I cannot really add to what others have said. This a sad use of Pratchett's character names with none of the humour or story telling.
Reviews
11 Reviews
Early Man
(2018)
Very funny but short in length
27 January 2018
Another hit by the Aardman team and as usual it shines a light on British attitudes.
The characterizations are good I didn't realise who was in the main role or played Lord Nooth until the credits came up.
Some of the jokes went over the heads of the younger children in the cinema but the adults lapped it up.
The football puns are brilliant, the comedy classic and the cartoon slapstick superb.
Don't quote it for historical accuracy.
Too short.
Some of the jokes went over the heads of the younger children in the cinema but the adults lapped it up.
The football puns are brilliant, the comedy classic and the cartoon slapstick superb.
Don't quote it for historical accuracy.
Too short.
The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm
(2014 TV Movie)
Children's TV at its best.
26 December 2014
A lovely adaption of Norman Hunter's books.
An excellent cast including lot's of faces from other British TV shows. Harry Hill is excellent as the nutty Professor, Ben Miller as the evil factory and Vicky Pepperdine just to name a few.
This has lot's of funny moments, it is a book for Children so don't expect subtle adult humour or contrivances.
I saw another review describe this as vile. I cannot for the life of me understand where this comment could have come from. This has all the elements that appeal to children of a certain age. Adults behaving badly,a bit of slapstick, simple jokes and a happy ending.
It may not appeal to the Ipad generation but other's will enjoy it.
An excellent cast including lot's of faces from other British TV shows. Harry Hill is excellent as the nutty Professor, Ben Miller as the evil factory and Vicky Pepperdine just to name a few.
This has lot's of funny moments, it is a book for Children so don't expect subtle adult humour or contrivances.
I saw another review describe this as vile. I cannot for the life of me understand where this comment could have come from. This has all the elements that appeal to children of a certain age. Adults behaving badly,a bit of slapstick, simple jokes and a happy ending.
It may not appeal to the Ipad generation but other's will enjoy it.
St. Trinian's
(2007)
Good in parts
31 December 2007
Mixed views like the mixed reviews really.
Firstly this is a film for the tweenies (12-15 I would have thought) though on the night we went despite the 12a certificate there were 5 and 6 year olds there. Most of the humour was for kids, though there were enough references to amuse adults and lots of references to other films.
Everett was superb as a the headmistress, and remembering that this was slapstick, absolutely fine. Not so convinced by Colin Firth, but he was OK. Russell Brandt seemed nervous. Otherwise everone else played their roll perfectly. The young actors were splendid.
As stated, a good film for young teenagers who can identify with the schoolgirl antics, and in our cinema they were laughing from the beginning.
Not a patch on the originals? Well different. The originals were 40 to 50 years ago and they were made in a different age. I like them, but do they appeal to 12 and 15 year olds today? This is the problem with remakes, we always compare them with the "classic" and find them wanting.
Firstly this is a film for the tweenies (12-15 I would have thought) though on the night we went despite the 12a certificate there were 5 and 6 year olds there. Most of the humour was for kids, though there were enough references to amuse adults and lots of references to other films.
Everett was superb as a the headmistress, and remembering that this was slapstick, absolutely fine. Not so convinced by Colin Firth, but he was OK. Russell Brandt seemed nervous. Otherwise everone else played their roll perfectly. The young actors were splendid.
As stated, a good film for young teenagers who can identify with the schoolgirl antics, and in our cinema they were laughing from the beginning.
Not a patch on the originals? Well different. The originals were 40 to 50 years ago and they were made in a different age. I like them, but do they appeal to 12 and 15 year olds today? This is the problem with remakes, we always compare them with the "classic" and find them wanting.
Hoodwinked!
(2005)
Never mind the graphics, feel the wit
26 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Absolutely agree with those who say that you have to look beyond the CGI in this animation.
I have just caught it on the TV and it kept me watching, and listening.
Crackingly good script, the story is very good and the characterisations are excellent. There are numerous references to other films and genres, well worth the watch if for nothing else. I was taken by the idea of the detective being a moustached frog, a reference to Poirot? The bad guy being a rabbit (fluffy bunny) and the good guy a wolf is a nice change. I was upset that red riding hood is a goodie though, I well remember reading the poem about Miss Hood making a wolf skin coat to my kids and would liked her to be the baddie.
Still a nice film for when you are stuck indoors.
