Stardust (2007)
Sep 23, 2007Epic Fantasy Adventure
Matthew Vaughn adapts a Neil Gaiman book in this undeniably appealing fantasy that comes with a story of epical sweep that vies between fantastic imagination and broad humour
Jane Goldman
Kick-Ass (2010)
Apr 18, 2010Superhero Wannabes
One of several films around the same time about wannabes without powers playing at being superheroes. Matthew Vaughn delivers a film that falls between witty deflation of and a celebration of nerdy fantasy
X: First Class (2011)
Jun 5, 2011Comic-Book Superheroes/Origin Prequel
An X-Men origin story that serves as the occasion to recast the series with younger actors. This works far better than the previous two films, integrating the characters in a strong story, although is quiet at the superheroic action
The Woman in Black (2012)
Feb 12, 2012Ghost Story
The revived Hammer Films visit the classic British ghost story tradition. This is impeccably mounted but the film offers nothing more than a series of disappointingly superficial boo moments of zero impact
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
May 25, 2014Comic-Book Superheroes
It is nice to see Bryan Singer regain his form after several years lull. The plot is nothing world-shattering but it is nice to see a character-driven X-Men, while Singer delivers the superheroics with a cheer-out loud elan that most of the sequels missed by a wide margin
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)
Feb 21, 2015Spy Film/Comic-Book Adaptation
This rescues the spy film from the silliness of Austin Powers. The film's sly mocking of its Englishness, with Colin Firth going into action as an impeccably mannered gentleman, along with explosive action sequences is irresistible
The Limehouse Golem (2016)
Sep 25, 2017Victorian Serial Killer
This comes with a captivating tagline "Before The Ripper, fear had another name" and misleadingly suggests it is based on another true-life Victorian serial killer. This refuses to be the police procedural you expect
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Oct 29, 2016Secret Home for "Gifted" Youths
Tim Burton used to be the great hope of fantastic cinema but his efforts since 2000 have been greeted with general disappointment. This Young Adult adaptation plays out like a fantasy version of the X-Men
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Dec 2, 2017Spy Film/Comic-Book Adaptation
Kingsman with its parody of gentlemanliness and action movie sensibilities, was the smartest of the modern spy movie parodies. This sequel has gone to the excesses of the Roger Moore Bond films in the space of one film