An agent working for a private company suddenly finds herself outcast after she is betrayed and set up on her latest mission.

This film had plenty of action from the very start, but seemed rather random as we had no idea what was actually going on. It took a while for the story line to make sense due to not being sure who each of the characters were. And the roles they played in different events which had happened. We were being told a lot of the story in flashback form, until we reached the ending of the film. This I thought was a good method but it did not help with the confusion as I felt some details were kept from us not helping with the understanding.

I have to admit that I was very much looking forward to this film mainly to see Michael Douglas on the big screen again! But I did guess that he would probably not have very much screen time. This was true he was not in the film very often but for me totally stole each scene he was in.

I found Gina Carano to be very good in the main role and thought she could easily be the next Lara Croft! Or any other action woman type! She really did own the screen and was in some very good fighting scenes with the men!

While I found a few good things about this film, it was spoilt by the cinema going experience of very rude people in the audience! Which I know should not impact the film but it certainly did for this one! People talking around me and constantly going to the toilet! Yes a very small rant in the middle of my review, but I think I would have enjoyed the film more in a quieter cinema screening!

Therefore I am rather undecided if I really like Haywire or not . . .

A Politian and ballerina feel destined to be together but something is keeping them apart. All because it is not in the plan . . .

I was so disappointed when I missed this film in the cinema and even more so now after I have seen it. I really did enjoy it from start to finish. Felt it had a very solid and interesting story line. Looking into fate, destiny and chance and what if we already had a set plan which our lives had to follow.

David and Elise meet one day by chance – and this was not in the plan for either of them as they were never actually supposed to meet. We then see the organisation trying everything they can to stop them seeing each other again. They even have to tell David what they do to keep everyone on track. While he understands this and promises not to reveal them (which would result in him being reset).

3 Years later whilst riding the same bus David sees Elise in the street and rushes to see her. Making this the second meeting by chance – again not in line with the plan. But David does not want to give up so easily this time and really tries to make sure he can keep seeing her.

Richardson is the main man trying to stop David for a while, but Harry wants to help David as well. I won’t spoil what happens in the end as the film does keep you guessing as you’re not actually sure which direction it is going to go in. It does have a few different twists and turns. But I will mention the doors, being able to go through a door and come out somewhere else in New York looks very cool!

I thought Matt Damon and Emily Blunt worked well together and had very good on-screen chemistry as well. I am not always with the biggest fan of Damon as find some of his roles very hit/miss. I thought this one was a big hit for me and would easily watch this film again.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story line and thinking about fate/chance /destiny and if it really does play a part in life.

10. Larry Crowne (Review)

I hate that I have put a Julia Roberts film in my 10 worst films of 2011, but I was so disappointed by this film! I was expecting too much from it and it really didn’t offer anything at all.

9. Warrior (Review)

This is probably my most controversial choice, but this film had such a massive build up and potential to be very good but it just totally failed for me.

8. The Three Musketeers

This could have been really good, but I found it was not memorable in the slightest and not worth the time and effort to sit and watch it!

7. Abduction

Now I wasn’t expecting this film to be good at all, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as bad as it was. Baring in mind the plot had pretty good potential but acting wise it was a total let down.

6. Conan the Barbarian (Review)

This seemed to start off alright, but then as it built up towards the end it just all ended in disappointment.

5. Horrible Bosses (Review)

Having the word horrible in the title can be related to this film as well, it was truly horrible from the start to the end.

4. Justice

Sorry Nicolas Cage but this does not get you back in the good film list or even on the mind. But let’s face it we never expected this to be very good. Cage’s track record in recent years for films has not been good at all.

3. Tower Heist

I didn’t even want to go and see this film as it just looked bad, so in that sense I wasn’t disappointed. It just seemed like one of the most pointless films I have seen in recent years and how the mighty have fallen aka Eddie Murphy!

2. Bad Teacher (Review)

Another film in this list with part of the title describing how I found the film, in this case bad . . . and wow it was very very bad. Possibly one of the worst films I have seen!

1.  The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I (Review)

Fantastically placed up in top spot of the worst films I saw in 2011. It really surprised me at how awful the film was, the fact it had music being played at random times over the top of everything and don’t get me started on the talking “dog” scene – one of the worst in cinema history for sure!

Lisbeth Salander a computer hacker and disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist form an unlikely partnership in an investigation into the disappearance of Harriet Vanger, 40 years earlier.

We are given a good background to both characters, seeing Mikael with his family and the people he works with at Millenium magazine and when he gets the offer from Vagner. We see how much of a struggle Lisbeth’s life seems to be, and glimpses of her violent lifestyle. That she did not have very good relationships with the men in her life, this being topped by the awful rape from a man in a postion of power over her and in control of everything.

I was very impressed with how true to the book the film stayed, with a lot of it being how I had imagined it whilst reading. Noomi Rapace was exactly how I imagined Lisbeth, capturing her withdrawn nature but then how she gets close to Mikael. Michael Nyqvist as Blomkvist also captured the character so well, bringing him to life from the page to the screen.

The pace of the film was very good and we got a very good amount of background information to aid the understanding of the story. Something I found important with the regards to an adaptation from the book, as we are given a lot of information to think about and remember from start to finish. This was handled with in a very good way in the film.

I haven’t really got into watching foreign films before as always thought reading the subtitles would be too much of a difficult task. But how wrong I was about that, the performances in this film are incredible. Plus a lot of Swedish words are similar to the English equivalent so it turns out you don’t actually have to read very much during the course of the film. I guess the old cliché of actions speak louder than words comes into it when brilliant performances are put in.

I really did find this a brilliant adaptation of the book from page to screen and at times it really was exactly how I imagined it whilst reading the book. Rapace was the perfect Salander in my eyes!

Looking at this list I feel as though I have missed some of the best films of 2011!

The Artist

The Help

Midnight in Paris

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Beginners

Tree of Life

Hugo

Ides of March

Moneyball

Drive

Best Motion Picture – Drama

The Descendants

The Help

Hugo

The Ides of March

Moneyball

War Horse

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

50/50

The Artist

Bridesmaids

Midnight in Paris

My Week with Marilyn

Best Actor – Drama

George Clooney, The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio, J Edgar

Michael Fassbender, Shame

Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Actress – Drama

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis, The Help

Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Actor – Comedy or Musical

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Brendan Gleeson, The Guard

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50

Ryan Gosling, Crazy Stupid Love

Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

Best Actress – Comedy or Musical

Jodie Foster, Carnage

Charlize Theron, Young Adult

Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids

Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Kate Winslet, Carnage

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn

Albert Brooks, Drive

Jonah Hill, Moneyball

Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo, The Artist

Jessica Chastain, The Help

Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer, The Help

Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Director

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

George Clooney, The Ides of March

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Best Screenplay

The Artist

The Descendants

The Ides of March

Moneyball

Midnight in Paris

Best Score

The Artist

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Hugo

War Horse

W.E.

Best Song

Albert Nobbs, ‘Lay Your Head Down’

Gnomeo and Juliet, ‘Hello Hello’

The Help, ‘The Living Proof’

Machine Gun Preacher, ‘The Keeper’

W.E., ‘Masterpiece’

Best Animated Feature

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Arthur Christmas

Cars 2

Puss in Boots

Rango

Best Foreign Language Film

The Flowers of War (China)

In the Land of Blood and Honey (USA)

The Kid with a Bike (Belgium)

A Separation (Iran)

The Skin I Live in (Spain)

Television awards

Best TV Series – Drama

American Horror Story

Boardwalk Empire

Boss

Games of Thrones

Homeland

Best TV Series – Comedy or Musical

Enlightened

Episodes

Glee

Modern Family

New Girl

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV

Cinema Verite

Downton Abbey

The Hour

Mildred Pierce

Too Big to Fail

Best Actor – Drama

Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Kelsey Grammer, Boss

Jeremy Irons, The Borgias

Damian Lewis, Homeland

Best Actress – Drama

Claire Danes, Homeland

Mireille Enos, The Killing

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Madeleine Stowe, Revenge

Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness

Best Actor – Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

David Duchovny, Californication

Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory

Thomas Jane, Hung

Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Best Actress – Comedy or Musical

Laura Dern, Enlightened

Zooey Deschanel, New Girl

Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Laua Linney, The Big C

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best Actor – Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV

Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey

Idris Elba, Luther

William Hurt, Too Big to Fail

Bill Nighy, Page Eight

Dominic West, The Hour

Best Actress – Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV

Romola Garai, The Hour

Diane Lane, Cinema Verite

Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey

Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult

Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Best Supporting Actor

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail

Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce

Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite

Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best Supporting Actress

Jessica Lange, American Horror Story

Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire

Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce

Period Film

THE ARTIST     Production Designer: Laurence Bennett

HUGO     Production Designer: Dante Ferretti

THE HELP     Production Designer: Mark Ricker

ANONYMOUS     Production Designer: Sebastian Krawinkel

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY     Production Designer: Maria Djurkovic

Fantasy Film

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2     Production Designer: Stuart Craig

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER     Production Designer: Rick Heinrichs

THE ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN: THE SECRET UNICORN     Production Designer: TBD

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES     Production Designer: John Myhre

COWBOYS & ALIENS     Production Designer: Scott Chambliss

Contemporary Film

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO    Production Designer: Donald Graham Burt

THE DESCENDANTS     Production Designer: Jane Anne Stewart

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE Production Designer: K.K. Barrett

DRIVE     Production Designer: Beth Mickle

BRIDESMAIDS     Production Designer: Jefferson Sage

Best Picture
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse 

Best Animated Film
The Adventures of Tintin
Cars 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Best Documentary
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
Bill Cunningham New York
Project Nim
Senna
The Union 

Long-form Television
Cinema Verite
Downton Abbey
The Kennedys
Mildred Pierce
Too Big to Fail

TV Comedy
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation

TV Drama
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Mad Men

Live Entertainment & Talk
The Colbert Report
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Real Time with Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
The 64th Annual Tony Awards

Competition Television
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

Non-Fiction TV
30 for 30
American Masters
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Deadliest Catch
Undercover Boss

Ethan Hunt is back for the fourth time and must work with his time rouge, when IMF goes into ghost protocol . . . meaning none of them even exist anymore.

We have come to pretty much know what to expect with MI films now and you cannot really go wrong if you want an action film to watch and enjoy. I have to admit that I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy this film as much as I did, yet I found it very engaging from start to finish.

The fast pace is very good to the story line which does not allow the audience to take much of a breath throughout, we have explosions, jumping out of buildings and car chases. All of this with a very strong plot with many twists and turns along the way. I wasn’t entirely sure which way everything was going to go, which can only be a good thing. We wouldn’t want the whole plot to be too obvious.

Along with the action, we get a very good mix of comedy with some brilliant one liners and exchanges which mainly involved Simon Pegg. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot but Ethan’s wife is a main focus point and a very important part from start to finish. Jeremy Renner impressed me yet again and seems to be going from strength to strength will each role he is cast in.

The team must prevent war between Russia and the USA after Ethan was set up to be involved in something he actually wasn’t. This lead to being followed by Russian’s making his mission even more difficult to complete. But the war they are trying to stop just happens to be a nuclear war! Can they get it all stopped in time? Well to find that out you’ll have to watch for yourself!

It really was such an entertaining film, I think the fact knowing Tom Cruise done the stunts himself especially climbing up The Burj Khalifa tower which is the tallest building in the world. I also loved the use of many Apple products, iPhone, iPad, Macbook Air! I think we can tell who has the edge on product placement!

Here’s an excerpt:

The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 160,000 times in 2011. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 7 days for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

• Try to review each film I see at the cinema – now this wasn’t far off in 2011 but must do better!
• Watch the films I have on DVD that I have never actually seen
• Focus on old films with the year ending in 2 . . . 2002, 1992, 1982 etc
• Form top 10 lists with regards to the above challenge
• Catch up on films I missed in 2011
• Make more use of my LOVEFiLM subscription
• See more than 57 films at the cinema (2011′s total)

What about anyone else, any 2012 challenges?

Man on a Ledge

Now this one looks interesting and let’s be honest I am sick of seeing the trailer! I am looking forward to finding out exactly why a man is on the ledge!

The Woman in Black

Another which I have seen the trailer for a lot at the end of this year. It looks creepy and it’s always good to see Daniel Radcliffe away from Harry Potter and watching his progression as an actor.

The Vow

Yes I do have a soft spot for a bit of romance, and the Vow looks to have that in abundance. As Tatum must help McAdams remember who he is after an accident. I know it sounds corny but it sounds nice and I do like a bit of Channing Tatum as well!

Mirror Mirror

One of two Snow White based films to be released in 2012. I have opted for Mirror Mirror as the film I want to see the most out of the two of them. I am sure you can figure out why, because of my favorite Julia Roberts in the role of the Evil Queen!

The Hunger Games

In all honesty I don’t completely know what this is all about, but a friend of mine has read and loves the books. Which is an aim of mine before this comes out, yes you guessed it to read the books!

The Lucky One

I really do have such a soft spot for Nicholas Spark’s based films. They always seem to hit a nerve and really talk to me. Yes I am showing my romantic at heart side again with this choice. Plus throwing in Zac Efron makes me extra happy!

The Avengers

This film has probably has the longest build up, due to the fact 3 different films end ready for this one to begin! All linking together, which could not have been an easy task. But good in the way of building this film up even more and creating a big fan base and interest. What can be better than Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and more all teaming up together?

Men in Black III

Ok probably a very guilty pleasure really, but come on I was young when the first film came out and totally loved it. Didn’t really have the same love for the second film, but surely this will be quite a nice visit to some old friends? Well maybe, maybe not but we don’t have very long to find out.

Rock of Ages

A musical with rock songs and Catherine Zeta Jones . . . doesn’t really get any better than that so the rest of the cast are an added bonus really. This looks like it is going to be a good movie musical!

The Amazing Spider-Man

I have never been a big fan of the Spider-Man films, but now with the reboot and Andrew Garfield in the lead role it has very much caught my attention therefore making the list of films I am looking forward to in 2012. Garfield has looked impressive in his other roles, so I am very excited to see him take on this role.

The Dark Knight Rises

The end for Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy which is so sad, but at the same time we are just expecting so much from this film. After the brilliant Dark Knight which really blew everyone away, this one is going to be epic!

Skyfall

Bond is back for his 23rd official outing and my favorite Daniel Craig is Bond again! Hopefully this film can build on the ground work the previous two films have put down, but more like Casino Royale! We all know what to expect from 007 and rarely disappointed by his big screen outings!

Les Misérables

Being the musical geek that I am, seeing a big screen adaptation of Les Mis is just brilliant. Although I have not actually seen this one on the stage yet (terrible I know). I guess this gives me a short time to quickly see it on the stage before the film comes out!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

It feels like forever waiting for this film, I know still pretty much a year but after the trailer being released last week it looks so good and is going to be well worth the wait. So excited to see this on the big screen, as I found the book to be just brilliant.

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander (Mara), a young computer hacker.

Now this film has been on my want to see list since it was first announced that the remake would be taking place. (I have still not watched the Swedish version which I have owned on DVD since it’s release . . . bad I know!). But anyway I waited for this version to hit the theatres. I have read the book and found it to be brilliant, although difficult to get into. I always find it very interesting to see how they are adapted from page to screen.

In a complex story the film has a very good pace to it, ensuring that we have as much detail as possible. Yet still moving certain things on rather quickly. We get a look into what a horrible life Lisbeth has with a very difficult scene to watch, they really went for it with the rape scene and I think it done the book justice in that sense and rightly it felt awful to see it on the screen.

Mikael was quickly seen heading to meet Henrik Vanger and explain the situation of his niece who disappeared 40 years earlier. Presumed dead and only close family who would be to blame or could have  killed her. This really grips Mikael and he puts everything into the investigation after he starts to figure out things which no one else had noticed in the past.

Lisbeth Salander becomes his assistant in research after he finds out that she done a very impressive yet invasive background check before Vanger hired him. This is when they start working together, Lisbeth is on board as soon as he tells her that he is trying to find a killer of women. Lisbeth has not had the best experiences with men over her short life.

The performances from the different actors really were very impressive especially Stellan Skarsgard as Martin Vagner, he really got the character spot on and was truly brilliant in the role. Rooney Mara who is unrecognizable as Salander was incredible and exactly how I imagined her to be. Daniel Craig puts in another good performance as Blomkvist the disgraced journalist, yet his Swedish accent only seemed to last for about four words. While the rest of the characters all kept their Swedish accents. Christopher Plummer was a scene stealer as Henrik Vagner exactly how he should be!

While the ending was changed from the book – this is the only part I find disappointing as I really liked the ending of the book. I have tried not to spoil the major plot and revelations of the film in case people have not read the book. In which case some of the film may seem rather strange due to the fast pace at times. Especially the character build up and background mainly of Lisbeth.

Overall, I found this film to be a very good adaptation of the book and really helped to show how good the story and plot is!

