Troy (2004)

Director: Wolfgang Peterson
Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Peter O'Toole, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, Rose Byrne
Certificate: 15
Genre: Drama, History
Awards: None

Wolfgang Peterson's epic tells the story of the invasion of Troy by the forces of Greece. The story has heroes on both sides of the war with the honourable Hector (Bana) of Troy who is trying to protect his brother Paris (Bloom) after he steals Menelaus (Gleeson)'s wife.

On the side of Greece is Achilles (Pitt) a prize fighter who is rumoured to be immortal. He has no love for his employer Agamemnon (Cox) and only agrees to fight because the warriors will be remembered in centuries to come.

Troy is a film where the war is not just black and white. There are people to root for on both sides. It reminds be of fantasy tales such as David Gemmell's. You see why each character acts like they do. I had heard that Troy was not a good film so It may not be popular to the majority, but if you are a fan of tales where good and evil are more complicated this is a film I recommend.

*****Brilliant

Troy Trailer

Gremlins (1984)

Director: Joe Dante
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Corey Feldman
Certificate: 15
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Awards: None

One christmas,  Billy (Galligan) gets a strange furry creature his father bought from a strange chinese shop. The strange creature is a mogwai and it comes with certain rules. Do not let it touch water, Do not shine light on it and most importantly... never feed it after midnight.

Gremlins is a film that is very different to your average christmas films. It's child friendly, but it has enough violence to keep you entertained. The mogwai is a cute sidekick that brings some affection into the film. The fact that the creature are puppets and not CGI just makes it seem like it's more fun. re-makers beware.

****Good

Gremlins Trailer

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian Mckellan, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Steven Hunter, Dean O'Gorman, Aidan Turner, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Andy Serkis, Sylvester McCoy, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holme
Certificate: 12
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: None

Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) is a hobbit that enjoys the peaceful life. But when a Wizard who goes by the name of Gandalf (McKellan) invites him on an adventure, his life is changed completely. A prequel to The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, The Hobbit is mostly about Bilbo and a group of dwarves who want to reclaim their home from the dragon Smaug. But it also has a subplot of the rising of a dark power. Anybody who has seen The Lord Of The Rings will have some idea of what that is.

Martin Freeman is the perfect bilbo. He is incredibly likeable, funny and feels like a younger version of Ian Holme's portrayal. Peter Jackson has also done a good job at making all the dwarves seem different. Although they are not all memorable, no two seemed alike.

The Hobbit also has a host of villains that could almost rival Game Of Thrones. Although neither of Benedict Cumberbatch's villains are given much screen time at all, there are still plenty of others. The pale Orc is a chilling character while the Orc King is a fun and original creation. However, it is unsurprisingly Gollum who steals the show. The riddle sequence is probably the best scene of all of 2012.

The film is definitely not as dark as The Lord Of The Rings, but then it is set in a time of peace. The only problem I have with the film is that CGI may have been a bit overused. The Orcs are now all Computer Generated which makes them seem a lot more unrealistic when compared to LOTR's people in costume orcs

I would say that The Hobbit is one of the best films of 2012 and it is a must watch. Now we've got to wait a whole year for part two, nooo!

*****Brilliant

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer

Shallow Grave (1994)

Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston
Certificate: 18
Genre: Thriller
Awards: None

With Danny Boyle's vast amount of highly critically acclaimed films such as Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, his first film has become a underestimated masterpiece.

The film follows three flatmates who come across the dead body of new flatmate Henry. The three decide to bury his body and not tell anybody when they see his suitcase is filled with money. The deed starts to affect all three of the very different characters as they succumb to guilt and greed.

Christopher Eccleston really stands out here as a quiet accountant David. His transformation is creepy and somewhat saddening as he seems to lose his identity completely. The film is filled with tense moments that will keep you riveted and waiting for how it all turns out.

Shallow Grave is the unsung triumph of Danny Boyle.  It's smaller than his other films and mostly filmed in one location, but the story is cleverly played out with violence and character progression woven into it.

*****Brilliant

Shallow Grave Trailer

Seven Psychopaths (2012)

Director: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Tom Waits
Certificate: 15
Genre: Comedy, Gangster
Awards: None

How could anybody follow up a film as good as In Bruges? a comedy that's dialogue was so perfect, every single line is quotable. McDonagh's answer is Seven Psychopaths - a comedy with a screenwriter who is trying to write a film but can only think of the title - Seven Psychopaths. His friend runs a dognapping business where he steals dogs and his partner gives them back for a reward. When they steal the Shit-Zu of a crime boss, the three have to try and get out with their lives.

First of all, this is nowhere as near as good as In Bruges. It's a lot sillier and less dark. The dialogue is still funny, but it seems a lot more over the top. Both Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken shine as the comedy. Colin Farrell plays the straight guy this time and becomes the least interesting because of it.

Seven Psychopaths is still good. It's just not the second coming we were all hoping for. It's a fun film with plenty of laughs and good ideas, although the poster lies about who the psychopaths actually are.

****Good

Seven Psychopaths Trailer

The Living Dead Trilogy

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

Director: George A. Romero

Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley

Certificate: 15

Genre: Horror

Awards: None

Night Of The Living Dead is the film that created what Zombies mean in society today. This is the first time that a Zombie (although they are not called that) was a dead person who has been brought back to life.

The film starts with Barbara (O'Dea) and Johnny, siblings who have come to put a reef on their father's grave. Afterwards, they are attacked by a strange man and Barbara flees after Johnny is killed. She hides in a house where she meets Ben (Jones). They then have to keep the creatures out of the house and try to survive.

Although the actual horror is not that scary by today's standards, it shocked people back in 1968. Gore had never been seen like this in cinema before. The film also tackled American politics at the time by casting a black actor as the hero.

NOFTD is a must see for horror fans and it is still entertaining today. The shock and horror may no longer work, but the characters' struggles and relationships are still relevant. This is the original Zombie survival film and has a killer ending that will leave you feeling different.

