8. The Conversation

Did Gene Hackman ever have hair? Well not in 1974 that's for sure.

Written and Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Gene Hackman I was expecting big things from The Conversation.

It pretty much delivers but in an unremarkable way- this seems mainly due to the technology at hand, both narratively speaking and how the film is shot, edited and scored. At times it is painfully slow but Hackman's central performance is top notch as the paranoid and introspective Harry Caul.

The film actually seems longer than it's 113 minutes running time and features a nice turn from Harrison Ford as the head honchos mysterious assistant. Overall, a quality thriller.

7. Winter's Bone

A bright light in a world of despair.

Wow! Winter's Bone is bleak!

Jennifer Lawrence's Ree is the only character to display any kind of empathy towards anyone in this uncomfortable story of the hunt for her missing father.

It seems everyone is trying to kill, maim, rip-off or steal from each other in a never ending spiral of misery and betrayal.

I loved it!

Although I wouldn't recommend watching it if you are feeling a bit down...

6. Splice

"I've got a tail and everything!'

I like Sarah Polley. After all, anyone who can bring some humanity to a Zack Snyder zombie movie deserves some credit.

In Splice she is joined by Adrien Brody as they play two leading gene splicing scientists who are out to make 'an amazing breakthrough' etc. and so on.

Needless to say various types of shit hits the proverbial fan and what we are left with is an inconsistent, sub-par monster movie with an interesting angle on motherhood that is never really explored to the fullest.

A 'disappointing' out of 'could have been good'.

5. The Avengers

Feel the magic!

Not 'Avengers Assemble' as the poster states. It's The Avengers - at least that what I will continue to call it even though the dumb asses at Disney think I'll be hopelessly confused with this. Or even worse, this.

In fact on the BBFC certificate at the start of the film it states the title as 'MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE.' You couldn't make it up...

Anyway, after all this pontificating what's the film actually like? Well I'm happy to say it's bloody brilliant! Joss Whedon has crafted a story that manages to give all our heroes plenty of screen time and rattles along at a fair old pace! He has really put his stamp on what I feared, was to be another by the numbers super hero flick.

The script is smart, witty and has a real love & knowledge of the subject matter. I can't quite believe he's managed to pull everything together in such style. Even with the predictable CGI baddie finale, it's a sequence full of so many great moments that you just can't help but be enthralled by the whole thing. I think I'm actually still in shock of how good it is.

This is exactly what a big budget summer blockbuster should be. Big, loud and lorry loads of fun!

4. Alien (Directors Cut)

"Yeah, just lower yourself down and grab a couple of those eggs. Lovely grub!"

What is there left to say about one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time?

Not much, other than this version features Dallas all slimed up in alien goo and then getting burnt up by Ripley - initially I thought this was a bit of a naff looking puppet but after watching one of the many excellent 'makings ofs' featured on this Blu-Ray Quadrilogy, it turns out it was Tom Skerritt after all - just looking really ill and 'puppety'.

Perhaps that's why Ridley Scott decided to ditch the scene initially. Anyway please, please, please make sure that Prometheus isn't shit. Come on Ridley I know you can do it!

3. Immortals

"Look at me and my stupid fucking hat!"

IBOREtals more like (see what I did there?).

I fell asleep (twice) during this green screen shit fest. An un-engaging romp from start to finish. And what the fuck John Hurt is doing in this crappathon, I have no idea.

Dull plot, boring dialogue, dismal action scenes - this film manages to make the decapitation of a minotaur seem tedious. Add this to this some phoned in performances (I'm looking at you Rourke, Dorff) and what do you have?

The worst film of 2011, without a doubt.

2. The Devil's Double

"Yes, you're right - I am a little like Tony Montana."

The Devil's Double is a bit like a low budget Face/Off. It has one quality acting bod playing two roles, rather than Nic Cage and Johnny Travelator playing two.

Dominic Cooper  is excellent in the central roles - as both the psychotic Uday and the other nicer bloke with slightly different hair and better teeth.

The film's biggest problem is that it doesn't know whether it wants to be a full on Scarface 'em up or a (semi) serious film about Saddam's nutty regime. Overall it's an enjoyable mess that has some memorable moments - especially the special wedding gift Uday likes to pass on to newly married brides.

1. The Cabin In The Woods

Pucker Up Fuzzball.

Believe the Hype!!

The Cabin In The Woods is the most fun I've had watching a horror film this year! Great script, smart cast (especially Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford) and plenty of hot teenage death!

QUALITY!

As We Begin

If It Bleeds We Can Kill It... Just a place for me to record all the movies I see and give a brief opinion of them. I ripped this idea off a friend of mine whose blog you can find here.

So without further to do, let us proceed.