In the last month or so of my cinema visits I have found myself getting popcorn quite a lot, something I seem to go through phases with when going to the cinema. This got me thinking after seeing Iron Man 3 for the second time this week that some films are very good when eating popcorn, Iron Man 3 is one of those films because it is a noisy film and you can get away with making a little bit more noise than usual which is something that happens when your eating popcorn.

When I went to see Star Trek I did not get popcorn which I think was a good decision as that film wasn’t that loud really, and people near me eating popcorn seemed to make a lot of noise. So does this mean you should pick when you get popcorn depending on the type of film you go to see? I think so. After seeing The Great Gatsby on Friday night I didn’t get popcorn and wouldn’t for a film like that. You need to be able to hear everything that is going on to enjoy the film. Maybe the summer blockbusters of action films are the best for popcorn. I can imagine when I go to see Fast & Furious 6 next week I will get popcorn and that will be a good choice.

I have even come up with an idea of recommending whether you can eat popcorn whilst watching the movie I do a review for, just a bit of fun but also makes sense. If you can’t hear the film yourself because your eating then you’ve spoilt it for yourself! This really has had me thinking over the past few days, well since Wednesday and that second screening of Iron Man 3. Funny that I will now consider which film I am going to see before actually getting in popcorn.

I guess the other alternative is to eat as much as possible during the adverts and trailer which let’s face it is the best part of half an hour now, maybe sometimes a little bit longer than that. But I do actually think its a good thing to think about before choosing any cinema going snack before heading into the screen to watch the film. A few years ago I did have Nacho’s a couple of times, but that is so much worse for the noise.

Nick Carraway finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbour, known for his wild parties and named Gatsby.

This is the first version of this story I have seen, I just thought that would be the best way to open this review. I am not comparing it to anything else, which is probably sometimes a good thing when it comes to a film which is a remake or retell of a story which is well-known. The story I also did not know anything about, so I really went into this film blind and knew nothing about it. What I did know is that Baz Luhrmann directed and co-wrote it so I was expecting something similar to Moulin Rouge and in that sense I was not disappointed.

The story is told from Nick and it really did seem like a massive build up and forever into the film before we actually see Gatsby for the very first time. I thought this was such a brilliant way to do it as it built up suspense on eventually getting to see this man we had heard some many different things about. I mean yes everyone will know that it’s Leonardo DiCaprio but it still builds it up in a fantastic way as we are not sure what his character is going to be like.

He does live up to the hype old sport, yes I went there. If you have seen the film you will understand that phrase is used a lot! But we soon start to realise that this is after all a love story. Everything Gatsby has done has been for love, for Daisy who just happens to be Nick’s cousin. Everything soon falls into place and we get the back story of a romance which actually started 5 years earlier, but I won’t spoil any of the details about this. It is good to see it unfold on the screen, I have to admit that I was not entirely sure how it was all going to end or even which way it was going in general.

I must mention the music in the film and how amazing it all sounded. Different versions of already known songs with a very modern current day edge, along with the dancing in the club scenes at Gatsby’s home. It really worked very well and made it very artistic with it actually being in the early 1900′s. Something not many directors could pull off, that’s where the similarity with Moulin Rouge came into it.

This was a film which seemed to take forever to eventually come out as I remember seeing the trailer about this time last year, but it seems it had some issues over release date. But I really did enjoy this film, even though it did feel quite long. I’m not saying that was a bad thing just towards the end it made me wonder how long it had been going for. It does have a bit of everything when it comes to people, life and relationships. Adultery and cheating is one of the main things about it really, let’s face it the film makes it look pretty cool and exciting!

About DiCaprio, how many times are you allowed to fall in love with the same man over and over again? In different films of course, as he really does just have an incredible on-screen presence and perfect for this role. He really is such a fantastic actor and often not given enough praise in my opinion. This made me love Carey Mulligan even more as well, even though Daisy disappointed me a lot but cannot say why! Probably one of the best films to come out so far this year.

After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

Now I must admit that I went into this film totally blind and have hardly any knowledge at all of Star Trek. I haven’t seen the most recent film and never watched any of the TV series. So I really had no clue about the characters, although during this film I did figure out a few things which are used in everyday talk came from Star Trek.

So I head into this film totally open-minded and unsure what to really expect, other than knowing this were going to happen in space. Also that only good things were being said about it. I went to a 3D version of the film (if you have read anything on my blog before you will understand my hate for 3D films) but it wasn’t really bad 3D so I guess that was a slight plus to begin with.

The trailer for this film was rather impressive and I must say that the film backed up the trailer (first time for everything) and I found myself quite enjoying this film. Even if some of it was inside joke type thing for people who knew more about it all, but it was funny at times as well as having some good action scenes. It was a very entertaining film. I wouldn’t say it’s my usual type of film but it makes a good cinema experience.

The talk around the Enterprise pretty much went over my head as I didn’t truly get the significance of it all, something I am sure die-hard fans would love? I have to say that I am struggling with this review as not sure what would be classed as spoilers. But Benedict Cumberbatch was a brilliant bad guy or was he really the good guy in disguise? Or what was going on with all of that, something you will have to work out when you watch the film.

The storyline is very engaging and keeps you guessing which twist and turn it is going to take next, something which makes for good viewing as you want to know how it’s all going to work out. So overall, other than my lack of knowledge I have to say that is a very enjoyable film and cinema experience from start to finish!

It’s Jeff Chang’s 21st birthday and his two best friends from high school decide to take him on a night he won’t ever forget, shame it’s the night before a big interview about his future at medical school.

I must admit that I did not really fancy this film as thought some of it was amusing in the trailers but I thought as a whole it just wouldn’t be that funny at all. Unfortunately I was right and felt that the cinema trip for this film really wasn’t worth while at all. It was a cross between American Pie and The Hangover really, for late teens and early twenties I would say.

You can see the jokes coming a mile off and some of them just aren’t funny at all, although maybe being female and 25 is just not the right audience for this. It is aimed more towards men as most films like this seem to be. Even the audience at the screening I attended didn’t really seem to laugh out loud very often. I was actually wondering when it was going to finish (you know that’s the sign of a bad film). I just felt like it was a waste of time really.

I am trying to think about something good to say about this film (honestly) but I actually can’t as I didn’t like anything about it. It was totally focused on drinking instead of sex which I suppose was a first really, a few mentions of sex but nothing major really. Maybe that would have actually made the film a bit better? Well I don’t think it could have made it any worse.

I think another thing for me was that I have enjoyed the recent films I have seen at the cinema so in that mindset of seeing good entertaining films and then went to see this. I am turning into not being a big fan of just comedies (if you read my review of Ted from last week you will understand this statement). I just not feel that films are really that funny anymore, bring on more drama/action/thrillers and comic book films for me that equals entertainment.

Want to know if anyone actually liked this film?

As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett’s teddy bear, Ted, came to life and has been by John’s side ever since – a friendship that’s tested when Lori, John’s girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship.

Now I missed seeing this film at the cinema and heard so much about how brilliant and funny that it is. I guess you can see where I am going to go with this, that gave me very high expectations for this film, especially as I am a fan of Family Guy as well. But I will have to start off by saying that I really did not enjoy much about this film in all honesty, I thought it was very disappointing. The funniest parts had to be in the trailer and those are few and far between.

It all starts when an 8-year-old John wishes that his bear would come to life so he could have a friend, as all of the kids in his neighbour do not like him at all. Years later though he is still best friends with Ted, at 35-years-old this something that eventually begins to affect his relationship with Lori. Who has enough of his loser life style of hanging with a teddy bear and getting stoned all the time.

John really does give it a go for Lori and even makes Ted move out and have his own apartment. This is all going well until Flash Gordon shows up at a party at Ted’s a film they both loved on its release. I have to admit that I was amused by this as it was all very random, plus my dad loves Flash Gordon and always talks about it so I think that made it more personal.

Overall though I just thought it could have been so much better and even funnier, in the end it just seemed to try too hard. It might have been better if I had seen the film at the cinema when it was originally released before it had too much hype (this is going to inspire another blog post). I think comedies are the hardest films to enjoy after a lot of hype as you really do expect them to be the funniest ever film. You hear about the bear being bad mouthed but some of it really was just not funny at all. I will admit that I did laugh a couple of times, but probably because it was quick shocking as well. Sex talk from a teddy bear cannot fail to get at least one laugh.

Surely I am not the only person who did not really enjoy this film and didn’t find it massively funny?

When Russia claim to have the best boxer a machine Drago it all goes wrong in an exhibition match against Apollo Creed when he is killed in the fight. This leads Rocky to challenge Drago but must travel to Russia for the fight.

Now I do love all of the Rocky films and this one is let’s face it just brilliant from start to finish. Even though it totally breaks your heart when Apollo Creed is killed. A character over the previous films has really grown to become a favourite you have to admit that it is rather shocking the first time you see it and not something you get used to after seeing the film a few times. Drago is played brilliantly by Dolph Lundgren and really makes Stallone look tiny as Rocky.

Brilliant scenes of Rocky training out in Russia in the snow in a classic training montage which the Rocky films are very well-known for but the soundtrack for this film is incredible. Totally motivational from start to finish and it really gets you going just watching all of the action, you feel everything Rocky does. Hearing a hostile Russian crowd slowly become a fan of Rocky is incredible to watch. I could easily just go out running to the soundtrack without wanting to skip any songs, really do keep you going!

One of the best things about this film is how much you get into the fight and are behind Rocky and just want to see him win (again) the hurt he has suffered losing Creed is something you really can relate to as the film just feels so personal especially if you already love Rocky from his previous outings. Stallone really did create something special with this series.

When watching this film you think, yes this is my favourite in the series, or at least that’s what I was thinking while watching it this week. It really is just brilliant. But it is hard to pick your favourite (although discard Rocky V). Soundtrack wise and snow training I would say this is pretty incredible from start to finish. Probably because the fight is not just for Rocky or for America against Russia, it is for Apollo Creed!

No easy way out . . .

Wealthy financier Nicholas Van Orton receives a very strange birthday gift from his brother Conrad. A gift certificate for CRS which creates a live-action game, this begins to consume Nicholas’ life.

From the moment this film starts you know your going to be in for a strange ride when Nicholas first goes to CRS and know one will really tell him much about the game. But when he fills everything in and then a phone call to say his application as been rejected, followed by a strange clown doll on his drive when he returns home. This is when we know it is all going to be a confusing game, with different characters to really mess with Nicholas’ head.

Although everything is in fact part of the game it is so difficult to tell and being unsure of what is going to happen next, a brilliant thriller as I really was on the edge of my seat and found myself very on edge watching. Especially moments when everything was quiet and you know that music when something is about to happen. It kind of catches your breath and you find yourself taking a deep breath at times as well.

I think Michael Douglas is the perfect choice for this role as he really is brilliant to watch and carry a film. Such a strong actor with brilliant on-screen presence. He keeps you entertained and you cannot help but route for him and want him to beat this strange game that is ongoing. His brother Conrad occasionally appears and this really affects Nicholas as we find out that his brother has had addiction problems over the years.

It really is such a fantastic thriller which you cannot help but become engrossed in from the very start. It really does have everything you want from a thriller and such a brilliant idea of a live action game which takes things from your normal everyday life and pretty much turns it all upside down to find out how you react and cope with different changes. It really does make you think and wonder what you would do if anything happened to you. What would you do if your life became a game? You thought people were trying to kill you and they are taking all of your money? It just shows that everything about the game was linked to Nicholas’ life as everything was about his money and he was quite the loner.

Would you want to play the game?

Tony Stark finds himself struggling after what happened in New York and this is taking its toll on him, not sleeping and constantly building puts a strain on himself and his relationship with Pepper. But in true Stark style he also manages to threat the terrorist Mandarin.

