Quick Reviews #21

Earlier this week I had quite the few days of catching up on the new releases in cinema. Sunday I caught A Star is Born, Monday was First Man and Tuesday I was taken on a ride with Mandy. Three very different films and I've reviewed them all for you in another Quick Reviews post. So please read on and enjoy. 

A Star is Born

This is my first time seeing one of the many versions of A Star is Born and I can see the appeal. A drunk rocker living like there's no tomorrow, bringing a new musician into the world. What I didn't consider was that despite not seeing the original version, I feel like I've seen this before. I guess that's kind of ironic that the original premise now feels tired and clichéd. It runs a lot like a typical musical biopic; where the rise is a lot more enjoyable to watch than the fall. And there is no doubt that the first half of this film is great; a building crescendo of emotion until that powerful duet between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper blows you away. Gaga really does have an incredible voice and now we know that she can act pretty darn well too. In fact, this whole film is full of powerful performances. They'd have to be as well because it's semi-obvious that this was directed by an actor as the camera rarely leaves a close-up position; it's all face and emotion. I don't blame first-time director Bradley Cooper for doing this - he's got hell of a cast to work with - but I would have appreciated a little more creativity at times. I had fun with this film, the second half feels a little too long and I wasn't as moved as I think the film wanted me to be. Overall though I liked it, even though nobody ever says that they’re “gaga” for Ally…

3.5/5

First Man

I wasn't particularly excited for this film: it felt like a strange route for Damien Chazelle to go from La La Land to a biopic about Neil Armstrong. I should never have doubted him though, as he takes a massive part of history and turns it into an intimate story of grief and achievement. Not only is this an interesting way to present the story, he also gets a lot more experimental behind the camera. The camera is shaky, the use of zooms and even the graininess of the footage gives you the sense you’re watching an old documentary at times. It's got such a human atmosphere, making something big feel very small and personal. There's even a sequence in the film, a mission to dock two ships together in space that shows the lift off from inside the rocket only. Inside a small pod, nuts and bolts shaking everywhere under the extreme thrust: it's very claustrophobic and I could barely breathe throughout the whole sequence. It was quite something. Ryan Gosling plays the stoic Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy plays his wife Janet; both incredible in their roles and no doubt will be getting some Oscar attention for it. At times I felt like I needed some more meat to their relationship, I was not as satisfied with their final scene together as I would have liked to have been. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of their scenes; the children running around the house and playing cut with NASA figuring out how to get to the moon - really hammered the point that they themselves were just playing, the game just costlier. Don't sleep on this one, Chazelle really knows what he's doing, a very powerful film.

4.5/5

Mandy

Having gone in blind I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this film, except that it was going to take me on quite the ride. The film follows Nicholas Cage as Red Miller and his wife Mandy played by Andrea Riseborough, whose haven is destroyed by a cult led by the sadistic Jeramiah Sand played by Linus Roache. You may not have heard of this film and - unless you’re ready for a gore filled psychedelic revenge thriller - you might not want to either! If that sounds like your thing then you’re in luck, this film is quite something. It’s a slow burn, completely capturing you with its synth-y soundtrack and gorgeous visuals. The atmosphere is almost dreamlike: the slowness is rarely a problem as you are almost put into a trance throughout the running time. I did think some trimming could have been done to tighten things up but the first-time experience of seeing this was unlike anything else. As things heat up in the second half, it almost turns into a different film. Cage is unleashed and allowed to do what he does best; creating some terrifying and hilarious moments of badassery. You could freeze frame the film at any moment and make an awesome metal vinyl from it and stick on the side of van. The revenge story is one that has been done before but never in this approach. This is cinema at its best; knowing the experience is one unlike any other you will have again. Striking both visually and audibly: this is easily the most insane film of the year.

4/5

What did you think of any of these films? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

Blade Runner 2049

I’ve returned from my travels and ready to do some more blogging! Today I’m going to review Blade Runner 2049 but I’m going to talk about the whole day I had dedicated to it. Yes, my friend and I decided to have a Blade Runner day and re-watch the original before going in to see its sequel.

