Stormbreaker is the first film from Anthony Howowitz's successful Alex Rider novel series for Young Adults, think Cody Banks, Johnny English and James Bond.       

It's a spy film for teens and kids and though it's well crafted, we've seen it all before. There has been a lot of criticism leveled at this film, which this reviewer believes is a little harsh. There are some fine performances, including the lead, Alex Pettyfey who was chosen over five hundred others. Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Fry and Mickey Rourke also do an adequate job, but it's the veteran Bill Nighy who turns in the most entertaining role as Alex's boss.          

Someone close to Alex is more than he seems. Now that torch has been passed to Alex, whether he is really ready for it or not.     

There are several twists and turns as well as some impressive action scenes, but a lot of it is stagy and a little contrived, particularly the character of Nadia Vole who is just plain silly.     

There is little suspense and much is predictable. It really doesn't differ enough from similar teen fair which is a shame as Howowitz's books predate the other films it so closely resembles. However he wrote the script himself and only has himself to blame. I would have liked to see the series develop, however with only half of its 40 million dollar budget recouped in its worldwide theatrical release, it appears unlikely. Its DVD life will determine its ultimate future.     

However there's enough for kids to enjoy and that's really who it's aimed at.

Stormbreaker was a decent film; this is an opinion coming from someone who has little knowledge of the books. It isn't as innovative as Spy Kids, but it is decent. The special effects and the action are above average, the performances from Mickey Rourke, Ewan McGregor and Bill Nighy are great and Alex Petyfer is an appealing enough lead, the soundtrack is nice and the film goes along at a fast pace. However the storyline is very predictable and sometimes ludicrous, the script is a bit weak in places, I found Alicia Silverstone surprisingly irritating here and the cameos from Stephen Fry and Robbie Coltrane are too brief to allow them to shine properly.

Still, it is a fun and mildly enjoyable flick. 6/10 Bethany Cox

If watching a cast of actors mugging their way through a vapid and disinterested kid-friendly adventure film sounds like your cup of tea, then you might just enjoy STORMBREAKER. Those viewers with a decent amount of taste, however, will surely find it as difficult to sit through as I did: it's one of those lowest-common-denominator movies, an utterly puerile and crass attempt at money spinning.

Alex Pettyfer, a good-looking but ultimately bland young actor, stars as an ordinary schoolboy whose uncle (hammy Ewan McGregor) just happens to be a secret super-spy. From the opening action scene, which screams overkill, I knew the action in this film was going to be appalling: a mess of disjointed editing and seen-it-all-before stunts as Pettyfer trains to take over his uncle's job. Perhaps realising the crappy action choreography they were saddled with, the producers called in Donnie Yen to spice up a couple of martial arts bouts, but even these aren't enough to enliven the film.

Realism disappears on the horizon at the film's outset and from then on in it's content to recycle old Bond ideas while ripping off Harry Potter here and there (check out the phone booth scene which is directly copied from the entrance to the Ministry of Magic in that film series) In terms of the cast, STORMBREAKER has a tendency to show off the worst of the actors it employs and only Sophie Okonedo and Damian Lewis walk away with any kind of credibility. Andy Serkis is a walking caricature, Stephen Fry uncomfortable as a Q shoe-in, while Mickey Rourke is plasticky and uncomfortable as the nonthreatening villain. Alicia Silverstone has long since vanished from our screens, and you'll see why when you witness her wooden acting here. Bill Nighy turns out to be hammy and one-note, although the worst actor by far to appear is Missi Pyle, whose excruciating Russian accent is the most irritating thing I can ever remember seeing in a movie. Let's hope there's no sequel!