Alien Nation (2nd view) - Science fiction film that spawned a short lived (but very good) TV series as wel as numerous TV movies. Three years after a spacecraft lands on Earth carrying Alien refugees, the Newcomers have become commonplace, living peacfully alongside humans. Mandy Patinkin plays San Francisco, the first alien to become a detective, and he teams up with veteran cop James Caan. Less thought-provoking and entertaining than countless other sci-fic films, but it's an enjoyable diversion - 3/5

The Night of the Hunter (1955), Charles Laughton's only directorial effort, primarily because the critical backlash prevented him from trying it again. The film has Robert Mitchum as crooked, self-appointed preacher Harry Powell, who terrorises two children into telling him where their father hid $10,000. However, they escape, and find themselves with Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish), who ends up being a match for Powell. A very atmospheric and quite ambient film for it's time, (it HUGELY influenced much of the Coen Brothers films), the critics from back then were proven wrong, it's a very engaging film, with a terrifying performance from Mitchum. What a pity Laughton never directed again. 4/5 Narc (2002), a powerful, gritty cop thriller from Joe Carnahan. The film has narcotics officer Nick Tellis (Jason Patric), being sent to investigate the murder of Michael Calvess, he is teamed up with Calvess' old partner Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), but with the police wanting to close the already cold case, Tellis and Oak stay on it, but corruption in the force brings out new evidence. A very powerful cop drama, with some good performances from Patric and Liotta, (both very underrated actors), the film owes alot to the films of William Friedkin, plus Carnahan is a director to keep an eye out on, especially after Smokin' Aces... ;) 4/5

Three and Out Pretty disappointing but it has a good soundtrack and Gemma Arteton sex Scene :P 5/10

Batman Begins (3rd view) – I first saw this at the cinema, I saw it next about a year later when I bought it. Both times I thought it was very good. This time, I bloody well every minute. A perfect cast (so long as can forget the insipid Holmes), brilliant music, a fine story, fantastic design and set pieces. Quite possibly the best superhero film. Can you say awesome? – 5/5 Deception (1st view) – A sort-of erotic thriller with Ewan McGregor as an accountant he gets more then he bargained for when he strikes up a friendship with the sinister Hugh Jackman. It stretches plausibility and you can guess the ending from a mile away, but both leads are worth watching – 3/5

A Fistful of Dollars (1964), the first of the much immitated Spaghetti Western trilogy by Italian director Sergio Leone, it's primarily a remake of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo, this has Clint Eastwood as Joe, (commonly known as The Man With No Name), wandering gunslinger who rides into a town torn apart by two feuding families, the Baxters and the Rojo's. So, he ends up play the two sides off one another. It's very well shot indeed, it did give a shot in the arm to the tired old western, it made Clint Eastwood a star and made Almería, Spain a popular western location. It's still a powerful film now, but when it comes to violent westerns, Sam Peckinpah does it best. ;) 3/5

Iron Man Excellent much better than the shitty Spiderman films and gives Batman Begins a run for its money. Great mix of comedy and action that is very entertaining. Robert Downey Jr plays the role very well and is perfect as Tony Stark. Word of warning stick around till after the credits for one of best after credits scenes i've seen :cool: 9/10

Three And Out - So-so comedy that has ideas above its station. I failed to see the humour in suicide presented and was annoyed at the stereotypical scousers. The film only improves when the action is moved to the lake district but even then is only averege. One to watch on dvd.

Iron Man - Director Jon Favreau kicks off the blockbuster season in suitable style with this entertaining, if extremely silly movie. A cast filled with Academy Award winners/ nominees who are obviously having fun, especially on their way to the bank. The story itself tries to deal with current affairs in a very PC way but falls on its back and had me rolling my eyes every so often. A bone to pick: how unnecessary is the unrequited love thing going on with Paltrow and Downey in this? It would have worked far better on a platonic basis. It has its laugh out loud moments and Stan Lee's traditional cameo raises a chuckle or two. This said, it does what it sets out to do very well. Leave your brains at the door and enjoy the two hour ride! Oh! Sit out the credits, there's a scene at the end that most of you will love!

