THE SOCIAL NETWORK (12a)

 Facebook. A website with 500 million members. One of the most popular websites on the planet, created by computer genius Mark Zuckerberg. It's most recent value price was 23 billion US dollars. Directed by David Fincher, with a cast of rising talent such as Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, The Social Network is an in depth look at the rough beginning of the world's favourite network site.


The Serious: 10/11
 "The Facebook film." The description might not sound interesting, but The Social Network is brilliant. It tracks the origins and creation of Facebook, from it's humble beginning as a Harvard University exclusive to the world dominating social machine it has now become.
 The Social Network focuses on two simultaneous lawsuits against Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, (an ever fantastic Jesse Eisenberg)showing him being sued for stealing the concept idea of Facebook and for misleading and stealing shares from his former best friend Eduardo Saverin (played by Andrew Garfield).
 The story might sound bland, but in reality is incredibly engaging thanks to the characters all being grounded and real. The film is driven by the relationships between the characters and their own struggle for power in Facebook, something that so many people now use. Seeing the drama behind Facebook is a real eye opener, hugely absorbing and interesting to watch.
 The real world Mark Zuckerberg refused to endorse the movie, claiming that much of it is exaggerated and untrue. However, thanks to Aaron Sorkin's fantastic screenplay, Zuckerberg is painted as neither a hero nor a villain. By the end of the film, you are not fed a view of Zuckerberg's actions, instead being left to judge what you just saw by yourself and form your own opinion. The Social Network is not made from a particular point of view, which makes for a truly wonderful conversation piece with others who have seen the film, as everyone's opinion is slightly different.
 Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg brilliantly, and much of the film's drive can be attributed to his performance. He creates the perfect amount of nerdy ambition, emotional distance from the world and hyper intelligence necessary to make Zuckerberg feel human. He puts the audience in a state of question: Is he really such a bad guy? Or is he just finding a way to be accepted in the world? 
 The other two stand out performances come from Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake. Garfield is Zuckerberg's college best friend Eduardo Saverin, original CFO of "thefacebook" and one of the people seen suing him at the start of the movie. Garfield's performance is full of emotional depth and entirely believable. He is the shining light of good in the movie, and as the relationship between Saverin and Zuckerberg begins to diminish, Garfield wrenches every last drop of sympathy from the audience, rounding off a fantastic performance; it seems the future of Spiderman is promising for when Garfield steps into the webbed costume in 2012.
 Justin Timberlake's portrayal of Napster founder Sean Parker is sublime, giving us a character who is so smooth and crafty we instantly hate him. It's a great turn from the former popstar, who is honestly surprisingly good and definitely has a future in film.
 All in all, The Social Network is a story on two levels. For members and fans of the site everywhere, it's a look at the brutal past of Facebook and the emotional tornado of how it was created. For everyone else, it's how a group of people cope when one of them stumbles upon something world-changing and how far each will go to have a part in it.
 Catch this movie at the cinema. From witty dialogue to emotional depth, The Social Netowork has it all and certainly deserves 2 hours of your time. It might even be Oscar worthy.


The Fun: 2/11
 Put simply, The Social Network is a thinking film. Despite plenty of comical moments from Aaron Sorkin's dazzling script, there is nothing light hearted about the movie.
 This is in no way a bad thing, The Social Network is an excellent film, but isn't aimed at anyone after some easy viewing and fun. It requires deep thought, personal judgements on characters and a sharp mind to follow the story.
This isn't for the easy viewing among you, so save the cash.
But if you want something thought provoking, read above.


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SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD (12a)

The buzz about Scott Pilgrim has been growing for months. With a huge cast containing plenty of recognisable names, original source material, and in the hands of english director, Edgar Wright, it's been billed as "An Epic of Epic Epicness."
Here goes...




