Notes On A Scandal

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Andrew Simpson
Directed by: Richard Eyre
(15), 92 mins, UK

It may have missed out on all the big awards this year, but we still rate Notes On A Scandal as one of the best films of 2007. Gripping, sexy and a little bit disturbing, Notes On A Scandal boasted an amazing cast and a thrilling storyline - it doesn\'t get much better than this.

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Blood Diamond

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly
Directed by: Edward Zwick
(15), 143 mins, USA

Released in January, Blood Diamond saw 2007 start with a rather sobering bang. The film told the story of three very different (fictional) characters whose fates became entwined during the Sierra Leone conflict in the early ‘90s. Blood Diamond was both disturbing and touching in equal measure, which ensured it was one of the year\'s most haunting productions.

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Knocked Up

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen
Directed by: Judd Apatow
(15), 128 mins, USA

Our favourite comedy of the year came in the form of Judd Apatow\'s hilarious Knocked Up, in which Katherine Heigl faced every girl\'s worst nightmare - pregnancy after a one night stand. What made this film great wasn\'t so much the comic value, but the realness of the situation and characters, which made sure you were completely immersed in the story from beginning to end... Good stuff.

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300

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham
Directed by: Zack Snyder
(15) 117 mins, USA

Adapted from the graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 broke US box office records thanks to its epic, and bloody, depiction of the Battle of Thermopylae. The relatively unknown cast sparkled in their stunningly animated setting, and there was plenty of rippling man-flesh to keep even the most avid fan of the male form sated.

Click here to read our review. 

Transformers

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Jon Voight
Directed by: Michael Bay
(12A), 144 mins, USA

The \'80s classic made a comeback in fine form this year, minus the old-school cartoon graphics. Lead by the magnificent Shia LaBeouf, Transformers followed the adventures of a group of heroic human beings who decided to join forces with a team of tremendously nice robot people called the Autobots in order to save planet earth from the Decepticons - a gang of not so nice robot people, hell bent on destruction.

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Hairspray

Starring: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken
Directed by: Adam Shankman
(PG), 117 mins, USA

We loved the original Hairspray movie, we loved the musical, so naturally we were bound to love the newest adaptation of this classic comedy. And it looks like we\'re not the only ones because Hairspray has just been nominated for three Golden Globes.

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Atonement

Starring: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley
Directed by: Joe Wright
(15), 123 mins, UK

Based on the wonderful Ian McEwan novel of the same name, Atonement told the story of a 13-year-old girl who changed a man\'s life forever after she wrongly accused him of a dreadful crime. Although Atonement might not have been the biggest box office hit this year, it certainly looks like it will make up for it in the awards stakes. Atonement has already been nominated for seven Golden Globes, and looks set to dominate both the Oscars and BAFTAs in 2008.

Click here to read our review.

Ratatouille

Starring: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Brian Dennehy
Directed by: Brad Bird
(U), 111 mins, United States

Pixar released one of their finest films in years in 2007. Ratatouille followed the hilarious animated adventures of a rat named Remy, whose only dream was to become a professional Parisian chef. Despite his family\'s discouragement and the obvious disadvantage of being a rat in a rodent-phobic profession, Remy managed to fulfil his ambition and what a joy it was for us to watch.

Click here to read our review. 

Stardust

Starring: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
(PG), 128 mins, UK

Fallen stars, magical realms and a great cast made this fantasy adventure a must-see in 2007. The epic fantasy, based on the award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman, told the story of Tristan, a young man from a sleepy English village who embarks on a whirlwind adventure to win the heart of his beloved.  

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Beowulf

Starring: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
(12A), 118 mins, USA

Muscle bound torsos, nympho mothers and a hell bent demon to boot. Clearly the old Norse had a thing for telling a tall tale, but when you throw in creepily realistic animation (especially in the 3D version) and a hot cast, we think you\'ll agree that this new, sexy, version of Beowulf made a rather fine alternative to the 3,183 line poem.

Click here to read our review.  

I\'m Not There

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere
Directed by: Todd Haynes
(15), 135 mins, USA

Six actors, seven Bob Dylans (although none of them were actually called Bob in the film) and crazy topsy-turvy script that made little sense to anyone who wasn\'t a fan of the legendary American folk rocker - what more could you want from a movie?

I Am Legend

Starring: Will Smith
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
(15), 101 mins, USA

Released on Boxing Day this year, having already smashed box office records in the States, I Am Legend told the story of earth\'s only survivor of a man-made virus. Despite opening to mixed reviews it was worth seeing for both its blockbuster watchability and Will Smith\'s fabulous performance.