Review of Empire's top 300 films

To much fanfare, the latest fan vote on the Empire website and magazine was completed and the top 301 films were named this week. It was a vote I actually took part in as you chose your favourite 5 films and all you needed was your name and email address (which essentially meant anyone could enter numerous times with different emails). For the record the five films I chose were: Mulholland Drive, The Godfather, The Third Man, 12 Angry Men and Drive meaning I'm no better than the people I'm about to criticize.

My review of the previous top 500 from 2008 is here (note my incorrect prediction about Zodiac disappearing five years later)

As many noted on social media, the list appears to have gotten people confused between their favourite 5 films of all-time and the last 5 films they have seen. The likes of Man of Steel and the two latest Star Trek movies were below average blockbusters that will be long forgotten in a decade time after they've been re-booted again, hopefully with more success. This is why I, along with many of my friends it appears, believe they should have a system similar to the Hall of Fame in American sports where you only become eligible five years later. So in essence this list would only feature films released in 2008 or before and not have the list covered with subpar films released recently.

Naturally a lot of older films are missing from the list as the younger generation comes through having not seen many of the "classics". But obviously with lists like this you get big blockbusters chosen just because of the sheer volume of people that have seen them against critics lists that tend to include obscure high brow films chosen for some elitist snobbery. Andrei Rublev for example is a beautifully shot film that is often revered but if you actually sit down and watch it you'll realise it is dull as hell.

But Empire has succeeded though because not only are people now discussing it but they are getting more viewers to their website than normal to check out the list. All good fun but it worries me how much worse the list has become in just 5 years.

This week's releases

Maleficent: Angelina Jolie stars as the famous villain from Sleeping Beauty in this re-imagining of the classic. It lays the back story of the betrayal that lead to her heart turning to stone and her desire for revenge against Aurora (Elle Fanning).

Edge of Tomorrow:  Based on the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Emily Blunt stars in the latest action film for bankable star Tom Cruise as aliens have taken over the world but a time loop means the heroes of the day get multiple opportunities to learn from their mistakes after dying.

A Million Ways to Die in the West: After the success of Ted, despite it being a dreadful film, Seth MacFarlane next project is a Western comedy which he stars as well as being the director, writer and producer. The film also sees Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron star.

Film Review: Come and See

Director: Elem Klimov

A 1985 Russian film which was made to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of World War 2. In the world of cinema there has been literally hundreds of films around the second world war, I'd venture to say that no other topic has received so much attention from Hollywood et al but the Eastern front has been far the most overlooked. But with it being nearly 30 years since Come and See was released I doubt anybody could produce a more shocking and vivid account of the harsh realities of the cold Eastern front for the partisans in Belarus.

In 1943, Flyora finds an SVT-40 rifle buried near his home in Belarus and the next day is taken by the local partisans to fight in the resistance against the Nazi's. At this point the Russian army has fled leaving his town behind so the locals form militia to try and halt the advance of the fascists. During this time Flyora sees the full effects that war can have on civilians as well as the mental state of all involved as the atrocities continue unabated.

Elem Klimov produces an incredibly stark and raw film based on a book called I am from the Burning village. The film builds up slowly as Flyora spends time with the partisans preparing for the Nazi army but produces an incredible second half which pitches the very worst that humanity can do to each other. Upon its release there were reports that the film was too shocking for viewers with people fainting or walking out. Whilst in a Q&A with the director at the time an elderly German stood up and said: "I was a soldier of the Wehrmacht; moreover, an officer of the Wehrmacht. I traveled through all of Poland and Belarus, finally reaching Ukraine. I will testify: everything that is told in this film is the truth. And the most frightening and shameful thing for me is that this film will be seen by my children and grandchildren."

Flyora (Aleksei Kravchenko) in the hands of the Nazi's

There were rumours after the films release that actor Aleksei Kravchenko was hypnotised to add to his shell shocked look throughout the film. Despite his young age he turns in a truly amazing lead performance as his mind is slowly eroded by the atrocities all around him. The use of the steadicam adds to the amateurish yet realistic type of footage as we see Flyora travel the Belarussian countryside during the war. Klimov didnt make any more movies after this film was released and stated before his death that any more films in him, if this is his legacy then its truly incredible.

3.5/4 Truly stunning war epic which ranks as highly as any other

Film Review: Escape from Alcatraz

Director: Don Siegel

A classic from 1979 that is based on the real life escape of three inmates from the notorious Alcatraz prison. The film marked the fifth and final collaboration between Clint Eastwood and Don Siegel as rumours circulated that they fell out over which companies would have the rights over the production and filming. Over 15 miles of cable were required to give the prison electricity for the entirety of the shoot and many of the scenes were performed by the three main actors Eastwood, Fred Ward, and Jack Thibeau (who had both been cast partly for their athleticism).

