"Doctor Who: The Witch's Familiar" Review

People talk about history repeating itself, but it's a phrase I've never had to use. Well, folks, tonight on Doctor Who, history did indeed repeat itself. The last time Davros appeared, he had a great first part in "The Stolen Earth" which had great moments and a killer cliffhanger when the Tenth Doctor seemingly began to regenerate. Last week, writer Steven Moffat delivered a great opener in the shape of "The Magician's Apprentice", with Julian Bleach reprising his role as the creator of the Daleks. Unfortunately, this episode, while not terrible, delivers a laughable resolution to the crisis and introduces even more contrived concepts into the universe. To dive into both the good and the unbelievably stupid, I'll have to talk spoilers though. You have been warned.

Thankfully, the performances last week were not a one off. Peter Capaldi seems to have turned over a new leaf in his role of the Doctor, having much more fun with the part. Rather than embracing the humourous side of the character in this episode, however, he instead focuses on giving a much more emotional performance, showing the Time Lord being pushed to his limits, believing everything has been stripped away from him. He plays perfectly off of arguably the real star of the episode, Julian Bleach as the villainous Davros. Instead of being the generic mad scientist, he attempts to show a different side to the character to try and allow the audience to humanise with him. That is before he reverts to his standard screaming madman at the end. Writer Moffat also paired this duo with the dynamic of having Missy and Clara forced together, with Missy's psychotic nature contrasting well with Clara's down to earth human. However, this best pieces of acting in the episode come near the end when the Doctor confronts the Dalek shell Clara is controlling. Both Capaldi and Coleman deliver strong and powerful performances in an episode packed full of great acting.

However, while the acting remained great, the plot began to fall apart in this second part. First of all, who thought it was a great idea to replace the iconic sonic screwdriver with the ridiculous sonic sunglasses? This could quite possibly be once of the worst decisions made since the revival of the series 10 years ago. and I hope that this is not a long-term feature in the show. Secondly, how did Missy kill that Dalek exactly? This links in perfectly to my final primary issue with the story and that is why deadly sewer water is responsible for the destruction of the Dalek capital of the universe. Now, I do understand that the "sewer water" is in fact ancient Daleks. What confuses me is why these particular Daleks would kill their own kind and turn against their "lord and creator" at any moment and how they are able to even do so considering their state and lack of weapons. I'm not saying a TV show, especially Doctor Who, needs to be completely realistic but I don't think it's too much to ask for the writer's to at least fully explain and develop any new ideas they are going to throw at the audience 9 series in.

Stellar visual effects have always present in Doctor Who, which luckily continue in this latest episode. The Daleks have always been practical, being controlled by men inside the suits. It's difficult to imagine how different the Daleks would look if they were completely rendered with CGI, but they almost certainly would not look nearly as good as they always have as real suits. Other practical visuals such as explosions are also great.That's not to say that there aren't still issues though, in particular with some of the purely computer generated effects. While some of them like lasers look good, some, like the undeniably silly TARDIS reforming shot, still look strange.

Overall, "The Witch's Familiar" is a good episode but not a brilliant follow-up to the opener. Despite some great performances and solid visuals, the episode is still plagued by a silly plot suffering from an overabundance of confusing plot points. Series 9 is off to a good start, but it still has room for improvement. Next up: an underwater base filled with Victorian looking ghosts. Just another day at the office for Who fans then.

Pros

• Emotion between Davros and the Doctor
• Visuals
• Dynamic between Missy and Clara

Cons

• Confusing methods to kill Daleks
• Sewer water? Really?

Rating: 7/10

Original Air Date: 26/09/15

Starring Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez, Julian Bleach, Nicholas Briggs, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Joey Price

"The Angry Birds Movie" Trailer Reaction

Movie adaptations of video games are an unfortunate reality of the film industry. Typically poorly written, terribly acted and just downright bad, you need look no further than "The Super Mario Bros Movie" to understand my point. However, what do all of these movies, like "Tomb Raider" or "Prince of Persia," have in common? The games they are based off of have already established the background of the world and characters, giving the writers something to work off of. Imagine my shock then when and Angry Birds movie was put into production as an animated feature. Barely anyone can name all of the birds in the game and we don't really know the history of the conflict between the birds and the pigs, besides that the pigs want eggs? I had literally no hope for the success of this movie despite the inevitable box office pull due to the appeal of the game to kids. Imagine, then, my equal mix of shock and pleasant surprise when I watched this trailer:

