Reviews

Famed director Alfred Hitchcock, 'master of suspense,' released Psycho in 1960. In the biopic film Hitchcock, this provides the central story, which is not only interesting but provides a real insight into the mind of the man which they called Hitch. (Call me Hitch, hold the cock.)

The film stars Sir Anthony Hopkins as the director and Dame Helen Mirren as his wife Alma. The story begins in 1959, after his success with North by Northwest, Hitch is looking for his next project. He becomes fascinated with Ed Gein, which so happened to be the inspiration for a novel written by Robert Bloch, titled Psycho. Although Paramount Studios are not eager to bring this gruesome tale to light, Hitch is adamant and finances the film himself. Thus the making of Psycho commences.

The film not only takes an audience through all aspects of filming, but also that of Hitchcock's mind and private life, At the heart of film is the relationship between Hitch and his wife. Hitch is portrayed by Hopkins as arrogant, demanding and someone who has to control his leading ladies. Alma on the other hand is portrayed as a saint, who not only helps and guides Hitch through his film journey, but also re-writes his scripts and steps in when production comes to a halt due to Hitch's ill health. You witness the couple's relationship hit turbulent water with the financial burden of financing the film and also Hitch's increasing jealousy over Alma spending time with a writer friend. Alma seems to always be waiting in the shadow of the famous director.

What I find surprising is the humour within the film. There are a number of one liners with dry, witty humour which you can't help but smile at. My favourite being when they finish filming, Mrs Bates is waiting in Janet Leigh's dressing room. The brutality of this film is shown in some scenes of violence, which is apparent whilst filming the famous shower scene, but it is with keeping pure Hitchcock style. In this film the characters are not only believable but also very likable, and each take on their new role given to them by Hitch. Anthony Hopkins plays an astounding role of Hitch and not only effectively portrays the dark side of the man we know as master of suspense but also the vulnerable, more emotional side.

One of my favourite scenes is the one that comes right at the end. Whilst Hitch is explaining his need for a new project, a black bird flies onto his shoulder. Genius! Since the early days of cinema Hitchcock made a name for himself, a great director and innovator of modern cinema. This film brings Hitch back to life and is a perfect blend of entertainment and a delight to watch.

Once again the hilarious duo of Pegg and Frost and fantastic direction from Wright has brought to our screens another genius comedy, which as usual is quirky, action packed and of course entertaining.

The story centres around a group of childhood friends, who now in adult life have gone their separate ways. Gary 'the king,' has not moved on from his youth and his ultimate quest is to reunite his friends and attempt an epic pub crawl which they failed 20 years earlier. Their goal is to reach The World's End, the last pub in a long list, but as they reunite together in Newton Haven, it soon becomes apparent that finishing the pub crawl is the least of their problems. Beer swigging King becomes frustrated that no one seems to recognise him, which leads them to discover that their home town is now accommodated by a robot race and it's up to them to save the world.

In typical style the humour is dry. What is ironic in the script writing is that the characters struggle with what's happened in their past and present but ultimately they are faced with dealing with what is going to happen to their future. Additionally, I really enjoyed their attention to detail in bringing all 3 movies together and also the continuity used. They used themes in this movie which also appear in Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead such as the noise of the fruit machine, cornetto's and not forgetting short shot montages, which is a fantastic technique which Wright has mastered. Although I'm not a fan of the naughty C*** word, somehow they put it into a funny context which is hard not to laugh at.

Whilst this is not the most stand out comedy I have ever seen, it was enjoyable and the soundtrack used was not only clever, but the upbeat songs just put a smile on your face. I have always enjoyed watching Pegg and Frost acting together and it was nice to see a role reversal, in that Pegg's character is the loser and in fact their relationship at the start is less heartwarming than it has been in previous movies.

It's a perfect mix of science fiction and comedy and well worth checking out.

Blades of Glory presents comedy on ice. It's the story of Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy, two rival ice skaters, who are banned from competition after a podium brawl at an Olympic event. After a loophole in the rulebook is discovered, the pair join forces to reclaim their rightful position at the top of the skating ranking yet again.

The Ferrell-Heder duo is a fantastic combination and the script is filled with homo-eroticism. The comedy ensues as they each try to come to terms with each others choices of lifestyle. Ferrell's motto on life being 'I'm a sex addict. It's my cross to bear,' and Heder, 'If you can dream it, you can do it.' The skating scenes are a spectacular sight on their own, and add a touch of spandex, sequences and diamonds.

Let's face it any movie with Will Ferrell is bound to be funny. Not my favourite film of his, but still worth the watch.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark was advertised as the best horror movie of the year. No matter what year it was realised it will never even come come close to being a good horror movie, let alone the best.

This film is a Gothic fairytale that takes place in a beautiful mansion in Providence. Sally moves in with her father and father's girlfriend. As she explores the mansion, she soon discovers a horde of evil faeries which live deep beneath the residence, and its Sally who sets them free.

First of all i feel they exposed the 'little creatures' way too early. If they had of kept the mystery going for slightly longer, the movie may have held my attention for longer as well. Once i caught sight of the 'little creatures,' the movie became laughable. Every time they appeared on the screen i just shook my head in sheer disappointment. Also, their erratic behaviour and odd screaming reminded me of the Gremlins.

