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Sci Fi / Fantasy / Other
Total Recall Special Edition Aug 09 2006 DVD This
classic early nineties sci-fi action movie is one of the most memorable of the then unstoppable Arnold Schwarzenegger cannon. Based on a short story by famed Sc-Fi
writer Philip K Dick (Blade Runner, A Scanner Darkly) called ‘We’ll
remember it for you, wholesale.’, this one has a few more brains than the average muscular action movie of the time. Arnie plays a man obsessed with dreams of living on Mars, struggling to convince his
drop-dead-gorgeous wife to move there (played by a slightly before she hit the big time Sharon
Stone). Then he stumbles upon an agency that can implant memories for you
like you have actually achieved certain ambitions with none of the fear or danger that might come with it. Shortly the film then takes a turn on itself when Arnie starts living out a memory implant that poses him
as a secret agent on the run, and he has to figure out what’s real and what’s just fiction, before he gets himself
killed. Robo-Cop helmer Paul Verhoeven
was obviously the perfect guy to realise this incredible premise, and all his sci-fi blood-splattered trappings make for one
helluva ride. The
film has stood the test of time it seems, with the once incredible effects work still impressing despite a lack of CGI jiggery-pokery,
and the picture, whilst a little grainy is sharp and easy on the eyes. The DVD
is presented in a deluxe metal case and has a wealth of extra features, not to mention a brilliant Verhoeven / Schwarzenegger
commentary which is worth the price of admission alone. A quality package. Superman Returns July 23 2006 Cinema It’s
been a long time coming. A new Superman film has been on the cards for best part
of ten years, passing through directors like water through a colander. Yet after
the success of the XMEN movies and the hot property super hero licences have become with the advent of the Spiderman and Batman
franchises – it was only a matter of timing. Now Director Bryan Singer,
having proved himself worthy with two accomplished XMEN movies, takes the mantle, casting unknown It’s
easy to say that Routh nails the big man’s role, surprisingly mimicking / equalling the legendary / late Christopher
Reeve whilst adding a few quirks of his own – and he looks great in the cape and boots – every bit the modern
day hero. As expected Kevin Spacey is genius as Luther, showing a much more evil
side than that of the more comical Gene Hackman, and almost steels the film. On
a lesser note Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane is hideously miss-cast, lacking even a hint of the gutsy charisma of Margot Kidder,
and seems to hide behind the fact her character has a small son in toe as an excuse for having no personality. She is pretty though. As
a return of a once loved and terribly-missed franchise, this has nearly everything you need for a good Superman film –
thankfully the iconic music remains intact, the opening credits of yester-year with the swooshing titles is all there, and
it gets your juices flowing every time Superman turns up to save the day. Sadly
as far as the action goes, the film shoots its load way to soon, and struggles to match a major set piece near the beginning
at any time later on. The ending feels a little half-finished, and the plot twists
as the film closes can be seen coming a mile off. Yet saying that, it’s
still fantastic to see the greatest ever superhero back where he belongs – on the big screen, and after all is said
and done – not much can top that. Verdict: 3.5 /5
Finding Nemo July 20 2006 DVD I have
to admit I’m a bit of a fan of Pixar, the world renowned animation studio responsible for Toy Story and Monsters Inc. In my opinion they lead the way not only in state of the art animation, but in quality
story-telling and great characters. When I first heard of this film, I wasn’t
that appealed – how can a story about ‘fish’ be all that interesting? I
thought it might be a bit childish for my taste. Well it has taken a while, but
I got hold of this DVD recently and thought I’d finally give it a go. Well
what can I say – Pixar deliver again (I should never have doubted them!) with a heart warming, funny and dazzling tale
of a lost fish and the journey his father undertakes to rescue him. Filled to
over-flowing with likeable, charming characters, some brilliant moments and humour that will keep a smile on your face throughout. Like many of Pixar’s releases, this is also a treat for the eyes with some of
the most beautiful animation I have ever seen, that literally can not be faulted even if you are a die-hard animation geek. The emotion and the moments of drama, action and comedy all come together perfectly,
and even if it lacks some of the imagination of Monsters Inc or the buddy chemistry of Toy Story this has it every where else
– oh, and again the voice talent is excellent. The
DVD is in a nice 2 disk set, and is beautifully presented with the same level of eye-candy as the film itself. We get commentaries, makings of, trailers, music videos and also virtual aquariums – which are so
therapeutic and tranquil to watch just for the hell of it. A worth package, presented
wonderfully. Verdict: 5 /5 Grease July 19 2006 DVD This
classic from 1978 launched the careers of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John from small time hopefuls into superstars, and
it’s not hard to see why. This catchy and fun musical features some great
songs, all choreographed to perfection, and a simple high-school love story that has become the blue print for every teen
comedy since. Now having not seen this for quite some time, it was a nostalgia
trip to watch such a perfectly-summer film again, especially when its just so dam hot and exhausting at the moment! John Travolta is a world away from his cynical, deadly performance in Pulp Fiction, and it’s a joy
to see the clean cut, dancing / singing machine he once was (and so skinny!). Olivia
Newton John is gorgeous, and perfectly cast as the virginal The
DVD comes in a nice fold out ‘pink’ case, a song book, some behind the scenes ‘where are they now’
footage and trailers. The film itself is presented well in wide screen and 5.1
Dolby Digital sound with a fairly good picture, even if the occasional grain and shimmering rears its ugly head from time
to time. Verdict:
4 /5 Pirates
of the The first sea-faring adventure was good, Saturday afternoon entertainment with a big budget and great special effects,
yet for some reason didn’t really blow me away. This eagerly awaited follow
up tells the story of legendary Pirate Davy Jone’s locker and follows our intrepid heroes Will & Elizabeth (screen
pretties Orlando Bloome and Kierra Knightly)
who are arrested on the eve of their wedding for their escapades in the first film.
