Reviews by Lexi

''Every second that I'm with you is about restraint... and you're too fragile.''

After Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost claimed her life, she looks to celebrate her birthday with Edward and his family...

Kristen Stewart: Bella Swan

Director Chris Weitz tackles the ominous task of bringing New Moon to visual life from the Stephenie Meyer book series. Melissa Rosenberg apparently helms the screenplay which in turn breathes life into some dead pan dialogue.
What's frustrating about New Moon is the fact that the film is a boring slog of contention and pretentious offal. What is even more worrying is that the whole story and film could be wrapped up by just initiating and utilizing the film's final scene. The end.



Ladies and gentlemen...Instead of the former formula being carried out, what do we get instead? We have the love triangle between Jacob, Edward and Bella drawn out over the span of what feels like hours. We have brief cameos from Michael Sheen as Aro(Whom has swapped werewolf Underworld for the vampire side in New Moon.), Jamie Campbell Bower, and even Dakota Fanning whom is under used and wasted. Even these additions don't stop the whole affair from being poorly conceived and something reminiscent of someone watching paint dry...very...boringly...slowly.
The CGI looks like a baby did it; When a werewolf appears on screen you want to cry, when a misty apparition of Edward appears for Bella you want to jump out a skyscraper window in disgust. What is New Moon doing? Isn't it obvious? What it is doing is appealing to angst teenage girls and boys whom have no taste and no idea what makes an exceptional or interesting story. Sure Jacob has muscle but his face is a light version of 50 cent, sure Edward is handsome if you're blind in one eye. Even Kristen Stewart isn't that great looking and she can hardly act in this tripe let alone sell her anguish and suffering. Nothing can be taken seriously here.

So New Moonie goes one step further than it's Twiglet predecessor. It pulls it's trousers down and takes a dump over our jaw dropped mouths. What's worse is that the story at times doesn't make sense and the romance is never believable or solid.
It literally insults every other vampire story and film with it's total ignorance and disrespect for the lore and what actually makes a vampire or werewolf dark and mysterious.
What New Moonie results in being is a total illusory piece of dung that popped out of someone's rear. Who cares about Edward? Who wants Edward to disappear forever? Who want's Bella to shoot herself because she's such a depressing retard? Let's face it New Moonie makes us want ALOT of things but never indulges us the luxury or satisfaction.
Here is hoping that the final instalment does what it says on the tin, here's to this rubbish series being enveloped by the finale Eclipse, so those with taste like us are spared these horrendous ordeals and disgustingly disturbing romantic wannabe drivel satires.

''This may hurt just a little.''

''Love sure is a funny thing. Makes you happy, makes you sad, makes you do all sorts of things you never thought you'd do before.''

Steven Russell is happily married to Debbie, and a member of the local police force when a car accident provokes a dramatic reassessment of his life...

Jim Carrey: Steven Russell

Ewan McGregor: Phillip Morris

I Love You Phillip Morris, the new film which was conceived, written and directed by Glen Ficarra and John Requa, the ones also behind the darkly delicious Bad Santa. Reminiscent of Bad Santa, this film effectively balances humour with some very dark themes, though I would say the overall tone is not nearly as bleak as it evolves into later a comedy, then merges emotion with hope. Then defies our belief with surprise.
Yes my friends...This is based on real life. Yes this really does shock and tantalise and yes it proves the truth really is stranger than fiction.



The central character is Steven Russell a newly discovered gay and a con-man and having 'come out', as the former if not the latter, he concludes that the kind of homosexual lifestyle he has grown accustomed to is going to be very expensive. Until he is caught he seemed to me to be a very successful con-man, but not successful enough and he ends up in prison where he meets and falls in love with, (very quickly, and not so much across a crowded room as across an empty prison library), said Phillip Morris. His love for Phillip seems irrational and all-encompassing and when he is released he uses his powers of conman ship to get Phillip released too. After that his life is dedicated to earning or rather conning his employers out of enough money to keep Phillip happy. Or is it? I was burdened with the distinctive impression that Steven became so caught up in his own deceptions he almost forgot Phillip existed. Finally he is caught and imprisoned again and the rest of their lives are spent in and out of various prisons. Steven Russel serving a life sentence after embarrassing the system and Bush's US system, which was probably a good side to all this.

