The Day The Earth Stood Still

Synopsis

Humanity faces its greatest test with the unexpected arrival on Earth of an enigmatic alien named Klaatu (Keanu Reeves).
The stranger triggers an unprecedented global upheaval as governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind his appearance. In the midst of it all, Helen (Jennifer Connelly) and her young stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith) get caught up in the alien's mission. Klaatu describes himself as a "friend to the Earth" - a seemingly simple statement, but one which the humans slowly realise has cataclysmic implications. A contemporary reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic - updated with cutting-edge special effects.

Comments

I did quite enjoy this film, however that what was more to do with the special effect than the plot line itself (and I don't just say that because my friend worked on this film either). A tad long winded and a disappointing ending. A great role for Keanu Reeves, as he didn't have to act that much! Kathy Bates was brilliant as always.

Watch the trailer HERE

Star Rating * * *

Four Christmasses

Synopsis

If you've ever had your Christmas plans wrecked by family obligations, then this is the comedy for you.
When affluent and 'happily unmarried' San Francisco couple Kate (Reese Witherspoon) and Brad (Vince Vaughn) find their Christmas plans scuppered by fog, they are forced to scrap the exotic vacation they've been looking forward to and instead embark upon precisely the kind of 'family obligation' holiday they've always avoided. Unable to escape, they make their way to no less than four different relative-choked festivities, increasingly mortified to find childhood fears raised, adolescent wounds reopened - and even their very future together rendered uncertain. As Brad counts the hours to when he can get away from parents, step-parents, siblings and assorted nieces and nephews, Kate is starting to hear the ticking of a different kind of clock. By the end of the day, she is beginning to wonder if their crazy families' choices are really quite so crazy after all?

Comments

I must admit I do enjoy a good Christmas film! (my all time favourite being It's a Wonderful Life). This film is really enjoyable and I found myself laughing out loud in parts! A predictable ending but well worth a look non the less.... a great Sunday film!

See the trailer HERE

Star rating * * * *

Ghost Town

Synopsis

"Ghost town" is a romantic comedy where Bertram Pincus, a misanthropic dentist (Ricky Gervais) who is not a people person, gets caught up in a supernatural love triangle. Pincus lives a fine line between life and death but however lucky he may be, it is just about to run out after he gains the unpleasant ability to see ghosts. Even worse is that every ghost he sees wants something from him, and they won‘t stop haggling him for it, at anytime day or night. Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear) is a ghost who befriends Pincus and seems hellbent on ruining his attempts to have a serious relationship with any women. His other ghostly friend (Alan Ruck), is competing with Frank for Pincus‘ attention. Pincus couldn‘t stand life with the living, now how is he going to cope with the dead?

Comments

I am really pleased that I went to see this film as I found myself laughing all the way through it. This film has everything... humour, tragedy, jumps, and is also set to be a classic weepy! I loved everything about it!!! Ricky Gervais has really come into his own and I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't the leading star in many Hollywood comedies from now on. If you feel and little bit low and fancy a Sunday afternoon of lighthearted humour that also guarantees a feel good factor then this is your film.... 'Ghost' for a new generation.

