Elysium (2013)

In the future, an exclusive world will be the ultimate destination; but only those brave enough will ever make it there...

In the distant future, the super rich have created a world for themselves in nearby space, called Elysium, where there is never any illness, violence or sadness. The rest of the people on earth are left to fend for themselves with little access to medical care and living in slum conditions.

When "Max" is struck down by radiation poisoning after an accident at work, he knows his only way to survive is to access the medical scanners only present on Elysium. He has to bypass the security fields and make his way to the promised land without being shot down in the process. When he robs and murders an important man in his quest to reach Elysium, he comes face to face with a force who has sworn to protect the elitist way life, no matter the results...

South African director, Neill Blomkamp, returns to the big screen for the first time since his epic debut in "District 9" with a film which feels remarkably similar, but covers a far different terrain. His style is courageous and daring, but very entertaining no less, but the film could almost be a big brother to his first effort. It will be good to see what his next film does, as he needs a change of scenery.

Matt Damon takes the lead role as "Max" a former child of the street, whose lifes goal it is to reach Elysium. His portrayal is gritty, yet surprisingly sensitive and he does well in a challenging role. It is a good outing to follow his recent showing in "Behind the Candelabra", but the role did not come close to testing his talents.

Jodie Foster returns to the big screen for the first time since her stunning role in "Carnage" of 2011, with a decent showing as Head of Elysium security "Delacourt". She gives a stylish performance, with the only detracting factor being that her accent seems to be all over the place. She starts off French, the moves to English, American and in one scene even takes on a South African twang. Despite that it is good to see her back on the screen in this convincing role.

The star of "District 9" Sharlto Copley, plays almost the exact same character as the one which shot him to stardom, but this time seems a bit darker, and if anything, a LOT more crazy in his portrayal of "Kruger". His performance is superb, and along with Brandon Auret and Josh Blacker they make very motley crew of South African mercenaries. This is a good showing from Copley, but it would be very interesting to see this actor do a non military role.

Alice Braga gives a quite good showing as "Frey", this Brazilian actress showing that she is not only beautiful, but also rather adept in a number of different genres. She shows a far more caring side to her talents as a doctor and a mother in this one, and I look forward to seeing her next movie performance.

William Fichtner can seemingly not stop making good films. Following up his great role as "Butch Cavendish" in "The Lone Ranger", with another stunning performance as businessman "John Carlyle". He takes care of the dirty business, about which the citizens of "Elysium" do not want to know. This is a challenging role, which he manages with ease.

The film is decent stand alone effort, but with an almost identical setting and a few of the same actors, it is bound to draw comparisons to "District 9". It is enjoyable, but does drag a little in the middle. There is a fair amount of violence and bad language, so probably not one for the entire family, but a good way to spend an evening.

6/10

The Lone Ranger (2013)

The story of a masked man and his Indian companion as they look to find themselves in the early days of the Wild West.

The retelling of the classic tale of the Lone Ranger and his trusted side kick Tonto, all told to a little boy through the ancient memories of the great warrior. When John Reid returns to his small home town of Colby to practice law, little does he know he will be drawn into a web of suspense and intrigue that will make him question everything for which he stands.

Together with his "Magical" steed "Silver" and his trusty companion "Tonto", he will risk life and limb to avenge the murder of his brother and bring down the bloodthirsty gang leader "Butch Cavendish".

Legendary Director Gore Verbinsky, the genius behind the "Pirates of the Caribbean" and most recently "Rango", now turns his attention to a rather more well known story, bringing to the big screen "The Lone Ranger" and his companion "Tonto". He does a fairly decent job on this film; one which could have gone either way with his audience over the age of 35 who remember the classic series.

Johnny Depp does a great job in the role of both the Aged and Youthful, "Tonto", bringing a comedic element to the film which keeps it rolling nicely, with a laugh here and there as the action continues unabated. Once more Depp moves slightly further away from his iconic "Captain Jack Sparrow", but never strays too far from the core character which has elevated his star to the very top of his profession. His portrayal of "Tonto" is enjoyable and he makes the character a lot more fun that one might have expected.

Armie Hammer returns to the big screen for the first time since donning his tights as "Prince Alcott" in "Mirror Mirror", this time taking a far more serious role as "John Reid" and "The Lone Ranger". He gives a decent performance, showing a good amount of versatility which may leave the audience wondering what is next for this talented actor. His vengeful, yet contained portrayal of the much loved law man is worth the admission fee alone, but you do wonder if he could have brought a bit more manliness which the role demanded?

William Fitchner seems to be at the very peak of his career, rolling out one film after the next. Hot on the heels of his showing as "John Carlyle" in Elysium with Jodie Foster and Matt Damon, he plays a far more darker character in the form of the ruthless killer "Butch Cavendish". Fitchner brings style and panache to a difficult character, combining the "Devil May Care" attitude along with the cold and calculating ruthlessness of a career criminal. He truly is the highlight of the film for me and his sinister portrayal mixes well with the comedy from Depp and Hammer.

British veteran Tom Wilkinson is excellent as "Latham Cole", the ruthless railway company boss, who will stop at nothing to achieve the goals which he has set for his transport conglomerate. Helena Bonham Carter once again gives a great performance as the Madam "Red Harrington", her ivory leg and dark cynicism, always good for a few laughs. Ruth Wilson does well as the love interest "Rebecca Reid" and this should prove a useful step in moving her from a TV career and onto the big time.

The film, as a standalone piece,  is a good bit of cinema, but for those of us who grew up with the original series, it seems to pale slightly.  The action is good, but is fine for all of the family, while the story carries on at a decent pace, but will never really have you on the edge of your seat. The combination of Depp and Hammer is a good one and would be interesting to see again. Worth a watch.

6/10

Kick Ass 2 (2013)

Three years after Kick Ass first jumped onto our screens, he is back and this time looking to join a team....

Crime fighting super hero Kick Ass has now reached high school and decides to take his heroic escapades to the next level, by joining a team.

With the help of a group of like minded crime busters, he goes to work cleaning up the city, but will have to deal with the evil intentions of his Arch nemesis, "Red Mist", who is hell bent on revenge after the slaying of his crime-lord father.

Both sides will form armies and fight to the death as the deranged "Red Mist" does everything in his extensive array of powers to avenge his fathers' demise. A world of change awaits Kick Ass, as he comes to terms with the reality of the dangers involved with the costume he has chosen to wear.

The second in the highly successful series, returns the popular Kick Ass and Hit Girl to our screens, once more trying to rid the worlds of the criminal element. A good attempt to revive the glory of the first smash hit, but one which falls sorely short in entertainment value. The characters have to come to terms with teenage angst and a few more reality checks, which leaves a distinct lack of comedy in this second incantation.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson reprises the role which rocketed him to fame in 2010 giving a decent showing as both "Dave Lizewski" and the inimitable crime fighter "Kick Ass", but there is something missing from the loveable teen of the first film, a darker, more serious side seems to have taken hold of the character and for me, not one for the better.  In his first outing since "Anna Karenina" he gives a good performance, but the character and the way it is written lets him down. Keep an eye on this talented actor and look for him to take on more serious roles in the coming years.

