" I am getting too old for this. I can only imagine how you feel."

Men in Black III

With the long awaited return of the franchise Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) return to monitor extraterrestrial life on earth. When a highly dangerous criminal, Boris The Animal (Jemaine Clement) travels back in time to 1969 and kills K, history is rewritten. J has no choice but to travel back in time himself to try and prevent Boris from killing his partner.

The concept seems more confusing than it really is and really how far a stretch is time travel from a series that thrives on the unbelievable. The film was exactly as I expected; funny, ridiculous and overall very enjoyable, however there were a few elements that were just a little off. For starters the chemistry between Jones and Smith wasn't really there. Smith was overly needy and Jones seemed liked he was annoyed for being dragged into another film. There is no doubt that Jones is a fine actor and has been for many years but as Roger Murtaugh famously said "I'm too old for this shit" and boy does Jones look it. I just hope he doesn't get dragged into a fourth movie.

The film definitely improved when Josh Brolin was introduced as the film returned to its familiar buddy comedy charm. Josh Brolin's performance of young Agent K is pitch perfect, it was evident even in the trailer his uncanny resemblance to Jones in particular his voice. Brolin will never receive the accolades that he deserves for his performance as this is a popcorn movie, however he really should be commended for his delivery. Will Smith is great as always delivering his sharp remarks which are especially effective in 1969 when racial prejudice was well and truly present.

As for the other characters, Agent O (Emma Thompson) has taken over control of Men in Black headquarters after the death of Agent Z (Rip Torn). Thompson doesn't feature much in the film however she is meant to be playing a character who is in her late sixties and for a woman who is only 53 the casting choice can only be seen as an insult. The villain known as Boris The Animal (Jemaine Clement) is introduced in spectacular fashion in the opening scene as the ruthless, spine shooting  antagonist. Clement really only had to provide his voice for the character, but the special effects team and Clements enthusiasm for the role, ensure Boris is one of the best villains from the franchise.

Given that the film is centered around the sixties the writers could have had a lot more fun with the era. Instead the time period is seen as more of an afterthought with significant events like the moon landing added in at the last minute. Overall the film felt a little out of touch with its predecessors, maybe the producers waited just a little bit too long to bring back the franchise.

There is no doubt that this sequel didn't need to be made, with the motives solely for profit. Yet I was still glad that it was, as the originals were so much fun. The film is worth seeing just for Brolin's performance and for Smith's return to the screen as he has been absent since Hancock. Men in Black III contains all the ridiculous antics that the saga is known for providing an enjoyable trip to the movies.

" I could be Agnet M "

Men in Black II

Agent J (Will Smith) is trying to find a replacement partner after Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) retired from the service. J soon realises that he needs the help of his old partner when an enemy of Men in Black, Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) returns to earth, threatening to annihilate the planet unless she retrieves The Light of Zartha.  In order to stop Serleena, J must enlist the help of Laura Vasque (Rosario Dawson) who witnessed Serleena murder her boss as well as restore K's memory of of his earlier encounters with Serleena.

There is no doubt some of the magic is lost. It's hard to top the mystery and intrigue from the first film, as the audience discovered for the first time that aliens exist all around us. The first film was a box office and critical success, yet it took a long time (5 years) for the sequel, making the wait for the second film almost too long. Men in Black II isn't a bad movie, in fact its actually quite a good movie, yet it has a reputation for being much worse than the original. Granted some of the originality is gone, this film is just as much fun.

In this film the roles are almost reversed for Agents J and K, with Agent K now a civilian who works in a post office, having to rediscover the hidden wonders of the extraterrestrial world that exist all around him. Agent J has a new sense of authority in the partnership as he helps K get his memory back. Will Smith relishes his role as the cocky yet lonely Agent J, that has become one of his more memorable characters. The Men in Black movies rely on the buddy cop set up where two mismatched agents or cops are teamed together whether its Starsky and Hutch, Murtough and Riggs even Turner and Hooch the result is successful. Yet Agents J and K are never just partners solving crime with J being recruited in the first film, K having to regain his memory in the second and then resorting to time travel in the third film. There has never a honeymoon period in this series where both agents are simply solve crime together, it's as if the writers or directors never felt comfortable enough in the casting of the actors which is a shame as they are both perfect for their roles.

The storyline is practically the same as the first film with a different villain simply slotting into place. Serleena provides a strong villain as the shape shifting triffid who is helped on her quest by Scrad/Charlie (Johhny Knoxville) a two headed buffoon who really doesn't provide many laughs. The visual effects for Serleena's vines, the various extraterrestrial life forms and characters such as Frank the pug are effective, but for a big budget film such as this you would expect nothing less. The characters which I really didn't like both for their visual effects and annoying voices were the worms, they added nothing to the plot and were just not funny.

