These days, it seems like every other film I watch contains some sort of fight scene. As such, I’ve seen a number of similar looking sequences which vary in their degrees of effectiveness, and the vast majority of those are little more than ‘seen-it-all-before’ shoot-em ups and the like. Put simply, it’s not often that a film excites me purely on an action basis, but The Raid is a fresh breath of air in this regard, and an instant standout of the genre. Whilst it will take a more thorough investigation to determine where The Raid ranks among the greatest action films of all time, it has certainly earned its place in that discussion.

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The simple premise provides the perfect backdrop for the events to unfold. Our hero Rama (Iko Uwais) is part of a SWAT team that is tasked with raiding an apartment building owned by evil drug baron Tapa (Ray Sahetapy). Almost like a video game, the cops must go floor by floor, arresting every thug they encounter as they work their way towards their target. The already challenging mission becomes more difficult when Tapa is alerted to the team’s presence, and offers lifelong sanctuary to any criminal in the building who takes them out. Cue a lot of gunfights, knife-fights, and hand-to-hand fights, (all of which amounts to a very long list of bruised extras in the end credits) and The Raid earns its 18 certificate over its 101 minute run time.

Utilising the Indonesian martial art of Silat, Iko Uwais’ Rama fights off hordes of enemies, and rarely has watching men get beaten to a pulp been so aesthetically pleasing. There really aren’t enough superlatives to do it justice; from challenging thugs to the ‘boss battle’, you will be left wanting for nothing as weapons materialise out of nowhere (you’ll never look at a light fixture the same way again) and are used to devastating effect. Thankfully, wide camera angles ensure that we don’t miss a single punch of the many supremely choreographed fight sequences. Whether it be ooohing and aaahing, a sudden onset of squeamishness, or in the case of the screening I attended spontaneous applause, it is impossible to stop yourself reacting to the immersive action.

That is a rare thing to say about an action film in these times, and yet it is warranted, and much of that praise must be attributed to director Gareth Evans. The Welshman’s inventiveness in particular is impressive; seemingly small innovations on scenes that we’ve seen in dozens of other action films, like how a gunfight begins for instance, are ingenious and play out cleverly on screen. Additionally, the varied soundtrack is, incredibly, perfectly crafted to almost each sequence.

Suffice to say, you’ll be in need of some rest periods in-between the exhilarating action, and the necessary sub-plots are well placed and do a good job of keeping the audience engaged. Whilst the storyline involving Rama and chief henchman Andi (Donny Alamsyah) is certainly intriguing, another plot involving one of the leaders of the SWAT team fails to muster the intended impact. Still, this is a very minor quibble, and chances are that when you walk away from The Raid, you will be left with a feeling of immense satisfaction.

“Any Last Words?” The Raid is without a doubt the best action film of the year. It will be extremely difficult for another film to earn that tagline come the end of December.

Starring | Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Ananda George, Yayan Ruhian, Donny Alamsyah, Ray Sahetapy and Verdi Solaiman.

Director | Gareth Evans                                 Cert | 18                                         Run Time | 1 hour 41 mins

The Raid hits UK cinemas on Friday.

Enclosed is a months worth of video goodness from the likes of Ab-Soul, Blu, Benin City, Big K.R.I.T, The Rapture, Yasiin Bey, Oddisee, Szjerdene, Tabi Bonney, Slum Village, Anthrax, Danny Brown, Swizz Beatz, Purple Velvet, BIGkids, Chance The Rapper and J.Cole. It’s really inspiring to spend a Sunday afternoon putting together this monthly post. Today I’ve watched over 30 music videos and have managed to narrow it down to 17 quality, creative and innovative videos from different corners of the world which perfectly represent the diversity, intelligence and creativity of our modern generation. Be proud, be part of it!

