Not making love to the night

The Sitter (2011)

 Directed by David Gordon Green this comedy stars Jonah Hill, Ari Graynor and Sam Rockwell. A slacker is stuck baby sitting kids while trying to impress his girlfriend who regularly takes advantage of him.

There is not a huge amount of originality in this film and an occasional tendency towards stereotyping but mostly the film manages to be inoffensive. When it comes to the humour there are funny moments but they are mostly fairly obvious gags and the plot pulls no surprises. What the film could have done with is a bit more depth to the characters who are token efforts for the most part.

 2/5

Don't go into the woods, again

Evil Dead II (1987)

 Directed by Sam Raimi this comedy horror sequel stars Bruce Campbell and Sarah Berry. A young man and his girlfriend head off for a romantic weekend at a cabin in the woods only to end up being attacked by evil spirits.

 This film functions somewhere between a remake and a sequel as it recycles elements of the first film and does not seem to have any reference to the events of it's predecessor. Certainly the larger budget on this film allows for better effects and more advanced sequences but there is still an element of cheapness about the film. There are some really funny moments but I am not sure there are enough to completely sustain the film which has a minimal plot otherwise.

3/5

Elementry again

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

 Directed by Guy Ritche this sequel stars Robert Downey jr, Jude Law and Noomi Rapace. The eccentric, genius detective is caught in a dangerous battle of wits with the evil Professor Moriarty.

As with it's predecessor this film's main focus is comedy and action over the more serious elements of the series. The film is good fun and some of the action sequences are really impressive, although not all of them. If you are looking for something more than a little mindless entertainment, however, this is probably not the film for you.

 3/5

Time to question the creators

Prometheus (2012)

Directed by Ridley Scott this prequel to Alien (1979) stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron. A scientific expedition travels to a planet they believe man's creators came from.

I am sort of conflicted about this film as it is one of those that skirts around being a really good film but never gets there despite how great it looks. Nearly all the problems with this film come from it's disjoint nature, the themes have little impact on the story and some scenes are shocking but never referred to again. It also does not help that it seems like so much of this film is set up for a sequel leaving this film to be a bit of a mess.

 3/5

Phenomenon

The Muppets (2011)

 Directed by James Bobin this film stars Jason Segel, Amy Adams and all your favourite muppets. An evil oil baron wants to take over the muppet's studio so he can drill for oil, can our heroes save the $10mil needed to buy back their studio?

What this film has going for it is that at no point does it ever take itself seriously, combining the usual silly antics with a great level of self awareness that fits the universe the muppets exist in. The plot is simplistic and largely aimed at younger viewers but there is the odd joke for older viewers that slips through here and there. Overall the personality of the film just about holds it together and while this may not be a classic, it is not a bad watch.

 4/5

Blistering barnacles

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011)

 Based on the famous comics of the same name this adptation from director Steven Spielberg stars the voice talent of Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Daniel Craig. A young reporter buys a model ship and ends up on the trail of lost treasure.

 Given all the writing, directing and producing talent involved in this film I found it to be a disappointment that lacks any real heart. At times it seems like you are watching someone else play a computer game switching between cut sequences for the story and mini games for the action sequences. There is also some depature from the souce material which I am rarely a fan of but despire all the underwhelming elements of the film it is still watchable if not as good as it should have been.

3/5

A clockwork man

Hugo (2011) 

 Based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret this film from diretor Martin Scorsese stars Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley and Chloe Grace Moretz. An orphan that lives at a Paris train station tries to replair an automaton while avoiding the local policeman.

 What this film does well is blend fact and fiction to provide a good story that is well executed despite a heavy reliance on CGI. While the plot is a fairly average family piece I did feel it was a little bit self indulgent when it came to the parts on film history but otherwise works well. It is really surprising to find Scorsese directing this film given how much it differs from every other film he has ever made but just shows his mastery of film making, there is also really good supporting cast of nearly all British stars.

5/5

I do my reviewing after breakfast

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

 Directed by Robert Zemeckis this second sequel stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Mary Steenburgen. Marty travels back in time from 1955 to save the Doc from being shot in the back while living in the Old West.

 Given all the problems of the various time traveling and alternate time lines the series has created up to this point it seems there may well be a few plot holes in the early part of this film if you think about the plot for too long. What the film does really well is wrap up the series, bring back character development and have some nice references to Sergio Leone films. Filming in Arizona does make some of the locations seem out of place with what we have seen of Hill Valley in the previous films but otherwise the film looks good.

 4/5

Hawaii hell

The Descendants (2011)

 Based on the novel of the same name this film from director Alexander Payne stars George Clooney and Shailene Woodley. A father has to deal with his two troublesome daughters after his wife goes into a coma she will not recover from.


 When released this film picked up a lot of praise and while it is fairly well made, stearing clear of the pitfalls of genre that has more than a tendency for melodrama there is not a lot of originality in this film. There are plenty of other films out there with similar tales that contain a lot of similar plot elements as well. The cast give decent performances but at the end of this film I did find myself wondering where all the hype came from.

3/5

Impossible 4

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Directed by Brad Bird this third sequel in the franchise stars Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton. Agent Hunt and his team are framed for a terrorist attack and must top the bad guy starting a nuclear war.

As with every other film in the franchise this film comes with lots of stunts and special effects which are well done but nothing that revolutionary. The plot moves along pretty fast but contains little real depth mainly existing to provide a wide range of locations around the world. There is nothing really wrong with this film but it does seem to lack any sort of heart and ends up being not much more than a bells and whistle show.

3/5

those crazy kids

The Belles of St Trinian's (1954)

Based on the cartoons of Ronald Searle this film from director Frank launder stars Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell and George Cole. Staff and pupils at a notoriously rowdy girls boarding school get involved in a horse racing scam.

At the time of it's release this film was a big hit in British cinema and was recently remade but it has to be said a lot of the humour in this film is fairly cheap. The supporting character of the Sultan really dates the film and probably skirts around being an offensive stereotype. Overall there are some decent elements but I'm not really sure that the film ever fleshes out the more interesting parts of them, namely the crazy antics of the pupils.

2/5

The man in black

Walk the Line (2005)

Directed by James Mangold this biopic stars Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Patrick. Country music star Johnny Cash leads a troubled life with strained relations and drug addiction.

