Ed's 21st Century Movie Review

Shrek Forever After (2010) 7/10

2010-08-17T10:47:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-16T14:43:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-12T13:38:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-11T10:34:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-10T15:27:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-09T11:21:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-05T10:42:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-04T12:35:00.002+01:00

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

2010-08-03T13:27:00.004+01:00

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

2010-08-02T12:21:00.002+01:00

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

Tooth Fairy (2010) 7/10

2010-07-29T15:09:00.002+01:00

Starring : Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant, Julie Andrews
Director : Michael Lembeck
Running Time : 98 mins

Professional hockey player Derek “The Tooth Fairy” Thompson makes a name for himself by being one of the most violent players around, repeatedly knocking out the teeth of his opposing players. But when he upsets a youngster, he finds himself sentenced to become a real tooth fairy – a punishment he has to live through for seven days.

Children will enjoy this silly movie, which feels like someone took the plot of The Sants Claus and changed the word Santa for Tooth Fairy. In spite of a feeble plot and some over the top acting, this is basically a children’s movie, and all the prat falls and moral messages are something that it’s important for kids to see in movies.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Santa Clause

2 Days In Paris (2007) 7/10

2010-07-28T15:49:00.002+01:00

Starring : Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Bruhl
Director : Julie Delpy
Running Time : 97 mins

In a last ditch attempt to rekindle their relationship, Marion (Delpy) and Jack (Goldberg) take a romantic trip around Europe. When they arrive in Paris, where Marion’s family live, things seem to get more relaxed in spite of her parents refusal to speak English. Sadly for Jack, it’s also the city where Marion’s myriad of ex-boyfriends live, and they all still seem interested in her.

This is a pretty slow moving film, which largely relies on the conversation between the two main characters to carry the plot. A lot more could have been done with this, but Delpy seems to want to concentrate on how increasingly frustrating life becomes for Jack as he is faced by her unwelcoming family and her intimate ex-boyfriends. Still, it is entertaining in parts, with the decline of their relationship played perfectly.

You’ll like this if you liked : In Search Of A Midnight Kiss

Robin Hood (2010) 6/10

2010-07-27T11:27:00.002+01:00

Starring : Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston
Director : Ridley Scott
Running Time : 150 mins

On his return to England following his involvement in the Hundred Years War under Richard The Lionheart (Huston), Robin Longstride (Crowe) discovers that corruption has taken over England under the rule of Prince John (Isaac). In order to set things right, Longstride joins forces with a band of men who take it upon themselves to help out the poor disillusioned people of England by facing off against the crown.

Although visually pleasing, and filled with the kind of action you would expect from a movie directed by one of the Scott brothers, this leaves the viewer feeling a little dissatisfied with the overall story of this movie. Robin is barely introduced, and his thought processes and decision making skills seem a little disjointed. Plus, casting a pair of Antipodeans in the lead role of a classic English folk tale? Not a great move, but at least they weren’t American.

You’ll like this if you liked : Kingdom Of Heaven

The Duchess (2008) 7/10

2010-07-26T10:34:00.004+01:00

Starring : Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell
Director : Saul Dibb
Running Time : 111 mins

Lady Georgiana Spencer (Knightley) is faced with a life where her husband, the Duke of Devonshire (Fiennes), is cheating on her with another woman, Lady Bess (Atwell), due to his disappointment in her ability to give birth to a male heir. Realising that her husband probably doesn’t love her anymore, she starts a relationship with up and coming politician Charles Grey (Cooper), but when her husband finds out he threatens to take her children away.

This movie was pretty interesting. Many have pointed out the comparisons between Lady Georgiana and another more recent Lady Spencer, due to her fondness for the people and in turn the people’s fondness of her. Lady Georgiana’s treatment by her husband makes for some uncomfortable viewing, but it is her ability to smile throughout and keep up appearances that makes this such a compelling movie.

You’ll like this if you liked : Marie Antoinette

The Killer Inside Me (2010) 7/10

2010-07-22T16:26:00.002+01:00

Starring : Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Ned Beatty
Director : Michael Winterbottom
Running Time : 110 mins

Seemingly unassuming Lou Ford (Affleck) is the sheriff in a small 1950s town. When he is asked to deal with local prostitute Joyce Lakeland (Alba) he is lead into a world of over the top violence and abuse that eventually leads to murder. As the bodies start to pile up, it seems more and more likely that Lou will get caught...

In spite of being a remake, this is an incredibly strong movie with a great performance from Affleck in the lead role. The only thing that lets it down is its overuse of violence. Granted, we expect there to be some violence due to the craziness of Affleck’s character, but if it had have been toned down a little this may have appealed to a much wider audience.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bad Lieutenant : Port Of Call – New Orleans

Double Dagger (2008) 3/10

2010-07-21T13:18:00.001+01:00

Starring : Gerardo Valdivia
Director : Pablo Veliz
Running Time : 81 mins

When Alvaro (Valdivia), the owner of a jewellery store, realises that his business is going under, he decides to resort to his previous life as a world renowned jewel thief (wtf) in a last ditch attempt to save his business once and for all.

This movie has probably no redeemable qualities whatsoever – at least none I could fine. The film quality is bad, the sets are unrealistic, the characters are misplaced, and the acting is so hammy it practically oinks. Please do not watch this movie unless you really hate yourself, there is nothing in this that will entertain unless you enjoy watching bad movies for the comedy value.

You’ll like this if you liked :

Space Chimps 2 Zartog Strikes Back (2010) 5/10

2010-07-20T11:12:00.002+01:00

Starring : Tom Kenny, Zack Shada, Patrick Warburton, Cheryl Hines
Director : John H Williams
Running Time : 73 mins

Comet (Kenny) is a chimp that will stop at nothing to get into the space programme and be considered a true space chimp, but when budget cuts mean that his role in the space programme is ending that dream may never come true. So Comet visits the space ship for one last look around, accidentally sets off the launch sequence, and blasts off into space!

This is probably one of the worst cash-in-with-a-sequel attempts I’ve ever seen. The original didn’t look great and didn’t merit a follow up, and this sequel looks just as cheap, but at least the original has a plot line and some character development. This pretty much has nothing, and the only real appeal it will have for little kids is the colourful aliens that look kind of pretty.

You’ll like this if you liked : Hoodwinked!

Dead Man Running (2009) 7/10

2010-07-19T14:01:00.003+01:00

Starring : Tamer Hassan, 50 Cent, Danny Dyer, Brenda Blethyn
Director : Alex De Rakoff
Running Time : 88 mins

When ex-con Nick (Hassan) is given twenty-four hours to pay back a loan shark the large amount of money he owes, he is forced to enlist his best friend in trying to raise the funds needs to pay off the debt.

This was actually better than I thought it would be. Hassan isn’t exactly the worlds most charismatic man in the lead, but he makes the role believable and you do find yourself routing for him to get the money together in time, but it’s Brenda Blethyn who really makes this movie memorable as Nick’s mum, once again playing a ditzy old lady role that will make even the most hard-hearted viewer smile.

You’ll like this if you liked : Smokin’ Aces

Sex And The City 2 (2010) 6/10

2010-07-15T10:55:00.003+01:00

Starring : Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth
Director : Michael Patrick King
Running Time : 141 mins

Two years into her marriage to Mr Big (Noth), Carrie Bradshaw (Parker) - now Preston - is finding life far too boring for her liking, what with Big’s penchant for take-away eating and black-and-white movies, and his dislike of parting. So when Samantha (Cattrall) wangles a trip for four to Abu Dhabi, Carrie and the girls jump at the chance to get away from their humdrum lives.

This was in no way as good as the first movie – clearly it was just a way of cashing in on the popularity of the series and the first film – but big fans of Carrie and friends will definitely enjoy their further adventures. The plot is flimsy and the run time is ridiculously long, so if you were never a fan of the show then this probably isn’t the movie for you.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Devil Wears Prada

Invictus (2009) 8/10

2010-07-14T15:49:00.003+01:00

Starring : Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge
Director : Clint Eastwood
Running Time : 134 mins

It’s 1995, and in the wake of apartheid newly appointed president Nelson Mandela (Freeman) decides to enlist the help of the South African rugby team in the hope of finally uniting his country and finally put an end to racial hatred by garnering the country a victory at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

As usual Eastwood is more than capable at directing this tale of hope against adversity. Freeman is in his element in the lead role and manages not to let his ego as an actor get in the way of letting other actors try to shine. This movie is well worth watching if you can make it throught the two and a quarter hour runtime.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Blind Side

Iron Man 2 (2010) 7/10

2010-07-13T11:27:00.002+01:00

Starring : Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke
Director : Jon Favreau
Running Time : 114 mins

Now that the general public are aware that millionaire Tony Stark (Downey) has secretly been acting as Iron Man, the US government are breathing down his neck to share his Iron Man weaponry with them. Stark refuses, claiming that no other country is anywhere close to perfecting weaponry like his. Unfortunately one of his competitors has in fact created weapons that could be a match for Stark Industries, and their intentions are less than honourable.

