[Bells]

A thread for latest films (I tend to post reviews, will post them here from now on!)

As well as opinions on actors, actresses, etc. and their performances.

[stacey]

cool
has anybody seen goal 2 yet? i saw goal and loved it just wondering if the 2nd is any good

[Lauren]

Hannibal Rising - 18

I saw this earlier tonight with some friends cos I was in the mood for a scary film. I usually don't mind ghostly/paranormal films but my ultimate weakness if gore. Of course, since I want to be a forensic psychologist when I am older I thought what more fitting film to watch was the psychology behind the worlds biggest (even though fictitious) serial killer.

It started off on the Eastern Front of Germany in Lecter Castle with a very young (and cute) Hannibal, with his sister Mischa. It foretold events whereby Hannibal saw his parents killed by Nazi soldiers as they fought to reclaim land that the Russians had taken over. Hannibal is left to care for his younger sister, but soon Nazi soldiers take them hostage and use them as a get-out way if the Russians come over. However, they can't find food and they kill Hannibal's sister - Mischa, because she has pneumonia and will die anyway. They eat her in front of Hannibal, but then the Russians bomb the house and Hannibal escapes his captors.

The rest of the story is when Hannibal lives with his aunt in France he searches for the people who killed and ate his sister - with each murder he commits becoming more gruesome.
The film had quite a lot of gore in it, but the gore fitted in with the story and was needed to show the events.

Overall I'd recommend anyone to see it. 8/10.

Gawd, I talk too much.

[Lauren]

Music & Lyrics - PG

Saw this about a week ago, and it was absolutely fab. It is cheesy, yes, but it has some good moments in it, and the cheesiness is well-balanced with the good moments. The characters are well-played and quite a contrast from each other - as well as being a drama it is also a comedy, and also a romantic film (Drama RomCom?). There's few funny moments, but they're very funny.

Basically, it's about the has-been 80's singer (Hugh Grant) who has to write a new song for a famous artist (Haley Benett) - to do this he enlists the help of his "plant lady" (Drew Barrymore) who he finds to be a natural lyricist. But then a load of things happen, they fall in love yadda yadda yadda - and then there's a big concert scene at the end where he declares his love for her.

Really cheesy and quite cliche - the OST is amazing (I have advances of it on my laptop already).

7/10.

[Bells]

BABEL - 18

I went to see this film with really high expectations. I figured it would probably be intellectually challenging what with the three different languages and quite a lot of it being subtitled! At first I wasn't really sure what was going on, what with three completely different scenarios being mixed into one. Slowly I grasped the link, and I don't want to go into what that is without giving away the story of the film completely! When I got out of the cinema I realised that the film was covering serious issues in today's modern world: e.g. drugs, depression, terrorism, refugees. It was really emotional in some parts and made you realise and think about what different people in any culture for that matter have to go through sometimes.

The acting was really good overall - nobody disappointed anyway, so I do recommend it for people who are into serious films. It's not a feel-good, cheesy movie or anything like that; and the odd time if you need a break from that genre or the type of genre you're used to - I'd recommend it. It won't appeal to everyone that's for sure, especially not to I think your regular teenage audience - some of my friends were like, 'What was that about?!', but for me, I quite liked it!

8/10

[BigSister]

Click is afilm about a guy who is a kinda workaholic. He then gets a magic remote from a v strange guy and then he can zap through his life. I enjoyed it and would give 7/ 7.5 out of 10

[Emilee]

I went to see "Ghost Rider" yesterday... with Eva mendes and Nicolas Cage..... It was really good... but if your not into movies that abiously arnt realist its not for you.

[Shaun]

Last film I saw was "Wedding Daze", which I thought would be totally horrible.

However, Isla Fisher is a funny and charming actress, and is attractive too - so she's good on all fronts! Jason Biggs, of American Pie fame, doesn't have many outstanding scenes, but holds the plot together well.

And then there's his sex-obsessed parents, to provide the more outrageous and controversial comedy. Absolutely hilarious! Fisher's parents are also comical, particularly her father, who is an inventor of Jewish-themed toys (such as the Jew-la Hoop).