It's a touching tale, a love story and what a love...What a love indeed. The issue of their sexuality is not an issue at all. It's essentially an autobiographical account of Steven Russel whom falls in love with Phillip Morris and he wants to make him happy despite being an overt con man whom changes his identity more than some of us have had hot dinners.
Substantial performances from Jim Carrey (Oscar nomination possibly) as Steven and Ewan McGregor, (his best part and best performance in years), as Phillip go a long way to boost the film's charisma, flow and essential characteristics and poise. Not that Steven is a particularly likable guy, he's certainly a fascinating, corrupted ball of chaotic fun.
His sexuality is in essence entwined with his nature and the cloud spying which in turn resemble cocks, being raised by an adopted family and being abandoned by an unwanting mother. His hyperactive imagination and over-the-top personality are truly inspirational. His life becomes one of lies because he is essentially living in a World which has let him down in turn. He is a victim of societies weakness to meet the needs of the people it holds. The truth is Steven should have gone into acting, and you can't help but sympathize with his plight and feel the love here.

Overall, I love you Phillip Morris is one of the most original, most diverse films inspired by true events. It has quite literally balls to follow through on the gold laden material it indulges. Jim Carrey quite possibly gives one of his finest performances since Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind which was also emotional and full of original script writing. The beauty and genius of this affair is that it tricks you again and again just as Steven cons everyone in his life. His love for Phillip Morris becomes the only truth in the end, and for me that is a thing of true beauty out of all this chaos.

''I'll take care of this...Will be together soon. I promise!''

''We had such potential. Such promise. But we squandered our gifts. And so, 9, I am creating you. Our world is ending. Life must go on.''

A rag doll that awakens in a post-apocalyptic future holds the key to humanity's salvation.

Elijah Wood: 9

Let's begin by saying that the beauty of 9 doesn't just come from the luscious animation or glorious visuals. Or the vibrant characters and immense World we are propelled into; The beauty comes from the incredible storytelling and innocent, playful atmosphere that thus toys with us in a soulful way.



Directed by Shane Acker, whom also created the story and Pamela Pettler working on an engrossing screenplay which isn't just intelligent it has depth and philosophy to back up it's convictions and stabs at moral obligation.
How does one describe animated marvel 9? Well quite simply it's an imaginative escape to a World quite unlike our own, yet caused by our own God-like tendencies to create and give birth to technology.
Thus it almost becomes a modern day twist revolving around a story reminiscent of threads pulled from The Matrix shrink wrapped into The Terminator with a slight blend distantly resembling Pinnoccio, but only distantly.
In fact what 9 lacks in originality it makes up for in terms of adrenaline, thrills and fun. It has an arty, earthy, dark artistic vibe happening that draws us into the enigmatic story and dizzying adventurous affair.

9 features a tight cast and a compelling array of voice overs which boast pure professionalism.
Timur Bekmambetov and Tim Burton acting as producers doesn't exactly harm matters either; It sparks a wondrous hit for all the family! Adults and children alike!
Christopher Plummer (Also lent his voice to animated awe Up), Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Jennifer Connelly, Fred Tatasciore and Elijah Wood...Need I say anymore? The voice overs are gold.

Overall, 9 isn't the best animated film out there but end of the day it isn't trying to be. What it is resulting upon being is a fun ride and an emotional, moral journey for us to take, a futuristic world for us to be transported into. Anyone with imagination and a child-like disposition will certainly enjoy this. Perhaps everyone else not appreciative of this genre should steer well clear although even then miss at your peril.
Who doesn't want to see these puppet beings struggle and battle to exist against towering colossus machine monsters? Who doesn't want to soak up the glorious visuals with their watery, awe struck eyeballs? I can certainly guess that not many will not want to see this.
A few more words to share about 9 would be this: It has humour and characters you fall in love with and relate to as they have this chaotic adventure and race against time. It may not be the most perfect animation or win various Awards but it doesn't need to. It's thrilling and fun and that is all it sets out to achieve.


''What happens next?''...''I'm not sure. But this world is ours now. It's what we make of it.''

''You'll never leave this island.''

Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Teddy Daniels

What can I say? Shutter Island is one great gigantic mind fuck. That's not meant as an insult but as a compliment, and proof that Martin Scorsese is a living directing legend. It's also perhaps one of the most psychological, most warped films he's ever had the pleasure to create and adapt.
He takes Dennis Lehane's novel and turns it upside down with a killer screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis and fucks with our mind literally from start to finish.



