Unfaithful - 2002 * * *

Where do you go when you've gone too far?

The one thing that struck me about this film was how unsympathetic the characters were. The lead role ( played brilliantly and infuriatingly by Diane Lane) is a dreadful character! Her loving and supportive husband goes out everyday to work while she does whatever housewives claim they do all day except live off their husbands. To make matters worse not only is she spending his money but she then starts a fling with a totally random man she meets in the street on a windy day. DO NOT tell me this is some kind of metaphor for being 'thrown together' and the 'It just happened' crap that has become such a popular expression nowadays. Above all we are supposed to feel sorry for her when things start to go downhill and I urge anyone watching this movie to feel anything for her but annoyance. How totally degrading to be a man who is bringing home money to support your wife when she has decided to start seeing someone else because she has become 'bored'! Bored of what exactly? Bored of going to coffee shops and sitting around in an idle fashion? Try making your own money!

Brilliant acting ( for which I ahve awarded 3 stars) but as regards to the plot. Please.

Halloween 2 - 2010 * * * *

Never trust anyone.

I still fail to see why Malcom McDowell has to appear in these films and I make no exception here, his part appears pointless and just ceases to stupify the film. I thought this was loads better than the first Halloween remake. However Sheri Moon Zombie wandering around in a white dress with a horse by her side in a dream-like state was a bit stupid. Some nice gruesome killings to bring the calibre of the film up to speed again so that's something. Nothing to do with the original Halloween 2 though.

The Final Destination - 2009 * * * * *

Rest in pieces.


I have seen all of the Final Destination movies and this by far surpresses all the others. The killings are brilliantly thought out, the story is really individual ( although still settling with the whole 'vision before you die' aspect that makes the 'Destinations' unique). The ending was pretty good as well and may of the scenes made me want to hide behind the sofa. A must for anyone who has been an avid fan of the other movies in the series, I think this would be a great high to end the series on so hopefully this is the last one.

She Done Him Wrong - 1933 * * *

Mae West is really something else. She's totally different in style, personality and appearance from any other actress of the 30s. Sure Jean Harlow was blonde, and Gloria Swanson had style, but Mae West seems light years ahead of her time when it comes to sexualising herself or telling crude jokes. Many of her quotes are still famous today because of their shocking content and you can see here why she is still so amazing. To be honest the story isn't really up to much, but if it means getting to see Mae West wear extravagent dresses and mutter her now infamous 'come up and see me some time' like with a smirk and drawl is priceless.

Blood Creek - 2009 *

The nightmare has awakened.

My partner said this was a huge flop and not worth wasting time on but sometimes we vary on films we see and so I gave it a shot anyway. What an idiot I was. This film screams out for help and for a realistic storyline. The idea that we meet a man whose brother is presumed dead in action and who then turns up randomly hell-bent on shotting some random man who lives ages away on a farm is stupid. The fact that the brother then gets his brother to help him and they both go around shooting people and keeping some people hostage but oooo half of them are already dead is hardly practical. I won't go further, I have probably already ruined most of the film for you, but it may be better this way than you having to endure the garbage of nearly 2 hours. I normally hate it when people say they have 'wasted 2 hours of my life' but I couldn't agree more here.

The Ugly Truth - 2009 * * * *

The battle of the sexes is on.

I've heard this film slated on many reviewing sites and to be honest I was having doubts about whether I would last for more than 10 minutes.

A film where the leading man is a chauvinistic pig who thinks all women want horrible males is hardly the most appealing premise for a rom-com. However Heigl and Butler bounce off each other to hilarious effect including one hysterical scene featuring some vibrating pants. The thing I don't like about this movies is that the intelligent and independent women are always construed as loners or 'boring' if they are dedicated to their jobs as opposed to jumping into bed with loads of men in a short space of time whilst on a high of booze. However you can't take this movie too seriously and both actors are pretty good to watch so a good effort all round, although you know from the start what will happen at the end.

Sorority Row - 2009 * * *

They share a killer secret.

For a start, I wanted to see this really to see if Audrina from 'The Hills' ( one of my favourite shows) could act. Well I hardly had a chance to make my mind up considering she was out of the film almost as soon as it had started.

