Avengers: Age of Ultron (12A)

Director - Joss Whedon

Starring - Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Runtime - 141 minutes

Marvel fans, comic book fans, super hero fans, film fans across the globe have waited for this movie with baited breath. And did it deliver...?

It has been three years since Earth's Mightiest Heroes first teamed up to save the world from Loki and his Chitauri army. Now, Iron Man, Captain America et al. are back to face an enemy much closer to home.

The plot, if you really didn't know by now, centres on Tony Stark's attempts to make an artificial intelligence that could help control his peace-keeping robot force. However, things don't go according to plan and instead the team are faced with Ultron. If that wasn't bad enough, our heroes also have to contend with the Maximoff twins; enhanced human beings created by Hydra, and driven by revenge.

The film delivers more of the things that made the first Avengers so good; fantastic action sequences, great characters and a wicked humour weaved through it all.
The actors in this film don't disappoint, continuing to deliver the characters that we all know and love. However, this time around we finally get to see a bit more of Hawkeye and he almost steals the show, with some of the best lines and a great rousing speech towards the end. It was fantastic to see what Jeremy Renner could actually do with his role.

 The two newbies, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) held their own well on screen. I much preferred both their performances here than I did when they teamed up for Godzilla last year. And the question as to who is the better Quicksilver, Taylor-Johnson or Evan Peters (from X-Men: Days of Future Past)...? Peters' character was played mostly for comedic effect (which he did brilliantly) but Taylor-Johnson has darker origins which makes him a more serious Quicksilver. However, he does warm up as the film progresses, making it a very close call between the two Kick-Ass actors (in fact I still can't decide between them).

Massive kudos to James Spader for his portrayal of Ultron. If you have ever watched the TV series, The Blacklist, then you know exactly what you're in for. The voice (obviously) and the mannerisms are all the same as Spader's character of Red, just in metallic form. This is not a bad thing; Ultron is a force to be reckoned with and you couldn't imagine anyone else performing the role.

As with the first film, there are some manic and explosive set pieces. My own personal favourites include the final battle and the Hulk Vs Hulk Buster face off. The show down is even more destructive than the trailer indicates, with outstanding effects and that humour evident all the way through. What makes it so good though is the final reaction of Mark Ruffalo, still in his big green guise.

The Age of Ultron canvas hanging in my living room

This film isn't perfect, of course it isn't. With so many characters and so many plot points, there may be audience members that come away not 100% satisfied. But those people will probably be very few in number. As a fan of the Marvel film universe, to me this was a fast-paced, thrilling and funny film that entertained from minute one to the mid-credit stinger (there is nothing post credits).
Joss Whedon has set the bar extremely high for the Russo brothers, who are due to take on Avengers: Infinity War. I for one will miss Mr Whedon's eye for a good visual, strong female characters and hilarious one-liners that has made this movie as marvel-ous (sorry) as it is.

Cinema Review: Fast & Furious 7 (12A)

Director - James Wan

Starring - Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Kurt Russell

Runtime - 137 minutes


The competition for best action film of 2015 has a strong contender with the release of the seventh film in the Fast & Furious franchise. The trailer promised crazy stunts, massive explosions and outrageous fight scenes. But, does the movie deliver? The answer is a resounding yes, plus a whole lot more.

This instalment had a lot to live up to; the previous film was a huge box office success and contained everything a great action film should have. It was a huge task for director James Wan, a man more associated with the horror genre. But he has embraced action and taken it to a whole new level. He has some very interesting techniques, including camera twists and the use of quiet moments in the middle of onscreen chaos to really ramp up the tension.

The cast with director James Wan

 The story continues on from the stinger found at the end of Fast & Furious 6, with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) hell bent on revenge for his brother, Owen (Luke Evans). Within minutes of meeting him, we're treated to a glimpse of just how villainous Deckard really is. Statham's character has been built up as a big bad and he certainly lives up to that reputation. His confrontations with Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Dominic (Vin Diesel) are savage (and WWE fans rejoice, we get to see the Rock Bottom on the big screen).
To get at Shaw, Dominic and his 'family' must help the government (in the form of a suave Kurt Russell) and rescue a young hacker who has a powerful spying program known as 'God's Eye'.

The film is as fast paced as it is furious (see what I did there?). The movie travels to London, Tokyo, L.A, Abu Dhabi, Dominican Republic and even the mountains of Azerbaijan. Each new location has a set piece that is as outrageous as the last. The trailer doesn't do justice to the stunts performed in the film.

There is some great casting. Tony Jaa makes his big Hollywood film debut and it's amazing that he hasn't done this sooner. His speed and technique suits the film perfectly, and he makes Paul Walker look even better than usual during their two showdowns.

My only disappointment with Ronda Rousey is that she wasn't in the film enough. She plays the bodyguard of a Saudi prince, so we only get her onscreen for about 15 minutes. However, what a 15 minutes! Her fight with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is more brutal than any of the female fights in Fast and Furious 6. Again, Rousey's skill and aggression makes her opponent look even better. And extra praise goes to both ladies considering the fact that they performed these stunts whilst wearing floor length cocktail dresses.

Jason Statham as the main villain, Deckard Shaw, was a fantastic decision. He has always managed to pull off mean and moody, but he adds real menace to the character. More terminator than man, he is a great adversary for Dominic.

Buried under all the explosions and crashes, there is the ultimate love story between Letty and Dominic. The previous film was about Dominic's search for the love of his life and his determination to bring her home. This time around, with her memories still lost, it is Letty's turn to search for herself. There are some touching moments between these two and one moving speech that will really tug at the heartstrings.

And then there is Paul Walker. His tragic death put the film in jeopardy and left his friends devastated. There were concerns over whether the film could (or even should) be completed and what to do with the character of Brian. Thankfully most of Walker's scenes had already been completed and, with the help of his two brothers and some CGI, the rest was filled in almost seamlessly. The tribute at the end is extremely moving and a fitting way of saying goodbye. Yes, there were tears in my eyes and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Poster showing the original planned release date.

The film is well on its way to having the biggest opening weekend in Universal's history. Some might watch it for the insane stunts and testosterone fuelled fight scenes. Others might go just to witness the final big screen outing of Paul Walker. No matter your reason, I thoroughly recommend Fast & Furious 7 as a high octane, entertaining picture that will leave you breathless, right up until the final emotional scene.

Cinema Review: Cinderella (U)

Director - Kenneth Branagh

Starring - Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter

Runtime - 105 minutes

Disney are world famous for their animated feature films which have enthralled audiences for generations. But could they capture the magic of one of their own beloved classics in a live action remake?

In this film version, the heroine of the tale is Ella, a beautiful and kind girl who has an idyllic childhood until her mother passes away. After a few years her father remarries, this time to a widow (Cate Blanchett) who moves into Ella's family home with her two appalling daughters, Anastasia and Drisella. Tragedy strikes again when Ella's father dies during one of his business trips, leaving the young lady at the mercy of these three horrid women.

The rest of the story is the same as before; a royal ball is held so that the prince (Richard Madden) can choose a bride. While her stepmother and step sisters attend the shindig, Ella is left at home. But, with the help of her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), a pumpkin, some mice and a pair of glass slippers, she does go to the ball.

Kenneth Branagh has plenty of experience with stunning visuals, directing effects-laden pictures such as Thor. His latest movie is full of dazzling colours that literally sparkle on screen. This could have been sweeter than a sugar cube covered in icing, but Branagh manages to keep the whole thing in perfect balance.

The actors could have all been lifted from the original animation. Lily James looks naturally beautiful and portrays an innocence that makes Ella so likeable.

Ella's stepmother is played by Cate Blanchett, and again, she is perfect in the role. Blanchett is all red lips, husky voice and dirty laugh. She is evil, but the film does a great job at adding an extra dimension to her character, almost creating sympathy for her.

Prince Charming (Madden) is just that; good looking with an engaging personality; the type of boy you would be more than happy to take home to your family. Being a prince is an added bonus.

Helena Bonham Carter was an interesting choice as the Fairy Godmother, one that I was a little unsure of. However, her brand of kooky is refreshing and the character is a lot of fun to watch.

The old cynic in me wanted to dislike this film and I went into the cinema with average expectations. However, the movie grabbed me by the heart and kept me captivated from start to finish. Even though I knew the story, I was entertained for the entire time and at several points could feel a lump in my throat (damn you Disney). After the film, I reverted back to being a little girl, fully prepared to believe in magic. The cynic in me had disappeared, at least for a short while.
I would thoroughly recommend this film to both young and old, and urge you to remember: "Have courage, and be kind!"

