Did THOR score? Or was it just one big BORE

Firstly, I have to admit, I had no idea who the comic book character Thor was. I knew of him from watching a cartoon called Super Hero Squad (very funny on ABC3) but have never picked up or payed any interest in him. All I knew was that he was a God in some universe and for some reason he came to Earth. And now I have found out why as Marvel has released the new big budget blockbuster Thor. Of course I was going to check it out as I have always been a fan of comic books (I am dying a little each day waiting for X-Men First Class) but for some reason they can either be a big hit (Iron Man) or a bit of a blip on the radar (The Incredible Hulk). So is Thor going to go into the first catagory of a new franchise with a large audience or become a so so film that has been played by so many actors that they should just give up? Here is my take on it anyway. Let me begin.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is a cocky, arrogant warrior who lives in a realm called Asgard along with his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston). His father King Odin (Anthony Hopkins) rules the realm with his magic and strong leadership and possess a magic underneath the city which has been a long battle over their realm and the freezer people (I think that's what they said they were, trust me I am having trouble writing the start of this review as I'll explain why). After Thor misses out on becoming King due to an attack by the freezer people, he grabs his mates, his weapon of mass power his mighty hammer and straps himself in for a battle to win back the devotion and respect from his father. Instead things turn nasty and his father is sick and tired of his irresponsible behaviour and feels he is not fit for king and banishes him to Earth. On Earth he comes into contact with Jane (Natalie Portman) an aestronoma who chases after changes in the stars with her fellow scientists Professor Andrews (Stellan Skarsgard) and Darcy (Kat Dennings). Thor does not believe he has been banished to Earth and asks the help of Jane to get him home. What he doesn't know is that his hammer has also been thrown close by and only when he truely figures out why he has been banished will he once again be one with the hammer and return home. Throw into the mix romanace, a sub-plot of the brother wanting to take over Asgard, a big black guy who is the gatekeeper of the realm transportation system thing and Rene Russo poping up to say about three lines in her whole role and pretty much thats all I could make of this film.

Here is my big problem with this film. I didn't like it. I actually had to sleep on it to figure out if I liked it or not, but I can clearly say if I had to choose between the movie Paul (out now) or Thor I would choose Paul hands down. Last year Inception came out which made everyones mind go weird, but I could understand it. For Thor I could not understand a single thing. I don't know why I just had no idea what was going on in the realms and who was who and when someone said a weird name I was like, "was that a person or was that a realm, I have no idea?" To me, they have made this movie for people who have read the comic books. Unlike being smart as they did for X-Men and Iron Man where you didn't have to know a thing I felt that they were not catering to the larger audience, which could also mean the biggest problem the movie could face at the box office. I mean it is $150 million project, that really may not see back their investment.

I have to admit I was not sure Kenneath Branagh could pull this movie off. He seems fine when they actors are speaking, but I feel the action scenes (or lack of) were not really all that. The actors were all fine, with none really jumping off the page, and Rene Russo should just give up. I don't know why she even bothered turning up for work as Thor's mother and her three lines. Poor thing, probably half her stuff was on the cutting room floor. To me all I wanted to watch was the actors on Earth. It made more sense, I could understand it and it just looked more like all the actors seemed to work better without special effects around them. Asgard was pretty impressive visually, but the 3D was awful. With 3D you could not even feel the whole scope of the world with much of it looking smaller than what is was supposed to be. Maybe that's what was pissing me off about this movie. So don't feel that you are missing anything in 2D. Save youself money for the candy bar instead of paying the inflated price for the glasses.

But this is where my main problem is with this movie. What is going on with Marvel studios and The Avengers movie? If you hadn't heard The Avengers is built up of Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Nick Fury and Hulk. There was huge up roar last year as Iron Man 2 was just a movie to introduce the new characters instead of a movie as good as it's predecessor (when you hear even the director hated it, you know something went wrong.) This is what I feel has happened here. They are making such a big thing of The Avengers movie that they are forgetting if people do not like any of the individual movies, why would they come to this huge event in comic history?

