Pineapple Express [MA]

Lazy stoner, Dale, is the sole witness to a murder committed by an evil drug lord and a corrupt cop. Now Dale is marked for death and running for his life, dragging his continuously dazed dealer and his dealer’s violent dick of a supplier along for the ride. 

Another crude American addition to the class of Superbad, The 40 Year Old Virgin, and Your Highness, Pineapple Express is actually not such a bad movie in that there is more to it than what appears on the surface. 

Lazy stoner, Dale, is the sole witness to a murder committed by an evil drug lord and a corrupt cop. Now marked for death, Dale is running for his life, stoned and screaming all the way and dragging his continuously dazed dealer and his dealer’s violent dick of a supplier along for the ride. 

I think what I like most about this film is that it is more than it appears to be. Although the central humour comes in the form of drug-fuelled freak-outs and general violence, there is actually a much stronger and meaningful layer to the story: the strong relationship that develops between Dale and his dealer. Surprisingly enough, by the time you reach the climax of the movie, you’re almost going “aww that is so lovely” because this really nice bond has blossomed in the face of violence and desperation. There aren’t many films that use gore and explosions and general violence to emphasise a beautiful relationship and that whole idea of using ugliness to emphasise beauty is actually rather clever and it wouldn’t surprise me if future comedies started walking down this particular road. After all, it worked perfectly well for Shaun of the Dead. 

Generally, I find Seth Rogan a little annoying. I’m not going to lie. I like the fact that he has a very distinctive voice and I will admit that he will emit his shimmering moments, but ultimately I feel that he sort of plays the same kinds of roles. That’s not to say that he’s not great at them though. Pineapple Express, I think was one of the best things he’s done as it displayed a very funny performance from him that was stoned, confused, sincere, awkwardly heroic, and hysterically freaked. There was not one moment in this film where I tired of him. 

My main reason for watching this film though, is James Franco who played Dale’s dealer. I love James Franco, as I no doubt have mentioned before, and Pineapple Express saw him deliver a performance that was confused, vulnerable, adorable, and just downright hilarious. 

Starring Danny McBride, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Kevin Corrigan, Craig Robinson, Ken Jeong, and Ed Begely Jr., Pineapple Express was a very funny film filled with action, violence, bloodshed, explosions, lots of drugs, and so much comedy that it’s like you’re being punched in the face. This movie is definitely worth watching. 

Monkey's out of the bottle man. 

How Do You Know? [M]

Athleticism, competitive sports, and motivation are all that Lisa has ever known. But her world comes crashing down when she is cut from her sports team. Completely lost and unsure what to do, Lisa starts a fling with Matty, a major league baseball player and self-centred ladies’ man. Whilst their relationship gets off to a shaky start, if a start at all, Lisa discovers a strange friend in George, a businessman who is going through his own issues, both with his father and the law. Somehow, when everything seems to be falling apart, both Lisa and George are there to catch the other should they fall. 

This was a really interesting and genuinely nice movie. Admittedly it was very slow to start; I found it most uninteresting and considered turning it off and watching something else at one stage. It’s one of those films that only shows its light to those that persevere. 

Athleticism, competitive sports, and motivation are all that Lisa has ever known. But her world comes crashing down when she is cut from her sports team. Completely lost and unsure what to do, Lisa stars a fling with Matty, a major league baseball player and self-centred ladies’ man. Whilst their relationship gets off to a shaky start, if a start at all, Lisa discovers a strange friend in George, a businessman who is going through his own issues, both with his father and the law. Somehow, when everything seems to be fall apart, both Lisa and George are there to catch the other should they fall. 

As I mentioned before, this was really slow moving film, one that demands perseverance. For the most part of the film, you’re criticising the fact that the characters are all completely at a loss to what they are meant to be doing. Each character, from Lisa to George’s father is uncertain of how to respond to the situations that arise and it is this feeling and general vibe of strong unease and uncertainty that makes the film both repulsive and compelling. As each character deals with their individual problems, some more extravagantly than others, the central humour of the film comes in to play and it really hammers home the question that is also the title: “how do you know?” 

A bit Sense and Sensibility, a bit Eagle Vs Shark, How Do You Know?  is a really strange, subtle, and yet intriguing film that came good in the end, proving that all good things come to those who wait. 

Starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and Jack Nicholson, How Do You Know? was a slow, but nice film filled with drama, harsh realities, personal struggles, and awkward romance. It’s not the greatest romantic comedy to grace our screens, but it’s not the worst either. 

Shaun of the Dead [MA]

Life is going nowhere for Shaun. He spends all his time at his favourite pub, the Winchester, with his freeloading best mate Ed, he has a shaky relationship with his mum and his stepdad, and he neglects his girlfriend Liz. For Shaun it’s going to take something major to get him to turn his life around…like the Dead returning to life to feast on the living. 

I do like Simon Pegg, I think he’s a good actor, but it has to be said that the movies he writes as well as stars in are the real gems of his career. The cover of Shaun of the Dead says that it’s “a romantic comedy…with zombies”. Says it all really. This movie is, without a doubt, one of the most hysterical, original, edgy, and clever comedies to grace our screens.

Life is going nowhere for Shaun. He spends all his time at his favourite pub, the Winchester, with his freeloading best mate, Ed, he has a shaky relationship with his mum and his stepdad, and he neglects his girlfriend Liz. For Shaun, it’s going to take something major to get him to take action and turn his life around… something like the Dead returning to life to feast on the living. 

I’m usually not one for the gory and violent comedy, but what’s great about Shaun of the Dead is that the violence and gore is only an ingredient to making the film and not something that keeps the film moving forward. The bigger picture, and indeed the central humour of the film, is Shaun having epiphanies about his life and its lack of direction and his taking action to prove to Liz, her friends, and himself, that he can change and achieve something. 

