Hunger Games

 The Hunger Games

I watched this film shortly after reading the book, and I thought the book was fantastic so i was really excited about seeing the film. I saw it with someone who had not read the book which helped to gauge the viewing from a different perspective.

The film was good but i felt it a little shallow. What it could not do was bring the depth of the story that the book can, the thought process of Katniss and her life story.  When my friend watched it he felt it was a little disjointed and confused and i explained some of the missing elements from the story that were not including in the film.

However, this makes a really good visual accompaniment to the book. I felt that they had captured most elements well and kept most of the important aspects into the film. I could see why they missed out some points (for timing reasons, or because they could not translate it visually).  I also like that some key aspects were kept in but explained in a different way than in the book. Ie some of the explanation of the world during the games - as presented by the commentators. Although the actors were slightly more mature and Americanised, Katniss was represented well.

The story/plot was really interesting and kept me gripped the whole way through. Visually it was a stunning film, and although their was a lot of dark elements in the book this was played well on screen, (i.e. nothing was too graphic or insensitive.).  The kept to the book as well as they could and kept some important elements in.  I think with this film, its better to read the book first so you can enjoy it to its full degree. However i can also see this being a good film without the book (you just get it on a lesser scale.) Great Film.

Sherlock Holmes - Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room...until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large-Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)-and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock  Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder-a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction-all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.

Rango

Rango is a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt - a lawless outpost populated by the desert's most wily and whimsical creatures - the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt..

Gnomeo and Juliet

Gnomeo & Juliet - Perfect for the whole family, this fresh and funny makeover of one of the world's most timeless stories features music from Sir Elton John, and the voice talents of Emily Blunt, James McAvoy and Sir Michael Caine. Caught up in a feud between neighbors, Gnomeo and Juliet must overcome as many obstacles as their namesakes. But with flamboyant pink flamingos and epic lawnmower races, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

The Kings Speech

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle.

Attack The Block

Bonfire Night, South London, Sam is robbed by a group of hooded youths. Suddenly a flaming meteor crash lands and Sam makes her escape, but the gang are attacked by a small viscous alien.  The kill it, but their triumph is short lived, more aliens invade and they are bigger, stronger and out for blood.  The gangs only refuge is within the walls of the council estate. Teaming up with Sam and a local drug dealer.

A Sci -Fi, Horror, Action Comedy with and old school flavour its 'Inner City VS Outer Space'

The Girl Who Played With Fire

The girl who played with fire is the second novel in the Mellenium series. As computer hacker Lisbeth and journalist Mikael investigate a sex-trafficking ring, Lisbeth is accused of three murders, causing her to go on the run while Mikael works to clear her name.

Contagion

Contagion follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart

A Town Called Panic

Toy Story on Absinth.  They came, they saw, they panicked. 

Animated plastic toys like Cowboy, Indian and Horse have problems, too. Cowboy and Indian's plan to surprise Horse with a homemade birthday gift backfires when they destroy his house instead. Surreal adventures take over as the trio travel to the center of the earth, trek across frozen tundra and discover a parallel underwater universe where pointy-headed (and dishonest!) creatures live. With panic a permanent feature of life in this papier mâché town, will Horse and his girlfriend ever be alone? 

Adventureland

 A comedy set in the summer of 1987 and centered around a recent high school grad who takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to find it's the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world. 

Tamara Drewe

This film follows the story of Tamara Drew, who returns home to a small village in Dorset after her mother dies to clear out the house and put it onto the Market. Along the way she gets engaged to a Rock Star and many mishaps ensue.

Planet of The Apes - Tim Burton

It is the year 2029: Astronaut Leo Davidson boards a pod cruiser on a Space Station for a "routine" reconnaissance mission. But an abrupt detour through a space time wormhole lands him on a strange planet where talking apes rule over the human race. With the help of a sympathetic chimpanzee activist named Ari and a small band of human rebels, Leo leads the effort to evade the advancing Gorilla Army led by General Thade and his most trusted warrior Attar. Now the race is on to reach a sacred temple within the planet's Forbidden Zone to discover the shocking secrets of mankind's past - and the key to its future.

The Illusionist - Sylvain Chomet

I think the best description of the film is as follows “An 80-minute, hand-drawn animated French film without dialogue and with one of the most depressing finale acts ever committed to celluloid: this is The Illusionist. It’s also some sort of divine masterpiece.”

Set initially in Paris, through London, Scotland and eventually settling in Edinburgh this film follows the life of a magician and his dying art. No one is interested in his work and as he travels he finds that less and less people are coming to his shows. Along the way his magic entices a young girl, bored of her humdrum life, naïvely she latches onto him and being unworldly does not quite understand the value of money, the magician does nothing to discourage that, and produces gifts and treasures as if by magic, working extra hard to keep the illusion up.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part Two

The final part to the Harry Potter Series, where Harry must defeat the final Horcrux's and go into a face to face battle with Voldemort.

I went to see this at the IMAX cinema in 3D.  Visually this film on the big screen was stunning. The images were so crisp and clear and defined, and the 3D although not always popping into the audience, gave this film a whole new level of depth. The Directors had really gone all out to make this a visually spectacular experience. The digital photography, scenery and props were fantastic in this film. The snake and the effects were so realistic, and almost (wands excluded) believable.

Paul

Graham (Sean Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost), go on a road trip to america to chase aliens, and are surprised when they almost kill one and end up smuggling him along for the ride. Taking on stowaways as they go and trying to escape from those who are trying to recapture the alien, many misadventures ensue.

Sherlock Holmes

After finally catching serial killer and occult "sorcerer" Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner's new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.

Hard Candy

A mature 14-year old girl (Ellen Page) meets a charming 32-year old photographer on the Internet. Suspecting that he is a pedophile, she goes to his home in an attempt to expose him.  

Tangled

Tangled is the story of the princess Repunzle, taken from her family and locked in a tower. Flynn the 'handsome prince' who stumbles upon her tower and helps her to break free and live in the outside world.

Blade Runner

In a cyberpunk vision of the future, man has developed the technology to create replicants, human clones used to serve in the colonies outside Earth but with fixed lifespans. In Los Angeles, 2019, Deckard is a Blade Runner, a cop who specialises in terminating replicants. Originally in retirement, he is forced to re-enter the force when six replicants escape from an offworld colony to Earth.

Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love is the story of Liz, who has a messy divorce and travels the world to find herself and who she is. She goes to Italy to enjoy the good food, and company. She then travels to India where she prays and finally to Bali where she falls in Love.