and it's a nicely grounded turn that gives the picture a welcome degree of humanity.

Unfortunately, no matter how you cut it, you simply cannot win with a PG-13 zombie flick, and the docile rating takes its toll on World War Z. The camera awkwardly shies away from capturing the attacks while several wounds are bewilderingly downplayed. A severed hand produces about as much blood as a paper cut, and Gerry forgets to bleed when a piece of shrapnel pierces him. Since these are not "classical" zombies, excessive gore was not necessary, but it is idiotic for R-rated content like major wounds to be watered down. (The unrated extended cut is the superior way to experience the movie.) Do it properly, or not at all. Worse, the walking dead are digital here, denying a tangible quality to make them believable. At times, the CGI does its job well enough, but at other times, it's distractingly obvious, in need of the practical make-up effects that have served the genre well for so long. Also missing is a sense of awe and loss. We see people getting killed, but we don't feel affected by it, and there aren't any moments to give you goosebumps. It's all a bit middle-of-the-road.

Fortunately, the makers took no chances with sequel prospects, leaving room for a possible sequel but not foolishly hedging their bets by closing on a cliffhanger. Hence, the story is wrapped up in a satisfying enough fashion, but more can be done in the potential franchise if this hugely expensive investment pays off for the studio. At the end of the day, World War Z is okay; not great, but by no means horrible. There's nothing here that hasn't been done better before - the science stuff was much more substantive in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the fast zombies were more terrifying in 28 Days Later - yet it remains solid on its own terms. World War Z is not exactly cohesive since it begins as a frenetic actioner before transitioning into a patient thriller, but it comes together in an entertaining enough fashion, which may seem like a hollow victory, but it's more than most of us expected.

6.3/10

"It's not a job job, it's an interview for an internship that...could lead to a job!"

The Internship is one of the safest movies to enter cinemas during the 2013 summer season. Here's an inoffensive, PG-13 comedy that abides by the universal formula for these types of endeavours and incorporates practically every cliché you can imagine. Starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, it's more or less a spiritual sequel to 2005's hugely successful Wedding Crashers, though that film's bold R-rated edge is jettisoned in favour of a more family-friendly tone. While The Internship may be enough to satisfy casual movie-goers due to its pleasant surface sheen, it's rarely laugh-out-loud funny, and its gutless disposition in terms of narrative and humour ensures that you'll forget all about it practically immediately after viewing.

Skilled salesmen Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) suddenly find themselves out of work when their company goes under, leaving them to battle an impossible job market without the necessary skills to land them proper work. With options dwindling, Billy decides to register himself and Nick in the Google Internship program, an intense summer immersion test that may result in the pair getting full-time employment with the prestigious corporation in San Francisco. Billy and Nick soon find themselves the outsiders, with their limited computer expertise and advanced age contrasted against the sea of twentysomethings more in tune with modern technology. The "dinosaurs" are put into a team with similar misfits - among them, geeky team manager Lyle (Josh Brener), uptight techie Stuart (Dylan O'Brien), and token Asian kid Yo-Yo (Tobit Raphael) - as they search for confidence while facing disapproval from Google bosses and standoffish intern Graham (Max Minghella). Nick also takes a shining to Australian executive Dana (Rose Byrne), a workaholic who needs to loosen up. Oh yes, that old chestnut is here as well.

Written by Vaughn and Jared Stern (The Watch, Mr. Popper's Penguins), The Internship is one of the most lazily constructed films in recent memory, re-using the "underdogs competing for a spot" formula that was old when it was new. The film offers no surprises in terms of plot points; the two "old guys" struggle, have false wins, experience a major loss that they may not recover from, and ultimately come out on top. And the other interns that Nick and Billy are teamed up with adhere to every stereotype that screenwriters apparently assume audiences still associate with the tech sector. It's as if the script was written in 1996, making it feel instantly outdated. Plus, The Internship sorely lacks bite in the humour department. The team challenges play out like some reality TV show, and nothing imaginative or overly cinematic is done with them. Many of the jokes are cringe-worthy, including a horrendously prolonged scene in which Billy keeps saying "on the line" instead of "online." Wait, so Billy was savvy enough to job search online and figure out how to apply for the internship program online without knowing the proper phrase? In another scene, a joke hinges on the assumption that Billy and Nick aren't familiar with the X-Men character Charles Xavier. Apparently, neither of them has watched television or been to the cinema since 1999, and apparently, comic books are still niche.

