Sucker Punch is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, and her incredible adventures blur the lines between what’s real and what is imaginary.

She has been locked away against her will, but Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to survive. Determined to fight for her freedom, she urges four other young girls—the outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), the street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), the fiercely loyal Amber (Jamie Chung) and the reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish)—to band together and try to escape their terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac), Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino) and the High Roller (Jon Hamm).

Led by Babydoll, the girls engage in fantastical warfare against everything from samurais to serpents, with a virtual arsenal at their disposal. Together, they must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive. But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey—if they succeed—will set them free.

TFB Anticipation Rating: *******~~~ (7/10)

UK Release Date: 1st April 2011

Director: Zack Snyder

In the lead up to Christmas, we shall be expecting a plethora of treats on the big screen, here is the pick of exciting movies released this week to whet your appetites.

Monsters

Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear and grow. In an effort to stem the destruction that resulted, half of Mexico was quarantined as an ‘infected zone’. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain the massive creatures… Our story begins when a jaded US journalist (McNairy) begrudgingly agrees to find his boss’ daughter, a shaken American tourist (Able) and escort her through the infected zone to the safety of the US border.

Starring: Whitney Able, Scoot McNairy

See it if you liked: Cloverfield (2008), District 9 (2009), The Road (2009)

Certificate: 12A

Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller

Release Date: 3 December 2010

Megamind

Megamind is the most brilliant super-villain the world has ever known… and the least successful. Over the years, he has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. Each attempt has been a colossal failure, thanks to the caped superhero known as “Metro Man,” until the day Megamind actually defeats him in the throes of one of his botched evil plans. Suddenly, the fate of Metro City is threatened when a new villain arrives and chaos runs rampant, leaving everyone to wonder: Can the world’s biggest “mind” actually be the one to save the day?

Starring voices of: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill

See it if you liked: The Incredibles (2004), Shrek Forever After (2010), Toy Story 3 (2010)

Certificate: PG

Genre: Animation/Comedy

Release Date: 3 December 2010

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

It’s the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an ‘archeological’ dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town. When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa’s elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare – a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is a re-imagining of the most classic of all childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required perennial holiday viewing.

Starring: Per Christian Ellefsen, Peeter Jakobi, Tommi Korpela

See it if you liked: Bad Santa (2003), The Big White (2005), The Hole 3D (2010)

Certificate: 15

Genre: Action/Comedy

Release Date: 3 December 2010

The Warrior’s Way

The world’s greatest swordsman abandons his warrior clan to start a new life in the American Badlands in The Warrior’s Way, a visually dazzling modern martial arts adventure with stunningly choreographed fight sequences and gravity-defying stunts. In an original, gorgeously realized journey into a mythical past, writer and director Sngmoo Lee seamlessly marries the cinematic traditions of East and West. Korean superstar Jang Dong Gun, Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston and Academy Award-winner Geoffrey Rush star in this epic story of revenge and redemption.

Starring: Dong-gun Jang, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush, Danny Huston

See it if you liked: Solomon Kane (2009), Jet Li’s Fearless (2006), Jonah Hex (2010)

Certificate: 15

Genre: Action/Fantasy

Release Date: 3 December 2010

So here’s the latest trailer for Eclipse, check it out below.

Did you enjoy that? I’m sure you did.

Eclipse is the continuing story of teenager Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire lover Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). This time pesky Victoria has come back to avenge her lover James who was killed by Edward back in the first Twilight story. Bella also has the added problem of having to choose between Edward and her hunk of a werewolf best friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner),  who is incidentally crazily in love with Bella (we expect somewhat raunchy scenes between Jacob and Bella, if it’s anything not like the book).

Twilight Saga Eclipse

Now as an individual who has read these books, I found the relationship between Bella and Edward quite intense, but in these movies there is zilch chemistry between Pattinson and Stewart. The  two of them make me cringe when watching them force out these cries of devotion to one another, and Pattinson looks like he needs to take some stool softener half the time (dude, just show a little emotion please). I really don’t want to beat this movie down because I did enjoy the books, but I just wish they could change their leading stars or at least give them some acting lessons. We expect another teenage-hormone-infested movie that will delight you Twilight fans but may leave the rest of us wanting a little more substance. Eclipse goes on general release from the 30th of June but us Brits can expect to see this from the 9th of July.