Chloe Grace Moretz first burst into our collective consciousness as "Hit Girl" a foul-mouthed pre-teen, expertly trained by her rather deranged "Big Daddy" to be the ultimate killing machine. We have seen her sparkle in the likes of "Hugo" and "Dark Shadows" since then, showing the acting talent which has already made her a super star, but her high school version of "Hit Girl" is not one that will be long remembered. The role was perfectly suited to an 11 year old girl in 2010, but now as a moody and troubled teen does not hold the same fascination as before. A truly talented actress, but not her best outing as both "Hit Girl" and "Mindie Macreedy"

Christopher Mintz-Plasse is the one shining light in this one; moving from his character of "Red Mist" to the vengeful and power mad, "MotherF*cker". He is hell bent on avenging his father, who was killed by "Kick Ass" with a bazooka. His portrayal of the truly deranged character brings some much needed comic relief to the film, as he appoints himself the worlds' first super villain. His building of a gang of super criminals is entertaining and also a little sick, but makes for a few, much needed high points in the film.

Young Claudia Lee, who makes her big screen debut in this one as the arch high school nemesis of "Hit Girl", does a sterling job as "Brooke" and I think we can expect big things from this talented 17 year old.

Clark Duke, known to the world for his roles in "The Office" and "Robot Chicken", gives a very decent performance as "Marty" as well as the deceptive crime fighter "Battle Guy". His natural comedic talent shines through in this role and adds a lot of much needed substance to this film. Legendary funny man Jim Carrey, returns to the big screen for the first time since "Mr Poppers' Penguins" , with a great, if far too short, showing as "Colonel Stars and Stripes". His borderline lunacy and dedication to the cause are commendable and he is a shining light in a movie which would otherwise have been short of appealing features.

The film fails to deliver in the wake of high expectations, falling a bit flat and is not the finest piece of cinema you will see this year. The established characters are tired and possibly a bit too old in this one. The lack of comedy is noticeable and in places the film is down right depressing. I was expecting something a lot more light hearted and was disappointed.

Not an alltogether bad film, but I was expecting a lot more...

5/10

Django Unchained (2012)

A German bounty hunter frees a slave in the deep South and takes him on a long trip to Mississippi in order to find the wife of the former slave and set her free.

When "Doctor King Schultz" frees a former runaway slave "Django" in the most unorthodox fashion, he starts an adventure which will take them both a long way in the search of the former slaves wife, Broomhilda.

Along the way they will run foul of slave traders, fighting men and a butler with a massive chip on his shoulder, as they strive to pull off one of the most ambitious plans of the 1850's. Throw in the early makings of the Klu Klux Klan and you have the perfect setting for an epic.

Famed Director Quentin Tarantino returns to the big screen for the first time since the Inspired 2009 Inglorious Basterds, not only directing, but also writing this brilliant film and having the undeniable talent to mold a world class cast into something truly special. Tarantino excels in this movie, bringing all of his class and usual panache to the screen, but this time with something extra. He pays homage to the famous Spaghetti Western legends "Bud Spencer" and "Terrence Hill" a number of times, tipping his hat to the men who cemented western comedy in the 70's.

Jamie Foxx takes on the lead role of "Django", a talented freed man who returns for his first outing since "Motherf**cker Jones" in the dark comedy "Horrible Bosses" and may well have succeeded in following up his Oscar winning role in "Ray" with this fantastic showing, sadly he was not given the nod this year. His performance is genuine and heart felt and he takes on this difficult role with ease. A truly inspiring outing from this talented actor

Oscar winner Christopher Waltz teams up with Tarentino again FINALLY delivers the performance which we have all been waiting for. Yes, he crawls out from under the immense shadow which was cast by his "Inglorious Basterds" persona, "Hans Landa" and shows a whole new side to his talents in yet another award nominated performance as "Doctor King Schultz". His role is comedic, yet very serious and he pulls this off with his usual brilliance, fitting in seamlessly with the ideals of the great director. He is an especially shining light in this one and is a joy to behold throughout.

The talented Leonard DiCaprio was unlucky not to receive another award nomination with his fantastic portrayal of slave owner and fight fan, "Calvin Candie". His character is dark and brooding, but also shows a large amount of naivety in his dealings with Schultz and Django. His acting, as always is superb, and this role brings out some of his best in a long while, showing that this talented actor has lost none of his talent. He is a true joy to behold in this outing and continues to crank out terrific performances.

Hollywood Legend Samuel L Jackson is truly superb in his short onscreen time as "Stephen", the long time butler and general slave overseer at "CandieLand". His underhandedness and cunning as well as a massive chip on his shoulder makes his character really easy to hate. He is a real treat in this film in one of his finest performances in a distinguished career. The only shame is that he is not on screen for longer. Keep an eye out for a lovely cameo from Quentin Tarentino, despite a truly horrible attempt at an Aussie accent.

The film is awesome and action packed from start to finish, a real treat for any film lover and a must for any fans of Tarentino. The only detracting factor from this classic is that it is possibly 20 minutes too long, but does not drag at all. It is well deserving of its best film Oscar Nomination and I think the director is very unlucky not to get more nominations from this masterpiece. The subject matter of slavery is serious, but with a comedic slant, and for those easily offended, stay far away from this one.

9/10

Lockout

A man wrongly convicted of being a traitor against the United States, is given an opportunity for a reprieve by taking on a suicide mission to a prison in space!

When the daughter of the President of the United States is kidnapped while on a visit to a maximum security prison in space, it is decided that only one man on earth can possibly save her. The problem is that he has no wish as all to take on the suicide mission, nor does he care much for the political views of the man running the country.

Once his mind is made up for him, he has to break into the most dangerous prison in the galaxy, make his way past 300 of the worst criminals in history and rescue the young woman, all before the dangerous men discover exactly who they have in their hands. If the unwilling hero is able to make it there and back intact, he may just have his wrongful death sentence overturned.

Australian actor Guy Pierce has done a number of very decent films in his career, especially in recent years, but this one, although decent, does not come anywhere do the sort of quality he usually delivers. His portrayal of the the rather familiar, "Snow", is fairly good, but one cannot help but compare him to the rather more famous character of "Snake Plissken".

Directors James Mather and Stephen St Leger, who also wrote the screenplay, did their very best to disguise the fact that this "original" script just happened to be a cross between "Escape from New York", "Con Air" and any random space film you can think of. Given these facts, they did do quite a decent job and if you had not seen these films, it would have been a very good stand alone project. The film is fast paced, action packed, and even has the odd good one liner thrown in for good measure.