Although not quite as good as the first instalment, Iron Man 2 is a pretty decent superhero movie. It is slow in places, and its run time is a little excessive, but fans of Downey and his alcoholic portrayal of Tony Stark will thoroughly enjoy this lead up to the inevitable Avengers movie in 2012.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Incredible Hulk

Street Kings (2008) 6/10

2010-07-12T13:05:00.003+01:00

Starring : Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans
Director : David Ayer
Running Time : 105 mins

Following the death of his wife, LAPD detective Tom Ludlow (Reeves) has found life to be increasingly difficult, but things just get worse for him when he is accused of brutally killing one of his fellow officers. This implication leads Ludlow to dig deep into the background of some of his closest colleagues and question whether or not they are as loyal to him as he once believed.

I’m sure a lot of people would enjoy this run of the mill crooked-cop drama, but I found it far too formulaic for my liking. Reeves as usual is pretty wooden - I sometimes wish he'd stuck to Bill and Ted style movies instead of trying to get into dramatic roles - and the plot itself is a little too obvious. Still, fans of cop movies will enjoy the basic set out of this film.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bad Lieutenant : Port Of Call - New Orleans

A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010) 7/10

2010-07-08T11:09:00.001+01:00

Starring : Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara, Katie Cassidy
Director : Samuel Bayer
Running Time : 96 mins

A number of young people in the Elm Street area have been having the same nightmare about a hideously burned man with a glove covered in razor sharp knives, so when teenagers start to drop like flies, teen Nancy Holbrook (Mara) starts to suspect that perhaps there is more to the dreams than first meets the eye.

Although nowhere near as good as the originals, this is a reasonable remake of the 80s classic. Sadly the attempt to double bluff the viewer by, at one stage, trying to make Krueger more of a sympathetic character only leds to point out how similar this movie is to the original.

You’ll like this if you liked : Friday The 13th

Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009) 7/10

2010-07-07T10:47:00.004+01:00

Starring : Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott
Director : Marc Lawrence
Running Time : 104 mins

Paul Morgan (Grant) and his estranged wife Meryl (Parker) find their lives thrown back together again when they witness a murder and are placed in witness protection in a small town where their yuppy lifestyle has to take a back burner to the life of a country couple.

This movie was given something of a raw deal upon its release, but to be fair it wasn’t that bad. The supporting characters were likeable and really make the Morgans seem unreasonable and spoilt, which is this perfect back drop for a movie like this. Fans of Parker and Grant will really like this, but even if you’re not a fan of theirs, give this a chance – you might be surprised.

You’ll like this if you liked : Sweet Home Alabama

Blood Car (2007) 7/10

2010-07-06T10:34:00.003+01:00

Starring : Mike Brune, Anna Chlumsky, Katie Rowlett
Director : Alex Orr
Running Time : 76 mins

With petrol prices at an astronomical high, combined with limits on how much fuel people can afford, Archie Andrews (Brune) decides to try to come up with an alternative fuel for his car’s engine, but what he discovers that a natural substitute is human blood he finds himself involved in a series of bizarre murders just to keep his car running.

In spite of all initial appearances, I actually enjoyed this silly movie. Although the acting is hammy and the effects are poor, this low budget movie does keep its audience amused and keeps the silliness coming from start to finish.

You’ll like this if you liked : Little Shop Of Horrors

Insidious (2010) 5/10

2010-07-05T14:15:00.003+01:00

Starring : Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lynn Shaye, Ty Simpkins
Director : James Wan
Running Time : 99 mins

Shortly after they move in to their new home, the Lambert family wake one morning to find their son has slipped into a coma. They soon discover that his coma may not be natural and might actually be the work of evil spirits that have taken him to an otherworldly realm known as The Further.

This movie felt like it changed director half way through. What started off promisingly as a subtle haunted house movie quickly turned into a silly supernatural killer movie. The spirits, dressed in leather jackets with long greasy hair, looked like they’d be more at home in a vampire romance movie and appear to have had their creature make up affects applied by the staff on The Mighty Boosh. Personally I wouldn’t waste your time with this nonsense if I were you.

You’ll like this if you liked : Hellbound : Hellraiser II

The Man (2005) 6/10

2010-07-01T10:03:00.002+01:00

Starring : Samuel L Jackson, Eugene Levy, Miguel Ferrer, Luke Goss
Director : Les Mayfield
Running Time : 84 mins

When mild mannered dentist Andy Fiddler (Levy) is approached by a criminal who mistakes him for a purchaser of fire arms, federal agent Derrick Vann (Jackson) decides to use Fiddler to catch the man who murdered his partner. The only problem is that Fiddler doesn’t know when to shut up, and Vann is a very impatient man.

This movie is a little bit annoying, not just because of Levy’s incessant talking but also because of Jackson’s over-the-top anger. Don’t get me wrong, Jackson’s natural anger has its place, but this movie just didn’t feel like the right vehicle for him to be portraying it. I’d only recommend this to people who don’t mind watching a plot from an 80s cop comedy completely spoiled.

You’ll like this if you liked : Cop Out

The Boys And Girls Guide To Getting Down (2006) 6/10

2010-06-30T13:59:00.002+01:00

Starring : Cricket Leigh, Kat Turner
Director : Paul Sapiano
Running Time : 93 mins

In this tongue-in-cheek look at the lives of a group of young clubbers looking for fun in the party spots of LA we are invited to observe the various pitfalls that may arise when going out on the pull or simply just looking for a good time through the consumption of copious drinks and various drugs.

This manages not to slip into out and out parody by coming across as a reasonably serious documentary. It’s only the content itself that proves that this is satirical look at the various club scenes that are out there and how it’s believed that an awful lot of planning goes into those poorly orchestrated nights out on the town. It has it’s moments, but overall this is a pretty amateur effort.

You’ll like this if you liked : It’s All Gone Pete Tong

Date Night (2010) 8/10

2010-06-29T13:11:00.002+01:00

Starring : Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg
Director : Shawn Levy
Running Time : 102 mins

Phil Foster (Carell) and his wife Claire (Fey) are a typical married couple who try to keep the romance in their life alive by setting aside one night a week as date night, but when they take someone else’s reservations at a fancy restaurant they find themselves caught up in a case of mistaken identity that leads them into the criminal underworld.

This is one of those silly movies that are so popular at the moment, and I’m glad they are. The funfilled action and slapstick comedy combines perfectly to produce another hit movie that is filled with little chucklesome moments that are sure to appeal to anyone with a sense of humour.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Hangover

[Rec] (2007) 8/10

2010-06-28T11:02:00.000+01:00

Starring : Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano
Director : Jaume Balaguero & Paco Plaza
Running Time : 76 mins

News reporter Angela Vidal (Velasco) has been asked to cover a story on the local fire department and their typical work night. When she joins the crew on a simple call out to an apartment block where an old woman has trapped herself in her home, she and the firemen find themselves under quarantine and under attack from an unknown source of evil.

This is such a great movie. What starts out like a light hearted documentary about a fire department soon turns into a nasty outbreak movie where anyone can get infected, then finally turns into an out-and-out horror fest. True horror fans should be able to look past the subtitles and see one of the best horror movies of recent years. And if you can’t, it was remade as Quarantine.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Descent

Killers (2010) 7/10

2010-06-24T14:47:00.002+01:00

Starring : Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Selleck
Director : Robert Luketic
Running Time : 95 mins

Whilst on holiday, Jen Kornfeldt (Heigl) meets Spencer Aimes (Kutcher), the man of her dreams, and soon the two get married and move in with each other. Unfortunately, Spencer used to be a government hired hitman and there’s now a price on his head. No-one can be trusted, and danger looms at every corner, even in a middle-class suburban neighbourhood.

This movie is highly reminiscent of Mr & Mrs Smith – the only difference is that this manages to pull off the comedy element in a much more successful fashion, thanks to a sterling comedy cast. Heigl and Kutcher make their relationship believable, while the supporting cast manage to pull off the appearance of both typical suburbanites and hired assassins.

You’ll like this if you liked : Mr And Mrs Smith

The Bank Job (2008) 6/10

2010-06-23T15:40:00.002+01:00

Starring : Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore
Director : Roger Donaldson
Running Time : 108 mins

Desperate for a bit of extra money, dodgy geezer Terry Leather (Statham) takes a job from his associate Martine Love (Burrows) to rob a bank that’s apparently going to have its alarms off for a few weeks. Little does he realise that the real plan of his organiser is to get her hands on a safety deposit box that contains incriminating photos of a member of the royal family.

This movie was okay, but someone other than Statham might have better done it justice. The plot is intricate, yet executed in an almost lazy way that makes it seem far simpler than it really is. Shame on classic director Roger Donaldson for directing such a hamfisted heist movie. There is a lot of action in the second half, if you can make it past the first half, but this is only worth watching if bank robbery movies really tickle your fancy.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Italian Job

Sorority Row (2009) 8/10

2010-06-22T11:26:00.003+01:00

Starring : Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Audrina Partridge, Carrie Fisher
Director : Stewart Hendler
Running Time : 97 mins

When a simple prank goes horribly wrong and results in the death of one of their sorority sisters, a group of teenage girls find themselves the target of a vengeful serial killer who will stop at nothing to kill them all.