I have been looking forward to this film since let’s face it The Avengers finished, and it certainly did not disappoint. We got everything we have grown to love about Iron Man, the story is good, the action is good and the funny moments/humour is still present. I also liked the introduction of a child as this created some very funny scenes without much effort. This is all positive as looking forward to seeing a film a lot sometimes goes bad as you then expect too much from it.

Robert Downey Jr. is just fantastic as Tony Stark and you really cannot help but like him. The storyline in this film goes back to 1999 and shows that what goes around comes around, you can create enemies without even realising and your past can come back to haunt you. This is certainly the case for Stark who could not really remember too much about what happened that night.

The terrorism is very strange from the beginning with people, or that should be ex-soilders suddenly blowing up in different place, with bright red eyes and skin for that matter. But how long will it take Stark to work everything out and how far can he get without his suit after his home as been destroyed? Plenty of questions which I am not really going to answer as don’t want to spoil anything major about the film, you will have to find out for yourself when you head to the cinema to see this film.

Unfortunately I saw the 3D version which I don’t think was anything special at all and did not add anything that the 2D version would have been missing. I would have been a little happier if we had the limited edition 3D glasses as then at least I could have been a bit more of geek about it all. I wish they would just stop with this whole 3D fade, don’t want to get too much into this though and take over the review.

Guy Pearce is always so good as a bad guy and really fits the part very well. I have to admit I hardly recognised him from the 1999 scenes, he looked pretty awful with the hair! Ben Kingsley does not really have too much screen time as Mandarin and a slight twist was a little bit silly really but you can judge that for yourself.

A lot of emphasis was put on the relationship between Stark and Potts which was nice to see as romance is often something we don’t see very much of in these types of films or it is just mentioned rather than anything major going on. But we really see a massive change in Stark from the first film to this one in how much he actually loves Pepper and that he really would do anything for her. I thought that was a great touch and good progression of the character growing.

Another good character progression has to be Don Cheadle as James Rhodes / War Machine – who has been renamed as Iron Patriot as it was agreed that sounded better than War Machine something Stark did not agree with. But this is another good relationship with Stark and how well they work together is brilliant to see, especially the “banter” between the two characters.

Overall, this really is such an enjoyable film and makes you look forward to seeing the next instalments of Thor and Captain America before we get to see Stark again in the Avengers 2 – which let’s face it is going to be pretty impressive. Make sure you stay for a little something after all of the credits, it’s not on very long but certainly worth it if you have loved all the Marvel films in recent years. So get yourself along to the cinema to see another fantastic outing for Tony Stark and Iron Man you won’t be disappointed at all.

A young man Brian who just left the army returns home to New York City and when struggling to find a job in business ends up working as a bartender and finds out he’s pretty good at it! But he is not happy just working in a bar he wants to own one!

After a big fall out with his friend and work colleague Doug, Brian heads over to Jamaica to make some money to pursue his dream of opening his own bar, Cocktails & Dreams. Everything seems to be going well until he falls in love, but then manages to ruin it all for a bet! He really does just seem to do the wrong thing at the wrong time, all of the time. Nothing ever really seems to go right for Brian, but can he sort things out before it’s too late?

When he heads back to New York he is once again close with Doug who is now married, but everything is not as it seems with Doug who is extremely depressed and offers Brian advice that he should never give up on his dreams and chase exactly what he wants. This then sees him trying to rekindle the romance he had with Jordan, little did he know that her father is a very rich man and therefore does not approve of his daughter being with a bartender.

As this is a film, you can probably guess that everything ends happily ever after and they end up together, which I guess I have spoilt a little but let’s face it you can see that coming straight away. I won’t spoil one small twist which will probably take you by surprise though.

I can’t make my mind up if I liked this film or not, I guess it was just one of those films that isn’t difficult to watch or anything but don’t expect loads from it. It is simple and straightforward. Possibly a typical late 80s film? Cruise is still very likeable in this role, I have to admit that he really has done so many different types of roles you must find something that you like him in.

When Ronnie and her brother Jonah spend the summer with their father, she learns a lot about the direction her life was going and how she can change it around when she must grow up very quickly.

I have to admit that I have now seen this film quite a few times, saw it on release at the cinema (still haven’t gotten round to reading the book though). I really do think this is the best Nicholas Sparks film from the past few years as it isn’t all just based on the romance it has a deeper story than just that. Don’t get me wrong it does play a pretty big part in the whole film but that’s not all that happens.

The story is very much about the father daughter relationship and trying to rebuild it before it is too late, after what seems like a struggle between the pair stemming from her parents divorce Ronnie does just not want to know her father anymore at all. She feels like he abandoned them, but it doesn’t really take too long for her to come round and reconnect with her father before it is too late.

The romance between Ronnie and Will is the typical Nicholas Sparks romance but it really was quite cute at the same time. I love them singing She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5 in the car it really is just funny and feels real. Like a way that someone would actually act when in the car, I am sure I am not the only one who really goes for it singing along with the radio. Obviously Will’s mother does not agree with Ronnie dating her son and does not treat her well at all.

The thing with a Nicholas Spark based film you always wonder which character is going to die and how it is going to be made tragic, something which is no different at all in this film. But probably in a different way to how we are used to seeing it. So many little things add up to the bigger picture and seeing Ronnie grow into a young woman from being a teenager. A complete coming of age story in a well put together way. I also love the song over the credits and yes I will admit that I did see Miley in concert back in 2009! I think this song really fits well with the film and finishes it all off nicely.

Victor and Hillary are down on their luck to the point that they allow tourists to take guided tours of their castle. But Charles Delacro, a millionaire oil tycoon, visits, and takes a liking to more than just the castle . . .

I couldn’t resist watching this film last night when I found it on Netflix, I love An Affair to Remember so to see Grant and Kerr in another film together really did appeal to me. I am pleased that I watched this film as it really was a good one to watch. I was very impressed with both Simmons and Mitchum as well, I thought they all had fantastic chemistry on-screen.

Victor and Hillary appear to have the perfect marriage and get along so well with one another, but when Charles comes into Hillary’s life everything goes a bit wrong. When Hillary goes to London and ends up spending days with Charles we aren’t really sure what is going to happen in the end. Hattie who is very good friends with Hillary then goes to see Victor and they talk about the situation.

It all gets very amusing when Victor invites Charles to their home over the weekend, a lot of deceiving and lying going on. No one admitting exactly what they know or what they have done trying to keep quiet to the other people. This does lead to many funny scenes. I guess the subject matter of this film being adultery was probably quite shocking in 1960 but then again similar to the 1957 An Affair to Remember. I guess it was in films a lot more than we would first think. I think the brilliance about it all in older films is that you don’t actually see anything on-screen you just have to make your own mind up what has actually happened, the whole less is more.

I really enjoyed Jean Simmons as Hattie, I thought she was just brilliant giving a fantastic comedic edge and making everything very light-hearted. Robert Mitchum was very charming as Charles, but nowhere near as charming as Cary Grant. I think I am slightly biased though as I really do love Cary Grant! I can not make my mind up whether I liked Deborah Kerr’s character Hillary, I don’t know if she just went for Charles because he was a millionaire or not. But I won’t spoil the ending as I really wasn’t sure which way it was all going to go. Many possibilities really, watch out for the butler as well he is rather funny!

A love story . . . Well a love story that went wrong and this makes an interesting story into why Clementine had Joel erased from her mind, prompting him to have the same procedure. Would you erase someone if you could?

Now this film is very well talked about and known, I even remember that I saw it at the cinema on its release. But remember thinking what?!?! As the credits rolled at the end. Maybe at 16 years old and seeing it in the cinema I just didn’t properly understand what this film was trying to get at and didn’t actually appreciate it properly. Now I have seen it many times and have it on DVD. It really is such an incredible film with amazing performances from Carrey and Winslet.

Joel decides to erase Clementine but the problem was that half way through the procedure he decided that he didn’t actually want to erase her and the memories of them together. He realised that she was a big part in the person he had become but also that he still wanted to be with her and have more good times like the memories we are shown throughout the film. It all just feels much more real than relationships you usually see in films, we see the arguments and disagreements which I think is one of the reasons that this film has such an incredible impact. You can really relate to how the characters feel due to relationships you have probably had.

I really enjoyed how the memories take Joel back to different places that they used to go together, as that is something you do. For certain people you have certain places that remind you of them and times you have had together and in some cases a place that you and only one other person actually knows about. It really is a thought-provoking film and it leaves you thinking and wondering if you would erase someone from your past. My theory on this is it depends how long ago something ended, as I am sure if someone broke your heart and in those days, weeks or even a couple of months later you would probably want to erase them to quickly take away the pain, but if years have passed you probably wouldn’t erase anything as you have learnt from that experience.

I think this is one of my favourite Kate Winslet performances in a film as she is so off the wall and crazy as Clementine and for some reason I find myself being able to understand where she is coming from a lot of the time. Trying to not call myself crazy, but I do have my moments I guess! While the main storyline is between Joel and Clem we do have a few other different sub plots going on as well. I won’t spoil the twist in one of them but I will say that I really did feel for Mary when something is brought up about her, as much as she is annoying to begin with.

Another incredible thing about this film has to be how you can pick up new things on each viewing and really take something else away from it depending on your mood as well, I don’t personally think that many films have the power to be able to do that for a viewer. You find yourself rooting for Joel and Clem and wanting them to still be together when you see how everything started and how much they really did love one another.

Jim Carrey’s performance has to be mentioned as well, taking on the more serious drama role and showing that he really is a brilliant actor. He shows that he does not always have to go for the comedy role and make people laugh to notice him on the screen. He is so down as Joel you really wish he would crack a few jokes just to lighten the mood.

I would recommend this film to anyone really, but also with a warning for people who don’t watch many films that it is very heavy and at times difficult to follow on first viewing. But I really would still put it as a must see, for the incredible performances but mainly for the question it leaves you with . . . Would you erase someone from your mind?

The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.

Ron Kovic was a very well-loved and thought of young man, in High School with the world at his feet, in the wrestling team and enjoying his time with his friends. When the Marine’s give a speech in his high school he is very patriotic and wants to fight for his country which he loves more than anything. This will see him head straight over to Vietnam. The things which happen in the war would remain with him forever, playing back on his mind about how they killed innocent women and children and how he accidentally shot one of his fellow marines in a crossfire incident.

We see how a man must deal and adjust to never being able to walk again, after an incredibly active life after the effects of war deny him the chance to ever walk again. I really did find it heartbreaking watching him trying to force himself to be able to walk again with the crutches and rushing around. He was in denial and did not want to accept that he would never walk again, he wanted his life to be back to normal and that was never going to actually happen.

The next heart breaking time comes as he heads back home to the States and his parents who don’t seem to be able to deal with how he now is, especially when he turns to drink very quickly on his return. His mother always pushed him to go further when he was a child and growing up as we are shown these scenes throughout the film. This leads Ron to head to Mexico to be with other men left paralysed by the war.

I have to be honest and say that I hadn’t actually heard very much about this film other than Tom Cruise putting in and incredible performance. This I am pleased to say is true, possibly his best ever performance, I will go as far as saying that. But I also must add that I actually do like Tom Cruise and think he is a brilliant actor (who often doesn’t get enough credit). The range of emotions he shows in this role really is just incredible, you believe his struggle and see him as Ron Kovic and not just Tom Cruise in a film. He became the character and takes us on his difficult journey.

Thanks to Netflix UK I am pleased to say that I have now seen this film and can add it to my “seen” list. I think it’s one of those films were you don’t need to see it more than once for it still to have an incredible effect. If you haven’t seen Born on the Fourth of July, I really would recommend it! Watch Tom Cruise’s incredible performance and I am sure it will bring tears to your eyes many different times!

