Review: Deadpool (2016)

Ever since his character was ruined in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I’ve been waiting for Deadpool to be done right, in his own movie. The Deadpool comics were the first ones I truly fell in love with. Turns out, Ryan Reynolds has been waiting longer than me, 11 years in total, I think. With that in mind, and after one of the most interesting, amusing and highly successful movie marketing campaigns of all time, I was terrified walking into the IMAX screen that my expectations were too high.  

I have been a little bit AWOL on the blog of late due to work commitments. 14hr working days and restless nights do not a blogger make.  However, I what I didn't realise that I had left Allie's Deadpool post high and dry, I could have sworn I had put my rambling thoughts in but apparently not! Sorry mate!

Deadpool may have super-human powers, but he’s no superhero. Before his change, he was simply Wade Wilson, a shady character with questionable friends and companions. When he discovers he has cancer, and multiple forms, an offer to not only cure his illnesses but make him stronger than before becomes an offer he can’t refuse. It also starts a life-long grudge against a guy named Francis (Ed Skrein).

Straight from the outset, Deadpool was hilarious. The opening credits are just as funny, if not funnier than the closing credits of 22 Jump Street. Then we get thrown straight into the action shown in the leaked footage (which I think Ryan Reynolds himself has virtually confessed to) and the trailers, only much, much more violent.  I think I may have actually laughed from beginning to end of this film, opening and closing credits included!

When you look at the movie as a whole, it’s really small, being almost a 50/50 split between current events and flashbacks. Deadpool could have easily been an hour and a half of pure comedy and violence, but there’s an origin story here with heart, that doesn’t feel like it’s been put there for the sake of it. It’s actually really clever, and comic book fans will love the pizza delivery scene. You’ll know it when you see it!  I don't get it :( you'll have to update me when I see you next!

The jokes come quick and fast, and they’ll please fans worldwide. There were some American references I didn’t understand, but poor David Beckham got poked fun at and there’s a brilliant Fawlty Towers joke in there too! it really is funny from start to finish, with a mix of crude, rude and downright offensive jokes, to my personal favourite moments, when Deadpool breaks the fourth wall. He pauses his own movie to fill us in on what he’s thinking, and forward winds bits we’ve already seen, which leads to a very gross moment when he forward winds too far. You’ll never look at a pair of Crocs the same way again. haha!

Ryan Reynolds was as awesome as hoped he would be, dark, dry humour and leaving no subject off limits.  I was genuinely terrified that they would hold back and avoid the really dark humour but they kept on pushing the boundaries.  They have no issue with breaking the fourth wall, taking aim at other Marvel/DC characters or even mentioning their real names in jest.  The plot wasn't the greatest but the comedy, narration and violence made the movie what it was, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Let’s not forget Stan Lee’s amazing cameo. We were told to expect it in the opening credits, and I was consiously waiting for it for ages, and boy was it worth the wait! What a guy! I also loved the two X-Men characters involved, Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (best name ever!!) (Brianna Hildebrand). They really added to the story and I hope we get to see them again!

All in all, this was everything I wanted Deadpool to be and more. Consider me a very happy fan. oh, and if you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you wait till the end of the credits! 

This is the new number 2 in my superhero list (if you can consider it a superhero movie) and number 1 in my 'anti-hero' list.

Looking Forward to Seeing in the Cinema this Month...February 2016

It doesn't happen very often, but this month Jenna and I are teaming up. There is literally only one movie we're dead excited for. Deadpool!  I could literally watch nothing else in the month of February and still be happy!

11 years in the making now, and we're just days away from the cinematic release. It's been over a year now since the early footage was 'leaked' and we still know very little about the plot. Well, this is Deadpool after all! The USA has it R-Rated, and at the time of writing this, we're still waiting for a UK rating. Very few movies get rated 18 here now, but I've still got my fingers crossed.  I was really hoping for an 18 but in an interview with Ryan Reynolds he confirmed it was 15, he probably knows more than we do!

Ryan Reynolds gets a lot of stick, not all undeserved I accept, but you can't argue with the fact that he was born for this role. No one else can don that iconic red suit and deliver those witty remarks like he can.  As well as take the piss out of his own poor movie choices ;-)

I think there is a good chance I am going to want to see this more than once but with it being NSFD I have limited opportunity, I may force Allie to come with me as well as go with her other half!!

As a total Marketing nerd (hey, it's literally my job) I've loved following the numerous posters for this. There are going to be some very confused girlfriends this month when they watch Deadpool, finally understanding why their dates were so happy to see this romantic comedy:

I thought the 'Skull, Poop, L' emoji poster was my favourite of them all when that went viral.

But then they followed up with this one!

Deadpool Marketing Team, you are my heroes. Where can I send in my CV?  It has to be the best marketing of any film in history, is there not a Oscar category for this?!

Here in the UK, we can get a load of Deadpool on 10th February, 2016.

Review: Cloverfield (2008)

When I heard about a trailer being released for 10 Cloverfield Lane, I got all excited and then when I tried to recall the plot of the original, Cloverfield, I came to the sad realisation that I never actually watched it. I think once a movie has been on your mental ‘watch list’ for 8 years, that’s when the long term memory workers decide it’s time to throw it away. If you don’t understand that reference, go and watch Inside Out already!  I had completely forgotten about this film until I heard rumours about the sequel but I do remember that I enjoyed it when I did!

Anyway, after trying to get into too many heavy Oscar contenders I decided this would be the perfect break. Cloverfield is a found-footage action/horror that follows a group of friends in New York City as they try to escape a devastating monster attack and rescue their friend who is stuck in Midtown.

All I looked up before watching this was that very straight to the point plot summary, and so I must have been about 20 minutes in when I got very close to taking the DVD out of the player and checking it. See, the movie starts with the friends all together at a leaving party for Rob (Michael Stahl-David) but it really drags, to the point where I honestly thought I was watching the wrong movie. If I remember right its all very shaky camera work as its supposed to be a home movie but it gave me a stinking headache!

Not long after that though there’s what seems like an earthquake, the lights all go out, and then I know for sure I’m watching the right movie. Every moment from here has me on the edge of my seat! Found footage movies take a lot of stick I think, but I’m on the fence. I think it worked amazingly well here, we didn’t see much of the monster at all which adds to the suspense, it does give me a nasty case of motion sickness! I was okay with Cloverfield because it’s quite short and I watched it at home, but in the cinema I might have struggled.  Honestly, for me this achieved what I think Godzilla was trying to achieve a few years back, the suspense of what is happening rather than the fear of the actual monster, for me this did that, Godzilla didn't!

The funny thing is, I mentioned this movie to my Grampy who wasn’t very fond of it at all! Although, to an extent I couldn’t argue with his complaints. He said that not much really happened. Well, I suppose the whole movie’s plot is one escape/rescue attempt, but I think the suspense alone makes this a great movie to watch. There was a moment when the gang rounded a corner to find themselves face to face with the military that made me jump a mile, and the helicopter scene where the military were bombing the monster from the sky actually made me do a little scream!

It’s all got me very excited for 10 Cloverfield Lane. Plus, the trailer gives nothing away at all, which is even better! I’m still wondering whether it’ll be a follow up from the events of Cloverfield or another side of the same story. I think I’d be happy with either!  Should be good and they've waited long enough that just the idea of a sequel is a surprise...