Reviews

Probably the best Santa movie ever.

Don't worry about the cliche'd story which in places is as twee as Hollywood twee can be, forget about the CGI reindeer (which are OK) and the Mogwai (Gremlins) on steroids like Elves (which are also fine), what sets this film apart from just about every other 'Santa' film is a truly powerhouse acting performance from Kurt Russell as Santa.

He's not your old fashioned typical 'Santa' (thank goodness) and despite it's sentimentalism this is the best 'Santa' film in years (if not ever).

Watched it with my wife and 11 year old grandson and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

Loved the lovely twist at the end when Santa's wife shows up.

Has to be the worst animated film for many a year.

A plot so flimsy the least breath of wind would blow it away, a 'fire breathing dragon' that is never seen to breath fire, animation that's so bad it gives the world of animation a bad name and voice 'characters' that are so awful most sound like the 'actors' are trying to replicate characters with speech impediments.

Avoid this like the plague, sometimes some movies can be so bad they turn out to be quite good (usually on a comedic scale) but honestly this really is so bad it's bad.

The film's very good in representing the bands early and mid term journey with all it's successes, failures, drugs, drink etc with candid interviews and good musical snippets. The footage is great but my biggest disappointment with the film is that basically very little is mentioned of the bands musical output post Let It Bleed. Sticky Fingers get a brief snippet, Exile on Main Street has a little more but post that almost nothing. A brief interlude of 'Angie' and how great Ronnie Wood has fit into the band - and he sure has if only they'd give him a bit more freedom to work with. But, and it's a big but, nothing - a great big zilch of their musical output through the late 70's and beyond, much of which was/has been critically underwhelming.

It would also have been nice to see the involvement with the band of Ian 'Stu' Stewart and Bobby Keys recognised.

In short, the film's an unpolished diamond, well worth a look to the Stones fan

A filmed to be looked upon in two ways, either a disaster or a worthwhile attempt.

As a second installment of 'The Hobbit' it's an unmitigated disaster. Even more so than Pt 1 'An unexpected journey' it deviates, omits, twists, changes and even adds to the narrative of the book so much as to make it barely recognisable from the original text.

I'm not going into detail here as this could run to a 3,000 word draft but if you're expecting a version of the children's book full of its quirky characters, sections of humour, general sense of danger that's not too dark or threatening.....well forget it. You won't see that here.

However, as the second prequel to the Lord of The Rings film trilogy it works fine. Full of dark brooding danger, lots of loud music, incessant Orc killing (some of which is veering on pantomime though), loads of scenes referencing to events which will be revealed in the LOTR films, and if you haven't read The Hobbit, you'll probably enjoy it.

Either way, the final section with Bilbo & Smaug just about works, but the film condenses their conversations to a single visit. In the context of the film this is a bit overlong, but it additionally preludes another far too long, and unnecessary section where the dwarfs (without wishing to add a spoiler) run about a lot and the special effects team go bonkers.

Viewed the film at the cinema in a party of six (5 had read the book). 4 thought it was really good - the one who hadn't read the book can't wait for The Hobbit 3 to be released - 1 thought the dragon sequence far too long (like myself) and I, well the review above.

As someone with just a passing interest in bike racing, but a devotee of the Isle of Man, I felt I just had to get this DVD as you can't visit the island without knowing/finding the TT heritage.

If there's a better motor bike racing DVD anywhere I'd like to know what it is, as this DVD is utterly fabulous. Guy Martin steals the show in a quirky/mad sort of way but the DVD just explains to the common punter why these people put their lives at risk doing insane speeds along public roads.

Fantastically well photographed with all the action sections the only downer is, as someone else has mentioned, the American commentary - which somehow doesn't seem to fit well with what is a particular Manx/British (yes I know it isn't British but....) event.

Truly great stuff.

Stephen Spieberg usually does it for me, from the sweet sentimentality of ET to the tongue in cheek Indiana via Empire of the Sun & Saving Private Whatsit but this did little for me.

I found the beginning slow and ponderous, and, it has to be said, very predictable.

Sure it's beautifully well shot and the Devon landscape is a treat but it's all too twee and predictable (local farmer buys unrealistic horse in auction against local 'aristocrat' etc) and we're taken on a journey as this 'unsuitable' horse is trained by the son and via a series of events ends up in the first world war supporting both sides, with an intervening aside along the way.

It surely doesn't warrant two and a half hours and the first half is ponderous to say the least as the foundations of 'before war' are made.

The war sequences are as good as you might expect for this certificate of film and once we got there (half way into the film) the film picked up no end.