MMA Firghters who made it onto the Big Screen

For years WWE wrestlers have been having a go at acting roles; from Hogan to Cena, from Kane to The Rock. Some have been more successful than others; not everyone can reinvigorate the Fast and Furious franchise (yes, we're looking at you Mr Johnson). But the jump from wrestling entertainer to actor isn't so ridiculous. There is no doubt that professional wrestlers must be in shape (well mostly, *cough* Big Show *cough*) but we all know it's fake. Everything is scripted and performed according to some verbal agreement. So, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise when those athletes decide to take their acting skills from the squared circle to the big screen.


Now you're probably wondering what that has to do with the title of this article. Well, let me tell you. Lately, there has been a small, but significant, charge of MMA fighters towards the profession of acting. The warriors of the cage (I hate that term but only the UFC has an octagon) now want their chance to get in on the movie act. And, as with the WWE, some are more successful than others (who remembers Roger Huerta in Tekken... exactly!).

So, here is a mini list of MMA veterans who have made the leap (or maybe Superman punch) to the silver screen.

1) Ronda Rousey

There is no doubt that, at this precise moment in time, Ronda Rousey is hot property. She is the UFC Bantamweight Women's Champion, recently defeating Cat Zingano in just 14 seconds. Rousey also made an appearance at Wrestlemania XXXI to a massive pop. But it's her film career that is of greatest interest here.

She has already starred in Expendables 3, which although not the best film, was a great starting point for her. She has a few more pictures coming up including Entourage and, even more exciting, Fast and Furious 7. By the look of the trailer, she will get to utilise her skills in at least one big fight with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez). However, I'm just looking forward to seeing her on screen as I think she looks great and does the mean and moody thing to perfection!

2) Randy Couture

Couture came to MMA late, making his UFC debut at 33 and winning his first title at 34 years old. He has had a stormy relationship with UFC president Dana White but there can be no denying that Randy is an important part of UFC history.

Now, Couture has moved from fighting in the octagon to fighting in films, with Expendables 1, 2 and 3, plus Scorpion King 2, to name but a few of his movie ventures. Most recently he could be seen on the telly box in an episode of Hawaii Five-O as a sadistic pyromaniac. He has experience playing good guy and villain, of big film franchises and straight to DVD fare.

Here is Mr Couture and myself in 2010 - post Expendables and pre (another) falling out with Dana White. As you can see, he was extremely excited to meet me.

3) Gina Carano

Miss Carano was the original poster woman for MMA. Beautiful and deadly, Gina proved that female fighters did not have to look manly to be successful.

She is the only fighter on this list that has not fought in the UFC.

Her fighting career pretty much ended with her defeat to Cristiane 'Cyborg' Justino, but she swiftly  made the switch to acting.

She paved the way for Rousey's turn in Furious 7 by appearing in Fast and Furious 6, including a brutal fight with Michelle Rodriguez's Letty.

Unlike most other fighter-turn-actors, she has made it to leading lady status, taking major roles in films such as Steven Soderbergh's Haywire.  She is now also taking a step into comic book territory with Deadpool. Plus at one point she was Superman's girlfriend (OK, Henry Cavill, but close enough).

4) Cung Le

He may not the biggest name on the list, but Cung Le has certainly starred with some big names; Jean-Claude Van Damme, Channing Tatum and Russell Crowe to name but a few.
Trading on his martial arts prowess, Le hasn't stretched his acting chops too far but he has done well for himself. His next film (due for release next year) finds Cung Le moving into the sci-fi.

As for his MMA career, he retired in January of this year, 5 months after a huge loss to Michael Bisping (another fighter slowly transitioning to acting). However, just in case the roles start drying up, you should never say never.

5) Georges St-Pierre

Whilst not the most prolific actor on this list, he is certainly the best champion, defending his belt 9 successive times (2008-2013) before retiring. According to reports, he is thinking about a UFC return and the prospect is very exciting.

As for films, he has most recently starred in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as Batroc, a villain who has a showdown with Cap early on in the movie. He may not have been on screen for long, but he looked good whilst on there.
Coming next is a role in the Kickboxer remake (also starring Gina Carano).


So there you have it, a small snippet of the MMA fighters trying their hand at movie acting. There have been far more than I could list here (Tito Ortiz, Keith Jardine, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, etc, etc, etc...).
 The MMA influence also extends to the films themselves, ranging from the serious (Warrior and Red Belt, to biographical (The Hammer) and even comedy (Here Comes The Boom).


I will be watching Fast and Furious 7 on Tuesday so expect a review here on Tuesday evening (UK time).