I've seen the original Sorority Row and it didn't do much for me. I thought the acting was rather dull and unexciting whereas in this remake I was freaked out, gripped and slightly scared. This almost never happens with a remake so I guess the directors were doing something right. The idea of never knowing who you can trust was fairly prominent in this film and the end did come as a surprise. The actresses all belong to a brand of American 'babes' who seem to appear in every new horror film that comes out so they were all familiar.

A scary film, a silly film but a bit of fun anyways.

St Trinian's - * * * *

School's a riot.

I had wanted to see this for ages, although being a typically 'girly' film did put me off it at first. Then I realised that if it was based on the classic St Trinian's movies with Alastair Sims then it couldn't be too bad.

The cast is brilliant, with special highlights from Rupert Everett ( who plays not just a man, but also his own twin sister - hilarious!), Colin Firth and Russell Brand.

The school is threatened with closure by Colin Firth and it is up to the girls of St Trinian's to save the day with a little help from their alcohol and drug-dependent teachers ( check out Rupert Everett's false teeth!). Fellow Cambridge student Lily Cole and 'the girl from 2 pints of lager' are amoung the girls at the school, but it's ok because you'll be guaranteed to recognise over half of them anyway which is good for a laugh.

Light and frothy fun with a tad of a dark undertone this is a film for anyone really, not just us girls.

Already Dead - 2007 * * *

It's never too late for revenge.

I've never heard of this but liked the sound of the title and actually the story didn't turn out too bad at all.

Based around a man's revenge on the murder of his son, we follow him as he meets the supposed killer of his child and find out how he copes and whether he can stay an innocent man.

Very good performances from both lead men backed up by Christopher Plummer. The end shocked me. Probably not worth a re-viewing though.

The Ramen Girl - 2008 * * *

She's on pins and noodles.

Not a bad film, 'the Ramen Girl' follows Brittany Murphy to Tokyo where a bad breakup with a boyfriend causes her to take solace in a Japanese restaurant where she is introduced to her first bowl of Ramen.
Captured by the dish, she convinces the owner to teach her how to make the perfect Ramen and along the way starts to analyse not just her food, but her life.
Murphy hasn't quite reached the pitiful state she had later on in the year as her drug-taking took over and so this was a pleasant enough film with some funny and heartfelt parts.

Crimes and Misdemeanors - 1989 * * *

A film about humanity.

Woody Allen films are never funny, more tragically farcical. His plots are never light and always tend to deal with intricate family relationships or his love for one woman who won't reciprocate his affections.

When a rich businessman tires of his affair with a beautiful woman he does the only thing he thinks will cause the least hassle on all parts - he gets his brother to hire a hit man to bump her off so she will never spill the details to his wife.

Meanwhile Woody Allen is trapped in a loveless and passionless marriage and spends his days going to classic films with his niece and dreaming up ideas for films he could make. His whole life is unfulfilled and agonising for him.

I do like Woody Alen very much and although he tends to deal with dreadful subject matter I can usually raise a smile at his ridiculous over-the-top attitude.

Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door - 2007 * * *

Murder became the neighbourhood game.

Few people are unaware of the disgusting and brutal murder of Sylvia Likens by Gertrude Baniszewski in 1960's America. It shocked everybody. This will shock you too. The film is based roughly on the events that led up to the torture and death of a young girl who, along with her younger sister are taken in by a friend of their parents after they die. Little does the child know that her nightmare has just begun.
A heartbreaking and brutal film made all the more gastly by the true story factor, this is a film that should be seen, if only to show how vile our society has become.

Mr Skeffington - 1944 * * * * *

She was very lucky that Mr Skeffington was such a gentlemen!

I have yet to see a movie where Bette Davis doesn't totally light up the scene and this was no exception. I am very fond of Claude Rains and have seen a number of his films now ( he reminds me of Ronald Colman) and had heard great things about this movie. Set in the time period just before the 1st world war we are introduced to Fanny Trellis, a beautiful and vain young girl who lives in a beautiful old house. Her life is a constant series of proposals from eligible young men all desperate to win her hand but in reality she is not interested. After an embarassing incident where Fanny finds out her brother has been scamming the place he works at she meets Mr Skeffington, the manager of her brother's office. A few days later they are married, but Mr Skeffington is soon to realise that Fanny Trellis will not change her attitude or lifestyle for anyone, not even him.

The scale of acting in this film is extraordinary and both Rains and Davis are brilliant together. I couldn't help but cry towards the end of the movie when Rains gives a heartbreaking performance.