Big screen newcomer Maggie Grace takes the leading female role in this film, playing the role of "Emilie Warnock" and gives a very decent showing, taking to action like a very attractive duck to water. Look out for more from this fairly talented actress. Joseph Gilgun, continues his vein of playing criminals, with a truly superb performance as the completely insane "Hydell". He is the true highlight of this movie, and could well have done with playing a far bigger role in this one. He is a character you will want to hate, but somehow end up feeling sympathy for.

This movie is nothing special, but is worth the cost of the ticket and the popcorn. It will certainly be better on the big screen, and the special effects are a joy to behold at times. This will keep the action fans happy and a number of sci-fi fans entertained too. It's not going to win any awards, but will help you kill two hours on a Sunday afternoon

5.5/10

Attack the Block (2011)

A race of Aliens attack a block of flats in one of the worst part of London, but the residents fight back...

After a local resident is mugged by a group of young thugs, she reports the crime to the police who quickly arrive to round up the suspects. While they are doing this there is an alien invasion and together the victim and the criminals are forced to fight for their lives, all the time, trying to dodge the police and angry drug dealers.

Together this motley crew of unwilling participants have to muck together with whatever makeshift weapons they can find, in order to wipe out a race of alien life forms who feel nothing for killing as many humans as they possibly can. In a society with little respect for or from the police, the youngsters have to take the law into their own hands in order to save the planet.

If they can stick together and stay alive they might just fight off this deadly invasion...but it's unlikely that would ever happen...

Having watched the trailer for this I was not sure really what to expect from this film, but was rather pleasantly surprised with what director Joe Cornish delivered. The film is a decent watch, with some good acting a surprisingly good special effects. It was difficult to gauge exactly what sort of audience this film was trying to entice, as not everybody in the audience would understand the language and expressions used by the youths in this film, nor the culture of council estate blocks in London.

The acting in this was a lot better than expected too. The biggest name in the film is "Paul" and "Hot Fuzz" hero, Nick Frost who plays the role of the long haired drug dealer "Ron" and does a very good job of it.

Yorkshire born Jodie Whittaker gives a very decent performance as the strong willed "Sam", first a victim of crime, but then one of the leaders of the fight back against the invading aliens. She brings a decent amount of gravity to the role, but also provides a few good lines to add to general comedy of this film. I look forward to seeing more of this talented actress, who has proven that she is well versed in both serious and less serious roles.

The real surprise of this film comes from English/Nigerian actor John Boyega does a fantastic job in the role of "Moses", the leader of the young gang of thugs. His performance is very decent indeed, showing a lot of depth, for somebody who is only 20 years old. He is good in the action scenes, sincere in the ones he needs to be, and also stoic and determined in the causes which his character chooses to take up. It would be good to see a lot more of this talented actor in the future.

Alex Ismail does a good job as the paranoid pot head "Pest", while Leeon Jones performs admirably in his big screen debut, as the determined "Jerome".

This is not a film that everybody will enjoy, and I believe it was aimed at a very British-centric demographic and that a lot of people will not understand half of what is said by the younger members of the cast. That being said it is still a decent watch and the special effects are rather pleasing. There are some good laughs in the film and a couple of tense scenes, but this is no way a horror as advertised.

6/10

The Double

In the game of international espionage, its often hard to tell who is chasing who....

For his entire career as a CIA agent, "Paul Shepherdson" chased down and killed a group of Russian spies known as the Cassius Seven, intent on destroying the American way of life. He got them all except one, a phantom known as "Cassius", a man who seemingly vanished into thin air. When the super-spy kills an American senator, Shepherdson is brought back into the fold and asked to track him down.

"Ben Geary" is a young FBI rookie, who made his name by studying and writing a thesis on all that was "Cassius". He is invited to lead the investigation alongside his hero "Shepherdson", but as they get closer and closer to tracking down the maniac killer, the more he begins to suspect that not only he, but also his young family may be in mortal danger.

A double agent with a deadly secret will be unveiled, but on which side of the line they will land, nobody can really tell...

Topher Grace, better known to the world as "Eric Foreman" of "The 70's Show", makes his first major film since "Predators", with a very decent showing as serial killer obsessed FBI Agent "Ben Geary". Together with Hollywood veteran Richard Gere they bring to the screen a very decent spy film; certainly the best Cold War inspired thriller since "Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy".

Grace gives a very decent performance, which is creditable, but you still see glimpses of the naughty teenager which brought him onto the world stage. He looks ill at ease in the action scenes, and this film has many, but good gives a good all-round showing, in what is his first lead role on the big screen. He interacts well with Gere and keeps the suspense going throughout the film.

Richard Gere was almost born to play this sort of spy role and does superbly as the vengeful "Paul Shepherdson". He almost seems to live this role and reminds me a lot of his epic performance in "The Jackal". His character is deeply troubled, obsessive and in seek of revenge, but also in some way looking for a normality which he can never have. His darkness is perfect for this film and he does well in the action scenes too.

Hollywood legend Martin Sheen does a fantastic job as CIA Director, "Tom Highland". It is a shame we see this talented actor so infrequently. He really does a great job in this film, while Odette Annabele does an okay job as the young "Natalie Geary". Her move from TV may have been a bit premature, but it would be good to see her in a more serious role in her next outing.

The movie is well paced and will keep you guessing until the very end. The audience gets the feeling that the cat has been let out of the bag very early on in the script, but you'd be wrong! Watch out for a lovely twist. Well worth the effort and a good watch. I look forward to seeing more of Topher Grace on the big screen.

5.5/10

GI Joe - The Rise of the Cobra (2009)

An international terrorist tries to take over the world with a deadly chemical weapon and only the GI Joes can stop him...

When a weapon which was developed especially for the US army lands up in the wrong hands it is left up to a group of elite soldiers, "GI Joes" to stop the world being destroyed by a paranoid madman.

"Duke" and "Ripcord" are two regular soldiers with dreams of joining the air force and being more than just numbers on the payroll. When they are tasked with delivering a top secret weapon to an unknown location, their column is ambushed and all of the comrades gunned down. When "Duke" discovers he knows the leader of the attackers, he is determined to foil their plans and discover why the woman to whom he was engaged, has chosen to fight for the dark side.

Together with the rest of the GI Joes they have to fight against one of the most daunting forces in history, with limitless funds and no less ambition for evil and revenge. If they can pull out all the stops, maybe, just maybe the world will survive...

A film filled with superstars but unfortunately let down by a rather mediocre script. With Channing Tatum still honing his acting craft in the role of "Duke", it is abundantly clear that an action role was not really meant from him. Thankfully he has proven with almost every film that has passed since this one that he is improving, but in this he is nothing more than average.

