Super 8 (2011)

*****

Hands down my most anticipated movie of 2011. Ever since that trailer hit the net I have been unable to think of much else.

This movie ticked all the right boxes, pulled all the right strings and most definitely lived up to the hype. I adored it. I wanted to make out with it. I came out feeling like i'd just seen a mash-up of The Monster Squad and Stand By Me. It's a classic 50's B-movie plot, retold in a late 70's fashion, modernised (sort of) to suit.
I loved the kids, every one of them were perfect for each role. You just sometimes have to sit back and admire talent like that, it was a pleasure to see.
I know this movie won't hit home with most as the expectation levels were set too high but talking as a guy who has talked little else about upcoming movies, I absolutely loved it.

I might just go and see it on the big screen again, I know i'll be buying the Blu as soon as it's released, and i'm a VHS fanatic! Amazing movie that made me feel like a big kid again.

Submarine (2010)

****

I love Ayoade and his acting work so I was very much looking forward to seeing him direct, especially considering Paddy Considine was on board too.

This has a fantastc feel to it, reminded me a lot of my other favourite British movies like A Room For Romeo Brass and Cemetery Junction (I know most hated that one). I loved the relationship between Oliver and his parents, the way he communicated with his mom was hilarious. Using quotes from her books and spying on her from the stairs. Genius!
I also loved the sweet relationship between him and Jordana, again it reminded me of other favourites like Nick and Norah and also 500 Days of Summer. I also tip my complimentary cap to Ayoade for the use of VHS, I wanna know where I can get my hands on one of Graham's tapes.

Beautiful story, well written and perfectly executed. I can't praise this one enough. Ayoade, i'm on board!

Super (2010)

***

I'm not a huge comic book reader but I do quite like my super hero movies, or even anti-super hero for that matter. I wasn't even aware that this film was in the planning stages let alone been made, Ellen Page always makes me want to part with money.

The only thing I can think of is that they held this film back due to the increasing amount of anti-superhero movies coming out on the back of the Kick-Ass success. Take Defendor for instance with Woody Harrelson, this is exactly the same type of movie as that but with a better script and better executed.

I'd say that if you like Ghost World and Defendor you'll like this movie. I can't think of a time when I would ever rewatch this which makes it sound like I didn't like it, that's not true, it does have a good feel to it and it was quite graphic in parts but it just didn't blow me a away like I thought it was going to. Both Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson were excellent, the Bacon was quite good too but I thought Liv Tyler was a little miscast.

Good but not great, with the cast on show I was expecting a little more.

Unknown (2011)

**

Billed up to be the next Taken, I was a little more than excited to see this movie.

First off, Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger are really great and without those two this would be a gigantic waste of anybody's time, because I thought January Jones was dreadful. Frank Langella weirdly pops up, similar to how Neeson shows up in The Next Three Days, and I thought he was quite flat too.
Apart from the acting of a select few, this is a pretty decent thriller and like Taken it gets going straight into the plot from the get go. I was intrigued by the story and was genuinely interested in how it was all going to pan out.

This film is sadly no Taken, or Taken 2. It's just a decent thriller that's fit to watch on a Sunday night when there's nothing better on TV. You won't leave thinking you've just seen something great but you won't feel bored or even agry that you watched it. Mainly for Neeson though, a major coup for the director to get him on bored.

Limitless (2011)

***½

The trailer had intrigued me with this film but other than that I was pretty clueless to it in terms of the reception and reviews. I quite like Bradley Cooper, he seems like a pretty likeable guy and has a good enough screen presence to carry a film.

Like many of my must-see's this year, this one didn't disappoint. It kept me entertained and gripped from the moment go. I was a little let down by the ending but it didn't affect my overall opinion of the movie. Bradley Cooper is superb in the role and Robert De Niro can actually hold his head up high for slecting a decent script, his talent has been left wanting with his previous efforts.

This one was never going to break down the walls of cinema but like a Tony Scott movie, it definitely delivered the thrills for me.

Hobo With A Shotgun (2011)

****

For some strange reason I had forgotten that this film was based on a fake trailer for Grindhouse, it was just completely erased from my memory. I did however manage to find out about the making of this movie while doing some random searching on imdb, and my mind was completely blown. I wanted to watch it like no other film in pre or post-production.

