Staff Picks

The Orator

Reviewed by: Virginia

‘Loved this’. We watched ‘The Orator - O le tulafale' with friends who had lived and worked in Western Samoa for two years. The award winning film from New Zealand director Tusi Tamasese sweeps us into the pace of village life.

The film has beautifully captured the proud culture of the Samoan people and we are absorbed by the relationships of village life. The Orator has a key role in village life and the film’s website explains the importance of the culture of oratory as the communication prior to the missionaries’ arrival. We are reminded how language supports the preservation of culture.

The Orator is deserving of its selection at Sundance and success in Venice in addition to winning the audience award at the Brisbane International Film Festival.

The Eagle (2011)

Reviewed by: Lukas

In Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier endeavours to honour his father's memory by finding his lost legion's golden emblem.” – IMDB.com

Imagine a kindergarten kid ranting about a great story he has just come up with. His enthusiasm and energy prevent him from taking a deep breath between punctuation. That’s basically how this ‘epic’ story plays out. Adapted for the screen of Rosemary Sutcliff's original novel, screenplay writer Jeremy Brock (The Last King of Scotland) attempts to bring this Roman story to the big screen with director Kevin Macdonald (again from ‘The Last King of Scotland’). With those credits alone, you’d think you’d be in for a treat.

120AD, Britain. The Commander of the 9th Legion of Rome, along with 5000 of his soldiers, disappears after trekking north to look for more land to conquer in the name of the Roman Empire. With him he would carry ‘The Eagle’ – a solid gold statue which would be waved in the face of many an enemy in battle and in itself would represent everything great and Holy about the Roman Empire.

Twenty years later, a young commander of a legion of Romans serving in Britannia, Channing Tatum (‘G.I. Joe’,’ Step Up’ and to play in the new big screen version of ’21 Jump Street’) adequately plays Marcus Aquila. His sole back-story is to clear his father’s name amongst those in his homeland who suspect his father of ‘Colonel Custer Syndrome’. Skip forward 7 minutes (because honestly, that’s all it is), Marcus is injured successfully defending his outpost, when he awakens in the residence of his uncle Donald Sutherland. He is both commended then honourably discharged from service due to injury.

With nothing to lose on either part, Marcus and his new Brit slave Esca (played very well by ‘Billy Elliot’ and new ‘Tin Tin’ voiceover star Jamie Bell) head north, past ‘the end of the world’ (a wall built by the Romans to stop any natives entering south) and into the Britannic wilderness in search of the elusive Eagle and discover the truth as to what really happened to the 9th Legion and Marcus’ father and his men.

This is where this feature, could have offered more. There is amazing British Highland locations and scenery. In parts where you think more character development will occur, you are left you with a “well what could have happened if…” feeling.

So what happened to this film? I feel like I can put it down to a couple of factors. First of all, the film runs close to two hours, still feeling short of the mark. What was left leave out of the screenplay? There were development points that were ignored, because each character’s true ‘back-story’ with others could have been developed further.

Second, some key scenes in my opinion were over edited, essentially giving a decent composer in Atli Orvarsson much less feeling to work with.

How I Ended this Summer

Reviewed by: Zin

"How I Ended this Summer" follows two characters working at a meteorological station in the Arctic tip of Russia and how they deal with the icy solitude, the repetitive work, the unpredictable yet beautiful wilderness and the challenges of coping with each other. While Pavel is young, careless and only there for the Summer, the older Sergei is experienced, reserved, proud and, at times, intimidating. When Pavel fails to pass on an important radio message to Sergei out of panic and an overworked imagination (which is quite understandable considering how little else there is to do), things quickly spin out of control. The movie shows how isolation and fear can quickly trigger people’s survival instincts. Although it can be mind-numbingly slow at times, this drama does pull you in with the funny quirks, the stunning sceneries and the build-up to how it all ends.

