I'm Sorry To Announce This Is The End

Some of you may have been expecting this for a while now but i'm afraid to say that this will be the final post of this particular blog so all there is left to do now is wheep and remember the good times. So farewell my friends it's been a blast!!

Review: Fright Night

Fright Night (2011)

Director Craig Gillespie

Well Vampires are very popular at the moment, all down to a certain teen vampire series we shall not speak the name off, so it was probably inevitable that one of the most popular films starring our pointy toothed admirers would be remade and no before you ask i have not seen the original. The remake does have a great cast which like many is what drives it, but really comes alive when David Tennant (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Doctor Who) gets his share in the spotlight, of course it does help i'm a bit of a fan. In fact it is the European cast who are the stars of the film with Colin Farrell (In Bruges, Horrible Bosses) providing a quite likeable villainous blood sucker. The problem i really had with the film was i was watching on 24" TV and several parts of the film were so dark that you couldn't actually make out what was happening on the screen and surely this couldn't of helped the 3D in the cinema. However i think we may actually have something to thank Twilight for as Fright Night mangers to be thrilling and witty in parts.

7 out of 10

Review: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Director Brad Bird

Now I've never really being into to the MI series, I've seen 1 and 3 but was never really impressed but I've got to say that i enjoyed the fourth outing of the series very much. But then again i wouldn't expect anything less than a good film from Pixar director Brad Bird who effortlessly makes the transition into live action. You know what to expect from Tom Cruise (War of the Worlds, Tropic Thunder) but this time out his team come close to stealing the show with Jeremy Renner (The Town, Avengers Assemble) adding to the cool factor and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) getting an extended role from that he had in the third film. The problem is the lack of a great lead villain with Michael Nyqvist (The Millennium Series) not really getting enough screen time to make an impression. But were the film really excels is with the set pieces which are pretty spectacular, good job Cruise is not scarred of heights!!

6 out of 10 

Ones To Watch: Jennifer Lawrence

Well i'm sure you've noticed that i seem to have been running out of ideas for what to do for new blog posts so i'm bringing in a new special feature in order to give me something to do over the summer aswell as keeping up my writing skills and keeping this much beloved blog up and going because i'm sure you'd hate to loose it. I'm sure you can guess from the title of 'ones to watch' that its going to be me giving you little reviews and previews of upcoming actors, actresses and maybe even footballers that i believe are going to make it big in their respective fields.

Well what a suprise my first one to watch is a kinda obvious one. Now i'm not sure if i've mentioned it but i'm a bit of a Jennifer Lawrence fan, big shock i know!! But yeah what to say that hasn't being said before. Well she made her big break in Winter's Bone and became the 2nd youngest actress to be nominated for best actress Oscar. Has since moved into the blockbuster world with X-Men First Class as well as keeping up with her independent cinema in The Beaver and Like Crazy. Has bagged herself one of the biggest roles around at the moment in Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. She's defiantly got a massive future in cinema and could be one of the actress's of her generation.


Upcoming projects

• 21st September 2012: House at the End of the Street
• 22nd November 2013: Catching Fire
• 2013: Serena
• 2014: X-Men First Class Sequel

Review: Avengers Assemble

Avengers Assemble (2012)

Director Josh Wheldon

For a film that didn't even make my top 5 films to watch several months ago, it's fair to say now it truly is my film to watch at the moment and remember the Hunger Games is still out. Yes thats right i think i may like this film more than the HG adaptation. Avengers Assemble even manages to combine blockbuster action sequences, the final battle even surpasses the one seen at the end of transformers 3, with actual rounded characters and witty dialogue. Of course the build up to the film helped with the character parts but its those who we have seen little or nothing of before that steal the show with Clark Gregg's (Iron Man, (500) Days of Summer)  Agent Coulson and Mark Ruffalo's (see previous Avengers post) new Hulk very impressive. But to single them out is unfair to the rest of the cast as everyone pulls their wait and even seems to be having fun at the same time. Infact fun is the word for Avengers Assemble (most of the time you have been warned) and is probably the best American Blockbuster since the Dark Knight. Bring on round 2!!
10 out of 10

It's the Business End

Well during the time I was away from you a lot has gone on in the football world. It is the most exciting time of the year and several clubs have already started their celebrations or began planning on how they will bounce back from the disappointment of relegation. So here is my round up:

