The Giver

Posted on by mstoker80

This film, based on Lois Lowry’s book, tells the story of a perfect world. Everyone here is happy. When Jonas is 18 years old, he’s chosen to be the community’s Receiver of Memories. He enters into training with an old man called ‘the Giver’ who would give Jonas memories of the “real” world that the rest of the community is hidden from. From the Giver, Jonas learns not only of love and family, but also of pain, war, and all the unhappy truths the world holds. He quickly realizes that his community is fake. Confronted with this reality, Jonas faces difficult choices about his own life and the futures of many people he’s become close to.

Starring:
Jeff Bridges
Meryl Streep
Brenton Thwaites
Cameron Monaghan
Odeya Rush
Alexander Skarsgård
Katie Holmes
Taylor Swift

For me, the whole thought of the situation the people in this community would haunt me. Not knowing anything other than what your told, even taking injections every morning to stop emotions and not even to know colours or how the world used to be. And as a viewer I understood what Jonas was going through and as the movie goes on you feel his anguish for the people pf the community to know the truth. The overall performance of the cast is excellent and this movie is very good, and definitely worth a watch.

Rating: 7.8/10

Nightcrawler

Posted on by mstoker80

Nightcrawler is a thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling – where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.

Starring:
Jake Gyllenhaal
Rene Russo
Riz Ahmed
Bill Paxton

To be honest I was a bit dubious whether to watch this movie, having read up on it I was undecided whether to give it a watch, but how was I wrong. This is a movie that is definitely worth a watch, but not something to write home about. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a fantastic part, which is why I think this movie is as good as it is. The mannerisms and attitude that Jake portrays as this loner of a character is very good, the plot is good and the cast plays an equally good part of the movie, but nothing out of this world. This is something that is worth a watch, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.

Rating: 6.8/10

Interstellar

Posted on by mstoker80

In the near future around the American Midwest, Cooper an ex-science engineer and pilot, is tied to his farming land with his daughter Murph and son Tom. As devastating sandstorms ravage earths crops, the people of Earth realize their life here is coming to an end as food begins to run out. Eventually stumbling upon a NASA base near Cooper’s home, he is asked to go on a daring mission with a few other scientists into a wormhole because of Cooper’s scientific intellect and ability to pilot aircraft unlike the other crew members. In order to find a new home while Earth decays, Cooper must decide to either stay, or risk never seeing his children again in order to save the human race by finding another habitable planet.

Starring:
Matthew McConaughey
Anne Hathaway
Jessica Chastain
Bill Irwin
Ellen Burstyn
Michael Caine

Interstellar is absolutely epic. With many films I have watched in the past that are over two and a half hours long, I find they drag and I lose slight interest, but Interstellar had me glued to the screen for every minute. I am a sci-fi movie nerd and this was right up my street. The cast all played amazing roles, sending me as a viewer through all of their emotions that they were trying to perceive. The twists and turns throughout the movie are thrilling and I give this movie a very high recommendation, even if science fiction isn’t your thing.

Rating: 9.5/10

The Imitation Game

Posted on by mstoker80

Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

Starring:-

Benedict Cumberbatch
Keira Knightley
Matthew Goode
Mark Strong
Charles Dance
Allen Leech
Matthew Beard
Rory Kinnear

Benedict Cumberbatch was undoubtably magnificent. His performance was brilliant, it is what makes this movie as good as it is . Just the idea of a group of people, fighting the war with pure intelligence and endeavour is captivating, with the genius of Alan Turing being such a massive contribution to the victory of world war II. Also the battle Alan has with his sexuality is breathtaking, a war hero arrested and forced to take hormonal drugs to prevent his homosexual tendencies. This movie is a must watch !!

Rating:- 9.0/10

The Gambler

Posted on by mstoker80

Jim Bennett is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank, a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance.

Starring:-
Mark Wahlberg
John Goodman
Brie Larson
Michael K. Williams
Jessica Lange
Anthony Kelley

The beginning of the movie starts with the death of Jim’s grandfather and the introduction of the underground gambling world that he is involved in. Borrowing off of the wrong people causes Jim to be in debt with a group who wouldn’t think twice to eliminate a person. The movie follows the demise and rise of Jim, borrowing and blowing masses of cash, the brake down of his relationship with his mother and a relationship with one if his students. The character, Jim, has a personality that is hard to read, showing signs of arrogance, ignorance and selfishness but with the notion of being murdered, he seems almost unfazed and see’s being murdered as some sort of scapegoat. But after the borrowing of cash from Frank, the betting conditions for Lamar, one of his students who is a bright basketball star, to win a game by no more than 7 points, sparks a chain of events where Jim pits both sides against each other on one last make or break bet. The exhilarating end to the movie left me stunned, and rooting for Jim, with the realisation he now has full control of his destiny.

