Review: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

When the first Anchorman came out, it was not an instant success. But it gained cult status after huge takings in DVD sales, that included me.

I think I remember buying the DVD because of the trailer looked potentially very funny. It turned out to be one of the most iconic comedy films of the last decade.

With a ridiculous amount of memorable quotes that I have said and heard countless in my life, it was clearly crying out for a sequel.

It has been a long wait, which can be a good thing. You want to make sure they do not ruin this great film and make it go down the typical routine of a disappointing sequel. Thankfully, as the end credits began to roll, I was having a huge sight of relief.

With the trailer of the first Anchorman mainly showing deleted scenes that were still funny, they did it with most of the trailer for their latest chapter in the franchise.

From start to finish it is laugh out loud, there are a new batch of memorable quotes and scenes. There are also some nice nostalgic moments that refer to the original Anchorman which was a nice touch. A lot of the comedy is out completely bonkers and silly, but with it being in Ron Burgundy's world, you just go with it and it is has you constantly smiling.

Usually films like this don't go down well with the critics, but I think the thing that will win them over as it makes great satirical use of journalism in 1980's America and the birth of a new style of broadcasting the news. It says all the right messages and makes the right amount of satire to make a success with the film experts I reckon.

Lots of positives. Ferrell holds this film as the legendary Ron Burgundy. His presence makes those jokes funnier then they should be. Rudd, Carrell and Koechner hold their own as Fantana, Tamland and Kind. Burgundy's new rival played by the very likable James Marsden is solid enough to get a healthy number of laughs. There are some great nods for the fans when referring back to the original, including towards the end when there is an insane amount of cameos. Some you would expect, some very very surprising.

Not many negatives. A few of the jokes did not work, but I can live with that as not every joke works in even the best ever comedy films.

Overall, I thought it was as great as it could be. It was never going to match or surpass the original, but it was a great romp that only Ferrell could pull off. I am glad that there was a whole new batch of gags that most of them worked and I am sure will be used in everyday life.
Ferrell is the key to its success, and the amount of cameos will give you a great guessing game to play. It will be interesting if they do a third, because I think the logistics will slowly go out of control. A prequel would work, but for now let us all celebrate this funny sequel.

Rating: 7/10

My Top 10: Christmas Films

The majority of Christmas films are usually not that good. But for many, they are perfectly fine films for the family man after just eating their entire body weight in turkey.
Thankfully, there are still a lot of terrific Christmas films that can compete with the greatest films of all-time. Some are not always your typical Christmas story, but they keep that festive feel.

A few films that did not make my top 10 that I want to mention, is Bad Santa, the 1984 TV movie version of A Christmas Carol, Love Actually, the 1970 musical version of Scrooge as well as 1951's Scrooge. Bad Santa stars Billy Bob Thornton as a con-man dressed as Santa who steals from department stores ever year on Christmas Eve. But when he befriends a troubled kid, Thornton's character slowly has a change of heart. This really surprised me, and has that Christmas joy which is the perfect feeling you should have when watching a Christmas movie.
The 1984 TV movie version of A Christmas Carol has quite the stellar cast, a strong production, effective story-telling and striking imagery. Famous stars such as George C. Scott, Edward Woodward, Susannah York and David Warner all do a great job in making this story refreshing and apparently is the version that most people feel stays the most true to the Dickens novel.
Love Actually is one of the few rom-coms that I actually like, this British hit follows the lives of eight very different couples.

They are all dealing with their relationships during the frantic month before Christmas in London.
1970's Scrooge is a musical version of this famous story, where Albert Finney plays the despicable Ebeneezer Scrooge and plays it brilliantly. The performances are enchanting and the song-and-dance numbers will be as memorable as the story itself. There are surprise appearances from Britain's greatest actors of yesteryear.

1951's Scrooge is the classic Christmas tale of an old man who hates the holiday season is given a night of redemption on Christmas Eve.
Starring the brilliant Alistair Sim, this 1950's classic tells the story so well. With great performances, some magical and scary moments this is definitely one of the better presentations of the most Christmas story.

Now here are the 10 Christmas films that made it:

10) Holiday Inn - When Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby are good, they're very good. Put them together, and you have a simple uplifting story with lots of great singing and dancing.

Whilst working at an inn, a singer and dancer are both viewing for the affections of an up-and-coming dancer.

9) The Bishop's Wife - Saw this a few Christmas' ago and felt it extremely heart-warming. 

Cary Grant plays an Angel to help a priest played by David Niven get a new cathedral to be built.
With some great performances, this classic from 1947 will surely put a smile on your face and make you all emotional during any festive period.

I was not expecting it to be as charming, but I think I will have this as a regular in my Christmas films to watch over the festive period.

