David M. Brown's Blog, page 50

Film Review: The Last Detail

Review: The Last Detail Hal Ashby’s The Last Detail tells the story of US Navy officers Billy Buddusky (Jack Nicholson) and Richard Mulhall (Otis Young) who are awaiting new orders in Virginia when they are charged with escorting a young sailor, Larry Meadows (Randy Quaid) to Portsmouth Naval Prison in New Hampshire. Meadows is guilty(...)
Film Review: The Last Detail | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: The Virgin Spring

Review: The Virgin Spring This is my first experience of Ingmar Bergman and what a promisng start it is. The Virgin Spring is a simple tale of a Christian couple, Tore (Max von Sydow) and Mareta (Birgitta Valberg), who dote on their beautiful 15 year old daughter, Karin (Birgitta Pettersson). Also living with the family(...)
Film Review: The Virgin Spring | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Imagine

John Lennon – Imagine (1971) Our song of the week goes to the late John Lennon and his most famous solo number - Imagine. A simple but evocative song, Imagine describes a world where the boundaries that prevent us from being equal in this world are eradicated. For many, the idea of no religion or even nationality will undoubtedly(...)
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Imagine | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: Prometheus

About Prometheus (2012)[image error]After scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green, Devil) discover mysterious cave drawings that point to the origins of mankind, they soon find themselves aboard the spaceship Prometheus, sponsored by Weyland Industries and on a journey to uncover the secrets of humanity. Overseen by the imperious Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron, Snow White and the Huntsman), looked after by the android David (Michael Fassbender, X-Men: First Class), and backed up by a team of scientists, Shaw and Holloway arrive on the isolated moon LV-223 to discover an abandoned alien spaceship and the truth… that not all is as it seems…

Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Runtime: 124 minutes

Studio: 20th Century Fox

 

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Review: Prometheus

Ridley Scott returns to space for this prequel to Alien (1979). Beginning in 2089, archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and her partner Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover a star map deep in caves in Scotland. The images match those of other ancient cultures and civilizations across the world. Both Shaw and Holloway become part of an expedition to follow the map out into space to the moon, LV-223, where they hope to trace the origins of mankind. Many answers await them but there are also many dangers too.

Some of the crew of the Prometheus echo those that featured in the first two alien films. Meredith (Charlize Theron) is quite different, but we have an android in the vein of Ash and Bishop, David (Michael Fassbender), and the Captain of the ship is Janek (Idris Elba) who is the no-nonsense leader as with the head of the marines in Aliens. Shaw inevitably toughens up as the crew find themselves in danger but she is a very different character to the legendary Ripley. On LV-223 the crew venture from their ship and enter a network of caves where traces of a fallen alien civilization an be found. Many of these aliens appear almost human and it is later proved that their DNA matches that of humans on earth. What isn’t clear is how they have died out and what they were working on. Their advanced technology lays exposed with tubes leaking a strange black liquid proving of particular interest. The crew dig deep for answers and soon wish they hadn’t.

Watching Prometheus, it’s probably best to distance yourself from the Alien franchise somewhat and judge the film alone. This does link to the first Alien film by the end but prior to that it’s very much a stand-alone piece boasting some great visuals. The cast are well-chosen with Fassbender rivalling Bishop and Ash at times. Elba makes an amusing Captain while Theron was suitably ruthless as Meredith. Rapace was good here too. I initially was concerned about her accent but when she gets immersed in the story and has to prove herself more resourceful than the others she does it very well. This isn’t quite Lisbeth Salander but Elizabeth Shaw proves pretty tough by the end. While this is a visual extravaganza, the story is okay rather than excellent. It does tie in with Alien by the final reels but there are no major surprises as such, which is a shame.

Prometheus is a strong prequel to Alien in many ways. The visuals and settings are handled well by Ridley Scott, the cast are good but the storyline has many weaknesses which drags the film down somewhat. I understand a sequel is in the works which should prove interesting. Fans of the Alien franchise should try this but it’s very different to the films you’ll be used to. As long as you’re prepared for that there shouldn’t be too many disappointments.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Prometheus | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Guest Post: Panos Nomikos

We are delighted to welcome Panos Nomikos, author of Fateful Eyes. Panos joins us to share his thoughts on writing about modern crises. Guest Post: How to write a book about modern crises and their root causes Since the spring of 2010, Greece has become the epicenter of a pan-European financial crisis with global repercussions. This beautiful, sun-drenched(...)
Guest Post: Panos Nomikos | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: Sylvia

Review: Sylvia Christine Jeffs’ biopic of celebrated poet and writer, Sylvia Plath, tells the true story of her relationship with her lover and later husband, Ted Hughes. Sylvia (Gwyneth Paltrow) first meets Ted (Daniel Craig) at Cambridge University in 1956 and there is mutual affection between them and not just from a love of poetry and(...)
Film Review: Sylvia | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: Nine Miles Down

Review: Nine Miles Down GNE Security Agent Thomas “Jack” Jackman (Adrian Paul) heads deep into the Sahara Desert to seek out a drilling station where contact has been lost with a group of scientists there. Jack finds the station is initially deserted but as he delves deeper it’s clear that something sinister is waiting for him.(...)
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Film Review: Leatherheads

Review: Leatherheads  George Clooney’s film looks at the early days of American football minus the padding the players have today. Set in 1925 the film focuses on Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly (Clooney) who is Captain of the Duluth Bulldogs but sees his team disband due to lack of funding and even the league is in danger(...)
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Film Review: 51

Review: 51  Area 51 has fascinated millions for quite some time. Its ties to secrecy and extraterrestrial life continue to this day. In Jason Connery’s 51 public pressure has led to the military agreeing to open the gates leading into Area 51 and allowing its secrets to be laid bare. They have nothing to hide. Well, they(...)
Film Review: 51 | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: North By Northwest

Review: North by Northwest I’m ashamed to say this is my first experience of Hitchcock. I must have grown up in a town that has never seen a television or something. It’s hard to know where to start with the legendary director but I felt this was a good place. The story focuses on an(...)
Film Review: North By Northwest | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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