I have just caught it on the TV and it kept me watching, and listening.
Crackingly good script, the story is very good and the characterisations are excellent. There are numerous references to other films and genres, well worth the watch if for nothing else. I was taken by the idea of the detective being a moustached frog, a reference to Poirot? The bad guy being a rabbit (fluffy bunny) and the good guy a wolf is a nice change. I was upset that red riding hood is a goodie though, I well remember reading the poem about Miss Hood making a wolf skin coat to my kids and would liked her to be the baddie.
Still a nice film for when you are stuck indoors.
Reichenbach Falls
(2007 TV Movie)
Very good, very surreal
1 March 2007
Excellent viewing.
Playing on the fictional tough detective genre, this weird little drama plays along quite easily for the first 10 minutes or so and then drifts off in to the challenging. Not that challenging is bad, in fact it makes it worth watching.
A troubled detective, his partner is gunned down, is sent into the depths of old Edinburgh (good travelogue) to investigate a 100 year old body. His past keeps catching up with him, not least the man who stole his wife off him, his best friend, now a very successful author. Lots of swearing and a bit of violence later we get to the snooker and revelations. Another success for BBC4.
The cast were very good. Laura Fraser and Nina Sosanya both worked on Casanova together and have appeared all over the place, they were good as usual, I have a soft spot for both. The lead male, Alec Newman I have not seen before and looking at his CV seems to done a lot of US TV, nevertheless he played a good drunk, troubled and rogue detective. John Sessions put in a John Sessions and the other roles were okay. But the award for the most outrageous false Scotish moustache goes to Richard Wilson who appears as, well that would be a spoiler.
Trivia: I once sat two rows in front of Richard Wilson at the Barbican for a performance of Romeo and Juliet, he wore a baseball cap all evening. The actor playing Romeo was David Tennant, see Casanova. Spooky or what. I had an awful cold and spent the entire performance trying not to cough or sneeze.
Playing on the fictional tough detective genre, this weird little drama plays along quite easily for the first 10 minutes or so and then drifts off in to the challenging. Not that challenging is bad, in fact it makes it worth watching.
A troubled detective, his partner is gunned down, is sent into the depths of old Edinburgh (good travelogue) to investigate a 100 year old body. His past keeps catching up with him, not least the man who stole his wife off him, his best friend, now a very successful author. Lots of swearing and a bit of violence later we get to the snooker and revelations. Another success for BBC4.
The cast were very good. Laura Fraser and Nina Sosanya both worked on Casanova together and have appeared all over the place, they were good as usual, I have a soft spot for both. The lead male, Alec Newman I have not seen before and looking at his CV seems to done a lot of US TV, nevertheless he played a good drunk, troubled and rogue detective. John Sessions put in a John Sessions and the other roles were okay. But the award for the most outrageous false Scotish moustache goes to Richard Wilson who appears as, well that would be a spoiler.
Trivia: I once sat two rows in front of Richard Wilson at the Barbican for a performance of Romeo and Juliet, he wore a baseball cap all evening. The actor playing Romeo was David Tennant, see Casanova. Spooky or what. I had an awful cold and spent the entire performance trying not to cough or sneeze.
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
(2006)
An interesting first episode
3 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The first episode has just finished.
It was quite good. Some problems with it's, cuteness, but otherwise an entertaining hour on an otherwise improbable plot, and believe me as someone who stood as independent in a district council election, it is improbable.
For me Jane Horrocks was a bit light, she is a fine actress and carried the part well but she was too much "little voice". A supermarket manager was appropriate as I was reminded of the adverts she appeared in here in the UK with Prunella Scales.
Nice to see an outing for so many good actors, I struggled to remember where I had seen the jilted bride and it has just come to me, the daughter from Funland, she might even be wearing the same wedding dress.
I look forward to the next 5 episodes and hope that Jane Horrocks can find some substance, all the same, excellent Tuesday night tele fodder. It will keep me out of the pub.
It was quite good. Some problems with it's, cuteness, but otherwise an entertaining hour on an otherwise improbable plot, and believe me as someone who stood as independent in a district council election, it is improbable.
For me Jane Horrocks was a bit light, she is a fine actress and carried the part well but she was too much "little voice". A supermarket manager was appropriate as I was reminded of the adverts she appeared in here in the UK with Prunella Scales.