The second installment of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role with Jude Law as his trusted friend Dr Watson.

After the massive success of the first reboot of Sherlock Holmes it was never a doubt that we would see Downey Jr and Law team up for a second outing. I am very pleased that they decided to make this film as I found it more enjoyable and better all round than the first film.

This film see’s Holmes and Watson taking on Professor Moriarty trying to outwit him and prevent a war starting in Europe. Something which Professor Moriarty was trying to accomplish. We are introduced to some new characters including Sherlock’s brother Mycroft played by the wonderful Stephen Fry added something a little different to the film.

We are left wondering if Watson will actually make it to his own wedding after getting into a little trouble with Holmes the night before his wedding. It keeps the comedy value from the first film with the brilliant chemistry between the two leading men. Noomi Rapace is brought in as a gypsy who’s brother they are trying to find as he is key to stopping the worst from happening.

Performance wise Rapace does not have many lines in the film but does have quite a lot of screen time.  I was expecting a little bit more from her after the praise she received for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. But she wasn’t really given the chance to shine too much in this film.

I really did love Stephen Fry’s inclusion and such a fine choice to be Sherlock’s older brother. He can do no wrong no matter which role he is in. Also being in possibly one of the funniest scenes with Watson’s new bride. I throughly enjoyed the scenes on the train as well – this always seems to be a winning formula.

With many fight scenes as well, it really did take such a step up from the first film and despite being just over 2 hours long  it was very engaging for the audience members.

What if Santa Clause went hi-tech and one little girl come Christmas morning was not going to have a present to open from Santa?

In this film we see that the North Pole has gone very high-tech and the elves help Santa in delivering the presents to all of the children all over the world. We see that the sleigh has been replaced by what looks like a giant space ship and no longer pulled by the reindeer.

Arthur who is Santa’s youngest son loves reading all of the letters from the young children who are asking for one special toy for Christmas. So when one present is then left in the North Pole on Christmas Eve and his brother Steve and father do not seem too bothered that one little girl won’t get her gift, he teams up with his grandfather to ensure she receives her gift from Santa before Christmas Day is upon them.

This involves getting out the old sleigh and calling upon the trusty reindeer to once again pull the sleigh to deliver that final present. This was not an easy task at all and they encountered many problems along the way. Mainly not being able to find the right direction to get to England.

I wasn’t really expecting very much from this film which I think helped me to enjoy it even more. I went in with an open mind and not feeling the Christmas spirit. So heading to the cinema to see this on Christmas Eve Eve really did make a difference and helped me get into the Christmas mood. Mainly because it had a very high Santa theme – which I think has been missing from Christmas films in the past few years.

It really was a brilliant story for children to watch in the lead up to Christmas and get into the spirit showing them that Santa will never leave out any child on Christmas morning when it comes to that one special present! You had to just love Arthur as well with his attitude and determination remembering what Christmas is all about when you are a young child. That is the magic of Santa and the North Pole.

I also found that some of the jokes and one liners were very much aimed towards the adults who would be in the audience as well. So a very good animated film with something for people of all ages.

A family moves into a new house but everything is not as it seems when it unfolds that a family was killed in the house years earlier.

I have to admit that I was not entirely sure what to expect with this film, as the trailer didn’t really give away very much in regards to the plot. Yes the pull of Daniel Craig being the lead actor was one of the main reasons I wanted to see this film.

The plot turned out to be rather complex and difficult to guess what was going on. My theory came out about halfway through the film, so therefore I knew there was more too it than I had first thought. Which had to be a good thing as that meant so much more was to come.

Everything just seemed very strange especially when people all seemed to know more than Will did about the past, what had happened in that house and who he actually was – that shouldn’t be seen as too much of a spoiler as that is something that seems strange straight away.

In theory it was all a good idea for a film, but didn’t really flow very well at times and flashing between two different things made it more complicated that it had to be at times. But it still had its good moments and many twists and turns. We are never actually sure what was real and what was not.

When we went to see this film it was not our first choice, as the film we intended to see had already started. Which I am actually quite pleased about as I did think this film had a good ending twist and was very good to watch. Even if the whole cinema screen jumped near the start . . . that wasn’t really a sign of what was to come as it wasn’t really a jumpy film. I would recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of thrillers and like to attempt to guess the endings of films like this, as I am curious to see if anyone guessed the ending.

I try not to be biased towards Daniel Craig as I really am a big fan and enjoy seeing him in all different types of films and roles. This was no exception!

This film shows us how different people in New York spend their New Year’s Eve. We share the laughs and nice moments, maybe even a few tears shed as well.

We are more than used to this type of film now after Love Actually started it all off with the Christmas theme, and then we have had a one about Paris and New York. But New Year’s Eve is more like the follow-up . . . or second in the series from Garry Marshall, after Valentine’s Day. I have to admit that I enjoyed NYE much more than V-Day as felt it was less pushing the event down our throats as we watched.

Some of the storylines kept us guessing from start to finish, and I really wasn’t on the ball myself the night I saw this film as didn’t really do very well in guessing who was going to end up with who. Although a couple of the stories were very obvious.

Quite a few of my favorite actors and actresses are in this film which encouraged me to want to see it even more. Especially with my love for Jon Bon Jovi who yes does sing a couple of songs along with the voice that is Lea Michele! It is by no means the best film or anything really special but I found it to be watchable and if it was realised closer to New Year it probably would have helped fill you with hope for the up and coming year.

I have never really had a very eventual New Year’s Eve so cannot really relate to any of the characters in that sense as most of them are trying to get somewhere to meet someone and live happily ever after . . . ok maybe not happily ever after but at least a good start to the New Year. Which is probably something everyone has thought about before, really kicking off the year with a nice start to it.

I think I quite enjoyed the Zac Efron and Michelle Pfeiffer storyline when he was helping her complete the list of what seemed impossible things with very creative methods. While it was all so he could get tickets to an exclusive ball, in the end he does help her out for one last thing which is rather amusing.

I still was disappointed that Garry Marshall did not call upon the one actresses he has worked with the most and my most favorite . . . Julia Roberts that has to be one thing this film is missing!

But if you want to watch something else which does not require a lot of thought and will make you smile and laugh this really is the film to do just that. Especially with a couple of days left before 2012 begins . . .

It’s that time of year again . . . time to watch all of those Christmas films! I thought a small recap of the films I have already reviewed on my blog and the Top 10 Christmas films list I completed last year would be a good way to start and then films which have not been reviewed yet will be added onto the blog! Possibly with more Top 10 lists if I can think of some to do!

Reviews

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Review

Home Alone (1990) Review

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) Review

Love Actually (2003) Review

Elf (2003) Review

Fred Claus (2007) Review

Holiday in Handcuffs (2007) Review

A Christmas Carol (2009) Review

Colin Clark spent a week with Marilyn Monroe when she was in England filming The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Olivier.

I had been looking forward to this film since first hearing about it and so pleased that I enjoyed it from start to finish. I have always loved Marilyn Monroe because of the fantastic quotes and incredible screen presence she has. I know quite a lot about her background of the difficult yet so tragically short life she had. So much more than a dumb blonde!

This film gives us an insight into what a tortured soul she really was. Everyone expecting her to be so much more than she really was. They wanted her to be Monroe all of the time and that was not a real person.

The story is from the point of view of Colin Clark who wanted to be in the film industry more than anything and ended up getting himself a job as third assistant director to Laurence Olivier – who was directing a film for the first time. With the experience leaving him not wanting to direct any more!

I found Michelle Williams performance to be just brilliant and at times very scary at how much she looked and sounded like Marilyn, she really became her for the film.

So seeing everything through Colin’s eyes we got an insight of how Marilyn really was behind the scenes. We get to see how vulnerable she was behind the camera, and the different troubles she came up against. Newly married to play-write Arthur Miller who left her in London alone. This was when Colin became a person Marilyn confided in and talked to. He so obviously fell in love with her, which is what a lot of men seemed to do.

I really enjoyed the film, mainly due to the format it was in. We got to see things from an outsiders point of view, and the way the film was being done. Dame Judi Dench was her usual brilliant self in a pretty small role, yet was still ever so memorable.

I can see this film being very well received and a one I would like to watch again very soon! Overall a very nice film to watch, I found it just flew over.

The beginning of the end for the Twilight Saga see’s the first part to Breaking Dawn released at the cinema. This one is a strange one for myself as I stopped reading the book halfway through . . .

