Reviews

Avoid at all costs. The only connection to the previous stories are Santi being in this one for about... uhm, 5 minutes! Who exactly thought this would be a good idea??? Didn't Kuno Becker object to his character (Santi) being sidelined? The producers have tried to pull a fast one. He's featured on the cover but he's just a cameo appearance as the main crux of the story centres on 2 new characters that are supposed to be Real Madrid teammates of his, yet we've never encountered them before. Where's Roz? And Gavin Harris? And one of the main things that peeves me the *beep* off was the atrocious match footage featuring the worst digital effects since Ray Harryhausen's monster flicks of the 1950s. Couldn't they even find a proper soccer pitch and try using some actual extras for crowd scenes? Instead they have to uses real games and digitally insert the "alleged" actors into the footage. I've seen TV adverts with better quality.

This is NOT a fitting end to the story of Santiago Munez.

Hailed as one of the best movies of the year, if not the last few years, by critics the world over, one has to wonder, does it live up to the hype? And undoubtedly, I have to answer with a resounding YES! It's highly inventive, disturbingly original, intellectually stimulating and features some of the best visuals ever seen on the big screen.

Laying out the plot in simplistic terms is hard to do, but in a nutshell, DiCaprio plays Don Cobb, a skilled thief. But he steals thoughts and ideas which people have in their minds. It sounds far-fetched obviously, but the movie makes it seem so realistic and plausible that you don't doubt it's possibility for a single second. When the movie opens, he unfortunately tries to steal from the wrong person, and is faced with a choice: stay on the run or pull one last job which would help to get his slate clean and in doing so, make him able to go back home to America to his kids, where he's a wanted fugitive.

The job though is the opposite of the norm, he has to infiltrate the mind of Robert Fischer, and "plant" an idea. This is known as "Inception". He has to assemble a highly skilled team and so begins the "heist"-like plot structure, albeit in a brand new fashion. This leads to altered states of dreams and reality, and as the movie progresses, our heroes have to race against time and take a journey fraught with tension and danger, with their very futures hanging in the balance.

To explain anymore of the plot would be to do it a major disservice, as there are constant surprises around every corner. And there will obviously be those who are going to voice their dislike of the movie, maybe due to their lack of patience for the plot to "explain itself". But I believe if you concentrate fully and pay the required attention, this movie will reward your intellect and never disappoint your invested time. Also, the visual effects are out of this world, sometimes literally. You see a fist-fight in a hotel corridor which rotates a full 360 degrees, you see the streets of Paris actually rise up and land on top of itself, you see buildings crumble with orchestra-like precision, and yet none of these scenes seem forced or over-the-top.

The acting is also superb, with DiCaprio once again showing his amazing range and impressing yet again. The rest of cast are all excellent as well, especially Marion Cotillard as Cobb's wife, who keeps intruding in his dreams and causing further trouble for him.

The plot is shaped like a film noir classic of old, there's the heist, there's the hero who has to do one last job, and there's the dangerous femme fatale who could be his downfall. And yet director Christopher Nolan weaves it all together so succinctly that it's unlike anything you've ever seen before. Action-packed, thrilling, and bound to have you in deep discussion long after the movie has ended, "Inception" definitely requires a second or third viewing. Not because you need to understand it, but because you want to relive it. A true masterpiece!

After the blockbuster success of the first movie 2 years ago, it was inevitable that a sequel would follow. And while the reviews have been quite harsh and many may feel that it's just "more of the same", my response is: "So what?". If you're a fan of the hit TV series, you should by now know what the general tone of the movie would be. If you hated the series, then obviously this movie wasn't meant for you to enjoy.

It's 2 years after the events in the first movie, with Carrie and Big settling into domestic marital bliss, but soon Carrie starts to resent the "routine domesticism" and longs for more excitement and fun with her husband. But instead, he enjoys sitting on the couch, ordering take-out and watching old black & white movies. Charlotte is struggling with being a parent to two young girls. Especially when the youngest is continually crying and she soon finds herself longing for freedom from parenthood, if only for a while. Miranda is stuck in a great job, but with a boss who continually demeans and despises her, even though she sacrifices way too much family time in dedication to her work.