The prison on Alcatraz Island

Frank Morris (Eastwood) arrives at Alcatraz Prison in January 1960 after having successfully escaped from other prisons in America, including Atlanta. There he befriends a number of different inmates who help him learn about how Alcatraz is different from any other prison he has been in before, he also has to fight off Wolf (Bruce M. Fisher) who he gets into a fight in the shower with after just a few days. He reunites John and Clarence Anglin (Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau) who decide that they will attempt to escape the prison.

Eastwood performance here is as cool and engrossing as you're likely to see. The rather eccentric characters Morris comes across in prison was a rather new theme at the time and has been copied since. Siegel proves here that nerve-wracking tension wins over pure action in this genre as they plan to escape all under the watchful eyes of the guards. Despite them all being criminals, and possibly too likeable aside from Wolf, you can't help but sympathise with their plight.

Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) in Alcatraz Prison

The film is actually more about prison life for the inmates at Alcatraz than it is about the escape, the plan to escape doesn't develop fully until well into the second half of the movie. Alcatraz was maximum security in every sense of the word and director Don Siegel leaves nothing out in showing us every aspect of the men's lives in this prison. Although the magic of the film is the slow build up to the escape itself. "Some men are never destined to leave Alcatraz alive" but I guess we'll never know for sure whether Frank Morris is one of those men.

3.5/4 Thrilling prison drama

Film Review: Mamma Mia

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

The recent musical romantic comedy that had been receiving rave reviews on Broadway and the West End, based on the songs by ABBA with a few new songs added by Benny Andersson. The film also became a huge success both critically and commercially with it making over half a billion dollars in profit. It will probably stun you to find out that I didn't hate this movie like you'd expect so this won't involve paragraphs of criticisms over the cheerful singing, interesting dance moves and the casting of Pierce Brosnan.

Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing to get married to Sky (Dominic Cooper), she lives on a Greek Island with her mother Donna (Meryl Streep) who runs a rustic villa which is struggling for cash. Sophie learns from her mothers diary that one of three men is her father and she invites all three to the wedding determined to find out who her father is he can walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. So Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth) and Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) arrive in Greece unsure as to the exact reason for their invitations.

The cast during the credits

This sort of film will always polarize critics especially with its cheesy positive vibe throughout but if you dont like ABBA or musicals then I'm not sure why you'd watch it to begin with. The acting, singing and dancing is fun and easy to watch with the exception of Brosnan's voice but more on that later. Amanda Seyfried is unlikely to get a better role suited to her talents as an actress and a singer whilst the Dynamos of Streep, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski add many funny moments.

The dramatic moments certainly dont live up to the fun moments and the choice to cast Pierce Brosnan is bewildering at best considering his poor voice (not his fault really, he gave it a go). But the finale can't help but raise a smile with me and the songs are so catchy you'll be humming them for a week.

2.5/4 Cheesy fun with some catchy songs to boot

This week's releases

X-Men: Days of Future Past: The seventh film in the X-Men series and the second directed by Bryan Singer. It stars an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Nicholas Hoult, Shawn Ashmore, Peter Dinklage, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart.

Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is sent back in time to hopefully change history to avoid the events that are due to happen in the future on Earth.

Postman Pat The Movie: David Tennant and Rupert Grint provide their voices as another British TV favourite is given their movie debut. This animated childrens comedy sees Postman Pat enter a talent show.

Dorothy of Oz: More animated action this week with a new take on the famous Wizard of Oz story with Dorothy (Lea Michele) encountering a different villain named the Jester. All whilst helping out her old friends the lion, the scarecrow and the tin man.

Film Review: Draft Day

Director: Ivan Reitman

The recently released sports drama is looking to cash in on the recent television success of the real NFL draft that continues to see excellent ratings. The film was released in America around a month before the draft just as the analysis and excitement was about to hit fever pitch. With the interest in the sport still being niche in the UK, despite multiple games per year being played at Wembley, means that there is still no official release date set. There are a number of cameos from current players including Arian Foster and other celebrities like Sean Combs as well as all the NFL analysts on the likes of ESPN and the NFL Network.

Sonny Weaver Jr (Kevin Costner) is the General Manager of the long suffering Cleveland Browns ahead of the 2014 NFL draft who just fired his father from being Head Coach. Amongst all this turmoil he is told to "make a splash" by the Brown's owner, Anthony Molina (Frank Langella), to try and ignite the fanbase. He embarks on a battle to determine who the top prospect is as well as working on his secret relationship with Ali Parker (Jennifer Garner) who is a lawyer at the team.