I am sure for fans of the music of Cash the highlight of this film is the performance of the two leads who by all accounts give excellent impersonations of their real life counter parts. As with any biopic there are questions over the accuracy of the film and the depth in which it covers all the issues, here for example Cash's recovery from drug addiction does not really get enough screen time. While there is nothing wrong with this film it will no doubt have a greater appeal to Cash fans than the rest of us.

3/5

Bindings of sisterhood

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011)

Based on the novel of the same name this film from director Wayne Wang stars Li Bingbing, Gianna Jun and Hugh Jackman. Two parallel stories of female friendship are told over different time periods in China.

Even if you do not know ahead of watching it is not hard to guess that this film is based on a novel given the way so much of the conflict is internal, a common failing of novel to film adaptations. The plot is fairly good even if it does appear a little over dramatic at times and maybe a little clichéd. What works well is the story compares the ritualised life of the path to the responsibilities still expected of women in modern China.

3/5

Party chaos

Project X (2012)

Directed by Nima Nourizadeh this film stars Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown and Kirby Bliss Blanton. Three social outcasts plan a party to end all parties to celebrate one of their birthdays and raise their social profile at school.

There are a lot of negative reviews of this film and I think this arises from people confusing the views of the characters with those of the film makers. While the characters are immature, mean spirited and misogynistic they actually do reflect how a portion of young men behave at that age. What the film does really well is provide a warts and all picture of youth culture and the destructive nature of alcohol fuelled herd mentality.

4/5

Earth's mightiest

The Avengers (2012)

Written and directed by Joss Whedon this film stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston. Earth's greatest heroes are brought together to fight against an Asgardian god who wants to rule the planet.

First off this film is a lot of fun and does a good job of bringing the comic book characters to life but it also comes with a lot of hype and I was expecting a little more from the film. While having to deal with so many characters is a difficult task and the film does this well maybe it does so by sacrificing a little depth. There are plenty of great set pieces and witty banter along the way once the film does get going but you could say that it is a little heavy on the front end with exposition.

4/5

Hover boards and power laces

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis this sequel stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Thomas F. Wilson and Elisabeth Shue. Marty and the Doc travel to the future to stop his son making a big mistake and end up causing problems through out the time line.

For this sequel the time travel shenanigans are really ramped up but the film does a great job with fitting itself in with the original, especially where events over lap. While predictions of the future were not exactly spot on the special effects really hold up and were ground breaking in a number of cases, hover boards are still iconic today. About the only criticism you can aim at the film is that it lacks some of the thematic depth of the original and this is in part to there being a lot of set up for the third film but you will be having so much fun watching this film you can over look any slight deficiencies.

5/5

It's not safe

Safe House (2012)

Directed by Daniel Espinosa this film stars Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga and Brendan Gleeson. A CIA safe house operative ends up on the run with an uncooperative house guest.

This is a really well made thriller with plenty of action and suspense to keep you hooked all the way along. There are some good set pieces and the characters help hold the story together really well. What problems I did have with the film were that the ending could have been a little more original instead of finishing with the usual “twists”.

4/5

Paris of the Past

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Written and directed by Woody Allen this film stars Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard. A Hollywood screenwriter struggling with his first novel visits Paris with his fiancée and her parents, he ends up travelling back in time and meeting his heroes.

I have never really been a big fan of Woody Allen but this is probably one of his best films in years. While it has a lot of similarities to a number of his other films, the protagonist essentially being Woody Allen, this film has a lot of charm with it's views on nostalgia and various bit parts of famous artists. Paris provides an excellent back drop for the film in all it's time periods and really reflects the romantic nature of the characters and the story.

4/5

Expendable

The Expendables (2010)

Directed by and also staring Sylvester Stallone this film also features Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren and cameos from a host of other action stars. A group of mercenaries are hired to take on the dictator of a small island in the Mexican gulf.

Basically this film is built around the gimmick of having as many action film stars in it as possible but ends up being a waste of talent. There is nothing wrong with making a film that is just out and out fun with some self awareness but the problem here is that this film lacks any personality to carry it's weaker elements. Of course the action sequences are going to be really important in any such film but here the direction just attempts to be as annoying as possible with confusing short cuts that just get in the way of anything looking cool.

2/5

Yippee ki yay

Die Hard (1988)

Based on the novel “Nothing Lasts Forever” this film from director John McTiernan stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia. During a Christmas Eve party a corporate tower is taken over by bad guys who do not plan for a lone New York policeman.

Many an action film made following this film has been compared to it and that is because the plot is pretty simplistic and easily replicated in a number of different locations/situations. The main draw of the film is the stunts which are impressive but fit with in the film rather than dominate it. While the script has some famous lines the plot is good enough but probably does not bare too much thinking about.

4/5

Revolting fishermen

Edge of Darkness (1943)

Based on the novel of the same name this film from director Lewis Milestone stars Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan. Residents of a small fishing village in Norway struggle under the yoke of occupation during World War 2.

Clearly this film was made as propaganda during the war to show those on the home front what they were fighting for but despite this obvious bias this is still a good film. No doubt restricted by the production code of the time the film still manages to hint at some pretty dark stuff but also manages to suggest that maybe not all Germans are evil. There are decent performances from the cast and the only trouble with the production is one that many films of the era faced having German soldiers using Allied weapons on screen.

4/5

Silence is golden

A Thousand Words (2012)

Directed by Brian Robbins this film stars Eddie Murphy, Kerry Washington, Cliff Curtis and Clark Duke. A slimy motor-mouth agent can only speak another 1000 words before he dies which causes problems in every area of his life.

Basically this is a Liar Liar (1997) remake with a minor twist to the set up so we end up with a pretty predictable plot. What the film lacks is any real comedy as laughs are few and far between leaving not much to carry this film. Eddie Murphy does the best he can with what he has but this is pretty much an ill judged affair all round.

2/5

GREAT SCOTT!

Back to the Future (1985)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis this film stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover. A young man travels back in time 30 years and accidentally stops his parents falling in love so he must try to get them together before returning to the present.

Nearly everything about this film is perfect from the acting, the plot, the score and even the little details seeded about the film that help contrast the two different time periods. Thematically the film may be a little on the thin side but being able to contrast the two different time periods does help flesh this out a little. The execution of the film is excellent with plenty of tension and excitement through out while Christopher Lloyd pretty much steals the entire film with his performance.

