The Dark Knight
Plot: Gotham City, new DA Harvey Dent is cleaning up the streets, so the gang bosses seek help from The Joker (Heath Ledger). But the Joker has his own agenda, to bring chaos to Gotham and test human nature by creating moral dilemmas. Can Batman defeat the Joker and help the DA clean up the streets?
My Thoughts: My plot summary is very simplistic, but this film is far from simple. The story is too complex to summarise fairly and this is a good thing. Because this is the Batman film the needed to be made, and needs to be seen. It taps into the darkness of the characters and their relationships with each other. The supporting acting is stunning, so I applaud Ekhart (Harvey Dent), Oldman( Comisioner Gordon) and Ledger (The Joker). It is true, Heath Ledger is AMAZING in this film!!!! But I am still unsure about Bale as Batman (although this film is better than the first film). The action is great, but doesn’t overpower the film, but there are occasions where the sound drowns out the dialogue, so I found myself straining to hear what was being said.
I stayed away from any plot spoilers before seeing the film, so I was excited when Dent…… well I won’t spoil it, but I thought it was great!
On the whole, this is the best film out at the moment. It is the Batman film that deserved to be made, and Heath Ledger gives his best performance!
Best Bit: Heath as the Joker! And the Ship dilemma! Good stuff
Score: 9/10

Mamma Mia!
Plot: Sophie, a 20 year old girl, is about to get married and really wants her father there. The problem is, she has no idea who he is. After reading her mother Donna’s (Meryl Streep) diary, she narrows it down to three possibilities; Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth) and Billy. She invites them to the wedding hoping to work out which one is her father, so that he can give her away.
My Thoughts: Mamma Mia! Is a long running show in the West End based on the music by ABBA. I haven’t seen the show but I can imagine it is fantastic but, it doesn’t really transfer very well to screen. However, the film is a lot of fun. If you go and see it, go with friends and enjoy it for the piece of cheese that it is. The dancing would look great on stage, but comes off as a touch contrived on screen- especially the locals, who pop up everywhere. The singing is bizarre! Pierce just stick to acting, mate! I love the way the script is manipulated just to get to the next song. There is some great acting from Donna (Meryl) and her two Dynamite friends (played excellently by Christine Baranski and Julie Walters) who I assume must have been an ABBA tribute band back in the day. Even though most of the film is tongue in cheek, there is one scene which Meryl steals completely, and that’s the ‘Winner takes it all’ scene.
On the whole, if you like musicals and ABBA then this has been made for you. IT is great fun, but don’t expect anything too much. And go with friends- you will enjoy it more. Sing along, laugh at the silliness of it and wait for the performance of Waterloo in the credits.
Best bit: The Winner Takes it all- Meryl gives it her all!
Score: 7/10

Kung Fu Panda
Plot: When Po, a noodle making Panda, hears that they will be choosing the Dragon Warrior- the most legendary of all Kung Fu champions- he climbs the many stairs to the Jade temple to see his heroes; Monkey, Tigress, Mantis, Crane and Viper- all of whom think they may be chosen. However, after an accident involving some fireworks, the great master Oogway chooses Po. Master Shifu assumes it is a mistake but we are reliably informed (many times) that there are no accidents. Meanwhile, bad cat Tao Lung has broken out of prison and wants the secret of the Dragon Warrior for himself.
My thoughts: This is a family friendly action packed animated story. It lacks depth or emotion (except for perhaps when Oogway passes) but has some nice kung fu moves. Basically the Panda gets chosen to be the Dragon Champion, then follows some training in a very Yoda style. The Furious five, all well trained, try to defeat Tao Lung, but lose. Then Tao Lung fights Shifu and Po. It’s straight forward, with a nice little “There is no secret ingredient- just be yourself” moral.
On the whole, it is a nice but short family film with some cool kung fu action.
Best Bit: The ‘get the dumpling’ training.
Score 7/10