Watch the trailer HERE


Star Rating * * * * *

Mirrors

Synopsis

Kiefer Sutherland stars as an NYPD detective-turned-security guard who discovers something sinister lurking in the mirrors of a fire-damaged department store in Haute Tension writer/director Alexandre Aja's menacing study in the origins of evil. It's been just about a year since mercurial police detective Ben Carson (Sutherland) was suspended from the NYPD for the fatal shooting of an undercover officer, and ever since that fateful day he's been locked in a self-destructive spiral of anger and alcoholism. Increasingly isolated from his wife and kids, Ben spends most nights crashed-out at his sister Angela's (Amy Smart) apartment in Queens. But Ben hasn't given up hope just yet, and in order to get his life back together and prove that he's still capable of supporting his family he takes a job as the night watchman at the Mayflower department store. The Mayflower used to be a lavish symbol of inner-city prosperity, that is, until a raging inferno gutted the building while claiming numerous lives in the process. These days, the Mayflower is a scorched reminder of human misery, the ornate mirrors therein reflecting a suffering so profound that it begins to wear on Ben's already-fragile psyche. Not only that, but whatever force dwells behind the shimmering glass seems to have gained the power to alter reality as well. After Ben gazes into the mirrors and sees a vision of himself being relentlessly tortured, he is horrified to experience violent convulsions, spontaneous bleeding, and frightening asphyxiation. And while his sister is always willing to lend a sympathetic ear, she chalks the anomalies up to an unusually potent mix of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately for Ben, his estranged wife, Amy (Paula Patton), isn't nearly as forgiving. A prosaic NYPD medical examiner who has seen her fair share of tragedy, Amy fears that Ben's erratic behavior could be placing their children in danger. Later, as Ben begins to draw connections between his increasingly gruesome visions and a former Mayflower security guard who vanished without a trace, he begins to suspect that an unimaginable evil is using the mirrors as a gateway into the real world, and that his family is in mortal danger from forces beyond their realm of understanding. Perhaps if he Ben can manage to convince Amy that their children's lives are at risk, he can summon the courage to face the greatest evil he has ever known.

Comments

Although this film has incredible special effects and is very scary in parts, it has an incredibly slow start that made me detach from the plot somewhat and so, when the film finally decided to take off I had lost a lot of interest. There are some very memorable scenes and a brilliant ending though which for me became it's saving grace.

See the trailer HERE


Star Rating * * *

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Synopsis

Bruno, is the son of strict commander of a Nazi concentration camp. He has a strong headed sister, Gretel. They live in a five storey mansion, but are one day suddenly moved to a place called Out-With (Auschwitz). Bruno, outraged by his father's decision to move to Out-With, and desperate to go home, spends his time in his room with no friends. He is also annoyed by the fact that they live in a three story house instead of their old five-story mansion, and with such a small space, there isn't any room for exploration (a hobby of Bruno's) to be done. He also misses sliding down the banister in their old house. From his bedroom window, Bruno spots a fence with people in striped pyjamas behind it. These are the Jews, and they are in a concentration camp. One day his parents come to an agreement that both Bruno and Gretel need a tutor for their education so they hire Herr Liszt. To Bruno, Herr Liszt is the most boring teacher one could ever have - because he teaches science instead of the arts, which Bruno prefers. So, in boredom and confusion he wonders what is going on at Out-With and why people are always dressed in striped pajamas there.

Comments

It's really hard to put into words how this film made me feel. The film itself is incredible, powerful and deeply moving. Seeing the story of the holocaust through the innocent eyes of an 8 year old was very profound indeed. All of us in that packed cinema left in total silence, unable to find words. This film had such an impact on me that I spent the whole might dreaming about concentration camps.It's certainly a film you won't forget in a while.

GO SEE THIS FILM!

See the Trailer HERE

Star Rating * * * * * +

The Strangers

Synopsis

Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler play James Hoyt and Kristen McKay, a couple who are at an awkward point in their relationship are besieged by masked psychopaths in their idyllic home in this slasher horror. After attending a friend's wedding the young couple return to their holiday home in a street full of other such homes which appear to be empty. A fact which is of little interest to the young couple until they hear an unexpected knock at the door. Things are already tense between them, as Kristin has been less than receptive to James' marriage proposal. Just when it seems that they may enter a conversation that leads them to say things they'll regret forever, Kristin is relieved by the knock at the door. Until that is what they open the door to begins a night of unbelievable terror. This film is inspired by true events and marks the directorial debut of Bryan Bertino.

Comment

Now either I'm getting too old for these kind of films, or my heart is getting weaker! From the moment there is a knock at the door (roughly about 10 minutes in) till the credits roll. This film has you hiding behind your hands or jumping out of your skin. I even considered leaving half way through as the intensity was almost too much to cope with!

That said, this is horror at it's most terrifying. With classic scenes off 'these someone else in the house' to 'don't go outside' this film beats the blood and gore slasher movies that we've had to endure over the last 15 years or so. The Strangers will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Brilliant!