Fortunately unlike Machete this one absolutely lived up to the hype for me in the same way that it has for everbody else. I think the last 25 minutes of the film are it's most strongest scenes and definitely worth waiting for, the soundtrack is also incredible, so fitting. I loved the opening credit sequence on the train, it reminded me a hell of a lot of Ti West's House of the Devil, such a throwback. Rutger is immense throughout and normally I can forgive the bad acting as it's intentional, but the two brothers in this were just downright silly to the point of annoyance. It's very quotable though and don't be surprised if you're at work the next morning saying "I'd eat the peanuts out of her shit".
This movie was made with us home video loves in mind, I couldn't be happier to tell you that it works.

The latter half of the film is where my like turns to pure love, you can't help but not love it. I just can't wait to see what Eisener does next, the world finally has some raw talent to unleash on the rest of us.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

*****

I don't really like superhero movies, with the exception of Nolan's Batman franchise and I don't read comics full stop. My expectations going into this one were fairly non-existent to say the least.

All of the above helped me no end. Clearly i'm not going to spoil anything here by giving away too much of the plot, but I was so impressed by the amount of balls this film had. It went in directions you never suspected, based on the superhero theme at least. I couldn't stop smiling all the way through, I literally had no idea that my skin could stretch that far on my face. I felt like a 10 year old kid who had just been given the keys to the candy factory. Chris Evans is amazing the rest of the cast are superb too, especially Weaving.

Needless to say this film is my favourite of 2011 by far. Hanna and Source Code will run it close after repeat screenings but I want to go and see this one again and again. It was fucking amazing, trust me!

Bridesmaids (2011)

****

I had heard amazing things about this one, The Hangover for women some called it. I always end up going to the cinema for these types of films, missing out on the blockbusters.

I was so happy when all of the buzz turned out to be right, this film is hilarious. The main reason for that is the central and comedic performance from Wiig, she is the reason this film has been such a hit.
There are scenes in this which left me in bits and i'm finding that harder and harder to come by these days, films just aren't that amusing to me anymore. The plane scenes are the ones which tipped this one for me, unbelievably funny. "Stove?" "Are you an appliance?" Genius.

I would put this on a par with The Hangover. I can't speak for the sequel because I couldn't part with my cash for it so i'm waiting for the DVD released but definitely level with the first. I loved this film and I love Wiig even more now, she's also very hot.

Hilarious.

No Strings Attached (2011)

***½

I think it's pretty common knowledge now that i'm a lover of all things rom-com. I'll happily sit there for hours and watch the latest Reese Witherspoon or Anne Hathaway movie, and do so with a huge rom-com grin on my face. I was no different with this one.

I honestly loved this film, it defied the basic sloppy rules of the genre and instead went for an edgier take, and that worked heavily in it's favour. I find it hard to believe but Portman and Kutcher reallyh do have great chemistry together on screen, a masterstroke by Reitman and/or his casting people for pulling that off.

It's funny, sweet and very charming and I can admit to liking every moment of it. Sure, the first 10-15 minutes are somewhat disjointed as it switches throughout the years from childhood to a meeting at college, to a meeting years later by the sea when they're all grown up, and then a random funeral. I wasn't sure what the film was trying to accomplish, besides back story but as soon as it kicks in fully it really starts powering on.
Kevin Kline is excellent in this too, an odd role but one which he excels in. The same cannot be said for the practically lineless Cary Elwes, an anonimous figure in the background of parties? He must be a close friend of Reitman's.

A really great film to just sit back and screen on a lazy Sunday or Saturday night. If there were a selection of movies to watch on a first date, this would come close to a perfect call.

Hall Pass (2011)

**

I was absolutely dreading this latest instalment from the Farrelly brothers. Growing up you couldn't stop me from laughing at their movies. It just seems like after Shallow Hal they blew it all, jokes and everything.

There are some great laughs though, from a Cuckoo's Nest reference to the shitty bathroom. Plus the assistant at the coffee shop is pure gold, especially when he cock blocks at a party and shouts at a random woman nearby. The toruble is, the good laughs are blended in with some really bad lines. It really only comes to life when the always perfect Richard Jenkins shows up and steals the show.
On a separate note, how ugly has Owen Wilson got? He's like the new Brendan Fraser. I know he's supposed to look like a family man but jeez, too far.