All three of them soon get the perfect opportunity to unwind, when Samantha gets invited to Abu Dhabi in the Middle East, with regards to promoting a client's new movie. She invites her girls, and they all set off in search of a break from New York City. They of course get involved in hilarious mishaps (notably Samantha and her insatiable sexual appetite), as well as offering some wry insights into Middle Eastern customs with regards to women and how they are viewed.

Many were complaining that taking the girls out of "The City" (New York) was a bad move, but I saw it as a refreshing change of direction. And what I enjoyed about the plot was the semi-serious look it took at modern issues regarding marriage, parenthood, and even America's outlook on the Middle East. There was much less nudity this time around, but some of the jokes were a lot funnier. And while the movie may not be to everyone's liking, it certainly knows how to please it's devoted fans, and I found it in some respects to be better than the first movie. PS. I'm a guy, and before you assume it, no I'm not gay

With the huge assemblance of well-known faces, it's easy to dismiss this romantic comedy as a shameless rip-off of "Love, Actually" and, to a lesser extent, "He's Just Not That Into You", but personally, I see it as more of a companion piece. Mining similar patterns, of interweaving multiple-character plot lines, it might seem clichéd at first, but I found it to be quite surprising at times and highly enjoyable. Is it schmaltzy? Yes. Is it contrived and hokey? I didn't think so.

Of course, there has to be bits of cheesiness, 'cos it's dealing with the subject matter of romance, on the most contrived holiday of all, but the film handled it smoothly I thought. And yes, some of the time, you could see who'd end up with whom, but a lot of the character arcs still managed to go down unpredictable paths.

The performances from the wide array of stars were all impressive, although some were under-utilised, most notably Jessica Alba, Queen Latifah and Patrick Dempsey. But the way the remainder of the cast all managed to click was a testament to these actors and actresses all seemingly having a great time together. The most impressive performers were Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel, while Anne Hathaway definitely had some of the funniest scenes.

So while the movie is set in only one day, it's interesting to see who'll find love, who'll lose love, and who'll hold on to their love. Definitely a team effort, I thought the movie worked on every level, and from a guy's point of view, there are sufficient belly laughs to be had mixed in with the romantic quotient, so it's certainly a romantic comedy well worth watching.

After Titanic in 1997, many wondered how James Cameron would ever try to top that spectacle. Well, its taken 12 years, but he most certainly has, and then some.

The basic plot is certainly nothing that hasn't been done before, but so what, almost any movie has a plot that's a retread of another plot before it. But what really sets this movie apart from anything I've ever seen is the amazing visuals.

Seen in 3-D, the astounding special effects seem even more visceral. The hanging mountains, the mysterious and abundant creatures (some truly nasty animals that were conjured up from imagination) and even the indigenous Na'Vi tribe... all marvels of CGI.

The movie is almost 3 hours long, but it's so exciting and action-packed and a delight on the senses that it's never noticeable. The acting was more than adequate, with Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldanha and Stephen Lang probably the standouts.

The final battle scene is exciting and a sight to behold. And James Cameron has once again proved himself to be the "King Of The World"!

Firstly, I love disaster movies. Titles like Armageddon, Deep Impact, The Core, The Day After Tomorrow, etc... sure, they won't win awards for acting or plot line, but their aim is to entertain.

They all follow a certain formula: scenes of destruction; humans in danger; our heroes always making lucky escapes and happy endings all around. Does this film follow that same formula? Yes and no. The destruction is on a much grander scale, unlike any disaster movie you've seen before. Roland Emmerich this time sets a new bar for CGI effects, and the film is really a roller-coaster ride after the build-up of the first 15 minutes.

The acting performances were better than expected in my opinion. It helps when you got "more-than-decent" actors in the lead roles, such as John Cusack; Chiwitel Ejiofor; Oliver Platt, etc. And while the plot may seem to be clichéd, it does manage to spring a surprise or two along the way. And don't be swayed by those who claim this movie is "unrealistic", well duh, it's about the end of the world, what were they expecting? An art-house human drama? 2 and a half hours of pure, non-stop thrills and close-calls. I love it!!!

