Hobbit Trailer

A link to one of the several The Hobbit trailers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTSoD4BBCJc

Again, there is much excitement at the prospect of the 2012 movie calender. Now, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Peter Jackson looks set to deliver another epic tale from Middle Earth in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The trailer begins with an introduction to the young Bilbo, played by Brit Martin Freeman, before showing the band of Dwarves that take him on his adventure where he finds the One Ring.

It has to be said that the song sung by the Dwarves is possibly the most emotive part of the whole trailer, especially as when it ends Thorin says that he cannot promise Bilbo's safety, or accept responsibility for whatever may happen to him. The dark overtones of the song, and the rest of trailer for that matter, makes me think that this new film will be a lot darker than the previous trilogy, including The Return of the King.

It is pleasing to see many familiarities from the Lord of the Rings appearing in the trailer, such as Rivendell, the shattered blade of Narsil, and the familar faces of Ian Mackellen as Gandalf, Ian Holmes as an older Bilbo and a charcter that made a certain Andy Serkis rather famous.

All of this is pleasingly tied together with some clips which show some of the comical moments of the film, which will serve to balance out the dark tone that is portrayed throughout.

The Dark Knight Rises trailer.

A link to one of several Batman: The Dark Knight Rises trailer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GokKUqLcvD8

As in my Prometheus trailer analysis, lots of trailers in the past couple of weeks have been released to say farewell to 2011 and get mouths watering for 2012.

The opening of the Dark Knight Rises trailer appears to mimic (or possibly mock?) the route that a lot of Marvel films go down: an American patriotism message. Where Marvel does it blatantly with such images as Spiderman flying through the air in front of an American flag in every film, Chirstopher Nolan has done it with the national anthem at the opening of a football game (which I believe does happen in real life). However, this is not to deliver a patriotic message, it is to draw attention to the fact that Bane (Tom Hardy) holds the players and audience hostage (as has been seen in leaked footage and the scene in the trailer with the pitch collapsing).

The fact that this is the final of Christopher Nolans films is emphasised so much in the trailer, with Albert's (Michael Caine) moving speech of how he failed to look after Bruce, the sinister music throughout, the chant of 'rise', and Catwoman's (Anne Hathaway) remark that they 'think this will last'.

Things to get the geeks (including myself) really going are the clip of the Batwing in the final few seconds of the trailer, and Batman being told by Bane that "When Gotham is ashes, you have my permission to die." The fact that he says this when Batman is lying on the floor suggests strongly that the rumours that this film follows the Knightfall comic story where Bane breaks Batmans back are true.

On the one hand, I am deeply saddened to see Christopher Nolans brilliant Dark Knight series come to an end. On the other, I believe that the end of this series and the forthcoming reboot leans strongly to an amalgamation of the DC Universe into a Justice League film (copying Marvel's upcoming Avengers).

Prometheus trailer

It's the end of the year, and we've been treated to not one, not two, but three trailers for The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, and Prometheus.

This is one of several links to the upcoming Ridley Scott Alien prequel, Prometheus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIBiimdaj3A

After hearing about Prometheus a while ago, and the rumours flying around as to the subject of the film -knowing it to be a prequel but what angle it will take - I was thrilled to hear that the giant pilot from the first of the quadrilogy would play a role. From the trailer, this looks to be true, as we see it's skull being (presumably) scanned, and the chair rising out of the floor.

One aspect of the trailer that I love, is the use of the same appearance of the title Prometheus as is used in the first Alien film.This is a definite nod in the direction, for anyone who was in doubt, that this is indeed a prequel.

The tagline "They wenmt looking for our beginning, what they found could be our end" is another hint at the Xenomorph (hark at me with my fancy knowledge). One thing that is odd, are the scenes from 28 seconds into the trailer, to 31 seconds, with the giant statue of a human face, and what look to be jars which are arranged similarly to the eggs, and ends with a similar situation of a man with something on his face screaming. 

So many questions are raised by the trailer that it will be interesting to see whether or not Scott will be able to answer them all. How come humans have found the crashed ship before? Will we finally learn about the mysterious pilot? What is the link to "our beginning"? And, perhaps most importantly, is the date at the end of the trailer Americanised (month before day) or British (day before month)? Either way, June 8 or August 6, we'll know!

Immortals: 3D (15) ***

Immortals: 3D (15) ***

Dir: Tarsem Singh

Starring: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt, Freida Pinto

Synopsis: In ancient Greece, the evil King Hyperion seeks to release the Titans, immortal beings who lost in a mythic war, leaving them imprisoned within Mount Tartarus, and the victors became Gods. He searches for the Epirus Bow to release them, and the God's cannot intervene in the conflicts of men - until Theseus, a peasant with a warrior's skill comes forth to stop Hyperion.

Verdict: It is blatantly obvious that Immortals is from the producers of 300. You have splatter factor, men fighting great numbers of enemies and emerging with barely a scratch (until, of course, the final battle), and beautiful women not wearing very much.

Despite Theseus (Cavill) being the main character, he barely speaks and is left to let the actions of himself (and what others do to him) do the talking. This compared to the villain of the film King Hyperion (Rourke) is quite a contrast, where he has a good amount of dialogue to help create his background and build an understanding of him.

They both have some level of depth created about them, but Theseus doesn't seem quite as rounded, which could be due to Rourke's portrayal of Hyperion, which is one of the better performances in the film. Another notable performance is from Pinto as the oracle Phaedra, who is excelling in this just as she did in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

The special effects are very good throughout the film, with good use of CGI, slow motion shots and, even the 3D wasn't too bad, without many of the hiccoughs that can be seen in other 3D offerings.

Immortals is so much like the lovechild of 300 and Clash of the Titans that is could be a sequel to each individually, or both together. It is a violent no-brainer that, while providing entertaining fight scenes, is definitely not for everyone.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (PG) ****

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (PG) ****

Dir: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Andy Serkis

Synopsis: Strange goings on start occurring to young journalist Tintin after he buys a model of a Spanish Galleon, which sends him on a globetrotting adventure to discover the secret of the ship in this Indiana Jones-esque movie.

Verdict: The beloved children’s character comes to life on the big screen, complete with his dog, Snowy. Using CGI to create this latest offering of the adventurous young journalist turned out to be a good call. Keeping in touch with the old style of animation from the cartoon and comic, whilst giving a degree of extra realism means the producers can do things that the normal style wouldn’t have been able to achieve (although the film does start with a homage to the old comics and cartoons through street portraiture).

Of course, the voice acting is more important than the visual, and the cast don’t fail to impress. Jamie Bell is wonderful as Tintin, showing both youth and a depth of character that is typical of the Belgian. Pegg and Frost excel as the inept Interpol agents, Thompson and Thomson, delivering much of the comedy of the film. However, the funniest character is probably Captain Haddock (Serkis), whose drunken antics are a riot.

The comedy is appealing to both children and adults, as so many children’s films tend to be (with jokes that are funny to both, and jokes that are aimed at adults and to go over children’s heads), and a story line that has some predictable moments, but is still a very entertaining movie.

