Gravity (2013) directed by Alfonso Cuaron, 28th October

Plot

On a routine spacewalk fixing the Hubble telescope, disaster strikes. Stranding Dr Ryan Stone ( Sandra Bullock) on her first Shuttle mission with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky ( George Clooney) on his last mission together in space and fighting to survive.

Review 

This is a survival thriller starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Set adrift in space and trying to find a way to survive.

The film looks stunning and captures the claustrophobia and the infinite size of space all at the same time. The sound and soundtrack is amazing adding atmosphere to this film.

Sandra Bullock gives a solid performance of someone who only lives to work and with past demons. It is a measured  and sensitive performance. George Clooney plays the seasoned veteran down to a tee. At one moment he is the flippant devil may care attitude of a flyer and then with a flick of a switch when disaster strikes he becomes a believable consummate professional. Ed Harris lends his voice to mission control. A role that he has played before in Apollo 13.

Alfonso and Jonan Cuaron have written a first class story.

The direction from Alfonso Cuaron is great and the tension is ratcheted up all the way during the film with no real let up.

There are some implausible bits but hey this is a film afterall.

This is a beautiful stunning 90 minbute film where you feel like you are transported into space. It is a roller coaster ride, gripping and intense. A must see film.

9/10

Metro Manila (2013) directed by Sean Ellis, 5th September

Plot

Set in the Philippines. After a poor harvest, rice farmer and former soldier Oscar is forced to seek a better life with his family in Manila. Like a fish out of water the family are overwhelmed by the intensity of the city and fall foul of their situation and taken advantage from the hard bitten locals. Luckily Oscar finds a break working as an armoured car guard. His luck changes and his senior partner takes Oscar under his wing but is he being used again.

Review 

Set in the Philippines this film was written and directed by English director Sean Ellis.

This film is a mash up of Genres.

The film opens with beautiful lush shots of the countryside in the Northern Phillipines. After the failed harvest, Oscar and his family journey to Manila and once there they try to seek a better life but they fall further into poverty whilst trying to maintain their dignity. Oscar takes up any labouring work whilst Mia his wife starts to work as a hostess in a girly bar. Everywhere they turn people are hostile and when people are helpful they soon fall victim to them. This thread is shot as an arthouse/documentary style with long lingering shots of Oscar and Mai and the countryside as they journey to Manila. It also highlights the poverty and sex industry of the city.

Then by chance Oscar applies for a job as an armoured car guard. He is spotted by Ong a seasoned guard who helps to get him the job and soon Oscar becomes his pupil. Here there is definitely chemistry between Oscar ( Jake Macapagal) and Ong ( John Arcilla). Hence we enter the buddy/cop film.

Ong is not as he appears and from his actions he sets Oscar onto a course of action which he cannot escape. Finally the film becomes a thriller/heist film.

The soundtrack though quite minimal really adds to the film.

As said before this is a mash up of styles from arthouse/documentary, buddy/cop and finally thriller/heist. There are enough twists and turns in the film and real tension as the film comes to it's climax. Though the film does slightly drag with the arthouse/documentary part but this is due to the subject matter of the unrelenting hopelessness, harshness, poverty and poor luck which makes it quite depressing.

To be honest this film's story does not have to be based in the Philippines and it could be easily transposed to any part of the world and it would still work. The story alone has a universal appeal.

An altogether quite complete film which was really entertaining and stands out significantly. My favourite film of the year. Go and see it.

10/10

Rush (2013) directed by Ron Howard, 3rd September

Plot

Set in the 70s in the wold of Formula 1 focusing on the intense rivalry between James Hunt the gentlemen playboy racer and Niki Lauda the consummate professional racer both on and off the track. Culminating in the final race of 1976 where this final race would determine the championship.

Review

The film starts 6 years before the 1976 championship. Where both James Hunt and Niki Lauda meet and lock horns in the Formula 3 division. Here we have two very different characters where James Hunt is the hard drinking, partying playboy racer with a natural ease with women and people. Whilst Niki Lauda is the cold, abrasive and technically brilliant driver engineer. For all there differences they have both similar backgrounds coming from privilege but ostracised by their families in their pursuit to become racing drivers. The thing that makes them both similar is their hunger and passion for winning and their pursuit to become world champion.

Although this is a film set in the world of motor racing it is more a film of passion and what drives men to risk their lives in the pursuit of winning.

The main leads of Chris Hemsworth ( Hunt) and Daniel Bruhl ( Lauda) are brilliant and the film is dominated by it's two leads giving very little room for any one else. Even the race cars take second place but there is enough of them for you to remember that this is a race film. To be honest there is very little in this film for the leading ladies Olivia Wilde ( Hunt's wife) and Alexandra Maria Lara ( Lauda's wife). Every other character is almost a sideline in this film.

This is the second collaboration between Ron Howard and Peter Morgan after Frost/Nixon. They have focused on the human side of racing and not the cars making this a gripping and intense film. Both have managed to capture the era and give real intensity to the on and off track rivalry. It is also pretty realistic in capturing the danger  and atmosphere of the time by careful use of achieve footage. All that was missing was the petrol fumes.

This is a great film where it pursues the difference and similarities between two men making them both human and in the end you want both to win. As both are heroes and villains at the same time but different in their own ways.

You are still going to enjoy this film even if you are not a motor racing fan.

9/10

The Conjuring (2013) directed by James Wan, 31st July

Plot 

Based on a real case of real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The pair going to the aid of the Perron family who are terrorized by a presence in their new family home.

Review

Well is has been a little while since I wrote my last review. Usually I am not a real fan of horror films. Usually I find them gory, slasher, predictable and not particularly suspenseful. The last horror genre film I enjoyed was " Cabin in the Woods" which was not really a horror film. This film has bucked the usual trend of the horror films being good and quite intelligent.

This is partly thanks to Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga playing the titular characters giving an earnest, measured and sincere performance. Additionally what gives the characters credibility is their work with the Roman Catholic church. In some way this film has similarities to "The Exorcist" where the investigators try to dispel demonic possessions with reasoned and scientific answers to most cases. The film also touches or just barely scratches the surface the stages/proof and philosophical questions of demonic possession. How true the couple worked with the Church I am not sure but this association gives the characters more credibility and sincerity rather than just being independent investigators of paranormal activity.

James Wan keeps the suspense going and it simmers gently, cranking it up evenly during the film. Nothing new and using tried and tested techniques/tricks for this genre but they are used well hitting the right notes at the right time.

Aimed at a teen audience it certainly shocked the audience and got the right response from them.

The film has the right amount of introduction and introduces the main protagonists as humane, fragile and damaged characters after all their previous investigations.

