Valentines Day (2010)

If you've seen Love Actually, you're going to notice a whole raft of rip-offs in Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, this time around it's cheesier, dumbed-down and almost humourless. Despite a well-known ensemble cast, it sets focus and gives the most screen time to the horrible in-oh-so-many-ways Ashton Kutcher. Basically, ten or so couples' lives interweave as they each try to find that special someone on the day. A few of the characters are even paper cut outs of Love Actually characters: there's someone in the porn industry used to help balance all the schmuck and a lovesick kid complaining about how love sucks. The soundtrack, thankfully, is one of the more positive aspects of this winding, silly little film; it's hard to go wrong with safe, old classics. All and all, it's not offensive and has a few nice moments but, really, it's only worth that single watch and you may fall asleep if you're not careful.

5/10

Four Lions (2010)

A British black comedy that tries to offer a little insight along the way, Four Lions is about a group of British-born muslims who decide to go extremist. Their accents, egos and clumsiness make this feel like an Ali G movie only they're missing two things: humour and pacing. Given this, the absence of a soundtrack was glaring and it almost felt like a film from the 1920s where the glory was in simply having a picture on the screen rather than its content or technical skill. I haven't made it past halfway in two viewings and I'm unlikely to try again soon so I class this as unwatchable - unless muslims running around with British accents is comedy enough for you. That said, the camera quality was good and there's always the possibility it improves wildly in the second half. I doubt it.

3/10

Boy (2010)

A comedy with a hint of drama, Boy is set in a rural Maori town in that great year that is 1984. It's about a boy called 'Boy' - reminiscent of 'Dog' from Footrot Flats - who meets his freshly-paroled, yet well-meaning, father for the first time. With cultural insight into Maori rural life (without employing Once Were Warriors' violence) it uses clichés and homages coupled with the amicable music of the Patea Maori Club to create a simple, family-orientated flick for all ages. Unfortunately, I found myself wanting something a little deeper and veiled for adult viewers (Pixar studios are the masters of this art) and a stronger overall theme. That aside, Boy is harmless and thus rewatchable.

6.5/10

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

A truly charming gem in a sea of romantic-comedy-roughs, Sleepless in Seattle follows a boy's christmas wish being transmitted over a live radio broadcast: "my dad needs a new wife" (his mother died 2 years earlier). It's tremendously bouyed by the likeable performances of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and a nostalgic oldies soundtrack which aptly sets the mood (featuring Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong et al). This is one of those chick-flicks, like The Notebook or Love Actually, that rise well above par and reach beyond their target audience. The ending is suitably all or nothing and the film wraps up perfectly - and all three of these forerunners needn't atone for anything. Worth watching on many an occasion.

9/10

The Ghost Writer (2010)

Armed with some very familiar faces in the cast The Ghost Writer is a mystery about a replacement ghost writer hired after the first one dies under strange circumstances. The new writier is paid handsomely to add flair and punch to the manuscript of a former British Prime Minister's memoirs, before they get published. Dreary and slow in the first leg, the film eventually evokes the thriller genre and, despite a hit and miss soundtrack, winds you up in its chilly atmosphere and shadowy intrigues. While I found myself wanting a little more evidence of the writer's skill (he seemed more like a detective, than anything) this ended up being beside the point. The stylish ending is jarring and abrupt and, for many, may even be deal-breaking. But, I would still recommend at least one viewing (should you end up hating it) and two or three (should you not) in order to fully understand all the characters and their dealings.

8/10

Black Death (2010)

Black Death tells the story of a young priest who volunteers to guide a band of 'holy' soldiers to a remote village said to be unaffected by the black plague during the height of its disastrous effects. Their goal is simple: to investigate the apparent fortune of the village and uncover any truth in the rumours that evil, ungodly rituals are somehow protecting the village. The acting and writing are solid and the plague and its era offer an interesting enough setting. However, the lack of a soundtrack makes the film feel a little plodding at times. The story holds its own for most of the movie but suddenly takes an unexpected time leap and feels as if a sequel was hurriedly jammed into its ending and this is a real let-down. It's worth a viewing once or twice regardless.

7/10