A must see for anybody who wants to watch 'proper' acting.

What's New Pussycat? - 1965 * * * *

How you cats will laugh!

Now this was a FUNNY film. Sellers is hilarious as a psychologist who has a tough life dealing with all his crazy and mentally unbalanced patients including sexually promiscuous women ( most of whom take a fancy to him) and a sexually promiscuous male ( who takes a fancy to all the women and is unable to commit to his fiancee). Add a load of ridiculous situations ( including one of the most slapstick sequences in a hotel I have ever seen) and a small appearance from the beautiful Ursula Andress and you have a film that is quite literally a laugh a minute.

There's a Girl in my soup - 1970 * * *

A saucy romance.

I am on a Peter Sellers rush at the moment. I watched this today hoping to escape back to the 1970s and I found I almost did. Sellers meets Goldie Hawn one night and a brief 'relationship' they go away together to all the smart and posh events that are Sellers' life ( he is a food critic) which are incidentally all the types of events that Hawn is NOT accustomed to leading to some embarassing but funny circumstances. Goldie Hawn is a pretty funny actress and I normally like things that Sellers is in, so a good choice for a Saturday viewing.

The Boat that Rocked - 2009 * * * *

On Shore, off air, out of control.

After hearing of the history of Radio Caroline from my dad I was excited to see this movie, based on the infamous pirate radio station that was broadcast illegally this film centres on the lives of the DJs who, although illegal, were bringing amazing music to many people. Notable performances from Kenneth Branaugh, Rhys Ifans and Bill Nighy and a fantastic soundtrack make this film a must see for anyone who has ever been interested in pirate radio or just simply appreciated good music.

The Fantastic Mr Fox - 2009 * * * 1/5

Dig the Life Fantastic.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie as I have been a fan of Roald Dahl's work for years. This movie is aimed more at the mature fans of his work as opposed to the children but there still is something for everyone.
After getting trapped in a net with his pregnant wife trying to steal a chicken from Mr Boggis's farm, Mr Fox swears to her that if they make it out alive he will never go back to his old ways.
12 Years later and his cousin and the son come to stay and Mr Fox decides to plan the biggest robbery of his life, but it will come at a price.
Very good animation/puppetry and some unforgettable voices. It certainly gives a whole new take on the Mr Fox that I loved as a child.

Apres Vous ( After You...) 2003 * * * *

A Tasty comedy with a twist.

Daniel Auteil is becoming a staple actor in my various viewings of French films. He is extremely versatile and I find his comic efforts perfect.

One night, on the way to his girlfriend's house, Antoine comes across a suicidal man named Louis on the brink of hanging himself from a tree. After saving his life he allows Louis to stay with him and finds him a job as a wine taster in his smart Parisian restaurant. Believing he can help Louis he tries to track down the reason for his near-suicide attempt, his ex-girlfriend Blanche, with hilarious and heart-warming results.

All round good fun and a typical gentle comedy that only the French can do so well.

Chase a Crooked Shadow - 1958 * * * * 1/2

The Man Hunts the Girl, the Girl Hunts the Man.

Ok I would never have known or guessed that this was a B-movie until researching it online. The acting was really brilliant ( Herbert Lom gives excellent support as the police officer) and I was amazed by the story. I usually guess the twists that are about to come at the end of mystery type films but I was totally knocked back by this one!

Anne Baxter's character Kim retires late from a party to her room one night to find a figure standing outside her balcony. He claims he is her brother. Her brother is dead. From then on Kim must risk everything to make the police believe her before it is too late.

A really amazing film. The end will blow your socks off.

All About Steve - 2009 * * *

For god's sake stop tanning! You look like an orange with lips!

I'm not a huge fan of Sandra Bullock's quirky, ditzy roles and feel that this one didn't really do her justice because all in all she is a good actress. Her role as Mary, who spends her life designing crosswords for the local paper and as a result doesn't earn enough to move out of her parent's house doesn't really fit with her more gutzy roles in other films. There is a difference in acting as a character who is funny and who is ditzy, and strangely enough although her character is extremely intelligent she comes across as slightly mental ( her character reminds me of Poppy in Happy Go-Lucky who goes through life never feeling depressed or affected by anything) and amazingly hyper. When she meets Steve, a bloke her parents set her up with she finds herself falling for him in more ways than one.

The film had a few laughs in it but altogether her character was far too annoying for me to find any sort of empathy with.

