Movies: Downsizing (15), Early Man (PG) & Maze Runner: The Death Cure (12A)

Downsizing (15) – what’s it about? There is a scientific breakthrough where living matter can be shrunk and to help save the planet people begin to get downsized – this is the story of one man’s life pre and post shrinking.

This is one of those movies that I just thought meh I have a couple of hours to spare in my life and it fitted in so I thought what the hell and went to see it. I didn’t know what to expect really. It was a good movie which had its moments, there were a couple of comical bits but mainly the story was about the hardship of life and quite deep being about the current state of the environment. So don’t expect to be bowled away by too much light-heartedness here as it’s more of a serious movie with comical elements. That said though it was still a good movie with an interesting concept. I think 3 stars is being too generous but 2 is probably too harsh but the way they say leisure drove me completely nuts so it gets a 2 :P

Rating: **

Early Man (PG) – what’s it about? A bunch of Stone Age people challenge some Bronze Agers to save their valley.

This is a clay animation movie which is much like Wallace and Gromit so if you like those films and find them amusing this is worth going to see. This is pretty amusing in bits, the characters are very quirky and it’s all well a bit silly really. On my own fault though I wasn’t expecting this to be all about football, a bit yes but not the entire thing, I should have really looked into it a little more, as I’m not really a fan of football in any way, shape or form, so that left it a little meh for me really. If you are into it though you’ll probably pick up on more things which will make it even more amusing for you. I think 2 stars is being too harsh but 3 maybe a little too generous but as I hate football so much sadly it’s a 2 from me.

Rating: **

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (12A) – what’s it about? The third movie in the Maze Runner series and this one’s all about curing the disease that’s ravaged humanity to near extinction.

So you have to have seen the rest of these to know what this is about really, and I really regret not re-watching them before I went to see this – just so I was all brushed up on the story. I was told this is the last movie in the series and if that’s true I suppose its wait and see but this does give a good close to the story and I think anymore will just be dragging it out. Yeah it’s got some good story – the first part is more story based and a bit slower but the second half moves into the more action side so it’s a good mix of the two really. It’s definitely worth seeing if you like the Maze Runner series. Man their world sucks!

Rating: ***

Movies: Coco (PG) & The Commuter (15)

Coco (PG) – what’s it about? A boy ends up in the afterlife and must seek the blessing of his family to return to the world of the living.

I went to see this thinking this looks like it could be pretty cool and that was about all I thought it was going to be. OMG was I surprised, this was the most moving movie I’ve seen in a while, and it really struck a chord with me (no pun intended). The story was good, interesting and pretty deep when you think about it afterwards. I have to admit it did make me shed a tear too; the story sucked me in that much. It did bring up lots of memories and made me think of people in my life that were no longer here afterwards so I was a little sad but that said the movie is beautiful in visuals and in story. It’s definitely worth seeing if you like a good Pixar/Disney movie.

Rating: ****

The Commuter (15) – what’s it about? An ex-cop must follow the instructions of some shady characters or there will be consequences.

So if you’ve seen one Liam Neeson movie you’ve seen them all. If you like them then this one will be straight there (with no delays hehe) as it’s the same type of thing as the usual, nothing really much different than you’d expect really. IMO they are always good mindless movies to watch as in you can just watch it and enjoy without thinking too deep into it. It’s one of those that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat, the story is good as is the action and the mystery. Like I say it’s what you expect from his movies, so if you love them then go and check this one out but if not then give it a miss.

Rating: ***

Movies: What Dreams May Come (DVD – 15), Superhero Movie (DVD – 12A), Flightplan (DVD – 15), Event Horizon (DVD – 18), Sunshine – (DVD – 15), Mrs Doubtfire (DVD – PG), Dracula Dead and Loving It (DVD – PG) & Matilda (DVD – PG)

What Dreams May Come (DVD – 15) – what’s it about? A guy dies and goes to heaven, then finds out his wife committed suicide so has gone to hell. He goes on a quest to find her and bring her to heaven.

This is a really serious movie, I think I cried for the first part of it, it’s one of those that is really emotional and you just need a box of tissues – be warned. It’s a pretty deep and depressing movie but it does have some good stuff and has some interesting plot throughout it. Its good but you have to be in the right mental place to watch it. It made me cry too much and made my mood too low so that’s why I’m giving it a lower rating.

Rating: **

Superhero Movie (DVD – 12A) – what’s it about? A spoof movie where a guy gets bitten by a dragonfly and gets superpowers.

I watched this just because I like comic stuff and everything so I thought it might be amusing. If you have seen all the superhero stuff then you’ll completely get this and it’ll give you a few chuckles. If you haven’t seen all the comic stuff or don’t find it interesting or amusing, then you probably should give this one a miss.

Rating: ***

Flightplan (DVD – 15) – what’s it about? A woman wakes up on a plan to find out her daughter has disappeared and she has to try to find her.

I hate planes, why do they have to make movies about planes? Oh well this was another might as well give it a go. It was a good one, it was interesting and it has some good plot to it with some good twists and turns. I was thinking it was going to be over quickly but then it’s like watching a whole new film. I actually enjoyed it in the end.

Rating: ***

Event Horizon (DVD – 18) – what’s it about? A ship’s crew go and investigate a ship that’s returned from going into a black hole.

There be weirdness going on right there. This is a really strange, dark-horror type movie, I don’t know why but it kind of reminded me of Hellraiser in a way. What lurks beyond in a twisted world and all that. It was good, it had its moments, yeah it’s a little dated now but it was still a good bit of twisted entertainment which was enjoyable to see.

