Not magic

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

Directed by Don Scardino this film stars Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, James Gandolfini and Jim Carrey. After losing his love for magic a Vegas based magician has to rediscover himself.

There are plenty of good elements to this film but the problem is that it seems the script has been through so many rewrites nearly everything is washed out. It is a real shame the plot and the final magic trick our protagonist uses are such a let down as there is so much potential here. Steve Buscemi gets pretty screwed as his character gets sidelined pretty heavily through out the film.

2/5

snikt snikt

The Wolverine (2013)

Directed by James Mangold this comic book adaptation stars Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima and Svetlana Khodchenkova. Following the events of the third X-men film Wolverine heads to Japan to visit a dying businessman he saved in WW2.

While the plot of this film may not exactly reflect the story as presented in the comics it does do a good job of capturing the spirit of Chris Claremont. The story itself is a vast improvement on the previous Wolverine film but does not really become more than just a decent super hero action film. Also improving from the previous Wolverine film is the special effects but I would have liked to see more of the Silver Samurai rather than the main villain not appearing until the final battle.

3/5

Arcade story?

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Directed by Rich Moore this animated film includes the voice talents of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch. The bad guy from an arcade video game seems to earn respect and friendship from the other characters in his game.

There is a slight hint of Toy Story (1995) in the set up of this story but thankfully the plot goes it's own way and is a nice little gem in it's own right. The story has a decent heart to it and I really enjoyed the numerous references to classic video games that litter the film. While there may be a lot of product placement in this film it does do a great job of fitting it in fairly seamlessly and the animation is spot on for the worlds that are depicted.

4/5

Die Hard 5: Mission to Moscow

A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

Directed by John Moore this 5^th film in the franchise stars Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney and Sebastian Koch. John McClane travels to Moscow after his son is put on trial for murder but not all is what it seems.

You kind of expect the plot to be a little silly in action films like this but the real problem here is that there are very few redeeming features in the script. Personality goes a long way but this film has none so it is really impossible to muster even an iota of care as to what happens to the characters. There are plenty of action set pieces but with no play off between protagonist and antagonist most of these fall rather flat.

2/5

The kid's gotta dance

The Red Shoes (1948)

Directed by Powell and Pressburger this film inspired by the fairy tale of the same name stars Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook and Marius Goring. A young dancer and a young composer join the ballet company of a famous Russian ballet director.

Much like Black Swan (2010) this film does an excellent job of interleaving the plot of the main story with that of the ballet the cast is performing. The script does a good job of using the fairly tale to ask how much a performer must sacrifice for their art and gives the film some excellent layering. As with any Powell and Pressburger film this is excellently made with great early use of colour as well as more fantastical elements with special effects.

5/5

An explained journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Directed by Peter Jackson this film based on the first part of the novel of the same name stars Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and Ian Holm. A hobbit minding his own business is convinced to join a wizard and 13 dwarves on an adventure.

This film very much has the feel of the first part of a story and while being plenty entertaining lacks a clear end point for the plot. The script scratches round some ideas of home for a theme but never really goes deep enough and the character arc of the protagonist being excepted into the group is decent but we never get an explanation for why he changed his mind to go on the adventure. As with any of Jackson's middle earth films this is a really well made effort with attention to detail as well as excellent special effects and landscapes on show.

4/5

To eternity and beyond!

From Here to Eternity (1953)

Directed by Fred Zinnemann this film based on the novel of the same name stars Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Cliff, Debroah Kerr, Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed. During 1941 soldiers in a company based on Hawaii struggle with woman and a self interested officer.

There are a some changes between the novel and the plot of the film but the film still manages to get in a surprising amount of explicit material, even if only in implication, for the period in which it was made. Compared to the propaganda material that Hollywood was putting out mere years earlier this is a series departure and covers some fairly dark stuff. The cast of this film is really good and there is also a famous beach scene that is really well done.

4/5

Coming at ya

Cleopatra (1963)

Directed (mostly) by Joseph L. Mankiewicz this film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and Roddy McDowall. The young queen of Egypt seeks to keep her kingdom free of Rome and increase her power base.

As with any historical film there are some inaccuracies here but largely the film sticks to what really happened. Where the script may be weaker is in dealing with the relationship between Cleopatra and Anthony which never really seems to have the right chemistry which is odd as the actors were famously having an affair at the time. While the plot may be long and average this film certainly makes up for it in scale and spectacle, some sequences really show where the huge budget went.

4/5

Camp dud

Friday the 13^th (1980)

Directed by Sean S. Cunningham this film stars Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Kevin Bacon and Jeannine Taylor. A group of teenagers head out to the woods to help re-open a summer camp but are stalked by a serial killer.

Despite having a reputation as one of the grandparents of the slasher genre this is a fairly weak effort that lacks much plot of character. While the revelation of the killer's identity is a change from the usual it is not enough to over come the fact this about 30 minutes of film dragged out to 90 minutes. Some of the gore may have been new to cinema a the time but the direction is not especially filled with tension or interesting.

2/5

Death of a Ronin

Harakiri (1962)

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi this film stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Rentaro Mikuni, Shima Iwashita and Akira Ishihama. In 1630s Japan a down on his luck Ronin arrives at the gates of a large Samurai clan asking for a place to perform ritual suicide.

As a film about suicide the plot of this film works both as a critique of the hypocrisy in the Samurai code but also as to how we still struggle to deal with both those who are seeking to make a “cry for help” and actually trying to kill themselves. While the film is fairly slow moving it builds nicely to an action packed to conclusion and creates an intricate puzzle for the antagonist to deal with. It is well worth waiting for the eventual confrontation as the final fight scenes are excellently shot and performed.

5/5

74 years later, 20 years earlier

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

Directed by Sam Raimi this film based on the classic series of novels stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams and Zach Braff. In 1905 a carnival magician who is con man and a womaniser is transported to the magical land of Oz.

Inevitably this film will sit in the shadow of The Wizard of Oz (1939) but it actually works really well as a prequel as well as tying in nicely with the world of that film. There are hints at a slightly more mature side to plot than we are used to from Disney but all in all this is a decent story of an anti hero turned hero. What criticism you can aim at the film is that the special effects do create a slightly sterile world but in general this is a really enjoyable if slightly unusual fairytale.

