Scary Movie 2 [MA]

Cindy thought that all her troubles would be over as soon as she left high school. She was wrong. As soon as she goes to college she is selected, as well a few of her classmates, to assist their professor in a series of experiments that will prove the existence of life after death. However, the catch is that they all have to spend the weekend in a creepy old house and, from the moment they arrive, some seriously strange shit begins to happen. 

Well it’s apparent that no movie is sacred and it’s also apparent that the slogan on the cover of the first Scary Movie: No mercy. No shame. No sequel, lied. 

Cindy thought her troubles would be over as soon as she left high school. She was wrong. As soon as she gets to college she is selected, along with a few of her classmates, to assist their professor in a series of experiments that will prove the existence of life after death. However, these experiments are questionable from the word “go”, as they have to spend the weekend together in a decaying old mansion and, from the moment they arrive, some seriously strange shit starts to happen. 

I still agree with my statement that the first Scary Movie was the best, and I still didn’t even like it that much. As the first one took the piss out of horror films with psychotic killers in them, Scary Movie 2 takes us down the path of paranormal and supernatural horror films, being a fusion of The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Haunting. Other films such as Charlie’s Angels and The Wizard of Oz are also sampled and the film is pretty much just like the first, only not as cleverly written. The first movie harboured a few unexpected witty delights, but these were erased in this movie and replaced with toilet humour, because that’s what you really need in a movie that is packed full of gore and sex humour. 

Starring Anna Faris, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Tori Spelling, Tim Curry, David Cross, Chris Elliot, Christopher Masterson, Regina Hall, Natasha Lyonne, Kathleen Robertson, and James Woods, Scary Movie 2 was another crude horror-moving bashing filled with ghosts, demons, sex, drugs, under-developed body parts, haunted houses, possession, and a foul-mouthed parrot. Like the first one, you can watch it once, but once is quite enough. 

Scary Movie [MA]

Cindy and her friends accidentally killed a man and now, a year later, a psychotic masked figure is stalking them and killing them one by one. As her friends disappear in a haze of blood and guts, can Cindy work out who the killer is before he gets to her?

I’ll admit that taking the piss out of certain films and melding a few plots together is a fine idea…in theory. The downside to these sorts of films that make fun of other films is that many of them aren’t really clever. They may harbour some moments, but ultimately, spoof films like these only lend themselves to sex jokes, gay jokes, and gore humour. I laughed a couple of times, but ultimately, this is not my cup of tea. 

Cindy and her friends accidentally killed a man last Halloween and now, a year later, a psychotic masked figure is surreptitiously stalking and murdering them one by one. As her friends disappear in a haze of blood and guts, can Cindy work out who the killer is before he gets to her? 

There have been four Scary Movie films and, honestly, this is the best of the lot. That’s not really saying much as I would not even let the thought to add this to the collection wander into my mind. The humour is crude and the script is poor, but I will say that it does harbour a few unexpected clever surprises. 

As the title suggests, the film is taking the piss out of the most celebrated and popular scary movies. Scary Movie is a fusion of Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and samples other films such as The Blair Witch Project, The Matrix and Dawson’s Creek. Although the idea is rather clever and the script did harbour a few clever and witty delights, ultimately, Scary Movie was nothing more than 85 minutes of sex jokes, sex scenes, sexual references and innuendos, bad cross-dressing, gore, gay jokes, profanities, dope, and over-exaggerated performances. 

Starring Carmen Electra, Anna Faris, Dave Sheridan, Jon Abrahams, Regina Hall, Shannon Elizabeth, Marlon Wayans, Sean Wayans, and Keenen Ivory Wayans, Scary Movie was a good idea that didn’t quite work. It wasn’t clever, but crude and obvious, and was filled with murder, gore, all types of sex humour, and drugs. A film you can watch once, but once is quite enough thank you. 

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen [M]

When the Transformers came to Earth to find the All Spark, it was thought that that was the first time the two worlds had met. This was wrong. Centuries ago there was an epic battle over a machine that creates energy by destroying suns. The Primes were the creators of this machine and one of them, known as The Fallen, betrayed his brothers and planned to use the machine to destroy the human race. Centuries later, The Fallen is strengthening and Sam Witwicky holds the key to finding the machine. Can the Autobots find it before the Deceptecons? 

I thought the first film was action-packed, but this one… holy freaking shit! Powered by its mind-blowing special effects and epic battle scenes, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a science fiction film of epic proportions. Absolutely fantastic. 

When the Transformers came to Earth looking for the All Spark, it was thought that this was the first time the two races had encountered one another. This was wrong. Centuries ago there was an epic battle on Earth over a machine that created energy by destroying suns. The Primes were the creators of this machine and one of them, known as The Fallen, betrayed his brothers and planned to use the machine to destroy the human race, which he despised so much. Centuries later, The Fallen is regaining his strength and Sam Witwicky holds the key to finding the machine, which the Primes had hidden from their treacherous brother. Can Sam and the Autobots reach the machine before the Deceptecons? 

I think what was most amazing about this movie was the battle sequences between the Transformers. We’ve seen how violent and bloody warfare can be and this movie conveys the same gruesomeness and violence of war when the Transformers are battling one another. It personifies the characters in a sense, really showing us that they are not that dissimilar to humans and not just relying on the script. It actually got rather grim and gory. 

All our favourite characters are back as well as a few new ones that keep us in the here and now with they’re particular way of speaking. I particularly find the gangster twins very enjoyable. 

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Ramon Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Isabel Lucas, and featuring the voice talents of Peter Cullen, Mark Ryan, Reno Wilson, Robert Foxworth, Michael York, Charles Adler, Tom Kenny, and Hugo Weaving, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was a fantastic film filled with violence, action, romance, comedy, suspense, breakdowns, breakups, warfare, and everything in between. 

More rollicking than the first with more memorable characters and more amazing robotic creations, it’s a film you don’t want to miss. 

Groundhog Day [PG]

Grouchy and self-centred weatherman, Phil Connors, is sent with producer, Rita, and cameraman, Larry, to the little of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day ceremony: every February 2^nd a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil emerges and, depending on whether or not he sees a shadow, predicts if Spring will come early if there will be six more weeks of winter. Phil doesn’t want to be there at all so when he wakes up the next morning to discover that he’s reliving the same day, he is less than thrilled, a feeling which is heightened as he relives the same day over and over and over again. 

This was a very clever, charming, and original comedy. I was expecting it to be some sort of silly, repetitive, and predictable story, but it was actually really clever particularly because you never find out why Phil is forced to relive the same day over and over. It also, at one point, toon a turn for the sinister thus, making it a very engaging and evenly balanced comedy. 

