It's a tale as old as time, and a tale that for some reason needed a live action shot to shot remake. Beauty and the Beast is the latest Disney property to be given the live action treatment after the success of Cinderella and The Jungle Book, but does it live of to one of the greatest Disney films of all time? I'm not convinced. I love the original film, it is in my top 5 films of all time, so this film had a lot to live up to in my eyes.

We all know the story, A prince is cursed to become a beast after insulting a witch. He must fall in love and have  a lady fall in love with him before the last petal of a magical rose falls. Years pass and the town people have forgotten the prince and his staff (because....magic) and they fear the beast will never find the woman for him. Enter Belle, a bookish woman labelled as strange by the town folk and the obsession of Gaston, a bullish solider who is the accompanied by his trusty admirer Lefou. When her father is travelling he find himself in the middle of nowhere, chased by wolves where he races into the grounds of the Beasts castle. Hunting down her father Belle finds him held prisoner by the beast. Belle trades places with her reluctant father as the Beasts prisoner, a becomes the castles 'guest'. The magical furniture come alive, there is a lot of singing and dancing and a  beauty falls in love with a beast. It's like a bad case of Stockholm Syndrome with dancing silverware!

 The negatives first, I was not a fan of Emma Watson as Belle, the whole opening song in the town was nowhere near as catchy as the original film. There was just something that didn't sit right with me and I can't put my finger on it. Watson looks the part, she looks like a good take on the Belle character but as the film progressed she was just the same one tone throughout. There were a few new songs hidden in here as well that didn't really add much to the film as a whole and I hated Emma Thompson was Mrs Potts, a terrible example of casting a big name for the sake of it. She is no Angela Lansbury I can tell you that much.

On the positive side I thought Luke Evans and Josh Gad as Gaston and Lefou made this film for me, this was perfect casting for these roles. Josh Gad payed the gay tone (something which was made way too much a a deal about in the media) spot on, he was just as clingy as the orginal animated version, and Luke Evans is the perfect Gaston. Visually the film is breathtaking, and it does bring the animation to life. The additions to the story, for example the castle crumbling away with each petal, the fact the The Beast doesn't need teaching to be human again work very well, and the score is beautiful. The cast for the most part did a great job, especially having to live up to such high expectations. This almost got a 4 star from me, but as whole it was missing a few things for me personally. A good family watch this Easter.

I am a little late with this review, unfortunately it takes time to watch 13 episodes of something, but I have finally wrapped up watching Iron Fist Season One. Now the show has been getting some pretty bad press review wise on the build up to the release and after with people saying it is the worst of the four Marvel Netfilx Universe (from now on I will call it the MNU), but my opinion? this is my second favorite MNU show after Jessica Jones. Yes that right readers I enjoyed this show more than Daredevil and I look forward to your comments below!. Why is this better than Daredevil I hear you ask, well dear reader it is simple, the story was better, the characters were better and you don't have Foggy Nelson.

The show follows the orgins story of Danny Rand, a Billionaire son of the now dead co-owner of Rand Enterprises, who was thought to have died, alog with his parents, in a plane crash 15 years prior. Raised by warrior monks a trained to take the mantle of the Iron Fist, a mystic power to protect their mystic world from The Hand, the same group of evil drug dealing ninjas lead by Madam Gow from the Daredevil series. Danny travels back to New York to find life is very much different, His father's business partner, Harold had died of cancer, his childhood friends Joy and Ward now control the Rand business and no matter what he tries no-one believes he is Danny Rand.
After a few episodes of convincing Joy, and befriending a martial arts trainer named Colleen Wing, Danny takes his place back in Rand, only to find that A) Harold is alive and well and B) The Hand have infiltrated Rand Enterprises. Danny must join forces with Colleen and of course Claire Temple (the Nick Fury of the MNU) to hunt down Madam Gow, and hopefully find out the truth behind the death of his family.

There is more that goes down in the build up to the shows finale that I will not going too much into but this program in general is very well structured, the passing is perfect, you don't great thrown into the deep end with the action from the off as the show focuses more on the story elements than the living weapon aspects of the character. The Meechams are an interesting trio, you know Harold is pretty much a bad guy but he yo-yos so much in the show at times I found myself thinking that he may not be as bad as once thought. We see a jealous Ward go through a wave of different emotions as well throughout the show with Joy being the least captivating of the three, but the best two characters in the show are of course Danny and Colleen, the pair have so much on screen chemistry throughout the show and you want to see their relationship grow.

