Sunny Grewal’s August film watch

August 16 2014

First up, a special announcement : Sunny (above left) and his wife (Sunny and Shay) are now going to be fronting a show on BBC West Midlands 95.6FM (here) between 2-4pm, every Monday to Thursday. Be sure to listen in when they start from August 25! Congratulations Sunny!
You can continue to hear the couple on their signature BBCLondon94.9FM show every Sunday between 6pm-8pm. It’s here

Hey, another month of movies, and I’m really happy about last month’s – as you keep reading down you will see the review for “Dawn of The Planet of The Apes” and also “Guardians of the Galaxy” – even though they came out this month I did mention them.
But let us get straight onto the matter in hand – what shall I do this month, how am I going to spend my money and how am I going to impress my friends with the choice of films that I am going to see? Well let’s start off by rating the trailers out of five…

“The Inbetweeners2” – It’s a British film and did very well when Part 1 came out. There’s a lot of stuff coming out of Channel 4 (it had a successful TV run on the channel). It’s basically uncomfortable comedy and before you watch this film, it would be good to catch up on the box sets on Sky and Channel 4 who are doing a big push on this film because it’s very much their movie. So, do catch up with the antics of these lovely young men.
The trailer isn’t really selling the movie to be honest – I am not excited from having watched the full trailer but, because I know the history of the boys, I am excited.
Get to know who these guys are, immerse yourself in the history – watch it and give it more than two episodes before you judge it – and you will get into the humour – I didn’t like them at the beginning but now I am a big fan. Part II is coming out and deservedly so.
Trailer rating: 2

“The Expendables 3” If you were born in the 1980s, influenced by people like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzneggar or Antonio Banderas and if you are into Western cinema – Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Wesley Snipes and Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, then you will be excited about this movie! To put these men in a film in the 1980s was unthinkable, it was in fact unquestionable. Any one of those men would charge ‘x’ amount of money and so forget about the story or the film, you were just paying the wages for the big names. But we now live in the year 2014 and one man named Mr Sylvester Stallone, who gave us great films from my childhood and youth like “Rocky”, “Rambo”, “Demolition Man”- and you could argue with me about this – but also the best version of “Judge Dredd“, has now brought us “The Expendables”, not 1, not 2 , but the third instalment. And he has done what no one could do in the 1980’s – he’s brought all the big names back in The Expendables franchise! They say this is going to be the last outing whilst these men still have their pacemakers and are still kicking, and I for one am excited!!!
Wesley Snipes joins the gang, you’ve got Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas and a couple of new names in there – Jason Statham’s in there as well. All I am saying man, is we are in for a treat – if you have seen the other films, it is pure out action and it doesn’t make any sense sometimes, but it is just escape…and that is the kind of movie I like.
Trailer rating: 5 skulls

“Lucy” Scarlett Johansson is making her first outing in an action film. As you know she is no stranger to action, because she plays the Black Widow in “The Avengers”. If Marvel were ever thinking about making a standalone movie with her at the forefront, she can hold our attention to the action sequences – this is a testament to what she can do.
The trailer has already piqued my interest – it looks amazing, she looks amazing.
I don’t think she is the most beautiful woman in the world, or the best actress, but this trailer has definitely got my attention. The trailer tells you the whole story but you are really watching it for the action sequences and what is the outcome. The trailer tells you straight – they are experimenting with maximising brain power and somehow her brain connectivity has gone up to 100 per cent, but there is a sort of clock ticking against her. It tells you a lot in the trailer – so if what I’ve said so far has given too much away, don’t watch the trailer but if you a want bit more on the visuals and you’re not sold on it, definitely watch the trailer.
Trailer rating: 2 brains

“Let’s be Cops” – Fun comedy, if you want something light this is for you. It says it all in the trailer, “fake cops, real trouble.” That’s the tag line on the poster, people doing fancy dress and in cops’ uniform and from the trailer, they’re taking it a bit too far…and it just seems like a good fun movie to go and watch. If you like a laugh, you’ve got “The Inbetweeners” and these guys happening – I am going to go out and watch it just to switch off.
Trailer rating: 2 sirens

“Million Dollar Arm” – the trailer for this been around a long time. It’s Disney’s venture into India (about finding two professional baseball pitchers from India). This was part of the mid-gala massive showpiece screening at the London Indian Film Festival, which was covered extensively by www.asianculturevulture and the site also hosted one of the films, “Hank and Asha” as part of the festival. I had the honour of meeting the producer Mark Ciardi and actor Madhur Mittal (Shay and I hosted the Q&A after the screening). Saw this film twice and the trailer, I’d seen before. If you like real life films, you will like this. It’s a Disney production, and it’s an underdog story and it does what it says on the tin. It’s based on true events which was heart-warming to watch. I am almost going to give you a review of the film now – I saw it twice – second time round I enjoyed it more. The first time I thought it was okay. I don’t know why that is.
I think Jon Hamm (in his first major screen role following the success of TV series, “Mad Men”) is an amazing actor, he’s not stretched, he’s not doing anything challenging, but he is very watchable and he carries this film very well. I very much enjoyed his performance as I did with “Mad Men” – he’s done the job, he’s not outside his comfort zone. It’s a family film and one that I do recommend to watch over the summer!
Trailer rating (first viewing):2
After second viewing: 3.5