Well, this is a conundrum isn't it? Has this movie genuinely had some heart put into it or is it the soulless cash-in it appears to be on first glance? Are all of the birds going to have as funny and inventive backstories as Red and Bomb, or have they put all of the best bits into the trailer? Personally, I'm still at sea regarding what to make of this. Credit where credit's due, the voice acting seems top notch. Maya Rudolph seems to perfectly capture the hippie type character of Matilda (the white bird) while Bill Hader seems like the best choice to voice the leader pig of the pack. However, the stand-out of the trailer was of course Jason Sudeikis, who voices Red (guess which bird he is). His voice is brilliantly tuned to the character's facial reactions. The stand-out line for me was the quick statement "Oh, I'm horrible." His sarcastic tone along with the animation quality is fantastic. Hopefully the writers and directors have not put all of their best moments into the first tease. Unfortunately, some of the rest of the jokes fall flat due to a lack of originality. A person getting their hopes up by a girl signalling someone behind him? Oh, great, haven't seen that before.

The aforementioned animation quality is exactly what should be expected from a cartoon movie or TV show in 2016. The simple locations of the game have been beautifully realised in 3D animation, along with the wide cast of characters (just look at the picture above if you were scared your favourite didn't make the cut). Whether the animation can hold up under the inevitably fast-paced catapult sequences as the birds attack the pigs' fortresses is another story, with any sort of tease of these scenes suspiciously absent from the trailer. I'm sure that is my skepticism of any video game adaptation kicking in but the style of animation is phenomenal so far.

My biggest concern with this movie as a whole is the plot. As I mentioned before, the story of the game is not very fleshed out. It is clear that the writers are hoping to show the origins of the rivalry between the birds and pigs but I am still unsure, if only because the plot seems quite familiar so far, with the pigs starting as friends with the birds before turning against each other. What I would want the screenwriters to have ideally done would be to flesh out both the background of the world while also giving the characters the necessary development to justify this movie's existence.

Will a lack of original jokes and a well-written story ruin this movie? Perhaps, but strong animation and voice acting will still be there. Not fantastic, but not awful. In my opinion, this perfectly sums up this trailer and will probably be used to describe the film when it releases it 8 months.

Excitement Meter: 7/10

Directed by Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Danny McBride, Josh Gad, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Peter Dinklage

Release Date: May 20th, 2016

"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" Movie Review

Nowadays, people talk about superhero, and especially Marvel, fatigue due to the overabundance of superhero blockbusters that appear throughout the year. However, I think that YA franchises have almost been given a free pass. For those of you who don't know, a YA movie (which stands for "young adult") is a film typically based on a book where the main actors tend to be teenagers and have to go through a journey in a realistic or, more likely, a fantasy setting. Harry Potter was the primary YA franchise for a number of years, not having a lot of real competition for the top slot. In 2015, though, the list is considerably longer, with Divergent, the Hunger Games, an endless list of Nicholas Sparks novels, and the Maze Runner series all competing for the pocket money of teenagers. With so much to choose from, these movies need to shake up the formula and add new elements with every installment. The original Maze Runner seemed to do this, placing a small group inside a confined space and adding tense action, making it seemingly distinct from the grand affairs of other movies in this genre. Unfortunately, the sequel takes certain steps that seem to suggest that the series could fall into the stereotypes that have come before.

As I previously mentioned, what made the original Maze Runner special was its confined environment within the maze with a relatively small cast. It's clear then with the sequel that both the writer and the director wished to give this follow-up an entirely different feel to it, setting it in a post-apocalyptic desert, the titular Scorch. However, there is little done to differentiate this world from every other disaster or action movie you have seen a hundred times before. The story of course follows the group from the original as the attempt to escape from the villainous W.C.K.D. (seriously, the evil organisation's name is pronounced "wicked"). Although initially intriguing in the first half, the plot soon becomes plagued by a few problems. The second half of the movie is relatively slow compared to the fast-paced, action-packed opening. The second issue that I found involved the ending (don't worry, no spoilers here). Now, not everyone will agree with me here, but there were no less than 3 points where I thought the movie had ended and I was ready to leave but it kept going. It almost felt like there were several points where draft scripts had ended but the studio wanted more to be added on.

However, these are only small gripes. A primary issue with the movie is that it raised more questions than it actually answered. Why were they in the maze in the first place? How did the disease that has ravaged the future start? These are questions from the first movie, not even the things that puzzled me after this movie. It is obvious that Fox wanted as little to be addressed as possible so as to ensure that people will still come back to see the third film, currently slated for release in February, 2017.

The performances of the actors in the original Maze Runner were great and, for the most part, they carry over into this film. Although some actors do not do a good job at all (watch out for a hilarious Alan Tudyk performance as Marcus), the lead actors do succeed. Although it is Dylan O'Brien's Thomas who is meant to be the star of the movie, it is the supporting cast who are members of the group who are the stand-outs, such as Ki Hong Lee's Minho. These characters receive significantly more character development, and convey the emotion they are feeling very well. The reason I mention these actors rather than the main stars is that, apart from a quick scene showing how he came to meet W.C.K.D, the character of Thomas receives very little development over the course of the film, leaving the actor with very little opportunity to show off.

