The Sky is Falllllling!! MMMM..Daniel Craig !!

Everyone knows that Daniel Craig's performance in Casino Royale (2003) was incredible, and then Quantum of Solace (2007) was a massive let down. Well I can promise you that Skyfall brings Craig fighting back in an epic action filled Bond film this Autumn. Skyfall (12A) has everything we love about Bond films: Overly long introduction followed by the Barrel Gun icon, Then the Assignment, The Money penny flirt etc .

Why is it awesome?

Skyfall is so amazing because it is classic Bond film just with a bit of a makeover. For instance we still witness the same Q-branch just with less gadgets and a younger most sophisticated Q. Bond is still Sleeping with the enemy however Severine, played by the ever so gorgeous Berenice Marlohe takes an unexpected turn for the worst. Finally of course we have the major villain Silva, played by the not so well known but incredible Javier Bardem. Who delivers an on the edge of your seat experience throughout the whole film.

The film starts with Bond and Money Penny on a mission to retrieve a hard drive which just so happens to contain every field agent undercover and their true identities....who would be so stupid enough to even make that? We then see Bond fighting the Minor villain in a long 20 minute fight scene involving trains, motorcycles and CAT Diggers. The twist happens when Money Penney accidently shoots Bond  due to an order from M , and we are then led to believe that Bond is dead. Of course he survives, however he comes back not at his best.

You start to feel that there is no hope left at the begginning of the film as we are faced with a new potenial 'M' as Mallory played by seeks out to force the current M,Judi Dench to early retirement. Alongside this Bond comes back from a Meditterainian break involving Ladies and scorpian drinking games, in a total mess. He is not announced fit for action and is introduced to a new Q half his age to which he sniggers 'you still have spots'. Regardless of the no hope atmosphere the film soon picks up as Bond is sent on his first mission to Shang Hai inwhich we finally see him 'kick ass' against 3 huge Chinese body gaurds and a hitman whom he previously fought on the rooftop of a train. The next scene we are introduced to the enemy 'Bond girl' who will actually take your breath away, the sexiest bond girl ever by far.

So the bad guy, Bardem, was actually amazing. Ive never seen him in anything else but he really impressed me with his ability to creep the hell out of me one minute and then make me laugh so hard at his attempt to come onto bond the next. There are some scene though where I cant help but think that he resembles Heath Ledger's the Joker in the Dark Knight, Especially nearer the end of the film where Bardems's hair is all greasy and scraggly as he staggers towards the camera, reminded me of the second last scene in Batman where the Joker is staggering towards Batman...just a thought. Of course the amazing Dame Judi Dench is in Skyfall playing her character M to a tee. One of my favourite parts of the film is when Bond's old housekeeper mistakes her name for Emma and callsher it for the rest of the film, its so darn cute. Also big spoiler we get to hear M's real name (I won't tell you it) but Silva calls her it in his grovelling revenge speech.

Daniel Craig brings us the flawless thrill ride we have been waiting for. He just gets fitter and fitter the older he gets, unfortunately there are no tight shorts and sea scenes in this film, however we do get to see him in a fitted suit throughout most of the film !

However the amount of product placement throughout this film is flipping ridiculous! The third time I saw this film with my half blind clumsy colleuge, I was literally telling which products to expcect to see next...Heinikein....Range Rover....Omega..This film has it all.

So if you were dissapointed by Quantom of Solace then this is the film for you!

Taken all the way with Taken 2!!

Liam Neeson is back ! Back with his two sexy ladies! Maggie Grace playing Brian's daughter Kim and Famke Janssen playing his wife Lenore, and they are both looking as beautiful as ever.

There has been many high hopes for this Autumn's release of Taken 2 (12A) after Taken had us on the edge of our seats the whole way through while we rode on the roller-coaster of emotion! It had everything from gruesome torture scenes, heart warming father-daughter bonding and Liam Neeson pretty much kicking ass the whole way through. Well director Olivier Megaton has done it again bringing us an exciting thrill ride throughout the whole film.

How is it different?

The plot was inevitable, mainly from the film title 'taken', someone had to be kidnapped in some form just like the first film. However the tables have turned this time, without giving much of the film away, its all down to Kim to help save her mum and dad. The main bulk of the film is based on Neeson's former victim's fathers and families seeking  revenge as they kidnap Brian and Lorane in the most stereotypical bag over head fashion. Around 40 minutes into the film it really starts to heat up as we get to witness Neeson work his way through about twenty men in a row through a mixture of bullets, mixed martial arts and cardboard box throwing.

