The boys 8 and 6 really loved this film and to be honest I found it quite enjoyable compared to some of the cartoon rubbish I have to endure

Alex Rider (Pettyfer) is assigned by MI6 to work undercover as a computer nerd to find out the dealings of Darrius Sayle, a man generously giving free computers to every school in England.

Based on Anthony Horowitz's award winning novel, Geoffrey Sax's adaptation is a true testament to the book, filled with that exciting Bond styled action along with a great variety of characters; this is an entertaining adaptation and a worthy watch.

Pettyfer (Tom Brown's schooldays) gives a great account of himself as the 14 year old school boy. Pettyfer gives Alex that suaveness and cheekiness that Horowitz intended and though there are a few clich??d moments for the character, Pettyfer still pulls it off.

The recognized supporting cast including Coltrane, Nighy, Silverstone, Rourke and Serkis is excellent, all bringing their own talents to the story. Damian Lewis is especially impressive in his role as Yassen Gregorovich with a cold hearted evilness and sophistication, which is exactly what Horowitz was describing.

The book is very entertaining and one of those childhood fantasises which every young teenager has dreamt about, to be a teenage spy with gadgets and fighting bad guys. The book isn't a necessity to read before watching this, but is recommended as it contains more information about Alex's past and has a slightly better ending.

Director Sax has fulfilled the books ideologies with fast and flowing direction which creates that energetic energy of a teenage boy. The scene in the car crushing yard is a great moment in the film watching Alex fighting around 5 grown men. The action and choreography is excellent in this scene and continues throughout. The fight between Jack and Nadia is even funny despite the serious implications, which adds another element to this film.

Like Bond films, this action adventure has a great deal of seriousness and action and still maintains a light heartedness and adds plenty of humour; watch out for the jellyfish reference.

There is always a question of realism in the action genre and there are some unrealistic moments and just in time scenarios which do put a damper on the story.

Nevertheless Stormbreaker is a great adaptation with great characters and fast flowing action and is a landmark in British cinema for being one of a few British action films that doesn't have 007 starring.

8.5/10

"ALEX RIDER: OPERATION STORMBREAKER" is of course not realistic at all, but it does not need to be. We can almost believe that the story is real, because the director, producers, writer (Anthony Horowitz, who also wrote the novel the film is based on), and actors do their best to make us believe. Rather than going in the tongue in cheek direction, like the earlier "AGENT CODY BANKS", they adapt a much more serious mindset and pessimistic outlook. Instead of the lead being a smart aleck, he is a very mature teenager well beyond his years, who takes his new position in the agency M16 seriously. He is not at all slick and perfect, but unsure of himself, and he makes mistakes. He does not own a cool sports car, is not 18, (which, according to Horowitz, was what the American producers wanted) but does have a girlfriend. In short, these attributes and qualities make "Stormbreaker" the much better movie. However, I do enjoy the "AGENT CODY BANKS" films, but they require the viewer to suspend their disbelief on a much higher level. The main plot is that Alex Rider (Alex Pettyfer) is a normal British schoolboy whose parents died when he was very young, and now lives with his uncle Ian Rider (Ewan McGregor) and eccentric American housekeeper Jack Starbright (Alicia Silverstone). Ian supposedly has a very boring job, for a bank, which keeps him away from home alot of the time. But he is eventually killed, and his suspicous acting fellow employees cover up the cause of death at the funeral as not wearing a seatbelt. Alex investigates, however, and is forced to participate in a wonderful, stunt laden fight sequence with a junkyard crew. He finds out that his uncle did not work for a bank, but actually was a special agent for M16, and was assassinated by Yassen Gregorovich (Damian Lewis) while on his way home with vital information from a mission. Alex is recruited by the director of M16, Alan Blunt (Bill Nighy) and his assistant Tulip Jones (Sophie Okonedo) to find out what Darrius Sayle (Mickey Rourke) along with his assistants Mr. Grin (Andy Serkis) and Nadia Vole (Missi Pyle) really intend by giving one of his company's own supercomputers to every school in the country. The cast is excellent, from the new star that has been found in Pettyfer, all the way to the veteran actor in Stephen Fry as Smithers. The action is fast and unforgiving, especially in the junkyard scene. The stunts are great, such as in the fight sequence at the Rider house between Jack and Nadia. A movie not to be missed!
Since watching this I have been hooked on the Alex Rider, Jason Steed, Jimmy Coates, Cody Banks and Young James Bond Books.

Well, you see, this film really isn't too great. It doesn't have a strong plot, and the majority of the characters can't seem to decide whether to have a manner of lighthearted humour or seriousness. I am not sure that the books are the same, as I have not read them, but their popularity leads me to believe that the film may not have been an accurate adaptation of the book. In all honesty, the one star is soley for Alex Pettyfer. He really is incredibly good looking, and was pretty much the only reason I watched the movie anyway. As you may have guessed by now, I am, in fact, a teenage girl. If you fall into this demographic, go ahead and watch it, he'll keep you entertained. If you don't, then, really, don't bother.

This is my favourite film. The plot is good and Alex's stunts are great especially coz he did them hmiself. If you are into action this is the film for you!