See the trailer HERE


Star Rating * * * * *

The Dark Knight

Synopsis

Batman (Christian Bale) continues to eliminate crime in Gotham City with the help of Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). The Dark Knight wants to finally get rid of organized crime for good and be free of their corruption. Batman soon finds that a new psychopathic mastermind known as the Joker (Heath Ledger) has taken over organized crime. After the fall of Carmine Falcone, the remaining crime bosses try to pick up the pieces. However, the Joker is killing them off one by one. The Joker's plan is to terrify the citizens and throw the city into chaos, and then kill Batman. Batman takes the fight with the Joker personal, which makes him confront his own beliefs. The Joker is the most dangerous criminal that Batman has encountered, and he will need all his strength and vigilance to defeat him.

Comment

I bought 'Batman Begins' last week so I could watch it before going to see this "Must See" movie and although I enjoyed the DVD, I was a little disappointed as I found it quiet heavy going. I realise now that this first installment was laying the foundations for The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight is nothing short of AWESOME!

The film, although over 150 minutes long, went by in an instant and I never for one moment feeling bored or distracted.

The movie is dark, scary and a thrill a minute. It has you jumping out of your skins in parts and quaking with fear. The acting is brilliant, Christian Bale was born to play Batman and YES I have to agree with the movie reviewers who are saying that Heath Ledger gave his finest acting performance of his career. Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Cain were also all superb in the supporting roles making The Dark Knight worthy of the title 'Biggest Box Office Debut Ever'!

See the Trailer HERE

Star Rating * * * * *

Mamma Mia!

Synopsis

Longing to discover the identity of her true father before she exchanges her wedding vows, the daughter of a once-rebellious single mother secretly invites a trio of paternal candidates to her upcoming wedding in this feature adaptation of the beloved stage musical. Independent-minded single mother Donna (Meryl Streep) has always done her best to raise her spirited daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), while simultaneously running a successful hotel on a small Greek island, but now the time has come for this hardworking mom to finally let go. In just a few days, Sophie will be married, and Donna will stand by bittersweetly as her little girl takes flight. Of course, Donna's lifelong friends Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski) will both be present at the wedding, but unbeknownst to the mother, Sophie has furtively invited three very special guests of her own. When Sophie walks down the aisle on that fateful day, she wants her father to hand her off. The only problem is that Donna has never revealed the true identity of Sophie's father, leaving the resourceful future bride to narrow the list down to three potential candidates. Now, as three key figures from Donna's past return to the picturesque Mediterranean shores they all walked 20 years prior, one beautiful bride will discover the secret of her past while one lonely mother finds out that it's never too late for a little romance.

Comment

If you go and see this film, you will have an absolute BLAST!!! This is the ultimate feel good movie! It provides strong performances from a star studded cast, as well as some excellent performances from rising stars such as Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls) and Dominic Cooper (History Boys). One of my favourite scenes is where Meryl delivers a powerful performance of The Winner Takes it All to her one true love Sam, played by Pierce Brosnan. There are some great dance performances like, Dancing Queen and Lay All Your Love On Me. Okay so the storyline itself isn't one of the strongest I've seen and you can tell that it was created just to link all the ABBA songs together, and does so quite unashamedly, but so what??? This is a great great movie that looks set to be a summer smash hit!

A tip.... Go and see this movie in the cinema, rather than waiting for the DVD as it's great on the big screen, also It helps if you like ABBA! There's 26 songs in this movie!

See the trailer HERE


Star Rating * * * * *

Hancock

Synopsis

There are heroes… there are superheroes… and then there’s Hancock. With great power comes great responsibility – everyone knows that – everyone, that is, but Hancock. Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock’s well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough – as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy.

Hancock isn’t the kind of man who cares what other people think – until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey, and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock’s greatest challenge yet – and a task that may prove impossible as Ray’s wife, Mary, insists that he’s a lost cause.

Comment

From the moment this film opens, we are dazzled by the thrills and spills of out of this world special effects. This movie is action packed!

Aside from this, it's also very funny and I was surprised that this movie had quite a bot of adult humour in there!

A great fun film that impresses with it's big bucks Hollywood special effects that we have come to expect from a Will Smith action movie. The ending is a little predictable, but it's well worth a look.


