Archive for Film
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Christopher Nolan’s final Batman instalment may not quite reach the levels of ‘The Dark Knight’, but it’s still an absolute must-see…
Carnage (2011)
Roman Polanski’s ‘Carnage’ is a compelling tour-de-force of social superficiality and dubious parental values. It’s also pretty funny…
Prometheus (2012)
Despite its problems, Ridley Scott’s ‘Prometheus’ remains a visually stunning feast of big ideas and unanswerable questions…
Chronicle (2012)
‘Chronicle’ is a fun and enjoyable found-footage film, with a unique take on the superhero genre and some impressive performances…
The Raid (2011)
‘The Raid’ is a ferociously-unflinching carousel of head-cracking, bone-splintering brutality that makes good on its violent promises…
Shame (2011)
Michael Fassbender is simply outstanding in ‘Shame’, a relentlessly harrowing drama about an all-consuming sexual addiction…
Marvel Avengers Assemble (2012)
In ‘Marvel Avengers Assemble’, Joss Whedon gathers together a host of superhero favourites for a full frontal assault on the senses…
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Brad Bird successfully reboots the Mission: Impossible franchise with a smart script and endlessly inventive action set-pieces…
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
‘The Cabin in the Woods’ is an enjoyable horror that takes its generic conventions and tosses them into Camp Crystal Lake. Spoiler free…
Dream House (2011)
A troubled production history and a convoluted and confusing plot leaves ‘Dream House’ feeling like a bit of a nightmare…
The Hunger Games (2012)
This adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s mega-selling novel is a largely rewarding affair with a strong female lead and a frenetic final hour…
Hugo (2011)
Martin Scorsese’s love-letter to the early days of moving images is a wonderfully-crafted adventure story with a unique visual style and 3D that actually enhances proceedings…
TWILIGHT SPECIAL: Vampires vs Werewolves
Forget moody teenagers and scantily-clad heart-throbs; we’ve got the best vampire and werewolf movies right here…
Moneyball (2011)
Brad Pitt stars in the Oscar-nominated baseball drama that pitches (excuse the pun) intuition and experience against logic and statistics…
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011)
Animation Avenue host, Chris Perkins, casts an eye over Spielberg’s depiction of the famous Belgian sleuth and his little white dog…
The Awakening (2011)
‘The Awakening’ is a largely forgettable period-set chiller that suffers from an overly-familiar plot and some uneven pacing…
Contagion (2011)
Steven Soderbergh’s depiction of the outbreak of a global virus is a suitably grim speculation that feels frighteningly realistic…
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ is a dark and disturbing tale of a troubled mother-son relationship. It’s also absolutely compelling…
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)
‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’ offers nothing to be afraid of, effectively stifling any suspense with excessive CGI and too many plot-holes…
The Woman in Black (2012)
Hammer’s latest is an atmospheric haunted-house chiller with a strong central mystery and a genuinely creepy gothic setting…
The Ides of March (2011)
George Clooney’s ‘The Ides of March’ is a stylish political drama with a great central performance from Ryan Gosling…
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Woody Allen’s latest is a wonderfully charming ode to a truly magical city. Owen Wilson’s not bad either…
Melancholia (2011)
James Chappell reviews Lars Von Trier’s ‘Melancholia’, where a planet on a collision course with Earth and a family wedding provide the catalyst for a haunting and beautifully realised cinematic experience…
The Artist (2011)
Michel Hazanavicius’s beautifully shot black and white silent film is like nothing you’ll see in the cinema this year. Moving, profound and utterly compelling, it is a film that will stay with you for a very long time…
Warrior (2011)
It may echo ‘Rocky’ at every turn and possess a number of striking similarities to ‘The Fighter’, but Gavin O’Connor’s ‘Warrior’ still manages to throw a few punches of its own…
War Horse (2011)
Steven Spielberg’s big-screen adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s much-loved children’s novel is a sentimental and touching film of hope and courage set against the backdrop of WWI…
Red State (2011)
Horny teenagers become the holy sacrament for a fanatical religious sect in Kevin Smith’s follow-up to the universally-derided ‘Cop Out’…
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Men, smoke and lies all feature in Tomas Alfredson’s re-imagining of John le Carré’s seminal spy thriller…
