“Magic” is an eerie little movie about schizophrenia done in the same vein as “Psycho” and although not the ‘perfect’ thrill Alfred Hitchcock’s film is, this movie directed by Richard Attenborough (“Gandhi”) works very well.

In “Magic”, Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence of the Lambs”, “Mission: Impossible II”) stars as a troubled magician named Corky, who uses ventriloquism to capture his audience, manages to get the opportunity to have a pilot episode on NBC. However, he refuses to take the medical examination and goes along with his puppet, Fats (voiced by Hopkins), to a cabin where he meets Peggy (Ann-Margret “Tommy”), the woman he’s loved for over 15 years. Fats then manipulates Corky and violent acts take place.

Anthony Hopkins is absolutely fantastic here as he always is and while his work as Corky is exceedingly good I feel his voicing of Fats showcases his great abilities. Corky is a timid and severely frustrated magician while Fats is a rude loud-mouth and the thing that is great is that they don’t make the puppet come alive or anything silly (a mistake made by the “Child’s Play” series) but instead make all in the mind. Ann-Margret is good as Peggy. Burgess Meredith (“Rocky”, “Batman: The Movie”) is okay as Corky’s agent Ben Greene.

“Magic” unfortunately suffers from looking like low-budget horror rubbish, which may deter some viewers and that’s a shame because it is actually quite a smart film. I dislike the film’s ending as I hoped for something a little more… shall we say ‘optimistic’ (that shouldn’t give too much away). The performance from Hopkins is simply fantastic and I think this film is actually a little scarier than “Silence of the Lambs” so I think those are two good reasons to see it. It’s a movie that knows dolls aren’t scary but people’s interaction/obsession with them is.

“Madeline” is a film intended for children but a child or anyone requires a movie that offers them something; this movie doesn’t really do anything and will simply fade far away from one’s memory soon after the experience is over so I didn’t waste any time before writing this. Its attempts at humour are like they were conceived by someone with no sense of it.

In this film, a group of young girls living in a school run by Miss Clavel (Frances McDormand “Almost Famous”) contains the adventurous Madeline (Hatty Jones). It’s all about a couple of little misadventures that she has and none of them are in the slightest bit amusing or exciting.

The girls in this film are appalling as they all work on exactly the same tone and have no individuality whatsoever. I’ve seen plenty of child performers who were vastly superior to Hatty Jones as Madeline here; she has a cheeky smile as she delivers insanely boring lines. The young Spanish boy in the film is equally poor. Frances McDormand is slightly tolerable as Miss Clavel but she is given virtually nothing to do. Nigel Hawthorne (“Demolition Man”, “Tarzan”) seems somewhat good but again is given nothing to do.

“Madeline” is a movie where the only form is praising is by commenting on how it isn’t awful and it won’t stick in your mind. Young girls are going to find it hard to enjoy the girls in this film because they are so one-dimensional and everybody is going to be sat there without smiling. One of the punch-lines in this film is Miss Clavel waking up and repeatedly saying about how something is wrong; if you’re not in hysterics, you’re not alone. The very least I thought this movie would achieve is having young girls satisfied but they won’t be.

Unlike most franchises, the first “Mad Max” is surprisingly a weaker entry than the sequels (more are due so perhaps that statement won’t remain true) and that isn’t a slight at the first “Mad Max” but more praise for the sequels, which featured more developed environments. “Mad Max” lacks the fully realised world seen in the sequels but it has plenty of great car chases.

“Mad Max” is set in futuristic Australia where the highways are playgrounds for mad bikers. Policeman Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson “Lethal Weapon”, “Mad Max 2”) is out to get revenge after these dreaded individuals kill his partner, his wife and his child. As I say, the world here isn’t as great as it is in the sequels so I guess maybe the world hadn’t fully descended into chaos in this one.

Mel Gibson is alright here as Max, I felt the character became more fleshed-out as the series progressed and showed Gibson in a better light because of it; Max gets a lot less screen-time than I expected he would. I actually quite like Joanne Samuel as Max’s wife Jessie. The villains are a little forgettable in this one but they’re insane enough to work during the time you’re watching them and it’s great to see ‘justice’ exacted upon them in the end.

I like the car chases and I really like the ending. “Mad Max” certainly isn’t great if you take for what it is then I think it’s kind of hard not to like it. There aren’t many films with as many car chases (or at least seriously done car chases) as this so you may as well embrace it. The movie is a blueprint for the sequels in the same way that “Coogan’s Bluff” feels like a blueprint for “Dirty Harry”; it had enough good stuff in it for somebody to want to repeat it.

How can you describe the “Mad Max” universe? Well, it’s an unpleasant yet intriguing look at how the world might turn out after a nuclear holocaust. Mel Gibson (“Mad Max”, “Signs”) returns as the titular character in this third outing.

