Toy Story 3 (2010) 8/10

Starring : Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty
Director : Lee Unkrich
Running Time : 98 mins

As Andy gets set to leave home for college, Woody (Hanks), Buzz (Allen) and the rest of his toys are mistakenly sent off to the Sunnyside Daycare Centre where they meet a whole host of new and unusual toys. When Woody and Buzz realise they weren’t abandoned but were sent to the daycare centre by mistake, they hatch a plot to escape with the rest of the centre’s toys.

Another great instalment in the Toy Story series sees some new additions to the cast and some new villains appearing where you’d least expect to see them. The story is fresh, the characters are still as much fun as they were fifteen years ago when we first met them, and the animation is just as colourful as it’s ever been.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Incredibles

Baghead (2008) 6/10

Starring : Ross Partridge, Steve Zissis, Greta Gerwig
Director : Jay & Mark Duplass
Running Time : 81 mins

Four actors, working on a movie script, decide to take some time out in the woods in the hope of getting dome inspiration, but as they work on their movie – a horror about a killer that wears a paper bag on his head – they are horrified to discover that there may be a real killer with the same M.O!

This low budget comedy horror is in desperate need of a budget and some decent actors! In spite of a simple yet effective story, this could have been so much better. Still, it’s worth taking a look at if you enjoy horror movies like The Blair Witch Project or Cloverfield.

You’ll like this if you liked : Hatchet II

Inception (2010) 7/10

Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
Director : Christopher Nolan
Running Time : 148 mins

Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a fugitive thief who is wanted internationally for the crime of entering peoples subconscious and stealing their ideas, but now he has been offered a chance and wiping the slate clean by doing the exact opposite. He and his team of highly train criminals must enter someones mind and plant an idea instead. However, there's one drawback - if they're discovered, they're dead!

This wasn’t a bad movie, it was just too long! Basically what amounts to the final scene must have run for over an hour! If you can ignore the special effects and just focus on the plot, the story is pretty good, but it was just a little too over hyped for my liking.

You’ll like this if you liked : Minority Report

Avatar (2009) 8/10

Starring : Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Director : James Cameron
Running Time : 156 mins

Paraplegic Jake Sully (Worthington) is employed to go on a unique mission : his conscience is imbued into an artificial alien body created to look like an alien species known as the Na’vi so that the military can gather intelligence on them. Once he has infiltrated their tribe he discovers the real motives behind the interest in their home planet Pandora is a rare element know as Unobtainium which the military wish to mine, but will need to wipe out the Na’vi people. And as Jake finds himself falling in love with Naytiri (Saldana), one of the aliens, he decides to help fight for the survival of her people.

Although impressive looking, this movie is basically a billion dollar reworking of Dances With Wolves. Fair enough, there aren’t many original movies around nowadays so I can let that slide, but it’s hard to actually concentrate on the plot of this movie because of the dazzling effects. Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was good, but it would have been nice if the effects didn’t get in the way of the story so much.

You’ll like this if you liked : Aliens

The A-Team (2010) 7/10

Starring : Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Sharlto Copley
Director : Joe Carnahan
Running Time : 114 mins

Four veteran soldiers of the Iraq war find themselves framed and sent to prison when they are assigned the job of recovering some stolen money-printing plates. A while into their sentences, the leader of the group, John “Hannibal” Smith (Neeson), is informed of the whereabouts of the real thieves, so he organises the breakout of his colleagues so they can find the culprits and clear their names.

So long as you don’t try to take this movie too seriously, you will be entertained. The action is a little over the top, such as a scene where a tank freefalling to the earth manages to slow down its trajectory by firing off missiles into the ground, but as long as you don’t try to explain to yourself how the effects could be worked in real life you’ll probably find this to be an enjoyable romp.

You’ll like this if you liked : Shoot ‘Em Up

Bitch Slap (2009) 5/10

Starring : Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo
Director : Rick Jacobson
Running Time : 102 mins

A stripper (Voth), a business woman (Cummings) and an ex-con (Olivo) join forces to steal a diamond cache from a known underworld kingpin hidden in the remote desert, but once money gets involved the three ladies soon start to suspect each other of betrayal.

Ordinarily, casting a trio of scantily clad babes in an ultra violent crime caper would be guaranteed money in the bank. Sadly no amount of hitched up skirts and low cut tops could rescue this poor excuse for a Russ Meyer rip-off. The plot is feeble and barely worth mentioning, and the acting is so bad it’s cringeworthy. Steer clear if you know what’s good for you.

