Viewer Reviews
Recent Reviews By HANLEY
 | Footloose (2011) (Film)All things considered, sit back, enjoy and cut loose. - HanleyRen McCormick (Kenny Wormald) has just moved to Bomont, a town where dancing has been prohibited due to a traumatic accident that occurred years previous. Determined to win both the respect of the stern preacher (Dennis Quaid) and the heart of his daughter (Julianne Hough), Ren challenges the law in a bid to return the teenagers' right to dance. The youth more ... |
 | Drive (Film)The coolest film of the decade - Hanley“I give you a five-minute window. Anything happens either side of that window and you're on your own.” Straight away Ryan Gosling's nameless 'Driver' sums up his character in a film that takes a somewhat unoriginal storyline and throws it into the world of art house neo-noir with the likes of Black Rain and Brick. Stuntman by day, wheelman by night, a more ... |
 | Dan in Real Life (Film)Dan in Real Life is a heartfelt romantic comedy full of wit and originality. - HanleyDan Burns (Steve Carell) is a columnist and a widower who is raising three teenage girls on his own. On the way to the yearly family reunion, Dan meets a beautiful woman (Juliette Binoche) in a bookstore who both immediately connect. Upon his arrival at the family home, he discovers the same woman is his brother's new girlfriend and he must endure the more ... |
 | Four Lions (Film)Chris Morris makes one of the bravest and boldest film satires to grace our screens for a long time. - HanleyOmar (Riz Ahmed) is the leader of a hopeless underground terrorist cell comprised of his dense friends Waj (Kayvan Novak), Barry (Nigel Lindsay) and Faisal (Adeel Akhtar). After a brief stint in a Pakistani training camp, Omar devises a plan to devastate Britain with multiple suicide bombings. It's rare when a director gets the audience unwaveringly more ... |
 | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Video)“It's a pirate's life for me†boasts Captain Jack. Hopefully not for much longer. - HanleyJack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is press-ganged by old flame Anjelica (Penelope Cruz) into the crew of her father, notorious pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Blackbeard is hunting the Fountain of Youth, for he fears a prophecy involving his death at the hands of a one-legged man, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), will be fulfilled shortly. No-one could have more ... |
 | Attack the Block (Film)A confident debut from Cornish that may be the best British film of the year. - HanleyA gang of hoodlums led by Moses (John Boyega) mug a young nurse (Jodie Whitaker) only to subsequently witness an alien invasion. Deciding their strongest foothold in defending themselves is their local apartment building, they team up with the nurse and their drug dealer in order to destroy the ferocious aliens and defend the block. At times it feels like more ... |
 | The Eagle (Film)The Eagle is a decent film for those who wish to sit down and relax with swords and steeds. - HanleyAfter centurion Marcus Aquila is honourably discharged due to a serious leg injury, he is sent to recover in his uncle's palace. Tired of hearing the stories of how his father led the Ninth Legion to their demise in the northern territories, Aquila sets out with his slave Esca to discover what happened and retain their emblem, the golden eagle of Rome. The more ... |
 | Clerks 2 (Film)A script comprised of bar talk and throwaway acting. Refund, please. - HanleyIt's no wonder that Clerks is Kevin Smith's definitive movie. It was clever, satirical, inspirational and original. We were brought into a world we hadn't seen before, the real world. A generation X, minimum wage, cynical yet uplifting environment. Clerks was the perfect launching point for an avid film-fan such as Smith. It's just a shame he decided to more ... |
 | A charming 80s throwback that never reaches its potential. - HanleyWhen a film is delayed almost four years, it's almost a certainty that its luck won't improve. Although it's a shame because if the script had been worked over a bit more then Take Me Home Tonight could have been the cult comedy of the year. Intelligent but unmotivated MIT graduate Matt Franklin (Topher Grace) has always regretted never asking out his more ... |
 | 30 Minutes or Less (Film)An hilarious and exhilarating rollercoaster action-comedy. - HanleyStraight from the beginning of 30 Minutes or Less we are reminded of Ruben Fleischer's directorial debut Zombieland. An opening credits scene involving an almost suicidal pizza delivery is riddled with the same slick panache that was ever-present in the 2009 zom-com. Dwayne (Danny McBride) and Travis (Nick Swardson) are two lazy idiots who conspire to more ... |
 | Hanna (Film)Boring, cluttered and utterly pretentious. Wright doesn't know what he wants his film to be. - HanleyFormer CIA agent Erik Heller (Eric Bana) has raised his sixteen year-old daughter Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) in isolation, training her to be a lethal assassin. When their position is brought to the attention of the CIA and top agent Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), Hanna finds herself on the run, struggling to find out who and what she really is. Saoirse more ... |
