Update - a year on...

In the far corners of my mind I've often thought of this once-great hub of activity; now relegated to naught but a memory of a time when I had more time on my hands. I'd love for this to change and to get a moment to be able to drum up some new content, but for now I figured it wise to update here with where I am...

There is one new project I'm currently working on that is progressing nicely. It's called "Ushers" and is a TV pilot for a new series. Episode 1 should be live in a few weeks, and I produced, wrote and have a supporting role in it.

We entered a short version of the pilot into the Raindance Film Festival's Web Series competition, where we came in the top ten! You can see the short here... (I'm sadly not in the short, my first appearance is saved for the pilot!)


Ushers | Dailymotion Web Series Pilot... by RaindanceWebFest

I'll be back soon with more Ushers news!

Adam


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About Time - Film Review

Richard Curtis and romance is about as synonymous as KFC is with chicken; it's likely both a blessing and a curse for him as there's quite often a lot more to his writing than boy meets girl. His films have always been viewed as on the surface, black and white romances. This is likely not helped by titles that are incredibly direct. Four Weddings and a Funeral has the plot in five words, Love Actually is everywhere, and here, About Time, we have a film that is about time. Yet, never has there been a Richard Curtis film where people should stop and think more than this, a film which is potentially his final foray into directing on the big screen. Should About Time be the end, then it delivers his most important message yet...

Iron Man Three - Film Review

Christmas has come early.

Given the time of year it's perhaps a more fitting statement to say that Christmas has arrived extremely late, but nevertheless, the yuletide spirit that makes up the third instalment of Robert Downey Jnr's metallic hero will certainly put you in the mood for whipping out a mince pie when you get home and sit down to think about the rip-roaring yarn that the Marvel/Disney team have once again produced.

Set post-Avengers as the American people try to move on from the alien invasion in New York, Iron Man Three begins a few days before December 25th with a sleep deprived and troubled Tony Stark finding ways to distract his tired and constantly active mind. He's working hour after hour, pushing his Iron Man suit all the way to a revolutionary 42nd design, a suit which forms in place around him with a wave of his arms. It's impacting his relationship with girlfriend Pepper Potts, and also putting his body through serious amounts of strain.

James Bond - The Connery/Lazenby Years - Film Review

Back in October I re-watched all 22 James Bond's in time for the now Billion Dollar Skyfall. Here are my thoughts on the Connery films. Tune in tomorrow for Moore's mission debriefings.

Dr. No
Dr. No is undeniably entertaining but it did not find the ideal rhythm that makes the series truly work. Mix in some suspect acting, an action-lite and simple plot and it fails to stand out amongst those which come later. Despite these flaws Connery slipped into the role perfectly, finding a blend of class, intelligence and wit that has rarely been matched by his predecessor's first outings. It stands as the perfect platform from which the James Bond legacy built up from.

The Watch - Film Review

Not as funny as it should be, yet The Watch just about manages to hold your attention for it's lean running time. Go to see it for Hill and Ayoade rather than for Stiller or Vaughn; the former find the only laughs whilst the latter fall flat on their face. The script tries to inject Stiller's customary heart into the films alien center, yet it lands way off the mark and comes off as a miss-fire and a severe black spot on all four of the leads careers. The twists also aren't clever, making you question the logic of what has gone before.

There are much worse comedies to spend your time watching, but I would recommend buying a map to 21 Jump Street long before you ever think about joining The Watch.

5/10

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New Year Resolution: The Blog Shall Be Re-Kindled!

Hey folks,

It's been a while, but I fully intend to rekindle theadamharris.com over the next month, getting it caught up to speed with the film I've not posted about as well as getting ready for the Oscar season. Be ready, with the first new review coming tonight, once I have watched the film in question.

It is likely to be my first Oscar Contender review, Ang Lee's "Life of Pi.

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Twitter: @AdDHarris
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Rock of Ages - Film Review

Tom Cruise; Rock God. Comparing Cruise to Bon Jovi or Jagger was never a position you would intend on finding yourself, but there is no denying his bold and daring take at breaking the "Tom Cruise Mould" is one that works on virtually every level. Stacee Jaxx may not look as rugged and washed up as the typical leading man of a rock and roll band, but he sure makes up for it in other ways. He sleeps, drinks and murmurs nonsense, and thing is for damned certain; he knows how to belt out a tune. Cruise, as it turns out, has a voice worthy of the role, and is undeniably the stand out performer of this adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name.

