This Means War (2012)

Just to clarify this is not in the top 30 list. Just watched it, wanted to write about it.



Starring: Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Reese Witherspoon
Director: McG
Certificate: 12A


This is a funny action packed rom-com.

The lead roles are played well and are entertaining enough to keep your attention through the movie.

You'll find at least a few scenes that will make you laugh.
The spy parts to plot take a back seat after the intro and don't make another appearance other than to build to the films finale.

No where near as bad as I though it would be, worth the watch.
(It would make a good date film) However I won't be watching it twice.

3/5

Taking a quick break to talk about A Woman in Black.

Just to clarify this is not in the top 30 list. Just watched it, wanted to write about it.

Shock Shock Horror Horror Shock Shock Horror.

The Woman in Black (2011)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Ciarán Hinds
Director: James Watkins
Certificate:

Woman in Black is a well made shock horror film.

It is full of shocks that will make you jump, but lacks anything with depth or meaning.

There is nothing wrong with this, I enjoyed the film a fair bit more than I had anticipated. I liked the well made sets and costumes. The acting was good (save for one performance, which I'll get to later). But that's it. I just liked it, It was ok. Nothing particularly outstanding. I didn't leave the cinema feeling any form of anxiety, or discussing underling metaphors with friends. It doesn't pretend to be anything it's not, which is what I liked about it the most.

However I do have a few minor gripes with it.

The sound of the film is over the top, with sparse drawn out notes of music. It over compensates with lots of loud bangs and screams which serve to aid the jumpy bits. This makes the film feel more like a gimmick than any thing else, but dose what it sets out to do.

Another problem I have is with Daniel Radcliffe. Not his acting! Which is his best to date! He just looks too young for the part. His son is more believable as his younger brother!

There is one performance that I didn't like and was the real reason the I didn't rate the film higher.

Janet McTeer's Mrs. Daily was an absolute over performance, had this been on the stage then fair play. But what was supposed to be dramatic acting just made me laugh.

3.5/5

Number 26

American Beauty (1999) - Sam Mendes

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Sam Roberts, Annette Bening
Director: Sam Mendes
Certificate:

American Beauty is a beautifully dark, funny look at the last moments in a bored man’s life.

It's a story about how a midlife crisis can utterly free a man.

Right from the opening scene we are told, by himself, that in less than a year Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) will be dead.

Straight away this is one of the things I loved about this film. You know the end right from the start. Just not the way it comes to be.

This leads you down a sometimes surreal path of funny shocking moments from a (we're told) normal life.

Complete with a hauntingly fitting yet seemingly out of place soundtrack.

And bam! You've got yourself a winner. A 5 time Oscar Winner.

If you haven't seen this film yet, do yourself a favour and watch it. You'll feel more complete as a person if you do.

4.5/5