The original Blade Runner is a weird film, it revolutionised the way films and culture in general envisioned the future but never actually did that well in the box office. It acquired a large cult following of fans with many heralding it as one of the greatest films ever made.

However, I don’t believe this to be the case. In fact, my first ever viewing of this film I thought it was quite boring, technically amazing but lacking in story and a compelling main character. Upon a re-watch, I found that I actually enjoyed it a lot more, I’ve matured in some of my tastes and developed an interest in philosophy within film but my initial gripes were still there. It’s a good film but maybe just a tad overrated. I originally wasn’t excited at the prospect of a sequel, well not until Denis Villeneuve and Ryan Gosling were attached as Director and main lead.

Villeneuve is one of the most interesting directors around at the moment, I’ve loved most of his films, especially Arrival, and teamed with his cinematographer Roger Deakins they are a cinematic force to be reckoned with. As shown again in 2049, which honestly might be one of the most beautiful looking films this year, if not the decade. Yes, I loved Blade Runner 2049. It amplified everything good about the original, took away everything bad and made an incredible sequel to a good film. I hope this film teaches Hollywood a lesson on how to make sequels.

There was so much depth to this film, the characters are three dimensional, compelling and you actually care for them. Gosling plays it down but the subtleties in his performance really take your breath away in the films more compassionate moments. Everybody in the cast is doing a great job and I was really taken aback by the performances of Ana de Armas and Sylvia Hoeks who were unknown to me before this film.

The story moves along a lot more swiftly, still slow but a lot more engaging that you barely notice the two hour forty run time. The philosophical musings are still present and are the emotional core of the film, better articulated than the original and they branch off into a lot more territories. The main themes of the original are explored further and it really creates some great questions about what life is.

The world of Blade Runner is a place that is great to watch on the big screen, the dystopian smoky cities looming large, explored more this time as well as taking trips to more remote areas of this well envisioned universe. The cinematography of these places looks gorgeous and the loud and lingering score elevates this images to new heights, you really need to see this film on the big screen.

It’s really difficult to review this film without giving away spoilers, even the plot itself is better left unknown as it kicks off pretty fast and takes you on a wild ride of twists and turns. Just go see this film, if you like Sci-Fi that is taken seriously then this is one for you, it’s just a bonus that its presented to you by some of the best people working in the industry. I’m giving Blade Runner 2049 a 5/5. A serious contender for best film of the year. 

What did you think? Masterpiece or slow and boring? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

The Nice Guys

Shane Black is a big name in the screenwriting world, heck he is a big name in Hollywood in general, and although not everything he has made has been a hit with me, he is still one of the more unique and original voices out there. This is one of the main reasons I went to see The Nice Guys, this and because I love Ryan Gosling…

The Nice Guys follows a pair of mismatched Private Eyes as they investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970’s Los Angeles. First let me commend whoever thought to cast Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as the two leads in this film, because although they may not scream buddy cop comedy gold, they actually provide some of the best laughs in film this year. The chemistry between the two is riveting and even if the story was rubbish (which it’s not!), I could have watched these two guys do anything together and enjoyed the hell out of it. The whole cast is great and there are some really cool characters that join the duo in the fun that I would never have guessed to have worked so well, considering the age of some of those said characters! I’m not spoiling anything for you here, go out and watch this film!

I was worried that this film may have just been Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (in my opinion, Shane Black’s best film) set in the 70’s, and although it shares some similarities, it is not. The idea of this dirty, downtrodden and sex ridden Hollywood works really well and looks great on film. It was great to be watching a film with a contemporary noir aesthetic that was constantly on the move, the film rarely takes a moment to slow down! I was caught from the get go and as you learn more about the characters you get more and more invested in them. It plays out really nicely and I walked out of the cinema with a big smile on my face.