The Comic Strip Double Dip Blogathon has been started up by Bubbawheat over at Flights, Tights & Movie Nights. You can find the original blog post here. Still a few characters to be claimed as well!

Green really must be his colour!

Now these characters are going to be very good to compare, mainly because they start off with a quite normal guy and he suddenly gains an alter ego. The alter ego which is living life on the edge and having much more fun than the normal man he leaves behind. The Mask persona arrives because of a strange old mask Stanley Ipkiss finds one strange night. While The Riddler appears because Edward Nygma goes slightly or he goes pretty much crazy. This is something that Carrey does just so well, let’s face it he was one of the top actors of the 90′s and I was a 90′s kid so these two films still go back to my childhood in my love for them.

Both characters have fantastic comic book movie larger than life personas showing that it really must be good to be green. The costumes are over the top which makes it even more brilliant. With this blog post I think I am supposed to be picking which is a better character and performance, something I am struggling with at the moment. I know I probably will get a bit of flack for proclaiming my love for Batman Forever as I know that is when people thought it started going a big crazy. But I don’t really care I still enjoy Batman Forever and think Carrey as the Riddler is one of the best things about it! He really is just funny and his crazy over the top character works so well with Tommy Lee Jones’ crazy two-face. The Mask is one of those films that you can easily sit back enjoy and just laugh at, so many things about it are just amusing from start to finish.

The Riddler sees Edward Nygma become everything he would be scared to be, changing into a crazy guy who wanted nothing more than to find out the true identity of Batman and bring down Gotham City in the process. Not forgetting his hatred towards Bruce Wayne who was his boss after he rejected his idea of stealing people’s thoughts. A bit ironic really when he ends up against Batman, the only bad guy who actually works out Wayne is in fact Batman. Just a shame he goes a bit crazy in the end. With Carrey being the Riddler this gives him some fantastic one liners and coming up with little riddles.

The Mask sees boring Stanley Ipkiss become a larger than life man who is not afraid to take what he wants when he wants it, this includes money and women. The funniest part about it all is that the next morning Ipkiss is in what seems like a hung over state, not really being able to remember his actions after he became the Mask. He has some brilliant one liners and if I remember rightly a lot of quotes which were very well known and said during the 90′s. The Mask is everything Stanley is not and eventually helps him realise that he can be more than he currently is!

I guess what I am trying to say when comparing these two larger than life green creatures is that they really aren’t very different at all. Maybe it is no coincidence that Carrey was in these films which were released only a year apart. He was the right man for both roles and he really pulled them both off with brilliant effects. Both memorable performances in what are fun to watch Comic Book films. I am sure that is the main thing we want from Comic Book film for them to be highly entertaining and very enjoyable from start to finish, with crazy larger than life characters who are totally off the wall.

Therefore I think as long as he is green in a comic book film Jim Carrey is a fantastic choice for a good (if you can call the Mask good) or bad guy. He has all the crazy things needed to act larger than life. Something he really perfected throughout the 90′s. Sorry that I just haven’t managed to choose, the characters are just too similar to really make a choice and pick one!

The story of the four minute mile-breaker Roger Bannister.

I found myself watching this film the other night on Netflix, it was something that interested me as I do a lot of running myself and thought it would be a decent film to watch. I do have a soft spot for the sport film genre due to working full-time within football and always having a love for sport. I will admit though that whilst I had heard of Bannister I did not know that much about his story.

His story was about being the first person to run a four-minute mile, an unbelievable pace to run a mile in still to this day really. It was claimed that it could not be done but that was to be proven wrong. Bannister was studying at Oxford when he took up running after being spotted having potential if he trained probably and had people to help him out. Part of the problem being that he did not want to listen to people or train all the time with his focus on training to become a doctor.

The film deals with the struggle and then pressure which is placed on Bannister as he begins to represent the UK in running the 1500m. This was not something he really wanted to have to deal with and again his focus was more on becoming a doctor. I thought the film was very well made and the performances keep you interested in the film.

We also see his attempted relationship and how everything was not going to go as he had originally planned before going to University. I am not sure how close the film is to his real life but it certainly made a very good and interesting story to watch as a film. I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in sport as it really does help to show that anything is possible and what you can achieve with good training.

I’ll stick to trying to get back down to running 8 minute miles!

A coming of age teenage film with a story showing how technology is heavily involved in teenage life now!

I think the best way to start this review is to say that I would really hate to still be a teenager now as things just seem even crazier than when I was in secondary school (left 10 years ago this year). I know that’s slightly different to an American High School, but while watching this film I thought that I would hate to have to go through all of that again.

We see the story through Lola (Cyrus) who must deal with breaking up with her boyfriend on the first day back at school. It did not end in a very nice way and she then develops a very close friendship with Kyle which we can tell is eventually going to become more. She’s pretty inseparable from her best friend but we don’t actually see them talk very much.

Most of the communication is done via a computer messenger or via text messages. With this in mind it may seem quite strange that Lola actually keeps a written diary. I like this as I used to actually keep a diary too, although now I have thrown them away as somethings were still just too difficult to re-read even years later. But this is key when he mother finds it and also finds out the things she has been up to. Let’s face it reading someones diary is probably the worst thing you can actually do, I would have hated for someone to read mine.

The film not only has Lola’s story about entering into the world of sex in relationships, we also she her mother’s story run along side it. She is getting over the divorce from the father and after a brief affair with him moving on to a new man. I actually found some of the scenes very strange when the mother and daughter were having similar experiences. It just seemed very wrong to be watching.

The story also follows a battle of the bands which I will admit that I really did like the songs that they sung! This was probably one of the better parts of the film in all honesty, yes I did manage to find something that I liked about it. This isn’t the worst film I’ve ever seen, I think teenagers would actually love it. At 25 years old, I am probably slightly too old for this one or at least not in the target audience!

When a terrorist attack on the White House sees the President taken hostage and all secret service agents wiped out it is left to Mike Banning who was a former presidential guard to save the day.

I have to admit that I was quite confused with the start of the film and how this was going to lead to the White House being attacked but it didn’t take long to make perfect sense. We needed a bit of back story on Mike, the opening sees the First Lady dying in a car crash after Mike saved the President first. This lead to Mike being moved to the treasury as the President no longer wanted him around. This also impacts his son Connor who got on very well with Mike.

I think this back story was very important as it helped to give the characters more depth and made the audience care a bit more about them. When the attack hits the White House, the scenes really were very impressive. The action throughout the film was very good overall, with the fight scenes being very good as well. I think the fact that Mike carried so much about Connor that he had to find him made it seem more personal really.

Seeing the White House being blown apart really was strange to watch especially seeing the film days after the bombs in Boston and that being labelled as a terrorist attack. So watching a film about a terrorist attack and the president being taken hostage was a little odd, but as a film it really was entertaining and had you really hoping that everything was going to work out well in the end, or as well as it could have been.

I enjoyed how Morgan Freeman became the acting president as let’s face it he can carry off that role. Aaron Eckhart was very good as well, even though he did spend a lot of time tied up! But obviously it was left to Gerard Butler to really keep the film going and be the key character who we quickly grow to like and even care about it. I would say he was very Bruce Willis in Die Hard! Nothing was going to stop him in that building! A slightly different role for him to take on as well showing that he can do pretty much anything and still look very good. I have become quite a fan of his over the years and this film has only made that grow.

I found myself really feeling sorry for Mike’s wife as she had no idea where he actually was and had no way of contacting him when the mobile phone network went down, this might seem like a very trivial thing to comment on but she wasn’t really speaking to him before she left for work so it did make a bit of a thinking point for the film. Especially when she was in the hospital with many victims needing attention.

Overall, I really thought this was such a good action film which you cared about the characters and really wanted to see justice given to Kang in the end as he really was evil (which was down to some very good acting). As the audience you wanted him to be brought down as he was just sadistic at times. A slight warning that some scenes are very violent as well, just incase you don’t like that type of thing but you probably wouldn’t give a film like this a watch anyway. I would happily watch this film again!

Jack Harper is assigned to Earth to extract its remaining resources after it was abandoned after a war took place in 2017. But everything is not as it seems when Jack still has flashbacks from his life 60 years earlier . . .

The flashbacks he gets of a woman and being at the top of the Empire State Building but he cannot remember who she is or what actually happened. We see him going about his mission to make sure all of the drone’s are working correctly. He must however stay away from the alien Scavs who appear every now and then. But when a spacecraft crashes down he then must deal with everything he thought was true when humans were on the spacecraft. Especially when one of them is the woman he has flashbacks and dreams about!

I have to admit that this film could have easily been extremely boring and dragged for the 126 minute running time. But I did not find this to be the case I thought it was paced well to build up suspense and make you wonder what actually happened in the war. The film did not have many characters to follow or even much dialogue at times but it just totally worked.

I think you had to have an actor like Tom Cruise in the lead role in this film for it to really work properly and be as engaging as it was. It just got you really thinking and wondering how it was going to end or what was behind everything. Are the Scavs really what they seem to be? Is Jack even what he seems to be? I cannot tell you any of these things without spoiling the film. Right from the start it is clear that everything is not as it seems and plenty of twists will occur.

The woman who Jack is on the mission with Victoria always seems a bit strange and will not leave the tower where the live and she works from. Talking to Sally who is in mission control telling them what they must next and helping them. Or at least we think she is helping them! Everything about the set up really does just seem strange and not real, where did all the humans go and where are they now?

I liked the use of the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge to show how much Earth had changed in the war as well as the stadium used for the last Superbowl in 2017. This just helped it relate back to the present day really, also showing how the surface of the Earth was totally different as only the top of the Empire State Building remained and played a big part in the dreams.

I really enjoyed Tom Cruises performance in the film and enjoyed the film overall which was surprising really as I wouldn’t class this genre to be my favourite when it comes to films. But this film is definitely worth a watch! Did you enjoy Oblivion?

Yesterday when checking my blog I received the above notification wishing me a Happy Anniversary with WordPress! I was very shocked when it said 6 years as I didn’t think that I’d created my account that long ago. I was under the impression that I created me account not long before I launched Let’s Go To The Movies which was in February 2009. I also thought this was the first blog I ran on WordPress so maybe I had the idea in mind a couple of years before eventually going for it with this blog? I am a little confused in all honesty!

While on this matter I did miss posting my Happy 4 Years to Let’s Go To The Movies back in February so thought I’d just talk a little in this blog post. I have managed to review a lot of films recently (mainly from Netflix and the odd cinema release). Something which I had been slacking in at times during last year. I think as a film blogger you sometimes go through phases where you don’t have the time to write reviews or seem to lose your voice a little. I think sometimes certain films are much harder to review than others, I am sure you can all understand what I mean with that!

I have been aware that I haven’t managed to do any lists recently and decided that the way forward is to find as many blogathon’s as possible and really get involved in some posts which require more thought as well as comparing to fellow bloggers. So if you have or know of any Blogathon’s currently taking place or that will be taking place in the future, please let me know! I am hoping this year I will manage to be creative enough to start my own Blogathon!

Louanne Johnson is an ex-Marine who is hired as a teacher at a High School is a poor area, having recently separated from her husband she really throws herself into the job. After an initial awful reception from the class she uses unconventional methods to teach them, including karate and Bob Dylan lyrics for poetry.

Obviously it doesn’t take long for Louanne to become emotional involved with many of her students and wanting to help them out in life as well as in class. This sees her going to the houses to talk to the parents of the students and giving them rewards for completing work. This includes candy bars and the chance to go to a nice restaurant for dinner. She becomes very passionate about helping the students towards graduating and cannot understand when some of them just drop out of school.

