Reviews

In the deepest ocean, finding an impossible alien craft, a First Contact team find that their biggest problem is their own imaginations.

An elite and broad team of scientists are drawn together by the US government in order to investigate an alien artefact but as a storm high above their heads disrupts all communication with the surface the isolation seems to get the better of them.

The strange, alien ship is only the beginning though as inside there are bigger mysteries and, of course, the Sphere!

Based on Michael (Jurassic Park) Crichton's novel and not a bad adaptation. Hard to describe the movie too much without giving away salient details. Good SciFi - watch and enjoy.

Things to look out for: special effect are excellent throughout, Queen Latifah has an excellent pivotal role, Page 87!, paranoia, squid, jellyfish.

How do two unemployed guys escape the clutches of the Chicago gangs? Why, maybe them dames ain't dame?

After witnessing a gangster related murder, two musicians(Tony Curtis & Jack Lemmon) are forced to get out of Chicago in a hurry. The only plan that presents itself is to join a travelling jazz band. The only trouble is, it's an all-girl band!

Cue "Josephine" and "Geraldine" or is that "Daphne"? Trouble really starts when romance rears for "Josephine" with Sugar (Marilyn Monroe). Trouble is, how can he tell her he's a he and keep up the ruse?

Playing the dame gets very tricky, from close quarters in dormitory, to potential (male) suitors, life is very confusing for the two men on the run from the mob.

Things just get worse when the gangsters turn up once again, by pure chance, and they haven't forgotten the two witnesses...

Things to look out for: some wonderful quotable lines - far too many to mention, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are excellent - even as women, bicycles, reverse only, the script is played out by two of the greatest cinema actors ever, gangsters played grittily and contrast well with the humour of the situation, last lines are pure cinema magic.

The DVD has a good documentary on how difficult the filming was.

Making a movie can't be that fraught, surely? It would appear it can, even a glorious SciFi opus!

Blade Runner is one of the most iconic and beautiful SciFi movies ever made but the production is notoriously difficult.

This documentary gets everyone involved discussing openly, apparently at least, their involvement and the various trials and tribulations.

Everything about the original production is discussed from budget and financial pressures to in depth technical details on special effects and directing.

Writers, director, producers, actors and even the crew speak about everything from script changes, number of takes, falling behind schedule, casting, lighting and ,well, everything!

A little sad to be reminded that Brion James passed away in 1999.

On the whole though the viewer will find this insight into making classic cinema refreshing.

Things to look out for: the tee-shirt war, script changes, beautiful production setups, nice to see the producers get their say, deleted and unfilmed scenes.

Wonderful insights into a type of film making that was pioneering at the time.

Friends & Sex?

Can a man and woman still be friends if they have sex or is the relationship ruined from that moment forward?

During a long car trip Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) discuss this without coming to any real conclusion.

Over the next eleven years the meet time and time again, passing through their own lives and relationship fairly unsuccessfully. With their friendship something they both now cherish, they both start to realise they have real feelings for each other. Now that question of whether they can be romantic and friends becomes a solid, important question rather than a friends' hypothetical discussion.

Things to look out for: two friends traversing life together yet not, Carrie Fisher, some lively discussions on relationships between trusting friends, one of Meg Ryan's best performances

Plus Carrie Fisher, and the 'How Harry met Sally' DVD extra is the best named yet surely?,

ok but..., oh & did I mention Carrie Fisher???

Museums, where history comes to life!

Inventor Larry (Ben Stiller) just needs a bit of luck. Divorced and desperate to stay in contact with his son, rejected/sacked from so many jobs the employment agency can't find him anything, he's forced to try for a job that everyone else who's been interviewed for has been rejected for.

Night watchman at the museum.

But he gets the job.

However, when the retiring guards (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs) give him a very peculiar instruction manual, Larry isn't as attentive as he should be.

Later,as the sun sets and his first shift begins, Larry discovers all the exhibitions spring to life.

Rex the dinosaur is the least of his troubles as lions, cavemen, the Holy Roman Empire and one very mischievous monkey all conspire to make the new guards life hell.

Then - things just get worse...

Wonderful slapstick comedy as well as more thought through pieces that makes you feel for all the characters. The special effect are obviously what make this movie the success it is but the acting is superb. The exception is Ricky Gervais who very nearly ruins the film. Luckily he is off screen enough to be ignored. Steve Coogan's Centurion however is wonderfully played against Owen Wilson's cowboy.

Things to look out for: loads of special effects magic, living dinosaur skeleton, miniature cowboys, Incas and Soldiers, that darn monkey, beautifully funny turns by the three greats (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs), the Clicker, Robin Williams is superb, playing with fire, 'gum-gum', 'unleash hell'.