5/5

Not so Mysterious

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)

Directed by Brad Peyton this film stars Swayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens and Michael Caine. A boy and his step father look for The Mysterious Island from the novel by Jules Verne in an attempt to find the boy's missing grandfather.

While the plot is inspired by the writing of Jules Verne there is a fair amount of other hokum thrown in and there are plenty of elements that do not bare thinking about too much. Several of the sequences are obviously designed for 3D and most of the CGI is pretty impressive. If you take this film for what it is, an action film for younger viewers, it is not too bad but beyond that you will be struggling to find much to say about it.

3/5

Rocky subject matter

Rocky Mountain (1950)

Directed by William Keighley this western stars Errol Flynn, Patrice Wymore and Scott Forbes. During the US Civil War a group of Confederates in Union territory are trapped by Native Americans.

There is not much unique about the plot of this film which is disappointing as it comes from a story by Alan Le May who also penned the novel behind The Searchers (1954). In general the film is disappointing because it never really tackles the subject of what the South was fighting for, providing only a sanitized and romanticised view. The performances and execution of the film are not bad but there was not much to work with to begin with.

2/5  

Or bust

Monte Carlo (2011)

Directed by Thomas Bezucha this film stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy. Two step sisters and their friend travel to France and end up impersonating wealthy socialites.

Originally this film was supposed to be based on the novel “Headhunters” but it appears the plot has departed substantially from it's source material. The plot is pretty much a mix of “The Prince and the Pauper” and Roman Holiday (1953) with a bunch of the usual cliches mixed in. Mostly the film is pretty well made but there is the usual suspect accents as Selena Gomez attempts an English accent.

2/5

House trap

The Desperate Hours (1955)

Based on a novel and play of the same name which was inspired by real events this film from director William Wyler stars Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March and Arthur Kennedy. Escaped convicts hold a family hostage while the police race against time to find them.

Given that so much of this film takes place in one location it is pretty obvious that it was based on a play but enough other locations have been added to at least make it seem a little more “cinematic”. The plot manages to hold plenty of tension and handles the dilemma facing the family well. There are some good performances from the cast but I can not help but wish Paul Newman had been given the chance to reprise the role of the antagonist which he had in the original play.

4/5

A death in the franchise

Batman & Robin (1997)

Directed by Joel Schumacher this sequel stars George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman and Alicia Silverstone. The dynamic duo face off against Mr Freeze and Poison Ivy in the battle for Gotham's safety.

This film has a pretty terrible reputation and while it is not a good film by any means I do not think it is as bad as it is made out to be. The last vestiges of any real character depth or darkness have been stripped away from the franchise by this point and what we have is essentially a silly kids film. If you can accept the film for what it is then it is not too bad of a watch but some of the CGI certainly looks suspect and the dialogue will hurt your brain at times.

2/5

A lack of growth

Young Adult (2011)

Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody this film stars Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt and Patrick Wilson. A writer who has just had her series of books cancelled travels to her home town to steal her high school boyfriend back from his wife.

There is some real darkness about both the protagonist and the comedy of this film that is both entertaining and a break from the usual. Certainly there is plenty of fun to be had watching this film as the protagonist heads towards the inevitable car crash conclusion but I am not sure about the ending. The plot works well right up to the final moments when unfortunately it seems that the final scenes are really unsatisfying and provide no real growth or closure.

3/5

Get a hair cut

First Blood (1982)

Based on the novel of the same name this film from director Ted Kotcheff stars Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna and Brian Dennehy. Small town cops decide to pick on the wrong drifter and find themselves in conflict with a special forces veteran.

Unlike the rest of the film in this franchise, which descend into silliness, this film has a good grounding in exploring the experiences of veterans returning from the Vietnam war. While the film has some interesting themes it does lack a little tension and does make a few changes from the novel, including the ending. Some of the acting does appear to be a little suspect but overall this is still a really good entry into the “coming home” genre.

4/5

Bat pig disease

Contagion (2011)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh this film stars Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet. People across the world struggle to deal with the out break of a new virus.

For a disaster film this film is unusual in that it is not an action film and instead roots itself in realism and science which makes a refreshing change. The plot does a great job of showing what could happen and the moral quandaries facing those living through a disaster. I really liked the 80s style electronic sound track and while the film should be praised for it's realism this does take away slightly from the suspense of the film.

4/5

Have a proper gander

The Cross of Lorraine (1943)

Directed by Tay Garnett this film stars Jean-Pierre Aumont, Gene Kelly and Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Following the fall of France in 1940 a group of French soldiers are taking to a POW camp and find life is not as they expected.

Loosely based on the real life experiences of Hans Habe this film was clearly a propaganda effort made to help explain to American audiences the conditions in occupied Europe. How realistic the story is is probably open to question but it is a fairly similar to a number of other POW films set in the era. The film does open up some questions on the harsh choices between resistance and collaboration but is never really in a position to explore these fully due to the propaganda nature of the film.

3/5

seven times three

Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969)

Directed by Paul Wendkos this second sequel stars George Kennedy, James Whitmore and Monte Markham. Mexicans fighting against the corrupt government seek the help of American gun fighters to free one of the leaders of the revolution.

Compared to the first sequel this film at least tries to use a different plot which is not bad but hardly distinct from a number of similar westerns. It is hard to imagine anyone replacing Yul Brynner and while George Kennedy does nothing wrong he just does not have the same or a similar screen presence. The execution of the film is mostly good apart from an over reliance on the musical score for the original film which does not necessarily fit the action here.

3/5

straight to video hell

Sacrifice (2011)

Directed by Damian Lee this film stars Cuba Gooding Jr, Devon Bostick, Lara Daans and Christian Slater. An undercover drugs cop in Canada returns to work shortly after the murder of his family and gets involved in investigating a heroin smuggling ring.

A spectre hangs over this film in the form of having been released “direct to video” and unfortunately it is not one of those gems that some how slipped through. The plot of the film is pretty average filled with stock characters from any number of similar films. When it comes to production quality the film seems cheap and the script has some pretty weak character motivations.