Downloading Nancy - 2009 * *

The first cut is not always the deepest.

This film is based on a really gruesome and disturbing story of a lady from America, who four years ago advertised on the internet for somebody to torture and murder her. They did.

The main character in the film, Nancy, is a self-harming, sado-masochistic housewife, whose boredom with her husband (played excellently by Rufus Sewell) leads her to run away into the arms of the man she strikes a friendship with on the internet. She has started a depraved cyber relationship with this man and they spend days at a time emailing about different forms of torture they would like to perform on each other and which ways she would like him to eventually kill her. There is no doubt that Nancy is a very mentally ill person ( she can't even get through a whole counselling session without rushing to the bathroom to self harm) and whilst she gives herself freely to this stranger I cannot help feel sorry for her that she allowed some man to take advantage of her this way. This film definately doesn't shy away from taboo subjects and I think I didn't like it because it made me uncomfortable (the acting was brilliant.)

Across The Hall - 2009 * * * *

Rooms are cheap, the night will cost you.

I have started to lap up films made by Brittany Murphy a year or so before her death and I came across this movie that no one seemed to have heard of. Now that I have seen it I can't believe it hasn't been more widely acclaimed because it really is a brilliant and terrifying film!

An unfaithful wife goes to spend the night in a hotel with her lover, but unknown to her, he has found out about her infidelity and has rented the room across the hall from hers where he is waiting with a shotgun...

The film brings an amazing amount of tension and atmosphere to the viewer and the flashbacks are actually very useful in this although I find they can just confuse me in a lot of films! I also think the acting was pretty great as well (Brittany Murphy is astounding) and you are hard pressed these days to find a film with great acting, story and attention to detail.

Thoroughly recommended.

Cinderella - 2006 * * *

It will mess with your head.

This is a strange film (obviously all tartan asia is strange!) and it kept my interest throughout. I didn't fully understand what was going on until about half way through but then everything seemed to snap into place. I ended up thinking the twist to the story was pretty amazing although the actors were rather annoying. Compared to my last helping of Asian Horror ( Ab-Normal Beauty) this was far superior.

Ab-Normal Beauty - 2004 * *

Drop Dead Beautiful.

Looked a great concept for a film. It wasn't. I didn't understand half the movie and I know I'll get slated for saying that I didn't like it because I didn't understand it but really when you feel like a movie is a blur what's to like?? So many scenes were just a mish-mash of ideas thrown together that it became unappealing almost immediatly and I don't mind saying I was watching the clock the whole time. The main character has an unhealthy obsession with photographing dead animals and people ( she photographs a girl who throws herself off the top of a building for goodness sake!) and through her photographs she starts to think she is going slightly mad. Add a sexual abuse storyline from ages ago into the mix and you have one mediocre excuse for a horror film.

I for one love murder mysteries such as Agatha Christie where the viewers (or readers) will find the culprit simply by eliminating unlikely suspects, so that at the end all the clues point to one person. You will not find that here, and I swear at the end of the film you will be so disappointed. One reviewer stated that 'the film makers are not obligated to present us at the beginning of the film with the main culprit or perpetrator to allow us an easy ride but actually it is usually desirable to save our sanity otherwise we have nothing to work with and no clues to follow when watching the film! Poorly made.

B.T.K - 2007 * *

Bind. Torture. Kill.

I've actually never heard of this serial killer which is strange because I'm pretty clued up famous murders in England and America.

Dennis Rader plays a middle-aged married man with devoted children who murders and tortures women in the evening. Kane Hodder is suitably eerie in the role and the acting is not bad, but the story hangs a bit thin and it didn't grip me.

Doghouse - 2009 * * *

On the p***, on the pull, on the menu.

Ok, I'm not about to say by any means that Danny Dyer is a brilliant or particularly talented actor, but if you want a film with some ready laughs and a bit of a stupid storyline involving zombie women then you should see this. All the blokes acting together are pretty funny and the idea that they are all on a long weekend to forget about divorces and nagging spouses is humorously ironic. A good Saturday night movie.

The Hills Run Red - 2009 * * *

Trespassers will be slaughtered.

This film reminded me quite a bit of the black horror comedy 'Hack' where a film is made about the legend of a film. I prefered Hack to this.