3/5

Nuns up a mountain

Black Narcissus (1947)

Directed by Powell and Pressburger this film based on the novel of the same name stars Deborah Kerr, Sabu, Jean Simmons and David Farrar. A group of nuns travel to a remote community in the Himalayas to set up a new convent.

While there are some differences between the novel and the film the film does an excellent job of filling the film with implied sexual tension and temptation without offending anyone by the delicate subject matter. The story works well showing the nuns struggle between faith and temptation, while some of the characters maybe a little backwards in their views of other races the film itself is not. What is most impressive about the film is that despite being shot entirely in England the external shots do an amazing job of capturing the scale of the Himalayan setting.

5/5

No gold here

St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009)

Directed by Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson this sequel stars Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, David Tennant and Talulah Riley. Girls from the worst behaved school in the country take on misogynists in the hunt for pirate gold.

The plot for this film is it's weakest element by far, focusing too much on the adult characters and being a pretty disinteresting investigation. Adding a feminist or anti-misogynist element to the story is a good idea but is never really taken far enough or considered seriously. Maybe it was decided to let the adult cast dominate as the cast of students is not as strong this time around but they don't get much chance for growth in the script which does not help matters.

2/5

What year is it?

Jumanji (1995)

Directed by Joe Johnston this film based on the novel of the same name stars Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Bonnie Hunt and Bradley Pierce. A boy plays a strange board game in 1969 and disappears, 26 years later two orphans start playing the same magical game.

There is plenty of fun to be had in this film but I am not sure it ever uses any of it's qualities to the maximum. The plot does take a little while to get going and it is entertaining but lacks much depth. Building a film around Robin Williams is never a bad idea but he does not really get to make the most of his talents, at least the CGI holds up pretty well given that it is now nearly 15 years old.

3/5

In the zone

Stalker (1979)

Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky this film loosely based on the novel “Roadside Picnic” stars Alexander Kaidanovsky, Anatoli Solonitsyn and Nikolai Grinko. Three men enter a quarantined zone in search of a room that gives you whatever you want.

The plot of this film may stray pretty far from it's source material but it is still a fascinating watch that looks at the themes of greed. This may not be the most dense sci-fi film you will see but it is well worth watching and is certainly a departure from the usual. Long, slow takes litter the film and they really help emphasis the haunting locations of the film showing Tarkovsky's skill as a director.

5/5

A loss of magic

Miracle on 34^th Street (1994)

Directed by Les Mayfield this remake of the classic film of the same name stars Richard Attenborough, Mara Wilson, Elizabeth Perkins and Dylan McDermott. An old man starts work as Santa Clause at a New York department store, is he the real thing or mentally ill?

Inevitably this film will always be compared with the original and in pretty much every area it is weaker. The script tries to simplify the story both in plot and character terms which detracts from the impact of the story. When it comes to the cast Attenborough does a decent job but Elizabeth Perkins is not even close to being in the same league as Maureen O'Hara.

3/5

Someone stole the jokes

Identity Thief (2013)

Directed by Seth Gordon this comedy stars Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Jon Favreau, Amanda Peet and Robert Patrick. A man has to find the woman that stole his identity to save his job and financial well being.

The general plot of this film is pretty much a paint numbers affair and you can see it ticking off the boxes as the story trundles along. Where the real problems lie is the fact that someone forgot to put the funny in which is a real surprise given the two lead who are usually pretty good. As much as it can be the film is well made but without any humour we are flogging a dead horse here sadly.

2/5

Life and time

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer this adaptation of the novel of the same name stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess and Jim Broadbent. Six stories spread over six hundred years chart the interconnection of life and humanity.

Generally this film is impressive all round, managing to get the complicated narrative structure onto the screen in a way that makes sense is no small feat. The idea of life being interconnected and the most important things being who we spend our time with are not especially new ideas but they add depth to the story here and are handed well. The film is well made blending different genres admirably and there are some nice Easter eggs buried through out.

5/5

Genesis of a killer

Halloween (1978)

Directed by John Carpenter this film stars Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P. J. Soles and Nancy Loomis. A six year old boy stabs his sister to death then fifteen years later he escapes from a mental home to kill once more on Halloween.

For a film that had such a big effect on it's genre this is a surprisingly average effort in retrospect. The story has little real depth to it, never really goes into how the antagonist became evil and few of the characters have any real personality either. Where you have to give the film credit is in the direction which unlike all the slasher films that followed it this film does not rely on blood and gore but is a bit more subtle in making it's scares.

3/5

Who Goes There Again?

The Thing (2011)

Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. this film stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Norwegian scientists discover a crashed alien space craft with a frozen survivor in the Antarctic.

By being a prequel the plot of this film is fairly heavily boxed in by John Carpenter's earlier film and the story here essentially a retreat of that film. What this film lacks compared to it's predecessor is a protagonist with more personality and maybe a little more speculation about the team's amazing find. Over all the film is well made with better special effects but really this film does little better or different from the original.

3/5

Defective

The Defector (1966)

Directed by Raoul Levy this film based on the novel “The Spy” stars Montgomery Cliff, Hardy Kruger and Roddy McDowall. An American scientist is sent to East Germany by the CIA to retrieve a microfilm from a Russian scientist.

The plot of this spy film is not the most realistic you will run into as both sides indulge in amateurish behaviour. You can find plenty of films with a similar premise but are better done so it is hard to find a reason to recommend this film. Montgomery Clift made his final appearance in this film shortly before his death and you can tell he is not well as his hands are shaking in most scenes.

2/5

The Original Santa

Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

Written and directed by George Seaton this film stars Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gween. Is an old man working as a department shot Santa Clause the real Santa Clause or is he mentally ill?

At times this often remake film pushes the barriers on being sappy but for the most part is a really well made film that while aimed at a younger audience holds up to older viewers too. The film may not completely divulge itself of materialism in favour of “the real Christmas spirit” but does a pretty good job otherwise. Largely the film is well made and Edmund Gwenn is excellently cast as Kris Kringle.

