Author: Amy Westlake

The Dark Knight Rises is the final installment of the Batman franchise brought to us by writer and director Christopher Nolan. This final piece follows on from Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008). After it’s opening weekend The Dark Knight Rises made $160.9 million at the box office, which is a record for a 2D movie. The Dark Knight Rises is set eight years after The Dark Knight and when a new terrorist leader turns up in town, it is down to Batman to return and defend a city that has branded him an enemy. The first thing…

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Five years ago, the original Spiderman trilogy starring Tobey McGuire came to an end. The final instalment to the trilogy wasn’t well received and the reset button was pressed. Fast-forward to 2012 and we have a new Spiderman, a new villain and importantly a new title. The Amazing Spider-Man tells the same story as to how and why Spiderman evolves but brings in a new aspect about Peter Parkers (Andre Garfield) father. When Peter finds a clue as to why his father disappeared during his childhood, he is taken on the journey to try and find the truth. This puts…

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The Five Year Engagement is the latest offering written by and starring Jason Segel alongside co-star Emily Blunt released in the UK on 22nd June. Co produced by Bridesmaids producer Judd Apatow, The Five Year Engagement follows the lives of couple Tom, an up and coming chef and Violet, a British research student in experimental psychology. After a year of dating, Tom proposes to Violet and the two have to face the pressures of an upcoming wedding. More pressure is then added after Toms best man Alex (Chris Pratt) and Violets sister Suzie (Alison Brie) quickly get married after they…

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Red Lights is written and directed by Rodrigo Cortés who brought us the 2010 thriller Buried. Red Lights follows the story of psychological and paranormal investigators Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy) who investigate fake psychics. When the chance to investigate world-renowned psychic, Simon Silver (Robert De Niro), Tom can’t resist and gets involved with the messy world of psychic phenomenon. The first hour of Red Lights is strong and draws the audience in with its twists and turns and really does get you questioning the ability of psychics. Cillian Murphy (Batman Begin, Inception) is the strongest…

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Released on 13th June 2012, Rock of Ages is the film adaptation of the already popular stage musical of the same name. The film tells the story of Drew (Diego Boneta) and Sherrie (Julianne Hough), both living in Los Angeles trying to chase their dreams. Set in 1987, Drew and Sherrie fall in love but their relationships faces challenges from the get go and is challenged further when rock icon Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) turns up in town.  As well as starring Diego Boneta (Mean Girls 2), Julianne Hough (Footloose, 2011) and Tom Cruise the rest of the cast is…

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TV

Prometheus is the latest film to be directed by Ridley Scott and written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof. The film stars Noomi Rapace (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, 2009), Michael Fassbender (Shame), Guy Pearce (Memento), Idris Elba (Thor), Logan Marshall-Green (Devil) and Charlize Theron (Monster). The film is set in the late 21st century and the story focuses on the crew of the spaceship, Prometheus as the crew follow a star map discovered in the remnants of several ancient Earth civilizations. Led to a distant world and an advanced civilization, the crew seeks the origins of humanity, but…

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American Reunion is the fourth instalment of the original American Pie series and the eighth film for the American Pie Franchise. American Reunion brings audiences back with the original cast thirteen years after they have graduated high school when they gather for a ‘Class of ‘99’ reunion and a weekend together. Instead of people being intimate with apple pies, the storyline has moved on to depict the frustrating relationship problems of parents Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) and the frustration of being boring adults who have day jobs and relationships to maintain. When we meet the rest of…

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The Avengers opened the spring cinema season on 26th April and has already set and broken records. Taking over $1 billon dollars worldwide, The Avengers has left the door open nicely for a summer cinema season of superhero’s, aliens, fairytale characters and rock gods. Officially kicking off the 2012 summer cinema season is Men in Black 3, which is released on 25th May. The film reunites Will Smith (Agent J) and Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K) as Agent J travels back to the 1960s to stop an alien from assassinating Agent K. More Alien life will be hitting cinema screens…

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For those who aren’t aware, The Hunger Games is the latest young adult novel to get the Hollywood treatment. The Hunger games was written by Suzanne Collins and was published in 2008. This is the first of a three part series. The book was well received by critics and authors such as Stephen King and Stephanie Meyer have both praised it. In 2009 Lionsgate acquired the rights to distribute the film and on March 23rd 2012, the film was released worldwide. The Hunger Games takes place after the destruction of North America by an apocalyptic event in the nation of…

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After nine seasons, 184 episodes, three weddings, six births, three psychos, three murders and one suicide One Tree Hill is about to air its final episodes. The Show debuted in the US in 2003 and has attracted millions of viewers. Originally One Tree Hill followed the lives of half brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan (James Lafferty) living in the fictional town of Tree Hill, who compete for positions on their school basketball teams. Their relationship then evolved form soulless enemies to loyal siblings. The audience was then taken through the whirlwind romances of Lucas and Peyton (Hilarie Burton),…

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The Descendants is the latest book to be given the Hollywood treatment.  Written by Kaui Hart Hemmings, the book was released in 2008 and the film was released in cinemas in early 2012. The film has received critical acclaim and has already won two Golden Globes for Best Picture – Drama and Best Actor – Drama. The film has gone on to be nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. It is likely that after the February 26th award ceremony, The Descendants will be the proud owner of even more awards. The Descendants…

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TV

With the Christmas season just around the corner, Arthur Christmas is the first film to bring audiences into the Christmas mood. Released on 11th November Arthur Christmas tells the story of how the son of Father Christmas (Arthur) try’s to stop one child being missed after her present isn’t delivered. The film is presented in both 3D and 2D and answers the age old question that every child asks, “How does Santa deliver all of those presents in one night?” The audience is introduced early to the whole of the Claus family that includes, as well as Father Christmas, Arthur,…

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TV

Kill List was released in cinemas on 2nd September and was only screened in select cinemas based on a limited release. The film is an entirely British film and was filmed in Sheffield and South Yorkshire and is directed by British director Ben Wheatley. The film tells the story of a British solider who when he returns from Kiev, joins his old friend as a contract killer. But whilst out on the job his disturbed past surfaces and he loses control leading to his employers raising the stakes. The cast includes Neil Maskell, MyAnna Buring, Michael Smiley and Emma Fryer…

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