The film revolves around a guy named Tyler who is obsessed by the legend of 'The Hills Run Red' a movie that was supposedly banned a long time again because of the graphic and violent content. Conveniently he meets a stripper called Alexa who is the daughter of the mysterious movie director of the film and they set out into the woods along with Tyler's 2 friends to uncover the truth about the film. What follows is a serious of gruesome and typical scenes that you would find in most horror movies. Not worth a second watch, or really even a first.

The Good Die Young - 1954 * * * *

A full star robbery.

What a wonderful feeling it is to be presented with a movie that you normally wouldn't look twice at and in fact it ends up being a nail-biting ride with some brilliant acting. The story is simple - four men meet in a pub all are having problems at home, one man does not have enough money to take his wife away to New York to get her away from her controlling mother. Another is a gambler with a problem who has constantly relied on his wife for money until she refuses to help him settle a debt; all are in desperate need of money and all will do nearly anything to get it, the thing is can they trust their fellow men? This exciting film noir portrays some brilliant performances, especially from Stanley Baxter, Gloria Grahame and Joan Collins. Amazng.

Triangle - 2009 * *

Fear Comes in Waves.

This movie was talked about a lot last year. I decided I had to see it so last weekend I sat down to what I thought was going to be a brilliant and creepy story. Wrong. It was creepy yes, but it barely had anything to do with the Bermuda Triangle except for a bit at the beginning where a group of friends sail right into the centre by accident and are caught in a dreadful storm. One of the friends, Jess begins to act very strangely and the story progresses from there. In fact it progresses so fast that I barely took everything in. You really do have to have your wits about you because it's a case of blinking and missing parts that are important. The acting is nothing special, the story is muddled and to be honest I don't agree with all the raving reviews saying that you need to watch the movie lots of times to discover new depths. For me it's a one off and with such a pathetic ending that's how it will stay.

Battle Royale - 2001 * * * * 1/2

Could you kill your best friend?

This film really is one of the weirdest, eeriest and surrealist things I've ever seen. The premise follows a class of Japanes schoolchildren who are chosen at random to take part in the government's new scheme for dealing with delinquent school kids - The Battle Royale Scheme.

What happens is very simple, the children are stranded on a remote desert island with only a small amount of food and water and one weapon each. Oh and just one more thing - they have three days to fight to death and kill each other, because there can only be one winner, and that is the person who survives. Which brings them to the gastly question - 'Could you kill your best friend to survive?' You'd be surprised. And there is no way out of this game, because if there is more than one survivor left after the three days then the electronic necklaces that each school child is wearing will automatically explode.

This film is shocking and brutal but I also love the idea, which is creepily interspersed with classical music throughout, and the lengths that some of the children will go to to stay together, or stay alive.

An ingenius and brilliantly acted film, showing exactly how far some film makers will go to show what is wrong with our society.

Silver City - 2004 * *

Vote Early, Vote Often.

I watched this because I thought I should and because it had been clogging up the DVD shelf for months on end. Too long and drawn out for my liking with too many characters who didn't have worthwhile parts, I thought the only saving grace was Maria Bello, who only appears for a short time compared to the other actors. Politically focused and based, this is a satire on the political world which I think would only mean something to people if they were incredibly clued up on politics which I regretfully am not.

A miss.

Deadline - 2009 * * * *

Focus Your Fear.

Disregarding the eerie poster showing a lifeless Brittany Murphy drowning in her bath (an image that would be played out tragically three weeks later when Brittany sadly died in her bathroom) we should really focus on how clever this film is. And any movie that makes me think back to it over and over again after I've seen it is worth another watch.

Murphy plays Alice, a young and depressed film-maker, who on the suggestion of her best friend Rebecca goes to spend a week in an old Victorian mansion where she hopes she can work on her current film project without disturbance. However after less than an hour she starts to experience things that are more terrifying and heart-breaking than she can imagine.

This movie has been slated by film-reviewers because of Brittany's tragic state whilst filming and although I agree that it's very sad to see her literally wasting away in front of our eyes I don't think that should detract from her amazing performance.

The Brothers Grimm - 2005 * * * 1/2

If you go down to the woods today, you'll never believe your eyes.

I've waited so long to watch this and really thought it was a worthwhile movie. Damon and Ledger play two brothers who travel from place to place performing fake exorcisms for large amounts of money. What they aren't counting on however is to be thrown head first into a real life supernatural panic as they must fight good over evil to break the curse of the Mirror Queen (who is a mixture of Rapunzel for her hair and Sleeping Beauty for living in a perilous tower) and save the inhabitants of a village in Germany. On their way they are to encounter such creatures as the GingerBread Man, Hans and Greta (Hansel and Gretel) and the Big Bad Wolf before their task is complete.