A car that flies! Your fine four fendered friend!

Inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) uses his skills to repair a delay dilapidated old racing car to its former glory but can't resist adding some "enhancements" of his own.

As the flying, floating, fabulous Chitty sparks up and sparks the lives of those around her, it seems the car has a life of it's own.

The flying car though soon brings villains and spies to the Potts household and with Grandad(Lionel Jeffries) kidnapped, there is no choice but to follow with the one-off-wonder and drive to the rescue.

Wonderful effects for the time that seem, somehow, to be lasting in today's CGI cinema experience are just the beginning of this adventure. Led magnificently by Dick Van Dyke the cast draw the viewer 100% into their world.

Based on the book by, bizarrely, Ian Fleming the story is so well done that it is now a stage sensation also!

Things to look out for: one of the screen scariest children's villains - the Child Catcher, Benny Hill's toy maker, the beautiful "Doll on a Music Box", "Hushabye Mountain" lullabye.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz! Yeah!

Dorothy (Judy Garland) escapes her dull farm life when she is swept away in a tornado. Arriving in the magical land of Oz, Dorothy soon realises that though all she ever wanted was excitement and adventure, all she loves and craves and longs for is to be home, with her family Accompanied by three very strange companions, Dorothy start across Oz to find a wizard (Frank Morgan) who should be able to help her find her way home. Unfortunately a Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) is pulling out all the stops to get Dorothy's Ruby Slippers - which were given to her when she killed another Wicked Witch, by accident.

An absolute and wonderful classic. Superbly accessible and very very funny this is a movie that just keeps giving. Not timeless but just beautiful to watch. The transition from Kansas to Oz is very well handled.

Based on the books by Frank Baum the movie is a mish-mash of several stories but is so well done you don't care. It was done well enough to win to be nominated for the Best Picture Academy award and won Best Original Score and Best Original Song, for "Over the Rainbow". Of course has spawned the stage sensation Wicked!

Things to look out for: Bert Lahr's Lion "stick em up", Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch, the Lollipop Guild, wonderful songs, "over the rainbow", Toto, "Follow the yellow brick road".

The DVD is stuffed full of very good extras.

Spiderpig, Spiderpig...

Homer Simpson brings about an environmental disaster in Springfield and runs away with his family escaping certain doom as the Government take action to prevent the excesses of the town from escaping into the wider environment.

Eventually Homer must make choices about what are really important to him. But will Marge and the rest of the family follow him wherever he leads?

What will happen to Springfield.

Will the town ever get its own anthem?

The comic antics of the Simpsons and the motley towns people of Springfield have bewitched an entire generation now. This entry onto the Big (small) Screen is a well constructed and scripted first move. Most of the best characters get a good amount of screen time to keep all fans happy and the humour is just as good as ever.

Things to look out for: Dome!, Spiderpig (of course), Big Boob Lady, nude skateboarding, "I was elected to lead not to read", Emperor of Springfield.

In a Universe where Superheroes are forced to hide in normal society, never using their abilities to help there fellow man, Bob and Helen Parish struggle to bring up a family with super powers.

When a mysterious, beautiful woman called Mirage approaches Bob an opportunity to once more be the hero and save the day presents itself. But fifteen years of inactivity (except for the odd secret 'rescue' with his friend, Lucius) have taken their toll and a rigorous training regime begins.

But as Helen gets suspicious and the true intentions of Bob's new patron become apparent the whole family are drawn into danger and perhaps the whole world.

Wonderful, modern animation from Pixar again showing that they can do excellent work time and time again. Hard work on the plot and script show through with a believable, though fantastic, characters. In fact the writing as nominated for an Acadamy Award.

Things to look out for: wonderful range of super powers on show, nice contrast between home life and the powers of the family, baby Jack-Jack saving himself, finding John Ratzenburger, Edna Mole's security system, super costumes for superheroes, no capes!, wall of lava!, excellent small role for Wallace Shawn as Bob's boss.

The DVD is packed with goodies - Jack-Jack attack is glorious fun, Superheros secret files, "bloopers".

Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) returns home late from work one day to be told by his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep) that she is leaving him and their young son, Billy (Justin Henry).

Ted then struggles over many months trying desperately to find some balance between his career and his home life. Then Joanna returns and she wishes to take full custody of her son, even though she has been absent for eight months.

Magnificent study of the relationship between home and work life and the distasterous pressures that can be put on both. Both Joanna and Ted are victims of this. Winning five Academy Awards along the way this classic is just as moving now as then.

Things to look out for: making French Toast, meeting your lover's young child for the first time, poignant courtroom scenes.