2/5

Being someone else

The Passenger (1975)

Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni this film stars Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider and Jenny Runacre. A journalist travelling in a North African country decides to escape his life by taking the identity of the man who died in the hotel room next to his.

Compared to many American films the pace of this film is really slow and may not be something that is to the taste of everyone but the final long take-tracking shot is very impressive. The plot of the film is about identity and the desire to escape ones self and works well. There are a number of great locations and the minimal use of dialogue really helps add to the atmosphere of the film.

5/5

Maybe not forever

Batman Forever (1995)

Directed by Joel Schumacher this sequel to the Tim Burton films stars Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman. Batman takes on two of the well known elements of his rogues gallery.

This is a film of a very mixed nature, it takes a decided turn towards the less serious elements of the franchise but still has enough action and visuals to be a bit of a guilty pleasure. Unfortunately the script comes across as a bit disjoint, lurching from one set piece to another rather than having a more natural flow. When it comes to the villains both come off as over the top rip offs of the Joker.

3/5

Birds

The Big Year (2011)

Directed by David Frankel this film stars Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Rosamund Pike. Three men join a competition to see who can see the most species of birds in North America during a single year.

Adapted from a book this film acknowledges that it is very loose adaptation which is a lot better than claiming to be true facts. Despite the fairly light tone of the film it actually has some decent themes of the price of obsession and mortality running under the surface. Where the film is a bit weak is that it really lacks the laugh out loud comedy you would expect from a film with Jack Black and Steve Martin.

4/5

Twin tripe

Jack and Jill (2011)

Directed by Dennis Dugan this comedy stars Adam Sandler (x2), Al Pacino and Katie Holmes. A man has his annoying twin sister come to visit for the holidays while he tries to get Al Pacino to star in a commercial.

Much like any other comedy written by Adam Sandler this film uses all the easy “jokes” and manages to sneak in some racism too. The premise of the of the film is as thin as it's characters and I am not entirely sure the plot even works from a character stand point. Despite the disaster going on around him Al Pacino gives a good performance and you have to wonder what he is even doing in this film.

2/5

Stagecoach west

Escort West (1958)

Directed by Francis D. Lyon this western stars Victor Mature, Elaine Stewart and Faith Domergue. Months after the end of the Civil war an ex-confederate officer and his daughter travel across hostile territory in search of a new life.

This is pretty much your standard b-movie western with a simple plot and likely made on the cheap. There is a selection of the usual characters and usual out comes in what is a pretty predictable film. What the film does have going for it is that it is made fairly well and while it does little original it does little wrong either.

3/5

Coming to terms

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Based on the novel of the same name this film from director James L. Brooks stars Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson and Jeff Daniels. A widow and her daughter both look for love.

When a film wins five Oscars you sort of expect a little more than what we get here which is a decent film but by no means seemingly anything special. The story is well handled in as much as it does not descend into melodrama or cliché but does not really rise beyond the literal. There are some good performances but I was really surprised that Jack Nicholson got an Oscar for playing the same guy he plays in everything.

3/5

Time across the world

The Fourth Dimension (2012)

Three short films from directors Harmony Korine, Alexey Fedorchenko and Jan Kwiencinski are put together to make this film. In America a strange version of Val Kilmer gives motivational speeches, in Russia a scientist attempts to view the past and in Poland four friends ignore evacuation warnings.

Of all the stories the first is the most bizarre and hardest to make sense of but the other two parts provide some interesting stories. All three directors were given a strict set of instructions by producer Eddy Moretti and it has certainly produced a varied grouping of short films. If you can manage to sit through the nonsensical first part the others are well worth a watch.

3/5

The cost of war

Shenandoah (1965)

Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen this film stars James Stewart, Doug McClure and Rosemary Forsyth. During the American Civil war a Virginian farmer tries to keep his family outside of the war.

Given that James Stewart was a high profile member of the armed services during WW2 it is a slight surprise to find him in this highly anti war film but the war this film is talking about is Vietnam. The plot of the film is good with plenty of drama along the way and offers a good variety of characters. When it comes to the direction McLaglen does a good impression of John Ford mixing drama with lighter moments of comedy but does not have the masters flair for the landscape.

4/5

Virtually no virtues

Virtusoity (1995)

Directed by Brett Leonard this techno thriller stars Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Kelly Lynch. A serial killer program from a police training virtual reality simulator manages to escape into the real world.

Unfortunately it is hard to take this film seriously despite it's science fiction elements not being that bad because the plot indulges far too much stupidity elsewhere. A lot of films from the 90s have some questionable asthetics and this film fits in with a lot of those. Russell Crowe gives a performance in the style of Jack Nicholson's Joker which is pretty brave but maybe misjudged.

2/5

No escape from genre conventions

Escape from Fort Bravo (1953)

Directed by John Sturges this western stars William Holden, Eleanor Parker and John Forsythe. Deep in Indian country Union soldiers at a fort guard Confederate prisoners that nearly out number them.

Despite a pretty decent set up for tension and conflict this is a fairly average western of the period that cheats the characters out of having to make any real decisions. Like many westerns the Indians are not characters and mostly feature as an distance menace but at least the film does not descend into out right racism. The direction is not bad but it does look like the film was made on a budget at times.

3/5  

Out of time

In Time (2011)

Written and directed by Andrew Niccol this film stars Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy. In the future people are genetically engineered and can live forever but to live past 25 you have to earn time which is the main currency of the world.

I am a big fan of the work of Andrew Niccol but this film is not on par with his best work. What the film really lacks is deeper characters and while the premise is interesting I think it fails by relying on the notion that there are enough resources for everyone to live forever. When it comes to the performances I think it is fair to say that this film does not contain Justin Timberlake's best work either.

2/5

Hegg story

The Decoy Bride (2011)

Directed by Sheree Folkson this film stars Kelly Macdonald, David Tennant and Alice Eve. A famous American actress and an author visit a small Scottish island in an attempt to get married in private.

As romantic comedies go this film is pretty much a middle of the road effort with a fairly predictable plot. Being that this is a low budget British film there are a few British actors with slightly suspect American accents but otherwise the performances are fine. The landscape while it has it's moments does not really provide enough to give any more life to an average effort.

