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When Bryan Singer brought Marvel's X-Men to the big screen, ... Read more

When Bryan Singer brought Marvel's X-Men to the big screen, Magneto and Professor X were elder statesmen, but Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) travels back in time to present an origin story--and an alternate version of history. While Charles Xavier (Laurence Belcher) grows up privileged in New York, Erik Lehnsherr (Bill Milner) grows up underprivileged in Poland. As children, the mind-reading Charles finds a friend in the shape-shifting Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) and Erik finds an enemy in Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), an energy-absorbing Nazi scientist who treats the metal-bending lad like a lab rat. By 1962, Charles (James McAvoy) has become a swaggering genetics professor and Erik (Michael Fassbender, McAvoy's Band of Brothers costar) has become a brooding agent of revenge. CIA agent Moira (Rose Byrne) brings the two together to work for Division X. With the help of MIB (Oliver Platt) and Hank (A Single Man's Nicholas Hoult), they seek out other mutants, while fending off Shaw and Emma Frost (Mad Men's January Jones), who try to recruit them for more nefarious ends, leading to a showdown in Cuba between the United States and the Soviet Union, the good and bad mutants, and Charles and Erik, whose goals have begun to diverge. Throughout, Vaughn crisscrosses the globe, piles on the visual effects, and juices the action with a rousing score, but it's the actors who make the biggest impression as McAvoy and Fassbender prove themselves worthy successors to Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen. The movie comes alive whenever they take centre stage, and dies a little when they don't. For the most part, though, Vaughn does right by playing up the James Bond parallels and acknowledging the debt to producer Bryan Singer through a couple of clever cameos. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Minimize

Sandra Bullock portrays Alyssa Rothman an American activis ... Read more

Sandra Bullock portrays Alyssa Rothman an American activist battling a group of ruthless developers out to destroy the rainforest and its native population. But when a hotheaded photojournalist (Craig Sheffer of A River Runs Through It and One Tree Hill) arrives to investigate the murder of a local union leader they will together uncover a conspiracy of betrayal violence and passion. In a land engulfed by greed and threatened with ecological disaster does any fire burn hotter than the truth? Juan Fernandez (The Collector) and Judith Chapman (The Young and The Restless) co-star in this provocative drama from director Luis Llosa (The Specialist and Anaconda) and Oscar-winning producer Roger Corman (Death Race Piranha). Minimize

Sandra Bullock portrays Alyssa Rothman an American activis ... Read more

Sandra Bullock portrays Alyssa Rothman an American activist battling a group of ruthless developers out to destroy the rainforest and its native population. But when a hotheaded photojournalist (Craig Sheffer of A River Runs Through It and One Tree Hill) arrives to investigate the murder of a local union leader they will together uncover a conspiracy of betrayal violence and passion. In a land engulfed by greed and threatened with ecological disaster does any fire burn hotter than the truth? Juan Fernandez (The Collector) and Judith Chapman (The Young and The Restless) co-star in this provocative drama from director Luis Llosa (The Specialist and Anaconda) and Oscar-winning producer Roger Corman (Death Race Piranha). Minimize

Sandra Bullock portrays Alyssa Rothman an American activis ... Read more

Sandra Bullock portrays Alyssa Rothman an American activist battling a group of ruthless developers out to destroy the rainforest and its native population. But when a hotheaded photojournalist (Craig Sheffer of A River Runs Through It and One Tree Hill) arrives to investigate the murder of a local union leader they will together uncover a conspiracy of betrayal violence and passion. In a land engulfed by greed and threatened with ecological disaster does any fire burn hotter than the truth? Juan Fernandez (The Collector) and Judith Chapman (The Young and The Restless) co-star in this provocative drama from director Luis Llosa (The Specialist and Anaconda) and Oscar-winning producer Roger Corman (Death Race Piranha). Minimize

Fans of Robert Zemeckis's brilliant special effects, and of ... Read more

Fans of Robert Zemeckis's brilliant special effects, and of Jim Carrey's transformative acting abilities, will be swept away by their collaboration in the stunning A Christmas Carol. Perhaps more surprising is that Charles Dickens purists will also be impressed and captivated by this version of the oft-told tale--which is dark, complex, and in its way, uncompromising. Which is all to say that this Christmas Carol is an instant holiday classic, easily taking its place alongside the Alistair Sim version, the Patrick Stewart version, and even the Mr. Magoo version of the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ultimate holiday redemption. Carrey is dazzling as not only Scrooge, the most miserable, and miserly, man in 19th-century England, but as the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future. As with The Polar Express, Zemeckis animates the film over the actors' physical performances onscreen, but here, the emotion is intact--even heightened by the brilliant effects. Joining Carrey in the cast are terrific players, including Gary Oldman (Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and the ghost of Marley), Cary Elwes, Bob Hoskins, and Robin Wright Penn. But the heart of the film is Carrey, whose dramatic acting has shone in films like The Truman Show and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. The emotional connection Carrey makes with his characters is what brings Dickens's classic alive--and what connects the viewer with the true spirit of the holidays. "God bless us, every one". --A.T. Hurley Minimize

