Director: Mark Steven Johnson Starring: Ben Afleck, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clark Duncan, Colin Farrell, Jon Favreau, Joe Pantoliano, Scott Terra, David Keith, Erick Avari, Ellen Pompeo, Derrick O'Connor Distributed By: 20th Century Fox Release Date: February 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------- Dark and atmospheric, Ben Affleck plays both Matt and his alter ego with great subtlety and I like the effects used throughout to show us his 'sight'. Jennifer Garner brings toughness to Elektra and is very good in her action scenes. The sadly late Michael Clarke Duncan is perfect in his role as Kingpin and really looks the part and both Jon Favreau and Joe Pantoliano are good in their supporting roles, but Colin Farrell steals the film with a crazy performance as Bullseye which is not easily forgotten! It might not be the best comic book movie ever made, but it's also not the worst and it does deserve its place amongst the Marvel line-up. ~~Nikki~~
Director: Sam Raimi Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris, J. K. Simmonds, Joe Manganiello, Bill Nunn, Elizabeth Banks, Bruce Campbell Distributed By: Columbia Pictures Release Date: May 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------- This movie is really good fun! Tobey Maguire is excellent as Peter Parker and really brings the awkwardness of teenage years to life and there are many funny moments as he starts to come to terms with his powers, notably the scene with the school bully and in the wrestling ring which also features brilliant cameos from Bruce Campbell and Randy Savage. Watching Spider-Man swinging through the City of New York is still very impressive and it also features a lovely score by Danny Elfman. Kirsten Dunst is very good as Mary Jane and James Franco's Harry makes the friendship between the three teens fairly intense. Willem Dafoe looks like he has great fun playing the Green Goblin and brings a manic quality to those scenes and the fight scene between him and Spider-Man is pretty brutal!! Filled with humour, great action sequences and also a message of responsibility this movie brings one of the best loved comic book characters to life to great effect! ~~Nikki~~
Director:Bryan Singer Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, Tyler Mane, Bruce Davidson, Ray Park Distributed By: 20th Century Fox Release Date: July 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------- This is the movie that cemented the superhero genre in all its many forms into my heart and I still love watching it. Director Bryan Singer proves that comic book movies aren't just about visual gags and bright costumes and the first scene of this movie is extremely powerful! Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are absolutely perfect as Charles and Erik and both actors bring gravitas to the movie. There are many performances to enjoy and I particularly like Famke Janssen as Jean, Anna Paquin as Rogue and Rebecca Romjin-Stamos as Mystique, but for me this movie is completely stolen by wonderful Hugh Jackman portraying my favourite X-Man Wolverine. There is a lot of humour throughout and most of my favourite scenes involve Wolverine as he finds chemistry with Jean, rivalry with Cyclops and begins a lovely friendship with Rogue. The fight sequence between Wolverine and Mystique is great fun too. Possibly the first in the current wave of superhero movies to perfectly blend rather extreme comic book elements with a realistic storyline and mature themes with compassion this is a great start to a genre of movies that continue to demand our love and appreciation. ~~Nikki~~
Director: Sidney J. Furie Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Jackie Cooper, Mark McClure, Margot Kidder, Mark Pillow, Sam Wanamaker, Jon Cryer, Mariel Hemmingway Distributed By: Warner Bros. Release Date: July 1987 --------------------------------------------------------------- I remember seeing this many times when I was young, so I'm quite fond of it! This improves greatly on the third film and brings back Margot Kidder as Lois Lane and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor and both are fun in their expanded roles. I particularly like Lex in this one as he creates a powerful being to match and hopefully destroy Superman once and for all. Mark Pillow really looks the part as Nuclear Man and the fight scenes are fun to watch. This instalment has funny and silly moments and it also tries to display a more serious tone as Superman decides that he is a citizen of Earth. Christopher Reeve is so likable in both his roles as Superman and Clark and I'm glad he wore that costume one last time. ~~Nikki~~
