Ocean's Eleven (2001) Review

Ocean's Eleven (2001) Review

 While we are in lockdown I thought I would try and watch some older franchises and the next one I have chosen is the Ocean's franchise starting with Ocean's Eleven, now this film is a remake but I thought it was the appropriate one to start with and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a group of 11 con artists attempt to rob the three most lucrative casinos in Las Vegas on a fight night. 

Main Character

George Clooney plays Danny Ocean in the film and he does a great job, he fills the charming and charismatic lead very well and I thought he was a natural fit to be the lead in this group and his character has the biggest arc in the film and the most motivation for completing this heist and his chemistry with Pitt is a real highlight for the film for sure. Brad Pitt plays his no1 ally and as mentioned above they have great chemistry together and it is pretty clear that Pitt is the coolest character in this film which is full of cool characters for sure. 

Supporting Characters

This film has one of the most star studded casts of all time so it is time to talk to about the great cast. Matt Damon plays another member of the crew and he is a great addition to the cast. He and Clooney have a bit of a rivalry but it works for the story and both of the characters are fleshed out by it. Andy Garcia plays the bad guy in the film and he does a great job, he is chilling and very swauve, you believe in him as the villain and to be honest you wonder what exactly he did wrong to deserve this robbery being planned against him. Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck and Elliot Gould are also really entertaining parts of the crew and have their own really great moments. The one person who doesn't get much to work with is Julia Roberts, she is written pretty poorly and I will talk about it more in the story why I think it is. 

Story

The story does a great job in making you root for this gang of criminals because they are so likeable, the introductions give each character a personality which helps flesh them out. Also I love watching a heist being planned and seeing the creative things they come up with. However, the love story for me jut doesn't work, you can tell this film came out a while ago as Roberts is written basically as an object and a plot device which is pretty ineffective.

Script

The script for this film is great, the humour really works and helps make the crew so fun and likeable, the interactions allows the film to flow and keep you interested as they plan. Though as mentioned above the dramatic dialogue doesn't quite work for me as most of it is involved with the love triangle and that just didn't work for me.

Style

The style of this film is so cool, this is presented as one of the most cool films ever made in terms of its style. Seeing a heist being planned and executed at Vegas which this crew really works and adds to the spectacle. The mix between suspense and coolness flows fantastically and makes this a better film to watch.

Overall

Overall, this is one of the better heist films ever made, it is a great time with a large well known cast and a very suspenseful conclusion.

Rating - 8/10 

Extraction (2020) Review

Extraction (2020) Review 

 With new movies few and far between at the moment we have to take them when we get them and there is a new film from Netflix starring Chris Hemsworth called Extraction and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a special agent sent into Bangledesh to rescue a gangsters son from his rival. 

Main Character 

As mentioned above Chris Hemsworth is the main character in this film and he does a really good job. He is great in the action scenes, he is believable and is probably only second to John Wick in terms of his action skills, it is just really entertaining to see him go through multiple enemies and kill them in pretty gruesome ways. His character takes some time to be developed but he has enough depth to him to make you care and you do understand his motivations towards the end of the film. 

Supporting Characters

David Harbour is probably the most recognisable supporting actor and he does a good job with the limited screen time he has, I bought into his character and Hemsworth's having a relationship and it worked. There is also a character called Saju who is hunting Hemsworth and he is like a Terminator in the action scenes taking down everybody in his path and he has a bit of character depth aswell. Unfortunatley though I didn't care about the boy as much as you are clearly meant to and I thought the villain of the film was incredibly basic and really had nothing interesting about him. 

Story

The best parts of the story are some of the arcs that the characters have, they develop nicely and you understand their motivations, I also thought the ending of the film was well done and left you guessing as to what could come next. Though as you can probably tell from the premise this film has a very basic plot and one that you have seen plenty of times and it does very little to make you think you have seen anything new.

Script

The script has some heartful moments to it and some well done dramatic moments but it doesn't have anything that reall stands out to it. Plus a film like this doesn't really have any humour which may have been better at times to help humanise Hemsworth and other characters.