Rating: ***

Sunshine (DVD – 15) – what’s it about? The Earths sun is dying and a ship and her crew are sent out on a mission to rejuvenate the sun.

Holy shit! Holy Shit! This freaking movie is the best movie I have seen in a long while, I was like sitting on the edge of my seat for most of it. The story is great, the characters were all interesting and suspense was pretty intense. Yeah this one is definitely worth seeing if you like a good believable sci-fi suspense movie! Go watch it!

Rating: *****

Mrs Doubtfire (DVD – PG) – what’s it about? A husband and wife get a divorce and the father battles to see his children by secretly becoming their nanny.

I’ve seen this movie quite a few times over the years but it’s been a while since I’ve seen it so I thought I’d re-watch it. I don’t know though this time around I found it a little creepy in parts. Though I could relate to some of it when the getting changed into cosplay and so that gave it a bit more amusement where before it was just funny because. It’s still a heart-warming story in the end, it’s a good nice family film.

Rating: ***

Dracula Dead and Loving It (DVD – PG) – what’s it about? A spoof movie based on the traditional story of Dracula.

So after I watched “Superhero Movie” I was like man I really want to watch Dracula Dead and Loving it – so I did. This is another good spoof movie, if you like Dracula and vampire movies then you totally should watch this one, well that’s if you would like a laugh about it all. I loved this as a teenager and seeing it again after all these years it’s still good, it’s got some good one liners in it that have stuck with me over the years. Yeah just thinking about this one makes me giggle, but then again I am a vampire obsessed nutjob so I probably enjoyed it more than other people would.

Rating: ***

Matilda (DVD – PG) – what’s it about? A really clever girl who has a bad family, she gets her wish of going to school and this is the story of her adventure.

Her family are so mean and horrible, but its ok because she meets some nice people along the way that keep her spirits up but she meets some horrid ones too. Is it wrong that I came away from watching this thinking man I want to cosplay Mrs Trunchbull? Anyway yeah it’s one of those nice family stories that both the kids and adults can enjoy, its got a good few moments that’ll make everyone giggle.

Rating: ***

Movies: Star Trek…lots and lots of Star Trek movies…

So I decided to re-watch the Star Trek catalogue, some I admit I haven’t seen for about 15 years or more, and I thought hey might as well review them all in one post J

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (DVD – PG) – what’s it about? Captain Kirk and the crew must stop an unknown alien entity reaching earth.

Classic Star Trek epic! But these older ones do make me laugh. I love the way they have the dramatic look on the people’s faces and then it shows whatever’s on screen and then back to the people, makes me chuckle. And then the whole ship starts shaking lol. Love it!

Rating: ***

Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan (PG) – what’s it about? The crew of the Enterprise must stop Khan from using the Genesis Device.

This is one of my favourite of the Star Trek movies, I don’t know it’s just good, has a good lot of suspense and intensity to it. FIRE!!!!!!! It’s got some great lines too that just stick with you!

Rating: ****

Star Trek III The Search for Spock (PG) – what’s it about? The crew go back to retrieve Spock’s body even though they are told not to.

What a bunch of rebels, disobeying orders and all, but it all is ok in the end, this is the world of Star Trek and the good guys always come out on top. This one is a little meh, its good but not as good as some of the others.

Rating: ***

Star Trek IV The Voyage Home (PG) – what’s it about? The crew go back in time to retrieve some whales to help save the present from being destroyed.

There be whales here! This is really amusing, I love things when people from the future go back in time and have to try to blend in. I think even though a bit random in story, saving the whales and all this is one of my favourites.

Rating: ****

Star Trek V The Final Frontier (PG) – what’s it about? The Enterprise is hijacked and gone on a quest for God and the meaning of it all.

This one is a little deep in its story, more so than the ones that came before, the meaning of life and all that can be quite an intense subject, that said it’s still done well I just don’t find this one as light-hearted as some of the others.

Rating: ***

Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country (PG) – what’s it about? Kirk and Spock are accused of murdering the Klingon Chancellor and the crew must find a way to save them.

Man I love the Klingons they are just awesome, one of my favourite races in the franchise, so to have a whole movie about Klingons and stuff is always good. If you hadn’t guessed, I like this one.

Rating: ***

Star Trek VII Generations (PG) – what’s it about? This is the transition movie from the old crew to the new Next Generations crew. Picard and Kirk have to team up to stop a guy from destroying a world as he quests to find nirvana.

I have to admit that I am one of TNG people, I love Picard and the crew, the changeover was done nicely with having both the Captains having to work together, leading out with the old and the new taking over rather than it just being bam here’s the new gang. I don’t think this was the best movie, but it’s still enjoyable.

Rating: ***

Star Trek VIII First Contact (12) – what’s it about? The Borg go back in time to stop Humans from meeting the Vulcans for the first time.

We are Borg, you will be assimilated! Another time travel movie this time the crew must try to save the present as they know it by helping make the first warp drive continue to test happen, whilst trying to stop the Borg from unravelling Earths history. It’s a good one, I like this one, it has some good humour to it as well as some good story stuff.

Rating: ****

Star Trek IX Insurrection (12) – what’s it about? The crew must stop a Federation plot to help an alien race take over the planet by secretly removing its inhabitants.

This is another good one, it’s pretty enjoyable, it has its twists to it and the characters are alright, I liked the idea of this that the Federation isn’t so clean and sparkly as you think it might be, so it makes it all a little more believable, which is nice.

Rating: ****

There we have it that was a lot of Star Trek movies to re-watch. I love them all in their own special ways. Star Trek is awesome. If you haven’t seen all of them or haven’t watched them in a long while, it’s worth re-visiting the movies, they never get old. :)