Director: Richard Lester Starring: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper, Mark McClure, Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stevenson, Robert Vaughn, Margot Kidder Distributed By: Warner Bros. Release Date: July 1983 --------------------------------------------------------------- This is quite bizarre. This third instalment of the franchise really plays it for laughs and there's a lot of visual slapstick humour which seems out of place. Richard Pryor's performance is good and Robert Vaughn also does well, although for me, he doesn't match Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. I really enjoyed Annette O'Toole as Lana and she brings real warmth to the story and I found myself completely forgetting Lois due to her limited scenes. There are some genuinely funny moments but also some very strange scenes too. Superman facing off against Clark gives the movie a dark tone and some of those scenes would probably be quite upsetting for young children and then the events in the cave become even more bizarre as the super computer does its thing! Overall Christopher Reeve does well and these movies will continue to be enjoyed for his performance, but the first and second films are the ones to be Cherished! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Richard Lester Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Jack O'Halloran, Valerie Perrine, Susannah York Distributed By: Warner Bros. Release Date: April 1981 ----------------------------------------------------------- This is my favourite of the four Superman outings for Christopher Reeve and there's plenty to enjoy about this one! Lex takes his scheming up a notch as he and Eve discover a few home truths about Superman's past. My favourite baddies, Zod, Ursa and Non are a force to be reckoned with and Terence Stamp in particular gives a perfectly arrogant performance as he expects the world to make him its leader and its fun seeing Lex trying to blag his way into their favour. Superman revealing his true identity to Lois is sweet and they both share some lovely moments together before he realises that being a human has its limitations. It's also lovely seeing Susannah York with a larger role as she tries to advise her son about human feelings. There are some fun action scenes as the evil trio finally meet Earth's hero and Clark getting his revenge is nicely satisfying! A lovely addition to the Superman franchise! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Richard Donner Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Margot Kidder, Valerie Perrine, Ned Beatty, Terence Stamp Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures/Columbia-EMI-Warner Release Date: December 1978 ------------------------------------------------------------ The movie that firmly placed the superhero genre on the big screen, this is still wonderful. John Williams created a beautifully rousing score to match the qualities of our hero and it really lifts every scene. I love the fleeting glimpses that we get of Krypton and its inhabitants. The trio of villains being sentenced are intriguing and Marlon Brando brings an authoritative but loving persona to Jor-El and I love the scenes at the Fortress of Solitude. Christopher Reeve is perfect; charismatic and charming as Superman and very funny in his clumsy and shy alter ego Clark Kent. Margot Kidder brings fierceness to Lois Lane which softens as she gets closer to the man of steel and Gene Hackman's wonderfully egotistical Lex Luthor is great fun as he and his followers bring a touch of menace to thwart Superman at every turn. There are many moments to enjoy throughout but Superman spinning the Earth in the opposite direction is still my favourite scene! Superman is a movie that will remain a beloved classic for years to come. ~~Nikki~~
Director: Rupert Wyatt Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo, Andy Serkis, Tyler Labine Distributed By: 20th Century Fox Release Date: August 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------- Oh I did enjoy this! Caesar is perfect and totally steals the movie. He looks absolutely wonderful as he blends his inherent primate qualities with human intelligence! WETA Digital continues to astound me with their truly impressive effects as they mix CGI, Motion Capture and Models, they are evolving beautifully. Andy Serkis proves once again that he's the Motion Capture go-to guy as he breathes life and emotion into another CGI character to give a truly inspired performance. John Lithgow is wonderful and gives a powerful performance in a series of small moments. James Franco is very likable as the scientist who's trying to hold onto those he loves and you can sense the bond between him and Caesar. There are many smaller roles I enjoyed too; Freida Pinto, Brian Cox,Tom Felton and Tyler Labine all have their moments to shine. Full of intriguing ideas and showing humankind's quest to control nature for a price this movie is exciting, scary and has a feeling of intimacy about it which I really enjoyed! Will there be more? I certainly hope so... ~~Nikki~~
Director: Sofia Coppola Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Swartzman, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Steve Coogan Distributed By: Columbia Pictures Release Date: October 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------
