Pixels Review
The Plot
When an alien race misinterprets old video games as a declaration of intergalactic war, they decide to obligingly attack in the form of Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and other retro arcade classics. It’s up to the President (Kevin James), and his old gaming buddy (Adam Sandler) to save the world…
The Good
Inspired by Patrick Jean’s incredibly inventive short film of the same name, Pixels adds a story to the novel idea along with some upgraded visual effects. While it’s inspiration was a mere two and a half minutes, the feature length version of course provides much more room to play. While there are problems aplenty with Pixels, the joy of seeing old arcade games brought to life is still there. At least at first.
The Bad
The joy of the film’s novel premise is sadly cut short by an utterly ridiculous storyline and characters. Any film which has Kevin James as its on screen President has obviously already abandoned any hope of ever being taken seriously. Though unashamedly set up as fun goofy comedy, Pixels plot strays from goofy to ghastly far too easily.There are far too many examples, but the most frustrating is how little the peril of planetary destruction seems to trouble the films hapless heroes. It’s a fairly obnoxious choice to prepare for the next wave of pixelated attacks merely by organizing a elaborate parties. Particularly when they’re merely being used as a heavy handed excuse to force Frozen star Josh Gad to sing.
As with every Sandler comedy Pixel showcases a random assortment of cameos from people who really are talented and recognizable enough that they should know better. An opening out of place scene with Dan Aykroyd makes more sense once his vodka company starts getting prominent product placement. Likewise Sean Bean make an appearance, though always a welcome sight the film squanders such an obvious opportunity to poke fun at his infamous back catalog of on screen deaths.
Meanwhile the film treats it’s female characters simply atrociously. Jane Krakowski is given just a few brief scenes as First Lady to James’ President, with her role clearly having been pruned down to the very bare minimum. Leading lady Michelle Monaghan gets more screen time, but sadly it’s not always welcomed attention. The film literally takes a break from the action at one point to remind audiences that now she’s in a pretty green dress it’s officially time to ogle her. It’s not the first or last time an action comedy takes advantage of this kind of cliched gag at it’s heroine’s expense, but it’s hardly helping Sandler’s cause given his recent criticism for sexist casting calls and poor taste material.
Coherent logic is also a huge issue for a film, especially as it’s already struggling with an outlandish concept. In one scene a pixelated character becomes flesh and blood with no explanation as to exactly why this happens with only one of the thousands of pixelated invaders. When you’re already asking audiences to suspend disbelief a lot, it’s unwise to throw even more unanswered questions at them.
If you want a film that celebrates 80s video game nostalgia, Pixels serves as the anti-Wreck-It Ralph. Hearing Q Bert speaking english in Pixels is a big clue that of the two films in which the adorable orange character stars, this is the bad one.
The Ugly Truth
While it’s certainly an interesting concept, considerable issues with the character and story make Pixels extremely hard to completely enjoy. Pixar’s playful Wreck-It Ralph offered a more faithful and enjoyable tribute to arcade classics. If you watch the original Pixels short you’ll have more fun and waste less time.
Review by Johnny Ellis
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Review
The Plot
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is back in his most impossible mission yet. When the IMF is disbanded, Ethan goes rogue to take down the Syndicate – a secret organisation that is dedicated to creating a new world order through a series of terrorist attacks.
The Good
Now in its fifth instalment, the Mission Impossible franchise seems intent on becoming America’s answer to the Bond series. With a thrilling opening sequence which begs to be seen on the biggest screen possible, Rogue Nation moves swiftly onto a storyline which has so many twists and turns in it that it’s impossible to even try to figure it out early.
Sean Harris is exceptionally terrifying as the main villain this time, approaching the high standards of menacing villainy set by Philip Seymour Hoffman in M:I III. Also joining the franchise is Alec Baldwin as CIA head Alan Hunley, the man responsible for the downfall of the IMF and a villain in his own right.
While Tom Cruise is perpetually the main star of the franchise, Simon Pegg is slowly moving up the ranks and is almost equal billing with Cruise this time around. Benji is becoming more and more the Robin to Ethan Hunts Batman. It wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up taking over the headline act in the near future.
