Crazy, Stupid, Love. [M]

It begins with a single sentence: “I want a divorce”. Cal Weaver thought his marriage was perfect; he had a beautiful wife, lovely children, and a fine house. But then his perfect world comes crashing down when his wife tells him that she has cheated on him and wants a divorce. Cal takes to moping in bars, until he is picked up by smooth and irresistible player, Jacob, who takes him under his wing and makes him over into a completely different person. But the one thing that cannot be made over is Cal’s heart, which seems to keep leading him right back to where he started. 

Another romantic comedy that proved that those who persevere are rewarded, Crazy, Stupid, Love. was a very touching and heart-warmingly funny little comedy that had me sighing, cringing, occasionally exclaiming in disgust, and laughing. It’s a really nice film that I think I could easily come back to. 

It begins with a single sentence: “I want a divorce”. Cal Weaver thought his marriage was perfect; he had a beautiful wife, lovely children, and a fine house. But then his perfect world comes crashing down when his wife reveals that she has cheated on him and wants a divorce. Cal takes to moping in bars, until he is picked up by smooth player, Jacob, who takes him under his wing and makes him over into a whole new man. But the one thing that cannot be made over is Cal’s heart, which seems to keep leading him right back to where he began. 

It has to be said that quite a few of these romantic comedies with loads of central characters are always trying to be original by interlinking the different love stories. Love Actually was the first film that accomplished this and remains, forever, the favourite. We then have He’s Just Not That Into You, which interlinked the stories in a different way that reflected the script, which I found very engaging. After that comes the runt of the litter, which was Valentine's Day, which really was just fluff stories that were haphazardly linked together five seconds before the credits rolled. I still loved it though. And now we have this film, which really only has two major romantic stories and one or two minor ones that all congregate and interlink in a very memorable punch-up three quarters of the way through. At last, a romantic comedy that interlinked its stories originally and cleverly. Loved it. 

I also loved the many layers that made up this movie. On the surface it’s a story of man rediscovering himself, but underneath there are very strong, bubbling sentiments and messages of hope, romantic rights, and even one or two hints of the somewhat charming misogynistic. 

The other factor that made this film so engaging was the strange combination of the cast. The line-up features memorable performances from Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and Kevin Bacon, that’s a pretty quirky cast mixture right there if I might say so. Everyone gave great performances, though I have to say that those of Emma Stone, Analeigh Tipton, and Jonah Bobo really took the cake. 

Filled with romance, awkwardness, cheesy pick-up lines, smooth plays, make-ups, break-ups, shake-ups, and a love-induced punch-up that rivals that of Colin Firth and Hugh Grant’s, Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a wonderful little romantic comedy that I’m sure will probably end up in the collection by tomorrow afternoon. 

A Beautiful Mind [M]

John Nash is an eager and astonishingly brilliant mathematician, on the brink of international acclaim. But suddenly, he becomes entangled in a mysterious and dangerous conspiracy involving secret militant operations that threaten not only his life, but those of his family as well. With fear and doubt haunting John at every turn, it now falls to his devoted wife, Alicia, to help pull him through this dark tunnel and make him see that beneath the cloud of fear there is a beautiful mind that can triumph. 

The winner of four Academy Awards in 2001 including that of Best Picture, A Beautiful Mind is a magnificent film that tells a gripping and breathtaking story of courage, talent, and strength of mind. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, it will change your life and broaden your mind. 

John Nash is an eager and astonishingly brilliant mathematician, on the brink of international acclaim. But suddenly, he becomes entangled in a mysterious and dangerous conspiracy involving secret militant operations that not only threaten his life, but those of his family as well. With fear and doubt haunting him at every turn, it now falls to his devoted wife, Alicia, to help pull him through this dark tunnel and make him see that beneath that cloud of fear and uncertainty, there is a truly beautiful mind that can and will triumph. 

I will admit that this film is a little slow to begin with. It’s not until you’re an hour into it that you really become involved and engrossed in what is happening and where the story could possibly be heading. What keeps you engaged for all that time is the dazzling performances from the film’s cast, in particular, that of Russell Crowe. 

Now, I have no shame in admitting that Russell Crowe is another actor who’s bandwagon I have never jumped on. I do not, by any means, deny that he is a versatile and very talented actor, but there is just something about him that repels me. I honestly don’t know what the deal is; it’s probably just a weird personality thing. BUT, watching him as the protagonist in this film… oh my goodness… SO moving! SO memorable. SO stunning! Although for a fair portion of the time, he didn’t open his mouth wide enough for coherent dialogue to escape it, but what is mere dialogue when actions and features can speak just as forcibly? Russell delivered an amazing performance that was fearful, uncertain, vulnerable, but aggressive when he needed to be. I found him incredibly moving and breathtakingly heartfelt. 

Jennifer Connelly stars as Alicia, Nash’s wife, and her performance was just dazzling. She provided the film with its drama and conflict, which played wonderfully against Crowe’s wit, intellect, and “reality” (the “bunny-rabbit ears” are to give you a hint as to what sort of conflicts this film involves, without giving too much away). Jennifer’s performance was movingly frustrated, devoted, romantic, and tragically conflicted; a mesmerising performance. 

Starring Ed Harris, Christopher Plummer, Josh Lucas, Anthony Rapp, and Paul Bettany, A Beautiful Mind was a mesmerising film that was filled with problems, answers, drama, wit, heart, romance, and courage. 

Oh, and I should give the people in makeup a special mention and congrats because the makeup at the end of the film was amazing! Seriously, it took me a while to recognise Jennifer; I practically did not recognise her at all. Well done everything involved in that! 

Winner of four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, it’s a truly beautiful film that really should not be missed. 

Interview With the Vampire [M]

San Francisco, 1994: reporter Daniel Molloy interviews Louis de Pointe du Lac, a man who is also a vampire. Louis tells Molloy the story of his past: his transformation from death-obsessed mortal to ravenous immortal, his dealings with his mentor, the stylish and irresistible Lestat, and his endless suffering as a creature that is damned. 

Based on the novel by Anne Rice (who also wrote the screenplay), Interview With the Vampire is a good, decadent, and old-fashioned type of vampire movie, not one of these modern ones that loses all the eroticism and magnetic pull of vampires like the Twilight saga does. This, right here, is real vampirism! Like Coppola’s Dracula, Interview With the Vampire was decadent, erotic, indulgent, and theatrically dramatic, balanced with a healthy hint of dark comedy that kept you enthralled from the first frame. 

San Francisco, 1994: reporter Daniel Molloy interviews Louis de Pointe du Lac, a man who appears normal but is in fact a vampire. Louis tells Molloy the story of his past: his transformation from haunted and death-obsessed mortal to ravenous and evil immortal, his dealings with his mentor and creator, the stylish and irresistible Lestat, and his endless suffering and regret as a creature that is damned forever. 

