Lea Seydoux has reportedly been cast in the next James Bond movie. Filming for the currently untitled 24th Bond movie is set to begin in six weeks and Bond 24, as it is known, will be in cinemas next year.

Lea Seydoux at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.

Continue reading: Lea Seydoux Reportedly Cast In Upcoming 'Bond 24' Movie

'Salting The Battlefield': Is Bill Nighy Still One Of Britain's Best Actors?

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 28 March 2014

Bill Nighy David Hare Helena Bonham Carter Ralph Fiennes

Bill Nighy excelled in the final part of David Hare's Worricker trilogy, 'Salting the Battlefield'.

Salting the Battlefield, the British drama written by Sir David Hare, concluded the Worricker triology on Thursday evening (March 27, 2014) in a remarkable series that has seen Bill Nighy lead a phenomenal cast including Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Graves, Ralph Fiennes.

Bill Nighy Salting the Battlefield Bill Nighy in 'Salting the Battlefield'

The third part of Hare's Worricker trilogy focused on Nighy's Bill Worricker - a disillusioned MI5 agent - and fellow ex-agent Margot (Carter) trying to his give his boss the slip in Germany, with a trail of subterfuge leading right back to Downing Street.

Continue reading: 'Salting The Battlefield': Is Bill Nighy Still One Of Britain's Best Actors?

Christian Bale To Play Steve Jobs? Other Actors Who Could Suit The Role

By Sophie Miskiw in Movies / TV / Theatre on 25 March 2014

Christian Bale Ashton Kutcher Stanley Tucci Mark Strong Ralph Fiennes

Director David Fincher is intent on having Christian Bale play Steve Jobs in Aaron Sorkin's new film about the late Apple CEO. If Bale doesn't take the bait, would these other actors be worthy of taking his place?

Let’s hope the next attempt at making a movie about the life of American entrepreneur and late CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs is an improvement on the last one. Ashton Kutcher tackled the role in 2013’s Jobs, which only took $35m at the box office...worldwide. This hasn’t deterred Sony, who believe that there is still money to be made with a new script and a new actor.

ashton kutcher steve jobs Ashton Kutcher played Steve Jobs in 2013's jOBS

Many were not pleased that Kutcher had been chosen to play the role, perhaps they’ll be happier to hear that this time Christian Bale is rumored to play Steve Jobs. The new script has been written by Aaron Sorkin, with Guymon Casady, Mark Gordon and Scott Rudin on hand to produce. Director David Fincher has his sights set on the Oscar winning star of The Dark Knight trilogy and American Hustle, although neither Sony nor a representative for Bale have confirmed that he is actually set to nab the role. In turn, David Fincher will allegedly only direct if they do manage to get Bale on board.

Continue reading: Christian Bale To Play Steve Jobs? Other Actors Who Could Suit The Role

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Is Open For Business - The Irresistible Charm Of Wes Anderson

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 14 March 2014

Wes Anderson Ralph Fiennes Bill Murray Tony Revolori Tilda Swinton

Now American audiences will be able to enjoy the critically lauded delight that is Wes Anderson's new movie.

Today, audiences all over America will be savouring their first taste of Wes Anderson's new movie, the delectable The Grand Budapest Hotel. Anderson fans who know the score will be prepared for the Fantastic Mr. Fox director's idiosyncratic, quirky and sumptuous stylings of the world's most distinctive director. However, even newcomers will find something to love in this most lively tapestry.

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Sees Wes Anderson Up To His Old Tricks In A Film More Inviting Than Ever.

Budapest received its premiere at the Berlinale a few weeks ago where early critics bathed the movie in a warm glow of praise, loving the kitsch details, kooky plotline, and star-packed cast, which includes, Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Harvey Keitel.

Continue reading: 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Is Open For Business - The Irresistible Charm Of Wes Anderson

'The Grand Budapest Hotel': Perfect Mix Of Comedy And Adventure [Trailer]

By Rich Cline in Movies / TV / Theatre on 07 March 2014

Wes Anderson Ralph Fiennes Owen Wilson Bill Murray Tilda Swinton

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' is one of Wes Anderson's finest movie yet, if not his best.

You can never mistake a Wes Anderson movie: his colourful visual style and quirky wit infuse every frame of his movies, whether they're set underwater (The Life Aquatic), on an Indian railway (The Darjeeling Limited), in rural America (Moonrise Kingdom) or in a stop-motion countryside populated by furry critters (Fantastic Mr Fox).