The film does slightly run out of steam at the end but this is a good competent..... dare I say great horror film of recent times. Like most horror films, at the end it leaves it open for a sequel. After the success in the US I am sure there will be a sequel. I just hope that it will be just as good as this film and the start of a good franchise rather than a successful cash cow. There should be enough good material from the Warren case files.

For a change an intelligent and thoughtful horror and not a gore/slasher.

8.5/10

Hummingbird (2013) directed by Steven Knight, 17th June

Plot

A disgraced ex-special forces operative on the run from a military court martial. Suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and living rough on the streets of London. Barely scratching a living and numb to the world through drink. Then on a typical night being roughed up by some low level enforcers he decides to fight back. By chance he survives this encounter and manages to find a safe haven. An opportunity which allows him to turn his life around thanking those who once helped him and helping those who were around him. All the while it allows him to dispense street justice.

Review

If you are expecting an all out Jason Statham action film then you are going to be sorely disappointed by this film. Coming from Steven Knight the writer of 'Dirty Pretty Things" and "Eastern Promises" this is going to be gritty. From his previous writing efforts he has shown London at night and revealed it's dark ugly underbelly before.

The first 25 minutes of the film opens with what could be any action film. Flashbacks of Afghanistan. Street life in London. Injustice and being wronged. A chance opportunity to find safety and turn his life around. Here we have all the ingredients for a decent revenge action film. Then the film changes tonally to a crime drama. This is no bad thing but then again if you were expecting an all out action film you will be disappointed with the lack of Jason Statham dispensing justice with his fists.

Jason Statham plays Joey Jones. A traumatised ex-special forces soldier having served in Afghanistan and committed an atrocity there.  Awaiting to go to a military court he escapes from a military hospital and gravitates to London to slink into drink and obscurity. Here we have a morally ambiguous character. Someone who knows right and wrong and prepared to to wrong first to do right. Where the ends justify the means. He is also an estranged husband with a 9 year old daughter. On the night which changes his life he is accompanied by Isabel another person living rough who he helps to escape. When he finds sanctuary and an opportunity to escape his street life past he still sticks to the bottle and only kicks the bottle when he hears Isabel has disappeared. Here he cleans his act and starts to get back into shape. Taking up work as a dish washer and then on another fateful night his skills as a fighter are noticed. He finds gainful employment with Mr Choy (Benedict Wong) a local gangster and no job is too dirty for him as long as he gets the right payoff.

The real stand out is Agata Buzek playing Cristina a nun who runs a late night soup kitchen. Another damaged person who has more in common with Joey Jones  than we would expect. She gives a measured performance of a conflicted and at times hypocritical person. Happy to give advice but afraid of home truths.

Initially their relationship is prickly but she helps Joey to find Isabel and also tries to change him and show him the error of his ways with little effect.

Jason Statham has been given an opportunity to do something a little different  from his previous acting gigs. He actually does more acting but still beats up people and in this film there is less beating up and greater time looking troubled and conflicted. Admittedly he has not been given that much more to do than in his past films and plays it straight with no quips or knowing looks at the camera. I am a big fan of Jason Statham but some how I think someone like Viggo Mortensen would have made a better Joey Jones.

The film is also lightly peppered with some moments of humor. Also it was great seeing London at night.

This is not a Robin Hood type of film where he steals form the rich to give to the poor. Joey uses dirty money to help the poor and he has no problems wih this as long as he is doing good. Unusually in this film the hero is more dangerous when sober. This film tries to do a lot in it's short 100 minutes. There are some threads which are not fully explored or explained like his wife and daughter.

Jason Statham has carved out a niche for himself in the film industry to which he does a great job. The problem with this film is the star. He has made a watchable performance and has tried to make a break from his typecast role. Unfortunately for me his presence unbalances the film as his brand is too strong as I keep expecting at anytime for the Stath to get into a fracas and clean up and settle scores with his fists once every 10 minutes.

If you can remember that this is a Steven Knight film and just so happens to star Jason Statham and it is not a Jason Statham movie vehicle then you will enjoy the film. On the whole the film is watchable and entertaining  as you would expect from the writer of Eastern Promises and Dirty Pretty Things.

8/10

Man Of Steel(2013) directed by Zack Snyder, 12th June

 Plot

Sent to Earth by his parents Jor-el and Lara to escape the dying planet Krypton. Raised by the Kent's as their own for 33 years Clark Kent has lived as one of us. Set a drift in a world that does not know he exists.  Wandering from place to place and moving from one low end job to another. Struggling to find his place in the world knowing that he is different and possessing powers which could make him a god. All this changes when he hears of a mysterious object discovered in Canada and heads off to discover it. From here he triggers off events which allow him to find his place in the world at last after years of wondering.

Review

This is a second re-boot of a super hero franchise. The last attempt was almost 7 years ago with the much maligned and underrated Superman Returns by Bryan Singer. The film has Chris Nolan's finger prints all over it. Like his previous enterprise with Batman he has started off with another origins story changing the tone and making it more 'Real' as if this could really happen in our world. Allowing Zach Snyder to have his own take on Superman.

The film opens with planet Krypton on the edge of destruction. From here the film goes straight in with action and explaining the reasons for General Zodd's (Michael Shannon) actions. The first 30 minutes of the film are told in flashbacks mixing the past with the present to explain why Clark Kent is wondering the country.

Henry Cavill fills Superman's boots well. Certainly looking and acting the part of the do-gooder and also being nobodies fool. He gives a convincing performance of someone lost but knowing that they are destined for something greater in life. All he needs to do is be patient and bide his time. Amy Adams portrayal of Lois Lane is her own take and a more subtle portrayal than Margot Kidder. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane are perfect as the Kents. Whilst Russell Crowe whom I was not expecting to play a major part in the film excels as Jor-El. The ever watchable Michael Shannon gives a different take of the General Zodd from Terrence Stamp. Here he is portrayed as a fanatic where the ends justify the means. Whilst Antje Traue playing Faore-Ul is a very suitable sub-ordinate of the general. Laurence Fishburne is a great Perry White and steals the screen whenever he is on. To be honest everybody mentioned here adds to the film. Unfortunately the military men played by Henry Lennix as General Swanwick and Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy are just given two dimensional characters to play.

Like previous Zach Snyder films this is a heavily laden CGI film. Unfortunately there is no escaping this and it is required to capture the scale and titanic fight scenes between the Kryptonians. The 3d does not really add much to this film but the story is good enough for you to forget the 3d.

The look of the film and even the new suit is good though some purists will be insistent on having the red pants back. There are few laughs but small subtle jokes are within the film. This is a serious film and starts on a huge operatic scale lending the need for gravitas where the fate of humanity rests on the shoulder of someone not of this world..