 | Fast and Furious Five (Video)Not likely to win any Oscars or score high on any tests, Fast and Furious 5 is big, dumb, loud blockbuster action with a budget fit for a king. - HanleyRocky V Saw V, American Pie: The Naked Mile. These are just some of the rare examples of a fifth entry into a popular franchise. But now, into the spotlight comes something much rarer, the fifth film that may be the best one yet. Fast and Furious 5 begins pretty much exactly where its predecessor left off. Dominic Turetto (Vin Diesel) is broken out of a more ... |
 | The Company Men (Video)At least The Company Men doesn't dwell in self-sympathy and instead generally pushes a silver lining mentality, albeit an unbelievable one. Though ultimately, The Company Men sports a talented cast who are exercised carelessly and given a tacky script with no flair whatsoever. - HanleyThe Company Men tries to take advantage of the current economic crisis but also attempts a morally uplifting tale to tell the audience. The problem with this is, people are going to the cinema more than ever to escape the reality of the recession. It doesn't help that writer/director John Wells seems to be trying to pass off The Company Men as Inside Job in more ... |
 | Faster (Film)Faster is a decent homage to 70s film noir. Unfortunately, director George Tillman Jr. doesn't take his time with the telling of the story, instead trying to simultaneously create his throwback film and secure the adrenaline-seeking audience that lazy, revenge thrillers appeal to. - HanleyDwayne Johnson stated recently that his desire was to move away from his family-friendly features and knuckle down in hard-boiled action films. With Fast and Furious 5 under his belt and the securing of a prominent role in GI Joe 2, he seems to be doing just that. Faster may not live up to its full potential but is definitely a start in erasing The Tooth more ... |
 | Your Highness (Film)Eliminate the star-studded cast and this would be a middle-ages version of Epic Movie. If parents don't mind their young teenagers watching rude masturbation jokes and gratuitous nudity, Your Highness is the movie for them. Fitting as it feels like it was written by youngsters. - HanleyThe medieval comedy is something that has been done many times before. But then again, there are few original ideas in the realm of comedy. So the problem isn't beginning to watch Your Highness with a biased opinion, it's the opinion you develop once the 'jokes' start rolling. Lazy Prince Thadeous (Danny McBride) always feels unappreciated in comparison to more ... |
 | The Guard (Film)A west of Ireland take on Intermission, The Guard is brash, bold and relentlessly entertaining. Simply put, Brendan Gleeson at the top of his game. - Hanley“Sure, I'm Irish, racism is part of my culture.” states Sergeant Gerry Boyle. Never has a statement so successfully summed up a film. Non-Irish, be warned. Writer/director John Michael McDonagh definitely puts The Guard as a companion piece to brother Martin's 2008 black comedy In Bruges, but takes his debut in more of a Bad Lieutenant direction. Somewhat more ... |
 | Fair Game (Film)A welcome retreat from Liman's recent films Jumper and Mr and Mrs Smith, Fair Game goes more back to his Bourne Identity roots but ups the ante in the sense of drama, intensity and talent. - HanleyPicture the scene, it's less than a week after 9/11 and the United States government is craving retaliation, and badly. The White House is desperate for judgments to be made and facts to be shown. Well, not so much the facts. This is an incredibly sensitive subject to cover but acceptable now that the age of Barack has begun. In the times we live in, more ... |
 | Spider-Man 3 (Film)Sam Raimi did a fine job with Spider-man 1 and 2 and came so close to finishing off a great comic-book trilogy. Alas, Spidey's series went the way of Blade and X-Men, creating a cheesy, overcrowded, poorly-scripted studio blockbuster. All in all, feeling like three movies being stuffed into one. - HanleyHappy in his new, secret-free life with Mary Jane Watson, things are going well for Peter Parker. Until the true killer of his uncle breaks out of prison, a suspicious alien substance from a crashed meteor targets him and all the while Harry Osborn, inspired by his late father, craves the death of Spider-man. Sam Raimi's choice of cast over the films was more ... |
 | Morning Glory (Film)Coming from J.J. Abrams' production studio 'Bad Robot' which has previously made films such as Mission: Impossible III, Cloverfield and Star Trek, Morning Glory offers a fresh romantic comedy that takes full advantage of its amicable script and star-studded cast. Morning Glory, while not being the most realistic film and employing a cheesy guilty pleasure soundtrack, is very enjoyable to watch and sure to provide a few laughs. - HanleyRunning a television program is no picnic, as we've seen in Network but it's also a glamorous environment, as we've seen in Anchorman. Think of Morning Glory as somewhere in the middle but still very much a film of its own. Sharp and fast-paced, Morning Glory, albeit cliché-stricken, is satisfying on all the right levels. Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is a more ... |
