This is the Shooting Beauty trailer that I somehow got involved in - you can see why I wasn't too fussed about spending an afternoon helping this guys pro-bono....I said pro-bono!
Let's be honest. If you are over the age of twelve, you aren't seeing this film because you're expecting drama akin to Crash, comedy in the realms of The Hangover, plot twists on an Inception level, tension matched with Black Swan, or special effects in the Avatar region. You're seeing this film because you like Rowan Atkinson, and because you want a bit of a harmless laugh. And in that respect, obviously, this film delivers.
Some may have seen the original Johnny English film a good while back; slapstick action, a satirical view of the spy-films we're used to, and ridiculous car chases and fight scenes. And you'll be getting more of the same in Reborn as well. So you would think, perhaps, that we've grown out of this style of humour. I certainly haven't, and if you were ever a fan of Mr. Bean or pretty much any of Atkinson's work, you'll be chuckling along to this adventure as well. The jokes aren't subtle or classy, they're just funny; and that's all you need. Yes, a lot of them may be 'oh come on, that's just stupid' moments, but that won't stop you from creasing up at some of the stronger moments of, as an audience, being two steps ahead of the central character. Atkinson is a genius in physical humour, not only in slapstick moments, but by simply pulling that facial expression that leaves you in tears. Amongst some of the bigger, more serious blockbusters of this year; Johnny English Reborn is a nice break from the norm and a worthwhile British comedy for youngsters and adults alike.
So, we come to the final Star Wars film created and the end to the prequel trilogy following the story of Anakin Skywalker and the emergence of the Empire that takes focus in the original films. Blu-Ray has been kind to this film, perhaps because it is the most recent, and so each piece of CGI is as vivid as it can be, with clashes of lightsabers and acrobatic piloting of starships immersing the audience with ease. And, despite a few flaws, this is probably the better of the three films, successfully tying off the loose ends to make way for A New Hope.
But yes, there are flaws in the Star Wars magic here. The dialogue can often be weak, and the relationship between Anakin and Padmé is more sickening than convincing. Somehow Obi-Wan Kenobi has taken on the role of comic relief in this film, as if George Lucas got a memo that fans weren't warming to his grumpy demeanour in the first two. But at least his haircut is more sensible this time around. I'm not sure if I am alone in this feeling, but I feel that the budget of the films and the development of CGI has in some cases hindered the grand moments of space-battle. The original films, with the first and second assault on the Death Star, just seem more gritty and satisfying than the battle over Coruscant that takes place at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. I think that in some cases, the development of technology that allows props and actors to do more or less anything (such as somersaulting out of a spaceship that is crash landing, or jumping between high platforms whilst duelling with sabers) provides more of a disconnect between the audience and the film. It makes the Jedi seem cool and all, but not the same as Han Solo cool, or Lando Calrissian cool, or Boba Fett cool, and so on.
What really sets this film up is the story behind it; for fans, the knowledge that it's all going to end badly. You would wonder how the films would have been received if they had been played out in order, perhaps an experiment to play on younger audiences who have yet to see where the saga takes them. Hayden Christensen is able to convincingly portray the confusion and torment going on in young Anakin's mind, and the careful steps taken by Darth Sidious to bring his evil plan into fruition are borderline genius. The powerful conclusion won't leave you satisfied - but this isn't to say it is bad. Instead, you will mirror the feelings of Obi-Wan and Yoda, that evil has won this time - the good guys have failed and hope is lost in this wonderful universe that you have grown to care for. And in this sense, it is a great film; to set up A New Hope as the next chapter in the saga.
Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, unfortunately passed away yesterday. I only found out about it this morning, living in the UK and all, and already it's obvious the effect that this entrepreneur has had on the world, with statements about his death reeling in from US President Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg; with the latter's being particularly touching; "Steve, thank-you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."
