Make A Dredd Sequel

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I lurve Karl Urban! So I waited in anticipation through the development of Dredd, culminating in one of the best sci-fi, action films of the last few years. A gritty, gory and downright iconic take on one of comic books most prolific lawmen.

The fact that it seemed to only be shown in 3D (I believe there were a few 2D showings around the country but not many – I know I certainly didn't get the choice here) may have hurt box office ratings a little, but overall the film didn't seem to make the impact it should have. Which I am gutted about personally...

With the release on blu ray and DVD it seemed to have been given a shot in the arm, frequently hitting #1 spots on best-seller lists online. Too little, too late it seemed. However there is still a huge following desperate to see this sequel happen. If you want to add your name to the list pop over to the online petition over at Judge Dredd creators 2000 AD who are still collecting signatures.

This recent and beautifully created fan video, featuring a singing 'Karl Urban' and 'Sylvester Stallone', proudly extends our firm wishes for a sequel to come to fruition. And soon!

I AM THE LAW!

August Reviews

Well, I don't seem to have that much to write about this month - after seeing only seven films during the whole time. Of those, I may have been a little biased towards Marvel's shot-in-the-dark (which seems to have payed off - reaching over $610 million worldwide so far) Guardians of the Galaxy, seeing it four times out of the total seven!

Guardians of the Galaxy IMAX 3D
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Purge: Anarchy
Guardians of the Galaxy D-Box 3D
Guardians of the Galaxy
Lucy
The Expendables 3

Still, the other couple of films managed to catch my attention enough to not see Guardians again. Read on to see if that was a good idea or not...

July Reviews

July was filled with doubles, with four of the ten already reviewed in previous months. There was still a good selection of others that I saw, from blockbusters to indies, that kept a dynamic balance.

3 Days to Kill
Edge of Tomorrow 3D
Maleficent
The Anomaly
How to Train Your Dragon 2 IMAX 3D
Tammy
22 Jump Street
Begin Again
Earth to Echo
Transformers: Age of Extinction 3D

Read on for the reviews.

June Reviews

After a quiet couple of months, I caught up a bit more managing to fit in 22 films in June. Helped by the influx of movies seen at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (which won't be detailed in this review, but will have their own reviews as I see them – links below).

Edge of Tomorrow
Bad Neighbours
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Fruitvale Station
Belle
22 Jump Street
How to Train Your Dragon 2 3D
X-Men: Days of Future Past 3D
The Art of the Steal
Oculus
Chef
Cold in July

A couple of trips over to Edinburgh for the International Film Festival took up a couple of weekends and I managed to fit in a few films. Click on the links below for reviews for each film or for the round up at the end.

Greyhawk
The Skeleton Twins
Palo Alto
The Green Inferno
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
Snowpiercer
The House of Magic 3D
A Dangerous Game
Joe
Miss Zombie
EIFF Digest

Once Upon A Dream

My second Top Pick is probably the most personal for me. I started watching this when I was very young, thanks to my mum. While she worked from home, and with a video recorder that would automatically stop and rewind a video when it reached the end, I would sit and watch this one over and over and over again. As with many of the films I watched when I was young, it was Disney.

This was Disney’s last film to use hand-inked cels for its animation process and was inspired by medieval art, stylised to match the period that the film was set. It was also the last adaptation of a fairytale for many years within the Disney roster. And although there are many more amazing Disney movies out, of which many people believe are superior to this one, through rose-tinted glasses perhaps I will always believe this one to be the best.

EIFF: Joe

Sat 28 June

This is one I have been looking forward to as well. After a spate of less than great movies, Nicolas Cage steps into his grizzly, aging boots and stamps all over your face with awesomeness. Apart from a few moments, Cage is on top form, supported by the equally able newbie Tye Sheridan (both pictured below). You may even recall I mentioned Sheridan before as one to watch out for.

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Back water convict Joe is just trying to get by and trying to put his rough past behind him. Unfortunately trouble has a way of finding him anyway and anger management is not his strong suit. When youngster, Gary, turns up looking for some work, Joe is eager to help. However family troubles follow the boy and Joe can’t help but get mixed up in them, leading to some truly tense confrontations.

EIFF: Snowpiercer

Sun 22 June

#174747067 / gettyimages.com

As I have mentioned before (even back in January), my anticipation levels for this film by Bong Joon-ho have been sky high. So to start off, all I can say is it did not disappoint. In fact it took my expectations and blew them out the water! Easliy heading towards the top of my list of favourite films of the year so far.

Snowpiercer, based on the French graphic novel 'Le Transperceneige', is a dystopian sci-fi set within the confines of a train. After a catastrophic ice age hits the planet (brought on by human intervention), this train carries the last of humanity on a never-ending journey around the world. Class wars still carry on, with those at the front of the train sipping champagne and dancing the night away, while those at the tail end of the train struggle for survival and dignity.