From US director Mark Romanek comes a film that dares to explore an age-old truism: is it really better to have loved, and lost, than to have never loved at all?

In Never Let Me Go, Kathy, Tommy and Ruth are three unlikely friends, growing up together at Hailsham, what appears to be a run-of-the-mill, starchy English Boarding School in the 1970s. But this is 70s England with a difference. In this alternate reality, science has progressed to a greater degree, meaning that ailments once considered fatal can now be prevented – but at a very human cost. The three youngsters experience the ultimate coming-of-age when they begin to realise that their lives have been planned out for them, and that the love stories that may play out between them cannot possibly have a happy ending.

An adaptation of a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, this film is thematically complex. It’s a romantic tragedy pitted against a backdrop of science fiction elements, which do not affect the tone but merely add a degree of emotional complexity to the story. In the leading role as adult Kathy, Carey Mulligan (An Education, Wall Street 2) shines; there’s something about her childlike vulnerability that deeply resonates with the themes of exploitation and loss. The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield puts in a solid turn as the sensitive but unpredictable Tommy, and in the role of Ruth, established screen queen Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean, Pride and Prejudice) manages to negotiate a deeply-flawed character with consummate poise. The cinematography and art direction are subtle but elegant, and there is a sense of fluidity and poetry discernible in the assembly of each scene. While it might seem a far cry from the music documentaries and video clips that litter Romanek’s CV, it is no less carefully choreographed and put together. In a superb casting feat, the three child actors (Isobel Meikle-Small, Charlie Rowe and Ella Purnell) all give credible performances and bear physical resemblance to their adult counterparts that is, particularly in the case of Meikle-Small and Mulligan, uncanny.

As the idea of lost love is such a relatable one, the sci-fi elements of the characters’ world don’t seem at all outlandish, and eventually become eclipsed by the human tragedy at play. In fact, while they do add to the dramatic stakes, one might wonder if they are even necessary at all. The film also suffers slightly in its final moments, as the tight ending does not really do justice to the emotional rollercoaster that precedes it. All in all, however, it’s a solid and stylish tear-jerker which will have you thinking about the future for humankind.

Never Let Me Go is in Australian cinemas now.

Directed by Albert and Alan Hughes, the movie is based around a lone hero must fight his way across the wasteland of post-apocalyptic USA to protect a sacred book that holds the key to saving the future of humanity.

A real fantasy film that has some pretty impressive graphics and special effects.

Washington has s stellar performance and the movie seems to drag along quite smoothly for its majority.

The main character, as you may have guessed is Eli, and he fights to save the world.

Does he do it in the end??

Well, you’ll have to watch to find out!

In the meantime, here is a sneak look at the trailer.

The Book of Eli is out now at most cinemas across the country.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKfZrbS79To

Ronnie is sent to spend the summer with her estranged father in a crappy beach town in North Carolina.

Her father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of the local church.

Within the story however, Ronnie falls in love for the first time and among many things, eventfully reconciles with her father.

A typical lovey dovey Hollywood film, but one many people would enjoy.

See for yourself!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=joCwQ2pjfjw

Directed by Grant Heslov and written by Peter Straughan the film takes a humorous look at military gone wrong, in the form of soldiers believing they had psychic powers.

With a start studded cast, The Men Who Stare at Goats begins with a journalist, Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor), who flies to Iraq to investigate the Iraq War in an attempt to produce an acclaimed piece of journalism.

Alonghi travels he bumps into Special Forces operator, Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who reveals he was part of an American army unit training psychic spies.

Referring to the m as ‘Jedi’s’, Cassady then goes on to reveal how they were taught to perform cloud bursting, walking through walls, and intuition.

Meanwhile, the founder of the unit, Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), clashes with two of his best recruits, Lyn Cassady and Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), who developed a lifelong rivalry because of their opposing views of how to implement the new philosophy they have all discovered.

From here, the movie goes on a comical journey throughout the Iraq War and with the class of Spacey, Bridges and Clooney, The Men Who Stare at Goats does well despite the mediocre plot.