Style

The style of the film is awesome, the action scenes are pretty incredible. They are really well filmed and well choreographed, every hit feels brutal and seeing the inventive ways that people are killed is a joy to see. As mentioned it can be a bit gruesome but I thought it worked for the film an allowed them to be more creative, also it was nice to see Bangledesh used as the backdrop as it provided some unique action sequences.

Overall

Overall, this is a good action film, if you want to see Hemsworth take out tonnes of guys then this is a film for you, it doesn't do anything to stand out too much but is an enjoyable film for sure.

Rating - 7/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6 (2014) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6 (2014) Review

 In prep for watching the new season of The Clone Wars, I have finally made it to the end by watching the sixth season of the show and here is my review for the season. The premise of the season sees Yoda have to learn new ways to master the force while a clone trooper finds out a dark secret about the war. 

Main Character

This season of the show hasn't got a large lead but the character I saw in the lead was that of Yoda, a character that hasn't been used that much on the show until this season. I really enjoyed his arc at the back end of the season and it does a really good job in humanising Yoda a bit, in the films we are led to believe Yoda is unbeatable but this season shows there are certain things that can affect him and I appreciated it. 

Supporting Characters

Clone Trooper Fives is the other main character this season and I also really like his arc, it adds so much context to Order 66 in Revenge Of The Sith and makes the clones an even more sympathetic group then the show had previously done. We see more of Chancellor Palpatine this season and I thought the season showed his twisted motivations and obvious deception well, we really start to see his plans take place here. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu and Padme all have entertaining lesser roles this season but it is nice to see some of the other characters get the spotlight this season. 

Story

The two main stories involving Fives and Yoda are really interesting and pretty fascinating, they don't have the best action but the intrigue and mystery is much more exciting. However, the middle ground of episodes are more boring, focusing on the political side and magical side of the franchise and it just is not handled that well and it makes the season feel very uneven. 

Script

The script is good this season for the most part, the drama involving the two main arcs is really well handled and it makes you question the complexity of the characters and also whether the Jedi are immune to the criticism they get. Though the humour doesn't work very well, the inclusion of Jar Jar Binks for a few episodes is really grinding and it frustrated me and made me want to go back to the more serious scripting we recieve in the other arcs. 

Style 

The style of the season has it's shortest amount of episodes and it was a good thing, it made the best stories stand out and be very memorable to watch and remember. However, in that case the weaker stories are highlighted as well and that is an issue, plus the action scenes are probably the least interesting of the show so far.

Overall

Overall, this is a good sixth season of the show, it feels like it takes more time with its supporting characters and has some interesting story arcs for sure, but it also has some weaker stories which lowers it to just a good season.

Rating - 7/10 

Better Call Saul Season 5 (2020) Review

Better Call Saul Season 5 (2020) Review

 After catching up on the previous 4 seasons of the show I have now finished watch new fifth season of Better Call Saul and here is my review. The premise of the season sees Jimmy McGill restart his law practise under the new name Saul Goodman, while Mike and Nacho are in the middle of a war between Gus & Lalo. 

Main Character 

Bob Odenkirk is back as Jimmy McGill and this is the season where he really starts the transition from that character to the more sleezy Saul Goodman that we would see in Breaking Bad. There is so much depth to his character, he is uber charismatic in his Goodman persona but it is the more personal scenes that stand out for me. Jimmy's relationship with Kim is one of the most fascinating relationships on not just this show but any show on television and it really adds to both characters. 

Supporting Characters

As mentioned Rhea Seehorn's character Kim Wexler's relationship with Goodman is a real highlight of the show. She is a great character and one that you truly empathise with as her development over the show has been just as interesting as Goodman's has been. Jonathan Banks as Mike has a great arc this season too, you see how the effects of last season really hits him and makes him question exactly if he is making the right decisions whis adds layer to his performance. Michael Mando has been on the show from the very beginning and he continues to do a great job on the show, he has so much depth to him and you see just how his relationships with the gangsters is really affecting him and you really just want to see him succeed. Tony Dalton gets a larger role as Lola Salamanca and wow this guy is a scene stealer, he is so charismatic and even though he is a terrible person he actually can come across as quite likeable and somebody that you actually would want to hang out with. The one thing that should be said is that the showrunners heavily hyped the return of the character from Breaking Bad Hank Schrader and if you come to see him then don't he isn't really on the show and feels like it shouldn't have been advertised so heavily. 

