How to Train Your Dragon: Discovering Your Strengths

From DreamWorks Animation, the same studio that brought you Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, comes the brand new 3-D animated feature, How to Train Your Dragon. Directed by master animators, Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, the film tells the tale of an awkward teenager named Hiccup who doesn’t exactly fit in with his fellow Viking friends. Youthink recently got the chance to catch up with Jay Baruchel, the 27-year-old Canadian actor who voices Hiccup, to talk about his first voice-over role and to find out more about How to Train Your Dragon.

YT: You have played a number of quirky characters in your career, Hiccup included. What is it about these types of characters that appeals to you?
JB: I guess maybe ’cause I’m a weirdo? (laughs) Yeah, I mean, I was just always kind of an oddball. This is not to say that I walked around with tinfoil on my head, covering myself in cat food or something. I was just wired differently, you know, and so I suppose I respond to playing characters that are wired differently as well.

YT: Hiccup is an unlikely hero. Do you and Hiccup have any common traits?
JB: Well, yeah. We’re both incredibly skinny and have fairly girly-like bodies. Actually, I think the trait I have in common with Hiccup the most would be that he really loves this dragon and has a really, really close relationship that only a kid and their animal can have, you know? Any animal. For me, it’s my cat. I grew up surrounded by cats and there’s one that I rescued that lives with me and she’s my favourite. So, there are plenty of times in the movie where I found myself – a full-grown 27-year-old male – going, “Aaww!” just because the dragon looked like my cat sometimes.

YT: How does voice-over differ from screen acting?
JB: It doesn’t start as early in the morning! I don’t have to put on any makeup or shave; I got to just roll in there looking however I looked – sometimes in pajama pants. And also, I think it takes way longer. Like, I started working on How To Train Your Dragon as I was doing the movie Tropic Thunder. [Tropic Thunder] already came out [in August 2008]. So, that’s another big difference.

YT: What was it like working with fellow castmates such as Gerard Butler and America Ferrera?
JB: Oh, man, it was awesome. Actually that’s another weird thing about doing voice recording – most of it I do by myself. We all do it by ourselves in isolation, but a few times I was lucky enough to get to be in the studio, recording with them at the same time. Gerard’s a real good actor. I’m a big fan of his movies, actually. He’s worked a lot in Canada and has a great affection for Canada, so he and I got along real well. And America’s awesome and you know, Jonah [Hill] and Christopher Mintz-Plasse I knew from another movie I did called She’s Out of My League. It was really fun and I got to laugh a lot.

YT: What message can teens take from this story?
JB: To me, the whole point of the movie is that just because you’re in a certain position socially in your life, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s always going to be that way. In fact, most likely, it won’t be that way. And I know, ’cause I know for me high school was often a difficult time and sometimes in high school you feel like it could last forever, but it gets better. It seems so far away, but I can promise you that all the things that when you’re young you believe are your sort of “failings,” all the things – your weaknesses – are actually your strengths. And that’s what the movie’s about.

How to Train Your Dragon hits theatres on March 26th, 2010.

Top 10 Oscar Best Picture Winners of All Time

Every year the crème de la crème battle it out at the Oscars for the prestigious Best Picture award. We all have our predictions for this year’s winner, but let’s not forget about the amazing films from the past. Here are Youthink’s picks for the Best Picture winners of all time.

10. Gone With the Wind – 1939
This epic film set during the American Civil War tells the complicated love story of Scarlet O’Hara and what was probably the first love triangle ever made into a movie.

9. Casablanca – 1943
In WWII, Rick learns the real reason why his one true love, Ilsa, left him alone in Paris. While fleeing the Germans, they both realize how quickly plans can change and go wrong.

8. Oliver! – 1968
Based on the classic story by Charles Dickens, Oliver! takes us into the life of a poor orphan boy who learns how to “pick a pocket or two” from the best singing street-urchins there ever were.

7. The Departed – 2006
Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon get so absorbed in their double lives that they must figure out who each other really is in order to save themselves from the Irish Mafia in Boston.

6. The Sound of Music – 1965
Set in Austria in the 1930s, this movie made us fall in love with Julie Andrews all over again and taught us how to remember our musical scales with the classic Do Rae Mi song.

5. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – 2003
Third in the trilogy and a worldwide best seller, LOTR: Return of the King ended the journey that Frodo and Sam took to destroy the One Ring and all they encountered on their way.

4. Chicago – 2002
Set in 1920, Chicago follows the life of two showgirls on death row and left us singing sultry show tunes for days on end.

3. Forrest Gump – 1994
Forrest Gump, a man with a unique perspective on life, takes us on an historic journey and proves that what his mama said is true: “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.”

2. Titanic – 1997
James Cameron’s multi-million dollar reenactment of the fateful journey of the Titanic, made us all start to lean over the bow of every boat screaming, “I’m the king of the world!”

