March 2010
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Kick-Ass (full review)
The Kick-Ass viewing experience: wow factor for film fans, relishment for funny book fans but ecstaticity for fans/collectors of Millar/Romita Jr.’s top-notch, industry-leading comic that Vaughn’s first-rate, crowd-pleasing film is based on. In short, yup I’m going there, it Kicks-Ass.
(strong) ****

How to Train Your Dragon
Quirky, charming and, most importantly, imaginative, this tall tale of one viking and his dragon not only looks animatedly gorgeous but has great characterisation and a compelling story too.
****

Shank
This is exactly the sort of film my secondary students would bear go in for. Be seeing a lot of Shank reviews next year I bank.
**

Perrier's Bounty
Despite laboring under the second worst title of the year, that makes it sound like a cross between a camp pirate and a chocolate bar, Bounty is a(nother) Brit(ish) crime caper to admire, somewhere between Soderbergh, Guy Ritchie and In Bruges in content.
*** (and a half)

The Blind Side
Follows the inspirational story 101 playbook to the very letter, but manages to pull all the right heart, mind and soul strings along the way. Cougar Bullock deserves all the buzz about her performance too, she's fantastic and completely devoid of her usual rom-com quirks.
****

The Spy Next Door
Love the classic Jackie footage, love the classic Jackie stuntwork, love the classic Jackie outtakes. But that's about all there is to love here unfortunately. A lesser and forgettable Jackie effort that's for sure.
**

I Love You Philip Morris
When serious Jim Carrey met comedy Jim Carrey. It's a weird-to-watch mix of funny and dramatic that, although not entirely even is, nevertheless, thoroughly well-acted (especially by the lead and his lover Ewan McGregor). This (film) really happened. It really did.
***

The Bounty Hunter (by CBK)
The Bounty Hunter is a predictable film about the two contrasts of life (love and money) portrayed through two characters with obvious screen chemistry creating an easygoing, fun-to-watch rom-com.
***

Shutter Island
Not for those short on patience or unwilling to take a leap of faith and suspend their disbelief, but for Lost fans a real mind-boggling, retro, classic, BIG movies-movie lies waiting in store on... Shutter Island (dum-dum-duuuuuuuum).
*****

Green Zone (full review by Codename: Sis)
Green Zone leaves you feeling exhilarated and provokes more thought than you would expect from your standard actioner.
****

Legion (full review)
A pulpy, pastichey, panel-inflected piece of pure popcorn pap, Legion is more insanely enjoyable than is probably healthy (or, truthfully, tasteful). Can't wait for writer/director Stewart and star man Paul Bettany's next action/fantasy/horror/thriller team-up Priest.
****

Exit Through the Gift Shop
Fact or fiction? Art or life? Hoax or truth? Whatever the case with this Banksy "documentary" (should that be docuBanksary?) it makes for one uniquely fascinating study into the life and times of street artists. Or does it?
****

Chloe
A pot-boiling thriller about human relationships, trust and deceit, Chloe is well-drawn and dramatic without being especially remarkable.
***