Susan Hated Literature

Dir: Doug Liman
Writ: David S. Goyer, Jim Uhls, & Simon Kinberg. Based on book by Steven Gould

• Hayden Christensen … David Rice
• Samuel L. Jackson … Roland
• Diane Lane … Mary Rice
• Jamie Bell … Griffin
• Rachel Bilson … Millie

David Rice used to be your average chump. His word, not mine. But then he discovered that he could jump; transport himself instantly from one place to another. And suddenly his world is fabtastic. Money is easy, he simply jumps into a bank vault and jumps away with cash. Wants a holiday, or a change of scenery, then all he does is jumps somewhere new.

It actually sounds kinda ok. But to be honest this film sucks. Sucks sucks sucks. End of review. Short and sweet, but perfectly to the point

Dir: Brett Ratner
Writ: Simon Kinberg & Zak Penn

• Hugh Jackman - Logan/Wolverine
• Halle Berry - Ororo Munroe/Storm
• Ian McKellen - Eric Lensherr/Magneto
• Famke Janssen - Dr. Jean Grey/Phoenix
• Anna Paquin - Marie/Rogue

In this, the third X-Men film, there are two main plotlines. One concerns Jean Grey and her return from death in the form of the ultra powerful Dark Phoenix. The other revolves around a cure for the mutant gene, and what this will mean for the X-Men, and for mutants everywhere.

Only trouble is, this film is such a mess that neither story gets the treatment it deserves. We get a cursory look at what such a cure might mean to the likes of Rogue, after all her gift is much more of a burden than many. And then it is straight back into the fight. In the other story line we get exposition dumps and sudden information that makes no real sense in connection with earlier films.

Add to that the desire to stick in as many other mutants from the comics as can be seen on the big screen and you end up with a rubbish film. And such a disapointment after the previous two films which I really enjoyed.

Of course, it isn’t all bad. There are some elements that work; that quick glance at Rogue’s problem being one. And it all looks great, costumes, explosions, stunts. All great. But this merely serves to highlight how lacking in any sort of depth this film really is, and so makes it even worse. And then there is all that clunky dialogue, which not even Ian McKellan can make believable. Plus, plotholes.

All in all this seems more like the writers wanted to stick everything up on the big screen, to show how great the X-Men universe is, but instead managed to throw a lot of elements together and create a disapointment

IMDb | Official Site | Pah! | Samizdisandat | Random Burblings | Stainless Steel Droppings

Dir: Doug Liman
Writ: Simon Kinberg

• Brad Pitt - John Smith
• Angelina Jolie …. Jane Smith
• Vince Vaughn … Eddie
• Adam Brody …. Benjamin Diaz

I really didn’t think that this film would be all that great. The trailers made it look silly, stupid, and highly annoying. But then I saw a couple of positive seeming reviews, and there was nothing else on so decided to head along. Turns out that, yes, it is a silly, stupid film, but an entertaining one. Very far from annoying.

You probably know the basic plot? Husband and wife, both spy-killer types, but neither know the other’s secret identity until they go up against one another. Violence then ensues.

This could very easily have been rubbish, the trailers show that. But the comedy is very well done. Full of one-liners and great comic moments, the film makes good use of the actors, Pitt is surprisingly funny. After this and Snatch maybe he should stick to comedy roles?

Fast-moving and action packed, it isn’t one to think about. Just enjoy the mindless, almost comic violence, the verbal attacks and the pretty people.