The area the school is in and the places the kids live are very violent and it doesn’t take much for them to be scared for their lives if they do something wrong or get involved in the wrong group of people. This is something we see throughout the film and how some people just aren’t willing to help out at all, not going to spoil one of the main story lines but I will say that I was filling up watching that part.

Thanks to Netflix it was the first time I watched this film last night, but I knew about it because of Gangsters Paradise by Coolio and that song is played at different parts in the film with good effect really. It fits well with the storyline of the film and how it relates to what the kids are having to deal with in life as well.

It just shows though that if a teacher can offer enough time towards students and really help them out how much they can achieve and help themselves as well. If they are always told that they will amount to nothing and aren’t worth anything they will never achieve good things. That was something I liked about this film that it shows that everyone has hope no matter on your background.

I enjoyed Michelle Pfeiffer in this film and thought she really carried it all very well in the title role, showing so much emotion that you cannot help feel sorry for her and want her to succeed in helping the students but also helping herself deal with what is left of her life.

Just between friends is a story about two women Holly and Sandy who meet one night at an aerobics class and instantly become friends. They laugh and talk all night not knowing one major thing . . . they are both in love with the same man!

That man being Chip, Holly’s husband who she has two children with and a lovely house and also life. This all nearly comes out when Sandy goes round for dinner one night. Not even knowing herself that the man she loves and is having an affair with will also be attending the dinner when he is back from work. We must watch the uncomfortable situation as Harry a family friend also knows about the affair. You cannot help but feel sorry for Holly watching this as she really has no idea at all about the woman she has invited into her life.

I think a reassuring thing from Sandy has to be that she totally finished the affair and does not want to see Chip again after she has become friends with his wife. The phone conversation was one of my favourite parts of the film and helps show that women do actually think about other women (sometimes). I mean don’t get me wrong Sandy wasn’t really thinking about his wife before she knew her, but again some times you are blinded to a situation and just don’t think at all.

The film takes a twist when Chip is killed in a car crash (sorry if that is quite a big spoiler but I have to put that in the review, as it impacts the film). So the two women are there for each other grieving for Chip. Holly however still having no idea about Sandy and her husband actually loving each other as well though. I kept wondering when it was going to come out as it had to really, probably in the worst way as well when Holly finds pictures in Chip’s office as she is clearing it all out. Obviously she is shocked and after an argument does not speak to Sandy for quite a while.

But then another event (won’t spoil this one) brings the two women back on speaking terms just to show that sometimes friendship really can see you through just about anything. I quite enjoyed this film as found it rather thought provoking and thought Mary Tyler Moore and Christine Lahti both put in strong performances. You do have to wonder though what would have happened to Chip had he still been alive and Holly found out, I kinda think he would have been left with nothing at all.

I would recommend this film if you want to watch a drama about friendship and strong women, just shows that you can get through anything really and even learn to forgive as well, after going slightly crazy of course. Finding quite a lot of films from the 80s on Netflix that I am enjoying at the moment, so expect plenty more reviews of 80s films in the future!

This film follows five couples around the subject of having a baby and how this affects relationships and changes everything.

I guess the best way to start this review is to say that I didn’t find this film as bad as I first expected (in parts), that doesn’t mean it was good however. One of the stories was quite sad in a way really so I will get onto that one later! So this film looks at five very different couples (who kinda link in someway, or at least they were supposed to).

The film looks at couples of different ages and in different situations looking to bring a baby into their lives. This ranges from planned pregnancy, to a one night stand, an unexpected pregnancy, adoption and suffering a miscarriage. Some of these story lines are actually pretty hard-hitting when you think about it, but putting it into a comedy film I guess takes the edge off it a little. The adoption process which is rather serious at times was made to be a joke, couldn’t really work that out!

Don’t get me wrong I found some of it too silly and daft to actually be funny and found it cringeworthy at times, just look at the picture on the bottom of the poster to understand this and the group of dads! Not a good move, cannot actually imagine any men acting like that at all (well certainly not in England thats for sure).

The only story line in the film I actually felt had something about it and was quite heartfelt was the one dealing with miscarriage after a one night stand and how they ended up helping each other through it (after not speaking for a while). As that must be the worst situation to have a one night stand with someone who you know just not that well and become pregnant but then end up losing the baby just as you are getting used to the idea. A young couple as well in their early twenties. I just thought it actually meant something a little more than the other stories which in all honesty I’m not going to go into great detail about in this review.

For a film I did not fancy seeing when it was released at the cinema I am surprised I actually managed to watch it all on Netflix so it must have had something to keep me watching and wanting to see the ending. Which yes you guessed it they all are in hospital at the same time! I will comment on Dennis Quaid’s performance as I thought he was pretty funny throughout, in a quite different role from what we usually see him in.

If you don’t like this type of film to begin with, do not watch this one at all it won’t help. If you are a fan of recent rom-com’s I am sure you will enjoy it more than I did. I guess I am staying on the fence for this one didn’t hate it as such but didn’t like it very much either . . .

A film based around the press junket of a film, which is actually being held hostage and the two stars who used to be married must come together with some tricky situations along the way.

Gwen Harrison and Eddie Thomas were the it couple appearing in many films together all of which were taking the mick out of Hollywood. You must remember that this film is very tongue in cheek from start to finish. If you forget that and try to take it seriously you will hate every second of it, think of it as something that is supposed to be a little bit silly and going for the cheap laughs and you’ll be ok!

Add in Christopher Walken as the crazy director who has kept the film they are meant to be promoting hidden and you have a pretty crazy comedy from all different angles. A slightly different role for Julia Roberts as she takes a more supporting role rather than the main character. I think  I have to class this film as one of my guilty pleasures with having Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta Jones both in the same film, due to my love for both actresses.

I will also admit that it is a pretty bad film at times, as I think its difficult to make a film about making a film without it getting a little bit too much to handle. It must be a strange film for actors to be in as it is always going to make the audience wonder if they are anything like the character they are playing in the film. An actor acting as an actor promoting a film, has to make you wonder really.

I have found this a difficult film to review due to having seen it a number of times and that it doesn’t really have the biggest of story lines or things going on. It’s a pretty straightforward comedy which is simple to follow. Don’t expect too much from this but just try and enjoy the tongue in cheek approach towards how a film is promoted!

Recently divorced Emma heads to a new place for a new life with her teenage son. Everything is quickly turned upside down when she meets Murphy who owns the local drugstore and seems to have quite a say in the town.

It doesn’t take long for he ex-husband Bobby Jack to turn up and try to win her back and act as though they are still married, whilst stealing some money. I actually had an awful feeling throughout the film that she was going to give in and take him back. I found myself willing Emma on not to be stupid towards her loser ex-husband. He really was a waster and I was pleased to see the relationship between Emma and Murphy grow over quite a long space of time.

I think this film is the perfect example of a very nice story actually having a romance rather than just sex or an affair. The characters get to know one another and properly fall for each other in what is probably seen as an old-fashioned way now. But I actually found this film it be rather charming from start to finish. I do enjoy watching Sally Field and think she really is just a fantastic actress who shows so much emotion in all of her roles.

It doesn’t really bother us that the characters have quite a big age gap as it waits until the very last seconds for Murphy to eventually say how old he is. But it really doesn’t matter between them the age gap and she really does fall in love with him. I would even go as far as saying she was smitten with him, something I was very happy with as I really had the awful thought for a while that Emma was going to take Bobby Jack back and he was such an awful character.

I really enjoyed the mother-son relationship we also see in this film as well and shows how difficult a divorce can be for a woman, especially when it means moving to a new place. Emma put too much pressure on her son to also become her friend, this is not a really bad thing but it could have caused many problems along the way.

A very sweet tale that was well worth the watch one evening on Netflix UK. I am enjoying finding so many older films that are very easy to watch and engaging!

A documentary made on the build up to the revival of A Chorus Line, featuring many hopefuls going through the audition process to star on Broadway on the new version of the show. It also looks into the history of the show and why every performer wants to be in it!

As you may already be aware I have such a love for musicals and therefore watching a documentary about a musical is pretty much something I was very interested in. Even more so with it being about A Chorus Line as I have always wanted to see this show on the stage. It has some very catchy songs and performances, which feel so real. After watching this documentary I now understand why they feel so real, they are based on real people’s stories from tapes that Michael Bennett was in charge of and that was how the show was actually created. Way back in 1973!!!

Seeing so many talented performers giving it there all with the singing and mainly the dancing just to get a call back really was amazing to watch. Showing how much they must put into every tiny part of the audition in order to get the job. They really must have exactly what the panel are looking for, for each role and can’t really do anything wrong.

I think the fact that we are watching them go for a part in A Chorus Line makes it even better really, as that show is all about people auditioning for a part in a Chorus Line. That is exactly why so many performers hold this show so close to their hearts and want it that little bit more.

But also the back story of how the show came about and how it all makes sense. The little detail of having to change the title of the song Tits and Ass to Dance 10, Looks 3. Because it did not sit well with the audience seeing tits and ass as a title of a song in the playbill, after the title change audiences loved the routine. Yes I do realise that does make me a bit of a geek loving to know things like that. It just shows how simple little things can often make a massive difference in the long run.

It’s pretty amazing that Michael Bennett brought this show from some performers talking late one night which was recorded just knowing that something was in it. Brilliant to see how successful it became as well, at one time (before Cats) it was the longest running show on Broadway. With this revival coming after a long time away from Broadway!

After watching Every Little Step  . . . It has just made me want to see the show even more and I am pretty sure a West End revival is starting soon! I would love a trip to London to see A Chorus Line!

In a future world when an alien invasion has taken place, with the aliens taking over human bodies. But a slight problem is when the human whose body it is doesn’t want to leave and fights against the new owner . . .

This is certainly the case for Melanie who puts up a massive fight against Wanderer who has tried to take over her body. The idea for the aliens were to look into the human’s memories and try to find where others were hiding. Find out about that person’s life and how they should just drift away. Melanie however has other plans, she promised her younger brother Jamie that she would be back for him soon. A love story is also there with Jared, another reason she does not want to leave and wants to have her life back.

We soon see though that Wanderer cannot resist listening to Melanie and her thoughts. Soon agreeing not to reveal anything else and help her return to her brother and boyfriend. A major problem with this is that when a human body is taken the eyes are a different colour, this making it obvious who is human and who is “alien”. However this is not going to be easy with The Seeker being extra determined to catch Wanderer.

When eventually arriving to the safe place Melanie and her family had been heading for her Uncle Jeb was surprisingly the only person to not want to kill the seeker. Human’s did not know that a person can still also be inside the body. This is something that must be proven in order for them both to survive. A slight name change to Wanda and she was taken in by the humans and even got involved in work. Jared is not convinced and cannot bear to look at her. Ian on the other hand is very taken in by Wanda and this causes a problem and a very strange love triangle!

I think the ideas for the storyline and the alien invasion are very thought-provoking and not at all bad. I think I actually liked this film more than I ever expected too. It wasn’t too heavy on the romance and love triangle which I was expecting after the Twilight Saga. I am not saying it was brilliant though, just not as bad as I feared. Yes I may have just gotten a little bit too much into it in then end and slightly emotional, I am blaming the few days I’d had up until that point!

I did though like how it makes human nature actually appear in a good light that they will eventually accept others. A few other things happen which I will not spoil but imagine if someone took your body, you could still think but not actually speak or act that would be the strangest thing! Yes I do realise how silly that sounds but after all that is something this film makes you think about.

I have never been the biggest fan of Saoirse Ronan in the previous films I have seen her in but in this one she doesn’t actually seem that annoying. Something strange is always done to her eyes though! If you do go and see this film, don’t expect it to be anything like Twilight as it really isn’t at all!