When you go to see Shutter Island, let me say this, go in and expect absolutely anything to happen. The first time you see it will undoubtedly be the best experience of psychological horror you have ever witnessed.
Never mind the dumb parents whom bring their children to see this, or the fat bloke complaining behind you complaining because he has absolutely no idea what is going on. Shutter Island will go over most peoples heads in the essence some will not want to understand. Scorsese tackles a sensitive and complex subject and delivers with a film that will cause debate and discussion for years to come.
As soon as it opens it captures your attention, and your mind. Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels and Mark Ruffalo as Chuck Aule on a boat; Then the feeling of isolation and tension settles in with the blaring Hitchcock-esque music blaring behind the visuals. Then what does scorsese do? He brings us closer and closer until like his characters he captures us within this mental facility, this mysterious island of the criminally insane.

''Why are you all wet, baby?''

The acting and performances are alive and electric. Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley and Ted Levine all bring to life the film with their multi-dimensional characters whom they breathe life into.
As for Leonardo DiCaprio, What can I say? He gives one of his best performances of his career. He is an utter phenomenon as we see this man he portrays experience and suffer so much; We see him trapped by his past and the hopelessness of repeating the past. Leo, I salute you.
If the Academy Awards don't notice horrors before they will now with this psychological chaotic masterpiece of suspense and nerve shredding revelations. In fact the less I say about the plot the better. You will enjoy this if you have a dark side, you will guaranteed enjoy this if you love and adore Scorsese's guts for showing death camps, for showing dark twisted scapes, for showing children dying and buildings burning. Eventually Shutter Island drowns your senses as if trying to make it's audience crazy like the proceedings they are witnessing.

What is real? What is fantasy? Who is right and who is wrong? The beauty of Shutter Island is that it leaves the answers open as it does with the questions. Are the doctors carrying out a secret experiment? Is our hero really going crazy? The overall experience of this film is that it's alot to grasp upon first viewing. To go over what you have just witnessed and simply be in awe of it is purely wonderful. An ending that is left open that will spark debates and controversy for many years to come is my idea of heavenly bliss in the filmic world.
This is Scorsese's psychological golden goose masterpiece. A standing ovation of fucked up, scandalous applause is necessary my friends...And then some. Your mind will undoubtedly never be the same after watching this for those sane people and if you have had children best not watch this. So what you waiting for? Do think you have what it takes to watch? I dare you not to miss this.

''Which would be worse, to live as a monster or to die as a good man?''

''I wasn't lost, or frozen, or gone... I was alive; I was alive in my own perfect world.''

Focuses on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.

Saoirse Ronan: Susie Salmon

Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's story The Lovely Bones is another showcase for his talents of merging together great storytelling with magical special effects. The film is a complete blend of the real and the fantastical similarly styled to his film adapt of the real life inspired Heavenly Creatures. The mixed reviews and wallowing box office is probably due to the depressing underlying themes and also because this is a film adaptation of the book; There is certainly alot missing in the film from the source material.



However, why did I still love The Lovely Bones? Well first of all it's seemingly dark subject matter involving a murder is actually a story about coping with death, spirituality, a belief in the afterlife, karma, and redemption.
Saoirse Ronan follows through on the great potential she showed in her Academy Award-nominated performance in Atonement; She absolutely bombards the screen in The Lovely Bones with a rainbow of emotion and I cannot imagine this film being made without her ethereal beauty and soulful melody. Stanley Tucci is restrained, nearly unrecognisable, and ruthlessly effective as Mr. Harvey the serial killer. His performance is commendable and his Oscar nod shows appreciation for a dark, twisted effort which lingers.
The photography by Andrew Lesnie breathtaking in scope and in terms of cinematography. The lighting and angles used are gorgeous throughout the film.

''You're the Salmon girl, right?''

It should also be said that The Lovely Bones shows Peter Jackson can edit his films superbly so they run smoothly.
Jackson films close up shots with a realistic magnified beauty to them. The part where Mr Harvey is chasing the Susie's sister is majestically tense while clever shots are used and shaky close ups of face to emphasis fear.
Even the parts where Mr Harvey toys with a tiny house from a bracelet is wonderfully captured in a uniquely filmed way.
It must also be said that Mark Wahlberg collecting photographs Peter Jackson cameos as a random bystander testing a filmic camera. Little touches of these made me feel nostalgia reminiscent of a Hitchcock piece.

Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz turn out good performances yet nothing memorable or overly powerful.
Susan Sarandon's perpetually drunk grandmother's entry into the story is a flawed change in tone, but it is a plot necessity considering that the Salmon children's mother moves out and their father later is beaten near to death...the beating of Susie's father may seem a far-fetched plot twist but I think it is clearly meant to be a lesson in not taking an eye for an eye, instead letting fate settle the matter...instead of Mr. Harvey predictably being caught as he rolls the safe containing Susie into the sink hole, Peter Jackson sticks roughly to the books core. This isn't about revenge or someone unrealistically striking vengeance upon Mr Harvey. This is real life. His own personal clock serves as the judge, jury and executioner for his misdeeds and murders.

In conclusion, The Lovely Bones is a film that is amazing yet irritatingly misses important aspects of the book at times. Especially the later half of the film; Peter seems to race through the material forgetting the book's lengthy detailed meanderings.
On the whole I do feel that it is a haunting cinematic cerebral awakening told from the eyes and perspective of a teenage girl whom only wanted to experience her first kiss, her first love before being tragically murdered and further proof that Peter Jackson is one of the most visionary film-makers working today.

''You are beautiful, Susie Salmon.''

''Don't ask me why I can't leave without my wife and I won't ask you why you can.''

About the inhabitants of a small Iowa town suddenly plagued by insanity and then death after a mysterious toxin contaminates their water supply.

Timothy Olyphant: David Dutton

The remake of The Crazies from 1973 by Zombie connoisseur
George A. Romero whom actually is producer for this rehashed effort. The acting results in being decent while the scares very effective. The pacing was successful and keeps your interest throughout, but I think it may have needed some editing and perhaps focus on inside areas with characters instead of the open area walking scenes. The in-closed scenes worked perfectly.



After a quick scene of a small town burning at the beginning, we are pointed to two days prior where a baseball game is being played. One of the local residents, looking very much off, walks onto the field with a shotgun, and the local sheriff (Timothy Olyphant) steps forward after telling everybody to take cover. Trouble ensues and suddenly a small once peaceful town is thrown into a nightmare that they can't escape. You see, something has contaminated the water supply, and it causes people to go insane and start killing one another. How this all comes about, I will not say, but the town sheriff, his pregnant wife (Radha Mitchell), the sheriff's deputy (Joe Anderson), and a town friend (Danielle Panabaker) try to survive and make their way to the next town in hopes that it is not infected, but things aren't that easy, as our four protagonists soon find out.

Reminiscent of virus films such as 28 Days later, 28 Weeks later, with The Crazies the story focuses on everyday people becoming bloodthirsty maniacs when a virus infects the population.
28 Days Later and 28 weeks later notched the tension higher and then hit us with the shocks.
What is a success with The Crazies is that you do begin to care about what happens to our four protagonists as they make their way through this nightmarish landscape. Some have said their wasn't much chemistry between the husband and wife, but when you're trying to survive, some of that marital affection becomes nullified. Besides it isn't that type of film.

The Crazies overall is a guilty pleasure and one hell of a ride for horror, thriller and tension fans. What is lacks in originality it makes up for in sheer shocking entertainment.
Directed by Breck Eisner while Scott Kosar and Ray Wright worked on the riveting screenplay. George A. Romero clearly has his style and horror roots stamped firmly on this remake which works for all the right reasons.
I see The Crazies even spawning a sequel in the future. But I guess if a couple can out-drive a nuclear fall out from an A-Bomb, anything is possible. Arnold can outrun a nuclear alien blast in Predator; With these kinds of films realism isn't the highest on the priorities. It's just a thrilling slice of fun.

''We're in trouble.''

''This is impossible.''...''Only if you believe it is.''

19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

Mia Wasikowska: Alice

So finally Tim Burton's Alice in wonderland(2010) is unveiled upon an eagerly awaiting audience. Hyped up as being imaginative, dark and intensely rich in diversity, but is it? Burton and Walt Disney have definitely put alot of work into this project with their respective team and cast members; Making for a splendid spot of family diluted entertainment.
Linda Woolverton worked on the screenplay and the film is loosely based on Lewis Carroll's books which I love and cherished from an early age.