• The race for the Premier league title race looked to be all wrapped up until Manchester United's failure to beat Everton at the weekend in a thrilling 4-4 draw as Manchester City beat Wolves (We'll get back to that later) and this Monday's derby could be the massive game changer with the points difference between the two clubs now only 3 points (Just occurred to me you know all this Matthew so don't really need to tell you but I need to fill up my blog for this month)
• It also looks like the most exciting race for the Champions League is in progress with shock of the season Newcastle in pole position and this years finalist's Chelsea looking in a position of needing to win if they don't leap frog both the Geordies and Spurs
• The relegation battle is also heating up with 5 teams fighting to avoid the two spots that will see either Aston Villa, Wigan, QPR, Bolton and Blackburn relegated. Unfortunately it's too late for Terry Connors Wolves who were relegated after defeat to Manchester City (told you we'd get back to it) at the weekend.
• The battle for a spot in the Premiership this season is also still on (we're not mentioning the play-offs or else i'll get to nervous and start screaming at the Middlesbrough players) Reading are already up as champions thanks to Middlesbrough beating Southampton who will go up if they win at Coventry this weekend or even a draw will probably do.
• The relegation places have already been sorted as Portsmouth, Coventry and Doncaster will be playing in League 1 next year where they will not be playing Charlton who will be coming as Champions while the Sheffield clubs fight over the 2nd promotion place.

Right I'm getting a tiny bit bored of it and it's getting harder and harder to sort out the lay out... So Rochdale are down Chesterfield are fighting their little hearts out. Swindon are going up with Paulo Di Canio as their manager. But i will leave you with thoughts on Darlington who are still in business but have ended been relegated and could even be demoted a further division if they are not out of administration by June. But rather then leave on downer i'll put up a nice picture of the happy times Darlington enjoyed at Wembley in the FA Trophy this time last year.

Avengers Assemble!!

So the Avengers Assemble is been released in the new few days so in preparation for this I give you another one of my special features!! Oh I am spoiling you aren't I!! Anyway there will be no reviews of the two previous Hulk films as I have not seen them which would make a review pretty hard would't it.

Iron Man (2008)

Director Jon Favreau

Possibly the success of this film is the reason that we have eventually reached the position of the Avengers Assemble. Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder, Sherlock Holmes) is perhaps the perfect actor for the role of Tony Stark managing to be arrogant rude and a bit of a prick really yet do it in a way that you can't help but like him. Like all the leads in the previous Marvel films he is at the centre of a film, which although not perfect is still a pretty good ride. The film is really a film of two halves and with the first half featuring the dark origins of Iron Man and the second half featuring his fight for power against the villainous Jeff Bridges (Tron Legacy, True Grit) but the problem is that he's not a memorable villain or even one that seems much of an adversary to Tony Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow (Se7en, Glee) is likeable enough but doesn't receive the screen time she deserves until the film sequel. Overall a solid start to the series of films but probably the least enjoyable of the instalments.

6 out of 10

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Director Jon Favreau

After a reasonably successful Hulk film starring Edward Norton, who was apparently asked back for the Avengers but turned it down because of scheduling issues, Marvel returned to the Iron Man series to build on the success of the first film and set things up for the now in motion movement for an Avengers film. Downey Jnr and Paltrow improve on their roles from the first film and the sequel also takes time out to introduce Samuel L Jackson's (Pulp Fiction, Star Wars) Nick Fury, briefly seen in one of Marvels famous post credit scenes for Iron Man, and Scarlett Johnansson (Lost in Translation, The Island) as Black Widow. The film is one of those rare superior sequel, with the first third suggesting that if it had kept up the pace it could have been THE comic book  movie. Where it really succeeds from the first film is in the casting of Mickey Rourke (Sin City, The Expendables) however unfortunately if will always be remembered as a film with lots of potential but just falls short.

7 out of 10

Thor (2011)

Director Kenneth Branagh

With The Avengers film clearly in site 2011 was the year for Marvel to introduce two of the teams major members and Thor got the spotlight first. The film has a pretty impressive cast but two of the major roles went to relative roles. Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek, Cabin In The Woods) picking up Thor's mighty hammer and Tom Hiddleston (Midnight In Paris, War Horse) as his villainous brother Loki, both of whom look set to play major roles in the new film. The story of the film is the most well thought out of the series, although it does leave you guess as to how the film will lead into Avengers Assemble. When watching the film in relevance to the Marvel Universe there's a blink and you miss it cameo for Jeremy Renner (28 Weeks Later, The Town) as Hawkeye, another Avenger, god there's a lot isn't there!! Whether its the fact that it doesn't souley take place on Earth or the fact that Kenneth Branagh was directing Thor is certainly proving the star of the series so far but there's a long way to go from here!