Grouchy and self-centred weatherman, Phil Connors, is sent with producer, Rita, and cameraman, Larry, to the little town of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day ceremony: every February 2^nd a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil emerges and, depending on whether or not he sees a shadow, predicts if Spring will come early or if there’ll be another six weeks of winter. Phil doesn’t want to be there at all so when he wakes up the next morning to discover that he’s reliving the same day, he is less than thrilled, a feeling which is heightened as he discovers that he’s waking up to the same day over and over and over again. 

As I mentioned before, this is a very clever and original story, one that had a strong message about goodwill to all men and no reason to its rhyme. You never learn what causes Phil to relive the same day over and over and usually that would annoy the crap out of anyone, but the way the script and screenplay are written prevents you from dwelling on the fact that you don’t know why all this is happening. It’s really clever and I don’t think there has ever been a comedy that has done that, before or since. 

Bill Murray stars as Phil and he was brilliant. He’s a perfect prick to begin with, but as he goes through these different frames of mind caused by the repetition of the day, you find yourself willing him to succeed in straightening everything out. He delivered a performance that was egocentric, comedic, gluttonous, suicidal, romantic, charming, and versatile. He’s was just great the watch. 

Starring Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray, Marita Geraghty, Angela Paton, Rick Ducommun, and Rick Overton, Groundhog Day was a cleverly constructed comedy that was filled with sarcasm, slapstick, romance, all things cold, and Sonny and Cher. Securing a place in The Book it’s definitely a film you have to see before you die. 

Transformers [M]

Many years ago, on the planet Cybertron, a great battle took place and the All Spark, a cube of raw power, was lost amongst the stars. The evil Megatron, leader of the Deceptecons, followed it to Earth, but froze in the Arctic before he could retrieve it and use its powers to create a new army to destroy humankind. Now the key to finding the All Spark is imprinted on the glasses of the grandfather of Sam Witwicky, and it’s up to Sam to team up with Optimus Prime and his team of Autobots and find the All Spark before the Deceptecons do. 

This is another film where I have to swallow my pride and thank my brother. I knew of this film, but I had never had any strong desires to see. It had never seemed like my cup of tea. But after continual bating and nagging from my brother, I finally agreed to sit down with him and watch it. So glad that I did. It’s filled with action, science fiction, romance, memorable characters, and comedy. It’s a very good, balanced film. 

Many years ago on the planet Cybertron, a great battle took place between the Deceptecons and the Autobots and the All Spark, a cube of raw power, was lost amongst the stars. The evil Megatron, leader of the Deceptecons, followed the Cube to Earth, but crash landed in the Arctic and froze before he could retrieve it and use it to carry out his plan: create an army to destroy humankind. Now the key to finding the Cube is imprinted on the glasses of the grandfather of young Sam Witwicky and it’s up to Sam to team up with Optimus Prime and his team of Autobots and find and destroy the Cube before it falls into the hands of the Deceptecons. 

I thought this film was going to be all action and, to a certain extent it was, but the action seemed to move the story along. Unlike Dead Man’s Chest where the action was there purely to hold the attention of the audience, the action used in Transformers works much better because a) the story is about science fiction and battles, and b) the action no only held the audiences’ attention, but also moved the plot forwards. Without the fights and everything, we would not be able to learn about the Cube and the major point of the story. 

Shia LaBeouf stars as Sam Witwicky and he’s absolutely brilliant. He reminds me of a young Vince Vaughn in that he can fit so many words into the space of 60 seconds and articulate each one perfectly. His performance brought everything to the film: comedy, romance, action, and peace. He’s the centre of the universe and a complete delight from start to finish. 

Starring Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Anthony Anderson, John Voight, John Turturro and featuring the voice talents of Peter Cullen, Mark Ryan, Robert Foxworth, Darius McCrary, and Hugo Weaving, Transformers was a rollicking film filled with action, comedy, romance, awesome special effects, warfare, and heaps of epic battles. I absolutely love it! 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End [M]

With the heart of Davy Jones in the hands of Cutler Beckett, the East India Trading Company is taking over the seas with the Flying Dutchman bringing down any ship it its wake. With all their hideouts under attack, the free pirates of the world must come together in the Brethren Court and decide what needs to be done: will they sit and cower or will that stand and fight?

At this point, it’s pointless expecting anything as phenomenal as Curse of the Black Pearl. With this being the follow on to Dead Man’s Chest, you just need to sit back and enjoy the ride. I will say though, that there was not as much exaggerated action this time round and the script played a bigger role that it had in the last movie. 

With the heart of Davy Jones in the hands of Cutler Beckett, the East India Trading Company is taking over the seas, with the Flying Dutchman bringing down any ship in its wake. With every pirate and every person associated with piracy under attack, a final stand has to be made. As the Last Song is sung, the Brethren Court is called together, and Will, Elizabeth and the crew of the Black Pearl embark upon a rescue mission to Davy Jones’ Locker, under the command of the once-dead Captain Barbossa, to bring back Captain Jack Sparrow, the last of the nine pirate lords who must attend the Brethren Court. With all the free pirates of the world coming together, they must make one final decision: do they sit and cower or do they stand and fight? 

Toning down on the computer graphics and exaggerated swordfights, At World’s End was a better film in terms of script and story. As Captain Jack and Cutler Beckett go head to head, you find yourself, along with every other character, in an intricate web of cleverness with each character trying to outsmart the others. Every action in this story is planned by someone else and it’s really interesting writing. 

The other thing that made this film for me was the gag with Captain Jack. Remember how in Curse of the Black Pearl, I mentioned that Johnny Depp based the character of Captain Jack on a cross between Pepe Le Pew and Keith Richards? Well, guess who plays Captain Jack’s father! That’s right rockers, there’s a Rolling Stone in a pirate film! Now that’s a clever gag. 

The other nice thing about this movie was that there was more emphasis placed upon the final battle, rather than exaggerated one-on-one swordfights. The final battle at the climax of the movie was awesome! And I also have to say that I enjoyed Keira Knightley’s passionate speech to her fellow pirates. It was very liberating. 

Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Chun Yow Fat, Geoffrey Rush, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Stellen Skarsgard, Mackenzie Crook, Lee Arenberg, Kevin R. McNally, and Naomie Harris, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End was a fun and rollicking ride on a ship bound for Hell. Filled with swashbuckling action, epic ocean battles, romance, and plenty of humour, it’s not as good as the first one, but it’s better balanced that the second one. Either way, you have to have it in the collection.

 “Yo ho. Haul together. Hoist the colours high. Heave ho. Thieves and beggars. Never shall we die.”  

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest [M]

The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow is not as smooth and carefree as he seems. He’s got a debt to pay to none other than Davy Jones. Jack’s time is up and he must serve one hundred years before the mast on the Flying Dutchman or else be left to the mercy of the Kraken. There is one way Jack can get out of his predicament: find the chest that holds the still-beating heart of Davy Jones. Armed with that leverage, Jack’s fate may be a bit brighter. 

With the unanticipated success of The Curse of the Black Pearl, two new writers have come in and decided to make Pirates of the Caribbean a trilogy (they’ve actually made a fourth one recently). All our favourite characters are back for another swashbuckling adventure with more action, more action, and more action than the first one. 

The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow is not a smooth and carefree as he seems. He’s got a debt to pay to none other than Davy Jones. Jack’s time is up and he must serve one hundred years before the mast on the Flying Dutchmen or else be left to the mercy of the Kraken. There is one way Jack can get out of his predicament: find the chest that holds the still-beating heart of Davy Jones. Armed with that leverage, Jack’s fate may be a bit brighter. However, there are dangers and troubles surrounding the issue of finding the chest, which are only heightened when Will Turner and Elizabeth turn up to get Jack’s compass to bargain for their lives. Each with their own problems, can they find the chest and save their skins before it’s too late? 

Although this film was just as fun and rollicking as the first film, I do feel that there was more emphasis placed upon the special effects and the swordfights were a little too extravagant. Even the script seemed as though it was trying really hard to be as funny as the first movie and, therefore, did not end up being so. 

Joining our original cast line up of Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly, Mackenzie Crook, Kevin R. McNally, Lee Arenberg, Jack Davenport, and Jonathan Pryce are a few new faces including Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, Stellen Skarsgard as Bootstrap Bill Turner, Tom Hollander as Cutler Beckett, and Naomie Harris as Tia Dalma. 

The special effects and computer graphics went all out for this one. In Curse of the Black Pearl the only real computer generated characters were the cursed pirates, whereas in Dead Man’s Chest there are computer generated characters left, right, and centre and because there are so many thrown at you, the film lost that genuine good-movie vibe that was so evident in the first one. All in all, this did not feel like a Pirates movie, there was too much emphasis placed upon stunts and computer graphics and that tipped the scale and overpowered the genuinely memorable characters and clever writing. It seemed as though all departments on this film were battling to be the centre of attention and, at the end of the day, that doesn’t make a real sastisfactory film. 

Filled with humorous punch lines, epic swordfights, heaps of computer graphics, and memorable characters, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest was a fun and rollicking movie, but was nowhere near as brilliant as the first one. Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot and that’s the case with this film unfortunately. 

Blade Runner [M]

In the early 21^st century, advanced robotics was pushed forward into the Nexus phase. A new brand of robots that were virtually identical to humans were created, known as Replicants. Unfortunately, these Replicants soon became a threat to humans as they were envious of the human life span and wanted so to be human. With the Replicants cutting human lives short, a new brand of police, known as Blade Runners, were brought in to “retire” the Replicants prowling the streets. But how can you tell who’s human and who’s not? 

It’s in The Book, kids are studying it at school, and it’s one of those films that you hear about all the time. However, after sitting down to finally watch it this Saturday morning, I can honestly say that I don’t understand what is soo epically special about this film. Yes, it had a great and original story and there was plenty of action to hold my attention, but all in all, Blade Runner is not a film that I can see myself watching again. Once is quite enough. 

"Early in the 21^st century, the Tyrell Corporation advanced Robot evolution into the Nexus phase – a being virtually identical to a human – known as a Replicant. The nexus 6 Replicants were superior in strength and agility, and at least equal in intelligence, to the genetic engineers who created them. Replicants were uses Off-World as slave labour, in the hazardous exploration and colonisation of other planets. After a bloody mutiny by a Nexus 6 combat team in an Off-World colony, Replicants were declared illegal on earth – under penalty of death. Special police squads – Blade Runner Units – had orders to shoot to kill, upon detection, any trespassing Replicant. This was not called execution. It was called retirement."

The crime of the Replicants: wanting to live longer, wanting to be human. And when a group of Nexus 6 Replicants return to Earth to track down their creator in a less-than-friendly manner, former Blade Runner, Rick Deckard, has to get back on the streets to “retire” the Replicants before they do something irrational.  But it’s been a while since Deckard has been in the game and how can you tell what’s human and what’s not? 

I think the thing that made this film so “amazing” was the futuristic setting. The film takes place in Los Angeles in 2019 and we see an Earth that is dominated by neon lights and continual acid rain. Despite the neon, it’s a pretty dim and gloomy future. 

Harrison Ford stars as Deckard and I have to say that this is the first film starring Harrison where I’ve just sat there and gone “meh”. There was nothing impressive or memorable about his performance, he was just Harrison Ford. I don’t know, I just don’t think this movie was my style. 

Starring Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, and Daryl Hannah, Blade Runner was fine for what it was, but it wasn’t all that. Backed by an original story (which the whole film relied on) and dominated by action, bloodshed, and science fiction, it’s a film you have to see at least once, but in all honesty I believe once is enough. It won’t be making it into the collection, that’s for sure. 

Days of Wine and Roses [M]

Public relations hot shot, Joe, is a social drinker who never stops socialising. One day he meets a beautiful girl, falls in love, and the two get married. To keep him company, Kirsten, his wife, takes up drinking, and before they know it, the two have become trapped in a web of alcoholism. 

This was a deeply stirring drama about the tragic cycle of alcoholism and finding the strength to stop. With stunning performances from the romantic leads, Days of Wine and Roses was a beautifully crafted film that really should have made it into my movie bible: 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die. 

Public relations hot shot, Joe, is a social drinker who never stops socialising. One day he meets Kirsten, the prettiest girl he’s ever seen and he immediately falls in love with her. After they are married, Kirsten starts drinking to keep Joe company and, before they know it, the pair have become trapped in a web of alcoholism. 

This movie really opened my eyes to what it means to be addict. The power of the film comes solely from the stunning performances from Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. It’s a real actors’ movie. 

Jack Lemmon stars as Joe and his performance was absolutely amazing. I was completely captivated from the start. He’s charming throughout the entire film, but those scenes where he goes insane from a strong need for drink are deeply deeply moving. Like right-down-at-the-bottom-of-your-stomach deeply moving. His repetition of the line “who took it? Who took it?” when he cannot find his extra bottle almost reduced me to tears. I cannot put into words how much of an impression Jack’s performance left on me.  He is officially in my Top Ten Favourite Actors list. 

Lee Remick stars Kirsten and hers was a strong performance also. Admittedly, I don’t like actresses so I did not find her performance as captivating and strong as Jack’s, but she definitely made my stomach turn over. It was really sad to watch her go from this innocent woman who never drank, to a real alcoholic who cannot bear the idea of going without a drink (even if she burns down the house in the process). She’s a wonderful actress. 

Starring Jack Klugman, Alan Hewitt, Tom Palmer, and Jack Albertson, Days of Wine and Roses was a beautifully crafted drama about dependency and struggle and it was filled with drama, romance, charm, comedy, and plenty to drink. It’s a film that will stay with me forever and one that I strongly suggest everyone watch. Even if you don’t much fancy the subject matter, this film will open your eyes as to what a true addict is. It’s a work of pure genius. Deeply moving!

Brazil [M]

Somewhere in the twentieth century lives a mid-level bureaucrat working hard to stamp out terrorism and daydreaming of a beautiful, mysterious woman in his free time. When he discovers that the woman of his dreams does exist, he embarks on a romantic venture, unwittingly becoming entangled in an underground terrorist operation and, finally, becoming a prisoner of his own romantic fantasies. 

This has to be one of the most bizarre films I have ever seen in my life. With its black comedy, original story, and amazing performances, Brazil was one of the best mind trips I’ve been on and it’s one that I think everyone should go on at least once. 

Somewhere in the twentieth century lives a mid-level bureaucrat working hard to stamp out terrorism and daydreaming of a beautiful, mysterious woman in his down time. When he discovers that the woman of his dreams does in fact exist, he embarks upon a thrilling romantic venture, unwittingly becoming entangled in an underground terrorist operation and finally, becoming a prisoner of his own romantic fantasies. 

Set in a futuristic yet plausible world where society is dominated by paranoia, obsession with plastic surgery, and totalitarianism, the film starts off with a bang…literally. The first scene shows a shop being blown up, instantly grabbing the audience by the throat and holding their attention for the remainder of the film. A clever and very effective plot device. 

The central humour of the film is very dark and not dissimilar to the comedy of the Coen brothers in that all these terrible things happen and are made to happen by a simple mistake or misunderstanding. In the case of Brazil, a squashed bug falls into a typewriter that is issuing arrest warrants for a Mr. Tuttle and the insect causes a typo resulting in the arrest of a Mr. Buttle. It’s this tiny typo that brings about the terrible dramas that are quick to follow. It’s all very sick, but at the same time rather funny. I suppose you need to have the warped sense of humour that I have to understand the brilliance of it all. 

Jonathan Pryce stars as Sam Lowry, the hero, and his performance was absolutely awesome. I usually don’t use the word “awesome” to describe performances because the actual meaning of the word has been lost over the years, but when I use it here, I use it in the true and original sense of the word. The performance that Jonathan delivered literally made my jaw drop and I was completely captivated as his character went from innocent worker to crazed romantic lunatic. Watching him was like watching the most placid and gentle cat, catch and throttle a bird right out of the sky. He was completely harmless to begin with, but as his adventure becomes more and more bizarre, he suddenly turns and becomes this obsessive, screaming wild man. It was absolutely amazing to behold. 

Starring Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, Robert De Niro, Ian Holm, Katherine Helmond, Jim Broadbent, Peter Vaughn, and Ian Richardson, Brazil was an epic mind trip and a pure work of genius from Terry Gilliam. It was filled with action, romance, science fiction, explosions, terrorists, surgery, torture, and was nominated (and rightly so) for two Academy Awards, which where for Best Screenplay, and Best Art Direction. It’s a bizarre and fantastically twisted film that everyone needs to see at least once. 

Music and Lyrics [PG]

80s has-been Alex Fletcher has been happily living in the glory days of 80s pop music, but tat changes when the biggest tween pop star, Cora, on the music scene asks him to write a new song that they can perform together and can go on her next album. Unfortunately writing the lyrics for songs has never been a strong point for Alex and with Cora wanting the song completed by Friday, Alex needs a miracle. Funnily enough, he finds that miracle in Sophie, a vivacious young woman who comes to water his plants. 

Like Kate & Leopold, 27 Dresses, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, this is a feel-good romantic comedy that’s filled with wit, charm, cheesy music, and memorable characters. It’s perfect for an afternoon curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee. I love it. 

80s has-been, Alex Fletcher has been happily living in the glory days of 80s pop music. Performing his old songs for women and fans his own age, his career is thriving. But that changes when the hottest tween pop star on top of the charts, Cora, asks him to write her a song that they can perform together and put on her almost-completed album. Unfortunately, writing lyrics has never been a strength of Alex’s, and with Cora wanting the song by the end of the week, Alex needs a miracle. Funnily enough, he finds that miracle in Sophie, a bubbly young woman who waters his plants. When Sophie absent-mindedly spouts some romantic lyrics whiles watering the plants, Alex is amazed by her talent, and the two team up to write the song for Cora. The question is, can they finish it in time? 

The script for this film is very funny. Very fresh, charming and witty, and some of the 80s songs that Hugh Grant has to sing are so delightfully cheesy and fitting of the age. I haven’t laughed so much as songs since Get Him to the Greek, This is Spinal Tap and School of Rock. Although, admittedly the eras are very different, nevertheless the songs in this film were wonderfully heartfelt, but sooo cheesy. 

Hugh Grant stars as the happy has-been Alex Fletcher. Hugh’s is just a natural romantic. In everything I’ve seen him in, he’s always charming, witty and completely irresistible. Even if you’re not physically attracted to him (which I’m not), his punctuality and articulation and gentlemanly accent is what keeps you transfixed. He’s got a powerful ally in his corner. Not to mention in this film he sings, and let me tell you, he pulls off the cheesy romantic 80s thing a little too well. He’s hugely entertaining in this film. 

Drew Barrymore stars as Sophie and she was just gorgeous. I think this is the most memorable role I’ve ever seen her do. She was bubbly, charming, intelligent, insane, and a complete darling. I’ve always said that Drew is one of the most beautiful actresses working on the screen today and I still stand by that statement. She also sings in this movie, one lovely duet with Hugh, and the chemistry between the two leads was perfect. I absolutely love Drew. 

Starring Brad Garrett, Hayley Bennett, Jason Antoon, and Kristen Johnston, Music and Lyrics is a charming and witty romantic comedy that’s filled with cheesy pop songs, tight pants, bad dance moves, edgy music videos, and screaming women. Perfect for an afternoon movie, I love it to pieces. 

Lolita [M]

When Professor Humbert comes to Ramsdale, New Hampshire, his is instantly smitten with his landlady’s precocious daughter Lolita. Marrying Charlotte, the landlady so that me might be closer to Lolita, Humbert develops a strong possessive attitude towards her and when disaster befalls Charlotte, a bizarre love triangle emerges with Lolita as its apex. 

From director Stanley Kubrick, the genius who brought us such films as The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, and Eyes Wide Shut, comes this intriguing black and white drama that explores the theme of sexual obsession filled with drama, suspense, romance, and manipulation. 

When Professor Humbert comes to Ramsdale, New Hampshire, his is instantly smitten with his landlady’s beautiful and precocious daughter, Lolita. Marrying Charlotte, the landlady, so that he might get closer to Lolita, Humbert soon develops a strong possessive attitude towards her and when disaster befalls poor Charlotte, a bizarre love triangle forms that will only bring about the demise of the victims of the young temptress Lolita. 

The film begins at the end, a clever plot device used to engage the audience. The story and drama itself is rather subdued and the power of the film comes from the performances from its actors. 

James Mason stars as Humbert and he was perfect. Gentlemanly and polite to begin with, he gradually develops into a jealous and obsessive psycho and his performance was very empowering and deeply moving. 

Shelley Winters stars as Charlotte and hers was a particularly powerful performance. Playing a mother who is bitterly jealous of her daughter must be an emotional strain and Shelley delivered a performance that was persistent, trying, and at the same time deeply melancholy. She played a very tragic role and I congratulate her. 

Peter Sellars plays the role of Clare Quilty and he was genius. It’s amazing how he can fit so many words into a minute and still articulate each one perfectly. He delivered a performance that was engaging, but also provided the film with a little comic relief to play against the drama. Kudos. 

Starring Sue Lyon as the teenage temptress herself, Lolita is a great classic that is filled with drama, romance, obsession, manipulation, slapstick comedy, and murder. It’s definitely a film you have to see at least once. 

Marnie [M]

Meet Marnie, a compulsive liar, thief, and deeply troubled woman. After making off with ten thousand dollars from her previous employer, Marnie is hired by the handsome Mr Rutland, whom she then attempts to rob. Having outsmarted and tracked her down, Rutland presents her with a choice: marriage or jail. But as Marnie begins to have fits of aggressiveness and obsessive behaviour, it becomes apparent to Rutland that there is more to this beauty than meets the eye. 

From director Alfred Hitchcock comes this chilling, but subdued by comparison, psychological thriller that explores the frailty of the human mind. 

Marnie is a beautiful woman, compulsive liar, and thief, who is deeply troubled. She experiences fits of great terror when she’s sees the colour red, she is terribly frightened of thunder and lightning, she cannot bear to be touched by any man, she suffers from terrible nightmares, and she cannot understand what her dreams mean nor can she remember much of childhood. After making off with ten thousand dollars from the safe of her previous employer, Marnie goes to work for the handsome Mark Rutland, whom she then tries to rob. Having the advantage of crossing paths with her before, Mark tracks her down and presents her with a choice: marriage or jail. After developing a strong attachment to Marnie, Mark is then shocked to discover that she suffers from these nightmares and fits of anxiety. As her behaviour becomes worse, Mark forces Marnie to confront the demons from her past, but doing this will bring some very nasty truths to light. 

I don’t know, this didn’t really feel like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. The music was a little more romantic, and although there were suspenseful and terrifying elements in the story, the film ended with some form of peaceful closure that didn’t really keep you on edge like other Hitchcock films. 

I do have to say though, that Hitchcock’s use of suspense and humour went hand in hand. There is one scene where Marnie is emptying Rutland’s safe and then trying to sneak out very carefully without being noticed by the cleaning lady. Unfortunately she drops a shoe with a great thud, but the cleaning lady doesn’t seem to notice. We later learn that she is deaf. 

Tippi Hedren is Marnie and I have to say that she delivered a much more dramatic and impressive performance than she did in The Birds. Here she was impulsive, smooth, charming, and a lovely tragic. She was mesmerising. 

Sean Connery stars as Mark Rutland and he was just gorgeous. You cannot help but swoon. His performance was charming, quick-witted, concerned, romantic, and a complete gentleman. I loved him. 

Starring Diane Baker, Martin Gable, Louise Latham, Bob Sweeney, Milton Selzer, Mariette Hartley, Alan Napier, Bruce Dern, Henry Beckman, S. John Launer, Edith Evanson, and Meg Wyllie, Marnie was a chilling portrait of a disturbed woman that was filled with romance, theft, nightmares, horses, fits, and suspicion. A fine movie, but not Hitchcock’s finest. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [M]

Elizabeth Swan, daughter of the Governor of Port Royal, has always dreamed that it would be exciting to meet a pirate. However, that dream soon turns into a nightmare when the fearsome crew of the infamous Black Pearl kidnaps her. Desperate to rescue the woman he loves, Will Turner enlists the help of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow to commandeer a royal naval ship and embark upon a great adventure that will change his life. 

I went and saw this in the cinemas purely because I was going through an Orlando Bloom phase at the time. I had no idea what the film was about and therefore came out of the cinema bubbling with excitement because I had seen the greatest and rollicking pirate film of all time. I went and saw it a grand total of three times when it was at the cinemas. 

“This is Aztec gold. One of 882 pieces they delivered in a stone chest, Cortez himself. Blood money paid to stem the slaughter he wreaked upon them with his armies. But the greed of Cortez was insatiable. So the Heathen Gods placed upon the gold, a terrible curse. Any mortal who removes but a single piece from that stone chest shall be punished for eternity.” 

Elizabeth Swan, daughter of the Governor of Port Royal, has always dreamed that it would be exciting to meet a pirate. But that dream quickly turns into a nightmare when the fearsome crew of the Black Pearl kidnaps her. Once aboard the ship, the nightmare becomes more frightening as Elizabeth discovers that Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants are cursed with immortality and plan on using her blood to end their suffering. As soon as he learns that Elizabeth has been kidnapped, Will Turner the talented blacksmith embarks on an epic venture to rescue her, enlisting the help of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, pirate and former captain of the Black Pearl. Commandeering a royal naval ship and sailing with a buccaneer crew, Will is soon on an epic adventure that will change his life forever. 

THIS MOVIE AHD EVERYTHING RIGHT!!! Like a pirates version of Star Wars or Indiana Jones, it was perfectly balanced between comedy, action, and romance, and the power of the film came from its original story and its memorable characters. Even the original soundtrack was rollicking and memorable. 

I think what made the film such a success was the fact that it was a good old-fashioned pirate movie. These pirates didn’t wear striped shirts and have hooks for hands or anything, they were rotting human beings and this effect was perfectly achieved by the makeup and costume designers. Kudos. 

The script was an absolute winner! The marriage between the script and the characters is what makes or breaks a movie and in this film it was a match made in Heaven. 

Not to mention the performances! This movie had the most unusual mix of stars in it and each one delivered a knockout performance. 

Johnny Depp stars as Captain Jack Sparrow and he was nothing short of genius. This is the movie where I first fell in love with Johnny Depp. I remember reading an interview where he said that he based the character of Captain Jack on a cross between Keith Richards and Pepe Le Pew and the rest remains to be seen. His performance was charming, funny, swashbuckling, and just so memorable. To this day, my family still use quotes from Captain Jack around the house. 

Geoffrey Rush stars as Captain Barbossa and he was amazing. I seriously believe that Geoffrey was a wicked pirate captain in a previous life. He was charming, but at the same time menacing and a real delight to watch from start to finish. 

Starring Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly, Jack Davenport, and Jonathan Pryce, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a timeless classic action film filled with swordfights, curses, knockout special effects, romance, amazing costumes, killer makeup design, ships, and treasure. It’s the perfect stay-in-with-pizza-on-a-Saturday-night type movie. I love it to pieces!

Meet Me In St. Louis [G]

In the city of St. Louis lives a lovely family of girls, the two eldest of which are chasing boys. Whilst the eldest sister Rose, has a proposal on the way, second eldest, Esther is pining for the boy next door. And with news that they are soon to leave their beloved St. Louis and move to New York, can Esther get her beau in time? 

This has to be one of the most pointless musicals in cinema history. There was no story, the songs were admittedly catching, but genuinely mediocre, and it just suddenly ended. I honestly can’t see the appeal in this movie at all, even for then 40s when it was made. 

In the city of St. Louis lives a charming family of girls, the two eldest of which are chasing boys. Whilst Rose, the eldest in the family, has a proposal on the way, Esther, the second eldest, is pining for the boy next door. With all the excitement about the World’s Fair and the news that they are soon leaving their beloved St. Louis and moving to New York, can Esther get her beau in time? 

What’s most unusual and unsuccessful about this movie is the combination of the two genres: musical and melodrama. There are catchy, light-hearted show tunes scattered throughout the film to play against the dramatic actions of the youngest daughter Tootie, and it just doesn’t work. 

As I mentioned before, there is no story to speak of, merely a chain of subdued dramas that are quick to be resolved. Although the movie gave us memorable songs such as The Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, even those songs that are still heard today cannot save this film. 

Judy Garland stars as Esther and I have to honestly say that Judy reached her actor’s peak when she did The Wizard of Oz. Watching her in this film did nothing for me whatsoever. I’ll happily admit that she is a visual treat and that it’s amazing that someone with the face of a pixie can have such a strong and belting singing voice, but all in all that’s all I can credit her with in this movie. Sorry. 

I think the only thing that I liked in this film was the authentic costumes. Those ruffles and full skirts and corsets are always hypnotising to watch on screen, especially in dance and ball scenes. 

Starring Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Leon Ames, Tom Drake, Marjorie Main, Harry Davenport, June Lockhart, Henry H. Daniels Jr., Joan Carroll Hugh Marlowe, Robert Sully, Chill Wills, Gary Gray, and Dorothy Raye, Meet Me In St. Louis was a pointless musicalthat had romance, melodrama, show tunes, and comedy randomly scattered throughout. I have no strong desires to add it to my collection. 

Clang clang clang went the trolley. Ding ding ding went the bell. Zing zing zing went my heartstrings. From the moment I saw you I fell. 

Gone With the Wind [PG]

Miss Scarlett is a young and vivacious lady who has men falling at her feet, but she only has eyes for Ashley Wilkes. But unfortunately his heart belongs to someone else, and it infuriates Scarlett that she might not have what she desires. As the Civil War sweeps through the Southern cities, leaving a trail of destruction behind it, more and more dramas are set into motion around Miss Scarlett, many of which include young Captain Rhett Butler whom, much to her dismay, is her other half. 

Based on the best-selling book by Margaret Mitchell, Gone With the Wind is probably the most iconic, tragic, and heartbreaking romantic drama to ever grace our screens. Snatching up an amazingly impressive 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, it needs to be a whopping 224 minutes to fit in all the drama and tragedy that it harbours. Filled with spellbinding performances, wonderful costumes, beautiful tragedies, and plenty of hope, it’s a must-have in any film buff’s collection. 

Miss Scarlett is a young and vivacious lady who has men falling at her feet, but she only has eyes for Ashley Wilkes. But unfortunately, his heart belongs to someone else and it infuriates Scarlett to think that she might never have what she so greatly desires. But her manipulative and stubborn nature sees her embark on a fruitless venture to make him love her. As the Civil War sweeps through the Southern cities, leaving a trail of destruction behind it, more and more dramas are set into motion around Miss Scarlett, most of which include young Captain Rhett Butler, an arrogant man bringing in the end of chivalry and gentlemen. As Scarlett’s venture to make Ashley love her are met with no success, it enrages her to discover that, however ungallant and insufferable he may be, Rhett Butler is her other half. 

Frankly my dear, this film had everything right. The story was completely engaging, the music was uplifting and liberating, the costumes were absolutely and fantastically authentic and over-the-top, but I think what makes the film most memorable were the performances from the two romantic leads. 

Vivien Leigh stars as Scarlett and she was nothing short of genius. Her perfect articulation and dramatic screams and fits of anger and distress were mesmerising and it’s wonderful to find a character that you hate, but at the same time support. You want to smack her for what she’s doing, but at the same time you want her to succeed. I don’t think I’ve ever met a character with such a strong hypocrisy attached to them as I found with Scarlett. 

Clark Gable stars as Rhett Butler and he was a gem. There is something very attractive about men who aren’t gentlemen and don’t pretend to be gentlemen. Clark was cynical, aggressive, romantic, charming, witty, and a complete scoundrel. He had a real magnetism about him and the chemistry between Vivien and Clark was absolutely amazing. 

Starring Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O’Neil, Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, George Reeves, Fred Crane, Hattie McDaniel, Oscar Polk, Butterfly McQueen, Victor Jory, and Everett Brown, Gone With the Wind was a long-winded, but deeply moving film that was filled, absolutely filled with drama, disaster, tragedy, romance, a few dashes of comedy, and finally… hope. Because after all, tomorrow is another day. 

"Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn."

Velvet Goldmine [MA]

In 1971 Glam Rock exploded onto the music scene in a shower of glitter and sparkles. At the centre of the phenomenon was the eccentric and flamboyant performer, Brian Slade. Inspiring countless teenage boys and girls to paint their nails and explore their sexuality, soon Brian learns that he cannot escape the persona he has created. He stages a fake assassination and now, ten years later, a persistent journalist is out to discover the truth and answer the question “what ever happened to Brian Slade?” 

I had seen this film before, but could hardly remember anything, so when I came across it at work and saw the great cast that it has, I was instantly eager to watch it again. It’s a shocking, tragic, but very beautiful film about music, fashion, corruption, and decay. How rock stars set out to change the world, but end up with a changed world perspective. It’s an elegant and decadent film that will definitely stay with you. 

In 1971 Glam Rock exploded onto the music scene in a shower of glitter and sparkles. At the centre of the phenomenon in England was eccentric and flamboyant performer Brian Slade. Inspiring countless teenage boys and girls to paint their nails, apply their eyeliner, and explore their sexuality, it soon transpires that Brian cannot escape the persona he has created. So he stages a fake assassination, which both shocks and outrages his fans and brings his career cascading down. Now, ten years later, a persistent journalist is out to discover the truth, the reason behind the rhyme, and answer that question: “what ever happened to Brian Slade?”

It should be known that the Glam Rock era is my favourite era of music. It was elegant, outrageous, free, and impulsive, and watching films like this just radiates that vibe of defiance and controversy. It’s very liberating. 

The soundtrack is an absolute winner with original songs as well as memorable songs of the age from T-Rex, Lou Reed, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Pulp, and Roxy Music. For any lover of rock music, this is a flick for you. 

And then there is the makeup and the costumes! Oh I felt as though I’d died and gone to Heaven. The gorgeous girls and glamorous guys! No expense was spared. There was everything from full body painting and glitter, feathers, satin, shimmering leather, boas, top hats, flowers, and who knows what else. It was more of a visual film rather than one of story, and it was absolutely stunning. 

Starring Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Toni Collette, and Eddie Izzard, Velvet Goldmine is a fantastic rock film filled with glamour, nudity, drugs, sex, corruption, decay, and rocking music. There are some scenes that can be a little confronting and almost shocking, but that’s what brings the drama to the film. It’s absolutely wonderful. 

American Beauty [MA]

Lester Burnham is a man who has reached that point in his life where he stops and asks himself “where did the happiness go?” His wife is not attracted to him, his daughter won’t speak to him, and life no longer affords him any pleasures. That is until he lays eyes on his daughter, Jane’s, best friend Angela, and he begins to make some changes in his life in the hope that he might be able to seduce her. 

Take a closer look at American suburbia, at those people living the American Dream. Are they happy? HELL NO! American Beauty is a beautifully crafted drama that depicts the shockingly true lives of those people leading a fairy tale life. A peek behind the red curtain, so to speak. It’s an absolutely mesmerising film from start to finish. 

“My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighbourhood. This is my street. This is my life. I’m 42 years old. In less than a year, I’ll be dead. Of course, I don’t know that yet. And in a way, I’m dead already.” 

Lester Burnham is a man who has reached that point in his life where he stops and asks himself “where did all the happiness go?” His wife is not attracted to him, his daughter, Jane, refuses to speak to him, his job is enraging, and life has ceased to afford him any pleasures. That is until he lays eyes on Jane’s best friend Angela. As he begins to have erotic fantasies about her, Lester begins to make some changes in his life in the hope that he might be able to seduce her. But while Lester is bodybuilding and smoking illicit drugs, other dramas, regarding the people he loves, are set into motion, and soon Lester is caught in a tangled web of denial, deceit, frustration, and betrayal. 

This move had absolutely EVERYTHING right! The story is engaging right from the off, the music is erotic and successfully conveys the emotions of the scenes, the characters are each as strong and memorable as each other, and the performances were positively spellbinding. 

Not dissimilar to Sunset Boulevard, the film uses the clever plot device of backtracking and voice-over narration to tell the audience the story of the film’s central character: Lester Burnham. American Beauty is subtly different to Sunset Boulevard in that the film does not begin with a death, but with an aerial view of Lester’s neighbourhood. This is really lovely in that it suggests that the narration is coming from Lester, looking down from an otherworldly place. Instantly engaging. 

All the performances in this film were admirable, but there are two that stand out: that of Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham and I don’t think anyone else could have done the role. He played every emotion you can think of from sedated to violent. He was absolutely brilliant and got the Academy Award of Best Actor! 

Annette Bening played Caroline Burnham and she was a complete diva. She was dominating, ambitious, frustrated, and delightfully tragic. Receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, she was a gem from start to finish. 

Starring Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher, Allison Janney, and Chris Cooper, and receiving the Academy Award for Best Picture, American Beauty is a beautifully crafted drama that is filled with drug use, seduction, romance, defiance, denial, deceit, and betrayal. It’s an absolute winner and definitely a film you have to see before you die. 

Sunset Boulevard [PG]

When struggling writer Joe crosses the path of ageing silent film queen Norma Desmond, his life take takes a dramatic turn for the worst. Although the diva in denial buys and offers him everything, he soon discovers that he has become a prisoner in her mansion, editing her script that she believes will be her glorious return to the screen. As Norma develops an attachment to him, Joe quickly realises that he must leave the mansion, but his decision to do so would be his last. 

This film is in my film bible and that was really the basis on which I decided to rent it out. I had no idea what it was about and was both shocked and enthralled when I discovered that it is a deliciously sinister drama filled with trinkets, glamour, mental illness, lies, and finally, murder. With performances as grandiose as those in All About Eve, and a story almost as thrilling as What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, Sunset Boulevard is a memorable and deeply moving drama about the strain of Hollywood and the struggles that it affords.

A terrible murder has taken place on Sunset Boulevard. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The story begins when struggling writer, Joe, crosses paths with an ageing queen of silent film, Norma Desmond. Having struggled through the transition from silent film to talkies, Norma has written a script, a script that she believes will see her triumphant return to the screen. Hiring Joe to edit and work on the script with her, Norma spoils him and buys and gives him every luxury that he could ever dream of. But soon Joe realises that all these luxuries have made him a prisoner in her mansion on Sunset Boulevard and, as soon as he realises that Norma has developed a strong attachment to him, he decides that he must leave the mansion and the project. Unfortunately, this is to be the last decision Joe will ever make.

It would only make sense, at the beginning of this review, to talk about the unique plot device that makes this film so memorable and special. The film begins with the hero’s murder, not dissimilar to the beginning of American Beauty. From that initial scene, the film then backtracks and retells the story of how that outcome came to be, using voice over narration from the hero. It’s a very clever plot device, one that successfully keeps the audience enthralled.
William Holden stars as Joe and he was brilliant. You could never quite work out what was going through his mind, and if it wasn’t for the narration, he would have seemed just a shell of a human being. Believe it or not, it’s really hard to play a part like that and I salute William Holden for doing so.
Gloria Swanson stars as Norma Desmond and she was an absolute diva. Everything about her was theatrical and grandiose and it was all so delightfully dramatic and sinister. This film was made in the same year as All About Eve, 1950 I believe it was, and I have to say that Gloria’s performance was an alarming precursor/mix between Bette Davis’ characters in All About Eve and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. She was absolutely mesmerising and gave us that famous line “I’m ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille.” Ooh it just sends shivers down the spine.
Starring Erich Von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb, Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper, Anna Q. Nilsson, and Buster Keaton, Sunset Boulevard was a fantastic, spine-tingling drama that was filled with romance, denial, glamour, deceit, and murder. I loved it to bits. 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade [PG]

Indiana Jones is back, battling against the Nazis for a second time. In their pursuit of the Holy Grail, the Nazis have kidnapped Professor Henry Jones Sr., Indiana’s cantankerous father, and now it’s up to Indy to jump back on the trail, find his father, and get the grail before the Nazi’s do. 

Without a doubt, this is my favourite of all the Indiana Jones movies. It’s nowhere near as rollicking and action-packed as Raiders of the Lost Ark or Temple of Doom, but it’s just got the perfect balance of action, romance, and comedy. I love it to bits. 

Indiana Jones is back, battling against the Nazis for a second time. In their pursuit of the Holy Grail, the Nazis have kidnapped Professor Henry Jones Sr., Indiana’s cantankerous father and grail expert. When he receives word of this, Indiana is quick to go to Venice, find his dad’s science partner and then go on to find this father. What started out as a rescue mission soon turns into much more as it becomes imperative that Indiana and his father find the Grail before the Nazis do. 

With its great fight scenes, epic chases, dangerous missions, and almost-impossible escapes, all shaped by its light-hearted comedy script, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a fantastic film that has me laughing and at the edge of my seat every time. 

Harrison Ford is back, but this time he’s not necessarily in charge. The character of Indy isn’t quite as smooth in this film as he is in the others, namely because, in this movie, he’s just out to gain attention and praise from his father. It’s your typical distant father and yearning son relationship and it’s actually quite funny to see Harrison Ford playing that kind of role. You’ve got to love him. 

Sean Connery plays Henry Jones Sr. and he’s fantastic. I’ve always loved Sean Connery because he just radiates this vibe of a gentleman. In this movie he was distant, devoted, persistent, and the chemistry between him and Harrison Ford was absolutely priceless. They were both very funny as they played off one another, especially in scenes where Indiana is trying to get them out of a scrape and his dad unintentionally makes it all the more worse. The chemistry between Sean and Harrison, I think, is what makes the movie my favourite. It just feels so genuine and natural and it provides the film with much of its comedy. 

Starring Denholm Elliott, Alison Doody, Julian Glover, John Rhys-Davies, and River Phoenix as a young Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a fantastic adventure filled with action, romance, family feuds, obsession, bedtime stories, and comedy. My favourite out of all the Indiana Jones films, it has me contented from start to finish and each time I watch it, I find something new to laugh at or take away with me. It’s absolutely priceless. 

Casablanca [PG]

With World War II looming like a dark thundercloud over Europe, many people are determined to leave their homelands and go to America, the New World. Tiptoeing through Europe and settling in Casablanca where money, influence, and luck are the only ways to get exit visas, some people find themselves spending years waiting for their chance of escape. Cynical and apathetic café owner, Rick, has been in Casablanca too long and is ready to leave, but he faces a moral dilemma when his former flame and her husband come to Casablanca in desperate need of help. 

A timeless black and white classic and winner of 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Casablanca is a wonderful film filled with drama, romance, betrayal, and sacrifice. 

With World War II looming over Europe like a dark thundercloud, many people are determined to leave their homelands and travel to America, the New World. Tiptoeing through Europe, they settle in Casablanca where, only through money, influence, and luck can they get exit visas and get on the plane bound for Lisbon. Cynical and apathetic café owner, Rick, has been in Casablanca too long and is ready leave, but he faces a moral dilemma when his former flame and her husband, who is wanted throughout Europe for conspiring against the Germans, come to Casablanca and are in desperate need of help. Will Rick help or will he leave? 

With its original story, enchanting script, and wonderful performances, Casablanca is an iconic film that gave us those famous lines “play it again Sam” and “here’s looking at you, kid.” With its romantic soundtrack, which includes that gorgeous song As Time Goes By (one of my personal favsourites), it’s absolutely breathtaking. 

Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick and he was absolutely wonderful. Beginning the film as apathetic, cynical, and a right prick, the emotional change that his character goes through could not have been more beautifully conveyed. By the end of the film, he was charming, romantic, and exceedingly debonair. Loved him.

 Ingrid Bergman stars as Ilsa, Rick’s former Paris flame, and she was just beautiful. She turned in a performance that was romantic, confused, torn, and sometimes very melancholy. She brought all the light that can be brought to a black and white film. 

Starring Paul Henreid, Claude Rains. Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre, Casablanca was a wonderfully charming film filled with romance, action, suspense, betrayal, murder, apathy, moral and emotional dilemmas, and sacrifice. It was thoroughly romantic and simply beautiful, well worth the 3 Academy Awards. A must-see before you die. I loved it! 

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom [M]

After a less than friendly business venture, Indiana Jones finds himself stranded in India with his young sidekick Short Round and sheltered songstress Willie Scott. When they get brought to a poverty-stricken Indian village, they are told that the village’s sacred stone that protects them was stolen by worshippers of a dark faith, along with all the children. And so Indiana Jones sets off on another adventure, one that’s going to be unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. 

It must be some sort of rule with trilogies, to have the second movie completely jam-packed with rollicking adventure and action and no breathing space in between. It’s the same with Pirates of the Caribbean and Back to the Future, both the second movies in those trilogies are crammed full of action, so much that it almost goes overboard. That was pretty much the case with this movie. Still being a great cinema experience, there is a lot of action, gruesome things, and creepy crawlies packed into this movie, making it the most rollicking and fast-paced Indiana Jones film ever. 

After a business deal goes slightly awry, Indiana Jones suddenly finds himself stranded in India with this young sidekick Short Round and a sheltered songstress Willie Scott. When they are taken to a poverty-stricken village, they are told that the village’s sacred stone that protects them was stolen along with their children by worshippers of a dark faith. So Indiana sets off on another adventure to find and return the stone and the children to their home, but this adventure is going to harbour surprises unlike anything he’s ever gone up against before. 

I do feel that, after Raiders of the Lost Ark, this movie went a little bit overboard with the action and the gruesome scenes. We saw faces melting and snakes in the first movie, here we see hearts being ripped out of bodies, macabre rituals, and an abundance of insects. 

Harrison Ford is back as the charming and sometimes arrogant professor who, in this adventure, speaks Indian and emits a lot of screams of pain. 

Kate Capshaw plays Willie and she was great for her what her character was. Being a sheltered and spoilt songbird, she just thinks the world revolves around her and there is no way to like her in this film, you just want to smack her. She played the part very well. 

Ke Huy Quan stars as Short Round and he was brilliant. One of the greatest child actors that I’ve seen in an action movie, he provided the film with suspense, comedy, and love. He’s a very talented little actor. 

Starring Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth and Phillip Stone, Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom is a great adventure filled with action, romance, suspense, gore, macabre rituals, feats of death, and everything else in between. Immensely fast-paced and not as fun and engaging as the first one, it still leaves an impression and it worth having in any film buff’s collection.