The only scene that I enjoyed was the opening sequence. The actions between the old man and the maid left me intrigued, and created a certain mystery. This however led to believe that this movie was going to be a lot better than it was.

One of the most interesting things used in the movie is the mansion that the family live in. The mansion is treated almost like a character in that with all the construction that is being undertaken, it changes and develops just as a character would. It starts out as an old building which holds secrets, to a renovated mansion that is more than what it seems. From a comfortable lit room, to a dim lit nightmare the mansion is the perfect set piece. Saying that its just a pity that the story did not live up to the creative setting.

Whats most frustrating about this film, is that the story behind it is actually quite an original one, but they fail to focus on this at any point, and simply fail to tell the story. You briefly find out about some creatures and the sacrifice of a child. The fact that the filmmakers did not go into any depth to the background of the story, just makes it more confusing. I believe that this film would of been more enjoyable if they had of focused on the true origin of the narrative.

Don't be afraid to give this one a miss, because you are not missing much.

Resident Evil: Afterlife is the forth instalment in this sequence of films which were created in line with the video games. Whilst there is nothing new and original to this one, it is still action packed and overall entertaining.

Alice is back and in multiple carbon copies. Her prime target once again is the Umbrealla Corporation. Alice returns to the states in search of her friends who left for sanctuary in Alaska, only when she gets there she discovers they have disappeared in what may be mysterious circumstances. After taken flight again she discovers a group of survivors who want to relocate to the unharmed safe haven known only as Arcadia.

The film starts off on a strong note, especially the opening credits. It presents a rainy Tokyo street scene, where a girl is standing alone without an umbrella amongst a crowd. This scene presents tension and mystery and utilises the intensity of colours. It is fair to say that after this the pacing slows down considerably. Overall it is a moderate action movie.

This visuals are definitely what makes this film. The sets used both virtual and not are of a high standard. The plot and the characters are simplistic. The main focus seems to be on the action sequences, which at times are one after the other. Still there is never a dull moment.

The one thing that did irritate me about this movie, was the fact that they decided to imitate The Matrix with slow effect action sequences and highlighting certain moves through this effect as well. Whilst i feel this works well, it appeared to be happening too frequently within the narrative, and actually took away from some of the action.

Although the forth instalment in this series does not have an in-depth storyline, it is sill enjoyable and the gore certainly does not disappoint.

I must admit the real reason I wanted to watch Remember Me, was the fact it was starring Robert Pattinson. Sadly though, even having him in this film didn't make it any better.

Remember Me opens with a scene of robbery. A mother ends up murdered at a queens subway station platform in 1991, with her young daughter Ali looking on. Then the movie leaps forward ten years to 2001. The narrative focuses on the developing relationship between Tyler and Ali. Tyler's family has been torn apart by the suicide of his elder brother and Tyler is caught up in emotions of rage and self pity. Tyler and Ali's meeting is not coincidental as it was Ali's father who arrested Tyler previously. Having both suffered great loss in their short lives they soon embark on a passionate relationship.

Remember Me contains a number of over pretentious scenes that dramatise a very thin and unexplored plot. This story tries to show how relationships and the results of our actions can have profound, yet unpredictable ways of manifesting. There are early scenes of violence in the film, which i suppose was used to try to charge the emotional conflict which was to happen later on.

As the movie dragged on i kept hoping for something more, but all i got was lack lustre scenes, which did not flow well, let alone make much sense. I was unable to engage with any of the characters on any type of emotional level, and therefore completely disconnected from the film and what was actually happening.

The moody, male protagonist played by Pattinson has severe contrasts in his character. One minute he is chatting happily to his sister, the next thing he is acting out and ending up in jail. The filmmakers did not delve deep enough into his character to provide any kind of explanation. Instead as soon as he sees pictures of his family on his dad's computer, all his troublesome issues seem to be resolved.

What makes Remember Me even worse, is that it uses 9/11 to pretend that it is more deep and meaningful than it actually is. The fact that the filmmakers felt the need to tie this fictional story in with a real life tragedy, just goes to show how lacking the script actually was.

This is a badly acted, badly directed, and badly written film. I really wish I hadn't of wasted my time.

I thought when i saw Horrible Bosses advertised that it would be a pretty good comedy, especially considering the casting, but sadly i was wrong. A few funny bits here and there maybe, but not the kind of comedy that had my utmost attention the whole way through.

Horrible Bosses stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as three best friends who all have the same problem; they hate their bosses. Bateman's boos is an egotistical jerk, who has lead him on since he took the job. Day's boss is a nymphomaniac, and Sudekis' new boss is a coke head, who does not care one bit about the company he now owns. What starts out as a joke between friends soon develops into something more dark and they are soon plotting ideas on how to kill each other's boss.