Yet soon their salvation lies in tracking down womanising rogue Jack Sparrow (the incredibly versatile Johnny Depp) who’s is also looking for the locker to settle a long term debt to Davy Jones and his monstrous
crew. What this all adds up to is 2 and a half hours of epic sea voyages, battles
with cannibalistic natives, attacks from giant Octopuses and lots of slap stick humour. Johnny Depp of course steals the show with great comic timing and some priceless one liners, and there’s plenty
of action and explosions to keep your interest throughout. This time it’s
nice to see Kierra Knightly with a better presence and we see she’s a fairly versatile actress handling some of the
more hectic moments with ease and charisma. Orlando Bloom nails the swashbuckling
heart-throb perfectly, and we also get a top-flight villain in the shape of Bill Nighy’s
Davy Jones - a man transformed almost entirely into some kind of human squid, as have all of his crew in the film’s
incredible effects work. Sometimes the humour tips over into farce, and a few
of the jokes are laid on a little too thick (such as the natives with knives & forks!), but although this is another bum-number,
and it would work just as well with half an our cut out of it – it still delivers on pretty much any level. Verdict: 4 /5 Under World Special Extended Edition July 08 DVD Kate Beckinsale isn’t your
typical English-rose, and with stylish event pictures like this and Van Helsing to her credit, she is becoming an action heroine
to rival Angelina Jolie or that bird out of the Matrix films, of which much of the influence is obvious in this mostly brit
cast horror movie. It can not be denied how familiar this film looks, with the
gun-fu of the Matrix meets the dark sinister gothic of Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Interview With a Vampire – the
influences are all taken from good sources to create a very cool looking action-packed movie.
Beckinsale is excellent and sexy as the female vampire Selene, dressed in skin-tight leather and a trench coat, looking
moody in never-ending rain storms. The story is a slightly too complex for its
own good tale of Vampires verses Werewolves and the quest for a saviour (or destroyer) to rise up in the middle of the chaos
(I know, The Matrix again… have these guys seen any other film?). Yet surrounding
this is a wealth of interesting characters from the naïve Michael (Scott Speedman
– who?) not realising his destiny until its too late, Craven the possibly corrupt leader of the Vampires in the absence
of their ruler Viktor (a brilliant Bill Nighy) and Lucian, a long haired and decidedly deadly Werewolf leader who comes across
Terminator in a stand out car chase sequence. Overall
this is an entertaining slice of dark thrills & style that is only let down by a somewhat muddled story and barely an
original idea in the entire script. This
new extended edition apparently boasts 13 minutes of new footage, although I doubt this is true as the film’s running
time is 2hrs 5mins not the 2hrs 13mins as printed on the case. The plentiful
extras consist of a very entertaining commentary with the director and two of the cast, and on the second disc a wealth of
making of’s that aren’t just your usual filler, but actually prove interesting if you are the least bit attracted
to the film making process. We also get music videos, trailers and a neat documentary
on the werewolf / vampire legend, which should prove invaluable to anyone even slightly intrigued by such things. It is also worth noting that the film is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and surprisingly DTS 5.1 (although
this is not mentioned on the case). The picture is detailed and sharp, especially
for such dark material and is a joy to behold. Spider Man 2 Super Bit Edition July 01 2006
DVD I was
looking for an excuse to see this film again after watching it at the cinema, but for whatever reason, I never got around
to it on DVD until now. Thankfully this was also a good excuse to test out my
LCD and brand new Denon DVD player, especially because the Super Bit release is optimised for superior picture and sound quality
over the regular DVD release. Once
again we catch up with Daily Bugle free-lance photographer Peter Parker, mixing up his responsibilities as your friendly neighbourhood
Spider Man whilst struggling with college and his growing love for Mary Jane (Kirsten
Dunst). Then we stumble upon mad scientist Otto Octavious who after an experiment
in a new source of energy goes terribly wrong, is reborn as the lethal Dr Octopus, outclassing the previous instalment’s
Green Goblin by a clear mile. Alfred Molina
is superb and sinister as the eight limbed villain more than a match for a hero who is about to turn his back on his powers
to be with the one he loves. Toby Maguire is perfect as the webbed
wonder suitably supported by a drop-dead gorgeous Kirsten Dunst. Add to this
a cracking pace, some jaw-dropping action (the fight on the train is stunning) and a hero vs. villain face off that is good
enough to become cinematic legend. The
increased detail offered by Super Bit is a little hard to judge unless I had the regular edition to compare, but overall the
picture is razor-sharp and the sound (I was listening to the Dolby Digital soundtrack rather than the DTS) is full of ear-splitting
