Reel Magic: Transformers: Age of Extinction

This fourth installment follows the inevitable pattern, provoking ire from film buffs for its over-reliance on special effects over storyline, shameless product placement and bloated running length (165 minutes).

The blockbuster is also on course to break the billion-dollar barrier like its 2011 predecessor, Dark of the Moon.

Mark Wahlberg replaces Shia ‘not famous anymore’ LaBeouf in the lead role, while Nicola Peltz provides the eye candy formerly offered by Megan Fox and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

The storyline sees Wahlberg’s mechanic Cade Yeager joining forces with the noble Autobots to save the Earth once more, with the popular Dinobots also making an appearance.

Much of the film also takes place in Hong Kong in an attempt to appeal to the rapidly growing Chinese market for American cinema.

The move proved successful, as Age of Extinction became China’s highest grossing film of all time earlier this month, with takings of $225 million.

“Another overlong and over-the-top action extravaganza,” said Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian.

“The cinematic equivalent of being repeatedly hit over the head with a food mixer,” said Alan Jones of Radio Times.

Transformers: Age of Extinction currently has a 17% rating on rottentomatoes.com and a 6.3/10 rating on imdb.com.

TRIVIA

• Dubstep artist Skrillex worked on sound design for the movie, helping to provide “the craziest Skrillex sounds I could ever make” for the Dinobots.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Following up 2011’S surprisingly impressive Planet of the Apes reboot, this new tale gives us another blockbuster with brains, heart and adrenaline aplenty.

Humanity is on its last legs thanks to the spread of a virus which stemmed from the same San Francisco laboratory as the super-intelligent ape Caesar (Andy Serkis), who now serves as the leader for his rapidly evolving species.

A small society of people immune from the virus sends a team into the apes’ forest as they attempt to access a hydroelectric dam, and discover that their simian counterparts have learned to speak.

Caesar attempts to quell the enormous mistrust for humans in his ranks, which is continually stoked by the hate-filled Koba (Toby Kebbell), as war between man and monkey looms.

“An extremely high-functioning sci-fi thriller about extremely high-functioning apes. Some of it may seem silly in the recounting, or in the trailer, but it doesn’t feel silly in the theatre,” said Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal.

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the best and brainiest blockbuster of the summer, the kind of movie you hope for when you pay your money and buy your popcorn,” said Peter Howell of The Toronto Star.

A third film is slated for summer 2016.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes currently has a 91% rating on rottentomatoes.com and an 8.3/10 rating on imdb.com.

TRIVIA

• In an interview for Dawn, Andy Serkis confirmed that he is set to direct a live action film version of The Jungle Book for Warner Bros.

Planes: Fire & Rescue

Yet another sequel hitting UAE screens this week – a haul of five from six – is Planes: Fire & Rescue, which continues from where last year’s Planes left off.

The Disney children’s flick reintroduces us to Dusty Crophopper (Dane Cook), now a famous air racer after overcoming his fear of flying in the first movie. However, Dusty is devastated when his engine is damaged, meaning he may never race again. Taking a different path, the anthropomorphic plane decides to join a forest fire and rescue unit.

Also providing their voices for the tale are Stacy Keach, Julie Bowen, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher and Danny Mann. Reviewers have deemed the film mediocre, but nonetheless an improvement on the flimsy original.

“Vivid and folksy, Fire & Rescue nicely exceeds expectations,” said Lisa Kennedy of The Denver Post.

“It’s generic stuff, unless you’re a kid who’s really into playing with toy planes and trains and cars,” said Sara Stewart of The New York Post.

Planes: Fire & Rescue currently has a 44% rating on rottentomatoes.com and a 5.8/10 rating on imdb.com.

TRIVIA

• To help prepare for the film, its makers worked for a period with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

THE PURGE: ANARCHY

When last year’s low-budget, high-concept horror The Purge proved a runaway hit, its sequel was quickly greenlit by Universal Pictures.

The Purge: Anarchy has performed admirably as well, which means that the series will likely extend into yet more mayhem-filled action.

The year is 2023, and for another 12 hours the USA is about to descend into another bout of government-approved lawlessness. Anything goes during this period, as the powers that be allow citizens to destroy one another in a form of population control.

But what happens to those stuck outside during the chaos?

Frank Grillo and Carmen Ejogo star in the tale, which like the original is written and directed by James DeMonaco.

“The Purge: Anarchy is basically a slasher movie in which society is the deranged killer. It plays like it’s already a grindhouse classic – dark, dirty, and disreputable,” said Bilge Ebiri of New York Magazine.

“Make no mistake, a good ‘Purge’ does not equal a good movie, but the post-apocalyptic thriller is slightly more interesting because it takes itself, and its menace, more seriously,” said Betsy Sharkey of The Los Angeles Times.

The Purge: Anarchy currently has a 56% rating on rottentomatoes.com and a 7.1/10 rating on imdb.com.

TRIVIA

• The film’s producers include Jason Blum (the man behind the Paranormal Activity franchise) and Michael Bay.

Step up: all in

A host of stars from the Step Up franchise return for its fifth outing, built around a dance contest in Las Vegas.

Ryan Guzman and Briana Evigan star in the dance spectacular, which is directed by Trish Sie – who won a Grammy for indie band OK Go’s 2006 music video Here it Goes Again, featuring the four-piece performing choreography on treadmills.

No reviews have come through as yet for the flick, which is scheduled for an August release in the States.

Step Up: All In currently has no rating on rottentomatoes.com and a 6.5/10 rating on imdb.com.

TRIVIA

• Briana Evigan is the daughter of Greg Evigan – star of cult TV shows from yesteryear including B.J. and the Bear and My Two Dads.

Tammy

Melissa McCarthy continues her run as America’s hottest comedienne with yet another commercial hit.

Tammy, which has already quadrupled its $20 million budget in takings, sees the Bridesmaids actress teaming up with her real-life husband Ben Falcone. Together, the spouses co-wrote the script, with Falcone also directing and taking on a small acting part.

When Tammy loses her job at a fast food restaurant, she returns home only to discover that her husband is cheating on her. Desperate to escape her hellish life, Tammy heads to Niagara Falls on a road trip with her foul-mouthed grandmother Pearl (Susan Sarandon).

“The film progresses from merely unfunny to unconvincing to dull,” said Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter.

“Without a strong story or well-defined character to guide her, McCarthy resorts to old tricks and repeated routines,” said Rafer Guzman of Newsday.

Tammy currently has a 23% rating on rottentomatoes.com and a 4.7/10 rating on imdb.com.

TRIVIA

• The film begins in Tammy’s home state of Illinois – which is also where both McCarthy and Falcone hail from.