It must be said, although I have most probably mentioned it already, that I am not really that much of a horror fan. I tend to get scared quite easily, and so try to avoid films that might overstimulate the horrific portion of my brain. Although, watching “horrors” such as Dracula and now Interview With the Vampire, it must be said that there are fine lines that must be tread when making a horror movie. For me, horrors are about scaring your audience, making them jump in their seats and squeal and scream out loud and such. It occurred to me, whilst watching this movie, that the whole genre game has gained a few too many rules, most of which tread the fine lines between what makes a horror and what makes a thriller. And you know what? Anything with a supernatural or unhuman element makes a horror movie when stories and characters that are legitimately scary turn up in thriller films. In short, thrillers are the films to go with if you want to get scared… mostly. 

Interview With the Vampire was not so much scary as undeniably sexy. The title sums up the entire plot of the film: a vampire’s trials and tribulations, but it was the characters and the performances that kept you enthralled. 

Although Brad Pitt, who did very well in the role of Louis de Pointe de Lac, is the star of the show, the applause must go to (and I cannot believe the words are coming out of my mouth) Tom Cruise. I have never been a Tom Cruise fan, mainly because everyone else in the world loves him. I know this is fairly petty because he is actually a fine actor, but there it is. As the vampire Lestat, oh, he could suck my blood any day. That may sound a bit sick, but there it is. I never thought that I would say that Tom Cruise was sexy, but here we have history in the making. TOM CRUISE IS SEXY. His performance was wonderfully decadent in absolutely everything, the verbal delivery, the merciless facial expressions, the graceful gestures, and the lingering mouth just millimetres from the throat; well it’s just almost orgasmic. I cannot believe I just said that. 

Starring Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Stephen Rea, Kirsten Dunst (who was brilliant, she’s a real talent, even as a little girl), and Christian Slater, Interview With the Vampire was a great film that was filled with murder, betrayal, immortality, torment, drama, comedy, and plenty of blood. A good, old-fashioned, decadent vampire movie, it’s a film that I really enjoyed and found both beautiful and melancholy. It’s great! 

Adventureland [M]

Uptight and over-educated college graduate, James Brennan, cannot wait to go to Europe and get a taste of “real-adult life”. But his plans are dramatically upended when his family suffers from a financial downturn. So instead of the artistic and cultural lures of Paris or Vienna, next stop for James is Adventureland, where he becomes saddled with a crappy, minimum-wage summer job. But whilst the work sucks, James gains a few insights into life, love, and friendship and has a few experiences just as good as any abroad. 

Yeah, so I saw this film a while ago when it first came out on DVD and thought it was rather nice, but mediocre. Watching it a second time, although it holds more sway because of my newly developed “thing” for Jesse Eisenberg, I still maintain that it is a nice movie, worth watching at any rate, but to be sure, it’s nothing overly magic. 

Uptight and over-educated college graduate, James Brennan, cannot wait to go to Europe and get a taste of “real-adult life”. But his plans are dramatically upended when his family suffers from a financial downturn. So instead of the artistic and cultural lures of Paris or Vienna, next stop for James is Adventureland where he becomes saddled with a crappy, minimum-wage summer job. But whilst the work sucks, James gets a few important insights into love, life, and friendship and has a few experiences of a different kind, but equally as good as any abroad. 

I think the best way to describe this movie is fine, nice, those sorts of plain words with long “I” vowel sounds. The story is fairly sturdy with a few dramatic twists and turns and it was just a generally good portrayal of that uncertain teen stage between school and the real world. The gaining experiences, the saving money, planning the next move and such was shown very well, which gives the film a good sense of realism with everything seeming really natural; performances, script, everything. 

The romantic leads of Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart were great as each represented a character that I’m sure everyone knows in their lives. Jesse, the charming, vulnerable, sweet, and well-intentioned guy that gets exposed to the rougher side of life, and Kristen the genuinely cool and don’t-give-a-shit girl who just seems to saunter neutrally through, although underneath, she has a rougher side. Like Eagle Vs. Shark, the romance was sort of played-down and sometimes awkward, only not as funny and awkward as the aforementioned film. 

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Jack Gilpin, Wendie Malick, Matt Bush, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Martin Starr, Margareta Levieva, and Ryan Reynolds, Adventureland is a nice little film that’s filled with a crappy job, memorable characters, romance, comedy, and a great soundtrack featuring Crowded House, David Bowie, INXS, the Cure, and Lou Reed. It’s nothing overly special, but it’s worth watching as a bit of simple and relaxing brain candy. 

The Dark Knight [M]

As Batman and the new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, beat and hammer Gotham’s mobs to the point of desperation, they slowly realise that there will be repercussions to their acts of nobility and protection. With a new villain, the theatrical and psychotic Joker gaining the help of the mobs, prowling the streets of Gotham and turning everything into chaos, Batman is faced with the challenge of accepting that he may not be the hero that Gotham needs. 

The darkest, mind-expanding, and delightfully twisted of all the Batman films, The Dark Knight is a film that simply cannot be missed, earning the late Heath Ledger, God rest his soul, his posthumous Oscar for the most outstanding portrayal of the Joker ever to be seen and felt on screen. 

As Batman and the new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, beat and hammer Gotham’s mobs to the point of desperation, they slowly realise that there will be repercussions to their acts of nobility, righteousness, and protection. With a new villain, the theatrical and psychotic Joker gaining the help of the mobs, prowling the streets and turning everything into chaos, Batman is faced with the challenge of accepting that maybe he is not the hero that Gotham needs. 

There can be no question that Heath Ledger was the pivotal centre of this film, but before we delve into the sick, twisted, and just genuinely outstanding performance that he gave, let us first talk about the script. I found this with Batman Begins also, though more evident in this film, that the scripts are very crucial ingredients because they clue the audience into the mindset of the characters. When plans are exposed to the audience, hero’s and villain’s alike, new ideas and perceptions of societal morals, social standing, and general human behaviour are introduced into our minds and we come away from this movie completely aware and much more enlightened than before. It really makes you sit and marvel at the power of the written or spoken word. It’s pretty damned cool yes? 

Now, to get to the real meat of the film: the totally and inexplicably outstanding and memorable performance from our very own Heath Ledger. Starring as the Joker, Heath delivered a wonderfully psychotic and dark and twisted performance that chilled, repelled, and held you in complete captivation. What was particularly great about Heath’s Joker, and I do believe that this makes him the greatest villain of all time, was that you had no idea where he was coming from, what his angle was, what he wanted. It’s explained simply and clearly in the script, but Heath’s macabre portrayal of a twisted mind was really enthralling and totally compelling and empowering. People are a lot scarier when you don’t know what their motive is and when Heath delivers that great line of “I’m a dog chasing cars, I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it”, that sums up the character of his Joker, but at the same time it doesn’t answer anything and even though people don’t like being in the dark when it comes to movies, The Dark Knight, and Heath’s Joker in particular, just proves that the most sinister and effective characters are the ones that have no back story. Seriously, it is blatantly impossible to write how amazing and deeply moving Heath’s performance was. I mean you could feel it in your very core. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! 