3/5

You again

Womb (2010)

Also known as Clone this film from writer/director Benedek Fliegauf stars Eva Green, Matt Smith and Hannah Murray. Follow the death of her boyfriend a woman raises his clone and her feelings for the child become confused.

Clearly this film is made with a art house style in mind given it's slow pace, minimal dialogue and excellent landscape shots. The content of the film is uneasy to watch as it slowly heads towards it's inevitable Oedipus style conclusion. For all the stylistic flair of the execution the film never really goes deep enough into really exploring the conclusions of a society with human cloning, only hinting at prejudice against them.

4/5

Boy from hell

Hellboy (2004)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro this comic book adaptation stars Ron Perlma, Selma Blair, John Hurt and Rupert Evans. A demon summoned by the Nazis during WW2 is raised by an American professor and works for the FBI hunting monsters.

Coming as part of the glut of super hero films that the new millennium ushered in this film offers a slightly different take on the usual. While del Toro is best known for his visuals this film offers some interesting stuff but never really hits the crazy heights of his other films. The plot skirts around the idea of some thematic depth but never really gets there and as such we are left with a pretty average genre film.

3/5

General's disaster

The Night of the Generals (1967)

Directed by Anatole Litvak this film stars Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay and Donald Pleasence. In the post war period a man looks into the investigation of three German generals suspected of being a serial killer during WW2.

Considering this film was made during the Cold War and Western backed the amount of footage shot on location in Warsaw is impressive and gives the film a good back drop. The plot does a good job of contrasting softening views on Nazi Germany at the time it was made with the actions carried out during the war. While the story is not an especially complex “who done it” it does provide plenty of varied locations, characters and sequences to keep you entertained.

4/5

Not so wonderful town

Wonderful Town (2007)

Directed by Aditya Assarat this Thai film stars Anchalee Saisoontorn and Supphasit Kansen. An architect from the big city travels to a rural town to help with the rebuilding and meets a woman that runs a hotel.

One of the first things that will strike you about this film is the slower pace and the use of montages which may not be to everyone's taste. The plot is a fairly standard boy meets girl for most of the film but takes a rather large twist towards the end which does seem a bit out of place. Maybe being unfamiliar with the local culture does not help but this does come across as a pretty average and sedate film.

3/5

Rebel scum

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Directed by Richard Marquand directs the final instalment of the original trilogy which again stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams. Our heroes plan to rescue Han Solo and prepare for the final confrontation with the Empire.

While this film does not hit the heights of the previous film it is still a very good entry in the franchise and by no means a weak link. With a lot more plot to get through this film does lack some of the philosophical content of it's direct predecessor but still provides an excellent action adventure. Some of the special effects sequences may have been a little ambitious for their time but just about hold up, the only real issue is the addition of Hayden Christensen in the newer releases.

5/5

Legendary?

Immortals (2011)

Directed by Tarsem Singh this film stars Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto, Mickey Rourke and Stephen Dorff. A young man is selected by Zeus to lead the fight for humanity against an evil king.

Although set in the world of Greek mythology this film only takes very loose inspiration from the legends and crafts it's own story. The plot of the film is nothing amazing and while it hints at some ideas on faith it never really hammers out a clear point. Visually the film is pretty impressive taking it's cue from Renaissance art but some of the props are pretty obviously rubber made which is a bit of a let down in terms of quality.

3/5

Just another Groundhog Day?

Repeaters (2010)

Directed by Carl Bessai this film stars Dustin Milligan, Amanda Crew and Richard de Klerk. Three addicts at a rehab facility find themselves living the same day over and over again.

While this film does cover some of the same ideas as Groundhog Day (1993) using the idea of living the same day over and over again without concern for the consequences of your actions works as a really good metaphor for addiction. Despite the good premise unfortunately I do not think that the film ever really takes it's ideas far enough nor has interesting enough characters to hold the film together. In general the film is fairly well made and a good idea that just falls short in execution.

3/5

A film best kept secret

The Secret Invasion (1964)

Directed by Roger Corman this film stars Stewart Granger, Raf Vallone and Mickey Rooney. A British Major leads a group of criminals on a secret mission in Yugoslavia during WW2.

This film is pretty much what you would expect from a low budget B-movie and about the only surprise is that it was made before a few of the better films the plot appears to rip off. The problems start early on with a script that lacks any real characterisation and is at best ham fisted. Some of the acting is best not commented on and about the only element of note is that Dubrovnik provides an impressive back drop for this lackluster film.

1/5

Haywire by name..

Haywire (2011)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh this film stars Gina Carano, Ewan Mgregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas and Bill Paxton. A special agent for a private security firm is framed by someone.

This film is littered with problems, firstly the script is convoluted and left me pretty confused as to what the actual conspiracy was (not in a good way). When you cast a mixed martial arts fighter in as the protagonist shooting so many of the action sequences so her face is not visible seems to defeat the point of casting her in the first place. When it comes to the supporting cast you have to say it is a case of so much talent given so little to do.

2/5

Resistable

Resistance (2011)

Based on the novel of the same name this film directed by Amit Gupta stars Andrea Riseborough, Tom Wlaschiha and Michael Sheen. In an alternate 1944 Britain is invaded by Germany and the women of a Welsh valley are left to deal with the occupiers by their husbands.

While the premise of this film is fairly interesting the plot never really goes anywhere, preferring to skirt around the issues rather than get to grips with them. Wales provides an excellent backdrop for the film with some stunning scenery but that is about the best thing in this film. Unfortunately I think this is another case of trying to take a novel where all the conflict is internal and trying to transfer it to a medium that specialises in external conflict.

2/5

There is another

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Directed by Irvin Kershner this sequel stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams. Following the destruction of the death star in the previous film the Empire looks to hunt down the rebels while Luke continues his training as a Jedi.

Often this film is the highest rated of the series and it is easy to see why as it takes everything from the original and adds a level of philosophy as well as a good amount of character development. There are more great action sequences which include the opening battle in the snow and the slight changes made by Lucas in the re-release do help clean up some of the special effects. The extra budget available for the film also help put the film just a notch above it's predecessor.

5/5

Zulu 2: Zulu Harder

Zulu Dawn (1979)

Directed by Douglas Hickox this film stars Peter O'Toole, Burt Lanchaster, Sir John Mills and Denholm Elliot. In 1879 a British column is set to launch an invasion of Zulu land in South Africa.