Searching for inspiration J. M. Barrie finds it in four children and their widowed mother, Sylvia.

As the tale of Peter Pan slowly grows so Barrie's relationship with his wife worsens. Spending more and more time with Sylvia and her children causes ripples in both families and society at large.

When Sylvia's health deteriorates, it is a race for Barrie to complete the play on time...

Touching and whimsical in places, this biopic gives the impression that more than normal dramatic license has been used, but like Miss Potter and it's equally tragic story, it doesn't matter. Poignant and enchanting in equal measure.

Things to look out for: nice contrast between the childish Barrie and the older-than-his-years Peter (Freddie Highmore), wonderful unconditional love between Barrie and all the children of the Llewellyn Davies family, moving final scenes.

The first ten or twelve minutes of this incredibly short movie are spent on exposition over the previous movie (The Mummy's Hand). The effect is that of a Saturday serial or TV episode.

The plot drives through in a oh so familiar pattern that may have still been slightly novel in 1942. The action is transferred to the USA and theoretically a full thirty years after the previous action. This rankles badly as 1970 appears to be almost identical to the 1940s.

Lon Chaney Jr is almost wasted in the role of The Mummy. It's a controlled performance, that follows well from the last movie, but a bit pointless having such a name in the role in my opinion.

All the leads are okay in their delivery but there's not a lot for them to do really.

An okay movie in the series. Worth watching, especially as it's so short.

Struggling to come to terms with her husband Jamie's passing when he miraculously reappears in her living room!

Struggles with rats and just the drudgery of life ease for Nina (Juliet Stevenson) whilst Jamie (Alan Rickman) is around. But as Jamie starts to bring his new friends home (all dead musicians) and she starts to fall for a new man, Mark (Michael Maloney) it all gets too complicated again.

Although depressing in places the movie is ultimately a rewarding depiction of bereavement and the emotional ties that bind us long afterwards. The fantastical elements are handled in a rooted, real fashion which makes the environment around Nina somehow feel all the more harrowing. But the humorous elements of the script are well played through and this is primarily a love story, possibly two.

Things to look out for: duet with the dead, Jamie's return, a lovable landlord (Christopher Rozycki), Jamie's new friends, quietly understated performance by Michael Maloney

Rating: a rewarding movie with a 'truly' moving end, humorous and engaging, highly recommended.

Always Be Closing. The salesman's mantra must be followed by four men in a failing office. So a competition is run. First prize is a Cadillac, Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third and fourth are you're fired.

With a week to make good or be fired Roma (Al Pacino), Levene (Jack Lemmon), Moss (Ed Harris) and Aaronow (Alan Arkin) hit every desperate measure they can think of to make the sales, hopefully with the help of Williamson (Kevin Spacey), the office manager. As time moves on some superb leads are available, the Glengarry leads, but Williamson is only allowed to give them to the top performers. The pressure continues to mount and risks must be made.

Mamet's play translates brilliantly into this studied and difficult movie. The faint of heart will feel for the salesmen's dilemma and the hard of heart will relish the patter and knowing of the procedures inherent in, well, sales. Sometimes hard to watch, there is no doubt that this movie contains some of the finest acting talent available and they pull out all the stops for the wonderful script. How Glengarry Glen Ross was only nominated for one Academy Award is beyond me, losing out big time to Howard's End and Unforgiven.

Things to look out for: the competition announcement, ABC, Alec Baldwin's apparently pivotal role (invented for the movie and not in the play), "coffee's for closers", verbal tennis between the salesman, the desparation of Levene, brass balls

Rating: horrible and engrossing to watch, a study of salesmen behind the scenes, highly recommended.

After breaking up with his girlfriend Edward, an extremely wealthy corporate lawyer, takes up with a prostitute called Vivian, taking her back to his extensive suite at a five star hotel. In the morning Edward ends up asking her to spend the week with him primarily at the hotel, but also at various social events. In return Vivian will be paid $3000.

As Vivian (Julia Roberts) struggles to fit in, albeit temporarily, into Edward's (Richard Gere) world, as the week progresses a real relationship develops between the two. If only their pasts and old friends of each could let them get on with things themselves...

A wonderful date movie, possibly more 'chick flick', Pretty Woman is of course pure fantasy but the two leads pull you from an incredulous opening through this lovely Cinderella story. The humour is also welcome and interspersed throughout the movie. A nice fish out of water comedy but the slant is definitely towards the romantic story line.

Things to look out for: shop keeper snobbery, wonderful hotel manager by Hector Elizondo, horrid and excellent performance by Jason Alexander as Edwards business partner, revenge on the snooty shop keepers, nice to see Ralph Bellamy just a year before he passed away (his final film performance), rose clenched final scene

Rating: chick flick or date movie staple of the last twenty years, recommended.

