LFF 2012 - The Samurai That Night

The word 'samurai' may be the most notable word in the title of this particular Japanese film but an appearance from one is about as likely as not seeing the signature dish of noodles featured at some point throughout the duration. Instead, The Samurai That Night provides a dark, depressing and dreary tale in which we follow Kenichi Nakamura (Masato Sakai) as the repercussions of his wife's death affect him both physically and physically.

Five years after she was run over and left for dead by Kijima (Takayuki Yamada), Ken remains jaunted in life, seeking solace only through the last voicemail message he received from his loved one and a seemingly endless supply of cigarettes. His iron works business merely a chance to exit his slumber, Ken rebuffs the attempts of his brother-in-law Aoki (Hirofumi Arai) to pair him with a new partner as he continues to plummet emotionally.

Despite Kijima paying for his crime with a stint in prison, Ken is intent on redemption and sends a daily letter warning of both his impending sucide and the death of Kijima himself. As the days tick down, the emotional states of all involved are tested to the limit when it becomes clear that Ken is ready to avenge the death of his wife.

The Samurai At Night is by no means an easy watch to say the least. Despite its occasional moments of subtle humour, the film remains an ultimately downbeat and depressing encounter. Its focus character is a broken man who is minimal on dialogue and plentiful in emotional angst, proving a very hard character for the audience to invest much support in and the support roles are far from effective.

Whilst Masato Sakai's Ken conveys the continuous sorrow and difficulty of losing a loved one reasonably well, his act grows tiresome and repetitive as the film trudges along, and in the remainder of the cast come an array of characters who almost seem to have been thrown into the events without full development. The only redeeming factor of the cast comes through Takayuki Yamada; his villain of the piece is one you will grit your teeth at and wish for his timely demise. Neither over-the-top nor understated in his performance, Yamada proves an utterly spiteful and sadistic villain worthy of audience opposition.

Acting aside, the film never quite fulfills its promise of a tense and thrilling lead-up to its finale and instead continues to underwhelm with each scene produced upon the screen. As the days slowly pass to which we expect a showdown between our main character and the man he wants to gain revenge on, the events in between are discombobulated, the characters a messy conundrum and progression seemingly at a stand-still.

With no truly engaging characters, Kijima aside, Samurai suffers greatly, and in failing to produce a worthy main lead to root for, never drives forward into anything more than a dull and drab film with little to savour for those watching. The imagery depressing and a real lack of ambition in the filming of the piece, director Masaaki Akahori's potential revenge flick results in something rather removed from its initial subject matter and proves a flat affair.

Huge pauses in dialogue that are seemingly gaping mistakes, unintentional humour at perplexing moments and a distinct lack of heart, The Samurai That Night outstays its welcome with a unnecessary duration and clunky filmmaking throughout. Those looking for an upbeat film need not apply and even viewers seeking a rather heartfelt tale of loss and tragedy are best steering well clear of what is almost a monstrosity of a film.

The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones Review

Source: Sony

Young adult novels are certainly something of a strength in literature at current, and it shows in their popularity when picked up for big-screen adaptation, with a wealth of talent often involved. From the likes of The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games and many more, the box office is reaping the rewards of such hugely followed properties, and the latest in line is The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones.

City Of Bones sees young Clary (Lily Collins) being thrust into a whole new world as she slowly begins to experience visions and constantly comes across specific symbols that cause her to question who she really is. When she meets the lethal and mysterious Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower), Clary is welcomed into a whole new world within New York called Downworld; a place where others like her roam and where dangers lurk around every corner.

As Clary delves deeper into this world, along with the aid of best friend Simon (Robert Sheehan), she uncovers that her unique abilities are just the tip of the iceberg, with so much more going on around her that she was completely unaware of.

Adapted from Cassandra Clare's novel, City of Bones is a typical concoction of YA fiction, with its love triangle, secrets aplenty and a willingness to conjure up threat for the main characters on a regular basis. It's a paint-by-numbers variety of film that feels rather familiar but still oozes confidence and delivers some intrigue heading forward.

