My Film: 'I Am Number Four' 25-2-11

I Am Number Four centers on a teenage alien named John, who along with his guardian Henri travel across the country to avoid capture by enemies from their home planet. John desperately tries to fit in and have a normal life but his involvement with a girl named Sarah could blow his cover and endanger both their lives.

I was not looking forward to seeing it, I thought that it would be awful. How wrong I was!

Speaking as a hormonal teenage girl, Alex Pettyfer is rather attractive and the only unique selling point of the movie to me, originally. The first time I saw the trailer, I was unimpressed at it until I saw Alex Pettyfer. What a dreamboat! In his newest attempt at being a teenage heartthrob after his appearance in the film flop, Storm breaker. To be honest, he certainly has changed and become more attractive as puberty hit.

I am glad that I went to see it, I enjoyed it even though the dialogue wasn't up to scratch. Another main fault of it was its use of product placement of Apple and Iphones, with the  Iphone receiving at least an hour of air time. As a film hawk, i was able to pick up various continuity issues in the editing as people jumped from A to C without showing the journey between the two.

I Am Number Four has great action sequences and that’s pretty much it. You have to sit through an hour of bad dialogue and plot holes before you get to the good stuff, but it is well worth it. Is a sequel on the way? I certianly hope so!

My Star Rating:

8/10 *

My Film: 'Paul' 24-2-11

Paul, a film about an alien. Oooooo Original! My sarcasm and excitement is overwhelming, I know. Wait! What it includes Simon Pegg and Nick Frost? Now we are talking. Although Paul does not hit the same mark as Pegg and Frost's previous films, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, it is still pretty good.


To be honest there was never a chance that this film would be better than Hot Fuzz but it comes pretty close. This is a reflection of the duo hitting America and the good time as they play two nerds on a cross country road trip to Alien hotspots. They stumble across Paul, an alien, voiced by the brilliant Seth Rogan. His recognisable voice only adds to the comedy of the entire film.

It is good as a film itself but cannot be measured up against their brilliant cop movie, and twisted zombie comedy. But it is well worth a watch purely to see Simon Pegg in an alien mask.

My Star Rating:

7.75/10 *

My Film: 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' 21-2-11

I am going to admit to you, my beautiful people that I am a Justin Bieber fan and that I was excited when I heard that he was releasing a 3D documentary.

Eeeeeeee I heart Justin Bieber!

Okay, so I'm not an insane fan that dreams about being his wife but I can admit that he is talented, his music is catchy and he is adorable. This film changed my opinion of him considerably as he really seems like a lovely lad. Although, as a dear friend of mine pointed out that a film about JB isn't going to shine him in a negative light is it? On various shows and interviews that I have seen he comes across as a smug teenager but this film shows us that he really is human as he battles against various obstacles that may have ruined his career.


He is shown as vulnerable as he does show after show and becomes heartbroken as he is forced to cancel a show due to a hoarse voice. He is presented as the good boy next door who is close to his family, is dedicated to his music and is religious. It is a breath of fresh air as films go; we need to have more documentaries shown in multiplexes up and down the country.


I'm not saying that this film is perfect and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who does not like him but it is entertaining, adorable and I will 'Never Say Never' again. It is good if you like him but do not force any anti-beiberists to go along and watch it. They WILL hate you for it.


Catchy, lovable and brilliant.

My Star Rating:

7/10 *

My Film: 'Gnomeo & Juliet' 13-2-11

A film version of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet using garden gnomes and featuring a soundtrack of 100% Elton John? Yes Please!

This film was brilliant but it lacked the magic portrayed in animated films produced by Walt Disney. Having said that, Gnomeo and Juliet was produced by Miramax Films, owned by the Walt Disney Company from 1993 to 2010. This disney influence is apparent in this but it has lost some of the magic.

The cast list is just unbelievable with names such as James McAvoy, Emily Blunt and Matt Lucas. Hollywood hardman Jason Statham voices the 'flower boy' thug Tybalt alongside the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne and Dolly Parton. Also attracted to the film were film heavy weights, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith and Patrick Stewart.

The overall idea of the garden gnome Shakespeare works but I honestly do not think that it would be as good without the long list of stars or the soundtrack. The use of Elton John my be a bit too much for some viewers who are not fans of him, but the diversity of his music made it easy to connect a song to a certain mood.

It had its laughs, my favourite being the use of a Spanish gnome in a Mankini... I laughed out loud at it. It overall entertained but could be more magical.

My Star Rating:

7.5/10 *

My Film: 'Tangled' 11-2-11

Finally! A return to descent animated Disney Films! After years of Pixar dominating the hearts of True Disney lovers with Toy Story, Monsters Inc and Up.


Tangled is the newest release from Walt Disney Studio's and reminds me of the classic Disney films that I used to have as a child, only fresher and modernised with the use of 3D. This new take on a classic fairy tale will leave audience with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside as they experience a good animated movie that isn't as in your face as it's Pixar and Dreamworks counterparts.


The music, the story and characters left me feeling nostalgic and in a generally happy mood. I recommend this to all the people who remember watching Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping beauty as children or with their children.


The best family film I have seen in a while, probably since the original Shrek film.

My Star Rating:

9/10 *

My Film: 'The Green Hornet' 1-2-11

This year has seen the release of yet another comic book superhero. The Green Hornet. In mind boggling 3D! Wow!?