My only real criticism is that the titanic battle does go on for a titanic time but when you have two opponents of equal abilitlies and powers this is to be expected. Also there are some clunky parts like when Superman discovers his powers. Surely he would have known these already when he was younger but this is just nit picking.

This film has all the hall marks of David Goyer and Chris Nolan from their Batman series but there is enough in this film to know it is directed by Zack Snyder. As a whole this is a great re-boot. The tone is grittier and is set in a believable world. There are hints and nods in this film to the next villain if a sequel is made. It is not going to please some people especially those comparing it to the recent  efforts on television and the Christopher Reeves/Richard Donner films. To get the most out of this film it is best not to compare and be prepared for something slightly different. As mentioned in the film you need to take a leap of faith first before people will accept. I have taken the leap and ready for the next film.

8.5/10

World War Z (2013) directed by Marc Forster, 6th June

Plot

Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) wakes up to what appears to be like any other ordinary day in Philadelphia only for his day and the world to break out into an all out global pandemic Zombie infection crisis. As the crisis deepens, Gerry is re-called by his former employers to help and investigate the start of the crisis.

Review

Loosely based on the book by Max Brook. This film has been a long time coming and after much speculation of a troubled production and long re-shoots it has finally landed. The film differs much from the book which is a collection of stories across the globe told from different view points.

Zombie films generally fall into two categories. Fast or slow moving. This film follows the fast moving mold.

The film opens with a sleepy suburban family home life of Gerry Lane for the first 5 minutes. Showing a sedate loving family but then the film hits the gas pedal showing a rapid collapse of civilisation into lawlessness, rioting and looting. We then enter an adrenaline fuelled globe trotting race against time to find the cause and hopefully a cure for the global zombie infection spanning 4 continents.

The escape from Philadelphia is quite effective being dark, moody and claustrophobic. Here there is an impression that there is true peril to the family.

This film is really a vehicle for Brad Pitt the action hero and he does a competent job of it and carries it off well. Unfortunately everybody else is only there to support him. This is not the fault of Pitt/Gerry but the story.  As unfortunately anyone who is working with him does not have a high percentage of making it with the exception of Segan played by Daniella Kertesz. Playing an Israeli soldier and even then she does not get off lightly.  Mirelle Enos playing Karen Lane, Gerry's wife and is only given to look worried for her husband during most of the film.

The film direction is fast paced and captures a sense of urgency which lends the film the right amount of tension. Not really much happens in the film and for a film at close to 2 hours it is not short. Thanks to the direction and pacing by Marc Forster the film zips by quickly. At the end of the film I did not notice 2 hours had past.

Unfortunately the 3d does not really had much to the film. The film is played mostly straight with relatively few laughs and is quite bleak. There is no real gore as well.

This film is not the disaster as many had predicted.

This is a good solid action film. Ideal for escapism. It is a workman like blockbuster and it does not pretend to be anything else. Finally there is a hint that there could be a sequel but like all movies these days this depends on the box office returns. If there is one then I would be more than happy to see it.

8/10

The Iceman (2012) Directed by Ariel Vromen, 4th June

Plot

A biopic on Richard Kuklinski, a sociopath,  contract killer and family man working for the Mafia who managed to keep this a secret from his family until his arrest. The film follows his life from 1964 to his capture in 1986.

Review

The film opens with a coffee date scene with Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) and his future wife Deborah (Winona Ryder) showing an awkward Kuklinski. A man of few words but someone who knows what they want. From this premise the film could have gone in a direction of a rom com of a bumbling nice guy who goes on a series of inappropriate dates to eventually find his one true love but this being a biopic takes the opposite. Going in a dark direction and descending quickly into a blood bath of people being whacked.

From 1964 we see how he is selected to be a hitman and also how he is able to separate this from his family life. Where in the film he is portrayed as the silent but strong patriarch who dotes on his wife and daughters. As the years go by we see the rise of him and as he becomes more successful he covers his success by claiming to be a currency trader. All the while he is trying to find one last hit and set himself up in Atlantic city with his family but for one reason or another he is always pulled back in and needing just one more hit to leave.

Michael Shannon gives a stunning measured performance of nothingness or coldness. A man at ease with himself where no hit is too gruesome or violet where at one moment he is ultraviolet and next he is the loving husband and father. Shannon portays Kuklinski in a very matter of fact way and it is hard to be sympathetic to his character. Winona Ryder plays the loving, submissive wife and homemaker who wants for nothing as everything is provided by her knowing husband. There is a great supporting cast especially Chris Evans playing a rival hitman and against type for a change.  Steven Dorff also does a good small cameo as Kukliski's younger brother. James Franco also makes an appearance. Whilst Ray Liotta gives his usual solid performance as a Mafiosa hood.

The look of the film is superb and captures the mood and era brilliantly. As we see the years roll by we see the inevitable change in clothes and hairstyles.

The film presents the events in  Kuklinski's life in a very matter of fact manner as things happen. Allowing the viewer to decide on the events.  This leads to little real drama to the film even when things start to spiral out of control in Kuklinski's life.

Due to the way the film is told it is hard to have any real empathy or sympathy for Kuklinski. During the film, it hints at an abusive childhood and the film glosses over that he only became a hitman to support his family to make the character more sympathetic. This really insults the intelligence of the audience.

This film is definitely very watchable but the real treat is in watching Shannon's performance. Every time he is on screen you just have to pay attention.

7/10

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) Directed by J J Abrams, 8th May

Plot

The crew of the USS Enterprise return after a 'successful' mission to a Class M planet. Only for them to return to Earth where London has been attacked and then to be thrown into the midst of an attack at the heart of Star Fleet. Leaving Captain Kirk to lead a mission to seek and destroy the man who led the attack in the one place where the Federation is not welcome.

Review

The film opens with a daring rescue mission to save a primitive culture and Spock at the same time leading to a conflict in the Prime Directive where Starfleet is not allowed to interfere in other cultures affairs. The film certainly starts off with a bang and the colours add to the vividness and alien nature of another world. It's also interesting and surprising to see the USS Enterprise in a planetary environment rather than in deep space.

During this mission Starfleet is attacked in London by a renegade Starfleet operative, John Harrison. Who also leads an audacious attack on Starfleet headquarters.

It is after the mission where Kirk's leadership is called into question and after the attack on Starfleet Headquarters. Kirk does some soul searching which leads to a change in his style of leadership and values.

From here on it is a roller coaster of action and adventure to the farthest edges of the Federation into unwelcome alien territory during their hunt for John Harrison.

This is very much a JJ Abrams film with lots of action and fight scenes interspersed with some character moments to allow for some audience emotional attachment to the film's characters.

