Warm Bodies
What’s it about?
In the future, after zombies have waged a successful apocalypse, an unusually empathetic zombie named “R” falls in love with Julie (there’s a theme here. I just can’t …), the daughter of the leader of the surviving humans. Oh but that won’t work out at all! Surely!
What did we think?
Alex says: What may have been intended as “Romeo & Juliet with Zombies” turns out to be more “Zombie Twilight” with an intentional sense of humour. But this zom-rom-com combo leaves you not really caring about the characters or the fate of the human race.
Jonathan Levine at least capably directs likeable leads Nicholas Hoult and our very own Teresa Palmer away from vapid Edward-and-Bella territory. But when it comes to the undead-related laughs, it’s no Shaun of the Dead.
Trance
What’s it about?
An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.
What did we think?
Anthony says: With a quality cast and an overly complicated plot, Trance tries hard to be seen as a clever, classy movie but a few things work against it. Firstly, they explain everything eventually in a way bordering on monosyllabic and secondly, none of the characters are actually likeable so you’re not sure who to cheer for. They all could have died and I wouldn’t have cared. In no way hypnotising – you’ll just end up feeling sleepy.
Liz says: Awesome stuff happened. Then less awesome stuff happened. Then some confusing and silly stuff happened. Then we saw Rosario Dawson’s vagina and it all went downhill from there.
Jack the Giant Slayer
What’s it about?
The fairy-tale adventure of a gullible farm boy thrust literally and horticulturally into circumstances where he must prove his worth or perish.
What did we think?
Dan says: Bryan Singer takes the quirky elements of a children’s fable and grittily reboots it. No longer restricted to water-colour illustrations, the giants and the bean stalk become monstrous entities. The action and violence is larger than life and occasionally pushes against the PG rating potentially upsetting some parents and few children. (They love it.)
Surprisingly satisfying for anyone who has ever enjoyed the age old tale and/or delighted in Ewan McGregor at his hammiest.
A Good Day To Die Hard
What’s it about?
John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist, causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces.
What did we think?
Anthony says: The opening seconds lift our spirits and hopes with a haunting bass version of Ode To Joy but then the black screen gives way to vision and it’s mostly downhill from there (impressive car chase aside).
Jack McClane is the Jar Jar of the Die Hard universe. He’s irritating, unnecessary and a walking cliche. Completely ignoring the complexities of the previous Die Hard movies, this time around the producers decided to keep the action and explosions but mix them with poor dialogue, bad editing and a simply ridiculous story.
I’m gutted.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
What’s it about?
A jaded, once-successful Vegas magician and his sidekick (Steve Buscemi and Steve Carell) – former token schoolyard victims who used to believe in the magic of, well, magic – must change tack when an obnoxious street magician threatens their cheesy, tanned brand of trickery.
What did we think?
Alex says: Is THAT your card, sir? In what could have easily been a parody worse than the kitschy, dated magic scene it’s sending up, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone delivers handsome LOLs as well as an arbitrary saccharine tale of caring about what’s important – or something – which fortunately doesn’t get in the way of the humour too much.
Under the sharp direction of Don Scardino (30 Rock), the leading Steves, Carell and Buscemi, are stellar as the bickering, washed-up illusionists but Jim Carrey very nearly steals the show as the alternative – and, of course, entirely evil (hey, we came for laughs, not character depth!) – new face of extreme magic. No new heights of comedy but it does little wrong.
Goddess
What’s it about?
Elspeth Dickens (Laura Michelle Kelly), a former small-time singer, has put her dreams on hold to raise twin toddlers while her often-absent but idealistic husband (Ronan Keating) works weeks away at a time. She sets up a webcam to keep in touch with him but ends up becoming an inadvertent internet sensation. Suddenly marketing gurus and a shot at the big time beckon luring her away from her family.
What did we think?
Anthony says: Eccentric and whimsical, this film will intensely appeal to its key demographic. The question is will it rate with people who aren’t stay-at-home mothers? While there is still some appeal for females in general, the recurring themes and morals are predominantly about juggling love of kids and hubby with dreams. Which is a bit of a shame because this over-the-top semi-musical is actually fun but just has too many parenting in-jokes.
What’s Popular
Woman in Gold
What’s it about?
An Austrian woman born into privilege has her life overturned by a political revolt that targets the bourgeois but then rapidly spins into the systematic destruction of entire creeds. In an attempt to reconnect with those she has lost in the past she commits to reclaiming an important and valuable painting that was stolen from her family.
What did we think?
