Something about.. The Fast and the Furious 5

I never hold out much hope for the second or third instalment in a Hollywood franchise like the Fast and the Furious - let alone the fifth. But number five took me by surprise.

I must start by admitting that having missed number four there were a few loose ends which I couldn't quite tie up - but taking that into consideration, Fast and Furious 5 certainly did what it said on the tin. It was fast and definitely furious.

Packed full of fast action scenes, shoot-outs, fights, car chases and stunts, the film provided everything which made the franchise so popular among the male species.

But what made this particular film extra special was bringing together characters from each of the four former movies, which certainly linked together some rather loose links between number one, two and four, with the rather odd-one-out number three - Tokyo Drift. Although the chronological placement of whether this, the fifth, was in fact a sequel or a prequel, I will leave to you to decide - but the uncertainly made for a more interesting storyline.

It was good to see original characters Dominic Toretto, Brian O'Conner, Mia Toretto and Vince back together for this film - as well as bringing in characters from the later films, with an extra special guest, The Rock.

What was the most surprising about Fast and Furious 5 was that the storyline was actually complex and engaging - there was no clutching at straws as there usually is once film-makers get this far down the line. But my my boyfriend's criticism did seem rather valid - there was a distinct lack in racing and cars, the very things which made this franchise so popular with the boys.

Even so - and saying this as a girl, not quite the target audience - I really enjoyed the latest instalment and would certainly recommend it. Not only was it an enjoyable two hours, but I definitely got brownie points with the man.

Something about.. Something Borrowed

I was well overdue for a girly chick-flick trip to the cinema. And Something Borrowed was just what the doctor ordered.

It was fun and bubbly and didn't take itself to seriously - thankfully.

To be honest with you, as a 22-year-old girl, all it takes is a love story, Kate Hudson and a dishy lead man - and the promise of a wedding - and I'm happy. So really, Something Borrowed hit the nail on the head.

It wasn't life changing, it won't be a film which will come off of the shelf at every girly get together and slumber party for the next decade, but it ticked all the boxes it needed to.

The lead characters were fun, but avoided being two-dimensional, and the interaction and chemistry between them was natural and easy. But most importantly, Something Borrowed was light-hearted and was scattered with laugh-out-loud moments and one-liners.

Kate Hudson always creates a likeable and endearing character - and even as the slightly bitchy and annoying Darcy, I still found myself warming to her and routing for her. Whereas Ginnifer Goodwin played the goody-goody lawyer Rachel, who I did find rather annoying. Still, the 'best friends' meshed well on screen which added to the awkward storyline of best friends crossing the line.

It's not necessarily something I would watch again and again, but I would certainly recommend it to my girlfriends for a girly evening in with a Chinese takeaway.

Something about.. Limitless

Limitless - without limit, boundless, the possibilities are endless. And the possibilities of what this film could have done were limitless. But disappointingly it didn't quite push the boundaries enough.

Don't get me wrong, the film was good and exciting and the idea was solid: if there was a drug that could allow you to access 100% of your brain what would you be capable of? An innovative and thrilling idea for sure, but the film makers just didn't quite bring enough to the table.

I never thought I would hear myself saying this - as a self-confessed lover of different and sophisticated films - but there just wasn't enough car-chasing, fighting, fast-paced action sequences.

The plot was strong, and the idea was a breath of fresh air - for once, not a regurgitation of a story told too many times before. It was original. But some of the details were lacking and characters were underdeveloped and a few strands of the story were questionable.

The film was fast-paced and action-packed, but could have done with much, much more. It failed to deliver everything it could have done.

I would never argue that Bradley Cooper was the greatest actor to walk the red carpet - needless to say it is enjoyable to watch him on screen for 90 minutes. He played the part well, but did nothing to surprise or shock.

Robert Deniro made a convincing business man and baddie, but needed to be more of a prominent antagonist.

Altogether I would recommend the film - but don't rush out and watch it as soon as possible like I did. It's definitely not worth the rush.

Something about.. Unknown

Trailers usually give a good indication as to whether a film will be good or not - like the trailer and you'll like the film. But not in the case of Unknown.

The trailer for this film pulled me in and I was eager to see the action thriller.

The film started off strongly. Despite Liam Neeson's painfully dire acting, the film started on the right foot. It didn't dawdle and threw the audience into the storyline and action quickly, which was engaging and thrilling.

Diane Kruger gave a strong and dynamic performance, as always, in the role of Gina, and January Jones was fitting for the glamourous but mysterious role of Dr Martin Harris' (played by Neeson) 'wife'.

The film was effective in staging the story, the action was subtle and not too over-the-top, using diverse film techniques such as slow-motion and light, to create atmosphere and add to the overall film experience.

But as the story started to turn, so did my enjoyment.

The pace and momentum of the film built well, and as the story grew darker, I remained optimistic about the plot.

The film-makers did well to invent an ending which I certainly did not see coming. But it felt like a cop-out, an anti-climax. Like the script writers just got bored and said 'yeah, that'll do'. They might as well have just killed everyone off.

The film built up the suspense well and then just threw it out of the window as the plot went off in another direction. Many have complimented the film on it's surprise twist, but I found it somewhat disappointing.

