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His acting career includes film, television and where he made his debut; the stage. In this article, we’ll look at Ian McKellen’s best performances from the world of film.
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
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An independent young woman named Belle learns to see the humanity within her monstrous captor, a...
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Gods and Monsters (1998)
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Once a powerful Hollywood director best known for "Frankenstein" and "The Bride of Frankenstein,"...
X-Men (2000)
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They are children of the atom, homo superior, the next link in the chain of evolution. Each was born...
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
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Frodo Baggins, a hobbit from the Shire, begins his journey to Mordor to destroy the ancient and...
Lord of the Rings
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
One of the most successful movie franchises of all time, McKellen played yet another iconic character in Gandalf. This wise wizard was a mainstay in the series and became a fan favourite thanks to his brilliant line-delivery and magical abilities.
McKellen was also asked to audition for the part of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series but declined after suggesting he’d had enough of wizards. He did of course return to the role of Gandalf in the Hobbit trilogy that ran from 2012 to 2014.
A supremely talented man who clearly still has a long and bright career ahead of him. Happy birthday Sir Ian McKellen, thank you for bringing so many amazing characters to the big screen! What are your favourite Ian McKellen performances?
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/05/25/top-5-ian-mckellen-performances/
McKellen was also asked to audition for the part of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series but declined after suggesting he’d had enough of wizards. He did of course return to the role of Gandalf in the Hobbit trilogy that ran from 2012 to 2014.
A supremely talented man who clearly still has a long and bright career ahead of him. Happy birthday Sir Ian McKellen, thank you for bringing so many amazing characters to the big screen! What are your favourite Ian McKellen performances?
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/05/25/top-5-ian-mckellen-performances/
Nickg24 (492 KP) rated X-Men (2000) in Movies
May 22, 2019
The Mutant Saga Begins
So begins my journey in rewatching the entire X-men series in glorious 4K.
Though it may be 19 years old this movie is still as exhilarating today as it was then,from the special effects to the performances of mckellen and stewart as the leaders of the two different groups of mutants.This film paved the way for so many of the superhero movies we love today (namely the MCU)
Though it may be 19 years old this movie is still as exhilarating today as it was then,from the special effects to the performances of mckellen and stewart as the leaders of the two different groups of mutants.This film paved the way for so many of the superhero movies we love today (namely the MCU)
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Gods and Monsters (1998) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
McKellen teamed up with director Bill Condon in 1998 for Gods & Monsters. This period drama recounts the partly fictionalised last days of the life of film director James Whale, whose experience of war in the First World War is a central theme.
Although criticised for being overly-simplistic, McKellen’s performance received rave reviews, and he was nominated for his first Academy Award in the Best Actor category. Unfortunately, he didn’t go on to win this time around, but it remained a highlight in a career filled with fabulous work.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/05/25/top-5-ian-mckellen-performances/
Although criticised for being overly-simplistic, McKellen’s performance received rave reviews, and he was nominated for his first Academy Award in the Best Actor category. Unfortunately, he didn’t go on to win this time around, but it remained a highlight in a career filled with fabulous work.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/05/25/top-5-ian-mckellen-performances/
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Good Liar (2019) in Movies
Sep 19, 2020
A decent thriller
When you put acting royalty like Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen in the same film, you expect big things. And this film almost lives up to expectations.
Mirren and McKellen themselves are the best thing about this film by far. Seeing them on screen together is wonderful, even if their acting styles often differ (and on occasion get a bit hammy). But they really are brilliant to watch and they lead this film well. Seeing Ian McKellen play a rather nasty and not very nice character is unusual and you can see he relishes this role (in some cases maybe a little too much). I do wish there had been a little more of Russell Tovey though.
The story itself is what lets this film down. The backstories of the characters are maybe not quite what you'd expect, but the way the story plays out and ends is a little bit predictable. And maybe a tad ridiculous. But that said, I did still enjoy watching this and it's a fairly decent and entertaining thriller, even with the slightly OTT ending.
Mirren and McKellen themselves are the best thing about this film by far. Seeing them on screen together is wonderful, even if their acting styles often differ (and on occasion get a bit hammy). But they really are brilliant to watch and they lead this film well. Seeing Ian McKellen play a rather nasty and not very nice character is unusual and you can see he relishes this role (in some cases maybe a little too much). I do wish there had been a little more of Russell Tovey though.
The story itself is what lets this film down. The backstories of the characters are maybe not quite what you'd expect, but the way the story plays out and ends is a little bit predictable. And maybe a tad ridiculous. But that said, I did still enjoy watching this and it's a fairly decent and entertaining thriller, even with the slightly OTT ending.
Dean (6921 KP) rated The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) in Movies
Jul 29, 2017
Great characters and creatures (2 more)
The battle in the mines
The Ringwraiths
A great start to a classic trilogy
A great start to an epic story. Sir Ian McKellen is the stand out actor for me. This is a top quality film in every aspect. The only downside is it ends at a point where you feel right in the middle of a key scene.
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Mr. Holmes (2015) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019 (Updated Jun 11, 2019)
Sir Ian McKellen is magnificent
Sherlock Holmes is hot property at the moment. Robert Downey Jr has played the titular detective in two box-office behemoths and Benedict Cumberbatch is supremely popular across the globe for his take on the character.
Now, Sir Ian McKellen is giving it a go in the little-publicised BBC funded Mr Holmes. But does it continue the trend of crafting intriguing dramas from the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Bill Condon, director of Dreamgirls and the upcoming Beauty & the Beast live-action remake takes charge of an intriguing film that ends up having a whiff of Saturday night drama about it.
Mr Holmes follows the story of the titular character as he comes to terms with his advancing years. McKellen plays Holmes at age 93, living away from the public eye in a quiet rural location alongside his harsh housekeeper Mrs Munro (Laura Linney) and her son Roger – a wonderful Milo Parker in his first big-screen role.
