Body of Lies - 2008 ****

Didn't know what to expect with this film, but I actually enjoyed it. It had an interesting story, and Leo Di Caprio was better than I hoped. I felt he might be a bit past it after his celebrity status of the 1990s, but actually he still gives a fine performance. Russell Crowe takes a backseat to Di Caprio as his boss who couldn't care less about trying to forge relationships with the Middle East and makes the rules up as he goes along. I was in the mood for an action film and this was just the ticket. I do find films based around current affairs to be quite gripping, and as most of this was filmed in Jordan, Iran, Syria and Dubai it was riveting to watch. I can imagine it must of been quite nerve-wracking to film in those places as well given the strict moral codes they all enforce. Ridley Scott is a pretty good director so really it was a given that this would be exciting. Watch please.

Four Lions - 2010 *** 1/2

With a film as questionable and taboo as this, you really have to try and see the funny side and not offended. Yes of course any act of terrorism is horrific and unforgettable, but this film is trying to put a lighter spin on things, which I suppose to a wider audience could go either way.
Four completely idiotic British jihadists go off to learn how to become professional terrorists, the end goal being them blowing themselves up. Obviously this sort of thing does happen and so it is quite a tender subject, but the film is not in any way trying to insult or degrade the victims of attacks like these, more show how young, dumb and inexperienced terrorists usually are in the lead up to these dreadful incidents and how little they actually know and understand of what they are about to do.
It's funny, so give it a watch, and don't feel guilty.