Toy Story 3

★★★★★

The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potters, James Bonds and The Godfather Trilogy (the third one is up to you) all great movie franchises, which all have there place in film history, well add another, Toy Story. From the first meeting of Woody, Buzz and the gang, fifteen years, it was a hit. Pixar's highest grossing film, as well as the company début in the film world. It was then suppressed by Cars, Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo, and eventually Toy Story 2. This film is fantastic, lets get that out of the way to start. The combination in humour for the children and adults is a rare thing that works in a children's film, and if it doesn't the film can drag for an adult (seen in Shrek 4.) But this film does not drag, as even though you know you are moments away from the credits, you feel like you don't want it to end, you want more, as a little tear fills your eye, while you are waving yourself, good bye to Woody, Buzz and the gang. Who essentially, if you are a fan of films, became like your toys. Now to the film aspects, the animation is spot on beautiful, and not only does Toy Story 3 have one of the best openings, of a child's film, but I would go as far to say the opening scenes are one of the best in cinematic history. Surprisingly, even with the less characters, (Weezy, and with a little sniffle, Bo Peep etc) the films focusses more on the plot rather than giving each character a number of lines and scenes to themselves. The story is classic one, thinking your in hell, escaping from that hell to a place like heaven, only to find this place is worse that hell before (it's hard to believe that the latter hell, I'm referring too, is called Sunnyside Daycare.) With action worthy of a Bond movie (the opening scene) and a villain so dastardly he makes the Wicked Witch of the West look yellow. The films is phenomenal and as this is being written Toy Story 3 is rapidally climbing the highest grossing films ever ladder (when this was written it was at number 38) and its extremly deserving of it. This film is brilliant.

Splice

★★★★☆

Based on Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" with a modern sci-fi twist, comes Splice, the story of two whiz-kid scientists (named after the characters of the Frankenstein movies) Elsa and Clive, (Sarah Polley and Oscar winner Adrien Brody.) Elsa, who desperately wants a child, and Clive, illegally combine human DNA with DNA of other animals, thus creating a new species, who the name Dren, (Nerd spelt backwards, see what they did there?) who acts as a surrogate child for Elsa, but is seen by Clive as a mistake. When Dren's development goes rapidly out of control, they are forced to move her from their lab to a desolate farm, in which Dren runs havoc, killing rabbits and even people. Both Elsa and Clive come too soon realise that they have created a monster, but before they can destroy her, Dren bites the hands that feeds her. With startling good performances by the two leads, Splice is a very good film, and a deep one. The film divulges in the meaning of moral integrity, the boundary between right and wrong and most prominent, evolution. But most credit of this film should go to the actress playing Dren, yes that's right actress, even in a time of Avatars and the most advanced CGI the film world has ever seen, director Vincenzo Natali and producer Guillermo del Toro still decided to cast a real person to play the "monster" who winds up becoming the heart of the film, Dren is magnificently played by model-turned-actress Delphine Chaneac. Like many science fiction films the film lacks in its third act, with two very uncomfortable sex scenes. With Brody's big budget science fiction horror "Predators" out soon, Splice will soon be overlooked, but don't miss this, its a thought provoking film that really pushes the moral boundary's in your mind.

Shrek Forever After.

★★★☆☆

Making his début on our screen nearly ten years ago, the loveable green ogre is back, this time for his fourth outing. With two phenomenally good opening films ( Shrek and Shrek 2) it was always going to be hard to stretch the story out and make it a success, (shown in the terribly weak Shrek The Third.) But Shrek's back, and this time he's in 3D. Sadly, the wonders of 3D, like we saw in Clash of The Titans, doesn't really help the movie's plot, as Shrek 4 lacks the sparkle that the two first films gave us. With less screen time for both the franchise's most funniest characters, Donkey and Puss in Boots, the film lacks one crucial thing that all successful animated films must, MUST have, and that's adult humour. OK, not smut or dirty jokes, but comic references that make the parents that have been dragged by there children, glad they went, and Shrek was always famous for that, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? Just because Shrek has toddlers, doesn't mean the film has to be made and treat you like you are one. That's what audiences will notice the most, that and the voice of Rumpelstiltskin, who is voiced by Walt Dohrn, the films lead storyboard artist, originally meant to be voiced by Paul McCartney, the voice is awful (at one point in the film, he does the voice of a witch, in the exact same voice he lends to Rumpel) it really shows (or sounds?) like he has never done a voice over before. The films story is messy, but enjoyable and bearable, all to be fair the film was completely unnecessary. Plus, the lack of folk-sy songs and covers of well known tunes are absent. The film is a disappointment, but it has its moments of pure Shrek-like fairytale magic. Go see it with the kids, they will enjoy it.

New on DVD Reviews: Green Zone, Leap Year, Shutter Island, The Blind Side.

Green Zone: ★★★☆☆

Matt Damon again teams up with long time collaborator and director of the last two in the Bourne franchise, Paul Greengrass, in Green Zone, a war movie set in Iraq. Damon plays Officer Roy Miller who is sent to Iraq to justify finding of weapons of mass destruction, but soon finds his own side and turning on him. Though over shadowed by that other war movie, that won some kind of Best Picture award? Green Zone does have its good bits. although none deprive to emotion from like Hurt Locker did. With Damon being such an obviously bad choice, fresh of Bourne he should have not done an action film. The story is not really captivating but the action which is high octane (unlike Locker) and should keep the Call of Duty fans entertained.

Leap Year: ★☆☆☆☆

Living in Ireland myself I found this film unbearable, and slow pointless plot, (according to the film, and the title its an Irish tradition for a woman to propose to her partner on February 29, I can tell you know its not.) Adams keeps smiling through the movie (some times you can see on her facial expression "Why the hell did I agree to this movie?) despite her obviously lack of chemistry with fiancée Matthew Goode. In a word, rubbish, just don't bother.

Shutter Island: ★★★★☆

Fresh off his Stones biopic and the Oscar Winning The Departed, Martin Scorsese again teams up with his current protégée Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island, a psychological thriller set on a mysterious off shore metal asylum, called Ashcliffe, were a supposed serial killer has escaped and is hiding on the island. DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo (in a excellent performance) are the detectives called in to find her. With twist after twist the plot ending soon becomes obvious which lets the film town, but a hugely, hugely enjoyable film.

The Blind Side: ★★★☆☆

Sandra Bullock's Academy Award winning role in the Blind Side was given much attention, mostly because of her own personal life struggles. But to be brutally honest , even though I think she is one of the greatest actress on the planet right now, she didn't deserve it. The Blind Side is weak, unmoving film, which fails to pluck on those all important heart string, it so desperately wants you too. With the plot being based on a true story, the movie will become forgettable, her performance of a spoilt The Real Housewife of Tennessee is not convincing, as she is like Damon in Zone, not cut out for the role. Rent it don't buy it you won't want to watch it twice.