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This weekend there are four new films out for you to choose from: action in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, drama in Grand Central, rom-com in As So It Goes, and godknowswhat in Pudsey The Dog: The Movie.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes follows on from 2011’s reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes (which I still haven’t seen, but it’s on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm) and this time round, a growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar (Andy Serkis) is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.
Rise… was shot in 2.35:1 but this new entry is shot in 1.85:1. With a different director in charge – Matt Reeves instead of Rupert Wyatt – there’s always going to be some changes. However, they should stick with the same aspect ratio for a series, for continuity. Look at the mess that was A Good Day To Die Hard. Then again, Aliens was a wonderful sequel so you never know…
That said, Reeves also made the exceedingly dull Cloverfield, and also the remake of Let The Right One In, which no-one should remake!
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes also stars Gary Oldman, Angela Kerecz, Keri Russell and Judy Greer .
Hit or Miss? Verdict: possibly… Hit!
Grand Central
Gary, an unskilled young man, lands a job as a decontamination sub-contractor at a nuclear power plant in the lower valley of the Rhone. Inducted into the workforce by supervisor Gilles and veteran Toni, Gary discovers that radiation contamination is not just a risk factor but an everyday hazard. At the same time, he begins an illicit affair with Karole, the fiancée of Toni.
The film stars Léa Seydoux from Blue Is The Warmest Colour, plus Tahar Rahim, Olivier Gourmet and Denis Ménochet, the trailer looks very encouraging for a decent drama.
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Hit!
And So It Goes
And So It Goes looks rather like Last Vegas, where all the studio is doing is gathering a bunch of once-great actors together and making a load of jokes at the expense of them being old.
Michael Douglas plays a self-centered realtor who enlists the help of his neighbour when he’s suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he never knew existed, until his estranged son drops her off at his home.
Rob Reiner also directs Diane Keaton and Frankie Valli, this looks godawful!
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Pudsey The Dog: The Movie
A heartwarming, quintessentially British adventure for all the family (it says here), Pudsey The Dog: The Movie follows cheeky London stray dog, Pudsey, who is quite happy being a lone ranger, looking out for number one, until he meets siblings Molly (Izzy Meikle-Small), George (Spike White) and Tommy (Malachy Knights). Yes, three actors with bloody ridiculous names!
After losing their father, their mother Gail (Jessica Hynes) is moving the family to the sleepy village of Chuffington and Pudsey tags along, to the dismay of their landlord, Mr. Thorne (John Sessions), and his cat Faustus. As Pudsey starts to settle in with the family and realize what he was missing when he was alone, he stumbles across Thorne’s evil plan and he determines to save them and the whole village.
Also starring Olivia Colman – clearly the low-point in this double BAFTA winner’s career, give this turgid mess a miss.
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.