Although the primary cast are generally well written and likable, where the film suffers is in its secondary characters that appear while the group is travelling. These characters are very typical of any apocalypse movie: the rebellious henchman? Check. The gang leader who actually isn't a bad guy unlike his crew? Got that. Generic head of security chasing our heroes? Done. These are the kind of stereotypes that make appearances over the course of the film. They are not all badly written or acted (although some still are). My issue is the predictability of their arcs in the movie as we have seen them all before.

The movie may have these problems, but it is undoubtedly a visual triumph. Utilising a mix or both practical and computer-generated environments, the set design of the movie is impeccable, particularly in a scene in a shopping mall early on, really immersing the audience in this wasteland. Credit should also be given to the make-up artists who have done stunning work, especially on the zombie-like Cranks roaming the Scorch. Without their frightening and deformed appearance, the chase sequences would not have been as tense or as thrilling as the final result. Easily one of the best images of the film is the group waling into the abandoned wasteland. This is a true show of the capabilities of modern technology in film and any other crew looking to create a desolate city should take note.

I just mentioned various chase sequences throughout the film. These are easily the best and most intense action sequences present, with various types of zombies being revealed as the film goes on (and yes, there are jump scares). However, there are also several conflicts that occur between the heroes and the villains using guns or in fistfights. Despite having literally no directing experience apart from this series, director Wes Ball has done a good job of choreographing these sections of the movie.

"The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" is not a terrible movie by any means, but it's not perfect. Although there are many issues, particularly with the pacing and the new cast members. However. the film does boast great performances for the most part and is a visual spectacle, with action sequences scattered throughout to stop the audience getting bored. I hope the third movie can rectify these issues and bring back the unique factors that set this franchise apart from others in the genre. Don't count on there not being an announcement for the movie being split into two parts, though.

Pros

• Solid performances
• Action sequences
• Visually excellent

Cons

• Slow second half
• Questions STILL unanswered
• Often generic secondary characters

Rating: 6/10

Original Release Date: 14th August, 2015

Directed by Wes Ball

Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Jacob Lofland, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo Esposito, Aiden Gillen

"Doctor Who: The Magician's Apprentice" Review

The last series of Doctor Who was undoubtedly a massive disappointment. Rather than embrace the humour that assimilated so well into both David Tennant's or Matt Smith's turns as the Time Lord, writer Steven Moffat clearly wanted to take a more "edgy" approach to the story. Unfortunately, that only meant that the Doctor only occasionally came across as unlikable while the roster of villains was abysmal apart from the addition of Missy. With only a few gems and no classics, fans were let down by Peter Capaldi's first run in the TARDIS. It makes me very happy then to report that series 9 is already a massive improvement on the average episode. Featuring a stellar cast and plot, with a few surprises along the way, "The Magician's Apprentice" is a great start to this new season. But be warned before I start:

Still here? Then let's begin. Steven Moffat clearly wanted to start the episode and series in a big way, quickly revealing the child Davros, the creator of the Daleks, who has been one of the best kept secrets of the premiere and the series as a whole. From there, the episode kicked into high gear, revealing that the Master/Missy had (somewhat unsurprisingly) survived after last season's finale, although the question of how still puzzles me. This is only the first of many twists that are introduced throughout the episode, with the writers revealing that not only had Skaro and Davros survived (again, I don't know how after he was left to die in a space station in David Tennant episode "Journey's End"), but then proceeded to kill Missy, Clara, and destroy the TARDIS. Let's face the facts though: we all know that they are not dead. Sure, it'll be interesting to see how this epic cliffhanger will be resolved come next week but some of the weight was taken off for me since I have both seen the trailer for the rest of the series and have noticed over the years that Dalek guns do not disintegrate people.

Not only has the plot already significantly improved over last year, but so have the performances and villains. Peter Capaldi seems to have settled into his role as the Doctor, finally having more fun with the role and enjoying the light-hearted moments that previous iterations have done so well. Jenna Coleman also does a great job as Clara, who thankfully has not wasted the brilliant character development she was given in the last series. Credit should also be given to Michelle Gomez's psychotic performance as Missy. All you need to do to understand her nature and how far she is willing to go to get what she wants is watch the sequence where she heartlessly murdered two innocent soldiers. However, I knew these characters would be appearing but, as soon as Davros was revealed, I began to hope that Julian Bleach would reprise the role from the character's last appearance. Thankfully, he did and the episode benefited massively from it. Bleach's distinctive voice fits the character of the evil genius so well and he is believable as the Time Lord's archenemy (much to Missy's dismay).

