Director: Martin Scorsese

Main Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams

Rating: * or *****

Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and his new partner (Ruffalo) are federal marshals sent to a prison island to help track down an escaped patient. Upon arriving they find the staff uncooperative and acting as strange as the mental patients they oversee. When a storm hits and strands them there they are forced to uncover the truth of this strange place. Ok, so what's with the rating indecision? Quite simply this was the most frustrating film I can remember seeing. I was literally yelling at the screen at the end of the movie. For some reason this was marketed as a horror movie when in fact it's what I like to call a mind f**k film - think Memento or Inception. However at least I didn't feel cheated watching them. Without giving anything away, I got suckered into the story and kept waiting for the twist that I knew was coming. When that didn't happen I was deflated and annoyed. Of course there is a twist - just not the one I so badly wanted to happen. Is this a bad film? No. The cast is stellar and the director legendary. The story is gripping and obviously engaging. Despite a long runtime I felt like the time flew by watching it. But if you get drawn into the story as I did you will find the ending absolutely, completely unsatisfying - although reasonable. Which makes it even more frustrating.

Director: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein

Main Stars: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Early, India Eisley, Charles Dance

Rating: ****

Selene finds herself battling to save her life during the human cleansing of the Vampires and Lycans. On her way to meet Michael, her lover and hybrid Lycan, and escape the city she is attacked and loses consciousness. Twelve years later she awakes in a cryogenic chamber and discovers that the humans have all but succeeded in eradicating them. Teaming up with a rogue cop and a renegade vampire she struggles to protect a mysterious little girl from the hordes of Lycans that are after her. Let's face it, you either like the Underworld series or you don't. I am one of those that do. Hell, I even liked the much maligned third entry. These aren't deep, thought provoking films, but rather mindless action starring an actress who looks really, really, good in a tight leather bodysuit. The first thing that struck me after a few minutes was that this installment is much more violent and I found myself reveling in the bloody carnage. And while the directors are new to the series they thankfully keep they same blue-gray colour palette as before. This was the first Underworld shot in 3D and while not groundbreaking it was at least effective. About the only thing that bugged me was that some of the CGI looked a bit suspect. Still, the movie did what it was designed to do and kept me thoroughly entertained throughout it's 89 minute runtime. Of course there's the inevitable send-up for the next film and I for one can't wait.

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Main Stars: Rachel Weisz, Alessandro Nivola, Luka Petrusic, Labina Mitevska, Ben Daniels

Rating: ****

Helen (Weisz) is a hairdresser in an unsatisfying relationship with a local DJ (Daniels). She soon befriends an odd mute boy who spends his time secretly recording other people's conversations and intimate moments. Then her world is turned upside down when a lover from her past (Nivola) turns up in town wanting to reconnect after being away for 9 years. I picked this up as part of my hobby of collecting late release Japanese titles. I didn't know anything about the movie so was unsure of what to expect. Sometimes those movies are the most enjoyable and this one was a welcome break from the norm. English director Winterbottom is known for creating challenging and interesting films and such is the case here. In hindsight, the story isn't exceptional and is pretty straightforward. But it's the journey that is key. In typical European style, things take a while to develop but the viewer's attention is kept glued to the screen by beautiful, dreamlike imagery, honest performances, and a terrific soundtrack. Unfortunately, this is not available in North America on DVD. However, those with region free players wanting something different would do well to obtain it from overseas.