See the Trailer HERE


Star Rating * * *

The Happening

Synopsis

The Happening' is a paranormal thriller in which a family must survive a global environmental crisis. The protagonist, a science teacher named Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg), goes on the run with his estranged wife (Zooey Deschanel) and friends as hysteria grips the planet.

Comment

What a film! To say that all I have read about this moving is one bad review after another I was surprised by how good this film is. That said, anyone who knows me will know that I am mad about M Night Shyamalan movies! (even Lady in the Water). I love the way his take time telling the story. I love the pace of his films. The creepiness, The eeriness, The suspense. I have referred to him before as the modern day Hitchcock.

This latest film by the man who, writes, produces, directs and often stars in his own films, is no exception. From the word goes this film has you on the edge of your seat. It is full of sudden shocks which doesn't allow you much time to sit back and take it easy! Night seems to have borrowed ideas from the original Bodysnatchers and also The Birds and shows that a film shot entirely in daylight can still be terrifying.

This film is amazing and I know I'll be thinking about it for a very long time!!! Roll on the DVD!


See the trailer HERE


Star rating * * * * *

Shutter

Synopsis

A newlywed couple Ben and Jane move to Japan for a promising job opportunity - a fashion shoot in Tokyo. During their trip on a dark forest road they experience a tragic car accident, leading to the death of a young local girl. Upon regaining consciousness, they find no trace of her body. A bit distraught the couple arrives in Tokyo to begin their new life. Meanwhile Ben begins noticing strange white blurs in many of his fashion shoot photographs. Jane believes that the blurs are actually spirit photography of the dead girl who they hit on the road, and that she may be seeking vengeance.

This, the latest offering from the producers of The Grudge and The Ring is yet another scary Asian movie remake involving a black-haired woman crawling around in a nightie making sounds like a hungry tummy.

This time it's not a video player but a camera that turns evil as US fashion photographer Ben (Joshua Jackson) and his sexy new wife (Rachael Taylor) arrive in Tokyo and find themselves pursued by a vengeful spirit intent on messing up their photos by appearing in them looking sulky.

Comment

I must admit I do like these Japanese horror remake films, although this one did lack that eerie edge of your seat suspense that was certain present in The Grudge. A lot of the scenes were predictable as we have seen hem all before, but despite this it was enjoyable to watch on the whole and the acting from Joshua Jackson and Rachael Taylor was great. Definitely worth checking this film out, if like me you like this type of film.

See the trailer click HERE

Star Rating * * *

The Eye

Synopsis

A young woman who has been blind since an accident with firecracker at the age of 5 undergoes a corneal transplant. From the moment the bandages are removed Sydney Wells (Jessica Alba) begin to see things that she shouldn't. i.e the dead or things yet to come.

Comment

I really enjoyed this film and almost let it slip by. It's the type of 'Horror' film that is right up my street. In other words not just a slasher movie, but a story with substance. There are lots of jumps in this film which keeps you alert and on your guard. The only thing for me that let this film down was the very final scene, not the explosive ending, but the last shot of Sydney. It left me thinking "Yeah, right, as if!"

Overall though, an very enjoyable film ;0)

To see the trailer click - HERE

Star rating * * * *

Happy Go Lucky (and other Mike Leigh films)

It's been a Mike Leigh weekend for me. Those of you who know me well, will know that I have been a Mike Leigh fan for many years. Ever since in fact I first saw Abigail's Party, Many moons ago!


To coincide with the release of Happy Go Lucky, the Mike Leigh Feature Film Box Set has been released with 10 of his best films. These include;-

Bleak Moments
Meantime
High Hopes
Naked
Life Is Sweet
Secrets & Lies
Career Girls
Topsy Turvy
Vera Drake
All Or Nothing

This is an amazing collection to have, and so, the DVD box set arrived on Friday and yesterday I watched a couple of films I had not yet got around to seeing, All or Nothing and Career Girls. I get totally submerged into his films. What I like about them is the fact that it is like walking down and street in any town and knocking on a random door and being let in to someones world, at any given point in time. The films don't necessarily have a structured beginning and an end, it's more of a snapshot of a wider picture of how different people in our society live.