This remake of a little known 80s slasher movie is actually pretty entertaining. The first accidental death comes as something of a surprise, and the subsequent murders are as entertaining as any you might find in Scream. The characters aren’t as one dimensional as in similar movies, and this helps flesh them out and make the movie far more gripping than it could have been. To be honest, I’m surprised there don’t seem to be any plans for a sequel...

You’ll like this if you liked : I Know What You Did Last Summer

Cop Out (2010) 6/10

2010-06-21T15:17:00.003+01:00

Starring : Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan
Director : Kevin Smith
Running Time : 108 mins

Following a suspension for a bungled drug bust, New York cop Jimmy Monroe (Willis) is forced to try to sell his most prized possession – an extremely valuable baseball card – in order to pay for his daughter’s wedding, but when the card is stolen he is forced to enlist the help of his unorthodox partner, Paul Hodges (Morgan), to help him get it back in time.

It’s sad to see Kevin Smith directing what many would consider a sell out movie. The buddy cop movie is taken to a serious low as once-respected action star Bruce Willis is teamed up with one-trick-pony Tracy Morgan. It makes me wonder if the title is playing on the fact that all the respectable people involved in this movie have in fact copped out. Still, if you look passed the poor acting and the poor comic timing, this isn’t too bad a cop movie really.

You’ll like this if you liked : Showtime

Paranormal Activity (2007) 7/10

2010-06-17T10:50:00.002+01:00

Starring : Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat
Director : Oren Peli
Running Time : 87 mins

A young couple move into their new home only to find their peace disturbed by strange noises, especially at night, but when they speak to some experts about what might be causing the noises they find that their home may be haunted by a poltergeist. In order to find out if this is true or not, they start to film themselves while they sleep in the hope of finding the source behind the noises.

Presented to appear as a real life horror documentary, this is a slow moving yet affective film. The two leads manage to keep the scare tactics realistic and don’t go too over the top, but the movie does tend to plod on at times which might make some people tune out before it gets to the really scary stuff.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Blair Witch Project

I Love You Phillip Morris (2009) 6/10

2010-06-16T11:08:00.003+01:00

Starring : Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann
Director : Glenn Ficarra & John Requa
Running Time : 94 mins

Happily married Police Officer Steven Russell (Carrey) gets involved in a car accident which prompts him to re-evaluate his life to date. He decides that life is too short and comes out as a homosexual, and also starts to live the lifestyle of a conman. Eventually he gets caught and sent to prison where he meets and falls in love with Phillip Morris (McGregor) and promptly decides to devote his life to freeing the man of his dreams.

This slightly disjointed comedy caper lacks some of the humour you’d normally expect from a Jim Carrey comedy but still has all of the mad cap action. Carrey isn’t exactly likeable in the lead role, and it’s difficult to see what Russell sees in Morris, but a true story’s a true story so it least it has a feeling of not having been tampered with to suit Hollywood’s needs.

You’ll like this if you liked : Let's Go To Prison

Alice In Wonderland (2010) 7/10

2010-06-15T15:39:00.004+01:00

Starring : Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
Director : Tim Burton
Running Time : 109 mins

A grown up Alice (Wasikowska) is faced with a decision regarding her forthcoming nuptials, and while she is deciding what to do she falls through a hole that leads her back into the nightmare land of her youth, Underland. There she discovers her reason in life – to dethrone the evil Red Queen (Bonham Carter) and return the rightful White Queen (Hathaway) to her throne.

Filmed in typical Tim Burton style, this sort of sequel to Alice In Wonderland looks and feels impressive. Sadly it is stopped from being supremely excellent by an Alice that doesn't really do much acting and a Mad Hatter who does nothing but overact. Granted, I'm a big fan of Johnny Depp, but his over the top antics become a little bit unbearable as this movie progresses. Still, it's definitely worth a look.

You’ll like this if you liked : Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Death Note L Change The World (2008) 7/10

2010-06-14T11:11:00.004+01:00

Starring : Kenichi Matsuyama, Sota Aoyama, Shunji Fujimura
Director : Hideo Nakata
Running Time : 129 mins

L (Matsuyama), the mysterious detective responsible for investigating the infamous Death Note murders, has only twenty-three days left to live before the Death Note finally kills him. During this short period, he investigates a threat to humanity from a highly infectious virus that is planned to be unleashed on the world’s population unless he can stop the bioterrorist group responsible.

This is an intriguing finale to the Death Note series of movies as right from the start we already know the fate of the hero. Matsuyama continues to play his enigmatic role to a tee, and the supporting cast make this a downbeat yet action filled final instalment to a fascinating series of movies.

You’ll like this if you liked : Death Note : The Last Name

Shutter Island (2010) 7/10

2010-06-10T10:55:00.003+01:00

Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max Von SydowDirector : Martin Scorsese
Running Time : 139 mins

US Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) is tasked with the investigation of a patient who disappeared from the Ashecliffe Hopsital on the remote Shutter Island, but as he is faced with uncooperative staff and the sneaking sense that something is going on that he can’t explain, Daniels starts to question his own sanity and wonders if anything he has experienced is real.

This is one of those movies where, if your concentration slips, it’ll take a while to get back on track as to what’s happening. Thankfully it’s unlikely that any viewers concentration will slip in this sinister mind game thriller. The only problem was it was just too long, and despite having enough to keep your mind occupied, you won’t be able to stop yourself from glancing at your watch around the 90 minute mark.

You’ll like this if you liked : Secret Window

Kick-Ass (2009) 9/10

2010-06-09T10:33:00.000+01:00

Starring : Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong
Director : Matthew Vaughn
Running Time : 113 mins

High school comic fan Dave Lizewski (Johnson) wants nothing more than to be popular, so he decides to become a super hero in spite oft he fact that he has no special abilities to speak of. As he delves further into the world of the masked avenger, he meets a father daughter team of do-gooders known as Big Daddy (Cage) and Hit-Girl (Moretz) as well as coming face to face with the evil criminal underbelly of the city in the form of Frank D-Amico (Strong).

This is by far and away the best comic book adaptation in a very long time. Even though Johnson isn't the best actor, that doesn't matter when you have a supporting cast including Nicolas Cage in his best acting role in decades, Chloe Moretz as the irrepressible Hit-Girl and even Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Mark Strong as the villains of the piece make this an unforgettable comedy action adventure.

You’ll like this if you liked : Hot Fuzz

Extraordinary Measures (2010) 6/10

2010-06-08T15:49:00.001+01:00

Starring : Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Keri Russell
Director : Tom Vaughan
Running Time : 107 mins

In a last ditch attempt to save the lives of their two children who are dying from a rare genetic illness called Pomp disease, John Crowley (Fraser) and his wife Aileen (Russell) enlist the help of unconventional research scientist Robert Stonehill (Ford), who may have produced an enzyme that could battle the disease if they can raise enough money for him to continue his research.

This is one of those slightly depressing feel good movies that the public love. Personally I found it a little to overplayed, especially by Ford who is almost as over-the-top-angry as he is in his upcoming movie Morning Glory. Fraser, however, plays it surprisingly well and, in spite of the Hollywood ending, he manages to keep his role as the anguished father as realistic as possible.

You’ll like this if you liked : My Sister’s Keeper

K-PAX (2001) 8/10

2010-06-07T10:29:00.007+01:00

Starring : Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary McCormack, Alfre Woodard
Director : Ian Softley
Running Time : 116 mins

A mental patient who claims to be an alien from another planet named Prot (Spacey) finds himself in a mental institution under the care of psychiatrist Doctor Mark Powell (Bridges). As their relationship progresses, Powell starts to doubt his own explanations for why Prot believes himself to be a space alien and slowly starts to think that maybe Prot isn't as crazy as everyone thinks.

This was a surprisingly engrossing and entertaining movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. Managing to be a sci-fi movie without any actual science fiction made this all the more fascinating, and by keeping the ending ambiguous the writers and director manages not to spoil the whole point of the movie – blind faith.

You’ll like this if you liked : Michael

Leap Year (2010) 7/10

2010-06-03T11:57:00.004+01:00

Starring : Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam ScottDirector : Anand Tucker
Running Time : 100 mins

After a five year relationship with her boyfriend Jeremy (Scott), Anna Brady (Adams) decides to travel to Ireland to surprise him by proposing on February 29th, Leap Day, but her plans don’t go so smoothly when her flight is redirected and she has to rely on the help of unconventional Irish cabbie Declan (Goode) to get her to her destination on time.

In spite of being one of the most predictable romantic comedies I’ve ever seen, this was still a likeable romp. The chemistry is there between the two leads, but the speed at which their relationship blooms is a little too unrealistic. Not to spoil the plot, but they are pretty much at each other’s throats until the closing scenes of the film!

You’ll like this if you liked : The Ugly Truth

I’m Not There. (2007) 5/10

2010-06-02T15:15:00.002+01:00

Starring : Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger
Director : Todd Haynes
Running Time : 136 mins

This mocumentary looks into the life of Bob Dylan and the many personalities he embodied throughout his decades spanning musical career.

