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REVIEWS
DVD
&
BD
DVD&BD
Dwayne as rock hard CIA agent Bob Stone? Yeah,
predictable casting. But add a fanny pack plus a love
of unicorns and Molly Ringwald? That’s just part of the
fun of
Central Intelligence
, which starts with Bob – or
Robbie Weirdicht as he was then – as a chubby, bullied
kid. Meanwhile, Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) was the guy
most likely to succeed. Anyway, 20 years later Calvin’s
an accountant, and we know Bob’s situation. With a
school reunion impending, the two meet, and Calvin’s
yawn-worthy life is about to go all Rubik’s Cube. Bob
needs a numbers guy for a case, but there aren’t just bad guys after
him. Johnson’s a lovable lug who makes any flick better. Teaming him
with Hart was genius, and
Central Intelligence
is a darn good action
comedy. But not
Sixteen Candles
good, duh!
Amy Flower
A little Hart and a big Johnson
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Release Date:
19/10/16
Format:
If Edgar Rice Burroughs had a dollar for every movie
based on his creation Tarzan then, um, he’d still be dead
(and long may he rest in peace). Seriously though, they
number over 50, yet this latest one still adds to the
impressive legacy and legend – and boy is it adventure-
packed! The bloke formerly known as Tarzan (Alexander
Skarsgård) now lives in London with Jane (Margot
Robbie) under his birth name of John Clayton III. All’s
rather fine and decidedly dandy, until an old enemy
demands a swap – diamonds needed to keep Belgium’s
economy afloat in exchange for Tarzan. King Leopold subsequently
issues an invite for the couple to visit the Congo, which they decline.
But when a US envoy reveals he suspects Congolese slavery, it’s time
for Tarzan and Jane to revisit their swinging old hangout
.
AF
Lord of the abs
THE LEGEND OF TARZAN
Release Date:
19/10/16
Format:
Transforming Blizzard Entertainment’s massively
popular MMORPG into a movie was always going to
be a challenge, and director Duncan Jones (
Moon
) has
done a solid job with a tough gig, setting the action in a
recognisable fantasy realm to give non-gamers an entry
point. Despite all the lore craft, the story is a simple tale
of light versus darkness. Warrior orcs enter the human
realm through a magic portal, intent on claiming it as
their new home. Unless a peace can be struck with a
rebellious orc chieftain, the world will be overrun by the
horde waiting on the other side of the gate. The world of
Warcraft
is
brought to vivid life through cutting edge CGI and motion-capture; Jones
has lavished incredible detail on the orcs’ appearance and culture, and the
film is at its best whenever these brutish warriors are on the screen.
SH
Two worlds. One destiny
WARCRAFT: THE BEGINNING
Swedish director David F. Sandberg has turned his
simple but scary YouTube video into a feature (produced
by
The Conjuring
's James Wan), and it's a pretty
impressive debut that doesn't rely solely on the jump-
scare premise of the viral short. There are shades of
The Babadook
in this tale of a depressed mother (Maria
Bello), a frightened young boy (Gabriel Bateman), and
a sinister black apparition that's only visible in the
darkness – and creeps closer whenever the lights are
flicked on and off. The dysfunctional family dynamic
adds depth to this brisk frightener, as does the intriguing backstory
surrounding the entity's existence. Bello and Teresa Palmer are solid
as the estranged mother and daughter, and the suspense and shocks
sustained throughout. One to watch with the lights blazing
.
SH
Be afraid of the dark
LIGHTS OUT
Release Date:
26/10/16
Format:
Release Date:
05/10/16
Format: