Movies

Prometheus begins with a standard but solid literary SF premise - scientists searching for the origin of life - but ends in a typical sci-fi movie fashion.

Although, as with many Bonds, the globe-trotting middle portion drags, Skyfall is all the expected fun of the best Bonds, with a surprising amount of depth.

The Hobbit is a greater technical achievement than its predecessors (or successors really), but nowhere near matching their depth of story.

Looper has a sense of innovation and inventiveness that makes every new revelation pure enjoyment.

Laurie Strode in Halloween is another of the most remarkable final girls in horror cinema. Perfectly portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis (whose mother was no stranger to the genre), Laurie has the traits that one looks for when evaluating the well put together final girl.

What I love about Hellraiser is that while sure, Kirsty is given a love interest he doesn't serve much of a purpose. He doesn't drive the narrative. That is left to Kirsty, and he doesn't seem to be able to aid the heroine in any way throughout the film.

A Nightmare on Elm Street pits Nancy first against everyone around her who simply dismisses her as crazy and, second, against a larger than life villain who uses everything in the environment to manipulate, terrorize and confuse the heroine. And she holds her own without the aid of a man.