Comedian Marlon Wayons, who rose to fame in the likes of "White Chicks" and "The Ladykillers" takes on the role of "Ripcord", a squash-buckling and talented soldier who wants nothing more than to serve his country and fly fast planes. He gets both his wishes, but, although a lot better than Tatum is still not truly suited for this role. Hollywood regular Dennis Quaid does well as "General Hawk", but seems to lack the conviction that would make his role creditable.

Sienna Miller does well in the roles of "Ana" and "The Baroness", the unwilling evil character in this film, conned into a life of crime and terror after the tragic death of her soldier brother. Her role is action packed, as is the entire film, which may be its one saving grace. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does decently as "Rex", while English born Christopher Eccleston does some very decent work as ""McCullen". Arnold Vosloo, he of "The Mummy" fame is probably the highlight of the movie in the role of cold blooded killer "Zartan", with another sparkling performance by Rachel Nichols, who plays "Scarlet".

The film is full of action and some wonderful special effects. The script could have been decent, as the concept was good, but just seemed to fall a little flat. If you have two hours to kill, then this is not the worst film you will ever see, but its nothing special.

4.5/10

How I Spent my Summer Vacation

A thief who crashes to safety over the Mexican border ends up in a local prison which is unlike any he has ever seen...

A career criminal who steals 4 million Dollars from a crime boss crashes to freedom over the Mexican border, only to be picked up by the local police; have all of his ill gotten gains taken; and thrown into the most unorthodox prison he has ever seen.

There he meets a chain smoking, fatherless ten year old whose only purpose in life is provide a new liver for the evil prison owner. The two strike up the most unlikely of friendships, keeping an eye out for each other as the crook, "Driver" pitting various groups of criminals against each other in an attempt to get back the money he stole.

His paternal feelings for the the boy, and the undeniable attraction to the boys mother, are more than enough of a distraction to him, never mind the various groups of unscrupulous drug dealers, crooked cops and the owner of the prison, trying their utmost to end his life.

Also released under the title of "Get the Gringo" this is Mel Gibson's first outing since the horrendously bad "The Beaver" of 2011 as he tries to put his worst days behind him and return to what he does best. In this he succeeds, delivering a very decent performance, showing that whatever his problems away from the big screen, he is still a fairly decent actor and able to hold up a feature film with some aplomb. As well as being the narrator and writer for the film, he delivers a fine showing, reminiscent of some of his best work in films like "Payback". Hopefully this is the first step on his long road from career suicide and he can scale the heights which took him to "Lethal Weapon" and "Braveheart".

Little known Kevin Hernandez takes the role of "The Kid" in only his second major outing, following on from 2011's "The Sitter" and delivers a lovely, moving performance, well as much as a foul mouthed, chain-smoking 10 year old prison dweller can. He is convincing, and his character is likeable and will have the audience rooting for him throughout. Keep an eye out for this talented youngster as I think he will grow into bigger and better things.

Mexican born Dolores Heredia gives a sterling performance as the down-trodden yet defiant "Kids Mom" who is the closest thing you can get to a love interest for the main character. In her most major project to date she is pleasant to watch, combining well the hardness of her character while also showing great concern for her only son, who has a death sentence hanging over his head. I look forward to seeing more of this 20 year career actor, as she moves into English speaking films.

American actor Peter Gerety is good as the slimy foreign "Embassy Guy", trying his best to get his hands on the money, deservedly stolen by the lead character, while Daniel Giminez Cacho gives a fantastic showing as head honcho "Javi". The film is well paced with scenes of extreme violence, but also a good few touching moments. Its enjoyable and a good watch, and hopefully the sign of more to come from Mel Gibson.

7/10

Point Break (1991)

A former college football superstar turned FBI secret agent is sent to hunt down a group of bank robbers.

A washed up veteran and an up and coming FBI rookie, looking to make a name for himself are thrown together by their domineering captain in order to catch a group of bank robbers known as the "Ex Presidents" because of the masks they wear during their heists.

In order to infiltrate the gang, "Agent Johnny Utah" is forced to learn how to surf and has to live the life of the men he is tracking. His partner "Pappas" has to change his views on a few things as together the agents on the complete opposite of the spectrum learn to work together. "Utah" has to come to terms with his feelings for "Tyler" and decide where exactly his allegiances lie as he tries to bring down the men intent on ending his career, permanently.

Keanu Reeves heads up the fairly well known cast in what has become a cult classic amongst surfers and film fans, playing the role of former college football legend "Johnny Utah" who joined the FBI after blowing out his knee in a championship game. He gives a respectable performance, but it clear that he certainly improved as he got older. His facial expressions (concerned look which he seems to perpetually wear) is a touch boring in places, but he fits in well with the whole surfing lifestyle you find it easy to root for his gun-ho attitude to things.

Hollywood veteran Gary Busey does well as the abrasive, yet somewhat pathetic, "Agent Pappas", written off by his superiors for his whacky ideas, but a lot smarter than people give him credit for. His character is convincing and likeable. Legendary Patrick Swayze is perfect in the role of philosophical surfer "Bodhi", always in search of the perfect wave, but taken to robbing banks in his spare time. His performance is almost personal, as if he truly believes what he is sprouting, but, probably one of his finest roles. He is a bad guy you cannot really dislike, instead, respect for his rugged determination.

Little known Lori Petty, gives a passable showing as "Tyler" in what was probably her second biggest role behind 1995's "Tank Girl". Although a lead role, you sort of get the feeling that she is a bit part player, her acting talents never really coming to the fore. John C McGinley who went on to super stardom as "Doctor Cox in Scrubs" gives yet another superb performance as "Captain Ben Harp", a hard assed ball breaker as only this man can do. He is one of the highlights of the film.

Keep an eye out for a cameo from Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chilly Peppers who does a fairly decent job in the role of "Tone". The film is very watchable indeed, with some truly spectacular cinematography of the surf and the men who try to master it. The action is intense and the story is well paced, certainly worth the two hours you spend watching it.

6.5/10

21 Jump Street

Two down on their luck policemen go undercover as high school students....

In the feature film version of the 1987 Hit TV Series, two keen policemen who never seem to able to do anything right are sent down to "Jump Street" an undercover unit whose despotic captain decides that they two young looking men will go undercover at a local high school in order to crack a drugs ring.

The best friends have to stay out of trouble, try not to throw any parties and track down not only local dealers, but also the suppliers of the drug which is already responsible for the death of one student. Their biggest challenge comes in adjusting to the fact that their roles are reversed. Those who were cool in high-school in 2005 are no longer cool now, and those who were completely unpopular, are now hanging with the cool kids. If they can keep from killing each other they may well be able to take down a gang which seems determined to flood the market with dangerous chemicals.