Dan says: This is a film that tries to stand on the emotional shoulders of the horrific acts of World War 2. If you have a strong connection to the tale this may well be enough to ignore the haphazard story-telling and scattershot tonal shifts.
Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds spend over two hours telling of the emotional weight and not enough time showing it. If you’re going to tell a true story that’s important, find the important parts of it to tell.
Poltergeist
What’s it about?
When a little girl is stolen away by malevolent spirits, her family must band together to rescue her.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: This remake of the 1982 film has all the modern bells and whistles you’d expect, with computer-generated effects and new technology being used to try to ramp up the spook factor. The cast, including Sam Rockwell as the little girl’s father and Jared Harris as a grizzled paranormal investigator, deliver solidly amusing performances. But amusing isn’t really what horror is going for. On the whole, however, this flick is written and shot too blandly to be especially frightening or fun. Why remake a film if you can’t improve on the original?
Spy
What’s it about?
Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is a desk-bound CIA operative constantly in the ear of suave and in-the-field Bradley Fine (Jude Law). When he disappears, she gets in on the action to save the world from global disaster at the hands of a nasty Russian arms dealer.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: Let’s face it, McCarthy can do no wrong in comedy – especially when she’s permitted to swear outrageously. And there’s plenty here – it had me spitting out my drink on more than one occasion. F-bombs and even c-bombs rain down from above (some might say too many). Guffaw! The storyline’s the same American, crass crap, but it’s hilariously well done with superb one liner scattered throughout. Rose Byrne’s pretty good as a Russian bitch, and it’s fantastic to see loveable Brit Miranda Hart playing her typical endearing role. Allison Janney as the boss is a genius stroke of casting, too. Explosive laughs out loud virtually guaranteed.
Wild Tales
What’s it about?
In this Oscar-nominated anthology of six darkly funny short stories, ordinary people carry out violent acts of revenge.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Szifrón has created a compelling feature-length experience out of very different and surprising short films. Each one steadily increases in length and scale, but is also completely self-contained, so the whole film flies by but you’ll be picking your favourites as you leave the theatre. It’s a fun, classy and bloody affair that you should go into knowing as little about as possible.
Editor's Choice
Woman in Gold
What’s it about?
An Austrian woman born into privilege has her life overturned by a political revolt that targets the bourgeois but then rapidly spins into the systematic destruction of entire creeds. In an attempt to reconnect with those she has lost in the past she commits to reclaiming an important and valuable painting that was stolen from her family.
What did we think?
Dan says: This is a film that tries to stand on the emotional shoulders of the horrific acts of World War 2. If you have a strong connection to the tale this may well be enough to ignore the haphazard story-telling and scattershot tonal shifts.
Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds spend over two hours telling of the emotional weight and not enough time showing it. If you’re going to tell a true story that’s important, find the important parts of it to tell.
Poltergeist
What’s it about?
When a little girl is stolen away by malevolent spirits, her family must band together to rescue her.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: This remake of the 1982 film has all the modern bells and whistles you’d expect, with computer-generated effects and new technology being used to try to ramp up the spook factor. The cast, including Sam Rockwell as the little girl’s father and Jared Harris as a grizzled paranormal investigator, deliver solidly amusing performances. But amusing isn’t really what horror is going for. On the whole, however, this flick is written and shot too blandly to be especially frightening or fun. Why remake a film if you can’t improve on the original?
Spy
What’s it about?
Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is a desk-bound CIA operative constantly in the ear of suave and in-the-field Bradley Fine (Jude Law). When he disappears, she gets in on the action to save the world from global disaster at the hands of a nasty Russian arms dealer.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: Let’s face it, McCarthy can do no wrong in comedy – especially when she’s permitted to swear outrageously. And there’s plenty here – it had me spitting out my drink on more than one occasion. F-bombs and even c-bombs rain down from above (some might say too many). Guffaw! The storyline’s the same American, crass crap, but it’s hilariously well done with superb one liner scattered throughout. Rose Byrne’s pretty good as a Russian bitch, and it’s fantastic to see loveable Brit Miranda Hart playing her typical endearing role. Allison Janney as the boss is a genius stroke of casting, too. Explosive laughs out loud virtually guaranteed.
Wild Tales
What’s it about?
In this Oscar-nominated anthology of six darkly funny short stories, ordinary people carry out violent acts of revenge.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Szifrón has created a compelling feature-length experience out of very different and surprising short films. Each one steadily increases in length and scale, but is also completely self-contained, so the whole film flies by but you’ll be picking your favourites as you leave the theatre. It’s a fun, classy and bloody affair that you should go into knowing as little about as possible.