 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (PG)
Directed by Brad Silberling
 This is my film and don’t you forget it, kids... Jim Carey is Lemony Snicket’s unfortunate event.
If you love plenty of ham at Christmas, you'll be able to gorge yourself at Jim Carreys' latest film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Carrey hams it up (and is ham-fisted) playing Count Olaf, the not-so-trustworthy guardian of the three Baudelaire children, Violet (Australian newcomer Emily Browning), Klaus (Liam Siken) and little Sunny (Kara and Shelby Hoffman).
After an "unfortunate event", namely the death of their beloved parents in a mysterious fire that also destroyed their home, the three orphans are very rich but very alone. They are entrusted into the dubious care of their distant relative, the evil Count Olaf (Carrey). Not only is the Count extremely wicked, he's also a very bad actor (in more than one way), which means he's not very good at hiding the fact that he's only after one thing... the children's fortune.
However, he has no idea what he is up against. The Baudelaire children aren't your ordinary run-o'-the-mill kids. Violet is the world's most talented teenage inventor, Klaus is a prolific reader - he's memorized every single book he's ever read - and Sunny may not be able to talk, but she sure has a mean bite.
They're gong to need all these skills to outwit the Count. The children may be able to see through his many disguises, but none of the other grown-ups, including their Uncle Morty (Billy Connelly) or their Aunt Josephine (Meryl Streep) are able to, a fact which leads to even more unfortunate events. Based on the best selling books by Daniel Handler, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events will transport you into a dark fantasy world of make-believe, where anything can happen and probably will!
If you love Tim Burton's amazing movies then it's pretty much guaranteed you'll enjoy this piece of imaginative filmmaking. But don't go expecting a side-splitting comedy. Like the Christmas ham, you'll be sick of Carrey by the end.
Rating: 
Also coming
Blade Trinity
Directed by David S Goyer
I'm a big fan of vampire movies so I'm looking forward to this third instalment in the Blade series.
Wesley Snipes is back as the fearless vampire slayer. He's really got it in for bloodsuckers even though he's part vampire himself.
This time he's up against the one and only Count Dracula (Dominic Purcell) who has been resurrected and plans to take over the world with the help of his army of undead.
With the FBI on his back, Blade must team up with the Nightstalkers, human vampire hunters led by Abigail (Jessica Biel), the daughter of his friend and mentor, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson)
Meet the Fockers
Directed by Jay Roach
If, like me, you're old enough to remember comedies like What's up Doc? then you know that Barbra Streisand is a great comedic actress. So it's a joy to hear she's back in what looks like being the comedy smash of the holidays: Meet the Fockers, the highly-anticipated sequel to the comedy hit of 2000, Meet the Parents.
They're all back - Jack Byrnes (Robert de Niro), his wife Dina (Blythe Danner), their daughter Pam ( Teri Polo) and their soon-to-be son-in-law Greg (Ben Stiller).
And this time they're meeting Greg's parents Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) and Roz (Barbra Streisand). Get ready to laugh.
The Incredibles
Directed by Brad Bird
What's a school holiday without an animated comedy parents and kids alike can enjoy? The Incredibles is the latest smash hit from the creators of Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc and Toy Story. Ever wondered what retired super heroes do? When Mr Incredible (voiced by Craig T Nelson) and his wife Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and their three kids and placed in the Witness Protection Programme they're forced to hide their super powers and live like a normal suburban family.
But they're bored and when the world is in danger the Incredible family are more than ready to come to the rescue.
Also starting: Finding Neverland, starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. It's the story of J M Barrie, author of Peter Pan, and The Phantom of the Opera, the big screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webbers' acclaimed musical.
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