Mini-review: Life of Pi

Boldly imaginative and visually stunning adaptation of the best-selling book. Sharma is excellent given this is largely a one-hander and also his debut.  And Parker? Richard Parker is Richard Parker - a fantastically realised cgi creation.

Mini-review: I Robot

Will Smith charms as a quietly cynical cop (aren't they all?) in this robovision of the future. Back at the time of its release, it seemed incredibly sci-fi - now it feels like we are well and truly on the trajectory. With the advent of Alex, Google Now et al - voice activated everything is already here as are electric self driving cars. It is, of course, the little details they get wrong.  Few wear bluetooth ear sets and a society this high tech would not need staff to identify themselves - buildings would simply know.

The story itself raids some of the best of Asimov's robot stories. The only surprise is that there was never a sequel as I'd have liked to have seen more of Moynahan's Calvin. She plays her slightly softer than the books indicate, but together with Smith they make a good investigative pairing.

A final note on the blu-ray release. It looks absolutely stunning. Not quite up there detail  wise with the best of modern films, but pretty good all in all.

Mini-review: Doctor Who - Smile

asBill's first proper adventure in the TARDIS combines a stunning location with a Black Mirror vibe. Add in surprisingly graphic deaths and themes which draw upon books like Superintelligence and you have the makings of a minor classic.

 As for the Doctor and asBill, this feels like a rediscovery of what Who is all about turning up at a place, figuring something is wrong and fixing it. This story could have featured almost any Doctor and companion combination - particularly the earlier ones and Tom Baker's. To complete the picture, all we really needed as the Doctor and Bill to quietly disappear without saying goodbyes/getting roped in to rebuild something.

 Mackie & Capaldi work really well together. I like that she's constantly questioning and receiving reactions and answers that feel fresh even to this jaded Who fan.

Mini-review: Inception

What if you could manipulate dreams? is the premise of this thoughtful and at times visually outstanding sci-fi.  I was often struck how simple scenes and locations were made fantastical by the framing device and earnest straightforward performances.

Mini-review: True Grit

Despite being surrounded by scene chewing heavy weights like Bridges and Damon, it is Steinfield who is the star as the tenacious and witty Mattie Ross.  The Coen Brothers have gone slightly against type to deliver a straight well crafted western.

Mini-review: The Day After Tomorrow

Plotwise, it's a by the numbers disaster movie, but visually striking especially for its time. The helicopter sequence over Scotland and final scenes of New York are particularly memorable.  Also there's some nice character interaction - Ian Holm's team stand out - which makes you feel invested in their fates.  The blu-ray doesn't look bad considering the film's age, but it's nothing outstanding.

Day After Tomorrow at Amazon

Mini-review: Fast and Furious 6

Probably should caveat this review with the fact this is the first and only movie I've seen in this series.  Picked up cheaply as the missus is a massive Dwayne Johnson fan.  The good news is that you can pretty much enjoy this as a standalone film, the bad news is that it's not a very good film. It feels like a cheap knock off of Mission impossible combined with Top Gear and a heavy sprinkling of teenage boy fantasies. The action is only OK and sometimes edited to incoherence, some of the script highly cliched,  the acting dreadful to mediocre and surprisingly you never get see that much of the cars.