Yes the show does have it's moments, but overall this is nowhere near as boring as Luke Cage was. I love the story on offer, the characters are well thought out, I love the links and mentions to the shows that came before it and this is basically the story which will lead into The Defenders, and I am perfectly happy with that. This is the show to watch, ignore the bad reviews. ​

I finally get to review this little hidden British horror film, a film we have been sitting on here for a month or so because of embargoes. Don't Knock Twice is a strange and creepy supernatural film with some damn good effects on the demon.

The story follows a mother and daughter (Jess - Played by Katee Sackhoff and Chloe - played by  Lucy Boynton) who reconnect after years of separation only to confront an local urban legend which is haunting Chloe and that is now tormenting  Jess. Dragged into the dark reasons behind the legend they find themselves unraveling more than they had bargained for.

This is a nice little horror gem, a film you may not seek out first time around but is definitely worth the watch. The story starts as your usual spooky fair as Chloe, after playing out the rules of an urban legend dare (doesn't anyone remember Candyman and how silly that is), is being hunted down by a demonic being, only to bring it into her estranged mothers home. The film they turns a little stranger. We have a door way that opens up out of nowhere, a possible conspiracy on previous murders and a drama based around the relationship between mother and daughter, all that work well with the tone of the film.

The acting is fine for the most part, there is a few cagey bits of acting, especially from Pooneh Hajimohammad who just act terribly in role of Tira, the worst actress in the film be a mile. However both Katte Sackhoff and Lucy Boynton both do a fantastic job. The creature design is  very good, reminds me a little of the Japanese horror films from the 90's.

This is a great little film, a horror which I hope people will pick up and try.

Don't Knock Twice will be in UK cinemas 31 March and On Demand & DVD 3 April

 Oh the Hype behind this film....the dirty dirty hype train ran right on the rails of this film. I do get why, to a point, but on a personal point Get Out was OKAY but like a lot of horror films of recent years (i'm looking at you Babadook) the hype can somewhat ruin a film.

The plot of the film is a good idea, using the subject of racism well while adding a new element during the closing acts. The story is as follows: Chris, a young African American photographer (and I hate writing it like that) and his White American girlfriend Rose are heading to visit Rose's family in a Stepford wives like suburb. Unaware Chris is black the family are a little surprised and awkward with the young man. As the evening arrives a series of strange events happen, Chris notices the black people who work in the house of Rose's family are acting a little strange and after an equally strange moment with Rose's mother, Chis is feeling a bit uneasy.  Then the next day the welcome party arrives, a group of the family's close friends there to join in the festivities, all equally as awkward with Chris, using racial friendly language in front of him for some reason. Then the real truth becomes clear and Chris enters a near impossible situation that could mean the end of list live as he knows it.

There are some well thought out moments in the film. The final half of the film is gripping yet feels original which is very good to see, however I still found myself getting a little bored at times. On saying that though, Get Out is in no way a bad film. Yes it is a slow burner but the story is key here, especially as the acting wasn't the greatest throughout.

This is worth a watch and is more for the thriller fan in me than the horror fan. The acting is OKAY, the story was interesting but I honestly believe the hype for the film had dampened the experience for me.

The direct sequel to the 1975 film Death Race 2000 (Not to be confused with the Death Race remakes starring Jason Statham), Death Race 2050 is a dark comedy which is a mix between an adult Wacky Races and The Hunger Games with a hell of a lot more blood and gore.

The year is 2050 and America is ready for the most violent event of the year, The Death Race , a race where a twisted array of violent drivers compete in a Post Apocalyptic American road race, scoring points for killing the general public and driving each other off the road. The four time champion and fan favorite, Frankenstein, a half-man half-machine, is aiming to win one final time, but along for the ride is an undercover spy working for the resistance, a small group of Americans who want to see the end of the Death Race for good.

