Coming soon to a cinema near you-We Need to Talk about Kevin

I'm really excited about the arrival of We Need to Talk about Kevin to the big screen at the end of this month. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Lionel Shriver, the story follows a mother who tries to deal with her grief and feelings by writing to her estranged husband after her 15-year-old son goes on a killing spree at his secondary school.

The film adaption sees Tilda Swinton play mother Eva, John C Reilly as dad Franklin and Ezra Miller as Kevin. As films go this is sure to be a hit, after being critically acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival.

New Bridget Jones movie planned-ice cream at the ready

The rumour mill has it that a third Bridget Jones movie is on its way. According to the creator of Bridget Jones, author Helen Fielding, the third installment will see Bridget and Mark learn that they can't have children and unsurprisingly, Bridget going back to Daniel Cleaver in the hope that he can give her what she wants. But it all ends in tears as Daniel dumps Bridget, however Mark, aka knight on white horse, comes swooping in to rescue her, hurrah.

What's more, Renee Zellweger is expected to reprise her role as Bridget, she would be mad not to, and Colin Firth as Mark Darcy. It is unknown if Hugh Grant will be returning to his role as Daniel Cleaver.

The Hangover part two

I'm super excited about the arrival of the Hangover 2 to the silver screen next month. I laughed out loud to the first movie, which I still count in my top five comedy films, and was one of the many reasons I decided to visit Vegas last year, so I just hope that this next installment can live up to it predecessor. And If the trailer is anything to go by I'll doubt cinema fans will be disappointed.

Here's what happens....the action this time takes place in Thailand and the characters wake up having no recollection of the night before, but several tell-tale signs signal it wasn't the sensible night they had planned, sound familiar?? Loveable and cuddly Alan, who ended up with a baby in the last film, wakes up with his long curly mane completely shaved off, while newlywed Stu ends up with a tribal tattoo on his face, doubt that will go down well with the missus? Phil seems relatively unharmed until he realises they've lost Stu's wife's younger brother, think these guys need some kind of tracker system in place? And unlike the tiger in the first movie, they are woken by a little monkey, who quickly takes centre stage.

Review: Scream 4- I'm not screaming!

Fifteen years ago I was cowering behind a cushion watching as a ghost face killer sliced and diced Drew Barrymoore's character Casey, who was found by her parents hanging from a tree, truly gruesome. Back then Scream 1 was considered  groundbreaking, a movie that terrified a nation of cinema-goers and kick started the trend for the teen horror genre. So I guess you could say that expectations ran high for the forth film. I was even prepared to forgive director Wes Craven for the abmissal Scream 3, a movie within a movie, please. That is until I sat through 111 minutes of footage that was more like a comedy than a horror, with the same old, tried and tested formula, big busted 'helpless' girls screaming and running up the stairs to get away from the ghostface killer, common sense never prevails.

The methods of killings and the scenarios were also unoriginal, a knife through the door, reminiscent of Scream 2, and being followed in an underground car park (Scream 1), so much for a new format and different rules.

Not only this, but the acting was poor, the spark between David Arquette and Courtney Cox gone- chemistry that helped make the first film, the identity of one of the killers was obvious and the ending was drawn out and predictable.

There wasn't one moment that I could say I was frightened by or even jumped at. No surprise considering the fourth film is only a certificate 15, whereas Scream 1,2 and 3 were an 18. Perhaps another problem is that ghost face is no longer scary now that a new generation of horror/thriller flicks such as Saw have raised the bar.

In my opinion Scream 4 was created as a cheap money maker that is in danger of ruining the brand and with it Wes Craven's reputation.

Scream 4 trailer released

As a big fan of the Scream trilogy, I can't wait for the fourth film to come to the silver screen this year. Let's just hope that the new flick doesn't disappoint much like the last film did, please a horror film based on a movie set, BORING. Perhaps the same will be said for the chemistry between Gail Weathers and Dewey, now that Courtney and David are no longer an item?

Film Review- Narnia: The voyage of the Dawn Treader

After watching the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and  Prince Caspian over the Christmas holidays I was left wanting another Narnia fix so decided to give the latest film in the trilogy a go. I was slightly disappointed by Prince Caspian and had heard Disney had pulled out of making the third so was a little sceptical that the new film could be better than the first. Unfortunately I was right, the film was some what predictable and uninteresting, I guess it didn't help that I was sat next to a sniffling child for the whole two hours?
While the graphics were amazing, much of the characters lacked the love ability factor which came so easily in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. With King Peter and Queen Susan being demoted to minor characters, it was up to Queen Lucy and King Edmund to lead the way, taking centre stage with their cousin Eustace, who depsite his name actually played a somewhat amusing part, building up a good rapport with Reepicheep the mouse, actually their relationship was what stood out most in the film.I was also disappointed with the lack of Narnian characters who were replaced by people, a comment which may seem odd but only fans of Narnia could understand. All I can think is that the lack of CGI characters was down to smaller budgets? All in all he film is a bit of a let down and because of its simplistic plot more suited to children.

Coming soon to a cinema near you....

Winter 2011                

Blue Valentine

Debuted at the Sundance festival, the film's narrative is based around a young married couple, played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, whose relationship is falling apart. This results in the story going back and forth in time to show how the couple met and ended up together.

Spring 2011

Paul

A comedy by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost about two sci-fi geeks who visit American UFO terrority. While  they are there they meet an alien, as you do (?), who takes them on an insane road trip.

Scream 4

It's ten years on, and Sydney Prescott, who has just managed to get her life back on track thanks to writing, is visited by the ghost face killer, arghhhh, and what's more the old rules (e.g can't be killed if you are a virgin) don't apply anymore.
The film features most of the original characters including Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox, along with some new ones.

Summer 2011

The Hangover 2

The sequel to one of the funniest films of 2009, Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug travel to Thailand for Stu's wedding. After Vegas, Stu is hoping for a calm and subdued brunch, however things don't go as planned and there is a possibility that one of the guys get tattooed for life.


Summer 2012

The Dark Knight Rises

Currently being written by David Goyer, the film will star Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Tom Hardy. But can their performances top the late Heath Ledger's as the Joker in the preceding film?