effects and ample bass. This is certainly home cinema at its finest, regardless
of extras, of which there are none. Verdict: 5 /5 DOOM June 29 2006 DVD I love
the Doom 3 game from ID Software…an atmospheric, jump out of your skin gun blazing slaughter fest with tremendous graphics. The film came along last year to very little fan fair from anyone but the fans, and
with one dimensional, new Stallone ‘The Rock’ leading the party –
this looked like another adaptation that was about to fall on its face. Shocked
then was I to discover this rather exciting Aliens rip-off held quite a lot in common with the games, made a likeable bunch
of hard as nails marines out of its no name cast, had some eye candy in the form of Die Another Day’s Rosamund Pike and action & gore that left a satisfied, stick-a-fork-in-me-I’m-done smug grin on my face. The Doom franchise has never been known for its brains (for that look to the Half-Life
games) but for demonic entities in space vs. gung ho marines with big cannons (careful!) this one certainly delivered. The
effects work was good rather than gob-smacking, The Rock nailed the role (not that it needed much) and the story entertained
enough. Just don’t go writing a letter to the Academy asking why this wasn’t
up for any nominations. Then again do…they could do with a laugh. Verdict: 3 /5 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Collector’s Edition June 28 2006 DVD Probably
the most widely seen and mainstream of the long running Trek franchise, this obvious salute to the whole saga follows the
continuing adventures of Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Captain Spock
(Leonard Nimoy) and co on a quest to save earth from a mysterious alien ship fruitlessly
trying to communicate with Earth’s long extinct race of Hump-Back Whales. With
certain death a possibility, Kirk defies all logic and reason by going back in time to modern-day After
the intensity of Wrath of Khan and the human drama of Search for Spock, this instalment is meant for a much wider audience
with some great fish out of water (excuse the pun) moments of subtle comedy as our crew from the future struggle to make sense
of present day earth and all that comes with it (Spock performing the famed Vulcan knock out move on an irritating bus passenger
is a stand out). All the cast get their moments of glory, with ship’s Doctor
McCoy (an excellently sarcastic Deforest Kelly) proves increasingly baffled by
modern day medical practices, and engineer Scotty unable to communicate with a computer without almost having an argument
with it. Add to this some great special effects and lots of pace and action,
not to mention some extremely feel good moments, and this is still probably the stand out film, for me at least, of the whole
saga. The
picture is crisp and detailed, with only brief moments of softness in darker scenes.
The sound is clear in 5.1 Dolby Digital and packs a suitable punch. The
only real let down of this Collector’s Edition is the lack of extras with just a trailer and a short documentary with
director / star Leonard Nimoy to check out – oh and a nice shiny numbered collector’s edition case – if
that means much to you. It also houses a rather puzzling Star Trek e-Man organizer…whatever
that is. Verdict: 4 /5 Star Trek III: The Search For Spock Director’s Edition
June 16 2006 DVD In
the climax to the Wrath of Khan, the classic character of Mr Spock was killed off after he entered a radiation filled chamber
to save the U.S.S. Enterprise and all its crew from disaster. Admiral Kirk chose
to send his body to the life-giving Genesis, a man made planet that was created to give life and hope to millions. Yet after stealing the enterprise, Kirk is forced to go against the federation to save his best friend
on a dying planet, but not before the ruthless Klingons show up and create havoc. This
third instalment of the original crew’s big-screen adventures is more of a character piece, with stand out performances
from William Shatner and especially Deforest
Kelly. We also get Christopher Lloyd
as the Klingon villain prior to his escapades in the Back to the Future series. Strangely
I remember thinking not much of this film in comparison to Wrath of Khan and the later Voyage Home, but in hindsight this
is a stronger, more emotional tale with great acting and some nail-biting moments, with an ending that makes you eager to
see the next film (review coming soon!). This DVD edition boasts a great picture
(slightly crisper than Khan) and a wealth of extras including a commentary by director Leonard Nimoy (Spock), and some great
interviews with much of the cast reminiscing over their time making the film. Verdict: 4 /5 Start Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Director’s Edition June 02 2006 DVD The
Trek franchise is a funny beast. On the one hand you have the obsessive compulsive
who has every costume and is fluent in Klingon, and on the other side you have those who snarl and stick their nose in the
air at the mere hint of Star Trek; movies, TV series, original generation or next generation (I know, I’ve lost you
already). To clarify you either love it or hate it, and some may even kinda like
the odd one (such as myself) for fear of ever being miss-labelled a ‘trekkie’.