The Grand Budapest Hotel Features a Stunning Comedy Performance from Ralph Fiennes

The Grand Budapest Hotel, his eighth feature, is set in a fictional Middle European country in the 1930s (it's his first period piece). But it clearly fits into Anderson's stylised universe with its vivid colours and mythical settings. It also reunites him with regular cast members such as Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Jason Schwartzman and Bob Balaban.

Continue reading: 'The Grand Budapest Hotel': Perfect Mix Of Comedy And Adventure [Trailer]

The Grand Budapest Hotel: 10 Reasons You NEED To See This Film

By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 07 March 2014

Ralph Fiennes Wes Anderson Tony Revolori Saoirse Ronan Edward Norton

10 resons you really need to go see 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'.

Wes Anderson’s ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ has already received praise from critics and is being held up as one of the director’s finest pieces of work. Still, if you're not convinced as to why you need to go see it here are ten reasons to get you to the cinema this weekend.

'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

1. It’s classic Wes Anderson

Continue reading: The Grand Budapest Hotel: 10 Reasons You NEED To See This Film

The Grand Budapest Hotel Review

By Rich Cline

Essential

Wes Anderson's entertaining filmmaking style clicks beautifully into focus for this comical adventure. Films like The Darjeeling Limited and Moonrise Kingdom are packed with amazing detail and terrific characters, but this movie is on another level entirely: fast, smart and engaging, packed with both silly slapstick and intelligent gags. And the sprawling cast is simply wonderful.

It's a story within a story within a story, as an author (Wilkinson) narrates the tale of his 1968 conversation as a young writer (Law) with ageing hotelier Zero (Abraham), who in turn recounts his life as a lobby boy in 1932. Young Zero (Revolori) learned his craft alongside legendary concierge Gustave (Fiennes) at the Grand Budapest Hotel somewhere in Middle Europe, and stuck by Gustave's side when he became embroiled in an inheritance battle with a spoiled heir (Brody) and his evil henchman (Dafoe). As things get increasingly nasty, Zero and his baker girlfriend (Ronan) help Gustave fight for justice, and when that doesn't work he helps orchestrate an elaborate prison escape. Meanwhile, war breaks out twice across Europe.

The double flashback structure makes this a film about the power of storytelling itself, and even more potent is the reminder that we need to remember the old ways, especially as the world changes around us. This simple idea is woven so cleverly into the DNA of the script that it continually takes our breath away, conveying the true importance of history and nostalgia. At the centre, Fiennes gives his best-ever performance, showing a real gift for comedy (who knew?) as he makes the bristly Gustave deeply likeable. His camaraderie with newcomer Revolori is priceless, as are the cameos from an array of Anderson veterans including Murray, Wilson and the always astonishing Swinton.

Continue reading: The Grand Budapest Hotel Review

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Featurettes

The cast and crew of 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' discuss the story, the main characters' relationship and the duties of the concierge in the latest featurettes for the movie.

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The Invisible Woman Review

By Rich Cline

Weak

A fascinating true story becomes a deeply repressed movie in the hands of writer Morgan (The Iron Lady) and actor-director Fiennes. It looks and feels murky and dull, and because it's trying to keep everything under the surface never quite reveals anything about the characters or situations. What's left is the intriguing story itself, some strong acting and a lush attention to period detail.

It starts in the 1850s, as Charles Dickens (Fiennes) revels in his celebrity status, adored by fans as he produces the play The Frozen Deep with his rogue buddy Wilkie Collins (Hollander). Then Charles develops a crush on 18-year-old actress Nellie (Jones), who is encouraged by her mother (Scott Thomas) to pursue the affair. But as they fall in love, there's a problem: divorce is unthinkable in Victorian society, so Charles separates from his angry wife (Scanlan) and keeps his relationship with Nellie hidden. And 30 years later, Nellie is still haunted by the experience, even though she now has a family with her loving husband George (Burke).

Fiennes makes the odd decision not to age Nellie at all: Jones looks the same in 1850 as she does in 1880, so the scenes set three decades later don't quite make sense. And there's also the problem that the affair between Charles and Nellie feels like it lasted about two years, when in reality it was 13. These things leave us perplexed about pretty much everything on-screen, unable to engage with the characters or their emotions. It doesn't help that the relationship is clearly doomed from the start, so Fiennes and Jones can never generate any real chemistry or emotion. In fact, they seem barely able to stand each other. Much better are the feisty supporting turns from Hollander, Scanlan and especially Scott Thomas.