Although enlightening, and featuring some wonderfully rye performances from those playing Dyaln, this was overlong and overplayed and inevitably boring. Die-hard Dylan fans will enjoy the insights into his life and the soundtrack is pure Dylan (which is unusual for a documentary style movie which would normally focus on talk rather than song), but overall is was just too long winded without being as insightful as it could have been.

You’ll like this if you liked : Nowhere Boy

The Book Of Eli (2010) 8/10

2010-06-01T11:49:00.003+01:00

Starring : Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis
Director : Albert & Allen Hughes
Running Time : 118 mins

A lone drifter named Eli (Washington) travels across the American desert in a post-apocalyptic future where cannibals roam in search of food. Eli’s only true companion is a mysterious book which brings him his only real solace, but when he meets a man named Carnegie (Oldman) he finds his grasp on the book at risk.

Surprisingly I found this movie thoroughly enjoyable. As usual Oldman is brilliant as the apparent villain of the piece, but it is Washington’s performance eas the understated hero that makes the movie so interesting. He is suitably downbeat and manages to get us as viewers to like him without him actually doing anything to earn our trust.

You’ll like this if you liked : Mad Max

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009) 7/10

2010-05-31T10:22:00.000+01:00

Starring : Starring : Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon
Director : David Yates
Running Time : 147 mins

Lord Voldemort and his evil followers have become increasingly active in both the wizarding and muggle worlds as Harry Potter (Radcliffe) enters his sixth year at Hogwarts, but the school grounds aren't even safe for Harry and his friends as they face danger from every corner, so Dumbledore (Gambon) tries to help Harry by looking into any weaknesses Lord Voldemort may have so that they can finally defeat him.

As the Harry Potter films get darker they start to lose some of their childlike charm. Everything seems to be getting visibly darker even in the cinematography as the films lose colour almost completely. Still, they're pretty loyal to the books and manage to keep the spirit of the series alive while making it progressively darker for the audience that have more than likely grown up with the series.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Chronicles Of Narnia : Prince Caspian

Legion (2010) 8/10

2010-05-27T13:58:00.004+01:00

Starring : Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Charles S Dutton
Director : Scott Charles Stewart
Running Time : 96 mins

When the apocalypse comes to Earth, it begins in the unlikely location of a small out of town diner, but when the Archangel Michael (Bettany) decides to rebel against the creator the small group of strangers trapped in the diner with him are forced to join forces to battle the legion of destructive angels that have come to destroy the world.

I actually enjoyed this movie, even though there wasn't as much action as the trailers would lead you to believe. The director has instead decided to focus on the melodrama of the piece and this makes this far more of a thought provoking movie than any all out action and violence could have achieved, although there are still some pretty sound action sequences throughout.

You’ll like this if you liked : Constantine

Chopper (2000) 8/10

2010-05-26T10:46:00.002+01:00

Starring : Eric Bana, Simon Lyndon, David Field
Director : Andrew Dominik
Running Time : 90 mins

Violent Australian criminal Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (Bana) wants nothing more than to become a legend in his own lifetime so, with no intention of even attempting to control his violent impulses, he sets about writing his memoirs, detailing how he supposedly murdered nineteen people and got away with it.

This is such a funny recounting of the life of Chopper Read that it's hard not to like him as a character. Granted you probably wouldn't want to meet him in reality, but while he's up on the scren you can enjoy his witless escapades and his terrible banter.

You’ll like this if you liked : Freeway

Downloading Nancy (2008) 5/10

2010-05-25T13:30:00.000+01:00

Starring : Maria Bello, Rufus Sewell, Jason Patric, Amy Brenneman
Director : Johan Renck
Running Time : 98 mins

Faced with a life of being ignored by her husband Albert (Sewell), emotionally wrecked Nancy Stockwell (Bello) decides to end her life by hiring some one over the internet to kill her, but when she meets would-be killer Louis Farley (Patric) the tow find themselves falling in love.

Simply put, this movie is really weird. Basically this is a masochistic look at how relationships can evolve into love even when they're based on violence or even murder, and the end result is a mish mash of nonsense sex scenes and confusingly written character development.

You’ll like this if you liked : Eyes Wide Shut

Land Of The Lost (2009) 8/10

2010-05-24T11:07:00.001+01:00

Starring : Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone
Director : Brad Silberling
Running Time : 98 mins

With a reputation that makes him look like the biggest loser in the world of palaeontology, Dr Rick Marshall (Ferrell) has only one chance to win back his reputation and self respect, but when he takes a wrong turn on an expedition he, along with his research assistant Holly Cantrell (McBride) and local survivalist Will Stanton (McBride), end up in The Land Of The Lost, facing certain death at the jaws of prehistoric monsters beyond anyone's imagination.

To be fair, I wasn't expecting much from this latest outing for Will Ferrell, having been a little disappointed by movies such as Semi-Pro and Talladega Nights, but this was actually an enjoyable romp that doesn't just rely on Ferrell screaming at people and being stupid.

You’ll like this if you liked : Journey To The Centre Of The Earth

Classic Friday : Coming To America (1988) 8/10

2010-05-21T14:10:00.002+01:00

Starring : Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Shari Headley
Director : John Landis
Running Time : 112 mins

African Prince Akeem (Murphy) travels to America with his trusted aid Semmi (Hall) in search of a Queen, and finds himself, coincidentally, in Queens where he meets Lisa McDowell (Headley), a young woman whose father Cleo (Amos) runs a chain of fast food restaurants. Taking on a secret identity, Akeem tries to win Lisa over without letting her know about his heritage, with some interesting results.

This is possibly one of Eddie Murphy's best and most memorable performances, thanks in part to the directorial skills of John Landis and the multiple characters played by Murphy. There are some great in jokes, such as the appearance of the billionaire's from Trading Places and the fact that McDowell's is getting sued by McDonald's is a nice touch, so overall this is a very enjoyable timeless comedy that everyone over a certain age will enjoy.

You’ll like this if you liked : Trading Places

The Bad Lieutenant : Port Of Call - New Orleans (2009) 7/10

2010-05-21T11:03:00.004+01:00

Starring : Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Fairuza Balk, Alvin Xzibit Joiner, Shawn Hatosy
Director : Werner Herzog
Running Time : 117 mins

After injuring himself when he rescues a trapped prisoner during the floods caused by Hurricane Katrina, Lieutenant Terence McDonagh (Cage) becomes addicted to pain killers and starts putting the pursuit of money and drugs ahead of his job. Assigned to investigate the murder of a family involved in a drug deal, McDonagh chooses to make allegiances with drug dealers rather than properly investigate the crime.

Some parts of this movie were very weird, what with Cage's character being a drug addict and all, but it wasn't over played and it worked pretty well, Nicolas Cage is on good form here, and it's nice to see that he is still able to play manic anti-heroes like he did back in his heyday.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Departed

Must Love Dogs (2005) 7/10

2010-05-20T13:59:00.002+01:00

Starring : Diane Lane, John Cusack, Dermot Mulroney, Elizabeth Perkins, Stockard Channing, Christopher Plummer
Director : Gary David Goldberg
Running Time : 94mins

After being left by her husband, forty-something preschool teacher Sarah Nolan (Lane) is convinced by her sisters to take up computer dating in an attempt to cheer herself up. When she meets Jake Anderson(Cusack) through a dating website, what starts off as just another bad date soon shows the potential of having a future if the two don't allow their other relationships get in the way.

This wasn't that bad a romantic comedy, with Lane especially putting in a likeable performance. Cusack was a little stale at times, but I'm guessing this was because the film was mainly written as a vehicle for the female lead with the male leads storyline feeling a little tacked on.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Truth About Cats And Dogs

How To Train Your Dragon (2010) 7/10

2010-05-19T10:37:00.003+01:00

Starring : Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Director : Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders
Running Time : 87 mins

A clumsy young Viking named Hiccup (Baruchel) would like nothing better than to help his village fight off the invading dragons that are constantly attacking them, but his father, Stoik The Vast (Butler), won't allow him as he thinks he isn't up to the task. But when Hiccup is finally faced with a dragon he becomes friends with it, names it Toothless, and realises that the Vikings and the Dragons have been acting upon a complete misunderstanding of how each species works.

This was a nice story with an important message for kids, but it wasn't Dreamworks finest animated feature to date. The characters were fun and the flight sequences looked great, but there wasn't enough of a story to keep this 100% engaging from start to finish.

You’ll like this if you liked : DragonHeart

Transsiberian (2008) 7/10

2010-05-18T13:33:00.002+01:00

Starring : Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega, Thomas Kretschmann
Director : Brad Anderson
Running Time : 108 mins

Roy (Harrelson) and Jessie (Mortimer) are an ordinary American couple on a Trans-Siberian train journey following a period volunteering in China. When they meet another couple, Carlos (Noriega) and Abby (Mara), they find themselves involved in a complicated smuggling ring as they fight for their lives against a supposed Interpol officer known simply as Grinko (Kingsley).

This starts off pretty slow, but soon the action kicks in as primarily Mortimer is faced with the news that a large quantity of drugs have been placed in her bag. Fans of standard thrillers will enjoy this literal train ride that twists around so much it becomes confusing as to who anyone should trust.