Overall, it has a nice story, and has a lot of funny moments, and really is worth a see even if you're not a fan of the rom-com genre.

I'd give it 8/10.

edit: oh shaun. what were you thinking. 5/10.

[MarkWaldorf]

Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer

I saw this last night, and it was a lot better than the first movie. There's much more action in this one, which makes basically makes the plot.

The special effects are amazing, it looked very real. The whole image of the Silver Surfer and Space was just awesome, and they actually drained out the river thames, there was nothing there. It looked completely fantastic.

Overall it was a great movie, I'd see it again.

9/10

[MR.K!]

Die Hard 4.0

This film is great in action sequences but could have donr with a better plot... the film is about a team of terrorists trying to systematically shut down the united states by draining every penny from the countrys banks and stealing the national reserve buy hacking into the united states most trusted and (supposed to be) infalible protection programs...

this film could have been much better... Die hard 4.0 wasnt as good as the classics Die Hard 1, Die Hard 2: Die Harder or Die Hard 3: With a Vengance..

i would give this film 7/10... wheras the original films get 10/10

[BigSister]

Hairspray

I really really enjoyed it lots of people were in the cinema and it was only a really small room we were in so it was packed. The film was great the only bad point was it dragged a bit in the middle part but then got going again at the end. Loved all the songs think my faves were I can hear the bells and Ladies choice and cant stop the beat(The 1 at the end). Am going to get the soundtrack later this week and am def going to get the dvd when it comes out ^_^
Rating 9/10

[gracie24]

Originally posted by stacey
cool
has anybody seen goal 2 yet? i saw goal and loved it just wondering if the 2nd is any good

If you loved Goal! you will definitel love Goal 2, it's just brilliant. That's all I can say really.
You'll definitely enjoy it so go out and rent it or something!

[Jackie]

Juno (Ellen Page) is a Mid-Western highschooler, who decides one day, out of boredom or curiosity, to have sex with her friend Bleeker (Michael Cera), a member of her school's track team. She likes him well enough, but isn't hung up on him. This one time encounter results in Juno's pregnancy. She and her best friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby) decide to take control of the situation by browsing for prospective adoptive parents in the local Pennysaver, and Juno settles on seemingly perfect, affluent couple Mark and Vanessa (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner.)

a confidently frank teenage girlwho calls the shots with a nonchalant cool and an effortless attitude as she jour-neys through an emotionalnine-month adventure intoadulthood. Quick witted anddistinctively unique, Juno walksDancing Elk High's halls to herown tune--preferably anythingby The Stooges--but under-neath her tough no-nonsenseexterior is just a teenage girltrying to figure it all out. While most girls at DancingElk are updating their MySpace.


I saw this film the other day i didn't think it was all that good.

[Nicky.]

I went to see ' Penelope' this morning and it was great!
Its about a family and they have a curse put on them, which is the next female to be born is born with a pig face, but all the babies to be born for the next 200 years or so after the curse are males. Until Penelope.

I thought it was really good, and so did my friend who went with me !

Russel Brand is in it too! x

[Christina]

JUNO - 12A

Yesterday I saw JUNO, i wasnt really sure of what it was about all i knew was that a teenage girl had got herself pregnant. I only went to watch it because I was bored. But to be honest I really wouldnt rate it too high Id probably give it a 3 1/2 maximum. I didnt really get the humor and at times I thought it was quite random and that there was no need for any of these things to happen. Its basically about a girl called JUNO who is a bit of a tomboy and she has sex with her boyfriend Bleeker for the first time and ends up preggaz. She then decides she isnt ready for the baby and goes to get an abortion but changes her mind. She then feels she would like to have the baby and give it to a nice couple that she knows will look after him/her. When she finally finds the perfect couple all seems to go well. And she really gets on well with the soon to be dad. However things dont go the way JUNO plans and the couple end up getting divorced leaving JUNO really upset. JUNO has the baby and agrees to still give the baby to the women despite not having a dad as the women had been trying for a baby for years. However i think the ending was really rubbish and they also skipped important parts of the film. But if youre bored and you need to kill some time then why not watch it xxx