Shaun of the Dead is a wonderfully original film that can appeal to any audience because there are so many different elements to it. There is the obvious horror and gore element that will appeal to all bloodnuts in the audience. Then there is the romance, albeit somewhat awkward and unconventional that will appeal to all romantics, hopeless or otherwise. On top of both these elements you have wonderful displays of drama, suspense, terror, and really clever comedic moments. One of my personal favourite scenes is towards the climax of the film where the central trio are brutally bludgeoning a zombie. Each violent blow is done in time to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now and the action just looks as fun and natural as a pillow fight. It’s bloody brilliant! 

Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill Nighy, Dylan Moran, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Peter Serafinowicz, and featuring familiar faces such as Martin Freeman and Tamsin Greig, Shaun of the Dead is a brilliant film packed with action, violence, cannibalism, romance, blood, horror, and comedy. It’s literally a bloody fantastic film!

Shutter Island [MA]

U.S Marshall, Teddy Daniels arrives at the asylum for the criminally insane on Shutter Island to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient. But, not long after his arrival, Teddy is haunted and tormented by violent and nightmarish scenes from his past. Soon, Teddy’s investigation uncovers more than he expected and he realises that there are some places from which there is no escape. 

I think it was in my review of Memento where I compared the two psychological thrillers. Having watched Shutter Island a second time, I have to say that, although it’s a classic and original thriller travelling along the same lines as Memento, Shutter Island is something else entirely. A THRILLING AND BRILLIANT FILM!

U.S Marshall, Teddy Daniels arrives at the asylum for the criminally insane on Shutter Island to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient. But, not long after his arrival, Teddy is haunted and tormented by violent and nightmarish scenes from his past. Soon, Teddy’s investigation uncovers more disturbing truths than he expected and he realises that there are some places from which there is no escape.

After watching this film, it has to be said that Martin Scorsese is one of our more brilliant filmmakers in this day and age. Shutter Island is a fantastic and wonderfully original thriller that chills and frightens you from every direction: psychological, physical, emotional, verbal, and any other way you can think of. It’s like falling into a trance whilst watching a film you’re supposed to take notes on and then being sharply hit in the head with a book, which suddenly wakes you up (because you were lost and completely dozing off). Everything that is said or done has a different meaning and it’s entirely, one hundred percent impossible to tell who are the good guys and who are the bad. The story of Shutter Island takes plot misdirection to a whole new level as, even when you are suddenly jolted back to reality, along with the hero, you still cannot help but question wether reality is really “reality”. THE WHOLE THING IS FANTASTICALLY CONFUSING!
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Teddy Daniels and I have to say that my hat goes off to him. He really is a talented actor and in Shutter Island he delivered a memorable performance that was aggressive, suspicious, tormented, and delightfully and sinisterly dramatic. He was just wonderful.
Starring Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kinglsey, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, and Ted Levine, Shutter Island is a fantastic thriller filled with drama, action, violence, and brilliant plot misdirection. People, watch this film because it is a absolute CLASSIC THRILLER!

Shadow of a Doubt [PG]

Charlie, more infamously known as the Merry Widow Murderer, is on the run from his latest crime. Deciding to drop by the sleepy suburban town of Santa Rosa and stay with his sister and her family, his arrival is highly anticipated by his favourite niece and namesake, “young Charlie”. But, not long after his arrival, young Charlie begins to suspect the worse of her uncle and a terrible game of cat-and-mouse begins as Charlie is forced to plot the death of his favourite niece. 

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s less flashy works, Shadow of a Doubt was nonetheless stimulating and thrilling, packed with wonderful conflict, both physical and emotional. 

Charlie, more infamously known as the Merry Widow Murderer, is on the run from his latest crime. Deciding to stop by the sleepy suburban town of Santa Rosa and stay with his sister and her family, his visit is highly anticipated by his favourite niece and namesake, “young Charlie”. But, shortly after his arrival, young Charlie begins to suspect the worse of her uncle and a terrible game of cat-and-mouse begins as Charlie is now forced to plot the death of his own favourite niece. 

Could this film possible be some sort of precursor or inspiration for American Beauty? Aside from the brilliant themes of conflict that encumber the central characters, Shadow of a Doubt does take that idea of the perfect suburban life and completely shatters it. Charlie and her family are seen as the typical, perfect suburban family, but none of them are really all that happy. It doesn’t shatter the idea of suburbia to the extent that American Beauty does, but there is definitely some sharp prods with a blunt instrument. 

As I mentioned before, this is one of Hitchcock’s less flashy and visually thrilling films. Having said that though the movie is still thrilling and engaging as we see all these different layers of conflict, both physical and emotional, attack the central characters. Young Charlie is conflicted by her head and her heart: although she knows that her uncle is a bad man and that she should turn him in, she doesn’t because she feels emotionally attached and obligated to give him the benefit of the doubt. Charlie the murderer is conflicted because he genuinely adores his niece, but now she knows too much about him. It is not until the very end of the film when we see which wins: the head vs. the heart, the uncle vs. his niece. 

Starring Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotton, Macdonald Carey, Henry Travers, Patricia Collinge, Hume Cronyn, Wallace Ford, Edna May Wonacott, Charles Bates, Irving Bacon, Clarence Muse, Janet Shaw, and Estelle Jewell, Shadow of a Doubt was a subtly thrilling black and white film that was filled with romance, drama, suspense, family, and plenty of conflict… all without a single murder being witnessed by an audience. Earning its place in The Book, it’s definitely worth watching. 

North By Northwest [M]

Armed with razor-like wit and charm, Roger Thornhill is a successful advertising executive. But his killer charms take a battering when he is mistaken for an FBI agent, abducted, and then framed for murder. Now, Thornhill is dashing all over the country trying to find the man whom his powerful pursuers, both good and bad, believe him to be. 

