Movie Review … Logan

Since 2000, the ‘X-Men’ film series has gone from strength to strength.  Based on the popular Marvel comic book series created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the stories about mutant outcasts continually captured imaginations.  Ten films later, we reach ‘Logan’, the third in the solo Wolverine series.  Part of the extended ‘X-Men’ universe, ‘Logan’ sees everyone’s favourite steel-clawed mutant in new environs.  It’s also the best Wolverine film to date with story and main star going full throttle in moody action spectacle.

Two decades on, no new mutants have been born. Seeing the slow extinction of the unique race are Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).  Working as a limo driver near the Mexico border and wanting to lay low, Logan tries to forget his legacy.  When approached by a mysterious woman who wants him to protect young mutant Laura (Dafne Keen), Logan’s past comes hurtling back.  Helped by fellow mutant Cailban (Stephen Merchant), Logan readies to face against evil forces one more time until the final showdown.

Being promoted as Jackman’s ‘final’ appearance as Wolverine, ‘Logan’ goes out in a blaze of glory.  Nothing is off limits from the violence to the way the story is told.  In Director James Mangold’s hands, ‘Logan’ plays like a 1970’s revenge Western with the dirty, grimy locales Wolverine’s mean streets.  Logan is a man on the edge and near the end of his days.  His world-weariness is conveyed very well by Jackman who hasn’t always been the greatest actor. His limited range has produced some cinematic stinkers, although ‘Logan’ is definitely not one of them.

Praise should go to the writers who have developed an atmosphere of dread and blood-thirstiness.  Each character wants to control something even with limited resources at their disposal.  ‘Logan’ has more in tone with the earlier X-Men films without the silly throw-away camp which bogged down the worst of them.  ‘Logan’ knows the story it wants to tell and does so without abandon.  Wolverine’s brutality is seen in pure force with the cinematography perfectly capturing the desolate nature of his environs.

There is no doubt ‘Logan’ is the best of the Wolverine movies. It’s also the best performance Jackman has given to date with his discarding the usual ‘Home and Away’-style acting holding him back.  He exits the superhero scene with violent grace with a satisfying ending as poetic as any hard-lived Western.

 Movie Review Rating out of 10:  8

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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Movie Review … Beauty And The Beast

In this era, there are remakes, sequels and re-boots galore.  Several films have had multiple versions of their stories made over the decades.  ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is one that has seen many adaptations.  Some have been amazing while others have withered.  The 1991 Walt Disney animated version was a huge success leading to a popular stage version.  Now comes the live-action movie update with all the bells and whistles only Disney can provide. A gorgeous looking production with stirring music that successfully captures the timelessness of its classic tale.

When her father is captured and held captive in a sinister-looking castle, Belle (Emma Watson) tries to find a way to free him.  She decides to trade her life for his, a pact she makes with the castle’s owner, the Beast (Dan Stevens).  An ugly monster on the surface, underneath, as Belle discovers, someone full of genuine heart. Becoming enchanted with the magical beings within the castle, she defends the beast against determined hunter Gaston (Luke Evans).  Hoping the beast’s true nature emerges for all to see, Belle races against the clock to ensure this happens.

From its opening moments, you can tell ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a lavish production.  No expense has been spared to bring the tale to life.  It certainly looks sumptuous, with elegant costuming, visual design and well written music.  These elements are meant to entrance viewers into its magical world.  ‘Beauty and the Beast’ revels in its slick professionalism, with its glossy veneer hiding its messages of being an outsider and accepting the person inside ourselves.  Although it wasn’t created by Disney, the story is well suited to the company who has traded on its family friendly ideal.

Director Bill Condon directs with panache despite the cartoonish characters seen.  ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is very much a feel-good piece with wicked villains and virtuous heroes.  Watson does well as the latter with Evans cutting a dashing figure in the former.  The only genuine let-down is the rendering of the beast with less than credible CGI.  This takes away a little from the romance between him and Belle, even if it is handled well.  The songs are suitably hum-able and the imaginative creativity gone into presenting this for big-screen entertainment noticeable. 

Although this is yet another version of an oft-told tale, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ offers a megabuck spectacle worth seeing.  It makes you more appreciative effort has gone into crafting something visually appealing.  Its sense of enchanting wonder is intact that would have made Walt Disney proud.

 

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  7

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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Movie Review … A Few Less Men

Five years ago, ‘A Few Best Men’ arrived on screens to howls of outrage.  Directed by ‘Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert’ helmer Stephan Elliot, it offered a myriad of puerile toilet humour for critics to be appalled by.  The bad publicity generated helped it make big box office dollars as curious viewers wondered what the fuss was about.  Now comes the sequel ‘A Few Less Men’. Elliot has dropped out of directing duties but this follow-up is still as juvenile as ever and sure to furrow even further movie critics’ brows.

David (Xavier Samuel), Tom (Kris Marshall) and Graham (Kevin Bishop) are life-long best friends. When a friend dies after they attend a wedding, they fly home to give his body to his family.  Their plane crash-lands into the harsh outback, leaving the trio to think of ways to carry their deceased friend home.  With lost clothes, wayward animals and peculiar people blocking their path, the lads despair at ever arriving at their destination as events conspire against them. 

‘A Few Less Men’ is the type of production movie critics like to slam.  Its plot is flimsy, its execution is terrible and the acting mostly dire.  But it wasn’t made for critics. It was made as a potential money-making franchise.  Crudity and innuendo have always been popular with general audiences with the 70’s ‘Carry On’-style humour fully on display.  The script goes from one outlandish situation to another, full of smutty laughs, truly awful dialogue and embarrassed performers.

The only saving grace is the cinematography which captures the Australian landscape very well.  ‘A Few Less Men’ is a gorgeous looking movie, which makes it more tragic that so much money was wasted on a mediocre screenplay.  Sophisticated laughs seem old-hat in films these days. It’s easier to indulge in gutter humour than sophisticated wit.  Xavier Samuel equips himself with some dignity in his role, providing some sense of sanity in an insanely dire movie.

‘A Few Less Men’ presents a grotesque collage of lavatory humour that would make the cast of ‘Are You Being Served?’ blush.  As usual, it will be a big hit based on its notoriety with the furrowed brow of this movie critic dug deeper than the bottom of the barrel this one scrapes.

 

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  2

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

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