Hansel And Gretel : Witch Hunters (2013) 7/10

Starring : Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen
Director : Tommy Wirkola
Running Time : 88 mins

Following their survival at the hands of an evil witch in her gingerbread house, Hansel (Renner) and Gretel (Arterton) grow up to become bounty hunters that are paid to kill witches around the country. When a large number of children start disappearing in a relatively small village, the pair are hired to find the witch responsible and find themselves in mortal danger from the deadly witch Muriel (Janssen).

I originally thought this was a kids film, so imagine my surprise when the characters start dropping F bombs left, right and centre. In spite of the language and the violence, this still had the feel of a children’s fairy tale movie, which really shows how well the makers managed to reimagine the genre and change it for an adult audience. This was pretty good, but a lot more could have been done if it wasn’t for the censors, who apparently asked for all reference to Gretel’s eating disorder to be removed, though Hansel having diabetes after being force fed in the gingerbread house was a nice touch.

You’ll like this if you liked : Jack The Giant Slayer

The Loved Ones (2009) 8/10

Starring : Xavier Samuel, Robin McLeavy, Victoria Thaine, Jessica McNamee, Richard Wilson, John Brumpton
Director : Sean Byrne
Running Time : 85 mins

When Brent Mitchell (Samuel) is asked by classmate Lola (McLeavy) to go with her to the end of school prom, he turns her down as he already has plans with his girlfriend Holly (Thaine), but it isn’t long before Lola and her father (Brumpton) take Brent hostage and subjects him to a barrage of ill treatment. Brent soon discovers that he isn’t their first victim when he discovers that the previous victims are still alive and living in the cellar.

This is a pretty fun movie that takes the idea of turning someone down for a date and transforming it into a torture filled horror fest. In a similar vein to the French movie 5150 Elms Way, this takes a seemingly ordinary act and takes a complete left turn so that the hero of the piece finds themselves in an incredibly dangerous situation with some very unbalanced people. Throw in a side story that has nothing to do with the terror of the piece ( basically following one of the successful couplings on their prom night), and you are left with a rather unique vision.

You’ll like this if you liked : 5150 Elms Way

Bachelorette (2012) 8/10

Starring : Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson
Director : Leslye Headland
Running Time : 84 mins

Regan (Dunst), Gena (Caplan) and Katie (Fisher) are asked to be bridesmaids for Becky (Wilson), a girl they spent much if their high school years making fun of. As they try to put their differences aside in order to make her big day a memorable one, they accidentally destroy her dress the night before the wedding and face a race against time to get it repaired or replaced.

This isn’t the most original of movies, having many similarities to Bridesmaids, but I still really enjoyed it, probably because it had so many similarities to Bridesmaids. The humour is mostly subtle, though the characters are pretty stereotypical, and the relationships between the characters are somehow believable even though some of them have little in common. This is a fun filled comedy drama that has that feel-good factor that is missing in so many modern films.

You’ll like this if you liked : Bridesmaids

Highlander : The Search For Vengeance (2007) 6/10

Starring : Alistair Abell, Eid Lakis, Zachary Samuels, Scott Mcneil
Director : Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takuji Endo & Hiroshi Hamasaki
Running Time : 96 mins

Colin MacLeod (Abell) is in search of another immortal, the evil Marcus Octavius (Samuels), the Roman general who is responsible for the death of his lady love. As he travels through time in search of him, McLeod is accompanied by a ghost named Amergan (Mcneil), and together they journey through different time periods in search of their target and revenge.

Fans of the Highlander series of movies will most likely find this to be a faithful continuation of the series. There are some things done here that couldn’t have been achieved in the live-action movies without breaking the bank, and the sharp Japanese animation helps make this as gritty as possible. The comic relief wasn’t that great and made little sense to me, but there’s still something here for real fans.

You’ll like this if you liked : Planet Hulk

Man Of Steel (2013) 7/10

Starring : Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe
Director : Zack Snyder
Running Time : 143 mins

After hiding amongst mankind for thirty-three years, Clark Kent aka Kal-El (Cavill) is forced to reveal his identity when a trio of criminals from his home planet of Krypton decide to attack the planet Earth unless Kal-El reveals himself to them. Once he has stepped forward the leader of the group, General Zod (Shannon), plans on using his DNA to resurrect all of his fellow Kryptonians but as a result the enter planet will be terraformed to accommodate them, thus wiping out humanity.