The cast was very promising and the plot looked somewhat interesting, but sadly it failed to deliver. The jokes are unoriginal and the characters are fake. The movie tries to redeem itself with having Jennifer Aniston's character being rather dirty minded, thinking that unnecessary innuendos were the way forward, but even that was stale and unbelievable. The plot is rather predictable, and you can easily guess whats going to happen, so there's nothing really that takes you by surprise. I feel that the film could of contained more hilarious scenarios to the difficult situations and problems that the characters find themselves in. This just highlights the simplicity of the plot which the movie takes, instead of fully exploring the themes creatively. I'm not afraid to admit that i did laugh occasionally at Horrible Bosses, but i will stress it was just occasionally.

Horrible Bosses is nothing more than an average comedy, which you won't really remember long after you've seen it.

The Messengers released in 2007 is another long line of horror films from the 21st Century, which was okay. It's okay in the fact it is watchable, but it certainly isn't a horror film that excites or a very memorable one at that.

The story begins 6 years after the Rollin family left unexpectedly, and now the Soloman family who have been troubled of late move in to their abandoned farmhouse, leaving their lives in Chcago behind. This remote North Dakota farmhouse, is meant to be a fresh start for the family but their attempts at leading an idyllic country life are severely disrupted when Jess and her 3 year old brother start seeing things of a supernatural kind.

To me The Messengers is nothing more than a generic horror film, something which is unoriginal and has definitely been done before. Saying this I do believe that the storyline had a lot more potential, had it done justice.

The screenplay was simply boring. The dialogue was bland, and the scenes used did not flow into one another. The characters were also very undeveloped, and it was difficult to engage with any of the characters on an emotional level. Therefore it was also hard to sympathise for Jess who struggles to find someone to believe her and what she is going through.

The Messengers comes under the genre of horror, which is surprising as the suspense element is severely lacking. The movie appears to rely on cheap scares such as loud noises or random jumps. The music was very unnecessary at points, as it just made the next 'scary' moment more predictable, instead of enhancing it. The house was the main focus surrounding the narrative and this is where the majority of the film took place, yet i don't feel they even did this justice. The same shot of the house seemed to be used throughout. Instead they should of came up with some more creative angles to use, which would of made it a lot easier to engage with not only the house, but also the happenings within the house.

At times there was an eerie atmosphere, but this alone could not keep my undivided attention throughout. Overall, The Messengers is worth watching,(once maybe)but for me it is an example of lazy filmmaking.

I must admit whenever i first saw the advertisement for Bridesmaids, i was not overly enthusiastic about seeing it. I thought it was going to be yet another chick flick surrounding romance and weddings. But boy was i wrong. This is much more than just any chick flick, in fact its that hilarious my sides were splitting with laughter at times.

Bridesmaids is a fairly simple movie, which centres around Annie, the girl who has recently been unlucky in life. Her best friend is getting married and she is finding the role of maid of honour and all the planning which surrounds it overwhelmimg. Of course the path of true love does not run smoothly, therefore comedy ensues.

Without being too forthright, Bridemaids is a filthy, vulgar, over the top comedic experience, that attempts to affect your limits of compassion, just as much as the extent of hilarity. The stand out scenes for me where that in the bridal store and also the girls flight on an aeroplane for the batchelorette party. These scenes in particular, had the uncomfortable comedy effect, where you don't really want to watch, but at the same time, can't help yourself from watching.

Bridesmaids had a surprising amount of depth to it, which was something I didn't expect. The narrative takes time to develop its characters and also establishes the various relationships and conflicts that the women have. The themes that are explored within this film, are nothing out of the ordinary but certainly ones that an audience can relate to easily. And even though comedy is one the main elements throughout, there are also some very heartfelt moments.

Annie is most developed character in the narrative. She is someone who feels completely let down by life, with having one thing after the other happening and not in a very good way. This is something that I'm sure the majority of people can also relate to. Not only do you witness the personal journey her character goes through, but you can also feel it. Despite the fact that the other bridesmaids were not developed as much as Annie, they certainly hold their place within the film, each in their own individual and unique way.

I do believe though that the length of the film should have been cut down slightly more. At times there are way too many subplots going on, which where not even fully explored, and arguably yes it goes too over the top at times. But with everything else in the film being so entertaining, these are only minor criticisms.

Bridesmaids is definitely one of the most enjoyable comedies I have seen in a while. It has all the heart and charm of a romcom, but is not afraid of pulling out all the stops, just because the leading cast are female. It may not be perfect, but it is a perfect catalyst to have for a girls night in.

Bolt is a light-hearted family movie, which provides entertainment and shows how a dog cannot do without 'it's person.' The story centres around Bolt, a white German Sheppard, who has spent his entire life on a set of a television show, in which he portrays a 'superdog.' As a result he believes that all the events that happen around him are real. When he is accidentally shipped from his home in Hollywood to New York City, he embarks on a cross-country journey so that he can be reunited with his owner and co-star, Penny. Bolt soon finds himself with two companions, alley cat Mittens, and a TV obsessed hamster Rhino.

The characters throughout are engaging and easy to enjoy and relate to. The effects in this movie are well executed, so much so that everything in the movie looks so realistic, yet does not contradict with the fact that it is actually an animation.