Eclipse

On other Twilight news, it’s been reported that the fourth and last instalment of the Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn may be split into two movies. Now I’m betting there are a few people who want to see this happen, but I’m also sure there are many like myself think that this may not be such a good idea. If you’ve read the fourth book you’ll know it’s kinda chunky but in all honesty – not a lot happens. I don’t think they have enough material to split the story it into two films but this may be a way to get just a little bit more from Twilight before it goes away.

Do you think Breaking Dawn be split into two movies?

The Film Buzz Anticipation Rating: 6/10

UK Release Date: 9th July 2010

Director: David Slade

Writer’s: Stephenie Meyer, Melissa Rosenberg

Links: IMDB, Official Site

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The most hugely anticipated film of this year yet – Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton brings you the epic 3D fantasy adventure of one of  the most beloved stories of all time with a magical and imaginative twist.

With Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19 year-old Alice as she returns to the quirky, whimsical world she visited as a child to reunite with her old friends: The White Rabbit, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat. As the fantastical journey unfolds, Alice must find her true destiny and end the Red Queens reign of terror.

Cast includes: Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas and Stephen Fry.

You’d be mad as a hatter if you didn’t catch this film as soon as it’s released.

Certificate: PG

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Family

Release Date: 5 March 2010

Case 39 (2010)

Some cases should never be opened.

Case 39 starring Renée Zellweger as an idealistic social worker who tries to rescue an abused 10-year-old girl from her parents only to discover that the girl is not as innocent as she thinks…

Directed by Christian Alvart, this horror/thriller also stars Jodelle Ferland, Ian McShane and Kerry O’Malley.

See it if you liked: Orphan, The Haunting in Connecticut

Certificate: 15

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Release Date: 5 March 2010

Legion (2010)

When the last angel falls, the fight for mankind begins.

A super-natural action thriller with an apocalypse theme of epic proportions – when God loses faith in mankind, he sends a legion of angels to bring on the apocalypse. The survival of humanity lies in the hands of a group of strangers stranded in a desert diner and the Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany).

Directed by Scott Stewart and featuring a cast of Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Adrianne Palicki and Charles S. Dutton.

Certificate: 15

Genre: Action/Thriller

Release Date: 5 March 2010

The Film Buzz Official Review

A Christmas Carol is an animated retelling of the classic Charles Dickens novel, directed by Robert Zemeckis who brought us the earlier Forrest Gump (1994), What Lies Beneath (2000)and Cast Away (2000). Since then he ventured into directing animated films only – namely The Polar Express (2004), Beowulf (2007) and this year’s holiday magic film – A Christmas Carol.

This is not just an animation film, but a 3D adaptation of the much-loved Charles Dickens classic and uses motion capture technology (which was previously used in Beowulf) which is the process of recording movement and translating it onto a digital model to create digitally animated characters, hence why the characters look so much like the actors who participated in this film.

The Plot

Set in Victorian era England, a miserable old man Ebenezer Scrooge absolutely detests Christmas, merry tidings and the holiday season in general. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come, and is whisked away on an eye-opening journey revealing what Scrooge is reluctant to face – will he end up with a miserable ending or be able to open his heart to undo years of ill fate before it’s too late?

Jim Carrey plays a major role in this film, or should we say a multitude of roles, because not only is he the main character Ebenezer Scrooge but he is also all three of the ghosts that haunt Scrooge. The film also stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes and Robin Wright Penn.

The Thoughts

The world premiere of this film in London coincided with the switching on of the Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights – which also have ‘A Christmas Carol’ theme to it. However I do feel that this film has been released rather early for Christmas – watching it so early in mid-November didn’t quite induce the Christmas-cosy feeling that it should have. Having said that, it was my first IMAX 3D experience and I have to say it was the most visually stunning cinematic experiences ever. Unrivalled motion picture technology and surround sound system full stop, anyone who loves the cinema needs to go to the IMAX if you haven’t already and experience it for yourself.