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Ab-Soul featuring Alori Joh & JaVonte’ – Empathy

“I got 700 dollars from my last show. And I would spend it all on you. So baby won’t you fall on through”

I don’t think words can describe my love for Ab-Soul, it’s getting serious! Hooking up with soul singers, Alori Joh & JaVonte, here he exhibits his softer side on his latest “Control System” release, titled “Empathy”. 

I made my first ever iTunes album purchase this week for Ab-Soul’s “Control System”, 17 tracks of supercalifreshlinguisticextrahighdopeshit – I suggest you do the same!

Benin City – Baby

Admittedly, I was first attracted the the four-piece group, Benin City because of their namesake, Benin a city in Southern Nigeria. Originally a collective of live musicians and poets, including Inua Ellams whom I was lucky to discover a couple of years ago, the group has gone through a number of changes and developments since their breakthrough in around 2008/9. Now, formally a 4-person Hip Hop collective with Benin-born Joshua Idehen leading the vocals, here is the video for their new single “Baby“. A tale of distorted love between a delicate beauty and an exotic wild animal., the theme is almost voyeuristic as you try to work out whether the story is one of romance or violence, you feel as if you’re looking in on a private domestic towards the end of the Clouded Vision-directed video – that we’re not meant to quite understand. Sit back and enjoy. Shouts to Yin for the heads up!

Benin City – Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

Blu - K E E P U S H I N N

Released on Tumblr this week, here are some visuals for Blu’s track, Keepushinn taken from his NoYork mixtape. I absolutely love stop motion, the illustrations in this video are absolutely crazy – I was trying to keep up and note down all of the different cultures that some of the images are derived from, but my interpretation of things might dilute the experience for naked eyes, you should definitely check it out for yourselves. Previously known for canceling shows, showing up tripped out on acid in public and making his fans wait for ages for his next release, Blu seems to be extremely focused on his music right now, I think we’ve had new material from him at least every month this year, be it a track or a music video – keep it up Johnson, you’re my favourite colour :-)!

Download NoYork!

Blu – Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook

Big K.R.I.T - 4evaNaDay

A perfect melting pot of neon lights, mixed media and wisdom from the country rapper, Big K.R.I.T, here are the innovative visuals for the title track from his new mixtape, 4evaNaDay which you can download here.

Big K.R.I.T – Twitter | Facebook

The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love

Some heart warming visuals laced over a beautiful song from indie rock band, The Rapture.

The Rapture – Twitter | Facebook

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Dead Prez & mikeflo – Made You Die (Trayvon Martin Tribute)

Layed over the Nas track, Made You Look, Yasiin Bey hooks up with Dead Prez and mikeflo in the latest of Trayvon Martin tributes from the Hip Hop community. This extremely topical song is urging us to do more than post-event protest. Designed for your best pair of headphones, lyrics are beyond the truth. Take note, take action!

Marvin Gaye - ’Ain’t That Peculiar’ Oddisee Remix

Taken from the forthcoming Oddisee free remix EP, “Odd Renditions” (released May 15th), here are the nostalgia-fuelled, cleverly constructed visuals for his Hip Hop remix of Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar“, edited by Rob Mac. Goodness me, Marvin Gaye was a sensationally beautiful man! Shouts to HypeTrak for the tip.

Pre order – People Hear What They See (album)

Oddisee – Twitter | Facebook | Website

(Oddisee will be performing at London’s Jazz Cafe on Sep 14th with a full live band and support from Eric Lau, Oliver DaySoul and Tranqill. More info here, tix £10.)

Szjerdene – Turn

Beautiful visuals, worthy of being described as cinematic from Saul and Josh for the new Szjerdene track, taken from her EP, “Patchwork” which is out now on iTunes. I can’t even think of a material on this earth with as much depth and smoothness as Szjerdene’s voice, she is simply divine!

p.s. £10 and a fully stamped Nando’s card in rewards for the person that can find me the boy in this video. Thanks in advance!

Szjerdene – Twitter | Facebook

Tabi Bonney ft Terri Walker – Castle On A Cloud

Joined by British singer, Terri Walker and Ski Beatz on the buttons, Tabi Bonney has released the soulful “Castle On A Cloud” for the dreamers amongst us. Taken from his forthcoming free project, “The Endless Summer” the track exhibits Tabi’s powerful lyricism, and the accompanying visuals exhibit his rather eclectic dress sense (yo, where can I get a pair of those trousers from). A rather short track, almost a prelude to his long awaited new material, this is a nice introduction into the world of Tabi Bonney, for those of you don’t know, yet!

Tabi Bonney – Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

 Slum Village – God Sent / Hunger ft Vice & Focus

Two for the price of one on this double-jointed video for “God Sent” and “Hunger” from Slum Village’s latest project with Mick Boogie, titled “Dirty Slums”. I think it’s safe to say all Slum Vill fans are happy to hear new material from the Detroit group, new releases from both SV and De La Soul show that true Hip Hop still lives. Storytellers in the truest form, the 2 video clips, directed by Kent Willard & Kyle Messina for Depth of Sound fit like a glove to the honest lyrics from the group.

Download Dirty Slums

Slum Village – Twitter | Website

Anthrax ft. Tay Walker – “F#@K EARTH“

The dichotomy between both Anthrax and Tay Walker’s dark, twisted commentary on a failed relationship, and the smooth, melodic vocals of Tay in the chorus is really quite unsettling, and certainly not conventional. I’m 4 replays in and I’m really enjoying Anthrax’s lyricism (which reminds me slightly of an early Eminem) and Tay Walker’s vocals are the kind you want to drown in, at full volume. If you’re a fan of The Internet, then you may recognise Tay’s beautiful voice from tracks such as “They Say”.

Anthrax – Twitter
Tay Walker – Twitter

Danny Brown – Blueberry (Pills & Cocaine) prod. Darq E Freaker

Danny Brown shows love for his British cousins on this track produced by UK grime producer, Darq E Freaker, directed by Yoni Lappin, produced by the homies Pinboard Film and featuring a few familiar faces, here are the crazy visuals for his new track “Blueberry (Pills & Cocaine)”. I think Danny would fit in perfectly in London, influenced by the likes of early Dizzee Rascal, the Detroit-born rapper would be amazing on top of a crazy, but genuine (no Skrillex!!) dubstep beat.

Danny Brown – Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

Swizz Beatz ft. A$AP Rocky – Street Knock (Produced by araabMUZIK)

Shot in the city that never sleeps, “Street Knock” features man of the moment, A$AP Rocky on a heavily Reebok sponsored  track from their ambassador, Swizz Beatz, with production from Araabmuzik. Appearances from Allen Iverson, Jadakiss and my fave lady de la mode, Venus X.

Download Street Knock

 Purple Velvet – You Are 

Some sensual house from German label, Exploited and new duo, Purple Velvet. Trippy 1960′s visuals via a kaleidoscope with a very European feel, the track “You Are” is out now on Juno.

BIGkids – Superhero
BIGkids consist of a man and woman from Camden making music that you can “trash your bedroom to” (their words, not mine). You may recognise the vocals of Mr Hudson – who makes up 1/2 of the pop band - in the bridge for their latest single, “Superhero”. This isn’t my usual taste in music, admittedly – but the video is interesting and the song is good fun! Featuring a pair of children drinking beer, getting tattoos and causing absolute mayhem in town, the duo make the transformation to adulthood whilst crowdsurfing to the stage at a gig. BIGkids’s single, “Superhero” is available on iTunes now

BIGkids – Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

Chance The Rapper – Hey Ma

Not my favourite track from Chicago-born, Chance The Rapper but what a great visual concept! Chance pays respect to his Mother in his new track, “Hey Ma”, directed by Elijah Alvarado. I’ll refer you to one of my preferred tracks, “Brain Cells” taken from Chance The Rapper’s recent mixtape, #10days. 

Download #10days free here

Chance The Rapper – Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr 

J.Cole – Sideline Story

In 2010 you would’ve thought I received a salary from J.Cole, the amount I used to advocate his rapping skills. Fast forward to his album release, recognition from a major and appreciation from millions of fans and typically my love for him disappeared. It’s more than just coincidence that mainstream recognition often leads to dilution in almost all music, but with J.Cole I think I just became bored of him telling me about the come-up. Having heard all 3 of his mixtapes, I’d heard it all before – whereas his new fans welcomed this humble tell-tale of the struggle. But alas, here are some visuals to one of my favourite tracks from his debut album, “Cole World”. Directed by Axel Laramee, the video for “Sideline Story” features footage from Jermaine’s UK tour.

J.Cole – Twitter | Facebook | Website

I’m back again with another episode of Oprah’s Masterclass series for y’all. I’ve got all of Season 2 on my hard drive, just need to watch and take notes now. Giving myself a few days in between episodes so I can fully digest each person’s story. Her story is beautiful, she already knew her life’s intention at the age of 11 – most of us still don’t know our goals in life! her goal was to simply be happy in life. She grew up in area of Maryland where it was more than important to be perfect but she wanted none of that; a simple life was her dream – get married, raise kids and run a dance school. Her life obviously didn’t go down that route; she looks back at her life and shares much of her wisdom she has learnt from her years in the entertainment industry as well as family life. Hop on after the cut.

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I’ll leave you with a few quotes from the episode. It’s definitely one of my favourites.

On her unexpected Oscar win..

“It is a great thing to get recognized for something that you’ve done but its a moment in time. Living off of those accolades and making that become some total in the part of your importance in life or even your purpose in life, defining who you are…those awards are wonderful but they are never meant to define who you are. I define myself by my ability to give. I define myself by my ability to understand. I define myself by my ethics and by my truth. These are the things that define who I am….”

Staying humble and grounded…

“When you start feeling too big for your britches, I want you to remember how small we are.”

Parenting – learning let go…

”Give your children free reign to grow.  That doesn’t mean that they aren’t watched…it just means that they are honored. You don’t always have to tower over them…” “The beauty of getting older is the surprise of what else you can do to make the world a better place with the wisdom you’ve accrued over those years.”

Love…

“Love is a choice…each and every day.  It’s one you make in how you talk to people, how you treat people and how you walk through the world.  Love is a choice.  Each and Every Day.”

If you’ve been in the borough of Hackney in the last couple of weeks, you would’ve seen “Land of Kings” posters shrewn across walls and cafe and shop windows. During Bank Holiday weekend, the multi-arts festival took place in 15 venues across Dalston with appearances and input from the likes of Red Bull Music Academy, Kwes, NTS, Speech Debelle, London Fields Radio and the W.I. group, the Dalston Darlings. Having been a Hackney resident over 30 years ago, my Mum expressed an interest in wanting to attend some of the daytime events so we headed to the BBQ at the Curve Garden, followed by the screening of the ‘Legacy in the Dust’ docufilm at Arcola. I was down for a good old MEATwagon burger, some decent reggae and a film screening, but never did I expect our visit to be so educational. Hit the jump for a brief insight into Hackney’s history and a trailer for the brilliant “Legacy in the Dust”.

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The Legacy in the Dust docufilm centers on the Four Aces club, a live soul and reggae club in Dalston, opened in 1996 by Newton Dunbar. Home to live music and appearances from the likes of Desmond Decker, Jimmy Cliff, Ben E. King, The Clash, Bob Marley and The Sex Pistols, the club then went on to host many of the indoor acid house raves of the mid to late 80′s! With such a rich history and a great reputation amongst music lovers in London, the club grew in terms of success, however at every step Newton’s Four Aces club and its patrons were met with hostility, accusations and violence from the police – the media branded the club a “Yardie Drug Club”. But as you’ll see in the trailer, and from the names of some of their guests such as Desmond Decker and Bob Marley – the club really wasn’t deserving of such a bad name.