Even though the story is centred around Bolt, it is hard not to mention the two unlikely accomplice's Mittens and Rhino, who to me somehow steal the show. Not only are they both entertaining with their witty comments and sarcasm, but at the end of the day they are very endearing. And it is a Disney film, so it's nice to see them all have a happy ending, as an extended family together.

It is hard not to make comparisons after watching Bolt. A superhero who suddenly finds himself in the real world and must accept the heart-breaking fact that there is nothing special about them; I don't know about you but all I can think about is Buzz in Toy Story.

As with all classic Disney films, there is an underlying positive message to give to all. In Bolt's case the message is be true to oneself and find your own inner hero. But in a completely different direction this is like Disney's version of The Trueman Show. Watch and you will see.

The Thing first hit the big screens back in 1982 and now it has been remade as a prequel for a 21st Century audience. After my initial viewing, I could not help but feel entertained, however my heart still belongs to the original film which John Carpenter brought to the cinema. Well after all he is a genius of horror.

So the scene is set at a Norwegian base, where Kate Lloyd who has been recruited by Dr Sander Halvorson. Their mission is to aid an Antartic dig of a great discovery; an alien specimen found frozen in the ice near to its ship. With the help of Norwegian Scientists, they recover the body to the safety of the base. Soon they discover that not only is the specimen alive, but it also has the ability to consume the shape of that which it kills.

The filmmakers did their best to keep close to the same style which John Carpenter used. There are lingering shots of cold, icy weather, and also lingering shots of mysterious hallways, which both in their own right create an atmospheric feel. The music chords that play along to these shots build feelings of dread. The various transformations of 'The Thing' are interesting, and even though they may be done in CGI, I found them to be both realistic and well executed.

I did feel that the casting for this film was not great. There were no stand out performances. One of the main problems came from the main female protagonists Kate Lloyd.(Mary Elizabeth Winstead)I found her performance severely lacking, and could not engage with her on any level. She may have taken control in what she was saying but her actions were weak and unbelievable. In my opinion if her character was in John Carpenter's version, she wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes, let alone the entire film.

Overall the film does provide good entertainment. There is plenty of effects, action and explosions to ensure an audience is still captivated. The Thing is not a bad homage to the original. It failed to replicate the same essence as John Carpenter did, and in ways although it brings something new its all still too familiar. But be warned do not stop watching until the credits have finished. There are some short scenes which tie nicely into the beginning of the 1982 version.

Near Dark brought to us in 1987, is a typical 80's vampire movie. It provides plenty of gore, but does so in a stylistic manner.

Near Dark presents Caleb, a young farm boy who when out for a night of fun, meets Mae, a beautiful yet mysterious girl whom he becomes instantly besotted with. Mae is a strange young woman who runs off at the first sight of daylight, that is not before biting Caleb in the throat. As the sun rises higher, Caleb finds himself getting sick suddenly and steadily getting worse. It is then a gang of travelling vampires kidnap him within sight of his family. The vampires reluctantly show Caleb the ways of a vampire world as they drift across the Midwest. However, Caleb is struggling to commit to his vampire alter-ego and his family and searching the country to find him.

Near Dark is stunningly innovative for its time and portrays the bloody brutality which the vampires engage in to survive. The most creative and entertaining scene is the slaughter which takes place at the bar.

The characters created for this movie are complex, and they all have their own place within their group. The most surprising thing to me was how commendable Bill Paxton was in his role as a vampire. Not only did he look the part but he was definitely the most blood thirsty vampire of the pack.

The vast landscape of the desert, filled with dust adds to the overall intensity and isolation of the movie, which could also be seen as a representation of the emptiness of death. The murders are both sadistic and gruesome, but yet somehow they feel real. The simplistic nature of Near Dark is what makes it so successful and its almost like a dark fairy tale.

Overall, Near Dark creates an eerie atmosphere and you delve into the world of shadow, passion and blood. It could be portrayed as more of a love story than a horror story, but instead it merges both genres together, without hindering the overall narrative.

The movie is flawed in parts, but this does not take away from the overall enjoyment, I just feel that certain things could of been improved. For example, you are not offered any kind of explanation as to how you can turn a vampire back into a human. Caleb and Mae are automatically changed back by Caleb's father in his shed, without offering any information how he did so. This is the main flaw to an otherwise well thought out film.

Near Dark is stylishly directed, well written and very enjoyable to watch.

When Paranormal Activity hit the big screens in 2007, it was like a breath of fresh air. Finally filmmakers were able to merge horror and the documentary style filming and make it a success. Then came the second instalment in 2010. Whilst it had lost the feel of originality, it still felt fresh and was an upstanding prequel to the first. Then we come to the the third. The adverts make it look so innovating and somehow more eerie than the first two, but in reality what we got was nothing more than 83 minutes of dull documentary style horror, with the occasional(and i stress occasional)scare.

So the scene is set for Paranormal Activity 3 in 1988. Katie and Kristi befriend an entity Tobi that is living in their house. This film is set before the first two and the girls live with their mom and her boyfriend Dennis. When strange things begin to occur Dennis becomes obsessed about finding out what is causing the disturbances.

I was left deflated after watching the movie, as I had such high hopes for this franchise of horror films. Tension was built throughout, but i felt it never really came to a climax. The pacing was not consistent, there was suspense without really seeing it through, and the conclusion both dissatisfying and confusing.

As i mentioned, the trailer for this movie looked really good, and led me to believe that this was going to be better than the first two. However, in the trailer you see a séance gone wrong, girls jumping from the upper story, closet ghost knocking games, a medium coming to get rid of the ghost and water being thrown on a ghost to reveal its shape. This combination would have made a brilliant third instalment of this franchise, but in actual fact the things that you see in the trailer which make you want to watch it, aren't actually included in the final edit. The one scene that they cut which made me most angry, was the 'bloody mary' scene with both the girls and when they turn off the lights you see the apparition behind them. The combination of everything mentioned in this paragraph would of made for an exciting and chilling edition.

The producers decided to go further with the story and try to offer the audience an explanation for the hauntings, by making it a story about satanic women rituals, which is only too similar to that which is seen in The Wicker Man and The Last Exorcism. In actual fact what made Paranormal Activity successful before was that it was edgy and eerie without explaining the goings on and the hauntings.

I cannot express how utterly frustrated I am when thinking about this movie. It definitely had potential, and could of been as good as the other two. I can only come to the conclusion that the filmmakers became bored and did not give their whole hearted, undivided attention into it. They should of definitely quit while they were ahead.

127 Hours is the the true story of an extremist mountain climber Aron Ralston and his remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah.

The fact that this movie was based on a true story, makes an audience feel slightly unnerved and uneasy right from the offset, as you already know how the movie ends.

James Franco's performance as Aron is nothing less than astounding. He as an actor not only delivers a realistic performance, but as the story continues he delves deep into the character, and brings this fascinating story to life on the big screen. As an audience you feel the pain and frustration Aron does. You sympathise with the character easily, as he struggles to gain control of the situation he has found himself in. James Franco should be highly commended for captivating an audience for an entire film, which can be described as a one man show. It's only at the very beginning and end of the narrative that you see him truly engage with any other characters. I would describe Franco's performance as flawless. Trapped by a boulder, his performance relies in that of his facial expressions. His expressions change so easily, he goes from desperation to comedy to a primitive will to survive in an instant.

What also makes this film so successful, is the fact that it is done in the hands of Danny Boyle, a highly commendable director. Boyle's direction is energetic and exciting. Even when the film becomes grounded in the narrow canyon where Aron is trapped, Boyle still manages to keep things interesting. Boyle and his co-writers introduce flashbacks and hallucinations, which bring heart-breaking effects. Included is the premonition that drives Aron into finally amputating his arm.

What I was also impressed by in this film was the cinematography which was used. The landscape in itself was breathtaking and the camera angles used show just how vast the canyon is. Then when you get to the confined space when Aron is trapped, they use every camera angle possible, often bringing the audience very close to the action.

At the end of the day many people may see this as a film about a mountain climber who gets stuck under a boulder and has to cut his arm off, but it is so much more than that. It personifies a man overcoming physical and emotional strains of an extraordinary situation. Above all it can be seen as a celebration of the human spirit and their will to live. The composition between dark humour, vast and confined spaces, varied editing techniques and Franco's diverse use of facial expressions, make for a well executed piece of filmmaking. Even though as an audience you know how its going to end, it is still very captivating right from the start.

The Hangover released in 2009, was one of the most comical films of the 21st Century and possibly of all time. The second installment offers pretty much the same. It offers the exact same method and style as the original. The conflicts and revelations between the characters are alike. The only difference being that the guys are in Thailand rather than the USA. However, I still found the film to be thoroughly entertaining, and found myself cringing at how the guys try to figure out how to get out of the predicament that they have found themselves in yet AGAIN!

So the scene is set 2 years after the bachelor party in LA went array. This time around the story is based on Stu and his pending marriage to Jamie Chung. The gang arrive in Thailand for the nuptials and they agree to having one beer together on the beach with a bonfire. Nevertheless, the next morning you find the guys struggling to regain consciousness, with no recollection of what happened the night before, or where they actually are. The main clues being that of a monkey, a facial tattoo, a severed finger and the return of international criminal Mr Chow.

I don't want to go into any further detail or spoil any more moments of hilarity, you know the score if you've seen the first. The Hangover 2 provides moments of debauchery, on varying levels of discomfort and comedic sketches. I would like to mention however, the drug dealing monkey; quite frankly pure genius.

The chemistry between the actors is amazing, and they have definitely not lost their spark from the first movie. The only think i found slightly disappointing is the fact that Doug was not caught up in the thick of the action. Instead he is sensible informant, as the rest of the wolf-pack try to figure out what when on.

So it may not have the same originality as the first one did, but now I completely understand why sequels follow the same formula created by the success of the original. They do it to keep their audiences satisfied. And Todd Phillips has certainly delivered yet again. I will look forward to the third installment next year.

Black Swan was a highly anticipated film in 2010, and it definitely does not disappoint. After my initial viewing, in conclusion it was everything that i didn't expect but in a good way. For those of you who think this is a film all about dance, then you are particularly wrong.