8) The Muppet Christmas Carol - Lots of peoples favourite Christmas film. A great blend of drama, comedy and the odd sing-song. The Muppets can do no wrong.

Starring Michael Cain as Ebeneezer Scrooge, and also all your favorite Muppets, this is an absolute joy to watch and should be viewed every Christmas.

7) Home Alone - An instant modern Christmas classic that I can't believe is now over 30 years old.

When a young child is accidentally left alone at his home, he must protect his house from the threat of burglars.

It's fun, has plenty of Christmas heart-warm and has a great John Williams score that earned two Oscar nominations.

6) Klaus - A wonderful story that we have not seen within this genre for some time.

When a young postman is relocated to a remote area of the world, he befriends a old toymaker that could reunite a town divided.

It is perfectly developed with a lot of heart, memorable characters and a large amount of Christmas spirit.

5) White Christmas - Saw this a few Christmas' ago and now a permanent fixture in my holiday viewing. A thoroughly enjoyable musical tale about a song-and-dance duo who team with a sister act to save a company.

Some top performances by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. This has lots of top songs and quite a memorable ending to get you perfectly settled into the holiday season.

4) The Nightmare Before Christmas - Tim Burton's dark tale comes to life thanks to director Henry Selick.

It features Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown. Jack manages to discover Christmastown, but does not seem to quite get the concept as he promotes back in his own town.

Not your usual light-hearted Christmas story, but still a terrific film.

3) Miracle On 34th Street (1947) - Some people love the modern re-telling that stars Richard Attenborough as Khris Kringle, but this has so much more.

The original has all the heart-warming you could ever want. Not only was it a great Christmas film, it was one of the best films of the year.

No matter what Christmas you are having, this will always put a smile on your face.

2) Joyeux Noel - I have mentioned this film many times in other lists, so regular followers know how much I love this film.

Not quite heart-warming, but still an amazing film everyone should see at Christmas.

It tells the story of the Christmas Day cease-fires during World War I. One of the most famous incidents that no-one expected.

1) It's A Wonderful Life - Amazingly, this did not get the instant success it deserves. But over time, it has become many peoples favorite Christmas film of all-time.

It stars the late great James Stewart as a businessman who cares for the less-fortunate in his town. But as Christmas approaches, he begins to doubt his purpose in his town.

What Stewart's character experiences over-night is something that will make us smile and cry and be full of Christmas cheer just in time for when the relatives arrive on Christmas Day.

My Top 10: Comedy Films

Comedy is usually a genre where I rarely see great films. They are usually solid romps, but nothing more. Where there is good comedy there usually lacks good plot and interesting characters.

There are thankfully enough exceptions to this to make my top 10 comedy films a pretty impressive one. It features some of the most iconic comedy film actors ranging from the 1920's to the last ten years. Some of you may find a bit controversial, so comments are welcome.

Here is my top 10:

10) Some Like It Hot - A brilliant timeless classic from 1959. When two musicians witness a murder from a mob, they flee and join a band and be disguised as woman.

Featuring the legends Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon their partnership makes me laugh out loud every time.

If that does not please do, then Marilyn Monroe's ditsy blonde character will.




9) Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy - Probably the film that has the most memorable quotes which you can use in everyday situations.

At first, it was not as successful, but over-time it became a cult classic.

Featuring great modern comedy film actors such as Will Ferrell, Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, this is just one of the funniest silly comedies of all-time.



8) In Bruges - One of the best black comedies and not just in modern times.

The duo of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson manages to suck you in from the first minute.

Also, a few scene-stealing scenes from Ralph Fiennes, a midget and a few Belgians, this dark comedy will make you laugh, cry and have you gripping your seat.

7) The Kid - Chaplin's first feature film and his most personal and dramatic one.

The Tramp is caring for an abandoned child. As he trains him jump to help him with his work, their relationship has suddenly taken a turn for the worse.

Made in 1921, I saw it only a few years ago and I was fascinated by it.
It is amazing how ahead of time Chaplin, not just in comedy, but in style of film-making.


6) The Circus - Chaplin returns as the Tramp, who finds work in the circus.

As he climbs up the hierarchy to be the star of the show, he finds a love interest.

The plot is nothing special, but the style and timing of the comedy is still vintage Chaplin and it beats everything else that is being made within the comedy genre.

5) Modern Times - With modern society expanding all the time, the Tramp is struggling to adapt.

With the help of a young homeless woman played by the gorgeous Paulette Goddard, the Tramp attempts to get back into the company he previously worked for.

The classic opening is just perfect slap-stick comedy and the presence of Goddard gives it great sex appeal.

