"No one calls me 'Elizabeth' only my Dad does that and he's an ass hole".

Yet another film that went unnoticed by me for a while until a couple of weeks ago. I must be slipping usually i have everything mapped out and only the very small art house films slip from my grasp. But no matter iv'e seen it now - it's a drama with big dollops of romance in a UK under heavy fire (by an unknown , it ever says but the film know it doesn't matter).

Much like 'The Walking Dead' where a world is infected by zombies, they aren't the focus the people are. This too doesn't make the big world problem the focus, instead it's about these few children and more specifically 'Daisy' (Saoirse Ronan) a girl who is sent to England by her father to her cousins. 'Daisy' at first rejects them, she's a teenager cut-off and constantly blames herself and over-thinks things. Naturally she eventually warms to the place and mainly 'Edmund' (George McKay). It's a slow builder gradually going from a decent film to a great one. With things at first feeling a bit safe, in terms of actual safety. I know the relationships are the key here but in a war there's bound to be conflict and there is. When it kicks in it's brilliant. There are no fake punches thrown either, things hit hard and it doesn't go for the safe and stay happy throughout. There's loss reinforcing this is in a real war, a real threat - unknown lies around the corner. While i did fully expect it to end the way it did there were moments i didn't expect - i feared it WOULD play it safe how wrong i was. The relationship between 'Ed' and 'Daisy' is sweet and almost fully succeeds in developing into something tangible - a complaint that will differ from person to person. But despite some complaints its well written and it doesn't write itself into a corner. It's tense when it's suppose to be and it's sad when it's suppose to be.

'Saoirse' is excellent as the lead convincingly taking her characters step from recluse to the more inviting and happy 'Daisy'. It's not surprising given her clear talent - surely a future Oscar winner (without putting to much pressure). 'Tom Holland' plays the younger boy to a T with a playful and over confidence in what's happening around him - another actor who is sure to have a bright future. Everything in this film is so tight, there isn't an inclining of any of the lesser known buckling. The little girl 'Piper' (Harley Bird) is impressive having most of the best lines and is probably the stand-out. Naturally because the films gets better and better so does the acting, the script really enhances it and no cop-out approach to the story give them real follow through.

'How I Live Now' is another surprise and another great film with 'Saoirse Ronan' heading things - with the earlier 'Byzantium'. Not to be out done the rest of the cast are equally great. Thanks to a nice flowing script that ups things scene to scene and doesn't take the easy road of everything is ok in the end. I may have found it a slow builder but when it gets going it only improves with every word.

"You come back to your boss and you say do want me to do it again?!!"

"An intriguing premise" i thought when i first saw the trailer. But that's as far as i thought it never looked anything beyond ok nothing about it filled me with confidence - none the less i wanted to see it, despite the flack 'Justin Timberlake' gets he did quite well in 'Social Network' so there's capability there. Unfortunately, i got much less than i expected falling well under what i considered to be a worse case scenario. This isn't a bad film as such just incredibly boring and that's worst thing that can happen to a film.

'Justin Timberlake' plays the hard-up on money university student 'Richie' who when playing poker to essential sort his future is sure he was cheated. So logically (of course) he goes to confront eh man he feels is responsible - but he ends up getting a job until things go to far and he wants out. Everything is standard here with the usual the seemingly straight up guy isn't what you think - but there's nothing to invest in because of how uninteresting the characters and plot is. The dialogue isn't bad, the personalities aren't it's just so bland and dull that i couldn't care less what happens. Every so often there's a nice moment that lasts for 5 minutes then you remember that these people are just cardboard. It tries to create a sense of intrigue which i applaud - at least for trying - but trying and falling flat is fine, trying getting brown is worse. 'Affleck' is about the only person who brings a slight sense of characteristic to proceedings as 'Ivan Block' but even he can only take his character so far - because of boring, cliched motivations. 'Timberlake' may be a decent actor but he can't carry it as a protagonist . The script doesn't help either for a man that IS essentially charisma this film has drained it all in one foul swoop with little effort. The most infuriating part is the potential here with the premise, it would need a complete overhaul but the groundwork is a solid one.

The ending comes as no surprise with the hero finally get one over on 'Ivan' when it counts and reciting words 'Ivan' once spoke to him. The places where it is shot are nice, vibrant places countering it with the bleak and dark looking parts works nice. Unfortunately the bland doesn't just stay with the characters and the story but also descends into the directing. It's not bad but again - paint by the numbers it's basic, 101 filming. 'Gemma Arterton' is wasted here as the love interest 'Rebecca' she tries here best (as do all) but what can you do with this wasted character? Even a cliched mysterious, is she, isn't she with or against him? would have been better than what her character is.