Unfortunately, I did rather enjoy Alice in Wonderland although and despite of it being full of increasingly disturbing flaws. This is surely Burton's vision of wonderland but not how I envisioned this imaginative World. To it's credit, the cinematography by Dariusz Wolski subsequently the director of photography, does an epic job of bringing to life the vast land while the team of artists; Art Direction by Tim Browning, Todd Cherniawsky, Stefan Dechant,(supervising art director), Andrew L. Jones, Mike Stassi, and Christina Ann Wilson. They all succeed in bringing imaginative characters, buildings and forest drenched planes to life with visionary art.
Costume Design by Colleen Atwood also succeeds in being successfully imaginative and defines the characters on which they adorn.

The casting is of course full of acting talents aplenty. Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter however is not quite the surprise package I was expecting. Colour contacts, a Scottish accent, and a bizarre modernised dance routine destroyed any believability or respect I had for the character to begin with.
Anne Hathaway as The White Queen borders on annoyingly sickly, hands flapping in the air.
Mia Wasikowska as Alice was innocently successful in her performance maintaining the charisma, and strength she has in the books.
Stephen Fry voicing the Cheshire Cat was a particular favourite, as was Crispin Glover as Stayne: Knave of Hearts.
Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen was just plain weird.
Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum were simply hilarious. Only character I was disappointed with was the blue Caterpillar voiced by Alan Rickman. This character could have been achieved and brought to life in such a uniquely aspiring approach. Alas Burton neglected to achieve 3D fleshed out characters at times unlike the film, the project at times feels flat and incompetent, which for me is hugely frustrating because I just wanted to adore and love the affair.

Alice In Wonderland over all is a fun albeit at times confusing venture. It has humour, it has style, and it has Burton's stamp firmly asserted upon it's frame. For a Disney film some as expected may be scary for very young viewers but it's to be expected from such a dark story and the nature of Burton's film projects.
The narrative and structure of Alice is quite a complex journey, sometimes straying from it's source medium and then at other times constraining tightly to it's roots.
Strangely it sometimes feels like it's another Narnia spin off attempt at spinning a web. The Lord of the Rings trilogy had realism and fantasy at the same time. Let's face it, The Mad Hatter is never going to fill Gandalf's shoes. As with the Jabberwocky; The big beast nemesis, it's no Balrog.
Yet wherever Alice in Wonderland draws it's inspirations from it still retains a cute, epic sort of meandering while sometimes becoming diluted in trying to be too many mediums at once.

Overall, Burton and Disney have made a tribute to Lewis Carroll's books yet in their own visionary styles. I believe everyone that has read the stories will have interpreted the characters and locations in their own way, in their own imaginations. Yet this Alice in Wonderland won't be a universal taste for everyone. When I finished the film, the audience reaction was a mixed one; Some people were saying it was boring while others did not understand what they had just seen.
The break dancing routine by The Mad Hatter in one of the final scenes totally ruined it for me, as did the Avril Lavigne song Alice on the end credits. I mean this girl literally shouts the words on the main interlude of the song; Not nice.
Now that I think about it; Alice in Wonderland attracted alot of Emo types, when I was looking around the cinema. Again not good.

Alice in Wonderland; A good film just not a great one. Bursts of artistic temperament and some inspiring sequences. The rest just a confusing contorted waste of sickly sweet.

''What happens when you fall in love?''

An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Tom Hansen

Zooey Deschanel: Summer Finn

Love. Time. Memories. (500)Days of Summer explores deep possibilities and these timeless issues and questions involving these three melodies of emotion. It sort of comes across as a distantly related Groundhog Day meets Magnolia mixed with a shot of Memento time line scrambling.
It should also be initially stated that the film is extremely well-made, despite its crew being composed mostly of first-timers. Marc Webb; The debut first time film director has years of music video and commercial experience to his credit, which explains the level of success and achievement he has achieved here.