In summary, the film will provide you moments of laughter, but also times of lameness and annoyance and at the overboard story line.

The Men Who Stare at Goats is screening now around cinemas in Australia.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SreufFevUSw

However, every now and then one surfing film is released that really captivates the sport and puts meaning behind why individuals risk their lives for the thrill.

The newest documentary n the surfing lifestyle, Ultimate Wave Tahiti, does exactly this and gives viewers an insight into the addictive nature of the sport, and those involved in it.

With surfing god Kelly Slater as the main man in the film, viewers are given first hand expert knowledge into his life as well as how he came to where he is now.

American born Kelly Slater, who says some of the best waves in the world are in Australia, uses the documentary as a chance to take an energetic look into the world’s most feared wave: Teahupoo.

With the great visual experience the footage offers, it was no surprise the film has turned into an IMAX release.

As part of this, Kelly will be attending the films premiers in both Melbourne and Sydney IMAX theatres.

The films focus is seen through his and big wave companion and Tahiti resident, Raimana Van Bastolaer eyes.

Kelly and Raimana seek out the best waves breaking on the reef at the famed surf site Teahupoo. The two share a passion for the waves, but different ideas about what surfing means: is it a modern competitive sport or an ancient Polynesian wave-riding art?

The two give a great juxtaposition of the sport and the addictive lifestyle that comes with it.

Ultimate Wave Tahiti is showing at IMAX theatres from Thursday 25th February.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFahxlYbAX0

9/10

Precious is one of these films. With the likes of Avatar, The Hurt Locker and Invictus stealing the limelight, the Lee Daniels release has managed to go by under the radar in recent months.

Set in Harlem in the 80s, Precious is the story of Claireece Precious Jones, a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life of pain.

For starters, she is pregnant for the second time by her drug-addicted father. Her life at home is made a nightmare by her abusive mother, a poisonously angry woman who scars her emotionally and physically.

School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks even though she cannot read or write.

The inspiring story of Precious is that while she may sometimes be down, she is never out. Her story speaks of a courageous woman who overcomes adversity to reach greater heights.

Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, a move that will lead on a journey from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

There are few movies which leave an everlasting scar on your memory, and Precious is one of these films… for the right reasons.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5FYahzVU44

In terms of Oscar betting for the film of the year, it is a two horse race between both movies, but if you ask the public, the winner is a no brainer with Avatar taking the cake.

But, I like to think otherwise.

The Hurt Locker is a movie made from the script of Mark Boal, a freelance writer who was embedded with a bomb squad.

The movie is predominantly about members of the US Army who tour together and contend with defusing bombs, the threat of insurgency, and the tension that develops among them.

The film was shot in the Middle East, largely Jordan, making for a great visual experience and one that allows the viewers to really relate to the events they are witnessing.

Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Brian Geraghty all star in the movie, and take up roles as bomb specialists serving their country.

The major plot climaxes near the end when, with only two days left on their tour, two members of the team are called in to assist in a situation where a man was forced to wander into a military checkpoint with a time-bomb strapped to his chest.

The pair can neither remove the bomb nor disarm it in time, and is forced to flee before the bomb goes off.

Without spoiling the end, The Hurt Locker finishes in an explosive bang and really does deliver viewers an action packed experience definitely worth seeing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhQdJTlo5NI

9/10

On first glance this is the case for the new adaptation of the highly popular television series and books.

But upon further investigation, the first ever cinema adaptation of Sherlock Holmes is much more interesting that what it has been in the past.

For starters the film is directed by British cult figure Guy Ritchie and features starring roles by Jude Law, who plays Dr. John Watson, and Robert Downey Jnr. who starts as the main man Sherlock Holmes.

The plot does just enough to satisfy the traditionalists while ensuring all major demographics are entertained.

The movie, as expected, does well in introducing all the characters to the audience and does not assume the viewers know who they all are.