Nina Sayers is ballet dancer in New York whose life is consumed by dance and is always pushing herself. Director Thomas Leroy forces the company lead into retirement, and makes the decision to put on a new rendition of the classic Swan Lake, and Nina is soon selected to lead in the new ballet. With severe competition from new dancer Lily and the demanding desire for perfection from both Thomas and her overbearing mother Erica, Nina soon begins a journey into a deep, dark, dangerous territory.

The film examines a physically demanding and unappreciated art. Although dance is an element within the film, it is not by far the main one. Obsession appears to be one of the main themes throughout and you witness the main protagonist become more and more obsessed with not only her performance, but also being perfect physically.

The main drive behind this film is in fact the visuals and the editing techniques used. The contrasting colours between black and white, give the obvious indication between good and evil, innocence and darkness. There are changes to colour in every scene depending upon what the main protagonist may or may not be doing. The scenery and set design used in black and white,makes the audience think twice about the true motivations and intentions of both character and creator.

The director uses an element of reflection, mainly represented through that of mirrors. Nina portrays feelings of both ambiguity and confusion through the use of mirrors. This consistently makes an audience question what is going on.

The musical score throughout is astoundingly brilliant and not only adds to the overall narrative, but heightens the most intense moments in the film.

Natalie Portman gives an outstanding performance as Nina, both intense and beautiful in their own right. At the start you see her as an innocent, sexually repressed girl who just wants to please her mother. Clearly she is unwell at the beginning of the film and as it progresses Portman does a wonderful portrayal of a character whose personality completely reverses. It is apparent at the beginning that Nina is perfect for the role as the delicate White Swan, but incoherently loses her mind as she becomes more like the Black Swan. You can almost feel how the character is living a dream and a nightmare at the same time. At some points in the film her performance is terrifying, and she certainly has proved her worth as an actress in this film.

Black Swan is captivating from beginning to end and a movie not to be missed.

One word springs to mind when i think of this film; AMAZING. Christopher Nolan is an absolute genius, and should be highly commended for this wonderful edition in filmatic cinema. I have seen nothing like this before, and highly doubt we will again.

Dom Cobb is an unusual line of work in that he is paid to invade dreams. Cobb robs the psyche with practised skill, although he increasingly becomes haunted by the memory of his late wife Mal, who keeps appearing in his sub-conscience to wreak havoc on his missions. Wealthy business man Saito wants to destroy the empire of his business rival Robert Fischer Jr. and this involves planting an idea in his head, otherwise known as Inception. In order to carry out the task Cobb calls upon his specialist friends; Arthur his organiser, Eames the forger/thieve, Yusuf who is the sedative supplier and finally Ariadne the architect. Then enter the dream world.

Inception is a high class sophisticated movie, and you feel as if you are in fact being educated in the subject of the dreamworld and sub-conscience mind. The plot is not only original, but there are several twist and turns and unpredictable at that, which is one of the hardest things to achieve when making a film, but somehow this film has done just that.

The cinematography is nothing short of exceptional. The set designs and specials effects left me in awe. Somehow not only do you see what is happening in front of you, but you also feel them. The music accompaniment by Hans Zimmer is haunting and adds to the overall dream like feel to the movie. In my opinion, the ending should go down in cinematic history.

The acting is convincing and the main protagonists are developed at a slow pace throughout, which adds to the overall intensity. Especially that of Cobb, played by Leonardio Di Caprio. Who knew that at the start of the film, the woman that was stalking him, was in fact his dead wife. You can feel his desperation as the film progresses, as all he wants to do is get back home and see his kids. Also, in my opinion any movie with Ellen Page is bound to be a success; what a talented actress.

After my initial viewing all i wanted to do was to watch it all over again, and its wonderful the new things you pick up from Inception by watching it over. What I also like about this film, is that it is a good talking point, because after watching it there is so much to divulge, how could you not have an opinion it on? A unique film, which is definitely worth watching not just once, but again and again. It will blow your mind away and is absolutely breathtaking.

Over the past several years, the film industry has become overrun with movies about people becoming infected by a virus who the turn to killing everyone around them. '28 Days Later' has been one of the most popular and for a British made horror film, is actually one of the better ones. Then enter 'The Crazies.'

Set in the town of Ogden Marsh, the small community go about their normal day to day business. David and Judy Dutton are the town's Sheriff and doctor respectively both of who are well liked in the close-knit town community. Suddenly strange things begin to happen; people start acting oddly and appear to be prone to violence. As the body count starts to add up and with the town in disarray, the government soon arrives to cordon the town off. Then the true reality of 'the crazies,' is realised.

The actors portray some strong performances, which adds depth to their characters. The movie is perfectly paced, and there are some intense sequences, with some incredible inventive gore. The direction is impressive and i believe there was a lot of attention to detail here. It is apparent also that the director did not depend solely on the violence within the content of the film. The way certain sequences are edited, they cut away from some of the more graphic moments, which coincidentally gives more of a psychological impact on an audience.