Starring Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freemn, and Aaron Eckhart, who delivered another wonderful performance, both as a hero and villain, The Dark Knight is an incredible movie that simply cannot be missed. It’s packed with drama, action, explosions, romance, merciless slaughter, violence, a great script, and delightfully dark comedy. IT’S ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT AND I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN, KILL YOU, AND CARVE YOUR FACE IF YOU DO NOT SIT DOWN AND WATCH IT! 

Let’s put a smile on that face!

Johnny English [PG]

The crown jewels have been stolen. All Britain’s secret agents have been eliminated…except one. Johnny English, a bumbling and foolish agent now has the chance to make his dreams of being a spy, getting the girl, and saving England come true. The one downside is that, although his heart is in the right place, his actions just tend to make things worse, and with the villainous Pascal Sauvage out to steal the throne of England, time is against him and there is no room for mistakes. 

A very funny and clever spy spoof, Johnny English is a very entertaining film that’s packed with action, adventure, comedy, romance, and memorable performances. 

The crown jewels have been stolen. All Britain’s secret agents have been eliminated… except one. Johnny English, a bumbling and foolish agent now has the chance to make his dreams of being a spy, getting the girl, and saving England come true. The one downside is that, although his heart is in the right place, his actions just tend to make everything worse and with the villainous Pascal Sauvage out to steal the throne of England, time is against Johnny and there is no room for mistakes. 

What I like particularly about this film is that it’s British so the humour is all very clever and intellectual, but at the same time it’s more of a physical movie. When I say that, I mean that much of the comedy comes in the form of English’s physical blunders. Essentially the central comedy is schadenfreude, and a great example of it at that. You can piece together what sort of blunders the hero is going to make, which means that you’re laughing before the punch line. It’s just great. 

Rowan Atkinson stars as Johnny English and I don’t think anyone else could have done it. Rowan’s facial expressions added to his wonderful way of verbally digging a hole for himself, his sense of arrogance, and his heart-warming genuine attempts to save the world, make him the sort of character that, even though he’s a fool and sometimes a bit of a prick, you’re rooting for him to succeed. It’s just great. 

Starring Natalie Imbruglia, Ben Miller, Kevin McNally, Tim Pigott-Smith, and John Malkovich, Johnny English is a great movie that’s fun for everyone. Packed with action, blunders, adventure, gadgets, arrogance, romance, and comedy, it’s a great little film that’s both light and engaging. 

Batman Begins [M]

Left disillusioned, fearful, and angered by the brutal murder of his parents, billionaire heir Bruce Wayne travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. After being trained by a mysterious force called the League of Shadows, Bruce returns to his home city of Gotham, dismayed to find it a cesspool of corruption, crime, greed, and desperation. With the help of his butler Alfred and his ally Lucius Fox, Bruce unleashes his newly-found alter ego Batman: a caped crusader who uses his strength, intellect, and array of highly sophisticated weapons to fight the crime and injustice that threatens Gotham. 

Batman, like Indiana Jones or even the Muppets, is a phenomenon that knows no boundaries and has no expiration date. After the Tim Burton productions of the caped crusader in the 80s, director Christopher Nolan reintroduces possibly the most famous and celebrated hero to a new generation in this great film that is packed with plenty of action, a great plot, romance, and memorable moments of light-hearted comedy. 

Left disillusioned, fearful, and angered by the brutal murder of his parents, billionaire heir Bruce Wayne travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. After being trained by a mysterious force called the League of Shadows, Bruce returns to his home city of Gotham, dismayed to discover that is has become a cesspool of corruption, greed, fear, crime, and desperation. With the help of his faithful butler Alfred and his newly found ally Lucius Fox, Bruce unleashes his newly-discovered alter ego, Batman: a caped crusader who uses his strength, intellect, and sophisticated weapons to fight the crime and injustice that threatens Gotham. 

I firmly believe that modern adaptations of classic stories and characters have lost that great characterisation and acting talent and place too much emphasis on special effects, explosions and the like. And, even though I love this movie and find is as rollicking and awesome as any Inception or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, there is something wanting. 

The basic plot is fantastic, one of the few in which the climax is explained to the audience before the first half is over (and then, in the midst of all the action and numerous bad guys that we have to keep track of, we forget it, thus getting surprised and reminded at the end), but (and this is my real only beef with this movie) they could have worked a little more on the performances and script, and less on the explosions and action. Don’t, get me wrong though; they were pretty effing awesome! And Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman did turn in memorable performance with many of the best lines of the film. 

Starring Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy (who was born to be a bad guy), Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, and Gary Oldman, Batman Begins is a fantastically action-packed and rollicking movie filled with romance, fighting, ninjas, cool gadgets, humour, and plenty of action. It’s not the best representation of Batman to be sure, but it’s damned entertaining and rather mind-blowing to boot. I am happy to own it, I must say. 

The Muppets [G]

It’s been years since the Muppets have done a show together, but although they’ve been off the stage for a while, they have not been forgotten. When Walter and his brother Gary, both massive Muppet fans, take a tour of the abandoned and condemned Muppet studios, Walter overhears an evil oil philanthropist’s plans to tear down the studio and dig for oil, that is unless the Muppets can raise the $10 000,000 they need to keep the theatre. So it’s time to raise the curtain, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to bring the Muppets back together for the Muppet Show tonight! 

Well, as we all know, I AM A MASSIVE MUPPET FAN! So it would have been so completely and utterly blasphemous of me if I did not go to see the new Muppet movie! The Muppets are back man! Back with a vengeance! And life could not be better! Seriously, growing up with the Muppets was possibly the best thing about growing up and I am so glad that a new generation of younglings can have the same wondrous experience that I did. So without further ado… 

It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. It’s time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight. It’s time to put on makeup. It’s time to dress up right. It’s time to get things started. Why don’t you get things started? It’s time to get things started on the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational; this is what we call the Muppet Show! 

It’s been years since the Muppets have done a show together, but although they’ve been off the stage for a while, they have not been forgotten. When Walter and his brother Gary, both massive Muppet fans, take a tour of the abandoned and condemned Muppet Studios, Walter overhears an evil oil philanthropist’s plan to tear down the theatre to dig for oil unless the Muppets can come up with the $10 000,000 they need to keep the theatre. So Walter and Gary go to find Kermit and beg him to get everyone back together to do one show that could save the theatre. And so it’s time to play the music, it’s time the light the lights, it’s time to bring the gang back together for the Muppet Show tonight! 