After discovering Hitchcock and watching some of his really amazing works such as The Birds, Vertigo, Marnie, and Psycho, I’ve been really eager to watch practically all the films he’s done. North By Northwest earns a place in The Book, but I honestly cannot understand why. Having watched other films from the Master of Suspense, North By Northwest just seemed to be more of an action romp and not something that could have come from the same director as Rear Window. Having said that, the film does harbour some iconic scenes such as the chase in the cornfields and the descent of Mount Rushmore, but I really do feel that the Master of Suspense has done cleverer things. 

Armed with razor-like wit and charm, Roger Thornhill is a successful advertising executive. But his killer charms take a battering when he is mistaken for an FBI agent, abducted, and then framed for the murder of a U.N agent. Now, Thornhill is dashing all over the country trying to find the man whom his powerful pursuers, both good and bad alike, believe him to be. 

This was the fourth, and I believe final, film that Carey Grant made for Alfred Hitchcock. As much as I love Carey Grant, I have to say that his performance in this was film as a little shaken and somewhat conflicted. I don’t know, he just seemed to struggle with playing the wrongly accused, and then his role is one that tends to change very frequently and abruptly throughout the movie, it’s amazing that he was able to perceive anything by the end of it. His performance struck me as being rather confused and shaky. 

Having bad-mouthed the film enough now, I cannot leave this review without saying something positive about the film. After all, every Hitchcock film is a masterpiece in its own way. North By Northwest, based on the typical thrilling story of the wrongly accused, harbours some of cinema’s most iconic action sequences. Two most recognisable and thrilling scenes are the chase through the cornfields where Carey Grant attempts to outrun a plane, and the treacherous descent of Carey Grant and Eva Marie Saint down the monument of Mount Rushmore. 

Starring Carey Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Leo G. Carroll, Edward Platt, and Martin Landau, North By Northwest was an engaging movie, but not a Hitchcock classic that I feel should be included in the collection. Filled with action, suspense, drama, romance, and the occasional bit of comedy, it’s earned its place in The Book and is definitely worth watching at least once. 

How To Train Your Dragon [PG]

Most places have pests like mice or mosquitoes, but not the small Viking village of Berk. There, they have… dragons. Hiccup, the son of a great Viking chief is something of a disappointment to his father. He’s scrawny and weak and disaster seems to follow him wherever he goes. But this all changes when Hiccup, defying Viking tradition, befriends Toothless, a wounded dragon. Whilst caring for Toothless, Hiccup discovers that everything his people know about dragons is wrong and, with Toothless at his side, the unlikely duo team up to save both their worlds from a grizzly fate. 

I went and saw this in the cinemas when it first came out and thought it was rather cute, had a nice and heart-warming story, but was nothing particularly special. Watching it a second time on DVD, I stand by my original judgement, but I might consider maybe purchasing a cheap copy of the movie because, funnily enough, it is a film that will stay with you and, no matter what sort of day you’ve had, will draw a few laughs or at least a few smiles out of you. 

Most places have pests like mice or mosquitoes, but not the small Viking village of Berk. There, they have… dragons. Hiccup, the son of a great Viking chief is something of a disappointment to his father. He’s scrawny and weak and disaster seems to follow him wherever he goes. But all this changes when Hiccup, defying Viking tradition, befriends a wounded dragon named Toothless. Whilst caring for Toothless, Hiccup discovers that everything his people know about dragons is wrong and, with Toothless by his side, the unlikely duo team up to save both their worlds from a grizzly fate. 

This is really just another Dreamworks funny family film that is filled with memorable characters, warmth, and action. The friendship that develops between Hiccup and Toothless is very cute and heart-warming. It’s something that automatically appeals to the child in all of us. Come one, everyone would like to have a dragon as a friend and pet. 

Like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, the animation is wonderful and some of the dragons that the art department dreamed up are nothing short of genius. Some of these dragons were almost as dazzling as the Skeksis in The Dark Crystal. 

Featuring the voice talents of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, and Kristen Wiig, How to Train Your Dragon was a fun-filled family movie filled with action, adventure, memorable monsters, romance, and comedy. Admittedly Dreamworks have done some finer things, but nevertheless, this movie was still heart-warming and funny. Everyone will get something out of it.

Thanks for nothing you useless reptile  

A Fish Called Wanda [M]

Four thieves: Wanda, Otto, George, and Ken rob a jewellery store. Then Wanda and Otto, lovers, lead the police to George. But, unbeknown to Wanda and Otto, George has moved the booty and the key (literally) to finding it lies with Ken. Whilst Wanda charms George’s lawyer in an attempt to get information as to where the booty is hidden out of him, Otto tries desperately to get the better of Ken and not go berserk with jealousy as Wanda gets closer and closer to Archie, the lawyer. 

Kevin Kline won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this movie, and rightly so! On top of the original story and memorable characters that make up the work of genius that is A Fish Called Wanda, the performances, Kline’s in particular, were nothing short of remarkable and highly, highly hysterical! This is a great film people! 

Four thieves: Wanda, Otto, George, and Ken rob a jewellery store. Then Wanda and Otto, lovers, lead the police to George. But, unbeknown to Wanda and Otto, George has moved the booty and the key (literally) to finding it lies with Ken. Whilst Wanda charms George’s lawyer in an attempt to get information as to the location of the loot out of him, Otto tries desperately to get the better of Ken and not go berserk with jealousy as Wanda gets closer and closer to Archie, the lawyer. 

Written by John Cleese, A Fish Called Wanda is a comedy classic that looks at crime and its perpetrators from a whole new angle. The characters are all memorable originals that are so wonderfully weird and eccentric it makes you ask, “how could they ever pull it off?” 

