jhigginbotham151

I don't normally say that about a movie. Even my favorite films have flaws that I recognize and humbly admit to, even still that doesn't mean I love them any less. Mad Max: Fury Road is that rare example of a film that understands what it is so well that it forgoes flaws ...this is a perfect movie.

Now I understand that's a bold statement, and I also know it's only my opinion, but it's something I thought long and hard about after walking out of the theater, still recovering from the 2 hour thrill ride I had just been on. There was not a single moment during Fury Road that I

a) checked my watch b) thought something was out of place c) got bored with the action

The characters, the music, the action, the direction - it's all top level stuff. No fluffy words in this review, I am simply stunned at Millers execution of this very simple plot. I love how Miller allows the expressions of the characters to speak for themselves, I love how he doesn't dwell on supposed important character moments because he understands exactly what to show and when to get back to the action. The music may the key ingredients in the mix as Junkie XL delivers a soundtrack full of thundering drums, epic violins and shredding electric guitar, a soundtrack that had my heart racing a million miles an hour and gazing at the screen in disbelief as cars and bodies flew through a sandstorm in slow motion.

The fact that CGI was kept to a minimum makes the film feel even more satisfying, like we payed to see high octane action where cars crash into one another and people perform death defying stunts ...and we get what we pay for as close to 90% of what you're seeing is real.

I could gush over this film for hours but I'd like to say that if nothing else, Mad Max: Fury Road gave me the feeling of being a kid again and seeing a blockbuster for the first time. In an age of bloated, CGI-filled summer movies, it's nice to see a simple, streamlined, real film in the mix. Welcome back Max, don't keep us waiting to long for the next one.

Fifty Shades Of Grey is a strange movie to even exist. It's based on the erotic novel of the same name by E.L James, which itself is a slight tweak on her online fan-fiction 'Master Of The Universe', which in itself is based on the characters from Stephanie Myers Twilight. So basically we have gotten to the point where one horny woman's fantasy about two horribly written characters is able to become a big budget movie ...dear god, what have we done.

Positives first of all. Cinematography is glorious and beautiful to behold, from warm oranges and reds to cold blues and blacks, Seamus McGarvey has given life to what could have been a visually unexciting film. Director Sam Taylor-Johnson clearly knows what she wants and is not held back by the material, choosing to shoot creatively and get the most of what she has, the combination of Taylor Johnson and McGarvey has given us technically well made film. A film that is enhance by it's score and soundtrack. Ellie Gouldings uplifting 'Love Me Like You Do' and Beyonce's remix of her now classic 'Crazy In Love' add to their scenes with a large sweeping scale and a rousing intensity respectively. Danny Elfman's score may just be my favorite part of the film. stripped back and elegant, it makes for a great listen outside of the film (I recommend the track Ana and Christian)

That may seem like a lot of positives, and it would be, but the film fails so badly in every other area that it's hard to consider the above positives - whats the use in great cinematography when the stars that fill your frame are as lifeless as wooden planks? Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan have zero chemistry, I don't put this down to the actors though, lines such as 'fifty shades of f@#ked up' cannot be said by anybody naturally, I blame it on the source material. When I said Taylor Johnson didn't allow the source material to hold back her direction, I wasn't lying, but it seems everyone else did. The script, while I've heard is actually an improvement on its print counterpart' is full of plot holes, missing character motivations, basic development even ...and this is meant to be a faithful adaption so if nothing else I blame E.L James for being an inept writer.

This is a case where I feel getting as far away from the source material would have benefited the film greatly, I don't think the books fans would even mind if the film had a better script because lets face it, a 2 hour long fan-fiction is not something anyone wants, Fifty Shades Of Grey should have been one of two things: an erotic fantasy that fully embraces its stupidity, or a self aware, subtle satire of the book. It ended up as neither and instead is a shell, a beautiful shell, but a hollow, empty shell none the less.

Gone Girl is David Fincher's tenth film, and it definitely shows. His directing is as subtle and refined as it's ever been and the man still clearly knows what he wants out of every shot. The films a bleak joy to look at. The colour pallet is comprised of muted blues and blacks and yet I would happily hang a still of any shot in the film on my wall, we have Jeff Cronenworth to thank for creating such an oddly beautiful looking film. The soundtrack by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor is, like the cinematography, this odd beauty. The minimalistic approach Ross and Reznor took on here works wonders for the film, every scene is doused in music and makes every second feel relaxing and uncomfortable at the same time.

The acting from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy is exceptional. Pike I smell a best acting nomination for and I thought she played Amy to no fault. Affleck surprised me to no end however, I love the man's directing but he was never really much of an actor in my eyes, this performance blew me out of the water in how subtle it was, no big Oscar moment or anything just a brilliant nuanced performance. Supporting cast was excellent in their roles as well with particular praise to Tyler Perry as Tanner Bolt who became my favourite character in the film because of his laid back, cocky portrayal of the lawyer.

The films a perfect adaptation of Flynn's novel. I think the fact Flynn was able to take her novel and condense it into a two and a half hour film is extraordinary. The fact she also crammed in many of the the little details from the book is also incredible. If you've read the book then what your going to get is a dream film, a perfect adaptation. If you haven't read the book then your going to get an amazing film, by an amazing writer and directed by one of the best in the business.