How much will they dull The Edge of Tomorrow?

The first trailer to go with the stills for The Edge of Tomorrow has arrived.  The question is, how visceral will it be?

With Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise cast in the lead roles, The Edge of Tomorrow is a cinematic adaptation of a 2003 short novel called 'All You Need Is Kill' by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.  The story tells of a soldier called Keiji fighting a war in the near future against an invading alien race called 'Mimics'.  It is a battle that humanity is desperately losing.  Keiji has no experience of war going into his first battle, and he is killed only to find himself transported back to the day before.  This time loop continues as he is forced to fight and die repeatedly.  Trapped in this loop Keiji learns to fight better and smarter each time, in a desperate attempt to escape his repetitive demise and maybe even turn the tide of the war.  The book is fantastic, and I would recommend it to anyone.  You get a real sense of Keiji's drive and desperation to escape his deaths.  He painfully recounts his demise numerous times, none of them pleasant.

The film has yet to receive a rating, but the BBFC website lists the trailer as 12A.  I can imagine that the film will follow suit, trying to reach as large an audience as possible.  Will the film, who's source material contains graphic, adult content, be compromised as a result?

Tom Cruise is a pretty safe bet for your lead role if you want to stay family friendly but have a dramatic edge.  I also can't wait to see what Emily Blunt does with the role of The Full Metal Bitch.

Out in June 2014, we'll just have to wait and see.

Jupiter Ascending gets it's first trailer...

Before The Wachowskis brought Cloud Atlas to our screens, Jupiter Ascending was in development.  We finally get our first glimpse in the form of the following trailer.

Written, produced and directed by The Wachowskis and due for release next year, I believe this will be a welcome return for two directors responsible for some of my favourite science fiction cinema.  Having read Cloud Atlas I can only admire directors brave enough to try and bring such a work to life on screen.  I personally found the book a challenge at times, and can understand some peoples distaste of the film.  The things I loved about Cloud Atlas were the visuals, and the scope of the thing.  It showed me The Wachowskis to be fearless directors, not afraid to challenge and be challenged.

Jupiter Ascending looks to continue on this theme of visually stunning story telling of intergalactic scope.  As a huge fan of The Wachowskis, this is something I cannot wait to see.

Steer clear of the Carrie remake...

I'm not usually one for ranting.  Having seen a bad film I don't write about it, or I wait until I have calmed down and can constructively criticise it.

I am a fan of the original version of Carrie, and a big fan of Stephen King's writing.  The story of Carrie is a great allegory for puberty and adolescence that has been retold in many forms in books and film over the years.
The book was published in 1974, was and still is an exceptional work of literary fiction.  Hard hitting both in it's content, child abuse, religious fanaticism, bullying, teenage pregnancy, abortion, murder, and for the fact that it was an epistolary novel.  The subject matter combined with it's portrayal as actual events that took place would have made for something very powerful at that time.
Two years later, in 1976, a feature film adapted from the book was released.  Whilst I don't feel that the film was able to convey the full glory of the writing, it did a stand up job.  The film hasn’t aged well, and watching it now may not have as profound effect.  The subject matter at that time was very edgy.  As a result it was critically acclaimed and earned 2 oscar nominations, lead actress and supporting actress.

Fast forward to 2013.  In our current age, with the internet, information sharing and social media the way it is, the topics mentioned above aren’t taboo.  Because of this a Carrie remake would have to think outside the box a little.  How do you make the film relevant to this generation.  I’m sorry to say that happy slapping and video sharing via social networks just don’t cut it.  They in themselves are now tired gimmicks.  Used and reused many times before.  So with that said an almost frame perfect (in some places) remake of the original just becomes woefully dull.  There isn’t anything there to wow the current generation.  No shocks, no edge.  It just doesn't feel like there was any need to remake the film at this moment in time.

If you have yet to see Carrie at the cinema.  I wouldn’t waste the money on a ticket.  Wait a few months for your on demand service to pick it up.  Or better yet, steer clear of the remake all together and just watch the original.

The Hunger Games grows up...

