The Last Stand

UK Release Date: 24th January 2013

The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff (www.imdb.com).

Director: Jee-woon Kim (The Good, The Bad, The Weird, I Saw the Devil)

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whitaker, Genesis Rodriguez, Eduardo Noriega

The Last Stand chucks Arnold Schwarzenegger in to a role where his gun does (most of) the talking. When all is quiet in the small town of Sommerton, the big man feels uneasy with the dialogue he's given, but when all hell breaks loose it's like he never gave up acting. TLS is his first full-length feature since governing California.

There's a roughly spun narrative, drawn together by Deputy Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) and his police rookies, who're investigating a murder, and Forest Whitaker's FBI hot shots, who're made to look stupid as they're consistently outmaneuvered by an escaped drug lord (Eduardo Noriega) who's making his way to the Mexican border. 

Both stories are linked... or are they? Little information is given to justify the events taking place in Sommerton. When Owens and his team, which includes Jackass' Johnny Knoxville (he's actually quite entertaining) fortify their town, it's easy to forget when the bullets fly and the blood drenches the dirt. The action is almost perfect; the level of gore pushes its 15 rating to the edge. Even the car chase sequence is expertly played. 

South-Korean director Jee-woon Kim makes his first film for the west, and rightfully so. The Last Stand, with a few hints of dire acting, has a equal level of cheesy lines and ferocious action. One to watch for the Schwarzenegger lovers. 

3.5/5

Wish I Was Here

UK Release Date: 19th September 2014

A struggling actor, father and husband finds himself at a major crossroad, which forces him to examine his life, his family and his career (www.imdb.com).

Director: Zach Braff (Garden State)

Starring: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Joey King, Josh Gad, Mandy Patinkin, Ashley Greene

Zach Braff, as director, writer and actor, squeezes much in to an hour and a half slot, giving the five main cast members (Braff's Aidan, his wife, son, daughter and father) more than enough to do. It's a jumble at one time, and at utter harmony another.

Aidan is a family man with little income. He relies heavily on his father Gabe (Homeland's Mandy Patinkin) paying for his children's schooling. But when Gabe becomes seriously ill, Aidan must reconsider the route his life is taking. I want him to do well, regardless of his actions towards bad news.

Wish I Was Here is a drama with spurts of comedy. The humour's in the right places, never enlightening a rather somber tone.

Braff is a popular man. The movie is chock full of cameos, including Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) and Donald Faison, who's a welcome sight after their Scrubs tenure. Josh Gad plays Braff's brother, his sub-story stretching out the running time.

As joyful or sorrowful as it is to watch, Wish I Was Here cannot help but feel like a short series. 

3.5/5

Steve Jobs

UK Release Date: 13th November 2015

Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution, to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter. The story unfolds backstage at three iconic product launches, ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac (www.imdb.com).

Director: Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours)

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels

Steve Jobs is arrogant and often unlikeable. All the money, power and fame obtained over the years of his illustrious career hides what's really behind the CEO of Apple. Jobs' attitude won't win over any hearts.

Fassbender, on the other hand, captures the man we know so little about. He's relentless, imitating every habit Jobs carries. Courtesy isn't expected here, but his talent is extremely beguiling.

Steve Jobs depicts the moments before three product launches. At these points in time everyone is at his throat. He'd be better off cancelling them, to save him the hassle and the drama.

Seth Rogan is an unlikely choice as Steve Wozniak, but he adds warmth to a film that's rather cold. Rogan doesn't just look the part, he acts it too. 

Danny Boyle is one of the best in the biopic/drama genre. Boyle lets the script do the talking (literally). Steve Jobs has his own personal flaws that doesn't reflect in Boyle's filmmaking.   

4.5/5

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

UK Release Date: 19th November 2015

As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance (www.imdb.com).