4/5

A voyage into slumber

Dreams (1990)

Directed by Akira Kurosawa this film stars Akira Terao, Martin Scorsese and Chishu Ryu. We explore a number of short films inspired by Kurosawa's own dreams.

Like many films of collected shorts this film is a bit of a mixed bag with varying quality of the individual parts. Some are interesting insights and broadly sketch the different stages of life although some seem a little disconnected from the general theme. As with anything by Kurosawa there are parts which are excellently shot but Scorsese seems an odd choice to play Vincent van Gogh.

4/5

Four ways to fail

Timecode (2000)

Written and directed by Mike Figgis this film has a large cast including Salma Hayek, Stellan Staksgard, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Saffron Burrows. Four continuous 90 minute takes, shot simultaneously are presented at the same time to tell the a story at an LA film production company.

This may be an experimental film but there is much to be impressed with here in the staging, filming and acting of this film which must have been some effort in logistics. Unfortunately all the hard work is for little as the final product is confusing and plenty of the story ends up being lost in the execution. It is hard to decide where I stand on this film as it is as impressively made as it is disappointing in it's final form.

2/5

Misstory

Hyde Park on Hudson (2012)

Directed by Roger Michell this film based on real events stars Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Samuel West, Olivia Colman and Olivia Williams. On the eve of WW2 the King and Queen of England travel to visit with President Roosevelt.

This is one of those films that is not really sure what it wants to be, a look into historical events or a look into the human side of those involved and does not really do either properly. It seems that there are some liberties that have been taken with history as the film takes that which is speculated about and sketches a much larger picture based on it. Casting Bill Murray as FDR is an odd choice but actually works pretty well unlike the rest of the film.

2/5

More bullets than a gun factory

Hard Boiled (1992)

Directed by John Woo this film stars Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Teresa Mo and Philip Chan. A police inspector and an undercover policeman clash over an investigation into gun smugglers in Hong Kong.

Compared to Woo's earlier The Killer (1989) this is a weaker film with less character and less artistic depth. The story is fairly simple and particularly Chow Yun-fat's character takes it's inspiration from a number of western detective stories. What makes this film worth watching is Woo turning the action all the way up with plenty of massively over the top action sequences to keep you entertained.

4/5

Young Swords

The Three Musketeers (1993)

Directed by Stephen Herek this film based on the classic novel of the same name stars Charlie Sheen, Keifer Sutherland, Chris O'Donnell, Oliver Platt and Tim Curry. In 17^th century France a young man travels to Paris to become a musketeer like his father before him.

While this film may take it's cue from the classic novel there are a number of departures in the plot which turn this into a pretty standard action adventure story. There is plenty of swashbuckling along the way but the story is kept simplistic and does not have much character development. Tim Curry does his best to ham it up as the villain of the piece but a lot of the other actors are out of place in a period film.

2/5

The President goes on a date

The American President (1995)

Directed by Rob Reiner this film stars Michael Douglas, Annette Benning, Martin Sheen and Michael J. Fox. A widower President of the United States starts dating an environmental lobbyist.

If you are a fan of the TV series The West Wing it is easy to see the foundations of that series in this film, both of which were penned by Aaron Sorkin. The plot of this film is fairly simple with the central romance being slightly rushed at times and the conclusion heading towards slightly preachy cheese. In general the film is well made but is largely unremarkable being neither a full romance or a full insight into the political workings of the US.

3/5

Horrible monster

Deep Rising (1998)

Written and directed by Stephen Sommers this film stars Treat Williams, Famke Janssen, Kevin J. O'Connor and Anthony Heald. Smugglers and mercenaries end up trapped on a cruise liner with a sea monster.

Essentially the script of this film steals from a lot of places but is mostly a third rate Alien (1979) knock off. Like many 90s action films this film does not have any character arcs, character motivations that make sense or much personality either. When it comes to the monster the film relies heavily on early CGI that is not really up to the job it was being asked to do at this point.

1/5

And they all regretted laughing

Carrie (1976)

Directed by Brian De Palma this film based on the novel of the same name stars Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving and William Katt. An innocent girl with telekinetic powers and an over bearing religious mother is picked on by the girls at school.

The plot of this film is a good combination of high school bullying and religious oppression of female sexuality. While it may be obvious that the events are going to end terribly the film is so well made that right up to the last minute you are hoping all will go well for the protagonist when that is impossible. There are some trademark De Palma touches in the big action sequences that work well and the whole film is well done from start to finish.

5/5

Fuck you too

The Thing (1982)

Directed by John Carpenter this film based on the novella “Who Goes There?” stars Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley and Keith David. An alien shape shifter attacks scientists at an American research base in the Antarctic.

While there may not be a lot original about this film it does a good job of combining parts of Alien (1979) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a remote, hostile environment. There are some good moments of tension and action but the plot does not tie into some universal fear or comment on the way we live. At the time it was released this film was over looked by audiences and while some of the effects are no longer cutting edge it is still well worth a look.

4/5

More age, more problems

This is 40 (2012)

Directed by Judd Apatow this spin off from Knocked Up (2007) stars Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, John Lithgow and Megan Fox. On the week of their 40^th birthdays a married couple enters a midlife crises.

There is a lot to like here but unfortunately the film ends up being a bit of an aimless exploration of turning 40 that lacks much real resolution. While there are some funny moments they are not enough to really carry the film and the problems facing our protagonists never really get resolved. Generally the film is well made and similar to other films made by Apatow but is not one of his strongest efforts.

3/5

Not on the floor

The Liability (2013)

Directed by Craig Viveiros this film stars Jack O'Connell, Tim Roth, Talulah Riley and Peter Mullan. A 19 year old slacker gets given a job by his gangster step father as part of paying off the car he crashed.

In this film there are a couple of really funny moments and more than a hint of personality but due to the short run time none of these are really explored properly. What this film really needed was more time to explore the unusual comic relationships as it is a refreshing change in the overly serious British gangster genre. Like everything else in the film there are a couple of sequences where the direction hints at being something above the usual but again it is not really often enough to carry the film.

3/5

Problems with wood

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson this third film in the Harold and Kumar series stars John Cho, Kal Penn and Neil Patrick Harris. After growing apart our two heroes are reunited by a strange Christmas package and a quest for a replacement Christmas tree.