Rock of Ages was always going to encounter several issues. It's eighties soundtrack undeniably has some belting tunes within it, but it doesn't have the connection with the audience that a collection of hits from one artist has. When Mamma Mia came out it drew huge attention to its Abba roots, as We Will Rock You does with Queen. There is no way a casual film-goer will know exactly what they're getting themselves in for in this case; there's no "name" to state exactly what sort of film this is. To call Rock of Ages a musical also doesn't connect the people with a passion for rock music with the people who typically like musicals. A broadway musical number doesn't often get mistaken for a Def Leppard track for example.

Prometheus - Film Review

Prometheus is undeniably the coolest title for a film yet this year, yet whilst it struggles to break barriers in the genres that both big sisters "Alien" and "Aliens" managed to do, it stands proudly above the lesser splatterings of the the current blockbuster season.

It isn't as clever as it thinks it is, but in many ways that isn't relevant. When you step back and view Prometheus for its own successes and failures and avoid the prejudices that Alien fanatics take in with them it has to be looked at in a positive light.

Snow White and the Huntsmen - Film Review

There is much of this darker telling of the classic Snow White story to like. Chris Hemsworth's accent isn't one of them. The slow and forgettable first half an hour isn't one of them either. What there is to like is that Kristen Stewart proves she has some gravitas in her arsenal and Charlize Theron proves that Summer 2012 belongs to her. More importantly, Snow White and the Huntsmen proves to be an imaginative, risk taking, epic and brave piece of film making which for the most part, works.

To begin it is worth noting that this is no ordinary fairy tale. Dark, brutal, wicked and full of muscle, Snow White and the Huntsmen is as dark as a child's tale can be taken without it becoming one for the grown ups. It takes parts of the tale and twists them on its head, adding in new characters, locations and plot points to make it feel more placed in a reality closer to our own past. It doesn't all work. It's need to differentiate its story from the Disney classic leads to a much too long prologue which fails to illuminate when Theron isn't on screen.

Men in Black 3 - Film Review

Whilst not as witty as both predecessors, Men in Black 3 still manages to find much more weight to its storyline than the second came close to finding and the first even attempted to find. It's a much more clever storyline, one which sees Will Smith's J having to go back to 1969 to stop the villainous Boris the Animal from eliminating Tommy Lee Jones' K.

Taking a leaf from Back to the Future, director Barry Sonnenfeld finds plenty of entertainment in this concept, putting J in a new partnership with a younger K played expertly and pitch perfect by Josh Brolin. Adapting Tommy Lee Jones' mannerisms to a tee, and mixing in some of his own charisma and youth, Brolin makes you forget that the original K isn't in much of the films running time so perfect is his performance.

Dark Shadows - Film Review

Dark Shadows is the proof that we have all "been there, done that" before. A collaboration between Tim Burton & Johnny Depp is becoming staple to the yearly blockbuster schedule, but it has never felt so tired as it does here.

The storyline is relatively simple at heart, where Depp's Barnabus Collins is cursed to become a Vampire and condemned to be be buried alive for two centuries. Upon returning he has to stop Eva Green's evil witch and return the Collins family to its former glory.

Half Nelson - Film Review

Whilst undeniably in touch with the life of inner-city schools, and boasting an excellent performance by Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson still feels like a lesser sum of greater parts.

Revolving around Gosling's Daniel Dunne, Half Nelson follows his life as he balances teaching a group of high school students and a drug addiction. Dunne is a troubled man; he is depressed, sad and lonely but manages to hide this behind his passion for history and his love of trying to help his students He is also a man who struggles to understand why he is so disconnected from the man he wants to be. It's a complex character study, and it required someone with Ryan Gosling's talents to pull off. Gosling is sublime, finding nuances and subtle details in Dunne's character which help the audience connect with him on his dark and troubling journey.

Away We Go - Film Review

As cuddly as the biggest teddy in a bear factory, Away We Go revels in the fact that its two main characters are so likeable it would be impossible not to fall for them. Burt and Verona are the dream of every relationship, one which is built on affection, devotion and love. It's also one that strives to find its place in the world, and the duo are questioning where life is taking them. It's something they need to work out soon, seeing as they have a baby on the way. When Burt's parents announce they are moving abroad, the pair decide to travel the country to find the perfect place to settle down.