I can't recommend this to anyone, even bad films can get a recommendation out of some novelty. Iv'e said it far too much but it's the perfect description - this is dull and that's worse than bad, there's nothing outright awful the acting is fine, great even at times and the premise is an interesting one. But the characters are dull, the dialogue is dull and the story can't escape it either bordering on the tiresome. Falling asleep would be the equivalent to the story here. Wasted opportunity.

And if i haven't mentioned already boring, dull, bland.

"Every day my daughter is wondering why i'm not there, not you!"

Prisoners' is another film that crept up on me out of nowhere. Oscar nominated 'Denis Villeneuve' director has (to me at least) gone unknown but that won't be the case anymore with a stellar cast - 'Hugh Jackman', 'Jake Gyllenhaal' and 'Paul Dano' (who i don't think iv'e ever seen in a bad film). He may get another nom here for this engrossing story of a farther willing to go to the edge - even if he's not sure.

'Keller' (Jackman) and Franklin's (Terrence Howard) daughters go missing. With all the clues pointing to 'Alex' (Paul Dano) a shy, child-like adult and he's released due to a lack of evidence 'Keller' takes the law into his own hands trying to force the truth out of him. Wonderfully acted throughout 'Jackman' shines as the grief stricken farther, for ever tipping on the edge of insanity and have no qualms doing everything and anything he can. It doesn't get off to the best start with pretty weak initial characterization, but it isn't long before it kicks in and the intensity starts to grow. The great thing about this is, it is constantly leading you in different directions changing the accusation and wondering about 'Alex' all the time. Is he putting this all on, or is there really a lack of understanding on his part?.

There are questionable moments here and there with there being alack of 'Alex's disappearance - i don't buy they'd search 'Keller' as a suspect, it seems to be dismissed. The ending is also very abrupt with no closure on the final pressing matter. There is also an unnecessary amount of religious motifs scattered about - i don't need to be constantly reminded about this persons beliefs. I'd also would have liked the animosity that occurs between 'Detective Loki' (Gyllenhaal) and 'Keller' to have been resolved. This is something that really rubs me the wrong way in films. This sin't a big deal when the film creates a lot of intrigue and tension - there's even apart where 'Keller' himself comes into question.

While it is clear 'Jackman' and 'Gyllenhaal' will get most of the plaudits i think the rest of the cast need to get some as well - in particular Dano's performance as 'Alex. The individuals all have such distinct characters once it kicks into gear that you feel you know them really well. The title refers to the state in which most of the characters feel - trapped - 'Keller' is stuck in a loop he's hoping is right and 'Loki' locked being very little evidence and later on something he's responsible for.

'Prisoner' really is a brilliant mystery film that doesn't let up on the blame throughout. There's brilliant performances all-round 'Jackman' and 'Gyllenhaal' are putting two of the best performances of their careers. A few narrative miss-steps and too many un-needed religious moments (personal to me it may not bother some) prevent it from being a contender for best of the year. 'Denis' was unknown to me before now however, i will no certainly sit up and take notice of this future and check out his past endeavors.

sci-fi of course i'm interested.

"You don't look like you anymore".

Another in the long line of comic book adaptions the difference here being that it isn't a super-hero themed one. I didn't realize it was a comic at first - the most curious thing about this is why they'd adapt an almost entirely unknown comic. Even so popularity doesn't equate quality so with its low exposure that's doesn't mean it's going to be bad - that's what the trailer is for.

'R.I.P.D' is an action comedy or it's suppose to be, following 'Nick Walter' (Ryan Reynolds) after he gets murdered he joins the 'R.I.P.D' (Rest In Peace Department) and along with his partner - old disgruntled 'Roy Pulsipher' (Jeff Bridges) uncover a major plot to send the dead back to earth to rule the world. The plot is as basic as they come with a very A to B to C formula with no real interesting story elements. The villain is obvious from the get go and it would have been nice if there was a mystery or some hidden evil but it just decides to hit it straight - with little conviction i might add. There a really odd reason for 'Roy' being that was intended as funny but just comes off desperate. Overall the comedy is minimal even though it does try and there are a lot of attempts but 9 times out of 10 it fails. But it does catch a good joke once in a while and i liked the 2 chase scenes.

'Jeff Bridges' and 'Ryan Reynolds' do there best with what they're given but even their fine performances can't prevent the lack of ambition the films has. There's been a comparison with 'Men In Black' and rightly so except that film went in the right direction, it was focused. The occasional moment here and there can't make up for the rest being so poor. Surprisingly where you expect it to be on the ball - the CGI is mostly hit and miss as well the budget on this film is quite clearly lower than the average film.

From the get go it didn't look promising for 'R.I.P.D' so it shouldn't come to much of shock when it didn't turn out so well. At least it wasn't really bad, there are plenty of things wrong with it and i can't say i'd recommend it but it does have some interesting moments.