If you are expecting an awesome movie, which happens to be a comic book with excellent action scenes and heart, rent out Iron Man, Spider-Man and X-Men. If you want to be very confused, have no idea what is going on and want to watch a movie which feels like the middle chapter of a much larger book then Thor is your movie. Maybe Iron Man set the benchmark too high for all other Marvel films, as really nothing has succedded it. I only hope for Marvel's sake that Captain America does it much better. 2.5/5

Paul is one Alien I would definitely allow on Earth

What happens when you decide to make an alien like a human? He smokes, he drinks and he curses more than a sailor. This ain't no ET. This is Paul, the latest movie offering from the team that brought you Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. And let me tell you they have done it once again with this hilarious movie that not only will have you jumping out of your seat with laughter (I nearly did) but will also touch your heartstrings as well. Well maybe not at your heartstrings, but there is a nice feeling that you feel after it. A feel good movie as they like to say. But this one actually is the first truly funny picture of 2011 and I can't stress that enough. I feel like I am jumping too far ahead already, but if I urge you to see one comedy movie this holiday season Paul would be it. Let me begin.

Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) are two English men who have been wanting to explore America and the great open roads which are reported to be alien hot spots. After biting the bullet and doing it, they head over to San Diego where they witness the marvels of comic con (It's a big nerd convention, think Star Wars, Star Trek and everything in-between and you have comic con) After comic con it's on to their road trip. So they buckle up, strap themselves in and get ready for their alien adventure. Stopping at all the hot spots America has to offer, they get into a bit of strife when they have a run in with a couple of rednecks. Fleeing the scene they notice a car traveling after them. When the car passes it veers out of control and crashes. Graeme and Clive stop to help and come across something they were not expecting. Out of the shadows, smoking a cigarette they encounter Paul (voiced by the funny man himself Seth Rogan). Not believing what they are seeing, Paul enlists their help as after 60 years the government has learnt enough from Paul without taking the next step of cutting him up. Hot on his tail is agent extreme Agent Zoil (the always excellent Jason Bateman) and two FBI agents who get tangled in the mess as well Haggard (Bill Hader) and O'Reily (Joe Lo Trugilio). There road trip is also going to get a bit more wilder with run-ins with Christian worshipers, rednecks and a romantic tail between Graeme and Ruth (Kristen Wigg) a woman wanting to explore the world but restricted due to her father's strict Christian ways. And this is when the fun begins.

Where to begin with this film. I have so much praise for it. This is an extremely well done comedy. One of the best I have seen in a time when comedies just don't have the punch that they should have. I haven't laughed this much since The Hangover. Everything aligns right in this picture. The script by Pegg and Frost is not only extremely funny, but is also touching. I must warn you though, the language is full on in this movie and definitely deserves its MA rating. But hey, I like the swearing and it made me laugh every time this funny looking alien said F*&K. The boys know their genre well and for those of us who are a bit of sci -fi nerds (yes I admit it) there are many culture references which are very well done especially a line from Aliens (you need to see the end of the movie to understand what I am talking about).

The script would not have worked as well as it did without the talented cast. Everyone involved is spot on (with most of the cast from SNL) I must give major credit to Kriten Wigg. I love her. I became a big fan of hers after watching her steal the show in Whip It and Adventureland. She steals every single scene she is in, as the Christian woman who Paul frees from her brainwashing father. The best jokes come from her potty mouth, where it's funny trying to hear her say a dirty word but in the wrong context in a sentence.  The rest of the cast work their magic to bring this Alien adventure to life. Bateman is great as the creepy agent and Pegg and Frost have so much chemistry that there next film should be a romance between the two. They work so well together. Listen out for a cameo of one of the biggest directors in the business and also a kick ass heroine who fought big bad aliens back in her day.

I really can't find a thing wrong with this movie at all. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants. That is a hard sell for a person who has watched many comedies. The run time is perfect, the pacing of the movie runs smoothly and the actors all looked like they had a ball. My only criticism is why did America not take to this movie. It has not done very well at all and for me it makes me wonder why a movie about the Easter Bunny which got torn to shreds in reviews but dominated their box office has beaten out a movie critics are raving about? I just don't get it. It just goes to show studios really can't determine a box office hit anymore. But who cares. Go see this movie. It is so well done you will leave the cinema with a huge grin from ear to ear. Paul is one alien I would love to encounter again and and again. 4.5/5

Does Scream 4 still make a grown man jump?

And the killer is.... I'm not telling you that. I am not going to be one of those people who told you that Bruce Willis was a ghost all along in The Sixth Sense or Thelma and Louise drove off the hill at the end of the film, or Darth Vader was really Luke Skywalkers father. Nope not going to do it. So shell out your $8 bucks and go see it because I am not telling (or just google, some douche will likely ruin it for everyone by posting it on the Internet, but not this blogger) Anyway, it is that time again when the sequels are coming out for the Autumn/Winter big box office time (or Spring/Summer for my overseas readers) and it is time once again to see what is happening with Sidney, Dewey and Gale the original survivors for the last three installments of the Scream franchise. So what have the guys been up to lately since Ghostface decided to have a bit of a nap for the last 11 years and why all of a sudden has he decided to pop up after all this time, and really will the audience care at all? Read on to find out.

