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Movie Review
Ah, the long distance relationship. Whether you've been in one yourself or stood witness to those that have, you're familiar with what that term entails, and more often than not, the results ain't pretty. But can a long distance relationship be funny?
I was a bit confused when the news broke that Angelina Jolie would replace Tom Cruise as the titular character in spy thriller Salt, but oh what a difference an actor swap can make. We'll never know what the film would have been like with Cruise (probably a watered-down Mission Impossible), but I can tell you this: Jolie is what makes this otherwise run-of-the-mill action film entertaining. Jolie is Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent living a seemingly provincial life with the arachnologist husband she loves and a dog curled up on the floor.
Ladies and gentleman, your ultimate blockbuster has arrived. Inception has been shrouded in mystery virtually since its onset and the hype surrounding Christopher Nolan's mind-bending thriller has only intensified over time. The film lives up to expectations, delivering a solid, action-packed ride that provides as much food for thought as eye-popping special effects.
I recently talked about the tricky territory that is the action rom com and the Tom Cruise/Cameron Diaz vehicle Knight and Day was poised to be another stone in the pile of failed attempts. However, the dynamic duo pulled through, and with the help of a clever script and lightning quick, entertaining action, they've delivered a perfectly fun little flick. The lightweight story has enough intrigue to keep you interested, and Cruise plays Roy Miller, the kind of character he should be looking for more of in movies—a vaguely mysterious hero who throws punches more than he monologues.
Picture this: it's 1975. The airwaves are dominated by the likes of David Bowie, The Eagles and the Bee Gees. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a rock group—made up entirely of teenage girls—explodes onto the scene.
Many Twilight followers consider the third book to be the best and the same can be argued for its film adaptation (at least so far). From the opening sequence with new character Riley (Xavier Samuel) running through the streets of Seattle, it's obvious that the production value for Eclipse has been upped. The fight scenes feel sharper, the CGI wolves are more lifelike and even Edward's looks have benefited (yes, Robert Pattinson is even dreamier here than in New Moon).
I was a much younger girl when the original Toy Story movie came out—I was, I dare say, the target audience's age. Though I feared that I wouldn't enjoy Toy Story 3 with the same fervency as the kid I once was, I have to admit that I was bested by a group of animated toys. The third film pulls off a grand success: it adapts the original characters and story into a believable arc about growing up, saying goodbye to your youth, and moving on—without sacrificing the lightness of a family film.
Reintroducing The A-Team: Hannibal (Liam Neeson), Face (Bradley Cooper), B.A. Baracus (Quentin "Rampage" Jackson) and Murdoch (Sharlto Copley). You may remember the characters from the popular '80s TV series (if you can remember that far back), but this time around they're packing even more explosives as they run from danger, escape from prison and, yep, even fly an army tank.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time teeters right on the brink of movie mediocrity. It's neither amazing nor offensively bad, the action sequences are entertaining but not mind-blowing and the performances are fine but not nuanced. Using Jake Gyllenhaal's familiar face and jacked up abs as a promotional tool helps to tip the scales in the right direction, but ultimately it's not enough to keep the film afloat against this year's heaviest hitters.
The core of the Sex and the City TV series is its depiction of four Manhattanites and their bond. Over the course of the six seasons, we grow to know Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall), to empathise with their man troubles, cheer for their career successes and live vicariously through their regular weekend brunch dates. In Sex and the City 2 we're right back to their friendships, even more so than the first movie.