Tuesday 24 December 2013

Sherlock - Season 3 prequel minisode! [Watch Now]


Oh yes, it's here. In anticipation for the arrival of season 3 of Sherlock, the BBC has released a little minisode featuring the events that take place before the return of Sherlock's arrival - 2 years after his initial 'death.' In the minisode, we can see Lastrade and Anderson discussing Sherlock's possible 'return,' although, only Anderson seems convinced. He links Sherlock's return with the success of several cases: a court hearing, a blonde hiding in a monastery etc. Lastrade returns to Watson's house and gives him an unedited clip from a birthday message on DVD, and it reveals that Watson is missing Sherlock - as he reacts to his friend's apparent demise. Watch the hilarious and touching clip below: 


Three cheers for the return of this great show. Everyone raise your deerstalker hats in the air. 

Tuesday 17 December 2013

22 Jump Street - New Official Trailer - Watch Now!


The new trailer (watch below) for the sequel to 21 Jump Street is here! Aptly named 22 Jump Street, the film sees Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill reprise their roles as Officers Jenko and Schmidt, respectively. In the new movie, the duo go undercover at a local college in order to find the culprits of crime. The team must embark on several difficult challengers in order to find the offenders; some which have the duo questioning their friendship and unlikely partnership. Watch the new trailer for 22 Jump Street, below: 


If the trailer is anything to go by, the film sure looks like it will contain a lot of laughs and bizarre moments. 

Eminem - The Monster, ft. Rihanna (Music Video - Watch now!) [+ Review]


 It's here - the music video for the track The Monster, featuring Eminem and duet partner, Rihanna. The track is the fourth collaboration from the notorious rapper and barbadian singer. The new music video, released earlier today, sees Eminem play the role of the patient, who reflects on his past; contemplating the negative impacts that come with fame. Rihanna, on the other hand, portrays the role of therapist, and is seen to struggle with her inner demons, singing the chorus. Watch the intriguing video, below:



In true Inception style, Eminem embarks on a journey in a lift viewing moments from him receiving therapy, whilst memories from his past videos play on a TV screen. In terms of economic success, the song itself topped the charts in several countries, marking another successful collaboration for Eminem and Rihanna. The video itself is suitably dark and poignant, which reflects the nature of the song well, and fits into the general theme of Eminem's videos. So, what do you think of the video, and more importantly, the track itself?

Reviewed by Mel. 

Monday 9 December 2013

Sherlock - New Series 3 Launch Trailer!!


Yes! Finally a trailer has come forth which contains a little bit more actual footage from the upcoming third series. How will John react to Sherlock's return 2 years after he faked his death? Watch the suspense building series 3 launch trailer, below: 



Sherlock Series 3 graces itself onto UK screens on New Years day at 9pm, and will hit American screens on PBS, 3 weeks later. 

Saturday 7 December 2013

The Amazing Spiderman 2 - New Trailer!


In case you didn't know, the new trailer for The Amazing Spider-man 2 is out - and it really packs the punch! The film, set for release on May 2nd 2014, features villains such as The Rhino, The Green Goblin and Electro; let's hope it's nothing like Spider-man 3. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone reprise their roles in the film as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, respectively. Check out the trailer below: 



Also starring in the film is Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan and Paul Giamatti. 

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Don Jon (2013) Review


Formidable actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has turned his hand to feature film directing and screenwriting in Don Jon
Gordon-Levitt also stars in the main role of Jon Martello, an Italian-American with a distinct obsession with pornography, only caring about eight things in his life: ‘my body, my pad, my ride, my family, my church, my boys, my girls, my porn.’ His questionable lifestyle is put under sufficient threat when he meets Scarlett Johansson’s Barbara Sugarman, a fantasist whose love for her romantic movies rivals his commitment to explicit films. Julianne Moore also stars, playing a woman named Esther, one of Jon’s fellow night school classmates.

The performances by all three main actors are impressive, and there is no denying that the chemistry between Johansson and Gordon-Levitt is sizzling and electrifying. But this sometimes overshadows the role Moore’s character contributes to the whole affair. And this is some of the problem; the ending is a bit clichéd and the film suffers from a few inconsistencies in tone and script. Whilst some may fully appreciate Gordon-Levitt’s efforts, others will find it all a bit too contrived. More so, the character of Mister Don Juan himself can at times be presented as a little too stereotypical. Essentially, his level of dedication to his ‘fantasy’ and his pornography can become grating.

That said, Don Jon does provide a unique take on romantic comedies. Whilst it has substantial humour, wit and flair, it is presented in a distinctive manner that gives the film a refreshing element, which puts it ahead of the pack of so many of its predecessors.

Overall, the film is initially promising, but tends to fade in some places. However, Gordon-Levitt has come up with a suitably cheeky and explicit alternative to the romantic comedy genre, and his role in this piece differs greatly from any of his more recent roles. If you needed a reason to watch the film then it comes in the form of a very committed Scarlett Johansson. Her performance is lively and energetic and gives an added boost to the film, complimenting Gordon-Levitt’s undeniable acting ability.

While the film may not appeal to a universal audience, its relatively thought-provoking plot and the witty charm of its actors make it a relative success for its director and worth a watch.
3.5 stars 
This review has also been published online via Concrete, which you can check out at the following link: 

http://www.concrete-online.co.uk/don-jon-review/



A Blizzard of Christmas Adverts


With Christmas fast approaching, I recently wrote an article which reflects on the latest Christmas Adverts churned out by big name companies: Marks and Spencers, John Lewis, Asda. The article is available to read by clicking the link below: 

http://www.concrete-online.co.uk/blizzard-of-ads/

Enjoy!