As a sci-fi show, visual effects are one of the most crucial sections that must be perfect. For the most part, the effects team have done quite well. While some animations are questionable, such as Missy's face coming out of the screen as if the audience are watching a 3D movie (which is never good), others are relatively well done. Stand outs for myself included the addition of the hand mines to the Doctor Who universe and the extermination effects of the Daleks (it was nice to see Daleks from throughout the history of the show on Skaro, by the way). I have to also mention the work of the make-up team, and in particular the work done on Davros and Colony Sarff (pictured below). The look of Davros is remarkable throughout the episode. The set design also deserves recognition, as always, for really immersing the audience in these historic or cosmic environments. 

I wasn't in any way excited for this series of what had once been my favourite programme on TV after last year. However, this premiere has changed that. Despite the odd strange effect, this episode of Doctor Who proved to me that Steven Moffat can still write tense and exciting stories and his actors can still do great work. The fantastic ending has made me intrigued to see the follow-up "The Witch's Familiar" and how Capaldi's Doctor is going to escape his toughest situation yet.

Pros

• Great performances
• Killer cliffhanger
• More humour

Cons

• Some dodgy effects

Rating: 8/10

Original Air Date: 20th September, 2015

Starring: Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez, Julian Bleach, Jemma Redgrave, Clare Higgins, Daniel Hoffmann-Gill

"The Jungle Book (2016)" Trailer Reaction

The Jungle Book is one of Disney's all time classics. Originally released in 1967, it is a movie that I fondly remember from my childhood and is still a much-loved film today. However, recently, Disney have decided to adapt a number of their classic animations into live action, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty (albeit from the villain's point of view) and the upcoming Tarzan and Beauty and the Beast. Nonetheless, it was a big surprise to me when not one, but two Jungle Book live action adaptions were announced, this particular Disney produced version and the other to release in 2017 under the direction of Gollum himself Andy Serkis and with the title "Jungle Book: Origins." The reason for my shock can be summed up with one question: what makes the Jungle Book different from these other movies? It is dominated by an animal cast rather than majority humans. I was afraid that this was maybe a step too far for Disney and they might not be able to pull this off. Luckily, the trailer released today put some of my fears to rest. Check it out below and then I'll tell you my thoughts.

First of all, I'd like to address a common complaint in the comments of the video above: the effects are not terrible. Look at the images below of Baloo the bear and Shere Khan the tiger. These visuals are incredibly realistic. That is, of course, my opinion and some people might not agree. Bare (sorry for the pun) in mind then that there are still 7 months until release for the studio to tighten up the effects and improve any issues brought up by the fans. However, there is something to be said for the size of the animals. While characters like Bagheera (the panther) and Shere Khan look to be an average size for their species, others are ridiculously large, such as Kaa. And as for King Louie? More like King Kong if he was an orangutan. Now maybe that's just in the trailer or maybe the director is trying to approach things in a different way by showing the scale of these jungle creatures from the perspective of a young boy. We'll find out come April next year.

I acknowledge that this trailer was a teaser and that is why I am not as irritated as I typically would be if a trailer did not give any idea of the plot. However, aside from being a teaser, this is a movie that outlined the entire plot with only one character speaking throughout the whole video (unless you count the awesome Baloo whistle at the end): a young boy is raised in the jungle and comes across a number of talking animals. Simple. I'm sure more will be revealed that has been added in later trailers. For example, I don't remember a volcano action sequence in the original but it is something I am excited to see more of. This teaser was designed to show off the main selling point of the film and that is the look of the animals and the environments which I have already discussed.

I said that I didn't remember a scene in a volcano in the 1967 classic. However, what I am certain of is its status as a musical. Funnily enough, that is one of the things oddly absent from this trailer. Apart from the voice of Scarlett Johnasson as Kaa (who sounds perfect in the role), we hear no characters talk. The studio seem to be marketing the movie as a darker take on the tale, and I hope that this is nothing but clever advertising. While I am interested in the direction being taken, there is still fun in the original Jungle Book. I only hope that Disney hasn't completely reinvented the wheel and removed all essence of humour in their possible desperation to create an entirely new version. However, Bill Murray has been confirmed to be singing "The Bare Necessities" in his role as Baloo so I still have hope that the film will still share some similarities to the original.

I love the 1967 Jungle Book and I am excited to see this movie. This is looking to be a visual masterpiece while offering some new additions to the plot. However, I think that some humour and light-hearted scenes will still be included despite the tone of the teaser. Hopefully Disney can once again deliver something special with this movie.

Excitement Meter: 8/10

Directed by Jon Favreau

Release Date: April 16th, 2016

Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Christopher Walken, Scarlett Johnasson