It is never easy to take an iconic television series (which launched the superstar career of one Johnny Depp), but the directing team of Phil Lord and Chris Miller have done very well to bring 21 Jump Street to the big screen. Helping them very nicely are a hugely talented cast, that brings just the right amount of laughs to this project and some truly memorable one liners.

Jonah Hill as "Schmidt" and Channing Tatum as "Jenko", both of these talented actors perfect in these roles and showing that they have the ability to certainly take these leading showings in major titles. Tatum continues to impress with yet another good role, growing it seems with each and every film he makes. The duo have good friendly chemistry and the audience has difficulty in deciding who to support. Rapping actor Ice Cube is a delightful surprise in this one in his brilliant portrayal of "Captain Dickson". His in your face attitude and classic one liners makes you wonder why we do not see him more often on the big screen, a true highlight in this film.

Dave Franco follows up his showing in the 2011 "Fright Night" as the drug dealing "Eric Molson", a character you will love to loathe, while Brie Larson gives a decent showing as the somewhat dim "Molley Tracy". New York born Rob Riggle has a good outing as the incredibly dodgy "Mr Walters", while Deray Davis is good in the role of menacing gang leader "Domingo".

A well paced film, with plenty of action and good laughs, and may well remind a lot of the audience what it was like when we were back in school. Also keep an eye out for wonderful cameos from Johnny Depp and Peter Deluise (The original cast), a truly special moment in the film.

I am not sure if these holds a candle to the original TV series, but this film stands up by itself and is well worth a watch. Plenty of comedic value to keep most of the family happy, but also tackles the odd serious modern issue. Enjoyable, but won't win any awards

6.5/10

Prometheus

The crew of a space ship in search of the origins of man, land on a foreign planet, but what they find is not what they expected...

After various archaeological discoveries on earth, which they believe proves the existence of the human creators, a group of scientists persuades a company to invest in a mission to a distant galaxy. After two years of travel, having slept most of the time, the group of doctors, geologists, scientists, archaeologists, one robot and general flight crew find the planet they have been searching for, and it's time to go exploring.

One by one, the crew starts getting killed by weird occurrences on the planet. Unexplained happenings on the ship also seem rather weird and the only non human member of the crew "David" exploring the planet by himself, his motives, completely unclear.

Instead of finding the race which created the humans, they find the last surviving remnants of a culture that wanted to destroy us, and a little something extra. Beware of what you look for, you might just find it...

There were many rumors circulating that visionary director Ridley Scott was making a prequel to the legendary "Alien", and although they were strenuously denied, there were far too many references in the film, for the audience not to connect the two. The closing scene alone proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that although this film could certainly stand on its own, somewhere in the back of his mind, the director saw this as part of the series.

The film has some really good special effects, creating an entirely new virtual world and some wonderful work with lasers. The script is respectable, although it does drag in places and has none of the expected suspense or horror which the various trailers would have you believe it contains. This is a bit of a let down, as I went into the film expecting to at least jump a few times, but there was none of that.

Michael Fassbender makes amends for his horror showing in "Shame" and not terrific outing in "Haywire", with a memorable showing as the robot "David". His tranquil demeanor is somewhat disconcerting, the audience never too sure of his motives or intentions, but he gives a very good performance and provides a bit of comedic entertainment when his head gets removed from the rest of his body.

Charlize Theron once again gives a wonderful performance as the incredibly bitchy "Meredith Vikkers", her character summed up in the classic line "It's my job to make sure you do your jobs". It is hard to hate her hard assed attitude and you actually end up respecting her by the end of the movie. Her father "Peter Weyland" is masterfully played by the talented Aussie actor, Guy Pearce, who has to add 50 years to his age to master this difficult role. The make up for his character is incredible and he does very well to adopt the mannerisms of somebody who is at death's door.

Swedish actress Noomi Rapace makes her first outing since "Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows" to do a decent job as scientist "Elizabeth Shaw". I do however wish that she could have chosen one accent and stuck to it. At the start she is Scottish, then English and occasionally lapses into a French twang, so is hard to take seriously. Logan Marshall Green does well as her husband "Charlie Holloway", but does meet his end in rather a too normal a way for a sci-fi film.

For comedic value, look no further than English born actor Sean Harris, who delivers a good few ironic laughs as geologist "Fifield". He seemed to have met his maker far too early in the proceedings and I think the film would have been a lot better, had he survived. Countryman Idris Elba does a find job as captain of the ship "Janek", looking after his crew to the very last. It would be good to see more of this talented actor on the big screen.

The 3D was well used in this film, especially on the surface of the planet, in fact the special effects were probably the highlight. The script does drag in places, but the ending will have people who saw "Alien" squirming in their seats with delight. It also leaves it wide open for a sequel....Maybe this time with Predators?

This is worth the watch, but don't expect an Oscar winning script

6.5/10

Snow White and the Huntsman

An Evil Queen, with a passion for eternal youth, hunts her step daughter in order to obtain immortality.

The classic story of Snow White and the Evil Queen with a few new twists and turns. An evil Queen, takes control over a kingdom, after murdering her husband on their wedding night and taking over his castle with her own army.

Her vanity for beauty makes her destroy the country and demoralize the people, always searching for pretty girls to feed the magic which keeps her young and beautiful. With the aide of her magic mirror the Queen keeps tabs on the "Fairest of them all", erradicating all who would wish to claim that role. When her step daughter, "Snow White" comes of age and threatens to usurp her place as the most beautiful in the land, the Queen, knows that she must kill her and, by doing this, give herself everlasting youth.

When "Snow White" escapes to the dark forest, where the Queen's magic does not work, she sends a huntsman after her, ordered to remove her heart and bring it back to the ruler. In end, "Snow White" is the only one who can save her evil step mother, but also the only one who can end her tyrannous life.

For months we have been bombarded by the impressive previews that were put out about this film, and in a way they delivered. The special effects are some of the best I have ever seen; and the animation was something to behold.

Unfortunately a film, cannot depend wholeheartedly on these factors, the cast needs to hold up their end of the the bargain, and for the most part they did. Sadly, the title role of "Snow White" was given to Kristen Stewart, she of "Twilight" fame and, as much as the casting director would like to believe it; an actress of this caliber cannot hold up the business end of what in effect, was a mini epic. The 21 year old, truly did let herself down in this opportunity for her to shine, showing that she is not quite ready to take on these sorts of roles just yet. Her emotions and facial expressions were minimal and her acting talents, seem to have been put in a cupboard somewhere. Unlike fellow "Twilight" actress Anna Kendrick, this one still has a lot to learn about entertaining a discerning adult audience. Hopefully, with experience will come wisdom, but this performance was painful in places and average at best.

Oscar winner Charlize Theron is sublime as the "Evil Queen Ravenna", giving one of the finest performances of her career as this truly evil and demented character. Her performance made you want to stand up and applaud at times, her mood swings and outbursts, something to be treasured. A lot of the special effects in this film centered around her character, but combined with her acting prowess, made her role the true backbone of this film.

