Review: Immortals

Immortals, with all the shining abs and promises of copious amounts of blood will appeal to anyone who has ever uttered the catchphrase, “This is Sparta!”

Directed by Tarsem Singh, Immortals does share many stylistic choices with 300, as well as some producers, and their key audience. That being said, they do at least have different plots. Henry Cavill plays our leading man, Theseus, and he does it well; a good sign of things to come in 2013’s Man of Steel. The same can’t really be said for Micky Rourke’s Hyperion. Rourke plays Hyperion as a wonderfully evil character, but there are times where his dialogue drags, in an almost obvious attempt to cram in some plot to the film.

Why the writers bothered with a plot, we will never know. Immortals feels like it could still impress with just the violence, the wonderfully ridiculous outfits (one of my favourites is Poseidon’s headdress, played by Kellan Lutz) and the many attractive male and females, peasant or god.

The very ending of the film was a stylistic highlight, and many of the promotional posters for the film, as well as 39 seconds into the above trailer show a glimpse of this.

Immortals isn’t something you go to in order to ponder the deeper meanings of the universe; it’s a bit of fun. I’m giving it 2.5/5. Don’t let the rating scare you though; if you are looking for a bit of entertainment than Immortals is definitely worth seeing. The trailers for the film will have you knowing what to expect from it and it would be a surprise if you came out disappointed.

Though if there is anything that Immortals has taught me, it is that all films should have John Hurt cameos. 

So what do you think? Have your say on this film or another you’ve seen recently by clicking here.

Review: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Though the books are a trilogy, the last book of the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, has been split, giving us the movie Breaking Dawn Part 1. This seemed like a strange move, particularly as it looked inspired by a similar move of the incredibly popular Harry Potter franchise. As someone who has read all of Meyers Twilight series, the move also seemed strange as, essentially, the more interesting content of the book has all been left to part 1. What does this leave for part 2? Well, in the book the second half is comprised of an almost battle; the Volturi turns, up, they talk, a couple people die (due to being somewhat irrational, not as part of the bigger battle) then they realise, “No harm done.” All I can see in the future of part 2 is a script writer hoping for a lot of creative freedom.

Part 1 itself will please the Twihards. Large portions of the movie are taken up by not one, but two weddings, and that highly anticipated sex scene, feathers and all.  Kristen Stewart seems like she has been allowed to relax a little more which is great since she’s dulled down the awkward take on Bella. The work done by Lola Visual Effects (the very same who turned Chris Evans into a scrawny version of himself in Captain America) is really believable as they turn an already skinny Bella frighteningly thin. Robert Pattinson and the rest of the cast do a fine job, and they all come across as if they have grown more comfortable in their roles.

For Twilight haters, there’s still plenty of material that will have you squirming. One point that I found disappointing was that nothing had been done to improve the contact lenses; they’re very distracting, particularly on Irina, played by Maggie Grace. Twilight fans will be impressed though, and anyone just looking for something to watch won’t have too many problems.

Breaking Dawn Part 1 gets a 3/5. Make sure you stay til the very end too (of the credits); the Volturi make an appearance (they should just make an entire movie about them).

So what do you think?