Bridesmaids. Chick flick this ain't

Two words sum up this movie perfectly. Kristen Wiig. This comedian is a genius. And that is only putting it lightly. I have been a huge fan of Kristen Wiig's for sometime now. After stealing the show in "Whip It" away from bigger stars Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page, to her hilarious part in Adventureland (the only good thing about that movie) and even stole the show away from an alien in "Paul." So where does one go from here? Well if you are like many of the other amazingly talented female comedians in Hollywood (I'm looking at you Tina Fey, Amy Pohler and Chelsea Handler) you use your comedic smarts and start writing your own movie to show your full potential. And that is what Kristen did, along with her friend Annie Mumolo. These two women have created what I am going to call the best comedy of the year (take that Hangover 2). Kristen has taken the huge responsibility that many women crave and has flipped it around and turned it upside down creating a hilarious take on what being a bridesmaid is all about. Now fellas, don't get discouraged about this. Trust me, you will split your pants laughing so sit back, relax and let me tell you about the pee your pants funny Bridesmaids.

Kristen Wiig stars as Annie, a thirty-something woman who has lost her bakery due to the recession, lives with two annoying roommates, has been left by her boyfriend due to her business crashing and drives a run down car you would think belonged at the wreckers. The best thing in Annie's life is her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph), who has been there for ever up and down in her life. Lillian has been going out with her boyfriend Dougie and finally it happens. Lillian's going to be a bride and has asked her best friend Annie to be the maid of honour. After a bit of hesitation, Annie is about to enter the world of what being a bridesmaid and best friend to the bride is all about. Lillian is about to come into a world which Annie is very unfamiliar with. Large country club gatherings, people with more money than they know what to do with, and women who look like perfect botox commercials. It is here we meet many of Lillian's other Bridesmaids including Helen (Rose Byrne) who is out to become the maid of honour away from Annie, Lillian's cousin Rita (Wendi McLendon - Convey) who wants to get her groove back and get up to some naughty stuff, newlywed Becca (Ellie Kemper) and the scene stealer herself (apart from Kristen) Melissa McCarthy as Megan, as Dougie's sister. That's about as much as I can tell you because this movie is funny, moving and has some crazy gross out comedy that I haven't seen since There's Something About Mary.  Throw into the mix a cop with a heart of gold, a plane trip, food poisoning and Wilson Phillips and you have the perfect blend for the best comedy of 2011.

Kristen Wiig has her character down pat. She is the best thing going in this movie. We love Annie and feel her emotions going through the worst time of her life, while trying to put on a brave face for her best friend and her greatest time in her life. Kristen shows her amazing comedic skills without going overboard and it works. She has the best comedic timing I have seen in ages, and knows how to make her audience laugh. I have to admit I nearly jumped out of my chair I was laughing so hard, and at one point I did have tears coming down the sides of my cheeks (not from crying from laughing, this is a comedy not Beaches). Melissa McCarthy has never been better. Often getting very little parts to show her comedic brilliance, having her alongside Kristen is the perfect partnership in this crazy tale. But lets not forget the other women aboard. Rose Byrne is perfect as Helen the woman who will do anything to become maid of honour and Maya Rudolph as the bride to be. But let's not forget the men, (yes there are a few in this movie). A big shout out needs to go out to Chris O'Dowd as Officer Rhodes. This guy is charming and fantastic as the lovable cop who might just be the ticket Annie needs to get out of her rut.

The writing by Kristen is extremely well done. For a woman whose first screenplay produced this movie, I would be very proud. Her story not only makes you split your sides of laughter but also gives you an insight into the characters, something many comedies lack. You feel you want to know these characters, instead of not really caring at all, and it's all down to Ms Wiig. I must warn this movie has some cringe worthy scenes and too me it doesn't deter the movie at all. It only adds to the hilarity. Some may say, "why did they have to sink to these lows," but trust me in the cinema I was in, you would not have heard a bomb go off with all the laughter that was taking place. This movie has it all. A great story, some crazy funny scenes and a real sense of laugh out loud comedy with big heart. I can not fault this movie at all. This movie is one of this year's best and I for one am craving to see what Kristen is going to produce next, you crazy girl. Bridesmaids 5/5. I can't wait to experience it all over again.