This is a very funny film, I mean over the top action packed dark dark comedy with some extreme moments that you can't help laughing out loud to. This is the film you would get if you did an adult version of Wacky Races, with an array of over the top cartoon like characters all with their own quirks and rivalries. The cast is actually pretty solid, with the only real annoying character being Perfectus (Burt Grinstead - Eat With Me) who is just a bloody awful character. The films main leads Frankenstein (Manu Bennett -  Arrow) and Annie (Marci Miller - Days of Our Lives) have little chemistry but overall are a good team up. You also get an annoyingly catchy song from the Minerva (Folake Olowofoyeku - Hellbenders) called Drive Drive Kill Kill, which will get stuck in your head! 

Death Race 2050 is B-Movie fun, which stays true to the original 1975 film, It's hilariously dark and it is nice to see good acting in a B-Movie setting. A must watch.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is the Harry Potter prequel made for the more grown up fan. With a New York Setting and a look into the world of non-school level wizards this has become my favorite film in the Potterverse

The story follows Newt, a writer researching magical creatures who collects endangered beasts in his suitcase, who travels to New York City to release  one of his winged beasts back into its natural habitat. On arrival Newt loses his case when average every-man Kowalski, picks it up thinking it is his own. Releasing some of the beast by mistake Kowalski and Newt must race against time to get them back into the case before the Muggles (or nomages as they are called in the US) notice them. At the same time Newt and Kowalski are dragged into the middle of a magical incident which could change the landscape of the Wizarding World, and the start of some of the events that lead to the Harry Potter story.

This is a darker look into the Wizarding World, with a dark villain and scenes of child beatings which was a little bit of a shock when I originally saw this film in cinemas, but the dark aspects, to be totally honest, has made this film stand out to me.The feel of the film is different, more mature in places which really screams out to the fans of the Potterverse who are now older but still love the books. This is the third time of me watching this and I am still enjoying it. The Characters are very likable, and you want to see the relationships grow and blossom. The creatures are breathtakingly amazing, some of the best creature designs in the Potterverse so far. I love the Niffler creature, it adds the lighter comic relief to the film with its kleptomaniac behavior.

If you love the Harry Potter films, then there is no question at all that you will love this film, but even if you are new to the Wizarding World you could very much just jump into this with no prior knowledge of the films that came before.

A must buy and a definite watch 

​THE STORY:
Dr. Tong Qian (Zhao Wei) is on shift when a Chief Inspector (Louis Koo) walks into her hospital with injured detainee, Shun (Wallace Chung), staying close by as he anticipates an imminent rescue mission by his accomplices.
 
As intriguing as this premise is, most of the movie feels like the Chinese adaption of Grey’s Anatomy (2005), and a bad one at that.  This is caused by the film’s greatest flaw, which is its utterly dismal dubbing.  For synchronicity’s sake, that side of it seems fairly sound.  It’s the vocal performances…  And they commit one of the most unforgivable sins in movie entertainment.  They all sound bored.  In effect, making the movie sound boring, which in effect bores you as a viewer.  Recall, if you will, the old dinosaur guy from Mrs Doubtfire (1993), who was so boring that the cameraman fell asleep.  Remember the way he spoke.  Now imagine 30 of him, except they’re all Chinese.  I may have misled you here, but it’s nowhere near as funny as you might be thinking right now…
 
This major misstep only makes it easier to notice the other elements that don’t fit into place.  Such as the villain of this piece, Mr. Bullet Head.  He never becomes anymore intimidating than a cocky little schoolboy.  Annoying, yes, but about as scary as a wet teabag.
 
What perhaps is most perplexing about the actual story is Dr. Tong Qian’s character arc.  An operation she performed resulted in a man’s paralysis.  Respectfully, so what?  Surgery is life-saving but it comes with many, many risks.  Maybe I have been conditioned by too many movies and TV shows, but seen as just about every hero/heroine we’ve ever seen grace our screens deals with coping after the deeply felt loss of a loved one, Qian’s arc just doesn’t feel significant enough to warrant one giving a shit.
 
Finally, the climactic showdown arrives and it’s just the stylish, action-punch-packin’ payoff that you deserve for enduring such a dull build-up.  Having witnessed the ultimately awesome church massacre scene in Kingsman: The Secret Service back in 2014, it’s hard to be impressed by anything that doesn’t go above and beyond that.  And it’s the difference in technique that almost takes Three to that level.  The main difference is the slow-motion, which I have to say is beautifully done as gunshot wounds bloom like roses left and right.  The soundtrack to it is, so unfortunately, fucking irksome.  Still, it is an amazing scene.
 
