The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Directed by Irvin Kerishner

Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenneth Baker

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Situations for heroes got pretty bleak.

We return to George Lucas's fantasy fairy tale. Only George Lucas isn't involved as much. And the result is actually better. Where the first film plays it safe, this installment is much more interesting.

Luke Skywalker is training to be a Jedi. And the old enemy Darth Vader is searching for him. Obviously the Force has a part to play in this. Luke is ordered by the ghost of Obi-Wan to look for a Jedi Master named Yoda.

Darth Vader has the idea of kidnapping Han Solo and Leia in order to lure Skywalker. And thus begins philosophical training in a swamp and chases of ships through space.

Star Wars now has taken a new mature turn. There are dazzling new sights to behold. Action scenes are much more well structured. And cheesy lines are kept at bay.

Is this the welcome to the 1980's of fantasy? If so, the decade has a lot to live up to.

This Empire will hopefully not strike for the last time.

5/5

Weekend (2011)

Directed by Andrew Haigh

Starring Tom Cullen, Chris New, Laura Freeman

Queer cinema still hasn't taken off one thinks. Maybe it doesn't want to. Maybe it wants to be segregated and have its niche market. Maybe Brokeback Mountain did bad things for gay film.

Weekend is director Andrew Haigh's first fictional film. Set in Nottingham, Russell heads out one Friday night and manages to pull. His new friend Glen becomes interested in what gay life still looks like to a gay man himself. So through the weekend they experience drugs, sex and general talk of how the world is wrong for a gay man.

The film is beautiful. Where real love only lasts a weekend and homophobia isn't the issue. There are funny moments but I felt only because the audience still aren't sure how to react. Even a gay one.

But it's a step in the right direction for gay cinema.

4/5

Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)

Directed by Bill Condon

Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Taylor Lautner

Do we start shedding a tear for the beginning of Bella's departure?

Summit have done a Warner Bros. and have decided to split Stephanie Meyer's final Twilight novel into two films. So far the films have given a nice reinvention. Some of the different takes I welcome. And as teenage films I've found them pretty strong.

Now Bella and her blood sucking love Edward take themselves up the isle to be wedded in bliss.

For a few days on their honeymoon at least. All of a sudden the cynics out there find Twilight more realistic.

Unfortunately it feels as if the end has already occurred. Here there's not much else to go on about. No teenage agnst, no showdowns between love rivals. Taylor Lautner's Jacob is still upset about the couple's union, but even I felt he'll be getting over it soon. Action scenes aren't interesting. Michael Sheen's one second appearance is a tease that's not satisfied.

Towards the end one feels that director Condon was trying to make his own Bride of Frankenstein. But his attempts are only put into place when it's getting late.

One doesn't have much faith for the next installment.

2/5

If you like this you should try

Bride of Frankenstein (1935) 5/5

The Adventures of Tintin : The Secret of the Unicorn (2011)

Directed by Steven Speilberg

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

It's a man's world. Or at least a boy's. There's not any influence of female characters here at all.

Speilberg finally brings Hérge's Tintin to the big screen. With some animation I don't think I'm bothered by.

For a children's film who needs characterisation? They want fun action.

They should look elsewhere. Or at least wait until Serkis' Captain Haddock appears.

Tintin is kidnapped after refusing to give up a model ship with a secret that could lead to victory for the villain. Whilst attempting to escape he meets Captain Haddock, a drunkard sailor who is brought along for the ride.

The problem with this is that Tintin doesn't seem to be in any real danger. Too much happens for his benefit by accident. It's possible Speilberg will use the complexities of the animation to excuse the lack of real adventure. There is a tremendous chase scene involving spilling water from a damn and a continuous shot. But aside from this the film isn't dark enough to stir atmosphere, or dangerous enough to be thrilling.

Next time Speilberg, keep it real.

2/5

If you like this you should try

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 3/5

Eclipse (2010)

Directed by David Slade

Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Dakota Fanning, Kellan Lutz

So love is to blossom. Edward and Bella are lying about flowery fields where no one can bother them. Discussing marriage at this rate, one wonders if they're rushing it. But then true love doesn't know time. Or logic.

So The Twilight Saga goes down a darker route. A group of 'new-borns' are travelling across Seattle making killings left, right and centre. So an unlikely union must occur between the Cullens and the were wolfs. Bella must be one special girl.

