Film Favourites from All Star Films by Thom Goddard There is an inevitability about November.

Winter is just round the corner, Christmas shopping begins earlier each year and film releases come in two distinct categories: Oscar hunters and Christmas cash-ins. Although that means great films for anyone hitting the local cinema. Enjoy! Released: 4th November - A Christmas Carol 3D - 3 stars The classic Dickens tale is told in beautiful 3D animation as Ebenezer Scrooge, voiced by Jim Carrey, is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come to take him on an eye-opening journey. Writer-director Robert Zemeckis created the animated hits The Polar Express and Beowulf, and if you have seen those films that tells you all you need to know about this movie. Stunning visuals but nothing new. 6th November - The Men Who Stare At Goats - 5 stars This is one of the greatest film debuts as first-time director Grant Heslov creates a hilarious, heart-warming movie for all to enjoy. The story follows a journalist who goes to Iraq and meets a "psychic" US soldier who takes him on an adventure of discovery. Starring Ewen McGregor, George Clooney and Kevin Spacey, this film is funny, intriguing, clever, fast-paced, emotional and inspirational. 13th November - Amelia - 3 star Unashamedly begging for an Oscar nomination is a look at the life of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart, who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the world. Hillary Swank is good as Earhart, and well supported by Richard Gere and Christopher Eccleston, but this is a formulaic bio-pic looking to win awards instead of entertaining audiences. 20th November - The Informant! - 4 stars A true story involving international corporate conspiracies, corruption, deception and betrayal is used by director Steven Soderbergh to create a thoroughly entertaining, often very funny, movie. Matt Damon is brilliant playing the corporate executive-turned-FBI informant who is desperate to be a James Bond-like complete hero but ends up finding out he is merely human. DVDs to please There is an inevitability about this months DVD and Blu-Ray as some of the biggest films of the year to the shelves so you can give them as presents. Young children will love the colourful and entertaining Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (23rd November on Blu-Ray rrp: 28.99 and DVD rrp: 19.99). Dont miss the still stunning after 70 years Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (9th November on Blu-Ray rrp: 23.99 and DVD rrp: 19.99). For the adults, Star Trek (16th November on Blu-Ray rrp: 29.99 and DVD rrp: 17.99) is excellent while Terminator Salvation (23rd November on Blu-Ray rrp: 24.99 and DVD rrp: 19.99 and) is just for fans of the series.