Snow White and the Huntsmen - Film Review

There is much of this darker telling of the classic Snow White story to like. Chris Hemsworth's accent isn't one of them. The slow and forgettable first half an hour isn't one of them either. What there is to like is that Kristen Stewart proves she has some gravitas in her arsenal and Charlize Theron proves that Summer 2012 belongs to her. More importantly, Snow White and the Huntsmen proves to be an imaginative, risk taking, epic and brave piece of film making which for the most part, works.

To begin it is worth noting that this is no ordinary fairy tale. Dark, brutal, wicked and full of muscle, Snow White and the Huntsmen is as dark as a child's tale can be taken without it becoming one for the grown ups. It takes parts of the tale and twists them on its head, adding in new characters, locations and plot points to make it feel more placed in a reality closer to our own past. It doesn't all work. It's need to differentiate its story from the Disney classic leads to a much too long prologue which fails to illuminate when Theron isn't on screen.

Men in Black 3 - Film Review

Whilst not as witty as both predecessors, Men in Black 3 still manages to find much more weight to its storyline than the second came close to finding and the first even attempted to find. It's a much more clever storyline, one which sees Will Smith's J having to go back to 1969 to stop the villainous Boris the Animal from eliminating Tommy Lee Jones' K.

Taking a leaf from Back to the Future, director Barry Sonnenfeld finds plenty of entertainment in this concept, putting J in a new partnership with a younger K played expertly and pitch perfect by Josh Brolin. Adapting Tommy Lee Jones' mannerisms to a tee, and mixing in some of his own charisma and youth, Brolin makes you forget that the original K isn't in much of the films running time so perfect is his performance.

Dark Shadows - Film Review

Dark Shadows is the proof that we have all "been there, done that" before. A collaboration between Tim Burton & Johnny Depp is becoming staple to the yearly blockbuster schedule, but it has never felt so tired as it does here.

The storyline is relatively simple at heart, where Depp's Barnabus Collins is cursed to become a Vampire and condemned to be be buried alive for two centuries. Upon returning he has to stop Eva Green's evil witch and return the Collins family to its former glory.

Half Nelson - Film Review

Whilst undeniably in touch with the life of inner-city schools, and boasting an excellent performance by Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson still feels like a lesser sum of greater parts.

Revolving around Gosling's Daniel Dunne, Half Nelson follows his life as he balances teaching a group of high school students and a drug addiction. Dunne is a troubled man; he is depressed, sad and lonely but manages to hide this behind his passion for history and his love of trying to help his students He is also a man who struggles to understand why he is so disconnected from the man he wants to be. It's a complex character study, and it required someone with Ryan Gosling's talents to pull off. Gosling is sublime, finding nuances and subtle details in Dunne's character which help the audience connect with him on his dark and troubling journey.

Away We Go - Film Review

As cuddly as the biggest teddy in a bear factory, Away We Go revels in the fact that its two main characters are so likeable it would be impossible not to fall for them. Burt and Verona are the dream of every relationship, one which is built on affection, devotion and love. It's also one that strives to find its place in the world, and the duo are questioning where life is taking them. It's something they need to work out soon, seeing as they have a baby on the way. When Burt's parents announce they are moving abroad, the pair decide to travel the country to find the perfect place to settle down.

The Avengers - Film Review

It can't be an easy task. Taking four of the biggest superheroes from Marvel's comic book universe and combining them together into an epic storyline which features a threat so big no superhero alone can tackle it.

The man tasked with attempting to do just this is Joss Whedon, who not only took on directing but also plays a huge part in the script of this years second big blockbuster. Should "The Avengers" have failed then Whedon would have taken a huge portion of the blame. The big questions were could he do four franchises justice whilst creating a fifth one in the process? Could characters like Robert Downey Jnr's extravagent Tony Stark work on screen together with the straight faced persona of Chris Evans' Captain America? Could Mark Ruffalo finally create a Hulk that lives up to his "incredible" title?

Battleship - Film Review

Whilst it packs plenty of punches, booming music and visually exhilarating explosions into its overlong running time, Battleship also encounters a bizarre sense of deja-vu. Whilst it is understandable that a film about ships fighting an alien race out at sea would feature similar action sequences throughout, it is so similar that you almost forget you haven't seen each sequence before at an earlier point. It's so one-tone that the two plus hour running time makes Battleship flounder too often.

Dead Poets Society - Film Review

A class of upper class students who are shown that they can make what they want of their lives through poetry classes is one that will be remembered as a pinnacle role in Robin Williams resume. Reigned in from his usual "crazy" persona Williams' John Keating is an inspirational teacher, whose love for poetry comes out through the expertly written script and Williams' controlled and touching portrayal. It really shows how accomplished and powerful Robin Williams can be, and when you link him up with a script that deservedly won the screenwriting Oscar you create something that will linger in your mind long after its final credits.

The Cabin in the Woods - Film Review

As a fan of a great horror, a film like The Cabin in the Woods always stood a chance of being a success. Yet, to truly pin down this film as horror would be a gross injustice to what is undeniably a surprisingly hilarious, bitterly dark, fantastically inventive and totally insane tribute to a number of genres. Its tagline so casually states that if "you think you know what's going to happen, think again." You've heard that a thousand times before, yet The Cabin in the Woods actually delivers on what it promises. As of this moment, you haven't seen a film like The Cabin in the Woods. That is a fact.

Philadelphia - Film Review

Philadelphia is a film that has a point to make and certainly isn't shy in tugging on the heart strings in making it. Tackling the issues of AIDS at a time when Hollywood shied away from the subject has earned it a place in film history and thankfully it is a worthy entry on its own terms as a film.

Led by an Oscar winning performance by Tom Hanks, Philadelphia's strengths as a story are played to perfection by its cast. Hanks deservedly got his first Oscar for the role of Andrew Beckett, playing a man who is slowly dying yet fighting for what he believed was a wrongful termination from his law firm due to his illness. Heartfelt and genuine, Hanks makes Beckett's descent towards an undeniable death tragic, graceful and emotional. Never overplaying the normalcy of the man Beckett is regardless of how people view his sexuality, illness or social position Hanks has made a character for the ages. He's just a man who wants to live, and live a normal life regardless of who he is behind his front door.