 

It's a very solid film and it looks great too. You can tell that everyone involved was having a great time on set, the comedy really flows and there are only a few moments that feel slightly forced. It was great but it didn’t wow me like the first time I saw Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, that however that is a very tough film to top. As a comedy though, this is still the best one we have seen this year and although we are only halfway through I can’t see any films topping it in the near future.

Need something fun to go see at the cinema this weekend, go watch the The Nice Guys, you won’t regret it! I’m giving the film a rating of 4/5.

What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

Gangster Squad Trailer

So the new trailer for Gangster Squad was released yesterday, a film that was on my 'Most Anticipated Films Of 2012' blog post. I am a big fan of period gangster films, especially Scorsese ones, and it feels a long time since we have gotten a decent one. This film looks to change this. The film is directed by Ruben Fleischer, the guy who dirceted the brilliant Zombieland. The film also stars some of the best talent around including Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte and Antony Mackie. Take a look at the trailer bellow:

The trailer itself is brilliant, setting up enough plot and action to get you excited but not enough to give everything away (I think). The first line said is 'I am not an educated man.' It took me a few viewings to understand this.

Apart from that first mumble Sean Penn is the perfect man to play the big time gangster Mickey Cohen, he looks and feels the part. His lines are great and really set up the evil character he is playing.

Unlike Scorsese's films, we see the narrative follow the LAPD and their fight against the criminals. Almost looks like they have gone 'Inglorious Basterds' style for their strategy. The action also looks like it was directed by Tarantino, with lots of guns shredding the hell out of things, including a cinema, so the likeness is there. You could almost believe that this is what Tarantino would do if he was to direct period gangster flick.

All the actors fit into their roles perfectly. I believe that this could be Ryan Goslings best role, as I can just see him as a mysterious and dangerous cop. Whether he stays the 'good guy' in the film is questionable though. He is also back with recent co star Emma Stone. They recently worked on Crazy, Stupid, Love together in which they had one of the best onscreen romances in years. Weird as it is seeing them ignite the flame in another film, I believe, because they are such good actors we will fall for their relationship once again.

The only criticism I have about this trailer would be that we don't get to see enough of some of the supporting actors in the gangster squad, such as Antony Mackie who really is a class actor.

Apart from that though I really cannot wait until this film is released in November. I hope that this will be just as good as Goodfellas or The Godfather. Although the director has previously directed comedies I have no fear that this will be the excellent gangster film we have been waiting for!

Thanks for reading!
P.S - For some reason my laptop is not fan of YouTube but the video blog for Sundance London is finished and will hopefully be online ASAP.

My Favourite Films from Previous Sundance Film Festivals

So as Sundance London is just around the corner, I thought it would be a good idea to let you guys know my favourite films from the festival since it started in 1978. Obviously I have not seen all the films that have been screened there but I have seen a few, so here are my top ten favourites:

Submarine
This film is funny, touching and just genuinely great! It is a directorial debut for Richard Ayoade and he has started well! The director will also be at Sundance London so hopefully he may be able to give some tips and advice on his film making style. I have reviewed this film before and that can be found here.

Mean Streets
Martin Scorsese started his well known fame for bringing us the greatest gangster movies right here! The film has everything we love about the gangster genre and mixes it with a pretty awesome soundtrack. Although dated the opening credits sequence still remains one of my personal favourites.

The Kids Are Alright
This is also one of my favourite films. I think it is brilliantly filmed with a great story and an issue which has not been explored much by other filmmakers. The cast are spot on and they perfect every scene. Especially Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore who are standouts among the cast. But with a start and end that is soundtracked by two of my favourite artists, MGMT and Vampire Weekend, how could you go wrong?

Memento
The film that brought Christopher Nolan into the limelight. Starring the underrated Guy Pearce, this film has it all, action, romance and thriller of a plot! Yes it is crazy and messes with your mind but it sure does deliver! Has the man ever made a bad film?

Blue Valentine
This film is one of the most depressing films ever made, but it sure is good! Standout performances from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a couple who's relationship is going down the drain. The film also gives us plenty of flashbacks into seeing the start of their relationship. Truly a great but depressing film!