Prince Caspian
Plot: Caspian, the heir to the throne, has been forced to flee the castle (somewhere in Narnia) after his Aunt gives birth to son, giving his evil Uncle Miraz an heir of his own. Caspian flees to the forest where he meets dwarves and a badger, both Narnians and both supposedly extinct. Caspian blows Susan’s magic horn and summons the four children to Narnia to help him regain the throne.
My Thoughts: It has been a long time since I read the book, but I sure as hell don’t remember half the things that happened in the film. Summoning up the White Witch? Did that happen? I also remember the book being slightly dull, so it doesn’t surprise me that they wanted to spice it up a bit. Narnia is now ruled by the Spanish… I mean the Trampolines… er Termanlines, who are in act human and come from a small Island probably somewhere near Spain. Aslan doesn’t appear much, so Caspian has to make do with the help of just the four children, some Dwarves and a fantastic mouse called Reepicheap! Peter and Caspian seem to clash from meeting, in a ‘who’s is the biggest ruler’ type way. However this film’s biggest heroine is Susan (Anna Popplewel) who really owns the screen, feisty and mature and with some flirting with Caspian (I don’t remember that in the book either). The film appears to be more adult than the wardrobe-y one. The children even kill! A lot! The action scenes are well shot- in particular the castle siege scene, but the duel at the end seemed a bit contrived.
On the whole, this film will appeal to the mass market and certainly has plenty of action and cute talking animals. Just don’t get annoyed for it not staying true to the book.
Best Bit: The siege. And Reepicheap- just watch what he dos to the castle cat!
Score: 8/10

The Happening
Plot: Something strange is happening in New York. People start acting strangely and then commit suicide. Assuming it is a terrorist attack, the government advise people to leave New York. Elliot, a science teacher, his wife Alma, his friend Julian, and Julian’s daughter Jess board a train to Philadelphia. But reports start coming in that people are committing suicide there too. The train strands them in the middle of no-where, and people around them are starting to behave strangely. What is causing the strange happening, and will they survive it?
My Thoughts: The film starts in a science lesson in New York- and if that’s how students are in American schools, then I want to work there! The question is posed, “The bees have disappeared” and on the board is the Einstein quote “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.". And this made me think of Doctor who.
Beyond that, the film is more atmospheric than action filled. There are numerous deaths, but you see nothing that could be described as gory! Mark Whalberg does a good job as Elliott, but the rest of the characters are just bearable. There isn’t a real twist at all, just an attempt to escape the inevitable. The tension comes more from the few characters they meet on route- especially the mad lady in the old house at the end.
The reason behind the ‘happening’ was apparently due to the plants. But beyond that there wasn’t much more of an explanation (unless you include the rash thing at the end). However the end did ring true of human nature. When interviewed on TV, the expert said, “It is a warning to us to respect out planet” “But if it was a warning, then why only in place” came the interviewers response. “People will only believe it to be a warning if it happened more than once” Isn’t that just human nature! Thousands die, and we still can’t accept the evidence!
On the whole, an atmospheric but lacklustre film which doesn’t really shock that much.
Best bit: The scene in the school at the beginning, and the scene at the crossroads.
Score: 6/10

Superhero Movie
Plot: Whilst on a science trip, Rick Riker gets bitten by a radioactive dragonfly and develops superpowers. He uses them to fight crime and get the girl, his neighbour, Jill. Meanwhile dying Tycoon Lou Landers, AKA the Hourglass, has developed his own ability- to drain the life force of people to save his own life. And for him to achieve immortality he has to kill thousands. Can the Dragonfly stop him.
My Thoughts: This is another in a long line of parody movies. But this one is different…. It is quite good. A blatant rip off of Spiderman (with some X-men and Batman thrown in) the comic touches are more subtle and highbrow than other recent films (except for the farting granny perhaps).
Oh and another thing- why do these films always have to have a ‘breakdancing/streetdancing/dance off’ scene?
On the whole, it is well worth a watch. There will be something that will make you laugh.
Best bit: The scene in the science lab. Loved that snail! “Hold him down boys I’m on my way”. And poor Stephen Hawkins gets a raw deal too!
Score: 7/10

Prom Night
Plot: Three years ago, Donna was stalked by her insane teacher who murdered her family. Three years later and it is her Prom Night, and the teacher has escaped from prison. Soon the body count starts to rise….
My Thoughts: Six friends, staying at a grand hotel for their Prom night, and a multitude of supporting characters, are all possible victims in this blatant Halloween style rip off. Basically it is Halloween again, right up to the closet with the wooden slats! There are a few jumps due to scary noises, screams and bumps, but because this is a 15 there is no real violence or blood (which is a good thing). There are some nice scenes but there is absolutely nothing original about it at all. The ending is a bit of a disappointment considering the build up, and you could see the ‘surprise’ at the end coming a mile off!
On the whole, if you liked Halloween, and prefer your slasher movies tame and bloodless, then you will like this.
Best bit: When best friend Lisa realises she recognises the killer, a chase ensues- leading to the biggest shock of the film.
Score: 7/10