Sonny Weaver Jr (Kevin Costner) and Ali Parker (Jennifer Garner)

The issue with basing an entire film around a fictionalized NFL draft is that it will always struggle to match the excitement of the real thing. The players are unknown to the audience and the pressure of each decision isn't really there for the fans following each pick, despite all the preamble before we aren't heavily invested in the draft decisions of Sonny Weaver Jr or even sure of the implications of his choice. The second issue is that there isn't really much in the way of a satisfying ending, you never really know if its a success or not.

Despite the restrictions on the format, it suffers from a pretty bog standard script and a plot that offers the cliché storylines of the secret girlfriend, the hot headed coach to provide an antagonist and the feeling that everyone is against our man Sonny. It does give a bit of an insight into the war room on draft day but not enough real depth and intrigue for your big NFL fans. A lot of the problems stem from characters basically explaining what's happening while NFL logos appear far more than necessary, its like its major selling point is that its pretty much the lone film endorsed by the NFL itself and unfortunately thats not enough.

1.5/4 Lacks sizzle of the real draft and is formulaic in plot

Film Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Director: Marc Webb

This years follow up movie in the latest reboot of the Spider-Man franchise as Andrew Garfield returns as Peter Parker, the masked hero. The first film opened to mixed reviews but was a commercial success which instantly lead to the announcement of a sequel, with the backstory of how Peter becomes Spider-Man now dealt with it gives the second film much more freedom. This is my Dark Knight theory over how the second film in a trilogy is usually the best as it is not constrained by creating or ending the story to audiences satisfaction.

Spider-Man continues to fight crime in New York City and starts off by stopping a Russian Aleksei (Paul Giamatti) who attempts to steal a truck delivering Plutonium. During the fight to recover the shipment he rescues Oscorp employee Max (Jamie Foxx) who following this event begins to idolize Spider-Man as an escape from the abuse he receives at his day job. At the same time Peter's childhood friend Harry (Dane DeHaan) returns to Manhattan as CEO of Oscorp as his father dies and explains that the illness is hereditary so will affect him to.

Peter Parker with Gwen at graduation

For me this was the film that needed to elevate this franchise to the next level but it suffers badly and is a step down on its predecessor. It is quickly following the previous franchise with Tobey Maguire that slowly unravelled after a reasonably promising start. Andrew Garfield is a decent lead but I never really feel the chemistry between him and Emma Stone, whilst the supposedly funny moments during the fight scenes like when Peter jokes with the villians just appear clumsy and cringe-worthy.

The plot itself suffers from confusion over the over-riding villain with multiple antagonists popping up throughout different parts of the movie. It almost worries itself too much with setting up the next film with a new villain rather than working with the current one, Jamie Foxx's character is overlooked really whilst Dane DeHaan continues his career playing a very similar character to the one that made him known in Chronicle. Overall it just fails to draw you in with excitement and considering two more films have been ordered as a minimum something drastic needs to happen in the next instalment.

1/4 Muddled plot and a script lacking any sort of sharpness

Film Review: Erin Brockovich

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Released in 2000 just as Soderbergh was beginning to make a name for himself in Hollywood, between this and Traffic which was also released in the same year he formally put himself on the map with multiple Oscar nominations. The film is based on the life of Erin Brockovich and she even makes a cameo appearance as a waitress early in the movie.

In 1993, Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) is an unemployed single mother of three children, who has recently been injured in a traffic accident with a doctor and is suing him. Her lawyer, Ed Masry (Albert Finney), expects to win, but Erin's explosive courtroom behavior under cross-examination loses her the case. One day he arrives at work to find her in the office, appearing to do work. She says that he told her things would work out and they didn't, and that she needed a job. He feels bad for her, and decides to give her a try at the office. She then begins to work on cases for him and end sup being embroiled in a complex legal dispute with a large corporation.

Erin Brokovich (Julia Roberts) at her desk

Julia Roberts is simply superb in the role of the single mother just trying to make ends meet, her quick wit and blunt demeanor in conversation really add a comedic element to a serious movie. Roberts carries every scene she is in and quickly become a very likable character to root for as the film unfolds which is critical for a movie of this kind.

The film is apparently reasonably accurate in comparison to real life with only minor amendments made, although apparently the real life boyfriend George wanted to sue over his depiction in the movie. Soderbergh once again scores with another utterly compelling drama as we watch the battle between the masses of the public against a major corporation with much bigger legal backing. Its an easy cause to root for in a movie but with Erin Brokovich as the spearhead you hope they win for her sake as well.

