Slumbering

Underworld: Awakening (2012)

Directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein this third sequel stars Kate Beckensale, Stephen Rea, India Eisley and Michael Ealy. Humans are now hunting down the vampires and lycans in an attempt to rid the world of them.

All the problems with this film are to do with a paper thin plot that is fairly unoriginal and I have little time caring about despite the series trying to make some big changes to keep things fresh. After years of vampires and lycans killing humans to survive it's really hard to care that the humans are now trying to wipe out the monsters that have preyed on them. None of the action sequences do much to stand out and the best thing about this film is that it is over in 90 minutes.

2/5

Changing fears

Targets (1968)

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich this film stars Boris Karloff, Tim O'Kelly and the director himself as a film director. While an ageing film star decides to retire from the film business a young man goes on a killing spree.

While this film is loosely inspired by a real life spree killing in 1966 it could easily have been inspired by recent spree killings as there are many similarities. What is also interesting about the film is it shows both the changing tastes of horror film audiences and the changing nature of violence in the world we live in. The only real downside to the film is that it lacks tension and could have done with some more character depth.

4/5

Outsourcing old age

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

Based on the novel “These Foolish Things” this film from director John Madden stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson. A group of ageing Britons set off for retirement living in a hotel in India.

This is film is pretty much what you would expect, a fairly light comedy with a positive outlook on life. There are decent performances from the large cast but with so many characters it does feel like one or two get short changed and some of the stories are a little simplistic due to time constraints. One thing you do have to wonder given recent news stories on India is that this film is certainly not a warts and all portrayal of life in India and just how rose tinted the world it offers is.

3/5

man child problems

Dark Horse (2011)

Written and directed by Todd Solondz this film stars Jordan Gelber, Selma Blair and Christopher Walken. A spoilt man child falls in love with a melodramatic, over medicated, depressed girl and things go strangely.

Despite only an 84 minute run time this film suffers from a plot that especially in the final third meanders and does not go anywhere. The jaunting switches between fantasy and reality sequences are not too bad although I am not sure when the final few scenes shift to the point of view of another character. It is hard to find much charm in the self interested characters and the few moments of dark comedy are not really enough to carry this film.

2/5

If it wasn't for those pesky kids

Disturbia (2007)

Directed by D. J. Caruso this film stars Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer and Carrie-Ann Moss. A high school student is stuck under house arrest for the summer but thinks one of his neighbours may be a serial killer.

Obviously the plot of this film owes a lot to the Hitchcock classic Rear Window (1954) but it does a good job of updating the premise for a modern, younger audience and is even darker. For what the film is it is good, it has plenty of tension but maybe strays a little into teen romance too much occasionally. There is plenty of tension through out the final half of the film and the performances of the cast are good too.

4/5

Not in Kansas anymore

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Based on the novel of the same name this film mostly directed by Victor Fleming stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan and Margaret Hamilton. A young girl and her dog run away from home only to be transported to a magic land during a tornado.

Despite being a children's story and having a host directors and writers work on the project this film ends up with a surprising amount of depth. Visually the film is very impressive, the special effects as well as the differences between Kansas and Oz work very well. When it comes to the story it can be interpreted as either the classic adolescent need to rebel or the acceptance of coming adulthood.

5/5

There was an accident

The Machinist (2004)

Directed by Brad Anderson this film stars Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh and John Sharin. A machinist suffers from serious insomnia, paranoia and weight loss as he begins to become unhinged.

With out doubt the most impressive thing about this film is the execution, including the dangerous levels of weightless from Christian Bale in the title role which is decidedly unsettling. The plot itself is not bad but with a slow pace seems to suffer from a lack of urgency or drive. Overall this is a well made puzzle film but lacks a little bit more mystery to really hook the audience in.

4/5