Director: Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1)

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin  

Mockingjay - Part 2, has the ability to stand alone, whereas Part 1 needed its arrival, turning a slow burner into a full-on fire. It's a heck of a journey, the tense action worth the wait. The downside is you'll see every twist and turn before it happens. Jennifer Lawrence truly stands alone. Her acting feels genuinely from the heart. Hutcherson and Hemsworth, in their awkward love triangle, can barely touch her (metaphorically speaking). One last rallying cry from Katniss is the last straw. Her voice cannot pull off those great speeches, and quite frankly there was enough of them in Part 1. Yes we know you're the Mockingjay, get over it. All four of The Hunger Games films stay true to the book. Everyone plays their part well (although some are short changed). They're faithful to both Veronica Roth's story and Francis Lawrence's visuals. 

4/5

Spectre

UK Release Date: 26th October 2015

A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE (www.imdb.com).

Director: Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Skyfall)

Starring: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Bellucci, Ben Wishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, Andrew Scott, Rory Kinnear

Skyfall changed the way we saw Jame Bond. The gadgets were stripped, cheesy one-liners thrown out the window, and a light hearted attitude was pushed aside for serious one. Craig's Bond means business, especially when things were personal. Spectre follows this by being an indirect sequel to Casino Royale, Quantum and Skyfall. It ties up ends that don't necessarily need tying up. If, like me, you love a bit of nostalgia in movies, you'll point out things and get overly excited. True Bond fans will be wanting more, but need not fear, Spectre's on par with its predecessor, just for different reasons. The opening scene is phenomenal. We follow a couple walking their way through the streets in Mexico City during Day of the Dead. Surely the most technical shot should be saved for last. Craig is on top form, Christoph Waltz's villain matching him blow by blow. Dave Bautista's henchman, similar to Goldfinger's Oddjob, is underused, whilst the Bond girls achieve what they always achieve. Q (Wishaw) walks as much as he talks, and Judi Dench is barely missed as Fiennes' M looks right at home with a sub-plot of his own. For every classic Bond forte there's a lack of another, or an under-usage of it. Time is still shaping James Bond. 24 films in and he's still full of surprises, just as Spectre has its own, assuming all forms of media have been avoided in your life.

4/5

Source Code

Uk Release Date: 1st April 2011

A soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train. A mission he has only 8 minutes to complete (www.imdb.com).

Director: Duncan Jones (Moon)

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright

Jake Gyllenhaal fleshes out the characters he portrays, and rightfully makes it his own. Whether it's Donnie Darko or Zodiac, he ups the ante. This is absolutely the case in Source Code. Think Groundhog Day meets the best sci-fi you can think of. Gyllenhaal is Colter Stevens, a soldier who's forced to use the Source Code: repeating a real-life train journey to Chicago, and its eventual explosion and the death of everyone on board. His mission is to find the bomb and its detonator. The investigation's only half the hoot. On the train opposite Stevens (who's in someone else's body on the train) is Christina (Michelle Monaghan), a beautiful, down-to-earth woman that knows the person Stevens has 'taken over'. Colter's subconscious actions bring them closer together, but is it a relationship destined to fail the moment he enters the Source Code? Only 8 minutes of time will tell, as director Duncan Jones successfully balances romance (or not time-travelling) with heart-stopping action. 

4.5/5

Man on a Ledge

UK Release Date: 3rd February 2012

As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion (www.imdb.com).

Director: Asger Leth 

Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Genesis Rodriguez, Ed Harris, Ed Burns, Titus Welliver

Man on a Ledge. What a ridiculous name for a movie. And ridiculous is exactly what it is, albeit a story that's as wobbly as Worthington's accent. Nicky Cassidy's (Worthington) an escaped convict whose suicide attempt in front of tens of people on the streets of New York distracts the public from a ludicrous heist that his brother (Jamie Bell) and his brother's girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez) are carrying out. They're after a prized diamond, to prove to the world of Nick's innocence. Man on a Ledge is an amusing watch, even if it breaks our suspension of disbelief. The suspense is equaled by stupidity, with the cast, including Elizabeth Bank's negotiator, Ed Burns' detective and Anthony Mackie's lawyer stretched out. Other cast members look as if they're enjoying themselves; Bosch main man Titus Welliver revels in being a jerk, whilst Ed Harris's villain should have more screen time. They make MoaL worth the while.

3/5

Deception

UK Release Date: 25th April 2008

An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by his lawyer friend. But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist (www.imdb.com).