First, let me start by saying I went to see this on Friday night here in South Africa. And left the cinema absolutely gobsmacked at how terrible it was. Then the next morning my 10 year old niece wanted to watch it and her parents weren't willing to sit thru it and neither was I but they offered to pay for my service to accompany my niece and so I gave in and was willing to put myself thru it all again.

And I'm glad I did, I actually managed to enjoy it the 2nd time around. Probably because I knew the bad points and they weren't gonna catch me by surprise. I must admit my expectations were quite high the Friday night, but once I knew what to expect it wasn't all that bad.

The fight scenes, I personally thought were much more "watchable" than the first movie. A lot more slo-mo punches and such made it a bit easier to see just what exactly was happening. And of course, the special effects and general mayhem was literally out of this world. There were quite a few "fun" moments that made you laugh.

And I don't understand the whole hullabaloo about the twinbots signifying racism. I thought they were funny, and it never occurred to me that they were based on black stereotypes. By the way, I'm black.

Unfortunately though, there were quite a few points that need addressing when part 3 comes around. Most notable, unnecessary characters that do little-to-nothing to advance the story. And speaking of the "story" - a little more sense could help. I know its a " fun summer movie" but it didn't need to be a "dumb fun summer movie". The plot could have used a bit of tweaking.

And the excuse that "nobody comes to these movies for plot development, they just wanna see robots fighting" makes no sense. Then they might as well have just had a 2 hour tag team WWE match-up in the desert quarry.

Still I have to say it's worth a watch, although it could have been so much better.

It's been a long time since I've seen a movie that has affected me this much. It's hard to categorize what genre it fits into, but if I had to try, I'd say it's part drama, part mystery, part romance, but mostly, it's all inspirational.

The storyline is hard to figure out at first, as we follow Will Smith's character, Ben, drifting in and out of the lives of 7 strangers. Why? At first we have no idea. But that's the point. Only he knows why, and only he knows the plan that's formulated in his head. These strangers are all people who aren't living easy lives though, this much is clear. Another thing that's clear: there's a tragic event in Ben's past, one that he's struggling to get to grips with. And the manner in which the whole "mystery" comes together and ties the strangers to Ben, is one of the most satisfying emotional journeys I've ever been on.

The performances are all well above average, but this is Smith's movie from start to finish. The roller-coaster of emotions that cant etch on his face at any given time are truly remarkable, as he once again displays his full acting range and proves himself more than just an "action star".

Some have accused this movie of being "emotionally manipulative", and while I don't disagree, I applaud the movie for having the courage to affect one's emotions. Once the storyline starts gathering pace towards the climax, it would be an unfeeling viewer who isn't touched in some way or another by the events taking place on the screen. I can admit, I surely shed a few tears. And I definitely rate this as the most thought-provoking, powerful and heartbreaking movie I've seen in years.

Truth be told, I wasn't a great fan of the first movie. But having gotten to the cinema, there wasn't much else to see, so I was willing to check this out. And surprisingly, it managed to be quite entertaining. Definitely more enjoyable than the first film, plus it features a bugger budget, more star cameos (Jonah Hill has a short but hilarious scene with Stiller), and some quite astounding visual effects.

What also made this adventure more exciting is that there is a real sense of impending doom for our heroes to overcome. Its a feeling I just never got the first time around, as the first film focused more on the introduction and how Larry copes to the scenario of inanimate objects coming to life. This time around, there's much more of a purpose for all the characters, as they all have something to work towards: having been transferred to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, they're trying to stop a newly-awakened Pharoah from opening up the portals to the underworld and resurrecting his army to take over the world. And the Pharoah has some truly dastardly cohorts: Al Capone, Ivan The Terrible and Napoleon.

The storyline moves at a brisk pace, as Larry teams up with Amelia Earheart (wonderfully played by Amy Adams). It's definitely a perfect adventure for the whole family to enjoy, although discerning adults will no doubt notice the lapses in logic and the few major plot holes: the most notable being that if there's so much destruction and mayhem going on in the Smithsonian, just where the heck are the other security guards or surveillance cameras? But if you're willing to overlook that, you're guaranteed a first-class ride.

