ONES TO WATCH-part one

Wondering what's coming up in the world of moviedom over the next 12 months? Well, here's a list of films to look out for:

DISTRICT 9

Aliens have landed on earth! But this isn't the usual sci-fi guns-blazing film you'd expect. These aliens are refugees, forced to live in slum-like conditions, and controlled by the shady organisation MNU. Set in South Africa, which heightens the sense of apartheid the movie engenders, and directed by new-comer Neill Blomkamp this promises to be a gritty and conflicted film.

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 04 September

THE INVENTION OF LYING

Gervais' conquest of the U.S. continues with his second movie. Set in a world where everyone tells the truth, Mark (Gervais) realises he can actually lie giving him untold power. Also starring Jennifer Garner and Rob Lowe.

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 02 October

SHUTTER ISLAND

The latest offering from Scorsese and his muse DiCaprio and a definite break from his modus operandi. Shutter Island is a maximum security mental institution in which DiCaprio and his partner (Mark Ruffalo) discover a secret.

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 09 October

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Seems to be the only animated Christmas film this year. Jim Carey takes the lead role as scrooge in what looks to be a visually appealing epic. Plus it's got Gary Oldman and Bob Hoskins in it. What's not to like?

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 06 November

2012

The latest offering from Roland Emmerich (Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day) isn't about the London Olympics! No, it's about the end of the world. Which will apparently happen in 2012. Hopefully after the olympics.

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 13 November

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

This animated retelling of a Roald Dahl classic features hand-made stop-motion techniques and a raft of star voices including: George Clooney, Billy Murray, Meryl Streep, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and even Jarvis Cocker!

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 23 October

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS

The last film of the late Heath Ledger. He died half-way through, but his role was recast and the rest of his scenes were filmed by Johnny Deep, Jude Law and Colin Farrell in honour to him.

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 16 October

NINJA ASSASSIN

Awesome weapons. Awesome fight scenes. Lots of blood and explosions. Nuff said. Watch the trailer.

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 27 November

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Seems to be the year for gangster director's chaning lanes. Guy Ritchie's re-imagining of the Gentleman Detective sees Robert Downey Jr take the lead with Jude Law as faithful friend Watson. This looks to be the big hit of 2009.

TRAILER | SITE | UK RELEASE: 26 December

That's it for now folks.

Check back for part 2 soon and I'll let you know some of the biggies for 2010.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-DULL HINTS

WARNING: SPOLIERS

After a huge build-up and an extended wait, I finally got to see the sixth installment of the Harry Potter film franchise last night. As expected the cinema was packed and, as we arrived at 7:25 for a 7:30 showing, my wife and I were sat pretty near the front. We had a good view though, and we were at the end of a row so we didn't feel like we were watching a game of tennis during scenes with more than one person in. And so, with great anticipation, horrible popcorn, and 6 days of trailers I sat with great anticipation (I say I because my wife really only came for me. She's a fantastic wife, I know). 3 hours later I left the cinema with a wonderfully consuming feeling of... hmmm.

This isn't a bad film. Far from it. It is visually stunning. Well scripted, with a good balance between dark and funny. It has the most mature performances from the cast to date. And it's definitely the funniest film so far (and special mention must be made of Rupert Grint whose comic delivery was superb).

But saying all that, it was still a very subdued movie.

Don't get me wrong, I knew this would be a subdued film as, for the most part, it is a subdued book. It is, essentially, a Voldemort background story, and a setup for the big finale of Deathly Hallows.

However, in the book, you are rewarded for all your patience with an explosive ending, leaving you shocked, horrified, depressed, elated, satisfied and begging for more. In the last 100 or so pages we get Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione, Malfoy's internal battle, a ferocious battle between the Death Eaters and The Order and the biggest shock of all (which I'll not mention here). It's intense drama and action that leaves you stunned.

While the film has all the same stuff, it is delivered with all the passion and drama of over-cooked pasta. It still fills a hole but it's a bit wet and soft.

But, like the book, this is prequel to a larger event in Deathly Hallows 1 & 2. So perhaps all the atmosphere was meant to induce a sense of foreboding and hint at something bigger. All it produced was a sense of foreboredom.

Sill, it was alright.