1. X-Men 8.5/10

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen

An entertaining and engaging introduction to the franchise, this movie has a great cast, good direction and a storyline that keeps the viewer involved.

2. Two Weeks’ Notice  7/10

Stars: Hugh Jackman and Sandra Bullock

A funny and entertaining movie that I enjoyed more than I expected to. Bullock gives a great performance and Grant plays the sort of character he has become known for.

3. A Bug’s Life 6/10

Stars: Dave Foley and Kevin Spacy

Though I am not a fan of animated movies this is better than the usual Pixar movie.  I can see how it would have attraction for an audience of children.

4. Friends With Kids  6.5/10

Stars: Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt

Not bad. as chick flicks go. Scott and Westfeldt were endearing in the lead roles and the story was good.  Some quite funny moments.

5. X2  8.5/10

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen

A good movie. Once again McKellen is great.  The cast works well together and the story moves along well. Nice character development of the mutants.

6. Inglourious Basterds 8.5/10

Stars: Brad Pitt and Christopher Waltz

A well-directed movie with a lot of the hallmarks of Tarantino movies. Some good tense moments with a few humorous parts as well. On the whole quite an entertaining film.

7. Premium Rush  4/10

Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon

The concept is good but the movie seemed to drag.  Gordon-Levitt gave a good performance but I found Shannon unconvincing as the corrupt cop.  Didn’t quite keep me interested.

8. Rent 8.5/10

Stars: Anthony Rapp, Rosario Dawson and Jesse L Martin

A great adaptation of Jonathon Larson’s stage musical.  The cast gels well, the songs are amazing and the direction is really well done.  Thoroughly enjoyable.

9. Patricia Cornwall’s Hornet’s Nest 6/10

Stars: Sherry Stringfield and Robbie Amell

A reasonable adaptation of the book with good performances by Stringfield and Amell.  The plot is well-developed and this made-for-tv movie flows well. Kept me engaged throughout.

10. McBride: Requiem  6/10

Stars: John Larroquette and Marta Dubois

A made-for-tv mystery movie with a fairly good plot and some strong characters. The interaction between the main actors in this franchise is quite interesting and the stories in the movies provide a chance for further development.

11. Teen Beach Movie 6.5/10

Stars: Maia Mitchell and Ross Lynch

An entertaining modern parody of the beach movies of the 50s and 60s. Lots of corny dialogue and hammy overacting made it amusing.  The choreography and songs were quite good. A cast of Disney regulars.

12. The Five Heartbeats 4/10

Stars: Robert Townsend and Michael Wright

I really wanted to like this movie but it just seemed to drag.  The music was fine the actor’s were ok but the story seemed to lack any real direction and momentum.

13. Not Suitable for Children  4/10

Stars: Ryan Kwantan and Sarah Snook

Not a very credible storyline but the actors try to pull it off.  There are some funny moments and some sad parts and the characters are reasonably likable but I found myself losing interest.

14. Company  7.5/10

Stars: Neil Patrick Harris and Patti Lupone

A great cast and some wonderful Sondheim songs.  I felt this was a little like someone took a Woody Allan movie and turned it into a musical.  The characters were well-developed and Harris was excellent.

15. Now You See Me  8.5/10

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo

This was a very entertaining movie with an excellent cast and and a well-developed storyline,  I enjoyed every minute of it. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between the characters. A great movie for fans of Oceans Eleven and similar movies.  

16. Wuthering Heights 5.5/10

Stars: Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley

This made-for-tv movie was all right but nothing special.  It followed the Bronte book well but was a little slow moving.  Not as good as I expected it would be.

17. North By Northwest 8/10

Stars: Cary Grant and Eva Marie Sainte.

One of my favourite Hitchcock movies with all the hallmarks of his style.  Great performances by the whole cast and an excellent storyline, with a wonderful Bernard Hermann soundtrack.

18. Strictly Ballroom 8/10

Stars: Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice

Always an entertaining choice and worth re-visiting occassionally.  The music and dancing are great.  While I am not a fan of Baz Luhrmann movies this classic is one that never ceases to keep me interested.

19. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 7.5/10

Stars: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter

Tim Burton’s movie adaptation of the stage musical is quite good.  Depp is suitably chilling as the eponymous barber and Bonham-Carter also gives a good performance. The songs by Stephen Sondheim are, of course, the highlight.

20. 30 Minutes or Less 4.5/10

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride

An average movie with a small number of comedic moments.  The cast tries hard but they don’t quite pull it off.  Doesn’t quite achieve its potential.

21. Terri 6.5/10

Stars: Jacob Wysocki and John C. Reilly

A moving and thought-provoking look at adolescent angst. Wysocki gives an excellent performance as the small town teenager struggling to adjust.

22. Trouble with the Curve 8/10

Stars: Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams

A good movie in the inspirational sporting movies sub-genre with strong performances by Eastwood and Adams.  It was entertaining and engaging and the main characters were very likable.

23.  No Country for Old Men  6.5/10

Stars: Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin

An interesting but slightly too long movie with more blood and gore than I have liked.  Good performances by all of the cast and some great dialogue.

24. The Hunting Party 5/10

Stars: Terrence Howard and Richard Gere

I expected this to be a little better.  It seemed to drag and failed to keep me engaged.  That being said the cast tried hard and there were some strong performances.

25. I am You (aka In Her Skin) 7/10

Stars: Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto

A disturbing and moving true story with some excellent performances by the main characters. Much better than I expected it to be.

26.  How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying  8/10

Stars: Robert Morse and Michelle Lee

A great movie version of the Tony Award winning musical.  Morse and Lee give excellent performances, as does Rudy Vallee.

27. Enemy of the State  7.5/10

Stars: Will Smith and Gene Hackman

Quite a good thriller with just the right amount of suspense.  The plot is well-developed and the stars do a great job of creating their characters.  Odd that Seth Green has such a big role yet is uncredited.

28. Behind the Candelabra  7.5/10

Stars: Michael Douglas and Matt Damon

A really entertaining biopic with a suitable amount of flamboyance.  Douglas captures the characteristics of Liberace well and Damon gives a good performance as his lover. A good treatment of the life of the entertainer.

29. Across the Universe  8/10

Stars: Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess

This romance has a good plot which is set against the background of the Vietnam War era.  The soundtrack of songs by The Beatles helps to drive it along.  Could have done without the cameo by Bono though.

30. Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging   6.5/10

Stars: Georgia Groome and Aaron Taylor-Johnson

A cute and funny movie about becoming a teenager and the issues that faces this age group.  Alan Davies is amusing as the father dealing with a daughter who is ‘becoming a woman now’.

31. Goon 7/10

Stars: Seann William Scott and Liev Schreiber

A rather violent hockey movie with a good performance by Scott as the likable protagonist. The cast is strong and the story flows quickly, maintaining interest and momentum.