Chris Pine gives another great performance as Kirk. At the start of the film he is still the same old Kirk from the last film arrogant and a bit of a ladies man but later on we see a change and he takes on the mantle of his Captaincy seriously for the first time. Zachary Quinto gives another fine Spock performance. Simon Pegg in this film as Scotty is given much more to do than previously and in a way he is given his own mission which is fun and adds to the film. For me the best bits for comedy relief came from Karl Urban as Doctor "Bones" McCoy with his unending metaphors for death and probabilities of outcomes. Alice Eve as Dr Carol Marcus and Zoey Salanda as Uhura do good jobs from limited material. It just seems that Chekov ( Anton Yelchin) and Sulu ( John Cho) are kind of relegated and not given as much screen time.

The best part of this film is Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison the villain of this piece. He is cold, calculating, aloof and measured which gives him all the more presence and menace to his role. Though he does lose it to show he is human after all. Here we have a worthy adversary to Kirk who is every bit his equal and more.

There is another cameo in this film from a member of the original cast.

The first film was good but felt restrained as it was a re-boot and had to be an origins film. At the end of the first it allowed the franchise to go in any direction. Now freed from these shackles this is a worthy sequel and the film has got off to an adrenaline pumped up sprint which does not leave the confines of the Star Trek universe too much and pays homage to the previous Star Trek films of the original cast.

This is a very good sequel which surpasses the first film by a long shot. It has left me baying for more and the next film it cannot come too soon in my mind but I am curious to which direction and what story the next film will take. This begs the question of when and will JJ Abrams return after his next film with the Star Wars franchise.

9/10

The Look of Love (2013) directed by Michael Winterbottom, 22nd April

Plot

The life and times of Paul Raymond the entrepreneur and in 1992 the richest man in Britain. Through the eyes of the 3 most important women in his life. His wife, the mistress and his daughter.

Review

A film about a pornographer is always going to be a hard sell and controversial. People are not going to automatically have an instant empathy for this man. Men are going to envy him for the cars, the life style and the endless supply of pretty girls. Women are going to dislike him for his exploitation of women. This man is always going to be not ordinary and for someone in his line of business even with all his money he is never going to achieve respectability and be sidelined from the mainstream of society.

The film starts in 1992 at a pivotal moment of his life as just before he is going to be crowned as the richest man in Britain he suffers a terrible family lost. Whilst watching a family interview on video his story is told in flash backs. Starting in the  late 50s with the strict decency laws and opening his infamous Raymond Revue Bar. Always a showman and an opportunist he saw any publicist as good even when it was bad. Courting controversy and seeking the headlines. It is here during this time he slowly buys up Soho. All the while his wife Jean puts up with his infidelities and knows Paul will always return to her.

This all changes in the 70s when Julia Harrison/Fiona Richmond turns up and catches Paul's eye. This one threatens Jean's position and eventually he leaves Jean and his two kids for the new girl. At his divorce he proudly states it is the most expensive divorce in Britain and "It's not bad for a boy from Liverpool who started with just 5 bob." Always proud to state his humble origins. It's in the 70s when his publishing empire really kicks off with Men Only. Now the money really rolls in and the other trappings of drugs and more girls too.

Finally in the 70s too the third woman in Paul Raymond's life enters with his daughter Debbie. She unfortunately gets lost in all the excesses as she struggles to find a path for herself and to some extent trying to emulate her fathers entrepreneurial flare.

The film paint's Paul Raymond's life as rather bleak, empty and self serving without really hurting anyone in the process. Even with all the rich trappings there is nothing in his life that really brings him true happiness. In sorts he realises that he did have happiness twice in his life with his wife Jean and Fiona Richmond and this is emphasised at his daughter's wedding when he tries to reconnect with both of them.

During his empire building there is also a hankering for respectability with his purchasing of properties in Soho. He bought them for his daughter and his granddaughter so he tells his granddaughter whilst sitting in his Rolls Royce. His granddaughter does not want the houses but wants something that he can never buy. To this he agrees with her.

The film looks stunning and all the sets and costumes give the film a truly evocative feel for the period. The changing of the Rolls Royce through the times is also a great touch. The soundtrack that accompanies this film is good and subtle tracking and placing the film in different decades.

The film does have nudity and to my mind it is not excessive. This is a film about a pornographer and most of it is appropriate going from late 50s titillation to 70s sleazy.

Steve Coogan gives a good performance though at the back of my mind I always expect Alan Partridge to pop out. All the female leads Anna Friel, Tamsin Egerton and Amanda Poots give good turns with the strongest from Tamsin Egerton who is given the most to do. There are lots of cameos and heavily disguised actors who you are  trying to spot in the film.

The film is essentially about trying to buy happiness but never succeeding. On the whole the film is quite a cold film told in a documentary style with a difficult character to relate to but this is deliberate giving more impact to the film when the film reaches it's emotional climax to show that for all the bravado and his riches Paul Raymond is ordinary after all.

7/10

Oblivion (2013) directed by Joseph Kosinski, 9th April

Plot

War once raged on Earth after a failed alien invasion by the Scavs. We won but all that is left is a devastated Earth. Humanity has deserted Earth for Titan leaving a lone Drone repairman and his companion to keep the fusion reactors running helping the rest of Humanity with their energy needs. The drones are protecting the reactors from the few Scavs that have survived. Slowly he starts to get memory flashes of a previous life. Until one day he discovers a human casket from a crashed space craft where inside it he discovers someone which will cause him to question everything he believes in.

Review

From the opening scenes and the sets what you notice is how beautiful it all visually looks. From the aesthetics of the home to the landscapes which incorporate the avenues of New York as deep canyons. It is a visual treat. This alone however does not make a good film but for a Sci Fi film it definitely helps and sets the tone of the film.

Tom Cruise gives his usual turn and fortunately he is not running everywhere for a change. The female leads of Olga Kurylenko and especially Andrea Risborough  are good. Morgan Freeman gives  a solid and workman like appearance though the character he plays he has done before.

The story follows a fairly linear course which initially is it's weakness and makes the story quite implausible but then there is a very effective flashback towards the end of the film which nicely wraps up the story and pulls the film back. The finale is a bit Independence day like  and the final ending could have been a lot braver but then again this is a Hollywood block buster and a Hollywood like ending is expected.

There are sufficient twists and turns in the film and thinking back all the hints are already there. Great aerial chase scenes and dog fights which gives a great roller coaster of a ride to this film.

Joseph Kosinski was given us a beautifully rendered Earth. What this film shares with Tron Legacy are stunning visuals and where they differ is that this film has a far better story.

For a 12A I was a little surprised with some of the language in the film but this is British Board of Film Classification decision.

