WE ARE in the middle of a film frenzy!

A new survey by Odeon cinema group reports record highs in cinema attendance last year, and 2008 is expected to be another blockbuster.

UK box office figures have been boosted by an 8% overall growth as the popularity of cinema has steadily increased before the festive period.

But the most surprising aspect of the report is the 10% overall increase in takings this Christmas, with a total of 2.4 million of us opting to go out for a film over the two-week period.

Boxing Day figures suggest the largest growth, with a 60% increase resulting in almost 190,000 of us visiting the cinema on this day alone.

One such film to profit from the Boxing Day boom is the current Will Smith blockbuster ‘I Am Legend’, which took over £2 million in earnings on its opening day - a UK record.

New Year’s Day takings also registered a 25% increase, with other features such as ‘Enchanted’, ‘The Golden Compass’, and ‘St. Trinian’s’ also proving incredibly popular.

The St. Trinian’s film features Huddersfield actresses Jodie Whittaker and Lena Headey - drama graduates from Shelley College.

But what have you been watching?

Evelyn Clement, 45, took seven-year old Katie to see children’s movie ‘Bratz’ over Christmas, and bought her the DVD as a present.

Evelyn, from Ashenhurst, said: “My favourite film is probably ‘Titanic’, which I had bought for me a while ago.

“But I haven’t had chance to watch it yet as it is on video!

“I hoped Santa would bring it me on DVD, but I must have been on the naughty list this year.”

Twenty-one year old Laura Abbott went to see ‘Stardust’ with her boyfriend just before Christmas, and is a regular film visitor.

She said: “I love fantasy films, so Stardust was just the thing for me.

“It stars Michelle Pfieffer, Robert De Niro, as well as Yorkshire actor Adam Fogerty.”

Hard-man Fogerty has recently opened a fish and chip shop in Linthwaite, a fact that didn’t impress Laura:

“From the big-screen to a chippy? Oh dear!”

Edward Mellor, 18, from Meltham, offered a reason for these record figures when he said: “Christmas gives people the chance to go see a film, as they are usually working.

“I am often busy with college studies, but I went to see ‘I Am Legend’ on Boxing Day and it was brilliant.”

“I also saw ‘Alvin & The Chipmunks’, which is very cheesy but quiet funny.”

But 69-year-old Ken Burgess from Outlane had a different view.

He said: “It is difficult for some to go to the cinema over Christmas because of family commitments.

“The last film I saw was ‘Flightplan’, but that was well over a month ago.

“My favourite film is ‘The Great Escape’, but I saw ‘The Insider’ recently on TV and that was great.”

Cliff Bailey, general manager at the Odeon cinema in Huddersfield, agreed with the research findings when he said: “We have been exceptionally busy over Christmas, and our figures are definitely up on last year.

“New films such as ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’, ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ and the new Bond movie are hotly anticipated, and we are optimistic 2008 will be an even busier year than last.”