Review: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn***
With Indiana Jones getting way past his prime – watching an older Harrison Ford leaping over containers in the opening scenes of the 2008 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull brought tears to the eyes, while the potential of Shia LaBeouf filling his screen father’s boots was silently quash after the same film, it’s not surprising that director Steven Spielberg went searching for another action-adventure franchise with a little more longevity and promise. Thankfully, the both the late Hergé, creator of the Tintin books, and his estate was and is a big Spielberg fan. All that one…
Review: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes****
This year has seen its fair share of fantasy blockbusters, each with their own ‘must-see’ reasons. But none quite have the sentimental and chilling impact of director Rupert Wyatt’s interpretation of Pierre Boulle’s 1963 sci-fi fantasy novel, La planete des singes, and how it all came about that apes rule the earth. Rise of the Planet of the Apes addresses how the apes took over, but has been given surprisingly believable concept. Scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) is hired by a wealthy corporation to test performance- (mind) boosting drugs on primates, in order to find a possible ‘cure’ for Alzheimer’s….
Review: The Smurfs In 3D***
Seeing little blue people prancing before your very eyes is usually not a sign of good health. But Raja Gosnell’s The Smurfs In 3D makes you feel far from blue and has a simple if predictable storyline that all ages can get involved with. It’s Smurfin’ good fun. When the evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria) chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world through a wormhole and into ours in the bright lights of New York City. Now they must find a way back before Gargamel captures them all and drains them of…
Review: Captain America: The First Avenger****
In UK cinemas from 29th July 2011 Marvel’s The Avengers better be the film to end all comic book adapted films in May 2012, as we’ve been serviced with more than our fair share of the genre of late in the build up. Fanboys and girls will always have their favourite characters – which naturally makes them biased in terms of the films, Thor, Iron Man etc. Then along comes US golden boy Captain America– or Steve Rogers – to sway opinion. As a standalone film for the uninitiated, this is the best so far, with a real old-fashioned hero…
Review: Cars 2 (3D)***
If crazy animated antics are not your bag, look away now: Lightning McQueen gives the road over to his trusted but goofy pal Mater this time in the sequel, Cars 2. It seems Lasseterand co have gone back to the original plot of the evils of gas-guzzling cars in an environmentally-conscious world, with this story’s ‘hero’, Mater, triggering a possible future series of film adventures about McQueen & Friends saving the planet. This story follows racing star car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and tow-truck pal Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) who head overseas to compete in…
Review: Green Lantern**
You can hear the fanboys/girls buzzing away with anticipation at yet another comic-book adaptation bursting onto the big screen this week – with more ticket-hiking 3D promises. Indeed, Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern is probably one of the most down-to-Earth (pardon the pun) and human of the majority of superheroes in the DC world, so instantly feels like a winning lead character for the uninitiated. As for this film, think X-Men: First Class, in terms of “how it all began”, as Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern is how Hal ‘became’ part of the green-glowing intergalactic police force. In the film, Hal…
Review: Thor (3D)***
In a time of Norse folklore, where men were men and roared with pride, comes a larger-than-life and humour-rich take on the Marvel comic adventure Thor that doesn’t forget the personal angle in the midst of all its splendid grandeur. This thumping-good-fun romp has a true hero at its heart to cheer on, opting for a lesser-known star to fully capture the imagination in Home and Away’s Chris Hemsworth, rather than someone established like Downey Jr. in Iron Man. Cast out of the mythical realm of Asgard by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), for waging a war between the gods,…
Review: Rio (3D)****
From bunnies to birds, this Easter feels like a nature zone of full of cuddly cuteness. It’s the battle of the studio giants for your kids’ attention, with Universal’s Hop (out last week) verses 20th Century’s new holiday offering, Rio. What the latter has to offer, though, is all the spirit of Rio for weary adults craving a break in the sun, plus some vibrant, heart-felt fun set to infectious Samba vibes. The story follows Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg), a non-flying blue macaw who is smuggled out of the jungles surrounding Rio de Janeiro, and ends up by accident…
Review: Sucker Punch***
It’s too easy to be blasé about visual maestro Zack Snyder’s new film Sucker Punch, and call it gaming-action porn with scantily-clad women – the opposite of the half-naked 300 men. Just as its Japanese manga influences revel in dubious paedophilia-like images of prepubescent schoolgirls kicking ass, this film could easily be dismissed as a pervert’s ‘wet dream’. That’s on one extreme. The other side is an intriguing feminist angle that sees an empowering action film, starring an all-female lead cast that just happens to look good and dress sexily, but delivers the goods when the going gets tough –…
Review: Hop****
Admittedly, Russell Brand is an acquired taste, and if that taste is slowly turning sour in the mouth after endless media reports about the Brand marriage and rising Brand transatlantic stardom, you would be forgiven for releasing a disparaging groan at the mere mention of Hop – a film voiced by Brand. Much as this thought first curled the toes, the comedian actually tones down his (often) X-rated banter to bring as much heart, spirit and soul to little E.B., the Easter Bunny-in-waiting that it’s hard to wipe the silly smile off your face and grumble. And parents can breathe…
Get Social with Superstar Magazine