ISYS100 Fudge Face Movie Reviews Assignment 2 Final Vlog

Fudge Face Movie Reviews

Assignment 2 Final Vlog

We came up with the idea for our video early on in the assignment, and planned to film it in the weeks after finishing part A. To start us off, Brent wrote up a draft script and storyboard of ideas that we tweaked during our first meeting for assignment two, with reference to the marking criteria and our own creative input. All members featured fairly equally, and filming was done primarily by Will, Adam and Sam, over a couple of filming sessions around the university. Lastly, the group met up to plan the layout of the editing, which Peter conducted and polished off our short film.

Thanks again!
     -The Fudge Face Team

Princess Bride Review "Inconceivable!"

Princess Bride Review

Review by Brent Williams

Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin and Peter Falk
Director: Rob Reiner
Genre: Adventure, Family
Year of Release: 1987

"We are men of action. Lies do not become us"

Here we have it; one of my all time favourites. This film has earned its status as a cult following due to its satirical take of the fairy tale formula and the passion of the characters. 
Plot:
A charming and talented man must overcome the very worst of the magical kingdom of Florin in order to save his kidnapped childhood love. Along the way, Wesley, forms an alliance with some unlikely allies in order to do so. 
Characters:
The Princess Bride has all of the regular tropes of a fairy tale. There is the evil prince, the charming Wesley as the Dread Pirate Roberts, the damsel in distress as Buttercup and the foreign swordsman Inigo aptly played by Mandy Patinkin. Despite this, the characters all feel fresh and charming and its hard not to fall in love with each and every one of them. The antagonist Vizzini is humorous and will have you exclaiming "inconceivable" for the next week.
Overall:
Although there is the idea of a happily ever after it occurs within the first 5 minutes, the main thematic concept of the film is; passion. Its the passion that drives Inigo, Wesley and Buttercup.
As the real plot takes place inside of a book, it allows for the film to be self aware and poke fun at the stereotypes of a happily ever after. It does so in a way that you cannot help but be charmed by its quirks. It is the definition of the family film; there is something for everyone. 

A timeless classic that still holds today. 
Giving this film an Inconceivable 10/10 fudges.
Trailer

Lawless - Will

Lawless

Reviewed by William Monck
44886098

Genre: Crime, Drama

Year of release: 2012

Director: John Hillcoat

Starring:Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke

The plot of the story is during the great depression, Forrest (Tom Hardy) is rumoured to be immortal after surviving the war, Howard (Jason Clarke) and the runt of he family Jack (Shia LaBeouf) are the Bondurant family, andthey own a distillery and bootlegging business. When the District Attorney and the Special Deputy Charles Rakes come to them wanting a bribe to continue business, the Bondurant family refuses to pay. Jack trying to prove him self to his brothers deals a lot of moonshine to the powerful gangster Floyd Banner. Jack is followed by the Special Deputy Rakes and he finds the location of their distillery. When Rakes kills Jack's best friend Pete, the Bondurant brothers and the locals join each other to face the authorities.

This movie was very intriguing as the main criminal act was making a selling alcohol, which is a very foreign concept now, also how people were willing to fight and die for it. I really enjoyed the setting of the country 1930's, with all there old vehicles, clothing and ways of life. The plot was once again amazing, it was well thought trough cinematic journey that I relished in. 

Final rating: 9/10 fudges.

Movie Trailer:

The Worlds End review

 

 

The Worlds End

Reviewed by Sam Sietsma
44886128

Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi

Year of release: 2013

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman

The third and final film in the ‘three favours cornetto trilogy’, The Worlds End once again stars Simon Pegg as “Gary King”, self-proclaimed king of drinking and alcohol of he and his friends’ hometown. 20 years on from their departure, he and his 4 mates (featuring Nick Frost and Martin Freeman) attempt to take on their previously liver-conquering pub crawl: The Golden Mile.

Just like in his other two movies of this trilogy, Edgar Wright uses his filming and scenic shots to create humour and suspense throughout the movie. Close ups of drinks, metaphorical pub names such as “hole in the wall” (where a car literally drives through the pub wall) and “the first post” (their first pub visit for the crawl) create hidden comedy for the audience to enjoy. In addition, he manages to satire the sci-fi alien genre, while still making his alien take-over a town movie suspenseful and dramatic. Wonderful.

