2008

Yes, i'm finally getting round to reviewing this film after seeing it for the first time about a month ago. Since that first viewing i've seen it three times in the cinema. The feeling i got when it started the first time round was one that I don't get many times a year but when it does happen you know it's because your watching something special. And this film really will be one that people will be talking about in centuries to come. I don't know quite where to start when writing about this film. I would probably find it incredibly hard to find anything wrong with it at all, and even if there is a minor problem with it, all the greatness covers it up completely.
From Batman Begins, it was made quite clear that Christian Bale was born to play Batman. I'm sure lots of actors could claim to be up to the task but i'm pretty certain that that wouldn't be the case. Bale as Batman, from the word go is iconic. Better than any before and although I can't say for certain, presumably better than any to follow. When it came to all the business with Heath Ledger's death, I couldn't help but feel bad for Bale as I knew it would be virtually impossible for him to have given a decent performance never a bad one. He's an actor that puts his heart and soul into everything he does and ever performance up until this point has just proved it right. His performance in the Dark Knight tops his Begins one. A lot stronger and a lot more kick ass. And because he was up against such amazing actors he really raised his game. I would love to say that he dominated the screen at every moment but sadly that can't really be the case when The Joker was on screen.
The first time Heath walks on screen all done up as The Joker it really is breath taking. I love that Nolan decided to understate the Joker's entrance, is was very subtle but very powerful. The tragic circumstances of Ledger's death meant that a whole lot extra publicity was brought to the film and Heath's performance. I couldn't help but feel slightly apprhensive about his performance as it would be a huge tragedy if it wasn't as great as some people made out simply because of his death. The huge relief I felt when it turned out to be one of the most powerful performances i've seen in a long time. Who knew that Ledger had all of that inside him. Yes, his performances in previous films had been very good but this was just beyond good. It was ground breaking. It also makes his death a whole lot more awful because of all those future performances the world is going to miss out on. The rumours surrounding Heath in terms of an Oscar nomination for this performance are completely justified and I have to say that if he doesn't win Best Actor I will have a fair few strong words for the board. They would have to be utterly blind not to see that Heath's performance is miles better than a lot of people who have previously won the award. But lets just hope for once they will see sense and give the award to the person who really deserves it.
I have to mention Maggie Gyllenhaal as well. I don't think the producers could have made a better decision than to replace Katie Holmes because she was the let down of Begins. The only weak link in the chain. Gyllenhaal is as amazing as you could hope for and more. She stands strong against Ledger and Bale which cannot have been easy considering the dominate the screen constantly. I was really upset at her final demise and only feel it will be a loss to the third film no matter how impressively executed the plot for her death was.
The stunts are as fast paced as you could ever hope for, the cinematography is brilliant, the direction is as excellent as you could expect from Chris Nolan and although he is yet to make a film that disappoints, this is probably the film that will be marked as his best and the one that made people sit up and take notice of him.
Finally, this film really is a masterpiece, but I guess you don't really need me to tell you that. It is all quite clearly obvious in all the five star reviews this film has. If you've not seen it alreay then I suggest you do yourself a huge favour and do it now.

Completely and utterly loved it. I really had high expectations about it as I was absolutely thrilled when I heard Robert Downey Jr would be playing the multi billionaire. I tried really hard not to get my hopes up but I just couldn't help it. Fortunately I didn't need to worry at all. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. Robert Downey Jr was just amazing as I knew he would be. Perfect for the character in so many ways. Jeff Bridges was excellent as the villain. I loved that the plot didn't try to hard to be anything that it wasn't. A lot of superhero films are guilty of this but Iron Man didn't even touch on it. Nothing was over done. They stuck to the story and nothing was unnecessary. So far it's my film of the year and it will be hard to budge, which worries me as the date for the Dark Knight release approaches. This is definatly a must see.

A peak in Gus Van Sant's and all the actors involved, career. I didn't expect this film to touch me as much as it did. I'd heard the story of Harvey Milk before and knew what an exceptional human being he was but I think when films are applicable to what is going on in the world, their stories suddenly have, not new, but personal meanings.
This film is set in the 1970s. Who'd have thought that events that happened that long ago would once again be happening in 2008. The only difference in the two cases are 6 and 8. Both designed to remove human rights.
Sean Penn is an outstanding actor and all his work so far has been amazing but for me this, at this point, is the high light of his career. A brave and bold choice, which shows just what kind of a person he is. His performance was more than amazing. I'd call it his last scene although it really wasn't, you'll know what i mean when you watch it, was outstanding. A slow motion shot that really will bring tears to your eyes, but it's his reaction that is stark and real, that makes this film almost too real. If he doesn't get at least an Oscar nomination for this film, there is something seriously wrong.
Emile Hirsch once again teams up with Penn. They bring out the best in each other when they appear on screen together. Hirsch is a more than capable actor who has proven himself in his recent work. It's clear Penn has seen some magic in him, and in this film, you'll see it too. The first time you see him on screen you won't even recognise him. It's not until his next scene i realised who it was. His performance is excellent and stands well against Penn's.
Diego Luna makes a brilliant addition to the cast. Personally I love his films, i'm always annoyed when he only plays very small parts. It was no different in this film but he is very good nonetheless.
James Franco also made a very nice addition to the cast. Up until now, i felt he was yet to prove himself as a proper actor but in this film he finally accomplishes it. Even when opposite Penn, he just about manages to hold his own.
Van Sant's direction is, as always, brilliant. Some of the shots are stunning. And cut with what i believe to be actual news footage from the time, it gives it a very much real feel, which is exactly what the film needed. It can sometimes be the case that true stories don't have that real life factor in them and just lack that little something. This one doesn't, it feels very real which is what makes it such an honest account of the events.
At any other point in time, this film would be a must see. But because of the situation in America at the moment with Prop 8 being passed, it is now essential viewing. If this film doesn't stir up some for the treatment of other humans then i don't know what will. The tag line for this film reads, "his life changed history, his courage changed lives". There couldn't be a truer statement about Harvey Milk. He was an exceptional human being who only wished to change the ignorance of nation, and just like all others who attempt to climb that mountain, he was slain for it.
"It's not about personal gain, it's not about ego, and it's not about power. It's about the us's out there. And not just the gays, but the blacks, and the asians, and the disabled, the us's. Without hope, the us's give up. And i know you can't live on hope alone, but without hope, life is not worth living."

Another reason why Danny Boyle is possibly my favourite director of all time. There is not a film genre out there that this man cannot harness and create some kind of masterpiece out of. Boy did this movie deserve all the Oscars it won.
The plot is just so simple and yet so magical. What really makes the story so captivating is definatly the way Boyle decided to structure the film. It's not just a lateral time line like I was expecting but with each new question you are transported back in time to Jamal's childhood and shown each of the struggles he and his brother faced. It's not the easiest way to tell a story because directors can sometimes over complicate things, luckily Boyle doesn't fall into this trap at all and the whole film is very clear.
This is the film that has also highlighted some really great talent from some young actors that are sure to go on and do great things with their new found talent. The first time I saw Dev Patel was in the British teenage drama Skins a few years ago and although it was clear he had a lot of talent I don't think many anticipated the talent that he has shown in this. His performance is excellent throughout the film and he has also proven himself to be a very professional actor who can make the jump from relatively small television drama to big time movie star.
Other than this film, Freida Pinto's work is unknown to me. I have no idea if this was the first film she has ever made or not but I'm certain that from now on she's going to be headed for big things. She has this grace about her that makes her perfect for the character.
The chemistry between the two young actors is also quite clear throughout the film even with minimal scenes together. They're just so convincing, it's heartbreaking when things don't seem to be going the way they want.
The score for the film sets the whole thing off very nicely and enhances each piece of the movie without over powering the scenes which is exactly what a good score should do.
Another thing that really struck me about the film as a whole was how polished and yet raw the whole thing was. The cinematography is beautiful and has this edge to it. There are also not many films that I want to sit through the credits to. The dance sequence at the end was completely irrelevant, not needed in the slightest and yet, it just added to the charm of it all. Boyle just seems to be able to find this balance in everything he does that takes what could have been a very average movie into a beautiful and touching film.
I don't think I need to mention how much you need to see this film because let's face it, if you've not heard the hype surrounding it, it's because you fell off the planet.