You’ll like this if you liked : A Perfect Getaway

Night At The Museum : Battle Of The Smithsonian (2009) 8/10

2010-05-17T10:29:00.004+01:00

Starring : Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams
Director : Shawn Levy
Running Time : 105 mins

When former security guard Larry Daley (Stiller) discovers that the museum he once worked at is having a number of its exhibits sent to the Smithsonian, he decides to break in to prevent a magical talisman from bringing a whole new batch of exhibits to life and stop them from destroying the world by opening a gateway to the netherworld.

In many ways this is better than the original movie. The action moves faster, the characters are more fleshed out and there's less of Robin Williams. There's a lot more thought put into some of the newer characters and the idea of paintings also coming to life adds a new dimension. I wouldn't be surprised if Stiller agreed to a third instalment, and I'm not embarrassed to say that I'd watch it.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bedtime Stories

Classic Friday : Carry On Cabby (1963) 8/10

2010-05-14T13:24:00.002+01:00

Starring : Sidney James, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey
Director : Gerald Thomas
Running Time : 91 mins

Workaholic Charlie Hawkins (James) is the proud owner of Speedee Taxis, and business is booming, but while Charlie is busy at work, his wife Peggy (Jacques) is feeling a little neglected. When another cab firm opens up in the area, Glamcabs - a cab firm run by beautiful young women - Charlie realises that he is at risk of losing business and tries to find out who owns the cab firm so that he can reason with them.

This is one of the better early Carry On films, with an actual plot that is fun to follow and gives the viewer equal footing on who to root for. The performances are great to watch, and the battle of the sexes plot line is timeless and relevant even today. Children and adults alone will enjoy this wonderful comedy that even in black and white is a match for today's comedy films.

You’ll like this if you liked : Carry On Teacher

Baise-Moi (2000) 5/10

2010-05-14T10:51:00.001+01:00

Starring : Karen Bach, Raffaela Anderson
Director : Virginie Despentes & Coralie
Running Time : 77 mins

After being brutally raped by a gang of men, two women - Nadine (Bach) and Manu (Anderson) decide to join forces and roam around France murdering those involved in sordid sexual antics, all the while trying to punish those they feel have ruined their lives.

This was a pretty terrible movie - the characters start off seemingly killing those that deserve it, but soon move on to kill anyone they feel like. The ending was good but rushed, and the sex scenes are pretty close to the bone, but there's nothing too outlandish in this movie and I found it hard to see what was so special to get this banned in so many places.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bound

The Eye 2 (2004) 6/10

2010-05-13T13:28:00.000+01:00

Starring : Qi Shu, Eugenia Yuan, Jesdaporn Pholdee
Director : Pang Brothers
Running Time : 96 mins

After failing to commit suicide, Joey Cheng (Qi) discovers that she is pregnant. As she considers terminating the pregnancy, she starts finding herself stalked by mysterious shadowy people and finally realises that the people haunting her may actually be spirits sent to either help of hinder her in her decision making.

This wasn't a patch on the first movie, and the title didn't even seem to make sense in respect of the plot. Other than Shu Qi having visions of a sort, there's nothing at all to do with eyes in the whole film. Still, as far as Japanese horrors go this is okay, but there are lots more that are far superior in both content and execution.

You’ll like this if you liked : Ring 2

The Back-Up Plan (2010) 5/10

2010-05-12T10:57:00.003+01:00

Starring : Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin, Michael Watkins, Eric Christian Olsen
Director : Alan Poul
Running Time : 105 mins

Zoe (Lopez) thinks she’s never going to meet her mister right, so decides to have children via artificial insemination. No sooner has she discovered that she’s officially pregnant than she meets Stan (O'Loughlin), a man who could quite possibly be the mister right she’s been looking for all her life.

This cringe-worthy romantic comedy desperately tries to raise laughs where there are none. Lopez desperately tries to hide her pregnancy from her new man for all of five minutes, then the rest of the film just doesn't sit well in my eyes. O'Loughlin's character seems just too forgiving about the whole situation, and the usual pregnancy jokes are handled badly and some great opportunities are passed over in favour of less funny moments of mirth.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Bounty Hunter

Deception (2008) 7/10

2010-05-11T13:52:00.002+01:00

Starring : Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams
Director : Marcel Langenegger
Running Time : 103 mins

When Jonathan McQuarry (McGregor) is introduced to a strange sex club known as The List by a man calling himself Wyatt Bose (Jackman), he finds himself the prime suspect in the disappearance of a mystery woman known simply as S (Williams).

This wasn't a bad mystery thriller, with a solid ending and some interesting twists, but the set up felt a little weak and the build up of the storyline was a bit too wishy-washy for my liking. If you persevere this is a good movie, but for those with short attention spans they might just switch off before it really gets going.

You’ll like this if you liked : Derailed

The Lovely Bones (2009) 9/10

2010-05-10T10:52:00.002+01:00

Starring : Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci
Director : Peter Jackson
Running Time : 136 mins

When Susie Salmon (Ronan) is brutally murdered by child abductor George Harvey (Tucci), she finds herself possessing the ability to watch over her family and she has to decide between communicating with them in order to help them find her killer, or to just leave them to cope with her death in thier own way.

This was actually incredibly good; not one of the actors in this adaptation can be flawed in their performances. My one gripe is Jackson’s overuse of CGI throughout the movie, making it appear that he felt that the story alone couldn’t carry the film. Still, this is a fantastic thriller with a satisfying ending and some great performances.

You’ll like this if you liked : Stir Of Echoes

Classic Friday : Tremors (1990) 8/10

2010-05-07T13:13:00.001+01:00

Starring : Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire
Director : Ron Underwood
Running Time : 92 mins

The townsfolk of Perfection, Nevada, are faced with a deadly infestation of giant flesh-eating worms that have decided to start eating their way through the town. Armed with only their wits and a few handguns, the remaining few join forces to wage battle against the deadly creatures in the vain hope of protecting their town, their homes, and their lives.

This is one of the best comedy horrors of all time. Irrespective of the less impressive sequels, this monster movie harks back to the good old days of simple creatures with simple needs attacking simple folk. The special effects are both quirky and fun to watch, and the characters manage to be one dimensional while simultaneously being deep and engrossing to watch.

You’ll like this if you liked : Lake Placid

Expired (2007) 7/10

2010-05-07T10:55:00.002+01:00

Starring : Samantha Morton, Jason Patric, Teri Garr, Illeana Douglas
Director : Cecilia Miniucchi
Running Time : 108 mins

Mild-mannered traffic warden Claire Barney (Morton) hates her job but desperately needs the money. Because of her job she finds it difficult to make any lasting relationships, but eagerly anticipates meeting someone she can share her life with. When she meets fellow traffic officer Jay (Patric) she thinks she may have met a like minded person; unfortunately he enjoys his job and uses it as a means of venting his pent up anger.

There was something a little sinister about this movie - Samantha Morton is a bit simple, and Jason Patric is just the most horrible person alive - but it still had some endearing qualities, largely in Morton's character. If you can stand to watch a perfectly nice character selling themselves short for an hour and a half, then you might enjoy this, but if you find Patric too grating this may not be for you.

You’ll like this if you liked : Lars And The Real Girl

The Glass House (2001) 7/10

2010-05-06T13:42:00.003+01:00

Starring : Leelee Sobieski, Diane Lane, Stellan Skarsgard, Bruce Dern
Director : Daniel Sackheim
Running Time : 102 mins

When Ruby Baker (Sobieski) comes home from the movies to find that both her parents have been killed in a car accident, she and her little brother are taken in by a kindly couple, Terry (Skarsgard) and Erin Glass (Lane), who used to live next door to them but now live in Malibu. Everything seems to be going well until Ruby discovers that their parents have left them a small fortune, and she begins to second guess the motives of Mr and Mrs Glass and also question their possible involvement in the death of her parents.

What starts off as a pretty basic thriller soon becomes quite interesting. I love the simple idea of killing a couple so that you can adopt their kids and steal their money, and Skarsgard does a good job of portraying the moneygrabbing adopter, and despite an exciting closing section the middle of the movie could have been a lot stronger.

You’ll like this if you liked : Disturbia

Ed Gein (2000) 6/10

2010-05-05T10:59:00.001+01:00

Starring : Steve Railsback, Carrie Snodgress, Carol Mansell
Director : Chuck Parello
Running Time : 89 mins

It’s 1957, and Ed Gein (Railsback) is a strange, lonely little man who lives with his overbearing mother (Snodgress) in the small town of Plainfield, Wisconsin. Years of abuse from both of his parents has lead him to become slightly disturbed, and he begins to use brutal mutilation as a way of venting his enmity to his parents.

In spite of being one of the most intriguing true tales of a serial killer ever imagined, this fell a little short of the mark in regards to actually being impressive. Where Hannibal Lector and Norman Bates - although based on Gein - were rich with character and were genuinely creepy, Ed Gein was just a bit sad and I did actually feel a bit sorry for him. Still, this is a true story, so you can't overly embellish the facts.