At the heart is young Lily Collins and fortunately she proves that the leading lady fits her like the proverbial glove. Initially a vulnerable young woman confused by what is going on around her, Collins' Clary blossoms into a feisty, strong-willed individual and one whose characteristics serve up a magnitude of reasons why you should fully back her.

Alongside Collins, the main men in Jamie Campbell Bower and Robert Sheehan both make their mark, with Campbell Bower's dark, moody Jace by far the standout from the characters introduced so far. While Clary turns from innocence to full-blown guile and determination, Jace's evolution sees his infatuation with her unleash his softer side, the killer in him somewhat tamed at times. Sheehan, as ever present in television show Misfits, is a joy to watch and it's great to see him leap up to the big stage.

With a collection of positive characters, director Harold Zwart wastes no time in upping the scale as his vision of Clare's world presents itself in all its glory, impressing upon its presentation and looking far from a low budget page-to-screen offering. From the sprawling buildings filling the New York air, to the rich historical interiors, filled with awe, Zwart creates a truly remarkable picture of what many will have imagined from the page.

Delighting us with an array of thrilling action sequences, as well as keeping the film grounded in drama, Zwart cleverly weaves the often twisting storyline into a two-hour adventure that rarely lets up. The twists within the film are nicely whipped up and the scope for further films certainly fills one with optimism, but often there is an air of predictability about the whole film. A feeling of 'been there, done that' does tend to creep in at times, and, while delivered well, the main twist within the film is both perplexing and unsettling, almost denting our connection with two of the main characters.

That being said, The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones is a good introduction to what could prove to be a blossoming YA franchise. Filled with intrigue and bolstered by a wealth of drama, action and solid characters, it is a film that maintains a reserved stance, teasing what is to come further down the line; something that keeps the interest levels at a peak and audiences wanting more.

Medway meets Hollywood: The big guns that filmed in our towns

Let's face it, Medway is hardly the most exciting place to live in, but on the odd occasion there is something of note to report. In years gone past, the Medway towns has played host to some of the big guns of Hollywood, with a number of blockbuster movies filming in the area. Don't believe me? See for yourself...

Les Miserables

Russell Crowe was in town as Chatham Dockyard played host to musical epic Les Miserables, as his horse riding skills and singing talents were put to use during filming in Chatham. Shooting took place over 11 days and made good use of the Dockyard's Tarred Yarn Store.

The World Is Not Enough

So James Bond has a brand new boat from Q and has to take it for a rather intense opening sequence around the Millennium Dome before those infamous opening credits; only what looks like parts of London are actually the Dockyard. Those scenes where Bond exits the water and has a little adventure on the roads and backstreets, that's Chatham people!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Moving away from the a Dockyard for our next one; the fourth instalment in the Pirates series hit Sevenoaks as Knole House was transformed as we saw Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow once again escape as he almost fell foul of the gallows. 

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

Okay, so we've only got two key filming locations in Medway but when both of them are used in a film that features the powerhouse that is Robert Downey Jr. then it's hard not to be impressed. Game of Shadows did just that as the Dockyard doubled as London docks and Moriarty's house was actually Knole House. 

Surrounding areas have also fared well, with the likes of Harry Potter, the Johnny English films and many others being filmed close by. We've also had the hosting of The Mummy and The Golden Compass at the Dockyard to add to the list for good measure. 

With more superhero movies hitting the UK for filming, surely it's gotta be our time soon, right? Right?....

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ABC Cinema Chatham: You are missed

It was somewhat of a tradition in the school days; get pocket money or that all-important £20-odd from your paper round and head for the cinema on a Saturday. Not just any cinema mind, that famous, 3-screen forum of glory on the approach to the high street that was ABC Cinema, Chatham. Remember those days...

The preparation

Friday wasn't just the last day of the school week, it was prep day for you and your mates to figure out times and, of course, which film was to be the one your hard-earnt money was to be spent on. Can't remember clearly, but I'm sure tickets would only set you back around a fiver; those were the days...