I thought the way they decided to go for it with this film, had it close to the two-hour mark, yet hardly anything actually happens. The first major problem I found was the heavy use of music/songs throughout the film which I thought was very distracting and the scenes could have been much better with silence used instead of loud music which did not really fit the mood.

Ok so fair enough I wasn’t really expecting to like the film and went in thinking it was going to be bad. Nothing about it really changed my mind. I’m sure people who have just seen the trailer know what the film is about . . . Edward and Bella getting married and then Bella getting pregnant. Obviously Jacob is not happy with it all, yet still sticks around in an attempt to help her.

They tried to put a lot of humour into the film, but I don’t really think it works very well as it makes it too difficult to take it seriously in any way at all. Just when I was thinking the films were starting to get better from the first one as well, but this really is not the best at all. Maybe the fact I stopped reading the book half way through has influenced my dislike for this film.

I think its more because I felt that they really could have made this a very good film, gripping and make us care about the characters. I don’t feel like it was like that at all. Even little details like how Edward looked changed, he looked normal and less white . . . therefore less vampire.

I went to see the film with a friend who had read the books and we even went to the midnight screening of Eclipse! We both just kept looking at each other throughout the film, which is not really a good thing at all. We were quite shocked by how bad some of it was. We didn’t really have much to say about the film when it finished either!

What if William Shakespeare did not write any of his works and Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford had instead . . .

This is what this film looks into, along with who will succeed Elizabeth I on the throne of England and the Essex rebellion against her. The film flashes backwards and forwards across many years. This is to show us the relationship between Edward and Elizabeth, and how many things were kept hidden and secret.

Ben Johnson who was another playwright and was asked to put his name to the Earl of Oxford’s plays. But morally he did not feel right about it, hence actor Will Shakespeare stepping in and lending his name and making money by keeping quiet about who really wrote the plays.

I have to admit that to begin with I did find it confusing to keep track of who the different characters were in the younger scenes with different actors, to the most seen timescale. But this was not a problem for very long, just took a lot of concentration to keep track of who was who. The different names and titles were also a little bit confusing at first.

I do love anything about the Tudor’s they were my favorite part of history when I was at school, so a film like this was always going to grab my attention. I will also admit that I do like Shakespeare based films as well, which obviously overlaps a bit in films about Elizabeth I.

Performance wise in the film I really thought Rhys Ifans was just fantastic and almost unrecognisable from the roles we are used to seeing him in. Which was a major part of this film working, but he really does give it his all as the Earl.

I know many different theories have been said about Shakespeare not actually writing his own plays/works. Mainly because both of his parents were illiterate which makes it hard to believe that he could actually read and write himself. So this film explores some of those theories.

I have to admit that I was very shocked by the incest revolution near the end of the film, and don’t think that was really needed, as the story already had enough impact. This film hasn’t really received the best reviews but despite a rather confusing start I found myself really wrapped up in what was going on until the very end. I liked the way it started on a stage and ended on the stage, a very nice touch.

The story of Sam Childers who was a drug addict biker who found god and became a crusader for hundreds of children in Sudan.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this film as I did not know the background story. Therefore when it started I was very confused about the direction the film was going. We see Sam being released from prison and picked up by his wife. Then drinking and taking drugs with his best friend.

But one night when Sam thinks he has killed a man, he decides to change his life around and attends church with his wife, daughter and mother. This is therefore the rebirth of Sam, he completely changes everything around. Getting himself work and then managing to start-up his own business. His new-found faith doesn’t just stop at going to church, he decides to build his own church. In order to help people like himself, who are addicted to drugs giving them an option and lifeline.

But still this part of the film seems like a totally different film to the next part, when Sam visits Africa to help out the people by building houses and different places. When he gets an insight into how bad it is for the children. Who’s parents are killed in front of them, then they are forced to join the gangs. Sam wants to help them and put a stop to it all.

I found this film to be an extremely emotional journey from start to finish with so many scenes that could easily bring a tear to your eye. I thought Gerard Butler was fantastic in the role and very believable. It is clear that faith is a very strong thing for someone to have, but we also get to see how easily it can be questioned when bad things are happening.

Sam pushes his wife and daughter away and almost loses them due to his wanting to help the children of Sudan. He really does find himself consumed with it all. Finding the balance does not work out too well for him at times. Just when it looks like he has lost his mind and flipped out, when hunting down the gangs and killing them a conversation with a young boy saves and reminds him of the plan.

I really did like this film, for the way it put the messages out there. Although I would place it as one of those films that you do not have to watch more than once for the message to stick and to always remember parts of it. It is not one of those films that you have to watch over and over. But some fantastic performances from Butler and Michael Shannon as well.

In the near future in a world which wanted more than human boxing – as it was no longer seen as violent enough, robots now compete in the fights. Destroying each other into lots of pieces.

Charlie Kenton (Jackman) was a boxer who is struggling to keep making money and we see his robots getting destroyed. He owes lots of different people a lot of money. His whole life changes when he is reunited with his 11-year-old son, Max. Who he had never met before, but after the death of his mother everything changes when Max spends the summer with Charlie.

I wasn’t expecting this film to have a very heartwarming father/son storyline to it. But it really did have a good story and made us care about the characters as well – or at least I cared about the characters and that is without being a perv towards Hugh Jackman as well! Which obviously is very difficult not to do, as let’s face it he is a very good-looking man!

But we are not really supposed to like Charlie because of his attitude and the things he does, especially towards Max. But slowly over the course of the film and finding the old bot we see him change his ways and not only become a father but a better man as well. So that must be a surprise that a film about robots which are put into a boxing ring to smash each other up actually has a good story-line to it.

I really did enjoy this film and wasn’t really expecting to as much as I did. What do you think about this film?

What character would you most like to be sat next to on a plane?

Delores Van Cartier from Sister Act/Sister Act 2

What character would you most want to enjoy a passionate romance with?

Noah from ‘The Notebook’

If you were a cop who would you want as your partner?

Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon Series

What animated feature would you love to walk around in?

Make that swim . . . Finding Nemo

What adventure based on earth would you most like to go on / OR / What adventure based in an otherworldly, fantasy-based location would you most like to go on? 

Middle Earth in the quest to destroy the one ring . . . Lord of the Rings

What movie gadget would you love to try out (or steal)?

What film’s plot would you alter and how would you do it?

What one film would you most want to be transported into, simply to be a part of that world?

Harry Potter . . . Hogwarts would have been so much fun

A snack which I occasionally buy, usually if I have not had much else to eat as find them rather filling . . . especially when they now have a foot-long hot dog at Cineworld. They really do have to be the best hot dogs you can get. One major problem though has to be the price, they are not cheap at all.

With Cineworld being my local cinema and having my Unlimited pass I have not actually tried a hot dog from any other cinema chain. (So I have no idea if they supply the same hot dogs or they are different). I do know that Westler seem to be the biggest hot dog supplier.

If you want a hot dog it will probably set you back around £4 or maybe about £8/£9 if you opt for a combo with two drinks. Or a combo with one drink about £6. Luckily my Cineworld has been giving us 30% off for being Unlimited Card holders for the past few months which is a brilliant saving!

Do you ever opt for a cinema Hot Dog?

I tried to pick all different types of R-Rated films subject wise to keep my list interesting.

I can still remember when this film came out when I was in secondary school and we all really loved it.

You don’t want the children watching this one . . .

You do not talk about Fight Club

All crazy in this one

Johnny English Reborn

He is back for another installment!

The Lion King – 3D

One of Disney’s most loved films is making a return to the big screen in 3D.

Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen is back with a comedy about a family travelling to Paris and then re-evaluating their life.

Footloose

A remake of the much loved 80′s classic gets a reboot for the new generation.

The Three Musketeers

Another reboot that has included quite a lot of films already in the series over the years.

Real Steel

What if two people boxing was not enough? And they were replaced by machines which could then get smashed into small pieces. Well that is what we get to find out in Real Steel – I am actually quite looking forward to this one.

Dolphin Tale

A friendship between a boy and a dolphin – also starring Morgan Freeman who is apparently his usual brilliant self.

Albatross

Two teenagers with a love for writing and who aspire to write novels become friends but everything has the potential to fall apart when one of them starts an affair with the others father.

First Night

A film about a man who wants to find more culture to fulfill his life. This sees him perform in an opera show.

Will

An orphan travels across Europe to see the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul.

Contagion

The outbreak of a deadly disease. Fantastic cast for this film!

Restless

A terminally ill teenager falls in love with a boy who likes attending funerals.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

The mother of a teenagers who went on a high school killing spree tried to deal with her grief. By writing to her estranged husband.

