New on DVD this week: Dream House

This week only sees one film released on DVD and BluRay. This one stars new found lovers Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz and both have refused to watch the film due to the poor production of it and the disappointing reviews it got. Apparently they wouldn't take part in interviews to promote the film either. Talk about a film that was going downhill from the get go. Perhaps Craig was more interested in his bigger film which is released on DVD next week. For now though have a look below at which film it is and decide if you will even bother.

DREAM HOUSE - Craig and Weisz move into a new house with their daughters, only to find out that the former residents were known to commit brutal crimes inside their dream house.

Dream House trailer

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS - Seems typical, it certainly isn't!

This week there were a couple of films that we were quite interested in seeing, but we plumped for the film we have heard is a game changer for the horror genre, The Cabin In The Woods. Game changer it may be but I have to say I would certainly not call this a horror film. It is practically a black comedy and is poking fun at the horror genre, it isn't particularly a horror film. Scream was also a black comedy but it was definitely a horror, and a hundred times scarier than this. That isn't to say though that this film is a bad movie because it's not.

I really enjoyed this film due to the fact it was different, original, funny and had some great performances. On the other hand my girlfriend was less impressed as it was silly, jumpy and really didn't appeal to her as horror is her least favourite genre. You could say I've described two different films there but that is what this film will do to audiences, it will split them. Horror fans will love it, especially if they love old school horror and believe recent horrors are generic, where as if you like new style horror you may hate this film. If you hate horror all together you probably won't understand this film. It is that crazy that you need to see it to believe it. It is a film where I can seriously not explain it to you as without seeing it you won't really understand it.

The acting throughout is very good, and considering it is ripping into the cliched horror genre, the actors are actually a lot better than those who star in the usual generic horrors. Here we care for the characters which helps drive the absurd story. The typical stoner of the group, Fran Kranz, is great in his role and brings plenty of comic relief. However the real stars of the show are those who never enter the cabin. Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford play the controllers of what is going on and their scenes really do steal the show. It is these scenes that show this is not really a horror as when they are on screen it is generally laugh out loud funny. Like I said this isn't really a horror.

The final twenty minutes twist so much that even if I told you the twist you wouldn't believe me. Although this part is a lot of fun, I had to agree with the girlfriend in that it became a little over the top and a little bit silly. It does at times hit the mark where it becomes too stupid but from what I hear in interviews with the writers, that is exactly what they wanted. Unfortunately not all the audience will get it and I heard a few people in the audience claim it was silly, or others who moaned it was too cliched. Some obviously didn't realise it was meant to be cliched.

It is a good film, however it did split us and we can only give it an average score as it will not be to everyone's liking. It is so different and brings a new twist to this sort of movie, but I don't see it changing a genre in the light that Scream did. The writing is great, the acting is great, the humour is at times hilarious, but it won't work if you don't get it or are not willing to let it take you along on it's completely absurd ride.

Pros: Original, tongue in cheek funny and unpredictable as ever.

Cons: A little silly at times which may lose audiences.

5.5 / 10


Top 10 of 2012 so far:


1. The Hunger Games     8 / 10
2. 21 Jump Street     7.5 / 10
3. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol     7 / 10
4. The Grey     7 / 10
5. Safe House     6 / 10
6. The Raven     6 / 10
7. Contraband     6 / 10
8. The Cabin In The Woods     5.5 / 10
9. This Means War     5 / 10
10. Man On A Ledge     5 / 10

In Cinema's This Weekend: Board game turned multi million dollar Hollywood blockbuster

This weekend sees another weekend with a small number of films released, however with the two that are released we have two that have been highly anticipated. One is based upon a classic board game that was pitched with the tagline 'Transformers on water', and the other is a comedy horror produced by Avenger's Assemble director Joss Whedon, that spends 90 minutes poking fun at the things he hates about recent horror movies. Two that could really get the box office going. Take a look below.



1. First up is BATTLESHIP, based on the board game. It stars Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Kitsch and Rhianna fighting at sea against a robot-like alien race. It also holds a role for Liam Neeson which can only be a good thing and is CGI infested. Expect to see lots of explosions and hear many cheesy puns. Also starring: Brooklyn Decker. Want to sink a battleship?






2. Second and finally is the horror/comedy THE CABIN IN THE WOODS. Here we see five teenage kids head out to a cabin in the woods for a long weekend. Along the way they meet crazy gas station owner and receive warnings towards their destination. Once they arrive they swim in the lake, sleep together, hear noises, investigate into dark basements and basically leave each other to save themselves from what appears to be a psychopathic killer. Sound familiar? You have no idea! This film takes all of that and spins it right on its head. Predictable this will not be. Starring: Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Chris Hemsworth & Kristen Connolly. Fancy a scary twist?


There are your two releases of the week. Will you fight at sea or unravel the mystery of the cabin? Either way I think you will be thoroughly entertained.

NEWS - Teaser for Looper trailer hits web.

Just in case you don't understand the headline it is that a teaset trailer for the trailer of Joseph Gordon Levitt's new movie, Looper has hit the web. The teaser sees the star and director/ writer Rian Johnson give us a premise and a few questions to get us thinking. Have a look at the teaser to the trailer below.



Teaser to Looper trailer


Also on there you have a chance to read a little more about the procedure the studio have taken into promoting this film and the trailer. Seems an unusual step but now a days trailers seem as big as the movies so perhaps we will be seeing this more often.