There's a lot more interesting items in this installment - the type I was looking forward to in the previous. However the love story isn't portioned well. There are moments where I was left screaming inside to hurry it up. Maybe that's the cynic in me. Or that these scenes are longly drawn out and only fangirls can stick them. I know I couldn't.

This is decent installment, but it's let down by disjointed plotlines and, at the risk of being mauled, continuing poor lines from Edward Cullen. Poor Pattinson.

3/5

If you like this you should try

Underworld (2003) 3/5

Twilight (2008) 3.5/5

Alamar (2009)

Directed by Pedro González-Rubio

Starring Jorge Machado

Nice good natured documentary style childhood story. Where after the breakup of his parent's marriage, a young boy is taken by his father to an island within the Mexican region to show him about nature.

It's not always an excuse for showing picturesque scenery. Just because there isn't much said doesn't mean it's dull. As I've learnt in life it's what's not said that can have more impact. And this film proves it.

3/5

If you like this you should try

The Way Home (2002) 4/5

Julia (2008)

Directed by Erick Zonca

Starring Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton can do anything. I'm almost sure of it. She can be the British actor playing the villain for blockbusters (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe) or she can win an Oscar for crying with evil shock (Michael Clayton).

Pretty much a bad guy again. Or is she?

An alcoholic, Julia is quickly befriended by a neighbour who wants to get her son back. So on a whim Julia is asked to kidnap the son and be paid for it. After consultation with other seedy friends, Julia tracks down the child and nabs him for what is to be a road trip movie.

Long it is, but every second is a joy. Tilda Swinton is capable of being what she needs to be. All along I could tell nothing much would happen, yet I was happy with being in her presence and her own 'sanity'.

5/5

If you like this you should try

Thelma & Louise (1991) 5/5

Fargo (1996) 5/5

Central Station (1998) 5/5

Babel (2006) 4/5

New Moon (2009)

Directed by Chris Weitz

Starring Kirsten Stweart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Taylor Lautner, Kellan Lutz, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning

There was almost a sly smirk from His Dark Materials fans saw Chris Weitz would be directing the second Twilight film. Almost as if they wanted it to fail.

Granted Weitz's adaptation of Northern Lights was a disaster. He claims it wasn't his but the studios involvement that got the final say. So here he gets more license.

And it shows.

Bella and Edward are now a couple. But not for long as Edward realises his vampire family and he pose too much of threat to Bella. So he leaves her. And thus the months of despair begin for poor Ms Swan. Once again I have to remind myself that this is a fantasy. Or am I too skeptical for true love to occur in one so young? The first film was a love story in a semi Gothic setting. That I could buy. The continuation of how love is tested all feels too silly.

And that's where a new plot should be set up.

Where the first Twilight film went wrong, this one manages to heal the neck bite wound. Bella finds comfort in the new heart throb Jacob, a pleasantly enjoyable Taylor Launter. And not just for the abs. But of course Bella still yearns for Edward. And why shouldn't she? Despite the fact that Jacob seems nicer, not as cheesy, much better looking, much more out going and generally better in every way than...who was the other guy again?

Oh, but turns out Jacob's a werewolf. I suppose human boys are just all too...human?

Chris Weitz's take isn't to be dismissed. In fact it's an improvement on the last film. The last film was stylish, but ultimately cheap looking. Weitz has made a more wholesome film with something in it for everyone. A few action scenes, handsome guys with shirts off, Michael Sheen playing a camp villain, handsome guys with shirts off, picturesque US scenery, handsome guys with...

The Twilight saga now has a strong entry. Reinvention may actually be the major key to this series. Considering that each story is pretty much the same.

If you like this you should try

Underworld (2003) 3/5

Max Payne (2008)

Directed by John Moore

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Chris O' Donnell

It amazes me that Hollywood still think there's sense in making a movie based on a video game. It was bad from the start with Super Mario Bros (financially, however I quite enjoy it). So once again it must be called upon to fill at least one cinema screen.

A moody detective named Max Payne (his parents only realised the pun after naming him) is on the trail of...to be honest I don't know. I had forgotten the moment the first gun shot had been let off.

Something to do with demonic angels, action with lots of misfired bullets and not one smile from Wahlberg until the very very end. Somewhere there could be a message of an evil corporation, but one felt that even that could bore me.

So with snow passing through the city to give an extra chill, it is possible that the video game adaptation gig should be given up altogether. This gives no hope to any future efforts. And it's almost as if because everyone is acting badly in this, Wahlberg decides to do the same.