7 out of 10

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Director Joe Johnston

With less then a year to the release of the Avengers, as it was then called and is still called for the US market, it was time to introduce the final key member of the team. Chris Evans (Fantastic Four, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World) was no stranger to adaptations of Marvel comics when and is becoming another rising star of the Avengers Universe. Even though it is set before its predecessors there's still references cleverly inserted to the storyline, particularly the character portrayal of Tony Starks father, played by Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia, An Education) who doesn't quite get another time to prove himself as the true Dad of Iron Man. It's also nice to see Tommy Lee Jones (Volcano, Men In Black) and Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Lord of the Rings) return to having major roles in big blockbusters. Overall Captain America does not quite live up to Iron Man 2 and Thor but still manages to perfectly set up Avengers Assemble even placing Steve Rodgers right where he's needed.

6 out of 10

So that the past of Marvel's Avengers universe and Avengers Assemble is the present but with the film looking to become one of the highest grossing films of the year it seems that Marvel still has big plans for it's studios most high profile and lucrative franchise (It doesn't own the rights to the X-Men Series). So what is next ? Well officially the current schedule looks like this:

3rd May 2013: Iron Man 3

15th November 2013: Thor 2

4th April 2014: Captain America 2

Well that's the official time table but it has been said that all those films will most probably lead into the Avengers 2, with talk also flying around about Mark Ruffalo's (Shutter Island, Date Night) Hulk, Nick Fury, Hawkeye and Black Widow all receiving their own features and there has even been mention of Avengers 3. What ever you do i wouldn't make plans to say goodbye to this universe any time soon. 

Summer 2012 Preview

Summer 2012 The Blockbuster Summer

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Mr Blog It's Been A Long Time

Right as my avid reader will have noticed this blog has been vacant for a long long time... well since the 27th March, yeah i checked. There is reasons for this, first of all Uni commitments have meant and will mean for about 3 more weeks that i don't really have enough time on my hands to give the blog the love and affection it deserves (look i bought it some flowers to say sorry). Secondary i've been at home for Easter which has also left me with little time as there is more stuff to occupy me like playstations, actual TV and most importantly food that i do not have to pay for. Third and i promise i'll stop making excuses after this but i haven't really been to the cinema recently (other then seeing Titanic in 3D, told you i'd cave, and the Hunger Games and i doubt you want another review of that) and have concentrated more on watching TV shows and films i've already seen. So now i'll do a quick summary of the films that i watched while i was at home.

The Ides of March (2011)

Director George Clooney

Not at bad film that certainly benefits from two of Hollywoods finest actors, George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, but the problem is that i have no idea about American politics and still don't after watching the film.

5 out of 10

The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

Director Bill Condon

Ok i did watch it but only cos i have read the books and believe you can't critise something you ain't seen. In Conclusion the film has slipped back to the bordem of New Moon and is even more laughable, Not even going to mention the acting that sinks to new lows.

2 out of 10

The Rum Diary (2011)

Director Bruce Robinson

As with most of his films Johnny Depp is the centre and heart of the Rum Diary which other then its cast and the occasional laugh has nothing really going for it. Depp plays a relatively straight role for him with class and proves why he is one of the best actors of the generation

5 out of 10

Conan The Barbarian (2011)

Director Marcus Nispel

Ok i'm a bad film student i turned off the Oscar nominated Tree of Life for this. Too be there this is more aimed at me but it doesn't make it any better. Predictable action and classic b-movie lines mean its not a complete disaster but you can't help but miss Arnie....

4 out of 10

Midnight In Paris (2011)

Director Woody Allen

Another not aimed at me but i stuck with this one. There not much to say for the film other then it does appear to be a love letter to the city of Paris itself. Characters are likeable but not memorable other then Michael Sheens unnatural and unnerving American accent, stick to Welsh man!!

5 out of 10

So a month of mediocre films but i would i highly recommend the first seasons of both the Walking Dead and Sherlock. The football news this month has been mixed with Middlesbrough looking down and out of the play off picture until the incredible 2-1 victory against promotion chasing Southampton, this weekend is it so lets all hope for a victory for Boro and defeat for Cardiff. On a final note i'll end things on a positive on Football Manager 2012 i managed to get Peterborough promoted after been predicted bottom of the table!! (yeah i was controlling all the clubs but it's my biggest achievement to date) 

Review: 21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street (2012)

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Its based on the series that launched the career of a certain Mr Johnny Depp. And coming out at a time when the standard for comedies seems to be low as it seems 2012 is about one thing and that action action action. The problem is 21 Jump Street is only just alright, espically when half the best jokes are in the trailer. There are some good jokes left in that havn't been used in promotion but still not enough to put it up there with some of the better comedies of recent years. Although the leads Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, The Eagle) and recently oscar nominated Jonah Hill (Superbad, Get Him to the Greek) are perfectly likable you can't help but feel you've seen both of these characters before. Although pretty standed in terms of plot and jokes, the one stand out the film has is the way it occasionally makes a joke of the modern Hollywood system. "There just recylcing shit from the 80s" is the particular standout line but with this you can't help that feel their not recycling very well.