Admittedly the story is a bit cheesy and the movie began as camp and as any musical in history, but who cares? IT’S THE MUPPETS! The entire thing is a trip down memory lane for most people and theatres across the world are probably thick with nostalgia when Fozzie’s bad jokes, Animal’s drumming, Gonzo’s stunts, and Kermit’s hosting is on the screen. 

All our favourite characters are back, as well as a few new ones, and there are new songs to be sung and new acts to be seen. 

Not to mention the amount of cameos that this film has. Even if they did not get a line, celebrities were popping up left, right, and centre just to be in this movie and it was this, for me, that was the real clincher, because it just goes to show that the Muppets have been a major influence and had such an effect on so many lives. They are so loved! SO LOVED! 

The script is very heart-warming as well as balanced with drama and comedy, featuring quite a few in-jokes from previous films and, of course, the Muppet Show itself. The entire thing was just wonderful. 

Starring Amy Adams, Jason Segal, Rashida Jones, and Chris Cooper, and featuring cameos from Jack Black, Whoopee Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Alan Arkin, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Sarah Silverman, Emily Blunt, James Carville, Leslie Feist, David Grohl, Neil Patrick Harris, Judd Hirsch, and John Krasinski, The Muppets is a wonderful trip down memory lane for adults and a new experience of wonder for kids. Filled with songs, comedy, drama, romance, and a heart-warming story of believing, I just loved it and will be buying a copy as soon as it comes out on DVD. 

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection. The lovers, the dreamers, and me. 

Super 8 [M]

In the summer of 1979 in a small town in Ohio, five friends witness a catastrophic train crash whilst making a super 8 movie. Despite what authorities and the news say, the kids are convinced that the crash was no accident; a theory which becomes more confirmed as strange disappearances begin happening all over the town. As more inexplicable events take place, the local Deputy begins an investigation to find the truth behind these mysterious happenings, unaware that the results are going to be something more terrifying than anyone could have imagined. 

Wow, this movie is hells cool! It’s a good, old-fashioned sci-fi romp that’s packed with action, romance, comedy, and kids as the heroes. It’s classic Spielberg; a little Goonies and a little E.T, and altogether absolutely brilliant! Perfect for a night in. I absolutely LOVED it! 

In the summer of 1979 in a small town in Ohio, five friends witness a catastrophic train crash whilst making a super 8 movie. Despite what authorities and the news say, the kids are convinced that the crash was no accident; a theory which becomes more confirmed as strange disappearances begin happening all over the town. As more inexplicable events take place, the local Deputy begins an investigation to find the truth behind these mysterious happenings, unaware that the results are going to be something more terrifying than anyone could have imagined. 

I think what I really loved about this was that it was a good, old-fashioned sci-fi romp. It’s got a simple story that’s easy to follow, and then it’s balanced with the right amount of action, special effects, drama, romance, and comedy. I find that, with a lot of modern science fiction movies, you really have to concentrate and it all becomes a little bit overwhelming, resulting in the fact that you lose half the enjoyment of the film, but Super 8 was just perfect and it even sparks feelings of nostalgia as it is very reminiscent of those earlier classics that we’ve grown up with: E.T, The Goonies, and Stand By Me. 

All the kids delivered memorable performances particularly Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, and Riley Griffiths. I’ve always had a soft spot for these films that have kids as the heroes because they do showcase some great talent. 

Starring Kyle Chandler, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Ryan Lee, Amanda Michalka, Jessica Tuck, Joel McKinnon Miller, and Zach Mills, Super 8 is an awesome movie that is perfectly blended and one that I think is definitely a “keeper”. Filled with action, romance, explosions, drama, suspense, aliens, and comedy, it’s absolutely great because it’s both rollicking and easy. It was absolutely perfect! A great film!

Cowboys & Aliens [M]

1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past or even his own name stumbles into the hard town of Absolution. The only hint he has to what happened to him is a nasty wound and a mysterious shackle around his wrist. First, he discovers that Absolution does not take kindly to strangers without the word of the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde. Second, a race of beings not of this world has been attacking towns and obliterating human life all over the west in a search for gold. 

From the beginning, the title Cowboys and Aliens is one that will either intrigue or repel you. Either the combination of the two genres Western and Sci-Fi will not mesh or they make great entertainment together. With this film, it’s the latter. The two genres were blended together very nicely and without getting too out of place or weird, which was the case in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Like Back to the Future Part III or Star Wars, Cowboys and Aliens was a rollicking film that had me captivated from start to finish. 

1872. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past or even his own name stumbles into the hard town of Absolution. The only hint he has as to what happened to him is a nasty wound and a mysterious shackle around his wrist. First, he discovers that the town of Absolution does not take kindly to strangers without the word of the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde. It’s a town that lives in fear. Second, a race of beings not of this world has been attacking towns and obliterating human life all over the west in a search for gold. 

This is a very interesting film: by no means an overly amazing achievement in cinematic history, but definitely a film that both entertains and opens the eye. Essentially the story is just this lone cowboy wanting to regain his memories and, in the process, he ends up leading a revolt against the aliens that are terrorising the desert towns. 

As I mentioned before, the blend of the two contrasting genres really worked nicely. I think the main reason for this is the fact that not an overly excess amount of special effects and general sci-fi-ness was used. You had the spacecrafts and the aliens themselves, sure, but the science fiction part of the story did not outweigh or outshine the gritty and hard Western part of the story. I think that this was a good thing because sci-fi films in general are more mind-blowing in terms of special effects and everything whereas actions and Westerns in particular are real rollicking movies that have the audience on the edge of their seats, biting their nails, and yeehaw-ing along with the characters. You experience a very different feeling watching a Western than you do watching a sci-fi and they kept that raw, rollicking feeling in this movie perfectly. 

With great performances from Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Paul Dano, Adam Beach, and Sam Rockwell, Cowboys and Aliens was a highly fascinating movie that was packed with shootouts, gunplay, romance, mystery, action, and…. aliens. I didn’t think it was absolutely brilliant, but I am glad that I have seen it and I would recommend it because it’s a very clever look at what happens when you meld two completely opposite genres together. 

Kaboom [MA]

Smith is just your average college student whose days are spent hanging out with his arty, sarcastic best friend Stella, hooking up with a free spirit named London, and lusting after his gorgeous roommate Thor. But all this is dramatically turned upside after one terrifying night where, after tripping on some hallucinogenic cookies, Smith is convinced that he has witnessed the brutal murder of a redheaded girl who haunts his dreams. As he tries to find truth to this vision, he is led deeper and deeper into a sinister mystery that will forever change, not only his fate, but the world’s too. 

WHAT A TRIP! THIS MOVIE IS BRILLIANT! COMPLETELY FUCKED UP, AND BRILLIANT! With a darkness like Donnie Darko and a vibrancy like Velvet Goldmine, Kaboom is a real cult classic that will have you intrigued, repelled, and will set your mind ablaze with questions and thoughts. IT IS RAW AWESOMENESS! 

