Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Lawrence Fishburn, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Ayelet Zurer, Antje Traue, Christopher Meloni
Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: June 2013
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No matter how familiar I am with Superman's story, each incarnation continues to impress and flesh out who he is and what he means to us.
What I particularly like about this version is that we get to linger on Krypton; of course we know that the planets hours are definitely numbered but here we get to see what they are like as a race. Zack Snyder and his writers do a great job of making their civilisation intelligent and with a definite sense of their own importance as most fail to realise their way of life is at an end.
Russell Crowe plays Jor-El and I really like his performance and was pleased he was in a great deal of the movie, he and wife Lara played by Ayelet Zurer embody all that is good about Krypton which shows us why their son will be a hero.
There are some brilliant ideas throughout the Krypton scenes, in particular the moving computer/intercom that helps Jor-El and also the 'nursery' which is very interesting!
My favourite baddie General Zod is wonderfully played by Michael Shannon and we get to see why he and some select others escape Krypton's fate.
Henry Cavill dons the red cape this time around and proves that he can take on this role with the perfect amount of vigour and charm, but I like that the first we see of him is as a roughed up sailor. There are lots of flashbacks which give glimpses as to why he's hiding in plain sight and all the familiar stories are there.
Diane Lane and Kevin Costner both give lovely understated performances as Clark's parents Martha and Jonathon and again shows us why Clark is a force for good.
I really like Lois in this version, who is not content with getting a story by easy means and I love the way she meets Superman for the first time which definitely explains her infatuation!
Lawrence Fishburn brings a fatherly quality to the Daily Planet Editor in Chief Perry White and I also really like Christopher Meloni's performance as Colonel Hardy.
Zod's accomplice Faora is very intriguing; played by Antje Traue, she doesn't say a great deal but absolutely kicks ass and is very menacing, she and Michael Shannon's Zod are a great double act against Superman and both actors seem to relish their roles!
I'm not sure if I've ever seen more action in a Superman movie to date and at certain points it's a wonder that the Earth can survive the onslaught of the various battles throughout!
My absolute favourite scene is as the world engine starts terraforming the earth, which has truly amazing effects and sound and gives us the touching CGI moment as Christopher Reeves face is merged with that of Henry Cavill.
Two and a half hours literally flies by as every scene is played out to a wonderfully rousing score by Hans Zimmer which gives its own unique feel for a much loved group of characters for a new generation.
This movie was worth the wait and I'm very excited about a sequel!
~~Nikki~~
Directed By: Greg Mottola
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Joe Lo Trugliou, Sigourney Weaver
Distributed By: Universal Pictures
Release Date: February 2011
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Paul is an alien who definitely doesn't mince his words and the result is very funny!
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are great as Graeme and Clive, two British self-confessed sci-fi geeks who embark on a road trip through the U.S. to visit San Diego's Comic-Con.
Along the way they run into Paul, wonderfully voiced by Seth Rogen.
I love the look of Paul, his eyes carry such emotion and I simply can't stop staring at him every time he's on screen.
Kristen Wiig joins the trio as Ruth who's been raised to be a very strict Christian girl and she's very funny as Paul helps her realize what she's been missing out on. She and Simon Pegg have great chemistry and I love that Nick Frost's Clive seems almost childishly jealous at their sudden relationship.
Jason Bateman's Agent Zoil is on their trail and will stop at nothing to catch them and Blythe Danner gives a sensitive performance as Tara a woman whose life has been ridiculed through her encounter with Paul many years ago.
Sigourney Weaver delights as her bitchy character known simply as Big Guy confronts Paul and for those of us that have enjoyed many of her sci-fi roles in the past this is a sweet cameo!
Funny and full of pop culture references that sci-fi fans will love; this movie shows us that we aren't alone in the universe and that 'they' aren't too different from us after all!
~~Nikki~~
Directed By : John Madden
Starring: Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer, Antony Sher, David Westhead, Gerard Butler, Richard Pasco
Distributed By: Buena Vista International/Miramax
Release Date: July 1997
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This wonderful movie tells of Queen Victoria's reclusiveness after the death of her beloved consort Prince Albert.
Judi Dench is superb and brings such depth to Victoria who is stern and somewhat distant but there is fragility in her heart and a longing to regain the type of companionship that she has lost and this is displayed in beautiful fleeting moments throughout the movie.
Billy Connolly is absolutely remarkable as John Brown.