This sumptuous ensemble romantic comedy managed to exceed my expectations in every way. It was extremely hilarious and utterly realistic, and features an eclectic cast that all add something different to this intriguing tale of dealing with the pitfalls of dating and marriage.

The story begins with Gigi. After a first date, she becomes mildly obsessive waiting for the guy to call her during the week after. But he doesn't and this is the catalyst that eventually proceeds to link all the characters together in interconnected plot lines that range from funny and sweet, (Drew Barrymore's character bemoaning the fact that there's so much technology out there and she's managed to get dumped via email, MySpace and SMS) to tragic and heartbreaking (Ben Afflleck and Jennifer Aniston's characters not seeing eye to eye on getting married and so she would rather throw away their 7 year old relationship).

Scarlet Johansson also plays a pivotal role, that of a single woman who has a friend pining for her, but she would rather try and tempt a married man who himself is going through a rough patch with his wife, played to perfection by Jennifer Connelly. The way that this love-quadrangle plays out forms the basis for the realism factor, and while there are some sweet and tender moments, it's ultimately a tragedy that you can see is coming, because for this foursome, 2 people are gonna get hurt. And this plot line is expertly written.

Justin Long provides the voice of reason fashioned on the book on which the movie is based. His character, Alex, is the advice-dispensing guide who takes Gigi under his wing and tries to reveal all the ins and outs of dating dos and don'ts. And this masterstroke is how the movie becomes a guide just like the book, while also telling a story that many of us will see ourselves in.

The acting is all pretty faultless, with Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Brendan Cooper and Justing Long displaying some of their best work. Scarlet is as stunning as ever, and plays the temptress well, but Barrymore is sadly underutilized. In total, I think she might only have 10 minutes worth of screen time, but she does use it well.

And I wouldn't go so far to call this a 'chick flick', as I think there's just as much enjoyment and knowledge to be gained from this movie for us guys as there is for women. All in all, a perfect date movie.

As a 29-year-old South African, the July 20th plot to assassinate Hitler (let alone the other 15 attempts) was news to me. I never knew about it until I first heard of the making of this movie. We were taught World History in school, and the second World War formed part of that, but somehow we must have just glossed over the fact that there were inside-attempts on Hitler's life.

So, eager to learn something about history I never knew, I really looked forward to this movie (that and the fact that I'm a huge Cruise fan). And I have to say I was really impressed. The negative pre-release hype had me very concerned, but it was all in vain. The movie was well made, had very good performances and managed to do the near-impossible: maintain suspense in a movie where the outcome is known in advance. (The outcome obviously being that they don't succeed in killing Hitler. Not a spoiler by the way).

The first half of the movie is basically the set-up. We see Tom get recruited by the dissident officers due to his outspoken and vocal criticism of the way the country is being run into the ground. Once he joins the "rebels", his vision in getting rid of Hitler becomes even more focused and determined, which leads him to orchestrate the July 20th plot.

In the second half, Brayn Singer builds an ever-increasing level of suspense and close calls as the plan gets put into motion. And it really is an eye-opening experience to see everything that Operation Valkyrie entailed. With the success of the mission hinging on so many factors, one can only marvel at the intricacy and scope of the plot.

Cruise was very good in the lead role, with just the right amount of self-belief and maybe false optimism to play Von Stauffenberg. Some of the supporting actors though, to be honest, put in even better performances, especially Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson. So leave your skepticism at the door, and give this movie a chance. It's inspiring and tragic, but instills hope in humanity, that only by making a stand can any of us hope to make a difference.

First off, let me just say, I am a James Bond movie fan. When I began watching them while I was growing up, Roger Moore was Bond at the time, and since he was my first introduction to the character, he will always remain my favourite Bond. But I've always enjoyed the movies no matter who starred in them, both Dalton and Brosnan were more than capable in my opinion. Never quite got into Connery, maybe because of the 1960's settings, seemed too old school for me. That being said, I detested Casino Royale. Not because of Craig, he was okay in the role. It was just that the storyline was extremely weak (in my humble opinion). The villain was another weak point which I just peeved me off.