Two rather useless cops who are working in a park struggle to make their first arrest which leads to them being transferred to 21 Jump Street which is an undercover operation. So they must head back to high school and find out who is supplying the new drug which lead to a teenage death.

In all honesty I don’t know how I actually made it to the end of this film, I thought everything about it was pretty terrible and the overuse of swearing for no need whatsoever. Swearing doesn’t bother me and it can be used to good effects, but it was just pointless in this film to try and make it sound cool. Also having Schmidt and Jenko switching roles from when they were actually in high school.

We have seen many films with people undercover in high schools for different reasons, so nothing in this film is really new to watch. They try to fit in and find out who is behind the drugs being supplied in the school, slapstick comedy is probably the best way to describe most of the scenes which I didn’t really find very funny at all.

I think I was probably the wrong audience for this type of slapstick film and getting a bit too old, surely it was more for teenagers? I’m not really sure in all honesty. The only part I remember actually laughing at was when Jenko blamed Glee for him not being cool in high school anymore, due to it stopping the stereotypes.

I don’t even think the pair worked that well together, Tatum and Hill just didn’t really seem to click it just seemed totally forced that they were friends and an attempted bromance to keep up with what is relevant. I can’t even find myself being that shallow about Tatum being in the film, as let’s face it he is probably better to look at than he is an actor.

I am really trying to find some positives about this film but really struggling as it just annoyed me, I guess something made me want to know who actually supplied the drugs due to making it to the end of the film. Nothing else could really be the reason. I was actually surprised to see the high rating on IMDb for this film! Also the high rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well, I really must have been missing something about this film???

We all know that Catherine Zeta Jones won an Oscar for her role as Velma Kelly in Chicago and the big number is All That Jazz, she has appeared on Broadway and won a Tony Award so I decided to do a little 7 Things list and find 7 songs Catherine Zeta Jones has sung. Some you probably have heard, others you might not have known about. She also released some songs in the UK years and years ago now before she became a Hollywood star!

1. All That Jazz – Chicago

The best opening to a musical, a fantastic performance with brilliant lyrics. She opens the film and pretty much puts one hand on the Oscar!

2. I Can’t Do It Alone – Chicago

Showing off her dancing skills as well as her brilliant voice!

3.  Send in the Clowns – A Little Night Music

Always seen as a hard-hitting song from the musical and probably the most well know, it’s a heart-break song and this is probably one of the reasons CZJ won that Tony Award.

4. Hit Me with Your Best Shot – Rock of Ages

Turning her talents to a bit of rock and roll, love it!

5. One – Tribute to Michael Douglas

I think this is brilliant that they slightly changed the words to One from A Chorus Line (which Michael was in) and made it funny and a brilliant tribute.

6. For All Time

One of her music videos and songs I have liked for many words now!

7. In the Arms of Love

This one is probably my favorite of the songs she recorded!

Young lawyer Kaffee defends Marines of murder when they were claiming they just followed an order. One of the best court room dramas of all time.

That might be a bold statement to make but I really do think this is such an incredible film due to the cast and performances put in throughout the film. I would certainly put this film in one of my favorite of all time. “You can’t handle the truth” being such a scene stealing moment, even if you haven’t seen the film I am sure you have heard about that.

I think this film really shows how good an actor Tom Cruise is, a brilliant performance and really holds his own against Jack Nicholson as Jessup. The scenes between the pair really are something else. The young lawyer and the Navy Veteran and when they eventually go head to head you really do find yourself willing Kaffee on and to go for it pushing Jessup over the edge. Which happens brilliantly, the reactions of everyone else is priceless as well especially Kevin Bacon as Captain Jack Ross.

The film really let’s the audience get to know the characters and care about the court scene. It’s a difficult decision to make about Dawson and Downey whether you are on their side or think they should still have made their own decision not to follow the code red and stood up for a member of their squad and helped him rather than hurting him, which ended up killing him.

I think the way Kaffee grows throughout the film is brilliant to see, as at first it seems that he will do anything to make a deal so he doesn’t have to step inside a court room. He really is pushed all the way by JoAnne who wants him to go for it and eventually pushes him all the way to calling Jessup. His friendship with Sam is another good thing about the film, let’s face it all the actors just seem to click and work together throughout the film.

It has a few twists and turns when you aren’t entirely sure what is going to happen next especially when it comes to Markinson who for a brief period goes missing and we think he will never be seen again, he is quite key to the trial and some of the evidence. Kendrick is another you have to watch along with Jessup how much of the truth do they actually tell?

I really do love this film the more times that I watch it, I mean I even watched it on Netflix the other night when I already have it on DVD. It really is such an underrated film and not given enough credit for the amazing cast and individual performances throughout. One of Tom Cruise’s best performances ever in my opinion. I love a good court room drama as well, this is one of those films I am shocked when people have not seen it.

I think everyone should make sure this film is on their “I’ve seen that” list. It really does have so much going for it and I don’t really think it has dated with it being from 1992. I don’t think it would be much different if it were to be made today! Which can only be a good thing for anyone who does watch it for the first time now.

Can you handle the truth?

A group of teenagers make a difference when World War III takes place when troops from North Korea invade the USA.

I think its important so say that I have not seen the original Red Dawn (but shall be watching it soon as it’s available on Netflix) before seeing this film at the cinema last night. I wasn’t even sure what it was about in all honesty. I found myself enjoying it though as it had plenty of things going for it. Also asking the question of what would you do if something like that happened, would you want to stand up and fight?

I guess in the film it helped that Jed was actually a marine and could then teach the teenagers one being his younger brother how to fight and that they can all make a difference. We see them grow stronger not just with the fighting but as people as well, they learn some valuable lessons about growing up. But at the same time manage to keep the teenage innocence.

Don’t get me wrong though the film does have many problems and isn’t great in any terms but I find it watchable and got into wondering how it was going to end and trying to guess which way things were going to work out. The suspense in some scenes is very good and keeps you on the end of your seat whilst waiting to see which way it was going to turn.

Let’s face it as well I enjoy watching Chris Hemsworth and think he put in a good performance as the self-elected leader and eventually managing to reconnect with his young brother. Something that doesn’t look likely with the way their relationship seems to be. We get a look into how the different people cope with the loss of their loved ones and family members from the very start. It doesn’t take long for the action to start.

Now going onto the action scenes, or at least some of them. I found the shaky and moving camera angles very distracting and that it shouldn’t have really been like that at all. It was hard to focus on what was going on but I guess they wanted to try to make it look realistic? As I said I guess, but don’t really get the point on why you would actually want to do that as it was difficult to watch those scenes due to not actually being able to see anything properly other than a shaky image. If that makes any sense of course, if you have seen the film I am sure this annoyed you as well.

It does try to show many different types of relationships, but I think the most annoying ends up the teenage love story which makes somethings go wrong in the plan. It’s just way too cheesy!

Overall, it’s not the worst ever film it has problems but it is watchable!

When Parker is double crossed by the crew he is working with and left for dead, his unusual working style causes him to get revenge and take everything from them.

When you go to see a Jason Statham film you expect it to be exactly the same and that his role will be exactly the same as all of the other films he has been in. I actually was quite surprised with this one when the storyline to the film was much better and his character actually had a bit more depth than we are used to seeing.

The film starts with Statham dressed as a priest and then two clowns appear and they aren’t doing the normal thing you would guess at a fair . . . They are committing a robbery. I have to admit that from that start I was right into the film as wasn’t entirely sure which way to was going to go in the end. A number of different possibilities which I won’t spoil incase you watch this film.

I remember thinking before hand that Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham seemed a bit of a random combo for a film but it works well for some comedy moments between the two very different characters or maybe they do have one big thing in common . . . Wanting money and lots of it. One highlight for me had to be seeing Patti LuPone as I had no idea she was in the film.

The film had a very good pace to it with the action and suspense being done very effectively. I have to admit though that I did find one of the scenes or moments in a scene quite awful, all I’m going to say is the knife!!! That really did make me cringe as wasn’t expecting it and was quite nasty to watch. But other than that and a couple of other over the top moments the action is very good and the fight scenes seemed quite realistic. We got to see wounds and repairs to injury, which is not something that usually happens in this type of film.

I liked the depth of character Parker had he wasn’t just a machine, he showed he had a heart as well in the slight love story we had in the film. Even with a chance to cheat on his girlfriend Claire, he resists and doesn’t ever really look interested in Leslie. Something which I think is reassuring, this may sound like a very minor thing in the film but I really do think it makes the audience actually like Parker more. He has morals and rules which really gives him a good edge.

The film does have a lot of death and blood, so if your not fond of the sight of blood or violence this certainly isn’t a film for you to see. But I really did find myself enjoying this film from start to finish, not to be taken too seriously but certainly is entertaining viewing. Not forgetting a view funny moments as well to lighten the mood.

Based on a true story of a family dealing with the loss of the mother, Benjamin moves his young family of his daughter Rosie and son Dylan to a new house. It just happens to also be a run down zoo which needs doing up and the animals being looked after.

I wasn’t really expecting much from this film and how wrong an attitude that was to approach this film with. It is a heartfelt and heartwarming story from start to finish and shows how people of different ages cope with loss. It shows how a family can be brought together and how a father and son can eventually start to get along with each other after a very emotional and hard to watch scene.

We see Benjamin really struggling to come to terms with the death of this wife and avoiding different places in the town they lived. So much so that this prompted the movie to a place 18 miles away. He would not go into the restaurant where they first met and avoided talking about her with Rosie and Dylan. The move to the zoo was really confirmed when he saw how happy Rosie was with the animals and decided to go for it. His brother was not very impressed with the idea but stood by him and helped out. The big problem with it all though was Dylan, he didn’t want to move and wanted to stay close to his friends even though he had been expelled from school.

So we have a very moving family drama and I really did find it compelling from start to finish. I found myself caring about what was going to happen to the family and if they would be able to reconnect. Especially father and son, forgetting that Dylan seemed to have a lot of his childhood taken away from him. It does show how animals can help people in times of great need as well, I hope that doesn’t sound too silly its just from the story it really does help when they are looking after the animals and rebuilding the zoo.

We are left wondering throughout the film if Benjamin and Kelly would end up together as they seem to instantly have a connection with one another. Something which adds another type of relationship to the film, as we have many different types within the family structure this gives an outsider the chance to become part of the family.

I really enjoyed Matt Damon’s performance in this film, possibly one of the best I’ve seen from him and I would put it up there with Good Will Hunting. I know that may seem like a bold statement to make but I really do feel he gave it his all for this role and another side to show just how good of an actor he really is. Based on a true story of a family who bought a zoo and still actually live their to this day. I liked the use of the characters saying “we bought a zoo” as I think it made the otherwise strange film title feel a bit better.

Overall, I really found myself consumed with this film and would happily watch it again in the future as it really was enjoyable. I think my praise for this film is so high because I wasn’t expecting to like it very much in all honesty. I do love it when a film surprises you and this is one of those films, if you will give it a watch!

A young woman Emily Taylor suffers the side effects from drugs prescribed by her psychiatrist Jonathan Banks to help cope with her depression, which takes a different turn when her husband is released from prison after 4 years inside.

Everything is not what it seems in this film as it takes many twists and turns throughout. They may become obvious but just when you think ah yes I have worked it out, it took another turn which was only a good thing really as it kept going at a decent pace throughout. A film which takes a look into depression and how medications can help or actually hinder the person who is suffering. I guess this film really does make you think about what the side effects of taking drugs can be, even if they are prescribed for you.