In the late 1960′s, Dalston wasn’t the bustling high street as we know it now – even my Mother has told me of it’s dark, empty streets with no signs of progression in sight. The documentary tells the story of how for Caribbean immigrants in the late 1960′s their main haven in a cold, harsh London were the nightclubs where they could dance and enjoy music with friends, such as The Four Aces. Much like today, people just wanted to get together and enjoy themselves til’ the early hours of the morning, and just like today partygoers were mistreated by police, bouncers, taxi drivers and police; clubs were getting raided and shut down all over London. The story of a young man, and his 3 friend’s love for music and soul culture in the 1960′s is set against the backdrop of a period of racism, violence, riots and severe segregation – which in itself is quite shocking. However, the part of the story which is the most shocking is that many of these things are still happening today – as one of the commentators to the documentary pointed out, now incidents are either brushed under the carpet, or they’ve just been side-swept into other communities. As scary and sad as this is, the story of a young group of friends and their entrepreneurism, passion and legacy sticks out which I found extremely inspiring. Any of my friends will tell you how much I love live music, night clubs and concerts and event planning is something I hope to delve into in the near future, and so to learn of a man that ran such an important, ground-breaking club over 40 years ago is really interesting to me – and I hope that the story of Newton Dunbar and The Four Aces is as interesting to you too!

You can find out more news, and details of screenings on the “Legacy in the Dust” website.

p.s. MEATwagon burgers a bit of a hype. Undercooked and kinda soggy in the middle, with more oil and greasyness than homemade sauce and tastiness. Disappointment :-(

Only God knows how I wasn’t informed about Season 2 of Oprah’s Masterclass series. I loved season one with the likes of Jay-Z, Simon Cowell, Maya Angelou and Oprah sharing their many life lessons, it’s a must watch – feel free to scour the internet to look for stream links. This season started off with 73 year old American actress, writer, political activist and fitness guru – Jane Fonda. Her story starts off on a sad note with her mother’s suicide and a father’s emotional in capabilities, I loved the authenticity and honest nature of Jane. She shares with many of her life stories, challenges and what she did to conquer them. Hop on after the cut.

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Mesmerising watch. Can you believe this woman is 73? Her most valuable lesson: It is never too late.

Enjoy people. I just finished watching the 2nd episode! will post in a few days. A few quotes that stood out for me:

‘My best legacy is my life and the lesson is, it’s never too late.  Everything came late for me…my voice, my becoming whole, my learning intimacy…all those things happened after I turned 60 and I think it’s a very hopeful lesson.  It is never too late.  Never give up.’

‘When I’m afraid of something, I embrace it. I become it’s best friend. I know everything I can about it.  And my fear dissipates.’

‘We have to listen to each other even when we don’t agree. Open our hearts and listen with empathy.’

‘Find your focus. Find something that gives you JOY.’

‘Don’t go through life with guilt. Don’t own others actions as yours.  It has nothing to do with you…it is their life…it is them’

I don’t post music videos, hardly ever in fact nowadays but this one was just too good to pass on. Everyone loves to hate on ‘Ye but I’m a big fan of his creativity when it comes to fashion, music and art.  The overdue visuals for his track Lost In The World off his last solo album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy surfaced earlier today and I know for a fact, it’s not going to be a lot of people’s cup of tea. It’s so abstract, too abstract for those who are used to the hoes, the cars, the bling – you know the usual MMG/YMCBBC video. What I love about it? The simplicity – no cinematic storyline required, the black & white sharp buildings, typography, high energy dancing and contrast just carry it for me. It’s been directed by Ruth Hogben – a London-based director who’s known for her fashion films. Makes sense now ey?

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If you’ve seen any of her previous works then you know why this is so slick and fast paced. It’s not your typical rap video for a not so typical rap song. Kanye’s on his fashion grind and when the two worlds collide, you get this stylist video. What do you think? or you left completely dumbfounded and lost by it?