While it's still light years away from Kingpin (there best in my opinion), it is at least mildly amusing in parts. Which is more than I can say for The Heartbreak Kid.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

***

Billed as an Inception meets The Bourne Identity, I was a little more than excited to see this one.
I won't say that I was disappointed as it certainly ticked a lot of boxes, but I just felt that it was a whole lotta confusion for nothing by the end.

The love factor is really strong throughout, not to the point where I was moved but I am a complete softy when it comes to a good romantic movie. Matt Damon is as good as he always is and Emily Blunt is passable at best, not a huge fan of her to be honest. I loved the plot and had a decent time with it overall but I doubt it's one i'll ever take out and say "you gotta see this movie!", it just doesn't have a very high rewatch factor.

Good but not great, certainly not forgettable but definitely not one i'd urge you to go out to rush and see.

Primer (2004)

***

What the fuck?

I have absolutely no idea what I just saw, and that's a very rare thing indeed. I doubt Lynch could make sense of this movie, a complete head fuck.

This is a fantastic low budget sci-fi movie and one which demands your full attention at all times, you can't even look away for one second or you'll face losing losing all control of the plot. I can't wait to see this movie again, not for some considerable amount of time of course but still.

I don't know what else to say... It's truly bizarre. It starts and ends very abruptly with a lot of talking in between but don't let that put you off, it's pretty fantastic.

Undisputed (2002)

***

Yet another Walter Hill movie that passed me by. All I knew was that it starred Wesley 'always bet on black' Snipes and Ving Rhames, and it was set inside a prison. That was enough to get me drooling.

Alright, so it isn't exactly the greatest film ever made, and the acting is a little stiff at times but it's still a fun romp. Like the good old Van Damme flicks of the 90's, there's plenty of action and plenty of fist pumping scenes to make it entertaining. Snipes is the best thing in this although Rhames is great too, Faulk is terrible though (God rest his soul), his accent made me laugh constantly.I never imagined Hill making a movie like this but I would definitely like to see more, they are fun.

I've also heard that there are a few sequels to this too, some saying that they totally outclass this one. I'm definitely organising an Undisputed marathon screening very soon, my eyes need more prison boxing movies. They remind me of Lock-Up with Stallone!

I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)

**

Well, if ever a films trailer sold the film, this was it!

While browsing the world wibe web for some film recommendations I came across a few lists for ultmate feel-good movies. This one featured pretty highly on those lists plus I already owned it which was a nice bonus. Sadly this film is pretty dire and lacklustre on jokes and even feel-good moments. The cast is decent if not unspectacular and it relies too heavily on a pretty weak lead, his best friend almost stole ever scene. Every scene worth noting anyway.

This is a case of cramming all the jokes into a 2 minute trailer, because beyond that this film is just another run-of-the-mill teen movie, it's even almost less funnier than Fired Up! I'd avoid, or at least see the trailer anyway.

Cropsey (2009)

****

I knew aboslutely nothing about this documentary beforehand, I hadn't even seen the trailer. I was simply going by what I had heard others say about it and plus the fact that I am a sucker for a great story.

This is a chilling tale and document of events about a child killer on Staten Island. I don't wish to spoil anything and i'm pretty sure that i'm not by saying that it's one that you have to make your own mind up about. There is talk here of satanic cults, one guy (Rand) who took the children and killed them, a few people including Rand who all worked together, a bunch of people who killed them and then framed Rand, I mean there aren't too many cold hard facts here, that's for sure. Whenever facts aren't present, i've always believed to make no judgment because there is always a suspicion of doubt cast. Unfortunately in the case of Andre Rand, the fact that he doesn't wish to communicate to anyone and defend himself leaves me a little on the side of guilty, but then he is mentally ill so therefore that's the doubt again creeping in.

You could get lost talking for hours about this tale, it really is that fascinating, and unfortunately so. It's well made and doesn't lean towards one side which is always refreshing. Seek it out and make up your own mind.

Paul (2011)

***½

I'm a huge fan of Mottola, I loved both Superbad and Adventureland, so I when I heard he was making a film with Pegg and Frost, my eyes were opened.