The Serious: 9/11
The billing people were right. It most certainly is. From start to finish, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World is a whirlwind ride, defying physics, reality and taking you to a place your imagination had only seen on paper.
 The source material for this movies is a comic book mini series by Brian Lee O'Malley, it seems Edgar Wright has created the first, actual, comic book movie. Many superhero movies are based on comic books, but Scott Pilgrim is literally like watching a comic book move on the screen. From the visualisation of sounds to the insane fight sequences, this film doesn't have a creative peer. It really is something unique, melding awesome stunts, fight sequences, cute nostalgia, arcade game elements and insane effects with a story so simple and heartwarming you're rooting for the hero with everything you've got.
 Despite all the crazy action and effects going on around it, the core story in Scott Pilgrim is a love story. Under-confident loser Scott Pilgrim ( another excellent role execution from Michael Cera) is dating a high schooler, but then mysterious girl Ramona Flowers enters his life. Blown away instantly, Scott attempts to woo her, but when they begin dating, his world is turned upside down, in the form of 7 Evil Ex's. It's a wonderful concept, someone's past relationships controlling those of their future. Scott has to man up and defeat each of the 7 evil ex's in order to   win Ramona, but it sure isn't easy.
 This is where everything gets crazy. The film expands into "epicness" bombarding the audience with visuals, fights, music and excellent performances. From the arcade game style path of the story, (coins exploding out of defeated enemies) to the excellent supporting roles, (including Brandon Routh, Chris Evans, Jason Schwartzman and a hilarious Kieran Culkin) Scott Pilgrim is a brilliant journey start to finish. The action defies your mind with smooth and flowing sequences that genuinely impress, rivalling any billed "action" movie. Scott is fighting for love, but in such a silly environment it always remains light-hearted, never trying to take itself seriously. It also leaves you with a questioning mind by the end, a nice touch that makes it even more memorable.
 From a film making perspective, Scott Pilgrim is wonderful, subtly combining so many opposing things to create something original. However, there will probably be axes to grind for some. Those who have no love for arcade games, occasional nostalgia, intense visuals or borderline movie insanity, Scott Pilgrim is definately not for you. While very original, it might perplex some viewers, and a second viewing is sometimes needed to straighten everything out.
 For anyone else, it's a brilliant way to end a summer of film that has been truly excellent. So down to the cinema you must go. There probably won't be anything quite like this anywhere else.


The Fun: 10/11
Wow. Whether or not you follow the core story, Scott Pilgrim vs The World is a spectacle for the senses.
 Anyone with a sense of enjoyment in life should appreciate the insanity going on before them, such as intense comic book fight scenes to music being given a physical form. After the first 20 minutes or so, Scott Pilgrim becomes a huge mash up of effects, action, love, lessons and character and it. Is. Beautiful.
Seeing as it covers a lot of movie types, it is impossible to categorise Scott Pilgrim. It covers all bases. Comedy, with a hilarious performance by Kieran Culkin as Scott's gay roomate Wallace, action, with the incredible action sequences throughout, romance from the main story between Scott and Ramona and enough thrills to fill your heart. It's Micheal Cera's film though, his characterisation of Scott so spot on that almost all of the audience can relate to feeling like that at some point in their life, making the movie feel more real and emotional than just a roller coaster ride.
Scott Pilgrim never takes itself seriously, or tries to preach any serious moral lessons to the audience. Instead, it dispenses with that to create a breathtaking film that is so packed with fun and entertainment it's worth every penny; no matter how many times you see it, Scott Pilgrim gets better every single trip. The journey from zero to hero for Scott is one so "epic" it keeps you strapped in the whole way through, a simple, heartbroken boy, pulling out all the stops to keep the girl of his dreams. And there are plenty to pull out. You'll be dazzled with the creativity in every  frame of the film, falling in love with everything about it.
 This movie will entertain even those of you who want something for a numb mind, being astonishing in every aspect, from acting to special effects. A few may be confused though by the craziness of everything that's going on and may lose track of the simple story. If that happens, you'll be a little confused when you leave.
 That is a tiny, minute complaint though, as Scott Pilgrim vs The World has so much to offer everyone in the movie theatre.
 So, if you want to be astonished and entertained before the winter nights begin closing in, WATCH SCOTT PILGRIM. It's a heart-warming, mind boggling, stunt filled, "Epic of Epic Epicness".