Made 15 years after Zulu (1964) this attempt at a prequel has an all star cast and a fairly large budget. While the script is again provided by Cy Endfield this time the direction really lets it down in comparison to the original. While the scenery provides a great back drop to the film the all important battle is too small a part of the film and really suffers from now having a more detailed view.

2/5

Actually pretty normal

Crazy, stupid, Love. (2011)

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa this film stars Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore and Emma Stone. A young ladies man takes an older man going through the break up of his marriage under his wing.

There is a whole host of acting talent involved with this film but sadly most of them do not have much to work with. By far the funniest person in the film is Emma Stone and I can not help but think this film would have worked better if the Emma Stone/Ryan Gosling story line was the central one as it is more interesting than the main plot which has been played out plenty of times in film. Most of the film is pretty good and there is a great twist but the transformation scene at the end really pushes the boundaries on cheesy, trite, rubbish that you have seen plenty of times before.

3/5

Gun bad

The Iron Giant (1999)

Based on a book by Ted Hughes this animated film from director Brad Bird includes the voice talent of Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr. and Vin Diesel. During the 1950s in America a robot from outer space makes friends with a boy.

Despite being based on the novel “The Iron Man” there are a number of departures from the plot of the book and it serves more as a character inspiration. With themes of Cold War pacifism and anti violence it does seem like this film maybe made a few decades late but it is still well worth watching as it is entertaining and has a number of really funny moments. The voice acting is good but there are no stand out moments and like wise the animation is sufficient but not much more.

4/5

Bodies in the Bayou

Texas Killing Fields (2011)

Directed by Ami Canaan Mann this film stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain and Chloe Grace Moretz. Three detectives in Texas struggle to deal with the number of murder victims being dumped in the bayous.

Loosely based on real events I think it is safe to say this film is more likely inspired by real events rather than necessarily based in fact. The plot is a pretty dark tale of obsession but is nothing particularly original. While the film has a pretty good atmosphere Sam Worthington's accent is patchy at best and sometimes a little undecipherable.

3/5

Less than fantastic

Fantastic Four (2005)

Directed by Tim Story brings the classic Marvel property of the same name to the big screen in this film that stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jesica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis. An accident in space transforms the bodies and lives of four scientists.

Released in the same year as Batman Begins (2005) it is easy to see how this film fell flat in comparison, especially when considering the number of other successful Marvel adaptations round. The problem with this film is that it is little more than an origin story that is fairly slow and comes off as more of a token effort to start a franchise. Despite the weak plot this is not necessarily a bad film but more one that failed to live up to potential.

3/5

Bond goes on a swimming holiday

Thunderball (1965)

Director Terence Young returns for the 4^th film in the Bond series which stars Sean Connery, Claudine Auger and Adolfo Celi. Criminal organisation SPECTRE steals two nuclear weapons and holds the British government to ransom, James Bond investigates.

It is in this Bond film that the special effects really go to town and the climactic underwater battle is the highlight of the film, certainly a sequence that was unique at the time. The plot for the film is not too unrealistic but does rely on too much coincidence for my liking. As always Connery is excellent as Bond and the film seems to be over flowing with Bond girls which is never a bad thing for us male viewers.

4/5

Cinematic fraud

Tower Heist (2011)

Directed by Brett Ratner this film stars Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck and Alan Alda. Disgruntled former employees of an exclusive tower building seek revenge against a fraudster who lives there.

What is surprising about this film is that it has such a large and good cast for what is a very average at best script. Neither the comedy nor the heist elements are really enough to carry this film and while it does little wrong it is hard to point to anything the film does right either. For a script that went through so much development it is a real shame that it seems like it needed another rewrite or two to add some more content.

3/5

Use the force

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Directed by George Lucas this classic film stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Alec Guinness. A farm boy on a desert world dreams of leaving the planet to join the rebellion and soon becomes involved in galactic events.

For most people this is one of the classic films of their youth but it is chock full of cinematic and literary illusions. Inspiration for this film ranges from the classic heroes journey in myth and legend, the films of Akira Kurosawa, early sci-fi adventure serials, world war 2 films and a host of other varied sources. What Lucas gives us is an excellent adventure film with good characters and where it has aged slightly the updated in special effects does help (although don't get me started on Greedo shooting first).

5/5

Merchant of Florence

A Room with a View (1985)

Based on the novel of the same name this film from director James Ivory stars Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands. During the Edwardian era a young girl travels to Florence and meets a strange cast of ex-pats and tourists before returning home.

As with all Merchant-Ivory films this film looks excellent, capturing a great view of both Florence and rural England. There is good source material from the book which looks at the English culture of the period contrasting the inside/outside with the restricted/open views of the characters. Beyond the lead roles there is a good mix of talented British actors, especially Daniel Day-Lewis in a rather unusual role for him.

5/5

The man with the golden touch?

Goldfinger (1964)

Based on the novel of the same name this is the first Bond film directed by Guy Hamilton and stars Sean Connery, Gert Frobe and Honor Blackman. James Bond investigates the suspicious activities of a gold dealer.

This film has some of the iconic moments from the Bond series and Goldfinger provides a completely ruthless villain. Being so successful this film became a near blue print for many subsequent Bond films but the problem is that they these ideas get flogged to death. For all the praise this film gets there are some elements that do not work as well such as the gimmicky henchman and some seriously problematic attitudes to women.

3/5

Fog, gas lights and murder

The Lodger (1927)

Based on the novel of the same name this film directed by Alfred Hitchcock stars June Tripp, Malcolm Keen and Ivor Novello. Could the new lodger living with a family in London be the serial killer that is on the loose?

By many this is considered the first true Hitchcock film and it covers many of the themes he would go on to visit time and again in his later work. Although this is a silent film the version I watched is a restoration by the BFI that includes an newly commissioned score that fits well with the film apart from the small section that includes lyrics which seemed out of place to me. Silent films are often hard to watch for modern audiences, there is a reason film making moved to sound after all, but there is plenty of interesting direction here to keep the viewer interested.

4/5

Boardering

Like Crazy (2011)

Directed by Drake Doremus this film stars Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence. A British girl falls in love with an American boy while studying in America, international travel law gets in the way of their relationship.

