My MUST SEE Classic Films – Moulin Rouge! (2001) – Directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Lequizamo and Jim Broadbent.

I fell in love with Moulin Rouge! the moment I saw it, along with the work of Baz Luhrmann for that matter. A story of freedom, beauty, truth and above all love. The star studded cast seduced me with a visual masterpiece of colour, music and passion. We follow a young and handsome writer named Christian (Ewan McGregor) as he heads to Paris to follow the Bohemian revolution taking hold of the city's drug and prostitute infested underworld. He ends up at the famous Moulin Rouge! where he falls in love with a beautiful courtesan (Nicole Kidman). I was consumed by their forbidden love affair watching as the couple battle to be together against all odds. The story is told through the best and biggest love songs ever written, all of which have been adapted into the Moulin Rouge! style. Surprisingly enough, Ewan McGregor’s voice is astounding. Everything works against the couple ending in a tragic, tear jerking end. Christian soon learns and realises the consequences of living in such a warped life. There’s no laws, no limits, but there is one rule, never fall in love. One for the quirky romantics.

Limitless – Directed by Neil Burger and starring Bradley Cooper, Anna Friel and Robert De Niro.

Sometimes we think we would give anything to live the perfect life where anything is possible and we have everything we have ever wanted, but is our dream world really as perfect as we think it is? Writer, Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) discovers a top secret drug which gives him super human abilities and allows him to use 100% of his mind. An ideal fix to a less than ordinary life. He rises to the top in the financial world and is noticed by Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro) who sees this powerful man as the tool to make billions. Quickly events spiral out of control and Eddie becomes the target for a group of assassins of which he has to escape before it’s too late. The film kept me gripped and Bradley Cooper’s performance was outstanding. It also got me thinking. People should be content with what they have in life. Perfection isn’t everything. This is most definitely one for the over thinkers.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 – Directed by David Yates and starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

What happened to the good old days at Hogwarts? No games of Quidditch or scrumptious banquets in this new addition to the Harry Potter collection. The films have always been pretty dark and mysterious. The Deathly Hallows is no exception; in fact it is by far the darkest of them all. We watch as Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes and uncovers the existence of three of the most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows. Of course, Ron and Hermione are along for the ride, aiding Harry with his mission. I must say I do like the trio, they have a certain magic on screen, get it? I was upset when Ron abandoned Harry and Hermione half way through the film. It seems that emotions and hormones are overflowing as he becomes a little envious of his friends relationship.  As this is only part 1 we are awaiting the arrival of part 2 which will complete the story. It is definitely worth a watch, but don’t expect the jolly Harry Potter that we used to see. This is one for the dedicated Harry Potter fans.

The Adjustment Bureau – Directed by George Nolfi and starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.

Wow! It’s been a while since such a powerful love story has graced the big screen. Matt Damon plays Politician David Norris excellently, leading us through an unexpected and cleverly crafted story. David and the love of his life, Elise, are kept apart by mysterious forces who insist they are not supposed to be together. However, we all know that true love can conquer anything right? Imagine a world where life all went according to plan and any deviation from that plan is quickly corrected. Free will is only an illusion and what we think of as fate is really control. Control from a high power. Unsatisfied with life David decides to change his fate. Strange men in hats and suits seem to hold all power, but when David himself gets his hands on one of these mysterious hats he too starts to open doors that make a change. This is one for the romance fans, so if star crossed lovers are your thing then The Adjustment Bureau is for you.

Unknown - Directed by Jaume Collett-Serra and starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger and January Jones.

It has to be said that I have a slightly biased view of any film starring Liam Neeson. Truth be known, I find his husky voice, huge physique and massive star status rather appealing, but that’s just me. His previous 2008 film Taken, which was released straight to DVD was one of my favourites, enjoying Neeson fulfilling the infamous American hero role. Unknown has a very similar style with Neeson anilating any obstacle that gets in his way. After waking from a coma, Dr Martin Harris (Neeson) loses his identity. Let me rephrase that, has his identity stolen. We follow Dr Harris on a journey of ups and downs as he aims to prove who he is. So we expect him to do just that, yes? However, it proves to be a difficult task when your own wife doesn’t even recognise you. But there’s a very clever twist, one that I certainly didn’t expect. The film is suprising and had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. One for the Neeson fans – also known as, anyone like me!

The Social Network - New DVD Release - Directed by David Fincher and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake.

It's a sad thought that when it comes to money, friendship often comes in second place. Based on the true story of the founding of Facebook, The Social Network highlighted this perfectly. Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard undergraduate with amazing computer skills, realises the power of the internet when he embarrasses his ex girlfriend in an online blog. He is caught up in a massive lawsuit with the wealthy Winklevoss twins who say he has stolen their idea. Mark loses all his friends on his journey but remains the youngest billionaire in the world. The film was a bit slow moving at times but I couldn't help being amazed at the enormity of the Facebook phenomena which has changed the way we communicate. At the end of the film, Mark cuts a lonely figure 'Facebooking' the girlfriend he lost; I wanted to ask him if it was worth it. Although, I did enjoy staring at Justin Timberlake who makes an appearance, this is definitely one for the computer nerds. 

Black Swan - Directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel.

I left the cinema in a daze after having watched the dark twists and turns of the Black Swan unfold before me. Confused is the word I would use. Nina (Portman), a dancer at a New York ballet company had finally got her dream role as Swan Queen. However, her obsession with being ‘perfect’ as both the white and black swan leads to her downfall. I found it difficult to separate Nina’s hallucinations with what was actually happening, which I guess is the whole point. Yet, I found it more annoying than psychologically thrilling. Deeply threatened by Lily (Kunis), who dances the black swan flawlessly, Nina hallucinates a sexual encounter with her which was, I felt, gratuitous. The sexual undercurrents throughout the film add little to the plot. Nevertheless, the film had me hooked with the beauty and skill of the dancers. The film was visually mesmerising, one for the ballet buffs.