Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Summary 
After stopping off at Starbase Yorktown, a remote outpost on the fringes of Federation space, the USS Enterprise, halfway into their five-year mission, is destroyed by a powerful, unstoppable wave of unknown aliens. With the crew stranded on an unknown planet and with no apparent means of rescue, they find themselves against a ruthless enemy with a well-earned hatred of the Federation and what it stands for. Only a rebellious alien warrior can help them reunite and leave the planet to stop this deadly menace from a possible galactic war.

Genre : SF
Country : USA

Cast : 
Chris Pine : Captain James T. Kirk

Zachary Quinto :  Spock
Karl Urban : Doctor McCoy

Director : Justin Lin

My opinion

“Cut the throat.” 

Although I've seen a considerable number of episodes of the television serie Star Trek at a young age, I've never felt like a real Trekkie. It fascinated me, but not to such an extent that I'd greet everyone in my daily life using a Vulcan salute. When the next generation Star Trek episodes started (with the charismatic Captain Picard), I was even less interested and existence of this serie faded for me completely. Three years ago I saw "Star Trek Into Darkness". And to my surprise this was already the 12th motion picture with the Enterprise still boldly going where no man has gone before. It really didn't blow me away. It wasn't so adventurous as in the television version where they repeatedly discovered new civilizations. Probably it has something to do with nostalgia.

But to be honest, "Star Trek Beyond" made a huge impression on me with his breathtaking images and great action scenes. I was even a little bit moved by the scene with the Flagship Enterprise gradually being reduced to a pile of scrap metal. Seeing this legendary spacecraft lying completely destroyed on the planet Altamid, really hurts. But it's common for every Star Trek episode that they find a solution to resolve the impossible situation. The same applies to this film. Although there were a few moments when it felt a bit exaggerated. But I have to say that the images from the Space Station Yorktown, the attack by Krahl's swarm and the crash of the Enterprise were stunning and impressive. Yorktown is a spherical space station (with the look of a snowball according to Bones) with an ingenious gravity system. A futuristic-looking artificial planet which resembled what we saw in "Elysium" and "Interstellar". And it's populated by all sorts of races and creatures. And I must admit, the fantasy of the creators is still alive and kicking when it comes to creating alien species.

Relocating the field of action to the surface of the planet Altamid was a smart move. The breakup of the crew in different groups and their attempts to regroup was a refreshing idea and contributed to the build up of tension. The warlike Krall (Idris Elba) has only one goal. And that's destroying the United Federation of Planets by using the Abronath biological weapon. A weapon designed by his ancestors who lost control over this destructive weapon. Despite the immense layers of makeup, Idris Elba managed nevertheless to show an appearance full of expressions. Krall looked as threatening as ominous. The most exciting and fascinating character was that of Sofia Boutella as the alien Jaylah who can stand her ground in confrontations and also has some technical skills. What stood out were the various humorous situations and dialogues. Simon Pegg's contribution I suppose.

What bothers me the most about a movie like "Star Trek beyond", is the casualness when solving certain issues. The technical (unintelligible) lingo is being used again at that moment. So, warpspeed isn't functioning anymore? No problem. They'll momentarily redirect some energy from the warp core to the impulse engines. Want to bring the compressors from a wreck back to life? One well-aimed shot with your laser gun will take care of that. And during a chase at the speed of light, a problem occurs that needs a quick solution. Again no problem. A blueprint is projected (and I guess they know its content by heart) and before you know it a ready-made solution is being offered . But isn't this part of the charm of a legendary phenomenon like Star Trek? Otherwise they never could have gone boldly where no one ever set foot before!

My rating 7/10
Links : IMDB

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Summary 
With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue, the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns. As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

Genre : Western
Country : USA

Cast : 
Denzel Washington : Chisolm

Chris Pratt :  Josh Faraday
Ethan Hawke : Goodnight Robicheaux

Director : Antoine Fuqua

My opinion

“If God didn't want them to be sheared, he wouldn't have made them sheep.”

Anyone who made an effort to read one of my writings, knows about my opinion on remakes and milestones in film history. I'm not a supporter of digging out hit movies from the past, dusting them off and giving them a new look. In most cases nothing new will be presented. In the worst case the result will fail terribly and the final product is a lamentable bad movie. "Ghosbusters" was such a monstrosity in my opinion and confirmed my assertion that certain milestones are untouchable in film history (I'm afraid the remake of "Jumanji" will end up in that same alley). However, there are exceptions like the recent film "The Jungle Book". Although this is not a remake in the strictest sense of the word, but rather an adaptation of a cartoon.

