Monsters University

Director: Dan Scanlon
Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Helen Mirren, Steve Buscemi (Voices)
Released UK: 12th July 2013

Long before best friends Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal, When Harry Met Sally) and James P. ‘Sully’ Sullivan (John Goodman, Argo) came to work together at Monsters Inc, they were actually rivals on the scare programme at Monsters University. Forced to share a dorm room Sully an alumnae high school jock, and geeky bookworm Mike have nothing in common and bickering ensues. Its only after an accidental mishap causes them both to be kicked off the course, that they find a way to work together as friends to fight their way back onto the course.

It’s been over a decade since we last saw the adventures of Sully and Mike when their lives were disrupted by a little human girl called Boo, so what’s taken so long for the sequel to come about, and has it been worth the wait?

There are some delightful little treasures in this film. Blink and you’ll miss em’ cameos from Monsters Inc, brilliant comedic writing and some wonderfully acentric creatures. It is indeed a witty and entertaining film, and once again Pixar proves why theyre top gods with dazzling animation and gorgeous use of colours and textures. Every single hair on Sully, and every glint in Mike’s eyeball brought about in super clear crisp high definition. We even get treated to another turn from Steve Buscemi’s mastermind Randall, with a backstory here to explain his reasons for future villainy at Monsters Inc.

However its hard not to feel a bit bored with the whole idea. Monsters Inc came out in 2001, was there really any need in the first place for a sequel, or specifically here a ‘prequel?’ Audiences have moved on. Sadly Pixar it seems is running out of ideas, with a sequel to 2003’s Finding Nemo currently in pre-production, while the most unsuccessful of the Pixar franchise Cars has now spawned a spin-off movie Planes coming out soon. From a team that brought you such wonderful films such as Up and Wall-E, its hard to believe they couldn’t find any other idea to pursue. Fortunately Monsters University is as fun and charming as it’s popular predecessor, and even matches the heights of previous moneymaking blockbuster sequels Toy Story 2 and 3.

It doesn’t excuse the fact that it’s a bit of a disappointing idea stretched out far enough.

It will undoubtedly make a lot of money, and rightly so as it is in no way a bad sequel and is just as beautifully constructed as the others films, but more original stories next time please Pixar!

VERDICT: * * *

Another colourful display of animation perfection we’ve all come to expect from the brilliant Pixar team. Funny, clever and great for children and adults alike, Monsters University is a success. Just a shame they couldn’t think of anything original to pursue instead.

Monsters University is released in UK cinemas from Friday 12^th July and will be released on DVD later this year. Monsters Inc is available on Blu-Ray and DVD now.

Robot & Frank

ON DVD NOW

Director: Jake Schreier

Starring: Frank Langella, Susan Surrenadon, James Marsden and Peter Sarsgaard (Voice)

Released: 15th July 2013

The relationship between man and robot has been covered quite extensively on screen. Films like I Robot and A.I explored a mature imaginative approach to a futuristic world where robots live among us, while family orientated films like Short Circuit and even Wall-E captured the heart of a nation, showing cute little friends who just wanted to be accepted and loved. The Terminator has become a fan favourite, one of the biggest films of all time spawning several sequels (lets not dwell too much on Bicentennial Man).

Much like the surge in vampires and zombies, Robots have become popular culture, so how long will it be before we actually start introducing them into our homes? Jake Schreier’s Robot & Frank addresses this issue, with this year’s oddball comedy release.

Set in the not too distant future, where technology has evolved one step further, robots are more frequently being used for all day-to-day chores and jobs. They are used in libraries, pick up the shopping and even drive cars. Frank (Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon) is a retired cat burglar living on his own, but after frequent sings of losing his memory, his concerned son (James Marsden, X-Men) buys him a robot (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard, An Education) to help around the house.

Despite his initial reluctance at having a machine in his house telling him what to do, Frank begrudgingly agrees to use it. It is then that Frank has an idea to use the robot to help him rekindle his love of petty crime.

Frank’s relationship with the robot is quite charming, and the bond that develops is both touching and at times very comical. Sarsgaard’s deadpan performance for the voice of robot is brilliantly timed, in a move of perfect casting. The resulting relationship and dialogue between the unlikely friends often-hysterical scene steeling moments. In one brilliant scene, Frank’s librarian friend (played by Susan Sarandon) introduces her robot eloquently named Mr Darcy to Frank’s robot, where they then try and persuade the two robots to ‘mingle’ and start a conversation of their own. It’s a short-lived conversation, but absolutely hilarious.

The deeper the friendship grows and the more interaction Frank and the robot have with one another, the more robot naturally develops a human-like personality with the odd genuine feeling and emotion normally devoid in machines. His initial reluctance to help Frank thieving is unsurprising, but what follows is genuinely touching as the robot struggles with its conscience.

Langella is an actor of superb calibre, and while he often shies away from bigger projects, its also nice to see him in a more relaxed role. The character of Frank is ruggedly loveable, easily charming those around him as well as the audience.

VERDICT: * * * *

It’s a delightful and sweet little comedy, and with that extra twist at the end, one not to be missed, with show stopping performances from both Langella and Sarsgaard.

Robot & Frank is released on Blu-Ray and DVD in the UK from Monday 15^th July.

The Summit

Climbing Mount Everest is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences any adventurer can have. Yet despite being the second-highest mountain on earth, K2 which lies between the borders of Pakistan and China, with its high altitude, lack of oxygen, and its tendency to be victim to severe storms, is by far one of the most dangerous mountains on earth. It is renowned for being extremely difficult to conquer.

For every four people who have reached the Summit, one person has either died trying or died on the descent, the most dangerous part of the climb. Along with the four base camps to reach before the top, there are treacherous crevices and passageways, (known on K2 as the ‘bottleneck’) to overcome as well as impossible vertical walls of ice and snow. One slip up and you’re history. In the past 17 years, all fatalities on K2 have occurred in or around the bottleneck, proving K2’s history of deadly upper slopes.

2008 proved to be one of the worst and most tragic mountaineering disasters in recent history, when 11 men out of 22 people from several different hiking groups were killed when a large piece of ice (known as a ‘serac’) fell during an avalanche destroying lifeline rope equipment and killing instantly any mountaineer in its path. Among the dead were three men from South Korea, two of which were cousins, and Gerard ‘Gerry’ McDonnell, the first Irishman to ever reach the summit.

Director Nick Ryan and his team travel to K2 to uncover exactly what happened that day in an extraordinarily insightful, factual and engrossing documentary, with heart breaking discoveries. With the use of archive footage, recreations and interviews with survivors from the tragedy and relatives from those who were killed, the end result is very moving and emotional.

The superb cinematography and quality of filming gets as close to the action as you would ever wish to be. A gripping tale of man versus nature.

VERDICT: * * * * *

This compelling and haunting film was shown at both the recent London and Sundance Film Festivals, highlighted as one of the best documentaries of the year. 

If you enjoyed the excellent The Wildest Dream back in 2010, then this is definitely up your alley. A superb film and one that lingers with you.

To find out more about The Summit and to see the trailer, visit: http://www.sundance-london.com/event/summit