5 out of 10

Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games (2012)

Director Gary Ross

Well its finally here. Yes after months of going on and on about one film its finally been released. Well it was always going to be slightly dissapointing but in this case its only very slightly. Like the book the film is fantastic and actually stays remakably well to the original, we may have the new Harry Potter here folks. Ok its not a fair comparrision but i'm not using the other one!! The direction given by Gary Ross (Pleasentville, Seabiscuit) is superbly offputting and from the start lets you know the film is not going to be your standard glossy blockbuster. The main aspect the film has going for it is the outstanding cast with Jennifer Lawrence (Winters Bone, X-Men First Class) shinning at it's heart. It's hard to pick out another stand out from the superb performances but i am edging towards Stanley Tucci (Lovely Bones, Easy A) as the best supporting role. Overall will leave fans of the book and hopefully ordinary cinema goes happy and wanting more (which their getting) and a great way to start what promises to be THE blockbuster summer.

8 out of 10

Top 15 Film Characters

Top 15 Film Characters

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Review: Friends With Benefits

Friends With Benefits (2011)

Director Will Gluck

Will Gluck is quickly turning into one of the best comedic directors of the modern age after falling up Easy A with his most recent offering. For Friends with Benefits he has managed to bring to of the fastest rising acting talents for the lead roles, Former pop sensation Justin Timberlake (The Social Network, Bad Teacher) and Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Black Swan) who are both likable leads. The story is a modern take of two best friends who find themselves in love with each other, only this time they've already been having sex and lots of it, lets put it this way theres plenty of eye candy for both genders to enjoy. The other star of the film is Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, 2012) who is easily the best acting talent in the film. The problem is the plot tries to fit in stories about both the leads families but the problem is it dosnt give enough time to either story to make them meaniful. Still like Easy A, Friends with Benefits is a harmless feel good film.

6 out of 10

Review: Crazy, Stupid, Love

Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

First of all i will say that although Steve Carell (Anchorman, Date Night) is the star of the film its not laugh a minute stuff. However the film works superbly well as comedic drama and theres no doubting that the cast are excellent especially man of the moment Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine, Drive) and the underused but excellent Emma Stone (Zombieland, Easy A). Where the film really excells is in the clever twists that family film supremo Dan Fogelman (Cars, Tangled) and one particular of these major twists makes you want to watch the film again just to see how it was done. Infact the scene where this is revealed is probably the best in the entire movie and bring the laughs you'd normally expect from Carell. At first it seems like theres too many stories taking place in the film but as it goes on it becomes easier to get to grips with the different plots. Overall although not hilarious still a very good film and will do nothing to harm the careers of those involved.

7 out of 10

Top 25 Glee Songs

Favorite Glee Songs on Prezi

It's March!!

Ok March 2012 only means one thing, THE HUNGER GAMES is out this month!! So yeah i'm aloud to be excited now =D

 

Yeah soo theres a high high chance thats its going to be a massive let down but lets not focus on that for now... Anyway from the footage we've been given so far it looks like the film could actually be a success, maybe not on Harry Potter levels but maybe on the level of financial success of other unmentional franchises. Theres not too much i can say that i havn't already said so i may just leave it here for now, other then saying that judging by the latest bit of footage it seems that the film is at least going to stick reasonable close to the book.

I Wheep For English Football

Yes, well the title says it all! In gerneral it seems its been a poor week for football in this country, not only did the managerless national team loose to Holland but today has seen not one but two Championship clubs placed under a transfer embargo and thats not even mentioning Portsmouth (who although i do feel sorry for their fans, it seems its time for the end seen as this is the third administation and they've had plenty of help from the league whereas Middlesbrough went in once and bearly got any, yeah i wasnt even born and i'm still bitter). Today Coventry and then Birmingham City were both put under no transfer regulations for failing to submit financial statements before the leagues deadline. Now this may turn out to be a good thing as in stopping clubs from spending money they dont have but the problem is it may already be too late.

Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
Director John Madden

Britain does have some golden old actors, and it seems that they all decided it was time to stay at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It's also fair to say that this is a perfectly harmless film which will leave you cheerful but unfortunatly dosnt quite fully entertain you, at least if your under (or at least act under) 50. One of the main problems with the film is the marketing which has seen the trailer attached to almost every film of recent months, a good thing to get noticed, but the problem is that the trailer features most of the films comic moments meaning that when it comes to watching the film the main comic moments are lost. Theres no doubt the cast is great but the stand out happens to be the youngest member Dev Patel (Skins, Slumdog Millionaire). The other characters are perfectly likable and believable with probably the most touching story going to Tom Wilkinson's (Batman Begins, The Green Hornet) character. Its hard to be negative about the film but if your going for the laughs then just watch the trailer.