What I really loved about this film was the bond between Brian and Kim even though it was borderline cheesy at some points. For instance at the beginning of the film Brian finds out Kim has a new boyfriend and the reaction that follows is definitely something I could see my own dad doing.  Furthermore throughout the film there are many references including an exciting car chase in a bright yellow taxi throughout Turkey, which  show how desperate Brian is for his daughter to pass her driving test awwww! Both these examples are so delightful and heart-warming to watch.

Moreover another likeable feature the film had to give was the frustration we could see within Liam's character. Just like the first film Brian is left to fight his way to his family, in this one it is his wife Lorane that really needs his help and it really made me feel hopeless watching his desperation to save her! I felt many times throughout watching Taken 2 that there was no hope at all. For example there are so many (some might say even too many) times in which you are led to believe that Lorane is dead and Brian  is never going to save her. However like every Scooby Doo episode the bad guy always loses and hope is eventually restored!

So why was Taken so much better than the sequel?

Alarm bells were ringing as soon as the 12A certificate appeared before me I could have sworn that the first one was a 15.....which indeed it was. Ok so I'm going to be honest what really really gets on my nerves in actions films is when you can't actually see any action! The majority of the fighting scenes were all distorted, either that or Megaton hired a really bad camera man. Now I don't mean that the screen was fuzzy or blurred, I honestly mean that while Liam Neeson was kicking ass the camera was all over the place, I spent most of my time  looking up at sky shots. For whatever reason the producers chose to use this filming technique it really didn't work.

Secondly...a 12A!! I really can't get over this. I needed to see blood and hear dirty after the watershed words! instead I witnessed necks being slit clean and a rather nicely put revenge speech! Normally I find that no swear words is quite intimidating especially if your going for the more sinister effect. Nevertheless he didn't swear in Taken so who am I to demand it in this one? On the other hand we are left feeling slightly confused and dazed  as in the first Taken Brian was willing to torture his victims through punishing electrocution whereas in the second Taken the worst we probably see is elbows being karate chopped backwards and chain choking. I personally felt like the closest we came to a 15 were the noises Janssen made throughout the film, instead of screeching like any other girl would when being bagged and kidnapped her approach was a more of a sexual in the bedroom kinda' moaning! Definitely a cover your children's ears moment.

I really did enjoy Taken 2 it just needed a bit more umph .. you know what I mean? It just can't beat the legendary Taken. 6/10

The Possession!

The Possession (15) is this summer's supernatural horror film to have really been noticed. Like The Devil Inside it is based on a true story and yet somehow The Possession is more believable and bearable to watch.

In all honesty I really wasn't looking forward to this film, I've had to many bad experiences with horror films in the cinema , films such as The Women in Black....believe it or not. However I absolutely loved this film.....LOVED IT! Director Ole Bornedal had thrown everything you need to make a great horror film together, such as speedy sudden transitions between scenes, the creepy music that plays just before something jumps out and of course the young vulnerable child that gets under your skin so badly you will definitely see her in your nightmares!

Natasha Calis plays Em, a young girl who falls in love with a wooden black box that just so happens to hold an evil Jewish demon inside..that of course wants to take Em's soul for itself. One of the reasons this film is so likeable is because of Calis's amazing acting throughout. For example in one scene she demonstrates an almost bipolar scenario, changing from nice to evil in split second till finally making out that she is being beaten up right in front of her baffled father. Calis definitely had me on the edge of my seat through the whole film as she manages to create a creepy atmosphere within the cinema, you almost feel as if she is right behind you!

Moreover The Possession is a hit because it gets your heart racing during every scene! For instance you don't actually get to see the demon that has apparently possessed Em until the very end and therefore you spent the whole time questioning whether there really is a demon or if Em is just barking mad. Strange things of course start to happen within the family home such as an invasion of fluttery insects, a dramatic change in Em's behaviour and the most creepiest scene which involves Calis acting in a animal state chewing on a raw slice of steak whilst talking in a deep undertone and throwing glass bottles at her mother!