4) Shaun Of The Dead - One of the biggest surprises in modern times.
After much success in TV series, not many were sure this would be the start of something special for Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
The first rom-zom-com of its kind, and a brilliant British cult classic.
Every performance is just right and the timing and style of comedy is something that was much needed at the time.

3) City Lights - After meeting a blind flower girl, the Tramp has fallen in love and attempts to win her heart.

Chaplin may be known for his comedy, but many people forget he can do heart-warming as well.

This has a great blend of the two. Every time I see this, I am still amazed at how it still works today.


2) The Gold Rush - The first of five Charlie Chaplin's in my top 10. Featuring the lovable Tramp, he is gone off to the Klondlike to find gold.

Not only does he manage to find some, he encounters several characters. Some become enemies, some friends and maybe the odd love interest.
It may have been made in the 1920's, but I recently saw this for the first time and found it hilarious and quite ground-breaking for its time.

1) Groundhog Day - Absolutely genius and such a clever comedy. Starring Bill Murray as a weatherman who finds himself living the same day over and over again.

Not only is the comedy top-notch, the story is so clever and perfectly presented. This is a comedy that will never get dated.

Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

For people who have not read my review of An Unexpected Journey, I have not read the books. So I sadly cannot give a review of comparing the two. Enjoy the rest of my review.

Here we are for Peter Jackson's penultimate film, before we see the last of Middle-Earth. Like many, I do not want it to end as he has created a world that author J.R.R Tolkien will be proud of.

When hearing this whole story would be split into three films each lasting almost three hours, people were fearing that Jackson could not find enough filler in what is a book just less than 300 pages.
But with Jackson also using the appendices from the book, it seems we would get the full story of this prequel to The Lord Of The Rings, which is seen as many peoples perfect trilogy.

Part one did see a lot of filler, but it was good filler as Jackson loves the source material and we adore whatever he presents on the screen. Part two in my opinion did not have as much filler, and whenever there was potential filler, it was still amazing cinema.

What this second installment does, is send you right into the action. Unlike part one, there is no waiting in the Shire. You are straight into dangerous parts of Middle-Earth. It's quite a fast opening as you are introduced to more and more new characters and places in Middle-Earth that we have never encountered before. While Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarfs of Erebor continue their quest to reclaim the mountain, there is something else happening that makes The Desolation Of Smaug quite a dark and scary one.

It felt like 'The Empire Strikes Back' was evolving in front of my eyes, but involving orcs, elves, a dragon and many other creatures. There was that feeling of the darkness rising once again, and I was nervous to see what was going to happen next, but in an excitable way.

As the epic and sometimes scary finale came to a halt, I was left feeling that Jackson has done it again and continues his reign as 'the king of the fantasy genre'. Whatever he touches quite literally turns into cinema gold and the source material is just oozing out of him and I am very excited to see that it still has a magic and philosophy about it that the whole world wants to witness.

There are so many positives I will probably forget all of them. Martin Freeman is continuing to blossom as Bilbo Baggins. The dwarfs lead by Richard Armitage are still firing on all cylinders, including a few others that are beginning to be involved in some interesting sub-plots. There are great new additions to the cast, but I will not spoil it in case you don't know who is playing the new characters. One I think many know is Benedict Cumberbatch, who is incredibly haunting as Smaug. As soon as you heard his voice and saw the dragon, I felt instantly petrified and I did not want to make him angry in the slightest. Most of my favorite scenes in the movie do mainly involve Smaug, he is quite a presence and Cumberbatch's voice is quite a stronghold to that horrifying appearance.
The set designs and makeup are still perfect in every way, and the music amazingly continues to find new ways of presenting Middle-Earth.

Nearly no negatives apart one scene before seeing Smaug that annoyed me. It may seem as a big mistake, but it did not make that much of a dent in what is another welcomed member of Jackson's legacy.

It is always a joy to return to Middle-Earth and see it on the big screen for another year. Can't quite believe we will only be seeing it for one last time in the final chapter 'There And Back Again'. This current installment has created quite a set of sub-lots going around the big picture. It sets us up nicely for the final part, and I hope it all connects beautifully to the start of The Lord Of The Rings. Let's all see Peter Jackson and his amazing cast and crew go out in a blaze of glory.

Rating: 9/10

My Top 10: Alternative Christmas Films

When it comes to Christmas time, it gives us a cheap excuse to watch certain films where there is Christmas in the film, but is not necessarily the central theme. Some of the films have even created debates on whether it is a Christmas film over any other aspect in contains.

So don't be surprised if you notice any entries in this list that you consider to be Christmas rather than just 'alternative Christmas'.

