Blood Diamond (2006) Review By Michael Heath

Director: Edward Zwick

Writer: Charles Leavitt

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller

A smuggler, a fisherman and a journalist. No I'm not starting with a three men walk into a bar joke. This is the 5 Academy award nominated film Blood Diamond. Which tells us a story around the time of the civil war in Sierra Leone 1999, of which diamonds are the main source of funds for these terrorist groups.

This film gives you a realistic view on what Sierra Leona was like during the civil war. The action and violence portrayed in this film is believable in accordance to what may have happened there, although the violence is believable it still entertaining none the less, from the attacks on the cities to the killings of the tribes. The shock value of the film is astonishing and I quote; "Here we say that the freedom is in your hands, so if you go against us, so go your hands.".

Djimon Hounsou plays the increasing more emotional role of a Mende fisherman called Soloman Vandy after losing his family then finding out that his son has been taken and forced to be an R.U.F. child soldier, You truly believe and feel for his loss, only by his impressive display of emotion. Jennifer Connelly play the role of Maddy Bowen a journalist who's drive is to uncover the story behind conflict diamonds, although this is not a particularly impressive performance and could have been for filled be any budding actress this characters involvement with Danny Archer pushes him into showing his humanity even though it's through greed, this is not to say Jennifer's performance was a downer on the film in any way. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in this film is amazing at the time of it's release I would easily have said it was his best performance to date. Playing the role of Danny Archer the ex-mercenary, for his own personal gains as merciless yet charming diamond smuggler. Who shows some decent values towards people other than himself, you get a real sense that he is a white African who grew up in the country. A great film by any ones standards it's most defiantly a must see.

Rating 9/10

Attack the Block (2011) Review By Michael Heath

Director: Joe Cornish
Writer: Joe Cornish
Stars: John Boyega, Nick Frost and Jodie Whittaker
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi

From the makers of Shaun of the Dead comes Channel 4's Attack the Block. This another one of those films where you'll leave the cinemas feeling satisfied, as long as you approach this movie not expecting anything, but one thing to expect is a lot of British humour especially from the makers of Shaun of the Dead.

From the word go, with it's iconic 1980's Sci-Fi stylised film title graphics you know what expect a lot of comic value entertainment. Straight in with the action meeting all the characters, Moses (John Boyega) is the 'leader' of a hoodlum gang who street rob people and are the first to encounter this alien invasion killing the alien on sight. Ultimately you will think it's just going to be bunch of thugs killing aliens through out the whole film and yes there is a lot of alien smashing but the characters have been well thought out in the film and they play really well of each other.

This best bit about the film is definitely the humor, it wasn't about laugh after laugh after laugh, it was these perfect little sparks to lift the films narrative along it's way here and there. Small Criticism although some might say a film from the makers of Shaun of the Dead needs to have Nick Frost and/or Simon Pegg in it, Nick frost wasn't really needed in this film he's didn't add anything to the film. And a lot of people would have said you can't have one without the other but even if Simon Pegg was there maybe playing the role of Brewis again this is a small role and wouldn't have added anything to the film. Nick Frost was purely cast to have a well known actor in the film. For good entertainment value I'd say this is one to watch, it's always nice to come out of the cinema feeling satisfied.

Rating 7/10

Zombieland (2009) Review By Michael Heath

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Writer: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson and Abigial Breslin.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

The first time I watched this film it was the most satisfying thing, money well spent. Zombieland has one of the most action packed entertaining openings I've seen, it's then only bested by the film it's self.

Not dragging out any reasons for this zombie out break with any cinematics, just a simple voice over and then straight in with the action. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is our terrified awkward teenager on the road back to Ohio, and he teams up with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) is our bad ass twinkie loving red neck. These two character plays so well off each other. A great thing about each of these characters is that they have there own little unique thing Tallahassee's is that he'll do anything for a twinkie. Columbus has his rules for survival which once revealed and a hilariously funny scene or flash back to pair with the rules. There is no doubt that these two characters  are on opposite ends of the scale but with the same goal to survive. But wheres the fun in just surviving in a comedy zombie film.

Now no film would be complete without "a marriageable young woman to bring home to the folks". Wichita (Emma Stone) and her quite mature for her age little sister Little rock (Abigail Breslin) are our amazingly crafty two sisters who get the better of Columbus and Tallahassee on more than one occasion. Running at around an hour and a half the film doesn't drag on to that much needed predictable but hysterical big finale. I didn't want to compare it to Shaun of the Dead however, it has to be said that the zombie gore is quite similar in this film which is oh so satisfying with a little bit of attitude sprinkled on top. In my opinion this film is at it's best when on the big screen this doesn't stop me watching it on the small screen at home though.