By the first scene you can be sure that Terry Gilliam is the owner of this magical and amazing ride into the supernatural ( no one else could do it better) and he pulls it off stupendously. What I love about his films is that he can throw in so many subtle nods to other movies of the same genre without you really noticing, and it is only at the end that you realise how much of a genius he actually is.

Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever - 2009 * *

This time it's spreading.

Having not been the biggest fan of the earlier movie Cabin Fever I wasn't holding out much for this to be much of an experience.
The film does manage to incorporate all the typical American Pie-esque movies in one go with a bit of horror mixed in for good measure. A lot of the movie consists of a bloke chasing after a girl, and another bloke chasing after another girl and various sexual innuendos that only seem right in a film like this.
Towards the end the movie becomes more horror-stricken and there are some really disturbing scenes (I'm talking about the one in the swimming pool, really too disgusting for words) which the film directors must think round the movie off nicely as well as a full blown school prom happening at the same time which is quite amusing. So really this is a teen movie. American Pie, Porky's and many others spring to my mind when trying to compare this to anything. Not worth a watch, but then again neither is the first one.

Keith - 2008 * * * *

Love's a force you can't control.

I'd only stumbled by mistake over this film and didn't know what to expect. All I can say was it was an amazing heart-breaking experience that was very close to 'A Walk to Remember' (except that was really bad and awfully acted) which made me nearly cry. The two main characters have this amazing connection which seems far too mature for them but also seems very real. The main lead Natalie thinks her life is pretty plain and sorted until she meets Keith, a guy who gives her whole world a new meaning, what she doesn't know is that he is hiding a secret which means he has nothing to loose.

Amazing.

Obsessed - 2009 * * * * *

All's fair when love is war.

First off I really wasn't sure that Beyonce would be able to act in a movie like this. In one word she was 'outstanding.' I thought this movie was brilliant, with excellently draw characters and a fantastic storyline. The plot centres around Derek, a successful accounts manager in the city who becomes entangled with an alluring temp named Lisa who will not take no for an answer when she starts stalking him and he rejects her advances. Beyonce plays his devoted and loving wife Sharon who starts to have doubts about her husband's fidelity after finding out that he has a close relationship with his assistant. All three characters play their parts superbly and I was gripped for the whole movie. This movie could be compared to Fatal Attraction with certain differences such as the fact that Derek never actually leads Lisa on and is happily married while in Fatal Attraction the main character actually has an affair with no guilt attached. Worth at least 2 watches!

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a day - 2008 * * * *

I've been looking for you all night, and I believe all of my life.

Having not read Winifrid Watson's book that made this the smash hit that it now is, I'm so glad I've seen the film, as it really encapsulates early 20th century London and makes me dream of what it must have been like. After getting unfairly fired from her job and made homeless all in one day, Miss Pettigrew finds (by mistake) herself in the house of a beautiful American singer/actress named Delysia who mistakes her for the new housekeeper/social secretary and gives her the most amazing day of her life. This is a heart-warming film with plenty of flashes of 1930s glamour thrown in, and Amy Adams is brilliant and as quirky a thing as you ever did see in her role as Delysia whose past is not exactly what it seems. . .
A lovely rainy day movie.

Baise Moi - 2000 * * * *

When you have nothing you have nothing to loose.

I can see all the controversial material in this would upset a lot of people, and I did find myself looknig away in parts, but I also found myself totally enthralled by this amazing and brutally violent movie about two women who meet at the lowest point in their lives and find solace by going on a killing spree, murdering people for money and having sex along the way whenever they want. The two main actresses are real live adult movie stars and some of the scenes seem quite natural to them. I hated Thelma and Louise which is the dreadful American watered down version of this featuring two pathetic women who don't seem to fit in with the whole 'rampage' lifestyle whereas these two women are mean, hard and brilliant in their roles. I loved their attitude and though I didn't agree with the high level of sex that was shown I did really like the film and respect the director's choice to make the film.

Pygmalion - 1938 * * *

Walk? Not bloody likely, I'll be taking a taxi!