Story

One of my criticisms of the show has been that the stories have felt quite seperate, but this season really fixes that. You see how Saul Goodman's life is affected by all these things and all the arcs are fascinating and makes these characters feel like people we can care about. It also feels like the stakes are risen this season and that adds some more excitement to the plot, the last few episodes particularly are a real rollercoaster and are truly memorable. 

Script

The script is brilliant, this is probably the funniest and most grim season of the show. The humour works really well especially with Lalo and Saul who are very funny people but the drama is nailed this season. The simple meetings are made more intense by some fantastic writing that fleshes out the characters and truly make them feel like real people in exceptional circumstances. 

Style

Again my other criticism of the show has sometimes been the pacing of the show but it is much improved this season, the 10 epsiodes fly by and feel appropriate to get the most out of all the arcs. The style is also more fast paced and thrilling which adds to to the high quality there are some truly memorable scenes that are editied perfectly and delivered brilliantly.

Overall

Overall I have thought Better Call Saul has been a great show, but this season steps it up in every way, it is a brilliant season that if you have given up on this show then get back on as the characters are truly memorable. 

Rating - 10/10 

Gotti (2018) Review

Gotti (2018) Review

 When going through Netflix I came across this film and decided to give it a watch and here is my review for the film Gotti. The premise of the film shows the life of the notorious gangster Joe Gotti as he rises up the criminal empire in New York. 

Main Character

John Travolta plays the titular character in the film and I am happy to report that this has been the best Travolta has been in many years. He actually has the old charm and charisma back and it really feels like he commits to the role and that it suits him perfectly. For a few years it has felt like Travolta has not done much good but this performance shows that he can still do it and hopefully we will see more performances like this in the future. 

Supporting Characters 

Unfortunatley, this film is totally about Travolta. Nobody else gets any time to shine as a character and it really feels like there are so many people in this film that you have to track that you end up not caring about any of them and they are just generic gangsters. The main one is Gotti's son but he is a generic character too, there isn't much to him and maybe he could have done with being played by a better actor.

Story

The story is like most gangster films as it is pretty interesting seeing Gotti rise through the ranks and really become the head of the crime family. However, as mentioned it is hard to get invested in some aspects of the story as the characters aren't given any real screen time. It comes across as b grade version of The Irishman where as I think it would have been better as a TV Series even though the obvious comparisons to The Sopranos would have been there.

Script

The script has some good dramatic moments in and dramatic dialogue that fit the mobster life well and it works for this film. Though the attempt at humour doesn't really work and honestly there is nothing here that really stands out to me and makes it feel like what it is very average.

Style

The style of the film does have moments that are graphic and feel like a gangster film should feel like so that is a good thing. However, as I mentioned before this film isn't paced very well at all, there are plenty of things that aren't explained and it just feels rushed throughout.

Overall

Overall, this is a very average gangster film, there are some good things about the film, Travolta's performance being the best but it isn't worth a watch and there are much better Gangster films/TV Shows out there. 

Rating - 5/10

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 (2012) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 (2012) Review

 With the new season almost completed I am close to finishing my re-watch of the show and here is my review for the 5th season of The Clone Wars. The premise of the season sees Obi-Wan Kenobi attempt to stop Maul & Savage while The Jedi comes up with ways to keep the separatists at bay.

Main Character

For the previous 4 seasons the main character of the show has been Anakin Skywalker but not this season, it is clear that Ahsoka Tano is the main character. It is really interesting seeing her development across not only the start of the show to now but this season alone, she has some great character development and she is easily the character you are supposed to root for but she also has some conflicted feelings about the Jedi and the war.