Rating 8/10

Hellboy (2004) Review By Michael Heath

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Writer: Guillermo del Toro (Screenplay) Mike Mignola (Comic Books)

Stars: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Selma Blair, John Hurt and Rupert Evans

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

He's Big, He's Red, He's Hellboy (Ron Perlman). This film tells us the story of Hellboy's origin and his purpose. He's a demon raised from a baby, to ultimately become the defender against the forces of evil.

Now with every comic book movie they usually start at the beginning. This takes us back to 1944 where we see the sights of Hellboy's birth. We also meet our main antagonist Rasputin. We're then taken 60 years back to the present where there have been sightings of Hellboy all over the news and rumours that he's a monster hunter for the FBI.

Contradicting them selves for comic value. Staying within the boundaries and rules of the Hellboy Comics isn't always that easy when you've got to prick that funny bone a few times. Now as we all know Hellboy is fireproof and if you didn't know i've just told you. There is a monster in this film called Sammael as expected Hellboy will do battle with Sammael and during this battle Hellboy becomes trapped under a train and his horns are smacked repeatedly by the underside of the train, as the train passes Hellboy emerges with the tips of his horns red hot and as he touches them he gets burned doesn't seem too fireproof. The best thing about the Hellboy movie is that any creatures that could be done in costume, were done completely in costume with minimal to zero CGI assistance it's amazing when i was first told this i had to go back and watch the film a few times over. This is definitely one to see, Hellboy has a great balance between story telling and action.

Rating 7/10

Updates - What's Up Next

As we all know websites perform maintenance, and blogger happened to perform their maintenance around my first review post which messed up the dates of the post a little now it was on time. But the point of the dates is not only to inform you of the dates the post will go up but also that in the future the viewers will be able to go to the archive go to that date and find the review.

So in the event of anything like this happens the dates in the What's Up Next will be changed accordingly for example

Something Borrowed (2011) - 12/05/2011 - 14/05/2011

Something Borrowed (2011) Review By Michael Heath

Director: Luke Greenfield
Writer: Jennie Snyder (Screenplay) Emily Giffin (Novel)
Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson and Colin Egglesfield
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

This the tale of one girls choice between her best friend and her true love. Not an Oscar winning film but as far a chick flicks go this one was pretty good.

Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) the main character of are story, she went to college with Dex (Colin Egglesfield) they both studied the same course, after graduating college, Darcy (Kate Hudson) Rachel's best friend is introduced to Dex. Our story begins however 6 years later on the night of Rachel's 30th birthday surprise party where the audience is filled in on how these three know each other and that Dex and Darcy are engaged to be married. As the night comes to an end Rachel and Dex are alone and after talking with her old college friend Rachel reveals to Dex that she had a crush on him in college where shortly after Dex kisses Rachel, and this is only the beginning.

This is not just your run of the mill chick flick they focus on the past as well as the present filling in the grey area's such as how Darcy meets Dex. After watching the film I must say it did start to become like watching a game of tennis with some back and forth within the story but overall it's definitely worth a watch.

Rating: 5/10

Updates - What's Up Next and Postings

What's Up Next will be in monthly packages showing you what reviews will be coming up during the course of the current month.

As you may have already noticed reviews will be posted every Tuesdsay and Thursday, after this sites been running for a while and depending on how successful the site this may change to be more frequent.

Happy Reading.

What The Reader Wants

Welcome to What The Reader Wants here you can comment and suggest films for me to review. So maybe you would like me to review a film you're thinking about watching or just what to hear my opinion about your favourite film. Any film you want go for it. There's not much else I can say on the matter in hand all you need to do now is comment and ask.

Now these film reviews will be posted on a page called You Asked For It which you can find in the side bar. These reviews will be posted every other Friday.

About us

The Film Critical is a website created to review films

If you go to the Latest Reviews page you'll find this months film reviews which are released every Wednesday.

Upcoming reviews, well you'll be able to find that in the What's Up Next page. The What's Up Next page give you which film reviews will be released each week.

So you've been in and around my site a few times and you like my un-bias approach to reviewing films, Maybe you'd like me to review a film which you're thinking about watching but aren't quite sure yet well just click on the What The Readers Want page and ask simply comment saying the film you'd like me to review. The review will then go on my You Asked For It page giving you reviews which the readers asked for you also get a special mention at the end of the review.