I think it's fairly obvious that you're on to a good thing when within ten minutes of the film starting you have already fallen in love with the main character. Although it has been said before, i'm going to repeat what the vast majority think about this film and say it is Pixar's best film to date. Everything about it is just beautiful and breathtaking.
The animation does not come in a higher quality than that produced in ever Pixar film. This however, tops the lot with some truly amazing sequences and were just stunning in every way.
WALL.E as a character is highly lovable and adorable. You fall for him the minute you see him. It's amazing how they managed to give a box of metal so much character and expression. Truly amazing if you ask me.
Another fantastic aspect of the film is the soundtrack, over shadowed slightly by the quality on screen but it really was a brilliant choice of tracks. Peter Gabriel's input I just can't get out of my head. I loved the music used from 2001: A Space Odyssey. An excellent choice for the genre and direction of the film.
It's also the case that the film is not solely about a cute robot who falls in love, but it also has some excellent political messages to send out as well. I don't think that Pixar could have made a broader statement about the treatment we give our planet if they tried and I applaud them for having the guts to actually say something relevant in a kids movie.
Everything about this film is beautiful. It blew me away in everything that it achieved. All I wonder now is will Pixar be able to top it. Of course that is what I said about Ratatouille and then they made this. So although they have not convinced everyone that they will be able to make another masterpiece in animation like this, I have every faith that the will turn out something just as excellent.

You'll have no idea how delighted I am with this film. I'm a massive Woody Allen fan and to be quite honest his recent turn outs have been rather dry and not in the good way.
I do hope this is a turn in his creative works as it was truly brilliant, just as you should expect from the master of quirky lovable films.
The plot follows two women played by Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall as they travel to Barcelona to spend the summer with Hall's relatives. They meet a charismatic Spaniard, played by Javier Berdem. They both fall in love with him, even though Hall is engaged to be married and denys her feelings. As if it couldn't get even more complicated, but Bardem's crazy ex wife, played by Penelope Cruz, turns up.
The film twists and turns and as is always the case with Allen's films, you'll always be surprised with his very Anti-Hollywood take on the human condition.
I, like Allen, have a thing for Scarlett Johansson. She is a wonderful actress who commands the screen with every word. Her performance in this film is especially good because the film itself is very laid back and natural, which means Johansson gets to come into her own and really become the character. There are points in the film when you quite easily forget she is only acting because of the sheer comfort she seems to be in. It's quite obvious that Woody Allen brings out the best in her as an actress, and I do hope their collaborations with continue.
Bardem is a brilliant actor at the best of times but he too really embodies the character. And his scenes with Penelope Cruz are just wonderful to watch as they come across as a real couple that just grate on each other with every breath. The chemistry between all the actors is in full gear all the way through the film and it's rare to find such a thing.
The ending to Allen's films are never what I consider the Hollywood ending. Most of the time they don't really resolve anything and the characters don't tend to learn a whole lot either. I like this about them. It's especially the case with this film when Johansson's character says she doesn't know what she wants, she just knows what she doesn't want. Her journey as a character came right back to the beginning with her only knowing what she knew before, what she didn't want. It's a stunning film and Allen is back on full form which is something to celebrate after his series of very much, average films. A must see for any fan.

I don't know why but I kind of laid off seeing this film for quite a while and I now regret it because it really was brilliant. Colin Farrell steals the show with a stunning performance of a complicated and troubled character. Brendan Gleeson is brilliant as well playing another hit man. I love that the characters are not typical types of hit men. You know that they have done some really terrible things and yet you really feel for them and really don't wish any harm to come to them. This in a lot of ways reminded me of the Sam Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction because in the same way you really like them even though they could be considered horrible people. Ralph Fiennes plays the mob boss really well and although you don't get to see much of his character until the end of the film the characterisation was brilliant especially when you got to see him speaking to his children, really gave you a look into the character. The thing I loved most about this film would have to be the ending though. No, not because I wanted it to end but more the way it was carried out. I wasn't sure how they were going to end it successfully. And they did so and a little more. I'm not going to say exactly what happens because it would spoil it but it works so well.

The most serious contender for best animated film of the year. "We do not wash are pits in the pool of sacred tears". I was in fits of laugher most of the way through this film and it just completely blew me away. I totally was not expecting it to be nearly this good. Jack Black was brilliant and I know that probably sounds weird because all he did was a voice but because he worked with the character so well you could actually picture him doing everything that Po did. This film is not just a simple animated film but a film that children will enjoy because it's fun, adults will enjoy because the comedy transcends just children and martial arts lovers will love because it's a fun take and something that hasn't really been done before. Such an amazing little film that shouldn't be missed.

A real kick ass movie, that too many people are putting down. Yes, it's brainless and about as deep as a puddle but if that is not what you are looking for then don't want films that are many solely for that purpose. I love the Matrix-esk look of the film. Some of those bullet shots were just stunning. Both Anjelina Jolie and James McAvoy were both really great. Two really strong performances. Morgan Freeman made a really great addition to the cast as well. If your after a film that you don't have to think about but just enjoy then this would be a good choice. The plot was great and I loved that the ending wasn't exactly Hollywood friendly. It didn't shy away from things that might annoy audience members which was brave. A sequel would be interesting, although I don't think it would be quite as good. One to check out when you're in the mood for a real action film.

It's January 20th 2009 and today Barak Obama was sworn in as President of the United States. It amuses me that today marks a milestone in Political History, just as the film remembers one.
Although I wasn't even close to being born when the Watergate incidents happened, it's hard not to be aware of what went on.
Nixon was a heartless arse who caused millions of people great pain in many different ways. And although I loved this film, I couldn't help but feel that it was just a little too kind to the man that didn't have a kind bone in his body. They made an attempt to show who he really was behind the political front, but I can't imagine ever needing to think that Nixon was just an ordinary guy, because he wasn't. I think Sympathy for the Devil fits well.
Ron Howard's documentary style was very well done and not what I was expect. I thought the film would just be a pure reenactment of the interviews. That's why I was slightly wary about watching this, thinking it would be really boring. That's is completely not the case though. It's gripping and informative for those of you that are not familiar with Watergate interviews.
The performances are what really made this film though. Frank Langella was really excellent in the role of Nixon, and from playing him before, he really gets into it well. I was worried that up against Langella, Michael Sheen would let the side down slightly. But that was totally not the case, and Sheen once again proves when he is considered such a great actor. His performance was really strong, and the scenes towards the end of the film, prove the capability of both actors, with an extremely naturalistic feel.
The rest of the cast made really nice additions, and because they were all such small parts, they could quite have easily faded into the background but that's not the case. Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, and Sam Rockwell all do brilliant jobs and tie the cast together very nicely.
This is definatly a must see film, and most would find this just as informative as watching the real interviews, plus you get the background ideas thrown in as well. So for anyone who doesn't know anything about Watergate, this should be something you should check out soon. And for those of you that are familiar, you should see this because of the historical importance of it.