1. Slumdog Millionaire – 2008
Coming from the slums of India, Jamal (Dev Patel) conquers all the hardships he has faced in his impoverished life to win an Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the girl he has loved since he was a child.

2010 Oscar Nominations

The Oscars – one of the biggest awards events of the year – are finally approaching. Though we’ll still have to wait until March to find out who the big winners will be in the vast world of cinema, we can at least get a good look at what might win big with the release of the nominations.

The Favourites

Photo: The Hurt Locker, Summit Entertainment

Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker and James Cameron’s Avatar are dominating the Oscars, with nine nominations apiece (and the two are exes – how’s that for drama?). Another big title for the Oscars of 2010 is Precious, a film based on the novel Push by Sapphire. This movie details a story about a teenage girl that’s abused by both her parents and is given hope for herself and her children in the form of education.

Animation

Photo: Coraline, Alliance Films

Among the animated films nominated, there are a few titles that really stand out: Coraline is up for best animated feature, along with two Disney titles: the reinvented fairytale The Princess and the Frog, and Pixar’s fantastic story Up. Coraline, based on Neil Gaiman’s novel, takes a child’s fantasy world and puts a creepy spin on it. Disney’s titles are a bit lighter: Unlike Coraline, they don’t give you the chills in every other scene. Up, in particular, is filled with emotion ranging from depressing to wonderous to suspenseful; and, like all Disney movies, has a happy ending. This aspect is, of course, shared with The Princess and the Frog. It’s a nostalgic must-see for any fan of classic Disney movies, and the attempt to return to fairytale roots is nice.

Popular Culture at the Oscars

Photo: Transformers 2, Paramount

With one of the largest fan bases for a novel ever, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been nominated for outstanding cinematography. In addition to that, fans of Twilight will be happy to know that Anna Kendrik, who appeared in New Moon, is up for nomination as best supporting actress. She’s not up for her work in New Moon, though! Instead, she’s been nominated for her amazing work in Up in the Air. The second Transformers movie, as well as Star Trek, have also been nominated for awards.

Will Avatar win big at the Oscars? What will the Best Picture of 2009 be? On March 7 we’ll be able to find out. This year’s Awards are undoubtedly going to be interesting!

Here’s the full list of nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards!

Best Picture

• “Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
• “The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
• “District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
• “An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
• “The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
• “Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
• “A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
• “Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
• “Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role

• Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
• George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
• Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
• Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
• Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Actor in a Supporting Role

1. Matt Damon in “Invictus”
2. Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
3. Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
4. Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
5. Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Actress in a Leading Role

• Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
• Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
• Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
• Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
• Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
• Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
• Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
• Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Animated Feature Film

• “Coraline” Henry Selick
• “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
• “The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
• “The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
• “Up” Pete Docter

Art Direction

• “Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
• “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
• “Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
• “Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
• “The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography

• “Avatar” Mauro Fiore
• “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
• “The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
• “Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
• “The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

Costume Design

• “Bright Star” Janet Patterson
• “Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
• “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
• “Nine” Colleen Atwood
• “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

Directing

• “Avatar” James Cameron
• “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
• “Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
• “Up in the Air” Jason Reitman

Documentary (Feature)

• “Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
• “The Cove” Nominees to be determined
• “Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
• “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
• "Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa

Documentary (Short Subject)

• “China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
• “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
• “The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
• “Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
• “Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Film Editing

• “Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
• “District 9” Julian Clarke
• “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
• “Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film

• “Ajami” Israel
• “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina
• “The Milk of Sorrow” Peru
• “Un Prophète” France
• “The White Ribbon” Germany

Makeup

• “Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
• “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
• “The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)

• “Avatar” James Horner
• “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
• “The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
• “Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
• “Up” Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)

• “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
• “Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
• “Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
• “Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
• “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Short Film (Animated)

• “French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
• “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
• “The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
• “Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
• “A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)

• “The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
• “Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
• “Kavi” Gregg Helvey
• “Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
• “The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing

• “Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
• “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
• “Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
• “Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
• “Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing

• “Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
• “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
• “Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
• “Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
• “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects

• “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
• “District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
• “Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• “District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
• “An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
• “In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
• “Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
• “Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
• “The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
• “A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
• “Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

Top 10 Most Romantic Movies

1. The Notebook
This film explores the meaning of true love and proves that only through constant hardships will you experience the greatest rewards. Multiple tissue boxes are mandatory.

2. P.S. I Love You
This story of love and loss is as bittersweet as it is touching. Its mix of uplifting moments and tear-jerking grievance makes it one of the best date movies of all time.

3. Love Actually
From friendship to passion to brotherly love, this rom-com covers every type of love in the most charming way possible. Its optimistic outlook will leave you smiling silly all through the end credits.

4. (500) Days of Summer
It's brutally honest and heartbreaking, but this quirky not-in-love story delivers wit and perfection. Not only is the cinematography beautiful, but you will find yourself wanting to quote each and every line.