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has not had a very fun life since her teenage years. In high school her boyfriend and his best mate decided to kill a whole bunch of people. In her college years she was once again harassed by the parent of one of the boys and a serial killer. And in her adult life she was confined to a secluded area until murders started to happen to the cast in a movie based on her life (the stupidest one in the franchise, sorry guys but it was lame). Anyway, Sidney is back once again 11 years later to come back to Woodsboro. The town that started it all. But many things have changed since 1996. The world has technology at it's fingertips with Facebook, YouTube, blogging, and twitter at our disposal. Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame and now thanks to these devices they can be. So what better way then to become the main killer and show the world a new star has been born then by making yourself an Internet sensation where you will live on forever through the world wide web. And what better way then to hunt down the one person that will make them this star then Sidney Prescott the original survivor. Sidney is now an accomplished author, writing about self help and how she dealt with this traumatic event. But lets not forget the rest of them. Gale is still married to Dewey who is now the Captain of the police force. Gail is still the sassy reporter who needs a hit to make her famous again. But now it's time for some fresh blood. Joining the gang are a new breed of young ones (and for once they actually look like high school students). We have Sidney's cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) who is having issues with her ex boyfriend Trevor (Nico Tortorella). Jill's sassy and outspoken friend Kirby (Hayden Panettiere, my fav out of all of the new ones) the cinema club who are a bit too much involved in the Stab movies Robbie (Erik Knudsen) and Charlie (Rory Culkin). Then we have the female version of Dewey, Deputy Judy (Marley Shelton) and her associates Deputy Perkins (Anthony Anderson) and Detective Hoss (Adam Brody). All the new suspects who may be wanting their 15 minutes of fame. But who is it, and why have they waited all this time? Are the rules still the same for the horror genre? Or like the tag line says, "New Decade, New Rules." Can't tell you that.

Firstly, Wes Craven is back to his best. After the disaster of his last movie My Soul to Take (didn't see it, neither did anyone else) it is great to see him do what he does best. And he welcomes back the genre that brought him back from the dead with open arms. This movie is fun, funny and like the people next to me did, will make you jump. The first ten minutes are hilarious showing all the Stab's that have been made (great to see cameo's from two of my fav actresses Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell). The humour is great and the tension as only Wes can bring is well done.

All the original actors are back to their best. It is so great to see my favs on screen especially Courtney Cox (even with her fish lips why Courtney why) who made Gale the best one out of all them this time. Courtney knows her comic timing and gives enough sassy hard ass attitude to still make Gale a character worth watching. The rest of the cast I can't really say much about. In my opinion you can't beat the originals and the new cast were not very good at all. Yes, they are victims and you can't wait to see who goes next, but like the original trio there was no X factor about any of them, except Hayden and another one which I am not going to mention for spoilers sake.

To me the let down of this movie was I didn't think it was a Scream movie. Maybe since there has been so many horrors movies and the direction that they have taken, maybe these sort of scary movies don't have a place. Don't get me wrong, I thought the first ten minutes and especially the last 15 were the best out of the whole movie (loved the ending), but something was missing, that I can't put my finger on. Maybe it was because I didn't like many of the new cast and couldn't wait to see the old gang come back together. Maybe because I used to hold the original cast so close I didn't think the new cast held anything against them. Or maybe I just went in with too high expectations. But either way I did enjoy it. I thought it was hilarious more than scary. My advice. See it if you liked the rest. It is exactly the same formula. Just don't expect too much and you will having a screaming good time (pun intended) But please Dimension films, enough you can only go to such extremes as who the killer is that people will soon just go "Who Cares" 3/5  

Sucker Punch packs a WALLOP

Firstly, I have to admit this movie is not going to appeal to everyone. But for everyone else who likes their movie edgy, a visual treat, awesome action scenes that you will be thinking of long after the final credits roll and a killer soundtrack, make sure you rush to buy your ticket right now. I have to admit I am a going to be a bit biased in this review as I love the director. Zack Synder is a man who takes stories and puts his own personal spin on them. He made the Spartans looks cool in 300. Brought a new spin on a classic horror movie in the form of Dawn of the Dead and made a comic book movie with an edge in the highly underrated Watchman. Coming soon, if you are a fan of the man who is faster than a speeding bullet he will be taking Superman to places we have never seen. But this time, the man with the crazy directing style has brought his take on Girl Power to the extremes in the mind bending film "Sucker Punch." And all I can say is this is definitely my favourite of all his movies. I don't know what it was, if it was the action scenes, the completely crazy story, the amazing visuals or the awesome soundtrack that I couldn't get enough of. But hold up. I'm getting way ahead of myself here. Let me start first with the review. Now don't get lost as it is a bit complex.

After the death of her mother, Baby Doll (Emily Browning) is left with her younger sister to live with their evil stepfather (arn't they all?) But when he finds out in their mother's will that she has left all the riches to the daughters, he goes on a violent rampage, killing the young sibling. Baby Doll, enraged with anger, is sent away by her stepfather to live in a mental asylum where in five days she will be given lobotomy in order to not alert the authorities of her stepfather's crime. The asylum is housed with girls from all backgrounds who have all been institutionalised due to problems in their past. It is here that the Russian therapist Dr Vera Gorski (the always excellent Carla Gugino) uses acting therapy in order for the patients to act out their feelings. Baby Doll knows that she needs to escape in order to not undergo the procedure and with the help of Sweat Pea (Abbie Cornish) her sister Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and Amber (Jamie Chung) the stage is set for their escape. But here is where it goes into the new depths. With the help of using this acting method of the good Russian doctor, Baby Doll escapes in her mind and dreams up a new world for the girls. They are now in a brothel where the madam is the doctor, the girls are workers in the club and Baby Doll is the new girl who will help them all escape. But for her to find what she needs to escape, she soon discovers she needs to go one more level in her mind to find what she is looking for. And this is where it gets cool. Imagining many different worlds, including old school wartime, samurais, dragons lairs and robotic future. Here in these worlds she is instructed with the help of Wise Man (Scott Glen) that she will need to find four items with a fifth she needs to discover for herself. But will she find them all before it is too late? I can't tell you that, but this movie does not have an ending you would expect at all.

Zack Snyder has a huge hit on his hands here and I for one have no idea why audiences in America were not lapping this up. It has not really set the box office on fire and to me that is a real shame. This movie is crazy and I strongly recommend seeing it on the biggest cinema screen you can find, or you will not receive the full scope of what the director is imagining. Using the bleak real world and contrasting it with the visual feats of the action scenes make this movie work extremely well. But don't lose where the girls are or you may hurt you head thinking about it. The director, in my opinion, keeps outdoing himself in every film he makes and just keeps getting better and better. He knew exactly what he was doing in this film and it shows. The concepts are crazy, and the good thing about this movie, the action scenes do not outshine the rest of the film.

All I can say is the girls kick-ass in this movie. I have to admit I have my favourite, but you will need to work out yours when you see it (Mine was Rocket ssshhhh don't tell anyone). Emily Browning is fantastic as Baby Doll (go the Aussies) and gives enough emotion and strong attitude to make you want her to succeed. Abbie Cornish (another Aussie) is excellent as Sweat Pea and I have already mentioned how much I loved Jena Malone as Rocket. She rocked. That's all I can say about that. But I also loved Carla Gugino as the good Doctor. She is such a strong woman working with these girls to give them a better world than they have been objected too. But let's not forget the men. I loved wise man. He was in a way the best Charlie to these angles. He was the perfect mix of a companion that these girls needed on their journey. But I haven't even mentioned how evil Mr Blue the head of the asylum/brothel is. Oscar Issac gives the perfect amount of creepy, sleazy, scary villain that you would expect in this piece (even with his creepy moustache). He was excellent as the main person standing in the way of these girls hope for freedom.

What was wrong with this movie you may ask? I don't have a single thing in my mind. It was amazing. I loved the characters. I loved the soundtrack and I absolutely loved the visuals. I was blown away. The only thing that probably bugs me is that who ever cut the trailer needs to be fired. The trailer does not set the film up at all and makes it look like one big giant music video. If I was Zack Synder and Warner Bros. I would fire them. This movie is amazing and due to this dumb ass has not found the success it deserves. Hopefully overseas markets will love it more, or at the least the DVD market. But honestly this is a movie that needs to be seen on the biggest screen to get the best impact that Synder is trying to show. Similarities are going to be made between this and Inception. But I think the similarities end at the mind. They are two different movies and completely different stories. All I can say is I want to rush out and see this again. As I said don't hate me if you don't like it. I did say at the start it is for an acquired audience. But for that audience, you are going to wet your pants excited over it. 4.5/5