Didn't really know anything about this film when I first started watching it. Ellen Page was enough to convince me it was worth seeing. I've been reading other peoples reviews to get other opinions on the film and the general consensus is that people didn't like the style or the plot and found the structure confusing.
I can see where these people are coming from. The style used splits screens in almost every scene of the film. Sometimes it was challenging to keep and eye on what was going on in every screen. But I liked it. It was different. I've not seen this technique used an awful lot and I found it a pleasant change to just normal shots and cuts. I liked that Bruce McDonald also chose to have the screens play different times from different angles. It was also very interesting to see one scene shots from ten different angles all at once.
The structure was odd and I can see why people would get confused about what was going on but once the film really got started I found it reasonable to follow. The plot I found was probably made better and more interesting by the character and the style of the film. It follows a teenage girl searching for her brother. It starts with her sat at the back of a bus, naked with a sheet wrapped around her. A very odd sight in itself. You are then taken back in time to before she was on the bus, this is confusing because you are not really made aware that you are going back in time. You get to know a little more about the character which, in my opinion, is a fascinating and well written one, played to perfection by the outstanding Ellen Page. The whole thing is still a little muddled but over time the director reveals more and more to you in very little pieces. We find out that Tracey is an outcast at school who is picked on. She also has psychotic tendencies as she fantasises about a boy who joined her school but she talks about it like it really happened. To begin with you are not sure if she is telling the truth or not. These fantasies go just a little beyond harmless.
I also feel an obligation to mention the fact that Ellen Page is now one of very few actors who can successfully pull off the word Cunt without sounding like a complete dickhead. Some actors just can't do it but Page's delivery of it to her shrink is spot on.
At the end of the film everything is revealed very skillfully. The whole story is very tragic and you cannot help but feel really bad for the character. I think a lot of people should be able to relate to the character as well. She is essentially a normal girl who is just trying to make sense of a messed up world she is living in. This is why I think the style of the film works so well for the story. All the screens you see is just the way she sees things in her mind. Experiences are exaggerated and her emotions are heightened. A very sad story that unfortunately seems to be being overlooked by a lot of people. Don't underestimate this film. It is very good and I believe I would still think this even if it did not have Ellen Page in it. I feel she's just another incentive to see it. I have to mention the very last scene as well before I finish up. It's a very long and uncut shot of Page walking through the park wrapped in the sheet. Nothing is said and it is just a very beautiful scene. In some ways completely pointless but it looks brilliant.

Very impressed with this film. The reviews about it seem to be very mixed and I just had to know for myself which side was accurate. Obviously I agree with the positive reviewers.
Will Smith never fails to entertain in which ever area he is embarking upon. This could be counted as another of his Oscar attempts. It's made clear he wants one, and I don't see why he doesn't deserve it if he is going to be producing work like this.
The plot is very confusing as to begin with you are unclear about everything. Smith's character is impossible to work out and his motives are unclear. All the new characters he interacts with are also completely in the dark about his true identity and purpose. It is however, made quite clear, just how caring his character is. There are many reasons why this is clear but I think the most notable one, that you receive at the beginning of the film is when he helps the old woman. Your not sure why he needs to know if the man is a decent and caring human being but you see that he feels very deeply about truth. Which I find amusing because he hides the truth from everyone he meets in the film.
A few of the characters seem completely irrelevant all the way through the film. I'm mostly referring to Barry Pepper's character, who right up until the end of the film, doesn't seem to have a purpose. Its obvious he is very close to Smith's character and he knows him very well.
Rosario Dawson does a really great job, especially at the end where she and Woody Harrelson share their first and last scene together. It's very touching because they are completely unknown to each other and yet have this common connection that they both feel very strongly.
There are some really beautiful shots in the film as well. A few field shots that could have been average were brought to life by the use of lighting. The director used quite a lot of unusual camera angles as well. That impressed me because it would have been so easy for him to just do what is normal with the scenes.
A very good film that is definatly worth checking out. It's touching and it has some very good messages. The plot is sad but it makes you think about life. As for Smith's Oscar, I don't think this will do it, but he's certainly heading in the right direction.

Still can't stand Ben Stiller and once again his performance lets the whole film down. His direction wasn't half bad but at least with that I don't have to see his face and listen to his voice. I'd like to think that he'll stick to directing but I don't think he will. Not unless he can place himself in the lead, which still results in him attempting to act.
Really the only thing that makes this film worth watching is Robert Downey Jr. I already knew the guy could act, but just recently he's been breaking back into the mainstream which has allowed him to really prove his worth as an actor. His character in this is just pure genius.
Jack Black is also very funny. Throughout the film his character is battling with his drug addiction in just the funniest way possible. Jack Black is amazing when it comes to comedy but he's not a character actor, he just plays himself in different situations, in the same way Ben Stiller does. Fortunately Black is a funnier person and isn't bloody irritating.
Jay Baruchel is slowly breaking into quite big comedy films in supporting roles and he is very good. He always catches my eye whenever I see him. Hopefully we'll get to see him in a more starring role soon to see what he's really capable of.
The cameos in this film are pretty prestigious. Steve Coogan was brilliant and his performance isn't about comedy it's quite serious and he works with it really well.
Tom Cruise makes me want to stab my eyes out. The scene at the end was just plain weird. It may have been funny had it not been for the fact that Cruise is mental.
The last sequence is pretty good with Jackson hugging the gay guy from that boy band and baruchel with jennifer love hewitt. Really funny stuff.
Have to mention the soundtrack as well as it pretty much rocked.
So I didn't completely hate it and certain aspects of it were impressive. I'm giving it four stars, which I think is perhaps a little too generous but I think compared to the usual bull shit that Stiller spills out, this wasn't half bad. It's worth checking out even if only the once.

Was looking forward to seeing this for such a long time. Really annoyed me when the release date was pushed back like three times. It went from a July release to a December release. I wasn't happy at all. Luckily I wasn't disappointed when I did actually get round to checking it out.
Not really a fan of Tom Cruise, or at least his more recent work after he went a bit mad in the head. But I managed to get past that for the sake of the film. And while he plays the part extremely well, it's also weird that he looks scarily like the real man did. Suppose that must have helped a little when it came to casting. His performance is very strong and he does carry the film very well.
Although he wasn't in it very much, I have to mention Eddie Izzard, mostly because i'm a massive fan of his work. I love that he's breaking into film gradually. As much as I love his stand up, it's nice to see him getting passionate about something else, because when he gets into something, he really throws himself into it.
The whole story is quite an important one. As far as i'm aware the whole film is pretty accurate and while it wasn't the only assassination attempt on Hitler, I think it was the one that came closest being successful. Don't think I really need to mention the ending, anyone that lives on this planet, really should know what happens.
Overall pretty good. I'm sure a lot of people will be able to pick holes in it and find flaws, but it is certainly enjoyable.

I think it's great that this generation are finally producing teen movies that are credible and fun to watch, as appose to the crap that has been made so far.
Ever since watching Michael Cera in Arrested Development i'm hooked on everything he's in. And yet again he proves why this is the case. His character is what you would expect any casting director to give him, and although there will come a point when this will get old and he'll have to move on to something more, he's not quite reached that point just yet. And i'm glad because he does it so well. Lovable, vulnerable in some situations but with an air of confidence that shines every so often. His performance is very strong and he carries the film very well.
The first time i properly noticed Kat Dennings was when i watched Charlie Bartlett last year, and although she had quite a small role, there was just something about her that drew my attention. In the movie she showed potential. In this movie she proved it. I can really she her doing well in the future and think she's definatly one to watch.
The chemistry between Cera and Dennings is believable. Both of them do awkward very well, which was called for in this film.
The plot of the film is good and a lot of fun. I've not read the book on which this is based and although i liked it, it doesn't make me want to go out and buy the book. I have to admit I was expecting it to be just that little bit more fast paced. It starts off relatively slowly and by the middle of the film I couldn't really work out the intentions or what the point of any of this information i was given, was. But the ending pulled everything together very nicely and cleared up any thoughts I had.
It's a very nice film. I don't usually like using the word nice, actually i hate it. But that's what this film is, nice. Entertaining, lovable but it just lacked that special something that would make it great. However, from watching it once, I can't tell you what was missing. I liked it enough to see it again, so maybe i'll work out what it needed next time I see it.