Wanda, played beautifully by Jamie Lee Curtis is something of a femme fatal, an irresistible, charming woman who can seduce men into granting her every wish. Jamie’s performance was charming, seductive, and provided the film with some sort of organisation and control to balance against the total chaos and havoc that is caused by the other characters. 

Otto, Wanda’s lover is a Nietzsche-quoting psychopath and Kevin Kline played him so awesomely. Earning the Oscar for Best Supporting actor, Kevin’s performance was protective, jealous, and just overall mad. Seriously, if you want to see a truly insane, but empowering and hysterical performance, watch Kevin Kline in this film. He was without a doubt the star of the show. 

Archie the lawyer, played by John Cleese is probably the most complex character in the mix. Starting out as the good guy of the film, through his encounters with Wanda, he becomes seduced by the Dark Side and John delivered a performance that was confused, yearning, and wonderfully funny. 

Finally we have Ken, close to a footnote in the story, but one of the more memorable characters, aside from Otto. Burdened with a severe stutter, Ken is a great lover of animals and much of the film’s central humour comes in the form of his attempts to assassinate the only witness to the jewel heist and, by near misses, killing all her dogs. Michael Palin plays Ken and his performance was nothing short of subdued genius. 

Filled with action, romance, betrayal, manipulation, and plenty of comedy, A Fish Called Wanda is an instant classic, earning its rightful place in The Book. Watch this movie people, it’s a great film! 

Beastly [PG]

Kyle is spoilt, rich, and beautiful… on the outside. Completely captivated by his physical beauty, Kyle foolishly chooses Kendra, a witch masquerading as a high school student, as his new target for humiliation. Unfazed by Kyle’s cruelty to her, Kendra decides to teach him and a lesson and transforms him into a horrible, disfigured and tattooed monster, to reflect what he is on the inside. Now Kyle has one year to find someone who can see past the surface and love him or else he will remain beastly forever. 

An obvious modern adaptation of the timeless romantic tale, Beauty and the Beast, Beastly is not a film that must be seen, but that’s not to say that it’s not interesting. 

Kyle is spoilt, rich, and beautiful… on the outside. Completely captivated by his own physical beauty, Kyle foolishly chooses Kendra, a witch masquerading as a high school student, as his latest target for humiliation. Unfazed by Kyle’s cruelty towards her, Kendra decides to teach him a lesson and transforms him into a hideously scarred and tattooed monster to reflect what he is on the inside, or else he will remain beastly forever. 

Now Kyle has only one year to find someone who can look beyond the surface and love him. Well it’s nowhere near as romantic as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bete could give it a run for its money, but Beastly was not without a certain charm and appeal. A modern take on the classic romantic tale, Beastly went down a much darker and more gothic path what with the witch (played by Mary-Kate Olsen) looking like some strange Lady GaGa clone and the “beast” being scarred and tattooed. We even the hear a new word: “frankenskank.” I think what most both held my attention but at the same time repelled me about this film was that it didn’t really know what it wanted to be. Obviously there is the tale of romance and beauty being within. But then there was the layer of macabre and gothic that represented the conflict and the lesson. On top of this, there was a fair amount of modern references and characters that provided light-hearted comic relief, which in all honesty really felt out of place in this film. It if was subdued and subtly funny and romantic like Twilight, it might have worked. But at the end of this endless stream of words, what I’m trying to say is that this is really just a Beauty and the Beast knock-off done in the style of Twilight. Thankfully it is short so there’s not a great amount of stuff to get angered or conflicted by. 

Starring Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen, Dakota Johnson, Lisa Gay Hamilton, and Neil Patrick Harris, Beastly was an interesting interpretation of the classic tale of romance, but ultimately did not know what it was trying to be. Filled with the macabre, flora, magic, lessons, drama, comedy, and, of course, romance, it was a film that I didn’t mind sitting down to watch, but am glad that I will not have to sit through it again. 

Matilda [PG]

Matilda is a girl who has been unfortunate enough to have been born into a family that does not understand or appreciate her. If they had paid any attention to her at all, her parents would have realised that Matilda is incredibly bright and has a power all her own. With her parents constantly yelling at her and her principal terrorising her school, Matilda soon discovers that it is sometimes better to not get mad…but get even. 

Based on the classic story by Roald Dahl, Matilda is a wonderful family film that really stands the test of time. Like The Goonies or Nanny McPhee, this movie is both a visual and an intellectual treat that can be enjoyed by an audience of all ages. 

Matilda is a girl who has been unfortunate enough to have been born into a family that doesn’t understand or appreciate her. If they had paid any attention to her at all, her parents would have noticed that she is an incredibly bright girl with a special power all her own. With her parents constantly yelling at her, her brother bullying her incessantly, and her vile principal terrorising her school, Matilda is about to learn that sometimes it’s better to not get mad… but get even. 

This is just a really fun family movie. It’s filled with a touch of horror, memorable characters, comedy, and intellectual jokes for the adults in the audience. My hat has to go off to Danny DeVito who not only acted in this film, but produced and directed it as well. Rock on Danny! Mara Wilson stars as Matilda and she was just lovely, but without a doubt the real star of the show is Pam Ferris, who most people will recognise as Aunt Marge in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Here she stars as the feared and completely insane Principal Trunchball and she is absolutely brilliant. She is just awful! Bullying, violent, aggressive, and really, genuinely terrifying, Pam’s performance was spot on, exactly like one of the caricatures out of Dahl’s book. 

Starring Rhea Perlman, Embeth Ferris, Tracey Walter, and Paul Reubens, Matilda is a fantastic family movie filled with caricatured horror, memorable characters, magic, and fun. It’s a perfect film for a light afternoon in with the family and can be enjoyed by people of any age. 