Carpe Diem! Seize the day!

Not something encouraged by Welton Academy for boys. Not until John Keating joins the staff that is.

Keating (Robin Williams), himself a graduate of the Academy, encourages the students in his English lessons to think for themselves and realis that they are powerful people, regardless of what they have so far been told.

His unorthodox approach (standing on desks, walks through the corridors, tearing the introduction from books etc.) startle but enliven a small group of students. These activities also bring both students and Keating into conflict with the school authorities and the boys' parents.

Tragedy is alas not far away as the culture clash is too much for the inexperienced young men. Especially so after they revive Keating's own long gone "Dead Poets Society", discussing and writing different poetry and different aspects of life than they would normally within the strict confines of the school.

Peter Weir's directing skills join all the characters into a complete narrative.

A wonderful Academy Award winning screenplay brought to life by what can only be described as beautiful acting, Dead Poets Society, like Glengarry Glen Ross, is a study of a particular way of life and in a lot of ways painful to watch.

The young actors are exceptional. Most notably Robert Sean Leonard as Neil who is firmly and strictly controlled by his father (another wonderful performance by Kurtwood Smith). Robin Williams performance is not the centre of this movie, rather the young men and their various troubles. The Keating role is a catalyst in this story and brings the movies two morals to the fore:

think differently be your own man Though there is humour, the tragic results of the clash between the traditionalists and non-conformists is what you take away. Where should the blame lie for these events?

Things to look out for: Robert Sean Leonard is exceptional, Kurtwood Smith plays the tough stern father well, the first of Mr Keating's classes with the boys, tearing the poetry book introductions out, painful interrogations by the headmaster, the final act of defiance

Rating: tragic and moving story, very highly recommended.

A journalist is given the opportunity of a lifetime when he meets a Princess as she steals away, rebelling against the constraints of court life. But will he recognise her and give her away?

Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) fails to recognise his charge, but does let her sleep in his apartment as he goes to work. Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) then becomes the subject of a bet between Joe (who he now recognises from a photo) and his boss Hennessy (Hartley Power). Get an interview with the Princess or be fired.

Another fish out of water comedy, romatantic drama and a sort of finding yourself tale merged together that in Roman Holiday into a wonderful heady cocktail. Comic chases and fight scenes, hidden cameras and a slow realisation of growing respect, even love; this movie could have been made anytime and would have been a hit. With the right cast... Peck and Hepburn seem to thoroughly enjoy there roles. If they didn't then they are even better actors than everyone thinks they are.

Things to look out for: moped ride, dodging her bodyguards, a sleepy Princess waking up wondering what happened the night before and who this man she's woken up with is, a wonderful turn by Eddie Albert as Irving - Joe's photographer friend.

George is working his way up his uncle's company. When he meets Angela and falls head over heals for her instantly his life really appears to be going places. The trouble is George already has a girlfriend, Alice, and she isn't willing to go quietly.

As George (Montgomery Clift) contemplates his options Alice (Shelley Winters) reveals a secret that will destroy his dreams.

A chance comment by Angela (Elizabeth Taylor) gives George an idea frightful idea of a way out...

Dark and disturbing, this movie isn't to everyone's tastes but the excellent acting and a well put together script combine to create a complete narrative around the hopelessly lost George.

Things to look out for: Angela's story that gives George his terrible idea, Shelley Winter's wonderful performance, Raymond Burr's forceful prosecutor, the final goodbye letter

Rating: dark morality play, recommended.

Years after his last burglary, John "The Cat" Robie is wanted by the police for a new string of robberies. Can he convince the authorities of his innocence, or must he catch the thief himself to prove it?

Robie (Cary Grant) escapes from the police with the help of some ex-resistance friends, mainly the daughter of one Danielle Foussard (Brigitte Auber) and convinces insurance agent H. H. Hughson (John Williams) of his innocence. Robie and Hughson set out to capture the copycat red handed, the only way they can think of clearing Robie's name.

Deducing the pattern of the robberies, they follow a likely target, the wealthy widow Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis). When she too is robbed her daughter Frances (Grace Kelly) is quick to blame Robie. But her mother believes his innocence too and they little group hatch a plot.

A charming romantic comedy, To Catch a Thief is one of the best Cary Grant movies, and that is saying something. The cast is excellent and breathes life into the characters. John Williams is wonderful as the Insurance Agent trying to look after his clients' interests.