Monte Carlo

Three young women who are visiting Paris find themselves taken to Monte Carlo after being mistaken for being a British heiress.

The Adventures of TinTin: Secret of the Unicorn

Tintin and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship and go off on a treasure hunt.

The Help

An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960′s decides to write a book from the point of view of the African American maid and what they think of the white families they work for.

Anonymous

What if William Shakespeare had not actually written any of his plays, and it was all a conspiracy against the real man who wrote them.

The Ides of March

An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Back on the big screen for Halloween!!!

I Don’t Know How She Does It . . . is all based around character Kate (SJP) who must find a balance between work and her family life.

We don’t often see the story of a woman who has a high-powered job yet also has a husband and two young children. Could that be because it is not something that happens very often? Surely that cannot be true anymore and this must be common for hundreds and thousands of women around the world? Well I for one hope so, that you can find a balance between the two worlds.

We see Kate travelling around to different cities arriving home very late at night and having to do something for her daughter’s school the next morning. We see her struggle as her daughter is 5/6 years old and not happy with her mother leaving a lot. Her two-year old son it doesn’t really affect as much. Kate still finds it so difficult to leave them, but also loves her job as well which makes it much more difficult.

The way the film is done has our central character Kate stop in scenes at times and talk to the camera, telling us her thoughts at that very moment. We also have other characters telling us their thoughts on Kate, including her best friend, a work colleague and another of the mothers from school. Basically explaining that they don’t get how Kate does it at all. I’m not the biggest fan of that type of thing in a film like this, tried to make it seem at times like a documentary – which it was obviously so far from.

When Kate is put on a big project at work, this sees her travelling and spending a lot of time in New York with Jack Abelhammer (Brosnan). It must be slightly wrong but I was just waiting for him to make a move on Kate. But that didn’t really happen in the way that I thought it was. It turned out to be quite a cute and lovely scene. Maybe because it felt the wrong way around, we are more used to seeing a woman making a fool of herself but this time it was the man.

Quite a lot of the things that went wrong for Kate, like sending emails to the wrong person were amusing and you can imagine yourself doing things like that. Generally getting yourself into embarrassing situations, other than that this film was not particularly memorable. I do seem to be alone in being a fan of Sarah Jessica Parker, she always seems to get such a tough time from critics and film watchers as well. Maybe it’s difficult when you can always see a part of Carrie Bradshaw in her roles but I have a soft spot for her.

The main idea of this film is to prove that women can have and do it all. While it times it may not be very easy, it does manage to work itself out in the end. Possible helps to show that women can take more on and not complain compared to men? Although we all knew that was true anyway.

Having attended the cinema hundreds and hundreds of times over the years, I have a rather strange thing of keeping all of the cinema tickets from the different screenings. Which my friends still laugh at – yet appreciate if we ever argue about which screen we saw a certain film in the past. Yes that probably does sound very sad but it’s just one of our cinema things that we seem to do.

I have them all in a book, in date order . . . yes it does seem to get worse and even more geeky. But before starting this blog it’s probably good to see some of the random films I have been to see and that have never been seen since the cinema. I do plan on some future blog posts or at least a record on the blog of the films I have seen in the cinema (that I still have the tickets for).

Most of my tickets will be from Cineworld, but I am sure I have a couple of random ones from different cinema chains. Especially a few from when I have been to the USA and seen films out their, particularly when I lived in New Jersey. Found it quite good to see films before the UK, yet slightly strange that when I came home a couple of the films then came out a few months later.

Collecting cinema tickets has to be one of my most geeky film things . . . or at least the main one that I actually realize. I don’t really seem to collect much else film wise. As I have mentioned before on the blog I am a proud holder of a Cineworld Unlimited Card.

This makes it easier to head to the cinema to see more films. Or at least the films you probably wouldn’t end up going to see. Hence keeping the tickets being a good idea for me! We can go as many times as possible – which obviously works better when more films are out.

I tend to go at least once a week to the cinema (when more films are out twice a week), but have done days in recent months seeing two films in one day . . . aka a cinema day! Which you have to admit that there is really nothing better than being able to relax and watch films at the cinema = good times.

One thing I can count on is that my cinema ticket collection is going to continue to grow and nothing is really ever going to stop that. I love attending the cinema and keeping the tickets from the showing is just something I have done for years now. I think the oldest ticket I seem to have is from the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – which is very fitting as it was the Lord of the Rings Trilogy that really confirmed and started my love for film.

Do you keep your cinema ticket stubs? or just throw them away after the film?

Cal Weaver (Carell) must rebuild his life after finding out about his wife’s affair when she wants a divorce. He must reconnect with his children and meets Jacob Palmer (Gosling) who helps him change his image.

This film does not turn out to the usual romantic comedy, it takes many different twists and turns throughout. Just when you think that you have it all figured out and know the direction it is going in it suddenly changes to have some different meanings. The main thing in the film has to be the idea of a soul mate – that one person you are meant to be with.

Cal believes that his high school sweetheart and wife is his soul mate and he is not meant to be with anyone else. Hence taking it very hard when she tells him she wants a divorce. But she was the only woman he had been with until the split and he meet ladies man Jacob who taught him how to talk to women.

Jacob does not seem to believe in soul mates or even love. He has a very pleasing lifestyle as a bachelor until he meets as he puts it “the game changer”. I actually found the night he got with Hannah the best in the film, they had that one night when you spend it talking to someone and really fall hard for them. You get to know everything about them.

Robbie who is 13 is in love with his babysitter Jessica, and he believes that she is his soul mate despite the age gap between them. Obviously she does not feel the same way about him but who she thinks she is in love with causes some problems in the film.

If you haven’t seen this film yet I will not spoil the twist at the end . . . if you have seen the film, you know what twist I mean and I did not see that coming at all. The whole ending was quite difficult to predict as it really could have gone many different ways. I was unsure what direction it was going to end and still cannot quite decide whether or not I am happy about the ending.

I did enjoy this film as it was very different, it had some very funny moments but also some very touching moments. A very good balance of them both. You cannot help but like Steve Carell in which ever role you see him in, he manages to make you feel sorry for him. I thought Ryan Gosling was just brilliant and I would have loved to see more of him in this film.

Tommy (Hardy) suddenly returns home to his father Paddy (Nolte) and asks him to be his trainer again to take part in a mixed martial arts competition. But his brother Brendan (Edgerton) who he has not seen for years is also taking part, despite being a physics teacher.

A lot of mystery surrounds the characters as the film has started and we slowly have to piece together why they have not had contact for years. Although Paddy being an alcoholic is pretty simple to see that it tore them all apart years ago. No love seems to be lost between them all though.

We slowly see that Tommy had been in the marines and had served in Iraq. That being his motivation for wanting to win the MMA competition to give the money to his brother in arms’ wife and child that was left behind. While his brother a physic teacher was struggling to pay the bills and close to losing his house. This was his motivation, keeping his family in their home.

I found the film to be rather slow at times, but can understand that it did need to be for parts of the story. But I think I was expecting slightly more training and showing the fights in the cage. The parts it did show were very good and I would have liked to see so much more.

At the core of the fighting side of the film was a torn apart family which you could not help but wonder if they would reconcile in the end.

The subject of alcoholism for the father was rather hard-hitting. As at one point you could actually not help but feel sorry for him (well I couldn’t help it). Not seeing what trauma he had actually caused his two sons over the years and when they were growing up. But Nolte really did manage to take on the role in such a fantastic way. Having the audience really think about how we felt about him. Pity was probably the other thing we would have felt for him. He seemed to be trying but it was all too little too late.

Overall, I didn’t think this film was as good as I expected it to be after the very positive reviews and words it had around it. The trailer now on TV saying it’s the best film of the year – I really don’t agree with that at all. Maybe I was expecting too much from this film.

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley (Oldman) comes back from forced retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6.

I have to admit that when the film first started I thought it was going to be a very long 127 minutes, as it does have a very slow start and you don’t really have any idea of what is actually going on. As we are shown quite a few different things going on. But don’t worry too much about that as it all does make sense as the story slowly unfolds throughout the course of the film.

I thought Gary Oldman really was just fantastic as George and trying to find out who the mole is, having to think about everyone who had been around him for years. With a few different people mentioning a mole but not being entirely sure who it was George really did have his work cut out. Especially when finding out at one time he was a suspect himself by Control.

I have been finding it quite difficult to do this review without spoiling any of the plot, so going to look more on the performances of the fantastic cast. Tom Hardy keeps impressing me with each role I see him in, his character in this film was very important. Colin Firth is one of my favorite actors and he put in yet another brilliant performance. Mark Strong is a supporting actor who I always enjoy and think he rises to the occasion.