****Good

Dawn Of The Dead (1978)

Director: George A. Romero

Starring: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross

Certificate: 18

Genre: Horror

Awards: None

Dawn Of The Dead follows Peter (Emge), a traffic reporter; Francine (Ross), his television executive girlfriend and two swat team members named Peter (Foree) and Roger (Reiniger). Together they escape a zombie outbreak to a shopping mall. There they have a safe place to stay and the Zombies do not seem to pose much of a problem when they have weapons.

To be honest, if there was a zombie outbreak, a shopping mall would be the best place to be (even better in America as then you have a gun store). Also, with the Zombies not posing much of a problem, the film is free to delve deeper into the characters. It's nice to see a zombie film where everybody seems to get along. There is nobody who wants to be in charge and tries to kill the others.

Dawn Of the Dead looks at gore with an almost gleeful manor that reminds me a lot of Starship Troopers. The special effects are what makes the film as good as it is. If it was a CGI film, it would not be as believable and watchable as it is.

****Good

Day Of The Dead (1985)

Director: George A. Romero

Starring: Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Jarlath Conroy, Anthony Dileo JR, Richard Liberty, Joseph Pilato, Sherman Howard

Certificate: 18

Genre: Horror

Awards: None

Like Dawn Of The Dead the Zombies have already arrived in this film. And in Day Of The Dead, the characters are already in a secure place. The underground base is host to a group of scientists and a military unit who's relationship is becoming more tense by the day. Their job is to try and find out what is going on and how to stop it.

The Douche character returns here as the almost psychotic military leader Rhodes (Pilato). This character makes problems a lot worse. He openly hates the scientists and would not think twice about having them all shot.

The zombies also have a bigger part in the third film. A Zombie who has been put under experiments by the Doctor Frankenstein (Liberty) has a big part with showing how humans can control the creatures. He is given a personality and becomes quite a likeable character.

Day Of The Dead is the first of the three to still feel scary. The atmosphere is tense and the zombies are not played as comically as Dawn. The characters are not on top of the situation and panic spread into the film.

The effects are better than ever with stomachs being ripped open and an eyeball showing after the skin of a man's face is torn off. It's fun to watch just to see what Romero can think of next.

****Good

Overall I like all three very much. Each has their own feeling and atmosphere. Night shows claustrophobia and almost resignation to the inevitable. Dawn feels a lot safer and more comical as the characters have a better hold of the situation. Day has the feel of panic as the character seem to be ahead but start to slip up after they start fighting.

If you like zombie films, this trilogy is a must see as they are the originals. They created the sub-genre and still stand up as good films today.

Day of the Dead Trailer

Dawn Of The Dead Trailer

Night Of The Living Dead Trailer

Predators (2010)

Director: Nimrod Antal
Starring: Adrien Brody, Alice Braga, Topher Grace, Walton Goggins, Oleg Taktorov, Danny Trejo, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Mahershala Ali, Laurence Fishbourne
Certificate: 15
Genre: Action, Sci Fi
Awards: None

Predators is - as the title says - a sequel to Predator with more than one of them. A group of the toughest killers are left in a jungle and have to survive against a group of predators. They are all from military or criminal backgrounds so they should give the predators a run for their money.

Predators plays with the same aspects as the original and really just keeps it that. The only real variation is that there are more of them. Actually, Predators takes a lot from it's older sibling. Some characters seem to do the same thing and weapons look incredibly familiar. Lines are cut and pasted into this word from word.

However, the film is definitely fun. The deaths of  characters one by one is enjoyable in any film and this does not go against the crowd. The predators are cool and the atmosphere makes the characters seem alone.

This is not Aliens. It does not add anything new and impressive to the franchise. It is more for the fans. It has however brought it back from death and hope to see a new Predator film in the coming years.

****Good

Predators Trailer

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Director: Garth Jennings
Starring: Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Stephen Fry
Certificate: PG
Genre: Sci Fi, Comedy
Awards: None

The Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is based off the first book in the series written by Douglas Adams. It follows Arthur Dent (Freeman) - a normal seeming person - as he is taken on an adventure in space after the earth is destroyed in order to create a new hyper way.

The film is fairly respectful to the book and seems to follow the same sort of story - albeit adding more things for the Vogons to do. However, I don't think a film can convey the humour of the book as well. Adams' writing can sometimes not be put visually. It's not all about the characters and what they do but how he can play with different perspectives. Some of this is shown with a cartoon being narrated by Stephen Fry. These are arguably the best bits which brings up the point if the film should just be an audio book narrated by Fry.

I also have a problem with the character of Ford Prefect (Def). He is supposed to be an alien who was stranded on earth and acts quite strangely in the books. Def plays him a bit too human and he becomes just a forgettable character. The rest of the cast seem to fit quite well. Even the smallest roles are given to a variety of well known British and American talent (Helen Mirren, Bill Bailey and John Malkovich among them).

THHGTTG is still funny, but it doesn't really feel like it is needed. Fans of the books will already know most of the quotes and humour off by heart and will therefore feel like they are just reading them again with half the pages ripped out. If you haven't read the books, heard the radio show or watched the TV show, you will find this a witty little film that feels incredibly British. However, you might as well just read the books and have a better experience.

***Okay

Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Trailer

Mission Impossible II (2000)

Director: John Woo
Starring: Tom Cruise, Thandie Newton, Dougray Scott, Ving Rhames, Richard Roxburgh, Brendan Gleeson
Certificate: 15
Genre: Action
Awards: None

Ethan Hunt (Cruise) returns in this sequel where he has to take down an ex-coworker who has stolen a genetically modified disease. His target takes him to Australia where he sets up his new team including Thief Nyah Nordoff- Hall (Newton) who used to be in a relationship with the target. That's it basically.

MI2 is a massive disappointment. John Woo's slow motion is overdone so much with slow mo shots of pigeons flying and Tom Cruise looking moody. And the love story. Oh god the love story. It's so cheesy it's hard to bear. The villain is incredibly boring and the story is as forgettable.

**Pretty Bad

Mission Imposible II Trailer

Three Amigos! (1986)

Director: John Landis
Starring: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Alfonso Arau
Certificate: PG
Genre: Comedy, Western
Awards: None

The Three Amigos are actors that star in silent films where they play lone rangers who save people. Being mistaken for their onscreen personas. A mexican village hires them to rid them of a terrible bandit. The actors however, do not know that this time it is for real.

