The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

So Harvey is dead, Bruce is retired and the girl from Princess Diaries is now the new love interest. In steps a bulked up Bronson (Bane) who looks totally badass and all hell breaks loose. It drags in places but its visually flawless. Nice twist at the end and a hint of what may or may not become with Robin. 5/5

Flight (2012)

Once you realise the aeroplane bit isn't the main plot drive then you are simply left with a tale of alcohol dependency and denial. It's well acted but really slow. Imagine a 2 hour AA meeting. 3/5

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

I've watched this 100s of times and it's still funny! One of those awesome Christmas films that we can all empathise with. One of my favourites. Chevy Chase in his prime. 5/5

Dredd (2012)

It's difficult for me to review this as I was a huge 2000AD fan growing up. For me, Dredd isn't menacing enough nor is the fear there. I wanted more MegaCity One, more Cursed Earth. Gone is the satire and black humour and petty crime and instead we get The Raid. None fans of the comic book will love it, I liked it but expected more. 3/5

Arthur Christmas (2011)

Funny, original and full of imagination. The first half is better than the last. The UFO government storyline bit isn't needed. I like it a lot and had the ending not dragged I would have scored it higher. 3/5

The Snowman (1982)

Without doubt the most British Christmas film ever made. It seems to get better every year. It's timeless. Reminds me of my youth. Amazing. 5/5

Rocky Balboa (2006)

More of a story about Stallone coming out of retirement rather than the character of Rocky. It's like he won't let it go. It's better than Rocky V but also a harsh reality in dignity. Peter Petrelli from Heroes is in it. Stallone six pack gut is confusing. 3/5

Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003)

Amazing storytelling and vision and one of Tarantino's best. The Japanese section is pure class and the Anime is superb. Action, humour and a razor sharp script make this unmissable. 5/5

Home Alone 2 (1992)

One of those rare moments where the sequel is better than the first. Home Alone 2 is bigger, funnier and better. Absolute Christmas magic. 5/5

Pitch Perfect (2012)

Glee meets Sister Act. Predictable, obvious but also quite good in parts. It's a proper chic flick and the mash ups although cheesy are a guilty pleasure.3/5

Rocky V (1990)

The worst Rocky.  Tommy Gun and a crappy street fight.  What happened?  Especially after the success of Rocky IV.  I understand why Stallone couldn't leave the saga on this bum note.  Hence Balboa which I'll re-watch next.   This film is dire.  Sage is the best actor in this. 2/5

Home Alone (1990)

In my opinion this and its sequel are THE perfect Christmas movies. Funny, engaging and very symbolic of Christmas. As fresh today as it was on its release over 20 years ago. I love it. 5/5

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Average action yarn sans Damon. Some good set pieces but weak story and an ending that simply...ends!!! Nothing special but worthy of a weekend watch.3/5

Rocky IV (1985)

Everyone's favourite Rocky. Awesome casting of one of the big screens greatest villains. Amazing soundtrack. Timeless. Emotional and epic training montages. Time to head down to the gym..I feel inspired. 5/5

Rocky III (1982)

Before Rocky V this was the worst one. Made worse by Hulk Hogan and Mr T. It's too cartoony to be taken seriously. What saves it is the Eye Of The Tiger soundtrack that has become symbolic of many a workout.3/5

Rocky II (1979)

Better than the first and contains two training montages. It keeps its roots firmly planted into the original story and the end fight is so significant it has you (the viewer) reaching for the ropes to pull yourself up from the ring. Epic.5/5

Rocky (1976)

Arguably one of the best screenplays ever written. Many people think its a film about boxing but it isn't. It's a film about characterisation and the American dream. The boxing is actually secondary to the relationship between Rocky and Adrian. The sequels forget this. Amazing drama and acting.5/5

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Jim Carrey provides his Grinch voice for this post-Polar Express effort. Could have been so much better considering the strength of the Dickens story. It's very boring to begin with and only ever picks up near the end. Good but not great.3/5

Paranorman (2012)

Likeable Ardman-Style animation with a unique story, plenty of laughs and cool effects. One of those family weekend films you hope will be good, and it is. 4/5

Sinister (2012)

Genuinely creepy with certain scenes delivering the scares and making your hairs stand on end. Other scenes make you roll your eyes in disgust when it delivers lame, cliched, dimly lit dross. It's too slow all the way through and the ending was a let down. 2/5

The Watch (2012)

Utter dross, Lame story and Unfunny. It's only the star cast that manage to remotely save this shite from getting a one out of five. Nothing works with this film, Ben Stiller couldn't be arsed making it so I can't be arsed liking it. 2/5

Looper (2012)

The premise is great. The Looper concept is great. The facial effects morph on Joseph Gordon-Levitt is freakishly good. But it falls flat in the middle and loses the whole Looperness in the latter stages. Good Effort though.4/5

The Lookout (2007)

Slow and pointless. Starts well but becomes the "we don't know how to finish this film". Then throw in some random quiet bad guy, Harry from Dumb and Dumber and Shannon from Home and Away.And this is the result.2/5