Australian born Chris Hemsworth's career seems to be on fire at the moment, with films literally rolling off the production line. He follows up his decent showings in "Thor" and "The Avengers" with a good outing as "The Huntsman", a grieving  and tortured alcoholic soul, who is tasked with hunting down the heroine and also propping up most of the film. He is not aided at all by the fact that he uses a Scottish accent throughout, which keeps slipping, but does cause for the odd comedic moment. His character is strong and powerful and gives the audience somebody to root for.

The audience is spared the pitiful efforts of Stewart with the introduction of the Seven Dwarfs, in this film, played by some of the best known faces in British cinema, with Hollywood veteran Bob Hoskins giving a truly admirable performance as the sightless "Muir". Ian McShane also weighs in with an impressive showing as "Beith", while other "dwarfs", Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsdone, Toby Jones, Johnny Harris and the wonderfully lovable Brian Gleeson in the role of "Gus", brighten this film dramatically with their presence. The effects director should be praised highly for making these regular sized gentlemen, just three feet tall.

Sam Spruell does very decently as the downtrodden brother of the Evil Queen, but does struggle to garner any sympathy from the audience, coming across as a vile, demented and somewhat perverted toad. Keep an eye out for a decent cameo from model/actress Lily Cole as the victim, "Gretta", while although we don't his face, Christopher Obi, is rather scary as "The Man in the Mirror", using some amazing special effects.

The script is decent, slow in places, and not helped by Kristen Stewart, but manages to keep itself plodding along. It taught me a few new things, about the well known classic story, with the script writer taking a good few liberties. There is the odd laugh and not too much gratuitous violence, the story flows slowly, but is worth a watch in the end.

My only question goes to the casting director, as to in which fantasy world, is Kristen Stewart, fairer than former model Charlize Theron?

Worth the go and prepare to be astounded by both the special effects, and also Charlize Theron.

5.5/10

Safe House

The most dangerous man on the CIA's wanted list hands himself into a safe house in Cape Town. Now all the house keeper has to do is keep him alive...

When "Tobin Frost" the man at the very top of the CIA's most wanted list walks into a Safe House in Cape Town to hand himself in, he puts not only his own life, but also the lives of everybody around him in jeopardy as they struggle to keep him alive.

Matt Weston is bored on his detail, knowing he is more qualified than to "House sit" in a beautiful location, but a place where nothing really ever happens. He has a hotline, to one of the big wigs at Langley, but keeps getting told to bide his time, soon something will come up and he will be first on the list. He is told to babysit "Frost", but for some reason, for a house that is not meant to exist in the outside world, his, suddenly is getting a whole lot of attention and his quiet existence is shattered by various would be assassins.

As he struggles to figure out a way to contact his handlers and also stop from dying, he takes his prisoner on the run and the body count mounts as those chasing both him and "Frost" make a last ditch attempt to stalk their prey on the beautiful streets of the South African city.

If "Agent Matt Weston" can figure out who has authorized the hit on his prisoner before its too late, then maybe he can stay alive, but with a secret force and half the CIA on his tail, it does not look good. He will discover that sometimes you don't want to know the answers to certain questions....

The film is an action packed roller-coaster ride from start to finish. Back-stabbing, double crossing and keeps the audience guessing to the very end, who on earth may be behind the ginormous body count. The action takes place on the back drop of the streets of possibly the most beautiful city in Africa, capturing the carnage, while every day life goes on unabated. The story is intricate, but rather decent to watch and will have action fans drooling in their chairs throughout.

Ryan Reynolds returns to the big screen in his first serious role since "Green Lantern" and impresses with a far, far better performance than his last outing. He seems to enjoy the depth that goes along with playing CIA Agent. "Matt Weston", allowing himself to fully embrace the heart-stopping chases and death defying shootouts that he must endure to keep a man, who he doesn't know, alive. His acting is respectable and worth the ticket price, and it would be good to see him in a few more testing roles, he has more to show.

Hollywood legend Denzel Washington is his usual genius with his delivery of the character of the fugitive, "Tobin Frost". An ex CIA Operative, he vanished off the grid and has back-stabbed his country for the past decade, but now needs to know which of his many enemies, wants him dead. This is his first outing since the action squash-buckler, "Unstoppable" in 2010 and it is so good to have a man of his talents back in the driving seat. His grasp of "Frost" is inspired, showing coolness even under the most deadly of pressure, but you imagine that he is always secretly aware of who is trying to do him in. His performance, although not as in depth as the likes of "Courage under Fire" or "Philadelphia" is still inspired and well worth your time.

Irish born Brendan Gleeson has been on an awesome run of late, with such hits as "The Guard" and "Albert Nobbs" to his credit in recent months, comes up trumps once more as CIA Director "David Barlow". The audience will never really know whether to trust the mentor to the lead character; he seems to always have a hidden agenda and may not always be putting the interests of his service in first place. Vera Farminga, does well as fellow CIA agent Cathernine Linklater", one who seems on the level and actually wants to see the situation resolved amicably. Nora Arnezeder does a convincing job as "Ana Moreau", the under fire girl friend to "Matt Weston".

All in all this is a decent film. The pace is good, the plot intricate, but not impossible to follow, while the action is intense and the drama emotive. This is a film that will entertain quite a wide audience demographic and with the South African setting proves that Cape Town is a really viable location for feature films. Keep an eye out for a truly superbly shot scene at a local football game. Well worth your time, but probably not one for the kids

6.5/10 

Haywire

A female killing machine is double crossed and swears vengeance against her employers.

When female super soldier "Mallory Kane" is double crossed by unknown sources, she goes after the men who have made her life a living nightmare. She has to first figure out who the people are who are trying to kill her and make her way back to the USA to put this menace to an end.

In a world of back stabbing, counter intelligence, where you cannot even trust the people who claim to love and care for you, it is difficult to be able to establish who is trying to get rid of you. When she gets back to the US, she is thrown into not only a political struggle, but also an emotional one, trying her utmost that the only man she has ever loved would want to get rid of her.

Using all of her extensive skills, "Mallory" has to track down the people trying to kill her and turn the tables on them, if she is ever to gain revenge on her employer and save the life of her father.

American director Steven Soderbergh, has made some truly incredible films in his career, but seems to have forgotten to read the brief when making this film. For starters he chose to use mixed martial artist turned actress Gina Carano as the lead in this film. Her portrayal of "Mallory Kane", although very good technically, the fighting scenes being truly amazing, does still not make up for her complete lack of acting talent. She does well on the physical side of the role, but her delivery of lines and attempt at emotion are truly sad to behold.

Thankfully she has a cast behind her which any Hollywood director worth their salt would drool over. Ewan Mcgregor does well as the devious "Kenneth", the ex love interest of the lead character, but it is still difficult to get used to him with an American accent. He takes a step down from his last outing in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" and not even his extraordinary talents can make this one any brighter.