I must give a few honourable mentions. I'll start with 'When Harry Met Sally'. One of the most popular rom-coms of all-time. Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan who are two people who form a friendship and they fear it could become a relationship. Can a man and a woman remain friends, or will sex ruin their friendship?

With Christmas turning up again and again throughout this film, it is a great excuse to watch one of the great modern rom-coms.

Another is Edward Scissorhands. One of Tim Burton's most popular films. It stars Johnny Depp as a young man who quite literally has scissors for hands. Christmas plays an important role during the film as Edward is trying to blend into a society that many consider him as a freak.

If this was a top 11, it would include 1940's 'The Shop Around The Corner'. This very enjoyable rom-com sees two department store employees that can barely stand each other unknowingly fall in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pals.

With the Christmas being the perfect setting for the final act, this is heart-warming and funny enough to be part of your regular Christmas film playlist.

As you can already see, there are many great alternative films out there that can still keep you in the holiday spirit. Now here is my top 10: 

10) Hook - With the London setting being at Christmas, you can watch this during the holidays with no guilt whatsoever.

A childhood classic for many that is packed with action and adventure. Along with a belter of a John Williams score, this is another Spielberg classic no matter what the director now thinks of his own creation.

9) Batman Returns - Tim Burton's entertaining Batman sequel has Christmas running throughout this great modern Greek tragedy.

With an all-star cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Danny DeVito and Christopher Walken, it is a great blend of superhero action with that vintage Tim Burton gothic setting.

This was the first Batman film I ever watched and it still works for me and many others almost 30 years later.

8) Gremlins - High up in many peoples favorite alternative-Christmas films, Gremlins is a timeless classic that can be watched at Halloween as a horror as well as Christmas.

Where a young boy stumbles upon a strange creature, chaos ensues and it is entertainment throughout.

Despite looking like a kids film, the violence and scares shows why this certified as a 15.

7) The Godfather - Amazingly, there is enough Christmas in this 70's classic.

The story of an aging mafia boss who transfers control to his son is considered by many as the perfect film.

I think it's great but not perfect, but it is still a great film to watch and fine enough for Christmas.

6) The Apartment - The 1960 Oscar Best Picture winner has Christmas playing a big role.

It sees Jack Lemmon play New Yorker trying to rise in his company's hierarchy by hiring out his apartment for executive members for trysts.

The use of Christmas seemed a bit flawed to me. Bit it still does not down-grade the sheer enjoyment of this terrific mix of romance, comedy and drama.

5) The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya - A hidden anime gem from 2010.

While this is a continuation of a TV series, I still managed to be highly captivated by this almost 3hrs adventure drama.

It's a gripping watch that keeps taking you down a path before adding a further twist to dramatically shake things up. Wonderful animation, strong re-watchability and enough Christmas to be included in this list.

4) Die Hard - The great debate of whether Die Hard is a Christmas film or not rages on.

For me the action outweighs the Christmas, and that's why I consider to be an alternative Christmas film.

It sees an off-duty police officer takes on a group of highly organised terrorists in a Los Angeles skyscraper, sounds like Christmas to me.

It's non-stop high-octane entertainment with sharp writing and memorable characters. A timeless classic.

3) Stalag 17 - One of the great war films that rarely gets mentioned in mainstream cinema.

Set in a prisoner-of-war camp, after two escaped prisoners are killed, one of the Americans is seen to be an informant to the Germans. Is he the informant, or is he being framed by the real informant?

There is an important scene set on Christmas Day, so you can happily enjoy all the fun these band of soldiers have in this camp.

2) In Bruges - I've had this featured in many of my previous lists. So it's obvious how much I like this film.

Two hitmen mess up a mission and get told to hide out in Bruges. Trying to hide is not good for one of the hitmen played by Colin Farrell. It is a hilarious black comedy and it is set during Christmas. The perfect opportunity to have a laugh.

1) Catch Me If You Can - One of Steven Spielberg's underrated greats that received two Oscar nominations.

The true story of American con-man Frank Abagnale Jnr. and is chase from an FBI agent.

It has amazing performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, and Christmas has an important role to play.

My Top 10: Fantasy Films

Since the birth of motion picture, many film pioneers have taken the opportunity to use celluloid to make our dreams a reality. Since then, the fantasy genre has been one of the most important in the film industry. It has made our dreams and ideas become real. We can create worlds, cultures and characters we can love for all-time.

Some of the best fantasy films were originally books, but some have gone straight onto the big screen. My top 10 has you transported to many different worlds. From cartoon characters interacting with real people, to a world full of witches, talking animals and deadly creatures made of stone.

There is something for everyone in my top 10 including what I consider to be the greatest trilogy of all-time. Here it is:

10) Pan's Labyrinth - Director Guillermo Del Toro is all about fantasy, and his terrific character design.