Kung Fu Panda 2 [PG]

Many years ago, a rich and wise family of peacocks ruled Gongmen City. But Lord Shen: practiser of the Dark Arts and heir to the throne, threatened the peaceful city. Although it caused them great pain, his mother and father banished him after he mercilessly slaughtered all pandas in order to stop a prophecy from coming true. For many years, Lord Shen waited, devising and constructing a great weapon that he would one-day use to have his revenge. Now it’s up to Po and the Furious Five to stop Lord Shen before he destroys China and Kung Fu. 

I didn’t think the first Kung Fu Panda left much to make a successful sequel, but obviously, with the help of clever writers, it did. I absolutely loved the first movie and I have to say that number two really stands up. What was particularly great about it was that it really did feel like things in the first movie set up everything for this film. With all our favourite characters and a few new ones, Kung Fu Panda 2 was a really fun and lovely film. I even teared up once or twice. It’s definitely going into the collection when the DVD comes out. 

Many years ago, a rich and wise family of peacocks ruled Gongmen City. But Lord Shen: practiser of the Dark Arts and heir to the throne, threatened the peaceful city. It was foretold that “a warrior of black and white” would defeat Lord Shen if he continued down his chosen dark path and so, he mercilessly slaughtered all pandas to prevent the prophecy from coming true. Although it caused them great pain, his mother and father, following his terrible action, banished him. For many years, Lord Shen waited, devising and constructing a great weapon that he would one-day use to have his revenge. Now that day has come and it falls on Po and the Furious Five to stop Lord Shen before he destroys China and the ancient art of Kung Fu. 

The beautiful animation is identical to that of the first one, but there is a different type of animation thrown into the mix of this one to represent Po’s nightmares. I found this really good as it was easy for the audience to know what was going on, but it also added that element of fear. Whilst I was in the cinema today watching it, a few of the younger children in the audience actually began crying. 

All our favourite characters are back with all the original cast members reprising their voice rolls. I simply must say that the new villain, Lord Shen, is just fantastic. I don’t think anyone could have thought that a peacock would make a convincing villain, but Lord Shen, magnificently voiced by Gary Oldman, was both beautiful and frightening. One of the best animal villains that I have seen on screen, without a doubt he was my favourite thing in this film. 

Featuring the voice talents of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Jackie Chan, James Hong, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride, Dennis Haysbert, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogan, Victor Garber, and Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kung Fu Panda 2 is a real visual treat filled with action, knockout kung fu sequences, dazzling animation, loveable characters, and memorable moments of both emotional drama and comedy. Just as good, if not better, than the first film, I absolutely LOVED it! 

Hitch [M]

No woman wakes up in the morning and hopes that she won’t get swept off her feet. She knows the right guy is out there, she just doesn’t know who he is. This is where the notorious Date Doctor comes in. Meet Hitch, an anonymous matchmaker who helps nervous and unromantic men get a fighting chance to make it with the woman that they have loved from afar. Incredibly good as his job, Hitch’s cool and smooth veneer takes a battering when, whilst helping his latest client, he himself falls for, and rather unromantically courts a reporter who’s biggest scoop could be the unmasking of the famous Date Doctor. 

No matter how may times I watch this film, it gets me every time. It’s a complete delight, armed with a clever and charming script, memorable characters, and all kinds of romantic moments. 

No woman wakes up in the morning and hopes that she won’t get swept off her feet. She knows the right guy is out there, she just doesn’t know who he is. That’s where the notorious Date Doctor comes in. Meet Hitch, an anonymous matchmaker who helps nervous and unromantic men get a fighting chance to make it with the woman that they have loved from afar. Incredibly good at his job, Hitch’s cool and smooth veneer takes a battering when, whilst helping his latest client, he falls for, and rather unromantically courts a gossip reporter who’s biggest scoop may be the unmasking of the famous Date Doctor. 

This film is just the perfect romantic comedy. It’s a fresh and original idea, it has wonderful and memorable characters, and its armed, most importantly, with a very clever and witty script. I have to say that is what makes the movie so great: the script! Everything about it was charming, witty, fresh, biting, funny, and wonderfully romantic. 

Will Smith stars as Hitch and I don’t think any other man could have done it really. Will Smith has to be one of the most versatile actor/musicians to ever grace our screens. He exudes great talent in all manner of genres. As an action man, he’s awesome. As a dramatic actor, he’s just beautiful. As a comedic actor he is lethal and hilarious. And as a romantic actor, he is incredibly smooth and charming. In Hitch he delivered a performance that was smooth, confident, witty, and genuinely romantic, although not when it came to his own romance. He was very, very funny. I loved him. 

Starring Eva Mendes, who I usually don’t like but she was perfect for her part in this film, Kevin James,, who was adorably hilarious, Amber Valletta, Julie Ann Emery, and Jeffrey Donovan, Hitch is a wonderful film filled with comedy, romance, memorable characters, and wonderful romantic moments. I just love this movie!  

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 [M]

After all this time, after all that has happened, it has come down to this: Harry Potter against the Dark Lord Voldemort. After escaping the clutches of the Death Eaters that inhabit Malfoy Manor, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are back on track; hunting down the Horcruxes and destroying each one, thereby making Voldemort more and more vulnerable. But something has happened. Voldemort has become wise to their plan and now speed is of the utmost importance. But with three more to find, the heroes are running out of time. 

…IT ALL ENDS… 

That is the three-word slogan that now sends shivers of anticipation and excitement down the spines of every Harry Potter fan. For me, at around 3 o’clock this afternoon, it all ended. Yes, I have just returned from a stifling warm cinema and am now slowly coming to grips with the fact that it’s the end of an era. 