I don't quite know what drew me to this film but i'd heard that Anne Hathaway finally proves her acting ability. And that she did.
The film is about a young girl, just out of rehab, who has to attend her sister's wedding. When she arrives home lots of family demons show their heads and cause some rifts in the family.
Hathaway really is outstanding, and i'm glad I can finally say that because after watching The Devil Wears Prada, it was clear that she had potential. In this you finally get to see it as she plays a young girl who for some quite tragic reasons, becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol. Some of the arguments she has with her family, her sister mainly, are really heartbreaking. As you feel torn between feeling sorry for her and feeling as though she's a bit of an attention seeker.
The main thing that struck me about this film was the way it was filmed. Jonathan Demme did a really fantastic job with it. It literally felt as though you were there in the room with these people. And the chemistry between every single one of the actors meant that it felt like a camera crew had just stepped in on a very dysfunctional family.
I have to return to talking about Hathaway again, because her performance really did blow me away. Personally I felt a lot of empathy for the character with the way her life has just spiraled out of control as she looks for ways of repenting and making herself feel better and forget about the past. I think even if her circumstances are not identical to every viewer, they are still applicable. By the end of the film you really are rooting for her to sort herself out and mend things with her sister.

I started watching this film a while back, and for some strange reason, i think I was in a funny mood, it just never grabbed me quickly enough and i ended up turning it off after about 10 minutes. I know you're probably thinking I really didn't give it much of a chance, and you're right and it's not like me. Usually i'll wait half and hour to decide whether or not I hate a film. Fortunately a friend said that i should have continued watching as it did get better. He went on long enough about it that it convinced me I should probably have a look for it again. I'm definatly glad I did.
So, no, the film doesn't grab you by the throat and drag you in right away, but I feel that the films that do that, run the risk of withering out towards the end. This film however, starts quite slowly, picks up some speed and by the end it gets pretty intense.
The plot of the film follows a father and his daughter. The daughter travels to Europe, specifically Paris to go to a concert (rich family), when she arrives, her and her friend are kidnapped and enter it a trafficing circuit. The father however, is ex-special agent, FBI type, so attempts to hunt down his daughter and get revenge on the guys that took her.
The plot, is not exactly original, but it keeps things fairly simple, you do get some nice twists, but it's far from complicated.
Liam Neeson is very good and his strong but emotional performance really pulls the film together. The connection you feel with him is there throughout and you really empathize with what he is going through as the grip he has on his daughter loosens. Although his daughter plays a pivotal role in the film, she isn't in it a lot as most of the film, is him searching for her, but although she is not there in person, the feelings he conveys about her really bring her into the film.
I found it really weird to see Holly Valance appear in this movie. At first I wasn't even sure it was her, then when she appeared again at the end.
Overall, a pretty good watch and if you like Thrillers you'll like this. One to watch if you're looking for something easy.

This film has received mixed reviews and I can't understand why. I was really in the mood to watch an action adventure film and this had everything I was looking for. I love Martial Arts films and what better combination can there be other than Jet Li and Jackie Chan? I'll tell you, there isn't. The two best actors in the genre in the same movie makes for some rather impressive, fight scenes. I liked that there wasn't anything too American about the production of the film. A lot of outrageous stunts made most of it look genuine. Especially the very first scene. I'm not exactly sure what age group they were trying to aim this at, but if you ask me, I think all ages will love it. The plot is slightly childish but there is still the great quality it has that will appeal to adults as well. Michael Angarano is slowly establishing himself as a very good actor and this film proves a lot of his potential and I believe we will see a lot more from him in the future. I would recommend this film to anyone who likes Martial Arts films and to anyone that just enjoys a good action film.

Brilliant film. I was just blown away by Anton Yelchin's performance. It really was excellent. He's not been in too many films and this was probably his first major role and he was brilliant. The character was really great to watch as well which helped a lot. Troubled and really just wanted to help people even if he didn't always go about it in the right way. I suppose a lot of teenagers could relate to him since a lot of us get quite a bad reputation no matter what we do nowadays. A stunning performance from Robert Downey Jr. as well. His performance stayed consistently good right the way through the film and then he did a scene at the end with a bottle of whiskey and a pistol and I have to say he really was brilliant. I think everyone knows about his drug and alcohol history and it was like he just channeled all of it into what he was doing which make you really feel for his character and him at the same time. Definatly a must see film.

I think it appropriate to state that I am a huge fan of Russell Brand's work. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to write a completely objective review about his first major film role. I am therefore happy to report that even with the biased attitude, I actually thought this film was very good. I don't have to lie about any of the performances or the plot. It was as good as could be expected. I think that what I just said will undermine what I am going to say now, which is that Russell Brand really was the star of the film. He was truly the funniest character in the film with all the best lines and probably the character that made me laugh hardest. I loved that the character was very similar to that of the real Russell Brand. Being a recovering drugs user meant that he brought a lot to the character. The rest of the cast were pretty good as well. Kristen Bell fitted her character very well also. Jason Segal played the pathetic but lovable boyfriend very well. The smaller roles were all very memorable, with Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill finishing the whole cast off nicely. Overall a really decent film and it really stands up despite my love of Russell Brand, he just makes it that little bit more enjoyable.

Finally, the first film in a long time that Adam Sandler can be proud of. Recently he's been turning out some right shitty films but this cute kids film makes up for it I think.
This is a really fun film about a hotel maintenance man who tells his niece and nephew stories that begin to come true.
Sandler's performance is fun and his best in a long time. It seems for this film he really had his heart in it. The character is typical Sandler but he does it very well it has to be said.
The two kids also do a very good job.
Russell Brand is an excellent stand up comedian and it's great to see he's breaking his way into films. So far he's been in some very decent stuff and this is no different. His performance is always strong, and although he's a novice beside actors that have been on the scene for years, he manages to hold his own and give very strong performances that will always make you laugh.
Brilliant appearance from Guy Pearce, who I didn't expect in this film. His character is fun and it's nice to see him play a fun villain.
Richard Griffiths is classic as always and lots of fun to watch.
Courtney Cox is great, the character is somewhat similar to that of her character in Friends, with her being a clean and health freak, but she does it very well and she made a nice addition to the cast.
The whole film is very fun and a great film to sit down and watch with kids. It's one the adults will love as well.
Highly recommended family film.