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legenda ... Read more

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legendary Amazons is an epic martial arts adventure set during the brutal wars between the Song and Xia Dynasties of Ancient China. Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic “The 14 Amazons” this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts they are called to fight their greatest ever battle when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland. Packed with “blockbuster thrills (Beyond Hollywood)” Legendary Amazons delivers more action in one movie than you might possibly expect in five! Special Features: Trailery Gallery Behind the Scenes Minimize

After the incredible success of Tribe explorer Bruce Parry ... Read more

After the incredible success of Tribe explorer Bruce Parry embarks on an epic journey down the Amazon - the world's greatest river - which follows a route through the Earth's largest forest has the most bio-diverse habitat on the planet and is home to some of the most remote tribes on Earth. It's an amazing enterprise as Parry travels over 6 000 kms from the mountain source of the river to the beach where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Every step of the journey uncovers an amazing story as he meets the tribesmen coca growers loggers ranchers millionaires and illegal miners of the region.Whether travelling with llama herders playing football in drag at Carnival imbibing hallucinogens with a shaman riding a wild horse at a rodeo or sleeping on a hammock high in the canopy of the forest. Parry's efforts are boundless and his enthusiasm is infectious. The Amazon that he discovers is a beautiful region full of fascinating people but in helping to harvest coca joining a gold rush and meeting those forcibly evicted by logging gangs he also experiences the danger and lawlessness of the area the desperate plight of some tribes and the precarious state of the forests known as the Earth's lungs. Minimize

This six part series explores the exciting diverse and uni ... Read more

This six part series explores the exciting diverse and unique wildlife that inhabits the dramatic landscapes of the vast South American continent. It is a land of great extremes stretching from the Equator almost to the Antarctic from tropical seas to ice-capped peaks and it has the planet's greatest river system longest mountain chain biggest and richest rainforest and driest desert. Using the latest camera techniques including infrared night vision cameras we show little known animals whilst our specialist aerial cameraman soars over the continent revealing an entirely new perspective on its varied and dramatic landscape. These six programmes take us from the depths of the Amazon basin to the icy peaks of the Andes from the great plains and grasslands through the vibrant jungle rainforest to the continent's spectacular coastline - on a journey of a lifetime. Minimize

Brian Henson directs his late father's creations in the Cha ... Read more

Brian Henson directs his late father's creations in the Charles Dickens classic, the best known (and most oft-filmed) Christmas story of all time. Michael Caine plays the old miser Scrooge with Kermit as his long-suffering but ever-hopeful employee Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Cratchit's wife, and a host of Muppets (including the Great Gonzo as an unlikely Charles Dickens) taking other primary roles in this bright, playful adaptation of the sombre tale. Or at least it starts brightly enough--the anarchic humour soon settles into mirthful memories and a sense of melancholy as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future take Scrooge on a journey of his lonely, wasted life. Michael Caine makes a wonderful Scrooge, delightfully rediscovering the meaning of life as fantastic creations from Henson's Creature Shop (developed specially for this film) take the reins as the three ghosts. While the odd mix of offbeat humour and sombre drama undercuts the power of Dickens's drama, this kid-friendly retelling makes an excellent family drama that adults and children alike can enjoy. --Sean Axmaker Minimize

After the incredible success of Tribe explorer Bruce Parry ... Read more

After the incredible success of Tribe explorer Bruce Parry embarks on an epic journey down the Amazon - the world's greatest river - which follows a route through the Earth's largest forest has the most bio-diverse habitat on the planet and is home to some of the most remote tribes on Earth. It's an amazing enterprise as Parry travels over 6 000 kms from the mountain source of the river to the beach where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Every step of the journey uncovers an amazing story as he meets the tribesmen coca growers loggers ranchers millionaires and illegal miners of the region.Whether travelling with llama herders playing football in drag at Carnival imbibing hallucinogens with a shaman riding a wild horse at a rodeo or sleeping on a hammock high in the canopy of the forest. Parry's efforts are boundless and his enthusiasm is infectious. The Amazon that he discovers is a beautiful region full of fascinating people but in helping to harvest coca joining a gold rush and meeting those forcibly evicted by logging gangs he also experiences the danger and lawlessness of the area the desperate plight of some tribes and the precarious state of the forests known as the Earth's lungs. Minimize