In terms of style and story, this sounds good and looks good. The problem is – as with most movies based on DC comics – there is a choice made somewhere along the line to avoid going into too much depth in regards to character. Most of the characters are one-dimensional at best, and this did slightly spoil what is otherwise a pretty decent movie.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Matrix

Growth (2010) 5/10

Starring : Mircea Monroe, Christopher Shand, Nora Kirkpatrick, Brian Krause, Richard Riehle
Director : Gabriel Cowan
Running Time : 87 mins

In 1989, when a team of scientists on a remote island make an invaluable breakthrough in genetics by engineering the perfect pearl, they decide to take the next step and experiment with humans. The result is a deadly parasite that turns its host into a superhuman, but feeds on their adrenaline and eventually kills them. Twenty years later, local girl Jamie Ackerman (Monroe) returns to the island to sell an inherited property, only to find she was tricked into returning to create an antidote to the parasites, that are still running loose.

Talk about convoluted. The girl happens to have the solution to the parasite problem? They already had a solution – salt the lot of them. And why did her step-brother kill people? Shouldn’t he have been infecting them so that the bugs had more to feed on? I know it’s just a movie, but why worry about protecting a cure when you already have another one? Seriously, there are much better genetic horrors out there, so watch them instead.

You’ll like this if you liked : Slither

Liberal Arts (2012) 6/10

Starring : Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, Elizabeth Reaser
Director : Josh Radnor
Running Time : 98 mins

When thirty-five year old admissions officer Jesse Fisher (Radnor) returns to his old college for a professor’s retirement dinner, but when he meets nineteen year college student old Zibby (Olsen) he finds himself deeply attracted to her in spite of their large age difference.

When I saw an ad for this movie, I remember thinking that if Josh Radnor was in it, he probably wrote and directed it. Low and behold he did! It seems there’s little work for Mr Radnor aside from How I Met Your Mother, and his inability to play any character other than Ted Mosby might be the reason why. Granted, this wasn’t too bad, but it could have been better, perhaps if Radnor had cast someone other than himself in the lead.

You’ll like this if you liked : Garden State

Son Of The Mask (2005) 5/10

Starring : Jamie Kennedy, Alan Cumming, Traylor Howard, Kal Penn, Bob Hoskins
Director : Lawrence Guterman
Running Time : 88 mins

When his pet dog finds a strange mask and brings it home, wannabe cartoonist Tim Avery (Kennedy) finds his life changed forever when, under the influence of the mask, he gets his wife Tonya (Howard) pregnant and finds himself the father of a Norse God power-imbued baby. Meanwhile Loki (Cumming), the Norse God of Mischief, is forced by his father Odin (Hoskins) to travel to Earth and locate the baby in order to find his missing mask.

Fans of the comic book series will hate this movie for everything it stands for – it’s even more kiddie friendly than the Jim Carrey movie – but, too be honest, it wasn’t as bad as I’ve heard it was. It may not be the best film ever made, it’s special effects are pretty bad, and clearly it is aimed at pre-teens, but it doesn’t deserve to be in the bottom 100 movies of all time.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Cat In The Hat

The Croods (2013) 7/10

Starring : Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke
Director : Chris Sanders & Kirk De Micco
Running Time : 98 mins

A family of cave people are forced to run for their lives when their cave is destroyed. Along the way eldest daughter Eep (Stone) encounters a resourceful young man named Guy (Reynolds), who helps the Crood family in their search for a new home, though father Grug (Cage) is reluctant to experience anything new, as he thinks new things will inevitably kill them all.

This was much better than I expected, with a reasonable story and some nice elements that come together perfectly at the end. The voice talents have been chosen well, though the dun-dun-duh joke from the trailers is a little overused. Fans of Ice Age will enjoy this family film, and there weren’t too many Flintstones rip-off moments to make this a carbon copy.

You’ll like this if you liked : Ice Age : The Meltdown

An Education (2009) 7/10

Starring : Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Rosamund Pike, Dominic Cooper, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson
Director : Lone Scherfig
Running Time : 96 mins

Sixteen year-old Jenny Mellor (Mulligan) has one ambition in life – to get into Oxford University – but it’s her father Jack (Molina) that is pushing her in this direction as he think it will lead her to a better life. But when Jenny meets David Goldman (Sarsgaard), a much older man who introduces her to a new life of culture that she otherwise may never have experienced, her father starts to think that she doesn’t need an education as she is with a man who will take care of all her needs for her.

This was a decent enough drama, though I expected more comedy considering the screenplay was written by Nick Hornby. Alfred Molina does a great turn as the father of Carey Mulligan, and Mulligan herself manages to play her role with enough vigour to make the movie stay interesting. There are a few twists in the tale which keep this entertaining, but there were some missed opportunities that could have been used to fuller effect.

You’ll like this if you liked : Fish Tank

Big Miracle (2012) 8/10

Starring : Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell, Dermot Mulroney, Tim Blake Nelson, Vinessa Shaw, Ted Danson
Director : Ken Kwapis
Running Time : 103 mins

Alaskan news reporter Adam Carlson (Krasinski) decides to utilise the help of his ex-girlfriend, Greenpeace supporter Rachel Kramer (Barrymore), when a family of whales become trapped in an ice hole. As the two work to free the family, the whales become surprising world-wide news as the government ask for the assistance of the Russians to help free the trapped animals.