Continue reading: The Invisible Woman Review

Grand Budapest Hotel - Clip

Gustave may be aloof and snobbish in many ways, but he's also extremely charming with a good heart and a titanic personality. As result he makes for a highly popular concierge at the Grand Budapest Hotel, who regularly entertains guests in more ways than one. He is charged with training up an inexperienced young lobby boy named Zero Moustafa who he soon bonds with. When one of his one night stands, the elderly Madame D, is found murdered in her hotel room, Zero is first by his side to defend him against her family and the authorities who are quick to accuse Gustave of the crime. Things become more intense when her will reveals her wish to bestow a valuable painting to her lover, entitled Boy With Apple, and Gustave and Zero are forced to flee. However, they are not alone as Zero falls for an attractive guest named Agatha who helps them hide the painting while Gustave protests his innocence.

Continue: Grand Budapest Hotel - Clip

Can Wes Anderson's 'Grand Budapest Hotel' Win Berlin's Golden Bear?

By Michael West in Movies / TV / Theatre on 06 February 2014

Wes Anderson Ralph Fiennes

Wes Anderson's latest movie The Grand Budapest Hotel is causing festival buzz in Berlin.

Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel opens the Berlin Film Festival on Thursday (February 6, 2014) and is one of 20 selections vying for the competition's main award, the Golden Bear.

Owen Wilson [R] in Wes Anderson's 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

Set at a European hotel in the 1920s, Anderson's latest effort stars Ralph Fiennes as legendary lothario and concierge Gustave H, while the director's regulars Bill Murray, Edward Norton and Owen Wilson also populate the cast.

Continue reading: Can Wes Anderson's 'Grand Budapest Hotel' Win Berlin's Golden Bear?

Fiennes Has Great Expectations For The Invisible Woman

By Staff Writer in Movies / TV / Theatre on 29 January 2014

Ralph Fiennes Felicity Jones CHARLES DICKENS

Ralph Fiennes new film The Invisible Woman captures the secret love in Charles Dickens life.

With his first directing/acting roles in the William Shakespeare adaptation Coriolanus; Ralph Fiennes now repeats his efforts with The Invisible Woman. The film's dual time-lined narrative explores Felicity Jones' character Nelly Ternen, the true tale of her past relationship with the most renowned writer of all time; CHARLES DICKENS.

The role of such a literary giant is one that even the most experienced actor would have to think twice about, Fiennes admits, "I was undecided for a long time.Until after quite a few months of working on it, I felt, despite knowing it would be very difficult, that I couldn't resist playing him." Working as both director and lead actor on the film meant Fiennes had to juggle many hierarchical roles on the set, as characteristic he shared with the man he was playing: "In a funny way that probably helped me because it was very Dickens to be organising people and doing everything. He was in control of everything."

Watch five clips from The Invisible Woman

Continue reading: Fiennes Has Great Expectations For The Invisible Woman

The Invisible Woman - Clips

At the height of his career, Charles Dickens finds himself embroiled in one of the biggest personal struggles of his life. While working on a stage play, he meets a beautiful young actress named Nelly Ternan who is in deep admiration of all his works. Fascinated by her personality and smitten by her beauty, he takes the time to make regular visits to her home in London - a secret that he is desperate to keep from his wife of 20 years Catherine Thomson. Though having a profound respect for Dickens, Nelly's mother makes it plain that she does not want their relationship to develop into something that could mar her reputation. However, Dickens is happy to suffer the shame of an unusual separation if it means he can be with his new lover forever, but just how damaging could it be to his career?

Continue: The Invisible Woman - Clips

Ralph Fiennes' 'The Invisible Woman' Garners Positive Reviews

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 24 January 2014

Ralph Fiennes Felicity Jones Tom Hollander Michelle Fairley

'The Invisible Woman', starring and directed by Ralph Fiennes, has received positive reviews from critics ahead of its release in the UK. Critics have some comment on the historical inaccuracies, however mostly the film has been highly praised for Fiennes' directing and its portraying of character many feel they know through his prolific literary works.

Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient) and Felicity Jones (Cemetery Junction) star in The Invisible Woman, a period drama based on the personal life of Charles Dickens. Fiennes directs the largely British cast which includes his former English Patient co-star Kristen Scott Thomas, Tom Hollander (Valkyrie), Joanna Scanlan (The Thick of It) and Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones).

