Results tagged “TOM HANKS” from Birmingham Mail - Mega Movies

I WENT back to see POLAR EXPRESS (U) at IMAX tonight.

It's the first time I've seen this Christmas classic with Tom Hanks for three years.

My wife had never seen it and neither had our youngest, who is now six.

We all had a very enjoyable time because this is a fabulous film aimed at the whole family - it was really pleasing to see plenty of grandmas and grandads there, too, as well as lots of disabled people having a marvellous treat by being able to sit right at the back in the best position!

Polar Express is a bit daft in places, but it has a very warm, seasonal heart and some truly fabulous moments.

Thanks to those incredible IMAX speakers, there are also some tremendous sound effects... when the train comes it really feels like the whole building is being shaken.

Polar Express is on again at 5.30pm tomorrow night and again on Saturday and Sunday, November 28/29.

Because of competition from A Christmas Carol (which has also been directed by Back To The Future's Robert Zemeckis using the same 'motion capture technology) and, from December 16, James Cameron's new three-hour blockbuster Avatar, Polar Express won't have too many screenings even in December.

So the advice really has to be: Book your tickets now - and enjoy the ride!

Details: www.imax.ac or 0121 202 2222.

I had to wait for a public performance in order to review Tom Hanks' Angels & Demons for today's Birmingham Mail.
Good job it opened yesterday!
There were no regional preview screenings 'on security grounds' yet I've already had one chance to see Night At The Museum 2 and there are two more to come before the Ben Stiller comedy opens on Wednesday.
The industry seems to have varying ideas of what 'security' means.
I cannot condone piracy and have never even touched a pirate copy of a film, never mind played one.
To coin a phrase it would be 'more than my job's worth'.
But, not only that, I'm also of the opinion that piracy is illegal and immoral.
If you want something, pay for it properly. If not, like an honest MP faced with a blank expenses form, don't take advantage.
For all that anybody knows when they buy a pirate film, you could possibly be funding something you wouldn't want to fund (e.g. serious crime).
If you were given the option to donate a few bob to an obviously-dodgy cause every time you type in your pin number inside a proper shop you would surely say 'No'.
Just imagine going into WH Smith to buy a DVD and then being asked this question at the till: 'Excuse me sir, would you like to donate £1 in Gift Aid to funding armed robberies in rural communities?'
On the other hand, I really do think the cinema industry should think seriously about trying to release some films on DVD at the same time as they go into theatres.
I still believe most people who want to see films where they belong in cinemas would do so and, if they like what they've seen, might well even want to buy a DVD copy to keep on their way out again.
Meanwhile, all those who just want to see a new film by any means available as long as it's as quick as possible, would also probably pay a lot more for a proper copy than some cheapo version with low quality.

GREAT to see that old Villa fan Tom Hanks back on the silver screen today in Angels & Demons.

Although Hanks' track record proves that he's the best actor of his generation, this is only his third leading-man performance since The Terminal five years ago.

But what's Ewan McGregor doing in there?

He's got one of his silly hair partings again.

And, even though he turned 38 just six weeks ago on March 31, he's far too young to be playing a character who has supposedly temporarily taken over from the Pope after he's snuffed it.

Ewan looks like a schoolboy alongside some of the older guys who are milling around while trying to elect a new pontiff.

No wonder his Irish accent is all over the place.

So where is the Trainspotting star at now?

Well, it's ten years since he got sucked into the three Star Wars prequels as Obi-Wan Kenobi and in my view it was the worst thing he ever did.

Since then he's given us stuff like Big Fish, The Island, Cassandra's Dream, Incendiary and Deception.

Not forgetting the insufferable Down With Love.

Imagine going on a long haul flight and finding Down With Love, Cassandra's Dream and Incendiary all running back to back! You'd be praying for a parachute.

His best performance in the past ten years has undoubtedly been Young Adam, but hardly anyone went to see that!

+ Don't forget to read my Angels & Demons review in tomorrow's Birmingham Mail.

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