6 out of 10

Review: The Woman In Black

The Woman In Black (2012)

Director James Watkins

You have to feel sorry for Daniel Radcliffe (hmm whats he been in?), if you ignore the fact he must have a heck of a lot of money, as everything he will do in the forseeable future will surely be seen as Harry Potter and the ... but lets give The Woman in Black a chance. Based on the novel and play of the same name theres no doubting that the film is certainly creepy if not quite scary. Don't get me wrong if you go to see it you will probably jump more than once but it seems to me that it would work better as a play. Also the problem is Radcliffe, he can't really act, but then you ask the question would the film be as big without him? Infact the star is a fellow Potter cast member Ciaran Hinds (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy) who has the most to do of the supporting cast. The problems i have is that it shows too much of what is happening, where the stage show must have the advantage, and the very end scene goes too far, don't want to spoil anything though.

6 out of 10

Oscar Time YAY

Well it's the Oscars on Sunday night and its true to say that often people don't agree and suprisenly i don't, sorry Acadamy. So i'm bored and thought that i would go through and see what films i would have given Oscars too over the last few years (not always my favorite film of the year btw) Remember i'm only young so i havn't seen all of the films or even most from lots of the last few years.

1993 - Jurassic Park

1994 - Forrest Gump

1995 - Toy Story

1996 - Scream (Really not much i've seen)

1997 - Titanic

1998 - Saving Private Ryan

1999 - American Beauty

2000 - X-Men

2001 - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

2002 - Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

2003 - Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2004 - Shaun of the Dead

2005 - Batman Begins

2006 - Little Miss Sunshine

2007 - Stardust

2008 - Let The Right One In

2009 - (500) Days of Summer

2010 - The Social Network

2011 - Drive

Football Updates

Reading though my recent blog posts it seems all i've been concerned about has been films and a little bit of TV, so i thought i'd have a little look at some of the recent big football stories that have annoyed or caught my attention recently

• Carlos is back, oh great. It seems to have been going on for months and just when we finally thought we were never going to see him again Carlos Tevez has decided to come back to Manchester City. Personally i'm fed up with hearing about his pety behaviour and wish he would just leave and stop complaining. Manchester City have so far handled this situation admillary but letting him back seems a big mistake to me, theres no doubt the lad has talent but City have Ballotelli to be an ego and theres only room for one of them in Manchester.
 

 
• Adminsistration seems to be back in fasion as two British clubs have gone into it in 5 days. First Rangers provided Celtic with a lovely Valentines day gift by effectivly handing them the title by going into admin (can't be bothered to say the whole word) and today it has emerged that Portsmouth have gone in for the 2nd time in 2 years. Two very different stories hear but both linked by a points deduction, It seems a sad state for Scottish Football if Rangers are going under and there has to be worries about the game there as a whole. Portsmouth on the other hand have been in and out more times then anyone recently and surely it seems only a matter of time before the club sercome sad but realistic. On this note has anyone heard anything about Darlington?
 

 
• Since i last spoke theres been several sackings that i've disagreed with, ironically one from each of the top 3 divisions. First of all the most anticipated was Mick McCarthy been sacked from Wolves after this weekends 5-1 defeat against West Brom, from the moment i heard the result i knew Mick was a goner but there no deniing he's done a great job there and surely must be remembered for giving the club a three year stay in the Premier League. Next and the first of the sackings was Simon Grayson who was sacked on February 1st having not been given a penny to spend in the transfer market and with Leeds in mid table. Grayson has taken the club up and seemed to be well on his way to bringing prosperity back to the sleeping giant, for whoem its now 8 years since they were relegated from the top flight. Finally and most shockingly Lee Clark was sacked by Huddersfield despite the club been 4th in League 1 and Clark having made them one of the forces to reckon with in the divison. How anyone can sack their manager 4th in the league, even if they have lost 3 in a row, just baffles me but probably just proved how fickle football can be these days.
 

 
• And now to my (2nd) favorite club to make fun at, Newcastle United, only for once i'm actually going to be sticking up for their fans, add shocked faces here. As annonoced a few months ago St James Park is been renamed to some stupid corporate name and in the last few days the famous St James Park letters have been removied. Now there no denying that Mike Ashley has never been the most popular man on tyneside but it seemed he was maybe just going to be making peace with the fans and now this... Oh dear, its not only angered most of the Geordie world but also most of the football world as one of the most famous names in English football disappears, it's fine new stadiums like the Emirates or even when the Riverside was the cellnet but not an old famous name like this. It's a disgrace and like most of the other things i have talked about is further proof that money is ruining the game most of us love.
 

