The Month In Films: November 2014

In this new regular feature, I will be providing insight into the best DVDs and Blu-rays heading your way over the coming month. This month’s releases include a monster movie of epic proportions, two kick-ass superhero films, a YA romantic drama bound to make you weep and an animated dragon-fest for all the family to enjoy. So start saving, and prepare yourself for a month of mind-blowing movies!

Godzilla

You don’t have to be a fan of all things Japanese to know this name. Godzilla is a monster, who like King Kong, has been beloved and reimagined time and time again, always striving to look just a little bit more badass each time. And in this most recent incarnation of the gigantic nuclear-pumped lizard, the visuals most certainly don’t disappoint. Though it takes a while for the big guy to make an appearance, when he does, he looks magnificent. He is not the only monster in this film however. Fans of all things loud and city-destroying, will enjoy the bat-like MUTOs (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms) that join him in causing havok in the US. There is an element of disappointment in the human cast of this film though. Despite the big names involved (future Avengers stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen and Breaking Bad‘s Bryan Cranston), it’s difficult to really care about their characters, since they are, arguably, reduced to mere supporting roles against the monsters. The narrative of the story is also a little underwhelming in places; Even though the opening and ending is as big, explosive and exciting as anyone could hope for, the middle parts are less so, and far too Godzilla-free for my liking. While I still (perhaps in an unpopular opinion) prefer the 1997 remake, in which Godzilla was an angry Mumma with several hundred trouble-making baby lizards in tow, this version will certainly make those who craved a fiercer, bolder Godzilla last time round, very happy indeed.

Godzilla is available to buy now.

The Fault In Our Stars

Based on John Green’s hugely popular YA novel, The Fault In Our Stars follows the tragic love-story of two teenage cancer sufferers. Though the story treats a subject that is, undoubtedly difficult, the film is still funny and heartwarming, in spite of it’s more melancholic moments. The romance between Hazel-Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters (played by Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, respectively) is incredibly touching and real, capturing perfectly the joyous rapture of young love.  Even if, at times Augustus can seem quite pretentious with his cigarette metaphors that, to many are as differential in love/hate opinion as Marmite, the characters are still largely palatable and certainly in the case of Hazel-Grace, relatable – despite her illness. The film, like the book, offers a rather beautiful take on life and how precious time is, given that we are all facing inevitable ‘oblivion’. It’s also an incredibly faithful adaptation, that is packed with all the really important quotes that all Nerdfighters will be pleased/incredibly upset to hear. That, and it’s wonderfully emotive soundtrack, make The Fault In Our Stars the perfect film to watch when you’re in need of that little swept-up touch of romance – though be advised to have tissues at the ready, okay? Okay.

The Fault In Our Stars is available to buy from 3rd November 2014*

X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past delivers on almost everything that it promises in its explosive trailer – A star-studded cast featuring a whole host of acting talent, both old and new, action to keep the adrenaline junkies content, a humour that is now expected of all Marvel movies to placate the less superhero-enthusiastic members of the audience, and a story filled with intriguing twists and turns. The film is set in two different times. The first being a desolate, dystopian future, where Charles Xavier/Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Erik Lensherr/Magneto (Ian McKellen), Storm (Halle Berry) and Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat (Ellen Page), along with a range of other mutants, all with unique powers of their own are battling against their own extinction from unmerciful robots called Sentinels. The other time setting, is 50 years previous to this, in 1973, when the younger Charles (James McAvoy) and Erik (Michael Fassbender) couldn’t be further apart; with Charles, broken, hopeless and reclusive after the betrayal of Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) and the loss of his legs caused by Erik in First Class, and Erik powerlessly secured in the Pentagon after seemingly being involved in the plot to kill President Kennedy. The link between these two disparate worlds is everybody’s favourite grumpy good guy, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), who using Kitty’s powers of transportation in the future, sends his consciousness into the past to try and prevent a vengeful Mystique from killing Bolivar Trask (Game of Thrones‘ Peter Dinklage) the creator of the Sentinels, therefore also preventing the advancement of the Sentinels in the future. The premise is interesting for sure, and the twists and turns (mainly caused by Fassbender’s blind-sighted, arrogant younger Magneto) are certainly intriguing – often causing you to literally fear for the future mutants lives. I shan’t spoil the ending for you, but I will say this; There are a lot of questions to be answered when X-Men: Apocalypse rears it’s enigmatic head in 2017…

X-Men: Days of Future Past is available to buy from 10th November 2014*

How To Train Your Dragon 2

Dreamworks’ How To Train Your Dragon captured the hearts of millions with it’s heart-warming story of the awkward but nevertheless likeable heroics of Viking heir Hiccup (Voiced by Jay Baruchel), and his intensely loveable pet Night Fury, Toothless. Therefore, it made sense that a sequel was issued to tell more about these two much-adored characters. And thankfully, as all great animations deserve to be, How to Train Your Dragon 2, was an enormous success. This time round, we follow the two as they battle against the tyrannical Drago Bludvist (voiced by Djimon Hounsou – who FYI, also plays a baddy in Guardians of the Galaxy) who plots to use his fierce dragon army to conquer both dragons and people. Along the way, we also get to meet Hiccup’s long-lost mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett) who has been in hiding, protecting dragons using the same talents her son has inherited, as well as meeting (certainly to begin with) a ruthless dragon hunter named Eret (Game of Thrones‘ Kit Harington). As well as these new characters, we also catch up with Hiccup’s lovely bride to be, Astrid (America Ferrera) and the rest of the dragon-rider gang. The film is as funny as it’s predecessor, with the dragons still being as adorable as before, if not even more so (I myself, have a real love for Toothless because he reminds me so much of my cat). But in accompaniment to the fun and excitement, there are also some real tear-jerking moments, especially in the fate of Hiccup’s beloved Dad, Stoick (Gerard Butler). Like Dreamworks’ other successes such as Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, HTTYD has established itself to be a popular favourite for the whole family. My only hope is that if these characters do come back for a third time, that it will be just as good as this one.

How To Train You Dragon 2 is available to buy from 17th November 2014*

Guardians of The Galaxy

Arguably the biggest, most exciting film of the summer, Marvel’s Guardians of The Galaxy is fun, action-packed and pretty fucking awesome all at once. It follows a rag-tag team of criminals, who by fate are brought together to fight against the evil tyrant Ronan (Lee Pace) who plots to destroy the city of Xandar, using an elusive, but powerful infinity stone (which for non-Marvel followers is a BIG BIG part of the studio’s upcoming ‘Phase 3’ plans). The Guardians themselves are an interesting but likeable bunch, led effortlessly by Chris Pratt’s roguish hero, Peter Quill (a.k.a: Starlord) who not only brings charm and a lot of oddball humour to the movie, but also the best soundtrack ever to be heard in recent times. (See my Soundtrack feature for more on this) Also in on the fun is Zoe Saldana’s sultry green-skinned assassin Gamora, Dave Bautista’s vengeful, but un-metaphor grasping Drax the Destroyer, and arguably the two most loveable and bizarre characters of the film; gun-wielding raccoon, Rocket and his adorable tree pal, Groot (Voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, respectively). With their second outing having been recently announced to be hitting screens in 2017 and their roles within the entire Marvel universe looking to increase extensively, Guardians of the Galaxy is not a film you want to miss.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7yOuhI1dzU

Guardians of The Galaxy is available to buy from 24th November 2014*

Also out on DVD and Blu-ray this month*: Transformers: Age of Extinction (17th), 22 Jump Street (17th), and Dawn of The Planet of the Apes (24th)

*Please note that all release dates referenced are UK only. International release dates may differ.

Words by Annie.