 | Super (Film)Super plays out like a comic book version of Joel Schumacher's Falling Down, both tales of a man spiralling out of control in his own search for what he thinks is right. Hopefully this won't inspire any deranged anti-heroics from the public. - HanleyKick-Ass will come to mind when most people see trailers for this film. Granted, Super is marketed as a silly comedy but it is so much more than that. Director James Gunn of Slither tells the wonderfully twisted tale of man on a journey to find who he is and plummeting down the rabbit hole into a world of violence, anti-heroics and extreme justice. Frank more ... |
 | The Mist (Video)The Mist is a terrifying horror that drags you screaming into the characters' nightmarish situation. It keeps you hooked until the end and then shocks you with an unforgettable ending. The best B-movie horror you'll ever see. - HanleyThe Mist is a suspenseful horror film adapted from a novella by Stephen King and directed by Frank Darabont. This marks the third collaboration between Darabont and King, adding to previous films The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. The Mist is set in a New England town which is suddenly enveloped in a heavy fog. Thomas Jane plays protagonist David more ... |
 | Limitless (Film)A good idea for a film but not thought out well enough. Stylish and slick, Limitless is sure to be enjoyed by those not watching. Nothing more than an average attempt at capitalising on the ideologies of today's society. Take a pill and everything will be better - HanleyBradley Cooper stars in this adrenaline-fuelled action-thriller about a man who discovers a pill that allows you to access the full potential of your brain and struggles to deal with the consequences in a modern telling of a be-careful-what-you-wish-for scenario. Cooper plays down-and-out writer Eddie Morra who is struggling with his next novel until more ... |
 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Film)Indy IV seems rushed even after nineteen years and made out of feelings of nostalgia by Ford, Lucas and Spielberg. Hardly reason enough to tamper with a perfect trilogy. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. - HanleyI don't think there's anyone in the world who would get upset when hearing about a new Steven Spielberg film. But I came very close. The last time we saw our hero Indiana Jones, he was riding off into the sunset (literally) with his father, family friend Marcus Brody and accomplice Sallah after conquering the Nazis and finding (and losing) the Holy Grail. A more ... |
 | Extract (Film)Even at a mere 92 minutes, Extract feels drawn-out and frequently wanders off point, never tying together the several interesting sub-plots with an overall story. Jason Bateman's comedic timing is, as usual, superb but the script doesn't seem to have enough material for him to work with. - HanleyJoel (Jason Bateman) is the owner of an extract factory. Yearning to sell his company and improve his relationship with his life, all these things and more are thrown into jeopardy with the arrival of con artist Cindy (Mila Kunis), a freak workplace accident and a horse tranquilizer-fuelled discussion. Jason Bateman's regular role as protagonist dulls more ... |
 | Horrible Bosses (Film)Word of advice; don't go to the bathroom, as Horrible Bosses is a hilariously witty film that you'll be quoting for quite some time. - HanleyIt's only a few times a year that we find a genuinely funny comedy. The Hangover's crass humour may appeal to fifteen year-olds and the boorish gags of the Frat Pack films might garner some laughs from the unintelligent audience but Horrible Bosses, suffice to say, is one that can appeal to everyone. If one were to judge this movie by its cover, it could more ... |
 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (Film)Cluttered and complicated, it seems like Part 1 simply has all the elements of the book crammed in, except for the last few chapters. However, the long-awaited fine acting of our young stars and several exciting action set pieces save this Potter from the dustbin of Years 1-4. Part 2 can't come soon enough. - HanleyRight from the get-go, you know straight away this is quite a different Potter altogether. The comfortable traditions of comic incidents with the Dursleys, the repetitive scenes on the Hogwarts Express and Dumbledore's start-of-the-year speech have been scrapped. Instead, they have been replaced with an erratic speech from the Ministry of Magic regarding more ... |
 | The Incredibles (Film)Pixar pride themselves on their ingenuity and The Incredibles is by far their least-original idea. An overcrowded script takes the film down a few notches but breath-taking visuals and lovable characters keeps The Incredibles from being an utter disappointment and establishing it as worthy of a Pixar title (just). - HanleyDead-end jobs, marital apathy, resentful children, life as a superhero isn't all it's cracked up to be. Or should I say ex-superhero, as Pixar's gleaming story of a family of super powered individuals seamlessly switches between themes of fun-filled adventure and dramatic identity-crisis. After the government enforces an act that prevents superheroes from more ... |