Perfect Date

Reviewed by: Thérèse

‘Perfect date’ is a fresh and delightful French romantic comedy which follows two childhood friends with two very different views on love. Michel believes in fate; the chance encounter that leads to true love, whilst Vincent is more about the passionate, casual encounter rather than commitment. When they meet Nathalie and Angèle it challenges their opinions of love and causes them to work together to keep the women they love in their lives.

Joanna Lumley Catwoman

Reviewed by: Melissa

Are you a cat lover? Do you know somebody who is a cat-lover? Joanna Lumley presents a history of our relationship with cats in her trademark warmth and humour.

Reign of Assassins

Reviewed by: Lukas

Directed by John Woo, Reign of Assassins stars Michelle Yeoh who helps carry the film along in the role of an assassin.

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: The Mirror Crack'd

Reviewed by: Virginia

I watched an episode of Miss Marple and had forgotten how engaging it was.

Black Swan

Reviewed by: Robyn

I watched Black Swan which won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Natalie Portman gives a stunning performance as a beautiful but troubled and unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. The tension builds during the film as her obsessions and delusions spiral out of control. The final scene is a stunner...

Kidnap and Ransom

Reviewed by: Edward

I watched Kidnap and Ransom. Overall, a very gripping, interesting and well-acted drama series with an insight into the machinations of the kidnap and ransom process at a professional level.

Sukiyaki Western Django

Reviewed by: Lukas

After watching a short clip and the trailer for Sukiyaki Western Django, I was super excited to see it. Knowing that Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo Del Toro and Eli Roth spoke so highly of its director Takashi Miike was just about enough of a reason in itself to cast my attention to this film - not to mention I love a good old-skool style Japanese flick

Set in an age where history and present meld seamlessly into one with technology and dress sense in a similar style to what Wild Wild West did with their technology, Sukiyaki Western Django revolves around the spaghetti western tale of a newly stylized version of A Fistful Of Dollars.

A lone gunman (Hideaki Ito) struts into a town plagued by two gangs of rivalling bandits, the Heike crew in red led by the trigger-happy Kiyomori (Koichi Sato) and the Genji crew in white, led by 'looking-for-a-worthy-adversary' Yoshitsune (Yusuke Iseya). Having heard word of a great treasure legend to reside somewhere in the town, the gangs have set up shop for some time before our wandering hero enters stage left.

If you thought A Fistful of Dollars was a great original story, I'll beat you to death! In what almost seems like, in my opinion, a spit in the face to Sergio Leone, director Takashi Miike takes back ownership for Japan this great story that originally stemmed from Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo - a Samurai masterpiece, and a story stolen by Leone.
I love the fact that Miike has taken Leones version and flipped it on its back, giving the film more meaning and camaraderie it deserves by essentially doing a jap-western remake of Yojimbo. I mean, the cornerstone scene of the gunman showing his skills to begin with in the town square was shot twenty times better (and more similar to Kurosawa's style, especially the opening intro sequence) than Leone's lame attempt. I'm sorry, but I hate when ideas are stolen and credit is taken where credit is not due (though I am a massive hypocrite here re: Star Wars ;D)

Directly behind the lens stands Toyomichi Kurita, an incredibly experienced and talented cinematographer with a more well-known project already under his belt with Waiting to Exhale. The awe-inspiring shots and superb art direction are simply enough to keep you watching, even if the accents don't, which bring me to the downfalls of this fun filled shoot-em-up.

First of all, I can't stress enough how beautifully this film has been made. But the decision to have acted in English was a major killer for it. It's quite obvious that 80% of these actors cannot or have never spoken English before, so many important lines of text with deep meaning are completely botched up by a Japanese guy stressing the wrong words in a sentence. It's so distracting in fact, it almost made me want to mentally switch off (which i must admit i did after a while, then just enjoyed the stimulating visuals). If the film had been made in Japanese, I'd probably give it a 10 out of 10, that way seeing as I don't understand any Japanese, if they got it wrong I wouldn't have known anyway.