Brave (2012)

Slightly disappointing for a Pixar movie. It's visual perfect but it lacks the story. And it should be all about the story telling. Billy Connolly is just a cliche for anything Scottish these days.3/5

Stolen (2012)

It feels like a cheap 90s action B-movie. The first half an hour is watchable but then it spirals out of control. The ending is one of the worst I have seen. Avoid this like Nick Cage should have done.1/5

Total Recall (2012)

It's too hard not to compare this against the Arnie classic. It is its own film in its own right, and the FX are amazing. It tires towards the end and becomes a simple action affair.But it does provide some quotes and references the original which was nice.3/5

The Campaign (2012)

Very predictable but still watchable. Not zany enough to be a Will Ferrell classic but worth a watch on a week night. Anchorman it ain't.3/5

Cockneys VS Zombies (2012)

It's Shaun of the Dead meets Lock Stock with Bricktop in it. The first half is fun and entertaining but the second half becomes repetitious and the poor acting becomes unforgivable. What could of been great is just average.3/5

Thats my Boy (2012)

Another crappy Adam Sandler movie playing a goofy character with an annoying voice. The film is crap but there are some genuinely funny one liners and Vanilla Ice is in it so I bumped it up a point.3/5

Fracture (2007)

Typical Anthony Hopkins playing the intellectual Englishman but it's a decent thriller/court room drama let down by an awful soundtrack and a drawn out plot. 3/5

Red Lights (2012)

Good thriller in a "Prestige" kind of way. Slightly too long and a twist you do not see coming. At last something different and decent to watch.4/5

Wrong Turn 5 (2012)

I've seen all of these films hoping they'd recapture the thrill of the first. But each one gets progressively worse. I can feel a 6th one coming but even I might call it quits at this. Utter garbage.1/5

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Improved FX and darker but not strong enough as a reboot. It tries to do what Dark knight did for Batman but it doesn't. Don't get me it's great,but not too dis-similar from the first films.4/5

Megamind (2010)

Amusing take on the super hero story. Will Ferrel is perfectly cast as Megamind. Great Sunday afternoon family film.4/5

Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs (2009)

Intelligent and funny animation. Great story and characters. It's a hidden gem that didn't get the credit it deserves. I love this. 5/5

The Expendables 2 (2012)

Not a patch on the first. Weak plot, cliche cameos and the over-the-top action is too tiresome this time around. Time to move on Sly....2/5

Magic Mike (2012)

Watchable to begin with but rather pointless. Then towards the end it gets dire. No plot, weak chemistry and pointless scenes. Imagine a crap stripping Boogie Nights.2/5

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

I love this film. Great story that makes you think. Ashton can actually act and the whole thing just draws you in. Yes it gets depressing but it's worth the ride.5/5

Cleanskin (2012)

One of those Sean Bean films where he's hardly in it. Feels like a cheap serious TV version of Four Lions. The lead MI5 agents are useless and fumble all the way through to the point of annoying incompetence.2/5

Total Recall (1990)

Absolute classic Arnie. The exploding eye makeup still looks amazing. This was film making before CGI where they actually built sets. Quotable, violent and timeless.5/5

Men in Black (2012)

Worse than MIB2, worse than Wild Wild West. The CGI is laughable, Will Smith is watchable (just) and the ending is alreeet. 2/5

Something Borrowed (2011)

Enjoyable chick flick with some funny moments.  It's way too long though and tires towards the end.  The fake Tom Cruise made me laugh though! 3/5

Bernie (2011)

Not what I was expecting from a Jack Black film but I really enjoyed it. Based on a true story this film offers something far removed from mainstream Hollywood. It's well acted and the documentary style vox box clips really work.4/5

Safe (2012)

Below average Statham adventure. Very early 90s plotline that never gets going. The action scenes are good but after the promising opening it falls flat.2/5

Dead Man's Shoes (2004)

Low budget but truly brilliant British thriller. Menacing lead character, the tension builds all the way through to a brilliant conclusion. Epic and a must see.5/5

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

Not what I expected. It's like a really shit Trueman-esque Evil Dead acid trip. Utterly rubbish and completely pointless.1/5

Senna (2010)

Marvellous documentary film making at its best. I'm not an F1 fan but this pulls you in. It's real, it's harrowing, it's haunting. It also portraits a maverick genius and tells the story beautifully. Amazing stuff.5/5

The Avengers (2012)

A slow start but it makes up for it 40 minutes in. It's all effects end egos that drive this film, it looks stunning! The biggest let down is the lead bad guy Loki, he's just a bit shit.4/5

The Guard (2011)

Very dry Irish comedy, offensive, non-PC and utterly brilliant. Gleeson is on top form again. It's like a mini Irish Lock Stock. 4/5

I am Bruce Lee (2011)

I've seen the stock footage a thousand times before and although it offers nothing new it's still well put together. One of the best Bruce documentaries ever made.4/5