Film Reviews

Writers note: Due to time constraints forced on me by an up coming holiday I haven't been able to write full reviews of the following films, but felt they were both so good they deserved to have a recommendation post.

Pixar's 'UP' has once again raised the bar for what to expect from an animated film and proved that the films they make should be considered for 'best film' and not just 'best animation' awards at this years Oscar ceromony!

The much hyped opening montage is incredibly moving and wonderfully captures the relationship between Carl and Ellie in a series of timelapsed slices of life, leading up to Carl's desision to fulfill their life-long ambition of flying off to Paradise Falls.

It really is something very special, the way in which it captures human emotion is arguably better than any live action comparison. Although the first act is in a legue of it's own the rest of the film still manages to impress by introducing some of the darkest and funniest moments we've yet seen from Pixar, all of which are perfectly paced. And for every predicable story point you get another joke or visual treat which keeps it afloat.

It has some hilarious moments which include - if you're a dog lover - a laugh out loud instant favorite in talking K9 Doug, roadrunneresque bird Kevin and Wilderness scout Russell who ends up inadvertently joining Carl on his balloon lifted adventure, but all of the characters are well rounded and brilliantly voiced.

****
'Zombieland' is another in a long line of flesh eating tales of survival, although this time the world is set during post-armageddon as we follow earth's last remaining humans as they fight the, what has become, everyday threat of the walking dead!

Jesse Eisenberg is clearly the new Michael Cera and you'd be forgiven for thinking Diablo Cody had something to do with the script, so tuned in as it is to his teenagers way of thinking and constant use of voiceover.

We follow Eisenberg's Columbus as he takes us through his set of paranoid rules which have helped him survive thus far, including 'checking the back seat', 'double tap's' (you know you should always shoot twice right?) and 'avoiding public toilets'. Columbus also shares my deep rooted fear of clowns, but we get our satisfactory revenge in the end!

Although his time spent away from human contact is severely tested when he runs into and teams up with redneck and all round zombie killing pro, Tallahasse (a perfectly cast Woody Harrelson)! It's great to see Harrelson back in a leading role and his cool-as-ice Tallahasse is a brilliant mix of lovable rogue and off the rails maniac.

The duo bump into fellow double act Wichita, played by Emma Stone, and her sister Abigail Brelin. And although both are great to bounce off and up the tension in the group you can't help but feel they are seriously underwitten, which is a shame as both actresses are more than capable of handling more.

Another excellent inclusion well worth a mention is a brilliant cameo from a well known comedy actor, or actress, which is so well timed and executed that it should be one on which all future guest appearances will be judged!

It's a film that choses to focus on fleshing out (pardon the pun) it's protagonist's more than the over-the-top blood and guts often associated with zombie films. And becuase of that it's raised above the norm making it not just very funny, but at times exhilarating too.

This ranks itself among the Romero's and Raimi's of horror films that stand out as more than just throwaway gorefest's.

****