If you decide to go and see this film, not entirely sure how much audience pull it has. The screening we went to was the 9pm on a Friday night and it did not have that many people in. So whether this will have a good box office taking is another thing. I did find it rather slow in the beginning but it did end up leaving you on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen next.

While at first I thought it was going to be slow, the pace really did pick up and we really got into it. I have not read the book or seen the TV series either so I don’t know how much difference that would make.

He was nominated twice for an Academy Award but only ever won an honorary Oscar. Grant has often been voted the greatest movie star of all time – if not coming first he is very near the top. His charisma and on-screen presence really was just incredible, he had a brilliant charm and manner that it was impossible not to love him.

Mae West really helped to launch his Hollywood career when casting him in ‘I’m No Angel’ and ‘She Done Him Wrong’. Two films I totally adore with having West and Grant in them, they really do have fantastic on-screen chemistry. She totally dominated him at times in the films, but still managed to show what a fantastic leading man he would become.

My favorite film starring Grant has to be ‘An Affair to Remember’ mainly because it was the first of his films that I ever watched and I really fell in love with both Grant and the film. It was a classic old style film, with a great love story and how can you not love that? It was Hollywood and our main two characters barely even kissed on-screen yet it was incredible how moving the film is. It will always be one of my favorite ever films. I still have a lot of Grant’s films to catch up on!

He is everything that you would want from a leading man on film, but also everything a woman wants from a man as well. He has the charm, the good looks, the lines and the attitude – they really aren’t like that anymore at all. He set a fantastic standard and was probably the best possible choice for James Bond – and yet did not ever play the role. Although he was supposed to be wanted for it. I am sure everyone can agree that we could easily imagine Grant as 007 because of his charm and brilliant on-screen presence.

He did not just stick to serious roles, he did not mind at all having people laughing at him and entertaining everyone who watches the films he starred in. Every woman wants to be with him and every man want’s to be him. That is not something that can be said about many actors or men for that matter. He really was just one of a kind and incredible in the films he starred in.

Grant had a very long and full life dying at the age of 82 after being married five times and having one daughter, being in 74 films. Always being a highlight at the Oscar ceremony and being very well-loved by his peers. One brilliant thing about films is being able to keep enjoying them year after year, therefore people will not forget about the brilliance of Cary Grant in films and how no one has really come close to him at all.

A story about a woman who realises that her life is not as she would have wanted. Starting by leaving her husband and the unhappy marriage she finds herself in, to take a year out to find herself and learn what life truly means.

If you have read or followed my blog you will know that Julia Roberts is my favorite actress, therefore I always have a slight bias towards her films. This one however has grown on me since a second viewing last week. I did see this the day it came out at the cinema and thought it was ok, but since watching it again I thought it was good and really enjoyed it more the second time around.

I just feel that the film all worked really well, and we are taken on this personal journey with Liz and we can relate to exactly what she is going through. Surely everyone at sometime in their lives wants to head off travel and find themselves. But hardly anyone will be willing to do just that, getting out of the life they do not want and starting again.

I think a reason why I felt like I could relate to the character as I always get scared that I will end up trapped like Liz was in a relationship and be scared to get out of it. So I really found myself feeling sorry for her, but also felt sorry for her husband Stephen. He really took it badly that she did not want to be with him anymore.

Eat – heading to Italy which involves lots of Pasta and Pizza meaning a lot of weight gain. But we see Liz learn about family and making friends whilst learning the language and understanding what effects people can have on you. Pray – was heading to India and trying to come to terms with leaving her husband and again making a friend with a fellow American who really does end up helping her. Love – falling into it again when she meets Felipe, accepting love in her life again.

It really does help to show what you can learn from different cultures and some time away from where your life has been for so many years. Getting away to understand the meaning of life from different people’s perspectives is something special. Whilst then learning and accepting things about yourself and your own life.

Therefore I feel that this film seemed to get a lot of negative reviews and criticism, but I felt that it done exactly what the story needed and show us how you can change your life. That you will never be stuck and you can make out of it what you really want.

Jamie (Kunis) and Dylan (Timberlake) meet after she headhunts him for a job for GQ in New York. Leaving him with a choice to move away from LA to NYC, which he does and they soon become close friends . . . but how close is too close?

Obviously we all know what friends with benefits is going to be about, it’s going to be about sex and if that has a massive impact on a friendship. Will it change the relationship and can two people have sex without feelings or becoming more involved. At certain times in the film I felt as though they had answered the questions and got it spot on, but towards the end the film became a cliché of itself.

From the beginning we see Jamie hating yet loving the “Hollywood” cliché that is mentioned throughout the film. Which is a fair enough point to be made, but seems a little pointless at the same time. But don’t get me wrong I really did enjoy this film I thought it was hilarious at times. The sex scenes were so funny and probably a lot more realistic than we are used to seeing on-screen. They tell each other what to do and it was awkward at times – which is more like real life.

Whilst being funny and entertaining we also have some quite deep storylines as well to go with it all. We know they are both damaged by different events in their lives – again something everyone watching can relate to. I didn’t see the story of Dylan’s father coming – until we first saw him and I guessed right away. Something which seems to be coming up more in films these days and I find it very hard-hitting for personal reasons.

I cannot make my mind up whether I think that storyline made the film better or it could have gone on without it. I’m thinking more the latter, mainly because with the tone of the rest of the film it felt like it was trying to hard to have some serious dramatic moments.

Other than that, it was an enjoyable cinema experience, Timberlake and Kunis are very easy to watch. Romantic comedies seem to be having quite a good time of it at the moment. I would watch this again when it comes onto TV!

This month’s LAMB Acting School features Cary Grant, who I list as one of my favorite actors. He had an incredible on screen presence and really was something else. We don’t see actors like Grant anymore, or even see characters like he played. They were always so charming and obviously he was so handsome.

Reviews

Charade (1963) 

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947) 

An Affair to Remember (1957)

Features

Cool Off With The Classics

Top 10: Movie Characters I Would Like To Be For The Day (to be his love interest!)

Cary Grant Week on Sky Movies

Eddie Murphy has been announced as the host for the 2012 Oscar ceremony. Having a total change back to a comedian hosting the night. After the unsuccessful turn of younger actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway – at least something different was tried last year, but I think the comedy value of a host really does make a massive difference. I loved Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in 2010.

So I am quite pleased with this as I am sure Eddie Murphy will do a very good job and be very funny in the process. After all he is a pro at stand-up and should be more than at home on the Oscar stage.

Gordon Gekko (Douglas) is now out of prison and trying to rebuild his life, his empire and relationship with his daughter Winnie (Mulligan). Using her stock broker boyfriend Jake Moore (LeBeouf) to do all of this.

A sequel to the very popular and well-known 1987 film Wall Street  . . . which saw a best actor Oscar go to Michael Douglas for his role as Gordon Gekko, with the phrase “Greed is good” becoming very well-known.

This film starts with Gordon getting out of prison and realising that he is not the man he once was and he has to start his life all over again. He writes a book and is seen giving talks in different places, about greed and money. It is 2008 in the film and we get to see the breakdown of the stock market and what caused it all to crash out of control.

Jake is an interesting character as he seems to be everything that you would expect Winnie to stay away from after her experiences with her father. He is very ambitious and really does remind us of Bud (Sheen) from the first film. Still learning his way and looking for a big break.

We are kept wondering throughout the film whether Gordon has really changed or not. As he seems to have his moments especially when it comes to making things up to Winnie. I’ll not spoil some of the events which happen in the film, but it does very much go for the happy hollywood ending which I wasn’t entirely sure if I liked.

While it was never going to be anywhere near as good as the first film, it did a job in covering the crash of Wall Street and how it effected people’s lives. Performance wise, you cannot complain about the strong cast and Michael Douglas reprising his Oscar-winning role.

Although a great one and possibly one of the best to start off with. Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire . . . now if you don’t act like this when a song you love comes on the radio, don’t forget the changing radio station to find a good song, then you must be boring whilst driving! Over to Tom . . .

One of my most favorite actresses also get in on the act. Firstly Catherine Zeta Jones rocking out to “I’m a bitch, I’m a lover” – totally going for it very much like Tom. You can actually imagine her doing this, but let’s face it she has a fantastic singing voice. (1:22-1:45)

While I personally think singing in the car alone is great. You can always have a sing-along as well, as the very creepy family in Step Brothers shows us:

Or you can have quite a romantic or not romantic singing with your boyfriend/girlfriend as shown in ‘The Last Song’ by Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. I wonder if they really do that when in the car together?