Still, all the actors gave phenomenal performances, giving the characters such charismatic life, like the bumbling idiot of a sheriff played wonderfully by Teruyuki Kagawa, you'd be forgiven to almost side with the bad guys. One qualm might be Hideaki Ito's slightly wooden performance.

Quentin Tarantino HAS to have been involved creatively, even though never credited. So much of the film seems his style, especially the temptress dance by Yoshino Kimura which screams Selma Hayak in From Dusk Til Dawn (or was that in the Rodriguez half ;D). I loved the idea of QT playing a cameo, though he takes his character way OTT and is a real let down. Shame really. Considering Miike cameo'd in Hostel, QT probably could have returned the favour a bit better.

All in all, if you love Akira Kurosawa films, highly stylised grit flicks like Rodriguez and the passion and action of Hero and Crouching Tiger, check this one out! Unmissable if you can get past the English language :)

Likes:

• Beautifully dressed sets and stunning visuals


• Great action>


• Witty script writing


• Great acting (for the most part)


• Quentin Tarantino cameo

• English language used as main


• Maybe a touch too long


• Quentin Tarantino cameo

Fair Game

Reviewed by: Edward

The film was inspired by the true story of the victimisation of a CIA agent during the early stages of the Iraq war. Valerie Plame Wilson was an experienced and respected CIA officer but her life was about to change when her husband published a newspaper article questioning the basis for the invasion.

One of the storylines depicts the desperation of talented Iraqi scientists who put their faith in Wilson to aid their escape as the power games are played out in Washington.

Naomi Watts and Sean Penn play the husband and wife team moving from an environment of love and respect to living with the threats that go with the tag of ‘traitor’. The director of ‘The Bourne Identity’ blends the emotional turmoil of their ‘real-life’ battle with White House politics and the complexity of life in the Middle East.

Highly recommended.

Made in Dagenham

Reviewed by: Virginia

This film was a surprise. Set in the late 60s with music to match, the plot brings to life the joys and hardships of a female workforce at a Ford factory in the UK. The women workers were earning 50% of the salary of their male colleagues. The battle for recognition commences as they realise their work has been reclassified as ‘unskilled’. We are reminded by one of the interesting characters that a collaborative management approach could have created a different outcome, but then there was the fear of what could happen if women at every factory started asking for equal pay. Some of the best footage is when we realise this small group of machinists is battling so much more than just their management.

The exploration of relationships and personal need brings each character to life. The entertaining portrayal of the economic realities and power struggles of the period provide reasons why unfair conditions should continue. It took some gutsy characters and their supporters to create change.

Playing for Charlie

Reviewed by: Therese

Playing for Charlie is a coming of age drama centering on Tony Hobbs, a 16 year boy dealing with the loss of a father, an ill mother and caring for his 18 month old brother. The relationship between mother and son is delicately explored and Tony's strength's are evident as he struggles to make a life changing decision that will ultimately fulfill his hopes and dreams whilst providing a better chance for his family.

The Lost Thing

Reviewed by: Michelle

So short a film (it’s 15 minutes long) does not warrant a lengthy review. I love Shaun Tan and I was very interested in seeing how his picture book would translate into a short film. The result is light and yet profound. Shaun Tan never fails to challenge his audience to view the world through new eyes, and this film is no exception.

An (animated) boy finds a ‘Lost Thing’ on the beach. He befriends it and sets out to find where it belongs. Once he’s met the ‘Lost Thing’ he cannot help but recognise other ‘lost things’ along his journey to find a home for his new friend. It strikes me that ‘The Lost Thing’ is as much a film for adults as it is for children.

This engaging short film has already won oodles of awards, including the Flickerfest Short Film Festival award for best Australian film and ‘Best Film by an Emerging Director’ at Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.

If you’ve got 15 minutes to spare, check it out.