 

 

 

Review: The Muppets

The Muppets (2012)
Director James Bobin

Too old for The Muppets? I think not. Ok it's only mid February but i feel that the feel good film of the year has arrived, even though it was released in America in November. Too young to remember The Muppets i've grown up with a reasonably Muppet free life but thats all changed now as Kermit and co team up with feel good (yes i'll keep using that phrase until i make a point) dream pair Jason Segal (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Amy Adams (Enchanted, The Fighter) who are great but the real star of the film are the Muppets themselves, who adapt suprisinly well to modern day cinema and all have their moment in their spotlight. Another highlight is the cameos, with Big Bang Theory's Jim Parson's been a stand out. I would advise not going to see this film if your worried about your dignity because it's almost impossible to not come out singing with some lovely songs. I'm sure anyone will fall in love with the film, unless you have a heart of stone. One for the kids, adults and maybe even the family pet =D

8 out of 10

Review: The Grey

The Grey (2012)
Director Joe Carnahan

Like so many of the films around award season The Grey is built around one man and one performance, in this case Liam Neeson (Star Wars Episode 1: The Phanton Menace, Taken) who continues the latest stage of his career as an ageing action star and reteams with A-Team director Joe Carnahan. Unfortunatly that led to me constantly comparing the Grey to the pairs last film, one of my favorite action films. In many ways thats an unfair comparrison to make but thats how my head works sorry. The main failure of The Grey is that there is no likable characters in the film, several days later no characters come to my mind as memorable other than Neesons and i can't even remember his name. This means that its very difficult to fell shock or horror when most the charcters are killed off. Of  course this is in Neeson favor as everything about the film is about him, its not his greatest performance but its still a pretty good one. The thing about the film is its almost impossible to place into a genre, although the ending of the film is refresing if it is actually an action film.

4 out of 10



My 10 Favorite Actresses

My Top 10 Actresses

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It's Snowing!!

Ok i'm not really that bothered just thought i'd show off some pictures of snow because i can't really think of anything to talk about right now ....

My 10 Favorite Actors

My Top 10 Actors

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Vaughn Signs For X-Men First Class 2 =D

Now i was already a reasonable fan of the X-Men films before this summer and then along came X-Men First Class, which immediatly became my favorite installment in the series which had been going astray. The cast were brilliant and one of my favorite directors, Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Kick-Ass), was at the helm. The film didnt make last years top 10 box office takings but did enough to recieve a sequel that was annonced late in 2011. Ever since then i have been reserving judgment on this desicsion until the director was annonced and now Vaughn is back, what everyone who loved the film must have been hoping for, it seems the sequel will soon be entering production. Of course it wont be complete until Vaughn's team is confirmed but it seems that will happy soon.

The only problem that can be seen is that the cast have exploaded since the release of the first film. Michael Fassbender has been all over the place and achieving large critical praise and earned a place in Ridley Scott's Prometheus and a place in the new Robo-cop movie, Rose Byrne is now hot property after summer hit Bridesmaids, Nicholas Hoult looks set for leading man status after teaming up with X-Men producer Bryan Singer for Jack the Giant Killer and is still slated to be appearing in a Skins movie and Jennifer Lawrence has the small matter of The Hunger Games triology to keep her busy (Did i mention i'm excited about that?). So obviously getting the cast together at one time may prove a little bit tricky but their all signed on so all the characters should be returning. Theres one thing that needs to be done and quick, find a decent name so that we don't have to keep calling it X-Men: First Class 2  although we can all guess the actual title will be something imaginative like X-Men: Second Class.

Review: The Artist

The Artist (2011)
Director Michel Hazanavicius

Ok first things first, the film has no sound get over it!! The Artist is an incrediable homage to the cinema of old and the 1920's. The narrative features two films stars of yesteryear after they work on one picture toghether and then their carears head off in two very different directions as the movie industry moves into making "talkies" rather then the silent films that the film is recreating. The two main actors are superb and look like they have stepped right out the silent period and stright into the film putting in incrediable physical performance. But the main star of the film is Uggie the dog, who as one person in the cinema rightfully said "deserves an oscar for his performance", well maybe not quite an oscar but like many classic animated animal characters steals the show. Interestinly the film is as funny as most of this years comedies despite lack of dialouge and is full of nostagure for the romance of old cinema. A perfect film for any lover of film!!

