2015 Catch up Part 2

Based on the successful and, what I gather, excellent Hitman video game franchise this second attempt at adapting the game into movie format is even drabber and more boring than the previous film made back in 2007. In this adaptation, an organisation known as The Syndicate wish to restart the abandoned Agent program but first they must find the creator and persuade him to reveal how the deadly agents where created.

From what I understand Hitman is a video game franchise that requires players to solve puzzles and rewards the more patient players, the film on the over hand is the polar opposite as it rewards those braying for mindless action rather than a story that’s interesting and actually makes sense. The story, written by Skip Woods who has churned out some pretty dire films of late, isn't helped by the fact this action heavy film contains only a limited level of style and flair during the action sequences. Outside of the film's supposed main attraction are some poor performances, boring characters and a thoroughly uninteresting storyline.

1/5

The latest TV comedy sitcom (or shitcom depending your own opinion) to get the movie treatment is BBC3's Bad Education. In the film version of the TV show, Alfie Wickers (Jack Whitehall) invites Class K on a trip of their lives to Cornwall. He has prepared a massive house party but after the disaster of Amsterdam one of the parents has also come along for the trip so she has to be ditched before the fun can begin. It's crass but not overly so and even though it has one or two funny movie references ET and The Wicker Man it really isn't the height of comic wit. To be honest, there really isn't much to say, if you like the TV show (which I kinda did) you'll like the film (which I kinda did). If you didn't like the TV show then I'd skip this altogether and if you haven't seen the TV show I wouldn't bother seeing the film if I were you.

3/5

The most notable thing about Hot Pursuit is the fact that is was directed by a woman (Anne Fletcher), produced by women and has two women in the central roles. In an industry where women are marginalised in major roles both in front and behind the camera it is good to see a film where women are playing important roles in the film's production, other than that the film really isn't notable for anything else.

It's about an uptight police office, Cooper (Reese Witherspoon), who must protect a drug lord's wife so that she can testify against a notorious cartel leader. The odd coupling of uptight Texan woman and an overly sexual Colombian (played by Sofia Vergara) could have been played for laughs and whilst there is a good chemistry between the two leads, both characters are immensely irritating.

The jokes about transgender prostitutes, lesbians and men being disgusted by periods (we're really, really not. Seriously. We're not) are lazy, the action and story is boring and the continuity of the whole film is just poor, as evident in one scene where a character is beaten to pulp and in the very next scene he is as good as new. If a female fronted buddy cop movies are what you want to watch then check out The Heat (which isn't all that great either but better than this) or anything from Paul Fieg (who directed The Heat) who often directs films where women play a strong role in both plot and comedy (see Bridesmaids, Spy and the upcoming female centred Ghostbusters reboot).

1.5/5

After the popularity and success of Scott Derrickson's Sinister in 2012 it was no surprise that a sequel was announced shortly after. Derrickson returns for the sequel but only as writer as Ciaran Foy takes up the directorial reins. In the sequel we follow detective so and so (James Ransone) as he further investigates all mysterious events concerning a missing child and a murdered family. One house homes a single mother (Shannyn Sossamon) and her two twin children, one of whom has been getting rather friendly with a gang of ghosts whom all have a morbid interest in some deadly Super 8 videos.

One of the strongest and scariest moments in Sinister was the creepy super eight videos, once again these videos are the creepiest moments of the second Sinister film as they involve electrocution and death by rat torture. The major problem with the film however is that it seems content to shove Bagul into as many scenes as possible that it actually reduces his effectiveness in terrifying the audience.

Another issue is that one of the brother's turn from caring about his twin brother to hating his guts and jealous of the attention he's getting is done at a flick of a switch. It all just happens so suddenly. There's also a completely unnecessary sub-plot concerning a violent husband (it could have kept in as backstory) that's badly managed.

Still, James Ransone's performance is likeable enough as detective so and so that he's an engaging central character and his chemistry with the Shannyn Sossamon is charming enough (but also completely pointless) to make Sinister 2 watchable but not on par with the first Sinister film.

2.5/5