Greenberg

Reviewed by: Simone

‘Greenberg’ focuses on the life of Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) after he has been discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Roger is recovering from a nervous breakdown and is learning to cope with life again. He decides not to do much for a while and uproots himself from his home in New York and goes to housesit his brothers’ place in Los Angeles. Roger grew up in Los Angeles and attempts to reconnect (to no avail) with old friends from high school and university. During his stay he befriends Florence Marr (Greta Gerwig), his brother’s personal assistant, and they forge an (occasionally tumultuous) friendship.

I was interested to watch ‘Greenberg’ because Ben Stiller is the lead in the film and plays a serious dramatic role compared to all his comic roles. The main character, Roger, is angry at the world and feels a bit downtrodden. He has trouble connecting with the people in his life. In fact all the lead characters are unhappy and are going through difficult phases in their lives.

Apart from not necessarily being a ‘feel good’ film, ‘Greenberg’ is well worth watching in so far as it offers an authentic portrayal of the struggles of normal everyday people against the beautiful backdrop of the town of Los Angeles.

Aisha (Hindi)

Reviewed by: Zin

Imagine an adaptation of Jane Austen's ‘Emma’ in present-day New Delhi with a Bollywood cast and you get.... ‘Aisha’. ‘Aisha’ is about a rich, society-conscious girl who believes match-making is her task in life and decides to find love (upper class wealthy love to be exact) for a small-town girl who has just moved to Delhi.

Just like in the classic ‘Emma’, Aisha's meddling leads to a tangled web of broken hearts, jealous rages and torn friendships, only to be resolved when Aisha realises that not everyone's business is her business. This movie is a coming-of-age story that we all know and love. The downside to that is there are no surprises about this film, especially since it pretty much has the same storyline as ‘Clueless’, the 1995 Hollywood teen comedy version of ‘Emma’.

But if you are willing to look past that, ‘Aisha’ is quite enjoyable. It has all the ingredients of a good Bollywood romantic comedy: humour, lots of dancing, a good-looking cast, romantic (sometimes cheesy) moments and FASHION. Wow...the fashion!

The story is based in Delhi and Mumbai of India, which is quite refreshing from other Bollywood films which have been taking on the 'foreign cities' route lately. It has a great soundtrack and I believe this might be one the few movies from India where the actors don't break out in some serenade.

All-in-all, I recommend this movie if you are happy to lock up the critic side in you and just enjoy the movie for what it is.

Menomena - Mines

Reviewed by: Vicky

Menomena have an aversion to doing anything too obvious. The ambiguous album title ‘Mines’ is a perfect jump off into understanding where these guys are coming from. Known for their wild experimentation and unique recording process; they use a looping computer program called ‘Dealer’ written by the band’s Brent Knopf and often write and record via email. Despite their disregard for convention, Menomena manage to produce music which is fun, emotional and has a surprisingly organic feel to it.

All three members are multi instrumentalists and share vocal duties. Their sound is heavily layered and each song is so full of ideas at times it feels there are multiple songs coexisting within the main framework. ‘Mines’, although a complex piece, has a feeling of space to it that previous albums lacked; making it an easier listen but no less interesting.

‘Mines’ is a great headphone album if just to get a feel of the monster John Bonham-esque drums. There’s plenty to explore here from the sublime ‘Sleeping Beauty’ to the bombastic ‘Taos’. It’s hard to make comparisons with Menomena but they definitely sit comfortably within the blossoming scene coming out of Portland, Oregon.

Highlights of the album are the adventurous ‘Five Little Rooms’, ‘Dirty Cartoons’ and ‘Lunchmeat’.

Tomorrow When The War Began

Reviewed by: Therese

As a fan of the Tomorrow series of books in my teenage years I was very excited to hear that a movie adaptation was finally here. I eagerly headed to the movies to watch it and was not disappointed with the result as the storyline sticks closely to that of the book.