I love that he treats Victoria as an absolute equal! He's brash and makes mistakes but the connection and friendship that blossoms between them is quite lovely, even when they are at odds with each other.
Gerard Butler gives a very good performance as John's younger brother and the two actors share great chemistry. Geoffrey Palmer is excellent as Henry Ponsonby and I also really like Antony Sher as Prime Minister Desraeli.
Credit also goes to David Westhead who makes Victoria's son Bertie seem quite arrogant but also brings across the need for some sort of display of love and compassion from his bereaved Mother.
The scenery throughout is beautiful and each actor contributes greatly in making this a heartfelt story about loss and service to your country.
Although the story itself is sombre there are some lovely moments of humour mixed in and this film really gives a glimpse of what this period of history must have been like and how love and grief affect us all regardless of status and that friendship and time really can help to mend a broken heart!
~~Nikki~~
Director: John Madden
Starring: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Dev Patel
Distributed By: 20th Century Fox/Fox Searchlight
Release Date: February 2012
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Easily one of my
favourite movies of 2012, a superb cast cosy up to the idea that retiring in
Britain isn't all it’s cracked up to be and decide to head for sunnier climes
in India.
I love the small
scenes as we first meet the ensemble cast and see their reasons for making this
life-changing decision.
Each character is
very different and Judi Dench's character Evelyn lets the audience
experience what she is seeing; a noisy, vibrant, beautiful and somewhat crazy
city that will test them all in various ways, the film also looks
gorgeous and the dialogue sparkles as the characters start to
get to know each other.
Judi Dench is wonderful and plays Evelyn with
charming subtlety whilst Celia Imrie's Madge is straight to the point and has some
very funny lines, as does Ronald Pickup's Norman.
Maggie Smith's
Muriel is quite hilarious as she displays a complete fish out of water persona
and I love her scenes with Seema Azmi's Anokhi, the maid she befriends.
Penelope Wilton is
very good at making Jean annoyingly stuffy, but I love the contrast in her
relationship with long suffering husband Douglas, who is such a nice and
optimistic guy, brilliantly performed by Bill Nighy in one of my favourite film roles
for him to date.
Tom Wilkinson also
gives a lovely performance as Graham which is quite touching.
Dev Patel is truly
brilliant as Sonny as he 'sells' the hotel for all its worth and you can't help
but be swept up by his enthusiasm and charm. I also really like Tena Desae as Sonny's girlfriend Sunaina and his Mother played by Lillete Dubey.
Not only is this a
sweet, funny and moving film with an amazing cast, it's the wonderful script that completely drew me
in and it really is a pleasure to spend 2 hours watching these characters and
experience a small piece of India just for yourself.
Beautiful,
inspiring and heartfelt, watch this to lift your spirits and
sooth your soul.
~~Nikki~~
Director: Kevin Lima
Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon
Distributed By: Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: October/November 2007
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This brings all the optimistic and enthusiastic qualities inherent in Disney's many animated movies to infuse the live-action beautifully!
It's lovely to see the animation at the beginning and it all feels like very familiar territory, but as Giselle enters our world the fun really begins.
Amy Adams is truly a joy to watch as she plays the perfect princess complete with a huge billowy dress, also her ability to create new outfits takes some beating!
I love her honesty and absolute belief in true love as she discovers that our world is a much more cynical place!
Patrick Dempsey is really likable as Robert as he tries to figure out whether Giselle is who she claims to be and the scenes with Giselle and Robert's daughter are fun to watch.
My favourite scene is as Giselle uses her charming singing voice to entice the wildlife to lend a helping hand - New York style! I also love the street parade as Giselle sings "That's How You Know" which is beautiful and memorable.
James Marsden almost steals the film from Amy with his larger than life performance as Prince Edward; he really looks the part and brings such enthusiasm to every scene!
Timothy Spall makes Nathaniel wonderfully inept as he tries to carry out the Evil Queen's wishes and Pip is quite adorable, even though he can't say much!
Susan Sarandon brings malice into Queen Narissa's heart and her scenes are infused with contempt for the lover's fate and the world in general, she looks amazing and her transformation is pretty cool too!
There are some lovely songs throughout and the story is uplifting and romantic and many of the Disney Princesses traits can be glimpsed in Amy Adams' performance.
This is ultimately a movie that makes you smile and warms the heart!
~~Nikki~~
