Reviews

What a refreshing new drama Afterlife has turned out to be! I have watched many programmes and films of this genre and they tend to blend into one another with nothing new to offer.

Afterlife focuses on the unwanted "gift" possessed by medium Alison Mundy (played superbly by Lesley Sharp). She has a message from the dead son of psychologist Robert Bridge who is not willing to listen. Believing in the afterlife would completely go against the values and ethics of his work.

So to sum it up you have a medium who doesn't necessarily want the "gift", and you have a psychologist who tells her she is disillusioned, yet he secretly believes in her ability.

Many times it has been stated "Why can't we make quality drama in the UK?" Well we have in Afterlife, and I think the US audiences would warm to this as they have in Australia and NZ. This drama has everything about it. It is chilling, moving, shocking and even funny in parts. Very watchable, and has spiced up Saturday night viewing in the UK. A second series is a must.

I personally prefer The Life of Brian to this movie from the Python lads, but it is still very funny and typically Python slapstick comedy.

The legend of King Arthur is a story we have all endured in one form or another, but this take on events devised by Graham Chapman is pure genius. If you are a fan of Python's Flying Circus, The Meaning of Life or The Life of Brian, this movie is for you.

There are the memorable characters such as The Nights Who Say Nee, and The French Guard. Not to mention the Killer Rabbit which was very under-estimated by Arthur's men at their own peril.

As I stated before, a fan of Python work will enjoy this, others may find it a little too over-the-top, and though may be amused, may also be just as inclined to turn it off. On a personal note, I think John Cleese is absolutely amazing once again in this adventure.

This Australian part animation, part live is now nearly 30 years old, and maybe this is the time for a remake. I am never a fan of remakes ordinarily, but though a classic in it's own right, Dot and the Kangaroo is a hazed memory for many adults, and is almost never shown on television for the latest generation of children.

The story of a young girl lost in the Australian bush is befriended by a kangaroo who has lost her very own joey (which is never found). The film follows their adventures in returning Dot to her family using some now very dated looking crossover filming between live action and animation, which at the time was very impressive.

This is not a traditional feature length cartoon for two simple reasons. Almost every cartoon has a happy, everybody lives happily ever after feel to it...this one doesn't. And there is a creature called a Bunyip in this movie which is going to GET YOU... As a young child, you may just worry about this for a while, especially if you live in Australia... Usually the token scary monster of a cartoon is so over the top it's laughable. This is a little more than that, and must not be dumbed down for any remake. That would be unacceptable!

This is a must for anyone who remembers the film and wants a nostalgic trip, but for newcomers, maybe you should wait for a remake (if ever) -or just avoid the film as I have no doubt you will never understand what all the fuss is about. You will hear Dot singing about the best way to travel being in the pouch of a red kangaroo, and switch off immediately. This aside, the film may still appeal to young children.

Oz is definitely a ground-breaking drama which the producers at HBO should be very proud of. There are endless female prison dramas (Prisoner Cell Block H, Within These Walls, Bad Girls etc...), and yet it seems the making of a serious male prison drama is very difficult.

With women in Prison drama's, you can develop the characters a lot more easily...With men it's a lot more difficult without turning the whole thing into a gay stereotype. This is where Oz is different...

Though there are many violent, foul-mouthed and hard-hitting scenes throughout the series, you have two brothers incarcerated together, one who has a young mental age, and this is very touching. Then you have the character of Beecher, the everyday family man thrown into a world he can not relate to. His transformation throughout the series is excellently done, and you start to put yourself into his position and think "What would I do if that were me???

The whole thing is set in Oswald penitentiary, in an experimental wing called Emerald City, where all walks of life are thrown together in a bid to rehabilitate these men, some of which are too far gone. Issues such as racism, homosexuality, guilt, aids and drug abuse are all here, and in most cases dealt with very professionally.

There are some top notch actors throughout the series which has never been shown to it's full potential in the UK. Relegated to the graveyard shift on Channel 4 and E4, and shown inconsistently with little to no advertising, you have to use a little initiative to find this show. Once you do, and you have a strong stomach, you will be very glad you did. This is not Porridge with Stanley Fletcher or badly done Punishment with Mel Gibson, but this is hard hitting US drama at it's best.