For those not familiar with the books; the story revolves around seven teenagers – Ellie, Corrie, Kevin, Homer, Lee, Robyn and Fiona – from a small Australian country town called Wirrawee. They head to an isolated gorge called Hell for a final weekend of camping before school returns for the new year.

Upon their return to civilisation they venture into a new version of hell; no power, dead and dying pets and families and friends gone from their homes. They learn that Australia has been invaded by an unnamed foreign force and Wirrawee is a key entry port for the invading army. Ellie and her friends realise the enormity of the situation and decide to fight for their lives and those of their families, community and country.

At times the acting appears a little stilted and I think this is a reflection of the Home & Away and Neighbours backgrounds of some of the actors, but as the movie progresses you tend to look past this.

Overall I loved the movie and it inspired me to re-read the entire series. I’m now waiting to see if the remaining six books will make it to the big screen; I really hope so!

The Hedgehog

Reviewed by: Michelle

I read ‘The Elegance of the Hedgehog’ by Muriel Barbery earlier this year (because I liked the cover) and was really impressed by the story. This French film claims to be ‘freely inspired by the best-selling novel’ and sticks pretty closely to the plot without overwhelming itself with some of the novel’s philosophical complexity and character development.

Young Paloma lives with her wealthy family in a grand Parisian apartment building; she enjoys filming its inhabitants on an old video camera. Appalled by the hypocrisy that surrounds her, Paloma is seriously contemplating suicide rather than being caught up in the ‘fish-bowl’ existence she witnesses. Renée is the building’s concierge; her pleasures include eating chocolate, talking to her cat and secretly reading philosophy and literature. Paloma and Renée’s perspective changes when Mr Ozu moves into the building and recognises their unique gifts and intricacies. Ultimately this is a film about friendship, love and freedom.

For me this is one of those films I’d like to freeze frame and hang on my wall – I’d like to capture its bitter-sweet wisdom of remembering to be true to yourself and recognising beauty in unexpected places. This is one of the best film’s I’ve seen this year (and one of the best books I've read) – I really recommend it.

Genova

Reviewed by: Michelle

‘Genova’ is about a father (Colin Firth) and his two daughters readjusting to life after the death of their wife/mother in a car accident caused (inadvertently) by the youngest daughter. There is a beauty in the raw and realistic way this film is approached; the dialogue is unrefined, the relationships are believable and the plot far from Hollywood.

The film opens with the scene of the accident and never avoids the grief of the characters; at the same time it offers glimpses of hope as new relationships are forged, challenges met and the family adjusts to their new reality.

The gorgeous setting of the old city of Genova is captured in such a way that you feel the heat of the Summer as the family explore ancient alleyways, relax on the beach or zip through the town on Vespas. This is not ‘feel good’ viewing in so far as the raw emotion of the family is vividly and painfully expressed, but it is thoughtfully constructed and still very much worth a watch.

LOL - Laughing Out Loud

Reviewed by: Michelle

Lola keeps a secret diary in which she confides the adventures and misadventures of her complex social life. The gorgeous 15 year old Parisian student has lots to write about: breaking up with her unfaithful boyfriend, her budding romance with her handsome friend Maël (who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend’s best-friend), parties, her girl friends, her family… When her mother finds and reads her diary their relationship takes on a whole new perspective.

The parallel lives, loves and acts of rebellion of Lola and her mother form the basis of the plot of LOL – and it is the similarities, rather than the differences, between their lives which offer the most food for thought.

The cast is “really, really ridiculously good looking” and whilst I was just a little bit disturbed by how much ‘action’ the adolescent characters were getting (I’m a bit sheltered…) it was an absolute pleasure to watch. I’d recommend it for mothers and daughters alike.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Reviewed by: Edward

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is an odd one. It is a unique theatrical offering to provide a creative environment for Heath Ledger to display the breadth of his acting skills. Sadly it was his last screen appearance.
I was absorbed during the film but never sure where the plot was taking me.
Ledger becomes a part of a travelling theatre group headed by Christopher Plummer and their mysterious activities. They are supported and cleverly melded with appearances by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to compensate for the death of Ledger half way through filming.
Certainly an interesting film.

