Summary Review:
Red Riding Hood is a surprising new take on an old folktale, creatively and terrifyingly reworked.

Synopsis:
I was not planning on reviewing Red Riding Hood, but went to the cinema with a friend I hadn’t seen in ages, who insisted on watching it, so here we are:

Red Riding Hood is set in a medieval village that has been plagued by a wolf for many years.

A travelling priest comes to the village and explains to the people that it is not a mere wolf, but in actual fact a werewolf that is attacking their village. The villagers turn on each other as they realise that the werewolf could be any one of them undercover.

Meanwhile, Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) has been given to Henry Lazar to marry, but she is really in love with Peter, a lowly woodcutter. While embroiled in this love triangle, the three youngsters are pivotal in ridding their village of the werewolf.

Red Riding Hood is directed by Catherine Hardwicke, director of Twilight, and the visual aspects of this film are very similar to those of that vampire movie, making use of sharp colour contrasts. The illicit romance between Valerie and Peter is indulged with several dream-like forest scenes of the couple.

The dialogue of Red Riding Hood is very cursory, not aiding any character development, but rather progressing the plot from one scene to the next.

Despite the melodramatic romance and the scant dialogue, Red Riding Hood has many gory moments as a horror film. It is scary and has a few unexpected twists, which make the conclusion surprising and rewarding.

Director: Catherine Hardwicke Screenplay: David Leslie Johnson Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Julie Christie Time: 100min Age Restriction: 13V

Genre:
Horror

Summary Review:
The Rite is a horror film that frighteningly explores the spiritual realm of hell and heaven.

Synopsis:
Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue) doesn’t want to take over his father’s mortuary, so he enrols at a seminary college to escape and become a priest.

After four years of studying, Michael is still not certain what he believes about God and hands in a resignation letter, citing a “lack of faith” for his inability to continue. Father Matthew, however, threatens Michael with a $100,000 student loan to be paid off if he drops out. He then tells Michael about a new course that the Vatican is offering on exorcism and that Michael should go to Rome and do the course.

There has always been a lot of heated debate about God and whether He exists, but The Rite takes an interesting turn by asking those questions about Satan. Michael begins shadowing Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), a priest specialising in exorcisms. Michael, however, can’t help but wonder if the people are truly possessed or actually just psychologically disturbed.

Michael doesn’t believe in God and he doesn’t believe in the devil, but in order to become a successful exorcist, he must develop a belief in both.

The cinematography takes full advantage of the buildings, colours and history of Rome. Colin O’Donoghue is monotonous as the constantly wavering and sceptical Michael Kovak, only really coming to life in the last few scenes. Anthony Hopkins has had a lot of practise at being creepy and he is one of the scariest things about The Rite.

The Rite isn’t a blood-and-gore horror movie, but its darkly supernatural nature and the fact that such spiritual occurrences are real does make it scary.

Director: Mikael Håfström Screenplay: Michael Petroni, based on the book by Matt Baglio Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O’Donoghue, Alica Braga, Marta Gastini Time: 113min Age Restriction: 16V

Genre:
Horror/Thriller

Summary Review:
The Dilemma is an awkward comedy with moral and ethical undertones about what to do with secrets you were never meant to know.

Synopsis:
Ronny (Vince Vaughan) is a fun-loving guy who can never take anything seriously. That is until he sees his best friend’s wife (Winona Ryder) kissing another man.

Now Ronny is faced with the dilemma of either keeping the secret and letting the affair continue that will destroy his friend, Nick (Kevin James) or telling Nick and being the bearer of bad news.

The Dilemma has a very interesting premise, but the film makers don’t seem to know how to conclude this story.

The unusual pairing of comedians Vaughan and James with serious actresses like Ryder and Jennifer Connelly adds to the movie’s off-kilter tone and awkward pace.

It seems the makers of The Dilemma couldn’t bring their ideas to life as they’d imagined and there will be many moments in the cinema where you’ll sit there feeling awkward and wondering what’s just funny and what’s sarcastic.

Director: Ron Howard Screenplay: Allan Loeb Cast: Vince Vaughan, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly Time: 118min Age Restriction: 13SLV

Genre:
Comedy

Summary Review:
How Do You Know is an average romantic comedy about a love triangle between characters portrayed by good comedians in their usual roles.

