Machine Gun Preacher

A thug who loves drink and drugs changes his life 180 degrees to become a born-again Christian. He leaves his comfortable home in the USA and goes to Uganda and Sudan to do charity work. Sounds like a plot for a movie, eh? Oh wait - it is a movie, but one that is based on a true story.
Gerard Butler plays Sam Childers, who decides to build an orphanage in Sudan in the face of the terrible war and suffering he witnesses. But he clashes with rebel forces that turn boys into soldiers and girls into sex slaves. He takes up arms against them and gets the name of 'machine gun preacher'.
While it is always good to see Butler on screen again, this movie is one that will fade through the memory banks.

Rating: 2 outta 5.

Underworld: Awakening

There are a few starlets who can pull off hard-core action roles, yet retain their femininity. Kate Beckinsale as Selene in the Underworld movie series is one of those starlets. And man oh man - she is back and raring to go!
This time, the fearless vampire warrior escapes prison, only to find herself endangered from humans. You see, they have found out about the existence of vampires and Lycans and are hell bent on destroying both species. Eek!
Be sure to give this one a watch.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Margin Call

Everyone is still living with the harsh legacy of the 2008 financial crisis. Wouldn't you love to see how it all started?

This flick has a strong cast: Kevin Spacey as Sam, Zachary Quinto as Peter, Jeremy Irons as John and Demi Moore as Sarah. Together, they tell the strong, grim story of the 24 hours before hell broke loose.

Eric is fired, and he hands over information to Peter. An all-night emergency meeting is called, with CEO John. What ensues is a thrilling fight for survival, as individuals and for the company. If you already hated corporate greed before, this will make you loath it now.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

A Little Bit of Heaven

If you want to see Whoopi Goldberg act as the voice of God in a heaven filled with fluffy clouds glistened with the colours of the sun set, here you have it. Other than that, this movie is so predictable you don't need be a psychic to know what's going to happen next.

So, Kate Hudson takes on another rom-com - what a surprise! Here she plays Marley, a sassy, independent career woman (another surprise!). This time around she is diagnosed with cancer. But luckily for her, her doctor is the extremely smouldering Gael García Bernal and, oh surprise, he falls for her.

Rating: 1 outta 5.

Footloose

When this movie was made way back in the 1980s, it launched the careers of a few stars, now respected A-listers like Kevin Bacon and Sarah Jessica Parker. I wonder if it will do the same for this cast.

The movie is about a city kid, Ren, who moves to a small town. There he finds that his two passions - dancing and music - have been banned because five kids recently died returning from a dance. Upholding the ban is Reverend Shaw Moore .

It is quite inevitable what happens next: Ren challenges the ban, fights for dance, encounters a dance-off and falls for Moore's daughter Ariel. It is as clichéd chocolates for Valentine's Day, but harmless fun too.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Lisbeth Salander has got to be one of the most riveting,intriguing, fierce and complex heroines I've seen in a while. And you know what?I root for Team Lisbeth! She is an integral part of this who-dunnit, taken fromthe book of the same name and the 2009 Swedish movie adaptation.

A rich businessman requires the services of journalist MikaelBlomkvist to solve the 40 year old murder of his niece. Blomkvist and Salanderare thrown into a damaged family of incestuous creeps, liars, killers and Nazis.
The excellent cinematography is juxtaposed between a bleak wintrySweden, and the warm hued past.
Now this is how a murder mystery flick is done...and sjoe, tothink it is a remake!
Rating: 3 outta 5.