Finally getting around to reviewing this with a little coercion from Cal.
I've had this film sitting at four stars since i saw it back when it was released in cinemas but after thinking a little about it i'm dropping it back to three and a half and one of those stars is because despite the film itself not really being that great, Kate Winslet's performance was still pretty damn good and Oscar worthy if you ask me.
I've not read the book but I imagine that it is considerably better than this disaster. I say disaster not because it's the worst thing ever made but because it had a lot of potential and could have been a very thrilling film.
The timeline of the film spans many years as we meet the main character as a young boy who I believe is around 16, don't quote me I can't remember if we're even given an age. He develops a sexual relationship with an older woman who goes on to break his heart. I won't go into anymore of the plot because there is a lot more to it than that and me telling you would not only spoil it but would be rather pointless. I think my issues with this film lie with the fact that I really don't give a shit. Yes their relationship doesn't work out, which can only be expected, and he then discovers she is being tried as a war criminal and then she's in prison and she can't read. It's like the screenwriter just throws all this pitying information about the characters at you and you've not had the chance to develop any real empathy for them. So to the viewer, it doesn't matter. I was also a little confused as to what I was meant to be feeling towards her when she was on trial because personally I think even if I wanted to feel sorry for her, after knowing what she'd done, I never could. Perhaps that's exactly what they wanted me to feel but there was always this slight sorrow in the way it was told. It's clear the boy has all these deep seated emotions and although he may not love her anymore, he certainly still feels for her. It's like they wanted you to feel sorry for her. And I don't think they invested enough time in establishing a relationship between the characters and the viewers to be able to pull something like that off.
Despite all of this the actors themselves do excellent jobs and I think it's really only their performances that would make this film worth watching in the first place. As I said Winslet did deserve her Oscar. Although you don't feel anything for her character, I don't think this was down to her inabilities as an actor and definatly more to do with the way her character was portrayed by screenwriter and director.
I think i've rambled about this film enough now. I can't say whether you'd like this or not. Personally I found it a let down. Sorry it took so long Cal but now you have my illogical and badly structured opinions on the Reader.

I really had high hopes for this film. I've been looking forward to seeing it for ages. Jim Sturgess a new and up and coming actor that is going to do very well in the future with the lead character. I've seen all of Aaron Yoo's films as well and he's destined for big things as well. Then there is Kevin Spacey who just rocks the cinematic world. The film, however, didn't really live up to my huge expectations. I think if you go in, not expecting much then you'll probably enjoy it more than I did. The performances were good. Nothing wrong at all with any of the actors. The story is obviously a brilliant one but it didn't really reach it's full potential. The plot was just a little too slow. Attempted twists were obvious to even the youngest viewer. You could see everything coming well before it had happened. Just the execution of the whole film wasn't as good as it could have been. I'm going to put all blame squarely on the shoulders of Robert Luketic. A director with more experience and someone who has proven their capability of making a good film would have been a better choice for director. His CV isn't exactly brilliant. Still, it is a good film and definatly worth the watch. Just don't go in with too many expectations.

Another decent but nothing special film from the master that is Woody Allen. He really is an excellent film maker and this one is good but obviously far from his best work. It isn't quite as good as Match Point. That one flowed a lot better and the ending was stronger. Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor work well together. Farrell is the stronger one of the two in terms of acting. His performance is far superior compared to McGregor's. The accents bothered me a little. They were both meant to be convincing characters from London and yet they cast a Scot and an Irishman. Doesn't really add up. McGregor cannot do accents so he really should just stop. Producers should accept the accent or not cast him. Farrell was slightly more convincing in that respect. The plot was good but didn't draw you in as much as Allen's films usually do. The rest of the actors were forgettable but this was still a worth while film. I would recommend it to people who like Woody Allen's work as it is very typical of him with the style and plot.

I like murder mystery films so i've been looking forward to watching this one for a while, despite quite a few bad reviews. I don't think it was as terrible as some people were making out. Yes there are better films of this genre out there but there are also worse. I'm a huge fan of Ludwig Wittgenstein and have read all of his books so it was a surprise that one of the first things you hear in this film is a quote from him. The plot was good but perhaps not executed in the best way. Elijah Wood really surprised me. I didn't think he would be able to pull the character off but he did a fairly good job. John Hurt is as always excellent and I don't think you could expect anything less. This film tried really hard to be intelligent but didn't really pull it off as well as it should have. As far as i'm aware this was a book, so I think i'm going to have to read that to see if it lived up to the standard of the book. Still, it was a decent film and I have certainly seen a lot worse so i'm not complaining too much.

Wasn't sure about this film to begin with. Didn't even know what it was about. But I find it hard to say no to anything that has Kristen Stewart in it.
It follows a few days in the life of a movie producer played by Robert De Niro. It's revealed how his personal life has never run smoothly as he has two ex-wives, two young children with one and one teenager with the other. Now his professional career is going through a few bumps as well, as his most recent movie is not going down well with the executives and his current project is having a few problems with its leading actor.
It's an interesting film, that doesn't have a huge amount going for it. The plot is simple and the ending is really only one of two choices. I liked that they didn't go for the obvious of the two though. Which is mirrored in the film as his new release is having problems with the ending as the big guns, don't like it.
De Niro's performance is decent. Obviously with an actor like him, he has done better, but this wasn't horrible.
Sean Penn makes a really brilliant cameo as himself. It can't be easy playing yourself, but with his part, as it wasn't very big, he could take it anywhere he wanted, so i'm guessing Penn isn't far off the way he played it.
Bruce Willis was the star though. Also playing himself, this was more than just a cameo. He plays himself, although i'm pretty sure this isn't the way he is in real life. He is causing problems in De Niro's latest picture by refusing to co-operate. It's lots of fun to watch as his terrified agent, played by the wonderful John Turturro, is too afraid to tell him that if he doesn't do what the executives want, he could be fired. Turturro doesn't really get a chance to shine in this film, but his small performance is really great.
Stewart has an extremely small role. Only being in about two scenes. But as break out films go, this wasn't bad. She's still in the early stages of her career and she shows a lot of potential in everything she does. And with the Twilight series, i'm sure she's going to be a big name in Hollywood in no time.
I'm sure this film won't cater for everyone's taste, but if you're into any of the actors involved, it might be one to check out.

Knew nothing about this film other than it had Ben Foster in it. I've pretty much always loved his work but just recently decided to seek out his film i'd yet to see. With this one I was really surprised. It may sound a bit shallow but the movie poster really put me off. It's so dull and it reminds me of a documentary poster. And this film is nothing like that. Actually I think this film is very underrated as i've heard virtually nothing about it and yet it was very good on all fronts.
The premise of the film is a dysfunctional family consisting of an older brother, played by Matthew Perry, who at a young age was forced to raise his younger brother and sister after his father killed himself and his mother died due to illness. Foster plays his younger brother and Ginnifer Goodwin plays his sister. To add to his problems, his brother seems to be suffering from some kind of mental breakdown and his sister directionless and promiscuous. It all starts with multiple incidents within their family which bring them all back together at the house where they grew up.
This film is very much a character driven piece and so it is quite necessary that all performances are of a high standard. And I have to say I can't complain. Perry is always solid with his performances and I find it's usually the films that he appears in that let him down. In this however, he manages to shine and I don't think I could think of another actor more suited to the role.
Ben Foster, as always, is amazing. I can't fault the guy in the slightest. He does clinically insane very well and so to, was well suited to the part.
I'm unfamiliar with Ginnifer Goodwin and I believe this is the first film of hers i've seen, and if not, well I certainly didn't notice her. But she doesn't a very good job and even in between her brothers manages to stand out as a credible and important character in the film.
I think this film has been overlooked for a little too long so I suggest people, you go and watch this little gem.

