I saw one 3D film this year (’UP’) and I couldn’t see the fuss (film was good, 3D pointless) – if you want to see 3D go to the theatre.

As a bit of a sci-fi geek I decided that I had to see ‘Avatar’ even though the trailers didn’t make me that fussed… so like every good sci-fi fan with a cinema membership I booked my ticket in advance, paying my extra £1.50 on top of my normal ticket price. When getting to the cinema I was told I had to pay an extra £1.50 on what I’d already paid extra in order to purchase the 3D glasses. What the hell? I’d already paid extra! What was the extra for? Not being prepared to pay more for a film I’d already paid more to see I got a refund.

3D is a gimmick that only lasts the films cinematic run, unless they’re planning to hand out 3D enabled TVs when ‘Avatar’ ultimately comes out on DVD I don’t see the point in bothering at all (especially as it’s also showing in 2D). Many film makers were saying that they were going to watch closely to see how ‘Avatar’ did before deciding on their own 3D ventures, by all accounts it’s doing brilliantly and will probably come away with a few technical awards during Oscar season but if this is the way cinema is headed then I might just hand back my cinema membership.

Many people believe that the existence of this new brand of 3D film making is to combat piracy, well you know what? I’ve never seen a more positive advert for film piracy. My local Vue is showing it in 2D and that’s where I will be spending my money (particularly as I have a free ticket to use there – technical problems during a film I saw there a few months ago).

The year is drawing rapidly to a close and I feel that for the most part it has been a perfectly fine year. For the first time in about five years I felt like I had a home in London and was able to settle down and indulge in my many vices (mainly films). I wish I’d managed to read more books this year but I got a little sidetracked towards the middle of the year and wasn’t really able to get back on track again, however I have discovered a new love in graphic novels and found myself picking up more non-fiction (even if I haven’t quite got round to finishing them!). Finally, and more importantly, I was able to see some spectacular theatre productions that reminded me why I fell in love with the theatre in the first place.

My film top five is strictly inaccurate, as I won’t be seeing ‘Avatar’ until the 28th December and people do seem to be saying it’s their film of the year. I remain sceptical as nothing about it has struck that little bell that screams “THIS IS AWESOME!” based on the trailers, we’ll see though – my favourite James Cameron film is ‘The Abyss’ and from what I gather most people don’t think it’s all that. I’m seeing ‘Nine’ on the 29th December, and that’s another film that seems to be getting a lot of buzz – I have to be honest, the only song I like from the musical is ‘Be Italian and am a bit worried that, that’s the song they’re using in the trailer but it looks intriguing.

(Not in any particular order)

Top Five (new) Films:

1. An Education / Cracks
2. Star Trek
3. Doubt
4. The Hurt Locker
5. Up / Where the Wild Things Are

Top Film (old) Films:

1. The Haunting / In the Loop
2. Stand by Me
3. Chopper
4. Son of Rambow
5. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas / The City of Lost Children

Top Five Books:

1. The Terror by Dan Simmons / A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
3. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
5. The Haunting by Shirley Jackson / The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Top Five TV:

1. The Thick of It (especially episodes #3 and #7)
2. Dr Who: The Waters of Mars
3. Warehouse 13 season finale
4. Psychoville
5. Boston Legal finale.

Now this final one is in order because I’ve only actually seen six stage productions this year and 'Madam de Sade' wasn't worth writing home about.

1. War Horse
2. La Cage aux Folles
3. An Inspector Calls
4. Waiting for Godot
5. Endgame