X2

X2; Sequel knows key to X-Men success lies in Wolverine, and maintains focus on him and his backstory, while offering up some new mutants that explode off the screen. Some excellent set pieces and character combinations make for poignant dialogue exchanges filled w/allegory. Storm still sucks; B+

X-Men

X-Men; Great start to the film series, giving us a sense of the characters and their motivations, while keeping the moral allegories intact and underlying throughout. Centres on Wolverine, which is understandable given he’s always been the most popular mutant and Jackman doesn’t disappoint; B+

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty & the Beast; Faithful, extravagant, cleverly cast feast for the eyes. More emotionally impacting & frightening. Missed Human Again; A-

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies; Epic Carnage. Fights galore. Almost outpaces the story and characters in its battle orgy; A-

X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past; New mutants to franchise provide thrills while old mutants offer dramatic weight. Expertly paced & crafted; A-

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; More merriment & character building results in more engaging moments. Still, middle film let down; B+

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; Peter Jackson=his own worst enemy. This time around seems less magical, more expected. Humour works; B+

Gods and Monsters

Gods and Monsters; In one of those instances where Hollywood romanticises its past by making a feature about one of its own, Gods and Monsters succeeds. But what really puts it into a category of its own is the love at which the subject in question, director James Whale, is handled. Played beautifully by McKellen (in a truly Oscar worthy performance), Whale comes off not unlike his most famous work, Frankenstein, and his monster. Misunderstood by the industry, and all those around him, Whale is cast as an outsider. His open homosexuality adds further to his alienation and bewilderment in his final years. Fraser and Redgrave are magnificent supporting McKellen's performance as the only two who truly get to know him. Wonderful portrait of an artist in his later years; B