Now ‘Ye, allow the PR stunts with Kim Kardashian and get back to making music or even a video for Never Let You Down off College Dropout. That song deserves a video.

Not for nothing has Jason Statham got a reputation as an action star; he’s been showcasing his fighting skills in films for years – more often than not as the ‘ordinary guy’ who somehow gets the job done – ranging from the good (The Transporter, Killer Elite) to the bad (Death Race) to the downright wild (the Crank series). Later this year, he will reunite with his fellow bad-asses in The Expendables 2, but until then New York is the backdrop for the latest round of his exploits in Safe, a crime thriller written and directed by Boaz Yakin (Remember the Titans). Unfortunately, the film does not afford itself enough smarts story-wise to accompany Statham’s very watchable brawn.

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The plot follows Mei, a 10 year old Chinese girl with a talent for numbers in addition to a photographic memory. Her skills put her on the radar of the triads, who kidnap Mei and bring her into their employ in New York.  After memorizing a number code for the Triads, she gets snatched again – this time by Russian mobsters, who want the code for themselves – but she manages to escape. Also recognizing the girl’s value are corrupt cops, who join the hunt to find the elusive girl. Fortunately for Mei, the down-and-out Luke Wright (Statham) sees her being chased and decides to intervene.

Suffice to say, there are many villainous factions at play here. At times, this can be the film’s biggest weakness – with everybody double crossing, well, everybody – in their quest to extract the all important information from the girl. Nevertheless, the narrative does a good job of staying on task, never showing us more than we need to know; For instance, we never actually see Wright’s wife or Mei’s Mother even though these individuals are important to the main characters.

This makes the story very linear, and aside from Statham’s Luke Wright there is little character development, although the rest of the cast play their aforementioned one-note characters well enough. Not helping are the plot holes of Statham’s character. Some key decisions that Wright makes are never properly explained and they become all the more perplexing when we learn the truth about his past.

When Wright turns protector and we finally get to see the Statham we all know and love, it’s great to watch; the action is frenetic, with plenty of hard-hitting hand to hand encounters coupled with some impressive gun fights. Sandwiched in-between is a break-neck chase, which benefits much from some excellent cinematography. These scenes are made all the more satisfying when Statham sounds off one of his many funny one-liners, which will no doubt derive a few chuckles.

Young maths prodigy Mei (Catherine Chan) should probably be more afraid of this one-man fighting machine, but her character shares a few humorous moments with Wright. There are some scenes which could do with an infusion of more emotion, but by and large she proves a worthy foil.

“Any Last Words?” There’s little in the way of surprises here, but Safe serves as an entertaining thriller, with some well-done action beats. Fans of Statham should be satisfied.

To the surprise of no one, Avengers Assemble is already proving to be a financial success even though it was only released last week, and along with Marley it was the strongest film of April. We are now firmly in ‘Summer movie’ territory and there is no shortage of blockbusters coming our way this month. From anticipated threequels to martial arts extravaganzas, have a gander at the latest edition of Film Watch.

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American Pie: Reunion (Out May 2) Reunited, and it feels so good!

What is it about? | 13 years since Jim & co graduated, the gang return for a delayed class reunion. They soon discover that many things have changed since their school days…

What to expect | Many will doubtless remember the hilarious antics of Stifler & co in American Pie 13 years ago. It spawned many sequels and spin-offs, and some films have even imitated the formula of explicit, vulgar humour mixed with moments of sentimentality, with varying degrees of success. A lot of different trailers are circulating the web for this one, but they seem to confirm that that balance has been struck once again. Time will tell if this is a worthwhile addition to the franchise.

Starring | Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Mena Suvari.