Sadly, it came out over here like a wet fart. Harshly received by the critics and disappears without much of a trace of mention since. I missed the cinema screening through one thing and another but I couldn't wait to check it out on DVD.
I really enjoyed this one. The movie references (something I love) are thick and fast and a special nod in the direction of Mac and Me went down lovely. Shame he had to dress up in a Cowboy outfit instead of a Bear.

It doesn't stick to the usual conventions of extra terrestrial movies, instead making light of them almost spoof like in parts. I really had a fun time with it and that is it's sole purpose, so for that I give it 3 and a half stars.

I Am Number Four (2011)

****

Not a huge admirer of D.J Caruso. I loved Disturbia but found Taking Lives and Eagle Eye a little dry on the old eyes. The trailer was the thing that sold me though, that and my strong affection to Disturbia.

I really had a fun time with this one, I love the way the director films teenagers, it has that Twilight kind of feel to it. The soundtrack must be amazing too because every track played seems to have been exported directly from my own personal itunes collection. I thought the story was great and the action scenes were done really well, a little over the top CG wise towards the end but not to the extreme like in many films these days.

I just can't wait for the sequels. Here's my credit card, i'm now personally attached to this franchise.

How Do You Know (2010)

***

After the train wreck that was Morning Glory from earlier on, this film was a pleasant surprise.

I can pretty much give Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon a go in anything, Owen Wilson is a bit different, I can take or leave him, mostly leave depending on the mood. I don't know what I was expecting from this one but I know I probably wasn't supposed to end up liking it. James L.Brooks has made some duds of late too.

I really liked the chemistry between Witherspoon and Rudd, and Wilson was quite likeable too as the unstable and over protective obsessive boyfriend. One major downfall for this one though is the runtime, it could have been sliced by a good half hour at the very least, there was no need for it to run for two hours.

Overall it was a good feel-good movie and great for a light-hearted Sunday night viewing. It's certainly made me feel a bit better, I was starting to feel the hate in chick flicks coming back again.
How can Empire magazine give this film 2 stars and Morning Glory 4? It is beyond belief, I may take back my subscription.

X-Men: First Class (2011)

****

My main summer movie and most anticipated movie of the year is Super 8, but I have to admit that this one came a close second. I was very excited to see this, it had received so much pre-hype buzz.

While I can agree that yes, it is a good film, really good in fact, I wasn't exactly blown away by it. I love all of Matthew Vaughn's previous efforts and this is another great addition but I can't ever see myself revisiting it, unless I went through a phase where I wanted to see them all back-to-back.

I loved the 40's and 60's settings and the acting was second to none. I also adored seeing some of the early character development too, especially Beast and Raven. I'm also quite glad that Jason Flemyng was confined to a very minor speaking part, i'm not exactly a huge fan of his work.

I did have fun with it and it was a really good film, it just didn't leave me with that buzz like I did when I came out of the Scott Pilgrim screening. For comic book fans this must be like a wet dream to you guys and gals but i'm not one of them, though I admire the films I can't say that i've ever picked up a comic book and read it from start to finish so I guess I can't relate to that, all I know is what I saw on screen.

Another great addition to the career of Vaughn and one which has obviously gone down well with the fans, it just didn't get to me like it should.

Morning Glory (2010)

**

Another film that I knew very little of, which came out earlier this year without so much as a whimper. I picked it up because i'm a major fan of chick-flicks but I only ever get in the mood for them on Sunday's. Go figure!

This isn't a great watch, in fact it's barely average but what it does have is a great central performance by McAdams. She excels as the TV producer who is armed with the task of reviving a dead breakfast show. The other cast members are great too with both Keaton and Ford pulling in some good comedy, unfortunately I felt a bit sorry for Patrick Wilson who appears to be reduced to bit-part roles these days. He's a great actor and should be doing more work, like the great sleeper film that was Barry Munday.

Overall it's pretty weak with only a few laughs and I should have been smiling more, that's how chick-flicks get me, they may not be my favourite movies of all time but they at least manage to make me feel good about my day. The soundtrack doesn't help this one either though, it's like it has come straight off a 13 year olds ipod playlist of great catchy tracks, it's almost sickly.

This tries so desperately hard to be the new Devil Wears Prada but that could be it's biggest downfall, think Devil Wears GAP instead.