Jason Bourne

When The Bourne Identity was released to the world it was a genre changing film.  Similar to The Matrix, Rocky, Raiders of the Lost Ark and countless others throughout history, the film revisited a repetitious genre and gave it the boost it needed.  The sequels, Supremacy and Ultimatum only strengthened the hold that Jason Bourne had on the Action/Thriller genre.

Films like Taken and The Daniel Craig Bond Series were heavily influenced by Paul Greengrass and his film styles.  Several others tried to adopt this style and failed miserably (included in this list is The Bourne Legacy)

So 14 years after the first film was released, Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass (who previously said there would never be another Bourne) decided to make another Bourne film.  Excited by the team up, I was looking forward to a genre re-defining product,  Giving the genre another well boosted kick to launch the next series of copy cat films.

I think Mr Greengrass went down the route that my Dad takes with DIY, "If it's not broken, then why try fix it".  Admittedly, this is a reasonable stance to take, The Bourne films work, and they work well.   Some say that each of the original trilogy films just get better and better with each outing.  The action is intensified, the chase scenes are exhilarating and the constant cat and mouse feel is superb....but it has all been done before.

Jason Bourne is a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable film.  A worthy successor to the Bourne helm, and I left the cinema happy that I had witnessed this rip ride tour of Europe and America with Mr Damon and his almost mute anti-hero.  Alicia Vikander is superb (although her accent falters throughout) and it is always a delight to see Julia Stiles in any film

I was in similar thoughts to Jeremy from CinemaSins last year, and although I am happy that Jason Bourne was made, I think it is either time to leave the franchise as strong as it is or do something genre defining again in the future

Suicide Squad

Even after the DC Universe defining flop that was BvS:DoJ, I still had high hopes for The Suicide Squad.  Knowing DC's current "show all and everything" tactic in their continuous bombardment of trailers and TV spots I also decided that one trailer was enough and avoided everything the was subsequently released, I wanted to enjoy the film without knowing every plot point prior.

This was definitely the right approach for me.  Unfortunately, the reviews of the film were harder to ignore.  Negative critical reviews bombarded the interwebs and the berating of the DC franchise continued.  Always in competition with the brighter and more enjoyable Marvel Expended Universe, DC has a tall order ahead of them.

The Suicide Squads teams up a rogue gallery of villains from the DC universe, each with restrictive explosives embedded in their necks to avoid any insubordinate behaviour.  They must embark on a rescue mission and protect a city from annihilation against their will but using all their "meta-human" strengths and acquired skills.  Among the group are fan favourites, Harley Quinn, Dead Shot, Killer Croc and Captain Boomerang (ok, so the last one may not be a massive favourite).

This is more the Anti-Hero Movie were the good guys are not that good and the bad guys are really bad.  Margo Robbie is perfectly matched to Harleen Quinzell and perfectly embodies the role, Will Smith as DeadShot is basically Will Smith with all his usual charm and the supporting cast each have their moments.  The big let down for me was Jared Leto as The Joker, there was a lot of hype around his embodiment of the Clown Prince but the film could have achieved more without him.  Admittedly, he was enjoyable to watch, but it felt like his scenes where shoehorned in just to raise a little interest to the film, they felt superfluous to the actual narrative. A little cameo (there are a couple in the film already - no spoilers) would have sufficed.

It was great to see a full cinema on the opening night with almost all showings with limited availability.  It goes to show that the interest in the film, and not having a massive name on the title card, was there from the start.

Suicide Squad is a thoroughly entertaining, leave your brain at the door, film.  Some enjoyable characters (although the big bads were far from menacing...or interesting) and some great interactions with the bigger named actors.

The Shallows

A truly brilliant film where the main premise focuses on the terrorising of a small group by a formidable shark.  When the budget for the film cannot afford to spend too much time with the watery menace then the main goal is to create tension, atmosphere and build the characters into some of cinema's greatest.  Some scenes create a feeling of absolute isolation that it feels you are sat completely on your own listening to the tide, creaks and groans, waiting for the inevitable moment that the monstrous teeth will rise again from the shallow depths and fill us once more full of dread.  I think this films shows a true masterclass in character development and it will always hold a place in my personal top ten of films.

Enough about Jaws, The Shallows features Blake Lively as a surfer returning to her mum's isolated Mexican beach to ride the waves in her honour.  Whilst there a shark decides that she looks quite tasty and has a nibble on her leg.  Thankfully there is a low tide which reveals a previously submerged rocky surface.  Too far to swim to shore and with no other dry land available, she must try to survive, bleeding one her rocky solace whilst the black eyed predator circles waiting for the tide to rise once more.

Whilst occasionally enjoyable, The Shallows tries to focus on Blake's character, but she does not have that much to offer and as we spend 90% of the film with her, talking to herself and her newly adopted, shark-mauled, seagull, Steven (yes, he is named Steven Seagull...oh how I laughed!) the film seems to lack any development.

The shark in question is menacing enough, but the final scene is more ridiculous than anything from Jaws II, III, or even IV and this took away any previous malevolence that the predator had before. The seemingly tactical and persistent omnipresence that the toothed behemoth held for the majority of the film is whisked away for a few closing moments.  Personally, I think this film would have ended better without the Hollywood influence.

A Saturday night film with popcorn and treats, but then again, why not just watch Jaws!?