Synopsis:
I had tonsillitis this weekend and so didn’t feel like watching James Franco saw off his own arm with a blunt knife in an inspiring survival story like 127 Days. That does, however, look like the most interesting new film at the cinemas.

Saw 3D needs no introduction and I believe the only way it differs from its two predecessors is that it is in 3D.

Which brings us to the third and final option, How Do You Know. I didn’t have high hopes for this movie either, but it was at least easy to watch.

Reese Witherspoon plays Lisa, a professional softball player who gets cut from the national USA team. While trying to recover from her disappointment and find a new purpose for her life, she gets embroiled in a love triangle with a professional baseballer (Owen Wilson) and a business executive (Paul Rudd) who is under federal investigation for dodgy business dealings.

How Do You Know is nothing more than a safe romantic comedy, perfect as a belated Valentine’s date.

It is not up to the usual standards of award-winning writer and director James L. Brooks, but How Do You Know will cause couples to take a deeper look at their relationships.

Director: James L. Brooks Screenplay: James L. Brooks Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson

Summary Review:
Morning Glory is a funny formula comedy with the usual good performances from 3 skilled actors.

Synopsis:
Becky (Rachel McAdams) is a sweetly ambitious young TV producer who gets retrenched when the local station she works for starts making cut-backs.

Facing huge pressure from her mum to give up on her embarrassing dream of becoming a star producer, Becky applies for a position at a failing network breakfast show.

She now has the challenge of reviving this show while facing opposition from its two grumpy presenters (Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford).

Rachel McAdams is an actress everyone expected to see great things from after her performance in The Notebook. Since then, however, she has played very similar characters in a variety of films and Morning Glory is another un-challenging movie.

While a funny and easy-going film, Morning Glory is nothing exceptional.

Director: Roger Michell Screenplay: Aline Brosh McKenna Cast: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson Time: 107min Age Restriction: 13L

Genre:
Comedy

Summary Review:
Fair Game is a taut and allegedly accurate biopic of how one couple opposed the entire US government.

Synopsis:
This political thriller is set in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Naomi Watts plays Valerie Plame, a covert agent in the CIA. Val’s husband, Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn) is a former ambassador who is asked to investigate reports that uranium is being imported from Niger to Iraq for weapons of mass destruction.

When Jo’s findings reveal the reports to be false, but the US go to war regardless, Jo goes public with his investigation.

In retaliation, the vice-president’s office makes Valerie’s identity public, destroying her credibility and jeopardising all operations she had been involved in.

Carried by outstanding performances from Watts and Penn, bitterly portraying the tension in their marriage, Fair Game showcases one incident in a situation that is very close to the hearts of all Americans.

Director: Doug Liman Screenplay: Jez Butterworth, John Butterworth Cast: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Khaled El Nabawy, Ty Burrell Time: 108min Age Restriction: 13LV

Genre:
Political Thriller

Summary Review:
Love & Other Drugs is a film that requires patience and an open mind, with a clash of the crass and the sensitive.

Synopsis:
Jamie’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) charisma, intelligence and good looks make him a brilliant salesman, but that is not good enough for his parents.

His parents and sister are successful doctors, while his geeky younger brother developed some medical software that has made him a millionaire.

Jamie becomes a pharmaceutical rep for Pfizer and when they launch the miracle drug, Viagra, his career skyrockets.

The first half of Love & Other Drugs is so filled with empty sex and nudity I felt really uncomfortable.

But as Jamie’s relationship with Maggie (Anna Hathaway), a young woman with early-onset Parkinson’s deepens and intensifies, Love & Other Drugs develops an unexpected heart. The characters finally become richer and more human.

Love & Other Drugs is a strange combination of cliches and originality, alternating between bohemian sets and crisp locations, with subtly obvious art direction.

If that sounds confusing, good, because that’s what Love & Other Drugs is. It was not what I expected and it did not end the way the beginning leads you to believe it will.

Director: Edward Zwick Screenplay: Edward Zwick, Charles Randolph, Marshall Herskovitz Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt Time: 112min Age Restriction: 16SNL

Genre:
Romance/Comedy

Summary Review:
Made in Dagenham is a seriously cheering movie about the beginning of the struggle for equal pay for women in the UK.