So hat did you think of the teaser? It is a film I am interested in seeing as I like Mr Gordon Levitt and it also stars Bruce Willis. Kind of ironic after yesterdays question. The teaser tells us the premise and also shows us the typical smarmy and cheesy Joseph Gordon Levitt. This shows he must be a good actor!!!

Some time this week the trailer will be released so keep an eye out and see a lot more of a film that will hopefully wow audiences later in the year. It is one I already have inked on my calendar.

QUESTION: What is Bruce Willis' worst film?

In light of Bruce Willis' new film, The Cold Light Of Day, I've decided to find out what his worst movie actually is. My vote would probably go for this latest pile of garbage that he has starred in. He is a top actor and he has done some great films, but at the same time he has done some utter rubbish. So I am going for a change of tact and I would like to know what you think his worst film is? I have listed five choices below but feel free to add extras that you think.








1. COP OUT - Starring alongside Tracy Morgan as a cop who has his prized baseball card stolen. Bruce what bought you to this?








2. PERFECT STRANGER - Halle Berry his co-star in another drab film. Here he plays a suspected murderer being hunted by berry's journalist. Both of the stars could have made this better!












3. THE KID - In this remake he plays an older version of the lead child. This way the child gets to see who he becomes when he is older. After this film the boy must hope he doesn't turn out like Mr Willis.







4. THE WHOLE TEN YARDS - This sequel was such a let down. The first was original and had great turns by Bruce and by Chandler Bing, I'm sorry I mean Matthew Perry. The sequel however ruins it all.






5. WHAT JUST HAPPENED - This one is only a cameo and as DeNiro is the lead I can see why he done it, however he should maybe see what the film is before he accepts them as this one is poor for both these actors standards.









This may seem a little harsh on Bruce but he is such a great actor that this is the sort of rubbish he shouldn't be doing. Let me know your thoughts and if it is any of these you believe to be the worst or any others.

New on DVD this week: Texas Killing Fields

This week sees only 2 films released on DVD and both being relatively small successes on the big screen also. I've seen neither and both have received negative reviews so perhaps it could be a week to avoid the cinema and the DVD aisle. It has been a strange week considering it is Easter but perhaps Easter isn't the best selling point for films. Have a look at the two below and see if perhaps they do suit your fancy.


TEXAS KILLING FIELDS - A New York City detective moves to Texas in order to help a local cop solve some grizzly murders.



Texas Killing Fields trailer








SWINGING WITH THE FINKELS - An unhappy married couple decide to spice up their sex life by attempting swinging with another couple.




Swinging With The Finkels trailer

THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY - Left me feeling cold!!

Due to yet another poor release weekend, something I found odd due to the Easter bank holiday, we decided to see a picture that we had heard very little about and had only seen the trailer for. The trailer looks like it is your typical action flick. Well after viewing I can tell you it is a lot worse than your typical action flick. This makes Contraband look as intelligent as Inception.


The film stars some pretty big names. For starters we have Henry Cavill, who may not be huge at the moment but after playing Superman in next years Man Of Steel I'm sure producers will be queuing up to sign him. On this showing however maybe that won't be the case. I assume that this film was a building block for Mr Cavill to bolster his profile but it doesn't really do him any favours. He waltzes around looking confused and as if he is strangely straining. He does not do himself justice here. Other big stars are Bruce Willis, who plays pretty much Bruce Willis, again, and Sigourney Weaver who looks and acts like she believes she is better than this film. You're not wrong Sigourney you are.

The film has so many flaws. It starts off alright and we see some beautiful scenery and some tension whilst having dinner on the family yacht. However some of this tension never comes to anything and the build up of Will (Cavill)'s job has no relevance. Once the family are kidnapped, and we move into the second act, the film plummets and at speed. The actions scenes are ridiculous, Weaver is a veteran CIA agent yet misses a shot from less that ten yards with a semi automatic gun. Whoever trained her must be useless. Then you see Cavill run through a house in seconds being chased by Weaver who seems to take minutes to walk the same route, with an empty fridge being a barrier too far when they get to it. For CIA agents chasing Will for a World changing briefcase stolen by his Father they are hopeless.

The plots is also all over the place with several twists added in for the sake of it. One being a loose connection to a woman Will teams up with. The twist just springs from nowhere at all and makes little sense. The point of the briefcase is never mentioned, which wasn't a huge problem as they never made me care for it anyway but poor exposition told us they weren't going to make us aware of the briefcase. Also the title of the film has no relevance to the film what so ever. The title sounds good but won't make it good.

It is a complete mess, from the script which tells you everything through poor dialogue to the characters that you really don't care about. I have to say I hated this film. There was so much wrong with it that I'm struggling to find anything good to say about it. Perhaps the fact that it is mindless, although I'd advise Die Hard for that, or that it has a good car chase at the end, although I'd advise The Bourne films for that. You know all in all I advise you do not even waste your time and money on this movie.


Pros: Title sounds cool. Climatic car chase.

Cons: Everything else.

3.5 / 10


Top 10 of 2012 so far:


1. The Hunger Games     8 / 10
2. 21 Jump Street     7.5 / 10
3. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol     7 / 10
4. The Grey     7 / 10
5. Safe House     6 / 10
6. The Raven     6 / 10
7. Contraband     6 / 10
8. This Means War     5 / 10
9. Man On A Ledge     5 / 10
10. J. Edgar     4.5 / 10