Not every one is going to like Sci Fi but this is a good intelligent Sci Fi film. Beautifully brought to life, good action scenes, well acted and with enough twists to keep one interested.

8.5/10

Good Vibrations (2012) directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, 18th March

Plot

A biopic of an unconventional record shop owner Terri Hooley who discovers a love for punk music and sets up his own label. In doing so he unwittingly becomes a godfather to the budding underground punk scene. Through punk music it allows the young to escape from the sectarianism. Against the back drop of North Ireland in the 1970s during the Troubles.

Review

The film opens with a young boy playing in a garden who has a love for music. Unlike other boys he comes from an unconventional socialist family and for this he is picked on. This does not stop him from being different and conforming with the rest. This is a bit difficult for anyone living in Northern Ireland.

As the Troubles start old friends take sides and old fiends become rivals. For Terri he chooses neither and becomes a pariah to both. For Terri he sees music as as a focus for people to coming together regardless of religious belief. With this he opens a music shop on the most bombed road in Belfast but he shows a canny insight in the problems and gets old friends now rivals to join him one more time in a pub and gives out albums to stop protection racketeering, destruction of his shop and death threats to him.

As a record store owner he discovers punk accidentally through a school boy who asks him for a punk record. He does not have it as he has a love of Country and Rock and Roll. So he orders the record and decides to see an underground punk gig. The gig blows his mind away and sets off a series of events which he cannot control but just goes with it. Setting up his own label, recording a band, pressing a record and touring Northern Ireland ( not an advisable thing to do). In the process he discovers the Undertones and believing in them goes to London to promote them. He is a man of passion and belief.

Terri Hooley is no saint and is also flawed showing not much of a great flare for business acumen. Though he is a canny man having an insight to other men and knowing what is good music before others do.

Richard Dormer gives a great turn as Terri Hooley playing him with passion and great belief. Jodie Whittaker who plays his long suffering wife is given a very limited role.

The look of the film also gives an authenticity to it. The sets and the costumes are great and really takes you back to that time of the 70s. Whilst the film is interspersed with archive footage and adds to the atmosphere of the film and emphasises that all these events did take place in reality. Occasionally we get Hank Williams references who only appears to Terri.

One surreal and effective scene is when Terri takes some drugs to calm himself before knocking on all the doors of record labels whilst plugging the Undertones.

This is a charming film showing that a love of music can get people together regardless of religious divide. The film is about the music and the passion that it can inspire in people against a difficult backdrop. Go see it and it also has a great sound track to boot too.

8/10

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) directed by Don Scardino, 14th March

Plot 

Burt Wonderstone an established old school magician splints from his longterm stage partner Anton Marvelton after a new street magician steals their thunder. Burt then spends time with his boyhood idol and rekindles his passion for magic and why he started it in the first place.

Review

Burt starts magic to get away from the school bullies as everyone loves a magician. So he teams up with Anton and together they form a partnership and more importantly a friendship over the next 30 years. After 30 years years of partnership the relationship starts to fall apart with Burt having become a self obsessed egotistical prima donna thinking he is gods gift to women and to entice them he has the largest....bed in town. He doesn't even speak to Anton at any other time than during the show. Especially after performing the same show for 10 years in Las Vegas. Enter the stage of the street magician Steve Gray played by Jim Carrey who is a different kind of magician. New school where it is not enough to trick but to endure in reality the trick.

Faced with being thrown out of their Las Vegas home, Burt and Anton try to reinvent themselves as Nu magicians by doing a daring box trick of sitting in a box for 7 days. Unfortunately Burt is old school and too pompous and arrogant to learn a new trick. The act does not go well and Burt and Anton fall out. Leaving the Brain rapist Steve Gray to move in on their patch.

The premise of old and new school magicians battling out should have made this a wonderful silly film with lots of opportunities of ridiculing the new school dour melodramatic seriousness with Steve Gray playing a David Blaine like character. Whilst the old school of being glitzy hammy and fake tan and big hair of Burt and Anton a la Siegfried and Roy like but without the tigers. The potential of an Anchorman like film of silliness was here. Unfortunately there are no real laugh out loud moments and all the humour is pleasant polite titter. There is no bang and pizazz. The film is all set in the real world and no surreal moments unless you count the cameo of David Copperfield.

Alan Arkin plays Rance Holloway. The person who inspired Burt to take up magic where Burt encounters Rance in an old peoples home. Alan Arkin steals the show and the best bit is when he makes himself disappear from a hospital bed. Olivia Wilde is not really given much to do and like all magicians assistant is there to look pretty and let the magician get on with deceiving the audience.
 Jim Carrey plays his character well with his mock sincerity of the new school magician with very little face contortion until his appropriate end. Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi give likeable performances. Whilst James Gandolfini give a James Gandolfini performance.

This is a safe pleasant film with no real gross out moments and a few laughs. It leaves the audience wanting more but you leave disappointed and wonder why the film was given top billing. There should have been a flash and a bang. All you get is a lighter and a fizz.

5/10

Welcome to the Punch (2013) directed by Eran Creevey, 12th March

Plot 

Three years after master robber Jake Sternwood escapes England he has to return to London to rescue his son who has been gunned down mysteriously, allowing  detective Max Lewinsky another chance to catch him and give him redemption.

Review

Over the last few years the recent slew of Brit crime films that have made it to the silver screen have been a little disappointing with either cliched cockney gangsters or marauding gangs of youths. So I did not have high expectations for this film even with the name of Ridley Scott attached to this film.

Jake Sternwood returns to London to rescue his son allowing Max an opportunity to arrest his nemesis but not is all as it seems. Max is double crossed and an unlikely partnership between Jake and Max is formed so they can work out what is going on around them.

The issue with this film is the story. Unfortunately the story is a little thin and there is not much character development so you don't feel emotionally attached to any of the main characters. There is a political angle as well which is hinted at the start but just does not really feel satisfactory and appears to be tagged on. The film does explain all and it does tie in all the threads in the final exposition when Max finally works out what is going on but it feels altogether rushed.

Mark Strong playing Jake Sternwood gives a mean and moody performance. Whilst James McAvoy is a fresh faced but tightly wound detective given a shot at redemption after failing to catch him once before which left him physically and mentally damaged.

It is quite a violent film but not graphic and allows the audience to use their imagination for the graphic and brutal nature of the act.

Dare I say the film could have been 20 minutes longer to allow for more character development and given a more satisfactory feel to the film but I fear that the pacing and tension may have been lost in doing so.

There is a light comedy moment with the Granny house scene to an otherwise unrelenting onslaught in pace to the film and slows it down too. The slow-mo shoot out also works here and adds to the film.

What really works for the film is the pacing which gives great tension and a tautness to it. The blue wash look to London quite suits the film too.