The Google-centric setting represents another key issue with The Internship. While it's nice to see a real brand being used instead of an unlicensed sound-alike stand-in, director Shawn Levy treats Google with utmost reverence. Considering their reputation, the movie could've earned laughs by poking fun at what happens behind the doors of this cash factory and even satirised Google. But no, The Internship instead portrays Google as the best place in the world to work, coming across as a recruitment film. Levy shows them to be the equivalent of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, with free food, nap pods, fun team-building games, slides in the middle of the office, and so on. Google's infamous self-controlled cars are even shown. The company will undoubtedly receive a spike in job applications in the coming months. And outside of Google, the product placement is seriously off the charts; Jibb Jabb gets a look-in, while Match.com and the University of Phoenix are mentioned. The film goes particularly gaga for Google during the end credits, presenting a montage of practically every product known to man. To call The Internship an infomercial would be an understatement.

To their credit, Vaughn and Wilson are a pleasing pair. They both play their typecast personas (Vaughn being outspoken and fast-talking, while Wilson is more soft-spoken and eager to please), but they play their roles confidently and remain watchable throughout. In fact, Vaughn and Wilson keep the film afloat during its worst patches. Meanwhile, Rose Byrne (I Give it a Year) is fairly decent as Wilson's love interest; it's a perfunctory role, but Byrne is endearing. As to be expected from a film like this, there are a few cameos from well-known stars that are too delicious to spoil.

The Internship should have been Old School on the Google campus, but instead, it's just a generic comedy that is not about to amaze anyone. Nevertheless, it is a lot of fun to watch, terrible jokes notwithstanding. It runs almost two hours, but it goes down surprisingly easily despite its length and conventional nature, which is a credit to Levy's good-natured handling of the script. The film is at least amiable enough to avoid provoking outright fist-clenched anger. Don't mistake that for a hearty recommendation, though; it's still wholly middle-of-the-road and desperately needs more laughs. There are better comedies out there.

5.8/10

"I ain't in no mood to die tonight."

1985 was a banner year for zombie films, as two "Dead" flicks hit cinemas within two weeks. George A. Romero's third zombie effort, Day of the Dead, came first, closely followed by The Return of the Living Dead, which was written and directed by Alien scribe Dan O'Bannon. Return is based on the novel of the same name by John Russo, who worked with Romero on Night of the Living Dead in 1968 before the pair parted ways, leading Russo to desire a franchise of his own. Tobe Hooper was initially slated to direct the adaptation of Russo's book but was replaced with O'Bannon, who promptly rewrote the script to change the tone to comedy-horror and retool the story to avoid similarities to Romero's flicks. It's hard to dislike the resultant picture - it's a completely unpretentious and devilishly enjoyable zombie comedy that delivers thrills and laughs in equal measure.

Following a botched army experiment that resulted in a zombie outbreak, barrels containing preserved zombie remains are mistakenly sent to the Uneeda Medical Supply Company in Louisville, where they're stored in the basement. When the company employs Freddy (Thom Matthews), his superior, Frank (James Karen), begins showing him the ropes of the job and decides to show the young lad the barrels of zombies. Frank unwittingly releases a gas from one of the barrels with the power to reanimate dead things, leading to cadavers and split dogs being resurrected. Fretting over the situation, their boss Burt (Clu Gulager) is brought in, who suggests they burn all the zombies with the help of mortician Ernie (Don Calfa). Unfortunately, however, the gas from the burning bodies spreads to a nearby cemetery, giving rise to an army of superhuman un-dead with a taste for human brains.