While the plot of this film is not that revolutionary or different from other genre films there are a couple of really interesting elements to the production of the film, specifically the use of a improvised dialogue. Hands down the best thing about the film is Felicity Jones's performance which has a touch of immaturity about it that adds to the realism of her performance and is not often seen in a genre of idealised characters. Despite the interesting elements in the execution of this film it does struggle to above being more than a curiosity of execution.

3/5

Military discipline

The Lords of Discipline (1983)

Based on the novel of the same name this film from director Franc Roddam stars David Keith, Robert Prosky and Mark Breland. In the 1960s a cadet with an anti establishment leaning is asked to make sure the first black cadet at a southern military academy is treated fairly.

There are some changes between the novel on the plot of the film but the film has the same general thrust. As the content of the film is fairly critical of the nature of military academies most of the film was shot at a school in England but it is hard to tell this from watching the film. Ultimately this is a fairly average coming of age tale but it is worth watching to spot a number of early roles for actors that later became bigger stars such as Bill Paxton.

3/5

So money

Swingers (1996)

Directed by Doug Liman this film is written by and stars Jon Favreau alongside Vince Vaughn and Ron Livingston. An out of work actor struggles to over come the end of a long term relationship with the help of his friends.

Shot on a low budget this film fits in well with a number of other low budget 90s indie films and gets a surprising amount of production quality out of a fairly guerilla style of film making. The plot is pretty universal even if it is rooted heavily into 90s culture and slang. There are good performances from the cast and plenty of laughs in the script as the protagonist bumbles round the LA dating scene.

4/5

Fear and loathing in Puerto Rico?

The Rum Diary (2011)

Based on the novel of the same name this film from director Bruce Robinson stars Johnny Deep, Aaron Eckhart and Amber Herd. A struggling novelist travels to Puerto Rico to work on a failing news paper during the 1960s.

It is hard not to compare this film to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) as it functions as a quasi-prequel and in comparison this film does lack the crazy, funny nature of the first film but does fit as an origin story. There is the occasional location in the film that does not fit the period which is slightly annoying but nothing sticks out too bad. Unfortunately this film will always suffer in comparison and as such seems fairly pedestrian but is not the worst film you will ever watch.

3/5

A horse and his boy

War Horse (2011)

Directed by Steven Spielberg this film based on the novel of the same name has an ensamble cast which includes Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch. The life story of a horse that is raised in Devon and experiences the First World War.

This film is excellently shot with the best of Spielberg's talent, some great landscape and excellent sets that give a real feel of a John Ford film. The plot is a bit more wandering than I expected, shifting between the human characters that feature in the protagonists life. It does seem to show through that the original book was written for children and some of the story does in the end come off as a little simplistic.

4/5

Tierra bull

Tierra Brutal (1961)

Also known as The Savage Guns this film from director Michael Carreras stars Richard Basehart, Paquita Rico and Don Taylor. A gunfighter stumbles into a conflict over land in Mexico between ranchers and a protection racket.

It is pretty clear from the get go that this film was shot on a low budget with everything from the actors on down looking cheap. Some how what is a fairly simplistic plot that owes a lot to Shane (1953) manages to end up dragging despite only an 80 minute run time. The script is pretty poor with some suspect dialogue and characters lacking much depth.

1/5

Giving life

Mother and Child (2010)

Directed by Rodrigo Garcia this film stars Naomi Watts, Annette Bening and Kerry Washington. Three women's lives are affected by adoption in different ways in a story that eventually connects all three.

Beyond the three main stars there is an excellent supporting cast in this film that includes Samuel L. Jackson and Shareeka Epps that certainly helps make this film watch-able. The plot manages to tackle the issue of adoption without taking a heavy handed or preachy approach but by side lining all the fathers it does feel like the film fails to show the complete issue. My other criticisms of them film are that it may be a little on the long side and Washington's character lacks the depth of the other leads.

3/5

Kirk's direction

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

Directed by William Shatner who also provided the story for and stars in this film it also features Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly. After some diplomats are held hostage the USS Enterprise and her crew are sent to investigate.

This film is one of the more maligned entries in the franchise but despite that the story raises some interesting questions and ventures into pretty anti religious territory for a Hollywood film. The problems with this film all stem from the special effects just not being able to live up to Shatner's vision for the film which is a real shame as the opening sequence in particular showed a lot of promise. Ultimately this film is not as bad as some would have you believe but is no where near as good as it could have been due to poor execution.

3/5

Once upon a time in Russia

Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

Based on the book of the same name this film is directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, it features Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman and an all star supporting cast. We follow the last Tsar of Russia and his family from the birth of the Tsar's son to the families execution.

As with any historical film there are some minor deviations from fact but the film largely sticks to what really happened, especially in terms of the major events. The production quality of the film is excellent mixing great locations with impressive sets in what is clearly an epic undertaking. There are some great performances from a host of British actors in supporting roles as well as that of those in the main roles.

5/5

Turkey shoot

From Russia with Love (1963)

Directed by Terence Young this sequel is based on the book of the same name and stars Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi and Robert Shaw. Bond is despatched to Turkey to help in the defection of a Soviet communications clerk.

The plot of this film is probably that the closest any of the Bond films come to reality and fits in as a very neat Cold War espionage piece. Compared to the previous film you can see that the extra budget has been spent on more locations and action sequences which put the film a notch above it's predecessor. As a villain Robert Shaw is an excellent addition to the cast and Daniela Bianchi provides one of the Bond girls with the most depth.

5/5

Bond, James Bond

Dr. No (1962)

Directed by Terence Young this film based on the novel the same name stars Sean Connery, Ursula Andress and Joseph Wiseman. Following the disappearance of a British agent in Jamaica gentlemen playboy and spy James Bond is sent to investigate.

This film was such a success it launched numerous sequels, imitations, parodies and helped create one of the iconic characters of pop culture. The plot sticks largely to the novel and while not as silly as some of the later Bond films it does edge slightly into the direction of the unbelievable. What the film does well is use some great locations and get across the sense of style and cool that has kept Bond interesting to more than one generation.

4/5

Problem in the work place

Horrid Bosses (2011)

Directed by Seth Gordon this film stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis and a whole host of acting talent in supporting roles. Three men are frustrated by the behaviour of their bosses and seek to do something about it.