X hits all the right marks in this new super hero movie

Firstly, I don't care what anyone says, the X-Men are the greatest superheros of all time. Boo, hiss I can hear it already, but you know what, I don't care. I love them. Their nature, their powers, their struggles, everything that makes great stories that you want to see over and over again. And I must say X-Men First Origins is the the best superohero movie I have ever seen. I loved, loved, loved this film. I know, you may be saying whatever it's just for geeks. But I dare you to take the challenge of finding me another movie, where the action is intense, the story is gripping, the cinematography is fantastic and the underlying message is one we can all relate to and I will take my statement down. Finally, the studios have hit the right mark for any X-Men fan with the best adaption by far hitting the cinemas this week. With the third adventure not really living up to the title of being an X-Men movie and then the failure of Wolverine (I mean what the F was that about) the studios knew they had to do something drastic in order to bring the franchise back from the dead, thus leading to the origins of how these mutants came to be and the nature of each sides stories. And wa laa, you have X-Men First Class. The amazing new film by Matthew Vaughn. Let me begin.

As you may or may not know, there are two sides to the world of mutants. One lead by Charles Xavier who wants mutants and humans to co-exist, while on the other hand you have Magneto who fights for the mutants and wants humans to pay for their suffering and pain they have caused the mutant race. But how did this all evolve? Lets go back in time now, starting in 1945 a time when the Jews were locked up in concentration camps and the world was at the mercy of the Nazis. In these walls a young boy witness his parents being torn away from him. That young boy is Eric Lensherr. After witnessing his mother killed by the evil Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) a grown up Eric/Magneto (Michael Fassenbender) wants vengeance and starts to hunt him down to the ends of the earth to do so. What Eric doesn't know is like himself, Sebastian is one of the most powerful mutants and it is going to take more than him and his power of magnetism to win this battle. Jump forward to the 1960s and on the other side of the pond in New York, we have a young Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) who wants the world to learn about the evolution of the human species. Joined by his best Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) they live in secret with their powers until a chance encounter with an CIA agent Moria (Rose Byrne) alerts them to the fact that something strange is going on with one of the top leaders of the government and Sebastian Shaw. Shaw plans to take over the world by pitting America and Russia against each other in the Cuban Missile crisis, but secretely killing all humans and leaving only mutants due to their already mutated genes. What she was not expecting was seeing a woman who can read minds and turn into diamonds Emma Frost (January Jones) and Sebastians bodyguards Azazel (Jason Flemyng) who can teleport and Riptide (Alex Gonzalez) who can control the forces of nature. They are mutants and it is here that Moira learns that another species has evolved and Professor Xavier is one of them. What Xavier doesn't know is that the CIA has a division devoted entirely to the unexplained led by Man in Black Suit (Oliver Platt) and Hank/Beast (Nicholas Holt). Joining the CIA to help with the arrest of Shaw it is here the first time Xavier and Eric cross paths for what will be the story of what exactly did happen to this friendship. Knowing that they are going to need a team of mutants to save the planet from this large scale attack, it is here that the X-Men start to take shape in the form of Havoc, Angel, Banshee, Beast and Mystique. A team of young mutants who are going to be the first ever X-Men. But from here I can't tell you anymore, sorry.
Let me first say, this movie is amazing. I couldnt' get enough. This movie is exceptionally well directed. Matthew Vaughn took on the challenge of reinventing this franchise and has flipped it over to make a movie with enough action, emotion and character development that it is probably the best comic book conversion I have ever witnessed. The action scenes are staged well with many making you just gobbed smacked, but he has also taken the time to create enough back story on all the characters that you do care if something happens to the good side, or understand the pain that each feels inside due to the realisation of their difference. It may also make you take what they are saying and realise it could also be a big comment on society at this point in time, something a lot of comic books would not touch. It is exactly what made the comic books so captivating that the director knew not to mess with this factor. A big pat on the back is in order for Vaughn. A director who has gone from little gangster movies, to huge budget comic book movies but making them look like money was not wasted without artistic merit.

All I can say is there are going to be two big stars who come out of this movie. That's not to say everyone else isn't amazing. James MacAvoy brings such charm and wit as Xavier. Kevin Bacon is excellent as the creepy Sebastian Shaw and all the young cast bring their characters to life. But two stood way out for me. Firstly, Michael Fassbender is perfect as Magneto. With so much outcry over his casting, all critics can now shut up. The dude is Magneto. He brings a somewhat 007 feel to his Magneto but also a rage and anger that we didn't see as often as the older character in previous films. He has so much charisma on screen that you wish he would not leave. The second is Jennifer Lawrence. Having given such an amazing Oscar nominated performance in Winter's Bone, she brings amazing acting skills to her character Mystique that you can't help but fall in love with her character and feel her pain. For a character who is covered in blue scales, it takes a great actress to make you forget the fact that she is indeed covered from head to toe in blue.