One of the elements which i thoroughly liked about this film, is that it doesn't waste any time trying to discover the reason for the 'crazie' behaviour, the focus is that of the survivors and how they react to the situation they find themselves entangled in. Although the twists in the narrative are predictable at times, the film carries a tense atmosphere right to the end.

Even though the concept is nothing original, the film was made stylistic and carried the narrative through a lot more effectively than some others. One of the better horror films of this century.

Event Horizon is a ground breaking edition to the horror genre, and a breath of fresh air next to all the teen slasher movies of the 90's.

Set in the year 2047, there is a sudden reappearance of a prototype spaceship (Event Horizon) which vanished seven years ago. A rescue ship is sent out to investigate along with Dr William Weir, who is a physics expert responsible for creating the ship. There is no sign of life and as they set out to make repairs the crew begin to sense that they are not alone.

So Event Horizon may not have the most complicated plot or work on character development but what it does achieve, is creating an intense atmosphere in a confined space. The most accomplished thing in this film are the hallucinations that the crew experience. The editing techniques used to portray these make them the success that they are. You along with the crew begin to question what you actually seeing on screen, because one minute its there, and in the flash of an eye its gone. This helps to give the movie an eerie edge, and it also plays with your psychological emotions.

The main element itself was designed with a Gothic look and feel in mind. The camera angles used add to the intensity; the dark, empty hallways and rooms create a menacing feel, and you definitely feel that there is something lurking beyond, which leaves you in a state of unease. Not to mention the gore is fantastic.

Paul Anderson utilises many aspects which other horror films have, but what he achieves is more chilling and leaves an audience at the edge of there seats. An atmospheric horror film, what more could you possibly want?

Green Lantern stands next to a long list of DC comic's which have been brought to the big screen over recent years. Whilst being marginally enjoyable, i can't help but feel the film was lacking some element in order to make it a bigger success, or as compelling as other superhero movies which have been released.

Cocky test pilot Hal Jordan finds himself being presented with a green ring, and the magical powers this ring holds bestows hims. There is an elite group of Green Lanterns led by Sinestro who are having trouble battling a giant alien Parallax. As the only human Lantern, he is earth's only hope.

The characters in the film are underdeveloped and its hard to engage any emotion with the main protagonists, even that of Hal Jordan who is the central character. This film may of been more successful at the hands of a different actor. I'm only guessing that Ryan Reynolds was meant to be portraying arrogance throughout, although at times it comes off as cheesy. Other characters just come and go, with no sense of where they came from, or where they went to when not on screen.

On a positive note, the vibrant colours of green used are electrifying, and in some ways quite entrancing. Also the creativity for what Hal can form with his mind when having the ring on was interesting. But i'm afraid that's were my positivity ends. The action at parts was satisfactory, but what i really feel let the film down, was the overall pacing. Scenes within the narrative did not flow into one another, and it seemed to cut between several scenes which did not make any sense. One minute you were on earth, then Oa, then back to earth again with no reasoning.

Although, visually this movie is spectacular, it is lacking and has no hold against the recent superhero films which have come to the big screen. It appears that the filmmakers were more interested in the visual effects that the overall narrative. Although i was slightly entertained by it, i feel that this movie is easily forgotten.

Super 8 is a fantastic combination of two wonderful creative minds, that of J J Abrams and Steven Spielberg, and although the ending is slightly questionable, overall this movie is enjoyable.

The narrative is set in a small town in Ohio. It's 1979 and Joe Lamb is trying to cope with the recent death of his mother. Led by his best friend Charles, Joe and the rest of his friends immerse themselves into creating a horror film. On the night of their first big film shoot, they witness a train crash and pretty soon, the small town in which they live becomes taken over by a military presence, and what is actually happening in the town remains a mystery.

Super 8 contains all the elements needed to be successful; it is emotional, funny, and thrilling. Lets not forget also the presence of the unknown 'monster,' which is lurking nearby. The characters are believable and portray a certain innocence. One other important factor is that they have chemistry, which is not all too familiar from that in The Goonies. As a member of the audience you can fully engage with the characters, and not to mention the budding romance between Joe and Alice. There are also some amazing sequences; my favourite being that of the train collision. I thought it was truly breathtaking the way it was put together and the CGI is done to perfection.

This film kept me very entertained, mainly due to its solid direction, accomplished performances and exceptional screenplay. Unfortunately, they just didn't seem to be able pull all of the plots elements together, which led to flat ending. Questions are left unanswered and the movie has a sudden ending, after building up to a heightened finale.

Super 8 can definitely be seen as a tribute to the classic films directed or produced by Steven Spielberg, in which normal life was contrasted with some unprecedented phenomenon, which usually is explored through the eyes of kids. There may not be anything original about Super 8, but this movie brings you back to the good old classic times. If you enjoyed ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goonies, or in fact Cloverfield then you should definitely give it a watch.

So it all started with The Exorcist, followed by a number of sequels, then came The Last Exorcism of Emily Rose and now The Last Exorcism. A film which had so much potential, but in the end the ideas behind the film did not prevail.