5. Titanic
The disaster in the movie isn't big enough to distract from the sparkling chemistry between Winslet and DiCaprio.

6. A Walk to Remember
A sweet, sincere and moving story of a bad-boy falling for an innocent girl brings out the hopeless romantic in all of us.

7. He's Just Not That Into You
You'll be totally into this movie as it teaches you the rules of relationships and how love really does conquer all. Perfect for a girl's night out, but surprisingly it has a lot to offer the guys as well.

8. How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is the perfect romantic comedy to laugh your way through with a significant other. You'll smile and cringe at the manipulative plot of love and rivalry.

9. The Time Traveler's Wife
Who knew that science-fiction and romance could be rolled into one so deliciously? Based on the best-selling novel, the film exhibits a message of love surpassing all boundaries.

10. Hitch
Laugh-out-loud funny and equally as heartfelt, Hitch is made for a male audience but will also leave the girls squealing for more.

Extraordinary Measures

3 stars

Rating: PG
Stars: Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford and Keri Russell

What’s the story?
Successful business man John Crowley (Fraser) and his wife Aileen (Russell) are the parents to two children with Pompe, a rare genetic disorder. With the realization that few Pompe children live past the age of nine, Crowley becomes desperate for a cure following his daughter’s eighth birthday. Based on a true story, his search for a cure brings him to unconventional yet brilliant research scientist, Robert Stonehill (Ford). Torn between making the most of his children’s time left and finding them a cure, Crowley quits his job and joins Stonehill to start a bio-tech company. Racing against the clock, the two must develop the cure and save Crowley’s children, all before it’s too late.

Why see it?
The story itself is a touching one, bringing to light the importance of family and sacrifice. The film is packed with emotions through and through and the determination of the young children will be sure to tug at heartstrings. All the performances are believable and well done, with an excellent portrayal of John Crowley from Brendan Fraser and a stellar intensity from Harrison Ford. The supporting cast as established by the young children (Meredith Droeger, Diego Velazquez and Sam Hall), give the story doses of heart, keeping the film optimistic. Little bits of humour are distributed throughout the film and make watching it an overall enjoyable experience.

Problems?
Despite having an interesting story, the emotions and situations involved might fall flat with teenage viewers. The soundtrack is also repetitive and unoriginal (reminiscent of the Beauty and the Beast theme), seeming inappropriate for certain moments and taking away from the scene rather than adding to it. The story drags on at times and the character of Dr. Stonehill fails to build a strong connection with the audience. Being the first of CBS’s feature films, it does often resemble a made for TV movie, which, although entertaining, does not carry the pace and quality necessary to hold the audience’s attention through the full duration of the movie.

All in all:
This film, although lackluster, will leave you touched, inspired and entertained.

Youth in Revolt

4 stars

Rating: 18A
Starring: Michael Cera and Portia Doubleday

What’s the story?
Nick Twisp (Cera) is a lonely, sweet, Frank Sinatra loving teen who’s desperate to find a girl to fall in love with. He goes on a vacation, of sorts, with his mother and her current fling to a trailer park where he meets the elusive Sheeni Saunders (Doubleday), who turns out to be the love of his life. Even after Nick gets back home he is convinced he and Sheeni are meant to be together and, with the help his alter ego named Francois, Nick finds the courage and inner-rebel to win her affeection.

Why see it?
If you’re a Michael Cera fan, then Youth in Revolt won’t disappoint. Just like in his, rise to fame role in Juno we see that Cera knows how to use his awkward and undeniable charm to win the audience over, but this time around we get to see a whole new side of his acting ability as he also plays the darker Francois. It’s not a dramatic change but it’s nice to see him portray a different kind of character from the awkward, loveable one we’ve all seen him play before. This movie will definitely have you laughing, if not cringing, at the hilarious and awkward scenes Nick gets himself in to.

Problems?
To say that this movie is a little vulgar would be an understatement. It’s definitely not appropriate for any one under 17 as it is rated 18A for sexual content, language, and drug use. Another negative aspect was that the movie has a really great cast of actors but many characters failed to really develop properly. For example, Justin Long made a few appearances as the stoner brother of Sheeni, and was exceptional in the few scenes he was in, but hardly had any lines.

All in all:
This is definitely not your average rom-com, but you’re sure to leave the theater with a feeling of light-heartedness and a renewed sense of happiness. Along with it being hilarious and original, this would be a great date movie!

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

Photo: Theodore (left), Alvin and Simon arrive for their first day in school.

4 stars

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore test out the “normal” life.