The pre-munch

This wasn't just a cinema trip, this was a day out with your mates, so a pre-cinema McDonalds was on the cards. Remember, these were the days before Nandos, the mass choice of Dockside restaurants and the larger budget. A McD's was the option before a snuck-in Woolworths Pick N Mix or some trademark ABC popcorn. Hunger wasn't an option.

Queue time

Forget your fancy multiplexes, your big foyers and pre-booked tickets, come rain or shine queuing outside was the only option. The only drawback being the sense of dread when that queue was heading further up that hill after you decided that an extra five minutes in McDonalds would be fine. 

Three screens a charm

It's incredible to think of the multiple screens available in cinema's of today when back in the day our cinema of choice offered up three. Not that it was a problem mind; screen 1 was the palace of blockbuster movies as you head up those lit stairs, while 2 and 3 served up plenty of those rom-coms we couldn't help but love at a tender age. Anyone else remember seeing Get Over It in screen 3 and falling in love with Kirsten Dunst?...

The little details

The fresh smell of popcorn as you walked in, those tiny little ticket stubs you used to find in all sorts of pockets and drawers, the minimal cinema staff and the more limited ticket booths, ABC Chatham was one-of-a-kind and still holds great memories.

I'm sure you all have great memories of the place so please share them in the comments or via Facebook, Twitter and beyond!

Man Of Steel: My Dark Knight of superhero movies

It's somewhat of a fact that whenever I get a glimpse of it on the TV listings or I'm purely out for a superhero movie to fill a spare two hours, Man of Steel is my one-stop solution. For all your Avengers, Batmans and beyond, MoS is the superhero outing that resonates most with me, with its stark ambition, pure scope and ultimate entertainment. 

Of course, many will disagree profusely to my claims that is among - if not the - best superhero offering out there, but allow me to divulge my thoughts and give you a number of reasons why this really is my Dark Knight of the genre. 

Origins 

You only have to look at Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man and the opinions towards that film to see that recycling an origin story tends to be a risk. With Zack Snyder's Superman rebirth, that risk proved a calculated one as he brought to us a thoroughly realised and refreshed version of Kal-El's first steps to becoming a hero. Most notably, Snyder's showcase of being a true visionary came through his representation of the dying Krypton, a vast, awe-inspiring planet staggering in its scale and exceptional in detail. Needless to say, the cries for a Krypton-focused spin-off movie soon followed. 

The new Clark Kent

There's no arguing that Henry Cavill built up an incredible physique to be rightly considered for the role of Krypton's famous son, but his all-round performance makes for enthralling viewing. Channeling the heroics of his super-powered alien nature, while maintaining that human core with some truly grounded moments, Cavill's Superman is the superhero we all know, but with an added depth we've rarely witnessed. 

Flashbacks

The way in which Snyder and his scribe David S. Goyer dealt with Clark's past is one of the most refreshing things about Man of Steel. The growing pains of evolving within a school environment as someone very different from others, the careful mentoring from Earth father Jonathan and beyond, there are some strong flashback sequences ripe with emotion. These make for a wider approach to the nature of Clark Kent and the man he will become.

Multiple nods

Skyfall did it incredibly successful in recent times, as well as many others, but Man of Steel too gave us a handful of neat little Easter eggs and treats throughout its duration, some whetting the appetite for future endeavours. From the little touches such as Sullivan's farm (one for the Smallville fans), the Luthercorp and Wayne Enterprises inclusions, and even a hint of Cavill-Reeve face transformation, this film knows it's fan base and treated us aplenty.

The threat

We all know Kryptonite is Superman's big weakness, so when it was announced it would be left out of MoS there was rightly some questions raised. Thankfully, this was dealt with both intelligently and in a way to keep this new iteration on course and not veering too far away from its source. With that perfectly arranged, the key threat came in General Zod and his followers, with Michael Shannon in suitable dark and dangerous form. While he scowled and stalked his way through a successful villainous venture, there was a superb support act in Antje Traue, proving that women too can hammer home in the villain stakes. I sincerely hope we see more of Faora more in the future.

