Bloodthirsty: Colin Farrell gets his sword out.

Cinema mix Cinema mix

Alexander

Stars
Angelina Jolie, Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Val Kilmer, Jared Leto

Rating: 1

– PTE John Wellfare

Oliver Stone has a big reputation in Hollywood, but after watching his latest offering, one can’t help wondering if the director of Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July and JFK has lost his edge.

Alexander is an epic in the general sense – it’s almost three hours long, there are enough extras to fi ll a football stadium and it features a star-studded lead cast – what it lacks is any sense of presence. While there were no standouts, I can’t fault the acting; the problem lies somewhere between the screenplay (also by Stone) and the directing.

This movie is stale, ponderous and falls well short of making any connection with the audience.

When Alexander dies, the only emotion is a sense of relief that this overly talky biopic must be nearing an end.

The Incredibles

Craig T Nelson, Holly Hunter

Rating: 3

– PTE Shannon Joyce

If you don’t have any children or can’t borrow some from a workmate, you’ll still be able to get away with catching this incredibly entertaining film without questionable looks from the box office cashier.

The story circulates around a family with super-power strengths, trying to live-out an ordinary existence in a world where super-heroic acts have been banned.

The flick has the substance and comedy to entertain an adult audience, and enough pizzazz and yahoo to keep even the youngest squirmer of the family in his seat.

Meet the Fockers

Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Barbara Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Teri Polo

Rating: 4

– LT Simone Heyer

Fans of Meet the Parents will be impressed with this sequel, which is funnier and less frustratingly silly than the first film. Before they marry, Gaylord (Stiller) and Pamela’s (Polo) parents must meet before Pam’s Dad Jack takes them into the circle of trust.

Even on their best behaviour, the crazy Fockers end up in all sorts situations until Gaylord starts his own circle.

This film is super funny and should be appreciated more than once.

A Very Long Engagement

Audrey Tatou, Gaspard Ulliel, Dominique Pinon

Rating: 4

– CPL Damian Shovell

French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet has made his long awaited return combining again with actress Audrey Tatou in recreating some of their earlier Amelie successes in Jeunet’s interpretation of Sebastien Japrisot’s novel A Very Long Engagement.

Set in France shortly after WW1, the story follows 20-year-old Mathilde (Tatou) in her search for the truth behind her fiancé and childhood sweetheart Manech’s (Ulliel) disappearance during the war.

After three years of refusing to accept his death, she starts a long investigation and hires a private detective. She discovers Manech and four others were convicted of self-mutilation and sent over the top of one of the Somme’s deadliest Allied trenches, abandoned in no-man’s-land with all fi ve reportedly killed.

Part love story, part adventure- mystery.

Although captivating, it’s diffi cult to credit the movie any real suspense, as, although it comes with a twist, the end result seems forgone throughout.

One of the things I find most apparent about Jeunet’s films is the alluring choice of rich colours that he uses masterfully (atrait enjoyed in Amelie).