The Bad
While Sean Harris definitely has an aura of evil about him as the mysterious Soloman Lane, his voice somewhat diminishes this. The first glimpses of his character work well, but when his nasal British accent finally creeps in, his terrifying presence begins to wane.
Pegg meanwhile still struggles to completely move past his comic relief persona, making it hard at times to forget that implausibly the Shaun of the Dead actor is now a legitimate action star. After three Mission: Impossible films and two Star Trek adventures, his bemused face still feels an unlikely fit for an actual action hero.
Pegg isn’t the only comedy distraction this time. Though undoubtedly unintentional, Cruise and Harris have one particularly silly exchange which feels plucked from a spy movie spoof. Each continues to try and outwit the other with a ‘I knew you’d do that so I did THIS!’ back and forth. And back again. And forth again.
Perhaps it was also a bad idea to kick the film off with the much trailed set piece in which Cruise hangs off the outside of a plane. Starting off so strongly inevitably means that the set pieces that follow all feel somewhat underwhelming by comparison.
The Ugly Truth
The Mission: Impossible franchise isn’t going away any time soon, with plans already in place for a 6th film. A well-honed formula of show stopping stunts and spy games is gradually turning IMF Agent Ethan Hunt into an American James Bond, in spite of Cruise’s generally waning star power.
Rogue Nation is a worthy addition to the ever growing franchise, offering spectacular moments in spite of some general flaws. Room to improve next time…
Review by Johnny Ellis
Chris Pine Joins Wonder Woman
Chris Pine has reportedly signed on to join the cast of Wonder Woman starring opposite leading lady Gal Gadot in the Warner Bros Comic Book movie set to be directed by Patty Jenkins.
Star Trek star Pine will play love interest Steve Trevor in the new DC Comics big screen adaptation. In the original Wonder Woman comics Steve Trevor as an intelligence officer fr the US Army whose plan crash landed on Paradise Island, the isolated magical homeland of Wonder Woman’s Amazon people.
In addition to being frequently rescued by Wonder Woman, Trevor often fought alongside her and worked with her meek alter-ego Diana Prince oddly oblivious to her true identity.
There have actually been many different versions of the Steve Trevor character in the subsequent decades of Wonder Woman comics, with the pair even marrying in the final issue of the original series.
It’s likely the film version Pine will play will probably be at least loosely based on the classic stereotype of a handsome army officer who falls understandably for the goddess like Wonder Woman. Though it’s unclear if Pine’s character will actually be clueless enough to be fooled by Diana Prince slipping on some glasses and acting a bit timid…
Hayley Atwell Talks Agent Carter Season 2
Hayley Atwell spoke in-depth to excited fans at the Showmasters London Film & Comic Con 2015 sharing news about the much anticipated second season of Marvel TV series Agent Carter.
Beautiful star Atwell confirmed that the new season will see the show relocate to Los Angeles as Howard Stark opens a film studio and Jarvis struggles to adapt to life in the glamorous Hollywood setting, much to Peggy’s amusement. Hayley admitted she also very much enjoyed recent chemistry casting sessions for a new love interest for Peggy. Aside from lots more ‘snogging’ Hayley confirmed that the show will continue to explore other elements of Peggy’s backstory and likely at some point address the founding of SHIELD and her having a family. In great news for fans of the show Hayley confirmed that she hopes that the series will keep running long enough to allow her to explore Peggy’s journey into the 1960s and 1970s as well.
Speaking in the wake of recent debate about how Marvel has handled it’s female heroes Hayley also shared her impassioned views on issues like feminism in comic books and the LGBT subtext some fans have read into the series with the Cartinelli pairing.
On a lighter note Hayley explained the origins of her ongoing hilarious Dubsmash war with the cast of Agents of SHIELD and some of the pranks that make life working for Marvel such a treat.
Rachel McAdams In Doctor Strange Talks
Rachel McAdams has admitted that she’s in the early stages of talks with Marvel about potentially joining the cast of Doctor Strange as the love interest for Benedict Cumberbatch. The Mean Girls and True Detective star did acknowledge that it was unclear whether things would go anywhere. So there may yet be another face staring in wonder at the evidently magic Cumberbatch cheekbones.