The Skin I Live In (2011)

Directed by Pedro Almodovar

Starring Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Coret, Marisa Paredes

Always get worried when Almodovar does something dark rather than funny. Maybe because I never warmed to Matador. However Bad Education has shown me otherwise.

Robert Ledgard, a brilliant plastic surgeon, has his own personal project. A girl locked in a room by the name Vera. But how did she get here? And why is she so complacent to stay there, reading and being catered for, considering she's locked up.

I suppose all will be revealed. But in the meantime gaze at Almodovar's lift of Hitchcock. Delight yourself in the dark macabre of his storytelling. And drool at how ruddy handsome Antonio Banderas is still.

Have seen now that when Almodovar can handle soft thrillers. Maybe it's time I gave Matador a second chance.

5/5

If you like this you should try

Notorious (1946)

Matador (1986)

Super 8 (2011)

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Starring Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Gabriel Basso, Zach Mills, Kyle Chandler

Making the military the bad guy? Strange goings on in a small town. Focus on the family.

If you're going to make a Steven Speilberg homage, get the man himself to produce.

Joe Lamb and his friends enjoy making films. His father doesn't approve, especially since Joe's mother was killed in an accident.

On one of their shoots, the group of kids experience a train wreckage. From there on in they're on an adventure of wondering why people are going missing and electricity is failing.

With the mystery and the holding of friendships and trust, Super 8 is a Stand By Me for a new generation. Only much better.

4/5

If you like this you should try

E.T. The Extra Terriestrial (1982) 3/5

Stand By Me (1986) 2/5

Cloverfield (2008) 3/5

Where the Wild Things Are (2009) 4/5

Without A Clue (1988)

Directed by Thom Eberhardt

Starring Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, Jeffery Jones, Paul Freeman

As much as firm fans of Sherlock Holmes would hate again the word 'Elementary', they shouldn't worry too much.

Turns out our beloved detective isn't quite as fantastic as we think. He's actually a useless drunken actor. Dr. Watson is the brains, but requires Holmes to keep up the prestigious image.

With a new case, Dr. Watson must endure the madness of Holmes to clear up the matter.

As mentioned, fans of Holmes shouldn't be too upset. The film is a gentle thriller for family fun. But it's Michael Caine who shows his comedic quality. Sometimes he would have me roaring.

3.5/5

If you like this you should try

Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) 3/5

Teeth (2007)

Directed by Mitchell Lichenstein

Starring Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Josh Pais

Rarely do I get to see horror films. And when I do, they're usually because of big budgets or at least one big star carrying the project.

This on the other hand is a low key affair.

Dawn, a teenage girl who's dedicated to celibacy starts to discover that some boys aren't so dedicated. But she also discovers, to her horror, that she has quite the defencive mechanism for them.

Readings of feminist theory and purity galore. But my concern is whether it's enjoyable.

If one isn't squemish, the film is actually a funny horror. It's not intentionally humourous, but its appearance here is welcome in order to let the audience not feel too weighed down with horrific gore. And I was quite fond of Dawn, a strong character but who isn't fully aware of her surroundings as of yet. Usually strong females characters are so because they know practically everything. Here we see development.

Keep eyes peeled for the amusing credit at the end. Not original, but a reminder of men shouldn't get up to.

3/5

If you like this you should try

Ginger Snaps (2000) 3.5/5

Captain America : The First Avenger (2011)

Directed by Joe Johnston

Starring Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci

It's heating up now for Marvel. Surely to hammer two of its Avengers characters within a few months of one another will create a withdrawal symptom for fans?

Back in time we go to the second World War. A villain even worse than Hitler is running occult amok with science. America is attempting to thwart his plans. So after Stanley Tucci's Dr. Abraham finds a suitable candidate, he manages to create a fully fighting soldier out of Chris Evans' weedy Steve Rodgers.

One finds this difficult to believe at first, for anyone who knows that Chris Evans plays rather masculine characters all the time, the CGI skinny effects weren't convincing enough.

