Mac's Movies

UK Release Date: 30 September 2015 Certification: 12A Director: Ridley Scott Cast: Sean Bean, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor,  Kate Mara, Michael Peña, Sebastian Stan, Kristen Wiig, Benedict Wong Rating: 82% Bring Him Home.  Review:  The Martian , based on Andy Weir's debut science fiction novel, is Ridley Scott's best film since Gladiator . I mean no matter how good or bad the finished product is, a Ridley Scott film is always going to look out of this world - literally and metaphorically. He's able to make Mars look interesting beyond the fact that it's not Earth. He brings life to a desolate world with the vibrant oranges and the flourishes of other colours throughout the film that just pop.  Essentially, The Martian is Castaway in space. And similarly, to Tom Hanks in Castaway , Matt Damon carries the film with his performance. Playing, Mark Watney, an astronaut who finds himself stranded on Mars, having to create water an...

UK Release Date: 18 January 2002 Certification: 15 Director: Ridley Scott Cast: Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Ewen Bremner, Tom Hardy, Josh Hartnett, Jason Isaacs, Ewan McGregor, Sam Shepard, Tom Sizemore Rating: 75% Leave No Man Behind.  Review: Ridley Scott ensures technical brilliance in every film he's involved in and that's no different in the case of  Black Hawk Down . The overall film doesn't hold up to some of his other features -  Alien ,  Blade Runner  and  Gladiator  - but technically it's just as good. The editing and sound is immersive for which it won an academy award for both. And the dull grey and green colours help blood stains and explosions pop that little bit more.  Whilst the ensemble cast assembled for Black Hawk Down is incredible, very few characters have any development due to conflicting  screen time. Josh Hartnett does a great job as the leading man giving a convincing display of a soldier who is out of his depth. S...

UK Release Date: 12 May 2000 Certification: 15 Director: Ridley Scott Cast: Spencer Treat Clark, Russel Crowe, Richard Harris, Djimon Hounsou, Connie Nielsen, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed Rating: 86% We who are about to die, salute you! Review: I didn't know a lot about Gladiator and wasn't expecting too much having endured Ridley Scott's 2008 lethargic remake of Robin Hood . But Gladiator is an excellent movie. It actually won five Oscars in 2001, including Best Picture and Best Actor. The action is incredible. The use of medieval weapons and t he fact that the movie uses iconic venues like the Colosseum makes the action realistic and believable. Joaquin Phoenix, who plays Commodus, appears to be auditioning for Joker 19 years before he landed the role. Phoenix delivers an extremely creepy but brilliant villain with no redeeming qualities. The main actor Russel Crowe is also great in his role as Maximus, t he gladiator who defied an empire . His char...