Film Reviews by TH

Not sure whether the director wanted this film to be comical or not but every aspect of it is farcical to the point you have to laugh. As the above reviewer has mentioned 'check in brain' before watching...and see how humorous Dwayne 'the rock' Johnson talks with his mate gorilla 'George' only to be infected with a virus from a falling shuttle which mutates animals into huge rampaging beasts controlled by a company called Energyne and it's 2 evil bosses (you don't see anybody else). Watch how Dwayne and Naomi Harris an embittered ex employee survive plane crashes, other beasts, a collapsing tower etc. trying to save Chicago - you get the picture.

An entertaining film to pass an hour and a half if you can suspend all reality... 2.5/5

Trying not to be too biased but Bobby Robson was a large part of my life growing up as I'm an Ipswich supporter and what he did for the club in the 70's and early 80's is basically legendary for a leafy out the way club. The film charts his time at Ipswich, Newcastle, abroad briefly at Porto/PSV but centres quite a bit on his time at Barcelona and period with England and the unsavoury and unwarranted treatment from the press. Contributions from Pep Quadiola, Terry Butcher, Gary Lineker, Gazza, Alan Shearer and Jose Mourinho (same snarling facial expressions when he was younger)! A gentleman above all and certainly the type of manager they don't make anymore and sadly missed...a must watch.

Not sure what big differences Eli Roth could have made to the lets face it average Michael Winner's 1974 version. This time round we have an unconvincing Bruce Willis (particularly in the emotional scenes) as Doctor Paul Kersey who turns into the 'reaper' of Chicago when his wife is murdered in her own home after a bodged burglary and daughter put into a coma goes on to extract revenge on the assailants and other wrong doer's. Not much really to write home about script wise other than a pair of cops who seem to do the entire police work of every homicide in Chicago whilst the climax is particularly cringe worthy as well as the over the top scenes portrayed towards Kersey's daughter Jordan makes it a Missable film for me.

Saw this at the cinema, not that funny. Too many contrived over the top scenes with little plot and Wahlberg doing what he does best being the cool, macho dude weaving between trying to be comical and menacing. Only saving grace is this is better then the sequel (god knows how that came about) which is completely missable. Trying to think the last time Will Ferrell was in a half decent movie.

Story which tells of a couple going into the country (looks like the Appalachians) for a break to a friends retreat, unbeknown to the lady (Paula Patton) a satellite phone has been dropped into her handbag and in tow are some angry hairy bikers and not so in regards to Luke Goss (remember him from Bros)? who are all part of a Human trafficking gang wanting the phone back. Violence breaks out, shooting, murder and stabbing and without giving too much of the plot away the ladies are particularly 'wanted'. One or two mild twists ensue but the film is largely cliched with a contrived ending which tends to make you think really!?!... but at least as a journalist (Patton) she get's her news coup, 2.5/5 for me due to the poor end.

Certainly not the worst movie Gerard Butler has been involved in (think of the dreadful 'Geostorm'). The film is gritty, plot okay and acting even from Butler good although the bad boozy cop with domestic problems thing has been done many times usually just to fill the running time and no different here. The bank heist (Los Angeles Federal Reserve) is quite memorable although the film is let down at times with scenes that really don't need to be in it (e.g. Levoux's, played by 50 cent daughter scene), the climax shoot out in a traffic jam also questionable. Other than that watchable.

One thing for sure it tries to be slick...(like Smokin' Aces) but largely fails. Partly dark comedy and action (at times) but undermining this is a poor script with too many contrived scenes and characters not really needed (e.g. Harold's wife, the young couple going to Mexico for a drug deal) just to make the film feel that it's fast but just comes across muddled and don't think the movie is based around drugs and a cartel as it's mainly about the nice rather gullible Harold who tries to get his own back on his conniving boss Richard (Edgerton) after he hears he is surplus to requirements, hence an ensuing false kidnapping (to get the company's insurance) and real kidnapping attempts thereafter in Mexico mixed with Richard's brother who just happens to be an expert as a hostage retriever getting involved. Overall disappointing.

WARNING SPOILERS: The idea of the film actually was very good although done in different guises before but there was certainly potential for this to be a good movie and could have gone down the road of being either humorous (Wiig and Sudeikis appearing suggested this but strangely only briefly!?!) or the more likely darker side but what we got was neither, instead we had a environmentally green film with tones about 'big people' being wasteful, carbon emitting and helping an over populated planet etc etc.