Smith is just your average college student whose days are spent hanging out with his arty, sarcastic best friend Stella, hooking up with a beautiful free spirit named London, and lusting after his gorgeous roommate Thor. But all this is dramatically turned upside down after one terrifying night where, tripping on some hallucinogenic cookies, Smith is convinced that he has witnessed the brutal murder of a redheaded girl who has been haunting his dreams. Determined to prove to himself and everyone that he is not losing his mind, Smith tries to find the truth to this vivid vision, but as he delves further into his investigation, he is led deeper and deeper into a sinister mystery that will not only forever change his fate, but the world’s too. 

I think the best and simplest way to describe this film is “an erotic explosion for both the physical and the mental”… and that wonderful phrase came from my brain. 

Kaboom puts forth a lot of modern themes of conflict both internal and external. We have sexual conflicts, bisexuality, homophobia, closet cases, the tolls taken on those from broken families, relationships, obsessive basket cases, nuclear war, the severity of underground cults, and a brutal and true look at the experiences gained through college life. The whole thing is white hot with sins of the mind and the flesh and harbours absolutely everything from sexual confusion to underground societies to supernatural powers. 

And what I particularly loved about it all was that it was wonderfully weird, but then at the same time everything was explained to you, so you actually never found yourself questioning what the hell was going on. 

The deliberate lack of closure was another stroke of brilliance because it left you on a complete physical and mental buzz from the climax and then slowly brought you down just that little bit so you could just stare fixedly amazed at the credits rolling on the screen and go “whoa, that was awesome!” 

With great performances from Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Juno Temple, Chris Zylka, Roxanne Mesquida, James Duval, and Kelly Lynch, Kaboom was an extraordinary movie that was packed with sex, murder, conspiracy, drama, comedy, suspense, drugs, and the supernatural. It’s a freaking awesome movie that will really stay with you. 

A Knight's Tale [M]

Born the poor son of a Thatcher, William has always sought greater and higher things: love, nobility, fame, and honour. And when his master dies before he is due at a jousting tournament, William takes his chance to “change his stars” by riding in his stead. Soon William becomes determined to prove that nobility is not always born into, but something that can be earned, and so he enters numerous tournaments under a false name with false papers. But how long can his charade last before he is punished for trying to be something that he’s not? 

It has to be said, before we go into any great depth, that this movie was made simply for the sole purpose of being enjoyed. You cannot look at it with a critical eye because there is so much to comment on, both positively and negatively, but at the end of the day this movie is really just a bit of fun and not meant to be taken all that seriously. Sure there are some very strong and important messages about nobility, social standing, and overcoming adversity and such, but really it’s just a fun night in. I mean, it’s a medieval film set to a rocking soundtrack! What more could be desired? 

Born the poor son of a Thatcher, William has always had his sights on greater and higher things: love, nobility, fame, and honour. And when his master dies before he is due at a jousting tournament, William takes his change to “change his stars” by riding in his stead. Soon William becomes determined to prove that nobility is not something that one is born into, but can earn, and so he enters numerous tournaments under a false name with false papers. But how long can his charade last before he is punished for trying to be something he’s not? 

At the end of the day, all this movie is really about is overcoming the adversity of social standing, a theme that crops up in many, many, many films. It’s a story that we’ve all seen before, but one that can never tarnish or become watered down. 

I have to say that what made the film most memorable, for me at least, was the totally awesome soundtrack that so brilliantly matched, yet contrasted with the medieval setting and story. Classic tracks like David Bowie’s Golden Years, Taking Care of Business, and Queen’s ever powerful rock anthem We Will Rock You are played to great effect and it makes the movie all the more intriguing as you would never expect such songs to appear in a film set well before the genius of Bowie and Queen. 

Admittedly, the script wasn’t that crash hot, not quite dissimilar to that of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves where curses were used that I don’t think were even around then. But really, at the end of the day, who cares? This film is just fascinating and highly enjoyable, mainly due to the fact that you don’t have to take it so seriously. 

Starring Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell. Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, Alan Tudyk, and Paul Bettany, A Knight’s Tale is a fun film packed with action, nobility, romance, dancing, rock music, and amazing sets. Even if the leading lady’s hair-dos and outfits are a little too ahead of the times, you still cannot help but become entirely enthralled in this film. Especially during the times of Paul Bettany’s passionate speeches; watch out for those! 

Captain America: The First Avenger [M]

All young Steve Rogers wants to do is join the army and give his services to his country. But because of his small and slender build, he is seen as unfit. But that all changes when he agrees to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the super soldier, Captain America. Armed with his new strength, speed, rapid recovery, and shield, Steve joins forces with his friends in the army to wage war on the evil HYDRA organisation, led by the power-hungry and villainous Red Skull. 

Before I completely run off the rails and rant about how monumentally pointless and dull I found this movie to be, I will admit that there may be one or two variables to consider before you take my advice on this film. 

Firstly, I have never been a comic book fan, never have and probably never will be. So whatever truth or power or emotion there was to this film could easily have been completely missed by me due to my lack of intelligence regarding the story of Captain America. When it comes to these Marvel adaptations, it really does help to know the stories. 

Secondly, and this sort of ties in with the first variable as well as outlines my complete obliviousness to everything comic book-esque, whilst at the same time answering the question “why did they even bother making this film?”, it has recently become vaguely known to me that all these comic book films are being made because there is The Avengers movie up and coming where all these heroes feature, a bit like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Iron Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Thor, Captain America, all these characters are appearing in this up and coming movie, with all the original actors playing them such as Robert Downey Jr. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Scarlett Johansson. So, yeah, that answers that question. It still doesn’t make the film seem any better though. 

All young Steve Rogers wants to do is join the army and give his services to his country. But because of his small and slender build, he is seen as unfit. But that changes when he volunteers to participate in an experimental program that transforms him from the puny little man into the super soldier, Captain America. Armed with his new strength, speed, rapid recovery, and shield, he joins forces with his friends in the army to wage war against the evil HYDRA organisation, led by the power hungry and villainous Red Skull. 

Essentially, all that I took away from this film was that this “superhero” was a guy simply on steroids who found his fame through wartime propaganda. Uncle Sam on steroids would have been Captain America. There was no engaging plot line of any description, merely a load of wartime fighting, action, explosions, and an almost neglected by-line of a love story. 

To add insult to injury, by the time we get to the “climax” of the movie, it is the most dispiriting and ridiculous thing to ever come on my screen. And nothing was explained! For a fair portion of the film I had absolutely no idea as to what was going on or who any of the characters were. Not to mention that the ending in general just leaves you staring at your screen yelling “what the fuck!?” 

To give it its dues, the movie did harbour some big names, which really would be the only reason why anyone would be enticed to watch it, and there were some pretty hectic action sequences, but ultimately I found this film to be absolutely pointless and without merit. 