Nice to see an outing for so many good actors, I struggled to remember where I had seen the jilted bride and it has just come to me, the daughter from Funland, she might even be wearing the same wedding dress.
I look forward to the next 5 episodes and hope that Jane Horrocks can find some substance, all the same, excellent Tuesday night tele fodder. It will keep me out of the pub.
Anita & Me
(2002)
Very Good - come without expectations
4 March 2006
A very good film. Do not come with preconceptions, it is not East is East, Bend it like Beckham. After all you don't expect all movies written about the US or by Americans to be like How the West was won.
It accurately reflects the times and the attitudes. Nice cast, a bit ham acted in places but otherwise good. The two actors who played Meena and Anita were very good. I cannot understand the comments about the midlands accents, they were where they should have been. The with-it vicar was not out of place mind! The sound track was really good and reminded both me and the wife of our teens.
OK, a bit pre the Kumars at No 42 but personally I found this to be a very entertaining film. It stands in it's own right.
It accurately reflects the times and the attitudes. Nice cast, a bit ham acted in places but otherwise good. The two actors who played Meena and Anita were very good. I cannot understand the comments about the midlands accents, they were where they should have been. The with-it vicar was not out of place mind! The sound track was really good and reminded both me and the wife of our teens.
OK, a bit pre the Kumars at No 42 but personally I found this to be a very entertaining film. It stands in it's own right.
28 Days Later
(2002)
Not as bad as it's painted
13 May 2004
I thought this much maligned pic was very good. Not a gore fest or a zombie thriller, I was impressed by the way it fell into a nice low key and understated shocker.
Some excellent opening scenes of a deserted London, I believe that they filmed this at 4 or 5 in the morning, bit of a plot drift in places, but an ending slightly more believable than 12 Monkeys.
The Army chaps were not credible, Ecclestone was good, but did anyone notice the racial undertones of the guy locked up in the yard?
This was never a 10, 9, or 8 out of 10, but it's 7 in my money.
Some excellent opening scenes of a deserted London, I believe that they filmed this at 4 or 5 in the morning, bit of a plot drift in places, but an ending slightly more believable than 12 Monkeys.
The Army chaps were not credible, Ecclestone was good, but did anyone notice the racial undertones of the guy locked up in the yard?
This was never a 10, 9, or 8 out of 10, but it's 7 in my money.
Nothing But the Night
(1973)
Nothing Not But Bad
13 May 2004
I won't add to the plot reviews, it's not very good.
Very improbable orphanage on Bala.
Cushing and Lee at their height.
Some nice scenery.
Good for face spotting, and I quote, "look at the mouth, that is Cassie from Fools and Horses".
Otherwise, a poor example of the British film industry.
Fulton MacKay was far better in Fraggle Rock, Keith Barron was better in anything else and Diana Dors did what she did best.
Redeeming feature? It was free to watch on the Horror channel prior to its going over to subscription. I won't be subscribing on this effort.
Very improbable orphanage on Bala.
Cushing and Lee at their height.
Some nice scenery.
Good for face spotting, and I quote, "look at the mouth, that is Cassie from Fools and Horses".
Otherwise, a poor example of the British film industry.
Fulton MacKay was far better in Fraggle Rock, Keith Barron was better in anything else and Diana Dors did what she did best.
Redeeming feature? It was free to watch on the Horror channel prior to its going over to subscription. I won't be subscribing on this effort.
Shaun of the Dead
(2004)
As good as it gets.
11 April 2004
Absolutely first rate.
It lives up to all the previews and beyond. Most reviews slated the end slipping into blood and gore, but it was done well and with a point.
I have never seen Spaced, so came to this without preconceptions and was not disappointed.
The interaction between the characters is superb, the dialogue excellent and generally a good well put together film.
All the characters are well cast and I think most modern British comedy series had at least one of their cast in a cameo.
Was Richard E Grant one of the Zombies in the pub? He is not credited.
Why can't all British comedies be this good?
It lives up to all the previews and beyond. Most reviews slated the end slipping into blood and gore, but it was done well and with a point.
I have never seen Spaced, so came to this without preconceptions and was not disappointed.
The interaction between the characters is superb, the dialogue excellent and generally a good well put together film.
All the characters are well cast and I think most modern British comedy series had at least one of their cast in a cameo.
Was Richard E Grant one of the Zombies in the pub? He is not credited.
Why can't all British comedies be this good?
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