You’ll like this if you liked : Psycho

The Objective (2008) 6/10

2010-05-04T13:55:00.002+01:00

Starring : Jonas Bell, Matthew R Anderson, Jon Huertas
Director : Daniel Myrick
Running Time : 86 mins

A Special Forces team meets in Afghanistan are given a mission to track down an Afghan cleric called Mohammad Aban, but as they head into the mountains and start to see and hear some very strange occurrences, and talk of a curse starts up, they soon start to realise that the mission they’ve been sent on is far from being run of the mill.

This movie was a little slow, and was very weird. Quite why the American government were after this cleric is never really explained, although if they had heard about his powers they probably just wanted to exploit them in some way. This has a ring of classic sci-fi about it, but it isn't handled or executed quite as well as it could have been.

You’ll like this if you liked : Outpost

The Unborn (2009) 7/10

2010-05-03T10:51:00.003+01:00

Starring : Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, Cam Gigandet, Meagan Good, Idris Elba
Director : David S Goyer
Running Time : 86 mins

After a terrible nightmare involving a strange dog and a small boy, Casey Beldon (Yustman) discovers that she was born a twin and that her brother dies in the womb. When people around her start to get injured or die, she suspects that she may be possessed by an evil spirit that had latched onto her dead brother, Casey calls on the aid of Rabbi Sendak (Oldman) who tries to help her exorcise the demon.

This could have been a lot better, but clearly the director was more interested in showing the leading lady in various stages of undress to actually write an intriguing plot line. This really needed a little more fleshing out to make it truly engrossing, but it was good enough in parts and didn't go overboard with uses of CGI or unnecessary special effects.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Gravedancers

Classic Friday : 48 Hrs. (1982) 8/10

2010-04-30T13:40:00.003+01:00

Starring : Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, Annette O’Toole
Director : Walter Hill
Running Time : mins

San Fransisco cop Jack Cates (Nolte) is out for vengeance when a number of cops are murdered by some known criminals. In order to track them down, Cates is given permission to join forced with criminal Reggie Hammond (Murphy) who is allowed out of prison for just two days to help catch his former partners who screwed him out of some money and left him to rot in jail.

This is the first feature film for Eddie Murphy, and he really shines as an unknown in the fantastic buddy movie. The dynamic of cop and crook, combined with their obvious differences in upbringing, works incredibly well here, and many films have desperately tried to copy this formula with differing levels of success.

You’ll like this if you liked : Lethal Weapon

Felon (2008) 8/10

2010-04-30T11:04:00.002+01:00

Starring : Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard, Marisol Nichols, Harold Perrineau, Anne Archer, Nick Chinlund, Nate Parker, Johnny Lewis
Director : Ric Roman Waugh
Running Time : 104 mins

When he accidentally kills a burglar who is running from his house, Wade Porter (Dorff) is arrested for murder and placed in a prison environment. Faced with three years in prison, Wade has to adjust to life inside with the worst of the worst and must learn to cope with the daily routine of violence and death.

This really did make a bleak case not only for prison life but for life in general. There isn’t one good person in the entire prison system, and poor Stephen Dorff getting arrested for murder when he’s just trying to protect his family is typical of the American justice system. This is a good film, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who hates to see injustice prevail.

You’ll like this if you liked : Con Air

Labour Pains (2009) 7/10

2010-04-29T13:59:00.002+01:00

Starring : Lindsay Lohan, Luke Kirby, Chris Parnell, Aaron Yoo, Bridgit Mendler, Cheryl Hines
Director : Lara Shapiro
Running Time : 89 mins

When she is faced with being fired from her job, desperate Thea Clayhill (Lohan) decides to pretend to be pregnant so that her bosses will worry about unfair disposal. As the lie grows, Thea is forced to keep up the lie for the next five months and starts padding herself out to fake her pregnancy.

This wasn’t as bad as I expected. All the reviews seemed to indicate that this would be absolutely awful, and the fact that it went straight to DVD in the UK wasn’t a good sign, but it was reasonably enjoyable and the story was likeable and fun to watch. Worth giving a go, and don’t judge it on it’s bad reviews.

You’ll like this if you liked : Baby Mama

Ella Enchanted (2004) 8/10

2010-04-28T10:43:00.003+01:00

Starring : Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Aidan McArdle, Joanna Lumley
Director : Tommy O’Haver
Running Time : 92 mins

In a far away magical kingdom called Frell, a young baby named Ella (Hathaway) is given a gift from a fairy – the gift of obedience. Unfortunately this means that she has to do whatever people tell her to, no matter how much she doesn’t want to. When she gets older, and her mother dies, her father remarries and she is forced to live with her two terrible step sisters who soon realise that Ella has to do what she’s told and take full advantage of the matter, and so Ella decides to seek out the fairy that gave her her gift and ask her to take it back.

This is a fun filled family movie that has plenty of humour and fantasy comedy moments. Fans of Shrek will enjoy the nods to fairy tales and modern culture alike, and the premise of someone being compelled to do whatever they are told is both timeless and original.

You’ll like this if you liked : Shrek

Adventures Of Johnny Tao (2007) 6/10

2010-04-27T13:33:00.003+01:00

Starring : Matthew Twining, Matthew Mullins, Chris Yen, Kelly Perine, Lindsay Parker, James Hong, Jason London
Director : Kenn Scott
Running Time : 86 mins

Half of an ancient spear is turned into the neck of a guitar by little known singer Jimmy Dow (London). His son Johnny (Twining) now makes ends meet by charging people to look at the guitar, but when the other half of the spear is discovered by one of Johnny's friends, an ancient Chinese demon is released that is hungry to destroy anyone that stands in its way.

This movie was desperately trying to be something it couldn't quite achieve being. The plot was simple enough and has been done before and since, but the acting was sub par, the characters weren't really that enthralling, and the action was a little bit boring. Still, fans of martial arts supernatural action movies (?) will probably find this good enough.

You’ll like this if you liked : My Name Is Bruce

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008) 9/10

2010-04-26T10:39:00.002+01:00

Starring : Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Shirley Henderson
Director : Bahrat Nalluri
Running Time : 92 mins

When she is unfairly dismissed from her job as a governess, highly conservative Guinivere Pettigrew (McDormand) lies about her references to start a new job and finds herself whisked into the confusingly sordid life of American singer and actress Delysia Lafosse (Adams) and, in spite of her conservative nature, takes quite a shine to her.

I didn’t know what I’d make of this movie which pretty much seems to have flown under the radar since its release, but I was amazed at how much I enjoyed it. The acting is solid, the characters are likeable, and Lee Pace’s British accent was good enough to make me doubt he was American. The sets did put me off a little, as there was something a little too American about them, but in spite of that I thought this was simply put a great period comedy drama.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bright Young Things

Classic Friday : The Ladies Man (1961) 7/10

2010-04-23T14:33:00.003+01:00

Starring : Jerry Lewis, Helen Traubel, Pat Stanley, Kathleen Freeman
Director : Jerry Lewis
Running Time : 95 mins

When his girlfriend leaves him for another man, Herbert H Heebert (Lewis) develops a fear of women. He decides to try to take his mind off women by getting a new job at a boarding house, only to discover to his horror that all the tenants are beautiful young women.

This is a vibrant looking movie, with a staggeringly enormous set and plenty of set pieces to keep the audience engrossed. Lewis is a little understated at times, actually allowing some of the women to take the lead in many scenes, but it his inimitable charm that keeps this movie full of life. This movie is typical of Lewis’s solo career, and could prove a good jumping on point for those not familiar with his work.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Bellboy

Boot Camp (2007) 7/10

2010-04-23T10:29:00.002+01:00

Starring : Mila Kunis, Gregory Smith, Peter Stormare, Regine Nehy
Director : Christian Duguay
Running Time : 96 mins

Sophie (Kunis) is a teenager who acts out against her parents, specifically her father, in any way she can, but one day she is snatched away and drugged and finds herself in Camp Serenity – a boot camp in Fiji her parents have organized for her to go to – where the kids are treated like prisoners and are habitually abused and indoctrinated into the islands way of thinking.

This movie plays out like The Lord Of The Flies, with lots of unnecessary suspicions leading to violent outbursts. Some of the scenes had the potential to be hard to take, but thankfully the director chose to film this as tastefully as possible. The acting is a little sub par in places, but this is still a reasonably intriguing movie in spite of its slap dash layout and open ending.

You’ll like this if you liked : Kids

The Crazies (2010) 7/10

2010-04-22T13:45:00.004+01:00

Starring : Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, Danielle Panabaker
Director : Breck Eisner
Running Time : 97 mins

Sheriff David Dutton (Olyphant) of the small town of Ogden Marsh, Iowa, is faced with a nasty situation when the residents of his town all start turning into violent maniacs. Joining forces with the last four unaffected town’s folk, Dutton tries to discover the source of the infection and possibly find a cure.

This wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I also thought it might be quite funny. Sadly this was more like 28 Days Later than Slither, and basically played like a zombie movie. There’s nothing here that will really stick in your mind, except possibly for the writers notion of the American government caring little or nothing about the American people. Worth watching if you like zombie flicks, and it also might be worth comparing to the 70s original.