Ralph Fiennes at the UK premiere of The Invisible Woman.

See more pictures from The Invisible Woman premiere.

Continue reading: Ralph Fiennes' 'The Invisible Woman' Garners Positive Reviews

Waiting For Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel? Check Out These New Clips [Clips]

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 06 January 2014

Ralph Fiennes Bill Murray Tilda Swinton Jeff Goldblum Wes Anderson

The hilarious new clips have gotten us excited for Wes Anderson's new film

Despite his relatively young age, Wes Anderson has carved out a niche style of filmmaking recognisable to both aficionados and casual purveyors of cinema alike. His latest effort, The Grand Budapest Hotel, sees his perennial working relationship with many stars hit the big screen once more.

Grand Budapest Hotel A hotel manager and a lobby boy

The trailer hit town in October last year, when we got a good look at the huge cast. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton and Bill Murray all return to work with Anderson, while big names, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Willem Dafoe and Harvey Keitel all feature.

Continue reading: Waiting For Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel? Check Out These New Clips [Clips]

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Clips

Charismatic but somewhat aloof concierge at the Grand Budapest Hotel, Gustave H, is less than impressed when a seemingly inexperienced new lobby boy named Zero Moustafa is hired for a trial period without his knowledge. However, the pair become thick as thieves when Gustave finds himself wanted by the authorities after the murder of his elderly one night stand Madame D. He does what any honourable hotelier would do under pressure. and runs. When it is discovered that the woman had left a priceless painting behind for Gustave in her will named Boy With Apple, her family is furious and Zero helps to the keep the painting hidden with the help of a charming young girl named Agatha as Gustave attempts to protest his innocence. With enough people despising Gustave for his often inappropriate professional conduct, it becomes harder than expected to clear his name and find out the truth about the death of Madame D.

Continue: The Grand Budapest Hotel - Clips

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Character Promo Trailer

Gustave H is a charismatic and over-friendly concierge at the Grand Budapest Hotel whose conduct has been far from professional over the course of his career, regularly engaging in one night stands with his deeply charmed guests including the elderly Madame D. So enamoured was Madame D about Gustave's interest in her, that she leaves him a priceless painting behind in her will named Boy With Apple. However, following her suspicious death, her maddened son Dmitri accuses Gustave of her murder and attempts to frame him for it, angered by his illicit involvement with her. Meanwhile, Gustave is attempting to train up an enthusiastic young lobby boy named Zero Moustafa who warms to him easily and helps to defend him as Gustave makes a break for it. Moustafa is also becoming very fond of a girl named Agatha, who he enlists to help hide the painting from Madame D's furious family.

Continue: The Grand Budapest Hotel - Character Promo Trailer

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' - Meet Wes Anderson's Gang [Trailer + Pictures]

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 31 October 2013

Owen Wilson Adrien Brody Wes Anderson Ralph Fiennes Jeff Goldblum Tilda Swinton Willem Dafoe Harvey Keitel Jason Schwartzman Edward Norton

The Grand Budapest Hotel opens its doors for intrigue and adventure in 2014

Wes Anderson’s brand of frenetic, witty energy is bursting from the seams in the new trailer for The Grand Budapest Hotel. The comedy drama centres on a hotel concierge’s unlikely friendship with a lobby boy, and, as you’ve come to expect with an Anderson film, features an array of brilliant talent in its ranks.

The trailer for the film, which is due for release on March 7th in the U.S; February 28th in the U.K, is reminiscent of every film in Anderson’s showreel, but most notably, The Darjeeling Limited.

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Some might see similarities to the hotel in The Royal Tenenbaums

Continue reading: 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' - Meet Wes Anderson's Gang [Trailer + Pictures]

The Grand Budapest Hotel Trailer

Gustave H is a flamboyant and largely charismatic concierge at the Grand Budapest Hotel whose habit of getting a little too close to his guests and keeping them entertained at all hours has earned him legendary status among many of his peers. When he meets enthusiastic young lobby boy Zero Moustafa, Gustave trains him to be the best hotel worker he can and the pair become thick as thieves as they try and defend each other at all costs. When one of his more 'special' guests is found murdered, police accuse Gustave who does what any upstanding gentleman would do - runs. To the anger of the guest's son, he is bequeathed a valuable painting known as 'Boy With Apple' and now he finds himself on a cat and mouse chase with the victim's family and the police. Meanwhile, Zero meets the charming Agatha, who he's also desperate to protect as best he can.

