"Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa"

From the start I want to make it clear that I would not normally watch a film associated with the "Jackass" telelvision series. For me it is just about the lowest form of entertainment on the planet, along with reality tv shows.
Yet there was something about the trailer that appealed, and there was hope that this might be something even remotely entertaining.

The basic premise is simple. Knoxville under very heavy make up masquerades as an 80+ year old Grandfather, taking his young grandson to be with his rather unworthy father. Along the way, they get into various situations, which are leashed upon as unsuspecting public. The action is filmed using hidden cameras.
Not exactly the most novel of ideas, but it has been given the "Jackass" spin, and at times is funny. Alas it does suffer from that some of the funniest bits are shown in the trailer. It is a shame that a trailer could not be contsructed to illustrate what the film was about but without having to give too much away. A few of the gags do fall by flat but there are some good laughs, but not as many as there could have been.

The make-up used to age Knoxville is excellent, and there is no doubt why so many were fooled by his appearance. Jackson Nicoll is excellent playing Billy the grandson. He really comes into his own in one the best scenes of the film, when Grandpa enrols Billy as a contestant in one of those young child pageants that the Americans seem obsessed with, and to most of the civilised world are just plain creepy and WRONG.

It was good, but despite the promise from the trailer, cannot get more excited than that......6 out of 10

"The Last Stand"

In the late 1990's Arnold Schwarzenegger unwent a major heart operation. He recovered and upon his return in front of the camera, wanted to show the Cinema going public of the World that he was still on top form, and returned in the excellent Peter Hyams thriller "End of Days".
Fast forward to 2013. Arnold has not had a lead role in some ten years, mainly due to his Mayoral duties in California. Yes he has had the odd role, mainly for his friend Sylvester Stallone in "The Expendables" film series. But here he returns with his first top billing role since 2003. Can he recapture the same magic as in 1999?

Summeton is a small town, nothing much happens there, and Sheriff Owens likes it that way. Order reigns in the town. But things are about to change. After breaking away from his Federal charges, Drugs kingpin Gabriel Cortez is making his way for the sanctity of the Mexican border. And what would be between him and his freedom?  Yes you guessed it....the small town of Summerton.

With the FBI in hot pursuit, lead by Forest Whitaker, the local Sheriff has to go it alone, with his band of merry men, and women, as they do battle with superior fire power of Cortez and his gang of cohorts. There is the inevitable big shoot-out as the Gang arrive to clear out the town before the arrival of Cortez. Johnny Knoxville (Someone I feel has provided no merit to the film World whatsoever) provides some humour as his character gets deputised by Ray Owens, as he needs all the help he can get, and especially as Lewis is an arms collector.
Yes it is violent, and there are many guns of varying sizes being used, and at times the gun battles are entertaining to watch, but there is very little else to commend about the big screen return of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Why on Earth Oscar winning actor Forest Whitaker is in a movie like this, Lord only knows. He deserves far better. In fact his career has not exactly gone the way of some Best Actor winners.
I feel the best thing that Arnie can do right now is phone his friend Sly Stallone, and ask him to get a move on with the script for "The Expendables 3", and quickly.

If nothing else, it is nice to see the 87 year old movie veteran Harry Dean Stanton on screen again, still going strong after all these years.

The big guys return should have been better.........5 out of 10.