Have to say I was slightly disappointed. I love all of Kevin Smith's work, and i'm not saying I didn't enjoy this film, it's just that I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.
The plot wasn't as substantial as I thought it was going to be. The premise being rather simple already, there really wasn't anything added to it to make it more enjoyable and deep as Smith's films usually are.
The plot follows Seth Rogan's and Elizabeth Banks' characters, Zack and Miri. The are best friends that have been together since high school. Living together, working dead end and unfulfilling jobs. After Zack fails to pay the utility bills their water, electricity etc, is cut off and Zack's solution to their financial problem is that they should make a porn film. At first Miri doesn't go for it, but after some persuasion comes around to the idea. The round up an odd ball cast and set about filming. They run into many expected problems with money, people and each other.
Right from the beginning it's obviously what is going to happen. From what i've said you can probably guess what will happen in the film. This doesn't tend to be the case with the rest of Smith's film. Because they are quirky and odd, you find it slightly more difficult to predict exactly what is going to happen. Here it just isn't the case. I get a slightly feeling that the only point to this film is for Smith to throw some expected jokes into a film about making a porn film.
The only thing that redeems Smith and film is that he has the opportunity to be as filthy as possible. This just makes for some really funny moments and although you know they are bound to be in the film at some point, they're also totally worth seeing put into action because it's not that Smith used these set pieces, it's the way he's used them which makes sure he gets away with using them.
The cast is, as it always is with his films, brilliant. Seth Rogan is undoubtedly one of the most promising stars to be rising to fame in Hollywood at the moment. He is as funny and witty here as he always is, and saves the film just a little. Elizabeth Banks does a really excellent job, as it couldn't have been easy to stand opposite Rogan and give such a credible performance that could be compared and still stand up to his. And as always with Smith, we have the always used, but always loved, faces. Jason Mewes really made me laugh with his cocky and arrogant character. Jeff Anderson makes his usual and much loved performance, as small and sweet as it may have been. It's always great to have Traci Lords in a film taking the piss out of the porn industry as well and she really made an excellent and well thought out addition to the cast.
Overally, it's not terrible and it's in no way put me off Smith's film as i'll always love his work, it's just not the best i've seen from him, and after the standard he has set himself before, i have come to expect the best, this just isn't his best. Still it's worth checking out for the cheap laughs and the brilliant characters.

This film receive some pretty bad reviews so although i was slightly wary about seeing it, when I read the synopsis it dragged me in quite a bit.
There is nothing special or original about the plot, i'm fairly sure it has been done before. It's just the circumstances that surround that plot and the actors involved that make it stand out more than it usually would.
The plot follows a young interracial couple that move to the California suburbs. When their next door neighbour takes an instant disliking to them, things escalate to a point where things turn nasty.
Patrick Wilson hasn't been in many films as it stands but after seeing him in Hard Candy, he immediately caught my attention as a very capable actor. And he would have to be to stand up against the legendary Sam Jackson. This is a very good role Jackson, recently he's been going for the bad guy roles which is nice because it means we get to see a whole new side to his ability. Although Jackson does steal the scene whenever he on, Wilson does a damn good job at holding his own.
Kerry Washington also makes a nice addition to the cast as Wilson's wife.
The direction isn't bad. I feel LaBute could have done a slightly better job of building tension through camera work as it is the kind of film that should take full advantage of it situation.
Overall not bad at all, not nearly as bad as some reviewers have made out. It's a nice, neat film that is definatly entertaining if nothing else.

As cheap Hollywood action flicks go, this one wasn't bad. I've heard it getting a lot of bad press because it those that came before it but it really wasn't bad at all. No it wasn't as good as the others, but I don't think the whole thing was taken too seriously so they've managed to get away with it.
Spielberg is an amazing director and his fantasy action films are always stunning and so captivating. Clearly this isn't his best work, but compared to similar work from other directors in his field, it's stand out at least.
Harrison Ford is definatly past it, but I liked that they just worked with this in the film and made jokes out of the fact he was getting on a bit.
Shia LaBeouf makes a nice addition to the series. I heard rumours that he was going to carrying the franchise on. I'm not totally sure about this but I think he would do quite a good job in terms of character and acting. He's a capable actor who is building quite a name for himself by being seen in films like this. I just hope he doesn't stick to stuff like this because acting in films like this doesn't really prove how good an actor you are.
Not a bad watch. It's the kind of thing you'll be after if you want something easy to watch, with minimal thinking involved.

Weird but I gotta say I liked this one better than the first one. I think it had something to do with the fact the lemurs were in this one a lot more than in the first.
I don't know if it has anything to do with Sacha Baron Cohen voicing him, but every time he appears on screen, I just can't stop laughing. The lines he gets are just so god damn funny. So I suppose it has a little to do with Cohen as it's about the delivery and the accent as well.
In this adventure the animals fly off of Madagascar but crash land in Africa. Here they discover the land they are from.
It's odd that even though they only voice the characters, they somehow don't really make an effort to be something different. I'm mainly talking about Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer. There is no alteration in their voices as at. It's just them, plain as day. Which in the case of Chris Rock and David Schwimmer I can get past without too much trouble. But Ben Stiller pisses me off something terrible. Even when he's playing a cartoon lion his bad acting manages to to seep through. Ben Stiller doesn't act. He plays himself in different scenarios. In this case he just happens to have embodied a lion. This doesn't alter his 'acting' at all.
I gotta say you have to see this because watching the whole thing once just to see the Lemurs is totally worth it. The stars I give this film basically go to Cohen and no one else. If it wasn't for him I would hate it.

The competition in the animation field is pretty high now that ever year Pixar never fail to release an amazing film. This one was just a little too average in every way. It failed to excel or impress above others in any part of the process.
The plot was fun but I wouldn't exactly say it was original or brought anything new to the table.
It follows Bolt who is the star of a day time television series about a super dog and his owner. However, Bolt is led to believe that he really is a super dog and his owner is in danger each time they film a new episode. When accidentally runs away, he meets some animals that try to convince him he hasn't got super powers and is just a normal dog on his way back to LA.
I won't deny the film isn't funny. The hamster had me in fits every time he was on. But it just lacked something special.
The animation is pretty good but doesn't even come close to the standard Pixar have, so I think i'll always be let down in that department.
It can be risky casting big names as the voices for animated pieces as sometimes it can be really distracting when you spend most of the film desperately trying to work out who voices who. I think they got away with it here though. None of the voices were too distinct so it wasn't distracting at all.
It's a sweet film but it just proves what a lot of catching up Disney have to do. This film doesn't even come close to the standard that is on offer now or close to what they were capable of in their glory days.

I expected a little more from this film because the plot sounded rather impressive, but it really didn't live up. I also loved that they chose Scotland as the infected country. The odd thing was that I really didn't see much of a difference to a night out in Glasgow and some of the scenes in this film. It was remarkably similar. Rhona Mitra fitted the character well and did a good job as the leading lady. I loved Bob Hoskins character a lot for some reason. He wasn't in it an awful lot but he was good when he did have a scene. I felt the cannibal scenes weren't exactly necessary. The car chase at the end was pretty poor considering it was the final clash. It could have been a lot better. I liked that they didn't do the usual thing of people infected with virus become living dead. It was more of an anarchy thing that gave a much fresher look on the concept. Overall not bad. Very similar to Resident Evil without the zombies. If you like that kind of film then you're bound to like this as well.

The odd thing about me watching this film is that the only reason I wanted to watch it was that it had Aaron Yoo in it, the odd thing being as he has under five minutes screen time in total. He's attracted me a few times in the other small roles he has had but unfortunately he's yet to be given a starring role.
Anyway, this film was better than I expected it to be. I'm not really a fan of rap or hip-hop music so I couldn't say I enjoyed that part of the film at all, but i'm sure this would be ideal for anyone that is as a lot of the film is carried by the music that is played. The story follows Luke played by Josh Peck. Who I remember from that daft kids program my sister used to watch and the biggest difference in him is the amount of weight he has lost. Big change in him, he seemed like he had more ability to hold attention on screen. Like he's gained some self confidence. His character is drug dealing for the summer before he heads off to college. He's having a rough time at home and his love life is nonexistent. Through his shrink, he meets a girl, who he really falls for. It's basically about Luke trying to figure out who he really is. I'm sure a lot of people can relate to this in the character as everyone goes through that stage in their life. The performances were decent. Ben Kingsley with the most notable performance. I liked that he'd chosen to do this film as his character is a psychiatrist who also is a high class drug user. Quite a fun character to play I imagine and it was fun for the viewer to see him get his teeth stuck into something a bit different from his usual characters. For his performance, the film is worth seeing alone. I wouldn't say I loved it hugely, it did disappoint a little as I was hoping for something a little bit more fast paced as there is points where it lags. Still, I would recommend it as anything with Kingsley is worth checking out.

