The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes are reunited in this film... oh wait that is not the case until further reincarnations of the characters. The Unexpected Journey of Bilbo Baggins continues in Peter Jackson's next installment of The Hobbit. If you were left wondering at the end of the first film how Mr. Jackson was going to drag this out into three films, the movie does provide you with the answer. Other than that and the introduction of Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, the film serve no other purpose as it acts as a boring bridge to the grand finale of the battle against the dragon. Throw in some unnecessary twists to the plot by the director, we are left with a rather staid, head scratcher of a film. But if one could suspend their knowledge of the Tolkien novel, you could force yourself to be slightly entertained by the movie.

Rating: * *

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

In the events that launched the Lord of the Rings storyline, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) finds his calm existence shattered by the intrusion of a wizard and thirteen dwarves. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) wants Bilbo to join him and his merry dwarves in the quest of reclaiming the lost city of Erebor from Smaug, the dragon. Unwittingly following their lead, Bilbo finds himself dealing with goblins, elves, orcs, wargs and sorcerers. Featuring the hair raising ride through the goblin tunnels, you are never bored through this film. Then there is the encounter with Gollum (Andy Serkis) and the ring which is the heart of the film. Despite all of this you are left wondering if there is enough meat for The Hobbit to be stretched in to three films... 

Rating: * * +

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Potter series winds down and the gloves are off as Harry plus friends face off against the mighty Voldemort. Harry, Hermione and Ron are hot in the pursuit of the horcruxes in the hope that destroying them will give them a respite against the Dark Lord. Hot on their heels are the Death Eaters in their unleashed fury. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy as the directors strain to give the film and sense of doom and foreboding. But alas one can only take Voldemort so seriously after being exposed to the true Dark Lord and foes of Ged!

Rating: * *

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec

Based on a graphic novel from the 60s, the film follows the adventures of an “investigative” journalist, Adele Blanc-Sec (Louise Bourgoin), during the early 20th century. While she is away excavating tombs of mummies in Egypt with the hope resuscitating them to help cure her sister, Paris is under attack from a pterodactyl. Soon it is up to beautiful journalist to bring order back without any help from the bumbling police. If a slightly classier version of Tombraider with French humor appeals to you, then this film will be hugely satisfying.

Rating: * *

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The sixth installment of J. K. Rowling's world of wizards wafts its way on to the screen with Harry entering his sixth year at Hogwarts. He stumbles in to the potions class and comes across a book that belongs to the mysterious Half Blood Prince. Dumbledore meanwhile is up to his old tricks in his usual benign fashion while the shadow of Voldemort lurks. The film tries desperately to be dark and moody but what shines through is teenage angst. 

Rating: * *

Wool 100%

Ume and Kame are two old sisters living blissfully among the junk they collect as part of their daily hikes into town. On one such scavenger hunt they find a pile of wool. They bring it back home only to find it comes with strings attached in form of a strange girl. The girl knits a sweater and then promptly unravels it. If you watch the film to the end I am sure you will discover her reason for doing so but I decided to leave it as one of life's unsolved mysteries.

Rating: +

The Great Yokai War

Young sensitive Tadashi (Ryunosuke Kamiki) finds his life turned upside down when he chosen to be the Kirin warrior at a village festival. He finds himself inadvertently in middle of a Yokai (spirit) war where the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. A very different film from the otherwise violent minded Takashi Miike. But it still has his trademark over the top strangeness and stoner like phantasmagoria.

Rating: * *

Dnevnoy Dozor

Day Watch picks up where Night Watch left off. Our unlikely heroes plod on in their fight against the Dark Ones. As gritty as its predecessor, the midsection of this trilogy continues to keep you on the edge of your seat but not for long. Sadly after a while you slide down waiting for inevitable end. A huge let down for a film that promised so much.

Rating: * +

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter enters his fifth year at Hogwarts. Like in its predecessor things start to get much darker in the film. Harry starts to come into his own and the rest of the cast joins him in the battle against Voldemort. The slick action sequences and the easy pace of the film makes it a breeze to sit through. But for me the fourth one remains the best in the series.

Rating: * *

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The fourth installment in the highly overrated Harry Potter series shows JK Rowling bringing in darker elements into this magical world. Potter's fourth year in the school shows him taking part in a Tri-wizard tournament where he is the fourth wizard. I have to say that this film has been best in the series to date but it still did not win me over as a fan.

Rating: * *

Nochnoy Dozor

Known as 'Night Watch' in english and has been on my watch list for sometime. A fantasy film set in modern day Moscow where battlelines are drawn between the nighttime and daytime forces. Spectacularly made movie that keeps you entertained right through.

Rating: * * +

Eragon

Based on the book by Christopher Paolini, the movie like the book mashes LOTR, EarthSea and few other fantasy classics into a barely palatable dish. But hey I can't resist a movie or book with dragons in it...

Rating: * +

The Prestige

Lot of hype surrounding the movie - understandable, considering it was Chris Nolan & about magicians. The beginining and the build-up of the story was good - Michael Caine explaining the basic tenets of magic tricks, the manic obsession of the main characters for their craft, and their sheer ruthlessness came across very well.

But the last bit wasn't half as tight as it should have been. I understand that the book, from which the movie was adapted, was different - esp the latter part of the story. Probably explains the sudden dilution of events in the movie. Usual tricks are present: the movie transports the viewer to&fro across time - which sadly is not a novelty anymore. Good performances though from everyone.

A good movie, but certainly not in the same class as Memento.

Rating: * * +