8 out of 10

OK, I Need To Talk About Skins

Now i'd suggest anyone who didn't watch this weeks episode of Skins (Series 6, Episode 2) which was Rich's episode i suggest you look away now cos there are SPOILERS AHEAD (hehe always wanted to do that)

Right, first off i thought that the episode was one of the best of the current generations episodes, nowhere near as good as any of the previous 1st generations episodes and on a parr with some of the worse 2nd gen episodes, but did show signs that it might actually be the same TV show that was such a success just a few years ago. Basically my problem with it is that they killed off, seriousley look away now if you dont know, Grace. She was one of the few likable characters of this generation and shes been killed off so early in the sixth series. Yeah someone had to die but if your going to kill someone this early in the series at least make it someone the show would actually be better without. It also makes the whole theme of the series pretty predicatable (although i may be wrong) as the characters come to terms with Grace's death. We can only hope that the new character been introduced next week may be a chip of the old block rather then one of the blank squibs that most of this group seem to be. R.I.P Skins

Review: Drive

Drive (2011)
Director Nicolas Winding Refn

Drive has been hailed as the best film of 2011 in so many publications that i feared it may be overhyped. Well for me it's not film of the year, but it comes damn close to been. It's stylish and about cars and violence, pretty much the perfect lads night in film. Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine, The Idles of March) pretty much ruled 2011 and is THE rising star of the moment and you only need to watch this film to see why. He'll be devestated that he missed out on winning my best actor award because i watched Drive a few weeks too late, damn me!! It's not the sort of film that you'd expect Cary Mulligan (An Education, Never Let Me Go) to co star in but she plays her role well and allows Ryan Gosling's nameless driver to play off her perfectly. The other stand out of the film is the soundtrack, which is tone perfect and compliments the visuals superbly. As said earlier Drive is perfect for a lads night in and one of the stand outs of 2011.

8 out of 10

Review: Tangled

Tangled (2011)
Directors Nathen Greno and Bryon Howard

Now as i've mentioned before i'm a sucker for animated kids films, so it'll come as no suprise that i kinda fell in love with Tangled. Now i will say it's not Disneys finest picture but then again that is an incredably hard feet to achieve, for me the best has to be The Lion King but that was the film i grew up watching so it'll depend on your childhood which is yours but i'm sure for this generation of youths Tangled will be up there. This story chooses to add a twist to the classic tale of rapunzel and natually features some great musical numbers, although i can't see any becoming as iconic as classics such as Under the Sea or Hakuna Matata. But the real standout of the film for me were two characters that didnt say a word throughout the film, the two animals, which steal the show despite been supporting characters a event that occurs in most animated films. Overall Tangled is a lovely family film perfect for kids, and probably most adults!!

7 out 10

Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Director Thomas Alfredson

From the outlook everything about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (the only time i will use its full name as it's a bit of a mouthful) looked very promising indeed. Of course the film is built around a superb cast with Gary Oldman (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Dark Knight) in the centre putting in a great performance. The problem is the rest of the cast barring, Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, War Horse), Just coast through the film without really shinning like they should. The film looks incrediable, but i'd have expected nothing less from Thomas Alfredson, director of the incrediable Sweedish horror Let the Right One In. The problem is the plot, which failed to grip me the least you'd expect from a mystery drama, and leaves me wondering what the film could have been with a more gripping story and if some of the other actors could have been at their best. I can see the film as growing on you the more you watch it and i may need to view it again to fully understand it but for now it's only an average film in my view.

5 out of 10

Award Winners

Ok its the moment you've all been waiting for, just so you know i wrote this right after i wrote the other little post just thought i'd made you wait cos i no the tension must of been killing you. I may even forget to propery post this one who knows, well if your reading this you no :P So the winners are:

Best Picture

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Best Director

Matthew Vaughn – X-Men: First Class

Best Actor

Colin Firth – The Kings Speech

Best Actress

Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Supporting Actor

Geoffrey Rush – The Kings Speech

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Lawrence – X-Men: First Class

Best Special Effects

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Best TV Show

Doctor Who

Best TV Actor

Matt Smith – Doctor Who

Best TV Actress

Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory

 

Time For A Change

Well as anyone who may of been here before will have noticed i have decided that as it was a new year/term it was time for a change in terms of the background in order to keep things looking fresh and new and exciting. Also i get bored easy so expect more changes in the future (if i keep this thing up)

Review: The Descendants

The Descendants (2012)
Director Alexander Payne

This is very much an award season film, and is purely based around the actors involved. George Clooney (Batman and Robin, Up in the Air) is the center of the film and manges to put in the best performance of his carear so far and thoughly deserves an oscar for his role of a middle aged man going through a family crisis. The other stand out star of the film is newbe Shailene Woodley, who on this evidence is going to be one of the stars of the future. Matthew Lillard (Scream, Scooby-Doo) and another newcomer Nick Krause add some much need humor to the occassion. The story may not be great and a bit predictable but makes up for that with stunning visuals of Hawaii, that particually in the second half of the film are some of the most beautful areas on the planet, very similar to how War Horse portrayed some of Englands pretiest areas earlier in the month. Overall, this film is all about Clooney and will go down as one of the finest of his carear.