Bronson
This film proved to me that Tom Hardy is a hell of an actor! He is almost unrecognisable in his role. The film is dark, violent and surprisingly funny! I have reviewed this film before and you can find that here.

(500) Days Of Summer
Another one of my favourite film. I love films that recreate the romance genre and make something new, original and exciting. This film is edited together brilliantly with comedy, great casting and some awesome tunes! The director Marc Webb is now about to film my most anticipated film of the year The Amazing Spider-Man.

Reservoir Dogs
One of Tarantino's best and also considered one of the best indie films of all time, started at Sundance. Could we see another breakthrough hit or future big star director premiere at Sundance London? I have reviewed this film before and that can be found here.

Four Lions
This is one of the best British comedies to come around since Hot Fuzz. It is hilarious and rather controversial, everything us British love about a comedy film! Who thought a comedy about terrorists could be so good!

Super Size Me
I could do this list without adding a documentary from the Sundance Film Festival! This is arguably one of the best documentaries ever made, it also had a big impact on audiences and the fast food industry alike. It certainly made me think twice when ordering a giant Big Mac!

So that concludes my list. Other films that didn't make it but should be given a mention include:
Donnie Darko
Napoleon Dynamite
American Psycho
Hump Day
Take Shelter
The Guard
Perfect Sense
Unmade Beds
Moon
World’s Greatest Dad
Thanks for reading! Feel free to follow me on Twitter @SuperAlexMan or subscribe to my YouTube account and watch my short film!

Come back Monday to see the review for a movie I am extremely excited about, Avenger Assemble. And then after that you can watch my first ever video blog for Sundance London!

See you then!

Easter Reviews Part 2

So another week and another batch of movie reviews. Thankfully I split this post into two as I watched more films then last week. Some good and some...weird! Take a look:

Half Nelson
This is the first of three films starring Ryan Gosling this week and this was the best one! Gosling plays a teacher with a cocaine addiction who starts unlikely friendship with a pupil. This can be quite a depressing film in places but this isn't a bad thing. The chemistry between teacher and student is what keeps the film running and gives the best heart warming moments. Quite a touching film in places and Gosling's performance really does stand out as one of his best! I highly recommend!

The Dogfather
So I sat down with family to watch this one. We put up with it for 20 minuets before switching over to Hellboy. A terrible film even in kid movie standards! The acting was poor even from the guy who plays Dr Leo Spaceman in 30 Rock! Terrible, terrible film!

Hellboy
Well anything is better then The Dogfather. Hellboy is a good comic book movie film. Unfortunately compared to the comic book movies around today this doesn't feel as good as it used to be. But the first part was never as good as it's excellent sequel!

Wayne's World
This is actually one of my favourite comedy movies ever! A cult classic that is so stupid its funny! I have watched this film so many times and it never ceases to crack me up. This is Mike Myers at his best. Unfortunately the sequel is pretty rubbish, but I still keep fingers crossed that they plan on making a threequel! EXCELLENT!

Contagion
This was actually one of the scariest movies I have ever seen! It's not a horror but the thought that a virus could wipe out millions of people is scary enough! A really good film with some great editing and soundtrack from Cliff Martinez who also did an awesome job with Drive! It's only flaw is that there are too many characters to keep up with and apart from Matt Damon you never really connect with them emotionally. Apart from that it was actually one of the best films of the week.

Everything Must Go
Will Ferrel doing a serious acting part in this touching drama about a man who loses his job, wife and house in the space of a day. Although Ferrel plays somebody who has messed up his life you will actually care about him more then any of his other films. How could his wife leave such a sweet guy? Well he does have moments where he can be a bit of an idiot but apart from that he's really nice! Overall a nice heart warming and touching film.