Overall, this film is a cult classic for the ages, with its hilarious storyline, great characters and character development, and overall quality filmmaking, it’s hard to go past this one for a better comedy movie, bar a few other greats.

Final rating: 9.1/10 fudges.

Movie Trailer:

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Reviewed by Peter Batt - 44918429

The first  and my personal favorite film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, although released in 1981 is set in 1936. Indiana Jones has been hired by government agents to locate the 'Ark of the Covenant' before the Nazi's can beat him to it. The Nazis have teams searching for religious artifacts, such as the Lost Ark. The Ark is rumored to be able to make an invincible army of the un-dead, The Nazis plan to use this army to win the war that is currently going on. The Nazis are being helped by Indiana Jones' long time enemy, Rene Belloq, played by Paul Freeman. With the help of his lover, Marion Ravenwood, played by Karen Allen and a professional excavator, Sallah, played by John Rhys-Davies, Indiana Jones manages to recover the Lost Ark from a tomb in Egypt. The Nazis then steal the Ark and capture Indiana and Marion along with it. Rene and the Nazis perform a ceremony to open the Ark, but as they do, they are all killed gruesomely by the Ark's power. Indiana Jones and Marion survived by closing their eyes, something the others seemed to be unable to do, manage to get the Ark to the United States, where it is stored away in a secret government warehouse, never to be opened again.

The actors in this movie are:

         Paul Freeman - Rene Bellow

         John Rhys-Davis   - Sallah

         Karen Allen  - Marion Ravenwood

         Harrison Ford  - Indiana Jones

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

I rate this movie 8.9/10 Fudges

Movie Trailer:

Howl's Moving Castle Review - Adam

 Howl's Moving Castle Review

Reviewed by Adam Eldershaw - 44900759

Genre: Anime, Adventure

Year of release: 2004

Director: Hayao Mikazaki

Starring: Cheiko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa

Howl's Moving Castle is a 2004 anime film made in Japan. It is a film filled with adventure, wonder, love and mystical beings. The movie's screen writer's dida brilliant job of creating the world in which us as the audience are placed into and the story of Howl, who he is and how we find out as we follow our main character Sophie. Sophie is a young hatter who encounters the wizard Howl while going on a journey. Then as she returns she meets a witch who puts a terrible curse on her, turning her into a 90 year old woman. In hopes to break the curse, Sophie embarks on a journey to yet again find the wizard Howl so he can set her free from this curse. It is truely a movie for a very broad age spectrum with aspects to keep everyone wanting to watch more. 

I rate this movie 8.4/10 Fudges

Movie Trailer:

Top 5 Anime Movies

Top Five Japanese Animated Films

List by Brent Williams, poster for Summer Wars

Before you could so much as utter the words "cartoons are for kids" I am going to have to stop you right there, and counter that through the medium of animations creators are able to covey meaningful stories with rich colours and vibrant characters that sometimes cannot be done justice otherwise. The following five films I personally believe are capable of changing any misconceptions you have about Japanese animation. 

Disclamer: You won't be seeing work from multiple directors here; looking at you Hayao Miyazaki...Nor shall you be seeing films from the same studio or spinoffs from preexisting series that require previous watching to understand context. These are stand alone films, to which they stand proudly. 

5. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) by Satoshi Kon 

A touching tale about three homeless friends that take in an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve. They embark on a journey to find it's mother. Despite constant hardships experienced by the characters that serve to show how difficult life can be; the film is uplifting. It has an underlining motif of family and a gorgeous art style with impressive realism. Would highly recommend it for a holiday film. 

4. Perfect Blue (1998) by Satoshi Kon

If you were thinking to yourself that its the second point in and this idiot has already contradicted himself by picking two films from the same director. I'd kindly point out that I am not being remiss as a reviewer but rather these films are shockingly contrast in style and content that you would be foolish to miss it. The plot revolves a former idol star trying to escape the clutches of an obsessive stalker as her life continually falls apart and she quickly becomes unable to distinguish fantasy from reality. This film is a masterclass of what makes a good psychological thriller and would definitely leave you thinking.