This is the smartest move 20th Century Fox has ever made with a franchise by taking it back to the start. Unlike other comic book movies which were just lame (yes I'm taking about Thor, and even Iron Man 2) X-Men Origins does not go overboard on special effects to cover up the shitty story. It does not leave enough time to explain everything or have underdeveloped characters. It is amazing piece of work with everyone involved doing a fantastic job. Casting many unknowns has worked in the favour of this movie and the only complaint I had was that it just felt too short, which is wasn't (it clocks in at 140 minutes) It just felt that way, due to being so involved and amazed by such good storytelling. This is what a great comic movie is. Without a doubt this movie is on my must see list again and again. X-Men First Class is one of the best movies I have seen this year. Definitely my pick so far for 2011. 5/5

Take One Asprin, Bcause That's All You Will Need To Get Over This HANGOVER

I have to admit, the first Hangover movie had no appeal when I first saw its trailer in 2009. It looked like another American Pie crossed with Old School crossed with every other gross out, seen that nothing new frat boy comedy. But alas, the better of marketing got to me and I purchased my ticket and sat down to find myself enjoying one of the funniest movies I saw that year. I was raving about it to friends. It had so much going for it. Not only was it crazy funny, the idea was also extremely well done. Instead of seeing all the crazy shit that Phil, Alan, and Stu got up to, we had to go on a journey to find out what really happened on one night of craziness in Vegas. We, as the audience, didn't get to actually find out what happened on their crazy adventure until the closing credits with only snap shots showing the whole ordeal. Fast forward two years, and due to the popularity (as well doesn't help that the studio wanted another hit on it's hands due to the amazing box office success of the first one) all your favourite characters are back. This time for round two in the Hangover Part 2. This time the comedy removes itself from the shores of America and lands firmly on the ground in Thailand and winding up later in Bangkok. But will you laugh yourself silly and be feeling the effects the next day? Or like a hangover, will you easily get over it and go "hmm that was an alright night, could have been better." Read on to find out.

Two years has passed since the crazy adventures of Doug's bachelor party night at Vegas. The boys are all moving on. Doug (Justin Bartha) is expecting his first child. Phil (Bradley Cooper) has just had another one with his wife. Alan (Zach Galifianakas) is sorta out of the picture since the adventures and Stu (Ed Helms) is about to marry Lauren (Jaime Chung). They have all learnt their lesson since their last adventure. This time though Stu is going to be having his wedding in Thailand, Lauren's families home country. All the boys are invited except for Alan. Finally, Stu changes his mind and invites the fat man himself to join the boys on his special day. Lauren's brother Teddy (Mason Lee) has also this time been invited along for the ride as one of the best men. Arriving at this tropical paradise the boys and their families are civilized in the country until Phil decides it would be nice for all the men to get together for one last toast on the beach. And here is where the trouble starts. Waking up in the dirtiest of dirty hotels in Bankok (I literally felt I needed a shower after seeing this place) they awake to find it has happened again. They have woken up with a million problems from last night and this time instead of Doug going missing, it's Stu's future brother in law who is lost. Joining the gang on their adventure is Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) who might hold the answers to all their crazy stunts the previous night. Throw into the mix a naughty smoking monkey, lady boys, monks, gangsters, riots and tattoos and you pretty much have the Hangover 2.

Firstly, I'll start with the good points. Ken Jeong and Zach Galifianakas make this movie. Without them, I don't think I would have laughed at all. The location of Thailand is beautiful and the boys have some fun while in Bangkok. But that's about it I can recommend. I was BORED watching a lot of this movie. It was the exact movie from 2009. I felt I knew what was coming. There were hardly no surprises and when they thought shock value would make you laugh it really didn't. I am so amazed that they thought it would work again. It was like I went out one weekend and had the best time and then went out the next weekend and did everything the same but came home and said "wow that was pretty shit night." Everything was the same. Instead of a tooth missing we had a tattoo face. Instead of Doug missing it was Teddy. Instead of Chow hounding the boys it was a Thailand Gangster. I was so similar I thought I had gone back to 2009. Comedy can sometimes strike twice with sequels, but in many cases it falls flat (I'm looking at you American Pie 2). Even sometimes I thought I saw a glimpse of some of the actors looking like, "really, again, didn't we do this last time?" Let's just say if you watch it you will probably laugh I did. And there were a few scenes that I cracked up big time. But really I wouldn't recommend it like it predecessor. That was a clever funny comedy. This just seems like a movie made for the purpose of making a sequel. Nothing new, just a quick grab for box office. Which is a shame cause I kind of have lost interest in the franchise now. Of course this movie is going to do big at the box office, but unlike the first Hangover I can easily get over this one. 2/5

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