That’s without really getting into the different twists this film takes, it shows that if your on certain drugs you may no longer have much control over your actions. Becoming a different version of yourself, or at least that is something I took from watching this film. Making you wonder if you could deal with depression or how you could battle against it. I also found the differences between the UK and US attitudes towards psychiatrists very interesting and spot on with the UK looking at it like you have a problem and the US that you’re getting better.

Anyway getting back to the film, I really can’t make my mind up about whether I like Rooney Mara or not her performance is pretty awkward and annoying at times which probably fits the character well but she doesn’t seem to show much emotion at all, even when she is supposed to be more emotional. I thought Jude Law was brilliant and put in the best performance in the film. Catherine Zeta Jones’ character was interesting and as a big fan I would have liked to see her with more screen time but I thought she was effective in the scenes she was in. Channing Tatum didn’t really get much screen time . . .

This is a difficult review to put together without actually spoiling anything about the film, I would say give it ago as it does have some very good twists and ideas really. Better than I expected it to be as wasn’t really sure what it was going to be like, I thought the pace was very good starting off slow to build it up to when they would all be playing each other (I promise that doesn’t give anything major away).

I probably would give this film a second viewing when it comes onto the TV as it really was thought provoking and had plenty of things going on, might be one of those films where you miss a few things the first time round. Are you now thinking of the side effects pills have???

A young woman arrives in Southport after we see her quickly trying to leave a previous life behind her. Whilst off the bus on a break she decides that it looks like a good place to stay. The relationship she builds with widower Alex pushes her boundaries and she must keep battling with the secret she left behind.

Another film based on one of Nicholas Sparks’ novels, I actually bought the book when it first came out but didn’t manage to get into it. But watching the film brought back the first few pages! Anyway we all know that Nicholas Sparks links mean romance and a love story. This one didn’t really make me feel the same way as his previous love stories. It was pretty quick, but with the secret and other things going on it was pretty weak overall.

I don’t really know but I just didn’t seem to connect with the characters in this film and thought it was rather predictable from the start. The acting was ok but nothing special, the characters didn’t really have many layers and it was like they were just put together. A few romantic gesters which I guess were nice but I was not really feeling in the mood for romance when I went to see this film.

I am sure that plenty of people will love this film but I am not one of them. It just didn’t strike any chord with me and I found myself wondering how much longer it was going to go on for. I didn’t like the little ending twist at all which I won’t spoil, it just made parts of it totally pointless really. This review may make me sound really heartless but I am often a romantic at heart and this film did not make me feel like that at all. I guess it just depends on your mood when you watch a film like this, I certainly was not in the right mood.

Saying that I wasn’t really impressed with The Lucky One which came out last year (or even the year before) with Zac Efron I guess they are getting a bit too similar now and not really giving the audience anything new.

Thoughts? Am I just being totally cynical or is this just a poor film?

In New York City Brandon is dealing with sex addiction which sees his life spiralling out of control, even more when his younger sister Sissy turns up at his apartment one day.

I found this film quite difficult to watch because it felt like we should not have watched Brandon and some of the things he was doing or ended up doing due to his addiction. At first though I will admit that I was struggling to see how this film was about sex addiction, but it slowly comes out and we see the desperate things Brandon will do to get himself fulfilled. Sneaking into the toilets at work, high amounts of porn on his work computer, random women and even slipping into the world of men to be able to get relieved.

His sister Sissy seems to make him worse and they share some very strange scenes which I won’t really go into to much detail with that as a lot of things about their relationship aren’t clear and don’t really get answered during the film. Its certainly not a normal brother/sister relationship that is for sure! I have become quite a fan of Carey Mulligan and this role is slightly different to her other roles, a little bit more gritty and real compared to her previous roles of an innocent young girl.

It really is such a brilliant performance from Michael Fassbender who keeps you engaged and hoping that he can start to lead a more normal life. The film starts and ends with the same scene with a couple of differences. Leaves you guessing and able to make your own mind up about what happened next, I won’t spoil any of that though!

Sex addiction isn’t something I have given much thought, but I can imagine most people wondering what the problem with it is. This film helps to show that it can make you do things that you wouldn’t normally and that to get a small thrill towards your addiction you will pretty much do anything that you have to. In Brandon’s case in the film we see that he does not seem to be capable of having a normal relationship or more normal sex with someone he cares about.

Overall I think this film really does deliver such an important message on addiction and how it really can take over someones life and consume them so nothing else really seems to matter or take place, everything is based around the addiction. I can’t really say if this film gives a good picture of sex addiction as really haven’t heard much about it at all, but I guess that doesn’t really matter too much overall. I guess it has made me think about it a little bit after watching the film a couple of days ago now!

A comedy drama about 27-year-old Adam who find out he has cancer in his spine. With his best friend Kyle he must then face his fate, with a 50/50 chance of survival.

I had planned on going to see this film at the cinema but we were too late for the last showing and ended up seeing Dream House instead after watching 50/50 last night that has made me even more disappointed. I throughly enjoyed this film, it had such a great heart and very important messages from start to finish. I am 25 years old so I think I related to Adam quite a lot with him being only 2 years old than myself. It had me wondering what I would do and how I would cope and I think that’s a special thing for a film to do.

We see how having cancer pretty much makes his life fall apart as well, while he keeps saying that he is fine. Which is obviously not true, everyone needs a friend like Kyle as he really was there for Adam the whole time. I won’t spoil anything about the film and the ending but it really does have you on edge and I couldn’t work out which way it was going to go.

While having chemo we see Adam rebuild the relationship with his mother when he eventually realises that she only wants to be there for him. Played brilliantly by Anjelica Huston. Joseph Gordon-Levitt really is becoming one of my favourite actors and his performance in this is believable and he really gets you on side. Seth Rogan is also very likeable even if he character Kyle is slightly obsessed with sex, surely a normal thing for a man in his 20s though. He helps lighten the mood when it is needed the most but also involved in many emotional moments as well.

I have to say that this is one of the best films I have seen in a long time and I am sure it would have been on my top 10 of 2011 list that year! It really does have a such a thought-provoking nature as its never nice to think of a young person facing death. I thought the friendships made with the older men also battling against different types of cancer was a good addition as well, showing that people come together to support each other no matter on their age.

Thinking of a drama comedy involving cancer I guess it was quite risky trying to get the comedy parts in so they didn’t sound horrible but it really was a perfect balance for this film. I thought the hair shaving off scene was a particular highlight of this as the two friends seemed to make a decision that it was a good idea for Adam to do this. So a very good film was so many different things you can take from it! Not forgetting Anna Kendrick’s performance as the trainee psychiatrist trying to help Adam deal with his situation, but don’t forget he’s only her third patient.

I could easily find myself watching this film again, it really does bring out so many different emotions for the viewers.

Chicago winning Best Picture in 2003 at the Oscars is often regarded as a mistake due to the other films nominated that year. I fell in love with it but then again I am just a little bit of musical geek. So obviously I still love it and have it as one of my all time favorite films. The academy showed its supposed love for musicals that year but Oliver! was the previous Best Picture winner for a musical so it had been a very long time between a musical winning the best picture award. I think it’s quite scary that it is now 10 years on and loved how the cast we involved in the 2013 ceremony. Especially the All That Jazz performance from Catherine Zeta Jones that totally made the whole show for me. It’s a great song one of the best openings to a musical and it also helped show that she still has it after more than 10 years!

I actually done the classic film finishes, go back to the start with Chicago for weeks! Bought the soundtrack, honestly I really loved this film and watched it over and over again. I not only know it word for word but I know all the dance moves as well. Watched every special feature and behind the scenes things as possible. I can’t really remember why I loved it so much thinking back now, I just did and still do. With the Oscar season just finishing Sky Movies had a special channel and whenever Chicago was on I couldn’t resist putting it on even if only 10 minutes were left, baring in mind I have two different types of DVD and the Blu Ray edition!

So many songs that you can sing (and dance) along to, it really doesn’t take long to totally get right into the music. It’s catchy the dance moves are Fosse! I think that’s another reason I totally love it, I love the style he puts into it. Having also seen the stage show three times, I really am taken back by his unique style. The film is much more bright and colourful but you have to jazz it up a bit for the big screen. All taking place in Roxie’s head, brilliant way to get it across in a slightly different way in my opinion.

Amos has the most depressing song really, you cannot help but feel sorry for him. The words in Mr Cellophane really describe how everyone just seems to pass him by. Not paying any attention to him and this brought about an Oscar nomination for John C. Reilly in this role as well. Throughly deserved in my opinion as the emotion he puts into the role is just brilliant from start to finish. This role is slightly different to what it is like on the stage, on the stage he is more of a joke and laughed at. I don’t think that is the same in the film version, in the film you really do feel sorry for him even if he is slightly stupid in his love for Roxie but you can’t claim that he doesn’t care about her.

Billy Flynn doesn’t really just care about love . . . He loves money and wants as much of it as he can possibly get. Don’t let some of the songs deceive you. But it is all about the razzle dazzle in the courtroom as well as outside of it, as he says it’s all a show and a circus. Also if you didn’t already know I have a lot of love for Richard Gere and that makes his portrayal of Billy Flynn even better for me. You will have to admit that he is one very charming man and you would probably trust him as well. The song “When We Both Reached For The Gun” is a massive highlight and brilliant done with Zellweger as the dummy!

Velma Kelly. Catherine Zeta Jones. All That Jazz . . . Possibly the greatest opening number in any musical EVER . . . I actually do mean that as well, not being over the top or anything. All That Jazz is a brilliant song and really sets up Chicago, I’m sure this was a big part in Catherine taking the Oscar as well, even though the rest of her performance is flawless as well. I struggle to remember that Velma is not actually the main character in all of this as she really cannot help but stand out.

Roxie Hart is the main character in this film, looking very Marilyn Monroe like. With plenty of songs about wanting to be a star and trying to get her freedom for killing Fred Casley. With the help of her adoring husband Amos and lawyer Billy Flynn, not forgetting Mama Morton of course the whole storyline of the film takes place in her head. Well actually I mean the musical numbers, which I found a very clever and good way to do the film. How she is seeing people and the songs they are singing to help explain how exactly they are feeling.

The dancing, not sure if I have mentioned much about the dancing? Well “I Cant Do It Alone” is probably the best at showing the dance moves as Velma attempts to show us how she cannot do the double act alone, trying to get Roxie back on her side. The hate between the two female characters really is just brilliant and the performance at the end just shows what you can do.

Seeing the cast reunited on the Oscar stage this year has inspired this blog post and reminded me of my obsession and love for Chicago. The actors as well, especially Catherine Zeta Jones and Richard Gere who will be featuring in some special blog posts sometime very soon (so watch this space). I did think it was a brilliant jester especially with Gere being banned from the Oscars for so many years. Although it did feel like a slight build up to Les Mis picking up the Best Picture award which obviously didn’t happen. So Chicago still remains the latest musical to have claimed that highest accolade. I wonder if we will see any more musical contenders in the next few years as it had been quite a while since the last nomination.

So Chicago is a film which I hold in such high regard, have such a passion and love for pretty much everything about it. Yes I understand I seem to be in a minority with this but that doesn’t matter I still love it and . . . All That Jazzzzzzzzzz

Kevin a young lawyer is given a brilliant chance at a law firm in New York, but is everything really as it seems? Many twists and turns make it seem as though his new boss is in fact Satan!

The film begins with Kevin facing a moral dilemma towards the client he is defending when he realises that the man is in fact guilty. This sees the start of his downward spiral which will pretty much destroy his life. His wife would take an even bigger downward spiral with the move to New York and how the firm he is working for seems to consume people. She does not cope well with hardly seeing her husband and really does lose her mind. This creates many different to watch scenes but a very good performance from Charlize Theron.