3. Wolf Children (2012) by Mamoru Hosoda 

Wolf Children taken at face value can be taken for its namesake, its a film about wolf children. However, it gently handles the fantasy so that it never overwhelms the film. There are no transformation hi-jinks or forced comedy or drama. The film treats the wolf children naturally. They seamlessly transform into their wolf-forms and out again. Some of the greatest scenes animated in the movie are these transformations as they move in and out of their dual identities. Wolf Children is the heartwarming story about the challenges of being a single mother in an unforgiving modern world. The soundtrack and incredible scenery make for an emotional film and is a true one of a kind. 

2. Ghost in The Shell (1995) by Mamoru Oshii

In the year 2029, advances in Cybernetics allow people to replace nearly all of their body parts and organs with robotics. Through these prosthetics, the weak are made strong, and the dying are given new life. An advanced cybernetics security task force is tasked to investigate a hacker known as; The Puppet Master. Ghost in the Shell is a futuristic thriller with intense action scenes mixed with slower artistic sequences and many philosophical questions about one's soul, gender and human identity in such an advanced age of technology. It was the first Japanese Animated film to garner attention in the Western media, inspiring a new generation of futuristic films including the matrix. A poignant film that questions what it is to be human.

1. Spirited Away (2001) by Hayao Miyazaki 

 I think it goes without saying that we all knew this was coming. As much as any Studio Ghibli film could have taken this spot it just had to go to this gem.  It is the highest grossing film in Japanese history and has won the Oscar for best animated film. A stubborn and naive child mistakenly wonders off from her parents in an abandoned amusement park, slowly finding out there is more to the park then meets her eyes. For she has unwittingly crossed over into the spirit world. Now trapped, she must summon the courage to live and work amongst spirits, with the help of the enigmatic Haku and the cast of unique characters she meets along the way. It has a quiet, subdued way of telling a simple story about a simple girl in a very strange world. The art is mesmerisingly beautiful and still holds value currently despite its age. Instead of expecting something huge, just sit back, watch, and appreciate the world and story Miyazaki has finely crafted for us all to enjoy. Assisted by a beautiful soundtrack Spirited Away is able to makes the audience feel fear, love and warmth all within the one story. I highly recommend it to any man, woman and child. 

Well Folks there we go, happy watching. 

Conan The Barbarian - Will

Conan The Barbarian

Reviewed by William Monck

44886098

Genre: Action, adventure
and fantasy

Year of release: 2011

Director: Marcus Nispel

Starring: Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang, Rachel Nichols and Ron Perlman

Story Plot:

"A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil. " - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816462/

This movie was an epic thriller, the story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. A young boy who loses all he has to a evil king, and has forged himself into a warrior who will gain vengeance was awesome to watch. I enjoyed the massive battle scenes where lots of people were fighting, however I thought the multitude of scenes where Conan was fighting on his own with great odds against him yet always wining was super unbelievable.

Over all though this movie was very entertaining, due to an action packed storyline, I personally rate it 8/10 fudges.

Final rating: 8/10 fudges.

Conan The Barbarian trailer:

Hot Rod

Hot Rod

Reviewed by Sam Sietsma

4488 6128

Genre: Comedy

Year of release: 2007

Director: Akiva Schaffer

Starring: Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Ian McShane

A classic goofy comedy film, Andy Samberg plays the self-proclaimed stuntman Rod Kimble, whose life dream is to be as good a stuntman as his deceased father. He and his younger brother, two beds friends and neighbour Denise [Isla Fisher] plan a stunt that nobody has ever done before: to clear 15 buses in one jump, in order that Rod can raise money for his unapproving step-father’s [Ian McShane] heart operation, and potentially finally win his respect.

The film’s story line only exists for further comedy, with setback in Rod’s journey, ironic “special” effects, training montages, and character interactions all serving solely for the enjoyment of the audience, to laugh at or with Rod in different situations.

Overall, the film provides a classic laugh for everyone, great movie quotes to keep and use in regular life (such as “Have fun being married to Satan!" and the origin of “cool beans”), all wrapped up in the classic tale of Rod Kimble, Stuntman.

