I’ve been waiting for an Avengers movie for a very long time. Not for years or even decades, but pretty much forever. Back in the Seventies, when Marvel’s live action output was largely telly-based and crummy, I understood the time was not yet right. But after advances in special effects made the impossible plausible, and generations of superhero fans grew into powerful filmmakers, I allowed myself the luxury of hope.
When Marvel cracked the Fantastic Film Formula and bestowed upon us the likes of Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man 2 and Bryan Singer’sX-Men 2, I felt we were approaching a Golden Age. And over the last couple of years, what with the perfect comicbook stylings of Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, I dared believe the world had reached a level of Nerd-Movie Nirvana unparalleled by Human, Krell or Skrull history.
The stars come out to shine this week at blockbuster.co.uk, the likes of Daniel Craig, Michelle Yeoh and Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivering the week’s freshest, hottest movies. From David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to Luc Besson’s The Lady, we’ve got lots to keep you entertained this week, and way more besides, from great new offers and competitions to the best blogs and videos.
Like a humble lunchtime salad between a hearty family breakfast and dinner out with friends, this week’s cinematic offerings are filler at best, humble place holders to bridge the gap between the treats of the past few months and the imminent feast to come. While last week was distinguished by genre-bending Joss Whedon horror comedy The Cabin in the Woods, and next week sees the release of Whedon’s superhero masterpiece Marvel Avengers Assemble, this week delivers a wishy-washy trickle of films best described as meh. Welcome to Cinemascape!
A devastating post-apocalyptic drama with edge-of-the-seat, end-of-the-world thrills, The Divide unfolds in the wake of nuclear armageddon and stresses it’s the millions who died in the blast, and not those left alive, who were in fact the lucky ones. A film that shines a light on the darkest aspects of the human psyche, this follows a group of frazzled survivors who, huddled terrified in a fortified basement, react rather badly, it has to be said, to the end of the world.
A strong ensemble cast holds nothing back, the likes of Terminator’s Michael Biehn and Heroes’ Milo Ventimiglia delivering portraits in savage regression, while Hitman director Xavier Gens amps up the tension to fever pitch. Rent the movie now on Blu-ray and DVD, in store and online, exclusively from blockbuster.co.uk.
To mark the release of this memorable movie, here’s a like-minded top ten of classic and recent end-of-the-worlders for you to add to your list…
There’s plenty to see and do this week at blockbuster.co.uk, great offers and competitions, new blogs and videos, plus, of course, some brilliant new movies to buy and rent. From Daniel Craig chiller Dream House to scorching exclusive The Divide, if it’s quality telly time you’re after, you’ve come to the right place!
Though lately my sights have been set on Joss Whedon’s superteam spectacular Marvel Avengers Assemble, which, ungainly title aside, I hope and expect to be practically perfect in every way, there’s been a lot of other great stuff about lately, equally deserving of our time and attention. Two weeks from now, on April 26, a full week before it’s US debut, Avengers will conquer all, I’m sure, but until then, there’s much to enjoy.
John Carter, for one, deserves a fairer shake than it’s received, a gloriously preposterous sci fi spectacular with a silliness that should be embraced, not shunned. Animation-wise, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists is second in quality only to Aardman’sWallace and Gromit ‘toons, and that ain’t bad. Even The Hunger Games, though an obvious teen-themed smashing together of The Running Man, Battle Royale and TV’s Big Brother, is rather a lot of fun. And for those who complain that even in 3D, movies lack the depth they used to, I suggest character-led dramas We Bought a Zoo, This Must Be The Place and brilliant Britflick Wild Bill.
What I’m saying is, it’s a golden age for film. Right now. Obviously, you have to wade through lots of stinkers to reach the gems, but that’s the way it’s always been. So look around, take in the sights. Enjoy yourself, because I certainly am. Welcome to Cinemascape!
A respected journalist and broadcaster for most of his adult life, king of chat, sports nut and jazz lover Michael Parkinson holds a special place in the hearts of generations of TV viewers for perfecting the art of the celebrity interview. Now 77 years old, with a knighthood and distinguished career to his considerable credit, Parky remains the Gold Standard of Interviewers. The standard we all aspire to reach.
There’s lots to get excited about this week at blockbuster.co.uk, a mighty mix of great new releases, blogs, offers, competitions and so much more, simply hit the homepage and explore at will. Before you go though, check out the best of this week’s freshest films, including an awesome new exclusive that you won’t find anywhere else but right here: superfly-cool crime thriller Fury, starring impending Avenger Samuel L. Jackson.
After starring in the decent but absolutely unnecessary remake of Fright Night, Colin Farrell continues to steal other people’s movies as the lead of impending sci fi actioner Total Recall. The trailer’s online now and pretty damn impressive, but can it possibly compete with the 1990 original? How could it? Directed by Underworld’s Len Wiseman, could it feasibly improve upon the madness orchestrated by RoboCop’s Paul Verhoeven? Hell, no. And could, under any circumstance or in any alternate universe, Colin conceivably cut it in place of Arnie? A thousand times no. A million times no. As impressive as the modern version’s effects appear, let’s not forget that the ultimate movie special effect has always been, and shall forever after remain, Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’m just saying. To Colin Farrell I add, get your own movies. To the rest of you, welcome to Cinemascape!
Al Pacino and Channing Tatum star in scorching suspenser Son of No One, a powerful new thriller that’s exclusive to us so stick with blockbuster.co.uk and we’ll sort you out! Also new this week is a fun family film, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, out just in time for the Easter break and the perfect distraction for your charming little terrors. Beyond that, there’s arty sci fi drama Another Earth, plummy British romance The Deep Blue Sea and amusing guilty pleasure Breaking Wind. Plenty of choice then, and really they’re just the tip of an enormous entertainment iceberg that includes brand new blogs and videos, essential offers and some cracking new competitions as well.
