Mirror Mirror

The classic story of Snow White, done a little differently this time....

We all know the much told and much loved story of Snow White, the evil queen and the Seven Dwarfs, but this year we are treated to a side of the tale, that we have never seen before!

Put together a jealous, yet very comical and incredibly bitchy queen, a tomboy of a Snow White, a prince Charming who may well have been stood behind the door where brains were handed out; AND the Seven dwarfs like you have never seen them before, for the most interesting version of this fairy tale you are ever likely to see.

In so many renditions of this story, you find the Queen to be ultimately evil and Snow White, cute, innocent and naive, while the Dwarfs never really take top billing. Well this film is different, and opens you up to a side of the story you would never really consider. For the first time ever, the dwarfs are the ones who take the majority of the limelight, while the Queen (Julia Roberts), although evil, conceited and vain, is still somewhat of a lovable character, despite her maniacal intentions.

I was not too sure what to expect from this one, but was pleasantly surprised by the way director Tarsem Singh, who follows "The Immortals" with this delightfully dark comedy has grasped the concept and run with it. The film is upbeat, with more funny one liners than you can count and keeps the piece light enough for the kids, while still keeping the adult audience interested.

Hollywood legend Julie Roberts gives a superb performance as the Evil Queen, bringing some much needed lightness to the role which has always been interpreted as one of the darkest in film. Her grasp of the character is great and really makes her a lot more likable than has been the case in this story before. It is sometimes hard to recognize, just how evil she is, but she really ads a whole new dimension to the piece.

UK Born Lily Collins, who reminded me for 2 hours of a very young Audrey Hepburn, takes the role of Snow White, bringing a new independent view to a roll which has traditionally shown her as a victim. She kicks ass and takes names and actually makes the story a lot better. Little known Armie Hammer, continues his good form from "J Edgar", with a rather different view on "Prince Charming", but this interpretation, only ads to the comedic value.

The Dwarfs in this film are superb. Some better known faces than others, with Martin Klebba, taking on a far more enjoyable role as "Butcher", than his last outing, which saw him stuffed in an oven in "Project X". Good showings also come from Danny Woodburn as "Grimm" and the very funny Mark Povinelli, who follows up his leading role in "Water for Elephants", with a fantastic showing as the would be ladies man "Half Pint".

Nathan Lane however is the one who steals the show as the ever creeping "Brighton", personal servant to the Queen. He gives a brilliant performance as a spineless weed and will have audiences rolling in the aisles with his expressive antics. Also, keep an eye out for a rather enjoyable cameo, by British actor, Sean Bean and one of the most random endings to a film I have ever seen.

This is a really enjoyable film for the whole family and will entertain both young and old alike. You will laugh a lot more than you ever have at this classic story, but the final scene will leave you scratching your head.

6/10

American Pie - The Reunion

The original cast from American Pie, return to East Great Falls for their ten year high school reunion - ten years older and ten years wiser......

Stifler, Jim, Finch, Oz, Michelle, Vicky, Jim's Dad, Stiflers' Mom, all of the characters we love so much from the 2003 "American Pie", make their return to the franchise as their ten year school reunion takes place in their home town of East Great Falls. The characters are older, but the shenanigans are much the same despite them meant to be more mature adults...

New loves and partners are exposed to the madness of the small town, old acquaintances renewed and old lessons, long forgotten need to be learnt again. Jim, will need to try and rekindle the flame that he found at his prom if he is to save his marriage, Oz will need to remember where his heart truly does lie, Finch, will need to confront the truth about his life, and Stifler, well he will just continue to be Stifler...

It's a train wreck waiting to happen and all you can do is sit back and enjoy the mayhem as the characters that shaped a generation return to the big screen for one more triumphant fling!

There was much anticipation in the run-up to this film. I know I had been excited for this for the last six months and it more than lived up to my expectations. Maybe its the teenager or 20 something in me, that remembers the first few films in the series and wishes they could return to those heady times of the early noughties. Whatever it is, this film is everything that you could possibly want. The same sets, the same characters, same insanely crazy antics, and "Jim", still managing to get himself into compromising positions.

The old stories and relationships, for the most part have stood the test of time, some of the players have gone onto stardom, while others, you see for the first time since the early films and have to ask yourself, "Where on earth has he/she been hiding?"