But still, I looked forward to Quantum of Solace, and so glad that I did, cos I thought it was brilliant. Still a bit too serious but at least the story made a tad bit more sense and had less plot holes that Casino Royale, and the villain posed an actual threat to the world.

I can understand why some people said it doesn't feel like a Bond movie, I agree with that to an extent. But it doesn't detract from the point that it was still a very good movie. The action was fast-paced and although the editing might have been done with too many quick cuts, I found it added to the exhilarating pace.

Carig was good, but he could do with some more smiling and some one-liners next time around. Jedi Dench got quite a bit of screen time this time around, and its always a pleasure to watch her on screen.

Looking forward to the next adventure, I just hope they can get back to Bond as he was, seeing that the "revenge" is now out of his system.

This movie is best summed up as a dramatic romantic comedy. And that is not meant to sound negative. In fact, this movie is totally realistic and the dialogue is razor sharp and should be instinctively recognizable to any of us who has actually been in love. Credit for the witty yet heart-tugging storyline goes to Paul Haggis, the genius who wrote the Oscar-winners Million Dollar Baby and Crash, as once again, his knowledge and experience of human emotions come flooding through every scene.

The basic premise of the movie is a showcase of how awkward the transition can be for men, from independent, party-lover to responsible, mature adult. For some of the characters though, when you add marriage and a child to the mix, their failure to face the impending end of "freedom" is spectacularly disastrous. None more so than the lead character of Michael, who is terrified of getting married and buying a house and growing up, plus having to deal with the fact that his girlfriend is pregnant. It all seems too much to face at once, until he meets Kim, a much younger college student who awakens feelings of freedom and independence within him, even though she knows he's in a relationship. Seeing how this plays out is funny and heartbreaking at the same time.

Like any good romance story, there are many other inter-connected plot lines, and they are all handled with deft skill and infinite neutrality. Trying to pick sides in this story is quite hard, which is why romance is probably not as easy as it seems. The acting is first-rate, the story is unpredictable and you'll definitely pay more attention to your own relationship afterwards. Excellent!

Based on the short story by Stephen King, and directed by the Frank Darabont, who is proving quite successful at bringing King's stories to the big screen (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile), this horror movie is a refreshing addition to a genre which lately has been bombarded with "torture porn"-styled gore flicks. Besides being a scary thrill-ride, there's a serious undertone running through the film, about how we as normal people can become dangerous when faced with dire situations.

A close-knit community of friends and neighbours barricade themselves in a grocery store once a mysterious mist descends on their small town. Their first fear is a terrorist chemical weapon, but soon they realize that concealed in the mist is a vast array of creatures. Some small, others gigantic. Creatures who all have one thing in common: wanting to feast on the humans inside. It soon becomes a battle of wills against not only keeping the creatures out, but also trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy against the rising panic and fear inside the supermarket, especially once a Bible-thumping woman starts spouting that she "hears messages from God" and this is His wrath. Once she starts getting survivors to listen and follow her, it's only a matter of time before the people inside have to choose a side.

What sets this horror film apart as one of the best in years is the constant uneasy sense of dread, a quality that has made Stephen King a master storyteller, and which goes a long way to show that you don't always need blood and guts to keep an audience on edge. In fact, the masterful direction ensures that the jump-out-of-your-seat moments are guaranteed, and the brilliant creature effects are bound to keep you squirming.

The performances are all excellent, and unusually for this genre there is a lot of character development, and the best performance comes from Marcia Gay Harden, who plays the maniacal Mrs. Carmody - determined to make everyone see the error of their ways and "convert" to God's teaching. She soon becomes a dangerous woman, which has far-reaching consequences for everyone.

The shocking ending will be a talking point for many, and even though it is altered from King's original novella, I believe this ending works better. It will also keep you thinking about it for days.