I’ve never been a big fan of Keanu Reeves and in all honesty this film doesn’t really change my opinion on him. His wooden style does not make his character very likeable for help feel any sympathy towards him which is a shame as that is probably how we are meant to feel towards this man who is fighting many battles in his rise for the top. Including his crazy boss who just happens to be the devil?

Al Pacino you really cannot say many bad things about and he really is larger than life in this film. He is such a charming man even when playing the devil and someone who does so many terrible things. But maybe a little too much at the same time? Unless that’s due to the lack of chemistry with Reeves? I don’t know how to properly explain what I mean.

I am trying not to be too harsh on this film as while I found it rather messed up for reasons I cannot say due to spoilers I was enjoying it up until the last 15 minutes when it got to much for itself with the twists and ended up being a bit pointless? Or was it being really clever and actually have a very good message? I would say I would watch it again to properly make my mind up but I feel once is enough in this case!

Thoughts on this film???

A secret agent Pete Garrison is framed as a mole in the assassination attempt on the President. Will former best friend David Breckinridge forgive him in time to actually help him?

I remember seeing this film on its release at the cinema and really enjoying it, watching it again last night I still enjoy this film. I became quite a fan of Michael Douglas over the years and thought he was his usual brilliant self in this film and really pulls it off being a secret service agent. Throw in Kiefer Sutherland in what seems very much like his role from 24 and you have a good base for a film.

The storyline is decent and moves at a steady pace with a few twists along the way, which is what you want from this type of film. I think because of how engaging Douglas is I really still enjoy this film. He has such fantastic on-screen charisma and you cannot help but to like his character and hope he can get himself out of the mess he has ended up in.

How do you catch a man who has spent his life doing that exact job, Pete is always a step ahead of everyone else and really must fight to prove that he is innocent before he will let anyone help him. He is trying to protect his own secret after all. This gives the story a little bit more depth as it does make Pete look guilty at times but obviously the audience know the truth.

Don’t get me wrong this film is in no way ground breaking, but I enjoy watching it. I guess if you’re not much of a fan of the actors in the film you probably won’t really be that bothered. I guess some films you just like without much real reason behind it. This is certainly one of those films for me as six years later I still enjoyed watching it.

One little thing I didn’t realise though was that musicals were going to play  a big part in the show . . . Now if I had known this earlier . . .

Actually in the long run it didn’t really make much a difference until I saw a small clip of Catherine Zeta Jones singing All That Jazz! My jaw actually dropped with that and I couldn’t wait to get home from work yesterday to then watch the show. Not knowing when it was going to be on and seeing what happened with everything else.

MacFarlane was probably as expected and as it has been very widely received rather sexist. I didn’t like the we’ve seen your boobs song, I mean why make women even more like objects? Unnecessary in my opinion. His other jokes were border line but let’s face it were probably soft compared to what he could have went with. Overall though he was quite entertaining and even got involved in a couple of songs. The predictions to the following day weren’t really great though!

Why couldn’t we have Hugh Jackman back if it was going to be very musical based? Also I wonder if many people fancied a Les Mis upset with all the draws to a musical. But as it turned out nothing could stop Argo!

From recent years this years seems to be the easiest to predict and no major surprises were to be seen on the night with regards to the big awards. All of the acting awards have been favorites for months and months now so I guess any of the above not winning would have been seen as an upset. The speeches were pretty good, nothing shocking in them which can be seen as a good thing. Not too many tears either! Poor Jennifer Lawrence though tripping on the stairs, but she carried it off so well. Such a confident young woman, let’s hope the early career Oscar win doesn’t have too much of an effect on her career.

So that was my favourite moment of the whole show, seeing Catherine as Velma Kelly again really was just fantastic. Showing that she has hardly aged and can still move just as well after the film came out 11 years ago. Pretty incredible really, but 10 years ago at the Oscars when Chicago won, Catherine did sing but we didn’t get the dancing due to her being very heavily pregnant at the time. Must have been a brilliant experience 10 years after picking up her Oscar!

Adele’s performance of Skyfall was another highlight, just before she picked up an Oscar for Best Original Song. Let’s face it that was probably the film I enjoyed the most in 2012, three viewings in the cinema and bought the Blu-Ray on release last Monday. The only thing that could have made this even better would have been if Daniel Craig then appeared from the top of the stage . . . Yes that may have pushed it over the top but it would have been so cool!

The Oscars isn’t the Oscars without Jack Nicholson sat in the front row in his sunglasses grinning and looking confused. Great to see him back at this years show as I don’t remember him being in attendance the past few years. My all time favorite actor and he looked good, also getting involved to co-present the Best Picture Oscar. I am sure we can all remember his reaction to Crash winning back in 2006! He really is just a brilliant character and has never changed!

Well overall I guess I don’t really have too much to say on the Oscars this year which you probably guessed in the build up with my lack of blogging. Which was mainly due to working and not actually watching many films. I must try harder to make sure I get to the cinema at least once a week to keep up to date with all the new releases. I wasn’t really very impressed with the presenters this year, only the cast of Chicago which really made me smile. Other than that it was all what we have come to expect. I actually really liked the year we had previous Oscar winners talking about each of the nominees before the award was given out, but I guess we couldn’t have it like that every year.

Let’s just wait and see if I manage to do better for the 2014 Oscars and who get’s to host it!

Whip Whittaker an airline pilot who manages to save many lives when the plane goes down and stops it from crashing but doesn’t receive much praise when the investigation brings out some worry results.

The audience see straight away that it would not appear that Whip is in the right state to fly a plane, after plenty of alcohol and then taking some coke before heading to the airport for the flight that morning. But he does seem to pull it off, his copilot doesn’t seem very impressed. The actions Whip takes to ensure the plane doesn’t crash are remarkable and as it’s later stated that no one else could have landed the plane that day.

We quickly find out that Whip has problems with his drinking and as a result of this he lost his wife and son, who hardly have any contact with him. It really is an emotionally journey throughout this film and you really aren’t sure how things are going to work out or what is actually going to happen. Now I find that as always being a good thing in a film, you don’t want them all to be predictable.

The performance from Denzel is as usual brilliant, this film seeing him pick up another Oscar nomination for his lead. He manages to really keep the audience engaged, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him as well. Something we probably shouldn’t but that is the power of the performance. A deserved nomination as the performance really is that good.

Whip doesn’t seem to be able to hold many relationships for very long, always managing to push people away who care about him and that sees his downfall go even further. I think sometimes we forget that alcohol can really become a dangerous addiction and some people lose control over it. I think this film does well to show how bad it can become for people and raising awareness and understanding for being an alcoholic.

I have to admit that this turned out to be a very different film from what I expected. Not in a bad way, I just wasn’t expecting something so heavy . . . If that is the right word to try and describe it! I can’t really say I liked or disliked this film but it certainly was thought provoking.

After what felt like such a long wait from 2009 the last time I saw the Rocky Horror on the stage, last night I eventually got my 4th viewing of this fantastic fun rock n roll show.  This is different to any other musical you will see on the stage, the audience love it, it has a cult following. So its Friday night and starts at 8:30, I still haven’t got myself dressed up (I will next time, I promise) but so many people are dressed as all the different characters and you know it’s going to be a fun night.

The night turned out to be an incredible night the crowd were crazy and up dancing along to the time warp very early on, I had some newspaper passed along from fellow fans and we were ready to go. The buzz in the crowd was brilliant, and the cheering and screaming as it was about to start was incredible. Everyone was singing along as soon as it started and I had to join in!

Phillip Franks as the Narrator really was brilliant from the first minute to the last, he quickly responded to the crowd shouting out random and obscure things. Always with an answer and agreeing, amazing! Some of the things shouted from the audience really are amusing, but I think his quick responses made it all even more entertaining. It must be difficult to be in a show which at least 90% of the audience no word for word.

Dammit Janet

I enjoyed seeing Ben Forster take on the role of Brad, especially after seeing him as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar late last year. He showed that he is a great entertainer and willing to take on different types of roles. Such a great voice for the songs as well, lovely meeting him at the stage door after the show as well!

But the big question is how is the actor taking on the challenge of Frank N Furter going to do? The moment of truth comes as the Time Warp finishes and we head straight into Sweet transvestite . . . Oliver Thornton . . . he looks good and wow he really is incredible in the role! Amazing he owns the stage and everything on it!

The audience love him, screaming, shouting, cheering and egging him on! It really is a perfect choice for the role as he looks like he’s having so much fun as the character and really giving it his all!

I really enjoyed this 40th anniversary production and thought it was even more racy and incredible than my 3 previous visits in years gone by. Obviously most of it was the same but slight improvements in certain parts making it have something a little bit extra. It really is the ultimate experience, if you like or love the film and have no seen the stage show you really have to make a massive effort to catch this on tour! I am hoping it is going to return to the North East later in the year in Newcastle and I will certainly be heading back to do the time warp again!

When Deloris Van Cartier a lounge singer witnesses a mob hit she must go into hiding and poses as a nun Sister Mary Clarence.

Now this is going to be a very difficult review to write as I totally love this film, I have seen it so many times it would be impossible to count. It was one of my favourite films as a kid and I still love watching it now. It makes you smile and laugh out loud throughout as a lot of it is very tongue in cheek. It isn’t long before the lounge singer becomes involved in the choir, taking charge and actually helping them to sing!

Obviously she totally forgets that she is supposed to be hiding out, really getting into being a nun and helping out the local community. Taking some very well-known songs and changing them to a religious theme, such as instead of my guy . . . my God! It really is such a fun film which you won’t be able to help but enjoy. I mean who doesn’t just love Whoopi Goldberg?

I see this film as one of my feel good/pick me up films as it never fails but to make me smile even on the worst of days. It has such a charm that you cannot escape from. It is there to really enjoy from start to finish, not having to really think about it, it’s just fun and sometimes you just need to watch a film like this to totally chill out.

Singing and slightly dancing nuns in a Church, I am sure that would encourage more people to attend Church! I mean they really do become such a good choir with the whole pop music wrapped into the songs. Something about singing nuns just seems to work (The Sound of Music, being another). This is also a film I find strange if someone has not seen it. Now I have avoided the musical stage version, just wasn’t sure how it would work with all new songs!

The added bonus of Harvey Keitel as the mob boss is just brilliant. So please say you have also seen and love this film!!!

The incredible story of a family who were involved in the Tsunami disaster in Thailand in 2004. It makes you hold your breath and takes you on such an emotional journey throughout the film as well.

When a family is torn apart as the disaster struck Lucas and his mother Maria must look after each other for a chance of surviving. With her leg and chest badly hurt, he understands that she needs medical help as soon as possible. They also rescue a young boy who was trapped and they take shelter in a tree. It really is incredible for Lucas to be so strong and really help his mother. Henry is with the other boys Thomas and Simon but he constantly is searching for his wife and oldest son.

I can understand how this film has so many people talking about it, how it really all does seem so impossible. It also helps to show how amazing the human spirit is and that in times of great need you never give up and find inner strength from somewhere to really make things happen. As both sides of the family try not to give up hope on the fate of the others it really is so difficult to watch, wondering what exactly is going to happen and how they will find one another (if they manage it).

It really does play with your emotions and makes you wonder what you would have done if you were in that situation and had faced the disaster. I don’t think that’s even something you can really answer. I thought the performance of Tom Holland as Lucas really was the standout performance of the film, he is a brilliant young actor as really had so much emotion in his performance.

I thought it was brilliant to see Lucas helping people in the hospital and trying to reunite families, something which was then a joy to see. People who had been separated for a few days by this point, not sure if you are going to see them again suddenly being reunited is just amazing to see. I really did think this was a powerful film and it must have been a very difficult one to make due to the scale of the disaster and it only being 8 years ago. I can remember seeing the scenes on the news and just being totally lost for words.

