New Hobbit image released

New Hobbit image released

Ahead of the new Hobbit trailer being released a little later today, there's a brand new Hobbit image been released as well.

The image shows Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is out in December.

Ruby Sparks: Movie Review

Ruby Sparks: Movie Review

Cast: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Annette Bening, Elliott Gould, Antonio Banderas, Steve Coogan
Director: Jonathan Dayton

From the directors of Little Miss Sunshine comes this charmingly quirky indie about a writer whose creation comes unexpectedly to life.

Dano is a former writing prodigy, Calvin, whose first book was a massive success when he was young. However, he's now in a creative slump, and struggling with writer's block, unable to find any inspiration for any kind of new material, nearly a decade after his first book was such a success.

Becoming more introverted, his psychiatrist suggest a writing exercise to help him - and from that little acorn comes a creative seed of a girl called Ruby Sparks (played by Zoe Kazan, the film's writer), who embodies all of the traits Calvin sees in his ideal woman. (Which should start some alarm bells ringing in your head over the ethics of the storyline)

However, one day, Calvin comes home to find Ruby has mysteriously come to life and is now in Calvin's house....

Ruby Sparks is a gentle character piece and a look into what fuels the creative process, invisible friends, the insecurities of writing and the pressures to be a social butterfly these days - even if it does occasionally have a questionable basis for an idea.

Paul Dano has shades of Woody Allen as he initially paces about trying to seek inspiration for what comes next - it's a sparky performance of a near recluse, crippled by initial success and a lack of follow up. But Dano also manages to make a multi dimension turn of a character who's controlling, struggling to socialise and is massively insecure. There's even a nice shout out to the movie Harvey, when Calvin first realises his character has been brought to life.

Likewise, Zoe Kazan (who wrote the piece and whose grandfather is Elia Kazan) impresses by breathing some real life into the initially one-dimensional character from the page who becomes a living and breathing girlfriend. She accentuates all the frailties and vulnerabilities of Calvin's character while making her own feel like some may in any relationship.

A final sequence which sees Calvin wield the true extent of his powers as a creator is shocking and emotionally draining - in any lesser actors' hands, these scenes would have jarred, but with these two, it's an electrifying look into the controlling power of the man.

Banderas and Bening make a quirky pair of free spirits and Coogan, once again, brings the sleaze as Calvin's agent; and Gould has an affability as Calvin's shrink.

Be aware - this is no Weird Science piece; Ruby Sparks looks into the psyche of what makes a man, a writer; it is off-kilter, charming, honest, perceptive, funny and endearing in equal measures.

Rating:

New Hobbit trailer

New Hobbit trailer

Sir Peter Jackson's let it slip there will be a new Hobbit trailer released this week (possibly as early as the 19th).

This week is Tolkein week and the celebration of the writer's life, culminates with Bilbo and Frodo's birthday on 22nd September.

Speaking on his Facebook page this morning, PJ's revealed it will be an interesting week with some behind the scenes content available as well as a brand new trailer for the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

As if that's not enough, there's also a heap of new images from the Hobbit - feast your eyes below.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted: Movie Review

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted: Movie Review

Vocal cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen,  Frances McDormand, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short, Jessica Chastain
Director: Eric Darnell, Phil McGrath, Conrad Vernon

Alex the Lion, Melman the giraffe, Marty the Zebra and Gloria the hippo are all back for another animated outing which sees the group joining the circus.

Following on from events of the second film, Alex is determined to get back to New York, and is feeling somewhat homesick. So, he suggests to the gang that they catch up with the penguins in Monte Carlo and they fly them back to New York.

But when Alex and the gang crash the casino, animal control led by the ferocious Madame DuBois (Frances McDormand) start to track them down.

With no other option, the four friends and the penguins stowaway on a circus to escape - but it turns out the circus is a little bit rubbish - so the gang decides to reinvent it - Madagascar style.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is perhaps the best Madagascar yet.