After all this time, after all that has happened, it has come down to this: Harry Potter against the Dark Lord Voldemort. After escaping the clutches of the Death Eaters that inhabit Malfoy Manor, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are back on track; hunting down Horcruxes and destroying each one, thereby making Voldemort more and more vulnerable. But something has happened, something very bad indeed. Voldemort has become wise to their plan and now speed is of the utmost importance. But with three more Horcruxes to find, the heroes are running out of time. 

I walked into that stifling warm cinema ready. I had read the books time and time again. I had grown up with these characters. And I was prepared to accept the devastating emotional blows that this final film in the Harry Potter saga would strike. I still broke and cried and sat trembling in my seat, letting the tears run freely down my face, showing my loyalty and love towards these characters. In comparison to Deathly Hallows Part 1, Deathly Hallows Part 2 is nothing but action, action, action. Having said that, that’s the way the book is written, the first half is all travel and wondering and planning, and then the second half is where everything just rapidly comes together, making this movie, as well as its predecessor (as I’ve mentioned before), the films truest to the book. 

For me, all the actors really proved themselves in Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the final chance for the talented people in the special effects and art departments to show what they can do. The entire movie is complete chaos and between the eerie enchantment of the ghosts and the amazing battle sequences, there is hardly ever a moment to breathe. It’s bloody fantastic! 

For those who have read the final book and were enraged, as I was about the ending, that ending is used to a much nicer effect in the film. In my review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I did say that the ending was much better suited for screen rather than page. 

Starring Daniel Radcliffe Rupert Grint, Emma Watston, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Mark Williams, Julie Walters, Helena Bonham Carter, David Bradley, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Evanna Lynch, Clemence Poesy,  John Hurt, and Jason Isaacs, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is filled with chaos, battles, bloodshed, death, amazing special effects, drama, romance, and a few healthy doses of comedy, and is an amazing film and a really lovely way to bring a phenomenon that has strongly influenced so many children, adolescents, and adults, to an end. 

Dr. Dolittle [PG]

For successful doctor and devoted family man, John Dolittle, everything is going right: he’s about to close a deal that will bring a lot more money into the family and give his daughters all that they want. That is until a long-suppressed talent, which he has had since childhood, is suddenly reawakened with a vengeance: the ability to talk to animals. Now every animal in the city is clamouring to get the doctor’s good advice, setting into motion a chain of events that will change John’s life forever. 

A remake of the original Dr. Dolittle starring Rex Harrison, Eddie Murphy’s Dr. Dolittle is a charming and heart-warming family film that has been brought up to date and is filled with memorable characters and hilarious family fun. Another film that I remember watching a lot when I was a child, this movie stands the test of time. 

For successful doctor and devoted family man, John Dolittle, everything is going smoothly: he’s about to close a major deal with an investing medical firm and by doing so, is sure to bring more money home so he can get everything for his wife and daughters. That is until a long-suppressed talent, which he has had since childhood, is suddenly reawakened with a vengeance: the ability to talk to animals. Now ever animal in the city is clamouring for the good doctor’s advice, setting into motion a chain of events that will change John’s life forever. 

Essentially this movie is really just a good family movie. It’s light, it has powerful messages about being yourself and being proud of yourself, and it has a very funny and light comedy script. 

I have a real soft spot for Eddie Murphy, I have to admit, I just think in everything he does, he’s funny, but at the same time can be really charming and, particularly in this film, very paternal. Armed with his wonderful comedic timing and his lethally funny delivery, he’s a pleasure to watch in anything he does. 

As I mentioned before, this version of the classic has been modified so there are a lot of modern references and quotes and stuff ranging from Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger to religious jokes, my favourite of which is made by a pig when he says “obviously not a kosher establishment.” The idea of a man who can talk to animals is what grabs to attention of the kids, but it’s the script and the clever and more sophisticated jokes that it contains that grabs the attention of the adults. 

Starring Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Peter Boyle, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Tambor, Kristen Wilson, Kyla Pratt, Raven-Symone, and featuring the voice talents of Norm MacDonald, Albert Brooks, Chris Rock, Julie Kavner, Reni Santoni, John Leguizamo, Jenna Elfman, Gilbert Gottfried, and Ellen DeGeneres, Dr. Dolittle is a wonderful remake filled with memorable characters, comedy, drama, suspense, and heart-warming messages. I love this movie. 

Casper [PG]

Ghost Therapist, Dr. Harvey and his daughter Kat are hired to exorcise the apparitions that haunt a draughty old mansion owned by greedy Carrigan Crittendon, who is after the fabled treasure that might be hidden there. While Casper, the friendly ghost is delighted at the chance to make a friend, and finds a kindred spirit in Kat, his fearsome uncles Stretch, Fasto, and Stinkie, don’t take too kindly to “fleshies”. 

This is one of those films that I was brought up on and never gets old no matter how times you watch it. As a kid, you like the idea of a friendly ghost becoming best friends with a human and you like the visual comedy of the tricks that the Ghostly Trio play on the humans. 

Watching the movie as an adult, you enjoy some of the cleverer visual gags, and you understand much more of the story because you understand the script. It’s one of those real family classics. 

Ghost Therapist, Dr. Harvey and his daughter Kat are hired by the greedy Carrigan Crittendon to rid a draughty old mansion that she’s inherited of the ghosts that haunt it. While Carrigan wants to get her hands on the fabled treasure that’s hidden in the house, Casper, the lonely and friendly of the four ghosts that live there, only wants a friend and when Dr. Harvey and his daughter arrive, he finds a kindred spirit in Kat. However, his uncles, Stretch, Fatso, and Stinkie are dead against “fleshies” living in their house and become hell-bent on getting Kat and Dr. Harvey out for good. 