Camino

Reviewed by: Michelle

Javier Fesser’s ‘Camino’ is a thought provoking and heart-wrenching story of a young girl dying of cancer, inspired by real life events surrounding the death of a young Spanish member of Opus Dei in 1985.

The film is a mixture of realism and fantasy as Camino’s dream-life, under the influence of hospital drugs, offers insight into her past, her desires and her fears. Her relationship with her immediate family, Church members, school friends, hospital staff and members of the local youth-theatre group drive the plot as her health deteriorates.

Despite being almost devastatingly tragic at times, and Fesser’s disturbing depiction of Opus Dei trumping that of Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’, I was really moved by this film. The complex and layered story is cleverly and convincingly portrayed by a competent cast, and the conclusion is provocative and memorable.

• Camino

Adam

Reviewed by: Zin

Being a big fan of both romantic comedies and quirky dramas, I really enjoyed Adam, starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Hugh Dancy plays the role of Adam, a brilliant but socially awkward man diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Even though he lives in the bustling New York City, Adam’s quiet and sheltered life revolves around his apartment, work, astronomy, and having macaroni and cheese for dinner every night. But that changed when he befriends his new neighbour, Beth (Rose Byrne), who is beautiful, outgoing and nursing a broken heart. Their special connection quickly turns into a relationship, laden with many humorous moments as well as difficult situations which question the reality of their love.
The bond between Dancy and Byrne on screen is very genuine and it was great to follow how their characters and their relationship develop throughout the film. Adam is a quirky and touching romantic comedy without the extravagance and idealistic take of a Hollywood movie. And who doesn’t love movies like that?

• Adam

Coco Avant Chanel

Reviewed by: Michelle

I’m a big fan of Audrey Tautou, so I watched this movie more for the actress than the plot and I was really impressed by both. The story follows Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel’s rise from an abandoned orphan, to a seamstress and singer in a bar, to a socialite and respected hat designer in Paris.
The movie explores a few of her relationships along the way, especially with her hope-filled sister Adrienne, with her ‘patron’, Baron Balsan, and her lover, Arthur Capel.
Along with the engaging plot, I really loved the photography and use of colour in this film. I intend to follow this DVD up by watching the Shirley MacLaine mini series, ‘Coco Chanel’ soon – but without Audrey Tautou and that fabulous photography, I wonder if it can compete…

• Coco Avant Chanel
• Coco Chanel (2008 mini-series)

Old Dogs

Reviewed by: Sarah

Two old best friends have their lives turned upside down on the unexpected appearance of two 7-year-olds who they have to "babysit" while trying to complete the business deal of the year/ lifetime...it was hilarious to watch Williams and Travolta.

• Old Dogs

Bone Song by Sherryl Clark

Reviewed by: Michelle

‘Bone Song’ is part of the Cutting Edge series for young adult readers targeted at teens who are seeking engaging plots with a simple vocabulary. It’s written by award winning Australian author Sherryl Clark and is presented with an attractive cover and larger than average font. ‘Bone Song’ follows the story of two teenage girls, Melissa and Dobie, as they struggle to face their personal ‘dragons’. From challenging family circumstances and shattered dreams to psychological abuse and violence, these two girls take risks and courageously face the darkness in their lives …and meanwhile rescue a small black kitten!

What I admired about this book is that it didn’t resort to stock characters and ‘young adult themes’, such as drugs, suicide and teenage pregnancy, which seem to be overly common in this genre. The characters are complex and unique and the plot is intelligent and engaging. I recommend this book to young readers and educators alike.

• Bone Song

It's Complicated

Reviewed by: Inta

In anticipation of watching, 'It's Complicated', I wondered if I would be disappionted with this romantic comedy starring three outstanding actors - Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin - but I have to say that I was pleasantly fulfilled by the storyline and the characters choices in the movie. I was hoping for a quality film and it definitely delivered this, along with some very hilarious situations which made up for the sickly sweet friends and family time.