Three Amigos is basically a parody of The Magnificent Seven. It's humour can only be described as silly. There is one part with a singing bush that was so weird that I was in hysterics. It is definitely an enjoyable film.

****Good

Three Amigos Trailer

Hidalgo (2004)

Director: Joe Johnson
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharrif, Zuleikha Robinson, Louise Lombard
Certificate: 12
Genre: Western
Awards: None

Hidalgo is the name of the horse owned by Frank Hopkins (Mortensen). The two perform for a circus and occasionally fail to stop the slaughter of red indians - which is a sore spot for Mr Hopkins because he is half Red Indian. While performing in the circus, Hidalgo is described as the greatest endurance horse. However, a servant of an arabian Sheik who has no knowledge of exaggeration demands that the circus stop calling the horse that or enter an endurance race in Arabia to prove Hidalgo is the best. Hopkins agrees.

Hidalgo is a western that is set mostly in Arabia. The race is a lot more interesting than it looked like it was going to be thanks to some dastardly characters and a man with a trained bird. I'm glad that the film did not go down the route of just having a connection between man and horse in favour of some more interesting characters and subplots including abduction and gunfights.

Altogether, Hidalgo is a well put together film that has nice characters and a good story. It gets predictable near the end but their probably was no other appropriate way to finish it.

****Good

Hidalgo Trailer

Spaceballs (1987)

Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Bill Pullman, John Candie, Daphne Zuniga, Rick Moranis, Mel Brooks
Certificate: 12
Genre: Comedy, Sci Fi
Awards: None

Spaceballs is a parody of the massive space opera Star Wars and a few other Sci Fi films. It tells the story of a rogue named Lone star (Pullman) who is offered a reward to rescue Princess Vespa (Zuniga) from the evil Lord Helmet (Moranis).

Spaceballs is a hit and miss comedy. A lot of it just seems tacky and rubbish but it has it's genuinely funny moments (Such as John Hurt's cameo with a surprising twist). The acting is abysmal from the main three characters. Moranis makes the film work as lord Helmet. He's funny and whenever he is off camera, you want him to come back.

If you compare this to some of Brooks' earlier works such as Blazing Saddles, this film seems like a cheap film with not much thought put into it. It was Disappointing but the best bits are definitely quotable.

***Okay

Spaceballs Trailer

Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time (2010)

Director: Mike Newell
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina
Certificate: 12
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
Awards: None

During the time of the persian empire. An adopted prince named Dastan (Gyllenhaal) is wanted for the murder of his father, but he is innocent. He has also come across a mysterious dagger that can turn back time. Dastan also brings along princess Tamina (Arterton) who knows about the dagger and what harm it can do in the wrong hands. Dastan tries to find out who really killed his father while strange beings try and take the dagger from him.

Although Prince Of Persia did not light the world on fire, I feel that it was a pretty decent action film. It's a shame Disney are not planning on continuing the series as it would be interesting to see what happens to the characters.

Prince Of Persia does seem to be the first good Video-Game adaptation. It was entertaining and was stylised pretty well. However, if the reversing time gimmick was used a bit more it would have made it a lot more interesting.

****Good

Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time Trailer

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's nest (1975)

Director: Milos Forman
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Brad Dourif, Sydney Lassick, Danny Devito, William Redfield, Christopher Lloyod, William Duell, Will Sampson
Certificate: 18
Genre: Drama
Awards: Best Actor (Nicholson), Best Actress (Fletcher), Best Director, Best Picture, Best adapted screenplay

To escape labour duties in prison, criminal McMurphy (Nicholson) pleads insanity and is sent to an insanity ward. But he soon finds out that the ward isn't going to be all fun and games. He clashes with nurse Ratched (Fletcher) who uses her position to bully the inmates. McMurphy gathers the other inmates they start to rebel against their keepers.

OFOTCN has a really good villain. Unlike many iconic villains, Nurse Ratched is a completely and utterly hatable character. People may like villains because they have a funny personality or seem cool. This character just thrusts a dagger in your heart.

I think that the best films are the one's you keep thinking about for a long time after you've seen it and Cuckoo's Nest is one of those films. The film lets you care about the characters and feel bad for them. The ending is terrific and makes the whole film feel different.

*****Brilliant

One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest trailer

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)

Director: Gareth Carrivick
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Marc Wooton, Dean Lennox Kelly, Anna Faris
Certificate: 15
Genre: Science Fiction, Comedy
Awards: None

FAQ About Time Time Travel follows three friends who go for a drink after one of them is fired from their job. At the pub, every time that they go to the toilet. Ray (O'Dowd) also meets a woman from the future who says she is a time agent who fixes time leaks.

The film feels a lot like an episode of Doctor Who. The time travel is given full focus here however where most films only use it to get to the story and then forget about it. It did well with it as well. The time travel was the most fun part of the film as you always want to see where they turn out to be next. It's one of the films that makes you want more when it is over.

The CGI is pretty poor but that's to be expected from a low budget film. What makes this film good is the story and how the chemistry of the three main characters. All three have their moments and they all make you feel like they are real friends who have known each other for a long time.

I would definitely recomend watching FAQ About Time Travel and believe there should be more films like this. it shows that with a good story and actors, you can make a really good film.

*****Brilliant

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel Trailer

Wrath Of The Titans (2012)

Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Rosamund Pike, Edgar Ramirez, Toby Kebbell, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston
Certificate: 12
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: None

Wrath Of the Titans takes place a few years after Clash and Perseus (Worthington) now has a son and doesn't really want anything to do with the gods and how they always want to kill each other. Unfortunately, Hades (Fiennes) and Aries (Ramirez) decide to unleash Kronos - the father of Zeus, Hades and Poseidon - on the human race. He captures Zeus (Neeson) in order for Kronos to take his power and now Perseus must save the day.

Wrath is a lot better than Clash as it seems  to give a better story and actually show some of the reasons why the characters want to do what they do. More of the gods are shown and we get to see a few more Titans than the first one.

