Men In Black III
What’s it about?
Agent J travels in time to MIB’s early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.
What did we think?
Apparently filming started before they completed the script.
It shows.
The Dictator
What’s it about?
The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. Or the story of a dictator who is stranded in the America – the country he hates – without his identity but all of his attitude.
What did we think?
Intermittent laugh-out-loud moments don’t disguise the fact that this is a hit-and-miss affair. Imagine Coming To America with outright vulgarity: it’s sort of funny but not always in a good way.
It’s essentially re-heated Sacha Baron Cohen so his fans will lap it up while the rest of us will be hoping for an actor re-boot for his next project.
Dark Shadows
What’s it about?
An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free after 200 years and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection. Hijinx ensue as he ‘adapts’ to the modern world of 1972.
What did we think?
Despite the wacky premise, this self-indulgent movie takes itself far too seriously. Some wicked performances but to be frank, you should watch the first 20 minutes, go out for a coffee/shop/lunch/whatever for 70 minutes and then come back for the final 20.
Maybe that way you’ll enjoy it.
2.5
America Pie Reunion
What’s it about?
The original cast rejoin the war with Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reuniting in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.
What did we think?
Now there’s an EIGHTH movie in the series. On the bright side, it’s the best since the original movie but let’s face it that’s not really saying much given the quality of numbers two through seven.
Diehard fans will enjoy the characterisations and misadventures but most of us have seen it all before. Too many times.
The Hunger Games
What’s it about?
In a dystopian future society, the ruthless Capitol forces one boy and one girl from each district to fight to the death in an arena as punishment for past uprisings. Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister’s place when she is chosen as the District 12 sacrifice.
What did we think?
Liz says: Having missed the bandwagon of The Hunger Games book series, I went into this film completely blind and came out a convert. The film is impressive in its scope and scale, and the alternate world created by the writers is intriguing and imaginatively detailed. The pace of the film never lags and the story had me interested right from the word go. Great performances from a relatively unknown young cast, with some older talent providing a nice anchor: I particularly enjoyed Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy and Lenny Kravitz as the futuristic stylist Cinna.
See the movie. Buy the books. Repeat.
The Five-Year Engagement
What’s it about?
Violet (Emily Blunt) and Tom (Jason Segal) meet, fall in love and get engaged. But something always seems to come in between them and their big day.
What did we think?
It’s never a good sign when you find yourself thinking that a film feels long while you’re still watching it. However, a great beginning and great ending mostly make up for the pace problems in the middle. The chemistry between Blunt and Segel is a delight to watch and Alison Brie steals the show as Blunt’s hilarious sister (demonstrating a ‘so cute it’s ridiculous’ British accent in the process).
Despite the fact that the movie isn’t quite gross enough for Apatow fans and will be a little too silly for those expecting a straight-up rom-com, it’s still worth a watch, especially for Segal/Blunt fans.
What’s Popular
Kill The Messenger
What’s it about?
Jeremy Renner stars in the true story of a journalist who stumbled into the shady world of the CIA’s drug dealings in Venezuela during the Cold War. Investigating the story could be the opportunity of a lifetime but it risks cutting that lifetime short.
What did we think?
Dan says: This true story tells the horrifying reality of the grey areas in which the CIA has dealt in the past. For a film with such a shocking story to tell it seems to struggle to capture that tone. It feels like a shorter story stretched thin and long. Like drinking two big glasses of lite milk instead of one of full cream, I was getting all the goodness of the contents but it never seemed satisfying and by the end I was feeling decidedly bloated.
Before I Go To Sleep
What’s it about?
Christine (Nicole Kidman) suffers from Guy Pearce syndrome a condition that results in her memory being erased whenever she sleeps. Whom can she trust when she can’t trust herself?
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: It’s Memento: Suburban Edition! Before I Go To Sleep is both a well-paced whodunnit and a sensitive depiction of living with severe illness. A few ridiculous bits of exposition are tempered by top-notch performances, especially by Colin Firth and a few genuinely nifty twists. For a film about memory loss, it’s pretty memorable. Sadly, even at a cracking 97 minutes, it’s still 10 minutes too long. When will writers learn that loose ends don’t all need to be bloody tied up?
The Judge
What’s it about?
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town’s judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The first half of this movie is an overwhelming collection of cliches and stereotypes and it’s only the amazing performances of the truly impressive cast that keeps you on the hook. But somehow the second half of the movie actually manages to go a bit deeper, interspersing enough humour and pathos to leave you with a surprisingly satisfying ending.
Tusk
What’s it about?
A new media letch with a poorly calibrated moral compass gets abducted. He is to be the subject of experiments to see if his humanity can be stripped from him if he is surgically transformed into a walrus.
What did we think?
Dan Beeston says: I’ve never seen a film where a fifth of the audience walked out and two fifths stayed right through the credits. This film is nothing if not divisive. Kevin Smith creates an eclectic parody of a horror film. It’s never scary but is appreciatively grotesque.
Justin Long is denied lines of dialogue as his character transforms – it’s probably a good thing as his character is neither likeable nor charismatically detestable. The Québécois detective is boring and pales in comparision to Michael Parks’ stellar performance.
Smith has re-embraced his independent beginnings and I’m glad this film exists but I think that he also needs a slightly firmer guiding hand.
Editor's Choice
Kill The Messenger
What’s it about?
Jeremy Renner stars in the true story of a journalist who stumbled into the shady world of the CIA’s drug dealings in Venezuela during the Cold War. Investigating the story could be the opportunity of a lifetime but it risks cutting that lifetime short.
What did we think?
Dan says: This true story tells the horrifying reality of the grey areas in which the CIA has dealt in the past. For a film with such a shocking story to tell it seems to struggle to capture that tone. It feels like a shorter story stretched thin and long. Like drinking two big glasses of lite milk instead of one of full cream, I was getting all the goodness of the contents but it never seemed satisfying and by the end I was feeling decidedly bloated.
Before I Go To Sleep
What’s it about?
Christine (Nicole Kidman) suffers from Guy Pearce syndrome a condition that results in her memory being erased whenever she sleeps. Whom can she trust when she can’t trust herself?
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: It’s Memento: Suburban Edition! Before I Go To Sleep is both a well-paced whodunnit and a sensitive depiction of living with severe illness. A few ridiculous bits of exposition are tempered by top-notch performances, especially by Colin Firth and a few genuinely nifty twists. For a film about memory loss, it’s pretty memorable. Sadly, even at a cracking 97 minutes, it’s still 10 minutes too long. When will writers learn that loose ends don’t all need to be bloody tied up?
The Judge
What’s it about?
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town’s judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The first half of this movie is an overwhelming collection of cliches and stereotypes and it’s only the amazing performances of the truly impressive cast that keeps you on the hook. But somehow the second half of the movie actually manages to go a bit deeper, interspersing enough humour and pathos to leave you with a surprisingly satisfying ending.
Tusk
What’s it about?
A new media letch with a poorly calibrated moral compass gets abducted. He is to be the subject of experiments to see if his humanity can be stripped from him if he is surgically transformed into a walrus.
What did we think?
Dan Beeston says: I’ve never seen a film where a fifth of the audience walked out and two fifths stayed right through the credits. This film is nothing if not divisive. Kevin Smith creates an eclectic parody of a horror film. It’s never scary but is appreciatively grotesque.
Justin Long is denied lines of dialogue as his character transforms – it’s probably a good thing as his character is neither likeable nor charismatically detestable. The Québécois detective is boring and pales in comparision to Michael Parks’ stellar performance.
Smith has re-embraced his independent beginnings and I’m glad this film exists but I think that he also needs a slightly firmer guiding hand.