3.5/4 Feel good story interlaced with a sharp sense of humour

This week's releases

Godzilla: A re-booting of the Japanese franchise about arguably the most monster of all-time as the worlds existence is once again threatened. The summer blockbuster season arguably starts here, with The Amazing Spider Man 2 being a bit of a dud, with a stellar cast coming together including Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen.

Touchy Feely: Indie drama by director Lynn Shelton about a massage therapist who becomes scared of physical contact.

Full preview here

The Two Faces of January: A thriller set in Athens in the early sixties, Chester MacFarland (Mortensen) and his alluring younger wife Colette (Dunst), arrive in Athens by boat via the Corinthian Canal. While sightseeing at the Acropolis they encounter Rydal (Isaac), a young, Greek-speaking American who is working as a tour guide, scamming tourists on the side. However, all is not as it seems with the MacFarlands and Chester's affable exterior hides darker secrets.

Film Preview: Interstellar

The latest project for Christopher Nolan moves into the world of sci-fi, it began life in 2006 when Steven Spielberg looked to make the film based on a screenplay by Kip Thorne. Legendary Pictures agreed to forego financing the film Man of Steel sequel in exchange for a part in the funding of this film. An impressive cast was assembled headed by Matt McConaughey but also includes Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck.

Movie Poster

All that is known is that When a wormhole (which hypothetically can connect widely-separated regions of spacetime) is newly discovered, a team of explorers and scientists embark on a voyage through it to transcend previous limitations on human space travel.

So far we only have a teaser trailer which is embedded below and the film is slated to be released in the UK on 7th November 2014.

Film Review: Thor 2

Director: Alan Taylor

Another Marvel Avengers production and the second in the independent Thor series starring Chris Hemsworth in the title role. The film was released in 2013 with the reviews being generally positive but mixed in comparison to the first with critics arguing that it was a stronger/weaker film than its predecessor. Thor 2 actually follows on from Avengers Assemble with Loki being imprisoned for his actions in the film and trying to destroy Earth.

The dark elg Malkeith (Christoper Eccleston) plans to destroy the universe using a mysterious weapon called the Aether which helps make the inhabitant of the weapon incredibly strong and nearly indestructible. Thor is called on to protect Earth as well as his home planet of Asgard from this new threat all while trying to juggle his relationship with Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) on Earth and watching over his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in prison on Asgard.

Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth)

The ending set in London, without giving too much away I hope, was a complete damp squib. With big superhero films like this you really are looking for a final act to blow you away and possible make you forget about some of the duller moments in the middle act. Unfortunately here a grand finale was sadly lacking for a rather dull, trying to be too clever CGI-fest between Thor and Malkeith. The initial premise to set up the battle was intriguing, even if the background of the character Malkeith was grossly under-developed, but it flopped after much anticipation.

It's a very similar film in terms of quality to the previous film, there some good things to it with Tom Hiddleston adding a lot of the best moments as Loki, but it still didn't wholly leave me fascinated and wanting more. A third Thor film is already in the works after the huge financial success of this film at the box office but I'm wanting more than what I've seen in the first two films to be genuinely impressed by this franchise. Possibly a fresh angle on the antagonist threatening the entire universe may help rise this franchise out from the decent to mediocre range in which it currently resides.

1.5/4 Very mixed film, some good but more bad

Film Review: Thor

Director: Kenneth Branagh

The opening superhero action movie in the Thor franchise which is part of the larger Marvel Avengers universe. The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh is mostly known of cinema for his adaptations of Shakespeare plays onto the big screen and will have drawn on his experience of the Greek mythology in working on this piece. The production of the film dates back to 1991 when Sam Raimi worked on the project but he quit leaving it to be picked up by many production companies who all promptly dropped it before it was finally released in 2011.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is preparing to ascend to his place as King of Asgard, taking over from his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) but Thor's refusal to follow his fathers orders means that he is labelled as reckless and not fit for the crown. So he is exiled to Earth without his powers and accompanied by his hammer Mjolnir, now protected by an enchantment that allows only the worthy to wield it. So Thor must learn to change his way to be able to use the hammer and fight the evil Frost Giants who threaten Earth.

Thor trying to lift the hammer from the ground

Unfortunately the film does get bogged down in the creation of Thor's backstory which is a rather clichéd fable about a wayward son who learns the error of his ways. It meant the evil that he fights are more of an afterthought whilst Thor gains his powers and also sparks a romance with Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). The setup for the premise on Asgard was entertaining with the introduction of Loki (Tim Hiddleston) but Thor's banishment to Earth is where the film starts to lose its way but it finishes in grand style which gives it a leg up on it's sequel.

