The Hunger Games is the hotly anticipated adaptation of the first book in Suzanne Collins’ teen sci-fi trilogy. Strangely reminiscent of Roller Ball, Series Seven and Battle Royale, the film is set in a dystopian future where a repressive American government attempts to quell war, rebellion and general public bloodlust by staging a brutal survival contest called The Hunger Games.
Read moreFor those not familiar with the TV show on which this film is based, 21 Jump Street was a late 80’s cop show starring Johnny Depp which had young looking cops infiltrating high schools to bust teenage crims. This film version uses the original show’s premise as the flimsy basis for a combined teen comedy/ buddy cop movie. While this
Read moreA Separation, which won the Oscar for the best foreign language film, is a confronting Iranian domestic drama that immerses the audience in the everyday lives of a Tehran family while examining the way religion and sexual politics impact on them. Having separated from his wife (Leila Hatami) after she tells him she wants to leave Iran, 30-something Nader (Paymen
Read moreHollywood is full of original ideas, one of them isn’t the film adaptation of 80’s TV cop show 21 Jump Street. Built for Speed provides the official verdict on the film this Friday night. We also look at best Foreign language Oscar winner A Separation and on a slightly different note, animated film The Lorax. There’s also new music from Mark Lanegan, The
Read moreJohn Carter is the incredibly silly big screen adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs science fantasy novel Princess of Mars. The title character is a Virginian civil war veteran who after discovering an alien amulet finds himself transported to Mars. You would think this would be a shock to the system but he accepts this with unusual calm. Strangely equipped
Read moreWith Coriolanus, Ralph Fiennes (as star and director) updates Shakespeare’s tale of war, betrayal and vengeance in ancient Rome to the present day. The title character is an angry, bald-headed Roman General who is very adept at annihilating enemies but not so good at dealing with people. His successes in battle see him lured into politics but his volatile manner
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