Visually stunning, director Sofia Coppola makes this movie a feast for the eyes. Kirsten Dunst shines as Marie Antoinette and portrays her with kindness and sympathy and I love that it's filmed from her point of view and we get to see just how unsure she is about being accepted in France. Jason Swartzman gives a wonderful and understated performance as he slowly warms to life as a royal husband. Rip Torn is humorous as Louis XV, whilst Rose Byrne brings great enthusiasm and Steve Coogan is also very good in his supporting role. The music throughout creates a great atmosphere but I had to get my head around some of the more modern pieces which seemed to slightly contradict the film's setting, but overall this is a very pleasing and invigorating take on the life of France's young Monarch who's extravagance ultimately sealed her fate. ~~Nikki~~
Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Marsan, Toby Kebbell, David Kross, Liam Cunningham Distributed By: DreamWorks Studios/Touchstone Pictures Release Date: December 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------- This is a really beautiful film. Steven Spielberg's direction is absolutely wonderful and the cinematography is breathtaking. It's filled with a host of wonderful actors and the performances throughout are truly impressive. I particularly like Jeremy Irvine as Albert and Emily Watson as Rose. There are many smaller roles that are also beautiful to watch; Céline Buckens and Niels Arestrup bring heartfelt performances as Emilie and her Grandfather and Tom Hiddleston brings real emotion as Captain James Nicholls. The star of this is of course beautiful Joey and watching him touch so many different lives is truly magical! Moving and heartwarming this is what the cinema is made for. ~~Nikki~~
Director: Seth Gordon Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures Release Date: July 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------- This really made me laugh. Kevin Spacey is brilliantly and effortlessly intimidating whilst Colin Farrell totally revels in his characters idiotic role and Jennifer Aniston takes sexual harassment to a whole new level! Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are all fun to watch as the three employees trying to formulate their plans and Jamie Foxx shows he can talk the talk to earn easy money. Very funny and at times shocking, this is the film to watch when you've had a really bad day at the office... ~~Nikki~~
I'm currently addicted to the following movie related goodness.... I loved the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel and am very excited to see how the movie compares!
Ahhh The Hobbit! Peter Jackson continues to tease me!
The Great Gatsby has been pushed back to summer 2013 but the trailer is looking luscious!
Whilst Seven Psychopaths looks kinda strange and very funny!
I'm also loving this image of the great Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln from Steven Spielberg's upcoming historical biopic Lincoln.
Director: Tony Scott Starring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, James Gandolfini Distributed By: Warner Bros. Release Date: September 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------- This is one of my favourite movies by the late Tony Scott. Patricia Arquette is adorable as Alabama and makes her sudden romance with Clarence totally believable; she also gives such a powerful performance when confronted by James Gandolfini's drug goon. Christian Slater effortlessly switches between being a lovable nice guy to someone who's not afraid to kill for love. Full of great supporting roles, the standout performances by Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper are very intense. The pace and dialogue is fast and sharp and is pure Tarantino! I also love Clarence's visions of Elvis and its fun seeing Brad Pitt totally wasted! Switching between sweet romance, comedy and at times extreme violence this is a cinematic treat!! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Joel Schumacher Starring: Colin Farrell, Forest Whitaker, Kiefer Sutherland, Radha Mitchell, Katie Holmes Distributed By: 20th Century Fox Release Date: April 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------- I love the real-time feel of this. Right from the beginning it grabs hold and the tension builds and builds. Kiefer Sutherland is perfectly menacing as he convinces Colin Farrell to stay on the line and Forest Whitaker brings patience and understanding to the cop who's trying to figure out what's going on. The supporting cast all do well and really make this feel like a realistic hour on a busy street in New York. Colin Farrell is absolutely amazing as he goes from being an uncaring and arrogant publicist to a scared and humbled man who realises what he's about to lose and he totally nails the performance. A brilliant thriller that never gets old! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Jon Favreau Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Clancy Brown, Abigale Spencer, Noah Ringer Distributed By: Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Studios/Paramount Pictures Release Date: July 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------- One of the most unique movies I've seen, this really mixes it up! I love the old style Cowboy era and this feels very reminiscent of movies in that genre. What's interesting about this film is the very up to date Sci-Fi element. The Cowboys in question just take it all in their stride and Daniel Craig in particular means business! He's well suited to this type of role and does a lot without needing to say much! Harrison Ford is also very good in his gruff leader type role and Olivia Wilde is great as one of the few females fighting alongside the men. With a few surprises along the way this is a very enjoyable Sci-Fi movie with a twist! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Cody Horn, Matt Bomer, Oliver Munn, Joe Manganiello, Matthew McConaughey Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures/FilmNation Entertainment Release Date: June 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------- This was really good fun! The male cast all prove how much they were prepared to give to these characters as not only are they all very easy on the eyes but the choreography throughout is amazing! It's quite refreshing to see a movie about a strip club from the male point of view and Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer both give strong performances. This film is funny and lighthearted but also has some serious moments that adds weight to the story and the music is excellent and extra credit goes to Matthew McConaughey for bringing such enthusiasm to his character whilst also writing and performing some of the songs! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Craig Gillespie Starring: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Tennant, Imogen Poots, Toni Collette Distributed By: DreamWorks Studios/Touchstone Pictures Release Date: August 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------- This is a really good movie! Colin Farrell looks like he's having a great time feasting on the population of Nevada and David Tennant is very good as Peter Vincent and has some great lines and I especially enjoy his love/hate relationship with Sandra Vergara! Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots are both likable as the teens that discover their neighbours secret and Christopher Mintz-Plasse adds some very awkward teen moments to proceedings. The make-up and effects are really good throughout and there are lots of funny moments. A really enjoyable addition to the Vampire genre that I'll keep close to my heart! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Michael Mann Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman Distributed By: Warner Bros. Release Date: December 1995 -------------------------------------------------------------- This movie is really outstanding! Not only does it feature two of cinemas finest actors in Al Pacino and Robert De Niro but is also an intelligently written thriller that keeps you guessing right till the end. The film has an impressive cast and all do well in each role but it's Al Pacino and Robert De Niro that make this compelling viewing and you get the impression that the two characters would be best friends were they on the same side and the respect they have for each other plays out until the last scene and makes the film extremely powerful. There's plenty of stand out scenes and I particularly enjoy when the two leads meet for the first time. The street shootout is intense and incredibly well filmed and the ending is satisfying and very well performed. An exceptional movie!! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Roger Donaldson Starring:Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton, Charles Hallahan, Elizabeth Hoffman, Jamie Renée Smith, Jeremy Foley, Grant Heslov Distributed By: Universal Pictures Release Date: February 1997 -------------------------------------------------------------- This movie is still impressive and atmospheric. Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton are both very likable in their respective roles and the town and scenery is really beautiful. The star of this film is of course the volcano itself and as things start to take a turn for the worse for the town and its occupants the action really picks up the pace. The effects are excellent throughout and the cast all do well as they endure plenty of intense moments along the way. Still very enjoyable, this film grabs hold and shows us the volatile side of nature! ~~Nikki~~
Director: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Alec McCowen, Brian Blessed, Christian Bale Distributed By: Curzon Film Distributors/The Samuel Goldwyn Company Release Date: October 1989 -------------------------------------------------------------- A truly wonderful adaptation of William Shakespeare's historic play, Kenneth Branagh who also directs this movie brings passion, bravery, sadness and humour to Henry as he battles the French in the famous Battle of Agincourt. It's Filled with a galaxy of wonderful actors and there are so many performances to enjoy, from Judi Dench as Mistress Quickly, Robbie Coltrane as Falstaff, Brian Blessed as the Duke of Exeter, Ian Holm as Fluellen to Emma Thompson's delightful turn as Princess Katherine and Derek Jacobi also brings depth as he narrates Henry's journey. The battle scenes are remarkably realistic and I love the small moments throughout notably when Henry disguises himself to mix with his troops and the lovely sequence as he declares his love for Katherine. Powerful and moving, this is lovingly crafted in every way and deserves its place amongst the best of Shakespeare's work put on film. ~~Nikki~~