Starring Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, Tony Jones, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci, and Samuel L. Jackson, Captain America: The First Avenger was a rather dispiriting and, for lack of a better word, shite movie that I would no sooner touch again than I would kiss a crocodile. Filled with what seems to be nothing but action, action, a tiny bit of romance, and action, at the end of the day, I can at least say that I have seen it. 

The Smurfs [G]

When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the smurfs out of their village, they end up right in the middle of Central Park. Desperate to get home, Papa, Smurfette, Brainy, Grouchy, Gutsy, and Clumsy inadvertently enlist the help of a married couple, Grace and Patrick, to get them back home before the wicked Gargamel catches them. 

I was never really a fan of the Smurfs. I did watch a few episodes when I was little, but I never really got into the whole Smurf phenomenon. I guess, tonight, I was just up for some mindless childish drivel that I could derive a bit of a laugh from. I was actually rather surprised that this film turned out to be rather entertaining. It’s silly, very silly to be sure, but it does harbour some moments of cleverness and heart. It’s by no means a “keeper” but I didn’t mind it at all. 

When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the smurfs out of their village, they end up right in the middle of Central Park. Desperate to get home, Papa, Smurfette, Brainy, Grouchy, Gutsy, and Clumsy inadvertently enlist the help of a married couple. Grace and Patrick, to get them back home before the wicked Gargamel catches them. 

All right, so the story is very childish and mediocre and really goes in for that airy-fairy, tra-la-la- everything-is-daisies-and-sunshine gush. It’s very much like that Leslie Gore song: 

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows everything that’s wonderful is what I feel when we’re together. 

It just makes you cringe violently doesn’t it? 

But aside from the lame story, sentimental mush, and way too many repetitions and variations of the word “smurf”, The Smurfs actually wasn’t all that bad. I managed to derive a surprising number of laughs from some of the more clever gags and jokes that this film offered its more mature audience e.g. Katy Perry who provides the voice of Smurfette says “I kissed a smurf and I liked it”, a clever sample of her hit song I Kissed a Girl. Then we have a very clever sequence with a load of flies and their instinctive pull towards glass. But without a doubt, my favourite would have to be the Lord of the Rings sample. Hehe, watch out for that! 

Not to mention that you would not expect a film where much of the music is “tra la la” to suddenly bust out some Aerosmith and AC/DC, but Walk This Way and Back In Black are both featured on the soundtrack to good, if somewhat contrasting effect. 

Starring Hank Azaria, who was very funny as Gargamel, Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara, Tim Gunn, and featuring the voice talents of Jonathan Winters, Alan Cumming, Katy Perry, Fred Armisen, Anton Yelchin, and George Lopez, The Smurfs was a silly, but fun little family film that harbours some delights for both junior and mature audiences. Filled with action, adventure, great animation, jokes, magic, and way too much of the colour blue, it was actually not a bad movie. 

Jane Eyre [M]

Dying from starvation and cold, a lonely wandering woman falls at the door of a man and his two sisters. As they nurse her back to health and seek employment for her in their humble village, she reminisces about her bleak and tragic childhood, her strict and savage schooling, and a love; a love to which her heart still strongly clings. 


I have been hankering to see this film ever since it came out on DVD a month ago, but, as shameful as it is to say it, I had never read the book and therefore was not familiar with the tragically melancholy and defiantly passionate tale of Jane Eyre. Having just finished the book yesterday, it has been my most exalted and unbridled pleasure to sit down and completely immerse myself in this dazzling film that is both a bold and true restoration of a timeless classic that has been done time and time again. 


Dying from starvation and cold, a lonely wandering woman falls deathly ill at the door of a man and his two sisters. As they nurse her back to health and seek employment for her in their humble village, she reminisces about her bleak and tragic childhood, her strict and savage schooling, and a love; a love to which her heart still strongly clings. 


Director Cary Fukunaga has indeed taken a much-loved classic and reworked it to enthral a whole new generation of readers and admirers. 
At this time, it simply must be expressed that sometimes watching the film gives one a much better view of the story and what all the words on the page conclude in. Reading a story and seeing a story are two completely different things and, though it does make a world of difference to watch a film being armed with the knowledge of the story, sometimes our knowledge and our interpretation of the text is not that of someone else’s or even correct. This is why both books and films are such grand mediums. Through the cross-examinations they spark, they open one’s eyes as well as one’s mind. 
The book is rather lengthy with great spaces of literature that depict almost nothing but scenery, which can so easily be conveyed by aerial camera shots these days, so it was always going to be anticipated that the film would be a condensed version of the events. I think that the filmmakers have reworked the story wonderfully by having it begin three quarters of the way through and then backtracking by way of reminiscing, finally working steadily towards where it started so that it might conclude at the end. 
What I particularly found most engaging about this movie was that it was passionate without being overly so. It’s hard to articulate but, aside from the occasional outbursts of love or anger or desperation, the performances, the music, the script; everything seemed plain on the surface, but you could really feel the unbridled passion that keeps the entire thing afloat. Watching this film was like swimming in a sea that has been warmed by the sun and then, on occasion, discovering there are still cold pockets to be found. It was a real experience, one that drew forth a wonderful balance of emotions; I shuddered, I wept, I laughed, I sighed, and I marvelled. It focuses on the love story of Jane and Edward, which I think was the best way to go about it because there are a load of other connotations and stories in the book that simply could not have worked on the screen. So what we end with is a wondrous tale of unbridled passion and romance that proves that love conquers all: age, distance, legality, and social stature. 
Now, everyone, I do declare that we must all raise our glasses and tip our hats to Australia’s own Mia Wasikowska who starred as one of the world’s most celebrated heroines. Mia is Jane Eyre! She delivered a most remarkable performance that was inspired, passionate, defiant, silently suffering, innocent, and in love. She was absolutely captivating from start to finish and I do say that if her performance could have been more dazzlingly perfect than it would have unendurable; we would all go blind and our very hearts would simply wither and crumble. She was that brilliant! 
Starring Jamie Bell, Holliday Grainger, Tamzin Merchant, Amelia Clarkson, Sally Hawkins, Michael Fassbender, and Judi Dench, Jane Eyre was an amazing film that was filled with romance, passion, drama, suspense, a mesmerising script and stunning performances. I absolutely loved it and will be adding it to the collection!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes [M]

Will Rodman has spent five years working on a new drug that causes the brain to repair itself, thereby increasing intelligence and curing Alzheimer’s. When the drug proves successful on apes, Will pushes for human trials but, after an incident with a pregnant mother, his whole project is closed and the apes put down. All Will is left with is a super intelligent baby chimp, which he names Caesar and raises in his own home. But, after attacking a neighbour out of defence, Caesar is sent to a rescue shelter where, after being abused and mistreated by his handlers, he leads his fellow primates in a revolution against those who mistreat him and his kind. 

