Crazy, Stupid Love

Whoo hoo! Now this is what romcoms are all about! Instead of bad one-liners we have some real comedy, thanks to Steve Carell and a surprisingly funny Ryan Gosling. Instead of a “lonely girl seeking soulmate” we have a divorcee who’s suddenly re-introduced to the savage yet sexy dating scene, and instead of the usual faces (ahem, Jennifer Aniston) we’ve got a cast of fresh blood.

As opposed to the hundreds of dreary carbon-copies out there, this one is genuinely funny and heart-warming and makes my list of best romcoms ever. Wow. What a pleasant surprise.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

A Better Life

A story essentially about a father and son relationship, this beautifully directed film follows an illegal Mexican immigrant and his teenage son as they attempt to recover their stolen truck by venturing into the gang-ridden streets of downtown LA.

The world they encounter is both frightening and fascinating, as well as an interesting social comment on immigration issues in the US. Father and son, who are virtual strangers to each other, are forced to engage, which also creates a compelling dynamic. A great script and the subtleties of the camerawork, as well as some great acting, make this a brilliant and memorable movie.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

The Ward

Veteran director John Carpenter certainly got the mid-60s mood right for this film, which plays out in creepy psychiatric hospital. Furniture, nurses and hospital equipment just looked way more scary back then, right? So points for presentation…

The all-girl ensemble reminiscent of Girl, Interrupted, also brings something fresh to an old and generally haggard genre, but, as in most horror-thrillers, most of them are killed before we can properly bond, which leaves us only with our protagonist Kristen (Amber Heard). Kristen must deal with the pesky ghost who is not only killing her mates, but driving her more crazy than she already is.

Unfortunately the frights and thrills of this film are not so fresh, which is where the movie falls down. This doesn’t, however, make it unwatchable, just a bit disappointing.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

The Lion King 3D

Watching classic Disney movies is like eating your favourite ice cream – you can do it over and over again. One such movie is the universally loved and iconic Lion King. We all know the heart-warming coming-of-age story of little Simba, as well as all the songs that he and his friends sing, but watching it again is just as wonderful as the first time.

If you grew up watching this, you’re morally bound to introduce the story to a new generation, so take your younger siblings, kids, nieces, nephews and godchildren to see it! And remember to pack the tissues for a certain scene involving Mufasa…

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Conan the Barbarian

Fantasy flicks are rolling off the Tinsletown conveyer belt faster than coke bottles and unfortunately the cracks are beginning to show. Case in point: the remake of Conan the Barbarian in 3D.

There is not a lot to it: Conan’s dad is killed, Conan gets pissed, Conan wants revenge. Thrown in is a range of special effects that make it look only fleetingly good. In between that are a lot of grunts, howls, fights, screams and wails. We would rather use the 112 minutes movie duration to catch a nap.

Rating: 1 outta 5.

Love, Wedding, Marriage

What happens when bad actors turn their hands to directing? They become bad directors.

You’d be forgiven for not even knowing who Dermot Mulroney is; he’s one of those forgettable, B-grade types. So how he was allowed to direct an actual movie is beyond me. To be fair, though, this script is so incredibly bad and boring that I believe even Steven Spielberg would have struggled. Not even sweet Mandy Moore can save it from disaster.

If you actually care, the storyline is something about a newlywed marriage counsellor who is thrown for a loop when her parents get divorced. Yawn, snooze and snore…

Rating: 1 outta 6.

Cowboys & Aliens

To quote movie guru Roger Ebert: “Here is a movie set in 1873 with cowboys, aliens, Apaches, horses, spaceships, a murdering stagecoach robber, a preacher, bug-eyed monsters, a bartender named Doc, a tyrannical rancher who lives outside a town named Absolution, his worthless son, two sexy women, bandits, a magic bracelet, an ancient Indian cure for amnesia, a symbolic hummingbird, a brave kid with a spyglass, and a plucky dog who follows the good guys for miles and miles through the barren waste and must be plumb tuckered out.” Sheesh. Got that?

It’s a mish-mash from the minds of Jon Favreau and Steven Spielberg, and since it interweaves so many genres doesn’t always work out so well. It is however an interesting experiment and one worth giving a bash.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Retribution

This South African horror-thriller has been called “riveting” and “edge-of-your-seat” stuff by local media. Stripped down to the bare essentials and starring only two main actors, the film takes place in the middle of a stark nowhere and replays the horror of a man being hunted by another. It boasts no OTT special effects or tricks and uses the power of acting to communicate pure fear, which is why it’s so effective. Big up to the director Mukunda Michael Dewil for finally making a really scary movie we can get our teeth into.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Monte Carlo

Teen movie alert! And not just any teen movie… No, this one stars the queens of teen, Selena Gomez (Justin Bieber’s squeeze) and Leighton Meester (Gossip Girls), so you know 95% of the female teenage population is going to have to see it.