This feature is by far his most ambitious. This Oscar award-winning fantasy adventure has captured many hearts all around the world.

Outside of the fantasy elements, there is also a captivating war story going in the middle of it.

9) The Never Ending Story - Another childhood classic from the 80's. A lot of people forget this is officially a German film.

There is great imagination and the design of the creatures is brilliant and I am so glad this was set during the pre-CGI era.

9) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Part one of Peter Jackson's prequel from Lord Of The Rings.

A bit more light-hearted, but still an incredible thrill ride that keeps showing Jackson is the king of the fantasy genre.

It is great to be back in Middle-Earth.

7) Big Fish - A bit of an odd tale, even by director Tim Burton's standards.

It features a man who goes on a quest to find about the stories his dying father told him during his childhood.

It's a well told story, with lots of great performances and it will leave smiling till the emotional ending.

6) Stardust - This completely caught me off-guard. It's tagline 'the fairy tale that won't behave' perfectly describes this brilliant story.

There is lots to like in this new modern hit and I think people need to watch more of director Matthew Vaughn's other material.

5) The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - Recently released in cinemas, and Peter Jackson has created another amazing experience of Middle-Earth. More new characters including a haunting performance by Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug.
Some bits added by Jackson which does not differ the main story at all. A terrific sequel to build up the epic conclusion of The Hobbit.

4) Return To Oz - Already stated how underrated this unofficial Oz sequel is.

Still entertains me no matter how many times I watch this.
Unlike the 1939 musical classic, this feels more like the books and it's passionate about showing the real world of Oz.
Even though it is quite dark and at time disturbing, its heart is in the right place.

3) The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers - Part two of the amazing trilogy which sees the continuing quest of the fellowship that is now split.

One on its way to Mordor with a former owner of 'the ring of power', the other is involved in one of the greatest battles ever shown on the big screen.


2) The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King - The final part of this epic tale. It sees Frodo and Sam on the brink of reaching Mount Doom, and the rest of the fellowship trying to defeat the whole of Sauron's army.

Will the ring of power be destroyed, or will darkness cover the lands of Middle-Earth?

1) The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring - Director Peter Jackson has introduced us to the world of Middle-Earth.

It is everything you could ever want in one of the greatest adventures of all-time.

Jackson and his amazing team in New Zealand were setting all sorts of new bench-marks into how to present a fantasy epic.

Review: Saving Mr. Banks

As soon as I heard about this being made about a year ago, I was super excited to see this.

Not only was it about the making of one of the most successful Disney films of all-time, Mary Poppins. But it has Tom Hanks playing Walt Disney himself where he looks like he was born to play him.
Another great addition was Emma Thompson as P.L Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, who apparantley was quite a character.

After clearing my watery eyes when leaving the screening, I could finally compose myself and have myself smiling all the way home.

I think it is clear to say we might have seen the heart-warming film to be nominated for Best Picture in the Oscars. The magic of Mary Poppins from 1964 still lives on in this amazing story of how author P.L Travers let Walt Disney have the rights to make a film out of her novel. The charm and wit of the film is what people will come away with remembering. Everything about it just makes you want to go back to 17 Cherry Tree Lane and share the adventures that Jane and Michael had with the woman that is practically perfect in every way.

As for the performances, Emma Thompson was simply terrific as Travers. Even though her character is really irritating, Thompson portrayed Travers perfectly as she is determined to have say during the making of the film of her most personal novel.
Hanks is just being Hanks which is always a good thing. As soon as I saw that he was going to play Walt Disney himself, the resemblance was uncanny. Hanks was born to play the most successful man at the Oscars. One surprising performance was Colin Farrell. I won't say who he plays, but once you have seen it, you will realise how important his role was to this film. All the other minor characters contributed well enough to be recognised, especially Jason Schwartzman and B.J Novak as the Sherman brothers and Paul Giamatti as Travers' driver.

However, there are still a few negatives that are worth mentioning. I was expecting a lot more of the making of the film, but it is only a certain bit of the making that they show. I know it is about the relationship between Travers and Disney, but I just would have liked to have seen the people playing Andrews, Van Dyke, Tomlinson and the rest of the cast. Also, it manages to sugarcoat some of the actual true story of how they made Mary Poppins. But nevertheless, what they with did still worked for me and I'm sure many others. What it doesn't tell makes up for the emotional replacement they present.