By the end of the film I felt like not much had happened as events seemed to rap up very quickly without encountering too many different aliens apart from Jeff the giant worm. The most notable scenes involve J's replacement partner Agent T (Patrick Warburton), when J is rediscovering the world he had forgotten and an amusing cameo in the form of Agent M. Men in Black II is an easy movie to relax with when you want a funny, entertaining film for a rainy afternoon.

" Elvis is not dead. He just went home. "

Men in Black

Based on the comic by the same name, the Men In Black are a secret organisation responsible for monitoring extraterrestrial life on earth. The film quickly shows that extraterrestrial life is more common on earth than we think with aliens living in disguise all around the world. The film follows two agents, the stern, experienced Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) and the cocky former cop, Agent Jay (Will Smith). The pair prove to be an effective team as they search for a ferocious bug (Vincent D'Onofrio) intent on finding an object known as 'the universe'. The duo come across all manner of alien life during their search, aided by impressive gadgets and weapons and those stylist black suits.

The film has all the hallmarks of a typical crime fighting partnership; an expressionless, take no shit mentor that has seen it all and the confident young cop who has a problem with authority, eager to learn the craft. The only difference is they are not investigating a murder trial or investigating a drug syndicate, they are hunting down aliens. Both actors were made for their roles, Tommy Lee Jones has shown his ability for playing the smart, forbidding cop in many films such as The Fugitive and No Country for Old Men. He plays the part with such ease yet also proves to have excellent comic timing. Smith is the king of blockbusters consistently playing the likeable, arrogant character and it proves successful again as his limit for supernatural weirdness is tested. I believe Smith is a talented actor who has proven himself in the genres of comedy, action and drama and should not be regarded solely as an action star.

The villainous bug is played unrecognizable by D'Onofrio, in a refreshingly new role that is a far stretch from Detective Goren, his character on Law and Order. D'Onofrio takes the role with both hands stumbling around New York like a zombie reeking havoc wherever he goes. The stiff human body and general grotesque nature of the bug could prove to be a difficult role. However D'Onofrio provides a very effective performance and was no doubt having a ball in the process.

The movie acts almost as a childhood dream that was long forgotten, the belief that aliens exist. The special effects were crucial in bringing this concept to life and they prove very successful whether its creating the birth of a squid or a wise cracking pug. The film is clever, stylish and fun as you are able to go behind the scenes and witness extraterrestrial life that doesn't exist, an agency that doesn't exist and men in black suits that definitely don't exist, yet it all comes with a hint of déjà vu.

I am a huge fan of the Men In Black series and eagerly await the third installment which comes out later this month. Men In Black should not be taken seriously as it is on all accounts a comedy. A comedy that in essence makes fun of the belief of extraterrestrial life, one doesn't have to go further than the opening scene to see this portrayed perfectly. This is a film that should be met with laughter not scepticism.

Best Tom Hanks Performances

Tom Hanks is an extremely versatile actor that has to be regarded as one of the best of all time. In fact I couldn't even narrow down his performances to five. Although Hanks has appeared in some flops of late (Larry Crowne) which even he probably regrets, he is starting to get back to his best. I am especially intrigued to see his latest project, Cloud Atlas directed by the Wachowski brothers of Matrix fame with the extended trailer released earlier in the week.

6. Saving Private Ryan 
A massive box office hit seeing Hanks team up with director Steven Spielberg, the duo prove a great match as Hanks delivers a very moving performance. Hanks is an extremely inspiring as the determined captain leading a group of men to retrieve private Ryan, who has tragically lost all of his brothers. This remains one of my favourite war films mainly due to the brilliant performance from Hanks.

5. The Terminal 

Not one of Hanks more well known films however remains one of his best. The premise is very unconvincing where a man is forced to stay in an American airport as his country has broken out in war. If the film was left in the hands of another actor this could easily have been a very cheesy drama/comedy. Luckily Hanks takes the character of an eastern immigrant trapped in the airport seriously adopting accent and all. This film sees Hanks again team up with Spielberg in a surprisingly moving and often very funny film. It is very satisfying to see a simple story done well, there was no need for excess drama or action just Hanks doing what he does best.

