FILM REVIEWS

• 'A Christmas Carol' an excellent adaptation

  Dickens’ classic morality story has been brought to the screen so many times that the redemption of old miser Scrooge is well known to us, and difficult to present in a new and engaging way.

• Nothing new in 'Jennifer’s Body'

  A rock band ritual goes wrong and sexy, popular cheerleader Jennifer (played by sexy Fox) turns into a blood-thirsty vampire getting her fangs into fellow male students in this so-so comedy horror.

• 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' wonderfully inventive

  It’s all – sort of – true, as those of you who have given your moggie the vapours by staring at it will testify. Cats, as well as goats, just don’t like being stared at.

• Brilliantly written 'Bright Star' shows tender humanity

  A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and Campion’s story of the tragic love affair of poet John Keats (Wishaw) and Fanny Brawne (Cornish) – he died at the age of 25 from tuberculosis – fits the bill to perfection.

• 'Welcome' a real French classic

  From France comes as perfect a film as you could wish for, a film full of humanity, compassion, hope and heartache.

• '9' could have been so much more

  A decidedly odd film this, in that what seems initially to be a terrific idea isn’t followed through with any depth to the characters or explanation of how they arrived at the point at which we meet them.

• 'This Is It' a sad epitaph

  This compilation of interviews and behind-the-scenes shots of Jackson preparing for the ill-fated London concerts is a must for the thousands of dedicated fans of the showbiz legend.

• Charming 'An Education' let down by story

  A charming film based on the bio by English journalist Lynn Barber, a richly observed coming-of-age story set in the early 1960s.

• ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ a delight

  Roald Dahl’s wonderful children’s story is brought to authentic life in this animated version of a well-loved story.

• ‘Saw VI’ simply awful

  Not for the first time the sheer, depressing awfulness of a film begs the question: what studio whizkid thought this garbage worthy of a budget … any budget?