Hanzo The Razor: Sword Of Justice (1972)

Director: Kenji Misumi
Starring: Shintarô Katsu Yukiji Asaoka, Mari Atsumi 
Certificate: 18
Genre: Action
Awards: None

The Hanzo The Razor series was a Samurai trilogy that seems to have been influenced by anti-hero cop films such as Dirty Harry, with Hanzo (Katsu), an officer in feudal Japan who doesn't play by the rules and does anything to solve the case. In the first film, Hanzo finds that a criminal has escaped from prison and investigates through a trail of police corruption and duplicity.

Whilst the film seems to be rather tongue in cheek, the use of rape by the protagonist leaves a rather sour taste in the mouth, as female suspects are forced upon by Hanzo in a form of interrogation that the film does not condemn but even portrays as erotism.

The overall plot is rather flimsy with no major villain to really make an impact. Once the main Plot line is completed. The film also carries on for a while, seemingly not sure what to do with it's major character and creates a subplot trying to bring the debate of Euthanasia into the fray. Yet as Hanzo doesn't seem like a character that is overall a 'good guy' (I wouldn't even class him as an anti-hero), it is hard to take any moral lessons from him that seriously.

Overall, Sword Of Justice works as a mediocre action film that uses shock and a very slanted morality to entertain. Yet, it hasn't really persuaded me to pursue its two sequels.

**Pretty Bad

Lucy (2014)

Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Min-sik Choi, Amr Waked
Certificate: 15
Genre: Action, Sci Fi
Awards: None

Luc Besson's latest is a rampant, heart-pumping tale of a woman (Johansson) who unlocks the full capacity of her brain. This is due to a drug that was hidden in Lucy's intestines accidentally leaking. With the drug dealers on her tail, Lucy tries to get to grips with her new power which turns her superhuman.

For a director who is famous for his action with films such as Leon, Taken and Nikita, Lucy does not disappoint as guns blaze, knives twirl and bodies pound into the walls. As Lucy becomes more and more powerful things start to go over the top, yet it just gets more entertaining rather than boring. The ending sequence even draws parallels to films such as The Tree Of Life as the drug takes full effect.

I would say that Lucy is typical of Besson with its blend of action with an engaging story focused on an individual, yet this takes it further as time and the origins of man come into play. Its bold, fast paced and well worth watching.

****Good

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For (2014)

Director: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Powers Booth, Josh Brolin, Eva Green, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson, Bruce Willis, Dennis Haysbert, Ray Liotta
Certificate: 18
Genre: Action, Crime, Noir
Awards: None

It has been almost a decade since the original Sin City stunned its way to our screens and people have been asking for more ever since. Sin City was a great film in turns of visuals and the stories complemented the noir mood that was established.

A Dame To Kill For tells three new stories (one from Miller's comics and two originals) with different characters to its predecessor (except Dwight Mcarthy who only feels different due to being played by Brolin rather than Clive Owen) and it seems the best way to review the film is to review each story in turn.

The story the film is named after stars Dwight a few years before the events of Sin City. Dwight is a private investigator who comes across Ava Lorde (Green), an ex he is not too friendly with, who asks for his help. This, of course, leads to a great deal of bloody violence with some recognisable characters such as Manute (Haysbert taking over from the late Michael Clarke Duncan) and Marv (Rourke). The story overall is quite predictable, yet that doesn't stop it from being entertaining. Visually, it is great. Eyes are ripped out and faces are torn open while both Brolin and Green give everything they've got for their characters. However, Owen is still missed as the performances are so different that they feel like different characters.

The second story seems to stick out a bit, having nothing to do with any story from either film. Johnny (Gordon-Levitt) is a cocky gambler who comes to Sin City in order to win everywhere he can. During his parade, he comes across Senator Rourke (Booth) and makes himself a very powerful enemy. Although the story is interesting enough, the promise it shows is never fulfilled and it seems much more could have been done with it.

The final story follows Nancy (Alba) who has fallen into a drunken nightmare since the death of Hartigan (Willis) in the original. Now looking for revenge on Rourke, she too gains the help of Marv and the two take him on in his mansion.

Compare A Dame To Kill For with its predecessor and you are likely to be disappointed, yet it is not a bad film. The visual style is still the real star of the show and it could be argued that it has improved. And there is still calling for more as I for one would like to see more stories.