4. The Green Mile

Now things start to get tricky, although The Green Mile is one of my favourite films of all time I'm judging the performance so unfortunately it doesn't crack my top three. Don't get me wrong Hanks' performance is still excellent as the morally sound guard on Death Row trying to come to grips with a convicted felon who has a miraculous gift. It is believed that director Frank Darabont wanted Hanks for The Shawshank Redemption but unfortunately scheduling interfered. Hanks definitely makes the most of his role in Darabont's second feature delivering one of his strongest performances of his career.

3. Forrest Gump 

It couldn't be a Tom Hanks countdown with out Forrest Gump, the film that has provided pop culture with some of its most memorable quotes none more so than "My momma always said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what your gonna get". At first glance it seems like Hanks is putting on a very poor Southern accent but you soon realise that Hanks is delivering a truly unique and accurate performance. Hanks portrayal of the loveable Forrest Gump earnt him his second Oscar and remains one of the most iconic performances in cinema history. One cant help but try the accent for themselves after watching the film or scream out "Run, Forrest, run!" when you see someone running. 

2. Cast Away 

There are many reasons why this is such as a memorable performance whether its Hanks dramatic physical transformation to his ability to make you feel so strongly about a volleyball. There is no doubt that this was a challenging role, but it was a role that Hanks seized with both hands immersing himself completely into the character. Lets face it you hope Hanks is going to deliver a strong performance given that he's the only person on screen for the vast majority of the film. Luckily Hanks was at his emotional best as he struggles to not just survive on the island but also keep his sanity. His amazing struggle is one of determination, resilience and heartbreak that remains one of the most inspiring performances of all time.

1. Philadelphia

Finally to number one, for me there is no greater performance from Tom Hanks than Philadelphia. The role was so ground breaking and bold as the topic of AIDS was very much still taboo. When dealing with important themes such as AIDS and homophobia, the film demanded a performance worthy of the films significance. Hanks was very brave in accepting the role as many actors would have been overwhelmed by the way the film accurately sheds light on the prejudice and discrimination present in society. Hanks once again makes a considerable physical transformation in the film becoming almost unrecognisable as his condition worsens. His remarkable appearance is no doubt supported by the effects on makeup but it is his performance that makes the journey so realistic and moving. Philadelphia earnt Hanks his first Oscar, establishing him not just as a quality actor but an actor that deserved to be noticed, and luckily people did.

" Don't forget to smile. " " Which one? I've mastered three! "

Hugo

The legendary Martin Scorsese steps into a new genre with Hugo, displaying his versatility and skill as a filmmaker. The film chronicles a young orphan, Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who lives in a train station in 1930s France. Hugo uses the skill and knowledge passed down to him by his father to wind the clocks in the station and patiently repair an automaton. The automaton proves to be an intriguing link between a toy shop owner in the station (Ben Kingsley) and the pioneering French filmmaker Georges Melies. Hugo risks everything to fix the intriguing automaton including evading the vigilant Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his ferocious dog Blackie.

Scorsese is one the best filmmakers going around today and one of the best filmmakers of all time. He is best known for his gritty gangster dramas but proves that he has much more to offer. From the breathtaking opening scene that transports the viewer through the station, the care and respect that has gone into every shot is evident. Scorsese hasn't made a halfhearted 'children's' movie he has created a movie rich with beauty and lasting imagery. The film has a Dickens feel to it as Hugo scurries through the walls of the station similarly to Oliver Twist. However the film offers no feeling of filth or poverty, instead the film adopts a magical presence as Hugo watches passengers flow through the station through clocks and windows from above.

I went into the film with high expectations due to its success at this years Oscars, however I was still unsure whether it was a children's movie or not. I think children would enjoy it for the most part but in essence this is a fairy tale for older viewers. Despite the beauty of the film the film does lack depth. I was left uninterested during the middle of the film as the pace slowed and the story dragging on just a bit too far. I think for this reason that many children will lose interest in the film as it stretches to nearly two hours long and is told in a classical approach.

The film acts as a homage to filmmakers with the groundbreaking filmmaker Georges Melies at the heart of the story. Many of his films are woven into the movie including Arrival of a Train at a Station and A Trip to the Moon. The history was very interesting to me but for children the references would be lost and the sequence be perceived as boring. A prominent theme emerges from the movie involving the power of film to capture your imagination, evoke powerful emotions, display beauty and transport you to another world. I am a lover of films and appreciate Scorsese's message but the admiration seemed to be taken too far, taking away from the story of Hugo.