The first half hour or so keeps is an intriguing watch to see what happens to 'downsize' the mindset particularly financially, the process and the post reaction but there after the films wheels just fall off. Paul Safraneks (Damon) wife Aubrey changes her mind at the last second not to downsize leaving Paul at Leisureland (small people world) on his own, divorce follows and he tries to rebuild his life thereafter the film becomes a mess with not much direction as he becomes involved with his larger than life upstairs neighbour (Waltz) and his oriental cleaning maid who is an immigrant refugee and a sole survivor in a TV box (yes I know) that orders Paul to help poor small people. The rest of the film rather trudges to the end and gets overwhelmed by ecological and human impact issues, I'm sure the director made this film on the premise to make you think after. But all that clouded my mind after I ejected the disc was weren't they lucky with the sea conditions in the Fjord considering they were in a boat a few feet long! (if you watch it you'll know what I mean as well as many other things, weather? birds? debris on the water)?

Sadly disappointing...

Warning spoilers: Typical style Statham movie, he's a contract hit man working for a undercover company basically run by 2 men one (played by Sutherland) a long time friend but evidence comes to light that incriminates him of misdealings and a sting which gets 5 men killed in a Cape Town contract. Statham is ordered to kill him...and yes this is where no sense comes into the film, without no thought or even asking his wheelchair bound friend what happened he kills him. There on the film jumps form sillyness to sillyness as Bishop (Statham) takes his dead friends son (who he's just bumped off) under his wing even though he's an emotionless professional hitman and shows him the ropes to save him from being a drunken bum or some stupid reason, a few bodged hits later thanks to his co-assassin (played by Ben Foster) they find the truth behind what happened in Cape Town but you can see the threadbare plot a mile away. Also throw in a brief love scene with a girl/prostitute whom has nothing to do with the plot what so ever and the climax to the film is naturally over the top but not surprising. If you like Statham and his type genre film then it would be okay for a late night film but that's about it.

Documentary about the life and times of Freddie Foreman - from post war thief to harder crime working with the Krays and the murders he was associated with and the disposal of Jack 'the hat' McVitie which he served 10 years then onto a brief straight spell when he moved his family to the States only to be involved in the Security Express robbery in 1983 (further time). Yes certainly a colourful life if you can call it that but the direction on this film is a bit odd, lots of close up's of Freddie and his hands and occasional chatting of other people in the room whilst Freddie is being interviewed (what was that all about)?...and numerous mentions about the real crime bringing up a family in poverty. Friends, family, associates and criminologists also contribute. Hit and miss for me.

Totally agree with the first reviewers post on here...same old same really, tries to throw in some humour at times but it's basically baddies against goodies but with less of a plot other than Rey trying to get help from Luke Skywalker on some Scottish Island with lots of new cuddly and nor so cuddly creatures thrown in. I'm sure if your a sci-fi fan you'll love it but not so sure otherwise.

A film that easily could have been 90 minutes. Good acting by both Carrell (Riggs) and Stone (King) but the whole tale is rather tedious other than the last 15 minutes when they do battle on court in the Battle of the sexes but not sure really what the film was about? equality? sexual orientation? or just women's rights. Any way it's not the most outstanding sporting event of the last century not even in tennis and I can't really remember it being that outstanding an event in the 70's...maybe the film Borg v McEnroe will be a bit more entertaining. Just a film that goes with today's times...

An unlikeable collage student relives on her birthday the day which she was murdered by a masked assailant over and over until she finally gets to the notion she has to change her day and try and stop her murderer. Numerous people are suspected and numerous people get on her nerves whilst she relives the day. Nothing original about this film though, think Groundhog day or the more recent Live die repeat with Tom Cruise only this hasn't been done in the slasher genre, not hugely scary or any jump out your seat moments as after the 'first act' you know she's going to die. Corny at times and without giving much away a scene where she escapes her assailant in a car (who was on foot in a car park) catches up with her driving in the opposite direction to run over a cop who was about to arrest her...and that about sums it up!, not to be taken too seriously, in fact a bit of a laugh.

Saw this at Xmas on the big screen, woefully unfunny. More notable cast, more laughs?...answer no, even Will Ferrell can't lift this lifeless dead duck or should I say dead Turkey into life. Wahlberg does his usual macho thing only to be upstaged by his on screen father an even more macho husky voiced boozy Gibson (not much acting needed) who is basically pointless other than trying to be as un-PC as possible. Simply beyond me how this ran for over 2 months at the local cineworld. Terrible.

You'd think a film directed by Tomas Alfredson (Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, Let the right one in) and produced by Martin Scorcese would be half decent, think again. It has a feel of 'Girl with the dragon Tattoo' about it being set in snowy Norway and has a flimsy plot about a serial killer bumping off sexually promiscuous people and then building a snowman as his calling card with Michael Fassbender (Harry Hole, yes that is his name) stars alongside Rebecca Ferguson as the detectives. No real character development to make you feel remotely interested in the people, the editing in the film is shockingly bad, jumping from scene to scene poorly and the climax just poorly executed and rushed and to a degree laughable. That a side some nice shots of a snowy Norway but that a side a really poor thriller.