Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

You might have heard of Star Wars. It’s quite popular apparently. After ten long years, the hype train returns and itÔÇÖs more powerful than you could possibly imagine. So, here’s the review for the seventh film in the franchise, for which the title seems more appropriate as a question – Star Wars: The Force Awakens? And yes, indeed it does awaken. If you have yet … Continue reading Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Review: Just Cause 3

ÔÇ£Pfft, this sounds stupidÔÇØ a gamer states, as Just Cause 3 is loading up; the cover art and advertising literally covered in explosions. Cut to three hours later; the gamer has rigged up an elaborate system of grappling hooks, placed explosives and vehicles. At the press of a button, a cow is rocketed into a petrol station that results in an earth-shattering detonation that sends … Continue reading Review: Just Cause 3

Green Day - 'Heart Like A Hand Grenade'

Review: Green Day – ‘Heart Like A Hand Grenade’

Finally given a proper release more than a decade after completion, ÔÇÿHeart like a Hand GrenadeÔÇÖ follows Green Day into the studio as they record what would become their biggest album ÔÇÿAmerican IdiotÔÇÖ, propelling them to full-blown stadium status. Filmmaker and friend of the band John Roecker is given full access to the recording of the album from day one, as the three punks piece … Continue reading Review: Green Day – ‘Heart Like A Hand Grenade’

Brief Encounter

Love Season at Chapter Arts Centre

As part of the BFI Love Season, Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff have screened a choice selection of films spanning from ‘tainted love’ to classic romance. Quench reviews┬áa handful of these films. To find out which┬áexciting films Chapter are currently screening, and information on upcoming seasons, visit┬áhttp://www.chapter.org/whats-on/┬á. Brief Encounter (1945) As part of the BFI Love season, Chapter Arts Centre screened Brief Encounter,┬áDavid Lean’s 1945 … Continue reading Love Season at Chapter Arts Centre

Review: Mississippi Grind

Mississippi Grind is a film that could easily pass by without people taking notice. For the most part it is a quiet film, not necessarily because of volume or action, but because its style is far away from the flashy gambling aesthetic that many films about the subject have. Directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson), Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn, A Place Beyond the … Continue reading Review: Mississippi Grind

Spectre

Review: Spectre

After mass promotion and media build-up the latest James Bond film, Spectre┬áfinally opens onto Day of the Dead, Mexico City, with a long continuous moving shot through the carnival celebrations as Bond follows a man through the crowds. Daniel CraigÔÇÖs fourth bond film, after Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall and director Sam Mendes second, Spectre is linked back to all three of its … Continue reading Review: Spectre

Review: The Last Witch Hunter

The opening scene of The Last Witch Hunter made me think. It made me think ÔÇÿGod, those Lord of the Rings films really were pretty good.ÔÇÖ Some of the opening images, sweeping shots of magnificent vistas, arenÔÇÖt just reminiscent of the Tolkein-based trilogy they are almost ripping it off. And the same goes for the way in which the intrepid band of heroes-on-a-quest are filmed … Continue reading Review: The Last Witch Hunter

The Program

Review: The Program

Is there anything more tragic than a racing-movie that never gets up to speed? Well… yes. Obviously yes. There are many things more tragic than that. Testicular cancer is more tragic than that. Becoming so overwhelmed by one desire that you abandon long-held friendships and loyalties can be more tragic than that. Even the story of a talented athlete who feels compelled to cheat in … Continue reading Review: The Program

Bring Me The Horizon - 'That's The Spirit'

Review: Bring Me The Horizon – ‘That’s The Spirit’

Bring Me The Horizon are going to get a tonne of shit for this album; but they donÔÇÖt care, and nor should you. The opening track ÔÇÿDoomedÔÇÖ sets the tone nicely and frames the albumÔÇÖs pop sensibility, whilst retaining Bring MeÔÇÖs bite. Yes, this is very much a pop-orientated album, which will shock people. Where the four absolutely monolithic singles, ÔÇÿDrownÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿHappy SongÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿThroneÔÇÖ and … Continue reading Review: Bring Me The Horizon – ‘That’s The Spirit’

Review: Macbeth

Rather than opening Macbeth with the classic battle featured in Act One of ShakespeareÔÇÖs tragedy, Australian director Justin Kurzel presents a motif that appears throughout the film: childhood, and the innocence (or lack of) that comes with it. The dead baby, or ÔÇÿbabeÔÇÖ, placed centre frame in the opening shot isnÔÇÖt so much a standalone metaphor within itself, but a reflection on what is to … Continue reading Review: Macbeth

Convenience

Review: Convenience

Billed as ‘a buddy comedy heist movie,┬áClerks meets Dog Day Afternoon,‘┬áConvenience┬áis one of the best British comedy films in recent years. Ray Panthaki, perhaps most known for co-producing instant cult hit┬áKidulthood, presents us with a film undoubtedly in the leagues of Shaun of the Dead and Four Lions. Convenience – of which director Keri Collins won the Bafta Cymru Breakthrough Award for┬á -┬árevolves around Ajay … Continue reading Review: Convenience

Review: Solace

Solace? More like boring. I donÔÇÖt understand this film. ItÔÇÖs meant to be a mystery thriller but I didnÔÇÖt find any mystery and little to no thrills. Solace has an interesting concept: a series of murders take place that all share a similar method of killing, which leave no trace of the killerÔÇÖs presence, and FBI detectives named Joe (Jeffery Dean Morgan) and Katherine (Abbie … Continue reading Review: Solace

Review: Inside Out

With Inside Out Pixar have staged a triumphant return to form. Directed by Pete Docter the film tells the story of Riley, a young girl, struggling to adjust with her familyÔÇÖs relocation from Minnesota to San Francisco. However, Riley is actually the filmÔÇÖs setting rather than its main protagonist with the majority of the action taking place inside her mind. This is where the film … Continue reading Review: Inside Out

Review: The Man from U.N.C.L.E

I feel fairly safe in saying that Guy RitchieÔÇÖs latest offering provides the viewer with style over substance. Much like the directorÔÇÖs previous Sherlock Holmes installments, The Man from U.N.C.L.E (an abbreviation which isnÔÇÖt explained until the closing credits, and one I certainly canÔÇÖt remember) is an absolute treat to look at, and delivers a nicely palatable mixture of laughs and action, yet lacks the … Continue reading Review: The Man from U.N.C.L.E

The Wolfpack

Review: The Wolfpack

Never has film meant more about escapism than it has to the wolfpack. Crystal Moselle’s documentary focuses on six of the coolest and most well-dressed boys you’ll ever know. Named after Hindu deities, Mukunda, Naraya, Govinda, Bhagavan, Krisna (Glenn) and Jagadesh (Eddie) are the sons of Peruvian and practiser of Krishna consciousness Oscar who have, along with sister Visnu and mother Susanne, been confined to … Continue reading Review: The Wolfpack