‘Warrior’ review (no spoilers!)

From all the marketing of this movie, one thing is very clear; this is a movie about mixed martial arts. You may initially wonder, like I did, why the heck it hasn’t been done in mainstream before. And when I sat down last night to watch this movie by Gavin O’Conner (director of Pride & [...]

‘X-Men First Class’ review

When Marvel announced that another X-Men movie was being released, even the die-hard comic nerds amongst us groaned. Especially when we realised that Wolverine, who was by far the coolest character of the X-Men with enough attention to launch his own solo title, would not be featuring. Hugh Jackman in Wolverine: X-Men Origins also did [...]

‘The Fighter’ review

I’ll open with this. This in my opinion, is Christian Bale’s most impressive performance of his already shining career. I genuinely would have sat there after the credits rolled and watched it again just to see him become Dicky Eklund once more. Unlike Colin Firth’s also great performance in The King’s Speech, Bale is just [...]

‘Black Swan’ review

Black Swan will not entertain everyone. But anyone with an ounce of appreciation for intelligent, innovative and ground-breaking filmwork will not be able to leave the cinema and tell their friends they just sat through a rubbish flick. I’m just not sure I really enjoyed it and I’m certain I’d never watch it again. But [...]

‘Buried’ review

Some of the best ideas in film are the most simple. But when a simple idea is confined to a tiny space and projected onto the big screen, it will only punch above average if the entire production team is swimming in talent. Enter the Buried team; a director with enough intelligence, scope and balls [...]

‘The Expendables’ review

There was a time when I didn’t expect so much from movies. Going to the cinema was just a night out and an excuse to buy popcorn. Now, in my most mature years to date, I expect to gain something from my experience; to see something unique, be moved, or even have it change my [...]

‘The Karate Kid’ review

First things first; there is no Karate in this movie. Despite the blatant and unapologetic use of the Chinese Kung Fu and complete dismissal of the Japanese art of Karate without a single reference, herein lies a true wonder; it works. It’s actually not really a wonder at all. Not only is Kung Fu a [...]

‘Alice in Wonderland’ review

As we tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for Lewis Carrol’s hundredth adaptation into another 3D experience, one has to wonder if Burton has utilised the opportunity of his potential dream project. And wonder I did; this movie felt like something Burton co-produced as opposed to directed. To view modern cinema at its most [...]

‘Sherlock Holmes’ review

Even from the beginning this looks to be rigged with all the right stuff, complete with the acting talents of Robert Downey Jr as the illusive Holmes, cleverly reinvented by the creative direction of Guy Ritchie. Not forgetting the beguiling Rachel McAdams and her Hollywood killer smile. From the moment Downey opens his mouth to [...]

‘Avatar’ review

Every once in a while, you find a movie that leaves you gazing at the screen open mouthed and speechless when the credits roll and your friend turns to you and says “So what do you think?” To say I was blown away is an understatement because that makes Avatar sound like it relies on [...]