Be careful though having a romantic sing-song may go terribly wrong and make you doubt your partner as shown in Heartbreak Kid:

You may also get a small child having a right go at singing along to the song that is on, as shown in Rush Hour!

Annette Bening showing how a woman gets out some of her aggression in American Beauty. Plus the song totally expresses how she feels.

The very famous Wayne’s World – Bohemian Rhapsody scene! You cannot help but to love this, I’ve never actually seen this film before . . . yet seen this scene so many times.

Do you have any to add?

The third installment of the Goal Trilogy see’s us travel to Germany for the 2006 World Cup, with focus on three players. Santiago Munez (Becker) the focus of the first two films is in the Mexico squad, while his two Real Madrid teammates Liam Adams (Feild) and Charlie Braithwaite (Gregory) are in the England squad.

But this is far from Santiago based when a car crash early on sees his world cup dream die . . . and our focus is mainly on Liam and Charlie who are both battling different events in their lives. I think a car crash is the best way to describe this film, as it really is just terrible.

It couldn’t be further from the football based themes of the first two films. Maybe I like the first one a little too much mainly because it was set around my club Newcastle United. A factor which was brought back into this film was more mentions of Newcastle and the Geordies who go on tour to Germany, although taking a red and white stripped scarf – someone didn’t do some research on that one!

If it was in any way trying to get sympathy for footballers, it certainly did not work at all. None of it was realistic to what would have happened. I really have no idea why I even watched it all the way through. If as was planned before the trilogy started and it was all about Santiago this film might have been a little bit better. I didn’t really want to have to relive the 2006 World Cup and how England went out. The edited parts with our two added players were just terrible and didn’t even look slightly real – also numbers 25 and 26 would not be in a World Cup squad as the numbers only go up to 23. Ok that maybe nit-picking but football is my passion – they could at least have the little details right.

Something that really annoys me with football based films is that the filmmakers always seem to make a mess of it. The greatest game in the world just doesn’t seem to transfer very well into films. Such a shame!

If you think about watching this – I would say think again and don’t bother. You aren’t missing anything with it!

The 3D effects put on a film often become the focus for the filmmaker and the storyline seems to suffer in some of the films “made for 3D”. I have been choosing to see the 2D version of films, but it does not seem that will be possible with ‘Fright Night’ and the lack of 2D films the cinemas have to show.

‘Avatar’ was still the only film which did not use the 3D for things jumping out of the screen, it was used to make you feel like you were in the world and gave you a surrounding look at it all. Which looked pretty incredible and added to the film, I haven’t actually watched the full film since seeing it in 3D at the cinema.

I went to see ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II’ in 3D because they did not have the 2D option at the midnight screening – and I really couldn’t wait to see it the following morning. The 3D for that film was particularly bad, I guess that shows it was done in post-production of the film. I did however go back and see the film in 2D and it was much better.

The first film I ever saw in 3D was ‘The Final Destination’ which was number 4 in the series (I think) and that was the whole things flying out of the screen in an attempt to make people jump. After the first thing to jump out it became obvious the direction in which they were going with the film.

I have seen a few animated films in 3D including the re-releases of ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Toy Story 2′ before the release of the much-anticipated ‘Toy Story 3′. ‘Up’ is the other Disney/Pixar film I have seen in the 3D and while it doesn’t really make much difference the 2D versions would have done. I don’t appreciate paying extra money (on top of my Unlimited card) for something I don’t want to see. The up and coming re-release of ‘The Lion King’ in 3D therefore has no appeal to be whatsoever. It’s not going to change the film or be able to make it any better is it is already good and does not need the added 3D.

The films in recent months which were available in 3D but I went to the 2D screenings include ‘The Green Lantern’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’, ‘Conan the Barbarian’ and ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. I will continue to do this if the films are available in 2D as well, as I will not want to go and see the 3D version as I really do not like them at all. I get no extra enjoyment out of them and don’t want to sit with the 3D glasses on for one and a half/ two hours at a time.

That gets me onto the 3D glasses . . . they really are not comfortable at all, although the special Harry Potter one’s are a little bit better. Not that I really have any intention of wearing any of them again. If that means missing out on some films until they are released to DVD/Blu Ray or come onto the TV to watch then that is what will happen. I really have less interest in 3D films that I did a year ago (and it was pretty low then). I keep hoping that the 3D versions of films are going to fail and they will get the message that we do not want to see films in 3D and very happy with the 2D format which has worked so well for years now . . . why change it?!?!

I just want to be able to go to the cinema, use my unlimited card without having to pay extra, not have to wear any glasses and just enjoy the film that I have chosen to see. Is that too much to ask?

I will be doing one film per post, so it’s going to be quite an epic journey. Each post will have a brief plot line about the story, stills from the film, possible video of different scenes and most importantly why I love the film – or what I have always loved about it. If you follow my blog regularly I am sure you will have a pretty good idea which films are going to be in this feature.

I think it is going to be interesting looking back, but these posts aren’t going to end up like a full review of the films – I will keep all of that separate. So be prepared to join Let’s Go To The Movies making a top 250 list of films which I love!

I have noticed a few other film bloggers have done or are doing this type of thing – which has also helped me decided to really go for this now! Wish me luck!

This part contains quite a lot of more recent film love stories and some which were missed from Part 1!

THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS

10. Atonement (2007)

Cecelia and Robbie do not have much time together and Cecilia’s younger sister accuses him of a crime he did not commit.

Why its tragic?

They only have a very short period of time together and pine for each other as he goes off to fight in the way.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

Being forced apart because of the lies of young girl.

Most Heartbreaking Quote

Robbie Turner: …if all we have rests in a few moments in a library three and a half years ago, then I don’t know… I don’t…
Cecilia Tallis: Robbie… look at me. Look at me. Come back. Come back to me.

9. Revolutionary Road (2008) Review

A young married couple who start off with so much enthusiasm of their life together. But soon they realise that they are not going to travel the world and will be staying in the jobs they have and the house they live in. Will it be enough?

Why its tragic?

The passion they had for each other in the beginning is still evident throughout, despite the rowing and shouting with each other.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

It really does have to be the ending with Frank’s reaction to April’s death, after giving herself an abortion. We know at that moment despite the affairs they both had he loved her more than anything

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“Just because you’ve got me safe in this little trap, you think you can bully me into feeling whatever you want me to feel!”

8. Meet Joe Black (1998)

Joe Black is death who is getting ready to take William, who is showing him life . . . but Joe falls in love with William’s daughter Susan.

Why its tragic?

Susan really falls for Joe unaware that he is death and just in the form of the very attractive young man. She teaches him love and how to feel things.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

When “Joe” comes back but is no longer the actual person Susan was in love with. Going back to the man she saw in the street.

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“Susan Parrish: Tell me you love me now.
Joe Black: I love you now. I love you always. “

7.  (500) Days of Summer (2009) Review

Despite being told from the very start that this is not a love story . . . it is a love story just more of unrequited love.

Why its tragic?

We don’t often think of men as the ones being hurt from love, and this film shows us that it does indeed happen.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

The brilliant reality/dream scene . . . when Tom hopes that he is going to get back with Summer only to find out that she has met someone else and is now engaged. Really is sad!

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“You don’t want to be named as anybody’s girlfriend, and now you’re someone’s wife? “

6. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Everyone knows this story of the starstruck lovers who betray their fighting families by being together.

Why its tragic?

The ending when they are both willing to take their own lives for one another.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“And when I shall die, take him and cut him up in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will fall in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun. “

5. A Star is Born (1954)

Norman Maine a big movie star falls for Vicki Lester/Esther Blodgett and their relationship is never perfect. He drinks too much and embarrasses her as she wins an Oscar.

Why its tragic?

You cannot help but believe that despite Norman’s ways he really does love Esther and never wanted to hurt her.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

The year after she won the Oscar and was embarrassed by Norman, heading back and introducing herself as his wife after his death.

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“Hello, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine. “

4. An Education (2009) Review

This film is a coming of age story and a little look at how a young girl who is becoming a woman cannot help but fall for everything her lover almost twice her age, believing everything he tells her.

Why its tragic?

Having your heart-broken has to be the worst thing that can happen to you, but when it happens for the first time it’s even more cutting. Which this film shows,

Most Heartbreaking Moment

It has to be when Jenny finds out that David is actually married with children . . . I was expecting it either!

