Jean-Claude Van Damme Bolts (Upward)
This week it’s the return of animation and Jean-Claude Van Damme on DVD. I did warn you that the award-nominated film releases were over! But that's not a reason to stay away from either of these films.
I’ll start with Bolt - in 3D! But this film is not as good as say, Beowulf, showing at the IMAX. You never really feel anything is coming out at you, and the whole 3D experience is slightly mild. This is a shame as the film is also lacking in the edgy dialogue we’ve become used to with the likes of Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc & The Incredibles.
But let’s have a heart. It’s Valentine Weekend after all, and I assure you no man can do better than finishing off the weekend by taking his lady to see this on Sunday afternoon. John Travolta is the voice of an adorable dog named Bolt, who is the lead dog actor on a TV show about a super dog protecting his teenage owner Penny, played by Disney star Miley Cyrus. Little does Bolt know his powers are the magic of studio settings, stunt actors and pyrotechnics, until he escapes and is transported to New York where his adventure begins. You’ll meet some equally adorable characters, including a hilariously geeky hamster, making way for a pleasant 90 minutes of viewing. The ladies will say, “Aawww”, and the gents will get a giggle or two, so in the end it’s the only choice for the cinema this weekend.
This week's other option is a DVD called JCVD. There was huge hype about this project for months, and after I watched a screening of this I was hugely disappointed that it went straight to DVD. Van Damme plays himself in this small budget film following his movements over the period of a day with the help of flashbacks. Van Damme finds himself at rock bottom after a horrible custody battle over his daughter, getting overworked and injured on set, loosing movie roles to his nemesis Steven Segal, and with no money to pay his legal fees. As he enters a post office to get what money he has left in his account, a bank robbery takes place and he is framed as the leader.
In my eyes, Van Damme deserves the same recognition as Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler as he deconstructs himself in a six-minute monologue that will leave you stunned in disbelief and pity. A man who was - and still is - an icon to most who lived through the ‘80s and ‘90s took a huge gamble to step out of his comfort zone for his shot to get back in the game. But he was unfortunately let down by the PR and marketing people for this film.
They made a fundamental flaw, but you will be making an even greater error in judgment by not giving JCVD the acknowledgment, and Van Damn the praise he deserves for this moment of brilliance.
But let’s have a heart. It’s Valentine Weekend after all, and I assure you no man can do better than finishing off the weekend by taking his lady to see this on Sunday afternoon. John Travolta is the voice of an adorable dog named Bolt, who is the lead dog actor on a TV show about a super dog protecting his teenage owner Penny, played by Disney star Miley Cyrus. Little does Bolt know his powers are the magic of studio settings, stunt actors and pyrotechnics, until he escapes and is transported to New York where his adventure begins. You’ll meet some equally adorable characters, including a hilariously geeky hamster, making way for a pleasant 90 minutes of viewing. The ladies will say, “Aawww”, and the gents will get a giggle or two, so in the end it’s the only choice for the cinema this weekend.
This week's other option is a DVD called JCVD. There was huge hype about this project for months, and after I watched a screening of this I was hugely disappointed that it went straight to DVD. Van Damme plays himself in this small budget film following his movements over the period of a day with the help of flashbacks. Van Damme finds himself at rock bottom after a horrible custody battle over his daughter, getting overworked and injured on set, loosing movie roles to his nemesis Steven Segal, and with no money to pay his legal fees. As he enters a post office to get what money he has left in his account, a bank robbery takes place and he is framed as the leader.
In my eyes, Van Damme deserves the same recognition as Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler as he deconstructs himself in a six-minute monologue that will leave you stunned in disbelief and pity. A man who was - and still is - an icon to most who lived through the ‘80s and ‘90s took a huge gamble to step out of his comfort zone for his shot to get back in the game. But he was unfortunately let down by the PR and marketing people for this film.
They made a fundamental flaw, but you will be making an even greater error in judgment by not giving JCVD the acknowledgment, and Van Damn the praise he deserves for this moment of brilliance.
Here Is The Writer : Omer Bhatti
Omer Bhatti, Head Sales Trader of WorldSpreads and markets commentator during the week, is always happy to go to a cushy cinema and devour films on the weekend. No film is ruled out, be it French film noir, Hollywood CGI action, or Japanese Manga. Look to Omer for input on where to go and what to see, whether it’s for a first date, family outing, Sunday recovery session, or guy's - or girl's - night out. (Just don't make him watch Sex & the City again.)
view more articles by Omer Bhatti
