The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey I missed this at the cinema and whilst the same grandeur and spectacle cannot be translated quite the same to the small screen it was still epic. Starting off very slowly following an introduction explaining the origin of their adventure, the story doesn't leave Bilbo's Hobbit-hole until we're 40 minutes into the film. Whilst this helps to develop the dwarves as characters, the sense that a little bit too much has been included resulting in a bloated runtime just shy of 2 hours and 45 minutes (especially when several plot lines included don't even feature in the book... You can see why they've split it into three films now). However once the story really gets going, it's a pretty spectacular adventure - especially the last hour which features the brilliant riddles showdown between Bilbo and everyone's favourite Gollum! It may have it's flaws, then again so did The Lord of the Rings films at points, but you get the feeling that this is only the beginning of what has the potential to be a great trilogy. 4/5 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Watching this with no expectations whatsoever is probably the best way to go into this film, I did and found myself pleasantly surprised. Whilst the script is unmistakably cliched and predictable you can't help but be charmed - largely due to the fact that that the cast of veteran actors (especially Dame Judi Dench, as ever) make you care about their characters that might otherwise have been insipid. It may well be one grand postcard from India, but it's a beautiful one thanks to some stunning cinematography. Someone please take me to India! 3.5/5
Synopsis: When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution. Verdict: What a great start to the summer blockbuster season! There's never a dull moment in this threequel that significantly ups the ante in terms of action even if character development has been slightly sidelined. More so than ever before, Robert Downey Jr. really embodies the role of Tony Stark. He manages to get the audience to sympathise with Stark through all of his suffering following Avengers Assemble whilst still not losing the essence of his character, being the gobby, snappy one out of the Avengers. Gwyneth Paltrow also gets a lot more to do here, from just being eye candy in the first two films she finally gets in on the action in this instalment... Even getting to suit up at one point! Sir Ben Kingsley was a revelation as The Mandarin, another brilliantly sinister terrorist for the big screen following The Joker in The Dark Knight and Silva in Skyfall. Where this film really shines though is in the epic twist, saying anything would simply spoil it but you definitely won't see it coming. It makes for a much darker film than the previous two (a rather bleak hostage scene made me question how appropriate this would be for younger fans), without being as bleak as other superhero films such as The Dark Knight. Shane Black's script knows when to lighten the mood though, with an unlikely buddy comedy to add to the wit as well as some unsubtle references to British culture such as puns involving Downton Abbey and Cockneys. Stay until after the credits (even if they do seem to go on for an eternity) for a scene featuring one of the other Avengers which ties the whole film up nicely. Whilst this film may not quite reach the heady heights of last year's Avengers Assemble, this is a significant improvement over the disappointing Iron Man 2... Here's hoping Robert Downey Jr. continues to play Tony Stark for years to come. 4.5/5