The bigger picture

One of the qualms many had regarding the film was the mass destruction caused by Supes in his attempts to take down Zod. Personally, I found that this showcased the sheer God-like nature of the Kryptonians, cementing their brutal abilities in some enthralling action sequences. It too proved that Warner Bros and its staff have a long-game in plan, with Superman at the core and his actions consequenting in retaliation (Batman vs Superman being the start). We all know Superman should be saving lives, avoiding destruction etc but clearly this has been utilised in order to play out a much bigger scenario down the line. One can imagine Batman will have something to say about his satellite being destroyed, let alone the levelling of Metropolis. Next year will no doubt put some of the doubters to rest.

There are many more reasons I could go into but for now I think this is a justifiable list to explain why I honestly believe Man of Steel among the best in the superhero stakes. Agree or disagree it would be great to get your views.

Fifty Shades: The Good and the Grey areas

It broke records this Valentine’s weekend and proved that book adaptations are still well and truly the in thing with regards to Hollywood, but does Fifty Shades Of Grey live up to the extended mass hype it’s been receiving ever since it was announced?

Following my reviews on both Filmoria and MovieMarker, I thought I’d give a little rundown of the Good and the Grey points of the film, and would love to get your opinions on what you thought about the movie itself.

The Good

It may come as a surprise to many, but Fifty Shades does in fact possess some redeeming factors, albeit slim pickings. Assumptions will have been made with regards to this particular film resulting in car crash moviemaking, but in truth there are a few positives to be had.

Direction and Cinematography - Sam Taylor-Johnson and her team must be credited with the overall look of the movie. For one that is drenched in such a dark and disturbing focal topic, the aerial shots of Seattle, coupled with the vibrant and modern interiors of the Grey buildings are a delight. The film is exceptionally shot and, even within the realms of the red room, adds that extra depth to the proceedings.

Dakota Johnson - I'll admit it, I feared for Johnson out of the leading pair, but in fact it is she who comes out unscathed and with an air of positivity surrounding her. In her portrayal of Ana she remains an independent and often naive entity, only to evolve into a curious and sexually curious young woman, enticed by the lure of the unknown. It takes a lot for an actress to bare that much flesh for a substantial chunk of a film's duration too, so this only heightens the level of admiration for Johnson.

Danny Elfman's score - For one, it was a huge surprise to even see the name of Danny Elfman appear on-screen, but a welcome one all the same. As ever, his score adds that extra element to the film, hitting the right notes at the right time and providing some much needed character at times.

The Grey Areas

Story - Let's face it, much has already been said with regards to the quality of E.L. James' story and quite frankly it doesn't particularly transfer perfectly to screen either. What is a relatively dull, drab and simplistic story clearly doesn't particularly garner the utmost of sincerity and requires so much more.

Duration - At a lengthy 120 minutes, Fifty Shades is certainly a stretch considering its repetitive nature. Whisking us through scenario after scenario between Christian and Ana, interlinked with sex scenes and struggle, this is a tedious affair and one that definitely could have been cut much shorter.

Humour, both intentional and otherwise - Sam Taylor-Johnson can't be faulted for trying to throw in some humour for added spice, but it all-too-often misses the mark. Even further off the mark are the moments during the more sexual scenes when things can often get a bit laughable instead of possessing the intensity we all expect. 

Your Christian Grey - Like him or not, Jamie Dornan is the man to embody Christian Grey, but upon the first entry in the trilogy it certainly seems like he may not quite be the right person. Simmering, mysterious and dominating Dornan may need to be but he instead feels dull, monotone and incredibly flat. The only thing that saves him is his physical state of brilliance.

Rita Ora - What better way to finish on the negative notes than with the split-second appearance of one Rita Ora, black wig and all. The only thing to consider that's worse is the fact that she will return in a much bigger role in the future...

Do you agree with my thoughts of Fifty Shades Of Grey or am I completely off the mark? It would be great to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.