Tower Heist (12A) ***

Tower Heist (12A) ***


Dir: Brett Ratner


Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick,


Synopsis: When Wall Street mogul Arthur Shaw is accused of fraud, the staff at the high end apartment block in New York where he lives decide to get back the pensions they had invested with him - by hiring a thief and pulling robbing him.


Verdict: Tower Heist is one of those rare comedy films that surprisingly, and happily, both lives up to the trailer while not showing off all the funniest moments in it.

One thing that helps this be a brilliantly funny film is the cast. Ben Stiller plays Josh Kovacs, the building manager of The Tower (the less than imaginatively named building behind the name of the film) and mastermind behind the heist. He succeeds in creating a serious persona for the character, right up until the point where he discovers all of his money is gone and we get to see the crazy, comical side that is determined to get his own back.

The other main comedy player is, of course, Eddie Murphy. He plays Slide, the small time thief and all-round bad egg who is tempted to make it big when a $20million carrot is dangled in front of his face. Murphy indeed lives up to his status as a hysterically funny actor, producing by far the most laughs in the film through his energy, expressions and his voice.

The story behind the actors is also very good, both for the fact that it is well written with some twists and turns of the predictable, and the not-so predictable kind (sort of like The Fast and the Furious, but with more laughs), but also with the incorporation of the humour that makes this film such good fun.

Real Steel (12A) ****

Real Steel (12A) ****

Dir: Shawn Levy

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly

Synopsis: In the future, human boxing has become obsolete. Now, giant robots beat each other to death in the ring, giving the baying crowd what they want: carnage. Ex-boxer Charlie finds himself caring for his son Max and together, they find and train an outmoded robot to rise through the ranks of the robot boxing scene.

Verdict: If one thing must be said for this film, it is this: robots beating the crap out of each other is just the side story to a father-son bonding film. Although having said that, the robots beating the crap out of each other is very fun to watch.

You start off by meeting Charlie (Jackman), the ex boxer turned robot trainer/operator who i found myself taking an instant dislike too. Jackman plays the obsessive, gambling, debt ridden Charlie exceedingly well and gradually reduces it as the relationship between him and his son Max (Goyo) grows stronger. There is much inevitability in this film, making it quite predictable as far as plot goes, from the used again and again dad-who-wasn't-there growing to love his son, to the Rocky-esque bout at the end of the film.

Goyo does a superb job of playing Max. He manages to pull off a character who, all at once, is the same as his father but completely different, and instantly likable. This liking is taken further as he grows closer to both his father, and Atom, their junkyard robot. It is nice to see that at the end of the film, he and Charlie's love interest Bailey (Lilly) aren't watching the robots in the ring, but Charlie as he controls Atom and going back to his boxing roots.

Atom, despite being both a CG and an animatronic model is a whole other character. It looks constantly hopeful due to a weld (or some other kind of marking) on his face which makes it look as though it's smiling, and as the characters grow to love it, so did I.

The use of the Avatar special effects team makes this film so much better in terms of special effects than things like Transformers. And the film seems to benefit from the choice to not shoot in 3D, as it helps the focus remain on the emotional story, rather than the giant hunks of metal punching each other into oblivion.

The Three Musketeers 3D (12A) ***

The Three Musketeers 3D (12A) ***

Dir: Paul W.S Anderson

Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Luke Evans, Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich.

Synopsis: The Three Musketeers are down on their luck after a botched mission, leaving them a group of drunken brawlers in Paris. Until, that is, young D'Artagnan comes to join their ranks, and they find themselves embarking on a thrilling mission to stop France and England going to war.

Verdict: It may just be me harking back to the good old days of my childhood, but throughout The Three Musketeers I couldn't stop thinking about the old cartoon from my youth, Albert: The Fifth Musketeer, as well as the old video game from my youth, Final Fantasy 9. This aside, however, the film is an enjoyable watch with plenty of bang for your buck.

Lets get the big question out of the way first: the 3D. I think that the little niggle I have with 3D stands, and that is that people still haven't been able to sort out writing without their being a translucent image of the word slightly off to one side (whether it be right or left). However, the effect works in many other parts of the film. For example, the flyover of a war map, complete with figures of ships, horses and soldiers is good, as is one particular scene that caught my attention of an aerial view of Paris with clouds in frame which looked very good.

On the subject of other special effects, the CGI was very good, with the (to me) Final Fantasy inspired airships being very impressive. Alongside these are the good old fashioned pyrotechnics which no self respecting Hollywood action flick would be without. Again, though, I find myself noticing too much when the scene is filmed before a green screen which, unfortunately, detracts from the experience a little bit.

 To stop myself going off on a rant about special effects, lets now discuss the acting side of the film. The original Three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis (played by Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans respectively) are very good, ranging from the all serious heroes they are, to very comical. The comedy is enhanced somewhat by their servant Planchett, played by James Corden. His style of comedy suits the film very well, and gives the main characters of The Musketeers something to bounce off too make the audience laugh.

Then, of course, there is the cocksure, arrogant D'Artagnon (Lerman). He, more than the rest of the Musketeers, is the focus of the film, as it charts his progress from picking fights with each of the original Musketeers in turn, to becoming a part of them (The Four Musketeers being the inevitable sequel? or something more inventive?) and, inevitably, getting the girl.

Milady de Winter (Jovovich) is also very good, intelligent, evil and constantly changing sides. This is quite a juxtaposition to King Louis (Freddie Fox) who is as dense as they come, and only worried about whether his fashion is the same as Orlando Blooms' Buckingham, the evil from across the channel. This stupidity is highlighted even more by the Queen (Juno Temple), another intelligent woman who is the driving force behind getting the Musketeers to go on their mission. I think, above everything, this is what made me think so much of Albert when watching it, the similarities between the dense King Louis, the Queen, the Cardinal and Milady (although Milady was missing a quacking duck tattoo, which was a pity)

Wheels for Heroes 2011

Pat Murray (in the middle wearing a mohawk helmet)
with some of the participants at the finish line in Matlock

OVER £1000 has been raised for soldiers’ families at the Wheels for Heroes motorcycle rally.

The event, which went from the Council offices in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, to the Derbyshire Dales District Council building in Matlock, raised £1020 for the Royal British Legion.

Between 150 and 200 Riders rode from the Civic car park in Swadlincote, to the Derbyshire Dales District Council building in Matlock.

Councillor Pat Murray from South Derbyshire County Council, the organiser of the Wheels for Heroes event, said that it was a great success.

“It wasn’t the best of day’s weather wise, but bikers brave all sorts for a good cause.

“The public were really good as well, and people came out along the route to cheer us on.”

Stuart Allen, the County Vice-Chairman for the Derbyshire Royal British Legion was also pleased with how the day went: “It was brilliant, it went very, very well and was very well supported by all the different bike associations.

“I’m very grateful to Pat Murray for organising the event, and to all the people who turned out.”

With such a good turnout of bikers, there was a nice variety of bikes taking part in the run, ranging from 50cc Lambretta’s, to big engined sports bikes, tourers, cruisers and trikes.