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' is a heartwarming comedy about a very unusual friendship, directed and written by Wes Anderson ('Fantastic Mr. Fox', 'Rushmore', 'The Royal Tenenbaums'). It is based in 1920s Europe and truly reflects the glamour of the privileged in that decade. The movie is due to be released in the UK on February 28th 2014.

Click here to read - The Grand Budapest Hotel Movie Review

"The Invisible Woman" - Ralph Fiennes' Latest Period Drama Explores The Secret Life Of Charles Dickens [Trailer + Stills]

By Victoria Pavlova in Movies / TV / Theatre on 08 October 2013

Ralph Fiennes Felicity Jones Kristin Scott Thomas

Ralph Fiennes' latest offering delves deep into the realm of historical drama.

This year sees the release of one of Ralph Fiennes’ most highly anticipated works, The Invisible Woman, based on the dramatic and secretive personal life of Charles Dickens. The film sees Dickens (Fiennes) at a high point in his career, when he meets and falls in love with 19-year-old actress Nelly Ternan.

The Invisible Woman Still
The film offers a new perspective on Dickens, but could it prove too melodramatic to be realistic?

Unfortunately for both of them, Dickens has already been married to Catherine Thompson for more than two decades and the affair might jeopardize his career, as well as both his and Nelly’s reputation. The author decides to keep the affair a secret, and struggles to balance two separate sides of his life, while taking frequent trips to visit his young lover. Meanwhile, Nelly’s mother, Frances, played by the ever brilliant Kristin Scott Thomas, is concerned about what the elicit affair might mean for her daughter’s future. The movie, which is only the latest in a wave of historical and biographical adaptations, reveals a side of Dickens rarely seen by the public.

Continue reading: "The Invisible Woman" - Ralph Fiennes' Latest Period Drama Explores The Secret Life Of Charles Dickens [Trailer + Stills]

The Invisible Woman Trailer

Charles Dickens may be famous for having written some of history's greatest stories, but his own life story is probably one of the most touching of all. During a major peak in his career, he finds himself madly in love with actress Nelly Ternan who deeply admires all his literary works. He takes regular trips to London to visit her despite already being married to Catherine Thomson for more than 20 years, and Nelly's mother Frances regularly voices her concerns about what the relationship could mean for her 18-year-old daughter's future. Despite all odds, Dickens is determined to spend the rest of his life with his new lover even if that means a scandalous separation from his wife. In a bid to lower the impact it might have on his career, he vows to keep his new relationship a secret from the public.

Continue: The Invisible Woman Trailer

Great Expectations Review

By Rich Cline

Very Good

Even though Charles Dickens' oft-told story is livened up with a terrific cast and sharp script, it's difficult to see anything terribly new about this BBC-produced version. Especially since it comes less than a year after their previous lavish TV production. But there are plenty of elements in this film that make it worth seeing, as the soap-style plot twists and turns through comedy and romance to its action-thriller climax.

After growing up as an orphan with his blacksmith uncle (Flemyng) and high-strung aunt (Hawkins), Pip (Irvine) is given the chance to live as a London gentleman. He's sure that his anonymous benefactor is the barmy Miss Havisham (Bonham Carter), a broken-hearted hermit he worked for as a child. And since he's still in love with her adopted daughter Estella (Grainger), he decides to use his new position in society to court her. But things don't quite go as expected, and his life takes a surprising turn when scary prison escapee Magwitch (Fiennes) latches onto Pip and begins revealing some surprising connections between all of these people.

This faithful retelling of Dickens' novel is packed with coincidences and revelations, as well as the kind of gleefully thorny rivalries that would be expected on Dallas or Downton Abbey. Overloaded with blackly comical intrigue, it's a compulsively enjoyable film that entertains us on a variety of levels as the story develops. Although director Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) never tries anything too flashy. Which means that despite the high quality, the film is straightforward and perhaps unnecessary.