Acting legend Michael Douglas, does a decent job as the government stooge, "Coblenz", while fellow theatrical genius Antonio Banderas delivers a decent showing as the blood-thirsty "Rodriguez". Sadly neither of these fine actors can make up for a strangely flat script. Channing Tatum, the flavour of the month at the moment, gives yet another very decent performance as "Aaron", adding yet more weight to his struggle to be taken seriously as a good actor, and not a piece of eye candy. He has done a few very good films lately and long may this continue

Michael Fassbender makes a fleeting showing in this one, his performance is violent, but he does a lot better than his most recent showing in "Shame". His role as "Paul" is convincing and made me think that he might make a rather good "James Bond" in the coming years

The action in this film is probably the only true saving grace. The story is disjointed and slow, and takes a long time to really reach a climax. I went in expecting so much more of this film and was grossly disappointed. Fight fans should enjoy this one, but serious film followers will not be impressed

4/10

Act of Valor

An international terrorist finds a way to infiltrate the USA and a group of Navy Seals has to stop him.

A group of Navy Seals are tasked with the almost impossible chore of protecting the USA from an international terrorist who is set on their destruction. A Ukranian drug dealing billionaire decides to back the terrorist cell fronted by one of his childhood friends. Together they develop a number of suicide vests which cannot be picked up by airport security machines.

This would give them the chance to attack the country at whichever port they decide on and the USA would have absolutely no way of being able to track their movements. A group of experienced Navy Seals, who stumble upon these activities quite by accident, are thrown into the fray, needing to stop the suicide bombers before they can release their deadly packages.

They use all of the ultra modern technologies available to aide them in their quest to stop the terrorists, all the time, trying to stay alive, while some of the most deadly men on the planet are trying to keep them from returning to their families who love them.

This film originally started life as a short recruitment film for the US Army and Navy and it was decided that this was so good that it should be made into a full length movie. I am not sure who decided this, but they made the wrong choice. The movie plays out as a combination of a recruitment film, a documentary of sorts and a a realllly long intro video for "Call of Duty, Black Ops". All of which might have been good things, but together they are certainly not.

Taking the risky venture of using real active Navy Seals as the stars of this film, did not pay off. These men are true heroes, but sadly, despite all of their fine acts of heroism in the service of their country, they are not actors. Giving them emotional lines and scenes to perform was not the finest of ideas,and the actors which co-directors Mike Mccoy and Scott Waugh DID find, were sadly, not up to the task either.

Jason Cottle takes the role of Russian terrorist Abu Shabal, in his first major film since "Wedding Singer" in 1998, but sadly is neither convincing nor plausible. His performance is weak and the film needed a far stronger actor to carry it. Ukranian born Alex Veadov, gives a fair showing as billionaire drug pin "Christo", but should probably stick to the computer games voice roles which has paid the rent for the past few years. The beautiful Roselyn Sanchez is a nice distraction as CIA agent "Lisa Morales" and it should be interesting to see her in more serious roles going forward.

Even if you are a fan of war films, or a hard core first person shooter fan, you will still have trouble digesting this film as anything but an experiment. The script is weak and the action not too convincing. It will more than likely do well as a recruitment film, but for serious movie goers, steer clear of this one.

3.5/10

Men In Black 3

When Boris the Animal goes back to 1969, he changes history and kills "K"

The long awaited third installment in the Men in Black series of films sees an alien, "Boris the Animal", escape from a maximum security prison on the surface on the moon and swear to gain revenge on the man who put him there, "Agent K".

"Boris" travels back to 1969 to change the past and kill the man who had him incarcerated, this way changing the history of the world and allowing his doomed species to continue their plans of a global invasion. The only man who can save "Agent K" is his long time partner, "Agent J". He has to time jump back to 1969 and make sure that "K" never gets to encounter the alien. 

In order to do this he has to forge a new relationship with the man who has has called partner for the past 14 years, almost as though they have never met. If he fails to do this, not only will he lose the man who he sees as a father, but also fail to stop the end of the planet. While doing this he comes into contact with evil from the past and the future and discovers some home truths that he really doesn't want the answers to.

It has been ten long years since we were thrilled by Men in Black II and, finally Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith return to our screens as the men in the black suits to thrill us with tales of creatures beyond our planet and universe. Older and wiser and still protecting the world from the creatures out there, but this time, having to face their own mortality, some 40 years in the past. 

Will Smith as "Agent J", gives a decent performance, but it is hard not to remember him as a young 20 something, actor, who takes on the might of the alien world, taking the knocks and dodging the barrages of attacks of those who would take over the world. Smith gives more of an emotional performance than his previous outings as "J", showing that he has grown so much as an actor, but may not be the perfect fit for this series anymore.

Tommy Lee Jones does not get a whole lot of screen time in this film as "Agent K", but he does give his usual convincing showing, his character seeming tired and fed up with the job, but still as stoic and job focused as he has always been. It is a shame that he is not allowed to show more of his skills as a truly great actor in this one.

Josh Brolin is the bright light in this one, giving a stellar performance as the "Young Agent K", in his first big screen outing since "True Grit" in 2010. He honestly could have been Tommy Lee Jones 35-40 years ago, the resemblance is uncanny. His performance is spot on and is a true highlight in the film. New Zealand born Jemaine Clement gives a very decent showing as the various guises of "Boris the Animal", completely transformed by the make-up genius that must have attacked him during every day of filming. British acting legend Emma Thompson gives yet another fine performance in the role of "O", while the talented Michael Stuhlbarg, gives a very decent showing as the clairvoyant "Grifin". Keep an eye out for "Pussycat Doll" Nicole Scherzinger who makes a good cameo at the start of the film

The story is decent and worth a watch, but you got the feeling that something was missing and there could have been more coverage of the various alien species out there.

6.5/10

The Hunger Games

Each year, two people are chosen from each district of Capitol to compete in the Hunger Games. Of the 24 selected only one will survive. Can they beat the system to become a legend?

Set in the future, this offshoot of an incredibly popular set of books brings to life the once a year struggle of the children and young people of the 12 districts of Capitol. Two young people are selected at random to enter the Hunger Games, a fight to the death between 24 contestants which takes as long as it needs to until only one player survives. "Katniss Everdeen" chooses to act as tribute when her younger sisters name is pulled out of the bowl, opting to use her skills in hunting and archery, learnt in the post "uprising" land she now calls home.

The 24 contestants are thrown into a life of luxury, trained, vie for sponsors and try to gain as much public support for themselves, just to they can survive what will very likely be the last days of their lives. Once the games start it is a cutthroat and merciless facade until all but one, usually the strongest or the most talented survives. Teams will be formed, alliances made and broken, backs stabbed and almost any other sort of treachery to make sure they are not the next one to sound the death knell (cannon).

