Top 10 Movie Tips for 2010

As we turn away from 2009 with a grateful tear in our eye, we find ourselves immediately swept into the loving arms of 2010. Any reluctance instantly melts at the sight of the incredible cinematic treats which await us. Here are ten of the best, a bit about what makes them so great and when we can expect to receive them... Happy New Year indeed.

1. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (27th August)

Bryan Lee O'Malley's original graphic novels are a source of infinite wonder and joy. Titular hero Scott Pilgrim must do battle with seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to win the heart of his elusive dream girl Ramona Flowers. It's a unique fusion of computer game/indie band pop culture with inventive action, dry wit and sincere romance. If directing prodigy Edgar Wright can find a way to translate the striking look and mesmerising wackiness from page to screen, then this could be the next big thing you're obsessed with.

2. Twilight Saga: Eclipse (30th June US/9th July UK)

If you have a girlfriend, a sister, or are in fact a girl... then you will watch this at least three times this summer. Robert Pattinson's face and Taylor Lautner's abs continue to fight for Kristen Stewart's love, in a doomed effort to make her smile. A higher quota of vampire and werewolf fighting should make it just about acceptable for guys to sneak into cinemas full of swooning girls. Expect 'I like Twilight' to soon replace 'I Love You' as the phrase most women want to hear.

3. Toy Story 3 (18th June US/23rd July UK)

Returning to their flagship franchise Pixar simply cannot fail to make another hit. In contrast to Disney's embarrassing trend towards appalling straight-to-DVD sequels, it's nice to see Buzz and Woody back on the big screen. Hopefully polished visuals and fancy 3D will also be accompanied by a script which equals the multi-layered magnificence of its predecessors.

4. Alice in Wonderland (5th March)

A potentially perfect marriage of subject matter and director, Tim Burton takes us down the rabbit hole for Lewis Carrol's dark children's fantasy. His trademark Gothic visuals and the presence of Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter guarantees it will at least be interesting to look at and a bit odd.

5. Tron Legacy (17th December)

The 80's original pioneered CGI and its iconic neon style still has an enduring magical charm. This overdue and somewhat unexpected sequel should be a delightful success, provided it doesn't try to hard to update the 'futuristic' look of the first film and keeps its retro fan-base happy.

6. The A-Team (11th June US/30 July UK)

This continues the pattern of risk adverse Hollywood studios plundering the goldmine of 1980's television for proven winners in the absence of fresh ideas. Apparently 1990 was the last time anyone thought of something cool that didn't involve vampires. Interesting to see how the A-team works without Mr T. Perhaps he was too busy pimping snacks and 'World of Warcraft' to pity any more fools. But with a the right plot, good natured mercenaries who own a van could become very popular again.

7. Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (10th December)

'Prince Caspian' was exponentially better than 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe', thanks to its maturing cast finally being capable of credible action scenes. Its plot was also less reliant on painfully heavy handed religious metaphors. 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' always seemed to be the most popular of the books and TV series, perhaps because it explored the world of Narnia at it's most fantastical. Dragons, dwarfs, mermaids and a mouse knight voiced by a former transvestite comedian (Eddy Izzard) should make it an interesting adventure.

8. Iron Man 2 (7th May)

Looks set to follow in the proud footsteps of 'Spiderman 2' and 'Dark Knight' as a superhero sequel which is both bigger and better than a promising first outing. Robert Downey Jr is a perfect fit for Tony Stark, the billionaire playboy who dons a flashy suit to become Iron Man. He's captured just the right mix of playful arrogance and troubled intensity. Mickey Rourke's thuggish Russian villain, Scarlett Johansson in a catsuit and actions sequences pushed to the next level could make this brilliant.

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I (19th November)

Harry, Hermione and Ron (*the world's most popular ginger) begin their final battle against the evil lord Voldemort, as the franchise grows darker and increasingly watchable. Although most of the satisfying resolutions will be saved for the climactic second part, this penultimate instalment of boy wizardry should still be essential box office magic.

10. The Beaver (release date unknown)

Watch Mel Gibson try to make you forget everything you wish you didn't know about him through the power of laughter, in this black comedy about a Toy company CEO who has a breakdown and starts letting out his inner angst though a talking beaver puppet. It's directed by Jodie Foster with a script rumoured to have been one of the best still on the market. Could be a major step towards public rehabilitation for Gibson, assuming you forgive him enough to buy a ticket.