Director: Marcel Langenegger

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams 

Deception is a hard one to figure out. Ewan McGregor's socially awkward accountant Jonathan meets Hugh Jackman's Wyatt, a confident co-worker. He introduces Jonathan into a sex ring known only as The List. McGregor becomes animalistic, thinking with his libido, until he meets a beautiful woman (Williams). Jackman abuses McGregor's new emotions by abducting Williams. McGregor acts irrationally, driven by love for someone he's just met. Love at first sight, or acts of stupidity? He's not the most likeable of characters. Deception pans out with little feelings for its lead men and their final destinations. 

2.5/5

A Fantastic Fear of Everything

UK Release Date: 8th June 2012

A crime novelist whose research on Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck must confront his worst fears when a film executive takes a sudden interest in his movie script (www.imdb.com).

Director: Crispian Mills, Chris Hopewell

Starring: Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg is a cooky fellow. It's not surprising that he's taken on the role in A Fantastic Fear of Everything. Jack is his weirdest character to date. Pegg owns his character, moulding the story around his subversive behaviour. He's in too deep with his work, researching notorious serial killers for his book freaks him out to no end. A film-maker shows interest in his work, and a meeting's arranged. Jack must face the outside world in preparation for his big moment. Pegg and the team behind the scenes manage to turn a boring narrative into an intriguing one. Pegg spends the second third of AFFoE in a launderette, suspicious of fellow launderette-ers and in need of a beginners guide to washing clothes. This won't be for everyone. The comedy's dry. The story's farfetched and at times, drags. Pegg maybe exceptional enough to see you through to the bitter end, or lager end. 

3/5

Skyline

UK Release Date: 12th November 2010

Strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the Earth (www.imdb.com).

Director: The Brothers Strause (Alien vs. Predator: Requiem)

Starring: Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson, Donald Faison, Brittany Daniel, Crystal Reed, David Zayas

Skyline: starts well, ends badly. Its potential is (almost) endless. It extracts the best parts of well known sci-fi's; mysterious, detailed creatures (Alien), impressive ships from outer space (Battleship) and an invasion of the human race (Independence Day). Skyline even looks flashy, with its pale, stark greys and and an over-usage of lens flare that would make J.J. Abrams proud. A storyline would be nice though. And a decent cast. And a relatively decent script. All we know is an alien race is attempting to take over the world, via Los Angeles. The Brother Strause's low budget shows, with the locations restricted to one skyscraper and its surrounding area. The well known T.V. cast, Eric Balfour (24), Donald Faison (Scrubs) and David Zayas (Dexter) evaporate under the crumbling dialogue, accompanied by the cheesiest on-screen you'll ever see. 

1.5/5

Lethal Weapon 2

UK Release Date: 15th September 1989

Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats who are using their immunity to engage in criminal activities (www.imdb.com).

Director: Richard Donner (Superman, The Goonies, Lethal Weapon)

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Patsy Kensit

Lethal Weapon was just the beginning. It sets up the relationship between Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Well) well, with a strong story to boot. The second has the cops in a tight knit, their banter brushing off each other with satisfying effects. Murtaugh is still angry, and Riggs is still crazy, just less suicidal. They're the cop duo others try to replicate. LW2 carries over LW's best bits, while adding extra bonuses for all to revel in. Newcomer Joe Pesci ('I'm Leo Getz, and whatever you want, Leo gets.') is great but does grate, repeating 'ok' so many times I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The only drawback to LW2 is too much time and effort's spent on character development, as the South African criminals they face have no personalities. This is made up for by a shocking twist involving a key character's past.  

4/5

Suffragette

UK Release Date: 12th October 2015

The foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State (www.imdb.com).