There are many similarities to Pygamlion and My Fair Lady, and to be honest I prefered the latter. Leslie Howard is really good as Henry Higgins but he doesn't have the same mischievous glint and humour as Rex Harrison did. I realise this is the earlier version and it's very unlike me to prefer a later version of any film, but I really can't see myself watching this again whereas I constantly refer back to My Fair Lady for the beauty of its casting and glorious music. This is one time where I think maybe a film would have been better with a few songs in it and a different leading lady would have sufficed. Audrey Hepburn is in my opinion the perfect Eliza Dolittle and no one else really comes close. Although she is an American actress I much prefer her voice trying to be an English cockney than Wendy Hiller, who seems rather uncomfortable and strained both in her rendition of a common wench and as a sophisticated lady. Also in this, Higgins is actually a very unpleasant person and not in the least bit kind or decent towards Eliza.
I wasn't bowled over by this film, although I think it's a masterpiece on George Bernard Shaw's part.

Monsters VS Aliens - 2009 * * *

Alien Problem? Monster Solution.

I was eager to see this to compare it with other Dreamworks films including Bolt and Monsters Inc, but have to say it wasn't as great as I had imagined it would be.There are always funny moments in Pixar but normally what makes me love the movies so much is that the characters are likable and the type that you want to go on a journey with. For starters I didn't like the main character Susan who was whiny and wingey throughout, and her obnoxious boyfriend Derek? Well don't get me started on his rudeness! I liked the 3 monsters that Susan spends most of the movie with especially Hugh Laurie's mad scientist cockroach (in fact I think he pretty much made the movie for me) but unfortunately I wasn't gripped enough or excited enough by the story to pay too much attention. A mighty shame considering Monsters Inc was a masterpiece.

Jaws: The Revenge - 1987 * * *

This time it's personal.

There are many reveiwers who think this is better than the original Jaws, and I have to say that I wasn't expecting it to be quite as good considering it was the 4th sequel to be churned out of the 'killer shark' franchise. I was happy that 2 of the original characters were in this one as neither had been in the 3rd movie, and Michael Caine provided some welcome relief as Ellen Brody's new love interest. This shark was certainly a whole lot meaner and some of the scenes are pretty scary, making you wince but still want to watch through your clasped hands. Ellen's son Sean is killed quite close to the beginning by the great white and that sends her almost over the edge with terror that such a hideous beast could still be prowling the nearby waters. I don't really understand why this movie wasn't brought out as Jaws 3 and Jaws 3 as Jaws: The Revenge, because it would have made more sense to follow the characters through to the end instead of totally disregarding them in the 3rd movie and then suddenly bringing them back for the 4th. Still there was enough gore and horror in this to keep me occupied so all in all I'd say not a bad attempt.

Jaws 3 - 1983 * *

A deadly new attraction.

I hate to go along with the stereotypical opinion that sequels get worse and worse the more that are made but it can't be truer than here! The first Jaws was pretty darn good, the second was not bad at all and this one, the third helping of angry shark on a rampage was pretty dire!

Added to which it's a different shark! The basis around this movie is that a mother goes on a killing spree after her baby is taken to the Sea World attraction to be put on display soon after being found out at sea. I suppose the idea sound pretty good and there are some eerie moments including one where all the visitors to the park are trapped in the 'Undersea Kingdom' with an maniac of a shark chasing them!

Hearing what I have just written it does actually sound like a good movie, just poorly executed but I still don't rate it nearly as much as the 2nd or the 1st.

Exte: Hair Extensions - 2007 * * *

What lovely hair you have...

This was a bizarre film. It wasn't so much scary as totally disturbing and seriously puts you off having any extensions of any kind put into your hair. The idea for the movie is that someone who is murdered has her hair cursed and then (unknowingly) it is used to make hair extensions for a busy and popular hair salon. Every girl who uses the hair extensions then becomes cursed herself etc etc, a typical Japanese sounding story really. Certain scenes do make your stomach churn though (such as a dead body growing her hair at a freakishly fast rate out of cuts on her arm and even out of her eye sockets) but most of the film is pretty similar to other Japanese horrors except for the idiotic beginning where the characters dictate and narrate to us as they are going about their daily duties, it is infuriating.

The Invisible Man - 1933 * * * *

Catch him if you can.