There's no stand out acting in here, everyone is pretty good and there's no pantomime villains - in fact the best interaction is between the two lead horses (of course some of this could be CGI - but it doesn't look too much like it).

The closing scenes are pure Spielberg saccharine.

I understand it's a book written for children, and as such should probably have stayed that way.

It doesn't really do it as a film aimed at adults and I'm pretty sure the audience the book was aimed at will get totally bored very quickly with the ponderous first half.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Much better than the first film. Downey Junior plays a much more eccentric Holmes to good effect. His play-off's with Law are good with some nice comical touches. Jared Harris is a great addition to the cast, playing the inscrutable Moriarty with the right amount of menace & intelligence without going anywhere near pantomime territory. Paul Anderson is good as Moriarty's chief sidekick but both the female leads are somewhat pointless and whilst there's nothing wrong with the acting from Rapace & Reilly they are pretty superfluous in the grand scheme of things.

Ah, the Stephen Fry character, Mycroft Holmes, is - well, in my opinion, it just about works, it certainly works better in the first half of the film than in the second, although there is a good comedic scene with Kelly Reilly later in the film. I think Fry could be utilised better in the next episode.

The action scenes are great as is the cinematography.

The main irritant I have with the film, and it's been mentioned in other reviews, is the use of the slow-mo in all the action scenes. It's simply used too much to be truly effective, it works in the scene when running through the woods but elsewhere it's overdone, something Ritchie needs to curb in the next episode.

All in all a good attempt but could do better

I liked this series.

I came to Dave Spikey not via Phoenix Nights but via the 'Overnight Success' stand-up DVD he did and seeing him live.

I thought it was a pretty good attempt that didn't always quite work but was certainly better that the vast majority of dross ITV serve up as 'comedy' (or should that be 'served' - as they don't seem to attempt or produce anything comedic nowadays!).

There might not have been many 'fall on the floor' laughs but there were lots of chuckles and smiles.

Dave was pretty good as the erratic and confused editor looking for a 'good story' and Johnny had a role that wasn't totally pist (on the Irish black stuff) caricature that he was prevailing at the time.

I'd like to think that given another series Dave & Johnny could have come up with something wonderful.

I'd like to be able to see it again to re-evaluate it, but copyright stuff (the music I believe) has put a pox on that for the time being.

Firstly to say that I've only seen the 2D version.

For such a high profile film that had garnered so many favourable views I have to say this must be the worst (high profile film) I have ever seen.

I had not read the database before viewing the film but recalled the reviews on it's release. The first thing one has to say is the plot, as other have mentioned, is a direct lift from Dances With Wolves.

To quote Edmund Blackadder 'it was as predictable as a predictable thing can be predicted', something I was quite (un)happily doing throughout the film. It isn't even so bad it's good - although there a couple of unintentionally funny scenes (well I laughed).

The actors do the best they can with a very average script with Steven Lang as the main hate character in a destroy everything sort of way, played so over the top he could be a pantomime villain. It's not his fault of course, James Cameron directed him! The CG graphics/special effects look OK but gave me no real sense of warmth to the characters, I didn't find then innovative just a bit soulless.

If 2 and a half hours of overly blue CGI/Special effects is your thing OK but I found it a total waste of the time.

Will Hay was never better than when he was working with Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriot, both of whom had such a rapport with him (or his character) that it really is hard not to be charmed by the trio.

It's a familiar and obvious plot that Hay used to it's best - incompetent authoritative figure gets in a mess with the help of his two stooges, falls out with the boss (Chief Constable), is taken advantage of by the locals (smugglers) but eventually wins the day.

This is a joy from start to finish and very, very nearly matches Oh Mr Porter. There's gags from the very start to the very end.

A piece of classic entertainment with the virtue of being free from sex, violence and swearing. They don't make like this anymore I'm sorry to say.

There's a few things going for this film if your into nostalgia. Firstly George is a likable Lancashire comedian setting out on the big screen in an absolutely predictable script.

It's worth a watch if you've ever been to the Isle of Man (TT races or not) purely from a historical point of view. Health & safety would just die at the crowds locality to the bikes! There are a few good laughs but 75 years on it all looks very, very familiar. The Riding the TT Races song on the train journey is an eccentric bit of comedic genius and the Shuttleworth Snap is a dream bike (there's a full replica at The Bay Inn, Port Erin, Isle of Man - fab pub).

A really enjoyable film for all football fans that knew, loved or hated Brian Clough.

Stunning performance from Micheal Sheen that is as good as it gets.

