Elysium (2013)

Watched: 1st Dec 2013
Rating: 8/10

Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)

Watched: 29 Jul 2013
Rating: 9/10

Detention of the Dead (2012)

Watched: 29 Jul 2013
Rating: 5/10

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

Watched: 2 Aug 2013
Rating: 7/10

Warm Bodies (2013)

Watched: 5 Aug 2013
Rating: 8/10

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

Watched: 8 Aug 2013
Rating: 6/10

Robosapien: Rebooted (2013)

Watched: 9 Aug 2013
Rating: 3/10

Epic (2013)

Watched: 16 Aug 2013
Rating: 7/10

Four Jacks and a Jill (1942)

Watched: 17 Aug 2013
Rating: 5/10

A Yank in Libya (1942)

Watched: 17 Aug 2013
Rating:  2/10

Hard Guy (1941)

Watched: 17 Aug 2013
Rating: 4/10

Goats (2012)

Watched: 19 Aug 2013
Rating: 7/10

The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)

Watched: 19 Aug 2013
Rating: 7/10

Tortoise in Love (2012)

Watched: 19 Aug 2013
Rating: 4/10

Mac and Devin Go To High School (2012)

Watched: 19 Aug 2013
Rating: 2/10

Empire State (2013)

Watched: 2 Sep 2013
Rating: 6/10

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Watched: 2 Sep 2013
Rating: 9/10

xXx (2002)

Watched: 3 Sep 2013
Rating: 8/10

World War Z (2013)

Watched: 5 Sep 2013
Rating: 8/10

The Angel's Share (2012)

Watched: 27 Sep 2013
Rating: 7/10

Enola Gay: The Men, The Mission, The Atomic Bomb (1980)

Watched:
Rating: 5/10

Born to Be Bad (1950)

Watched: 28 Sep 2013
Rating: 7/10

The Perils of Pauline (1947)

Watched: 30 Sep 2013
Rating: 7/10

New Town Killers (2008)

Watched: 2 October 2013
Rating: 8/10

Pacific Rim (2013)

Watched: 11 Oct 2013
Rating: 7/10

Hoodlum Empire (1952)

Watched: 12 Oct 2013
Rating: 7/10

Brian Donlevy
Claire Trevor
Forrest Tucker
Vera Ralston
Luther Adler

A former racketeer wants to go straight after returning from WWII.

A simple storyline with some strong performances from Claire Trevor and Luther Adler.

Claire Trevor.

A Woman's Secret (1949)

Watched: 13 Oct 2013
Rating: 6/10

Maureen O'Hara
Gloria Grahame
Melvyn Douglas
Bill Willams
Victor Jory






A muddled crime drama. Doesn't flow smoothly and the flashback scenes don't make up for the lack of plot.

Maureen O'Hara at the centre of a crime.

Gloria Grahame.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Watched: 16th Oct 2013
Rating: 9/10

Robert Downey Jr.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Don Cheadle
Guy Pearce

The world of Iron Man is rocked by a clever terrorist.

For an action movie this was not disappointing. Plenty of action, some intelligent dialogue and Gwyneth Paltrow. The SFX and sound design budget was well spent and there is a surprisingly good twist involving one of the big names in the film. Funny and exciting.

Berlin Express (1948)

Watched: 16 Oct 2013
Rating: 7/10

Robert Ryan
Merle Oberon
Charles Korvin
Paul Lukas
Robert Coote







A tale of post-war assassination and resistance. This is an average thriller with obvious twists. There are some good shots of post war Germany and overall good cinematography.

Charles Korvin and Merle Oberon.

Robert Ryan.

Parkland (2013)

Watched: 21 Oct 2013
Rating: 4/10

Paul Giamatti
Billy Bob Thornton
Marcia Gay Harden
Zac Efron

The JFK assassination from the point of view of the 'ordinary' people involved. Apart from Paul Giamatti's performance there is nothing in this film to shout about. The historical accuracy is unbelievably poor, even without mentioning conspiracy theories. Not enough time is spent on certain characters for us to really feel anything that they are feeling. A poor show on many levels.

50/50 (2011)

Watched: 22 Oct 2013
Rating: 8/10

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Seth Rogan
Anna Kendrick
Bryce Dallas Howard
Anjelica Huston
Matt Frewer
Philip Baker Hall


A 27-year old man discovers he has cancer and deals with it with the help of his friend.

I don't like Seth Rogan in any other films that I have watched, but playing the annoying friend is what he was made to do. This is a very good film without getting too sentimental and mushy.

Cinema Verite (2011)

Watched: 23 Oct 2013
Rating: 6/10

Diane Lane
James Gandolfini
Tim Robbins

The story of the first reality TV show to follow an everyday family. The original series showed the frailties of a marriage, an openly gay son and a strong matriarch. This film is suuposed to tell you what happened off-camera. Not very exciting, especially if you're not into reality television. I watched this for Diane Lane and James Gandolfini.

After Earth (2013)

Watched: 27 Oct 2013
Rating: 6/10

Will Smith
Jaden Smith
Sophie Okonedo



Lots of hype for this one. A spaceship crash lands on Earth more than a thousand years after mankind evacuated it. Everyone on board is injured or dead and the young Jaden Smith is the only one who can signal for help.


Not a lot to say about this one, but if you're into action films this one isn't for you. I was bored after about half an hour, waiting for something interesting to happen.

The Purge (2013)

Watched: 28 Oct 2013
Rating: 6/10

Ethan Hawke
Lena Headey
Max Burkholder
Adelaide Kane
Edwin Hodge






One night a year all crime is legal. That's basically it. The rest of the story is about a security systems salesman and his family who are threatened on the night of 'The Purge' by several different parties. Apart from a few extra bits, that is the story. Not badly done but a little bit limited in its approach of a good idea.

Losing Chase (1996)

Watched: 7 Nov 2013.
Rating: 4/10.

Helen Mirren
Beau Bridges
Kyra Sedgwick

A TV movie that lacked very much interest. A woman has recently suffered a bout of mental illness and is now living back at home with her husband and two children. Her husband brings home a young woman to look after her. The story is mainly about the relationship between the two women.

I only watched this film because Helen Mirren was in it. Never mind.

Turbo (2013)

Watched: 7 Nov 2013.
Rating: 7/10.

Ryan Reynolds
Paul Giamatti
Maya Rudolph
Michael Peña
Samuel L. Jackson


An animated film. If you like animated films this will be right up your street. The only flaw, as with many animated films, is the usual storyline. There is the 'buddy' element, the 'ambition beyond possibilty'  element and the usual adversary type. Having said all that the film is almost original in its theme.

Key Largo (1948)

Watched on: 16 Dec 2013
Rating: 7/10

Humphrey Bogart
Edward G. Robinson
Lauren Bacall
Lionel Barrymore
Claire Trevor

Not Humphrey's best film, but a very watchable thriller.

Lauren Bacall was as sultry as ever.

Edward G. Robinson was the best actor in this film with his usual commanding performance as a 'has-been' gangster.

The Big Easy (1986)

Watched on: 26 Dec 2013
Rating: 7/10

Dennis Quaid
Ellen Barkin
Ned Beatty
John Goodman




A slightly crooked cop is investigating a series of gang related killings, whilst an assistant district attorney is investigating him and his colleagues. Set in New Orleans and featuring some great music, this is a fairly standard story with a few nice touches, not least the colourful cinematography. The stars are in good form but some of the accents are a poor attempt to create the feeling of the deep south. However, the film flowed and I never found myself looking at my watch.

Nice to see Marc Lawrence in this one. Marc appeared in the film Key Largo in 1948.