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“One of the boys I dated, and they were boys, suggested that we go to Paris and I said I’d always wanted to see Paris. As if I’d never been!” (last lines)

3. A Walk To Remember (2002)

Jamie does tell Landon to promise not to fall in love with her when they are rehearsing for the school play. But he just laughs it off, she did warn him in good reason. She is dying . . .

Why its tragic?

How young the couple are and the very little time they spent together. He gave her hope and she gave him the confidence that no one else ever had done in the past.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

It has to be Landon’s breakdown moment to his father asking for him to help Jamie. But also helping her through her list, as we know it’s all going to come to an end.

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“Our love is like the wind… I can’t see it, but I sure can feel it.”

2. One Day (2011) Review

A story which shows the two main characters over 20 years and how big a part they played in each others lives, until they were eventually ready for each other.

Why its tragic?

After seeing them over 20 years and really hoping Dex will grow up and realise he is meant to be with Em, when they eventually get together she is taken away not long after.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

Seeing that Dex is going to struggle so much without Em and the conversation with Ian who tells Dex that he really did make Em happy.

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“I love you, Dex, so much. I just don’t like you anymore. I’m sorry.”

1. The English Patient (1996) Review

Set around the second world war a burns victim tells us his great love story with a married woman.

Why its tragic?

The affair which ended but was never really over for them, and in the end when we think they are eventually going to be together that does not happen.

Most Heartbreaking Moment

When he eventually gets back to her, carrying her out and crying.

Most Heartbreaking Quote

“Almásy: I just wanted you to know: I’m not missing you yet.
Katharine Clifton: You will.”

A ruthless businessman’s life is turned upside down after his father’s death and he is left penguins in his will. This however helps him win his family back whilst having a difficult time at work.

After seeing the trailer for this film I wasn’t really to bothered about going to see it. However,  I took my 5-year-old god-daughter to see it and the verdict was that I enjoyed it much more than she did. I think she was slightly too young for it as it did have quite a meaningful family based storyline. Which for the littler kids was probably a bit much and they just want to see the penguins.

Jim Carrey as Mr Popper put in a very good performance, he was not too over the top and very believable in the role of the businessman who manages to win his family back after being sent penguins in his fathers will. Whilst trying to buy a city landmark from Mrs Van Gundy (Lansbury).

We see Popper’s relationship with his son and daughter both getting back on track due to the introduction of the penguins. But not only that he ends up attached to them as well. We get to see what exactly a New York City apartment would look like filled with snow for the penguins to live in.

This film really did have a good heart and a few family points, which I found pleasantly surprising. I really did find some enjoyment in this film, mainly because I wasn’t expecting anything from it and the added bonus of Angela Lansbury. An actress who you cannot help  but love no matter what role you watch her in.

By the reactions from the audience at the screening of this film the children really did enjoy it as you could hear them laughing throughout. But also laughter from the adults in the audience as well, some of the jokes/lines were directed at the adults. So all in all I really do think they done well with this film to have it enjoyable for both children and adults.

We see a wide range of genre’s opening in the month of September, so you really do have quite a broad choice of films to choose every week. This is something that has to be better than the summer which seemed to be just comic book film after comic book film . . . which I do love but it’s nice to have some different types of films out for a bit more variety!

Fright Night

Vampire films are still classed as being very in at the moment, although I wouldn’t complain with Colin Farrell being a vampire! But this one is going for the mix between comedy and horror, which we don’t really see very often. But not long to wait to find out how this film is!

Apollo 18

A look into why nobody goes into space anymore, and what happened the last time astronauts were sent into space.

The Art of Getting By

A late teen/growing up film, with two very well thought of young actors in Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts. This looks like it will be a very nice film with a heart.

Friends with Benefits

Another rom-com which will be very predictable and probably had all the funniest parts in the trailer. But let’s face it Justin and Mila are both hot and will appeal to both men and women. I still want to see this!

Jane Eyre

A period drama based on a novel which has had many adaptations. Another big screen outing.

Colombiana

Action film which from the trailers I thought looked a little bit like last years ‘Salt’ with the woman going around killing people. But I guess we will just have to wait and see . . .

Red State

Staying quite modern and looking into the problems of the internet. When four teens receive an invitation for sex but that’s not what it’s actually for . . .

The Change-Up

A comedy with the two main characters changing bodies/lives is nothing new, but this one does look like it has a lot of charm and could be very funny.

I Don’t Know How She Does It

A woman who has children and a high powered job supports her husband and everyone is very impressed. I don’t see this film being a big hit as SJP does not seem very popular but I will be seeing it.

30 Minutes or Less

A comedy film about a pizza guy who is kidnapped and forced to rob a bank. That really doesn’t sound like my type of film, but with Jesse Eisenberg in you never know it might actually be amusing.

Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy

Now I have to admit that I am sick of seeing the trailer for this one, so cannot wait for it to be released. Looking forward to it as well because it really does have a fantastic cast of British actors.

Jurassic Park 

Making a return to the big screen for 2 weeks only! I actually think I could be very tempted to go and see Jurassic Park again as it was one of my favorite films from my childhood!

Crazy, Stupid Love

This film has the potential to be one of the best rom-com films to come out in recent years. We have Ryan Gosling and Steve Carrell and it really does look both funny and sweet. But we will have to just wait and see!

Warrior

A mixed martial arts version of Rocky? Well it does look in the Rocky mould, with the very popular Tom Hardy in the main role. I really am looking forward to this one as just love sport in films.

Drive

A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong. Gosling and Mulligan in the same film really does fill me with excitement!

Killer Elite

An action film with Clive Owen, Jason Statham and Robert De Niro . . . I’m sold!

Abduction

Taylor Lautner trying to step out of his Twilight links in an action film trying to find out about his life, as it is not all as it seems.

Shark Night

Another made for 3D horror and what looks like Jaws in 3D!

What’s Your Number

A rom-com based around a woman looking back at the previous 20 . . . yes 20 relationships with men in her life.

An ex-con who has recently got out of jail wants to do everything he can to make it up to his daughter, after he has missed so many years of her life.

I really could not resist watching this film as back when I used to watch the wrestling Triple H was always my favorite wrestler. I absolutely loved him and was totally obsessed with him! So to see Paul Levesque taking the lead in a film I just had to see it! He has gone for the approach of his own ‘Kindergarten Cop’ or ‘The Toothfairy’ like Schwarzenegger and fellow wrestler ‘The Rock’ trying to make it in the family film genre and films aimed mainly at children.

His role in this film as Ray, a man who is trying very hard to get to know his daughter again after being in prison. However, that is easier said than done when she does not want to know him at all. After the robbery crime he committed to end up in prison. He ends up going on the school field trip with the teacher, none other than Lisa Simpson’s voice actress who really takes a shine to Ray not knowing about his past.

The film is very predictable with Ray being chased by two of the men he worked with in the past, and left hours earlier to go with his daughter. We can easily guess what is going to happen next, but this by no means the worst film aimed at the family audience. We get to see some of Triple H . . . I mean Paul Levesque in fighting action which I could not help but love.

I think the film tried very much to have a heart and we are very happy to see the daughter slowly give her father a chance and wonder where that might lead to. He does try to help her in many ways, but often trying too hard at times but in the end it all pays off.

I think it will be interesting to see what Paul Levesque does next after this film . . .

The story of a young boy’s adventure to life trying to get vengeance for his father’s killer, along with the men who wiped out his village.

I went to see this film on Monday night at a Cineworld Unlimited card holders only screening. So we had a slight advanced preview and it was the 2D version not the 3D version. I found the film to be rather graphic in terms of the blood spurting around in the fight scenes. However, talking about the film afterwards a friend pointed out that was probably for the 3D version of the film to add the effects a bit more.

The story-line of the film was not very complicated mainly because it didn’t really have much of a story. We get to see Conan as he journey’s to find the man who killed his father, pretty much killing those who got in his way. We see him free slaves and help people, but all for that motive that they are kind of linked to the man he seeks to kill.

Along the way we see him find a love interest who also is linked to Khalar who seeks the young girl as she is pure blood and believes that having her blood will help bring his witch wife back to life. The witch daughter is also very strange and I actually found myself laughing quite a few times when she was on the screen.

I really did try to give this film a good chance, but the lack of story line made me want the ending to come faster. Especially when it was appearing obvious what the outcome was going to be. Some of the fight/battle scenes were rather impressive. The start of the film was right in the middle of the battle, as we see Conan is a battle born baby . . . a little look into what is to come for him. He was born in battle and that is pretty much what his life would become.

I can imagine that quite a lot of people are going to be left disappointed with this film, as it really doesn’t go anywhere.