Luckily, the weather stayed fine for the duration of the ride, which left Swadlincote at 11am and arrived in Matlock at approximately 12:15, taking in some of the villages surrounding Burton-on-Trent before getting onto the A38 and A6 for the Peak District town.

The ride out was the second such event organised by Cllr Murray, with a run in 2010 raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund, and a run already planned for Sunday, October 14 2012 to raise money for Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Families Association (SSAFFA).

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (15) ****

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (15) ****

Dir: Tomas Alfredson

Starring: Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch.

Synopsis: 1973. The cold war is in full swing, and an espionage battle is raging between the Soviet Union, and Britain and America. MI6 finds out there is a mole in their ranks, and bring George Smiley (Oldman), a retired veteran, to uncover the double agent.

Verdict: This is one of those films that is a marmite film. you either like it, or you dont. True, all films are marmite films, but this is one of those serious films that doesn't use action, romance or comedy to grab you, but uses its ability to make you think, wonder, and look at it in a lot of detail to try and figure it all out.

With its all star cast this film, it seems, is destined for great things. Based on the novel by John le Carre, originally turned into a series by the BBC and now a feature film, the story tackles the very real threat that could have happened during the days of the cold war. A mole in the British intelligence.

The cast is perfect for this film. Each actor delivers a great performance, but particular credit must be given to Oldman, Cumberbatch and Hardy. To be honest, the whole cast is very deserving, making me - someone who has neither read the book or seen the original series - keep second guessing who is the guilty party in the plot. This is the key to this film - it is so clever in its story (thanks to le Carre) and its delivery (thanks to Alfredson and the cast) that you constantly think: 'It's him... Or maybe him'.

This cleverness in the plot is reflected in the filming of the movie. I found myself going back to the days of films studies - examining mise en scene, lighting, and noticing certain choices that, while I still do this things, I found myself doing more for this film than others (albeit to try and find clues). I particularly liked the metaphor of a signal change and train junction clicking into place as Oldman's Smiley figured everything out.

This cleverness is balanced by a level of violence that is quite impressive, even by todays standards. There is an impressive splatter in the middle of the film (including chunks of brain and bone sliding down a wall), and a brilliant kill-shot effect at the end of the film.

While not to everyone's taste, this film is sure to do well - both at the box office and when awards season comes around. Like The Kings Speech, Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy goes to prove that simple and clever films are just as good, if not better, than the big budget all action, all comedy, all lovey dovey movies that Hollywood releases.

Fastest ***

Fastest ***

Dir: Mark Neale

Starring: Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Ben Spies, Casey Stoner, narrated by Ewan McGregor

Synopsis: Basically a recap of the 2010 MotoGP season, with highlights from previous seasons including the epic 2009 Catalunya final laps and more.

Verdict: While a good insight into the background of the MotoGP, the film seems very focused on one very famous individual in the sport. Valentino Rossi. While this is not a bad thing, I like Rossi (despite thinking that alot of his fans are just there for the glory - think about alot of Manchester United fans if you're a football fan) the film lacks a certain something that would have made it spectacular.

The film starts off with those epic final laps of the 2009 Catalunya grand prix, with Lorenzo and Rossi duking it out for the win. From there, we get introduced to Rossi's hometown fans and members of his fan club (which we dont get the pleasure of for any other of the racers), and go into the 2010 season.

The fans get to relive the crash that puts Rossi out of action with a broken leg, the rise of the current championship holder Jorge Lorenzo and the illness of Casey Stoner. The injuries and illnesses of the season are of course overshadowed by the fact that the sport is dangerous - with a touching reference to Shoya Tomizawa, and the many others who have lost their lives doing what they love over the years since the MotoGP began.

While this film is not a must see for fans of the sport, it is an entertaining and very interesting documentary into the background of the sport, the rifts between the riders that have grown during the past few seasons, and asks the very real question of 'who will be fastest now?' (a question many are asking with Rossi's current sturggle with the Ducati).

30 Minutes or Less (15) **

30 Minutes or Less (15) **

Dir: Ruben Fleischer

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari

Synopsis: Dwayne (McBride) is a 'big-dream' guy who, annoyed at his father (Fred Ward), decides to get him whacked. For this, he needs $100,000 to pay the hitman, and recruits stoner pizza delivery boy Nick (Eisenberg) to rob a bank for him by strapping a bomb to his chest.

Verdict: I thought with both the star and the director of Zombieland, a brilliant comic reimagining of the whole zombie genre, that 30 Minutes or Less would be just as funny. Yes, it had its moments, but on the whole it didn't live up to the expectations I had for it.

The better things about the film: Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari play Nick and Chet, two long time friends who have taken opposite paths in life. Nick is a dope smoking pizza delivery boy and Chet is a teacher. The two of them are convincing in their roles, with Eisenberg doing the panicky, almost kid, performance that develops into a man, much like in Zombieland.

These two deliver all the best comedy in the film, from the bank robbery, to threatening police officers with the line "You just brought a gun to a bomb fight!"

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Dwayne (McBride) and Travis (Nick Swardson). The characters are truly frustrating for their idiocy. This isn't the fault of the actors, but the writers, who seem to have been using the rule book which states that swearing and sex humour is the way to make a comedy film.

This said, McBride and Swardson do a good job of displaying the characters for what they are. Dwayne, the bully-ish leader of the two, whose hatred of his dad and disregard for others just go to highlight his stupidity and Travis, who while being thick, does atleast have an some modicum of technical intelligence (making a coded bomb vest for example)

All in all, a bit of a let down from the Zombieland duo, which left a lot to be desired.

Friends With Benefits (15) ****

Friends With Benefits (15) ****

Dir: Will Gluck

Starring: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Woody Harrelson

Synopsis: A young up-and-coming graphics designer (Timerlake) moves to New York to work for GQ magazine and befriends the headhunter (Kunis) who found him the job. Both tired of relationships, they decide add no-strings sex to their relationship which, inevitably, leads to more.

Verdict: The film opens with Jamie (Kunis) and Dylan (Timberlake) on their phones, Jamie at the cinema wanting to see go in and see a film, and Dylan running late and trying to get there. Instant reaction: they're the couple and it's a flashback scenario. Then you realise that they're in seperate relationships, on seperate sides of Ameica (LA and NY). An over-used series of edits, maybe, but there's no denying that it works in making the audience think something contrary to what they're doing.

After showing this hand the film becomes very predictable, from pointing out the flaws in rom-com movies just to copy them, to the plot itself. This predictability isn't helped in any way by the fact that earlier in the year we had No Strings Attached, exactly the same premis but released earlier in the year. This said, there are no end of films that are the same, such as body swap comedies (The Change Up is just about to be released) and Bridesmaids being almost a female version of The Hangover.

There is the slight deviation from the predictable, with Woody Harrelsons sports editor Tommy, the outrageously gay character who one would assume to be the gay best friend of Jamie, but is instead Dylans friend (who asks him, and pretty much every male he meets if they are gay). Tommy's in your face homosexuality (somewhat reminiscent of Jack in Will and Grace) provides some comic relief during some of the deeper moments of the film which is both welcome, but at the same time inappropriate - do the deep moments in film really need comic relief to detract from the anger/pain?