Hulk (4th view) - Ang Lee's take on the big, green angry man is more thoughtful than most superhero films, at times more of a character study than an action flick, and all the better for it. Eric Bana handles the lead role well, porytaying the angst of Bruce Banner with ease, and Jennifer Connelly, acting all dreamlike, is equally impressive as Betty Ross, and for once in a superhero film there's a believable relationship between the two leads. Still, when the action begins the film works wonder as well. the Hulk generally look very good indeed and the standout set piece, almost 20 minutes long featuring the Hulk's breakout from the army base and the fight in the desert, pure adrenalin pumping stuff. I'm still not quite sure what the hell was happening in the final confronation, and I do wish Nick Nolte had taken the decision to enunciate and not mumble, but these are minor quibbles in a very impressive film. Thumbs up for Danny Elfman's score and the effective use of comic book style editing. - 4/5

Iron Man Fantastic adaptation of the Marvel Comics character. Amazing effects, thrilling action scenes, a great sense of humor and some genuinely human characters bolstered by some fantastic performances by a big name cast. Also stick around til the end of the (looonnnngggg) closing credits for one of the best OMFG moments ever! 5/5

Iron Man (2008), another Marvel comics superhero comes to the big-screen, after a while in development. This has weapons manufacturer and playboy businessman Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) being captured in Afghanistan, but he soon finds himself escaping, thanks to the creation of a high-tech metal suit he created while building a weapon for the enemy. When he finally gets home, he tinkers some more with it... A very good action hero piece, it's got some very good action in it, and it's got a very good cast indeed, (including Terrence Howard as Jim Rhodes, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane!!) It's not perfect, and it does whizz by too fast in many places, but director Jon Favreau keeps the pace and excitement up throughout the film. In all, a good start to the summer blockbuster season!! 4/5

Mr.Brooks - Above average psychological thriller. Costner as a serial killer with William Hurt as his alter ego, voice in his head etc. Costner and Hurt are fantastic together and there is good support from a young actor I cannotbe bothered to look up the name of. Also Demi proved again she is totally MILFtastic. 8/10

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (2nd) – Francis Ford Coppola’s take on the classic horror story is a masterpiece of design and atmosphere, but falters in most other areas. It looks a treat but is horrible miscast, with dodgy accents all over the place (Keanu Reeves! What was he thinking?) Out of all the names on display, only Gary Oldman fairs well but even he’s been better in countless of other film. Best thing about the fim is the stupendous score from Wojciech Kilar, one of the very best I’ve ever heard – 3/5 Chapter 27 (1st view) – This follows the three days in the life of Mark David Chapman prior to him killing John Lennon in 1980. While fictionalised, it does portray many of the actual events leading up to the murder. Still, at a short and snappy 80 minutes, it feels almost twice as long and while a bulked up Jared Leto impresses, we never really get any idea of why he felt it necessary to kill Lennon, and why on earth Lindsey Lohan is in here I have no idea. A wasted opportunity – 2/5 Saving Private Ryan (12th view) – I didn’t watch this film back in 2006 or 2007. Up until then, I’d seen it at least once every year but I decided to give it a break, for fear of it losing some of its power. I’m glad to say it hasn’t, it’s still as visceral, powerful and spellbinding as it was on the big screen 10 years ago. This is Spielberg at the peak of his craft. The scale of the film is staggering, how someone can helm something that must have been such logistical nightmare really amazes me. The battle scenes still have a tremendous impact,. In this past decade, many films have tried to replicate their intensity but none have succeeded. The de-saturated colour and hand held camerawork, the terrifying sights and sounds of warfare, all help to make the unimaginable seem real, and this is why I rate Spielberg so highly. In so many of his films, he makes you feel (well, me anyway) not like an audience member, but an actual participant in events, sharing the same thoughts and emotions as those on screen, and it’s perhaps never been done better than in this film. The fear, awe, shock, sadness and dread, I’m not watching people experience them, I’m experiencing them myself. The cast is perfect, most have never been better and Hanks is outstanding as the honourable Captain Miller. John Williams gives us one of his most subtle and melancholy scores, and fellow Spielberg regulars Michael Kahn and Janusz Kaminski have never bettered there work here. How this film lost the best Picture oscar to Shakespeare in love in unbelievable. WWII films are my favourite genre and this is right at the very top. Easily the film of the year so far. Make no mistake about it, this is a masterpiece - 5/5