Continue reading: Great Expectations Review

Great Expectations Trailer

Pip is a young orphan who has a chance meeting with a frightening stranger while visiting the graves of his parents; a meeting which was to be the catalyst a series of events that would shape his future. Not long after this experience, an unhinged, jilted spinster called Miss Havisham asks Uncle Pumblechook (the uncle of Pip's brother-in-law with whom he lives) to find a young boy to provide company for her adopted daughter Estella. When Pip is chosen, he becomes a regular visitor of Miss Havisham who manipulates him into falling for the pretty but cold-hearted Estella as he grows older. When he becomes a blacksmith's apprentice at his brother-in-law's shop, he is approached by a lawyer who informs him that he has been left a large sum of money by a mysterious benefactor and must journey to London to become a gentleman. Little does he know of the surprises that lay in store for him as he discovers that he has so many secrets to uncover.

This seminal coming-of-age story serves as one of the most influential pieces of English literature in history. Originally written by one of the greatest novelists of the 19th century Charles Dickens, 'Great Expectations' has been adapted to screen by director Mike Newell ('Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Four Weddings and a Funeral') and screenwriter David Nicholls ('One Day', 'Starter for 10'). It is due to hit UK cinemas from November 30th 2012.

Director: Mike Newell

Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Holliday Grainger, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Flemyng, Sally Hawkins, Ewen Bremner, David Walliams, Jessie Cave, Ralph Ineson, Tamzin Outhwaite & Olly Alexander. .

Continue: Great Expectations Trailer

Skyfall Review

By Rich Cline

Very Good

Things get very personal for 007 in this high-quality thriller, which keeps us gripped even if it never gets our pulses racing. This shouldn't be surprising, since the director is Sam Mendes, known for more dramatic movies like American Beauty and Revolutionary Road. And he gives the film a deep gravitas that we're not used to in the Bond franchise, as well as coaxing the cast to darkly introspective performances.

That's not to say the action is lacklustre. The opening sequence in Istanbul is a riotous chase through the city streets, across the rooftops and onto a train rocketing through a mountainous landscape. At the end of this, Bond (Craig) is presumed dead while the baddie gets away with a list of Western spies. As he starts releasing names publicly, things get difficult for MI6 boss M (Dench), who is pressured to resign by a government minister (Fiennes). So when Bond returns, M puts him on the case, sending him to Shanghai, where he stalks a mysterious woman (Marlohe) to Macau and meets the camp villain Silva (Bardem). Back in Britain, Silva leads Bond and M on a nasty cat-and-mouse chase that ends up at Skyfall, Bond's ancestral home in the Highlands.

Unlike the usual Bond baddie, Silva isn't remotely interested in global domination or incredible wealth: he has a very personal score to settle, which means that there's no ticking time-bomb underneath the action. In other words, Bond is fighting to save his life, not the planet. Which makes the film feel oddly smaller than we expect. On the other hand, this also allows the filmmakers and actors to develop the relationships more intriguingly than usual. Most notable is the close connection between Bond and M, played with with edgy subtlety by Craig and Dench while Bardem steals every scene with his witty innuendo.

Other characters are strong as well, including Harris as Bond's spy colleague, Whishaw as the clever gadget-geek Q, and an almost unrecognisable Finney as Bond's oldest friend. And Marlohe stirs in the only hint of sex and mystery. Each adds life and energy to the film, as does a continual stream of references to 50 years of Bond movies. Some of these are subtle (a 1962 Scotch) while others get a laugh (that iconic Aston Martin DB5). And along the way, Mendes laces the personal drama with political intrigue and some spectacularly staged action scenes. It's consistently entertaining, even if it's dark and thoughtful rather than exhilarating and fun.

Rich Cline

'Bond' Singer Adele To Follow In The Footsteps Of Shirley Bassey

By Jack de Aguilar on 17 September 2012

Adele Shirley Bassey Nancy Sinatra Jack White Daniel Craig Sam Mendes Judi Dench Javier Bardem Ralph Fiennes Naomie Harris Ben Whishaw

Adele’s ‘Bond’ theme will see the London songstress follow in the footsteps of singing greats Shirley Bassey and Nancy Sinatra, both of whom are responsible for recording some of the most recognizable 007 tunes in the secret agent’s 50 years in film.

The multiple Grammy award winner had long been rumoured to be handed the prestigious role for Sam Mendes’ forthcoming ‘Skyfall’ – again starring Daniel Craig – and Total Film.com confirmed the speculation this week. Adele’s single, named after the new movie, will be the first release from the star since ‘Turning Tables’ from her much-feted ‘21’ album. Given her phenomenally successful couple of years, Adele will certainly be a popular choice for the job and she boasts the kind of heavyweight soulful voice synonymous with the theme tune. One thing’s for sure: it’s almost certain to be an improvement on the poorly received tune ‘Another Way to Die’ by Jack White and Alicia Keys from 2008’s ‘Quantum of Solace’.