Speaking of The Hangover and Bridesmaids, I personally found Friends With Benefits to be a damn sight funnier than either of the previously mentioned films, with a mix of cringe worthy comedy and the plain daft (when they compare their 'rebellious' tattoos).

It also struck me whilst watching the film that alzheimers has become a disease of choice in Hollywood. We have gone from the truly brilliant and touching performance of the condition, to an equally touching depiction with Dylan's dad (played by Richard Jenkins), which is laced with humour (being a rom-com, there's only so much seriousness that can be put in isnt there?).

This is definitely a great date-night movie, with eye-candy for guys and girls alike, and some of the funniest moments to hit the silver screen so far this year.

Colombiana (15) ***

Colombiana (15) ***

Dir: Olivier Megaton

Starring: Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan, Callum Blue

Synopsis: Cataleya (Saldana) is on a vendetta after witnessing the deaths of her parents at age nine in her home country of Colombia. Relocating to Chicago, she becomes a top assassin in a bid to get revenge on the man who killed her family.

Verdict: This is another example of a film aimed at blokes, with scantily clad girls, lots of guns and a sprinkling of action. Zoe Saldana shows that she is a talented actress, but her portrayal of Catelya seems to bear similarities to Neytiri in Avatar. She does have more range, as we've seen in Death at a Funeral and Stark Trek but, unfortunately, it doesn't come through that much in this film.

It also seems that the film has been written to show off the strength, dexterity and flexibility of Saldana as she snakes her way through vents all in a very sexual way, all while wearing very tight clothes (or not many clothes at all) that are apparently ideal for the assassin business.

This plot also seems a bit over-worked of late; the revenge story spanning over many years. This said, the fact that Megaton and writer Luc Besson have written a story around a female character gives the film some weight (highlighted when FBI officer Ross (Lennie James) says 'We're not looking for a woman: it's not possible'. Who'd have thought a woman could be an assassin right?).

Gratuitous action sequences kick off the film, with a gun battle swiftly followed by a free-running chase sequence through a favella in Colombia (Fast Five or Incredible Hulk anyone?) which see's a not-too-conivincing young Cateleya escape to America to begin her life of assassin training. The theme runs throughout the film, with plenty of gun firing and explosions towards the end of the movie.

Of course, there is the statutory love story running parallel to the main bang-bang plot, with the unknowing Danny (Vartan) being both the man who brings her out of her shell, as well as bringing a whole heap of problems to her just because he loves her.

If you're looking for a good couple of hours of sit back, and chill out after a hard day or week, this is definitely a good film to see with the lads, but probably not the best for date night.

Cowboys & Aliens (12A) ***

Cowboys & Aliens (12A) ***

Dir: Jon Favreau

Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde.

Synopsis: A man wakes up in the desert without any memory of who he is, where he came from, or where the mysterious thing on his wrist came from. What he discovers about himself and what is happening around him leads to him and his posse saving their town and, possibly, the world.

Verdict: I was so excited about seeing Cowboys & Aliens, after months of seeing trailers in the cinema and online. I was all set to having my socks blown off and, unfortunately, I was left with my feet still nice and cosy.

It wasn't that it is a bad film which is what left me feeling deflated. The cast certainly live up to their reputations: Harrison Ford plays Woodrow Dolarhyde, a cattle owner and ex-solider from the civil war. A tough, stony, hard ass character, Ford shows the different layers behind the gravelly exterior, albeit not as well as the cheeky charm of the roles he is most famous for.

Daniel Craig is the main character, Jake Lonergan. He does a pretty good job of being a reflection of Ford's Woodrow, a hard-ass, stubborn, take-no-nonsense cowboy on the outside, with a soft caramel inside. His performance is great but, being a British actor, his accent isn't as convincing as the rest of the cast.

Olivia Wildes portrayal of Ella Swenson, the mysterious woman who knows more about Jake than he does, is very good - although sometimes feels a bit stiff. However, this talent is rendered almost irrelevent about halfway through the film by some bad choices by the writers.

The story-line isn't too bad, but leaves a lot to be desired, which is my main problem with the film. It leaves you groaning with exasperation at certain points of the plot, and by the time credits started I felt like it had been a real anti-climax. It wasn't a specific scene in particular which gave this feeling, but that the film didn't live up to the hype.

The special effects aren't anything to write home about either. The CG for the aliens and the weapon on Jake's wrist are good, but there's nothing that stands out and makes you think 'wow!' like with the recent Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The aliens are interesting, combining both what you expect an alien to look like with the unknown, and the level of CG/environment interaction is brilliant, especially considering the dusty desert setting.

Favreau is best known for directing the 2 Iron Man instalments which, I'll be honest, I have large amounts of nerd love for and saw at the cinema more than once, and got on DVD as soon as it came out. But with Cowboys & Aliens, I haven't been left thinking 'I need to see that again' or 'I can't wait to get it on DVD', which is what knocks it down that peg or two.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (12A) ****

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (12A) ****

Dir: Rupert Wyatt

Starring: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow.

Synopsis: A prequel to the Planet of the Apes films which follows the rise and rise of Caesar. After trialing an experimental cure for alzheimers on chimpanzees, one begins to develop significantly increased inteligence. Abused and misunderstood, the aptly named Caeser begins an ape revolution to free themselves of their human oppressors.

Verdict: This film was built up to be something epic, with trailers showing constantly on TV and in the cinema and, honestly, it didn't disappoint. The origins of the Planet of the Apes were touched on brilliantly by the producers (including hints towards a possible remake of the series? See if you can spot the hints).

The main thing to talk about most is, of course, the sophistication of the CG of the apes which is, at times, almost impossible to tell from real life. This is helped in no small part to Andy Serkis, who is well versed in donning the green-suit and acting more primate than man (King Kong, Lord of the Rings). However, I couldnt help feeling that the effects to make up the new Caeser are surprisingly similar to the end result of Tim Roth's portrayal in Tim Burton's own imagining of The Planet of the Apes.

The next biggie is of course the reason behind the development of this drug which sets the whole ball rolling - alzheimers. John Lithgow's depiction of Charles Rodman, a sufferer of the disease, is scarily convincing, while deeply moving - showing how bad the condition can get and its effects both on the sufferer and those around them. This also feeds into the development again, as James Franco plays Rodman's son, Will, a scientist who develops the drug, not just for his father, but to try and help all sufferers.

The franchise has long been associated with its subtext about humanity, judging and comparing us for our similarities and differences to the apes, and Wyatt's re-imagining is no different. He carries on the tradition of touching on traditional aspects such as cruelty and hierarchy, as well as the pressing theme in this film, animal testing.

A film that is as 'heavy' and thought provoking as it is visually stunning, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a great film to end the summer on before the autumn movies roll in.

