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