I guess in such an awful event it is nice to see a film based on a true story of a families fight for survival. Very powerful, emotional and thought-provoking film with incredible performances from start to finish. It really does all seem impossible!

A young man named Alex DeLarge is living a life filled with murder and rape, but his luck runs out when his “brothers” turn on him and he is arrested for his vicious crimes.

Last night was the first time I have ever watched this film, I must admit that I was quite scared to watch it as had heard a lot about the violence and rape. I wasn’t sure if this was a film that I wanted to watch, but I eventually gave it a go last night and can understand why it was banned in many places and different cuts of the film had to be made. It is certainly one of the most messed up films I have ever seen, but also engaging as I just wanted to see what happened in the end.

The rape and violent scenes are very extreme and difficult to watch, kind of made me want to turn the film off but something was stopping me doing that as I wanted to find out what happened to Alex and hoping that he would eventually get what he deserved. He then ended up involved in a new psychological experiment with very extreme methods to put people off something. So strapped in a chair with eyes pinned open he had to watch violence and rape and started to feel sick when seeing these scenes.

But does that mean he was actually cured? Well in a way I guess he was, but the only reason he done it was so he could then get back onto the streets of Britain. Again that doesn’t really go to his plan after the new method and people remembering him from before his time in prison and then doing the experiment. As wrong as this will sound, I actually felt sorry for him! I couldn’t believe a film could make you actually feel sorry for a character that you watched do so many awful things.

I can understand why this film caused so much controversy and is often seen as one of the most dangerous films of all time. The subject matter is so difficult and the film was blamed for many people committing different acts of crime not long after its initial release. Something which again caused the film to have so much more attention.

“Singin’ in the Rain” will never be the same again after this film, what a very random song to have involved in a rape scene. I think that made it even worse than if they had not really been saying anything with it having the nice thoughts of Gene Kelly literally singing and dancing in the rain. Probably the most messed up part for me. Plus when the song is on over the end credits it really does make you think about what you have just witnessed in the film.

Having now seen this film I cannot imagine it will be a film that I will be watching again, it could certainly be one of those films that only require one viewing as you can easily remember so much about it that you won’t have to watch it over and over. Or at least I don’t want too!

How do you feel about A Clockwork Orange? Would something this risky be made today?

Anyway here comes my list of my top 10 films I missed (and not happy about) after reading a lot of hype over these films. Many different reasons for not getting to see these films include not having the time to get to the cinema, the cinema only having the film out for a limited time (a week) or that they didn’t actually get released at my cinema at all.

I have used fellow bloggers Top 10 films of 2012 lists to help figure out which films I should have really seen as well!

Top 10 Best Films of 2012

Top 10 Worst Films of 2012

10. Brave

Let’s face it you have to love a Disney film and I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t get to see this one!

9.  Killer Joe

Heard quite a few things about this film and actually seen the rather messed up scene too! But it really does look like a fantastic performance from Matthew McConaughey.

8. Pitch Perfect

Anything with singing and sounding Glee like is something I really should have seen!

7. Ted

While I have now heard mixed things about this film I am still disappointed that I missed it!

6. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Now this one just looked pretty cute and I do tend to like Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor.

5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I heard loads about this film . . . Unfortunately by that point it had been and gone at the cinema!

4. Beasts of the Southern Wild

The Oscar nominations for this film have made me disappointed that I missed this one!

3. The Master

Let’s face it the cast in this film are fantastic, plus I love Joaquin Phoenix!

2. Moonrise Kingdom

Another film that I have now heard quite a lot of buzz about!

1. Argo

Now I am the most disappointed about missing this film this year, as pretty sure I had planned on going to see it twice and it just didn’t work out!

From these films that I have picked in my 10 missed from 2012, which ones should I really make the effort to catch up on?

And any hidden gems to recommend from 2012? 

A drug rep Jamie with womanizing ways has his world turned upside down when he meets a young woman suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Now this film is not what I thought it was going to be like at all. It was totally different to what the trailer shows us, well for me it was anyway. I am sure people will feel the same way. I really wasn’t expecting so much sex talk and scenes to be in the film. Obviously with Jamie being a drug rep and the newest drug and the one which really kicks off his career just happens to be Viagra. It was the 90′s when it was first launched and became an instant hit, Jamie was very good at selling it as well which was brilliant to watch when he was pushing it with the hospitals.

Despite Maggie having an awful disease we aren’t really made to think too much about that throughout the course of the film and focus more on the relationship and how the characters feel about each other. How the relationship really helps her (when she let’s it). As she really does push Jamie away as she doesn’t want him to miss out on certain things in his life.

We do see some lovely scenes in which she eventually realises that he is for keeps and they can be together. He is very understanding of her illness and really does just want to help her. I loved the scene where he actually slept in his car to she her when she had returned from a trip to Canada to get the cheaper drugs.

So this is a slightly different slant but not in a really sad depressing way. I think the strength Hathaway brings to the character really helps as she is so strong in this role, playing it from the point of view of not wanting anyone to help. Battling on alone, when she pushes Jamie away but it turns out it’s really not that easy to get rid of him. I find that the nicest thing about this film, he could have gone and had a very simple and easy life but he choose Maggie because he really does love her.

This film is a little bit different from other romance films out there and does it really have a happy ending? I guess that’s up to the audience to work out!

Top 10 Best Films of 2012

Top 10 Missed Films of 2012

10. Prometheus – Review

Built up so much for weeks before the films release and never really lived up to all the hype it had surrounding it. So I found it extremely disappointing, especially after watching Alien for the first time a week or two before this film came out!

9. The Muppets – Review

Now I love The Muppets and just found this film to be so disappointing and trying to hard throughout. Which is such a shame as I usually like Jason Segel, but really couldn’t get away with this film at all.

8. Dark Shadows – Review

Has the Burton/Depp connection run it’s course? Well Dark Shadows was really awful, I kept hoping it was going to get better but it just didn’t. Following in on the whole vampire theme which is very much in at the moment, in a funny way I guess . . .

7. The Vow – Review

I thought we were going to get a nice romantic film and that it would be very enjoyable to watch from start to finish. That is so far from the case, it’s totally different to how it appears on the trailers and doesn’t really have much love in it at all. So disappointing.

6. Taken 2 – Review

Let’s face it I didn’t even like Taken . . . So Taken 2, well we just could have done without this film being made. It was totally pointless from start to finish with no good phone conversation from Liam Neeson.

5. The Cold Light of Day

The best way to start explaining this film has to be as a big mess, the plot confuses itself with some awful performances thrown in just to make sure it really was a bad film overall.

4. Battleship – Review

Not entirely sure where to start about this film, it had a very bizarre story to it and didn’t really make much sense at all. Some random aliens or something? Yet loosely based on the board game? Well I am actually not sure anymore, but again this was a film I was wondering when it was going to be over. Never a good thing when it comes to a film!

3. Magic Mike – Review

I really hated this film, honestly I didn’t like anything about it . . . actually maybe I did like seeing the shirtless men, just being shallow with that. But overall I thought the film was terrible. I know the reception for this film seems very love or hate no real in between!

2. American Reunion – Review

Maybe something that was brilliant in the late 90s should not have been brought back for a reunion, as we get the same old jokes and scenes really. Some films should be left alone, but I guess it wasn’t as bad as some of the follow ups?

1. The Five-Year Engagement – Review

My hate for this film sees it take the number 1 spot in my 10 worst films of 2012, let me try and explain why exactly . . . I really liked it up until a certain point because it was not your normal rom-com but in the end it became everything it was previously against. It also felt like it lasted 5 years when watching it!

Which films did you hate in 2012?

Top 10 – Worst Films of 2012

Top 10 – Missed FIlms of 2012

10. Life of Pi – Review

Visually stunning and consuming throughout, you are never really sure what is going to happen next and seeing amazing scenes on the screen. I wasn’t really expecting to like this film as much as I did but think it really does have something very special about it.

9. The Woman in Black – Review

The film adaptation of a very successful stage show and Daniel Radcliffe showing that he can do so much more than being Harry Potter. An impressive performance and an impressive film with many twists and times to jump.

8. The Amazing Spider-Man – Review

I am probably the most surprised to see a Spider-Man film on my top 10 films of the year list but I really enjoyed this reboot and thought it was very easy to watch. Andrew Garfield really does bring something brilliant to the role and the story was good to watch. Much better than the previous Spider-Man films in my opinion.

7. The Hunger Games – Review

The next big trilogy based on books to hit the cinemas and this being the first part was very impressive. Teenagers being taken from the districts they live in and chosen to take part in the hunger games, where they must battle for survival and pretty much be the last one standing. Good adaptation of the book!

6. The Avengers – Review

Let’s face it everything Marvel films have done in the past few years have built up to this film and they did not leave us disappointing in this fantastic comic book film. Our favorite superheroes join forces to save the world together. What’s not to love?

5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Review

I have pretty much been waiting for The Hobbit since Lord of the Rings finished, so to take a step back to Middle Earth was something I enjoyed very much. I know this film has its flaws but I still loved being back in Middle Earth and enjoyed this film. Cannot wait for the next two parts as it is only going to get better.

4. The Dark Knight Rises - Review

The epic conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s Batman saga and what a way to finish it! You have to admit that following The Dark Knight was always going to be an impossible task, but this film is just incredible. New characters who really do the series proud, an epic ending!

3. Silver Linings Playbook – Review

Now I totally fell for this film and found myself still thinking about it days later, not many films have the power to do that but the performances in this are just incredible and get you hooked on the story.

2. Skyfall – Review

I saw this three times in the cinema and believe it to be the best Bond (I know I haven’t seen them all) but still it is an epic Bond film and film in general. Daniel Craig really proves how good he is as Bond, with an impressive cast to go along with it. Marking 50 years of Bond we see lots of scenes in London and around the UK, something which I think made it even more enjoyable from start to finish.

1. Les Miserables – Review

Blown away is the best way to start talking about Les Mis. I mean I was hoping that I would like it, but I totally love it. An incredible musical film. With unbelievable performances from the cast who really came together to make something special. I have seen this film in the cinema twice already and listened to the soundtrack so many times already. I still believe it will pick up the Best Picture award at this year’s Oscars.

Two New Yorkers are arrested and accused of murder in Alabama and one of their cousins comes in as their lawyer to defend them.

The mixture of the difference between city and country life and whether Vinny can actually do anything to defend them. When we first meet him we actually wonder if he is really a qualified lawyer and if he can get his act together to help out his young cousin and his friend. Mona his fiance plays a key role in helping him really get into the case whilst pushing him as well.

I have to admit that I had no idea what this film was about, the only thing I actually knew was that Marisa Tomei won the best supporting actress Oscar that year. Not taking anything away from her performance but I haven’t really looked who she was up against but I wouldn’t have guessed it was an Oscar-winning performance. Maybe I am being over critical saying that but the best supporting actress category never seems very strong.

It just have its funny moments and you actually find yourself hoping that Vinny will be able to pull something together and prove everyone (audience included) wrong. His methods are nowhere near conventional and he doesn’t even wear a suit when entering the court! They all seem to hate him at first but he soon manages to win everyone’s respect for how he actually changes the way he is doing things.

I was very impressed with Joe Pesci in this film as I will admit that up until this point I haven’t really seen him in very many films and still seeing him as one of the burglars from Home Alone. Yes I know that is bad but that’s all to do with my age and how much I watched Home Alone as a kid. Something which kinda amuses me but also very good to watch a film and see an actor in a different light.

For some reason I always find myself really enjoying courtroom based films and this one really is very different from any courtroom film you have seen before. That is a good thing, I am pleased to add this film to my watched films list!