****Good

Boyhood (2014)

Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Lorelei Linklater
Certificate: 15
Genre: Drama
Awards: Best supporting actress (Arquette)

Boyhood is the story of Mason (Coltrane) a boy who grows up during the 2000s with separated parents and an older sister (Linklater). However, what makes Boyhood different to other films is that it was filmed over 12 years, therefore showing the actors ,and therefore the characters, age before our eyes.

As a story, Boyhood isn't that special as Mason's life doesn't differ that much from the norm, but that's not the point. Linklater aims for reality so he is supposed to be your average kid, and watching him grow up is fascinating. Also this does not mean to say the story is not interesting as it feels like watching yourself on screen.

It could be said that the ageing of the characters could become distracting as it becomes more apparent that these are actors, but that cannot be helped and does not draw away anything from the film. Towards the end, the story begins to falter as it becomes more philosophical with characters saying things the audience already gets from what has been shown and although the film comes to a close, an 18 year old's life does not so becoming so nostalgic is somewhat unrealistic.

Overall, Boyhood was a really interesting and amazing piece of filmmaking that does't just leave the ageing actors as a gimmick but gives the film more heart. It might be too much to ask for a sequel, but I would watch it.

*****Brilliant

Snowpiercer (2013)

Director: Joon-ho Bong
Starring: Chris Evans, Kang-so Song, Tilda Swinton, Ah-sung Ko, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Jamie Bell, John Hurt, Ed Harris
Certificate: TBC
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Awards: None

Snowpiercer has had a very difficult time in regards to distribution: only released in a few USA cinemas while being released on DVD in Spain. Here in the UK, it does not seem to be present at all. This is a shame because Snowpiercer is an incredible film.

In the future, the world has become uninhabitable due to humanity's response to global warming, creating a snowy wasteland. The only life that remains is on the train where the last dregs of humanity reside. The train is sorted in classes so that the richest are at the front and the poorest at the tale.

Curtis (Evans) is a man who has spent the last 17 years at the back of the train and has been planning a revaluation for a long time. As the rebellion begins, Curtis faces loss and betrayal on his way to the front of the train.

Snowpiercer has a collection of great and unique characters that create a world bigger than the cramped train. The film includes so much history of the train that it feels much bigger than it actually is.

The action scenes are reminiscent of 300 with two storming armies meeting with melee weapons while slow motion adds to the style. The performances are also a great factor with Tilda Swinton standing out as a fascist old lady in charge of an army.

If you get the chance to watch this film, I would seize it as it is worth looking out for. There are some plot holes when you reflect upon it afterwards, but while you are watching just enjoy the ride.

****Good

Filth (2013)

Director: Jon S. Baird
Starring: James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, Eddie Marsan, Shauna Macdonald, Jim Broadbent
Certificate: 18
Genre: Crime, Comedy
Awards: None

Based on another novel by Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh, Filth is also set in Scotland but focuses on the police force, Bruce Robinson (McAvoy) in particular. Bruce is a corrupt, drugged-up and spiteful man who plans to gain the newly available promotion at the station by any means necessary. He sows mistrust through the workforce whilst humiliating them at any chance. Unfortunately, Bruce's slow descent into madness makes his goal harder to achieve.

Filth reminds me a lot of Naked, another british film featuring a mad bearded man who is still likeable despite the fact that he is not that nice a person. Both films show a confidence within the protagonist that is slowly stripped away from them as they become more and more helpless.

Filth is a funny, startling and quite visceral film that benefits immensely from McAvoy's stellar performance. McAvoy makes the film what it is, and what it is is great.

*****Brilliant

Broadway Danny Rose (1984)

Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Nick Apollo Forte
Certificate: PG
Genre: Comedy
Awards: None

Broadway Danny Rose is a comedy about a talent agent in New York of the same name (Allen). Danny Rose is great at finding talent for showbiz, unfortunatly everybody leaves him once they get a little taste of success. At the time of the film, Danny is managing the once famous singer, Lou Canova (Forte), with plans for a comeback. As Danny attempts to make Lou happy for his most important performance yet, he agrees to take Lou's mistress, Tina (Farrow), along as his date. This leads to trouble with the mob and a race to get to the show before Lou drinks himself sick for worry.

Along with many of Allen's films, the greatest concentration of humour in Broadway Danny Rose comes from the stars neurotism. For those who like such humour, the film ios recommended already. However, there are other jokes used, both visual and in dialogue, allowing something for everyone. The misunderstandings of the film's character allow it to play out like a farce, yet in a less flurried style than its usual form.

Broadway Danny Rose is a good film to start if you desire to get into Woody Allen as it is not too over the top, as in Love And Death, yet still faetures his brand of humour.

****Good