Jobs' battle with cancer had been well known for quite some time, and his resignation earlier this year indicated that he was in his last stretch before it would beat him. And he has changed the world with his passion and his ingenuity; for the younger generation, and especially people of my age, thinking back on how technology has progressed since we were children under Jobs' influence is pretty remarkable, even over short periods of time. There was a time when to listen to music, we'd carry around portable CD players. Then came the iPod, and since then this has developed to a place where we can't believe that we used to even carry around the original iPod with the new sleek and tiny gadgets that have since been released (seriously, go and find the old iPod and see how chunky it actually is).
A revolutionary of our time, Steve Jobs will be sorely missed.
So, after Phantom Menace which received generally little praise, we got Attack of the Clones which introduced us to more Jedi, more planets, and more of an insight into the origins of Darth Vader. In terms of the Blu-Ray edition, there isn't much of a difference apart from better picture and sound quality, and a few minor enhancements to the story; nothing major, and nothing to get your Yoda-print knickers in a twist about.
There are only a few issues I have with this entry in the Star Wars saga; just little things that puzzle me, and nothing to take away from the larger scale battles and introduction of some of the cooler characters from the prequel saga. We get Jango Fett; father of the ever popular Boba Fett, Mace Windu; kicking ass with a purple lightsaber, and Count Dooku; who may not be as kick-ass as Darth Maul...but come on, it's Christopher Lee!
The first grievance I have is with Padmé...actually, it isn't a grievance, I'm not complaining...you'll see what I mean. So she's a senator now and blahdeblah, and people are still trying to kill her for being too hot or whatever, so she has to go into hiding on her homeworld of Naboo (yeah, they'd never think to look there) with good ol' Anakin Skywalker at her side. During this time is when the young duo start to develop feelings for each other, frolicking in the grass, having picnics, etc. But, hold on, Padmé doesn't want to get involved with Anakin, what with him being a Jedi and she being a Senator. Fine, but did she have to tell him this while in some tight, black, bust-exemplifying dress? Not only that, but from this agonising rejection onwards (oh yeah, Anakin poured his heart out to this minx), Padmé seems to wear whatever clothing she feels most inappropriate around her Jedi chum. Bear in mind that generally, Jedi are supposed to be like monks and nuns...all about the faith, no real fun stuff, especially in the bedroom department. It can't help that some fine-ass woman is prancing around with her midriff on show and without the invention of a space-bra. Look at this!
Why do you even have this in your wardrobe, and more importantly, why did you decide to bring it along with you on your adventure? But hey, seriously not complaining, when I first watched this I must've been 12 years old...yeah.
My other issue is the Clone Troopers. They are badass, don't get me wrong, but they did raise a load of questions about Stormtroopers and clones in general;
- With the Stormtroopers...are they all clones too? This growth acceleration thing that one of those Kamino aliens blabbered on about, wouldn't that mean they'd mostly have died by A New Hope? Why did they change their kickass armour to something much less effective, it would seem?
- And cloning? Well, cloning has been touched upon in Star Wars fiction outside of the films, and in some cases, not very successfully. Apparently, even the Emperor was cloned, continuing to try and rid the universe of Luke Skywalker even after death. Weird huh?
And finally the last thing, which again isn't really an issue as without it there wouldn't be much of a story, but executions? The whole execution scene seems weird for Count Dooku, who out of the Sith who appear in the prequels, seems the most mature. Not only that, but he knows what he's dealing with - Jedi. Why even go to the bother of setting wild animals on them; they have the Force! You know, that all powerful thing that is the whole point of being a Jedi? Jango Fett showed us that he was quite capable of shooting down a Jedi, I'm sure Dooku could have arranged for a quicker and more certain death.
But anyway, I like this film, Yoda's little battle is a mixture of hilarity and heroism, and yes, Padmé is hot. I'm not a massive fan of Obi-Wan Kenobi's hairstyle though...
Here is the first video walkthrough of Aliens:Colonial Marines - think it'll be able to recreate the terror of some of the old Alien games way back when? Let us know what you think
The Old Republic - Huttball
On that note, take a look at this play of some Player vs Player action in The Old Republic in the form of 'Huttball'. Excited?
