Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (2010) - This is a really good watch. For nine-year-olds, maybe? For us older kids, it doesn't so well in the scare department unfortunately, and especially if you are a big horror fan who has watched a considerable amount of other horrors. That being said, I was tempted to walk out of the cinema for the very first time in my entire life after the first third of the movie. The fact that the pace picked up during the last quarter of the movie does help indeed, but only in the extent that I did not consciously choose to waste my money by not finishing the movie. Shows with a horde of miniature creeps are not really my thing; I'd go for size and solo anytime. Nice ending though. Sad, however. 6.25/10.

*Why does Bailee Madison look so much like Katie Holmes?! She looks like a creepy little girl...hopefully she'll grow out of it and end up like Katie (and not Kim!). Or maybe she's just THAT good at pulling off expressions...my bad...

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE (2010) - If CGI is your thing, watch this. If it isn't, watch it also. A very good, way above average popcorn film that gets the audience excited with action-packed scenes, modern-day magic style. Would have been excellent if caught on the big screen. The leading actor who plays David is a tad bit annoying, but it is probably deliberate on the part of the producers. Monica Bellucci is a goddess to watch; she is breathtakingly beautiful (even with the wrinkles) for the few minutes of screen time she is given. Magic is presented in a a rather fresh perspective, as it is explained in a scientific manner. Given that the movie carries a happy ending, this is recommended for viewers of all ages (like wolves and puppies alike) , especially for depressed adults who want to watch something out-of-this world. 7.75/10.

Blitz

BLITZ (2011) - Will hold your attention for as long as it runs, with a few humourous and mildly shocking moments, this is another one of those films which require a good cast to keep viewers from feeling bored and ripped-off their money or time because the plot revolves around cops and killer(s) again. Chances are that you may have seen a similar setup to this one, probably even with a similar ending. OK to watch, and you can just label it 'another Jason Statham movie'. Oh, and London is so gloomy. And grey. Even the panoramic bird-eye view shots of the city. And one the most expletive-laden films I've watched recently. 6.75/10.

Cowboys & Aliens

COWBOYS AND ALIENS (2011) - Have waited for this for months ever since I saw the poster. Wouldn't say it surpassed expectations, but it did not disappoint, a fact that I have to attribute largely to the omnipresence of Daniel Craig's sexy legs in leather chaps, and a couple flashes of bare torso. The laser lights and inferno were well-made, and the only main problem I have with this film is that a lot of thing were left unexplained, and therefore leaves the story with plenty of holes. There wasn't enough time to subject the characters to further development, otherwise it would have been a stellar summer blockbuster. Very entertaining nonetheless. 7/10.

Wu Xia

WU XIA (2011) - It is an atypical film in itself, much more so coming from Donnie Yen. Xu Baijiu's accent was very distracting and I could barely make out what he was saying, and for the most part when he speaks I found myself reading both the English and Mandarin subtitles. I must say I was rather surprised to Donnie Yen really acting here, complete with pained facial expressions and tears and all. Nice; he can actually act. Tang Wei's character also differs from your usual pretty-woman-in-the-film-just-for-the-sake-of-having-a-woman-the-film role, she actually has feelings and emotions to account for and has guts to react in the face of adversary. Action wise, I have not seen those fists that Donnie Yen uses in this film, and my oh my, do they not look amazing. Just when I thought he has exhausted most of his moves, he gives us new ones. For a 2-hour film, the amount of action does not seem to be enough, however what it lacks in quantity it compensates in quality. Wang Yu's patriarch character was extremely scary. He has an awful lot of screen presence and the vocal chords to match. I have never been intimidated by characters in movies, but he was just disturbing and discomforting to watch, and when he yells it totally shakes you to your bones. The scenery of the location was breathtaking, especially the river with the aquatic grass in which Donnie first kills the hulking criminal. It is so clear it makes you want to dive right in and frolic, but hey. A man just died in there. 7.5/10.

The Karate Kid

THE KARATE KID (2010) - Surprisingly not as bad as I thought it would be. Still not a fan of Jaden Smith, and although neither is Jackie Chan earning any extra points with this one, nevertheless it is a watchable movie if you want a light-hearted piece. I wouldn't compare it to the original Karate Kid because I don't remember what the old one was like. But on its own, the film gets a 6.5/10.

Kung Fu Panda 2

KUNG FU PANDA 2 (2011) - Definitely funnier and more entertaining than the first (not that the first wasn't). It was a good move to put in a baby Po with gurgling sounds and diapers to match, and also a little bit more family background to pull at the heartstrings. There were nice additions in the forms of the peacock, croc and rhino to futher diversify the animal kingdom, and the ending tells of a definite third installment, which I definitely will be waiting for seeing as how the first two already went. 7.5/10.