The film ends with an opportunity for a sequel.

This is a fast paced action cops and robbers thriller which lasts for 100 minutes. The suspense and tension is there and it is a roller coaster of a ride leaving you on the edge of the seat. Forget the thinness of the story enjoy the ride or the punch that the film gives.

8/10

Identity Thief (2013) directed by Seth Gordon, 5th March

Plot

Mild mannered conservative Sandy Bigelow Patterson based in Denver, Colorado has had his identity stolen by a lady in Miami, Florida. With his job threatened and the lack of Police action to catch the culprit, Sandy decides to apprehend the harmless looking lady and bring her back to Denver to clear his good name.

Review

Once Sandy has caught up with his doppelganger he realises he cannot fly back to Denver from Florida and must drive back. From here you know it is going to be a road cum buddy movie where initially there is huge animosity between the two but through the road journey they bond and understand each other.

With the premise of catching a harmless compulsive liar what on the surface should be quite straight forward. You know it is not going to be and it should lead to many crazy capers and hair brained situations.

The film should be a lot funnier but unfortunately it is not.The leads are great with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy but unfortunately the script and screen play just lets them down. It is let down because it is bland. The film just feels very pedestrian and there is no roller coaster ride to the film.

Big Chuck (Eric Stonestreet) has a great moment with Melissa McCarthy on the dance floor and Motel scene but all the other actors in the cast don't really get a look in in this film.

There are one or two great scenes especially the Motel scene but apart from this there are no other real highlights.

There also seems to have been a real lost opportunity in the film  with the lack or light use of the Bounty Hunter (Robert Patrick) and the Gangster duo ( Genesis Rodriguez and T.I.) in chasing the two Sandy's across America. There was an opportunity for a Midnight Run like caper.

In the end you know how the film is going to end with the usual redemption story. Alas the film is just executed in a paint by numbers way so the redemption at the end altogether feels quite underwhelming.

This is not a bad film it's just very average. I just had higher expectations and wanted to like this film much more.

6/10

Robot and Frank (2012) directed by Jake Schreier, 26th February

Plot

Set in the near future, Frank a retired cat burglar lives alone out of town and starting to lose his memory. He is visited by his son who is worried that he cannot look after himself anymore and  delivers an ultimatum of having a robot butler to help look after him or be put into a home. Grudgingly he takes the former option and an unlikely friendship develops.

Review

At first Frank is against having the robot and resents the new regime of healthy food and moderate exercise forced upon him but as the new routine settles in the robot actively encourages Frank to take on a project to improve his cognitive memory and function. This allows Frank to take advantage of the situation to return back to his cat burglar days by teaching Robot to pick locks or is Robot taking advantage of Frank in improving Frank's health, Robot is allowing Frank to go back to his old ways.

Set in a leafy town in the near future. Frank visits the library weekly and he has an eye for the red head librarian. We see the change in the times through the library by the old books being replaced by a new media experience. Not all the books will be replaced and to win the affection of the librarian, Frank sets in a plan to steal one of these precious books for her with the help of Robot. This only whets Frank's appetite for his old ways.

Soon after Frank is invited to a party with the Librarian and it is here he wants to present the book to her but at this function a rather rich yuppie annoys Frank immensely with his references to him of being old and being of the 'printed' age. This aggravates Frank and to get revenge he sets his goal of stealing the yuppie wife's diamonds with the perfect robbery. Will they get away with it or will the long arm of the law catch up with them.

This is a rather splendid light little comedy drama and shot in an indie film style. Frank Langella gives a pitch perfect performance of a person slowly sinking into Alzheimer's. Giving his character moments of clarity through the moments of clouded memory. A really touching performance. Liv Tyler plays the hippy chick daughter to a tee and is initially anti robots but soon sees their worth. Whilst James Marsden gives a good performance as the loyal son who is frustrated with his father. The use of Peter Sarsgaard voice for Robot gives real life to it and you can see why a friendship would develop.

There are some great light comedic moments in this film too and it is not over sentimental allowing Frank to be dignified throughout the film.

Do they get away with it? Now that would be telling.

8.5/10

Broken City (2013) directed by Allen Hughes, 25th February

Plot
Billy Taggart ( Mark Wahlberg) a disgraced police officer now a private eye is hired by Mayor Hosteleyer ( Russell Crowe) to investigate his wife. Who might be cheating on him whilst he is seeking re-election but is it all as it seems?


Review
The film opens with a police officer standing over a person shot dead with a smoking gun in his hand. It all looks like self defense and eventually he is cleared of murder. The dead man is a suspected rapist and murderer. Unfortunately there is new evidence against him and he is forced to resign but as a guarantee to him, Mayor Hosteleyer promises to bring him back into the fold when the time is right.

That police officer is Billy Taggart and 7 years later we find him as a private eye down on his luck until he gets a call from the Mayor. Billy returns to City Hall and with high expectations of returning to the Police force but is disappointed to find him hired to investigate his wife, who he knows is cheating on him but cannot prove it. Billy is disappointed with the job but the pay is good. So good he can't refuse.

So he trails Cathleen Hosteleyer ( Catherine Zeta-Jones) and pretty soon discovers her lover who also happens to be the election manager of the Mayor's rival. Already it 's started to look fishy but Billy ignores his instincts and with false loyalties gives the incriminating evidence of the lover with fatal consequences.

Wracked by guilt and questioning his own actions for the consequences he then starts to question his own loyalties to the Mayor and on whether the Mayor is as good a man as he is made out to be.

This a corruption film where power and greed drives the ambition of the Mayor under the guise of the good of the city. Billy's once unquestioning loyalty is put to the test and soon he starts to investigate the Mayor's dealings. We find murder, dodgey land deals, double crosses and greed.

It's a complicated mess of a film and sometimes confusing. There is a lack of tension as Billy investigates and finds corruption going higher and higher. The reason why there is no tension is that Billy has nothing to lose. So the stakes are low.

The love interest story is light and rather superfluous to the film except for how they met.

Mark Wahlberg is rather bland. Russell Crowe plays a convincing politician of kissing babies but he should also be stealing their sweets at the same time. This bit he could have been nastier.

The film does not tie up all the threads of the film successfully. It's over complicated and there is no tension in the film. So when the film ends there is no feeling of justice has been served and where the villain deserved his comeuppance it just feels flat.

6/10

Reign Of Assassins (2010) directed by Su Chau Bin and John Woo, 15th February

Plot

Set in China, the Dark Stone gang steals half of a mummified Indian Buddhist monk which once whole has mystical powers restoring health and allowing one to be the most powerful martial artist too. One of the gang members steals the mummy from the others and runs away changing her appearance too. Looking to start anew, change her ways and sink into anonymity.