I've just finished the final season of The Wire, and it's a definite must-see. If you've been following the series from the beginning then you know how brilliantly gripping it is in it's depiction of the battle against crime and drugs in inner-city Baltimore. Of course, watching this final season is not an easy experience, as one's love for this show makes you apprehensive to reach the end because you love these characters and their stories, but alas, all good things must come to an end.

Many of the main characters face some tough decisions this time around, most notably Jimmy McNulty. With the case against Marlo grinding to a halt due to budget cuts in the police department, McNulty makes a life-altering decision that affects almost every single character before the end of the final episode. And his choice, while having far-reaching consequences for all involved, will also make you think about what you would have done in his situation.

A new thread introduced in this season is the inclusion of new characters at The Baltimore Sun, a newspaper that becomes involved with almost all the major plot lines. It also shines a light on how media portrays sensationalism and spin (positive or negative) in order to fulfill the bottom line, namely selling newspapers.

Of course, all your favourites are back as well, Omar; Bunk; Carver; Senator Clay Davis and Bubbles, to name a few. And you can rest assured that every single plot line started at the beginning of the show gets resolved, although not everyone gets a happy ending. Which is honestly indicative of the brutally tough "life on the streets".

This season still features the trademark sarcastic wit (especially between McNulty and Bunk), as well as some tender yet heartbreaking moments that will stay in your thoughts for days afterward. This was a ground-breaking show, which told a side of life many of us have never seen on television. Absolutely brilliant!

The inspired casting which allowed Robert Downey Jr. to play the title character was a masterstroke of genius. Downey Jr. always dispenses the right amount of wisecracks and barbs in his roles, and when added to a fun action romp, becomes totally enjoyable for the family. It also helps that finally, a superhero movie gets some brilliant actors to elevate the story, and solid support is displayed by Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard.

The story is full of typical superhero movie clichés, but there's a freshness and a spark to the story that makes it all seem so original. It still, IMHO, cant surpass The Dark Knight or X-Men 2 but it comes pretty close. And wayyyyy better than the lame Spider-man movies, and the obnoxious Fantastic 4 movies.

Tony Stark (Iron Man's alter ego) is at first a military weapons developer, and the filmmakers make it all relevant to modern-day dilemmas, when Stark finds out that his weapons are being used by the very terrorists the U.S Military are supposed to be fighting. This revelation and his capture by terrorists at the beginning, helps to change his outlook on life and thus begins his plan to not just fight crime, but to tackle greed and terrorism (since they seem to go hand-in-hand).

The action scenes are crisply shot, and the movie features some of the best special effects of the year. The CGI effects seem so real that it's so easy to accept what you're seeing on the screen. And if you're wondering if there'll be a sequel on the way, the very last line of the movie practically gives you your answer. A fantastic action spectacle, with good actors, great story and brilliant visuals. Don't miss it!

What a load of hogwash! It's as if The Matrix got mixed with Looney Toons and the whole concoction was directed by someone trying to imitate John Woo while high on crystal meth.

Its about an organization of assassins who can do almost anything, but yet they require a "nobody" who works as an office drone. Their big "reveal reason" for wanting him to join doesn't even make that much sense, cos they're supposed to be "SO" well trained in the first place. Plus they can manage to do the most impossible stunts in the world as if they all had formal training at Cirque Du Soleil and can kill any target at anytime but yet they're so dumb they cant think for themselves. Cos they all seem to get taken by surprise for the final "twist".

2 awesome action set-pieces (One involving a car and a bus, and the other involving a train falling of a suspension bridge over a canyon) managed to save me from gouging out my eyes. And my disappointment in Morgan Freeman is growing, as he was one of my fave actors, but seems to be doing anything for money these days. (Edison, The Contract, Wanted. WTF?!?) And as for Angelina, looking nothing like her former voluptuous self, and seeming kinda sickly is distractingly nauseating. James McAvoy does a half-way decent job for the first 30 minutes, until he turns into the spawn of Neo (from previously -mentioned Matrix) It's made oodles of cash at the box office though, so of course the sequel is a lock. Pity.