1.5/5

If you like this you should try

Resident Evil : Apoloypse (2004) 3/5

Sin City (2005) 4/5

Silent Hill (2006) 4/5

Twilight (2008)

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke

Starring Kirsten Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Taylor Lautner, Cam Gigandet, Kellan Lutz

Successful chick-lit for teenage girls come to film in something surprisingly enjoyable.

From the off there's so many questions raised about this. And what one has to realise is that the word 'fantasy' is so rampant in this. Where an oddball girl, Bella Swan (who's already beautiful and getting boy's attention) finds herself drawn to the mysterious Edward Cullen.

After some research and questioning, Bella discovers that Edward is a vampire. But not of the wither-in-the-sun-and-die type. He has a thirst for blood which is controlled by other means. However, will the attraction between the two become too much for him to bear?

It's clear that the major fans of the books will relish in the overdrawn language and moments of 'excitement'. For the rest of us, we can enjoy a stylish teenage film. The teenage years supposedly contain a degree of pain. And here director Hardwicke has managed to sprinkle it about. At times the feature does run like a teenage television series. The use of cinema has been sidelined.

But if you don't mind some cringe worthy lines, go for everything else about it. Go for the soundtrack, go for the pretty people, go for the explicit references to what will come within the following sequels.

3.5/5

If you like this you should try

The Lost Boys (1987) 4/5

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) 2/5

The Craft (1996) 4.5/5

The Ides of March (2011)

Directed by George Clooney

Starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymor Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood

Oh Ryan Gosling, it's you again. Doing another round eh?

A warning to George Clooney at this point. Not all political dramas are gripping. So don't stick them all the time. This is the proof.

With a campaign trail for a presidential candidate, Stephen Meyers is on the road to success. Until a can of worms is opened and lots of nastiness and dirty play is brought out.

There's not much else to this film. At the end I had to question myself whether anything happened or not. Still not sure.

All right so Gosling is gorgeous and Clooney is charismatic. Hoffman and Giamatti are the American thespian actors and the story has all the markings of what tugs strings at the Academy. But for me, there was nothing to excite me. The story felt bland and if I'm honest, I wasn't sure anything was actually resolved.

Feels like how Jerry Maguire felt. Only in politics.

3/5

If you like this you should try

Jerry Maguire (1996) 2/5

In Time (2011)

Directed by Andrew Niccol

Starring Justin Timberlake, Cillian Murphy, Amanda Seyfried, Alex Pettyfer

For years there's been speculation of a Logan's Run remake. This could take the stand for the time being.

In a future where time is a currency and where it's limited after the age of twenty five, Will Salas is put on the road of trying to bring down the system after he is given a century to his life line.

Along the way he bumps into Sylvia Wiess, daughter of a time keeping conglomerate who loans time out yet manages to have a huge stack himself.

And then there are the Time Keepers headed by Raymond Leon who are now tracking down the two as they are stealing from the rich and heading straight for the time deprived.

So it's a sci-fi Bonnie and Clyde.

In Time isn't as shiny as it claims to be. There are novel ideas which are pulled off, but as an action film it only does the job half way. Cillian Murphy attempts to do what he can, but I can't help but feel if he would have done better having fun instead of being straight about it all. In tradition of Hollywood the villain is played by a British actor. Here Alex Pettyfer is a standard gangster.

If anything it's Justin Timberlake who gets credit. He blends well with the entire film. If only because they both play it safe.

3/5

If you like this you should try

Gattaca (1997) 4/5

The Island (2005) 3/5

V for Vendetta (2006) 5/5

Flashbacks of a Fool (2008)

Directed by Baillie Walsh

Starring Daniel Craig, Olivia Williams, Helen McCrory

Funny how fame can change someone. Daniel Craig plays the character I'm sure he won't want to become in any hurry. As Joe Scot he's a drug and sex enjoying actor who's actually fading from public view. A phone call from England informs him that his childhood friend Boots has died. Thus begins a trip down memory lane.

Flashbacks is a nice film, but it doesn't actually do anything. I'm not sure where Joe's fame arose from and there's not much focus on Boots to see why he was so important to Joe's character. There are some fun glam rock moments. Olivia Williams gets a nice role. But to be honest most of the film looks like a grittier episode of Heartbeat.

3/5

If you like this you should try

Billy Elliot (2000) 3/5

C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) 5/5