[Loukas]

Originally posted by x-kween-dilemma-x
JUNO - 12A

Yesterday I saw JUNO, i wasnt really sure of what it was about all i knew was that a teenage girl had got herself pregnant. I only went to watch it because I was bored. But to be honest I really wouldnt rate it too high Id probably give it a 3 1/2 maximum. I didnt really get the humor and at times I thought it was quite random and that there was no need for any of these things to happen. Its basically about a girl called JUNO who is a bit of a tomboy and she has sex with her boyfriend Bleeker for the first time and ends up preggaz. She then decides she isnt ready for the baby and goes to get an abortion but changes her mind. She then feels she would like to have the baby and give it to a nice couple that she knows will look after him/her. When she finally finds the perfect couple all seems to go well. And she really gets on well with the soon to be dad. However things dont go the way JUNO plans and the couple end up getting divorced leaving JUNO really upset. JUNO has the baby and agrees to still give the baby to the women despite not having a dad as the women had been trying for a baby for years. However i think the ending was really rubbish and they also skipped important parts of the film. But if youre bored and you need to kill some time then why not watch it xxx

i loved it!

acting was AMAZING! story was sad deffo see it again 9/10

[Christina]

Originally posted by DoubleTrouble

i loved it!

acting was AMAZING! story was sad deffo see it again 9/10

Really i thought it was about 5/10 lol x

[Arneldo]

The Orphanage is a horror/suspense/drama film.

I saw it today and I have to say it is one of the best films I have seen.

I didn't think I'd enjoy it because it is in spanish but I loved it.
It has the fantastic mix of thriller meets drama. And the acting is brilliant.

It's like a horror fair tale, and it has aspects of a very personal story.

Okay, I just read that back and it makes no sence lol But it's very very good. Go see it!

[_Audrey]

Adulthood is an amazing sequel. I generally don't like sequels but this one is a really good story. It was interesting to see how Sam has changed since he was in prison, and an interesting insight into what some people can experience while in prison (I know it's just a film).

Definitely as good as, if not better than, Kidulthood. A must see!

[M X]

Factory Girl
Year of Release - 2007 [wide]

I saw this film ages ago & it has since stuck with me and it's became one of my all time favourites. It is the story of the life & death of NYC underground cinema actress Edie Sedgwick and artist Andy Warhol. The film opens with Sedgwick in a mental hostpital. We continue to see flashbacks of the peak of her career during the 1960's. Her big break came in the short film "Poor Little Rich Girl" for which she recieved critical acclaim in the underground cinema world. We watch her get caught up in the fast lane with drugs, alchohol and partying. Spoiler below!

[spoil]Edie Sedgwick eventually dies from a drug overdose at the age of 28.[/spoil]

--Overall--
Just an absoloutley fantastic film. Applause to George Hickenlooper for taking the work and genius direction art of Andy Warhol & the beauty and talent of Edie Sedgwick and combining the two, to make this beautiful biography film. My all time favourite film.
*****/*****
5 out of five stars

Cast: -

Sienna Miller as Edie Sedgwick
Jimmy Fallon as Chuck Wein
Hayden Christensen as Billy Quin
Jack Huston as Gerard Malanga
Shawn Hatosy as Syd Pepperman
Tara Summers as Brigid Polk
&
Guy Pearce as Andy Warhol

*also includes a cameo appearance by Mary-Kate Olsen*

[Tom4784]

Repo! The Genetic Opera
It's hard to describe what Repo is like, imagine a cross between Blade Runner, Saw and Rocky Horror mixed with an unhealthy but delightful dose of acid. It's very different from other musicals as nearly ALL of it is sung (hence the opera part of the title). The music is fantastic and catchy and I loved the look of the film. The actors are all brilliant in their roles, My favourite was Anthony Head as Nathan/The Repo Man the duality of his character is compelling and if you thought he could sing on Buffy you haven't seen anything yet. Alex Vega makes a strong lead, she's likable and has a fantastic voice. Sarah Brightman in her first film role is fantastic she plays the role perfectly and as expected she's excellent in all her songs. My only complaint was that she didn't feature enough. Paris Hilton was surprisingly excellent in her role, she doesn't have a huge part but she's well suited to the role of Amber Sweet.