Not long into The Return of the Living Dead, O'Bannon actually acknowledges that Romero is the zombie maestro - Frank explains that Night of the Living Dead was based on true events, but some of the details were changed. Furthermore, O'Bannon pretty much ignores Romero's previously established zombie mythology. The similarities start and end with walking dead; as for the rest, O'Bannon does his own thing. A shot to the head doesn't stop these zombies - they must be entirely obliterated with fire, acid, or a nuke. The zombies can speak, too, and retain some semblance of human logic. It's refreshing to watch something as creative as Return, which remains unique in the heavily populated zombie subgenre. It helps that O'Bannon's treatment of the premise is so thoroughly fun, turning what could've been an undistinguished low-budget zombie pic into a genuinely memorable orgy of campy awesomeness. The script is a complete hoot, full of witty bantering and funny dialogue, not to mention a wonderful penchant for off-the-wall mayhem (there's a dwarf zombie, for crying out loud). Running a scant 85 minutes, O'Bannon infuses Return with fantastic narrative velocity, making the experience all the more satisfying.

O'Bannon has expressed disappointment in some of the special effects, as he could only do so much with the tiny budget, but Return of the Living Dead stands the test of time. The make-up and sets look impressive, and the prosthetic and animatronic effects bestow the undead creatures with a tangible quality that cannot be replicated on a computer. Sure, some of the zombies look like extras in tattered clothing with a dab of make-up, but this adds to the charm of the flick, reinforcing that nothing is being taken with a straight face. This was O'Bannon's first directorial outing, and while he doesn't attempt anything visually audacious, his work is effective and efficient, displaying a gift for storytelling and pacing. The excellent soundtrack (including a few nice songs and a flavoursome original score) is another standout, adding the finishing touches to this delightful romp.

The colourful and fun ensemble of characters also warrants a mention. O'Bannon recruited a great selection of actors, each of whom plays their respective roles to perfection. Matthews displays side-splitting comic delivery as Frank, while Gulager is both convincing and hilarious as the boss who's in over his head. But the film belongs to Calfa, who plays a goofy embalmer. Miraculously, nobody in the movie is called upon to do silly things for the sake of the plot; they all remain likeable and possess the right amount of campiness.

Perhaps this review has lavished Return of the Living Dead with more praise than some of you think it deserves. Sure, it's no Best Picture winner or any monumental achievement, but the film deserves respect and adoration for being the endlessly entertaining and witty extravaganza that it is. Pitched at the right tone, Return is a total hoot, and it closes with one of the most surprising and darkly comic endings in film history. Its four sequels may be of inferior quality, but they cannot diminish this original film, which is essential viewing.

7.8/10

"That's Michelle. She's mental. We all are."

As the title implies, 2012's Mental is completely mental and all over the shop, a wild mishmash of goofy humour, psychological exploration and bleak drama. The picture comes from writer-director P.J. Hogan, who was responsible for 1994's cult hit Muriel's Wedding before moving to America, where he directed My Best Friend's Wedding, Peter Pan and Confessions of a Shopaholic. Mental marks Hogan's return to his Australian roots, crafting a semi-autobiographical tale that won't work for everyone. It's an endearing film but a complete tonal mess, and it's probably best consumed by less conservative viewers willing to sit through the peculiar chaos.

In suburban Australia, housewife Shirley Moochmore (Rebecca Gibney) has lost her mind, suffering a complete mental breakdown in front of her judgmental neighbours. This catches the attention of her neglectful husband, town mayor Barry Moochmore (Anthony LaPaglia), who sends Shirley to a mental institution and covers up the truth by telling everyone she's on holiday. Barry is left to care for his five frenzied daughters but is not interested in bonding with them. In a panic, he brings hitchhiker Shaz (Toni Collette) into the house while he continues his electoral campaign. Barry's daughters each have their own quirks, with Coral (Lily Sullivan) believing herself to be schizophrenic while Michelle (Malorie O'Neill) keeps seeing aliens from Lost in Space, but the knife-packing, dog-owning Shaz begins bestowing her own brand of therapy on the girls.

Although the fundamental set-up sounds unbelievable, it actually has a basis in reality; Hogan's mother was, in fact, sent to a mental institution by his politician father, who feared that his wife's illness would harm his electoral chances. And Hogan's father indeed recruited a random hitchhiker from the street to babysit the family. During the filming of Muriel's Wedding, Hogan told Collette stories about the real-life Shaz, and Collette expressed interest in playing her in a film if ever such a production got off the ground. It's a personal story for Hogan, and he translates it to the screen with genuine panache. Mental is a colourful motion picture, exuberantly shot by director of photography Don McAlpine, who takes advantage of the picturesque Australian locales.