For me the original crew of the famed Star Ship Enterprise will always be the best, because they had a charm, something
that pulled them out of those stiff upper collar sci-fi conventions, and headed by the excellent William Shatner – they were a marriage made in heaven. After
answering a distress beacon from an isolated planet, two of the Trek crew come face to face with a bitter old enemy of Captain
Kirk (Shatner – now Admiral) – and so sets into motion a dangerous tale of vengeance and a long dead feud that’s
re-awakened with a bang. The actor who plays Khan is very much the star of the
show, as a long haired warrior who’ll stop at nothing to defeat, humiliate and kill Kirk – a seriously good Shatner,
admirably supported by an excellent Leonard Nimoy as best friend Spock. Its
no surprise why this instalment of the long running franchise is considered the best – its intense stuff, and the action
(although a little tame by today’s standards) does keep you on the edge of your seat.
The ending too is stuff of cinematic legend – and if it isn’t, it bloody well should be. Verdict: 4 /5 This
Director’s edition is packed with extras, including a commentary, and is invaluable stuff for fans and casual admirers
alike. Nicely presented in a collectable slip case and nicely done animated menus. It looks like the picture could do with a little sprucing up in places, but overall
this is a worthy edition to any DVD collection. Night Watch May 02 2006
DVD Possibly
the first Russian made film to truly reach a global audience outside of the art house, even getting a mainstream cinema release,
this horror fantasy meets Blade crossed with The Matrix had already become a cult hit before I had even heard of it. The first part of a planned trilogy tells the tale of two factions of supernatural
people, the Night Watch who are good and keep the forces of darkness at bay, preventing them from breaking a truce laid down
between good and evil thousands of years previous – and the Day Watch, working on the side of evil who are there to
do the same. A simple
premise, thankfully explained in more detail in a Lord of the Rings-style opening, makes way for a modern day spin on the
vampire movie mixed with apocalyptic drama and a ‘chosen one’ plot device not dissimilar to a certain film starring
Keanu Reeves. A member of the Night Watch, Anton
is given the task of preventing a young 12 year old boy being killed by two vampires, and in the process meets a young woman
who is prophesised to bring about the end of the world. Blending some incredibly
imaginative special effects, interesting, likeable characters and some heart-in-mouth action, this zips along at a great pace
and throws you into a world the doesn’t fail to grab you completely. For
the average audience, the plot will seem confusing and a little vague, but after two viewings most everything comes together
well, and anything you are still left wondering about should be answered in the two following films. From
this example, the planned trilogy could well turn out to be something very special indeed. Verdict: 3 /5 Special note: The DVD release comprises a very good dubbed version and a cleverly subtitled Russian version where the
on screen text changes and reacts to what is going on, on-screen – making the normally tiresome task of reading and
watching much more interesting. Final Fantasy VII: Advent
Children April 24 2006
DVD A couple
of years ago, videogame heavy weight Square-Enix released their first feature length movie.
It was a generic sci-fi apocalyptic adventure uplifted by the most gob-smacking computer-generated images ever witnessed. The film was called Final Fantasy: the Spirits
Within. Square introduced the world to the first photo-realistic animated
characters, and it changed the world of animation – or at least it was supposed to.
The film sadly flopped, for mixed reasons – by aiming for the mainstream, drafting in name-actors to do the voice
work and setting much of the action in space, the global fan-base built by the games was alienated – the film bared
no resemblance to the games whatsoever apart from a mythical storyline about life, death and spirits that proved too brain-numbingly
vague for anyone who went and saw it. Therefore
Square, having developed cutting edge technology to bring the most awe-inspiring visuals to the screen, found themselves in
a dilemma – do they give up and return to their first love (the videogame market) or answer the prayers of thousands
of fans and finally deliver a film worthy of the name? Advent Children is a follow up to
the biggest selling and most critically acclaimed game in the series, and features a much more fantastical world, over the
top stylings and stunning action – every bit as overwhelming as you should expect from a Japanese animation –
yet this time done with computer imagery more amazing than anything developed the world over.
