Silver Streak

Director: Arthur Hiller

Starring: Gene Wilder, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Pryor, Patrick McGoohan

Distributed By: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: December 1976

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This is still a fun movie even after all this time!
Gene Wilder is really great and I love that he always looks so shocked when he finds himself off the train...again, but so easily finds the means to get back on!
Things get funny once Richard Pryor shows up and you really get a sense of the chemistry both actors have even in their first movie together.
It's nice to see a laid back funny movie like this that doesn't take itself too seriously and boy would I love to have been on a train with the two of them! Great ending sequence too.
~~Nikki~~

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Austin, Andy Serkis, Bernard Hill, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, David Wenham, John Noble, Jonathon Rhys-Davies, Hugo Weaving, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Marton Csokas, Orlando Bloom, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Ian Holm

Distributed By: New Line Cinema

Release Date: December 2003

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The Return of the King is quite simply movie perfection and is my favourite in the trilogy.
I love that Andy Serkis has a chance to be seen as Smeagol remembers how the ring came to him.
Miranda Otto's Eowyn shines as she completely falls for Aragorn and then steps up and plays a vital role in the battle at Gondor.
Gollum's treachery is deliciously deceitful as he plays up to Frodo and helps to push Sam away and then leads Frodo to Shelob's lair which is one of the most impressive scenes on film.
I'm also really glad that they fleshed out Arwen's role for this last part and her fate being tied to the ring makes Aragorn's choices even more difficult. Every character is faced with challenges and there's so much to enjoy.
The contrast between Theoden and Denethor is brilliant and John Noble totally nails Denethor's descent into madness!
Elijah Wood gives his heart and soul to Frodo and it's so wonderful to follow him on this journey, but of course the background hero of this movie is "Samwise the brave". Sean Astin gives Sam courage, bravery and loyalty and I love seeing each member of the fellowship being so true to each other.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is, in my view one of the best movie franchises ever made and I can't imagine my life without these movies!
A true labour of love for Peter Jackson, his team and cast, they have given the world hours of cinematic enjoyment that I for one will never tire of.
A truly magical film, one ring really does rule them all!
~~Nikki~~

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis, Bernard Hill, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, Jonathon Rhys-Davies, Hugo Weaving, Sean Austin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd

Distributed By: New Line Cinema

Release Date: December 2002

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 The Two Towers is remarkable, the fellowship has divided and each group have their own stories to tell as they all meet new acquaintances along the way.
There are some wonderful performances throughout and I especially love Bernard Hill as Theoden, Miranda Otto as Eowyn and Brad Dourif as Wormtongue.
Gandalf's re-appearance and Theoden's transformation are both beautiful scenes and the battle of Helm's Deep is completely awe inspiring!
I love that the film spends time throughout with each group of the fellowship especially as we get to learn more about each character. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, in particular are a joy to watch as they lead Rohan into battle, but for me, it's the scenes with Frodo, Sam and Gollum that make this movie truly unforgettable!
Peter Jackson's use of motion capture for Gollum is pure genius and Andy Serkis brings such emotion especially during Gollum/Smeagol's various monologues, which are beautiful scenes and Frodo's sympathy towards him leads us into the next part of their journey and once again hints at what's to come.
The Two Towers is a beautiful movie that ensures that the third instalment is worth the wait!
~~Nikki~~

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, Jonathon Rhys-Davies, Hugo Weaving, Sean Austin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Ian Holm

Distributed By: New Line Cinema

Release Date: December 2001

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There are many movies that I love and enjoy every time I see them, but few are the sort that change everything; that give you a moment in time that brings the world of cinema right into your heart. For me, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was my moment!
To this day I am in awe of these films so lovingly crafted by Peter Jackson and his passionate team. The Fellowship of the Ring sets the standard as every actor proves their worth. The casting of Elijah Wood as Frodo and Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn are strokes of genius as they carry the emotional weight of the movie. Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Christopher Lee as Saruman bring true depth of character and Liv Tyler as Arwen brings such beautiful femininity to a mainly all male cast. The whole look of the movie is superb; The Shire is so exact that each scene feels like a page of the books and every new location is more breathtaking.
The fleeting glimpses of Gollum lend an air of expectation and all the CGI scenes are outstanding and still impress after all this time. The meeting with the Balrog in particular though a short scene is one of the most remembered and is truly impressive.
A beautiful beginning to one of the most adventurous and compelling journeys on screen, this movie leaves you wanting more as we follow a small hobbit with the fate of the world in his hands and is a movie that I will cherish for years to come...
~~Nikki~~

Happy Feet Two

Director: George Miller

 

Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Pink, Sofia Vergara, Hugo Weaving, Common, Richard Carter, Magda Szubanski, Anthony LaPaglia

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

 

Release Date: November 2011

 

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I was a little bit sceptical with this as I loved the first film so much but this is a really good sequel.

Mumble is back and is now a father himself and his cute young son Erik is very shy and not at all comfortable with his father's expressive talents.

My favourites The Amigos and Lovelace are back but we also have some new characters which really made me laugh. Every scene with the Krill adventurers Will and Bill wonderfully voiced by Brad Pitt and Matt Damon are really funny and Erik surprised me with his own heart song! The animation is just as beautiful as in the first movie and the various songs are lovely.

The Happy Feet movies are great fun and will put a smile on your face and a song in your heart! Plus I have a renewed respect for Krill!
~~Nikki~~

Snow White A Tale Of Terror

Director: Michael Cohn

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill, Monica Keena, Gil Bellows, David Conrad

Distributed By: Gramercy Pictures

Release Date: August 1997

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If you like your fairytales to be as dark as they were originally intended this movie will not disappoint!
Even the beginning is fairly horrific as we see how snow white is brought into the world! For anyone who is familiar with the Grimm Brothers' tale this is a very good adaptation.
Sigourney Weaver is truly wonderful as she brings jealousy and rage to her wicked stepmother role whilst Monica Keena gives snow white innocence, strength and courage as she meets some quite unfriendly strangers along the way. I really did enjoy this and a lot of that was due to scenes that left me pretty speechless!
Gloriously dark and menacing this version of Snow White is one that will stay with you and just might make you think twice when someone offers you a fruit basket...
~~Nikki~~