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SALT (12a)

Hailed as the female equivalent of James Bond and Jason Bourne, Salt has had movie fans hooked during production. Boasting the acting talents of Angelina Jolie, Liev Schrieber and many more, Salt promised to be a great summer thriller.


The Serious: 9/11
It doesn't disappoint. If you want a clever and compelling thriller, Salt is one for you. While keeping to some well known genre traits, Salt is full of surprises that will keep you on your toes the whole way through.
 Salt is definitely one to watch. Contrasting with the espionage comedy of Knight & Day, Salt is a gritty, down to earth thriller that uses an intelligent story that uses a complex character to drive itself. We're presented with a heroine, but constantly have to question whether or not she is one. Like the poster tag line, we wonder, who is Salt? As a stand out woman in a male dominated movie arena, Salt earns her place in the hall of espionage fame as a severe force to be reckoned with. James and Jason are probably more than a little anxious.
 As said, Salt is driven by character and a smart, twisty story. Following the characters, your morals get thrown around, every move they make is questioned by your mind and the quality of the acting is superb. Angelina Jolie is Evelyn Salt. A statement that seems obvious after looking at the poster for more than a nanosecond, but i mean it. At no point in the film will you doubt Salt as a character, or Jolie as an actress, instead being enthralled and impressed by the performance. Make a bet with anyone who said Jolie cannot act. You'll win. At one point early in the film, she proves just how much ability she has, in one look so full of love and unbound affection you half expect a huge heart to jump out of the screen. It's so emotional, yet needs no words to be so. Salt is an ace character, one that Jolie should be proud of while carrying the story on her shoulders.
 Not all is left to the actress though. Excellent support comes from Liev Schrieber, who continues a number of enjoyable and well executed roles. Ted Winter (Schrieber) Salt's colleague at the CIA, is as as shadowy as the lead, making for a sublime story route that holds shockers in store for the minds of the audience.
As for improvements, Salt doesn't need many. It's got a great story, characters and action, but you do have to be on the ball to keep up at times, or risk being left behind by the whirlwind story. However, it's a whirlwind worth braving, for the reward of something cool, clever and intelligent enough to make you go "Wow!" as the credits roll. You'll wish you were as sneaky and gutsy as she is by the time you walk out.


The Fun: 7/11
While Salt is a gripping and intense movie, it does have some all out action sequences to astound the mind. Plenty of sleek moves and sequences show Salt herself as a deadly force, and give gentleman spies a lady to reckon with.
While the action does come thick and fast, it's also clever, rather than a big adrenaline romp such as The Expendables. While a big romp is not at all a bad thing, Salt has more brains behind it, the killing depicted on screen being cold and methodical, with very little emotion behind most of the time. This calculated slicing and dicing makes for some decent stuff to watch, but also keeps things at a (slightly) more grounded level than other franchises.
 Action aside, the movie chucks intelligent thrills at you, but if you don't stay alert, you might miss something vital, and all the slick punches in the world won't cure that niggling in the back of your mind or the frustrating lack of understanding. I know it sounds picky, but if its awesome action you want, with little regard as to why, i refer you to The Expendables review. Salt does have feats of spectacle to offer, but if you find yourself wavering, or decide concentration isn't what your after right now, i suggest the cheaper price of renting the DVD.

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INCEPTION (12a)

 No doubt you've heard about the complexity of this film by now. It's such an original and compelling story that you have to be extremely alert to grasp the whole thing. That, coupled with a brilliant team of actors and crew, makes Inception the most thought provoking film since The Matrix. 