(500)Days of Summer is an Indie film yes but without feeling as such; It's wonderfully shot and professionally made, and I think that just adds to its genuineness. The film features many elements that distinguish it from just a standardised churned out rom-com telling the same story: split-screen, frequent breaking of the fourth wall, a spontaneous song-and-dance number, animation, and of course the non-linear storytelling (with a number on screen indicating the position of the scene portrayed out of the retrospective 500 days) these elements lend this film much of its acquired uniqueness.
It also manages to pay homage to numerous classics such as Star Wars, The Seventh Seal, and even series Knight Rider.

Ultimately, what makes this film special is its wonderfully fleshed out characters. A good, plot-induced, fleshed out real people will always be more interesting than a great story with uninspiring ones.
This film succeeds more than most others in defining and presenting real, grounded, three-dimensional and identifiable characters.
First-time screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber give life and exquisitely define these characters, and of course alot of credit lies with the actors for embodying them and breathing upon them charisma and believability into the characters in every frame. I have been a long-time fan of both of the leads, especially of Joseph Gordon-Levitt whom over the years, be it in Mysterious Skin or in enigmatic Brick has carved himself a grand place as one of the most interesting and consistent young actors of his generation. Zooey Deschanel has always been wonderful, from her small supporting roles in older films such as Almost Famous to her more recent status as a leading lady, but this is the first movie of hers I've seen that really gives her a chance to shine and portray a fascinating and full functional character. Both acting talents really electrify proceedings in the film, and the supporting cast does a great job at helping them along.

(500)Days of Summer is ultimately whimsical, but never condescendingly precious. It's stylized but never unrealistic. It's very small-scale but it never feels tacky. Eventually, what makes it work so well as a film is the fact that it takes a very simple story and situation, drawn from real life, and portrays it in a way that is real enough to keep our interest, but realistic enough to resonate and stay true to life. It's a film that doesn't reach for the stars, doesn't feature a meaningful plot or story and doesn't convey some big message; rather, it's a film built on moments, beautiful and wonderful flickers that make it so unique and genuinely special: the narration, the song-and-dance number, Summer's glances at Tom and her reactions to his behaviour, the dialogue, the two lead performances, the genuinely hilarious moments and jokes, the music, the Belle and Sebastian and Smiths references, the non-linear chronology, the split-screen sequence showing Tom's "expectations" on one side and the "reality" as it actually unfolds on the other; These moments just overly succeed in capturing exactly what the real life situations they depict feel like, such as the aforementioned bar exterior, or the encounter on the train. It's one of those stories and experiences that stay and linger with you, that you need to watch again and again, to make that journey with the characters just one more time, to get to know them even more, and to look into their lives and see so much of your own. This is so real to life that it's hard to believe it's been captured and frozen upon film. (500)Days of Summer is a masterpiece of writing, of film and of translating the turmoil of love and loss.

''This is not a love story...This is a story about love.''

''The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.''

Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb.

Jeremy Renner: SSG William James

The Hurt Locker(2008) is a master stroke from Director Kathryn Bigelow, and superbly written by Mark Boal. An insight into the days of a bomb disposal unit and their time and relationships with each other in Iraq.
It has been nominated for 9 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and of course cinematography. Won 3 Golden globes, and won BAFTAs including one for Best picture. Now I have seen it I know why it has garnered these awards. It is simply a masterpiece and study of War, men, people and hurls us into the world of these soldiers. We feel part of this; We feel the tension and suspense with them.



The Hurt Locker is modern-day life in Iraq, shown through the eyes of members of an EOD team. They are put to the test as they spend the remaining 38 days of their rotation together as they encounter some impossible scenarios. The Hurt Locker is not necessarily an action film, but a drama and thriller. As a consequence the realism of the story elevates to pinnacle peaks. Each actor and cast member did an impressive job in their respective roles, never overacting or blandly complying with the script.
Guy Pearce, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse and even Evangeline Lilly make appearances with sometimes brief but perfected performances.
Although the main character steals the show; Jeremy Renner as SSgt. Will James may portray the typical war hero; Cocky, hotheaded, wild and reckless, but even so, his character is far from perfect, and as his service in Iraq continues, he becomes vulnerable, therefore realizing he is just a man. Renner victoriously impacts this successfully through his acting.

''There's enough bang in there to blow us all to Jesus. If I'm gonna die, I want to die comfortable.''

In addition to the performances, Barry Ackroyd's cinematography is breathtakingly enveloping. He makes the film in such a way that it almost feels as if it could be a documentary made by someone in real time. This includes segments of the shaky camera technique, quick zoom ins and outs, and occasional focus issues. This may seem like sloppy camera work, but it is intentional; It helps put the viewer right in the centre of events, of Iraq.