LAST WORDS:
It’s Grey’s Anatomy with guns…eventually…

Earlier this year I reviewed a zombie film which I still believe is the best zombie film since Shaun of the Dead. A month on and out of the blue I was offered a little animated surprise in the form of a prequel to Train of Busan. The question is can Seoul Station live up to the film the came before it? not really.

The prequel follows the outbreak in Seoul Station, or really the city itself where we follow Hae-Sun, a former homeless girl who, after a row with her sleazy boyfriend, ends up in the middle of a zombie horde attack. While Hae-Sun is running for her life her father and her boyfriend race against the clock the find her. 

While not great as an animated zombie film Seoul Station isn't in all a bad film. The zombie action is well put together and the animation is fine, but as a prequel I felt a little detached. The feel of Train to Busan is totally lost in this film, the voice acting is tedious and I wasn't feeling the story at all. The first part of the film between the old man homeless guy and his odd little friend running around the city was drawn out a little for me and I didn't feel any connection with the characters in this, unlike the connection you feel in the main film.

Seoul Station is one of those animated features that would fit better in the special features section of the Blu-Ray of Train to Busan, but it is very much watchable I just would wait for it to go down in price a little first.

THE STORY:
There’s something in the oil!  Four miners celebrate their lucky find at the closing night of a local strip club.  Just one problem.  It ain’t oil, and whoever touches the funky substance turns into one mean motherfucker of a murderin’ zombie!  But the sassy, sexy club owner and her busted crew ain’t goin’ down without a fight…
 
Want to make a horror movie?  Think you can direct?  Think you got a good script?  Think you’re funny?  Well, take note bitches because THIS is how it’s done!
 
Horror movie reviewers who don’t lie with every sickening DVD cover quote-hungry sentence they type up for their websites and blogs will tell you that they are sick to the back teeth of companies trying to push screeners for some of the worst movies ever made.  Excrement in the form of Vimeo pages and secret passwords.
 
But every once in a while we get something like Peelers, a movie that is sure of its own identity.  Its comedy is crude and shameless.  Its gore is mostly practical and plentiful.  The editing is up to par and the acting is sound enough.  The premise isn’t original at all and the end result is quite dated, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing ‘cause baby they sure as shit ain’t makin’ ‘em like they used to!
 
Direct Seve Schelenz first caught my attention with his 2011 found footage movie Skew, which I also liked.  I preferred his take on the genre.  Like the best of them his tale had firm routes in the psychological; whereas with most of these movies you can sense the get-rich-quick scheming with every desperate popcorn-spilling jump scare set to a camera angle so bad that your grandmother could’ve filmed it.
 
LAST WORDS
Peelers knows what it’s about and it’s got the balls to be its outrageous self.  What can else you expect from a movie with a stripper called Thundercunt!

If you thought Mick Foley was the nicest man in sports entertainment then you my friend have never met Diamond Dallas Page. DDP was one of the big names during the Monday Night War Era of WCW and is the creator of the amazing DDP Yoga, but what is his story?

WWE is yet again lifting the curtain of another legend and 2017 WWE Hall of Famer. DDP came from humble beginnings, starting his career in the nightclub trade before making his way from wrestling manager to WCW Champion. This documentary is FINALLY a step in a better direction for WWE DVD's, especially after some pointless documentaries of recent times. I never really followed DDP's early career so as a fan of the wrestling business it was interesting to see how he got to the top of WCW and his thoughts on his WWE run during the Invasion storyline, especially the tasteless Undertaker stalker angle. We also get to see the creation of DDP Yoga, which we caught a glimpse on during the Scott Hall documentary. We get a few good matches in here for good measure too including an early match between DDP and the late great Eddie Gurrero and the epic bout between DDP and Randy Savage. The DVD also has some extra stories on Disk 2 which shares some extra insights into the life of Page.

DDP Positively Living is a good little watch, if you are a fan of the late 90's era of wrestling this is a must buy.