After The Green Lantern, I was really eager for a good film and thank the maker I hired Rise of the Planet of the Apes or else I might have been screwed. THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME! IT’S BRILLIANT! 

Just to let anyone who will listen know I personally believe that this story is possible. Humans are so effing assured of their own brilliance and everything and it’s because of that, that we are going to be the cause of the end of the earth. Seriously, we’re going to try and do something like defy gravity, or cheat death, or some other selfish and unnatural impossible task and we will completely and one hundred percent fuck it up, bringing about the end of our own kind and every other species on the planet! I think that’s why I have a somewhat sick love for films and stories like this, because I believe that there are other people out there, like me, that can just tell that we are going to ruin everything, and you know what?... it’ll serve us right! We’re warning you people! BE WARNED! 

Will Rodman has spent five years developing a drug that causes the brain to repair itself, thereby increasing intelligence and curing such brain diseases as Alzheimer’s. When the drug proves successful on apes, Will pushes for human trials but after an incident with a pregnant mother, his whole project is closed and the apes are put down. All Will is left with is a super intelligent baby chimp, which he names Caesar and raises in his home. But, after attacking a neighbour in defence, Caesar is sent to an animal rescue shelter where, after being abused and mistreated by the handlers, he leads his fellow primates in a rebellion against those who mistreat him and his kind. 

Well the story speaks for itself. I’ve already said what makes the story so great, but it’s not the story or the great performances that deserve the applause for this film. It’s the special effects! 

Andy Serkis, who provided us not only with the voice, but also the entire physical character of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, retreads the plains of motion capture to bring us the character of Caesar. From the beginning, you know that Caesar is going to be something amazing because he is such a seminal character and needs to be just as strong if not stronger than any of the human actors. Andy delivers another memorable and mind-blowing performance, bringing both defiance and compassion to this computer-generated character. At times I even had tears in my eyes. I applaud you Master Serkis! My hat goes off to you. 

But yes, the special effects were absolutely mind-blowing. There’s not one real ape in this film, it’s all CG and is fucking amazing! It may be inevitable that we blow ourselves up in the end, but seriously, when it comes to technology in the entertainment industry, we can pull off some pretty cool feats. 

Starring James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow, Freida Pinto, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo, Tyler Labine, and Brian Cox, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a visually stunning film that completely blew me away. Packed with action, rebellion, relationships, great performances, and amazing special effects, it’s brilliant! IT’S BLOODY BRILLIANT!

The Green Lantern [M]

In a universe that is as vast as it is mysterious, exists an elite force of protectors for peace and justice: they are the Green Lantern Corps and they have been protecting the universe by using the power of will against the power of fear for centuries. But now, a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the universe and it falls to the Green Lantern’s newest recruit, the first human ever selected, to prove his species’ worth and save the day. 

In a word, this film was meh. “Meh”, I find a nice and short word that clearly describes a film that is neither good not bad, but just there. The Green Lantern was one such film. 

In a universe that is as vast as it is mysterious, exists an elite force of protectors for peace and justice: they are the Green Lantern Corps and they have been protecting the universe using the power of will against the power of fear for centuries. But now, a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the universe and all worlds in its way, and it falls upon the Green Lantern’s newest recruit, the first human ever selected, to prove his species’ worth and save the day. 

I think the one thing that sort of blemished this film for me was the fact that everything happened really quickly with little or no explanation as to what the hell was going on, or who any of the characters were, or what ties they had with other characters. Everything was thrown at you and just happened really randomly and fast: one minute Hal, the film’s protagonist, is training to be a Green Lantern, the next, he’s all alone saving the Earth from being engulfed by the crusty space-cloud-thing that was Parallax. It was all very jagged with hardly any room for the audience to breathe and take everything in; like being on a road full of speed bumps in a car with a driver going over the limit. 

Having said that, though, the people who did the special effects should be getting free drinks. The special effects of the materialisation of the Green Lantern weapons, Parallax, and all the fight and hero sequences were pretty damn cool and the only thing that could keep your eyes glued to the screen, thereby making the time go a lot faster. 

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, and Geoffrey Rush, The Green Lantern was an alright movie that did have its odd moments. I have to admit that I struggled to keep up with the story, but I did like the idea of the whole will-versus-fear thing. There were some strong and good messages there. 

Filled with action, aliens, great special effects, pretty cool fight sequences, romance, and the occasional bit of comedy, it’s really just a film that was there and nothing more.  

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Europe is on rocky relations; in particular France and Germany are at each other’s throats. A series of explosions and assassinations are taking place, each one schemed by Professor James Moriarty, a cunning man who as aspirations to begin world war and supply both sides with everything from arms to bandages. Renowned detective Sherlock Holmes is immediately on the case, dragging his newly wedded partner Watson along for the ride. But this time, their final case together, Holmes may have finally met his match. 

Just quickly, on a trivial note, I just realised that this villain is the exact some one in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: same name, same plan, just different actor and different opponent. How funny. Only on the rare occasion does the sequel outdo the original… this is not one of those occasions. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the movie and found it intriguing, rollicking, and humorous, but, as is the case with most sequels, it tried to outdo the first one and therefore, ended up overdoing everything and losing quite a bit of that impact that its predecessor had. The same thing happened with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and The Hangover Part II. 

Europe is on rocky relations; in particular France and Germany are at each other’s throats. A series of explosions and assassinations are taking place, each one schemed by Professor James Moriarty, a cunning man who has aspirations to begin world war and making profit: supplying each side with everything from arms to bandages. Notorious detective Sherlock Holmes is on the case, dragging his newly wedded partner Watson along for the ride. But this time, their final case together, Holmes may have finally met his match. 

Not dissimilar to the second Pirates of the Caribbean, this movie attempted to outdo its predecessor by having more frequent and fervent scenes of action and violence. The slow-motion effect is used again to great effect, only much more frequently, which takes away a little of the initial impact and wonder that entranced audiences in the first film. 

What disappointed me a bit with this film was that there was no more light-hearted and domestic banter between Holmes and Watson, which was the best part of the first film; I heartily enjoyed their little tiffs about who left the stove on and such, but in this one (obviously their circumstances have changed so it was harder to have domestic troubles), there was not as strong a sense of companionship like there was in the first one and I found that a little dispiriting because it did remove a fair amount of the humour and balance that the first one proudly boasted. 

Aside from these two tiny negativities, this film was definitely as engaging as the first one with its complex tricks and deceptions of the plot and its memorable performances from all its actors. 

Starring Robert Downey Jr. Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Jared Harris, Paul Anderson, Kelly Reilly, Geraldine Jones, and Rachel McAdams, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was a great film packed with explosions, violence, action, cross-dressing, and the odd splash of refreshing comedy. It’s a great game of cat and mouse and I did greatly enjoy it. 