In all honesty, the comedy, the characters, and the special effects of this movie are a tad dated, but it’s the lovely story about unlikely friendship that makes the movie so enjoyable. It’s a good one for both kids and adults because you’ve got the element of the film’s hero being the ghost of a child, which kids will like to relate to, and then you’ve got some really clever visual and verbal gags that will get a chuckle from the adult audience. An example of this is my favourite scene where the Ghostly Trio has possessed Dr. Harvey and, as he’s looking in the mirror, his faces changes into those of Clint Eastwood, Rodney Dangerfield, and Mel Gibson. Not to mention near the beginning where Raymond Stantz runs out of the house and says “who you gonna call… someone else.” See the movie is filled with clever little moments like that, that will go over the heads of kids. 

Starring Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, and Ben Stein, Casper is a fun family film filled with comedy, lovable characters, weird inventions, and emotional decisions. It’s a lovely little film that, to a certain extent, stands the test of time. 

Memento [MA]

Leonard Shelby dresses in a designer suit, drives an impressive car, and lives in cheap anonymous motels, with his only driving force being the desire to hunt down and take revenge on the man who raped and murdered his wife. But Leonard faces a great difficulty in locating his wife’s killer as he suffers from a rare and untreatable form of memory loss, which he became afflicted with on that fateful night. 

HELLS YEAH! AN ORIGINAL THRILLER! Nowadays thrillers suck you with spine-tingling psychoanalytical drama, but they all tend to have some sort of closure and you finish the film with an understanding of what everything was about. The only other thriller that makes it into the same league as Memento is Shutter Island with Leonardo DiCaprio: a brilliant thriller that kept you guessing and thinking… even after the credits started to roll. 

Leonard Shelby is an ex insurance-investigator who dresses in a designer suit, drives an impressive car, and lives in cheap anonymous motels, with his only driving force being the desire to hunt down and take revenge upon the man who raped and murdered his wife. But Leonard faces a great difficulty in locating his wife’s killer as he suffers from a form of memory loss: he can remember everything before and including the incident, but can make no new memories. Unable to remember anything from fifteen minutes ago, Leonard’s progress in finding the man goes slowly as, most of the time, he cannot remember where he’s been, where he is, or why he’s there. 

What makes Memento so incredible is the way that it is filmed. The movie is very jagged and actually progresses backwards, beginning with the final climax (which is actually the result of a whole other endeavour) and ending with the beginning of this endeavour. You really do need to be in an acute state of mind in order to get the gist of the thing. It’s bloody brilliant! 

Memento is also another wonderful example of that delightful little devil known as plot misdirection. Like American Psycho, and Black Swan, the film follows the quest of Leonard, the hero, but then, only at the very end are we thrust into reality by becoming aware that his facts are not necessarily the facts. And even when it’s all over, you’re still staring at the screen and coming to your own conclusion. This, right here, is what thrillers are meant to be. They’re meant to lead you down one road and into a whole world and then completely shatter your perception of what is real and what is not. WHAT A FANTASTIC GENRE! 

Guy Pearce stars as Leonard and he was just gorgeous. It’s actors like Guy Pearce that make me proud to be Australian. See, we can churn out talent! Guy delivered a performance that was charming, smug, determined, nervy, and boldly clueless. When you think about people being completely unaware of what’s going on, they tend to get shy and keep to themselves. Although for a fair amount of time, the hero did keep to himself, when he was put in a situation where he was required to speak or make a judgment, he answered boldly and completely unembarrassed that he did not know what was going on. Guy’s performance was absolutely wonderful. 

Starring Carrie-Anna Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Jr. Callum Keith Rennie, Harriet Sansom Harris, Larry Holden, and Stephen Tobolowsky, Memento is an amazing movie filled with violence, murder, drama, thrills, humour, and many sharp twists of the plot. Earning its place in The Book, IT’S ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!  

The King and I [G]

Englishwoman, Anna, has sailed to Siam to become schoolteacher of the royal children of the King of Siam. But when Anna arrives, she discovers, not only a world that is vastly different to that of her own, but also one that is ruled by a sweetly childish and stubborn monarch. As Anna spends more time in the palace, she and King begin to stop trying to change one another and begin to understand each other. 

Oh this is a lovely film! As heart-warming as The Sound of Music and dominated by magnificent costumes, a beautiful story, and memorable songs, The King and I is a timeless tale of first impressions, and the power of knowledge and belief. 

Englishwoman, Anna, has sailed to Siam to become schoolteacher to the royal children of the King of Siam. Upon her arrival, Anna is amazed to discover that, not only is this world so incredibly different to her own, but that it is ruled by a childish, confused, and irritably stubborn monarch. Through Anna’s continued presence in the palace, the inhabitants begin to question their own knowledge and beliefs and, over time, both the Anna and the King stop trying to change one another and begin to understand each other. 

Well it must first be said that the real star of the show was Yul Brynner who played the King. You cannot help but fall in love with him because he really was like a big kid in dazzling silk pyjamas. He delivered a performance that was demanding, charming, naïve, innocent, stubborn, and heart-warmingly funny. I absolutely loved him from start to finish. 

What I particularly liked about The King and I was the romance of the story. It was not romance between a man and a woman like the obvious, but beautiful romance in The Sound of Music, but more the romance and passion that comes with having knowledge. Knowing something that someone else does not know or understand. The power of this film came in the form of Anna bringing western ideas and knowledge to this eastern country that wishes to modernise and the King, although it was all his idea, struggling with conflicting ideas put forth by his heart and his head. Admittedly it’s a hard idea to verbalise on paper or a screen, so I’m just going to say WATCH THE MOVIE! It’s really lovely! 

Starring Deborah Kerr, Rita Moreno, Martin Benson, Terry Saunders, Geoffrey Toone, and Rex Thompson, The King and I was a beautiful movie filled with gorgeous costumes, romance, knowledge, wonderful performances, and memorable songs. Aw, I loved it. 