 | The Lincoln Lawyer (Video)An enjoyable film with nothing really memorable about it, it's mainly just a relief to see Matthew McConaughey acting in a role where he doesn't have to take his shirt off (much). - HanleyMatthew McConaughey is just one of those actors, type casted every day of the week in schlocky romantic comedies and lifeless action movies. At least that was the old McConaughey. This new McConaughey is someone that shows promise when suited to the right role. The Lincoln Lawyer might just be his saving grace. Defence attorney Mickey Haller is somewhat more ... |
 | Animal Kingdom (Film)A shocking, visionary masterpiece that keeps you glued to the screen. Never has a coming-of-age story been translated so well into the criminal world. Without a doubt, Animal Kingdom is the most refreshing gangster movie since City of God. - HanleyAnother gangster movie is what most people will be thinking. But they'd be wrong. True, this is the story of a brutal criminal family trying to evade imprisonment but this may be one of the most powerful movies of the last few years. Animal Kingdom is an accurate insight into the life of an unlawful family where trust is earned and blood is more important more ... |
 | Hall Pass (Video)Nothing close to a classic comedy but certainly the starting of a U-turn in the Farrelly Brothers' recent comedic direction. - HanleyAll of us want nothing more than a return to form from The Farrelly Brothers, those comedic legends who rocked the world with Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin and There's Something About Mary. These two rude, crude brothers may have owned the 90s, but in recent years their track record hasn't been the best. Shallow Hal, Stuck On You and The Heartbreak Kid have been more ... |
 | Unknown (Film)Trying to be cleverer than it actually is, Unknown frustrates viewers more than tantalises them. At least Taken knew what it was. And that's why we loved it. - HanleyTaken meets Memento, Bourne meets Hitchcock, Runaway Bride meets Under Siege. Unknown has been branded a cross-breed of many films (okay, except for maybe the last one). It's a shame that it can't live up to any of these films it's compared to (okay, except for maybe the last one). Upon arrival in Berlin, Dr Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) gets separated from more ... |
 | I Am Number 4 (Film)An entertaining blend between Twilight and Percy Jackson, I Am Number Four's great cast does wonders for its genre. If only they can work on the story, we could have a one-to-watch franchise on our hands. - HanleyIn danger of being wiped out completely, nine alien children along with their guardians are sent to Earth in hope of remaining hidden. It's seventeen years later and three have been killed by an unknown force. Number Four (Alex Pettyfer) must fight to survive all the while juggling his growing powers and his undying love for a human girl (Dianna Agron). DJ more ... |
 | Sanctum 3D (Film)Sanctum's fantastic visuals fail to make up for its stereotypical characters, hammy acting and atrocious dialogue. The only way to see this movie is in the cinema. At least there you'll get the full effect of the presumably high-quality 3D. - HanleyA group of cave divers become trapped in the Esa'ala Cave in New Guinea after a tropical storm begins to flood the caverns. Now they must try and escape through the endless chasms before they become lost forever. Immediately, James Cameron's attraction to this is realised. We all know how much Cameron loves to explore the unknown; Titanic, The Abyss, more ... |
 | Tron Legacy (Film)The most visually stunning film of the year and a beauty to watch, unfortunately, Tron: Legacy needed a bit more polishing on the script. - HanleySam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) is a rebellious twentysomething tech-head who resents his father (Jeff Bridges) for disappearing 20 years previous. After getting a mysterious text message from his dad's old arcade, Sam goes there only to find himself sucked into his dad's computer and transported to a digital frontier known as The Grid. Tron was born for 3D. more ... |
 | The Rite (Film)We all know Sir Anthony can do creepy and this is The Rite's crown jewel. But if we wanted to just see Hopkins giving a truly chilling performance, The Silence of the Lambs would be on so fast, Linda Blair's head would spin. - HanleyReluctant priest Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) is sent to Rome as once last chance to make him a believer. There, he works with veteran exorcist Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins) but are the strange things he sees enough to establish his faith? The Rite sends mixed messages in the type of film it is trying to be. It is very clear in its message; more ... |
 | The Adjustment Bureau (Film)Succeeding in the difficult task of trying to juggle two genres, The Adjustment Bureau is intriguing and gripping right up until the end, where it falls apart at the seams. - HanleyDavid Norris (Matt Damon), a senator running for office in New York City, has a random encounter with a beautiful, charismatic woman (Emily Blunt). A few months pass and he stumbles across her again. Only this time, a group of mysterious men relentlessly try to keep them apart. The Adjustment Bureau, based on a short story by the wonderful sci-fi author more ... |
