Author: Alton Williams

By Robert Mann.

Last year The Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix) attempted to adapt the much beloved 60s anime/manga series Speed Racer as a live action Hollywood blockbuster. The result was a visually stunning film that proved popular with fans of the source material but failed to find appeal amongst mainstream moviegoers, and consequently flopped at the box office. Now, it is the turn of another popular anime/manga series to be given the Hollywood treatment. Based on (or merely inspired by if some reports are anything to go by) the Dragonball franchise,Dragonball Evolution sees director James Wong (The One, Final Destination) take the helm in a move that has proven rather unpopular with the fans. In fact, this is a film that has been criticised constantly since development began with Dragonballpurists none too pleased with the direction that has been taken, particularly in regard to this film only being a very loose adaptation of the source material. As a result, there has been much speculation that this film will be every bit as unsuccessful at the box office as Speed Racer, only without even managing to please the fans. So, with so much negative word of mouth was there ever any chance of this film being any good? Maybe.

On the surface Goku (Justin Chatwin) is just an average teenager who gets bullied frequently and can never get up the courage to speak to the girl he likes Chi Chi (Jamie Chung). But there is far more to him than meets the eye. Living with his Grandpa Gohan (Randall Duk Kim), he is learning ancient fighting techniques and how to master unique magical abilities that he possesses. When his Grandpa is killed, Goku seeks out upon Gohan’s dying request to find the great Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat) and gather all seven Dragonballs, of which he has one, in order to prevent the evil Lord Piccolo (James Marsters) and from succeeding in his desire to use the Dragon Balls to take over the world. And Goku’s quest is to obtain the mystical Dragonballs before Piccolo does. He is joined in his quest by Bulma (Emmy Rossum), who want the Dragonballs for herself to create a new power source, Yamcha (Joon Park), a bandit who is out to serve his own selfish ends, and his dream girl Chi Chi who turns out to be far more than just a pretty face. With time running out and Piccolo’s lethal shape-shifting servant Mai (Eriko Tamura) pursuing them, they must get all the Dragonballs before all is lost.

Right from the start it is clear that Dragonball Evolution is not going to be a stylish or distinctive viewing experience. Visually the film is a very mixed bag, with some good set design that has a snazzy futuristic feel to it and some decent special effects, but visual effects that really show that the film was made on a pretty low budget. There is an almost cartoony look to the visual effects that is certainly fitting considering the film’s inspirations, but, with the exception of the Dragonballs themselves which are quite impressively realized, they fail to dazzle or impress, with them merely getting the job done and nothing more. Speed Racer this film is definitely not. The action sequences are in the same boat with most of the fights being fun but virtually all being too short and lacking the edge that could have made them really thrilling. Many of these sequences feel like wasted opportunities. This isn’t helped by a storyline that feels rushed at times and that gets all the back story over with a rather weak introductory voiceover. The plot moves along at a brisk pace, again serving the purpose, but perhaps everything moves too quickly.

There is also a lack of character development, but at least this doesn’t prevent the characters from being reasonably well rounded with clear motivations and personalities. The acting is hit and miss with no one really delivering convincing performances per se but most of the cast members being very entertaining screen presences. Chow Yun-Fat is the stand-out, being very watchable in a role that really entertains, even if it is hard to shake the feeling that more could have been made of having him in the film. Emmy Rossum, who is generally known for playing sweet roles, proves very good as a tough girl, successfully incorporating some sweetness into the role in a manner that heightens the effectiveness of her performance without making detracting from the tough image of her character. James Marsters plays a very good villain but sadly is severely underused here in a role that requires almost nothing of him, and that anyone could have played really. As for the rest of the cast, most are merely competent and several roles could have been cast much better. This is particularly the case with Justin Chatwin who just doesn’t quite seem right for the lead role.

Sure, he makes for a fairly convincing teenager but he can’t really carry a film of this magnitude. Ultimately, it transpires that some of the criticisms levelled at this film really do carry weight, as it is undoubtedly extremely flawed and it certainly won’t satisfy any of the die-hard Dragonball fans who will likely feel cheated. However, viewed on its own terms, aside from the Dragonball franchise as a whole, it is a film that has entertainment value and it paves the way for a potential sequel that could really make something great out of what is really just an average family action adventure. So, Dragonball Evolution is a lightweight and enjoyable if pretty forgettable film that offers quite a lot to enjoy but no one will leave the cinema feeling completely satisfied.

By Robert Mann.

After being made into a star by the High School Musical films Zac Efron has made a very wise career move by opting to turn his back on Disney in favour of other screen roles. His first non-Disney role is in 17 Again, a comedy in a similar vein to films such as 13 Going On 30 and Big, albeit in reverse. With its 12A rating and thematical elements it certainly is a move away from Disney for Efron but is it going to change audience perceptions of him? After all, most know him only from High School Musical he plays Troy, a hotshot high school basketball player who is far more than he seems. In 17 Again, on the other hand, he plays a hotshot basketball players who is far more than he seems. Okay, maybe he hasn’t quite shaken off the image of being Troy from High School Musical but it’s a move away from typical Disney roles at least.

Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry) is a 37 year old who is extremely unhappy with his life. When he was young he had it all – a beautiful girlfriend and a promising future as a basketball player – but now due to his life choices he is in the middle of a divorce from the love of his life Scarlett (Leslie Mann), he hardly knows anything about his kids Maggie (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Alex (Sterling Knight) and after being passed up for promotion at the place where he has worked for 16 years he is now out of a job. His only friend in the world is the rich sci-fi and fantasy obsessed computer geek Ned Gold (Thomas Lennon) who is letting him stay at his house. Mike’s life is going nowhere until a freak act of fate transforms him into a 17 year old once again, giving him the chance to relive his life the way he always wanted. Deciding to go back to high school, the now young Mike (Zac Efron) with Ned pretending to be his father, he initially views it as an opportunity to become a star basketball player but when he gets to know his kids in ways he never knew them before. He soon realises that maybe he was given the opportunity to help his kids and sets about trying to make their lives better by getting Alex onto the basketball team and trying to convince Maggie to leave her bully boyfriend. With his impending divorce from his wife, however, he soon realises that what he really wants from life may be what he had all along and sets about trying to get it back.

Anyone familiar with other similar comedies will have a very good idea of what to expect from 17 Again. There is nothing original or innovative about this film whatsoever, but an unoriginal film doesn’t necessarily make for a poor viewing experience. With all the bad things happening in the world right now this is probably a just about perfect film for anyone who needs cheering up, as while the storyline is predictable and it is easy to see what is going to happen, there is a generally good vibe surrounding it, and the trademark happy ending will ensure that you leave the cinema with a warm feeling inside. The film is also pretty funny although not necessarily for the reasons you might expect. Matthew Perry, whose role is pretty small here, is not what you would expect, playing it completely straight rather than being laugh-out-loud funny. While he has successfully gotten rid of any typecasting remaining from his Friends days this isn’t necessarily a good thing for the audience as this critic found himself missing Perry’s Chandler Bing days when the simple delivery of a line was enough to make you laugh. Here, Perry gets no comedy moments at all.

Zac Efron gets considerably more comic scenes than Perry but he too doesn’t get much chance to shine in the comedy department thanks to one of his co-stars. The film’s funniest scenes all come courtesy of the hilarious Thomas Lennon whose performance is the real highlight that makes an otherwise average film stand out. His character virtually steals every scene he’s in and, at times you may find yourself wondering why the need for Efron at all. His character is even funnier for the reason that such a person probably does exist in real life and Lennon is pretty convincing in the role. The film also features strong performances from Michelle Trachtenberg and Leslie Mann although neither really get to participate in the film’s comedic content. While often being outshone by co-star Lennon, Efron is very good in his role, even if it is to all intensive purposes a variation of Troy from High School Musical. Overall, 17 Again doesn’t quite match the charm and warmth of other similarly themed movies but if you are looking for a fun feel-good film to help you forget about your worries this is just the film for you.

By Robert Mann.

Following the success of his first Disney film, the enjoyable if unspectacular The Game Plan, wrestler turned actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has finally become a notable power at the box office with family movies currently being where he is directing his efforts after failing to make a good enough impression with action movies. Now comes his second Disney feature in the form of Race To Witch Mountain, an effects heavy action adventure remake of classic Disney films Escape To Witch Mountain and Return To Witch Mountain. Unlike Johnson’s first Disney film, however, which was aimed almost entirely at young viewers, this film has several things going for it, including the nostalgia factor for parents who saw the original films when they were children and possibly some UFO fans who may also get a kick out of some of the film’s content.

Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson) is a cab driver in Las Vegas who lives a mediocre existence with little excitement in his life. However, all this changes when he picks up Sara (Anna Sophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig), two mysterious children who claim to be aliens from another planet. What starts out as a normal cab journey soon turns into an action packed adventure for Jack as he finds himself forced to protect Sara and Seth from both a secret government agency under the leadership of Henry Burke (Ciarán Hinds) and an alien bounty hunter out to kill them. Sara and Seth’s mission is get back to their ship so that they can return home and prevent an impending invasion of Earth, and, in trying to help them, Jack enlists the help of UFO expert Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino). With the fate of not only Sara and Seth but the entire human race hanging in the balance they all try to get into the top secret facility at Witch Mountain where the ship is being kept in order to save the kids and thus save the world.

As you would expect from Disney, Race To Witch Mountain is a film that is neither deep nor thought provoking. What it is though is a very enjoyable film that has something to offer viewers both old and young. While the film is light years away from the originals in virtually all aspects the film probably has nostalgia value for some older viewers with fond memories of the original film and for the younger viewers the film is a fun action filled adventure with a good vein of clean humour running through it. This is also a film that may hold appeal to another group of viewers as well though – UFO enthusiasts. This is due to a number of references and in-jokes present in the film, ranging from the opening credits which use photos, newspaper stories and television footage to show the history of UFOs to a brief cameo appearance by real-life UFO researcher Whitley Strieber. Such elements will likely mean very little to the majority of moviegoers but to anyone who is interested in the world of UFO research these references are quite smart and well placed and may make the film a bit more enjoyable. For everyone else, though, there is still plenty to enjoy, with some quite thrilling car chase action, very good special and visual effects, and some enjoyable performances from the cast.