Even with those disappointing parts, I still feel that is one of the best films of the year. It is bound to get many nominations in the major awards season, which it rightfully deserves. Thompson is surely going to get an Oscar nomination for her standout performance. The whole story is extremely heart-warming and it just reminds how great Mary Poppins really is, and how it can cheer everyone up. This film tells us a much deeper story within the book, and its presentation is just tremendous and it I can see it ending in my top 10 films of 2013.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Before my review, I must state that I have never read the books, I am basing it on what I saw on screen, rather than comparing the two.

I never intended to watch this franchise when the first Hunger Games came out in March last year. The main reason was that the target market was teenage girls, and a lot of people were comparing it to Twilight, which I have no ambition whatsoever to watch that particular franchise. But after hearing the ideas within the story, and some of the cast involved. I was going to give it a chance and managed to get round to watching it last summer.

I was instantly proved wrong, and without hesitation I had 'Catching Fire' in my list for films to watch in 2013 without even watching the trailer.

After now seeing the highly-anticipated sequel, I will make sure I get to see the next stage of the franchise in 2014. I felt totally gripped as we start to see the bigger picture of the world of Panem as there is something more than just the games itself.
You were constantly learning more about life outside the games, but as one scene was explaining new things, I just knew that the book would tell me more. But I was still being entertained and that did not bother me about not knowing everything.
As we build-up to the next games, we start to see many more interesting characters with their own motives on life and the Capitol. One that I noticed was Sam Clafin who played the priest in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. So that was a nice comforting actor to have along the way. One huge shock was seeing Jena Malone, who I loved in Donnie Darko and Into The Wild. Definitely an actress who deserves more chances. Another nice surprise was Jeffrey Wright, who is well known for playing Felix in the latest James Bond films.
As we were building up to the climax, my tension levels were high and I had no idea who was on what side as there was so much suspicion throughout. What I saw in the final third of the film had me having a reaction I have only experienced once. As soon as it ended, I felt gutted as I wanted to see what happened next. But that means, it was the perfect response to a sequel. It left me wanting more, and the almost 2 1/2 hour duration obviously must have flown by. The only other time I reacted like this when the first Lord Of The Rings ended. That was only really because I did not know they were in three books.

The performances were a big positive. Jennifer Lawrence is fantastic as Katniss Everdeen. I am glad to see her become a huge inspiration to girls everywhere, and it is always great to see a heroine take the lead in such a big blockbuster. Joss Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark did a solid performance and I felt it was better then the first Hunger Games. Donald Sutherland is great as President Snow. His on-screen presence is instant villain and you always know he is bad news. As well, is new addition Philipp Seymour-Hoffman who is never in a bad film. His villain in Mission Impossible III will do well to be bettered, but his performance as the new game-maker Plutarch Heavensbee was a nice touch. Other worthy mentions were Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket, Stanley Tucci who continues to be as flamboyant as ever as Caesar Flickerman and Malone who played the odd character of Johanna Mason.
Another nice positive was the CGI. After receiving much more budget, they have managed to improve the visual effects after what I thought were pretty poor effects in the previous installment. The set-designs also looked like they have been improved with the expanded budget. I was very happy to see where they know the improvements were.

Not many negatives to speak of. The only one that slightly bothered me was some of the dark scenes were proper dark. I would have liked a fraction more light to see what was going on. But as I am only nit-picking, it shows how much I enjoyed this film.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. To me, it is clearly as good and at times better than the first installment. I still love the ideas and that they were not afraid to go deep and be controversial. Also, now there is more politics-driven ideas, it is starting to get a bit more heated with only two more films to go. Even though the ideas are extremely similar to Battle Royale, which in my opinion is a far superior film to this, I would still recommend it and would happily watch Catching Fire again. Lawrence is a joy to watch and I am excited to see her next big screen appearance in January to see potential Oscar-favorite 'American Hustle'. Hoffman was a great addition to the cast and his reputation continues to grow, as he never has a bad film. Everyone contributed nicely and the ending got the perfect reaction from me to get pumped up for part one of the final installment next year, Mockingjay. The odds are definitely in their favor.

Rating: 8/10

Requested Nostalgic Review: The Hunger Games

Despite being released in March last year, I only managed to get round to watching it this summer just gone, when using the free trial on Netflix.

The main theme I got from people's recommendations was that, even though it's target market is teenage girls, it does not have that Twilight feel to it. That instantly got me on their side.

Even with the plot sounding a lot like Battle Royale, The Condemned and a violent version of The Truman Show. I was interested in this, because history has shown us that it is a successful plot to work with. But the only thing I was unsure about was the target market. So I was hoping they would not soften the violence, and instead have the likely love story to be the centrepiece.

Thankfully, I was wrong, well sort of. I was instantly interested and gradually gripped in time for the actual Hunger Games.
The beginning of the film sets you up nicely for what type of the world we are about to be experience for the next couple of hours. It also gives us a healthy amount of character background, but I am sure the books go more in-depth as you can't really use the sub-text in films due to the duration limit, compared to books, which is always the problem with novels becoming films.

