Species

Species, 1995

Natasha Henstridge is a common sight on the small screen these days (Eli Stone, Commander In Chief) but in 1995 she had hundreds of teenage boys in a spin thanks to Species.

Henstridge plays Sil - the product of a DNA splicing experiment gone right.

Part human, part Alien - Sil needs to mate with a male to properly wreak havoc on Earth's inhabitants.

Also appearing in this soft porn sci-fi are the uber cool Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Ben Kinglsey (Gandhi) and even a very young Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain).

Critics didn't welcome Species with open arms but I think it's entertaining enough to warrant a look - the supporting cast has fun with what they're given.

It's directed by Australian born Roger Donaldson who was responsible for Cold War drama 'Thirteen Days' and the very watchable 'The Bank Job' and he keeps a good pace up here.

It's probably worth the hiring fee for Henstridge alone.

6/10

Nutbuckle

Shutter Island

Shutter Island, 2010

This effort from one of the few directors who can be called great in both the 20th and 21st centuries, Martin Scorsese, is a thoroughly enjoyable and superb, if predictable, thriller. Scorsese has combined with the greatest actor of his generation, Leo "My Man" Decaprio and managed to deliver a intriguing story that maintains the fascination of the audience throughout and even managed to stump a few of the less astute paying customers.

Whilst this reviewer wont go into terrible detail with the plot, Shutter Island will not disappoint movie goers who understand the pit falls of adapting a novel for the silver screen. Scorsese must have found it difficult to stump fans of the 2003 best seller and as a result the main reveal towards the end is about as predictable as a packet of twisties. Fortunately it leaves no questions unanswered and one can look forward to the alternate ending options on the Blu Ray release sometime in 2011.

Fans of indie flicks with plot lines concerning teenage angst and unwanted pregnancy need not apply as Shutter Island appeals to the more sophisticated movie goer. With Decaprio at the height of his game and a support cast including the mahatma himself, Ben Kingsley this flick is well worth your $20 (halves in a choc top combo), your $5.95 (twelve months later as a two night new release) and 1/5th of your $12 (as part of five weekly movies package that include at least two movies with sex scenes - the other three movies used as cover for your wanking weekend).

Snap rates it 8/10.