Dwayne Johnson again proves very entertaining in a very light role that combines his family movie nice guy persona with some of his action star style. Carla Gugino is also pretty entertaining, even though her screen time is less than Johnson’s, and there is also an amusing role for Garry Marshall as a UFO researcher. As for the rest of the cast, the kids are well cast with both Anna Sophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig effectively capturing the cold, reserved nature of their characters and Ciarán Hinds makes for a suitably sinister bad guy. The storyline is rather predictable and a sub-plot revolving around Johnson’s character seems rather pointless and irrelevant, failing to add anything to the film or help to move things along, but it flows at a reasonable pace and does exactly what it needs to. All together, Race To Witch Mountain probably won’t be fondly remembered like the original films that inspired it but on its own terms it is a fun family film that should be enjoyed by both children and their parents.

By Robert Mann.

In 2001 The Fast And The Furious became a massive surprise hit at the box office and kicked off what has become one of Universal Pictures’ longest running and most popular movie franchises. It also made a star out of Vin Diesel and, to a lesser extent, his co-stars Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. When the second film 2 Fast 2 Furious hit cinema screens in 2003, however, only Walker returned and then for the third entry in the franchise The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift released in 2006 all ties to the first two movies were severed (with the exception of a brief cameo by Diesel). Now, following the disappointing box office performance of the third film (which this critic actually preferred to the first two and was really more of a spin-off than a sequel anyway), the fourth film in the series reunited the original four cast members, with this being played on heavily in marketing for the film with the clever tagline “New Model. Original Parts.” being appearing on posters and in trailers. But is this enough to revitalise the franchise following weak box office takings for Tokyo Drift? Judging by the amazing opening weekend it had on its release in the US, where it not only beat the openings for all the other films in the series but set a records for biggest opening ever for a car movie and biggest opening ever in April, the answer appears to a be a resounding yes.

Five years after they first encountered each other fugitive ex-con Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and FBI agent Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) once again find themselves on opposite sides of the law. Dominic and partner Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) have been living in the Dominican Republic, making a living out of hijacking fuel tanks on the highways. However, Dominic feels that it is getting too dangerous for Letty to be around him so he leaves her. When Dominic’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) informs him that Letty has been murdered he sets out to find the man responsible and exact vengeance. Meanwhile, Brian is trying to track down a major drug dealer known as Braga who no one knows the true identity of. When Dominic and Brian encounter each other once again they discover that they are both looking for the same man and set about trying to get into his inner circle so that they can each achieve their own goals – Dominic to kill him and Brian to arrest him. But identifying and catching him won’t be easy and Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmaneuver him. And from convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, these two reluctant allies find the best way to get revenge and achieve justice: push the limits of what’s possible behind the wheel.

To get things started I will point out that if you have no interest in cars and in watching car chases this film will have absolutely nothing to offer you. If this applies to you, though, then clearly you are not in the target audience for this film. For those who are in the target audience, however, this film has lots to offer you. The film literally cuts to the chase straight away with one of the biggest and most elaborate sequences of the entire Fast And Furious series. The opening sequence is the highlight of the film’s many chase sequences, delivering some truly jaw-dropping high octane action that is sure to give you and adrenaline rush, but the other sequences certainly don’t disappoint. All the action sequences in the film deliver the thrills being both well staged and well shot and director Justin Lin’s experience behind the wheel of Tokyo Drift really shows in the quality of the chases which are some of the best of the series. The use of CGI in some sequences may be a bit off-putting to some but it allows for some much bigger sequences than could probably be achieved otherwise and its use appears pretty minimal for the most part, being used out of necessity rather than just for the sake of it.

As you would expect the storyline that binds the action scenes together is hardly writing of the highest calibre but the script is solid, delivering one of the better plots of the series, even if certain elements do seem recycled from 2 Fast 2 Furious and some of the things that happen are a tad predictable. This is pretty much insignificant though as you don’t see a film like this for the plot, you see it for the action. In the same fashion, the film doesn’t exactly offer a master-class in acting either with no one delivering a performance that is quite award-worthy or anything. However, the four leads fit comfortably back into the roles that they have made their own and play them well. It is a shame that Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster don’t have bigger roles to play though. Those of you who enjoyed Tokyo Drift will also enjoy a small role for Sung Kang reprising the part of Han, in a move that creates a definitive link between that film and the other entries in the franchise. Overall, Fast & Furious is understandably not a film that is going to win any awards, or much praise from most critics for that matter, but if you want to see a film that provides plenty of thrills but doesn’t demand too much of you in return you will definitely want to check it out and you will likely leave the cinema wanting more.