For a film that's over 70 years old this movie really does have some amazing special effects. The bizarre aspect of the film is that we don't actualy get to see the real invisible man until the very last scene and that's pretty frustrating when you've become so wrapped up in his life. Claude Rains is excellent as the man who, after experimenting on himself becomes totally invisible, but also deranged and dangerous. He finds himself in an inn where he attempts to find the cure to what has happened, the only trouble is the owners just won't leave him alone...

Amazing to watch (including the scenes where Rains unbandages himself, and where he causes havoc in the small village by knocking out anyone who gets in his way) and also very funny, the Invisible Man is a great movie because although we know it is only make believe, there is a horrible feeling in the bottom of our stomachs that it could happen, and what on earth would we do if it did?

Grab this movie, plus some popcorn and a rainy afternoon and you have yourself a real treat which proves that you don't have to watch a modern day film to have an amazing experience (but then I knew that already;) )

The Warrior - 2001 - * * *

Honour is worth more than pride.

This film certainly packed a punch and there are plenty of gruesome mutilated heads and bodies being flung around. All these warriors protecting one princess who didn't even seem to be able to defend herself was a bit of a joke. The story appeared to be about the warriors and one very important warrior who can kill loads of the oppostition just by a flick of his wrist. Not a bad story but a bit jumbled in my opinion.

The Stranger - 1946 * * * 1/2

The most deceitful man a woman ever loved!

This film has sat on my shelf for years but it was only yesterday that I decided to watch it. Compelling and gripping throughout, Orson Welles plays the husband-to-be of Loretta Young, who's very presence is a problem for Edward G. Robinson who arives at the town of Harper to investigate the disappearance of a notorious war criminal. Orson Welles is charming on the outside to all who know him, but Robinson isn't fooled and begins to follow his trail which ends with a terrifying climax.

The Phantom of the Opera - 1943 * * *

He creates the music of the night!

I've only seen Claude Rains in a few other movies but I think this was one of his best performances. His portrayal as the dedicated violinist who is disfigured horribly after wrongly believing he has been robbed off a concerto he was working on for over 2 years. The scene where he tries to find his manuscript after leaving it to be looked over at a publishing house is heart-breaking and brought tears to my eyes. He may not be the most charismatic portrayal of the 'Phantom' but he was one of the sweetest. Susanna Foster was very annoying as Christine though but her two suitors were hilarious.

Also noted that it won 2 Oscars.

Possessed - 1947 * * * *

If she couldn't have him then no one could!

Joan Crawford sizzled in this late 40s noir about a woman obsessed with a stubborn and egotistical man who didn't return her affections. From what I'm aware I don't think this was a particularly well-known movie but it really should have been. This and Joan Crawford's masterpiece 'Mildred Pierce' are I think two fo her finest works. Bette Davis was reportedly offered this role but turned it down to go on maternity leave and I'm glad she did, because Crawford was perfect. Raymond Massey was also very sympathetic as Crawford's boss who later becomes her husband. A very atmospheric attempt at classic noir.

Crime Spree - 2003 * * * *

Simple Job, Simple Minds.

I had no idea this was going to be such an amusing film when I sat down to watch it. To be honest I wasn't really expecting anything much despite it having Harvey Keitel and Gerard Depardieu as it's cast leads. The story follows a group of clumsy French crooks who accidently burgle a gang boss (Harvey Keitel) and then go on the run with a series of hilarious scenarios. Renaud and Johnny Hallyday are famous rock stars in France and some of their scenes they do together (including having an argument over the radio that is conveniently playing both their tracks on different stations) are extremely funny to watch. The whole entourage work well together and I am really pleased I watched it. A pleasant hour and a half.

A Kiss Before Dying - 1955 * * * *

He had looks, charm and killer instinct.

Boy of boy was I happy at the end of this movie. I'd bought this film and saved it for months and months before choosing today, a horrible dark and rainy day to watch it.
I've never seen Robert Wagner before in a film and really found that he shone in his role as the psychotic and sociopathic Bud who will do anything for money, even if it means killing.
His girlfriend Dorothy accidently becomes pregnant much to Bud's horror, and so, while she is imagining getting married to Bud, he is plotting something quite horrific.
I had originally thought this movie was going to be filmed in black&white but was equally happy when it turned out to be colour for it really gave you a glimpse into 1950's American life, especially at the university that Bud and Dorothy attend.
I personally loved the film and found the acting to be really good considering it's a movie that I've never heard of before. I love these surprise gems!