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Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Average Guy Movie Review

This year Marvel's God of Thunder is getting his third solo adventure, helming the project is New Zealand director Taika Waititi. This is the man responsible for what Empire Magazine called the number one movie of 2016; Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The story of Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), a foster child who along with his foster 'Uncle', Hec (Sam Neill) are the subject of a nationwide manhunt when they disappear into the bush. If you like quirky comedy dramas that have real heart, look no further!  The only way I can think to describe this movie is Crocodile Dundee meets Smokey and the Bandit. Although Uncle Hec makes Crocodile Dundee look civilised! There is definitely an element of 'what the fuck am I watching' but it just adds to the laughs, at no point did I want to watch something else. Neil and Dennison are brilliant together, this pairing should become one of legend, up there with C-3PO and R2-D2, Kuryakin and Solo, Holmes and Watson. Watching De

USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage: Average Guy Movie Review

In 1945 the Americans dropped the world's first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Components and uranium for the bomb were delivered to Tinian, the island airfield where the bombers were based by the USS Indianapolis. The Indianapolis - a Portland class heavy cruiser - usually travelled with an escort of destroyers in order to protect against enemy submarines. But due to the secret nature of the mission it was decided that this journey should be completed unescorted. The journey to Tinian was completed in record time, after making their delivery they headed for Leyte. At 00:14 hours on 30th July Indianapolis was struck by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine, she sank in twelve minutes. Approximately three hundred men went down with the ship, the rest faced dehydration, starvation, exposure and shark attacks as they awaited rescue. USS Indianapolis If you've seen Jaws this story may sound familiar, Quint (Robert Shaw) describes the incident in detail ha

Passengers: Average Guy Movie Review

The Avalon is a starship on a 120 year journey to a new planet called Homestead II. There are over 5000 passengers and crew on board, all in hibernation pods. Due to a malfunction, two passengers - Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence) and Jim (Chris Pratt) - are woken up 90 years early and face a journey in which they will never see their destination and the only company they have besides each other is an android bartender named Arthur (Michael Sheen). Passengers has definitely been getting a lot of criticism, yes it's not a perfect movie but I really think they're being a bit harsh. The two leads both deliver great performances, they have real chemistry and the way they react to their situation feels believable. Michael Sheen may steal the show a little with his whimsical bartender philosophy. The movie has an incredible look,  Director Morten Tyldum found the right balance of practical sets and CGI.  The Avalon and its interiors look very advanced. Not to mention outside th

Our Kind of Traitor: Average Guy Movie Review

For Christmas, a member of the family often gets a dvd or blu-ray. In my family it's usually me, I know...you're shocked! Last Christmas (it already seems so far away) my sister got me Our Kind of Traitor, a movie I really wanted to see when it first came out but never got the chance. Well I can say it was well worth the wait! While on holiday in Morocco, Perry (Ewan McGregor) and Gail (Naomie Harris) meet Dima (Stellan Skarsgard) who unbeknownst to them is a high ranking accountant for the Russian mafia. After inviting them to his teenage daughter's outlandish birthday party, Dima gives Perry a memory stick which he asks him to deliver to MI6. The memory stick contains information linking British politicians to corruption, Dima wants to use the information and his testimony as a bargaining chip for asylum   for his family  in the UK. With the mafia closing in and corrupt politicians attempting to block the deal, Perry and Gail have to work with Hector (Damian

War Dogs: Average Guy Movie Review

Have you ever wondered what Lord of War would look like if you combined it with The Hangover? Watch War Dogs! This is a movie that you have to approach in the right way to enjoy. If you're looking for an accurate and serious take on a major scandal involving guns, the US military and the George W. Bush administration look elsewhere. However, if you want to watch a comedy-drama inspired by true events (including the aforementioned scandal) then this is a movie for you. The major inspiration for the story is that of Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz which was the subject of an article in Rolling Stone and a book called "Arms and the Dudes". These two school friends would bid for contracts to supply munitions to the US military, with the simple goal of making themselves rich, all of which they did whilst smoking a lot of pot. The events of the movie have been described as "heavily fictionalised and dramatised", some of which are based on screenwriter Stephen

Blade Runner 2049: Moustache Trailer Reaction

The Christmas period saw the release of two trailers that make 2017 a big year for Ridley Scott. The legendary film maker is returning to two genre defining universes that he helped to create. Firstly with Alien: Covenant, the follow up to 2012's Prometheus, in which Scott will continue to chart the creation of the 'Xenomorph'. As a fan of the Alien movies I was very excited about Prometheus, which upon viewing I found to be very underwhelming. I shall reserve judgement on Alien: Covenant for now, but given how good the Alien movies are (the first two at least) do we really need another prequel? Or are we drifting into Star Wars prequel territory? The second trailer is for Blade Runner 2049, Scott handed directing duties to Denis Villeneuve in order to make Alien: Covenant however he's still on board as a Producer. Set thirty years after Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) disappeared, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling) makes a discovery that sends him in search of the missing B

Anticipated Movies of 2017

2017 promises an excellent line up of movies, will they live up to expectations? Only time will tell. These are some of my most anticipated movies of 2017: Assassin's Creed - 1st January I know it's in cinemas already but it deserves a place on this list. In what could possibly be the first truly successful adaptation of a video game, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the memories of his ancestor Aguilar - a member of a secret society of assassins - thanks to Abstergo, a Templar controlled corporation and their revolutionary technology that unlocks 'genetic memories'. Live by Night - 13th January Ben Affleck directs and stars in this crime drama about organised crime in Prohibition Era America and the hunt for the 'American Dream'. Lion - 20th January The true story of an Indian boy who loses his family and is adopted by an Australian couple. Years later he uses Google Maps to find his village and make his way home to his f