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the main supporting character and his story arc involving Maul is possibly one of the most interesting one of the season. It also adds depth to his character as you see he has some issues with the rest of the Jedi and it shows he isn't as loyal to the Jedi way as the films make at and he does have more of a unique personality. Anakin isn't a particularly large character this season but he comes into the forefront in the last few episodes and it continues to show his slow dissent against the Jedi and you kind of see his point of view this season as the Jedi do take part in some questionable things. Maul is in more of the forefront this season and I think he is a brilliant addition, you see how much he wants revenge on Obi-Wan but I love seeing him really build up his plan as it shows the mindset of Maul compared to other villains on the show. A shoutout to Hondo who has a bigger role at the beginning of the season and he is always an entertaining fixture and he added some real entertainment during that time of the show.

Story

The story has some truly memorable story arcs this season, the highest highs of this season are truly brilliant you see some really emotional elements to the story and adding to the layers of the characters. One thing I will say is that I feel like we spend a bit too long with some of the less interesting story arcs and that if they had been a few episodes shorter then that would have made sure the story was nothing but top quality, finishing with a truly gut-punching season finale that is expertly executed.

Script

The script has some truly memorable dramatic moments and dialogue this season that really makes you care about the characters and adds real drama that honestly is more dramatic then the entirety of the first two prequel films. The humour in the episodes is used works and I find myself enjoying the slight change of pace that these moments provided.

Style

The style of the show has some great action sequences, it focuses less on the huge battles that previous seasons have and focuses on the smaller more personal battles that for me at this point in the shows run is far more effective. As mentioned though even though this is definitely the best season yet and I appreciated the 2 less episodes I think a few more could have been cut and we would have had an even better season of the show.

Overall

Overall, this is a great season of the show and does a better job adding an emotional wait to the actions that the characters take which is much more effective.

Rating - 8/10

Quiz (2020) Mini Series Review

Quiz (2020) Mini Series Review 

 Over the last few days here in the UK the big new thing has been this three episode long mini series called Quiz, I waited and watched them all at once and here is my review for the show. The premise of the show is based on true events where a Army Major was accused of cheating and stealing 1Million Pounds from the popular quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. 

Main Character

Matthew Macfadyen plays Army Major Chris Ingram on this show and I thought he did a great job in the role. At first you see quite a timid every day man who is very well respected and honourable but as the show goes on you can see him gaining confidence in himself and really standing up for himself in the wake of the accusations. You also see a different persona when he appears on the quiz show itself as he really plays to the cameras and nails the entertainment side of the game, you aren't sure whether to root for him but he comes across as pretty likeable so it makes it a tough moral dilemma. 

Supporting Characters

Okay, lets get to the performance that everybody is talking about and that is Michael Sheen as host Chris Tarrant and I swear to you this is a truly memorable performance. Sheen nails Tarrant's mannerisms and likeness so well it is uncanny. I literally cannot imagine anybody else in the world who could have done as good a job in this role as Sheen does he truly does a special job and it adds legitimacy to the show. Sian Clifford plays Diana Ingram and honestly this show really makes her out to be the villain of this show, it seems you aren't meant to root for her and her obsession with winning is what causes this whole incident. She does a good job in her role, though I am not sure the real life person would be particularly happy with her depiction. Mark Bonnar plays the head of who wants to be a millionaire and I thought he did a great job, you see the events through a different point of view with his character and you do care about him and see the damage the other characters have done to him personally and professionally.

Story

The story is pretty absurd when you think about it but it is interesting in seeing these people attempt to get away with this act of deception. I have mentioned before how much I love courtoom scenes and this show nails it's courtroom scenes, the drama is executed greatly whether in these courtroom scenes or the quiz itself. My one complaint is that there are some story arcs that I felt could have been eliminated as they don't really play into the main plot and feel very tacked on.

Script

The script is very good, the drama is well executed and it makes you sympathise for the characters and interested in the situation. The humour when used actually works and helps make the characters feel like real people which helps when your show is based on true events.

Style

As mentioned the show really nails its style when it comes to the courtroom scenes and the brilliantly tense quiz scene. However, I felt like the show should have started with the quiz and we learn about the situation and the background of the characters after, as the show has a very slow start and it takes a bit of time to really get going. 

Overall

Overall, this is a great mini series that being short is an easy watch and it is an interesting story that has added layers as it happened and is still talked about today.

Rating - 8/10