The Serious: 10/11
 As stated, Inception is original material, from the exquisite mind of Christopher Nolan. Anyone who has seen his Batman work knows that Nolan never goes for the obvious. He chooses to carve up ground in his own style and  daringly attempt the new. Inception it seems, continues this trend.
 Right from the word go, we are thrown into the elaborate world of Dom Cobb (Leonardo Dicaprio) and his team of extractors. After a sour job, Cobb is given a new, infinitely more dangerous task. To plant an idea in a subject's mind, an inception. I shall not go further into detail, because there is too much risk of spoiling the genius of the story for you. All that needs saying is that Inception puts a new edge on the the thriller stereotype, driven by something we haven't been given before, making it entirely intriguing and impossible to escape from.
 The acting in this film is a master class in how to thrill an audience; there is not a moment of doubt in the characters as the story sweeps them along. Special mentions go to Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose supporting roles are outstanding, with complete dependability and dedication, proving their talent as actors. The main role of Dom Cobb, is yet another feather in Dicaprio's astonishing cap. It seems almost impossible to find the actor in a bad film and Inception reaffirms his prowess as a master of the trade. Cobb's uniqueness as a character comes from his personal demons and troubles, which not only drive his own storyline, they have the potential to ruin everything thanks to the film's brilliant nature. It's an outstanding role from DiCaprio, which i personally think is worthy of a few awards.
 For the hyper-picky among you, you may argue that there is too much action, and that Inception has the potential to be cleverer than that. On a personal level i would disagree, but for that reason alone, a 10/11 has been anointed, and it's a very thin line to walk. For a thriller of immense intelligence and originality, this movie will be tough to beat. Pay attention to it, and Inception could easily be the most rewarding cinema experience this summer. Even when the credits role, you'll be left with endless questions and possibilities, the main of which will befuddle us forever.
  It's an immersive world of originality and possibility, that will never be truly replicated by the probable copycats of Hollywood. Do not miss Inception.


The Fun: 4/11
 For entertainment, Inception is excellent when viewed with an engaged mind. If it's crazy fun you're after, this probably isn't the right movie for you (refer to the Expendables review). While there are some stunning action sequences and enough thrills to impress, you'll leave feeling perplexed and empty if you can't understand everything else.
 4/11 is in no way saying Inception is a bad film. It's breathtaking, but i know it won't be for everyone. This film focuses heavily on plot, story and intricate ideas, so if that's not what you're looking for, i'd advise giving Inception a miss. However, if you do insist on seeing it for fun, make sure you have someone with you who can explain the film's dynamic and fill in the blanks afterwards.


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TOY STORY 3 (U)

 Toy Story cut a niche in cinema and put Pixar on the stage. It gave us a whole cast of characters, born of animation, to watch and follow. We fell in love with it, with the personalities and the clever humour scattered across the script. It was a film that had so much to offer both child and adult audiences that it is rightly seen as an icon.
 Then came Toy Story 2. The scepticism squad was on it's back right from the off, deciding there was no way Pixar could beat the masterpiece of the original. Wrong. Pixar never tried to deliver a supreme sequel. Instead, they took the characters on an entirely new adventure, defying expectation and remaining comically and characteristically loyal to the movie that won our hearts the first time round. 
So now, 11 years later, did they do it again? 