You’ll like this if you liked : Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Predators (2010) 8/10

Starring : Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace
Director : Nimrod Antal
Running Time : 107 mins

A disparate group of mercenaries find themselves stranded in a strange jungle with no idea how they got there. As they travel further into the jungle they soon discover that they are in fact on an alien planet and that they are being hunted down by strange creatures that have the ability to turn invisible.

In spite of having read some pretty bad press about this unnecessary sequel, coupled with the fact that I thought the last Predator movie (AVP2) was awful, I actually found myself enjoying this action adventure. It is far more like the original 1987 movie than any of the follow ups, although the layout is a little like Saw in my opinion – the cast wake up somewhere and don’t know who to trust – but it works reasonably well, and in spite of the largely B movie cast this was actually well acted out and made for some gripping viewing.

You’ll like this if you liked : Predator

Scooby-Doo And The Monster Of Mexico (2003) 6/10

Starring : Casey Kasem, Frank Welker, Nicole Jaffe, Heather North
Director : Scott Jeralds
Running Time : 75 mins

In the sixth of the direct to video Scooby-Doo series, Fred Jones (Welker) is invited to Mexico by his pen pal, so he brings Scooby (Welker) and the gang along for the ride. They get the opportunity to stay at the hotel owned by Fred’s pen pal’s family, but when they are told stories of a creature known as El Chupacabra, and Shaggy (Kasem) and Scooby see the creature, the gang start to investigate who might be behind the monster attacks.

This isn’t one of the better Scooby mysteries – the culprit is pretty predictable – but it is still fun to watch. The animation doesn’t feel as fresh, and the fact that there are less suspects makes it feel like a lazy instalment, but fans of Scooby and the gang will still love seeing a new mystery solved.

You’ll like this if you liked : Scooby-Doo and The Legend Of The Vampire

Shrek Forever After (2010) 7/10

Starring : Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Walt Dohrn
Director : Mike Mitchell
Running Time : 90 mins

Feeling stressed about his new life as a husband and father, Shrek (Myers) mistakenly unleashes his burden on Rumpelstiltskin (Dohrn) and asks him to make him feel like a real ogre again, he finds himself living in a version of Far Far Away where none of his actions had ever taken place.

This was a much better instalment than Shrek The Third, but still not quite as good as the first two movies. I can’t say I’m sad to see that this should be the last Shrek movie, not because I don’t like them, just because if there were too many more the characters would feel completely watered down. Once again this has lots to offer both children and adults alike, and as usual Eddie Murphy is brilliant.

You’ll like this if you liked : Toy Story 2

The Hurt Locker (2008) 7/10

Starring : Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes
Director : Kathryn Bigelow
Running Time : 126 mins

An army bomb squad based in Baghdad are faced with a dangerous day to day existence where anything they see on the streets, no matter how innocuous, could be an explosive device. One soldier in particular, Sergeant First Class William James (Renner), seems to have more of a death wish than most, and continues to take further and further risks in regards to potential explosive situations.

This was better than I though it would be, though it is still a war film – not my favourite genre of movie. The acting gets better as the movie progresses, and the final scenes are well worth waiting out the opening of the film. Fans of war films will probably love this, but if you don’t get your kicks from watching soldiers wandering around aimlessly then give this a miss.

You’ll like this if you liked : Jarhead

Get Him To The Greek (2010) 8/10

Starring : Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Elisabeth Moss
Director : Nicholas Stoller
Running Time : 114 mins

Aaron Green (Hill) works in a low paying position at a record company, so when he is given a life changing opportunity to further his career he jumps at the chance. All he has to do is collect rock star Aldous Snow (Brand) from London and deliver him to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and all in three days... what could be simpler?

This sort-of sequel to Forgetting Sarah Marshall revisits the small character of Aldous Snow and practically puts him front and centre. Brand was made to play this role, and clearly relishes in the chance to play him again. Jonah Hill is perfect as the put upon boyfriend to Elisabeth Moss’s overbearing girlfriend, and when Hill and Brand are on screen together the tension Hill’s character is faced with can be cut with a knife.

You’ll like this if you liked : Knocked Up

The Blind Side (2009) 8/10

Starring : Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron
Director : John Lee Hancock
Running Time : 128 mins

Michael Oher (Aaron) is a homeless teenager who never knew his father and whose mother is addicted to drugs. Due to his almost nonexistent upbringing Michael has little or no education, so local good Samaritan Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock) decides to take him under her wing and try to give him the chances in life that have so far not been available to him.