 | The Beaver (Film)An interesting, chilling insight into clinical depression with a magnificent performance by the leading man. The disappointment is Gibson simply playing the beaver, with the character of Walter Black left out almost completely. - HanleyThose of you looking for a slapstick comedy will be in for a rude awakening. Though this impression is understandable, given that a brief outline of the plot merely describes a man speaking through a beaver puppet. But The Beaver is much more than this, alas; unfortunately it is not as much as it could have been. The film opens with a gruff, Cockney accent more ... |
 | The Next Three Days (Film)Director Paul Haggis handles the drama well, as we know from Crash, but it's the implausible action that fatally flaws the movie as a whole. - HanleyA happy family existence is abruptly destroyed when Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) is arrested for the murder of her boss. With the evidence stacked against her and the failure of an appeal, husband John (Russell Crowe) plots to break her out of prison whilst trying to raise their son. The Next Three Days is a re-make of Pour Elle (Anything for Her), a more ... |
 | Paul (Film)Here, Pegg and Frost are given the budget to make the film they want to make along with director Greg Mottola. Paul is an improvement from previous projects, if only a slight one. As is said by the title character, “sometimes you gotta roll the diceâ€. In this case, the gamble wasn't worth the risk. - HanleyBack in the time of Spaced, the comedy styling of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost appealed to a tailored audience. Unfortunately, even though their popularity has increased significantly, they never seemed to break into the big leagues. With Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, they stated their existence and their dedication to what they do. But these movies always more ... |
 | Thor (Film)Thor exceeds expectations and then some, proving that Marvel are hiring and casting the right players. With Cap America around the corner, The Avengers just over the horizon and The Amazing Spider-man looking better and better, Christopher Nolan's Batman doesn't look like it's going to be enough to keep DC in the game. - HanleyMarvel have been busy. Since they opened their own film studio and gained control over their own movies, they've been making passion projects worthy of the sacred texts that Stan Lee has been peddling for all these years. Iron Man took the world by storm. The Incredible Hulk was the finest adaptation of the big green giant so far, but was not without its more ... |
 | Barney's Version (Film)Powerful enough to make a heart of stone melt like butter; this might be the best film of the year. Stuttering kings, insane dancers and internet geeks included. - HanleyBarney's Version is the life story of Barney Panofsky, a flawed yet lovable, hopelessly romantic self-saboteur. The guts of the movie revolve around Barney meeting the love of his life (and future third wife) on his wedding day (to his second wife). Barney relentlessly pursues her until she gives in and what follows is a heartbreaking, hilarious and more ... |
 | 127 Hours (Film)The feel-good film Slumdog should have been, although not for the faint of heart. A filmmaking masterpiece. - Hanley127 Hours is the true story of Aron Ralston, a 28 year-old with a tremendous enthusiasm for hiking, rock climbing and all that goes with it. Whilst hiking through the crevasses of Blue John Canyon, Utah, a boulder becomes dislodged and falls, pinning Ralston's arm against the wall. As time goes by, Ralston starts to run out of options... Director Danny more ... |
 | Love And Other Drugs (Film)Zwick delves in to the juggling of life and sickness, sending the message that things may get worse, but you've got to enjoy life while you can, which is a message that everyone should be able to take something from. - HanleyI found myself really enjoying this movie. I rarely like romantic movies because, like horror movies, they're seldom done well, in my opinion. Movies like (500) Days of Summer, Garden State, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, these are the ones that grab my attention. And it's because they tell the story of dysfunctional relationships, as is the case in more ... |
 | X-Men: First Class (Film)First Class starts off as its own movie but slowly turns into the studios want of a prequel, by the end, it's reeking of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Although Vaughn does a very good job of reviving the X-Men series, his dreams of a “more epic†sequel are dashed by his ending to this one. Though, you never know. - HanleyThis film had such high precedents. A superhero movie in a James Bond era with Matthew Vaughn of 'Kick Ass' fame directing and X1 & 2 director Bryan Singer producing. Three words spring to mind: Here we go. The majority of the movie takes place in 1962 with Charles Xavier (James MacAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) joining forces to recruit more ... |
 | Tangled (Film)Rapunzel's hair wasn't the only thing that was let down - HanleyStraight off the bat, this has to be one of the most gorgeous animated films I've ever seen. Being the second-most expensive movie of all time, it better be! Animation has never looked as good. I'm reminded of when I first saw The Lion King's opening sequence. The lush scenery, the stunning palette of colour and one particular scene set on a river are more ... |