Dr. Abraham is killed with the experiment. Steve Rodgers is signed up to be a mascot for the American people, ala Captain America. But for Steve this isn't enough. And soon enough he's found a way to fight off Nazi evil.

Not as fast as this year's Thor was. Director Joe Johnston wants to be serious with his hero flick - and that's fine. Younger viewers may get bored. Older viewers, in particular comic book fans, will love the playing of references and the fun available. They'll feel proud that someone is taking care of their superhero.

Personally, I was hoping for a bit more fun and colour. But this isn't a complaint. Johnston has provided a nice summer blockbuster yarn which is pretty harmless.

Next year however, Joss Whedon's The Avengers will have to ride on a handful of other films that have led up to it. And if it goes to pot, well, that's why Marvel have rebooted Spider-man all too soon. Withdrawal symptoms seem to be a specialty of theirs.

3/5

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The Shadow (1994) 3/5

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) 3/5

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) 1.5/5

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Directed by Ang Lee

Starring Chow Yung Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang

In the midst of, what I assume is ancient China (or at least 17th Century), two warriors trained in highly mystical arts are in pursuit of a renegade criminal. To confuse matters however, a special sword owned by one of the warriors is stolen - and the mystery deepens to discover who has it and why.

Despite all the perception of it contain martial arts, this is not an action film. In fact I'll bet a number of those expecting a lad's night out will be sorely disappointed.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon isn't to be dismissed. Ang Lee has made sure the scenery is easy on the eye, while the plot isn't too complex. The overall effect is a beautiful film - almost like a dream. It's very rare I can say that about a film.

The set pieces are gorgeous, the actors swan about through the air, the fight scenes are a joy. Every once in a while the West need to experience a film they can appreciate from outside their blockbuster comfort zone. This looks like it.

5/5

If you like this you should try

Mulan (1998) 5/5

My Soul To Take (2010)

Directed by Wes Craven

Starring Max Thierot, John Magaro, Denzel Whitaker, Zena Grey, Nick Lashaway

It's almost like Wes Craven had some spare time while producing Scream 4 to do this. And whilst he's at it, why not play with 3D cameras?

Turns out a 'Ripper' killer terrorised a small USA town, before meeting his downfall to the police. But of course in Wes' mind of Freddy and Ghostface - evil doesn't die that easily.

By sheer coincidence, seven children were born the night of the downfall. Now, sixteen years later, Bug, one of the children, is fighting of the turmoils of hormonal teenagers and the up and coming slaughter fest.

My Soul To Take isn't bad. In fact it's better than Nightmare On Elm Street. But I never did like that. However it's too confusing, even within the first twenty minutes, for it to be a fast and fun horror. It's possible that Scream 4 won't end up in 3D as this doesn't use the technology to any avail.

2.5/5

If you like this you should try

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) 2/5

Scream (1996) 5/5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) 4/5

A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010) 2/5

The Human Stain (2003)

Directed by Robert Benton

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris, Gary Sinese, Wentworth Miller

Hopkins usually finds himself being really angry in his films. Unless he's the bad guy in which he installs fear by speaking quietly.

This is the former.

Hopkins Coleman Silk, a disgraced college Dean who after his wife dies, starts an affair with a younger woman and talks to a writer about it. This is then interrupted by various flashbacks to his past, where he grew up as a half cast child. Hiding his 'secret' to gain a college place, Silk in his old age tries to put it in perspective.

The whole film feels as if the actors have all gathered together to further their CVs. It's by no means a bad film, but I found the monologues a little pretentious. Not quite convinced by Nicole Kidman's character either.

3/5

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)

Directed by Pedro Almodovar

Starring Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Julieta Serrano, Mariá Barranco, Rossy de Palma

Exceptionally camp comedy from Almodovar shows what he does best. Although much tamer than his previous films, Nervous Breakdown contains as much, if not more fun than what he's offered before.

