hoopla.nu http://hoopla.nu film reviews, opinion and more en-us hoopla.nu http://hoopla.nu/images/banner_rss.jpg http://hoopla.nu Chronicle It's as if the budget couldn't match the filmmakers' ambition, so we're subjected to crappy CGI and poor digital matte paintings again and again. I appreciate that the film had a tiny budget of $15 million, but that simply means they should have been more choosy when it came to visual effects shots. http://hoopla.nu/films/chronicle/chronicle.html Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:51:51 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/chronicle/chronicle.html   Chronicle
It's as if the budget couldn't match the filmmakers' ambition, so we're subjected to crappy CGI and poor digital matte paintings again and again. I appreciate that the film had a tiny budget of $15 million, but that simply means they should have been more choosy when it came to visual effects shots.

Rating: Rating = 5
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 5]]> Hugo The critical acclaim surrounding the film leaves me wondering if it is purely the thematic content of the film that had such an impact. Hugo is a film that looks and sounds great, and it's clear that a lot of love went into making it, but the humdrum storytelling leaves a lot to be desired. http://hoopla.nu/films/hugo/hugo.html Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:38:04 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/hugo/hugo.html   Hugo
The critical acclaim surrounding the film leaves me wondering if it is purely the thematic content of the film that had such an impact. Hugo is a film that looks and sounds great, and it's clear that a lot of love went into making it, but the humdrum storytelling leaves a lot to be desired.

Rating: Rating = 6
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 4]]> Weekend That's not to say that Weekend should be considered a film solely concerned with 'gay issues', even if homophobia - disturbingly, but probably realistically - rears its ugly head more than once. First and foremost though, the film is a romance. http://hoopla.nu/films/weekend/weekend.html Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:09:41 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/weekend/weekend.html   Weekend
That's not to say that Weekend should be considered a film solely concerned with 'gay issues', even if homophobia - disturbingly, but probably realistically - rears its ugly head more than once. First and foremost though, the film is a romance.

Rating: Rating = 8
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 7]]> A Few Best Men As with most comedies, the best roles are the supporting ones, and in this case it's Kris Marshall who steals the show as one of the titular Best Men, Tom. Despite the fact that he's clearly too old for the role, his characterisation of a laidback yet witty stoner is the best part of the film. http://hoopla.nu/films/a-few-best-men/a-few-best-men.html Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:31:47 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/a-few-best-men/a-few-best-men.html   A Few Best Men
As with most comedies, the best roles are the supporting ones, and in this case it's Kris Marshall who steals the show as one of the titular Best Men, Tom. Despite the fact that he's clearly too old for the role, his characterisation of a laidback yet witty stoner is the best part of the film.

Rating: Rating = 5
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 5]]> The Darkest Hour The fact that the film is set in Russia as opposed to Anytown, USA, isn't as interesting as it sounds. The opening scenes seem at pains to explain how Western modern Moscow is, and the only real issues that arise spring from the protagonists not being able to read any of the street maps. The fact that anyone important we come across is multilingual was a real missed opportunity. http://hoopla.nu/films/the-darkest-hour/darkest-hour.html Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:44:17 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/the-darkest-hour/darkest-hour.html   The Darkest Hour
The fact that the film is set in Russia as opposed to Anytown, USA, isn't as interesting as it sounds. The opening scenes seem at pains to explain how Western modern Moscow is, and the only real issues that arise spring from the protagonists not being able to read any of the street maps. The fact that anyone important we come across is multilingual was a real missed opportunity.

Rating: Rating = 5
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 6]]> Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Supposedly Brendan Fraser couldn't commit to the sequel because of scheduling issues, but one has to wonder if maybe he didn't take one look at the script and think his time was better spent elsewhere. http://hoopla.nu/films/journey-2-mysterious-island/journey-2-mysterious-island.html Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:30:28 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/journey-2-mysterious-island/journey-2-mysterious-island.html   Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Supposedly Brendan Fraser couldn't commit to the sequel because of scheduling issues, but one has to wonder if maybe he didn't take one look at the script and think his time was better spent elsewhere.

Rating: Rating = 2
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 4]]> The Descendants Clooney is in fine form. The film allows for some terrific sombre moments and he handles these with aplomb. The narrative isn't without its flaws but this could perhaps be seen as deliberate ambiguity rather than shoddy inconsistency. http://hoopla.nu/films/the-descendants/descendants.html Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:47:11 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/the-descendants/descendants.html   The Descendants
Clooney is in fine form. The film allows for some terrific sombre moments and he handles these with aplomb. The narrative isn't without its flaws but this could perhaps be seen as deliberate ambiguity rather than shoddy inconsistency.

Rating: Rating = 8
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 8]]> Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Mark Lavercombe) Noomi Rapace does as much as she can with her limited role, and Rachel McAdams reprises Irene Adler for little reward. It is only Jared Harris as Moriarty who seems to be having much fun, and he brings a delicious evil to his turn as Holmes' longstanding antagonist. http://hoopla.nu/films/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows.html Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows.html   Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Noomi Rapace does as much as she can with her limited role, and Rachel McAdams reprises Irene Adler for little reward. It is only Jared Harris as Moriarty who seems to be having much fun, and he brings a delicious evil to his turn as Holmes' longstanding antagonist.

Rating: Rating = 4
Review by Mark Lavercombe
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 5]]> Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Stuart Wilson) Call me a traditionalist, but I expect a Sherlock Holmes story to contain an actual mystery. Make him a tap-dancing Lithuanian poodle from the 35th Century - I don't care - as long as he still gets to solve mysteries. http://hoopla.nu/films/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows.html#stuart Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows/sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows.html#stuart   Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Call me a traditionalist, but I expect a Sherlock Holmes story to contain an actual mystery. Make him a tap-dancing Lithuanian poodle from the 35th Century - I don't care - as long as he still gets to solve mysteries.

Rating: Rating = 4
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 5]]> The Adventures of Tintin The level of detail when it comes to the digital sets, textures and lighting, however, means that whenever faces weren't on screen, I could have easily been convinced I was watching live action. The process has advanced in leaps and bounds and I had no problem with the eerie zombie eye-effect common to most mo-capped movies. http://hoopla.nu/films/adventures-of-tintin/adventures-of-tintin.html Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:18:27 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/adventures-of-tintin/adventures-of-tintin.html   The Adventures of Tintin
The level of detail when it comes to the digital sets, textures and lighting, however, means that whenever faces weren't on screen, I could have easily been convinced I was watching live action. The process has advanced in leaps and bounds and I had no problem with the eerie zombie eye-effect common to most mo-capped movies.

Rating: Rating = 8
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 7]]> Gantz Each of the fight scenes featured in Gantz are true future classics. They are quite long - over 20 minutes each, it seemed - and this is where the film is most confident. The lulls between the action do tend to drag in comparison. http://hoopla.nu/films/gantz/gantz.html Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:06:02 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/gantz/gantz.html   Gantz
Each of the fight scenes featured in Gantz are true future classics. They are quite long - over 20 minutes each, it seemed - and this is where the film is most confident. The lulls between the action do tend to drag in comparison.

Rating: Rating = 7
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 7]]>