I watched this film in 2D but obviously a lot of special effects are designed around 3D so there maybe something lost there. Generally the plot is fairly average for this sort of holiday film and does little to stand out, there is not really a ton of humour either. While the film pushes boundaries at times I would not say it is offensive and is neither the best or the worst Christmas film you could get stuck watching.

3/5

Cats who open doors

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012)

Directed by Alison Klayman this documentary features Ai Weiwei and many other Chinese artists. We follow a Chinese artist between 2008 and 2011 while he is at odds with the Chinese government.

What this documentary does is use Ai Weiwei to look at not just art but the idea of how we are all part of a larger whole. While this is not exactly a warts and all piece, it has a very clear bias, it does ask some interesting questions on what art is and the future of our interconnected worlds. Largely the film is well made and mixes in digital content well but never offers us another point of view which is a bit of a disappointment.

4/5

Innocence eventually maintained

The Age of Innocence (1993)

Directed by Martin Scorsese this film based on the novel of the same name stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder. In 1870s New York an upper class man engaged to a young woman with traditional values falls for her cousin who is linked to scandal.

It takes a fair amount of time for the plot of this film to get interesting, for large parts it is fairly average love triangle stuff till the last act that has some decent twist of events. Maybe the story lacks much depth but does reflect the stilted nature of the period it represents. As with any Scorsese film this is a well made effort with a good sporting cast.

4/5

No magic

Spellbound (1945)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock this film based on the novel “The House of Dr. Edwardes” stars Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Michael Chekhov and Leo G. Carroll. A new head doctor arrives at a mental hospital but is he who he claims to be?

The plot of this film has it's weak elements, relying initially on a “love at first sight” motivation but otherwise is a fairly standard thriller. What I was most interested by were the dream sequences which Salvador Dali helped with but unfortunately these were cut down and are barely in the film. Mostly the film is well made but it does little to stand out and is not in the same class as Hitchcock's other films like Vertigo (1958) for example.

3/5

Lacks brains

HairBrained (2013)

Directed by Billy Kent this film stars Alex Wolff, Brendan Fraser, Julia Garner and Elisabeth Hower. A 14 year old genius gets rejected by Harvard and ends up at a much lower ranked school where he makes friends with a mature student.

There is not a lot of originality or depth in the plot of this film that takes it's structure from the standard sports film basing the plot around a inter college mastermind competition. While there are plenty of decent hooks for character development none of them are capitalised on and there is only the occasional moment of comedy. What this film needed to succeed was a lot more personality but it fails to deliver much of anything.

2/5

Another crazy ghost in the woods

Mama (2013)

Directed by Andres Muschietti this film stars Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Daniel Kash. After being missing for five years two young girls are put in the care of their uncle and his girlfriend.

Nearly every horror cliché in the book is thrown at this film and it is hard to find much originality to go round. For some reason which the film switches from initially being about the uncle to his girlfriend and I am not sure there is any particular reasons for this. Despite pretty average content the film is fairly well made and Jessica Chastain gives a decent performance as rock chick turned reluctant adoptive mother.

3/5

Ill behaviour

The 400 Blows (1959)

Directed by Francois Truffaut this film stars Jean-Pierre Leaud, Albert Remy and Claire Maurier. A 12 year boy growing up in Paris gets into trouble constantly at both school and home.

What works best about this film is the way the plot slowly reveals why the protagonist has turned to a life of misbehaviour. The story shows how youth at the time could be neglected then written off so easily by those around them. Fitting clearly into the realist style of film making that had come out of Italy the film is well made with a final scene well worth waiting for.

4/5

Rio Dorado

El Dorado (1966)

Directed by Howard Hawks this film stars John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt and Arthur Hunnicutt. A gun fighter and his new friend help an old friend stop a range war in the old West.

Despite having a script from Leigh Brackett the plot of this film is pretty average, essentially being a remake of Rio Bravo (1959) which was also a Hawks and Wayne collaboration. Generally the story is handled fairly well but we are not looking at anything original or ground breaking here. About the best thing in the film is Robert Mitchum's performance as an alcoholic sherrif and seeing at least one female character taking a proactive role in a western.

3/5

Un-illuminating

Struck by Lightning (2012)

Directed by Brian Dannelly this film stars it's writer Chris Colfer alongside Allison Janney, Rebel Wilson and Christina Hendricks. Wishing to leave his small town and become a journalist a high school boy blackmails classmates into helping him write a literary magazine.

Most of the plot of this film is your fairly standard coming of age stuff and a lot of the characters are also genre clichés. Where the film is weak is that the more interesting family elements of the story are relegated to a sub plot in favour of the usual high school rubbish. Mostly the film is well made but I am not sure that killing the protagonist (revealed in the opening scene) adds much to the story or it's resolution.

3/5

John Ford goes to court

Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

Directed by John Ford this film stars Woody Stroode, Jeffrey Hunter, Constance Towers and Willis Bouchey. In the 1880s an African American cavalry sergeant stands trial with his story told through flash backs.

This is a fairly simple story of racial prejudice that while it might not have the depth and scale of Ford's The Searchers (1956) it is still a good anti racism piece. While the plot maybe constructed in a slightly unrealistic order of revelation it works pretty well and does not stretch believability too much. As with any John Ford western there are some excellent shots of Monument Valley during the flash back sequences and this film is completely watchable.

4/5

Kitten

Breakfast on Pluto (2005)

Directed by Neil Jordan this film based on the novel of the same name stars Cillian Murphy, Ruth Negga, Liam Neeson and Stephen Rea. A transgender foundling grows up in small town Ireland in the 1970s.

It seems there are a number of changes between the plot of the novel this is based on and the plot of the film which annoyingly seems to rely on a fair number of coincidences that push beyond believability. In general the script is funny and entertaining, keeping the viewer interested if not having anything especially interesting to say about the situations covered. Cillian Murphy gives an excellent performance and the cast is rounded out by nearly every familiar face from Irish acting.

4/5

Cricket?

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)

Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger this film based on the comic strip “Colonel Blimp” stars Roger Livesey, Deborah Kerr (three times) and Anton Walbrook. An ageing British General during the Second World War looks back at his life.

