Knocked Up - Dir: Judd Apatow

Interesting one this. I'd assumed from the trailers and hype that this is the funniest comedy of the year. It's not. It's more a drama with some humourous moments sprinkled throughout. That's no bad thing, but as a comedy I found it slightly disappointing. It's well written nonetheless and directed pretty competently. Lead Seth Rogan is perfect, as is Katherine Heigl. The supporting cast also seems to compliment well throughout. For a movie about babies, it's actually not sickening to watch and a whole deal more realistic than Three Men and a Baby! This is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Dexter - Season Two

Dexter is back! Last season he was chasing down the Ice Truck Killer. This time the police are chasing the Bay Harbour Butcher, the man responsible for dumping many bodies in the sea i.e Dexter himself! Yet another series where the temperature is turned up to the max with a great script examining the fine line between good, evil and insanity. Michael C Hall is excellent as ever. This for me was the show of the year last season, better than Heroes and Lost. This year's new intakes are going to be hard pushed to beat it. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada - Dir: Tommy Lee Jones

This one was slightly disappointing after all the previous hype I had seen for the film. The performances are good from Tommy Lee Jones and Julio Cedillo as the eponymous Melquiades Estrada. All supporting cast is spot on and the direction by Tommy Lee Jones is also competent. The film really captures that dusty barren way of life along the Texan/Mexico border. So what's disappointing? Guillermo Arriaga the writer of Babel and 21 Grams wrote this script but for me left it a little bit light, maybe missing something. Maybe it's a film that needs a repeated watch but this is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE for me.

Zodiac - Dir: David Fincher

This is a superlative film in every area. As you would expect from David Fincher, the film looks great giving the audience an extra filthy look to every scene. The script is also great and even though this has a 2h 30 mins running time, you are hooked by the twists and turns in the story. Based on true events surrounding the infamous Zodiac killer in America in the 1960s and 1970s, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a cartoonist on the San Francisco Chronicle who doggedly keeps on the case when others fall by the wayside over the years. Some excellent performances from Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo make this an essential watch this year. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

The Good Shepherd - Dir: Robert De Niro

This film is really disappointing just because it never really goes anywhere and is too flabby to make any real impact. Famed actor Robert De Niro puts his director hat on for only the second time. His first movie A Bronx Tale was critically acclaimed so it is a shame his sophomore effort misses so much. The cast of Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, William Hurt, Alec Baldwin and John Turturro are as good as an ensemble cast as you could get. The production values are fantastic and got nominated for an Oscar. If this was re-edited down to something more tight (it has a 2h 40min running time currently) and given more focus it would have been so much better. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Norbit - Dir: Brian Robbins

Eddie Murphy takes one step closer to reclaiming the comedy king mantle that he squarely held in the 1980s. Some of the highlights in his Nutty Professor movies were the disguises he wore when he played members of his family. He takes that one step further here and it definitely works in most part. Thandie Newton and Cuba Gooding Jr are good support but the story tends to ramble and feels flabby in places. However when the movie is funny it hits it squarely. This is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Perfume - Dir: Tom Tykwer

From the director of acclaimed Run Lola Run comes this extravagant movie based on the best selling book by Patrick Suskind and one of the most expensive German movies ever. It tells the tale of a man in search of the perfect scent and what he will do to get there. Exquisitely shot and played nicely by lead Ben Whishaw. Feels very different from many period dramas and is gripping from the beginning. There is a slightly stretched out section in the middle but the wonderful denouement more than plays off for this. Supporting cast includes Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman who add even more class to the surroundings. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Bobby - Dir: Emilio Estevez

Amazing really for coming from 80s heartthrob Emilio Estevez. Not only did he direct this great ensemble piece, he also wrote it. Not known for either, he really shows a great deal of class in both departments. The story revolves around a bunch of characters that flow in and around the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5th 1968, the date and location of the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Some great performances from Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore, William H Macy, Laurence Fishburne, Christian Slater, Sharon Stone and even Lindsay Lohan make this strong in all departments. That we know how it all ends and still keeps the momentum is another not easy thing to pull off. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

The Fountain - Dir: Darren Aronofsky

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett were attached to this film before creative differences between them and the director forced the whole movie to close down. The director has a great pedigree (Requiem for a Dream and Pi) and this film was highly anticipated. The result however is an utter disappointment, an incomprehensible mess of a story that leaves you wondering what the hell went on. Now stars Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weitz who aren't bad actors at all, but seem to be acting into nothing. Really poor, this is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Breaking and Entering - Dir: Anthony Minghella

It'a another Jude Law relationship movie, but who would have thought that this one could have been so turgid. Oscar winning director Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) wrote and directed this movie which also stars decent enough actresses Robin Wright Penn and Juliette Binoche. The problem is it never really goes anywhere and doesn't really tread any new ground. It's all too predictable really and no one really gets past first gear. From such a lauded Oscar winning director this is disappointingly average. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Perfect Stranger - Dir: James Foley

This is an interesting one. Halle Berry and Bruce Willis are always watchable if they have the right material. It seems here that they just about do. Halle Berry plays a journalist that is trying to snair the killer of one of her friends. The main suspect is Bruce Willis' ad agency head character who is known to have met her online and subsequently had an affair. It's a slow burner but not in a boring way, more in a purring Halle Berry way, which is ironic considering the terrible Cat Woman movie she was in. Bruce Willis is also okay and reminds us how before he was John Maclane, he was the romantic guy in the TV series Moonlighting. It has a great ending. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Bourne Ultimatum - Dir: Paul Greengrass

This is another of the must see movies of the year and may even be movie of the year so far. Not a great fan of the first two, this one absolutely blew me away. Intense non stop action doesn't let you breathe for a second. Matt Damon is excellent and the direction by Paul Greengrass (United 93) is fantastic. There's a fight scene when Damon is one on one that shows up the recent back to basics James Bond for what it was - overhyped. A good tight script by Tony Gilroy keeps everything moving and the resolution is pulsating. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

The Sentinel - Dir: Clark Johnson

You certainly can't complain about the cast on paper of Kiefer Sutherland and Michael Douglas. Unfortunately they both seem a bit wrong for the roles they are playing. Kiefer plays some kind of FBI agent and does his Jack Bauer impression all the way through. Douglas is such a great actor but never really gets out of second gear here as the secret service agent framed for an assasination attempt on the President. Direction and editing is a bit weird in places and feels like you've missed something sometimes. Kim Basinger and Eva Longoria is a bit wishy washy. Overall it never quite comes together. Not truly awful and does ramp up towards the end but only a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Heroes Series 2 Episode 1

The Heroes gang are back for their second series. Tim Kring's show was without doubt the biggest success story of last seasons shows but can it fight off all contenders this year? It will definitely give it a shot going on the first episode of the second series. All of our favourite characters are back including cheerleader Claire Bennet and Hiro Nakamura, but are coming to grip with the side-effects of what happened at the end of series one. There are some new characters introduced carefully and just as you think the show is plodding along there are some nice twists and turns to mix it all up. The worry I've always had with Heroes is that for some reason the emotional attachment to all of the characters is pretty low. It's nice eye candy and a freak show, but do we really care if they live or die? That's the big challenge that the second series of Heroes must work on. This is a JM RECOMMENDS for now.

World Trade Center - Dir: Oliver Stone

Oliver Stone really does know how to direct a movie well and with this theme matter you sure do need someone with steady and focussed hands. The script is pretty good and handles the September 11th tragedy with true respect without making it in to a circus show or high octane action movie. Nicolas Cage is a slight weakness but although not reknowned for his truly heavyweight performances still manages to muster up a good enough performance to not let everything else down. The scenes of the people trapped amidst the rubble and the tower coming down are extremely well done and portray the sense of claustrophobia and fear amazingly well. Good performances from all the supporting cast including Maria Bello. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Snakes On A Plane - Dir: David L Ellis

The internet hype of this movie was so massive before it came out that they went back for reshoots for a week to make it even better. They shouldn't have really bothered. It's very easy to see quickly why this movie didn't explode at the box office the way it was expected. The direction is immediately very poor reminiscent of some ultra low budget action movie with z-rate actors. The only thing that really drags this through to the climax is Samuel L Jackson. The snake SFX are a mixture of good to very bad and the action was all a bit messy. That said, you certainly get what you see on the tin and if you are after a couple of hours of extremely light distraction then it's okayish. This is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Death Proof - Dir: Quentin Tarantino

This was a massive disappointment. There were problems with audiences not going to see Grindhouse but I'd assumed that was merely down to massive running time. I didn't ever think that it would be because of the extreme poorness of Tarantino's movie. He is reknowned for his witty culture referenced filled dialogue but here it was bland and just seemed to drag on forever. It just seemed really over indulgent and flabby. The two great scenes involving the Death Proof car and its driver Stuntman Mike played by Kurt Russell literally steal the show. It's not hard though to be honest to steal this show. One of the stunt girls, Zoe Bell is so gratingly bad it makes you want to walk out. She is a stunt woman in real life and should have stuck to it. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Ghosts - Dir: Nick Broomfield

From the director of the reknowned documentaries Kurt and Courtney, Tupac and Biggie, and Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer comes this harrowing drama portraying the story of 24 chinese immigrants that lost their lives whilst cockle farming in Morecambe Bay, UK. Fascinating and disturbing at the same time, we see the dreams of the immigrants turn in to nightmares when they reach the UK after a journey that lasts six months. The promises of large salaries and nice houses are immediately seen to be far from the truth. Everyone seems to take advantage of them, even their own kind. We learn that after their deaths that the families still owe their debt to the collectors back home. At the end we find that the lead girl, Ai Qin Li, is actually played by one of the survivors. A fantastic performance. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Prison Break Series 3 Episode 1

Prison Break is back for a third season and is seemingly set inside a prison unlike the second series! This isn't any old prison like before though, this is SONA in deepest Panama where it's got so bad the guards have left and only secure the perimeter. This time Lincoln is outside and must help Michael who is banged up with his three worst enemies T-Bag, Bellick and Mahone. The twist is they must all work together if they are to escape. This first episode is a nice introduction back in to the PB world and it soon becomes evident they are all in it for the long ride. My only concern is how they are going to spin it out considering the first series had pretty much every prison escape twist and turn you could have. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

The Hitcher - Dir: Robert Harmon

A remake of this movie has just appeared at the cinemas and has been universally panned. Did the original need remaking? The answer is...possibly. The original Hitcher movie starring Rutger Hauer and C Thomas Howell is quite revered in the thriller chiller genre but certainly on a recent rewatch I felt it had lost some of its intensity. In places it feels ballsy and in others it feels messy and cheap. Back in the 1980s it was pretty horrific but in this age of near no holds barred cinema, it doesn't retain the same power. Interestingly the director never really went on to do anything else of note. Still very watchable but only a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Last King of Scotland - Dir: Kevin Macdonald

The critical and awards buzz surrounding this film has been pretty big and in some parts it truly deserves it. The movie meshes fact and fiction regarding the meeting of a fresh Scottish doctor played by James McAvoy and Ugandan dictator Idi Amin played by Forrest Whitaker. The latter is truly exceptional and deserved his Oscar for Best Performance. After seeing it, you wonder how he ever had to audition for the role, but he did! McAvoy is ok but his performances are becoming a bit samey with that constant pissed off steeley eyed looked he does. The screenplay is the biggest let down in that it all seems quite thin and never really digs deeper than the surface. It's watchable because of Whitaker's virtuosu performance, but the film around it isn't engrossing enough. This a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Planet of the Apes - Dir: Franklin J Schaffner

It's time for a classic revisit. Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes was pretty much panned, and it's easy to see now why it had such a hard time in comparison to the original movie. Even though it was filmed in 1968 it still feels fresh and thrilling as it must have done back then. The direction by Franklin J Schaffner is extremely stylistic and perfectly aligned. He showed his great directing skill again in his future films Patton and Papillon. Charlton Heston doesn't give the best performance as the spaceman landing on a future planet, but is arrogant and edgy enough to carry it off. This really deserves the classic label and is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Destricted - Dir: Larry Clark, Marco Brambilla, Sam Taylor Wood, Gaspar Noe etc

Yet another extremely sexually explicit offering that dresses itself up as serious art. This collection of short movies is directed by various culture alumini including Kids director Larry Clark, artist Sam Taylor Wood, Irreversible's director Gaspar Noe, and most surprisingly Demolition Man director Marco Brambilla. Unlike the recently reviewed Shortbus, there rarely seems little point to any of the movies. They've tried to melt sex and art but just end up with a pretentious collection of images. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Smokin' Aces - Dir: Joe Carnahan

This is a really interesting one. When it originally came out at the cinema, the vibe was pretty mixed. Subsequently it has become a huge hit on DVD. I thought the film was pretty good and can't see where any mixed reviews would have come from. The director Joe Carnahan showed some promise in his previous movie Narc and here takes that forward even more here in all the right areas. The story also written by the director regards a mob snitch played excellently by Jeremy Piven being hunted down at the same time by several hitmen and hitwoman all for a $1m reward. Ben Affleck turns in a half decent performance although his moustache still acts him off the screen. Support from singer Alicia Keys, Ray Liotta, Common, and Andy Garcia compliments everything well. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Hot Fuzz - Dir: Edgar Wright

No sophomore slump here from Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright after the mega success of Shaun of the Dead. The set up is classic, big time cop gets relocated to sleepy small time village and uncovers more deadly goings on than a year in London. Contains some great cameos including a wonderful performance by Timothy Dalton as the seemingly evil supermarket boss. Has some wonderful laughs, but is perhaps a bit too long at the end and is perhaps a little too dark for its own good in places. Still worth a watch. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Vacancy - Dir: Nimrod Antal

Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson star in this movie with a scary trailer but a very average delivery. After the usual cliched "I'm tired, let's stop at this motel in the middle of nowhere" they put on a video in one of the VCR's in the room. Unfortunately for them they suddenly realise that the very room they are staying in is the one that other guests have been slashed to death in. Literally nothing here that pushes the envelope of the genre. The director Nimrod Antal won a small award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004 but shows little more than average ability and seems an odd choice of genre for him. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Shortbus - Dir: John Cameron Mitchell

From the director of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, comes this very sexually explicit movie about gay and straight relationships that converge at the infamous Shortbus, an underground club where anything goes. During the first five minutes you wonder if this film is mutton dressed up as lamb or porn dressed up as art, with some of the most graphic sex scenes committed to celluloid outside of the adult movie industry. The film is actually strangely mesmerising with some great performances and deals with some very interesting issues about sexuality without falling in to cliches. This is not for everybody, but is definitely a unique watch, and thus a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Black Book - Dir: Paul Verhoeven

From Paul Verhoeven, the director of such well known films as Basic Instinct, Robocop and Total Recall, comes this much more intimate but no less exciting film. The story centering around a Jewish woman that infiltrates a German HQ on behalf of the Dutch resistance is filled with twists, action, drama, and emotion. The characters speak in their native languages throughout the film and thus everything is subtitled. However this doesn't detract at all and if anything lures you further in to the world of the piece. The relatively unknown lead Carice Van Houten is absolutely amazing. This is definitely a JM RECOMMENDS.

London to Brighton - Dir: Paul Andrew Williams

Very disturbing in places but captivating throughout. The film opens with a shocking scene of a battered woman and 12 year old child running away from something as yet unknown. Slowly but painfully we get to see the shocking truth of their story. Performances from the two female leads Georgia Groome and Lorraine Stanley are very good. The direction by Paul Andrew Williams is quite taut and purposefully bleak. A gangster element to the film is slightly overplayed but never detracts from the main performances. It's not an easy watch but is definitely a JM RECOMMENDS.

Play Misty For Me - Dir: Clint Eastwood

This 1971 blast from the past is today's subject to see if this generally regarded classic holds up. The unfortunate answer is that it does not. The film has dated very badly. It's not particularly well directed, more just a workman like job with no style, and this doesn't help quell the amplified early 70s/lates 60s look. Clint does an ok performance but Jessica Walter as the female lead gives an overhwelming and over the top psycho performance. The script is pretty poor and the shocks that admittedly would have been quite near to the bone back in the day, are more like amateur movie effects today. Unless you are a Clint Eastwood completist, this is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Ballistic: Ecks Vs Sever - Dir: Kaos

Another blast from the past today saving you the precious time you have to spare. This may be a film that creeps up on TV and you think 'Lucy Liu and Antonio Banderas in an action movie? This can't be bad!' Please avoid at all costs. This may be one of the worst action movies of all time. Directed by someone who had previously directed the biggest film in Thailand, they should have probably not taken that as a good thing. Also stars Ray Park who played Darth Maul, as an English bad guy. He is bad for sure. One of the worst acting performances ever. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

X Men 3 - Dir: Brett Ratner

Pretty much everything an action movie shouldn't be. The problem with the X-men movies is that there are too many characters to keep tabs on and never enough time to give them any character development. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry and Famke Janssen reprise their roles in the movie and are joined by Vinnie Jones as the Juggarnaut. As you'd expect, he doesn't exactly act the legs off anyone else in the movie. A flawed script combined with paint by numbers directing by Brett Ratner really leaves a shallow taste. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Proof - Dir: John Madden

What was good on paper turns in to watching paint dry on screen. The director John Madden has pedigree being nominated for an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love. The heavyweight cast of Gwyneth Paltrow, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anthony Hopkins should have oozed greatness, but none apart from Paltrow have the material to get their teeth in to. The story about a woman's relationship with her dead mathematical genius father is adapted from a successful stage show and you can tell here through the wooden feel of it all, which is a shame. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Dreamgirls - Dir: Bill Condon

There have been so many unmusical musicals over the last couple of decades that you might think that this is another in the long line. However, not only is it a fabulous musical, it also has some great performances. Indeed it is hard to find a weak link amongst the cast. Of particularly note are Eddie Murphy who may have done his best ever acting job albeit comparatively brief and Beyonce Knowles who has succesfully moved from singer to fully-fledged actress in this role. Star of the show, or at least the one with the best voice is Jennifer Hudson, who was previously a non-winning contestant on American Idol. Well directed by Bill Condon and some great production design by John Myhre. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Apocalypto - Dir: Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson has to be applauded for making a film with no spoken English, no known actors and about a culture that certainly isn't mainstream movie fodder. He remarkably pulls off the film in every respect. It's very absorbing and pacy, but can also be a painful watch due to some very heavy eye jarring violence. The story about the Mayan decline and their attempt to bring propsperity through the sacrifice of local indigenous tribes is fresh and very interesting subject matter. This is definitely a JM RECOMMENDS.

Man on Fire - Dir: Tony Scott

A classic re-visit today for a film you may have missed. This 2004 film is actually a remake of a 1987 film and for once is a remake that was justified. Denzel Washington stars as the alcoholic bodyguard on a mission to track down a kidnapped child in Mexico. He is phenomonal as always and it is a crime to think he didn't get nominated for any Oscars that year especially when up against the likes of Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) and Jude Law (Cold Mountain). Tony Scott's MTV style direction works well here unlike some of his other movies. This is very much a JM RECOMMENDS.

Monster House - Dir: Gil Kenan

Was really looking forward to this, but it ended up being a different movie to the one I had expected. I had expected it to be a kids get trapped in a haunted house type scenario, but here the house literally is a monster! I did find the art style a bit hard to enjoy, it's CGI that has a sort of plasticine touch to it. Voices from Steve Buscemi, Jon Heder and Maggie Gyllenhall fit well, but the one big surprise was the lack of 'fun' in the script, as there were very few belly laughs. If you go in to expecting a traditional kids adventure movie and not a comedy you will get more out of it it. Watchable, but not as good as expected, this is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Hollywoodland - Dir: Allen Coulter

An interesting movie about the mysterious death of the first Superman George Reeves, played by Ben Affleck. Affleck does little to prove to me his limitations as an actor, but here does just enough to pull off an acceptable performance. Adrien Brophy is the private investigator looking in to his death and in comparison shows what a very good actor he is. Support from Diane Lane as Affleck's on screen lover is also excellent. Directed well by Allen Coulter and captures the seediness and feeling of Hollywood during this period well. Some nice twists and turns. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Eragon - Dir: Stefan Fangmeier

Very disappointing really and ultimately very Lord of the Rings-lite. There is a host of terrible acting including Robert Carlyle and John Malkovich who are unexpectedly hammy. Consummate professional Jeremy Irons tries as much as possible with the lines he has been given. Edward Speelers plays the eponymous Eragon and is verging on the side of irritating. The special effects are ropey in places. If you feel you must watch this, fast forward to the last 20 minutes, where the big dragon battle takes place. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Transformers - Dir: Michael Bay

Wow is an understatement. This may well be one of the best action movies ever. We know director Michael Bay can do action but he really does up the bar here. Even more impressive are the special effects i.e the transformers themselves, whicb are so good you start to believe they are real. The two leads Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox fit nicely in to everything around them. A nice script penned by the Alias TV show favourites Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. It's got a long runnning time and there is a very tiny sag in the middle, but the action finale more than makes up for it. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

Silent Hill - Dir: Christophe Gans

I was looking forward to this - great subject matter and a director (Christophe Gans) who had done some interesting stuff previously including Crying Freeman and Brotherhood of the Wolf. Visually this film is very reminiscent of the game, bleak and washed out. The story however is completely messed up and doesn't really flow. Disappointing again because it was written by Roger Avary, whose work on Killing Zoe, Pulp Fiction and Rules of Attraction I admired. It's also not as scary as I was expecting, which is pretty much a killer for a horror thriller flick. Sean Bean is ok but it's not really the sort of material he works with best. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Clerks 2 - Dir: Kevin Smith

I have to admit that I wasn't a great fan of the first one and didn't rush to see this one. The first one had it's moments but it was a bit too cheap and rough for my liking. The sequel however is an absolute joy. Supremely funny and very well written and acted, it meshes the absolute gross with some pretty honest relationship stuff. Highlights include a scene with a donkey (you'll know what I mean when you see it!) and a brilliant Silence of the Lambs pastiche! This is a JM RECOMMENDS.

The Grudge 2 - Dir: Takashi Shimizu

This is a real shame. The sequel to the Sarah Michelle Gellar scare fest is just a tired re-tread really. On the plus side it does have a feint Japanese feel to it, is very vaguely watchable and the director Takashi Shimizu (director of the first movie and the original Japanese versions) doesn't westernise it too much. However the acting is pretty average, the scares are a bit repetitive and the twists are signposted 500 miles from home. Probably best just to watch the Japanese original sequel. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

The Tudors

Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and support from Sam Neill, this Showtime mini series tries to do for The Tudors what Rome did for the Romans. Unfortunately it is unable to match it, but gives it a good go. It has a good level of historical recreation, an interesting story and an amount of violence and nudity, but falls down in two places. The casting of nice boy and average actor JRM as Henry VIII is totally wrong, it should be someone that is able to command the screen and a bit more rugged. Also the screenplay is a lot drier than Rome, a programme that was able to weave the disturbing with the joviality of life at the time. If you're interested in the period it may be for you and thus is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

The SImpsons Movie - Dir: David Silverman

Probably one of the most highly anticipated movies of recent times. It could be argued that this fact saddled the movie with a lot more than it could ever possibly handle. Don't get me wrong - it's good in places and incredibly funny in others although admittedly you've probably seen a lot of this in the trailer already. It's definitely not funnier than the funniest Simpsons episodes, and also contains no monkeys with knives. It's still better than 90% of comedies out this year but slightly disappointing nonetheless. This is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Poseidon - Dir: Wolfgang Petersen

If anyone can pull off a big sea event movie you would think it was director Wolfgang Petersen after his successes with Perfect Storm and Das Boot. Ultimately however it ends up as one of those 'why did they bother?' movies. Let's face it, the 1972 version of this disaster movie was a classic. For sure, in 2007 we can bring a bundle of new special effects to the table and indeed the big wave scene that flips Posiedon over is pretty cool. Unfortunately the acting, script and general ambience that goes with it is pretty poor. Stars Kurt Russell. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

A Night At The Museum - Dir: Shawn Levy

I'm a big fan of Ben Stiller and was quite looking forward to this film. Ricky Gervais, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams and Owen Wilson are also in it. Could this be the funniest film ever? Not really unfortunately. It does have its moments but pretty much all the comedians listed are underwhelming in one way or another. Ricky Gervais is pretty much David Brent without the suit on and doesn't fit in. Robin Williams doesn't really do any of the quick witted wise cracks that he's known for. The special effects are also billed as the star of the show, but honestly are a bit shoddy in places. The script is very very lightweight. Worth a watch but this is only a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Scanner Darkly - Dir: Richard Linklater

This was disappointing considering it was from Richard Linklater, director of one of my fave films Before Sunrise. It was doubly disappointing in that it is a story derived from the portfolio of famed sci-fi writer Phillip K Dick whose stories also include Total Recall and Blade Runner. The movie is presented in a sort of live animation that looks like real footage that has been colourised, in a process called rotoscoping. It looks really neat for the first five minutes and then becomes irritating beyond belief. It makes it difficult to follow a story that you really need to keep tabs on. Stars Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson and Robert Downey Jr. This is a JM THUMBS DOWN.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Beginning - Dir: Jonathan Liebesman

The plot is essentially the same old youngsters get stranded at a creepy old house and then get tortured to death. The difference here is that you get to find a little bit more about how leatherface came to be and how the chainsaw became to be his weapon of choice. To be fair, in this film this guy uses anything sharp to bring his victims to a grisly end. It's no wonder he turned out the way he did raised by a family of freaks who think of nothing about in breeding and eating human flesh when animal meat runs out. Quite shocking in places, and perhaps a bit too much in places, but this is after all a horror movie. In your face grisliness means that this is worth a watch only if you can stomach it - this is a JM SUCK IT AND SEE.

Collateral Damage - Dir: Andrew Davis

Big Arnie teams up with consummate action director Andrew David (Under Siege/The Fugitive) in something a bit more gritty and realistic than his old full on blow stuff up movies. A terrorist bomb kills his wife and kid, and Arnie decides to go on a one man crusade to track the killer down. Actually this does sound like all of his other movies! Underrated at the time, certainly by me, a recent re-viewing showing shows that this movie actually holds up pretty well. It's not the best film Arnie has ever done, but certainly still a cut above a lot of the action movies out since. This is a JM RECOMMENDS.