When the Cheshire emerges...

Thor: The Dark World (M)

THE TALE of Asgardian heir to the throne and all-round god Thor is Marvel's most mixed with its elements of medieval living and intergalactic reach. It's an ironic notion to think we're looking for some superior alien race, and Marvel have nothing to suggest that for much of it life is where Earthlings were 1500 years ago.

At the same time, Thor's story is most relatable with its focus on his relationship with brother Loki. The pair could not be more opposite (indeed on-screen representatives Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston appearance-wise), representing good and evil while managing to keep a light head. 

A parallel of good and evil is what this sequel first shows; while Thor is off fighting for peace within the nine realms Asgard rules over, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is still losing a two-year battle of heartbreak. Not even the bumbling charm of Richard (Chris O'Dowd) can improve her mindset.

Jane's work has led her to London, where her time as a singleton comes to an end after falling through a portal to an unknown realm and contracting the Aether. You'd be right thinking that's a bad thing - the Aether is a matter capable of destroying worlds and highly sought by exiled elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston).

It's a triple whammy for Jane - she finds her love once more, gets to travel to Asgard and meets the parents (Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins). But the plan to be rid of a threat known previously to Thor only in childhood stories has the saviour in a real predicament.

Photo: perezhilton.com - I love this!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe just keeps on giving with this fine continuation of the thread. The script from Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely is extremely entertaining, with plenty of unexpected twists and cracking humour delivered well by the cast. Everyone gets a go in contributing, and no one disappoints.

Importantly, the story continues the ongoing feud between brothers, founded from Loki's desire for the Asgardian throne and still fuelled by his view of supposed favoritism towards Thor. It's essentially Marvel's version of any given sibling rivalry, engrossing for its wave of positive and negative emotion as well as Loki's ability to keep everyone guessing.

Hiddleston has fun with his gleeful villain, creating the smallest bit of sympathy while still managing to exude a most evil interior. Alongside him, Hemsworth counteracts nicely as Thor with his strong presence and good intentions. The supporting cast all return, including a crazed Stellan Skarsgard, and new characters create unexpected sub-plots to add to the overall story twists.

As per usual within Marvel's realm, post-credit scenes give an insight of what's to come - and they won't disappoint. The first film delivered a good introduction, and now we learn Thor can withstand complex issues that concern Asgard and Earth. A great continuation not to be missed.

OK, I've been totally slack. Soccer's still making me hit the hay early every night. And with Wimbledon and Tour de France to come it's going to get more hectic. But here you go.

Snow White and the Huntsman (M)

The fairest of them all is the one most desired in 2012, with Mirror Mirror and TV’s Once Upon a Time also highlighting the fascination we have with the Grimm Brothers fairytale. The two film adaptations were coincidentally in competition with one another, Mirror Mirror winning the battle for the earlier release - but it is this retelling that has had critics and curious moviegoers talking. And rightly so, for it has had to deliver on an enormous budget.

Snow White has in recent times been portrayed as a fierce warrior, but even here with a maintained innocence. There is not much to this princess-in-waiting with open thoughts but she is mindful in what she does and looks out for others’ interests. Kristen Stewart’s Snow White must run from evil queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) when her life is about to be ended for the sake of her stepmother’s desire for immortality and knowledge of being fairest.

This time around, Snow White has the choice to follow a different path to the end of the story. Her seemingly obvious Prince Charming is childhood friend William (Sam Claflin) but The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) steps in as an unlikely challenger when he refutes Ravenna’s request to have Snow killed and instead becomes her protector as she flees. Who she chooses is not immediately set in stone, and while there are only fleeting moments focused on the triangle we know that someone’s heart will be broken.

The title proves to be a misnomer when it comes to what we are shown of these characters. While it does bring a focus on The Huntsman that hasn’t been explored before, the more interesting revelations come from Ravenna. We know plenty about how twisted a character the evil queen is, but to even put a name to her gives her a more solid standing. She is a person, and one that was forced into believing that beauty brings power. There are some serious childhood issues that go with that, and Theron is uncomfortably terrifying in portraying the woman so conscious and determined to remain youthful.

The story from Evan Daugherty, whose screenplay was tweaked by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) and Hossein Amini (Drive), is clever. It incorporates elements of the fairytale deviously well and brings a threatening darkness to the story adults will enjoy. Disney-friendly this is not. From massive tragedy to (brief) moments of serenity, this Snow White sees the world for the first time as both an exotic and frightful place.

For a budget of $US170million you wouldn’t be wrong for thinking it has a Lord of the Rings-type urgency to it by the time the leading lady stirs her troops into the climactic battle. A hard task for first-time director Rupert Sanders, but the Scottish location is used beautifully with some great camerawork. The story flows well, although it follows a succession of quick encounters which becomes an annoyance.

Stewart fits the bill as a strong-yet-innocent Snow White, but an all-star cast of dwarves (and here there are eight of them) including Nick Frost, Ray Winstone and Toby Jones, don’t have a terribly strong impact. Only the all-seeing Muir, played by Bob Hoskins, adds to the story. The film’s biggest strength is revealing the inner evils beauty can lead us to believe, and as such is an effective retelling of the struggles that fairest dame faced as she became of age.

Rating: 3.5/5

*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 23/6/2012


***

  One of the best comedies to come out of the Ealing (Studios) era, this remains one of cinema’s most entertaining heists. With Sir Alec Guinness on board long before his days in historical or sci-fi epics and Audrey Hepburn appearing in her first feature, this is a quality picture.

Holland (Guinness) spends 20 years of his life in London as a bank transfer agent for gold bullion. He dreams of taking it all for himself before new neighbour Pendlebury (Stanley Holloway) provides the key to actually pulling a heist off. They team up with professional crooks Lackery (Sid James) and Shorty (Alfie Bass) and have three days to succeed.

The film is extremely short at 77 minutes but it packs a lot in, and all for the better. In planning a heist film, Ealing Studios asked the Bank of England to form a plan of how a million pounds could be stolen from themselves. A special committee did and it became the plan used in the film.

Charles Critchton handles the fast pace well to reflect their frantic planning. Guinness and Holloway are a great duo, complimenting each other’s awkwardness as they’re forced to bond quickly. The twists and turns hold sixty years later and the film provides a great amusement fix.

*Published in the Mailbox Shopper (Dubbo) from Wednesday 20/6/2012

*I have two photos entered in the current Qatar Reflections competition. Please show your support for me by voting for either photo! Short backstory and links here.

Just a quick comment I want to make: my friend pointed out that Loki as depicted by Marvel is nothing like her knowledge of the character from Norse mythology, and as such she was a bit disappointed. I can't say to know anything about the myths but found it an interesting concept that if that's true there mustn't have been anyone else worthy to Stan Lee and co. in filling that void...

For the film as a whole, such huge hype has preceded this event and it held up to expectation. Plus I was excited to see Tom Hiddleston in such an extensive role (because authenticity or not, Loki's a great character) after he couldn't tell me much when I interviewed him for Thor :)

Blog exclusive: Personal opinion: the two hottest Chris' in the universe.

Rating: 4/5

*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 28/4/2012

MISSED LAST WEEK'S REVIEW? See what I thought of The Lucky One.