There is a lot to like here with a plot that looks at the nature of wars Britain has fought in the past and possible need to go “outside the rules” when fighting against Nazi Germany. While this is an adaptation it does stray a fair amount from the source material being less satirical and making the protagonist more likeable. One of the main features of the film is the early good use of Technicolor and good ageing effects on the cast.

4/5

Theist preaching

Life of Pi (2012)

Directed by Ang Lee this film based on the novel of the same name stars Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan and Rafe Spall. An Indian boy finds himself trapped on a life boat in the Pacific Ocean with a tiger.

Visually this film is very impressive and the CGI which it relies heavily on is really well done. For most of the film the plot was fairly average but I did enjoy the different light that the final scene put on the whole story. Where I have a problem with this film is in the message that you should believe in God because it's “more interesting” which seems flimsy at best to me and at worst ignores the massive negatives that come with religion.

3/5

A vague point

The Long Gray Line (1955)

Directed by John Ford this film based on a true story stars Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara and Ward Bond. An Irish immigrant spends fifty years working at West Point helping train future Army officers.

Like many other films by John Ford this film has characters of Irish decent, some slapstick comedy and themes of military duty. Mostly this is a fairly simple story that only gets a little overly sentimental towards the end. As with any John Ford film this is a well made effort but not one of his more remarkable or stand out films.

3/5

Jef

Le Samourai (1967)

Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville this film stars Alain Delon, Francois Perier, Nathalie Delon and Cathy Rosier. A cold, methodical hit man gets caught between the police and the people that hired him.

Much like it's protagonist the script of this film is cold and ambiguous using minimal dialogue and leaving a lot to the interpretation of the viewer. Most of the plot is fairly standard fair for the film noir genre and while it pulls few surprises is well constructed. The genius of this film comes in the execution which draws the viewer into what would have been an otherwise plain film.

4/5

Secret commie nukes?

Hell and High Water (1954)

Directed by Samuel Fuller this film stars Richard Widmark, Bella Darvi and Victor Francen. An independent group of scientists hire a former WW2 submarine captain to help them investigate a potential Communist nuclear facility in the North Pacific.

Mostly this is a pretty standard Cold War film that while not completely believable in basic plot is fairly realistic in execution. The best sequences are the submarine on submarine warfare that dominate the middle of the film which otherwise is not overly filled with tension. Mostly the film is well made and the special effects are not bad for the era.

3/5

So I says to the Devil...

Heaven Can Wait (1943)

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch this film based on the play “Birthday” stars Dom Ameche and Gene Tierney. A dead old man tells the devil his life story to prove that he deserves to be admitted into hell.

This is a pretty light hearted film that while not overly sentimental is fairly easy watching. There may not be much of a moral that the story is pushing but it works decently enough if lacking some depth. As an early colour film the colour here looks good and the film is well made if unremarkable in it's execution.

3/5

Hitched to a train

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock this film based on the novel “The Wheel Spins” stars Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. On a train journey in Europe a young woman becomes convinced that an old woman has been kidnapped even though no one else seems to remember her.

It takes a while for the plot of this film to get going but when it does it is a decently made thriller as you would expect from someone like Hitchcock. You could see the plot of this film as an allegory for British appeasement in the period leading up to WW2 although that may be a little bit of a stretch. Mostly the film is well made even if it does have a little obvious model work in the opening sequence and some of the humour stops this being a really tense thriller.

3/5

A burning gas giant

The Hindenburg (1975)

Directed by Robert Wise this film loosely based on real events stars George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft, William Atherton and Burgess Meredith. A German air force intelligence officer hunts for a saboteur on the final flight of the famous airship.

This film is an odd mix of disaster film, true story and fictional conspiracy theory that never really sits easily in any pigeon hole. Fictionalising nearly everything about the plot detracts from the “true story” element and the fictional plot itself is not really believable either. I actually think the special effects are not too bad given the period the film was made in and what it is trying to depict but otherwise this is a fairly forgettable film.

2/5

Hunting evil

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow this film based on real event stars Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Ehle. Over a 10 year period a CIA officer attempts to hunt down Osama Bin Laden eventually leading to his death.

It will take a long time before we truly know how accurate this film is, as it comes so soon after the classified events I suspect it is unlikely we get the whole truth and Hollywood does like to contribute the actions of many to one character in films like this. All that being said this is a fairly clinically told story that focuses on the details rather than wandering into fantasy land which is exactly the right tack to take. Maybe there are times when the film could have looked in more depth at the issues surrounding the methods used, such as torture but otherwise this is a really well made film.

4/5

Murder in the mountains

Phenomena (1985)

Directed by Dario Argento this film also known as “Creepers” stars Jennifer Connelly, Donald Pleasence and Daria Nicolodi. The daughter of a famous actor is sent to a boarding school in Switzerland where her strange powers start to manifest themselves and a serial killer is on the loose.

Mostly the basic plot of this film is your standard slasher fare but there are some unusual combinations of details. Despite some initial promise none of these strange details add up to anything especially interesting as they do not really tap into a common phobia. The best part of the film is the sound track which is very impressive and the film was also one of the first to use steadicam.

3/5

Coco-nuts

His Majesty O'Keefe (1954)

Directed by Byron Haskin this film based on a true story stars Burt Lancaster, Joan Rice, Andre Morell and Abraham Sofaer. During the 19^th century an American is ship wrecked on an island in the South Pacific and schemes to earn his fortune from the island's natural resources.

The plot of this film walks a dangerous line between older suspect ideas about race and imperialism but eventually comes out on the right side by suggesting the negative affects greed have on both the protagonist and the natives. While the plot does eventually take the right take it could have been bolder and more obvious in showing how greed is bad. Mostly the film is well made, it stays in the general area of historical events if not exactly telling the whole truth.

3/5

Nicole Kidman wears a fake nose

The Hours (2002)

Directed by Stephen Daldry this film based on the novel of the same name stars Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Ed Harris. Three women affected by the same novel in different time periods live out a day in their lives.