Super 8 (12A) ****

Super 8 (12A) ****

Dir: J.J. Abrams

Starring: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Riley Griffiths

Synopsis: While filming a zombie flick for their local film competition, a group of kids accidentally film a U.S Air Force train derail. Afterwards, strange things start happening - dogs, people and machinery disappear - and the youths take it upon themselves to find out what's happening to their little town.
Verdict: It is easy to see that this film has been influenced so much by the work of Steven Spielberg, from the classic flare off the sky and lights, down to the cinematography and even the story and characters. All of which isn't difficult to explain when you consider Abrams has been planning this film since he was a kid watching Close Encounters and ET (which shows).

Joel Courtney plays Joe Lamb, the protagonist son of Kyle Chandler's Jackson - the deputy of Lillian - who does the sound and make up on his best friend Charles' directoral. debut. Throw into the mix the love interest Alice,  played by Elle Fanning, and the scene is set.

Considering the youth of the cast, Abrams has managed to pool together a group that could very well be considered this centuries' Goonies, albeit a little more serious and grown up. They all play their roles well, from the always-in-charge Charles, the pyromaniac Cary (Ryan Lee), worrisome Preston (Zach Mills) and the timid at first but then comes out of his shell Joe.

Their performance is backed up by the adult cast, from Chandler's portrayal of Jackson, a dad slightly out of his depth, to  Glynn Turman's Dr Woodward.

One of the ways Abrams excels in his films is with special effects, and Super 8 is no different. From the creature effects to the stunning derailment scene, with flying cars in between, the SFX team really out did themselves, and to not jump onto the 3D bandwagon is pleasant to see. Combine this with some brilliant jumpy scenes, and a play on the old Alien addage that what you don't see is scarier than what you do, and you get a thoroughly engrossing experience.

My only faults with the film would be some of the cheeseyness towards the end, playing too much on the sentimental value that Abrams creates throughout the film to create something that made me audibly groan at one or two spots. Otherwise, a very good film which sits nicely on the line of thriller and nostalgia.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2D) 12A ****

Captain America: The First Avenger (2D) 12A ****

Dir: Joe Johnston

Starring:  Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones.

Synopsis: Steve Rogers, a skinny young lad from Brooklyn, becomes WW2's finest hero after being given a super-soldier serum.

Verdict: My high expectations for this film were not unfounded. From the captivating hints in Iron Man, the stills and trailers, the film lived up to everything I thought of it.

Chris Evans (you may recognise as the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four films) plays Steve Rogers, the scrawny kid who, despite best efforts, is refused entry to the US army for a list of medical problems and the fact that he's a bit of a wimp. This is, until he is spotted by a scientist working with the army who uses an experimental super-soldier serum to turn Rogers into Captain America.

This all happens with the help of Howard Stark - yep, ol' Iron Man's daddy - played brilliantly by Dominic Cooper, who puts together Downey Jr's Tony with what clips of Howard we see in IM2 to produce a really good character, and Colonel Philips, a wise ass and quite grumpy character played brilliantly by Tommy Lee Jones, who provides alot of the comic relief of the film. And of course, the love interest, Peggy (Atwell), a British agent who is over-seeing the experiment.

The good guys are then juxtaposed by Hugo Weavings' Red Skull. Weaving, who is known as a sort of 'king-of-the-geeks' for roles in films such as Transformers, V For Vendetta, and The Matrix, plays the villain really well, though his german accent isn't the most convincing ever to grace cinema screens.

This is topped off with some stunning special effects and though, again, I haven't seen the 3D - like with Harry Potter - it's blatantly obvious where they will have gone to extreme lengths with it. Hopefully the 3D will be better than what was produced in Thor, one of the reasons why I saw it first time round in 2D.

The film ties together so many of the loose threads left by the previous films which have all been working towards next years The Avengers. From the reasons behind the super-soldier program being put on ice (Incredible Hulk), the original Stark Expo as seen in IM2, and the snippet from the end of Thor's credits (I'll keep shtum about that one to avoid spoilers).

Of course with Marvel, there is a piece to wait for at the end of the credits, which is definitely worth waiting for. I say no more on the matter, go and see it for yourself.

Not quite the fantasy masterpiece that First Class was, but still a deeply enjoyable film though, of course, a little bit 'pro America' propoganda-ish.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 2) 12A ***** (2D)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 2) *****

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Dir: David Yates

Synopsis: Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their search for the Dark Lord's horcruxes as begun in Deathly Hallows part 1, which see's them return to Hogwarts for the final battle.

Review:

The final part of the Harry Potter franchise has already broken US box office records for its opening weekned - £23.75m in three days. This is not an unwarranted figure after the success of the previous seven films, coupled with the splitting of the final book into the two films.

As the films have progressed they have undoubtedly taken a darker turn, and the latest offering is no exception, even compared to part 1, yet Yates has included some well received comic relief. Add to this some fantastic action sequences and some very emotional scenes will put this film, in both its parts, one of the best fantasy films of the year and a fitting conclusion to a franchise which has spanned a decade.

Part 2, more than part 1, is about action from the start, with the breaking into and out of Gringotts, to the epic final battle at Hogwarts. This means a plethora of stunning special effects which range from the all new CG Hogwarts (as oppose to scale models in previous films) to spells and creatures during the battle.

Having only seen the film in 2D so far, I cannot comment on the quality of the 3D special effects, which will be added to the review at a later date once it has been seen, but from the version seen, it is clear where the 3D will be very prominent.

The cast deliver a great performance, especially the mature members, but the delivery from the primary cast ranges from very good to, at times, average. However, having watched the cast grow up from Philosphers Stone through a decade to this finale, their development as actors is clear to see and appreciate.

Appendix:- Saw the 3D earlier in the week but only just had a real chance to get online. I must say that overall, the 3D SFX is good in HP7.2, with only one brief hiccough which I noticed. The 3D was used to great effect in all of the places I spotted in the 2D, and left me thoroughly impressed.

Bad Teacher (15) ***

Bad Teacher (15) ***

Dir: Jake Kasdan

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel.

Bad Teacher follows Elizabeth Halsey (Diaz) as she does everything she can to get money, bat off advances from gym teacher Russel (Segel) and win the heart of the new substitute teacher Scott Delacorte (Timberlake) with everything from a steamy car wash to stealing.

I found it really pleasant to see a good anti-hero film, which doesn't have a blatant moral thrust into Halsey's face making her stop her misdeeds, but a more subtle message which she bends to fit her own outlook on life.

This is a comedy which rises above the slapstick humour of The Hangover or indeed Bridesmaids. Whilst a lot of the jokes stem from sex and drug use, their tone, and indeed the overall tone of the film, is less crude than that of the afore mentioned films.

So far, Bad Teacher is one of the better comedy films this year, and currently sitting comofrtably at number 4 with £5,659,577 in the UK box office after 3 weeks (sourced from http://www.imdb.com/), this is going to continue being a great summer smash.

Bridesmaids (15) ***

Bridesmaids (15) ***

Dir: Paul Feig

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd.

One of 2011's most highly anticipated comedies, Bridesmaids is being hailed as this years The Hangover (despite the sequel The Hangover 2).

It follows childhood friends Annie (Wiig) and Lillian (Rudolph) as they prepare for Lillian's wedding, with Annie as the maid of honour. However, everything planned by Annie goes from bad to progessively worse.

