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Hit Play: The Raid

8/11/2014

by Matt Gammond

Without a doubt, The Raid 2 has been one of the most critically acclaimed movies to punch its way into theatres in 2014. After receiving unanimous praise on the festival circuit it struck a chord with cinema goers everywhere thanks to its insane fight scenes that were laced with beautiful and game-changing choreography. Audiences cheered and recoiled in horror as the chaos unfolded; The Raid 2 is more than a movie, it’s an experience.

The Blu-ray/DVD release is here and to celebrate this I thought I’d rewind the clock back to 2012 and take a look at this film’s wonderful predecessor – the movie that got the whole world talking about a short Indonesian actor an unknown Welsh director.

Hit Play: Beetlejuice

8/6/2014

by Jo Johnstone

The Robin Thicke, Mikey Cyrus incident earlier this year caused all manor of controversies. For some, it was the lewd nature of the dancing. For others, it was the age gap between the two performers. For any child of the Eighties or nighties, one question has collectively bugged us all, how did Thicke managed to steal Beetlejuice's suit?

Before master director Tim Burton made his name with his vision of Batman or captured our hearts with Edward Scissorhands. he was the new kid on the block. A quirky animator turned director whose oddball visuals gave audiences a break from the mainstream. In this early work Burton cast comic actor Michael Keaton as an afterlife ghoul with a knack for causing trouble.

Hit Play: Rear Window

8/4/2014

by Gloria Daniels-Moss

"A murderer would never parade his crime in front of an open window".

We all know it's wrong to spy on people, but we still do it. Well what else to do when you are stuck inside during a sweltering summer with a broken leg? Photographer L.B. Jeffries certainly thinks this is the best way to pass his time whilst trapped in a wheelchair. By looking at his various neighbours through the lens of his camera, we along with him become obsessed and fascinated with these people’s lives. In a more than Hitchcockian fashion this Rear Window’s suspenseful narrative unfolds and thickens rapidly.

Hit Play: Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

8/1/2014

by Liam McMillen

Of all Kaufman's screenplays that delve into the interior landscapes of its characters, Eternal Sunshine is the most fully formed and moving story of the bunch, a rumination on the possibilities and consequences inherent in making the process of removing unwanted memories from your consciousness as easy as going for a check-up. Kaufman here plays on our desire to forget the bad things that happen to us and what happens when we are given the power to forget those things permanently, and the conclusion he arrives at is that it ultimately creates as many - if not more - problems than it solves. At the very least, it can result in making the same mistakes again ("Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it"); at the worst, it eliminates the possibility of our ever reconciling and coming to terms with our life experiences, the way we relate to the people who help to shape our lives and whose lives we shape through ours.

Hit Play: The Lego Movie

7/21/2014

by Melissa Haggar

Animated feature films. They tend to be a hit or miss in the industry and for audiences as it is always so difficult to get every little feature right. The visuals have to be astounding, the animation on point and the story has to be engaging enough (not to mention make sense!) to maintain attention spans. Animation is a long process, and one that requires dedication, which means studios tend to shy away from these types of productions as they can be so risky. So, in a more recent world where the most notable animations are undoubtedly Toy Story and Frozen (and pretty much anything Disney can come up with, ever), are there any other animated features that can compete with the conglomerates that are Disney and Pixar? The answer takes the form of a small yellow man made entirely out of Lego – yes, its 2014’s The Lego Movie.

Hit Play: Under The Skin

7/14/2014

by Cookie N Screen

Highbrow and art-house cinema have spent a long time trying to find the balance between style and substance. A lot of them, it is safe to say, fall into the former, abandoning the depth of a story for pretty images in an attempt to stir the audience. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing because sometimes thought-provoking artwork can be outstanding, leaving you squirming with emotions. But it is disappointing for characterisation and plot to be abandoned for look. One director has used art, imagery and more to enhance his tales instead of replacing them. His name is Jonathon Glazer and he has wowed us again with Under The Skin.

Hit Play: The Grand Budapest Hotel

7/7/2014

by Cookie N Screen

Wes Anderson is well known for his unique style. It breathes both as intellectual and whimsical, bouncing with delectable characters that showcase a wide range of valid and quirky, emotions. Anderson has, underneath his belt, an array of movies that are imaginative and wonderful. There’s the Royal Tenenbaulms, Bottle Rocket, The Life Aquatic and many more that have built a portfolio so strong that he even has a dedicated team of actors behind him, willing to put their efforts into his projects and produce stellar stuff. Out on DVD today is The Grand Budapest Hotel, and it is just as riotous as the rest of them.

Happy Canada Day: Hit Play- Twist

7/1/2014

by Hayley Charlesworth

Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist story has been told and retold numerous times in cinema, from Roman Polanski’s take to the iconic musical adaptation.

But one version seems to have slipped under the radar. Twist, from director Jacob Tierney, relocates the story from Victorian London to early-2000s Toronto, and tells the story from the perspective of the Artful Dodger, or Dodge as he is known here.

Happy Canada Day: Hit Play - Scott Pilgrim vs The World

7/1/2014

by Hayley Charlesworth

It’s Canada Day, and what better way to celebrate than with the most awesome Canadian action comedy film of all time? Granted, that is a very small category, but it should not diminish the excellence of Scott Pilgrim vs the World.

Part coming-of-age comedy, part epic video game battles to the death, Scott Pilgrim is a truly unique vision from UK director Edgar Wright (he of The Cornetto Trilogy) based on Canadian Bryan O’Malley’s even funnier comic book. It also marks the high point of Michael Cera’s career, and proves that there’s an even better Culkin than Macauley out there, so there’s that.

Hit Play: Stardust

6/28/2014

by Laura W

Stardust has to be one of the best film adaptations of a book to date. Naturally, there were some changes as with most film adaptations, but the film version of Stardust still maintains what people originally loved about Neil Gaiman's classic novel, whilst also bringing a new audience of people who hadn't ventured into the dark fantasy book. The film is fun yet serious and all together memorable. It doesn't take itself too seriously, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

<<Previous

Hit Play: The Raid

Hit Play: Beetlejuice

Hit Play: Rear Window

Hit Play: Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Hit Play: The Lego Movie

Hit Play: Under The Skin

Hit Play: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Happy Canada Day: Hit Play- Twist

Happy Canada Day: Hit Play - Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Hit Play: Stardust

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