Finally, Look out for.... Anna Kendrick.

The young Twilight actress is THE next big thing. Her performance in 'Up in the Air' has already brought her well deserved awards and countless nominations. She should soon find her self in the running for a best supporting actress Oscar. Expect her to be a household name by the time 'Up in the Air' reaches DVD. She's already finished filming Eclipse and Scott Pilgrim... keep an eye on her, greatness beckons.

Harry Potter World Premiere

After a painfully long two year wait, the world’s most famous boy wizard returned to Leicester Square for the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Witches, wizards and Rupert Grint obsessed fangirls swarmed together in their thousands to celebrate the long delayed release of the sixth movie. Fans started camping out over 30 hours before the premiere to secure a front row spot to meet their beloved heroes and villains. It was hard to spot a muggle anywhere in the square.

Unfortunately dark magic worthy of he who shall not be named was most certainly at work on the weather. Mere moments before the cast arrived so did torrential rain and hailstones as big as a golden snitch. An hour of the most appalling weather imaginable proved too much for a small number of distraught fans, who gave up after days of waiting. It’s hard to blame them for being unprepared for such adversity in the middle of July. Those that remained kept their spirits up by singing Monty Python’s whimsical ballad ‘Always look on the bright side of life’. It’s a compelling testament to the devotion of fans that most toughed it out and were still waiting eagerly when the damp stars finally emerged.

The determination of fans was ultimately rewarded, as all of the film’s stars made special efforts to acknowledge their support. A half-drowned Daniel Radcliffe was predictably the main attraction. He’s the boy who lived and the boy everyone wants to meet. However his co-stars Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Evanna Lynch and Alan Rickman were greeted with equal adoration as they signed autographs and posed for pictures with the rain drenched crowds. Those fans were clearly also especially delighted to see that Rupert Grint had made a full recovery from his recent case of swine flu. In spite of the weather, he wore his usual cheeky grin. Some fans even got the rare chance to meet the actual author of their obsession, J.K. Rowling herself.

The films astonishing box office success is unsurprising given that ‘Pottermania‘ shows no sign of diminishing. After the fourth biggest opening day box office of all time, the film took a solid $78 million in its opening weekend in America. The film has brought in over $ 437 million worldwide to date. That’s an awful lot of muggle money for the goblins in the Warner Bros accounts department to play with. It’s also a figure set to rise as the film lingers in cinemas for many weeks to come. It’s hard to imagine what levels of hysteria and riches will greet the release of the final two films. We can only hope that it will at least stay dry...

For those who couldn’t make it or who want to relive the experience, enjoy the gallery of pictures and some video links below...

Daniel Radcliffe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeFOQCK8VAc&feature=channel

Emma Watson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU1rEm--cUI&feature=channel_page

Rupert Grint:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNov1IRhvS8&feature=channel

Valkyrie

Tom Cruise used to be a universally adored global superstar. He was Hollywood’s golden leading man. Unfortunately, in recent years that image has been tarnished by bizarre behaviour and his highly publicised association with the Church of Scientology. Perhaps in an effort to recapture his former popularity, Cruise’s latest film finds him fighting against the most despised of all history’s evils, the Nazis.

Directed by ‘X-men’ and ‘the Usual Suspects’ wonder-kid Bryan Singer, ‘Valkyrie’ is a film about the last of many attempts by Germans to assassinate Adolf Hitler during World War II. It’s an important story to be told, but one rarely seen on American screens. It’s too often forgotten that even at the height of Hitler’s power there were many German people who risked and ultimately gave their lives fighting against him. Whether or not it’s a subject more suited to documentary than dramatisation is a matter of debate.

Cruise remains a compelling leading man and he’s surrounded here by a cast of skilled (mostly British) character actors. However, even this laudable ensemble cast can’t breathe tension into a film which is fundamentally misconceived as a suspense thriller. The problem is that anyone with the most basic knowledge of world history knows that Hitler was not assassinated. With absolute historic certainty we know that their plans must fail. ‘Will they, won’t they’ excitement is instead replaced by a grim inevitability which makes the film difficult to watch at times. As an audience it’s hard to allow yourself to emotionally invest in characters doomed to failure and death.