The Serious:11/11
In a word: Yes.
 Toy Story 3 is the crowning jewel on one of the most loved sagas in cinema. Not only does it (once again) take Woody & Co. on a whole new journey, it gives us more than we ever dared to dream was possible.
 For something primarily billed as a youngster's movie, Toy Story 3 enthrals audiences of all ages. Nowhere else can you find such a remarkable blend of childish and adult humour, or find characters that are simultaneously dazzling to the young and so easily related to by adults.
 I have found it impossible to find anything wrong with this film, like both of its predecessors. From the opening sequence to the final credits TS3 takes hold of your heart and sends it on an emotional roller coaster. Such is the brilliant effect of this, it's very hard to put into words exactly how it makes you feel, because it's a sensation that you have to experience to know, and there really doesn't seem to be a single word that does it justice.
 The excellence is supported further by the voice talent. All of the old cast are back in the shoes of the characters and its like they never left. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn & John Ratzenburger all reprise their respective roles with as much vigour as ever, and are joined by other outstanding talents, such as Michael Keaton, Ned Beatty and Timothy Dalton. Every one of the above helps to reinstate or create the incredible characters, but credit, as ever, goes to the team at Pixar. It feels like all the other work between Toy Storys has been leading to this. Woody, Buzz, and all the rest become people in their own right, voices or no. In fact, it's safe to say, that due to Pixar's careful guidance, the toy's most emotional moments, are when they say nothing at all.
 There is so much more but i would only be slowing you down from heading straight to the cinema. While I'm a bit late to the game with this one, I implore everyone to catch Toy Story 3 while you still can and to see it again if you've seen it already, because this movie gets better every time you see it.
 You may not see such impeccable and ageless film making again for sometime. So go, now. Because this is something you'll remember forever.


The Fun: 11/11
Today, this section is going to be unusually short. If you aren't sold by the above, i give you the Perfect 22/22 rating. You know readers, that I'm not giving that lightly,so treat it seriously and take my advice.
 For entertainment, TS3 has it all. You'll laugh, fear, giggle and even the burliest of you will be moved close to, if not into, a river of tears.
 Like a packet of cinema sweets that's actually FULL of sweets, a perfect film is a very rare thing. Pixar provide one here.
 So with that in mind, go now to the cinema. It's entirely worth your cash.


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KNIGHT AND DAY (12a)

Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz.
Ethan Hunt & Princess Fiona.
Trekking the globe in order to thwart the bad guys. A spy romantic comedy, Knight & Day is light hearted entertainment, but it sadly falls into too many cliché traps.




The Serious: 6/11
I know, it's a pretty low rating, but hear me out. There is little originality in the plot line. Granted, that's hard to do (audiences do expect a certain pattern) but Knight & Day follows the stereotype all too rigidly. No surprises or twists really leap up and grab your attention, which is disappointing given the talents of the cast.
Never fear, it's not all doom and gloom. Tom Cruise has a refreshing and genuinely funny role as international CIA agent Roy Miller. The laughs in the movie are provided almost solely by him, but he still slams in some decent action sequences. The main giggle, however, comes from this apparent parody of his brilliant Mission: Impossible character, Ethan Hunt. Cruise just does not hold back, giving off a sense that he's genuinely enjoying himself. And who wouldn't in his position.
Diaz does well as lady-meets-spy-becomes-tough-and-skilled June Havens. While a staple character arc for a spy movie, the actress gets a few shining moments, including a brilliant motorbike stunt with Mr Cruise.
The other talent nod goes to Peter Sarsgaard, who gives us a good and gritty villain to hate in Fitzgerald.
So while the main performances do a great job, they're let down and unsupported by the story. See it if you're set on it, but for the unsure of you out there, i suggest waiting for the DVD.


The Fun: 8/11
For those of you who don't care so much about story, Knight & Day is a good laugh. Cruise is funny, Diaz is hot whilst convincing and Sarsgaard does a fun job as a dodgy agent.
The action comes thick and fast, with some impressive visuals and a lot of gunfire that asserts Cruise's status as Mr Spy. Despite knowing what'll be around every corner (If you've watched a spy movie before) if that doesn't bother you, you'll still enjoy the ride along. A couple of smooth spy moves and quips make Cruise the one to watch, convincing and full of smart, witty humour. It's certainly a welcome enjoyment to see this side of the actor again, so if you're a big Cruise fan, head for the silver screen and you'll enjoy what he provides.
Otherwise, it really depends on you're motivation for going. If it's for enjoyment, Knight & Day will not feel like a waste of money; you'll leave the cinema with a smile on you're face and some new quotes to annoy you're friends with.