Watch this movie if you enjoy a light hearted American lifestyle film based on family, divorce, relationships and for the rare chance to see a real person play the leading role and so successfully. 7.5 out of 10.

• It's Complicated

Vexille

Reviewed by: Stuart

Vexille is an anime title set in the year 2077. The United Nations has banned research into cybernetics, believing further development will be dangerous to the human race. Japan disagrees, however, and decides to leave the UN and cut all ties with the outside world. It's 10 years after this event that Vexille begins, with the title character sneaking across the border and becoming the first foreigner in a decade to set foot on Japanese soil. What she finds is alarming.

This title departs from anime norms in a few ways. Probably the biggest is the fact that Japan, normally the saviour of the world, is actually the bad guy in this film. CGI is also used instead of traditional animation, though it's heavily stylised so it still looks like anime and the quality is fantastic. Paul Oakenfold provides a classy soundtrack, the voice acting (in the English version I viewed) was good and the action sequences are very well executed. Fans of the genre will definitely want to see this and it's probably a good introduction for those that aren't as familiar with it too. Highly recommended.

• Vexille

Julie and Julia

Reviewed by: Michelle

Julie & Julia tells the stories of two women determined to master the art of French cuisine. Julia Childs (Meryl Streep), in Paris in the 1950s, battles through cooking classes and challenges with co-writers and publishers to produce her much acclaimed cookbook. Half a century later Julie Powell (Amy Adams), dissatisfied with her 9-5 job, sets herself the task of cooking every recipe in Julia’s cookbook within a year and blogs about her experience. The film explores the women’s journeys; their shared love of fine French food, the support of their husbands, their frustrations and their triumphs. The fact that the plot is based on Julie and Julia’s autobiographical writings makes this DVD compelling viewing.

A word of warning: do not watch this film on an empty stomach.

• Julie and Julia

Love the Beast

Reviewed by: Stuart

Love the Beast is a documentary following Eric Bana's obsession with cars - particularly his first car, an XB Falcon Coupe that he has rebuilt to enter in the Targa Tasmania rally. Over the course of the film he talks to famous petrol heads Jeremy Clarkson and Jay Leno about what it is that makes some people see their cars as more than just four wheels, some glass and metal panels.

Anyone who's a fan of cars and racing will love this movie - they'll laugh, and they may even cry a little at some points. They'll definitely spend a good chunk of time nodding and saying to themselves "Yeah - that's so true!" Bana's strong feelings for cars, and his Beast in particular, really show through. Those who aren't so into cars can probably still appreciate some fantastic photography of Tasmania, even if they don't understand what the rest of the fuss is about.

• Love the Beast

Lisa Mitchell - Wonder

Reviewed by: Ellen

Once in a while, the generic pop factory that is Australian Idol really does uncover an interesting talent. Three years on from appearing on the show as a 16-year-old, Lisa Mitchell has released her debut album 'Wonder'. It's an appealing mix of quirky folk-pop tunes that ought to leave a smile on your face.

Stand-out tracks include 'Clean White Love', 'Stevie' and 'Neopolitan Dreams'.

• Lisa Mitchell - Wonder

Inkheart

Reviewed by: Vicky

A story about a modern day father and daughter dubbed “Silvertongues”, gifted with the ability to bring to life any fictional story which they read aloud. Inadvertently, the father brings to life an evil warlord, Capricorn, and his henchmen from within the medieval fantasy book “Inkheart”. Together, they must stop Capricorn from his diabolical plan to resurrect an ancient evil spirit force called “The Shadow” which on his command will destroy Earth. The basic premise of good versus evil is explored through similar plot lines as it was in the awesome 80’s kids classic “The Neverending Story", via a fantastical landscape of dragons, beasts, heroes and villians.