As soon as Shaz enters the film, Hogan threatens to pursue a conventional story of heart-warming family healing, which would've resulted in disposable PG-rated entertainment. But Mental carries its adult rating for a reason, as Hogan's vision is much darker than expected. He continually takes the film in unexpected directions, abandoning clichéd character arcs as Shaz lets the girls run wild while identifying the neighbours as the insane ones. The final act is particularly unexpected, which is a credit to Hogan. Mental is not a sentimental movie, as its views on contemporary society are pretty bleak, and the characters here all retain their flaws and foibles at the end of the story. This is also the furthest thing from a family movie, as it provides non-sequiturs inappropriate for kids: use of the c-word, a lot of profanity in general, toilet humour, suicidal tendencies, a lesbian Aboriginal, and even a scene of girls menstruating all over the white couches and walls of an obsessive cleaner's house. The final scene even depicts a fart being set alight, which becomes a flamethrower.

Mental exhibits the same fundamental flaw as Muriel's Wedding: the picture's tonal shifts are too jarring and uncomfortable. Hogan often frolics around in goofy, borderline slapstick humour, but this is contrasted against darker moments, and the merger never gels. Certainly, it's understandable that Mental is probably meant to be schizophrenic since the film is, well, mental, but it never comes together as a coherent whole, nor is it entirely satisfying.

Fortunately, the acting ensemble is marvellous, committing to the madness with gleeful abandon. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Collette is the standout, running with the chance to play the off-the-wall Shaz. It's a showy performance by Collette, and she's hard to fault - she's often highly amusing, and she handles the film's dramatic moments with sincerity. Also of note is the beautiful Rebecca Gibney, who reportedly packed on a considerable amount of weight to play the unhinged Shirley. This is the type of performance that steals awards; Gibney turns a potentially shallow character into a three-dimensional human, making Shirley Moochmore vulnerable and believable. Meanwhile, young Lily Sullivan is a real find as Coral, evincing a naturalism and maturity that you'd expect to see in veteran actors. The rest of the young performers are equally good, selling their individual quirks without devolving into cartoon. Liev Schreiber even shows up here with an Aussie accent, and he's pretty good, while Deborah Mailman also pops in for a few scenes as an unbalanced old friend of Shaz's. Mailman is a riot, infusing Mental with wonderful comedic energy, and she interacts extraordinarily well with Collette.

A few big set pieces fall flat (the climax is botched and feels astonishingly out of place), and the storytelling is undeniably messy, but Mental benefits from Hogan's sincere direction and the game cast. Australian viewers will probably connect with this one the best; it's unclear how international audiences will respond to it. Mental is not a great film, nor is it completely coherent, but it has enough scenes of greatness, and it's made with such a smooth sleight-of-hand that it's worth checking out.

6.5/10

"That's right, baby! Gru's back in the game with cool cars... gadgets... and weapons!"

According to The Big Book of Hollywood Economics, every successful animated feature needs a sequel. Even the low-budget Hoodwinked got a sequel that nobody asked for, and there is no end in sight for the Ice Age or Kung Fu Panda sequels. 2010's sleeper animation hit was Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me, which racked up an impressive gross of nearly $550 million despite competing with Toy Story 3 for box office dollars, guaranteeing a sequel. But despite the return of Despicable Me's writers (Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio) and directors (Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin), Despicable Me 2 is an oddly underwhelming follow-up that only works in drips and drabs instead of as a cohesive whole. It comes up short in terms of laughs, loses the original film's heart, and lacks the thematic complexity of a high-quality Pixar production. Despicable Me 2 is still bright and relatively fun, and spending more time with these characters is entertaining, but it is not unreasonable to expect a stronger sequel to such a standout movie.