Review

Made in 2010 this film has only finally reached these shores. Starring Michelle Yeoh  and Jung Woo-Sung. This is a martial arts film in the vein of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of the Flying Daggers with lots of balletic wire-kung fu.

The film follows a star pupil/assassin Drizzle played by Michelle Yeoh who along with her gang members steal one half of a mummy for their master Wheel King head of the Dark Stone Gang. In the process of stealing the body from the prime minister Zhang they kill him and his son. Drizzle then decides to take the body for herself abandoning her colleagues and former life.

Whilst on the run she meets a monk who tries to change her and teach her the error of her ways. He does and she decides to change her life and appearance in the hope of fading into obscurity. Becoming a cloth seller and she allows herself to fall in love too with a messenger who is inextricably linked to her past. Having a price on her head from her old gang, her old life catches up with her sooner than she ever wanted.

The film has some great fight scenes and great choreography too.  There is romance and plenty of good humour. Some intentional and some not so but this does not detract from the film. There are twists and turns in the plot with some predictable and some not.

It is not as epic in scale or as philosophical to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but this is a fun fast paced film and a little more light weight.

8/10

A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) directed by John Moore, 13th February

Plot

John McClane travels to Russia to look for his wayward son, only to discover he is a CIA operative trying to prevent a nuclear weapons heist. Leading to father and son teaming up and stopping it from happening.

Review

This is the 5th in the series of film which hard to believe started 25 years ago and kicked off Bruce Willis career as a Hollywood action hero. It is now in it's 5th re-iteration and follows the tried and tested formula of the wrong guy, in the wrong place and at the wrong time during a crime.

This 5th installment opens with a massive car chase through Moscow then it's action action action. Unfortunately that is all that really happens. The script is lightweight and not particularly interesting with very little humour or wit which has been a trade mark of the series. This is one of the reasons why the franchise has been so successful.

The film is just a series of set pieces with the dialogue only there to stitch the action scenes together. The action scenes were good but they are not enough to hold a film. At 97mins it is a short film but it also felt incredibly long.

The film also pays some homage to the original Die Hard film where the main villain dies in the same way and has similar attributes to Hans Gruber.

With such a light script and little character development the only characters I remember from the film are John MaClane and his son Jack. Everyone else was quite forgettable.

This film is rated a 12A. It is an amazing bloodless film considering all the shooting and a lack of Yippi Ki Yay. I suppose this is to get the film past the censors and get a greater audience appeal. The original Die Hard was an 18.

Surely, Bruce Willis does not need the money and he only agreed to do it if the script was good. Alas this was not the case. There was so much potential for this film set against a back drop of Russia. Only if more time was spent on a better script and story.

I had high expectations and really just wanted to see a good tried and tested formula work but this has been a disappointing addition to the Die Hard franchise.

A generous 6.5/10

Cloud Atlas (2012) directed by Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer & Andy Wachowski, 10th February

Plot

Six interconnected stories across space and time.Where the actions of an individual can shape the past, present and future. Through actions of kindness and brutality these will cause ripples over time. Starting with a sea journal in 1849; letters from a composer to his close friend; a thriller about a murdered nuclear scientist; a farce about a publisher wrongly placed in a nursing home; confessions of a clone who helped instigate an uprising; and a tale of a post apocalyptic tribe on Hawaii.

Review 

Based on David Mitchell's 2004 book. This is an epic spanning a time line of about 500 years where "Everything is Connected." The connection can be in our genetics with the recurring "Comet" birthmark to our actions of doing the right or wrong thing. Everything we do has a causality in the past, present and future.

The film opens with Tom Hanks recounting a story around a fire in a timeless era. From here it a roller coaster of a film and follows a non linear story line jumping between the 6 stories. The connections of the past,present and future are through the characters actions and this is visually reinforced by the brave use of the same actors but in different time lines. Giving the film a karma like story and also hope.  The genetic connection of nature is running though all the stories through the birthmark but we are not destined to repeat ourselves hopelessly through time but our actions can change our destiny. So a villain can become a hero.

Some remain the villains though out time especially with Hugo Weaving and Hugh Grant's characters whilst others are able to change.

Everyone in this film gives a great performance with Doona Bae doing a great job playing a clone/ fabricant and Ben Whishaw giving a very touching performance.

The futuristic aspects of the film worked best especially the scenes of Neo Seoul, the chase scenes through Neo Seoul and the post apocalyptic Hawaii part.

For light relief we have the story of the wrongly placed publisher in a nursing home or "The Ghastly Tale of Timothy Cavendish" with a great comedic turn from Jim Broadbent as the titular hero and an overbearing Hugo Weaving as Nurse Noakes. Although it is a light story, it is also a tale of oppression.

It is a long film at 174 mins but to cover 6 stories in so little time it does well. The film does stray a little from the book but 95% of it is in the film. As a non linear film anyone not familiar with the book may get lost and maybe it should have stayed true with the books story telling pattern. If it had done so this would have been an even longer film. For me the non linear story line works.

So many topics are covered in this film from oppression, slavery, love, reincarnation, destiny, music, death and philosophy.

Finally, the film ends with Tom Hanks finishing his story at the camp fire and ending on an optimistic note.

This is a brave, bold, ambitious and non linear film. It is not perfect but I prefer to see this type of film which tries to engage the audience rather than a paint by numbers film. I was enthralled with it and I may need to watch this again as I am sure I have missed small cameos and 'Easter' eggs of recurring themes buried in the film. This film is going to split people, you are either going to love it or hate it. Fortunately, I have read the book and for me I am in the 'Love It" camp.

9.5/10

This is 40 (2012) directed by Judd Apatow, 7th February

Plot

Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie ( Leslie Mann) are a couple who both reach the mile stone of being 40 within a week of each other. One is in denial and the other wants to celebrate in style with a big party. The film covers the week starting with Debbie's birthday and the build up to Pete's 40th Birthday party.

Review 

This is a Judd Apatow written and directed film and documents the build up of a couples 40th birthday. The couple are going through a midlife crisis both personally, physically and financially.  It also deals with modern family life with the iGeneration and the older generation. One is estranged from her father and just reconnecting with him. The other father needs to be supported by his son.

With this thin thread the film is a bit of a mess. There are so many threads to this film. From school/internet bullying, financial secrets, growing pains, viagra, music. The list goes on and pretty much every topic is covered superficially in this film. The story has no cohesion and most of the scenes are like small sketches which are just stitched together to culminate to a big 40th.

There are highs, lows and meltdowns along the way during this film but in reality nothing much happens.

Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann do a very good bickering couple but apart from this there is nothing really engaging about the couple. The real scene stealers are the cameos from Melissa McCarthy playing a parent whose son is at the same school and Jason Segel being a personal trainer.