This film is not aiming to wow you with it's story. It's a film that wants to look good visually and it succeeds in that. The battles are fun to watch and the film keeps up a fast pace so that the audience are not bored. It' not brilliant but it sets out in what it aims to do.

It will be interesting how the creators take the franchise from here (as another film is inevitable). The writers written themselves into a corner which may make Bash Of The Titans seem a lot more strained in plot.

****Good

Wrath Of The Titans Trailer

Skyfall (2012)

Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Wishaw, Berenice Marlohe
Certificate: 12
Genre: Action, Spy
Awards: Best Song, Best Sound

Skyfall is the 23rd film in the James Bond franchise which sees Daniel Craig playing the MI6 agent at his weakest. Bond has been shot and presumed dead. He has ben defeated and seemed to have given up. Then, MI6 is attacked and an unknown person from M (Dench)'s past seems to be behind it.

Skyfall gives a a heap load of old characters that have not yet appeared yet in the Bond reboot. Notably Ben Wishaw as Q, the gadget man who is ridiculed by Bond for being so young. Bardem's cyberhacker villain is also a joy to watch and see how his character is fit into the story.

The action sequences are particularly good. A motorcycle chase onto a train before the opening sequence shows that Mendes can do action and he can do it well while the ending battle shows how to make a Bond film different but still remind you of others.

This is the first of the Craig Bonds to mostly be set in britain, which makes him seem a lot closer to his fellow operatives as he is not just continually talking to them through an ear piece. It also shows off a lot of Britain (during Olympic year nonetheless) that again makes it seem to be a special Bond. It's closer to home than any other.

In conclusion, Skyfall is a jump up with no gravity from the absolutely dismal Quantum Of Solace. I still preferred Casino Royale but that's really just preference. Skyfall is immensely entertaining and really introduces Craig into the classic Bonds.

****Good

Skyfall Trailer

Red (2010)

Director: Robert Schwentke
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mary- Louise Parker, Karl Urban, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Rebecca Pidgeon
Certificate: 12
Genre: Action, Comedy
Awards: None

Frank Moses (Willis) is an ex black- ops agent who is targeted by the CIA. After apologetically kidnapping a woman he talks to on the phone when he is lonely, he tries to bring back his old team and find out what exactly is going on.

Red shows what happens to old, retired secret agents and how they cope (although i'm sure they are not  attacked by the CIA). It's funny and the stars are all brilliant in their roles. Red 2 is said to be going into production soon. One more film to look forward to.

****Good

Red Trailer

Mission: Impossible (1996)

Director: Brian De Palma
Starring: Tom Cruise, John Voight, Emmanuelle  Beart, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Redgrave, Emilio Estevez
Certificate: PG
Genre: Action, Spy, Thriller
Awards: None

Mission: Impossible sees agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) becoming the last surviving member of his team on an operation to flush out a mole. Now hunted by his employers, Hunt has to track down the mole by getting a top secret disk for the mole's employers.

This film is thrilling with chases, explosions and brilliant set pieces such as a helicopter and train going through a tunnel. Cruise is good as Hunt and gives the character a personality. This is by no way a classic, but it is enjoyable none the less.

****Good

Mission: Impossible Trailer

Unknown (2011)

Director: Jaume Collet-Sella
Starring: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Bruno Ganz, Aiden Quinn
Certificate: 15
Genre: Action, Thriller
Awards: None

Dr Martin Harris (Neeson) is in Berlin with his wife (Jones) for  a conference when he has a road accident. He wakes up in hospital after being in a coma for four days. When he goes back to his wife, she doesn't recognise him and there is another Dr Martin Harris. Now extremely confused, Dr Harris has to find out what's going on.

Unknown is intriguing and has some good ideas. it has also gone to lengths in order to not just be a mediocre version of Taken. Neeson's character is not an unstoppable badass and in the action scenes he is a lot less capable than Brian Mills.

Unknown is not Neeson's best film by far, but it has it's good bits. It's a nice little thriller with a good story.

****Good

Unknown Trailer

Children Of Men (2006)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Clive Owen, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Pam Ferris, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julianne Moor
Certificate: 15
Genre: Sci Fi, Drama
Awards: None

Children Of Men is one of those dystopian and dark films that Britain can make so well (28 Days later, Day Of The Triffids). Women have not been able to have children for eighteen years, the world has gone to pieces and now only Britain stands as a dictatorship. Theo (Owen) used to be an activist for the rights of immigrants in Britain.  When he sees his wife again for the first time in years and sees that there is a pregnant girl, he tries to help them get to The Human Project: a group that have been working on curing infertility.

Children of Men is grim dark and it seems very realistic. As if you're almost there amidst the action. The characters are solid and seem three dimensional. You want the characters to succeed and the villains are just detestable.

The film is not stylised at all. It's just plain, grim realism that makes it hit closer to home, which is refreshing after so many films where you feel like they occupy another world.

****Good

Children of Men Trailer

The Matrix (1999)

Directors: The Wachowski Brothers
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Ann-Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoleano, Marcus Chong, Gloria Foster
Certificate: 15
Genre: Sci Fi, Action
Awards: Best editing, Best sound, Best visual effects, Best sound effects

What is the Matrix. It is a false reality that the human raise has been tricked into that now inhabit the planet. Everybody is plugged into it at birth and live their whole life in there. One man named Neo - A computer hacker - learns this and is shown what the real world is really like and how to stop the machines.

There is one word that sums up The Matrix - cool. Everything about it is just so suave and sheek. The slowed down bullet time, wall running, leather trench coats and sunglasses. This is probably the coolest film that has been made. The story is new and very thought provoking on what is real and what is not.

Hugo Weaving's agent smith makes a great impression in the film. He's super cool, speaks weirdly and is a formidable foe for our heroes. It's no surprise that he has become one of the most famous villains.

The matrix is a film that will just make you feel awesome afterwards. You just feel like running up walks and karate kicking someone in the stomach. The Matrix 2 & 3 are absolutely nothing compared to this.