On a trip to Paris, Selena gets mistaken for a huge celebrity and is treated, along with her mates, to some serious luxury and attention. The girls decide to roll with the mistaken identity and find themselves being whisked off to Monte Carlo, where all sorts of adventures involving pretty boys unfold. Ahh, the totally unrealistic life of a Hollywood teenager… It is a great way to escape if you’re 14.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Incendies

This Arabic and French movie follows the journey of twins Jeanne and Simon as they retrace their mother’s history, after her death. Looking for a father and brother they never knew, they travel to the Middle East and discover that their mother was forced to leave the country of her birth due to her religious and political beliefs.

The plot unfolds like a thriller, keeping us guessing as we see flashbacks of the mother’s dark past, but also plays out like a deeply sentimental drama as we’re drawn into the story of a woman who essentially lived two completely different lives. Well received and highly acclaimed, this foreign film is definitely worth watching.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

The Tree of Life

This masterpiece of a film is more about the evocation of a feeling, and the sights and sounds that elicit this, than a clear-cut story with a beginning and an end. What does that mean? Well, instead of a straight path to a neat conclusion, we meander along with the O’Brien family as they negotiate life, death and love and, like looking through a family photo album, we get snippets of their experiences through some of the most beautiful cinematography you will ever see.

For me it was like watching someone else’s life flash before their eyes and made me wonder what I would see of my own life when death comes knocking. This is one of the most deeply thoughtful, artistic and spiritual movies I’ve seen, and it stars two of Hollywood’s finest: Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. It’s simply a must see.

Rating: 5 outta 5.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Yes, many, many ape movies have been made before this, but this is the one you will remember.

While the story is one we’ve seen before – genetic engineering and animal testing gone wrong – the incredible surrealism will take you by surprise. Using human movement to animate the apes, the animals come to life like you cannot imagine. Add to this some awesome special effects and brilliant production and you’ve got a blockbuster smash hit. See this one on the big screen.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Glee 3D Concert Movie

If you don’t know anything about Glee don’t bother reading this review. The modern musical show that has taken the world by storm has now become a full-on rock concert, with performances around the US to thousands of screaming fans. This is the recording of the concert, along with backstage sneak peeks and interviews, and it’s in 3D. For Gleeks, it doesn’t get better than this! Enjoy!

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Welcome to the Rileys

Twilight’s Kristen Stewart takes on a grittier role here as Malory, a stripper who turns tricks on the side in New Orleans. Okaaaay. Kinda hard to imagine her like that, right?

Then we get James Gandolfini who takes a liking to Malory and decides to start looking after her – in a platonic, fatherly way. Of course his wife (Melissa Leo) isn’t happy about the whole idea but decides to support her hubby. Playing out underneath all this is a tragedy the couple are overcoming, as well as a good few years of marital issues.

While the sentiment is plausible, the story, played out by these particular actors, is just a little bit unbelievable. That said, I didn’t hate it.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Zookeeper

Like Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum, Kevin James gets the shock of his life when the zoo animals that he looks after start talking to him. Why? Well, they really want to help him live and love better, so decide to butt in after years of silence.

Talking animal movies have been and will be around for a very long time; clearly their appeal is still broad. The kids will love it, and you might have a giggle in between thinking about what you’d rather be doing.

Rating: 2 outta 5.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Skinny Steve Rogers really wants to fight with his countrymen against Hitler but he’s just to small; no army general will sign him up. But then Steve meets a wacky scientist who’s determined to create the ultimate human weapon, and Skinny Steve becomes the owner of a ripped new bod. Not only is he hot, he’s a warring machine!

Yup, Marvel comics is back with Captain America and all the special effects and fun that go with it. It’s the perfect way to escape into pure fantasy this weekend.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Soul Surfer

This is the amazing true story of Bethany Hamilton, a talented surfer who had the world at her fingertips until a shark attack robbed her of an arm.

Devastated and depressed, Bethany had to learn how to be normal again and ended up overcoming all odds to compete in surfing competitions again. As one would guess, the film goes all out in the sentimentality department, but its message and impact is sound. Take your kids to see this one.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

African Cats

An incredible nature doccie, this film follows two African cat families and brilliantly documents the way they integrate their offspring into the wild. Filmed in the Masai Mara in Kenya, you will see footage that will totally blow your hair back. Not only is this Disney production worth seeing on the big screen, it’s worth buying on Blue-ray too.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

The Conspirator

In 1865 a group of men were charged with attempting to kill US president Lincoln and two of his right-hand men. While this in itself doesn’t sound too thrilling, the story that unfolds is an interesting one that not many people know. With a notable cast and some excellent acting, this is a good historical film to see if you’re in the mood.

Rating: 3 outta 5.