Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
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As I was a big fan of the cartoons when I was younger, and being disappointed by the first instalment, as well as the recent disappointment of Spiderman 3, I was truthfully dubious about going to see another comic book sequel...so it's safe to say that I was trying to delay my predictably viewing displeasure.

As we go into the sequel, we see Mr Fantastic and The Invisible Woman trying to get hitched but things are getting in the way - whether it be the military trying to warn them that someone has just 'landed' on Earth from space, crazed 'fans', the aforementioned space visitor who spoils all the fun or saving the Earth from an embittered and revived Dr Doom?

What I liked about this? Little things - mainly the rare banter between the characters.

Honestly, even though this wasn't as bad as the first, it did become one of those repeat offenders by trying to get all the stuff that appealed in the first one into the second one, i.e. Jessica Alba, whose hair is either too blond or her eyes are too blue (or worse, both) wearing as little as possible, or corny jokes that only kids would laugh at whilst we would struggle to raise a smile.

All the cast are in moderate form, making the most of their screen time, but because their characters are covered by CGI, they don't have much of an opportunity to do that either.

All in all, at the eve of the summer season of sequels and blockbusters, this is not a strong contender and definitely not a flick to see during the weekend (if you're an adult, there will be kids with loads of popcorn and sweets...then the whole place will just smell really funky).

Go see it if you really, REALLY want to see it. But who really, REALLY wants to....umm, really?

Hairspray (2007)
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The modern movie musical is failing. Long gone are the days where a nostalgic existence exists in actors constantly singing and dancing. Those who grew up loving the likes of Grease, Sound of Music and Singing in the Rain can now only stand from afar as the talent gets younger and in the case of recent cinematic offerings, more flexible, whereas the 'classic' musical now set their roots into Broadway and the West End.

Hairspray is the latest addition to the musical genre and judging by the cult following the John Waters original film in 1988, it has a lot to follow, as well as to gain from bringing toe-tapping and head-bobbing back into the multiplex.

Newcomer Nikki Blonsky has a tough role of recreating the rebellious, yet open-minded Tracey Turnblad, but her enthusiasm shines from her opening number and as her character grows in popularity, she does not succumb to the negativity that seems to be expected from her in the Ugly-Duckling era of film and television.

The film itself is like a high school reunion of musicality stars - Travolta, as Tracy's introverted and obese mother, shys away from everything until the musical numbers, where you can actually giggle on how someone can move so well in a fat suit. Pfieffer is incredibly bitchy as the scheming Mrs Von Tussle, whose determination to keep racial integration off the airwaves becomes an obsession. In contrast, Christopher Walken takes a back step to accommodate the bolder female characters in the film, and in doing so, looks as if he has more fun just being there.

All in all, it's a very teen-orientated film, with the inclusion of High School Musical's Zac Efron as baby-faced love interest Link and Elijah Kelley as Seaweed, but there is a lot to enjoy in this feel-good flick and Adam Shankman, whose cinematography includes Bringing Down the House and Cheaper by the Dozen 2, brings a lot more character into his latest offering and it is all the better for it.

Hairspray boasts colour and can appeal to anyone who loves cheesy but feel-good films, and it has plenty to giggle and laugh about, making this the breakaway hit for this summer.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
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After the disappointment of Spiderman 3, and the impending release of Shrek the Third and Ocean's Thirteen, it's becoming apparent that this summer, '3' is the magic number. Pirates of the Caribbean 3 had a hard act to follow. After its predecessor’s huge $1 billion success, not to mention the hyped-up and long-awaited cameo of a certain Mr Richards, Gore Verbinski had to attempt the impossible: to finish a trilogy and make it a great one at the same time.

The return of Captain Barbossa and the gang's quest to bring back Captain Jack and stop the pompously-up-his-own-arse Lord Beckett from putting an end to piracy seems like the cinematic version of a yo-yo. On the surface, the whole plotline of going East, going into the world of the not-quite-dead and back again seems confusing, but at least you get to have fun in the process.

Good thing about this film is that everything that may have left viewers scratching their heads at the end of the first film are answered in this gem. The special effects in the crucial scenes are incredibly impressive, and the intertwining plots leave viewers guessing, giving most whodunits a run for their money.

Johnny Depp is, as always, in great form as the most notorious pirate of the millennium, with Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley providing the heart of the movie without it being too soppy. Chow Yun Fat's appearance seemed overrated as his screen time is overlooked by the three main characters, as well as Geoffrey Rush, who is welcomed back into the bosom of the trilogy.

I can't really say anything bad about it.

It may be overlong and could give kids the creeps, as well as some serious numb bums (there was actually an intermission during the screening - if it was outside, it would have become a drive-in), but who cares when you would be guaranteed a good time?

Waitress (2007)
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The reinvention of women and their dead-end lives tend to be all the rage in the media. Like Miguel Arteta's 2002 film 'The Good Girl', we have a quite stunning leading lady in a miserable marriage in a relatively small town. She has an affair with a dashing supporting actor and she comes to a crossroads on what to do next. Only this time, an uplifting mood came out from the screen.

For the more health-conscious of cinemagoers, do not go and see Waitress, as you are guaranteed to be dribbling after the sumptuous treats made by the talented yet trapped waitress and pie-maker Jenna, played by the radiant Keri Russell.

Stuck with her possessive husband Jeremy Sisto and an unwanted baby, she finds solace in creating new recipes for the pie diner where she works, such as 'Bad Baby' Pie and 'Chocolate and Strawberry Oasis' Pie and dealing with her unlucky-in-love colleagues, including the shy-and-bashful Dawn, played by director Adrienne Shelley.

Enter Nathan Fillion, who plays the quite doe-eyed doctor Dr Pomatter, who reaches out to Jenna in a dopey kind of way...

This film is filled with bitter sweetness, contending between the warmth of the titular heroine and Adrienne Shelley's tragic murder days before the film's acceptance into the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

Waitress could be passed off as chick flick, because of Jenna's struggles and complicated relationships, but because of its simple comedy, as well as premise, there is a lot to love in this film. Shelley would be proud as punch to see what a great movie she made.

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