No. This film lacked something, that unfortunately I am unable to put my finger on. Oh wait.. would it be that comic book 'oumph' that we have seen in Iron Man and The Dark Knight. The green hornet deserves to be left of the shelf alongside Superman Returns and the Fantastic Four. For me, as a fan of all comic book film both Marvel and DC, I just didnt enjoy it. In comparison to the original t.v series of the 60's it was relatively bland.

I am usually a rather big Seth Rogan fan, having loved superbad and pineapple express but he wasn't right for the part of the Green Hornet. It didn't feel right. I found it hard to enjoy myself whilst watching even with the fantastic acting talent of Christoph Waltz. Christoph Waltz, famous for his role in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds alongside Brad Pitt and Eli Roth plays the gangster in this film and as always is sly, evil yet fabulous.

As far as the use of 3D goes, what was the point? It did very little to the overall effect of the film and would have been nice in 2D without the annoying glasses. Why do film makes always feel the need to use 3D?

Poor comic book adventure but by far, not the worst. It is no Dark night but it can't put on the same shelf as The Fantastic 4; Rise of the silver surfer.

My Star Rating:

6/10 *

My Film: 'The Dilemma' 25-1-11

There are no words to describe how much I hated this movie...

To sum it up, it lacked the comedy that we were promised and the acting? Eughh. I was extremely disapointed that Winona Ryder lowered the respect I had for her by appearing in this film. For an actress who has appeared in brilliant films like, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and Girl, Interrupted, she has in recent years appeared in 'comedy' films that are so similar that they are no longer funny. What a waste.

It was so awful that I physically stood up in the middle of the cinema and walked out about 20 minutes into the film. That pretty much sums it up. My advice? Run away, far away! The only reason I am scoring it so high is purely because of the presence of the ever brilliant, Queen Latifah.

My Star Rating:

2/10 *

My Film: 'The Black Swan' 24-1-11

Who knew that a film about ballet could be so sinister and dark?
As a film studies a-level student it is my duty to point out the artistic and cinematic qualities of this film but I cannot, it has left me speechless, it in itself is a deliciously dark and psychological drama from the director of the equally dark, 'A requiem for a dream'. This film left me shocked and in awe of the directing talent of Darren Aronofsky.

Darren Arronofsky is well known for such titles as 'A requiem for a dream', 'the fountain' and his academy award nominated 'the wrestler' starring Hollywood heavyweight Mickey Rouke.

The plot of the Black Swan revolves around a production of the popular Swan Lake by a Prestigious Ballet company in New York. It sees two dancers go head to head for the role of the Swan Queen, as well as the evil twin. Natalie Portman plays one of these dancers, Nina, a shy and modest girl who is perfect for the role of the elegant and fragile Swan queen. Cast alongside her is rising star Mila Kunis who plays Lily, sly and seductive she is a perfect fit for the role of the sensual Black swan. Unfortunately, only one can play the part as Nina pushes herself until the true and dark side to herself is shown.


With the story, actors and director who throw in an ounce of Gore, some shocking scenes, and a couple of lesbian sex scenes this makes for an uncomfortable viewing. Overall, it was an alluring and black-hearted film of love, self discovery and the darkness within.Backing these two fantastic peformances as the dancers is French actor, Vincent Cassel as the ballet teacher and the judge as to the roles for each dancer. He is used as a key to gently coerce Nina to discover herself and her beautifully black alter ego.

My Star Rating:

8.5/10 *

My Film: 'Morning Glory' 21-1-11

Morning Glory; a film about a failing morning news show called Daybreak. Ironic much? Unfortunately like the news show featured in the film, morning glory was a bit of a flop in my eyes. It lacked everything, comedy, romance, story and acting. When I heard that there was a film featuringHarrison Ford, famous for playing Hans Solo when Star Wars was good and the over adventurous Archaeologist Indiana Jones, I jumped for Joy at another chance to see one of my favourite actors in a new film.

How disapointed I was...

Harrison Ford gives us an under-par and slightly boring performance in this extremely dissapointing romantic comedy. Rachael McAdams was just as disapointing to be honest, no way near as goo as her performance in the over romantic 'The Notebook'.

If it is a choice between staying at home and watching mindless soap opera's or Morning Glory, then bring on Corrie!

My Star Rating:

4/10 *

My Film: 'The King's Speech' 18-1-11

It is easy to see why the king's speech has been a huge success with a fantastic cast, costumes, story and settings. As I am writing this I must confess that it is written a rather long time after I saw the film originally. So long after in fact, that I was watching the BAFTA's just last week and saw it win 8 awards. I have often wondered to myself why a film about a speech impediment would become a worldwide hit and be nominated for almost 100 different awards in 54 different award ceremonies worldwide, but this no long confuses me.

The film is both realistic and fantasy. The director, Tom Hooper introduces the audience to a world of harsh times and family feuds which is dark yet sumptuous and beautiful. This period drama differs to all previous dramas as it doesn't scream, 'I'm a period drama, I am a love story, look at me!'

 The King's Speech proves there is still life in old-school British period dramas – and that the British are capable of producing a period drama that isn't a run of the mill remake of classic literature. It is fresh, beautiful and worth a watch.

My Star Rating:

9.5/10 *