Men In Black 3 (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1409024/

Josh Brolin looks exactly like a young Tommy-Lee Jones, Will Smith acts exactly like in MIB 1 and 2, and Emma Thompson is exactly where she does not belong.  A great alien baddy but overall this really lacked the excitement and laughs of the original.  Worth a watch though.

Three stars

Prometheus (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/


Despite plot holes galore and some hammy acting, this delivered what it promised: epic sci-fi with a human touch.  The quest is questionable and some characters’ decision making unfathomable but there are some seriously gruesome elements and the whole movie is appropriately permeated with a creepy air of alien weirdness.


Four stars

This Means War (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596350/

On paper this should have been shockingly awful but was actually rollicking good fun.  Some great action and dry humour throughout make for an easily accessible and mostly rewarding rom-com-action.  The chemistry between the male leads is great and Witherspoon is right at home in her role. Cheesy ending though.

Three stars

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655420/

More like My Week with Michelle Williams.  She does a good job of being angsty but I can’t see the transformation.  Kenneth Brannagh is great as Laurence Olivier but I have to sympathise with him and declare Williams’ Monroe impossible to get along with.  Loads of insipid romantic rubbish to deal with too.

Two stars

Moneyball (2011)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill work well together in this sports film with no sports. Enjoyable despite my complete lack of baseball knowledge, this is follows a traditional underdog-to-superstar story arc with a nice balance of feel-good and rock-bottom moments.  Entertaining but forgettable.

Three stars

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1735898/

Great locations (Lake District!), great special effects, great fighting, a great baddy, great dwarves, great soundtrack. But overall a pretty average take on a great fairytale.  With so much style but not enough substance, the excellent cast and sophisticated cinematography were let down by the screenwriting.

Three stars

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748122/

Film-making at its finest here from Wes Anderson. Nothing is superfluous in this exquisitely shot and fantastically acted tale of young love on a small island.  Eccentric characters abound and both they and their stories are so well written it’s impossible not to be sucked in. A real treasure.

Five stars