I'm not claiming that this version of "The magnificent seven" surpasses the original film from 1960. The original black and white version is and will always remain a monument. Actually, you can compare this movie with the remake of "Robocop". Broadly speaking there are similarities, but subtle changes make it a more contemporary version. As with "Robocop", you shouldn't compare it too much with the classic version. Because of a few reinterpretations and a flashy new look it's accurate to say that it's more a "restyling" and not a "remake". What are the similarities? Again there's a community being oppressed and exploited by a power-hungry villain. This time it's not about Mexican farmers whose much needed harvested food is being stolen by a Mexican gang. This time it's an ordinary town where the inhabitants have to dig for gold in a mine and they are subjected to pressure by a fierce, crazy tyrant (Peter Sarsgaard) so they would sell their property for a handful of dollars. And once again those desperate inhabitants rely on seven mercenaries who, apparently without hesitation, volunteer to assist the residents to defend themselves against the oppressors. Of course the seven gunslingers are exceptionally talented shooters and the gang bandits are as stupid as an ass. As a result these ruffians are slaughtered en masse. And also the fact that one of the heroes takes on the role of a coward (Ethan Hawke), just as Robert Vaughn did in the 1960 version, is a striking similarity.

The main distinction is made by the seven gunfighters. A jumble of rough men from different cultures. This way it became a politically correct film. An African-American (Denzel Washington), a Mexican (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), an Indian (Martin Sensmeier) and a Chinese (Byung-Hun Lee) ensured the diversity of origins. In addition, they get the company of a woodsman (Vincent D'Onofrio) whose weight probably transcends his intellect effortlessly. And a womanizing cowboy (Chris Pratt) who manages to hit a target without a problem despite his drinking problem. But overall, this is nothing more than an action-packed western that entertained me immensely. I can't say it was boring. After the introduction of the main characters, one by one joining the select group, and the preparations for the big confrontation, it's time for a comprehensive firefight, using a considerably large amount of dynamite, producing an immense rain of bullets and a Gatling gun as an apotheosis. The ruthless seven are being assisted by the motivated farmers with Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett), a resident who imposed herself the task to look for help, as the leading force.

"The magnificent seven" was an entertaining film. Afterwards I could feel that youthful, boyish desire again. Once again I wished I had grown up in that period as a tough cowboy. Or I'd be such a rebellious, dusty gunslingers who shoots his opponents calmly and coolly during a gunfight. Perhaps the end was a bit overdone and the different characters weren't extensively developed. But as a spectacle it was unsurpassable. If you're looking for untruths or plot holes, you'll probably find them I suppose. But you have to admit that they have remained faithful to the greatest lie used in almost all Westerns. And that's about the shooting qualities of a cowboy. In the real Wild West even the best gunslinger couldn't hit a solid, thick oak. Even if they were standing ten meters from it. The moment you start realizing that, you better stop watching Western movies.

My rating 7/10
Links : IMDB

Howl (2015)

Summary 
When passengers on a train are attacked by a creature, they must band together in order to survive until morning.

Genre : Horror
Country : UK

Cast : 
Ed Speleers : Joe

Holly Weston :  Ellen
Shauna Macdonald : Kate

Director : Paul Hyett

My opinion 

Read the title of this horror and you know already what it's about anyway. Nothing like a good werewolf movie from time to time. Although there's still a certain shortage of decent films when it comes to this genre. The last (for me personally) successful werewolf movie that I watched, was "Wer". On the other hand you'll see some abominably bad attempts like "Wolves" and "Night Wolf". "Howl", a movie from the UK, may not be as good as "An American Werewolf in London", but still managed to surprise me. And although it's a low-budget film, you can say that the look of the creatures terrorizing the passengers of the stranded train was successful. Probably the used anatomy will ensure a bit of protest by the followers of the genre, because it seemed like a mix of a wolf and the creature from "Splice." But that first attack with a bloody close-up took my breath away. Brilliant makeup and special effects. They looked at least less ridiculous than the furry creatures of "Late Phases" (a movie in which the acting impressed) with their ears decorated with tassels.