Badabing Badaboom!
Now for my reviews from last month…

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” – It’s a prequel, the trailer can give a lot away about the film and so did the viral trailer which I raved about (last month). I was really excited to watch this film on the basis of the trailers and all the marketing that went into this film.
I wasn’t disappointed – because I got more apes and more of what was happening in the ape community – it was almost like a documentary on apes, it was so well done. I really did enjoy it. The whole Shakespearan take on the storyline was great – the lead ape character is called Caesar and it is no accident. The best film so far this year. Definitely go and watch it. I am going to buy the DVD – I’m sure there are going to be a lot of extra features – there’s a lot of talk about the special effects that were used in this film, the apes looked so real. It was really a fun movie to watch and I was surprised the trailer didn’t spoil it for me.
Sunny rating: 4 stars (out of five)

“Joe” has been released in the cinema and on Sky, and I haven’t seen it – it’s that simple. I just haven’t had time with all the stuff we have with “As We Proceed”, (Sunny and Shay’s youtube channel). I very much watch these movies on my own back and I do try and watch them if I recommend them. I do want to go and watch this film and from the trailer, I am still excited.
In the future please look out for my review for Joe – but if you have seen it (it is available in Sky store), tweet and tell me about Nicolas Cage’s performance and tell me how you rate it. I am being honest, I am like you guys – I don’t get to go to everything I recommend now because of all the stuff around, “As We Proceed” – okay, enough rambling and making excuses…

“Earth to Echo” I decided to send my family to watch this as it is a family movie whilst everyone is on summer holidays! My niece who is seven, nephew who is five and their mum my sister watched this and have given me their honest opinion.
This is on the basis mainly of my sister – the kids were very much entertained and stayed in their seats, which is very important for a film made for children. My sister also said it wasn’t that confusing – it reminded her of “ET” and “Batteries not Included” which I mentioned in my preview last month. The film has done its job. For the more critical review, I will have to wait till it comes on Sky and if you have seen it, tell me what you think…She mentioned that for parents who want to take their children to see a fun family film over the summer holidays this is for you!
Rating: 4

“Guardians of the Galaxy” – At the beginning of this column, I did mention how excited I am about this particular movie…
Well, Marvel have done it again.
I watched it in 2D and I am going to watch it again in 3D.
Rocket (racoon, Bradley Cooper) is another figurine I need to add to my collection. Shay is not going to be happy about this – but she married a man who is very much into his comics and supernatural world. I am waiting for the next instalment already, I have become a fan. If you have not heard of “The Guardians of the Galaxy“, this is Marvel, if you know about comic books, you will already know about them, but this a good introduction to the comic book and these characters I have been told are quite faithful to it. I have not read “The Guardians of Galaxy” but I know of them. It’s good to see Marvel doing the ‘out of space’ genre well.
Next year we are going to get bombarded by “Star Wars” and so if you want to see roughly what “Star Wars” might look like I think Marvel gives you a glimpse of that, even though they have nothing to do with “Star Wars”. It’s not directly linked but they are if you know what I mean. Go and watch it, enjoy it, have a bit of a laugh. It’s a good story and good fun.
Rating: 5

“Kick” – it’s just come out because of Eid (Eid Mubarek to everyone celebrating), there have been queues to see this film with sold out screenings and it has already broken records. I will be taking Mum to watch this movie and will add it to my review next month.
As always hope you enjoy my review on the trailers and movies and do keep sending me your thoughts and recommendations on what to watch next on @SunnyandShay

Badabing Badaboom!

• Announcement: You are going to be able to hear Sunny and Shay BBC West Midlands 95.6FM between 2pm-4pm from August 25, join us, and get involved. You can find us digital, online, you can find us anywhere, and it doesn’t matter where you are – you don’t have to be in the West Midlands.
I’m sure www.asianculturevulture.com will be giving you updates following our antics (yes!), so follow us also on facebook and watch ‘As We Proceed’ online comedy series starring Sunny and Shay.

Do keep in touch with www.asianculturevulture.com and let us know how you would like this column changed or what you would like to cover more of…I very much look forward to your positive feedback and if they are any negative ones Sailesh, (editor of www.asianculturevulture.com) doesn’t give them to me (ergh, there haven’t been any).
I am doing the best I can and enjoying giving you my thoughts!

Badabing badaboom. See you all next month!