Five mini-reviews of 2012 releases: MEN IN BLACK 3 (Barry Sonnenfeld), WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (Kirk Jones), THE DICTATOR (Larry Charles), THE AVENGERS (Joss Whedon) and SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (Rupert Sanders)

Men In Black 3 (Barry Sonnenfeld, 2012)

The third instalment of the terrifically fun sci-fi action series, although this time round Tommy Lee Jones does not feature that match, and his younger re-incarnation in the form of Josh Brolin does. 

Will Smith does the Will Smith thing better than anyone else and he and Brolin have terrific chemistry (better, arguably, than Smith and Lee Jones do), and the plot itself is very well-thought out and entertaining. 

There was a twist at the end which unexpectedly drew a tear from me, and the villain Boris is played with gusto by Jemaine Clement. 

Oh and there’s even time for a fabulous cameo by Nicole Scherzinger at the start! Great fun, recommended.

7.5/10

Film review: SHERLOCK HOLMES 2: A GAME OF SHADOWS (Guy Ritchie, 2011)

Sherlock Holmes has identified a series of seemingly unrelated events, from bombings to assassinations of key intellectuals, and he, as only he can, pinpoints Professor James Moriarty as the criminal mastermind behind all of these. 

He is right of course, and soon his sleuthing brings him face-to-face with the villainous genius. Recognising the stakes, Holmes asks Moriarty to keep Doctor Watson out of their intellectual game of chess (Irene Adler has sadly, already been made collateral damage as a result of the two’s mental warfare). Predictably, however, this plea only serves to get his trusted wingman further embroiled in Moriarty's crosshairs.

It is up to Sherlock, alongside his long-suffering companion, to thwart Moriarty before the professor can eliminate them and wreak war upon a fragile Europe.

Much as with the original, the film belongs to the two co-leads. The sheer fun they had in making the film radiates off the screen in an infectious, high-energy Hollywood romp with moments of cinematic ingenuity.