Things to look out for: Humorous and romantic scenes between Grant and Kelly, driving dangerously along the coast/cliffs, roof top chase, market chase scene, unmasking a conspiracy, cat burglar with a wooden leg(?), Grace Kelly is stunning throughout

Rating: very funny and fun with it, extremely entertaining, highly recommended.

Bond can obtain a Russian encrypting machine, and from a beautiful young clerk. But a SPECTRE hangs over them... The young encryption clerk Tatiana (Daniela Bianchi) is asked to perform a top secret mission to seduce a British secret agent. She accepts, as there appears little choice, but has no idea that actually she is working for SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion). Her contact is the infamous Rossa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), her target James Bond (Sean Connery).

The bait is not only the girl but also a Lektor encryption machine, the true target of the machinations of SPECTRE. Though if Bond is framed or assisted along the way that would do nicely after the loss of Dr. No.

They even get another Soviet involved, Donald Grant (Robert Shaw), to hunt and kill Bond.

Cue the thrills and spills, girls, cars, brawls, girls, spies, gadgets, guns and girls. Bond is back.

The girls look good in this Connery's second outing. Not surprising as they include three former beauty queens. Daniela Bianchi stands out though.

Wonderful spy thriller with a nice touch of humour. The characters are well drawn and the script has some quirks that work well. For example, Bond doesn't appear for an absolute age and Grant hardly speak (though he is eloquent and thoughtful when he does).

Things to look out for: well worked opening sequence, spy trying to escape,

Rating: love Bond, excellent outing for the Connery Bond, highly recommended.

A researcher invites a group of psychics to a supposedly haunted house. The idea is to establish a connection to the spirits within Rose Red.

It isn't long before they succeed and a terrifying force is unleashed upon them. The spirit of the former own, Ellen Rimbauer (Julia Campbell) s the least of their worries. Can Professor Reardon (Nancy Travis) and her motley crew even survive the experience?

Technically this is a mini-series and TV adaptation, not a movie. This does show in the quality of the production and cinematography. However this is not enough to ruin this piece, indeed it somehow adds a closeness to the work that is hard for big budget movies. Having said that though, the cost of this TVM is a reported $30 Million +. That means that the Rose Red mansion itself is truly stunning.

There are other, better, psychics versus haunting movies, Thirteen Ghosts for example, but this is nicely done and though there are few surprises along the way the movie has a deserved cult following. But at four hours, the movie lacks an edge that would have made it stunning. It is not as perfect as the price tag or Stephen King's aspirations should have made it.

Things to look out for: Stephen King's cameo, library floor, unusual meat in the fridge, the gorgeous house itself, the statue in the garden, the arboretum

Rating: worth watching over an afternoon, recommended.

What if a force existed to show you your worst fears? What if It could make them real?

A group of children fight an evil that lurks under Derry, Maine. None of the adults believes the stories or can even see the terrifying creature or it's tricks. It is up to those kids to fight It.

As time passes, the remaining members of the "Losers Club" forget their horrific childhood. For some it is essential even to think that it could not have happened, it was a bad dream.

Mike Hanlon (Tim Reid) remembers. He stayed behind to keep an eye on their home town in case It returns. Now, 30 years later, children are dying once again and he must ask his friends to fulfil the vow they all made so long again. It is once again up to them to destroy It.

Another TVM adaptation of a Stephen King story and for the most part very well done. Both sets of actors, young and old, perform excellently and they are believable. Each character comes across, in their own ways, as a victim of their experiences and even of life itself. Preying on children the entity takes the form of Pennywise the Clown, a wonderfully menace filled performance by Tim Curry.

The only real downside is the lack of imagination used to represent the final version of It.

Things to look out for: Tim Curry is excellent, Early roles for Seth Green and Emily Perkins, lovely chemistry between all the actors, chased by werewolf, each of the gang's reaction to the news that "It's back.", moving pictures in photo album, stained bathroom.

How did Ellen Rimbauer end up haunting the Rose Red mansion?

At the turn of the 20th century an oil baron builds a huge mansion for his new bride. But what secrets lie in its creation and what terrors are await the young woman as she lives out her life in Rose Red?

Although included in the Stephen King Collection the story is actually written by Ridley Pearson for both printed and broadcast media. Technically, the film is based on the characters created by Stephen King.

The shorter format, just 85 minutes, allows the story to move more fluidly but as a result perhaps more is left to the audience to decipher. The purpose and motive of Rose Red are there, if you look hard enough. It is a direct prequel of Rose Red, both as an explanation for/of the research by Professor Reardon and the actual events many years before.

Things to look out for: wonderful sets and atmosphere, a house playing with the minds of those around them, understated (as required) performance of Lisa Brenner

Rating: interesting to those that have seen Rose Red, ok.