Rating: G
Stars: Zachary Levi, Jason Lee, David Cross, Justin Long

What's the story?
We all remember Alvin and the Chipmunks, the international superstars struggling to keep their morals in check and live the good life. Well, they're back and they're forced to try living life “normally” by going to high school while Dave is laid up in the hospital. They're off to a rocky start when they're sent to the principal's office and in lieu of punishment, the Chipmunks have to participate in a music competition in order to win money to fund the school's music program. Enter the female counterparts of the Chipmunks – the Chipettes – and drama ensues between the Chipmunks and the rival female music group.

Why see it?
Alvin and the Chipmunks portrays the importance of music in our generation along with a little hint of what high school is really like, even with international superstars in attendance. People of any age will get a laugh out of the adventures of Alvin, Simon and Theodore, whether they're reminiscing about their high-school days or picturing their future days in high school.

Problems?
Anyone who is disturbed by the attitude of great optimism in the face of danger is suggested to skip Alvin and the Chipmunks. Optimism is a major theme in this film, even in regards to seemingly impossible feats, so your sense of reality obviously needs to be suspended while watching the movie.

All in All:
A story about optimism, loyalty and the importance of music.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

3 Stars

A fantastic leap from normality.

Rating: PG
Stars: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman

What’s the story?
Upon learning that his wife (Streep) is pregnant, the egocentric Mr. Fox (Clooney) promises that he will give up his life of poultry theft and become a columnist. Twelve fox-years later, he breaks his vows, aggravating three animal-hating local farmers and ultimately landing the entire valley in mortal peril from tractors, rabid dogs, dynamite and cider as they embark on a long, mildly intense underground chase injected with dry humour. Additionally, Mr. Fox must face his family issues (the “perfect” child versus the “difficult” one, a desperately sick brother- in-law, frustrated spouse, etc.) amidst the turmoil.

Why see it?
It is almost certain that, no matter what your experiences, you have never before seen stop-motion animation quite like this. The plotline itself is strong, if a bit of a stretch from the book, and the characters are relatable and well-developed. Additionally, being Roald Dahl material, this movie is nonsensically brilliant.

Problems?
There is an abundance of deadpan humour, mainly delivered through very glib dialogue − so much so that it is unclear if Fantastic Mr. Fox is actually targeted towards children as it seems to be, or to adults (although children will certainly enjoy it as well). Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of those films that may be better enjoyed the second or third time around.

All in all:
Fantastical, bizarre and fun.

Precious - AB

4 Stars

Gabourey Sidibe commands the screen as a girl who surmounts great hardship against all odds.

Rating: 14A
Stars: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton

What’s the story?
Claireece “Precious” Jones (Sidibe) has known nothing but cruelty her entire life. Abused by her mother (Mo’Nique) and raped by her father, Precious handles the turmoil by imagining she is in a place better than her destitute 1987 neighbourhood of Harlem. When the teenage mother is impregnated by her father for the second time, she is sent to an alternative school in hopes of turning her life around. There, Precious bonds with her new teacher (Patton) and is exposed to the wonders of learning for the first time. But just as life is beginning to improve for Precious, her mother performs her worst act of abuse yet, forcing Precious to take a stand for herself and her children, once and for all.

Why see it?
Based on the acclaimed book, Push: A Novel by Sapphire, Precious is an absolute masterpiece. The film dares to shed light on the desolation of many real lives, providing an unflinching look at the effects of poverty and physical, verbal and sexual abuse. The acting is incredibly believable; in particular, Sidibe and Mo’Nique deliver raw and moving performances. Viewers will not be disappointed.

Problems?
Graphic scenes, profanity and references to sexual, emotional and physical abuse pervade the film and may be offensive to certain viewers. The mature content may be difficult for younger audiences to grasp.

All in all:
An emotional roller-coaster for viewers, but definitely worth watching.

Daybreakers

Photo: Audrey Bennett (Claudia Karvan) and Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) in Daybreakers.

3 stars

Rated: 18A
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, Isabel Lucas

Can humankind survive in a world run over by vampires?

What’s the story?
It's 2019 and the world has been overrun by a plague, turning everyone into vampires. With very few humans left, the vampires are running out of their food source, so they try to capture all remaining humans while working to find a blood substitute. Researcher Edward Dalton (Hawke) is a vampire who feels sorry for the humans, and tries to find a cure to turn vampires back into humans and save the human race. Will he manage to save the human race before the vampires get to them?

Why see it?
The actors in this movie were very well cast as they are all believable in their roles. Meanwhile, the music is eerily good, and will give you a chill down your neck while you’re hanging off the edge of your seat waiting to see what comes next. If you’re a fan of vampire books and films, then this movie is definitely for you.

Problems?
If you're the type who loves non-stop action in a movie, Daybreakers may not be the movie for you as there are many slow moments. As well, if you don’t like gory scenes or have a weak stomach, avoid this movie as it contains many graphic scenes – it is a vampire movie after all.

All in All:
A decent dark battle between humans and vampires.