There is plenty of comedic potential in the set up for this film but the end result is that this is probably a good idea that was wasted by mediocre execution. With so much great supporting talent as the evil bosses it is disappointing how little screen time they get in roles an actor could really go to town on. When it comes to our trio of protagonists it just does not seem like they hate their bosses enough or get into crazy enough situations to carry the film.

3/5

No grass

Swinging with the Finkels (2011)

Written and directed by Jonathan Newman this film stars Mandy Moore, Martin Freeman and Melissa George. A couple have hit a rut and look for ways to save their marriage.

What this film boils down to is an attempt to use a racy title to get people to watch a pretty standard relationship story. There is very little new or funny about this film as it lumbers towards an inevitable conclusion that offers little insight and gives little closure to the events of the film. The performances of the cast are not bad but they really have very little to work with.

2/5

Bond goes to Afghanistan

The Living Daylights (1987)

Directed by John Glen this Bond film stars Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Ado and Jeroen Krabbe. Bond helps a Soviet general defect but becomes suspicious of his motives and investigates further.

Despite being one of the more over looked Bonds star Timothy Dalton is not bad in the role and brings a lot more seriousness to the part following the Roger Moore era. The plot of the film is fairly common cold war era stuff but is a bit more grounded in reality than some of the plots that you find floating around in the Bond cannon. Given more recent world events it is also interesting to see how much like Rambo 3 (1998) the Mujahideen in Afghanistan are used as allies to the hero.

3/5

Titanic reputations

Titanic (1997)

Written and directed by James Cameron this film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Billy Zane. A rich girl falls in love with a poor boy on the doomed first voyage of the famous ship.

Without doubt this film is a massive technical achievement in film making and a step forward in special effects. When it comes to the plot of the film I found the story decidedly average, with the modern framing not adding much but it is hard to watch this film without having seen endless parodies and spoilers. At times it did seem like the main plot got in the way of trying to show the tragedy that was unfolding on the ship.

4/5

On the line

Hell is for Heroes (1962)

Directed by Don Siegel this film stars Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin and Fess Parker. A small group of American soldiers are left to defend a long stretch of the front during World War 2.

The plot of this film is a fairly standard tale of war weary soldiers towards the end of the war with some anti war sentiments that are expressed in a number of similar films. Despite reported budget problems the film does not look too bad, being in black and white certainly helps for the large amount of night scenes. As always Steve McQueen is a good performance in the central role and James Coburn has a supporting role.

3/5

Final, final destination?

Final Destination 5 (2011)

Directed by Steven Quale this horror sequel stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell and Miles Fisher. A group of mostly young, attractive, twenty somethings survive a disaster and death catches up with them.

Anyone with even a passing idea of how this franchise works will know how the plot of this film will unfold, it also does not help that the characters are not especially interesting. What the film relies on is building up suspense when you know someone will die but not how, sadly there is only one such sequence that is really good and that is the gymnastics sequence pretty early in the film. In the end what we have here is a rather pedestrian entry in a series that borders worryingly closely to being just death for entertainments sake.

2/5  

Peking into Chinese history

55 Days at Peking (1963)

Directed by Nicholas Ray this film stars Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and David Niven. During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 international diplomats are besieged in the Chinese capital.

As a spectacle this film has some great sets, locations and impressive battle sequences which form the back drop for the story. Despite being based on real events the characters are largely fictional, replacing real people to give a story that fits the studio. When it comes to the question of imperialism and outside influence in China the film tends to leave the morals of the situation somewhat forgotten.

3/5

The circus is in town

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

Directed by Simon Curtis this film stars Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Redmayne. A young graduate gets his first job working on a film staring Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe.

Based on real events the plot of this film really comes across as a bit of an indulgence for Monroe fans. While there is nothing wrong with the plot it shows only a snap shot into the life of Monroe rather than being a more in depth biopic. What I did enjoy about the film was the large cast of great actors, Branagh is a little out of place physically but makes up for it vocally.

3/5

A house too empty

Wreckers (2011)

Written and Directed by Dictynna Hood this British film stars Claire Foy, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shaun Evans. A young married couple living in the village the husband grew up in get an unexpected visit from his troubled brother.

The low key execution of this film is really good, with some excellent shots and a great tone through out. When it comes to the plot of this film it is really hard to evaluate as so much appears to be left out or go unanswered, while I admire the attempt at subtle story telling you can always go too far one way. There are some really good performances, especially from Claire Foy and I really liked the slightly menacing turn in the final scene from Cumberbatch.

3/5

Baja bother

Miss Bala (2011)

Directed by Gerardo Naranjo this Mexican film stars Stephanie Sigman, James Russo and Irene Azuela. A young woman that aspires to win a beauty pageant gets caught up the drug war that rages on the Mexican border.

This film claims to be loosely based on real events but it seems more the case that real events were the inspiration for a fictitious plot. What the film does well is firmly route itself in a realistic world, showing how innocents get caught up in a war they want no part of. Had this film been made in America I think the tendency would have been to over play the action sequences but the low key nature of this film really works well.

4/5

Echos of Ford

Hombre (1967)

Based on the Elmore Leonard novel of the same name this film from director Martin Ritt stars Raul Newman, Diane Cilento and Martin Balsam. A white man raised by Apaches enters white society and travels on a stagecoach with people that do not trust him but end up having to rely on him.

There are elements of the plot of this film which could come directly from stagecoach (1939) but the film has the anti racist tones of Ford's later The Searchers (1956) and fits in with the genres re-evaluation of it's attitude towards native Americans. Maybe the film lacks a little of the visual flair of Ford but there are still some great scenery shots and good performances from the cast. A few of the characters sub plots go a little under developed but otherwise this is a good film.

4/5

A whale of a time

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

Directed by Leonard Nimoy this film also stars William Shatner, DeForest Kelly and the usual gang. Our heroes travel back in time to the 1980s to find a pair of humpback whales to bring to the future and pacify an alien problem.

Carrying off from where the previous films left off this film is a departure in tone from early films in the series as it has many more light hearted elements. While the tone of the film is lighter it still looks at the themes of what it means to be human and the comedy is not over played so that it takes you out of the world the films exist in. There are some good performances from the cast and the “fish out of water” nature of the story really works well.

4/5