Original Music by Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders also adds depth in helping make such an intense and realistic journey. Slick editing results in a consistent yet plausible storytelling and insight. On top of this, the ambient effects and sounds, help out in adding suspense, never pushing in being overly used. Director Kathryn Bigelow; I've not seen many of her films, but she has talent, good looks and balls (specifically for the fact that this film was shot in Jordan, just miles from Iraq) for making such an intense, suspenseful, and gripping war film that is not glorifying the military nor is about a moral lesson. She shows the war as it is in Iraq, which includes the chaos of gun battles, the paranoia and racial tensions between the U.S. soldiers and the innocent Iraqi civilians. This is an honest sometimes brutal depiction of life and the World of War.

I know this film will win even more awards in the near future, and rightly so. This is one of the best films I have seen this year. It has all the ingredients a good film needs: decent acting, a unique story, wonderful cinematography/composition shots, and a fast-pace.

''You love playing with that. You love playing with all your stuffed animals. You love your Mommy, your Daddy. You love your pajamas. You love everything, don't ya? Yea. But you know what, buddy? As you get older... some of the things you love might not seem so special anymore. Like your Jack-in-a-Box. Maybe you'll realize it's just a piece of tin and a stuffed animal. And then you forget the few things you really love. And by the time you get to my age, maybe it's only one or two things. With me, I think it's one.''

''Come on... sneak a peek.''

A teenager discovers he's the descendant of a Greek god and sets out on an adventure to settle an on-going battle between the gods.

Logan Lerman: Percy Jackson

Directed by Chris Columbus (Harry potter 1 & 2,I Love You Beth Cooper), and based upon Rick Riordan's novel, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is about a teen (played by Logan Lerman from 3:10 to Yuma) whom finds out he's the son of a Greek god then violently accused of stealing Zeus's(Sean Bean) lightning. Along with his friends Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) and Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), he sets out on a quest to Hell and back to clear his name and save the world from the wrath of the Gods.



Similarly the story is something akin to Potter; The step-parent is horrible, the lead character realizes his superpowers suddenly and has to go away to a place for gifted kids, he has a guy and a girl for his sidekicks, they, too, consult a magical map, and they never listen to their older guardians yet they always get away with it since all's well that ends well. There is just that instantly recognizable storytelling going on that we have seen before but still love to experience.
So what does the adult cinema-goer of a child flick have left to do? Enjoy the bit parts of its strangely stellar supporting cast. There's Oscar nominee Catherine Keener (Capote, Being John Malkovich) who plays Percy's mum Sally; Pierce Brosnan who plays both his professor and Chiron; Oscar nominee Uma Thurman as Medusa; Steve Coogan (Night at the Museum) as Hades; Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds, Sin City, Alexander) as Persephone; CSI: NY's Melina Kanakaredes as Athena and many more.

The best aspects of Percy Jackson is it's quirky ability not to be original but to be fun and make you laugh. Sometimes it is so fantastical and silly you just have to sit back and enjoy the experience it offers. Don't take it seriously or get all qualmish about the mythology angles; It's an adaptation of some guy's children's book not some technically accurate Greek legend. Sometimes yes, it is Americanized, they say words funny; Such as Minotaur, centaur, Satyr, Medusa...I mean this certainly isn't English pronunciation. The journey the trio take across America is very convenient. If I took the whole affair seriously I could rip it to shreds, but I didn't. I had fun, had a giggle and enjoyed the Chris Columbus effort.

Overall, soundtrack is top grade fun, the cast varied and pure talent, the story what it lacks in originality makes up for in again aforementioned fun and thrills. The effects are the usual coolness we see in these types of films; It's very Narnia WETA styled.
Percy Jackson is a great new start to another franchise which has even encouraged me to start reading the books. A unique blend and insight into the Gods and creatures of Ancient Greece which I have always been very fond of. Perhaps it takes liberty with the legends, but who cares? This is a fantasy adventure with some zany character development and surreal creatures.
Definitely a must see for the whole family, fun loving adults, and easy to please kids. A thumbs up!

''I definitely have strong feelings for you. I just haven't decided if they're positive or negative yet.''