Didn't really know much about this film or expect much from it before I started watching. It wasn't half bad though. The acting surprised me the most. Lots of really great actors which didn't do their best performances ever but most of the time there was no one that let the side down. Which is surprising as it does have Sarah Michelle Gellar in it. I've alway considered her an average actor with nothing huge to offer. Sometimes she does a good job and I think this film is one of few that proves it. Her performance was strong and surprisingly I really did like her character. Andy Garcia plays his usual mob boss type which he always does well. Brendan Fraser plays the thug with a heart. He did an ok job. I think Andy Garcia would stand out as the strongest performance even though you really do hate his character. I liked the structure of the film very much. You begin with Whitaker's character then Fraser's character is introduced soon after with Garcia. Everything fits together nicely with a very clear circular structure to the plot. Ending wasn't quite as strong as i'd hoped it would be. Decent film with good characters that is worth at least one watch.

Before people started raving about this adaptation, I had no idea the books even existed. So I write this review as someone who has not read any of the books and had to prior knowledge of the characters.
I was disappointed. I didn't have many expectations but I at least expected to enjoy the story itself because of the whole thing being so popular.
I felt that there was thing disconnection between the characters and me as a viewer. I haven't read the books so I didn't care for the characters which as something I expect from most films, I thought the film would build up. It didn't. You got the basic plotline but because there was no real depth to any of it, I couldn't feel a connection with either Edward or Bella.
I also think that the quality of writing is very poor. I couldn't help but feel most of the lines of dialogue were written by a loved up, unrealistic teenager who was desperate to throw in as many cliches as possible. I do realise this obviously comes from the writer of the books and not the guy who wrote the screenplay.
The plot wasn't terrible, it could have been a hell of a lot better though and it's lack of depth made the story hard to engage with.
The acting wasn't terrible. I felt Robert Pattinson didn't really prove himself as his performance was weak. Kristen Stewart did a better job and managed to carry this film to the end. It was nothing special from her but it was made clear she has potential to be a lot better. I expect to see great things from her in the future and i'm not referring to the Twilight sequels.
The other characters I believe are explored a lot more in the books and I was disappointed that they were barely mentioned as they seem a lot more interesting.
Overall, I think people who have not read the books will hate it because of the lack of characterisation and people that have read the books will hate it because it's not as good as the books.

Before watching this film, I hated both Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Mostly because I felt neither of them were that funny. But for some reason, after seeing the trailer, this film looked really funny. I don't know why, maybe I was in a funny mood.
But anyway, I finally got around to watching it and I wasn't far wrong. Yes, most of the funniest parts of the film are in the trailer and the ending wasn't great but it was funny and the chemistry and comedy between Ferrell and Reilly is worth checking out at least once. And if you're into the other comedies, i don't think i need to mention which ones, then you're gonna like this as well.
As an easy going comedy to kick back and relax to, it ain't half bad.

I didn't expect much from this film considering it had Ashton Kutcher in it but as daft romantic comedies go, this one wasn't bad. I've definatly seen worse. Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher worked reasonably well together and made for quite a few laughs throughout the film. The plot wasn't hugely great but I don't really recall seeing anything close to this before, so it gets thumbs up for originality, which can't be said for other films like this. Slightly cheesy in parts but when the pair of them are fighting and doing silly things like removing doors to piss one another off, you can't help but laugh. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone but if you're into this type of film, it might be worth checking out. Not a huge loss if you don't though.

Half way through watching this film I decided that people were being a little harsh on it. It is a good comedy and I challenge anyone to say that Jack Black isn't funny because he really is. Jack Black is at his funniest when he is playing a character that is very close to what he is like on real life, in this it isn't a complete match but the essence is still there so he manages to pull the character off very well. Together with Mos Def, who is also very funny, they make a good pair with different outlooks on life and different personalities. The plot was decent right up until the ending where I decided to drop my three star rating down to a two and a half star rating. The ending was just slightly too cheesy for my liking and it kind of let the whole film down. Still, it was an enjoyable film that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a straight up comedy.

Yet another stupid comedy just like all the others. You really can't help but expect anything less. I've always wondered would I be disappointed if they failed to make rubbish like this. Maybe just a little as they always have their moments, even if they are few and far between.
Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd movie's are like a guilty pleasure so when I heard they were going to be in the same film I was slightly excited.
Scott plays his usual jack the lad character while Rudd plays the older, supposedly more mature character. The film follows their two characters as they are both sentenced to community service after Rudd's character has a breakdown when his long term girlfriend dumps him, dragging Scott along for the ride. They are sent to a youth mentoring scheme and paired with a couple of odd ball kids, one of which isn't really a kid.
Lots of stupid jokes and a few laughable moments later you get your very predictable ending that seems to apply to every movie of this genre. I do wish they will one day come up with something a little more original.
Mildly amusing film that has it's rare moments. Not a huge deal if you miss it though.

I didn't enjoy this film as much as I wanted to. I saw the trailer and it looked really interesting and funny but that really wasn't the case. It wasn't funny at all and for some reason I couldn't help but feel that it was a bit of a mess, a bit like the guys life really. Abigail Breslin gave the best performance which is disappointing because I really like the rest of the actors involved. Even Rachel Weisz didn't impress me, which is unusual because I tend to like her in whatever she does. I might even go as far to say that parts of this film are boring. I wouldn't recommend it unless you really like this genre of film because I think you'll be disappointed by it, like I was.

Okay, so my best friend loves this movie, which doesn't really surprise me. He convinced me to watch it and it was just as I expected it to be. I can't say I never enjoyed it at all, because that isn't true, there were aspects of the film that I enjoyed and I understand why fans of the television series would enjoy this as well because as far as adaptations go it wasn't bad. Or at least it could have been worse.
I have seen quite a few of the episodes as they usually screen on late night tv when nothing else is on, so it's either that or the cooking channel.
The plot mainly follows Carrie, as you would expect, getting engaged to Big, but when he stands her up at the alter, she refuses to talk to him as he begs for forgiveness and tries to tell her he made a mistake. You can't probably guess what happens throughout the film and the ending as well, as lets face it, they're not going to leave it with a sad or at least unexpected ending. It's just not their style. This kinda pissed me off, because if a person did that to me, like hell would I be able to forgive, but then again, I wouldn't be stood up there in the first place.
The sub plots include the ginger one (don't expect me to remember their names) being told her husband cheated on her, yes you can guess what happens there as well. The hot one finally gets pregnant and the other one decides she likes sex a lot.
I realise i'm spoiling this for you but as I see it, i'm saving you time.
It did have quite a few parts where I did laugh quite a lot.
It's really only worth checking out if you liked the show. If you've never seen it before, then you might want to leave this alone because although at the beginning they give you a run down of everything that happened through the million series' they had, you just won't connect with the characters in the same way.
I recommend this one should probably be missed.