Directors | Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schollsberg    Cert | 15                              Run Time | 1 hour 53 mins

Safe (Out May 4) Russian mobsters. Triads. Corrupt cops. Man, I love New York…

What is it about? | Ten year-old Mei is a gifted mathematician whose talents attract the attention of Triads. Kidnapped to New York, she mesmerizes a number code only to be snatched again (poor gal) by Russians, who want the code for themselves. Escaping her abductees, she catches the eye of Luke Wright (Statham), a down-and-out former fighter who makes it his mission to protect the girl from her capturers, unwittingly pitting himself against the Triads, Russians, corrupt cops, and the Mayor.

What to expect | Jason Statham doing what Jason Statham does best – beating people up. Review coming soon…

Starring | Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, James Hong, Anson Mount, Robert John Burke, Reggie Lee and Chris Sarandon.

Director | Boaz Yakin                                      Cert | 15                                              Run Time | 1 hour 34 mins

Beauty and the Beast 3D (Out May 4) Tale as old as time…

What is it about? (As if you don’t know…) | Dissatisfied with her life in a French town, Belle spends her days reading books and helping her father Maurice whilst fending off the misplaced affections of Gaston. The Beast is a Prince placed under a spell because he could not love. When Maurice takes a wrong turn and encounters The Beast, Belle races off in search of her Father.

What to expect | In October last year The Lion King was the first of four Disney films to be re-released in 3D, and Beauty and the Beast is the latest animated classic to get the treatment. For those who are feeling nostalgic, this one is for you.

Starring | Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers and Angela Lansbury.

Directors | Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise                 Cert | U                                Run Time | 1 hour 30 mins

Dark Shadows (Out May 11)

What is it about? | In the year 1752 Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) is a rich and powerful playboy, until he breaks the heart of Angelique Brouchard (Eva Green), who happens to be a Witch. Turned into a vampire and buried alive, Barnabas is accidentally freed from his tomb two centuries later to find the dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family in need of his protection from the Witch. 

What to expect | Dark Shadows will mark director Tim Burton’s eighth collaboration with Johnny Depp, and there is strong support in the form of Eva Green (Casino Royale) and Michelle Pfeiffer. Fans of the TV show upon which this film is based will doubtless be clamouring to see this one, and the fun humour teased in the trailers coupled with some spooky (if not scary) horror will certainly appeal to wider audiences. Count me in for the moment.

Starring | Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Moretz and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Director | Tim Burton                                     Cert | 12A                                           Run Time | 1 hour 53 mins

The Dictator (Out May 16) From riches to rags, Cohen style

What is it about? | Sacha Baron Cohen stars as General Aladeen, in the story of a heroic dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy never comes to the country he so lovingly oppresses.

What to expect | Sacha Baron Cohen tends to divide audiences with certain characters (namely Borat and Brüno), and if you’re not a fan of his shenanigans already you probably won’t be excited about his latest caricature. With that said, the various trailers suggest that The Dictator is more scripted than Cohen’s previous efforts, which could make for some excellent comedic moments. Head back to Y&Y soon for my thoughts on General Aladeen’s antics.

Starring | Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Anna Faris, Megan Fox, John C. Reilly and Jason Mantzoukas.

Director | Larry Charles                                 Cert | TBC                                           Run Time | TBC

The Raid (Out May 18) *ONE TO WATCH* Lots of criminals, one SWAT team, plenty of ass-kicking…

What is it about? | Drug baron Tapa rules Jakarta’s megaslum from a 30 floor fortress. 20 elite cops – including rookie Rama (Iko Uwais) – must raid the building, going floor by floor in search of their target. But Tapa already knows they are there, and has plenty of nasty surprises in store for the SWAT team. Cue gunfights, epic martial arts duels, and all round mayhem…

What to expect | The premise for The Raid seems simple, but the trailer makes it very clear who the film is aimed at. The supremely choreographed action sequences teased in the trailers will likely entice many an action film enthusiast, and if the sight of main protagonist Rama bouncing a thug’s head off a wall doesn’t provoke a reaction, I can attest that a myriad of other scenes will do just that. Keep an eye on Yin & Yang for my detailed review later on this week.