‘Valkyrie’ is lucky to be able to rely on actors like Bill Nighy , Tom Wilkinson and Cruise to bring a credible intensity to its drama. It won’t bother global audiences, but British viewers may find it a little odd to see former transvestite comedian Eddy Izzard manning Hitler’s telephone switchboard. However, having worked to established himself as actor for some time, it’s easier to accept him amongst a sombre cast than you may think. Bryan Singer could not have hoped for a better collection of acting talent to demand respect and attention from an audience.

Playing Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg in ‘Valkyrie’ was actually a brave and surprising choice for Tom Cruise. His personal life may have affected audiences’ willingness to accept him as a hero, but this role is a very different type of challenge. From the Indiana Jones trilogy to Tarantino’s latest film ‘Inglourious Basterds’ , Nazi Germany has been relentlessly and justifiably demonized on the big screen. Portraying these German officers as men capable of honour and compassion sits a little uncomfortably with the reassuringly simple depiction of evil we’re used to. It’s simply impossible to see a man in a Nazi Uniform and ignore the horrific legacy it represents to mankind. This is yet another major hurdle to the film’s success.

There is a clear limit to how entertaining a film about such serious and tragic subject matter can be. However, any attempt to glamorize the story to fit the usual Hollywood action movie stereotypes would have been unwise. The film can’t hide from ugly truths and harsh realities, but at least it can aspire to educate its audience about them. Having taken $200 million at the box office it appears audiences do have an appetite for such an education. ‘Valkyrie’ is out on DVD and Blu-Ray now for those that still do...

Meeting Guillermo Del Toro

Guillermo Del Toro is one of my favourite things in the entire world. Just uttering his name is enough to bring me exquisite joy. For those unfamiliar with his greatness, he is the writer and director responsible for critically acclaimed and visually magnificent films such as ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ and ‘Hellboy II: the Golden Army’. Currently he’s on a whirlwind world tour to promote the new vampire novel ‘The Strain’, which he co-authored with horror writer Chuck Hogan. It’s the first in a trilogy of books and its release has provided a rare opportunity for devoted fans to meet their hero.

Having graduated from inventive low budget horror movies to Hollywood blockbusters, Del Toro’s talents are now in fierce demand. His next project is a two part big screen adaptation of J.R.R.Tolkien’s epic fantasy masterpiece ‘the Hobbit’. So for the next four years Guillermo will be living in the distant realm of Middle Earth (formerly known as New Zealand). In a recent interview he remarked that "Contributing to the 'Lord of the Rings' legacy is an absolute dream come true.” This is a sentiment shared by many fans who wisely regard him as the perfect choice for the daunting project.

There are many reasons why I love Guillermo and you should too...

His voice is like a warm Mexican blanket. It’s the kind of voice you could get lost in and wander around happily for several days. But this isn’t the only reason for listening to him. His DVD commentary tracks are master classes in literature, pop culture and the art of making cinema. Del Toro has an astounding imagination as a writer. Pulp novels, comic books, fairytales and mythology are all part of his rich heritage of influences. Del Toro’s own unique vision, combines fantastical beauty and horror, with subtle human melodrama.

Visually his films are strongly influenced by iconic artists such as Jack Kirby and Ray Harryhausen. Del Toro’s films often combine kinetic comic book action with his own lifelong fascination for monsters. Mechanical Nazis, indestructible golden armies, fairies and a seven foot red demon detective are just some of the dazzling creatures to inhabit Guillermo’s worlds. He prefers the ‘old fashioned’ magic of prosthetics and puppetry to the shiny false gods of CGI. This makes his most absurd and wonderful creations even more real and tactile.

One of Del Toro’s most admirable traits is his self-proclaimed desire to make the films that he would want to see as a fan. His unashamed passion for the things that he loves is inspiring to hear and evident on screen in all his work. In person he is warm, jovial and as excited by what he creates as any of his admirers. Knowing of his enthusiasm for mechanical toys, I gave him a book about it. I also gave him some clotted cream (his secret obsession). I hope he enjoys them as much as I have enjoyed endlessly re-watching Hellboy II.

They say that you should never meet your heroes, because they’ll only disappoint you. However, for me, meeting Guillermo was a profound pleasure and a privilege. I can now happily confirm that he doesn’t just look like a friendly bear, he hugs like one too...

Link below to video of Guillermo at the launch of ‘the Strain’. (Our special moment at 2.55).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_fYM3EO6Zc&feature=channel_page

‘The Strain’ is available in stores now, ‘the Hobbit’ won’t be finished for several years yet, but WILL be worth the wait...