This is a nice little feel good movie, in which Bullock is allowed to shine as the philanthropist who helps turn a disillusioned young man into one of the greatest football players of recent years. The story moves quickly, and the characters are warm and realistic – as they are based on real people – so the two hours plus runtime feels like a lot less.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Pursuit Of Happyness

She's Out Of My League (2010) 9/10

Starring : Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T J Miller
Director : Jim Field Smith
Running Time : 105 mins

Kirk (Baruchel) is a below average guy with little or no aspiration in life, so when he meets Molly (Eve), a smart, attractive woman who could have any man she wants, he starts to wonder what she sees in him. This self doubt, coupled with the negative comments from his friends and family, soon leads him to spoil things himself.

This fell-good romantic comedy has everything you could possibly want in a film. The script is rich and well thought out, keeping the characters reel whilst simultaneously having the sort of scenes you’d expect in the current trend of gross out comedies.

You’ll like this if you liked : I Love You Beth Cooper

Australia (2008) 6/10

Starring : Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman
Director : Baz Luhrmann
Running Time : 166 mins

Set during the Second World War, a rich English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) inherits a large cattle station in the northern territories of Australia when her husband is brutally murdered. When she is faced with a takeover bid from a large conglomerate who plan on stealing her cows, she is forced to join forces with a man by the name of Drover (Jackman) in an attempt to save the 2,000 plus head of cattle by taking them cross country.

I didn’t actually like this movie, it was far too convoluted for my liking, and the fact that the makers chose to change the original ending – which sounded better in my opinion – for a more Hollywood ending really got my goat. Visually it’s an impressive movie, and it’s nice that the lead roles didn’t go to actual Americans, but the length of the movie might deter many viewers.

You’ll like this if you liked : Pearl Harbour

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) 9/10

Starring : John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Chevy Chase
Director : Steve Pink
Running Time : 101 mins

Three friends who feel that their lives are going nowhere decide to take a trip to the ski resort they once frequented in their teenage years in the hope of getting some clarity about their future, but when they fall asleep in the hot tub they are transported back in time to 1986 to relive a fateful night from their youth.

This has got to be one of my favourite movies of 2010 so far. The plot is so farfetched it actually becomes believable as we watch the cast travel back in time into their teenage selves and accidentally change the past. It’s deciding whether they’ve changed the past for the better of worse that makes this such a fun ride, and anyone who enjoyed silly 80s movies like Weird Science or Mannequin will definitely enjoy this trip down memory lane.

You’ll like this if you liked : Weird Science

Seven Pounds (2008) 6/10

Starring : Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson
Director : Gabriele Muccino
Running Time : 124 mins

Two years after he causes a car accident which kills seven people, including his fiancée, Tim Thomas (Smith) decides to try to redeem himself by donating various body parts to seven strangers in need of transplants. However, when he meets Emily Posa (Dawson), a woman in need of a heart transplant, he finds himself falling for her and is faced with a very difficult decision.

This isn’t Will Smith’s finest work, and the plot gets so depressing it becomes hard to watch, but the idea of someone trying to rectify their mistakes in such a selfless way is a nice story to hear, even if it ends in possibly the most depressing way imaginable.

You’ll like this if you liked : Crash

When In Rome (2010) 7/10

Starring : Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard
Director : Mark Steven Johnson
Running Time : 91 mins

Beth Martin (Bell) has been unlucky in love her entire life, so when she finds herself in Rome at a fountain famed for making romantic wished come true she decides to take some of the coins from the fountain as an angry affront to love. Unfortunately the rumours of the fountain are true and she soon finds herself being pursued by a series of men, all who had thrown coins into the fountain in search of love.

Another silly comedy reels its head, but I’m not complaining. Even though the plot is simple, it is often the simplest plots that are the most effective. Bell is charming as usual as the protagonist of the piece, and her differing suitors and their varied approaches make for interesting watching. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the best comedy going, but it is definitely an entertaining little romp.

You’ll like this if you liked : Just My Luck

The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009) 7/10

Starring : George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey
Director : Grant Heslov
Running Time : 94 mins

Reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) is charged with writing up a story about soldier Lyn Cassady (Clooney), but when Cassady reveals that the military had a secret organisation of psychics who were charged with trying to bring an end to all war, Wilton realises that he may have the story of a lifetime on his hands.

This tongue in cheek look at the idea of military psychics is played in such a dead pan way that the dry humour is perfectly balanced with the silly content. By taking a topic that seems so over the top and playing it so seriously, this comedy is made all the better, keeping the storyline interesting throughout.

You’ll like this if you liked : Canadian Bacon