As this was a pseudo sequel to 'Knocked Up,' I was expecting a cameo from Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl. You would expect your screen younger sister at your 40th.

It's an over long film with very few big laughs and lots of apologetic smiles. At 134 mins this film could have easily been trimmed down.

For me the best part was the competition between Jason Segel and Chris O'Dowd  in trying to see who could win the affections of Megan Fox. Finally, you must stay for the outtake of the school principle scene at the credits with Melissa McCarthy. That is if you managed to sit through the whole film.

I had high expectations and really wanted to like this film but left very disappointed.

5/10

Hitchcock (2012) directed by Sacha Gervasi, 5th February

Plot

After success with North by North West. Hitchcock tackles his next film "Psycho." A film about the personal trials and tribulations of a film that no studio wanted to make except for Alfred Hitchcock.

Review

The film starts with Hitchcock being lauded with praise for his last film North by North West with every studio banging at his door to make them a film. The suggestion that he is too old and should make another North by North West makes Hitchcock look for a new direction, to prove his critics wrong and show that he is an artist. He chooses "Psycho" based on a true life event which no studio wants to make or finance. Being bullish about this he finances the project himself placing himself in a financially vulnerable position, battles the studio,  battles the censors and believes in the project where others don't. It also deals with his own personal demons of being a peeping tom, his obsession with the mythical Hitchcock Blond, his wife and muse Alma Reville, his insecurities and his obsession with praise from his fellow peers.

Anthony Hopkins is fine but his rubber prosthetics at times looks great and at others a little ropey. Helen Mirren gives a solid performance. Scarlet Johansson gives a likable performance of Janet Leigh as one of Hitchcock's blonds. Toni Collette is quite unrecognisable in this film.

With this great material and star cast of Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren. This should all make for a great recipe for an entertaining and intriguing film but somehow it does not work. The film does not grip and there is no real tension. I suppose it is not really the fault of this film as unfortunately we all know that Psycho is Hitchcock's most successful and probably his most famous film. The tension does not really build and runs quite flat even with all the troubles around him.

The lack of tension makes this relatively short film of 98 mins at times feels much longer and it does drag in places. There were some light moments but these were far and few between.

This is not a bad film and it is watchable but it is also quite forgettable at the same time.

6/10

Warm Bodies (2013) directed by Jonathan Levine, 31st January

Plot

R ( Nicholas Hoult) is not your run of the mill Zombie. Who happens to on one day save the life of Julie ( Teresa Palmer) from being eaten (very un-zombie like) and the two form a relationship which triggers a change in him and the rest of the world.

 Review

So it 's the usual zombie boy meets human girl. Zombie boy does not eat human girl brain's but instead falls in love with human girl and initially it is unrequited but slowly a bond  forms which then grows into something else in unlikely circumstances. This leads to a physiological change to occur to R.

Yes, he is from the the wrong side of the living and she is from the right side of the living. It's all so West Side story, Sharks and Jets . Romeo and Juliet, Montague's and Capulet's and finally we have Warm Bodies, R and Julie, Zombies and Humans.

This is a Zom Romcom. Starting off with a zombie perspective the story gets going with a monologue, well, hey, Zombies can't talk. R feels isolated and alone in his world and only feels 'human' when he is surrounded by his stuff and his records. Which he has some how accumulated and can play and enjoy them too. R and a fellow zombie M ( Rob Corddry) his best friend both then decide to head to town looking for food and particularly BRAINS. Apparently zombies can experience memories if they eat brains and cannot sleep nor dream and being dead...they are very cold to touch. There are also other zombies unfortunately called "Boners." These are zombies who are too far gone and have torn off their own flesh.

It's during R & M's hunt for food and brains when they stumble on Juliet and her fellow humans. Here R has an instant attraction to Julie even though she does not know it as she fends off the Zombie hoards. This attraction becomes stronger after consuming some brains which leads him to save Juliet from death by brain consumption.

So a beautiful and awkward romance begins and blossoms. A stirring occurs which some how triggers a biological and physiological change to R. It's the start and during this that we see most of the comedy which is also seen in the trailer. As the change to R occurs, he starts to reconnect with the living by slowly starting to talk and then doing everything a zombie can't do to finally having a beating heart and able to bleed.

The performances were fine from Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. Both quite likeable. John Malkovich performance is definitely by the numbers. Rob Corddry steals it for me as M as he is given most of the comedy moments playing it dead ( sorry) straight.

This is all a thinly veiled slant at modern life. Where we are all already zombies where we do not talk to others and stay isolated listening to our ipods and being fixated with our smart phones. It's message of love, compassion and politeness to others will allow us to reconnect and break down barriers. To become a community again instead of remaining isolated tribes. Hey, maybe I'm reading too much into this.

Finally, it's a short film at 97mins. Light and likeable. Are you going to really remember it ... probably not but with all the other heavy films of Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty around this is welcome light relief.

7/10

Django Unchained (2012) Directed by Quentin Tarantino, 26th January

Quentin Tarantino (QT) is proving to be a most versatile director, constantly changing genres but essentially sticking to high violence and revenge themes.

His new film a homage to the spaghetti western is definitely a homage. From the style of the opening titles  and even features a sound track containing pieces by Ennio Morricone you know you are watching a western.

The premise for the film is about a former escaped slave (Django) who is rescued by a law abiding former dentist come bounty hunter (Dr King Shultz) who team up to become a formidable bounty hunting team and eventually go out to together to rescue Django's wife form a cotton plantation owner Calvin Candie who now owns her.

This is classic Tarantino with great monologues interspersed with at a flick of a switch dramatic shoot outs which are bloody, graphic and almost cartoon like. This all sounds rather heavy but there are some comedy moments. From the Klu Klux Klan scene about ill fitting pillow cases, to why Django would choose a costume to look like a Little Lord Fauntleroy to a man constantly being shot whilst being caught in a cross fire.

It's a long film at 165mins and some scenes are over long and the film could have been whittled down a little bit to make it a little snappier.

Christopher Waltz is brilliant and essentially playing a similar character to Col Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds but a good version rather than an evil Nazi Jew hunter. Jamie Foxx is excellent too. Don Jonson did a wonderful turn as Big Daddy and there was a great little cameo of Tom Wopat (who used to play Luke Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard) as a US Marshall . Samuel Jackson provides a solid performance as usual. QT also makes a cameo as an Australian cowboy but with a dubious accent but hey, this is his film and it is a good film. So he can be forgiven for this turn.

This is not a perfect film but it is still heads and shoulders better than a lot of films released. It's definitely entertaining and I'm already looking forward to the next QT film. I wonder what genre he will tackle next?

8.5/10