Ian McKellen is simply brilliant throughout the course of the film and after years of playing Gandalf and Magneto, slows things right down in a portrayal of the detective never really seen before – he is magnificent.
Laura Linney is a good distraction from McKellen’s rather downbeat role but her character doesn’t really do enough to register and her accent wanders through numerous countries by the time the end credits roll. This is very much McKellen’s film.
Mr Holmes, much like A Little Chaos earlier this year is a slow-paced drama that would rather tackle the finer details of the script and focus on its characters then delve into unnecessary subplots and fancy special effects and there’s something charming about this simplicity.
Unfortunately though, it all just feels a little TV drama like. Because of this, you’re almost expecting a ‘To be continued…’ credit to be added at the end of the first hour – with the conclusion coming a week later.
This is a real shame as it makes Mr Holmes feel longer than it actually is. At just over 100 minutes, this is by no means a drawn-out film but the slow pace ensures things seem to take a little longer than they perhaps would in another feature.
Thankfully though, Ian McKellen’s performance is reason enough to give Mr Holmes a watch, with another being the intriguing and at times, rather unpredictable plot.
Overall, there isn’t really that much wrong with Mr Holmes but its release date is almost suicidal. Being sandwiched in between blockbusters like Jurassic World, Minions and Terminator: Genisys, it has a tough job to do and it deserves more success than I fear it will end up having.
Ian McKellen, like Meryl Streep is one of the finest living thespians and Mr Holmes only cements his position at the very top of his craft. However, it’s probably best reserved for a night-time viewing with slippers and a hot cup of cocoa.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2015/06/21/sir-ian-mckellen-is-magnificent-mr-holmes-review/
Now, Sir Ian McKellen is giving it a go in the little-publicised BBC funded Mr Holmes. But does it continue the trend of crafting intriguing dramas from the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Bill Condon, director of Dreamgirls and the upcoming Beauty & the Beast live-action remake takes charge of an intriguing film that ends up having a whiff of Saturday night drama about it.
Mr Holmes follows the story of the titular character as he comes to terms with his advancing years. McKellen plays Holmes at age 93, living away from the public eye in a quiet rural location alongside his harsh housekeeper Mrs Munro (Laura Linney) and her son Roger – a wonderful Milo Parker in his first big-screen role.
Ian McKellen is simply brilliant throughout the course of the film and after years of playing Gandalf and Magneto, slows things right down in a portrayal of the detective never really seen before – he is magnificent.
Laura Linney is a good distraction from McKellen’s rather downbeat role but her character doesn’t really do enough to register and her accent wanders through numerous countries by the time the end credits roll. This is very much McKellen’s film.
Mr Holmes, much like A Little Chaos earlier this year is a slow-paced drama that would rather tackle the finer details of the script and focus on its characters then delve into unnecessary subplots and fancy special effects and there’s something charming about this simplicity.
Unfortunately though, it all just feels a little TV drama like. Because of this, you’re almost expecting a ‘To be continued…’ credit to be added at the end of the first hour – with the conclusion coming a week later.
This is a real shame as it makes Mr Holmes feel longer than it actually is. At just over 100 minutes, this is by no means a drawn-out film but the slow pace ensures things seem to take a little longer than they perhaps would in another feature.
Thankfully though, Ian McKellen’s performance is reason enough to give Mr Holmes a watch, with another being the intriguing and at times, rather unpredictable plot.
Overall, there isn’t really that much wrong with Mr Holmes but its release date is almost suicidal. Being sandwiched in between blockbusters like Jurassic World, Minions and Terminator: Genisys, it has a tough job to do and it deserves more success than I fear it will end up having.
Ian McKellen, like Meryl Streep is one of the finest living thespians and Mr Holmes only cements his position at the very top of his craft. However, it’s probably best reserved for a night-time viewing with slippers and a hot cup of cocoa.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2015/06/21/sir-ian-mckellen-is-magnificent-mr-holmes-review/
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated X-Men (2000) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
As a starting point and a precursor to the massive success superhero movies would come to have over the next two decades, the original X-Men movie was something of a trendsetter. Featuring a fabulous cast that brought Hugh Jackman’s snarling Wolverine into our lives as well as iconic portrayals of Professor X and Magneto by the wonderful Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, X-Men is great fun, if a little underwhelming by today’s standards. Some of the dialogue is a little off and Halle Berry’s accent for Storm is, well, truly awful.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/06/01/the-entire-x-men-franchise-ranked/
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/06/01/the-entire-x-men-franchise-ranked/
Awix (3310 KP) rated X-Men (2000) in Movies
Feb 28, 2018
Landmark Marvel adaptation isn't quite the movie you might expect, but still competently assembled. Main plus is that it's extremely well-cast, with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen giving it some heft and Hugh Jackman and Anna Paquin a bit of glamour. Main minus is that the film was saddled with only a modest budget (Fox had recently taken a bath on Fight Club, amongst others).
Following the Batman and Robin debacle the received wisdom at the time was that comic book movies shouldn't be all that comic booky and this certainly follows that principle. Ultra-purists may also object to the way Cyclops is sidelined as hero in favour of Wolverine (but that's what the fans wanted). But, on the whole, very solidly written and performed, decent effects, takes the characters and the story seriously. From such acorns do mighty franchises sprout...
Following the Batman and Robin debacle the received wisdom at the time was that comic book movies shouldn't be all that comic booky and this certainly follows that principle. Ultra-purists may also object to the way Cyclops is sidelined as hero in favour of Wolverine (but that's what the fans wanted). But, on the whole, very solidly written and performed, decent effects, takes the characters and the story seriously. From such acorns do mighty franchises sprout...