This is an entertaining look at how the simple tale of some unfortunate animals can capture the heart of both the nation and the world. Though the acting isn’t anything special, the gradual build up to the end of the movie, mixed with some sad moments, makes this a movie the whole family can enjoy.

You’ll like this if you liked : Free Willy

The Duchess (2008) 7/10

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

Identity Thief (2013) 7/10

Starring : Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Amanda Peet
Director : Seth Gordon
Running Time : 121 mins

Sandy Patterson (Bateman) discovers that his identity has been stolen by serial identity thief Diana (McCarthy) and as a result he finds his life turned upside down. Determined to prove that he isn’t responsible for all the crimes and misdemeanours that have been committed in his name, Sandy travels to Colorado to confront Diana and force her to admit to her crimes, but soon the pair find themselves on the run from bounty hunters who are out for Diana’s blood.

Most of the success of this movie comes from the great performances of Bateman and McCarthy, who you can always rely on to put in a great performance. The story itself is a familiar one, though with a slight twist, and you’ll probably find yourself thinking you’ve seen this before. The road trip odd couple tale is as old as time, but this does a pretty good job of remaining entertaining for it’s slightly too long duration.

You’ll like this if you liked : Due Date

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) 8/10

Starring : Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie, Dev Patel
Director : John Madden
Running Time : 124 mins

When a group of British over-50s decide they’ve had enough of life in the UK for a variety of different reasons, they each individually respond to an online advertisement offering them the chance to travel to Jaipur in India and spend their remaining years living at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. When they arrive they are greeted by overly optimistic young manager Sonny (Patel), and a hotel that hasn’t been fully built yet.

This is a great movie filled with humour, drama, romance and even death. It really is a good old fashioned British movie that takes a simple concept (reminiscent of Carry On Abroad) and throws some very different characters into a situation that is just as annoying for all of them, yet they soon band together to help out the hotel manager when they realise how much they love the place,

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

Here Comes The Boom (2012) 8/10

Starring : Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Henry Winkler, Greg Germann
Director : Frank Coraci
Running Time : 105 mins

When his school decides to save money by cutting the music programme, biology teacher Scott Voss (James) decides to try to raise the money himself by entering the Ultimate Fighting Champion mixed-martial arts competition and use the winnings to help his colleague Marty Streb (Winkler) to keep his job.

When it comes down to it this is, simply put, a nice tale about a man who will do anything to help out a friend. James is likeable as the teacher who will put himself out for friends and students alike, and the fact that he raises money by getting beaten up makes the outcome of the movie all the more pleasing. There are plenty of slapstick laughs – as you’d expect from a Happy Madison production – but the ending scene, with all the America is great nonsense, did spoil it a little for me.

You’ll like this if you liked : School Of Rock

Rat Race (2001) 7/10

Starring : Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr, Seth Green, Jon Lovitz, Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart
Director : Jerry Zucker
Running Time : 112 mins

The owner of a casino, Donald P Sinclair (Cleese), decides to place six gold coins into random slot machines that will give the winners instructions on how they can win $2 million. The six recipients of the coins discover that the money is located in a locker in New Mexico and they must race each other to get there first or else risk losing out on a share of the money.

Fans of classic sixties comedies like It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World will recognise the kind of humour being utilised here. It’s not clever, it’s pretty obvious, and people will inevitably fall over. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad! This is a guilt free ensemble comedy that may not be the smartest but it is still very entertaining.

You’ll like this if you liked : It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Movie 43 (2013) 7/10

Starring : Mark L Young, Adam Cagley, Devin Eash
Director : Bob Odenkirk, Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Peter Farrelly, Patrik Forsberg, Will Graham, James Gunn, Brett Ratner, Jonathan van Tulleken
Running Time : 98 mins

To get revenge on his little brother Baxter (Eash), Calvin (Young) and his friend JJ (Cagley) trick him into looking for a mysterious made up movie called Movie 43, while they infect his laptop with viruses. As they search, they find an increasingly ridiculous amount of other movies on the internet and discover that the world is coming to an end.

There are two versions of this movie, but this sounded to me to be the better of the two. The teens that trick the youngster into looking for a non-existent movie so they can infect his laptop with viruses work perfectly as links between the scenes, and I didn’t think the pitch sellers sounded quite so good. Some of the humour is a little too toilet based, but fans of classic eighties flick Amazon Women On The Moon will enjoy this throwback to the eighties.

You’ll like this if you liked : Amazon Women On The Moon