The story centres around Cotton Marcus a minister who performs fake exorcisms for money. Raised by his Reverend Father, he has been doing this since he was a child, but has come to question his faith. After reading how a child died during a recent exorcism, Cotton decides to have a film crew document his final exorcism in an attempt to prove that exorcisms are just a hoax. So the film journeys to Louisiana, where cotton performs a 'fake' exorcism on teenager Nell. However, things don't go according to plan.

The only word i can find to describe this movie overall, is anti-climatic. It uses suspense to build up to a heightened moment, which in the end does not follow through. A couple of jumpy moments perhaps, but not enough to live up to a classic horror film. And as for the ending, i could'nt help but make the comparison to Rosemary's Baby.

The story, although original was not fully developed, and did not receive the treatment it truly deserved. Maybe in another directors hands it may have been more of a success, but i am sincerely disheartened that Eli Roth (normally a genius of horror) was the producer behind The Last Exorcism. I normally enjoy the documentary style filming, and it has proved to be highly effective for the horror genre previously, but Daniel the cameraman has too shaky of a hand for this style to work well.

The only positive thing i can say about this movie is that the majority of actors pulled off great individual performances, considering what they were given to work with.

The advertising for The Last Exorcism made it look like it was going to be an old school horror, and in reality what you have is another disappointing modern horror film. In fact the advert showed the only interesting scenes from the movie, so you would be better off watching that than wasting 87 minutes of your life, on what can only be described as another modern horror failure.

Not being a big fan of romcoms, i must admit that i wasn't overly enthusiastic about 50 First Dates, but what attracted me to the film was that once again Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore were playing opposite each other, a combination which worked so well in The Wedding Singer. I'm pleased to admit that this duo did not let me down, in fact there's not a lot that i can find fault with.

Henry Roth is one of the central characters in 50 First Dates, who we find out early on that he is afraid of commitment. That is until he meets a beautiful woman called Lucy, and from then he can't seem to get her out of his mind. The trouble is that she suffers from short term memory loss and day to day forgets ever meeting him.

At first i was led to believe that this was going to be a predictable romance film. But i was far from wrong. The context of 50 First Dates is not only believable, but somewhat clever. The difficult aspects in the narrative are not ignored but properly explored and dealt with, and this helps to heighten the emotion portrayed. It goes to a completely new level by showing audiences that there is something deep behind the idea of falling in love with someone over and over again.

The film being set in Hawaii just adds to the overall romantic feel, and the music accompaniment also creates a beautiful feeling. Although there is comedy, this is not the main focus and thanks to Adam Sandler's perfect comedic timing, it does not take away from the overall feel of the film, but instead it enhances it.

You should watch this film with an open mind and no preconceptions, as it will probably surprise you as it did me.

Mirrors is an eerie horror film directed by Alexandre Aja. The film is simple, yet effective, and has you on the edge of your seat.

The narrative focuses around Ben Carson, who as an ex-cop and ex alcoholic is forced to accept a job as a night guard, in order to get his life back on track. His new job is at a run down shopping centre, which was forced to close down after a fire devastated the entire building; that is everything but the mirrors. It doesn't take Ben long to notice how mirrors are in prestige condition. After learning that this was through the last watchman's obsession with them, he soon realises that the mirrors have an evil presence which lurks in them.

The sequences filmed inside the derelict department store at night provide the overall film with scenes of suspension. The location is utilised to its best, with corpses manifesting within the mirrors and screams exude from within the depths of the building. One of the most memorable scenes takes place in a bathtub, and proves to be one of the most brutal and unsettling sequences within the film. The highlight for me though was in fact the ending. I felt slightly deflated when Ben staggers form the wreckage, because in reality no one would. Shortly after thats when the real twist is revealed and the film should be applauded for not following the traditional American happy ending.

Alexandre Aja has proved his ability to create high tension moments within a narrative and also proves his ability to create genuine scares. Mirrors is definitely worth the watch.

Sex and the City 2 has not been widely acclaimed and has received some awful reviews. Despite this i thought it was enjoyable and still had some of the original brilliance that the Sex and the City series had.

Whilst struggling with busy life's, and the pressures of work, love and family life the four ladies take a trip to Abu Dhabi. Samantha is attempting to deal with menopause, Charlotte is struggling to cope with her children, Miranda hates her new boss, and Carrie thinks her marriage has lost it sparkle.

The plot however is quite predictable at times. You just knew when Carrie saw Aidan that something was going to happen between them. And as for bringing Samantha to a place where showing affection publicly is illegal, you just knew how that would end up. But despite the negatives in the narrative, i still thought it was entertaining and felt that i could actually relate with Carrie's situation of the terrible "two's" of marriage.

This film does have some flaws and is not as enjoyable as the first one, but Michael Patrick King should be commended for moving the ladies life's along as naturally as would happen in real life. Instead of being caught up by the woes of being single, they are caught up by the realities of the life's they have chosen to live.

As usual the clothes take centre stage, and there are copious amounts of costume changes throughout. One of the highlights to the film, is the music which accompanies it. I especially like the irony behind Liza Minnelli singing 'Single Ladies.' And you can't help but become empowered when they sing 'I am Woman' at a karaoke night.

This time around there isn't much sex, or much of the City, but its still good to be back with the girls.