"Katniss" has to use all of her wiles and skills as well as survival techniques she had no idea she possessed in order to stay out of the evil clutches of the strongest of the competitors. Along the way she will find love, compassion and a deep respect for herself that seemed to have been missing before. A system which was designed to remind a populace the errors of uprising will try to survive against the very thing is was created to suppress. Good, will triumph, if it lives long enough!

I expected a lot from this film, and to be honest, was a little disappointed. Although I, unlike so many others, had not read the books, I thought the concept looked good, very Orwellian, and could have made for a decent film, sadly this was not the case. Instead what was dished up to audiences, was a  2 hour and 30 minute (probably 30-40 minutes too long), drag of an idea which almost mixed the worst parts of "The Truman Show", with the not so great parts of "The Running Man". Sadly the majority of the cast in this one had less talent than those in previously mentioned films. The action was slow and tedious, with long pauses in between where nothing really happened.

A few bright lights in this one must be mentioned. Woody Haroldson in the role of "Haymitch Abernathy", was fantastic as the mentor to the lead characters, having won the hunger games before for his district before taking to drink and the good life. His mixture of good-natured comedy and serious introspection is one of his finer roles in the past few years and does brighten the film slightly. Donald Sutherland does well as the President of Capitol, while New Yorker, Stanley Tucci is a shining light as the host of the show "Caeser Flickerman". If ever there was a man to hate on film, this would be he.

The always dependable Elizabeth Banks, who has gone from being "Knocked Up!" to "Man on a Ledge" now continues with her fine turn to serious acting in the massively eccentric "Effie Trinket", certainly the most flamboyant character in the film. The most pleasant surprise of the film came in the form of hard rocker Lennie Kravitz, who takes on the role of "Cinna" and gives it a damn good go! Making his film debut, he gives a strong performance and I look for far more from him in future.

Sadly, none of those mentioned above, play major roles in this film. The likes of Jennifer Lawrence as "Katness Everdeen", Josh Hutcherson as "Peeta Mellark" and Willow Shields who plays the young "Primrose Everdeen", are flat and lifeless and there performances do not inspire confidence at all. On the contestants front, the only one who goes some way to being convincing is Amandla Stenberg who played the part of "Rue" with sensitivity and feeling and should do well in coming years.

The film was boring and took too long, and was far short of what a lot of the audience expected and unfortunately did not even come close to fulfilling the potential that the story had.

4.5/10

Safe

When the underworld and police force of an entire city rush to track down a little girl who can remember insanely large, numbers, only one man can save her...

When a young Chinese girl, renowned for her ability to be able to remember incredibly large numbers is taken by a gang from her mother and brought to America, they intend to use her for their own nefarious purposes. Once she escapes their clutches and is the only one who knows a combination for a fortune, she becomes the most sought after commodity in New York. With gangs of various ethnic origins and also the entire police force and corrupt politicians after her, there is only one man who can protect her. A washed up ex cop who has taken to drinking and living rough!

Jason Statham is not particularly known for his ability to make deep and emotive films, but in Safe, he does deliver a rather pleasant surprise. Do not fret, there is still a body count that would make Jeffery Dalmer blush, but with it comes a softer side to the man who has brought us such horrors as "The Transporter,1,2 and 3 and also Expendables", but maybe, just maybe, this time he has turned the corner

For all the hard core Statham fans out there, don't worry, he still kicks ass and takes names, but there appears to be a softer side to the man, if only in small doses. Who knows, we may see some more serious roles from this action hero, probably interspersed liberally with what he does best, but it is promising.

Catherine Chan, in her first big screen outing, plays a superb role as the talented "Mei", looking suitably terrified as the action continues relentlessly around her, but delivering her lines in a believable and mature way, which belies her youth. She compliments Statham brilliantly, and I would not be surprised to see these two paired again.

Reggie Lee follows up his role in "Crazy, Stupid Love", with a very decent showing as "Quan Chang", trying to be a fatherly figure to "Mei", while maintaining his menacing character in the New York underworld. Screen legend James Hong, gives a superb performance as "Han Jiao", the cunning and malicious leader of the Chinese Gangs. You almost got the feeling as though this role we written for him.

Robert John Burke delivers a sterling performance as the corrupt "Captain Wolf", while Chris Sarondon, quite easily steals the show as the extremely nasty, New York City Mayor.

Expect tons of action, as you would with any Statham film, but this one feels as though it has more than his usual fare. Certainly worth the watch and should be enjoyed by those who are not usually fans of his films.A very decent film.

7/10

Seeking Justice

When a secret society solves a problem for Will Gerard after his wife is brutally raped, all he has to do is owe them a favour, but will his life be worth living if he is ever able to repay his debt?

After the horrific rape of his wife Laura; Will Gerard (Nicholas Cage) is approached by the head of a secret society who takes justice into their own hands, solving problems within the community, and asking only a small favour in return from the people they help in the future. In a moment of weakness and raw emotion he agrees to allow the society to "deal" with the rapist, and then forgets about the debt he owes. When they come calling a few months later his life is thrown into downward spiral of ongoing nightmares as he strives to discover the truth behind what he has gotten himself into.

After putting out what many consider to be the worst spate of films of his career (Bad Luitenant, Drive Angry, Safe House), Nicholas Cage has actually come up with a half decent script. Sadly his acting talents have not followed him, but the story does support his abilities this time and Seeking Justice actually comes across as a decent film.

The concept of the film is one full of potential, and director Roger Donaldson, does a very good job to keep the pace, upbeat and leaves the audience guessing for much of the piece. The highlight for me came in the form of ex Neighbours regular Guy Pierce, who now seems to have completely shed his Australian accent and really settled into a fine Hollywood acting career.

Pierce plays the role of "Simon", the deranged head of the vigilantly group, responsible for dealing with the man who raped Gerard's wife "Laura". His performance is superb, almost as though Pierce was born to play a complete sociopath. He brings conviction and a believability  to the role, which makes the viewer want to despise him, but deep down, keeps you supporting his crazy cause. January Jones gives a decent performance as "Laura Gerard", bringing some much needed emotion to the film, and will hopefully continue in these more serious roles, as she may have some potential there.

Fairly unknown Harold Perrineau, gives a very good performance as "Gerard's" best friend, "Jimmy", in his first mainstream film role since 28 Weeks later, his character being one the audience will love to hate, but struggle to fully understand. Xander Berkley gives a great showing as the mysterious Lieutenant Durgan, in  his first major outing since playing "Detective Gigante" in "Kick Ass", a lovable character, who keeps you guessing until the very end.

This film is well worth a watch and may well, return some of the legions fans that Nicholas Cage has managed to drive away in the past 3 years. Certainly worth your entrance fee.

6.5/10