In “Beyond Thunderdome”, Mad Max (Gibson) ends up in Bartertown, which is run by Aunty Entity (Tina Turner). Max must have a fight to the death in the dreaded Thunderdome if is he to get back his weapons and ride. If you think Bartertown is messed up then you should see the tribe of children. The children want to find a supposed ‘paradise’. Max gets the idea of going back into Bartertown to free a smart individual to help create this ‘paradise’.

Mel Gibson portrays a more believable hero than the ones played by Schwarzenegger (“The Terminator”) and Stallone (“First Blood”) and I like that. This character is meaner than the ones by those two as well but that’s probably because he lives in a much harsher environment. Tina Turner does a reasonable job; she should have been more seductive and just generally more evil. The rest of the characters, especially the children are very disappointing in my opinion as no real effort has gone in.

The action scenes are great, especially the fight in Thunderdome, the hero is quick, smart, tough and nasty just like the world around him, the world created is barbaric yet still interesting and despite being far from perfection I had a lot of fun “Beyond Thunderdome”. If you’re looking for a decent film set is a gritty future then you have come to the right place my friend because “Beyond Thunderdome” has got it where it counts. I’m sure you’ll find much better post-apocalyptic future flicks out there but keep in my mind there are lots and lots of bad ones so this is an alright choice.

“Mad Max 2” is full of great chase scenes and a great sense of adventure like the one found in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. It’s not so much a sci-fi like some claim it to be, it’s more just a chase/action film.

The movie’s backstory is explained brilliantly in a great prologue. We then proceed to find Mad Max (Mel Gibson “Signs”, “Forever Young”), who in this post-apocalyptic future is forced to knock the gang’s vehicles off the road to get the petrol due the massive oil issue. A small community enriched with oil is being terrorised by the villainous Humungus and his gang of crazed bikers and only Max can help.

I really like the Mad Max character because he’s tough but he doesn’t fire off the endless rounds we see most action heroes do. I really liked the bad guys as they’re all deranged. The community Max helps are bland but that is to be expected. I really liked the little kid with the metal boomerang, who turns out to have a larger role than first expected. I also like the inclusion of the unnamed dog Max has with him on his journey as it isn’t done for some silly comedic effect.

With lots of cars being rammed into each other and a sensible amount of blood and ammo “Mad Max 2” knows to not overdo it and enter the realms of dumb action flicks and that’s why it succeeds. Although I haven’t yet had the opportunity to watch the first picture I have seen the third outing and while this one lacks the fun caged battle to the death I did prefer this one. “Mad Max 2” is as smart as some of the other great action pictures out there and I liked the fact it isn’t overly violent as the high certificate had me worried it was just going to be a gore fest.

“Machine Gun Preacher” tells the intriguing real-life story of Sam Childers, an American Christian that has spent his years fighting for Sudanese children. This is a brutal and distressing film but it’s also very uplifting and very moving.

Sam Childers (Gerard Butler “Olympus Has Fallen”, “The Bounty Hunter”) used to be a violent biker thug until he found God. When volunteering in Uganda, he takes a trip to neighbouring Sudan and sees the devastating effects of the Lord’s Resistance Army. He decides to open a church near his home in Pennsylvania as well as an orphanage in Sudan as he fights to keep hundreds of children safe.

Sam Childers is an interesting individual and we see some real conflict within him. He starts off as a violent man and then he becomes a caring and kind man. As his time fighting in Sudan continues, he ends up somewhat returning to his aggressive old ways but he might just be able to get through and get his head back in the right place. Gerard Butler gives a good performance as you feel very sympathetic towards Sam. The other characters in the film are all good but the real focus of the film is on the Childers character.

Whether you agree or disagree with Childers, you cannot deny that this a powerful story. This film features some great performances and some great realistic action sequences that help you understand Childers’ spiritual and moral journey to try and atone for the sins of his past. This is a terrific film but I must warn you, the violence depicted in the movie is truly shocking and very realistic. The ending even features real photos and clips of the real Sam Childers as well as some of the abused children he encountered in Africa. This is a great film that highlights the issue faced by Christian children in what is now South Sudan (the film is set prior to the division of the nation) and it does it in an incredibly entertaining and engaging way.

“Machete” is a spin-off of one of the fake trailers featured in the movie “Grindhouse”. Like its spawn point “Machete” is made to look like an old-fashioned exploitation film with tons of violence and nudity but has the budget of a modern big picture.

“Machete” begins with grainy video quality like “Grindhouse” but sadly, it loses that after the first scene. We are introduced to Machete, who is played by regular collaborator with the director Robert Rodriguez: Danny Trejo (the two worked on several films including “From Dusk Till Dawn”). Machete is betrayed when he’s told he’s helping Mexicans have an easier time crossing the border into America so therefore decides to go to war with them.

Danny Trejo to me has always been quite good but he’s hardly ever given a decent role. The trailer in “Grindhouse” starring him was a taster of how great he’d been as an action star and “Machete” provides some evidence; it’s interesting note that the Machete he plays here is the same as he does in “Spy Kids”. Both Jessica Alba (“Fantastic Four”) and Michelle Rodriguez (“Resident Evil”) are good as the women who Machete of course gets. I wish we’d see more of Robert De Niro (“Goodfellas”, “Cape Feare”) because he’s excellent here. Steven Seagal (“Under Siege”) is average but this is easily the best film he’s ever done.