Director: Sarah Gavron

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Wishaw, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Meryl Streep

History doesn't repeat itself. At least not for women's rights. It'll never happen again. A group of women in London known as the suffragettes fight for women's rights in every way they can. This film, starring Carey Mulligan, follows a select few. Maud (Mulligan) is the new recruit, dragged in fighting the cause due to principles alone. She's treated like a piece of dirt at work and at home, just for standing up for what she believes in. This was the norm back in the 20's and 30's, but devastating to watch now. Along with Helena Bonham Carter and Anne-Marie Duff, Mulligan stands strong, exceeding the men around her. Director Sarah Gavron and writer Abi Morgan haven't made this a tale of equal opportunity. Some men help the cause (Bonham Carter's on screen husband), whilst others are truly despicable in nature (Mulligan's boss) and see woman as 2nd class citizens. Suffragette, although focusing on women, sits comfortably on the fence. Because not everyone feels the same way. 

4/5

The Descendants

UK Release Date: 27th January 2012

A land baron tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident (www.imdb.com).

Director: Alexander Payne

Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer

George Clooney dazzles in The Descendants. Whilst the story of death and coming to terms with it is morbid, Clooney, along with on-screen daughters Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller add a concoction of feelings to curb our interest. Matt (Clooney) juggles with a tough decision regarding his wife on life support, single-handedly looking after his two daughters, all the while dealing with work and other such pressing matters. Sounds like a lot of ground to cover, but in hindsight The Descendants is quite simple to grasp thanks to a well drawn out script and compassionate personnel to show it off.

4/5

What We Do in the Shadows

UK Release Date: 21st November 2014

Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane - like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts (www.imdb.com).

Director: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi

Starring: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonny Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford, Ben Fransham

If you like Flight of the Conchords then you'll love What We Do in the Shadows. It's a parody documentary that follows the lives of a group of vampires living in Wellington, New Zealand. They each get to tell their story, including their illustrious backgrounds, hitting the city streets, trying to get in to nightclubs, who should do the dishes and confrontations with Wolves. Every character has different background, from Ben Fransham's Nosferatu and Jemaine Clement's goth, to Twilight-esque Deacon and newcomer (and general conflict maker) Nick. This is funny, even when it's not trying to be. Dryer than your everyday comedy, but never decreasing in momentum. FotC's regular Rhys Darby is an absolute scene stealer. A comedy following the lives of the werewolves should be next on their list.  

4.5/5

The Cabin in the Woods

Uk Release Date: 13th April 2012

Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods (www.imdb.com).

Director: Drew Goddard

Written by: Joss Whedon

Starring: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford

I'm not sure where to begin with The Cabin in the Woods without giving too much away. This will be brief and probably not very helpful, but this films needs to be seen with as little known about it as possible. Five friends go on vacation to a... yes you named it... cabin in the woods. They're overseen by two office workers, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford, from an underground-lab. What beholds the holiday-goers? Words cannot describe. Drew Goddard pumps out cliche after cliche, only to slap us in the face with outrageousness. This is unique, gory and funny, thanks to Joss Whedon's writing skills. Watch this, but be warned, you will never be prepared.  

4/5

The Human Centipede (First Sequence)

UK Release Date: 20th August 2010

A mad scientist kidnaps and mutilates a trio of tourists in order to reassemble them into a human centipede, created by stitching their mouths to each others' rectums (www.imdb.com).

Director: Tom Six 

Starring: Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie, Akihiro Kitanura

'Did I really just watch that?', is the reaction felt after watching the first sequence of The Human Centipede. A twisted concept exists in the mind of director Tom Six, but it's one that doesn't take shape due to a number of factors. First off, the acting is undeniably questionable, chiefly the trio that make up the 'human centipede' and the doctor whose mental state engulfs rational thinking. Grief is not felt for the blithering three, as the girls' (Ashley C. Williams and Ashlynn Yennie) common sense doesn't kick in until miles after it's too late. They're strapped to hospital gurneys, ready for their procedure, just as a young Japanese man is. The questions that will be filling your mind do come (no spoilers here) as Dr. Heiter (Dieter Laser) runs through the conventional duties an owner would do with his pet. Loopholes are aplenty, the most obvious being the centipede's attachments and whether it's possible. Others exists, but that's for you to find and decide for yourselves. The Human Centipede has quickly become a cult film, but for the wrong reasons.

1.5/5

Kung Fury

UK Release Date: 23rd August 2015

In 1985, Kung Fury, the toughest martial artist cop in Miami, goes back in time to kill the worst criminal of all time - kung fuhrer Hitler (www.imdb.com).