After a spate of disappointing animated features in recent years, I went into this film expecting something at-least halfway decent since it's a Pixar release. What I did not expect was to enjoy this as much as I did. Wow! I still can't get over it, this was extremely funny with just the right amount of sweet and tender moments mixed in as well.

The film was highly enjoyable, even though there's only dialogue from about the halfway mark only, but don't let that put you off. The first half of the movie is carried by the title character and his daily routines as we see how WALL-E is alone on the planet doing the job he was built for 700 years ago. There are no humans around, and his only company is a cockroach. They might not understand each other, but they realise the idea of 'friendship'. Where the humans have gone is a mystery which actually adds proportionate weight to this tale, and where they are is something I won't spoil for you.

Even though not much seems to be happening at first glance, you can't help but be dazzled by the splendid visuals and simply charming story. And once another robot arrives on the planet, the story really starts picking up speed and hardly ever slows down. Can WALL-E befriend this new being? The answer to that question is one of the most fantastic adventures I've seen in a long time.

What starts out as a simple heist movie soon becomes more and more elaborated in this excitingly amazing true story about a bunch of thieves who are gathered together by a mysterious woman to rob the safety deposit boxes in the vault of a bank. When they discover what's actually in some of the safety deposit boxes, they realise that their lives are now on the line because they've uncovered some dirty secrets about powerful people.

The way the script meanders, with numerous twists and turns is a delight to behold, as are the visuals which display 1970's London with an authentic look and sound. There are so many "villains", that our bunch of thieves soon became the most innocent people in the story, as they try to dig their way out of the mess they find themselves in.

With pitch-perfect performances (Jason Statham's Terry closer to his Lock Stock... performance) and highly entertaining script, this movie keeps ramping up the excitement and tension and it all culminates in a breathless climax. One of the best movies of 2008, and did I mention: IT ALL REALLY HAPPENED!

This is definitely one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time, and also one of the most realistic regarding high school teens and their escapades. I saw it when it got released, and I thought it was good. But last night, I wanted a DVD to watch, went to the local DVD shop, and decided to watch it again. And bugger me, it was even better the second time around. Sure, its crude and raunchy, but it still manges to display just the right amount of sentimentality between friends.

Two final-year students prepare for the party of the year, and both have high hopes of "scoring" with their respective crushes. As is the norm with these movies, nothing goes according to plan and some difficult lessons are learnt in the process. Refreshingly, it's all handled so well. The two leads, Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, are both destined for great comedic futures. They have impeccable timing and the gift for slapstick comedy. Cera might be duplicating his George-Michael character from Arrested Development, but so what? He plays it brilliantly. But the actor who really has you splitting your sides is young Christopher Mintz-Plasse, playing a dorky loser. Chances are you knew someone like this at school, and he plays it so that you realise that a kid like this could have been one of your best friends. He makes you laugh, but out in the real world he still needs all the help he can get.

All-in-all, a fantastic teen comedy. A step up from American Pie, even though you might feel you've seen it all before. So watch it, and relive those awkward high school moments you can now laugh about.

It's very rare to find a film that has non-stop excitement and suspense, while at the same time managing to be quite a smart and engaging thriller which offers something new and original. This film happens to fit the bill, perfectly I might add.

The story starts off with a bang, literally as a peace summit is rocked by the assassination of the U.S. President and a subsequent bomb blast. Then the film rewinds on itself, and we go back 23 minutes before this tragedy, to witness the moments leading up to it through the eyes of one of the Secret Service agents escorting the President. The inevitable happens, and we rewind again by 23 minutes to see the events which are about to take place, but this time through the eyes of another witness. We soon get to see the point of view of the tragedy from many different perspectives, and each time another clue comes our way as to what is happening and why.

And this is what sets it apart from many in the genre, as the clues start stacking up and the plot starts dishing up twists and turns at every corner. The final twist will definitely leave you in shock, and then soon have you on the edge of your seat for one of the most audacious and thrilling car chases ever seen on film.

The performances are all excellent, especially Dennis Quaid (as the lead Secret Service agent) and Forrest Whitaker (as an American tourist). Sigourney Weaver seemed under-utilised, but when that's the only complaint of a film, you'r emore than willing to accept it. Definitely one of the best action thrillers of the year.