Bright, colourful, drenched in neon, funny, lunatic are all just a few words which spring to mind to describe this latest outing.

Sure, it's not the most original story but what it may lack on that front, it more than makes up for with one liner zingers, madcap antics, smart and a general nuttiness which pervades the screen from the beginning to the end.

The writers have brought to the table  a story which brings out the best of the critters and the potential for the animators to bring an explosion of colour to the screen; from the opening break out from the Monte Carlo casino to a dazzlingly colourful neon-drenched circus end, the animation on this is joyous and works so well in a 3D environment. (The final sequence alone is so trippy and dizzying with its colour, I thought I'd dropped a tab of LSD).

All of the gang get a moment to shine and the three circus newcomers, Jessica Chastain's Gia, Bryan Cranston' bitter Russian tiger and Martin Short's sealion make welcome additions to the group.

Replete with throwaway one-liners, some blink and miss them visual gags and some insane asides (featuring the Penguins and King Julien once again), the whole film will keep the kids amused all the way throughout. Themes of self belief, comradeship and friendship crop up and are valuable lessons for all.

There's just enough in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted for adults to be amused and engaged too - and a shortish running time will also ensure it doesn't outstay its welcome.

Infectious and amusing, enjoyable and visually stunning, as well as never losing sight of being entertaining, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is the perfect school holiday treat and great fun for kids - and the young at heart. You'd have to be a real grump and completely churlish to not be swept along by this.

Rating:

Twenty Twelve Series 2: DVD Review

Twenty Twelve Series 2: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by BBC And Roadshow Home Entertainment

The second series of fly on the wall mockumentary series Twenty Twelve continues to build on the success of the first series.

Hugh Bonneville stars of the head of the Olympics Deliverance Commission in London as they prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games. As ever, there are problems ahead for the team as they plan for the biggest party the UK's ever seen.

From an Algerian team threatening to boycott the games after they discover a building's not facing Mecca to discovering the opening ceremony fireworks display will launch the ground-to-air missiles installed to protect the Games, there's plenty of satire on offer here.

With a great ensemble and smart cast as well as a gentle script, Twenty Twelve Series 2 is a welcome return and a series which having seen what the Olympics actually delivered in London 2012, makes you wonder just how true it actually all is.

Rating:

Dr Who - Planet of Giants: DVD Review

Dr Who - Planet of Giants: DVD Review

Rating: PG
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Entertainment

Back to 1964 we go with this black and white tale from William Hartnell's first Doctor.

When the TARDIS malfunctions in flight, the crew find themselves back in 1960s Britain - but something's not right. Shrunk down to tiny size, the Doc and his companions, Susan, Ian and Barbara find danger at every turn.

This three part serial is reminiscent of the 1960s series Land of the Giants which may have come after the series but seems very familiar in some parts.

Camera trickery and some impressive model shots bring this serial to life; you really get the feeling of 60s Who using the best of its budget and constraints to bring in some creativity to its filming. While it does feel a little rushed toward the end due to hasty rewrites and the culling of one episode, it's still a pacy reminder of what 60s Who achieved and how TV didn't need to rely on FX to bring brilliance to the small screen.

Extras: Commentary, reconstruction of last 2 eps, a few brief docos

Rating:

New Wreck-it Ralph trailer hits

New Wreck-it Ralph trailer hits

Something a little retro for a Thursday...

The brand new Wreck-It Ralph trailer!



Wreck-It Ralph (voice of John C Reilly) longs to be as beloved as his game's perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer). Problem is, nobody loves a Bad Guy. 

But they do love heroes... so when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of  Jane Lynch), Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan -- win a medal -- but soon wrecks everything, and accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade.

Ralph's only hope? 

Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman), a young troublemaking "glitch" from a candy-coated cart racing game who might just be the one to teach Ralph what it means to be a Good Guy. But will he realize he is good enough to become a hero before it's "Game Over" for the entire arcade?