Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995) - James D. R. Hickox

This one was only slightly better than the second instalment. It was nice that it was different from the previous two, in a different setting altogether. The actor who played Eli, Daniel Cerny, was the best thing about it, genuinely believable when possessed by He Who Walks Behind The Rows, and his speeches were very good pieces of monologue.

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1992) - David Price

Yeah, I bought the boxset of Children of the Corns so I'm hoping for at least one to be as good (if not, better) than the original. This one wasn't great. The deaths were cool, I suppose, but the teen angst lead was really irritating, as were most of the characters until the love interest entered the storyline: she was gorgeous.

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

SPOILERS Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) - Thor Freudenthal SPOILERS

I have read most of the Percy Jackson books, but this was at least four years ago, and the first movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (2010) - Chris Columbus wasn't too memorable, other than that I thought it was quite good, and an alright adaptation, considering all the changes that were made.
This version was less so. There was too much packed into the hour and forty-five minute run time. Nathan Fillion's cameo was a particular highlight of mine, particularly with the Firefly reference; it made me laugh.
I feel as if the film dumbed it down a little bit, unnecessarily. The Polyphemus problem was solved too easily with Nobody not even mentioned once. If you don't understand what I mean, go and read Homer's Odyssey, you Philestine! But I'm sure there was meant to be a scene with Aries and Aphrodite, or maybe that's the next one. Anyway, there was too much missing from this one, and it's bad that as a person who doesn't remember the books too much, I can notice this.
A bit of a disappointment considering I enjoyed the first one so much.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013) - Declan Lowney

The message in this is hidden through layers and layers of Steve Coogan's comedy genius, and there wasn't a spare five minutes without laughter. Unlike most TV shows getting a film, Steve Coogan has waited just long enough for this film to be made, so that it still resounds as funny, and the audience does want more. What's more is that it is believable and doesn't aim too high above it's station. As a long term Partridge fan, I was not disappointed.
It's nice to see Colm Meany back in a starring role as well.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The Lone Ranger (2013) - Gore Verbinski

I think the other critics are being unnaturally unkind to this film. It's a good movie, sure, a little slow in parts, but the action sequences (mostly on trains) are stunning to view, and amazing feats of filmmaking.
As a big fan of westerns, I noticed references to The Searchers (1956) - John Ford, Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) - Sergio Leone, Back to the Future Part III (1990) - Robert Zemeckis and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) - also Sergio Leone, amongst others; they're obvious if you watch them, and shots are made into lovely homages. Go and see it.
Ignore the other critics, if you like Westerns especially, go and see it!

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Les Misérables (2012) - Tom Hooper

I think this gets better every time I watch it.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

PS Anyone who doesn't like this film, or fails to cry, is a Philestine.

Ali G Indahouse (2002) - Mark Mylod

Not Ali A, not Ali B, not Ali C, not Ali D, not Ali... E, not Ali F, but Ali...
This film is simple, but hilarious, a definite clue of the greatness in store for Sacha Baron Cohen, and Martin Freeman who also crops up as part of Ali's West Side Crew. A genius look at the culture of British teens and those in their early 20s.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