Jason Biggs reprises the role of "Jim Levenstein", the role which put him on the global map, and for the most part has seen him continue in its shadow for the next decade as if he had never stopped. He gives a great performance, trying to be more mature as a married man, with a toddler, but knowing deep down that he is still the same old horny teenager we all know and love. Alyson Hannigan plays his long suffering wife "Michelle", a more adult and responsible version of the girl who immortalized the line, "This one time at band camp", but despite her character change, gives an inspired performance, although a bit more of the old naughtiness would not have gone amiss.

Chris Klein does well as "Oz", but you still get the feeling that he needs to grow a set, while Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid and Mena Suvari, although playing large chunks in the story, just feel like extras, never really achieving their potential. John Cho, thankfully takes on a much bigger role in this installment, his talents coming to the fore, but for the man who single handedly managed to bring the word "MILF" into every day parlance, he very much deserves it.

Eugene Levy is superb as always in his role as "Jim's Dad", bringing a bit of emotion to the role after the untimely passing of his wife. His melancholy is just perfect to break up the eternal comedy and cringeworthy moments in this film, keep an eye out for the final scene, he is priceless. Jennifer Coolidge is back as "Stifler's Mom", dead pan as always, but one of the funniest actresses on the circuit today. Ali Cobrin does really well  as the love-struck teenager "Kara", who has the ultimate crush on "Jim" and uses his return to try to fulfill some of her fantasies. She gives a convincing showing, giving us a few good laughs and showing more than a little skin, keep an eye out for her in future productions.

American Pie The Reunion is a feel good movie for all who are old enough to have enjoyed the original and a kick in the head for the new generation who will scamper off to find all of the previous seven films. You will laugh, get a lump in your throat, and hark back to your younger days for a long while after seeing this film, but whatever you do, don't take the kids!

7/10

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

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

An Arab Sheik with  passion for salmon fishing decides he would like to stock a section of the Yemen desert with the fish and its left to an intrepid and troubled man and woman to pull off the impossible.

When Yemeni Sheik Mohammed, who has expansive lands in the Scottish Highlands and decides he wants to talk his passion for Salmon fishing to a remote section of his homeland it pairs the most unlikely of bed fellows, an environmental agency worker and a member of an investment firm to try and create the impossible.

Add to this the underhanded dealings that go right to the top of the British government, in-fighting between various wildlife agency's and one incredibly clever press secretary and you have the makings for a delightful comedic drama set to the backdrop of some of the worlds most spectacular scenery. For afters, throw in, a boyfriend, missing in action in Afghanistan, a disinterested wife who travels all the time and a group of would be terrorists who are trying to maintain the traditions of their country; and you have the makings of one of the best films of the year thus far.

It does make me wonder, how, with lottery funded films in the UK and in conjunction with the BBC, British studios keep bringing out superbly scripted and well acted films, when the super graphics and hundreds of millions of Dollars of Hollywood budgets deliver ones that are often hit and miss. Is it possibly time to return to good old fashioned clever writing and quality acting, over trying to dazzle audiences with the newest gadgets?

Utter genius are the first two words which spring to mind as the credits roll at the end of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. A tremendous script, superb acting and just the right cast, make this a truly memorable film that will stick in the memory for years to come. Director Lasse Hallstrom has brought together just the right group for this one, not the sort of names that jump off the page of Hello Magazine each week, but good talented performers, plying their trade with a really decent script and producing the sort of film which fills almost all audiences with joy.

Ewan Mcgregor bounces back from the utter horror that was "Beginners" to give possibly his finest performance since his days in "Trainspotting". He plays the role of Aspergers sufferer, "Dr Alfred Jones", very set in his ways and never allows himself to go out on a limb, "only drink after seven on the weekend, and then just one", seems to sum up the man perfectly. Beset with a failing and loveless marriage, his sensibilities are pulled to breaking point by the suggestion of moving 10,000 Scottish Salmon from their cold water home, to the balmy climes of Yemen. Mcgregor is irate and sarcastic one minute, and tender and loving the next, truly testing himself to bring out the best in this challenging role.

Alongside him is the equally talented Emily Blunt who takes on the roll of "Harriet" with the double-barreled surname, an account manager for an investment firm, tasked with doing the impossible by a man with more money than he knows what to do with, and a vision. "Harriet" takes tumbles from one set of emotion to another, thinking that her boyfriend of three weeks is dead, then throwing herself into her job and finding love in the most unlikely of places. A truly glowing performance and I look for more dramatic roles from her in the not too distant future.