The progress of "Howl" is well considered and balanced. First a comprehensive introduction of all the characters. The middle section with the threatening situation they find themselves in. Followed by the final confrontation with the necessary victims and a predictable turn. Don't be surprised when some of the individuals make some stupid decisions again. However, the end might be a little surprising. Unfortunately, the look of the night creatures, when you can admire them in full regalia, isn't so convincing or frightening. To be honest they looked like individuals who returned from some kind of masked ball. But believe me, the first confrontation was bloody and ruthless. Sheer aggression focused on the terrible creature that struck in a deadly and gruesome way shortly before.

Not only the suspense and tension was a positive element in this film. The performances were enjoyable. A collection of colorful characters displaying that typical reserved British attitude. It surprised me they weren't having a tea break while being attacked by those animals. First, there's Joe (Ed Speleers), an undervalued train guard, whose life is an accumulation of setbacks and adversities. He is despised by colleagues and passengers see him as an incapable figure. His colleague Ellen (Holly Weston) ignores his romantic moves. Kate (Shauna Macdonald) hated Joe the first instance after she had to pay for a new ticket. Adrian (Elliot Cowan) is a cocky guy who in the end just tries to save his own neck. Nina (Rosie Day) is a spoiled brat. And then there's this elderly couple, who won't hide their outrage about the delay, a nerd-like young boy (Amit Shah), an engineer in the making (Sam Gittins) and an obese, lazy football player (Calvin Dean). The introduction sometimes is comical and highly recognizable.

Not only the werewolves provide for the eerie atmosphere. But also the location where the train gets stuck with its dark woods and the typical English fog banks, create a creepy mood. The origin of the creatures isn't explained in detail. Only the older man is aware of other mythical stories about broken down trains and passengers disappearing or being found in a pitiful state. But otherwise, you can only guess where these fast-paced, immensely strong and bloodthirsty creatures come from. Despite being a typical B-movie and the fact that I thought Paul Hyett's film "The seasoning house" was slightly better, this film is worthwhile to give it a try. It's not a top film with werewolves as subject, but it certainly is a movie that can compete with the better ones in this genre.

My rating 6/10
Links : IMDB

Mr. Church (2016)

Summary 
"Mr. Church" tells the story of a unique friendship that develops when a little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook - Henry Joseph Church. What begins as a six month arrangement instead spans into fifteen years and creates a family bond that lasts forever.

Genre : Drama
Country : USA

Cast : 
Eddie Murphy : Henry Joseph Church

Britt Robertson :  Charlie
Natascha McElhone : Marie

Director : Bruce Beresford

My opinion 

“The wise son seeketh the father's instruction,
but the scorner heareth not rebuke.
I don't give a shit.”

The quote above is, believe it or not, pronounced at a given moment by Mr. Church (Eddie Murphy) while he was drunk. Apparently alcohol has such an impact on him that he starts to use a vocabulary in such a way, an ordinary mortal can only guess the ultimate significance of what he's saying. This was also the first time I totally didn't understand what Eddie Murphy was talking about at that very moment (maybe it's due to my limited knowledge of English). In "Mr. Church"you'll see a totally different Murphy at work. No smooth talking and witty one-liners. Don't expect to hear that catchy, infamous laugh from him. Not once it'll echo through the living room. Nope, here he puts himself in the shoes of a gentle, helpful and warmhearted cook who tries to accomplish a given task with conviction and empathy.

This task was entrusted to him by Richard Cannon. He was once the lover of Marie Brody (Natascha McElhone) who left him after discovering that he was already married. However, he promised that he would always take care of her. Even after his death. If it turns out that Marie is terminally ill and only has six months to live, her daughter Charlie (Natalie Coughlin) discovers one morning there's a "black man" making breakfast in their kitchen. And from that day on Mr. Chruch conjures delicious dishes out of his culinary magic hat. So, you can expect a whole series of hunger-arousing images. It's almost similar to a Jamie Oliver TV show. Afterwards we come to know that Marie is still fighting her terminal illness after six years. Church's role as family cook slowly disappears into the background and over time he becomes the paterfamilias and acts as a father figure to Charlotte (Britt Robertson).

