ALMODOVAR'S 'I'M SO EXCITED':

A preview screening of one of Spain's leading directors, Pedro Almodovar, brought out all of London's cinema enthusiasts. Packed into a small room in the wonderful 02 arena in North Greenwich, we were witnesses to an amazing assortment of comedy which one could only expect from Almodovar.

With an appearance (literally, a single appearance) from Almodovar's two muses Antonio Banderas & Penelope Cruz at the start of the film, expectations are raised. These mainstream-celebrated actors returning to their Spanish roots and starring in a small (loosely termed), foreign film? Nope, they are simply used as an introduction to the aircraft failure which shapes the rest of the film. Although fans who will go and see this film solely based on Banderas and Cruz being advertised as central characters, I guarantee not one of them will leave without laughing at least a handful of times.

Almodovar stated in a recent interview that the reason he wanted to go back to his roots of pure comedy (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown being one of his first successful films) due to his fear of getting older. His explanation was that as he was getting older his films were getting darker, and dark films are the ones that win Oscars. After receiving two Oscars over the years, it only seems right for this colour-obsessed director to make a film similar to the one that catapulted him into peoples interests over 25 years ago. And boy, am I glad he did.

The film just works. I have always rated Almodovar as one of the most innovative directors of our time. His ability to set up certain situations astounds me. For example in this film, the eccentric and flamboyant cabin crew are making a cocktail to hand out to the passengers of the first class section of the plane whilst gossiping about passengers on board, a passenger (one of the ones just being talked about) passes them in order to go to the toilet, creating sexual tension between himself and the cabin crew. The crew complain that they have no drugs to spike the cocktail with (well, apart from cocaine and heroin.. every cabin crew members essentials in Almodovar's world), when the passenger, a long-time drug smuggler, pulls some mescaline out of his... you get my point. The factors all come together so concisely and seemingly effortlessly. What is technically an incredibly important plot point is so naturally worked into the film that it is not noted for its true credibility.

The whole audience were in stitches. A friend who I took with me had never seen an Almodovar film before and I honestly think he left with a new section in his brain. An extremely colourful section. I highly recommend this film. Not being a real fan of comedy myself, I was dubious about whether I was going to enjoy it as much as I have loved some of his other works such as The Skin I Live In, however whilst watching I forgot it was even the same director as that dark, compelling thriller.

Light-hearted comedy at its best. With hilarious characters who make a faulty aeroplane ride look like a fun day out.

SPRING BREAKERS- INNOVATIVE DRAMA AT ITS BEST:

I know it's been out for a few weeks in the US now, but over here on my little island (the UK), Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers has only just hit cinemas. After just getting back from my second time seeing the film, I thought I would add to the various opinions and reviews of the film surfacing the internet.

Taking into consideration that this film is directed by Harmony Korine, I'm astounded at the amount of critics who are complaining that in this film, substance was overpowered by style. Although being Korine's debut mainstream film, I honestly don't know what film reviewers were expecting, the film completely works as a mainstream piece of art (after seeing it with a number of friends who are in no way film buffs, and almost all of them thinking highly of the film), and still sticks to Korines roots as an independent and stylistically innovative director.

The four female actors playing the young college students fit their roles perfectly, the acting is supreme, with another stellar performance by James Franco. This film shows teen actress' such as Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens displaying a wider set of acting skills than they have shown before, proving they are not bound to a one-type character.

This breaking out of the comfort zone for the actors is also reflected in the characters they play. Four college students leave their ordinary, mundane lives for a world of drugs, sex and crime. It is almost as if the roles were made for these actors, and I believe Korine was extremely clever in picking who he did to play his lead roles.

The film does ask a lot of the audience in terms of suspending their disbelief, such as the consequence-less hold-up of a fast-food joint, as well as numerous crimes and drug scandals, with the teens eventually being caught at a party taking drugs, one of their lesser crimes, to say the least. This, almost mockery, of the US Police Force is shown alongside an interesting outlook on the classic 'American Dream'. Alien (his character's name immediately presenting the idea of someone foreign to this planet - an exaggeration of the foreigners entering America) is a character who has lived the American dream. Money, women, a house on the beach, he seems to have it all. However his 'dream' turns into a nightmare when his past catches up with him, and an old friendship turns into a rivalry, ultimately leading to his death.

One of the biggest arguments against the film I have heard is that the cinematography and editing techniques are too 'try hard'. The fact of the matter is, Korine is exactly the type of director that a film such as this one needed. A simple crime-drama, however with shots showing exactly why Korine got the mainstream break he deserved- my favourite being the in-car tracking shot showing the two teens robbing the diner, accompanied by Nicki Minaj's 'Moment 4 Life' on the radio. This intensely thought out camerawork and sound recording shows the a change in the girls, and the new them that they have just discovered exists.

Overall the film is a work of art, and risk-takers are something I believe cinema needs more of. Through the advancing digital age, Korine uses classic equipment and stories and innovates new and exciting ways to present them to an audience. An extremely self-aware director, this reasonably unheard of director has made his mark on the mainstream world and has gained the interest of myself, and many others like me, I will definitely be looking out for future films by him.