Jon and Una reunite as Worzel and Aunt Sally for one last time in the UK in this Christmas special. Cleverly written, it explains the important role scarecrows have in the delivering of presents from Santa Claus. This is a festive film that should be shown more often, but never seems to appear in the Christmas schedules in the UK.

For those who are unaware, the series introduced us to Worzel, a living breathing scarecrow who embarks on many an adventure in the quest to marry his intended Aunt Sally, a doll above his class. The crow man, Worzel's creator is continually frustrated by his lack of commitment to scare crows, and tries to keep him in check, but is somewhat unsuccessful.

This is the last outing from Scatterbrook Farm before Mr Gummidge and Miss Sally head off to New Zealand for their adventures down under. Fantastic family fun with yet more wonderful acting from the late Jon Pertwee. Long overdue a repeat of the entire series on terrestrial TV.

Worzel and Aunt Sally turn up in New Zealand about five years after the original UK series, and basically pick up from where they left off. The new setting does lose some of the Old English Countryside Charm, but never-the-less is still all round enjoyable fun for the family.

There are new children for Worzel to hang out with as he continues his quest for true love with Aunt Sally, and the new Crowman takes a little while to get used to. Excellent acting from Una and Jon once again will keep you smiling.

Summary: It's not the original, but it is very entertaining, and they pulled it off very well.

If you're children haven't seen this, ensure that they do. And if you watched this as a child, secretly join them for a nostalgic journey which you will enjoy even more now.

This children's favourite revolves around a scarecrow that comes to life on the fictional Scatterbrook Farm. Yes, you may sit back thinking this could only be scary, but Jon Pertwee's delivery of the character makes him lovable, and someone you can only pity. The adults never see the grumpy frustrated scarecrow come to life, but the kids are there to join his ever-lasting quest to attract the girl of his dreams, Aunt Sally. Aunt Sally (Una Stubbs) is a classy doll who could never be with a revolting scarecrow, though inside, she really does want to be with him but can never admit it to herself.

The surrounding cast are somewhat less memorable, but do help keep the momentum going. Jon and Una are faultless in their acting, and will make you laugh, sad and angry throughout each episode. Harmless children's fun to be enjoyed by all the family. Excellent.

Firstly, I can not believe they tried to ban this due to blasphemy. Anyone with a shred of intelligence will realise, it is not a story mocking Jesus or religion, but is just a comedy set around the Jesus era based on a man who is mistaken as a Messiah. Very early in the film this is established as Brian is part of a crowd actually listening to Jesus giving a speech to the people.

If you enjoy the over-the-top comedy of this masterpiece, then you will undoubtedly enjoy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. With the Python boys from the series cast in many different roles, the cast is not the largest, but one of the funniest you will ever see. You soon forget you have just seen John Cleese playing the part of a rebel leader before he is cast to play a roman soldier on the lookout for the rebel leader and his gang. This shows the high level of acting involved.

The comedy is still as fresh in 2005 as it was when it was made, and a must-see for any fan of John Cleese, Eric Idle and comedy in general.

The concept of Birds of a Feather is excellent. Two working class London sisters making it big after their now imprisoned husbands robbed a bank and the laundered money moved them to an upper class area. On arrival they discover their neighbour is a snobby, man-eating middle class woman who looks down on her new neighbours.

Every episode, especially in the early days, is packed full of comedy with Pauline Quirke as the larger than life and lovable Sharon - trapped in a marriage to her Greek waste-of-space husband, but ever looking for something else. Tracey, her sister is ever dedicated to her husband Daryl and son Garth, and struggles through life without her husband by her side. Then there is the formidable neighbour Dorien who will sleep with anything that moves - so long as it isn't her husband Marcus.

The comedy is very fast and occasionally a little far-fetched, but this is good all-round family entertainment which is standing the test of time well. The acting was top-notch from start to finish, and the many social bust-ups and slanging wars between Sharon and Dorien are priceless comedy. I, like many others, feel the series started to wither as ideas ran dry towards the final few series', but the early episodes are definitely worth watching time and again. 8/10 early episodes. 4/10 for the final two series.