 | True Grit (Film)In my opinion, if you want to watch a good Coen Brothers western, buy No Country for Old Men on DVD. It's a film that has everything this doesn't. Most importantly, a beginning, middle and an end. - HanleyWhen news came that the Coens were adapting Charles Portis' novel True Grit (and NOT re-making the 1969 film of the same), I was excited. I was ready for a true western by my favourite director siblings. Now, 2007's No Country for Old Men is a western, and a masterpiece, but it is a contemporary western, and that's just not the same as cowboys, spurs and more ... |
 | The Social Network (Film)Summary - HanleyThere were many movies this past year that challenged us as an audience. Inception brought us into our own heads and queried to us just how much thinking we were willing to put into the average Hollywood blockbuster. 127 Hours put us in an impossible real-life situation and forced us to confront the strength of the human spirit. Saw: The Final Chapter more ... |
 | Black Swan (Film)A good thriller, but nothing more. - HanleyNatalie Portman plays Nina, an incredibly talented and dedicated ballet dancer who lives a sheltered life with her overbearing and domineering mother. When Nina wins her dream role as the lead in a new take on the famous 'Swan Lake', she is ecstatic. But in order to play the lead role of the Swan Queen, she must master the Black Swan, the Swan Queen's evil more ... |
 | Inception (Film)The Matrix meets Ocean's 11 with an ensemble cast and crew made up of the brightest stars in Hollywood - HanleyFor all of 2010 and some of 2009, moviegoers have been raving and at the same time baffling over Inception. Promising only that it involved going into people's dreams and stealing their ideas, Christopher Nolan had the public agonizing over the details of this movie. Well, yes, Inception does deal in stealing ideas, but mainly revolves around the planting more ... |
 | Yes Man (Film)Not Carrey's best, but far away from his worst - HanleyMany people will compare this to Liar Liar. They're wrong, because Liar Liar was quite funny. The Yes Man places ridiculously unreal events in a realistic world (or maybe this is what America's like). Liar Liar was meant to be fantasy. The Yes Man is basically an excuse for 40-odd Jim Carrey to exercise facial expressions. This is your average more ... |
 | Quantum of Solace (Film)The first ever James Bond sequel doesn't disappoint.. too much - HanleyDo what I do, and DON'T think of these as Bond movies. Ever. Daniel Craig, once again, puts out a good performance as this new, gritty James Bond. As realistic as spy movies can get, villains hoarding after the world's most powerful resources instead of a giant laser on the moon. Mathieu Almalric is believable as dark, slimy Dominic Greene, a man who takes more ... |
 | Never Back Down (Film)Not for girly-men - HanleyTo my surprise, I actually liked this film. Expecting pure trash, I was met with testosterone cinema at its finest. A great movie for sitting back with popcorn and a beer. The dramatic storyline, the tough-guy villain, the dark-side love interest, the alternative soundtrack, it's all there. With a quality act from the ever-great Djimon Hounsou teaching the more ... |
 | Star Trek (Film)Boldly go where no fan has gone before - HanleyEpic. Action-packed and hilarious, this movie will bring even the most anti-Trekkie on the ride of their lives. Exhilarating action set-pieces and comedic gold in the shape of Chris Pine and others. Karl Urban and Simon Pegg stand head and shoulders above an exceptional cast. Written in a way that no Trek fan can dispute with, JJ Abrams took this new Star more ... |
 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Video)Again, the best thing about this X-Men film remains to be Hugh Jackman - HanleyHonestly disappointing. Wolverine's backstory not as dramatic as one would imagine and not as good as the graphic novel of the same name. A cast that consists of Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber and Danny Huston are decent, but everyone else's (pretty much) cameos are way underused. Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Kitsch could have been the gold of this movie. A third more ... |
 | Defiance (Film)Defiance defies the typical Saving Private Ryan war movies and heads somewhere more interesting - HanleyA genuinely emotional movie that invests you deeply within the cast while thrilling you with chaotic war scenes. Defiance takes (another) WWII movie and puts it in a view that we haven't seen before. Based on an amazing true story of Jewish brothers who save hundreds of lives and directed by Blood Diamond and Last Samurai's Edward Zwick, you know this man more ... |
 | He's Just Not That Into You (Video)Head for the hills, run for your love lives. - HanleyThis is 100% Oprah book club, American happy-ending hunting, true love yearning trash. Of course, based on a self-help book, I can imagine why this is so popular (especially among women), is due to the fact that it is realistic, even though it descends into fantasy land. Art imitating life is not interesting, we have Michael Moore for documentaries. more ... |
 | Seven Pounds (Film)Forget Hancock, this is Will Smith's biggest take on a true hero. - HanleyDespite most critics slating it, I enjoyed this movie. An original story about atoning for your sins in the best possible way. Surprisingly, catholicism doesn't even play a slight part. Going into this movie, I had barely a clue what to expect or what it was about, the title didn't help until I remembered the Merchant of Venice. Seven Pounds easily lets you more ... |