Lars and the Real Girl
The second film containing Ryan Gosling and one of the oddest films I have ever seen. Gosling plays a delusional man who has a relationship with a sex doll. It is just weird! It was funny in places but you never knew whether to laugh or not. Congratulations to the actors having to act seriously around a sex doll but overall not the best movie ever made.

Stay
The final film of the week. And the last Gosling film. Ewan McGregor stars as a psychiatrist who is tyring to stop his student (Ryan Gosling) from killing himself. A bit of mind bender this one but not at Nolan standards, this one is just too weird for its own good. It isn't really a smart thriller in anyway. Also McGregor's accent is a bit rubbish, like the film then really.

Thanks for reading! Not long now until The Avengers comes out! First reactions from the premiere are good so it looks like we are in for a treat! Seems like only yesterday Iron Man came out...

Some Films You Should Watch!

So I'm back from my holiday now and I thought I would give you some reviews on the films I have watched over the short period. Overall the class of films I watched was surprisingly high and some even stayed with me for days with their superb story lines. Here are the films I watched and a brief review of each:

The Ides Of March
The first film I watched on my holiday and one of the best also. I heard mixed reviews of this film but was pleasantly surprised by the talent on and off screen. This is the first film I have watched that has been directed by George Clooney and I was taken away by his style. On screen the acting was incredible from the ever brilliant Ryan Gosling and side roles from acting greats like Paul Giamatti and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Overall a great political thriller that isn't afraid to show the dark side of American politics, a must see for anyone interested in the topic.

Bronson
After watching Drive I had to watch the previous film from director Nicolas Winding Refn. Like his latest film it was great! Tom Hardy plays Michael Peterson who is a criminal who becomes famous for starting fights within prison as his stage name Charles Bronson. This film really shows off Tom Hardy's acting talent and you can see why he was picked to play Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. The film was surprisingly funny and had great style. The second half of the film is personally not as great as the first but still manages to entertain on all levels!

Kill List
This film was loved by the critics and I was wondering why by the end of the first act. Thankfully it picks up a becomes a great, but possibly not as good as the critics have hyped it up to be. In the end though it was a great film. Who doesn't want to see hit men kicking the crap out of paedophiles! The end was great but a bit confusing and I would have liked it if they explained it a bit more. Though still a good film that was surprisingly scary in places!

Son Of Rambo
A nice Brit film that looked at two children making a Rambo film together. For a childrens film the morals were a bit over the place and the plot was slightly confusing. A lot of the sub plots could have been taken out but overall the film was good. It had a nice style and is great for fans of the Rambo films.

Unknown
If you like cheesy action thrillers then this is the film for you! Watched this with the family and they were all happy with the outcome of the film, if not a little confused to the mind bending storyline, which goes like this; A man awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one, (not even his wife), believes him. With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is. The ending I guess is ok but the morals of Liam Neesons character seem all over the place. The film trys a little too hard be the next Taken yet fails but still an enjoyable film.

Perfect Sense
This film has also had mixed reviews from critics and I watched it thinking I wasn't going to like it but I finished with my opinion the complete opposite. I loved it! The plot goes like this; A chef and a scientist fall in love as an epidemic begins to rob people of their sensory perceptions. The film is beautifully shot though there are a few bumpy camera moments, you will know them when you see them. Ewan McGregor and Eva Green act really well together although I am confused with Eva Green's accent, what accent was it? Their relationship is portrayed brilliantly throughout the epidemic even if they are naked half the time! the end of the film really hit me hard emotionally and the result had me thinking for days!

The Truman Show
I saw this film a couple years ago and loved it! The second time I loved it also. Introduced it to my brother over the holiday and he also loved it! A great film that is scarily close to what could happen in the future in regard to reality television. A one to watch if you are a media student or just someone who enjoys good thought provoking movies. Even though it is 14 years old it still stands today, possibly even more so then it did back in its day. A great film for the family also, everyone loves a bit of Jim Carrey!