The Avengers - Film Review

It can't be an easy task. Taking four of the biggest superheroes from Marvel's comic book universe and combining them together into an epic storyline which features a threat so big no superhero alone can tackle it.

The man tasked with attempting to do just this is Joss Whedon, who not only took on directing but also plays a huge part in the script of this years second big blockbuster. Should "The Avengers" have failed then Whedon would have taken a huge portion of the blame. The big questions were could he do four franchises justice whilst creating a fifth one in the process? Could characters like Robert Downey Jnr's extravagent Tony Stark work on screen together with the straight faced persona of Chris Evans' Captain America? Could Mark Ruffalo finally create a Hulk that lives up to his "incredible" title?

Battleship - Film Review

Whilst it packs plenty of punches, booming music and visually exhilarating explosions into its overlong running time, Battleship also encounters a bizarre sense of deja-vu. Whilst it is understandable that a film about ships fighting an alien race out at sea would feature similar action sequences throughout, it is so similar that you almost forget you haven't seen each sequence before at an earlier point. It's so one-tone that the two plus hour running time makes Battleship flounder too often.

Dead Poets Society - Film Review

A class of upper class students who are shown that they can make what they want of their lives through poetry classes is one that will be remembered as a pinnacle role in Robin Williams resume. Reigned in from his usual "crazy" persona Williams' John Keating is an inspirational teacher, whose love for poetry comes out through the expertly written script and Williams' controlled and touching portrayal. It really shows how accomplished and powerful Robin Williams can be, and when you link him up with a script that deservedly won the screenwriting Oscar you create something that will linger in your mind long after its final credits.

The Cabin in the Woods - Film Review

As a fan of a great horror, a film like The Cabin in the Woods always stood a chance of being a success. Yet, to truly pin down this film as horror would be a gross injustice to what is undeniably a surprisingly hilarious, bitterly dark, fantastically inventive and totally insane tribute to a number of genres. Its tagline so casually states that if "you think you know what's going to happen, think again." You've heard that a thousand times before, yet The Cabin in the Woods actually delivers on what it promises. As of this moment, you haven't seen a film like The Cabin in the Woods. That is a fact.

Philadelphia - Film Review

Philadelphia is a film that has a point to make and certainly isn't shy in tugging on the heart strings in making it. Tackling the issues of AIDS at a time when Hollywood shied away from the subject has earned it a place in film history and thankfully it is a worthy entry on its own terms as a film.

Led by an Oscar winning performance by Tom Hanks, Philadelphia's strengths as a story are played to perfection by its cast. Hanks deservedly got his first Oscar for the role of Andrew Beckett, playing a man who is slowly dying yet fighting for what he believed was a wrongful termination from his law firm due to his illness. Heartfelt and genuine, Hanks makes Beckett's descent towards an undeniable death tragic, graceful and emotional. Never overplaying the normalcy of the man Beckett is regardless of how people view his sexuality, illness or social position Hanks has made a character for the ages. He's just a man who wants to live, and live a normal life regardless of who he is behind his front door.

Good Will Hunting - Film Review

Just about the perfect feel-good film, it's a shame the pairing of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck haven't been able to create another masterpiece together in the fifteen years since.

Perfection with every word, each one thought out to create a prolonged effect and feeling on the viewer days after its credits roll; the script is the films ace. There are several life-changing moments for the characters, and several revelations about what certain characters mean to each other that you don't expect; every single one of them you go through the transition with. It's almost trying to teach you everything there is that's important in life and regardless of whether you knew it before it will make you feel like it's fresh.

The Hunger Games - Film Review

The Hunger Games isn't scared to translate the brutality of its subject matter onto the screen. It's at times quite violent, dark and bleak. It also is a very visually beautiful and thought provoking vision of a world driven to extremes by the very nature of being run by the human race. This is a world where the powerful make the poor fight to the death in a "game" of survival. Donald Sutherland's President claims it is all about keeping order, about controlling the power and about intimidating the Districts who once revolted against the government. It's much more than that though. As Stanley Tucci's Caesar presents the games like the Superbowl, it feels much more close to sport than a form of order. This being a sport which sees twenty-three people dead every single year.

It tinkers around with these grand questions; would the games continue if no one watches, how immoral is it to treat a human life so carelessly and what makes an individual feel no responsibility for the deaths when they can become part of a crowd. However it clearly doesn't want to answer them yet. There are still two more novels to tackle these questions. The Hunger Games is all about creating the world, and finding the important people within it.