On the big screen: Mr Holmes

When I saw the trailer for Mr. Holmes, I was intrigued by what it was going to be like though I was quite willing to wait until it was available to buy before seeing it. But on a rare Saturday night out, I found myself watching the very film.

We all have that image of Sherlock Holmes in our head: the deerstalker & the pipe, but what we have in Mr Holmes is none of that (apparently that image was conjured up by none other than Doctor. Watson who wrote the tales). No, here in Mr Holmes we have the 93 year old retired Holmes returning from a trip to Japan and turning his thoughts to the case that caused him to retire while battling with his senility.

I was expecting the film to be more a narrated flashback where in actual fact we’re presented with him recalling the fateful case while almost aiding Roger (Milo Parker, who I think we’ll be hearing more of in the future and is one to watch) solve the case of the dying bees in the apiary which, to all ends, shows a side of Holmes that is rarely portrayed in adaptations: a caring side. The last person in the ‘main’ trio is Laura Linney, who plays the frustrated housekeeper & mother to Roger, Mrs Munro. Ian McKellen’s portrayal both as the 93 year old & his 30 years younger self are brilliant, even if, for me, I could see hint of old Gandalf there (and hopefully this might get a nod come award season!)

I’ve seen quite a few BBC Films (apparently they’ve been making them for 25 years!) but this for me as a film felt a little dragged out for it’s 104 min run time. For me, I could have seen this being made into a series and being shown on Sunday night, maybe as three part-er and it bringing in the viewers. But as a film it seemed a little long.

So in short: catch it just now if you must but it might be a case that can wait until it’s released later in the year.

On The Big Screen: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I loved the original Best Exotic Marigold Hotel back in 2012. There were scenes in it that I could relate to at that moment in time. When I saw that there was a second one at the tail end of last year, I didn't hesitate about my decision to see the follow up. I'm not going to lie though I did have reservations about it.

I mean, the first film was intriguing given it's concept of a group of older adults head off to a foreign country to a calamity of a hotel. Now, we're a few years down the line with Sonny (Dev Patel) looking at expanding his business but it's not without it's as straight forward as he expects (would we expect it to be?) as well as his forthcoming nuptials to Sunaina (Tina Desi) Our faithful residents are still here and have taken on jobs. (Muriel (Maggie Smith) is co-manager at the first hotel, Evenlyn (Judi Dench) is a fabric sourcer for a company, Douglas (Bill Nighy) is a ‘tour’ guide, Norman & Madge (Ronald Pickup & Celia Imrie) are managing the The Viceroy Club & Carol (Diana Hardcastle) is in the travel agency) 

And here in lies the problem: Once you’ve been re-introduced, the film seems slow, not the haphazardness of the first one that kept the pace. There are still the laughs though not in as much quantity of the first. The return of Jean (Penelope Wilton), looking for a divorce, feels awkward and disjointed and not entirely sure whether there's something missing. In some instances, I can't help thinking that if it had only been Douglas’ daughter Laura (Claire Price) & not Jean, it may have worked better. I did have my reservations about Richard Gere being involved in the film, however, his character, Guy, slotted in perfectly to the already existing cast

Was a sequel needed? Probably not as the first did finish on a nice little note and left you wondering what did happen next but felt complete. I can't help feeling that they left a few loose ends by the end of this one, but I'm quietly hoping that there isn't another film. There comes a point where you need to recognise that something is finished and not drag it out (Disney, I'm looking at you with regards Toy Story! The third one ended everything nicely no need to milk that any more!)

So in short: if you enjoyed the first visit, you'll probably enjoy the second but expect a placid ride to the last bumpy one.

On the big Screen – Kingsman: The Secret Service

So finally after months of waiting, I’ve seen Kingsman: The Secret Service. I first saw a trailer for it via one of these surveys things and instantly fell in love with it. But it’s seems like months since that happened but now that it’s finally out, I pop along to see it at the local Vue cinema, making use of their lovely Super Tuesday offer (thanks Vue!)

I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t to a certain extent what I thought it was going to be. I had initially thought that it was going to be some spoof of all those spy movies & TV shows that had gone before. And to some extent, for me, it is. But it also feels as if this fill a gap in the genre too. Making use of today’s issues such as climate change, technology & class divide give it that modern day approach but isn’t delivered in this ‘been there, done it all’ feeling.

Cast wise, I loved the almost chalk & cheese approach with Colin Firth & Taron Egerton’s characters (Harry Hart & Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin respectively) loveable given the posh, well spoken meeting the ‘streets’. Mark Strong’s Merlin (almost akin to Bond’s Q) complete with Scottish accent is brilliant too…ok so maybe I’m being biased here cause I’m Scottish but the delivery of one line near the end of the film just sounded like something that you’d hear screeched on the streets of Glasgow. The only issue that I sort of had was with Samuel L. Jackson. It just felt odd seeing him play a character (Valentine) who’s sick/scared at the sight of blood when we’re so used to seeing him being the kick ass and being the one causing the blood.

There is one scene that I did feel lowered the tone and was  felt not needed (again, near the end) not with how well everything had been going before now. Otherwise this was a fairly enjoyable film and not my usual outing. Wouldn’t mind viewing it again. There’s probably small things that I missed the first time round…now…wonder if we’d get a director’s or unedited version when it releases on DVD…apparently some scenes were dropped to get it’s 15 rating.