Synopsis:
The female machinists in the Dagenham Ford factory work in a stuffy basement, sewing car seat covers day in and day out.

Not only do they get paid an unskilled-labourers wage, but because they are women they also get paid half of what the men in the same positions do.

One day Rita (Sally Hawkins), one of the ladies working as a machinist, is asked to join a union meeting with the Ford factory management, just to add a number advantage to the union party’s representation.

But when the union representative seems to be backing down on his promise to raise the girls’ wages to those of skilled workers, Rita can not believe her eyes at the raw deal the women are getting and she begins a strike action that snowballs into taking the entire UK, and eventually the world, by storm.

Made in Dagenham is a delightful film, filled with 60′s fashion and wry British wit. The cast bring the diverse characters to life, and there are several minor storylines that flesh out the characters and personalise them.

Sally Hawkins is brilliant as the shyly feminine, but boldly idealistic Rita and the film is filled with bittersweet feel-good moments, as she is disillusioned of another naïve belief in the world, but optimistically triumphs to bring justice to the situation.

Made in Dagenham is an inspiring drama with funny moments, about the underdog triumphing at something that’s never been attempted before.

Director: Nigel Cole Screenplay: Billy Ivory Cast: Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson, Rosamund Pike, Bob Hoskins Time: 113min Age Restriction: 13SL

Genre:
Drama

Summary Review:
Easy A is a smart and witty film about high school rumours, starring a talented cast that will have you rolling in your seat with laughter.

Synopsis:
Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) is just another average high school girl who never gets noticed.

One day she makes up a date with a fictional college freshman, in order to get out of a weekend away with Rhiannon, her annoying best friend, and Rhiannon’s weird family.

The next week, when sharing stories about their weekend, Rhiannon gets the impression that Olive lost her virginity.

As high school rumours tend to do, the story spreads like wildfire and suddenly Olive is the centre of attention – especially amongst the guys.

One “harmless” lie leads to another and soon Olive is known as the high school tramp, with no clear way of redeeming her good name.

It sets wrong examples for everything from gossiping to parenting, but I loved Easy A for its fast humour, its unexpected sensitive moments and its exaggerated insight into the high school world.

Easy A has a stellar cast of seasoned actors, mostly known for their comedic flair. Emma Stone is hilarious, engaging and H.O.T. as the down-to-earth Olive. Her high school nemesis, a Bible-bashing pastor’s daughter, is played with typical verocity by Amanda Bynes and the adult cast includes Stanley Tucci, as well as sitcom veterans Lisa Kudrow and Thomas Haden Church.

If you are a teenager, have fond memories of high school or have teenage kids, do yourself a favour and watch Easy A. It will have you in stitches!

Director: Will Gluck Screenplay: Bert V. Royal Cast: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Patricia Clarkson Time: 92min Age Restriction: 13LS

Genre:
Teen Comedy

Summary Review:
The Tourist is an entertaining and amusing film of improbable, escapist fun.

Synopsis:
When I saw that The Tourist featured both Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, I knew I had to watch it.

Elise (Angelina Jolie) is being trailed by the French police, who are working with Scotland Yard and who are hoping she will lead them to Alexander Pearce, her lover.

When Elise boards a train to Venice, she sits with Frank (Johnny Depp), a man who resembles Pearce, and she leads them to believe it is Alexander.

Frank is bewildered when men start trying to kill him and he keeps bumping into Elise, who slowly begins to reciprocate Franks’ awkward attraction.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Tourist as a fun, sophisticated chase. Don’t expect fireworks, just because it’s Johnny and Angelina; the nature of their characters and circumstances dictates restrained performances from each of them and they deliver their sharp lines subtly tight-lipped.

On the flipside, the storyline is rather flimsy and Angelina Jolie spends too much time posing for the camera.

The Tourist is a fun, easy-to-watch holiday movie, but is not going to be added to any “Best Movies Ever” lists.

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Screenplay: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Christopher McQuarrie, Julian Fellowes, based on Anthony Zimmer by Jérôme Salle Cast: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton Time: 103min Age Restriction: 13VM

Genre:
Thriller