Fish Tank
The final film I watched and another great! The acting and directing style was superb. The plot goes like this; Everything changes for 15-year-old Mia when her mum brings home a new boyfriend. The film is quite hard hitting and you should be warned this isn't a nice film to watch with your parents. Hard hitting and edgy but overall a very good film. Another great performance from Michael Fassbender who is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.

Everybody would gives these films watch as they are all great. The filming for my short film Snow Dream also took place over the holiday. I got some good footage but not as much as I would have liked due to weather conditions but I will be editing it together soon and will post it online as soon as i have finished.

I have finally hit over 1000 views on this blog so I would like to thank everyone for reading it! More posts will be coming soon!

Thanks for reading!

While I'm Away...

So over the next week I won't be able to blog as I am going to be off skiing! But whilst I am doing that I will be able to film the shots for my short film 'Snow Dream'. You can read about my project here http://alexmovieblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/some-of-my-film-work.html

But if you are now thinking 'what am I going to do without a new blog post for a week!' which you probably are not, why don't you check out this blog that is made by my good friend Jamie Pullan http://jpullanreviewsandrants.blogspot.com/ if you want to read some great post and settle the fight over Vampires Vs Wizards I definitely recommend it!

Or if your more into gaming I recommend another blog from my other good friend Ryan Mills http://ryanmillsvideogameblog.blogspot.com/ if you want to read greatly written blogs on all the latest gaming news I again recommend it!

I have also been lucky enough to have my '3D Or Not To Be' blog post be featured on the site Opinion Panel, Opinion Panel is the independent market research agency dedicated to understanding students before, during and after their time at university. If you want to see the post click this link; http://www.opinionpanel.co.uk/panellists/2012/02/08/3d-cinema-a-cheap-gimmick/ I would like to say thanks to the people behind putting the post online, you should check it out if you think you have something worth blogging!

But here is where I leave you but don't worry I will blog as soon as I'm back! I am taking several films with me to watch so I expect I will review them in a later post! One film being The Ides Of March which stars a man you have probably heard me raving about, Ryan Gosling and George Clooney, looking forward to that one!

See you soon!

It's Like Fast & Furious But Good!

I am of course talking about the sensation which is Drive. Drive is one of those word of mouth films which critics and the public have both loved, Total Film named it their film of 2011. So obviously I thought that I must check this film out! And after a long wait I finally got round to seeing it and I was amazed!

I do not always agree with the critics but on this occasion I do! Drive is one of those films which is incredibly cool and no matter what situation the main character is in you want to be him! The main character is played by Ryan Gosling who is personally one of the best actors around at the moment. And his performance as the driver is one of his best. And he was brilliantly partnered with actress Carey Mulligan who is also at the top of her game at the moment!

The plot goes like this; A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.

That sounds familiar, almost like the plot of Fast & Furious movie. If you sit down expecting one of those monstrosities of a film you will be deeply disappointed. This is a driving movie for film buffs. It takes its style from films of the 1970's and 80's. The soundtrack is uber-cool and will send shivers down your spine whilst you watch the masterpiece.

It is quite violent in places and sometimes you have to watch through your fingers. It seems 2011 was the year of the hammer for movie deaths as it was used once again in this film. I think I am actually starting to develop a phobia of hammers after the amount of pain I have seen them inflict on the big screen! Thor, Kill List and now Drive when will hammers be banned!

But I haven't talked about the cars yet which are obviously a big part of the film. The cars are super cool and the chases in which they are involved are too cool to handle. The opening sequence is one of the best getaway car chases I think I have ever seen!

I have never seen a film by Nicolas Winding Refn but after watching this I will definitely see more! I hear Bronson is a good film and I need to catch up on Tom Hardy's films before I see him in The Dark Knight Rises!

The film is superb and I just can't get enough of Ryan Gosling at the moment! I'm off to see War Horse at the weekend so I will post a review of that on the blog soon!