Bare in mind it's based on a fictional account of Clough's time at Derby & Leeds but it's very near to the truth as we know it.

Re-created with some original footage but these are mostly related to the action on the pitch.

The book is quite a bit darker (and if you've only seen the film and enjoyed it, I recommend you try the book too), there's more in-depth analysis of his relationship with the players and the Brian Clough & Peter Taylor partnership in addition to the anti-Derby board and anti-Leeds United, a must see for UK football fans.

A Victorian period drama with quasi erotic bits!

Poorly acted, bland and boring and for much of the time very predictable for me.

The main characters are pretty lame and are acted much the same.

Mark Rylance, as William Adamson, seems to have perfected an expression of blank emotion (or maybe it's just boredom).

Patsy Kensit's character exists to simply have a different frock on in EVERY scene she's in or get her kit off.

Douglas Henshall provides the 'evil' character & is actually quite good, he doesn't overdo it so it never reaches the pantomime stage, however Annette Badland has no trouble in reaching these dizzy heights as Lady Alabaster (PK's characters mother).

Kristin Scott Thomas plays a subdued second female lead and, like Henshall, comes away with some credit

One has to assume it's not the actors fault as the director, Philip Haas, surely got what he asked for.

How on earth this got the Evening Standard award for Best British film in 1995 beggars belief (it MUST have been a BAD year).

Well I'm from the UK so all those people that have commented that it's 'just like the real thing' doesn't really connect with me as Ice Hockey is a minority sport in the UK.

However, I was a cinema projectionist when this was released and me and all my colleagues loved this.

The jokes, the violence and Paul Newmans performance was spot on.

There's lots of spoilers you could put in here, and the dyke bit is a comedic gem, but I ain't elaborating.

After a slow start it did surprisingly well at our cinemas box office.

I've watched it again recently on DVD and it's just as good as I remembered.

There's been lots of versions of A Christmas Carol/Scrooge before/since this version - even the Muppets had a go at it for goodness sake but you simply can't beat a good story, brilliantly directed and wonderfully well acted.

Alistair Sim is the ultimate 'Scrooge' with deadpan misery, contempt, despair, disillusionment and ultimately joy.

If your reading this surely you know the story so I'm not giving details other than on Christmas Eve Scrooge is 'visited' by the ghosts of Christmas past, present & future and the ensuing result of this.

Nowadays the effects would all be OTT CGI rubbish and the moral would get lost in the 'AWESOME' effects, but this being 1951 we get a black and white film (avoid the colourised version like the plague) with effects that are good enough even 57+ years hence to carry the 'morale'.

In truth it's the Alistair Sim show really and he gives a commanding performance.

One of my favourite films ever and the best Christmas film by a country mile (and then some).

No, definitely not my usual sort of movie (being a bloke) but I loved this. The kids are great (and I usually hate child actors in lead roles) and Midler & Hearshey are on top form. Sure it's predictable and plays on the heartstrings but not in the vomit inducing way so many of these type of films seem to do. Brassy chick meets demure kid, chalk meets cheese, they become great mates, fall out, fall in, fall out again, fall in again, fall out, tragedy strikes and by the end the world becomes a warmer place and you'd have to have a hard heart not to have at least a lump in your throat by the end. Great theme song too. You should be able to get the DVD of this for about £2 to £3 in your local store nowadays, a bargain!

It's initial premise is based on the American Civil War but it's ultimately a love story. We start at the beginning of the war where the main characters (Kidman & Law) are obviously aware of each other and there's an obvious attraction, they have a passionate kiss on the day he leaves for the war. The main thrust of this film is for Law's character to return to Kidman's and his struggles to achieve that and her struggles to survive until he returns. The reason it fails to convince is that we don't see enough of this relationship before Law's character leaves for battle - it's difficult to believe the premise that 2 people yearn for each other so much given they've had so little contact. Everything else is just about fine, Renee Zellweger and her incumbent father and his entourage are lovely additions as is the threat from the gang chasing deserters. Sure it's a long film but it does hold the interest and the cinematography is great. An honourable attempt that doesn't quite make it but worth a watch nonetheless.

Well, if you've read the reviews you'll already have an idea what this is all about. The ultimate disaster movie? I think not, sure the special effects are good as is the surround sound but the plots pretty thin and very predictable. The characters create little sympathy and at times you just wish they'd all die. Whilst the film tries it's best to 'internationalize' the ensuing catastrophe there's little doubt that it's the good old US of A's players that will ultimately save the day. The casting is nothing special and the acting similar. Woody Harrelson gives a good OTT performance as the obligatory weirdo who sees it all coming but Danny Glover is oddly unconvincing as the President of the USA. It's, well ..... okay - if you can put your brain to one side for two and a half hours and like CGI & lots of noise then you'd probably enjoy this.