Director: David Sandberg

Starring: David Sandberg, Jorna Taccone, Leopold Nilsson

Cops. 80's TV. A norse god. Adolf Hitler. An ass kicking cop. Time travel. A dinosaur-riding, mini-gun wielding barbarianess. A triceratops cop. All of these appear in the 30-minute short film Kung Fury. Nothing makes much sense in the opening 5 minutes. Get past its weird action and you're in for a rollicking, funny satire. David Sandberg is Kung Fury, a cop with super martial arts abilities, who goes back in time to Nazi-Germany and take down Adolf Hitler. Kung Fury catches attention by mocking popular medium of the 80's. It's wacky, good fun.

4/5

The Love Punch

UK Release Date: 18th April 2014

A divorced couple scheme to recover the retirement money that was stolen from them (www.imdb.com).

Director: Joel Hopkins (Last Chance Harvey)

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie

Love Punch is absurd. The story, going from believable divorcees in their daily routines, to mischievous, reckless wrongdoers plotting to steal a $10m necklace. Unfortunately, veteran actors Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson's acting matches the modest script. They head to Paris to retrieve their retirement pay that's been stolen from them, only to then make a rash decision, and persuade their friends the blah's (Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie) into helping them. The fact it only takes 10 seconds for them to approve only goes to show the ludicrous direction we're succumbed to. There is no punch to this love story, the few heartfelt moments are predictable, brushed aside for mundane jokes and terrible impersonations. An older generation of viewers may be attracted by the names tagged to what can only be assumed a romantic comedy. 

2/5

Serena

UK Release Date: 24th October 2014

In Depression-era North Carolina, the future of George Pemberton's timber empire becomes complicated when he marries Serena (www.imdb.com).

Director: Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in the Fire, Love Is All You Need)

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Sean Harris, Rhys Ifans, Toby Jones

Serena was filmed when Silver Lining's Playbook was being aired, but didn't reached its audience until two years after. Set during the American depression, Serena (Lawrence), a feisty, headstrong woman, becomes the wife of bureaucratic timber-man, Pemberton (Cooper). They have dreams of living far away from their home town in North Carolina, but Pemberton's past threatens to destroy everything they're working for. Serena is rife with potential. The settings are beautiful, the costumes, hair and make-up are extraordinarily detailed. It's ruinous then, that its material isn't profound enough to interest us in the lead characters and their problems. 

2.5/5

Drive

UK Release Date: 23rd September 2011

A mysterious Hollywood stuntman and mechanic moonlights as a getaway driver and finds himself trouble when he helps out his neighbor (www.imdb.com).

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Valhalla Rising)

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman

Ryan Gosling is only known as The Driver, a movie stuntman that earns a few extra bob as the getaway man during heists. A particular job goes awry when helping the ex-con husband of the woman he gets close to. Less is absolutely more as Gosling gathers the attention with a forceful presence and few chosen words. A hard look and a slight expression is all that's needed to sway ours and Mulligan's affection. Drive's dialogue is compact, only making a show when the mise-en-scene needs a small boost. It's powerful cinema that's grandiose and slightly arty. Drive is one tense thriller, with intricate characters (including Bryan Cranston and Oscar Isaac) and an explosive story, never relaxing until it comes to an end.

4.5/5

Crimson Peak

UK Release Date: 16th October 2015

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds...and remembers (www.imdb.com).

Director: Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim)

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam

Small spoilers are contained in this short review.

The big names attached to Crimson Peak give nothing of its story away. Something's not quite right at the spooky manor on Crimson Peak. Young Edith (Wasikowska) is warned against going by a supernatural presence. Her newly wed husband (Hiddleston) and his domineering sister (Chastain) have a big secret to hide in their house that's a horror film lover's gold mine. It's a run down labyrinth, bleeding from the clay underneath and eroding from a lack of affection. Hiddleston and Chastain are complex siblings whose broad characteristics push the narrative in to territories with unexpected flare. Crimson Peak is fierce and hematic. Stands out amongst the now-a-day horrors.

4/5