‘Skyfall’ – set to open in the UK on October 26 – stars Daniel Craig, alongside Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw.

Skyfall Trailer

James Bond, the legendary MI6 spy we all know and love, is starting to struggle with his own morality in terms of his government job. A psychiatrist notices his unhealthy associations with bits of his career which puts doubts in his future capability. In addition to that, his trust in his boss M is put to the test as her past starts to creep back up on her. MI6 is then place under threat by a nefarious villain known as Raoul Silva. Though, with 007 questioning his own loyalty to the government, just how far is he willing to go to protect it?

Continue: Skyfall Trailer

Skyfall Trailer

James Bond struggles with his career, experiencing lassitude and depression concerning his MI6 role as becomes clear when he is analysed by a government psychiatrist. His allegiance to MI6 chief M is put to the test when secrets from her past come back plague her. The secret service organisation becomes under serious threat and it is safe to assume that villain Raoul Silva is behind it all. How far will agent 007 go this time to eliminate the threat?

Continue: Skyfall Trailer

Wrath Of The Titans Review

By Rich Cline

Good

While this sequel is just as loud and chaotic as 2010's Clash of the Titans remake, it's also considerably more fun due to some exhilarating action and a refreshing sense of humour. It also looks amazing in 3D on an Imax screen.

Years later, the now-widowed hero Perseus (Worthington) is trying to live as an anonymous fisherman with his pre-teen son Helius (Bell). Then he hears about stirrings of a coming calamity. Indeed, his father Zeus (Neeson) has been kidnapped by Hades (Fiennes) and Ares (Ramirez) as pat of a plan to release Zeus and Hades' evil father Kronos from the underworld. So Perseus teams up with Queen Andromeda (Pike) and rogue demigod Agenor (Kebbell), son of Poseidon (Huston), to rescue his father and stop his brother, uncle and grandfather.

Yes, this is one seriously dysfunctional family, as four generations of men set out to either destroy the world or save it. To be honest, it's never clear why Hades and Ares are so hellbent, as it were, on cataclysmic destruction, but at least this also allows for changing alliances as the story progresses. Not that there's much story, really, as the plot essentially just links a series of action set-pieces.

Fortunately, most of these sequences are entertaining enough to keep us gripped. Highlights include a rather fabulous dragon attack and a desperate, full-on fight with cyclops-giants in a forest. Less convincing are a convoluted underworld rescue-battle and the climactic assault on the volcano-sized Kronos, who rains down fire and destruction rather selectively. (There's also the problem of how the filmmakers can top Kronos in the probable sequel.)

Along the way, there are some refreshing moments of deranged humour, mainly in Kebbell's snarky dialog, Pike's sharp glances and a particularly colourful turn by Nighy (as super-spear smelter Hephaestus). But as the story progresses, there's more than a whiff of Lord of the Rings (the fires of Mount Doom, plus some pointless two-torsoed Orc-a-likes), Harry Potter (the three-pronged Deathly Hallows) and even Star Wars (all that father-son angst). But filmmaker Liebesman keeps things moving briskly, wowing us with so much eye-candy that we just sit back and enjoy the rickety ride for what it is.

Coriolanus Review

By Rich Cline

Good

Actor-director Fiennes sets Shakespeare's military tragedy in a modern-day war setting, which gives it a meaty kick of recognition. But it's such a bombastic film that it's difficult to find much emotional resonance in it.

Amid political and social turmoil, Martius (Fiennes) is a blunt Roman soldier, subduing insurrections in the surrounding kingdoms, making an enemy of Volscian leader Tullus (Butler) but returning home a war hero and crowned Coriolanus.

Despite the help of his military-leader mother (Redgrave), his loyal wife Virgilia (Chastain) and a respected senator (Cox), Martius is unable - and unwilling - to play the political game, insulting both the senate and the public. Banished from public life, he joins with Tullus and sets about conquering Rome his own way.

Continue reading: Coriolanus Review

Coriolanus Trailer

Caius Marcus is a brilliant Roman general who is hailed as 'the hero of Rome', after returning from a war against the Volscians, a neighbouring Italian tribe. Rome wins the war and takes the city of Corioles. In recognition of his part in the war, Caius Marcus is surnamed Coriolanus.

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