Amr Waked gives a fine performance as "Sheik Mohammed" in what should realistically be considered his first foray onto the big screen. His acting is superb yet understated, and he manages to come across as a really nice man, despite all of the power which he wields. He is able to convey his visions of grandeur in a quiet way, but leaves others in no doubt of exactly what his character wants. Krisitin Scott Thomas in the role of Prime Ministers' Press Secretary "Patricia Maxwell", truly, steals the show. Her character is ballsy, pragmatic and always active, making sure that the ruling party of the day keeps its nose clean and never misses a photo op. Makes you wonder who really is running the government with women like her calling the shots. Her performance is truly something special.

Tom Mison plays the roll of missing boyfriend "Captain Robert Mayers" decently, but you cannot help but feel that the army would loathe accepting such a wet blanket. Keep an eye out for him in more challenging outings. Rachael Stirling does a good role as the wife in a failing marriage to "Dr Jones", while Conleth Hill, does a superb job as "Bernard Sugden", his manager, keeping the air light with one liners aplenty throughout the opening hour. I am sure he will have agents banging down his door once his time in "Game of Thrones" runs its course.

The film is serious, yet light, with enough good and witty lines to keep everybody upbeat, but plenty of  gritty drama to give the piece a very serious and relevant edge in places. Expect to laugh, but also to think. A fine, fine film, and one that can certainly be watched more than once. Long may small budgets like this produce quality such as "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen".

8/10

The Vow

After a horrific car accident a wife has no memory of her husband or her familial issues and her husband has to make her fall in love with him all over again...

When a horrific winter time car accident and resulting brain injury causes "Paige"(Rachel McAdams) to forget all about her life and marriage to "Leo"(Tatum Channing), it puts major pressure on their relationship. "Paige" cannot remember anything of the last five years, when her life had taken a dramatic change and she had left her troubled family behind before marrying "Leo" after a serendipitous meeting. Now the last thing she remembers is being happily at home with her family and being engaged to "Jeremy"(Scott Speedman).

This leaves "Leo" at whits end, trying to figure out how to make the woman of his dreams, fall in love with him, all over again. Doctors say that her memory could return at any time, but in the meantime, her estranged family are taking full advantage of having their daughter back in their lives for the first time in half a decade, happy to hide their little indiscretions from her.

I went into the theater fairly convinced that this was going to be another teen heart throb, romcom, just like the sort that Hollywood are so good at force feeding us year after year, but was more than pleasantly surprised by "The Vow". For one, the plot was not predictable, and kept you guessing almost to the very end as to what was going to happen with the two leading characters (very out of character for romantic comedy).

The script, based on a true life couple, is touching and cute and no doubt had many an unwilling boyfriend or spouse squirming in the cinema as the story unfolds. There were a number of very audible "awwwws" as the film goes on, but has strong enough content to keep almost everybody in the audience interested.

Channing Tatum may have started his carrier in fluffy delights such as "Step Up, She's the Man and Dear John", but let me assure you, the boy can act. The 32 year old former model is no longer content to let his good looks take him places, and is showing audiences a new side to his talent. Yes, he still maintains the stunning good looks, which seems to be a drawing card to the most of almost all female audience, but behind his chiseled abs and boyish charm, lies some real acting talent. He delivers a fantastic performance as "Leo", showing various facets of a character, which in now way, was easy to grasp. I look forward to seeing him in more challenging roles in future as he fully unwraps the talent which the acting gods bestowed on him.

Alongside him Rachel McAdams, in the role of  "Paige", gives another stunning showing to follow up her recent exploits in "Sherlock Holmes 2" and the charming, "Midnight in Paris". The 34 year old Canadian plays the complex character with just the right amount of poise and confused angst, to make this one of her best performances to date. Together with Tatum the take the leading characters through what must be one of the most difficult situations that any couple can face, with the caring and compassion that the story so richly deserves.

Hollywood veterans Vince Neill and Jessica Lange, making her return to the big screen after a six year hiatus, give phenomenal performances as the parents of "Paige", desperately trying to make a second to start to the lives, which they imagined, ruined forever. The most pleasant surprise to come from this film, was the move from TV Movies to the big time, of Tatiana Maslany, who takes the role of "Lily", the supportive assistant to Tatum, and delivers a performance which should see her moving away from the small screen to a career in films. Keep an eye out for this young Canadian in the future as I think she may go far.

One of the most enjoyable romantic films I have seen in the past five years. The originality is re-assuring and with some stunning performances from the main players, this makes it a really decent watch and not just one for those who enjoy a good romance!

7/10

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