Starring | Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Ananda George, Yayan Ruhian, Doni Alamsyah, Ray Sahetapy and Verdi Solaiman.

Director | Gareth Evans                                                Cert | 18                                              Run Time | 1 hour 41 mins

What To Expect When You’re Expecting (Out May 23) Ah, the joys of childbirth

What is it about? | A look at the lives of five couples as they prepare to become parents.

What to expect | The presence of well known comedian Chris Rock bodes well for the male demographic, but there’s no doubt this is first and foremost one for the ladies. There are some genuinely funny moments in the trailers, and if it can maintain this tone throughout it may yet prove to be an entertaining watch.

Starring | Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Rock and Dennis Quaid.

Director | Kirk Jones                                       Cert | TBC                                           Run Time | 1 hour 40 mins

Men in Black 3 (Out May 25) Back defending the galaxy…in 3D

What is it about? | When Agent K’s life and the fate of the planet are at stake, Agent J (Will Smith) has to travel back in time to the 1960’s to put things right, where he befriends a younger version of Agent K (Josh Brolin).

What to expect | Aside from Josh Brolin’s awesome Tommy Lee Jones impression, MIB 3 features Will Smith making his return to the big screen (the last film he starred in was 2008’s Seven Pounds). There are a couple elements that I’m less than excited about, namely the inclusion of Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga as aliens. Additionally, the less said about that woeful Pitbull theme song, the better. Nevertheless, hopefully this sci-fi trilogy will end with a flourish.

Starring | Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Sharlto Copley, Nicole Scherzinger and Emma Thompson.

Director | Barry Sonefield                            Cert | PG                                             Run Time | 1 hour 46 mins

Those of you who know me personally, will know that I hardly ever watch television. I don’t have one in my room and neither have I ever been interested by the plethora of crap that we’re offered on British TV like The Only Was Is Essex, Made In Chelsea and so on. I don’t understand how people sit through hours of brain numbing TV! I’ve recently started watching Oprah‘s Lifeclass Tour series via her OWN network website which lets you stream each episode, no country restriction which is amazing. My main reason for watching was TD Jakes presence on the panel alongside the likes of spiritual leaders - Deepak Chopra, Iyanla Vanzant, Tony Robbins and wise ol’ Oprah herself. More on the reverse.

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Everyone has a story to share and stories have the power to inspire. That’s what Lifeclass is all about, people sharing what they’ve learnt over the years to better each others lives. It’s almost like a live TV rendition of my Dope Quote series but 50 times better. So if you’re looking for something to watch while you work then this is it.

Click here for full episodes on OWN Network

I’ve embedded a few clips below but I highly suggest you click the link above for full episodes.

During the past few months, my excitement for Avengers outweighed my anticipation for Christopher Nolan’s final Batman flick, and those of you who have seen Joss Whedon’s superhero team-up will be aware of how much that excitement was justified. But on the short list of possible films to top Avengers (my film of the year thus far), The Dark Knight Rises is at the very top. With the July 20 release date drawing ever nearer, the marketing is guaranteed to kick up a few notches, and today Warner Bros. have unveiled a third (and final?) theatrical trailer for Nolan’s conclusion to his Batman trilogy. You don’t need me to tell you to hit the link, do you?

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EPIC, right? Exploding bridges, Batman’s new vehicle taking flight, and a chilling score by the brilliant Hans Zimmer are just some of the enticing elements on display here. Even Bane’s voice seems to have improved, sounding a lot clearer than it did in the prologue sequence which was shown in select IMAX theatres with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol last year.

When all is said and done, it will be very interesting to see which superhero film stands tall above the rest. Avengers has set the bar high, and The Amazing Spider-Man is also due out later this year, but The Dark Knight looks like he will, um, rise to the challenge.

What did you think of the new Batman trailer? Let us know in the comments section below.

Starring | Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Juno Temple, Tom Hardy and Marion Cotillard.

Director | Christopher Nolan