Certificate:

Director: James Cameron

Release Date: 17 October 2009

Tagline: Enter the world.

Main Cast:

Sam Worthington … Jake Sully

Zoe Saldana … Neytiri

Sigourney Weaver … Dr. Grace Augustine

Stephen Lang … Colonel Miles Quaritch

3D cinema – fancy gimmick or pleasurable enhancement? Both, actually. In the fantasy sections of the film it works very well, but in the run-of-the-mill scenes it’s pointless and somewhat distracting. So, all in all, 3D is something that, with the right film, could be fantastic.

So, on to the film itself. Cheesy, clichéd and over long, Avatar would not have been the massive success that it was if it was merely a 2D film. The plot and the dialogue are dreadful, and it’s obvious that Cameron was not in the least bit concerned about making a good film, which is a shame as it is certainly visually stunning. I believe that special effects should help tell the story and not be the only attraction and, sadly, Avatar is a film without a soul. Take Titanic – love it or hate it, Cameron had the sets built to perfection. To see that wonderful ship come to life was an absolute joy, and you were completely immersed (no pun intended) in the experience. With Avatar, I found myself constantly aware of the 3D visuals and just couldn’t engage fully with the film.

Having said all that, I appreciate that Avatar is the first genuine 3D film (as opposed to the ones that have 3D versions with a few things that poke out of the screen at you) and, as such, I applaud it. Was it worth paying good money to see? Yes, it was. Do I think 3D is the future? No, I don’t.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars (film only)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (overall experience)

Certificate:

Director: Henry Selick

Release Date: 8 May 2009

Tagline: Be careful what you wish for.

Main Cast: (voice)

Dakota Fanning … Coraline Jones

Teri Hatcher … Mel Jones / Other Mother / Beldam

Jennifer Saunders … Miss April Spink / Other Spink

Dawn French … Miss Miriam Forcible / Other Forcible

I really liked this. A beautifully crafted stop-motion animated tale about a bored girl whose explorations give her more than she bargained for. This is the first 3D stop-motion film to be made, although I can’t comment on if was a success or not as I watched the 2D version.

Coraline is rather an unlikeable character. Her family have just moved in to a rather peculiar house that has been divided in to apartments, and the other residents are all oddballs. Neither of her parents have much time for her so she’s left to find her own entertainment. She’s sullen and rude, and I kind of liked it when she realised how much trouble she’d got herself in.

She comes across a small door which leads her to a parallel universe where her parents are attentive and her every whim is catered for. She is offered a chance to stay with these ‘other parents’, but she must first replace her eyes with black buttons (all of the characters in the other world beyond the door have buttons for eyes). This doesn’t appeal to Coraline, and the true nature of her predicament becomes evident.

Coraline is a dark fairytale like story with some really creepy moments and a sinister undertone and is definitely not for small children. In fact, I can see this giving more than one or two a few nightmares.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Directors: Carlos Saldanha and Mike Thurmeier (co-director)

Release Date: 1 July 2009

Tagline: The sub-zero heroes are back, on an incredible adventure… for the ages.

Main Cast: (Voice)

John Leguizamo … Sid

Ray Romano … Manny

Denis Leary … Diego

If you liked the previous Ice Age films, then you’ll like this. There is quite a lot of character building in this one, which is quite unusual in animated films. Manny now has a family, and both Diego and Sid are feeling like their paths are beginning to lead them elsewhere. Sid especially is finding himself at a crossroads, and when he stumbles across three eggs he decides to pretend that they’re his family. However, when they hatch he gets more than he bargained for!

Scrat has a slightly larger role, and I did find the screaming a bit annoying in the end, but that’s just a small thing.

Another solid addition to the Ice Age films. Great animation and as funny as its previous instalments.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Release Date: 28 August 2009

Tagline: You’ll know when you’re in it.

Main Cast:

Jeremy Renner … SSgt. William James

Anthony Mackie … Sgt. JT Sanborn

Brian Geraghty … Spc. Owen Eldridge

I am at a loss as to why this film has been rated quite highly by film critics. I found it tedious and predictable and I didn’t find one single character in it that I liked and rooted for. Do US soldiers really behave like total twats, or are these characters  just stereotypical for this genre of film.

I will be more than happy if I never see this again.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Duncan Jones

Release Date: 17 July 2009

Tagline: The last place you’d ever expect to find yourself.

Main Cast:

Sam Rockwell … Sam Bell

Kevin Spacey … GERTY (voice)

Borrowing heavily from 2001: A Space Odyssey both visually and in style, Moon is a slow paced sci-fi film that unfolds gently, but never leaves you bored. It centres around a mining station on Earth’s Moon which is run by one man and an intelligent computer (think HAL from the above).  Sam’s three year contract has come to an end, and he prepares to leave for home. Unfortunately, he has an accident that prevents him from doing so.