The beautiful Carmen Maura is Pepa, a voice actress who is getting herself together after her lover has left her. Throughout the time of her trying to contact his wife and son, Pepa slowing starts seeing that all is not well with her. Soon enough she starts doing silly things, and she isn't the only one.

It's probably the most comfortable of Almodovar's, even colourful enough to allow a possible family viewing. It's laughable, silly and exceptionally enjoyable.

5/5

If you like this you should try

Ruthless People (1986) 4/5

C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée

Starring Michel Coté, Marc-André Grondin, Danielle Proulx

A coming of age story that doesn't fully use it's 1970's setting. Which is good here.

A Catholic family growing up in a French Canadian background find that two of the children (all of which are boys) have significant problems. The eldest, Raymond, is interested in drugs, girls and generally becoming a rebel. Zachery, who we see the majority of the film through, is going through a confusing stage of identity - and finds that his style and music is firmly disapproved of by his father.

C.R.A.Z.Y. is too loving to be truly satisfying for subjects such as sexuality and sibling rivalry. Instead the film wants it to be clear that there are no definitive answers in life - but instead it's all just too crazy (no pun intended). The film is gorgeously filmed, and even when at his worst, the viewer finds that Zachery is all too touching a character.

4/5

If you like this you should try

Ma vie en rose (1997) 3.5/5

Velvet Goldmine (1998) 3/5

Mysterious Skin (2004) 5/5

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008)

Directed by Robert B. Wade

Starring Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Bill Patterson, Miriam Margoyles, Jeff Bridges, Megan Fox

Riding on British success, Simon Pegg does it alone without Nick Frost when he hits America.

Based on Toby Young's memoirs, Simon Pegg is Sidney Young, a cocky magazine writer who has been enlisted to work for a leading celebrity magazine in New York. His antics get him noticed, mainly for bad at the start. This is before he starts seeing the sleezy side of glamour.

Pegg is pretty likable in this - much more so than he was in Shaun of the Dead. The contrast of a British individual in American settings plays off funnily towards the start, before the general formula of him rising against expectations starts to play off. Here then he starts to find favour with editor (a usual Jeff Bridges) and more importantly Alison, his love interest (Kirsten Dunst...which is odd because I normally can't see her loving anyone with out a spidey secret).

Predictable, yes. But fun and sweet.

3/5

If you like this you should try

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) 3/5

Men in Black II (2002)

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Laura Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rip Torn

You ever wonder if Will Smith forgave Barry Sonnenfeld for Wild Wild West? He must have. Otherwise this wouldn't have occurred.

Something tells me that friendship is exceptionally strong if it makes it through this.

A new alien is in town, this one taking the form of sexy Laura Flynn Boyle. She looking for some Light of something or other. Already I'm annoyed that the chance to pull out jokes is placed around some feeble plot that's very similar to the previous Men in Black. Am I being too harsh?

No. Poor Tommy Lee Jones is told to just be a hard ass - but not too much for the kids. Will Smith does get to exercise some laughs - which are again, not for kids to grasp.

There's even very little for young ones. The film's pace is perfect for them, as it doesn't stretch out long enough for them to get bored.

The script is awful. None of it is really pulled off well. All the way through I felt that this was something directed straight to video.

1.5/5

If you like this you should try

Men in Black (1997) 3/5

Mystery Men (1999) 5/5

Galaxy Quest (1999) 4/5

What Have I Done To Deserve This (1984)

Directed by Pedro Almodovar

Starring Carmen Maura, Gonzalez Suárez, Luis Hostalot

Now this is more like it.

Addiction to prescription drugs, hanging out with local prostitutes and some pedophilia injected in for a few more laughs. Only Almodovar can pull this off.

Gloria, an ill-literate mother is attempting all she can to ensure her sanity. This doesn't prove easy as her unappreciative husband and her bizarre mother-in-law constantly provide hassle. She attempts to take jobs here and there, her husband disapproving. Her oldest son is involved with drugs whilst the youngest is an accepting target for older men.