You’ll like this if you liked : 28 Weeks Later

Stay Alive (2006) 8/10

2010-04-21T10:28:00.002+01:00

Starring : Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong, Frankie Muniz, Jimmi Simpson
Director : William Brent Bell
Running Time : 85 mins

When one of their friends dies, a group of teens discover amongst his belongings a computer game called Stay Alive. As they play it to commemorate their friends passing, they realise that his death may well have come as a result of playing the game, and they all start dying off in the same manner that they died in the game.

This is a great idea for a horror movie. The CGI monsters in this aren't supposed to look that convincing, which actually makes them more frightening. There are lots of familiar faces, some of which I'm sure people have wanted to see die for years, and there's even a background plot line on why the game is killing the teens, rather than just having it kill them randomly. Well worth checking out, even if you normally avoid teen horrors.

You’ll like this if you liked : Final Destination

Hero Wanted (2008) 7/10

2010-04-20T13:47:00.003+01:00

Starring : Cuba Gooding Jr, Ray Liotta, Norman Reedus, Kim Coates
Director : Brian Smrz
Running Time : 95 mins

After being left for dead during a bank robbery, along with a female bank teller, Liam Case (Gooding) tracks down the thief and brutally murders him. Thinking his nightmare is finally over, Liam then finds himself the target of the bank robbery associates who want revenge against him for what he did.

This has all the blood and violence you'd expect in a revenge movie, but it was just too confusing to keep track of what was going on. The fact that the bank teller Gooding was in love with and his dead wife were so similar also caused me confusion, especially in addition to the flashback sequences. Worth watching, but you really need to concentrate.

You’ll like this if you liked : Punisher : War Zone

The Time Traveller's Wife (2009) 8/10

2010-04-19T11:12:00.002+01:00

Starring : Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston
Director : Robert Schwentke
Running Time : 108 mins

Henry DeTamble (Bana) suffers from a rare illness that causes him to travel uncontrollably back and forth through time, and his only constant is the love of his life, Clare Abshire (McAdams), who he eventually marries. But poor Clare is faced with a life in which she never knows when her husband will be around or indeed how old he will be.

I thought this was an enjoyable movie. Bana and McAdams are likeable throughout, and as an audience you really feel for McAdams as she is faced with an unsure life with Bana. Don't expect a happy ending, and don't expect to side with the characters in all their decisions, but I definitely expect most people to find this an enjoyable romance.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Notebook

Classic Friday : Clueless (1995) 8/10

2010-04-16T14:04:00.001+01:00

Starring : Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
Director : Amy Heckerling
Running Time : 93 mins

Cher Horowitz (Silverstone) is a vapid teen who is doing badly in her school work, so she decides to match make two of her teachers in the hope that, if they have some romance in their lives, they might go easy on her grades. At the same time she takes new girl Tai (Murphy) under her wing and tries to give her a makeover in an attempt to teach her who she should hang out with.

This movie is something of a guilty pleasure, but anyone who says they've seen it and didn't like it has to be a liar. Loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma, this romantic comedy plays all the clichés to the hilt and creates a number of stereotypical yet memorable characters that will stay with you for a long time.

You’ll like this if you liked : Pretty In Pink

Coyote Ugly (2000) 6/10

2010-04-16T10:44:00.003+01:00

Starring : Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, John Goodman, Maria Bello, Izabella Miko, Tyra Banks, Bridget Moynahan, Melanie Lynskey
Director : David McNally
Running Time : 100 mins

Aspiring song writer Violet Sanford (Perabo) moves from New Jersey to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a singer song writer, and to make ends meet she takes a day job as a bar maid at an up and coming nightclub called Coyote Ugly, a move she makes in a vain attempt to rid herself of her stage fright.

This movie was okay, but a little over rated. My own pet peeve was that the writers seemed to think that the first appearance of The Punisher was worth enough to get Violet the money she needed, but if I ignore that point then this is a reasonably mindless chick flick which passes the time.

You’ll like this if you liked : Cocktail

Starship Troopers 3 : Marauder (2008) 7/10

2010-04-15T13:32:00.003+01:00

Starring : Casper Van Dien, Jolene Blalock, Stephen Hogan, Boris Kodjoe, Amanda Donohoe
Director : Edward Neumeier
Running Time : 106 mins

Johnny Rico (Van Dien), now a Colonel, is called upon to help fight the bugs once again when his friend and one-time lover Lola Beck (Blalock) is stranded on the bug planet known as OM-1 with public hero Sky Marshal Omar Anoke (Hogan), a man with a terrible secret that no-one can possibly guess.

This was so much better than the straight to video sequel that looked like it had run out of lighting budget by the second scene. Although Rico isn't really the main character in this, it's nice to have someone from the original show up again to try and make us forget the second instalment. With much more of a Verhoeven feel to it, this is a pretty good attempt at reliving the glory of the original.

You’ll like this if you liked : Pitch Black

The Bounty Hunter (2010) 8/10

2010-04-14T11:18:00.003+01:00

Starring : Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Gio Perez, Joel Garland
Director : Andy Tennant
Running Time : 106 mins

Ex-cop turned bounty hunter Milo Boyd (Butler) is offered his dream assignment when his ex-wife, reporter Nicole Hurley (Aniston), jumps bail and he has to track her down, but the news story that Nicole is pursuing could end up getting them both killed.

This is basically a romantic version of Midnight Run, but in spite of it's unoriginal story this is still a very entertaining yarn. This is the first rom-com I've seen in which Gerard Butler isn't completely miscast, and Aniston is pretty much on form playing her usual characters, so all in all this is an above average romantic romp.

You’ll like this if you liked : Midnight Run

Brutal Massacre : A Comedy (2007) 7/10

2010-04-13T14:05:00.002+01:00

Starring : David Naughton, Brian O'Halloran, Gerry Bedknob, Gunnar Hansen, Ellen Sandweiss
Director : Stevan Mena
Running Time : 95 mins

Horror movie maker Harry Penderecki (Naughton) hasn't had a hit movie in a number of years, and is forced to focus all his attention on his new movie, Brutal Massacre, in a last ditch attempt to be respected in Hollywood once more, but things don't go according to plan.

This was very much a poor man's Kevin Smith movie, even going so far as to employ Brian O'Halloran of Clerks (and pretty much nothing else) fame. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of comedy moments and over the top shenanigans, but even though I enjoyed this I think there is only a niche market of others who would too.

You’ll like this if you liked : Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back

Pathology (2008) 6/10

2010-04-12T10:45:00.003+01:00

Starring : Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Weston, Alyssa Milano, Lauren Lee Smith, Johnny Whitworth
Director : Marc Scholermann
Running Time : 95 mins

Bored with college life, a group of medical students decide to make life interesting by placing a bet amongst themselves; to see which of them can commit the perfect murder and actually get away with it. But as the stakes get higher, things start to get a little personal.

This movie came straight out of left field. What starts off as a simple medical drama soon turns into an all out no holds barred gore fest with enough violence, blood and guts to keep even the most die hard splatter movie fan happy. Sadly, the acting is a little weak and what could have otherwise been an interesting twist ends up falling a little flat.

You’ll like this if you liked : Hostel

Classic Friday : The 'burbs (1989) 8/10

2010-04-09T13:41:00.003+01:00

Starring : Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher
Director : Joe Dante
Running Time : 97 mins

While enjoying a much needed and much deserved week off from work, Ray Peterson (Hanks) starts to suspect that his new neighbours, the Klopeks, might have a terrible secret. No one has ever seen them, and in the middle of the night they can be heard digging in their back yard. When he decides to take matters into his own hands and investigates, he discovers something very strange about the people next door...

This is probably Tom Hanks last great comedy, and is usually overlooked by many of his fans as it was made on the border of his transition into serious acting. The simple plot is very funny, and Dante's use of mixing horror with humour harks back to his work on Gremlins. A great comedy that everyone should see.

You’ll like this if you liked : Gremlins

Knowing (2009) 8/10

2010-04-09T11:17:00.002+01:00

Starring : Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne
Director : Alex Proyas
Running Time : 122 mins

When his son Caleb (Canterbury) is involved in the opening of a fifty year old time capsule at his school, Professor Jonathan Koestler (Cage) is faced with a list of numbers, corresponding to the dates of catastrophic events, their death toll, and the location of the event. As he investigates further, he discovers that some of the predicted events haven't happened yet and he believes he may be able to prevent them.

I was actually surprised that this was such an action packed and engrossing movie that keeps you gripped to the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Unfortunately it does get a little weird in the last fifteen minutes or so, but if you try not to let that spoil it then you might find this to be pretty good.

You’ll like this if you liked : Dreamcatcher

100 Feet (2008) 8/10

2010-04-08T10:59:00.003+01:00

Starring : Famke Janssen, Bobby Cannavale, Ed Westwick
Director : Eric Red
Running Time : 95 mins

Following a stint in prison for murdering her abusive cop husband in self defence, Marnie Watson (Janssen) returns to her home under house arrest, not being allowed to move more than 100 feet from her ankle tags sensor, but once she's alone in the house she discovers that her dead husbands spirit has possessed the building and plans on exacting his revenge for being murdered.