2012 - A Big Year For Movies

2012. Many people may associate this year as the end of the world, or if you live in the UK it is the year of the London Olympics. But for me this is the year for movie nerds everywhere! Next year is the year for cinema, will it finally get back on track with more people going to it? If the films that are coming out next year are anything to go by, then hopefully. Here are my top 10 anticipated films of 2012! And no The Dark Knight Rises is not first!:

10. Chronicle
Chronicle is a found footage film which actually looks different this year! As many of you know, I love superheroes and this film is about three boys who gain super powers. A found footage superhero movie, what more can I say?
9. War Horse
I am a big fan of the book which I read a couple of years ago, and if anyone could adapt it too the big screen it's Steven Spielberg! Even the author has commended it! I want to see this film!
8. Gangster Squad
I love period gangster dramas, and this one has Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Emma Stone in it! I can't wait!
7. Prometheus
The Alien prequel or spin off film trailer was released last week and looks amnazing! Time to get the watch the Alien Box set I Think!
6. The Muppets
Unless your American this film has not come out yet! And I have to wait till February to see it! Painful but worth the wait by the sounds of it. I love the muppets!
5. The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey
Being a big fan of The Lord of The Rings trilogy how could I not be excited about this one! Love the idea of Peter Jackson upping the frames per second to create amazing 3D. The Trailer came out last week and it looks incredible!
4. The Hunger Games
As you already know I'm a a massive fan of the books and cannot wait to see them adapted for the big screen. I'm hoping it isn't too Twilight but by the looks of the trailer it looks amazing and quite emotional too.
3. The Dark Knight Rises
Who is not excited about this one? The trailer was amazing as suspected and in Nolan we trust!
2. The Avengers
I have been waiting for this film since the closing credits of Iron Man and cannot wait for this film to finally be here! With Joss Whedon on the directors chair this is certain to be one hell of a movie!
1. The Amazing Spider-Man
Yes it is the half man half spider who tops my list! Being a massive fan of the man in red I cannot wait for this film. Marc Webb is a brilliant director and Andrew Garfield is one of the greatest actors of our time. This is sure to amazing! They have gone a little bit darker and have added The Lizard to the mix, cannot wait! Lots of people hating this film because its telling the origin again or because they like Tobey Maguire, Personally Tobey was a great Peter Parker but unlike Andrew Garfield he is not Peter Parker!

And that concludes my top 10 most anticipated films of 2012. I hope you agree! I hope everyone had a good Christmas and I will blog my review of 2011 before 2012... hopefully!

Crazily, not stupid, very lovely film!

So yesterday I finally got round to watching a film I have been waiting eagerly to see, Crazy, Stupid, Love. And I will start by saying that it was brilliant! The plot is quite complicated but don't be put off! It's about a man named Cal (Steve Carell) who is going through a divorce with his wife, whilst in a drunken depressed state he meets ladies man Jacob (Ryan Gosling), who helps turn his love life back around by helping him meet new women and become a bit of a player. Now Dan's son has fallen in love with his babysitter but the babysitter is in love with Dan. Still with me? Jacob soon falls for Hannah (Emma Stone) and Dan starts wanting his wife back but she is now seeing David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon). Take a deep breath. Ok.

So it all sounds kind of complicated but actually works really well, with a such a large cast some characters don't have a much time as would have hoped especially Emma Stone's character who is hilariously awkward when she is about to sleep with Jacob, but apart from that it is really well written. Which is surprising considering the writer Dan Fogelman previously wrote kids films Cars and Tangled.

The film feels a bit like American Beauty and The 40 Year Old Virgin combined at points and that is no bad thing at all! The great thing about this film is that even though it is a romcom us guys can actually sit throughout all of it without being forced by our girlfriends and wives! Finally a romcom that appeals to both males and females.

I love a good romcom that is unique and appeals to a wide audience, (500) Days Of Summer did it very well! The directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa have tried this new 'hybrid' genre before with I Love You Phillip Morris, which personally for me was pretty awful. So now they have finally redeemed themselves with this funny and emotional look on adult relationships.

And if that isn't enough to persuade you to see it, these two words may... Ryan Gosling.