Naturally the film falls into the trappings of a video game adaptation – an over complex plot, long dialogue
sequences that make little sense and a wealth of characters so vaguely explored that they might as well all be card board
cut-outs. Yet ask yourself this, why are you watching this film? Did you love the games? There’s little point in reading
this review then, and you probably already have the souvenir T-Shirt and the poster on your bedroom wall. Do you love the wacky world only realised in the mind of a Japanese animator? This ticks all the right buttons with action so fast and spectacular, you’ll be gasping for breath
half way through the first fight, and not exhale until the end credits. And finally,
do you love animation, be it Toy Story, Akira
or Shrek? Then this film just has
to be seen to be believed. Verdict:
4 /5 Spirited Away March 04 2006 DVD With
so much emphasis on computer generated animation these days, after the success of big name films like Toy Story and Shrek,
as a fan of traditional, hand drawn animation, I was beginning to feel that such like had become obsolete. Yet it takes the sudden popularity of the Japanese
animation has been around for a long time, but was very much a fan boy market with tales of destroyed Tokyo mega-cities, monstrous
demons, tits, blood and over the top pyrotechnics – and often were just a realisation of an animators rather perverse
thoughts, and very much lacked substance (notable exceptions being Akira and Perfect Blue). Yet the films from Studio
Ghibli offer a different take, that of more human adventures, often with heart breaking back stories, emotional heroines and
family drama (albeit mixed up in fantastical adventuring). Spirited
Away therefore follows the story of ten year old Chihiro, a girl separated from
her parents after wondering into a strange ghost town on-route to a new home. Her
parents are transformed into gluttonous pigs (literally), and a boy contacts her and becomes her friend as she falls (symbolically)
into the Rabbit’s hole on an Alice In Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz adventure full of weird characters (a giant sized
baby stands out) and amazing encounters with dragons, witches and things that can’t really be explained with words. Myazaki’s film is also one of the most beautiful animated films I have seen,
with excellent art work, perfect animation and so much to see and discover, its obvious this was a labour of love from the
word go. Whether you fully understand all that is happening to the young girl
is not really the point – you’re on the journey with her, and therefore equally as confused and enchanted –
and that’s all part of the fun. Verdict: 4 /5 The Verdict: 3 /5 King Kong January 10 2006 Cinema To
follow up the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one thing for any director, but for New Zealander Peter Jackson to take on this age-old classic and make it fresh and appealing for a modern audience, well it takes
some balls. Peter Jackson had obviously done his home work, with this film being
his dream project from an early age, and to all ends, he has achieved just what he promised, delivering a big, loud spectacle
of a movie that was born to be seen on the largest screen you can imagine. Naomi Watts is perfectly endearing and well cast as the struggling Overall
then Peter Jackson has realised a huge dream, and given us the best King Kong yet made – and I can’t see how this
could ever be bettered, because he nails it where it counts – with an emotional story that will not fail to draw a tear
or two by the time the credits roll – and no, that’s not just from an aching backside! Verdict: 4 /5 The Frighteners Peter
Jackson’s second stab at mainstream Hollywood after the critically acclaimed Heavenly Creatures, gave ailing former
eighties pin up Michael J. Fox (who’s battle with Parkinson’s had just
become news) a swansong to be remembered by. A ghost busting comedy with a twist,
where the ghost buster is a psychic with the ghosts on his side, working to con the living out of their money – neat! Yet things take a deadly twist when a series of heart attacks rock the small town
and only Frank Bannister (Fox) can figure out what’s going on, whilst struggling to not look like he’s the one
responsible! If anyone has ever seen Peter
Jackson’s earlier gore-filled horrors Bad Taste and Brain Dead the same sick humour is evident here, but with some
stunning effects work replacing the splatter, with equal grin-inducing results. Lord
of the Rings helm This
release is a director’s cut, adding nearly 15 minutes to the running time, but sadly this has only been detrimental
to the film, adding pointless dialogue sequences that were understandably cut in the first place – perhaps if the original
had also been included here, this would not be a problem, but now the film feels a little drawn out where before it was as
tight as a nun’s corset. Additionally though we get two more disks of extras,
making up over four hours of behind the scenes footage, more deleted scenes, bloopers and plenty of insight from Peter Jackson
himself, who also by the way introduces the film. Add an audio commentary, and
any misgivings can be ignored when you take into account the full package. Verdict: 4 /5 Back to the Future Trilogy: Ultimate Edition December 25-27 2005 DVD In
the eighties, former TV star Michael J. Fox was the guy who just could not loose. Sadly these days he’s stricken by Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, when you look back on some of his biggest films, most notably this trilogy, it’s hard
to dismiss what a truly great Following
the tale of a mad scientist and a slacker school student and their adventures through time, often to set right mistakes they
themselves have caused, this inventive and thoroughly enjoyable series of pop-corn high-concept films work on pretty much
every level. We have comedy, both from the brilliant Christopher Lloyd (who sadly, has never been better than here) and Fox himself, as well as a note perfect support
cast of Lea Thompson as Fox’s mother both in the present, the future and
past, and the otherwise unknown Tom Wilson as Biff & Bufard ‘Mad Dog’
Tannen. We have edge of the seat thrills, great special effects, a timeless theme
tune and one of the cleverest scripts in cinema history. Overall, these films
just work so well, and each instalment has something new to offer, be it the 50s teen comedy appeal of Part 1 or the Wild
West shenanigans of Part 3. Each
film is presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital sound as well as the superior DTS and are in crystal clear wide screen and each disc
has a wealth of extras, with even more material available on a fourth bonus disk. Strangely
for this so-called ‘ultimate edition’ only part one has a commentary, and this seems to be an on-stage chat about
the film rather than a specific ‘watching the film with the director’ track you may normally be used to. So
anyone who enjoys fantasy sci-fi movies, comedy, teen movies or just well made films should consider this box set essential. Verdict: 5 /5
Wallace
& Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit Brit
animator Nick Park first came to fame with his Creature Comforts TV ads. Soon after his Brit-working class inspired animation grew into popular Christmas favourites starring loveable
characters Wallace & Gromit in three Oscar Winning mini-movies of increasing quality.
It was therefore inevitable that these much loved creations would hit the big screen.
With mad inventor Wallace (voiced by a brilliant Peter Sallis – TV’s Last
of the Summer Wine) and loyal companion Gromit always getting him out of strife, the recipe was already their and it just
needed stretching into feature length form. Nick Park and his team at Aardman
Animation have therefore succeeded in spinning an irreverent take on the werewolf story with some quite ingenious twists along
the way, and the site gags and quality scripting leap out at you. Although new
characters have been thrown in, such as a gun-toting Earl and a toffy-nosed Lady of the Manor, it’s obvious that the
real stars here are the leads, especially Gromit who has more personality in his infinite expressions than nearly any animated
character before. He again is the real hero here and a joy to watch. Now although for me I found the story not quite as clever or full of as many stand out moments as the earlier
shorts ‘The Wrong trousers’ or ‘A Close Shave’, this beautifully made film is still one of the sharpest
and funniest films of the year – and should stand proudly alongside the likes of Toy Story and The Lion King. Verdict: 4 /5 Ghostbusters Arguably
one of the most famous films of the eighties, this high concept Saturday Night Live comedy talent breakout film is as much
famous for its title song as it is its humour and at the time, ground breaking special effects. As a kid I enjoyed it immensely, and thought the casting of Bill
Murray (who has gone from strength to strength since this), Dan Aykroyd (where
is he now???) and the now mostly behind the camera Harold Ramis was perfect. Sadly though as an adult, this film fairs slightly worse with age, and its wafer thin
plot and all too easy set up is almost cringe-worthy if it wasn’t for the still funny rapport between the three lead
actors and a sultry turn from the usually un-float-my-boat Sigourney Weaver. It’s a shame then that I seemed to have remembered this film with such rose-tinted
glasses, and found it all too vague and a little bit annoying. I’d guess
the sequel fairs a little better, and it was still fun for the ninety-odd minutes it ran for, but really, The DVD itself is worth
a mention, sporting a cast and crew commentary, along with a gimmicky but worthwhile idea of placing little silhouettes of
the talkers at the bottom of the screen as you watch the film, and the extras range from deleted scenes to featurettes, photo
galleries and more – not bad at all. Verdict: 2.5 /5 Batman Begins June 21 Cinema After what began as a grand experiment in style and gothic imagery blended with a recognised licence, Tim Burton’s
1989 Batman film was one of the darkest and most intelligent summer event movies of the decade (with an amazing Jack Nicholson). The 90s saw a plethora of big name, high concept pictures somewhat distil that film’s
impact, and despite three sequels, the magic didn’t seem likely to return. I
enjoyed all the Batman films, despite Joel Schumacher’s much maligned Batman Forever (one of the worst films ever made)
and Batman & Robin (a slight improvement, mainly down to a very sexy Uma Thurman), but anyone who is the slightest bit
up on what the dark night is all about, knows that Burton had it, and Schumacher failed miserably. It was then a surprise, that a non-event picture director like Christopher Nolan, who I only knew for gritty dramas
(Insomnia being one of them) was chosen with the hefty task of restoring Batman to its former glory. The project was in development hell for years, with actors and directors jumping ship like extras from
James Cameron’s Titanic. It then comes as a pleasure to report, that Nolan’s
Batman is very nearly a success, be it the realistic approach to Bruce Wayne’s past, his training and his child hood,
or the return to a darker, more sinister feel. Christian Balle seems born for
the role, coming off films of similar darkness, albeit more unnerving in the shape of American
Psycho and The Machinist. His
good looks and ability to play dark characters makes him an admirable choice. Support
is offered from the likes of Michael Caine (funny, cockney, pure Caine), the beautiful but pointless (Katie Holmes in her
first big name movie after a wealthy of indie hits, who sadly fails to be rise above pouting and fainting) and the redundant
(the great Gary Oldman as the soon to be Commissionaire Gordon – why?). Yet
that’s to forget Liam Neeson, who is in a word – amazing. Its got the story, its got the action (a fantastic couple of Bat Mobile chase scenes for example) and its got the
look – but ultimately, it didn’t really feel like Batman – at
least not the way Tim Burton did it, and if that’s picking holes – then I’m sorry – but he did it
perfect, with only the effects technology of the time holding him back. The villain in the shape of the Scarecrow was scary but under developed, and the film just fails to recognise
Verdict: 4 /5 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith May 24 2005 Cinema I have enjoyed the Star Wars saga from child to adult, although did have my reservations regarding the new trilogy. For one, I didn’t think it was entirely necessary, although the idea had some
promise, and now having seen and enjoyed the first two episodes (despite their flaws), I was well up for the third and final
instalment. Many have knocked the new trilogy, and in some ways, their argument
is sound, be it the poor dialogue or the hammy acting of supporting cast members (Anakin’s mother still makes me cringe),
but whatever your thoughts on this whole thing, I will defiantly stick up for Revenge
of the Sith, as bringing all the ideas that seemed not to work at first, and making everything just fit into place so
perfectly. The writing on show here is near faultless (despite some small inconsistencies)
and the darker tone showing Anakin Skywalker’s surprisingly believable journey to the dark side, gives the saga that
kick in the balls its needed for too long. Hayden Christenson nails the tortured
soul bit, and this time Ewan McGregor’s Obi Wan is more than just a collection of wise words and showy light sabre skills,
showing genuine emotion as he watches his student fall from grace. Natalie Portman’s
Padme Amidala is less showy, more subtle, and a little side lined, but still provides the films central plot much of its weight. Surrounding all this turmoil is a collection of what can only be described as jaw-dropping
battle sequences, with duels between Anakin and Count Dookoo (Christopher Lee), Yoda and Chancellor Palmatine (aka Darth Sidius),
and most importantly, Anakin and Obi Wan (the highlight of the film, and one of the greatest fights in cinema history). However, what knocks you for six the most though, is the power of the performances,
the emotion – something even the original saga can’t eclipse. This
is the ultimate Star Wars movie, and it makes you remember why you fell in love with the saga in the first place. How many faces out there are eating humble pie now, huh? Nice
one, George Lucas – you did it. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones May 22 2005 DVD
As many fans have noted, those especially fond of the original trilogy; the new films in the Star Wars saga haven’t
quite been met with the same acclaim as before. Reasons behind this are mixed,
but seem mainly down to the overly high expectations that the new films have had thrust upon them. When George Lucas first announced they were being made, the world rejoiced – yet when they finally
saw the final product, namely Episode I: The Phantom Menace, some were more than
a bit disappointed. For me though, I fail to see what it is they were expecting. We wanted light sabre battles – check; three way fight between Liam Neeson,
Ewan McGreggor and the effectively menacing Darth Maul. Epic space battles –
present again. Fantastic special effects – of course. Yet naturally the script was a little under written, and the annoyingly cute Jake Lloyd as an eight year
old future Darth Vader failed to impress, apart from the superb pod race. Therefore
it was up to this follow up, the middle film of the new trilogy to again try and win over the crowd. Originally I was a little under whelmed myself. This was mostly
down to the severe lack of chemistry between Natalie Portman’s Senator Amidala and the now teenage Anakin, Hayden Christenson,
the focus of this films love story and therefore one of the most important plot strands of the entire saga. On a second viewing, the love story still seems all too easy and unbelievable, lacking even the brooding
emotion of Han Solo and Princess Leia’s romance in the first trilogy. Yet
with hindsight, this is an easy thing to overlook, with the fantastic effects (even outdoing those in Episode 1) and the wealth
of imagination on show, with all those different life forms and fantastic looking locations straight out of a fantasy writer’s
wet dream. Add to this the climactic arena battle and the start of the clone
wars, not to mention the still gob-smacking Yoda vs Count Dookoo duel, and this ticks more boxes than it misses. At the end of the day, if you try not to expect a masterpiece (of which even the original films fall short)
then surely this is still very much a great piece of fantasy entertainment. Verdict: 3.5 /5 (In case you were wondering, I would give Episode I a score of: 3 /5) Seed of Chucky 17 May 2005 Cinema I have enjoyed the Chucky films ever since the very first Child’s Play. Yet after the third film’s controversy with the Jamie Bulger murder connection,
the series hit a dead end, until Director Ronny Yu revived the franchise with the excellent Bride of Chucky. That sharp as a knife take on the horror genre was
the ultimate Chucky movie, with the great addition of killer female doll Tiffany, perfectly voiced by sultry sex bomb Jennifer
Tilly (Bound). So naturally, I jumped
at the chance to see this latest instalment. However, I am sad to report that
the Chucky saga has run out of steam all too soon again, and this time it’s all its own fault. By bringing in a third killer doll, in the shape of the seriously ugly Glen (a joke that isn’t funny,
when this series rides so much on how ‘cool’ a killer doll can look), and so we are treated to little more than
a violent, piss taking episode of the Muppets (surprisingly, not a good thing)
more than the knowing, cleverness of ‘Bride. Glen is a crap character,
trying to persuade his serial killing parents out of their evil ways. There are
some good gags, and this time we get Jennifer Tilly playing herself (that’s ‘playing herself’ - you
pervs), but sadly, that doesn’t bring much to the show. Brad Dourif, normally
superb as the voice of Chucky, is left second fiddle to Tiffany and Glen, and despite some pretty good gore, this failed to
have any of the impact of the last film (no Ronny Yu at the helm either). I also
doubt Chucky will be back; although mediocrity never stopped the Friday 13th
films…so I’ll wait and see. Verdict: 1.5 /5 (shock! My lowest score ever!!) Sin City
I was privileged to catch this much anticipated comic-book adaptation prior to its release on Verdict: 4 /5 The Incredibles 4 April 2005 DVD Disney’s spin off studio Pixar has been leading the way in feature animation for a few years now, ever since
the groundbreaking Toy Story grabbed the attention of millions. Now with their latest creation following the story of a family of super heroes, forced into early retirement
after a government bill is passed outlawing super powers, this ideas-packed stab at the currently very popular comic-book
genre is every bit as good as franchises like XMEN or SPIDERMAN, whilst proving to have enough personality to stand on its own.
As can be expected from the creators of Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo, this is as much a satire of the super hero theme as it is a full on thrill ride. In-jokes about getting older, being out of shape, or just plain family woes are all part of the enjoyment,
and with a great villain, a small but perfect cameo by Samuel L. Jackson, equally excellent voice acting, and action sequences
that almost make you want to cheer at the screen – then you have one of the most thoroughly entertaining films in many
a year – whatever your age! Verdict: 5 /5 Batman 27 March 2005 TV With all the hype surrounding the forthcoming Batman flick with American Psycho’s
Christian Bale (a great choice I think) – I felt it long overdue to revisit the original, Tim Burton classic. Starring Michael Keaton, shortly after his previous collaboration with Verdict: 4 /5 Keanu Reeves is perfectly cast as the moody title character in this incredibly stylish and at times impressive take
on all that good vs. evil bullshit that has worked since year dot. After demons
enter this world, breaking one or two unwritten laws, as described by Keanu himself at one stage, the tone is deservedly set
for an obviously preposterous, semi-biblical horror adventure with shades of Blade
and to a lesser extent, The Matrix. Rachel
Weisz (The Mummy Returns) lends sexy but blank support as one of two identical
twins at the heart of the story, and brit actress Tilda Swinton (The Beach) is impressively cast as the Angel Gabriel. Also worthy of note is a small cameo by Peter Stormare ( Verdict: 3 /5 Zatoichi 19 March 2005 DVD Some might herald ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano as the Verdict: 4 /5 I,
Robot
One I didn’t manage to see, to my regret on Cinema, this intelligent and exciting Sci Fi blockbuster well and
truly puts Will Smith back where he belongs, with all the boom and wows of Independence
Day but also the keenly observed wit of Men In Black. I really enjoyed this piece of futuristic entertainment and thought the story of Robots secretly plotting
to take over mankind really engrossing and well thought out. While the futuristic
stylings may not be that believable, the basic concept was convincing and did make me think.
Probably the best blockbuster of 2004. Verdict: 4 /5 |