On the other hand my only downfall with the whole film came right at then end. I was on the edge of my seat, heart pounding and my scarf ready to throw in front of my face...and then Boom! an awful CGI 'demon' appears...In all honesty the whole film was amazing because we never actually got to see the demon and therefore when I eventually saw something which looked like Gollum and Grima Wormtounge had a baby appeared, I was a little bit disappointed and suddenly the whole film didn't seem scary.


However all of that aside the film has been very popularised, mainly because Sam Raimi assisted the production of the fim. Raimi who is famous for films such a Drag Me To Hell and The Evil Dead. All in all I don't normally recommend horror films but this one is a must see! I rate it 7/10.

I've been watching...The Watch!

The Watch (15) is a strange mix between a serious alien invasion sci-fi and a new version of the boys from the 2009 hit The Hangover! Director Akiva Scaffer has taken some of the biggest names in the modern comedy film industry such as Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, and created a laugh out loud and yet mellow combination.

The Watch involves, as you might have already guessed a neighbourhood watch team formed by the main character Evan, played by Ben stiller. It takes the form of three other extraordinary characters which include, Jonah Hill who plays Franklin, a stressed, angry yet lovable young man. Bob played by Vince Vaughn who has no interest in the watch, instead he is more interested in booze, pool tables and protecting his young daughter from hooligans who think with nothing but their 'magic wand'. Finally there is Jamarcus played by Richard Ayoade, an intelligent remarkable young British Chap whose dream is to find that one special Asian lady to satisfy his needs...if you get what I mean!


Together they embark on a mission to find the murderer of Evans good friend Antonio! However they have the luck of  encountering a few aliens along the way and are, like most action comedies, faced with some awkward hurdles they need to get past in order to stop an alien invasion from happening.

Right now I won't give too much away, however I saw this film yesterday and left the cinema feleing..well .. quite happy. Although the film really isn't the best up to scratch sci -fi comedy it is still non the less a nice light hearted film.

So why so many mixed reviews?

Okay so most people are wondering why the hell Richard Ayoade is in the film in the first place!  For those of you who don't know, Richard is a British actor know most for his role in the TV series The IT Crowd. So why in the world would they stick him with ..oh I don't know...Some of the most popular comedy actors around at the minute? It just doesn't make any sense. Don't get me wrong Richard is a brilliant actor, fantastic in every way, its just his casting in this film, doesn't quite add up.

On the other hand the film as a whole is funny, I did personally laugh out loud at some of the awkward  scenes. However the film is not consistently hilarious. For example, yes it does have some really funny puns and one-liners yet the chuckles slowly start to fizzle out as the film goes on.  I couldn't help but feel a little lost with the movie plot along the way and I found myself asking 'When is this going to end?'

All in all the film is a very light hearted film and very good if you fancy a chuckle. Therefore I give this film a 5/10.

The Lorax: Inside the mad mind of Dr Seuss,

The Lorax (U) is this summer's family fun animated film, based on the 1971 book by Dr Seuss.

Dr Seuss is one of the most eccentric light hearted authors from my childhood, writing famous books such as 'The Cat in the Hat' and 'The Grinch who stole Christmas'. If you have never heard of Dr Seuss then think...Tim Burton mixed with Lemony Snicket and a dash of Roald Dahl,,,Resulting in simply genius, bizzare and unusual work.

The Lorax teaches children about how to respect the environment, Seuss said 'unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, its not.' And God damn it he was right!

So why is there so much Lorax Hate?

Okay so the film involves a young boy played by the voice of Zac Efron. Granted hid character Ted is no sexy six pack ridden hunk, yet we can't help but fall in love with this character. He goes on a wild adventure looking for the 'last remaining tree', while being chased by the town mayor also know as 'Mr O'Hare' played by Rob Riggle', all to impress the love of his life, little ginger air head  Audrey, voiced by Taylor Swift.

However there are many people who dislike what happens next...The young boy Ted learns a life lesson by The Once-ler, Ed Helms, whom explains how he took advantage of the environment and faced the consequences which involved The Lorax, Mike Myers, also known as the guardian of the forest! The Lorax can be seen as a very annoying orange fuzzball...Imagine when you were a child, and your parents would patronise you and nag you on and on and on, yet we still loved them. Well that is the Lorax to the Tee! Many critics find the Lorax character infuriating and simply quite hard to watch, a character who rabbits on to much about what we should be doing to help the environment.