Unfortunately, like the original Hangover, Bridesmaids see's all of the funniest parts already shown in the trailer. However, as with the Hangover, some of the scenes seen in the trailer are hilarious in their full extended glory, especially the bridal shop scene.

Whilst I liked the simple and effective humour of the film, I am not a fan of 'cringe-comedy', which is the main focus of one of the scenes, it doesn't detract from the overall value of the film.

This film is a lot better than the first Hangover (which I personally felt was over-rated and not as funny as everyone raved), Bridesmaids is definitely going to be a box office smash with fans of films such as The Hangover and chick flicks alike.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D (12A) ****

Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D (12A) ****

Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson, John Turtorro, Leonard Nimoy.

Dir: Michael Bay.

Michael Bay has always been a hit and miss director, producing some great films and some flops. With the third in the Transformers franchise, Dark of the Moon, Bay has definitely produced a hit.

Starring all of the old cast - minus Megan Fox following the now infamous fall out between her and Bay - plus Sam's (LeBeouf) new squeeze Carly (Huntington-Whiteley), the Autobots and their human allies have to save the Earth from the Decepticons one more time.

The story follows the revelation that the space race that saw Neil Armstrong land on the moon was actually because of a crashed Autobot ship, later found the be carrying a new weapon for the civil war and the old leader of the Autobots, Sentinel Prime (Nimoy).

The main selling point of the latest in the Transformers films, is of course the fact that it is shot in 3D. This has the effect of highlighting the brilliant CGI used throughout for both alien and the far fetched Earth technology.

The other big thing is of course the score of the film, which has always been emotive and well suited to each film, and Steve Jablonsky hasn't disappointed in the latest offering. That and the more than expected Linkin Park contribution really added to the depth of the film.

I'm not sure whether I was being naive when I heard LeBeouf and Bay saying that the latest film was a lot more serious and darker than the previous ones, especially the laugh out loud-ness of the second film (Devastators 'testicles'), I expected there to be almost no comedy in the film.

While there are significantly less comedic moments, I was surprised there were as many as there were which, in retrospect, servers well to break up the huge plot twist and the overall tone of the film.

At over two and a half hours, the film seems to be fairly neatly broken into two main stages, being about an hour/hour and a half of set up, and a good hour or so of fast paced robotic violence to round off the film.

All in all, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is going to be a must see for a lot of fans around the world - a pleasant middle to a summer of movies.

Green Lantern 3D (12A) ***

Green Lantern 3D (12A) ***

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard

Dir: Martin Campbell

Cocky fighter pilot Hal Jordan (Reynolds) is chosen by one of several thousand Green Lantern's to be the first human Lantern and fight a new evil in the universe, Paralax, a large entity which feeds off peoples' fears and resembles a cloud.

I expected a lot from Green Lantern after watching featurettes and trailers, and it did indeed deliver some great things.

For instance, the CGI is brilliant, with fantastic attention to detail with the muscle toning of the Lanterns' suit, the variety of different Lantern species and the backdrop of the Planet Oa. This is coupled with above average 3D effects, with only the slight double image behind text (which is good considering how messy effects that have been slapped on afterwards are).

One thing I couldn't help but notice was that Reynolds' portrayal of Jordan seemed to draw heavily on Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark, with the arrogant, self centered hero. Fortunately however it worked well, and the similarities of arrogance and being knocked down a peg a too served to show the similarities and differences between the DC and Marvel universes.

As I'm touching on Marvel briefly, Green Lantern has also sparked my hopes for a Justice League film as Marvel brings us Avengers next year. With Superman: Man of Steel in the near future and a Batman reboot after Dark Knight Rises, it seems like the bigwigs at DC might have this in the pipeline. Keep your eyes peeled for anything about an Aquaman or Flash film anytime in the future and you never know.

This film was thoroughly enjoyable however, despite the 12A certification, younger audiences being admitted by 12's or older may find some scenes distressing which is my only main warning.

MotoGP Round 6 - Great Britain (Race Day)

MotoGP Round 6 - Great Britain (Race Day)

The weather at Silverstone lived up to the good old British norm, and the races took place in a cold, wet and windy setting. Despite this, the turn out at the track was high.

The big surprise of the day was Bradley Smith in the Moto2 race, who relished in the wet surface by climbing from 28th on the grid, to finishing 2nd behind Stefan Bradl.

British fans had something else to cheer about by the end of the Moto2 race, with Scott Redding finishing in 5th place, joining Smith in becoming the two highest placing British riders of the day.

Unfortunately, the home favourite for the MotoGP race, Cal Crutchlow, was unable to ride due to the injury sustained yesterday during qualifying, which left him with a broken left collar bone.

However, the race was still an eventful one, seeing Marco Simoncelli crash after just 10 laps as he fought for 3rd place from Dovizioso, followed by both factory Yamaha's, which paved the way for Casey Stoner to claim his 4th win of the season, which puts him first in the championship standings.

With Crutchlow out of the race, the hero of the day was the second Tech 3 rider, Colin Edwards, who roared in to 3rd place just 8 days after an operation on his collar bone. Hopefully this bodes well for Crutchlow, who we all hope is fit again for Assen.

In the 125cc race, three of the British contenders finished in succession, with Danny Kent scooping 10th, Danny Webb finishing 11th and Taylor Mackenzie finishing in 12th place.

The day didn't go so well for yesterdays pole qualifier Maverick Viñales, who crashed during lap 6, leaving the race win open to Jonas Folger, who was followed closely by Johann Zarco, with Hector Faubel making up the top 3.

MotoGP Round 6 - Great Britain (Qualifying)

Casey Stoner secured his place on pole position for tomorrow.

MotoGP Round 6 - Great Britain (Qualifying)

Today's qualifying session was a day for records, and hopes, to tumble.

The biggest news of course is the breaking of the qualifying lap record, first by Simoncelli, and then by Stoner, pushing the fastest lap of the new Silverstone circuit to 2'02.20, which bought him pole position in tomorrows race, with Simoncelli and Lorenzo completing the front row of the MotoGP grid.

Unfortunately, British rider Cal Crutchlow won't be competing, after a crash during his third lap of qualifying which left him with a broken left collar bone and a head concussion. Hopefully after surgery and a rest period, he will be up and running again by round 7 in Assen (Netherlands).

The peoples favourite Valentino Rossi trailed at the end of qualifying, only managing to secure 13th on the grid at the head of row 5.

Luck both worked for and against the main Brit's in the Moto2 qualifier, with Bradley Smith suffering engine difficulties which left him trailing in 28th on the grid, but Scott Redding placed the second fastest lap in the session, putting him between Marc Marquez and Stefan Bradl on the front row.

The 125 qualifier saw Maverick Viñales claim his first pole position, with Nicolas Terol and Johann Zarco claiming second and third respectively. Danny Kent claimed the highest position for tomorrows grid out of the British riders with 12th place, with Danny Webb claiming 15th.