Out of the shadow of an enjoyable, but half baked first film, steps a much more mature offering in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.  The second film in the series joins Katniss and Peeta following their victory in the 74th Hunger Games of the first film.  This film explores the social and political impact of their joint victory within the land of Panem.

We get to further explore the devious contempt of Donald Sutherland's character, Snow.  Something sorely lacking from the first instalment.  We also get a great performance from Phillip Seymour Hoffman.  His character adds gravitas to proceedings.  The 'things that go unsaid' nature of his story arc adds a very thoughtful element.
The first film was very much about survival.  You could also liken early adolescence to survival too.  Your life is rapidly changing.  You are plucked from the safety and security of primary school, thrust into the harsh dog eat dog world of secondary school.  Much in the same way as the Reaping sees Pledges taken from their homes and put into The Hunger Games.
Moving onto Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and the journey continues in much the same way.  During your early years, from the safety and security of your family home, you have but to think about yourself.  That is not to say that we are all selfish, just that we have yet to be fettered with the responsibilities that are a natural part of adulthood.  Now as The Hunger Games moves into it's second instalment, we start to see these more responsible, adult elements start to appear.
This starts with the scene between President Snow and Katniss.  Snow immediately acknowledges the deception of Katniss' relationship with Peeta, and asks that it continue.  Snow insists that Katniss do whatever it takes to convince him that it is real, otherwise Katniss’ family will be at the mercy of Snow.  So not only are we dealing with the concept of deception, but also the idea that Katniss is having to do something that she does not enjoy in order to keep others safe.  A very grown up concept, and signs that we are moving out of the comfort of childhood and into adolescence and young adulthood.
Then we are introduced to the Mockingjay symbol for the first time as a symbol of rebellion and propaganda, spray painted on the tunnel wall during the train journey to District 11.  An introduction to the politically charged element of this second film.  Having arrived in District 11 on their victory tour, Katniss and Peeta are expected to give a speech.  Effie has prepared these already and hands them cards that they need only read from.  After only a few words Peeta abandons the cards and speaks from the heart.  With the image of fallen tribute, ally, and friend Rue looking down upon her, Katniss is compelled to follow suit.  

     “Everything beautiful brings her to mind.  I see her in the yellow flowers that grow in the meadow beside my house.  I see her in the mockingjays that sing in the trees."

After these heartfelt words from Katniss, an elderly gentleman in the crowd raises a silent, three fingered salute, a symbol of the growing rebellion.  Members of the Capitol's police force are quickly on hand to put a stop to it by shooting the elderly man.
A distraught Katniss gets a very real lesson on how her thoughts, words and actions have very real consequences on everyone around her.  Like I'm sure all parents will agree however, there are still some things that are kept from Katniss.  In much the same way parents protect their children from some of the harsher realities of life for as long as possible.  This becomes apparent in the final scenes when we find out that a plot to start a rebellion was happening all around her during the 75th Hunger Games.

As the first film introduced us to the concept of The Hunger Games.  It focused mainly on the mechanics of the games survivalist nature.  In this way it was likened to films such as Battle Royale, meaning that those unfamiliar with the books were coming to watch the film with expectations that were skewed from the start.  Being compared to such an adult themed and violent film made the first Hunger Games seem perhaps more childlike than it actually was.  Throughout the second film we get glimpses of rebellion.  People talking about hope.  Unrest in all the districts, and silent salutes in respect to the two main characters that add much more.  This comes to a dramatic climax at the end when we are brought to the precipice of a full scale uprising.  When we also find out that District 12 has been flattened and Snow has followed through with his earlier threat, Katniss' steely look tells us that we have crossed a threshold and there is no going back.  A fine ending that left me wanting immediately to see the final instalment of this franchise.

As the final credits began to roll, I turned to a friend who I was watching the film with and jokingly bet that the final film would be split into two parts.  An annoying trend with such franchises.  It appears the trend will continue with The Hunger Games, where we can expect to see 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' on our screens just before Christmas next year.  My only hope is that it isn't a case of all the action being shoe-horned into part 2.