Stuff To Look At

A bumper post filled with trailers galore for the end of the week, featuring Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Nut Job and lots more…

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Cesar is such a badass. In this final trailer for the upcoming Dawn of the Planet of the Apes we are given more of an idea of the film’s narrative. But more importantly, apes on horses. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has big shoes to fill after the success of its predecessor Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but it looks up to the job, from this trailer at least. Rise of the Planet of the Apes hits the big screen on 17th July 2014.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Here is the second trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy, which shows more action and drama compared to the comedy of the first trailer. It looks as if the film will continue Marvel’s run of hits. Even if the franchise isn’t as well-known as the Avengers sphere, people will go for the gun-wielding raccoon. Guardians of the Galaxy is out in UK cinemas on 31st July 2014.

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Here is a new featurette for Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction. The video focuses on Marky Mark’s character, but really everyone just wants to see the Transformers. Or the Dinobots. Tranformers: Age of Extinction is released on 5th July 2014.

Paddington

With the news that Colin Firth will no longer be voicing the bear, what will now become of Paddington? Who will the filmmakers find to voice the marmalade-swilling bear? Perhaps a Peruvian actor, for authenticity’s sake. In the mean time, here is the latest trailer for Paddington, set for release on 24th November 2014.

The Expendables 3

Look at all this potent 1980s/90s magic right here. The Expendables 3 is loaded with action stars; Wesley Snipes and Antonio Banderas are just two of the new members to join the crew. Nevertheless, I was thinking that The Expendables 3 was missing something. And that is Brigitte Nielsen. Seriously, why isn’t Red Sonja in this? Anyway, The Expendables 3 hits UK screens on 14th August 2014. You can view the latest trailer here.

Penguins of Madagascar

The Penguins of Madagascar get their own spin-off movie of the same name. Featuring the vocal talents of Benedict Cumberbatch, the popular supporting characters take centre stage in this new film. I am liking the use of Kenny Loggins in the trailer. Penguins of Madagascar is scheduled for release in December 2014.

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6 looks like it will be a good laugh. If I was constructing a robot, it would be for servitude purposes, not for fighting or crime solving, but each to their own. Big Hero 6 is set for release in UK cinemas in January 2015.

The Nut Job

The Nut Job is a new animated feature about a squirrel and his friends who go on a mission to break into a nut store. Nuts are great and that, but if you were going to all this effort, surely you would rob a chocolatiers? The Nut Job is released in UK cinemas on 1st August 2014.

Hercules

Dwayne Johnson’s muscle veins are pretty scary in this new poster for Hercules. Interestingly, there used to be a WWF (before it was WWE) wrestler called Hercules. I am sure this movie isn’t a biopic of his life. Hercules muscles his way into UK cinemas on 25th July 2014.

No Good Deed

Here is the trailer for thriller No Good Deed. Starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson, reminds viewers never to open the door to strangers. A fitting Halloween release, No Good Deed hits UK screens on 31st October 2014.

Home

Pig is a really good name for a cat. Home sees Jim Parsons (in voice) sounding like a very familiar character. Still, the film looks like it will be a lot of alien culture-clash fun. Home is scheduled for release in the UK on 27th March 2015.

Film Review: Footloose

Another day, another remake of a 1980s film. Craig Brewer’s Footloose is a respectful remake of the 1984 dance favourite, and a film that entertains just as it should.

Ren McCormick moves from Boston to Bomont, a small town in Georgia, to live with his uncle. Ren is a bit of a fish out of water, and is perplexed by the town’s unusual rules which ban public dancing. After five students were killed in a road accident, strict rules were brought in to protect the town’s teenagers. Ren, however, is determined to show his new friends in Bomont what they are missing…

Footloose is fun piece of entertaining fluff. It is not in the least bit taxing, and is a slice of escapism. The narrative is run of the mill, but the film provides enough amusement to make up for this. Footloose provides a good mix of humour, drama, and of course dancing.

Footloose is similar to this summer’s Fright Night remake in that it pays homage to the original. In its choice of music and the styling of protagonist Ren, Footloose acknowledges its antecedent. Unlike Fright Night however, Footloose‘s narrative sticks pretty close to the original. The minor changes in the film are really to update it for the twenty-first century more than anything else.

Given the film’s themes, music is of course pivotal. The filmmakers made a wide choice not to remix or alter two of the original film’s most memorable songs – Deniece Williams’ ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy’ and of course the Footloose theme by Kenny Loggins. These tracks act as linchpins for both the original film and the remake. The soundtrack does include other songs which update the film to its modern-day setting.

The dance sequences are well choreographed in the film. Footloose features a range of dance styles. It seems unlikely that there would be several great breakdancers in a small town, but then again this is a film about a town that has banned dancing, so a suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite.

Casting in the film is good. Although not first choice for Ren, Kenny Wormald is a good choice for the lead. His unassuming persona works well. Julianne Hough is a little hammy as Ariel, while Dennis Quaid is given little room to manoeuvre in a rather cheesy role. Miles Teller brings many of the film’s laughs as Willard.

An unnecessary remake it may be, but at least Footloose brings the feel-good factor.