Neeson initially stepped out of his comfort zone to play a role which was un-focused on action and corny one-liners, but it didn't take long for him to slip back into his well-known and well-practiced routine character.

Kruger and Jones were enjoyable to watch on screen, and Frank Langella, appeared late on in the film to portray his signature mysterious role.

If you liked Taken then Unknown is probably worth a watch. I'd say wait for it to come on the late-night Film 4 schedule.

Something about.. Chalet Girl

It's difficult to go wrong really.

It's a well-tested and successful formula - romantic comedy plus English humour plus beautiful people (particularly Ed Westwick) equals instant box office success.

I bring you Chalet Girl.

The latest in the modern-day brand of romantic-comedies. If you're expecting something as memorable or as funny as Bridget Jones then you'll be disappointed. But take it for what it is and you'll leave the cinema satisfied.

Chalet Girl is the story of Kim (Felicity Jones), a former skateboarding champion who strikes it lucky and lands a chalet girl job in an Austria ski resort to make money to support her struggling dad (Bill Bailey). As her luck continues the boss's son happens to be the handsome, charming and rich Johnny, cue Ed Westwick.

Jones sparkles in the film - buzzing with energy, charisma and personality, she embodies the quintessential English attitude - and sarcasm.

Westwick brings with him the endearing qualities of his popular Gossip Girl character, Chuck Bass. He once again slips effortlessly into the role of the filthy rich, tuxedo-wearing, smoulderingly sexy heart throb. Not that I'm biased or anything.

With a stella supporting cast consisting of Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Sophia Bush and Tamsin Egerton - Chalet Girl is a bundle of fun from start to finish.

The film taps brilliantly into the modern-day young audience - many of whom enjoy ski holidays or have lived a ski season, offering a balance of realistic season experiences with aspirational (if a little corny) living-the-dream moments as Kim becomes a star snowboarder and wins over the hunky love interest.

Skirting around the slightly hollow storyline and the poor flashbacks, Chalet Girl is simply a good modern love story which will appeal to the masses.

It won't change your life. It won't make any award nomination lists or the IMDB top 250. But it will leave you wanting more fluffy fun.

Something about.. The Adjustment Bureau

The Adjustment Bureau doesn't have a title that particularly pulled me in. But it's description as Inception meets Bourne did intrigue me.

Matt Damon once again stepped into an action role with great ease. And Emily Blunt was a refreshing choice as the lead actress in the big Hollywood thriller.

Damon plays David Norris, a popular congressman who falls in love with Elise (Blunt), a ballerina, and suddenly finds himself subject to a mysterious group of men who are intent on keeping the lovers apart.

The Adjustment Bureau can be enjoyed on two levels: as a simple love story, where two people overcome all the obstacles to be together, or on a philosophical level, as higher forces decide our fate and the paths we take through life which is laid out as part of an ultimate plan.

I enjoyed it on one level - as a simple love story. The chemistry between Damon and Blunt was refreshing and full of life. And as a viewer I wanted them to make it together as a couple. But I struggled to enjoy the deeper strand of the film. Although I liked the idea and the theory behind it, it could've been executed better.

I found the importance of hats and the use of doors took away from the seriousness of the idea of fate. It all got a little bit silly.

There were hints of Bourne within the film - obviously due to the use of Damon as the lead character, but also through his cat-and-mouse chase with mysterious men and his search for answers.

And the comparison to Inception was clear throughout, but The Adjustment Bureau steered clear of over-complicating itself to the level that Inception did.

It's worth a watch - but I'd wait for the DVD and save yourself £8.

Something about.. I am Number Four

Sometimes it pays off to take a chance on a film - even if you're convinced you will hate it.

Today I took a gamble on I am Number Four. And it paid off.

I am not usually a fan of films which are about a) aliens or b) people with super powers.

I am Number Four blends both of these things. John (Alex Pettyfer) is one of only nine who survived from his planet, and have come to Earth for refuge. But three others like him have already been killed by an enemy from another planet which seeks to destroy their kind and take over the planet.

This is not a plot which entices me - nor is it one which I would usually enjoy.

But I really liked this film.

Pettyfer was the ideal lead characters - handsome, mysterious but likeable. And the relatively unknown actor gave a strong performance fringed with subtle references to his planet and powers. The film did not overkill the 'alien' aspect of the film, making it much more enjoyable and must less silly.

Timothy Olyphant gave a slightly 2D performance as Henri, John's guardian - but he fulfilled his role as a strong and protective hero, the closest thing to family for the lead youngster.

And the supporting cast was good. The beautiful Dianna Agron played Sarah, the love interest, and Callan McAuliffe created an amusing and kind character in Sam. Teresa Palmer was stiff in her scenes but she was a strong female character - refreshing in modern cinema to see a woman coming into the plot and saving the lead character and acting as a mentor.

Unlike alien invasion movies, I am Number Four was convincing and actually believable. I don't mean to say that I left the screen thinking there are aliens with super powers living among us - but I didn't spend the whole film laughing at the story and the characters.

The film ended with the perfect set up for a sequel. And I can safely say I would take a chance on that too.