This is a review of the trilogy. Doesn't faithfully follow the book - why should it, it's a film - but carries it's essence throughout. Across the 12 hours (extended versions) there's very little to criticise really. Using John Rhys Davies (who plays Gimli) as the voice of Treebeard wasn't a great idea and in the parting to the Grey Havens (end of 3) the hobbit stand-ins are really awful - you just know they're kids - I'm amazed they didn't see fit to shoot it better. I suppose a Scottish & American accent, both from The Shire, well, you soon get used to it. The acting is top rate and the special effects, at the time of production/cinema release, are stunning. This is a score of 9.75 for the trilogy to me.

Incidentally, if you can, check out the BBC Radio play version of LOTR directed by Brian Sibley, it's fantastic.

I was a cinema projectionist at the time of this release and it came out at the end of the 'disaster movie' era in the seventies (in the UK).

I ran this at a press screening and it was obvious from the first minute this was a disaster movie of it's own kind. What initially was mildly amusingly bad soon went to so bad it's funny but thereafter, and very quickly and for most of the film, it reached that rare distinction of 'so bad, it really is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad'.

OK, so I've seen lots of rubbish films but what sticks in the mind with this one is the level of money and the cast involved. I had/have no expectations that some cheap budget film with no-name actors in it might be awful but this had a decent cast and money thrown at it and for that simple reason I personally regard it a THE WORST FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Avoid like the plague

When people nowadays do lists of 'best of's' they nearly always forget films of this era (1930's) and it really is a shame. Those old enough remember (or are aware of) Laurel & Hardy & the Marx Brothers and regard them with great affection. Many of Will Hays films are comedic classics, especially the ones with Moore Marriott & Graham Moffat, and this one is probably the best.

The synopsis you can read in the 'Plot' section but it's all acted out in a chaotic and innocent way that is generally lost to us nowadays.

This is one of my favourite comedies and I have fond memories of viewing it as a teenager at my parents circa 1970 when I fell of the sofa laughing.

I recently bought the boxed set of 11 films for around £12 (approx $18) and the first film on the DVD player was this and I'm glad to say it still made me laugh uncontrollably. The delivery between Hay, Marriot & Moffat is absolutely awe inspiring. It might be old, it might be British but it's genius!

An old fashioned nice and gentle comedy. No sex, no violence, no swearing but lots of laughs. The basic premise is that Ian Bannen & David Kelly's characters know someone in the village has won the lottery jackpot. From the 50 people in the village they weedle out 30 or so who have bought the tickets to discover it's Ned Divine. Unfortunately Ned has died through shock at the exact time of the win but he's written his name on the back of the ticket to identify it as his. The plot to collect the money in Neds name unfolds from here (no more clues to the plot from me). Well acted by Ian Bannen and David Kelly is always a joy to watch. Ably assisted by a good supporting cast. Over ten years since it's initial release I watched this again recently and enjoyed it just as much. Filmed entirely in the Isle of Man, predominantly in Cregneash village - where you are free to walk around & photograph (a modest admission is charged to enter the buildings). Ned's house is one of the main features at Niarbyl, a beauty spot on the west coast 5/6 miles south of Peel.

I watched this again the other day and it's probably 20 years since I last saw it but it's still unbelievably dark & chaotically funny. Michael Angelis & Bernard Hill are just brilliant & Vince Earl shows just the right amount of menace in his role as Frank. Ray McAnally's character forms part of the central plot, being a former Unionist activist trying to get away from/live with his violent past despite the constant provocation from Paddy Burke (James Ellis). If you're British/Irish of a certain age and lived through 70's/80's or are perhaps a student of the Irish 'troubles' - and you have to have a sense of dark humour - you'll love this. Your main problem will be getting hold of a copy as it incredibly difficult to find copies of it as I believe Alan Bleasedale (the author) withdrew it.

It gets 10 out of 10 for sheer comedic brilliance.

I also believe that at the time it was easily the biggest grossing film of it's year r.e. production cost compared to gross take (i.e. cost nothing to make but took a relative fortune).

Lloyd Bridges & Robert Stack 'playing it straight' were brilliant and everybody loved 'Otto'.

2nd in my list only to Blazing Saddles - neither of which (depite comments made r.e.Airplane) were the 'first spoof movie' but both have never been done better.

A 'must have' DVD.