 | Valkyrie (Film)Clearly not a single history book was read in preparation - HanleyVery disappointing. Incredibly miscast and solid evidence that Bryan Singer will not top the Usual Suspects. Tom Cruise's lack of German accent and woody performance is frustrating and Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard follow suit. I often found myself wondering where was the impeccable Kenneth Branagh and why was the ever-reliable Tom Wilkinson not bumped up to more ... |
 | Mirrors (Film)Kiefer Sutherland should be afraid of his reflection - HanleyKiefer Sutherland does well to carry this effortless movie despite the fact that it descends into horror movie cliche hell. Interesting to begin with, Mirrors has a plot that sprouts more and more holes as the 110 minutes go by. I found myself wondering, as soon as the freaky incidents started happening, why did Jack Bauer not get the hell out of dodge? more ... |
 | Doubt (Film)A good adaptation of the play, pity the third act remains non-existent. - HanleyDoubt is a movie that if you didn't hear ANYTHING about it beforehand, you would still be positive that it was originally a play. Very well acted, Phillip Seymour Hoffman has 'the popular, nice-guy priest that could just be a paedophile' character, perfected. Not sure if that's a compliment, though. I would call Meryl Streep's performance 'dazzling' if I more ... |
 | Push (Film)All in all, a nothing film that's not worth watching. - HanleyNonsense. Absolute nonsense. Push promotes a ridiculous plot about government conspiracies against people with pyschic abilities. Mind, the most random and useless psychic abilites but abilities nonetheless. Director Paul McGuigan takes Heroes and Jumper and puts them in a shit blender, concocting one of the worst movies of 2009. Even Djimon Hounsou, who is more ... |
 | The International (Film)A clever thriller that shows you don't need Matt Damon beating someone up with a magazine to entertain - HanleyBetter than expected! Gets off to a slow enough start but picks up in the second andthird acts. Clive Owen is a rough, bend-the-rules Interpol agent determined to uncover a conspiracy involving a European bank and a group of arms dealers. Naomi Watts assists as a New York DA on a search for truth and justice. The plot, based on a true story, is incredibly more ... |
 | Gran Torino (Film)Proof that Clintwood's directorial career is better served when he stays out of the movie - HanleyGran Torino was a movie I was looking forward to for a long time. A potential swan song for the great Clint Eastwood. Unfortunately, I was met with an overrated, hyped drama created only to dazzle the young generation and leave Eastwood fans everywhere vastly disappointed. Spolier alert!! Eastwood's Kowalski begins the film as an angry, troubled, racist war more ... |
 | Revolutionary Road (Film)Mendes' suburban masterpiece - HanleyWhether based in the 50s or in present day, Revolutionary Road displays an immensely accurate depiction of the suburban family lifestyle. Sam Mendes does what he does best, he takes real life and transfers it onto the big screen as he did with American Beauty. Leonardo DiCaprio does excellent playing Frank Wheeler, the emotional head of the household trying more ... |
 | Knowing (Film)Nic Cage in a bad movie? Must be that time of the year.. - HanleyNic Cage has been on a bit of a bad run lately hasn't he? Ghost Rider, National Secrets, Bangkok Dangerous? For me, the career of this once-thrilling action star hung on the quality of Knowing, a sci-fi thriller about a strange series of numbers found in a time capsule. The opening sets the ridiculous tone, a girl with seemingly psychic abilites writing the more ... |
 | The Unborn (Film)I'd prefer if it was Unmade - HanleyNot good. Gary Oldman, the hot girl from Cloverfield and the entire cast of Dexter couldn't make this film good. The Unborn seems to get bits and pieces of every horror movie that includes ghosts ever made and mashes them together. It also advertises every product on the planet. Another horror movie that tries to prove it is up-to-the-minute by having more ... |
 | Marley and Me (Film)This Dog's Life - HanleyFirst of all. NOT A COMEDY. It may have Owen Wilson in it, but don't be fooled. That being said, Marley and Me isn't bad. Based on an autobiography or a memoir or something, this is Beethoven for the newer generation married couple. Entertaining and very watchable, I found myself really liking and investing in the characters. The fact that it's a real story more ... |
 | Fast and Furious (Video)Leave it alone guys, despite the name, these movies are just getting slower and more boring. - HanleyNew Model. Original Parts. This simply isn't the case as the original of the series that we all know and love was helmed by the great action director Rob Cohen, whereas this is by the wet-behind-the-ears newcomer Justin Lin. BIG difference. Fast And Furious shouts from the rooftops the return of the foursome from the first movie. Many will feel cheated more ... |
