Rango (2011)

Chameleon protagonist shouldn't find it too hard to blend in to this love letter to Westerns.

3 stars

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

"Bourne meets Inception" says the film poster, however, there is unashamedly a large dose of romance, and, dare I say it, 'chick flick' cunningly disguised here. Emily Blunt is irresitible and annoying in equal measure though (no doubt due to some Hollywood exec telling her 'Oooh Emily, we just LOVE your Britishness'). Big themes of love/life/fate/choices make for a very mixed bag indeed.

3 stars

Paul (2011)

Littered with Star Wars references, and pays homage to many others, this film is an enjoyable enough no-brainer.

3 stars

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls Of Ga'Hoole (2010)

Some of the best CGI in animation you'll be likely to see, this fantasy tale has a certain charm and a touch of 'Lord of the Rings' to it.

3 stars

Skyline (2010)

One dimensional storyline as a bunch of model-slash-actors battle against alien invasion. How thoroughly entertained I was though ;) If you hate excessive CGI, you will hate this.


3 stars

London Boulevard (2010)

Average crime thriller with a cast of familiar faces, however this isn't as clever or killer as you're left hoping it should be.


3 stars

The Illusionist (2006)

Average magical mystery, but there is nothing really memorable or special conjured up here.

3 stars

Despicable Me (2010)

Not Incredible(s).

3 stars Janck (Jan 2011)






Feels like a Pixar poorer relation, but kids will still be entertained in this battle of villainy.

3 stars Mitch

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

A blooming decent caper.

Janck Nov 2010 (3.5 stars)


Enjoyable, but not quite full bloom.

Mitch 3 stars

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

Big budget Persian escapism.

3 stars

The Book of Eli (2010)

A touch too preachy for my taste, although the post-apocalyptic vision is sufficiently desaturated and reassuringly big-budget.


3 stars

Brooklyn's Finest (2009)

Largely derivative cops 'n robbers crime drama, although some good castings (and a few The Wire cameos) make this tick along. Is a stretch at over 2 hours runtime though.


3 stars

The Crazies (2010)

Pedestrian action/horror which relies too heavily on the seen-it-all-before death scares and creepy tension. Lack of a wider story makes this feel average but still watchable.


3 stars

Dark City (1998)

A stellar cast fall a little flat in this sci-fi thriller with big ideas but little impact. Ideas within predate Inception, and The Matrix, however the latter being made only one year later make Dark City feel a little dated. Richard O'Brien's panto baddie sticks in the memory, but the end result is rather average.


3 stars

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)

This starts off with early promise, but lack of real suspense and tension left me with weekend engineering works rather than runaway express. Middle of the tracks viewing.

3 stars

Clash of the Titans (2010)

Enjoyable enough CGI fest, but not a patch on the charming original if truth be told. Ralph Fiennes is the highlight as Hades in this style over substance fantasy epic.


3 stars

London (2005)

Not the city, the girl. Played by Jessica Biel. And she's hotter than July. And a heartbreaker. Love's a bitch. A familiar cast (Biel, Evans, Statham) in an unfamiliar ensemble 'drama' that tries a little too hard to be deep.

3 stars

The Lovely Bones (2009)

Good visual imagery, but surprisingly little emotion to leave any lasting impression. Standout performance from Stanley Tucci, but doesn't rescue this from averageness.


3 stars

Brothers (2009)

Run of the mill, without the thrill and the spill.


3 stars

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Drugs, government control and cat and mouse antics make for a heady, and trippy cocktail. Deliberately patchy, though visually impressive, the overall sense is still one of cinematic inertia. Hats off for trying something a little different though.

3 stars