Holmes is castes perfectly and the script accurately portrays him as a troubled but brilliant savant on a mission to save the world and Watson his steady companion and foil, albeit one over fond of gambling and skilled in the art of avoiding marriage.

Apart form the story line, the imagery is great, the set super accurate and the acting outstanding.

Sherlock Holmes really is a fantastic adaptation of the story and one that was made with much care and respect to the brand.

It is good to see movies like this are still made with this care, and not just used to cash in on an already established name.

8/10

REVIEW:

Let’s start with a little exercise. I’d like you to pretend you’re at a party; a housewarming or something casual like that. You’re sitting on a comfy couch, a couple of friends on either side, a drink in your hand. At this very moment you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It’s cold outside and there’s a fine drizzle of rain, but it’s toasty-warm inside, there’s plenty of snacks on the coffee table in front of you and since you’re on your third drink, you’ve developed quite a happy attitude.

Suddenly there’s a loud knock on the door and before anyone gets a chance to open it, a rather large guy kicks it down and walks inside, announcing at the top of his voice “I’M HEEEEEREEE”. No one pays him much attention so he looks around for a place to sit and damnit, there’s a spare couch opposite you. He lumbers across, throws his bag down on the floor (a bunch of beer bottles clang around inside) and shakes your hand, way too hard. He asks you what you do for a living, but doesn’t really listen to your answer, preferring to talk about himself and all of the amazing things he does; most of which sound like lies to you. He eats all of the snacks on the coffee table, drinks down a bunch of beer and then throws up all over the couch. Every time you attempt to leave the couch he grabs a hold of you and pulls you back “WHERE YA GOIN?” he shouts. At the end of the night he sleazes onto a girl and falls asleep with his shirt off – no one knows why.

If the new G.I JOE was a person, it’d be this guy.

The Rise of Cobra is a movie that I probably would have loved when I was 8 years old, only to look back on it as an adult and wonder how I could have sat through it (I had that experience recently with Short Circuit and it was heartbreaking!). It’s loud, it’s bright, it’s full of hammy dialog and while I didn’t enjoy the experience at all, I can’t fault the film because it achieves exactly what it set out to do; provide an hour and a half of dumbed down science-fiction action.

The G.I JOES (Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity) are an elite military unit, seemingly operating from underneath Egypt somewhere. Their mission is to exceed where others fail, to bring down terrorists that – for some weird reason – no other army from any other country is aware of. There’s a bunch of futuristic weapons, technology which doesn’t make sense and a bad guy who wants to rule the world by selling nano-technology and replacing the president of the United States with one of his minions. It’s a paint by numbers action blockbuster which borrows sequences from Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, and is actually more enjoyable than Bay’s 10 hour Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen.

You know what to expect, in other words.

The acting is nothing special; lead Channing Tatum (playing Duke) looks like he’d rather be at the gym the whole time. Dennis Quad offers a serviceable performance as General Hawk, but there’s nothing emotionally engaging about anyone in this.

If you go into this film wanting anything other than eye candy, then you’ll be disappointed. Luckily, the special effects look amazing for the most part. An entire city/military complex under a polar ice cap is quite breathtaking and brings to mind images from the 2007 game Bioshock.

If you’re looking for an hour and a half of mindless escapism, then you’ll probably enjoy G.I Joe. There’s nothing new here, but it does the job quite well. If you have an 8 year old son, brother, cousin, friend, then they’ll love it. For the rest of us, I’m not so sure.

While we’d like to tell the annoying guy at the party to shut up, and ask why does there have to be someone like you at every party? We all know that it just wouldn’t be a party without him. It wouldn’t be a summer movie season (or winter for us Aussies) without a few big dumb blockbusters and G.I JOE does succeed where the others have failed.

Unfortunately, with District 9 now screening, you have no reason to see Rise of the Cobra. Seriously, see District 9 instead.

Two stars.

A final note, I think G.I JOE has the potential to become a great drinking movie when it’s on DVD, take a drink for every time you see something which was in TEAM AMERICA.