Elektra (2005)

 

Directed by Brett Ratner. Starring Jennifer Garner, Terrence Stamp, Goran Visnjic. Cert: 12. Running Time: 100 Mins Approx

Bad, bad, bad. There usually are some redeeming features to a film. I suppose you can argue that just watching Jennifer Garner do her thing is enough to carry a film but not in this case. It is full of cardboard cut out characters that are never fleshed out. The bolted on love story is an indication that they know how weak the main story is. The love story in Daredevil was held up as one of the bad things about that film, but no lessons have been learnt here. I actually liked Daredevil; this was tedious. Bad action, bad acting, bad story, bad film. Don’t touch it with a bargepole. Especially if you like Elektra as a character from the comics.

Constantine (2005)

Directed by Francis Lawrence. Starring Keanu Reeves; Rachel Weisz; Tilda Swinton. Cert: 15. Running Time: 115 Mins.

Another film where the source material is taken more as a jumping off point than the gospel. It’s another film that has had the die-hard fans of the original product gnashing their teeth. Hellblazer should have been left alone, filmed exactly like the book, they cry, and why did you pick Keanu if you were going to make John Constantine an American rather than an English man? they say. The Matrix sequels had already triggered a pretty major backlash against him and what ground he had gained with that first film was lost with some people. Of course he has always had his supporters too and the people who could get their head around the changes to the story couldn’t fail to be happy.
Now I’ll admit that when I heard that John was now an American I suffered a momentary twinge of comic-fan agony myself — John Constantine and his family playing a pretty major role in the New DC Comic Universe. Then I thought, well hey, I am one of the few people I know that liked the Matrix sequels, so let’s give this thing a go. And I’m glad I did.
It has some cracking special effects and one of the better, more interesting takes on depicting hell in modern film. It is not the abstract notion that they usually ram down your throat — it is located in and looks very much like the real world and it is a triumph.
The story is a pretty simple one and lacks a lot of the depth that the comic books have, but that is often the case.; here it does nothing to damage the story. Rachel Weisz is good in her double role, Keanu convinces, Tilda Swinton is amazing as Gabriel, and with Peter Stormare playing the devil, what more do you need?
This is one of those films that is going to become a cult phenomenon. Once people accept it for what it is and don’t keep comparing it to it’s comic-book brother the younger sibling will get the break it deserves. This is great — action-packed, full of ideas, and convincing. A must see.

Men In Black 2 (2002)

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring Tommy Lee Jones; Will Smith; Rip Torn; Lara Flynn Boyle. Cert: PG. Running Time: 84 mins.

What do you get when you have absolutely no new ideas and a big budget? This film perhaps? Stale popcorn? Not to say it’s not watchable. Not to say it’s not above average fare. But it offers nothing new. And for being only 84 minutes long it plods somewhat.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are fine as usual, though somewhat telegraphing their performances. The supporting cast does what it needs to. And that’s it. It doesn’t knock your socks off. Doesn’t make you go ooh, ah, that’s cool. Not like the 1st one did. Which is what a sequel needs to do. Underwhelming.

V For Vendetta (2005)

Directed by James McTeigue. Starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt. Cert: 15. Running Time: 132 Mins.

Alan Moore is not happy with the way the film world treats his books.

I have just seen V For Vendetta and I have to admit that it is a while since I read the graphic novel, but I enjoyed the film for it’s own sake and did not sit there obsessing over how faithful it was to the book. That a mainstream film even attempts to deal with political ideas is noble and somewhat rare.

Yes, League Of Extraordinary Gentleman was a major league disappointment and Swamp Thing, well what more need be said? But this film far outstrips them. You get drawn into the world, into the story — the points come across without being hammered home. There are differences to the book, sure, but the essence has translated. Sometimes the purists and the creators need to let go.

V For Vendetta has wonderful set pieces, a compelling story, actors bringing it all to the table. The running time disappears as you get pulled along on a great ride; a great ride with a serious message, and what could be better? Will McTeigue come away from this with much credit? Maybe, maybe not. But the Wachowski’s have answered the critics who lashed out at the Matrix sequels with a confident vision. It may not be Moore’s, but it works just as well.