Inkheart will appeal to both adults and children as a colourful and fantastical adventure through the imagination.

Based on the novel by Cornelia Funke.

• Inkheart

The Boat That Rocked

Reviewed by: Virginia

A motley mix of DJs on the open sea under the direction of Quentin (Bill Nighy) supported by the hits of the 60s creates a scene for chaotic fun. The background theme of conservative British politics in the early sixties reminds us of the reality of the times. There was some recall of the plight of the Pirate Radio ships in the North Sea but we did not expect the insight into the range of characters and mindset of authority. Bill Nighy performs his role with classic understatement - a wonderful balance to the non-stop entertainment beaming into English households at the time 24 hours a day. Great fun.

• The Boat That Rocked

Lemon Tree

Reviewed by: Lorna

This film, which is based on a true story, is set on the border between Israel and the Palestinian West Bank. Salma Zidane is a Palestinian widow who lives alone in her modest home beside the lemon grove planted by her father 50 years ago. With the help of an elderly friend she tends the trees and earns a meagre income from the fruit. Her life is changed abruptly when the Israeli Defence Minister and his wife move into their new home on the Israeli side of the border just metres from the lemon grove. When the Minister's security staff decide that the proximity of the orchard poses a security risk and must be destroyed, Salma and her young Palestinian lawyer go to court to save her trees.

Despite the setting and the circumstances this isn't an overtly political film but there are many subtle messages. The acting is excellent. Very good.

• Lemon Tree

Heavy Metal in Baghdad

Reviewed by: Stuart

Heavy Metal in Baghdad tells the story of Acrassicauda, Iraq’s only metal band. The documentary goes beyond the standard news coverage of the war in Iraq and provides a fascinating look at life in Baghdad, living and working conditions there and the dangers its residents face every day. For much of the time music takes a back seat role, so viewers don’t necessarily have to be metal fans to get something from the film.

• Heavy Metal in Baghdad

Pocoyo series

Reviewed by: Inta

I have been recently delighted with the toddlers program 'Pocoyo - learning through laughter'.

After viewing a large range of toddlers programs, I noticed that 'Pocoyo' was a stand out amongst the over populated genre of Kids TV.

I especially like it because of its simplicity in characters, sound, visuals, rhythm and movement. There is narration from a matured adult and toddler to give the impression of the flow of thought and conversation. The viewer is asked questions and encouraged to understand and predict the events before they happen.

Added objects that help complete the stories are always items in my toddlers everyday life, for example I am sure my son learned the word 'umbrella' from one of the episodes.

The episodes are stimulating but short, which is great for a 2-year-old's concentration. Building their recognition of sounds helps a toddler to enjoy the characters and become more familiar with the stories, so viewing from a young age can be recommended.

• Pocoyo - A Dog's Life
• Pocoyo - A Surprise for Pocoyo
• Pocoyo - Bedtime
• Pocoyo - Drum Roll Please
• Pocoyo - The Messy Guest

The Wire

Reviewed by: Hoang

Forget CSI Miami. Forget Law & Order. Forget NYPD Blue. The Wire is not your average American crime drama. This gripping first season centres on an investigation of the drug trade in the US city of Baltimore. But this show is not really about narcotics. Its main characters are the Barksdale drug organisation and the police detail who investigate them.

What’s ingenious about The Wire is the way it shows how these two characters mirror each other, and by extension society at large. Avoiding embellished gore and MTV-style visual gimmicks, the fun here is more than simply solving a crime. The thirteen episodes reveal the workings of institutions and the individuals who wittingly or unwittingly ‘play the game’. With depth and detail the show entertains us with the many sides of a ‘score’.

So reserve the couch and book in a weekend. And if the lingo’s too fast turn on the subtitles. You’ll get hooked on The Wire.

• The Wire - Season 1
• The Wire - Season 2
• The Wire - Season 3
• The Wire - Season 4