7 out of 10

Review: Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood (2011)
Director Catherine Hardwicke

Ok so alarm bells should of been ringing when i found out that Hardwicke (Twilight) was directing this 'adaptation' of the classic tale. Everything about the film seems to disapoint, from an almost one dimensional performance from lead Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Mamma Mia) to Gary Oldhams (Harry Potter and the Prisonor of Azkaban, The Dark Knight) performance been below his usual standards and the plot of the film ruins the source material. The most annoying of the plot points is the creation of a love triangle - a la Twilight. The one thing the film has to its favor is that it just managed to trick me and suprise with the sort of twist ending. The Wolf itself looks similar to the incrediably unrealistic wolves of New Moon, and fails to produce the threat or dark tone that this sort of retelling needs and could of made the film at least watchable. Not one for the kids ... or anyone!

2 out 10

Review: Cars 2

Cars 2 (2011)
Directors John Lasseter and Brad Lewis

Now of all the films Pxar has released, Cars would of been one of the last on my list of sequels to be made. It is very hard to critical of the company that have constantly brought their A game to every film they have released over the past 15 years but the cars universe is probably the hardest to buy into and lacks the studios habit of creating memorable characters. Despite this i still went into Cars 2 with the excitment of a child and you cannot deny it is a magnificently created world that flicks from city to city with ease. Where the first film focused on Lighting McQueen the sequel chooses instead to focus no his sidekick, Mater, and his interaction with Michael Caine (The Dark Knight, Harry Brown) voiced Finn McMissle who is the closest the film comes to create the next in a line of characters including most of the Toy Story gang, Nemo, Doug the dog and Wall-E himself. It's still an enjoyable watch although i'd rather pixar focused on origonal stories rather then sequels.

6 out of 10

Review: Monsters

Monsters (2010)
Director Gareth Edwards

Following in a line of recent low budget releases Monsters clocks in with an estimated $800,000 to play with. The film fits in with the Sci-Fi elements that have always intrigued me; how would an alien event effect life on earth. Set in Mexico the film follows too people trying to return home to America though the so called infected zone. Both relative unknowns Scoot McNairy (Herbie Fully Loaded) and Whitney Able (All The Boys Love Mandy Lane) are capable and its refreshing that the romance story takes a bit of a back seat rather letting the film focus on how the extra terrestrial event has effected the people of Mexico and on how the aliens need earth. The aliens themselves proove that a big budget is not needed to create beliable and acceptable effects, with them easily been able to stand up to the big budget alien invasion of recent flop Skyfall. The film also manages to keep its independant elements in.

6 out of 10

Review: Marley And Me

Marley and Me (2009)
Director David Frankel

Marley and Me has a reputation as one of the most upsetting films of recent years but thats not saying that there arn't laughs and uplifting moments over the course of the story. The plot features the lives of married couple Owen Wilson (Armegeddon, Meet the Parents) and Jennifer Aniston (Friends, Horrible Bosses) who decide to rise their first dog who proves to be a little more trouble then he's worth. Thankfully for the audience this trouble proves to be good fun as we watch the cute puppy grown and into a rather larger dog. Never staying with the family for long periods of time before moving on to the next milestone the family seems to grow in a blink of the eye as we see Marley grow older and reach the ineviatal end of his life, have tissue ready for the young families goodbye. Despite the tears theres nothing to dislike about the film which makes for a perfect sunday film while not setting the world alight.

6 out of 10

Review: Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands (1991)
Director Tim Burton

Over the past few years i have become less and less of a fan of Tim Burton's work, ever since his 2005 destructions of Charile and the Choclate Factory. But there is not doubt that his best work was in the 1990's and this is one of his best works. The story takes its time to get started but once it enters its second half the film has your complete attention. You need not question the worlds that Burton creates and theres no doubt in that. A young Johnny Depp (Sleepy Hollow, Pirates of the Carribean) will see better days but its still a confident early performance and Winona Ryder (Alien Resurrection, Black Swan) is at her most likable and on this evidence could maybe have had a more a-lister career, although theres still time yet. How the film will stand further viewings by me remains to be seen but all the evidence is this is Burton at his Sleepy Hollow and Batman best.

6 out of 10