Rating:- 7.5/10

The Drop

Posted on by mstoker80

The Drop follows lonely bartender Bob Saginowski through a covert scheme of funneling cash to local gangsters – “money drops” – in the underworld of Brooklyn bars. Under the heavy hand of his employer and cousin Marv, Bob finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood’s past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living – no matter the cost.

Starring:-

Tom Hardy
Noomi Rapace
James Gandolfini

The Drop is a fantastically played and produced movie. Matt Hardy is sublime as the character Bob, and I can’t think of anyone who could have played it better. Throughout the movie the perception of Bob is that he is simply a bartender and generally just a reserved and private person, but it becomes clear as the movie goes on that he is far from that. I particularly loved the ending, with the full reveal of what sort of person Bob is capable of being, but with his heart and morals being in the right place.

Rating:- 8.0/10

Taken 3

Posted on by mstoker80

Liam Neeson returns as ex-covert operative Bryan Mills, whose long awaited reconciliation with his ex-wife is tragically cut short when she is brutally murdered. Consumed with rage, and framed for the crime, he goes on the run to evade the relentless pursuit of the CIA, FBI and the police. For one last time, Mills must use his “particular set of skills,” to track down the real killers, exact his unique brand of justice, and protect the only thing that matters to him now – his daughter.

Starring:-

Liam Neeson
Forest Whitaker
Famke Janssen
Maggie Grace
Dougray Scott
Sam Spruell
Leland Orser

Taken 3 was absolutely on point. The thrill of watching Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) try to clear his name and protect his daughter was exhilarating and captivating. Also the chase that occurs throughout the movie between the police and Brian is amazing. I firmly believe that in the majority of movie franchises the first movie is the best, but in this case, Taken 3 is the cream of the crop. I recommend this film to all you action movie lovers, it will not disappoint.

Rating:- 8.7/10

Lucy

Posted on by mstoker80

Lucy is a science fiction action film. Lucy (Scarlett Johansson), was tricked into working as a drug mule by her boyfriend, unwillingly knowing the series of events in which would occur. Mr Jang is a Korean mob boss that recruits people and inserts drugs into their bodies for transport, knowing airport scanners would never pick up on his methods. But after a vicous blow to her stomach, the drugs are then propelled into her bloodstream, changing Lucy’s life forever.

Starring cast:-

Scarlett Johansson
Morgan Freeman
Amr Waked
Choi Min-sik

Lucy seems an innocent student learning in Korea, but as we all know so well, mixing with the wrong people can have damaging effects. In this case she is forced into being a drug mule, carrying a drug that increases the use of the brain. Lucy becomes some sort of super human being which can control and manipulate more or less anything, from a human to space and time. Lucy the movie is clearly a fictional film but has a brilliant storyline and supported with a fantastic performance from Scarlett Johansson. I am a bit of a science fiction fanatic, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone with the same interests.

Rating:- 7.0

/10

The Equalizer

Posted on by mstoker80

Robert McCall, played by Denzel Washington, is a retired black ops agent who seeks to live his later years working at a hardware store. After the death of his wife, he vowed to leave his old life behind. But after meeting a teenage girl named Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), who’s real name is Alina, he feels compelled to act as it comes to light she is the victim of sex trafficking by the Russian Mafia.

At the beginning it is clear that Robert is secretly a dangerous veteran of some sort, just through his whole demeanour and the way he presents himself. He keeps his word, from the vow he made to his wife, until he learns the life that his teenage friend Alina really lives. He acts with devastating effect. Completely dissolving all of the Russian mafia that stand in his way of freeing Alina from the mafia’s grasp. This is a complete smash hit of an action film with a classic Denzel Washington performance. The story line is excellent and left me rooting for Robert throughout the film, secretly wishing I had such skills.

Rating:- 8.2/10

Gone Girl

Posted on by mstoker80

Gone Girl is a thriller based upon the disappearance of a mans wife, and the events that occur after the incident. Nick Dunne, played by Ben Affleck, returns home on the day of his 5th wedding anniversary to find that his wife has mysteriously gone missing. The press coverage is intense, and later becomes very judgemental, accusing Nick Dunne of murdering his wife. Flashbacks throughout the film after her disappearance, show the deterioration of their marriage. His wife Amy, leaves clues for Nick to reveal to him she knew he was having an affair, and that she was framing him for her murder.

Gone Girl completely defines the overwhelming influence that the media has on society, and how it can manipulate the public. The movie bounces back and forth from Nick, Amy and the media through the trials and tribulations of the whole disappearance, and how Amy has framed Nick for her murder. The movie had me hooked with how one woman reacts and frames her husband with absolute precision. As the movie progresses you come to realise, through her mannerisms, she still longs for the love of Nick, and goes to extremes to return to him, and to society.

Rating:- 8.0/10