At the time of release this film won a lot of accolades and it is easy to see why as this is as well constructed story with a good number of themes that are reflected through out the different stories. The plot works well and the lives of the different characters echo each other and that of the character in the novel Mrs Dalloway helping re-enforce the underlying themes at work here. Having an all star cast helps the film, Kidman may have won an Oscar but Ed Harris should have as well and the direction excellently manages the differing time periods without getting confusing.

5/5

Failure to branch out

The Karate Kid, Part 3 (1989)

Directed by John G. Avildsen this second sequel stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Robyn Lively. Daniel and Mr Miyagi open a bonsai tree store while a friend of the antagonist from the first film seeks revenge.

Essentially the plot for this film is just a rehash of the plot from the first film as it seems the writers had run out of ideas. There are several elements of the plot that are just plain silly or do not really make sense which does not help either. While there is one nice sequence where the two protagonists practice on the top of some cliffs there is not much else to write home about otherwise.

2/5

Fraternity

Three Colours: Red (1994)

Directed by Krysztof Kieslowksi this film part of the Three Colours trilogy stars Irene Jacob and Jean-Louis Trintignant. A young woman living in Geneva and working as a model becomes friends with a retired judge.

The plot of this film is a great musing on the nature of our interconnected lives, the unforeseen consequences of our actions and the philosophy of law. There is also more than a hint of a religious undertone to this film with hints at the idea of destiny, life repeating itself and the judge character as a potential god figure. This may be my favourite film of the trilogy and there are some nice visual elements included by the director such as the repeated use of characters looking up or down on each other.

5/5

F wording impressive

Burning Man (2011)

Written and directed by Jonathan Teplitzky this film stars Matthew Goode, Bojana Novakovic, Essie Davis and Kerry Fox. A non linear unfolding of the story of angry man where we slowly find out more about him.

This film is probably best watched without knowing anything about it so it is hard to discuss without dropping even a small spoiler but what the film does tell a fairly common story in an impressive way. The plot captures some deeply human moments without indulging over sentimentality or melodrama. Some may find the non linear nature of the story a little frustrating but it is not just a gimmick and helps make this a beautiful way to tell a touching story that really sets this film apart from a crowded genre.

4/5

Ugly Undertones

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

Directed by Richard LaGravenese this film based on the novel of the same name stars Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum and Emma Thompson. Boy meets magic using girl in a story seems more than a little similar to a certain vampire based franchise.

Initially this film starts off with a lot of promise, from it's cast to looking at small town Southern conservatism and banning of books. All this early promise however is thrown away in favour of a run of the mill story that seems intent on pushing the idea that female sexuality is bad which is distasteful to say the least. Given all the talent involved with this film it ends up being a rather large disappointment.

2/5

Three colours: Bland

Three Colours: White (1994)

Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski this second part of a trilogy stars Zbigniew Zamachowski and Julie Delphy. A Polish man is divorced by his French wife and returns home to Poland pennyless.

The plot of this film is supposed to work as a political allegory for the experience of Poland integrating into the EU and struggling to catch up economically but I do not think it works as well as a film like The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979). On the superficial level the story is fairly entertaining, if a little ambiguous at times but otherwise is nothing special. While the direction hints at similar use of colour to the first film in the trilogy it is not as striking or impressive as the first film.

3/5

Part One: Liberty

Three Colours: Blue (1993)

Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski this film stars Juliette Binoche, Benoit Regent and Emmanuelle Riva. The wife of a famous French composer recovers from the death of her husband and daughter in a car crash.

This is the first part of a trilogy of films on France and French revolutionary ideals with a plot that advances the fairly common theme that no person can be an island. Clearly this is a story of a person coming to terms with grief and while it is well handled I am not sure that it offers much new to a well covered subject. Where the film is excellent is in it's execution, the film makes great use of colour and especially music to highlight themes as well as tie the story together.

4/5

The Okinawa not adventure

The Karate Kid, Part 2 (1986)

Directed by John G. Avildsen this sequel again stars Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. Mr Miyagi and Daniel travel to Okinawa to visit Mr Miyagi's dying father while settling a matter of honour.

What the plot of this film has in it's favour is that it is not retread of the plot of the original which is too often the case but is rather aimless at times. There are a couple of elements of the story that rub me up the wrong way like the girlfriend from the original being written out fairly harshly and having a final big fight in a film promoting pacifism. Mostly the film is well made but despite good intentions this is a fairly week effort.

2/5

Rebel with cause

East of Eden (1955)

Directed by Elia Kazan this film based on the novel of the same name stars Julie Harris, James Dean, Raymond Massey, Richard Davalos and Jo Van Fleet. On the eve of WW1 a young man tries to find his father's love and his estranged mother.

When it comes to the plot of the film this is not a very strict adaptation of the novel it is based on but does retain the major themes. There are some nice biblical parallels with in the story and the character arc of the protagonist works really well. Mostly the film is well made and James Dean gives a good debut performance.

4/5

To become immortal then die

Breathless (1960)

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard this French film stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg. After killing a policeman a criminal spends time in Paris trying to convince his American girl friend to leave for Italy with him.

Coming with a big reputation this film is an interesting experiment in going against the norms of the studio films that had come before it. While the film no doubt has it's interesting elements it is one of those films that has a bigger impact in it's era than on modern audiences but is still well worth watching for those interested in film development. The plot is not bad but like the execution of the film is a bit of an anti-film at times focusing on the down time between the big events which works surprisingly well.

4/5

over connect disconnect

Disconnect (2012)

Directed by Henry Alex Rubin this film has an ensemble cast that includes Jason Bateman, Andrea Riseborough, Paula Patton and Alexander Skarsgard. The darker side of the internet is explored through three different stories.

In general this is a really good showcase of the negative effects of the information age on our lives that actually understands the technology involved in the stories shown, which can be rare for Hollywood. While the final message maybe a little unsubtle the rest of the film deals with the stories really well showing a fair amount of nuance and understanding. There decent performances and the final transformation sequence is really well shot.

4/5

Cliche squad

Gangster Squad (2013)

Directed by Ruben Fleischer this film inspired by real events which stars Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn and Emma Stone. A special team of cops are put together to go outside the law and after an organised crime boss.

Despite having a lot of acting talent involved with this film the script includes nearly every genre cliché in the book and does little of interest with them. While the film claims to be based on real events it seems to have taken a pretty fictional route and leaves a number of characters, such as Emma Stone's, rather undeveloped. The direction is not bad but does not do much to make up for all the other deficiencies in this film.

