Film Review: Thor 2 – The Dark World

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Marvel‘s latest, Thor: The Dark World, and directed by Alan Taylor, continues the big-screen adventures of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Mighty Avenger, in the aftermath of 2012’s Avengers Assemble. As a shadowy enemy predates the universe itself, Thor must fight to save Earth and all the Nine Realms in order to restore order across the cosmos, as an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Joel Gets A Job: Joel Edgerton Joins Lynne Ramsay’s Western ‘Jane Got A Gun’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Set to star in this month’s Bin Laden drama Zero Dark Thirty and in next year’s anticipated adaptation of The Great Gatsby, Joel Edgerton is the latest to join the cast of Lynne Ramsay’s upcoming western, Jane Got A Gun.

New Behind The Scenes Pics From Terrence Malick’s ‘Knight Of Cups’

(Written for Lost In the Multiplex)

This week we have the first set images for Terrence Malick’s follow up to his highly acclaimed Tree Of Life, with his latest film Knight Of Cups.

Currently still being filmed, the new photos reveal a new addition to the cast with lead actor Christian Bale getting close to a punked-up Imogen Poots (Jane Eyre), and also give a brief glimpse of Malick himself.

Natalie Portman Set For Back-To-Back Terrence Malick Films

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Now that Natalie Portman has finished her maternity leave, the actress has committed to starring in her first two films since winning the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Black Swan last year.

Portman, who more recently starred in Marvel’s Thor alongside Chris Hemsworth, is joining the casts of the Knight Of The Cups and Lawless, both of which are to be directed by Terrence Malick.

Film Review: Friends With Benefits

(Published on Lost In The Multiplex, and read in my publication In Retrospect – Issue 2)

Directed by Will Gluck, Friends With Benefits follows two friends, art director Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and head-hunter Jamie (Mila Kunis), who, unable to maintain relationships and deal with the emotional stress that they entail, decide to add sex to their friendship, promising that they won’t let it become more than just a sexual release.

Of course, nothing is that easy and the obvious complications arise, concluding in the two realising their true feelings for each other. That much we can guess, but fortunately the film avoids being a cliché in many ways and is a unique rom-com that even your boyfriend will like.

Film Review: Thor

The fourth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor follows the Asgardian god of thunder, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who is banished to Earth by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the ruler of Asgard, and stripped of his powers and his hammer after reigniting a dormant war. As his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) plots to take the Asgardian throne, Thor must prove himself worthy. But when the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero as he must protect his new human allies (Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, and Stellan Skarsgård).

Film Review: Your Highness

(Published on Rushes Online Film Magazine)

Your Highness is a tale of chivalry with a twist; a hilarious comedy full of perverted mythical creatures, half-naked women and a vast amount of sexual innuendos. Danny McBride and James Franco team up in an epic comedy adventure set in a fantasy world of knights and wizards. The two play sibling Princes, Thadeous (McBride) and Fabious (Franco), who are sent on a quest to save their land and rescue Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), Fabious’ soon-to-be-wife who has been kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux).

Film Review: Black Swan

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Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan was one of the most highly anticipated films of 2010. Although the film was released quite late in the UK, in January 2011, the date of its release was still brought forward to deal with its anticipation, and it became Fox Searchlight Pictures highest per-theatre average gross ever.

The film follows Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a ballet dancer who lives with her controlling mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey), in New York City whose life is dedicated to ballet. When art director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) wants to replace the lead for his opening production of Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition with new arrival Lily (Mila Kunis); Leroy only sees Nina as the innocent White Swan, whilst Lily is the personification of its evil twin. Pushed to her limit, Nina becomes engulfed by the competition and begins to lose her mind as she finds herself becoming more like the Black Swan outside of rehearsal.