Happy Go Lucky

With Happy Go Lucky, Leigh breaks away from the usual graininess of social realism and provides us with the instantly likable character of Poppy.

Synopsis

Poppy is an irrepressible 30–something enjoying her life in Camden, north London‘s boho HQ. Whether out on her bike, preparing lessons for the kids in her primary school class, or drinking with friends in the local, she keeps a smile on her face and a joke on her lips. Despite the misgivings of her younger sister, who has settled down in the suburbs to start a family, Poppy is happy with her life and determined to get the most out of every day. When her bicycle is stolen, however, Poppy decides to invest in driving lessons, a decision that will bring her face–to–face with a character and a world view quite unlike her own. Mike Leigh‘s first film since the Oscar nominated "Vera Drake" re–teams the veteran figure of Britain‘s social realist movement with star Sally Hawkins. As Poppy, Hawkins is in almost every frame, and she lights up the screen with a performance of infectious energy and enthusiasm. "Happy–Go–Lucky" sees a calmer, more optimistic take on post–Blair Britain from Leigh. It is a country where individualism and the pursuit of happiness define the lives of a generation, but where old–fashioned ideas like community and selflessness still exist.

Comment

A thoroughly enjoyable film, made more so by the brilliant acting talent of Sally Hawkins. Being as this is Leigh's first film since the remarkable Vera Drake many will feel that this film just doesn't hit the grade, which would be a terrible shame. This film is upbeat and illuminating, funny yet often poignant. An absolute triumph!

To see the trailer press HERE

Star Rating;- * * * *

Rear Window

I just happened to call into HMV this afternoon, to see what they had in a the sale, when I stumbled across this masterpiece of a film for just £3!!!

I first saw it about 20 years ago and remember being spellbound by it's tense, edge of your seat plot line.

Synopsis

Professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries (Jimmy Stewart) breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Confined to his New York apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbours. He begins to suspect that the man opposite may have murdered his wife. Jeff enlists the help of his society model girlfriend Lisa Freemont (Grace Kelly) and his nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter) to help him investigate.

Comment

Even though this film is over 50 years old, it is as tense as any good suspense thriller of today. In fact this film had me gripped throughout, just as it did when I first saw it 20 years ago. Hitchcock was nothing short of a genius and this has to be one of his finest films. If only films like this existed today. Some have come close, such as Disturbia, but Rear Window is one film that stands out head and shoulders above the rest and has undeniably stood the test of time.

If you haven't see this film already, check it out. It will be the best £3 you'll spend in a long time.

See the trailer here PRESS

Star Rating * * * * *

Son of Rambow

Synopsis

SON OF RAMBOW is the name of the home movie made by two little boys with a big video camera and even bigger ambitions. Set on a long English summer in the early 80's, SON OF RAMBOW is a comedy about friendship, faith and the tough business of growing up. We see the story through the eyes of Will, the eldest son of a fatherless Plymouth Brethren family. The Brethren regard themselves as God's 'chosen ones' and their strict moral code means that Will has never been allowed to mix with the other 'worldlies,' listen to music or watch TV, until he finds himself caught up in the extraordinary world of Lee Carter, the school terror and maker of bizarre home movies. Carter exposes Will to a pirate copy of Rambo: First Blood and from that moment Will's mind is blown wide open and he's easily convinced to be the stuntman in Lee Carters' home movie. Will has to keep his friendship with Lee Carter a secret from the Brethren community.

What I thought

This film was highly recommended by some friends of mine, who went to see it in the week. It was really enjoyable 'coming of age' type movie and reminded me a lot of a modern day 'Stand By Me'. In fact Will Poulter who plays Lee Carter reminded me of the young River Phoenix.

Jessica Hynes (AKA Stevenson) who happens to be one of my favourite actresses, plays Will's Mum. She is brilliantly cast as the long suffering oppressed member of the Plymouth Brethren who battles with her belief and what is best for her son.

This film is both moving and funny and has a very poignant ending. Very enjoyable and well worth checking out.

See the trailer here - PRESS

Star Rating;- * * *