2/5

Snikt

X-men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Directed by Gavin Hood this prequel stars Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber and Danny Huston. After killing his father in 1845 a young mutant and his half brother go on the run fighting in various wars before becoming transformed into Weapon X.

The real basic problem with this film is not the departures from comic book canon, which are not overly egregious, but that the film never really connects on an emotional level rather seeming to be a check list of events the writers felt the had to cover. While the plot is not too bad it really lacks any depth and could have been a lot better given the iconic nature of the central character. Where the big problems come are in the really weak CGI used in the film that lets the action sequences down big time.

2/5

Fin-ished

Jaws 4: The Revenge (1987)

Directed by Joseph Sargent this film stars Lorraine Gary, Lance Guest, Mario Van Peebles and Michael Caine. After the death of the youngest Brody son his mother becomes convinced that a shark has followed her from New England to the Bahamas.

This film comes with a pretty bad reputation and to be honest it is hard to find any redeeming features. Largely the plot is silly, unrealistic and has plenty of holes in it. Even the special effects, which are key for a film like this, are not special and worse than those used in the original.

1/5

Airplane '53

Island in the Sky (1953)

Directed by William Wellman this film stars John Wayne, Lloyd Nolan, Walter Able and James Arness. An army cargo plane is forces to land in uncharted territory in Northern Canada which rescue teams struggle to find.

This is an early attempt at a disaster film and while it lacks some tension and does not really focus on the survival aspects of the story it is not bad. Unusually John Wayne plays a more reserved character that has to sit around and wait to be saved rather than the more proactive roles he is known for. Mostly the script sticks to realism and the special effects are not too bad but the film does lack some character depth.

3/5

McCorleone

The Wee Man (2013)

Directed by Ray Burdis this film based on real events stars Patrick Bergin, Martin Compston, Simon DeSilva and John Hannah. A young man grows up in Glasgow and becomes involved in organised crime.

Much like one of the characters in the film at times this film thinks it is the Scottish version of The Godfather (1972) but falls short. The script spends too much time on the actions of the characters rather than the motivations and does seem to have strayed from or over looked parts of the real events it claims to be based on. Mostly the film is not badly made but really could have done with a better script to start with.

2/5

Not exactly a steam train through a saloon

Joe Kidd (1972)

Directed by John Sturges this film stars Clint Eastwood, Robert Duvall, John Saxton and Stella Garcia. A former bounty hunter gets involved in a land war between a white land baron and a Mexican revolutionary.

This is a pretty standard Clint Eastwood western and one of a number of westerns by director John Sturges. The plot holds little in the way of surprises and covers much of the same ground as many other revisionist westerns of the period. There are some nice shots showcasing the mountainous landscape used as a back drop but otherwise the execution of the film is pretty average too.

3/5

A long walk

The Way Back (2010)

Directed by Peter Weir this film is inspired by the book “The Long Walk” and stars Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Colin Farrell. During WW2 a group of prisoners in a Soviet Gulag undertake a mammoth trek to freedom in India.

The plot of this film is fairly simple as the protagonists struggle to survive in changing landscapes with meagre resources. At times realism and believability do fade away slightly but otherwise the action depicted is well grounded, never egregiously going beyond belief. While there are some great locations the film some how never really manages to capture the scale of the journey or offer much depth to the story so in the end this is a pretty average watch.

3/5

Not so revolutionary

Les Miserables (2012)

Directed by Tom Hooper this film based on the musical and novel of the same name stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried. An ex-convict that has broken his parole tries to do good but is pursued by a policeman in 1800s France.

It seems that the plot of the film largely follows that of the musical on which it is based with the main theme being can a person change their nature. At times the plot diverts a little too much from the story story of the Valjean and Javert for my liking but over all works fairly well. There are some good performances from the cast but when it comes to the staging what is impressive in a theatre is less so when you take away the restrictions and have CGI in your arsenal.

4/5

Parent problems

As Cool As I Am (2013)

Directed by Max Mayer this film based on the novel of the same name stars Sarah Bolger, Claire Danes, James Marsden and Thomas Mann. As a girl turns 16 she starts to realise that her parents will never be the people she wants them to be and becomes an adult.

Seeming to stick pretty close to it's source material this film is a pretty standard coming of age tale. There might not be much new here but it is still a fairly well told story that does most things right. Overall there are some decent performances but nothing special and it is nice to see a cameo from Peter Fonda at the end of the film.

3/5

Dark days in the California sunshine

A Place in the Sun (1951)

Directed by George Stevens this adaptation of the novel “An American Tragedy” stars Montgomery Cliff, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters. A working class man gets a job from his rich relatives, gets a factory girl pregnant and falls in love with a socialite.

Initially this seems like a fairly average melodrama but the plot takes a decidedly dark getting some serious mature material past the production code of the time. Where the plot falls down slightly is the romance between the protagonist and the socialite being too quick to be believable but otherwise is an interesting watch. What is most impressive is that despite the events the film manages to portray all the characters in a sympathetic light right up to the end of the film.

4/5

No sequel for you

Last Action Hero (1993)

Directed by John McTiernan this film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, Charles Dance, Anthony Quinn and Bridgette Wilson. A young boy obsessed with action films gets a magic ticket and ends up inside the sequel to his favourite film.

Despite bombing at the time of release this is actually a really fun film with plenty of genre references and cameos. While the plot may not exactly be subtle it is still an interesting idea and shows a refreshing level of self awareness in a genre that often trends towards the silly or unbelievable. Some of the special effects are not exactly perfect to modern viewing but largely the film holds up well and Arnie is perfectly cast in the lead role.

4/5

Two best moments of a viewers life

Hide Away (2011)

Directed by Chris Eyre this film stars Josh Lucas, Ayelet Zurer, James Cromwell and Jon Tenney. A man grieving for his wife and children buys a dilapidated sail boat.

This is a slow moving and minimalist film that really struggles to fill it's run time. While the plot is handled fairly sensitively and without drifting into melodrama it never really goes into enough detail to properly tell the story at hand. Mostly the film is well shot and acted but that does not make up for the lack of content.