Wow! Trust Quentin Tarantino to take a somewhat lame idea (a psycho stalking women with his car) and turn it into a cool, highly-quotable take on 70's exploitation flicks.

The dialogue is typically inventive and interesting with numerous pop-culture references. The action is furiously edgy, filmed with real cars and stuntmen, no computer generated effects here. The cast are also superb, with Kurt Russell finally getting the chance to play a deranged psychopath. And he pulls it off with maniacal glee. The bevy of beautiful ladies are too many to mention, although Vanessa Ferlito (of CSI New York fame) performs a lap dance that is extremely sexy.

Tarantino also has the audacity to make the film feel like an 'old school' flick, and this is best observed in the colours and the grainy texture of the film. Certain scenes also just cut to the next, and some seem to have spooling problems, making it feel like you sitting in a bioscope in the 1970's. And that was one of the aims of the production, which formed half of the Grindhouse double feature experience along with Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror. An excitingly enjoyable film experience from one of the two most innovative directors in the business. Next up, bring on the terror!

What begins as a typical 'chop-suey' actioner, soon turns out to be anything but. This script for this type of genre is surprisingly smart, and you'll constantly be surprised at the many twists and turns that develop.

As the cop who's trying to exact revenge for his partner's murder, Jason Statham brings his typical macho demeanor to the role as he tries to find Rogue. But as the assassin, Rogue, who's in Los Angeles working for both the Triads and the opposing Yakuza, it's Jet Li who displays a surprisingly effective performance. You never know what's going on in his head, but the chilled stares and menacing eyes interspersed with taunting glances will keep you intrigued as to what exactly his aim is.

The action is suitably fast and furious, with the two most memorable fight scenes both involving Jet Li's character. So remember, this is more than a typical martial-arts movie. It has an ending that will (to excuse the pun), 'knock you down'.

This has to rate as one of the funniest and most original sitcoms ever to screen on television. It's highly inventive, has a brilliant cast and a script that's wholly preposterous yet utterly hilarious. (I say it's preposterous because there can't really be people out there who are just so clueless. Or can there be? Oh, well. Look who's the American president.) A wealthy family finds their world crashing down when the patriarch is arrested and charged with fraud and embezzlement of the company funds. Facing bankruptcy, the only sane family member, Michael, has to try and keep his family together. And this, while trying to raise his son (who has an unusual crush on his cousin), facing endless underhanded tactics by his siblings to usurp his position as the only smart one, and also dealing with a mother and father who can never be trusted (especially when they're together).

The plot flies at a frenetic pace, and a lot of the snappy humour is missed by non-stop laughing. So be prepared to watch this over and over. That's what I did. And what's more? With repeated viewings, I kept laughing harded and louder. Brilliant! Just a pity FOX didn't stick with it. Cant wait for the "rumoured" movie in 2009.

First off, it should be extremely obvious to everyone, that if you were never a fan of the TV show, then you shouldn't bother watching the movie. Not that it can't be enjoyed as a stand-alone movie, but the emotional investment with the characters won't be established unless you were a SATC regular. And it's this link to the characters, having missed them for so long, that will generate added enjoyment and extra laughs once they begin their shenanigan-filled journey in this 140 minute romantic comedy.

Yes, 140 minutes long, but I never noticed the length at all. I was having too good a time. The major plot line revolves around Carrie and Big deciding to get married, and of course this leads to much trials and tribulations. The movie was funny (hysterically so, in places), with Samantha and Charlotte's characters, being polar opposites of each other, generating most of the belly laughs.

The character that was totally unnecessary, IMHO, was that of Jennifer Hudson as Carrie's assistant. I loved miss Hudson in Dreamgirls, but she was totally under-utilized here and served no function as any of Carrie's friends could have been used to serve the purpose of this role.

All in all, the movie felt like an extra-extended TV episode, and I mean that in a good way, as everything felt totally in-synch with the TV show, the sets, the lighting, the performances all working in perfect unison. So from a guy's point of view, I loved it.