Blazing Saddles [PG]

A new railroad is being built, but when the track leads into quicksand, an alternative must be found. When it is planned that the track will go through the sleepy, peaceful town of Rock Ridge, it becomes apparent to the greedy man on top that the land of Rock Ridge will become very valuable. But there is just one problem: the people of Rock Ridge own the land. In an attempt to drive the locals out, Hedley LaMarr, the owner of the railroad, sends Rock Ridge a new sheriff: a black man who should last at least 24 hours and make it easier for him and his men to terrorise the town and force the locals out. 

Earning its place in The Book, and filled with memorable moments and characters, Blazing Saddles is really just a piss take of the general Wester genre and, although I did enjoy the movie and laughed a fair bit, I found the comedy to be a little bit dated. You have to remember that this film is from the 70s and, since then, a lot of more clever comical things have been accomplished. 

I still enjoyed it though. 

A new railroad is being built, but when the track leads into quicksand, an alternative must be found. When it is planned that the railroad will go through the sleepy, peaceful town of Rock Ridge, it becomes apparent the greedy man on top, Hedley LaMarr, that the land of Rock Ridge will become very valuable. There is just one problem: the people of Rock Ridge own the land. In an attempt to drive the locals out of rock Ridge, Hedley LaMarr, with the help of the inebriated and easily distracted Governor, sends the townsfolk a new sheriff: a black man whom he predicts will last at least 24 hours and make it easier for him and his men to storm the town, terrorise the inhabitants, and force them to leave. 

As I mentioned before, Blazing Saddles is a piss take of the Western genre where the comedy comes in the form of political, religious, and racial points and arguments. A few modern references such as the car at the end (which could have been the inspiration to the ending of Monty Python and the Holy Grail), the Nazis and Klu Klux Clansmen, and the general final ten minutes of the film, creep into the mix, which brings the visual humour to the film and plays against the verbal humour; e.g. the continuous blanking out the of the N word. 

Some of the gags are the result of clever writing, but most are visual and verbal racial and violence humour that would not be as appreciated by a modern audience. I appreciate the fun and the cleverness behind Blazing Saddles, but I think that, since then, Mel Brooks has done some much cleverer stuff e.g. High Anxiety and, to a lesser extent Silent Movie. 

Starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, Dom DeLuise, and Madeline Khan, Blazing Saddles is just as fun as any old-fashioned dust-filled Western with the addition of political, racial, sexual, and musical humour. Everyone will get some thrill out of it, whether it be from the Klu Klux Clansmen signing up to join a gunslinger group or the mere sight a man randomly knocking out a horse.

Where the white women at?

Pleasantville [M]

It’s 1999 and David is a dedicated fan of the 1950s TV show, Pleasantville: a world where there is no conflict, no dangers, no divorce, and no sex. Envious of the simple life that these fictional characters lead, David never dreamed that he would actually wind up in Pleasantville. Incredibly, when they’re remote breaks and a TV repairman gives them a new one, both David and his sister Jennifer are transported into the world of Pleasantville. Forced to pretend to be TV siblings Bud and Mary Sue, David and Jennifer, using their modern habits and desires, are soon teaching the uptight townsfolk of Pleasantville how to express themselves and in the process they realise that life in Pleasantville is not as simple as black and white. 

This film is a dream come true for any English student who loves interpreting the underlying meanings of the text. Pleasantville is thick with layers of meaning through colour, history, mythology, politics, and comedy. It’s a really quirky and interesting little film that is guaranteed to have you completely enthralled from start to finish. I LOVE THIS FILM and I find it personally upsetting that it does not make it into The Book. 

It’s 1999 and David is a dedicated fan of the 1950s TV show, Pleasantville: a world where there is no conflict, no dangers, no divorce, and no sex. Envious of the simple life that these fictional characters lead, David never dreamed that he would actually wind up in Pleasantville. Incredibly, when they’re remote breaks and a TV repairman gives them a new one, both David and his sister Jennifer are transported into the world of Pleasantville. Forced to take on the persona of TV siblings Bud and Mary Sue, David and Jennifer, using their modern habits and desires, are soon teaching the uptight characters of Pleasantville how to express themselves and in the process, they realise that life in Pleasantville isn’t really as simple as black and white. 

It would be horrible of me to use the metaphor and say that this movie is like an onion because it’s too delicious and sweet to be so. So I’m going to say that this movie is like a cake…maybe a black forest cake. There are so many delicious layers that make up this visually stunning and wonderfully decadent movie! 

Obviously, the most powerful and dominant element in this film is its reliance on colour. As David and Jennifer begin to affect the characters of Pleasantville, each character goes from black and white into technicolour. And what I particularly love about the transformations is that they are slow and don’t happen all at once. An example is a black and white girl going to the doctor because her tongue has turned pink. Just her tongue. The way that colour subtly seeps into the movie really accentuates the changes and is actually rather striking. It’s absolutely beautiful. 

As I mentioned before, this is an English student’s dream text because, not only is there so much room for interpretation of the text, you can look at the film from absolutely any angle. You can look at it in terms of politics: the characters living according to a strict code of behaviour, almost like a dictatorship or totalitarian society. You can look at it in terms of religion: what is new is met with fear and hatred, not to mention the obvious reference to the Adam and Eve story. You can even take a feministic point of view: women are there merely to cook and clean while the male is the primary breadwinner and master of the house. Seriously, you can look at it in any light and it will still be meaningful and present some strong messages. 

Featuring wonderful performances from Toby Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Reese Witherspoon, William H. Macy, and J.T Walsh, Pleasantville is one of my all-time favourite movies. Filled with drama, colour, romance, comedy, sex, and armed with a very clever script, it’s a really, really beautiful film that will you have looking at it differently every time!