Scorsese attracted an abundance of stars for the film from Hollywood royalty with Sir Ben Kingsley and Christopher Lee to highly sought after up-and-comers Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz. Moretz has impressed with performances exceeding her age in films such as Kick Ass and Let Me In however I wasn't impressed with her performance. Maybe my expectations were too high for her because of the potential she showed in those films, but one thing is for certain she will definitely be a star.  Butterfield and Kingsley both provided strong performances that carried the film. Other notable actors who appear include; Ray Winstone as Hugo's drunk uncle Claude, Emily Mortimer as the beaming florist, Helen McCrory, Richard Griffiths and Jude Law as Hugo's father. But perhaps the best performance comes from Sacha Baron Cohen, who proves to be very charming and entertaining as the Station Inspector.

The film has a magical almost poetical feel to it, set to the beautiful backdrop of 1930s France. Hugo is deserving of its multiple Oscar wins as it is a beautiful film that has been created with care and restraint. The film will be greatly appreciated by lovers of early film but for many I feel it will be too slow. I appreciated the films visual charm however was left wanting more substance and depth.

"I have an army." " We have a Hulk."

The Avengers

This ambitious film sees S. H. I. E. L. D. a secret peace keeping agency led by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) bring together a group of superheros known as The Avengers. The Avengers are brought together to protect the earth against Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor's evil, power hungry brother. Loki has acquired the Tesseract an all-powerful energy source and intends to unleash a supernatural army onto the earth. Standing in his way is a team of formidable heroes including Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), The Hulk ( Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) known only as The Avengers.

 I was sceptical going into this film, scared that the film would rely too heavily on explosions and action and not on the story and characters. Luckily writer/director Joss Whedon has handled the film with care and consideration, masterfully incorporating entertaining characters, hilarious lines and gripping action sequences into a genuine blockbuster of a film. It's hard to create a film filled with so many starring characters. I believe there is no better example of it achieved successfully than Oceans 11. The key is to ensure every character has a purpose in the film, Whedon has definitely achieved this by providing ample screen time for every character as well as creating engaging relationships within the team. Whether its tension as characters try to prove themselves or the hint of a relationship, the end result is simply entertaining.

Effort has been achieved to ensure the individual movies that set up The Avengers are included in the storyline. From the Tesseract that was first seen in Captain America to supporting characters such as Professor Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and Loki from Thor. This ensures the characters can combine easily without tiring back stories.

Perhaps the most effective aspect of the film is the humour. Whenever a scene verges on cliché, Whedon inserts his trademark comic relief. Whether its a quirky one line from Stark aka Iron Man or The Hulk hilariously displaying his frustration with Loki, the end result is the same, a theatre laughing in unison. Downey Jr. is definitely given the lions share of the comic relief as he handles it with such ease, yet every character has their moment. Perhaps one of my favourite characters is Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) who provides some memorable scenes, whether its trying to get Captain America to sign his collection of trading cards or simply taking no bullshit when assembling the heroes.

The characters do work well together on screen overcoming their individual issues to inevitably join forces. Bruce Banner aka The Hulk is played with excellent calmness and restraint from Ruffalo and next to Downey Jr. is the stand out performer. The most anticipating moment for me was seeing The Hulk's first emergence on screen. I wasn't disappointed as he was created with convincing special effects, even if he was smaller than usual. The Hulk acted almost as a secret weapon for The Avengers, with many characters sceptical even scared of his unreliable rage, yet ultimately happy that he was on their team. For fans of the comics look out for Stan Lee's honorary cameo near the end of the film.

Perhaps the most important aspect of a superhero film is the villain, for a hero is only as good as his counterpart. Loki was introduced in the movie Thor and I was unsure whether he could carry this film and be a fitting match for this ominous group of heroes. Hiddleston was surprisingly good and ensured Loki was a much more devious and imposing villain than in Thor. The main pitfall was the 'army' sent to destroy the earth. The supernatural goons were extremely unoriginal and imposed little threat to any of the characters. Even their arrival was unoriginal, looking immensely similar to Transformers: Dark of the Moon, with a portal in the sky opening up and allowing an army to reign down on earth. At the end of the day the movie wasn't really about the villain or the impending threat of world annihilation it was about the bringing together of The Avengers. This movie was on all accounts an origin story.

For anyone that is feeling hesitant to see this film, have faith in the brilliant mind of Joss Whedon and you will be pleasantly surprised to find a film rich with comedy, heroics and absorbing action. I will be eagerly anticipating the next Avengers movie, to see what character developments unfold and if there are any inclusions to the team (Ant-Man, Wasp). I only hope the next film has The Avengers come up against a villain worthy of their abilities.