Here, where I live, the remark after watching this movie would be "Wow, what a lovely film this was!". Granted, it's packed with cliché elements as used in any melodramatic coming of age film. The course is extremely predictable. Not much imagination is needed to realize that the roles will be reversed at any given time and how it's going to end. Both at the beginning and at the end they used the same text fragment "Henry Joseph Church could have been anything he wanted. He chose to cook.". A subtle clue pointing at the cyclical nature of the film. But despite being a typical tearjerker, this film was able to captivate and fascinate me. Maybe because from time to time I need to watch a more positive film. Most films are about the evil side of a person. This film is about loyalty, affection, offering some help during hard times and the importance of family ties. You can start whining again about the possible racist tone and thus seeing Mr. Church as the happy, cheerful house negro who serves a white family. A kind of modern "Uncle Tom" in other words. It didn't feel like that for me. And I'm convinced you missed the essence of the story.

But what's Mr.Church's big secret, anyway? He loves jazz. That's clear from the first moment. He's probably a jazz pianist. I noticed that he was pretending to play a piano on his knees while smoking a cigarette outside and listening to a jazz song in the background. He also mentioned it in a subtle way to Marie. And his visits to the nightclub Jelly (Charlie discovered this by accident when she was driving around the city with Poppy), a neon-lit bar you instantly have feelings about that it's a jazz club, seemed to me the appropriate place to find an audience for his talent. He paints, reads literature and uses secret ingredients while cooking. But are these really such big secrets that one should remain silent about it? Hearing what Mr. Church said when he came home drunk, I have a feeling it's more about his sexual orientation.

"Yeah, that's right!
I'm a sinner!
Who's a fagot?
You the goddamn fagot. "

It stays a secret all the way. Nothing but praise for Eddie Murphy who attempts to get rid of his stand-up comedian label. And he succeeds perfectly. It's a pleasure to see him playing the two opposing Mr. Churches. On the one hand a dutiful and human figure. On the other a tormented person who still hasn't come to terms with his past. Also the acting of both Natascha McElhone as Britt Robertson can be called excellent. Especially the moments with Murphy and McElhone are sublime. Maybe it all feels a bit corny and old-fashioned. But it still remains a lovely film.

My rating 7/10
Links : IMDB

Short movie : Ghost Nets (2016)

Summary 
The discovery that three surfers make whilst camping on a deserted beach shows them that everything washes ashore eventually.

Genre : Drama/Short
Country : UK

Cast : 
Joe Sowerbutts : Neal

Bruce Lawrence :  Jack
Charlotte Mounter : Matilda

Director : Mark Bousfield

My opinion

 
"That doesn’t mean that I have to like you.” 

A short commentary on a short film. "Ghost Nets" tells the story of three relatives somewhere on the English coast, setting up their tents there with the intention to go surfing in the salty wet from the North Sea. From the outset it's clear that the relationship between Neal (Joe Sowerbutts) and Jack (Bruce Lawrence) isn't really an example of how brothers treat eachother. A burdensome secret from the past is haunting them, as we will learn later. Matilda (Charlotte Mounter), girlfriend / wife of Jack (I suppose) is the neutral person who tries to mitigate the circumstances.

The very first thing I noticed, was the use of sharp images which were edited in a rather professional manner. The desolate coastline, screaming gulls and the apparent coldness were brought into vision in a perfect way. The content of Neal's discovery is unknown and it'll still remain a mystery after the movie's ending. Apparently it can have an immense impact on the people involved. That was kind of obvious at a certain moment. It seemed like the content was very important. Of such importance that even a total stranger appeared to claim it.

Unfortunately, for me this was the weakest moment of the movie. This fourth person showing up and the resulting situation, looked quite amateurishly accomplished. In a short time the professional view was undermined and I got a feeling as if I was watching at some hobbyists creation. Besides that, the film was quite intriguing and the dialogues and performances of the cast were of an acceptable level. I'm still puzzled about the film title and its meaning. Is it a reference to lost fishing nets drifting around in the ocean and being a threat to the wildlife in the sea. Or is it about the disturbed relationship between the two brothers? Or was the content of the thing Neal discovered owned by a criminal network? It remains a mystery to me. But damn, I really wanted to know what it was and why they made such a fuss about it. Perhaps it'll be clarified in a future feature film!

My rating 5/10
Links : IMDB