This six part series explores the exciting diverse and uni ... Read more

This six part series explores the exciting diverse and unique wildlife that inhabits the dramatic landscapes of the vast South American continent. It is a land of great extremes stretching from the Equator almost to the Antarctic from tropical seas to ice-capped peaks and it has the planet's greatest river system longest mountain chain biggest and richest rainforest and driest desert. Using the latest camera techniques including infrared night vision cameras we show little known animals whilst our specialist aerial cameraman soars over the continent revealing an entirely new perspective on its varied and dramatic landscape. These six programmes take us from the depths of the Amazon basin to the icy peaks of the Andes from the great plains and grasslands through the vibrant jungle rainforest to the continent's spectacular coastline - on a journey of a lifetime. Minimize

This six part series explores the exciting diverse and uni ... Read more

This six part series explores the exciting diverse and unique wildlife that inhabits the dramatic landscapes of the vast South American continent. It is a land of great extremes stretching from the Equator almost to the Antarctic from tropical seas to ice-capped peaks and it has the planet's greatest river system longest mountain chain biggest and richest rainforest and driest desert. Using the latest camera techniques including infrared night vision cameras we show little known animals whilst our specialist aerial cameraman soars over the continent revealing an entirely new perspective on its varied and dramatic landscape. These six programmes take us from the depths of the Amazon basin to the icy peaks of the Andes from the great plains and grasslands through the vibrant jungle rainforest to the continent's spectacular coastline - on a journey of a lifetime. Minimize

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legenda ... Read more

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legendary Amazons is an epic martial arts adventure set during the brutal wars between the Song and Xia Dynasties of Ancient China. Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic “The 14 Amazons” this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts they are called to fight their greatest ever battle when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland. Packed with “blockbuster thrills (Beyond Hollywood)” Legendary Amazons delivers more action in one movie than you might possibly expect in five! Special Features: Trailery Gallery Behind the Scenes Minimize

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legenda ... Read more

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legendary Amazons is an epic martial arts adventure set during the brutal wars between the Song and Xia Dynasties of Ancient China. Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic “The 14 Amazons” this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts they are called to fight their greatest ever battle when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland. Packed with “blockbuster thrills (Beyond Hollywood)” Legendary Amazons delivers more action in one movie than you might possibly expect in five! Special Features: Trailery Gallery Behind the Scenes Minimize

After the incredible success of Tribe explorer Bruce Parry ... Read more

After the incredible success of Tribe explorer Bruce Parry embarks on an epic journey down the Amazon - the world's greatest river - which follows a route through the Earth's largest forest has the most bio-diverse habitat on the planet and is home to some of the most remote tribes on Earth. It's an amazing enterprise as Parry travels over 6 000 kms from the mountain source of the river to the beach where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Every step of the journey uncovers an amazing story as he meets the tribesmen coca growers loggers ranchers millionaires and illegal miners of the region.Whether travelling with llama herders playing football in drag at Carnival imbibing hallucinogens with a shaman riding a wild horse at a rodeo or sleeping on a hammock high in the canopy of the forest. Parry's efforts are boundless and his enthusiasm is infectious. The Amazon that he discovers is a beautiful region full of fascinating people but in helping to harvest coca joining a gold rush and meeting those forcibly evicted by logging gangs he also experiences the danger and lawlessness of the area the desperate plight of some tribes and the precarious state of the forests known as the Earth's lungs. Minimize

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legenda ... Read more

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legendary Amazons is an epic martial arts adventure set during the brutal wars between the Song and Xia Dynasties of Ancient China. Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic “The 14 Amazons” this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts they are called to fight their greatest ever battle when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland. Packed with “blockbuster thrills (Beyond Hollywood)” Legendary Amazons delivers more action in one movie than you might possibly expect in five! Special Features: Trailery Gallery Behind the Scenes Minimize

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legenda ... Read more

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legendary Amazons is an epic martial arts adventure set during the brutal wars between the Song and Xia Dynasties of Ancient China. Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic “The 14 Amazons” this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts they are called to fight their greatest ever battle when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland. Packed with “blockbuster thrills (Beyond Hollywood)” Legendary Amazons delivers more action in one movie than you might possibly expect in five! Special Features: Trailery Gallery Behind the Scenes Minimize

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legenda ... Read more

Produced by The King of Action Cinema Jackie Chan Legendary Amazons is an epic martial arts adventure set during the brutal wars between the Song and Xia Dynasties of Ancient China. Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic “The 14 Amazons” this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts they are called to fight their greatest ever battle when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland. Packed with “blockbuster thrills (Beyond Hollywood)” Legendary Amazons delivers more action in one movie than you might possibly expect in five! Special Features: Trailery Gallery Behind the Scenes Minimize

After 12 years of thinking about it (and waiting for movie ... Read more

After 12 years of thinking about it (and waiting for movie technology to catch up with his visions), James Cameron followed up his unsinkable Titanic with Avatar, a sci-fi epic meant to trump all previous sci-fi epics. Set in the future on a distant planet, Avatar spins a simple little parable about greedy colonizers (that would be mankind) messing up the lush tribal world of Pandora. A paraplegic Marine named Jake (Sam Worthington) acts through a 9-foot-tall avatar that allows him to roam the planet and pass as one of the Na'vi, the blue-skinned, large-eyed native people who would very much like to live their peaceful lives without the interference of the visitors. Although he's supposed to be gathering intel for the badass general (Stephen Lang) who'd like to lay waste to the planet and its inhabitants, Jake naturally begins to take a liking to the Na'vi, especially the feisty Neytiri (Zoë Saldana, whose entire performance, recorded by Cameron's complicated motion-capture system, exists as a digitally rendered Na'vi). The movie uses state-of-the-art 3D technology to plunge the viewer deep into Cameron's crazy toy box of planetary ecosystems and high-tech machinery. Maybe it's the fact that Cameron seems torn between his two loves--awesome destructive gizmos and flower-power message mongering--that makes Avatar's pursuit of its point ultimately uncertain. That, and the fact that Cameron's dialogue continues to clunk badly. If you're won over by the movie's trippy new world, the characters will be forgivable as broad, useful archetypes rather than standard-issue stereotypes, and you might be able to overlook the unsurprising central plot. (The overextended "take that, Michael Bay" final battle sequences could tax even Cameron enthusiasts, however.) It doesn't measure up to the hype (what could?) yet Avatar frequently hits a giddy delirium all its own. The film itself is our Pandora, a sensation-saturated universe only the movies could create. --Robert Horton Minimize

Without a refresher viewing, the details of Scream, the 199 ... Read more

Without a refresher viewing, the details of Scream, the 1996 collaboration between horror-meister director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson (who also famously chronicled the ways of wayward teens without so much bloodshed as creator of the TV sensation Dawson's Creek) might be a little hazy. But even through the fog of memory, it's a pretty sure thing that texting, Facebook, live video streams on smart phones, and references to the Saw movie franchise were not major narrative devices. Even so, there is a common thread that yanks this inventive resurrection of the series back to life and ties it quite cleverly to the first, second, and third Scream installments. Summed up, that reach is captured in the word meta, which is pretty much what makes Scream 4 such a hoot as it scampers along on such a high plane of conceptual ingenuity. That several characters use the word in describing the action they're participating in makes the entirety of circular plot points, referential dialogue, and general level of self-reflexive action all the more exuberant. There are a few causes for honest screams in the action, even though the obvious raison d'être for Craven and Williamson's reteaming is to make audiences yelp with delight that trumps genuine fear pretty much every time. Original cast members Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Neve Campbell have all returned for the reunion, which also introduces (and largely kills off) a new set of young but very familiar faces recruited for the festivities. The sizable ensemble cast includes Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Alison Brie, Hayden Panettiere, Marley Shelton, Rory Culkin, Adam Brody, Mary McDonnell, and Heather Graham, among many others who make up visitors or inhabitants of the imaginary town of Woodsboro, USA, scene of the meta-movie carnage that began 15 years ago. The excuse for this round of action is the return of original surviving victim Sidney Prescott (Campbell), who is making a hometown stop on her book tour. As the heroic survivor of the various incarnations of Ghostface, the knife-wielding killer in Scream's first trilogy, Sidney has become a celebrity and purposefully shrugged off the victim label, but still lives on as a folk hero. Turns out she's especially popular with Woodsboro's high-school population and the many horror film buffs who constantly analyze their every activity in relation to the behaviors of movie characters and the rights and wrongs of what to do when there's a killer on the loose. It therefore surprises no one that Ghostface has returned to haunt Sidney, including retired reporter Gale Weathers (Cox), her now-husband Sheriff Dewey Riley (Arquette), and the assortment of teenage dopes who saturate the entire venture with theatrical gouts of gooey, black blood. The movie-within-a-movie franchise Stab is also a major player in Scream 4. Its sequel count is now up to seven as we discover in the briskly crafted and very funny opening scenes. In fact, Scream 4 is constructed with smarter precision than any of its predecessors and would require a lot of brain power for someone who feels up to the task of trying to figure out who Ghostface is this time and why the killing has started again. But taking the story seriously pretty much defeats the purpose of the absurdly entertaining formal achievement that Craven and Williamson have created. All the stabbing and screaming and intricate (il)logic of horror movie conventions are simply part of the mysterious amusement of a concept that will not die, now delightfully retooled for a new generation. --Ted Fry Minimize

Everything you know about aliens from pop culture is true. ... Read more

Everything you know about aliens from pop culture is true. At least that's the message from Paul, a swift, sharp, and very funny movie from the creative minds that also brought us Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Superbad, and Adventureland. The British stars of the first two, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, also wrote the snappy screenplay, and director Greg Mottola shows that he can make human and sentimental both the slapstick and the subtle, self-referential humour the same way he did in Superbad and Adventureland. The premise Pegg and Frost have laid out for themselves as likable, sci-fi fanatic supernerds is a dream vacation starting at Comic Con, then continuing through the American Southwest in an RV visiting historic UFO sites like Area 51, the Black Mailbox, and Roswell, and finishing up at Devil's Tower in Wyoming, the iconic centerpiece from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. After their inauspicious start, they happen upon an escaped alien who is 4 feet tall, and has the big head, classic diamond eyes, and features we've come to recognize as both the benevolent and evil kinds of space aliens from movies and TV. He is also the titular character, and as voiced by Seth Rogen, this CGI creature spouts a never-ending string of wisecracks, insider secrets, and frat-boy humour that comes loud and clear as classic Rogen in tone and attitude. As an aside and terrific example of the very clever throwaway punch lines that run throughout, there's a brief flashback to 1980 showing Paul on a conference call with Steven Spielberg (really), giving him advice about script development issues for E.T. Paul crash-landed in the late 1940s and has been held prisoner by the government's men in black. They've not only been pumping him for knowledge, they've also leaked the fabric and features of his being to people who want to believe, especially the ones in Hollywood. Now Paul wants to go home, and he's found the perfect getaway with the want-to-believe team of Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost), who take him to his rendezvous (at Devil's Tower, of course). The road movie that unfolds is consistently hilarious, moving nimbly through one-off gags and inside jokes, but also creating larger relationships and drawn-out humour that relies on us believing that the little CGI Paul is real. And mostly we do, again thanks to Rogen's delivery and distinctive vocalizing. Paul constantly quips, makes fun, gets drunk, smokes dope, and spouts a steady stream of patter about how aliens have been bowdlerized and reimagined in entertainment and the minds of people like Graeme and Clive. There's a jam-packed supporting cast that complements and complicates the story (in a good way), including Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio as the bumbling men in black, and Jason Bateman as the scary man in black. Also passing through are some fun familiar faces like Jane Lynch, David Koechner, Jeffrey Tambor, John Carroll Lynch, and an iconic sci-fi actress who shall remain unnamed. Especially good is Kristen Wiig as a fundamentalist Christian whose mind is literally blown by Paul. Amid the broad humour and nonstop punch lines there's also a sweetness that stays with each finely drawn character (including Paul) and gives Paul an amiable sentimentality that runs throughout. Everyone clearly had fun making this movie, and that's exactly how it is to watch. --Ted Fry Minimize

The common people of Rome are hungry – never has the soci ... Read more

The common people of Rome are hungry – never has the social inequality between themselves and the wealthy ruling classes been so apparent. Riots are widespread and the people’s fury rapidly becomes focussed on the Republic’s most courageous general, Caius Martius (Ralph Fiennes), who has publicly expressed his scorn for their suffering. But, Rome is also at war with the Volsces, a neighbouring state whose guerrilla-style army is led by Martius’s sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler). Following the latest, brazen Volscian taunt, Martius and his comrade-at-arms Titus Lartius (Dragan Micanovic) are called to a council of war by their commanding officer, General Cominius (John Kani). Rome must retaliate. Martius’s outstanding courage and leadership on the field of battle secures the Volscian city of Corioles for Rome. It is a crushing defeat for the Volscians and, in honour of his victory, Martius is awarded the title ‘Coriolanus’, meaning conqueror of Corioles. The anger of the Roman people has now subsided and Coriolanus has become a hero. With his recent triumph, Coriolanus’s politically ambitious mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) joyfully anticipates her son being elected to the powerful Senate position of Consul. Influential Roman Senator, and Coriolanus’s political mentor, Menenius (Brian Cox) encourages him. Always in the background, Coriolanus’s gentle and loving wife, Virgilia (Jessica Chastain), worries for her husband’s continued safety.To become Consul, Coriolanus knows he must first secure the people’s support and at first he is loath to engage in the necessary glad-handing. He sees it as hypocritical and an affront to his personal honour code. Under pressure, he finally relents but, not a natural politician, he handles his canvassing without the required good grace and arouses ill feeling in his audience. His past public declarations have already established him as a threat to the people in the minds of their representatives, the Tribunes. And now the conspiratorial Tribunes, Brutus (Paul Jesson) and Sicinius (James Nesbitt) take full advantage of Coriolanus’s rapid fall from public favour to persuade voters to refuse him the office he seeks. The Tribunes campaign is further supported by an underground group of left-wing rebels, led by Cassius (Ashraf Barhom) and Tamora (Lubna Azabal), who also speak out against Coriolanus’s election. Their combined arguments work and he is defeated. Coriolanus is enraged and his verbal retaliation leads to further public rioting. Disgraced, the Senate banishes him from Rome. Now stateless and seeking revenge for Rome’s ingratitude and treachery, Coriolanus journeys to the city of Antium, the Volscian capital and home to his enemy, Tullus Aufidius. With nothing to lose, he seeks out his old adversary and boldly offers him a choice. Aufidius can either take Coriolanus’s life or accept his help in defeating Rome. Confronted by his greatest enemy, Aufidius must decide whether to finally destroy his rival or join forces with him in battle…. Minimize

Depending on your take-away of the visual inventiveness and ... Read more

Depending on your take-away of the visual inventiveness and jam-packed plot that drives Limitless to peaks and valleys of preposterous fun, drugs are either a terrible scourge or the fundamental solution to all of life's problems. Limitless isn't exactly a morality tale, but the made-up drug that turns Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) from a scuzzy loser into a master of the universe does become a metaphor for ambition, menace, devastation, and ultimate success. Eddie is a writer who can't write, his girlfriend (Abbie Cornish) just dumped him, and his squalid lifestyle has driven him to the breaking point. After a chance meeting with his mysterious ex-brother-in-law, he's offered change in the form of a little transparent button, a pill code-named NZT that allows the user to access 100 percent of their brain. After he pops it, Eddie is transformed. Everything he's ever heard, seen, glanced at, or passed by becomes neatly ordered in his mind. He has total recall, total access to knowledge both known and unknown, and he understands exactly what to do. Without the ingenious visual effects that frequently push the bounds of innovation, our view of the alteration of Eddie's drug-induced reality would fail utterly. When his synapses snap from every new hit, the sparkling blue of Bradley Cooper's eyes pops off of the screen, the colours and textures of his reality ripple and zoom with his every move. Of course he needs more of the drug to maintain his progression, not to mention his very life--remember, kids, drugs are addictive! The movie throws tangled clumps of plot threads against each other in a whizzing mass that incorporates Russian gangsters, shadowy surveillance figures, cops, lawyers, and a couple of murder mysteries. It's a hurtling progression of narrative tangents that often echo the physical and mental extremes Eddie experiences when he's either on or off the drug. Sex, society, and money are big parts of Eddie's newfound brainpower, and he exploits them all. The money element leads Eddie to a big-shot investor, played with twinkling irony by Robert De Niro. The sparring matches between Cooper and De Niro are some of the best parts of the convoluted and manic pace that drives Limitless inexorably onward. Abbie Cornish is relegated to the sidelines far too much, and the suspension of disbelief required to simply maintain stride with the movie's frenzied velocity is often exhausting. But there are some bigger themes that director Neil Burger and writer Leslie Dixon try to sustain in spite of repeated absurdities meant to be accepted at face value. Eddie's actions are both vile and redemptive, and Cooper gives a rousing performance as he bounces from being contemptible to irresistible, sometimes all at once. Fortunately, Limitless is itself redeemed by the nifty visuals that often do evoke the effects of a drug that promises perfect clarity. It's best to just forget the ludicrous lack of coherence and enjoy it as a wildly entertaining trip on a perfect drug that offers the potential for payback and infinite salvation. --Ted Fry Minimize

Political drama doesn't get more near the knuckle than Mich ... Read more

Political drama doesn't get more near the knuckle than Michael Dobbs' House of Cards trilogy, adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies and originally broadcast in the post-Thatcher years of the early 1990s. A splendid dissection of naked ambition, greed and rampant hypocrisy in the corridors of power, the original four-part series House of Cards documents in thrilling detail the rise of Tory Chief Whip Francis Urquhart (magnificent Ian Richardson), a man who likes to "put the stick about a bit" and has unwavering contempt for those with "no background, no bottom". With the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, a bitter internecine power struggle ensues within the Conservative Party. Urquhart schemes more devilishly than Iago to depose Thatcher's colourless John Major-style successor. And even Machiavelli would baulk at Urquhart's methods: any and every act--including murder--are legitimate as the end very much justifies the means. Idealistic journalist Matti Storin (Susannah Harker) becomes embroiled in Urquhart's nefarious plans (and ends up in his bed) as she attempts to question him about what's really going on: "You might think so, I couldn't possibly comment," is Urquhart's mantra of hypocrisy. In To Play the King, the second part of the trilogy, we find our anti-hero comfortably installed as PM at No. 10 but facing a fresh challenge in the person of the newly crowned King (Michael Kitchen in a pitch-perfect Prince Charles impersonation), who wears his social conscience on his sleeve and publicly opposes Urquhart's hardline policies. With the help of political analyst and new mistress Sarah Harding (Kitty Aldridge), as well as that of his ambitious wife Elizabeth (Diane Fletcher), Urquhart is forced to resort to still more underhand plots. Then, in The Final Cut, we find Urquhart determined to last as long in office as Mrs Thatcher (whose statue, much to his chagrin, is about to be unveiled in front of his window). But ambitions to make a mark on the world stage, as well as his wife's desire to provide themselves a comfortable retirement nest egg, lead him into the choppy international waters of the Cyprus situation. The temptations of corrupt businessmen and his wife's goading might just have pushed Urquhart's luck too far this time. Throughout, Richardson is a delight as the hypocritical, arrogant patrician who loathes the hoi polloi whose favour he must court at election time, and manipulates all his minions with a ruthless singlemindedness of purpose. However much a monster he seems, though, the viewer might just find themselves secretly admiring his determination and his lion-like strength of will: in contrast to many drab modern politicians, at least he knows what he wants, and makes sure he gets it. If it's strong leadership you want, Urquhart's your man. On the DVD: The House of Cards trilogy has the three four-part series on three double-sided discs, with two hour-long episodes on each side of each disc. The first episodes come with a commentary from Andrew Davies and Ian Richardson, who share their memories and anecdotes. --Mark Walker Minimize

There's an extra coat of hot wax on Pixar's vibrant, NASCAR ... Read more

There's an extra coat of hot wax on Pixar's vibrant, NASCAR-influenced comedy about a world populated entirely by cars. Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is the slick rookie taking the Piston Cup series by storm when the last race of the season (the film's high-octane opening) ends in a three-way tie. On the way to the tie-breaker race in California, Lightning loses his way off Route 66 in the Southwest desert and is taught to stop and smell the roses by the forgotten citizens of Radiator Springs. It's odd to have such a slim story from the whizzes of Pixar, and the film pales a bit from their other films (though can that be a fair comparison?). Nonetheless, Cars is another gleaming ride with Pixar founder John Lasseter, who's directing for the first time since Toy Story 2. There's the usual spectrum of excellent characters teamed with appropriate voice talent, loads of smooth humor for kids and parents alike, knockout visuals, and a colorful array of sidekicks, including a scene-stealing baby blue forklift named Guido. Lightning's plight is changed with the help of former big-city lawyer Sally Carrera (Pixar veteran Bonnie Hunt), the town's patriarch Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and kooky tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). The Incredibles was the first Pixar film to break the 100-minute barrier, but had enough story not to suffer; Cars, at 116 minutes (including some must-see end credit footage), is not as fortunate, plus it never pierces the heart. Trivia fans should have bonanza with the frame-by-frame DVD function; the movie is stuffed with in-jokes, some appearing only for an instant. Ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas Minimize

Of all the folks in long underwear to be tapped for superhe ... Read more

Of all the folks in long underwear to be tapped for superhero films, Thor would seem to be the most problematic to properly pull off. (Hypothetical Hollywood conversation: "A guy in a tricked-out, easily merchandisable metal suit? Great! An Asgardian God of Thunder who says stuff like thee and thou? Um, is Moon Knight available?") Thankfully, the resulting film does its source material rather proud, via a committed cast and an approach that doesn't shy away from the over-the-top superheroics. When you're dealing with a flying guy wielding a huge hammer, gritty realism can be overrated, really. Blending elements from the celebrated comic arcs by Walter Simonson and J. Michael Straczynski, the story follows the headstrong Thunder God (Chris Hemsworth) as he is banished to Earth and stripped of his powers by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) after inadvertently starting a war with a planet of ticked-off Frost Giants. As his traitorous brother Loki (the terrific Tom Hiddleston) schemes in the wings, Thor must redeem himself and save the universe, with the aid of a beautiful scientist (Natalie Portman). Although director Kenneth Branagh certainly doesn't skimp on the in-jokes and fan-pleasing continuity references (be prepared to stick around after the credits, Marvel fans), his film distinguishes itself by adopting a larger-than-life cosmic Shakespearean air that sets itself apart from both the cerebral, grounded style made fashionable by The Dark Knight and the loose-limbed Rat Packish vibe of the Iron Man series. Glorying in the absolute unreality of its premise, Branagh's film is a swooping, Jack Kirby-inspired saga that brings the big-budget grins on a consistent basis, as well as tying in with the superhero battle royale The Avengers. --Andrew Wright Minimize

Disney's 50th full-length animated feature film, Tangled is ... Read more

Disney's 50th full-length animated feature film, Tangled is a visually appealing, music-filled adventure full of romance and humor. The film focuses on Rapunzel, a girl with long magical hair who's lived her entire life imprisoned in a tower by her greedy mother. Naturally optimistic and acquiescent, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) rarely complains about her circumstances, but for her 18th birthday she longs to leave the tower to see the floating lights that appear every year on her birthday. Her mother (Donna Murphy) refuses her request, but when thief Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) climbs the tower to escape his pursuers, Rapunzel (once she's conked him on the head with a frying pan multiple times) impulsively decides to trust the young man and convinces him to help her escape to see the floating lights. Thus begins a journey that alternates quite schizophrenically between optimistic excitement and guilty remorse that will ultimately change Rapunzel's and Flynn's lives forever. Tangled is a masterful blend of humour, adventure, passion and drama combined with a great musical score and top-notch animation. The 3-D effects add to the experience but probably won't be missed in other formats. Best of all, Disney presents a princess who matures from a meek and compliant girl into a spunky young woman who's not afraid to pursue her dreams and risk it all for love--now that's a Disney princess worth emulating. (Ages 6 and older) --Tami Horiuchi Minimize

With a career built on prestige period dramas like Atonemen ... Read more

With a career built on prestige period dramas like Atonement and Pride & Prejudice, Joe Wright has given Hanna, his first foray into the action genre, the same mannered house style--turning a potential career left-turn into something of a busman's holiday. Saoirse Ronan plays Hanna, a home-schooled teen assassin who can take out out a pack of government agents like she's making a wish. She is being prepared by her black-ops father (Eric Bana) for a showdown with the CIA spy-catcher (Cate Blanchett) that murdered her mother and forced them into the icy wilds of northern Finland. When the time comes, Hanna re-enters civilisation with wide-eyed curiosity--she's never encountered music, TV or even a light switch before--and, as designed, these petals of innocence only intensify the moment when her sabre-toothed killing skills are unleashed to a thumping score by The Chemical Brothers. But just as the film is about to settle, Bourne-style, into the familiar tracks of an identity quest, Hanna veers off in search of a different kind of self-knowledge, and the middle third of the film is a folksy coming-of-age travel diary in which Hanna, drifting through the Moroccan countryside, experiences music, friendship and the open road. Fortunately, the slower scenes are carried by a strong cast: Saoirse Ronan has a wraithlike physical charisma, while Tom Hollander (The Thick of It) is pure venom as the Euro-trash sadist employed to hunt her down. The film's action-packed final lap, set in the ruins of a Brothers Grimm-themed amusement park, feels like all the corruption and cruelty of the world being reduced to wreckage at the bare hands of a willowy teenage girl. --Leo Batchelor Minimize

The big-screen adaptation of Twilight, Stephenie Meyer's be ... Read more

The big-screen adaptation of Twilight, Stephenie Meyer's bestselling vampire romance, is aimed squarely at its key demographic: teen girls whose idea of Prince Charming is a brooding, pale, undead teen who could kill you instantly at any moment. Such a prince is more fascinating than frightening to new girl Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), who moves to the rainy-gray town of Forks, Wash., to live with her dad (Billy Burke), the local sheriff who's puzzled by a series of "animal attacks." On her first day at school, Bella appears to (visibly) nauseate her lab partner, Edward (Robert Pattinson). Turns out the scent of her blood is this vampire's "brand of heroin," and his struggle not to kill her causes an irresistible pull toward her. Whether he's attracted for the normal reasons or because she smells especially sweet to him is vague in the book and even less clear on-screen; nonetheless, Bella falls hopelessly in love with Edward, which sets her on a dangerous path when a few nomad vampires show up in town, one particularly keen on tracking the human. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), Twilight is full of funny moments--not all of which are intentional--and the casting, from Stewart to Bella's self-absorbed friend Jessica (Anna Kendrick) is spot-on. The weakest link, unfortunately, is Pattinson. While he certainly looks the part, his Edward could have used an extra injection of testosterone (Pattinson, who is British, used James Dean as a model for his American accent). In scenes where he growls about the temptation to kill those who would harm Bella, or flitting around a forest warning her how dangerous he is, he comes off more like a whimpering puppy than a debonair monster. The good news is, his chemistry with Stewart (particularly in their big kissing scene) is palpable, which, let's face it, is really what matters to Twilight fans most. --Ellen A. Kim Minimize