*****Brilliant

The Matrix Trailer

Gladiator (2000)

Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris
Certificate: 15
Genre: Action, Historic, Drama
Awards: Best Actor (Crowe), Best Costume, Best effects, Best picture, Best sound

Maximus Decimus Meridius (Crowe) is a general in the Roman army. The Roman Emperor  Marcus Aurelious (Harris) gives him power over the empire in order to give it to the senate. But Aurelios's crafty son Commodus (Phoenix) kills his father before he can tell anyone. He then has Maximus and his family executed. Maximus escapes but is captured by slavers. He is then trained as a gladiator and is sent to the colosseum where he comes face to face with the man who had his family killed.

Gladiator has a really touching story with some really good actors. Phoenix is a brilliant as ever, but it is Crowe who shines out. He plays a man who has lost everything. Richard Harris has a good small part as the kind emperor who wants to give Rome back to the people.

Hans Zimmer's Score reigns over the film with such force, it is quite easy to get emotional. The set pieces are immense and the battles are of a high quality. I would say that this is one of Ridley Scott's best films. In the top three.

*****Brilliant

Gladiator Trailer

The Third Man (1949)

Director: Carol Reed
Starring: Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, Orson Wells
Certificate: PG
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Noir
Awards: Best Cinematography

Novelist Holly Martins (Cotten) has been invited to Vienna by his friend Harry Lime. But when he arrives he finds out that Harry has been killed in a car accident, but not all seems right. He is told by Harry's friends that two men helped him off the road but an eyewitness says that there is a third man. Fixed o finding this mysterious figure, Holly starts to upset allot of people.

The Third Man is a well done mystery film with an enticing story and good acting. You cannot tell what will happen in the end until you watch it. The music is also great companion to the film (although it reminds me of Spongebob Squarepants).

****Good

The Third Man Trailer

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)

Director: Peter Hewitt
Starring: Alex Winters, Keanu Reeves, William Sadler, George Carlin
Certificate: PG
Genre: Comedy, Sci Fi
Awards: None

This is the sequal to Bill & Ted's excellent adventure. In the future, Bill (Winters) and Ted (Reeves) are profits to the people and there music is holy. Some people don't like that and send robot versions of Bill & Ted back in time in order to kill them. The dudes are killed and they meet death (Sadler). Now they must come bak to life in order to save their reputation and the future.

Bill & Ted 2 has everything the original has. The humour is as good as ever and the new character Death is a good asset to the film. If you liked the original, you'll like this one. There has been talk of a Bill & Ted 3 taking place. I have mixed feelings about this as it has been a long time since the second one and it may seem a bit forced.

****Good

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey Trailer

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Director: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny Devito
Certificate: 18
Genre: Crime
Awards: Best adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting actress (Basinger)

L.A. Confidential follows three cops. Bud White (Crowe), a violent man who hates people who beat women; Edmund Exley (Pearce), a rookie who wants to live up to his famed father and Jack Vincennes (Spacey), a man who has connections with the papers. When a mass homicide occurs in a bar, the three are among the people who are trying to find who is responsible.

The film has a good story with a star studded cast that performs excellently. Spacey is as good as ever, Pearce makes his character a likeable guy while Crowe gives us a character we will definitely remember. The supporting cast is also good with Basinger giving us a strong feminine character while DeVito plays a sleazy journalist.

****Good

L.A. Confidential Trailer

Looper (2012)

Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Jeff Daniels, Pierce Gagnon, Noah Segen
Certificate: 15
Genre: Sci Fi, Action
Awards: None

In the future, time travel has been invented and strictly outlawed. Only the mafia use it. They send people back to the past where people called loopers kill them and dispose of their bodies. Joe (Gordon- Levitt) is one of these people. When his future self (Willis) is sent back however, he hesitates and lets him get away. Now his gang is hunting him in order to catch his future self.

I was surprised how they decided to go with Looper. I imagined it to be completely different. The ideas are unique and pay off well. The film also has allot of humour in it which I didn't expect. Plus JGL actually looks like Bruce Willis. If you look at his face, you could think of him as a young Bruce.

What I really like about Looper is the sound. When one of the future blunderbusses is fired, there is a massive bang and you know that it is final. The first time it was surprising how quick and violent it was.

Pierce Gagnon plays a kid named Cid. He is a wonderful character that is portrayed excellently. His mum (Blunt) is also well thought out. The minor characters are a joy to watch aswell. There's a hilarious scene where Joe and his boss (Daniels) are discussing his future while There Will Be Blood's Paul Dano is impressive as Joe's not so bright friend.

People have been saying that Looper is this generations Matrix. While I still think Inception deserves that title, Looper is definitely allowed to sit at the big boys table. I predict that this will become a cult classic. It is Certainly worth a watch.

*****Brilliant

Looper Trailer

The Sorcerers Apprentice (2010)

Director: Jon Turteltaub
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Nicolas Cage, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell
Certificate: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure
Awards:  None

When Dave (Baruchel) was just a kid, he met a wizard named Balthasar (Cage) and accidentally trapped him and his mortal enemy for ten years. The event scarred him for life and - when he finally gets over the ordeal - the wizards return and now he is the only one who can stop the evil Morgana from returning. Now he has to get the girl and save the world...

Despite the formulaic plot, The Sorcerers Apprentice pulls it off by adding humour to the mixture. This film is genuinely funny - mostly thanks to Baruchel's wit and Kebbell's stupidity. It's by no means perfect. The plot is predictable but Nicholas Cage does well as a grizzled wizard who has seen it all. If you want a light hearted action flick, give this one a go.

****Good

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Trailer

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Director: Frances Ford Coppola
Starring: Martin Sheen, Sam Bottoms, Frederic Forest, Robert Duvall, Albert Hall, Laurence Fishburne, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Harrison Ford
Certificate: 15
Genre: War
Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Sound

Apocalypse Now follows Captain Benjamin Willard (Sheen) who has been assigned to assassinate an insane colonel Kurtz (Brando) during the Vietnam war. On his way to the madman, he encounters others who are fighting the war and questions whether Kurtz is more insane than anyone else.

Apocalypse Now seems like a road trip from hell. It's eerie atmosphere and sickening colours makes it look like a drug induced dream. It has a feeling of horror and despair entwined within the multiple characters and scenarios. Plus it has a brilliant soundtrack of The Doors and The Rolling Stones.

