Director: Frank Coraci
Verdict: I hadn't seen any trailers for this film at all. I kept seeing the name when I looked up film times so I thought I would look up the trailer. I love a good kid's film and especially if it has animals in it so this looked pretty appealing. The critics reviews were very poor so I wasn't expecting great things. The story follows Griffin Keyes, a zookeeper, played by Kevin James who loves his job but who would do anything to get back with his ex-girlfriend.
Being a film, the zoo animals start to talk to Griffin and they give him advice about his relationship. The mix of genres in the film is a bit confusing as it skips from being a kids film to a rom-com but I suppose it would appeal to a family. Although it is pretty bad, I did laugh quite a lot and I just saw it as a bit of fun. Obviously it's predictable and the animals' mouths don't match their voices particularly well but overall it made me smile (I think for the right reasons).
Director: J.J. Abrams
Verdict: I really didn't want to go and see this at first, I thought it looked cheesy and I didn't like the idea of the children being the main characters. The reviews were so highly rated that I thought I had to go, being a film student and all. Super 8 is set in the 1970's and surrounds a group of friends who happen to witness a train crash and continue to follow the strange events which happen in their town. Overall the film is pretty cheesy and 'American' but this is the idea as it's supposed to replicate more traditional and classic films.
Many people have likened the film to ET but I can't comment because I haven't actually seen ET (very bad I know). The effects in this film are amazing and when you finally see the creature that destroys the town, you aren't disappointed. I do find that many alien/monster movies build up suspense for so long and then when you finally see the culprit, it looks so pathetic. The kid actors are amazing and so believable. Elle Fanning (Dakota's sister) who is only thirteen years old was particularly talented so you can expect to see her a lot more in the future. Overall a really well rounded film but the ending did fall flat in my opinion.
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Verdict: I was so excited about seeing this as the trailer really grabbed me. I dragged my parents along to the cinema with me and my boyfriend as they never go and they were attracted to the trailer too. This film is a remake/prequal to the previous films as they are expected to start a new series of films. The whole story is so brilliant as tests in technology and science go too far and the film follows the consequences. I love that whole idea because I really think something like this could happen in the future if we continue to meddle with nature.
The effects in the film are amazing, the apes look so real and natural, but it's no surprise as the estimated budget for the film was $93,000,000! I love a movie that can manipulate your feelings and this certainly does that, I felt on edge throughout the entire film as it pulls at your heart. I'm a big fan of James Fraco as I thought he was brilliant in 127 Hours so I was happy to see him in yet another block buster. Overall this is one of the best films of the year so far, in my opinion. I would say if you have a fear of monkeys, I wouldn't see this film!!
'PICK OF THE WEEK'
The Inbetweeners Movie: I'm annoyed that I haven't even seen this yet as it came out yesterday and I won't be seeing it till tomorrow. I have always loved the tv series, watching my favourite episodes on my boxset. I love how realistic the characters and the situations are and I cannot wait to see the film as the trailer has made me laugh so much. I have heard some pretty bad reviews so I'm worried it won't live up to my expectations. Even if it doesn't I'm sure they'll be a few laughs a long the way! If you have been living under a rock and haven't seen the trailer then here it is:
