One Mann’s Movies Film Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

In Peter Jackson’s second in the Hobbit trilogy (aka “stretching a slim story to 8 hours+”) Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) with Thorin (Richard Armitage) – the man who would be king – and a company of dwarfs continue their quest to the Lonely Mountain in search of the Arkenstone – a mythical white jewel that … Read more

One Mann’s Movies Film Review: Saving Mr Banks (2013)

Mary Poppins is a special film for me.  The first film I ever went to see at the cinema, perhaps even at the age of 3 when it first came out in 1964.  And after that first experience I couldn’t get enough of it:  I dragged my poor dear departed mother to that cinema so … Read more

One Mann’s Movies Film Review: The Day of the Doctor (2013)

OK, so its not a ‘true’ feature film, but I did see it at the cinema, and in 3D.  And as a lifelong Whovian I’m going to write about it – so there!    Note that if you haven’t seen it yet, this contains spoilers, sweetie. The Day of the Doctor is of course (if you … Read more

One Mann’s Movies Film Review: Philomena (2013)

Philomena is a delight.  You can truly tell that the summer blockbuster fan-boy films are all spent and we are seriously into Oscar nomination territory.   Based on a true storm, Philomena tells the harrowing true-life story of a teenage Irish girl up the duff with child and assigned in disgrace to the ‘care’ of Nuns … Read more

One Mann’s Movies Film Review: Gravity (2013)

Excuse the pun, but this film is going to pull a lot of weight in the technical categories at the Oscars next year.  It is a breathtaking piece of filmmaking, reportedly 8 years in the making and the brainchild of Alfonso Cuarón  (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and his son … Read more