This was a surprisingly engrossing horror-thriller that manages to sneak the violence up on you by being pretty tame for the majority of the movie. The acting isn't anything special, but the script is tight and the action comes quick and fast.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Entity

Origin Spirits Of The Past (2006) 6/10

2010-04-07T10:25:00.002+01:00

Starring : Chris Patton, Carrie Savage
Director : Keiichi Sugiyama
Running Time : 94 mins

Three hundred years from now, in a future where mankind has destroyed Earth's environment through the genetic engineering of their forests, a young man named Agito (Patton) finds himself faced with a machine that contains a young woman, Toola (Savage), from Earth's past. When he revives her he discovers that she has been set the task of returning Earth to its former glory.

Although the animation is nice to watch, this isn't the most enlightening or imaginative anime of recent years. It reminded me of Akira in the way the actors seemed to do little but shout each others names, and its attempt to preach to the viewer its message of ecology is pretty weak to say the least. Still, there's enough action to keep most die hard anime fans engrossed.

You’ll like this if you liked : Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind

Impact Point (2008) 5/10

2010-04-06T14:14:00.002+01:00

Starring : Brian Austin Green, Melissa Keller, Linden Ashby
Director : Hayley Cloake
Running Time : 85 mins

Professional volleyball player Kelly Reyes (Keller) finds herself the focus of attention from journalist Holden Grant (Green) when she loses an important semi-final match. Soon she finds herself dating Holden, but when she hears that one of the opposing team has been killed in a hit and run accident, Kelly starts to suspect that Holden has something to hide.

Yet another basically plotted movie, with an obsessed fan killing off the competition of the object of their deluded affection. Setting it at a volleyball tournament could either been seen as desperately mindless or a stroke of genius as you are soon distracted by the scantily clad volleyball players and hardly notice the ham acting and tenuous script.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Deal

New Moon (2009) 7/10

2010-04-05T11:04:00.003+01:00

Starring : Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke
Director : Chris Weitz
Running Time : 131 mins

Edward Cullen (Pattinson) tells Bella (Stewart) that he and his family are moving away, and Bella takes it very badly. After months of failing to get over Edward, Bella decides to take her mind off things by buying a motorcycle and asking her friend Jacob (Lautner) to help her repair, but they soon become attracted to each other.

This was better than the first movie - mainly because Pattinson wasn't around as much to spoil things - and having a new romantic interest for Bella, one with more of a personality, was refreshing to say the least. Fans of the original will definitely enjoy this, but new fans could be won over by this improvement, as long as they can keep from laughing at Pattinson's painted on abs.

You’ll like this if you liked : Twilight

Classic Friday : The Godfather (1972) 8/10

2010-04-02T13:56:00.003+01:00

Starring : Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall
Director : Francis Ford Coppola
Running Time : 176 mins

Michael Corleone (Pacino) returns from fighting in the war to attend his sisters weding. His family business, basically trading favours in return for respect, is something he doesn't want to be involved in, but when a rival family want to start selling drugs in spite of the protests from Don Vito (Brando) - the head of the Corleone family - Michael is forced to become more involved in the family business than he ever planned to be.

This movie is definitely ahead of its time, even though it is set in the past, but to be fair it is a little over-hyped for what it is. There are some nice touches and some genuinely shocking moments, but combined with an overly long runtime and some honestly poor acting from Brando, and this is realistically speaking not that impressive a film.

You’ll like this if you liked : Goodfellas

Blonde And Blonder (2007) 5/10

2010-04-02T10:53:00.003+01:00

Starring : Pamela Anderson, Denise Richards, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Meghan Ory
Director : Dean Hamilton
Running Time : 96 mins

Idiot blondes Dee Twiddle (Anderson) and Dawn St Dom (Richards) become firm friends when they accidentally steal a plane during a flying lesson, but soon find themselves in trouble again when they are mistaken for a pair of female assassins for hire.

When bad acting is combined with bad scripting, you'll usually end up with a film like this. Having said that, I've seen movies that were a hell of a lot worse than this that were much better known. Anderson and Richards do their best, but it really isn't good enough to make this anything more than a female led Dumb And Dumber with some elements of Police Academy thrown in for bad measure.

You’ll like this if you liked : Who's Your Caddy?

From Paris With Love (2010) 7/10

2010-04-01T13:35:00.003+01:00

Starring : John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak
Director : Pierre Morel
Running Time : 88 mins

French Ambassadors assistant James Reece (Meyers) is teamed up with special agent Charlie Wax (Travolta) when there are alerted to the possibility of a terrorist attack in Paris. As they travel through the criminal world in search of information, James discovers that he has actually been targeted by the same group that are planning the attack.

Having heard a great deal of negative press about this movie, I was pleasantly surprised after watching it. Granted, it's not Oscar material, and Steven Seagal could easily have played the Travolta role, but fans of action movies with silly story lines and predictable twists will no doubt enjoy this offering.

You’ll like this if you liked : Taken

Shutter (2008) 7/10

2010-03-31T10:41:00.000+01:00

Starring : Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, Megumi Okina, David Denman, John Hensley
Director : Masayuki Ochiai
Running Time : 81 mins

Benajmin Shaw (Jackson) and his new bride Jane (Taylor) move to Japan where Benjamin has just been awarded a very well paying photography job, but after they are involved in a car accident they start to see images of the girl they ran over in photographs they have taken, and Jane makes a terrifying discovery about the girl and her history with her husband.

Well, at least it wasn’t long! This was a pretty mediocre thriller masquerading as a horror, with a reasonable though not unobvious twist in the tale. The acting isn’t anything special, but it’s quite well paced and marginally engrossing. Fans of Japanese horror films might enjoy this, though they might also find it irritating

You’ll like this if you liked : The Grudge

The Invisible (2002) 8/10

2010-03-30T14:06:00.002+01:00

Starring : Gustaf Skarsgard, Tuna Novotny
Director : Joel Bargvall & Simon Sandquist
Running Time : 97 mins

Niklas (Skarsgard) is accused by the a gang of grassing them up at school for keeping contraband in their lockers, and is subsequently badly beaten, but he wakes up to discover that no one can see him and presumes he is dead. Now unable to do anything to interfere with the police investigation into his disappearance, Niklas is forced to stand idly by and watch as the law tries to piece together what has happened to him.

This was a pretty good movie that has now been reproduced by Hollywood into a sub par English speaking version. The action is fun to watch, and as a viewer you will be drawn into the mystery of whether or not Niklas actually is dead. A good thriller, but don’t expect any horror in this movie.

You’ll like this if you liked : Ghost

The Invention Of Lying (2009) 8/10

2010-03-29T13:55:00.004+01:00

Starring : Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey
Director : Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson
Running Time : 100 mins

Mark Bellison (Gervais) lives in a wolrd where everyone is compelled to tell the truth about everything, so when he tells a white lie at the bank, he opens up a whole new world of opportunity for himself, ranging from getting the girl of his dreams, Anna McDoogles (Garner), to convincing the world that there is an afterlife.

I thought this was a great little idea – the compulsions of the characters to tell the truth was original, although it did start to grate a little towards the middle. Gervais plays the same character he always does, which is annoying, but he manages to be at least marginally likable in this role, although his relationship with Garner is very unlikely.

You’ll like this if you liked : Ghost Town

Classic Friday : Superman III (1983) 7/10

2010-03-26T13:53:00.003Z

Starring : Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Robert Vaughn, Margot Kidder
Director : Richard Lester
Running Time : 125 mins

Megalomaniac Ross Webster (Vaughn) employs the aid of computer hacker Gus Gorman (Pryor) in his bid to control the worlds economy. Meanwhile Superman (Reeve) becomes exposed to a new form of Kryptonite that makes him incredibly depressed and eventually splits him in two, producing a mild mannered Clark Kent with no powers and an evil Superman who only wants to put an end to Kent.

Definitely not the best of the series, but by no means this worst, this is far more of a comedy than a superhero movie, with Pryor almost spoiling the movie – not through his own fault, but because of the plot. There are some nice memorial moments such as the Superman Versus Superman fight, but it’s something of a let down compared to the first two.

You’ll like this if you liked : Supergirl

The Education Of Charlie Banks (2007) 7/10

2010-03-26T10:48:00.000Z

Starring : Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Eva Amurri, Chris Marquette
Director : Fred Durst
Running Time : 95 mins

After witnessing a brutal assault, Charlie Banks (Eisenberg) reports the culprit, Mick (Ritter), to the police and Mick ends up doing time for his crime. Years later, Charlie is shocked to run into Mick again, this time when he turns up at his college campus, and he begins to worry that Mick will find out what he did, whilst slowly becoming something of a friend to him.

This wasn’t a bad little coming of age drama, and it’s focus on what can happen if you do what you think is right was both thought provoking and engrossing. Fans of teen dramas will like this, but don’t expect any of the usual comedy moments from Eisenberg who is stern as stern can be in this role.

You’ll like this if you liked : Charlie Bartlett