To be blunt, Apocalypse Now is one of the weirdest films you will ever see. I find it is a film that you appreciate more than enjoy. It is amazingly made and has enormous talent. But it is just so strange...

****Good

Apocalypse Now Trailer

Fargo (1996)

Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Starring: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Certificate: 18
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Awards: Best actress McDormand, Best original screenplay

Fargo is the Coen brothers's dark comedy. Jerry Lundegard (H. Macy) is a shoddy car salesman who needs money. He therefore hatches a plan where he hires two men (Buscemi, Stormare) to kidnap his wife so that his father-in-law will pay the ransom and therefore give him the money he needs. But the plan goes wrong when the hired kidnappers end up murdering people, calling in heavily pregnant, homicide cop Marge Gunderson (McDormand).

Fargo paints a pitch black picture but adds humour, Mostly from Steve Buscemi. Buscemi steals the show as loudmouth criminal Carl. He breaks the dark moments of the film with outbursts of genius dialogue. This is definitely my favourite Coen brothers film so far.

*****Brilliant

Fargo Trailer

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Director: Stephen Herek
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin
Certificate: PG
Genre: Comedy, Sci Fi
Awards: None

Bill S Preston (Winter) and Ted Logan (Reeves) are two school slackers who dream of creating a band - even though neither of them know how to play an instrument. What they don't know is that they will become prophets in the future. Due to this, a man from the future named Rufus (Carlin) goes back in time in order to give them his time machine so that they can past their history test - because if they don't pass their test, the future can never come true as Ted will be sent to military school.

Most of Bill and Ted's comedy is focused on the two main characters. The way they speak and act in different scenarios make the film extremely amusing. The characters are surfer dudes who are not very bright. The portrayal of all the different famous people in history is also rather funny.

****Good

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure Trailer

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Max Von Sydow, Gunnar Bjornstand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson
Certificate: 8.3
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Awards: None

The Seventh Seal is a Norwegian film that takes place during the black plague. A Knight from the crusades returns home where he meets death and challenges him to a game of chess. If he wins, he gets to live. During the breaks in their chess game, he and his squire meet other characters who all have their own views on life and death. The knight is anxious to know if god exists before his time is up.

The Seventh seal is very symbolic and shows how you cannot win against death and that it is not fair. A lot of it probably went straight over my head as it is very philosophical. But unlike The Tree Of Life, it has a story to go with it. The film has great characters with a wide array of personalities. There is a sense of humour in parts which stop it from getting too depressing. Death strikes a very powerful character, dressed all in black. I would have liked to see more of him in the film all the best scenes have his character looming over the other characters.

This is a film to watch. Definitely. It's still known as a brilliant film today- more than fifty years later. I would like to watch it again to understand it better.

****Good

The Seventh Seal Trailer

In Bruges (2008)

Director: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Jordan Prentice
Certificate: 18
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Awards: None

Bruges is a small medieval village in Belgium that two hit men are sent to hide after their job goes wrong. There they have to wait for their boss (Fiennes) to call them. Although Ken (Gleeson) is happy enough to sightsee, Ken (Farrell) finds Bruges the most boring place to be. Once he starts to explore however, he meets dwarves, drug dealers and a few sticky situations.

In Bruges is the funniest film I have seen for a very long time - perhaps ever. It has a unique sense of humour that makes it hard to stop watching. Colin Farrell is a likeable lead while Gleeson and Fiennes both get their share of comedic moments. I would say that In Bruges has some of the best dialogue ever filmed. It feels like every scene has a moment of solid gold that you will remember forever. I really want to see what Martin McDonagh does next.

*****Brilliant

In Bruges Trailer

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman
Certificate:12
Genre: Superhero, Crime, Action
Awards: None

The Dark Knight Rises has the hardest job to impress out of the trilogy as it has to live up to the hype that has surrounded it since it was announced. After The Dark Knight gained so much love it was going to be hard to outdo it. Luckily, TDKR is everything the fans hoped for.

Taking place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne (Bale) is retired and very rarely seen. After a new villain in the shape of the muscular Bane (Hardy) arrives on the scene, Batman has to return to save Gotham City. However, master thief Selina Kyle (Hathaway) may make that more difficult.

TDKR is a mix of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Batman is back in the spotlight but other characters also get their time to shine. You see how Gordon (Oldman) is coping with lying to Gotham and Alfred's (Caine) increasing trepidation about how far Batman can go. But there is also a new character in Gotham. Blake (Gordon-Levitt), A hothead cop who recognises Bruce Wayne for what he really is. Blake is a really good character that nobody really saw coming.

What makes The Dark Knight Rises different to other superhero films is that it has a proper ending. Unlike the spiderman trilogy , there is a conclusion to the story. The end is absolutely perfect and I could not picture it in any other way.

I think The Dark Knight Rises is the best of Christopher Nolan's trilogy. It has the best of the last two films and ups the stakes. If there is one film to watch this year, this is it.

*****Brilliant

The Dark Knight Rises Trailer

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (2012)

Directors: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Penelope Cruz, Peter Dinklage, Keke Palmer, Queen Latifah
Certificate: U
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Adventure
Awards: None

I had one thought when going to see Ice Age 4, Will it be like Ice Age 2 (Bad) or Ice Age 3 (Good) - because we all know the series will never make another film as brilliant as the first one. Luckily it's more like Dawn Of The Dinosaurs. The film gets kudos for giving the more annoying characters less screen time. I almost forgot Crash and Eddie were in the film and actually cheered at the part where they looked like they fell to their doom.

Putting the three original characters on their own again was a moment of genius on the writer's part. Sid Manny and Diego are best when away from the colourful and crazy characters from the sequels. Plus we have our first talking villain since Soto in the first one, The pirate monkey Captain Gut (Game Of Thrones's Peter Dinklage) is a great change to the silent villains that have plagued this franchise.

However, there are problems. The story of Manny's daughter Peaches (Palmer) is boring and pointless. The reason I think it was included was to add in pop stars Drake and Nicki Minaj into their voice talent. I can now safely say add these characters to the list of creatures I want to drop into a volcano.