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THE EXPENDABLES. (15)


Sylvester Stallone. Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crewes. Dolph Lundgren. Mickey Rourke. Randy Couture. Eric Roberts. Steve Austin. Bruce Willis. And the Terminator himself.


The biggest, most badass team ever assembled in one place.
A cast so manly it could kill you with pure adrenaline.
Since it was announced, there's been a lot of expectations...
Will this infact be, the most bullet filled, adrenaline fuelled, ass slamming film to date?
Or will all the big ol' action boys just get in each other's way?




The Serious: 7\11
Directed, starring and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, you might be expecting another Rambo adventure, full of extreme gore and a protagonist who appears to be invincible. Well, you'd be half right. As an action film, The Expendables has next to no rivals. Your blood starts to pound during the first sequence and is not given an oppurtunity to slow down, until the lights dim back up in the cinema, and you find yourself jaw on the floor in awe of what you just witnessed. The punches, bullets, knives and guns slam the senses, as the Expendables tear across the screen in a storm of carnage and death.
With such a stellar cast, it's hard to find a stand out. Rourke takes a step back from the action, becoming the wise and reflective job dealer, which you don't doubt for a second, and has possibly the only tearjearking lines in the film. Li and Statham dazzle with their martial arts expertise, dominating many of the fight scenes with blurred fury.
But this is Stallone's film. He has moments of genuine emotion, and you feel that he really has got it together this time; you don't doubt him for a second.
Now i know, the characters are stereotypical, along with the plot but the action is on a level rarely seen before. Super picky types stay away, but as a film, in it's own right, The Expendables does not disappoint. If you were expecting a deep, heartfelt, hugely meaningful experience, then you won't find it. This movie does exactly what the cast list would suggests.
Blows. Your. Mind.
See it once, you'll want to see it again.


The Fun: 11/11
As stated above, The Expendables will blow your mind. It defies explanation. It pumps adrenaline directly into your veins. It never lets up, even in more serious scenes. You'll leave the cinema wanting to pick up a gun and storm down a dictator yourself. It is easily argued that is just doesn't want to take itself seriously as a film, instead creating as much mayhem and havoc as humanly possible within the running time. For some of you (and myself, admittedly) that's all you want after you see the cast list, to be assualted with pure action, heroic lines, epic moves and one particular weapon that churns your blood pressure to a dangerous level.
Trust me when i say an 11 is not given lightly. I considered a 10, but that would relinquish my rights as a reviewer as well as a human. Honestly, there may never be an action film to match it in the near future. If you want to feel like a true man (or cool, action loving lady) this is unmissable and just won't be the same on a smaller screen.
So, for the ultimate lesson in how to kick ass and look cool doing it?
Do yourself a favour. Get to the Cinema.










So.
There it is. The first hurdle. Leave a comment below telling me what you think and/or email them to me. 
Any movie you want given the Camera's view? It can be a new release or something DVD'd for years, email me the title, your name and i'll see if we agree.
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To Infinity and Beyond.

The Beginning

I always get stumped at which reviews to listen to.
Every movie in the world gets 5 stars from someone, so isn't every movie just the best?

Well no.
I know that, you know that, even the movie makers know that.

So, without all the pretentious movie blah that seems to clog up reviews these days, I give you a shining beacon of nerdy movie hope.
I'll review films i'm asked to review on two levels.

One: The Serious: The section that covers the heavy, deep stuff that some, usually more picky movie viewers wish to know.

Two: The Fun: The section that covers the cares of the more casual film goer, who just wants to enjoy a movie, whether it be through adrenaline, laughs, scares, or any other kooky stuff that pops up.

Email me the name of a film you want reviewing, and i'll do the best job i can to satisfy your movie needs.

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To Infinity, And Beyond.