So onto the film itself.  The film doesn’t boast best efforts in paying tribute to the Charles Dicken’s classic and I almost got bored as Scrooge was dragged through his agonising moral self-reflection, until the ghost did something scary and uncalled for that jolted my senses in the wrong way. Not to mention the ghosts constantly whisking Scrooge off into the night with many long falls from high and low places – kind of like a rollercoaster ride which combined with the 3D graphics isn’t so bad if you’re into that kind of thing. The first half of the film opened quite well but ran out of steam pretty quickly when things got repetitive but the last half of the film redeemed itself a little bit when the true spirit of Christmas was realised and portrayed in a mediocre fashion.

Overall, I think it was unnecessarily scary for kids, the characters never really connected emotionally with the audience and the film didn’t have enough of the heart-warming and jolly factors which needless to say is essential during the holiday season.

Clash of the Titans is a remake of the 1981 film by the same name that starred Laurence Olivier (Spartacus) and the wonderful Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter). This time around, Sam Worthington (Avatar) takes on the role of Perseus to battle sea monsters – Medusa, the God of the Underworld, and win his love Andromeda. Tantalizing stuff indeed, check out the trailer above.

Clash of the Titans Poster

So what did you think? Pretty awesome looking I think you’ll agree. Worthington is joined by a host of stars for this retelling including Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace), Liam Neeson (Taken) and Nicholas Hoult (Skins).

The Film Buzz Antcipation Rating: 7/10

UK Release Date: 26th March 2010

Director: Louis Leterrier

Writer’s: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Travis Beacham & Beverly Cross (original screenplay)

Links: IMDB

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is the latest and much anticipated creation of Terry Gilliam, the man who co-wrote Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and directed The Fisher King (1991) and 12 Monkeys (1995), and this time he’s done a double whammy, both writing and directing The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

The Plot

This film is set in present day with Doctor Parnassus and his extraordinary “Imaginarium” – a travelling show and crew who offer members of the audience should there be any, a chance to live their dreams and fantasies temporarily once they step through the magical mirror behind the mysterious Doctor Parnassus who controls the and assists the imagination of each person that enters his magical world.

Although the Doctor may seemed blessed with the gift of guiding other people’s imaginations, he has a dark secret that he is ashamed of and that is having made two deals with the devil – the first being immortality. But a few centuries on, he met his one true love and the Doctor wished for mortality again so that they may grow old together. The Devil granted his wish on the one condition that when their first born child reaches their 16th birthday, he or she will become the Devil’s property.

Now the Doctor’s beautiful daughter Valentina, is fast approaching this milestone and the Doctor is distraught, and tries to think of ways he can prevent the Devil from taking her away from him. In his desperate attempts to undo his mistakes of the past, he makes yet another deal with the Devil and the winner of this deal will win Valentina…

Featuring a star-studded cast including the late Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, the lovely model Lily Cole and a cameo appearance from singer Paloma Faith.

The Thoughts

This film promises originality and fantasy unlike anything out there as we are taken into Doctor Parnassus’s bizarre, whimsical world of imagination land and I couldn’t be more excited about going to see this film on Friday. But dear dear dear, did it disappoint me. The first half an hour had me frowning in impatience and frustration, and the rest of the film had breathtaking visual moments where I was thinking “Finally!” and then that feeling subsided into disappointment once again. There are so many wonderful ideas and so many ways to make the film wonderful, alas, the plot was too piecey and hard to follow, the surrealism never quite executes in the way you needed it to, and you find yourself wondering what the characters are running around trying to do, because whatever it is, they’re not achieving it.

Apart from some scenes being visually stunning, Lily Cole’s acting being surprisingly good for a model and being able to see the late Heath Ledger in his last performance, the rest of it is I’m afraid – a shambles.

Maz thinks:

If Heath Ledger hadn’t died, would this film be as popular as it is?

The Film Buzz Review Rating: 5/10

Release Date: 16 October 2009

Director: Terry Gilliam

Writer’s: Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown

Links: IMDB, Official Site, Rotten Tomatoes

Here at The Film Buzz we are major fans of Buzz and Woody and cannot wait for the next instalment. In this adventure the toys owner Andy is off to college leaving the toys worried that they will no longer be played with. The toys are then left in a day care for children.

The original  Toy Story story is now available to watch in 3D at your local cinema, and coming shortly will be Toy Story 2 in 3D.

The Film Buzz Anticipation Rating: 7.5/10

UK Release Date: July 2010

Director: Lee Unkrich

Writer: Michael Arndt

Links: IMDB, Official Site