Altogether Ice Age 4 is a good attempt to keep the franchise going. There are a few lines taken from the first film that reminds you how good it was. How about for Ice Age 5, they bring back the kid when he's all grown up. It doesn't even have to be the main part of the story. Just have the kid save the heroes from a predator and then he recognises them. That would be a really deep and touching scene. Basically, If you liked Ice Age 3, you'll like Ice Age 4 as it's more of the wacky colourful humour the series has turned into.

****Good

Ice Age: Continental Drift Trailer

The Hitcher (1986)

Director: Robert Harmon
Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Rutger Haur, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Certificate: 18
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Awards: None

Rutger Haur is the Hitcher; A hitchhiker who kills the people who picks him up. When Jim Halsey escapes him, he destroys the would-be victims life by stalking him a framing him for all the murders the hitcher has done.

The Hitcher is a masterpiece of the thriller genre. The music is eerie and creepy, as is Haur's mysterious killer. The best thing about the film is that the killers motives are never explained. This makes him seem inhuman and even more dangerous. Plus, the film is not afraid to make things real messy but doesn't disgust the audience. It's not a gore fest. A lot of the killings are offscreen and we see characters react to  them but don't see the bodies or their last moments. This gives the film a higher class than the horrors which just want to show you torture and death in every minuscule detail. This is more about the menace of the villain than the way he dispatches his victims.

*****Brilliant

The Hitcher Trailer

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Director: John Hughes
Starring: Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, Paul Gleason
Certificate: 15
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Awards: None

The Breakfast Club is the name given to saturday detention in a high school. In the detention this week are the various stereotypes of high school students. The Prom Queen (Ringwald), The sporty one (Estevez), the nerd (Hall), the repeat offender (Nelson) and the weird one (Sheedy). They are overlooked by the unfriendly Principal Vernon (Gleason). In detention they begin to learn more about each other and make new friends.

The Breakfast Club is funny, realistic and has some well thought out characters. Each feels like they have problems of their own which makes them more than just cardboard cut outs. This film isn't for everyone, but if you want a teen movie with relatable characters you could do worse than this.

****Good

The Breakfast Club

AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Raul Bova, Lance Henrikson, Ewen Bremmer, Colin Salmon
Certificate: 18
Genre: Sci Fi, thriller
Awards: None

Putting two of the most famous monsters of film history in the same movie and  having them kill each other should have been a flawless plan. Both the Alien and Predator franchises have a giant fan base that would definitely watch this film.

To be fair, the audience get what they come for. Aliens and Predators are killing each other left right and centre and unlike it's terrible sequel, you can actually see what is going on. Unfortunately it's the characters that let the film down. I found that I did not care about a single character in the whole film. Unlike Alien, Predator or even Alien: Resurrection, I wasn't rooting for the characters to survive. I found the main girl irritating and couldn't wait for her to be turned into a snack for E.T.

This film may be tons better than AVPR, but that's not hard to do. Alien vs. Predator has a poor story, cringe worthy dialogue and unlikeable cardboard cut-out characters. If you've just come here to see Predators and Aliens clawing at each others throats however, you will be satisfied.

***Okay

Alien vs. Predator Trailer

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Director: Robert Hamer
Starring: Dennis Price, Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Valerie Hobson
Certificate: U
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Awards: None

Louis Mazzini (Price) and his mother were cast out of their rich family when his mother married someone below her status. After the death of his mother, Louis is set on avenging himself on the family by killing the eight heirs to the dukedom. All eight and the duke are played by Alec Guinness.

Kind Hearts and Coronets show how good an actor Guinness is. The film is definitely his show although Dennis Price makes a good dark protagonist. Although the story was clever and had a good imagination it was not as funny as I expected it to be. It's a dark comedy so it is more subliminal humour, but compared to another ealing comedy -The Lady Killers- it's really just not funny.

However, The story was good and it had a clever ending. If you're a fan of Alec Guinness this is absolutely essential watching material.

****Good

Kind Hearts and Coronets Trailer

Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Gary Dourdan, Michael Wincott
Certificate: 18
Genre: Horror, Sci Fi, Action
Awards: None

Alien: Resurrection takes place two-hundred years after the happenings of Alien3. Ellen Ripley is dead and she has been cloned by Weyland industries in order to gain possession of an Alien Queen. When the aliens escape, the clone of Ripley (Weaver) then teams up with a pirate crew in order to escape.

From what I've heard of this film I expected it to be terrible, but it's not that bad. It's nowhere near Alien and Aliens of course but it doesn't destroy the franchise at all. Most of the crew are enjoyable to watch and you don't want them to die. Winona Rider is a likeable new heroine and Ron Perlman is as awesome as ever.

However, the film is far from perfect. Alien: Resurrection is desperate to create something new in the series. They try human aliens, mutated humans and many others. Unfortunately, none really seem shocking or new.

Alien: Resurrection is tons better than Alien3 but can't compete with the originals. An enjoyable film with a twist I didn't see coming.

****Good

Alien: Resurrection Trailer

Kick-Ass (2010)

Director: Mathew Vaughn
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Lyndsy Fonseca
Certificate: 15
Genre: Superhero, Comedy, action
Awards: None

Kick-Ass a comic book adaptation about a kid who decides he's going to become a superhero. Dressed in a green wetsuit and armed with kendo sticks, Kick-Ass (Johnson) takes to the streets to stop crime. After a few bad attempts, he finally stops a mugging and becomes a youtube sensation.  Soon he meets other superheroes such as the eleven year old Hit Girl (Moretz) and her father Big Daddy (Cage). He also draws the attention of the mob boss Frank D'Amico (Strong) who makes a dangerous enemy.

Kick-Ass is very funny and very violent. The characters are likeable and it feels unique. Nicholas Cage is great as the batman like Big Daddy. There is apparently a sequel on the way. If it's anywhere as good as the original, it will be a great film.

****Good

Kick Ass Trailer

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Director: John Guillermin
Starring: Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely,  Richard Chamberlain, Jennifer Jones, O. J Simpson
Certificate: 15
Genre: Thriller, Action, Disaster
Awards: Best Cinematography, best editing, best music

The Towering Inferno is a disaster film when a skyscraper with shoddy building catches fire and the party on the top floor have to escape before the fire gets to them. There are a variety of different characters such as Steve McQueens fire chief, Paul Newman the architect and Fred Astaire the conman.

