Iron Man (2008)

Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow
Genre: Superhero/adventure
Age certificate: 12
Rating: **** - good

I have to tell you that when I first started watching this film, I was actually in the mood for some soppy romance. Therefore, the first, ten minutes maybe?, I was not impressed. It seemed like it was just going to be another war film. Although, at the same time, I admit, I was slightly amused by the attitude of the main character, Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). After the initial war and death part though, and when Stark started building a giant iron man to escape a terrorist camp, I actually realised that this film is hilarious, and just generally good all-round, with stunning visual effects and great acting. The characters are not just likeable, but also loveable, excluding the antagonist of course, whom you automatically loathe.

Shallow Hal (2001)

Director: Farrelly Brothers
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black, Jason Alexander
Genre: romantic comedy
Certificate: 12
Rating: *****

From the DVD case, this film looks like it is not going to be too good. Yet if you give it the chance it deserves, and 'don't judge a book by its cover', you will realise how good it actually is. The plot is basically about a man who only judges women from what they look like, before his perceptions are altered, and the beauty within women reflects on their beauty outside. And so, he falls in love with a beautiful woman, who he does not realise is actually fat. Yes, the plot IS cheesy, but it manages to become a beautiful film, when Jack Black's character realises that he loves his obese girlfriend, because of what she is inside. There is a scene in this which almost brought me to tears - after Hal's perceptions are re-altered, he realises that a little girl whom he played The Kissing Game with is actually a burn victim. This scene was beautifully done. Obviously, the message of this film is about seeing the inner beauty of individuals, and Shallow Hal brings it across almost too easily. A must-see.