2/5

No regrets

La Vie en Rose (2007)

Directed by Olivier Dahan this film based on a true story stars Marion Cotillard, Gerard Depardieu and Sylvie Testud. This is the story of Edith Piaf from her youth in poverty to success as a singer and eventual health problems and death.

It seems that mostly this film sticks to historical events without getting involved in too much speculation but there is a pretty obvious omission of anything involving the singer during World War 2. The story is very much a warts and all account told in a non-linear fashion which is slightly confusing at times but not overly so. Clearly the best part of this film is Marion Cotilard's Oscar winning performance in the title role which is massively impressive and worth watching for alone.

4/5

Unchained melodies

Django Unchained (2012)

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino this film stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. A former slave attempts to free his wife with the help of an eccentric German bounty hunter.

As with any Tarantino film this film is a synthesis of many different films and stories but manages to be both funny and entertaining despite it's dark subject matter. While the film always holds your attention it does seem to lack the depth of Tarantino's other films, especially in contrast to Inglourious Basterds (2009) for example. When it comes to Tarantino's direction the one question for me has always been could he shoot landscape but here he proves he can with some really great mountain and snow sequences in particular.

4/5

Reboot leaves you Cross

Alex Cross (2012)

Directed by Rob Cohen this film based on the novel Cross stars Tyler Perry, Matthew Fox and Edward Burns. Police hunt a contract killer who is hunting down corporate targets before coming after the police as well.

This is a reboot of the Alex Cross character who previously featured in Kiss the Girls (1997) and Along Came a Spider (2001) which stared Morgan Freeman in the same role. Most of the problems with this film come from the plot that would better fit a 90s cheesy thriller than anything that claims to be at all serious, think too much or at all here and you are going to have a bad time. When it comes to the lead role I am not really sure that Tyler Perry has the chops to replace someone like Morgan Freeman and seems fairly out of place in this film.

2/5

No truth, no dare

Truth or Dare (2012)

Directed by Robert Heath this film stars Florence Hall, Liam Boyle, David Oakes, Jennie Jacques and Jack Gordon. A group of teenagers head off to celebrate a friends birthday at a remote cabin on a private estate.

Although this is billed as a horror film it is never really scary and simply relies on gore and a bit of tension to get by. Nearly all the problems with this film come from the script which leaves you with barely anyone to route for as nearly all the characters are pretty horrid. While the director does not have much to work with there is no much tension here and little to scare you other than the poor choices the script takes.

2/5

Yet more dinosaurs

Jurassic Park 3 (2001)

Directed by Joe Johnston this film stars Sam Neill, William H. Macey, Tea Leoni and Alessandro Nivola. Doctor Grant is tricked into returning to a dinosaur infested island to help a couple find their missing son.

Nearly everything about this sequel is a token effort, from the plot on down it is a check list of items to fill out the requirements of getting the job done. In places the story gets a bit silly even for a franchise about dinosaur cloning and none of the action sequences are that impressive. The special effects are decent but seem to include a fair amount of green screen work.

3/5

Going South in the North

Bear Island (1979)

Directed by Don Sharp this film based on the novel of the same name stars Donald Sutherland, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee and Lloyd Bridges. An international group of climate scientists travel to a remote Arctic island but is everyone who they claim to be?

As you would expect with any film based on an Alistair MacLean novel there are plenty of twists along the way in this thriller but it does not exactly stick that closely to it's source material. There is a good cast but the script does not really play up the tension inherent in the situation of unknown killers among stranded scientists. We get some nice snow scape footage but nothing remarkable and in general this is an average execution of an average thriller plot.

3/5

Another wannabe thug

My Brother the Devil (2012)

Written and Directed by Sally El Hosaini this film stars James Floyd, Fady Elsayed and Said Taghmaoui. The younger son of a family of Egyptian immigrants in London looks to emulate his older brother and become involved in the criminal life.

Despite being pretty well made in all areas this is a fairly average entry into a crowded genre of coming of age stories told against the background of low level crime. About the only unusual element here is the inclusion of a gay story line but while unusual is not exactly ground breaking. Most of the direction and acting is good but like the rest of the film it is solid rather than impressive.

3/5

More strangeness in the neighbourhood

Ghostbusters 2 (1989)

Directed by Ivan Reitman this film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver and Harold Ramis. Five years after the events of the first film once again strange things are happening in New York and you can guess who is on the case.

At the time of release this film was a smash hit at the box office but the plot is no great shakes. Most of what you would expect goes on here although Ernie Hudson gets a surprising lack of screen time like no one knows what to do with his character. Most of the effects are decent like the original but the film is not as packed with humour as it's predecessor.

3/5

If it bleeds we can kill it

Predator (1987)

Directed by John McTiernan this film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers. A group of mercenary soldiers are sent into the jungle in central America on a rescue mission but get more than they bargained for.

What plot there is for this film is fairly thin but honestly if you came to this sort of film looking for plot then you are probably in the wrong place anyway. The story works pretty effectively for what it is but does have the odd hole here if you stop and think about what is happening. Some of the special effects, such as the predator vision, have dated but mostly the film holds together as a fun if over the top action film.

3/5

Ar Go Fuck Yourself

Argo (2012)

Directed by Ben Affleck this film stars it's director as well as Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman. In 1979 during the Iranian revolution 6 American embassy workers manage to not be caught and held hostage like their co-workers but need a way out of Iran.

There is plenty of this film that has it's footings in what really happened but there are also plenty of departures from real events with in the story as well. The script does a good, if slightly cynical, job of crafting a taut and suspenseful escape from a dangerous situation. Probably this film is one that has been over praised but it is still a good watch if not a film that will go down as a classic.

4/5

In a flap

The Birds (1963)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock this film inspired by real events and the novella of the same name stars Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren. A socialite visits a small sea side town and the town is menaced by crazed birds.

The plot of this film is nothing special and the characters themselves do not really have much depth or growth. Compared to any number of other Hitchcock films of the same era this is not his best work but it is still serviceable. As you would expect there are some nice touches from the master director and the set pieces work well without the special effects dating as much as you would expect.

4/5