On the other hand many critics find the casting of this film a little off putting. For example Zac Efron 23 is playing a character twice his age! Now fair play to that opinion but hold on .. there is a lot of singing in this film and to be honest after High School Musical came out, Mr Efron sounds about his character's age (12) when he sings anyway, so what is the fuss all about!

Finally most people are too busy comparing the film to the 1971 book. For example many of you aren't happy with the adding of extra characters and plot. Alongside this there is some slight confusion as to who it is that actually dreams for a better world, Audrey or Ted?

However we are all forgetting that this is a children's film!! It is light hearted, funny and creative. Full of silly songs and characters, such as three singing fish that in all  honesty sound like strangled versions of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks! But so what? After watching this film it warmed my heart and I just felt like a silly child again! Therefore I give this film a 5/10 and recommend you watch it if you fancy something strange and silly.

Total Recall: What is all the fuss about

Total Recall (12A) is set to be this summer's hit action film, following in the footsteps of The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. It involves factory worker Doug who lives a standard life with his wife Lori. He starts to question the everyday order of his life and starts to feel like something is missing. Therefore when given the option of Recall (a memory changing technology) he leaps at the opportunity, only to find that the Identity he thought was his, isn't.

However it seems that Total Recall has turned into a total mess.

So here is the low down on what to expect from this film. For all you ladies out there, you are faced with hunk-a-chunk of burning love, Colin Farell, whom throughout the film continuously  flex's his (Humongous) muscles, runs a marathon without breaking a sweat and turns away his gorgeous wife Lori played by Kate Beckinsale. What's not to love about that? I think its safe to say we all have a little crush ..or Man crush for you gents out there. On the other hand you gentleman are given Kate Beckinsale playing 'Doug's Wife, Lori' and Jessica Biel playing 'Melina', in the palm of your hands. There is double the amount of Ass to be seen in this film than Scarlett Johansonn showed in the whole of the Avengers. Alongside this you witness an up close fight scene halfway through the film between these two ladies, involving full on face punches, hair pulling and the perfect tennis player sound effects to suit it.

However many of film lovers can't help but compare Mr Farrell to the outrageously awesome Mr Schwarzenegger...who played the same character 'Doug' in the original 1990 Total Recall. Most of us can't quite get our heads around the fact that someone  has even attempted to follow the footsteps of the almighty Arnold. Nevertheless Colin has dived head first into the role of portraying 'Doug', a bored factory worker who manages to turn himself into a mixture between 'Jason Bourne' from The Bourne Identity and 'Dory' from Finding Nemo. Granted he puts his own spin on the character yet in the back of our
 minds...Arnold is just so God damn cool in everything he does!!

So what is it that Total Recall is missing?

It is jam packed to the brim with all you action film needs such as, Sexy ladies, Chase scenes, Hit and run car scenes, betrayal - from a best friend and a wife,  Girl on Girl (that is referring to fighting and not what you initially thought) and Topless main character (for at least the entire introduction of the movie). Alongside these top action movie  essentials we get to see some crazy futurist technology for example, mobile phones inside our hands, illuminous tattoos, hovercraft space cars and a lady with three boobs....I know that is not classed as technology, but its classed as crazy.

Despite all the correct things they did put into the film making they also missed out some of these essentials: Blood....we don't want bucket loads but a paper cut amount would have nice. Sex...okay so maybe not full on porn movie sex but we would have like to have seen more than one measly kiss throughout the film!

Along with these there is to much comparison to other films. I'm not gonna' lie the producers timing wasn't exactly the best...I mean you must be a bit crazy to try and follow after films such as 'The Dark Knight Rises', The Avengers' and 'Spiderman'. Granted Total Recall is not a comic book based film but unfortunately it is following after some recent damn good comic based films.
The big comparison of course is to the original 1990 'Total Recall '. As I've already said many of us feel like the casting may have been slightly askew. Don't get me Wrong all the actors in the 2012 hit are fantastic, its just Colin Farrell made to follow Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kate Beckinsale to follow Sharon Stone....There is just something not right about either of them.

Regardless of the all the mixed reviews, the bad and the good, you should totally give Total Recall a watch...ahh see what I did there. I personally really enjoyed it and have given it a 6/10.