James McAvoy

Wanted on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Wanted
  • IMDB: link

“You know when you have a dream and you’re half-awake, but still in the fringe of your brain?  Then you open you eyes and you’re so damned glad it was a dream?  This was nothing like that.”

Based off Mark Millar’s twisted comic, all-around loser Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) gets tapped to join a secret Fraternity of Assassins after the father he never knew is killed by a rogue member.

Approached by the beautiful Fox (Angelina Jolie), Wesley is trained (beaten up repeatedly and shown how to bend bullets) by the Fraternity and becomes an assassin of fate.

If good story and sound logic is what you are looking for you’ll want to give this one a wide berth.  If however you’re looking for some of the best stunt scenes you’ve seen in some time and a fun (if increasingly ridiculous, Loom of Fate?  Oh, please!) film, then this one’s for you.  For more on the film itself read my original review, or check out December’s alternative perspective.

I’m pretty happy with the two-disc Collector’s edition, but I must admit I’m tempted by the Blu-ray.  Could the story be better?  God yes!  But for those who just want a fun flick to watch every now and then (with extras showing how they did some of those cool stunts) I think you might want to give Wanted a try.

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Ain’t Violence Grand?

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Wanted
  • IMDB: link

“Your father died yesterday on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Building.  He was one of the greatest assassins who ever lived, and the other one is behind you.”

Stuck in a dead-end job with a girlfriend (Kristen Hager) who’s cheating on him with his best friend (Chris Pratt), a ball-busting boss (Lorna Scott), and a general sense of utter futility, Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is not just having a bad year, but a bad life.

All this changes when he’s approached by a beautiful woman called the Fox (Angelina Jolie) who informs him his father, the greatest assassin to ever live, has just been killed and the man responsible (Thomas Kretschmann) is now gunning for him.  Wesley finds himself thrown into a world he never imagined.

The Fraternity of Assassins led by Sloan (Morgan Freeman) shows Wesley he has the special talent and abilities of his father which make him a perfect candidate for the Fraternity.

Choosing to give-up his old life Wesley jumps into the training which basically entails him getting the ever-living-snot beat out of him over and over again.  He trains to become the world’s best assassin able to bend bullets fired from his gun and kill from even miles away.

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Ain’t Violence Grand?Read More »

Ain’t Violence Grand? Read More »

Atonement

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Atonement
  • IMDB: link

atonement-poster

Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) is the kitchen helps son and in love with Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) the head of household’s daughter. Cecilia is a stuck up rich brat who plays hard to get, but conforms to her one true love in the end, Robbie. Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan), the youngest daughter has a huge crush on Robbie and finds herself in a very jealous predicament, in return she lashes out and lies about whom she caught accosting her cousin in the woods.

Briony’s lie sends Robbie away to war and trashes his name forever making it impossible for Robbie and Cecilia to be together. Cecilia leaves the family estate and makes a go of it on her own as a nurse for the effort, running into Robbie one last time before he is sent off to the front, they agree to find one another after and marry.

Briony (Romola Garai) grew out of her impish childhood and into guilt and a need to correct all that she had wrong. Believing she was paying for her lies, she signed up as a nurse to help the wounded in an effort to ease her mind. She hunted down her sister, Ceclilia, but was never forgiven.

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Atonement Read More »

Jane Austen, The Early Years

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Becoming Jane
  • IMDb: link

Becoming Jane

Jane (Anne Hathaway) is a beautiful country girl who enjoys sharing her works with her neighbors.  Into her life arrives young Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) an Irish scoundrel from the city sent out into the wilderness by his uncle (Ian Richardson) for his inappropriate behavior.  Tom scoffs Anne’s writings and her surroundings, infuriating the young woman.

Fans of Hollywood romances can guess what happens next.  A friendship between the pair begins as Tom introduces Jane to new ideas and Jane shows Tom that the city doesn’t hold all of the world’s wonders.

Although the story is rather straight-forward it is well-handled and enjoyable.  Hathaway proves more than up to the task in making the role her own and carrying the film, though I do wonder at why an English actor (like say Kiera Knightly) wasn’t chosen for the role.  McAvoy provides some good humor to the role and there is nice, if constrained, chemistry between the pair.  Add to all this a supporting cast which includes Maggie Smith, James Cromwell, and Julie Waters and you’ve got a good film.

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Jane Austen, The Early Years Read More »

Game of Love

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Wimbledon
  • IMDB: link

wimbledon-posterIf you are a fan of tennis, love stories, romantic comedies, and good acting and writing then I’ve got a film for you.  And if you aren’t, well if everyone had good taste we wouldn’t need critics, would we?  Wimbledon wasn’t a big success at the box office, but it scores big on screen, and here on DVD.

Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) is at the end of his career.  Once ranked as high as eleventh in the world, the professional tennis player has fallen to 119 in the world and has picked Wimbledon for his swan song.  A hotel mix-up creates a chance meeting with up-and-comer American Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst).

The two enjoy spending time together, and Lizzie’s presence seems to bolster Peter’s game to the point that this British wildcard has a chance to win Wimbledon.  The relationship however is hurting Lizzie’s game, which doesn’t go unnoticed by her over-protective father (Sam Neil) who warns Peter to stay away from his little girl.

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Game of Love Read More »