Fantasia [G]

Discover the stories and adventures that can be told to you through classical music in Walt Disney’s most magical masterpiece. Relive the extravaganza of sight and sound that is Walt Disney’s Fantasia, newly released on DVD for a limited time only. 

You should have seen how excited I was when this film finally came through to work yesterday. As you all know by now, I am a complete sucker for Disney films and Fantasia is one the most celebrated and memorable masterpieces that Disney ever did. Needless to say, I just had to get myself a copy. 

As the orchestra plays various famous pieces of classical music from celebrated composers such as Mussorgsky, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Tchaikovsky, the audience is taken on a magical journey through music, seeing wonders such as the evolution of life, a ballet of animals, the conduct of the Gods on Mount Olympus, and the worshipping of the Devil on Halloween. Relive the magic and fancy that is Walt Disney’s Fantasia, a celebrated masterpiece that will have audiences captivated time and time again. 

Fantasia is something else. It’s particularly unique in that it’s a collection of different stories from different ballets and the whole film is set up like a night at the theatre. We see the orchestra seating themselves and warming up their instruments and then we have a host who tells us what we’re about to see before the music begins. 

It may not seem anything spectacular now because visually interpreting sounds has become commonplace, but back in the 40s (wow has it been that long?) Fantasia was a milestone in animation and almost revolutionary. 

For me personally, the most enjoyable story in this film is Ponchielli’s Dance of the Hours. What Disney has done is reenact this ballet using animals as the dancers. But not just any animals: animals that you would never imagine to do ballet. It begins with a group of ostriches and then the hippopotamuses dominate the scene. As twilight sets in, the dancing elephants grace our screens and then the alligators bring us home. It’s all very clumsy and chaotic and absolutely memorable. 

Filled with grace, mythical creatures, romance, Gods, horror, wraths, wildlife, flora, and the changing of seasons, Fantasia is a timeless classic that is a must-have for any true lover of Disney. 

Peter Pan (Animated) [PG]

On her last night in the nursery, Wendy and her brothers, John and Michael, are whisked away to Neverland by the hero of their evening stories, Peter Pan. Upon arriving in this fanciful world, nothing but adventure awaits them as they explore the island swimming with mermaids, dancing with Injuns, and battling Captain Hook and he crew of pirates along the way. 

Based on the timeless tale of youth and fantasy by J.M Barrie, Walt Disney’s Peter Pan is a fun-filled animated feature that has absolutely everything in it. It’s packed to bursting with swashbuckling action, damsels in distress, devious pixies, and plenty of adventure. Another timeless classic. 

One night, as her brothers play, Wendy is told by her father that it’s high time that she stopped filling the boys heads with nonsense and stories and grew up. So this is to be her last night in the nursery. But this sad night is saved when the hero of Wendy’s stories, Peter Pan, comes and whisks them away to Neverland. Upon arriving in the fantasyland, adventure awaits Wendy and her brothers as they explore the island swimming with mermaids, dancing with Injuns, hunting with the Lost Boys, and battling with the evil Captain Hook and his villainous pirate crew along the way. 

One of the most action-packed Disney movies that I can recall, Peter Pan is the timeless tale about that period between childhood and adulthood and becoming ready to accept changes and growing up. Of course, this version of the story is mainly aimed at families and young audiences, so the metaphors are not really evident, it focuses more on the adventure elements and the visual stimulation of the whole story. 

A few adult references slip into the piece and the script is a little bit mature for very young children to understand, but the movie is really more a visual treat rather than a descriptive one. With its crystal clear animation and narration to set the story in motion, it’s a film that the whole family can enjoy. 

Featuring the voice talents of Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conreid, Bill Thompson, Heather Angel, Paul Collins, Tommy Luske, Candy Candido, Tom Conway, Ronald Dupree, and Don Barclay, Peter Pan is a rollicking film filled with action, adventure, fantasy, romance, ransoms, wonderful music, pixies, swashbuckling swordfights, magic, and gorgeous scenery. Possibly the most action-packed Disney film to date, it’s a timeless classic that every Disney buff needs to have in their collection. 

The Aristocats [G]

Paris, 1910 and in a beautiful manor in the ritziest part of Paris lives a rich and eccentric woman who, in her will, decides to leave her estate and all her money to her family…her family of cats. But when her greedy butler overhears her plan, he catnaps Duchess, the elegant mother, and her three kittens and abandons them in the French countryside. But thankfully, a rough-and-tumble alley cat named Thomas O’Malley discovers them and together, they set off on a long journey home.  

We’ve already covered the canine classic 101 Dalmatians, now it’s time to walk with the felines. Another Disney animated musical classic, The Aristocats is 76 minutes of elegant animals, devious villains, and swinging jazz music. Love it! 

Paris, 1910, and in a beautiful manor in the ritziest neighborhood in Paris lives a rich and eccentric woman who, in her will, decides to leave her entire estate and all her money to her family…her family of cats. Duchess and her three children Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse are the elegant, gentle, and sophisticated Aristocats, living a lovely and luxurious life in the manor with Madame. But when Madame’s greedy butler Edgar overhears about her plan to leave her entire estate to the cats, he catnaps Duchess and the kittens and abandons them in the French countryside. Lost with no idea how to defend themselves on the harsh streets of Paris, the Aristocats cross paths with a rough-and-tumble alley cat named Thomas O’Malley. Falling in love with Duchess on first sight, O’Malley takes the family under his wing and escorts them through the rough streets on their journey home, introducing them to danger, vicious humans, and jazz music along the way. 

This movie is another one of my Disney classics. The animation is similar to that of The Jungle Book, The Sword in the Stone and 101 Dalmatians; fairly clear, but with vey dark outlines. It’s based on a solid story and the characters are very cute and memorable. 

I love watching films where animals are the central characters and it’s great to see them doing all the things that humans do. I mean, in this movie Berlioz, the little black kitten, plays the piano! What’s not to love? It’s great personification. 

Featuring the voice talents of Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Sterling Holloway, Scatman Crothers, Dean, Clark, Liz English, and Gary Dubin, The Aristocats is a wonderfully cute and fun animated classic filled with catchy tunes, romance, damsels in distress, comedy, charming scoundrels, and drunken birds. It’s an absolute classic and I just adore it! 

Monty Python's Life of Brian [M]

We all know the story of the child born in a faraway manger…well this isn’t that story. This is the story of a nice young chap named Brian who is mistaken for the messiah, much to the annoyance of his mother. 

My mum and dad first sat me down to watch this when I was about seven or eight years old… needless to say I did not get the film at all. Years later, when I had moved way past my double digits, did I watch the film a second time and, not only understand, but really enjoy the clever and sophisticated comedy that is Monty Python’s Life of Brian. 

“He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!” 

Everyone knows the story of the three wise men and that child born in a faraway manger…well this isn’t that story. This is the story of a nice young Jewish chap named Brian. Upon joining the anti-Roman group, The People’s Front of Judea, Brian falls into a line of work that comes without rewards. With the Romans after his blood, Brian has no time for distractions, but unfortunately he gets mistaken for the messiah and gains a large group of clueless followers, much to the annoyance of his mother. 

Not dissimilar to Holy Grail, the humour in Life of Brian is in the writing of the film. There is little emphasis placed on the costumes, sets, special effects etc, the film is moved forward solely by the way it’s written and the performances delivered by its actors. 

As Holy Grail took the piss out of the Arthurian legend, Life Of Brian takes the piss out of religion, in particular, the story of Jesus Christ. Admittedly not as visually silly as Holy Grail, this film uses a mixture of sophisticated and crude comedy. By crude, I mean sexual innuendos and nudity. There is nothing wrong with that though. Really the humour of this movie is in its writing and there is nothing much more that I can think to comment on. 

The Monty Python actors all play multiple roles just as in Holy Gail, each a hugely entertaining performance. Some are very subtle, some are very dramatised, but all are hysterical nonetheless. Just like Holy Grail, there is an abundance of memorable scenes and I simply cannot be expected to choose a favourite.  

Starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam, with the theme song sung by Shirley Bassey, Monty Python’s Life of Brian is another comedy classic filled with martyrdom, nudity, action, torture, heckling, gladiators, speech impediments, stoning, Latin, musical numbers, and aliens. 

Making it into my personal bible: 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die, it’s a comedy classic of epic proportions and is worthy of any film buff’s collection. 

Monty Python and the Holy Grail [PG]

Whilst Arthur, King of the Britains, scours the land in search for knights to join him in his court at Camelot, he charged by God Himself with “a holy quest that will make you and your knights examples in these dark times”. Join Arthur and his brave knights: Sirs Lancelot, Gallahad, Robin, and Bedevere as they go forth in an epic crusade to find the Holy Grail. 

This has to be one of my all-time favourite comedy classics. It has absolutely no expiration date because it is clever comedy. Filled with vicious rodents, aggressive political serfs, beautiful temptresses, and certain death, Monty Python and the Holy Grail takes the Arthurian legend and simplifies as well as stains it. 

Arthur, King of the Britains, defeater of the Saxons and sovereign of all England is scouring the land, seeking knights to join him in his court at Camelot. Whilst he assembles his Knights of the Round Table, God Himself charges him with “a holy quest that will make them examples in these dark times.” And so begins the epic crusade of Arthur and his knights Sirs Lancelot, Gallahad, Robin, and Bedevere to find the Holy Grail. But the journey will be perilous, filled with danger, temptation, trickery, and certain death. 

The comedy styling of Monty Python is one of a kind and can never be recreated or topped! Absolutely all emphasis is placed on the humour in the script with the occasional wonderfully silly visual gag to bring down the level of sophistication and appeal to a wider audience. 

In Holy Grail the costumes are so-so, there are very limited special effects (the tiniest bit of cartoon animation), and all the humour comes from the screenplay, the script, and the performances. Seriously, there are too many memorable scenes from this movie, I could never be asked to pick out a favourite! Between the Black Knight who won’t give up a fight even with all his limbs cut off and the Three-Headed-Giant who misses a killing because it keeps arguing with itself, there is never, and I mean never a dull moment in this movie! 

All the central actors who make up the Monty Python Group play multiple roles, each a thousand yard leap more eccentric that the last. Starring John Cleese, Graham Chapman. Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Connie Booth, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a timeless classic comedy filled with action, adventure, arranged marriages, ferocious rodents, the French, Trojan Rabbits, coconuts, bloody swordfights, giants, musical numbers, swallows, half-breed sorcerers, fire and brimstone, monks, dead bodies, and ...SHRUBBERIES!!! 

Seriously, you simply cannot go your entire life without seeing this film at least once! It’s absolutely priceless!!! 

The Green Hornet [M]

When his father passes away, it falls upon Britt to follow in his dad’s footsteps and take over the family business. But unfortunately Britt is not cut out for the job. When he befriends a talented engineer that worked for his father, an unholy alliance is forged and the two decide to become superheroes by taking over the criminal underworld. But they’re about to discover that it’s not going to be as easy they thought. 

My brother and I were bored today so we decided to escort ourselves to the movies for a nice quiet afternoon of action, violence, and explosions. We received all this in The Green Hornet. “What happens when you corner a hornet? You get stung!” 

When his father passes away, it falls upon Britt to follow in his dad’s footsteps and take over the family business: the family paper. But unfortunately Britt is not cut out for the job. However, when he befriends a talented engineer named Kato, the two form an unholy alliance and, through a simple act of vandalism, decide to become superheroes by taking over the criminal underworld. Using the family paper to gain public awareness, Britt becomes The Green Hornet and with Kato at his side, he’s taking down the underworld, one thug group at a time. But when the head of the underworld becomes threatened it starts to get ugly, and soon Britt realises that he’s not cut out for the hero job either. 

This was actually not a bad movie. It had a light-hearted comedy script, plenty of action, car chases, gadgets and all that stuff, as well as some rather gruesome deaths. 

Seth Rogan stars as Britt and he was rather entertaining. I admit that about halfway through the movie, you just start to become sick of his voice, but all in all he was rather funny and just a big kid. 

Jay Chou stars as Kato, and really this film was all about him. He was meek, convinced of his own brilliance, silent, but deadly. He was just awesome! 

Starring Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Christoph Waltz, David Harbour, and James Franco, The Green Hornet was a fun action movie filled with cool gadgets, awesome special effects, heaps of explosions, a few gruesome deaths, and plenty of comedy. We saw the action in 3D, which made it all the more exciting, but we’ll still need to rent it when it comes out on DVD before we decide whether or not to add it to the collection. 

All About Eve [PG]

From the moment she glimpses her heroine on stage, Eve Harrington vows to take the reigns of power and be a better actress than her idol Margot Channing. Using Margot’s friends to get closer to the star and gain her trust, Eve begins her cunning ascent to power, destroying a few careers and lives in the process. 

It seems that I am on a bit of a classics binge at the moment: Vertigo, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, and now All About Eve. I can tell you though; this film is without a doubt one of my favourites now. It’s filled with drama queens, betrayal, manipulation, and memorable characters. I loved everything about All About Eve. 

From the moment she sees her heroine on the stage, Eve Harrington vows to take the reigns of power and become an even better actress than her idol Margot Channing. Using Margot’s friends to establish an acquaintance and get closer to Margot, Eve begins her cunning ascent to power and fame, destroying a few lives and careers in the process. The only person who sees through her is a famous and cynical theatre critic and he admires her audacity and perfect pattern of deceit. 

Winner of 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, this film has to be one of the smartest and most intriguing pictures of all time. 

The initial thing that strikes you is the sheer force and power that the script has. The film is filmed more like a stage production, similar to Me and Orson Welles, and therefore its power and raw intrigue comes solely from its script and the performances from its actors. The script itself was very wordy and very theatrical, which is good because it required the actors to really put forward a performance. 

I am officially in love with Bette Davis. In this film she positively steals the show. The title should be changed to All About Bette. In this movie she was truly a screen diva. She was grandiose in all aspects; her voice, her articulation, her gestures, and her general manner. She was absolutely mesmerising! 

Starring Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gerry Merrill, and Hugh Marlowe, All About Eve was a magnificent drama that was packed to bursting with grandiose performances, manipulation, betrayal, romance, and subtle humour. It was an absolutely phenomenal film that I am considering adding to the collection. A timeless classic. 

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? [M]

In a decaying movie-star mansion live the Hudson sisters. Blanche is a 1930s actress who has been crippled at the height of her career in a terrible car accident. She now lives with and depends upon her sister Jane, an ex-vaudeville child star who is bitterly jealous of her sister’s fame. As she continues to turn to drink and self-pity, Jane soon turns their home into a house of horror and there is no escape for Blanche. 

Based on a novel by Henry Farrell, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a dark and thrilling movie filled with plot misdirection, macabre practical jokes, violence, and stomach-churning performances that is the result of two screen queens going head to head and ripping each other to shreds. 

In a decaying movie-star mansion in suburbia live the Hudson sisters. Blanche is a 1930s actress who has been crippled at the height of her outstanding career in a terrible car accident. She now lives with and depends upon her sister Jane, an ex-vaudeville child star who never grew up and is bitterly jealous of her sister’s fame. As Jane begins to turn more and more to drink and self-pity, she turns their mansion home into a house of horror and there is no escape for Blanche. 

I think what is most disturbing about this movie is that it’s actually a thriller/comedy. Sort of similar to the comedic style of the Coen brothers, the humour of this movie is very dark and you need to persevere with the entire movie in order to understand what makes it funny. Throughout the film, all these horrible and macabre things happen and it all centres around a single misunderstanding or mistake. It’s really quite messed up when you think about it, but that’s what makes these sorts of films so brilliant. 

And we must bow down to the two queens of the screen that have brought us this amazing movie. Joan Crawford stars as Blanche and she was wonderful. Playing the victim, in a wheelchair no less, can be no easy feat and Joan’s performance was marvellous. As she slowly realises what her sister is doing and the panic takes hold…well there really are no words to describe the way she played those scenes. One particular scene that really made my stomach turn over was when Jane serves Blanche a dead rat for lunch as a practical joke and Blanche just spins circles in her chair, screaming all the while. This was a very powerful scene and you felt just as scared as she was. The mark of a true actor or actress is when they can make the audience feel what they feel. 

Bette Davis stars as Jane and her performance was nothing short of immortal, macabre genius. Going through a multitude of exaggerated emotions and states of mind, she really did dominate the screen. I was deeply disturbed, terrified, sympathetic, and completely and utterly in love with her from the start. Whenever she did a scene where she reminisced about her days of fame and her father, tears were so close to running down my face. You were frightened of her, but at the same time, sorry and wanted her to find peace. Hers was an absolutely stunning performance. 

Starring Victor Buono, Wesley Addy, Julie Alfred, Anne Barton, Marjorie Bennett, Bert Freed, Anna Lee, Maidie Norman, Dave Willock, William Aldrich, Ernest Anderson, Russ Conway, and Maxine Cooper, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? was a beautifully crafted and wonderfully sinister and disturbing thriller filled with plot misdirection, violence, suspense, macabre practical jokes, and blame. I absolutely loved it!

Vertigo [PG]

John “Scottie” Ferguson, a retired acrophobic detective, is hired to trail a friend’s suicidal wife. After successfully rescuing her from a leap into the San Francisco Bay, Scottie finds himself becoming obsessed with the beautifully troubled woman and he promises to find the cause of her unsettled mind. But his investigation is about to reveal a bigger and more sinister plot. 

This is another timeless thrilling classic from the genius Alfred Hitchcock. Filled with plot misdirection, thrilling theories, forbidden romance, and great special effects, Vertigo is a wonderfully crafted thriller that chilled me even more than Psycho. Seriously, my spine is still tingling and my stomach, still churning.

John “Scottie” Ferguson is a detective who suffers from acrophobia: a strong fear of heights. His fear is heightened when he engages in a rooftop chase and slips. Holding on for dear life, his partner falls to his death trying to help him. Now Scottie is retired, but he is tracked down by an old friend and asked to trail his wife, whom he believes is possessed by a suicidal ancestor. After successfully rescuing Madeleine, the wife, from a fall into San Francisco Bay, Scottie finds himself becoming obsessed with the beautifully troubled woman and he promises to find the cause of her unsettled mind. But his investigation is about to reveal an even bigger and more thrilling plot that he never could have been foreseen.

I’m developing a keen interest in the film of Alfred Hitchcock. He truly is a master of terror. What made Vertigo so thrilling was the fact the whole thing is highly believable. The nauseating fear that comes from acrophobia mixed with the sudden shocks that the plotline holds causes large amount of spine-tingling and stomach-churning terror in the audience.
This is also the best film (that I’ve seen so far) of Hitchcock’s in regard to the use of special effects. The film uses simple effects such as animation, changes in colour, spiralling camera movement, and body-cropping (I’m sure there’s a technical film term for that) to convey the sheer terror that the characters experience. It’s wonderful.
The other thing that plays a great part in setting the mood of the film is the music. In all of Hitchcock’s films, music plays a very strong part in creating an atmosphere of suspense and fear. It’s absolutely awesome!
James Stewart stars as John “Scottie” Ferguson and his performance was absolutely outstanding. He went through a whole range of emotions in this film including charming, friendly, sincere, in love, passionate anger, and (obviously) sheer terror. I was hugging myself so tightly when he woke up all wide-eyed and stricken from that nightmare!  A very forceful and just outstanding performance.
Starring Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Raymond Bailey, Ellen Corby, Konstantin Shayne, and Lee Patrick, Vertigo is a wonderful thriller filled with plot misdirection, romance, supernatural themes, primal fears, and heights. My favourite Hitchcock movie (so far).

Lantana [M]

A woman disappears… four marriages are drawn into a complex web of sex, lies, betrayal, deceit, love, and death…and not all will survive. Detective Leon Zat moves through a dark and twisted labyrinth of relationships on a quest that will reveal more than just the fate of a missing woman. 

I’m pretty sure than I have seen this film before, for school or something or other, but I came across is at work a few days ago and figured that I might get more out of it now that I am a bit older and able to read more about plots and films. This film is a delightfully dark and dramatic look the complexities of relationships as well as the different types of relationship that can go pear-shaped.

When a woman goes missing, four marriages are drawn into a complex web of lies, sex, deceit, betrayal, love, and death and not all of them will survive. Detective Leon Zat, who is going through his own marital problems, weaves his way through a dark and dramatic labyrinth of relationships that eventually will reveal much more than the fate of a missing woman.

This film was remarkable for two reasons:
One: The story dealt with many complex relationships and themes, but it actually was very simple to follow. Despite the abundance of characters and individual dramas that each of them suffer, you never have to stop and think about what is actually going on. You know exactly what’s happening with whom and who is sleeping with whom. It could very easily have become really complex and confusing, but it didn’t and that’s what makes a good film; having a story that has a little bit of complexity, but just enough to intrigue but not confuse the audience.
Two: absolutely every actor in this film delivered a moving and memorable performance. I do not have enough time nor the energy to list and favour every performance in this film because literally every performance was an absolute dramatic knockout. The film won seven AFI Awards (and rightly so): Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. Need I say more?
Starring Kerry Armstrong, Anthony LaPaglia, Geoffrey Rush, Barbara Hershery, Rachael Blake, Vince Colosimo, Russell Dykstra, Daniela Farinacci, Peter Phelps, Leah Purcell, and Glenn Robbins, Lantana was a wonderfully dark and dramatic film filled with lies, deceit, sex, romance, dancing, affairs, favours, drama, and death. It was engaging, chilling, and just all around a landmark film.

Good Morning Vietnam [M]

To play against the frightening uncertainty and bloodshed of the Vietnam War, the U.S military bring in a new deejay to host the morning radio show. The bloke they bring in is a hit straight away. He’s hysterical, irreverent, nonconformist and a real fast-talker. The G.Is love him, but the top brass is outraged. Here is Adrian Cronauer to blast the staid and sanitised airwaves out of the air with real news, side-splitting humour and all the hottest tunes from back home. 

A Robin Williams comedy classic, it would be blasphemous of me to never have watched this film. It’s packed to bursting with a healthy balance of bloodshed, comedy, drama, and love. An instant comedy classic. 

To play against the uncertainty and the bloodshed of the Vietnam War, the U.S military bring a new deejay to Saigon to host the morning radio show. But the heads of the operation are outraged when they discover that their new deejay is defiant, opinionated, sarcastic, irreverent, and nonconformist. Who cares though, the G.Is love him! Got a tiring, action-packed day ahead of you? Never fear because here is Adrian Cronauer to blast the formerly staid and sanitised airwaves out of the air with real news, side-splitting humour, and all the hottest tunes for back home. 

Robin Williams stars in this wartime comedy and it has to be one of the most amazing and hysterical performances that he has ever delivered. Everything that he says when doing the radio show is complete improvisation, making the humour all the more hilarious because it’s the freshest of the fresh. He just goes off on these tangents and no one (not even he) knows where he’ll end up. 

Backed with an emotional story to play against the occasional bloodshed and the comedy, Good Morning Vietnam was a wonderful comedy classic filled with great songs from the 60s including hits from the Beach Boys, Louis Armstrong, Martha and the Vandellas, James Brown, and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. 

Starring Forest Whitaker, Bruno Kirby, J.T Walsh, and Robert Wuhl, Good Morning Vietnam was a refreshingly original story filled with memorable quotes, hit songs, pub brawls, warfare, explosions, denial, and good comedy. Loved it. 

Ever After: A Cinderella Story [PG]

Once upon a time in 16^th century France, there was beautiful and independent woman who was badly treated by her scheming and jealous stepmother and forced to become a servant in her own home. But through the years she remained ever tender and kind, and working miracles to those around her, including the Prince of France. 

A romantic fairy tale classic, Ever After is based on the timeless classic love story Cinderella. Filled with memorable characters, fantastic performances, magnificent costumes, and romantic music and culture, it’s one of my all-time favourite films. 

Once upon a time in 16^th century France there lived a beautiful, young, and independent woman named Danielle who was badly treated by her scheming stepmother and jealous stepsisters and forced to work as a servant in her own home. Yet through all this hardship, she has remained tender, kind, passionate, and smart. One day she finds the means to save the life of a former servant of her house, so she dresses up like a Comtesse and goes to the Royal Court to free him. But her plan is interrupted when the Prince takes a shine to her and she a shine to him. Can Danielle keep up the charade or can she muster the strength to tell the Prince she loves the truth? 

When you think about it, the best way to describe this film is a cross between Cinderella and The Princess Bride. I first must draw attention to the absolutely fabulous period dress that everyone wears. Some of the dresses are absolutely beautiful and it’s always nice to watch a film where the older fashions are brought back. 

Drew Barrymore stars as Danielle and she was brilliant from start to finish. A real shining gem, she was passionate, strong, independent, intelligent, and just all around gorgeous. Drew Barrymore is another one of the few actresses that I actually like. She is one of the most attractive women on the screen today. 

Starring Angelica Houston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey, Megan Dodds, Timothy West, Judy Parfitt, Kate Lansbury, Matyelok Gibbs, Walter Sparrow, and Richard O’Brien, Ever After: A Cinderella Story is a romantic fairy tale about having the strength and bravery to make your dreams come true. 

It’s a timeless classic filled with romance, adventure, action, dirty old men, selfish young women, snobbery, hypocrisy, drama, and a happy ending. It’s one of my all-time favourites and will so be for many years to come. A timeless romantic classic will have you warm and swooning every time. 

Dinner For Schmucks [M]

Tim, an up-and-coming executive gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is invited to attend an exclusive dinner that his boss holds every month known as the “Dinner for Idiots”. A promotion is the reward for the executive that brings along the biggest buffoon, so when Tim bumps into Barry, a man with a strange character and a keen interest in taxidermy, he thinks he has it made. But when he bumps into Barry a second time, Tim suddenly realises that he’s about to get more than he bargained for. 

I have a bit of a soft spot for Steve Carell, I have to admit, so when this film came into work yesterday, I was eager to sit down and engage in a night of laughs. Well…. that’s sort of what I got. 

Tim, an up-and-coming executive gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is invited to attend an exclusive dinner that is held by his boss every month, famously known as the “Dinner for Idiots”. Certain executives are invited and they are required to bring along a dim-witted or eccentric companion to, unknowingly, be their entertainment. A promotion is the reward for the executive who brings along the biggest buffoon. So when Tim bumps into Barry, a strange character with a keen interest in taxidermy, he thinks he’s got it made. But when he bumps into Barry a second time, Tim suddenly realises that he’s about to get more than he bargained for…much, much more. UUMM…

WHAT THE HELL!? This has to be one of the weirdest comedies I have ever watched. And it wasn’t weird as in quirky-funny-type-weird, it was genuinely disturbing and unusual to the point of being almost repulsive. 

What the film boils down to is that these rich people invite these strange and eccentric people over for dinner so that they can laugh at them and ridicule them. For a while, the hero is in cahoots with the villains, but then he changes his ways and sees who the real “winners” are. I think this film was taking a bit of a gamble, I mean that whole thing about a “dinner for idiots” is just really messed up (though there are probably people in this screwed up world that do things like that). 

As far as performances and everything else goes, there is nothing of any great significance to report. The film started bright and harmless, then it gave us the basic plotline, then it just got creepy and weird, and finally it ended on a better note with a bit of closure. I don’t know, it was bit all-over-the-shop really. 

Starring Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Jeff Dunham, David Walliams, Lucy Punch, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, and Bruce Greenwood, Dinner For Schmucks is a really strange comedy that uses humour of rather an acquired taste, I feel. I found it crude, cringe-worthy, and just plain WEIRD! 

Filled with awkward situations, works of art, interspecies relations, stuffed mice, and strange and psychotic characters, it’s not a film that I could watch again and I have no desire to add it to my collection. 

Easy A [M]

Olive is a normal and nice teenager whose social standing takes a turn for the worst when she tells her best friend a tiny white lie about losing her virginity. Unfortunately the lie is overheard by a gossipy churchgoer and now the entire school is convinced that Olive is a tart. As she begins to enjoy her newfound attention and reputation, Olive uses her school’s gossip grapevine to forward more rumours and gain even more attention. But she’s about to push it too far. 

This is another film that I just missed at the cinemas (I seem to do that an awful lot don’t I?) and so when it came into work today, I couldn’t wait to curl up in bed with a glass of wine and watch it. It was a charming and bitingly witty comedy that was a bit Mean Girls and a bit 80s-John-Hughes-type-movie. I really did enjoy it. 

Olive is a nice, normal teenage girl whose existence is very under-the-radar. But that all changes when she tells her best friend a tiny white lie about losing her virginity. Unfortunately, the lie is overheard by a gossipy churchgoer and, before she can blink, Olive has developed a reputation for being a tramp. As she begins to enjoy her newfound attention and fame, Olive uses her school’s gossip grapevine to forward more rumours and heighten her reputation. But she’s about to push it too far. 

This film was really refreshing and original. Drawing attention to the awesome power of gossip, particularly through the use of technology that is all the rage with the “young kids of today”, it actually outlines a very good point in that respect. Today’s youth is very dependent on technology and broadcasting their every pointless movement. It’s good to see that there are still some films being made that actually make points like this through simple observations. This is a technique that comedians use (oh, but I’m rambling now and moving off topic… sorry). 

Emma Stone stars as Olive and she was absolutely gorgeous. She is a visually stunning young woman and a very talented actress to boot. She had the most perfect timing, facial expressions, gestures, and everything. She even eclipsed Stanley Tucci. 

Starring Amanda Bynes, Stanley Tucci, Thomas Hayden Church, Penn Badgley, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, and Aly Michalka, Easy A was a wonderfully witty and refreshing comedy filled with webcasts, gossip, technology, fake orgasms, and the hottest corsets you’ve seen in your life. Seriously I am so envious of Emma Stone because she got to wear some of the most smouldering outfits. It was a really good film.  

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason [M]

Having finally found the perfect man in gorgeous lawyer Mark Darcy, 30-something ex-singleton Bridget Jones is now faced with the even bigger challenge of keeping him. As her self-doubts return and her womanising ex-lover Daniel Cleaver reappears uninvited and up to his old tricks, poor Bridget becomes entangled in a series of disasters that could only happen to her. 

Admittedly not as good as the first one, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is still a fun, feel-good romantic comedy that is filled with more blunders, more perverts, and a brand new diary.

Having finally found her happy ending and perfect man in gorgeous lawyer Mark Darcy, 30-something ex-singleton Bridget Jones is now faced with the even bigger challenge of keeping him. As her self-doubts begin to return and her womanising ex-lover Daniel Cleaver resurfaces uninvited and up to his old tricks, poor Bridget becomes entangled in a series of romance blunders and disasters that could only happen to her.

It is the truth universally known that the sequel is never going to be as good as the first movie. There have been a few scattered throughout history, but in general the second movie never scales the lofty heights of its predecessor. This was the case with the second Bridget Jones.
Although the film stars all the original cast members and everything is still in keeping with the first movie, the writers seemed to clutching at straws as far as the story goes. The basic story was solid and everything, but there were situations that just became a little bit too much. They were still believable, one had famously happened around the same time as the film was being made, but it was just not as simple as the first movie. There was more crammed into it.
All the performances were very much the same as the first movie so there is not much to report on in that area… aside from the fact that Hugh Grant doesn’t have the sexy hair. In this one he just looks a little older and mature, which is not entirely in keeping with the character really.
Starring Renee Zelwegger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Sally Phillips, Tom Callis, and Shirley Henderson, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is a fun romantic comedy filled with winter sports, exes, romantic blunders, misunderstandings, and the music of Madonna. It’s a movie that I can definitely watch again and enjoy thoroughly, but ultimately it was not as good and heart-warming as the first one.

Bridget Jones's Diary [M]

Bridget Jones, a 30-something year-old single London girl decides to take control of her life and start a diary. “Resolution number one: will find sensible boyfriend to go out with and not continue to form romantic attachments to any of the following: alcoholics, workaholics, commitment-phobics, peeping toms, megalomaniacs, emotional fuckwits, or perverts. “ But it’s not that easy for Bridget choosing between bona-fide-sex-god-with-flash-car Daniel Cleaver and aloof-but-charming-sensitive-and-thoughtful Mark Darcy. 

This has to be the ultimate romantic comedy. It is absolutely perfect. It’s British comedy, has a marvellous script, has memorable characters, has a gorgeous soundtrack, and the performances are top notch. I effing LOVE this film!!! 

When Bridget Jones, a 30-something-year-old single London girl, finds herself going through another embarrassing setup at her mother’s annual Turkey Curry Buffet, she decides to take control of her life and start a diary…

"to tell the truth about Bridget Jones… the whole truth. Resolution number one: obviously will lose twenty pounds. Number two: always put last night’s pants in the laundry basket. Number three: will find nice, sensible boyfriend to go out with and not continue to form romantic attachments to any of the following: alcoholics, workaholics, commitment-phobics, megalomaniacs, peeping toms, emotional fuckwits, or perverts."

But soon Bridget finds herself in a serious dilemma and it’s not that easy to choose between bona-fide-sex-god-with-flashy-car Daniel Cleaver and aloof-but-sensitive-and-thoughtful Mark Darcy. 

So here I am, still teary-eyed, swooning, and wishing to be Bridget. This movie is the ultimate romantic comedy. It’s a simple and down-to-earth story that many people can relate to, and it’s one hundred per cent believable. And when I say believable, I really mean it. Everything in this film can easily happen in real life, right down to the most epic and romantic man fight towards the end. It gives us sad and single women hope. It’s our shining beacon. 

Renee Zellweger stars as the film’s heroine, Bridget Jones, and her performance was nothing short of genius. She was perky, embarrassing, elegant, clumsy, and altogether genius. She was an absolute delight from start to finish. 

Starring Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Shirley Henderson, Celia Imrie, James Callis, and Sally Phillips, Bridget Jones’s Diary is a beautiful romantic comedy filled with embarrassing misdemeanours, snowfall, booze, cigarettes, self-reliance, and the greatest street fight in cinema history. It is a timeless romantic classic that every woman needs to see before they die. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!

The Linguini Incident [M]

Lucy is a waitress training to be an escapologist. Monte is a British barman with a few debts that prevent him from going home. Desperate to get his green card, but rather strapped for cash, Monte decides to rob the restaurant that both he and Lucy work at. Unfortunately Lucy plans to do the same thing to get money for an antique ring. As the two decide to work together, a strange romance begins to bloom. 

I came across this film whilst sorting through the comedy section at work and I hired it out not really expecting anything. I actually only hired it because David Bowie was in it, looking very handsome I have to say. I was pleasantly surprised actually. This film was quirky, funny, romantic, and, to a certain point, psychotic. It was absolutely wonderful. I feel that I could definitely watch it again. 

Lucy is a waitress training to be an escapologist. Monte is a British barman with a few debts that prevent him from going home. Desperate to get his green card, he decides to rob the restaurant where both he and Lucy work. However, Lucy has had the same idea in order to get some money for an antique ring that once belonged to Mrs. Houdini. When the two decide to work together, a strange and somewhat unusual romance begins to bloom. 

What was lovely about this film was that it was exceedingly simple. There were no special effects, no outrageous or cringe-worthy comic situations, just a simple story that was moved along by the performances of its actors. 

David Bowie was absolutely brilliant in this film. He was incredibly charming, handsome, witty, gentlemanly, psychotic, sincere, and just perfect. He’s a natural romantic lead. 

Starring Rosanna Arquette, Eszter Balint, Andre Gregory, Buck Henry, Vivica Lindfors, Marlee Matlin, and Eloy Casados, The Linguini Incident was a wonderfully quirky romantic comedy that was filled with marriage proposals, bets, live escape acts, handcuffs, and lethal bras. 

I am seriously considering buying this movie and adding it to my collection because it really is a gem that people need to know about. 

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark [M]

Meet Dr. Indiana Jones: architect, professor, adventurer, and finder of rare treasures. When members of the U.S government approach him and ask him to find the Lost Ark, the ancient Ark that carried the Ten Commandments, he is more than willing to go on the quest. However, clues to finding the Ark are scattered throughout the world and unfortunately, Indiana is not the only person after it. The Nazis are diligently digging in Cairo, being aided by Dr. Jones’ French rival. Can Jones discover the Ark before it falls into the wrong hands? 

The Indiana Jones films are epic adventures that have no expiration date. They’re really just like the Star Wars movies, though not science fiction. As far as action films go, they have the perfect amount of action, comedy, gore, supernatural themes, and romance. They’re absolutely perfect. 

Meet Dr. Indiana Jones: architect, professor, adventurer, and finder of rare treasures and artefacts. After being foiled in his search for a rare golden idol in South America by his French rival Belloq, Dr. Jones is approached by the U.S government and asked to find the Lost Ark: a chest in which the Hebrews kept the Ten Commandments. Naturally, he is eager to take up the challenge, but his problem is this; there are many clues scattered over the world that can lead to the resting place of the Lost Ark and, unfortunately, Dr. Jones is not the only one seeking it. Hitler has developed an obsession with the occult and, for the past two years, has had teams of archaeologists digging for religious artefacts all over the world. Now, aided by Jones’ rival Belloq, the Nazis are close to discovering the final resting place of the Ark. Teaming up with his feisty ex-flame Marion, can Dr. Jones find the Ark before it falls into the wrong hands? 

This movie is just good, rollicking fun! Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones and no one else could have played this part. It seems like it was almost written for him. He was charming, aggressive, handsome, and sometimes very funny. He was absolutely perfect. 

The special effects are a bit out-dated and rough, but the story and the characters, and the music, and everything is SO good that it’s not a big deal. That’s what makes a great movie, being able to look past the faults. 

Starring Karen Allen, Alfred Molina, John Rhys-Davies, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, and Denholm Elliott, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is a gripping and rollicking film filled with action, violence, gore, supernatural themes, international settings, comedy, live animals, and romance. Backed by its wonderful fact-filled and rock solid story, it’s a film that you can always come back to. An action-packed epic. LOVE IT. 

Wild Hogs [M]

Meet the Wild Hogs, a group of four ho-hum suburban middle-aged men who decide to put some real miles on their bikes and go for a cross-country road trip. It all starts out well until they have a run with a real biker gang called the Del Fuegos who don’t take too kindly to posers. With nowhere to hide, the Wild Hogs are about to discover that freedom comes at a cost. 

This has to be one of my all-time favourite screwball comedy classics. It had everything right. It was a great story, had a rocking soundtrack, was filled with hysterical and memorable characters, and had the right amount of violence, comedy, and love. 

Meet the Wild Hogs: Doug, Woody, Bobby, and Dudley. Four middle-aged men living in suburbia, each with his own problems and only riding their bikes on the weekend and after work. One day they decide to put some real miles on their bikes and go on a cross-country road trip to discover America. The trip starts out well until their get into a scruff with a gang of real bikers called the Del Fuegos who don’t take too kindly to posers. After accidentally enraging the Del Fuegos, there’s nowhere to hide and the Wild Hogs are going to learn that freedom comes at a cost. 

This is a perfect comedy. It has a solid story that lends itself to much comical interpretation. What’s great about it too is that it had the potential to get a little silly and unbelievable, but it held back. That’s what makes a good comedy: knowing how far you can push it for it to be funny and knowing when you’ve pushed it too far. Priceless. 

The other thing that made this movie so funny was the chemistry between the leading actors. It’s such an unusual mix to begin with and, combined, the four leading hogs were just brilliant. 

Although all of the actors were awesome, one performance that does stand out, for me, is that of John Travolta. He is hysterically funny when he’s under pressure and it’s wonderful to watch him sweat and squirm. In this film he’s charming, persistent, scared, and stubborn. Absolutely wonderful. 

Starring Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, and William H Macy, Wild Hogs is a laugh-out-loud road comedy filled with slapstick humour, sexual and gay innuendos, nudity, animal cruelty, rough scraps, and showdowns. An instant comedy classic, one that I can always come back to and enjoy. 

The A-Team [M]

For 8 years, the A-team have been the pride of the U.S military. Completing over 80 successful missions and assignments, there is nothing that they can’t handle. That is until they are framed for the theft of goods of great value, stripped of their ranks, and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Now, six months after going to prison, the group escape and reform so that they can clear their names and get a little revenge. 


I have never seen an episode of The A-Team so I honestly have no idea what the phenomenon was. I only rented this movie because it had Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper in it and looked like a bit of harmless rollicking fun. I was right. 


For 8 years, the A-Team have been the pride of the U. S military. Completing over 80 successful missions and assignments, there is nothing that they can’t handle. That is until they are framed for theft of valuable goods, stripped of their ranks, given dishonourable discharges, and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Now, six months after being separated and going to different prisons, the team escape and reform so that they can clear their names and get a little revenge. 


This is actually the third time that I have hired out this movie and I finally sat down and watched it. I’ve just found myself hard-pressed to watch films recently. A temporary glitch. This film was just a good bit of rollicking, action-packed fun. 
It had a decent story that contained some intrigue and mind games, a fitting script that occasionally became quite light-hearted and funny, and very likeable characters. As far as an action film goes, this was nicely balanced. It had the right amount of breathing space between all the fights and explosions and stuff. And the story was rather simple to follow as well, which is always nice. 
As I have never seen an episode of the original series, I can’t really say much about the performances because I have no real basis for comparison, but I felt that there was a companionship between the central characters that is crucial to these sorts of films. 
Starring Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Sharlto Copely, and Patrick Wilson, The A-Team was a fun and rollicking movie filled with gunplay, explosions, fire streams, fist to face combat, and reckless driving. It’s definitely worth watching at any rate. 

The Wizard of Oz [G]

When Dorothy and her dog Toto are whisked away from home in a twister, they crash land in the beautiful and magical world of OZ. Unable to find someone with the power to send her home, Dorothy embarks upon an epic journey to the Emerald City to ask the great and powerful Wizard of Oz for help. Meeting new friends along the way and carefully trying to avoid the Wicked Witch of the West makes this the adventure of a lifetime and teaches Dorothy that there’s no place like home. 

Based on the beloved novel by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz is a timeless fantasy classic. The story has been interpreted in many different ways over the years, but never actually re-done and I think that’s good because why would you mess with perfection? Just like the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the Star Wars films, this movie has no expiration date and will never seem outdated and “old”. 

When a terrible twister hits Dorothy’s home in Kansas, an adventure of a lifetime begins. After her house is sucked up into the cyclone, it crash lands in the magical land of Oz, on top of the Wicked Witch of the East unfortunately. Upon realising what she’s done, Dorothy quickly makes an enemy of the Witch of the East’s sister, the Wicked Witch of the West, and she becomes determined to get out of Oz all together. Unable to find anyone in Munchkinland to help her, Dorothy embarks on an epic journey down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to ask the great and powerful Wizard of Oz for help. Along the way she meets new friends who are in need of the wizard just as much as she is and, as they all journey together they become a sort of family. But all the same, the dangerous Wicked Witch of the West is after Dorothy and, although Oz is a very beautiful place, she’s about to realise that there’s no place like home. 

This movie is a timeless fantasy classic for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s a wonderful story that has the power to intrigue and entrance people of every age. 

Secondly, it spared no expenses in producing family entertainment. The film was rather expensive, I suppose because many of the sets, costumes, and characters were very grandiose and had to be produces in mass. The costumes for the characters alone had to be rather pricey, like the suits for the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, and Glinda the Good. And then the sets just went from strength to strength. Beginning in the beautiful world of Munchkinland, filled with thatched-roof houses, shimmering plastic flowers, and the bluest stream you’ve ever seen, we then venture through cornfields, forests, poppy fields, glittering castles, and hot air balloons. It was a very extravagant movie. 

Thirdly, I think this is the only film, it’s certainly the only film I’ve ever seen, that starts out in black and white and then goes to colour, ending in black and white again. This technique had such a powerful effect because it really conveyed the magic of the world of Oz. 

Fourthly, the performances from all the actors were brilliant. Most of them played double roles, someone in Kansas and then a reflective fantasy character in Oz. Other fantasy films have now adapted this technique of their actors playing duel roles for reflective fantasy characters, e.g. Jumanji and the live version of Peter Pan done in 2003. This is the film that turned Judy Garland from just a talented child actor into a lasting an iconic movie star. Playing one the most celebrated child heroines since Alice from Alice in Wonderland, Judy’s performance was absolutely mesmerising. 

Starring Ray Bolger, Frank Morgan, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin, Pat Walshe, Clara Blandick, Terry the Dog, and the Singer Midgets, The Wizard of Oz is a timeless family classic filled with memorable characters, adventure, wicked witches, magic spells, and a classic musical score. Making it into the book 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die that just says it all doesn’t it? It’s an epic classic. 

Ponyo [G]

One morning near his seaside home, 5 year-old Sosuke discovers a goldfish. Rescuing her from a tight jam jar, he names her Ponyo and the two promise to be friends forever. But when Ponyo’s father, a powerful underwater sorcerer forces back to the depths of the ocean, Ponyo becomes determined to return to Sosuke and become human. But when she escapes from her father, she upsets the balance of nature and now Sosuke has to prove his love so that the world can be put right. 

This is another anime classic from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, the genius who brought us Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away. This underwater classic is a visually stunning treat for the whole family. 

One morning near his seaside home, 5 year-old Sosuke discovers a goldfish that has washed up on shore with her head caught in a jam jar. After rescuing her, he names her Ponyo and the two promise to become friends forever. But when her father, a powerful underwater sorcerer, forces her to return to the depths of the ocean, Ponyo becomes determined to return to Sosuke and become human. But when she escapes from her father, she upsets the balance of nature and now Sosuke has to prove his love so that the world can be put right. 

The films of Hayao Miyazaki are rare gems, each and every one of them. They are original stories, some of which can be a little cheesy, but they keep you intrigued nonetheless. 

And the animation is positively enchanting. There is never a dull moment and certainly no dull colours whenever there’s a Hayao Miyazaki film on your screen. 

What makes Ponyo different from any of Miyazaki’s other films is that it is set underwater and therefore, it’s a whole other world to be visually interpreted. Akin to the Disney’s style with The Little Mermaid, the underwater world is bright and beautiful rather than murky and gloomy as most underwater tales tend to be. Then there are the wonderful magical characters that come straight from the imagination, making this film just visually stunning. 

Featuring the voice talents of Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Noah Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin, and Betty White, Ponyo a mesmerising family film that will have you sighing, giggling, and just warm all over. It’s a truly beautiful film. I heart it.

Creation [PG]

The world’s future can be changed with just a single idea, and Charles Darwin not only had the idea, but the truth. Suffering from illness and visits from his deceased daughter, Darwin struggles through the barriers of writing his book, accepting the consequences of the truth, and the battle between science and religion. 

Usually this sort of stuff doesn’t appeal to me, but I passed this title for the thousandth time at work today and, completely on impulse, hired it out to watch tonight. My advice to readers in need of a movie: go with your gut feeling. Throughout this film, I found myself completely enthralled, intrigued, giggling, and at one point even crying. It’s a brilliant film filled with melancholy music, strong moral dilemmas, and knockout performances. 

The future of the human race, of the world, can be changed with a single idea and Charles Darwin not only had the idea, but the truth. After twenty years of study and experiments, Darwin finally decides to complete his book: The Origin of Species. But his health is failing him and he harbours a guilty conscience that is kept alive by the visits of his deceased daughter, Annie. This is not only a conflict of interests, it’s a battle between science and religion and can Darwin find the strength to finish what he’s started and accept the devastating consequences? 

Based on the book Annie’s Box by Randal Keyes, Creation chronicles the events that surrounded Charles Darwin and his book The Origin of Species. 

What brings out all the emotions and created the atmosphere of this movie is the music. The score uses mostly violins, which I feel are the most melancholy of instruments and it’s their power that causes the audience to respond on an emotional level. The mixture of the actors’ performances and the music reduced me to tears in this film. 

Paul Bettany stars as Darwin and his performance was absolutely entrancing. He was warm, sincere, and loving, but also reclusive, introverted, and fearful. This is the most stunning performance I have seen Paul Bettany do. 

Starring Jennifer Connelly, Martha West, Jim Carter, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tony Jones, Creation was a wonderful drama filled with moral dilemmas, love, ambition, truths, and melancholy. It was really a beautiful film. 

Four Lions [M]

The “Four Lions” are four young Muslims living in Sheffield, who become radicalised and decide to become suicide bombers. Planning to blow themselves and leave their mark on the London Marathon, the four fall into a trap of squabbles, conflicts of interests, spiritual ideology, and lethal errors. 

According to the cover of this DVD, this film is “funny”. The cover literally says it over and over and over and over and over again. So I rented it, figuring that I need to take an active interest in every new release that comes into work. This is a very dark comedy and, although I did laugh a few times and I did team with the characters, all in all, I just don’t understand the humour. This is my own fault, obviously, but it still won’t stop me from writing that in a review. 

The “Four Lions” are four Muslims living in Sheffield, who become radicalised and decide to become suicide bombers. Planning to martyr themselves and leave their mark, literally, on the London Marathon, the group, prior to the execution of the plan, fall into the trap of squabbles, conflicts of interest, weakness of nerves, spiritual ideology, and fatal errors. 

I think this is the first film in which I’ve come a cropper. I honestly don’t know what to write about it. It was a very dark comedy, focusing on a theme that is a very delicate one in modern society and drawing comedy from that theme, which made it all very dark and sometimes sinister. 

I felt that the film relied on the sudden shock from the audience to move it through and, without giving too much away, some of the shocks were very sudden and unexpected. 

I suppose the film is an insight into a certain form of companionship that even exists within groups that are perceived as being threatening and wicked. The companionship between the “four lions” was a rather aggressive one, but it hammered home the messages that they were trying to covey. 

Starring Kayvan Novak, Nigel Lindsay, Riz Ahmed, Adeel Akhter, Preeya Kalidas, Mohammad Aqil. Arsher Ali, Julia Davis, and Craig Parkinson, Four Lions was a dark comedy, but an interesting look at companionship of another kind. 

Psycho [M]

When Marion Crane steals $40,000, she knows that she needs to leave town. Stopping in an off-road motel to avoid a stormy night, her journey is cut short when she is murdered. Soon, a private detective who is searching for Marion mysteriously disappears and the suspense and terror becomes realised when Marion’s sister and her lover, Sam, finally uncover the mysterious killer. 

Another of Alfred Hitchcock’s macabre masterpieces, Psycho is the film that spawned the infamous shower scene that has been sampled in numerous films and television series since. Filled with nothing but drama and suspense, I literally still have chills running down my spine. 

When Marion Crane steals $40,000, she knows that she needs to leave town. But her journey out of Arizona is cut short when she stops at an off-road motel to avoid a stormy night and she is murdered in the shower. Soon, a private detective who is investigating Marion’s disappearance as well as her theft, also mysteriously disappears when he stops at the motel. The terror is finally realised when Marion’s sister and her lover, Sam, go to the motel and uncover the mysterious killer. 

This is a wonderful psychological thriller and it has everything in it; murder, suspense, sinister characters, and it’s all in black and white, which just makes all the more thrilling and horrific. 

Anthony Perkins stars as Norman Bates, and that’s all I’m willing to say on the subject for those people who have not seen he film. His performance was absolutely chilling. He was sweet, charming, friendly, concerned, and menacing all at the same time. His performance was nothing short of genius. 

Also starring Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, and Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, Psycho is the chilling and macabre tale of a seriously troubled mind. 

Filled with theft, haunting music, chilling screams, murder, and a wonderfully memorable villain, it’s a wonderful psychological thriller what will send chills down your spine every time.