Huge disappointment. I wanted to see it mostly because of Scarlett Johansoon. She is a brilliant actress but even her performance couldn't save this utterly boring and slow period drama. I didn't expect much from it but it could have been a lot better. Natalie Portman is capible of being a great actress but if she keeps selling herself out to shit like this then the only evidence we are ever going to have for that statement would be the character she played in Leon all those years ago. Scarlett Johansson is the same. She is a great actress and has shown us this many times in a lot of great underrated films. Lets hope this is the last time she feels an urge to sell herself out. Eric Bana made me want to sleep every time he was on screen. Conincidentally that happened to be quite often. The rest of the cast were forgettable and rather boring as well. The plot I cannot comment on as it was based on a book and that would mean me having to read the book before commenting which I never intend on doing after watching this drivil. I wouldn't recommend this film as it is just another in a long list of period films released in 2007, and if period it what you are after then there are many more and better films out there that can offer you a whole lot more than this can.

My understanding is that this film is a remake from some other, possibly foreign, horror film. I know nothing about that so all my views on the movie are based on this movie alone.
I decided to watch it mainly because it has Liv Tyler in it and i've recently developed a love of her and her films. And I though I can't say a bad word against her, because her performance was excellent, the film itself was pointless.
From what I took from it, it was about a couple, staying in a house in the middle of the woods and these three strangers (obviously), begin to harass them. It starts off small with just frightening them, and leads on to bigger things where it is made clear they actually want to kill them. The point to all of this, well I couldn't find out. There is no motive, you never find out who the three people are, or what they look like. They take off their masks and the shots are reduced to hands, feet, backs of heads.
Yes the film is very tense, and you will be dying to know what is going to happen, but the anti climax at the end just means that all the work put into the tension created through angels and shots, seems like a waste of space as they weren't going anywhere with it. I just don't see the point to the film.
There are many people that rated it very high and I can understand why they would want to.
Definatly a film you have to watch for yourself and make your own mind up about it, it seems your either going to think it was brilliant or hated the fact it had no purpose.

Terrible film that bored the shit out of me. I was looking forward to seeing Josh Hartnett in his latest film but in my opinion, this was a complete disaster, and yet another low point of his career. His performance was weak and far from strong enough to carry the film. He was meant to be the leading character but it was hard to listen to anything he had to say. The character itself was uninteresting. The rest of the performances were forgettable. The plot was boring and didn't even seem to have a point. Not a film I would recommend but I would be interested to see what other people would think about it.

Adam Sandler has finally achieved his apparent goal of worst film he has ever made. Slowly but surely his films have gotten worse. This one really does hit the bottom. I was really shocked when I started watching it, at just how terrible and unfunny the whole thing was. The plot was obviously predictable right from the very beginning. Sandler's performance just seemed forced and very over the top in parts. The rest of the cast were annoying. The only part of the whole film that actually made me laugh was when he was banging the old women in the next room and the bottles were falling off the selves behind behind Alec Mapa's character but it was more the reaction on his face that made the scene funny rather than anything else. Not a film I would recommend. A complete mess that should be avoided at all costs.

Yet another cheap marriage romantic comedy, as if the world needs another one of those. Pretty bad as you would expect. Not something I'd want to watch again. It does include some cheap laughs that are mildly funny but nothing sustainable or original.
Patrick Dempsey could do so much better. His performance was weak to say the least and I don't understand why he would agree to do this film in the first place. When he backs in the waiter I laughed. When he wears what seemed to be a woman's miniature tartan skirt instead of a kilt I laughed. I also laughed when the grandmother put the thunder beads around her neck thinking they were a necklace. Most people would find it hard not to laugh at that but that was about all the amusement I got from the film.
Michelle Monaghan impressed me when I saw her in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and it's clear that since then she has gone down hill in the world of cinema. She is capable of a lot more that cheesy stuff like this.
I like Busy Philipps as well but is seems she is finding it hard getting work and is having to resort to crap like this to sustain her lifestyle, which is a same because when she's on form she is actually pretty good.
I'm also hoping that people watching this film won't take away too many presumptions about Scottish people. I swear this film threw in as many stereotypes as possible. I'd like to say the vast majority are not true and the rest are only true for a very small population. I think it would have been nice if we all live in castles like that though.
Probably one you'll want to miss out, and if you do, you won't be missing a lot. From reading the synopsis you can probably hazard a pretty accurate guess at what will happen throughout the film.

Terrible film and a huge disappointment. I think the problems first began when they decided they wanted Hayden Christiansen to play one of the lead characters. In my opinion that was a huge mistake right away. Lets face it. He can't act. He smiles, he pouts, he doesn't act and this film isn't strong enough to be pulled along on plot alone. Oh no, wait there isn't a plot. The whole of this film was without purpose and direction. I believe the director and producer are relying entirely on the sequal to give this film a purpose. Another point that annoyed me would be Samuel L. Jackson's hair. Ok, so it isn't a huge deal but it did bother me. Why on earth would he have white hair. I just didn't really understand the motive behind that. Actually I didn't understand the motive behind anything in this film. I think they should have explained something behind this ability to teleport. Even a little bit of explaination. I feel sorry for Diane Lane who lends her name to this film, because she is a fine actress and doesn't deserve to have her name dragged through the dirt with the rest of this movie although I consider her stupid for wanting to be in it in the first place. This film had lots of potential and the only positive thing I can say about it would be Jamie Bell's performance. But that wasn't enough unfortunatly.

Huge disappointment. Well not really, I had heard that it was a pretty bad film but I didn't really want to believe it because it had Ellen Page in it. I was hoping that people were just being a little too harsh on the film. Unfortunately they were not.
My problems with the film don't exactly lie with Ellen. She was as good as she always his. No flaws in her performance at all. In fact she was probably the strongest in the cast. Her character wasn't exactly the most likable person but her performance was good. By the end she was still a bit of a bitch but you got to see that she was really just an insecure person underneath it all. Unfortunately she isn't enough to make this film worth while unless you really like her.
The next big flaw in the film would have to be Sarah Jessica Parker. What were they thinking? I don't know and I don't intend on spending anymore time trying to work it out because it was a huge mistake. She's an average actress but not only did she seem completely out of place but she was awful. Her performance was forced and she didn't fit in. At all. She was also suppose to be one of the characters that are meant to ground the family, and for a character like that you better make them a likable person. But she wasn't. You didn't feel sorry for her when Dennis Quaid's character acts like an asshole and I don't see how the director could expect you to.
A very poor performance from Dennis Quaid. His character was meant to go on some kind of development throughout the film but I just could associate with it. I felt he was an asshole and the beginning and an asshole with a smile at the end. I didn't like the character at all.
Problem number three. The sound track. I once heard that the most successful soundtrack is one you don't notice. It is suppose to compliment the film and be virtually unnoticeable. This one was, the exact opposite. So much so that it actually drowned out what the characters were saying. I couldn't believe it. Why would you do such a thing? It's not something you could miss when editing the film. Why would you release a film with music so loud you can't hear what is going on. And it didn't just happen once. It happened every time a track was playing, and that just happened to be very frequently.
A real mess of a film that is unfortunately a crater in Ellen Page's career. I won't hold it against her though, it's a simple case of an excellent actress in a shit film.

As much as I love Michael Haneke and the rest of the actors involved I cannot bring myself to like this film. I watched the original last year before even knowing they were re-making it and it thought it was excellent. I cannot understand why they would take a near perfect film and remake it exactly the way it was but with American actors. I can only feel that the whole point of it was so that lazy people who only speak one language don't have to bother reading the subtitles on the real film. It's just bollocks. They didn't change one this in this film. To be quite honest with you I couldn't even make it to the end of this film. I couldn't understand why I should. If everything is exactly the same then what's the point. I love Michael Pitt, and I think Tim Roth and Naomi Watts are brilliant but they could just never live up to the ground breaking performances from the original actors. Do not watch this film, don't be one of the lazy millions, watch the original, read the subtitles.