 | State Of Play (Film)The finest political thriller of the last few years. - HanleyState of Play sports a clever, interesting and entertaining story and doesn't make the mistake of many recent occupants of its genre by having too many twists and turns. Russell Crowe does well as the experienced journalist but he doesn't quite seem to fit the role. State of Play sort of looks like his character from American Gangster simply switched more ... |
 | I Love You, Man (Film)One of the most original comedies I have seen in a long time. - HanleyReitman and Hamburg take the cliche American wedding formula and turn it on its head. Paul Rudd, the king of comedy at the moment, is exceptionally well as the geeky, sappy girlfriend-guy from his pathetic attempts to make friends down to his inexplicably bad slang ("Laters on the menjay"). Along comes the guy's guy, rock out, taco-eating buddy in the form more ... |
 | Friday The 13th (Film)Just watch the original. - HanleyThere are no words. How can you enjoy a movie where you hate every single character, including Jason? Yet, i rooted for him anyway as he was the only one killing people. I just hoped he would've lopped his own head off at the end. Predictable and ridiculous, Jason is apparently faster than the speed of light, stronger than the Hulk and is everywhere at once. more ... |
 | Race to Witch Mountain (Video)Not Disney's best, but hey, watchable - HanleyA fine remake of the 70's original, Disney have issued another fun-filled movie for all the family to watch. Dwayne Johnson, as usual, issues another fine comedic performance as he plays the everyman who gets caught up in an alien conspiracy. Some great action and comedy scenes and a great cast. Good movie all around more ... |
 | Traitor (Film)A brilliant insight into the world of the Muslim suicide bomber. - HanleyTraitor is one of the most original, interesting and exhilarating thrillers of the year. I found myself pulled into the movie right beside Don Cheadle's character as he gets mixed up in both the world of international terrorism and that of American counter terrorism. Guy Pearce is remarkable as the hotshot FBI Agent who is unsure of whether to consider more ... |
 | Insomnia (Video)Insomnia is mesmerising, thrilling and another fine addition to director Christopher Nolan's impeccable directing career. - HanleyAn intelligent movie that explores the nature of corruption and the struggle to keep justice in play. Al Pacino plays LAPD detective Will Dormer who, with his partner, journey up to Nightmute, Alaska to investigate a hideous murder. But their trip to Alaska is also an excuse for a getaway from an Internal Affairs investigation back in LA. Haunted by phone more ... |
 | Year One (Film)Without a doubt the worst comedy I have ever seen. - HanleyEveryone is perfectly aware that neither Jack Black nor Michael Cera can maintain the lead role in a movie. But even with an exceptional comedic supporting cast of David Cross, Oliver Platt, Paul Rudd, Hank Azaria, Bill Hader and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Year One is still about as funny as a bad case of hemorrhoids. Watching two idiots trust a man who more ... |
 | Tormented (Film)Skins goes horror - HanleyPretty kick-ass for a British horror comedy. Shaun of the Dead was a spoof, Severance was dreadful, Tormented sticks to its horror roots without wandering into Scary Movie's territory. Truly "a horror movie for the Skins generation", this isn't only because it stars some of the Skins original cast. Tormented tells the tale of a isolated teenager (Calvin more ... |
 | Fighting (Film)Rocky, except not good - HanleyCinematic proof that being dumped from Iron Man 2 was the worst thing that could happen to Terrence Howard. It's almost as though his acting has even gone south because this doesn't look like the rising star who appeared in hits like Crash and Hustle & Flow. But, perhaps I should start with the leading man, although there isn't much to say. Bookies more ... |
 | Fifty Dead Men Walking (Film)Fifty Dead Men Walking is a suspenseful political thriller with a great story, marking it as one of the best IRA-driven films ever. - HanleyOne of the better Northern Ireland movies, Fifty Dead Men Walking tells the true stroy of Martin McGartland, an informant for the British government working inside the Irish Republican Army. Martin (21's Jim Sturgess) starts out on the streets, attracting attention of Fergus (Ben Kingsley), a handler for the British Special Branch. Because of his more ... |
 | 500 Days Of Summer (Video)A romantic comedy that people can actually enjoy - Hanley(500) Days of Summer is a breath of fresh air to the rom-com genre, so much so that it feels a sin to put it in that category. Compared by many to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and deservedly so, because both sport an originality that many movies are lacking these days. As realistic as they come, 500 Days shows love in its most wonderful and brutal more ... |
 | Slumdog Millionaire (Film)An over-rated, ridiculous cliche - HanleyLet's get this out of the way, first. This is NOT a feel-good film! At least until the last 5 minutes. The story is weak as it tries to get viewers to sympathise with Patel's character by giving him an unbelievably heartbreaking life full of awful moments. Slumdog aims for cheap emotional connections with the viewers and takes the rags-to-riches story and more ... |
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