The towering inferno makes you care about the characters (well... some of them) . The characters are strong and realistic. It shows how fear affects people and how they would react if there life was in danger. Overall, an enjoyable film but forgettable.

****Good

The Towering Inferno Trailer

Face/ Off (1997)

Director: John Woo
Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen
Certificate: 18
Genre: Action, Crime
Awards: None

In Face/Off, John Travolta is cop Sean Archer who is fixed on one thing, catching the terrorist Caster Troy (Cage) who also killed his son. When he succeeds, he has become his enemy to find out where the terrorists have planted the bomb. Unfortunately, not all goes to plan and Troy takes Archer's face and takes over his life. Now both are trying to kill the other.

Face/ Off has an original idea and an interesting story. It's not trying to be cleverer than other action films. Travolta and Cage both play good heroes and villains. Overall, Face/ Off is an enjoyable action film which is definitely worth watching. It makes me want to see more of John Woo's films anyway.

****Good

Face Off Trailer

Batman returns (1992)

Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny Devito, Michelle Pfeiffer , Christopher Walken
Certificate: 12
Genre: Superhero
Awards: None

Batman Returns is the second Batman film by Tim Burton. This time it's the Penguin who seems to be wrecking havoc in Gotham City as he partners with the rich businessman Max Shrek in order to drive batman out of the city for good and become mayor. Catwoman also has something in store for Batman.

This is very different to the Christopher Nolan films. It definitely has Tim Burton's signature all over it- the gothic feel, the opera like music- and it seems he has made it too weird. The final of the film is absolutely hilarious.

Like The Dark Knight, Batman seems to be sidelined while the film focuses on the villains. Danny Devito is brilliant as the Penguin while Christopher Walken's character is sometimes hatable (when he pushes Selina Kyle out of a window) and sometimes he is likeable (sacrificing himself for his son).  I didn't really get what Catwoman was trying to do throughout the film. She seemed to want to kill batman for some reason.

Overall Batman Returns is a very gothic and weird look at our hero and his nemesis's. It's not bad, but it could have been better.

***Okay

Batman Returns trailer

Prometheus (2012)

Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron, Logam Marshall-Green, Guy Pearce, Sean Harris, Rafe Spall
Certificate: 15
Genre: Horror, Sci Fi
Awards: None

Prometheus takes place in the same universe as the Alien franchise and follows a group of scientists as they travel to LV-426 (the moon where the alien eggs were found in Alien) to find out who created the human race. There things start to go wrong.

The android David (Fassbender) steals the film. He is a likeable character but you don't trust him. Unlike Alien, you don't really get to know most of the crew. As there are seventeen of them, most don't live long enough for you to care about them.

The film is visually stunning, but some parts of the story seem to not add up. The beginning scenes don't seem to make sense with the rest of the film at all.

Prometheus raises more questions than answers. Nothing is really explained, but a sequel was hinted. I would be interested in seeing the sequel so the film did it's job. The ending however, is absolutely perfect.

****Good

Prometheus Trailer

28 Weeks Later (2007)

Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Starring: Mackintosh Muggleton, Imogen Poots, Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner
Certificate: 18
Genre: Horror
Awards: None

28 Weeks later is the sequel to 28 weeks later. It shows us what happens after the infection of Britain dies and London is repopulated .

The beginning scenes are really good; showing how Don (Carlyle) survived the first outbreak. It is a really intensive scene helped by a brilliant score by John Murphey.  You can relate to all of the characters - even the general who condemns the people to death as you understand why he did it. Usually when a character dies in a film, I don't care that much. In 28 Weeks Later, you follow all the characters and get to know them. When they die, you're heart broken.

28 Weeks Later has matched up to it's predecessor. Both films are modern masterpieces that will be a milestone in British Films. There are rumours that a 28 Months Later may be made. If so, it has a lot to live up to.

*****Brilliant

28 Weeks Later trailer

The Dark Knight (2008)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Certificate: 12
Genre: Superhero, action
Awards: Best sound editing, Best supporting actor (Heath Ledger)

Batman is back and been put to new limits. Batman has always had at least two villains in each film since returns and this time it's the Joker and Two Face. Batman has been doing quite well since we last saw him and Gotham seems to be cleaning up. Unfortunately, the Joker has other ideas is hired by the mafia to take own the three heroes of Gotham City. Batman, Commissioner Jim Gordon and the new district attorney Harvey Dent. Together the three may be able to take him down.

The Dark Knight seems a lot darker than it's predessesor. It also focuses less on Batman. Batman Begins was the story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman and therefore he was the star. The Dark Knight follows a lot more characters making Batman just another player in the game. The Joker absolutely steals the show with his maniacal personallity and cackling voice.

There are however some things I felt could have been done better. The beginning scenes where Batman is chasing the Scarecrow seems unnesesary. In Batman Begins, the scarecrow escapes and says that he will be back. Just arresting him and then not showing him for the rest of the film just makes it look like Christopher Nolan changed his mind and didn't know what to do with him anymore.

Overall, TDK is a very good superhero film. I prefer Begins for the scarecrow and Liam Neeson but both are extremely good films.

*****Brilliant

The Dark Knight Trailer

Aliens (1986)

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henrikson, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, William Hope

Certificate: 18

Genre: Action, Sci Fi, Horror

Awards: Best visual effects, Best sound effects

Aliens is set 57 years after the original Alien. Ellen Ripley (Weaver) has been in stasis for the whole time. When she wakes up, she learns that the planet they found the xenomorph on has now been colonised and  the company has now lost contact with the colony. Oh dear...

Ripley and a group of marines then enter the colony to see what's up. The battle between Alien and human then begins.

Aliens is a very different pace compared to Alien. Aliens is a war film and is more about facing the aliens than the actual horror. It is still quite intense however, such as when Ripley and Newt (Henn) are locked in a room with face huggers. It's more action packed. I personally prefer Alien but both are exceptionally good.


*****Brilliant