What a Girl Wants [G]

For Daphne’s entire life, it has always been her and Libby, her mother. But when Daphne turns 17, she makes a decision to fly to England and meet her aristocratic father, Lord Henry Dashwood. Soon Daphne realises that she’s a long way from home and in a world where her vibrant personality has no place. So now, she faces a tough challenge: changing to fit into her dad’s world or remaining true to herself and going down with a fight. 

Another little feel-good family movie within the same ballpark as Freaky Friday and The Princess Diaries, What a Girl Wants is a fun little film with memorable performances, a nice story, and a good script. Admittedly not in the repertoire for guys, but for a quiet girls’ afternoon in, it’s pretty damn good. 

For Daphne’s entire life, it has always been her and Libby, her mother. But when Daphne turns 17, she makes a decision to fly to England and meet her aristocratic father, Lord Henry Dashwood. Soon Daphne realises that she’s a long way from home and in a world where her vibrant and uniquely free personality has no place. So now, she faces a tough challenge: changing herself to fit into her dad’s world or remaining true to herself and going down with a fight. 

Admittedly, the story is really a tweeny sort of tale, harbouring strong and somewhat clichéd messages about natural change, and being true to oneself. But underneath that, there are some more natural themes that strike the heartstrings of the audience: the main one being the natural bond between father and daughter and how special and really beautiful it is. 

As I mentioned before, the film has a good script, which is what I think you need in these sorts of films because the story and actors alone aren’t really enough to pull it through. The script for this film was both witty and heartfelt, treating us to memorable lines such as “why are you trying so hard to fit in when you’re born to stand out?” and “forgive me if I don’t give a flying fart in space what you think!”. See? It’s balanced well between the funny and the emotional. It’s good. 

Then we have the memorable performances from both Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth. Amanda is very charismatic and completely free-spirited. She’s the girl you want to be. She just exudes a vibe of genuine coolness (the positive sense of the word, obviously). Then we have Colin being all type-casted and Mr. Darcy-esque for the first part of the film, but then going through a great change… with the help of some leather pants and some awesome air-guitar rocking out. Seriously, watch out for that! Best part of the film! 

Starring Kelly Preston, Eileen Atkins, Anna Chancellor, Oliver James, Sylvia Sims, Christina Cole, and Jonathan Pryce, What A Girl Wants is a nice and heart-warming little film filled with romance, different societies, glamour, change, realisation, and comedy. It’s a very nice little film to come back to once in a while. 

Horrible Bosses [MA]

Nick, Dale, and Kurt have fine jobs with only one tiny unendurable drawback… their bosses. With Nick’s boss being is a psycho, Dale’s being a man-eater, and Kurt’s being just an overall tool, the three get to drunkenly discussing, one night, how great life would be without them and, with the advice of an ex-con, they devise a plan to rid themselves of their horrible bosses permanently. But soon, the boys discover that even the best-laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them… 

Finally, after a two-day delay, our delivery consisting of Horrible Bosses came in! I missed this film at the cinemas and have been hankering to watch it for a while and, tonight, my longing to watch this film was finally assuaged; and it was just as fulfilling and enjoyable as I had hoped and imagined. Horrible Bosses is crude, blundering, funny, and delightfully chaotic; equally as funny as Bridesmaids or The Hangover. 

Nick, Dale, and Kurt have fine jobs with only one tiny unendurable drawback… their bosses. With Nick’s being a psycho, Dale’s being a man-eater, and Kurt’s being an overall tool, the three get to, one night, drunkenly discussing how great their lives would be without them and, with the advice of an ex-con, they devise a plan to rid themselves of their horrible bosses permanently. But soon, the boys discover that even the best-laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them… 

I think there were two factors that made this film enjoyable: one was the script and the other was the cast. Like Bridesmaids, the script for this film contained much of the rudeness and crudity that can be gotten away with in an MA film. The verbal side of this film brings violence, blunt and confronting sexual references and humour... not to mention a few awesome tragic moments of film nerdishness, with a classic reference to Strangers on a Train. 

The odd mixture of the cast can really be what makes, shakes, or breaks a film and, like Pirates of the Caribbean, the cast of Horrible Bosses consisted of people you would never have thought would appear in the same movie, yet here they all are, delivering wonderfully funny and memorable performances, particularly that of Kevin Spacey, he just has such a piercing presence and can really pull off the part of a psycho… just watch Seven if you want proof. 

Starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Ioan Gruffudd, and Jamie Foxx, Horrible Bosses is a really funny little film that’s packed with action, crime, memorable characters, incriminating circumstances, and a great comb-over. It was a very entertaining movie and I would certainly say that it’s worth having a look at.  

Cool World [M]

Running parallel to our real world is Cool World: an animated world filled with cartoons. In Cool World there is only one rule: Noids (humans) do not have sex with Doodles (cartoons). But the law is broken when a voluptuous vixen named Holli Would pulls ex-cartoonist Jack Deebs into Cool World with a scheme to seduce him and bring herself to life. Flesh proves weaker than ink as Holli’s plan succeeds and she takes human form in Las Vegas and threatens the destruction of both worlds. 

In short, this film is stupid, stupid, STUPID! What a waste of time, effort, and money. I could not help but feel that this was a piss weak attempt to create another Who Framed Roger Rabbit and that thought alone made me rather angry, a feeling which intensified with every passing moment of this film. Seriously, DO NOT BOTHER! 

Running parallel to our real world is Cool World: an animated world filled with cartoons. In Cool World there is only one rule: Noids (humans) do not have sex with doodles (cartoons). But the law is broken when a voluptuous vixen named Holli Would pulls ex-cartoonist Jack Deebs into Cool World with a scheme to seduce him and bring herself to life. Flesh proves weaker than ink as Holli’s plan succeeds and she takes human form in Las Vegas and threatens the destruction of both worlds and it falls to Jack and Frank, a hard-boiled detective, to stop her. 

A not-so-seamless combination of animation and life-action sequences, Cool World affords little to no laughs for everyone. All the cartoon characters were either overly horny or violent, which is just tasteless in my book, and there really wasn’t much story to speak of. 

To be honest the only mildly interesting features of the film were the performance of Brad Pitt and the cartoon character of Holli Would. I mean, she’s no Jessica Rabbit, but she was still a sexy cartoon and really should have stayed that way, not taken human form at all. 

Starring Brad Pitt, Gabriel Byrne, Kim Basinger, and featuring the voice talents of Maurice LeMarche, Joey Camen, Michael David Lally, and Jenine Jennings, Cool World was a pointless and pathetic excuse for a film that affords no laughs, kicks, or enjoyment of any kind for any audience. 

Filled with animated characters, sex, drama, action, romance, and comedy, you can seriously lead a happy and fulfilled life without having seen this movie. Please do take my advice on this one: DON’T BLOODY BOTHER!