Moto GP Round 6 - Great Britain (Friday)

Cal Crutchlow giving the crowds a thumbs up after FP2

Rossi throwing himself into Luffields

Moto GP Round 6 - Great Britain (Friday)

It was a great second day to the British round of the MotoGP today (If you count Thursday's Day of Champions as day 1). Even the heavens opening during the 125's second practice session didnt dampen spirits, with a quick swap from slicks to wets and the resumption of the session.

In the 125cc class, France's Johann Zarco topped the results after FP2 with the fastest time of 2'34.174, closely followed by Great Britain's own Danny Webb in 2nd with 2'36.956.

Great Britains' fortunes at the home race was strengthened in the Moto2, with Bradley Smith coming in the top three after FP2 with a lap of 2'16.741. He followed Marc Marquez (2nd with a time of 2'15.207) and Randy Krummenacher (1st with a time of 2'15.090).

Casey Stoner managed to hold off some fierce competition from Jorge Lorenzo during both practice sessions, with the pair swapping throughout before Stoner clinched the fastest time at 2'15.666. Marco Simoncelli came in 2nd with a time of 2'16.463 and Nicky Hayden rounded off the top three with a lap of 2'17.070.

And, again, GBR does itself proud with Cal Crutchlow coming fourth fastest at his home round praqctice, finishing ahead of the current champion Jorge Lorenzo and the struggling Valentino Rossi, with a time of 2'18.109.

X-Men: First Class (12A) *****

X-Men: First Class (12A) *****

Dir: Matthew Vaughn.

Starring: Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon.

The latest addition to the X-Men franchise - arguably the most successful of the Marvel adaptations - is clearly influenced by both the Origins style, as well as the original three films.

Set in the troubled Cold War era, First Class see's the rise and rise of Charles Xavier (McAvoy) and Magneto (Fassbender) as they come to terms with the emergence of mutants to the world, and fight Sebastian Shaw's (Bacon) efforts to start a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The film brings together a series of wonderfully poignant story lines, from Magneto's mission of revenge against the people who tortured him during the holocaust, to the battles of Mystique (Lawrence) and Beast (Nicholas Hoult) to gain acceptance, both from humanity and, perhaps more importantly, themselves.

Happily, Marvel have carried on their streak of brilliant special effects (Thor's dodgy 3D not withstanding), with the brilliant prosthetics and make up for Lawrence's Mystique (and the appearance of young Mystique at the start of the film) to the CG of the most iconic scene of the film, with Magneto lifting a nuclear submarine out of the sea.

McAvoy and Fassbender's portrayal of Prof X and Magneto are both brilliant, showing the development of the depth of their relationship over such a short time through some very touching scenes, with the pairs' respect for each other felt throughout the franchise.

The second of the years' three Marvel films, and the 5th of the X-Men mini-franchise, I was so impressed by all of the levels and aspects this film brings together which make it a thoroughly enjoyable watch.

Round 5 - Catalunya MotoGP.

1st - Casey Stoner
2nd - Jorge Lorenzo
3rd - Ben Spies

(As this is a first attempt at sport-writing, please give some feedback so I know where I'm doing well/where I'm falling down etc. Thank you.)

Round five saw Repsol Honda's Casey Stoner claim his second win since Le Mans, which bumps him up to second, just seven points behind Jorge Lorenzo who finished 2nd.

The Fiat Yamaha team are sure to be happy after not just one, but two podium positions this week, with Ben Spies finishing 3rd, with Dovizioso finshing 4th on the other running Repsol Honda bike

Simoncelli didn't give it his all this round, probably after all of the controversy surrounding the incident with Dani Pedrosa in Le Mans which saw him get a ride through penalty, and Dani get a broken collar bone. Starting from pole position, he dropped back to 6th behind Valentino Rossi on the factory Ducati.

The race managed to go off almost without a hitch, except for an incident involving Randy De Puniet and Hiroshi Aoyama which saw them out of the running with 22 laps remaining.

As usual, all of the action was surrounding the 'stragglers', with a four way duel between Capirossi, Abraham, Barbera and Bautista for 9th place. An exciting bit of riding from all four as they fought to gain ground on one another, with Capirossi finally beating the rest.

And in the event before his home turf race, Tech 3's Cal Crutchlow achieved his highest position yet in a MotoGP race, finshing 7th ahead of Nicky Hayden.

With Lorenzo and Stoner seperated by just 7 points in the rider standings, a new series leader could happen during the next round at Silverstone.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (12A) ****

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (12A) ****

Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane

Dir: Rob Marshall

I think there were probably two main ways of thinking when the news of the new POTC reached the public's ears. Some will have been overjoyed at a continuation of the franchise, while others will have been thinking 'When will they let it die?'

Both parties will be surprised by On Stranger Tides, the latest instalment of the swashbuckling adventure series, reuniting Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) and Barbossa (Rush).

The film continues pretty much where At Worlds End left off, with Sparrow searching for the Fountain of Youth, being chased by both the English and the Spanish navies, and introduces the beautiful and skillful Angelica (Cruz), a mysterious character from Sparrows' past, and the evilly sadistic Blackbeard (McShane)

Depp and Rush reprise their roles brilliantly, as the anti-heroic Barbossa and kooky Sparrow, whose luck and intelligence blur into an indeterminable flair of his personality, with McShane and Cruz's taking to piracy like mermaids to water.

The plot is somewhat darker than the previous films, especially Blackbeards sadism. That said, it is very enjoyable, with unexpected twists and parallel story lines, including a love story between a mermaid (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) and a devout religious kidnappee (Sam Claflin).

This sidelined love story is reminiscent of Elizabeth and William from the first three films, but without Bloom and Knightly and as with E and W, is somewhat rightfully sidelined to accentuate Sparrow's character and prioritise his story.

The special effects and CG are as great as people have come to expect from Disney. That said, there were some hiccoughs with the 3D when your eye drifts slightly from the focus of the picture to the background, but this doesnt detract from the quality of the film.

With an ending that leaves the franchise open to finishing or continuing - although quite where they can go from it I'm not sure - the latest Pirates film is sure to be a hit and will surely climb through the box office at the same rate of knots as the previous films.

Insidious (18) ***

Insidious (18) *** Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins. Dir: James Wan.

Another offering from the people behind the Saw saga and Paranormal Activity, Insidious is (from what I've come to understand) the badass big brother of PA's 1 and 2. I say 'from what i've come to understand', because these films aren't my cup of tea, and this is the first proper scary film I've seen since Mothman Prophecies.

The film follows the blighted Lambert family, who are being tormented by an evil spirit. Dalton (Simpkins) is the focus of the demon's attentions, and his parents Josh (Wilson) and Renai (Byrne) pull out all the stops to find out what is wrong and why, with some truly terrifying results.

All things considered, the acting is good for the most part, although the way Byrne speaks to Simpkins is patronising and wooden, as is alot of Simpkins' acting, but altogehter they manage to pull of a convincing family unit.

The main premis of the films scare factor is less the psychological, but more the shock factor, and there are lots of scenes that will make you jump. And the good thing is that it works thanks to a cleverly written story, as oppose to just stringing scares together.