As we go into the build-up of the games, we start to see the tension in the characters. Then we get a terrific opening to the start of the games itself, when you suddenly realise what is at stake here. After that, it is a non-stop gripping finale and gives you a nice build-up for the sequel.

The biggest positive has to be the performance of Jennifer Lawrence. She is definitely becoming the big modern actress that mainstream audiences love in anything that she does. Josh Hutcherson was solid but nothing more. I knew it would be tough to top his performance in one of my favorites, Bridge To Terabithia. Woody Harrelson and Donald Sutherland did what comes naturally to them these days. Elizabeth Banks' character was intriguing in my opinion. I think that was probably those loud costumes that certain people were wearing that helped emphasize her character. One character that I enjoyed was Stanley Tucci's, as the flamboyant host of the games. As for the villains, I reckon they could have been a bit nastier. They felt too generic to me which was a shame as I still managed to enjoy this.

The negatives were probably the lack of heavy violence, which sadly I think was because of the studios making sure this was a 12 certificate to get in the core of the target audience. Had this been a 15, which it should have been, I think everything would look better and would have made this into a great film rather than good.
Another was the CGI, especially in some certain scenes. It felt quite poor, especially as we are in a generation of such high quality CGI. I was definitely expecting something better than what I saw.
I also would have liked a bit more info on the minor characters as I felt they were hardly mentioned at all to basically give more screen time to the main characters.

Even with those negatives, I did enjoy watching it. But even though I have never read the books, I know it could and should have been a tougher watch for viewers. It was a shame it was pushed down to a 12 rating, when it should have been a 15 rating. But the way the industry works, it had to be a 12 rating to reach its target audience and therefore get the big box office. For a 12 rating, it's very good, but if it ended up being a 15 rating, then we could have seen a much better film, and that was truer to the novel.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Gravity

When I first read about this, it did appeal to me, but not excite me.

Seeing Alfonso Cuaron direct this was the biggest hook for me. Despite disappointing me with Harry Potter and the Prisoner Azkaban, I could see his potential in terms of his vision rather than his story-telling.
Then his first real blockbuster for me was Children Of Men. That is where I saw what Cuaron and his team could do with films. Such amazing camera-work and a much more engaging story line.

Now to Gravity, and when the first trailer came out, that was enough for me. Most of the trailer contents I thought were o.k., apart from two which scared me so much about being in there position.
After hearing HUGE success in America and possible Oscar domination, I decided to not see anymore trailers. I felt the one trailer was enough, and I did not want to ruin it for myself.

I am so glad I did that, as what I experiencing today was something I have been waiting for this whole year. Each year, I manage to find a film that really makes me take a step back and just have many new thoughts running inside my head. In 2011, I had Hugo, which taught me about the importance of cinema and how we should appreciate the foundations and how ground-breaking they were and could be if they were here today. 2012 had Cloud Atlas. It made me realise about how we as a species live and keep making the same mistakes despite each generation trying to make it easier for the next one.

Gravity managed to engage me in an environment where I know I will never get to, space. From the very start, you are engulfed by the beautiful cinematography from Emmanuel Lubezki who will guarantee Gravity's first Oscar. Also Lubezki manages to create some pretty ground-breaking camera angles that really put you in their shoes of the peril Bullock and Clooney's characters are in whilst orbiting the Earth.

As the film goes on, you start to appreciate how dangerous space can be, and I was amazed at all the possible things that could happen and any ordinary person would completely lose it mentally. You gain so much respect for our astronauts and Clooney pulls it off beautifully.

Bullock however gives us a different perspective. She plays a doctor who has recently taken astronaut training as she is needed in their latest mission. She shows the panicky side of what someone would do if you were in space and in danger. What we see from the performance of Bullock as the film went on, could well get her a possible Oscar nomination. As we crossover into the second half of the film, I was losing it and I did not think it would match that impressive start. But a brilliant and clever scene suddenly appears and is the saving grace, and the perfect build-up for what was an emotional finale.

The star of the show is obviously the cinematography, but the visual effects came a close second. With this film solely being shown in 3D at my local cinema, I was seeing my first 3D film since Marvel Avengers Assemble which was in March 2012. I got the novelty, but that was it. Most of the films retro-fit the 3D, it is not done well, it distracts you from the film as a whole and it actually makes the picture 30% darker, which is tough for particularly dark scenes.
But what Cuaron and his team did with it reminded me of how well Martin Scorsese used the 3D with Hugo. It did not distract from the big picture and I highly recommend you watch it in 3D. It gives you the full feel of being in that space environment.