2/4 Has its problems but shows promise ahead of the franchise

This weeks releases

Next Goal Wins: A football documentary about the American Samoa national team who famously lost to Australia 31-0 in 2001. They've hired a Dutch coach and brought in a camera crew to document life at the bottom end of the FIFA rankings. It also deals with the issue of the first transgender player to be selected at International level as the team go in search of small success.

Frank: Following the real life story of Frank Sidebottom (played by Michael Fassbender) through the eyes of Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) as he joins The Freshies band and realises how eccentric their lead man is. Maggie Gyllenhaal also appears in this comedy.

The Wind Rises: From the creators of Spirited Away, a stellar cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt and John Krasinski take on the voices of lead characters Jiro and Honjo respectively in this animated Japanese drama. The film is A look at the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed Japanese fighter planes during World War II.

Film Review: The Fifth Estate

Director: Bill Condron

The political landscape of data security and public knowledge was brought to the very forefront of the debate after the leaks from WikiLeaks over a number of years exposed corporations and governments. Julian Assange is still holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy as we speak after being sought in Sweden and America on legal charges. Benedicte Cumberbatch plays the almost anti-hero Assange here and actually spoke with him about the role as he is a supporter of the work WikiLeaks has done.

Julian Assange (Cumberbatch) with Domschiet-Berg (Bruhl) and two WikiLeaks employees 

Assange labelled the film as "serious propaganda" but this was always likely as it showed him to be incredibly stubborn, hostile and totally inconsiderate to the cause of others. Plus films are always known to embellish facts to suit the ends of the producers. To be fair to Cumberbatch he does a good job of portraying that immensely focussed but socially astranged WikiLeaks founder, whilst Bruhl continues to impress as the more conscientious Domshiet-Berg who naturally comes off the better in the movie since it was based on his book.

Comparisons have been made to the film The Social Network which was always going to be more popular at the box office due to Facebook's huge popularity over a political cause like Wikileaks. But the big difference is the Aaron Sorkin written script for The Social Network is what makes the movie truly brilliant and it is sadly what is lacking from The Fifth Estate, the interactions between the characters fails to get off the ground leaving you feeling inert. The story itself starts off in reasonably emphatic fashion but fails to build off this early momentum before slowly crawling to its finale which is obviously dogged by the fact we know what happens.

1.5/4 Overloaded in detail and lacks punchy script

This week's releases

Neighbours: A couple with a newborn baby (Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne) soon realise that their idyllic street is under threat as a fraternity moves in next door. The fraternity is run by Teddy (Zac Efron) and the pranks and jokes get out of hand as both parties trying to upstage the other in this crazy comedy.

Brick Mansions: An undercover Detroit cop (Paul Walker) navigates a dangerous neighborhood that's surrounded by a containment wall with the help of an ex-con in order to bring down a crime lord and his plot to devastate the entire city.

Tarzan: Re-make of the original by German animation houses as they hope to kickstart a new franchise. Tarzan and Jane Porter face a mercenary army dispatched by the evil CEO of Greystoke Energies

Film Review: Phantoms

Director: Joe Chappelle

A 1998 science-fiction film based on the novel of the same name by Dean Koontz that was universally panned by critics upon its release. The film became known because of references being made to it in the Kevin Smith films Mallrats and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back where many characters include Affleck himself quoted "Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms". Infact this in-joke is what drove me to see the film itself.

Sisters Jennifer (Joanna Going) and Lisa (Rose McGowan) arrive in the small resort town of Snowfield, Colorado but find the town is deserted. They soon discover corpses and severed heads which leads them to believe a serial killer is on the loose, they run into Sheriff Bryce Hammond (Affleck) and his two deputies Stu Wargle (Liev Schreiber) and Steve Shanning (Nicky Katt). As the strange goings on continue at a local hotel they realise that it's something all together different that is terrorizing the town.

Sheriff Bryce Hammond (Ben Affleck) and Jennifer Paige (Joanna Going)

The early setup in the film is intriguing as you'd expect in a horror sci-fi movie, there are attacks but you have no idea what is causing them and how they are doing it. Incredibly tense even if the music is a little clichéd but as with so many films of this type it's hard to know how to portray the antagonist without sucking out all the fear and tension from the film. This is where Phantoms really falls by the wayside, ignoring the almost laughably bad script and terrible acting from the likes of Rose McGowan and surprisingly Liev Schreiber. This film really wanted to be like the next Alien franchise but ends up being another poor and forgotten horror movie (if it wasn't for Kevin Smith).

1.5/4 Dreadful script and plot development kill off any early potential but Affleck was the bomb