Looking back on it, the film doesn't have full plot. It's nice to see the main character face each obstacle in order to better herself. And Almodovar manages to keep the structure neat with a clearer goal and, dare I say it, bigger budget.

4/5

Dark Habits (1984)

Directed by Pedro Almodovar

Starring Christina Sánchez Pascual, Will More, Marisa Paredes, Carmen Maura, Celia Roth, Laura Cepeda

A group of queer nuns who dabble in drugs take into their convent a selfish nightclub singer.

Not as striking as Almodovar's previous films, Dark Habits has a kind of The Exorcist quality about it. Set in very few locations and having sacrilegious imagery throughout.

Almodovar may be slipping here. His ludicrous ideas still run through. Much like the heroin going through Mother Superior's veins. But he doesn't expand them out, which is a shame. One feels that this could have been a lot more colourful.

3/5

If you like this you should try

Black Narcissus (1947) 4/5

The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Starring Yasuo Yamada, Eiko Masuyama, Kiyoshi Kobayashi

Fancy some frantic fun? This is the right film.

Lupin, a charismatic and warmed hearted thief is thrown into the mission of saving a young girl from and evil Count. To do this he must penetrate the twists and turns of Cagliostro Castle, where surprises lurk and villains master.

You could draw parallels with Hitchcock films, car chases of the 1970's cop films and general swashbuckling types for this. What Cagliostro manages to do is churn them up into a pacey, beautiful, almost European feel adventure that proves animation can be fun for all ages.

4.5/5

If you like this you should try

Family Plot (1976) 4/5

The Rescuers (1977) 4/5

Labyrinth of Passions (1982)

Directed by Pedro Almodovar

Starring Celia Roth, Imanol Arias, Helga Liné, Marta Frenández Muro, Antinio Banderas

Sexilia, a nymphomanic, Sadec, a gay Islamic terrorist and Rizo Niro, the sexually confused son of the exiled Emperor of Tiran, have their lives cross one another in this camp melodrama. And with the previous Almodovar film, we're starting to see his themes of not shying away.

Still pretty low in budget, you can't but give it to the director who fully wants to entertain and use all those elements we don't normally see in film.

Fun, sexy but again horribly vulgar at times, the audience can start finding solace in the ridiculous.

4/5

If you like this you should try

Airplane (1980) 4/5

Pepi, Luci, Bom (1980) 4/5

Little Norse Prince Valiant (1968)

Directed by Isao Takahata

Starring Yukari Asai, Mikijiro Hira, Etsuko Ichihara

Takahata's take on Scandinavian lore has its dark undertone - but I'm not sure if it's rampant enough. Supposedly the target is a children's audience.

Hols, a young boy who fights off nasty wolves, discovers the Sword of the Sun in a huge talking rock. This then leads him on a journey to another village who has been plagued by the evil of Grunwald, an evil magician. - who bares some similarity in his look to Sleeping Beauty's Maleficient.

The whole thing is too adorable and safe for children. It's not riddled with songs and it does contain elements that Disney would normally opt out off.

3/5

If you like this you should try

Sleeping Beauty (1959) 4/5

Poetry (2010)

Directed by Chand-dong Lee

Starring Jeong-hie Yun, Nae-sand Ahn, Da-wit Lee

You know those long foreign films that you sit through and feel, 'This is true art house?' This could be one of them - if only it wasn't so irresistibly sweet.

Mija, a woman in her sixties, is informed of her having the early stages of Alzheimer's. And for years she's wanted to write a poem. So she takes herself to a poetry class. This is secondary to the film's plot as it turns out her grandson is part of a dodgy group. Soon enough she faces financial difficulty in helping him out of trouble - and gaining no gratitude.

Poetry is gorgeous to look at and moves swiftly through the small items - such as badminton games in the street and walks to isolated places as Mija tries to gain inspiration.

Although for someone like myself who studied Creative Writing, I can't bring myself to agree with half of the things the Poetry teacher tells his class throughout.

4/5

If you like this you should try

The Way Home (2002) 3.5/5

Norwegian Wood (2010) 3/5