A few final positives that I want to mention. The realisticness of space was mind-blowing. It felt like you were having a science lesson, but with no instructions. It is quite a short film compared to others (91 mins), and therefore you are straight into the action and you have to understand the space jargon for yourself, which I respect the director for doing. Most films have big character development and have people explaining situations for the audience to understand. Not this one. Which is what I think may attract the same type of audience that watched and enjoyed Inception.

I could obviously talk more about this special film. But all I will say now, is go see it for yourself. Not only is this my new film of the year so far, it is now in my top 10 thrillers, my top 10 films of this current decade and most importantly, my top 100 films of all-time and quite high up.
Be prepared for the next step in film-making. I reckon it will make the rest of the big named directors take a step back, look at their next project and have second thoughts about it.

Rating: 9/10

My Top 10: Thriller Films

A great thriller really stimulates peoples emotions. It is all about suspense, anticipation, uncertainty, shock, anxiety and even terror. The best way to realise that you have watched a thriller is to see if you ended up having an adrenaline-rush or maybe there are scratch marks on objects near by to where you watched a thriller.

The phrase 'on the edge of your seat' is commonly used with thrillers and there are plenty that do that. I feel that my top 10 are all terrific and will have you behind the sofa, especially when some of them were directed by the 'master of the suspense', Alfred Hitchcock. If you do not know who he is, read up on him, and watch his best work which is nearly everything he has done.

Here is my top 10:

10) Battle Royale - Quentin Tarantino's favorite film. That pretty says it all for this Japanese film about a world where the Japanese government forces a class of young students to kill each other under the 'Battle Royale' act.

It's pretty tense and frightening, and you will be amazed by it. Well, unless you've seen The Hunger Games.



9) Black Swan - One of the best films of 2010 which managed to get an Oscar for Best Actress by Natalie Portman. She is pretty spectacular in this surprisingly creepy tale of a ballet dancer who becomes the lead of their new show, Swan Lake.

As she struggles to become the Black Swan, the tension gets to her and her paranoia goes into overdrive and we are now in the middle of a pretty scary ride.

8) Phonebooth - Was not expecting this one. Remember seeing the trailer and instantly thought it would o.k and nothing more.

But it is SO much more then what I imagined. All the performances are amazing, especially the man on the phone to Colin Farrell. See if you can recognise who it is. Also for a film to be directed Joe Schumacher who ruined the Batman franchise, have very little budget, and virtually have one set location, it just shows you don't always need a mega budget to be successful.

7) Shutter Island - A bit out of Martin Scorsese's comfort zone, but he still manages to create terrific films. Starring Leonardi DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo, it has two detectives investigating the disappearance of a patient on an island that has a hospital for the insane.

It is a pretty big twist, and has a really powerful final line that changes your views of the film completely.


6) Silence Of The Lambs - Best Picture winner of 1992 and a winner of four more Oscars, this a terrific tale consisting of the dangerous Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins in probably his most recognisable and successful role.

I only recently saw this, and thought I was expecting everything that I was about to watch. But I was quite wrong, there is another story within this that just adds to the overall tension.


5) The Birds - Another Hitchcock classic that had me hating birds for quite a while after seeing what was probably his final hit.
Quite a strange story of a wealthy woman pursuing a possible boyfriend who comes into a town where the birds suddenly start attacking this town as soon as she arrives.

It also containing one of the most tense scenes in film history in my opinion.

4) Vertigo - Seen by the American Film Institute as the greatest film of all time. A lot of the younger generation will probably think it's boring, but if you appreciate the works of Alfred Hitchcock, you will love his 1958 classic.

Starring the incredible James Stewart and Kim Novak, this is full of mystery, thrills, romance, quite a few surprising twists and a pretty ground-breaking camera trick that wowed audiences.

3) Gravity - Just seen this at the cinemas and was completely amazed by it. Director Alfonso Cuaron has created not only the most realistic space film, but a pretty impressive visual masterpiece. You feel like you are constantly in peril, and the ground-breaking cinematography really puts you in the characters situation. It really shows you how dangerous space truly is and how worse it could get in the near future.


2) Jaws - Steven Spielberg's most successful film and became one of the highest-grossing films ever made.

A pretty simple story about a shark that terrorizes a popular coastal town.

But the ground-breaking style of film-making and the terrifying theme music made it something much bigger then anyone could have imagined.

1) V For Vendetta - Not only the best film in this genre in my opinon. But I have ranked this the best movie I've ever seen in my top 100 films of all-time list.

The action never lets up from the very beginning, the performances are terrific, it's dramatic, it's action packed and it is very emotional. It works for me every time.