Retired supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) is now domesticated and has firmly adapted to the lifestyle of a father, diligently looking out for his adopted daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Agnes (Elsie Fisher), and Edith (Dana Gaier). Meanwhile, a mysterious aircraft steals a highly potent chemical agent from a research station in Antarctica, and the responsible criminal now possesses a serum capable of creating an unstoppable army of mutants. This theft draws the attention of the ultra-secret Anti-Villain League, who send agent Lucy Wilde (Kristin Wiig, who voiced an entirely different character in the first film) to forcibly recruit Gru, requesting that he track down the culprit and recover the mutagen. Although Gru is reluctant due to his fatherly responsibilities, he decides to work for the AVL after Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) leaves to assist another villain. Gru and Lucy partner up to go undercover at a local shopping mall to investigate the shop owners, hoping to find who stole the dangerous mutagen. Additionally, Gru's daughters hope to have a mother one day, believing that Lucy is the perfect wife for him.

What makes Despicable Me 2 interesting is the mystery at the story's core. The movie keeps the villain shrouded in secrecy until the end, providing a hook and allowing the film to toy with audience expectations. Unlike its predecessor, this sequel is more of an adventure than a fun family comedy, establishing a light-hearted tone but, unfortunately, failing to deliver a steady stream of laughs. In fact, there are only a few memorable comedic moments in the 98-minute picture, including an admittedly funny 21-fart-gun salute to farewell Dr. Nefario. Moreover, most of the best gags are only in the final third, and the only scene to make me laugh out loud (the Minions dressing up as the Village People and performing a rendition of "YMCA") occurs right before the end credits. Despicable Me 2 desperately needs more of the sly and even dark humour that made the original feature so special. Furthermore, this follow-up suffers from a lack of heart, making it feel empty and disposable. Despicable Me had a clichéd but effective character arc for Gru as he warmed up to the girls, but here we get a romantic angle that lacks the sincerity to make it soar. Additionally, the movie essentially forgets about the Anti-Villain League about halfway through; Gru solves the mystery and saves the world, but we do not see the repercussions on the AVL. It's baffling.

With a bigger budget and a longer production period, Despicable Me 2 is a more attractive visual experience than its predecessor, boasting improved animation that thankfully retains the franchise's simple but effective character designs. Composer Heitor Pereira and musician Pharrell Williams return to provide more playful music, keeping the franchise's recognisable theme and contributing another two enjoyable original songs, "Happy" and "Just a Cloud Away." However, the 3D does not add much to the experience. It is one of the most rote uses of the format in recent memory, with only a few moments taking full advantage of 3D's possibilities. For most of the movie, you will forget you are watching the picture in 3D. Trust me, it plays just fine in regular old 2D. On a more positive note, the film fares best while observing the Minions up to their usual mischief. Since the Minions only speak in gibberish, it is up to the animators to make them interesting by giving them amusing slapstick humour in the vein of the Three Stooges, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Luckily, the Minions have a few moments of brilliance here, and their antics are as amusing as ever. Unfortunately, when the Minions are not on-screen, the rest of the humour is a mixed bag.

Of course, Despicable Me 2 is not an actor's movie, but the always-delightful Carell is still a perfect Gru. The crafty supervillain is a wonderfully quirky visual creation, and Carell voices him with a hilariously indeterminate accent that, in the actor's own words, mixes Ricardo Montalban and Bela Lugosi. Wiig is also good here, giving Lucy a spark of brightness and charisma. Al Pacino was initially slated to be part of the picture but dropped out at the 11th hour over "creative differences," and Benjamin Bratt came in to replace him. The fact that he was so easily replaced shows how interchangeable the voice acting is, though Bratt is still serviceable. Unfortunately, the movie criminally underuses Russell Brand's Dr. Nefario, who receives barely any screen time. Although Nefario is a supporting presence and works in small doses, his decision to leave Gru's service does not sit right.

Despite its flaws, Despicable Me 2 is still entertaining, with a few standout sequences and a nice sense of energy that rarely falters. It is not that the film is unwatchable; it just feels lazy, as if the animators were the only ones who put in a genuine effort. The filmmakers all had something to prove for the first Despicable Me, as it was Illumination's debut movie, and it had to make a positive impression. But for this sequel, it appears that everyone was operating on autopilot, which is a shame. Unsurprisingly, the movie grossed even more money than its predecessor, guaranteeing further sequels and spinoffs.

6.2/10