It's a strange film, from a media student's perspective the technical aspects of the film are awful, the plot's a bit all over the place and the structure of the narrative is bizzare as the whole film serves as a buildup to the finale. However from a filmgoer's perspective the film is excellent, it's fun and I want to see it again. Unfortunately the DVD isn't out until March so unless you manage to catch it in an independant cinema or in a mystery showing you'll have to wait.

Not everyone will like it but i'd reccomend it to anyone who are fans of the actors, fans of musicals (although it may not be suited to those who like High School Musical and it's ilk) and anyone who likes their films in general and doesn't mind something a little different.

If you like Sweeney Todd I'd reccomend this as they are both dark musicals.

9.5/10

[Jayson]

Duplicity

I went to see this film a few months ago and hated it.

The storyline is basicly two spies plan to con the CIA out of millions by knicking the formula to a hair re-growth product.

BUT, the viewer is unaware of this until the last minute where it has a 'Hustle' style unfolding.

Turns out, the CIA double conned them. Wow.

You are sat there for 2 hours wondering what the hell is going on and why was this fcuking awful film ever made, and they come up with "HAHAHAHA the CIA realised they were con artists!".

Fcuking disgrace of a film and awful acting from Clive Owen and Julia Roberts.

1/10 : DO NOT watch this film.

[Shaun]

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

In 2007, Michael Bay directed a big-screen adaptation of the 80s classic TV show, and garnered success and praise from the audience and critics alike. Skip two years, and the sequel is being slammed.

But why? Well starting at the fact that it took less than a year to film the thing, let alone plot, write and direct, one could argue a certain air of rush to this sequel. But hey, with a fanbase and revenue as widespread as the first to come, who cares, right?

Well, the fans for a start. Plot details were left hair-thin, with something vague about a Fallen decepticon, and how he can only be killed by a 'Prime'. But the last Prime is dead! But he can be brought back to life with the Matrix of...something! Contrived to say the least.

Special effects-wise, there's little to fault. The opening sequence of Shanghai's road system being torn apart by a gigantic unicycle is breathtaking. But at other points, the graphics are a let down, often reminiscent of a Nintendo 64's calibre.

And what of the human elements of the film? Shia Labeouf is back as the dorky kid with embarrassing parents and is off to college. Cue a tirade from the clichéd hysterical mother, and the father being 'proud'. Their brief inclusion in the first film was welcomed, given the mother's tendency to be a screaming, irritating bint; then imagine my disdain and their more prominent roles in the sequel. The ditsy mother mistakes hash brownies for "environmentally-friendly cookies" on the college campus, and a few cheap laughs are drawn out of her resulting stoned-state.

Ridiculous enough for you yet? No? Well if that wasn't enough, check out the new robot additions to the Autobot family. 3 'female' motorcycles of bright colours are presented to the viewers in an almost sexual way, crudely depicting hologrammed-women riding them. However, the 2 'twin' bots, initially seen as an ice cream van before becoming two Smart cars, are the more controversial and, quite frankly shallow creations. Critics have lauded this addition, claiming them as a shallow and even racist stereotype. Whilst I find this to be a sensitive issue, the inclusion of toilet humour (one is seen to 'urinate' by letting out oil, another seemingly farts) does not help to build a sense of esteemed and cultured humour.

The biggest fault of the film, however, is undoubtedly the plot (or lack thereof). Farfetched and ridiculous ideas are dabbled in throughout, eventually culminating in Shia Labeouf's (near)death, where he encounters some divine figures known as the Primes, who then send him back to life to finish his mission. Now, given the nature of the film and its premise, a little stretched imagination is required, but the sheer "WTF"-itude of this twist is too much for even my inner nerd.