This said, the film does get a little far fetched towards the end, which leaves it open to some extent to a follow up of some description, and a not very subtle hint towards a continuation of a well known film franchise.

Despite spending alot of the film cowering behind my hands and turning the air blue, this is a good film that is enjoyable as well as terrifying.

Thor 3D (12A) ****

Thor 3D (12A) **** Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston. Dir: Kenneth Branagh.

Kenneth Branagh has given us a brilliant adaptation with Thor, which joins the likes of Iron Man and Captain America (due to release July/August) in the build up to next years The Avengers .

The production company behind Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk amongst others have delivered a special effects laden thrill ride which follows the Norse god of thunder, Thor (Hemsworth). A powerful and arrogant warrior, he is the son of Odin (Hopkins) and brother of the mischevious Loki (Hiddleston) who resides in Asgard, one of the nine realms of the universe.

The production team behind the Marvel films have shown that their flair for delivering great stories is not faltering, and their expertise with special effects is gaining ground with every film they release. As this is the first of three films from the franchise (with X-Men: First Class and Captain America coming later this year), Thor is a great way to kick off a great year of comic book adaptations.

Taking alot from the Norse mythology on which it is based, Marvel have delivered a wonderful take on the realm of Asgard, with amazing special effects achieving a reality that I haven't seen in that many films. The use of digital backlot is particularly good - where in other films it is often easy to tell the actors are in front of a blue screen, Thor delivers seamless, believable effects.

The only criticism that I noticed is the use of the 3D, with a few hiccoughs apparent, especially when text was on the screen. I truly hoped the 3D would be brilliant, as Disney's 3D is very good and as Marvel is now owned by them, I didn't expect it to be as 'lumpy'.

I severely recommend this film to everyone and provide a reminder that, as with all Marvel films, there is a sneak peak at the end of credits as to other projects.

Fast and Furious 5 (12A) ***

Fast and Furious 5 (12A) *** Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker. Dir: Justin Lin

I am a whopping great hypocrit for this review, and I apologise in advance.

Firstly, let me explain why I've given the film only 3 stars. As much as I enjoyed the film, I think some things are best left as they are and shouldn't be continued. The Final Destination saga, the neverending Saw saga, and unfortunately, the Fast and Furious saga.

However, the film is a guilty pleasure, and despite being done to death, I still said "I'm going to see this film" and I do not regret it.

The film reunites the surviving members of the original cast, being Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and his sister Mia (Jordana Brewster), Brian O'Conner (Walker) and Vince (Mark Schulze) in Rio de Janeiro, commiting crime and driving fast cars in an unsafe, but very exciting manner.

They come across information regarding a drug barons' (Reyes, played by Joaquim de Almeida) illegal money, which amounts to $100m, and pull in a team made up of familiar faces from the previous Fast and Furious films, with some new ones.

Along with the drug baron and his payroll police army, Toretto and O'Conner have FBI tough guy Hobbs (Johnson) after them for the murder of three federal officers.

And you can probably guess, having seen the previous films, what ensues. Fast cars, explosions, scantily clad women, and a complex scheme with which to deprive Reyes of his cash.

As I said in the introduction to this review, I loved this film for despite becoming an overdone franchise, it still retains the charm and thrill that the first film delivered, with brilliant driving and a brutally epic fist fight between Hobbs and Toretto.

One of the things that still endears me to the franchise is the fact that the films have moved on from the first three installments - which focused on the street racing aspect over the criminal - and is now the reverse, focusing on the criminal and whilst touching on street racing culture, it doesn't even show an actual race.

If you are looking for thrilling entertainment from a good franchise then this film is a must see, but if you are tiring of Hollywood's obsession to continue franchise's until the actors are all dead then get out now before the 6th film - yes, there looks to be a 6th installment. Watch until the end of the trailers, and you will understand.

(Thanks to Dave Mainwaring for the tip, I know to stay on for Marvel films but never thought to do it with this - http://dmr-dave.blogspot.com/2010/10/2010-2011.html)

TT3D: Closer to the Edge (15) *****

TT3D: Closer to the Edge (15) ***** Starring: Guy Martin, Ian Hutchinson, John McGuinness, Jared Leto (Narrator) Dir: Richard De Aragues

Documenting the run up to, and the two weeks surrounding, the infamous Isle of Man Tourist Trophey (TT), the most well known road race in the world, fans and riders have flocked to the island every year since 1907. TT3D: Closer to the Edge follows the key riders competing in 2010, including 15 times winner John McGuinness, and the first man to clean sweep all five races, Ian Hutchinson.

The men are all stars in their own right, (especially Guy Martin following the BBC's "The Boat that Guy Built") and the film will surely bring more interest to this world renowned event.

One of the best features of the film is the wide array of emotions it delivers - from laughing at Guy Martin's wonderfully blunt and hilarious personality, such as telling the camera's he's off to 'have a wank and go to bed', to the touching scenes which follow the death of Paul Dobbs.

The film is also deeply interesting, showing how the racers prpepare for the race, and the shocking reality surrounding accidents on the island, and in preperations in the race meets the riders use as practice. Whilst watching the film, images of crashes from various riders was met with gasps from the audience.

My only criticism would be that despite the big name narrator, Jared Leto didn't have much to say, which made me wonder if what he was doing could have been done just as well with text.

I truly loved this film, for the emotion, the obsession, and the thrill of watching the footage of bikes tearing past and the scream of the engine. If you are a fan of motorcycles in any way, rider or just a follower of the sport, this is definitely a film to see if you have chance.

Sucker Punch (12A) ****

Sucker Punch (12A) **** Starring: Emily Browning, Jena Malone, Abbie Cornish. Dir: Zack Snyder

As I raved in an early blog which featured the trailer for this film, I was massively excited for Sucker Punch. And I have to say, I was very impressed.

The film follows Babydoll (Browning) who is institutionalised by an abusive step father after the death of her mother, and her accidentally shooting her little sister in a bid to save her from said abusive step dad. As a result, she retreats into a fantasy world where the asylum is now a burlesque-style theatre, which reflects the asylum in layout and characters.

Here she meets and befriends Sweetpea (Cornish), Rocket (Malone), Amber (Jamie Chung) and Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens). The five of them embark on a mission to escape from the asylum through a series of metaphorical fantasy scenarios influenced by Babydolls dancing. In essence, it's similar in a way to the imaginary worlds in 'The Rugrats' tv series.

In these metaphorical worlds they obtain items to use to escape, which are the equivalent of the real items in the other realities (confused yet? It's honestly not too bad when you're watching it).

The film is wonderful for many reasons. Firstly: the storyline, once you accept the different realities, is very entertaining although repetitive, and it goes from a serious to ridiculous tone in a heartbeat which was sometimes wearisome.

Second: The special effects are amazing. The quality of the cg and the use of digital backlot are almost seamless, making you really believe that the girls are in their fantasy environments.

Thirdly: The soundtrack is wonderful, with one good song or piece of music after another, I found myself thinking repeatedly throughout the film 'I need to buy/download this OST'.

All in all, the film is brilliantly enjoyable, with plenty of action that fans of sci-fi, thriller, and fantasy are sure to love.