“Machete” isn’t superb and hopefully the two sequels it promises will improve on it but for what it is, I found it to fit the bill. It crams a lot of over the top gore and a lot of nudity in it but that’s what it is supposed to do. I like some of the cheesy lines, I like its creativeness with the violence and I definitely like Danny Trejo, we only need more of this for it to be better.

People often call “Mac And Me” one of the worst movies out there or claim that it is so bad it’s good. However, maybe I’m going crazy but I legitimately enjoyed it. Yes, it cheesy, yes, it’s a rip-off “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” and yes, it’s a feature-length advert for McDonalds and Coca Cola but it’s still enjoyable.

An alien family is unintentionally brought back to Earth. When they escape from a government facility, the youngest one finds get lost and winds up with a family that has just moved to California. Eventually, the alien bonds with the young boy by the name of Eric (Jade Calegory).

Although the title indicates that the alien is called ‘Mac’, it’s actually used more as an acronym with M.A.C. standing for ‘Mysterious Alien Creature’. While the main alien looks fine and the animatronics are fairly good, the other aliens (particularly the father) look a lot less impressive. The aliens need to drink Coca Cola as it is similar to a substance from their home planet. Eric is okay and his friend Debbie (Lauren Stanley) is somewhat amusing. Despite being central to some of the trailers for the film, Ronald McDonald (Squire Fridell) only appears briefly.

“Mac And Me” is a surprisingly charming children’s film and I just do not understand why people hate it so much or make fun of it. There are some laughable moments here and there (such as the McDonalds dance scene) but I found it to be an entertaining experience. I have seen many, many terrible films such as “Birdemic”, “Santa Claus Conquers Martians” and “Troll 2” and have totally understood why they are so ridiculed. If you have seen “E.T.” then this is pretty much the same thing. The music in this film is also really good. While it certainly is nothing amazing, I am going to recommend “Mac And Me”.

I have said before that I’m not that fond of the Marx Brothers (“Duck Soup”, “Animal Crackers”) despite the fact I love Groucho and I’ve said before that I’m not impressed with this final outing starring the comedic group.

In this movie, a private investigator named Sam Grunion (Groucho Marx) recounts one of his cases. We find a bunch of Broadway hopefuls who are given food by a master shoplifter named Harpo (Harpo Marx). Harpo has accidentally stolen a can of sardines that actually contain stolen diamonds. Now it is up to Faustino (Chico Marx) and Harpo to thwart these diamond thieves.

Groucho Marx has a real moustache in this film and not that delightful grease painted one he normally has. Groucho hated this film so much that he considers “A Night In Casablanca” to be the last of the Marx Brothers movies. In fact, Groucho sadly is only in the film for a few minutes, which is a tremendous shame as I think he’s the funniest. Chico is okay. Harpo although not good does provide some minor chuckles with his slapstick although it is no match for Harold Lloyd or Buster Keaton’s work. Marilyn Monroe (“Some Like It Hot”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”) makes her screen debut as an unnamed client of Groucho’s Sam Grunion.

Since the brothers don’t all feature in any of the same scenes can you even consider this a true Marx Brothers movie? If you love the Marx Brothers, don’t mind the fact Groucho’s appearance is brief and don’t mind that at times the movie spends time on characters you won’t care about then you’ll probably enjoy the movie. Also if you’re a major movie fan like me I guess it’s good to be able to check off that you’ve seen both the last of the Marx Brothers films and the first to feature Marilyn Monroe.

“Lost In Translation” is a very interesting film that perfectly manages to capture that feeling you get whenever you step out of your comfort zone. Sofia Coppola (“Somewhere”) shows that she is a much better director than actress (anybody else remember her performance in “Godfather Part III”?).

“Lost In Translation” shows how a faded film star, called Bob (Bill Murray “Groundhog Day”, “Caddyshack”), and a neglected young woman by the name of Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson “Iron Man 2”) find themselves united as they struggle to cope with the cultural differences and language barrier whilst staying in Japan. As their misadventures continue, their friendship grows stronger.

I think Bill Murray is very funny playing what is essentially an exaggerated version of himself. The scene where he is trying to follow a director’s instructions for whiskey advert is genius. Scarlett Johansson is also really good. The two have a lot of chemistry. The characters make small talk in a bar in one scene and find themselves singing the hearts out in a karaoke competition in another and you can see the chemistry maintained throughout the picture. Both do a wonderful job conveying the feelings of both confusion and frustration you feel when you go abroad and try to interact with the unfamiliar population and surroundings.

This film may seem a little isolating and I can see a lot of people not liking its style but I think many others will relate to what you see here. The performances are incredibly strong and the film has some clever scenes here and there. The film is a touching romantic story and it feels grounded in reality so that you can really believe the events that unfold. The film is strange in that if it were not for the subject matter, this might be a bad film.