My two cents? It's not even worth that. Do not see it. Especially if you've seen the first and have a rose-tinted view of the whole franchise, because this does nothing but spread manure all over it.

Rating: 2/10.

[setanta]

Originally posted by Arneldo
The Orphanage is a horror/suspense/drama film.

I saw it today and I have to say it is one of the best films I have seen.

I didn't think I'd enjoy it because it is in spanish but I loved it.
It has the fantastic mix of thriller meets drama. And the acting is brilliant.

It's like a horror fair tale, and it has aspects of a very personal story.

Okay, I just read that back and it makes no sence lol But it's very very good. Go see it!

Totally agree with you Arneldo, that is a wonderfully told horror- a real homage to the old ghost stories- with emphasis on mood and character rather than silly shocks. you can really tell that the director has a love of the great horror films of this kind, such as the innocents, which this film often resembles in many scenes but never copies: they've constructed their own tale here which has echos of the past greats without ever feeling like a direct copy. if you liked this one Arneldo you should try to get your hands on a copy of the innocents or, if you want something a little more recent, the others is a very well made haunted house movie

[Johann]

Originally posted by Shaun
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

In 2007, Michael Bay directed a big-screen adaptation of the 80s classic TV show, and garnered success and praise from the audience and critics alike. Skip two years, and the sequel is being slammed.

But why? Well starting at the fact that it took less than a year to film the thing, let alone plot, write and direct, one could argue a certain air of rush to this sequel. But hey, with a fanbase and revenue as widespread as the first to come, who cares, right?

Well, the fans for a start. Plot details were left hair-thin, with something vague about a Fallen decepticon, and how he can only be killed by a 'Prime'. But the last Prime is dead! But he can be brought back to life with the Matrix of...something! Contrived to say the least.

Special effects-wise, there's little to fault. The opening sequence of Shanghai's road system being torn apart by a gigantic unicycle is breathtaking. But at other points, the graphics are a let down, often reminiscent of a Nintendo 64's calibre.

And what of the human elements of the film? Shia Labeouf is back as the dorky kid with embarrassing parents and is off to college. Cue a tirade from the clichéd hysterical mother, and the father being 'proud'. Their brief inclusion in the first film was welcomed, given the mother's tendency to be a screaming, irritating bint; then imagine my disdain and their more prominent roles in the sequel. The ditsy mother mistakes hash brownies for "environmentally-friendly cookies" on the college campus, and a few cheap laughs are drawn out of her resulting stoned-state.

Ridiculous enough for you yet? No? Well if that wasn't enough, check out the new robot additions to the Autobot family. 3 'female' motorcycles of bright colours are presented to the viewers in an almost sexual way, crudely depicting hologrammed-women riding them. However, the 2 'twin' bots, initially seen as an ice cream van before becoming two Smart cars, are the more controversial and, quite frankly shallow creations. Critics have lauded this addition, claiming them as a shallow and even racist stereotype. Whilst I find this to be a sensitive issue, the inclusion of toilet humour (one is seen to 'urinate' by letting out oil, another seemingly farts) does not help to build a sense of esteemed and cultured humour.

The biggest fault of the film, however, is undoubtedly the plot (or lack thereof). Farfetched and ridiculous ideas are dabbled in throughout, eventually culminating in Shia Labeouf's (near)death, where he encounters some divine figures known as the Primes, who then send him back to life to finish his mission. Now, given the nature of the film and its premise, a little stretched imagination is required, but the sheer "WTF"-itude of this twist is too much for even my inner nerd.

My two cents? It's not even worth that. Do not see it. Especially if you've seen the first and have a rose-tinted view of the whole franchise, because this does nothing but spread manure all over it.

Rating: 2/10.

LOL agreed, what an absolute let down. I really liked the first one despite it's flaws -- but at least it had a direction it wanted to follow and the action is so much better. This was just a complete mess.