Wednesday 25 May 2011

Wednesday Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the first of three pretty awesome movies from the early 90s (third one could have been better). As you will know, CGI effects were non-existent at that time so the turtles were actually guys in rubber suits, with Splinter being a Jim Henson puppet. I personally think that those costumes are way better than the CGI stuff nowadays, but maybe I’m just a fan of the old school look. The film is a lot darker than the TV series that was such a hit it that it led to the creation of the movie franchise, and in every way, that makes it better.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title card.

Review after the break.

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Wednesday Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I will start by apologising for the long winded review. I just write down what comes to mind and I share it with my readers. Sometimes I can go off on a tangent. So hopefully you'll stick around and read the whole thing.

NOTE: This is not a review for the film as a novel adaptation, but as a film itself. Also, this will not include how Narnia is full of Christian allusions.

Title card from the film.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third instalment in the Chronicles of Narnia series based on the book of the same name by C.S. Lewis.

There are several changes between this film and the previous two that should be taken into consideration before criticizing the film. First off it should be noted that Disney stopped production of the Narnia series after Prince Caspian didn’t fare too well at the box office, so Fox picked up the series in its place. (Walden Media still produces the film though). Another change is that the music is no longer scored by Harry Gregson-Williams, but by David Arnold instead, music can impact a movie more than most people realise. Furthermore the biggest change is in directors. Andrew Adamson directed the first two films, whereas Michael Apted directs this one. The director has an idea of what he wants the film to look like. With one director the audience will feel a sense of continuity as well as have an idea of where the series will go. With a change in directors it is a new adventure each film because the audience will not know what the director will decide to change or keep from book to film.
Aslan greets the gang.


Review after the break

Friday 13 May 2011

Summer Film Ideas

Hey all, I have some movie ideas that I hope to make this summer and I'm wondering what your opinions on them are, what you think of them, which you'd like to see most, etc.

My first film idea is a mocumentary style film about the guy from Art Attack. Remember that show? It'd be a comedy about how he has an unhealthy obsession with art.

The second is more of an idea of a topic rather than a film, but I'd like to make a Star Wars Fan Film at some point. Not sure of what exactly. Maybe something with cool lightsaber effects, or stormtroopers. They're popular.

My third idea is the pilot episode of a Dungeons and Dragons web series. Each episode begins with the group sitting around the table playing the game, then after the opening credits it changes to a plot driven epic as if the players are the characters in real life. It'll be like Lord of the Rings ... only not.

And my fourth idea is a sequel to the Sherlock Holmes movie I made three years ago. I've been planning this sequel for two years, and wrote the script last year but didn't get around to filming it. I will be applying my knowledge from studying film at university to improve the style in the sequel.
Here's a link to the first Sherlock Holmes film if you want to give it a watch:
Sherlock Holmes: Episode 4 - A SCITS Hope

Anyway, let me know what you think of these ideas and what ones you'd like to see most. Leave your opinions in the comments box below, on my Youtube Channel, or on Twitter.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Wednesday Review: Starship

Hey guys, sorry I've been away for so long, being back home with my family and friends seems to take up a lot of my time. Projects will probably a little low during the summer months, so I'm going to be updating my blog at least once a week, every week, with a review of a film I've watched. This doesn't necessarily mean a recent Hollywood film, it could be and old film from the 70s, a film I saw at a film festival, a film on the internet, anything. And I'll be calling these reviews Wednesday Review. I'm bad with names, so sue me.

The first film I'm going to review is an musical that first debuted on stage in Chicago in February, then made it's way to Youtube on April 30th. I watched it the moment it hit Youtube but was unable to find time to review it until now (so I watched it again ... cause it's totally awesome). So he's my review of Team Starkid's Starship!




Review after the break