Final rating: 8.5/10 fudges.

Hot Rod trailer:

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Review By Brent Williams

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach

Director: Sergio Leone

Genre: Western

Year of Release: 1966

"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend; Those with loaded guns; and those that dig. You dig"

A film that epitomizes the essence of what a good western is and then sets the bench mark with the colossal performance driven by three magnificent characters. Giddy Up! 

Plot:

There are a set few tropes that define the western genre, this film proves that its not necessarily a bad thing. The titular characters Joe, Tuco and Angel Eyes form unlikely alliances throughout the film in order to race to try and obtain a massive fortune of $200,000 hidden in a isolated cemetery. 

Characters:

Clint Eastwood, as usual, blesses us at the calm, steely sharpshooter character we have come to expect from him. Although titled as "The Good", Blondie still seems willing to engage in criminal activities in order to obtain gold. Eli Wallach as Tuco was the standout performance in this film, his character definitely lived up to the 'ugly' side of the wild wild west and stopped short of nothing to obtain gold. Lee Van Cleef's ironically named Angel Eyes served as a sound antagonist with his menacing glare and calculating schemes. He embodies the roguish qualities of a western protagonist whilst still longing for the ecstasy of gold. The film definitely became the celebrated classic it is today through the performances by the trio. 

Overall:

Leone has prefered to use visuals over words in order to tell the narrative, with the film having some of the most intense scenes particularly the graveyard showdown. These scenes are driven by quick camera shots and a fantastic soundtrack. The film is definitely character driven and the sudden "film within a film" with the Civil War battle sequence seemed a little disjointed in the overarching plot. However the film is remarkable and is a must watch for any avid movie watcher. 

8/10 Fudges

Movie Trailer: 

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Reviewed by Peter Batt - 44919429

The fourth film in the series, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is set in 1957 which is 19 years after the previous movie, The Last Crusade. They do not try to cover the fact that Indiana Jones has aged significantly between the movies as it plays a key part in his role. Indiana is living a quiet life, teaching in a high school full time until this new adventure is brought upon him. He races against some agents of the Soviet Union, led by Irina Spalko, a woman with a crazy desire for power and knowledge, for a crystal skull. This skull is made of solid gold but to Irina, the power it holds is far more important than its monetary value, she see's knowledge as power and demands to know 'everything'. His journey takes him across Nevada, Connecticut, Peru and the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Indiana is faced with betrayal by one of his best friends, Mac, who puts the value of property before a strong friendship. He is also introduced to Mutt Williams, who, after dealing with some difficult situations with the Soviet union, finds out that he is his son. They discovered that his real name is actually Henry Jones. He is also reunited with Marion Ravenwood, seen in the first movie, The Raiders of the Lost Ark, as Indiana Jones' former lover.

The actors in this movie are:

         Cate Blanchett - Irina Spalko

         Shia LaBeouf   - Mutt Williams

         Ray Winstone  - Mac

         Harrison Ford  - Indiana Jones

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

I rate this movie 8.2/10 Fudges

Movie Trailer:

Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz

Reviewed by Sam Sietsma
44886128

Genre: Comedy, Action, Crime/Mystery

Year of release: 2007

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman

The second film in the ‘three flavours cornetto trilogy’, Hot Fuzz also stars Simon Pegg, but this time as the British constable, Nicholas Angel, who is transferred from London to a sleepy town in country England. His new partner-in-fighting-crime, the less adept Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). However, mysterious deaths have been on the rise in the town, and Nicholas and Danny team together to solve the mystery.

Similarly to Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright is at it again with his quality filming style providing so much to the movie. Particularly in this one, he uses script to his advantage. If paying attention, the entire plot is spoiled comically for the audience early on in the film, as Danny Butterman questions new pro-cop Nicholas on life as a London Cop. He asks a number of radical questions to do with action stunts and fighting crime: all of which Nicholas finds ridiculous, but all come true at the end of the film.

Once again, Edgar Wright and his acting co-stars create one of my favourite films. Its ability to create such an intense plotline but maintain the humour and spoof of the action genre make this film an all-time great.

Final rating: 9.9/10 fudges.

Movie Trailer: