The Dark Knight Rises - Official Teaser Trailer

I really enjoyed both Batman Begins and The Dark Night is one of of those rare sequels that is actually way better than the first movie (mostly due to Heath Ledger's phenomenal performance as The Joker) so I'm really looking forward to the final instalment: The Dark Knight Rises

The trailer looks great. I just can't believing we have to wait until the summer to see it...

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

I was worried that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy would not live up to its hype. The cast is phenomenal: Oldman, Firth, Hardy and Cumberbatch are just a few members of the all-star line-up. Lots of people have been talking about how this is one of the best films of the year.

Thankfully, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy delivers. In a big way. There is a real sense of drama and anticipation, fantastic dialogue and an exceptional soundtrack that ties it all together in remarkable fashion. The acting performances are, perhaps unsurprisingly, world class. The individual performances alone are fantastic, but it's the way they all work together that really makes this film shine.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a Cold War thriller which focuses on a department in the British intelligence service. After an operation goes wrong Smiley (Oldman) is called out of retirement in an attempt to identify a suspected mole in the top ranks of the organisation.

This film focuses on the hard, gritty side of intelligence agencies that we rarely see in films like James Bond. Cocktails and Blackjack tables are replaced by smoke filled rooms and dark, damp safe-houses. Director Tomas Alfredson gets the tone and feel of the era spot on, and the film benefits greatly as a result. This is a must see movie as the summer season draws to a close.

 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: 8/10

Friends with Benefits

Friends with Benefits is one of an increasing number of movies that insists on putting the best bits in the trailer. I get why they do that, but some of the best moments in the film, the ones that should really make you laugh, you have already seen.

 That being said, Justin Timberlake was almost good enough in this to make me forget he was once in a boy band and Mila Kunis certainly gives guys a good reason not to feel too bad when their girlfriend drags them out to see this.

The stand out performance comes from Woody Harrelson, who plays a gay sports editor. Dylan (Timberlake) strikes up a friendship with Tommy (Harrelson) who provides some advice and great comedy moments.

 Friends with Benefits is a fun, throwaway movie. It's not going to make you think, the storyline is somewhat inevitable and the cast do an okay job. Chances are you're still going to go and see it anyway, and with the above in mind, you probably won't even be that disappointed.

Friends with Benefits: 5.5/10

Avengers Teaser/Trailer

So soon after seeing Captain America I just saw the sneak preview of the Avengers movie which you can take a look at here. There is a pretty big spoiler at the start of the clip if you haven't seen Captain America.

It's a blink and you'll miss it clip (Empire has screenshots) but you get a glimpse of Robert Downey Jr (Stark) , Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Mark Ruffalo (The Incredible Hulk) and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) who appears at the end of the Iron Man, Thor and Captain America movies.

Release is scheduled for some time in early summer 2012.

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Captain America: The First Avenger

The Story: You know you have seen a good film with an interesting story when the first thing you do after getting home is look up the extended version of the story online.

Captain America: The First Avenger much like many other superhero movies of the last few years is based on an extensive comic book series so they aren't exactly light on stories to tell.

After repeatedly being rejected for American military service during World War II Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) catches the attention of Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) who inducts him into an army research project that transforms the weak and feeble Rogers into taller, fitter version of himself, with the peak of every human ability.

Initially used as a mascot to raise funding for the war, Captain America eventually finds his calling when he springs into action to help his fellow soldiers.

I'm not a big comic book fan (they never really took off in the UK when I was a kid) but I love the interweaving of other stories, movies and characters, although I have to admit the Howard Stark part took me a minute... (Story: 2/3)


The Cast: I wasn't expecting much after seeing Chris Evans in both Fantastic Four movies but I have to say he did a remarkable job of playing the feeble, weak but determined Steve Rogers in the pre Captain America portion of the movie and carried it over nicely into the rest of the film.

Toby Jones and Stanley Tucci both take to the 'mad scientist' roles well and add a nice comparison between the requirements of good and evil.

Hugo Weaving is a little dry at times, and I never found his character quite believe able for some reason. I just didn't feel like I wanted him to get beaten as much as I should.

I have to confess to not having seen any of Hayley Atwell's previous work, but I must say she adds a nice mix of beauty and intelligence to the role, and doesn't fall into the classic superhero movie female lead, due in part to the great chemistry between her and the feeble Evans pre experiment. (Cast: 2/3)

The Action: From start to finish Captain America never really stops and even the quieter moments are full of drama and suspense. The battle scenes are fast paced and gritty and although some of the moves our hero pulls are somewhat over the top, especially with the shield, overall the action is enthralling and engaging. (Action: 2/3)

Everything else: No question that Campaign America: The First Avenger is getting a bonus point for the special effects alone. Turning Chris Evans into a scrawny, short and pale man for a large portion of the movie in such a perfect and seamless way is nothing short of phenomenal. (Everything else: 1/1)

Captain America: The First Avenger: 7/10

Cowboys & Aliens Trailer

Arizona in 1873. A spaceship lands. Cowboys fight the aliens. Can't wait.

Movie News

The Amazing Spider-Man is the hot topic at the moment despite a 2010 release date. There is a trailer up on the official site depicting Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as Peter Parker. No footage yet of Rhys Ifans in his role as Dr. Curt Connors / The Lizard...


Coming of age tale Super 8 is also getting some love online as new clips are leased on the Empire website. Director J.J. Abrams tells the story of a group of friends who witness a mysterious train crash and begin noticing bizarre things happening in their small town.

Long awaited superhero movie Captain America: The First Avenger is about to grace our screen here in the UK. Chris Evans takes the lead role in the story of Steve Rogers, a research project volunteer who turns into Captain America, long before Team America: World Police even existed. You can see the trailer here.

The current Box Office top 5 lines up like this:

1. Captain America: The First Avenger
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
3. Friends With Benefits
4. Horrible Bosses
5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Captain America manages to knock Harry Potter of the top spot but no place in the top 5 for Zookeeper which is down in 6th and is really struggling this week.