Very simple, and very entertaining. If, however, you like your sci-fi fast paced and filled with action, then this is probably not for you.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Steven Spielberg

Release Date: 21 September 2001

Tagline: David is 11 years old. He weighs 60 pounds. He is 4 feet, 6 inches tall. He has brown hair. His love is real. But he is not.

Main Cast:

David … Haley Joel Osment

Monica Swinton … Frances O’Connor

Jude Law … Gigolo Joe

William Hurt … Prof. Hobby

I first saw this on its release, and I was left feeling rather ambivalent. The first half of the film is superb but then it sort of collapses somewhat suddenly into a sort of Blade Runner scenario. And then it gets even odder than that with the introductions of aliens.

One thing I was not left ambivalent about was Haley Joel Osment. He’s absolutely stunning as David and gives one of the best performances in cinematic history.

And then I watched it again and now I have an altogether different opinion of it. I found myself liking the stark contrast. I still think that it could have been less ‘neon futuristic’, but I was expecting it, and it made a difference. I also found myself liking the ending much more. David may not have got what he desperately wanted, but in the end he still finds peace and happiness, and it’s very touching.

Perhaps this film is one of those that ‘improve’ with a second viewing.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Release Date: 31 August 1990 (UK)

Main Cast:

Cristina Sánchez Pascual … Yolanda Bel

Julieta Serrano … Abadesa Julia

Dark Habits is a completely bizarre film, and one that I think will either bore you or leave you thinking about it for a few days. I’m not sure if it’s a satire, black comedy, serious drama or even all three!

All of the nuns have very unique personalities and all have different reasons for being there. They are a very eclectic bunch!

Basically, the story is about a group of nuns who provide refuge for life’s waifs and strays. They offer no judgement on those whom they help, and with good reason.

Whilst this is not one of Almodóvar’s best films, it’s still very thought provoking and surprises you in many ways.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Release Date: 6 April 1968

Tagline: Let the awe and mystery of a journey unlike any other begin.

Main Cast:

Keir Dullea … Dr. Dave Bowman

Gary Lockwood … Dr. Frank Poole

William Sylvester … Dr. Heywood R. Floyd

If ever there was a film to divide people, then this is surely it! For some it’s confusing and dull, but for others it’s a beautiful masterpiece that depicts the journey of the human race coming full circle. I’ve seen it about three times now during various phases of my life. As a child I was firmly in the ‘confusing and dull’ camp. In my twenties I had one foot in each camp. But now I’m in my thirties and have come to rest in the ‘masterpiece’ camp.

In a nutshell, it’s a film about the dawn of man and his evolution.

You can take from it what you will. Some believe that the journey is the work of aliens, and for others it’s the work of God. Either way is fine. It’s not about who is responsible.

Visually stunning with an absolutely perfect soundtrack, 2001 is a seminal film that deserves watching until the end (many people get frustrated at their lack of initial comprehension and give up).

I would advise watching it twice. After the first viewing, read up on what others believe the film symbolises and then watch it again. An excellent website can be found at The High Weirdness Project: 2001 and Beyond the Infinite.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Directors: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan (co-director: India)

Release Date: 9 January 2009

Tagline: Love and money… You have mixed them both.

Main Cast:

Dev Patel … Jamal K. Malik

Saurabh Shukla … Sergeant Srinivas

Anil Kapoor  …  Prem

Freida Pinto … Latika

I’d like to start by mentioning the cast. The above list is really not fair – the children who play the main characters through much of the film are superb and really make the film.

Slumdog Millionaire has been referred to as ‘The feel-good film of the year’. In many ways this is just not true. Yes, the ending is uplifting and leaves you very happy, but the scenes of abject poverty and cruelty are anything but. Yes, Jamal lifts himself out of his awful childhood but most don’t,  and it’s very hard to watch knowing that countless children (and adults) live in such conditions. I spent much of the film feeling extreme sadness.

An absolutely unmissable film.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Certificate:

Director: Sam Raimi

Release Date: 27 May 2009

Tagline: Christine Brown has a good job, a great boyfriend, and a bright future. But in three days, she’s going to Hell.

Main Cast:

Alison Lohman … Christine Brown

Justin Long … Clay Dalton

Lorna Raver … Mrs Ganush

It’s so good to see a Sam Raimi horror back on the big screen! He’s been gone too long (in this genre).

Drag Me To Hell is everything you’d expect from him – over the top “ewww” factor and funny scares. It’s great to see flying eyeballs back where they belong (so to speak).

Despite much of the horror being comedic, there are some genuine scares (not for a seasoned horror pro like me, but going by the squeals of the audience I can tell there was!) I spent much of the film grinning as I really like Raimi’s brand of gross-out horror.

We have, at last, another great Sam Raimi classic!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars